Work Text:
Side Quest
The scent of blood. A brief moment to wonder why his senses haven’t become numb to it. The trickle of red that crawls across the floor towards him seems almost alive in its movement. Blade takes the chance now to flick his sword downward, a line of blood splattered in a flickering pattern before settling into the filthy floor. Their duty is messy. But it matters little. It is what he has been charged with.
The swordsman hears something break apart even from his distance before feeling the slightest shaking nearby. Firefly is still at work nearby.
A glance taken of the bodies laid throughout the room, the puddles growing beneath them evidence enough that he was done for now. Kafka and Silver Wolf will be waiting. His current task with Firefly has been concluded. Silver Wolf would be digging for their objective as only she could.
A simple enough script. But he keeps his guard firm. There is no certainty in a simple life. He follows the remnants of Kafka's work towards them, her opposition left cleaner than his own. They all sit as though asleep. A part of him envies their dismissal from it all. He soon finds himself standing before a half open door now, a blue light emitting from within, and it's enough to understand what must be waiting inside with nothing more.
Steps behind him bring a pause, his head half turning to see the hulking form of Sam as expected. The visor is pointed towards him, a gleaming green light behind it, before his companion is giving a nod to go ahead. The suit would be troublesome to duck their head down to enter so they will wait outside.
“We’re finished.” Nothing more to be said as he steps inside, the expected decor of an office found. Bookshelves, a set of decorative swords on the wall, and filing cabinets that likely had nothing but a facade. At the desk where a hologram screen is being worked on is Silver Wolf, legs crossed as she sits in a gaudy seat, fingers moving through windows on display.
Kafka stands beside the hacker, something on display seemingly interesting even to her, before eyes turn with her head to regard him. The smile and welcome gaze she holds is underlit only by the blue of the screen, the only source of light in the room right now. He feels foolish for staring without a thought to share, just because of her beauty.
“Welcome back, Bladie~ Good work. Did you two have any problems?”
“No. You?”
“Wellll, my part's done. It's all up to Wolfie for now. She says she's all done with finding the goods for Elio but apparently something else might be worth taking a look…”
Besides the script? He considers saying that would be pointless effort wasted… but it would likely lead nowhere with these two. Their history with going off script is enough to tell him how this will go. He moves to stand on the girl's other side, a glance at her face showing the intense focus before-
A yell of victory interrupts all. “Got it! They thought putting up that many encryptions is enough? Bori~ng. It's just a straight up fight at that point, I just had to keep shooting till they couldn't. And they were hiding something! Hehehe-” The gamer laughs confidently under her breath as she moves several windows away to reveal a map of the building, his gaze recognizing the layout passed earlier… except…
“What is this?” A single entrance that he hadn't seen in the halls despite certainty that Kafka would have noticed it along her path is shown on the display. It blinks red as though dismissive.
“Secret room! And I'm gonna check it out. Always try to be a completionist.” A flick of her finger on the screen before the entrance displays a solid color now. Something shifts in the building, a faint vibration. And there goes the girl, standing and practically running to the door. Her shadow casts a childish figure as it fades with her rush amidst the cool light.
“My, my. We should make sure she doesn't get herself in trouble, shouldn't we?” Kafka seems to be questioning with her tone but the man knows well enough that she's curious about what could be hidden as well. A resigned expression on his face to match her barely hidden amusement now.
Stepping outside finds Firefly still waiting now, Sam's heavy arms crossed against her chest as she stares at the newly opened entrance, before she turns the visor to him.
“What caused that?”
“Silver Wolf.”
“Ah, of course. Hm. I can't fit. I'll wait here but call if you need me.”
Is she sulking? It did look narrow compared to the normal doors. She knew better than to leave Sam in a hostile area unless absolutely necessary.
At least it was a simple way forward. The new path had been hidden as part of the wall, the entrance sliding open like it was always possible. Down shabby steps that waited behind it, the place seems similar to what was already seen throughout the building. He prepares himself for others to be waiting below or for the room to be full of contraband to have been sold eventually. The usual waste of time they find.
Then the stench of something familiar hits… and they find the children strapped to rows of examination tables and covered in tubing.
**********
A heavy atmosphere, the kind of vibe she hates the most. Being serious is fine but when it starts heading towards stuff you can't show in a game, she usually tries to head out. The smell of something medicinal, like the ointment that Blade uses sometimes after getting diced up, along with a more gross one. Like something rotten.
She should have known this kind of level would only have some messed up secret.
The gamer can't even pull out her phone to check for info because someone tries reaching for it every time. She just- Hey, hey! Hands off the hair!
It takes all of Silver Wolf's restraint to not bark at the smaller figure reaching behind her, a habit from online gaming for those real annoying yapper types. The face looking up at her is tiny, the eyes just a little bigger than most would expect a face to have. They retreat back a bit, still staring at her hair like it's still worth the risk to yank it.
A quick look shows nothing has changed, the situation the same as before Kafka started calling Elio for some advice, with the same weird part they've made up now.
Kafka's face looks pretty serious. It's hard to tell if she's concerned about what they'll have to do or what these runts are gonna do. She says runts but… one or two might actually be getting close to her age. Most are way smaller though and they're all a mix of species. A few had one eye and some looked like their mouth had more teeth than they should… but the dozen or so kids had the same confused and ‘totally ready to cry any second’ expression like most kids would have. Each one had the same needle marks on their arms and tape residue on their faces from being attached to machinery tubes.
She's kinda glad Firefly can't come down here right now. They told her over comms and she seemed distressed but she said she'd guard the entrance for now. She was the type to get really upset about this and go hunt people down.
“No. Let go. Do not- Stop.” And there's Blade, trying to make them listen while also trying not to set them off. Almost all of them cried when he helped remove them from the machines, probably cause he looked like a giant about to eat them. They settled down after Kafka and her recommended to just stand still without doing anything for a bit. They figured out he wasn't going to hurt them. He's holding his hands stiffly like he's going to chop someone but he's just using the pose to brush away hands coming at him.
Doesn't work though. There's like five on pulling his coat already.
“This has gotten a bit messy, even for us. I was hoping for treasure honestly. Or maybe a wine cellar.” Kafka finally speaks outside of her call, her words joining her presence besides them now. Her phone still rests in hand, as though expecting something more, before she huffs and puts it away. “Elio didn't see any of this. I'm not too surprised, it's not related to us and seeing what Destiny holds for the usual scripts is enough to put them in bed for a day anyway.” Something unsaid left in the air before she continues. “They said we should find the children somewhere to be taken care of. Leaving them here to hope for help might not end well. There were certain people involved here, weren't there?”
A list of names. Mentions of items delivered to them and meetings on ships off planet. Silver Wolf frowns when remembering one in particular. “Doubt these mob enemies actually dealt with the real Dr. Primitive. Maybe the Annihilation Gang though.” One is way worse than the other, isn't it? A quick glance at the machines again and things that resemble freezers in the back make her wonder…
“... Why were they taken?” Blade's given up stopping anyone approaching him and has about a half dozen kids surrounding him, a ring of hands pulling on his coat. His arms remain across his chest, stiffly trying to pretend it's not happening.
Is she supposed to answer that? “No idea, didn't say anything on their files besides delivering items. Maybe the Annihilation Gang is hungry? Sacrifices? Probably mid-boss tier crap.” She tries not to think about leaked videos she's seen before of a planet visited by Dr. Primitive. It taught her about watching those kinds of things without checking.
“... Mm. Let's go.” The way he says it makes it sound like they don't have a choice. The larger man is turning back towards the entrance, the ring of kids hanging on following the movement.
Silver Wolf watches him stop to look at Kafka for a second, the two sharing some weird mental convo before she nods and offers her two hands to a kid on each side of her. One is taken like her hand might bite any second but the other flinches back and doesn't go for it. Kafka just waits before nodding again and gesturing to follow. Her smile is on her face the whole time before looking back at her. “Let's go, Wolfie. Make sure no one gets left behind, will you?”
They're taking most of the crowd with them now, leaving a few back with her, who seem to be the older and more suspicious. Fair enough. “Just us left, huh? Sucks you got stuck on nightmare difficulty but leaving here sounds good, don't you think? You can figure it out as we go. Unless you wanna stay here for a real boss fight?” The confusion on their faces tells her they haven't been playing the right games. Guess they'll be decent noobs to teach while they figure out what to do with them.
At least they understand that outside is still better than in here though. Their steps hesitating behind her but they're still tagging along. Good start. Just gotta get past the tutorial level and then things really get good.
**********
She debates within herself as she walks with them all, taking the rear for safety and to prevent more worries. If she stays in Sam, the symptoms won't affect her but she looks more dangerous and hard to approach. If she leaves him, she's sure to need a few days of rest in Sam even when they get back home…. but the kids might feel more at ease.
It wasn't much of a debate for her. Firefly already knew which answer would make her happy to try, even at her own expense, and she pauses in the shadows behind the others as they reach the entrance.
Children. She never saw children back in the Empire's days. Maybe she should have counted her sisters and herself, fresh from the tanks they were created within, as infants in a way. But they were born with the education to fight and die for the Empire and the empress, to only think of the Swarm and their use to their home. They weren't innocent and born to live.
“...” She activates the removal of Sam and briefly lights the shadows in her whorl of flames before she finds her feet properly on the ground. The air is stale here with iron and more, like Sam's sensors had detected, but it is real.
These children had a long life ahead of them. They had choices and dreams they could pursue. Just as she had now. And they will get to have them just like she will.
Stepping forward, she finds them waiting now outside the building, the distance from the streets and the lazy cloudy sky of the afternoon a decent cover for such an odd group outside. Her companions stand quietly as they wait, likely expecting this. She's grateful they know her this well even if two of them pretend to like their distance. So she smiles wholeheartedly as she walks up to them all, crouching down in front of the closest child first.
A shaggy haired boy, she thinks, with three eyes all barely peeking through bangs. He looks scared of her sudden appearance, not knowing she had been there as Sam the whole time. That's fine though. She keeps her smile with her every word.
“Hi there. I'm Firefly. Let's get you all somewhere safe, ok?”
**********
Life has been an interesting thing for her. There have been dinner parties, disguises worn, curio thefts from the oddest places, and the incident where she destroyed the Brotherhood from within itself through whispering in all the right ears. Kafka has dealt with plenty of odd scripts, all as Destiny needed. It's just a matter of adjusting to what's needed.
Just… a matter… of adjusting.
“Shoot the guy. Just shoot the guy! It's the back button on your right hand! He's killing you!” Silver Wolf is getting louder from one of the seats nearby, her hands raising in despair as one of the children is holding a controller beside her. The hologram display before them has a first person view of a gun and enemies, the obvious reason for her energy. She's been distracting some of them well and they've all been fairly quiet so far…
They'd ended up choosing a hotel from a wealthier tier, the entrance/sitting room bigger than they'd ever needed before but comfortably filled now with this many bodies. The solution to getting them in had been to come in groups each to make a bit less of a scene. Bladie hadn't even spoken to the desk, just handed the room number she had gotten on a paper and received his keycard. Though Wolfie did make a fuss about the receptionist making a comment about seeming like a such young mother-
Some of them are seated near Silver Wolf, playing a game she'd brought with her that was displayed on screen. Others sat alone or in a group, on another couch, where the television that came with the room showed an animated movie appropriate for their age. Firefly is in the kitchen area with one because she wanted to make sweets with the complimentary ingredients left in the fridge.
Most of the children seemed almost content for a bit, though they still sat with huddled legs and occasionally looked around as if worried. The leftover few who sat alone were obviously a bit smarter about trusting strangers…
“Kafka. What-” The briefest pause from a sudden chat with Bladie when his head is turning to look at something noticed. “You. Don't touch that.” The swordman is trying his best with all this, shifting from talking to her to striding over elsewhere. A boy who had begun to reach for his sword leaning on the farthest wall is grasped by his collar, Bladie soon setting him down to just stare down in silence. The pale child blankly stares in turn before seating himself in a nearby chair, looking more than a little scolded. Satisfied, the man returns to her with a huff. She can only smile at how simple he made it look before letting him speak first. “... What will we do?”
“Wolfie looked up some places that can handle their troubles. She's going to make sure their reputation is less questionable than ours.” The snort her partner lets out is enough to make her chuckle, a brief glance at the unusual sight of so many children near them. An oddity to her after joining Elio so long ago. She moves to the boy Bladie had just set down, her hand hovering awkwardly above him until he turns gaze up to stare at her. She rests her palm on his head, petting the light hair carefully, and hums with the gesture. An old lullaby she can never forget.
It all brings to mind crying faces from a time that seems farther and farther yet never truly gone. More than a few faces. At least she usually dealt with the reasons behind their tears back then. And when she was the cause of those tears… it was part of her job. It had to be done because that's how New Babylon was. But there is a silent relief to knowing it isn't anymore.
“Kafka.” Bladie picks up the conversation again, his gaze diligent even when this isn't the type of task he prefers. She likes to see his eyes that way.
“Yes?”
“What can I do for you?”
She blinks in response, pausing only because of the phrasing. He surely means ‘to deal with the situation’. But for a moment, recalling the miserable faces that have passed her sight before, it seemed like an offer she needed more than any other. Her hand reaches out to his cheek, palm pressing to his skin. Warm. And still there.
“Hm, I think I'd like to take a break. Let's join them for a watch. Come on~”
“... For a children's movie?”
“Those are classics, you know. You can appreciate a well made story, Bladie. And maybe you'll cry like most people who watch it.”
She can't help chuckling at his expression, a doubtful but accepting shake of his head. One more look taken of where everyone sits in the room to be certain, seats brought then used with a healthy bit of distance from the children. They're studying them both as they sit to the side but don't move away at least. Firefly has returned from the kitchen with her little friend with a plate of cookies, likely to be picked apart if left unattended.
Bladie sits in his seat beside her, hands resting on his lap limply as he focuses on the screen. He's genuinely watching, his eyes flat as always but… maybe just a bit interested after all. Her hand reaches over to take his closest, fingers finding themselves between his own after moving palm to his own and squeezing the hand tightly. He squeezes back carefully, his head turning to question her with his gaze alone if there's a problem.
Not one to be found here at least. Enjoy a movie whenever you can.
**********
It's past midnight. The windows hold a faint glow as lights from outside try to penetrate the curtains. The streets below must be full of signs and business still going at this hour. Nothing out of the ordinary as he waits outside one of the bathrooms.
Kafka chose this location well. The place had two baths and six beds to use, which helped with cleaning up some of the wounds the children still had upon arriving and let them have privacy to wash as they desired. Kafka and Firefly had assisted a bit, their presence soothing compared to his own. He kept himself away from most of it, certain they'd dislike him hovering nearby after their… troubles. The sight of soap foam and shining faces didn't suit having him close by.
The bathroom door opens. A small head peeks through the half open spot, wary until noticing him standing there, and nodding in greeting. He waits until the girl exits properly before speaking as carefully as he can. His eyes have adjusted and he can see the same face as a few minutes ago, slightly too slender features and closed eyes that can still somehow see. He'll forget them soon enough.
“Are you done?” He keeps his voice quiet, trying not to startle her.
“... Yes.” The small voice responds in turn, barely audible unless one was as close as he was.
“Let's go.” And that is all needed to be said, his hand shutting the door behind her as she steps out.
She had woken him from his place beside Kafka to go to the bathroom, uncertain about something despite knowing where it was. She was the third one to ask tonight. Why they continue to go to him is beyond his understanding when Silver Wolf and Firefly both sleep together in a bed closer to the door. Shouldn't they be wary of him?
He begins to walk back to the bedroom now, deliberately taking small steps to let her follow closely. He waits by the entrance to allow her in first, watching her wander to the bed she claimed with others.
Many of them aren't fully asleep. Distrust or uncertainty or any number of reasons for why. They lay there, eyes closed and breathing slowed to pretend, but still waiting for something.
His chest aches slightly in recalling… no. He stops himself. A stinging behind his eyes. Something that wishes to escape, for words to be made true. He would speak with Kafka once this is all done. The mara should stay settled until these affairs are over at least. Blade's eyes catch the bedroom window towards the far side of the room and a passing flash of light briefly lights the curtains before it fades.
Tomorrow will be filled with trying to move them all across the region to a place decided. From there, it will be in their own hands to move on. He expects they'll have long lives to enjoy, suffer with, and stumble through from then on.
Rest will come more easily for them for their end than it ever has for him.
**********
Getting attached… was easier than she thought. Does that make her childish? To not know how to let go easily? Firefly stands with the others now, watching the group finish eating and begin to prepare themselves, as a strange feeling settles in her chest.
She knows pain will be something to look forward to once the symptoms come in full force. Part of her says she should return to Sam right now and save some agony. But she just smiles as one of the girls waves from the table, her skin like obsidian and eyes like rings of gold, who she remembers thanking her for helping wash her tangled hair when she used the bathroom.
They were all going to be transported to a place where children are often left by families that can't care for them. Silver Wolf found plenty of real records of adoptions, biological parents found, and more that could be of use to the kids. Maybe they'll find their families from where they were taken. Maybe they'll find ones to make up for those lost…
“Firefly.” Kafka's voice calls from her side, her eyes finding her companion's unreadable ones. Kafka likes saying to keep a distance to be better for everyone… but she brings a gloved hand to her shoulder and smiles with the gesture. “You did wonderful with them yesterday. They were more comfortable because of you. Thank you, hun.”
And the mecha user can read something else in those words after this long by Kafka's side. ‘Thank you for making it so I wouldn't need to use my whispers.’ She would have done it to keep them all from panicking or trying to run off but she wouldn't have liked it. Kafka has great control over many things and many people… but she doesn't often like it.
“Of course. Everyone did a good job, right? Silver Wolf showed them games most of the night. Blade even helped tire some of them out!” The two in question don't answer the compliments, the gamer looking more embarrassed than anything while Blade just studies the wall nearby.
The man had ended up doing something for the fidgety children who were wandering the rooms as though ready to try and flee. He had picked them up to spun them around like he was going to throw them, the gesture finally enough to get some of them to speak and beg to be let down. Then others had actually asked to try to and he'd done it enough times to leave a few boys and girls panting on the couches. It looked kind of fun actually… Maybe she is still a child at heart.
“Oh, of course, Bladie is always good at taking care of kids. Right, Wolfie?”
“Huh? How would I… oh, you're funny. Not even close. Let's get going already. This delayed my watch schedules and patches to catch up on back home.”
The same feelings as always. The same voices. Gratitude to be here and now. And she wishes nothing but the same to come for all the kids before her. Imagining bringing them all home had been a fun but silly thought… they had their own homes to find after all.
New shoots spring forth from the ground each day. That's all you need to keep moving forward.
**********
Transporting was easier this time around now that they actually had some space to plan. She'd gotten more than enough time to plot out routes to the institute they needed to drop them off, cross reference patrols from the law in this area, and set up some hologram decoys near cameras they use on streets. Easy.
... Well, maybe the train ride was for fun though. Taxis could have worked but that would take like four of them so they opted for the ‘big dumb family on vacation' idea. A few of the kids asked why Blade was dressed like a bad guy and why both her and Kafka had hats on inside the train too… but she let Firefly handle that part. She seemed happy just to be talking and keeping things calm with all of them out of Sam. It suited her to just keep things more… fluffy? Soft? Dunno, just fit her better to be smiling with kids.
Maybe Punklorde had taught her co-op partners come and go too well cause leaving the kids to walk to the facility by themselves had ended up with some of them crying and she can’t tell why. The younger ones, the ones who were usually hanging onto Blade or listening to Firefly, were trying to cling to them and their clothes. If they started wailing and really getting loud, they'd start getting some bad attention. So she decided she’ll have to get them to understand something..
“We gotta go, that's how it is. But if you really need something, just get on any game and request SilverWolf, one word, for something. I'm the only one with the tag now. I'll play with you and talk on party chat. And… I guess help if you really need it… but only if it's important stuff, not being sore losers or whining. If you're really stuck, we can try to carry you again.”
Is she lying? She can't even tell herself, part of her uncertain she can actually do something to help if they ever did need it… but she isn't one of the greats to come out of Punklorde for no reason. If some runny nosed brats need something dumb once in a while, she should be able to pull something off.
… Why is no one talking? She's just being stared at. Even Kafka looks a bit surprised before giving her a nod, a thoughtful look on her face before she's kneeling down to pat a few heads. Firefly does the same, words she doesn't wanna hear being exchanged to a few sniffing kids. They're calming down at least. Blade is still staring now, analyzing her like she's a sword that needs to be cleaned
“... Hm. A fair offer..” All he has to say before he's turning to the group again, most of them looking a bit more composed now, though even a few of the older looking ones seem to have red around their eyes. “Go.” And the single word with the finger pointing to the entrance like a sign post is the last straw, the group beginning to wander one by one towards the large building entrance. You could call it a big home without exaggerating, the place a couple floors high and definitely wide enough to fit any kids you needed to.
They stand just out of view from the entrance, Firefly and her peeking as they all make it to the door. They hear someone yell in surprise. And then they hit the ‘flee’ option. No one should have any record of them hanging around here or footage of those kids to connect to them.
That was tiring. She can't wait to get back to her room. Already have too many things to catch up on after missing just a day.
… She'll need to pay extra attention to notifs to play with others from now on though. She won't stand calling her a liar for anything she said.
**********
Elio knew something… but it wasn't important enough to share now. That much, Kafka was certain. When they returned home, reporting to them had brought a look of relief for an instant. Rare for someone who sees so much, rarer still for someone who tries to hide it. She decides to leave it be. They had enough on their plate, by the look of the books left open in their room, and she'd hate to trouble them more.
So she continues as if it was any other day. Firefly apologizes before saying she'll probably be resting with Sam for a good while. The girl gives a melancholy look that Kafka can guess the reason for. Farewells here are a complicated thing. Wolfie said she was going to be catching up on announcements and other things before warning not to bother her. In the end, the woman returns with Bladie to her room to finally shed the efforts of their time below. She bathes with him carefully and slowly, savoring the way the water soaks into her bones as his chest lets her back rest against him. It brings an urge to indulge in later.
When they finish their routine, dressed now in something lighter for rest, she pats the bed for him to sit with her. Bladie does it without a word, his hair hanging behind him in a cascade. She thinks of how he fought when the script had begun and how he had
“That was a surprise, wasn't it?”
“Yes. One you searched for..”
“I'd be embarrassed if it had actually caused some real trouble, aha~ But it was… a bit lucky we indulged, wasn't it?”
Relief. Is it possible to be relieved for something you wouldn't have known happened? Maybe so. Those children would have had very difficult lives if left there… and likely very short ones. She turns her eyes upwards to her partner now, her sight almost closed with her next words. “It was a nice change of pace, don’t you think? They say a good deed comes around most times. Though maybe we cause too much trouble to have that, hm.” Thinking in silence before she continues. “What we must do is for Destiny and to stop the Destruction that comes… and I don't regret a thing. None of it.”
“But this was different.” Her partner’s words match the ones she was considering saying. His face reveals little about how he feels about the idea but she knows he's at least relaxed as she moves to rest her head on his shoulder. His arm is at her back and around her waist now, keeping her secure.
“Being a hero could suit you, Bladie. Saving kids, grabbing pets from trees~”
“... No. I'll stick to what I’m best at. Pulling you out of bed when we get found by bounty hunters.”
His answer is careful. He's humoring her as always but he's thinking harsher words to himself. A shame when he was so careful and trusted in such a short time by the little ones. She thinks of them again. She thinks of their companion, somewhere on the Astral Express, and lost to them in a way after the time spent teaching and nurturing their new life. Exhaustion runs through her. Aren't they both… difficult in a way? She presses lips to his cheek now before her face hides against his neck, trying not to let herself go silent despite the temptation..
“I'm sure they'll live nice long lives now~ But we'll have work to deal with. Hopefully they’re never anywhere near our scripts for their own good.” And it brings an ache. To know someone is better off never seeing you again. She wasn't attached, no, of course not. But it was still something to be there when she was needed. That she helped by being there and giving what she could.
She’s grateful for her experience, to be able to hold any expression without letting troublesome thoughts reveal themselves. It helped in her old life. It will help now.
“...” Bladie says nothing but turns just a bit. Just enough to hug her. A full embrace where his arms almost lock her in place while holding her, her limbs barely able to move and wrap around him. She feels enveloped in his familiar weight and the scent of her shampoo. His breath tickles her ear.
The world cuts off for a moment. The past and the future vanish. It was a strange day, wasn't it? One she doesn't expect to deal with like ever again.
But she thinks it will count as one of her better ones.