Chapter Text
"Remind me again why I must be here?" Katana says, arching a brow, not that Sunfire can see it.
"I need backup for this," Sunfire remarks smoothly. "A show that we have the numbers and resources to be a worthy ally."
A hint of a smile creeps into Sunfire's expression, barely visible from under her mask. "And you of all inphernals should know how things work among Templites, no?"
Katana truly can't argue with Sunfire's logic, as much as he's loathe to see his home faction again. "Very well."
The hash Lost Temple sun is achingly familiar, dust and red rocks a home Katana never thought he'd return to. There's something right about the feeling of desert wind blowing through Katana's feathers, a sense of comfort deep in her bones that wars with the homesickness of knowing what he's left behind.
Behind his mask, a small, bittersweet smile forms. It's nice, almost.
As they approach the meeting point, Katana can just barely hear voices. The sound of the Templite language makes Katana's chest ache strangely. The voices quickly get closer, and Katana barely has to strain to hear the words.
"Ya really sure this is a good idea, Grappling Hook? Are ya sure some Denizens are really gonna help us fight the Church?"
"It'll be fine, Bee. Trust me."
Sunfire hisses,"Can you tell what they're saying?" But Katana is only half listening. That name…
No, they were dead. A decade is plenty of time for another inphernal to spawn with the same gear, after all.
Quietly setting that train of thought to the side, Katana nods to Sunfire. "They're discussing whether this is a good idea. At least one of them is mistrustful of us."
Sunfire hums, pleased. "I knew bringing you along would be worthwhile."
Katana ducks his head, focusing on walking towards the meeting spot and-
Her heart skips a beat, because that's Grappling Hook. Older, more serious, more scarred, but still them. Beside them are several more inphernals with similar outfits, some half-familiar to Katana but names forgotten.
Sunfire subtly nudges Katana, and he snaps out of it. Focus.
"Ah! There they are." Grappling Hook's gaze stops on Katana for a moment longer than the other Darkage warriors, recognition flashing in those amber eyes Katana has long memorized the look of.
The meeting is nothing special. Katana's sat through enough of them to know the rhythm of one. This first discussion is mostly formalities, but some basic exchanges of information and supplies are agreed on. One of the Wranglers with antennae-like horns keeps glaring suspiciously at the Darkage demons.
"One more thing," Grappling Hook adds as soon as the two groups are about to part ways. "I'd like to speak to one of ya- in private."
Even behind her mask, Sunfire's suspicion is clear. "For what purpose?"
Grappling Hook hesitates a little, grasping for an excuse. "I'd like to… aquaint myself with some of your warriors. I want to make this partnership feel a lil' more friendly."
Sunfire regards Grappling Hook for a long moment, tension thick in the air like the scorching heat. "Very well. I suppose I can speak to you-"
"No," Katana interjects, the first time he's spoken since the meeting began. "I'll go."
Sunfire considers for a moment, but relents. "Very well. Meet up with us before we leave Lost Temple."
Katana can feel the stares of both Darkage and Wrangler inphernals following him and Grappling Hook. One Wrangler in particular, the one that's been glaring at him and the rest of the Darkage Clan the entire meeting, stares particularly fiercely.
Once they're out of earshot, Grappling Hook drops all pretenses of diplomacy, dragging Katana to their eye level by his collar. "What in the world are ya doin' here, Katana?"
"Sunfire had me come," Katana says truthfully. "I wasn't aware you were here."
Grappling Hook sputters angrily. "Weren't aware! Did yer precious Church not-"
Katana growls, low and deadly in the back of her throat. "I left that cult," he hisses, venom in every syllable.
Grappling Hook huffs. "About time." Their expression softens. "But seriously- why didn't ya come here? Why didn't ya look for me?"
"I would've," Katana breathes. "If I'd known."
"Known what?"
Katana's next words are soft, both an admission of regret and a guilty plea."Known you were alive."
Grappling Hook stares in shock. "Ya thought I was dead?!"
Katana takes a deep breath. "When I found her after the Scorch, Scythe told me you were gone. I believed her."
Grappling Hook scoffs bitterly. "So why'd ya leave her? She mighta left me for dead, but ya went along with her n' joined that damn Church. How come yer not still wrapped around her lil' finger?"
Katana sighs. "I was," he admits. "But I realized the error of my ways. When I left, she didn't come with me." The left side of Katana's face aches.
"Trust me, Grappling Hook. If I had known what she did to you, I'd have been right there with you." Katana reaches his hand forward, not quite holding Grappling Hook's.
With a smile, Grappling Hook takes Katana's hand. "I missed ya, 'Tana. It's good to have ya back."
They lean forwards, pressing a kiss to the smooth porcelain of Katana's mask. "Don't ya dare leave me again," they whisper, serious but fond.
"I don't plan to," Katana replies smoothly, pressing his face to Grappling Hook's cheek.
Grappling Hook smiles. "We'd best be goin'." They squeeze Katana's hand once, before pulling away.
Katana leaves feeling lighter than he has in a decade. He smiles, tilting his head towards the bright desert sky. This wasn't so bad after all.