Welcome Back!
Sorry for the exceptionally long wait! I didn't intend for this chapter to be as delayed as it was. I had a bit of motivational issues with this one, but what is to be expected after the excitement that happened in the Harvest Moon arc. Anyways, I don't want to diverge too much. You may not know this, but I fat-fingered my keyboard and refreshed the webpage when I was working on this intro initially. None of it saved! (yay...)
Anyways, I guess I talked about approaching 200K words, me being really thankful, blah, blah, blah... Anyways, Guest Review Responses for Chapter 16!
ReadingBeta (Guest): Isn't that obvious? Western Energy. I hope the next lemon will be one that I can actually read between Kyle n Loona. Those two desperately need to get laid. Again. Update soon.
Response: I don't really know when the next lemon will be. I tend to plan those out maybe one or two chapters in advance. Additionally, I don't know who it is going to be between. Personally, I enjoy the tender moments more than the lemons, but that is just me. I will try and see where the next lemon will fit in next, but chances are it won't be for a while.
Guest #1: Minor note here, are you going to add the chapter title? I noticed that it was missing there when I read it over.
Overall, you delivered on this chapter in an amazing way! I was impressed!
P.S: I was meaning to ask this question once this two-parter ended, but out of Striker's voice actors, which one do you prefer?
Norman Reedus (Season 1, Episode 5)
Edward Boscoe (Season 2, Episode 4)
My personal favorite was the first. But don't let that influence your choice!
Okay, I know I misspelled Edward Bosco's last name in my last review after I had looked it up! So please forgive me for that!
Response: I saw your review shortly after Chapter 16 release and fixed the issue. I had other issues with the chapter as well (I guess I was sort of braindead when uploading it).
Personally, I prefer Norman Reedus's voice acting for Striker. It is darker, and grittier. I believe it fits the character a little better. However, I believe that Edward Bosco did a fantastic job as well, and he brings some good elements as well. I would understand why someone would prefer him over Reedus. Good question!
Also, you don't need to make correction reviews. It isn't a big deal if you leave a small mistake. I correct them when I can (and I wouldn't have even noticed the misspell).
Guest #2: I already can't wait for the next chapter and the next next one, I hope you make it because from its description it is interesting and would be a perfect opportunity for kyle and loona to confess their love for each other, the scenery of a beach is perfect for a moment like this, specially at night
Response: It is hard to say when that might be. It shouldn't be for a while since development for both Loona and Verosika has to take place well before that moment. Yep, this is definitely going to be a slow burn romance... Sorry about that. Also, this chapter isn't the beach chapter. That will be located in Chapter 18, and it will hold its own moments to enjoy.
Guest #3: I have a feeling I might have an idea on who Striker's "Potential Client" is. Sadly, we're just going to have to wait.
Response: I wish you could share, but I would have preferred though a PM. Mostly, so I could say 'yes, but no' to you since I have a feeling of your guess.
lurker no more (Guest): If becoming parents before the ending is off the table. How about a chapter with Kyle, Loona, and Verosika having to babysit a kid (maybe a relative of somebody from Verosika's crew) for a day? Between strengthening the bond between the three of them and the potential antics of keeping said kid entertained and safe for the day. I think it would be a fun way to plant the idea in their heads that they'll want children of their own someday.
Response: I am actually thinking up something similar to that, but it won't really be a babysitting chapter. I don't really know how well that would fit in. I do understand why you are asking (developing the characters in such a way that they have either a longing for such a thing, and stuff like that). Additionally, I feel like the idea has been pretty well explored. Although it isn't even close to what you have in mind, I would say that Regular Show encapsulates the antics pretty well. A demon baby would probably have a host of problems.
Guest #4: This is something I really admire about you as an author. In your stories (Especially this one and Finding Balance), you do a great job balancing yourself when it comes to the intimate and violent moments. It would be very easy to indulge in those in every or every other chapter, but you choose not to. Instead, by focusing on the plot, you allow yourself and your stories time to breath before those moments are reached (You even give a little heads-up before the former arrives). Your stories are rated M for a reason, and it works very well in your favor.
Also, I really do like how you don't just develop your original character and the relationship with his love interest (Or interests, in this case.), you take the time to develop the other characters too.
Response: I appreciate the compliment very much. I must balance the OC (the character is not meant to represent me :O) for it to be enjoyable. It is in his POV, but he has his own growth and balancing to do with the other characters. Plus, if none of the other characters got any focus, breakthroughs wouldn't have that much impact. They are also violent to represent the darker, grittier things in life, so that is why they are rated M. Also, I just like that sort of freedom.
Personally, I believe the character with the most development at the moment is Loona. She had come a long way, and it does feel like in such a short time. XD That is just because I believe her character would change a lot if given the right support. Thank you for the review!
Guest #5: To lurker no more,
This may be an odd question to even ask, but how would a human be able to have offspring with both a Hellhound and a Succubus?
Response: I see why they are asking. If I were to do an offspring between demon/human, I would probably follow the rule of one or the other. Me being me, I would choose the offspring to be either Hellhound (for Loona) or Succubus/Incubus (for Verosika). I just believe that sort of development is a dead end in character development. It is only good for the end of a story.
lurker no more (Guest): To guest
Humans are biologically compatible with pretty much every fantasy and sci-fi species out there. In mythology a being born of a human and a demon is called a Cambion while one born from a human and an angel is called a Nephilim.
For the Helluva Boss universe. I personally think that if Kyle has any children with Verosika. They would be either an incubus or succubus since her species constantly travels to earth and mate with humans so I wouldn't be surprised if there have been more than a few cases of a human knocking up a succubus.
Loona's case is a little trickier. I believe that a human/hellhound hybrid would have an appearance similar to Inuyasha. Looking like a human with dog ears, pointed finger and toe nails, and maybe a tail.
Response: I will refer you to the response I gave to Guest #5 right above this one. However, I appreciate the fact that you put forth some research to backup your claim. I will just say that I prefer the creative approach to something like this a little more. ;) Same conclusion, though.
Guest #5 (Again): Thanks for clearing that up, lurker no more!
Response: Just posted this here for them to see if they didn't see it before.
Guest #6: To JustinTheSpider,
Much like you, I'm also willing to see the interactions between Kyle and Stella! My personal reason is that in chapter 7, it was more of a first impression and/or a an indirect confrontation. Either way, I think we'll both be waiting for that!
P.S: While my preferred choice for that meeting would be after Truth Seekers and before Ozzie's, it is entirely up to Forsvaret-Komandir to decide.
Response: He saw your review and agreed with you. I am sort of working on something that will include an interaction between the two, but nothing is solid. It will most likely be a chapter focused around Octavia if I do it, and it will be after Truth Seekers and before Ozzie's. I already have a lot planned after my clump of episode-chapters (S1.7,S1.8, and S2.1) since they fit all together. I have some ideas, but I am still thinking about what Stella would be like. I am up for suggestions on this!
Guest #7: I have a feeling that this next chapter will be worth the wait!
Response: Hopefully... It took a while to write, and I had motivation issues. I just hope none of that leaked into the overall quality of the chapter. I appreciate your support, though.
Guest #8: I've got to say, I have no doubt you'll deliver on your next chapter! But with a writer of your pedigree, I'm sure you'll be able to pass expectations and more!
Response: Same response to as above. I do my best, and I tried hard for this chapter as well. I hope you enjoy it!
Guest #9: You're doing a great job!
Response: Thank you. I appreciate the support!
...
That's it for guest reviews! I guess we should get onto the chapter now!
Chapter 17: The One Who Kills the Least
The Past…
The sun beat down on me on this particularly hot day. Sweat had already started to roll down the skin on my back, arms, legs, and neck. Despite being on tour for the first time halfway across the world, I was still not used to the intense temperature after a couple of weeks. I still wasn't going to complain, especially seeing as I was expected to carry out my duties regardless. Seeing as we were in a new city, I found myself looking to move medical supplies from point A to point B. There weren't quite enough people, so I found myself being assigned the task instead of sitting around with my thumb up my ass.
The sounds of my feet against the compacted dirt of the ground were what my ears mostly picked up despite the mess of chatter amongst many of the locals. I couldn't understand anything of what they were saying, but they seemed rather interested in the foreign military activity in their city. None of them seems particularly angry. There was no blinking light signaling 'insurgent here', or anything like that. They were just people for the most part.
With the box of supplies in hand, I finally made it to one of the makeshift outposts that had yet to be fully stocked. Being out of the sun and heat felt mighty good, even if it was going to be for a moment. The temporary quartermaster seemed to be labeling and counting the various goods that were coming in. He didn't even turn to look at me as I came through the doorway.
I stood there before I finally placed the box on the counter to make a little noise. This caught the officer's attention, and he finished up what he was doing before he came over to check what was in the box. He began to sort through the items before he spoke lowly, "Saline drips, bandages, tourniquets... I was wondering when some of those would be coming by." He then looked up at me before asking, "Anyone else coming?"
I shrugged my shoulder, "I don't know. I was just given the task."
The officer clicked his tongue in thought for a moment before saying, "This wouldn't be the first time those fuckers are one and done. Do you mind getting me two more boxes just like this one?"
I was exactly happy with the trek without any sort of vehicle. It has been a complete mess since coming here. There were a lot of people without orders, and soldiers without anything to do tended to do stupid things. Being new to this, I was finding things to do to avoid that.
I nodded, "Yes, sir."
There was a grunt in response before I made my way to the door and back out to the smoldering air. I found myself zigzagging through the people who were in the way while I tried to remember where I had come from. It wasn't the easiest place to navigate, especially since everything seemed to look different compared to when I was going the other way.
Suddenly, something whizzed right by my head in a black-and-white blur. I flinched to the side before finally seeing a bunch of kids and teens running right beside me. After they went by, there seemed to be a few servicemen following right behind. It took me a second to figure out that they were playing a little game of soccer, or I guess 'football' to the locals.
I felt a protest emerging from my throat until I felt someone lift my helmet from my head. I swiftly looked around with a scowl on my face until I got a good look at someone familiar. My shoulders slightly slumped in irritation before I said, "Dick."
A small laugh came from the slightly larger soldier before he handed me back my helmet. He said, "I don't know if you are saying my name, or if you are just insulting me."
Yeah… His name is 'Dick'. He looked me up and down to see that I was still rather dressed up compared to him. He was down to his undershirt, which was slightly wet from his sweat. He finally continued with a knowing inflection in his voice, "What are you doing?"
I pointed back from where I had come from, "I was just delivering some supplies back there." I looked at him with some confusion before saying, "Shouldn't you be doing something, too?"
Dick waved me off before saying, "Man, you need to learn how to relax a little." He then looked around to see one of the local teens who were playing soccer come over with a very friendly expression on his face. It took a second longer for Dick to notice, and he used this opportunity to change the topic, "Hey, you should meet Emir here. He is one of the local guys here who decided it was a good idea to approach a bunch of gun-toting U.S. Army soldiers to ask if we wanted to play a game of soccer."
Emir gave a curt nod before asking excitedly with a distinct accent, "Are you still playing? Is your friend going to play?"
Dick gave a deep nod while saying, "He sure is!"
I instantly rebuked, "No, I won't."
This was met with a side glance from Dick before he addressed Emir, "You should join back in. We will follow shortly."
Emir smiled, "Okay. It was nice to meet you!" The teen turned around and ran back into the fight for the ball.
Dick turned to look at me before explaining, "Look, Kyle, I get that you are always super serious. You haven't really said anything about yourself, but you are super serious about almost everything. We were a part of the first troops here, right?" I nodded in confirmation before he continued, "Yeah! So, let someone new or some desk jockey worry about all the supply shit and responsibilities. Shit, you aren't even supposed to be doing any of this! You are a combat medic! Trust me when I say this, you need these small moments to just fucking around. These hours are what makes those seconds bearable."
I remained relatively unconvinced. I had yet to be shot at, so I didn't know what to expect. I was already here, and it was only a matter of time before I found solace in my fate. I muttered, "I don't know…"
A defeated expression overcame Dick. He let out a sigh, "I can't force you to join, but this shit is fun. Amir and the other guys are very kind, and they would love to have you join." He then smiled, "Plus, we are down a guy. We could use your help putting these other guys in their place." I stood there for a moment in thought. I didn't say anything, but I did hold a bit of hesitation on my face. Dick read this and finished by saying, "It is your choice. I have to join back now."
The larger soldier ran back into the game leaving me standing around by myself. He was right. I had yet to give myself a break from duty, and that included duties that I wasn't even supposed to be doing. While life had been unbearably hard over the last many months, there shouldn't be any reason for me to make it any harder. While I waited for the inevitable, I should find moments to find some happiness.
I small smile formed on my lips. Seeing not much of a reason to carry on with what I was doing, I decided that I could use a little time to join in the game. I ran toward the group and-
"Kyle…"
The Present…
My eyes shot wide open in a small panic as I felt something touch my arm which roused me from my sleep. I practically jumped up from the couch and was ready to attack whatever called my name. I barely registered my sword flew through the air and landed in my hand. I stopped short of drawing out of its sheath.
I gazed at the spooked Moxxie who was still getting himself dressed for the day. He held his hands up in a disarmed manner while he stared back at me with wide eyes. He barely articulated, "Oh, crumbs… Sorry."
I let out a sigh before shaking my head, "No, I'm sorry. My first reaction to someone shaking me awake shouldn't be to lop off their heads."
Millie came into the living room from the kitchen. She responded after hearing what I said, "You better be careful about not loppin' my husband's head off. If that happens, you'll find yourself sleeping in a dumpster."
I commented, "I'm guessing that I won't be alive to see that, right?" Millie gave the sweetest smile before nodding at me. One laugh escaped me, "Yeah, I figured as much. I really should be getting back to my place soon."
Millie said, "Nonsense! You shouldn't have been living there alone. Moxxie and I have been talkin' about it, and we were going to offer you a permanent place here!"
Moxxie exclaimed, "Millie! We were going to tell him later." His shoulder slumped while he let out a sigh before he finally decided to address it. He said, "We have been preparing the other room for you to stay in. I know that you feel like you are imposing on us, but we assure you that isn't the case. We enjoyed having you around. At least give it some thought."
I wanted to argue the exact points he said, but I saw it as pointless since he pointed them out. I simply nodded in response. It wasn't like I was exactly excited to move back into my shitty apartment.
Millie spoke brightly, "Good! Now, get some pants on, mister. We have to get ready to go to the office. Blitz and Loona should be here in fifteen minutes. Seeing as there aren't any contracts, this will be a good day to get to your training."
I sighed while leaning back on the couch, "Great…"
Both Millie and Moxxie walked away and continued with their morning chores. I took these extra few minutes pondering my dream, or more specifically, my memory. Dick, Amir, both of their faces were still very fresh in my mind. Dick with his older, unshaven mug and Amir's enthusiastic and bright eyes. It has been at least six or seven years since then. I decided that I had thought long enough before I finally decided to get to my feet. It was time for work.
A little later…
I sat on the couch in the reception area of I.M.P. while I stretched out my shoulder. Ever since I was bitten by Striker a little over a week ago, everything in that joint area felt very stiff and tender. The surface wound was only scars and healing skin. Despite the power of the sword being able to heal the wound a great deal, there was still something wrong with it. It was just another thing I was going to have to get used to. It was just another mark on my skin.
Loona herself also seemed to be preparing for today's session with Millie. She wasn't as seriously into it as I had been before, but now it felt like something clicked within her. I guess after the Harvest Moon Festival, she felt ill-prepared for whatever other threats we faced. I shouldn't be surprised by the change in demeanor. The Hellhound had been even more critical about my shoulder than I had been. It almost felt like she wanted to baby me a little about it.
It seemed like Loona was almost reading my thoughts, or maybe it was the slight winces I made when stretching out. She asked, "So, how's the shoulder today?"
There were a few pops when I rolled it a bit. I commented, "I could be better, but it's not bad today."
Loona then said, "Didn't Vee tell you to probably apply some heat or some shit? Did that help?"
I looked at the Hellhound quizzically, "Vee?"
Loona shrugged, "Yeah, Verosika." I made an 'ohh' face before she continued, "When we hung out a couple of days ago, she said that helped her with her ankle during an on-stage accident a while back. Were you even listening to her?"
I thought out loud, "No, I didn't… And if I remember correctly, she also offered to feel me up to make it feel better."
Loona seemed dismissive of the claim, "Yeah, that just seems to be the sexually charged energy that Succubi gives off. Also, she was just offering to message it out… I hope…" There was a hint of jealousy on Loona's face from this. She then looked at me with irritation, "You are also being impossible about it, you know. We are just trying to help, Kyle."
I said, "I know. It's just not that big of a deal. It will heal with time."
This didn't seem to convince Loona one bit. She replied with an aggressive edge to her tone, "Is that your medical opinion from when you were a doctor, or whatever?"
I clarified with a blunt tone, "I was a combat medic. I don't have a medical opinion. I found out that my job was less about saving lives and more about giving comfort to a dying soldier's final moments." I saw that I had gotten off-topic, and Loona's expression hadn't changed. I was going about this the wrong way once again. I should be doing what was right for her. So, I walked up to her before I lightly grabbed her shoulder. I finally said, "Okay, I know that you are just worried about me. I guess I will try and take care of it later today."
This seemed to change Loona's expression as she looked back at me thankfully. She then brought me into a small hug before saying, "Thank you."
I felt elated by her gestures and words. I returned the hug, and a few seconds passed before the sound of someone clearing their throat reached both of our ears. Loona was the first to look over followed by me. We both looked at the now-present Moxxie as he stood there for a moment. He rubbed the back of his hand with the other while he looked at us. He finally stuttered out, "U-Umm, I didn't m-mean to interrupt."
It was abundantly clear that Moxxie looked at the two of us differently whenever we were hanging out. I guess he couldn't get over that Loona was very different toward me, or maybe that she was warming up to him. That, or it is probably the fact that he knows the 'little' secret Loona and I hold. Thinking about it, that was probably it.
Finally, Millie entered with a big bag of weapons. She smiled gleefully before looking at the other three of us being silent. She didn't address it. Instead, she just looked back at Loona and me before saying excitedly, "You two ready for training today?"
Before either of us could respond, Blitzo kicked open his office door before knowingly saying, "Not today, Millie! We have a client!"
She seemed to drop the bag before yelling, "Fuck yeah!"
Blitzo walked up to the female Imp with an apologetic look, "I know how much you like dicing up the kill for us, Mills, but you aren't going to be joining on this one."
Millie seemed saddened by the news, but also curious, "What?! Why not?!"
The boss Imp then walked over to me before grabbing me around my torso with one of his arms. He proceeded to answer, "I think it is just the right time to get our big human employee his first kill."
I brushed him off with my heart jumping into my throat, "What?!"
Blitzo took a few steps back before saying, "Look, I'm not saying that you haven't been doing great work for the company. It's just that I think it is finally time for you to pop your murder cherry for the company." Out of the office came a Sinner that looked as if they were pulled out of time. Their clothing style seemed to fit more in line with a knight from the Renaissance. His face was completely covered by an armored faceplate with his red eyes glowing through. Blitzo pointed over at him, "We even got one made just for you. Our target murdered this guy by running a blade right through this guy's back like some coward."
The Sinner responded in a tone that seemed to fit his look, "It be true. It twas the first light of day when the scoundrel-"
Blitzo yelled out, "Speak like you lived in the modern era! Fucking dick."
Moxxie commented to himself, "I was actually enjoying the bit of theatrics."
The Sinner was startled by the yell before he responded in a more normal way, "Right, but this red guy is right. I don't know who it was, but I was stabbed in the back. All I know is that the guy was a worker at the fair. He just watched me bleed out."
Blitzo commented, "See! He sounds like a real asshole that deserves what is coming to him. You are going to be the one to do it." I was about to protest, but Blitzo continued, "Don't worry. Moxxie and I will serve as backup. Think about this trip as a little guys' trip for the three of us."
None of this seemed to help whatsoever. I looked around at everyone to see what they were like. Blitzo and Millie both seemed to be happy with the arrangement. My attention then focused on Moxxie, and he was smiling, but there was something else there. I felt like there was some sort of understanding that I wasn't entirely on board with this decision. That was an understatement…
Then, I looked over at Loona. She had some ideas about my past, and what I had gone through. I could see the conflict within her, but she didn't say anything. Loona just stood there with soft eyes and a worried expression. It made it feel like I wasn't alone.
Then, I felt something reach out within the depths of my mind. It had happened once before. A voice followed, "You must do this."
It was all inside my head, but the voice felt like it was being spoken directly into my ear. The voice of Azazel. This was the first time he had addressed me since all of my troubles with Larissa and the Harvest Moon Festival. Through all of this, there wasn't a peep from him. Now all of a sudden, he is giving his input.
I felt myself protesting in my mind, "What the… Why are you-"
He cut me off, "If you are going to carry out the plan, you need to be ruthless. The Sins are far more vicious and evil than who this Imp wants you to kill." Azazel seemed to cut off his 'speaking' for a moment before he decided to approach from a different direction, "I am trying to prepare you for what is to come. You no longer have the luxury of a peaceful existence. There are those out there who wish to hurt you and your friends simply because of who you are. If you cannot snuff them out before they kill you, then you won't last much longer."
I was contemplating Azazel's words with repeated feelings of rebellion. I had thought that my life of killing in 'the name of good' was over. Sure, I had saved Moxxie way back when I didn't know him, and when he was in imminent danger. It was different, and so was everything before that. I was even completely desensitized when the killing happened around me. However, being the one that has a direct hand in it once again…
Blitzo seemed to be reading my plethora of negative emotions. His look turned more critical as he addressed me, "Look, I'm not going to point fingers, but you could have ended that fight with Striker a lot earlier." He finished this by pointing his finger at me.
Moxxie pointed out, "Sir, you are literally pointing your finger at Kyle."
Blitzo ignored him, "You had that backstabber in your clutches, and you just couldn't finish the job. Fucking up something like that makes me wonder whether I can trust you to watch our backs when you come on jobs."
Loona growled in anger while defending me, "Shut the fuck up, Blitz. Last I heard, you had your asses handed to you by that assassin guy."
Blitzo folded his arms in a pout, "Yeah, well… My point still stands! It's time for you to put that sword to use and start letting some human heads roll. How does that sound?"
I closed my eyes and resisted the calls of both Blitzo and Azazel. I don't need to become a cold-blooded murderer. I can't imagine taking the life of some random person when I am not in danger. However, I couldn't fathom how the first time taking a life was going to happen until it already did…
The Past, a few days later…
It was another hot one. The days don't seem to relent one bit. There wasn't a cloud in the sky that could stop the sun from scorching the dry earth below. The only thing that could help ease the heat was the shaded areas. Even then, it was still far from comfortable as it could still reach the triple digits.
Being stuck in the same town for multiple days wasn't something that I was entirely used to but in a good way. The days were usually pretty tame. There would be a few tasks to carry out, like making sure the equipment was in good order, or patrol. In between those times, I found myself relaxing for the first time in so long. Both Dick and his new friend, Emir, were instrumental in that. I even found myself befriending the two the more I enjoyed my leisure time.
However, right now wasn't the time for relaxing. Seeing as I was free with nothing to do for the moment, I was assisting Dick with maintaining one of the MRAPs. While checking if the equipment functioned correctly, he also made sure there was enough ammo to continue when we needed to. The little outpost we were currently parked at hardly seemed to be the best place to do all of this, but we were limited by available space elsewhere.
Dick clicked his fingers at me to catch my attention. Apparently, I was dazing off again. He said, "Jeez, you are spacey today. Good thing you aren't the one looking over these weapons." He pointed to the machine gun that he was cleaning on top of the vehicle.
I shook my head before apologetically saying, "Sorry about that." Dick looked expectantly at me which caused me to follow up with, "Uhh, what did you want?"
He let out an amused sigh before saying, "I wanted you to get me a clean rag from the post over there. All this dust and shit is everywhere, and I just wanted to wipe it down really quick before I grease it up. You think you could maintain concentration long enough to do that for me?"
I let out a snorted laugh before saying, "Shut the fuck up…" I jumped down from the tire that I was standing on before walking across the street over to the small building to get a new rag. I finally made it to the other side of the road before I began scanning the room for what I needed.
After a good amount of time searching with no luck, I turned around and yelled out to Dick, "Where is it?"
He turned to me before he started to yell out, "It should be-" He didn't even get to finish his sentence before something hit him in the neck. A mist of red followed by a good amount of flesh and blood spewed all over the top of the vehicle. As he rolled off the top of the MRAP, the bang of a rifle rang out.
BANG!
I practically jumped in my step as my breathing caught in my throat. Someone yelled out into the air, "Sniper!" Everyone seemed to rush for cover while a few more shots rang out from one of the directions that had a broad view of the street we were on.
In complete shock at seeing one of my friends being shot and bleeding out, I felt my feet move on their own. I was walking down the street before I practically felt the air change when a bullet flew across my vision. I fell backward before scurrying back into cover. I wasn't even thinking beyond the man trying to cling to life while he was only twenty or so meters away from me.
Someone else yelled out, "Stay in your fucking cover!"
I managed to scramble back a little while I collected my nerves. This was the first time that I had been shot at, and it was drastically different than I imagined. All my actions felt automatic since the first shot hit Dick. I was somehow 'fortunate' to escape any harm while he lay in the dirt covered in his blood. He didn't make any movements that I could see. I didn't know if he was dead or not. Medics on the other side were already forming a plan to get to him.
"Where are those shots coming from?"
"I don't know."
There weren't that many of us here, and we were practically caught with our dicks in our hands. It was complete chaos. No one knew where the shots were coming from. Well, I wouldn't say that the same was true for me. I had a hunch that they were coming from the north since that gave a good view of the street. The only problem was figuring out what to do.
My eyes finally found a rifle that was nearby. The cogs in my head began to turn while I looked back to Dick's bleeding form and then to the weapon. I don't entirely know what overcame me, but I found myself grabbing the weapon before I rushed to a path that would take me to where I believed the shots were coming from.
Behind me, I could hear the shouts of fellow soldiers calling out to me, "Where are you going?!"
There were other shouts as well, but that was the only one I could hear before the voices grew fainter. I had a plan. There was no going back now.
Present…
It was like a blast from the past, but of a past that I had never been a part of. The Renaissance Fair was far larger, more packed, and more extravagant than I could have possibly imagined. All the employees and most of the patrons at the event were dressed up for the times in various garb. I wished to say that I was spared from having to roleplay, but that wasn't the case.
My clothing was rather uninspired. It was just a dark top, some darker pants, and then some shoes. Seeing as I wouldn't stand out with a sword in my possession, my blade was strapped at my hip. My clothing didn't mimic the lighter colors that other people walking around wore. It especially didn't fit along with whatever Blitzo and Moxxie decided to wear.
Instead of trying to blend in, the two wore closely matching upper-class dresses that seemed hardly practical for trying to assassinate some target. It could be worse, though. The two only receive minor looks, and not in the way that people thought they might be from Hell. Their more 'devilish' features, or things like their horns, were concealed under wigs and hats that seemed to fit with the aesthetic.
Moxxie looked around in wonder at the various booths, tents, and structures that gave a glimpse into the past. He seemed like the type who would enjoy events like this. I quickly found myself looking over to Blitzo as I asked, "Couldn't you two have at least gone with something a little more inconspicuous? I feel like I am walking around with two giant red flags to whomever we are here for."
Blitzo dismissed me, "That's because you have no sense of style. Finding the right ass-kicking outfit is sometimes part of the job. You will learn that from the best, rookie."
I scoffed at that before Moxxie's eyes had stars in them before he sucked in a deep breath, "Look, sir! Over there!" He pointed over to a tent with many instruments sitting outside it on display. There were a few lutes, flutes, and a couple of drums. Many of them seemed to be cheap renditions of the actual thing. It wasn't that impressive.
Blitzo responded in a dismissive tone, "Don't get your panties in a twist over some instruments, Moxx. Remember, we have a job to-" Blitzo cut himself off before he watched as an armored-up horse and its rider walked by. He continued to look with his usual horse-fueled excitement. He said, "Where is he going?"
By the looks of it, it could only be one thing. I responded, "I would say that they are going to joust." The two looked at me with confusion at what that was. I would have thought that at least Moxxie would know what that is. I elaborated, "Jousting. When two horse riders try to knock one another off their horse with a lance."
They both looked at one another. I could see that they were very interested in going to watch this bit of violence. I could practically see the two of them forgetting about the target to go and enjoy the fair. Seeing as how this could delay the inevitable, I offered, "We can go and watch it if you want."
I could see the temptation in Blitzo's eyes. However, at the last second, and for the first time, he shook his head, "No. We came here for a job. I'm not letting you get out of it that easily. We're relying on you to lop someone's head off, got it?"
The two continued to walk on while my shoulders slumped. I felt a sense of frustration with it all. It felt like I could have had better company on this little excursion. At least Loona would pick a lane to stick in regarding whether to stick to the job or slack off. Plus, seeing her in a Renaissance-themed dress wouldn't be too bad…
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Now was not the time to think about stuff like that. Instead, I found myself catching up with both disguised Imps. Blitzo explained, "We are looking for the place that is supposed to be a blacksmith. Our client said that the little backstabber stabbed him… in the back with something from there." Blitzo had a small pause at his realized redundancy.
Moxxie asked, "Sir, where do you it is? This place is far larger than we initially anticipated."
Blitzo shrugged, "We will probably see a bunch of sharp weapony-looking things or something. It shouldn't be too hard to find."
The three of us stopped for a moment before looking in different directions. It wasn't until Moxxie finally perked up before pointing in the correct direction toward somewhere that someone was shaping metal. Truth be told, I was somewhat impressed by how dedicated these people were to creating an authentic experience.
Moxxie said, "I believe it is over there, sir."
Blitzo smiled before marching over. He responded in an offhand way, "Nice work, Moxxie. I knew that there would be some use for you on this mission."
This caused the smaller Imp to beam in response before he followed behind. I guess the atmosphere must have elated the two to some degree. Blitzo's positive comments tended to be few with them far in between when it came to Moxxie. It was probably the horses all glamoured up in armor that made him feel that way.
Blitzo was the first to make it to the man acting as a blacksmith. Looking at his various works strung around the place showed that he knew how to craft a sword. The prices for the novelty weapons were beyond exorbitant, and that only made me conclude my point quicker.
Blitzo cleared his throat before saying to the role-player, "I see you have a lot of sharp, pointy weapons. What are the chances that you would be willing to part with one of them for a reasonable price?"
The blacksmith looked over at our little trio for a moment before speaking with the acting tone of someone who might be from way back in the past, "That they are. If you are willing to put forth a good amount of coin, then any piece of my work is for sale."
His tone was less convincing than that of the original client, so it could be assumed that he wasn't entirely into the roleplaying. That didn't seem to matter much since our little group wasn't interested in an 'authentic' experience. We were here for one reason, and despite the earlier distractions, Blitzo seemed to be on task now.
As the Imp in a lavish dress examined many of the weapons, he asked, "Would any of these, and this is a hypothetical question, be able to cut into someone like a knife through a juicy muttonchop?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose at Blitzo's lack of subtleness while the blacksmith's posture changed. He seemed to be a little more nervous compared to before. His tone completely changed as he dropped his acting, "Are you guys with the cops? I already talked to them about my work. They are only intended to be put on display for nerds and sword enthusiasts."
Blitzo began to swing one around erratically before confirming to himself with a loud laugh, "HA! Yeah, the sharpness of this definitely means they aren't meant to kill anyone."
The blacksmith asked, "Little sunburned lady, what do you three want with me?"
I let out a snorted breath at how Blitzo and Moxxie managed to trick the guy with their disguises. I just don't understand how no one seems capable of seeing beyond the half-baked façade. For now, though, I guess I will just have to appreciate that it worked.
Moxxie responded in a more polite tone, "We are a private organization looking into the death that occurred here recently. We believe that one of your weapons may have been used to commit the crime."
The guy shook his head in disbelief before finally saying, "Fine, I will tell you what I told the police. One of my knives went missing right before the killing happened. I don't know who took it, but it was probably an employee or volunteer."
Blitzo rubbed his chin in thought, "So, we have a little mystery on our hands."
Moxxie butted in, "Actually, sir, it isn't much of a mystery. It would most likely be someone who personally knew our client. All we need to do is figure out who his enemies might be."
Something seemed to click within Blitzo's head after a few seconds of thinking, "Oh, that's easy! Our client kept saying how much of a bitch his little 'squire', or whatever the fuck he was called was. The guy whined all the time."
I looked over with frustration, "When were you planning on sharing that little bit of info?"
I only received a dumb look from the Imp before he gave a brief shrug. Blitzo responded, "Sinners complaining about humans in your world isn't anything special. Since I run I.M.P., I heard about all the boring shit about how someone betrayed them, or how they weren't good friends."
I shook my head before looking over at the other guy. He seemed very confused by our conversation, but he didn't make a sound about it. I finally asked him, "Do you know where I can find the dead guy's squire?"
"Johnny?" The guy nodded, "Yeah, he is probably in the bunk area that he shares with some other guys. It is just down that main road and then to the left. It's a cottage-type building."
I nodded, "Great. Let's go."
I walked away from the smith before looking back into the crowds outside. I heard Blitzo comment toward me with a smile on his lips, "Can't wait to cut this guy down, huh?"
I glared at him for a moment and was going to say something, but that was before something caught Moxxie's eyes. His critical look suggested that something was bothering him. I asked him, "What is it?"
He pointed out someone in the crowd looking at us with a paranoid look. The looks from the three of us seemed to have set the guy off as he began to trip on his own feet in a panic. He must have been eavesdropping on the conversation that we were having earlier in the blacksmith's forge area. He was likely the person that we were searching for. Our target.
Blitzo commented, "Wow. This is going to be easier than I thought." He pointed commandingly, "Let's go kill that asshole!"
The three of us began to quickly move through the crowds while I kept an eye on the guy we were now following. He was rather smaller framed compared to me, and he seemed to blend in with the crowds well since he was also shorter. He was a squire, or at least he played the role based on his blandly colored clothing. It was hard to tell, but I believe he grabbed a torch from one of the torch holders in the avenue.
Blitzo commented, "I can't see shit! Where is our target?"
I answered, "Don't you worry, I can see him just fine. I think he is heading back to his bunk area."
This caused the Imp boss to smirk to himself, "This couldn't be easier. The dumb little idiot is going to get himself cornered if he goes there. It should be an easy kill for you, rookie."
Moxxie asked, "Sir, shouldn't we assume that he is going back there for a reason? Maybe he still has the weapon, or maybe he is going for something else."
This was only brushed off by Blitzo, "You shouldn't allow your smooth, little brain to worry about it, Moxxie. A skinny little human that doesn't even know how to use a blade shouldn't be a problem for us."
We were nearing the location when Moxxie spoke in a more hushed voice, "Must I remind you that we aren't carrying any weapons? Kyle is the only one carrying anything that would be useful to take out the target."
I looked at him with a mixture of surprise and anger, "What?! You didn't bring any sort of weapons?"
Blitzo seemed to see nothing wrong with this as he shook his head, "Nope! There wasn't a good place to hide a gun in this dress. It would ruin the lines." He seemed very cheerful, "Besides, I don't see a single way you could fuck this up! Just don't pull a Moxxie and show the poor sucker any sympathy. Got it?"
He didn't even wait for me to respond before he went into the cottage that we managed to stumble upon. I quickly looked around the space to see that it seemed to have a rather boring interior. There were at least four sets of bunks with very little space. Along with that seemed to be doors to different areas. This was probably where a bunch of the workers were housed if they couldn't afford to live anywhere else. The biggest problem was the fact that the place seemed completely devoid of any person.
Blitzo asked me in an irritated voice, "Were you not watching him?"
I snapped back, "What the fuck else would I be doing? He saw us, too. He is probably hiding out around here somewhere."
That is when Blitzo commanded, "Alright, span out! We need to find this guy so that we can see some horses for that jousting bullshit."
The three of us began to search in different directions while we looked for this 'Johnny' fellow. There wasn't any sign that he had even entered this building, but I was certain that I had watched him walk here. I couldn't have made a mistake, could I have?
Blitzo seemed to have sniffed the air for a moment before saying, "Is someone barbequing?"
Moxxie's eyes squinted for a moment before he acknowledged, "No, sir, but it is getting a little smokey in here."
I didn't like the sound of that. I looked around for a moment before I noticed some smoke rolling through the top gap of one of the doorways. I looked at the two Imps before saying, "He's probably in here."
I opened the door and a torrent of smoke immediately followed behind it. I backed up for a moment while I got a good look in the room to see that it was another bunk area. However, I was looking at the flames that consumed everything in the space. It was hard to distinguish anything seeing as they were being completely consumed by fire and bellowing smoke.
I entered the room after drawing my sword. As I scanned the space, I didn't have any sense that our target was even in the room. For all I knew, this guy set everything on fire before looking for an escape. It very well could all be a distraction to give him time to leave.
I shook my head of the thoughts before I walked further into the room. My sword felt loose in my grip. I knew that the moment was now upon me, but I felt a great amount of hesitation building up inside of me. I was against this entire idea. I just didn't realize that I would hold this much resistance against it. It almost sounded like a better idea to just take the chiding from Blitzo and Azazel. I didn't care about the Imp's opinion of me, and I had a feeling that killing beings of evil was different from killing some random murderer here.
While walking further into the room, I spoke out just in case the guy was hiding amongst the flames, "Listen. If you come out, perhaps we can resolve this-"
My moment of hesitation seemed to be more than enough for the target to jump out of some obscure corner of the room with a piece of wood to club me with. I didn't even realize what was happening until I felt the wood crack against the back of my skull. Despite not feeling the strike, I still fell forward onto the hardwood floor. The sword in my hand scattered to my side on the floor.
It seemed like the guy wasn't finished with his move. While I collected myself, I turned around to get a look at the man. His hair was long and tied up in the back. His face just showed how scared he was, but it wasn't because of what he was doing.
He finally said, "I won't allow you to take me to Hell."
My face scrunched into a scowl, "What are you-"
He grabbed the frame of one of the burning bunkbeds and toppled it over onto me. My words were caught in my throat as I prepared for the impact. The wood frame broke over me until I was completely covered in lumber and fire. I couldn't see it, but I could feel another bunkbed collapse over me afterward.
Here, I sat in the darkness for a moment as I worked to collect my bearings. I was caught off guard and hesitated to do what I needed to do. None of this was entirely new to me. I had killed someone before, and this wasn't any different. Thanks to the powers that I now possess, I wasn't in any danger. Just like in the past, I faced a choice on what I should do.
The Past…
I finally made it to the building where the sniper fire was coming from. My hands clutched my weapon a little tighter while I waited outside the door to the building. A few more shots rang out from one of the windows toward the street I had just come from. Despite the fact of me having no backup, the resolve within me to confront this shooter grew. I was acting against what was considered protocol for this situation. I didn't care. All I could think back to was Dick's form bleeding into the street.
With a quick motion, I opened the door to the building before checking all my corners. My heart began to accelerate with the thought of entering a dangerous situation. The only thing I could hear for a moment was the blood pumping through my ears.
I managed to find no one within the immediate entrance to the building. Luckily, I managed to see that the stairway was located directly in the back center of the room. I slowly walked up to it before scanning up to the next floor. Once again, I was greeted by no one on the next floor. By the looks of the situation, this was probably just a single gunman trying to wreak havoc.
I slowly moved up the stairs to the next floor, and then I continued upwards to the next. There wasn't a single civilian that I could see or hear. It made it very easy to hear the muffled bangs of the rifle coming from the fourth or fifth floor. Sweat began to dribble down my brow causing me to wipe it every five seconds. I don't know why I was so nervous. Getting shot and killed would only serve to redeem me. So, why was I so worried?
My mind cut back to the horror that I had just witnessed in the street. After seeing that, I couldn't let this guy get away with it. I guess dying without doing something seemed like the worst thing that could happen.
I finally made it to the door before I heard a couple more shots ring out. I made sure to check my clip before letting out a few breaths. I calmed my nerves one last time before I gave the door a look of determination. I wasn't exactly a part of the breach and clear team, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from continuing my recklessness.
With a swift kick, the door swung wide open allowing me to get a good look at the figure standing at the window with his rifle still pressed against his shoulder for him to aim. I already had my weapon aimed at him with the intent to kill, but I froze the moment I got a good look at him. My heart stopped the moment I gazed upon his form as I instantly knew who it was.
The sniper turned around to look at me. His young face showed panic, but he didn't move his weapon away from the window. He made no move to aim it at me. We both sat there for a moment frozen.
I finally uttered, "Emir? Why…"
The shock and confusion that I displayed were slowly replaced by a sense of anger and pain. This was someone that Dick viewed as a friend, and I guess I was coming around to feeling the same way. For him to turn around and do something like this went beyond what I felt was possible. Yet here we were. I barely noticed that I had dropped my rifle down a little.
The moment continued, and it felt like the shock was slowly dissipating. I could see that Emir had also come to his senses as his grasp tightened around his weapon. He never said a word, but his face showed that he was burying his pain behind a wall of fury. I knew exactly what he was planning on doing.
I spoke in a commanding tone, "Don't you fucking do it! This will end only one way."
There was slight hesitation from Emir, but it was only momentary. He spun around with his rifle ready to shoot at me. He never even got the chance before I instinctually shot him four times in quick succession. The first few rounds hit him in the stomach and chest. The last bullet struck him directly in the head killing him instantly. I never even realized that he accidentally shot and hit some obscure all in the room.
The discarded cases rolled on the floor by my feet. I stood still for a moment before I dropped my rifle down slowly. I stood there in complete distress while I hesitated to move forward and check out the body. However, I found myself walking forward while I looked at the bloodstained corpse. A small pool of blood had already started to form to stain the floor below. I never thought I would be capable of doing something like this. I didn't think I could bring myself to consciously kill someone, especially with them being so young.
My face betrayed my internal feeling of anguish. There was no cry, scream, or outburst from me. I just stood there looking at my work in silence with a blank look on my face. I could have been standing there for hours, and I wouldn't have even noticed. I didn't even turn around when about four sets of footsteps came up behind me.
A group of men entered the room and did a quick sweep before the leader stated, "All clear."
I still stood there for a moment before a few guys got a good look at the body. All the soldiers that entered the room seemed to be in a more veteran feeling. They didn't seem completely bothered by the scene in the room. I didn't recognize any of them, but that didn't stop them from doing what they were doing next.
One of the guys pulled me into them with a broad smile on his face, "Look what we got here. Seems like you caught the fucker sleeping."
Another one of the guys joked, "No he did not! This little snake in the grass tried to shoot back. Look at this."
The guy pointed at the bullet hole in the wall. Every one of them seemed to be smiling and joking about the situation, but it felt as far away from that as possible. I expected to be yelled at, and massively reprimanded for going rogue like this to take on a hostile alone. I even expected anger from the group since at least one of our guys was in critical condition. Nope! They were all laughing like this wasn't a big deal.
One of them yelled out, "Whoo! You smoked this piece of shit! How do you feel?!"
The guy smacked me playfully in the chest with a grin on his face. Each of the other guys was looking at me with similar excitement. With a sense of devastation being held back by every fiber in my body, the last thing I expected I would do was awkwardly smile. I had just killed someone, and I was smiling like some moron who answered a hard question right in math class.
The words stuck in my throat while my eyes glassed over. Still, the smile on my face remained while each of the guys talked at me and with each other about my kill, my first kill. I was getting props for something I never even wanted to do.
One of the guys finally commented, "God damn! You got him four times! He looks younger than my high school brother, but you fucking cut him down like it was nothing! You are a motherfuckin' machine!"
The sounds of their voices began to dwindle into the background. All I could do was stare at the body on the floor. I downed out all the praise I had heard before. I stood there like a statue without any hope of moving from my current position. I couldn't do anything to help Dick while he was shot, so I resorted to avenging him. With that thought running through my head, everything else seemed to have settled into the background. I did this for him. Even with it all done, I had a feeling that I would do anything to protect my friends from such a dark fate.
I didn't do anything wrong, right?
Present…
I pushed up against the burning material that had built up on top of me with a sense of resolve. I had my moment of hesitation, and my emotion beating around the bush. With Blitzo and Moxxie in potential danger from this guy, I had to do what I should have done to begin with.
I lifted the burning wood as if it weighed nothing. With the sword back in my grasp, I found that the fire didn't even burn me as my hand reached into it. I knew the struggle was never going to be a physical one. My struggle with this always came down to getting over the past. Fighting for my friends and those who needed me was how I was going to get this done.
The only sound I could hear was the flames ripping through the structure and everything in it. I doubted that any of this was unnoticeable to the crowds on the outside. No one was going to leave this place without arousing suspicion. That meant the target was still here.
I tightened my grasp on my sword while I carefully walked through the smoke and fire. A few pieces of wood would break and slump over to block my way through. There was even a small collapse of the structure around the door I had entered through earlier. Not wanting to destabilize the place any further, I decided to go through one of the other entryways.
I went through one of the other doors and walked through rooms that were seeing similar devastation. I first entered what looked to be a small kitchen and dining area, but everything in the room was turning to charcoal or warped steel. Next, I found myself entering some hallway, and I turned to see the original room that I had entered with Blitzo and Moxxie. I could hear the sounds of speaking coming from it through the crackling of the fire.
The target spoke in a panic, "I-I won't l-l-let you take me to H-Hell."
Blitzo's voice was far calmer as he tried to negotiate, "We aren't what you are thinking, pal. If you put that little knife away, then maybe we can-"
The guy yelled, "Not a chance! I am going to send you back from the place you come from!"
I was standing across the room from all of them, and they all had yet to notice me. I could see Blitzo keeping his cool before asking the smaller Imp, "You don't happen to be packing anything, Moxx?"
Moxxie shook his head, "Afraid not, sir. I should have done so as a backup plan."
Blitzo shook his head before saying, "Of all the time to listen to me, Moxxie, you chose this time!" He seemed to have stepped forward in front of Moxxie before getting ready to take down the guy. Blitzo said, "The hard way it is."
I finally found the resolve in myself to move swiftly across the room. I readied my sword once I was halfway there. It seemed like the moment that Johnny decided to lung toward Blitzo and Moxxie was a moment too late. Before any of us knew it, my sword had pierced the guy's back and the blade was pushed all the way through him. What I didn't expect was the glow around the wound from the sword. It was like it was burning right through him, and even his shirt started to burn away from it.
There was a loud crunch from the sword breaking through his ribs and muscles. He let out a sharp breath while his eyes widened in surprise. After a second, his eyelids drooped and his body went limp. The knife he was carrying in his hand fell to the floor with a clatter.
I pulled the sword out of his back while clenching my jaw. It didn't take much effort to pull the metal out before his body slumped to the ground. It didn't take long at all for him to pass on. Despite the chaotic atmosphere around us, he seemed to hold a relaxed and peaceful expression. I then sheathed my sword.
I didn't say anything to the two Imps. Moxxie was dazed by my entrance along with Blitzo, however, the former moved out of it quickly. He smiled at me before saying, "Where in Satan's name did you go?!" The was no opportunity left for me to respond before he added, "It doesn't matter. I guess better later than never."
I cleared my throat and changed topics awkwardly, "Right, cool. You should probably let Loona know that we are ready for pickup."
Blitzo held up his hand to shush me before saying, "Not yet. I was promised that I could go see the horses after we were done with our contract. I am not going anywhere."
I rubbed my temples with irritation. I spoke to myself, "You have got to be shitting me…"
Moxxie responded directly to our boss, "As much as I would love to see what other intriguing things this fair holds, I must agree with Kyle, sir. I doubt they will continue anything after this fire."
Blitzo rubbed his chin while loudly saying to himself, "Yeah. These humans tend to have pretty thin skin when things don't go their way…"
A support to the structure collapsed right beside our little group causing Moxxie to flinch a little. He then added, "Plus, we will probably catch a lot of attention if we go outside now. Our disguises are hardly holding up to everything that has happened."
I looked at each of us to see that the smoke and fire had taken a toll on each of our outfits. Despite the fire not affect any of us, the flames had darkened and burned each of our costumes. Seeing as I was trapped under some fire earlier, my shit had a lot of hold with the edges being seared black.
Blitzo groaned out, "Fine, but I am taking this little fiasco out of each of your pays for this job!"
I rolled my eyes while Moxxie yelled out after another part of the structure came crashing down, "Fine! Just get us the fuck out of here!"
Blitzo pulled out his phone and speed-dialed Loona. It only took a few seconds of 'pleasant' waiting before she picked up and Blitzo spoke, "Loona, we're ready to get picked up. No rush, sweetie, but we are about to have a roof cave down on us."
It took a couple of seconds before the familiar circular portal into the I.M.P. reception formed. The three of us jumped through it right before the ceiling of the cottage that we were in a moment ago. The portal then closed right before the flames, smoke, and debris could come through. Right across from us stood Loona and Millie. Both seemed to be taken aback by what situation we had just come from and our current conditions.
Millie rushed forward to Moxxie and picked him up from the ground. She swung him around before blurting out, "You're back!"
Blitzo brushed himself off before stating, "Yeah, and things could have gone much better. Still, the job was done, and it was this guy who completed it." Blitzo punched me in the side with a look of pride on his face. He then said, "I could use some alone time after a job like that. Loony, we can head home after Daddy has a few minutes to himself, and after I call the client to confirm his kill for the payment. Okay?"
Loona rolled her eyes before growling out, "Yeah, sure. Whatever."
Blitzo walked to his office before slamming the door shut. Immediately afterward, Millie grabbed Moxxie's hand and said, "Let's get you a little cleaned up, sweetie."
This caused Moxxie to give his wife a small smile, "That sounds nice."
The two began to walk out of the room, but both gave a small glance back at Loona and me since it was now only the two of us. Loona stood back for a moment while she held onto her arms with an awkward look. She didn't quite know what kind of mood I would be in after the job.
I unstrapped the sword from my side and laid it against one of the couches. I then took a moment to sit back with a big sigh. It had been a long day with everything that had happened. That was apparent to Hellhound who decided to join me on the couch.
Loona finally broke the silence, "Seems like things didn't go as smoothly as you had hoped."
I looked down at myself before thinking back on it. I responded frankly, "No, but when does it ever go smoothly?"
Loona smirked before saying, "Yeah, you have a point there…"
I cleared my throat before asking, "What about you? How were things here while we were gone?"
Loona groaned out with exasperation, "Mills decided that I should take your place since you were going on your 'guys' trip'. If that was girl time, then I want to skip it next time. Vee even wanted to hang out."
I joked, "Sounds like you two are hanging out a lot. I'm sorry that you two couldn't hang out."
This was met by a remembering look from Loona as she added, "Actually, she decided to come over here seeing as Blitz wasn't here. Millie was so excited when Verosika arrived for training."
My jaw practically dropped at hearing this before I asked, "She joined you two?!"
"We did get kidnapped. Besides, she didn't do everything that we were. I think Millie was going easier on her, anyways."
I raised a brow at this before saying, "Fair, I guess…"
Another moment of silence found its way between us. I knew that the conversation was coming right after the lighter topic. It was only a matter of time. It mostly depended on Loona when she wanted to confront it. I wasn't going to open myself up unprompted.
Loona finally spoke, So, uhh… Are you doing okay? I know that things like 'murder' and 'killing' aren't a big deal to us in Hell, but I know it isn't the same for you. I just want to know that today didn't fuck you up."
I rubbed my hands across my face while I thought back on what happened today. I still recall every second in the burning building, and the moments of me driving the blade into Johnny's back were vividly playing out before me in my head. The feeling of what happened today brought me back to my very first kill when I was a younger man. The feelings from both killings were negative, and I wasn't going to try and view either in a positive light.
With that thought, I realized that going through war and being in Hell brought a different perspective about it all. It was all so impersonal to me. The total goal of today for me was to figure out how I could ultimately face those like the Princes of Hell and do what needed to be done. I think I finally figured it all out.
I nodded, "Yeah… Yeah, I think I am okay. I'm not going to say that it was easy, because it wasn't. Still, I did what I needed to do." I finally stood up before continuing, "When it came down to it, I chose to protect my friends by taking that guy's life. I have had too many experiences failing when someone was counting on me. I can't go back and change that, but I can do something now. If it comes down to it, I know that I can find the strength within me to do what I need to do."
Loona looked at me with slight confusion, but that was understandable. This rant wasn't just directed at making her feel better, but it was also for the Fallen that was undoubtedly waiting for how things went. I finally got my answer once I could sense Azazel's words coming through my head, "That is all I ask for."
There was nothing more said by him. Instead, Loona got up from the couch and approached me. She then wrapped me in a tight hug. I was surprised by the sudden action, and then it was replaced by a sense of confusion. I asked her, "Uhh, what's this about?"
Loona pulled a little away before saying, "I know that I am still working on this soft-hearted stuff, but I just wanted to let you know that I am happy that you are okay." She blushed a little before saying, "Plus, do I need a reason to hug my friend?"
I had wide eyes before my own small bush formed. I responded, "I-I guess not."
We both stood there for a second while the feelings of the day subsided. It was an emotional day but having those like Loona beside me made me feel stronger. I was always missing something like that in the past, and that was included in moments that I endured in the past, like with Dick and Emir. With my new friends, things were going to be different. I can now find the strength to persevere where I couldn't before.
With that, another thought came to mind. I could really use a moment to relax.
So, a balance of focus on Kyle's first kill and his first kill for I.M.P. There are some similarities, and some differences in the aftermath. I hope this chapter serves well since Truth Seekers does end in quite the bloodshed. I don't plan on changing that too much... Anyways, a little more backstory on the OC! It was a struggle, but it is finally done!
Thank you for the continued support, and the next chapter will be coming along. Just be glad that I managed to get this one finished and ready for release as I did. I still anticipate at least a 2 weeks before we get to Chapter 18. I don't want to fuck up the release of the beach chapter by having it come in too late!
If you are enjoying the story, I implore you to favorite, follow, and/or review for the story. I very much enjoy hearing and seeing all that good stuff from you guys. I am always happy to answer questions as well. I am good at responding to named reviews, too. I usually work on the chapter when I am feeling motivated, so it is hard to know when it will release. I will try to stick with 2 weeks, but that can easily move onto 3 if I am having a bit of block.
Now, if anyone is interested, I am going to leave the discord channel code available to any of you. I usually ask for small details, and some ideas are discussed with others on what I should do with the story. You can even just chat with others in it.
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INVITE CODE: 8RT9hC5Aau
That is all I have to give!
Until Next Time,
Forsvaret-Komandir