The story has elements of both Dark War storyline and DemonxBunny's Masters of the Multiverse, so all credit goes to both Impact Wrestling and DemonxBunny. I do not own the characters, only the OCs. The story is entirely fictional.
Characters may look and act different than they do in real life. This was done intentionally, and things will change over time in this story, so please be patient.
Rating: M, for violence, coarse language, and mature themes/events that will appear throughout this story. Remember, this is Femslash, so if that's not your thing, you may not like this story.
Pairings: Allie/Rosemary (DemonxBunny), others over time.
Aftermath of the Dark War Chapter 22: The Big Fight and Fears for the Future by Jurassicfatt
Allie's Pov, Talbott Inn, Western Region, Evening
The ride over here was, let's just say, quiet. After we said our goodbyes to Geoffrey and the townsfolk, Rosemary just motioned for me to follow her. She handed me my helmet, put on hers, and in seconds we were speeding down the roadway. Not one word was spoken between the two of us the entire trek to the inn. It's pretty obvious she didn't like my little stunt with the Warlord, but what was I supposed to do? Let Serena and her father die? I may be shy and fearful at times, but I'm not going to let someone, especially a child, be killed when there's something I can do about it.
We arrive just as the sun is starting to set, an orange hue painting the sky. A blue building bearing the name Talbott, in curvy yellow letters, catches the eye. It is pretty much the only large building in the area, so it sticks out. As we walk through the front doors, a purple octopus-looking creature, with blueish-purple tentacles for arms and legs, stands behind a wooden counter. Rosemary shows him the room key, signs us in, and we walk up two flights of stairs to room 22, written in green on a simple brown door. Inside, the green-walled room is pretty large. Two bedrooms, with white twin-beds, a black nightstand, and a small dresser. The bathroom sports a toilet and a sink, but no shower or tub. I place our bone toothbrushes on the counter and walk into the main room. There are a few candles lit on a small table to the right, a slightly worn-out blue couch and loveseat on the left, a shelf with some books and a tiny burlap sack, and a summoning cauldron smack dab in the middle of the floor. Rosemary closes the door, lays her weapons on the table, and immediately goes towards the bookshelf, trying to get the burlap sack. I pull her knife from my back pocket and try to give it to her.
"Leave it on the table with the others. I'll clean it later." Rosemary says to me, almost no emotion behind her words, as she finally grabs the bag. Doing as I'm told, I place the knife next to the other weapons. Rosemary walks to the cauldron, takes a handful of dust, and drops it in. She whispers in a guttural tone of voice, before a block-shaped smoke cloud appears.
"Kaduran. Merchant T'soti residence." Rosemary says to the cloud. Wait, she's calling Caretaker? My thoughts are interrupted as an hourglass symbol appears, tiny sand granules falling down towards the bottom. Wow, it's kind of like the loading screen you'd see on a computer or cellphone! It's amazing how similar these dark magic items are to electronics back home. She still has her back to me, so I decide to break my silence.
"Rosemary, look, I know you are mad for what I did back in the village-" She turns around quickly and cuts me off.
"Mad? Mad?! I'm fucking pissed off right now! First, you don't tell me that you've been having these incredibly vivid nightmares involving Certrius and the Jewel! Then, you do the one thing I told you never to do when facing a Warlord!" Rosemary screams at me.
"I've already told you why I didn't mention the dreams. And as for what happened in the village, what was I supposed to do? Let Serena and her father die when I know I can help?"
"No, because I have to handle it! I'm the demon assassin with the training! When I brought you to the Western region with me, I told you that if you see a Warlord, you run away from it. I specifically said that you do NOT try to be a hero. What do you do, instead? You go straight towards it! Do you know how much danger you were in?!" Rosemary replies, raising her voice even higher.
"Yes, and I'd do it again if I had to. I wasn't going to let that innocent little girl be murdered to save myself! I won't hold back how I truly feel about this." I answer.
"No, you just hold back what we need to know in order to protect you, blondie." Rosemary responds sarcastically. Again, she calls me by that name. Argh! It was just then that the hourglass symbol disappears and Caretaker's face comes into view, his drooping three eyes and loud yawn slightly startling me.
"Who calls me at 7:38- Oh! Rosemary, is that you? And Allie! It is nice to see the two of you, how-"
"Allie lied to us. She's been having dreams about Certrius and the Jewel since her encounter with him, and never bothered to tell us." Rosemary asserts, cutting him off.
"What?!" Caretaker exclaims.
"I did not lie to you guys! I never mentioned it because at first, we didn't know each other. Then, I had no idea what they meant and didn't want to drag you into more of my personal issues, especially if it turned out to be nothing." I answer, feeling my anger rise by the minute at her accusation.
"It was stupid not to tell us and you know it! How do you expect us to protect you, if you don't give us all the facts, blondie?" Rosemary questions. I reach my tipping point and scream back.
"Don't call me blondie! Don't ever call me that name! The only people who ever called me blondie were bullies! People who got a kick out of hurting me, both physically and mentally, throughout my childhood!" I yell to her. Caretaker holds his hands up on the screen in a non-threatening gesture.
"Girls, listen-" he starts, before Rosemary cuts him off again.
"Another thing you didn't tell me. How convenient is that?" she says with sarcasm.
"You are such a hypocrite!" I shout.
"Hypocrite?!" she yells back.
"Yes, a hypocrite! The only things I didn't tell you about right away were my dreams and my bullies. I told you about my hometown, my career, my vegetarianism, my love for animals, my shop, my apartment, and a bunch of other stuff! I even told you what happened to Braxton in the cave! Meanwhile, you dodge every question I ask about you or the amulet, especially after you lose control." I tell her.
"I never dodged any of your questions. You are just acting defensive and lashing out at me when you know that I'm right." If there's one flaw she has, I think it would be her know-it-all cocky attitude.
"Oh yeah? Then how come I know almost nothing about you? Sure, if I ask a general question about the Realm or the assassins, you answer. Every time I ask a question about you or the amulet, it's always 'I don't want to get into it' or 'I need to focus on the task at hand'. Don't you think I get concerned whenever your amulet takes over and you start ripping demons limb from limb? Then again, you don't think about that, do you? You just choose not to tell me anything. Hell, I don't even know if Rosemary is your real name!" I sass to her. She freezes in place, processing my words. Judging by Rosemary's change of expression, my comments really got to her. She grits her teeth, her breathing going slow and eyes narrowing before she responds.
"This conversation is over!" she barks out.
"Good! That works for me!" I bark back, walking towards one of the bedroom doors.
"Fine!" she growls to my back. I turn around.
"Fine!"
"Fine!" Rosemary finishes. I open the door to the bedroom, walk in, and slam it behind me. Pushing my back against the hard wood, I close my eyes and try to take deep breaths in order to calm down. My pulse is racing and I'm pretty sure I could knock someone out for how angry I am right now.
Putting a hand to my face, I start to think about my actions. Was it really so wrong not to tell her?
Why did you hold it back? After all they've done? an angry voice asks me.
You're still holding some of parts the dream back. the teasing voice replies. Really not the time. You aren't a slave or a possession. You are a free woman. You don't owe Rosemary or anyone else an explanation. You were kidnapped by a huge, monstrous demon sorcerer who wants to sacrifice you! And it's not like she hasn't held back things from you. Just look at the amulet around her neck!
The only reason you aren't a slave is because Rosemary saved your life. Multiple times. Put yourself in her shoes. All those times she consoled and comforted you. Wiped away the tears. All those times she made you laugh and smile. How could you not tell her? the angry voice puts forth.
God, I'm so confused. On one hand, I feel the need to point out that she's holding just as much back from me, if not more, than I did from her. But I also feel it was stupid of me to hold my dreams back from them. They showed me nothing but kindness and I repay them by doing this. Great job, Allie. All of this could have been avoided had I just told her and Caretaker about the dreams. I can barely hear the voices from behind the door, but it sounds like Rosemary and Caretaker are still talking.
The look on her face when I stood up for myself is still stuck in my mind. Her eyes, that familiar misty blue, filled with shock and hurt at my comments. I'm pushing away the only person who was nice to me throughout this entire rollercoaster of a month. The person willing to sacrifice herself to ensure my safety. God, I'm so stupid! Tears start to roll down my cheeks, my anger replaced by sadness and regret. Maybe that's why I should be called blondie. For my lack of brains. Lying down on the bed, I continue to cry. Seconds pass into minutes and before long, my physical and emotional exhaustion finally knocks me out for the night.
Rosemary's Pov, Talbott Inn, Moments Earlier
Hearing the door slam, I run a hand through my hair. I feel my amulet warming slightly, but after a second or two, it cools down again. How can she be so arrogant? I turn to the cauldron. Caretaker has remained silent for a while now. His eyes are scrunched up, a disapproving look across his face, his arms crossed in front of his chest and his gaze directly on me.
"Are you done now?" he asks.
"Me? I'm not the bad guy here, Caretaker. What she did today was incredibly dangerous and risky! And not telling us about the dreams was a mistake!" I argue.
"I'm not disagreeing with you. But do you really think berating her like that was necessary?"
"Caretaker, how can we help her if she keeps secrets like this to herself? How can we stop Certrius from finding and hurting her if she doesn't give us all the details? I promised to protect her from him. As an assassin, it is my duty to protect her-"
"That is a lie and you know it!" Caretaker asserts suddenly, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Duty is not why you decided to 'personally' keep her safe. You and I both know the real reason you are so protective over her. It is-"
"Caretaker, don't start with this again." I warn him.
"-because-"
"Don't say it!"
"-you like her. You are so smitten you don't even realize it." he states simply.
"I am not smitten!" I respond.
"Oh no? Your face when you described your first kiss with her said otherwise." he asserts with a smirk.
"Hey, that was completely out of context! I had just put on the amulet and lost total control over myself."
"Exactly why you shouldn't be grinning like a slithering garter demon. Yet there you were, wide grin and all." he tells me. "Look me in the eye and tell me you felt nothing from that kiss?"
"I don't have to tell you anything." I answer back, not wanting to talk about this anymore.
"There's that dodging of the question bit Allie mentioned. Tell me, why haven't you removed your face paint?"
"What in the hell does that have to do with anything?" I ask, confused.
"Well, I have known you for over six years, and not once have you gone so long without removing and reapplying it. I can tell by the less than pristine look of the paint. As you've told me, you should reapply 'after every hunt', yet ever since Allie arrived, you haven't bothered to. Why is that?" he inquires, raising his left brow. I pause.
"Haven't found the time." I answer quickly.
"Another lie. How many are you going to tell me tonight, Rosemary?" he questions. "It is probably the same reason you haven't told her about your past, isn't it?" I don't answer, and simply look at the ground. "She's different, you know."
"What?"
"She's different. Allie won't judge you. You know that to be true. She's got too big of a heart for it. For the first time in a long time, I see you are truly afraid." I laugh.
"Afraid? Of what?"
"Well firstly, of the threat of Certrius. You want to protect Allie from him and his minions, but you don't know where or when he will appear. Secondly, this amulet, which is periodically making you lose control more than you ever have before. You swore to protect Allie, but you are unsure if you can trust these voices you hear. And whether they are just as much of a threat to her as anything else. It is Allie herself, however, that frightens you the most." Caretaker implies, and this time I raise my eyebrow to him.
"I'm afraid of Allie, now? Caretaker, are you sure you haven't been smacked in the head?"
"Not of her ability to harm you, Rosemary. Quite the opposite, actually. Anyone with eyes, let alone three, can tell you have feelings for her. From the way you look at her, to the way you hover around her protectively, to letting her accompany you on your hunts. Teaching her to dance. Bringing her to the Pevonian Hot Springs with you. I have never seen you so invested in someone before, Rosemary. Don't play this off as a 'just another job'. You like her, quite a lot. And that is what frightens you, isn't it? These uncanny feelings you have. It is precisely the reason why you keep dodging her questions about your past and the amulet. And why you don't remove your 'armor'. You are afraid that if you tell her about the 'real you', the girl behind the fearless, face painted demon hunter. The girl that doesn't have all the answers, and the horrible life she had before her academy days, that Allie will never look at you the same way again." he argues to me. I open my mouth to respond, but again I am at a loss for words. I simply look down, processing what Caretaker just said.
"I… I won't deny that she makes me feel different. More so than any person I've ever met. I want to keep her safe. I don't understand it, but I need to. I won't let anyone else do it for her. It has to be me." I confess to him. "At first, I thought I was just grateful for her saving my life, but now… It's strange. This feeling I get, whenever I'm around her, it's, it's like-"
"Something you can't explain with words?" Caretaker finishes for me. I nod. "And it scares you, to think that feeling could end if you tell her what you've gone through. Of your uncertainty. About the amulet. About Certrius. But, Rosemary, would it truly be so horrible to show Allie the girl behind the assassin?" he asks me.
"Maybe… not? I, *sigh* I'm not sure." I say aloud.
"I'm not telling you what to do, Rosemary. I'm just saying, it wouldn't hurt to tell her more about you. Trust me, I'm sure she would be more than willing to hear how you feel." he argues.
"Wait, what? What do you mean by that?" I ask. He starts to laugh.
"Haha! You should have seen the look on your face when I said that. You have it bad, assassin! *Relaxed sigh* Well, now where are you and Allie off to? Back to Kaduran to see me, Fenris, and Phoebe?" he asks. Still blushing uncomfortably, I answer.
"No. Most of the Warlords have been dealt with, so that's done. I had to switch assignments with another assassin from the Northern Heights, so he could bury his student. Now I have to go North-East to oversee the Omni Sports Tournament."
"Well, that doesn't sound too bad, for all its worth. Tournaments have great festivities and drinks, although I've heard the food is dreadful at those events." he mentions. "Doesn't that mean you'll be staying there for the duration of the tournament?"
"Yeah, all two weeks. Which reminds me, when you see Cal, can you tell him to meet us there? I need him to take a look at this thing." I say, before telling him about what happened with Jed and the Warlord from earlier. He goes silent as I explain what I did, gasping when I recount what happened with Allie, Kiera, and Jed, as well as the final moments of my battle with the Mother of the Territory. Including the unknown voice from the amulet. He takes a moment before responding.
"That sounds particularly troubling. I will contact him immediately and make sure he gets to you, with this 'Book of Zarash'. He needs to get a handle on this before you have another incident. I'm sure he will. Or he'll refer you to someone who can." he tells me confidently.
"I hope so. The voice says we have much to discuss. I have no idea what about, or why he won't let me take this damn thing off!" I say, touching my hand to the amulet, the centerpiece burning my skin again. "Ow!"
"Don't worry yourself too much, Rosemary. I'm sure this 'voice' has its reasons for the deception. I'll speak with Cal right after this." he states. "Speaking of, I do think it's time you get some sleep. You two have had quite an eventful day."
"Allie is asleep by now, at least I think so. I hope I can patch things up after everything I said earlier. If she even wants to speak with me." I mutter. I swear I thought I heard her crying before. I feel like such an ass. I didn't mean all those things I said to her.
"Rosemary, get some rest. No one should go to bed full of rage, but I'm not certain if waking her up in a jolt after your last exchange is the best course of action, either. Especially if she is already asleep, as you surmise. Tomorrow is another day. Rest that shoulder. And take some time to think about what I said. You are a good person, who cares for the well-being of others. A hero to many. But even heroes need to feel vulnerable once in a while. Allie will hear you out. I'm sure of it." Caretaker asserts to me.
"Okay. I'll… I'll sleep on it."
"That's all I can ask for." Caretaker responds. "Now go rest. I need it too." he says, before loudly yawning.
"Alright. See you in a few weeks, Caretaker. I'll keep in touch."
"As will I. Goodbye, Rosemary."
"Goodbye." I wave, before tapping on the cauldron and ending our call. Walking towards the bedroom door, I slowly open it, trying not to wake Allie. I see her lying on the bed, her sleeping form barely visible in the dim light of the candle. Lightly brushing her hair off her face, I can see she's been crying, her puffy cheeks and red-rimmed eyes a straight giveaway. Now I really feel like an ass.
"I never meant to hurt you. I'm such a fucking idiot. I should have just-" I pause, composing myself. "There's so much… I want to tell you. I… hope we can speak tomorrow. Goodnight." I whisper softly to her, before, in a move that shocks me, lean in to try to kiss her cheek. I stop myself at the last moment, pulling away as if my face is on fire. You've caused enough pain and confusion, tonight, the harsh voice whispers in my head. I get up and close the door, but not completely, leaving a small opening to keep an eye on her. It'll be easier to get up if she has another nightmare. I go into the other bedroom, take both pillows and place them on the couch in the living room. Then I walk to the bathroom, put some water on a towel and return to the main room. I grab my weapons and start cleaning them, pondering Caretaker's words. So many questions are on my mind:
Is Caretaker right? Am I really afraid of losing this 'feeling'? Could it be lost if I tell her about my past? Show her the real me? Is the amulet a gift or a danger, both to myself and Allie? If it is dangerous, why did it cause me to kiss her, and act so bloodthirsty when she was threatened? Should I keep my guard up, or be more receptive to it?
This is so fucking confusing. Placing my weapons back in my bag, I lie down on the couch. Taking one last look at Allie's room, I turn my head, close my eyes and finally fall asleep.
Author's Note: Hey everybody. Hope you've been well. So… that could have gone a whole lot better. It's never fun to fight, but bottling up everything isn't good either. What do you think of Caretaker's advice? And what is Rosemary hiding? Do you think she'll confess when they wake up tomorrow? Until next time, have a great week!
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