The Guardian - A My Inner Demons AU Fanfic

Chapter Twenty-Two - Risks of Letting Your Guard Down

The group of seven stood at the entrance to the Midway, looking around at all the various sights. Ava had already lost her balloon, absorbed in the excitement of the event and quietly squealing in happiness to herself.

Emerald waved her hand in front of the shorter woman's face, to no avail. "Welp, looks like Ava's checked out for now." She turned to the Daemos. "Is there anything you guys want to know?"

"I'm rather confused on what this event is," Rhys confessed.

Pierce nodded. "Indeed."

"Hey look! They're drowning humans!" Leif pointed to a nearby Apple Bobbing stand. A man held his hands behind his back as he dipped his face forward into the water, a woman and little girl watching on from the side.

"They... willingly drown themselves?" Asch didn't seem to enthusiastic about the concept.

Rhys appeared lost in thought. "That would make torture far more easier. Almost... unnecessary."

"I don't get it. Where's the fun in that?" Leif seemed more confused than ever.

Emerald stared between the two of them. "Why am I not surprised your people would regularly engage in torture?" she sighed. "It's a game, called 'bobbing for apples.' You have to get an apple out of the barrel of water without using your hands."

The spectacled Daemos shook his head. "Why not just pick it up?"

"Because it wouldn't be a very interesting game." She sighed. "You know, not everything has to have some serious meaning or purpose. Sometimes, it's nice to just do things for fun, you know?"

"Fun?"

"Prisoners! Explain - "

"Whoawhoawhoawhoawhoa!" Ava chose that particular moment to snap out of her joy-induced trance, running over and slapping her hands over Asch's mouth just as two women were walking by. They gave the short woman strange looks, but continued on their way without making a comment.

As soon as they were far enough away, Ava lowered her hands. "Asch, you can't call us 'prisoner' out in public. Besides, why aren't you calling me 'princess' or Em 'dame'?"

"He has forgotten his manners," Pierce said solemnly, shaking his head.

Noi nodded. "Yeah, Asch does sometimes."

"Hey!" the Daemos prince cried out indignantly.

Emerald cut him off. "Well here, Asch, you need to remember them. I don't care if you call us 'prisoner' or whatever when we're at home, but outside you guys just call us Ava and Emerald or Em if you really feel the need."

Pierce looked confused. "Or... Princess Ava and Dame Emerald?"

The veteran shook her head. "I'd prefer we don't use the titles outside, okay?" She gave them all a serious look. "And don't call me Emmy."

"But Mrs. Oates - " Rhys began.

"Mrs. Oates has known my family for a really long time. She's also old and set in her ways, so it doesn't matter what I tell her at this point." She took a deep breath before continuing on, her tone of voice less serious. "Now here, I want you guys to let go of any bad thoughts you may have about humans." A smile. "Here, it's all about fun."

Rhys cocked his head at her. "What do you mean by 'fun'?"

"You know, the thing you guys have been having since... well, I assume since you've gotten here. Like, when Leif locked the door to Ava's bathroom and played with the boat. Or when we all went to the movies." She met his gaze. "Or when you eat ice cream. Things like that."