FAU continued

The Alchemist

Ponk had trouble readjusting to the way names worked around here. Of course he remembered his hit name, just about the only thing he took with him when he left.

The Alchemist,  that was the code name he was given based on his skills. Ponk felt his spine tingle with tension every time someone called him that. It was like being outted, alerting everyone just how fucking dangerous you are.

You were. Ponk ran a hand over his mask, feeling the scars through thin fabric. Saying it was good to be back under wraps was a confusing statement for him. Emotions layered behind the soft silk yet no smile he made reached another's eyes.

Luckily for Ponk he had faked his death, after losing Purpled he tried to stay for a bit but ended up leaving anyway. It wasn't something he ever planned on bringing up or even using at all, but hey it works. You still got functional limbs? Then welcome back to the League.

The only one that was skeptical of his return was their leader. Hell when he left a year ago that man wasn't even in power. Punz must have taken control quicker than any other league exchange. Ponk remembered knowing the other when they were younger. Punz was a real calculator, bright eyes always flicking around the room like a metronome and coming up with solutions. Out of the League's old leadership, Punz had always been a candidate for the next head.

One of the candidates, that is. There were two or three, but all outshined by one. It infuriated Punz, and just about anyone else being considered.

Purpled was the youngest inductee of the League, and after a total year of training he was out in the field. If anyone here knew his name they didn't dare use it after that one year. Something always did make his brother special didn't it? Maybe that's why some of the board wasn't hesitant to hand him off to the pillagers after he threatened to change things.

"Alchemi can ya keep your eyes open I'm talking to you!" A specialist growled, they were at the training targets. The specialist hadn't even given her code name, all she did was through knife after knife perfectly into the board. Like just about anyone else around Ponk he couldn't tell you what she looked like. Masks were a big thing here, and the moment he arrived Ponk was given a new one. As far as the League was concerned, he was still loyal.

After another hour of relearning knives like a fucking toddler he gave up for the night. The woman left a silently as she came, maybe she had a job.

Ponk felt his stomach twist at the idea of going on a hit. Like it had that first year Purpled was in the field. Maybe it was watching your kid brother kill someone that did it for him.

"Ey Ponk!" Someone called, it was Punz. He leaned against one of the big sandstone pillars with a grin. Unlike everyone else here he sported lighter colors, a white hoodie and mask with a gold chain around his neck. Those bright blue eyes he'd known for years were almost as recognizable as Tommy's were. A light blue grey, very nice to look at. Ripped black jeans were down to his ankles, and puffy tennis shoes covered his feet.

"Heya Punz." Ponk said, setting down the training weapons and walking over. Punz surprisingly extended a hand, which of course the other took.

In a swift move in seconds Punz pulled him into a tight embrace. It only lasted a second, before Punz pulled back. "I'm glad to have you back man, we lose a lot of the good ones too often."

This actually led to actual conversation, "No kidding! I went by I went by the library the other day, not many of our year live."

Punz's smile wavered lightly, but it was only a millisecond. They did talk for a little while, before each making their day plan tomorrow.

"You know Ponk a lot of my cabinet doesn't want me in power." He said, they walked towards a side hall. This place was huge, a large underground temple packed with mercenaries.

"I'm sorry to hear that, anything I can do?"

Punz pushed his door open for him, but briefly stopped him from going in. "Ponk I know why you came back."

"What-"

A hand landed on his shoulder, cold reassuring, "You want to be stronger yeah? You couldn't stop Nightshade from being killed in that double crossed hit."

Ah yes, that was it. The big fat lie the future of the League was built on.

"Yeah, I wish I could have protected him..." Ponk breathed, and it wasn't an act that he was putting on. Ponk felt defeated, and sorrow pinged his heart.

Sam...

Punz snapped him back into focus, eyes suddenly iced with malice. The same thing would happen when they were younger.

Ponk sat at the lava's edge, watching the others finish their trials. A couple of them failed, and he watched the body of a boy fall into the fiery depths. Not a lot of people had managed to knock down their trainers, mainly just surviving the minutes.

A series of yells, and then a bubbling body hurtled into the lava. More yelling as others dove. Someone must have pushed the instructor in!

He wasn't swimming back up, and divers came up in repeated frantic attempts to find the teacher. Ponk stopped one of them, a woman from going back under.

"What the hell is going on!"

Tears poorer from her face, before pointing a shaky finger upwards, "That thing is not human! That MONSTER pushed Dallas into the lava when he was unconscious without a fucking arm!"

"Wait so he's-"

The woman cried as the other divers pulled out, and she pushed herself onto the ledge next to Ponk. Her tattoo of the emerald had two gold circles around it.

Dallas had taught them for years, he was a nice guy unlike the majority of instructors they had. Very supportive, and always gave his students another chance. He talked of how many years he taught, getting married at 18 and instantly jumping in to the slot.

"Wait you're Farrah?" Ponk asked surprised, she nodded.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry..."

On their way back to the temple Ponk was infuriated with the loss of the instructor. It wasn't even a defense kill!

Punz, the kid who did it walked next to him, and after an hour Ponk couldn't take the oppressive silence anymore.

"Why'd you do it? Dallas taught us for years!"

The kid rolled his bright blue eyes, "Man was a pushover, all we gained was an open slot to rise through the ranks Ponky."

Even for a mercenary, that was disturbingly chaotic yet controlled. Ponk didn't say another word for days.

"I want you to be my right hand man Ponk. I trust you, and the experience you could get from it? Let's just say there's some tricks the League doesn't teach us."

It disgusted him that he accepted so quickly, there wasn't time to think with Punz. It was either say yes and profit at a cost, or no and miss out on something great.

"I'd be honored Punz."