Chapter Text
Suspiciously, there were no federation workers or any scientist belonging to the Federation on the way out, which surprised Ash to say the least. He somewhat hoped they would get caught, so he could come back to the hurtful and monotone routine of living in the lab. As much pain as it brought, it also brought peace. Ash didn’t believe he was meant for much more anyways.
And there came Ewron, with his warm presence to turn everything upside down.
On the other hand, Ash was tragically curious of everything that was about to unravel, the thrill and adrenaline in his veins giving him goosebumps. It felt like he was meant for that, for something more than it was given to him.
During the escape, Ewron’s mind wasn’t peaceful at all, all of his thoughts mixed up just as much as Ash’s. He tried coming up with a way to explain everything to the man whose hand he was just holding, but any way of saying it seemed too messed up, too unbelievable.
Well, he and Ash did unbelievable things, so explaining that to still remain trustworthy seemed like a really hard thing to do, but he had to. IIf there was even a slight chance that he might remember, that he might look at his face, listen to his story and get all of these memories back, it was all worth it. Getting his Ash back was all that mattered to Ewron in that moment.
When they approached the exit of the laboratory, Ewron let out a deep sigh. Ash curiously stared at the man, who, bent over, was panting. The assassin giggled under his breath.
“Your condition doesn’t seem so good,” he noticed, mockingly.
Ewron just looked up at him, annoyance painted out all over his face.
“Yeah, that’s the Ash I know,” He murmured to himself, rolling his eyes, straightening up and dusting off his pants instinctively. “Come on, we have places to be,” He rushed Ash and started walking forward, waiting for the assassin to follow.
Ash just started looking around. He just realized what he was seeing, and god– wasn’t it beautiful?
The gentle rays of the rising sun brushed against his skin warmly, his eyes squinting at the sudden lightning. It was different from the fake lightning in the laboratory. This one, in contrast to the white lightbulbs emitting white, sharp light, gave warmness that took over Ash’s whole body, making the man's muscles loosen up.
The grass was so beautifully green, swinging in the direction given by the strong wind, his braid also swaying slowly, brushing against his back.
The whole world was covered in the orange of sunlight, taking Ash’s breath away. That was what he was kept away from? What cruel entity would ever deprive someone from a sight so magnificent, magical in its simple existence?
Ash’s eyes travelled all over the trees, flowers, the sky and the clouds, taking all of this beauty in, like it was the last time he would be able to experience something so bewitching.
Ewron stopped in his tracks, not hearing any footsteps behind him. He looked back at Ash, and the mere sight of him filled him up with unknown fondness. He stared at the assassin, just like he looked at the fields in front of him, taking in the beauty of him. His eyes were shining, reflecting the light of the morning light, like he was a part of this enchanting scenery, in Ewron's eyes– fitting right in.
As Ash explored the outside world with his gaze, his eyes landed on Ewron, looking at him with curiosity. They stared at each other for a second, before Ewron shaked his head lightly, cutting the weird trans they got themselves in.
“We gotta go, don’t want any fed worker to find us here when they notice you are gone,” Ewron started, gesturing for Ash to follow his lead, which the man did this time, still scanning the terrain with interest. All of this was so new and so appealing, that he didn’t know how he had gone all of this time without it.
“Where are we even going? What is your name?,” The question felt kind of like a stab for Ewron. The most important person in his life, his faithful assassin not remembering his name. Not like he expected him to do so, but never hearing that question made it easier to pretend that he did.
“Ewron. My name is Ewron, and we, my friend, are going home,” he said enthusiastically. “It’s called Prawdziwa Polska. Well, not exactly Prawdziwa Polska, its full name is Prawdziwa Polska 2, because the first island called Prawdziwa Polska got blown up by my friend Nexe, who in revenge of me killing him while on a dangerous mission to catch a dark entity blew it all up, but I’m not even that mad to be honest, because this place is a whole lot better,” Ewron blabbered, gesticulating widely.
Ash found it very different from what he knew– cold voices and talks only sparked by demands and questions, always cut short right after the right answer was provided. It contrasted with Ewron’s talkative self, who tended to say more than was necessary. It was quite endearing, in Ash’s humble opinion.
“You got any other questions?,” Ewron asked.
“Well, a whole lot of them, to be honest,” Ash replied, “You could start with, what happened… You know, to me,” he continued, his voice shying away with every word, getting softer and quieter, like he was scared of the answer that he might receive.
Ewron fell silent for a moment, letting the sweet chirping of the birds and the rustling of the trees moved by the wind fill the uncomfortable silence.
“You know, that is a good question I wished I knew the answer to. Before.. Well, all of that, you were very against the federation, so I assume it would be something connected to that? You weren’t really effusive, you didn't tell me everything. But that day, when we were talking, you were in a big rush. You wanted to destroy a tower owned by Multi,” Ewron stopped his banter, feeling the confused gaze of Ash on his back. He walked up to Ash, now walking next to him, and explained. “Multi is a scientist, and also an ex friend of mine. He altered the minds of your friend, Haiper, and you wanted to bring him back to normal. That's what destroying the tower would do, " Ash just nodded, trying to concentrate on the words of the panda. “I was supposed to tell you something very important that day,” he shied out a bit. “But you kept on talking about destroying that tower, and then Cucurucho came, and he took you away. There was nothing I could do, really, to prevent that from happening. I tried using my one favor, but it wasn’t accepted, and then… You flew away,” A silence surrounded the men. “I promised that I will save you, but it took me a long time to do so, you know. And now… You know what happened after that,” He finished, coughing a little.
Ash just stared at him.
“What was the important thing you wanted to tell me?” Ewron shaked his head, helpless.
“It doesn’t matter anymore anyways. You won’t remember what that meant. and I… It would be pretty hard to explain, really,” He said, after which he just kept staring at the ground, not knowing what to do with himself.
It was Ash, but not really. And it hurt, hurt seeing someone so important to him, but also knowing that he might be permanently gone, all of the memories, all of the good things, and the bad ones as well, all of it could’ve never happened, since it was gone from the man's mind. Ash was alive, but not really, as if some part of him died inside him that day, and Ewron wasn’t sure if it could ever be brought back.
A tear slowly rolled down his cheek, tinting it a slightly pinkish colour that it usually didn’t take. He quickly wiped it off, trying to act as if it never happened, while his gaze was still glued to the ground.
Ash could feel the pain the Panda was going through just by looking at him. He could understand where he was coming from, and truly felt bad for him. Slight guilt crept up into his mind, whispering that it was all his fault. Maybe if he was more careful before, he wouldn't end up like this. Maybe if he was more observant, more strong, more emotionless, maybe it would all work out.
Now he couldn’t even tell what was the thing that needed to be changed in this history, as he only knew pieces that he tried to glue together to make it all make sense. Asking didn't really come into the game, as Ash felt like it would hurt Ewron, making him break down in the middle of the fields, his drooping tail and ears doing something to Ash. It was weird, he shouldn't feel so connected to a theoretical stranger. It didn’t feel like looking at a stranger though. All of the things they— according to Ewron— went through, were somewhere deep inside his heart. It was filled with hope of getting it all back.
Ash stumbled onto Ewron, who suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring at the horizon in front of him.
“We’re home,” He said, taking Ash’s hand and moving forward, not even looking at his face.
The whole place was filled to the brim with lavenders, Ash stomping carefully on the ground to not demolish any of them. Many animals wandered around these fields, and Ewron’s eyes seemed to immediately light up at the sight of them.
Ash liked that version of Ewron— the one with lit up eyes and a wide smile on his face, it made his chest all warm and fuzzy. Looking at sad Ewron felt like watching a kicked puppy.
A melody came through to Ash’s ears.
“This, my dear, is La Cucaracha,” Ewron explained, pointing at the dancing cockroach with maracas and a big Mexican hat. “Hello La Cucuracha,” He said, hugging the animal.
Ash watched it curiously. A small thought wandering in his head wondered what it would be like to be hugged like this, with this much genuine care and love as Ewoon seemed to give even to this little cockroach.
He quickly abandoned it, following Ewron who already started touring him over the whole place, with honest enthusiasm, showing him all of his animals.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
If Ash would have to tell one thing that he learnt during that tour, it would be that Ewron was a really talkative person. His constant banter filled the air at all times, the pauses to breathe the only silent moments. It was quite tiring for most people, to be completely honest.
It was also quite endearing to Ash.
“And here,” Ewron continued his neverending blabber, pointing onto the grave next to him. “Lies my dead son, Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz.” Ash looked at him with compassion, carefully putting a hand over his shoulder. Ewron smiled faintly.
“How did he die, if I may ask?” The panda sighed deeply at the question.
“An explosion. Someone put mines in my old home. He walked into one of them,” He spoke, with a bit of exaggerated sadness. “He’s not the only child of mine that is gone though, and I am not the only person who lost a child on the island, so I guess you could say I kind of got over it. Shit happens.” Ewron shrugged, absolutely abandoning the sad demeanor. Ash stared at him intently.
“Not only you? Were there a lot more?” Ash asked, genuine interest in his voice.
“Uh, I don’t think so? I can recall only one person, but I have shit memory, soo,” Ewron was just about to go on with his stories, but curiosity was gnawing at Ash’s mind.
“Who was it? Did I know them?” He asked, the panda stopping in his tracks to look at him.
It got quiet instantly, Ewron’s blue eyes looking at Ash as if he just said something offensive. He scratched his head slowly, looking Ash up and down, scanning him as if wondering if he deserved to know what was about to be said.
“Well, you could say you knew them very well,” Ewron chuckled nervously, swaying back and forth and stomping from one foot to another. “It was your daughter. You could say I kind of, uhmm, how do I—,” He tried explaining, stress chewing at him with every said word, his palms sweating like crazy.
If there was one way to try bringing back Ash’s memories, it would be telling him the whole story. Ewron would have no problem with that if he only wasn’t the main villain in like half of them. It felt like stabbing Ash again with things that were already done, picking at the scab of a wound that was long healed.
Ash just looked at him patiently, waiting for the panda to spit it out.
“I kind of killed your daughter,” He finally admitted, and Ash just kept staring at him, now not waiting, but in absolute shock.
“It makes no sense—”
“It was an accident, okay? I didn’t mean to do it. I resurrected her afterwards, it’s fine” He professionally shrugged it off, as if he wasn’t turning the axis of Ash’s whole existence and everything he was so sure about with every word coming out of his mouth.
“Resurrected? Now you have to be bullshitting me,” Ash murmured, looking for any signs that Ewron was about to turn it all into one big joke. He didn’t know the man for long, but it felt like he would be the type of person to do something like this.
“No, unfortunately I am telling the honest truth. There is a whole lot more to it, you know. We did a lot of things together, it is a bit much to explain in one story, you know?”
“Yeah, I assume…” Ash was something in between grateful and full of hatred towards Ewron for not telling everything to him in one go, but said nothing about it.
On one hand, he felt a desperate need to understand every motive and action that he made in the past, on the other hand— this alone felt too much. He needed time to get it all in, but it felt like it was slipping through their fingers.
“Want something to eat?” Ewron proposed, and Ash, still in deep thought, just nodded.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
The day passed quicker than both men would like. Ewron tried incorporating parts of the story in his stream of words, realizing that it will be easier to take in for Ash. He didn’t tell him too much though, thinking that with time, he might remember something by himself.
They were sitting together by the fireplace inside of Ewron’s house, drinking tea that he made for them. They were now wrapped up in comfortable silence, exhaustion getting to Ewron with every minute spent in the armchair.
“I have another bed in my room, if you want to sleep there,” He suggested faintly, looking at the other man. He looked down at his clothing and gasped. “God, I am so stupid. You’re still in that god awful federation suit. It looks so fucking uncomfortable brother, why aren’t you saying anything?” He exclaimed, his usual energy back in his body in an instant.
“I’m kind of used to it,” Ash chuckled nervously, his eyes getting heavier with every second.
“Well, this can’t be! I have some spare clothes in my room, go with me,” He said, gesturing for Ash to follow his lead, leaving the tea on a coffee table near the fireplace. Ash listened, walking right after the Panda. It felt really nice to be cared for in this way, he realized. Even with something as stupid as his clothes, it felt like for once in his life he had a right to be comfortable.
The old staircase squeaked with every step that the pair took, making Ash wonder how it even survived ‘till that day.
As Ewron opened the door, Ash was met with a sight of a small wooden room with two beds on the separate sides of it. Its walls were covered with paintings, and there was a small bedside table under the window.
Everything about Ewron was so contrasting to what he knew from the laboratory, the white sharp colours and polished tiles swapped for warm tones and wooden planks.
“As I said, you can sleep here. This is kind of my room, but you are also my guest, so if you mind sleeping in the same room as me, I can sleep downstairs,” Ewron proposed, smiling at Ash.
He quickly shook his head.
“No, I don't think there is a need for that,” He reassured hastily. Staying alone at night seemed like a nightmare. After everything he’s been through, it felt like the second he was about to stay alone, Cucurucho would come for him. It was almost like a paranoia, but who could blame him for feeling unsafe after everything he’s been through.
Ewron smiled warmly at that response.
“Okay then,” He replied, opening his wardrobe to get some clean and comfortable clothes for him.
“I know it might not be the best, but it is what it is,” He said, handing Ash a pair of too big trousers and an equally big shirt. “Still better than that fuckass uniform,”
The other assassin nodded absently and went out to change his clothes.
When he locked the door to the bathroom with a soft click, he took a deep breath. He looked up at the reflection of himself in the mirror. Nothing has changed. His eyebags were still deep, his hair still braided so tightly that his head ached after wearing it for too long, the white uniform still perfectly fitting his body.
His mind was the opposite of his appearance— an absolute mess. Trusting Ewron could be a risky move, but now Ash knew there was no way back. It didn’t feel like the panda wanted to hurt him in any way, shape or form. He still had to keep an eye out, he could never know what Ewron's true intentions were. With every hour though, Ash caught himself hoping that Ewron was telling the truth. As unreasonable as it was, he started getting a bit attached to the man.
Ash sighed deeply, getting out of the white suit. He was too tired to contemplate about if choosing Ewron was the right move or not— he proposed him a comfortable place to sleep, and for now it was enough.
As he came out of the bathroom, Ewron was waiting for him in the bedroom, already getting the bedding ready for him.
“Make yourself at home, Ash,” He stated, patting the bed for Ash to sit on.
It was all so strange for Ash, but he was too tired to ask any questions, so he just obeyed, sitting on the checkered bedding.
As he was about to put his head on the pillow and fall asleep, he felt a short touch on his arm.
“Hmm?” Ash mumbled.
“The braid. Do you want me to untangle it?” He asked quietly, sensing that exhaustion was taking over the other man’s body.
Ash freezed in shock. All of this, it was so, so strange… So weird… So nice?
He felt his breath hitching as he nodded, his heart skipping a bit when Ewron’s calloused hands came in contact with his hair.
He sat still as Ewron ran his finger through strands of it, exposing waves from the uncomfortable hairstyle.
Ewron treated this like Ash’s life depended on the carefulness of his work, barely touching the dark locks as if worried that he might somehow hurt Ash by what he was doing.
The assassin swallowed hard, his muscles tensing up a little.
When the final strand of hair was free from the almost imprisoning hairstyle, Ewron ran his hands through Ash’s hair again, stroking it in a slow pace. It was something he did more out of instinct than thought, his hands not wanting to cut contact with Ash.
As the assassin felt that the work was done, his heavy eyelids dropped all the way down and his head fell on the soft pillow.
Ewron kept brushing out his hair with his fingers, playing with the ends of it from time to time. He wasn’t really sure if he was trying to soothe Ash or himself, but he kept going.
The last memory of that night that Ash had was Ewron’s hand touching his head, and his quiet humming lulling him to sleep.