Force of Legends

Cayde and Xander, the Flame and the Storm

"Go fish," Cayde mumbled. Xander looked up from his hand of cards and cocked his head to the side, staring at Cayde.

"Huh? What was that?"

"I said go fish."

"AGAIN!? I call cheats." Xander huffed setting his cards on his lap and crossing his arms. "You're not supposed to cheat at this Cayde." he scowled at him. Cayde just laughed.

"And who says I'm cheating, Xan?" smiling, he grabbed his cup and placed the rim on his lips, tilting it back and drinking from it.

"HEY! I want some too! We are almost out of money you can't just drink a huge gulp without sharing!" Cayde coughed a few times before handing the cup to Xander.

"You're right, sorry. I'm just thirsty." Cayde and Xander had been homeless ever since their parents had been killed in a plane, which had stalled mid-flight. Cayde's father and three other people were the only survivors, but he vanished without a trace shortly after he was found alive. They had been alone ever since. Afraid they would be separated if they were to live with relatives, they fled away together. Cayde's little sister was also involved in the accident, but she was never found and presumed dead after two years of searching. Xander took the cup and drank from it. He set it back down on the cold concrete floor, brushing his blonde hair from his eyes. Cayde gazed up at the sky and sighed. Xander looked over at him with a worried look.

"What is it?" he asked. Cayde set his eyes on Xander.

"Storms coming, that kind of storm. You better get inside."

"Oh come on Cayde, you know that-"

"Xander I'm not risking it again. It can practically control you." Xander crossed his arms and pursed his lips, and heaved an exasperated sigh.

"I can't hide from it forever. I have to learn how to conquer it and control myself."

"But what if you cant?" Cayde shouted. "Look, I don’t know what's in that storm and what keeps bringing it, but it is taking you over, and I want to keep you safe."

"You're just afraid I'll kill you, is that it? You just want to keep yourself safe."

"Xan, no. I want to keep you safe, because I'm not prepared even the slightest to lose my best friend, and I never will be." Cayde's expression was serious. "We can't be fighting over something like this… Please will you just get inside?" Xander looked behind him at the hole in the back of the alleyway, which led to a small room with a few blankets and three pillows, two of which were torn and worn. That hole was their only shelter, it's where they slept and hid Xander from the storms that took control of him. Ever since they had been on the run, there seemed to be strange storms that occurred very often.

The storms were quite odd, the clouds would swirl in a circle above them, while they slowly turned from a dark grey to a pale purple, with lightning flashing in the sky. Strange purple mist would sweep across the town and streets, nobody seemed to notice although. If Xander made direct eye contact with the storm or mist, it seemed he couldn’t control himself, and that somebody else was in charge of him, making him do and say things. "Xander?" he looked back, Xander was crouched in the room, staring at nothing. Off into space, he looked distracted.  He strode over to him and sat next to him. "Hey, you alright?" he asked, concern rising in his tone. There was no response, Xander just simply shook his head. Cayde stood up and pushed a large wooden palate to block the hole. "Xander I need you to answer m-"

"It's happening again," he whispered under his breath.

"W-what?" he looked at his friend with great fear in his expression. "X-Xander your eyes."

"Oh? What's wrong with my eyes?" he grinned and chuckled softly as his hair fell down into his face, only his smile was visible. "Hmm, I think it suits him well, don’t you think?" he stood up and gazed down at Cayde, who was too terrified to do anything. He took a step back.

"A-are you going to k-kill me?" Xander saying those things sent shivers down his spine. He just chuckled softly.

"Of course I am, but I'll make it quick." he smiled, pulling a strange blade out of its hilt. A katana with a golden hilt with a dragon's head at the end of it. There were three black ribbons tied to the handle, along with purple crystals embedded in the gold. He pointed it straight at Cayde. "Now, any last-" the ceiling suddenly burst open, everything went dark after that.