Work Text:
To tell the truth, Meden didn’t know much about Gong. She knew of the horror stories and word of his strength, of course, but she didn’t know him. She only rarely ventured along for missions, and even then, they were safer ones where the need for Zigoton generals to be present was nonexistent. Meden could only trust that her peers’ words were truthful and he was a vicious warrior to be avoided at all costs.
That is, until she was kidnapped and got to learn all about him firsthand. She was taken by Makoton, of all people. He’d been freshly made into Gong’s lieutenant after surging through the ranks, and was going through a massive power-trip as he tested the limits of his purview. What better way to piss off the Patapons than to steal away their beloved Priestess and only direct contact to Kamipon?
Of course it worked, and the Patapons were pissed. However, the other generals were also pissed—especially Gong. He’d just entrusted this brat and taken him under his wing, and then he goes and pulls some schtick like this?! Goddamned idiot! Gong gathers his own little band of soldiers and runs off to stop Mako before they could take her too far. Did they even have a plan for her? Just take her home, and lead the raid right to their doorstep?! Idiots, all of them...go ahead and wipe out our tribe, just see what happens to you… His thoughts were much of the same as he ran across the hot sand and gripped his scythe furiously.
Thank Kami they hadn’t gotten too far across the desert when Gong got caught up. He reprimanded the hell out of Makoton and sent him home a fuming, bitching mess, then went to check on Meden to see how screwed the rest of them were—uh, to see if she was okay.
Meden backed further into her cage as Gong approached. She was tearful and visibly shaking—a reasonable reaction. He couldn’t blame her. Poor thing… Gong was shocked to realize that he’d felt sympathy for a Patapon of all people. These freaks were set out to destroy his tribe, what he’d vowed to protect until the day it killed him. So what if she was hurt? Why did he care what’d happened to her? The Patapons were going to come storming in the same anyways. He wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up killing her too in the attack…damn careless savages. No wonder they were stuck in an endless war. They never knew when to quit, no grace or planning in their tactics to be found. Just absolute destruction.
Gong realized he’d been staring when Meden huffed and spoke up to him scornfully. “So, I guess you like seeing me stuck in here, huh? Stop staring, creep.” She regained her fear once she realized what she’d said and to whom she’d said it to. The others’ description of the terrifying General Gong clicked in her mind as she’d gotten a better look at him; she wasn’t caught up on the uniform of each of the Zigoton ranks, but he certainly seemed extravagant enough to fit the bill. That is, ignoring the glaringly obvious horns sticking out of his helm that she always heard plenty about. In her defense, the bars of the cage obscured them slightly from her view. “...What are you going to do to me?” is all she could think to say.
“Well.” He had no clue. Hopefully nothing, so they’re put in as little trouble as possible. No need to exacerbate the conflict even more—enough of his people have died already. “We’re still trying to figure that out.”
“Oh, God…” She sunk down and sat against the bars behind her, her staff clanging obnoxiously against the metal. Meden’s breaths began to race as her thoughts spiraled with ideas of torture. “Kamipon, help me…”
“Calm down, we’re not going to hurt you,” Gong said with more disdain than he’d intended. He cleared his throat and straightened up. “This was an unplanned…‘attack’ carried out by one of my subordinates without receiving permission. He is gone from here now, and the rest of us have no intention of keeping you. We are deciding what our next moves should be—whether to attempt bringing you home directly, or to wait until your forces come to retrieve you themselves. There is risk involved in both options, which is what we are currently weighing.”
Meden stared at the bottom of the cage as she listened to him speak. Her breathing slowed again along with her tears. “So, you’re not going to hurt me?”
“I said no.” He corrected himself again—he realized now how much he was used to speaking to unruly soldiers. “You are safe, I assure you.” There was an awkward silence for a few moments where he stood staring at her yet again, though this time she didn’t notice. Gong fiddled with the rod of his scythe absentmindedly and realized Meden was doing the same with her staff. Funny.
Wanting to break the silence but not knowing how, he eventually asked her, “Are you comfortable?”
“Uh—no! No, I’m not comfortable! I’m in a cage!”
“...Right.”
“Well, are you going to let me out?!”
“That depends. Are you going to run off?” He didn’t know why he was wasting his time humoring her—he needed to get back to his soldiers and figure out an escape plan.
“Why do you care?”
Why did he care? “Because we’ll be in even deeper shit if you get yourself hurt on the way.”
“Well, I won’t run away then.”
“Uh-huh.”
“No, really. I won’t run. I’ll walk.” If you could see her mouth, she’d be smirking. You could tell by the look in her eye. Gong laughed, which caught Meden off-guard—she was mostly joking for her own sake to relieve the stress of being kidnapped and all. But, if she can sweettalk her way through the highest-ranking Zigoton General and cease the conflict entirely by getting on his good side, then… She sat up straight and tried to appear nonchalant. “Alright, fine. I’ll stay here. Shouldn’t be that bad with your company.”
Gong immediately looked at her sideways. “Yeah, sure. I’m a really interesting person for someone like you to talk to.”
“Y-You say that, but it’s true! I hear so much about you from the others; about how strong you are, and how brave, and—”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough. I’ll let you out if you quit playing dumb with me, deal?” He could see right through her. She made no effort to slip gradually into this fake sense of comfort…what a terrible actor. It amused him more than it should’ve.
“Um. Sure.” Shit. I already screwed it up, Meden thought as she watched him undo the latch with his free hand. The door swung outward and she sighed with relief, more than ready to stretch her legs. Meden crawled toward the exit, careful not to get her staff caught on anything.
“Here, let me help you down.” Without thinking, Gong’s hospitality had kicked in and he was offering his hand for her to hold onto. He couldn’t just retract his offer, so he awkwardly kept it held out while she stared him down cautiously. Eventually, Meden did take his hand—hers soft from being so well-cared for, his so rough from years of combat and training. The contrast intrigued them both, but of course, this touch was short-lived as she hopped to the sand.
“Ow, hot hot hot!” She hissed at the contact and kicked her legs.
“You’re free to sit back in the cage…”
“Over my dead body!”
“Are you offering?”
“What?!” She giggled, to their surprise yet again. “You really are a scary general…”
“Nah, I’m only scary if you get on my nerves or try to kill off my people.” He glanced at her, only half-joking in his gaze. “Ahem.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you’re stopping us from reaching Earthend!”
Gong’s demeanor shifted and he stood up defensively. Meden cursed herself in her head yet again. “What I’m doing is stopping you from destroying my people’s home.”
“...Huh?”
He huffed and rolled his eye. “Our prophecy states that if the Patapons reach Earthend, the Zigoton empire will be destroyed. This is what I am trying to stop.”
She looked at him, worried yet serious. “You mean we would destroy your empire? But why would we do that?”
She was genuinely curious to know, but he interpreted it as an insult. “I don’t know, why would you?” he snapped back at her.
Meden paused. “I… I didn’t know of this prophecy.” She stared at the ornaments on her staff wearily, rubbing her thumb along the sides. “I don’t understand.”
Guilt suddenly crossed his face, but he hid it just as quickly. “Me neither.” Gong leaned his back against the cage and shut his eye. “I just wish this whole thing was over with. So many of our families are gone because of you...because of us.” He sighed forlornly, and she looked over at him with sympathy.
Meden walked back over to the cage. She crouched next to him so they were eye-level, using her staff for balance. They stared forward at the barren desert before them. “We have never intended to go out and destroy your home. It just…” She struggled to collect her thoughts. “You—The Zigotons started fighting us, so we fought back. There’s nothing that says we have to have this war. It just happened because...well.”
Gong didn’t say anything for a good few moments. “I’d rather not take any chances. Not until Queen Kharma says we’re safe.” He looked at her, and they locked eyes inadvertently. He grinned just a little to lighten the mood. “No offense to you, that is.”
Her gaze softened and she smiled back at him gently. “Don’t worry, I understand. Now I do.” Meden chuckled after a moment and leaned a bit closer to him without thinking. “You know, you actually are interesting to talk to… A lot more passionate for a war-hardened general than I’d expected.” She nudged him slightly with her elbow as she said this.
He laughed softly back. “Yeah. Well, I try.”
They kept looking at one another for a while, not entirely realizing what they were doing. It was a comfortable silence, and they took the chance to get a better look at each other. Admire the depth of the features in their faces, what stories they tell without saying them. They only snapped out of their trances when a soldier approached to warn them of the incoming Patapon army.
Gong instantly shot up, and Meden followed suit once she processed what was going on. “Ah, shit,” he blurted out. “Boys, stand your ground, but keep your weapons lowered. Make sure they’re aware we’re peaceful.” He started to walk away but turned back to look at Meden at the last second. “You.” Her heart jumped. “Stay behind us. I won’t let them hurt you.”
Meden froze up completely. He won’t let them? Meden didn’t really need protecting from her own people, but by Kami, she was lucky her body was black or else her blush would blind more people than the desert sun. And with the way he looked at her, so confident and stern… She cursed herself under her breath repeatedly as she trudged behind the group.
After a lengthy verbal exchange between the two armies, Meden was released to her people. She could hear Gong let out a long, tired exhale from behind her. Instinctively, she turned to look. He was watching her walk away with a happy and very-much relieved expression. He almost seemed glad to have her back safe…though she’s sure it’s her imagination seeing things.
The Patapons cheered as she approached and led her to a comfortable cart decorated with pillows and blankets. Meden was relieved to have a spot to rest that wasn’t made out of spikes and metal, though a part of her felt at a loss. What Gong said was ruminating in her mind, and she felt guilt stabbing at her insides. Were they…doing the right thing? Was Earthend really worth all of this suffering? More importantly, how was she supposed to cease this racing in her chest from now on?! She adjusted herself, somehow still uncomfortable despite the heavy cushioning she sat on. The guilt was crippling, but her yearning was already proving to be deadly.