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cdelphiki · 5 years

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Flying through the sky was one of Damian’s favorite things. It’s something he picked up from Grayson, he supposed, during their time as Batman and Robin. The man’s love for flying was infectious, and once Damian had felt the rush from jumping off a building without firing his grapple first, he was hooked.

Even more thrilling was flying through the sky on his own, without Batman breathing down his back. Damian enjoyed patrolling with his father. He did, but the man was overbearing and controlling. Sometimes it was liberating to be trusted to patrol alone.

Well, okay. So maybe he wasn’t exactly trusted to patrol alone, but Father hadn’t hacked into his comm to demand he return to the cave yet, so Damian was taking that as permission to continue ahead.

Besides, Father allowed the others to patrol alone, so why should he be any different?

Right. Because Father was convinced that Damian would kill people if left unsupervised.

It didn’t matter that Damian swore not to kill. That he was trying hard. That he had reigned in his temper. It didn’t mean anything that he’d not even used excessive force once in months. All that mattered was that Damian had killed in the past, and Batman could never trust him because of it.

Damian huffed. Father was impossible.

He sat down on the edge of the building he had been about to leap off and gazed out over the city.

It was a fairly quiet night, considering the good weather. Usually beautiful nights had far more crime than the awful, muggy or rainy nights, but Damian wasn’t complaining. He could actually see the stars tonight, barely through the light pollution, so any chance to sit on a roof and admire the beauty of Gotham at night was one he’d enjoy.

Of course, though, life decided to mess it all up.

A terrified shriek drew Damian’s attention to two alleys over. On instinct, he was on his feet and leaping to the next roof before he’d even registered what he heard. Within a minute, Damian was landing in the alley next to a woman, who was pressed up against the wall, screaming down at a man lying on the ground.

And for a second, the scene made no sense.

The woman was screaming something incoherent and the man was motionless. Then Damian saw the blood starting the pool.

Keeping his eye on the hysterical woman as best he could, Damian knelt beside the man and began hunting for the wound.

“Oracle,” he said, tapping his comm and opening a line for the first time that night, “I need an ambulance to the 5400 block of pine.”

“Copy that, Robin,” the woman’s computerized voice sounded in his ear, “And just so you know, Batman is not happy with you.”

“Tt,” Damian huffed as he began rolling the man to his back, “My father’s happiness is of no-”

“Robin?”

“Shit,” Damian breathed, taking in the large, deep stab wound in the man’s neck, “Carotid Artery has been severed.”

How did this even happen? Had the woman stabbed him? Had he stabbed himself? Where was the knife?

Damian thought all this as he quickly put his hands against the man’s neck, attempting to stifle the blood flow. He only have a few minutes, at best.

There was so much blood.

His hands shook. There was so much blood. Blood everywhere. It was hot and sticky and everywhere.

In his hair.

On his clothes.

Under his fingernails.

Damian would never be clean again.

“How did this happen?” Robin demanded, pushing down the discomfort having blood on his hands caused. His hands were the only thing between this man and death.

“He- He,” The woman choked, “Oh god!”

Robin growled, putting more pressure on the wound. His normally green gloves were coated in red, now. Only small flecks of green still visible.

His knife slid effortlessly into the servant. It was likely painless, due to how sharp the blade was. Well. Nearly painless. But even that was too merciful for a man who had dishonored and betrayed the Al Ghul’s.

Damian had been pitted against this man to test his skills and to execute him for his crimes. He had nearly lost by all appearances, when his sword fell to the ground, but of course Damian had no fewer than a dozen knives on his person.

Honestly. He could kill this man with his bare hands.

“What. Happened,” Damian growled, turning his gaze to the woman, who was now sitting on the ground, whimpering.

“I don’t know,” she cried, “he just, just did that. I- I don’t even know him.”

“Robin,” Oracle sounded in his ear, “Medical is four minutes out.”

He won’t make it. He’s going to-

The servant looked down at him with a mixture of fear and amusement.

“Tt,” Damian had said, “I shall take great pleasure in eviscerating you.”

“You are but an infant. This entire cult is insane, worshipping a three-year-old such as yourself.”

“I am four,” Damian had corrected, “and you shall perish for your words.”

The pulse under Damian’s hands was getting weaker. Slower. It had been approximately three minutes since his artery was severed. Chances of survival were next to zero, at this point, and yet, Damian couldn’t remove his hands.

He’d promised Father.

Promised Grayson. Promised everyone he’d be a hero. And heroes saved people.

Someone was chattering in his ear, but Damian couldn’t focus. All he wanted to hear were the sirens, but they were still too far in the distance.

Damian had hesitated.

The servant was not an expert swordsman.

He knew enough to defend himself, but he was not an expert like Damian. He was not an assassin.

There had been an opening. The perfect opportunity to thrust his sword right through the man’s heart while his sword was off to the side, carelessly swung too far to defend himself.

Damian had hesitated.

And for that he paid dearly.

The woman was crying again.

Robin just wanted her to shut up. She wasn’t the one holding the man’s neck together. The one kneeling in the thick pool of blood.

It was self defense. When the servant took advantage of his hesitation. His weakness. He knocked Damian’s sword out of his hands.

He had no choice but to pull the knife and lunge forward.

Swords were a honorable weapon, sword fighting a beautiful art, but they sucked for close combat. If Damian could stay within an arms reach, the servant would have a difficult time doing damage.

The servant would have to resort to hacking at Damian, and such moves would be easy to counter.

Sirens faded into the soundscape, offering a brief glimmer of hope for Damian. Maybe they’d make it in time.

If only the knife had gone in a few inches to the left, the man would have been fine. Still in desperate need of medical attention, but not bleeding out this quickly.

Damian’s knife slid effortlessly into his servant’s neck.

He had learned the anatomy of a human body six months prior. He knew exactly where to place his knife. Exactly which spots to target to ensure a quick and simple death.

Severing the carotid artery was a piece of cake.

The servant fell to the ground, dragging Damian with him, as he had been on the servant’s back as a means of defense in such close range.

Someone was talking to Robin. They were in his face.

He- He should answer. Say something.

Gloved hands gripped his shoulders and gently pulled him back, the hard pressure he’d been applying ceased as he was lifted up to his feet.

Damian looked down at his hands. There was so much blood.

There was so much blood. Blood everywhere.

It was sticky. It was hot. It wasn’t his.

His hands shook as he stared at the red substance that coated every inch of his hands.

How had so much gotten on him?

Damian wanted to be sick.

“I-” Robin said, looking up to meet Batman’s cold gaze.

Then Damian stiffened, realizing how all this looked to Batman’s perspective.

He came on scene to find his ‘murder baby,’ as Todd so rudely referred to him, lying over the corpse of a man killed by a blade, covered in the man’s blood.

Covered just like when he’d actually-

Damian held back his tears until he was in the bathroom alone.

When he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, blood smeared across his face.

All Damian could see in the mirror was the blood of the man he’d killed.

The man he’d murdered.

Then Damian was sick.

“Robin,” Batman growled, a tinge of worry in his voice, “get in the Batmobile.”

It took an hour to scrub away all the blood.

An hour and Damian had scrubbed his own skin raw. And yet, he still wasn’t clean.

He could still feel the hot sticky mess, still taste the blood in his mouth, smell the vile in his nose.

Damian was a murderer.

A monster.

He would never be clean again.

Next thing Damian knew, a cold glass of water was being pressed into his hands. His now bare hands.

Cold condensation dripped down his hands as Damian blinked the sluggish haze from his vision. He was sitting in the cave, on the medical cot, the top half of his uniform missing from his body.

Finding the straw with his mouth, Damian took a long, slow sip of the cool refreshing water. It rinsed down the dry raspy feeling from his throat he hadn’t noticed before and helped clear the fog from his brain.

“Go take a shower,” Father said, not even looking over at Damian from where he was sitting at the Batcomputer. Pennyworth had given him the water, he now realized.

“Father, I didn’t-” Damian tried, just to be interrupted.

“Shower. Then we’ll talk.”

Damian spent an hour in the shower. Pennyworth had done a decent job removing all trace of blood from his body, but Damian still enjoyed having the cold water wash over his body. It helped relax him. Allowed him to think and forget all at the same time.

It bought him time.

When he finally emerged from the showers, dressed in the fresh pajamas Pennyworth had prepared, Father was no where to be found. Wandering around the Manor, Damian found him standing in his Father’s study, looking out over the gardens.

“Father,” Damian said curtly as he entered the room. He had practiced his defense half a dozen times. He was ready to out argue Father, if necessary, to prove his innocence.

“Come here, son,” he said tiredly, motioning with his hand for Damian to join him by the window.

Damian obeyed wordlessly, yet cautiously. Never before had Father started a lecture about morals with beckoning Damian to stand next to him and calling him ‘son.’ Perhaps this was Father’s way of softening the blow.

Was… was father sending him back? Kicking him out? Had Damian just ‘crossed the line,’ in Father’s eyes?

When Damian stopped at his fathers side, he looked out over the Manor grounds and saw what his Father had been observing.

Thousands of lightning bugs flitted across the grounds and into the woods, their asynchronous lights creating a show for anyone up at this hour.

“When I was a child,” Father began, placing a hand on Damian’s shoulder, “my father and I would catch fireflies in a jar and then tell stories by their light for hours.”

Damian scrunched his eyebrows as he continued to observe the gardens.

“Those carefree moments are something I cherish,” he continued, “There’s something relaxing about thinking back to happy childhood memories, something humanizing about remembering better times.”

Damian turned his head to look up at his father, his confusion freely displayed on his face. “Father, what does-”

Father squeezed his shoulder, gently, to hush him, then carried on, “I’ve failed to provide you with memories like that, Damian.”

“I’ve only been living here for two years,” Damian tried.

Father shook his head and knelt down before Damian, turning the boy so they were facing each other fully. “Son,” he said, placing both hands on his shoulders, “I am sorry for what you had to see tonight. For what you had to experience. I wish we could save everyone, but we can’t. I’m proud of you for trying.”

Damian shook his head, willing the tears he felt stinging to be released to stay in their ducts. He was not a child. He would not cry over something as trivial as this.

“You did well, Robin. You should be proud, too.”

“No,” Damian whispered, quickly losing the fight with his tears, “You don’t understand.”

Bruce frowned and brushed away the nonexistent dust from Damian’s shoulder. “What don’t I understand?”

“I-” Damian rasped, looking down at his hands. “I’ve killed people. Exactly like that. With- With these-”

Damian yelped when he felt himself be yanked suddenly into a bone crushing hug, then lost the battle entirely as sobs wracked his body. “I thought,” he hiccuped into his father’s chest, “Maybe if I could save people, if I was Robin, it’d go away. But- but my hands. And-”

“Shh,” Father soothed, rubbing at Damian’s back as he rocked his son slightly, “Hush, son.”

“How can you be proud of me when I’m a murderer?” Damian asked, his throat thick as he struggled to swallow the hot, thick saliva crying had created. “I’m a monster,” he whispered.

“You,” Bruce said forcefully, halting his rocking to squeeze Damian into a tighter hug, “are my son. I will always be proud of my son.”

Damian shook his head again. “I don’t deserve-”

Father cut him off with a sharp, “Damian Thomas Wayne, you deserve so much more than what I have to give you. Anything you did with the league, and as a result of their brainwashing, is on the conscious of Ra’s and Talia Al Ghul. Not yours. Do you hear me?”

“But,” Damian said, pulling away from his father’s grasp, “I’ve done so much.” Damian held his hands back out and looked down at them. He could still see the blood. The blood of every victim of his. Of every death he was responsible for. All 42 of them. 43, now.

“Damian,” he said again, gently, taking Damian’s hands in his own, “You are such a good person, so kind and gentle. I don’t believe for a second you are responsible for what you were forced to do while with the League. I only hope you can come to the same realization one day.”

Father pulled Damian’s hands up to his face and kissed each one softly before letting go and standing to his feet.

He turned to face the gardens once more, and Damian stayed still, staring down at his hands.

They felt a bit cleaner, now.

Link to ao3: https://archiveofourown. org/works/16128005

#Bruce Wayne #Damian Wayne #emotional hurt/comfort #flashbacks #angst #tw graphic violence #tw suicide #not the main characters dw #Damian witnesses one #father son realationship #batfam #batfamily #batman #robin #fanfiction #good dad Bruce #cross posted on Ao3

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rain0205-blog · 5 years

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Terminal State

Summary: She tried leaving, submerging herself in work to escape the horrors she had seen. The horrors she kept seeing. She never wanted to go back to that life. But when the Empire takes her home, she’s forced to face her past. Can she move on? Can she cope? Or will she require a bit of help? still bad at summaries, still working on it. ever so slightly more than slight AU gadioxoc

Her Favour

...

The sky wept for what seemed like ages since Gladiolus and the others had gotten out of the Disc of Cauthess days ago. The four of them were somewhat defeated, left at the chocobo station while they waited for word on the whereabouts of the Regalia. The mechanic from the garage in Hammerhead, Cindy, was on the hunt for the car, however, the Shield and Ignis were convinced that it was confiscated by the Empire. So now they waited around for word but it was taking a while and he was getting a little impatient with it all. In fact, he was fed up completely. After taking on a God - which was not one of his best ideas regardless of if he had a choice or not - they were left for dead with Imperial dreadnaughts everywhere. The four of them had no idea how they were to get out of their mess but lo and behold, that strange man known as Ardyn was there to rescue them; only they had found out he was indeed the Chancellor of Niflheim himself. Ignis conceded they had no other option but to accept his help and Gladiolus was not happy with the choices presented to them, but they made it out and were dropped not too far from the outpost. Of course, they were left without their car and no real way to get back to Lestallum, or anywhere else for that matter. Noctis was unwilling to move on without it and here they were, stuck in one spot.

The stench of chocobos was starting to become so constant Gladio could hardly smell it anymore. They were staying in the camper for now until they heard some sort of word on the Regalia. Wiz, the owner, was letting them stay there for free and it was a kind gesture. Even if they had the car, blockades were being set up all over the place and made it difficult to travel anyway. Then, of course, there was this damn, never ending rain that just put most in a bad mood. There was nothing they could do, they were stranded until they heard from Hammerhead. It didn't do so well with someone who often had to take action instead of sitting around and waiting.

"Look, there's Umbra!" said Prompto, distracting them from their speculation.

Umbra was one of Lady Lunafreya's dogs. Gladiolus was used to the small animal making his appearance over the last twelve years to Noctis. It was how the two of them communicated over the distance and though Noctis didn't talk much about it, Gladiolus knew that it made the difference in the young Prince's life. The dog was usually a welcomed sight and the Shield enjoyed the happy animal even if he never did understand how the dog managed to find them all the time, especially with how far he would have to travel. Gladio didn't question it much either, magic not really his area of expertise. Umbra began to lead them a little way from of the outpost, rounding a tree and then stopped abruptly. There was a woman standing behind it, a gentle smile on her face as she observed them all. Tall and slender, with long black hair that hung pin straight and olive green eyes. Her lips were as red as the ring around them and she was dressed in her formal wear as usual. Gladiolus felt a little strange around her but knew exactly who she was. Gentiana, a messenger. When she spoke, her voice almost sounded like an echo as she delivered her message that the Oracle would be waiting for them in Altissia. Then, in the blink of an eye, she disappeared, as if she were never there in the first place.

Noctis knelt down to the dog and pulled out that book. The three other men were patient as he leafed through the book. Sometimes it would take longer than others but it was important so they didn't say anything. The Prince reached for something in his pocket, composing his reply before replacing the book back, lingering a moment longer.

"What's this?" asked Noctis, pulling something from Umbra's collar.

The young royal stood from his post as Umbra ran off, turning to the others with a confused frown on his face as he looked at his hand. Gladiolus saw something shine there, tensing as soon as he recognized it.. The object in the Prince's hand was a silver chain, dangling from his fingers and spinning, catching the little light as it did so. At the end of it was a disk that had a tree inside of it, amber orbs intent upon them as it moved.

"That's Cia's..."

Gladio's face was stiff, his face unreadable as he remained fixated on it. Prompto looked down at his feet with uncertainty and Ignis turned his face away from the Shield, also at a downward angle. Noctis looked up at his friend a little sadly, before putting his attention back toward his own hands. Glancing at his friend, he held out the chain and a small note slowly. Gladiolus met his gaze, unclenching his hands from his own arms and taking them.

"It was on Umbra's collar," said Noctis a little tentatively, unable to face him.

I'm sorry.

That's all that was written on the note. Gladiolus frowned at it before he observed the necklace. It wasn't Athenacia's writing and he was at a loss. Crushing the paper, he tossed it aside in order to better examine the necklace with the other hand. It was the first sign of her since the attack on the city and he didn't know what to make of it. Only one thing was clear, she had seen the Oracle at some point because that was the only way this would have come to him the way it did. He had been so focused on everything that happened since the trial of Titan he didn't spend much time thinking about the doctor's whereabouts. Why did she send this to him? Did she die? Did she plan on dying? Or had this happened after the city fell? There was no time to wonder about it, wrapping the chain around his wrist underneath the small sleeve he kept on his left arm. The tree disc hung out of it a bit and he tucked it back in there for safe keeping. Athenacia always wore that necklace, hardly ever took it off and Gladio swore he'd be take care of it until he finally met up with her again - because he couldn't think of the alternative, not right now anyway. Looking up at Noctis he nodded to signal that he was ready for the next step in their journey.

...

Athenacia was disgruntled. The city of Lestallum was experiencing a heat wave and it was making others grouchy. Yes, she was still in Lestallum, standing on the terrace looking out over the city and wishing she wasn't so close to anyone. It had been days and there was rain everywhere. The muggy weather only made things worse for her as she was pretty much trapped inside. She would have left by now and come back twice, however, she couldn't even if she wanted to; the Empire had put up blockades and checkpoints all over. They claimed it was for safety but she wasn't so easily fooled. They were looking for someone, whether it was her, the Prince or the Oracle, or even all three, she couldn't be sure, she just knew that she was stuck here in Lestallum.

The doctor had the resolve to stay in the shadows and await the arrival of Gladiolus and the others - just to observe, she wouldn't approach the Prince with a target on her back. Then she would disappear, taking solace in knowing that they were all safe. He had informed Iris that they lost their car and were stuck until they found it. It had been several days since then and Athenacia had wanted to get out of one spot before people started to notice her, however, that wasn't the case at all so she mostly stayed in the hotel room with Iris and Talcott. Neither of them wanted to go outside in the rain anyway. The physician sighed as she went back inside. At least the terrace had an awning so that she could stay dry but there was only so much people watching she could do before she felt that she herself was being watched. Talcott was with his grandfather, Jared, getting something to eat while Iris was on her phone doing who knew what. Athenacia had really nothing to do, living mostly out of her truck and didn't pack any sort of reading material. Usually, at a time like this, she would also be on her phone reading, however, her phone was smashed in all the chaos that consumed the Crown City.

"I think you'd like my brother," said Iris without raising her eyes from her phone.

"I doubt I'll have the chance. I have to head toward the hunter headquarters once the blockade is lifted," replied Athenacia.

Iris looked sad at that, "You can't just stay to say hi?"

"Afraid not."

They were silent again, Athenacia trying desperately not to get into a deep conversation with Iris about Gladiolus. She missed him terribly but was happy that he was alive and well. At least while she was stuck here, she could keep track of him without worrying too much.

About two days later the weather finally broke and the rain let up. People breathed sighs of relief as they were able to go outside and stay dry. Three, in particular, were happy to get out of that stuffy hotel room and breath in a little fresh air. Athenacia, Iris and Talcott were aimlessly wandering around Lestallum only for the sake of being outside. The humidity was going down a bit and not only did the smell of fresh rain fill her nostrils as she walked, but also the food and she was a sucker to pass up anything here. This was definitely, so far, her favourite place to eat. The young doctor was still wearing her boots as she didn't have any other shoes with black shorts and that same pink top she had purchased days ago when she had arrived back in the city. The doctor kept that braid over her identifying scar and her face hidden as much as possible behind her bangs. Unarmed, she was a little uneasy with so many people, however, it was difficult to blend in with a weapon strapped to her back. The other thing that made her feel less complete was the absence of her necklace, the thing she had never parted with since as far as she could remember. The physician was hoping that it had safely made its way toward its destination - however Lady Lunafreya was doing it.

Athenacia still completely avoided anything to do with the hospital an although she had spotted some of her former staff, they didn't recognize her. It put her at ease to know that people she worked with didn't know her on sight. If Gin knew where she was then the woman could easily be in danger herself. The young doctor could not risk that unborn child. Hell, she was still a little uneasy about lingering in the city as long as she had been but had no choice due to the never ending blockade. Either way, there were plenty of other places to go without having to go near that building. Talcott was happily enjoying his snack as he walked in between both women. Iris was chatting away about power plant or anything else that came to her mind, eager to speak of Noctis quite often and her "date" with him when they had come to the city. Athenacia could only smile at the young girl's enthusiasm, wondering how the Prince and his Shield felt about it, or if the younger man even knew.

"What about you Tia? Did you have a boyfriend?" asked Talcott.

"Me? Oh well... Yeah, I... I did," she smiled softly at them.

"What was he like?" asked Iris.

She smiled at her own memories, "Strong, positive. Giant ego though sort of was a deal breaker."

Iris rolled her eyes, "Yeah I know the type."

The doctor sighed, "I couldn't tell you what it was but..." she shrugged, "He's just, a really good guy you know? Always so thoughtful, even when he doesn't have to be."

"That's so cute! I wish my brother was more of a romantic person."

Athenacia snorted, "You'd be surprised sometimes."

Whatever Iris was going to say was cut off by someone screaming. The doctor's attention snapped toward the commotion that was starting in the city. Her eyes widened as she saw MagiTek troopers start to sweep the area. Shit. This was not good.

"Take Talcott and go find Dustin," instructed Athenacia, voice low and eyes intent.

"What about you?" asked Iris.

"Just go," she commanded in a tone that left no room for argument.

Iris nodded, grabbing the young boy by the arm and dragged him away from the troopers. Athenacia's eyes darted toward the parking spots and noted that she was unable to get to her truck in order to grab her weapon or get away. They probably had the exits blocked anyway. She wore a scowl on her face as she tried to get an idea of what was going on around her, however, she was only pushed roughly by someone on her back. She felt a gun behind her ear and immediately put her hands on her head, following the crowd of people where they were being herded. The unmistakable shape of a gun barrel was at the back of her ear, and she put her hands up in surrender as she was led back to the outdoor space in front of the Leville. The doctor wasn't the only one there, other Insomnian refugees and some Lestallum locals were being forced into the same spot. Athenacia was pushed to her knees into the sea of people and let her arms drop after she caught sight of Iris, Talcott, Jared and Dustin on the other side of the semi-circle. Hazel hues flickered all around her, noting the troopers with guns trained on all of them and that their exits were blocked. They were completely surrounded, forced to their knees and making it hard to attempt an escape. This did not bode well at all.

People were scared, hugging their loved ones and crying in fear of what was going on. Finally, the soldiers seemed to be done herding all of them and stood, waiting. Athenacia heard footsteps and out came who she could only assume was the one in charge. The man was dressed for war despite coming into a small town full of unarmed citizens, tall, with brown hair and lines all over his face. A scowl creased his features as he looked over all of them like they were the filth under his shoe. He probably thought them to be as well. There was someone else with him, a much younger man, blond hair and an amused smile on his face. While he was dressed in armour as well, it didn't appear to be nearly as eloquent as the older man. Athenacia recognized him as Loqi Tummelt, an officer for the Empire and a thorn in her side when she was younger and training with Cor.

"The boy, do you see him?"

Loqi was whispering to his commanding officer, quiet whispers, however Athenacia was able to pick it up, straining her ears and focusing. There were times in her life that she hated she was trained for war and now was definitely not one of them.

"He's here. Find his elder, he'll know the whereabouts of the Prince," replied the older man.

So that's what this was about. They blocked everything off because they couldn't find Noctis and the others. Now they had a giant city full of people and the Prince would be none the wise until they were finished here. This wasn't right and it made Athenacia's eyes narrow in hate at them. If they were lucky, the people they were searching for had long since skipped town and these idiots would leave them all alone - before she was picked out of a crowd. The doctor saw them point out toward her friends before a grunt had gone and grabbed the person they were searching for. Athenacia tensed as soon as she saw them roughly push Jared to the front.

"You're the Amicitia steward are you not? Tell me, where is the Prince?"

The old man did not move, loyal to the point that he would get himself killed. The young doctor knew that even if Jared had any idea of the royal's whereabouts, he would not crack under pressure, far too proud of his role in life.

"I'll ask again and only one more time nicely," said Loqi, "Where is Prince Noctis?"

Everything was silent. The tension was building up as fear engulfed the entirety of the crowd. No one would give up their Prince, not a single one of them. Athenacia cringed when she heard the smack given to Jared by the Loqi, exhaling deeply in order to remain calm. Talcott was screaming and the doctor could see that Iris had taken him in his arms and held him tightly, trying to quiet him.

"Tell me where the Prince is!" demanded the man called Caligo.

Jared remained still, facing his enemy without a trace of fear on his face. It was admirable, brave, and caused tears to well in the bottom of her eyes.

"Tell me now!"

No words came from the old man, not even when he was punched to the ground violently. Jared did not remove his face from his enemy, glaring them down. He was a tough son of a bitch, that no one could deny.

"Where is Prince Noctis?!" Caligo was becoming angry now.

Athenacia's face darkened as her enemy delivered a blow so hard she was certain her sensitive ears heard bones crack. This was how the Empire operated? Preying on the old and the weak? It made her blood boil. Caligo roughed him up and Iris shielded Talcott from view as the young man cried. This wasn't right. Jared wouldn't talk though, he was sworn to Amicitia and by extension, Caelum. Didn't this idiot know that? Probably not.

"Tell me where he is or you die!" yelled Caligo, taking out his sword as he held Jared by the scruff of his shirt.

Talcott's wails grew louder as Iris began her own sobbing. Athenacia observed them from where she forcefully kept with sorrow in her eyes before her hard look returned back toward the sight before her. Everyone was silent, filled with fear of what was happening. The MagiTek troopers had their guns trained on all of them so there was no hope of fighting them off without suffering casualties.

"Nothing?" Caligo raised a brow, "So be it!"

Iris wailed as she hugged Talcott tightly and Dustin hovered over her protectively. Athenacia's tears fell, angry as she watched the sword slide effortlessly into the heart of a dear and kind old man. That only caused more screams of panic to erupt from the crowd of Insomnian refugees. The girl could feel her hand trembling, the sound of Jared's body loud in her ears as it fell to the ground lifeless. This wasn't right. His fate should have been far better than that. She saw Crowe and Tash fall to the ground just as this man did, and many other comrades that had fallen beside her. The Empire was taking everyone away and she was powerless to stop them.

"No one knows where he is! Don't you monsters get that?!" shouted an all too familiar voice.

Athenacia's heart stopped as Caligo then grabbed a ginger-haired woman out of the crowd. She was pregnant, very pregnant, wearing scrubs for the hospital here in Lestallum. Gin screamed as the hair was practically being pulled out of her head. Tears fell down the nurse's eyes while she was forced to her knees, the blade parallel to her growing womb. This wasn't right. The doctor watched in fear for the unborn child and her friend.

"Anyone else have something useless to say to me?" asked Caligo, his voice riddled with malice.

Athenacia's fist tightened at her side. What could she do? Too many would die if she tried to fight. The longer she stared into the fearful eyes of her friend the more time seemed to stop. Iris and Talcott were crying as the blood of his grandfather leaked all around him into a giant pool. Gin was next if Athenacia didn't do something. This wasn't right. Another tear fell down her cheek as the tension grew with each passing second, however, no one made a move, and it was because of the simple fact that no one knew where the Prince was. Even if they did no one would talk, no one would risk their King who was out there doing his duty to them.

"Fine, where is Iris Amicitia?" Caligo spoke in almost a bored voice, "I know she's among you!"

That sprouted whispers among the refugees. This was only getting worse and the young girl began to sob even more as Dustin kept his protective stance over her. As a Crownsguard, he would lay his life on the line for her but there were many of them and only one of him. His plan wouldn't work and if this Caligo was asking where Iris was it meant that he didn't know who she was or what she looked like. Neither did any of the refugees because none of them even bothered to look at her. Not even Athenacia, she was observing through her peripherals as she kept her eyes trained on Gin.

"This woman will die if Iris does not come forward!"

Iris let out a loud sob. Caligo pressed his blade onto Gin's abdomen and was ready to attack. Athenacia watched in horror as he was getting ready to kill yet another one of them. This wasn't right, she couldn't let this happen. She was not powerless, she could wipe them all out instantly. That's right, she could take out every single last one of them, but not here or she'd kill innocent lives. No, she would have to isolate them somehow. Caligo was about to deliver the killing blow, just as Iris was inching her way toward her feet.

"No stop, It's me!" shouted Athenacia, sprouting to her feet and gaining the attention of everyone, "I'm Iris Amicitia!"

Caligo smiled, "Finally, we're getting somewhere."

"I'll go with you, tell you everything, but only if you let these people go and leave the city," she had tears in her eyes, ready to fall.

Everyone was staring at her in horror, including the pregnant nurse and the real Iris Amicitia. Gin's eyes were wide in recognition and fear but Athenacia didn't acknowledge her, keeping her gaze trained on her enemy as she was always taught to by Cor. The silence and anticipation felt like an eternity, a warm wind blowing slightly, adding to the hyper moods already spread throughout the terrified people.

"I think that's a fair trade, don't you?"

The owner of the voice was a person that struck fear to Athenacia's very core. Hazel eyes widened as she came upon the man from Insomnia, the one that was chasing her ever since the fall of the city. He only smiled that same evil smile at her as he came into view. The fists at her side clenched tightly as she tried desperately to keep her calm demeanour. This man knew her real name and could completely spoil what she was trying to do, putting all of these people into danger once more.

"She could be lying about telling us anything, I'd rather bring some insurance," replied Caligo.

"Perhaps you sell them short. There really is no trace of the Prince here or these fine people would have told you by now. Let's take the young Amicitia and go."

Caligo released Gin in disgust. So, it seemed that she wasn't the only one who had an issue with this man. The nurse didn't move, her eyes still in shock as she regarded her friend. Athenacia's gaze remained upon her enemy, straining to keep herself from breaking right then and there.

"Shall we, Miss?" the evil man smiled, offering his hand towards her.

Athenacia took small steps toward them, her skin crawling at every movement. There were still tears in the bottom of her eyes, willed to stay, refusing to show her fear in front of this monster. Caligo dismissed his men and the troopers dropped their weapons, beginning to evacuate the area. Athenacia reached the two men of Niflheim and then looked back one last time at the pregnant nurse. She then caught the eyes of Iris and Dustin before turning her back on all of them and walking beside her most feared enemy and leaving the scene. They were safe - for now.

Gin immediately got to her feet after that, wiping her tears and wishing there was more she could do. Instead, she walked toward the young girl, boy and obvious Crownsguard with a purpose. The teenage girl was completely distraught as she got to her feet, still shielding the young boy from the body of the man that was killed in all of this commotion, however, the pregnant woman had a purpose here, had to get this out.

"You're Iris Amicitia, aren't you? Gladio's sister?" asked Gin in a hushed voice.

Iris nodded, "Yeah," her voice quivered.

"You need to get in touch with your brother right away, maybe even Cor."

"W-Why?"

Gin fixed her a level glare.

"Because the woman they just took is in fact, Athenacia Virum."

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goddessmuacheat-blog · 4 years

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elliotthezubat · 7 years

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DEATH CITY DAYS GAIDEN 9; The Dark Era

a loose adaption of the dark era light novel between me and @soul-dwelling

shout out to nkhrchy for translating the novel! [[seriously, go read the original.]]

and now, onto the gaiden [[warning; you _will_ cry]]

*step step step* -a man is walking through an alleyway. it was something he did on most nights at this time. soon, he arrives to his destination; bar lupin- ???: .... *entering and walking down the stairs until he spots someone* -a solemn tune plays on the jukebox- Dazai: *seated at the counter, playing with a glass in his hand* ???: in your usual spot I see, dazai. Dazai: *looks up--and smiles* "Odasaku!" odasaku: *smiles and nods, taking a seat next to him* just the usual please. bartender: *nods and gets to it* odasaku: *looks at dazai* so what are you doing? Dazai: *stares into his glass at himself* "...Reflecting." odasaku: on what exactly? Dazai: "...Success can be harder than failure, yes?" odasaku: sounds about right, yeah. Dazai: "So...if suicide is harder to achieve...then failing at attempted suicide would be easier! Yes?" odasaku: ....I suppose that makes sense. Dazai: "Then let's test it! Bartender, a glass of your finest laundry detergent, please!" bartender: sorry, you're fresh outta luck there, kid. cat: *stretching and sitting on one of the seats* Dazai: D: "What a failure!" odasaku: so, how did your mission go? Dazai: "Failure! An utter failure at that!" odasaku: oh? how so? Dazai: "We got info that some idiots were planning to steal illegal goods--stealing our livelihood! I was lying in wait, wondering which brave soldiers would be there. If we had succeeded, I could have died beautifully! Alas, it was just a dozen or so punks. So disappointing! The only cool thing they had was the bazooka...I didn't even get to die. -3-“ odasaku:... *sighs* any idea who these guys were? Dazai: "Don't know. We caught a few of them for interrogation. They'll be spilling soon!” odasaku: .....I see you got injured again, dazai. Dazai: "Huh. Indeed..." odasaku: how's your leg? Dazai: "...I fell into a ditch." odasaku: and your hand? Dazai: "Fell off a mountain." odasaku: and your head? Dazai: "Tofu." odasaku: *sweatdrop* I have no words. Dazai: "You know the saying, 'hit your head on the corner of tofu, you'll die'?" odasaku: not until now, no. Dazai: "Well, it is. So, I made the tofu really hard to kill me--but all it did was cut me." odasaku:...did you throw it out after that? Dazai: "Nah, I ate it." odasaku: oh. how was it? Dazai: "...That was the worst part. It was...delicious." -3- odasaku: hmm. that's pretty impressive. ???: I'm amazed you aren't laughing at him, odasaku. -a young man in glasses enters- ???: honestly, you spoil him too much. Dazai: :D "Ango!" odasaku: long time no see. ango: well, I was just on a trip from Tokyo. I'm beat. *putting his bag on the chair aside him.* bartender, the usual please. Dazai: "Oh! Was it a fun trip?" *tapping on an empty can* ango: well about as fun as a business trip can be, I suppose. Dazai: "Great way to kill time, too! So, what was the job?" ango: well, the usual things. and when I got back, I heard we got some top-notch cargo from Europe. but when I went to investigate, it was mostly just garbage and the like. odasaku: ah. ango: but there was a nice antique watch. it's a fake, but still nice looking. Dazai: "...When did the exchange end?" ango: 8 pm. then I got over as quick as I could. do as much work as you are paid to, that way I won’t lose my mind. Dazai: "...When did the Famous Mafia Expert Ango Sakaguchi get so soft?" ango: says the youngest mafia executive in history. so, what did you want to talk about? odasaku: nothing much. ango: ah...and you, dazai? Dazai: "..." *taps his glass with his nail* "Yeah. Not much." odasaku: how about you, ango? ango: not really. Dazai: "...Hey...We've been drinking together like this for a long time. But I never hear Odasaku complain about work..." ango: yeah, considering how different it is from our line of work... odasaku: it's nothing all that special. kind of dull to be honest. Dazai; *pouts* "Oh, come on! I bet you got the most interesting job! Spill. What'd you do this week?" odasaku: ....hmmm... well, I did investigate a series of thefts in one of the mafia's malls. turned out it was a bunch of grade schoolers. also had to take care of a small bomb threat. Dazai: "...Will you switch jobs with me?!" odasaku: *small chuckle* sorry, but I don't think that's possible. Dazai: D: "Then I'll go to the boss and demand I take care of the next bomb threat!" ango: hmm.. cat: *streeeetch* Dazai: "...Can I come with you next time?" ango: please don't, he's only going to make things more difficult. odasaku: if you're asking because you're bored, maybe try finding a hobby? something other than attempting suicide? Dazai: "I don't like things that make me sweat." ango: *sighs* so exhausted.. odasaku: maybe you're overworked? ango: *sigh* well, maybe I should call it a night. Dazai: "D'aw, leaving already?" ango: *nods* you know, having drinks here, kind of makes you forget you're a criminal. *paying his tab* odasaku: ...didn't even have time to drop off your luggage? ango: it's not much. just a set of spare clothes, an umbrella, and a camera for work. Dazai: *shiny eyes* "Photo time!" odasaku: any special occasion? Dazai: "Ango returning? Successfully handling that bomb threat? Oh, screw it--we don't need a reason but to commemorate the three of us here, today!" ango: *sigh* if you insist. *taking the camera out* Dazai: "Make it a handsome photo!" odasaku: what's with the sudden urge for photo ops? Dazai: *shrugs* "Time is short, so might as well get a photo now while we can?" odasaku: ....right. cat: *mreeeow* bartender: alright, say 'fuzzy pickles'! -snap- -the next morning- odasaku: *making coffee* *Phone ring* odasaku: hmm? *picks up* oda speaking. ???: "Sakunosuka Oda. The leader seeks you." odasaku: !! r-right. -upon arriving, odasaku nods to a young woman at the desk. mori's personal secretary, shizuka kanei- shizuka: good morning mr oda. mr mori will see you know. odasaku:... Mori: "Wear this dress! Please!" odasaku: *trying not to gag* shizuka: *knocks* mr mori? oda is here. Mori: "Ah, good! Now, take off your clothes." odasaku: *SLAM* ....... elise: *still clothed, thank god* shizuka: o.o; um....mr mori sir? oda is here. Mori: owo;;;;;;;; elise: thank you for saving me from rintarou's dirty minded weirdness! hey shizu! you wear this dress! shizuka: eh? elise: yeah! you're about the same size as me more or less! odasaku:.... *aHEM* anyway, you said you wanted to speak with me, sir? Mori: "..." *his stare is more serious before he walks to his desk--and presses a button* shizuka: *nods and exits with elise* odasaku: ... -the room is dark, save for certain lamps- Mori: "...Has anyone told you to 'ridicule others more'?" odasaku:...I may have heard the term once before Mori: "And that is why, you saw nothing. Understood?" odasaku: I'm repressing it as we speak. (thinking: if he comes anywhere near the kids, formalities be damned, I'm going to tear him a new one) Mori: "Dazai once told me, “Odasaku is a man who says what he means. He said you were hard to get to know, but once you do, you get along great. I think I understand...“ odasaku: .... what exactly did you want, sir? Mori: *removes a cigar from his desk* "I want you to find someone." odasaku: ?? who exactly? Mori: "Ango Sakaguchi." odasaku: *eyes widen* Mori: "Hmm. Hardly as calm as I had hoped." odasaku: (thinking: but...I saw him last night...how can he just...) Mori: "We lost contact with him last night. No signs he returned home. Not clear whether he disappeared of his own accord or was abducted." odasaku:... i'll do my best to find him, sir. Mori: *picks up a quill* "Given your ability to handle such difficult cases, I have faith in you." odasaku:...right. Mori: "Shizuka, please give him the paper." shizuka: of course, mr mori. *she hands odasaku something* odasaku: ?.... !! this is... Mori: "The Silver Oracle. This document gives you authority, even over executives." odasaku: ....I don't make it a hobby to boss around my superiors. Mori: "Really? 'Youngest Executive in History' does have a commanding ring to it..." odasaku: .... shizuka: if it were me, i'd use it to put that bastard ace in check. odasaku: tempting as that is, my statement still stands. Mori: "Hmm...As you were. I look forward to good news." odasaku: *nods and turns to exit* Mori: "Nice models." odasaku: ?? *looks at his guns* oh...thanks. I think. Mori: "Yet you never use them?" odasaku: no I don't, sir. Mori: "Why?" odasaku: are you asking as my superior? Mori: "Personal curiosity." odasaku: then in that case, allow me to personally not answer. Mori: "..." *crosses his arms, smiles* "Then you are dismissed. I look forward to good news." odasaku: *nods and exits* shizuka:....are you certain this will work, mr mori? Mori: "You doubt me?" shizuka: n-no! of course not sir! Mori: "Good. Because doubt is not helpful without having anticipated solutions. So believe me: I know what I"m doing." shizuka: of course, sir. your brilliance knows no bounds! Mori: *smiles* "Thank you. Now, proceed." shizuka: ^///^ of course, sir. -at the docks- hirotsu: go investigate if the deceased had any relatives. leave the explaining to me. -a few bodies are in body bags- Dazai: "Good morning!" hirotsu: *nods* dazai. naoya: *raising a hand up* yo. *playing her handheld and smirks* Dazai: "Oh! Come on!" *taps buttons* naoya: *grins and passes him in game* nyohoho~ =u= Dazai: "Darn sharp bend!" *trying to turn* hirotsu: -_-; mr dazai. we apologize for asking you to come all the way out here. the victims were the security guards of our weapons storage, as for details- Dazai: "Uh-huh. Oh, really. (Jump, damn it!) How were they killed?" hirotsu: All three took 10 to 20 shots of 9mm bullets and died on the spot. The firearms in the store were stolen. Specifically, we lost 40 automatic pistols, 8 shotguns, 2 sniper rifles, 80 hand grenades, and 18 kilograms of explosives. The electronic lock at the entrance were opened with the right passwords. As for how the information was leaked, we’re still investiga- Dazai: "Here, take this. I'll take a look." hirotsu: urk- O-O;; Dazai: "Use the speed boost. Now, where's the body?" hirotsu: they're over there...what button do I press? naoya: its this one here. hirotsu: I see. thank you. naoya: no prob. -the three bodies just lay there, motionless, of course- Dazai: *examining a corpse* "The bullets went through the body..." naoya: no shit, Sherlock! Dazai: "But it was done close-up...That's one good shot." hirotsu:..... TT_TT *he lost* please forgive me. naoya:....*pap pap* Dazai: *glare* hirotsu: if I try again, maybe I could- Dazai: "Get rid of subordinates who are causing problems because of drugs." hirotsu: ?! oh heavens, my subordinates don't touch such things. naoya: and no, the xanex incident doesn't count! Dazai: "Except that gun you're holding is not yours." hirotsu: .... Dazai: "You wouldn't be so irresponsible to carry a gun like that, and you don't have a habit of having one anyway." hirotsu: *says nothing* Dazai: "The white powder and blood stains on the handle, heavy eyebags under your eyes. You took their weapon." hirotsu: that's- Dazai: "Take. Care of this." hirotsu: *his face is grim*....I understand... naoya: ..... Dazai: "...Kidding!" hirotsu: O_O naoya:.....*glare* Dazai: "I know you got this handled! I leave it to you to handle this as you see fit while I keep it away from Fearless Leader." *pat pat* naoya: *fist clench* the hell is his problem?! ...tch- 'youngest mafia executive'...more like an entitled brat! hirotsu: ....one can only pray he mellows out. Dazai: "So, footage of the attacker?" hirotsu: *nods to one man in a suit, who presents 5 photographs* -the photographs reveal several people dressed in rags. to those unaware, they look like vagabonds- Dazai: "Damn. Trained soldiers. Neat." naoya: soliders? these guys? Dazai: "The diamond formation of their walking was the first hint. The gun on his waist is the next." hirotsu: oh? Dazai: "Dude's packing a Grey Spectre--old European pistol model." naoya: wasn't there an old cartoon show by that name? Dazai: " 'Grey Ghost'?" naoya: yeah! that's the one! hirotsun~ you know what I mean, right? hirotsu: wait, 'hirotsun'? what kind of name is that? naoya: yeah, it's way too cute for an old coot like you. hirotsu: -_-; Dazai: *pacing* "Leaked info? Stole weapons? For selling? No...They could sell anything...So..." naoya: ..... hirotsu:.... Dazai: "...I'm thirsty." hirotsu: -_-; steve, get dazai a drink. Dazai: "Coffee. Milk. Subzero." steve: right away sir. Dazai: "Don't just put the ice in! And make it decaf. Two sugars!" steve: of course sir. Dazai: "Oh, and Hirotsu? They somehow entered the correct security code." hirotsu: ?!! Dazai: "So, who gave them that code?" -silence- Dazai: "Hmph. A battlefield will be right here." hirotsu: just what kind of enemy are we dealing with? Dazai: "The kind that poison themselves rather than be interrogated." hirotsu:....you don't mean- Dazai: "We got a name. Mimic." -ding- odasaku: *examining the room* -he opens one drawer...HOW SCANDELOUS! it's ango's sock drawer- odasaku: nope. *closing it*.....*examines a footstool* *nothing* odasaku:....*looks up at the vent* ...hm? *It's dark inside the vent* odasaku: *standing on the footstool and pulling the plastic grill off* *It's dark...will have to reach in...* odasaku: *reaching in....pulling out a safe* huh? {BANG BANG} odasaku: !!! *drops to the ground, still holding the safe *there's a mirror* odasaku: *looks at the roof of the building opposite...there are two figures that vanish* shit... -he runs out of the room and heads down the stairs- odasaku: (thinking: if I didn't have an ability, I would have died then and there...) *There are many paths this sniper may have taken* odasaku: *calling dazai on speed dial* Dazai: "So rare to get a phone call from you! To what do I owe the pleasure? Oh! Maybe you have a joke--" odasaku: yeah. knock knock. Dazai: "Who's there?" odasaku: I literally just got shot at by a sniper. Dazai: !!!!! odasaku: in ango's apartment, at the sunrise hotel. to escape you'd have to either pass the kokuryu shrine or the port district unloading bay- Dazai: "And I have to cut off their escape route..." odasaku: well, I was given the silver oracle earlier today so- Dazai: "Don't. I'll have troops sealing the roads. I'll be right there. Don't pursue too closely, Odasaku." odasaku: thanks. -he keeps running until reaching a back alley- *Grabbed* odasaku: ?! ???: *has a blade in his left hand* odasaku: *dodging, shoots at his foot* ???: *stops* "!!!" odasaku: ...?? -BANG- ???: *reaches for him--or something else...* odasaku: *tosses the safe to the side and pulls his guns out* Dazai: "Odasaku! Get down!" odasaku: !!! *ducks* -RATATATATATATATA- Dazai: *small pant* "What am I supposed to do with you, Odasaku?" odasaku: heh, how the tables have turned. normally I'm asking _you_ that, dazai.....are they dead? Dazai: "Yeah...They'd have poisoned themselves anyway..." odasaku:..... Dazai: "That's not what you meant, is it? It'd been hard for you not to kill them." odasaku:....you have a point. Dazai: "...Sorry. You're in a bad mood. I shouldn't be influencing you." odasaku: it's fine. you did just save my ass just now... Dazai: "It's that motto of yours that keeps you as errand boy: 'Never kill.' With your great abilities--" odasaku: yeah, I've heard it before...but right now, these guys should be our main focus. Dazai: "...Meaning the attack in Ango's residence?" -odasaku explains what happened- Dazai: "...Check their guns for model numbers." odasaku: *examining* ....huh... Dazai: "Huh what?" odasaku: *points to their holsters* Dazai: *looks at the model of the pistol--and his eyes widen* odasaku: what's wrong? Dazai: "I know them..." odasaku: you do? Dazai: "Mimic..." odasaku: first I've ever heard of them...who exactly are they? Dazai: "A bunch of outsiders, gunning for the Mafia." odasaku: .... (thinking: death city, despite being a 'city of second chances', is a place full of all kind of sick fucks...killers....monsters...cultists...) Dazai: "I better check Ango's apartment..." odasaku: well, I did find this...*picks up the safe* seems they really wanted it...not sure how to get it open though... Dazai: *takes the safe--and shakes it* odasaku: h-hey now- Dazai: "Something definitely in there. Need garbage." odasaku: ?? Mafioso: I got a paper clip. Dazai: "Gimme gimme!" Mafioso: um. ok sir. *hands it to him* Dazai: *inserts the paperclip into the keyhole and--* "Opened!" odasaku: huh, way to MacGyver it. Dazai: "Mc-Who-y?" odasaku: ...*sweatdrop* n-nevermind. what's inside? Dazai: *opens* "..." odasaku:....a pistol? Dazai: "...That emblem." odasaku: ?? *examines the pistol* Dazai: "...Why did Ango have this?" odasaku: not sure....maybe he swiped it off one of them?....*sighs* we aren't exactly 'detectives'. and we don't have other info available to us......it's getting late. Dazai: *stare* odasaku:...dazai? thanks again. i'll let you know if something comes up. *turns to leave* Dazai: "Odasaku. You remember what Ango said last night? About a deal?" odasaku: I think so. Dazai: "He likely was lying." odasaku: what? Dazai: "His umbrella was wet. But he didn't need it." odasaku: ... Dazai: "He would have driven to the deal, without needing to use the umbrella for how long for it to get so wet. And his clothes were dry." odasaku: ..... maybe he had a change of clothes on him? Dazai: "No change in the suitcase, and no space." odasaku: .... Dazai: "And why put an antique next to a wet umbrella?" odasaku: you mean the watch? Dazai: "Yes. What if that watch wasn't something Ango acquired? What if that watch was something he owned all along?” odasaku: … Dazai: “He met in rain to block vision and so any audio surveillance would not pick up whatever conversation he had." odasaku: it could have been a top-secret meeting... Dazai: "Then why didn't he say, 'I can't tell'?" odasaku: ...... -someone is getting up- odasaku: !!!! dazai! Dazai: "!!!" Mimic soldier: "Don't...move..." Dazai: "...Tch. Such resilience." odasaku: *reaching for his gun* Dazai: "So...Mimic, huh?" Soldier: "..." Dazai: "Silent type? I mean, how can you mimic if your silent? I guess I should be impressed: no one has pointed a gun at me like this before." *Dazai takes a step forward* odasaku: dazai no! *reaches for him* Dazai: "Aim for the heart or the head. Actually, go for the head. My colleague won't give you more than one shot." odasaku: DAZAI!! Dazai: "Please...Do it. I want to wake up. Please." -BANG- Dazai: *leans back...* -RATATATATATATATATA- Dazai: *steps back, still leaning* "Disappointing..." odasaku: *sigh*... !! your ear... Dazai: "..." *taps his hand* "...Oh. Huh. Pretty realistic acting, though, right?" odasaku:.... Dazai: "I had noticed he was left-handed, yet he held the gun with his right hand, so he would only get one shot--giving everyone else time while I delayed him. Logical, yes?" odasaku:......makes sense. Dazai: *smiles...his eyes look wet* odasaku:....*pats his shoulder* get some rest tonight, dazai. Dazai: "O-Okay..." *sniff* odasaku:...... -a few days later- -at the diner- odasaku: .... Boss: "Constipated?" odasaku: hmm? nah. wouldn't be eating curry if I wasn't, haha. Boss: "How is the curry?" odasaku: *smiles* same as usual. -he takes a sip of his coffee- odasaku: how're the kids doing? Boss: "Same. Glad there aren't more of them, or they'd be holding up banks." *hands him a plate of fries* "Go up there, say hi, give them some food." odasaku: can do. *heading upstairs* hey kids. how's it going? sakura: *brushing the hair of her Barbie doll* shinji: *reading a book* *A shadow approaches* odasaku: !! sakura: *grabs his leg* goddim! odasaku: !! *falls back* *A softball is coming* odasaku: *dodge* yuu: ack! -more antics later- odasaku: kousuke, do you surrender? Kousuke: QWQ "I give up!" katsumi: -_-; sakura: hehe ^^ odasaku: oh, I brought lunch for you, kiddos. yu: yay! shinji: thanks uncle oda! *from downstairs* ????: "Spicy!" odasaku: oh, hey dazai Dazai: "Milk!" odasaku: cup of milk for my friend please. Dazai: *sip sip* "...How are the kids?" odasaku: same as usual. *smiles* those kids could give me a run for my money, let me tell you. Dazai: "Heh. Maybe I should recruit those Dragon's Head kids..." odasaku: ... Dazai: "You raising five orphans? you're the weirdest person I know in the Mafia." odasaku: *pulls out an envelope with money inside* this is for the kid's living expenses, boss. Boss: "!!! That's a lot of cash--about all you make, right? I can chip in..." odasaku: it's fine. you giving these kids a roof over their heads is enough. *small smile* Boss: "...Well, the meal's on me!" odasaku: thanks. so dazai, what brings you this way? Dazai: "That thing." odasaku:....boss, mind giving us a few minutes? Boss: "Just let me know if a customer comes in..." *takes off his apron, exits* odasaku: so, what's the report? Dazai: "They're outsiders. Not from around here." odasaku: yeah, I could tell by the guy's accent...French, I think? Dazai: *nods* "Not sure why they came here. I hypothesize they needed money." odasaku: but isn't Europe a stronghold of gifteds? Dazai: "Why go to Europe, when you can claim Port Mafia territory?" odasaku: ...but why come to death city of all places? Dazai: "They were chased out of Europe by the Order of the Clock Tower." odasaku: order of the clocktower? I think I've heard of them in passing... Dazai: "Point for Odasaku! And I bet someone smuggled them in..." odasaku: hmmm...does the boss already know this? Dazai: "Yeah. And I'm now battle strategist and frontline commander to deal with Mimic...Don't underestimate these folks, Mimic and Clock Tower. We'll get more info on whatever organization-wide attack they want." odasaku: wouldn't the city government have gotten someone to deal with this? like the DWMA? Dazai: "The Port Mafia is a criminal organization. Maybe they want us and Mimic to kill each other off." odasaku:....and what about ango? Dazai: "..." *sips his milk* "...The weapons storage code was leaked through Ango." odasaku:...... Dazai: "To avoid internal conflict, the Mafia gives out individual codes. And--" odasaku: when they raided the storage unite, they used ango's code, right?....you think it might be a set up? Dazai: "Possibly. But I can't determine a motive." odasaku: ..... Dazai: "...HA ha Ha hA!" odasaku: *startled* Dazai: "I had thought it was a criminal organization that Ango ran to--but they wouldn't be convinced by some crying, begging guy! And Ango wouldn't be an easy adversary! So exciting!" odasaku: dazai. *grabs his hand* Dazai: "...I should leave." odasaku: dazai...is something bothering you- -ring ring- Dazai: "...Sorry." *takes the phone, answers* "It's me." odasaku:.... Dazai: "...Understood." *looks at Odasaku* "The mouse has fallen into the trap." -later- Clerk: "Here's the stack room." odasaku: thanks...be careful, alright? Clerk: *smiles* "Not much worth an attack--not valuable." odasaku:...nice ambiance. maybe I could get transferred here. Clerk: "Tch. Youngsters find it too boring to last more than three days." odasaku: *dry chuckle* ah....well, thank you sir. *looking through records* *The name 'Ango' leaps out* odasaku: ... *examining the file* {ango: could you not come any closer? it stinks.} {Dazai: >_< "I want to cut off my nose."} {ango: just put the items on the table, step away and please don't speak unless I ask you something} {Dazai: "??? So, you're new? May I use your washroom? To clean off this stench--"} {ango: what did I just tell you? -_.-; } {Dazai: D: } {ango: *taking notes of the items*} {odasaku: what are you doing?} {ango: one, don't talk, two, I'm taking records.} {odasaku: ah.} {Dazai: "REPORT YOUR NAME!"} {odasaku: !!} {ango:... *adjusts glasses* it's Ango Sakaguchi, sir.} {Dazai: "..." *snort laugh*} {ango: w-what's so funny?!} {Dazai: "You're interesting, but that won't impress the boss."} {ango: what do you mean by that?} {Dazai: "He won't be interested in your evaluations."} {ango: are you glancing at my notes?} {Dazai: "Nope! Not when your face betrays you."} {ango: .....} {Dazai: "These people will hardly last loong, will die, will be just lost money and possessions. Care for me to glance at one of your passages?"} {ango:.... During the executive raid that happened by the waste disposal site last night, there were four casualties. Specifically, Umeki Kouto, Saegusa Shoukichi, Ishige Miroku, and Utagawa Kazuma — Umeki was originally a military policeman who was framed. Shouldering the crime of killing their colleagues, he was taken off the force and joined the mafia. He was skilled at commanding and leading this small group. Both of his parents are deceased, and he has a much younger brother, but they do not keep in contact. Umeki didn’t really kill his colleagues, but no one will ever know that now. –The next is Saesuga. He inherited his mafioso father’s mantle, joining the mafia from a young age. Skilled at settling disputes, it’s said that shops in the turf have excellent things to say of him. His dream was once to become an executive. –Next is Ishige. She was born in a brothel, raising her ill parents. Although her vision was not good, she had sensitive hearing, and was able to hear the enemy’s attack one step ahead of others. The fact that our side didn’t completely perish in this attack can largely be credited to her. The last, Utagawa, was originally a hitman from an enemy organization. After the organization collapsed, he joined to fight under the mafia’s banner. He had a wife and a child, but his family members were completely unaware of the fact that he was a killer and a mafioso. Neither will they know from this day forth.} {odasaku:.....} {ango: I've been gathering these reports in my free time. there are at least 84 records like this now...} {Dazai: *pats Ango's back* "Check out this guy, Odasaku! What an interesting mafioso, to be wasting such talent!"} {ango: please do not touch me. -_.-; } {Dazai: "Let's look at these reports, Odasaku!"} {odasaku: i'll buy them as priced.} {ango: this isn't a yard sale! you are disrupting my work! and it smells horrible in here!} {Dazai: "Like tsukudani? Hmm...That'd go well with sake..."} {ango: what does that have to do with anything?!} {odasaku: he seems stressed...} {Dazai: "You know what helps with stress?"} {ango: what are you two planning?} {Dazai: "Alcohol."} {ango: o_.o; n-n-now hold on a moment-} {Dazai: "Hug him! Then our smell will overpower him so he can't keep working!"} {ango: don't you dare! this is my best suit!} {Dazai: "Hugs!"} elliotthezubat {odasaku: you take the left, I take the right?} {Dazai: "Ango sandwich!"} {ango: don't you dare! i'll call security! NOOOOOOOOO!} {Dazai: "Ha ha!"} odasaku: (thinking: we actually went out for drinks after that....) -…- Dazai: *walking downstairs* mimic soldier: ..... Mafioso: ... Dazai: "...Explain." Mafioso: we brought these guys in from our casino after they got knocked out from the sleeping gas. we intended to interrogate them. we even took out the cyanide pills in their mouths... Dazai: "I know. I had instructed you to do so. What then happened?" mafioso: well, one of their guys woke up earlier than we though...before we could cuff her, she grabbed one of our guns and shot her comrades, she tried to attack us but akut- Dazai: *holds up a hand* "Say no more. I'm just happy he did such a good job!" *looks around* -Akutagawa is right nearby- Akutagawa: "..." *stares* mafiosos: *backing up to give them room* Dazai: If you didn’t have your ability, it would have been impossible to defeat such a strong opponent in one strike. You’re worthy of being my subordinate. Luckily, because of you, all three of the enemy soldiers we caught are now dead. Those soldiers were caught after painstakingly laying down traps. Our leads have been cut short now. If there could have been one survivor, we could interrogate them for all sorts of precious information: the enemy’s base, the enemy’s motive, their next target, their commander’s name and origin, as well as the commander’s ability. What a great job indeed! Akutagawa: "You don't need reports. On my own, I can rip apart such trash all by mys--" Dazai: *punch* mafioso: !! mafioso 2: *saying nothing* Dazai: *smiles* "You must have thought I wanted to hear excuses. Sorry for the misunderstanding." Akutagawa: “Tch-“ mafioso: .... Dazai: "You. Lend me your gun." mafioso: *handing him the gun* Dazai: *removes the bullets, loads three in, loads back the magazine--and aims at Akutagawa* Akutagawa: "..." Dazai: "Akutagawa, my friend is a man who raises orphans. If it were him who found you and your sister, he would not have given up on your starving self. He would have taught you. That is the right way. ... but it wasn’t him who found you, it was me. A man who does this to his good for nothing subordinates." -BANG- rashomon: *snarls* Akutagawa: "..." Dazai: "..." *smiles* "See? I told you that ability of yours isn't just for tearing people up. It's also for defense." Akutagawa: "...I failed so many times before...to use it for defense--" Dazai: "And now you succeeded--great job!" Akutagawa: *hard stare* Dazai: "Next time you screw up, I'll hit you twice, fire five shots. Understood?" Akutagawa: "..." Dazai: "So, today's discipline lesson stops here. Everyone, back to work." mafioso: mr dazai, sir? do you want us to investigate the corpses? Dazai: "Of course." mafioso: *she nods* understood, sir. Dazai: "Be thorough on all bits of them. Otherwise, Odasaku will solve this on his own." mafioso: who? mafioso 2: Sakunosuke Oda, right? red hair? stubble? Dazai: "...Yes." mafioso 3: doesn't seem like the kind fo guy to be friends with an executive... Dazai: "...Wha?" -silence- Dazai: "...Idiots! Listen up! Don't provoke Odasaku. If he gets angry, the five in this room will be dead before they can pull out their guns." mafiosos: !!!!........ Akutagawa: "..." Dazai: "Odasaku is scarier than any mafioso when he's serious. Not even Akutagawa could handle him, not with a hundred years--" Akutagawa: "Bullshit. Impossible. Do you take me for a f--" Dazai: *claps his hands* "Time to work! Let's hurry to settle this fight!" -elsewhere- odasaku:..... *Ring ring* odasaku: *picks up* odasaku speaking. Dazai: "Sorry to bother you, so I'll be direct: got a lead. Rush over to this location, now." odasaku: right Dazai: "The perennial broad-leaf on the soldier's shoe is just the clue we needed!" odasaku: *nods* -and so- odasaku: *walking up the stairs* -someone is tied to a chair in the center of the room- ango: s-stay back! this is the enemy base, why are you here? odasaku: *undoing the rope* saving you, that's what. ango: ... odasaku: mimic knows you're a spy, don't they? ango: !!! odasaku: everyone thinks you’re a spy for mimic, but really you're a mafia spy who _infiltrated_ mimic. they had a sniper at your room to keep someone from finding your gun. but why not use that firepower to take out the boss instead? simple. you lied and told them 'you don't know where the leader is.' because what you can and cant say is decided by the boss. ango:....you need to leave! they planted a time bomb upstairs to burn this whole building to a crisp, with me in it! odasaku: *undoes the ropes* there, come on. how much time do we have? ango: how should I know?! odasaku: *helping him up and running with him* -beep beep beep- odasaku: ....*picks him up princess style and jumps out the window* ango: !!! -BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- odasaku: *cough* ango! you alright? ango:...*small blush* y-yes...im fine... odasaku: how much does mori know? ango: just about everything. he is the only one who knows I infiltrated mimic...b-beside you that is. odasaku: .... ango:...I-in any case, I should report this as soon as possible.....mimic's leader is a dangerous man. he wants to wipe out the mafia. his soldiers are more than willing to die for him...some of them already have. odasaku: what's his name? ango: andre gide. a highly gifted ability user. you cant go up against him.....you're the one who found the gun in the safe, right? odasaku: yeah. ango: it's an emblem. a way to prove you are part of mimic. it took me a whole year to earn it. odasaku:.... ango: conflict is unavoidable now. no one is safe. mimic would even go head to head with the guard dogs of hell. if we don't handle this soon the whole city- *winces as his forehead is bleeding* odasaku: just who are these people? ango: soldiers...remnants of a previous war- -a small ball rolls across- odasaku: ??? -he picks it up- odasaku:..... !!!!! ang- ango:...*staring at several figures...special ops*....*stares at odasaku*.... ango: odasaku:... sorry for troubling you... odasaku: ngh... ango: report everything I told you. the info on mimic is all true.....goodbye. *turns and follows the special ops, tears streaming* odasaku: *collapses* -morning- {odasaku: *reading*} ???: "Is it really that interesting?" {odasaku: hmm? oh. yeah.} {???: "Strange kid. There are so many stories more interesting in this world than what's in that novel."} {odasaku: ....to each their own, I guess.} {???: "Hey, kid? Where's the last volume of that book?"} {odasaku:...I haven't been able to find it. I've tried second hand shops, yard sales, online...i cant find it anywhere...} {???: "Tch. That last volume is terrible anyway! Need a good vat of brain bleach after reading that garbage. Just read the first and second volumes."} {odasaku: but there's so much unanswered...I couldn't be able to stop thinking about it...} {???: "So write it yourself."} {odasaku: ?? me? a writer?} {???: "Sure. Writing is about people--how they live and die. You know that already."} {odasaku: ....} -beep. beep. beep.- odasaku: nngh...huh? Dazai: "Oh, you're awake! How you feeling?" odasaku: well, it feels like the worst hangover a human being could have....did you find ango? Dazai: *stands, frozen* odasaku: .....I take that as a no then...? Dazai: "Two categories: Mimic's attack, and Ango's secret movements." odasaku: so then there's a 3rd party involved? Dazai: *nods* "Mafia, Mimic, Ango's Black Ops. But we have to focus on Mimic, given the attacks they've done while you were bedridden." odasaku: attacks? Dazai: "Six stores, bombed. Increasing damage by the minute." odasaku:...*thinking of the curry shop...wince* Dazai: "The smaller shops have been lined at the back. Mimic is prioritizing other attacks." odasaku: .... Dazai: "But they disappear without a trace--Spectres." odasaku: ...fitting, I suppose. Dazai: "They want to raze all we got. It's crazy. We can send Akutagawa to lead the assault--but...we don't know these enemies' abilities." odasaku: 'akutagawa'. he's your subordinate, isn't he? I hear he's really strong, and even he isn't enough? Dazai: "More like a sword without a scabbard. Needs someone to teach him." odasaku: *nods* Dazai: "Really powerful, really destructive, really stubborn..." odasaku:...do you know where he is? Dazai: "Attacked." odasaku: ?! where? Dazai: "Art museum." odasaku: thanks. *gets up and heads that way* -at the museum- Mafioso: just who are you guys? Gide: "Mimic. We are spectres." Mafioso: *screams and shoots* Mafioso 2: *noticing someone enter* !! Akutagawa! Akutagawa: *already summons Rashamon* "I suggest you leave." Gide: "..." *smiles* Akutagawa: "...Won't surrender? Fine. But I'm not satisfied..." *launches an attack, wrapping around Gide's limbs* "Name. Now." Gide: "Andre Gide. I am here to fight you." Akutagawa: "...And that would be a great honor. But that is not why you are here. Why let you fight...when I can slice off your head now?" Gide: "...Because that is not as your teacher commanded." *PUNCH* Akutagawa: "I know you are an ability user." *takes Gide's pistol, aims at his head* "And no matter how much trash I put out, he still is not impressed...will not acknowledge me. So I have to get you to show your ability and defeat you." Gide: "...That black coat. Outstanding ability. Limitless possibilities. Still...insufficient." Akutagawa: "!!!" Gide: "Release your soul from its sins...or else you are hardly worth a battle." Akutagawa: "..." *he summons Rashomon and launches it at Gide's head, slicing a bit of his hair--before a shot is fired at him* "!!!" Gide: *smirks* Akutagawa: *retracts Rashomon to block the bullet--leaving Gide's hand free* Gide: *pulls another pistol from his uniform, firing at a Mafioso* Mafioso: *screams as he falls* Akutagawa: "!!!" Gide: *fires a shot--at Akutagawa's arm* Akutagawa: "AH!" -BANG- Akutagawa: *clutches his arm, retreating, trying to bandage himself with Rashomon* "How can he do this..." Gide: *guns in both hands* "You cannot stop me, when I already know what you will do." Akutagawa: "...You can read movements?" Gide: "Mimic. Spectres. The undead unfavored by God." Akutagawa: "...Why?" Gide: *clutches Akutagawa, slamming him against the wall, shoves the gun into Akutagawa's face* "No motive. Just to extinguish the ghosts from ourselves. We turn to you. Any last requests?" Akutagawa: "...Kill me. I am sorry I have failed to be your worthy opponent." Gilde: "..." *nods* "Goodbye." -BANG- odasaku:... *reaching for gide's gun* Gide: "?! Mafia reinforcements?!" odasaku: bingo. *picks up Akutagawa* ok, party's over. time to go home. Akutagawa: "No! Put me down!" odasaku: *absconding with him to a secure area on the premises* you able to escape on your own? Akutagawa: "Hmph. Who are you?!" odasaku: sakunosuke oda, but you can call me odasaku if you want. I'm a friend of dazai's here to get you out of hell's cauldron. Akutagawa: "..." *applying pressure to his wound, wincing* odasaku: easy now......!!! *dodge* Akutagawa: "Dazai...said...I could not...defeat you..." odasaku: ....did he now?...listen, I can tell you're upset with me, but now isn't the time to be fighting amongst ourselves. Akutagawa: *Rashomon blast* odasaku: *DODGE* *sighs* sorry to have to do this to you but...*kicks him in the wounded area* Akutagawa: "..." *dead eyes* "Why won't Dazai look at me...?" odasaku:...*reaches out to pat his head* Akutagawa: "!!!" odasaku:....!!! *turns to see someone there* ... Gide: “I had a feeling… that I would meet that ability user in this city.” odasaku: ...I take it you're with mimic? Gide: "I am Andre Gide, seeking the person to free us ghosts..." odasaku: really. I can recommend a good funeral home. maybe get you a discount. there's tons of places like that in death city, you know. Gide: "I appreciate the suggestion--but I've found it." *fires his gun, aimed at Odasaku's head* odasaku: !!! *dodge* Gide: *still standing, gun raised* odasaku: ......?! w-what...? Gide: "I too am confused, as we share something: the ability to see the future." odasaku: ?! the same ability? Gide: "Which means, no one can see your death...except me. Likewise for you and my death. You are the only person who can stop this war." *smiles* odasaku:....*taking aim* Gide: "Just like that. Only that bullet can stop this war, Mafioso. And killing the brain behind the enemy organization will give you all that you wish." odasaku:....*sighs and puts the gun down* sorry to disappoint, but I'm only here to save my comrade. in all honesty, I haven't killed anyone in a few years now... Gide: "?! ...You aren't...a Mafioso?" odasaku: ...depends on who you ask. Gide: *glare* "This is a battlefield--and we are on it. That means we fight! Otherwise, I will attack you! Chip away and weaken our souls, fight with all our strength! In a battle, just one bullet is more than enough." odasaku: everyone has their reasons for fighting. but I have no interest. To me, what’s important is how you want to live on or what forces you to fight. If those reasons die, they will be lost forever. Gide: "..." *aims* "There isn't a life more important than death." *pulls the trigger* odasaku: *dodging slightly, his cheek getting grazed in the process and shoots at the floor by their feet* Gide: "...Why?! Why do you refuse to kill?!" odasaku: ...I have a plan set out. one day, when I leave the mafia, I want to find a nice home with an ocean view, sit down at the table and write. Someone once told me, ‘Writing novels is about writing people.’…To take someone’s life is to be unable to write people’s lives, so I won’t kill people ever again. Gide: "...That's your answer?" odasaku: yes. Gide: "..." *turns, shoots at Akutagawa* odasaku: !! *jumps in front of him* urk-....I don't know what happened to you to make you think like this, but you can give thought of how you want to die. it doesn't have to be this way... Gide: "...We are already dead. Soulless bodies, puppeteered by ghosts. You are like any ability user, an empty shell waiting for bodies to be burnt by war." odasaku:...... Gide: "...You will learn what this all means." *puts away his gun, nods* odasaku:... -a few days later, odasaku is walking to the shop. with two bags filled with food, clothes, toys, etc- odasaku:.... {Gide: "I will teach you...make you understand..."} odasaku: ..... {thinking: there was so much pain in his eyes...almost like dazai in a way....what could have happened to him and these people?} ..... *sigh* {thinking: is killing him really the only way?} *he enters the room* ?!?! *empty...tables overturned, a hole in the wall, marks along the floor...crayons flattened on the floor* odasaku: *his stomach drops* *he drops everything and runs* kousuke?! katsumi?! yu?! shinji?! sakura?! where are you?! -there is a bus parked in the lot- kousuke: UNCLE ODA! HEL- *he is pulled back behind the curtain* odasaku: !!! *running after them* Mimic Soldier: *running, tosses the kid to someone in a bus* odasaku: *running* *his heart is pounding and his head is throbbing* -of all the times to forget your gun- *The bus crosses under the bridge towards the highway* odasaku: *getting into his car and driving after them* Mimic Driver: "...We got a follower." mimic soldier: ....<I know.> sakura: *crying* katsumi: it's ok sakura! uncle oda will save the day! Driver: "..." *turns the vehicle around--towards Odasaku* odasaku: !!! Driver: *driving towards Odasaku* "..." odasaku: !!!! -BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- odasaku: *wince*....*opens his eyes*.... !!!!!!!!!! *staring at the wreck in front of him.....he steps out of his car and steps forward....then collapses to his knees* ah.... -the bus is in flames...there is no way anyone could have survived that...- odasaku: ah....*tears falling, eyes wide*...ah... *he doesn't say anything....he is only able to scream* -the next day, on the roof of a hotel- shizuka: ... ango: .... Mori: "Such a long time...Thanks for accepting my invitation." ango: ... shizuka: *looks at mori* sir. the matter at hand? ango:...*ahem* Thank you for coming out here today. Let me repeat once again, this is an unofficial meeting. Recording or photography by persons other than those involved will be regarded as betrayal and the meeting will be suspended immediately. Mori: "...Elise desires I buy ice cream when I return. Are there any good shops?" Taneda: "Ha ha! Good question...I should bring some back to Internal Affairs. I'm sure if I tossed in your head, they'd be pleased." Mori: *smiles* "Getting your favor...That is something. Your work must be tiring, Chief." Taneda: "Not at all! The stress I feel must be far less than those rats hiding in sewers, not sure when they will be exterminated..." Mori: "HA HA HA!" Taneda: "HA HA HA!" Mori and Taneda: "HA HA HA HA--" ango *sweating* shizuka: u-um... m-mr mori? sir? Mori: "Hmm? Oh, yes. Ango, proceed." ango: *adjusts glasses* thank you, miss kanei. mr mori. mr taneda has two requests for you. first off, that you do not harm me. second, to dispose of mimic, who have been causing trouble in death city as of late. Mori: "Oh, Ango...I have always appreciated your work. I have no interest in hurting you." *smiles* ango: t-thank you, sir. Mori: "I am so pleased, I could give you a bouquet and a hug! Shizuka, hug him for me." shizuka: .... *awkward hug...small deadpan stare at ango* in all honesty sir, I would rather be hugging you instead, mr mori. ango: *SCREAMS INTERNALLY* (thinking: DO NOT WANT) Mori: ^^ "I know~ Now, onto Point #2: I can't promise we can help. Mimic is terrifying and thoroughly keeps our behinds aflame. I would rather run away crying--" Taneda: "..." *looks at Ango* ango: *ahem* mr taneda, the port mafia has one request of you. Mori: "Oh?" ango: *looks at taneda and nods* Taneda: "..." *removes a black envelope and passes it to Shizuka* shizuka: here you go, mr mori. *smiles* -at the diner- odasaku:... *arming himself* ..... *his eyes are lifeless...drained....*...... *he enters the kid's room* ........ *he lights a cigarette*....*glancing at the top bunk*...good night, kousuke..... *he glances at a baseball bat and glove* good night, katsumi..... *he glances at a Gameboy advance, with fire red inserted into it* good night, yu.... *he glances at the bookshelf* good night, shinji..... *he glances at a teddy bear* good night, sakura...... odasaku:.....*exits* -there is rain falling- odasaku:.... *takes out a dollar and plays a song on the jukebox as he leaves* Dazai: "Odasaku!" odasaku: *stops and looks up*... Dazai: "...I know what you're thinking. Stop. If you--" odasaku: even if I do that, it wont bring them back. Dazai: "...We know Mimic has 20 left. Base in the west. They--" odasaku: I already know their location...got an invite.... *hands him the map* Dazai: "...Concentrating their forces. If we gather all forces, we may still not defeat them." odasaku: there's no need. Dazai: "Odasaku. The leader was likely at a secret meeting, with the Special Ability Department. Ango was the mediator. I can't learn more, but it had to do with Mimic. I can feel it--" odasaku: it's not important to me now. Dazai: "...Permission to speak freely?" odasaku: ....no one's stopping you... Dazai: "Don't go. Hope for something else, because it will happen. I just...Why? Why did you join the Mafia?" odasaku:....*looks at him, eyes still dull* Dazai: "...Please." odasaku: ......I could ask you the same thing, dazai. Dazai: "...Hope. Hope something would happen, to make me understand humans...Find something to make me...have a reason to live." odasaku:....I wanted to become a writer. even if it was a mission, I believed if I killed someone, I would lose that qualification. odd logic, I know...but it's how I felt....but that chapter of my life has closed now... -with that, he begins to walk away- Dazai: "Odasaku!" odasaku: *he doesn't reply....* Dazai: "..." -odasaku walks along a street, until he bumps into someone- ???: ACK! hey! watch it, scruffball! odasaku:...sorry. man: *grumbles as he picks his stuff up* odasaku:...you a detective? man: why yes indeedy~ you better remember this face as the face of the world's greatest detective, ranpo edoga- odasaku: sorry. I got to go. ranpo: *pouts* Oi, oi, you’re really stupid to pass up the opportunity to talk to me, a famous detective! Once you see my ability, you won’t be able to not take me seriously! If you doubt me, I’ll show you one of my hands. Let me think, the reason you’re in a hurry to leave is-.... *he freezes* hey buddy... I'm gonna tell you something. where you're going. don't. if you go, you're gonna die. odasaku:....I know. -in an empty building- Gide: "...Hello." -silence- Gide: "...I have had quite the day." -...- Gide: "Trying to...get through it all, you know." -....- Gide: "...I just want an end. I want a reunion." {-amongst the cloud of dust, gun shots can be heard all over-} {Colette: damn. there's no end to these guys... *reloading her musket*} {Gide: "Agreed..." *fires another shot*} {Colette: !!!! *stabs an enemy in the neck* close one...} {Gide: "Heh...Always watching out..."} {-ROOOOAR-} {Colette: ?!?! *exits the shack to investigate* ?!... *she spots it, and freezes* wha...what the....} {Gide: "?!!! Colette! Get back!"} {-before her is a large entity...bearing a horrific appearance. she is frozen in fear, unable to move-} {entity:... *ROARS*} {-Colette and the entity stare each other down...before it snatches her up....tearing her to shreds-} {Gide: *frozen...then shaking* *screaming*} -gunshots are heard downstairs- Gide: *snaps awake* "!!!" -more gunshots- Gide: "..." *small smile, as he takes up a weapon* -...- Gide: "I will come to you soon, my love." -silence- -in the mafia HQ- shizuka: i'm so proud of you, sir! Mori: "For any reason in particular?" shizuka: your plan worked brilliantly... *she smiles* Mori: *smiles* "Thank you. I do appreciate that…" shizuka: ^^; Mori: "Now, how will you show your appreciation~?" shizuka: .///. um... w-well...I..uh.... *blushing* Mori: *leans closer* shizuka: *closing her eyes, still blushing* Mori: *closes his eyes* Dazai: "Ahem." shizuka: !!! m-mr dazai! w-we weren't expecting you! Mori: "Yes. Unexpected." *sighs, smiles* "How about some tea? Shizuka, acquire the fancy cakes--" shizuka: understood, sir. *goes to get them* Dazai: "...You know why I'm here." Mori: "Yes. Urgent business? Whatever it is, you know I will approve it." *smiles* "I trust you." Dazai: "...You agree we should storm Mimic to save Odasaku?" Mori: "A good start. But why?" Dazai: "Odasaku went on his own. This is an emergency. I have members ready to offer assistance but not enough forces. Without their aid, such a valuable ability user like Odasaku will die." shizuka:...*looks at mori* Mori: "But he is a junior member. While important, why mobilize executive to the frontline as support?" Dazai: "..." Mori: "..." shizuka: *waiting on dazai's response* Mori: "I do not hear an answer." Dazai: "..." Mori: "I am afraid of something, Dazai. I think Oda does not wish for assistance." Dazai: "..." Mori: "Shizuka, the envelope, please." shizuka: *nods and hands it to him* Mori: *sets it in front of Dazai* "As leader of the Mafia, I am a slave to all here. Therefore, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." Dazai: "..." *glances the envelope--and tenses...he grows pale* "This is...what it is all about." Mori: "..." shizuka: ... Dazai: "...Thank you, sir." *stands, turns to leave* Mori: "And where are you going?" Dazai: "To find Odasaku." -gun clicks- Dazai: "!!!" *looks* -a few bodyguard have their guns aimed at him- -at the old building- odasaku: .... ???: "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies--" odasaku: *raising his guns* it produces many seeds. Gide: *smiles* "John 12:24. Thank you for coming." -BANG- Gide: *shifts his head, dodging* "I admit, it was unforgivable. But it produced results." *walks* odasaku:.... -BANG- Gide: *dodges again, smiles* "I recognize that look on your face. The look of someone who has descended down our path...Welcome, brother." *Removes his guns, aims--* odasaku: .... -BANG BANG BANG RATATATATA- odasaku: *shooting* -in mori's office- Mori: "Is the tea ready?" shizuka: soon, sir. Mori: "Then we have time. Have a seat, D--" Dazai: "Odasaku is--" Mori: "Sit." Dazai: "..." *looking at the guns pointed at him...sits* shizuka: ... Dazai: "I have thought...Mafia. Mimic. Black Ops. Who manipulates these three? Ango was a member of the Special Ability Department. I thought they were the ones pulling the strings, letting the Mafia and Mimic kill each other." *stares at Mori* "But I was wrong." shizuka: .... Dazai: "...You, sir, pulled in the Special Ability Department to the negotiation table. Ango was the pawn. You sent Ango to spy on mimic because you knew he was a spy for the Special Ability Department." shizuka: ... Mori: "...Hm." Dazai: "This gestalt changes all of this. Ango passes insider information on Mimic. He gave it to the Special Ability Department as well. Mimic wants only war. The Department would see that threat to themselves and the government. So they fan flames for a war between Mimic and the Mafia. They instructed Ango to engage in combat...according to your plan." Mori: "..." *smiles* shizuka: ... Mori: "You over-estimate me. After all, the government is not so easy to manipulate." Dazai: *taps the black envelope* "When we live in fear of provoking the government, and with how dangerous it would be to exterminate Mimic, that has a high price--and that is the deal you made to get this certificate." Mori: *smiles wider* Dazai: *points to Shizuka* "Open it." shizuka: *glares at dazai...but does so* Dazai: "Read it." Mori: *smirks* shizuka: ...'This certificate is an agreement to carry out business as an ability user corporation.' Dazai: "Legitimacy. To get the government off our backs." -in the old building, gunshots ring out- Gide: *aims again* -BANG BANG- odasaku:...... Gide: *grabs Odasaku's elbow* -bang bang bang- odasaku: ... Gide: *aims again, pulls the trigger--* -mafiosos burst in, along with mimic soldiers. a storm of bullets rings out- odasaku: .... Gide: *entangles his arms in Odasaku's--to aim at the opponents behind him* odasaku: .... Gide: *small pant* "How is it, Sakunosuke?" odasaku:....why do you seek the heat of battle this much? Gide: "Why did you stop killing?" odasaku: well....I wanted to become a writer. Gide: "...That should be possible for you." odasaku:...perhaps. in some other world....I spoke to someone. That person gave me a novel, the last volume of the novel I’d been searching for. Before I read it, he even told me that it was a terrible book... Gide: "And how was the ending?" odasaku: ... the ending?....it was wonderful. -in mori's office- shizuka:.. Dazai: "Two years ago, you ordered Ango to Europe to cover information on Mimic. And it was your work to bring Mimic here, to oppose the government--" Mori: *holds up a hand* "I do not dispute. But I ask: what is wrong with what I have done?" Dazai: "..." Mori: "Look at the results. The Mafia is now recognized by the government, despite our illegal actions. Sakunosuke is exterminating those thugs. Why are you angry?" Dazai: "..." shizuka:... Dazai: "I just...I can't accept this. The one who informed Mimic where Odasaku raised orphans...was you. No one else knew. You killed...children. All to motivate Odasaku." Mori: "..." *nods* shizuka:.... he had his reasons. Dazai: "..." *stares at Shizuka* "Because he's so logical, yes? That's why, isn't it?" shizuka:...yes. Dazai: "...He just said that, for the sake of the Mafia, he would sacrifice the one." *stands and turns* "When will he sacrifice you?" shizuka: whatever it is he decides. no matter what action he takes, I will stay by mr mori's side, through and through. Mori: *smiles* Dazai: "..." *walks to the door* -...- odasaku: there was one line in that book that stuck with me. '“Humans live to save themselves. They will understand this before they die' -I remember the name of that man now...Souseki Natsume...the same author as that book- Gide: "..." *nods* "Would you believe I was once a hero?" odasaku: oh? Gide: "I thought, as a soldier, I was to die for my home. I did as ordered...and did not know my mission was planned to come after the peace talks concluded...making my actions a war crime." odasaku: ... Gide: "To escape...to survive...we donned our enemies' outfits, armed ourselves with their weapons...the Grey Spectres." odasaku: ... Gide: "War criminals, posed as our dead enemies...Many killed themselves. But some refused. If fighting is all you know, then you fight. Just need new battlefields..." odasaku:...hence the name 'mimic'. Gide: *smiles* "You're learning." odasaku:....you said something earlier...about 'making me understand the pain of loss'....you lost someone as well...didn't you...? Gide: "...Yes." odasaku: ...and what was this person like? Gide: "...Noble. Resourceful. Damn good with a musket." odasaku: ....and what happened to them? Gide: "What happens to us all." odasaku:....*closes his eyes* that's rough, buddy. Gide: "Indeed." odasaku: wasn't there some other way? Gide: "The realities of war. And the realities of death. Death itself haunts me...but will not give me peace." odasaku: oh.... perhaps....in some other world....the two of us could have been friends. Gide: "...You are writing that story." odasaku: ....I do have one regret in this moment. I wasn't able to say goodbye to my friend. In this world, there’s a man who has always considered me as a ‘normal friend’. He had grown tired with this world. Gide: "Like me, another who seeks death?" odasaku:....I don't think so. At the beginning, I thought you and Dazai were very similar, unable to see the value of your life, hoping for death, hence jumping into a world of violence and fighting. But that’s not the case. That guy is just a child who’s too smart. Just a crying child who’s been left alone in the darkness, a world of nothingness far emptier than the world we can see... Gide: "..." odasaku:...this person you lost...who were they? what was their name? Gide: "..Her name was Colette." odasaku:...*smiles* I see... I'm sure she'll be happy to see you again. Gide: "..." odasaku:....*taking a breath* -BANG BANG- Gide: “…even your last shot…was perfect…” -the two collapse- ???: "Odasaku!" odasaku: ..... Dazai: "Odasaku!" *rushes to him* odasaku:.... Dazai: *spots the wound...it is fatal* "Idiot...You're an idiot!" odasaku: yeah....I guess I am... Dazai: "Following this man to death...Idiot..." odasaku:...*smiles* hey...dazai....I want to tell you something. Dazai: "Shh...No. We're saving you--" odasaku: *grasps him by the side of his face, holding onto his hair* listen. You once said that “If you immerse yourself in a world of violence and blood, perhaps you would be able to find a reason to live on.” … Dazai: "...Yes. But that sort of thing now--" odasaku: you wont find it. You should know this yourself. No matter whether you’re on the side of killing people or saving people, there will never be anything that can surpass your mind. There is no place in this world that can fill your loneliness. You will linger in the darkness forever. Dazai: "..." *holds Odasaku's hand* "...What should I do?" odasaku: ...be on the side that saves people. if both are the same, then be a good person. save those who are weak, protect those who are orphaned. good and evil have no real meaning to you, but doing that would be better. Dazai: "H-How can you know this?" odasaku: I know better than anyone else....*smiles* because i'm your friend, osamu. Dazai: "..." *nods* "I-I understand. I will do that." odasaku: 'Humans live to save themselves. They will understand this before they die.’...huh...how true.... -odasaku closes his eyes...never to open them again- Dazai: …… -time passes on…- ???: "Just a few hours until landing." ango: yes, yes, I know. ???: "...Photos of the next target?" ango: no no...personal photos.... *staring out the window* ???: "..." -underground- mimic soldier: URK- Mimic #2: *trying to escape* *SLASH SLASH* mimic 3: *laying dead* Akutagawa: "...Useless. This will not make him acknowledge me." mimic 4: *screams and shoots* Akutagawa: *impales...and brings #4 to him* "...Will he ever acknowledge me?" -morning, at a grave- Dazai: "..." *holds white flowers* "...The photo...I'll leave it here." *sets it at the epitaph* "...I wanted you to try that hard tofu” *closes his eyes*"...Odasaku..." -...- shizuka: mr mori. dazai hasn't responded in two weeks. i'll schedule a five-executive meeting to determine a replacement...I-if needed. Mori: *examining a paper: 'Silver Oracle'* "Leave it unoccupied." shizuka: ...r-right. and what do we tell mr nakahara? Mori: *folds the paper into an airplane* "Tell him he's short." shizuka:....understood. -in a certain restaurant- cat: zzzz Taneda: *sips a glass* "..." ???: To think, the leading figure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs drinks alone in such a cheap bar… What incomparable loneliness, Chief Taneda. Taneda: "...And you are--" Dazai: "Pouring you a drink." Taneda: "...Your face is well known to us." Dazai: "Makes for a great job app." Taneda: "..." Dazai: owo Taneda: "You want to work for the gov--" Dazai: "Nope. Too many rules. And, you know, I actually want to _help_ people." Taneda: "...You have a red ledger. To clean it, need at least two years." Dazai: "And where could I work?" Taneda: "...I have one place in mind." cat: *mreeeow* Dazai: "..." *holds hand near the cat* cat: =u= Dazai: *pet pet* Taneda: "...It's an ability users organization, called--" --- Colette: .... Gide: "Wh-Where--" Colette: ?!! *she turns* andre? Gide: "...Colette?" colette:.... *she hugs him tightly* I missed you...you know... Gide: *shocked...but hugs her* colette: *smiling, tears falling* Gide: "I...I can't believe it..." colette: just like old times, huh? Gide: "..." *shakes his head* "No..." *holds her hand* "This is...better." colette: *smiles* yeah...I could get used to this... Gide: "..." *holds her* colette: *small kiss* Gide: *returns the kiss*

#death city days

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