Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Thrain was a monster. A despicable, disgusting, awful monster.
He used to be something much nicer, hell he was a hero. But at the sacrifice of almost all his humanity, people became afraid. Chased him out of the town with pitchforks like an old folktale.
Now, he was living in a damned cave living reluctantly off of rats that were somehow stupidly curious enough to investigate the pained breathing that was his own, only to be devoured by the cursed thing he had become.
He didn't even want to be connected to his old name, so in his lonesome, he had started calling himself Capitano. A much more disgusting name, suitable for an abomination such as himself.
Until there was someone else. A mortal, relatively tall and dark navy hair. Only a few meters away. His appearance made Capitano feel insignificant in how he looked, and yet the monster had no interest in eating the boy.
"...Hello." Human words, ones Capitano hadn't heard in centuries. He shies away from him, pressing his pained and writhing body against the cold rock wall. The mortal takes a step towards him, and all he feels is fear.
"Leave this place." His voice is hoarse from disuse, but the human doesn't back away, standing his ground.
"Are you alright?" The human obviously cannot see him fully. Capitano isn't human anymore, so why would a human be feeling...pity for him? He tries to back away a bit more, only to be met with the rock again.
"Are you deaf? I said leave." The human takes a step back, before slowly walking over to Capitano. The monster, being a caged animal, can only growl in pain and try to pretend he's not there. Slowly, the human lays a small hand on his head, matted "hair" tangled under his fingers.
"Take it easy. You look like you're in a lot of pain there, friend..." The human smiles at him, and though it doesn't actually happen, Capitano can almost feel the warmth of kindness flood his system. It was nice.
After a reluctant moment, the monster goes a bit limp, allowing the human to pet him like one would pet a dog.
"There's a statue nearby. Maybe it can help ease your pain." He smiles like a child, yet Capitano can't help but shrink back. The human gives him a sad look. "Can I take you? I won't hurt you, I promise." Silly human, Capitano was afraid of the opposite.
But what was the harm in entertaining him?
The human carries him over to the statue, which was surprisingly not that far. The monster learns that his name is Ororon, but other than that all he finds out is that the human loves gardening. A LOT. It was actually quite an ironic look, a tall and intimidating teenager caring for vegetables like a mother and her newborn.
"We're here! Don't worry, the statue's energy will help you feel better." Ororon sets the monster down on the ground by the statue, pressing a small kiss to its nose. The pain ceased a bit, a feeling Capitano had refused himself flooding his torn, disgusting body.
And then, the strangest thing happened.
"Wha- Holy shit, you're human..." Ororon took a few steps back, something close to fear or surprise entering his eyes. Capitano shook away the dizzy feeling, the world's light changing ever so slightly. When he looked down, his hands were a human's fingers rather than disfigured and abused claws.
His long hair-like fur around his head had turned into long night black strands, silky yet matted. His arms were covered in scars he remembered all too well, and his cloak that he wore was the only thing covering his otherwise naked body.
Capitano looks up at Ororon, distrust and defensiveness in his eyes. The teen doesn't move for a few seconds, his Iktomasaur ears pressed back against his head, before he speaks.
"You don't look like you're from Natlan..." Huh, so that's the first thing Ororon notices. Ororon frowns a bit, before kneeling down. "Can you speak Natlanian?" Capitano takes a breath, before the familiar language of this land comes out of his mouth.
"Yes." His voice is croaky and harsh from disuse, and he blushes ever so slightly out of embarrassment. "I apologize, it's been a long while since I've spoken this tongue, so forgive me if I misspeak." Ororon's eyes widen, before he smiles, eyes twinkling in something Capitano thinks is happiness. Who knows though, mortals are complicated. He was one once anyways, with the same young emotions this teen was likely feeling.
"It's fine. Do you have a name? I'd prefer to refer to you as something other than just 'the creature', as that sounds kind of rude to me." Capitano half considers using Thrain as his name, but to dirty that name from old folklore any more than it was sounded disrespectful to his past self. Capitano as a name would work too.
"Capitano." The teen nods, before standing up from his squatting position that the monster didn't notice him go into.
"Cool. Uh...Do you want me to go get you some new clothes? Your, ah, cloak, isn't covering much." Capitano's blush deepens, and he looks away.
"I would appreciate that. Do you wish for me to accompany you?" Ororon shakes his head.
"No need. My home isn't all that far away. And to think I never found you..." He laughs a bit, and Capitano allows Ororon to live with that explanation. The truth means other questions will be asked, putting even more shame on his despicable persona.
The monster just sits and waits, obedient like a lap dog.
--
Soon enough, Ororon returns with a tank top and some pants, along with some Natlanian shoes that certainly weren't his style, and looked much more like something the teen would wear. But Capitano didn't deserve the luxury of choice, so he quickly dressed himself in the privacy of a nearby bush before returning.
Ororon entertained himself with a rock that he kicked around, ears flicking. When Capitano returned, Ororon blessed the gods for his darker skin so no one could see the way his face flushed.
Archons, this man was hot, even if he seemed to carry so much hatred for himself and anyone else, but mostly himself. The tank top hugged his muscular frame tightly, and he fit into the pants perfectly. Even when he put the cloak back on, Ororon swore to the archons that he was going to pass out from the sight he had just been blessed with.
"You were staring. Do I have something on my face?" Ororon snaps back to the present and shakes his head quickly.
"Oh, ah, no. I mean yes, but no-" Capitano frowns, and walks over to a nearby brook, where clear water flows lazily downstream and small pebbles carpet the bottom of a large pool.
When the monster looks in, he notices a few things- one, his face seems to be...decomposing, almost, with a blue tint and half of his jaw almost missing. His eyes were different colors, one of them blind as it had been injured back when Thrain was still alive, and when Capitano was born from his ashes.
But he was still terrifying- disfigured, ugly, dangerous, and terrifiying. Even as a human, he really was still stuck as a monster.
Ororon walks up from behind him, squatting and looking into the brook.
"I think you look pretty, even if half of your face is cooked. It looks...what's the word Granny uses...intimidating?" Capitano gives Ororon a look.
"While it's not my place to say, that's not the most comforting choices of words." The teen shrugs, his ears going down a bit.
"Sorry. I'm bad with those. But we should probably get you to see the village healer." The monster shakes his head.
"I feel no pain, nor the need to burden you and your village with my presence." Even in reality, he was just afraid of someone thinking he was Thrain and dirtiying that name anymore. Maybe he had been saving the village and it wasn't even his fault, but he was not about to stand up for himself. Humans are fickle creatures, sensitive and too strong for their own good. Fighting the bias was a war he would not win for himself.
Ororon crosses his arms, pouting a bit.
"Why not? We welcome anyone with open arms, unless they're ruthless rapists or assholes. As far as I know, you're neither." He smiles at Capitano, and the monster feels a fear for the light in his eyes. Anything could extinguish that light.
"While that is correct, I don't trust myself nonetheless." The bat sighs sadly.
“Aw…can I bring a healer out here?” Capitano turns to Ororon, the water below rippling from the disturbance of his cloak falling into it.
“I have no need. Please, refrain from suggesting that again.” The teen sighs sadly, sitting down again. The two sit in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of nature and their own thoughts, when someone calls out from another side of the forest.
“ORORON! YOU GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OUT OF THIS SHIT BEFORE I BREAK BOTH OF YOUR LEGS AND FEED THEM TO THE DOGS!” Ororon looks up.
“Oh, it’s Granny.” At Capitano’s worried expression, he speaks again. “She just likes to threaten people. She doesn’t mean any real harm.” The monster huffs a bit, looking back into the water.
“You should go. It was…nice to meet you, Ororon.” The teen tries to say something, but his words get caught in his throat, so he just nods.
“It was nice to meet you too, Capitano. See you again soon?” The monster doesn’t answer, so Ororon just sighs and stands up, walking into the darkening forest, leaving Capitano alone once more.

Chapter Text

By the time morning arrives, Capitano is up. He hopes

Ororon won’t return, as much as his lonely heart longs for the company. His corrupted being could hurt him, and something told the monster the teen was a lot weaker than he seemed, as mortality was the enemy of an immortal.

The sunrise illuminates the brush like something out of a fairy tale, and it’s ironically peaceful. Something a monster such as Capitano shouldn’t deserve.

He’s about to say goodbye to his cave and home of 500 years when he hears a voice, one that makes him want to run towards it and throw up at the same time.

“Capitano! Are you there?” In a spur of the moment decision, the monster dives into a nearby bush just as Ororon walks into the clearing, his chocolate brown skin glowing warmly in the morning sunlight. His ears twitch as he looks around, confused as to where his new friend is.

It takes a few moments, but eventually, Ororon starts to look around, first observing the cage and then switching to look in the surrounding area. Capitano tries to keep his breathing as quiet as possible, but he can’t stop his breath from hitching slightly as the bat looks his way.
And takes a step towards the bush.

And another.

And another…

“There you are!~” He grins, happily like a child would. Capitano curses himself, upset that he couldn't even hide from a teenager. His stealth skills really have gone down, haven't they… “Also, why are you in a bush?” Ororon holds out a hand to Capitano, offering to help him up, and he reluctantly takes the hand.

“I…fell in, and preferred to not alert you of my mishap. It was rather embarrassing.”

“Still getting used to your human legs?”

“...Sure.” Capitano sighs, readjusting his cloak around himself and ignoring Ororon’s intense stare. He was doing the same thing yesterday, so chances are it’s just his thing.

“Say…Citlali has to go out to the stadium of the sacred flame today, and she offered to take me for the first time.” Ororon smiles. “I’d love to have a companion. Who knows, maybe you can even learn a thing or two about human culture!” The monster seems to give the bat a bit of an annoyed look, but Ororon chooses to ignore it.

“...I know how human culture works, thank you. But I’m…not sure bringing a creature such as myself to a heavily populated area is the best idea.” Capitano looks down, secretly ashamed of his heavily marred face and figure. Walking into a market with half a jaw would send people running the wrong way, and having the bat and his… “grandma” deal with that would be disrespectful.

“Aw…” Ororon’s ears droop, and the monster feels a bit bad. Something made him hate himself for making the bat sad, and he tried weighing the costs again and again…still to find no good outcome of joining Ororon. Capitano sighs, crossing his arms.

“If I join you for a while, I am free to leave should I wish to do so. Is that clear?” The bat perks up, and he nods happily.

“Of course! Come on, I want you to meet my grandma!” Capitano follows Ororon through the forest as he runs, cloak billowing behind him like a dark flag. The bat is laughing, and with the sunlight poking through the heavy leaves of the forest, he looks almost ethereal. Not that Capitano would say that to his face- this was a teenager no older than 19, and Capitano himself was 26 when Thrain died, over 500 years ago.

The birds chirp, and it seems as if they are flying along with the two, joining them as they run. For the first time in 500 years, the monster feels…alive. At least as alive as he’ll ever become again, but it counts for something, right? Ororon smiles at Capitano, almost tripping over some tree roots in the process, and laughing happily.

To Capitano’s amazement, he smiles back. And the way Ororon’s eyes glitter happily makes his heart flutter, a warm feeling forcing its way into his cold chest.

They arrive at a small town that Capitano suspected had popped up within the last two centuries maximum, full of colorful astral designs and people happily going about their own business. The smell of fried food wafts through the air, a smell the monster hadn’t experienced in centuries.

“Come on! My house is right over here!” Ororon pulls Capitano’s hand over to a house in the corner of an alleyway, and based on what he had heard of Granny Itzli, this wasn’t the living area he had envisioned for a “high priestess.”

Ororon is panting when he opens the door, a product of his less-than-helpful stamina, but he walks in nonetheless. Capitano, of course, hasn’t even broken a sweat, with his post-military body and constant attempts to work out even with his monster body. Living as a human again didn’t change much except for the way that people tended to react to him.

A bit.

The home of Granny Itzli is warm and cozy, with lots of stuffed animals everywhere and books stacked all the way to the ceiling. It’s cluttered as hell, but in a way that makes you want to sit down in the corner and read or take a nap.

Ororon knocks on a hidden door in the back, and a voice comes out from behind it.

“Oi! Ororon, you damn better be ready to go to the Stadium! I ain’t gonna let the Pyro Archon wait any longer than she has to!” Ororon laughs, ignoring his granny’s harsh language.

“I’m ready, granny, don’t worry! I even brought a friend! They’re right here!”

“WHAT!?” There’s a few loud crashes, before the door practically flies open, revealing a short woman with long pink hair. She seems to fit right in with the rest of the scenery and overall aesthetic of the village. Her eyes narrow, studying Capitano, before she huffs. “Well? Go on, introduce yourself now!” Capitano coughs, a slight bit embarrassed.

“Of course. My name is Capitano, and your grandson found me in the woods.” Noticing both of their expressions, Capitano shakes his head. “Not like that. I’m a…traveler from far off, and your son provided me with necessary medical equipment. I’ve been accompanying him ever since, on my own time.” Citlali turns to Ororon, eyes narrowed into a sharp glare.

“Ororon! You went into the woods again!? I told you to not go in there! There’s some kind of monster, and it eats people! Why else would those who enter disappear?” Capitano tenses at Citlali’s words, but he thinks for a moment.

People disappearing? He hadn’t run into anyone, even if that was partly because of the curse surrounding his cave. Was there another monster…?

“Granny…” Ororon’s cheeks turn bright pink. “I’m not a child! I can go off to wherever I want!” Citlali looks between the two, studying them, before she groans.

“You’re damn lucky we’re about to be late. Hurry up! And bring your friend with you!” She ducks inside her room again, solidifying Capitano’s fate as Ororon’s companion.

Things are about to get really fucking crazy, aren’t they?

Chapter Text

From the few times Capitano had been to the capital of Natlan, he remembered it to be a busy street fair, not some place you’d think the leader of the nation would reside and conduct diplomatic affairs. It felt more like a mall than anything, with kids running around with their Fortnite dances and “skibidi rizz.” (Their words, not his.)
Citlali led them through winding corridors, each more filled with people than the last. Capitano pointedly focused on Ororon’s voice, trying to ignore the stares and whispers people gave his way.
“And then he just jumped off the cliff! You should’ve seen it, there was only a rope to hold him from falling and dying, but he just went all like beeeewww!” Ororon made a falling motion, and Capitano realized the bat was talking about bungee jumping and not a friend’s suicide.
“That sounds rather exhilarating.”
“He said it filled him with so much adrenaline he almost passed out!” He laughs, and Capitano feels something close to fondness before he puts those feelings into a hole and buries them. For the ninth time that day.
“Both of you shut up! We’re here, and if you bother me while I’m talking to Mavuika, I will BREAK YOUR LEGS!” They enter a grandiose doorway adorned with patterns of the sun, and ancient gods long dead.
The inside is just as fancy, with a giant fire burning in the middle. Capitano can sense the faint presence of death, but he ignores it because it’s not the kind where there’s a body in the bathroom or something.
Citlali leads them into a separate room, where there’s a large window on the back wall lighting up the whole room. There are trinkets everywhere, from feathers to rocks to talismans of every kind. It looks more like a witch house than a place of the Archon of Natlan.
In the middle of the room, a woman with flaming red hair is painting a picture. She's smiling to herself, and her smile seems to brighten when she notices the group’s presence.
“Heya, ya’ll!” She sets down her brush and walks over to the three. “I’m Mavuika, the archon of Natlan. You must be Ororon, right?” She smiles at the bat, towering over him despite Ororon not being the shortest person around.
“I’m Ororon, yea. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Archon.” Mavuika laughs, and turns to Capitano. He thinks he sees something flicker through her eyes close to recognition, but it’s gone in an instant, so he dismisses it.
“And you are…?”
“Capitano. I’m here as a…friend accompanying Ororon.” Mavuika nods and smiles.
“Pleasure to meet ya~!” She turns to Citlali. “Come on, Lali. Let’s talk somewhere else.” The mage rolls her eyes.
“I told you, it’s Citlali. Not just Lali. Seriously, what kind of name is that? And why would someone as great as me have it?” They talk as they walk into a separate room, closing the door behind them and leaving Ororon and Capitano alone.
“Huh…she smelled like a campfire. Burny.” Ororon laughs to himself, unaware of how confusing his words were to the world and the tall monster next to him.
“...Right.” They stand there awkwardly for a few minutes, both unsure of what to do like a teenager and her crush. (Not that either of them like each other like that, NO WAY! Wait, wouldn’t that be pedophilia?)
“Uh…do you like tatacos?” Capitano looks up, and Ororon has a strange expression, similar to one that some of his comrades back with the Khaenri’ahn brigade had given him. It wasn't negative, so he didn’t think much of it.
“I…have never had one.” Ororon’s face lit up, and with the most serious expression, speaks in a low voice.
“We’re going to get tatacos.” He grabs Capitano’s forearm and drags him out of the Archon’s dwelling.
They weave through crowds, and for someone who allegedly had never really left his village, Ororon seemed to know exactly where to go. His bat ears twitched as the monster followed him blindly, and it barely takes any time until they arrive at a stand in the street fair.
“Two bean and cheese tatacos- wait, do you want beans or meat or both?” Ororon’s words are like a tornado, fast and whirling with excitement. Capitano had to raise his voice a bit to make his words audible over the chatter of the street fair, something he wasn’t a fan of due to the corruption in his throat.
“Meat, I’d prefer.”
“Alright! One bean and one meat tataco!” The shop owner prepares the tatacos and Ororon pays, and they find a table in a quiet owner of the street fair.
Capitano can’t deny Ororon, the tataco was pretty good. Definitely. Just a bit spicy. But since Ororon powers through it, so does he. Soon, both of them are full, and Capitano is secretly in a better mood than he’s been in for centuries.
“Good tataco?” Ororon grins at Capitano, and the monster nods a bit, a small smile on his face.
“I’ve never had anything like this before, but I’m rather pleased with the taste.” The bat laughs.
“You’re always so formal! Live a bit, no need for euthanasia!” Capitano makes a confused face, but nods regardless. Must’ve been more of Ororon’s weird analogies…
“I apol- Sorry.” He nods his head in lieu of a bow, and Ororon just shrugs, taking a sip of his drink. The sun shines down on them, and Capitano can’t help but prop his elbow up on the table and look (subtlety of course) at Ororon.
The sunlight seems to reflect off of the bat’s eye lashes, his pretty purple hair glowing, evidence of his will to take good care of it. Capitano notices how he has somewhat built shoulder muscles, and how he laughs to himself every now and then. The gentle curve of his chest, something Capitano doesn’t question further (it doesn’t make him any less pretty). His strange sense of fashion that fits with him regardless of the world’s criticism, his heterochromatic eyes that shine with a young light-
“Uh, you’re staring. Is something up?” Capitano snaps out of his mind and shakes his head.
“Just thinking.” The bat laughs a bit, and they stare at each other for a bit before Capitano averts his eyes out of a secret embarrassment. “To be perfectly honest, I am rather concerned regarding the matter of another monster.” Ororon frowns.
“Huh?”
“Your Granny Itzli was scolding you regarding people disappearing in the forest, but I’m the only monster in there, at least as far as I am aware. But the possibility of another monster would put your village in danger first and foremost, being the closest to the forest. And if this monster has managed to remain undetected for such an extended period of time, I believe it is something worth being concerned about.” Ororon grins.
“We should investigate further! Like some kind of yaoi adventure manga!” Capitano, blissfully unaware of the meaning behind Ororon’s words, nods.
“I agree. It could-”
“Hehe, looks like you two were ready for an expedition before I could even give it to ya!” They turn around and look up to see Citlali and Mavuika. Citlali rolls her eyes at them, tapping her fingers on her arm. Mavuika is smiling brightly.
“I argued against it, remember that.” Ororon’s eyes brighten.
“Wait, we’re going to go and investigate the monster? Officially?” Mavuika nods, her firey red hair bobbing in tune with her movements.
“Yep! I’m busy with the upcoming pilgrimage festival, and your granny here is dealing with…other business.” Citlali glares at Mavuika.
“I’m telling Xilonen to be extra mean to you next time just for that.” Capitano almost chokes on his spit, but manages to keep his face stoic enough no one notices. Ororon just laughs, obviously not catching the innuendo.
“Anyways, we’re glad to help! Capi, we get to help out! And actually do something!” His smile is bright like a moonlit night under the stars, and Capitano can’t help but smile a bit in return.
“I’m excited as well.” Mavuika gives Citlali a knowing smile, who seems to impossibly narrow her eyes more. But Capitano pays it no mind, focusing solely on Ororon.
“Anyways, you two will set off tomorrow. I recommend preparing as best as possible, and come with a weapon or something just in case. Hopefully you won’t need it.” Capitano nods, and Ororon smiles at Mavuika.
“Thank you, Ms. Archon. I’m sure that this will be a very fun adventure!”
Little did they know things were about to change, though for better or for worse is only for Fate to decide.

Chapter Text

It was a chillier morning, shielded from the heat of the Natlan sun by a roof over Capitano’s head. (Ororon had insisted he sleep at his and Citlali’s home, and hadn’t given Capitano much room to argue. Not that he was complaining, it was very comfortable.)

The monster sits up a bit, looking around. Citlali’s home was rather messy, though it felt welcoming in its own way. He should tell her that, and try to get her to look at him at least slightly less angrily. It was kind of awkward as of now.

They were leaving today, and if not for Capitano’s military training he had claimed to the archon to be “skills of a traveler”, they'd both likely be dead by night two. Ororon obviously was a farmer kid, if the mass of plants in the house were anything to go by. And Capitano wasn’t Thrain, that name now long gone. 

Capitano could only hope the fucking… thing in the woods was just some animals causing a ruckus and the people were fine. 

He stands up with a small stretch, running his hand absentmindedly over a blue line of abyssal corruption. He hears a bit of noise from the kitchen, and goes to investigate.

Citlali was over by the sink drinking some coffee. She sees Capitano and her eyes instantly narrow, perhaps on instinct. The monster doesn’t say anything, instead just nodding his head in greeting. They’re both silent for a while, awkward yet comfortable(ish) all the same.

“If you hurt my grandson, I’m killing you.” Capitano looks up, and can’t say he feels surprised by her words.

“I’m aware.” 

“Good. Ororon is a fragile soul in many ways, and your dumbass could not possibly benefit him.” Her gaze shifts into a cold and steely glare. “So stay away from him, and leave once this is over.” Capitano’s own eyes narrow, as he was no stranger to bad attitudes. Hell, he dealt with Sandrone and Arlecchino when he was Thrain. Citlali was nothing compared to them.

“It’s as if I have done something to anger you over the past few days. If so, I apologize.” Citlali rolls her eyes.

“No, that’s not- ugh.” She puts a hand on her forehead. “I’m not regarding your attitude towards me. If it were my decision, we never would have met. But the archon…sees something in you. Perhaps differently than the way I do. But your demeanor towards Ororon is noticeable as hell.” Citlali sure was a strange one, or maybe this was just a modern day way of speaking. 

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

“Just…I know what you are.” With that, she grabs her coffee and walks out of the room with a huff, leaving Capitano dumbfounded and still confused. Never mind, she wasn’t like Sandrone and Arlecchino at all. 

The monster eventually helps himself to some coffee, only taking half of what was left in the large pot. He leans back against the counter, messing absentmindedly with his tattered cloak. This was the first time he had felt real peace in a long time, and he couldn’t help but enjoy it. 

Eventually, Ororon walks into the kitchen, letting out a yawn Capitano could only classify as adorable. 

“Good morning, Capi! Did you sleep well?” He smiles at the monster, who gives a quick nod.

“Granny Itzli’s couch is very high quality.” Ororon laughs.

“I’m glad it’s to your standards. I was worried it would be too prickly.” While Capitano couldn’t see how a couch would be prickly, that didn’t matter.

“Mavuika said we are to head out by 9 am, correct?” Ororon nods.

“That’s right, but I’m already ready to go.” 

“Ah. We can head out whenever then.” The bat smiles at the beast, a warm thing that made Capitano feel like anything was possible. 

-0-0-0-

And GODS if anything wasn’t possible.

Blood on his disgusting, malformed hands. Ororon’s blood. Capitano could barely see, and everything was blurry. Was this how he died? Maybe.

“It really is a shame. But there is only enough space in this forest for…one monster.” The vile degenerate being standing above the pair smiles, teeth gleaming in the moonlight. 

Toothpaste blue hair, with eyes the color of corrupted blood. 

“Dottore, you’re…you’re a fucking maniac. And I’m going to KILL YOU FOR THIS-” His voice is cut off by a spear through his back. He drops to his knees, coughing and watching his life force come through his mouth. 

Ororon is already dead next to him, looking deceivingly peaceful if not for the blood on his face and patches of skin ripped animalistically away. 

Capitano cannot help but reach out to him as Dottore pushes the spear in further, eyes slowly shutting. 

“Farewell, Captain. May the name Capitano rest as well as Thrain has.”