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bloodofthedivine · 6 years

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Temptation by B. Nyx

Fandom: ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 | JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Dio Brando/ Oc Characters: Dio Brando, Enyaba, Umbra (OC) Additional Tags: Blood and Violence, Murder, Biting, Shameless Smut, Eventual Fluff Summary: Umbra had searched for her fathers killer for so long, but finally realizing she needs help, she seeks aid. Proving herself to the notorious Dio Brando was not an easy task but she had succeeded. Months passed as she worked for him, and she began to care for him. Suddenly she catches the trail of her one of the men who helped murder her father, chaos rises, and betrayal brews. Will Dio kill her, or help her?

This Commission was done for a client, This OC does NOT belong to me. Please do not steal or repost my work, thankyou!

——————

Long locks framed a somber face, the pain in her eyes did not show in the clear water.

It somehow comforted; and anguished her at the same time. Reaching up she ran a hand through her hair in frustration, trying to push the memories back down. For so long she had refused to think about anything but her goal of revenge.

She dug her nails into her palms, shaking away the urge to punch the mirror.

Jerking herself away from the sink, she grabbed her keys, shrugging on her leather jacket as she left the hotel room. On her way out of town, she got her daily tonic of coffee, tapping her hands on the wheel as she drove. The leaves were starting to fall, beckoning Autumn forward. The scenery was comforting but did not ease the anxiety rising in her chest.

For weeks she had been following the trail of one of the men suspected in having a hand in killing her father, and somehow it lead her right in the middle of nowhere. Sighing as she pulled up to the location, she needed to hide her car a few blocks away. Knowing stealth was her best bet.

Looking ahead, she saw the damaged warehouse, cutting through the thick forest to conceal herself. The fence was still intact, easing herself up, she climbed it quickly. Jumping over and landing with a groan. Her eyes moved along the ragged building, searching for a place to sneak in. Finding a caved in window, she hastened her climbing as she heard the rumbling of vehicles pulling into the lot. Dropping into the dusty room, she had to clamp her nose before a sneeze gave her away. Readying her hands, she crept along the rooms, listening for the men.

"Have you found her yet? She isnt a fuckin’ vampire, why is it taking so long?!“ Rang out below her, peering down, she watched whilst the mob leader looked to his men for a response. Bringing his cigar to his smirking lips, lighting it.

His frustration made her want to laugh, a giggle almost escaped her as she saw the veins protruding from his face.

His men were carrying machine guns, Ak-47’s by the look of it. She would have to take them out one at a time, she knew what she signed up for wasn’t going to be easy. But there was a spark of hope that maybe they would be less prepared.

"We are trying sir, she good at hiding.” The man replied, as he kneeled in front of him, eyes lowered to the ground.

"She isn’t that good, her father was easy to take out-“ the leader hissed.

Her hands lifted, anger began to swell inside her. Her ace beginning to gravitate towards the men– when an arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her into the air.

She gasped, jerking against her attacker, using the wall as leverage, wriggling out of the strong grip. Landing on her knees she reached out to attack, freezing when she recognized the blonde hair and sly grin. His large form was kneeling across from her, eyebrows raised as if waiting for what she would do. "What are you doing here Dio?” She muttered, standing silently to turn back to the men she was stalking. He was beside her in seconds, she clenched her teeth as she felt the heat from his body. His voice caressed her, much like a snake. “You already know what I am doing here, pup.”

Snickering, she saw the Mob leader grow more aggressive, "You are idiots, all of you.”

The man on the ground mumbled, “Like you could do better.”

His boss hissed, drawing his gun and hitting the man over the head with it.

Dio whispered into her ear, “Nows our chance,” Nodding she jumps from the pillars. The group of men turned, eyes widening and guns jerk toward her. She stretched her palms letting her ace unfold. Dio lunged at the group, giving her time to let her power curl up around two of the men running away.

Strolling to them, she unsheathed her knife, thrusting the blade into the neck of the man on the left. Bullets sliced right beside her ear, grunting as one caught her thigh. Her ace wrapped around his arm, jerking the gun out of his hands, throwing the knife right into his temple.

Dio slammed the mob leader down to his knees in front of her, the two subordinates were beside him kneeling with hands on their heads.

The black haired leader was smirking, blood dripping from his mouth.

She grimaced as pain shot up her leg. But she hid it quickly, her face growing cold. Dio raised an eyebrow at her, he began to speak about her wound, but she shook her head. This was more important.

"Let’s get to the point shall we? Where is your boss Rozen?“ She asked.

Rozen smiles, ” Ah it’s the beautiful Umbra… How have you been?“

Kneeling in front of him with her good leg, she lifts his chin with her hand.

Ace circling around his nose, sliding into his nostrils and mouth. His eyes widened as he began to suffocate internally. His choking began as his body started to convulse. After a few seconds, she pulled her ace back, his body gasping for the new found air.

"So, Rozen, do you really want to die like this?” A wave of pain tingled up her spine, thankfully Rozen didn’t catch her frown.

"N-NO!“ He hissed, breathing heavily, The corner of her mouth raised in satisfaction, standing she nodded to Dio. "Lets get him back, he will talk.”

Dio smirked at her, a fang showing. Grabbing Rozens leg, he began to drag him to the car.

Following behind them, wincing as she began to grow more faint. Her adrenaline was starting to wear off, and losing blood wasn’t helping. Ripping a part of her shirt, she wrapped it around her wound.

Dio had already deposited the mob leader into the trunk. Grabbing her as she started to stagger, picking her up bridal style to carry her to the car. She faded in and of consciousness on the way back. When they arrived Dio lifted her gently into his arms once again, but she began to struggle, "Put me down!“

Raising an eyebrow at her, tightening his hold as he continued to stroll inside. Sighing she wiggled, trying to break his hold, eventually he hissed, "Stop struggling or you will make your wounds worse!” With a huff she nodded, giving into him. The door was opened for them, a few of his subordinates gave shocked faces as they saw their master carrying her. Wrinkling her nose, she knew she would get hell for it later.

"Get the filth from the car, we have work to do.” He ordered to one of them as they passed.

They scurried out, doing his bidding quickly. His arms were tight around her, and she let her head rest against his strong chest as he walked through the huge mansion. She would never admit how much she enjoyed him carrying her, a giggle escaping her lips she was sat on the medical bed, stars flying around in her vision. Looking at Dio, his face was almost vulnerable but changed once the doctor came in.

"Ah, Umbra, I see you have not gone fully unscathed this time?“ His dark eyes glared into hers, usually he would unsettle people with the slightest look, but in this case she knew he was just jesting.

"There’s always a first.” she retorted, nodding he knelt beside the bed, cleaning the spot on her arm, he injected the anesthetic. “This will take some time..”

Untying the makeshift wrap, ignoring her cursing as he examined the wound.

“This should help, the bullet went straight through, and luckily missed the tendon. Ill need to stitch you up, but you will be out for that.”

Nodding she laid down against the bed, crossing her arms. Waiting for the anesthesia to kick in would take a while, Dio had been silent the whole time, arms crossed as he watched. Smiling up at him, her eyes closed, soon the world fell away.

——–

She awoke with a start, something was in the room with her. It was pitch black around her, and judging from the bed she was on, she was no longer in the medical bay. Sitting up, her senses were on high alert, searching for the danger she couldn’t see. Lifting her arm, she dug underneath the pillow her head had been on, ‘Shit’ she thought, her gun was gone, and she couldn’t fight blind.

She listened for movement, gagging when a wire was wrapped around her neck from behind. Her lungs grasped for air, scratching at the hands holding the wire. She bucked against her assailant, using her body for leverage, throwing both of them into the headboard of the bed. A pained gasp escaped their mouth, it was definitely a woman.Using her distraction she freed her neck from the wire, shoving her attacker off the bed. Scurrying towards what she hoped was the door, she fell when a sharp pain slithered into her bullet wound.

The woman got on top of her, pain spiked up her leg as she fought to defend herself. Suddenly the door burst open, light turning on, a large body pinning the humanoid woman against the wall.

It was Enya her disheveled white hair was unmistakable. She was one of Dio’s most trusted agents, but Dio had her in an chokehold, “Enya…” He hissed, eyes flicking to Umbra to make sure she was alright, then back to his subordinate quickly. “What were you doing?!”

Her eyes lowered as she answered, “ Dio my lord. She is a hazard, we cannot allow her to keep putting you in dang-”

“SILENCE!” His voice ringing through the room, “You have betrayed me, because you are jealous of her?”

She refuses to answer, hissing as Umbra looks to her for why she wanted to kill her so badly, “Why?!” She hefted herself up off the floor, holding her leg for comfort.Pain starting to spike up her thigh.

“Why would you do this? After all i have done for Dio, for all of you?!”

The Hag hissed at her. And Dio snarled in retaliation, growing impatient by the second.

Enrico strode into the room, grabbing Enya to be taken away. Shutting the door behind him, he growled in frustration. When he finally looked at her, she saw the sparks of turmoil contained in them.

“I have a present for you…” he said, eyes sweeping down her body. Looking down she realizes all she has on is a large t-shirt. Stuttering as her face started to flush, she grabs a sheet to cover herself.

With a smirk he leaves, soon his large frame strolls back in with something hidden behind his back.

She raised an eyebrow at him, “What kind of present?” Crossing her arms, waiting for his answer.

“Something you have been waiting for, for quite some time…” His eyes darkening as he pulled the present from behind his back. She staggered back with a gasp, “Is that-”

He agreed, “Yes Pup, it is.”

Hand moving to her heart, emotions overwhelming her. Pain, relief, anger. Dio threw the severed head to the floor in front of her, she couldn't look away.

It was her father’s killer, the man she had been searching for.. There was a time she had thought she would never find him. Never get her revenge. The dead eyes stared back at her, looking to Dio in confusion. She expected a mocking gaze, but found a vulnerability she had never seen in him. Sympathy almost.

Suddenly he strode to her, her back pressing against the wall and she stared at him confused, “What-”

His lips pressed against hers in a rough kiss, a moan escaping her as his tongue slid into her mouth.

He pulled back, making her growl as she searched for his lips again, but was met with his large hand slamming her hip back against the wall. A wild look flashed in his eyes when he picked her up roughly, depositing her onto the bed. Her hands tangled in his hair as their lips met once again, pulling at his blonde locks to ask for more. He replied with a growl, reaching up to pull her head back, letting his fangs graze her bare skin.

She gasped, grinding her hips up against his. Heat pooling between her thighs, she had wanted him for so long. The desperation in him made her ache, “You are mine.” He moaned, fangs sinking into her skin.

Stars floated in her vision, a moan escaping her lips as he lifts her arms s above her head, holding them together with one of his hands. Ripping at her shirt, his eyes slowly taking in his prey. Her breathing deepened as his hand trailed down her breasts, to her hip, down between her legs. Moaning as he cupped her pussy, he slid a thick finger inside. He curled it inside her, letting it stroke against her g- spot, keeping a rhythm until she was almost bucking her hips against his finger.

Pulling it out, he looked into her eyes, whilst he began to undress. Watching with intrigue as he removed his shirt.

She definitely had looked at his body before, but never quite noticed the power his form displayed. Licking her lips, his hands moved to his jeans, pulling them down in one fluid motion.

Her pussy started throbbing as she saw his thick cock spring free, sliding his hand down to his length, he stroked gently. He raised an eyebrow as she bit her lip, pulling her up, he let one foot step on the bed, whilst the other kept him standing. She was on the edge of the bed, his cock now level with her face.

“Taste me Pet.” He commanded, and she obeyed.

Taking his head into her mouth, licking the underside while she let her teeth gently graze the sensitive skin. When he moaned she took more of his length into her mouth, letting her head start to bob back and forth, her face almost meeting his thick blonde wisps of hair along his dick.

His eyes closed as she continued, his balls were growing heavier and she could tell he was close to cumming. His eyes opened in surprise, his hand gripping her long hair, removing her mouth from his cock.

He shoved her onto the bed, her back hitting the comforter as Dio crawled on top of her, lifting her legs over his shoulders. She knew this would open up a few of her stitches, but didn’t give two fucks.All she wanted was him inside her.

She bit her lip, waiting for his thick member to thrust inside her. But all she felt was his soft cock rubbing against her clit, moaning she whined, “Dio?!”

He laughed, “Yes pet, what do you need?” Continuing to slide it against her slit in teasing movements, she growled, “Please FUCK ME!”

He slid inside her with a rough thrust, her body shuddering with pleasure. ‘Finally.’ she thought. Smirking in satisfaction as Dios face morphed into almost a pained face. “Your so fucking tight.”

Pulling out slowly, cock plunging back inside her, keeping up the quick thrusts into her core. Hurt toes curling, mind turning to mush as her orgasm began to roll through her. She tightened around him, making him grunt. His movements became uneven, hips rocking against hers one last time. Eyes rolling back as he began to cum.

His taut body was sweaty as he released her legs, kissing her gently. For a few moments they both stayed silent, taking in each other. Her question had been nagging at her, and she finally worked up the courage. “Dio?” She asked.

Laying his head on her chest he, he curled on top of her. “Hm?” She bit her lip, ‘Just ask Umbra, you just had sex for fucks sake.’

“Why did you do that for me.. Why did you risk your life?” She looked down at him, waiting. Almost regretting asking when he didn’t answer for a moment.

“I wanted to free you from your pain.” He explained.

Her heart warmed, finally she let tears she had been holding in for so long fall. “Dio, will you stay with me?” His large blonde head lifted, a sincere look in his eyes.

“I will stay with you until the light fades from my eyes Umbra.” His soft lips met hers again, kissing her tears away.

#dio brando #fiction #b.nyx #commissions #writing #my writing #oc #jojo's bizarre adventure #fics

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nyxysabyss · 7 years

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LEVEL HORIZON; YEAR THREE 6/9; Celestial Limit

Chapter 23!

I’m not afraid of death. It’s the stake one puts up in order to play the game of life. ~Jean Giraudoux

When I saw you, I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew. ~Arrigo Boito

Daichi Sawamura’s calf muscles are cramping from crouching in the brush for so long.

It’s been a solid fifteen minutes of nothing but waiting and he can feel the tension in his leveler beside him, his hair silver under the moonlight. Tanaka is surprisingly calm and focused, but Daichi can only see black in his eyes in the filtering torchlight. He can’t tell if it’s just the poor lighting or if they are actually blown wide with nerves, but he’s guessing the latter. He himself has had the urge to fidget and shift so badly for the last five minutes that he can’t imagine how Kageyama is holding out.

“Snakes have a five to ten meter buffer zone where they can sense all warm life, so it is impossible to sneak up on them. They sense body heat, and your wings will give you away. Which means, I’ll need to borrow your leveler for the first part where we shut down the alarms, Feathers. He’s the only other non-winged person here.” Kuroo had said.

“What about Kenma?” Kageyama had said with a dark look.

“Kenma isn’t much of a combatant; he will be standing by with our means of escape at our rendezvous point. I’d rather have someone with me who I know can handle themselves in a confrontation and will have my back, anyway. I trust your shrimp.” The avian prince had been ready to argue, his cobalt eyes snapping with more homicidal emotion than Daichi had seen from him in a long while.

“I’ll go.” Hinata had said before he could speak. “I want this to work. If this is what I have to do, then I’ll go.”

“Rest assured, Feathers, I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think he could handle it. And if I don’t bring him back to you, you can bank that I’m not returning either.”

Kageyama hadn’t fought him, but Daichi could tell that he’d hated it all the same— hated it with a level of disquiet worse than their big fight that had left his wings bald. And Daichi had known it had to have taken a soul fracturing effort for Kageyama to control his instincts and let the redhead follow the cat into the darkness a short while ago without a word of protest.

As he watches the crow setter’s gaze flit between the few buildings that mark the holding point’s location, he can see the tension in his body. Everything is taught, from the leaping muscle that betrays his jaw’s rigid set, to his hand that grips a low branch for balance in a vice hold, to his wings that are pulled into an agitated display, to his knee dropped beside a foot as he slowly leans ever more forward.

He knows the younger crow didn’t sleep last night… he doubts any of them had found much. Koushi had lain down, but Daichi hadn’t felt him relax enough to convince him he’d actually slept. The cats had stayed outside to avoid disturbing them with restless pacing. He’d glanced up more than once when Tanaka had risen to go stare out the window for long minutes with a hard look. Hinata had crawled into Kageyama’s lap where the avian princeling had wrapped him in an uncompromising embrace and buried his face into the crook of the redhead’s neck.

Daichi feels a pang for the former young king. They were just starting to bring their relationship the next step forward— there’s so much they have yet to experience and share… and now Kageyama is stuck waiting for an uncertain answer to the question of their future. Daichi doesn’t know if he could have done the same if it were Suga instead.

The softest rustle has the large crow reaching possessively for his leveler. The black cat’s training in stealth and awareness has definitely paid off as he and the three other avians turn as one toward the sound, tensing defensively and ready for a fight. But it is only Kuroo followed closely by Hinata, slipping through the underbrush.

The redhead immediately finds Kageyama, readily allowing the crow to snatch him forward into a relieved chokehold. As the redhead’s gaze flickers toward himself and Suga, he catches a look in them he recognizes in the dim light from the building torches. He knows it, because he’s also experienced it. Most everyone had missed his mental tailspin in the chaos surrounding the younger level pair’s flight from the rookery, but Suga and Tanaka had been there, and he knows they remember. The hollow resolved look in Hinata’s eyes speaks to the death of innocence.

Hinata... bright, effervescent little Hinata... has taken a life.

Daichi’s heart breaks just a little, knowing that it is something that will irrevocably change the brilliant ball of sunshine.

“My prick of a canine connection has sent these to help us.” Kuroo had said only this morning, producing seven tanto knives and a couple keikan daggers. “Do any of you know how to use them?”

“We’ve been trained on most weaponry.” Tanaka had said frankly, picking one up and eyeing it critically. Daichi had reached for one as well, checking its balance and craftsmanship. They weren’t top end, but neither were they bottom, and for what they needed, they would definitely work.

“Then I hope you remember it. Have you guys ever killed people before?” He’d asked and Daichi had remembered freezing at the question. Suga had stilled beside him, and Tanaka had found his gaze in the abrupt tension.

“I have.” Kageyama had quietly answered first, surprising them all. Hinata had spun on him with shock, the tanto he’d grabbed loosely forgotten in his hands.

“What?”

Kageyama had looked away from his leveler, unwilling to meet any of their gazes. He’d looked like he’d been kicked somehow, as if he were appalled to even be in his own skin.

“It was at the end of the big Gamut Run exercise right before we were upgraded to a full-fledged sentry unit, due for missions. My father pulled me aside and had me kill a bound and condemned man as my final initiant act before he would allow me to move forward with you guys. He said it was so that I wouldn’t freeze when I finally had to do it in a fight… in case there was more than one adversary.” He’d murmured, his eyes completely vacant and voice dead as the memory had overtaken him. Hinata had dropped the knife back on a table and grabbed his arm, his face slack.

“Is that why you barely said two words the whole next week?” He’d asked softly, his other hand rising to trace an index finger over his leveler’s cheekbone as his cerulean gaze had focused back on him. Kageyama hadn’t responded, but he hadn’t pulled away either.

“So have I.” Daichi had murmured, drawing their attention. After Kageyama’s admission, it had suddenly been easy to voice his own.

“You, too, Daichi?” Hinata had asked weakly.

“Mine was the day right before you guys came back after you were grounded. We were scouting one of the outlying areas and got into a scrap with some hawks. I’d snapped the guy’s neck before I realized it.” He says, his eyes finding the floor, and he feels his leveler drift closer to him, a silent vote of support.

“He took after Suga. He had it coming.” Tanaka had said sullenly, his arms coming up across his chest and his face pulling into a scowl.

Daichi knew the bald crow had been attempting to stem the bout of depression that inevitably accompanied the memory of feeling the man’s neck just… ‘click’... in his grasp, and the quickly following realization that he’d just ended a life. On purpose.

The guy hadn’t died immediately. It had taken a minute or two during which the only part of him that still moved— his eyes— had wildly flickered around at him, at Suga, at everyone, completely fractured with fear as he slowly suffocated due to paralysis of his lungs. When they’d finally turned glassy, the large crow had been shaking so badly that he’d had to sit down. The had been lucky that the confrontation was over as quick as it had started, and he hadn’t been stuck dealing with his gut-wrenching reaction while trying to defend himself from another attacker.

But it had allowed the full weight of the truth to crash down in its entirety: he’d killed someone. He was the reason that someone else’s life was cut short. He’d been plagued by staggering guilt and questions since then.

Had he really had to kill the hawk? What if he was just following someone else’s instructions? What had he thought in those last couple minutes? Or was there only fear? Did he have a family, someone waiting for him? Children? Did they know that their wait would be forever now? Had he had a leveler and he’d actually killed two people?

More than once Koushi had come and just sat with him in a quiet secluded place, saying nothing and instead, providing silent support just by staying beside him. If they survive, he hopes Kageyama will have the presence of mind to do the same for Hinata now.

“Tobio.” The little redhead’s quiet voice breaks the dark silence. “I’m going to get my sister back. Are you ready?” He asks, and the black resolve in his face is something Daichi will never forget.

He understands the leaded determination swirling inside Hinata; the kid needs a reason to justify having killed someone. Daichi has no doubt that the redhead will stop at nothing to rescue the little girl, and mentally urges him to cling to that. Gods knew, the larger crow is positive the only reason he didn’t lose his mind after he’d killed the hawk was the knowledge that Koushi might have been injured or killed instead if he hadn’t. The crow setter holds onto Hinata a moment longer, then nods.

“There were only three guards at the south alarm tower. They won’t be an issue anymore and we took out another four between here and there. There are plenty left, but I think I can handle the other alarm post alone.” Kuroo murmurs and turns to Daichi even though he still addresses them all.

“The entrance to the vault is just this side of the first building, but there might be more. The shrimp can show you. You will have to clear the guards posted there and then keep a watch while a couple people sweep the inside for Natsu. Your wings will still be a flag, so you will want to lead with Feathers’ leveler to help throw anyone you meet head on. Be quick and don’t hesitate, because they won’t pause in killing you. Be mindful of their reflexes; they’re freaky fast. And um…” Kuroo frowns, his gaze skimming across each of them.

“Try not to sustain injury. Most of their weapons — bolts included— are usually coated with venom; one good strike can kill even if the blow itself might be minor. All the more if one tries biting you. Not every snake will be venomous, but you can bet that if one of them is trying to sink their fangs into you, you will die in agony if they succeed. Most snake venoms are faster acting than your leveler connections can heal, so don’t count on them. I have a couple remedies, but they aren’t guaranteed to save you. Eh, do you…” Kuroo draws a deep breath.

“Do you guys have any questions?” Daichi thinks he hears a note of unease in his voice, and he has to remind himself that this is Kuroo.

The feline didn’t do this kind of thing with others; he worked alone. He’d even suggested that he be the only one to enter the compound and retrieve Natsu at first, but had met opposition from every side. Daichi can tell that he hates splitting them like this, hates that they are in any danger at all. But there is no scenario where retrieving Natsu will not be dangerous.

“I think we’re ready.” Suga says beside him, the black cat swallows hard and nods.

“Okay… I’d rather take your job, but we need that other alarm post out before someone notices anything’s amiss. The full force of a massive snake nest is the last thing we need bearing down on us. So just like we planned, then. I guess… be safe guys. It would be fan-fucking-tastic if we could all go home after this.” The cat says with the slightest hue of nerves.

“That includes your fuzzy ass. Don’t get yourself iced either.” Tanaka murmurs, before turning to pick his way carefully down into the holding point. Kuroo nods and Daichi exchanges a grasping of arms with the cat as the younger level pair follow the bald crow.

“Good luck.” The large crow murmurs before slipping after the other three, Suga right behind him.

Hinata soon slips into the lead, and takes them swiftly in a wide arc around the cleared forestation, sticking to the shadows until they are right up behind the first building. The redhead pulls his tanto out and leads out first, casually walking up to the building and then skirting its side. For a moment, Daichi wants to ask what he’s doing, but he blinks as he notices his posture.

His steps and demeanor look like Kuroo… relaxed and evenly measured. If a snake senses body heat, someone acting completely normal would be less suspicious than someone acting uneasy. He feels the hair on his neck rise just a bit. For a moment, Daichi can completely believe that he is an elite assassin with his poise and easy silent movements. The kid disappears around the side of the building, there’s a quiet grunt and then nothing.

The next few seconds are nerve wracking. The only reason they know that sound probably didn’t come from Hinata is that Kageyama is still crouched tensely beside them, his eyes fixed on the point where his leveler disappeared.

And then the shrimp’s head pokes back around the side, his small form straining to move something heavy. Kageyama and Tanaka react before Daichi can say anything. Both crows zip over to him, their wings releasing echoes into the silence around them with every beat.

Hinata’s head snaps their way and he automatically drops his burden and catches Kageyama’s shirt, jerking him out of the air. Tanaka lands as well and the shrimp glares at them and puts a finger to his lips. By this point, he and Suga are moving, catching up with the other two as they help the redhead pull the body of a snake out of sight around the side of the building, it’s minimal facial features unnerving.

Daichi can feel his mind shutting down slightly as he numbly stares at the man in horrified wonder. He can see the way Hinata had first buried the long knife in his ribs and then slid it across the man’s exposed neck after he’d collapsed. For the second time, he thinks that Hinata could secretly be an assassin. Kageyama apparently wasn’t the only one who could turn off emotions in a pinch.

Hinata holds up a hand to pause them around the corner before stepping back into the direct light of a torch and Daichi catches a smear of red on his arm.

“Snakes have a harder time feeling body heat through walls and earth so if you are clearing a building or something room by room, approach each with caution. A snake that’s particularly vigilant might still know you are on the other side of the door.” Kuroo had said.

There’s the quiet opening and closing of a door… and then three nearly inaudible knocks on it.

Like a damn breaking behind a lake, energy snaps across his muscles and they all move. Hinata’s warning still sharp in their minds, they all dart around the corner on feather light feet, Kageyama the first to the door.

Three knocks. Three or more adversaries.

There’s a quiet thump as Kageyama bursts in, his tanto already drawn as Daichi, Tanaka, and Suga follow. The room freezes, four glittering pairs of slitted eyes turning their way and a flash of almond.

And then it breaks.

The shrimp pulls his tanto and shoves it into the snake holding him against the wall with a hand around his neck. Kageyama heads straight for the next one beside Hinata, Tanaka for the one sitting at a desk, and Daichi and Suga both round on the last. This one is quick and blocks Suga’s strike, but Daichi uses his tanto sheath to knock him back.

Raising the knife, he sees a flash of circular golden hawk eyes before the two-tone slitted ones of the snake before him take their place, and he brings it down with a sharp intake. The snake jerks away and his aim becomes non-lethal, but Suga’s isn’t so benign. The thrush buries his knife in the snake’s neck, throttling the sound that had been on the verge of escaping it.

Knowing he won’t survive Koushi’s hit, Diachi spins to assist the others, only to find them all straightening already. It had been only moments, but all four snakes lie either dead or dying. Daichi pulls in a breath and tries to flatten out his heart rate as Hinata heads for the door at the back of the room. His hand is closing on the handle when it bursts open and two more snakes push in. Hinata stumbles and Kageyama quickly finds himself the target of one, Tanaka the other.

Daichi’s reflexes vault him forward, the sight of his unit mates under siege enough to blank all thought except what matters.

“Don’t grapple with snakes. Stick with melee. The moment you close a hand on them, they will have a target to aim for.” Kuroo’s voice echoes in his head and at the last moment, Daichi changes action and closes a hand on the snake’s shirt. He hauls on it with all the force he can bring.

If the snake is too busy trying to recover, how is he going to aim for anything?

The snake crashes to the floor and Tanaka quickly takes advantage of his confusion to gain the upper hand and finish him off with one fluid stab to the ribs. When the large crow looks up, he sees that Hinata has failed to remember Kuroo’s advice… but it doesn’t matter much.

The redhead has leaped onto the back of the other snake attacking Kageyama, plunging his tanto into the soft space on top of his shoulder. The snake has no chance to react before Kageyama’s finds his lung from the other side. Daichi sucks in a breath, his adrenaline still spurring his heartbeat and glances at his leveler.

Except Koushi isn’t there.

Daichi feels panic for an instant, his gaze quickly scouring the room. He’s on the verge of tearing the place apart when a sound from the second room draws their attention. They enter to find Suga standing over another snake and wiping his tanto against his shirt with a mildly satisfied expression.

Daichi stares, because homicide isn’t something he’d have ever imagined the thrush being even remotely capable of let alone appearing so unaffected by. The grey-haired setter turns back toward them with a small smile.

“I found the canary.” He says with a wry smirk and Daichi blinks at his poor joke.

Seriously. Who was this guy and what had he done with Sugawara?

“Koushi?” He asks uncertainly and his leveler glances at him with eyes bright.

“I also found the entrance.” He says with a grin and points to a door in the corner. It’s open and Daichi can see stairs leading down below them. He looks to the three younger avians, hating that he’s going to split their unit up even more.

“You guys go ahead, Suga and I will keep watch.” He says.

They nod and disappear down the stairs, the redhead taking the lead once more. Once Daichi can no longer hear them, he turns to where Suga is crouched, studying the snake he’s just killed. The crow frowns.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to imagine what he must have been like.” He says with a small smile. It’s frankly unnerving.

“Koushi… are you alright?” He asks carefully and Suga’s grey eyes find his own with surprise before he breaks out into one of his pure sweet smiles that crinkles his eyes.

“Of course. I can always weep later, Daichi. Right now, I will laugh, because it means I’m still alive.”

Daichi’s eyes widen. Somehow, the thrush’s words put him both at ease and on edge.

“Don’t do anything reckless, Koushi.” He murmurs and Suga chuckles.

“This whole plan is reckless. But I think it’s worth the risk.” He says lightly before looking back at the snake thoughtfully.

“Ne, Daichi. Do you suppose this guy had a family who knew what his day job was?”

The large crow doesn’t know if he should be mortified or awed at the thrush’s calmly morbid thought line. On one hand, he’s happy because it means that the thrush is thinking probably clearer than the rest of them combined… on the other, his demeanor is straight up wrong for Koushi.

Daichi and Suga have barely been standing guard for five minutes before the three are back up, their faces creased with determination. Suga glances their way with surprise.

“That’s not the way down?”

“Oh, it was.” Tanaka grouses darkly.

“Then where’s Natsu?” Daichi asks. Hinata barely falters as he heads for the door.

“She wasn’t there. One of the people said she doesn’t stay down there with them, and they haven’t seen her since yesterday.” He says evenly, his almond eyes fixed coldly ahead of him. “I’ll go through every building here if I have to.”

“Did you run into any snakes down there?” Suga asks.

“We went all the way to where the tunnels let out at the gorge cliffs and only ran into four.” Kageyama says flatly, following his leveler.

Daichi knows what Suga is doing, because he’s doing it, too. Three snakes at the south alarm post, four along the way, one outside the holding cell entry point, seven inside, four down below… that’s almost twenty, and who knows how many more Kuroo’s taken out by now.

The fox had said to expect somewhere around fifty to sixty total. Daichi tries to rack his brain and remember the fox’s sketch as Hinata slips back outside… which one of these buildings had been the barracks again? He’s quite sure there’s probably a good twenty snakes in there alone and they should avoid that one— at least until Kuroo gets back from taking out that other alarm bell and pyre.

Hinata slinks across the way to the building facing the holding point entry. As they trail after him, he pushes open the door and steps inside. No knocks echo back and he’s slipping back out momentarily.

“Supplies.” He mouths and heads for the next building, keeping as much to the shadows as possible, his eyes constantly scanning the vicinity.

Daichi can’t help but feel like they are playing roulette; he really doesn’t want to end up in the barracks. He eyes the other three buildings they haven’t tried yet with misgiving, but Hinata doesn’t waver. They trail after him, making sure to keep a ten-meter radius so he can act as both an advance draw and a distraction for any snake who notices him.

Daichi really has to give Kageyama props; he wouldn’t have near as much faith in the universe if it were Koushi being used as a proverbial lantern.

Hinata reaches the next building, one with light that spills from the windows, and a burst of muffled drunken laughter escapes. Daichi can guess this isn’t the barracks just by the sound; probably their on-site dive. They edge up behind him as the redhead glances into the window. His hand fists and he drops back down out of sight.

“She’s here.” he says in a furious brittle whisper. His next words are nothing but fury. “Kageyama, they hacked her feathers.” Daichi blinks, unsure exactly what that means.

“How many, Shouyou.” His leveler asks.

“Six that I could see. One more at the counter. I’d say at least a couple more to be safe.”

“Well what do we have here? Runaways?”

Daichi spins in place at the sudden leering voice behind him. He can barely glimpse the unexpected outline and his spine goes rigid.

Shit.

“Forget that birds don’t see at night?” The shape asks stepping closer.

Shit, shit, shit.

This is how everything goes to hell, Daichi thinks and throws an arm in front of Koushi.

“How were you planning to leave in the dark? Torches make you an easy target and—”

He stumbles backward with a gasp and Tanaka bursts forth, grabbing Daichi’s tanto. He lands on the snake, driving the blade home and the Daichi blinks as the bald crow silences him. He pulls the knife and hands it back to the former sentry leader and then reaches for another.

His own, Daichi realizes. He threw his own and attacked with mine.

“I vote we not play in the dark. We are at a disadvantage when we can’t see them but they can feel us.” He mutters darkly.

“I vote we move… someone might’ve heard that.” Suga murmurs.

They skirt the back side of the little taproom only to find a back door. Hinata slips inside and there’s a slight rustle and then a single knock. They follow him in to find one snake sprawled in a widening pool of blood, and Hinata steps over him headed for the other door. The redhead peaks through and silently closes it again to another round of raucous laughter.

“There’s a hallway and then the bar. How do you want to do this?” He asks looking up at Daichi. The crow glances around at them in the low lamplight.

“We could try luring a few back first before tackling the rest so we aren’t facing so many at once.” Tanaka suggests. It’s the safer option, but Daichi frowns.

If they dawdle too long, someone will eventually take notice of someone’s absence… or one of the bodies they’ve left lying around. If the cat— skies forbid— bought it, they are flying this mission in some seriously hazardous territory. Daichi wants them out as soon as possible.

“The more time we spend the more likely someone discovers us, and we haven’t seen the cat again, so we can’t be certain the other alarm is down yet. They haven’t been all that skilled from what we’ve seen so far. I think we can take them.” He says.

“So, a brawl it is.” Tanaka says with a leering grin.

“I have an idea… give me two seconds to get out the front door and then bust in.” Hinata says. He’s automatically acting as decoy again, banking that they won’t kill him if they think he’s an escapee, and Daichi can see the dark glower that paints Kageyama’s face. To be honest, he dislikes using the redhead in such a way, too.

“Sounds good. Lead off Hinata.” Suga says with an encouraging smile.

The small spiker nods, reaches out once to Kageyama and turns to the door. He takes a deep breath and wrenches it open. His footsteps pound down the hallway and then echo back from the taproom, the amiable buzz of drunken chatter stalling as he heads for the door.

“Oi, what the fuck?” And then there’s movement as the door opens.

“Hey, get back here, kid!” The door opens again and Daichi moves, everyone on his heels.

“Freakin’ scaleburn. It’s probably Jarda; he’s been told about screwing with the assets. We’re gonna catch it for—”

The snake doesn’t get another word out before Daichi sinks the tanto in his neck, his leveler, Kageyama and Tanaka all pouring out of the hallway just behind him. He pulls it free, leaving the snake to grasp at his bleeding throat, and turns on another as he rises from his seat at a low table. As he sets on him aggressively, he catches sight of at least four others in the room, three fending off his unit mates and one heading for the door.

Kageyama dispatches his opponent and quickly follows the other outside. A flash of orange catches his vision, and he sees one more slit pupiled man grab Natsu’s arm from where she cowers by a wall. Daichi dodges a knife and slips inside the strike to slash the snake’s throat. He turns in time to see the last snake dragging Natsu through the door after the avian prince and scowls.

“Oi, time to go you guys. Our quarry is leaving without us.” He barks at where Tanaka is helping Suga finish off his target. When he’s sure they have it under control, Daichi buzzes for the door as well. As he steps outside, he can see three snakes strewn about in the dim light that filters out around him, Kageyama and Hinata facing two more standing back to back.

A bizarre ‘pkkt’ sound erupts near his feet and he looks down to see an arrow embedded in the dirt.

Fuck. They aren’t invisible anymore.

The other two step out behind them as Hinata drops under a jab and brings his own knife up into his assailant’s gut. Another arrow piffs into the ground by the younger level pair, but a whimper draws their attention. Even if the young avian prince is focused on his opponent, Daichi knows he’s very attuned to the snake who has a hold of Natsu.

Daichi, Suga and Tanaka take off after the little girl and the man jerks her forward and races between the last two buildings and to the edge of the river gorge, before turning back to them. A grim smile creases his face.

“I wondered if that was the kid from Ivoya. She’s why you’re here isn’t she?” He asks and Daichi deduces that he must be the snake that retrieved Hinata’s sister.

Daichi advances, ignoring how another arrow strikes the ground just ahead of himself, the feathering barely having brushed his shoulder. The snake sneers and grabs Natsu by the neck. Her little hands come up to grasp his arm, her large almond eyes welling with frantic tears as he holds her out over the edge.

“Natsu!” He hears the redhead say behind him.

Daichi freezes. He finally gets a good look at her wings as they flap haphazardly— what’s left of them.

Hinata was right. All of her feathers have been cut just past the downy point where they embed in the wing; it’s all but just short of having pulled them altogether and she looks oddly close to what Kageyama had when his wings had gone bald. She won’t even be able to attempt a guided landing; she’ll fall like a stone. Was this her punishment for talking to strangers?

Another arrow strikes the ground.

Their archer must be a novice, Daichi offhandedly thinks with annoyance and takes another step forward.

“I’ll let her go.” The snake threatens.

“Do it and you’re dead.” Tanaka growls.

“Tanpri...” She whimpers.

“We’ll let you go if you put her back down.” Daichi says, attempting to reason with him. The snake stares at him, slitted pupils hard and unyielding.

When a piercing clang breaks across the sky, Daichi isn’t alone when he jars.

Warning bell. Shit. Does that mean Kuroo failed?

He can see Suga glance sharply toward the alert tower as it rings again. More and more echoing chimes fill the air, but Daichi keeps his eyes on the snake holding Natsu’s life in his hand. A slow sadistic smile spreads across his face as the door of the building next to them bursts open and snakes start flooding out.

Ah, hell.

As the first of them hit Hinata and Kageyama, the man lets go of the little girl.

Her screech reminds him of Hinata’s voice as she disappears and he reflexively reaches for her.

“Natsu!” Hinata yells, and Daichi moves to leap before he flinches as another pair of wings nearly bowls him over.

Tanaka launches past him, his wings pushing flat out toward the gorge, and then, as another assailant faces Daichi, the bald crow, too, disappears over the ledge.

The bell rings one last time and then stops, but they are surrounded now. If they don’t figure a way out in the next very short few minutes, they will have a whole bunch more to deal with. If they can get to Hinata and Kageyama and grab the redhead and get off the ground, the only thing they will need to worry about will be the arrows— although he doubts that archer could hit anything.

But there are enough snakes that getting off the ground might prove difficult in the first place. If they can thin them out and avoid injury, they might have a shot.

He throws himself into the melee, hoping to hell that the others remember not to take injury. He focuses on one enemy at a time while still attempting to defend on all sides, but it’s difficult, because they shift between attackers constantly. For the first time, he thanks the Grand King for his brutal sparring sessions. The rookery leader had often encouraged foul play or dirty moves in their bouts, because if they were to ever come up against real enemies, there was little chance they would observe battle chivalry.

The Grand King had been right. And Daichi sees that training manifesting in all of their moves. When on the ground, a bird’s greatest weakness was its wings, something that many years of sparring against the rookery leader’s ‘war dog’ unit had taught them through an unimaginable number of lost feathers. As a result, they all guard them with infinite care, keeping them close against their backs and out of reach.

He manages to take one serpent down and another quickly takes its place. He hears a whoop over his shoulder and knows the freak duo is working as a team and they’ve just brought down another. One, two more go down, but Daichi knows they will tire eventually and their enemy still outnumbers them over two to one.

Oi. Not looking good.

But then another flash of wings as Tanaka crashes to the ground between the younger level pair and Suga and himself, his grey eyes flashing sharply and his scowl murderous.

And there, on his back, clinging to his shirt with a white knuckled grip and feet wrapped around his gut, is a small wiry body with orange hair. Daichi almost wants to tell him to ’at least go put the kid somewhere safer’, but his attention is commanded by the snake in front of him.

The fray around them seems to slack just a moment as soft ringing echoes across the land, the same note as the alarm bell from earlier, long and insistently reverberating. It doesn’t stop and he realizes that it must be the main nest.

What the…were they under attack as well?

He can see snakes pause around them with confusion and he takes a moment to assess his companions. All the avians breathe hard, sweat shining against their skin in the torchlight.

They are tiring.

Just as Daichi is wondering how the hell they are going to survive this, nearly a third of the snakes around them break off, heeding an unspoken order. They melt into the shadows and disappear, leaving the numbers far more even. And as if a switch were flipped, the serpents all resume their attack.

Daichi feels as if they’ve been given a gift, been thrown a lifeline and he can feel his energy levels surge with hope. They all dodge, parry, and attack in fluid tandem, and one by one, the numbers start to slide. Two more go down under Tanaka’s and Kageyama’s blades and then Kuroo bursts from the shadows, his eyes narrowed and lean body flipping into the mess.

“You guys suck at stealth.” He grouses darkly and plunges his tanto into the juncture of Daichi’s most recent attacker’s neck.

“I distinctly remember someone saying they were going to take out the damn bell before they got a chance to use it. We were fine till you woke everyone up.” He growls back.

And then it happens.

Tanaka stumbles. He recovers in a flash and instantly reaches for a wing… where an arrow has pierced it. With a fierce snarl, he snaps the shaft and yanks it out. The younger level pair look over toward him… and it’s a distraction— an opening that the snakes have been waiting for.

One lunges for the avian prince, who sees the strike at the last moment and sidesteps. Daichi would be privately awed at his reflexes if the younger crow hadn’t misjudged his surroundings. Kageyama avoids the strike but trips on the outstretched arm of a former adversary. He’s already overbalanced too far and his wings can’t keep him on his feet and he ends up on his butt.

“Tobio!” Hinata shouts, frantically trying to make his way toward the crow setter where he parries a heavy strike from the snake with his tanto. Daichi is half a step into moving in his direction as well when the snake pulls a second weapon— a dagger, and his mind goes numb.

There’s no way he can get there to stop this. Hinata is already pushing full force toward him, Tanaka, too, but no one is close enough.

Daichi can kill for the people he cares about; he’d learned that three years ago. Daichi won’t stand by and watch one of them die… but what can he possibly do here?

The snake raises the dagger and Daichi sucks in a breath.

And a gleaming flash zips by his head making him flinch. The snake topples backward, a tanto wedged deep between his ribs, and Kageyama regains his feet in an instant. Daichi’s head snaps back to look at Koushi, dread curling in his gut.

The thrush lithely dodges the strikes aimed at him, but Daichi can barely breathe as he ducks one aimed for himself. Sugawara pulls out one of the two keikan daggers Kuroo had given them, but he’s discarded his primary weapon. He’d thrown his tanto— his main offensive capability, to save Kageyama’s life. Daichi’s nerves fray rapidly as he attempts to reach him, to back him up.

And then Suga staggers as well, and when he straightens in surprise, Daichi sees the shaft of another arrow and his heart skips a beat.

Two minutes ago he couldn’t hit a damn thing. Now he’s gotten both Suga and Tanaka?

When he eliminates the next snake in front of him and gets a better look through the chaos, the world slows.

Daichi could fight for his friends, and Daichi could Kill for his friends. Daichi could give up his own blood for his friends, and Daichi could give everything else— his very life— for his friends; what he couldn’t give, was Suga’s.

The archer’s hit his mark this time.

It’s not just a mild wing shot or clipping graze that can be easily dealt with. The arrow has sunk deep into Koushi’s chest, the feathering mere inches from his ribs and Daichi is almost positive that it’s probably gone all the way through and out his back. And where it’s at… it has to have hit a lung.

His leveler’s grey eyes widen just a moment before he jerks, and dodges the snake’s next strike all the same. And as Koushi returns his focus to his opponent, Daichi’s world starts once more, his panic rising and his awareness heightening.

“Suga!” He barks, neatly dodging another snake attempting to take advantage of his distraction. He drives his tanto into the back of his neck as he stumbles by him.

The snake numbers are rapidly dwindling with the appearance of Kuroo to help even the odds, but Daichi honestly couldn’t say how many were actually left. He swiftly strikes another down, his gaze fixed firmly on only one. The thrush seems unfazed by the arrow for the most part and dances out of range of the relentless assailant. Daichi is two steps from the snake, ready to decapitate him, when the serpent finally connects. His blade drags across Koushi’s collarbone and shoulder, slicing through his shirt with ease.

And then Daichi’s strike removes his head cleanly, the snake having no chance.

When he looks back up at his leveler, Koushi’s gone still, a small smile on his face as he watches Daichi scramble toward him.

“Suga!” He says urgently, his hands coming up to the thrush’s arms, terror creeping into his veins. But Suga laughs and brushes him off.

“You really are amazing when you’re fired up, you know that?” He asks as if he doesn’t have an arrow through a lung. The black cat materializes beside him with a scowl, a finger drifting out to trace the cut near his neck.

“I told you not to get hit.” He growls with something of a pained whine. “Not only did you catch an arrow, you caught a knife. We need to get out of here.” There’s an urgency to the cat’s voice when he grabs Suga’s arm and starts drawing him forward.

But Kuroo’s ear twitches and Daichi sees him jerk Koushi backward as another arrow skims by his cheek. The large crow spins, his eyes taking in Tanaka as he helps the younger level pair take care of the last two snakes, Natsu still with her death grip clinging to his back. Daichi is scanning the buildings around them for movement that would betray the archer when Kuroo’s hand closes on his shirt and he jars.

“We need to get out of range. I can’t treat him here. Tanaka’s got the kid, let’s go.” Kuroo says darkly before barking at the other three. “Oi. We’re clear! Come on.”

Kuroo leads them a fair distance into the forest and the dark, their eyes failing them, but they follow with complete faith in the cat. When he stops, Daichi hears the other three right on their tail. Suga sags into his side and he instantly turns toward him.

“Koushi?” He feels Kuroo materialize beside him.

“Sugawara.” He says and Daichi feels his leveler look toward the cat. “How do you feel.”

“Eh… weak?” He murmurs and Daichi’s pulse elevates with fear as he feels the thrush press into him even more.

“No, I mean— never mind. We need to get him to Kenma. I can’t do anything for him here.” Kuroo turns.

“Tanaka, I need you to help Daichi get him back.” He directs.

There’s a soft rustle and a small whimper.

“Eto… she’s kinda bein’ clingy.” He says uncomfortably and Daichi realizes he’s talking about Natsu. He hears Kuroo huff in frustration.

“Can you trust your shrimp to me one more time, Feathers? I’ll be right below you guys.”

The avian prince moves to Koushi’s other side without a word.

“There’s an opening in the tree line right above us. Head east when you’re up. You get up high enough, you should be able to see Kenma’s lantern. It’s about a league out. I hope you know how to hang on Shrimp, let’s go.” He says briskly.

He and Kageyama lift off, each with a hand under one of Koush’s arms. Daichi can barely think above his racing heartbeat, his dread almost suffocating. Koushi has to be alright.

Has to.

They get above the trees, Tanaka right beside them, and the bald crow spots the lantern— a tiny light against one of the far hills. He and Kageyama take off toward it, Sugawara listless between them, and Daichi only grows more anxious as he listens to the thrush’s breathing pick up. He pushes harder and he has to give his former unit mate credit; Kageyama matches him stroke for stroke, hurtling them across the sky.

Tanaka drops back, and for a moment Daichi has to remind himself that the crow took an arrow through a wing; he’s probably hurting as well.

As Kenma’s lantern grows brighter, then clear, then a target they are dropping down on, Daichi sees the golden cat standing by a cart with two horses.

A means to transport non-flying individuals.

When Kuroo had said that, he hadn’t thought it would mean Koushi being so injured. He chances a glance at his leveler and blanches. The front of his shirt is stained black with blood from the knife wound, his skin is pale, and a sheen of sweat shines on his forehead. Daichi nods to Kageyama as they carefully set the thrush down, his leveler offering zero resistance.

Kuroo pushes through the underbrush just behind them, Hinata wrapped around him much like Natsu had been with Tanaka in the fight minutes before. The redhead slips off and Kuroo quickly drops beside the thrush where his legs have folded up beneath him and he leans against Daichi. Kuroo swiftly tears Suga’s shirt away from the knife wound that still readily bleeds as Tanaka drops beside them. The black cat swears and pulls out a packet and when he opens it, the scent of a weed hit’s Daichi’s nose.

“Yarrow?”

“I grabbed some because Yachi used it on Bokuto when he was impaled to stop the bleeding.” He says, pressing it into the leaking cut.

“Sugawara.” He says sharply and the thrush’s eyes focus on Kuroo sluggishly.

“Are you seeing double?” He asks. His leveler frowns faintly and shakes his head.

“Do you feel like you are going to throw up?” Another negative.

“Dizzy.” He murmurs instead, his breathing shallow. Kuroo’s brow creases.

“It’s all wrong. I don’t even know which hit is the one poisoning him— maybe both.”

“Not the arrow.” Tanaka says and Kuroo looks up at him.

“I got one in a wing and I don’t feel nothin’. Just hurts like hell.” He says.

“The cut then. Daichi, what color were the snake’s eyes?” The large crow blinks.

“Huh?”

“The one who hit him. I give him the wrong serum, it’ll just make it worse.” The cat says impatiently. Daichi has no idea. He never got a good look at the snake’s face before he’d swept his head from his shoulders.

“I don’t know.”

“Fuck. Okay… he’s not bruising under the cut and his fingers aren’t turning blue, but he isn’t vomiting and he doesn’t have double vision…” The cat mumbles before frowning and placing two fingers over the thrush’s wrist.

“But a racing pulse. Mamushi?” He says with a scowl and pulls out the two vials the fox had given them and hands one to Daichi.

“Get him to drink this.” He says and turns his attention to the arrow. Daichi takes it and pulls the little cork uncertainly as the cat eyes the shaft.

“At least it went all the way through. We won’t have to deal with the barb being stuck inside him. Thank you whoever invented crossbows.” The cat murmurs as Daichi brings the vile to Koushi’s mouth.

And almost drops it when Kuroo’s hand latches onto his arm in an iron grip. Daichi turns to him with confusion.

“Hold on.” He says with narrowed eyes and Daichi follows his gaze.

A thin trickle of blood escapes from the corner of Koushi’s mouth.

“Suga?” He asks worriedly, and Kuroo is quickly snatching the vile back from him.

“Feathers, did Sugawara cough at all on the way here?”

“No.” Kageyama says and Daichi blinks; he honestly can’t remember the flight much.

“Fuck.” He murmurs more sincerely and Daichi glances at him with alarm.

“What?”

“He didn’t cough so the blood in his mouth isn’t coming from the arrow in his lung. I’m pretty sure I know what was on that knife.” He says with a heavy breath and reaches back into his shirt and pulls out another small vial.

“Yamakagashi. I picked it up on a whim yesterday. I seriously hope there was nothing else on those bolts, Baldy.” He says holding it out to Daichi.

“What happens if there is?” He asks, not moving to take it.

“This serum fails and makes everything worse.”

“You expect me to give that to him?” Daichi asks, his face darkening with fury. The black cat focuses his uneven gaze on him with flat sincerity.

“Yes. You do nothing, he’s dead either way. Yamakagashi venom messes with the blood. It makes you bleed and bleed and bleed. That’s why he’s bleeding from his mouth. You let it go, it causes major organ failure and he will die in agony. It also means I can’t take that bolt out or he’ll bleed out faster.

“I thought it might be mamushi, but his heart rate is up because he’s already lost a lot. You give him this, he might still die, but at least he has a chance. And this is the only option where that chance exists right now. Once we get the venom under control, we can try to take the bolt out. If we can get that far, your leveler bond might just be able to save him.” Kuroo says.

Daichi stares at him for a long moment and looks back at Koushi and the way his grey eyes focus blankly straight ahead. The large crow mechanically reaches for the vial, feeling more than ever as if he’s playing roulette, but in a violent and bizarrely inverted way— like instead of trying not to land on the chance that kills them, he’s trying to land on the one that saves them. Those odds are far worse.

His jaw clenches as he uncorks it and taps Koushi’s cheek, trying to get his attention.

“Koushi.” He says quietly. “Koushi, look at me.” Hazy grey eyes lift up to his face.

“Koushi, my brilliant silver star, I need you to do something for me.”

“Daichi?” He asks with a slight frown. “Dai, it’s fuzzy.”

“I know. I need you to swallow this.” His brow creases and then his mouth quirks.

“I’ll always swallow for you, Daichi.”

For a moment, he can’t believe the words that leave the thrush’s mouth. Of the two of them, Suga is by far the more conscious of their activities around others. Daichi snorts with mild embarrassment on his behalf… and did he just hear a snrrk from Kuroo? If there was any doubt left in the younger three former sentries’ minds about the nature of their relationship, he knows there won’t be now. If they survive this, his leveler will probably be mortified to learn what he’d said in front of them.

All the same, his chest tightens, because he knows by that response that his leveler isn’t all there anymore.

“No, Koushi. I need you to drink this.” He says with muted urgency, feeling his entire face heating as he holds the vial up in front of the thrush.

Koushi’s brow creases and he reaches for it without hesitation, trusting in him one-hundred percent, but Daichi keeps it out of his reach.

“I got it.” He says and brings it up to the thrush’s bloody mouth. One swallow in and his face wrinkles.

“Tase like blood.” He mumbles and Daichi brushes his lips against his hair in apology.

“I know. But you have to finish it.” He says, feeling sick that it tastes like blood, because Koushi’s mouth is full of it, the thrush’s own life bearing liquid. Suga dutifully swallows the last couple gulps and leans his head against Daichi’s shoulder.

“Okay. Everyone into the wagon. Feathers, can you help Sawamura?” Kuroo asks.

Kageyama is already kneeling to help the larger crow lift his leveler before the black cat finishes asking. They situate the thrush carefully against Daichi in a corner, mindful of the arrow, and when everyone is in, Kuroo looks to Kenma.

“He said they should be able to go for several hours. Head for the coast. I have one more thing I have to take care of.”

“Kuroo.” Kenma says plaintively.

“Relax. It will be fine. Just like old times. I’ll catch you on the flip side.”

“I never liked old times, Kuroo.” He says flatly.

“What’s such a big deal that you have to leave? What if Suga needs you?” Tanaka asks with a scowl. Kuroo glances at him.

“I just have to touch base with someone. They’re the reason we’re all still alive tonight, and they are someone who will come looking if I don’t. They aren’t who you want after you, so I just need to check in. It’ll be fine. I’ll catch up with you in an hour and you’ll never know I was gone. And Daichi,” He says, specifically commanding his attention, “Don’t leave his side. And don’t you dare take that arrow out before I get back.”

“Kuroo.”

“I’ll come back, Kenma. I promise. Now get going.” He says tapping the side of the cart and after a long moment, the golden cat shakes the reigns. As they start off into the night, Kuroo disappears. It sets Daichi on edge.

Tanaka had a valid point. What if something goes wrong with Koushi? None of them knows anything about snake venom. And this ‘blood’ one seems horrible. What if the serum doesn’t work? What if there were other venoms in his system? That meant Koushi would most certainly die, didn’t it?

Diachi knows that he’ll knock off, too, if the thrush goes, and he’s honestly fine with that— he wouldn’t want to remain if his leveler was gone, but he hates the thought of the world without Koushi in it. If Hinata was blazing sunshine with all his burning intensity, Koushi was soft starlight in his pure kindness.

He’d always been beautiful, an ethereal presence to him. He remembers as a small child, seeing Koushi’s hair beneath the moon and thinking even back then how it almost seemed like he was a star given physical form. They’d used to stay up till unholy hours all the time as kids, sneaking out to fall asleep watching the stars on a clear night in the topmost branches of the rookery.

Suga had even asked him at one point why he acted more like an owl than a crow since he liked to stay up so late. It had taken Daichi years to find the balls to answer him honestly and tell him that it was because the stars reminded him of the thrush himself. Brilliant, beautiful, purely divine, and unattainable.

And when he and this perfect avian ended up being levelers, it had felt as if the gods had seen fit to allow that star to fall to earth that he might catch and adore it as a celestial light was meant to be. He, Daichi Sawamura, had been granted the life of a star with all the radiance of the entire night sky to hold in his hands, to nurture and protect.

And right now, Suga is fighting for his life. He’s failed… and Daichi doesn’t think he’s ever felt more helpless.

Distantly, he registers the bells from the main nest still clanging in the distance.

Level Pair ; Chapter 1; Chapter 22; Chapter 24

A/N: Well. There you are. Actiony/suspenseful enough? Boring? I've honestly never tackled a full scale fight scene like this. I don't know how it came out. Also, I couldn't pick the quote I wanted to use so this one gets two XD

This chapter is over 9200 words, so probably longest chapter of Horizon (or Pair), and with this post, I've eclipsed the total word count of Level Pair, too. Nobody panic, though, I have several chapters left before we are done ^.^ We are looking at 30+

Ha, I'm ALMOST willing to bet that no one will guess next chapter's POV. Almost. B/c if I'm wrong, I'll feel like an idiot and far more predictable than I think I am. But I invite you all to guess!

Oh, right. So, my brother is coming to visit, and I will not be posting either tomorrow (Tuesday) or Thursday evening. Have a crazy night, guys!

#Level Pair #level horizon #sawamura daichi #sugawara koushi #Daisuga #kagehina #kuroo tetsurou #fanfiction #LONG POST #HOLY CRAP LONG POST

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