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The feathered fixer stares at his device, moments prior having been cheered on by all of his fans. His breaths remain heavy, as he attempts to posture himself once more before another wave of bloodfiends reaches them. As it was, he felt a pounding voice inside of his head encroaching into his uncertain soul. What initially appeared to be an encompassing rose, had begun to prick deep into his skin. It crackled at him, begging for him to break into his cravings. For the first time in a long time, he felt fear. With the venom of unconfidence slowly biting into him, he stares at the only remaining Fixer who survived the last onslaught. She looked tired.
“I don’t think we’ll be holding off much longer here, we… we should leave.”
Camille urges towards Paula as her weapon crashes down onto a stray surviving member of the parade. She was weary of fighting, being barely able to grip her sword. She surveys the hedge-garden maze, understanding there was no one else left nearby to help them. No more remaining members of her association, who sought to protect and rescue their delegated visitors. No more remaining members of the vast Fixer offices who dreamed off striking big from the eradication funds. No more remaining hunters, who believed they would have their revenge for all they’ve lost. She understood there was no longer any purpose to this assignment.
“Our business here has concluded. It was safe to assume our client had been terminated hours prior towards the mission… I… deeply apologize for how awry the direction of our mission seems to be going.”
He felt a sense of stigma within him. The thorns feed on the crimson seeping from his skin, as the petals begin to slowly but surely grow – as the stench feeds onto the duo, hazily tearing their senses. He developed a small sense of ire towards his situation, how quickly he had sunken into misery after beginning the mission with such credence to his work. He had to escape.
“If we break through the maze, maybe we could find those thirteen fixers…! We can approach them for help – no, we could even use them as bait!”
The fixer begins to hysterically hatch a plan in order to guarantee the two’s survival.
“We just need-... We just need to find them… Please…”
His voice grows with desperation as his partner reaches for his hand to grab him. He ponders leaving his camera, but realizes his arm had been tied too tight for it to matter. He awkwardly takes her hand and begins to march slowly through the maze. Her voice reassuring him on each step.
“I can discern a battle taking place nearby from our current position. If we are lucky, we may be able to catch up to the group and hopefully take aid from them.”
He had never been one to consider using others for help. It always made him feel lesser towards others. He was the one on-screen, his actions must matter more than everyone else. He felt frustrated, having his life measured on whether or not the misfits he had embarrassed would give him a second chance. A layer of him understood this selfishness, but felt the need to speak out.
“I can’t… I just… How are we supposed to face them? What if we reach them, and they just… abandon us? Leave us to fend for ourselves…”
“That will not happen. At least, I believe in them to not let that happen.”
“Do you really think so…?”
“... I can only hope so… Besides, you let me help you.”
He stares at her, their once graceful footsteps now languidly drowning any blares of battle.
“What am I supposed to do if I-...”
He carefully rethinks his words upon noticing the hint of nervousness within her face.
“What are we supposed to do once we escape this place…?”
Her pupils redirect towards his face, no longer focused on the path they’re taking. She sighs.
“I’m… not certain. I wish to be able to continue working as a shield. I wish to protect those who cannot protect themselves… Though, it seems I have a long way from confidently achieving that.”
What follows the two is nothing but silence
The sloshing of their footsteps begin to resonate within the flowers, reminding it of the running blood they desperately yearn for. It pierces their skin deep, slowing their movement even more. It is not long before they are due for the final performance. Paula quickly veers towards his face once more.
“... What about you?”
“What?”
“What would you like to pursue once we have fully cleared out this location?”
“...”
He thinks, he desperately, desperately thinks.
“I want to quit this streaming business… It’s getting to my head. The encouragement lords over me, and I think I’d see more peace being a quiet little Feather for a Nest once all of this is over… Maybe I’ll give you a contract to protect me if I ever do something pretty public.. I am quite the celebrity after all…”
His hollow confidence at least cheered her up, even if by a bit.
“Haah… I would certainly appreciate it. I reckon I won’t be seeing many contracts once I get back…”
He frowns at her self discouragement.
“... What makes you think that?”
“After a catastrophic failure of a mission such as this? We’re ultimately expendable shields. If we cannot uphold our duty, if we cannot uphold our mission… There’s simply no point in having us… Being with me wouldn’t strike confidence into our client if they peer into my history.”
“Hey, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t still be alive. You’re doing a fine job by yourself.”
She returns the sentiment with a small smile, and maybe a blush, though Camille’s vision had been too red for him to ever notice.
They eventually arrive at a halt, the parade just a few minutes away from finishing them off. Camille begins to convulse and croak out blood. The sight of his ejecta tingling the Rose once more. There is no longer any hope for the once vain Fixer. He looks towards her knowing this truth.
“Y-you… can still… reach them, you know?”
Paula attempts to carry his weight as he falls onto his knees.
“I am not abandoning you. We are close, we can still make it together.”
The rose blooms as the petals spew out blood from his body. The vines grab onto his neck as he attempts to breathe in and out.
E.G.O. Corrosion imminent.
“Paula, please… We both know reaching them won’t save me…”
He had seemed to accept his fate knowing there was still potential to have her escape
Staring at what remaining parts of himself still discernable, he looks back to Paula.
“It’s these thorns, isn’t it…We desperately required them to keep up with the onslaught… Quick… While you still have time, remove them…!”
The shield turns her back towards the incoming parade. If she leaves now, she really could make it. She could continue her life as a Fixer. If she was lucky enough to have survived this, surely she’ll be lucky enough to gain more contracts.
“Just leave you behind… Such duplicity would be a disgrace to my code, would it not…?”
She arms her weapon once more, ready to swing until her beating heart stops her from doing so.
“You… You wanted to protect more people, didn’t you? Why are you prioritizing me over so many others?!”
Camille’s voice raspily reaches her as she attempts to cool her mind. A part of her deeply cursed her situation, desiring for what could’ve been a much more favourable outcome for the two. But she was content. She composed herself.
“Camille, Fixer of Cinq Association’s Western Branch. As a partner of this contracted joint operation, and with the termination of my client, you are now my mission’s #1 priority. You shall not befall onto anyone else’s hands while I am present.”
He attempted to say something back, but couldn’t. His voice unable to find a way out of his mouth as the thorns clog into him like an unending maze, though really, he never knew what else he could’ve said to her. His senses are slowly deprived from him, but his heart no longer felt fear. His last thoughts were of a feeling of soothingness, hearing her shred through as many of them as she could.
It was not long before she followed soon.