Chapter Text
There was a powerful ‘crack!’ as Pangi’s axe swung into the throne, narrowly missing Foolish’s head. The totem in question scrambled out of the way, trying to put enough space between the two of them so that he could reach for his sword.
“Hey, hey, come on now, there’s no need for all that,” Foolish said, aiming for peace in what he knew was an already futile attempt. He pulled out his own sword and shield, wincing at the low durability on both. “It’s not too late to talk this out!”
Pangi swept in for another approach, cold fury written all over his face. “It was already too late the second you lit that TNT.”
Foolish had only backed away two steps when he felt the cold metal pin prick of an arrow against his back. Pili’s voice whispered teasingly in his ear, “You shouldn’t have done that, Foolish.”
Typical. Green faction teaming up on him when he was all alone in the castle. Foolish couldn’t blame them though, and couldn’t deny that his heart was racing with both excitement and fear at this attack that had unfolded upon him.
So yes, Foolish had placed a little TNT in Green’s base. And yes, he had lit that TNT. And perhaps there had been a few pets that had moved on to better places due to this. But how was Foolish to know?! Freaky gnomes, hiding their pets in weird places.
He’d only been trying to help them improve their base! However, the insistent press of the weapon at his back had him feeling that saying that wouldn’t be appreciated right now. Still, it never hurt to try all angles. “... I’m sorry?” he said.
Pangi shook his head. He raised his axe once again, and Foolish braced himself for what he knew would be the final blow.
Then, something strange happened. Behind Pangi, a hooded creature with beady white eyes flashed into existence. Foolish would have almost mistaken it for a keeper, had the throne room been less well lit. The creature took in the situation, then let out a put upon sigh. With a wave of its hand, it sent a copper candlestick flying right into Pangi’s face.
Pangi stumbled back. Foolish took the opportunity to shove Pili’s crossbow up which sent an arrow destined for his back flying into the ceiling instead. He stamped down hard on Pili’s foot and desperately searched through his inventory -
There! An ender pearl tucked away in his bundle. Pangi had recovered now and was going for another swing but it was already too late. A perfect throw had flung the pearl out of a window, and Foolish hit the ground running outside the castle. His path was set to a nearby forest. As he ran, he saw those beady eyes again glowing in the midst of the trees.
Of course Foolish didn’t want to head towards this mysterious creature hiding in a darkened forest in the dead of night. But it was one of two options, and getting beheaded by two overly zealous Green members was not at the top of Foolish’s to-do list.
So he ducked into the trees and settled down a comfortable distance in. Maybe just close enough to still hear Pangi or Pili if they happened to come searching in this direction. After all, a little risk never hurt anybody.
Foolish’s heart pounded even as he rested against a tree, and he struggled to fight off the grin that was rising on his face. He couldn’t help it. Even after all these years and all these times, coming close to death was a thrill that Foolish couldn’t deny. Thank goodness Green was easily stirred up into action. Far more easily than Foolish had ever expected in a realm like this.
“You were so dead,” a voice rumbled at Foolish’s shoulder. The totem whipped around to see it was just Mr Beady Eyes. Foolish considered the statement.
“Probably, yeah,” Foolish agreed with a shrug.
“I saved your life,” Beady Eyes added smugly. “You owe me.”
“Well, I can agree with half of that,” Foolish replied. “Why did you do that, anyway? And where did you even come from?”
“So you can agree that you owe me,” Beady Eyes stated, completely ignoring Foolish’s questions. “What’s worth a life in this realm?”
“Nope, didn’t agree to that. You choose to save me, buster. I didn’t ask you to knock over that candle, but you did,” Foolish corrected.
“Oh, please. You were practically begging me with those big green eyes of yours -” Foolish scoffed at this, but the creature continued. “ - I could almost hear your voice saying ‘oh Bad, please save me! I’m about to be murdered by an armadillo and a cat! Please don’t let me die like this!’”
“First of all, I don’t sound like that,” Foolish began, offended by the ingratiating tone that had been used to imitate him. “Secondly, I would have gladly accepted my death then and there if it had come to that.”
“I doubt that.”
“Why?” Foolish questioned.
“You mortals are all the same. You like to pretend you’ll embrace death with only bravery and grace, but the second death lays a finger upon you,” Beady Eyes pointedly brushed a hand across Foolish’s throat. “You’ll be running and begging for your life back all the same.”
The touch sent a cold shiver through Foolish’s body. He turned away. “I guess we’ll have to see about that. I suspect Green faction won’t sit idly by the next time they see me.”
“... I can help you with that.”
Foolish was suspicious now. “I thought you said I owed you? Are you trying to work up a debt out of me?”
Beady Eyes chuckled. “I like that idea. Maybe I’ll make a list. How many times can I save your life before you belong to me forever?”
“I don’t need you to save me,” Foolish insisted, internally shocked at the audaciousness of the question. “And I certainly don’t want to belong to you.”
“Well, we can always work out another payment,” Beady Eyes hummed thoughtfully. “Oh! I heard you like to build statues. I have always wanted a statue of me around somewhere.”
“Are you even listening? I said, DON’T save me!” Foolish repeated, getting frustrated now.
Silence reigned for a moment before Beady Eyes let out a long sigh. “Fine. I’ll admit it. I’m your guardian angel, alright?”
Foolish rolled his eyes. “I’m not even going to entertain this.”
“Why does no one believe me when I’m honest? What, do you need to see my halo to believe me? Do I need to set you up with an immaculate conception?” Beady Eyes questioned, voice laced with frustration.
“... well, a halo couldn’t hurt,” Foolish said, unable to resist the potential opportunity before him.
“Oh, trust me, it can hurt,” Beady Eyes informed gravely. He looked at Foolish consideringly. “I haven’t actually shown a mortal my halo before, I’m not sure what it might do.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine,” Foolish reassured, waving off the concerns. Not that Foolish believed this ‘halo’ really existed, especially since this supposed ‘guardian angel’ of his had no idea of Foolish’s true nature. Still, it didn’t hurt to entertain the idea on the slight chance that it was real.
“... I suppose it’s your own eyes to burn,” Beady Eyes said, reaching up for his hood.
Surprisingly, underneath the dark fabric there was something that could almost be a halo. It definitely fit the blinding white criteria, and even Foolish’s crystalline eyes felt warmed just looking at it. If he was human his eyes might have burnt out. But as it was, he investigated for a moment longer. When he reached out to touch, his wrist was caught before he could even get close.
“Did nobody teach you not to touch an angel’s halo?” Beady Eyes scolded, pushing him away. He pulled his hood back up over his head. “Believe me now?”
Looking at the creature now, Foolish was still in disbelief that he possessed a halo at all. “How do I know you didn’t steal it?”
“Now that’s an interesting idea…,” Beady Eyes said in a thoughtful tone that really made Foolish think he shouldn’t have suggested it at all. “Though, it would be rather hard. A halo, hmm, how do I describe it… Stealing a halo would be like stealing a human’s skull. It doesn’t separate so easily. And it probably wouldn’t fit me anyway.”
“So that’s why you didn’t want me to touch it,” Foolish said. He circled round the creature. “No wings?”
“Not in this form,” Beady Eyes replied, head swiveling around to keep his gaze on Foolish.
“And you’re my guardian angel?” Foolish questioned.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Foolish laughed. “So you don’t get to choose where you’re assigned then?”
“Why would I pick the idiot who was about to get beheaded in his own throne room?” Beady Eyes bit back.
“Whoa, pal. I think you’re forgetting that I never asked for a guardian angel,” Foolish reminded him pointedly.
“You would have been dead without me,” Beady Eyes insisted.
Foolish groaned. “We’re getting nowhere.” With a deep breath, he decided to change tracks. “So, how does this whole guardian angel thing work anyway? Do you have like, a spidey sense for when I’m in danger?”
“You already saw how it works in the throne room. Have you already forgotten?” Beady Eyes asked, voice laced with concern.
“No, I mean, how do you know when to show up? You timed it so perfectly earlier,” Foolish elaborated.
“Oh, that was just a coincidence. I was… checking out the new job site when I happened to pass by the throne room. But now I’m with you, you don’t need to worry. I’ll stay by your side so you’ll never be in danger again,” Beady Eyes said. It was probably meant to be reassuring but instead it made Foolish very uneasy.
“Stay by my side… forever? I can’t get rid of you?” Foolish asked, envisioning this life that was now laying itself out before him.
“Only until you die, of course. It comes for everyone eventually,” Beady Eyes said with a chuckle.
Foolish wondered if the angel knew just how long it would take for death to visit him. Because Foolish felt that it would be a long, long while. And even longer now, with a guardian angel protecting him.