Homecoming | sequel of "Home" [✔️]

Chapter 21

In the air, he almost felt like he was free. Flight and altitude were common occurrences to him, yet it was an experience that would always feel like the very first. Adrenaline pumped in his veins, the gush of air shrieking in his ears, all whilst the ground beneath him reached closer, and it was only then he was pulled back to reality.

Everything happened in mere seconds, but to him, the world revolved in slow motion; the bullets, the screams, all of it seemed sluggish, but his perception was sharper than ever, catching every detail of the scene: the small flare of a gun, the threads torn off from clothes, the snippet of hair cut by bullets.

His ponytail came apart, his eyes widening as he caught the glint of light in the onyx night sky. The beginnings of a black, shining surface peaked through the clouds, as if a chameleon revealing itself from its camouflage. The plan that Fang told him before he left, the one key moment where he was supposed to finish his mission.

Now?

He clenched his teeth, and a refreshing sense of clarity washed over him. In swift motions, the whip returned to its holster, and the handle itself was pocketed smoothly into his jacket.

Something must be wrong, Ali thought, positioning his body upwards, his hair and hood billowing behind him. Fang was the most time-sensitive person he'd ever met, surprisingly surpassing the General and the like, so for him to interrupt his mission so abruptly means that something must have gone very, very wrong.

The ground below suddenly glowed sapphire blue, almost like the floor was a humungous computer screen booting to life. The guards cried in shock, as did the agents, who were all halting their battles, preferring to flee the area instead.

Ali's freefall came to a sudden halt, his body moving upright as he hovered in mid-air, a misty, sapphire aura emitting from his hands. He clenched his fists, which the situation below instantly responded. As if a weight crushing down, every living being collapsed, bodies throwing down as if they were forced, screaming like their bodies were being weighed down by forces they couldn't see. The fight was over in an instant, victory belonging to neither side.

He slowly descended to the ground, a small breeze of wind gracing his hair, blowing his bangs from his face. He himself was immune to its effects, feet landing on the sapphire ground with no difficulty. There were bodies around him, all groaning and screaming in pain, trying to get to their feet, but no avail.

The wind picked up speed now. Overhead, a black jet broke through the clouds, fully in view. But instead of landing, it remained in air. However, its hatch opened with a hiss, and a figure fell from a height that should've killed, and landed right next to Ali, dust clouds gathering from his impact.

"Miss me?" Fang grinned, ruffling Ali's messy hair. He was wearing a simple white shirt, shorts and sneakers, as if he'd rushed out from his personal time.

Ali's expression lightened and broke out into a beaming smile. Without hesitation, he threw himself at the amethyst-haired immortal, wrapping his arms around him. "Of course!"

He pressed his head onto Fang's chest, there was warmth, but there was no heartbeat, no rhythm of life. This was how his own body felt now, dead by name, alive in a paradox.

Fang patted his head. He was a completely different person outside missions and paperwork, as he'd seen personally.

After seconds, Ali pulled away from him. He stared at him, though Fang's easy-going expression threw him off-guard just a bit. "What are you doing here so early? What's with the Earth clothes?"

Fang's eyes slid to the ground, where one of the goon's weapons dropped. He wasn't affected by Ali's power, either. Just like Ali was immune to both Boboiboy and Fang's abilities.