Fluffy Hair - Dream And Nightmare

Fluffy Hair - Dream and Nightmare

     ! This Isn't Cannon !

Hello! It's the author, Eclipse, here- Just a few things!

Here, they have hair. Think of it like the human fanon versions! Or make up a design if you want- I don't care what you do. But here, I imagined them like humans with features their cannon has. Like, Nightmare looks human, but he has goop on one eye and has his tendrils on his back (I made them retractable to cause less trouble).

No, this isn't Dreammare, but ship them if you want. The fandom's already fucked up, I couldn't care less at this point. Hate Dreammare? Make it sibling love. Like Dreammare? Do it. A neutral? Do whatever the hell you want.

Summary - Dream and Nightmare's relationship is nothing less than awkward. On their birthday, Dream decided to fix that with a delightful gift.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Maybe Nightmare and Dream lived under the same roof, Nightmare's castle, but it doesn't mean they're friends with each other. It was a complicated thing, both of them. After the truce between the Bad Sanses and the Star Sanses, they were off with each other. They would be in the same room but always keep their distance. If another Sans they both like, then maybe it would be a decent conversation between the three, but no direct contact between Nightmare and Dream. If it was just them, don't expect any communication between them. It would be awkward, making one of them leave. If not, Nightmare would keep to himself. After countless attempts to start a conversation, Dream would stop trying and do something else. Maybe he would read or draw on his skin with a pen. They would never talk or act like they haven't been at each other's necks for a while. They wouldn't pretend that happened between them. Not after the incident. Does Nightmare forgive Dream for the Apple Incident? No. But he understands both sides of the story. But it doesn't change the reality that Nightmare still doesn't forgive him. He hoped that maybe Dream would admit it before it was too late, or he would've helped Dream see the obvious signs. Now that both teams have a truce, they're in the same building, Nightmare's castle, and they've had a conference, most would assume things are fine. But Nightmare doesn't forgive Dream. And nothing's going to change it. Or maybe he's hoping it won't. But change is inevitable.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Nightmare had a lot of small habits and fidgets he'd do when he was bored. Make it tapping his foot in a rhythmic order, fiddling with his fingers, or having specific cravings like dark chocolate.

     And Dream knew it.

     Dream would never admit it, but he was obsessed with Nightmare. In his way, at least. He'd always pick up small habits he had, such as the small fidgets with his leg, the way his eyes would shrink a little when he saw something strange in the recent news, and when they'd widen when something interesting happened in his fantasy book.

     If Nightmare had a small habit, Dream would know it.

     Maybe it was the fact they'd been away for so long that he wanted to catch up in his way. On the other hand, Nightmare wanted to keep the past in the past. He thought it was selfish of Dream. Had Dream ever thought of asking Nightmare if he wanted to go back in the past? No. So, Nightmare didn't desire their past relationship, but Dream did. It caused a few complications. Eventually, Dream came to the exception that he would never get his opposite back.

     Now, it's their birthday. And Dream had a surprise for Nightmare. Of every small habit and fidgets Nightmare did, his favorite was twirling hair.

     Yes, the self-proclaimed God of Negativity, King of Darkness, the Destroyer of Hope and Dreams, loved messing with hair. It's a pleasant passion and hobby (besides fashion because all kings need to look good). Nightmare loved how it always felt when running his fingers through his hair; he'd sometimes try different hairstyles to get an excuse to mess with it or just touch his hair, feeling how smooth it felt against his fingers.

     And Dream decided to give his hair. Strange, yes, but it's probably the only shot Dream has at showing that he hasn't given up and appreciates him, despite the fact Nightmare probably would kill him if he had the chance. He'd ask Nightmare if he wanted to mess with his hair, and Nightmare would at least feel a bit happier around Dream.

     At the very least, make the atmosphere less awkward.

     Dream was muttering to himself the whole time before meeting with Nightmare. The Bad Sanses and Star Sanses teamed up to make a birthday party for both of them, despite Nightmare neglecting the idea. So, in the bathroom, acting like a teenage boy trying to confess to a popular girl, he went out, looking for Nightmare, adjusting his crown. He nervously entered the party and was bombarded with 'Happy birthdays!' and 'Congrats!' The room itself was the living room but filled with birthday decorations. There was a banner that said 'Dreamtale Twins!' in messy paint, multiple tables with food for both Nightmare and Dream's tastes (including sweets and savory foods), with things for everyone. There were the Bad Sanses and Star Sanses, along with some neutrals and allies like Fell and Sci, but Dream didn't care as much. First, he wanted Nightmare. He needed to find him. And, there he was in all his negative glory, sitting on the couch reading, doing his regular cross-legged position with his right leg in a way some would call... 'feminine.' Honestly, gender always confuses Nightmare and Dream. They didn't have a label. Anyways, Dream, fidgeting with his fingers, sat next to Nightmare. As planned, Nightmare stopped reading and looked at Dream. So did the others, wondering what was going on. Dream never sat next to Nightmare. Never.

     Dream honestly didn't plan this far.

     "U-Umm..." Dream starts. Which wasn't the best response, but it could be worse. Except it couldn't. Ink started snickering as Swap slapped him on the head, shooting Dream a pitiful look. Cross and Horror looked quite uncomfortable with the energy and aura gave off and stepped off a bit to the side near a far wall, still keeping an eye on both Dream and Nightmare. Killer and Dust looked at them but continued fighting over something, only making it worse for Dream and his positive aura. Fell and Sci were both drunk and making out, giving an aura of... ill content.

     Nightmare? He just sat there, staring at Dream with an annoyed look, waiting for him to speak his mind. Dream, however, all he could do was scream internally, hoping it didn't creep out. So, he let his aura do the dirty work. He gave off a feeling of needing and wanting to aim directly at Nightmare, along with the expression of being impatient, which Nightmare understood well enough. Nightmare stood up and walked out of the whole birthday room to his office room, a floor above the ground level. Dream quickly got up and followed, not wanting to be the center of attention any longer.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     When Dream knocked on Nightmare's office door. Dream took a step back to look at the details while he waited. It appeared to be dark oak wood with golden accents and details (rumored to be pure gold). Nightmare opened it with a look that screamed, 'We need to talk.' Dream was planning on doing so. While walking among the halls of dark, gloomy wallpaper with an eerie ambiance, Dream reviewed exactly how the conversation would go. Nightmare would ask what's up, and Dream would explain that he was observing Nightmare and offer for him to braid his hair. Then, Nightmare would agree. Done. Maybe a bit more conversation if Dream was lucky, but that's all he planned.

     "Get in. Now," Nightmare ordered. Dream gladly complied, entering quickly. He looked at Nightmare with a nervous face, the fear evident in his eyes. Even if he weren't showing it, Nightmare would easily tell by his aura. "We need to talk," Nightmare ordered. "Now, what's going on? You're acting weird." He looked Dream up and down before continuing. "Well, weirder." He sneered and rolled his eyes, trying to mock Dream's self-confidence that left the moment he stepped into the room with an unnatural feeling that made it worse.

     "Well... We both know today's your- OUR!" Dream accidentally screamed when realizing today was, in fact, both of their birthdays, causing Nightmare to flinch while standing, his arms crossed. ". . . Right." He spoke in a monotone tone with annoyance laced around. Dream cleared his throat and spoke slower, still feeling timid. "Well, uh... I've been, uh, observing you a bit." Dream quickly searched for the word to make it less weird, but it seemed to weird out Nightmare more, as he looked more skeptical than before. Dream felt a bit uneasy and continued. "And I noticed how you like messing with your hair! So, uh..." Now that Dream thought about it, the whole idea was stupid! Asking if Nightmare wanted to mess with his hair? What kind of present was that?! He should've settled for something more appropriate! Nightmare must've sensed it because he sighed and spoke, still quite irritated but with a bit of pity.

     "Earth to Dream? Hello?" He flicked Dream's forehead, which brought Dream back to reality. Nightmare rolled his eyes. "You were saying? You were 'observing' me. What about it? If it's not worth my time, get out." He was beginning to grow impatient, and Dream certainly didn't plan this far ahead. "Right, right! So, the thing is—" Nightmare cut Dream off. "Is it the fact you didn't get me a present?" Dream quickly reacted, not thinking much while speaking. "NO, I DID! I DID! I- Uh.. I did! I swear I did! It's just-... Uh... Well, it's not that great." He looked down, ashamed it probably wasn't as great as Nightmare's gift for him. "My gift is kinda lame compared to what others got you." It's true. He saw others packing gifts for both of them, and some got Nightmare good suits, others good rings and necklaces, earrings, and even crowns that probably cost thousands! So why didn't he..?

     "Uh. I see you fidget. Especially when you're stressed, so, uhm... I was wondering if maybe— Unless you don't want to! Maybe you could... mess with my hair..?" Dream spoke the last words quietly and slowly as Nightmare processed the words carefully. When it all clicked in Nightmare's head, he looked at Dream and chuckled a little. Not a cold or mocking one like he usually does, but one that showed he thought it was a cute gesture. He ruffled Dream's hair playfully. "You, Dream Joku," Nightmare stated, emphasizing the word 'you.' "Had me thinking you were having a slow, agonizing dying. Seriously? That's it? I thought you were going to—... I don't know! Jump off a cliff or something like that! But messing with your hair? You could've asked!" It was hard to tell if Nightmare was annoyed with Dream, if he found Dream's nervousness a joke, or both... Probably both. So, While Nightmare was laughing at his stupidity, Dream gave an awkward smile. "So... Is that a yes?" He uttered hopefully.

     Nightmare sighed. "Yes. I guess it is. Wanna do it in your room?" He offered, opening the door of the office room. Dream smiled slightly. "Yeah! Afterward, I can mess with your hair!" He giggled and walked out, trusting Nightmare would follow him.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     They both entered Dream's room, exactly how you probably imagined it. Since the truce, the Bad and Star Sanses have resided under the same roof to keep up with the balance easier. Dream's room used to be dark and gloomy to match the rest of the castle, but his aura couldn't handle it, so he redecorated it. Now, instead of the dreary wallpaper with black, grays, and hints of teal and blue, it was a light, soft shade of brown, giving an aesthetic vibe. There was a giant king bed with light oak wood for the frame, a pure white mattress with a yellowish orange blanket, and cute shaped pillows in the center with light pastel yellow curtains draped over it, putting it in a protective cone from the outside. There was a white corner desk filled with different organizers with pencils, erasers, markers, and random junk like slap bracelets and fidgets, nothing having an organized place. Some sticky notes were on the walls with notes and doodles of cute characters, photos with the Star Sanses, and other memories. On the ceiling, a few lamp-designed lights are there to keep the calming mood and aura alive to help Dream.

     Nightmare hated the room with a burning passion.

     He retracted his tendrils that lay still on his back and sat on the soft cushion bed, laying his back against the headboard, relaxing his tensed back with the soft white pillows, either of cinnamoroll or different shapes like stars of cats. He spread his legs to let Dream sit in front, and Dream undid his braid, revealing medium-length whitish-yellow hair. It used to be blackish-brown, but the last golden apple changed some of his appearance. Nightmare ran his fingers through the hair, feeling the messy tangles. Makes sense, he thought. Dream goes outside and trains a lot. It reminded him of the past. He and Dream gave each other different hairstyles and messed with each other's hair for fun, getting out all the tangles and knots. At least, they did. Then villagers moved in, and they stopped hanging out with each other. He ignored all he remembered. The past was the past, and it'll stay like that.

     The hair gave off a scent of some sort of coconut oil, but he didn't mind much. He started to twist the hair, twirl it around his finger, and mess with it. He began to braid it, and his mind became unaware of his surroundings. He did twists, attempted bubble braids, and let Dream's hair be free so he could feel how soft it was against his fingers. He loved the feeling. He'd ruffle Dream's hair a lot so he could comb it again. He put his face against the back of Dream's because of how soft and crisp it felt brushing against his face.

     At this point, it was heaven for Nightmare.

     The texture, the sight, everything, hell, even the smell of the hair put him in pure bliss. Nightmare never wanted it to end. Nightmare decided to comb Dream's hair in the end and make mini braids on the sides, putting them in front. Nightmare grabbed a mirror on the nightstand and handed it to Dream, who stared in awe. "It's beautiful!" He exclaimed. "Now, it's my turn!"

     So, they both switched places, Dream using Nightmare's hair for god knows what. Dream was never the best at doing hair. He always liked it messy, wild, and loose. His braids would be messy from training, or his hair would be out entirely. Nightmare was different; he liked his hair neat and organized but always added a bit of messiness to make it more appealing. If not, his hair would always be in a strict ponytail, if not a braid with no loose hairs. So, Nightmare was a bit nervous. Just a bit. He was worried about what Dream would do to his hair. Only Dream knows this, but Nightmare has a bit of OCD. He likes things neat, fashionable, and even. Dream's the opposite. Ironic, isn't it?

     Dream could sense Nightmare's uneasiness, so he tried doing it the way he saw Nightmare do it. First, he combed the hair with his fingers, and just as he thought, there were no tangles. It was like every hair was in a specific place. Dream felt slightly uncomfortable with the thought of him doing Nightmare's hair. He always overthink things like this. What if Nightmare didn't like the hairstyle? Or maybe he did it wrong and left his hair ruined! What if—

     "I can feel your obnoxious aura, Dream."

Nightmare's words brought Dream to reality with the situation, and he softly smiled at Nightmare. Dream took a deep breath, trying to stay in the moment. "Sorry, Night." Dream apologized. "Just a bit nervous. It's been a while since we just spent time together. As, y'know, friends." Dream let out an awkward chuckle, continuing combing the hair as Nightmare took in the sentence, thinking about every word.

     Individually, the word "friends."

     Were they friends? I mean, they both were trying to hunt down each other. Well, Nightmare did; Dream was more defense. But was today the day they were friends? More importantly, should they be friends? After all this time of hating each other? Is it right to be friends? Should they? Either way, why would Dream want that? I mean, Nightmare's been a total jerk, right? Why? Is this a trick? Why?

     Nightmare's thoughts were starting to overflow, so he leaned towards Dream's touch as he combed his hair with a gentle touch. Dream leaned in forward as well and played with Nightmare's hair, both being calm in the presence of one another. Since they were both opposites, they were attracted to each other by magic, making it feel better when they were in each other's company. Since the apple incident, it hurts Dream while they're fighting. However, with the calming aura present, it doesn't hurt as much. It brings both of them to the past. The more enjoyable parts, at least.

     At this point, it wasn't really about the hair. Dream and Nightmare were in love with each other's presence and felt at ease. It was like in the past, when both just stayed with each other, basking in each other's opposite auras. It felt like peace.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Eventually, the people in the party wanted to know where the hell both of them were. They looked in every room, including the game rooms, the training/sparring rooms, and other living rooms! But no one knew where they were. Eventually, Cross and Dust took a small peak in Dream's bedroom, the door slightly cracked open and caught a glimpse of Dream and Nightmare. They looked at each other, shocked, then shared a smile. They quickly locked the door from the inside and closed it, tip-toeing downstairs. While the others were still looking, Swap approached them, asking. "Did you find them?" Cross chuckled while Dust answered, having a soft smile on his face.

     "Don't bother looking for them. They've never been better."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Nightmare and Dream fell asleep on the bed, feeling comfy. All the hair messing and calming spirit in the atmosphere made them feel tired. So, even if Nightmare hated it, they slept on the warm, soft bed with a Cinnamoroll and Kuromi pillow, hugging each other. Dream was basically like a sloth clinging to Nightmare. Or maybe more like a Koala, if you know how they cling to things. And Nightmare had an arm behind Dream, ensuring he didn't let go. It was nice. Seeing how both of them were just like this, forgetting all about the past battles and injuries, the cruelties they put on each other. Most importantly, they forgot about the past and how they were both used and abused. They decided not to focus on that.

     They weren't Nightmare and Dream, sworn enemies. Not right now, at least.

     Maybe, just maybe, they could stay like this forever.

Honestly, I'm not even sure if I should be using Google Docs anymore. I did a bit of research, and it claimed this was only happening if, (a) you give them full permission and consent to be using your data, or (b) if you opt-in for Google Labs AI. Reading through the terms and conditions, it all checks out. However, be and stay cautious . Don't put passwords, personal information, or anything major that could affect you if someone got a hold of it, in Google Docs, Slides, or anywhere online. The fact they're even attempting this sucks. It's like they forgot we're humans too with a mind of creativity, and they want to snatch it for computers. I'm really glad they included alternatives. Still, I don't like how they're all including AI to make ideas or write for you.

People can't just steal writing and get away with this. It's fucking bullshit. Writers could spend hours, days, weeks writing stuff, may it be whatever. Then some AI comes out and steals it and uses it. I've written so many drafts, and I don't want my work to be stolen to train some stupid AI. They're taking away what we mentally own.

Remember, our writing is ours, and we'll do what we want with it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

WRITERS AND FUTURE WRITERS, PLEASE LISTEN UP

i saw a few tiktok videos that was very concerning to me and i decided to share some of the knowledge i got because as a community of people who freely write things about characters, we need to protect our work. i have just decided to edit this post and to put the whole videos here since a some reblogs were of how i was spreading misinformation.

GOOGLE DOCS IS NOT SAFE (full credit to woppydoesthings on tiktok for information)

thank you to @lighteez for suggesting “reedsy” as an alternative option

thank you to @braingoaaaaaah for suggesting “click up” as an alternative option

thank you to @koungacris for suggesting “LibreOffice” as an alternative option

thank you to @stellarnathy for suggesting “notion” as an alternative option

THEY GOT THE AO3 WRITERS AS WELL (full credit to tiktok user sakuradarling) (sadly i can only add one video in per post and the tiktok user had turned off saving videos but i have decided to link the original video https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSFbq1PRA/)

apparently some thieves i am NOT calling them people because who with moral compass would do this shit? are copying, pasting and printing out popular fanfictions on AO3, binding them, turning them into actual books and selling them on places like Etsy WITHOUT crediting the original authors. which is why we can’t find some certain popular fics or authors on AO3

TUMBLR IS SELLING OUR WORK/PROMPTS TO THIRD PARTY WITHOUT CONSENT

i think i came across a post or two about it. i think my mutual @livelaughlovesubs has reblogged a post about it. check it out and turn on a switch on your blog settings that prevent this. stay safe and protect your works writers

spread the word everyone, because… genuinely what the fuck?

☆ Undertale Masterlist ☆

DISCONTINUED

New Link

────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──────

Fluffy Hair [ Finished ]

Summary - Dream and Nightmare - Dream and Nightmare's relationship is nothing less than awkward. On their birthday, Dream decided to fix that with a delightful gift. Fluff

Part 1

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A Freak For A Friend [ Finished ]

Summary - Error and Nightmare - Nightmare recently became corrupted, trapping himself in the Anti-Void while escaping his AU. He meets a new glitchy friend and wants to be freaks together. Angst

Part 1

────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──────

A Dance.

Summary - Prince Ori is said to marry someone from the Oparius Kingdom. However, his grumpy guard goes against it, being a bit too possessive.

TW - Arranged marriage

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"What's up with the face?" the prince noticed, leaning on the wall while casually sipping his red wine. The gloomy guard near him rolled his eyes, standing tall with arms crossed over his chest. The guard scared away anyone who approached the prince, good intentions or not. And the guard knew it.

The guard huffed at the girls in the distance, fawning over the prince in his delicate, blood-red suit. It was a party to celebrate the alliance between the Oparius Kingdom and the Nalux Empire. Princess Novia was said to represent Oparius, while Prince Ori, still drinking the red wine, represented the Nalux Empire. Prince Ori paid no attention to the girls, his eyes drawn to the depressing guard. After all, Midnight was the closest thing he had to a friend as a child, even if he was bluntly rude.

"They're all so... annoying," Midnight sighed, rolling his eyes at the girls. It was clear how immature they were to Midnight, but Ori found it amusing, seeing how they turned red while he made a casual smirk at them or how they almost fainted when he winked. Midnight saw all of these moves and groaned, feeling disgusted.

"Ew. Are you seriously going to marry one of those... girly, toxic... girls?!" exclaimed Midnight, trying to find the words to describe the woman who attempted to grab Ori's attention. He moved his arms in rigid movements, emphasizing his annoyance even more. He had a point, for most of the girls in the kingdom were quite bothersome towards the blonde prince, but it bothered him more because they only cared for the money. Despite his cold, heartless personality, Midnight truly cared about Ori. He wanted Ori to find someone who truly loved him and his unique, dumb personality and didn't care about him being a prince, someone who would love Ori for being Ori. All Midnight could do was wait for the right person to come along and save his best friend from being married to some narcissistic woman who wanted money.

"Midnight? Xaniadusca to Midnight!" Ori waved his hand in front of Midnight's eyes, forcing him to come out of the little world inside his head. Slightly annoyed, Midnight pushed Ori's hand out of his face. He huffed and scowled at the girls, who gladly glared back. Ori did nothing but observe the standoff.

The girls, probably in their teens, scoffed and ignored him, staring at Ori like he was a go. Something Midnight hated. Sure, they were pretty, but they weren't good enough for Ori. At least, that's how Midnight saw it. No one would be perfect enough for Ori. He needed to find someone to stare with a soft gaze in Ori's soft, brown eyes. Someone to kiss his scars and ease the pain. Someone who wasn't everyone else.

Ori playfully nudged Midnight's shoulder, shifting his attention from the girls to him.

"Wanna head over to the drinks stand?" Ori offered, trying to ease the growing tension between the two. Midnight, knowing this, obliged, following Ori quietly as they walked over to get a few things. There were a variety of foods and small beverages, but none interested Midnight enough to drink or eat any of them. So, he stood near Ori while the others watched everyone dance and chat, occasionally taking a few sweets.

Midnight was like a guard dog, watching every movement from the people surrounding them. Ori noticed and sighed, shaking his head. Midnight noticed this and side-glanced towards him. "What is it?" Midnight asked, keeping a stoic face. Ori visibly frowned at this, upset about how his guard was acting. He gently swept away the loose, short, black hair that fell in front of Midnight's eyes, forcing them to look at each other. Subconsciously, Ori's hand went from the hair to Midnight's cheek, holding it gently. They stared at each other with penetrating gazes. There were no thoughts in their heads, yet thoughts were clouding their mind.

Midnight gained consciousness and pulled away abruptly, his face heating up slightly, clearly visible with his vitiligo skin, which Ori always found so cute. He had patches of light skin scattered around his face, but it looked adorable. Midnight's blush faded, and he scoffed at Ori. "What was that for?" He questioned, sounding angry. Ori didn't know himself, so how was he supposed to answer? So, he decided to ask a question that's been pondering his mind ever since Midnight became his friend.

"Would it kill you to relax?" the young prince teased.

"Probably," Midnight replied, combing his hand through his hair. "Likely, it would kill you too. That's rather the point." A smile flashed across Ori's face. "I'll risk it," he said, holding his hand out for Midnight. "Dance with me."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Eclipse here! Just wanna say, when you saw the word "Xaniadusca," that's a personal project! It's something I made with world-building! It might pop around here and there, but just remember it's a fantasy world! I might make a book on it, I might not, just don't think about it too much- Also, "Midnight" and "Ori" are my original characters. They might pop around in my original books, but their 'backstory' won't be put in a book yet! This is just an AU thingy out of boredom. Sorry for making you read so much- Bye darlings!

Refuge Flashback.

Part One.

! THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED PART TWO! THIS IS A FLASHBACK FOR CONTEXT! PART TWO IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT !

In Refuge, a bit of the past was referenced a bit, so consider this a flashback or prequel. And God, it's quite long.

TW - Swearing, wounds, bruises and bleeding, abuse

Summary - Supervillain was angry at Villain for failing a mission, and decided they needed to be taught the difficult way. When Hero overheard about this and got worried, they decided to save Villain, no matter the cost.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A Few Months Ago. . .

“You failed to capture that inferior idiot?!” Supervillain screamed, making Villain flinch. They were both in Supervillain’s office, and recently, Villain went on a mission. Their main goal was to retrieve Hero, but they failed.

“They were too fast, okay? I’m sorry, Supervillain–”

“Sorry for what, exactly?! Being a disappointment?!” The room was full of tension. Supervillain could feel the fear radiating off of Villain. “I asked you to do one job and one job only. What was it?” They asked. Villain remained silent, looking at the floor, feeling pathetic. “Say it, Villain!” They screamed, rising from their desk.

“To capture Hero.”

“Exactly,” replied Supervillain. They walked around their desk as they circled Villain. “Your only task was to capture Hero. May I remind you that they’re the least of our concerns? We have Captain, Superhero, many others that’re stronger, faster…” They trailed off, now standing directly in front of Villain. Supervillain forcefully grabbed Villain’s hair and yanked it back, Villain groaning in pain. They looked into Supervillain’s cold eyes. “Yet you failed to capture Hero. Probably, if not, the weakest enemy we have right now.”

“They’re not weak! They just caught me off guard!” Villain shouted, their voice sounding broken with their lack of oxygen.

Supervillain looked them up and down before scoffing and shoving them away, Villain gasping for air. “You’re pathetic,” they spoke cruelly. “Barely able to handle a tier 3 Hero. You know how low that is for you? Even the cadets could execute better movements than… that.” They motioned towards all of Villain. “The entire thing’s on TV, y’know? Wanna bet how many people feel sympathy for us?”

“I–”

“NO ONE!” Supervillain screamed. Villain jumped back, wide-eyed. “Everyone’s mocking us. Mocking me. They’re degrading all of my work because of your slip-up! Not just here, everyone working with and under me! It’s bad for my image, bad for everything I’ve worked my ass off for!” Villain could feel themselves flinch everytime Supervillain yelled, but that just made them madder. “You’re… flinching? At what?! Me?! Because I’m mad that you made a mistake?”

Supervillain slowly approached closer. Villain backed up.

“Because you gave me a bad image to the world?”

A few more steps.

“Because you’re a failure?”

Supervillain was right in front of Villain, their structure towering over them. “Or are you simply scared of me?” Supervillain’s breathing was ragged and heavy, while Villain was barely breathing at all, like a single wrong move could kill them. Supervillain let out an empty laugh, slowly turning into a cackle. “You’re that pathetic, aren’t you?!”

Villain was too scared to respond.

“Y’know…” Supervillain grabbed Villain’s shoulder, their grip an uncomfortable hold. Villain squirmed. “You’re so weak, it’s embarrassing. Yet, I’m the one who has to deal with it. Isn’t that unfair?”

“I’m sorry, Supervillain.”

“Oh, you will be.”

Before Villain could reply, a strong impact landed on their stomach. They shut their eyes, but a large hand grasped their throat. They coughed, begging for it to end. Slowly, but surely, their eyes went black.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Supervillain! Please, stop it–”

“I’m sorry, Villain,” Supervillain replied, kicking Villain’s side. “But this is how you learn from your mistakes.”

Villain was laying on the floor, struggling to get up with their shaking arms. Their body was covered in bruises. While unconscious, the Supervillain dragged them to an empty room. It was unnamed, but famous for people never coming out.

I’m sure you can guess why.

“Get up,” Supervillain ordered, bringing Villain up by their shoulders. “And fight.” Villain tried punching their face with their broken hand, but Supervillain easily blocked and punched their neck, making Villain double over. Supervillain scoffed. “How pathetic are you that you can barely compete against me? A shame to the people who taught you.” Once Villain regained their oxygen, they pounced for Supervillain. Yet, it could only do so much. Supervillain easily moved out the way and elbowed their back, making Villain scream from pain. The previous injuries from Hero were still fresh, despite it being a few hours ago.

“It’s like something’s holding you back.” Supervillain sad matter-of-factly.

“You don’t know anything about me!” Villain screamed, turning around and slapping Supervillain in the face. Though, it hurt Villain more due to the broken arm. Supervillain’s face was red from anger as they punched Villain relentlessly. Villain’s already damaged body grew even more broken. They collapsed on the floor, panting. They spit out blood and shakily stood up, but Supervillain pushed them down with minimum effort.

“I know more than you think, darling.” Villain scoffed at the nickname. Supervillain grabbed their hair again and jerked them up again. They shoved their back against the wall, leaving Villain pinned.  “You’re so frail, so broken, yet you hide it through misbehavior.”

“Gee, wonder who taught me that.”

“I’d rather die than take blame for disobedience,” Supervillain spat out. In a swift motion, Supervillain kneed Villain in the stomach, making them spit out more blood on Supervillain’s clothing. “And I’m disappointed in your lack of awareness. It’s the reason you lost.”

Supervillain dropped Villain’s limp body on the floor, yet stayed in front of them. Villain spared enough strength and energy to curl into a ball, hiding their vulnerable body.

“Though, I think there’s something more to it… Don’t you think?”

“Please, just… just stop–” Villain choked out.

“I could never help but feel like you have more reason to be scared of Hero than me,” questioned Supervillain. “After all, I hold more authority in this situation. And I know there’s something going on between you two. You’ve handled more than Hero gave you. I’m a prime example, aren’t I?”

“How comforting.”

“It’s true.”

“Please, just listen to me, Supervillain,” pleaded Villain. “I don’t know what you’re trying to hint at, but whatever it is, you’re wrong.”

“Oh darling,” Supervillain spoke quietly. They knelt down and lifted up Villain’s chin, gently wiping away the Villain’s dried tears. They spoke in a whisper in Villain’s ear. “I’m never wrong.”

Supervillain stood up and walked past Villain’s broken body. “Make sure to clean up all the blood when you’re done crying.” Villain didn’t look as they slammed the door shut.

Finally, the Villain broke. They started sobbing as they uncurled their body and leaned on the wall. They cried, not caring if anyone outside the room heard it. They felt dead.

And if they continued to fuck up, they would be.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Hero,” Captain said, their voice as stern as ever.

Hero was sitting in front of multiple screens that surveyed the entire city. At least, the more important landmarks where villains often attacked. “Yes, Captain?”

“You’ve been sitting here for god knows how long. Any reports?”

“None yet, Captain. Almost like they’re planning something.”

“Then get your ass to work,” they scolded. “We can’t risk anything happening right now. One wrong move and we’re dead.”

“Yes, Captain,” Hero mumbled, switching the cameras to different areas, looking for any hint at the villains’ wearabouts. Captain just stood behind their chair and watched Hero work non stop. Hero muttered curses when nothing was wrong. Almost like…

Like they didn’t exist.

“Something’s wrong,” Hero said. “They don’t stay this inactive.”

“No shit sherlock.” Captain rushed out the room, shouting commands at the other heroes nearby. Hero took one last glance towards the cameras and raced after Captain. They both walked along the hallways, the other heroes getting ready for a large scout of the surrounding areas. “Hero, you’ll be going to the power plant.” Captain ordered. “We suspect something big is happening, and it’s the most logical area they could be. Technology there’s already improved, and there’s no doubt they’ve heard. A great place for information.”

“Right.”

“Don’t fail us. Report back at midnight. Keep your comms up.”

“Yes, sir.” Hero darted away and split apart from the group. After getting ready, they grabbed their automobile and raced to the power plant.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hero spent hours searching through the power plant’s buildings. Nothing but the occasional mouse. Of course, there were barely any scientists or workers at this time. Most headed home to their family and friends.

Not Hero, they had a job to do. 

They carefully set down multiple spy cameras to give the HQ a view of the inside.

“Thanks, Hero.” Captain spoke through the headpiece.

“Thank me later.” Hero spent the rest of the day camping in an office, hiding in the shadows. They officially used their last camera, placing them in specific areas to cover the most area. It was pin-drop silent.

A bit too silent.

Suddenly, the silence was disrupted by pounding footsteps. Hero swiftly shut off all communication, not ready to threaten their hiding place by Captain’s orders.

Hero’s breathing was still. Their body felt tense when the two figures came into sight. They were looking around for something, but didn’t carry flashlights. “Good for me,” thought Hero, and started to leave, their footsteps muted. Just when they were about to leave the building, their conversation caught their attention.

“Did you hear the shit that happened to Villain?” A voice whispered, but it was easily echoed off the building’s walls.

Hero froze, their breath hitching in the back of their throat. They lunged for their hiding spot again, crouching as they eavesdropped.

“Heard they got their ass beat by Supervillain, but nothing much.”

“Oh, shit. You should’ve seen it. It was fucking deranged.”

“Quiet!” One hissed. “Just focus on the mission.”

Hero couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Could this be why there wasn’t much activity as usual? Villain was Supervillain’s main pawn and prize. They executed their movements perfectly and flawlessly.

At least, until they fought Hero. Hero was victorious while Villain scurried away like a mouse. Captain and the others were celebrating, but Hero couldn’t help but feel guilty.

The duo of spies were still looking around, their backs away from Hero. Hero crept up on one of them and hit their head with their fists. Before the other could react, Hero already kicked their face. They both lacked armor and were easily knocked out.

Hero turned on their communication.

“Hero?” Captain spoke curiously.

“Sorry. I found two enemies. I’ll send their location.”

“Good work.”

Hero sent the coordinates.

“We’ll send someone in a few hours once they get back from patrol. You come back here, we have another job.”

“Actually,” Hero spoke, nervous to ask. “I was wondering if… if I could go on a different, more personal, mission?”

“What?” Captain said.

“I just…” Hero sighed, not knowing how to explain their thought. “I think there’s something going on with Villain–”

“Villain? You mean the asshole you beat a few days ago?” Captain almost let out a laugh. “What’s up with them?”

“I think they might be in danger.”

“Danger?” Captain spoke, almost mockingly. “Villain? The guy who’s been responsible for more war crimes than most, in danger?”

“I know, I know! I get it’s a bit… it’s a bit silly, but I overheard their conversation, the two spies, and I have a feeling something’s wrong.”

“Well, you can worry about it later,” Captain reassured, though it did everything but that. “Right now, we need to get the two spies at the base. I’ll send [Other Hero]. Make sure they don’t wake up.” Hero was about to complain, but Captain already left. A groan of annoyance left their throat as they stared down at the two unconscious bodies.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Hero?” [Other Hero] called out. “You there?”

Nothing.

The sound of water dripping somewhere made the aura uneasy. [Other Hero] quietly stalked along the walls to the coordinates, only to be startled by the sound of… bickering?

“You dumbass! How in the FUCK did you get knocked out so easily?”

“Says you! You were also–” “Oh, fuck off!”

Cautiously, [Other Hero] ran into the room and saw two enemy spies with their backs against each other, tied together with wire and rope. They both froze when they saw [Other Hero].

“Shit.”

“Shit.”

[Other Hero] pulled out their comms and quietly spoke to Captain. “Uh, Captain?… Hero’s… Hero’s not here.”

Captain’s sigh was audible, even to the two spies.

“Shit.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hero’s vehicle revved as they sped through the forest. What was creepy about the Enemies HQ wasn’t how it was hidden, it was the fact it wasn’t. Like an impenetrable fortress mocking everyone how it couldn’t be knocked over. The feeling scared Hero.

Any tracker or piece of communication to HQ was abandoned at the power plant, ensuring no one could follow them. This was their fault, and they were gonna fix it theirself.

When they were a distance away from the towering mansion, they hid their vehicle in the bushes and slowly approached. Of course it was guarded, so they took the stealthy approach. Hero’s HQ had a birds eye view of the Enemies HQ. It was helpful for figuring out how to break in, but the plan was disbanded. Still, Hero had the map memorized after staring at it for hours.

They snuck to the side and climbed over the fence. The Enemies HQ was ginormous. It was like a mansion and castle fused into one.

Sighing, the Hero jumped down and rushed to one wall, looking for a way to climb. They pulled on their gloves and grabbed one piece of the wall, testing if it could hold their weight. They continued the process until they found a close enough window. They took a peek inside. Their heart stopped and they almost fell from the sight.

Supervillain.

Only so much could be seen through the tinted glass, but they could barely make out Supervillain facing a group of people, probably cadets, seemingly giving a speech. Hero moved swiftly to the side out of their view. No way can they use that window. They continued their search for another one.

Another, slightly smaller window was in Hero’s grasp. Learning from previous mistakes, they checked it out. It seemed empty, only a punching bag and bed was seen through the tinted glass. They lifted up the window and crawled inside, landing on the floor with a thump. Brushing theirself off, they looked around the room for any potential threats.

After destroying most of the cameras, Hero cracked the door slightly open and looked around the hallway. Too many people were around, and they quietly shut the door and locked it. They sighed and looked around the room for anything to disguise theirself. The closet was full of clothes, easily distinguished as enemy attire. They slipped off their hero uniform and tried the outfit. It was snug, but good enough. After shoving the hero's clothing under the bed, they rushed out the room, ignoring all the conversation and people around them. They silently prayed no one would recognize their hair or face, but they didn’t have time to worry.

When they were far enough away from the crowd, they immediately started sprinting through the halls. “Villain?” They called out. “Villain!” Their breathing was frantic, panic starting to take over their body. They recalled what the other two mentioned about Villain.

“Heard they got their ass beat by Supervillain, but nothing much.”

“Oh, shit. You should’ve seen it. It was fucking deranged.”

Adrenaline was pumping through their blood, worry seizing every part of their body and mind. “Villain, god dammit! Where the fuck are you?!” They continued to scurry throughout the corridors of this damned place looking for Villain. The image of Villain’s wounded body kept appearing in their head, and they felt even worse. Villain was a person too, they were just too blind to see it.

“Fucking hell– Villain!” Hero screamed out. They started to hyperventilate. There were too many doors, too little time. They checked most in this hallway, maybe there were others. It was just an endless cycle. Open and slamming doors, running, catching their breath, opening and slamming doors…

God, were they ever going to find Villain?

After countless attempts to try, they leaned against the wall, catching their breath. Their legs felt limp from running through the hallways. They felt tears prick in the corners of their eyes, feeling worried about Villain.

“H-Hero?” A quiet mutter spoke, its voice a raspy breath.

Hero’s eyes widened as they quickly stood up. “Villain? Villain!”

“Hero…” Villain trailed off. Their voice was muffled, like they were in a room.

“W-where are you?!” Hero spoke frantically. “Tell me, now!”

No response.

The only indicator Villain was nearby was their ragged breathing, barely holding on. Hero tried opening one door, but it was locked. They pulled at the knob, but it wouldn’t open. “H-Hero…”

Bingo.

Hero slammed into the door, hearing the hinges slowly crack and break. When the door fell down, Hero rushed inside and looked around. A movement in the corner caught his eye.

“Villain!” Hero ran towards Villain and fell down to their level, embracing them in a hug. They let go and observed Villain’s broken body. “Fucking…” They were speechless. Villain looked like hell. There were giant bruises and gashes on their wounded skin, blood pouring out of their mouth, and they looked like they could barely stand.

“Hero… Why are you... You’re-.. I.. I didn’t think you’d–”

“I know, Villain. I know.” Hero carrassed Villain’s injured face, blood staining their hands. “But I’m gonna get you outta here, okay?”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Hero gently lifted up Villain bridal-style. “Please…” Villain croaked. “Don’t get caught.” Hero nodded and walked out the room, looking both ways. Carefully and quietly, Hero walked along the hallway, trying their best to hide in the shadows. They still had to wrap the situation around their head. They were currently risking their life by saving Villain.

And they were holding Villain bridal-style.

The thought made their face turn a bit red, but they continued the stroll. “Do you know where the exit is?” Hero asked, but when they saw Villain’s eyes slowly closing, they shut up. Villain needed their rest.

Through the winding and twisting corridors, Hero found theirself hopelessly lost. “Shit,” they internally screamed. Where the hell was the exit? Before they could think of a plan, a thousand footsteps echoed throughout the hallway. Without a warning, a swarm of people ran in their direction. Hero clutched Villain tightly in their embrace, bracing for an impact. The sound of their running rang in their ears and all around them. Yet, when they opened their eyes, everyone moved around them.

“The heroes are here!”

“Formation twelve, just like we practiced!”

“What’s with the sudden attack?!”

Hero gasped and followed them, Villain trying their best not to move so much. Everyone was at the front entrance. And guess who?

The fucking heroes.

Their giant vehicle was landed in the forest, casting a giant shadow over the enemy base.

“Where the fuck is our teammate?!” One of Hero’s comrade, [Other Hero], yelled. They held a gun and an expression of fury. Hero could practically cry at their sight. In the midst of battle, Hero ran forward, aiming for the craft. Captain was there to greet them, but not a pretty sight.

“I told you not to engage, Hero! You disobeyed orders,” they complained, scolding Hero.

“Well fuck your orders!”

“What.”

“You heard me! I’m not going to- to just let Villain be hurt like this! If you hate it, you can suck my–!”

Groans came from Hero’s chest, both forgetting about Villain cradled near Hero.

“The fuck you both screaming for?” Villain’s voice was strained and quiet, but it showed no less than annoyance.

“S-sorry, Villain.” Hero apologized, walking around and setting Villain down on a seat. Captain sighed, the creases on their forehead visible.

“I need a drink after this bullshit.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Ah, no need to tell me, [Other Villain]. I’ve already heard.”

“S-sir! Don’t you think we should do something about this?! I just think–”

“If Villain knows what’s best for them, they’ll come crawling back. Don’t you think, [Other Villain]?” Supervillain sat at their desk, continuing their paperwork with a fine pen. [Other Villain] stood awkwardly in front of them, giving the report that Villain was abducted.

“If Villain was abducted, don’t you think they can’t come back?” Supervillain faltered.

“Abducted you say? My, I thought they just ran away like a dog.”

“Negative. The injuries you gave Villain made them unable to fight Hero. We haven’t seen any sign of the two still in our territory. We assume they–”

“I don’t want assumptions. They’re pointless and useless.” Supervillain sighed and looked at [Other Villain]. “Send out a search party. If they don’t find him, bring me…” They paused in thought. “Bring me [Cadet Name]. If Villain won’t arrive, I’ll need a replacement.”

“Yes, sir.”

The moment [Other Villain] left, Supervillain stood up. They stomped over to the wall and punched it, a hole visible. They screamed in rage, the entire HQ freezing at their cry. They spent years training Villain to be the greatest. Fuck, Villain was phenomenal. They’d always ace their training as a cadet, show complete and utter loyalty.

Now it was all gone.

They went over to their desk and shoved everything away, most items crashing on the floor. Villain was a special case. Almost no one could replace them and their way of sparring. Supervillain wanted to cry for the first time in years.

“No. No no no. Emotion is weakness,” they said, speaking to theirself in a hushed voice. “That’s why Villain lost. That’s why they couldn’t follow the simplest of orders.” It was like they were trying to convince theirself that it wasn’t their fault Villain was gone from their grasp.

After all, a puppeteer is useless without their puppet.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Geez, this was, like, 7 and half pages long! I did not expect that- Welp, Refuge was really liked, so I just wrote a flashback for some context. Hope you enjoyed!

Betrayal. Pt. 2

! THIS IS CANNON, BUT STILL GOING UNDER DEVELOPMENT! THE EVENT IS CANNON, BUT HOW IT WENT COULD BE TWEAKED IN THE FUTURE !

Part One

Summary - In the Nalux Empire, The Cult of the Angels decide how they'll deal with the Devil's Crest, including the two "traitors", Ori and Onyx!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── 

 After the “episode” with Midnight, Ori and Onyx needed a mental health day. A break from fighting and chaos.

Yeah, as if those still exist.

Not long after, Lunar called a meeting for all of the members. Since it was around two in the morning, Onyx dragged Ori in despite both of them being half asleep. As they entered the pearly white war room, made for meetings between alliances, they could see they weren’t the only ones. Solar, Lunar’s younger brother, had noticeable eye bags under his eyes. However, he was often in the library after hours. Next to him was Eclipse, the creature from the forest. Since the uprising, Lunar’s been more lenient towards creatures from the unknown.

Solar loved the idea.

The other members were the same, yawning and rubbing their eyes. Lunar sighed when he heard people silently complain about the light, though he was just as tired. His movements were sluggish, but he started the meeting nonetheless. He began with the expected “thanks for coming on such short notice” speech, then moved to the real reason.

“We’ve noticed unusual patterns in the Devil’s Crest,” he started slowly, looking to make sure everyone’s been paying attention. At the mention of the Devil’s Crest, most people stopped their side conversations and chatter. “They seem more constant with their attacks. It’s not necessarily in a pattern, just…” He trailed off, looking for the words. “They’ve been attacking more frequently, more than we can handle. They’re going by too quickly.” An audible groan rang throughout the room, much to everyone’s displeasure. It was true. The Devil’s Crest was advancing closer to kingdoms, destroying anything in their path. It was like a fire, consuming everything in its hunger.

“New reports came in recently,” he spoke calmly, taking a few papers from the side. “The Oparius Kingdom officially gave themselves to the Devil’s Crest.” Gasps rang throughout the room, many showing expressions of shock and disappointment. The Devil’s Crest had another kingdom on their side, no matter how they gained it. Solar’s muscles tensed up, tapping his fingers against the long table. It had a large, detailed map showing the precise locations of each kingdom and forest, ravine and cave, tribes and locals. He hovered over the table, looking at Lunar with confusion and shock. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. “Oparius? But…” he trailed off, thinking about the past. At one point, the king consulted with Lunar about a marriage offer. The family was explicitly power-hungry and thought Lunar would be thrilled with the idea. Lunar politely declined, saying he was only seventeen. Yet, that left them furious, and there’s been minor conflict ever since. “Nevermind. It makes sense,” He muttered, hanging his head low.

Lunar sighed, mumbling swears under his breath. “We know Oparius is more advanced in technology, and their kingdom is a bit bigger.”

“That means the Devil’s Crest has more technology weapons at their disposal,” Onyx chipped in, his face stern. “It explains how they’ve been getting more land quicker. New weapons mean we can’t attack head-on. It’s too risky.” He stared at the giant map on the table. He grabbed a blood-red knife and stabbed it on the table, marking Oparius as Devil’s territory. Lunar scanned the table and grabbed another knife, a Devil’s mark. His gaze traced carefully, and swiftly, he stabbed the Perdita Forest. “Scouts mentioned a few Devil Crest’s members sneaking around in large numbers. They were too small to engage, so they returned. By now, they’ve probably destroyed most of the trees and killed off the inhabitants.” Lunar’s eyes narrowed, clearly irritated. Over half of the map looked crimson.

Just like the world would be if they didn’t hurry.

Sighing, Ori shut his eyes. “We can’t do much. What’s the point, anyway? Oparius gave the Devil’s Crest new weapons! We don’t know how to handle them. All we can do is observe for now.” Mutters of agreement sprouted throughout the war room, people prompting solutions between one another. Lunar looked around warily, not knowing what to do. Eclipse stood near Solar, gently holding his hand. She gave a reassuring look to Solar as he prompted an idea. 

“We could try to ally with other kingdoms.” Most of the conversation stopped as they stared at Solar, who was awkwardly shifting legs. Lunar glared. “No, no way. It’s too risky. You saw what happened to Oparius, and we both know it could happen again. If Oparius is a traitor, there’s no evidence saying it won’t happen again.” The tension in the room grew thick between the two, no one wanting to intervene. “You don’t even know if they did it by choice! For all we know, they could’ve been holding them hostage!” Solar countered, but all Lunar did was sigh, rubbing his forehead. “It doesn’t matter either way. If anything, it makes it worse! If the Devil’s Crest can threaten a kingdom that advanced, god knows what’ll happen to the others. What’ll happen to us! They could be surrendering right now!”

“You don’t know that,” Solar stammered, trying to convince Lunar. “It’s the best shot we’ve got.” Lunar sighed in frustration. He recomposed himself, staring at Solar. “Solar, we don’t know how the Devil’s Crest thinks. They could have spy kingdoms or try to destroy us from the inside. If we ask anyone to join us, there’s no saying they’ll betray us. We don’t know who to trust anymore.” Lunar gave a solemn look, pleading Solar to end the argument.

Solar’s breath grew frantic, worry setting in. Eclipse tried to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder, but he shoved it off. He turned around and marched out, clearly aggravated. Eclipse chased after him, leaving the idea in the wind. The room was eerily quiet. No one dared to move a muscle. Onyx and Lunar moved closer together, their quiet chatter barely audible. Most guessed they were discussing plans and motives. Ori just stood on the sidelines, wondering what anything was anymore. The memories of Midnight’s anger towards him flashed in his brain, the image of him staring with dead eyes, a mere silhouette. It was all haunting him, and he hated every second of it.

A few gained confidence and debated their options, using prior knowledge about the Devil’s Crest. However, Ori quickly realized that their knowledge was limited. 

But his knowledge wasn’t. He’s been in the Devil’s Crest longer than anyone here.

“I can help you,” Ori strolled towards Lunar and Onyx, hunched over the map. They both turned their attention towards him, Onyx showing a relaxed face. Ori couldn’t help but blush slightly. His soft skin was pulling him in a trance. “Help us?” Lunar sounded skeptical, his eyes narrowing. Ori and Onyx were new to the group, but Lunar trusted Onyx more. After all, he acted like a spy to him, sharing information Midnight leaked through their conversations. The thought of betraying him like that brought Ori out of his trance. “Right, help…” He took a deep, shallow breath. “I’ve been in the Devil’s Crest longer than any of you! I understand how they work, how they fight, basically everything.” Ori stressed, wanting him to believe they were on the same side. Lunar wasn’t as thrilled, but Onyx shared an understanding look.

“Thank you, Ori. We’re grateful–”

“Speak for yourself, Onyx.” Lunar glared at Onyx, then looked at Ori with a degrading look. “What information can you offer?” Ori swallowed, his brain going blank. “Uhm… I know about how they fight and their weapons.” He messed with his fingers, picking at the nails. He sounded so pathetic and out of place. Lunar gave a reluctant look towards Onyx, but the look in Onyx’s eyes showed he trusted Ori. Sighing, Lunar spoke to Ori.

“We’ll need all the help we can get.” He sounded annoyed but looked around the room. The whispers were growing louder, and the meeting wasn’t going in the direction he wanted it to. “Everyone, silence!” Lunar gave an order that echoed throughout the hall, and a silence fell over the people. “It seems I’ve… overlooked one of our greatest accomplices,” Lunar started, motioning toward Ori. He gave an awkward wave and looked back at Lunar, waiting for him to continue. “We may not be able to observe the Devil’s Crest, but we have prior knowledge. Ori’s lived there for over half his life, and he’s bound to have useful information we could learn from. Right, Ori?” Lunar seemed expectant of Ori, giving him a half-glare. Onyx gently reached out to Ori’s hand, their fingers brushing against each other. It gave Ori a sense of comfort, but it quickly vanished. He knew what extent they had to go to be here, and the guilt was eating him alive.

“Yes, I do,” Ori mumbled, pulling his hand away from Onyx’s grasp. He could see the disappointment in his eyes but didn’t dare mention a word. “I know more about their fighting than anyone here. I know how they think and react to things. They always try to find a way around problems, despite any bloodshed along the way.” Ori could see people wince in the background. Almost everyone here lost someone from the Devil’s Crest’s hands. Now it’s their turn.

The meeting lasted longer than anticipated, lasting until seven. Most stayed, but Lunar was lenient enough to let others leave if it was urgent. Yet, no one knew about Solar or Eclipse’s wearbouts. Still, they had to keep going. Ori, Lunar, and Onyx took the lead, leading the meeting to where it was required. They needed to start attacking instead of waiting for the Devil’s Crest to attack. “We could start by gathering more weapons,” Lunar suggested, looking at Ori for confirmation. “Definitely. Make sure they’re lighter. The faster, the better. Their weapons are more advanced because they’re easier to carry, saving space for other, more valuable tools.” Lunar nodded and wrote this down in a notebook.

“What about their technology? They have Oparius on their side, but what was their original technology?” Lunar questioned, looking at Ori. He looked at the map, pointing to a forest. “There. There’s a lot of material like Yurite. It’s light but strong. Giant mines are scattered around here.”

“We should head there soon and try to stop them from gathering materials,” proposed Lunar, not caring if he sounded selfish, but Onyx shook his head. “We have too few numbers compared to them. Even if we tried an ambush, they’d prepare. Now that me and Ori are considered traitors, which we are, they’ll be on edge. We have to think this through carefully.” Everyone in the room sighed. No one wanted to do any more waiting.

“I get it, okay? We’re all tired. Should we just wait this one out?” Onyx said, sounding disappointed with his own words. Murmurs rose throughout the room, contemplating Onyx’s suggestion. Of course, most went against it, but what other choice did they have? They had too little supplies to deal with, more conflicts arising throughout the Devil’s Crest that would affect them, and they still didn’t know what action to take.

Lunar looked around, feeling the weight on his shoulders. “We’ll take a break. Consider this your day off, or whatever. Someone find Eclipse and Solar while you’re at it. I’ll be reviewing plans and maps. I’ll be here if you need me.” Slowly, people drained out of the room, including Onyx, but Ori stayed.

Ori tried initiating a conversation and, at the very least, apologize for being untrustworthy. It was seen clearly in Lunar’s eyes. “I just want you to know I’m on your side. You can trust me. Just let me help.”

Sighing, Lunar looked at Ori with tired eyes. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just…” He rubbed his eyes, mentally drained. “I don’t know who to trust anymore. With most of the kingdom’s giving up, it’s like they’re trying to pressure us into doing the same.” He glanced towards a photo on the wall, showing Solar and Lunar’s official royal portrait. “I don’t want him to get hurt, y’know? I just want him to be safe.” Ori could see a glistening in Lunar’s eyes, tears threatening to fall. Lunar cleared his throat and wiped his tears with his arm. “I apologize for my informality when we first met. I didn’t mean to be so hostile to you, Ori. I just didn’t know you well enough–”

“It’s fine, Lunar. Really, it’s not that big of a deal,” Ori assured, his voice slightly cracking. “Love does things to a person. It makes them overprotective and wary of others. I know how it feels.” Lunar gave a half-laugh, smiling slightly. “That makes both of us, doesn’t it?”

The silence grew awkward, neither knowing what to say.

“Still, it doesn’t excuse my actions,” Lunar said, still having his apologetic voice. “I’m truly sorry for everything. For doubting you, not showing trust, and being a total asshole. I swear, from now on, I’ll be more understanding.” Ori smiled, knowing he’d gained some trust.

“I know I don’t know how the Devil’s Crest was there, and I can’t say much about it. I don’t know who you are, how they raised you, or what shit you went through, but I’ll try my best to be better. To treat you better. You’ll always be treated respectfully here, despite where you came from.” Lunar gave a look of appreciation towards Ori, and Ori gratefully gave it back. Clearing his throat, Lunar composed himself and returned to his slightly cold demeanor. “Don’t think this means I like you or anything. Remember, you should know your place.”

Ori smiled despite the threat. “The feelings mutual, your highness.”

Before Lunar could reply, someone burst into the room, the doors slamming against the walls.

Onyx.

“The Devil’s Crest has Solar and Eclipse. They’re outside of the Silva Mortis Forest.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Welp, that was pretty bad- I know you don't know any of the characters, and you're probably not gonna read this, but ta-da(?) I'll post more about them on my worldbuilding blog (which I'll mention on a separate post).