Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wow. He's actually outside.

He's just defeated his own unhealthy coping mechanism and is now finally stepping foot outside his house. He's got to say, defeating your own coping mechanism is a pretty impressive achievement. Though, he's not sure that Omori's totally gone.

Well, he'll deal with it later.

Sunny walks down the street outside his house. It's undeniably a beautiful night for a walk, the night sky illuminated by the thousands of stars that populate its vast expanse. Though, the ambiance of this small town certainly does help with the whole nightly walk atmosphere, dead silent besides the occasional sounds of crickets and other nocturnal creatures. Oh. And don't forget about the repetitious beat of someone following you! Oh, wait. That might not be a good thing.

The rattling noises that tell of footsteps can be heard from behind him, progressively getting louder and louder as this mystery person closes in on him. Eventually, he feels two hands clasp his shoulders in a tight grip.

And instead of the chilling cold of a stranger's touch, they're soft and comforting in an extremely familiar fashion. It almost makes him want to just melt into this stranger's touch, his touch-starved body not exactly registering that he might be in danger. Sunny's breathing belies the nerve-wracking emotion he's feeling right now. Could it be that he's truly lost his grip on reality? The warm touch of another human being seemed so alien after four years of isolation. He could only feel confusion seeping into his mind until he hears a voice call out to him.

???: Sunny-Kunn!

Alright, he was still confused. Also, that voice sounds incredibly familiar... could it be?

Sunny turns around to face this enigmatic figure, shocked at what he stands witness to.

There's a girl standing behind him with a manic smile plastered on her face. Her outfit consists of a yellow boa print snakeskin jacket (Don't ask how he was able to name that), black leather pants, a black crop top, and some black leather gloves just to match the whole aesthetic, whatever it may be. On top of that, her assorted accessories include a golden chain, a gold buckled belt, and a silver watch. The drip is most certainly strong with this one. (That's actually kind of a cringe thing to say. He realizes only after he's taken a second to perform some introspection.)

Oh. And that is a damn fine eyepatch. It's even got a nice little silver dragon emblem on it.

Sunny looks down as the image imprints into his memory, taking note of her steel-tipped dress shoes in the process.

"Okay, what the fuck."

Sunny thinks to himself as he recollects his composure. Despite their rather apparent natural beauty, they are most certainly a walking fashion disaster. You could literally put Kel in the largest clothing store in the world, tell him to make an outfit, and still end up with a better result than whatever... that is.

Wait one second... Pink hair? Is that Aubrey? 

Sunny: Uh... is that you, Aubrey?

Aubrey: Of course it's me, Sunny-Kun! I've been waiting for you to leave that little bubble of yours for a long ass time.

Aubrey wraps her right arm around his shoulder, causing him to flush profusely. Whatever personal space Sunny had at that moment disappears in an instant as she practically smushes herself against Sunny.

Aubrey: Why don't you come and hang with me? Eh? Just you and me, having a good time like in the old days.

Sunny: I'll pass...

Her arm locks around his neck. Forced to maintain eye contact with his reawakening crush, his face flushes profusely, a crimson red glow building up in both of Sunny's ears.

Aubrey: What's wrong, Sunny-Kun? Don't you want to spend a little time with your best buddy Aubrey after all these years?

Aubrey flashes Sunny a flirty smile, a weapon capable of yeeting all of Sunny's composure down the drain.

It's in that instant that Sunny's thought processes break down, overloading from the Aubrey-related brain rot now taking rot in his nerves. His heart melts at the sight of her smile, her spell cast over his body and soul.

Aubrey: Cmon, how about the old hangout spot?

Sunny reflexively nods his head, his conscious mind unable to formulate a proper response to her request.

Aubrey: I knew you'd love to, Sunny-Kun.

At last, he's spacing out completely, unable to do much else besides daydream about his now very hot crush.

Aubrey: What's with that dopey look on your face, Sunny-Kun? Do you like the new Aubrey that much?

Sunny once again nods. He's resigned himself to his fate, letting himself be scooped up into the arms of the pink-haired tomboy in front of him. She lifts him into a bridal carry, her face daringly close to his own as she walks down to their secret hideout spot. He briefly reflects on the position he's in, noticing the style of carrying being used on him by his delinquent crush. The thought provoked by his short inquiry makes his face go glimmering red with embarrassment, more than enough to make his knees turn to a soft jelly.

...

He wouldn't mind marrying her.

Aubrey Everywhere

RANK E

<------TO BE CONTINUED-------

Chapter Text

What has she been doing all these years?

Sunny runs his hand along Aubrey's upper arm, feeling the rippling muscles that contain the enormous strength hidden within her. The strength capable of making the gods of Mount Olympus tremble in fear, and enough to make them bow to her in submission. The mental image begins to form in his mind, his senses slowly drifting from reality and into his vivid imagination.

Scratch his earlier thoughts, he would definitely marry Aubrey without an afterthought.

Sadly for him, though, he's quickly taken out of his fantasies of being wed to his lifelong love as she plops him down on the blue and white checkboard blanket, settling herself right next to him so she can enjoy his warmth and a peaceful night out.

Aubrey: Well, we're here now! The old hangout spot! Is this jogging your memories a little?

Sunny looks around the secret spot. Nothing has changed since the last time that he was here. The pond's water has thankfully remained a clear blue, suitable for whatever water-based activities one could enjoy here. Not that he'd want to go in considering his formerly repressed fear of drowning. Its docks have also successfully avoided the tragic fate of rotting away, still fighting to live another day in this quaint pond. He turns his gaze toward the small island in the middle of the pond (He doesn't plan on jumping off that statue again). The stone-carved creation remains as the centerpiece of the pond, the assortment of pink, red, yellow, and purple flowers like worshippers bowing to the statue of whatever god they happen to praise.

He lays down flat on the blanket after taking a moment to appreciate the scenery, wanting nothing more than to just cuddle his not-official girlfriend for the rest of the night.

Aubrey: It's a nice night out, isn't it?

Yes, Aubrey. Thank you for stating the obvious. He gives a little nod in response, letting the quiet settle into the atmosphere as the two turn their attention to the skies above. They sit there and watch the stars up in their heavenly places, content to just let the night pass itself by. And as usual, there's nothing to block out the night sky: no tall buildings, no intense light pollution, and no vivid hallucinations. Only the beautiful family of stars up above and the thoughts that roam his dreamy head. He hasn't had a moment like this in forever, a moment he could truly enjoy without a care in the world. 

And then, of course, his stomach rumbles, a reminder to him that he has to actually start eating things of sustenance other than microwaved steak, crackers, and vitamin pills. Seriously, his stomach probably couldn't handle a third of a slice of pizza. He's going to have to fix his eating habits at some point.

Aubrey: Sunny... how long has it been since you've eaten something?

Sunny holds up 7 fingers. This immediately causes her face shift into a frown, the concern on her face clear as a window pane into her soul.

Aubrey: Seven hours?

Sunny shakes his head. Aubrey's eyes open wide as she begins to piece together the implications.

Aubrey: Uhh... yeah. You can have these.

She cracks open a pack of lifesavers, holding it right in front of him before making a gesture with her face. He opens his mouth in response, letting Aubrey feed him the circular candies, the giddy happiness clear on her face as an overload of cuteness clogs up the higher functions in her brain.

Aubrey: I'm making sure you eat every day, three times a day, Sunny! You can't just do this to yourself!

Sunny's face droops a little, feeling a little bit guilty for not taking care of himself properly during his isolation. This gets noticed by Aubrey in an instant. Her rusty Sunny care skills finally get the dust cleaned off them as she utilizes her unending reserves of knowledge to cheer him up.

Aubrey: Don't be so glum about it! You're still my cute little sunshine, even after all these years.

Sunny's face runs scarlet red as Aubrey almost straight up admits she likes him back (If that weren't already obvious to Sunny). His mood flips 180 degrees hearing that from Aubrey as if an angel had touched him with a divine blessing, wiping away any dreary feelings he could have possibly had left rotting inside of him. An ever-so illusive smile from Sunny makes an appearance, Aubrey's composure crumbling at the sight of it.

Aubrey: Oh, cmon! You're getting me all mushy with that smile of yours. How can you be this adorable without even trying?

Sunny merely responds by amping up the cuddling, Aubrey nearly squealing with joy from the honeyed affection of the raven-haired boy. She pulls him even closer to her body, letting him rest his head in the crook of her neck, the two of them now comfortable enough to drift into the realm of the dreams.

...

Sunny falls asleep. The night is once again quiet, filled with only the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves.

<------TO BE CONTINUED-------

Chapter Text

Sunny opens his eyes to a cerulean ceiling, his rest having been more rejunevating than any of his sporadic, overextended power naps he's taken during his isolation.

...

Where the fuck is he?

Sunny begins to observe his surroundings, a desolate wasteland of a room before him. The only objects in the room are a nightstand, a cheap lamp, and the fine bed he's currently using. He'd give it a solid 8/10, a great all-rounder with a few high-quality traits, but not enough to push it to a 9.

He forces his languid body to get off his comfy piece of heaven, that sweet sensation of warm, everlasting joy leaving him as he must confront the harsh realities of this world. The drowsy state of his mind puts up much more of a challenge than he expected, forcing him to fully wake himself up as he saunters over to the door.

Aubrey: Sunny-kun~ Did you sleep well?

His fully pale complexion is tainted with two red splotches on his cheeks as she surprises him, his infatuation with the pink-haired girl not helping with trying not to collapse from embarrassment. Thankfully, she sweeps him off his feet before he can do that to himself, avoiding the horrific fate of smashing his head into a wall. 

Was Aubrey lying under the bed the entire time? When did she carry him here? Is he being kidnapped? Why do some people like pineapple on pizza and why do others despise it? Sadly, he'll never know the answer to any of those questions as he gets princess-carried off into the living room by his lifelong crush, his vagrant thoughts interrupted by her sitting him down in a chair. He watches on curiously as Aubrey makes her way over to the counter, the varied aromas of breakfast wafting into his nose as he waits patiently. The clatter of a plate on the table in front of him confirms what information the smell already gave him.

Food.

His body reacts viscerally to the smell of good food, whetting his appetite for something palatable after years of terrible dietary choices due to his own self-destructive tendencies. The smell of syrup on fluffy piece of french toast invigorates the shallow husk of a body that houses Sunny's consciousness, a sudden burst of energy flooding into him as he takes a bite of Aubrey's surprisingly good cooking. 

Aubrey: So... how is it?

She asks inquisitively, waiting with bated breath for Sunny's response, her nervousness hidden well by the practice she's had creating an entire persona for herself. The air feels far too tense for this situation, her raven-haired crush oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere around him.

A single thumbs up. A single thumbs up that's enough to make her giddy with happiness, one that overwhelms her with an unending sense of pride and joy, almost making her drop her facade to shout and scream like a maniac. She grabs the plate and drops it off into the sink, making sure Sunny isn't able to see her ecstatic expression as she cools off from the sudden burst of heat in her face.

Aubrey: So, Sunny... ready to go fucking touch some grass?

Sunny confidently flashes a thumbs-up to Aubrey, ready to once again venture out into the world of the unknown.

Aubrey: Let's get going then! You aren't gonna make me a hikikomori as well, Sunny-kun!

Aubrey takes him by the hand and leads him to the door, the terrifying aura of the outside no longer present following Omori's defeat. 

BAM!

A loud crash reverberates as the door to Aubrey's house is kicked open, the brilliant rays of the sun pouring in through the door to scorch Sunny's eyes. His arms instinctively move to block out any light entering his retinas, his eyes attuned to cave dwelling and of course, staying in your house for 3 years straight.

The faint melodies fill the air with a soft ambiance, the morning rehearsals of the various birds blending and merging with the music instinctively playing in his head from his personal OST. The soft sounds of footsteps on concrete can be heard as they walk side by side, hands intertwined with the other.

The Hooligans

Please stop asking if they're a subsidiary of the Tojo Clan. They are not.

Sunny begins his assessment of the strange beings that are standing in front of him. A girl in a blue hoodie with red glasses and a side shave, a tough-looking guy wearing a red flannel over a black shirt, a boy outfitted in a sloppily-worn cyan dress shirt and yellow wig, a child with a ridiculous-looking pompadour haircut, and a tall, menacing woman in a dark purple sweater. He immediately recognizes the girl in the blue hoodie as Kim and the guy in the red flannel as Vance.

Upbeat intro music plays through his head as they walk into the scene. The screams of a crazed construction worker ring out from the depths of his imagination, accompanied by a whole chorus of voices. The girl in the blue hoodie begins to speak to Aubrey, seemingly excited to see her.

(BGM) (Receive You) (Yakuza 0)

There's a moment of silence as Aubrey chuckles to herself. She slowly takes another step towards Kim. The atmosphere suddenly shifts.

The humming of the voices in Sunny's head dissipates entirely as a new harmony takes its place. The tension in the air rises as if a single drop of water would make it all come falling down. It all shatters into a million pieces as Aubrey speaks one word.

Aubrey: Yo.

Kim: Yo.

The two of them stand there for another moment, exchanging various glances and signals. Kim nods in acknowledgment to some unknown message, indecipherable to all onlookers. Eventually, Aubrey grabs Sunny by the hand and drags him over to the group of exotic teenagers.

Aubrey: Alright, everyone! This is Sunny! Sunny, meet Mikhael, a.k.a Idiot #1, and the only idiot of the group.

Aubrey gestures towards the boy in the blonde wig. He continues to stand there in an awkward pose. His eyes are covered by his bright yellow wig like a generic anime character. It's clear that if it had to be anyone, he would be the laughing stock of the group. 

Mikhael: It's the Mave-

Mikhael feels a chilling glare pierce through his soul. He completely shuts down in that instant, failing to even speak a word. Even his yellow wig stands up on end, showing his darker hair underneath it. Aubrey continues to walk on by as if she didn't just put Mikhael into a terror-induced coma, introducing the menacingly tall teenager to Sunny.

Aubrey: Her name's Charlene. Don't let her scare you, though, Sunny! She's usually pretty chill.

Aubrey then points towards the shortest of the group, the child with the pompadour.

Aubrey: That's Angel. He's practically Mikhael's sidekick, so expect him to be just as ridiculous. Now all of you, scram!

The Hooligans scatter, heading back to whatever they were doing before. The only one that doesn't leave is Mikhael, standing resolute for seemingly no reason. No, seriously. Why is he still here? Mikhael clears his throat and begins to articulate whatever bullcrap he has to say.

Mikhael: Sunny, do you really think you can compete with me for the love of Aubrey?

The sound of knuckles cracking rings out in Faraway park. Violet wisps begin to emit off of Aubrey, swirling through the air like a cyclone. Despite all of the imminent warning signs coming off of Aubrey, Mikhael continues to ramble on with whatever nonsense he conjured up in his mind.

Mikhael: It's useless, peasant! No matter how many battles you could possibly win, the one to win Aubrey's love will always be me in the end!

KSH!

Aubrey slugs Mikhael right in the face, sending him soaring through the air majestically. Well... it wasn't actually that majestic, but we'll pretend that it was for Mikhael's sake. A soft grunt comes out of Mikhael as he comes crashing down to the ground. A small thud can be heard as his back makes contact with the hard dirt.

Mikhael looks up to see an incredibly pissed Aubrey. The violet wisps begin to surge, manifesting into a complete aura as her hands tremble with rage. Her face is visibly frowning, the tension enough to snap an entire hippopotamus in half and then some. Aubrey crouches over him with a fist raised in the air. The fear coming off Mikhael could almost be plucked out of the air and eaten like a grape. It probably wouldn't taste that good, though.

A fist smashes into the ground, just inches from Mikhael's face. The punch craters the chunk of dirt underneath Aubrey's head, leaving massive cracks protruding outward from the impact zone. She stands up and walks away from the terrified Mikhael, leaving him to pass out from fear.

She walks back to Sunny and gives him a cheery smile as if she didn't just nearly kill a person from fright.

Aubrey: I think we should be leaving, Sunny-kun.

Aubrey laces her fingers with Sunny, letting him lead the way. They both head towards Faraway Plaza, leaving behind Faraway park and an out-cold chunibyo.

<------TO BE CONTINUED-------

Chapter Text

How does this keep happening to him?

Once again, Sunny was being carted around in Aubrey's arms. His arms were wrapped around her neck, and his face was beet red from sheer embarrassment. Sure, it wasn't the first time that he had gotten cuddly with Aubrey, but all the other times were either in the middle of the night or somewhere that's NOT in the middle of public. He should let go of Aubrey or ask her to put him down, but he sure as hell doesn't want to, and he sure as hell won't. After all, what reason does he have to do so? He could smell the fresh watermelon scent from Aubrey's hair, reminiscent of the times he and his friends spent at the beach. He felt the smooth yet leathery texture of her snakeskin blazer and the indescribable warmth rising in his body as he gazes upon true beauty.

A heavenly blessing imagined by the gods and forged in the very core of a star. And by the luck of a hardcore gambler, it was thrust upon him in the form of Aubrey. There's every reason to keep cuddling her and no reason to stop. Public embarrassment? People giving him strange looks? The potential of running into one of his old friends and having to explain an awkward situation? None of that mattered in the face of Auby cuddles. Even if it really came down to the worst-case scenario, that's for Future Sunny to deal with. What matters right now is making up for lost time with Auby cuddles. His train of thought is immediately thrown over the rails as the object of his love (maybe girlfriend, the line is a little iffy) comes to a sudden halt.

Huh?

Why did she stop walking?

Sunny looks up to Aubrey, observing her sudden confusion at something off in the distance. The expression on her face seems like she just tried to figure out how to solve a 149 by 149 Rubix Cube in her head. How would anyone even begin solving such a massive ass Rubix cube in the first place? He shifts his head to get a better view of what could have possibly absorbed Aubrey's attention.

What the fuck?

The both of them stare at a man in a black suit trembling in fear. He looks at the forest with a face that screams utter terror, completely paralyzed like the manifestation of death was staring him in the face. The guy continued to stare into the distance, trembling like a scared quest-giver in some random MMO RPG. Why the hell is he even freaking out in the first place? There's really no cause for alarm unless he had an extraordinarily potent phobia of trees that happened to trigger at this exact moment. 

Unable to overcome her curiosity, Aubrey begins to walk over to the frightened man, not bothering to set Sunny down from her princess-carry. Well... it's not like he'd want to stop cuddling Aubrey either, so...

Urgh!

The NPC-like person emits a small grunt, riddled with crippling fear. He takes a deep breath and sighs of relief as soon as he takes a good look at what's in front of him.

It's like he was just expecting someone to whack him over the head while he was standing there. Like seriously, if you think someone's going to ambush you, at least don't sit perfectly still.

Aubrey: Are you okay? You look like you've seen one too many things.

The mysterious black-suited person takes a few more deep breathes, trying to subdue his stuttering as much as possible.

???: I... lost my briefcase in the forest.

Aubrey: And you need me to get it for you?

???: Don't even bother. The Man of the Trees... he's still watching. He always is... I thought it was just some crazy legend made by some rascals... It's not. If you value your life, don't go into the forest...

Man of the Trees? What the hell? Sunny looks to Aubrey with the most befuddled expression she's ever seen him make. His entire body is stricken with confusion as his mind tries to reboot itself. They share in their mutual confusion as they try to decipher what madness could be possibly be happening in Faraway's serene forests. She begins to set Sunny back on his feet, albeit with reluctance from the both of them, before they walk off into the overgrown fauna.

To be honest, it's quite a nice day for a (definitely not romantic) walk through the woods. The golden sun sits in its rightful place, casting its brilliant rays upon the lush overgrowth. The warmth trickles down onto their skin through the few rays that make it past the luxuriant canopy. The perfect time and setting for a walk just happened to be right in front of them. And right in the middle of this perfect scene is a raven-haired boy attached to the side of a pink-haired delinquent. Sunny and Aubrey had collectively refused to detach from each other, his arms encasing her left arm in a bundle of pure, unfiltered Snuy.

It had left a chilling sensation when Aubrey had to set Sunny down, an almost depressing lack of warmth that was enough to send grown men into a catatonic state. Needless to say, her heart was filled with giddy excitement when Sunny latched onto her arm. That same affection that had left her feeling hollow had surged up again with twice the ecstatic feeling that had left her wanting. The sheer joy from just being in proximity of her little bundle of sunshine had begun to stir, turning her face to a dark cherry red. And God Damn! It was a heavenly feeling! She would spend the rest of the day cuddling Sunny if she could, but she and Sunny have other things to do, namely, finding that briefcase and getting the hell out of this forest. As hopelessly romantic as the two of them were, they both needed to stop being mushy and get that briefcase already.

Oh, hey! There's that briefcase they were looking for!

Aubrey immediately uses her one free arm to pick up the metal briefcase. It's a silver-colored rectangular case with one handle that splits in two at the top of it. Her first thought upon seeing it is that it seems like something straight out of a crime flick. She was already beginning to imagine 100 million dollars being crammed inside of it, bursting out as soon if she did so much as slightly open it.

Bzzt!

Her instincts suddenly go off like alarm bells in her head, a sign of impending danger that she knows all too well (probably in the form of a bunch of random yakuza). She spots something moving in the corners of her peripheral vision, quickly whipping around to identify the possible threat. It's a tiny man, possibly and probably 5'1", dressed in full camo gear and a weird bush disguise suit thing. She doesn't know what the fuck that bush suit thing-a-ma-jig, but she's going to assume that the guy probably bought it off of eBay for cheap considering its garbage quality. He pulls a camo-colored crowbar (dedication to the theme) and proceeds to threaten her with it. Is she getting mugged in the middle of a forest by a treehugger?

???: Drop yer wallet and put yer hands in the air!

Is this seriously The Man of the Trees that the guy was cowering in fear of? He looks like some generic low-life criminal straight from a B movie run in an old theater.

She could probably prick him lightly, and he'd drop his crowbar and run. Welp, it looks like it's time for her to put this- What the fuck was that?

Aubrey notices the sudden change in atmosphere, the wind now wailing its deep cries as it rushes through the forest. The cacophony of noise seems like a chorus of trees screaming at them, chastising them for their decision to fight in the middle of all that serene greenery. The rustling of leaves announces the presence of another person. Suddenly, the cacophony seemingly shifts into a more harmonious chorus like an audience chanting the name of their favorite sports team.

Mugger: Who's that der?! Show yeerself!

The unsheathing of a sword can be heard as a man zips past him, his dark green aura billowing out into the air. The tree burglar turns around to face the bizarre druid samurai. The first thing he notices is the multitude of bright green marks on his crowbar. Their radiance grows in brightness, almost gleaming like a neutron star until it falls apart in pieces, leaving him with nothing but a tiny handle of a crowbar.

Sweat drops begin to trickle down the funny treehugger's forehead, his skin growing pale by the second. It's like she could feel him drop to absolute zero (or -273 degrees Celsius as her mind instantly registered), freezing into a popsicle. The next moment later, the guy falls to the floor, having passed out from sheer terror.

Oh... so that's the Man of the Trees the dude was talking about.

<------TO BE CONTINUED-------

(BGM) (Yes's Roundabout)

Chapter Text

Well, fuck.

These were the first two words that hit Aubrey's mind as soon the tree samurai turned to face her. Like seriously, she has to fight a magical ass swordsman with strange eco-whatever powers and whatnot. Okay, she's fought 1 v 8s against thugs before, but this has to be way out of her league (Probably, she's not 100% sure, but it's kind of likely.). She holds up her fists in a defensive stance, prepared to take on the green guardian of nature.

Mysterious Man

Mission

Defeat the Enemy!

(BGM) (Yakuza OST - One-Eyed Assassin)

Aubrey and her opponent begin to pace around the clearing, ready to make the first move at any moment. A leaf slowly drifts down to the ground like a drop of sweat in a western gun battle. It's like time is beginning to slow down. A cliche played out in many an action movie. And in the next moment, the druid swiftly dashes towards her, performing a quick slash aimed at her chest. She barely dodges the strike, nearly leaving a cut on her pricey snakeskin jacket. Another two well-placed attacks keep her on the defensive, forcing her to tap into the upper limits of her speed to stay on her feet.

As the samurai slashes at her again, Aubrey deflects the attack with the side of her arm. Seeing a golden opportunity, she slams a powerful right hook into the man's abdomen, immediately disarming him in the next move before he can recover.

The druid jumps backward, doing a flip before quickly transitioning into another stance. His emerald green aura begins to manifest itself around his hands, flowing around his wrists like sweatbands. Gee. He's actually good at this shit! Another reason why she wished she really didn't have to fight him.

Aubrey shifts into a southpaw stance, a clear blue aura manifesting around her entire body.

The two of them inch towards each other, slowly beginning to close the gap. She leads with a speedy right jab to the face, a muted thump ringing out as it connects to the man's face. The sound of a punch landing on an opponent will always be a favorite for her ears. Aubrey immediately follows up with a series of three rapid body blows, topping it all off with an uppercut right under his guard.

The unarmed swordsman is sent flying up into the air, stunned from the devastating strike delivered to his chin. A slight gleam begins to appear in Aubrey's eyes. A smile rises on her face as cyan-blue energy surges up into the air.

HEAT ACTION!

Aubrey suddenly turns around, performing a backflip and slamming her foot into his chest. The samurai is immediately flung to the ground. The force with which he's hit causes the ground to shake, forming small cracks in the dirt.

Despite all of this, the man gets up again, still able to fight like he hadn't gotten absolutely smashed into the floor. How the hell is he still moving after all of that?! She literally hit him enough force to down three thugs in a single blow! He's like one of those goddamn bosses with ridiculously large health bars!

She grumbles in annoyance as her opponent stands back up, already primed to attack. Both of them rush in to exchange blows, all of them missing as they carefully parry each other's strikes. 

Bam!

A fist slams in her face right as her own fist slams into her opponent's, sending both of them stumbling backward. But neither of them takes the chance to back off as they both immediately go at each other again, Aubrey going in for a gut punch as her opponent closes in for an overhead strike.

Wham!

She strikes the samurai just a moment quicker, interrupting his own and making him crumple to the ground.

Feel the Heat!

Blue aura flames begin to build up around her body, streaking off of her like wisps in the wind. She delivers an overhead swing to the back on his head, slamming him straight into the ground, a loud thud accompanying it. Immediately after, she picks him off the ground and uppercuts him, launching him right onto his feet before a knee slams right into his face. A resounding crack can be heard as the samurai begins to fall backward, plopping down on the ground like a ragdoll.

(One-Eyed Assassin stops)

Well, that wasn't actually that bad! Who knew she could defeat a Bootleg Samurai? Aubrey proceeds to walk back over to the silver briefcase, picking it up as Sunny wraps around her arm again. Ah... that's much better. The duo begins to make the trek back, unaware of the trouble still brewing around them.

Even with the fight having ended, the calm atmosphere of Faraway's forests doesn't seep over the area again. The tension in the air feels like an overcooked piece of toast left in the toaster for three hours, lingering despite the fact it should have cleared out a long time ago. But this unnatural feeling doesn't go noticed for long. The alarm bells begin to chime inside of Aubrey's head, putting her on high alert for whatever this perceived danger may be. And that's when it happens, multiple goons in black suits and black sunglasses quickly shuffle into the area, their hands held up in fighting stances.

God fucking DAMNIT! Why does literally everyone and their mother have to fight her for this goddamn briefcase! First, it's a crazed tree bandit, then a magical samurai, and finally, she's getting attacked by literal mafia members. Does this suitcase contain the secrets of life or some shit like that?! 

...

Aubrey looks to Sunny only to see him trembling in fear. Despite remaining stone-faced, he's absolutely chilled to the bone. It feels like he's turning into a human ice cube and his skin has somehow gotten even paler than before...

And it absolutely pisses her off! No one does that to her Sunny! Not on her watch!

An aura of violet flames bursts out of her, surrounding her like a deep haze over a suburban city. Her deadpan face begins to crumble into pieces as if Michaelangelo was chipping away at it like a block of marble. Her lips shift upward a little as she gives a toothy grin, a sight disturbing enough to rattle even the most sound minds. Out of a concealed pocket in her jacket comes a tanto with a brown handle, emanating an ominous purple light around its blade.

Nyehehehe!

Aubrey lets out an ear-piercing laugh, briefly causing the criminals to stop dead in their tracks before they gather themselves again.

Mafia Members

Mission

Make em pay!

(BGM) (Yakuza 0 - Recieve You The Subtype)

She blitzes forwards in a mad dash, delivering a hefty sidekick to the thug in front of her followed by multiple clean slashes to the chest. She shifts her momentum as she kicks him straight in the face, performing a back-flip before charging forward again. The tanto embeds itself near the man's shoulder, but it's immediately pulled out as Aubrey wastes no time in engaging the other thugs around her.

HEAT ACTION!

She slashes the man again before flipping over to lacerate the guy behind her with two clean cuts to the face. A kick straight to his stomach sends him crashing to the floor. A muted thud rings out as the guy hits the ground. Swiftly taking note of the thug approaching her, she flicks her tanto into the air. She proceeds to jump into the air and do a full 360 spin kick, her foot connecting with the handle of the glowing blade. The tanto goes flying straight into the thug, piercing right through his skin. He grips the blade as he loudly grunts in pain, unable to pull it out.

Aubrey: You're so pathetic.

She pulls out the blade in one relaxed motion, not even bothering to check if he's done for as he collapses. Her violet aura recedes ever so slightly, though the rush of combat still chugs through her legs like a train on its way to the North Pole. 

Three goons circle around her, charging her with absolutely no regard to strategy even though she literally disposed of three of them in quick succession. Well, it's not like she really cares either way. They can do stupid shit to their heart's content as long as it benefits her. Aubrey jumps up into the air like a stuntman whirling the air. Her foot connects with the head of the person behind her as she backflips, sending him flying into the ground like a hammer smashing into an anvil. She meets the other two thugs with a wide slash, cutting apart any will to continue fighting as blood drips down from their wounds.

UGAAAH!

One fist to the thug's face sends him flying into the air. His body rolls across the ground, almost resembling a knocked-over bowling pin after a clean strike. She turns around to face the one remaining thug, her body not even tensed up for an actual fight. The mafia member is seen visibly trembling, terror rooted in every part of his face. He cowers in fear as Aubrey takes another step forward. His arms wrap his head as he crouches down, almost making him seem minuscule in comparison to Aubrey. The shivering coming out of him stops in the next second like a cartoon freezing over in a block of clear ice. He plops down on the grass, his limbs sprawled out in every which way as his consciousness fades to black.

...

Aubrey: That wasn't even close.

Her manic grin shifts back to a cheery smile as she turns to Sunny, stuffing her tanto right back into her pockets to make sure he calms down. She gives him a well-intentioned thumbs up to reassure him that everything is okay while he stoops to the ground to start looting wallets. It seems he's really got his priorities in order. Anyway... what was in that briefcase?

Aubrey opens the briefcase only to find a model racing car inside of it... The irritation instantly hits her. She scrunches up her face in sheer exasperation like she just watched someone eat cereal with Orange Joe.

Aubrey: Are you fucking kidding me?! We went through all that shit just to get a goddamn Pocket Circuit Racing car?! 

Sunny simply looks up to her, communicating to her in a way that would make a person believe they were telepaths.

Aubrey: I mean... yeah... this is one of those ridiculously expensive ones, but sending an entire group of hitmen for it is kind of overkill, Sunny.

She closes the briefcase with an audible slam, grabbing Sunny in one arm as she sprints across the forest. Soon enough, the trembling man in a black suit can be spotted in the distance, awaiting what he believes to be his impending doom.

Aubrey: Here's your goddamn briefcase!

Aubrey chucks the briefcase over to him, landing squarely in the man's hands. His face brightens up like a firework in the night sky. The perpetual anxiety that lay within his face falls away like a veil that once covered a sacred treasure. It's like new life was breathed into the soul, the man's face now filled with emotion as if it were a vial of ambrosia.

Man: Ah... ah... Thank you.

The man shoves multiple 100 dollar bills into Sunny's hand before disappearing into the horizon, probably to never be seen ever again.

...

Sunny: That was strange.

Sunny blankly states as the two of them continue to stare off into the distance, that feeling of complete bewilderment locking them in place.

Aubrey: Uh. Yeah.

She promptly sets Sunny back onto his feet, weaving their hands into a gentle embrace as they continue their stroll. Sunny's face shoots up into a vibrant crimson as he holds his hand in hers. He revels in that heavenly touch, her smooth skin like butter on a piece of toast. Soon enough, Sunny begins to look away, the embarrassment rising up in his face as if it were a carbonated drink. Noticing Sunny's sudden meekness, she begins to smile, his flustered face sending little tremors of joy through her heart. The two of them continue to walk ahead, their faces smoldering red.

<------TO BE CONTINUED-------

(BGM) (Yes's Roundabout)

Chapter Text

Downtown

It's a nice place, isn't it?

The duo begins to walk through the streets with their hands intertwined, the prevalent feeling of rot and decay staining its dull, gray buildings. It's something akin to a decrepit maze painted over with bright colors, the glaring neon a veil for its crumbling walls.

Aubrey: And... we're here, Sunny-kun! Home to people more batshit crazy than the clinically insane!

Sunny gives Aubrey a befuddled expression, his face scrunched up in confusion and his right eye wide open.

Aubrey: No, seriously. I've seen some shit in this town. Just hope we don't see people in their underwear doing some weird-ass dancing.

Sunny gives Aubrey another confused look, his head trying to wrap around the fact that such an aberrant monstrosity could even exist on the mortal plane. An utterly perverted form of life, clothed only in undergarments, comes to his mind, each little pore on its body a maw filled with serrated teeth just waiting to feast on the gaseous despair and disgust it inflicts on each of its victims. The atmosphere begins to freeze up as the two of them tense, watchful for any unholy abnormalities that may spring from the vibrant sea of people. She clings to Sunny even more tightly, the fear that some unknown beast may spring upon them bringing her to eye every passerby with great distrust.

It's not long before they arrive in front of a brightly colored sign, its colors obnoxiously projected into their faces. Aubrey waltzes through the automatic door below the sign, dragging Sunny in tow with her. Inside the arcade is what someone would expect from a typical arcade: dimmed lights, asymmetric patterns on the floor, and rows of what usually amounted to a bunch of scam machines. Eventually, though, they make their way over to a sparkling red machine with the words "Outrun" printed on the side of it.

Aubrey: So... Sunny-kun~ You remember how to play Outrun, right??! You were the King of Videogames back when we were just tiny children, so you've still got it in ya, yeah?

Sunny gives her a look that she's immediately able to translate as an unsure "I guess." Praise be to her for still being able to translate Sunnyese after 3 years of not once having seen him.

Aubrey: Yeah! You see that score up there on that leaderboard? That's some guy who gave me one of those funny looks, so I beat his ass into a pulp. But... you know... I gotta rub salt into that wound cause I'm still a bit pissy about it. So go ahead and top that bitch's score, capiche?

A minuscule spark appears in Sunny's eyes as he gives her a thumbs up, ready to bring dishonor and shame upon this troglodyte's name.

Aubrey: ...

She gazes into the screen, her face unmoving, her jaw dropped as she looks at Sunny's score.

Aubrey: Holy fucking shit...

There's a brief moment of silence as Sunny stares up into Aubrey's eyes as if waiting for her delighted approval.

Aubrey: Nice one.

The faint bit of happiness noticeable on his face sparkles, his visage now like a glowing red firework bursting into the air. A slight smile appears on Sunny's face, the radiant sight enough to bring Aubrey's brain grinding to a halt. She could feel herself trembling as if she stood before a god of daylight, powerless to do anything but stand there and gaze at his beauty. But with enough trial and tribulation, she musters up the strength to do something besides stand and stare at Sunny.

The two of them ended up leaving the arcade soon after to continue exploring the city. After all, she wasn't planning on spending the entire day at the arcade. She had places to show him in this wondrous city! Well... more deranged than wondrous, but the point's been made. They continue to wander about the sprawling streets, taking in the various sights, such as the strange woman running along the roof tops while covered in... a whole variety of underwear... Yeah, they're going to try to forget that person even exists.

And as they walk away to hopefully purge their memories of such stains, Sunny looks back to one of the alleyways, an unyielding white eye staring him down from the shadows. 

...

"That's not ominous in the slightest."

Sunny thinks to himself as he continues to walk by, his mind quickly dropping the thought as it fills with assorted amounts of Aubrey.

<------TO BE CONTINUED-------