One Shots

Hesitation.

Bunni had never cared about their acquaintances.
Or at least, they didn't plan on caring much.

That's what they had told Kairin when the goddess had forcefully pulled them into the Abyssal Plain while they were in a light state of slumber and demanded answers for every single inquiry in her mad flurry of questions.

Then, in the midst of it, she asked something. The question that brought it all to the ground. The question Buni would be asking themselves for weeks past the initial time of questioning. The question that led them to question everything they've ever done that placed them in this very moment.

"Are you getting attached to those...creatures?"

The answer sat in their throat like corrosive acid and made their tongue burn and mouth dry up. Their heart slammed against their ribcage while their head spinned as if it was a pinwheel on the windiest day of the year. Bunni's body felt too warm and too cold at the same time and as a result, it sent a strong shiver down their spine.

Was this what genuine anxiety feels like?

Bunni's hands unconsciously tightened around air as they remained silent and suppressed the urge to shrink under Kairin's cold gaze

They knew the truth. But they were anxious of the events that would follow after giving said truth. Kairin's anger was not something to be toyed with. But, then again neither was her patience.

There was the hesitation.

They both noticed it but neither of them spoke upon it as Kairin just wanted an answer and wouldn't speak to fill the awkward silence. She was above such things. But Bunni, unfortunately, was not, which became apparent when they finally spoke up,

"...Yes."

The voice that came out was soft and anxiety-ridden which sounded nothing like Bunni's usually nonchalant and snarky tone or their alternative deeper, more sadistic and condescending tone. Either way, it made Bunni do a mental double take as they wondered if that voice was actually theirs. They weren't embarrassed, so to speak. But rather, disappointed with themselves that they were letting the celestial being read them like a book without even trying.

And now, they sit in the currently empty house as its other two residents were doing gods know what while Bunni, no, Keres was semi-unconscious. Left to ponder and navigate their jumbled feelings and fix the destroyed railroad of their train of thoughts. Keres spoke to themselves, under their breath, speaking in their head made recollection harder so they weren't going to force themselves more than they were already doing.

Their sentences sounded less and less like actual words and more like soft and pathetic whimpers. They wrapped themselves in their arms as their room slowly began to rot and decay around them with unnatural speed. Their head continue to spin within their charred skull while their breath continued to spiral out of control.

Keres didn't have anything under control right now, honestly.
They hated it, all of it. They hated the neverending feeling of dread that swept over them repeatedly and violently like the strongest wave of a tsunami. They hated how Mars and Jackie could come back at any point right now and see Keres, the being who had always stood like a tall, proud, and intimidating land-conquering warlord reduced to this small pile of nervous muttering, general shame, and labored breathing.

They especially hated Kairin right now. They hated how the goddess poked and prodded around their brain at will without Keres' consent. They hate how she was the only one who could genuinely get them so worked up without having to utter more than a few words. They hated how she could bring Keres' extremely well built walls crashing down in a mere matter of seconds if Kairin if so wished.

But, most importantly, Keres hated how they themself still somehow found a twisted sense of comfort in the war goddess' presence.

But no matter how they felt about the goddess, it doesn't change the aching pains that spread across their body at rapid speeds. It was overwhelming.

"I-it h-hurts...It hurts so fucking b-bad."

Great, now they were stuttering like a bumbling fool. As if they couldn't gain anymore pity for themself. Now Keres was not only in the midst of a mental breakdown, they were also getting frustrated with themself which wasn't going to get them back into action any sooner.

They continued their quiet conversation with themself that somehow felt one sided even though they were talking to themself. Odd, truly.

"I...I was always able to answer her questions without issue. But...This time was different..."

"I hesitated."

"I let them in. And...I can't help but feel like that is the biggest mistake I'll ever make."

Keres would not stray from their plans; they couldn't.
But carrying out orders hurt a hell of a lot more than usual.
As a weapon of all types of justice and crime, they were prepared to take on a lot of things.
This, would never be one of them.

A/N: This isn't a direct continuation of the last chapter though it is another interaction between Keres and Kairin. They're just reoccurring characters