Trigger Warning: There is some non-consensual stuff ahead, but nothing too terrible. And normal VHD malarkey.
Jobs Meant for Hands
It was dark.
Darker than dark.
Suffocating.
All encompassing.
Krista's heart beat too hard.
Too fast.
With cold, dark waters lapping at her feet, it looked too much like that shit Riedikke did.
Had he found her?
Panic.
Breath rushing in and out.
She didn't want to forget.
She didn't want to–
But he was dead.
The waters that had been spiraling up around her suddenly froze. Quivering.
Bursting into a fine mist that fogged the air.
Slowly, light filtered through the mist. Gradually revealing a landscape of overgrown plants and briars. A place that surely would've been beautiful if given a bit of care.
In the center of it stood a willow. More dead than alive. But large. Stretching up into the muggy heavens.
It saddened her more than she thought it should.
But…
It absolutely shouldn't look like that.
She looked around. Briefly. Wondering where she'd ended up as she inched closer to the tree.
Her answer wasn't far. Perched on the thick roots of the tree as she waited.
"Rhea."
"Kinda sucks you didn't just go out the easy way," she responded.
She looked much the same as before, if not a bit darker in complexion. Healthier.
Sharper.
More predatory.
And as her eyes flickered up to stare her down, Krista felt the urge to flee.
They were sharp. Angry.
Cutting her with their fury.
Krista pressed a hand to her bleeding arm without looking to see the damage.
"I'm allowed to live. Despite what you think."
"And what makes you think I deserve to be locked up at all times?!" she roared as she leapt to her feet. Storming across the dead grass to jab her finger into Krista's chest.
"As far as I'm aware, I didn't put you here!"
Silence. Heavy and leaden as they stared at one another. Krista defiant. Rhea with a venom that could kill. And Krista was honestly surprised she wasn't dead yet.
"I want out," Rhea eventually hissed. "I'm tired of bein' a prisoner. I'm tired of watchin' you bumble about like an idiot."
And Krista watched, terrified, as Rhea leaned over her. Like a snake prepared to strike as she reached forward and curled her fingers about her neck.
It wasn't fair.
Krista could admit this.
And it was precisely why she didn't want to be a prisoner to her own body.
Just as Rhea's chilled fingers squeezed about her throat with the intent to choke the life from her, Krista lashed out. Carving four long gashes in Rhea's face with enough force to throw her to the ground.
"Then kill me, Rhea!" she yelled. Eyes wide. Challenging. "Fuckin' kill me! But you better keep in mind that I'm not about to just lay down and let you do it!"
To say Rhea was surprised was a gross understatement. But she smiled. Teeth bared as she leapt forward. Growling when Krista danced out of the way.
Another lunge that ended with Rhea skidding across the barren ground. Snarling as she looked up at Krista's curiously blank face.
She felt judged.
Less than as she threw herself at the red head.
"You don't know what it's like!"
Another.
"To be trapped in this stupid place!"
This time, it did land. But Krista appeared unworried. Allowing herself to be carried by the blow before she braced and twisted. Throwing the taller woman to the ground and following the motion with an elbow drop into Rhea's solar plexus.
Rhea lay there. Wheezing and gasping as she stared, baffled. "How the fuck…"
"You're stronger than me. But if you would have paid attention instead of thinking of how to best throw me under, you would have seen that D's been training me."
"It shouldn't matter! Not here!"
"Perhaps not."
"You're not even actin' like yourself!"
"Or maybe I'm just tired of your shit."
The tree at the center of the garden splintered down the middle with a thunderous crack. Ground heaving beneath their feet.
Krista stumbled to one side but continued to glower at Rhea. Face flushing as she bit out, "I'm tired of worrying about how long I'll get to keep my body."
Starting at the tree, the earth split like a gaping maw. Threatening to swallow the two women.
"I'm tired of thinking that it'd be better if one of us were gone."
Now, the entire area began crumbling.
Krista did not move.
Honestly tired.
Exhausted.
But as Rhea tackled her to the ground, she fought. Ignoring the pain of each blow as she kicked her back and pushed up to her feet. "You've done nothing but give me Hell! You're more like a damn parasite!"
Perhaps not her best choice of words.
Too crass.
The wind rushed from her lungs as she collided with the dead willow. Head throbbing as Rhea's knuckles cracked against her jaw.
She could taste blood.
But she couldn't seem to keep her mouth shut. Smiling as she ducked out of the way of another strike. "You act like you're better than me. Put me down and tell me I'm worthless. I think you say these things because that's how you feel."
"You don't know shit!"
"I know enough to not want my own sister dead!"
Silence.
Slowly, in a dark and dangerous voice, Rhea asked, "The fuck makes you think we're sisters?"
Krista didn't know why, but she was almost certain of her claim. "We look alike."
"And if we're two halves of a whole?"
"Still sisters."
Her head pulsed angrily, and she watched as Rhea grimaced and balled up her fist. Looking fully prepared to throw more punches.
"If we could just live in peace, I'd really like that." She snorted. "But you don't seem to care for more than just fucking everything up."
Rhea finally threw the punch. And ignoring the fact that she'd just had a fist rap with all the force of a sledgehammer against her skull, the pain from before flared. The crumbling world around them spinning.
Even unable to see and coordinate herself well, she managed to drive her fist into Rhea's ribs.
Not satisfied in the least by the crunch that followed.
If anything, she was disgusted.
She hated herself.
The next blow to her jaw knocked a few teeth loose, and she delivered another bone-breaker. This time to Rhea's sternum. Desperate to drive her back as Rhea continued to wail on her.
Why couldn't she bring herself to do more damage?
Granted, broken bones were a great amount of damage. But… she just couldn't fight.
Not the way she needed to.
Maybe in another way?
"We've gotta share this body!"
Another strike to her jaw.
"We could!"
The garden continued to fall. The splintered tree sinking into the void as they fought. Krista's blows quickly losing their ferocity.
"It makes more sense for us to work together!"
Rhea would not be deterred. She pinned Krista against the prickly grasses. Determined to beat her out of existence.
"So quit bein' a bitch an' le's figure this out!"
"Shut up!" And with her fists clenched together above her head, Rhea brought them down on Krista. Grimacing when her blood pooled about them. But she kept striking her until Krista moved no more.
There she sat. Straddling Krista's waist. Breath quick and shallow.
Feeling no gratification in her 'victory'.
But this is what she wanted.
Right?
Shouldn't she feel something good?
Why'd she feel so gross?
"This is what I wanted," she hissed.
Maybe she was wrong?
She was definitely conflicted.
"Fuck!"
Rhea lurched to her feet. Clutching her chest and ribs as she struggled to move back from the ever-widening chasm. Gasping and attempting to focus.
She looked up and peered through the clouds. Wincing at a particularly sharp spike of pain. One that seemed to race up her spine and arc across her scalp. As if attempting to dissuade her from reaching out.
But damn it all.
D needed to find them!
She pushed harder.
Nothing.
With another growl, she turned back to Krista. Surprised to see her slowly pushing herself upwards. Face swollen and bloodied. Black and blue. And despite her willingness to fight back earlier, she visibly flinched at Rhea's approach.
But dare she say she was relieved to see her moving? Happy that she was still among the living?
As she leaned into Krista's space, she was immediately knocked backwards. Mouth filling with blood and a few loose teeth. "Yeah. Okay. I deserved that," she murmured. Spitting the teeth into her hand.
Around them, the garden ceased its rumbling. Deteriorating no more.
But as she looked back up at Krista, she found her vision fading. Sinking into a darkness that she had no control over.
"Girls! Stop your fighting!"
Her eyes blinked open to focus on the woman across the yard.
Mama.
"We're not fighting."
"No fibbing, Rhea. You know I can always see through them."
They sighed. Watching as the woman stood in the shadow of the doorway and wiped her hands on her dark apron.
"Did Daddy bring back dinner?"
She smiled, eyes not quite crinkling with the motion. "Yes. But let's not change the subject. Come talk to me."
It was a soft command that they did not fight. But followed begrudgingly. Pushing out of the herb section of the garden to stand before her.
"Tell me. What is it you are fighting about?"
Another, yet more forceful, sigh. "We don't get why we've gotta share."
"Share what?"
"Us," she stressed. "Why have we gotta share?"
"Oh." The dark-haired woman looked lost. Conflicted. "Well… it all started before you were born. I can't truly explain everything in a way you might understand right now, but always know that you two are stronger together than you ever were apart."
They looked down. Staring at their hands as if that would reveal the secret. Answer all their questions. "We don't feel strong?"
The woman's hand entered the sunlight long enough to grasp their shoulder and pull them in. Barely smoking, but still a cause for concern to the child. However, the woman was undisturbed. Staring into their eyes in an attempt to convey what she didn't say.
"Once upon a time, you were two little girls. But a Higher Power decided you would be better together." Her eyes shined. Slowly overflowing as she choked up. "And while one baby grew, the other did not."
They watched as her lips pressed in and her chin quivered.
They didn't have long to puzzle out what she meant or even attempt to comfort her. She straightened up with a wide smile and ushered them into the house. "Someday, you will better understand. For now, go clean up. I've almost finished butchering the stag."
"But Mama-!"
"No 'but's!" she interrupted. "Go clean up. Maybe find Father."
And without another word, she whipped them about and ushered them out of the kitchen. Leaving no room for argument as she moved back to the large animal occupying the counter.
"Krista Rhea."
They froze to listen.
"Someday, we will take you to a place where you may better understand why things are the way they are. But always remember that sisters shouldn't fight."
The Hunter kept his hand to Krista's forehead. Slowly delving deeper until he felt it.
The quietest plea from a silvery voice. So close to Krista's, but so very different.
And then… static.
The slow build of energy they'd disregarded up until this point swelling to a crescendo that they could no longer ignore.
D pulled back and waited. Comforted, if only barely. Keeping his hold on her small body, even as she slowly stirred. A look of deep confusion clouding her hazy eyes.
But she said nothing at first. Merely staring up at the man in black as she attempted to reorient herself. Until eventually she breathed with a small smile, "That was the shittiest sleep I've ever had."
She heard him huff out a small breath through his nose. Pleased, but needing to speak on other matters.
"So… Confirmed. Rhea's my sister." His brow raised in response. "But neither of us learned why we're in the same body. You wanna see what happened?"
"That would be up to you."
Her shoulders rolled. "I don't mind. I might just doze back off."
She did exactly that as he dipped into her mind and watched the fight between the two girls. Almost proud of how she handled it. Understanding of why she eventually began pulling her punches. Knowing that she would be more capable in a fight for her life.
Then, he sank into the memory. Not surprised by the mother's reaction to the sun. But finding that niggling sense of nostalgia blossoming into something… more.
It was strange. But all was quiet.
And Krista, understandably exhausted, did not stir as he straightened and closed his eyes. Delving into the depths of his mind to understand why.
Perhaps with a bit of help from the countenanced carbuncle, if needed.
By morning, he had no answers.
If anything, he was left perplexed.
Some things simply were not adding up.
Without a doubt, the Hunter did not care for it. Not one bit. And as Krista gradually roused, he had nothing to offer her.
No insight.
"Hey, D?"
He looked up from his task of rearranging the bags.
"I don't mean to be rude…"
"Then don't be."
Her lips puckered. Amusement flashing in her bright eyes. Louder, as if he'd said nothing, she said, "I don't mean to be rude, but you look constipated."
The slight crease betwixt his brows smoothed out.
"And you look like you've eaten something sour."
In all honesty, his expression had not deviated much from what was typical. Merely slight variations that she could somehow pick out from her distance where others would overlook them up close.
"Simply… thinking."
And what else was there that he could say?
They reached the town in Krista's dream in record timing.
The town was barely habitable. A thick haze hanging low in the air, smelling of burning rubber and rot. Something no one enjoyed.
Whoever was responsible did not seem to be concerned with keeping any to ship off.
Skeletons held together by what appeared to be dried mud littered the town. And looking down the street, it was easy to see where her dream had taken place.
It filled her with disgust.
For just a moment, she wanted to run again.
She couldn't.
Wouldn't.
…
Something in the air changed.
Out of the corner of her eye, she observed the Hunter.
He was on edge. Left hand rigid and minutely turned to face her. A cautionary signal that was heeded.
Despite the scent making her feel a bit lightheaded, she sniffed.
It was getting stronger.
Dear Gods. She thought she might be sick. But there was something there. Something… alive. But not.
Two somethings.
Three.
Seven.
Her muscles bunched in anticipation. And with a small grunt, she murmured to D, "If I asked to, would you let me attempt to kill them on my own?"
With a speed that surprised her, his head snapped around. Slim eyes momentarily narrowed before he responded, "If that is what you wish."
"I do." Slowly, she flashed an uncertain smile at him and Erembour. Visibly worried. Almost uncertain of her own decision. Ignoring the concern on the Demon's countenance. "Catch me if I fall?"
A soft nod. "Of course."
And in the blink of an eye, he was gone from view.
Close enough to help if she truly struggled, but out of view.
"… you sure, girl?"
"As sure as I can be."
He huffed before disappearing just as quickly.
For just a moment, she felt alone.
Perhaps Rhea was with her, but she'd been silent since their confrontation. Possibly to recover. Think over everything they'd learned.
It was, admittedly, a tad daunting.
They would need to talk more. Hash out their feelings and animosities. Come to some sort of agreement. Because things would not be magically fixed in less than a week.
However, now was not the time to be thinking of such things.
Through the haze came a lumbering figure. Hulking. Standing well over seven feet tall. With eyes that faintly glowed and bobbed with each soggy step.
"Ah… there she is."
His voice was reminiscent of wet mud gurgling and schloping out of a drainpipe. Forced to string together noises that sounded similar to Human speech.
Stiffly, his eyes floated about his head. Scanning the vacant street and rooftops. "Where's the Hunter?"
"I don't know."
"Don't play stupid, girl!"
She flinched, eyes flickering towards a rooftop at his back. There was nothing there, but she hoped he would turn to look.
He did. The muddy mass that was his head rotating until he faced away from her. And Krista pounced, blades at the ready.
A spout of the viscous mud erupted from the 'man' and made impact with her chest. Hot. Acidic as it chewed away at her armor and flesh.
But it was gone in an instant. Pulling away her skin with a sickly squelch.
Hell of a time to be thankful she'd put away her clothes. When her hands shook and trembled from the pain.
"I've no quarrel with you, girl," he groused as an eye she'd not seen pushed to the surface and rolled over her. "But the Council specified to bring you to them alive. Don't make me take you to the rendezvous in bits." The mud split into a vicious grin. Black and dripping and unmoving as he finished, "Because I will gladly do so."
Krista gritted her teeth as she eyed the swath of her chest missing the epidermis. Knowing she needed a new plan.
She needed to make him talk.
"What would you do to me?"
"Oh…" The grin widened as he slowly stepped forward. A growl rumbling and sounding like bubbling mud in his chest. "There are lots of things I could think to do."
"Like what?"
"A few girls in this town took my seed well." He was practically upon her. Slim, grey tentacles gingerly peeking out of the folds of sludge. "Maybe we'll send you home with a gift. You should be able to stay alive while it incubates."
"Seed?"
"Offspring. Children. Whatever you wish to call the things."
For a moment, her brain decided that this could be a learning experience. But she quickly struck the thought from her mind. Wanting absolutely no part of it with this… muck man. Especially not when he referred to precious children as things.
'But if D would teach me, that'd be cool.'
She watched as the sludge about his waist receded over the writhing tendrils.
"Bring yourself closer, girl. Perhaps it won't be so unpleasant if you cooperate."
"Okay." She stepped closer. Eyeing the tendrils.
"Drop your weapons."
They clattered to the ground.
"Now stroke them with your fingers."
Her face twisted in confusion, fingers hovering uncertainly in the air around the tendrils.
"I was more in the mood for a fight, but if the Hunter has decided to turn tail and run, there is no need." The muck receded a bit more, insistently. His eyes narrowing. "So stroke them, girl. It's been quite some time since I've felt a willing hand."
"Okay," she said again.
Slowly, she sank her fingers into the writhing mass. Allowing them to curl around the slim digits. Listening to his bubbling sigh as every eye slid shut.
'He likes it.'
She didn't.
But now she knew there was something more to him than just the mud.
Something solid that she could sink her fingers into.
Could hurt.
Could rip apart.
She tightened her grip.
"I told you to stroke them, girl."
She pulled them taut before sliding her fingers along their sticky lengths. Feeling disgusting.
But blocking out the noises he made, she continued the motion a few more times. Tightened her grip at the base.
Took a deep breath.
Braced herself.
And drove her opposite hand into the muck. Grabbing hold of the mass within.
Clawed fingers ripping with all her might until a chunk of wriggling worm-like tentacles were ripped free as the man screeched.
Two stumps erupted from his trunk and pressed against her raw chest. Pushing. But she continued her clawing. Ignoring the searing pain.
"Quit!" he screamed. Voice bubbling until words were warped beyond comprehension.
But still, she persisted until her hands grew numb and her breath was tight. Wrenching away and scurrying behind the nearest building.
She didn't want to look at the damage done. But when she wanted to make a fist and she wasn't sure it was happening, she had no choice.
'Now that's some damage.'
It was a loose fist. Comprised of nothing but the muscles and tendons. Mildly degraded.
It was a wonder that any of her fingers were still attached, honestly. And at the thought, her heart flubbed and pitter-pattered its way into a panicked rhythm.
'Stay calm. You've still got them. Just look and see the damage you've done to him.'
Slowly, she peeked around the corner and watched as the muck man gasped and gurgled. Attempting to stuff the severed tendrils back into his gut.
"You little bitch!" He jerked about, holding the bits in as he searched for her. "Where have you gone?!"
She made a tighter fist and eyed her daggers on the road.
Once he turned away, she darted across the stretch of ground and snatched them up. Fleeing once more. Never making a sound.
Out of sight, she sniffed.
There was only the one left.
Deep in her soul, she felt a strange sadness at the information.
Perhaps it was for the best.
"Get out here!"
With another deep breath, she made a point to crunch the gravel before she fled to the opposite end of the building. Hoping and praying he would take the bait.
If the squelching was anything to go by, he did.
She kept going. Circling around the building with nary a sound until she was at his back. Watching as he screamed, "I am Gif Tier Ig! You cannot play me like this!"
His form wavered. Disrupted.
This would likely be her only chance.
Weapons readied, she darted forward and drove the blades through his midsection just as the eye opened on his back. Wrenching her arms outwards until they cleaved through the central mass and sprayed the surrounding stone in black ichor.
The sound he released was something she never wished to revisit. A thousand tiny screams that burbled and bubbled in the air.
But she was satisfied. Watching as his legs hardened and his torso plopped on the ground. Wriggling at a snail's pace away. And trailing behind him a singular and thicker tendril.
That she promptly stepped on.
"Gah! Get off! Haven't you done enough?!"
"No." She ground her heel. Pushing out more of the black fluid as he writhed on the ground and his muck threatened to disintegrate. "But I am wondering how you were supposed to beat D."
"What is that supposed to mean?" he hissed.
With a sharp gesture at his current state, she responded, "I'm nowhere near D in prowess. And all it took was a bit of flustering and you've been defeated."
The sludge quivered. The man enraged as he spit and sputtered. "Of course I wouldn't have taken him directly!"
"That doesn't matter much. Maybe with me, but not with D."
"Anyone can be caught off-guard!"
"And I bet you haven't noticed him standing on the rooftop this entire time, have you?"
Now, the mud entirely fell apart. Revealing a potato-faced creature. Pale, with two glowing eyestalks that swiveled and scanned frantically. Searching. Praying she was mistaken.
She wasn't.
He watched in terror as the fog cleared and revealed the Hunter. Crouched low and braced on the slope with a lax hand. Appearing utterly at ease with his opposite arm propped on his knee.
But his eyes gave him away.
Revealed the ire he veiled as they burned like hot coals.
"Why didn't you assist her? Why let her soil her hand and rend her flesh?"
The Hunter gracefully slid down the roof and landed silently at their side. And closer, they could now see that his arm he'd had propped against his knee was cradling the Demon. Who looked ridiculously content and sleepy.
"It was her request," he said succinctly.
"And aside from the 'flesh wounds', I'd say I did okay."
"You did."
And now, his little potato-face expressed awe. Watching as the girl visibly brightened.
He expected the Dhampir to act distant. Stoic. Everything he'd ever heard about the man.
How out of touch was the Council where this group was concerned?
Were they just starting a death march?
Sending them cannon fodder?
"I pity those that follow my path," he gurgled.
"Me too," she replied.
"Your heart is too big then, girl. It'll lead to your demise."
"Maybe."
"Quit agreeing with me!"
Her eyes flashed deviously and a slow smile curled her lips. "I probably should."
The Hunter interrupted the tirade brewing in the potato with a sharp kick to one of the appendages. Drawing his startled and suddenly terrified gaze. "Where is the rendezvous point?"
"Near an old terminal." He hacked out a wet laugh. "Although I doubt it will be the same for the next bounty hunter."
"But it's a start!"
"However, they will not come if my tracker deactivates."
The group shared a look as they glanced from him to each other. Back to him. Again to each other. The girl nodding. Coming silently to an understanding with her companions.
"Which terminal?" enquired D.
He knew then that his fate had been determined.
It was all about intent.
Well… Krista fully intended to annoy the potato dangling from the back of the saddle with her purposeful yowling. Straining to sing off-key.
"Shut it, girl!"
"Sing louder," the Hunter said softly.
She did. Throat hurting with the strain. But by golly, she was going to make the potato's life as miserable as he made hers.
It'd been a few days. Their travels taking them towards the coast, with time filled with dour remarks from the potato and much checking. Ensuring that his muddy exterior did not reform and he did not wiggle free of his bonds.
While the girl gleefully sang, the Demon crawled out of D's coat to perch on his shoulder. Nosing his way into the man's hair before settling. "… does this terminal exist?"
"It does."
"… trust him?"
"No," the Hunter answered without hesitation. "This could easily be a trap. However, if it is not, then it is either a waste of time or a lead."
"… don't believe it's a trap?"
"I do not."
The Hunter felt Erembour huff against his neck in a confused manner. However, they spoke no more. Listening to the girl as she belted out the warped lyrics to the children's song.
Dare he admit to himself that it was something he was grateful for?
Their routine the past few months had been very same-same. Travel, train, eat, sleep, repeat.
And Krista had been fairly serious. Stressed. Of course, she still had her playful moments. However… this felt more purposeful. More genuine. As if she were thoroughly enjoying herself as she sang.
Her voice petered out with a nasty croak. And with a startled look, she mouthed, 'I'm hungry.' All of them wholly ignoring the potato as he muttered a snide thanks.
The Hunter glanced about before gently guiding the horse to a halt. Gesturing for her to go on her hunt. And with her thumb up and a bright smile, she was off.
"Why have we stopped?" the potato yelled.
D did not grace him with an answer. Merely waiting for Krista's return.
They'd not stopped, nor had they slept, over the few days of travel longer than needed to tend the horse. So, he could easily understand why she was peckish.
A need to heal.
A need to replenish her energy.
A short while later, she came scuttling back into view. Her prize clutched in her arms. For the time being, her chest and forearms were discolored. Paler. Not hideous. But it was noticeable. And in the late-day sunlight, as it beat down on them with all the fury of a midget called shrimp, it was glaringly obvious.
"We've stopped so the girl could find a pet?"
"So I can eat!" she chirped back.
"So, now we need to wait for you to skin and dress and cook the creature."
He sounded so exasperated.
However, Krista muttered a soft 'nah' and snapped the animal's spine. Hastily biting into the twisted and limp neck with a voracity that surprised everyone save the Hunter.
Again, it was to be expected. She should have eaten the moment they secured Gif Tier Ig. Instead, she'd demanded they move on. Away from the town. And she'd barely waited for him to tend her wounds.
It was more surprising she'd chosen to eat now.
They were perhaps a half-day's travel from the terminal.
Perhaps she wanted to be in tippy-top shape on the chance that anything happened.
Or, if her curling lips as the potato cursed in disgust was anything to go by, it might also be a good chance to simply perturb the 'man'. A bit of payback for her own bit of torment.
Krista pulled back and wiped her chin, coyly lapping up the blood left behind on her finger. "I don't know why you're upset by watching. What you did to the people in that town seems a lot more grotesque."
He scoffed and said no more.
With a shrug, the girl began stripping the skin from her catch.
She'd improved over time. Hoping to eventually perfect her skinning ability and, eventually, remove the skin fully intact. Using only her nails made the task all the more difficult. But she was sure that, in time, she'd get a full skin.
"Surely you don't intend to eat that thing?"
"The skin? No!"
She draped the skin to one side and severed one of six limbs. "Erembour, you hungry?"
"… no. I'm saving room." And purposefully, the Demon turned his violet stare upon Ig.
A small pause as Krista followed his gaze. She perked up. "Okay! Suit yourself!"
And Ig watched in disgust as she stuck the limb, bone and all, into her mouth and chewed. Stripping off the meat and sucking out the marrow. Attempted to turn away as she continued this trend for each limb. But he couldn't seem to get it to work out in his favor. And it wasn't as if he could close his eyes.
So, he continued to watch as she disemboweled it and moved on to the heart. Liver. All that crap that he would never stick in his mouth. All the while, the Hunter appearing unfazed.
"How does this not bother you?!"
The man did not respond.
Should he have expected anything different?
For her first time seeing a terminal, Krista could say she was not disappointed.
It was an imposing structure. Parts of it still gleaming strikingly despite the rust prevalent on its walls. Still standing despite the wear and tear it experienced. Draped beautifully in creeping and winding vines that invaded every feasible crack.
"It's very… impressive," she managed. Staring up at the structure wide-eyed and slack-jawed. At the decrepit aircraft scattered about the grounds and still docked.
"Perhaps one day you will see one from the Frontier."
She whipped about to cast D the same awed expression. Eyes sparkling as she said, "You sayin' you'll take me?"
Now, his eyes flicked down to stare back at her. Taking in the slow spread of her lips as she grinned. "I said no such thing."
"You didn't have to!" she sang.
And she was off. Stumbling and sliding down the hill ahead of him.
The defense system had long been deactivated. Turrets frozen in position and robots at a standstill. Overgrown with weeds and pretty flowers that Krista was tempted to abscond with. But aside from the beautiful growth, the area was dead.
Something D supposed he was thankful for. Otherwise, Krista would be swiss. And he didn't believe any amount of CPR would bring her back from that.
The entrance, which would have been sealed off and indistinguishable from the wall, was knocked in. Scorched and warped. Long forced open.
The inside fared no better. With terminals and machines stripped of most their components. Robots scattered like loose litter amongst the floor.
But Krista did not care. With stars in her eyes, she marveled over every aspect and pondered what it could have once looked like in its prime. Skittering about to look at every shiny object she could. Honestly however, she couldn't see how this was supposed to be a good rendezvous point.
Not when there seemed to be nothing working.
But it was an interesting place to explore, so bringing it up to the very aware Hunter wasn't at the forefront of her mind.
"So, scavengers came through and… scavenged?"
"So it would seem," the Hunter replied.
"Did you see it before it was abandoned?"
"No."
She hummed. "I wish I knew what it was like in its prime."
"Grandiose. Garish."
"You sound like it isn't something you like or miss."
He hummed noncommittedly. And with a soft laugh, she craned her head about to eye him. Taking in his set jaw and narrowed gaze with an equally soft smile. "Yeah. I guess you aren't the flamboyant and shiny type. I'm pretty partial to your dark aesthetic too."
A loud groan, pained and a bit over-the-top, interrupted anything else she was about to say. The potato clearly the source as he dangled from the stick on D's hip.
Needle.
The hunk of wood.
With the ugly potato.
"Why are you moaning?"
"You're insufferable! Like a love-sick pup with your pining!"
D watched as that painfully confused look glazed her eyes. Pulling forth an unintelligent 'huh' from her parted lips.
"I've listened to you attempt to seduce him for the better part of four days! It's disgusting!"
Her eyes dulled. "Seduce… him?"
"Don't play stupid, girl!"
Now, her eyes narrowed. Still dull. But expressing her growing irritation. "You ever think I'm not playing? That I'm just stupid and don't know what you're saying?"
For a moment, Ig looked just as confused as Krista. Eyestalks roving over her countenance as if that could provide him with his desired answers.
"You're not stupid, kid," Hand interjected. "Just unknowledgeable."
"Not much difference apparently."
"There's loads of difference."
Her lips pursed, and she looked precariously close to arguing before thinking better of it. Eventually, defeated. "Teach me someday?"
"Someday," D agreed.
"I'm holding you to it."
And just as quickly, she was smiling again. Rushing ahead to explore.
"Not the brightest bulb, is she."
D was totally not purposefully knocking the potato into every corner after that.
At the center of the stripped building stood a cylindrical glass tube. Cloudy and smeared with soot, but still standing despite the state of everything surrounding it. Once D was within a dozen feet of it, it flared to life. Lights flickering feebly within the tube.
A low, whirring groan disrupted the silence. The floor beneath their feet and the glass vibrating violently as a male voice, warped by static, said, "Substation online. Chip integrity and vitals have been verified. Contacting…"
The terminal flickered off. And they listened to everything around them wind down. Fearing that their detour had been for naught.
Well… perhaps not for naught. Krista was able to see this. Ignoring the disrepair it was in, it was a fascinating place to explore. And before they left, she would likely ask D for a bit more time to look around.
The floor shuddered.
As Krista stumbled into D, deep in the bowels of the facility, something chugged. Screeching and whumping as old parts struggled to start.
"My apologies. Attempting contact with Sister Anyd."
Without a word, D passed off Ig to Krista and moved to the other side of the chamber. Running his hands over the smooth floor. Of course, she couldn't see what he searched for until he was wrenching a steel panel up and digging into the electronics within.
The chamber lights flashed seemingly erratically as he worked. And after a moment, an image comprised of blues and purples formed. Of a young woman with a singular eye, hair framing her thin face.
Slowly, the eye opened to scan the room.
"Gif Tier Ig. A… pleasure to see you."
The potato scoffed in response.
"I see you have brought the target. But I'm sure my Lord and the Doctor will be pleased to know that you ultimately failed your assignment."
To this, Krista perked up. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that the Vampire Hunter known as D has no need to pinpoint my location."
D continued to work on the other side.
"I am impressed with the speed at which you are tearing through the proxies, but there are many more you will need to access to find my location." She smiled. "Information I am willing to give. So long as you keep the girl far from my Masters."
Now, D did cease his tinkering. Eyeing the hologram critically as he circled back to Krista. "Is your primary directive not to follow the whims of your masters?"
Her eye narrowed. Amused, but terribly irate. "It is. But my programming allows me some freedoms. And part of that is deciding which Masters matter more. My Lord and the Doctor are the more sensible and reasonable of them. In fact, I'm rather fond of them."
"But what do you want?" asked Krista.
"I want you to run. Cease your journey to the Southern Continent. Go to the Frontier and avoid the Nobility at all costs, for the farther you are from my Masters, the happier my true Masters will be."
There was a long silence as D took the potato and returned to the open panel in the floor. Krista watched for a moment before responding with a soft sigh. "If it was that simple, alright. But it ain't. They want us bad enough, they're gonna find us."
"True, but one can hope they will abandon their foolish quests."
To this, Krista could agree. One could always hope.
Deep in her soul, she could feel the sheer absurdity in it.
"If you will not be deterred, be warned."
Gone was the female figure in the tube, and all that remained was the singular eye. Rolling over their forms. And deep in the facility, they heard something break loose. The chugging now more reminiscent of shearing metal.
"More will come for you. More challengers prepared to do anything. Wanting to do anything."
Krista jerked her thumb towards D. Her lips curled in a way that expressed just how overwhelmed she was becoming. "Worse than the potato over there?"
If she had to guess, the eye grimaced. "He is certainly… the ugliest. However, not the worst."
"That is a statement I resent!"
Neither cared.
"Anyd?" Krista began. Watching the eye blink in surprise. "We aren't running. So please, tell me where we are going."
The eye narrowed. Scrutinizing her and her companions before appearing to smile. "Very well. While I am unable to give you specifics, I can tell you that you will find more information if you head for the rainforest. Inland from the coast, along a channel, there will be another terminal. In use but forgotten. Unregulated. A neutral zone. Someone will meet you there."
With a booming crack that shook the building, the machinery gave way and the lights went out.
"Until then, be safe. Sleep with one eye open."
Silence.
Krista looked to the Hunter. Mouth open to say the obvious. That they had their next destination.
"Now extracting with Brother Soth."
Her jaw snapped shut.
More silence.
Her mouth opened.
"Substation now offline."
Closed again.
Together they waited. Listening to the dying chugs of the generators and wholly ignoring the potato as he fussed and wiggled about.
Their visit with Anyd had not been long, and while they had no reason to trust her, Krista did.
She wasn't sure why.
Perhaps she felt she had nothing to lose?
It was either wander aimlessly or follow a potential lead. Despite the dangers ahead.
She was not going to sit idly by or hide. Not when it would be a futile endeavor.
"D?" His head subtly inclined. "Can I explore before we leave?"
"Carefully."
She snorted. "Alright. I'll try."
Off she went. Leaving him with Ig and the Demon.
Quietly, he kicked the panel shut and set Erembour on the floor. Untying Ig.
Dropping him.
Regarding him with thinly veiled disdain.
"What's the matter, Hunter?" Ig choked out. "You look a tad upset." D did not answer as he hacked out a wet laugh and shifted himself upwards. "Don't like that I got the girl to pleasure me?"
Silence.
And Ig's smile grew. "It's hard to believe she's mostly untouched. Have you not thought about having your fill? Planting your seed in her or sampling her lifeblood?"
Still, D did not respond.
Not verbally.
Not with expression.
Yet, Ig felt he was bothered in some way.
"She's so stricken with you, I'm sure she'd be willing."
Perhaps he was bothered. Not by the potato's words. But bothered, nonetheless.
"Or perhaps she'd let any man have their way with her. She certainly seemed intrigued by my offer."
To this, D silently agreed.
From his distance, he could see that she was taken by the offer.
But the one thing he never detected was arousal.
"She enjoys learning."
"Ho? Is that what they call it nowadays?"
"… it is when you don't know how children are conceived," Erembour interjected as he pawed at the desiccated stump that was once Ig's torso. Eventually turning his gaze to D. "… may I eat him?"
"Eat me?!"
At his nod, Erembour unhinged his jaw and leaned in. Dark saliva searing the jelly-like flesh covering Ig. But D halted him a moment before his teeth could close around the potato's head.
Neither paying any mind to Ig's terrified screams.
"… what is it?"
"Keep the tracker intact."
A wicked grin split the Demon's features. "That I can do."
A few floors up, Krista seated herself on a decrepit desk and listened to Gif Tier Ig meet his end. His screams echoing throughout the terminal.
Bouncing about and lingering far too long.
Thankfully, that's all she heard.
Perhaps it was for the best. She didn't really want to know what he said for Erembour to take his time in devouring him. Either of his own volition, or at D's prompting.
Well… that was a bit of a lie.
As they say, curiosity killed the cat. And she was still curious to a fault.
Would it have hurt her?
Confused her?
Left her troubled?
Disgusted?
She could practically feel those sticky tendrils curling about her fingers simply thinking about it.
It made her feel dirty.
She eyed the objects in her arms.
Relics from a forgotten era that were broken and covered in a thick layer of grime. Priceless trinkets and bits of tinted glass that she saw a bit of worth in. A doll that desperately needed repairs if it ever wanted to be played with.
Her fingers dug into the objects before she dropped them to the ground.
She felt… odd. Chest feeling as if it was expanding. Heart thumping a bit too hard.
But not in the same way it did when she was shifting.
Perhaps she was just overwhelmed.
"Hey, D?" she called.
Silence greeted her.
Quieter. "Am I dirty?"
"A bath certainly wouldn't hurt."
She snorted and glanced up at the Hunter, her smile small. "Not what I meant, but okay."
Softly, D sighed through his nose. "No. Far from it."
"Promise?"
He nodded and glanced at her discarded haul. "Do you want to leave?"
"Erembour get his fill?" she asked in turn.
From within his coat came a muffled moan.
"I don't think the potato agreed with him much," said Hand.
She wasn't surprised.
Her stomach churned at the mere thought of ingesting him.
'Fuck intent.'
'Wake up.'
Krista did exactly that. Flailing. Panicked until she was awake enough to recognize that it was Rhea.
From beneath his wide-brimmed hat, D eyed her. Silently enquiring about her welfare. In response, she flashed him a cautious smile and settled back at his side. Closing her eyes as she leaned against the tree.
'What is it?'
'Look for the Garden.'
Her nose scrunched. "The Garden?" she muttered aloud. "But it was falling apart."
'Dude, you're already irritatin' me. Just… please.'
Now, Krista looked at D.
"Only when you're ready."
"I don't think I'll ever be ready."
And without another word, her fingers digging into his thigh, she sank into the darkness. Searching. Probing for that desolate bit of land nestled in her mind.
From the gloom, a slim hand poked out. Fingers waggling expectantly until Krista grabbed hold.
With a sharp yank, Krista dropped into the Garden.
Out of the very-not-dead willow.
She stared up at it in awe.
"It's pretty."
Her head snapped about towards Rhea. The woman standing not far from her. And Krista stared at her for the longest while. As if uncertain about what to do. How to act.
Eventually, Krista agreed. It was indeed pretty.
Beautiful even.
Thinking of how pitiful it had been just a couple weeks prior was almost enough to sour the mood. Even though it was inspiring to see it practically flourishing.
But she wasn't there to simply admire the tree. Nor the sparse bit of flowers peeking through the brambles.
Nor the fact that Rhea looked almost like an entirely different person.
"What did you want, Rhea?"
Electric blue eyes focused on her with a startling intensity. "I'm sorry. For everything."
Krista's mouth opened.
She snapped it shut just as quickly.
She would like to say that it was okay. But she couldn't. Because it wasn't. It wasn't okay by any means.
However, Krista wanted it to be.
Wanted things to heal.
"I know," Rhea started, pacing to and fro. "I know what I did was fucked up. But… I've been stuck here for so long! Stuck watching you live and interact with a world that I couldn't even speak to! Actin' like a damn—!"
She suddenly stopped. Sucking in a deep, calming breath. "Damn. I fuckin' suck at this."
"A bit," Krista agreed.
"Shut it! I don't need help feelin' like a bitch."
Krista ran an imaginary zipper across her lips and watched Rhea continue her pacing.
"I've thought about what you said. That you didn't put me here. And I get that now." She ran her hand across her face. Digging her nails in at her cheekbone. "But at the time, that's how it felt. And I still feel like a prisoner."
"I understand. And—"
Whatever Krista had been about to say, Rhea interrupted it with a snarled, "No! You don't!" And immediately looked regretful. "Fuck. Sorry."
"Don't be."
Rhea pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. Appearing close to another outburst before she said, "As endearing as your niceties are, I'mma need you to stop for a minute. 'Cause I do need to be sorry. But I'd really like to start over. Or…" She trailed off and gave Krista the most kicked-dog look imaginable.
"We both need to try. Not just you."
Rhea blinked owlishly at her, having been in the mindset that Krista would say everything was her fault. Which was fairly true.
Perhaps Krista was too quick to trust. Too quick to look past certain things. But she realized she hadn't been helping. She'd ignored Rhea (not without reason) and possibly made things worse.
She just wanted to be happy. Wanted them both happy.
Acknowledging both of their shortcomings was the way to go. Because without realizing, even though she had asked and never received an answer, Krista wasn't entirely sure she would have been willing to listen to Rhea before their fight.
If she would have been willing to share.
But something clicked during their fracas.
Perhaps it was for the best.
"You were able to take control of my… our body. So, if I give you control willingly, we should be able to share. You'll get your freedom. And together… we will grow?"
Rhea still had that look on her face. Just knowing she would need to fight for this offer that was being presented. "Start out slow?"
"Yeah."
And together, they watched the ground around them blossom.
Not yet healed, but on its way.
Krista nestled herself against the base of the tree, fingers trailing through the sprouting grass. "If this is where you've been stuck, how do you know what I'm doing? What I'm thinking?"
"Can I go out?" At her nod, Rhea disappeared from view.
A handful of seconds passed with no change.
Was she missing something?
But the sky, filled with clouds, gradually cleared until she stared up at D. Almost as if she was truly there. And she felt Rhea's joy. Dulled, but there. A tiny tendril of warmth.
"Hey, D."
His head tipped lightly. "Rhea."
"Don't suppose you'll mind seein' me a bit more often, will you?"
"I don't see why I would. So long as it is mutual."
They could both see what he was implying.
Without thinking, Krista reached out to assure him that she was not a prisoner. Feeling like a stranger in her own body for a moment. But she didn't want to have full control. She was entirely willing to let Rhea have more than half a minute.
Yet, there she was.
Yet not.
Somewhere between.
And she felt that if she wished, she could push Rhea out of the way. Or slip back through the veil into the Garden.
It's all about intent.
Whatever the case, she never said anything.
D found what he sought in their gaze and murmured a soft, "Good."
Yes.
They supposed everything was good.
Not great.
But it was a start.
Days passed like grains of sand between their fingers.
Before the group knew it, another month passed. And in that month, Krista was certain of a few things.
First, Rhea was better behaved than she could have ever imagined. But still incredibly crass. More than herself.
Second, giving Rhea full control was incredibly draining. Short periods of time were manageable. But anything longer than a few hours?
She could sleep for days.
Third, it was easier getting past their rocky start than either of them believed possible. Sure, Rhea had her days where she was a tad too easy to snap. But she was working at it. And outbursts were becoming less common. Less drawn out.
As for D?
D was not so quick to trust Rhea.
It'd been a quick change.
Neither blamed him.
But the more they talked, and the more Rhea was out and about showing improvement, the more welcoming the Hunter was.
As welcoming as the stoic man could be.
Which was still pleasing for the girls.
Things could only get better.
April 07, 13,013
They were officially on the Southern Continent.
Had been for the better part of two weeks.
However, now that they were within spitting distance of the terminal, it was officially official.
Hallelujer!
Krista wanted to drop to the ground and pass out for the foreseeable future. Strip out of all her clothes and just stretch out.
But they were so close that they needed to keep going!
They could practically taste it!
D figured it would take a couple more months before they arrived at the tribe. Assuming they'd not moved. Or died.
"So close!"
"Yet so far!"
"Patience, girls."
"We are being patient!" A sheepish smile."Kinda."
D eyed them for a moment. Wondering if they realized they were blending more and more. Still two separate entities. Two different personalities. But the more they interacted, the more in sync they became.
It was certainly interesting to witness.
The first terminal they would check was a day's ride away, at the edge of the rainforest last he'd checked. If that was a bust, which he was certain it would be, the next was deeper in. Both were along channels, but Anyd had not specified.
They were flying blind, so to speak.
The girl suddenly wormed her way up under his arm as he looked over the saddlebags. Nudging his side playfully. "Hey. We're gonna go find food. Want anything?"
"No thank you."
"You sure?" Krista prodded. "It seems like it's been forever since you last ate."
"I'm fine." And he shooed them off with a tip of his head. Gesturing for them and Erembour to find their dinner.
Perhaps it had been quite a while since his last meal.
What was new?
However, if it had been long enough to be a concern for the girls, he had to wonder if he should.
Hmm…
Perhaps it would be wise.
If they'd thought the last terminal was in a sorry state, the state of this one should have come as no surprise.
It was worse.
Floors and ceilings alike were collapsing in. Walls crumbling around themselves.
Technology stripped.
Krista looked up through the ceiling. Far into the rooms above and into the night sky as shades of pink slowly crawled across the eastern horizon. Sighing.
The building was certainly interesting.
But just as big of a bust as D feared it would be.
She followed his gentle hand and looked down. Fingers digging into her cloak. Despite knowing that this was likely not the terminal they needed, she'd hoped. Hoped they could bulrush this whole fiasco and get where they needed to go.
"Onwards and upwards?" At his nod, she sagged against him. Ignoring the little voice that wondered if she was too much in his personal space. But worried she was making him uncomfortable.
Surely, he would tell her if she was.
"So a couple more weeks? Maybe a month?"
"Less than a month."
She groaned.
Should she tell him she'd been feeling a bit off the past few days?
Krista awoke in the Garden.
Panicked.
Thinking something was terribly wrong.
The clouded sky cleared above her instantly.
"Something wrong?" Hand asked.
Their head shook from left to right, and Krista could see that they were still nestled against D's side. The trees of the rainforest unmoved and very much the same. At least, as far as she could tell from their resting place in the tree. "Nah. Sis just woke up a bit rough."
Admittedly, Krista still wasn't sure how Rhea could read her so well. True, she could feel Rhea's emotions. Sometimes, very clearly. But she couldn't parse out Rhea's thoughts as well as Rhea could hers.
It was frustrating.
Was she not trying hard enough?
"Sis. I've had how many years of bein' in your head to figure it out? Don't get all pissy just 'cause you ain't figured it all out in two months."
"I'm not! I'm just… frustrated."
Quiet.
"Pissy…"
Krista squawked at her, playfully offended, before falling quiet. Sinking against the tree with a soft sigh. Urging their body just a bit closer to the Hunter. "Sorry I interrupted y'all. I thought I'd not woken up for an emergency and you'd had to get us out of it."
"Nah. I just woke up and thought it'd be okay for me to gab with them a bit. Clear the air."
Gods, it made her terribly curious as to what was said. But they were allowed to keep their secrets. She didn't have to know every little detail. "Was it a good talk?"
That little trill of joy snaked through her. Not her own, but quickly feeding hers as D said, "It was."
What more could she ask for?
Sleeping in the trees had become the norm. D unwilling to risk anything that dwelled on the forest floor creeping up on them, despite his enveloping aura.
Not that the girls minded. Although, they did worry for the horse.
Otherwise, with how Krista had been feeling, she was more than happy to sleep in the tree. Pressed against D's side with Erembour stretched across their laps.
As the night drew to an end, Krista found it was one of those rare mornings.
A small thing, really.
But it filled Krista with such joy to just… be as she woke.
No panic.
No flailing.
No gasping.
She'd had a good dream. Not prophetic in any way.
Just a simple dream with D and children she could only assume were hers that left her smiling as it ended in a slow return to reality. Filled with birdsong and the chirping of insects that faded into the vision she'd been gifted.
She was content.
Fuzzy.
Warm.
Antsy.
Floating in that limbo between wakefulness and sleep.
But as static encroached on her vision, she couldn't help but wonder why she felt like something was… throbbing. Why wonderfully warm was quickly bordering on miserably warm.
Her cheeks.
Her chest.
Breath.
Belly.
D was not at her side when her eyes fluttered open. Nor was Erembour.
Far below them, she could hear the Demon prowling the forest floor. She looked about for the Hunter.
He occupied another tree limb, sans his hat and coat. Using a flat blade to carve out his beloved wooden needles in long, steady strokes. The blue medallion hanging about his neck gently thumping against his sternum as he worked.
Krista outright stared. Watching his hands continue the back and forth motion. Entranced. Finding the vein on the back of his hand particularly nice to look at.
And why the Hell did she want to see more?
Her mind flitted briefly back to the tavern when she'd been sick. Without prompting, it conjured the memory of D without his shirt.
Yup.
She definitely did not need more of that.
But she wanted it.
Perhaps more fiercely than she reckoned was reasonable.
"Not sayin' I mind, but why are you starin' so hard?"
Krista twitched in surprise but did not look away. "Not staring. I'm… observing." She cringed at her own answer.
"Mmhmm. Yeah. And that's why you're droolin' over his hands?"
Neither noticed the Hunter slow his movements.
"He has very nice hands?"
Did not notice the musk slowly surrounding them.
But Krista did finally realize what she truly yearned for. With a hot huff she was surprised she couldn't see, she admitted to Rhea, "I just wanna be pet."
"That's not the worst idea."
"Just like Miss Haldwyn used to!"
Silence.
"That? That is what you want? Some head pets?"
"Duh? The fudge else is there to pet?"
She felt her eyes roll under a volition not her own, accompanied by a spike of exasperation. Amusement. "I could think of a few things. I just wanna know how I'm more in tune with my bodily wants than you are."
"I'm in tune!" she argued. "The body wants head pets!"
"Are you sure the body doesn't want pets down here?"
Just as her hand was shifting down her belly, D appeared over them. Pulling forth a startled squeak and a pretty flush to their cheeks.
Had his eyes always been so pretty?
So clear and bright?
So piercing?
Their belly fluttered.
"Good morning!"
He lowered to his haunches. Arms braced against his knees. "Good morning, girls." And carefully, he pressed the back of his hand against their forehead. Grasped their chin and spread their lips. Never mind their flushed chest and neck and blown out pupils.
They were absolutely not pressing into his touch and purring.
"How are y'all feeling?" Hand asked.
"Needy," they replied with little hesitation. "Needy and hot."
"That explains the conversation about pets."
Now, their flush increased exponentially. "Oops…"
The countenanced carbuncle chuckled good-naturedly. "I don't think your comments on his hands are near as bad as some other comments we've heard." And quieter, he murmured, "… or given."
"Do not include me in that statement."
"Okay. That I have given. You've thought."
Down the Hunter's brows went.
Krista stared at the two in confusion.
Rhea in intrigue.
"So, you're sayin' there's a chance."
D shot her a sharp look.
Should he feel bad if he considered nudging her out of the tree?
Pinching her cheek?
"What would it take to make it a reality?!"
His left hand pinched the slim cheek, and she squealed in surprise. Batting at his hand as he leaned in.
Honestly, Krista would be fine to just drag him in and snuggle.
"Stop the thought that's going through your head," D said as he tweaked her cheek.
Her eyes went wide. "What's wrong with cuddling?"
Ah. Yes.
Krista still possessed that painfully innocent nature.
"I need you to focus."
"Okay." A cheeky grin. "I'll focus better if you give me a head pet?"
Another sharp look from the man.
"Sorry. I'm listening."
"You might feel this way for a few days. Perhaps a week." They seemed understanding. Krista understandably confused. Rhea irritated. "Try to put it out of your mind and ignore it."
"Easier said than done," they grumbled.
"Yeah, well. Otherwise, you'll be needing to do some self-exploring," said Hand. "And I don't know that we've got time for that."
"How would we explore our self?" Krista poked at their belly. "What is there to explore?"
"Your no-no square."
Her face became curiously blank.
"You… what? Ew?"
The Hunter curled his left hand into a fist. Silencing the countenanced carbuncle before it could speak more. Interjecting, "In time, you will need to explore that part of yourself."
"But it's… weird."
A singular brow rose.
"Don't look at me like that! It's! Weird!"
The look continued.
"Why don't we show him?"
"Rhea."
Krista was already to her feet when D stressed Rhea's name, and that heat seemed to warm her just a bit more. Something she paid no mind to as she started fumbling with the fastenings on her breeches. Hands trembling.
When had that started?
Why had that started?
"Krista."
Her knees went weak.
"Fubbernucker!" she hissed. "The Hell is wrong with my body right now?!"
D grasped her hands just as the first button on her breeches came loose. "I do not need to see. The exploration is something you should do when you are alone."
"I've touched it!"
There came that brow again.
Judging her.
"Once."
Gods help them.
"Fine. We will make an effort to explore our self."
The Hunter nodded his approval and released his hold on their hands. Moving back to his limb to gather his needles.
"So why not start now!"
Oh, for fuck's sake.