Outcast (A Yogscast Fan Fiction)

Chapter 3: Mutual

Note: Rythian and Zoey don't have a series around the Yogscast Complete Pack so I will make up their base and some of their story.

Duncan's POV

Snuggling further underneath his scarf, Duncan trudges through the dull winter forest, shivering now and again as a biting wind cuts into his skin. Why anyone would want to build a home here was beyond Duncan's imagination, but Rythian had always been beyond his imagination. As had his flaming, feisty, gorgeous red headed apprentice...

Shaking his head, he recalls the time before the Bomb when Zoey came to seek him out in the rain and wind, trembling like a leaf dressed in thin cotton clothing. His heart had melted like butter next to a fire-and she was fire. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame, and as Rythian was absent, he had leant in for a kiss which was returned briefly before the two realized what had happened. After that, he was hooked on her like she was his drug.

But the bomb he planted under Rythian's base went badly wrong, and Zoey almost died that day, losing an arm in the process. Guilt broke his heart, and he felt numb inside constantly afterwards, and avoided her like the flux. 

His memories are cut short as he approaches the small wooden house in the woods. It looked small, and quaint, but he knew underneath it stretched endlessly downwards and across. 

Pausing, he inhales, gathering his thoughts together before he ascends the wooden steps which creak annoyingly with every footstep. Stepping onto the "Home sweet home" mat made out of wool, he hesitates once before knocking loudly on the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

There is no answer for a moment, and Duncan waits in awkward silence, until he hears footsteps from the other side of the door, and his heart jumps into his mouth as the dark figure of his supposed arch enemy appears as a silhouette behind the door in a flash of purple Ender flakes.

The door opens, and Duncan's vivid blue eyes meet the purple glare of Rythian's.

"You."

Duncan swallows, shuffling his feet slightly, before responding.

"Hello Rythian."

The mystical man has changed drastically. Although his clothes are the same, with his long black cape and the tight black mask covering half of his face (which was Duncan's fault but they never brought that up after the...accident), Duncan can visibly see that he is no longer stressed out-time alone in the woods with his apprentice had been good, a fool could see that, and a part of Duncan aches to see Rythian finally dating the woman Duncan dreamed of for months.

"What do you want?" Rythian demands, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Look, I know we've had a lot of history between us..." Duncan is broken off as Rythian snorts, but carries on quickly, "but this is an emergency, and you know I wouldn't come to you unless I was really desperate."

"I'm not going to help you. Ever. Nothing in the world would convince me to. Now leave, before I make you." Even as he speaks, Duncan can feel the tension in the air-not just metaphorical tension but magical tension-despite the fact that he is a scientist, he recognized the pull of magic when he felt it.

Rythian is stronger than he remembers.

"Please, just hear me out-"

The door slams in his face, and Duncan squeezes his eyes shut, holding back tears. He had travelled for hours by foot to get here, not wanting to use anything scientific in case Rythian got offended, to save his apprentice, and he has been rejected.

"Please, Rythian, please!" Duncan yells with a sudden force. "It's Kim, she's going to die and I need your help!"

The door opens again.