#sneko | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

clonemando · 3 months

Text

And Threes Makes Three

Rex and Wolffe finally get to bring home the Cadet they're adopting together.

or read it here, under the cut:

important tags:

CT-7567 | Rex/CC-3636 | Wolffe

implied Alpha-17/Obi-Wan Kenobi/ARC-77 | Fordo

Adoption

Domestic Fluff

Rex and Wolffe adopt a Cadet Together

Disabilities

Cloneshipping | Clone Trooper/Clone Trooper Relationships (Star Wars)

Canon Divergence - Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Order 66 Didn't Happen (Star Wars)

Anakin Skywalker Faces Consequences

Obi-Wan Kenobi Raises Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker

Wolffe squeezed Rex’s hand nervously as they walked into a busy office in the new Jedi temple. There were already clones and Jedi waiting in seats to be called and a few in line ahead of them to talk to the receptionists to check in.

“Hello, I’m Ja’nari, how can I help you today?” A nice human looking Jedi asked, brown hair clipped back to stay out of her face.

“I’m Commander Wolffe and this is my husband Rex. We, uh, have an appointment about adopting a cadet?” He said feeling his heart flip a few times in his chest and Rex squeezed his hand back.

“Oh, yes! You’re here about Threes. He’s part of Sneko Clan right now, I remember Arlena mentioning he might be being adopted soon. Here, fill this out and bring it back when you’re finished and we’ll get you in soon.” She said handing them a datapad which Rex took and gestured to the seats nearby before calling up the next group in line.

Sitting down Wolffe peeked at the form as Rex started to fill everything out. “Didn’t we already fill this out last time we were here?” He asked, remembering they had been made to fill out enough paperwork to supply two full battalions and they would know. It had taken ages and been exhausting to try to figure some of the questions out since the forms had seemed to be meant for natborns.

“These are different and there’s only two. I think it’s just finalizing stuff to make sure nothing has changed since the last time we were here.” Rex said finishing up easily enough and returning the pad to Ja’nari before returning to sit next to Wolffe.

Wolffe fidgeted. “What if Fox was right? I might not be good at this Rex. I-” He whispered but Rex knocked their shoulders together.

“Firstly, Fox apologized for that already and only said that because you provoked him. Secondly, Fox's opinion doesn’t actually matter in the end, only ours, even if he did actually think the things he said, which I know for a fact he does not. Wolffe, we went over this like a hundred times already. You like Threes. I like Threes. Threes likes both of us. We have the space and money and time to take care of him. We’ve both taken care of entire battalions before. We can take care of one single cadet.” He reminded him. Wolffe snorted.

“You make everything sound so simple and logical… Did you steal those lines from Gen- Master Koon?” He teased and it was Rex’s turn to snort.

“I have my own good ideas from time to time you know. I definitely didn’t get them from my own General after all.” He huffed but his expression twisted at the reminder of Skywalker and Wolffe wrapped an arm around his shoulder and squeezed letting Rex lean his head against him.

After Palpatine had been dealt with, Skywalker had pretty much lost his mind. He wanted Fox and Cody tried for treason even with news that they had saved Obi-Wan’s life and that the Chancellor had been a Sith available. When the Council refused he had planned to go after them himself but he had gone to ask Fives for help and Fives had commed Rex who had in turn warned Fox and Cody and got help from the other Jedi.

The confrontation had been nasty because somehow Senator Amidala had found out and showed up to confront her husband and a whole load of new information had been spilled about Anakin having killed an entire tribe back on Tatooine before the war and Padme helping him over it up. Skywalker had accused her of sleeping with Kenobi, force choked her, and then started fighting Mace and Kit who had shown up to stop him.

Rex had managed to draw his attention when he realized that his General’s power was even too much for the pair of Jedi to handle on their own and Fives had shot him with three stun blasts before he went down.

Wolffe had been helping with a relief mission and hadn’t heard anything until Rex commed him later and told him everything through his tears. They didn’t find out until later that Padme had gone into an early labor due to the stress and given birth to twins. Once she had recovered, Padme had apparently planned on giving the pair up for adoption since Anakin had been arrested and she had been forced to give up her seat in the Senate as her own crimes came to light while Anakin’s were investigated.

Obi-Wan was a mess but as Anakin’s once legal guardian and a close friend of Padme’s he had offered to take the kids in once it was known that Padme’s family weren’t interested in claiming the children born of their child’s lies. Alpha-17 and Fordo had both stepped up and offered to help.

Wolffe hadn’t heard anything about it until he had returned from the scouting mission he was on with Plo looking at different planets that might work for the clones. Rex had nearly tackled him off the platform as he was leaving the ship and started crying until Wolffe had been able to get him somewhere private and coax the story from him.

“Commanders Wolffe and Rex?” The receptionist calling them dragged Wolffe from his memories and he and Rex stood to walk back over to the counter where they were directed to walk through a door to the right and then down the hall to the last door. The office they arrived at belonged to the Besalisk Jedi who was dealing with their case, Master Arlena. “Wolffe, Rex! Good to see you! Come in and sit! I have good news!” She said using a pair of arms to guide them into the room while another closed the door behind them.

“We were approved?” Rex asked and she nodded with a wide grin.

“You were! Obviously things are different for the clone cadets and how adoption is working for them especially for other clones and Jedi who are interested but everything went through smoothly. I have some papers for you to add to your files but after you leave here tonight you can pick Threes up from Sneko Clan and take him home. I already called ahead and let the creche master know.” She assured them and started to spread out some papers across her desk explaining they had Threes get a full medical work up and had all his information available for them, and it was in the Temple’s system.

“Obviously Threes’ disabilities means he has regular check ups but I’m sure you’re used to dealing with Wolffe’s own appointments. He’s already enrolled in classes so you won’t have to worry about his schooling. The first home check will be next month but you both have all the numbers on this page here if you need any help at all before then. Remember there’s no shame in asking for help but letting issues fester will only lead to them getting worse with time. Do you have any questions for me?” She asked and Wolffe looked at Rex who was looking over the documents they’d be taking with them, eyes looking a little red.

“No ma’am. We’re excited to show Threes his new home. Our batchmates are already planning a party if Threes agrees to it. Everyone is really excited to meet him.” Wolffe said and she stood.

“In that case, congratulations and don’t let me keep you! Reach out for anything, I’m happy to help and it’s been a joy helping you both and Threes find each other.” She said shaking their hands as she ushered them out at a friendly pace but Wolffe knew that with the number of cadets they were still trying to get homed and how bust the office was she likely didn’t have time to dawdle.

Leaving the office felt like a blur and soon he and Rex were just standing in the middle of a hallway in the temple staring at each other.

“We… that… Did we really?” Rex asked as the tears finally spilled over even as his lips kept twitching up into a grin and Wolffe found his own smile catching before he dragged Rex in for a desperate kiss.

“We’re parents now. We have our own kid. Threes gets to come home with us!” He cheered and Rex started laughing breathlessly along with him.

“We should go get him then! Classes will be out in another hour. We can surprise him and stop by the shops to get ice cream on the way home.” Rex suggested and Wolffe nodded both of them holding hands as they hurried off toward where they knew Threes’ clan was so they could collect him after his class.

(line break)

Threes bit his lip as he hugged his plush loth-wolf tightly. It had been a gift from Commander Wolffe after the second time they met and it was so soft and warm it helped when Threes got overwhelmed. He especially liked that Rex had helped him switch out one of the wolf’s eyes and sew the fabric so it looked like Commander Wolffe’s eye did.

The day had been rough from the start. Firstly one of his clan mates had stolen his loth-wolf from his that morning and refused to give it back until Threes had gone to tell the creche master about it then they had spent the day calling him a tattle-tale and giving him a grumpy look since they had gotten a talking to. After mid-meal no one had wanted him on their team for their sword fighting games because of his messed up hands so he had ended up sitting alone in the garden until it was time to return to classes. Then he had to take the class with his least favorite teacher, Mr Frellin. He wasn’t mean but Threes felt like he had some sort of grudge against him because he always insisted on Threes having to write all his assignments by hand. Technically Threes could write on his own thanks to the surgeries that had been done and the fact he did have three usable fingers on each hand but it caused his hands to cramp up if he had to do it for long stretches of time and it hurt.

His other teachers let him dictate his assignments to helper droids where it would get printed out instead. He didn’t understand why Mr Frellin insisted on making things harder for him when there was an easier way but the man insisted he was doing it for Threes’ own good and that he’d thank him for it in the future.

Then as they were walking back to their rooms the same bully from earlier had finally poked the wrong nerve reminding Threes that Rex and Wolffe hadn’t been by to visit in over a month now and that they had probably gotten bored of him. Threes had tackled him and they had fought until the Creche master dragged them apart and sent both of them to their rooms where a nurse had eventually come to check on him and then check on the bully to make sure neither of them had been badly hurt.

“Well we were going to get ice cream but that might be considered reinforcing bad behavior.” Rex’s voice broke through Threes’ moping and he immediately jumped up to throw his arms around Rex and hug him.

“You saw the kid’s form Rex, we should be encouraging a good tackle like that and it’s not like I haven’t done worse to Fox in our own scuffles. At least he didn’t bite the other kid.” Wolffe cut in and wrapped Threes in another hug from behind.

“You came back!” He said squeezing as tightly as he could and Rex ran his fingers through Threes’ hair gently.

“Of course we did, did you think we wouldn’t? We told you we were going to adopt you. Sorry it took so long. The data-forms were all made for natborns and took twice as long to process as we expected.” Rex sighed.

“I wasn’t sure if you really meant it. Lots of people say things and don’t mean them.” Threes murmured softly. Alpha-17 had promised that Threes wouldn’t get separated from his batch after all and yet Ka’ra Squad had been separated as soon as they were all brought to the temple.

“We meant it, kid. We’re actually here because it’s all done. You’re coming home with us, if you haven’t changed your mind that is?” Wolffe asked and Threes looked up at him with wide hopeful eyes.

“Really?! I… I get to go with you?” He asked and Rex nodded with a smile.

“As of today we are officially your buir’e. You’re stuck with us. Unfortunately for you Wolffe snores so snuggling in our bed in the middle of the night won’t help you sleep. But he can make a mean hoth-chocolate so I forgive him.” Rex teased and Wolffe rolled his eyes.

Threes moved to latch onto Wolffe in a hug next and Rex started moving around to gather up Threes things from the room packing them in a bag he had brought with him.

“We’re going out for ice cream to celebrate and then we’ll get you settled in your new room. Since its Primeday you have a few days before you need to be in class again. Our vode want to meet you too if you’re okay with it. Cody and my twin Fox are here for the next few weeks visiting so they offered to stop by for a little party but we wanted to make sure you were okay with it first.

“Cody? You mean like… the Commander Cody of the 7th sky? Of course I want to meet him! He’s the coolest clone in the whole GAR! He punched Grievous in the face and helped kill the Sith lord!Who wouldn’t want to meet Cody?!” He asked bouncing now and both Rex and Wolffe shared a look Threes didn’t understand over his head but he didn’t care. He got to meet Cody!

“Way to make the rest of us feel loved kiddo.” Wolffe huffed and Threes rolled his eyes at him.

“I mean you and Rex are cool too but Commander Cody is a legend!” He continued to babble away scooping up his loth-wolf to hug as Rex finished packing and slung the bag over his shoulder.

“I’m sure Cody will love you too twerp. He’s actually a nerd though so don’t set your hopes too high. His name isn’t Cody for no reason.” Rex huffed a laugh as they started leading Threes out.

“Isn’t it like another version of Kote? Like Glory?” Threes asked and Wolffe started laughing while Rex’s lips twitched.

“He might tell you that but it started off as Codes because he kept whispering the reg codes in his sleep.” Wolffe told him while Threes gaped at him.

“What?! No way! That’s… so lame!” He squeaked, not sure if they were telling him the truth or not but just happy to get to spend time with them again… his parents. The thought made him beam and hug Wolffe again, stopping their movement for a moment before Wolffe just scooped him up under one arm and kept moving, making Threes giggle.

“You won’t make me late for ice cream kid, not even with hugs.” Wolffe hummed and Rex shook his head fondly.

“We have all the time in the galaxy now. You can’t be late when there’s no deadline.” Rex pointed out and Threes felt like his heart was going to explode from just how happy that thought made him.

They had forever now.

#CT-7567 | Rex/CC-3636 | Wolffe #implied Alpha-17/Obi-Wan Kenobi/ARC-77 | Fordo #Adoption #Domestic Fluff #Rex and Wolffe adopt a Cadet Together #star wars tcw #star wars #fanfic #the clone wars #tcw #my writing #fluff #sw tcw #captain rex #Commander Wolffe #Cloneshipping | Clone Trooper/Clone Trooper Relationships (Star Wars)

11 notes · View notes

writtenwyrm · 2 years

Text

The Ascension

A Slay the Spire story, part 19

All Parts

“—told you it would work!”

“—stupid locket belonged to the last one—“

“—Cull will rewards us good for—“

Voices filtered through the bag on my head as I drifted back into consciousness. Rough, angry voices, full of glee. I was being carried like a carcass, hands and feet tied to a stick, swaying back and forth as my captors walked.

One of the voices seemed familiar.

As I came back to my senses, my perception pushed outward to try and feel the area, and I did my best to determine where I was.

It was dark, and cold, some sort of tunnel.

Strangely, I could hear a distant, muffled rumbling. It rose and fell rhythmically, like distant thunder or the crashing of waves. It grew slowly louder as they carried me forward.

I considered my situation as my mind cleared, remaining limp for now. There was a gag in my mouth, a bag over my head, my wrists and ankles were tied and I was hung like a slaughtered pig. They weren’t taking any chances.

Considering the new techniques I had at my disposal, I couldn’t blame them.

Still, I decided that struggling was better than waiting dumbly for whatever fate awaited me. As discreetly as I could, I started twisting my wrists to try and loosen the bonds.

“Hey!” A shout immediately came from the person in the back. “She’s awake! Come on, let’s move!”

They picked up the pace, and I was sent swinging back and forth in ungainly ways. My stomach flipped, and my wounds complained at the treatment. Worse, it was impossible to work on the ropes while swinging around wildly.

The distant thunder grew louder, and louder. A breeze danced over my skin, and I could sense the tunnel growing brighter.

All of a sudden, it was all around us. Glaring light and the roar of a thousand voices, screaming, shouting… cheering?

A powerful bellow rang out above it all.

“—THAT WAS A BLOODY ONE! LETS HISS FOR THE SNEKO!”

This was met with a mixture of howls and boos from the crowd, and shouts that echoed through the enormous chamber.

“SWEET SNEKO NEEDS TO REST AFTER THAT MEAL. DON’T YOU WORRY FOLKS, YOU’LL SEE HER AGAIN! NEXT UP, TASKMASTER CULL HAS PROMISED US SOMETHING INTERESTING TODAY—AND THERE SHE IS!”

The roaring died down to a confused rumble, as the spectators apparently spotted me being dragged in.

“COME ON, BOYS!” The voice boomed. “CUT HER DOWN! WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CONTESTANT FOR YOU TODAY! EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF HER, THOUGH MOST OF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN HER. SHE FIGHTS WITH A STICK AND HER FISTS, AND PUTS NORMAL MEN TO SHAME! AND YOU WON’T FIND PURPLE LIKE THAT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE SPIRE THESE DAYS!”

He was building the crowd back into a fervor. I was set down roughly, and a knife skimmed my arm as it sawed at the ropes. I let them slice me free without resistance.

“SHE’S TORN HER WAY THROUGH THE SPIRE, AND SOME SAY SHE RECENTLY FOUND THE GREMLIN HIDEOUT AND KILLED THEM ALL! SHE SURE DOESN’T LOOK LIKE MUCH, BUT SHE PACKS A PUNCH!”

My wrists were freed, and then my ankles, and I lurched to my feet to rip the bag from my head. My captors yelped, and turned to run. Two scrawny men, one in a ragged blue cloak, the other in red.

“GIVE IT UP FOR THE HIDDEN GEM, THE WATCHER!”

I was in the center of an arena. Enormous stone walls rose up in a circle around me, and rows of seats angled up from there. Hundreds of people sat in the seats, many in the familiar cloaks of the cultists, many in ragged robes that seemed to be what the slaver tribe wore. A smaller portion wore simple brown clothes, and they were dirtier and skinnier than the rest. Everyone cheered, throwing mud and fruit into the arena, though none of it reached me.

The real focus of attention was the ten foot armored giant, standing on the edge of the arena and looking down. He wore a tiny golden crown atop his helmet, and the powerful voice clearly came from him.

“NOW THEN, WHY DON’T WE SHOW YOU FINE FOLK WHAT THIS VENTURE CAN DO? LET US BEGIN THE FIRST COMBAT!”

Gates slammed closed around me, sealing off the entrances that were open… and closing the two slavers in with me before they could flee out into one of the tunnels. The blue-cloaked man pounded on the metal fruitlessly, as the giant laughed.

I turned a slow circle, trying to find my footing. There was nowhere to go, that much was clear. Even with my staff, I couldn’t vault my way up those walls.

And my staff was in the hands of the blue-cloaked slaver, anyway. I needed that back before I could consider escape.

I stalked towards them, stretching my wrists to relieve some of the pain. Both slavers turned to face me, holding up their hooked blades. The red one held a net in his off-hand.

As I approached, the crowd cheered all the louder. I ignored them as best I could, keeping my eyes on my opponents. The locket around my neck whispered Calm to me, and my battle hymn rose to my lips nearly unbidden.

Something else rose to my mind as well. It came from my satchel, unasked and insistent, but not forcibly. A bubble of power, offered from… something.

I was suspicious. And I didn’t understand it, some sort of pain-based strength trade. It reminded me of my own fasting, in fact, urging to give me that same twinge in my belly and clarity of mind.

But I didn’t want that, and I didn’t trust what I hadn’t seen. So I left the power be.

Instead I met the slavers head on, going for the one with my staff. With attention focused and mental barriers up, I came in with a wheel kick that slid around his one-handed attack with the hook and took him in the side with my heel. My entire body weight was behind it, and the brief power of the Akabeko, and he went sprawling.

The red-clad man took a swipe with his spear, and it nicked my skin just under my arm. It was the tiniest cut, and yet the ragged edge of his spear tore with brutal design, and pain flared through my body. Hissing through my teeth, I leapt backward, over the blue-slaver, and snatched up my stave from where he’d dropped it.

He was attempting to stand up, and I was not prepared to let that happen. I reached inside and tapped the anger that I held towards these two for dragging me into this place, for trapping me with my own artifact. I felt my heart pound faster, and my blood start to burn. It was a familiar feeling, comforting, invigorating.

I used that comforting feeling to beat a rhythm into his head, until he stopped moving. It only took a few hits, and then I turned back to my other opponent. A third verse of the battle hymn started in my head—

A mess of knitted ropes slapped into my face. Heavy ends slung around me from the momentum and pulled me to the ground. It was weighted, and even with Wrath I struggled to move from the awkward position, writhing like an angry worm.

“Ha!” The slaver barked a wet laugh, and strode forward, lifting his spear. “Like a fish in a barrel. Glad I left you for later, Venture. This way, I’ll get credit for finishing you off.”

The familiar voice became clear as I peered up under his hood. Slough, the thief who’d robbed me upon first entering the City. He grinned at me with those same yellowed teeth.

It was difficult, but I forced myself back into Calm before he could get any closer. I searched for a hole in the net, a way to slide out from under it. My options thin, I focused, and—cold detachment, desire to strike, icy claws— the feeling swept over me, but I could not fulfill the now-familiar foreign influence. Instead, my grasping fingers finally found the edge, and he struck at the same time.

I twisted, ready for it. I felt a rough pain in my stomach, but not the terrible goring I’d been half-expecting. I took the net in my hand and wrapped it around the head of the spear, and then used it as leverage as I flung the weighted edge free and rolled to my feet.

The eager look on Slough’s face vanished, replaced with a sort of frantic focus as he yanked on his weapon, attempting to remove it from the mess.

Allowing my indignation to bring the rage back—it was easy, eager as I was to get some revenge on the man who’d robbed me—I layered one final verse to the battle hymn and then unleashed it all. He let go of the spear and turned to run.

He wasn’t nearly fast enough.

Standing over my defeated opponents, turned to look for another, ready for whatever else they threw at me—and the cheering washed over me.

Loud, jeering, cackling, raucous cheering from the crowd. Somehow I’d ignored it for the duration of the fight, but now I was standing alone in the center of the arena, showered with the clamoring of the spectators.

It… felt pretty good. Experimentally, I lifted my staff in one fist, signaling my victory.

The crowd responded, bellowing back their excitement.

“TO BE EXPECTED OF THE VIOLET SCOURGE!” The enormous knight boomed, seeming to be right in his element. “A QUICK AND MESSY FIGHT, BUT NOT A DROP OF BLOOD ON HER! PERHAPS IT’S TIME TO INTRODUCE HER TO THE CURRENT FAVORITE OF THE RING?”

The crowd exploded with fervor, and I turned to face the announcer. Excitement and battle was thrumming through my own bones, tempting me to stay, to fight and get a little more praise.

But my perception spotted the small crack in the wall over by the gate. A crack I could leverage, perhaps, to squirm between bar and stone and flee through the tunnels.

It was time to go. I shouldn’t risk another fight, especially with someone experienced. I moved—

“GRAND REWARDS AWAIT WHOEVER DEFEATS HIM!” The knight continued. “THE UNDEFEATED, THE MONSTROUS! YOU KNOW WHO HE IS, SO LET ME HEAR IT!”

Rewards? Clearly, they didn’t expect anyone to actually fight and win, but if someone did… if someone could prove their strength… perhaps that would ward off any more attacks on my path through the city, as well.

It was a poor excuse, and I knew that. But I also acknowledged that this was an opportunity, albeit a risky one. And I wanted to win. I was not immune from such desires. Just… more aware of them.

I could escape later. For now…

I listened to the chanting of the crowd, responding to the call. It started as a whisper, a murmur from a thousand throats. But quickly, it grew to a war chant, shaking the stones beneath my feet.

“NOB.”

“NOB!”

“THE GREMLIN NOB!” The knight echoed the name, and a gate swung open on the other side of the arena.

“BORN WITH UNNATURAL STRENGTH!”

Through the gate walked a tall man in a flowing red cloak, holding a whip. For a moment, I thought that was my opponent.

“CAPTURED BY OUR BELOVED TASKMASTER CULL AND BROKEN, REFORMED INTO THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING MACHINE!”

A larger shadow approached, emerging from the tunnel and towering a good four feet above the head of the slaver.

“THE GREMLIN NOB REIGNS UNDEFEATED!”

I took a step back without meaning to as the monstrous creature lurched into the arena and snorted. In one hand it held the spine of something long and thick, bones fused together into a spined club. A thick skull sprouted two long, golden horns.

Similar golden eyes fixed on me.

The Taskmaster cracked his whip, and the crowd roared in unison with Nob and the bellow of the knight. “LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!”

Power came from in my satchel again, an offering of strength. This time, it felt eerily familiar, like a song I’d heard a long time before, or a tune just slightly off-key.

I began my battle hymn, and saw the similarities immediately. A second hymn? A second song, to join the first?

I didn’t think I could afford to leave it be this time, not with the looming Nob slowly approaching. I accepted the power, and the notes of a song sprouted in my mind. It merged perfectly with my own hymn, and I followed the beat naturally.

The whip snapped again, and this time it wasn’t just air. My head jerked as the tip caught me in the cheek, sending a searing pain through my nerves.

I gave myself space, retreating from the approaching pair. Nob reacted instantly, lurching forward to swipe at me with its free hand, dirty claws aiming for my face. I evaded easily enough.

But for every missed attack, the gremlin-thing snorted and veins on its head bulged. It’s eyes bugged out of its face, and an angry growl rolled from its craggy mouth.

“Hello, Watcher.”

I was so focused on the Gremlin that I nearly missed the words Cull spoke. He had a calm voice, but a clear one, somehow making it to me under the sound of the cheering crowd.

I didn’t respond, focusing on the Nob and layering a double hymn.

The whip cracked across my shoulders. “Don’t ignore me. Hello, Watcher.”

I clenched my staff, jogging backwards away from both of them. My focus shifted towards Cull. It was clear from the painful—if small—welts on my skin that he wasn’t planning on staying out of the fight. He smiled at me, hood covering all his face except his teeth. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? I must thank you for taking care of Slough. He was beginning to become irritating in my ranks.”

Nob roared in frustration as I skipped out of reach once again. He was building momentum, and clutched the club in both hands.

I focused myself on Cull, driving other thoughts out of my mind. His words remained clear, but I ignored them, mentally letting him talk to my hand.

“Do you know how much damage you’ve done? You and your ilk have single-handedly destroyed this city. Not that I’m complaining. I remember when this place was thriving. Lots of business, but lots of guards, too. Less business now, but no guards to speak of.”

Some part of my mind wanted to listen to him.

Another part was adding another double verse to my hymn. It was almost too much to handle now, so I decided to vent a little.

I struck towards Cull, and my wrath flowed with it. Darting inside the reach of his whip, I lifted my staff with both hands and slammed it into his chin, clacking his teeth together. Following up with his backstep, I cracked my staff against his collarbone.

My anger flared with the success, burning stronger. Overwhelming. It was raw, and vengeful. I wanted Cull dead. I wanted all of these hateful creatures dead.

I dropped my staff, and struck him hard with my fists, suddenly not breathing, suddenly not thinking. I pummeled him backward, into Nob, sending them both staggering and throwing off the powerful club-strike it had been hefting.

He fell backwards, a startled expression on his face, and the uncontrollable hatred faded from my mind. We stood there for a moment, both a little surprised.

And then the Nob roared again, lifting his club in both hands for an overhead swing.

I scooped my staff off the floor and vaulted, jumping as high as I could.

It didn’t make it over Nob. Instead, I slammed into its horns. I grabbed on with one hand, swinging around its neck. With one more double-layered hymn humming in my throat, I opened my mouth and spoke.

CLEAVE

to tear apart

I could feel the weakness.

Not in the horn, but in the skull.

I twisted with all the strength in my hymns, bracing my feet against the red shoulders beneath me.

It cracked, and gave way.

I leapt backward off the Nob with the momentum, feeling the blood spray over me, still holding one golden horn in my hand. I fell, and landed in front of Cull. Nob fell next to me, landing with a meaty thud.

His eyes were wide, whip dropped to the floor. For a moment, I thought he would fall to his knees and beg.

Instead, his eyes narrowed and he spat a few words. “You’ll never know how many innocents you’ve killed. You’ll never remember, because it would break you.”

I stabbed him through the jaw with the tip of the horn, faster than he could react, and it pierced upward until it stopped.

He dropped as well, and I yanked my improvised weapon free.

The clarity faded, it’s purpose fulfilled.

Turning to the crowd, I held the horn up above my head in victory. I turned, waiting for the roar of appreciation.

Silence, instead.

I waited, unsure, confused. My hand slowly lowered.

The knight dropped into the arena, and I whipped around at the impact, staff up. But no hostile intent radiated from the behemoth. He approached, and then cleared his throat.

“…INCREDIBLE! WHAT A POWERFUL FINISH! I DON’T THINK ANY OF US HAVE SEEN ANYTHING SO… UNEXPECTED BEFORE IN THIS ARENA!”

Even he was met with silence. He extended one gauntleted hand, clutching something very very small in his giant fingers.

“AND HERE IS YOUR GLORIOUS PRIZE!”

I took it. A small, crumpled blue ticket, printed with tiny letters and a smiling face.

‘Good for free meatballs at your local Merchant!’

That was when I understood. They hadn’t expected me to win. I’d been expected to die, to fulfill some dream, to be some vindication. They hadn’t been cheering for me before, they’d been cheering for the show. And now I’d surivived, and they were left with the villain of their play.

I stuffed the ticket in my satchel and turned around. The gate was open, but first I stopped and crouched by Slough. In front of the crowd, I rummaged over the corpse until I found his coin purse. There was a lot in it, presumably some of it mine.

Then I left, followed by silence, still holding the golden horn of Nob.

#Slay the Spire #The Watcher #The Ascension #Part 19 #fic

8 notes · View notes