The Freaks of the Ring

Eight : The Freaks

Blitz couldn't help but stare as Doku and Rayne walked out of the library, talking and laughing like good old friends. He was already muttering profanities under his breath in his native language of German, just so the others wouldn't know what he was saying. It didn't exactly work though; they all had learned what each foreign word actually meant, thanks to Tony and his ability to translate everything into common tongue. The cyborg was the only reason why everyone was able to understand everyone else, after all.
Tierra immediately catches wind of the curses, immediately rolling her eyes. "You know, Blitz, the new guy isn't going to steal your precious little crush away from you." It really was no secret that the lightning elemental had a major crush on Doku, even if he didn't realize it was so obvious.
He just stares at the earthen girl for a moment before responding. The blood was quickly starting to drain from his already pale face. "...Is it really that obvious?" It always struck the rest of them as funny how even he didn't know his obsession was so prominent.
Levi just rolls their eyes and sighs. "Let's just say that it's more obvious than the fact that my twin is in charge of death." It always was easy to determine Rem's power, just because of that stupid scythe they carried around everywhere. "Besides, we can all understand what you're saying when you mutter romantic poetry after him. You're just lucky that Doku's too busy trying to stay alive for another day to study everyone else's languages." The rest of the group all nod in agreement.
Blitz splutters for a moment before getting up and walking back into the dorm hall, face redder than Pecikan's eyes when she was in a good mood. And here he's been thinking that his shameless flirting had gone undetected. Well, he was certainly wrong. Again.
The second the door to the hall completely shut, Ventus immediately sprang into gossip mode. Not that there was really much to gossip about when there were only nine, no, ten of them living in a compound together, but she had to do something to pass the time until they were allowed to get out. "Who did he even think he was fooling? Besides, Doku likes him back. Can they just get together already and stop going in pointless circles around the place?"
Tierra glances down at Ventus, who was currently sitting quietly in her lap. "How do you even know that? It's not like Doku ever tells anyone else anything, since he's always tied up in that stupid library of his."
Levi snaps their hand through the air, immediately causing Tierra to shut right up. "One, Doku never talks to anyone because you guys never let him speak whenever he tries. Two, don't put down his safe haven just because you don't see his views. For all we know, that 'stupid library' is going to save our sorry asses one day." Besides, they actually thought it was pretty nice how he was trying to preserve something that could possibly help in the future.
Even when they took the curse off her, Tierra remained silent. Once again, Levi managed to prove one them wrong. It happened on a weekly basis, and yet it still managed to surprise them when they found another thing to contradict.
Ventus was about to say something else, except Doku walked right over, a smile plastered on his face for once. It was rare to see him up and walking around, let alone smiling while doing so. (Sometimes the rest of them didn't understand why Rem didn't just take their scythe and steal his soul on the spot, but the only response anyone ever managed to get was "It's too soon" or "His time isn't up yet, stop trying to rush it.")
"Hey, what're we talking about?" Doku hops up onto one of the tables with a smile wider than Rem's after they steal a new soul away. It was really weird to see up close, but no one was about to complain and possibly get poisoned. Not that Levi would let it become deadly, but it still wasn't a fun thing to experience.
"Just the fact that Blitz is head-over-heels in love with ya," Tierra mutters, pulling Ventus closer on her lap. "Just the same old, same old. Not that you'd know."

Doku's smile immediately fades at the sarcastic retort. "Wait, what? That doesn't even make sense..." His confusion was quickly cut off though when Tony came stumbling in, his metal leg clanking against the stone floor. "Guys, I found something urgent. This is actually important, someone get Kannie."
The group exchanged worried glances for a moment. Usually when Tony found something, it wasn't actually too dire of an emergency. Except now he actually sounded serious, only sparking their curiosity more.

"We'll be right there, Tony. Ventus, find Blitz. Doku, get the others from the training room," Levi instructsd without hesitation. "I have a feeling this is just what we've been preparing for."