Chapter Text
I Missed You
Chapter 1
The bleak, dreary sun was peeking out from the clouds hanging overhead. It looked as if the sky was going to rain soon. Saparata traveled slowly, dripstone and flowers in hand--an offering for Fluixon’s grave.
It had been a few months since the battle with Fluixon, and peace was prominent in all of the states since. Though the battle with Infernus left them with many losses, the states were still flourishing and prospering. Even though Saparata knew this for a fact, he couldn’t be happy at all--as if something was missing and gnawing at his heart ever since the battle. Maybe it was the betrayal--hell, even just coming face-to-face with Fluixon in that battle--that made his heart ache, or the fact that he only misses his old friend.
Saparata visited Fluixon’s grave everyday. It was the only thing that made him feel at ease, even if he’d felt sad sitting alone and talking at his grave everyday. Fluixon’s spirit always listened to him, every ramble, tangent, and troubled questions he’d have, nothing was left unheard.
Though, today was different.
Upon Saparata’s arrival at his grave, an unexpected sight was awaiting him.
“Fluix?” Saparata mumbled, taking in the sight of his unconscious friend lying on top of the soft, powderlike earth. Saparata cautiously approached, examining the body to see if somebody had dug Fluixon’s body up in a cruel act of shaming, or if he really was alive.
But as he approached, he spotted a faint twitch of a hand, and the soft rise and fall of Fluixon’s chest. Saparata took a step back in surprise, and Fluixon’s eyes blinked open.
“What the..?” Saparata murmured. Fluixon sat up, putting a hand on his back.
“Ugh…” He groaned, rising. “Saps?”
Saps stood confused, flowers in hand. “Fluix?” He blinked. The pair stayed there, staring at each other awkwardly. No words were exchanged, just the silence between the two radiating throughout the air. Finally, Saparata glanced around and padded toward Fluixon, who was sitting dumbfounded on the ground.
“You’re…” Saps started hesitantly, sitting on the ground. “Alive? Yeah, I know,” Fluixon muttered, glancing over at his hands. “I don’t know how though, so don’t ask me.” Saparata stood up and walked all around the grave, trying to discover what exactly made this happen. Obviously to no avail, he couldn’t quite find the discovery he was looking for. Saparata slowly and cautiously laid the flowers down next to the grave.
“Are you sure you don’t know how this happened?” Saparata asked, sitting down beside Fluixon. “Yes, I’m sure,” Fluixon retorted, rolling his eyes. He paused. “Why are you even talking to me anyway? You know, because I… I don’t know, framed you?” Fluixon laughed, a hint of regret and guilt pricking at his sentence.
Saparata hesitated. “Surely you’ve reflected after all this time?” Fluixon stared, not knowing exactly what to say. “Yeah,” he said. “I have.” Saparata suddenly started to get nervous, and stood up, brushing away the dirt left on his trousers. Fluixon was serious, he could tell. But how could he be so trustworthy of him even after everything? “Besides,” Saparata breathed. “I caused your death, so now it’s even.” Fluixon looked up uncertainly at Saparata, his eyes showing amusement and a glint of something else that he couldn’t quite make out.
“You seriously…” Fluixon laughed, ruffling his hair. “You were never one to hold grudges anyway,” he commented. Saparata gave a weak smile. Fluixon was warmed, even by the slightest curve of Saparata’s smile. A slight tinge of ease pulsed through his body, as much as he’d hate to admit it, he enjoyed talking with Saparata like this--as if nothing had ever really happened. The feeling was short-lived, fleeting, but Fluixon knew it was never really going to be the same anyway.
A faint rustle of a bush alerted Saparata and Fluixon. The two whipped their heads around, surprised. A familiar face popped out of the bushes--CallmeCass, leader of the Cass Coalition, a well renowned state for its flourishing community despite every conflict. “Fluixon,” she hissed, unsheathing her sword. “How are you still alive?” Fluixon warily took a step back, his face twisting into an alert expression. “Don’t know,” he said. Saparata, bewildered, took a glance at both Fluixon and Cass, his eyes darting back and forth.
“Cass, what are you doing here?” He questioned. Cass peered over at Saparata, sword still pointed directly at Fluixon. “I was seeing if you were here, you always visit his grave around this time.” she stated. “Did you need me for something?” Saparata replied. “Maybe,” she said. “But that’s not important right now--how’s he alive?” She scowled. Fluixon shrugged. “I don’t know how I’m here. I was… I was just… sitting around my grave as a spirit and the next thing I know,” Fluixon stammered. “I’m here.”
Cass’ eyes narrowed to slits. “So, like being revived?” She asked, lowering her sword, but not fully. “I think that’s what happened,” Fluixon breathed, clearly in thought. “But first,” he started. “I’m not a threat, you can put that sword down.” Cass rolled her eyes and slid her diamond sword back into her leather scabbard.
“Revival…” Saparata mumbled. “It must be Ish’s work. He wouldn’t have brought you back without a reason.” Ish, basically their god, was a man of good intention--but at times, he’d liked being entertained more than doing what was logical. Cass eyed him suspiciously. “He needs to go to trial,” she said. “We’ll need an emergency meeting between all of the states,” she said, grabbing a hold of her walkie and muttering something over it. “Come on, follow me. You might as well come too, Saparata.” She gestured. Saparata and Fluixon looked at each other nervously before following Cass.
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As Fluixon walked through the arched entrance, he took a breath and stepped in, trying to keep himself composed and pushing away the irritation. Before him sat all of the world leaders and an audience, familiar faces plaguing his vision. The only thing keeping this somewhat easy was Saparata, who sat at his side and reassuringly put a hand on his back despite the weird stares he’d received.
Nervous chatter broke out among the leaders, and Fluixon was sure that everybody was discussing his death and his mysterious, seemingly spontaneous revival. Annoyance pricked Fluixon, why had he been revived? Sure, it could’ve been due to Ish, the god that went around bothering everybody, but why had he revived him? Did he want to see more trouble stir up?
Failing to find an answer to the question he--and probably several others had made--Fluixon was snapped out of his trance by a voice, loud and assertive. “How is he still here?” Schpood, leader of Westhelm, bristled. “Saparata killed you!” Fluixon rolled his eyes, shrugging. Saparata noticed that he’d failed to let go of his old smug habits, and he silently said a prayer in his mind. Fluixon’s ego was something that just couldn’t be let go of easily. “He should be executed!” Schpood hissed.
LegacyAN gave him a wary stare. “I don’t trust him,” he said. “None of us do,” Cass commented. Saparata thought of a way to salvage this situation -- it was clear that most of them were willing to give Fluixon a harsh punishment despite the fact that Fluixon had already paid most of the price. “Think about it,” Saparata started nervously. “Don’t you think Fluixon’s already been punished a bit? I mean, he’s already died to me,” he said, his confidence gradually building up.
Madzvie, leader of Barbieland, seemed convinced. Although she was involved, most of the conflict had been steered away from her, so her opinions had a chance of actually swaying. “He has a point,” she agreed. “I mean, we can’t execute him again, he already died--and we still need to figure out what even caused his revival in the first place!” Discussions filled the air, some still opting for execution, and some wanting the punishment to be lighter.
Raising his hand for silence, (and aura,) Saparata quickly suppressed the muffled chatter of the crowd. “World leaders,” Saparata called out. “Say ‘aye’ if you’d like his punishment to be lighter.” The crowd grew silent in anticipation. To his surprise, an echo of agreement with Saparata rang throughout the meeting hall--with the exception of Schpood, of course. “Since that's the majority,” Saparata said, his eyes darting nervously to Schpood. “We can decide the punishment for Fluixon right now.”
A hand raised from the farther most left of the protest-filled room. Cass seemed to have fixed an idea in her mind, her hand was raised tall and confident. Saparata glanced at him, a sign that he noticed her and her ideas. “Cass?” Cass cleared her throat. “I think Fluixon should be put on house arrest,” she started. Fluixon went still, trying to hold back an outraged comment. House arrest? Fluixon shuddered at the thought of being shut inside all day and--well, just not having much freedom in general. “Isolation?” Saparata muttered, hesitant.
Cass shook her head. Curious, Fluixon raised his head again. What would she have planned for him? “Constant supervision,” she said. “Saparata, he’ll start bunking with you from now on until he proves himself trustworthy.” Saparata blinked. Fluixon’s body became ever so slightly more composed, a difference that would hardly be noticed unless you’d been paying attention. Cass probably would have thought that being trapped inside of a house with his ‘greatest enemy’ would ruffle his feathers a bit. What she didn’t expect was Fluixon to silently agree. “Anybody disagree or have any other ideas they’d like to share?” Saparata queried.
Silence filled the room. Nobody spoke up, or muttered a word. It was clear that everybody unanimously agreed that Fluixon should be trapped in a house with his former adversary, interested to see how the punishment would end up. Petty squabbles? Another fight? Needless to say, the people wanted to see its outcome. Suppressing a sigh, Saparata nodded. “Then so be it,” He said. “This meeting is dismissed.”
At the sound of the call, people file out of the room and the gossip slowly rises back up into choruses of voices, and Saps mentally prepares himself for the fact that his old friend--old foe, the one he’d missed so dearly, would now be living with him. Saparata should hate it, sure, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel any irritation.
“I guess we should start going now, huh?” Saparata said, turning to face Fluixon. Fluixon looks away, failing to meet Saparata’s eyes. “Yeah,” he mumbled. Saparata couldn’t help but smile warmly--and even if Fluixon couldn’t see the smile, he could feel the comfort radiating from Saparata. Fluixon silently followed Saparata out through the entrance.