Queen's note: Sleep deprivation mixed with Demonic side effects and emotional turmoil make thinking really hard. So after a chance to finally rest and recover, thinking is a lot easier to do. After waking up, that is, the start of needed talks can happen.
Garnets
Chapter Forty Nine:
Puppy?
It was thirst that finally pulled Lily out of the blessedly calm sleep. No nightmares, or terrors, but something hazy… soft and warm. Like floating in the sun-warmed water on the south east docks in the accidentally made tide pools there. She could settle back into that not really dream, but just that bit of human need had Lily moving with a grumbling.
It felt like her muscles had been locked up, though Lily knew she moved in her sleep normally. Slowly she stretched and flexed as warm joints felt like they settled back into place.
Then the charlie horse in her calf happened.
That had Lily waking right up with a startled sound and then a whine. The lazy moment for her vanished as she moved to look around in the new area. Lily was for a lack of a better word: lost as she did not recognize where she was.
The wall beside her shifted and rumbled before a large hand found and closed over the young woman's calf. In a quiet unfair way the thick fingers shifted and helped Lily stretch the spasming muscles until it passed.
"...bleh…" Lily muttered as she sagged back into the strange bed. Blinking around in the mostly dark, her left foot braced on the hand that had been helping her until it was slowly let go.
"Hmm?" The familiar tone came from the wall, and then he chuckled as Lily wiggled to get back under the large blanket and away from the cold air.
Likely it was not really that cold, but it felt that way. Flopped on her back, the human really debated on going back to sleep again as a large hand moved to gently pet Lily's hair.
Right.
She was thirsty.
Another wiggle, a wordless grumble, and the water bottle from before was found. She could move safely now and rest her back on the living wall before fumbling to open the cap. She found the bottle over half empty, still stale and now warm water. It was amazing.
Lily faintly remembered waking up to drink, and find the nearest restroom. She remembered being confused once done, yet before fear of being lost a new place could set into her mostly asleep mind… she was picked up and gently plopped back into the large nest-like bed. Now, she looked around and then sank down into a comfy slouch gracelessly to the feeling of another chuckle behind her back.
Some things, but thankfully not everything was coming back to the young woman. She looked around curiously, but found no monsters lingering near or walking around the corners. That constant headache since the Wretched was also gone, though her neck still hurt even if there was no longer a burn. Like a phantom pain or it was not as bad.
The big hand reached up to brush his knuckles on the side of her neck with barely any pressure. Hinting it was now colorful, at least, even with it being almost dark.
"How long was I asleep?" Lily asked, looking to her right, seeing the broad chest covered in black. So it had been some time for the big guy to feel comfortable wearing a shirt and not bleeding heat like a stove.
John shifted from where he was lounging partly on his side, lifting a hand before holding up one, then two fingers. John made the one handed Argenta sign for 'day' next.
It took a second before Lily guessed, "Two days?"
The big guy nodded, the scars on his face making his smile lopsided, just adding to the lazy feel about him. The human considered as she stayed put, then peeked around to check. Finding no monstrous hallucinations just the dim, moon lit room and its assorted things. Just the smell of petrichor and the rumble like thunder behind her.
Lily sighed in relief, sinking down farther in her slouch and leaned back fully on John's currently semi soft middle. Fiddling with her given blanket as she moved only because he was breathing. Lily finally looked up and over at the eerie blue eyes in the semi dark. "Thank you."
It was softly spoken, but filled with real gratitude.
The demigod hummed back, lifting his left hand off his side and then setting it on Lily's head. Then after a moment shifted to pull the young woman up close to his chest to sign slowly around Lily.
Won't give up on you. You don't give up. John paused to make sure Lily understood, and was rewarded with his right forearm getting grabbed and hugged. He gave a happy grumble, curling up on his side around his human once more to be a living shield as he hummed some more.
John rubbed his knuckles lightly against the side of Lily's head, getting her to smile before wrapping his hand around the one that batted at him. Pressing his thumb into Lily's palm gently, as if fascinated with feeling the bones in there, then sliding his thumb down to feel her pulse in the wrist.
"Am I still me?" Lily asked, not as worried as before, with some real rest and being made to clean up. Lily was not as inclined to panic first.
Confident.
The demigod nodded, letting go to tap her chest over the heart as the deep primordial vibrated out of him. John paused and looked up and around. Making a groaning like sound as he finally rolled onto his back, his right arm hocking securely around Lily as he did so. Grinning as she squeaked as John pulled her while rolling over to his other side, and then pushed upright to sit. His human trapped against his front.
"Plplpl…" Lily 'said' after a sigh, for a lack of a better term just laying limp against her guardian. "I demand a hug for that."
John was happy to do so, pulling Lily up into his arms to squeeze as tight as he dared. Head resting against hers with a happy grumble. It also made it easier to stand and walk over to the desk where he gently plopped Lily down by the food tray and sat in the big chair himself. He seemed quite content with everything now, and John was reaching for that glowing bottle on the desk.
"So what's going to happen now?" Lily asked, nibbling on the now cold, formally roasted veggies. It was still tasty, and she wondered who made it. Her feet were braced on John's right knee, the Demigod debated on poking them for the heck of it. At the same time though he liked the harmless contact.
Need to find star local. The demigod paused, frowned at his own hands, set the bottle down as John tried again. Star finder? Thing Vega wants.
"...the celestial locator that Valen mentioned?" Lily guessed and got a nod, smiling, "That will make him happy."
"It does." Vega spoke lowly from only one of the speakers in the large room. Rooms.
Lily grinned, and then considered, "Wait, does that mean you, we, you can find the hell priests you mentioned before? Possibly before they get to earth, if that transmission was a false lead?"
John gave a wide toothy smile at that with a bit of a darker chuckle. He took a drink of the thick Argent plasma before adding. Can find blood priests too. Kill them all.
"You make it sound easy," Lily said with a half smile, thinking.
The demigod looked up at Lily on the desk, his expression clearly fond. Do you believe in me now?
"I think I do, big guy." Lily tried to make it seem like she had to consider that, but could not help patting her feet on the big leg. "I'll try to believe as long as you do, yeah?"
John happily grumbled back, reaching over to put his right hand on Lily's head as that faith proved to be real. It felt warm and good inside of his gut, though he was still hungry in a way. The demigod was happy despite how cool Lily felt under his hand. My flower?
"Long as you don't replace me," Lily grinned as she was freed, unable to not tease again.
The Slayer gave a snort and then that odd chuff like laugh of his. Shaking his head. No, mine now. Flower stay with me? In Fort?
"I don't think I want to be anywhere else." Lily admitted, even when scared after the wretched, and after being with the wraith. She felt safest with John around, and after seeing what was going on in the first real human community she had met… even if it was not much that she saw. Something had seemed wrong to her. Lily realized that she was overall much safer and better off over all here.
Strange demonic risks aside, but that was everywhere really.
Lily reached out to catch John's hand, as she did not have her dad's old neckless and the rings to mess with. So she poked at the odd circular scars on his palm. "Might be stuck with me for a while though."
I'm not stuck. John huffed as he tried to sign but had to put the bottle aside to carefully talk with his right hand still being held. It was a little bit of a challenge and he had to concentrate to sign the mixed human and Argenta signs. You stuck with me. I will protect.
"Is that what you need to stay alive?" Lily asked after a comfortable quiet as she watched John start drinking again.
The demigod considered the blue-silver, almost gel-like fluid in the bottle. He flattened his right hand and tilted it back and forth in Lily's grip in the 'so-so' motion. Once his hand was freed he could sign properly again. Not really. But helps. Won't waste it, I guess.
"It doesn't look or smell like it would taste good." Lily noted as she reached for her food. Offering a carrot stick to John.
The bigger not-quiet man took it to eat, happy with the treat to him. He definitely seemed content right now, and did take another swig of the bottle. Then he paused to consider something as he turned the bottle around in his hand. Tastes warm.
"Warm?" Lily echoed, and at a nod added, "Does all energy have a taste to you?"
Now that he was thinking about it, John gave a slow nod. Paused and then frowned. Wraith energy is cold. Sentinel energy is cool. Hell energy is…
He stopped to think.
Hell energy is painful. Burning like pain, but too smooth?
"That's mildly creepy." Lily hummed, thinking. "The wraith, she said you can smell souls? Was that true?"
Used to, can't right now. John sighed, finished the raw argent plasma and grabbed another carrot. He added as he leaned back into his chair. Sometimes can still, when mad. When using too much power.
"What's it like?" Lily asked, shifting a bit, one leg pulled up on the desk to help brace her plate in her lap. Her other foot stayed connecting between them by resting on the Demigod's knee.
Strange. John admitted, looking back at Lily. Honest though. Could smell hell's corruption.
Likely why the now Hell Priests, then still going by The Order of the Deag, had avoided being too close to him on Argent D'Nur or Sentinel Prime centuries ago. The Demigod looked up suddenly and leaned forward to tap the knuckle joint of his right forefinger on Lily's shoulder for her attention. Those eerie blue eyes were oddly soft as he signed as clear as he could while humming.
No bad, no corruption on my flower. Can scent your soul before. Few times? Can now. Spicy some, but clear. John made sure both his hands were clean from the argent plasma and dared to cup her face between his large hands. Having to be so careful with the motion, but could feel her heartbeat on the edges of his hands where they brushed her neck.
It was a slow head bump that followed before the primordial words slipped out.
Reassurance. Affection-confident.
"Can I have a hug again?" Lily asked after setting the plate aside. Happy to curl up against John's upper chest once pulled over to him. Her own arms looped loosely around his neck. It did not really feel so childish to ask for comfort now.
The two were content to stay there like that for a while. Now and then John gave a neutral rumble as Lily dosed again. He was just debating on getting up to go back to being lazy in bed when Lily curled up more and made a snort-giggle sound at whatever she thought.
"You've going to Valen's home world right?" Lily leaned back on the supporting arms. At a nod she tried not to giggle again, and failed. "Can I have a puppy?"
The look she got back expressed the 'really?' question so well that Lily lost control and laughed.
"Aww, come on, grandpa said he might get one… or something like, what did he call it?" Lily paused and then brightened, "Wi-therin… Wintherin!"
John sat up, mouthing the word 'No!' the clearest he has ever done, shaking his head. Why would Valen ever try to offer Lily a Wintherin egg?! He knew how amazing a hatchling was, but Lily did not have what it took to feed it- let alone maintain a bond-
He really needs to get to Sentinel Prime and find out what happened to-
"Aw, why not? He said they don't get big?" Lily tried, but could not help the teasing at the reaction.
'No.' John mouthed the word as he gave a play growl, trying not to smile as he shifted Lily.
"...sooo, I can get a puppy?" Lily asked with a snort, then yelped as John gave a mock snarl and grabbed one of her forearms… with his teeth. "ACK! Stahp! Don't eat me!"
The demigod growled around the arm he had, his eyes flashed distinctly green before closing his arms tight. Giving a faint shake of his head as Lily tried to smack his face. He let go only to (gently) nom on the offending hand instead of the arm.
He was standing again, bringing the smaller human back to the bed. Timing it so he could drop her on it with a plop. Grinning at the yelp that resulted before sitting on the edge of the bed. Amused as Lily tried to kick him back, but did not really feel it as she scooted from the kick.
John grasped Lily's nearest ankle and pulled her back. The Demigod did not push too much as the young woman was starting to gasp at the sudden activity. Letting Lily calm down once she seemed to start struggling to breathe.
Flower. John signed after a long pause.
"Yeah?" Lily looked up at John, slowly settling down.
The bigger man shifted and tapped a finger to her arm. Promise something.
Lily sat up, shifting around to sit cross legged. Giving her attention to the Demigod.
Demigod of Death.
John ran a hand over his head, fingers carding through his dark hair. A part of him noting he needed to try and cut it soon. The not quiet man looked down at the human and felt… anything but human himself again. Trying to understand how to get out and word what he was thinking. Flower promise, run from if scared. Hit if scared? Of me. Vega will help. Flower will never be monster, just John.
"You're not a monster?" Lily started, blinking at a small half smile back from the bigger man.
I know what I am, Flower. John shook his head, glancing down at his hands. Flexing his fingers and so clearly remembering how easily it was to dislocate Lily's arm on accident. The feeling of those cultists that had no souls anymore but still had mostly human bodies. How breaking them was so easy. Of how he could rip apart much stronger demonic bodies. He reached out to take her hand and slid his palm under the young woman's forearm, wrapping fingers lightly around it and showing the difference. Almost her whole forearm fit in his grip for a few moments before letting go to sign. I am not human. Haven't been since staying in hell. Changed there. Maybe wraith is right, I can hurt you… again.
He was staring at the shoulder he had dislocated in that hurricane, before John looked back to Lily's face. What had that wraith said? He would drown the human in the blood around him? He was not quite as confident as a few days before, that this was not true.
Lily was watching him in that quiet, curious way of hers. A little more intense than normal perhaps as she was watching his signing. "You didn't mean to hurt me before, did you?"
John shook his head, he still felt bad for that.
"Big guy?" Lily finally spoke after thinking for a bit, thankful she could actually think again. It was so hard to do so before. Once John was looking back at her, she poked his nearer arm, almost demanding. "...give me a hug."
The demigod arched an eyebrow at that, but leaned forward to grasp and pull Lily into his lap. Letting her wiggle to wrap her own arms around his neck, unable to not give a happy rumble as John closed his arms around the human.
"You said before," Lily rested her head on his shoulder, it was a bit easier to talk without those eerier blue eyes staring so intently. "We can all be broken together right?"
"Mmhm." John nodded after a moment, eyes half lidded. Not wanting to let go but also not holding too tight.
"I think you need to heal too." Lily spoke, her breathing settling as she looked around the dim room, shifting to be comfortable. The young woman poked at the largest scar on his neck, and got a chuckle back as John twitched at the soft, odd sensation of the poke. "And not just these. Maybe Vega can help us, Riggs isn't really made for mental health."
"I am more than happy to help," Vega spoke up again, his tone gentle as always but something seemed like he had been waiting for this.
John hesitated a moment, not sure how Vega could help. Or if he could be helped for that matter. He still did not want to let go of the small bond forming, rubbing the side of his head against Lily. He really seemed like some strange giant cat sometimes.
"Would it hurt?" Lily asked, feeling the demigod shake his head, before shifting to let go and start to sign. The young woman had to turn to see, waiting for John to restart what he was signing.
Hurts to think sometimes.
Lily huffed a half laugh of her own, turning around to sit in the lap that did not move away. "No kidding."
Talk after Medical. John signed, seeming to consider it all before eyeing Lily.
"Medical?" Lily echoed in confusion. Asa and Vega got good scans of her before, right?
John arched an eyebrow, reaching up to tap Lily on the chest, then chin, and chest again. No mask, demon gasses. Time for healthy.
Lily squeaked in protest at that, trying to roll off the lap and hide under the blanket as if that would help her. John just rolled over to lay beside his human, draping a heavy arm over the lump that was Lily to pin her. Not letting his flower get that far away as she squeaked.