The Weight of Exhaustion

Chapter Nine: The Reunion

Lucas felt like he was dreaming. That was Sabre.

That was Sabre!!!

Lucas barely had any time to see what changed before Sabre jolted forward, slamming into him. He dropped the saber and his bag onto the ground as he stumbled backwards. He felt his knees fold underneath the sudden extra weight, Sabre (!!!!) going down with him.

"What?" Someone asked. It sounds like the Yellow one. Yellow Leader, was it?

Lucas blinked and found Sabre holding him by the shoulders. Lucas felt his own face copying the grin as they both knelt on the ground. Already, Lucas can tell what changes happened since Sabre disappeared. His skin was slightly darker and his hair was longer, nearly reaching his past shoulders. The sheer fact he was wearing green was amazing, since Sabre's wardrobe mostly consisted of just the color of white last time they saw one another.

What made his heart sink to his stomach though were the few scars that were visible, peeking out from the collar of his hoodie and sleeves. Scars that he knew for a fact Sabre did not have before he vanished.

A giddy laugh bursting out of both of them as they sat there. "You're here!" Sabre's voice sounded choked up, and Lucas felt tears starting to collect.

"You're here!" Lucas parroted back.

"Oh Origin, there's two."

Both just stared and broke out in more disbelieving giggles. Sabre threw his arms around Lucas' neck and buried himself into a hug. Lucas followed suit, resting his chin on Sabre's head with his eyes closed. Lucas would like to imagine this wasn't being watched by several strangers. Lucas felt Sabre's shoulders shake. He wasn't sure if he was because of laughter or crying. He could already feel as tears pooled out and down his chin.

"You're here." Sabre repeated, his voice muffled, but still audible. "World Beyond"- Lucas wasn't going to question it. "-you're here!"

Lucas felt wetness start soaking into his shirt as Sabre's shoulders shook some more. Ah, crying.

"You're alive." Lucas squeezed him, and he felt Sabre's grip tighten in response. Oh, did he also get stronger? "The village thought you died after you disappeared."

A strangled sound was made by someone behind him. He didn't look to see who.

Sabre let out some wet sounding giggles. "I live bitch."

"Tell that to your gravestone, idiot."

Someone cleared their throat. Oh yeah. They weren't alone and probably were confused. Lucas blinked open his eyes to see two people staring back.

Wait...was the proper word Steves instead of people? All the other colored ones are called Steves even though they look nothing alike besides the fact they're different colors of the rainbow. Obviously they're sentient so was it wrong to make them not be considered people? Was this a situation with fruit and vegetables? Fruit are vegetables but not all vegetables are fruit? Were Steves people but not all people Steves?

Lucas pushed away those thoughts. Now was not the time to be figuring out the logistics of what Steves would be considered as.

Sabre shifted, and pretty much rolled off to the side, sitting down next to him, hand gripping his arm. Yeah, no, he definitely got stronger.

Metal skittered across the ground as Sabre hit his sword accidentally. Sabre blinked down at the weapon. "What?" He mumbled. "Since when..."

"Sabre?" Sabre's head looked up and away from the sword as...did that guy have a clock for a face? How were the hands moving??? "You know each other?" Clock man sounded like he already knew the answer.