Cruel but Gentle - Herobrine X Steve

Chapter 19

Notch helped Dusky get her diamond armour on, as she was unable to do it herself, and then gave her one of his reassuring smiles as he patted the dog's head gently.

"We'll get Steven back this time." If he's still alive, the god added in his head. Dusky wagged her tail in response.

The plan was simple; they would attack at dusk, the army's archers would shoot the mobs and - hopefully - render at least some of them unable to battle before they could fight back. Lunch was just served so they still had a number of hours before they invaded the Nether.

Notch went over what she was going to do again. It was a lot like the last time, with the only major difference being that Notch requested that, if she spotted anyone that seemed to be struggling, she would assist if possible.

Dusky looked up at the tall man. He had helped her so much with saving Steve. She owed him a lot. The dog then noticed something, more like sensed. Notch wasn't happy. Why wasn't he happy? His smile seemed strained and Dusky now saw the slight dark rings under his eyes. She barked at him, trying to ask if he was okay.

"Forgive me, Dusky, but I cannot understand what you are saying." Dusky then nuzzled Notch's hand, moving it onto her head. She then looked up at him with concern in her eyes and let out a quiet whine. "Do not fret, I'm perfectly fine." Notch assured, understanding what the canine meant.

Dusky didn't believe him. Of course he would say that. He was the king of the entire world. He has to always look and act as if he has everything under control, even if it wasn't. Hesitantly, she decided not to bother him about it for now; they both had bigger things on his mind at the moment.

Dusky sat down on the floor after about a minute. Notch was deep in thought again, Dusky had learnt a couple of signs told her this, the most obvious was him being silent for a length of time. She kept quiet, not wanting to interrupt him. Dusky felt time tick on.
                            ***
The Creeper rushed through the entrance doors of Lord Herobrine's castle. He had urgent news that had to reach the Lord.

The Creeper had just got back from a field patrol. During which, he had to find someone to blow up. Yet, the Creeper had found himself in the city which the Lord's traitorous brother's castle resided. The Creeper was impossibly lucky to have gotten out without being seen.

Notch was planning to attack the castle. The Creeper had overheard him telling announcing it to his army. Immediately after finding this out, the Creeper had sprinted as fast as he could back to the Nether.

Lord Herobrine wasn't sat on his throne, but that was common in the recent days when he had captured that human. All the monsters knew that the Lord was possessive over the human, for whatever reason, and that everyone was supposed to try and avoid the human.

There was a Spider cleaning the walls. The Creeper had seen this Spider quite often, but never conversed with it.

"You! Have you sssseen the Lord anywhere?" The Creeper called up to the Spider. "I have important newssss to tell him!" The Spider looked down at the Creeper with all of it's blood red eyes.

"Lord Herobrine is with the human again so I think you should wait before you tell him."

"No! Thissss information hassss to reach him immediately!" The Spider shrugged two of its legs.

"If you want to get yourself killed over something - which I'm sure is nothing - then be my guest. Lord Herobrine is in the dining room with the human."

The Creeper thanked the Spider before running off towards the dining room. He mentally prepared himself for the angry yelling that would come before the Lord heard his news.

Finally, the Creeper reached the dining room door and burst in. A scream that was cut short reached his ears. The human.

"How dare you interrupt!" Lord Herobrine yelled at the Creeper, who had flinched at this. "You better have a good reason for this or your head will be mounted on a wall!" The Creeper shivered, knowing fully well that the Lord would keep to that threat.

"Forgive me," He apologised, hastily bowing. "But Notch planssss to invade the casssstle at dussssk!" The Lord's anger grew, frightening both the Creeper and the human that sat on the other end of the table.

"You have got to be kidding me! Will he not just give up?!" The Lord growled, obviously furious that his brother was going to try again.

"W-What's wrong..?" Came a nervous voice. It was the human. The human wasn't able to understand the Creeper's speech. Only other mobs and the Lord were able to do so.

"Nothing for you to worry about." Lord Herobrine told the human. "I'll be back shortly; help yourself to the food while I'm gone." The confused human just slowly nodded in response.

With that, he walked out of the room with the Creeper. Lord Herobrine lead the Creeper back to the throne room. The Spider from before was gone.

"You will tell everyone about this. Spread the word that we shall strike right before they enter the portal to here, got that?"

"Yessss, Lord Herobrine."

"Tell them to prepare. We only have a few hours."

"Right away." The Creeper hurried off to tell the other monsters.
                             ***
Steve sat there, slightly confused, while he ate some of the lunch food. What was that all about? That Creeper had just burst in (honestly scaring him half to death) and then told Herobrine something. What was it? Obviously, it was important, that much was clear.

This was a lot like the time when Dusky, Notch and the army had tried to rescue him. Last time, when Steve had asked, he had got the same response as this time; don't worry.

Did that mean that they were trying to save him again? Steve felt conflicted about that. Them trying to save him put lives in danger, he didn't want that. People shouldn't have to die.

The door suddenly opened again and Herobrine walked back through. The god had an annoyed look on his face as he walked over to his chair and sat down. Steve grew nervous.

"A-Are you okay..?" Herobrine looked up at Steve and his eyes softened.

"I'm fine." Something about the tone of his voice made Steve think otherwise.

Herobrine was contemplating telling Steve what was happening. It was true that the human hadn't tried to escape last time, however, the god was planning to attack Notch. Herobrine didn't think Steve would be too fond of that, since his dumb mutt was probably still with Notch. So Steve wasn't going to know about this. Not at least until afterwards.

"You don't look okay, H-Herobrine." Steve frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, that was just something I had to take care of but it's done now." The immortal lied, waving a hand in a dismissive way.

"O-Okay, if you say so..."

The pair began to eat the assortment of food on the table. Steve felt his mind begin to wonder. Of course, it took him to the events of the previous day. When Herobrine had kissed him. Steve felt his face heat up and turn bright a red. The human suddenly remembered a question he wanted to ask Herobrine.

"H-Hey, Herobrine..?" The god at the other end of the table hummed in acknowledgement and focused on the human. "Why did you choose to learn the piano?" Herobrine looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.

"Because it's a complex - but simple - instrument." Steve nodded. "And it always relaxes me when I play it. It's like all my stress melts away."

"You do play beautifully."

"Thanks." Herobrine smiled with slight hesitance. He would have doubted what the mortal had said, if he wasn't able to read thoughts.