Netherrealm was smirking as the transformed Neptune stared at him. "...Nope," She said firmly. Causing Netherrealm to narrow his eyes, his mouth slightly opened in shock. Neptune crossed her arms under her now large breasts. Before shaking her head to confirm.
"I'm sorry, but I don't care if you say no. Last time was a draw and this time I will win!" Netherrealm declared with a sadistic smile. He ran at Neptune. Throwing a punch engulfed in black flames. Orange flames engulfed Neptune's hand as she caught his punch. Causing their flames to blow backwards to each other. Then Neptune turned as she got a better grip onto Netherrealm's arm. Before throwing him over her shoulder. He bounced off the dirt on his back. Coughing up blood as he shivered. The flames extinguished on both sides.
Neptune looked down at him in pity. As he stared up at her in rage as he clutched his side. His body slightly curled up. "Idiot," Neptune said in a firm but somehow gentle tone. Like a mother kindly scolding her children.
IF looked up to see flying vehicles with searchlights heading towards the crater. "Alright, let's get this over with…" IF clicked her tongue in annoyance. Neptune looked down at Netherrealm's pocket to see something shiny.
She blinked and in a flash of light. She was now back to normal. Neptune patted herself down and whistled. Impressed with herself while Netherrealm clicked his tongue. IF was in shock. Before she shook herself out of it.
IF and Netherrealm were in a hostile silence for a second. While Neptune felt tense as she didn't want them to fight and cause more trouble."Let's go," Netherrealm as he picked up Compa up in his arms. "Huh? Look we need to file a report-..." IF was cut off by Netherrealm snapping at her, "I don't have a good track record with the authorities! So I am not gonna stick around. So if you wanna stay behind fine, whatever."
Netherrealm began to climb out of the crater. However with his injuries and exhaustion. He slipped and slid down the crater. Neptune caught him. "...Fine, besides, I don't like bureaucracy and getting arrested for doing my job anyway," IF agreed.
So the three climbed out of the crater. It took some effort but they were able to do so. Then they took a run into the Virtua Forest as the authorities arrived. Soon they were a good bit far enough away. "Let's rest here," IF said as Netherrealm gently put down his passed out quarry.
Netherrealm laid Compa up against a tree. IF took off her torn coat and laid it over the Compa as a makeshift blanket. Now they were in an awkward silence. "So, what the hell was that? Transformation magic is extremely rare," Netherrealm asked Neptune.
Neptune perked up at his mention of Transformation magic. "You know about that?" IF asked. "Yeah, only two people I know could use it…" Netherrealm said. IF whistled impressed, "I only heard about it, never seen it in action before."
"Still, that felt way more than just a transformation, it was… I don't know how to describe it," IF gushed and Netherrealm simply added, "divine?" IF looked up at him. "Yeah, divine, or rather something beyond human," IF continued.
"Huh, well that'll kick any cool punch's ass," Neptune muttered before smiling nervously at Netherrealm's hateful glare. This wasn't just Netherrealm being his angry self. This look was deadly, he is just calculating all the ways he could kill her. Neptune frowned and put her hand on her sword. As they stared down.
Just as quick as that glare came. It left as Netherrealm looked away from Neptune. "Your eyes were something else," he muttered. Neptune nodded with a smile. "Yup, saw myself in the ice, I was hella sexy," Neptune agreed. Not knowing really what he meant.
"Hey Netty? Can I have that metal thing you stole from Arbore or whatever her name was?" Neptune requested. Netherrealm reached into his pocket. "Why?" He asked. "Well, something about it feels important to me. I think maybe I know about it," Neptune described her gut instincts.
Netherrealm stared at her before tossing it over to her. Neptune caught it and sat down at a tree. Criss-cross applesauce like a kid getting a shiny new toy. IF and Netherrealm were in a silence as Neptune examined the thing.
"...You got some moves, surviving against Arfoire…" IF complimented. Netherrealm grunted as he looked at Compa.
IF sat down to finally rest. Netherrealm sat down away from her. "You know, you don't have to be such an asshole about not liking me," IF scoffed. Netherrealm gave her the middle finger and IF waved it off while shaking her head.
"Still, it's gonna take the rest of the day to get back to the city. Fuck… even with backup Arfoire still got me good," IF hissed in frustration. Netherrealm saw it and shook his head. Before looking at his hand then back at Compa.
Netherrealm didn't understand why she was so giving. Why she helped so much despite receiving nothing in return. In his pessimistic world, people like Compa don't exist. Yet here she is, having passed out to save him. He didn't know how to feel. He hated having to be saved, but he can't hate her for it.
"Which family do you belong to?" IF asked and Netherrealm ignored her. IF frowned before tossing a pebble at him. Causing Netherrealm to sit up sharply as it hit his head. "...Just answer the question, I am bored and all I got is a crime family dude for company. So I need to entertain myself somehow," IF said.
"...The Muspel Family at the moment," Netherrealm said in a surprisingly somber tone. "At the moment? Geez, something going on?" IF asked and Netherrealm stayed silent. His eyes having a far away look as he was thinking about something.
"But still, the Muspel Family, they're a big family. Why did you join?" IF asked and Netherrealm turned away. IF frowned as she crossed her arms. "Okay fine, sore subject, but you had to know what you were getting into right?" IF asked.
"Yeah," Netherrealm replied simply before gritting his teeth. "Why are you so curious?" Netherrealm asked. "Never got to talk to one of your kind like this. By helping out The Guild. I have arrested a lot of you guys. Never really had a civil conversation much less worked together in a fight with one of you before," IF explained. Netherrealm hummed in thought before leaning against a tree while sitting. Parallel to the tree IF was leaning against.
"...Blood Law," Netherrealm said and IF raised an eyebrow. "I joined the Muspel Family because of Blood Law," Netherrealm admitted. IF had a confused look on her face. "Look pal, I don't know what that is," IF said and tried to pry a definition out of Netherrealm. However he wouldn't budge.
"Still, there's a lot of questions I have. Arfoire was interested in you and your amnesiac friend there. And I want some answers. So I'll probably stick around for a bit. See if you can give me some leads," IF explained. Netherrealm rolled his eyes.
"Expected that much, but I didn't hear a no. So we'll see how this goes. Besides, we all did work pretty well together all things considered. With how tough Arfoire is, I am gonna need a team. Sadly I can't solo this like I usually do," IF said.
"Look, I am doing this to settle a debt. The debt has been settled and I gotta bounce today. So fine, if they want you in then I guess I'll work with you. Just stay out of my way," Netherrealm warned and IF smirked. Before looking up at the stars.
"Heh, alright… Your name's Netty, right?" IF asked and Netherrealm shook his head. "Netherrealm, I don't go by that," he corrected her curtly. IF chuckled and held up her hands in fake surrender.
"Alright Netty, looking forward to working with ya," IF said with a smug smile. Netherrealm groaned loudly at her joke.
IF joined the party!
Bond Level Increase
IF: 0 - 1
The night passed as Netherrealm woke up first. He propped himself against the tree last night and fell asleep on it. His torso was sore. It was red with some of the skin now dead and peeling. Like he got a bad sunburn instead of being cooked inside of a melting armor pieces. He still had no shirt. His cowl, headband, and facemask were also destroyed in the fight with Arfoire. Now he is just a shirtless man with martial arts pants, and tabi boots. He sighed as he realized he left his wakizashi at the crater as well.
Completely unarmed and still sore from the previous encounters. He slowly stood up. He then heard groaning and saw Compa moving in her sleep. She yawned and sat up. Her silky hair now all dirty and knotted. Compa huffed as she felt her hair. She looked over at Netherrealm and scambled up to check on him.
"Hey! Don't touch me!" Netherrealm yelled at Compa as she began to feel up his chest. "Still burned, I might have some ointment…" Compa ignored his protests. He squirmed and kicked as she was somehow able to hold him down with one hand gently pressed against his chest.
She reached into her bag, rummaging around. It was packed with first aid stuff in case her SP was low or her magic couldn't do something. Despite the good night's sleep, Compa's magic hasn't fully recovered. So she brought out a travel sized bottle of ointment.
"Get the fuck off me you crazy bitch!" Netherrealm howled as Compa was trying to check up on him, quite enthusiastically. "Stop being a big baby Netty, you've had worse I am sure…" Compa hushed sweetly. Netherrealm squirmed, not liking the contact as he kept trying to fend her off.
"I can do it my damn self!" He resisted further. Compa pouted before sitting on his waist to hold him down. "Gah! You weren't this fucking heavy before! What type of fuckery is this?!" Netherrealm exclaimed.
"Sometimes… I gotta do this for… resisting patients… like you…" Compa grunted as her bottom was rubbing against his crotch. Her breasts were in his face. As she squirted a bunch of ointment on her hands. Before rubbing them. She pushed back causing Netherrealm to squirm further as she began to rub ointment over his muscular torso.
Soon she brought out some bandages. She then started to wrap them around his torso. He hissed and inhaled sharply. "Too fucking tight!" He grunted out as he felt his ribs be constricted by the bandages. His vision was getting blurry and brighter. Until Compa pulled on the bandages hard. Ripping it and then finishing her wrapping.
Netherrealm took a deep breath of air as his body acclimated to that. He glanced up from the two pillows in front of him into the two eyes above him. Compa giggled and gave him a soft smile. She then squeaked as she looked behind her. Looking down at Netherrealm's crotch and her facing turning red. She squealed as she jumped off of Netherrealm.
Netherrealm looked down to see a tent in his loose martial arts pants. He crossed his legs in embarrassment. Then that's when he heard it. Snickering, he glanced over and frowned. "Have you been awake this whole fucking time?!" Netherrealm yelled out in frustration. IF and Neptune started to howl with laughter from their spots, Neptune almost falling out of the tree she'd apparently been sleeping in.
Netherrealm growled as he crossed his legs together harder. IF and Neptune got up while their laughter subsided. "Yeah, hehe… oh man… didn't know you hated women throwing themselves at you Netty!" Neptune teased. Compa covered her face with her hands. While IF snickered some more.
"Shut it!" Netherrealm hissed. Neptune then stopped laughing. She looked over at Compa. "How big was he? You got a good feel, didn't you?" Neptune asked with a lick of her lips. A devious smile on her.
Neptune shook her hips as she stroked her chin with one hand. Her other hand on her hip as she continued to tease Compa. Until Netherrealm kicked the tree she was in, resulting in her hanging on only by her legs. Neptune rubbed her head and pouted while hanging upside-down, before pulling herself back up onto the branch.
Now everyone stood in a silence. IF then took out her phone and began tapping on it. After a few minutes IF then put the phone to her ear. "Hello? Yeah, this is IF. Yes we're alive. Yes the crater was Arfoire. No I didn't get her, but I got three bystanders who I was escorting. They're injured and we need a ride back to Planeptune. Yes I am in the Virtua Forest. I'll put in a report later. Okay? Okay. Also bring a men's shirt, about extra large. Bye," IF conversed before closing her phone.
"Okay, now we just gotta wait for a ride and we can finally get clean," IF groaned as she stretched her arms out while bending back a bit. Compa clapped her hands excitedly.
"Anyway, afterwards, let's get some grub," IF planned out. After a small bit of discussing where they were going to meet once they rested up, got clean, and changed. They waited for their ride to come by.
Soon they heard the sounds of an engine humming. As a large truck pulled up in the forest. The horn honked as the doors unlocked. IF smirked as she jumped in the passenger seat. Compa and Netherrealm entered the left. While Neptune hopped in from the right.
"Ooooooh~ Netty is between two beautiful ladies. Will he last under this pressure~?" Neptune teased Netherrealm again as she rubbed her petite torso against him. Netherrealm just elbowed her, she hissed and rubbed her ribcage.
IF was leaning against the passenger door. Looking out the window. "Thanks for this Gust," IF said and she glanced over. A little girl who really shouldn't be driving with how short she was. She has chocolate eyes with matching short hair. A bright smile and a giant white bunny cap on her head.
She wears a light blue dress with princess-puff sleeves and ruffled lining. At her neck and the bottom of the dress is a big brown segment along with black marks and a gold buckle. Her pocket is very big, like a kangaroo pouch at her stomach and above it are gold buttons. She also wears plain brown boots and white, rabbit themed gloves.
"You're welcome IF!" She chirped as she drove along the forest. The truck bumbed and bounced through the rough terrain. On the way back to Planeptune. IF was explaining to Gust what happened. "So we got a crater and a sinkhole to the caves now? Yeesh, you got your work cut out for you. Who knew Arfoire was that strong?" Gust responded as she shook her head in fear.
IF sighed as Gust didn't even know the half of it. IF left out that it was Neptune who made the sinkhole. Chalking both the crater and sinkhole to just Arfoire alone. IF didn't want Neptune to be dragged off and interrogated about something she didn't even know about. That would leave a bad taste in IF's mouth.
Soon they reached the capital city. Netherrealm was adjusting the plain white t-shirt given to him. It was a bit small but it'll do until he gets home. "Alright, let's meet at Jet Set Radioshack in an hour, go home, get changed and cleaned up," IF said with an authoritative clap of her hands.
So everyone gladly complied with that. Tired, hungry, and dirty. Everyone took a nice wash up and change of clothes. In an hour, Netherrealm stood outside with a black long sleeve shirt, his usual karate pants and tabi boots. He saw Neptune and Compa walking over. Neptune happily waving. IF then arrived a minute later.
The restaurant had old rock n' roll playing out of a vintage looking radio. The place was a time capsule. With bright red chairs, checkerboard tables and floor, vinyl records strung together and hanging down as drapes. There was even an arcade in the place. The four sat down at a table and were looking at the menu.
They all ordered sodas, a large pizza, while Neptune wanted some pudding. Eating like teenagers who wanna have fun, all of them were recently out of their teens. Well, they don't know about Neptune. She looks and acts like an actual teenager. However the atmosphere isn't that. Netherrealm didn't really speak. IF, Neptune, and Compa were all having pleasant conversations. They all seem to click with each other. While Netherrealm feels like an outsider. "So Netty is a Multi-Type?" IF asked. Netherrealm looked at her. Compa and Neptune shrugged in unison.
"Okay, so basically we have a loose cannon with untapped fire magic. That's comforting," IF snarked. Netherrealm just chewed his food while seething. "Iffy, Netty isn't like that. He's good guy," Compa admonished IF. "Hehe, alright, hey Netty, how would ya like to learn fire magic?" IF asked as she turned to Netherrealm. Who was just flabbergasted at the offer. He hasn't had a mentor in two years. "...Why the hell should I train with you?" He asked with a glare. "Suit yourself, but I know that a guy like you, can't stand the idea of not mastering something. You need the thrill, you're addicted to the challenge, and I am offering it to you on a silver platter," IF tore into him with a smile on her face.
Netherrealm's blood boiled as looked away like a pouty child. "Don't act like you know me, but… when can we start?" Netherrealm asked and IF snickered. "Tomorrow," she offered before holding out her hand. Netherrealm and IF shook hands as their plans were set.