A/N: I wanted to try doing a less-shipper-y drabble again.
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The Zashiki Warashi of Mutantkind
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Scott Summers was tired and his body was sore.
It had been a grueling battle but, somehow, the X-Men had survived yet another apocalypse.
Some giant trans-dimensional travelling gorilla looking for its soul, leaving only desolation in its wake. That would have been easy, sure, but the beast was being chased by a powerful cyborg and his army, causing a three-way clash that had ripped open the fabric of reality, causing more of the gorilla's kin to spill into their universe.
And the giant apes were both hungry and angry.
Eventually, Kitty managed to befriend the original gorilla who, in turn, herded its kin back to where they came from after displacing the alpha through bloody revolution, while Scott and his team managed to takedown the insane cyborg.
But not before the cyborg revealed his body was in a temporal flux, and that upon his death, the capacitor in him would overload, causing a singularity large enough to wipe out half the world…
Scott paused as he remembered the absurdity. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, banishing the incoming migraine.
Honestly. Scott was almost glad when, after the whole ordeal, various newsgroups arrived at the scene, all but interrogating him for answers and accusing the mutants for the near-catastrophe.
That actually was familiar.
Scott sighed.
He hadn't even crossed into his thirties, and he already felt incredibly old.
Well, at least no one died.
Half the team was recovering and it physically hurt to breathe through is cracked ribs, but nobody died—and that was always a win in his book.
"You still alive, Scott?" A voice chimed in beside him.
Scott turned and found Illyana staring at him.
"Illyana." Scott acknowledged with a nod. "Yes. I'm standing, aren't I?"
Illyana crossed her arms. "You haven't moved for a good minute. I was worried you were having a stroke."
"If I had a stroke, you'd be the first to know."
"Oh, you're only saying that because I'm free transport." Illyana pouted.
"Indeed." Scott smirked. "I have the best odds of survival in your hands."
"And now the flattery." Despite her words, Illyana's smile broadened.
"How are you feeling?" Scott asked, "You were out for a while after taking that hit for me."
"Oh, you know." Illyana shrugged, almost making a show of the act as if to emphasize, "I heal quickly."
"Must be nice to have all that magic." Scott mused.
"Must be nice to have all of your soul." Illyana pointed out.
It was Scott's turn to pout. "I really can't say anything to that, can I?"
Illyana shook her head and grinned, "No, but you're more tolerable when your lips are sealed."
Scott's brow arched, amused. It wasn't lost on him that she was the one to approach him. "Not worried I'll have a stroke?"
"Not anymore." Illyana shook her head, pleased.
Scott smiled at that. Illyana's piercing blue eyes seemed to dance; it was clear she was having fun.
"Thank you, by the way."
Illyana tilted her head, silently asking him to elaborate.
Scott smiled, and obliged, "For coming through again. We've been relying on you a lot, lately, and you've always delivered."
Illyana shrugged. "I'm strong." She stated the fact.
Scott nodded. Indeed, strong was a severe understatement.
"All the same, we wouldn't have survived without you."
Hearing the sentiment his words didn't convey, Illyana ducked her eyes from his gaze. "I'm not a lucky charm."
"No," Scott placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "but your presence is a reassurance."
Illyana understood what he meant.
And she sighed.
"Why didn't you ask?" Illyana gazed up at him. "You never once asked me how this would end. Not once."
Scott shrugged. "I figured, if you're still here and if you didn't say anything, then we're doing something right. Whatever we were doing was simply meant to happen."
Illyana stared at him.
Honestly, this man either had too much faith in her or too much steel in his balls to hedge on such a gamble. Her gaze dipped downwards just to be sure, and she started to chuckle at the insanity of Scott's mind.
Scott joined in her mirth with a smirk.
Oh, how he didn't understand the knife's edge he teetered on…
"You're right." Illyana finally said, "I did go back. Several times, in fact."
"But…?"
"But you died." Illyana stated simply. "Each time I went back and told you what to do or how this would end, you died. We'd eventually win, but you always died." Illyana laughed, but it was such a hollow, chilling tone. "I once locked you up in a box. A stray attack destroyed you."
Her powers allowed her to stack the deck but she never could roll the die.
Scott's brows knitted in confusion. "So what changed?"
Illyana straightened. "I believed in you."
"Ah…" Scott actually blushed in embarrassment. There was no flattery in Illyana's azure orbs; just a sincere declaration.
And he also caught the implication in her words. She entered the cycle hoping to land in the outcome where they won and he continued to live. The realization also made his earlier declaration sound that much more oblivious. It was no wonder Illyana found it so funny.
"Thanks." Scott awkwardly said as he scratched the back of his neck. Finding the need to change the topic before he imploded under her gaze, he began, "So. I guess I owe you something…?"
Illyana's eyes lit up. Whatever dark thoughts festered in the mind of Limbo's Queen were banished by the exciting offer.
"Finally!" She nodded happily and with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "I don't keep you alive for free, you know." She teased, but even Scott could tell she didn't believe her words.
"Of course." Scott nodded with a waiting smile.
It honestly wasn't a stretch to believe this was Illyana's world, and he was just fortunate enough to live in it. Might as well keep the demon lord happy.
"Come along, then." She grabbed his arm and dragged him. "I have a list. It might take us a while, but we have time. Much time."
As Scott was dragged into yet another adventure, one thing was definitely clear.
He'd never find another friend quite like Illyana Rasputin.
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A/N: Nothing much to this drabble, really. Just two friends chilling post-battle.
Giant gorilla looking for its soul is a nod to Richard Meyer's Jawbreakers – Lost Souls graphic novel. I, personally, haven't read it because overseas shipments are a pain in my country (I'd be lucky if the Bureau of Customs doesn't frag it up, what more the actual delivery company), but I heard good things about the book.
A zashiki-warashi in Japanese folkore is a prankster of a household spirit that brings good fortune if it decides to grace your house with its presence. I felt it's a very apt comparison to Illyana's presence on the battlefield. The title to this drabble is yet another allusion—this time to Kamachi Kazuma's light novel series, The Zashiki Warashi of Intellectual Village. It's a good read—and fan-translated chapters are available in the usual places—so go check it out if you're bored during this lockdown.
Typing is still a bit awkward but no longer painful. The wound is healing nicely, too, with no signs of infection. All in all, I should be able to churn in several more drabbles / stories.
Off the top of my head, the list I've got so far includes:
- Two more Cyke x [red-head] crossover stories
- Long-overdue Heretic and Damned drabble set in my Crisis 'verse
- Long-overdue BrandClops drabble
I'mma see when inspiration strikes again, though.
Anyways, that's it for now.
Thanks for reading and I hope y'all are keeping safe.
For those wanting to help build a few of my OCs, don't forget to check my Just in Space forum here in this website.
And if you enjoyed what you've read, don't forget to drop a review. It never fails to help the creative juices flow.
Until the next one~
