ONCE A WARRIOR | dreamsmp

𝐱𝐢𝐢𝐢 - 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲

chapter xiii , price of glory

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY DOING HERE?!" The beanie man spared no time in pointing a minatory finger at me.  I stood startled, taking a hesitant step back.  There is something malevolent about him, simply oozing right off the surface.  "Is anybody going to answer me?!"

"Y/N's on our side, Big Q.  You better watch that mouth of yours." Tommy articulates, cracking his knuckles. 

"They tried to chop my fucking arms off, the fuck you mean, Tommy?!  You were literally right there!" He retorts.  "I still have the scar if you fucking forgot!" The man's next actions were duly of a livid being.

My head snapped to my left from a wicked force. My right cheek stings like beats from a heart, only the pain began to fade with each passing second.

"You..." my hand reached up to my face. It is hot to the touch. I take a step back, eyes narrowing. "You slapped me?"

"Because you literally stabbed me!"

"Ohhhhh—back up, Y/N." Tommy rolled up his sleeves, advancing forward enhanced with furious steps. The man laughed at the provoked manner.  "You asked for it, Big Q—"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Wilbur ambled down the cobblestone steps. His hands raised. The corners of his mouth curled up like an animation. "Can't we just get along? I mean, we all have the same goals, don't we?"

I pulled my hand down and glued it to my side. It formed a solid fist.

'Memory you best arrive back as soon as possible so I can have a decent reason to not return the...the lovely favor that was just bestowed upon me.'

"Are you okay, Y/N?" Niki whispered beside me. I exhale through my mouth.

"I could be better...I appreciate you caring." I reply. Tubbo wore a scrunched up expression beside Tommy. He looked at me, then at the newcomer with a small shake of his head. It went unnoticed by all, but me and Niki.

Tommy made a face of disgust at the former vice president of Manburg.

"Excuse me for a second," Niki piped up to the arguing group—which, overall, did not pay much mind to her absence. I turn my head to face her. She is swift in her departure.

'Why is she leaving?'

"I will be back briefly," I state, eyes trailing behind me. I jogged slightly to the stairs and began climbing my way up. I caught up to her shortly after.

Niki seated herself on top of a chest. Her hands planted themselves on her face and over her pink cheeks.

Her view fixed downwards, as well as a few strands of hair. I noticed the dye coming off yesterday during the retreat. Hints of light chestnut brown and blonde bits starting at her roots signaled her original hair color before dyed during the prosperous era of L'Manburg.

I stared at her for a few minutes, then caught myself zoning out. I smacked my face for a quick back to reality cure.

"What is the matter?" I ask. Niki shrugged, then shook her head.

"I needed a moment away from the group. It...nothing feels right," Niki drew circles into her thigh with her index finger.  "Everything is just a bit much right now."

       'I can understand that...'

       "Anything that we do I feel is wrong to some degree—" Niki shot her head up, eyes widened and irises small. "Tubbo is still shaking at night when going to sleep from the execution despite having already forgiven Technoblade. It scares me.  It scares to think that he wakes up terrified from night terrors and—and that and I can't do anything to help him!"

'Niki has made it a habit of hers to rest near Tubbo when he is sleeping after that incident.  It reassures me to know that he has someone watching over him when he in in his most vulnerable point.  Slumber.'

'However...it worries me that she isn't receiving as much sleep as she should.'

"Wilbur—Wilbur worries me a lot too," Niki continued.  She took in a long, shaky breath.  "He's changing.  His plans for L'Manburg have been tossed aside from what I have observed in the few hours I arrived.  Tubbo agreed with me, and I hope you do too.". Niki barred her fists.  "Wilbur is turning insane."

She then went silent for a few minutes.  I stood there, a few feet in front of her.  What is going on—no, I do know what is going on, yet I feel as though I don't.  There's missing spaces in my head, and I don't know where.

"We don't have seasons there, in Manberg I mean," Niki whispered.

       My ears perked up.

       "We have War and Not War.  It's sickening that I've gotten used to it—that we've gotten used to it." her hand rubbed her face tiredly.  Niki is intending to keep her body awake for a third night.  "Everyday is just a non-stop war.  I hate it.  I hate not feeling safe."

"Niki," I reached my hand out to her. She shook her head slowly with pursed lips in response. "you do know that—"

"A-And you...speaking of safe. You said that you would be safe out there with Dream after you; that you can take care of yourself."  Niki stared at me all of a sudden, wide eyed and betrayed.  "Y/N—Y/N I grieved your death for so long that I don't even remember the passed months.  Puffy tried to get me out of bed for weeks, but I didn't budge.  The only thing that kept me going afterwards was the fact that I knew I had to help my friends and stay alive. I couldn't let your sacrifice be in vain."

I could only take in her solemn gestures. What words could I offer her? I don't even remember her entirely. Niki is someone Wilbur told me to run away with and that we were close. How close? I can only speculate that we were bonded like siblings.

Niki wiped her eyes with her sleeve. A small, dubious laugh came out of her mouth. It's cynical, almost.

"I'm glad you're back Y/N," she starts up again. "I really am. But I need some time adjusting. Shock, I suppose. One of your best friend dying then sudden shows up alive?" Niki shrugs. "You get the gist."

I nod.

"Take however long you need." I murmur.

Niki sends a soft smile. "Aren't we too young for all this? The pain we go through everyday, at war at all times and everyone at stake. We can't seem to catch a break, can we?"

"Well..." I sighed. "I suppose this is the price that you pay for glory."

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