Like many exotic meats, it tasted like chicken. They’d lit a fire by the side of the pool and roasted the bodies there, cooking them until they were at least somewhat edible. To say they tasted good, though, would be a lie. The meat was entirely unseasoned, as neither thought to bring salt to the metaverse, and strangely moist. It was a bit like biting into fruit.
“Gross,” Ren reiterated, trying to swallow.
“Honestly I’m a little underwhelmed. They always make it seem like a five star meal but this is just bland.”
“They? You’ve… been in the room with cannibals?"
“I’m a celebrity, Ren,” Akechi smirked.
“I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”
“Good question,” Akechi sighed, taking a bite of flesh. “It’s stupid to make a move as we are now. With my injuries and your…” he gestured at Ren, hand pausing over the bloody scratches on his cheek, “...injuries, we’d be better off taking a rest.”
“Agreed,” Ren nodded. “But, I mean, are you comfortable with… staying here?”
Warily, Ren nodded to the elephant in the room, the giant blue butterfly trapped in ice behind them.
“I’m not a child, Joker.”
“I don’t mean it like that. What if it’s dangerous?”
Akechi chuckled, and walked off from the fire toward the bug. “Fine. Let’s find out.”
Ren paused for a moment, then followed. It sat under a dim beam of light from the ceiling above, in an otherwise empty room. A thin mist wreathed itself around their legs when the rivals entered. The butterfly was comparatively massive, nearly as large as a car. It glowed a vibrant bright blue that shone out through the ice, dyeing the dust that settled around them. Ren reached a hand out, and felt the butterfly’s glacier prison, finding it cold. When his fingers, the stone shook.
“Trickster…” a voice echoed through the chamber, startling Akechi. “Is… that you…?”
Ren looked to Akechi, who shot him a judgemental look back. “Uh, yeah. It’s me.”
“Oh, my trickster…” the voice wept. “I… thought I’d lost… you… Forgive me…”
“I… who are you?” Ren asked.
“A friend. My name is…” but nothing came out. “Ah… I see… My apologies… trickster… No… it doesn’t… matter… I will… help… you all… the same… For that… is my… purpose… For now… call me… Angel… will you…?”
“Angel,” Akechi scoffed. “Jesus.”
“So, Angel,” Ren began, “your purpose is to help me?”
“My purpose… is to help… my master… He… has assigned me… to you… You are… the trickster… who will save… this world from… Ruin.”
“Ruin. Igor mentioned something like that, right?” Ren consulted Akechi, who nodded in agreement, trying not to open his mouth lest something nasty fall out.
“Igor…” the voice said, resentment dripping from its voice. “No… That is… false… It is not… Igor… Not my… master…!”
“What are you talking about??” Akechi interrogated.
No response from the bug.
“Is it fucking ignoring me?”
“What are you talking about?” Ren repeated, jaw clenched.
“Trickster… I am so… fortunate… to have been found… The Igor you… know… is not… the true master… It is a… cruel and… pale imitation… A walking Ruin… created only… to distract… and deceive… It goes by… the name of…” and again, no sound. “No… I am restrained… Just like… you…”
“We…?” the butterfly asked. “Ah… even now… you think of… your bonds… your friends… your fellow thieves… How good of you… my trickster…”
“I—” Ren paused, as if considering the meaning behind his own words. “No. I mean Goro and I.”
“You… are referring to… Goro Akechi…? Of the… Justice… card…?”
“The Justice card? What the hell does that mean?”
“Why… do you grieve… him specifically…? You have done… well to pursue his… bond… Trickster… but that well… has run dry…”
“He… is a pawn… used by the enemy… solely to… hinder… your growth… trickster…” it spoke, slowly and methodically, “I am… sorry… the boy is… born of lies… created… to deceive…”
Like what you read? This is chapter 7 (Heroes and Villains) of my new shuake AU Fate of the Wildcards. Read the rest here! CW: This chapter contains explicit self-harm.
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