Chapter Text
In the past, FlameFrags has just kind of haphazardly thrown his extra stuff wherever there was room. He’s always been neat when it comes to his enderchest, but his base? Not so much. Unfortunately, it’s all come back to bite him now that he needs to rush in his preparations for catching that purple bastard finally. He’s gone through three barrels and has yet to find any potion ingredients. It’s on the fourth that something finally changes.
“Knock Knock!” A cheerful voice greets from the doorway. Flame glances up from where he was practically halfway inside a barrel. He shoots up when he sees the caracal standing in the doorway, pocketing the redstone he had been scrounging around for.
A groan wrenches itself from his very soul while Flame drags a hand down his face. “Bro…” He doesn't have the time nor the energy to deal with this right now.
His least favorite nuisance has other plans. “Interesting decor. Never took you for a green kind of guy, considering…” spouts Lettuce, waving a hand in FlameFrags’ general direction. His eyes catch on his adorned chestplate and narrow slightly in interest. “I suppose you can find things in common even with the people you least expect. Speaking of, have you changed your trims since the last time we-”
“Why are you here?” Flame interrupts, wanting to get this over with quickly. He needs to be on the road soon if Parrot's plan is to have any chance at working. Flame has his doubts, but he’s never really been a trap person, so what does he know?
Lettuce stares at FlameFrags steadily. The edges of his mouth just barely tilt up; he’s amused by the rudeness. Not what the intent was, but sure. “Come on now… you know why I’m here.”
“...” He takes the silence as permission to move on.
“I heard about your little hunt for Wemmbu. Threats, robbery, murder… what haven't you done to chase his ghost?” He takes a few more steps inside like he owns the joint. Flame’s tail flicks and he thumbs at the sheath at his hip, causing Lettuce to stop in his tracks. At least he’s not stupid. “Does it not get exhausting? Repeating the same thing over and over again, with nothing ever to show for it?” He wears an expression of pity.
“Bro, he's not- like, he's not actually dead, the dude's just-” Flame puffs up slightly in indignation, before remembering just who he is talking to. Even if it's just this loser, the thought of others hunting Wemmbu… he clenches a fist at his side. “-around… Whatever. Are you done? ‘Cause, bro, you're kind of interrupting.”
“Well, we can't have that.” The feline’s tail swishes idly. “Alright. I, as well as the entirety of Law, demand you to stop. No more killing, no more… plundering, just- nothing. I'd rather not have to use force. No sense in even more violence, is there?”
Flame takes a beat to process the words before grinning, fangs fully on display. Lettuce eyes them wearily. “Let's be real, you couldn't force me to do anything.” He blinks for probably the first time in this entire encounter. “Just get out bro, before I change my mind. I've got more important things to do.” a more important person to talk to.
“Oh really?” His tone is light, though it’s hard to tell whether he's actually that unconcerned about the possibility of getting stabbed, or if he just wants FlameFrags to think he is. “You know, things have actually changed quite a bit since last time, you may be surprised. I can always bring an army should you be difficult.”
Flame scoffs at that.
Lettuce’s eyes gleam. “You know what? I don't usually entertain wanted criminals-”
“Bro, What?”
“-but perhaps just this once I can try something different.” He smoothly ignores the interruption and walks several paces away, going outside somewhere that can’t be seen from inside the base. Flame follows and takes up the man’s previous spot in the doorway, watching as Lettuce mounts a camel and pats the back half of the saddle. “Come! A tour seems in order. It's just over a hill or two, so we won't be going very far.” Flame’s breath stalls in his chest.
He’s not sure what it is exactly about the scene that causes it. Maybe it's the confidence in which Lettuce seems to hold himself now. Maybe it's the way he spoke, like there wasn't a single doubt in his mind that he’d be obeyed. Or maybe it's just the absolute lack of fear, despite having invited someone who could kill him in about ten seconds flat into his personal space. Whatever it was…
‘Drink it’
A shiver runs down Flame’s spine.
“No thanks.” The vibrations of his throat can be felt in excruciating detail and he wraps his tail around a leg for some level of stability.
Lettuce gets a strange look in his eyes, but Flame is too focused on maintaining a calm demeanor to examine him close enough to figure out why. He desperately wants to move, but can barely twitch a finger. Even if he could, it probably wouldn’t lead to a preferred outcome; he’s more likely to fall to his knees than strut back into his base like nothing is wrong.
Lettuce slowly walks his camel the few steps it takes to be right beside FlameFrags. He stares down from his mount in silence for a few seconds. All that Flame can hear in the meantime is his own heartbeat.
“Are you sure?” He questions lightly, “It won’t take much of your time, you have my word on that.”
The words feel out of place enough to snap Flame back into his body. He brings up a hand to scratch at his nose. The sight of it allows him to continue. “I’ve really got to get going.” He enunciates carefully.
“Hmm. That’s a shame.” Lettuce looks genuinely regretful. Who knew this was actually important to him? “Hard way it is then.” There it is.
“I’ll give you…” He looks away in thought, “Three days to make your way to Law headquarters and turn yourself in. After that… Well. I’ve got plenty of people eager to see you behind bars, so I guess I’ll see you either way.”
His gaze snaps back to FlameFrags the second a shift is made towards the house. He smiles. “I’ll let you have some time to think. I hope you make the right choice.” He turns his animal and starts the trek further into the mesa, calling over his shoulder, “Three days! Don’t forget!”
Flame follows the progress closely. It isn’t until he is fully out of sight that Flame is willing to enter the base again. He locks the door behind him- like he should have done earlier to avoid that entire conversation- stepping softly over to the wall. Sound still feels dangerous. He knows logically that he’s the most dangerous thing around, but that hasn’t always been true.
‘Oh! Well this changes things, doesn’t it?’
Flame shoves himself into a corner formed by a stack of barrels and the wall, sliding down to sit while still facing the door. The chances of someone showing up are extremely low. Say what you want about Lettuce, he does typically keep his promises. It doesn’t make it any easier to look away.
He doesn’t know how long he sits there, sword across his lap in the case of something happening. He’s not sure what something may be, but he won’t let anything catch him off guard. When nothing ever does, he finally allows himself to relax slightly, shoulders aching from being tense for so long. Flame pulls his legs up and folds himself over them. It takes a few tries- he’s too loud, always too loud- but his chest starts to rumble in a purr. The quicker he can get over himself, the better. He wishes Mane were here.
Ding!
The fur on his tail spikes up from where it rests across his legs, and his ears flatten fully against his head. He cuts off all the noise, clenching the hilt of his favored weapon tighter until his palm throbs.
Ding!
Oh. The communicator at Flame’s hip chimes and buzzes once again. He grabs it and checks over the messages, hoping for… He doesn’t really know. That nebulous something. A distraction maybe? That doesn’t feel right, but it’s the closest explanation he’s got. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s Lomedy checking in. Has it already been a few weeks since they last saw each other?
He finally replies when a third message pops up while he’s looking at the device, preventing him from continuing to zone out. Flame decides to ask for his friend to come to his base. Having a second pair of hands could be helpful in dealing with this mess. Plus, if nothing else, having someone around can hopefully keep him out of his head. He can’t afford to drift when there are people after him- yet again. Wemmbu is just going to have to wait, unfortunately, since these guys never learn.
He looks down at his hands, opening and closing them several times in the time it takes for an answer to arrive. When the communicator goes off, he only takes a second to be certain that the response was in the affirmative before putting it away and standing up to prepare in the meantime.
That evening finds Flame outdoors, because as it turns out, there’s nothing quite like the repetitive monotony of farming cobwebs to have someone return to equilibrium. He even already has the semblance of a plan. He could do without all the hissing of the silverfish though. Flame’s half tempted to hiss back just to see if it’ll make them stop. Lucky for them, he doesn’t have time to decide.
FlameFrags has fought long enough that when a wind charge suddenly bursts against his side, he throws his shears to the ground and has himself braced the minute his feet land again. He has his sword and shield at the ready within moments, training so fully ingrained that little thought is required. It takes several missed throws and one successful block to pinpoint where exactly they are coming from. A ghast. More importantly, Lomedy on top of said ghast.
“What’s up broootha!” Lomedy drawls teasingly as he slips off the beast with a thud, tying a lead around the nearest tentacle. Flame can’t help but perk up. There’s only so much time one can spend around only a gaggle of silverfish before they go stir crazy, so the sight is welcome.
Flame picks up the discarded tool and bounds over to his friend, calling out a greeting. It only takes a short walk towards his house to do most of the catching up; Lomedy is a creature of habit, so not much has overtly changed. Somehow though, the rumors about Wemmbu seemed to have reached even them. Though, Flame is quick to correct those misconceptions. Afterall, he’s the only one capable of killing that guy and he’d surely remember it.
“Anyway, I asked for you to come ‘cause I kinda…” Flame shifts awkwardly from side to side. As kind as Lomedy is, it doesn’t change the fact that he hates needing help. Giving it is whatever, but receiving it is a whole other story. Flame looks over to see the farmer leaning over the fence to his cow pen, patting at the head of the nearest one. “I kinda need your help with something.”
Lomedy drops back fully on his feet and stares at Flame briefly, searching his face. While Lomedy can’t truly tell when he’s making eye contact due to the blindfold, Flame has no such luxury and turns his head to break it. Lomedy walks back into his view, even going so far as to duck slightly to make sure they’re seen when they state, “Of course. You know I’m always happy to help.” Ugh. It’s said in that soft yet still unwaveringly steady tone of his. Because he cares and has to let it be known that he cares. Just Ugh.
Shaking off the mild discomfort, and nothing else, FlameFrags turns and marches back from the way they came. “Alright. Cool. Well, we’ve gotta go to Merchant City first, so let’s just take the ghast bro.” He ignores the small huff behind him. “I can explain, like, the whole deal once we’re in the air.” He stands below the creature waiting for Lomedy to catch up. When they do, they just grin at him for a minute.
“Well? What are we waiting around for?”
“It’s your ghast bro, I can’t get that thing to come down!” They just laugh, before whistling once. The beast lets out a cry and glides down as close to the ground as it can get, hovering in place. Lomedy pulls himself up first, offering a hand down. He accepts the assistance and Flame has never been so thankful to be wearing gloves. Lomedy settles himself behind the reins and Flame keeps watch over the side.
They are not long into the journey when Lomedy gently clears his throat. Flame looks away from the setting sun to the man near him. “You said you’d explain everything?” Flame sighs and goes to the front to sit beside his friend.
“It’s a lot, so don’t complain when you asked for this bro.”
Despite his words, FlameFrags did try to keep his recollection brief, but Lomedy was having none of it. He knew just what questions would get the rest of the story out. Plus, it’s not like Flame was particularly eager to fight them on it, it was easier to just give them what they wanted. It was even kind of nice to actually get to talk about everything that’s happened, even if it was only the facts.
He goes over that Luke kid, Boosfer and the Invisible Knight, the thing with Clown and Parrot in the Nether… Huh. Has he really been hunting Wemmbu for that long? Lomedy has to prompt him to continue into the actual Law nonsense when he gets caught up in the thought of time passing. The sun is fully down and his throat slightly hoarse when he’s finished.
Lomedy is silent for a beat to gather his words. “Flame…” They start off hesitantly, “Is going against them really worth it?” Flame’s mouth gapes open and he looks over at Lomedy. “You’re certainly one of the strongest people on the server,” He’s quick to amend, “but… an army? Even you would struggle with that. And as much as I wish I could help, we both know I’m not good with combat.”
“Nah, I’ve fought off lawmen in the past. I may have struggled at first, but I’ve gotten stronger since then.” Flame waves off their concern. If there was one thing he was fully confident in, it would be his combat ability. Although…
The image of Lettuce staring down at him from earlier that day flashes through his mind.
He shakes it off. He can figure that out later, he has other things to worry about right now. “I know how they fight now. Besides, that’s what we’re going to the city for- to get stuff that’ll make it a sure thing that I’ll win.”
“I just worry that one of these days you’ll end up dying for your pride.” Lomedy confesses quietly after several minutes go by.
And Flame… Flame doesn’t know what to say to that. So he doesn’t say anything.