unforgiven ➽ a Halilintar-centric fic

24 | through dark and dust

AN: Following the previous events, Api has been retconned to be knocked out instead of getting his powers. 

Cahaya was 14, a respected researcher, mentee of one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy, and he was fucking scared out of his mind.

From Cahaya's calculations, the probability of being attacked on this planet was practically null, yet still a nonzero chance. Statistically and realistically, no self-respectable alien would look at Earth and think, 'Hey, this planet looks very submissive and conquerable. Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today!'

The light elemental clenched his teeth, back pressed against the concrete wall, clothes soaked in cold sweat. From a few blocks away, Scrap Vargoba's roar shook the city to its core, fragile and detached furniture around him falling and shattering. His fist tightened around his shirt, eyes wide as he did his best to suppress his frantic breaths. Air was by the window, knee on the ledge as he scouted the battlefield from afar, gaze narrowing at the sight of the rampaging villain.

Oh god, not this again—Oh hell, where's Taufan—

Air resisted the urge to chew on his nails. As much as Cahaya was valuable in missions—as much as he hated to admit it; the guy's ego was already large enough as it is—he should not be anywhere 100 feet near Vargoba. He'd put up a brave front earlier, but his pride was biting him in the ass and calling for seconds. If something were to happen, Air wasn't confident that he could fend for both Cahaya and himself properly.

"He's on the move again," Air was saying, but he doubted Cahaya could hear him over the thumping of his own heart. His blood flow was loud – so loud in fact, that Air would rather sit in a closet and have cinema-worthy speakers blasting dinosaur roars directly into his ears. "I don't see Taufan or Gempa, though."

If Cahaya was in his right mind, he'd know in a heartbeat that something was wrong. There should be no logical reason that the pair would leave the villain be unless they were out of their level. Vargoba however, was an old foe, and they had more than an intimate understanding of the power spheres' abilities as they'd witnessed them firsthand.

Air frowned as thunder boomed in the clouds. "I hope it doesn't rain soon," he muttered, almost ironically. "Cleanup's going to be horrible if it does."

Cahaya clamped his hands on his ears, biting his lip until a trickle of blood dribbled down his chin. Air cursed. Out of everyone, why did it have to be Vargoba? Why couldn't it be Bora Ra, KikiTa or Hang Kasa? Hell, he'd take Retak'ka over him any day, and Retak'ka had crushed his skull.

Hell, Cahaya shouldn't even been in that situation in the first place. It didn't matter how valuable of an asset he was to the team, or how smart or how much he could bring to the table – he was a kid, not even old enough to drink or drive. Right now he wasn't the genius researcher he always claimed to be, but a child scared and terrified out of his mind.

"Cahaya, buddy?" Air knelt by his side. "You with me?"

The alien squeezed his eyes shut, unable to find strength in his clammy palms—

Two distinct figures burst through the wall beside him, collapsing the wall and sending debris shooting in every visible direction. Cahaya scrambled back in shock as Air moved to stand between him and the newcomers, arm raised protectively as he peered through the settling dust.

The invaders did not give them the luxury of time. Within a split second of their untimely arrival, a scarlet blade gleamed through the dark and dust, illuminating two blackened silhouettes in the night. One stood tall while the other writhed on the ground, the spear held by none other than the one standing.