Aerith has always known this moment will come. As much as she knows the Turks would never hurt her, but she also knows their goal has always been to bring her back to Hojo's lab. Protecting Marlene was the most important thing to do. But she wishes she could protect everyone from Sector 7. What they are doing now... it's unfair. And Aerith just knows they are better people than that.
"Listen, Tseng, I already agreed to follow you, but there's something I just don't get," she explains. She's sitting inside the helicopter, her arms crossed over her chest. They should reach Shinra building in no time now. "Why destroy an entire Sector ? There are so many innocent people there!" Her voice sounds somehow angry, but mostly disappointed. "You're a much better person than this. Same for Reno and Rude!"
" ... it isn't going to... bite me, is it? " The extremely tiny Loftwings were one thing; he has since recovered from that, but with permission now given for him and a few others to survey the Surface even further, he's realizing those aforementioned tiny Loftwings aren't close to being the ODDEST things to exist.
The NORMAL response would have been to recoil away from wild jab of the knife, which well could have made its mark if he were anyone but a SOLDIER. Zack did pull back, but only enough to avoid the deadly edge. Even among friends, pulling out a knife could send all kinds of messages. As it was, Zack sat back down on the cushion he'd been occupying up until that point, shrugging his shoulders, "It's all good. Least on my end."
He leaned slightly forward. "Troubled times, but there definitely seems to be something heftier on your mind." He raised a brow, the following silence serving as a prompt for him to fill the gap however he pleased. Of course, he didn't expect Tseng of all people to bleed his heart out to him, then or any time really.
Missions were never very pleasant. It wasn't like they were going on a pleasure cruise or something. Nightmares were a common gig. "What? You leave the stove on or something?" He teased. There was always a spot of tension in the air during outings like that. There wasn't always opportunities to break through it. Zack might play it light-hearted at times, but that didn't mean he didn't feel it too. He just wasn't about to let it consume him. Maybe that was what Shinra would want (weird that he'd started to have those thoughts...).
Lyney was unsure of his surroundings, it looked to be futuristic like Fontaine but some parts were different from that of his homeland.
He adjusted his hat as he pops a giant structure up ahead, he approached it and looked around to see if no one was coming before slipping inside.
He couldn't help his curiosity, he was much of that like a cat so he would enter places he finds intrigued without fully realizing the consequences. As he walked, he made sure not to alert anyone that might find him unlike most people here.
He then found a nearby vent and crawled inside, slowly moving throughout the tiny space, not knowing if someone was there within the vicinity.
"If you keep coming in here, Sakura-san is gonna put you in an apron and tell you to get behind the counter." It isn't true in the slightest, he was merely teasing him. After being out later than usual with his... less than typical activities, he is quite surprised to find the detective there at Leblanc. Sojiro had left shortly after he had arrived.
Akira leans against the counter, standing enough distance to seem casual and not like he's rushing the other. He was tired but... It wouldn't hurt to learn more about the guy trying to catch him, right? He wasn't sure if he considered him friend or foe, but it didn't matter. He found the other interesting to engage with.
"You being here saved me from being scolded for being out late. Thanks, Akechi-san."
@luzofstars : "Perhaps you should take a short holiday, Monsieur Neuvillette," The magician suggested as the the server placed their respective orders in front of them. Lyney shot them a charming smile in thanks before lavender eyes looked back to Fontaine's Iudex as he grabbed his plate of conch madeleines, normally he wouldn't eat sweets but he was making an exception today. "I'm sure others at the Palais would agree that you deserve it..." A small pause as he poured some jam over his dessert. "Or the Melusines."
"Hmmm." When was the last time he had ever indulged in such a thing? The thought would linger over a leisurely sip of his coffee but not a single time came to mind in the recent centuries since he'd dutifully taken up the mantle of Iudex of Fontaine. Taking a holiday... it was surely an intriguing proposition, but it was perhaps not suited to one such as himself.
"That is quite the proposal, Mr. Lyney, but I'm afraid that I would have to decline whether those in the Palais Mermonia were to agree with you or not. My duties are not those which can be so easily left to the wayside and I have taken it upon myself to oversee a specific investigation being carried out by the Marechaussee Phantom. It would be irresponsible of me to abandon it now." Where would he even go should he pursue such a thing? That line of thought was quickly abandoned with a curt shake of his head, gaze flitting toward where the Palais Mermonia stood as the jewel of the Court of Fontaine.
"Besides, there are sensitive matters I would prefer to oversee in the Opera Epiclese. Someone of the more eccentric variety is not exactly well known for her level-headedness in the court room."
"Oho~ an' th' light'a my life arrives~ Lookin' fer a smooch, are ya?" The dragon grins wide, golden eye shimmering like molten metal as he quirks an eyebrow. "Yer wish is my command, sunshine~"
Sliding an arm around the shorter man's waist, Leo reels him in, up and onto his tiptoes, holding the other's smaller frame against his own lean one and supporting the majority of his weight. His free hand finds Aether's chin and tilts it up for an indulgent kiss, lips pressing against his with a fondness that is reminiscent of his warm personality. He lets the kiss linger for several seconds before finally withdrawing... though not before he gives his precious traveler a few more little pecks for good measure.
▴ — @luzofstars inquired ; send me 🌝 for Sky to rescue Sheik from something.
“I want you to know, I thought this was a very stupid idea.”
The whispered, muttered words from the Sheikah were full of doubt and a lot of fear. His words of course earned him a worried glance from his husband, but Sky seemed to dismiss them just as quickly. He gets it, Sheik had been told several times he could wait at the entrance for Sky rather than following him, but did he really think he was going to do that? The last time Sheik had let Sky run off on his own, he had gotten severely hurt and ended up with amnesia. Temporary, sure, but that wasn’t the point.
It’s been clearly proven, multiple times now, he can’t let the Sky Knight run off on his own because something always happened. So here he was now, standing right beside the Hero and following him deeper into the very dark and very scary tunnels that who knows ran where! Which was, of course, why they were inside it. Sky wanted to know what was in them and therefore thought exploring them was their only option.
Sheik doesn’t get prophetic dreams, he doesn’t view the future or know what is to come. But he had a fairly good radar for when something bad was going to happen. It’s how he survived serving Ganondorf, that feeling of foreboding that meant the man was going to attempt to rip him to shreds and leave him in the Castle to bleed out. Whatever was going to happen in here, it made him worried for Sky.
His hand reached out and grasped the back of the green tunic, stopping the Sky Knight in his tracks and clinging to him. Sheik knows that Sky can sense how uneasy he is. It rings clear as day through the bond and no matter how much the other attempts to soothe him through it in return, this isn’t going to work. There was something wrong about this cave they were in and the deeper they went, the worse that feeling became.
It’s not the dark, it’s not the shadows that dance along the walls, those were all familiar sensations. He was a Sheikah, they thrived in the shadows, manipulated and wielded them. They were as much a part of him as Sky’s lightening was for him. No, this was something else. It was the place as a whole–but also whatever was waiting for them at the end. Whatever knew they were here and was eagerly hoping they’d arrive already.
It felt almost like a call.
“Link. I really think we should go back–”
For a moment, he actually thinks he might have won this debate. He can feel Sky grow uneasy in the bond at Sheik’s own words, at the emotions that were rushing through them. The Hero even started turning around to look at him, the ball of light he was projecting moving to hover above their heads.
And then the cave they were in started to tremble and shake.
The rocks started to fall around them and Sheik was thrown off balance, his fingers dislodged from Sky’s tunic and tossing him to the ground. The exit was blocked off and the ground beneath them shattered, dropping them further through the cave and propelled quickly toward the stone ground.
His shoulder hits harshly across a few rocks, banging him up as he’s tossed and rolled against them. After he finally skits to a stop, the sharp stones digging into his body in uncomfortable ways, Sheik shoves himself up quickly and reaches down for a dagger at his thigh. He doesn’t see Sky, and even with his Sheikah eyesight he can barely make out anything in this darkness. It was unnatural then, and even more so–it was terrifying if it could block the eye of truth from seeing through it.
Carefully climbing to his feet he darted his head around, stepping over the fallen rocks on the ground to make his way through the cavern he’d found himself in. The air in here was thick, heavy like a miasm and that unnatural, foreboding feeling, was practically ringing in his head like an alarm. A dangerous and risky one. A reminder that they needed to turn back. He didn’t even know where back was anymore, and there was no way he was leaving here without Sky. Sheik would sooner wander around in the dark and risk getting skewered alive than leave Sky in here with whatever was hunting them.
Because that was what this was.
From the moment they entered the cave, they were being hunted.
Keeping his arm up to defend himself, Sheik tried to focus on the bond to locate Sky. Despite how hard he tugged on it though he didn’t get a single response, not an inch of awareness, and he had a feeling that Sky had gotten himself knocked out when he fell through the ground too. Hopefully he didn’t hit his head, that’s what happened the last time when he got pelted by rocks. Cursing quietly under his breath he swung the dagger down into its holder and reached behind him for the harp.
A few quick notes, the Prelude of Light echoing through their prison, and a ball of light similar to what Sky created was formed above him in the center of the room.
And Sheik found his predator.
It was hard to say what exactly it was. Unnaturally long, its form disfigured, wrapped in a dark purple, nearly black, twisting robe that was torn in places. Chains were strapped across its chest, making a clunking sound each time it drifted unnaturally back and forth in place, swaying in motion almost. It had a weird twitch to it, like the ReDeads in Castle Town, a subtle jerk that it every so often did.
With a chill running down his spine, he had gone entirely still. Frozen almost in the face of the monster he has never seen anything like. In completely unfamiliar territory, the Sheikah Warrior had felt an icy chill grip at his heart, the claws sinking in and holding him in place. His mind told him he needed to do something, literally anything to keep himself and Sky safe–but he didn’t know what. One wrong move here, against an unfamiliar enemy, would get him killed.
He never likes entering a battle unprepared.
The creatures head whipped to the side suddenly, setting it’s gaze directly on him and equally blood red eyes stared into his own. It felt a bit like a mouse caught in a trap.
Like he was right where this thing wanted him to be.
Then it moved and Sheik’s body reacted on instinct. The monster was suddenly right in front of him, like a single blink and with unnatural speed. He twisted out of the way of whatever odd blade it had swung at him, the object looking more like an icicle, gray and clouded, with an unnatural dark aura given off from it. Sheik slid to a stop and spun around, pulling at the strings of the harp and throwing out a wave of magic at them. The energy of the harp seemed to push them back a bit but overall it really seemed like it had no effect. Like it swallowed his magic up greedily, starvingly, and he realized what that would mean.
His magic would have no effect here, this creature would only be weak to light.
He wishes he still carried the Goddess’ Harp sometimes.
Quickly he tucked the harp back into the holder and yanked two daggers out, holding them in his hands tightly as he waited for the next attack.
It was like a dance, a very poor one on his part. The monster would swing, he’d move out of the way and try to hit it himself. Though his daggers did cut along the monster at times, it didn’t feel like it had much of an effect either. He felt like he was being toyed with. It wasn’t the first time in his life he felt wildly out of his depth, weak to some regard, but that didn’t mean it was a good feeling. He was growing frustrated and tired, backed into a corner at each turn, food chased before getting eaten. At this rate, he knew he was neither going to win or survive the encounter.
It felt a bit like failing Sky too. He was currently the only thing between this monster and wherever the Hero had gotten hurt at. Lying on the ground, possibly bleeding out. The longer he was game for this creature, the more risk Sky had at being hurt worse. He doesn’t want to be weak and he doesn’t want to be useless or a burden.
However, he knows his own limits too, and he knows whatever this monster was–he could not win.
So he tried running.
Sky had to be around here somewhere, they had fallen close to each other and as dark as this place was, there were only so many places that could be. Sheik tucked his weapons away and grabbed the harp again, readying it along with a teleportation song. He ducked around the monster, rolled across the ground, and picked a random direction to go, praying that his instincts would lead him down the right path. He dodged over rocks, ducked down the winding tunnels and kept his ears open for the monster chasing him in turn.
The rock caverns were incredibly dark but the ball of light kept up well, lighting the path for him and helping him get around the rocks without falling and slowing this down. When he reached a branching path he took the right one, stumbling along the corridor and hearing the screeching of the monster chasing him behind them.
Finally at some broken part in the tunnel he spotted the Hero sprawled across the ground, his head lulled to the side and arm wrapped hanging across waist. His left one looked bent at an uncomfortable angle and Sheik did worry he had hurt it, but that could be assessed once they got out of here. Sliding to a stop he dropped down beside Sky and placed his fingers against his neck, feeling the steady thrum of his pulse beneath him.
Across from them the creature slammed into the side of the wall, stirring more rocks and knocking them down. Sheik threw his own body over Sky’s, the harp tumbling from his hands as he supported his weight against the ground, the rocks pelting him instead of the unconscious Hero as they were shaken loose. Lifting his head up he watched the monster do that odd vanishing act, appearing seconds later inches from them, its own eyes glowing that unnatural red.
He didn’t put enough distance between them, it caught up too quickly, he won’t have time to teleport them from here. The odd blade was held in its grip, lifted up and Sheik did what he does.
He protected his husband.
Throwing his arms around Sky’s head, clutching the Hero to him, he felt the strange weapon dig right into the back of his chest. It carries all the way through, piercing the otherside, stopping inches from touching Sky himself. Yet, despite being a very physical blade, he doesn’t see blood. It hurts, it’s agonizing undoubtedly, it went through him, but it didn’t cut him open. That horrible cold feeling was back, that feeling of something gripping at his heart, freezing him from the inside out. There’s a tremor to his body and the weapon was yanked right back out.
That was when he felt the spark of life beneath him, the arms that grabbed him back and the lightning that started to crawl across the stone walls. Sheik picked his head up a bit and looked down, seeing the electric infuriated blue gaze that focused on the monster above them.
Thank Hylia.
Whatever Sky did to the creature Sheik didn’t see, the horrible feeling in his chest had gotten bad enough that the pain knocked him out. He did hear Sky at least assure him that everything would be fine, that they would be alright, that he would handle it. And of course Sheik trusted his husband. With every single fiber of his being.
When he does manage some form of consciousness later, it was to a series of voices around him, close and hovering.
“What is wrong with him, Reiko?”
“Whatever that creature was, it attacked his soul, not his physical body, Link.”
“Well how do we fix that?”
“The soulbond should be enough, just stay close to him. You can’t leave his side.”
