Work Text:
I honestly question why I was born sometimes. What purpose to serve, what reason for my existence. It has always puzzled me on why I was ever chosen to live. You could say that I was born to serve Blackrock, and I agree with that now, but younger me would've said something different.
He would've said that the world outside of Blackrock is big and beautiful, that the birds sing every day and the wolves howl every night. He would've said that there has to be more to life than just shooting targets and bowing to bosses.
But at my age? Hah. I'd give anything to have that kind of optimism again. Bright, care-free, not exposed to the horrors of the world. Hell, I still had my horns. I could still look myself in the mirror without flinching or grimacing at what I see.
However, there's still one person who manages to make me feel like there's nothing to worry about.
He's sitting right beside me, and he smells of insence and sake. His long, smokey mane is braided in some places with beads and charms that you question how he takes them all out and washes his hair. His feathers fluff up when I pet him. He speaks with a warm, rough tone.
And best of all, he's mine. All mine.
Nobody else knows about our relationship, and nobody needs to know. Not my boss, not his neighbours, not anybody. All we need is this moment. This life. Pretending our duties don't exist for the mere hope of a better future.
"Is your drink good, Hyperlaser?" He'd say, that gravelly tone making my body relax.
"Yes, it's... nice. Smooth." I reply, yet barely.
He makes me breathless, the damn bird. You'd question why out of everyone in the Inpherno, that I'd fall for the almost 7 foot tall owl man who's landlord refuses to go to his house out of fear for him.
Well, to that I say...
He's special.
And I don't want anything to happen to him.
... Then, something happened to him.
"Hyperlaser!" Subspace screeches for me, and I sigh, turning to him.
"Yes, sir?" I say.
The air seems to thicken with whatever he's plotting, and I don't like it.
"You," he starts, "need to complete a special mission for me! Yay! Yippee! Aren't you excited?!"
I shudder as he comes towards me and puts both his hands on my shoulders from behind.
"... Yes." I murmur.
"Good!" He clasps his hands. "I need you to kill your friend."
...
"What?" I stand up.
"You heard me!" He giggles.
"You're getting too distracted, Hyperlaser! That smelly bird has been causing you a precise..."
He pulls out a sheet of paper and reads it.
"34% decrease in productivity! We can't have that, now can we?!"
I can't even hear him over the sound of blood rushing in my ears. I can feel my own heart beating out of my chest, my brain trying to figure out every single possible way I could've ended up in this exact situation.
If I just went through with it at 16...
"Hyperlaser? Hellooo?" He waves his hand in front of me and I smack it out of my face.
Anger rushes through me.
"No." I say sternly.
"... What?" He says.
"I said no. I'm not fucking doing that." My fist clenches and I try not to punch him.
He stays silent for a little bit before he grabs his mask and pulls it down, revealing a horrible, twisted grin underneath.
"Now, who said you could refuse?" He tuts. "It's a simple job. And I can file you for overtime."
"I said -- "
"Hyperlaser."
This man has the authority to get me killed on the spot. To be thrown out of this nice, heated office of his, and into the snow where I'd die of hypothermia, if not for my coat.
I can't do it. I can't. I won't be able to.
"You will do as I say as my employee, won't you?"
He keeps smiling at me.
With no other choice, I sigh heavy and sit back down.
"When do I do it?"
I'm outside of Katana's house, a place I regularly visit. His various bird decorations are out on his poarch as per usual. The old oak tree in his yard sways in the wind. It's a nice, slightly foggy night in Thieves' Den.
And I'm hiding in the bushes, gun aimed at his window as I watch him eat alone at his dinner table.
I don't know how he's not seen me yet, even after all my internal begging and purposeful movements to make myself look obvious. I prayed to Deities I don't believe in last night, just begging them to not make me do this, to protect him, to do anything else but this.
It didn't work. Like most things in life for me, I don't ever get handed the good cards. Not one thing in my life has ever gone right for me, except him, and now I get to ruin that, too.
What a stupid, stupid life I get to lead.
... Suddenly, I get an idea, and I tap the side of my visor.
"Subspace. Are you there?" I ask.
"Yup! Right here! Have you done it yet?" He responds, tone chipper.
"About to." I say.
As I hold my gear for what I hope is the last time, I think of something nice as I look at him.
Katana is a nice man. He goes for bird watching. He has a pet owl. He gets gifts from the neighbours next door and likes to eat miso soup. But most of all, he's kind. He's loving, caring, and attentive. He knows when I'm sad, when I'm happy, when I'm angry. He doesn't even need facial features to know what I'm feeling, it's almost like he can just sense it.
Katana is someone I want everyone to meet at least once. To just be around him is a blessing I want to grant to each Inphernal, to each person who's struggling like me. And when his time comes, I know that he'll be alright.
(I can hear my gun charge as I pull the trigger.)
Because I'll finally be there with him, eyes bright and soul brighter.
I really, really hope you don't hate me for this, Katana.
I love --