I yank the last glove of mine onto my hand, flexing my fingers inside of it before patting down my body. I can't stop the grin forming on my face as I look down at myself, seeing and wearing my cloak again feels god damned heavenly, especially after wearing that awful robe. The Templars who directed us towards Kedrick thankfully didn't ask any questions, or recognise who I was, the brawny looking man brought us both to a small storage house for non-Templar equipment outside of the tower. Why there's a separate storage shack under Templar ownership with non Templar equipment is both disturbing and not something I have a good answer to, but I couldn't care less at the moment, I got my goddamn cloak back! I lean down and sniff at it as it hands from my body, blanching slightly, for some reason it smells like fish, I don't really think of it as a bad smell, but it's rubbing me the wrong way. I try to swallow down the distaste for the smell though, I'm just thankful to have this back, a nice and warm albeit stinky green blanket from Anna, god bless her soul for this still. I hum a happy beat to myself and scratch at the chain mail underneath my shirt as I force the open and into the fresh air, the cool breeze washing over me once again. I shake my head to clear it and look around, Edward's leaning up against the wall next to me, looking up and down at me as he smiles lightly.
"All nice and comfortable again Fuzz?" He asks in an almost sarcastic tone, to which I respond with a gleeful grin despite his half mocking voice.
"Eddy, you have no idea how uncomfortable that god damned robe was, it's such a delight to be wearing pants let alone this nice ass cloak. I will never forget the pleasure of pants, do you know how fucking windy it can be near the sea?" I retort to him, a half legitimate seething in my tone, I genuinely loathed that thin robe, and I'm far beyond just glad to be back in my regular gear. Edward chuckles at my rant as he approaches, his face turning upwards and sneering before leaning back in and sniffing at the air.
"...Why does it smell like fish?" He asks slowly while he moves away, turning his nose up further. He suddenly turns his back to me, a sudden march upwards and into the down, I hurry myself to his side to keep up with him, ignoring his probably faux retching. It doesn't smell that bad, if I can stand it then so can other people, hopefully anyways.
"Listen Eddy, I'm not gonna ask questions, I'm just thankful that I have everything in tact and I'm out of the tower. My head doesn't feel like it wants to explode too, so that's a plus. I'll deal with the cloak smell later, or it might rub off of itself on it's own. Back to other things though, whats' been happening with Gerome and stuff? I haven't really had the chance to keep up with them." I shrug as I answer him and redirect a question his way while we continue to make our way through the town, it's still an early morning, and the scent of the sea and the mist of the morning still reigns around the streets. Much to my surprise, the streets are lacking in anyone else walking around, no humans or keidrans, slaves or otherwise. I'd have thought that there'd at least be someone working in the early morning, but not even a soul.
"I luckily managed to find the two of them late last afternoon after I was booted from visiting you when you were still, well, unconscious. I filled them in on what's happened and told them we'd see them before midday, they're still wanting to stay in Wreathwood for another day to deal with business, so we're leaving tomorrow midday at the earliest, they do wish to leave later into the day for whatever reason. They seem to be well, though I'm not sure what they've been up to, I don't trust Gerome to keep his hands out of the dirt for obvious reasons." He finishes his speech, it sounds as if he's recited something similar plenty of times before, his voice falling back to that guardsman tone. I hum to myself as I continue to look around the streets, still no idea where I am, good job Zeke. At least I can take this time to mentally write down where this part of town is, it shouldn't be too hard to navigate this place after all.
"Why are we meeting up with them? Not that I mind it or anything, I like Gerome plenty, and I tolerate Vector even though he seems to be awfully conversation adverse to literally anyone but Gerome, the weirdo," I ask him as we continue to make our way through the streets, it's almost creepy how almost lifeless this part of town is, a chill creeps up my spine. Is today a special occasion, or is there something else going on? "What's with everyone being gone around here? It's kinda creepy."
Edward raises an eyebrow as he side eyes me, eventually shrugging and redoubling his efforts on his focused march. I yelp and hurry myself to keep up with the man, why the rush? He waves his hand dismissively before I can get out the question though.
"I don't know why you feel the need to reassure that you don't dislike them, but I'm sure at least Gerome appreciates you, less so of Vector, that mans' always been a little quiet. Gerome mentioned to me that he wanted to talk to you yesterday is all is all, turns out he wanted to speak to you beforehand, but wasn't given the opportunity to do so. As for the quiet around here, it might have something to do with the day, most people take the end of the week off to relax after all." He answers helpfully. I hum and roll the information over in my mind, what would Gerome want from me? If he needs something done then I'd be fine with helping him out, I just hope it's not entirely exciting or something that'd brush alongside the Templars, I think I've had enough of that for this week. Does that mean it's Sunday today? I haven't really been keeping up with dates, then again, I don't think I've really bothered to look at one, at least outside of the dream diary thing. Hm, speaking of Gerome actually...
"Hey Edward, what do you think of Gerome? I don't recall you two talking to each other much casually." I try to ask him gently, tilting my head inquisitively, I don't want to seem as if I'm prying into their personal relationship with each other, at least not so bluntly, but I don't think I managed it well. Edward rolls and scoffs, his hands clasping themselves behind his back formally.
"He and I? I don't particularly enjoy his presence, he always skirts on the edge of the law of the land, and whenever we do seem to find something that'll nail him, he tends to get off lightly if at all punished. I don't speak to him off of work either, and I don't see a reason to." He replies sourly, a grimace on his face. I frown myself and rest a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly.
"Hey, I'm sorry if I soured your mood or anything Eddy, I was curious is all. What do you mean by he gets off lightly, though?" I ask him again, my ears twitching as I hear murmurings from the streets beyond. So there's some people out and about today, that little fact seems relieving at least.
"Pfeh, he's a smuggler of both illegal goods and free keidran, doing either of which would put him away for a long time, but he does both almost freely. I've no clue on how he gets away with it beyond my uncle being a little too light on him." His lips are terse, and I can see his hands clench behind his back. My ears droop as I tilt my head to him once again.
"I think your uncle and Gerome know each other from elsewhere, but I can't say that confidently. Why do you support keidran salvery anyways?"
"Why wouldn't I? They're barely human, and it's law, you should know that by now."
"So what if it's law? That doesn't make it right, Edward, have you ever actually looked at one of them, into a slaves deadened eyes? Have you ever tried to have a discussion with one of them, slave or otherwise?"
"Why are you bringing this up Zeke? What's the point of it?"
"The point is that I don't get why you dislike them so much Eddy, they're still human in their own way, even if they're kind of just furry humans, it's not humane to treat them like that!"
"Pfeh, they're far from human, Zeke. They're primitive and barbaric, they're not human in the slightest."
"What about me then Eddy? Am I some sort of sub-human that's below you too then? I'm not a human after all."
"This again? Come on Zeke you know you're different, you're a basitin, not a keidran."
"That's besides the fucking point Eddy, you know what I'm trying to get at. I'm not human and you know that I'm never going to be one, not anymore at least. So why am I different then? Is it because I remind you of your little brother? It doesn't make me any more human than a keidran."
"That's exactly why you're different you dolt, even if you're not human, you're still similar enough so that I can kind of look over it. That and the fact that you've proven that you're not like them." What the fuck is he talking about? Does he not hear just how stupid he sounds? I let out an aggravated huff as my hands clench and unclench, the blood in my veins boiling, what sort of reasoning is this? It's so, what's the word, biased I think? You can't just pick and choose like that, it's not right dammit!
"By the fucking gods Edward, are you listening to yourself? I'm an exception cause I've 'proven' myself? Why can't you extend the same to the rest of them, why can't you can at least start with Kathrin? I know that you're just trying to treat her politely because I'm around, at least from what I've seen, and I can safely say she's a nice girl. Listen, I know I got shot in the leg by one and you're probably still upset about it, but I'm the one that was shot, and I don't even blame either of the keidrans for it, they're just as scared as you probably are!"
"Drop it, Zeke." His tone is a barely bubbling flatness, the heat in my chest rising as I give him a nudge into his shoulder, my frown on my face deepening
"Why should I? I get that you're proud and stuff, and you abide by whatever law's in this world, but even you can bend it somewhat for your own gain, even if it's only because your uncle told you to. It's just stupid to me to is all, does it have something to do with your mo-" I yelp in surprise as Edward suddenly shoves me against a wall, his hands clamping down on my shirt as he drags my face closer to his, a sneer on his lips as he brings his face closer to mine. The cold clutches my chest as he looks down on me with a raging glare beneath his eyes, his hot breath rough and uneven with a barely contained anger that I can almost physically feel from him.
"Don't. Fucking. Bring her up, do you understand Zeke?" He asks irately, his eyes beading down on my own as he brushes his forehead against mine. I swallow the lump in my throat and barely suppress the whimper in my chest, my limbs suddenly encompassed with an unfeeling chill. I feel my mouth gape open and close repeatedly, but I can't force the words out, instead I give the furious man a quick repeated nod of my head. He holds me still and against the wall for a few moments longer, his hands clenching at my shirt before suddenly dropping me, thudding against the ground unceremoniously. I rise to my feet afterwards, wincing and rubbing at my pained rump before limping after Edward, the man already marching.
"H-hey wait a second, come back! I didn't really mean to upset you or anything, I'm sorry that I did, come on Ed-"
"Shut it, keep moving" He cuts me off, silencing me with a monotone voice. I bite down on my lips and remain quiet, trudging myself along to follow the glowering man. Stupid stupid, stupid fucking Zeke, what the fuck was that? You didn't expect him to be pissed after you tried to ask him something like that, the fuck were you thinking? You tried that before, remember? He reacted just as irked as he was then, arguably even more so now. Did you think that'd randomly work? Why are you trying to pry into his personal life with so little regard in how he feels? Stupid fucking man. I bite down on my cheek and swallow the hollow gape in my throat and continue to drag my feet behind Edward. His shoulders are upright and he strides with a furious purpose, stomping along the dirt ground, and I can't help myself from slouching, rubbing at my own hands to return some warmth to them. Should I say sorry? Or try to? Of course you can't Zeke, not at the moment, you've already fucked it up enough, just stay quiet for everyones sake.
The sounds and smell of the sea feels so muted and dull to my senses as I mindlessly continue to follow Edward, staring a hole into his back. Come on Edward, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, I won't do it again, I promise! I can keep my mouth shut, you can hate the keidran all you want, hate the basitins too if you don't like them either! The tears sting at my eyes as I sniffle, rubbing my hands over my eyes to try to save some of my face at least, the leather's uncomfortable to rub my eyes against. The remainder of the walk is a tense and uncomfortable silence, Edward smoldering in his rage as I meekly trod behind him, we walk past the docks, the washing sounds of the sea provides no comfort at the moment. I finally look up ahead of us and over the head of Edward, both of us approaching a large and sturdy box shaped wooden warehouse, it looks like a warehouse anyways. The building question in my throat dies out and turns into a suppressed whine in my chest. What do you think we're doing here Zeke? Think that Edward's finally sick of us, finally lied to us to take us out? The waters can sweep away that worthless body of yours pretty quickly, what if you ju-
"We're here," Edwards' voice is a gruff and dry one, it brings me out of my thoughts as I stifle a small yelp of surprise. We both stand in front of a warehouse, there's no indication on what it's used for, a very simple and very plain warehouse, though it's at least well made. I bite the insides of my cheek, stepping from foot to foot, I can't stand still, I can't keep still, what's going on now? Edward twists his head slowly and stares at me with blank eyes, an equally blank expression on his face. "What are you waiting for? Get in there."
He kicks at the door to the warehouse with his boot, it shudders at its hinges but remains steadfast afterwards, my drooping ears twitching as he turns and walks back into town.
"H-hey, wait a sec, aren't you meant to be coming in with me?" I ask in a gentle and quiet voice, eyes shifting from the door to his back. He stands still for a second, his hands digging into his pockets as his head twists once again, the blank eyes of his boreing a hole into mine. I can't keep eye contact with him, my eyes darting away from it and towards the door, I can't force myself to look at him.
"I'm busy with my own things, you handle it ." I can hear him scoff disdainfully as he continues to march away, I can't face him, just look at the door like the coward you are, look away from the mess you've made. Tsk, did you really think he'd willingly follow you in there to do work with someone he's already said he detests? You really are stupid aren't you?
I sigh to myself and clutch at my skull, slapping the sides of it with a hand and shaking it, get in there Zeke. I wince at the sudden throb in my skull, can't shake that away Zeke, yanking the door and throwing myself into the dark. I try to blink away the creeping shadows as I look around the room, the only source of light is a flickering from somewhere beyond, the light only barely visible above crates and other covered objects. I can almost physically feel my eyes become more accustomed to the dark, it's not quite lighter, but it's definitely more manageable, the stumbling around the dark and the kicking of scattered things becoming less frequent as I make my way around the crates. A chill creeping up my spine, my ears twitching as I look behind myself, a creaking sound in the air, there's footsteps too. My teeth chatters as I rub my hands together, everything's so cold, my fingers feel so god damn icy, what does Gerome want to be doing here? Is this a ploy from him to remove us? Was Edward in on this too, what did you do to tick Gerome off like this Zeke? Every minuscule sound echoes in my skull as my ears twitch horridly, a grinding sound in my skull. I droop my ears and cover my head with my hood, whimpering as I barge and shove my body past and through some crates. It's so loud, so dark, what's going on? Did they want this to happen, is this some sort of sick fucking joke from the gods above, or from the people I wish to call friends? My legs give way as I crumble into a ball, tugging at the hem of my hood as my chest fills with an iciness, a stutter in my breathing as my eyes tear up once more, glaring straight down into the floor. F-fuck, why is it so cold suddenly? Why can't I get up? Can't you stand on your own two feet Zeke? What's wrong with you, why do you fuck every thing up so much, why can't you be a normal bastin? My teeth chatters as I struggle back to my feet, barely heading the dulled noises from somewhere in the room as I rest on a crate, rubbing my hands on my furred arms vigorously, stupid fucking cold.
"Oy, young Zeke?" I yelp as a voice pierces through the chill, hopping off of the crate and facing towards the source of the nose. I blink away the blur in my eyes and refocus my eyes, standing upright.
"F-fuck Gerome, couldn't have p-picked a warmer place could you? S-shits freezing." I barely manage to eke out through my chattering teeth.
"Oy, will you being okay young Zeke? You shivering like a child in the north! Come, be following Gerome." He reaches out a hand and brushes it over my shoulder, yelping as he does so, a feeling of fright bursting in my chest. I pull away from him, a concerned expression on his face as the chill runs through my body once again.
"N-no touching, I'll be f-fine, just get me a f-fucking flame or something." I hiss at the fellow foreigner, he grimaces, but he doesn't attempt it again, instead just keeping an eye on me as he guides our way through the strew of boxes and crates, everything looks the damned same. I shiver whenever he looks back to me, why is he looking at me? What's he planning under his faux concerned mask of his, the normally jovial looks so scheming now, in a room as dark and difficult to navigate as this, who knows what he's planning? It's a thankfully short walk, eventually we manage to reach the circle in the middle of the room, surrounded on all sides by covered crates, in the middle of the circle sits a low hanging lamp, an open and wild flame flickering above its cage.
I can't see anyone else, Vector must be elsewhere, but I hurry myself towards it, taking a quick seat next to it and tearing my gloves off and throwing them onto the ground next to me. I nearly throw myself into the fire, hovering my hands and darting it in and out of the flames. I let out a sigh of relief as the chill from before dissipates from my limbs and chest, the harsh warmth of the fire is a graceful replacement for it. I both hear and see Gerome silently sit on the opposite of myself, a final shuddering breath escaping my lungs. I continue to roll my hands in the fire, hissing as the scorching feeling burns at it, yanking my hands away from the flames. I shake my hands to the side and give a hearty sigh, pulling my gloves back on, the chill creeps back into my chest, but at least it's more manageable, even if my teeth are still chattering.
"F-fuck, sorry about that Gerome, I'm still fucking freezing, what the hell do you want from me?" I question the man in a huff, still rubbing up and down my arms. I'm surprised with how bitter the words from my lips sound, but I can't help that too much.
"Ick, don't be sounding so down young Zeke, is something happening? Where is young Edward too?" He rebuts my question with a question of his own. Fucking Edward, I feel my face morph into a scowl as the last image of the man appears in my mind, the lifeless and dead stare from him, the prick. The heavy feel of regret still weighs in my chest, despite how angry I feel about the stubborn man. You still fucked up Zeke.
"Tch, he's not joining for this, he has o-other things to do. What do you need from me Gerome?" I ask again, trying to keep a more level headed tone this time around, don't get angry at your friend for your mistakes Zeke, he deserves that anger. Gerome hums to himself, a finger of his tapping against the stone cold floor beneath us.
"If you're sure you can be handling it. If you can't be doing it then Gerome understands. I need, ah, what do you be calling it, a bodyguard? Just need to be visiting some unsavoury seeming friends, you understand da?" He answers, at least he's finally filled in the bloody question. I shiver and look over the man, does he really not feel this chill? Is it just me? Deh, fucking pain in the ass. I sigh to myself and rub my face with a free hand, the other still rubbing at my forearm
"You're gonna kill me with these little requests of yours, but fine. Just let me get my sword from Erics and I'll come back as soon as possible." I reply to him, mulling over the whole schtick mentally. Bloody Gerome, I swear to god if I get stabbed, or have to stab someone else, then I'm gonna get pissed. Geromes visage becomes a tad more sullen when I bring up Eric though, a frown on his normally lively face.
"I've been hearing that you two were resting at Erics, da." He says slowly, as if he's carefully picking what words to say, a low and heavy tone from him.
"Yeah, I've heard about you and Eric don't get along, what's up with that?"
"Eric does dealings that I do not be liking of, keidran lives are… One that the Old Mother loved, they gave us a chance in the frozen north. I can not be doing dealings with a man who sells them like stock. You understand, da?" He explains again, equally as slowly as before, but I can feel the barely bubbling anger beneath what he says. I bite at my cheek as I tap the stone floor, fuck, can I really take this job? It'd be a million times easier with Edward. But he's not gonna want to help you, Zeke. I give Gerome a nod and stumble to my feet, my legs still feel numb, but I can at least stand upright.
"Right, I'll just climb the boxes and jump back to the front, I kind of wish that I could have done that initially. Why the fuck did you choose this warehouse to meet up anyways?"
"It is good for being out of the way, da? People don't be looking into random warehouses."
"So you chose a random warehouse to host a meeting that's meant to be hush hush, but why do you have a torch on? Why do you have a torch one in a wooden warehouse surrounded by wooden and flammable things, I assume you wanted me to know where you kind of were, but why wouldn't you do it in an area that's easier to find?" I pry and poke at Gerome for an answer of some kind, did it just slip his mind that wood is flammable? He could've burned down the whole fucking warehouse! Both of us remain still for a few moments, a hand to Geromes face in thought before he shrugs, a mocking innocent grin on his face. I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose, now I really wish I could mash my face into the ground.
"Right, whatever then. I'm gonna leave. Meet me out the front in a few minutes, I won't be long." I state, a tinge of annoyance spiking through my skill as he waves me away, that grand grin still on his face. I grumble underneath my breath as I leap onto the crates, sending a prayer to whatever gods are above that they don't crumble underneath me as I continue to jump to the top, thankfully reaching it without incident and dropping down to the front. I land with a small grunt, my legs feel shaky, but I feel fine otherwise. I push open the door and outside, the breeze still feels like it does little for me. I try to face the sea, but looking into the deep blue ocean feels unnerving to look into.
The sea, it's so vast, what if your body was left to float in it from a swift stab in your back Zeke? The chances that someone does find your body is pretty slim, if you'd at all be recognisable, the sea is pretty salty. I shake my head, clutching at it with a hand. Fuck, what's with these thoughts? Are they my own, or are they a little voice in my head speaking the worst? Is that still me, am I rightfully scared of my mistake? Edward, he still likes me right? A lonesome feeling brews in my chest, going from clutching my skull to my shirt instead, the phantom feeling of Edwards hands shoving me still lingers. It was just a small little fight, a small little slip, that's not the end right? God, I hope not.
"Hiya!" A sudden voice brings me out of my thoughts, a shiver going up my spine. I twist to face whoever spoke, a familiar pale face with hazel eyes filling my view. I let out a small yelp as I leap away, the small girl giggling away with a wide grin on her unblinking face.
"Jesus Christ Lucy, how long have you been there? The hell are you doing here anyways?" I question the girl, quickly recuperating myself and standing upright, looking down on the girl. She looks up with the same grin on her face, though she tilts her head.
"What's Jesus Christ? Anyways, I was just so happening to pass by is all, and I wanted to check up on my favouritest basitin!" She chirps cheerfully, swaying left and right with her hands clasped behind her back. Does she have something behind her back, what's her plan? What's she doing? I exhale a frustrated sigh as I cross my arms, raising an eye to her.
"I think I'm the only bastin you actually know, Lucy. I also don't trust that in the slightest, what are you actually doing here?" She continues to grin much to my displeasure, a spike of annoyance going through my head once again.
"Aw, come on Zekey! I just saw you around and wanted to catch up with ya is all, how are ya?"
"If you must know, Lucy, I feel fine. I'm just doing something for a friend, which I really do need to focus on, can you move now?" She hums to herself and rests a finger on her cheek, a thoughtful look on her face."
"I wanna know whatcha up to first! It's not that important, is it Zekey?"
"It's a favour for a friend, that's all I'm going to tell you, can you move it now?"
"Aw, you're no fun now! You seem a lot different too, what's up? Where's that Edward boy you normally hang with? I saw him stomp off a bit ago!" My blood chills as I glare down to her, my hands clenching on my arms as I grit my teeth into a scowl. Shes' been stalking you Zeke, she's trouble, what does she know about you? She's a strange one, but that doesn't mean she's not potentially dangerous.
"That is none of your concern, Lucy. Now move aside, I have things I need to grab." I firmly shove her to the side, trying my best to lessen the force behind my arm as I do so. She lets out a small yelp of displeasurement and disapproval as I make my way past her.
"Hey, Zeke ya dummy! Are you looking for this thing?" I raise an eyebrow as my ears twitch, looking behind to face her. She giggles as she swings her arms to the front of her chest, revealing my sheath, sword and all still in it. I jolt backwards in surprise, pointing a finger towards her.
"How the fuck do you have my sword, how do you know I needed it?" I furrow my brows as I glare her down, still shoving my digit at her accusatively. How long has she been stalking me, when has she had the chance? Does she listen in to what I chat about too? She giggles again and strides confidently up to me, throwing the sword upwards. I fumble around with it in my arms as I unceremoniously catch it, scowling as I look towards her face, grinning smugly. She steps to the tip of her toes and softly baps at my nose with a finger, giggling again as my nose crinkles.
"Don't ask questions ya mightn't like the answer to, deary, good luck~!" She gives a mocking salute as she cheerfully departs, skipping her way past me with a bubbly whistling back into town. I blink as I look at her backside, then back to my sheath, grumbling as I latch it onto my belt, side eyeing the warehouse door as it squeaks open. Gerome looks surprised as he looks to me, though he does grin jovially.
"Oy, young Zeke was quick!" Geromes surprised face turns to one with a jovial grin on it, wrapping his arms around my neck with a hearty laugh. I huff and firmly nudge his arm off of my neck.
"Where're we going old man?" His face morphs into one of faux hurt, his hand resting on his chest.
"Oi, young Zeke is rather, how do you say, spiky today? Is joke of course, Gerome be meetings with friends outside of town." He thankfully informs, I give him a nod and look upwards towards the hill leading down to the town, separated by that river.
"Right. Lead the way then." He doesn't respond to that verbally at least, thank god, instead taking the lead. I follow behind the man at an arms length distance, a sword gripping at my hilt. There's a niggling sensation in my head. I don't trust this in the slightest.
Lets' get it done Zeke. Don't fuck up