Chapter Text
The vulture let out an eerie wail when it landed. The strong winds it came with were paid no attention by the people who jumped out.
Brimstone was first one out, sweat glistening on his forehead, eyebrows creased with worry and age, his hands trembling as he carried a limp body, too young to be stained with that much blood.
Approaching him was a stoic figure. Her black hair neatly tied in a ponytail swayed as she walked swiftly towards the group. Her radiance started to build up pressure in her chest, preparing. It felt heavy… like all the other resurrections, but now is not the time for such thoughts.
“Sage,” Brimstone calls out to her, failing to keep his voice free from distress. Behind him was Raze, her eyes never leaving Killjoy. She was a mess- hands trembling, fidgeting all over the place, breathing ragged. Phoenix loomed beside her, deep in thought.
Brimstone carefully sets Killjoy down. “Three bullets, shot from the back,” he says with a voice gravely low “All went through” Razes breath hitches, as if she relived the moment again.
Sage scans the scene. Killjoy unmoving, her once vibrant yellow jacket now replaced with crimson red stains all over her chest and abdomen. They called at an earlier notice that someone got fatally wounded. Sage knew by the injuries that this was not a fast death. She could only imagine the pain that the young agent was in on the way here.
A heaviness filled Sage's mind… death to her was never an easy thing despite her ability to revive people back. She deemed every agent as her family, and with her power she will bring them back. Always.
No matter the price.
Sage channels her radiance energy making it hum through her veins along with the cool but spiky feeling through her bones; her muscles whined and ached as her palm lit up with a teal glow.
A tall shadow loomed behind Brimstone, one that Sage was too familiar with. Her dark hair with the ends fading to a purple hue, tattoos tracing her arm as she grips heavily on her vandal, knuckles turning white. Reyna stood behind everyone, a shadow casting over her stare.
Sure, she despises Killjoy and her inventions with a passion because of what it did to her people- but Reyna could never truly despise someone whose wits were taken advantage of, more so a child. Killjoy’s time during Kingdom was nothing but exploiting, masked in praise for the young genius. Reyna knew Kingdom all too well to simply put all the blame on Killjoy's shoulders. Reyna grounds herself on the thought that she was still a coworker- still young and naive.
Sage and Reyna's gaze meet for a second, only tearing away as Sage kneels to Killjoy's side who looks as if she was sleeping, adding to the heavy feeling Sage felt.
Sage's irises now shine a teal blue color as the air started feeling heavy and dense with silence until it is cut with her voice. “Please step back. I'll take it from here” Instantly, everyone gave her space, almost. Raze inched closer to Sage, placing a palm to her shoulder making Sage lift her gaze to meet hers. Only then did Sage see Raze's damp eyelashes along with the red corners of her eyes.
“Please…” Raze whispered that Sage almost didn't hear it, “Eu imploro… please bring her back” she uttered, raw and hoarse. Sage's words got stuck in her throat, she lifts her palm to her shoulder and placed it on top of Raze's hand, squeezing it before she gave her a reassuring nod. Raze's brows were tense but she ended up nodding back, finally stepping back to where the other agents were.
Sage sucked in a long breath, taking a second before she started moving her arms as the teal waves followed, her own pulse drumming against her skin as she focused on the energy that had been building up throughout her body. Cold was what Sage felt when her hands pressed on Killjoy's stomach, the sticky blood staining her fingers.
She reels in the energy of her radiance to her palms, guiding it to Killjoy. Sage let out a quiet gasp as her arms felt a burning sensation the second she managed to connect her energy to the lifeless body- it was as if the energy was being ripped away from her. It clawed its way to Killjoy the second it felt the lack of life energy within her.
Sage's power cascaded through- the teal color of her radiance danced around her in sparks and waves, her gaze was sharpened with focus as she pulled and poured like thread running thin on the wheel… Her skin burned, head spun, chest tightened with each breath being harder than the second.
‘Not yet’ she gritted to herself as black and white spots began to seep into her vision, she reminded herself of duties, their purpose- why they fight… and with that she compressed her power and energy and shoved it through Killjoy, Crystals began to envelope Killjoy's whole body, a sign making Sage move back. Cracks can be heard from the crystalline body she was encased in, it was only a matter of seconds before it dissipates and another minute for her to wake up.
Sage should've been beside her, monitoring the progress but this nauseating feeling clawed her skull. She took a couple steps away from everyone, a pathetic retreat to hide. She managed to get behind most of them when her knees finally gave out, making her end up on the hard gravel.
Ringing filled her ears, as she clawed her chest for air but there was something else… something solid. Sage hissed when a sharp searing pain raked her neck, climbing up to her cheek. She touched it, feeling the hard cool surface that once was her skin, instantly knowing what it was.
The crystals that covered the dead bodies she revived were now eating away at her own. ‘How? Why?’ panic and questions filled her mind before a cold and haunting voice tears through -"Sage, the life you give, do you ever wonder where it's taken from?”
Shit
A gentle touch caresses Sage's back making her turn her head ever so slightly to peek at the one kneeling beside her but she tensed up, realizing how she would look at her current state.
“Sage..” Reyna's soothing voice called beside her making her expression tighten ‘Please-’ Sage begged in her mind ‘Not now.’
She lifts a hand up to Reyna, stopping her from seeing anything further. “Let me help you, Cariño”
Sage didn't respond, she was still trying to recover her breath as the throbbing pain danced throughout her body. She felt her hand stroking her back as she slowly regained her composure.
Only now did she hear the muffled sobbing from behind them along with Killjoy's reassuring words. Relief spilled in Sage's chest, making her release a shaky gasp, too weak to turn her head to see… or too cowardly to risk revealing what was happening to her.
“I need to go.” Sage couldn't mask the tiredness in her tone. Her gaze fixed ahead, not once turning to face Reyna. From the corner of her eye, she saw Reyna nod in response.
“Can you stand?” she asked and this made Sage attempt to move but it was as if the strength was siphoned out of her, she can barely move her legs from the position she is in. Reyna sees this and reaches onto Sage's hand that was trying to distance them, her hand clasped around Sage's wrist and the other supporting her waist as she steadily guides her back to her feet.
Once upright, Sage began to feel her surroundings, the damp air, the numbness of her legs gradually fading, the warm touch on her waist and wrist as Reyna supported her. She slowly peeked behind her and saw what unraveled. Raze tightly embracing Killjoy who clung back as much, Brimstone and Phoenix's back was turned from Sage, making her not see their reaction but they stood still as they watched the pair, Brimstone's breathing was noticeably more calm now from relief, while Phoenix has his head rung low.
Sage took this chance and hurriedly walked to the hq, or tried. She tore away from the warmth of Reyna's touch as she made her way. “Wait-” Sage ignored this, her legs felt weak with each step- limbs sore but she pressed on.
She managed to get to the hallway when she heard the footsteps that followed her. She stopped in her tracks, feeling the frustrations and guilt burn her.
“Reyna, return to your squad.” She demanded without turning to face her.
“I’m not needed there” Reyna answered, her voice smooth as velvet.
“You’re not needed here either.”
“It doesn't seem like it.” there was a minute of silence. Sage didn't move nor answered as she heard footsteps stopping right behind her. “Sage…”
Sage's head dropped, her hands washed over her face before covering the blue crystals on her cheek that trailed along her jaw. Every being in her wanted to run, to hide- but her legs froze her in place for god knows why.
“Ling” a light hold was placed on Sage's shoulder, too light- as if the one who held her thought she would break at any pressure, she hated that feeling of vulnerability.
Still, she didn't resist when Reyna turned her, making them face each other.
Sage refused to meet Reyna's gaze as her eyes brimmed with tears yet her face stayed flat and expressionless while a tear escaped her eye, sliding down her cheek.
Reyna's brows were tense as she lifted Sage's face, dragging her thumb to wipe off the tear. “Look at me, cariño,” she murmured, pulling Sage’s hand away from where it covered the side of her neck, letting it fall softly to her side. Reyna replaced it with the warmth of her own touch, her fingers soft as they caressed the crystal covered skin.
Their gazes finally met as Reyna spoke "You're not going to hide this from me” she leaned close enough for their foreheads to meet. “I won't let you bear this alone.”
And in an instant Sage's stoic mask cracked. Her brows pulled together, jaw tense as she fought back the tears.
The past resurrections that she performed were more tiring and straining than usual. The crystals on her skin weren't a new thing- when she revived Jett on the last mission the blue stones formed on her arm but disappeared as quickly as it came. The pain was never as harsh as this.
Then she remembered Reyna was there watching when that happened, with a stare that burnt the back of her head.
Reyna was always there. Every mistake, every weakness.
God, Sage hated it. How it was always her. How it was always when she was close to breaking- and now she was. But in this moment, she realized that as much as she hated Reyna’s stare, it wasn’t hatred that kept her frozen- it was fear.
The thought of facing everything alone terrified Sage even more. ‘How selfish’ her thoughts kept repeating as she wrapped her arms around Reyna, burying her face into the crook of her neck as a sob tore through her.
Reyna stood still, her arms pulling Sage closer, tightening the embrace lightly. She felt the hardy crystal on Sage's back, hidden under the pristine white robes she wore. Quiet worry filling her thoughts.
None of them moved. Sage's crying calmed down as Reyna rested her hand on her back, tracing small circles with her thumb soothingly.
The moment of silence was torn once Sage pulled away. She reached for Reyna's hands, holding on to them, as their eyes met. Sage's eyes were tense as her words rang out. “You will not tell the others.” Her tone was commanding, but Reyna can hear the hint of pleading masked behind it.
“You can't be serious” only now did Reyna's anger seep in.
“Some of the agents here are acting reckless. Taking your power for granted.” her hand clenches around Sage's- “And they will continue acting reckless unless-”
“No” Sage sharply cuts her off. She says nothing yet still held on even as her palms shook.
Reyna scanned her face, how her eyes refused to meet hers, how her brows moved as she's deep in thought, how the corner of her lips pulls back into a frown. Reyna squeezes her eyes shut along with a tired sign, she releases one of her hand from Sages grasp brings it up to her cheek, the tips of her finger grazing the surface of the crystalline skin.
“Then what do you plan to do with this?” Reyna asks, her voice steady yet heavy with concern.
The question Sage dreaded the most. She pressed her hand against her temples as a her head was throbbing in pain. “I couldn’t… I can’t— I shouldn't have let this happen.” Sage lets out, she took a few steps back from Reyna as she starts to feel the shame build up on her chest.
“You couldn't have known-"
“I should have!” Sage snaps, her voice echoing down the hallway. Everything that lead up to this moment has always warned Sage to her face, Omens words, Cypher's questions, the warning of the monks at the monastery- even Sage herself knew this wouldn't be something without payment. It was expected but now everything is crashing down in front of her.
Her eyes met Reyna's. The purple pair stared back with an unwavering gaze. Sage signed and turned her back from her making Reyna confused “I'll figure it out…please give me time to think this through” was all she said before she started walking away but she was stopped when something got a hold of her wrist.
“Sage” Reyna reached for her. “I can help” she says “Please, let me help you”. Sage turns her head ever so slightly, enough for her to see Reyna to which she gave a small not-so reassuring nod.
The grip on her wrist loosens and Sage finally gets to walk off, disappearing at the end of the hallway, leaving Reyna standing with only the faint hum of the lights accompanying her.