Crystal Sides

Chapter 29: Better Together

--POV = Virgil--

"Are you sure this is the right place?" I asked impatiently.

"Positive." Roman said, walking cautiously down the alleyway.

We were back on the street where it had all happened, and Roman had taken me to the back of the alley. He told me that he saw a yellow tail dart through a circular drain pipe. On closer inspection, we could see that the drain was made of yellow dyed steel and had a snake symbol on it. I glanced at Roman. I still wasn't happy to be with him, but a small part of me was glad I wasn't alone.

"Come on, let's get this thing open." I sighed, summoning my whip.

I slashed the drain a few times and it eventually came loose. Roman bent down and moved the lid to the side. 

Below was a swirling pit of darkness. I couldn't see anything. I swallowed the fear rising in my throat.

"Are you ready?" Roman glanced up at me.

I hesitated, looking into his eyes, "If we waited until we were ready, we'd be waiting our entire lives."

He gave a small smiled before leaping down into the darkness. I followed. As I plunged down, I felt as it the shadows were swallowing me up.

For a minute, or it might have only been a few seconds, we were silent. Then I saw a light come on as Roman's oval gem lit up, casting a golden beam across the tunnel. He smiled, and his face seemed to glow in the dim light. In a strange way, he kind of looked hot...

No! said a voice in the back of my mind, you still hate him! He's the cause of all this!

I shook my head and walked up to him, "Where to from here?"

"I don't know." he shrugged, "This tunnel seems to go on forever in both directions, so they could really be anywhere."

I sighed and crouched down to examine the floor.

"Eenie meenie miney moe... which way did Deceit go?" Roman chanted.

"Hey, Sir Sing-a-lot." I sighed, "Found some tracks."

He bent down and looked over my shoulder. An imprint was clearly visible on the ground: a wiggly line and some paw prints.

"Remy must have followed them..." I murmured.

"It could be a large worm and a lost puppy." Roman pointed out.

"What are the chances that a worm this big or a snake like this was in a big city?" I said, "Plus, how did the puppy get down here? And why are they heading in the same direction? And-"

"-okay! I get it! I was joking!" Roman interrupted.

"This is serious, Roman." I said sternly, "Now come on."

I stood up and followed the tracks, Roman close on my heels. I felt smug that I'd shown Roman who's boss, but also slightly remorseful. He was just trying to lighten the mood in such a dark time. Eventually, we reached a door. It  was made of yellow dyed steel, like the drain lid, and had no windows or anything, just a silver doorknob barely hanging on to the door. 

Roman walked up and twisted the door knob, "Locked." he sighed.

"Move out the way," I said, summoning my whip.

I sliced it through the air and it smashed into the door with the full force of my attack. With a crash, the door fell inwards, lying on the floor with a huge dent in it. I let go of my weapon, brushing my hands together with satisfaction. I glanced briefly at the room: it was another corridor, but this time with white walls and a yellow patterned floor.

"That was easy to knock down." Roman commented.

"It must just be to stop humans getting in." I remarked, "After all, until today, he had no gem rivals, so he only needed minimal protection."

He shrugged and stepped through the doorway, treading over the fallen door. I was about to step after him, but he gave a shocked exclamation and I stopped.

"What is it?" I said, fear rising in my throat.

"I knew he liked snakes, but this is just going overboard!" he said in disgust.

I glanced over his shoulder and gave a surprised gasp. What I'd first thought was patterned carpet was actually snakes; so many snakes they filled the floor so you couldn't see underneath them. 

After getting over my shock, I breathed deeply and strode past Roman. He watched me warily as I stepped onto the floor of snakes, my converse shoe gently touching one of their scaly backs. Immediately, the snakes turned whipped around, hissing at me and lunging at my ankles and shins. I gave a yelp and summoned my whip, sweeping the snakes to the side. They poofed like a weapon or a gem as they hit the floor.

I swiped another wave of snakes from my path, "Come on, Roman!"

He was at my side in an instant, slashing at the snakes with his gleaming samurai sword. As each new wave of snakes came to batter us, we kept pushing forwards, though they seemed to never end. All of a sudden, I felt a stab of pain run through my leg as a snake bit my ankle. I took a few steps back, feeling the temptation to poof rise in my chest. But I pushed it away, stumbling backwards and blindly sweeping away snakes. I spun around and fell forwards as arms wrapped around me, catching me. I glanced up and was met by Roman's hazel eyes gazing into my own. I suddenly felt a pang of longing. Longing to just be with him, safe and sound...

A white flash blinded me as I felt our two forms combine. All of a sudden, we were Robin.

We fused! I thought, knowing Roman would hear me.

Should we unfuse? his voice was as clear in my mind as my own thoughts.

I hesitated, No. We'll fight better together.

I felt Roman take control of the right arm, summoning his samurai sword and swiping away the snakes. I took control of the left arm and swung my whip, sweeping away the snakes to our left. Together, as Robin, we pushed forwards, much stronger than before.

"We're always better together." the words rolled out of Robin's mouth, though I didn't know who said them.