Creeaaak...
SLAM!
They jumped when the entrance to the golem burst open, the doors slamming against the wall. Smoke billowed out from the doorway, Leaf stumbling out into the desert, coughing loudly and waving the smoke away. The Archbishop looked up at them, his lips curling back into a snarl. Red trickled down his face from underneath his bangs, his blue eyes blazing when he stepped forward, the wind howling through the arena. He had survived.
"You little fucks!" He spat, swinging his arms through the air like a madman. "I was havin' a fuckin' BLAST!"
Yin drew his katana, Vao and Verde stepped back with staff and bow in hand, Sasha drawing her greatsword. "Give it up, Leaf. You lost," the healer growled. "You can't hide behind your robot, and we've got you outnumbered four to one. Do yourself a favor and-"
He was interrupted by a fit of laughter from the Archbishop, the smoker pointing his hand back at Penny's deactivated body. "Hiding!? You think I need a stupid piece of junk to bury you!? Nah, you little faggot. I think you've forgotten just who the fuck I am."
Yin noticed Sasha beginning to tense next to him, his confidence beginning to waver. Leaf had something up his sleeve that he didn't know about. He looked back at the Archbishop, his eyes narrowing.
Leaf hissed, revving Bloodlust and stalking forward.
"You know, I like messin' around and all," he growled, lighting a cigarette. "But now you've REALLY pissed me off. Get yer asses ready; we're about to play some fuckin' Leaf Games!"
Leaf shot forward, the chain of his weapon spinning until it was a deadly blur, his lips curled back in unkempt hatred. Sasha and Yin stumbled to get away, their eyes going wide as Bloodlust narrowly missed the healer's face.
It was like a weapon from Remnant. There was no other purpose for it to exist other than to tear things apart, and if they had tried to block it, their weapons would be split in two. It was unnecessarily violent, just like the evil man who wielded it. They were given no time to recover and regain their footing, Leaf swinging the chain-sword wildly.
Yin backpedaled away, panic beginning to settle in. Vao sprinted in a circle, nocking and arrow and letting it loose. Leaf immediately kicked Yin in the shin and yanked him forward, the arrow piercing the healer's shoulder. Yin's eyes went wide, the pain intensifying the moment the arrowhead poked through the other side.
"Y-Yin!" Vao screamed. He dropped his bow and drew his daggers, rushing Leaf in fury. Sasha's eyes went wide, sweat dripping down her chin.
"Don't fight Leaf man-to-man!"
Vao's arm was immediately redirected, Leaf's knuckles burying deep into his cheek. Teeth flew into the sand, blood spraying from Vao's lips with each punch, his head growing light and dizzy. And finally, the chain drove into the front of his neck, sawing through in an instant. The Archbishop threw the dullahan's head at Verde, the force knocking the witch to the ground before he attacked Sasha, the giant holding out her greatsword.
SHHHIIINK! SHIINK! SHIIIIINK!
Sparks and smoldering slivers of metal rained from the sky, Bloodlust chipping away at her weapon. The tomboy gritted her teeth, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. "Leaf!"
"Giant," the Archbishop snarled.
Sasha pushed back, her greatsword snapping in two. Dropping the pieces she curled her fists and swung for his face. Leaf ducked and dodged, shielding himself with his forearms before jumping high and decking her in the nose, almost dropping her to the ground.
She rolled out of the way just as the chain plunged into the ground where her face had been moments before, tearing sand into the air like tiny needles. He dragged it through the desert, Sasha scrambling to get away from the blade as Leaf chased her.
He spun around when Yin charged him again, Bloodlust buzzing through the healer's blonde locks with ease, the Archbishop headbutting him to the ground, stepping away with his arms stretched out, openly challenging them.
"Seriously, how the fuck did you kill Rojo!? You guys fuckin' suck at this!" He laughed.
THWACK!
The Archbishop was knocked off his feet when Vao's headless body rushed him, his knuckles smashing against his face. Leaf tucked and rolled, jumping back to his feet, glaring at the dullahan. Vao's head was held in his opposite hand, his shoulders tensing for a fight.
"... You ain't human?"
"No, you daft wanker! My heart doesn't beat!"
"Good."
Vao blinked in confusion, watching as Leaf lifted his arms again, the wind beginning to roar. Sasha's eyes widened in horror, the elf screaming at her party.
"Get away from him!"
Vao scowled, breaking into a run. "Mum didn't raise a pissing melt!"
Yin caught on immediately, scrambling after his brother. "Vao, Leaf's the Archbishop! You're an undead Fae! Think, Vao! Think, you fucking idiot!"
Vao leapt into the air, his daggers drawn. Leaf's smirk widened, his eyes going bloodshot. "Didn't raise a pussy, but raised a fuckin' moron!"
And finally he clapped his hands together. The miracle swirled and sparked, pulsing through the air. Holy lightning smashed straight into Vao's chest, electricity jolting through his body. His lips opened into a shrill scream, his frame blasted away into the sky. Yin ran for Vao, staring down at his brother in terror. Burns crossed his body, the dullahan rolling in the sand.
"I-it hurts! I-it BLOODY hurts!"
Yin covered his mouth. He didn't know any offensive miracles. All he knew was healing miracles; it was the reason Vao was unfamiliar with being hurt by them. But Leaf was the Archbishop of the Church. He knew every miracle. And with Vao being undead, they hit him harder, taking him out of the fight even faster. The healer turned to the laughing killer, veins snaking their way up his red face, his hand grabbing his katana.
Sasha was down, and Verde was too weak to use her stronger spells that Leaf couldn't dodge. And with Vao trying to recover, that left only Yin capable of putting up a fight.
Not only did Leaf hurt Pip. He hurt others. And at this rate, he was beginning to suspect that he had something to do with Alice, too. If he was let go, he'd kill hundreds - no, thousands more.
He drew his katana, the blade glowing gold as he leapt forward, his blue eyes burning with fury. Katana smashed against chainsaw, sparks sizzling through the hot wind that howled around them. Leaf smirked victoriously, pushing Bloodlust against Yin's katana...
... But the chain did not eat through.
SLASH, SLASH, SLASH!
Leaf yelped in surprise, blocking Yin's blows in a startled panic. The Archbishop finally took notice of the golden glow of the eastern blade, his eyes narrowing.
"So it's you, then," he growled. "You're the one who controls Light..."
"You know about that?" Yin snarled. Leaf smirked.
"O' course. His Holiness's been turnin' the world upside down lookin' for ya. Too bad he's not gonna be able to do much with a fuckin' corpse!"
Yin was forced to step back, Leaf's weapon gunning at full power. Yin wasn't as skilled with his magic as he was in the First and Second Timelines. If he was, the fight would be over in seconds.
Yin slammed against the ground, lightning ripping through the sky. They bolts zapped at his feet, Leaf cheering happily. "Dance for me, Yin! Dance!"
Yin zigzagged back to the Archbishop, shadows flitting across the ground. The two looked up at the sky, the harpies zooming across the blue canvas with Poppy leading the serial assault. The woman looked down, her teeth bared in a feral snarl.
"Don't let Leaf kill the adventurers!" She screamed over the howling wind. "Just like we talked about! Bombs away!"
The harpies cried in response, their feet releasing the explosive barrels they had clutched in their feet. Leaf ran through the exploding arena, black smoke filling the air as he and Yin met again and again, attacking through the smoldering, scalding hot clouds.
RRRRRIIIIIIIPPPP!
Shock tore through Yin's body, his chest burning with red-hot agony. Leaf's weapon had grazed him, the razor-sharp chain tearing through his armor with ease and scratching his chest. Blood squirted from the cut, the fist of the Archbishop smashing into his teeth. Even if Yin was human and didn't take the extra damage from miracles, it still hurt. He skidded face first through the sand, Leaf turning his attention to the harpies above. His smirk grew wider, Poppy letting out a confused cry when the sky began to flash. In an instant, lightning arched through the air, knocking her friends out of the sky and into the arena.
Leaf's chainsaw roared, the Archbishop attacking the closest harpies, blood spraying into the arena. Poppy gasped, disappearing back over the edge of the golem. Ozpin and Salem waited for her, their faces filled with terror while the nonhumans tried to push an opening in the golem's arms so they could get inside.
"Poppy, what's going on in there!?" Salem screamed. Poppy didn't have time to respond, a bolt of lightning punching her in the back. She spiraled from the skies, slamming into the ground. Salem sprinted to the golem's sleek metal body, digging her fingers at the massive limbs. They couldn't climb it. She bit at her fingernails, her mind running rampant.
If Poppy going in with a unit and coming back alone was anything to say, it was that they weren't winning. Nevermind the maniacal laughter and chainsaw they could hear. If she didn't find a way up there, they were done. She paced back and forth, trying to form a plan.
Beyond the golem, Yin was getting the second worst beating of his life. Leaf was deliberately holding back just to draw it all out, the smoker laughing hysterically.
"Hero of Light this, Hero of Light that, all this talk about some hero that would stop the Church! THIS is what Iris stressed over for nine years!?Un-fuckin'-believeable!"
Yin stumbled to his feet, Leaf tackling him into the ground. The Archbishop raised his Bloodlust, the chain blocked by Yin's glowing katana.
Barely.
Hot sparks rained down on him, his teeth gritted from the strain he was putting on his body. The chain-sword was growing closer. At this rate, he'd be split in half.
"Vao, do it NOW!"
Leaf looked up when Verde shouted, yelling in surprise when Vao's foot kicked him in in the shoulder and knocked him off Yin. The dullahan had a healing potion in his hands, gulping the rest of it down before grabbing Yin by the shoulder and pulling him away from the Archbishop.
"Vao, what's the plan!?"
"The plan is getting the hell out of here!"
Yin looked past his brother. Sasha was already throwing Verde over the golem's legs. He braced himself when Vao grabbed his shoulders and lifted him, spinning in circles on his heels. And with a loud shout, he threw the healer into the air before running to Sasha. The tomboy caught his foot and pushed up, launching him over the metal limb. She turned her head to see Leaf sprinting at her, swinging his chain-sword wildly.
Sasha stepped off to the side and ducked, then rolled out of the way, dodging the three fatal blows. She tucked her legs to her chest and kicked Leaf's waist, sending him bouncing across the ground. She rolled back to her feet, tearing her chest plate off. It was weighing her down. She squatted low, veins jutting in her arms before she took a mighty leap, jumping over the downed golem.
She dropped into the sand below, Tai and Ozpin immediately rushing to her aid. Salem was scrambling to bandage Yin's chest up, and Vao was still yelling about how even after drinking a healing potion, his body still hurt from taking a bit from an offensive miracle.
A shadow flitted above them, the adventurers turning their heads to see Leaf skyrocketing towards them. He had used his miracles to blow the ground up beneath his feet, propelling himself towards them. His lunacy was showing, raising his twisted weapon high.
Salem screamed, jumping out of the way when he landed where she had been less than half a second ago, the air beginning to sizzle around him. The Archbishop stood up straight, his smirk widening.
"Didja think you could get away?"
The Secret City charged in an instant, their weapons gleaming. The undead held back, using bows to take aim and fire. But once again, Leaf was willing to show the superiority of his weapon. Bloodlust roared, cutting through them while he ran, never stopping once. Stopping meant he'd immediately be swarmed. And after more than a dozen had fallen to the horrible weapon designed to maim and shred, the nonhumans finally managed to tackle him.
Yin, Vao, Verde, and Sasha immediately sprinted towards them. They needed to get the nonhumans off Leaf before-
SHHPLAT!
Screams of terror filled the air when Leaf used one of his miracles, blowing everyone near him to pieces. The man snickered, revving his weapon and turning to the adventurers.
"Well, I'll be. None of ya are shit," he chuckled darkly. He pointed his weapon towards the city, his smirk growing. "Why don't we take this where we can play by ourselves? Catch me if you can, numbnuts!"
They didn't even have time to blink. Leaf was already running towards the Secret City, Sasha hot on his heels. The others had no choice but to follow, Vao carrying Verde on his back. The witch was incapable of running anywhere near as fast as them; physically, she was the weakest of the party. And with Vao being the only one strong enough to carry another person and run at top speed - aside from Sasha, who could carry all of them if she really wanted to - he was the only one who could do it.
Yin and Vao summoned their magic, their katana and daggers glowing and growing dark. They swung them through the air, casting Light and Darkness at the fleeing murderer. Leaf laughed hysterically, jumping and somersaulting through the air, dodging everything they threw at him.
Without Semblances, he was a real threat. The only reason that Sasha beat him in the Second Timeline was because of her Semblance - something none of them had now. Even in the Second Timeline, Leaf never had a Semblance. Even without one, he still held his own in fights against people who did.
They chased him through the empty streets, unaware of the freezing cold figure that ran along the rooftops, watching the entire fight. His one red eye flickered with delusional excitement, his skin having grown so pale that he was like a patch of snow now.
Leaf spun around and kicked up a cloud of sand, rushing the blinded adventurers. His chain-sword revved and gunned, Yin blocking with his katana again. Their faces grew closer, Leaf grinning down at him.
"Hi, Yin! Glad ya wanted ta play with Uncle Leaf!"
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG! SHIIIIIIINK!
Yin stumbled back with each blow, sparks flying through the air. Through the sand he could see a burst of blue; Verde was casting a spell. But Leaf saw it too. He snagged Yin's collar and tugged him forward, using the blonde like a human shield. Yin's eyes widened, his mouth dropping open when the magic melted the back of his armor, burning his back.
"Yin! I'm sorry!" Verde shouted. Yin didn't get a chance to respond. Leaf yanked him down and slammed his knee into the healer's mouth, breaking his teeth in an instant. And without any guilt in his eyes, he threw the beaten adventurer to the ground, moving on to Sasha.
The tomboy snarled, squaring her shoulders and popping her neck. She was going to kill him. There was no way she could get her hands on Leaf without it costing her own life, not as long as he had that weapon. But hell if he was getting away from her again. Leaf ran through the sand, laughing like an overjoyed manchild, his weapon tearing through the air. Sasha braced herself, raising her arms to catch him.
SLAM!
Leaf stumbled when a fist punched him square in the jaw, followed by a right hook, a left hook, and then an uppercut. Tai popped his knuckles, nodding his head at Leaf.
"Nobody makes fun of my kids but me," he growled. "How about you fight me, man-to-man?"
"Nah, I'm good," Leaf snickered, spitting out a tooth. "I like my bones not bein' broken."
Tai backed away when Leaf's Bloodlust carved through the air, the chain too dangerous for him to throw a punch. Leaf only ran away again when Salem, Chuck, Pyrrha, and Ozpin joined the fight, finally catching up to them with their weapons drawn. Leaf scowled, turning tail and running away.
The First Vao followed after them, nibbling at his fingers. Was Leaf going to win? Or lose? The adventurers were chasing after Leaf, spreading out into the alleys to try and cut him off. He revved his weapon and stabbed it into the wall of the bell tower, cutting through the wood like it was paper.
C-C-CRACK!
Salem and Vao stumbled out of the way as the building came crashing down in front of them, separating them from the Archbishop. A step closer and they'd have been crushed to a pulp.
Leaf gritted his teeth. He could hear Vao's insults from over the rubble. And as much as he hated to admit it, the verbage of a pissed off cockney was getting on his nerves. But he had other things to worry about. Namely, the things attacking him from the alleys.
Yin's katana beat against the chain-sword, making Leaf sweat. With the speed of lightning, he slammed his hand into the healer's chest and blasted his holy miracle, sending electricity jolting through his body. Spit bubbled and boiled at Yin's mouth, his hair standing on end before he dropped to the ground, kicked in the gut before he could even breathe.
"You little turds just don't learn, do ya?" Leaf snarled. "You ain't killin' me here!"
Yin rolled to the side just as Bloodlust tore the street apart beneath them. And before he could pull it out, the sound of a flute echoed in the streets. Branches stretched from the ground, wrapping around the weapon. The Archbishop growled, pulling the trigger.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-C-C-C-CLUNK!
The more wood he sawed off, the more took its place until the chain began to slow to a halt, the sound of the flute growing louder. He turned his gaze up, his eyes flaring with fury. A short green-haired girl was playing the flute, making the branches grow. He released his grip, sprinting towards her.
"Coulda swore we killed all a' ya!"
"Huh!?" Hekue looked up from her instrument, Leaf's knuckles punching her teeth straight into her mouth, shredding the insides. She collapsed to the ground with a shriek, Leaf's boot stomping down on her hands, the dryad trying to cover her neck. Leaf was flying off the handle, his anger getting the best of him.
"Stupid fuckin' treehuggin' grass eatin' vegetarian nature fuckin' elf knock-off!" He spat deliriously. "Shoulda stayed extinct, knife-ear-"
"Dropped your weapon, ass-wipe!"
Leaf looked up just in time to meet Sasha's charge, the elf lifting him off the ground with ease. Leaf's hands scratched at her forearms, trying to break free, his boots kicking her in the abs. But Sasha was built like a mountain, and had more than enough muscle to prove it. She ran faster, barrelling towards an abandoned house. When Leaf's back hit the wall, he felt it beginning to give way, Sasha using him like a human battering ram.
SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!
Through three buildings, she finally skidded to a halt in a living room, punching his lights out. Every hit was like being hit by a giant, Leaf's face beginning to swell before she raised him high, driving him through the coffee table. The Archbishop groaned, his head spinning too much to properly use his miracles. Sasha took hold of his ankle, spinning around and launching Leaf out of the window. The smoker grunted and hollered, tucking into a ball before bouncing into the street.
"U-ugh... Ow... Ow, ow- OW!?"
Fire surged beneath his feet, making him jump into the air and nearly dance out of the flames, stumbling to the ground. And when he looked up, he saw Ozpin holding a torch, Jasper flying around the knight and manipulating the flame.
"OI, CUNT!"
He turned his head again, Vao's fist crashing between his legs, his eyes going bloodshot with a shrill shriek. Yin came running after them with a chair in his hands, smashing it against the side of the Archbishop's skull. Wooden splinters dug into his skin, knocking him back to the dirt. The two ran out of the way as Chuck jumped into the air, crushing Leaf's back under his greater weight.
He couldn't even stand before he saw the boots of two more, looking up at the face of Pyrrha. The goblin's lip curled back in disgust, driving the end of her spear straight into his chin and flipping him onto his back. Leaf tried to sit up, wiping the blood from his eyes.
And when he finally looked up, he caught a face-full of Verde's magic, blasting him straight into the side of a house. The wall cracked under the tremendous force, rubble pinning his legs to the ground. The Archbishop coughed painfully, scarlet dripping from his lips and off his chin. The adventurers were approaching, his vision beginning to darken.
The First Vao watched from the rooftops as the adventurers pulled Leaf's unconscious body from the rubble, heaving a sigh before turning around.
"... This was a good choice, Auntie," he whispered to himself. "You were right... I've learned that they don't go down easy... W-well... One of them is me, and the other is Yin..."
The hallucination's fingers curled around his shoulder, the gaunt face staring at him. (("... See? There is so much you could learn from them."))
The First Vao looked back at her, furrowing his brow in confusion. "But... I could've taken Leaf on alone... You know that," he whispered. "I've fought giant robots and people with powers before, mostly more than one at a time... Wouldn't it be easier if I just killed them all here, and not worry about anything getting in the way of my-"
(("Shut your fucking mouth!"))
The First Vao flinched, his eye growing wet and refusing to look Summer in the eye. "I-I'm s-sorr-"
Summer's image snagged his ear between her thumb and index finger, giving it a sharp tug. (("You know it's best to listen to Mommy, right?"))
The First Vao hesitantly nodded, wiping his sleeve against his eye, the tears staining the fabric of his sleeve. Summer continued, draping her arms around his shoulders and wrapping them around his feminine neck, her lips spreading into a crooked smile. (("Oh, this is just like old times... When you and Yin hated each other. A tale of tragedy! To think he saw you as being worth saving! Sure bit him in the rear, didn't it? Because here you are, killing everybody again!"))
The First Vao didn't respond. His fingers twitched, slowly curling into tight, yet freezing fists. He regretted breaking his promise to the First Yin, that he would change. That they'd be at each other's side after he had gone through so much effort to bring him back to his senses. But that day, over two decades ago in the Graveyard, he remembered the deal. That he could bring everything back to the day he was born. His dream, the very thing that drove him to willingly work with Salem before he found out it was all a lie to keep him from running away the first chance he got.
The dream he sometimes saw when he closed his eye. Of himself, sitting with his family in his childhood home. Summer's voice continued on, breaking him from his trance. (("I think you should go after Tai next! That Alice girl and Pip boy really have them shaken up! Thinning the herd, you know?"))
The First Vao blinked, his eyebrows knotting together in confusion. And finally, he turned his bloodred gaze to the hallucination.
"Who... I-is Tai...?"
...
"Ugh... Uhn...? My fuckin' head..."
Leaf slowly opened his eyes, blinking into the bright sun overhead. He was stripped down to his pants, his chest and feet bare. And finally, he spotted the grinning faces above him. Sasha and Yin. The healer snickered. "Mornin', Sleeping Beauty!"
Leaf felt a surge of anger run its course through his body. "You little fucktar- ngh!?"
He tried to jump forward, but something pulled him back down. He reached his hands for his neck, feeling the coarse rope tied around him. He looked back to see Chuck standing on it, keeping him pinned. The Archbishop finally looked around, his heart sinking.
The Secret City was watching, wearing the same grins as Yin and Sasha. The elf snickered, leaning down. "Y'see, Leafy... You kind of pissed off a lot of people here when you started butchering everybody. But hey, look at the bright side! They know what'll happen if the Church keeps going! They're all motivated to fight back now!"
"Fuck you!" Leaf screamed at her. "Drop dead, you knife-eared beefy bitch!"
"Can I go now?" Vao asked. Leaf spun around, his eyes following the rest of the rope. And finally, he felt terror bubbling in his chest. The rope was tied to the saddle that Vao sat on, a centaur wearing it. Violet sat behind him with a whip in her hand, kicking her feet boredly.
"Not yet," Yin replied. He looked back down at Leaf, poking the Archbishop with his staff like an asshole. "While you were snoozing, we did some talking. We decided to give you the same treatment you gave every nonhuman in your dungeon. You know what that means, right? Your Excellency? Turns out, no one likes a guy who goes around picking on kids. Who knew? So we're gonna have some fun. Some Leaf Games, as you love to put it."
Sasha nodded, her smirk growing. "After all, we're all just monsters to you, right? So why not act like it?"
Verde stepped next to them, leaning down. "... Pardon my vulgarity, but karma is quite the bitch, Uncle Leaf."
Leaf trembled, reaching his hand out. "Wait, wai-"
"You can begin now, Darling!"
"Hell's bells, finally!" The dullahan cheered. Chuck smirked, stepping off the rope as the centaur took off, galloping down the streets. Leaf felt the sand scraping against his back, a shrill shriek escaping his lips as the rope strangled him. Vao nudged Violet, the heterochomiac giggling happily. She raised the whip...
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Leaf screamed when the throngs struck his bare skin, splitting it open and drawing blood that trailed down the road. The windows of the houses opened, the nonhumans throwing whatever they could get their hands on at the flailing Archbishop, cheers ringing in his ears. Violet snickered, cracking her whip at every chance she got. Her red and green eyes gleamed with excitement, raising her hand as high as it would go.
"This one's for my bruv, cunt!"
CRACK!
The whip caught him in the face, blood bursting from his cheek. Vao laughed loudly, raising a battle-axe above his head. "Nyahahaha! I'm the Headless Horseman!"
As the centaur began to turn, Vao swung the axe and cut the rope, sending Leaf flying down the street and into the red-light district. The Archbishop slammed to a stop in the trash cans, garbage. Trash flew into the air, rotten food covering his body. His arms trembled as he stood up, a bat smashing into his shoulder. Leaf let out a cry, the bone shattering to pieces. He looked up to see the angry red-light workers, armed with clubs, dressed in skimpy clothing. Leaf covered his head when they started to beat the shit out of him, his bones snapping and his joints dislocating.
The bats snapped, the workers lifting him to his feet and dragging him down the street, giggling happily amongst each other. The nonhumans were filling the streets, clapping as they watched, Hekue jamming out on her flute. Branches burst from the ground, sucker punching him in the gut, the chest, and even the face, his ears beginning to ring. The women of the red-light district hoisted him into the air, throwing him through a window. Glass cut his skin, the Archbishop slamming against the ground.
"[Greater Heal]."
The warm and soothing miracle washed over him, his wounds closing and the dizzyness fading. Leaf looked up to see Yin with his staff, his lips curled into a smile. "C'mon, Leaf. Did you think we were going to let you die? Get him, boys!"
A bottle of rum smashed against the back of his head, flooring the Archbishop as the alcoholics of the Secret City got their turn. A skeleton seized his arms, lifting him to his feet. The comedian skeleton from nine years ago.
"Boy, do we have a bone to pick with you!"
Leaf's face slammed against the counter, the drunks dragging him across the surface. They slammed cactus plants against his bare back, bringing his voice out in another scream as the needles broke off and stuck into his skin like a porcupine. They lifted him up again and tossed him into a chair and held his head back, Jasper flying around his face. The fairy laughed sadistically, holding a lit match. She waved her hand through the air, the flame beginning to swirl around her.
Tears welled in Leaf's eyes when she began to burn his nose hair, the nonhumans holding him down. Another bottle smashed against his chin, Yin casting his miracle before sipping on a mana potion.
The front door burst open, the bartender tossing Leaf outside and into the street. He picked his head up, staring into the eyes of Poppy.
"Sh... Sh-shtop...!"
The harpy glared at him, leaning on her crutch. "... Nuh-uh."
Armored guards raced down the street, deliberately jumping on him as they passed, trampling him into the ground. And then they came back, drinks in hand, hooting and hollering belligerently like soldiers. Poppy flapped her wings, disappearing over the buildings and leaving Leaf to his punishment. The Archbishop screamed, trying to fight them off. The guards split up when Chuck jumped off the roof of the inn, dropping his weight into his much smaller, lighter body. The wind was knocked from Leaf's lungs, dragged to his feet again by the former guardsmen.
Tai stood at his side, tapping his knuckles into his palm. The father looked at him, a playful smirk crossing his lips. "Hey, buddy. You don't look so good. You wanna know what makes us feel better?"
"A sparring match," Chuck finished with a smirk.
Leaf's teeth scattered across the ground while the two men beat him, Tai laughing at the Archbishop.
"Come on, fight back! Don't be a pussy! That's the word you like to use, right?"
THWACK, THWACK, THWACK!
Leaf staggered and stumbled, his legs wavering. Chuck pushed him to the ground, the nonhumans seizing his arms and legs, lifting the Archbishop off the ground and carrying him to the beach. Leaf gasped and spluttered, unable to even shield himself when they began to punch and kick him, making him yell out in pain. Sand was shoved and rubbed into his wounds, making them sting and burn, trash smashed and shattering against his skin.
Without warning, they tossed him on the shore, a troll holding Lisa's umbrella as she tied a rope to his left ankle. Leaf lifted his head up, screaming in horror. The rope was tied to a ship, the crew of sailors waving. A sea slime leaned against the railing, nodding her head at him.
"Ahoy. We were planning to go whaling. Glad you could come along," she snickered. "The name's Cinder, by the way. Not that it's going to matter. Full sail, lads!"
The moment the sails dropped, the boat blasted forward, taking Leaf with it. He wailed as the water tore at his back, acting like concrete at the speed they were going. And to his horror, the adventurers leered at him from over the railing, Yin raising his staff.
"[Greater Heal]!"
Leaf's scrapes healed in an instant, and then opened up again, the cycle repeating itself. Cinder spun the wheel hard, the boat drifting in the ocean. She leaned forward, pointing at the sailors.
"Untie that knot!"
"Nah, I got it!" Yin shouted. With one swing of his katana, the rope released, sending Leaf skipping across the waves like a stone. He thrashed around helplessly, his head bobbing below the water.
He couldn't swim. He began to sink, the saltwater burning his eyes. And beneath the surface, the mermaids waited for him. He was assaulted underneath the water, tails slapping against his stomach, nearly forcing the air out of him. Daggers gleamed in the light from the surface, piercing his skin. The warm and soothing miracle continued to wash over him, Yin healing him from the ship. The mermaids flipped him off before swimming away, leaving him desperately trying to reach the surface. He could feel something tugging at his feet, the Archbishop looking down in horror.
The biggest fish he had ever seen in his life waited below him, its jaws filled with rows of sharp teeth. And when those jaws opened, the ocean began to whirlpool, sucking him down. Bubbles escaped Leaf's lips as he tried to get away, unable to escape the sheer force that pulled him. And when he was close enough, a hand reached from within the mouth of Charybdis, pulling him inside. Air filled his lungs, able to breath inside of the colossal nonhuman. He turned his head around wildly, trying to see in the dark.
Charybdis giggled, catching his attention. A glow filled the air, a woman's face lighting up in the dark pit of her stomach. She opened her mouth, letting out a loud yell. Leaf screamed with Charybdis, trying to cover his ears. His eardrums exploded, blood spraying from his ears and leaving him to hear nothing. He never felt anything like it before; it was the most painful thing of his life. Charybdis giggled, swimming to the surface and bursting from the water, revealing her true body. Her hair was made from overgrown clumps of kelp, her visible torso still dwarfing the ship.
Sasha scratched her head, furrowing her brow. "Ohh... So that's how Vao got together with Charybdis..."
Vao looked up at her with a hurt look. "D... Did you think I would shag fish cunny?"
Yin sighed. "Well... Wouldn't put it past the old you..."
"P... Please stop this discussion," Verde pleaded miserably.
Charybdis waved her hand at a rocky island. "Scylla! Catch!"
Leaf screamed when she threw him, his arms waving through the air. From a crag in the rock, another woman poked her head out. Her waist was made of several draconic heads, similar to a hydra. Scylla yawned tiredly, letting her lower half do the work. The draconic heads caught Leaf in their jaws, biting down with just enough force to avoid snapping his arms off. The Archbishop shook his head desperately, tears falling from his chin. Scylla frowned.
PO-PO-POP!
Leaf's voice caught in his throat when the heads pulled at his limbs, dislocating his arms and legs, his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. Scylla lazily tossed him high into the air, squinting her eyes.
"Oh, hello Vao!"
Yin's jaw dropped, turning to his brother. "Dude... Did you..."
"Yeah."
Vao's face fell when Scylla lifted a smaller nonhuman. One that resembled Scylla and himself.
"O-oh..."
"WHAT THE FUCK, VAO!?" Sasha yelled angrily. Verde sighed, her head in her hands.
"... Darling... I love you very much..."
Vao nodded, guiltily kicking his foot against the deck. "A-and I love you too, Love... I wouldn't touch another woman aside from you..."
"Then I hope you understand why we will do what we are about to do."
Vao didn't get a chance before Sasha and Verde started beating him, bawling out apologies.
Leaf screamed through the air, harpies racing around him as he soared above the clouds, Yin casting another miracle. His burst eardrums mended, finally able to hear Poppy's voice.
"Harpy Air Unit! Litter him!"
The harpies cried out in response, their bowstrings creaking back. Arrows pierced Leaf's body, the wooden projectiles puncturing his chest. Yin's miracle constantly washed over him, forcing the arrows back out and keeping him alive. He began to fall, his arms and legs flailing limply behind him. Midori looked up from her book, holding up her staff. "[Magic Barrier]."
The magic wrapped around the ship, catching Leaf in the air before dropping him on the deck. The sailors snickered, Cinder leaning down with a sneer.
Leaf gasped and hissed, his body feeling miserable. They were torturing him, like he had done to so many others. The Archbishop lifted his head, crawling towards Yin and grabbing his ankle. The healer stared down at him with a scowl.
"Plheash," Leaf begged. "I-it hurtsh...! Plheash! Sh-shtop!"
The adventurers stared down at him with disgust, Yin kicking the Archbishop off his leg.
"... I bet Pip asked you the same thing," Sasha snarled. "What was your response?"
Leaf felt his heart sink, climbing to his knees and clasping his hands together. His desperation was beginning to show, even through the swelling on his face.
"I-I'm shorry! I'm shorry!"
But the ship only laughed at him, Vao angrily kicking him in the mouth.
"Piss off," he growled. "'Cause ya see, cunt: we ain't forgivin' ya after we found wot you did to my son."
Cinder snapped her fingers, two sailors grabbing his arms and lifting him to his feet, holding him there so he could stand. The captain chuckled, twirling a scimitar in her hands.
"I wonder just how many folks begged you to forgive them. Ozpin told us all about your little dungeon. You should be familiar enough with how this is gonna go; you can beg all you want, and may your god have mercy on you. Because we sure as hell ain't."
The sailors formed a line, some even wearing brass knuckles. One by one they stepped forward, punching him in the jaw while Yin cast his miracle, bringing Leaf from the brink of death over and over. And finally, Sasha and Vao stood in front of him. The two powerhouses tagged each other in and out, breaking his jaw over and over again while the sailors sang a shanty, Hekue leading the song with her flute. Jasper flew above everyone, beginning the song.
"Keelhaul that filthy landlubber, send him down to the depths below! Make that bastard walk the plank with a bottle of rum and a yo ho ho!"
The sailors sang together, Yin joining in between miracles. They danced around the Archbishop as they shoved him back and forth, Cinder sitting in the crow's nest, clapping along to the shanty.
"I found me rusty razor!" One of the sailors declared above the noise. His crew cheered, dragging Leaf forward. The sailor leaned forward, holding the single blade out. But immediately his smile disappeared when he saw Leaf's chest. "But he has no hair on his belly..."
"Let me see that. I know what to do."
Ozpin snatched the rusted blade away, Tai and Chuck pulling Leaf's pants to his knees. The Archbishop screamed, tears falling from his chin. "No! No, no!"
Ozpin looked up at him, flipping the razor in his hand. "Well... Why don't you beg? I might change my mind."
"Plheash, Dicklesh- wait, WAIT!
Ozpin gritted his teeth. "Yeah, I'm not changing my mind, you prick. Or I suppose it's prickless from today forward."
Leaf thrashed around, his head rocking back and forth in a bloodcurdling shriek while Ozpin did the same thing the Archbishop did to him all those years ago. The men on board looked away, holding their crotches. Ozpin slammed what he had severed into Leaf's open mouth, uppercutting his jaw shut and clamping his hand over his mouth.
"Swallow, Leaf!"
Leaf was desperately trying to spit it out, but Salem tucked her fingers under his chin and tilted his head up. Gravity did the rest of the work, forcing Leaf to cannibalize himself. Cinder slid down the rope ladder, jumping behind the wheel and spinning the ship around.
"One of you! Full sail! Hoist the flag! We're going home!"
"Aye, captain!"
The sails dropped, the Jolly Roger flapping in the wind as the ship called the Billy o' Tea lurched forward again, the shores of the Secret City's beach fast approaching, the sailors cheering and dancing around a broken Leaf. The Archbishop was curled into a ball, beginning to mentally break down while they used the bloody, rusty razor to shave off the hair on his head.
"Someone drop the anchor!" Cinder shouted. Sasha picked up the massive heap of iron with one hand, casually tossing it into the water in front of an entire crew of startled sailors. The anchor scratched against the seabed, the ship slowing to a halt. Cinder spun the wheel as hard as she could, turning the ship to the side.
The planks dropped on the sand, the sailors carrying Leaf with the adventurers leading them, still singing their shanty. The nonhumans cheered from the coastline, three darting away from the hole they had dug. Leaf felt himself fall, the adventurers immediately filling the pit, burying him to his neck. And when he couldn't move, they walked away and watched.
Leaf looked up, his vision blurry. The waves tickled his neck, the tide coming in. He snapped out of his trance, terror filling his body. They were going to drown him.
"He-helb!" He screamed. "God of Light, sabe me!"
The nonhumans sang and danced, Leaf looking back at Sasha. The tomboy stared back, breaking into a relieved smile. Leaf let out a desperate cry. He didn't want to die.
But Sasha only waved.
"Bye, Leaf," she called out to him. "Say hello to my mom and dad for me. Don't forget."
Leaf looked back at the ocean, tilting his head up in an attempt to breath. But as the waves crashed over his exposed face, it quickly began to fill his lungs, the Archbishop's cries for help quickly drowned out beneath the water.
"Not yet, small man."
Gug reached down and pulled Leaf from the sand, the Archbishop coughing and sputtering, puking out the seawater. He dangled in the giant's grasp, the nonhumans following their gigantic friend into the city. Gug set him down gently, leaving Leaf to lie limply on the ground.
He was soon lifted back into the air, a rope wrapping around his body, pinning his arms and legs, tying him to a stake. Verde approached, wearing her hat again. She tipped it up to stare into his eyes, her blank and expressionless face never moving.
"Hello, Uncle Leaf," she greeted stoically. "We weren't going to let you die in the ocean, as much as Cinder and her crew wanted. We have one final part of this game. You're familiar with what the Church does to witches, correct?"
Leaf looked down, shaking his head weakly. Firewood was bundled at his feet, and standing in front of it was Jasper with a match and Midori with a fireball in her palm, with Vao and Yin dumping gasoline on top. Verde tilted her hat back down.
"... You can consider this as payment for the times you visited Rojo and held me down. Burn in Hell, Uncle Leaf. And when we meet again, I'd advise you begin running as fast as you can."
Midori tossed the ball of fire and Jasper dropped the match, the wood catching ablaze. As the flames licked and burned Leaf from the legs up, he screamed and thrashed around, his skin beginning to boil and blister.
The nonhumans watched, waving goodbye as the Archbishop burned at the stake, Yin putting his staff away.
Leaf gasped and choked on the smoke that rose from his own burnt flesh, his vision going dark as his eyes began to melt inside his own skull, his screaming quickly becoming desperate gasps for air as the last of his life faded, until all that remained was a silent, burning corpse. The adventurers watched as he burned alive at the stake, relief filling their bodies.
"... That was hard to watch," Vao finally admitted. "Back when I lived in the Wilds, it was a quick arrow, or one of my traps would make them into jelly or a dead body with a bunch of holes in it... Never seen somebody get burned alive..."
Yin looked at Vao, agreeing with his brother. "... Are you feeling guilty?"
Vao raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"
"Fuck no."
"There's your answer, mate."
They high fived each other, blue eyes meeting red. Yin felt himself feeling awkward, his hand scratching at his arm. "... Hey... About earlier, before Leaf showed up-"
"Forget it," Vao muttered. He averted his gaze, his hands in his pockets. "... Let's just leave it in the past... For good this time. I said some things I didn't mean, too..."
Yin sighed. Maybe it was for the best that they dropped the subject. Vao groaned, looking at Jasper as she sat down on Yin's shoulder. The fairy flinched under his gaze, looking back up. It wasn't as cold as it was before. It was more... Curious? She didn't know how to put it into words.
"... You're alright too," Vao muttered. "Come by some time... We'll smoke a joint together... Get to know each other..."
Jasper blinked. It was the closest Vao would ever admit to accepting her into the party. She didn't detect the underlying hostility he used to have. He was genuinely giving her a chance. She grinned, clutching her fist.
"... Yeah. Let's be mates."
Vao glared at her. "... You making fun of my accent?"
Tai looked at him blankly. "Yew makin' fun of my bloody accent?" He mimicked.
"Piss off, dad."
Tai smirked, ruffling Yin and Vao's hair. Amidst everything that happened - Alice's suicide, Pip's death, and finally giving Leaf what he deserved, they needed their father. The two leaned into him, their eyes growing wet. Salem wiped at her eyes, standing next to them with the others joining.
Salem knew they were feeling hopeful. But she knew better.
Things would only get worse with him loose...
...
Jack sat in the kitchen of the decrepit house of serial killers, the newspaper spread out on the table in front of him, a cup of coffee next to it. He rubbed the eraser of his pencil against his temple, his smile as wide as ever, but with a thoughtful look to it. He was doing a word find puzzle.
"Oh la la... I cannot find apple..."
He didn't look up when Mono stepped into the room, her shoulders slumped forward, walking to the tea kettle to pour herself a drink. She looked depressed. Jack hummed, still not looking up.
"... What's wrong, Milady?"
Mono sat down at the table, taking a sip from her drink with her free hand propping her head up. "... Milord still hasn't come back from the Secret City," she mumbled quietly. Jack chuckled.
"He is fine, Milady. Mon Seigneur is quite capable of caring for himself."
"I know, but... There's something else," Mono admitted. She turned her eye to the serial killer, seemingly trying to plead with him. "... Can you help me, Jack?"
Jack's pencil tapped against the table, his eyes scanning the paper before circling the word he had been looking for. "... Oui. What do you need help with?"
Mono fidgeted with her fingers, her cheeks growing red. "You... Spend a lot of time with Milord... I was hoping you could tell me how to get his attention..."
Jack didn't really want to be involved with the love triangle. But at least she was asking him to just give her tips. Tourmaline straight up asked Jack to drug the First Vao so she could drag him back to her treehouse - which Jack politely declined for a multitude of reasons, but the biggest being that the First Vao would have killed every last fairy there due to his history with unwanted touches, and then likely would have gone after Jack himself. "... Oui, I can do that."
Mono seemed happier, leaning forward. "Very well! Firstly, he hasn't noticed any of my hints. Nothing I try seems to work..."
Jack nodded. "He isn't very social, Milady. Firstly, what sort of hints do you leave?"
Mono hummed, taking a small, quiet sip from her tea. "Well... I have been collecting his hair from his hairbrush..."
"... Pardon?"
"I have also been stopping time when he eats so I can take samples of his saliva," Mono continued. "And sometimes when I clean his room, I find his fingernail clippings on his desk. I have those kept safely under my bed in a plastic bag. I've been spitting in his shampoo so a small part of me will always be with him, and I enjoy watching him sleep when he manages to fall asleep. I've followed him around the city numerous times, hiding when he turns in my direction. One time, when Jasper was still with us one of her underlings called Milord cute, so I tossed her into a glass jar and left it near a fire..."
Jack set his coffee back down. He wasn't very thirsty. Mono finished her rambling, staring at him expectantly. "... And that is all my hints. Do you have any suggestions?"
Jack didn't even know where to begin. "... Milady, have you... Tried being more direct?"
Mono nodded. "I drilled a hole into the bathroom wall so I could-"
"Please stop," Jack interrupted. "Milady, why don't you... Make a more obvious hint? Something he could not ignore? Such as waiting for him in his room? Perhaps in something he would find attractive, such as a dress that shows off skin."
Mono glared at him, her cheeks turning pink. "I-isn't that a bit too far?"
"I was unaware that stealing someone's saliva and spitting in shampoo was normal."
Jack was playing with fire. Mono scoffed. "You don't understand. You've never fallen in love."
"Non, Milady. I have no interest in romance," Jack replied. "Such is my nature... But I advise you to try something new, mon ami. Not... All of that."
Mono blinked. "Is... Is something wrong with the way I go about things?"
"Very."
Mono sighed, shaking her head. "I am not throwing out my collection, if that is what you are implying. I have only just managed to get his new toothbrush."
"His... You stole his toothbrush?"
"I did no such thing. I simply permanently borrowed it."
Jack didn't know who was worse, the pervy fairy who was into corpses or the psychotic stalker. Mono finished her tea and set the empty cup in the sink. "... I think I understand. Thank you, Jack."
Jack waved as she left, poking the side of his nose with his pencil and staring back at his word find. "... Where is banana?"
The First Vao trudged through the halls, the ash flowing through the air. His red eye didn't leave the floor, his boots almost dragging across the wooden floorboards. Summer never told him who Tai was. She had only smiled before disappearing, leaving him lost and confused.
He tried not to think too much of it. He still had things he needed to do. Cleaning his weapon was one of them. His cold hand reached for his doorknob, stopping in its tracks. The door was ajar.
"I... I closed it," he whispered to himself. "Didn't I? Yeah, see? It's open..."
The voices in his head echoed, the cannibal turning his attention back to the door. Drawing Misery from its sheath, he pushed it open with the blade and stepped in. He knew he shouldn't expect an ambush in the middle of Grimmore, but nearly three decades of being hunted by an entire world had taught him that he could never be too careful. His one eye gazed around the room, finally stopping on his bed.
Mono sat on top of the sheets, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. She stared at him, her cheeks a light shade of crimson. On the nightstand, several candles and rose petals sat. "G-good afternoon, Milord..."
The First Vao waved, carefully setting Grimm Demise on the desk. If he dropped it, he'd have to buy a new desk. His weapon was heavy. "'Ello, Mono. Were you taking a break?"
Mono shook her head, laying down on the bed and leaving space next to her. "N-no... I was waiting for you, Milord..."
"Oh. Alright, then. Did you want to talk about something?" The First Vao asked, dismantling the axe and staring down the rocket launcher's barrel. He could see carbon on the inside. He rifled through his desk, searching for a brush.
Mono was shivering. "Um... I wanted to s-spend time with you, Milord... Alone..."
"I just had a cuppa. We can play chess after I clean my weapon, if you want."
The First Vao was talking about all the previous times he and Mono would drink tea together. Mono was talking about something else entirely. The Cult leader sat up, slowly becoming upset. "How about a nap? T-together?"
"I don't like sleeping," the First Vao replied. "I have nightmares. And sleeping with another person..."
He trailed off, his memories flickering to a darker time of his life. Mono's jaw clenched. She sat upright, standing up from the bed. "... Milord, may... I ask a question?"
The First Vao nodded, unscrewing a few bolts to dismantle the trigger system. "You don't have to ask permission. I've told you that many times."
"Is there... Something wrong with me?"
The First Vao's brush stopped, his scarlet eye flicking to her, and then back to his weapon. "There's something wrong with everyone in this town," he answered. "We're... Not exactly sane."
Mono shook her head, not looking at him. "That... Isn't what I meant, Milord... Am I not suitable?"
The First Vao stopped, finally looking up at her. "... Wot are you talking about? You're the most capable one here. That's why I made you the leader of the Cult."
Again, it wasn't what she meant. Her fist clenched, remembering what Jack had said. To be more direct. She turned to him, approaching slowly.
And then Mono made a fatal mistake.
Her hands reached out, cupping the First Vao's chin. In an instant, his blood froze in his body, the memories beginning to flow back. The awful memories of those nights he had spent with him. She brushed a lock of his hair from his snow-white face, leaning forward and trailing a hand down his thin chest.
"Milord," she breathed. "Can we please go to be-!?"
SLAM!
Mono's feet kicked in the air, her fingers scratch scratching at the back of the First Vao's cold hands. He had her pinned against the wall, his teeth bared into a horrifying snarl. His scarlet eye flickered with his worsening psychosis, the Aura in his eye socket beginning to blaze. Mono felt a chill run down her spine, her grey eye resting on the serrated dagger that gleamed in the dim candlelight of his room.
He was about to kill her.
One thing Jack hadn't mentioned was that Mono shouldn't be too direct. That she should at no point try to touch him in a romantic way. She could feel her face beginning to turn an unhealthy shade of blue, struggling to breath. The First Vao stared at her, a growl escaping his lips before he tossed her to the ground, his anger bubbling over.
"Don't you touch me!" He spat. "Don't you EVER touch me!"
Mono scrambled against the wall, her heart racing. For the first time, she felt fear of her lord. The First Vao clutched his head, pulling at the absurd lengths of his hair. He looked like he was going to snap under the stress of his own insanity. His one eye glared out at her from the black strands, his shoulders trembling.
"Mono, you don't have any idea just how lucky you are," he hissed. "If you had been anyone else... I'd have... I was about to..."
His eye was watering. Mono stared up at him, a truth beginning to dawn on her. She hadn't made him angry.
She had scared him.
The First Vao pulled at his bangs, his breath raspy. And finally, he spoke. "... Mono," he shook. "... Please... Don't ever touch me like that again."
Mono slowly stood to her feet, carefully approaching him. "Milord, I didn't mean-"
"I know," the First Vao interrupted, taking a step back. "J-just... Let me know next time you're going to touch me... P-please..."
Mono felt her breath catch in her throat. The way he was standing, as if he was trying to hide himself. The pieces began to click together. "Mi... Milord... Were you...?"
"Don't... Talk..."
Mono stepped closer, holding out her hands. "... Milord... I am going to touch you... Is that alright?"
The First Vao trembled, never picking his head up. And slowly, he nodded. Mono approached, gently wrapping her arms around him. He didn't hug back. He just leaned into her. She was far from comfortable to a normal person; the Blood made her body cold, she was taller than him, and under the maid uniform she had abs. But the First Vao barely felt a difference. He was even colder.
Mono had finally gotten the hug she wanted, but not by the circumstances she would have liked. Pulling away, she took his hand into her own. "Milord, please... If you need anything at all, do not worry about speaking with me. Even if I am asleep, do not hesitate to wake me."
The First Vao finally looked up at her. He looked confused, like he didn't quite get what she was saying. With a shaky sigh, the Cult leader stepped out of the room, closing the door gently behind her. And walking down the halls to her own room, she wiped at her eye.
The First Vao staggered to his mirror, his cold hands pressing against the desk of his vanity, staring at his reflection.
The reflection he despised. His own reflection was the reason his hair tended to be messy, even though brushing it helped his anxiety. Because of his appearance, Tyrian had been attracted to him. And because of those nights, he hated his appearance with every fiber of his being.
Mono flashed to his mind. Even Cinder had never offered to talk to him about what was happening with Tyrian. He had simply started talking about it, and she listened. Their relationship had happened on a whim; both of them had been supporting each other under Salem's more than harsh living conditions. In fact, when he had first tried to open up about it, Cinder outright told him to shut up; they didn't like each other at first.
But Mono had offered the moment she saw something wrong, even when he had come too close to devouring her. The First Vao scratched his head, trying to think.
Was it just Mono worshipping him like the rest? Or did she genuinely care about him? The First Vao didn't see how the latter would even be possible; he had killed most of his family, some even twice. To himself, he was unforgivable - when he learned about the Timelines continuing in an endless cycle, he had even lost sight of life's meaning, believing it didn't matter if it would all start over. He was more than aware of Tourmaline's affection; he had found her sleeping nude in his laundry more than once. But even he could tell the difference between lust and love, despite having no experience with either.
He looked back at the closed door, thinking about the maid. He'd be lying to himself if he said he didn't find Mono attractive, or that he liked the idea of her showing genuine affection. And with her past of being hated and feared by the entire world, he already felt drawn to her by that common fate they both shared. Would it be possible if they reached their goal?
He turned his attention back to the mirror. His teeth gritted together, his fist shattering the glass. He was getting sick of looking at the reflection he hated. Walking back to his desk, he sat down and resumed cleaning Grimm Demise.
He couldn't think about things like that. He still had a job to do. A dream to achieve, an old promise to himself that he needed to keep.
As long as Salem was around to keep restarting everything, there was no point in pursuing someone he liked.
Not as long as Salem was still breathing.
Grrrooooooowwwwwlllll...