Awakened

Again?

Geno was sitting on a bench over the cliff beside the mine entrance, looking up from the book he was reading as Blue approached.
“What's with the getup?” He asked.

Blue flicked the sides of his new flowy outerwear behind him in order to set his hands on his hips. “It doesn't look too shabby now, does it?”
“...I mean, I guess not?” The wither lifted a brow at the sight. “Still weird.”

“Well it's not easy trying to combine armor with fashion.” Blue excused.
“I think it'll work better without the helmet.” Geno suggested. Blue just smiled nervously, tugging at the metal. “..I think I'll keep it on for now.” He didn't like having his skull exposed- especially with the scars all over it. He technically had a little dark blue beret with silvery trim to pair with the outfit.. he just didn't want to leave those scars visible.

Geno dropped the subject, bookmarking his spot and putting the book away.
“So you're coming with us?”
“I am! I'd hate to see the lot of you exploring a place like the sculk caverns without me.” He pretended his smile wasn't strained.

The wither nodded, glancing over the edge where the others were chatting. Fresh waved up at them, Killer standing straighter and already moving to approach the two.

Blue just shook his skull and hopped over the fence, Geno yelping in surprise as the other simply slowed his fall by enacting his magic on his own iron boots.
The wither followed suit, staring.
“When did you learn to do that?”
“Fucking hell, no fear of heights.” Killer swore.

Blue gave him a look for that comment. “Actually, I'm trying to get over that fear. I can catch myself, and I need to keep that in mind more often.”
The creeper froze at that, mortified.
“My only regret is that it didn't occur to me at the cliff.” He added. “So I'm trying to memorize that.”

“It's not a bad idea.” Geno admitted, arms still folded over his ribs.
“It makes you more alike to me.” Cross spoke up, looking over from his conversation with Fresh and Epic, the spider still chatting with Dream further behind them, the little cave spider perched on her back.

“Really?” Blue asked, ignoring the odd look on Fresh’s face.
Cross shrugged. “You're skeletons who can now both fly to me.”
He glanced at Geno, who also seemed a little perturbed. “I mean.. I guess you have a point..” The wither mumbled.
“It's just weird.” Fresh explained.

Blue could see the confusion on the piglin’s face, but couldn't bring himself to explain.
He was a remnant of a Creator.. whoever that person used to be. They were Withers.
He couldn't imagine what was going through their minds right now.

“Well.” He spoke up, glancing at the cliff to see that villager watching.
It was unsettling, reminding him of Hazel. The thought automatically had him tensing up, but he forced himself to relax. Horror would keep an eye on them. It was fine. Why would there be a second Hazel incident anyway?
“We should probably get going.” He stated.

“Right.” Cross shuffled awkwardly. “It's a little further in than that chamber, by the way. You uh.. you're sure you want to come?” His heterochromic eyes locked onto him, concerned.
Blue hesitated. He glanced at the cliff again, accidentally catching the green eyes of that unusual villager. They jolted, backing away from the fence with a panicked expression.

Somehow that relieved something inside him. Hazel was never alarmed when she was caught spying. If anything, she had looked amused when spotted.
“Yeah. I don't mind.” He breathed, letting his arms fall from their tense position atop his sternum. Distantly, he noticed that he crossed his arms lower and tighter than Geno, and wasn't really sure why.