A/N: Welcome back~
Chapter took a bit longer than anticipated, but hope you enjoy all the same~
Light
Chapter 7: New Friends
The corridors of the Herta Space Station were quiet.
Perhaps in part due to Herta's personality and low tolerance for idiots, there was no soothing music that played over speakers nor any friendly robots around to help guide lost researchers. Instead the many corridors across the station were devoid of life; only the occasional bunch of potted plants to liven up the otherwise sterile grey and white interior.
Caelus didn't mind though. On the contrary he welcomed the rare peace and quiet, using it to roll around the numerous thoughts tumbling around his mind and try and make sense of them all. His conversation with the three geniuses lived fresh in his mind the most but even then they were just the forefront of the turbulence. Other concerns like Terminus the Finality, Firefly and his friends, and even Penacony itself weighed on his mind.
Less than a week ago they'd arrived at Penacony, expecting a vacation or, at worst, an investigation.
Now he had a literal Aeon gunning for him, had fallen hard for a girl he'd only recently come to know and confessed to her, and was now trying to not get murdered by the aforementioned Aeon before next week was over. Not even Belobog was so chaotic, and that whole saga had taken place over the same period of time, only it was his first real rodeo.
Caelus sighed deeply, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He tried not to think about it too much but in the silence of the space station the worries circling in his mind rushed forth, like sharks that smelled blood in the water.
How do you stop an Aeon when you're just a human?
What did I do to deserve this? Was saving a life such a bad thing to do?
What could he have done different to stop this mess?
Was it even worth it to try?
That last thought lingered the most. It made his lips purse and his throat grow thick. How many would die because of his decision to save Firefly that day? He didn't regret it, he'd do it again in a heartbeat, but what Herta said was true – Aeons didn't operate on the same logic they did. A wave of his hand wouldn't do much more than disturb the dust in the air. If an Aeon was to do the same, millions could die. Their powers were dimensions greater and their desires even more unfathomable.
How many would Terminus kill to get to him, not out of any sort of struggle, but because they were simply in the way?
''Do not forget who you are fighting for.''
Caelus flinched, spinning-
-but there was nobody there.
Yet goosebumps crawled up his neck and down his spine. He had heard someone speak then. He knew he had – or was it just a delusion, a simple trick or echo? He swallowed and clenched his fists, straightening up, but he couldn't push the eerie sensation from his mind. In the quiet of the corridor the tension weighed all the more and left him glancing this way and that, spying boxes and benches but no soul in sight.
''Will you let her die?''
Again, behind him. He whirred but nothing was there, yet he summoned his bat all the same, tense. ''Who's there?''
None answered him this time.
He hissed through his teeth. ''If this is some kind of prank...''
Again, none answered his threat.
None, save the whisper behind his ear.
''Will you?''
''Of course not.'' He answered almost reflexively; speaking before his mind caught up and he turned his head, searching for the voice. He did not succeed.
''Then fight.'' Above him – but none loomed over him, even as the voice spoke again. ''Fight. Struggle. Rebel. Even in the face of Death, fight. For her. Always, for her.''
Caelus swallowed, his grip on his bat sweaty. ''Who are you?''
Silence.
''...you're the one that spoke to me in Penacony, aren't you?'' His eyes narrowed at the ceiling, straining to see even a speck of a spirit. ''You helped me save Firefly.''
''...I merely stopped you from making a mistake... from letting you lose someone so cherished, like I once did...'' The voice seemed to almost rasp the words, an ugly note to its voice – as if torn between seething rage, and throat-clawing anguish.
''Thank you.'' The quiet that followed his words emboldened him, if anything. ''If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be in this mess... but, Firefly would've also died, wouldn't she? So... thanks.''
''...thank me once you've truly saved her, boy.'' The voice grew faint. ''Just beware... how far... Terminus can...''
The voice quietened to a whisper, then perished altogether; gone as if sucked into a vacuum.
Caelus pursed his lips. Had the spirit – or whatever the hell it was – died? Or had it simply... gone away? He didn't know and after a moment of thinking on it he sighed, pushing it to the back of his mind. He could bring it up with the others later; they'd know more than he would and quite frankly he had a dozen things more important than a clingy spirit. He'd dealt with that enough as it is was in Fyxestroll Garden, quite frankly, and just thinking about it was making his head hurt.
He sighed, straightened his shoulders-
''Hmph! There you are!''
-when Herta suddenly spoke up from behind him.
Caelus hissed and restrained himself from whipping around and knocking her head off; muscle memory nearly making him commit dollcide. He relaxed the muscles before he could do such a thing and consciously dismissed his bat, sending it back into the aether as he turned around to face Herta herself – or rather one of her many dolls. Unlike them though she looked almost smug; hands on her hips and a little smirk on her lips, giving her much more life than she normally possessed.
''Herta.'' Caelus dipped his head in greeting. ''Er... what's up?''
''What's up? I overhead you yapping to yourself, that's what!'' Herta huffed. ''You didn't hit yourself on the head did you? You've only been gone for a few minutes and you're already talking to the ceiling!''
''Ah... about that...'' He scratched the back of his head. ''I... actually, never mind, I'll tell you later. Is Ruan Mei ready yet?''
''Mmhm, she just needs another few minutes.'' Herta smiled up at him. ''C'mon, what's with that frown? Lighten up! We'll get this problem with Terminus sorted in no time at all.''
''R-Right...'' Something about her words troubled him though. ''But... how?''
Herta just crossed her arms. ''I'll do the thinking and you do the fighting, meathead. Trust me, Terminus won't know what hit her.''
His lips moved, words formulating on his tongue – when his brain caught up.
'Wait... 'her'?'
Since when did Herta refer to Terminus as feminine?
Warning signs blared in his mind and it must've shown in his posture as Herta giggled – a strange, tittering giggle that felt so unlike the smug genius he knew. A genius that in truth was not present, as with a sudden, forced blink he found himself staring not into the amethyst eyes of Herta.
But the carmine eyes of Sparkle.
''Took you long enough, Akivili~'' 'Sparkle' crooned deviously.
He had no time to think, to even breathe, before her heeled foot suddenly slammed into his stomach. The air was knocked clean out and by the time his mind caught up his back hit a trolley and he went tumbling over it with a gasp, floundering both mentally and physically as he rolled across the polished corridor floor. Instinct took though and he grasped at the floor underfoot, skidding himself to a stop and raising his head.
Only to get uppercutted by a foot, his head jerked back – and a roundhouse kick sent him into wall. His vision blurred but he sensed more than saw the danger and threw himself to one side, dodging the fist that impacted where his head had been moments prior. He gritted his teeth at that, dredging up the Destruction within him, sparks dancing between his fingers before his trusty baseball bat manifested in his right hand.
''Hehe, what are you planning on doing with that?'' 'Sparkle' cooed mockingly, clapping her hands together. ''Surely you don't plan on hitting me with that, do you? You'd hit a girl – how uncouth, Akivili!''
''I'm not hitting a girl though am I...'' Caelus glared as his vision refocused, ''...Aha?''
'Sparkle' tittered, her grin so broad it looked unsettlingly wrong, her lipstick-clad lips glinting under the sterile lights. ''What gave it away?''
''It wasn't hard to figure out.'' Caelus gripped his bat but didn't raise it, lest the Aeon take it as a threat.
As if he was a threat to such a being, but it never hurt to be cautious.
''Oh I know that. If I wanted this show to be a mystery, I'd have put more effort into playing up the angle.'' She – they? – dismissively waved a hand, though her grin barely waned. ''I'm surprised though! I'd have thought you'd be freaking out more – after all this actress of mine was just in Penacony, and now all the way over here! Yet you're barely shocked, it's such a shame...''
The disappointment in Aha's tone made his heart ache, the Aeon's inherent influence potent even when acting through a proxy. It didn't help that Sparkle herself changed from grinning to look on the verge of tears practically at the drop of a hat, tears pricking the corners of her eyes and shoulders curling in, making her look so vulnerable and in need of comfort. Yet he resisted the urge to comfort, to help; his instincts screaming at him not to fall for it.
After a second 'Sparkle' huffed and straightened back up, sorrow gone and poutiness in place. ''Seriously? You see a crying girl and you just stand there and watch – you're shameless Akivili! Shameless!''
''What do you want?''
Caelus's question, tersely spoken and with guard raised, gave the Aeon pause. For a split-second.
''What do I want?'' Back came the grin, hands spreading apart in a gesture of grandeur. ''I want something fun. Something to titter and giggle at, something to enjoy and relish, something to bring laughter and elation! Is that so wrong, Akivili? You understand don't you? Don't you?''
He shifted back a step. ''Then why attack me?''
'Sparkle' just giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. ''Why else?''
He felt a tap on his shoulder – but when he glanced, he found nobody there.
''Because this is fun.''
The words came from right in front of him, breath tickling his jaw – right before a fist slammed up into his gut. The surprise attack left him winded and unable to stop the possessed Sparkle from grabbing him by the throat, halting his momentum only to throw him backwards. He flew down the corridor from her magnified strength but this time he managed to land on his feet, his trainers squeaking against the smooth flooring as he skidded to a stop.
But 'Sparkle' was faster. Whether because of Aha possessing her or some hitherto-unknown ability she closed the distance in the time it took him to draw a breath, his left arm raising in time to block the kick that was aimed for his throat. However rather than be startled by his block 'Sparkle's just laughed, her knee bending before she leapt off of his limb and launched herself up at the ceiling – using it as a springboard to throw herself back at him, left fist cocked back.
His baseball bat swung to meet it and the collision generated a explosion of force that sent them skidding back. Caelus glanced at her fist only to note it was practically undamaged, bringing his brow low in a frown. Was it because Aha was possessing her and using her body like a puppet? A perk of the Elation, or maybe just how the energies naturally cancelled each other out? He didn't know and he suspected Aha wouldn't simply tell him outright, and he wasn't in the mood for riddles.
The time for thought was over though as 'Sparkle' dashed right at him, grin broad and torso forwards, her sprint closing the distance. He grasped his bat with both hands and waited until the last moment, swinging-
But rather than get struck across the head by his bat, a red portal opened up in front of Sparkle and she vanished into it.
He felt confusion for a second. Then pain the next as fist struck his kidney – a gasp tearing itself out of Caelus as the possessed Sparkle rematerialised on his right, the exit portal closing behind her. With haste he swung but she ducked under his bat and climbed onto his back, a laugh escaping her even as he tried to elbow her off, the added weight sending him stumbling back. Her left leg wrapped around his neck a second later, his air supply unceremoniously cut off as she choked him out.
''Ahh, this is just like old times~'' 'Sparkle' sighed merrily even as she caught his wrist, stopping him from hitting her with his bat. ''I've missed this so much Akivili! Nobody else lets me have as much fun as you do, none at all! It's cruel of them, I tell you!''
His choked rasp earned little more than a laugh from 'Sparkle', and in a fit of desperation he swung his bat down instead of up – striking the floor underfoot. He overcharged the attack, however, the expected flash of Destructive energy instead obliterating the steel floor entirely and sending them plummeting through the space station. The leg around his throat left but any relief he felt was instantly quenched as 'Sparkle' used him as a springboard, leaping off of him.
Gravity brought him down and a single second later he met the steel floor of the Seclusion Zone, the air knocked out of him. It very nearly winded him, his chest expanding and collapsing rapidly as he gasped – but a glint made his eyes jerk up. Panic infused his muscles and without hesitation Caelus rolled aside, narrowly avoiding the axe kick that came crashing down where he was moments before. Despite the drop 'Sparkle' didn't so much as slow; a simple twist of her heel reorienting her before she faced him.
'Dammit...!' Rolling out of the way he dismissed his bat, embers gathering between his fingers instead.
Then with a swing he brought forth his flaming lance, pointing it at her. 'Sparkle' cooed, feigning fear, but the grin on her lips told otherwise. ''Bringing out Qlipoth's toy? How scary~!''
She hopped from foot to foot, arms by her sides as she swung like a marionette, the comparison eerily apt in this moment. Seeing as she wasn't going to make the first move he did so; a yell escaping Caelus as he lunged; stabbing his weapon out. She easily side-stepped it but he followed up with another and then another, the amber tip slashing horizontally and nearly taking a gash out of her when she bent backwards, the tip skimming her clothes by a fraction of an inch.
Right before she leapt up and forwards, headbutting him. He stumbled back, dazed, and cursed as she swept his feet out from under him. Instinct saved him from losing his head; his lance raised just in time to block the axe kick and shoving her back, though frustratingly 'Sparkle' just giggled mockingly. She even waited until he was back on his feet before she started to circle him, her grin mocking even as her eyes remained glued to his own, laser-focused in a way that was almost inhuman.
No, it was inhuman.
''Why the long face Akivili?'' Aha spoke through its puppet; the natural croon of Sparkle's voice fitting the deity well. ''This is just a friendly bout, no need to be so tense~''
Caelus held his temper, knowing full well the Aeon was just trying to egg him on. ''I don't want to fight you.''
''Aw, that's too bad – because I do!'' 'Sparkle' giggled, chin down but eyes never leaving his; peering through her fringe the whole while. ''The universe has been so terribly boring you know – it needs more fun! More excitement!''
''Then why don't you go stop Terminus? Sounds like fun, right?'' He couldn't help but jab.
The only mercy was that Aha didn't care for rudeness. ''Pfft, as if! Have you seen her? She's terrifying! Little old me would be blown to smithereens – so it's more fun to just watch you do it!''
''I feel like you'd have an easier time than me.'' Caelus muttered.
Sparkle merely tittered, then tensed. That was the only warning he got before she sprung at him, the distance crossed in a single leap and her hand coming down in a palm-strike. He back-stepped, evading the strike and stabbing out for her side only for her in turn to side-step it, her grin broadening even as he went on the offensive; his myriad of thrusts, stabs and slashes forcing 'Sparkle' to constantly back-step.
Yet in spite of his furious assault he didn't land a single hit. His irritation got the better of him and he got more aggressive, his frustrations bubbling over. He lunged and aimed for her stomach only for 'Sparkle' to bat the tip aside with the back of her hand, grinning as she got in close. However this time he was prepared, Destruction crackling in his left hand before a familiar baseball bat came into it, swinging for her face.
And connecting.
The explosive force sent 'Sparkle' tumbling backwards, rolling until she hit a console. Part of him wanted to go on the offensive further but he needed a second to breathe, his limbs jittery with adrenaline as he gulped in much-needed oxygen. In the brief quiet the only noise beyond his panting was the cracking and rending of metal; the occasional clatter coming from his right as chunks fell from the hole he'd torn in the corridor far above.
That was until 'Sparkle' stumbled back to her feet. Her grin remained but she now had a purpling bruise on her cheek, the welt pronouncing quickly compared to the fair skin around it. Not that it seemed to do much as Sparkle clapped her hands – and then vanished into a puff of confetti.
Instincts saved him from a kick to the head, his body throwing itself to the left just in time to dodge the high kick aimed for him. He spun with his momentum and lashed out with his bat but Sparkle was faster; tittering mockingly as she ducked under it and got inside his guard. He tensed just as her fist connected, the force behind her strike nigh-explosive and blowing through him. He endured, however, his bat dissipating and freeing his hand, allowing him to grab her shoulder.
His lance thrust forth at the same time – stabbing not 'Sparkle', but the floor between them.
''Flaming lance...''
Embers danced in the amber glow, reflecting in 'Sparkle's mad carmine eyes and illuminating her widening grin.
''...forwards.''
The floor under the lance's tip cracked, the temperature skyrocketed – and then blazing fire roared to life around them. The force behind the flames nearly lifted him off of his feet but he held his ground against them, his grip ironclad as he forced 'Sparkle' to stay with him in the baleful heat. The roar in his ears deafened him to all and his eyes watered in the heat, but his sense of touch remained unhampered.
Letting him feel 'Sparkle' break free and try to go left. He followed her not with sight but by the gap she left in the flames, his bat returning to his hand and smashing into the back of her leg. It sent her down and he blindly grasped for her just as the flames petered out, his hand catching her shoulder – but she was quicker, grabbing his forearm and throwing him over her shoulder. He rolled to bleed off the momentum and raised his lance in time to block the roundhouse kick aimed for him, but even then the force behind it sent him sliding back a foot.
''That's it!'' 'Sparkle's crowed with delighted, flipping over him and aiming for his back.
He blocked the kick to his kidney and let her push him back, using the distance to raise his lance. A chain of thrusts forced 'Sparkle' to side-step rapidly, her grin only widening as she tilted and jerked her body in the narrowest of ways, always just enough to avoid the hot edge of his lance. A sweep was leapt over and she used his weapon like a springboard, launching herself up into the sky – and into another portal.
Not even a half-second later a hand grabbed him by the back of his coat and yanked him down – but rather than hit solid ground he found himself falling. The floor of the Seclusion Zone fast approached and he prepared to roll, only to realise 'Sparkle' was still holding onto him. A fact he remembered as her kick struck his chin and knocked him through the air, the wind rushing passed his ears – ceasing abruptly as his shoulders crashed into a console, denting it inwards and knocking the air from his lungs.
'Shit...!' Caelus clutched at the warped metal and forced himself up even as his lungs burned. 'C'mon, breathe...!'
The strange prickling across his brain was his only warning of 'Sparkle' approaching, instinct making him leap to the left – but a portal suddenly appeared and he found himself leaping back into the same spot he'd just occupied.
Right in the path of an axe kick. His shoulder ached sharply, bone creaking, and it was only because of the thick steel floor that he wasn't shunted straight through the ground. His body took the brunt of the blow because of that, the air knocked free from his lungs as he fell to one knee, eye on the possessed Sparkle as she leapt back and landed before him, arms out and mocking grin unfading. Daring him to pay her back.
''Come on, come on, you can do better than that Akivili~'' The lilted coo of Sparkle mixed with Aha's repetitive manner of speech. ''You can swing that relic around, sure, but you're barely using it right! How is that even possible – it's not that hard!''
Irritation bubbled within him. Whether it was his own or incited by the Aeon he didn't know but he didn't fight it. ''You're seriously annoying, you know that?''
'Sparkle' stuck her tongue out and raised her left fist whilst her other grasped the air next to it, rotating around and around like operating a lever... and then flipped him off with her middle finger.
The prior irritation he felt skyrocketed into anger in a heartbeat. Not only was Aha not helping him with the whole Terminus crisis but was actively delaying him – and now had the audacity to mock him for not being able to match it in battle? It pissed him off. He had a hundred things that needed done yesterday and yet this clown was wasting his time – all for the fun of it. Not for any greater purpose, not for any reason, just for a laugh.
He saw red. ''Flaming lance, forwards!''
The familiar burn of the Preservation filled him – and then he was off, soaring straight for that grinning mug. Only to miss as 'Sparkle' bent backwards, letting him fly right over her.
''Tsk tsk, shameful~'' 'Sparkle' called out across the room as he skidded to a stop. ''You wouldn't miss me if you were being serious Akivili~''
''Shut up!'' He levelled his lance at her. ''Flaming lance!''
He didn't bother with the full invocation yet it heard his will all the same, sending him forth – and missing, a pillar of flame engulfing naught but a series of consoles.
The possessed Sparkle's laughter echoed all the louder when the flames died down. ''Again?! Seriously, how pathetic can you be?! You gave Nanook a run for his money, but can't even hit little old me? You can't even use Qlipoth's tool properly!''
Caelus couldn't reply, inordinate rage mixing with a myriad of senseless feelings as he aimed his lance. He drew upon that burning, blazing inferno he felt when he first touched the lance – and then soared. Distance shrunk and 'Sparkle' didn't move, her grin gleaming in the firelight-!
When she caught the tip between two fingers.
His momentum halted, the forced stop echoing up his arm and the pommel hitting his chest. His eyes widened and he tried to move but found himself completely unable to, her two fingers so dainty yet impossibly strong.
''Seriously.'' 'Sparkle' sighed. ''If you're not going to use it properly, you don't deserve it.''
A pinch – and then the lance shattered into pieces. From tip to handle the entire construct instantaneously cracked and crumbled into pieces, the amber chunks clattering and clinking as they fell upon the hard steel floor of the Seclusion Zone, only to turn into motes of orange light a second later.
''There.'' Her enunciation was slow and dull. ''I'm sure Qlipoth will thank me later.''
Caelus leapt backwards, disturbed. Dread pooled in his gut and he drew upon the familiar feeling of fire, calling upon the Preservation-
But nothing happened. No flames betwixt his fingers, no lance, no feeling of protection bordering on divine.
''It's... gone?''
''Mmhm~''
He realised his mistake a second too late – he'd taken his eyes off of Sparkle. So shook was he that he didn't have time to duck under the roundhouse kick, splotches of black dotting his vision as he was sent tumbling across the floor, his trainers squeaking as he skidded to a stop. The possessed Masked Fool though was relentless and landed right before him, leg tensing in preparation for another kick – and it was only his finely-honed battle instincts that saved him from getting an uppercut, managing to jerk his head back out of the way just in time.
A portal opened under him though. He fell without warning and found himself plunging down towards the mad Aeon. Thinking fast he drew upon the Destruction instead, his baseball bat grasped between both hands and he brought it down – his momentum only empowering his slamming strike. It connected with the ground, a shockwave preluding the shriek of steel as he nearly blew a hole straight through it; leaving instead just a crater of warped metal.
'Sparkle', however, wasn't mushed.
''C'mon, you gotta be faster!''
He spun and swung, his baseball bat swinging – but 'Sparkle' had gone low, crouched – and then her foot struck his jaw in a high kick. He staggered backwards and barely warded her back with a swing, giving him time to grab onto a piece of rent metal and leap out of the crater he'd formed, landing on solid, flat ground.
However the lack of an immediate attack set off warning bells and he turned – just in time to see a portal opening. He swung and a hand shot out of the red void, catching his weapon-
And then crushing it between her nimble fingers.
''Oops.'' One heeled foot stepped out of the red as 'Sparkle' emerged, grin disturbingly small. ''Now what will you do Akivili?''
He did the only thing he could think of – throw a punch.
'Sparkle' knocked him flat on his back first.
''Tsk tsk, if you wanted to hit me properly you should've tried harder.'' The Aeon sounded positively exasperated. Exasperated.
Like this was all just some game to it.
The fleeting remnants of anger returned but they slipped through his fingers just as quickly as they came. Even as the possessed Sparkle stood by his feet and stared down at him, her visage frozen in a perpetual grin, the adrenaline in his system dribbled away to nothing. He couldn't fight her any further. It was a bitter pill to swallow but one she practically forced down his throat, his own pride unable to ignore that immutable fact.
''Aw, giving up so soon? I was hoping you'd have more fight than that.'' She leaned forwards and stuck her tongue out. ''Come on~ I'll even lend you some of my power as an apology~''
''...piss off.''
Probably not the wisest words to say to an Aeon, admittedly.
Aha was merciful, if nothing else. ''Hmph! Don't say I never try to help you Akivili. After all... you'll need all the help you can get for what's waiting for you on the other side, hahaha~!''
A snap of her fingers – and Sparkle exploded into confetti.
This time though she didn't rematerialise with a kick aimed for his vitals. Instead the prickling sensation in his brain faded away as the Aeon's presence left the area, the absence leaving him shivering briefly. He still hadn't gotten to that weird sensation.
Aha's words though lingered. 'Other side'? That certainly didn't sound ominous at all. The offer of power too was more tempting than he wanted to admit... if it wasn't for the fact it was Aha making that offer. For all he knew the Aeon would turn him into a worm the moment he agreed – or worse, even if he didn't. The Aeon was too unpredictable to be trusted.
Grunting Caelus dug his elbows into the floor and pushed himself upright, his body aching but nothing broken. A miracle, considering his opponent, even if said opponent didn't take him even slightly serious.
But with two broken weapons and his connection with the Paths seemingly shattered by proxy, he found himself lost.
'...no, maybe the Luofu could help. I need to keep moving forwards.'
Drawing a breath Caelus held onto that thought, tapped into the Trailblaze – and with a flash of sapphire light, vanished in pursuit of Ruan Mei.
X-x-X
Far away from the chaos within the Herta Space Station, Firefly pocketed her phone.
Exhaling a light breath the 'stowaway' of their little group looked around the hotel room they'd taken up residence in – under Himeko's name and one of the larger ones, enabling them to have group discussions without squeezing into the more modest hotel room she and Caelus had gotten. The thought of which left her cheeks a touch warm, just thinking about the first night they'/d spent together.
She banished the thought before she could seep too deeply into the thought of him. The Trailblazer who fought back a Doomsday Beast. The Trailblazer who saved Belobog by earning the glance of Qlipoth. The Trailblazer who helped put down an empowered Phantylia. And now the Trailblazer who was working to stop a literal Aeon.
Admittedly it rubbed her the wrong way that all she could do was sit there and wait. She wanted to act, to help, to aid him in some way... but she couldn't. She was just Firefly, the girl in Penacony. Defenceless and in need of protection. The guise left a bitter taste in her mouth, though she had to concede even if she came out with her secret identity she wouldn't be a huge help anyway. The best thing she could do for now was stay put and let more knowledgeable people work out the plan.
But the wait was the worst part. Not knowing whether a world-destroying Aeon would show up now, tomorrow, next week or even decades later – it was an exercise in anxiety that she very much disliked.
So when March's tummy growled, she was all too happy for the distraction. ''Hey, should we grab something to eat?''
''That's sounds like a lovely idea, Firefly.'' Himeko warmly remarked. ''Thoughts, everyone?''
''Sure!'' March merrily agreed whilst Robin, who was sat next to her, chirped a soft agreement.
Black Swan was presently asleep in her own room but Acheron was not; the mysterious Galaxy Ranger currently leaning up against the wall by the windows, peering outside. Only when her name was called did she snap out of whatever thoughts were occupying her, a brief blink and shrug of acceptance serving as her vote on the matter. Himeko accepted it all the same though, a smile lighting up her face as she beckoned them all into motion.
Firefly glanced at Robin then as the songstress rummaged through the small backpack she'd thought to bring along to Himeko's room. The reason why became apparent as she pulled out a long white piece of cloth, one that revealed itself to be a cloak – and one that she draped over herself, her arms tucked into the folds of the fabric whilst the hood was pulled over her head, large enough that it hid most of her features unless she raised her head enough for someone to see more than her mouth.
'Smart.' Firefly noted. With how popular Robin was walking about in public was bound to draw attention – and beyond the security problem, she imagined it wasn't super pleasant for Robin either.
Leaving her in the care of March – who was obviously quite eager to help out her favourite idol – she followed behind Acheron as Himeko led them outside. The corridors of the hotel were quiet despite the eternal hubbub outside, spacetime seeming to warp almost to let them reach the main lobby as quickly as comfortably possible; detectable only because of the subtle fluctuations in the air around her, like particles sucked passed her while new ones were pushed before her, the ambient temperature adjusting by no more than a degree or so.
But she was good at noticing such small details. Especially when it came to heat.
Firefly shook off such thoughts but it was hard to quieten her mind, truthfully. Worries from before resurfaced – not least because of Kafka's arrival to Penacony. That hadn't been part of the script. What had Elio seen that made him believe the presence of the other Stellaron Hunters was necessary? Between the four of them together she was confident they could rival an Emanator in strength... so did that mean they would be up against something even greater than one?
Terminus came to mind but she dismissed it immediately. Elio was no fool nor did she think herself as one – none of them stood a chance at a direct conflict with an Aeon. You didn't simply 'fight' an Aeon in the same sense you did a mortal person, or even an Emanator. It was equivalent to fighting an ocean – you could punch, kick and shoot all you wanted, but the tidal wave was going to engulf you all the same. No, fighting Terminus was off the table, barring exceptional circumstances far beyond her knowledge.
But then why send Kafka and the others? She doubted Kafka could use her Spirit Whisper on an Aeon, nor could Silver Wolf use he Aether Editing to any great effect – if those of Punklorde blood could simply edit away Aeons, they would be a far greater galactic threat than even the IPC. Meaning either Aether Editing didn't work on Aeons, or did in such a limited fashion it wasn't seen as something to covet. Likewise Blade, she doubted, could do much. For all his strength and regeneration an Aeon could probably cut him down for good if it so wanted to.
Nor could she do much good. She doubted Terminus could be killed with mere flames alone.
So then why send them? Elio was a master strategist with the ability to perceive the future of even Aeons, something that the Xianzhou Luofu's Matrix of Prescience could not do. So what did he see that made him send his closest allies to a planet that may very well be doomed?
Firefly lifted her head, looking at the twilight sky of Golden Hour as she followed the others, and sighed. She was just fretting, she knew; she was self-aware to see herself entering a spiral of worry that led to more worry bordering on paranoia. A good deep breath helped clear her head but it didn't banish the existential threat and numerous mysteries she wouldn't be getting any answer to. All she could do was trust in her comrades, in her friends... and in Caelus. The dork that stole her heart.
''Hehe, you're thinking about Caelus aren't you?''
The teasing quip from Himeko snapped Firefly from her thoughts; warmth quick to colour her cheeks as she found the older woman looking at her. ''Um, er... y-you could tell?''
''Indeed. You had this sweet, adoring expression on your face – kinda easy to tell who you were thinking about~''
Her cheeks burned even as she laughed sheepishly. 'Was I that obvious...?'
''No need to look so embarrassed.'' Himeko remarked teasingly, slowing as they neared a food truck. ''I approve of you two.''
''Aha, thank you, Miss Himeko...''
Even as the words left her lips though, a small nugget of doubt ached at her heart.
'Would you think the same, if you knew I was a wanted criminal...?'
She didn't dare voice the question, simply smiling as she followed the flame-haired woman up to the truck.
…
March was on cloud nine.
Meeting Robin at Penacony was a lucky break. Saving her and getting to chat with her in private was like winning the lottery. Getting to stick by her side and act like her own personal bodyguard? It was only her sense of decency that stopped from her dancing about in sheer elation. Robin was everything she expected her to be – kind, patient, reserved but not uncomfortable with conversation, she was amazing.
Granted that might be her fangirl side shining through, but still. Hanging out with (read; protecting) Robin was exciting.
Though she was mindful to keep a lid on that. Both to not make Robin feel uncomfortable, and to also not draw attention. Already she could see a few curious glances being thrown her way, mostly because of how strange it was to see a cloak-clad figure amongst crowds of people in flashy and flamboyant outfits. Mercifully though the crowds were so busy that anyone who was curious didn't get more than a passing glance before they were out-of-sight.
She glanced at Robin then, more out of whim than any reason, and spotted her looking off to the right. She followed the Halovian's gaze to an ice cream truck not far away. ''Oh, do you want some ice cream?''
''Huh?'' Robin flinched as if caught. ''Aha, it's fine, I was looking admiring it, that's all.''
''Nonsense, c'mon! My treat!'' March insisted with a bright smile.
A smile that won the Halovian over, her own smile peeking out from the bottom of her hood. ''I suppose so then...''
March's heart nearly leapt into her throat as Robin slipped her right hand into her left; the dainty handhold depriving her of rational thought. She quelled the squeak that threatened to escape her though and pulled Robin through the sparse crowd, calming herself as best as one could as she got in line with Robin.
''U-Um, any recommendations?'' March sheepishly asked. ''Do they do normal ice cream here or is all like fancy stuff?''
Robin giggled under her breath. ''They do both. Could you order for me?''
March chirped an agreement just as the person in front of them left, allowing them to meander up. Immediately she was graced by a swathe of colours and potential flavours, ranging from the expected vanilla, strawberry and chocolate to the more exotic pistachio and peach to the truly novel SoulGlad Ice Cream or Dreamy Cloud flavours. There was even some she couldn't make out the names of that glittered like stars or looked like space itself compacted into a creamy treat, such was the wonders of the dream.
''Hello Miss! What would you like to order?'' The bronze Intellitron operating the stand startled her out of her daydreams.
Giving her head a good shake she rattled off her and Robin's order. Vanilla, banana and Stardust Strawberry to top it all off for her, whilst Robin got a starry combo of Cosmic Crystal, Starglitter Cherry and Dreamy Cloud; the deep blue, vibrant red and pinky-white trio an eye-catching combination that left March feeling a little envious. For about five seconds; she could always order some more later.
Accepting the two cones she handed one off to Robin. She had to hold back the urge to gush as her idol awkwardly held the cone low lest the top scoop catch her hood, leaving her able to just lick at the the cloudy pink ice cream like a cat drinking milk from a bowl.
As if sensing her gaze Robin lifted her head, just enough for one aquamarine eye to shyly peek out from under her hood.
March immediately looked away lest she faint from the cute sight, furiously licking her ice cream in the meantime.
And as they made their way back to the others, she remembered she was still holding Robin's hand.
She pretended not to notice, her cheeks hot no matter how much ice cream she licked.
[END]
A/N: Oh dear, poor Caelus~
Threw in a bit of March/Robin goodness too. They make a good couple, and I totally won't be pairing them together for this fic, not at all~ Likewise there'll be no tragedy on that front, because I'd never write that, no siree~
See you next time~