divided x bloom

Verna wasn't exactly the safest city. Specifically the outskirts. You could say Downtown was well-monitored and secured, but that left the rest of the city with less regulations. Divided and Bloom had always been the curious type - the type to venture out to blood-stained streets and broken glass floods of the paths far less traveled. Bloom was the one to pitch the idea - “Divided, bro, we gotta explore in the outskirts. It's the only place in Verna we haven't been to.” “But - like - isn't it dangerous?” “C’monnn, don't you wanna know what's out there?” “...” Divided had enjoyed spending time with Bloom recently. Bloom made him happy… he hopes he makes Bloom happy as well. Sometimes he doesn't know. Bloom raised an eyebrow after Divided was silent for a while. “...I'll just go alone then-” “NO- I mean, uhh, I'll come with, dude. Whatever.” He couldn't begin to imagine what might happen to Bloom if he went alone. Bloom typically never won fights- and when he did, he came out badly injured. Divided couldn't stand to see him like that again.

And so they were on their way.

Divided lands on top of a building and observes his surroundings. “Dude, it's so quiet out here, I hate it…” Bloom follows closely behind, breathing heavily. Divided loves the noises he’s making. Bloom looks up at him. “I know. Dyso would've loved it. Wonder why he didn't wanna come with us.” “...Well, c’mon, we don't have much daylight left.” Divided sighs and stands up, cracking his joints. Bloom lets out an overdramatic groan and falls back, looking up at the sky. “Dude I'm so tired… pleaseee can we stay a little longer..” Bloom closes his eyes and lifts his arms above his head. Divided takes a moment to stare at his form, thinking how nice Bloom would look under his control. “We don't have all day. Get the fuck up.” Divided grabs Bloom by his wrist and harshly lifts him up. They continue through the outskirts.

The two traceurs make their way through the desolate cityscape, farther and farther away from the safety of Downtown. Divided takes another look around. Bloom notices he had been doing this a lot. “Bro, this place is so strange.. there's no decoration or detail.. like it hasn't fully loaded yet.” Bloom, excited to hear Divided’s voice for the first time in thirty minutes, carries on the conversation. “Yeah! Some buildings are literally just rows- no space between them, and others are a mile apart. How do people move around here…” Divided glances at Bloom. Bloom shivers after seeing his beautiful purple eyes. They begin to glow in the dark of night. Divided responds. “Don't know. It's boring and slow. Maybe we'll find somethin’ interesting soon.”

They decide to stop and rest for a while - on the roof of a seemingly abandoned building. Bloom looks to his left. “What the FUCK! Dude, Divided, what was that?” Divided shoots his head towards Bloom. “What?! What is it now? This better not be another-” “No, ugh- I swear I saw someone over there.” Divided, skeptical, looks in the direction that Bloom is turned to. “What, on the roof of that factory? There's not even a way to get up there. You're seein’ shit.”

Bloom can't get his mind off of what he saw. “Divided, y'know our daylight ran out a while ago, uh- maybe we can head back now. Think we've seen enough.” Divided couldn't deny that Bloom was right. “I mean, sure. We didn't see shit, but whatever. Dyso’s probably wonderin’ where we are.” That's when they hear footsteps behind them. A shadowy figure with four people behind him speaks in a condescending tone. “What’re you fuckin’ freaks doing in our territory? How much have you seen?” Divided steps in front of Bloom.

“Please, we just - we were just exploring. We'll leave, alright?” Bloom walks backwards farther towards the edge of the roof. “Nah, you're already here, you might as well stay. Gamma, get that one.” The leader points to Divided. Gamma steps back, hesitating. “S-sir, I, uh, I don't-” “My god, what's UP with you today? Can't take orders? sigh Delta, you do it.”

It’s so quiet, Divided can hear the clank of Delta’s necklace against his metal armor. Divided’s anxiety rises. “Man, seriously, we’ll just leave- please- '' His footsteps lead him off the side of the building. Bloom runs toward the edge. “DIVIDED!-” Falling, he looks for a pipe, a ledge, anything to grab onto. Nothing. He feels a wire string around his ankle, catching his fall but pulling his knee out of its socket. “AGH- FUCK!” He pulls his head up, grabs onto the wire and painfully climbs back to the roof.