The distant clattering of metallic sheeting clicking against one another rung through the clearing as one opposing force retreated and the other advanced. There was a heavy air of grief and panic from the men who aided the battle as they made their desperate attempts to leave the war torn field. Amongst the many organisms stood a robotic figure, a pale dragon bearing a chipped visor, revealing a violet optic to the world. Despite the spastic glitching and sparking of the abused glass, the drake appeared calm, placid even. His body lacked any emotion, akin to his rather dull expression as his eyes surveyed the frantic parties.
There. He spotted her, a lone humanoid figure hunched mournfully over a hastily improvised grave. Her cool black hair draping over her face, hiding the pitiful expression she bore from the world. Spurred on by an unknown force, the dragon pushed forward, snaking his way through the crowds of panicked people. As he approached, his dirty and scuffed frame let out a soft whirr, alerting the beauty of his daunting presence.
“Your choice of remaining here is illogical, Lady.” he began calmly, unrushed by the advancing hoard of men. The divine woman slowly lifted her tear ridden gaze, gracing them upon the large cyborg.
“I.. I can’t l-leave him, Veton- I can’t.. Not again-” She choked, a sob shaking her petite and dainty frame. The dragon paused momentarily, letting a silence settle between the two, he appeared.. Confused.
“Illogical, he no longer resides here.” Veton argued, his violet gaze narrowing on her trembling physique. There was a short flame of anger that flickered in the once tranquil eyes of the deity, a flame that was soon smothered by her own doing. She understood Veton’s lack of emotions, she also understood that he could barely gasp the emotions of those around him. He was numb, and that sometimes infuriated her. However through her internalized rage she could understand that the drake was attempting something he didn't usually attempt, consoling.
She parted her plump soft lips, taking an intake as she prepared a retort. Yet this action was swiftly cut short as the advancing army made their presence known. It was the cry of an angered LH that caught the attention of the two beings. Veton wasted no time, he rocked back, a groan of metal echoing from his joints as he launched forward, cutting himself between the army and the divine female. However instead of launching an attack of his own, he gripped Lady, earning a shocked gasp from her. Suddenly she was entrapped in a sheer bubble that glowed with an unknown energy, she blinked towards the robot frantically before being hurled into a portal, Veton following soon after.
Lady cowered, preparing for the worst of it only to find that she’d receive none of that. Fluttering her eyes open, the raven haired woman blinked up to be met with the vastness of space, speckled with glittering and gleaming stars. She exhaled in awe, her blue eyes lovingly trailing across the dazzled abyss before landing on the battered metallic drake just before him.
Veton held the bubble between his two hands as he rocked backwards onto his back, floating in the empty air with the lady. They were safe here, safe to talk. Yet despite this promised safety, there was a heavy air of silence that hung between them. Without uttering a word both understood what had happened on the field, what they had lost. Lady’s silence seeped with grief, anguish, pain… All the emotions that pertained to a painful loss. Despite the glittering beauty all around her, Lady’s features hung heavy with sorrow as she reflected on her significant other. She could feel Veton's eyes locked firmly onto her, studying her. She was used to this, he always did then when she cried, it was almost as if he were trying to figure out what she was feeling. Though this time his stare was significantly more noticeable, more bothersome. His eye was visible. It wasn't much, but it was there, a hazy lavender glow emitting from the serpent-like optic. For a moment Lady found herself staring back, trying to look within the purple hues and find some sort of emotion. For a while she could only turn up nothing, what she thought lied within seemed like nothing but a fictitious story now. However to her shock, she picked out a trace of feeling, some humanity.
...Confusion. He was confused.. And.. And hesitant. He seemed conflicted and almost powerless yet deep within that stare she found a flame of determination egging him on. He was trying to find a way to reach her, to understand her, to comfort her in her time in need. A warm feeling spread across Lady’s chest. He cared, somehow he cared despite always admitting he didn't. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she tore her gaze from his, she had gotten her answer and it touched her heart. It was a moment of comfort within a vast sea of grief.
“I.. I wish I could have been there to do something... “ She whispered brokenly, her hopeful gaze deteriorating into that of pain. “I.. I wish I could have saved him.. Or.. Or just tell him I loved him one last time before he left.” She strained further, tears once again spilling from her gaze as she fought back heavy sobs that threatened to tear her apart. She inhaled sharply, a soft pitiful pant leaving her strained body as she bowed over, a horrible pain writhing in her heart.
Veton merely stared, a void feeling encompassing him as he watched her fall apart before him. He noted this feeling, it wasn't like the emptiness he usually felt, it was different. It was daunting and heavy, it weighed on his soul and left him feeling.. Lost. What was this feeling? It reminded him of memories of his time in the pit, fighting for his life. It was a feeling he felt long before he banished these emotions, a feeling that only appeared right before he was tasked to fight a seemingly hopeless battle. It was dread, not necessarily fear but a heavy feeling of pity and apprehension.
Veton parted his jaws, a soft whirr of metal parts working together in unison following after.
“He died with a gladiator's courage. I see no better way of offlining than going down fighting with bravery. Your attempt at ‘saving’ would have been futile, he would have only charged into battle harder.” Veton rationalized, his violet gaze still studying the trembling frame of Lady. This answer was one that seemed to fuel her tears, a loud heart aching wail left her tiny frame as she clasped her hands around her chest and hid away into her knees. Veton shifted, recoiling vaguely as he shamefully shifted his head to the side.
Stop. Stop crying. He hated it. For once reasons and facts weren’t the answer, he was left hopelessly lost with trying to comfort the sobbing woman. How could he comfort her? He couldn’t feel. He didn't understand the pain she felt, he couldn’t recall the pain. He didn't want to recall the pain.
Veton shifted, watching as Lady hiccuped and bawled in agony, slowly convincing himself to.. To rekindle those dead emotions. He didn't know why, he didn't know why he wanted to do this for her. She was supposed to be a playing card, a pawn, hell.. An upperhand Veton could have over the white haired killer! Yet… Somehow the woman weaseled closer to him, she awoke something in him that he rarely felt for anyone. He hated it yet he cared for her. He loved her like he did with Wrench. But she wasn't as simple as a wrench, she fought something he couldn’t see, what he couldn’t feel.
Yet he tried, his grip around the small bubble tightened protectively, uncomfortably, as he dug up these long banished feelings.
“Lady.. He… He loved you. More than you could ever know. You meant.. Something more to him, you were something special.” Veton began, his brows furrowing in heavy concentration as he tapped into these long forgotten emotions, letting them fester and infect him. “He was.. Well.. I assume he was deeply in love with you, both you and Lh.. It was illogical-” he paused, catching himself. “It’s.. Illogical to believe he never knew you loved him.. He knew you did, and he.. I am positive he would have told you how much he loved you back, if granted the time.” Veton attempted to pour himself into his words, trying to express to her with a level of honesty he never thought he could achieve. For a moment, Lady seemed to be calming down, still crying but not as hard as she once was.
“I don't like it when you cry. It… hurts me. It makes me feel dumb..” The drake admitted softly, his violet gaze growing gentle with a friendly tenderness, a rare expression. “I wish to aid you, but these… emotions.. They are confusing.” He stressed, his gaze never leaving hers as a moment of silence fell between them. He was working it out in his mind, trying to figure out his next sentence.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry you lost him.” He finally broke the silence abruptly, his expression genuine.
Lady shook as a hiccup interrupted her breathing, her caring blue eyes meeting the violet ones of the drake. “I.. H-he.. You’re right… I won't ever forget him, even if it may hurt, but I loved him and I still do… You don't have anything to apologize for, although he may have died, he at least died being a.. Hero.. The brave man I always thought he was.” She replied softly, somber tears dripping from her cheeks. Yet she cracked a soft smile, a pitiful one but a smile nonetheless. “Thank you, Veton.. I know that this must have been uncomfortable for you but it.. It truly means the world to me that you care.. That you’d pour your heart out for me even when you locked that heart away a long time ago. I’m glad to have you as my friend, and just know that I’ll always do the same for you.” Lady expressed, pressing her hand against the bubble’s barrier towards the robotic drake. Veton stared for a moment before leaning down, gently pressing the cracked visor against her palm, his violet eye momentarily disappearing behind his eyelid.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
It was a tender moment, one of peace and tranquility as they both recovered from the battle and expressed their friendship. Lady was the first to pull away, her smile slowly flowering into a brighter one. “Let's find Lh and the others.. You need to get repaired and we need to figure out how to rebound from this loss.” She replied, watching the giant robot as he pulled back, his gaze once again emotionless.
“I hope you are not implying that I rely on others' aid in my repairs.” He commented bluntly, cocking a brow. Lady merely rolled her eyes, laughing faintly. “Well maybe I can help? You don't have to trust the others-” She admitted, shifting to get comfortable as Veton turned, opening another portal, a groan of some sorts leaving his frame. “I suppose I could allow your aid..” he reluctantly agreed, thrusting himself forwards with a powerful flap of his wings, entering the portal.
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Silence…
That’s all that came from the forest as the sun began to set, casting a warm hue across the lands, beckoning the night. Nothing seemed to reside in the forest, no birds chirped, no crickets sang, no mice scurried. Just silence as things settled and prepared for the night.
….
That is until a figure tore through the terrain, sprinting frantically. She had long white hair, deep blue eyes, and a beautiful plush face grave with terror as she ran. She glanced back, eyes hungrily searching for her pursuer. For a moment nothing revealed itself from the trees, until suddenly a large crab-like machine bursted through the thick trunks, shattering them and trampling them beneath it’s claws.
The woman shrieked in horror as she turned, trying to sprint harder and evade her predator. Yet it pursued, easily smashing its way through the foliage and any obstacles that proved to be an issue for the young woman. She pivoted, heading into another direction wildly as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “INKY!!” She bellowed into the becoming night, crying out for her lover to save her from this monster. Yet her cries would reach no ears, just the silence of the empty forest as the monster drowned out her cries with loud crashing and screeches of metal against metal.
Frosty panted, rapidly losing stamina and the energy to keep running. She stumbled, tumbling over a log that managed to catch her foot, leading to her crashing into the ground with a pained yelp. A pained sob left her frame as she turned, facing the monster that approached rapidly, she tried to scurry back, yet she closed very little distance compared to the machine.
Frosty covered her mouth, trying to suppress the terrified cry that slipped from her throat. As the machine approached, preparing to deal a final blow, a sudden blast of heat rushed past her, slamming into the mechanical figure. It stumbled back, rapidly gaining its balance before swiftly searching for its challenger. There, sanding before the terrified woman was another. She obtained two sets of horns, one set curling slightly just above her head and the other set curling into a ram-like horn starting at the sides of her head and ending just below her jaw. Each horn was cuffed with a gold band and showed signs of benign charred from heavy amounts of flames. Her eyes glowed like fresh charcoal, for a moment Frosty thought her eyes were deceiving her, for there was a fine line of steam that trailed up from the mysterious woman’s pupils. Her hair was a fiery auburn color that hung in long curly locks, draping around her horns and shoulders, ending just above her rear. She had an hourglass frame but heavily muscled and two long scars that trailed down her back. She wore a long torn red dress where hot sparks and embers floated up from. Her face was twisted into that of rage as she advanced forward, fearless.
She acted hard and fast, lacking any trace of humility as she lifted her hand, clenching it. The machine began to sinch inward suddenly, a violent and stomach turning wheeze leaving the metals that made up the robot. The woman threw her hand downwards, the machine following her movements and being catapulted violently into the ground, a loud clash echoing through the forest. She continued her advancement forward, her body beginning to steam and hair catch flame. Every action seemed to fuel her rage, feeding into the flames that grew on her frame. She lifted her fist, bringing the machine with, using her other hand she performed a grabbing motion, the side of the machine immediately crumbling in further, sputtering. She began to pull her two fists apart and the machine began to groan and moan as the metals came apart, the bolts snapping sickeningly and glass shattering and spewing on the floor. She suddenly threw both hands outwards, the machine now being torn completely in half.
She then turned, gripping the leg of the other machine with this same unknown force. Almost as if she had known, she slammed this piece into another upcoming one. ((maybe?))
------ Vers 2 -------
Silence…
That’s all that came from the forest as the sun began to set, casting a warm hue across the lands, beckoning the night. Nothing seemed to reside in the forest, no birds chirped, no crickets sang, no mice scurried. Just silence as things settled and prepared for the night.
….
That is until a figure tore through the terrain, sprinting frantically. She had long white hair, deep blue eyes, and a beautiful plush face grave with terror as she ran. She glanced back, eyes hungrily searching for her pursuer. For a moment nothing revealed itself from the trees, until suddenly a large crab-like machine bursted through the thick trunks, shattering them and trampling them beneath it’s claws.
The woman shrieked in horror as she turned, trying to sprint harder and evade her predator. Yet it pursued, easily smashing its way through the foliage and any obstacles that proved to be an issue for the young woman. She pivoted, heading into another direction wildly as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “INKY!!” She bellowed into the becoming night, crying out for her lover to save her from this monster. Yet her cries would reach no ears, just the silence of the empty forest as the monster drowned out her cries with loud crashing and screeches of metal against metal.
Frosty panted, rapidly losing stamina and the energy to keep running. She stumbled, tumbling over a log that managed to catch her foot, leading to her crashing into the ground with a pained yelp. A pained sob left her frame as she turned, facing the monster that approached rapidly, she tried to scurry back, yet she closed very little distance compared to the machine.
Frosty covered her mouth, trying to suppress the terrified cry that slipped from her throat. As the machine approached, preparing to deal a final blow, she felt herself being effortlessly lifted into a pair of muscled arms. She felt wind blast through her hair, combing through each strand and blowing it back. She squealed, frightened by this before peeking an eye open, observing her savior. It was a man with tan skin and golden hair, marked with dark brown strips. He wore dark brown gear that resembled that of tactical gear and nearly rivaled the color of black. Obstructing his face was a mask that resembled a bee, specifically a bumblebee and was made from some kind of hard plastic or wood. Soon she felt herself coming to a sudden and violent stop, earning a complaint from the lady.
“Sorry hot stuff, It’s not easy coming to a gentle stop when you’re zipping around at the speed of sound-” The male mused chipperly, his voice heavy with humor. Frosty blinked, too confused by what just happened to catch him flirting with her, or even process what he said. There was a cry from across the clearing, blinking, Frosty was amazed to find that they had traveled a few hundred meters in a mere second. There stood a man with deep chocolate skin and warm undertones, he too wore a mask, that of the egyptian god Anubis. Draping from his head cascaded thick jet black dreadlocks, bands clipped around every other dreadlock. He was heavily built, extremely muscled, more than the man who held her, with scars marking his entire body. He held thick chains and seemed to be waiting for the other man. “BEE! Get over here and tangle him up!” He barked, his voice gruff and akin to that of sandpaper, it was as if he had spent most of his life yelling.
Bee let out a long sigh, setting Frosty down swiftly. “I’ll be back sugar~ Dont get into any more trouble until I get back, kay?” He grinned, shooting the model a wink and some finger guns before zipping across the clearing. Frosty nearly choked as she watched the man take the chains and in a blur, begin to tangle it around the robot. Did he have some sort of power? Super speed?
She watched as he handed the heavy chains to the other man, immediately the man began to pull, the machine now beginning to wheeze and buckle as it attempted to fight against the constricting chains. The man stepped back, tugging harder as he let out a sharp hollar, immediately the legs of the beast gave out and it crashed to the floor. The darker man handed off the chains to Bee before jumping in, smashing the glass and reaching into the compartment. Suddenly the machine sputtered and glitched, fizzing in and out of power before completely offlining. There, in the man’s hands was a jumble of wires, freshly torn from the robot. He jumped down, walking to bee and bumping him.
Frosty felt herself growing light headed and suddenly losing her vision and tumbling to the floor. Upon crashing, both men look her way, finding her fainted on the ground.
….
Frosty felt herself swaying.. Was she being carried? She blinked, fluttering her eyes open to find herself in the grasps of the blonde man once again, though he appeared to be walking beside the other man from before. She let out a pained groan, shifting in the arms of Bee and catching his short attention span.
“Sleeping beauty is awake! How ya’ doin’ hot stuff? Gotta say, it's not everyday a man gets to carry a princess like you~” He purred before immediately receiving a blow to the back of the head by the man wearing the Anubis mask. “Lay off bee.” he grunted, his voice dry and gruff as the blonde man let out a whimper, bowing his head. “