EPISODE 8: HAVEN VISIT [PART 2]
Summary: Besides the citizens, the news of Embryo visiting the Haven attracted some trouble….and yet Rush says this!?
Disclaimer: I don't own Cross Ange or any of its characters and original plot, excluding the original characters I created for this story. This is a spin-off series of the main 'Cross Ange: Living Hell' story. So please read that before here.
Cross Ange and all its rights belong to King Records (Japan), Sentai Filmworks (USA), and Sunrise/ Bandai Namco Entertainment (Japan). This fanfiction is meant for entertainment only and not for profit. This story contains heavy language, blood and violence, and mild sexual themes not for audiences under 16-18 years old.
"Caught you – BWAH!" Right from outside, the people and animals inside the Haven Resort's lobby reacted their mixed shock at witnessing an unfamiliar man randomly catching Commander Rush's cheetah strangely holding two children only for both man and cheetah to receive their ruler surprisingly fly and crash against the other man before they landed painfully on each other and the floor since Rush was held by the visitor's hand.
But to the horror of the pure and half Ancient Human citizens with their children, from being informed by Rush this morning, they figured the madly blushing and smiling father sitting on the floor and angrily twisting his index fingers on both his albino, toddler son's cheeks, despite the child is smugly smiling his pride during the punishment, is who they are familiar. The men block their wives, girlfriends, and children behind them in anger, making sure that bastard won't hurt everyone despite being focused on what his son must've done to him, while the enemy's youngest and weird-looking daughter is weakly shaking her hands on Rush's unconscious body by the back with Sheeta sniffing its snout above its owner.
"H-Heh…never thought you could get me off the ground." After a few seconds of both Embryo punishing his son and his daughter shaking him up, Rush tiredly chuckled his amusement from his grin towards the guest, attracting everyone including Embryo and his children now watching Rush sluggishly climbing on his knees to sit, with Sheeta assisting him with its body. Seeing their human leader and Human Killer smiling at Embryo as if he is an acquaintance rather than an enemy, even if he is acting as a distraction to kill him, immediately alarmed everyone staring at Rush.
Not even when he first became the Human Killer and the Haven's succeeding leader, that they have ever seen Rush smiling genuinely like THAT.
"…Forgive me, Human Killer." Embryo, also attracting his enemies for something other than unknowingly NOT recognizing the people whom he tried to execute years ago, smiled his embarrassment at Rush. "I didn't mean to get you hurt for something I did again."
'Again?' The people wondered in suspicion and hatred. What did he do to Rush?
"Nah, it's cool, man. Saving you from Willy and what Aya did to us was not in the usual Haven moments, but it's more fun for me to do something out of the ordinary." Rush gladly reassured, giving his left, fingerless gloved hand to Embryo who kindly accepted his assistance to slowly stand on their feet. Even if it's a second, the sight of Rush holding Embryo's HAND and both looking relieved to not notice further shocked the Haven people.
Why is Rush acting indifferent to Embryo instead of pretending to serve him? Why is Sheeta all alright with Rush being friendly with Embryo instead of attacking him on sight? And why are his children unafraid of the Human Killer for their ages? That makes no sense!
"S-Sir…?" One of the youngest children in the lobby called Rush, attracting him, Sheeta, and Embryo's family to look around the lobby and see the people's bafflement glaring at both Rush and Embryo. Although the former was confused about their reactions, feeling Rush's left hand holding his right hand and seeing the human people looking at their hands, Embryo shuddered in surprise and hurriedly pulled his hand from Rush with a concerned smile. Still, Rush was both surprised and slightly sad as if he didn't want the other removing his hand by slightly leaning his arms forward. Even his children reacted like Rush from their father's reaction, but the albino and Sheeta looked at the people with a subtly stoic glower.
"…Right. The tour." Rush surprisingly took a second to reclaim his Human Killerdemeanour to address the room, making everyone shudder in their shock but quickly collect themselves yet still eying daggers at Embryo who even, boldly in the Ancient Humans' eyes, silently and faintly bowed at them. "Everyone. This is my…superior, Embryo and his kids Aya and Khalifa. As the world leaders tried misinforming him of lies about the Haven, I invited them to stay here for one night to help them learn about our procedures and history, under my guard. So don't worry and go on with your day." After seeing no responses, yet some may want to speak, almost breaking their promise of leaving everything to Rush by wanting to kill Embryo, Rush leisurely faced the enemy with a faint frown that twitched into a smile.
"Master Embryo. May I take you and the kids for lunch, and we'll go to Haven's rainforest mountains for some sightseeing? As promised for your kids' safety, I won't take you to our underground lab, but I'll provide pictures of it as references." Even if everyone knows Rush's acting is phenomenal to fool the Mana-humans, the sound of him calling their enemy Master made the people's skins crawl which increased into disdain when Embryo nodded with that same, humane smile he had to Rush and unlike what they remembered him. "Of course. Thank you, Human Killer."
"Alright, sirs and ladies. Wrinkle and I will be your guide for Haven's best jungle." Rush, Sheeta, Embryo, and the children holding their father's hands followed one of Haven's human citizens through the path taking them from over one of the bridges above the alligator-filled pond and venturing through the forest-filled mountains. This man who oddly named himself Human Name is someone Rush knows as one of the most laidback men but trusts him as their tour guide after their delicious lunch at the Haven Resort's restaurant, and owns an adorable Peking duck he carries in his arms known to be 'seDUCKtive' as a popular good luck charm among every one of the Haven, including the ladies.
Through the rainforest mountains, the group would occasionally spot some of the other animals that prefer to live by themselves or with their kind rather than having a human owner like monkeys, tigers, elephants, and rare birds like peacocks. To Rush and Embryo's amusement, Khalifa tried to get away from any frogs they would see and almost squashed under their feet for Embryo to hold his daughter in his arms, showing her fear for frogs like her father's fear of dogs.
"If you want to know, Em, we have separate islands closer to the Haven for other animals, which you may have noticed when you three first arrived," Rush elucidated, making sure to not let Human Name hear Embryo's nickname by saying it quieter than the explanation, with Embryo nodding his fascination until he visibly eyed and gasp his wonder at the beautiful waterfalls and rivers that looked exotically cleaner than the other nations' tropical islands' waters. The sight and clean smell of the forest air and waterfalls astounded Embryo's family in delight as Rush's mouth slowly moved into a faintly satisfied grin at seeing their happiness mostly their dad although they noticed that the river also had a small and long canoe, fit for two people, anchored closer to the shore with a river dolphin waiting for them.
"Ah, and here is one of Haven's amazing waterfalls that one would call 'the Cinta Waterfall". Human Name happily noted not showing suspicion towards Embryo, relieving Rush of his choice of tour guide. "If you go inside the main waterfall with the boat, you will find the most beautiful sights through the cave." Human Name directed both Rush and Embryo, who saw his companion grinning his uncertainty.
"Another reason I asked if you could dress a bit casual from Granny's was not only because we soldiers prefer casual clothing, but also because I want to show you the cave. We will be wet because we could swim inside, but I promise you that you will not find something like this on the mainland."
"Oh, I see…but I'm concerned about Aya and Khalifa…" Embryo's cheerfulness for Rush's offer slightly dimmed into worry for his children's safety, who first looked at each other in apprehension for not wanting to blow their secret chance that Khalifa quickly grabbed Embryo's face with her hands on his cheeks, astonishing him while Rush and Human Name with the distracted Wrinkle watched Aya frantically waving his arms around as if trying to tell his father in sign language.
"No… Padre… enjoy…Mister…" Khalifa tried to quietly tell her surprised father whose face cheeks she was squeezing.
"Don't worry, sir. Wrinkle, Sheeta and I will take care of the kids. We trust our fine leader to keep you safe. Right, sir?" Human Name reassured Embryo and Rush, who secretly nodded his appreciation while unbuttoning his white suit for Human Name to hold, seeing Rush in his short-sleeved grey shirt and white shorts revealing more of his bandages. Although initially concerned, Embryo nervously nodded his acceptance with his smile and carefully placed Khalifa closer to Aya before following Rush to the water and the canoe, not caring about soaking their clothes in the cool water under their legs.
Once he and the river dolphin carefully help Embryo onto the canoe to sit, Rush may have spotted Aya giving him two thumbs up and a rare, proud smile…bringing Rush to return his expression with extra thumbs up as well and nod from his smirk towards the secret cupid before he hurriedly joins Embryo in the canoe being gently pushed by the river dolphin leading them inside the waterfall's base.
After getting wet by the waterfall briefly splashing on them, Rush and Embryo look around them to first see the cave's rock formation walls around and above them, requiring them to hurriedly lean back for a few seconds until they were deep enough to be inside a spacious hidden cave which, shocking Embryo in amazement when sitting straight and looking up on the boat, their surroundings inside and outside the water and rock walls glows around their surroundings by the beautiful purplish-blue bioluminescent light not from the sunlight outside but by the glow-worms shining just as they arrived, giving a heavenly and slightly deep underwater sight.
First watching Embryo looking around even moving side to side on the canoe without falling overboard out of delight for the glowing cave, slowly smiling his satisfaction, Rush grabbed and threw the life buoy with a strong rope tied at one side of the ring to the water, alerting Embryo to see Rush hopping overboard and dove nose down into the water before joining the river dolphin happily wearing the life buoy around its neck like a collar.
"Rush!" Embryo called in surprise, seeing a soaked Rush wrapping the life buoy's rope around his right arm with a quick tug before he reached his free arm and hand for Embryo with his confidently kind smile, urging him to take his fingerless gloved hand and join him in the water.
"Don't worry, Em. I'll make sure you're safe and show you the best thing inside here." Embryo listens to Rush's reassuring him, surprised for both seeing his contented smile and the river dolphin excitedly chattering and nodding in getting HIM to join Rush in the water. But his new trust in Rush convinced him to slowly accept the hand and carefully climb out and onto the water, almost sinking deep until Rush quickly pulled him back to the surface with Rush's rope-coiled arm holding onto the dolphin's collar and his other arm coiled around Embryo's waist and back, allowing him to hold his arms around Rush's neck.
"Make sure you hold your breath until Lumba pulls us up." With Rush's instruction, both men held their breath just as the river dolphin Lumba swiftly descended through the water and dragged the two men deeper into the underwater cave. Just like the surface when they opened their eyes after closing them earlier from the dive, Rush glanced at Embryo's eyes widened in amazement but not speaking from gliding through the beautiful glowing water shining different hues and colours from the rock walls until Lumba arched upwards and swam towards the surface with Rush and Embryo in tow.
Both men coughed little water out of their mouths and panted to recollect their air into their system with Embryo still holding onto Rush swimming forward with one arm and legs after releasing Lumba bleating for their attention. "…Hey, Em. Look in front." Embryo heard Rush calling him to blink his eyes and see what he wanted to show him only to gasp his awe for another wonder of the Haven.
An underground cave with a bit of sunlight seeping through the multiple big holes above their heads and the small patch of a secret island-like land where Rush drags Embryo towards, mostly filled with soft-looking grass bearing a single, healthy, apple tree. And unlike earlier, the rock walls aren't glowing with glowworms than before, but the water still emits a faint bluish light.
"Rush? What is this place?" Embryo asked once he and Rush hurriedly swam and stood on the edge of the beach, marvelling all over the mysterious, illuminating place.
"We're hidden behind and under the Cinta Waterfall's secret cave. I found this place when I joined the Haven as a kid…after a terrible attempt. Luckily, the people saved me, but I still come in here whenever I feel stressed. After saving the animals, this became home for Lumba and his family and I would visit them for company." Rush answered, chuckling his embarrassment from mentioning his 'terrible event' that attracted Embryo to look at him in surprise only to see Rush holding a pebble he grabbed from the sand under the water. "Here, check this out." Curious, Embryo watched Rush casually throw the pebble at the tree…
…Just for Rush, Embryo, and Lumba with its dolphin family of a mate and three calves to watch countless small dots of light flickering and flying from the tree leaves and grass, changing colour from yellow to green to red and vice versa, and flying around the area in multiple different patterns or switching into a synchronisation flight around Rush and Embryo, astounding the latter now smiling and laughing his enchantment of seeing the rare fireflies flying and lighting in a beautiful performance, even giving himself a few claps like a little boy enjoying a show.
"Rush! This is the most wonderful thing I've ever seen in my life!" Embryo beamed, attracting Rush's mystified happiness watching the other skipping to the top of the grass-filled platform with his hands faintly lifted for the fireflies now starting to fly around or away from Embryo. "Not even the human world has something like this, but you get to see this as many times as you and your people want! How beautiful is this?"
Possibly not noticing the silence after turning his back now facing his friend, playing around with the fireflies flying closer to him, Rush quietly stared at Embryo with his system feeling surprisingly lighter just from seeing him happy after he, Aya, and Khalifa arrived here.
Seeing him smile and giggle his true exhilaration like a real person instead of a 'homicidal False God' or 'Demon of Heiselberg' the Ancient Humans called him, and with the beautiful light from both the little sunlight above their heads and the triple colour-changing fireflies dancing around them, making him see as if an entity is enjoying life's work… Rush didn't prolong his quiet answer with a warm smile directed at his enemy, glad that no one in the Haven was seeing them and his reaction right now.
"...Yeah…Now I see it."
Inside the Haven's torture auditorium, Rush made sure he would not show Embryo and his toddler children by using the latter's two ages and innocence as an excuse to hide one of its truths, two human guards are in break from today's torture towards the two prisoners for their actions. Ironically, the people who are the main reason these prisoners are sentenced to cruel beatdowns until death in the first place are also here unless the guards omit that information.
Still, like everyone outside the auditorium, the two guards were given photo references of what the civilians spied on Rush and Embryo's tour in the Haven. Their breakfast at Granny's almost looked like a first date, which disgusted the two guards in confusion, then the few ones of Rush and Embryo's family walking around the Haven, Rush shockingly pulled Embryo back from them almost falling onto Willy the Whale's tank, and a back view of Rush and Embryo hugging each other from almost getting run over by the Haven's ostrich racers. The latter two pictures show a clear view of both Rush and Embryo looking horrified.
"Can't you believe it?" One of the two guards asked his friend in anger and worry. "The bastard whose idea to send Norma to their deaths and kill the Ancient Humans from Libertus thirteen years ago is with our leader."
"According to the others this morning; our former rulers pissed their own master off that made him come here in the first place." The second guard recalled in annoyance.
"I don't know what's worse; that Embryo is here, or it looks like he's planning to get close to our Commander."
"Not to mention, we're beating the shit of the fuckers who almost killed Embryo's kids just because they thought the daughter was a Norma."
Unaware of the two guards talking with themselves, their conversation was accidentally heard by the two almost-dead bodies when one of them sluggishly but wildly lifted his blood-stained head off the floor already tainted with his and his last friend's blood after two days of torturous beatdowns. His blurry vision slowly cleared to see their guards now distracted with their backs facing them, his hearing managed to get back by the name he thought he was misunderstanding just as everyone heard the steel door opening. "Hello? Foodservice!" A girl's voice spoke from outside the door.
"Hey, kids. Is this the Norma Princess Angelise's maid that was forced to sneak in here?" One of the two guards greeted in contentment.
"Yup, and also Kiyoshi's new girlfriend!" A boy's voice teased with another brat trying to object in embarrassment while another girl's voice meekly chuckled. "R-Robin!"
"Hello. My name is Momoka Oginome, Lady Angelise's head maid." The second girl's voice happily introduced, getting the awake prisoner's surprise that clicked his mind.
'Master Embryo…and the Norma princess's maid! That's it…I can still get out of this hell!'
"Alright, Rush. I'm convinced; the Haven is a magnificent place." Embryo commented his amusement once he, his children, Rush, and Sheeta holding her owner's white suit coat, returned to the Haven resort from its rainforest mountain and Cinta Waterfall with both adult men wiping their hairs with the towels Human Name and Wrinkle gave them earlier. But their slowly drying and soaking wet clothes and bodies caught the citizens' attention with most of those eyes bulging wide in shock and some adult women blushing at both Rush and Embryo wet from possibly swimming in the rivers, and the former still REFUSES to pull his trigger and kill the other. "I supposed that it's because you lead your people stronger and fairer than the other nations with your hidden kindness."
"Thanks, Master Embryo. My people aside; just glad that I get to show what I'm hoping for you to see." Rush acknowledged with a confident smile facing elsewhere and did not see Embryo raising an eyebrow and furrowing his eyes with his smirk, thinking of something regarding earlier. 'Since you teased me when we first met, I will fluster you too.' Embryo planned.
"Rush? Do you know that the Cinta Waterfall's name has a meaning in a different language?" Embryo asked, once the group stopped in front of the Haven Resort's pool big enough for the people and animals and has slides, with Rush curiously looking at Embryo's confident smirk. "…In one language called Malay, which Khalifa is surprisingly fluent at, Cinta means love. So basically; you took me to a Love Waterfall."
Rush blinked his eye in astonishment at the real meaning of Cinta, with Embryo smugly smirking for his victory but also felt something bumping against his right leg that made him step closer to Rush in surprise, hastily seeing Sheeta moving her position with Aya and Khalifa again sitting on its back with the grinning former lifting his finger that poked his hip and the latter opening her right hand against her forehead in a soldier's salute, just as Embryo felt a wet arm pulling his soaked waist and back closer, shocking him to see Rush's face in front of his's…
"Good. I rather show YOU Cinta instead of some bitch." Rush's seductive smile as his quiet response, just like when he first played with him that night, immediately made Embryo gawk in dismay and his face burned red that he quickly hid his embarrassment with his towel still wrapping around his shoulders, releasing muffled whines almost a scream for his plan backfiring on him. "You're hoping you can flirt me back?" Rush asked with a crude chuckle.
"I-I wanted to make you fluster, for courting me when we met!" Embryo's complaint was slightly muffled against the towel on his face, hands, and shoulders, with Rush spotting a tint of red flushing on the other's ears that made him close his eyes and laugh his enjoyment, not caring if they were being watched by the other surprised people and animals spying on them. From behind their father's legs, being self-proclaimed cupids mostly the son, Aya and Khalifa are proud of themselves with the latter still saluting at both Embryo and Rush.
BANG! SMASH! CRASH!
"Aaaaaahhhh!"
Everyone heard multiple, harsh noises and a girl's voice screaming in fear not far from where Rush's group was, startling the latter side when Rush saw a small commotion closer to the area closer to both the Haven Resort's lobby and the torture auditorium for him, Sheeta, and Embryo to hurriedly dash and follow the other people until they reached to the group of people surrounding and blocking the unexpected sight from escaping. When Rush and Embryo realized the source…they, Aya, and Khalifa immediately soured in anger.
"Stay back, you filthy beasts and traitors! If you don't, I'll kill this little brat!" Even when being surrounded by the Haven citizens with their weapons and their animal companions, especially Rush's teammates in the ring, a blood-covered and heavily injured ex-NMF member howled in rage, holding a scared Momoka struggling against his right arm tightening around her neck in gunpoint against the other side of her head, holding her frying pan with both hands.
"Momoka!" Kiyoshi's friends cried in worry for their friend with one of them yelling at Orokana in anger. "You fucking dick!" Luckily, as if knowing that someone is going to curse or being too loud for their ages, Aya, Khalifa, and some of the other innocent children beside them hurriedly covered their hands on their ears in dread with the former two immediately felt Sheeta squishing herself against them with her furred body and tail when Orokana furiously wave his gun from Momoka's head to anyone in blind rage, alarming everyone with Rush silently pull his gun and stand in front of Embryo, Aya, and Khalifa.
"Shut up, you worthless scum!" Orokana howled, making sure none of the Human Killer's freakish people of Norma and human traitors and their wild pets got close to him and his prisoner. "Once I'll kill the damned Human Killer and burn everything of this hell to the ground, Master Embryo will save me as he is the – GAH!"
However, something hit Orokana's left leg and interrupted his threat to howl his pain with everyone noticing a flash of white and purple appearing in front of Orokana's legs. From feeling the arm restraining her quickly reduce its strength from the sudden action, Momoka managed to squirm out to land on her feet and quickly swung and hit her pan's bottom against the back of Orokana's head, strong enough to almost throw himself onto the ground in an agonising scream.
"Alright, Momoka!" Ammo cheered once Momoka hurriedly ran to Kiyoshi's friends, straight to Siren's embrace. Orokana was about to grab his prisoner back when everyone watched the same, small figure that attacked him earlier now leaping over the attempted assailant's back and swinging what a toddler boy shouldn't be holding across the other's back, forcing another scream just as Orokana fell onto his stomach, alarming Red Death to hurriedly dashed and kneel over the attacker, pinning him down with his hands against Orokana's shoulders and now bleeding back, made from a tiny sword.
The one who struck Orokana, collecting almost everyone's horror including the prisoner to gape their mouths open, raised and held the rapier small for him inches in front of Orokana's face now sweating in fright of the muted, albino boy's stoically cold sneer through his glowing pinkish-red eyes glaring at the attacker 'What the hell…Embryo's son can kill!?' The male Haven adults and Rush's boys except Moon mentally scream their befuddlement.
"Aya!" Everyone heard a younger girl's voice calling Aya's name only to almost scream their voice at seeing Khalifa hurriedly running to her brother's side and both her hands holding, again alarming everyone, the trigger of Rush's customised gun she must've taken from Rush who froze in shock when he and Embryo realized from seeing both the latter's children armed and ready to kill Orokana screaming in fear by their glowing eyes glaring their anger, with Khalifa's green eyes changed into red to be more intimidating.
"Woah, woah, woah! Kids, wait!" Rush cried when he, Sheeta, and Embryo quickly dashed to Aya and Khalifa with the former grabbing and holding both of Embryo's children in his arms while the latter stood closer to place them on the ground, stopping them from killing Orokana who, unfortunately to Rush and the Haven, noticed Embryo when the two men back away with the children and his agony and anger furiously twitched into a maniacally shocked smile despite Embryo snarling his anger at the prisoner for his previous actions to his children.
"Master Embryo!" Orokana's gladness and relief at his rescue by his Emperor's master and humanity's creator and God, however, alarmed him to realize something surprising. Unlike the graceful and sophisticated man, he remembered seeing and accidentally angered two nights ago, Master Embryo is dressed a bit casually in his suit but without his suit jacket and he is surprisingly soaked to the bone from possibly swimming with his clothes on…just like the Human Killer. "…You bastard, what did you do to our ruler's master!?" His worst assumption prompts Orokana to bark his rage at the Human Killer who glares at him in annoyance just like everyone including Master Embryo and his children.
"Jeez, calm your butt off, man. We only swim with some underwater sightseeing. Is the both of us spending a day relaxing a crime?" Rush harshly groans with a subtle nod at Embryo for Orokana's first complaint after escaping from his torture. However, he seemingly ignores everyone looking at him for his blunt response with the Haven distraught, Orokana gritting his bleeding teeth in wrath, and Embryo and Aya expressing surprise yet the latter smiled at Rush.
'Being with the ENEMY is a major crime, Rush!' Rush's people wished they could shout their bafflement at their leader.
"Master Embryo don't listen to everything this bastard says! He and his people want to kill you by using the Norma to fight our kind!" Orokana suddenly shouted at Embryo, attracting everyone to see the bloodied prisoner begging him with fear in his smile. "He takes Norma who was supposed to die by the DRAGONs from our homes and uses them as soldiers to kill our kind! He'll kill you because you're the God who created our world and the master of our world leaders! I KNOW, from my organization, that we're the soldiers YOU NEED for humanity! Not the Human Killer!"
'This bastard!' The Haven Humans and Ancient Humans snarled their irritation visibly showing their rage for their prisoner slightly revealing their plans to Embryo, who initially looked down in a surprisingly furious scowl tempting to break down from Orokana's words, supposedly said something that angered HIM before everyone looks at Rush who glared at the fuming NMF member with a stoically bored scowl…
"Master Embryo, you're a God!? I thought we had so much in common!" Everyone shook in disbelief at Rush suddenly and exaggeratedly gasped at Embryo in horror to surprise the other, with the Haven knowing that Rush never takes everything seriously as everyone watched him kneel in front of Aya and Khalifa with his right, bandaged hand reclaiming his gun from the latter. "Kids! My time is up because everyone says I can't be with your dad! I must die!" Alarming his people and Embryo's family when he boldly aimed his gun against his heart, Rush playfully moved his gun as if shooting his heart out before swiftly falling onto the ground against his back and flailing his arms over his body. "Bleh! Blood, blood, blood, and death!"
Everyone silently reacts dumbfounded at Rush's dramatic death after his final words, lying with his eye half-opened towards Orokana's direction, immediately snarling his baffled rage for his childishness, although Embryo sees Aya and Khalifa kneeling and shaking their hands on Rush's body, sincerely worried despite knowing his absurd play until Embryo slowly kneels beside Khalifa and Rush's body with Sheeta hopping beside Rush's head from the side.
"Are you done, Human Killer?" Embryo asked with a sarcastic smile as everyone spotted Rush slowly turning towards the other with a playful grin.
"…It would be sillier if I sang my final words," Rush noted with a wink, receiving a chuckle from Embryo carefully helping Rush to sit beside him, the children, and the cheetah before Rush faced Orokana with a bored scowl. "But seriously. You look stupid, begging Master Embryo like some brat crying for his mommy. Not even I'm allowed to do that before living here."
"You're the stupid idiot!" Orokana yelled at Rush, not once backing down despite being restrained by the giant soldier holding him down. "As the master of both Holy Emperor Julio and his traitorous father, Master Embryo should only be with his loyal creations to serve him as the powerful God he is, not those who think they can get their filthy hands on him like you!"
Rush looked at Embryo to see the other, what attracted Rush, glaring at Orokana with disdain and wrath for his words when he was being called God, recognizing that expression for Rush to whisper his children. "Kids, cover your ears. I'm going to say some bad words." Seeing Aya and Khalifa's initial confusion but helpfully following his instruction, Rush leisurely raised and stood on his feet with Embryo watching him stand in surprise but stayed close to his children just as everyone watched Rush only glaring at Orokana with his eye visibly showing a cold vehemence that could make anyone piss themselves in death.
"I don't give a fuck of what anyone says: To me, Embryo's a person, not some fucking God or goddamn toy!"
Rush's declaration or defending Embryo from Orokana's attempts to make him save him from his punishment, initially calm only to grow angry from saying what appalled not just the prisoner and the Haven but also Embryo glaring at Rush not shifting his attention and expression, firmly showing his Human Killer demeanour but visibly irritated.
Not seeing some of the Haven secretly changing their attention between their leader and him in surprise, anger, and suspicion, Embryo stared at Rush's face in dismay even when he felt Aya and Khalifa stand against their father. By his tone and expression, Rush is bluntly speaking his mind but that further shocked Embryo…not once has anyone said THAT about him. He knows people would see him as a God for creating this world, humanity with the Norma, and the Light of Mana. But he is with the one who doesn't share the same blind loyalty with his kind who rather disregards their powerless women than co-exist with them with love and harmony.
It was when he spotted a faint red light suddenly flickering from below Rush and in front of him that Embryo looked down and saw what immediately shocked him. Aware that only he could see it, using his powers to see the truth through his eyes, Embryo saw a long and thin string made with glowing red light and energy coiling around Rush's bandaged hand and fingers elongated from whatever was connected with it. When Embryo slowly reaches his left hand closer, hoping Rush wouldn't mind him poking his hand, he realized that his hand also had the same thread-like red energy coiling around his hand, fingers, and wrist but vividly glowing compared to Rush's faint flickering…and they are sharing the same string, further disbelieving Embryo.
'W-What…Why…Why did I conjure a new Red Thread!?' Embryo mentally gasped his shock, staring at both his left hand and Rush's right hand still bearing the Red Thread, although he flinched from seeing Rush move the same hand hovering in front of Embryo's face, alarming him to look up and see Rush's genuinely worried scowl.
"You need a hand?" Rush asked, wondering about Em's panic at something he must've seen or thought until he hastily accepted the hand and gently pulled him up, facing everyone staring at him with fear, that Rush would be annoyed for today just because of their reactions with their enemy. "I don't know if these guys will help drag your ass back to your friend and cell, because of what I said." Rush wondered aloud, reclaiming his bored sneer directed at Orokana.
"D-Don't worry, sir! We'll help." From the crowd, Hyacinth quickly reassured Rush with Cynical and one of the Haven torturers running towards Red Death forcefully pulling their prisoner onto their feet, easily holding the madly struggling and squirming fool now yelling as he is being taken away for further punishment for another offence.
"NO! Master Embryo, please! Please save me! Take me away from this hell! I want to go back to our home! My people!" Orokana pleaded in tears that everyone saw that it was futile until he disappeared through the path alongside Red Death, Cynical, and his punisher.
Rush first looks at the worried Momoka being comforted by Kiyoshi's group, Hyacinth, Ammo, and Moon before Embryo, Aya, and Khalifa with the latter two hugging his legs in concern for their father looking away with mixed emotions that startled Rush with Sheeta snuggling beside his legs. Anger and depression. It's like Embryo will break down but Rush presumed that he will NOT lash out at him instead of Orokana. From hearing 'All God this, all god that', Rush would wonder how Embryo feels about people seeing him as such. He thought it would stroke Em's pride like some arrogant guy with a God complex, as he sees other people acting as such before and while living in the Haven…but it looks like Em is not having it.
Even if he would strike him for doing this, Rush must do something to cheer him up when he raised his bandaged and fingerless gloved hands at Embryo's face… "R-Rush! Mm-mmmh!?"
'RUSH! / COMMANDER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?' Those who stayed behind including Hyacinth, Ammo, Moon, and Kiyoshi's group suddenly heard Embryo muffling his surprise and watched their increasing befuddlement of Rush, surprisingly calmly and boldly, rubbing and squishing his hands on Embryo's cheeks in different directions to wake him up in shock, with the other's hands holding Rush's wrists and Aya and Khalifa watch in confusion with the latter now hugging onto Rush's leg until he stopped squishing but still holding his hands against Embryo's face.
To the Haven, they see it as Rush carelessly walking on thin ice to his death by being friendly with the enemy that can kill him for good.
"Em? You okay?" Embryo heard Rush asking him in concern after playing his hands on his face, gently grasping his hands on Rush's but his rare concern that seemingly shows only to him collected Embryo's attention. From the corner of his left eye, Embryo still sees both his and Rush's Red Thread flashing and coiling around their hands with the free thread magically changing length from their distance. But Rush's strong words about him, defending him when that fool dared call him a God just to foolishly escape from his sins, somehow saddens Embryo but not want to upset Rush who is allowed to hold his face…unlike anyone's hands, Embryo felt Rush's hands and grip as soft even with the bandages and glove ever since they first arrived in the Haven.
"…Y…Yes. Thank you, Rush…" Embryo whispered. "…I wanted to hear that for so long."
"Explain this immediately, Human Killer!" Rush's mood soured from the Galia Emperor barking his anger as soon as he sat down on his office seat, with six of the Mana screens each showing a ruler's face including Julio hovering over his desk, leaving Embryo's family using his bedroom he willingly let them sleep in for the night. It's not even been an hour after taking Embryo and his children to dinner in the Haven's restaurant with the former informing Rush that, for the world leaders' concern for him, he has to reluctantly send them some evidence of the Haven which they are being shown in front of Rush scowling his irritation for the world leaders' appalment through the other Mana screens, relieved that Em smartly muted the videos that he collected from his powers unlike how a Mana human record their findings without sound.
Some show the places Rush and Sheeta took Embryo's family through the Haven and Haven Resort, one video has meeting Willy the Whale with Rush and Embryo almost falling into the water tank while another has the ostrich racers running outside the Haven Resort with Rush and Embryo hugging each other, a photo reference of the underground lab he gave Em, a video of Rush and Embryo swimming through the Cinta Waterfall's waters and its secret hidden cave with Lumba the Dolphin, and the final video show the Haven's confrontation with Orokana. However, Rush also noticed that, apart from what they were given, Rosenblum, Galia, and Marmeria were visibly angered at the Mana videos showing Embryo happily looking around and (silently) talking with Rush which is rare even to the world leaders.
'So, they don't want Em to be this happy and cute, instead of being a calm and superior villain-looking guy?' Rush jokingly mused in irritation while stroking his hand on Sheeta resting her head on his lap noticeable by the world leaders looking at his cheetah in mixed fear or anger, listening to another criticism by the Rosenblum King. "You made our master do things like a normal human, instead of doing everything for him as a servant!?"
"Every time I asked if there was anything I could help him with, he said no. He told me he wanted to enjoy his first Haven tour with his children like a normal family would and asked me to treat him as an acquaintance would. Because he doesn't want to be seen as having special treatment from me to my people." Rush answered, seeing it did little to ease the three of the six rulers' fury with President Irijah, Queen Velda, and Julio looking apprehensive.
"Even forcing him to almost be eaten by a whale and swim with a dolphin!" Marmeria rebuked in rage increasing from seeing Rush's peeved glower.
"Master Embryo asked me permission if we could see Willy the Whale, but I saved him from accidentally slipping into the water. And I wanted to show him what I hope that he'll be happy of the Haven's secret wonders." Rush corrected but was unfazed by someone slamming their fist on their desk, releasing a terrified gasp from President Irijah.
"It's an outrage, Human Killer! We knew that Master Embryo shouldn't be in your foul land!" Marmeria howled, his face almost turned red in rage. "You made us look like fools because you invited Master Embryo and his children!"
"Please collect yourself…" Julio tried to speak but was forced to be quiet by the Galia Emperor, baffling the boy in anger. Rush did notice that Julio may have noticed Momoka when Orokana tried holding her hostage but said nothing.
"Silence, boy! Although you followed Master Embryo's choice of visiting the Haven, for his late wife, we'll see to it that you will not go unpunished for subjecting our master to be surrounded by our former citizens and their wild pets!" Sheeta shot her head up and glared at the Mana screen with a furious growl, alarming the world leaders who noticed the cheetah's anger if not for Rush tenderly stroking Sheeta's favourite spot to unenthusiastically get back to sleep on his lap.
"First off, the Haven animals get offended for being called pets," Rush warned. "Second, I just want to make Master Embryo happy and fulfilling his wife's wish."
"Master Embryo doesn't need to be happy, for YOU and his wife. He needs to see what we believed of the Haven, ruined by wicked people and beasts willingly killing humanity by a foolish, murderous brat like you. Once he'll come back to the mainland, we'll make sure that he will never…"
"Never what?" The dangerous icy cold voice that suddenly appeared in front of Rush's desk and interrupted the Rosenblum King's threat collected Rush's surprise at the six world leaders frozen in aghast from their screens before looking up to see Embryo standing in front of Rush…who could try not to be intimidated by both Embryo's surprisingly furious glowing green eyes glaring the back of their Mana screens, unlike what Rush has ever seen in a person, and that Embryo is wearing the sleeping bathrobe Rush gave him since his clothes is still wet from the swim, albeit slightly big to almost fall off his shoulders. "Since when do I need permission from you all to do what I wished, especially for my children and my late wife?"
"M-Master Embryo!" President Irijah squeaked but Embryo stopped them from moving their screens to face their master in a bathrobe. "Don't even think of looking at me. I thought that by showing what I find the Haven amazing, I could change your initial mindset of the Human Killer's people and land. But it seems that I am wrong and made it terrible. I'm so sorry, Human Killer."
"Don't worry, Master Embryo. I'm not surprised that some of the rulers still think that I might hurt you." Rush reassured, sneaking a peek at the Mana screens showing Galia, Rosenblum, and Marmeria's horror twitching into bafflement for their master apologizing to HIM but unable to say something when Embryo spoke, taking a seat in the chair in front of Rush's desk.
"Not once have you ever hurt me, as everyone presumed, but reminded me what I wanted this world to be." Embryo admitted, surprising Rush and the world leaders with the former seeing the other's displeasure bore the same depression he saw earlier. "The Haven, although not acting as sophisticated as the other nations, treat their people and even their furry companions – who you dare offend them for calling them pets – with such heart that I see pure humans can't associate with each other back on the mainland. Seeing how genuinely happy every person and animal is in the Haven, I feel that the world should've been like the Haven. Even if the Human Killer is seen as diabolical in your eyes, I see him as the most trustworthy person I shall give my life to, even when protecting me from my children's abuser."
"Em…" Rush whispered his surprise, secretly happy to hear Embryo defending him from the world leaders like him defending their master from Orokana.
"B-But, Master…" Rosenblum King tried to speak, baffled as the other two rulers who also despised the Human Killer for receiving their master's defence.
"Marmeria, Galia, and Rosenblum aside; I wish to know Julio, Velda, and President Irijah's opinion of the Haven and the Human Killer." Embryo curtly demanded, alarming the other rulers although Julio was the first to answer, trying to collect Embryo's grace. "I…As the Human Killer's ruler, and by seeing your references, I believe that it is indeed amazing what he has introduced you to what the Haven is."
"Indeed." Queen Velda nodded with her tender smile brightening for the Human Killer's grateful assistance. "The Human Killer has proven once again, that I am confident he will excite you and your children for what he introduced you of the Haven."
"I-I-I also find the Haven beautiful for their tropical surroundings and surprising animals. Thank you, Human Killer, for fulfilling our master's wishes." President Irijah timidly nodded with a frightened smile, with Rush looking over the Mana screens to secretly smile his relief at Embryo calmed down from his earlier anger into a faintly relaxed smile.
"Excellent. After my return to the Dawn Pillar tomorrow morning, any meetings we shall have in the future will be thoroughly planned with my approval unless for emergencies, for I wish for a break to spend time with my children. Good night." Embryo apprised before flicking his fingers to dismiss the Mana rulers' windows out of existence, not allowing some of them to speak before Rush and Embryo relaxed in their seats with a synchronized sigh releasing their annoyance from the awful meeting. Sheeta curiously moved from Rush to strode towards Embryo, attracting him to reach his hand inching closer to Sheeta who first sniffed before willingly leaning to feel Embryo massaging her head in pleasure.
"Thanks for again helping me out, Em." Rush thanked with a chuckle.
"For you defending me earlier, it's the least I can do." Embryo acknowledged, stroking his hands on Sheeta's fur when she scooted closer and even snuggled against his embrace. "They have no right to disgrace your land, for the irony that the Haven is just what I've been wanting to create in this world."
"Really?"
"Yes." Embryo sadly nodded. "In the old humanity, where everything was filled with sin and corruption that affected the most spoiled people who willingly harm their kind and everything they build with their hands, I set my goal of making another world to save humanity and help them be good, strong, and kind. But as this humanity willingly throws the Norma in Arzenal to fight the DRAGONs, I thought it was a lost cause…until I met you. Even if the world broke you to fight your people and the Norma, you chose to protect those who were also thrown away and live in their ways by your rules. And from seeing not just the people but also animals living in harmony today, I was overwhelmed, happy, and a little bit jealous, that someone not under my rule can make a better world than me." Embryo's embarrassed chuckle at the end initially surprised Rush with his true thoughts of the Haven, but he smiled his appreciation.
"Thanks, man. I hope, other than visiting me when you're free in the future, that I make you and your wife happy today." Rush proposed, feeling happy that Embryo was also pleased with the offer when he agreeably nodded his acceptance. Embryo is aware that, not once since mentioning her last night, Rush never asked him about his late wife which he asked him only to receive his answer: 'I don't want to pry further in your life, man. Your life is yours, not someone's blackmail'.
'I rather tell you mine, than those fools everything about me for their stupid pleasure.' Embryo decided just when the three including Sheeta heard Rush's doors softly knocking from outside.
"Come in," Rush called, watching the door slowly open and both Moon with his snakes and Momoka come in, both holding a small box that Rush recognized the packaging to belong in Granny's bistro.
"E-excuse me, Sir. Miss Granny dropped by, hoping to give you these puddings for you and your guests." Momoka nervously spoke once she and Moon carefully placed the boxes onto the desk and between Rush and Embryo, with the former opening them and kindly showing Embryo what was inside each box, further delighting him. The two box each contains two cups of caramel custard pudding, which Rush ordered for him, Embryo, Aya, and Khalifa.
"Thanks, kids. Here, Master Embryo. I ordered these since you told Granny your favourite dessert." Rush first nodded at Moon and Momoka, making both blush their smiles for his secret kindness only to them and Embryo before Rush offered the other after taking their cups and spoons out of the first box. But instead of immediately taking his cup, Embryo calmly smirks his amusement for assuming something else.
"Hmph. You believe that you can seduce me with food, especially as delicious as…"
"Alright, I'll eat your pudding if you don't want to." Rush's confident jest immediately alarmed Embryo for Moon with his snakes, Momoka, and Sheeta to watch their surprise at Embryo almost climbing on Rush's desk and trying to take his pudding from Rush's other hand in dread. "Nooooo! You can't eat the pudding your Granny thoughtfully made for me!"
From behind Rush's bedroom doors slightly open, two pairs of glowing eyes peeked through the gaps and watched their father childishly reaching his arms for Rush playfully pulling his pudding cup back with a happy grin, thrilling the children for their slowly growing relationship as friends…hopefully, more than that since her mother's passing. '…Padre/ Father is in better hands with Mister Rush. For Madre/ Mother!' The toddler children beamed their excitement once they quickly ran out when Rush called for them, anticipating their dessert.
"Kids, we got pudding for you! Come get it before your dad will steal his back from me!"
"Rush, stop it!"
The morning sky shall shine the sun in two more hours but that didn't stop those who were worried for their human leader from waking up early and preparing themselves to take their enemy off their soldier's hands and kill him instead for Rush's safety. Although they were unknowingly a little bit misinformed by one of Rush's Norma admirers who secretly snuck inside his bedroom and office and is dismayed to see Rush and Embryo sleeping on the former's bed with Moon, and Embryo's children between them and Sheeta, Ular, and Hebi curled beside the men's feet and the sheets, making the enviously horrified woman see them like a family sleeping peacefully together. But her attempts to kill Embryo, hoping to secretly take his place and sleep with Rush, were foiled by a furious cheetah woken up from hearing her muffled complaints before the woman quickly ran away and avoided getting eaten by Sheeta.
Now, another group of Haven citizens different from the one spying on Rush yesterday with Red Death, Cynical, and Ammo accompanying them to secretly follow Rush and Embryo, both fully dressed and holding the latter's sleeping children with their leader holding the enemy's daughter, walking through the Haven alongside Sheeta for a brief visit at Granny's.
"Thank you for our first meeting, Miss Granny. I appreciate the help for yesterday" Embryo kindly thanked Granny with a smile as the rickety elderly lady nodded with a happy hum, resting her bony hand on her leopard's back until she shakily reached both hands stretching and grasping both Rush's right hand and Embryo's left hand to make them hold hands again. To Embryo, he sees that he and Rush still retain their Red Thread since yesterday and that only Embryo can see it…yet.
"You are welcome, dear. Please come visit the Haven; seeing you making Rushes happy makes me happier as his grandmother." Granny warmly suggested her satisfaction, with Embryo first seeing Rush close his eyes with a tired smile but, for Rush's grandmother, Embryo quietly nodded his appreciation from his smile before Granny released them and waved towards Rush, Embryo, and Sheeta heading to the harbour for the Mana plane taking Embryo's family back to the mainland, alerting Red Death's group to hurriedly run after them.
But by the time they hurriedly ran after them who didn't notice them stalking them…Red Death's group noticed in shock that the plane had arrived, but the pilot exited his transportation to look around the harbour in disbelief until he saw the group running towards him. "Commander Rush and Sheeta suddenly disappeared with Embryo!" The pilot revealed in horror shared by the group.
Rush and Embryo carefully place Aya and Khalifa's sleeping bodies onto the king-sized bed with Sheeta pulling the sheets over them using her canines, bringing Rush and Embryo to smile their contentment once the three quietly leave the latter's bedroom as Rush and Sheeta look around the Dawn Pillar's living accommodations that Rush knows that it is a secret that even the world leaders know nothing about. So, accepting Embryo's suggestion to teleport them to the Dawn Pillar from the people trying to pounce on them, for their assumption of them being together, was a better idea. "Nice place, Em," Rush commented as Embryo allowed him and Sheeta to sit on one of the couches.
"Thank you. You and Sheeta shall be the first two visitors I trust to the Dawn Pillar's secret floor. I supposed that you have a rider that will take you back to the Haven since your people will panic about your disappearance." Embryo exclaimed with a calm smile, with Sheeta releasing a snort for the Haven's reaction.
"Meh, it's too early for them to start working. I think I'll call them after getting some breakfast since I'm here now." Rush presumed without showing any worry.
"I don't think Misurugi will take Sheeta lightly even if she will be seen as your normal cat. Why don't I cook something for our breakfast?" Embryo suggested as he walked to the kitchenette, already removing his suit and vest off his shirt to roll his sleeves over his elbows, with Rush and Sheeta first looking at each other but the latter's curiosity from wagging her tail attracted Rush's amusement to shrug his shoulders.
"You sure, Em? Won't people complain?" Rush's nervous grin prompted Embryo to look at him with a displeased smile.
"Do we even care about people thinking such thoughts about us? I just want to repay your kindness to me, and promise Granny to make you happy, Rushes." Embryo's playful chortle made Rush scoff from his chuckle, feeling Sheeta cheerfully stroking herself against her owner. "Don't worry, I won't call you that after this unless you plan on courting me back."
"Touché." Rush's smirk then wavered into a curious scowl from feeling and hearing his phone's ringtone until he grabbed his phone and switched it on, almost ending the call when Cynical's voice cried through the end. "Rush, where are you!? The pilot said you disappeared!" A quick peek of Sheeta growling her disappointment agreed with Rush to respond.
"Don't worry, Cynical. It was a magic trick from Master Embryo to take both me and Sheeta to the Dawn Pillar because I was holding Khalifa. I'm alright and we'll be back after breakfast. You guys have yours first, byeeeee!"
"Ru…!" Rush ended the call before Cynical could respond, already smelling something delicious filling the air as Embryo prepared their breakfast, strong enough that Rush's stomach grumbling could be heard in the entire room which alarmed Embryo to faintly open his mouth and smile his puzzlement. "Don't mind us, we can wait." Rush assured once Embryo focused on their breakfast.
"So, Rush. We agree on making your secret dilemma a reality?" Sheeta asked Rush with a mischievous smile and tone in her true voice, both sneaking a glance at Embryo cooking and smiling his satisfaction that made Rush grin his excitement for their thoughts to whisper his answer while stroking his hand on Sheeta's head, purring her satisfaction.
"Yup. I can get close to Em, with the Haven thinking the worst of my plans to get some secrets."
A/N: For those that don't know, I added a real-life YouTuber and animal in this chapter which should be obvious. If still confused, find a word you will see as the actual hint.