"You're really annoying, you know that right?" How distant these memories are.
"Yeah? How about you! He's still pestering us, are you even trying anymore?"
"Pipe down!"
A much younger Mikel froze when someone tackled him from behind, hanging off of his bag smiling widely.
"Hey! Did I keep you guys waiting?" Mike beams, looking energetic as usual..
"Yes." Kemal grits out a hiss.
"No." Mikel instead shakes his head.
He eventually slipped off and extended his hand towards Kemal.
"Hello!" I can barely remember us in them.
"Don't touch me."
"Got it!" Mike enthusiastically nods with a quick retreat, face not looking human.
Kemal whips his head away, falling silent. Mike looks around before smiling at Mikel who looks displeased. Minutes pass before he break the silence.
"Alright, standing around here won't do, let's just go."
"I brought some snacks! In case either of you get hungry afterwards." Mike lifts a tight looking pouch.
"Ew." Kemal tsks.
"Appreciated."
He doesn't bother sparing either of them another glance, instead walking ahead with his born frown.
"You know you didn't have to come." Right?
—
This wasn't exactly an ideal situation. Mikel, who's now stuck acting as a damsel, is trapped in bed with another man, ## creature? It isn't quite clear. He didn't bother moving since each time an attempt was made he'd feel out of breath.
Mikel eventually turns his head to find Darling gazing at him with love filled eyes.
Annoying.
He snaps in his head. Who's going to keep them safe now that they're gone? Will that incompetent dog deliver their goods? None of these thoughts are coherent enough for him to process, no, he can't.
Meeting its gaze turns him dizzy, painfully exhausting. He didn't whirl with emotion. Instead Arlon's eyes blink tiredly before turning away, fully engrossed in the oblivious act he's put on.
A cold shiver runs down his spine when something cold creeps up his waist, moving all the way down to rest on his thighs.
I can't stand it.
His heart couldn't help but sink, surely not because he isn't used to this kind of intimacy? Back then they'd do so much worse so why does this feel so alarming now.
'Do you really not mind?' I didn't
"You've grown thin." He bluntly comments, hands resting.
Mikel wordlessly forces himself away, refusing to acknowledge nor accept what he's just heard. Whenever he got the chance to eat he was forced to relocate within hours, how is it his problem?
Nothing he wants to hear right now.
His teeth manage to grind together before he got yanked by the chin, which only worsened this pit in his heart. Has it always felt like this?
"Don't do that." It sounds upset.
Is this the way to handle your alleged lover?
Despite his blurry protest he couldn't move away, forced in an uncomfortable pose that leaves no room for mental slip ups.
Darling's eyes narrow with suspicion, pulling at Mikel's body until he's locked in his embrace, this time much more securely.
I miss him. He was so much stronger.
"Why won't you look me in the eyes, they used to be your favourite." His grip inevitably tightens.
His heart takes a deep breath, already struggling to keep at its usual pace despite years of practice. All this time wasted on him if this doesn't work out.
"I feel overwhelmed… Trying to focus on them hurts. I've lost too much out there, I can't help but feel as if I'm losing my sense of self as well."
Arlon's voice cracks, face distorting into tearless strain and discomfort. Darling hesitantly loosens his grasp, eventually releasing him fully and retreating from their bed and room.
Did it work? Do I sound just as pathetic as him.
The soft flapping of that tiny creature doesn't go unnoticed despite his current daze. Instead of looking around he yanks one of many plush blankets over himself.
Not only does it feel migraine inducing, breathing has become complicated.
It reeks of him. I can't bear it.
Mikel takes shallow breaths, each one leaving him emptier than the last. It sounds like he's suffocating, despite efforts not to. His body is aching, eyes watering, and head ringing. Minutes pass but nothing changed.
I really have to sit through this! Ugh!
All his suspicions get confirmed after just an hour passes. Mikel feels dead. Occasionally having to open his blanket, letting in some not so fresh nor cooling air. He knows that glowing bird is in here with him, watching him. Even at what he assumes is his worst he manages to stay aware.
Another uncomfortable hour passes, his head feels impossible to keep straight. Slowly his eyes unceremoniously fall shut now that there is nothing worth staying awake for.
—
"Eros…" Naia grits through his teeth, fingers digging into a shaking pouch.
"Lemond, was it? I believe you're aware of who this infamous man is." He whirls around, arms crossed.
The merman nods, his mindless expression no where to be found, instead replaced by unmasked frustration.
"Do you wish for him back? Yes? Just like me? Because I won't be returning to brother!" He leans back, eyes scanning their surroundings.
Lemond not too curiously tilts his head.
"The ocean leaves so much to be desired. I don't intend on spending my present waiting for them to approve my future when there's artifacts to be found." He puffs out in frustration.
"You're born with fortune, are you aware? Being a merman must be lovely, living in us and wandering this freely while I'm stuck in some stuffy room! Serves you right you know!"
Lemond shoots him a glare before sinking into the pond below feeling rather chilly. Naia doesn't acknowledge him, instead he shakes his head and unfurls their pouch.
"No waste. Merely another set back." He mumbles before sinking into the pond as well, finding Lemond fully turned away.
"We're incapable of confronting him directly, finding Cat will do, he'll track him down." He continues while jumping onto his back.
"Who's Cat?" Lemond questions while securing Naia in place, pouting to himself.
"He's currently residing at Tier kingdom, where they'll celebrate their freshly crowned prince."
After everything is secured Lemond swims through their man made hole, only getting faster as it grows wider.
"There are no connections I know of." Lemond's voice echoes clearly at a comfortable volume.
"I'll walk, you may crawl." Naia smugly shrugs, what did that thing expect him to do?
"Very well." Lemond glares to himself, mumbling his response.
Naia glances back at where they came from, eyes lacking emotion. Surely this will be worth it. The one he's looking for will treat him properly after all.
"Your silence will be preferred during this trip."
Since chaos is now taking its root, nothing is working as planned.
"Ah." It really wasn't, quite a few men looking dejected.
"Not ideal." Another adds, knowing full well their time's limited.
"You're right, it's not. For you at least!" Prince Zikan falsely smiles, standing amongst a crowd of masked men.
"I believe we had a deal? Yes? Right?" His voice is shaking.
"Sergon went missing and we did our best figuring out where he went." Hesitantly someone else approaches, extending some neatly folded letters.
Zikan declines.
"Our leader!-" They barely manage to get in two words.
"Won't be protected by me for much longer if this continues." He scoffs arrogantly.
After effectively silencing everyone around him Zikan lowers his head in mock shame. Slowly raising it once more and revealing an empathy lacking look.
"You wouldn't want your hero to vanish like the rest, do you?"
Heads turn left and right before finally shaking in solemn silence.
Feeling satisfied with this atmosphere Prince Zikan prepares to leave when someone finally catches his attention.
"Prince Kioshi is now protected by Prince Kier and that odd newcomer who is also connected to Sergon's disappearance while shamelessly protecting thief Arlon." They confess quickly, effectively isolating themselves.
Prince Kioshi? That one? He couldn't possibly be working against him.
"We'll handle it, check their ship and report back! But we assumed you'd want to stay informed since he's aware of our collaboration, that is what we've been told."
Zikan doesn't respond. Only nodding to himself followed by a deep disappointed sigh. Why is everyone standing in his way nowadays?
That only leaves one option, visiting them personally.