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Three pairs of footsteps echo down the long corridor, warm rays of sunshine peaking through the windows as they walk.
The steps halt, the trio stopping in front of a wooden door. The hallway has these same wooden doors going both ways, meaning they must be bedrooms, or at least something similar.
"Clean up here, I'll be downstairs. Come down once you're done and yell if you or Egg need anything, okay?" Jaden chirps, easing the door open to reveal a decorated room, featuring two beds, a closet, a desk, and a window framing the glorious view of the civilization outside.
It's nice. Really nice, in fact. Everything is wood, seemingly carved by hand with intricate details etched into the frame of the bedposts. It's like a five star hotel, and for a brief moment- it almost seems too good to be true.
Wemmbu can't hide the look of surprise from Jaden's hospitality, "Bro, are you sure-? We can just leave if you need, you already saved us-" He starts, turning to look over at the masked pirate.
"It's fine," He assures the other, patting his shoulder lightly, "I told you that you had a place in my crew, didn't I? I don't break promises."
"I mean, yeah, it's just-" His voice trails off, his tail flicking behind him nervously as he enters the room.
"It's just that I tried to kill you multiple times, stole your mace, watched you kill my friend in front of me, and then threatened you into not revealing my identity."
Wemmbu decides to bite back those words.
"Just what? I'm serious, it's fine. There's towels and spare clothes in the closet. Meet me downstairs after, and don't do anything stupid. If you need something, then seriously- just ask." He repeats, clearly brushing off Wemmbu's hesitation.
"Jaden-"
Egg groans loudly, "Brother, just take it! It's like you want him to kill us. He's giving us a whole place that's safe from the LAW and you're tryna decline?"
He hesitates at the others words. It is true, but what if Jaden is just trying to lead him on before he backstabs him? Sure, it's warm and comforting to know he's safe at the moment, but Jaden-
No, they were past that. They were both past that, weren't they?
Wemmbu looks back and forth between Egg and Jaden, grimacing before letting the tension in his shoulders fall, "Fine. Thank you, Jaden." He huffs.
"No problem. Take your time." Jaden nods, seeming slightly relieved by the demons compliance. He ushers two pirates to follow him before closing the door behind the duo, leaving them alone in awkward silence.
Egg glances at Wemmbu. Wemmbu suddenly seems very interested in the intricately weaved rug covering the floor.
"Bro, I don't know how we lived that. You better thank Jaden better than that." The seraphim says eventually, a soft chuckle escaping him as he sits down on the edge of the bed.
Wemmbu hums helpfully in response, wasting no more time in ripping off his bloodied, cracking armour. It clatters to the floor and he lets himself finally breathe a small breath of relief.
"I know," He replies, striding towards the closet Jaden had mentioned earlier. "It's just, like- things have always been kind of unpredictable with that guy."
"Unpredictable how?" Egg asks, tilting his head in bemusement.
Wemmbu groans, running a hand through his long, vivid purple hair. "Bro, do I even need to explain? You remember what happened with-"
"Joking." He interrupts, cutting him off swiftly. "I get it, you don't trust him. But if he did want to kill us, he would've already fed us to his pirates, bro."
He pauses, letting out a low sigh in reluctant agreement, "Yeah, I know," Wemmbu repeats, "I know he trusts me ever since I saved him from some lobster kid."
"Well, what's the problem then?" He questions, his feathered wings folding back. "Just take the help, bro. It's not weakness."
The reminder was casual, but Wemmbu knew that Egg had to softly reassure him that this was the case. Otherwise, he was certain a haunting phrase he had come to hate would resurface in his mind, plaguing his thoughts without respite.
"Yeah, obviously it's not weakness." Wemmbu agrees, "It's advantage. Me and Jaden both don't want the Law around, and this benefits us both. There really isn't a problem in hindsight."
"Well, there clearly is, bro." Egg snorts back. "You're making that face you always make when you're tryna make me believe what you're saying."
"Wh-" He protests weakly, "I literally agreed with you! I'm not exactly happy about our history, but it's not like I hate him! He's clearly offering to helping us, you said that yourself!"
A beat of silence passes between the two. Dust floats through the air, illuminated by the streams of sunlight. Egg pauses before letting out a chuckle, leaning back on the bed.
"..Still making that face, bro."
Wemmbu fishes a set of clothes out of the closet, sending them barreling towards Egg in retaliation, then causing the seraphim to yelp. "Hey, I didn't even say nothing!" He yells.
"Whatever, bro." He huffs, crossing his arms dismissively.
_
Jaden is already waiting outside the building when Wemmbu comes downstairs. He's casually leaning against the tiled stone wall, his pirates noticeably absent from his side.
"Hey," He greets the demon casually, giving a small nod of his head. "The clothes fit okay?"
He looks down at his new attire, a ruffled pale beige- almost white collared shirt with matching ruffled sleeves, and black, baggy cuffed pants that roll up a little past his ankle because of his platform boots.
The whole outfit seems to scream that he belongs to the pirate faction, which he gives props to Jaden for. Overall, it's far more comfortable than he expected.
"I look like a fucking pirate, dude." Wemmbu says blankly, but he can't hold back the smile that teases at the edges of his lips.
"Kind of the point, don't you think? You look better than I expected you to." He snickers teasingly, eyeing the other.
"Fuck off." He decides on, "I guess I'll tolerate your shitty pirate outfit until I can get something a little more me."
"Glad to hear!" He chirps back smugly, "Feel free to keep it, dude."
"Bro-" Wemmbu seethes.
The pirate cuts him off, the playfulness replaced by something a little more serious. "Okay, but do they fit? I don't want you like, fight in something uncomfortable."
He pauses, glancing behind him. He gives Egg a moment to trail down the stairs after him before nodding back at Jaden, "..Yeah, it's.. good. Thanks." He says, trying to mask the way his voice sways with suspicion when he says it.
The pirate seems to notice regardless, but says nothing about it as he steps away from the stone wall he's leaned against. "Right, well then- Is there anything you two need?"
The playful bickering the two were having just moments earlier seems to be quickly forgotten as Jaden tilts his head up towards the darkening skies, pausing momentarily before looking back at the duo.
Something tugs at Wemmbu's chest when he processes Jaden's words. He can't exactly name what it is, but it feels like a rooted sense of guilt, flowing through his body like water.
Jaden hasn't stopped offering his help since he saved Wemmbu and Egg. Even after everything, he still refuses to stop offering. It confuses the demon, in all honesty.
He's waiting for something he knows won't happen. He waits for the punchline, the moment where Jaden will burst into laughter and slam his mace straight into Wemmbu's skull.
He waits, and he waits, and he waits. Yet, that moment never comes.
He'll admit, he does trust Jaden in some way. He just can't seem to understand why Jaden decided to save him. So maybe the other does slightly trust him, but what good is that when he remembers all the things he's done to Jaden?
Hell, Jaden would've honestly had every right to leave Wemmbu for dead when he arrived at the Great Sea. After everything he had done, any other person who wasn't out of their mind would've probably done so.
Wemmbu waits, and waits, and waits. He's waiting for the laughter. The mockery. Deep down, he knows he's bracing himself for something that isn't going to happen. Despite this, he continues waiting like a fool.
It's stupid to think that Jaden would simply switch up out of nowhere and feed him to his pirate crew, but Wemmbu refuses to believe that this alliance is true. No matter what way he looks at is, he always sees himself as the liability.
Why on earth would Jaden go through all the work and all the resources just to save his former enemy? It just-
"Wemmbu?" Eggs voice asks, an elbow nudging into his arm.
He blinks once, then twice, his train of thought interrupted by the other. Jaden and Egg both stare at him expectantly, and only then does he recall that he never answered the pirates question.
"No." He replies, still in a daze.
Jaden raises an eyebrow, a confused chuckle echoing from his chest, "No, as in no, you don't need anything else, or no as in, no there's something you need?"
"..No, we, uh- have everything we need." He answers carefully, glancing back at Egg. The seraphim's wings flick as he nods back in approval.
"Cool. Mind if we talk, just us two then? Egg can check out the merchants or go fishing, or something like that. Just-" Jaden exhales, nervousness creeping up in his voice, "Me and you, talk?"
Wemmbu frowns momentarily, his mind running through every possibility as to why Jaden would request this. Betrayal is obviously at the top of this imaginary list, but even so-
"I'm okay with that." Egg replies cheerfully, pulling out a book and quill, "I'm always down to explore civilizations, bro. Will you guys be gone for long?"
Jaden shakes his head, taking another step closer to the duo, "Nah, probably not. I was just planning to take a walk around the civilization while we talk one-on-one."
He hums thoughtfully, turning to glance at the demon. "Wemmbu? You good with that, bro? If he betrays-"
"I'm-" Jaden exhales sharply, "I'm not gonna do that. I swear. I know it sounds hella suspicious, but It's not like that."
Wemmbu can only stand there, hesitating as his eyes dart between the two. "Uh.." He gnaws the chapped skin of his lower lip, "I- I mean, I guess..?"
As soon as he's uttered those words, he immediately wants to take them back. He wants to shove them down his throat and swallow the syllables until his mouth is as dry as his lips.
His mind is betraying him, he knows. He tends to do this often, jumping to the worst case scenario with people. Wemmbu won't ever admit it, but it scares him.
Trusting scares him.
Attachement scares him
Liability scares him.
And out of them all, vulnerability scares him the most.
He's run away again and again and again, and he knows that only run from his demons for so long before he becomes exhausted. Sooner or later, Wemmbu will need something, or rather someone to lean on.
And that small thought alone is enough to shake him to his core. Weakness leads to vulnerability and vulnerability leads to trust. Trust leads to attachment, and attachment leads to loss.
Then, loss turns into liability, and facing the things he really, really doesn't want.
Nothing is ever permanent in his eyes. He hates that.
"Okay.." Jaden says slowly, stretching out the word, "Cool. Let's get going then?"
Wemmbu blinks again, inhales slowly, then exhales. The sky above is turning a multitude of greys, but it seems that they'll be walking regardless.
He lets his lips curl into a smug smirk. The same practiced, conniving smirk he's come to perfect, the same one that masks all the weakness that manages to seep through the cracks. "Sure," Wemmbu agrees, attempting to smooth out any nervousness in his voice. "Let's go."
Egg flashes him a small smile as he follows after Jaden, the uneasy feeling in his stomach only growing at the sight. Egg always seems to be withholding information more than he lets on, and Wemmbu isn't quite sure if this is a relief or a scary thought.
His tail flicks in agitation as Jaden leads him down a path, not even stealing a glance at the other as he walks. Egg is out of his peripheral vision now, leaving him and his formal rival alone.
A shallow sigh escapes him, which does make Jaden's attention flick towards him briefly. He really can't tell what the pirate is thinking at all.
"So," Wemmbu tries, deciding to stir thepot, "Why just me? You wanna 1v1 or something?" He questions curiously.
Something sparks in Jaden's eyes from that. Not surprise. Not amusement. If anything, it's a small tinge of disappointment. "No, it's-" He frowns from under his mask, "It's nothing like that."
"What is it then? Do I owe you something for saving me?" Wemmbu asks, tilting his head.
"Dude," Jaden snaps, rubbing his temple in response. "It's- It's not- Who do you think I am? Do you seriously see me as that much of a scum?"
The other stops in his tracks, eyes wide. Jaden's eyes widen in return, and he's quick to speak, "I didn't mean it like that. I'm just.. confused why you still don't trust me." He rephrases carefully.
"But I do trust you." Wemmbu points out, sounding slightly wounded.
A pause.
Jaden continues walking, forcing the other to follow. The words escape his lips quietly, but the demon still catches them. "No, you don't."
He sputters weakly, "Bro, if I didn't trust you, I would've just surrendered to Ace." Wemmbu attempts to reason, sprinting to catch up with Jaden.
"No, you wouldn't have. You would've just tried to use me as a diversion and ran off with Egg. You trust me, but you still think I'm a threat to you." Jaden replies simply, "Is that all you'll ever see me as? A tool? An asset? Something you'll use once or twice and then throw away? I know that all you see me as is an advantage."
His voice is growing angry, but he takes a deep breath, eyeing the docks and deep waters as they continue to walk, "Look, dude. I'm trying to offer you my help. Seriously. I know you aren't stupid, but then why, Wemmbu? Why? Why won't you just take my help already?"
"I am taking your help!" He argues, "What does this fucking look like to you? Why are you being so weird about this?" Wemmbu's tail curls with evident annoyance, but there's also something unreadable in his eyes that Jaden can't quite decipher.
"I-" He bites down on his words, feeling the soft tapping of rain beginning to land against his hat, "I'm sorry for lashing out. I just- don't know what to say, or how to say it right. Ever since you just up and left, I just.." Jaden falls back into silence.
"Give it a bit," Wemmbu replies, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants, "Think about what you're gonna say this time, bro. I'm all ears."
Jaden nods, turning his attention back towards the pirate civilization before him. He opens his mouth to try again, but the words still don't sound right in his mind, so he lets his mouth fall back shut.
No matter what way he tries to word them, they never seem to sound right. They're too mean, too honest, too soft, too unserious. Jaden just doesn't know how to spit it out, so all he can do is keep on walking.
He exhales shakily, stealing another glance at Wemmbu. His eyes are wandering as well, seemingly enjoying the sight of the civilization and the sounds of distant, bustling streets, waves crashing against rocks and the growing downpour of rain.
The demon seems just as deep in his thoughts as Jaden is. He's humming softly to himself, barely paying attention to the pirate like he's almost forgotten that there was even someone else by his side to begin with.
Sometimes, Jaden wonders what Wemmbu was thinking when he went invisible. He never could figure it out. It didn't seem like an attempt for power, so what was it? Power seemed like all Wemmbu ever wanted.
It's confusing. Too confusing. Jaden can't be bothered to think too much into it in the moment. What's more important is the agent of chaos walking beside him, and what he'll say next.
This time, he'll get it right. And this time, he'll get him to stay.
"Wem-" Jaden starts, but he's cut off by a shrieker in the distance. Awkward. Maybe it's an alarm system for a house nearby, or something of the sort. Regardless, he tries to resume. "Can we try this again?"
The other says nothing, stopping in his tracks in front of a field of sunflowers. He seems frozen in place, staring forward at the darkened skies as the rain comes barreling down onto the duo.
"Wemmbu?" Jaden repeats, taking a cautious step closer to him. The shrieker goes off again in the distance, and he winces.
His eyebrows furrow as he reaches for Wemmbu's wrist, an attempt at getting his attention. "You're not ignoring me, are you bro? I'm sorry, dude. I started off wrong, you're right. Just- let my try again." Jaden pleads softly.
Again, there's no response. Only the dull sound of the rain forming puddles beneath their feet and the increase of water droplets soaking into their clothes.
The shrieker goes off again. Wemmbu's tail twitches. He's facing away from Jaden, his head tilting from the sky down towards the paved path laid before him.
"Wemmbu-"
"What?" He drawls out in exasperation. "What is this even about?"
His fists clench, and he pulls his wrist away from Jaden in one swift motion. "What could have possibly been so important that you drag me all the way out here just to fuck it up? What do you want from me?"
"I don't-"
"Yes, you do! Everything you've ever done has been for your own self gain! You're wondering why I don't trust you? It's because I can't! Not after you backstab again and again and again. How am I supposed to trust you?"
Wemmbu brings his hands to his face, his voice cracking, "Jaden, have it ever dawned on you how selfish you're being?It's always what you want, isn't it? You make everyone do the dirty work for you. I don't see you as an advantage. I see you as a nobody."
The words hit deep in Jaden's core, and he takes a step backwards from the other. "You don't mean that." He whispers, barely audible through the heavy rain.
The shrieker goes off again from his movement. A strangled noise escapes Wemmbu.
"I wish I did. I'm scared." Wemmbu says hoarsely, "I don't want to do this anymore."
"Do what?" He presses, his own voice sounding heavy with emotion.
"Run. Hide. Do these stupid fucking things that get me attached, because I know that no matter what I do, I'm going to end up losing." He spits bitterly, "They'll leave. They all do eventually."
Jaden's throat goes dry. This is not the conniving, smug Wemmbu he knows. This is not the Wemmbu he fought time and time again. Instead, this is a Wemmbu that feels more real. More vulnerable.
It reminds him of the Wemmbu he had come to known when the demon had gone invisible. The way his voice trembles and his hands shake, even when clenched. He knows that this emotion is raw, real in a way that should hurt.
Wemmbu is scared. Jaden understands this clearly now. This is not the Wemmbu who claims to be the strongest, this is just him trying to survive. And from the looks of it, he can't last much longer.
"I'm so sick of this," Wemmbu says quietly, yet still with frustration. "Sick of everything. What's the point in doing all of this if it's just going to be ripped away from me again? My fake identity, my civilization, my power, Egg, Mane, even you!"
His voice hitches, "I- I didn't want you to find out who I was. I never did. Because I knew that if you found out who I really was, you'd have that sick look on your face that'd haunt my mind for days." Wemmbu's head slowly turns in his direction with shame.
"And I was right. You're looking at me with that same expression right now, and I hate it. Maybe I am impulsive, and maybe I am naive. But that doesn't make it hurt less, even when I know what's coming." He continues hysterically, "I've told myself so many times that maybe things would be different, but in the end-"
"It was either that they left or I would first. I knew that if I stayed, I'd only cause more damage."
The rain is strong against the two, pelting them with water and soaking all of their clothes. It's so horribly cliché, and it hurts.
Wemmbu chokes back a sob, still covering his face with his hands, "This- this is so shitty. I don't want to keep this up. I know that it's pathetic." He says through breathy, broken laughs, "Look at me, the self-proclaimed strongest player, reduced to nothing but an outlaw dressed as a pirate. Why don't you just leave already? Laugh at me, tell me how stupid and temperamental I'm being."
Jaden's heart aches. He really can't bare to listen to his words. Every time he replays the moments of his rivalry with Wemmbu, he can't even imagine that this is the same Wemmbu in front of him. The one that, truthfully so, has been reduced to a pathetic display.
How can this be his former rival? How can this be the same person Jaden was trying to hold a grudge against? His mind is spinning, trying to find any sort of valid explanation as to how this could be the same person he had once despised.
"I thought that maybe, if I got stronger, I'd have everything I'd ever wanted. Mane would come back. People would respect me. And maybe, just maybe- We could've been more than just allies. I was stupid enough to believe that if I became strong, I could call you and Flame my friends. People I could actually trust."
Wemmbu furiously wipes his glassy eyes, attempting to hold back the tears that form. "Can you believe how stupid that sounds? To think that I wanted all of that, it's just-" He laughs again, but it sounds more like a sob than actual laughter. "So fucking stupid."
Jaden can't respond. Any words, any explanation, any sort of logical thinking turns into static in his mind when his eyes meet Wemmbu's. He hates watching this. He hates that he can't do anything but take his words and let each of them stab his heart.
"..So please, Jaden. Just tell me what I've been waiting to hear. Tell me that this is all a setup, and tell me that I'm a fool for trusting you. Turn me in to the Law, mock me. Do whatever you fucking want. Isn't that what this was all for?" He demands bitterly.
His throat feels tight. It feels like there's a noise around his neck, slowly suffocating him as he manages to utter out a response, "No. That's- no, of course not."
"No?" A stray tear finally manages to escape as he lowers his hands, revealing his watering eyes in front of the other. "Just say it. Just- I'm so fucking done with this. I'm done with trusting, and with losing, and I'm done with that stupid fucking shrieker that reminds me of Rejoice every time it goes off!" He screams, his voice raw as his tail thrashes angrily. "Just tell me the truth and leave."
Oh.
That makes sense. How did Jaden not realize sooner? Of course a shrieker will remind him of Rejoice.
Add himself into the equation, and it's painfully obvious why Wemmbu lashed out now. What did he expect?
Jaden's feet move on their own, his trident lifting him into the air as he scans the nearby area for the source. His gills flick out from under his hat, thriving in the weather.
This time, it'll be different. He'll fix things. Even if the things Wemmbu says might be true, and even if they've hurt each other again and again, Jaden refuses to let Wemmbu leave again.
He's spent every night, every day, every free moment of his time thinking about that same day Wemmbu left. At first, all Jaden felt was anger. Anger for him leaving, and anger for not realizing the truth sooner.
But that anger only lasted so long. Jaden wouldn't admit it out loud, but he couldn't care less that it was his former rival who had lied to him for a week about his identity. That rage blooming in his chest transformed into something deeper. Something that, maybe, hurt a little more than he wanted to confess.
He wanted to hate Wemmbu so badly. He wanted to scream and cry and yell about how much it hurt for him to lie. But logically, it made sense why he did. As much as Jaden wants to hate Wemmbu with every ounce of anger in his chest, he can't.
He doesn't want revenge. He doesn't want to fight. All Jaden wants is to prove that he's worth staying around for. He doesn't want to let Wemmbu just run away again.
Jaden swoops down towards the underside of the cliff, catching the dark aqua in the corner of his eye. The shrieker lets out one last ear-piercing shriek before it's swiftly destroyed. He breaths a soft sigh of relief, however it's short lived at the reminder that Wemmbu is still present.
He can hear the soft, broken sobs as he lands back on the path, the rain soaking into his elytra and dripping down his hair. This feels a scene straight out of a nightmare.
"Wemmbu, dude." Jaden shouts through the violent winds and downpour of rain, "Do you really think I'm just gonna betray you?"
Wemmbu's balance teeters, and he only lasts a few moments longer before his legs completely give in, making him fall to his knees. He does nothing, simply letting his salty tears mix into the rain.
The pirate sighs, flipping his dark, braided hair behind his shoulder before reaching to take off his coat. He slides it off his shoulders, walking towards the demon. "If I wanted you to leave, I would've already told you to."
"Stop-" Wemmbu chokes out as the other approaches, "I hate you. I hate you because you killed Rejoice, and I hate you for being kind to me. I hate that you made me get attached, and I hate that after all of that-" He lets out another broken cry, "All I could do was leave."
He goes quiet, letting the rain fill in the gaps of silence. Wemmbu takes a shuddering breath before continuing, "I don't hate you. I wish I did. After everything though, I just can't. I can't be angry at you because I set myself up for it. You would've found out eventually, and you'd have that stupid, stupid horrified look of realization on your face that I knew was coming."
His tail, which had previously been lashing in anger, falls limp. Exhaustion overtakes frustration, and this time- Wemmbu doesn't try to stop him when Jaden kneels down to wrap his coat around the others shoulders. "Can I be honest with you?" He whispers, just audible enough through the rain.
"What? Were you not already being honest?" He laughs weakly, attempting to smear away the tears running down his cheeks.
"Nah, I just worded that wrong." He chuckles back. "But, in all honesty, I just wanted to talk to you because- I was angry. Angry that you left without saying anything more than just an empty threat."
He tugs the coat further over Wemmbu's shoulders before gently retracting his hands, "I guess that in the back of my mind, I had a small suspicion that it could've really been you. I never wanted to believe it though, despite how became more and more obvious."
"A- a part of me.. didn't want to find out who you really were. I was scared that if I did find out, I'd do something stupid again and then, if it really was you- we'd just be enemies all over again." Jaden admits, rubbing the back of his neck.
"When I did find out it was you, I was angry. I tried so hard to stay angry, but eventually, I knew why you did it, and I stopped being so upset about how you lied. Instead, I started to think more about you leaving. My mind replayed the moment you flew away over and over, and every time- I wondered if I could've said something different to make you stay."
His feels his own eyes beginning to sting, "I wanted you to stay. The real you. Not the cocky, arrogant Wemmbu everyone else knew. I wanted the resilient, vulnerable Wemmbu that saved me just because he wanted to."
"Maybe that is selfish, you're right. I know that it probably sounds like that, but I guess that's also why I saved you. It felt like, even after everything- I owed you more than you owed me. I think I was desperate to prove that I was worth staying for." Jaden swallows, the confession clearly ruining him, "You just up and left and it hurt, dude."
Wemmbu's voice is small as he responds through shuddering sobs, "I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay invisible forever because I didn't- I didn't want to lose anything else." He protests weakly, "I wanted you to find out eventually, but just- not like that. I didn't want to hurt you either."
His body shivers, even with the coat around him. The rain is still persistent, and while Jaden thrives in the rain, the demon doesn't. "I'm sorry, Jaden." Wemmbu croaks, "I'm sorry that I left. I'm sorry for not trusting you. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner, please-" His voice shakes, "Don't leave."
Any walls that Wemmbu has been building up comes crashing down almost immediately. He stops holding back his tears, letting his broken cries and sobs finally echo out into the air, uncaring about the pirate in front of him.
"I'm sorry for everything, Jaden. I-" The words get caught in his throat and he gives up in trying to finish his sentence.
He simply kneels there and cries, cries over every loss he's taken and every bad decision he's made. Every death that he's endured and all the damage he's caused replays in his mind without reprise until he finally tries to speak again.
"Look at us, bro. We were both such assholes," Wemmbu laughs breathily, "Look at where that got us."
His laughter dissolves back into soft, shaking sobs, "I spent so long trying to prove I was the strongest, now I don't even know what I want anymore." He confesses.
Jaden's shoulders fall, and he shifts closer to the other. "I think you want a hug, bro." He murmurs, wrapping one arm around Wemmbu's neck and the other around his waist, slotting him into his arms without much resistance.
The demon rests his chin on Jaden's shoulder, dissolving in his touch. "I think so too," He sniffs, moving his own arms to wrap them around Jaden's waist. "I'm sorry." Wemmbu repeats for what might be the millionth time.
"I know," He says quietly, "Me too."
Jaden doesn't know when, but he starts crying too, quiet tears dripping down his cheeks as they simply sit there, holding each other in their arms like they're scared to let go. Maybe they are.
Wemmbu's cries and uneven hiccups are more audible, but they're still drowned out by the steady pace of the rain regardless. Jaden moves the hand around his waist up to his hair, gently threading his fingers through the bright purple strands.
"I'm sorry too," Jaden repeats, trying to steady his voice. "For- killing Rejoice. For hurting you. For making you leave. Dude, we are fucking assholes." He laughs in realization, his own laughter sounding more like shaky, suppressed cries.
Wemmbu's silent for a moment. Then, softly, surely- a small bark of laughter, followed by another, dissolving into a fit of laughter and ugly, unfiltered tears until both of their chests are hurting from laughing so hard.
"It's- It's funny. Anyone in their right mind would've left by now. I have nothing to my name, bro. I'm in the trenches, and yet-" Wemmbu manages to say through tears, "You're still here. You say there's no ulterior motive or anything."
"'Cause there isn't. I already told you, I owe you more than you owe me. If I've ever felt anything, I know regret is what I've felt the most. I just wanna make things right, dude."
"You're confusing." Wemmbu murmurs, his voice muffled against Jaden's shoulder.
"Right back at you, bro." Jaden replies with a soft sniffle, "You're the biggest idiot I think I've ever met."
"Maybe," He says, his shoulders shaking as he bursts into a small fit of giggles, "But you know you like it."
"Never say that again."
They both fail to bite back their laughter again, and suddenly they're both hunched over each other, trying to stop themselves from laughing any more because their chests already hurt so bad.
It's stupid. Incredibly stupid. Neither of them really know what's so funny. Perhaps it's the absurdity of the whole situation, or maybe it's just their odd ways of coping.
Regardless, neither of them bother pulling away from the other even after their laughter dies down and the rain begins to calm. They let a comfortable silence fall between them, and admittedly- Wemmbu lets a small hum of content escape as Jaden continues to run his hands through his hair.
The quiet is nice. Welcoming. It's honest, like neither of them have anything worth hiding from each other anymore. Neither of them will admit it, but they both know that they like it.
"..Yo, Wemmbu," Jaden says out nowhere, deciding to break the silence. He figures that it's safe to do so, as the mood has lightened after their laughing fits.
"Huh?" Wemmbu mumbles from the pirates shoulder, his chin still smooshed against it.
"The sun's coming out. Look, bro. Get your vitamin D." He chuckles, gently nudging him.
"Mmh. Don't wanna. I'm soaking wet from the rain and now I'm cold. Fuck you and your weird fish genes." He replies stubbornly, digging his face even deeper to the others shoulder to emphasize his point.
"Dude-" Jaden huffs in disbelief, "I gave you my coat so you'd be less cold. Come on, just-" He nudges him again, with more force.
"What could possibly be so important? Let me have this." Wemmbu whines, tilting his head upwards nonetheless. "What's so-"
"Oh." He whispers, his voice fading as he fully lifts his head.
The sun is peaking out of the grey clouds, its warm beams of light casting a gentle warmth onto them. The darkened sky is slowly easing back into a pale blue and in the distance, a small, faint, yet ever present rainbow peaks out from the clouds.
The rain is gone and the sky is slowly lightening up. The sun takes back its rightful place in the sky, and for the first time in a long time- Wemmbu thinks he feels safe.
Not safe because he knows Jaden wants him to stay and has no intentions of sending him off, but safe because he, for once- trusts him more than anything.
Despite their past differences, despite all the injuries and all the hurt they had done to one another, neither of them want the other gone. It's weird, and neither of them want to put any more thought into it either.
So, they leave it at that. Or, they would've.
Wemmbu's head turns from the blue sky towards the valley behind him. He swallows, met with the sight of a thousand sunflowers. Each one is fully bloomed, their petals raised towards the sun as water droplets drip from their petals.
"Is that-" His voice comes out strangled, the name not leaving his lips despite his efforts. "Is that for-"
"Rejoice," Jaden nods, his own voice now regretful. "Yeah, it is.
In the middle of the flower field, there's a gravestone, along with a sign below the name etched onto it. Noticeably, there is also a bouquet of white lilies, asphodel flowers and yellow zinnias. They all seem to have been picked with a meaning, from the looks of it.
Wemmbu can't help but ask, "Why?"
"Thought that someone ought to remember him. He didn't deserve to die, and I was the one to do it, so.." Jaden sighs softly, "It only felt right, I guess. It doesn't feel right just leaving it like that."
"Hm," The demon hums sadly, "I.. didn't strike you as that kind of person."
"Yeah, well- maybe I'm not. I don't know. Maybe I just did it to make myself feel better. It just feels wrong to let him be forgotten just like that."
"I think so too."
There's a brief sound of fabric shuffling. Wemmbu manages to pull himself to his feet, his gaze longingly set on Rejoices grave. There's a small smile emerging on his face, but it's clear that it's not one of happiness.
"You ever miss him?" Jaden asks carefully.
A small, melancholy chuckle escapes him, "Honestly? I don't know. I barely even knew the guy, but even then- he was someone good. He didn't do anything wrong, and he just.." His voice breaks, "Died."
"I'm sorry." He repeats, rising to his feet to join Wemmbu's side.
"I know," The other motions him over, reaching for his hand when he approaches closer. "Come here, Jaden." Wemmbu says, swiftly grabbing his hand when given the opportunity.
He drags him over to the field, stepping haphazardly through the long, swaying sunflowers until they both reach the headstone.
The demons eyes scan the words written on the sign. Jaden eyes the bouquet instead, his gaze soft with shame and empathy.
They spend another minute in unfiltered silence. The waves crash against the rocky shores in the distance and the sunflowers dance with the gentle wind. It's serene, but at the same time- sad.
Nothing can reverse all of the grief and that both of them hold inside their hearts. What is done is done, and all they can do is pick up the remains of what they have.
"Look at us," Wemmbu , exhaling softly. "Crying over the dumbest shit. We really need to get ourselves together, huh? Imagine if Lettuce caught us like this."
"Yeah, we're a bunch of train wrecks right now, dude. We'd be cooked if Lettuce found us." He responds with a quiet snicker.
Wemmbu laughs at that, his tail flicking behind him. "We. We're gonna do this together, right? No more running. No more sabotaging."
Jaden's heart swells, an uncontrollable grin spreading across his face as he nods. "Hell yeah dude. That's the plan, isn't it? We're gonna work together for this."
"Yeah." Wemmbu whispers. Then, he repeats himself louder, like he finally believes it. "Yeah, dude. We're gonna kick his ass. We're gonna do this."
A grin spreads across Wemmbu's face as he turns to look at Jaden, seeming to notice the pirates own wide grin even with his mask on.
"Together," Jaden says, "Let's do this."
"I'd like that."
"Yeah, dude. Me too."