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The storm crackles and booms throughout the land, and unfortunately for one Saparata, he is not equipped with such weather.
His makeshift hut was blown away with the wind, made out of leaves and sticks and all. He only managed to save his stuff, a bit drenched, in his inventory. He curses Ish for everything he's going through, first, being framed for a mass assassination, then hiding like a fugitive, surviving in the wild instead of wasting his days away in his vacation home.
This is why he didn't want to meddle in politics, isolate himself from the world. That way, he would only mind about what he's going to do next out of boredom, maybe even build farms around or two. Unfortunately, fate had other plans, one that left him miserable, and constantly on the run.
In some bitter irony, he did get what he wanted, in the worse way possible.
Thankfully, he found a shelter that could possibly be a temporary home until his trial tomorrow. It's a modest, decent-sized cave.
Saps has been on-edge lately, constantly wondering if his enemies are trailing behind his back, so getting some decent sleep in a home that's a million times better than what he could build, is a miracle in itself.
But as they all say, some things are simply just too good to be true.
As Saps was about to take out his stuff inside, he hears a familiar voice that made his heart drop.
"…That boat was atrocious, I need to personally call whoever designed such a thing and fire them on the spot."
Followed by another familiar voice, which only quickens Saps' heart further.
"I don't think that boat was built for those giant waves earlier. Still, I'll let them know about— oh, look! A cave."
"It looks to be our lucky—" Flux stops in his tracks as he meet eye-to-eye with Saps. Thomas stops with him too, droplets of rain falls from the shield he's holding up for the both of them.
"…Saparata." Flux glowers, looking surprised and annoyed at the same time.
"Didn't expect me, did you?" Saps takes a step back, fumbling to find his sword.
"Look what we have here." Flux almost looks smug at the sight. "Are you going to assassinate us next?"
He's gloating. Saps expression soured, finally coming to terms of what he's been thinking about the past few days— the culprit that was really behind everything. It only pointed to one person, and Saps isn't dumb to ignore such a thing.
"I know what the two of you did to my roof. Just drop the act."
Saps held out his sword, pointing it at the two. His shield broke a while back fighting some mobs, which would've been useful to shield himself from the storm and this potential fight.
Thomas brings out his sword as well, stepping in front of Flux, shield prepared. Flux doesn't bring any of his weapons out.
The rain pours over the two, yet their gazes both hold steady.
"If we fight now, two versus one, it's clear who will win this battle." Flux says, voice cutting through the tension. He doesn't say anything, but Saps takes it as confirmation.
Saps knows that he has the skill to overpower Flux, but with his loyal dog guarding him? He isn't so sure.
He grips his sword tighter, not letting go.
"I'd win." Saps bluffs anyway, trying not to show any weakness.
"In your dreams." Flux snorts. "The people will rejoice once they see the message alerting them of your death."
Saps' grips on his sword loosens, hesitating. It isn't fair for him to die this easily, not when he needs to tell the truth to the world in his trial tomorrow.
"…Fine." Saps lowers down his sword completely, stashing it away in his inventory. "But I'm keeping to myself on that side of the cave." Saps points towards his chosen spot.
"Suit yourself." Flux shrugs, walking towards the opposite end of the cave. Thomas follows him like the obedient hound that he is.
Saps couldn't help but scoff at the sight, sitting on his promised end. His diamond armor clings to him in the most uncomfortable way possible, but he needs all the protection he needs with these two stuck with him.
"Thomas," Flux orders, "light up a fire in here." Flux then sits, almost comfortably, in the ground.
Thomas nods, bringing out a flint and steel, starting a fire, it then vanishes in Thomas' hands. "It ran out of durability." Thomas blinks.
"That is troublesome." Flux clicks his tongue once.
Saps can't think of a worse scenario than this, two of his enemies stuck with him in a cave in the middle of nowhere. Now, their only chance of warmth could easily be blown by the wind and the droplets it brings from outside.
Thomas sits in between Flux's and Saps' spots, forming a half circle around the fire. He's a lot closer to the flame than the two, his amber eyes reflecting its light. It glows softly, and in this angle, it's almost as if the fire is hidden inside, blazing with the wind.
Saps looks away, before the fire consumes him whole.
It's quiet for a bit.
Saps was minding his business when he hears the shuffling of armor. To his surprise, it was Flux who was doing so.
"Flux?" Thomas asks out loud. "Need help?" That was not the question Saps expected it to be.
"There is no need, I could do it myself." Flux says, yet he's visibly struggling with the task. Thomas looks a bit lost, wanting to reach out himself but settling on abiding with Flux's order and stays put.
He has always been like that, that's why he's such the perfect person for the job of Flux's dog. Saps himself doesn't know where this loyalty even come from, but it's almost sickening, somehow.
"Don't you think you shouldn't be lowering your guard with someone like me here?" Saps says, saying the question that he thought Thomas would say.
Saps keeps a close eye on his enemy's expression, the moment momentarily paused with Flux's struggle to get out of his armor. But when he did, Saps expected anything but Flux's reaction.
Flux removes the last of his armor, his chest plate, bringing it above his head. Flux sports a confused expression, as if that question was pure nonsense. "Thomas is here, isn't he?"
Saps turns his head to Thomas, expecting to find a reaction. There is none.
Saps couldn't help but let out a chuckle. A loyal dog wouldn't be this loyal if he and his owner weren't a little insane.
"What's so funny about it?" Flux raised an eyebrow, thoroughly confused. He's only wearing a plain purple shirt now, slightly damp as his armor took on most of the rain. It wasn't the same for Saps, who is unfortunately drenched from head to toe.
"Nothing. Must be the sleepless nights getting to me." Saps waves it off. Flux looks like he wants to ask more about it, but drops the topic entirely.
The cave is quiet once more. The rain outside pouring heavily, lightning flashing in brief moments.
Saps hears the faint clacking of armor, it seems like Thomas has removed his as well. They underestimate Saps too much, placing too much trust of how incompetent and trusting he is. Like what they did when they trapped his house merely a few days ago, starting this entire mess in the first place.
"Flux, come here." Thomas' voice booms coincidentally with the thunder outside, he pats the ground beside him.
Flux's eyes narrow in suspicion, "Why should I?" He's trying to hide the shivering of his hands, but it could not be more obvious with the way he trembles.
Flux has always been someone who gets cold easily. But who cares about him anyway? He betrayed Saps, framed him, and now lives scot-free of his crimes. Saps is going on trial tomorrow, and he's going to prove his innocence in accordance to the law.
Thomas lifts an eyebrow, as if stating the obvious.
Saps snorts, as if Flux would—
Unexpectedly, Flux stands up, then sits closer to Thomas.
"This is only a one-time thing, you hear me? It's cold and I despise shivering like a fool." Flux's eyebrows tighten with a scowl on his face.
The fire crackles as Thomas sports a pleased smile, holding Flux close.
Saps glares at the two.
The sides of Thomas' lips twitches. Saps could only glare even harder.
Is he gloating that the oh, so unattainable Fluixon is snuggling close to him? Well, Saps doesn't give a single fuck about them, so he turns around, wanting none of the two in his sight.
The rain pours even louder, the wind blows a strong wind into the cave, almost extinguishing their only source of heat.
Saps shivers, his damp armor only serves to make things worse.
"You could take it off, you know." Flux's voice echoes throughout the cave. Saps still doesn't turn around, but he could hear the eye roll hidden in that sentence. Why care now? He clearly doesn't care about Saps when he put those weapons in his roof.
"Why do you care?" Saps vocalizes his thoughts, clutching his arms to find a little bit of warmth in him. In hindsight, it's probably not a great idea to show your back against an enemy, even if that enemy isn't wearing armor. He turns around a little to the side, witnessing Thomas comb Flux's damp hair with his nimble hands.
He has the urge to turn back around once more. He couldn't help but glare once more at the sight.
"Well, your stubbornness will do you no good." Flux leans in closer to Thomas, enjoying the feeling of being pampered.
"Says you." Saps retorts back, as if Flux wasn't the most stubborn person he knows. "Why are you so close to him, anyway? I thought you liked keeping to yourself."
Flux tilts his head and doesn't say a thing. Saps couldn't read his mind at all, but his expression tells it all, that he finds Saps amusing.
"If you wanna sit over here as well, we won't mind." Thomas says calmly, as Flux whips his head around a little too fast. It's clear that he didn't expect Thomas to say those words.
"No," Flux glares at Thomas, "we clearly mind."
Thomas looks at him knowingly, then to Saps. "Look at him, Flux."
Flux slowly turns his gaze back to Saps.
"One more strong breeze and he's dead." Thomas points out. Saps is suddenly much more aware of his chittering teeth and chapped lips. He probably looks pale right now— well, paler than usual.
"What of it? He's better off dead anyway." Flux waves his hand about.
Something in Saps' chest squeezes at the words. It was something he knew, yet didn't really say out loud. Flux was really out to kill him. His shoulder trembles, a little. He tries not to show his hurt in front of its perpetrators.
Thomas leans in closer to Flux and whispers something to his ear. It was soft enough for Saps not to hear, but he could see Flux's eyes widen marginally, then turn into contemplation.
"That would be a waste." Flux mutters out.
What would?
Saps couldn't help but be curious. What could possibly so important about Thomas' message to Flux to let this opportunity pass?
"Well then, go ahead." Flux motions to Thomas' other side. He probably wants Saps as far as possible from him still.
"I didn't agree to anything." Saps crosses his arms once more, in his surprise, he somehow stopped doing so, letting in more of the cold envelop him. "I don't trust you." He manages to croak out with a shiver.
For some reason, Flux looks taken aback for a moment, he then steeled himself, mumbling softly, "That's right, you have no reason to."
Thunder booms once more, the pitter-patter of the rain outside drowning everything else.
It only took one more breeze of cold wind for Saps to give up. Call him easy, but pride doesn't mean anything in the face of survival. He stands up and sits next to Thomas. It's easier to see weapons drawn this way anyway, and Thomas isn't the type to bring a dagger to a fight.
"Can I?" Thomas asks, looking at his armor. Beside him, Flux looks at him strangely.
"I can do it by myself." Saps stubbornly refuses. He's not that easy.
"Alright." Thomas puts both of his hands up, as a sign of surrender.
Flux and Thomas watches as he struggles to do it by himself for a painstakingly long time. It isn't his fault, okay? Armor is absurdly hard to remove when sitting. He's not wasting another opportunity away from the fire.
When he safely stores almost all his armor away, he keeps his boots with him. He needs as much protection as he could, he can't be entirely defenseless, after all.
"You've been sitting there the entire time drenched under your armor?" Flux speaks up, looking at his white plain shirt underneath. Saps swears that he saw Flux's throat bobble. "It's a miracle you haven't caught an illness just yet." Flux looks away, scowling.
"Wouldn't that be good for you?" Saps cackles, "You want me dead anyway, but for some reason, you're stalling."
Saps couldn't see anything from here, with Flux's face tucked away, so he looks at Thomas instead, his eyebrows only knit tightly, eyes staring at the fire.
"Do you want me to have a fair trial or something? Or do you just want to see me behind bars for your own amusement?" Saps brings back his gaze to Flux, who still couldn't meet his gaze head on.
"Something like that." Flux responds.
Saps sighs, knowing that's all he could push before this act of generosity could fade. "I'm keeping the shirt on."
"Who wants to see you without it anyway? Gross." Flux whips his head back to Saps, to which Saps only gave a little smile in turn. Flux quickly moves his head back out of Saps' view before he could see his reaction.
Just like old times.
If Saps closes his eyes, it's as if they were back to the past, back when Flux and Thomas didn't betray his trust. They wouldn't be stuck in some dingy cave in the middle of nowhere, but maybe huddled in Saps' couch watching horrible movies, dissing every character and giving commentary on each nonsense that happens.
It's almost a waste, that that future isn't meant to be. But for a moment, he let himself lean into Thomas, and pretend like the pain of their betrayal isn't crushing him whole.