(Day 41)
Lucryn yawns, sitting in a tree high up, he observes his pokemon from above. He can sense Sandslash, his appointed guardian watching him, but he doesn't care. Ever since the incident in Ichov Woods, he hasn't run off or gotten himself in danger, instead he's thrown himself into training his pokemon and himself.
Plucking a leaf from the tree, he plays with it for a moment before letting it fall. The morning had consisted of playing around in the kitchen making pokefood with some success. Having made pokefood for all of his pokemon, he also left a bit of pokefood at his window for his little guest who has come to visit quite frequently lately. A hint of amusement flickers through him at how the small pokemon thinks he doesn't notice it.
Cye: Aahhh! No, I don't wanna, help!
Lucryn's brows furrow as he glances over at Cye and Omni. 'This little one...'
Lucryn: You're training together, he won't kill you.
Cye: Wahhh!
Lucryn buries his head in his hands, trying not to let his irritation be felt. This little crybaby really can't do anything other than cry. The little one was rather obedient the first few days, training without asking questions, just shedding silent tears, but he doesn't know what's gotten into the little one. Ever since he started doing battle training with the little one, the little one wouldn't stop crying.
Lucryn: I told you. You are mine. I will protect you.
Cye hiccups, looking up from the forest floor to gaze at the youth hidden in shadows.
Cye: You'll protect me?
Lucryn: I will
Cye: The little devil will protect me?
Lucryn sighs, Cye probably didn't mean to let him hear that thought. Cye's eyes start to shine, as if suddenly realizing something. These past few days had been miserable trying not to upset the devil, but the little devil made such wonderful food and promised to protect him, so maybe it's not so bad... 'If the little devil protects me...then won't I be able to do whatever I want?'
Cye: I won't be scared anymore, the little devil is my backer now!
Lucryn rubs his forehead, 'this little one has no filter.'
As if given a boost of confidence, Cye uses Magical Leaf, throwing a leaf like blade at Omni. Omni easily dodges and punches Cye, sending Cye rolling back. Cye immediately begins crying.
Cye: Liar! You didn't protect me! Wah!
Azrael: I'll hit you if you don't be quiet! I'm trying to focus!
Cye immediately goes quiet, looking over at Azrael's angry eyes. Trembling, Cye holds back his tears, inwardly crying. 'Why are all the pokemon around the little devil so scary?!'
Lucryn's eyes go wide as a hand wraps around his slender neck. "How beautiful you are." White hair falls into his vision, those ocean blue eyes didn't seem to hold any threat, but Lucryn felt his heart stop. 'No, don't...don't touch me!'
Lucryn tries to control himself, to stay centered in reality, but those cold fingers are around his neck, those eyes are watching him, seeming to see right through him. His body starts to tremble, eyes closing as his breath catches, coming and going in small gasps.
"Oh, you're so scared, how cute." The hand loosens from its hold on his throat, falling away a minute later. Lucryn's hands rise up to his head, his body swaying slightly on the branch. Clutching his head, he keeps his eyes tightly closed as he tries to catch himself from falling into the haunting memories that'll drag him in and torment his mind.
"You..." The man's arrogant voice is less certain now, seeming unsure of how to proceed.
' "Little brother is the best! Look at how beautiful you are little brother." '
'Stop.'
' "Red is such a pretty color, don't you think little brother." '
'Why?'
' "Oops, I might have cut a little too deep." '
'Why are you...'
' "How sad, it seems I broke my little toy." '
'Big brother...you...'
' "Even broken toys can be used." '
'No. Please, st-...he won't stop. He won't...why?'
' "I'll play with you little brother. Play with you till there's nothing left of you." '
"Hey, you-" Lucryn abruptly opens his eyes as hands restrain his arms, pulling them away from his head. Blood trickles down his forehead from his nails cutting into his skin. "Am I that scary?"
'Yes. Because you look just like...'
' "Little brother, I'll never leave you, kay? It's a promise, and I never break a promise." '
"I won't harm you, so don't cry." Lucryn blinks, unaware tears were forming in the corner of his eyes, his large misty eyes blankly looking into those ocean blue eyes.
' "So much red, it's really pretty!" '
Lucryn closes his eyes, letting the tears slip down his cheek, mixing with the blood. "You really don't follow the normal routine. Hey, stop crying, I'll be nice."
The man is suddenly moving, leaning back, a blade of poison passing right where his head once was. Turning his attention downwards he lets out a quiet "tsk" at the Sandslash below.
Lucryn doesn't notice any of this happening, he's completely shut himself off from the world, his mind a spinning mess. His pokemon below all looked up, letting out rage filled cries.
"Lovely little ones behave yourselves, I won't hurt him." The man turns back to the child, seeing how his breath is rough and staggered, his eyes tightly shut once more, blood dripping steadily from his face down onto the forest floor below. His heart clenches in pain 'why is his reaction towards me so strong?'
"Look at me pretty one." Lifting the child's chin, he waits half a minute, seeing the child give no indication of opening his eyes. Pondering, his fingers reach out, tapping the child's left eyelid as he says "be good and look at me."
Lucryn feels a soft touch on his eyelid and his mind blanks and then he feels it. 'It hurts, huRTS, HURTS!'
Arms pushing out, he pushes the man hard. The man doesn't even move, inwardly laughing 'Hes trying to push me off the branch, how cruel' A moment later his eyes go wide as he watches the child fall backwards. He wasn't trying to push the man off the branch, he was letting himself fall backwards, the push making him fall all the faster.
The child's eyes are open now, those lilac eyes looking up at the man. The man who was about to jump down after the child is frozen. 'That look...' Fear, utter fear that shouldn't possibly be so clearly expressed on a child's face.
A thump brings the man back to reality. 'No!' looking down, his heart jumps before calming as he sees the child held in the arms of that Sandslash. Glancing over the Sandslash he recognizes it, 'oh, so it's his guardians Sandslash. Steven's probably coming...'
"Until next time little one." The man airily says, trying not to show how shaken he is by his interactions with the child. If Sandslash hadn't caught the child...the child definitely didn't show signs of trying to land on his own, he had simply fallen like a dead weight. 'Why...why is it like this?'
...
Steven races through the woods a pink light covering him as he swiftly moves through the forest, feet never touching the ground. Spotting his Sandslash, Omnoru, he does a quick assessment of the surroundings for enemies. Seeing none he drops down beside Sandslash who is hesitantly hovering over the small form. Lucryn is curled up in a ball, hands over his ears as his breathing comes in shallow gasps.
Curled up like this, Steven could see just how small Lucryn is. Reaching out, Steven hesitates on touching Lucryn. He's clearly experiencing a panic attack of some sort. "Lucryn..."
Lucryn gives no response to Steven's quiet call. Sweat beads his forehead, a mix of tears and blood on his face, eyes screwed tightly shut. 'Just what the hell happened?'
"Lucryn, you're okay now."
Omnru (Sandslash): Someone strong came.
Steven: What did they do?
Omnru: He didn't move to attack the child, but...the child was scared
Steven looks up at Sandslash, silently requesting he go into more detail.
Omnru: The child was sitting up in the tree, the man just appeared up in the tree beside him. Lucryn was scared simply by looking at the man.
Steven: Do you recognize the man?
Omnru: I don't
Steven: Did the man make any threatening movements towards Lucryn?
Omnru: No...at least, it didn't seem that way.
Steven grits his teeth, looking down at Lucryn who still showed no signs of coming out of his current state. 'Who is he? He approached Lucryn without Omnru noticing. He can't be a simple person.' Huffing, he bows his head, trying to process the situation and the next best course of action.
Determining that upsetting Lucryn worse than he already is isn't a good idea. He needs info, but tormenting Lucryn to get those answers isn't the best course of action. Summoning Stoutland, he gives a silent command.
Steven: Track the man who was just here.
Stoutland sniffs the air, bounding off into the woods. Sighing, Steven sits down beside Lucryn. 'Lucryn, just who are you...'
(5 hours later)
The sun was setting by the time Lucryn stirs. His tightly closed eyes flutter open, vacantly staring at his knees. His hands relax, falling from his head to his side. His breathing had calmed an hour or so ago, Steven grateful to see Lucryn finally showing signs of livelihood.
The two remain in silence another tens of minutes, Lucryn finally rising to a sitting position. Steven meets Lucryn's eyes, noticing how they are as emotionless as ever, but the tear tracks and dried blood on his face make him seem pitiful and tiny. The facade of being someone who can't be bothered by the world didn't seem quite so strong as the two gaze at each other.
Steven comes to a decision after seeing those eyes. "I won't ask...but know that I will never harm you. I swear this."
Lucryn eyes droop, heavy with tiredness. His many nights of only sleeping as little as he can catching up with him as his mind is utterly tired after filtering through so many memories and emotions. 'Liar. That's what they all say.'
"You're not alone." Steven says, reaching out and ruffling Lucryn's hair, shocked that Lucryn doesn't even attempt to move to avoid his touch. Hesitantly, Steven reaches out, arms wrapping around Lucryn and pulling him towards himself. Lucryn's head bumps into Steven's chest, his body tense. Both sides remain quiet, Steven hugging Lucryn lightly enough that Lucryn can pull away easily if he wants to.
Lucryn's body relaxes into Steven's arms, lowered eyelashes hiding the emotions within his eyes from Steven. "I'm your guardian. I'll be there for you...so don't try to take everyone on by yourself."
Lowering his head onto Lucryn's, Steven lets out a soft breath. "I won't pretend to know what you've been through, I have no clue in hell actually, but I want to be there for you, so try to let me in, kay?"
Lilac eyes tiredly stare at the forest floor, the emotionless facade fading to reveal pure and utter exhaustion. 'Why do I struggle so much?'
Eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, those lilac eyes are hidden away as he forces his body to relax, welcoming the embrace of sleep and the nightmares that will assuredly come with it. 'I'm so tired...so why?'
Warm hands rub soothing circles into his back, warm breath gusting over his face. 'I should feel safe...'
'So why does it hurt so much?'
Feeling the lull of sleep calling to him, his thoughts grow sluggish.
'Is there a point to fighting?'
'I...don't want to be alone...'
'I'm scared.'
'Scared of this feeling of safety...scared of not being alone...scared of...' being happy.
'Please stop!' Stop messing with my emotions.
