Chapter Text
Airo kept up his fake act as the Citadel guards brought him to Tingz. The diversion Mino told him to do put their whole plan in motion.
He entered the massive room where the red and black obsidian throne stood with Tingz smiling, spinning a small knife in his fingers. “So?” He asked.
“It worked like a charm. He took the invisibility potion. He's surprisingly easy to fool.” Airo answered. “Good, good. I figured as such.”
Just talking about this made Airo think back to the days where Napa had Mino under his thumb. His super trusting nature gets him a lot of friends, but it also makes breaking those bonds very painful.
Airo was unsure why he felt this way, why he felt the need to break apart his friendship he’d had for so long. He rubbed his neck, his doubt creeping up through the layers of anger and deceit.
Tingz seemed to notice his internal struggle, standing up from the throne. “What’s wrong?” He asked, stepping closer.
“I-I’m just thinking… about some things.” He stuttered. Tingz's eyes narrowed but then was replaced with a mask. “Airo, Airo, Airo. You know why we are doing this right?” Tingz asked. Airo looked at the ground right by his feet.
He didn't want to look up.
“But, what if it was just an accident? He wouldn't leave me behind. He wouldn't have left me here.” Airo said, his eyes still glued to the floor.
“Look, we are past silly bonds and friendships. We have a mission. A prophecy to fulfill.” Tingz took a step back. “Look, you didn't fall from the sky, he did. We have to do this. It's for the greater good.” he explained again.
He'd already heard this conversation when he first arrived at the Citadel, and now again. He shouldn't be having these doubts.
Tingz was right. This had to be done.
His doubt was submerged in emotions that kept bubbling to the surface. The emotions this dimension was feeding on.
—
The guards brought Airo back to the cells, back to where he had to share a room with Mino. He expected to see him watching for him through the bars waiting for him, but he saw nothing. Did he escape already?
The guards opened the cell door, but Airo found something else that spiked his heart rate. Mino was slumped against the wall, mumbling.
“Mino?” Airo picked up his pace. He kneeled down to look at the dragonfly wings tucked behind his ears.
Dark spots were appearing on them.
He'd seen this happen before, when they were ruling the Desert Empire together. When it would get too hot, his wings would show dark spots, and he'd use a cool pond or a different biome to cool down in.
But there were no cool biomes here. Well, except for the mountain near the North border.
Mino complained about being thirsty and warm in the library. The low amounts of food were also most likely contributing to this too. Why did he forget about this?
“Hey Mino?” Airo said, waving his hand in front of his face. “Mm…mhm?” He mumbled. “Guard! I need some water.” Airo demanded. The guard saluted and ran out.
“Can you look at me?” Airo asked gently. He slurred his words saying, “it….smm….ho..ut…”
“Mino, I need you to look up at me.” Airo said. He needed to see if his eyes had the black spots too, because of so he was in trouble.
Airo lifted his chin to see what he didn't want to see. Black spots.
Panic started to set in.
“Mino, you have to trust me okay?” Airo said as he let his chin go. “Whe….re…am…I.” Mino sluggishly said. “I'm going to bring you to safety okay?” Airo said, helping the voidling up.
“Let…g.o.” he tried to free himself from Airo’s grip. “Mino, it's me Airo. I'm going to help you.” He explained. “Air…o.” He mumbled quietly. He stopped trying to escape. “My…head hu..rts.”
Airo's layer of festering emotions shattered.
All he cared about was saving his friend.
The guard showed up with the water but Airo had no time to waste. He ran outside with Mino over his shoulder.
He ran through the Citadel, almost reaching the entrance before hearing Tingz call out his name. He turned quickly, not hiding the panic and desperation on his face. Tingz's eyes widened, slightly surprised by the emotions.
One of the new guards stepped towards Airo, but the tiefling snagged the guard’s sword by the blade, flipped it in his hand and threw it at the guards head, killing them instantly.
“I have to do this.” Airo said lowly. Tingz didn't stop him. He knew better than to mess with him, especially right now.
—
Airo hadn't stopped running once. His legs screamed but he refused to let down his friend again. He felt Mino’s rapid heartbeat on his shoulder as he kept mumbling jibberish.
After a few more minutes of running, he reached a spot on the mountain side with enough space. Airo’s knees collapsed. He took Mino from his shoulder and placed him on the ground. The mumbling had stopped and his eyes were shut.
When did he stop mumbling?
Airo cursed, checking his pulse on his wrist. The pulse was fast, faster than normal, but knowing voidlings slower than normal heartbeat set him off edge.
He opened an ender chest looking through the things he had. A healing potion could help, it would slow his heart rate and help his feverishly warm skin. He poured a bit of the pinkish liquid into his mouth and stepped back.
How could he be so careless? How could he have forgotten his best friends needs? Mino knew that Airo needed warmer climates, how could he forget his?
He checked his pulse again. Still faster than normal, but it has slowed down. He took a deep breath, calming down.
Calm down.
It’s okay now.
The harsh wind hit Airo like whiplash but he didn't care. He could stand the cold for now. He checked the voidling’s pulse over and over, feeling it decline back to its normal speed.
Breathe.
Tears began to form in his eyes from his own stupidity. His own frustration.
He reached to check his pulse one last time but he heard snow crunching under someone's feet. Airo whipped his head around, immediately picked up his ender chest, but then stared at Mino.
What if he wakes up when he's taking him back? He would not trust Airo, and he needed that trust to work on the plan–
Airo grunted, his hand in a fist hitting the stone below him. Why was he thinking of the plan? Fuck this plan! It was as if it was hardwired into his head, to constantly think about it.
He picked up Mino, and made his way down the mountain, the same way he'd come. He didn't want to go back to the Citadel, but his legs still brought him there while he was lost in thought.
When he realized they were at the entrance, he turned away telling himself to go somewhere different. But the doors opened, and Tingz stood there waiting.
—
Mino opened his eyes, his skin no longer feeling as if it was boiling. His headache was fading but not completely gone, and his throat was no longer dry.
He tried to stand up, but his head spun so he sat back down.
He noticed the bars of his cell. The heat of the South.
What happened?
He couldn't remember. He could remember flashes and vague voices, but not enough to piece everything together.
He grumbled, as the door to his cell opened and Airo walked in. “Airo!” Mino exclaimed, standing up but catching himself on the wall.
He didn't say anything back.
“Where were you? I can't seem to-” he started. “Don't worry about it.” Airo said, walking past him. “What do you mean don't worry about it? Hello?” He exclaimed. “I remember you were brought to The Doctor by the guards. But after that… Did I fall asleep?” Mino asked himself.
“I don't know. I wasn't here.” Airo answered bluntly. “Are you okay? What did they do?” Mino asked.
“Can you respect my wishes for once and just shut up?”
Mino took a step back. He'd never heard Airo so hostile towards him before. But he obliged, if it was something he didn't want to talk about, it probably meant it wasn't good.