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"Ya know 'm gone, Banny, stop pretendin' 'm still there."
Ban Hammer awoke with a start, his forehead wet with sweat and his body shaking slightly. He checked his clock, which read 2:46 in the morning. All these constant nightmares, they kept nagging at him and ruining his sleep. He didn't know what to do at that point. His eyes were red, wet, and puffy from many sleepless nights and tears threatened to cascade down his bearded face. He needed to go wash this sweat off him...
Ban Hammer could hear the water dripping from the sink, his hand lazily placing itself atop the faucet to turn it off. He adjusted the towel around his waist, pulling it tighter. Some shaving cream was applied to his face, his razor dull. He needed to change it soon, anyways, it wouldn't get all the hair he needed to and left him looking ungroomed. He already looked bad enough- ever since Scythe's life was lost, his beard began to grey. He had yet to take his braids out but he would assume they followed suit.
It had been eleven years now. Eleven years since he saw his girlfriend- wait, was she his girlfriend? Did they ever get to that stage? Or were they always in that situationship? So many questions, yet no answers. He couldn't answer any now, not unless he asked Uncle Ghostwalker who seemed to carry knowledge on every demon to have walked the Inpherno. Ban Hammer refused, though, all of the deities knew how much he cared for the damn outlaw and he didn't want to dig himself a deeper hole. He didn't want to embarrass himself!
Sighing, Ban Hammer cleaned the shaving cream off his face and wiped it clean with a towel. It had been eleven years now, and Ban Hammer was now fifty-six, fifty-seven in a few months. Time moved so fast yet so slow with her gone, days seemed to drag on endlessly and years felt only weeks long. It was just yesterday he heard that agonizing crack of her neck and the gallow creaking beneath her weight. It was a haunting noise that he heard when he was trying to go to sleep at night, or cook dinner for himself, or just watch TV. He never could forget it.
Ban Hammer suited up, the crystal on his chest beginning to glow. He turned on a lamp, looking through his blindfolds to find one to wear for the day. All were purple, with different in a way, some had dark purple patterns and others had golden highlights. They were all just thrown into the drawer, except for one that was nearly placed in the corner. Scythe's bandana. He had taken it from her cell when she died. He used it as a bandana now, it still smelled like her. Whisky, cigarettes, and the subtle smell of hay. It comforted him.
After putting the bandana over his eyes, he left Banlands to go to Lost Temple. He had some business to do there, especially the church. He had to stop by her grave, too. Needed to check on the flowers, it had been a hot minute and he was sure they were wilting by now. He was stopping by the church to just talk to Broker. Not arrest him at all, just go know what her life was like before she died. He couldn't say she died young, she somehow managed to prolong death so late.
Leaving the grounds of his prison, he stalked off towards the desert. He had set up this meeting specially at night so the journey wouldn't be as taxing, but he was just so exhausted from all the thoughts running through his mind. His hammer dug a rut in the sand behind him as it was dragged, his tail doing the same.
Soon, the church came into view. Lights from within gave it a divine appearance, the stained glass over the doors causing the glow to bleed a beautiful turquoise, painting the sands below in a hypnotizing pattern. The door opened, more light seeping out and there was a silhouette of a demon in the doorway. He could recognize it as Broker, who had his arms crossed and tail wrapping around his legs.
"Hey, Hammy." Broker rasped, opening the door wider for the demi-deity. He nodded towards the smaller demon, entering. His boots sounded on the tile floor, a few young spawnlings looking up at the noise. They were all so young, not yet aware of the horrible things that this cult did. His eyebrows furrowed, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
"To your office?" asked Ban Hammer.
"Yeah, yeah, y'know where to go." he replied, walking down the hall. He noticed that Broker, who was once a very fluffy and plump man, was now much thinner. There were streaks of silver in his white hair, wrinkles becoming more prominent on his face. He even grew a bit of a stubble.
Nodding, he followed the cultist to his office. The door opened, revealing room inside. It was dimly lit, plaques of horns on the walls that had previously belonged to Scythe. A nice, wooden desk sat in the room, illuminated by a few candles. Broker stepped forward, pulling out a chair for the warden who sat down when prompted.
"So, we just here to talk? No.. no handcuffs, right?" Broker said, lighting a cigar as he sat across from Ban Hammer.
"Yeah, just talk. I think it'll do us both some good." responded Ban Hammer.
"Mkay.."
"How long had you two been friends?"
"Ever since we were spawnlings. Well, kinda. We were friends until we took classes for our respective paths, but then I found her at a bar and we reconnected. Gah, jus' feels like yesterday... Seer, that was just about thirty years ago."
"Long time."
"Yeah. How did you and boss get close? Never thought you would let her remotely close to ya heart."
"Well, she's smart."
"That's not sayin' much, considering how much of a dummy ya are."
"Hey!"
Broker barked a laugh, the hyena propping his legs up on the desk, "I'm kiddin', I'm kiddin'!"
"Sure, sure.." he responded gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest, "Now where was I?"
"Ya said she was smart."
"Oh, yeah. So, she was smart, of course, and she seemed genuine. Eventually, I thought I'd give that sinner a second chance."
"Why can't ya? Dontcha you have family that can like- revive her?"
"Yes, but then I would be seen as obsessive."
"Kinda are, not gon' lie to ya, Hams."
"Shut up!" Ban Hammer roared, slamming his fists on the desk. Broker cackled again, the candle light glinting on his golden tooth, "Don't make me arrest you."
"Thought we had an agreement, no?" Broker said darkly, his eye narrowing, "Ya realize you're completely surrounded by people who can and will kill ya. There is no way out if ya hurt me."
Grimacing, Ban Hammer went silent. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, relaxing his shoulders, "Fine."
"Good!" suddenly cheerful again, Broker clapped his hands and grinned.
"Also, in the message you sent, you said you had something you wanted to give me?"
"Oh, yeah." Broker perked up, getting up from the desk and moving some books off his bookshelf to reveal a small, wooden chest. It was quite shiny, the maroon wood contrasting nicely with the environment. There were some turquoise and golden paint woven throughout the design, making it shine brighter, "She didn't have any immediate family. You were probably the closest thing she had, other than me, of course. So, they gave me everything she had."
The box was placed in front of Ban Hammer, Broker taking a key from his belt and unlocked it to reveal much jewellery. Some bracelets made of beads, horn rings, golden chained necklaces that were completely knotted up with others, and some earrings. He picked up a pair in his hand, watching it practically glow in his hand.
He could remember her wearing these when he had crashed a ceremony right at this very church. Swords, he never realized it then, but she was absolutely stunning that night! She hadn't worn anything different other than her normal uniform, but she was just so well put together. Normally, when he saw her, she would've been covered in guts n' blood with some sand caking her boots. Still, even when she looked so frazzled, she was gorgeous.
"'Ey, Hams, ya good?" Broker snapped his fingers in his face, dragging him back to reality.
"Oh, yeah. Just memories." murmured Ban Hammer, setting the earrings back down but Broker picked them right back up and dropped them in his hand.
"Those are for ya to keep." he said, a slight sense of compassion in his words.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I already got enough. Gatekept for so long, I outta give ya somethin'. Ya gave her something' ta live for."
"I did?"
"Yeah. It's a bit fuzzy. Constantly killin' people ain't too good for the mind, y'know? She knew she was a horrible person, a monster, but you tellin' her otherwise kept her grounded."
"Oh... She never told me."
"She would've, if she didn't have to die."
"Right..." his shoulders sunk once more, a melancholy mood settling over the room.
"But you'll see her one day, Ban Hammer. I know she'll wait for you."
He solemnly nodded, his fingers wrapping around the earrings. He began to stand, "It's time for me to go. I have work tomorrow."
"Oh, okay! Have fun!" Broker grinned, but Ban Hammer could still see the weariness behind his smile.
"I'll try, thank you." Ban Hammer felt a smile creep into his face for the first time in months. He turned on his heel and left the church, the cool sand blowing against his armor.
"I'll see you soon, Scy."