Mirage (An Emerald and Mercury Fanfiction)

Mercury: Torn

He had been willing Emerald to wake up for the past hour so they could escape, but they were stuck there.

Hazel was not thrilled, and several trees had fallen in his brief rage. I'm honestly surprised that the trees falling didn't wake her, considering she's such a light sleeper.

Emerald stirred after a while, when Hazel finally sat down at the entrance of the cave they had found in defeat.

Her scarlet eyes fluttered open, and Mercury's own eyes widened. "Emerald!"

"Mercury? What...what happened?"

He sighed, giving her brain a moment to catch up. When it did, tears sprang to her eyes almost immediately. "She...Cinder's really gone, isn't she?"

"As far as we know, yeah." The bitter edge to his voice failed to be repressed, and Emerald winced. 

"I...I never thought she'd be overpowered. It shouldn't have been possible." Her hand closed over his, and he felt her shaking.

His eyes widened, and her grip on his hand tightened in an effort to stop herself from shaking. "Emerald..."

"Sorry, I just...Ruby brought something to my attention during our fight."

Mercury scoffed. "And you listened to her?"

"I said..." Emerald's voice grew quiet and she glanced over in Hazel's direction briefly before continuing.

I said I didn't care about Salem, and that I owed Cinder everything. I realize now that it's true.

Mercury sighed. You never wanted to be involved with Salem, did you?

I don't know. I owe Cinder my life, but I don't want to owe Salem anything. Emerald bit her lip, and her confusion was evident. I don't know what to do.

Mercury glanced over at Hazel, who had fallen asleep near the entrance of the cave. Well, we can't exactly just leave.

We? Emerald looked genuinely shocked, prompting a quiet laugh from him.

I am not letting my partner walk out without me. His hand tightened around hers as well, and she gradually stopped shaking.

Okay. I just...I don't want you to get hurt.

Me? No way. So, what do we do?

Emerald looked around for a moment, but sighed. I don't know. My head still hurts, I don't know if I can affect Hazel's mind yet.

So rest. Mercury smirked, indicating the still sleeping Hazel with his hand. We've got time.

Emerald nodded. I hope we do.

She leaned against him and her eyes closed, a relaxed expression taking over her face. Mercury smiled, closing his own eyes for a moment and not daring to move a muscle.

When she stirred, only a half hour later, she immediately looked stronger and her aura had regenerated completely. They stood, and Mercury gestured in Hazel's direction with a smirk.

He's waking up, go for it.

She nodded, and her eyes narrowed in concentration as she focused on the hulk of a man in front of them.

Okay. He can't see us, and he thinks we're asleep. We need to go, he'll try and wake us up and we'll disappear.

After you.

The two of them slipped out of the cave and through the broken forest as fast as they could. As they were running, Emerald looked troubled.

What do we do after this? Salem will hunt us down, or any of them will.

We could always go back to being thieves.

We were always thieves. She smiled to herself, the troubled look fading only slightly before a new question rose up. Where will we go?

That I don't know. Lionheart is dead, isn't he?

They reached a fork in the road, and Emerald stopped to catch her breath. He is. Which way do we go?

Mercury moved a branch of a low-hanging tree out of the way of a sign, revealing their choices. Atlas or Vacuo?

We could disappear in Atlas. No one gets in, but we could.

Which relic do you think is everyone's next goal to take or protect?

Schnee wouldn't go back to Atlas, not after escaping. We're safe from them at the very least.

You have a point. Atlas it is. Mercury smiled as Emerald stretched her arms above her head. Can we walk there, please, Merc?

Anything you want. He glanced behind them, but no resistance was in sight. Let's go.

The two of them set out, the shadow of Haven Academy looming over the forest from behind them as they went.

Emerald seemed increasingly more nervous, and Mercury noticed her hand on her weapon, like she expected an attack at any moment.

You're afraid Salem will find us before we reach Atlas, aren't you?

...Yes. She has ways of finding where we are, and she can just contact me at any time. I'm afraid she'll choose the second option.

It'll be okay, we'll reach Atlas and then she shouldn't be able to find us from there.

I hope not. The two of them fell silent for the next mile or so, and then a low growl stopped them in their tracks.

Oh no.

An Ursa Major hurled itself out of the trees in their direction, more specifically Emerald's. She leapt out of the way, forced into a back handspring to regain her balance.

Mercury caught its attention with a shot to its stomach while it began to advance, and Emerald fired her pistols into its back as he did.

It roared, and Mercury leapt over its head as Emerald moved in for her own attack. He landed on his feet and smirked as his partner finished the job.

She evidently needed to release something, so he stayed out of her way as she wrapped her blades around the Ursa and split it in half, shooting it in the head for extra measure.

Think it's dead?

Shut up.

He laughed, and the two of them started down the path as the Grimm disintegrated behind them. Emerald seemed much calmer now, despite the attack, and Mercury relaxed himself as they continued on towards Atlas.

Hi guys! Enjoy an escape from chaos, and a possible switch of sides from these two! c: Hope you enjoyed, see you Bookworms in the next chapter!