It seemed like it was only a few minutes as an eye shot open in the dark. Pain was laying there on his stomach, the feeling of weight on his back making him question what happened as he slowly moved to get up. His namesake was powering him but...something felt weird in the ache from his infection.
The MAG gave a grunt before he perked up, hearing something being moved. He glanced around before raising an arm as he realized the sound was coming from a table nearby. Just within reach even.
That's when he saw it...a tentacle had grabbed a glass from the table. "Oi, stop that." He grumbled before taking the cup with little issue though it dawned on him what it was doing. He was thirsty...of course this was an absent movement to fix an issue. The infected could only sigh as he moved to get a drink himself. This wasn't normal. It didn't feel normal.
He took a sip of the water only to stop and stare out the window as he swallowed finally. He realized that the itch was gone too. No irritation. Just...a mass on his back that followed his commands though without him really knowing at this point.
He took another sip before his nose twitched, a scent in the air raised alarms though it was faint. He was quick on pouring out the water before hurrying out the door, looking around quickly. That scent was of his brothers. How did he not realize they were there?! He moved to the window where the scent was strongest only to see the footprints, staring at them for a bit before looking toward the way they were headed. He knew. A worried look crossed his face at first before he hurried after the three.
~~
Sloth stayed back just outside the building, feeling the heaviness in the air. For them it was normal but for others it would be suffocating. They heard the screams from inside, a faint smile twitching as they listened. This was what those inside deserved. Those people were the reason their MAG of a brother was infected.
Sloth felt the ground starting to tremble making them hum in question, glancing over their shoulder only to pale. This wasn't what they were expecting. Pain was heading their way, eyes showing a rising anger as he knew what this building was. "P-Pain, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be asleep!"
"The reboot was pretty fast...Marsh and Greed's in there, aren't they?" Sloth saw Pain's fingers twitching as he asked before looking up at him and nodding as an answer. "Perfect...I'll be quick."
"Brother, don't you go in there. They're both at full power." The Anti of Space couldn't help calling out. They were surprised by the toothy smirk that they got in return.
"I'm very aware of that, Slothy. Let me work a bit of my magic will you?" He hinted as he rolled his shoulders. He was well aware of Sloth starting to hide their mouth behind a hand out of worry though that seemed to change as the MAG just ripped a hole through the front door for him to wander in comfortably.
~
The room was a mess and it hadn't even been an hour but there were still plenty of people starting to gather around the two Anti, the clothing was of those who worshipped the Rot. Not robes but suits. It was hard to realize who they worked for if it wasn't for the blue tints.
They didn't see the shards of glass forming out of nothing but they did see the knives over Greed's head. That got angry murmurs from the amassing group, trying to press closer to attack the two.
"You know...normally I wouldn't stand here with you trying to fight some assholes off like this..." Greed hummed as he gave a snap of his fingers. The knives met their marks before dissolving into nothing, leaving the bodies they hit with deep slices.
"Pot and kettle...but you know as well as I do these things don't belong here anymore." Marshal's words dripped with disgust as he couldn't even consider those around him as people or family anymore.
A scream did catch both of their attentions as that wasn't a scream that came with their stabbings. That was a dragged away all of a sudden scream. They looked at each other as even the group were caught off by the suddenness of it all.
"That wasn't Slothy." Greed's voice was quiet as he straightened up, cane on his shoulder as he stared at the cracked open door.
"Yeah, no. We both know they would've made an inescapable pitfall." Marshal's voice was near a whisper as he was also staring at the door.
The two flinched back as the door flung open, the one that had gotten pulled having been tossed to the other end of the room like a rag doll. Everyone seemed to cringe as the body hit the wall, a crunch even sounding. Only way for that to happen was thanks to a...MAG Agent?
Seems the mutual thought between the two brought out what was expected thanks to that, Pain's hand having broken the doorway down more for his body to come through. "Did you guys seriously leave to have fun without me?"
Marshal took a couple steps back, unable to help himself at the sight of Pain. He was infected, yes, but...he was still very much in control. Unlike the others that succumbed to the infection. But the visual was still terrifying to him.
That's when he also realized it was like time stopped and not because of Greed either. The sight of an infected seemed to have gotten the congregation around them to fall to their knees, almost begging for something. The sight alone made Pain's lip twitch into a sneer. No, he wasn't theirs, even if he was infected. "May I?"
The growl reached both of their ears making them glance at each other. Greed could see the mounting fear on Marshal's system but he knew better himself. Let Pain have his way with the rest. "I say yes and for them to give all three my own regards...for their stupidity." Greed replied as a 'go ahead' before tugging at Marshal's sleeve to make him move.
"The Void you mean, Me-Fucker? Your regards?" Marshal hissed when he finally unfroze, having been pulled out of Pain's way.
Greed raised a finger as there was a massive commotion behind them. Pain was just having a hay day tossing the 'poor' souls around like dolls. Something he's seen many a time during his contract with the MAG. He glanced back, unable to help himself just to witness the mess in progress. He wasn't surprised that Marshal followed his gaze either.
"Insanity isn't going to be happy with this bunch along with dad but...Powers might have another thing in mind for these guys." Greed sighed as he shoved the cane through the case on his back like one would a sword. "I can see well enough there's some family in here...also, probably a good thing Pain doesn't have milk with him...would've treated them more like the dolls they are."
Marshal stared at the other, eyes unblinking for a bit. "I can't believe you just said that."
"I'm just saying!" Greed closed the door behind them before one of the tossed was able to fly out, not cringing this time as the thunk rang thanks to the impact. "I always forget though that Pain's got an arm on him."
"Make that four more." Sloth's voice rang out as they wandered closer. They knew it was safe despite the sound coming from within. They did look at Marshal to see the hint of conflict in his eyes. "Brother, are you alright?"
Marshal raised a hand with a small nod. He...just needed to think about this whole thing. Having been living with the MAG made this seem worse than it was. His brother was infected for Abysmal sake! He just couldn't live with that...could he?
Greed seemed to understand what was going on, resting a hand against Marshal's shoulder. "Go on back to Perfection. You don't need to go home but...just go someplace where you can rest. We'll finish up here."
Marshal glared at Greed but it was short lived as he finally moved to leave. The two watched with a frown before looking at each other. "He's not going back home..." Sloth muttered which got a nod in return.
"Pain'll find him once he's finished having his fun. I just need to make sure he can get into Perfection before I, well you know."
Sloth caught the shifty gaze only to chuckle. "Make everything look like it never happened in the first place along with their existence, I know. I got you covered here."
~~
It was only an hour later and here Pain stood just outside Perfection's concrete road blocks, eyeing the sheen of the protection field. He was unaware of his worry until he realized that the four tentacles had curled around him making him grimace and uncurl them. "This is so weird...I'll have to get used to this I guess?"
He was muttering to himself, holding one of the flimsy limbs in his hand. Despite the boils and nobs on the back the limbs were oddly smooth, soft to the touch even. He was too deep in thought about his new appendages that he didn't realize he walked right through the barrier...until he nearly crashed his foot into concrete if it wasn't for a yell to get his attention.
He glanced up to see who yelled as he couldn't tell if it was for him or...at him. No, it was for as he caught a familiar face making their way over. Wrath was the first to see him. Hell, he didn't even hesitate to wave as he now carefully made his way over by stepping over the block.
"Oh thank Abysmal it let ya through. I was worried when I got word ya, well...sprouted." Wrath didn't hesitate to stand near the MAG, looking up at him with a relieved look.
"I was worried it wouldn't let me to be completely honest with you, sis." He sighed as he knelt down, an arm resting on a knee now. That's when he saw it. A familiar piece of fabric. "That what I think that is?"
She perked up at the question before reaching back after a quiet 'oh' came from her. She soon held it out for him. "Yep. Me just finished it not too long ago. I grabbed it before she left so it wasn't stuck in her holdin' space the whole time and she forgits it."
Pain gave a chuckle as he heard that, taking the item just to run his thumb over it in thought. "You, uh...You see where Marshal is? He's not at the house is he?"
She shook her head as she watched him put the collar on, stepping back to give him space as the De-MAGnification took hold. "No. I think he passed the Zone up and headed for SunRidge. Not that I blame him."
"I don't either." Pain crossed his arms as he glanced down. "I don't know when he'll return on top of that but I don't want to rush him. This is all new."
"Yeah, I know. I already see its tryin' to make it known ya need somethin'." She pointed out with a weak chuckle. He didn't notice it had curled around him again. Despite the groan and the fight to free himself she gently grabbed one of them. "Though ya should go home and rest again. I feel ya need two reboots thanks to this new ability."
"It's not an ability Wrath. It's a..." He trailed off, eyes shifting around as something seemed to dawn on him. No...she was right. This was an ability now. Sure it was forced but he had control. He soon slowly nodded. "Actually, yeah. Yeah, I think I will take a rest."
He caught her smile at that before making a beeline for the house that he and Marshal shared. It's just a waiting game. One he's willing to play.
