Time and Time Again

Things Never Change

"Listen here Quackity..."

Bad started lowly, holding the crossbow in his hands firmly. It was aimed directly at Quackity's scarred face, ready to shoot if prompted. Quackity was an intruder to their party. Uninvited to their banquet. He wasn't supposed to be there.

"If you wanted to stop us, you should've brought more than just yourself."

Quackity, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. Some could even say he looked almost arrogant. His torn mouth was slightly curved upwards and his eyes were squinted ever so slightly, and his bright blue armor glowed confidently against the cascading lava surrounding the group. The group consisting of hostages and imprisoners; innocents and the guilty.

"You should've brought an army."

When Quackity had opened his mouth to reply, Bad hadn't expected the smug tone that had come out of him. Much less his words. This man held no fear, despite being completely outnumbered.

"Guess what Bad?" He chuckled and stared deep into Bad's piercing white eyes, no ounce of intimidation found.

"I did! I did bring an army."

————————————————————————

Purpled stiffened.

He overheard those words. It didn't matter how far back they were in the cave, how many dogs were sniffing and shuffling in the surrounding area; he had heard them. And they hurt.

Maybe Quackity hadn't meant it like that, but it sucked knowing that all he thought of him and well, Techno, was them being an army. An army being taken advantage of.

When he heard a unamused grunt beside him, he knew Techno felt the same way.

Purpled clutched onto his sword for reassurance and slowly dropping his shoulders, eventually looking up. Red eyes met purple and a sigh was soon heard. From who, no one knows.

He should've expected it, to be honest. It's not like he had any prior relations with the man to change his views. Quackity had just paid him to help, and he agreed. He should've expected to be referred to as a weapon. He should've expected not to be treated human. But, expectations or not, it hurt like a bitch.

But Techno, on the other hand, he had no clue. He knew the two weren't on the best terms. That was obvious. With the subtle glares tossed between the two during meetings to prepare and strategize, and the occasional quiet bickering that would soon stop when Purpled would enter the room, it was painfully clear. But he didn't know why. All he knew was that Techno had similar goals to Quackity, and had reluctantly agreed to team up with them. And that's all he really wanted to know.

He was a mercenary, after all. There was no need for him to know the details of a job.

"Purpled."

Techno's quiet yet gruff voice caught the boy's attention, and he looked up again. The pig-hybrid was staring absentmindedly at one of the cave walls, his hand resting on one of his many dog's heads. Purpled waited long for a response before clearing his throat, wondering if Techno had just forgotten.

"You're tie isn't straight."

Oh.

"Oh. Right, thank you."

A subtle nod was all he got as a response.

Purpled waited a moment more to see if Techno was going to continue but eventually gave up and began to fix his tie. It wasn't too badly messed up; he didn't even know how Techno had noticed that kind of thing.

But he knew Techno was implying more. He knew that. It was almost a silent kind of understanding. Both felt the same way about the situation, but neither had the words to express their disappointment. But, he just wasn't as much as a nerd as him to look into it, no matter how much it was biting at him to figure it out. Oh well.

But that wasn't important, at least for now. He heard the shuffling of boots on gravel and dogs' paws following close behind, the echo of them soon lowering in volume after a moment.

Out of his vision, he saw a long red robe pass by him, and the unforgettable sound of a sword leaving it's scabbard could be heard soon after. It was time.

Purpled shook all prior thoughts from his mind and stood up straight, steeling himself.

He had a job to do.