Timere

during • numb

I really, really want to throw Ariel over my shoulder, take her to my room and lock her in there. The urge to do so is almost overwhelming. But if I do that, she'll probably gut me for having the audacity when I get back.

Maybe she sees some of the hesitation on my face, because she throws her arms around me, then takes off running before I can even reciprocate it... right in the direction of my room. Perfect.

I release a sigh I hadn't known I'd been holding and Aphrodite laughs, nudging me with her elbow. "Careful, your mother hen side is showing."

I flick her forehead. "And your hoe side is showing too. I saw you staring. When we're done, you can ask her. I'm pretty sure she'd say yes."

"Ah, but what if I wanted the two of you?" She demurs, strutting towards the door.

A startled laugh escapes me. "You can have me whenever. Just ask."

She doesn't respond, but I know she heard me.

Momentary distraction gone, I find myself scowling. I'd left my boots at home. Of freaking course. That's not to say I can't work without them, but I'd really rather not. It's a preference that keeps me grounded.

Unfortunately my spare boots are in my room which is a no go area, so I'll just have to terrify the intruders with... I spare a glance at my footwear... fuzzy bunny slippers.

Yeah, Hell no. I kick them off, tugging my sweatshirt as well. The less clothing I have on, the less I have to throw away if I go overboard using the silver.

And chances are, I will.

Sports bra, khaki shorts and bare feet, plus an extra tight bun. Wonderful.

I'm halfway to the front doors when Shiba materializes out of the floor, giving me a mini heart attack and looking just as unruffled as usual.

"One day. Just one day I'm going to find somewhere you can't get into," I hiss.

He merely blinks dull grey eyes at me. "I'd like to see you try."

Stupid partners with their dumb nature powers that let them go fucking anywhere that has greenery. All the floors are made of wood, and he takes it as a personal mission to scare the shit out of everyone at least once a day.

He falls into step beside me, as usual and we proceed to the exit. I pause for a second, side eyeing him. He holds up a hand.

"Two minutes out. We need to move."

Great. The plants in and around the base are only there for this purpose - Shiba knows where everyone is at all times through them. Which is super creepy both in theory and in practice but it's also the best option.

Unwilling to waste another moment, I find myself kicking the doors open - completely aware of Shiba's disapproving sigh - calling forth the silver in my body to form a chain, with a mallet on one end and a sickle on the other.

"You're so dramatic," Shiba deadpans, poison ivy rising out of the ground and circling him not unlike tentacles.

Pot, meet kettle.

"Bite me," is my response, whipping my chain out to catch the first person around his torso. The victim - er, person, I mean - screams bloody murder as I yank him towards me.

"Any chance you'll all go away if I ask nicely?" I say to the shivering mess when I have him by his throat. His eyes narrow and he spits on my collarbone, before reaching behind his head for... something. A beeping sound reaches my ears and I yelp, throwing him back into the approaching horde with my bare hands.

He explodes in a shower of blood and gore, taking out at least five other people and coating the rest in his insides. The sight makes me sick.

"I guess you have your answer," Shiba cracks his neck, and moves.

I hesitate for only a second, before following behind him. Whoever sent these people expects them to die. It's not a negotiation, not a threat. It's a full on attack and no matter how completely wrong it is...

Many of these people will die by my hands today.

I don't care about it as much as I probably should, tearing through a pair with my sickle and smashing someone else into a pulp with the mallet.

I don't care about anything except protecting the base - protecting my girl because if anything happens to her, I -!

I'm numb, and bathing in blood doesn't feel so bad.

-
Lana gets a little darker, nothing out of the ordinary.