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Update again!
So I've been writing between missions of Fire Emblem (omg those games are so bad for me), and thus...another update!
Guilty Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being used in this fanfiction without permission. This fic is rated R for violence and sexual content, and it contains yaoi material.
Thunder Falling
Chapter 15
Bridget was shivering and trying to hide it as he faced down the two wanted criminals, a yo-yo in each hand. It was beginning to snow, and despite the addition of long sleeves and leggings to his usual bounty hunting outfit, the chill crept into his skin and made his teeth clench until they chattered. Zappa and I-no were watching him with sharp expressions which didn’t help his already unsteady confidence. He couldn’t see Venom or Eddie, and Axl didn’t look like he would be fighting anyway, but those were only small favors compared to what he had gotten himself into.
Zappa’s head tilted, his eyes whirling like marbles as they took in the sight of him. “From the prison,” he murmured wetly.
“That’s right!” Bridget forced his chin up as he held his ground. “Zappa, you don’t have to do this! Ky only wants to help you. If you stay out here more people will get hurt.”
Zappa’s shoulders spasmed, making his hands swing like rats held by their tails. I-no stepped forward before he could make a reply. “Get lost, brat,” she sneered. “We don’t have time—”
“You’re all under arrest!” Bridget interrupted. He could see that none of them considered him a threat, but if he could just stall a few minutes more, Ky would be able to make it. He would bring Testament, and his officers, and they would handle this. All he had to do was keep them long enough.
Bridget shifted his weight, trying to keep an eye on Axl behind him, in case he attempted an attack as well. “I’m Bridget, the famous bounty hunter! And I’m going to take you all in for attacking the Global Police!” He forced a grin, even if it felt horribly fake even to him. “You’re all worth a lot of money.”
I-no scowled, looking ready to turn away and leave him be, but Zappa was hesitating. His fingers were bending at odd angles that made the joints crack. She seemed to grow more serious upon seeing this and pushed Zappa a step back. “You’re not taking any of us anywhere,” I-no retorted, cocking a hand on her hip. “I need this boy.”
Bridget licked his lips and glared back as defiantly as he could manage. “He’s not a bad person, and I’m not going to let you use him. When Ky gets here—”
I-no stepped abruptly forward, her long legs easily closing the short distance between them. The back of her hand flashed out faster than he could follow to strike him hard across the face. It was only a short blow, dismissive, but it knocked Bridget’s teeth together and for a moment turned his sight white. He gasped as he stumbled back a step.
“Go home,” I-no snapped, turning sharply on her heel away from him. “You’re not worth killing.”
Bridget shuddered, the anger and shame of those words lifting the taste of bile to his throat. He had come here with all his determination and ready to risk life, only to be treated with disdain from a thief. In the back of his mind Ky’s voice was telling him to step down and wait for someone stronger to take his place, but the rest of him wasn’t listening. “I said, you’re under arrest!”
Bridget flicked his wrists, sending both his yo-yos flying towards the turned I-no. The sound alone was enough to alert her. She turned quickly and snatched up the yo-yo from Bridget’s left hand easily in her own. The second projectile flew harmlessly past her ear. “I said I don’t have time for your games!” she snarled in irritation.
Before she’d even stopped speaking Bridget leapt forward, landing on one foot in front of the apathetic woman. A shift of his weight lifted his right foot high to display remarkable flexibility as he jammed his heel into the unguarded underside of I-no’s chin.
“You—” I-no choked, and tried to reach for him, but with one hand already clenched around Bridget’s yo-yo and the other suddenly a captive of Bridget’s tight grip, she couldn’t counter soon enough to evade the second metal disc. Bridget jerked his wrist again; the yo-yo that had at first appeared to have missed its target came racing back, slamming hard into the back of I-no’s skull and forcing her throat against Bridget’s yet poised sole.
Bridget knew better than to laud the brief victory. With a childish growl he snatched the front of I-no’s red leather top, throwing his weight. As he rolled onto his back he kicked out with both feet, using the momentum to send I-no flying head over heels in an almost judo-style throw.
I-no didn’t fly very far. She caught the brunt of the landing with her shoulder and skidded until dropping to her back, no more than five meters from where Bridget was popping back to his feet. But the shock was clear on her face as she rolled to her side, gagging and grasping her throat. Zappa and Axl both stared in blatant amazement.
“Fucking hell,” Axl breathed dumbly.
Bridget quickly righted himself, both yo-yos snapping to his palms. His heart thundered as he stared at the effects of his attack with his own dumbfounded awe. “I….” Reminding himself to breathe he shook himself and let out a wordless holler of accomplishment. “Yeah—see that? I said you’re under arrest!”
“You…” I-no pushed slowly to her feet, still wheezing. There was no sarcastic disinterest left in her face. “You little bitch. You’re gonna pay for that.”
Bridget tensed and braced himself, but when I-no drew her guitar her eyes were murderous, and she all but flew the mere meters between them. The curved weapon caught Bridget full in the stomach. He gasped—or tried to—as the force sent him skidding backwards. Everything was suddenly happening too fast. Despite the distance he felt he’d been thrown I-no was still with him an instant later, and what might have been the heel of her boot jabbed into his back. A quiver of pain ran up and down his spine, until the next blow, maybe the guitar again, caught his shoulder and sent him spinning.
Bridget’s eyes watered, and for a moment as the world flared white he thought he saw Ky, smiling at him.
In the end it was the throw that felled him. I-no’s long fingers grabbed him by the back of the head, catching a fistful of his long blue veil along with the hair beneath. If Bridget had thought himself comparable to the woman a moment ago that feeling was lost in how easily she spun his weight, as if he were a small doll. The street blurred into streaks of deadened gray just before Bridget was released, his hat coming free along with a few strands of blonde.
I-no snorted in satisfaction as the boy was sent tumbling through the rotted door of an old building with a spectacular crash. She didn’t suspect it would be enough to kill the kid but without a doubt he would be out of the way. Rolling her eyes in annoyance she turned, only to find herself staring unexpectedly into Zappa’s angry blue eyes.
“Stop hurting him!” Zappa shouted, for the first time in hours his voice only his own. A pair of pale, faceless ghosts that I-no hadn’t seen with him before shot forward from around his shoulders and snatched her by the arms. She didn’t have time to protest or fight back—the spirits howled as they lifted her off her feet and smashed her back against the nearest wall. With a dull whimper I-no slumped to the ground, battling unconsciousness.
Axl gaped. By now he was sitting up, his sickles reclaimed and held in a white-knuckled grip. He was still processing everything he’d witnessed when Zappa turned to face him. He tensed, not sure whether to expect another attack, let alone what he would do if it came. But the boy’s face was full of lifelike color, and his eyes were no longer rolled over white, but a simple, pained blue.
“I…I’m sorry,” Zappa murmured, swallowing hard. “I didn’t mean to….”
Axl blinked stupidly. His lips moved in want a response but before the words could come an all too familiar chill pickled the back of his neck. It started like a subtle wind, or maybe the sting of static, but it drew a cold sensation into Axl’s stomach that forced him quickly to his feet.
“No…not now.” Axl grimaced, but already he could feel the atmosphere distorting behind him. The breeze that had only a second ago been harmless was starting to tug at his clothing and hair. He shook his head stubbornly but he couldn’t draw his feet forward against the sudden force. “No—wait! Wait, I finally found her—”
Zappa’s eyes widened, doubtlessly staring at the darkened circle spreading out from behind Axl. He shifted uneasily and abruptly called out, “Do you really know her?”
Axl twisted, trying to draw away from the portal even knowing it was useless. “Please, don’t do this,” he pleaded in a panic. There was no telling where he would end up or what time, if he would ever have this chance…. “Megumi!”
Zappa licked his lips. “We’re going to the Colony!” he shouted over the growing wind. “We’re going to Japan! If you can—”
Axl’s heart gave a jump, and he strained to hear the rest, but a roar like thunder was in his ears and drowned out the rest. But he clung to those few words he’d heard as his one lead toward seeing Megumi again.
Whatever judgment she had in store for him, he would accept it.
*****
Venom twisted, pulling his midsection out of the way of another shadowed strike. With all the movement he was beginning to finally remember the short gash along his leg, though the sting of stretched skin didn’t hinder him enough to be a concern. In the small shop Eddie couldn’t use the full extent of his powers, and it gave Venom’s swift pool cue the advantage.
They twisted in their limited confines, throwing each other up against the walls, lashing out at any and every opening they could. Venom gained an edge when one of his kicks tossed Zato-1 into the north wall where gardening tools had once been displayed; the rusted prongs of an old rake jabbed into Zato-1’s back and caused him to hesitate just long enough. With a cry Venom charged forward and stabbed his cue deep into the soft muscle below Zato-1’s rib cage.
Zato-1 gaped. Though there was no telling how much pain he actually felt from the attack he twisted, his shadow swirling behind him as if trying to draw breath. Venom cringed but he did not let his old master’s visage keep him from continuing his onslaught. Bracing his weight, he adjusted his grip and pulled, heaving Zato-1’s corpse through the open store window.
Eddie gave a surprised howl as he and his host were sent tumbling out into the street. Venom allowed himself only a brief sigh of accomplishment before pursuing. But by the time he was leaping out of the shop Zato-1 was already clawing to his feet, turning away from his enemy in full retreat.
“Eddie!” Venom tightened his grip and started after him, but his injured thigh gave an unexpected throb, slowing him. Further down the street he could see the prison escapee helping his female companion upright. There was no immediate sign of Axl. “Wait—”
“Weren’t you going to finish him off?” I-no muttered as Zato-1 rejoined her side. She drew her guitar and played a sharp chord.
“Forget it,” Eddie snarled, covering Zato-1’s body. “Just get us out of here already.”
I-no rolled her eyes. “Such much for both your petty grudges.” She adjusted her hat and began to play.
“Wait!” Venom shouted, but the trio was already beginning to fade within the reverberations of her music, becoming indistinct outlines. “Damn you, Eddie! We’re not finished yet!”
Eddie glared at him, his gleaming red eyes a single clear point among the gradually blurring figures. Venom wasn’t able to reach him in time; as the sound from I-no’s guitar faded away so did the trio, leaving nothing behind.
Venom’s shoulders sagged. Despite having at least forced Eddie’s retreat—a testimony to his strength—he felt little pride for it. Another battle of theirs had ended, and he had yet to reclaim his master from the creature. “Lord Zato…”
The sound of distant—but approaching—voices woke him from his disappointment, drawing him back to the situation at hand. “Axl…?” He turned in a circle, scanning the lines of buildings for some sign of his companion. “Axl! Where are you?” But he received no word and the men were coming fast. Out of options he dove through the broken entrance of a nearby building.
The building was small, mostly rotted, but the windows were set high, and would protect him from being seen from the street. He would not be able to stay hidden long. Already he recognized one of the approaching voices, and it made his skin crawl with momentary panic: it was the police, and Ky Kiske was with them.
Venom cursed to himself, praying that wherever Axl had disappeared to he would be hidden well enough. He began to slip further into the shop, ignoring the splinters of wood from the broken door, when his foot suddenly struck something soft—something that whimpered. He turned his gaze down in surprise.
Curled on his side near the wall was a soft-featured child, dressed in white and blue and weighed down by a thick ring of black iron. It took Venom a moment to realize that it was a boy, and by then the stranger was trying to edge away from him. But he was dazed and there was blood in his hair, and when he realized that he couldn’t escape the assassin his lips parted, taking in a deep breath—
Venom pounced on the teen, closing his hand quickly around his thin neck to keep him from calling out; even a weak yell would be more than enough to draw Kiske’s attention. The boy stiffened beneath his tight grip. With eyes wide and fearful he pawed at Venom’s fingers.
Venom tightened his hold, cutting off the child’s breath as he tried to keep an open ear out for Kiske’s approach. If he killed the boy here the officers wouldn’t find the body unless they began a shop to shop search, and by then Venom would be long gone, with no one to indicate which direction he’d gone. He could do it quickly, without a sound. He had done it before.
But when Venom looked back to the boy, whose eyes were beginning to water as his struggles lessened, he was suddenly reminded of Faust’s parting words to him. His hand trembled, and abruptly he let go.
The boy shuddered, holding his bruised throat as he tried to draw breath back into his deprived lungs. Venom had to cover his nose and mouth to keep his coughing from alerting the officers. The hindrance only made the boy’s panic worse, though, and when he began to squirm Venom had no choice. He jerked the boy upright, metal ring and all, and began to half carry him to the back of the store. “Make a sound and I’ll kill you,” he hissed a frustrated warning.
The boy bit back a whimper and stumbled after him as best he could.
*****
By now Ky’s officers were used to the sight of him charging to the head of their procession, barking orders and pushing them forward, and they knew to stay out of his way. He had arrived late to another criminal scene. He had been so busy in the southern part of the city, hunting through the usual hiding spots and keeping close attention on the gate there, that he had left defense of the outer wall to its usual magic. He hadn’t imagined that Venom would be bold enough to tunnel through the stone itself.
“Spread out,” Ky ordered, and his men hastened to comply. “Search the buildings—they couldn’t have gotten that far. Report any evidence or sign of movement!”
As the men divided into groups for the search Ky stood at the middle of the street, staring up and down the deserted, broken buildings. It was quiet—too quiet, if this place was supposed to have been a battlefield. If the witnesses could be trusted, among them Bridget’s brother, Brandon, then Venom, Zappa, and possibly even Eddie had come this way. Whether as allies or enemies he could no longer presume to guess. All he knew for certain was that if his quarry had escaped the city, no number of officers nor strictness of his investigation would bring them back. He had lost them.
“Sir!” One of the officers came jogging up to him, carrying a long strip of familiar blue fabric. “Sir Kiske, we found this, just over there!” He pointed down the street to an old shop of some kind. “It looks like—”
Ky snatched the material away from the man before he could finish, stretching it out to get a better look. As he’d feared the article was very familiar; the habit-like adornment from Bridget’s bounty hunting outfit. It appeared fully intact but when Ky turned it about he found a few hairs stuck to the inside, as if having been ripped out by the root.
Ky’s hands clenched around the hat until they shook. “Bridget….”
*****
Venom moved quickly, pushing the limits of his stamina as he hauled his unwanted company through Old Paris’s ruins. Finally, he was at an advantage. Kiske was nothing if not thorough, and while he wasted his time hunting from building to building he was making his escape. He regretted having to leave his case behind but even that would work in his favor, should they find it, as he was now heading in the opposite direction. He was going to get away.
When he had a significant lead on his pursuers Venom drew the boy to a halt, taking them into the remains of an old church. Parts of the ceiling had caved in, and as they moved down the line of pews snowflakes drifted in on a slight breeze. They had a strangely calming effect that Venom only partially appreciated, because as his body relaxed it remembered how exhausted he should have been.
Venom stopped behind the rotten pulpit, shoving the young blonde into a corner. The boy managed not to cry out as he slumped against the wall, legs stretched out in front of him. He was breathing hard and still coughing faintly. By now know his neck was dark with bruises.
Venom turned his gaze away as he sank to the floor as well, finally allowing himself to cover his aching side. He, too, was gasping faintly as the fight and their haste through the deadened city finally began to catch up with him. He loosened his tie with a quiet sigh. “Axl….” He stretched his leg experimentally and found it had long since stopped bleeding. “Where the hell did he go…?”
The boy shifted. “He’s gone,” he said hoarsely. “The blonde man—the one with the sickles. He’s gone.”
Venom glanced up sharply, but there was nothing like deception in the boy’s face. His eyes narrowed. “Who are you, anyway?”
“I’m…Bridget,” the boy introduced, licking his lips. It looked like he was having trouble speaking without pain, calling Venom’s attention to more bruises on the side of his face. Everyone had taken a beating that day. “A bounty hunter.”
Venom snorted. “A bounty hunter. I suppose you thought you could stall us until the police got there. Get yourself my reward….”
Bridget glanced away, finally reaching up to wipe his eyes that had started to water when Venom first attacked him in the shop. “It worked…for a while.”
“You said he was gone,” Venom said abruptly, trying to get the answers he needed out of him. “Axl—what happened to him?” He shuddered briefly at the thought that he might have also been tossed into one of the buildings, only to be found by Kiske and his men….
“I didn’t see it really well,” Bridget admitted, reaching up hesitantly to push his bangs back. There was a long scrape across his forehead, most likely from however he had ended up in the store. When he winced Venom couldn’t help but feel guilty for having dragged him about so harshly. He was only a kid. “But he was fighting with Zappa and that lady, and then…he stopped yelling. It seemed like magic….”
Venom didn’t like the sound of that. If Axl had not been involved in the bizarre guitar-induced teleportation there were few explanations for what could have happened to him. He sagged in frustration. “Damnit. Could he have…timeslipped? He said it was so random….” His hands tightened, and when the one around his side dug carelessly into his injured side he grimaced, and coughed weakly.
When he regained his composure, he found Bridget watching him closely. “You’re still hurt, aren’t you?” the boy asked quietly.
“Shut up,” Venom hissed back through his teeth. He dipped his head so that his hair covered his face more effectively. “It’s nothing.”
“Was it really…the Gear, Testament?” Bridget persisted. “Who healed you?”
Venom paused at that unexpected question. “Testament,” he murmured. “Was that his name?” He glared at Bridget through pale white locks. “But how would you know that?”
Bridget gulped, pressing back against the wall as if trying to shy away. But there was nowhere to go, and after a moment he replied, “I know him.”
“Oh?” Venom grunted doubtfully. “And I suppose you’re going to say he’s tracking us now? That he’s your friend, and I’d better watch out, because he’s going to rescue you?”
Bridget was quiet for a moment, bringing a sigh from the weary assassin. He didn’t believe the boy, but that didn’t change the fact that Kiske was still after them, possibly Eddie and his accomplices as well, and now Axl was gone. Probably tossed through space and time, to be met again in another twenty years, if not another hundred….
He almost forgot that Bridget was there until the boy spoke up again. “Take me with you.”
Venom sighed again as he lifted his head. He was too exhausted to be dealing with things like this now. “What?”
“I know where they’re going,” Bridget said, looking more alert than a moment ago. “Zappa said it, just before they left—I heard him. If Axl heard it, he’ll be headed there, too.”
“And why would he? They were trying to kill us.”
“Because he knows Zappa.” Bridget sat up away from the wall; the seriousness in his face was somehow only amplified by his youthful appearance. “I don’t know why, but Axl was surprised to see him. He’ll go after him.”
Venom continued to stare at him, still without trust, though he couldn’t deny the swell of hope he felt with those words. If any of what Bridget was saying was true it meant he had a chance to find Axl again. It was foolish of him to think that Axl might have needed his help; chances were he was slipping again through time, off to a new time to meet new, interesting people.
But Zappa had tried to kill them. The Musician was with him, and most likely Eddie as well. Something had been set into motion, and if Axl was heading into the middle of it, Venom wasn’t sure he could just move on.
“He would do the same for me,” Venom uttered, and this time the thought did not surprise him. He had spent so much time pondering the reason for their strange friendship, it made little sense to deny its very existence now. “He…might need help. We met for a reason.”
Venom straightened, meeting Bridget’s gaze. “Tell me where they went.”
“No.”
“What?” Venom leaned forward, causing Bridget to lean back. “You just said you know where they went.”
“I do,” Bridget assured. “But you have to take me with you.”
Venom’s expression tightened; his compassion, he told himself, could only be stretched so far. He pulled himself closer to Bridget, and though the boy shifted uneasily he didn’t try to struggle when Venom’s hand went again to his throat. “Tell me where they went, or I’ll kill you.”
Bridget shivered, but his eyes didn’t falter in their determination. “If I tell you, you won’t need me. You’ll kill me anyway.”
Venom grimaced; he had no intention of doing so, but he didn’t suspect Bridget would believe that. With a scowl he pulled his hand back. “You want to come with me so that you can pass word to the police when my guard is down,” he accused. “To keep an eye on me while you set a trap.”
Bridget didn’t respond. His tenacity was admirable, however aggravating. At long last Venom sighed, and pushed to his feet. “All right,” he gave in. “I’ll take you with me. But you have to promise me something, on your life.”
Bridget gulped, and with the help of the wall behind him managed to stand as well. “What is it?”
“Don’t bring Kiske down on me until we’ve found Axl,” Venom said firmly. His hands fisted at his sides. “After that, you can turn me in if you want. I won’t fight. But I have to know he’s all right.”
The boy hesitated in his answer yet again, but at length he nodded, and offered his hand. “All right,” he agreed. “Not until after we find Axl.”
Venom frowned down at his hand, but he shook it, and despite his better judgment believed in that simple pledge between them. “Thank you.”
*****
Testament had intended to sleep through the day, and been doing fairly well until the front door opened with a loud slam. Though startled from a deep sleep, he wasn’t entirely surprised. Commotion was only to be expected when you were with Ky Kiske.
The sound of heavy footsteps up the stairs urged Testament fully awake, and by the time the bedroom door swung open he was sitting up, combing his hair back with his fingers. “Ky.”
He had expected Ky to be breathless and anxious about something, but the wild look in his eyes, near panic, was something different. Testament frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s gone,” Ky uttered. A subtle swish of movement drew Testament’s attention down to the blue fabric clutched in Ky’s trembling hand. “He took him.”
“What?” Testament climbed out of bed. By then Ky was heading towards him, looking more rattled than Testament had seen him in a long time. “Who are you—”
“It was him!” Ky cried, thrusting the material against Testament’s bare chest. It wasn’t until he felt the jab of the metal forehead plate that he realized what it was. “It was him, and now Bridget’s gone. Damnit, he’s gone!”
Ky moved away, giving Testament a moment to turn the article over in his hands as the words sank in. There was no blood but it felt heavy. “What happened?” he asked, suddenly very quiet.
“Venom’s escaped the city. He was spotted just north of the western gate…where Bridget was having lunch with his brother.” Ky was moving about the room anxiously, but Testament couldn’t take his eyes off Bridget’s familiar habit. “He ran off after him and now…now he’s gone.”
Testament licked his lips, but his mind was whirling now, making it difficult to think. “You think…he’s killed him.”
“That’s what he does!” Ky exploded, his pacing becoming more agitated. “He’s a goddamned murderer! Eddie might even be with him, which means Zappa, and that woman—and now they’re all out of the city! We’ll never be able to find them in the ruins.”
Testament lifted his gaze. Usually he was able to stay calm in the face of his lover’s anger, but something cold and sickening was forming in his stomach. “You mean, it’s my fault. If I hadn’t helped Venom—”
Ky turned toward him sharply, his uniform rustling with the sudden movement. But he struggled over his response when their gazes met. His eyes were pained with accusation and guilt. After several long seconds he lowered his head. “No. It’s my fault. Bridget wouldn’t have done something so foolish if not for—”
“Ky.” Testament let the piece of clothing fall as he stepped forward to take Ky by his shoulders. “That’s not true. We’ll go after him. We’ll find Bridget.”
Ky shook his head, looking honestly—and disturbingly—at a loss. “Outside the city there’s no way we can track them,” he murmured, anger giving way to frustration. “The Assassin’s Guild is gone, there’s nothing left to hunt. I don’t even know why he was in Paris to begin with, let alone where he’s going….”
“Take me back to where they were,” Testament said abruptly. His hands tightened against Ky’s shoulders. “We’ll keep looking.”
“But it’s still midday and my officers—”
“I don’t care! Bridget was my responsibility, too,” Testament reminded him. He let go suddenly to hunt up his clothing. “And we’ll find him, whatever it takes.”
Ky fell silent, and Testament tried to ignore him while he quickly dressed himself. He knew if he stopped for too long to think about what was happening the same panic Ky seemed to be going through would catch up to him. All those weeks he had traveled with Bridget, helping him train and encouraging his chosen profession…he had never imagined it would come to this.
“Let’s go,” Testament said once he’d finished, already heading for the door. “It’s not too late, Ky. We can still find them.”
Ky nodded, and without a word followed him out of the room.
Guilty Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being used in this fanfiction without permission. This fic is rated R for violence and sexual content, and it contains yaoi material.
Thunder Falling
Chapter 15
Bridget was shivering and trying to hide it as he faced down the two wanted criminals, a yo-yo in each hand. It was beginning to snow, and despite the addition of long sleeves and leggings to his usual bounty hunting outfit, the chill crept into his skin and made his teeth clench until they chattered. Zappa and I-no were watching him with sharp expressions which didn’t help his already unsteady confidence. He couldn’t see Venom or Eddie, and Axl didn’t look like he would be fighting anyway, but those were only small favors compared to what he had gotten himself into.
Zappa’s head tilted, his eyes whirling like marbles as they took in the sight of him. “From the prison,” he murmured wetly.
“That’s right!” Bridget forced his chin up as he held his ground. “Zappa, you don’t have to do this! Ky only wants to help you. If you stay out here more people will get hurt.”
Zappa’s shoulders spasmed, making his hands swing like rats held by their tails. I-no stepped forward before he could make a reply. “Get lost, brat,” she sneered. “We don’t have time—”
“You’re all under arrest!” Bridget interrupted. He could see that none of them considered him a threat, but if he could just stall a few minutes more, Ky would be able to make it. He would bring Testament, and his officers, and they would handle this. All he had to do was keep them long enough.
Bridget shifted his weight, trying to keep an eye on Axl behind him, in case he attempted an attack as well. “I’m Bridget, the famous bounty hunter! And I’m going to take you all in for attacking the Global Police!” He forced a grin, even if it felt horribly fake even to him. “You’re all worth a lot of money.”
I-no scowled, looking ready to turn away and leave him be, but Zappa was hesitating. His fingers were bending at odd angles that made the joints crack. She seemed to grow more serious upon seeing this and pushed Zappa a step back. “You’re not taking any of us anywhere,” I-no retorted, cocking a hand on her hip. “I need this boy.”
Bridget licked his lips and glared back as defiantly as he could manage. “He’s not a bad person, and I’m not going to let you use him. When Ky gets here—”
I-no stepped abruptly forward, her long legs easily closing the short distance between them. The back of her hand flashed out faster than he could follow to strike him hard across the face. It was only a short blow, dismissive, but it knocked Bridget’s teeth together and for a moment turned his sight white. He gasped as he stumbled back a step.
“Go home,” I-no snapped, turning sharply on her heel away from him. “You’re not worth killing.”
Bridget shuddered, the anger and shame of those words lifting the taste of bile to his throat. He had come here with all his determination and ready to risk life, only to be treated with disdain from a thief. In the back of his mind Ky’s voice was telling him to step down and wait for someone stronger to take his place, but the rest of him wasn’t listening. “I said, you’re under arrest!”
Bridget flicked his wrists, sending both his yo-yos flying towards the turned I-no. The sound alone was enough to alert her. She turned quickly and snatched up the yo-yo from Bridget’s left hand easily in her own. The second projectile flew harmlessly past her ear. “I said I don’t have time for your games!” she snarled in irritation.
Before she’d even stopped speaking Bridget leapt forward, landing on one foot in front of the apathetic woman. A shift of his weight lifted his right foot high to display remarkable flexibility as he jammed his heel into the unguarded underside of I-no’s chin.
“You—” I-no choked, and tried to reach for him, but with one hand already clenched around Bridget’s yo-yo and the other suddenly a captive of Bridget’s tight grip, she couldn’t counter soon enough to evade the second metal disc. Bridget jerked his wrist again; the yo-yo that had at first appeared to have missed its target came racing back, slamming hard into the back of I-no’s skull and forcing her throat against Bridget’s yet poised sole.
Bridget knew better than to laud the brief victory. With a childish growl he snatched the front of I-no’s red leather top, throwing his weight. As he rolled onto his back he kicked out with both feet, using the momentum to send I-no flying head over heels in an almost judo-style throw.
I-no didn’t fly very far. She caught the brunt of the landing with her shoulder and skidded until dropping to her back, no more than five meters from where Bridget was popping back to his feet. But the shock was clear on her face as she rolled to her side, gagging and grasping her throat. Zappa and Axl both stared in blatant amazement.
“Fucking hell,” Axl breathed dumbly.
Bridget quickly righted himself, both yo-yos snapping to his palms. His heart thundered as he stared at the effects of his attack with his own dumbfounded awe. “I….” Reminding himself to breathe he shook himself and let out a wordless holler of accomplishment. “Yeah—see that? I said you’re under arrest!”
“You…” I-no pushed slowly to her feet, still wheezing. There was no sarcastic disinterest left in her face. “You little bitch. You’re gonna pay for that.”
Bridget tensed and braced himself, but when I-no drew her guitar her eyes were murderous, and she all but flew the mere meters between them. The curved weapon caught Bridget full in the stomach. He gasped—or tried to—as the force sent him skidding backwards. Everything was suddenly happening too fast. Despite the distance he felt he’d been thrown I-no was still with him an instant later, and what might have been the heel of her boot jabbed into his back. A quiver of pain ran up and down his spine, until the next blow, maybe the guitar again, caught his shoulder and sent him spinning.
Bridget’s eyes watered, and for a moment as the world flared white he thought he saw Ky, smiling at him.
In the end it was the throw that felled him. I-no’s long fingers grabbed him by the back of the head, catching a fistful of his long blue veil along with the hair beneath. If Bridget had thought himself comparable to the woman a moment ago that feeling was lost in how easily she spun his weight, as if he were a small doll. The street blurred into streaks of deadened gray just before Bridget was released, his hat coming free along with a few strands of blonde.
I-no snorted in satisfaction as the boy was sent tumbling through the rotted door of an old building with a spectacular crash. She didn’t suspect it would be enough to kill the kid but without a doubt he would be out of the way. Rolling her eyes in annoyance she turned, only to find herself staring unexpectedly into Zappa’s angry blue eyes.
“Stop hurting him!” Zappa shouted, for the first time in hours his voice only his own. A pair of pale, faceless ghosts that I-no hadn’t seen with him before shot forward from around his shoulders and snatched her by the arms. She didn’t have time to protest or fight back—the spirits howled as they lifted her off her feet and smashed her back against the nearest wall. With a dull whimper I-no slumped to the ground, battling unconsciousness.
Axl gaped. By now he was sitting up, his sickles reclaimed and held in a white-knuckled grip. He was still processing everything he’d witnessed when Zappa turned to face him. He tensed, not sure whether to expect another attack, let alone what he would do if it came. But the boy’s face was full of lifelike color, and his eyes were no longer rolled over white, but a simple, pained blue.
“I…I’m sorry,” Zappa murmured, swallowing hard. “I didn’t mean to….”
Axl blinked stupidly. His lips moved in want a response but before the words could come an all too familiar chill pickled the back of his neck. It started like a subtle wind, or maybe the sting of static, but it drew a cold sensation into Axl’s stomach that forced him quickly to his feet.
“No…not now.” Axl grimaced, but already he could feel the atmosphere distorting behind him. The breeze that had only a second ago been harmless was starting to tug at his clothing and hair. He shook his head stubbornly but he couldn’t draw his feet forward against the sudden force. “No—wait! Wait, I finally found her—”
Zappa’s eyes widened, doubtlessly staring at the darkened circle spreading out from behind Axl. He shifted uneasily and abruptly called out, “Do you really know her?”
Axl twisted, trying to draw away from the portal even knowing it was useless. “Please, don’t do this,” he pleaded in a panic. There was no telling where he would end up or what time, if he would ever have this chance…. “Megumi!”
Zappa licked his lips. “We’re going to the Colony!” he shouted over the growing wind. “We’re going to Japan! If you can—”
Axl’s heart gave a jump, and he strained to hear the rest, but a roar like thunder was in his ears and drowned out the rest. But he clung to those few words he’d heard as his one lead toward seeing Megumi again.
Whatever judgment she had in store for him, he would accept it.
*****
Venom twisted, pulling his midsection out of the way of another shadowed strike. With all the movement he was beginning to finally remember the short gash along his leg, though the sting of stretched skin didn’t hinder him enough to be a concern. In the small shop Eddie couldn’t use the full extent of his powers, and it gave Venom’s swift pool cue the advantage.
They twisted in their limited confines, throwing each other up against the walls, lashing out at any and every opening they could. Venom gained an edge when one of his kicks tossed Zato-1 into the north wall where gardening tools had once been displayed; the rusted prongs of an old rake jabbed into Zato-1’s back and caused him to hesitate just long enough. With a cry Venom charged forward and stabbed his cue deep into the soft muscle below Zato-1’s rib cage.
Zato-1 gaped. Though there was no telling how much pain he actually felt from the attack he twisted, his shadow swirling behind him as if trying to draw breath. Venom cringed but he did not let his old master’s visage keep him from continuing his onslaught. Bracing his weight, he adjusted his grip and pulled, heaving Zato-1’s corpse through the open store window.
Eddie gave a surprised howl as he and his host were sent tumbling out into the street. Venom allowed himself only a brief sigh of accomplishment before pursuing. But by the time he was leaping out of the shop Zato-1 was already clawing to his feet, turning away from his enemy in full retreat.
“Eddie!” Venom tightened his grip and started after him, but his injured thigh gave an unexpected throb, slowing him. Further down the street he could see the prison escapee helping his female companion upright. There was no immediate sign of Axl. “Wait—”
“Weren’t you going to finish him off?” I-no muttered as Zato-1 rejoined her side. She drew her guitar and played a sharp chord.
“Forget it,” Eddie snarled, covering Zato-1’s body. “Just get us out of here already.”
I-no rolled her eyes. “Such much for both your petty grudges.” She adjusted her hat and began to play.
“Wait!” Venom shouted, but the trio was already beginning to fade within the reverberations of her music, becoming indistinct outlines. “Damn you, Eddie! We’re not finished yet!”
Eddie glared at him, his gleaming red eyes a single clear point among the gradually blurring figures. Venom wasn’t able to reach him in time; as the sound from I-no’s guitar faded away so did the trio, leaving nothing behind.
Venom’s shoulders sagged. Despite having at least forced Eddie’s retreat—a testimony to his strength—he felt little pride for it. Another battle of theirs had ended, and he had yet to reclaim his master from the creature. “Lord Zato…”
The sound of distant—but approaching—voices woke him from his disappointment, drawing him back to the situation at hand. “Axl…?” He turned in a circle, scanning the lines of buildings for some sign of his companion. “Axl! Where are you?” But he received no word and the men were coming fast. Out of options he dove through the broken entrance of a nearby building.
The building was small, mostly rotted, but the windows were set high, and would protect him from being seen from the street. He would not be able to stay hidden long. Already he recognized one of the approaching voices, and it made his skin crawl with momentary panic: it was the police, and Ky Kiske was with them.
Venom cursed to himself, praying that wherever Axl had disappeared to he would be hidden well enough. He began to slip further into the shop, ignoring the splinters of wood from the broken door, when his foot suddenly struck something soft—something that whimpered. He turned his gaze down in surprise.
Curled on his side near the wall was a soft-featured child, dressed in white and blue and weighed down by a thick ring of black iron. It took Venom a moment to realize that it was a boy, and by then the stranger was trying to edge away from him. But he was dazed and there was blood in his hair, and when he realized that he couldn’t escape the assassin his lips parted, taking in a deep breath—
Venom pounced on the teen, closing his hand quickly around his thin neck to keep him from calling out; even a weak yell would be more than enough to draw Kiske’s attention. The boy stiffened beneath his tight grip. With eyes wide and fearful he pawed at Venom’s fingers.
Venom tightened his hold, cutting off the child’s breath as he tried to keep an open ear out for Kiske’s approach. If he killed the boy here the officers wouldn’t find the body unless they began a shop to shop search, and by then Venom would be long gone, with no one to indicate which direction he’d gone. He could do it quickly, without a sound. He had done it before.
But when Venom looked back to the boy, whose eyes were beginning to water as his struggles lessened, he was suddenly reminded of Faust’s parting words to him. His hand trembled, and abruptly he let go.
The boy shuddered, holding his bruised throat as he tried to draw breath back into his deprived lungs. Venom had to cover his nose and mouth to keep his coughing from alerting the officers. The hindrance only made the boy’s panic worse, though, and when he began to squirm Venom had no choice. He jerked the boy upright, metal ring and all, and began to half carry him to the back of the store. “Make a sound and I’ll kill you,” he hissed a frustrated warning.
The boy bit back a whimper and stumbled after him as best he could.
*****
By now Ky’s officers were used to the sight of him charging to the head of their procession, barking orders and pushing them forward, and they knew to stay out of his way. He had arrived late to another criminal scene. He had been so busy in the southern part of the city, hunting through the usual hiding spots and keeping close attention on the gate there, that he had left defense of the outer wall to its usual magic. He hadn’t imagined that Venom would be bold enough to tunnel through the stone itself.
“Spread out,” Ky ordered, and his men hastened to comply. “Search the buildings—they couldn’t have gotten that far. Report any evidence or sign of movement!”
As the men divided into groups for the search Ky stood at the middle of the street, staring up and down the deserted, broken buildings. It was quiet—too quiet, if this place was supposed to have been a battlefield. If the witnesses could be trusted, among them Bridget’s brother, Brandon, then Venom, Zappa, and possibly even Eddie had come this way. Whether as allies or enemies he could no longer presume to guess. All he knew for certain was that if his quarry had escaped the city, no number of officers nor strictness of his investigation would bring them back. He had lost them.
“Sir!” One of the officers came jogging up to him, carrying a long strip of familiar blue fabric. “Sir Kiske, we found this, just over there!” He pointed down the street to an old shop of some kind. “It looks like—”
Ky snatched the material away from the man before he could finish, stretching it out to get a better look. As he’d feared the article was very familiar; the habit-like adornment from Bridget’s bounty hunting outfit. It appeared fully intact but when Ky turned it about he found a few hairs stuck to the inside, as if having been ripped out by the root.
Ky’s hands clenched around the hat until they shook. “Bridget….”
*****
Venom moved quickly, pushing the limits of his stamina as he hauled his unwanted company through Old Paris’s ruins. Finally, he was at an advantage. Kiske was nothing if not thorough, and while he wasted his time hunting from building to building he was making his escape. He regretted having to leave his case behind but even that would work in his favor, should they find it, as he was now heading in the opposite direction. He was going to get away.
When he had a significant lead on his pursuers Venom drew the boy to a halt, taking them into the remains of an old church. Parts of the ceiling had caved in, and as they moved down the line of pews snowflakes drifted in on a slight breeze. They had a strangely calming effect that Venom only partially appreciated, because as his body relaxed it remembered how exhausted he should have been.
Venom stopped behind the rotten pulpit, shoving the young blonde into a corner. The boy managed not to cry out as he slumped against the wall, legs stretched out in front of him. He was breathing hard and still coughing faintly. By now know his neck was dark with bruises.
Venom turned his gaze away as he sank to the floor as well, finally allowing himself to cover his aching side. He, too, was gasping faintly as the fight and their haste through the deadened city finally began to catch up with him. He loosened his tie with a quiet sigh. “Axl….” He stretched his leg experimentally and found it had long since stopped bleeding. “Where the hell did he go…?”
The boy shifted. “He’s gone,” he said hoarsely. “The blonde man—the one with the sickles. He’s gone.”
Venom glanced up sharply, but there was nothing like deception in the boy’s face. His eyes narrowed. “Who are you, anyway?”
“I’m…Bridget,” the boy introduced, licking his lips. It looked like he was having trouble speaking without pain, calling Venom’s attention to more bruises on the side of his face. Everyone had taken a beating that day. “A bounty hunter.”
Venom snorted. “A bounty hunter. I suppose you thought you could stall us until the police got there. Get yourself my reward….”
Bridget glanced away, finally reaching up to wipe his eyes that had started to water when Venom first attacked him in the shop. “It worked…for a while.”
“You said he was gone,” Venom said abruptly, trying to get the answers he needed out of him. “Axl—what happened to him?” He shuddered briefly at the thought that he might have also been tossed into one of the buildings, only to be found by Kiske and his men….
“I didn’t see it really well,” Bridget admitted, reaching up hesitantly to push his bangs back. There was a long scrape across his forehead, most likely from however he had ended up in the store. When he winced Venom couldn’t help but feel guilty for having dragged him about so harshly. He was only a kid. “But he was fighting with Zappa and that lady, and then…he stopped yelling. It seemed like magic….”
Venom didn’t like the sound of that. If Axl had not been involved in the bizarre guitar-induced teleportation there were few explanations for what could have happened to him. He sagged in frustration. “Damnit. Could he have…timeslipped? He said it was so random….” His hands tightened, and when the one around his side dug carelessly into his injured side he grimaced, and coughed weakly.
When he regained his composure, he found Bridget watching him closely. “You’re still hurt, aren’t you?” the boy asked quietly.
“Shut up,” Venom hissed back through his teeth. He dipped his head so that his hair covered his face more effectively. “It’s nothing.”
“Was it really…the Gear, Testament?” Bridget persisted. “Who healed you?”
Venom paused at that unexpected question. “Testament,” he murmured. “Was that his name?” He glared at Bridget through pale white locks. “But how would you know that?”
Bridget gulped, pressing back against the wall as if trying to shy away. But there was nowhere to go, and after a moment he replied, “I know him.”
“Oh?” Venom grunted doubtfully. “And I suppose you’re going to say he’s tracking us now? That he’s your friend, and I’d better watch out, because he’s going to rescue you?”
Bridget was quiet for a moment, bringing a sigh from the weary assassin. He didn’t believe the boy, but that didn’t change the fact that Kiske was still after them, possibly Eddie and his accomplices as well, and now Axl was gone. Probably tossed through space and time, to be met again in another twenty years, if not another hundred….
He almost forgot that Bridget was there until the boy spoke up again. “Take me with you.”
Venom sighed again as he lifted his head. He was too exhausted to be dealing with things like this now. “What?”
“I know where they’re going,” Bridget said, looking more alert than a moment ago. “Zappa said it, just before they left—I heard him. If Axl heard it, he’ll be headed there, too.”
“And why would he? They were trying to kill us.”
“Because he knows Zappa.” Bridget sat up away from the wall; the seriousness in his face was somehow only amplified by his youthful appearance. “I don’t know why, but Axl was surprised to see him. He’ll go after him.”
Venom continued to stare at him, still without trust, though he couldn’t deny the swell of hope he felt with those words. If any of what Bridget was saying was true it meant he had a chance to find Axl again. It was foolish of him to think that Axl might have needed his help; chances were he was slipping again through time, off to a new time to meet new, interesting people.
But Zappa had tried to kill them. The Musician was with him, and most likely Eddie as well. Something had been set into motion, and if Axl was heading into the middle of it, Venom wasn’t sure he could just move on.
“He would do the same for me,” Venom uttered, and this time the thought did not surprise him. He had spent so much time pondering the reason for their strange friendship, it made little sense to deny its very existence now. “He…might need help. We met for a reason.”
Venom straightened, meeting Bridget’s gaze. “Tell me where they went.”
“No.”
“What?” Venom leaned forward, causing Bridget to lean back. “You just said you know where they went.”
“I do,” Bridget assured. “But you have to take me with you.”
Venom’s expression tightened; his compassion, he told himself, could only be stretched so far. He pulled himself closer to Bridget, and though the boy shifted uneasily he didn’t try to struggle when Venom’s hand went again to his throat. “Tell me where they went, or I’ll kill you.”
Bridget shivered, but his eyes didn’t falter in their determination. “If I tell you, you won’t need me. You’ll kill me anyway.”
Venom grimaced; he had no intention of doing so, but he didn’t suspect Bridget would believe that. With a scowl he pulled his hand back. “You want to come with me so that you can pass word to the police when my guard is down,” he accused. “To keep an eye on me while you set a trap.”
Bridget didn’t respond. His tenacity was admirable, however aggravating. At long last Venom sighed, and pushed to his feet. “All right,” he gave in. “I’ll take you with me. But you have to promise me something, on your life.”
Bridget gulped, and with the help of the wall behind him managed to stand as well. “What is it?”
“Don’t bring Kiske down on me until we’ve found Axl,” Venom said firmly. His hands fisted at his sides. “After that, you can turn me in if you want. I won’t fight. But I have to know he’s all right.”
The boy hesitated in his answer yet again, but at length he nodded, and offered his hand. “All right,” he agreed. “Not until after we find Axl.”
Venom frowned down at his hand, but he shook it, and despite his better judgment believed in that simple pledge between them. “Thank you.”
*****
Testament had intended to sleep through the day, and been doing fairly well until the front door opened with a loud slam. Though startled from a deep sleep, he wasn’t entirely surprised. Commotion was only to be expected when you were with Ky Kiske.
The sound of heavy footsteps up the stairs urged Testament fully awake, and by the time the bedroom door swung open he was sitting up, combing his hair back with his fingers. “Ky.”
He had expected Ky to be breathless and anxious about something, but the wild look in his eyes, near panic, was something different. Testament frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s gone,” Ky uttered. A subtle swish of movement drew Testament’s attention down to the blue fabric clutched in Ky’s trembling hand. “He took him.”
“What?” Testament climbed out of bed. By then Ky was heading towards him, looking more rattled than Testament had seen him in a long time. “Who are you—”
“It was him!” Ky cried, thrusting the material against Testament’s bare chest. It wasn’t until he felt the jab of the metal forehead plate that he realized what it was. “It was him, and now Bridget’s gone. Damnit, he’s gone!”
Ky moved away, giving Testament a moment to turn the article over in his hands as the words sank in. There was no blood but it felt heavy. “What happened?” he asked, suddenly very quiet.
“Venom’s escaped the city. He was spotted just north of the western gate…where Bridget was having lunch with his brother.” Ky was moving about the room anxiously, but Testament couldn’t take his eyes off Bridget’s familiar habit. “He ran off after him and now…now he’s gone.”
Testament licked his lips, but his mind was whirling now, making it difficult to think. “You think…he’s killed him.”
“That’s what he does!” Ky exploded, his pacing becoming more agitated. “He’s a goddamned murderer! Eddie might even be with him, which means Zappa, and that woman—and now they’re all out of the city! We’ll never be able to find them in the ruins.”
Testament lifted his gaze. Usually he was able to stay calm in the face of his lover’s anger, but something cold and sickening was forming in his stomach. “You mean, it’s my fault. If I hadn’t helped Venom—”
Ky turned toward him sharply, his uniform rustling with the sudden movement. But he struggled over his response when their gazes met. His eyes were pained with accusation and guilt. After several long seconds he lowered his head. “No. It’s my fault. Bridget wouldn’t have done something so foolish if not for—”
“Ky.” Testament let the piece of clothing fall as he stepped forward to take Ky by his shoulders. “That’s not true. We’ll go after him. We’ll find Bridget.”
Ky shook his head, looking honestly—and disturbingly—at a loss. “Outside the city there’s no way we can track them,” he murmured, anger giving way to frustration. “The Assassin’s Guild is gone, there’s nothing left to hunt. I don’t even know why he was in Paris to begin with, let alone where he’s going….”
“Take me back to where they were,” Testament said abruptly. His hands tightened against Ky’s shoulders. “We’ll keep looking.”
“But it’s still midday and my officers—”
“I don’t care! Bridget was my responsibility, too,” Testament reminded him. He let go suddenly to hunt up his clothing. “And we’ll find him, whatever it takes.”
Ky fell silent, and Testament tried to ignore him while he quickly dressed himself. He knew if he stopped for too long to think about what was happening the same panic Ky seemed to be going through would catch up to him. All those weeks he had traveled with Bridget, helping him train and encouraging his chosen profession…he had never imagined it would come to this.
“Let’s go,” Testament said once he’d finished, already heading for the door. “It’s not too late, Ky. We can still find them.”
Ky nodded, and without a word followed him out of the room.