Chapter Text
Running through the narrow streets, Tenion felt like the walls around him never changed.
The buildings were too symmetrical, too repetitive. Every street looked the same, every corner felt familiar, and somehow that only made getting away harder.
The worst part, however, was the shouting behind him that got louder.
"Stop!"
"Turn yourself in!"
"You are surrounded!"
Even the sun seemed against him, shining down like it knew exactly what he had done. Like it knew the fruit he had eaten was forbidden and was laughing at his mistake.
"Delicacy, my fucking ass," Tenion muttered while running. "I should have stayed home and done my work. But nooooo, I had to break the ‘no contact with family’ rule because I was curious about the Golden Pirate Age and decided to join my cousin."He jumped over a pile of crates. "I swear to fucking Nika," he cursed under his breath as he landed.
Ahead of him was a brick wall blocking the path. Without hesitating, he jumped, landing on the other side. He quickly continued forward, hoping the obstacle would slow the Marines down. But knowing his luck the Marines might suddenly gain wings or something ridiculous and catch him.
He continued running along the path, turning a few more times and entering a tunnel the light of a clearing drew closer. The light ahead seemed like an escape, but as soon as he stepped closer, footsteps echoed.
His instincts screamed and Tenion threw himself to the side just as something flew past him.
A blade? No. Something stranger.
The object slammed into the wall beside him and Ice instantly spread across the brick, which led to Tenion staring at the spot.
"...Okay. That's new." Tenion said confused.
A figure stepped out from the crossroads behind him. A long dark navy coat reached down to his ankles, held together by buttons of the same color. The man had messy black hair with red tips, his expression cold enough to match the ice spreading around him.
"Under the authority of the Government, you will come with me," the man said, walking closer while holding onto what seemed like a cane. "Do you understand?" the man asked after receiving no answer.
The young man only blinked.
"Damn, you gotta tell me who your hair stylist is. Mine always fucks up my blue hair." Tenion gestured at the man's hair. The man looked to be slightly older than him. He only replied monotonously: "You are being hunted by the Government."
Which, yeah, he was. Tenion lowered his hand.
"You are facing a threat to your life."
Also true.
"And your concern is my hair?" The black-and-red-haired man asked with a frown forming on his face. "Have you seen mine? Can't you see my struggle?" the younger man answered honestly.
"Yes," the man said, stepping forward. "Your appearance matches your behavior."
"Excuse me?" the blue-haired man asked, offended, stepping backwards.
"Chaotic. Unorganized. Like a clown." The older man said each word while stepping forward, somehow offending Tenion even more.
"I know my hair looks disastrous as the water after a storm, but you didn't have to attack me like that!" the other man huffed, crossing his arms.
"I did not attack you. Yet." The man working with the Marines said it in a way that sounded almost confused.
"You attacked my soul, my pride, my confidence, Mr. Fancy Hair." The young man placed a hand over his chest as if he was actually hurt.
"I just stated a fact." The older man said, staring at him, his eyebrows twitching. He stepped forward and pulled out his sword, which had originally looked like a cane. The air grew colder around them.
Which definitely was Tenion's sign to start running unless he wanted to end up like chilled meat hanging in a butcher's shop, waiting to be cut up and served.
So Tenion started running again, turning left after Mr. Fancy Hair cut off his original path. Slashes came his way, blocking him from the left and right as if trying to lead him back toward the Marines in the middle of the town.
"Fuck, if this keeps going, I might actually get caught..." Tenion thought repeatedly, blinking when something blue suddenly blinded him. When his vision cleared, he realized it was...
A blue-yellow feather?
Confused, Tenion let out a loud "huh," but since he didn't have anything better to do and he had no other choice because the ice blocked the passage he originally wanted to take, he followed the feather, turning left and right. Almost zigzagging through the streets, he reached the clearing leading....
To a cliff.
Of course, it did...
Halting, he looked left and right, seeing that he only had two choices. Either he followed the feather that was flying towards the cliff and was most definitely committing suicide, or he could run straight into that fancy-haired man's arms and get caught by the Government, who was the second got closer and closer to him.
Tenion looked at the feather and then again at the man...
"Fuck it." He ran. "If I die, I will haunt you to your death, feather!" the blue-haired man said before jumping off
For a moment... he just fell, feeling the air go through his hair. The world went quiet. No slashing sounds. Only the sound of the air and waves.
Until...
A blue flash of flames appeared, and talons grabbed him. Shocked and confused, Tenion looked up, frowning, seeing a man whose arms were blue wings and who had a pineapple for a head.
"What?"
"You know, most people say thank you when someone saves them, yoi."