Work Text:
Chet couldn't hear the sounds of the metal clanking around him, only the ringing in his ears, as he stood in shock and disbelief. The air tasted of blood, sweat and red earth. Quickly his world snapped back into focus and he began to survey the battlefield. What remained of Otohan was charred and strewn about near the freshly made crater on the cave floor. Faithful Care Giver had seen to it in a final blaze of glory, saving them all. Letters was something special. Otohan had been cutting them down...
Oh fuck. Orym.
The small figure lay still and limp, covered in blood (surely both his and his foes), sword now idle in the nearby dirt.
A slight rise of his chest showed he was still alive, somehow.
He's alive.
The feeling of relief was temporary, as the realization hit that he didn't have any healing potions... and he wasn't the only one who had fallen to Otohan's blade.
Ash...
***
Imogen opened her eyes, thankful she had known to look away and close them. Immediately she returned the silver circlet to her head, the one she had removed not a minute before. She was not ready to hear the thoughts of her friends, not after this. Her own thoughts were overwhelming enough as is.
She didn’t even care if her mom found them now, it was too late for her help. She could clearly see Otohan was dead, but only because FCG. Without the aid of the circlet she had heard his final thoughts, had known what he was doing, but not in time to stop him. Not in time to save him.
She quickly spotted Laudna, looking confused and speaking words she couldn’t hear over the ringing in her ears. Instinctively she reached out mentally as she ran to her, “What’s wrong, you okay?”
“I can’t see. I saw…I watched… but now… I can’t see.” Laudna eagerly embraced Imogen as she felt her touch.
“I got you, hun. Hold my hand. Follow me, we need to help the others. ”
After a quick kiss to comfort her Imogen grabbed her hand, pressing a gentle, reassuring squeeze into it. Quickly and carefully she guided her towards where Ash was laying.
When they were almost to him she spotted Chetney across the cave. He was looking at Orym, who still lay battered, bloody and motionless where he had finally fallen. Imogen could only help one friend at a time, so she sent the old nome a mental message, before guiding Laudna to sit near her so she could tend to Ash.
***
Chetney glanced in the direction he saw the Titan fall, relieved to see Imogen rushing to them, holding Laudna's hand.
He tried to holler, trying to let her know Orym needed help too, but she didn't respond. No doubt her ears were still ringing too.
I can take him to her.
But she must have spotted them. "I think Orym has a healing potion left, at least, I didn't see him use it... I've got Ash." He heard Imogen's voice in his head. “Can you help him?”
"On it!" He thought back to her.
Chetney knelt down and fumbled through Orym’s pouches until he touched the cool glass bottle. A healing potion. The last one.
He uncorked it, pulling the limp Orym up and cradling him into position. “You did good, my boy.” He quietly croaked, as he carefully poured the red fluid into his mouth.
Orym’s chest rose, filling with air, and fell again as he started to exhale, then cough. Green, tired eyes opened and looked up into his own. Chet sighed in relief.
***
Ash woke up, feeling like they had been run over by a dragon. A humongous, old, ancient, red dragon… but to be fair that was nothing new. Their body always hurt, it was one of the few things they could rely on. Although they didn’t always hurt quite this much, or feel this weak. A brief look at their hands confirmed that their titan form was gone.
That explains that.
Having friends, with concerned faces, helping them up was still new though. And his ears were ringing...
Soon Ash was propped into a sitting position, where they sat and stared wide eyed at the sight of scraps of metal that had settled across the cave floor.
Why was there metal all over the ground... where did it come from?
That color… yellow.
The same color as… The color of FCG.
They scanned the room, quickly taking in the destruction. The crater. The remains.
Ashton knew their friend so well that they didn’t need to be awake to know what he had done.
Why?! Why did he do that? We talked about that.
Their jaws clenched, as feelings of rage and sadness fought for control. Ash had known that that damn aeormaton was going to sacrifice himself one day… but had really, really hoped they could get through to him.
Or at least stop him.
Protect him.
But no.
No one gets left behind.
But Letters was gone.
Their friend was gone. Gone.
The one he knew the longest. Just. Gone.
Bits spread everywhere across the cave. Ash tucked his face into his hand.
“Fuck.
Shit.
Piss.
Damn it Letters,
You self-sacrificing litt….” The words that escaped his mouth registered in his brain, and his eyes flew wide with panic.
Wait.
Orym. She got Orym. I have to help Orym.
Eyes darted to where halfling had fallen to see Chetney already holding him as he set down an empty glass bottle. Orym’s tiny body shuddered as he coughed awake. Ash felt his body exhale in relief.
Orym will be okay. He's a little guy, but the toughest guy I know.
He's okay.
He's okay.
They took in another deep breath in an attempt to steady themself, wiped bloodshot eyes, and surveyed the room again.
So many metallic scraps littered the rusty red floor.
So many.
“Fuck. Shit. Piss.” They muttered angrily to themself, punching the ground in frustration until fresh blood began to leak from bruised knuckles. The fresh pain shooting through their tightly balled fist did nothing to distract from the real pain.
Slowly getting on their feet, Ashton vaguely took in Fearne running to Orym and Chet, and the other two witches clinging to one another for another moment before suddenly jumping up and rushing around to look for something.
Everyone else is okay. I mean, they look like hell, but they are alive.
You did it Letters.
***
Orym coughed, the metallic taste of iron and the familiar herbal taste of a healing potion filled his mouth.
He hurt.
Everything hurt.
And he was exhausted. He just wanted to sleep more, but he felt someone gently holding him, stroking his hair. He lazily opened his eyes, half expecting to see Will, and saw the blue eyes and white fluffy brows of Chetney looking down at him. With concern.
Taking in the old face it suddenly registered what had happened. With a new burst of adrenaline flowing through his veins he quickly, albeit unusually clumsily, pushed onto his feet.
Otohan
I need to kill Otohan.
I have to get everyone back safe.
Intense green eyes, framed by the fresh blood that smeared his face, darted around. There was an odd stillness on the battlefield.
Laudna and Imogen were clutched together.
Shaking.
In fear?
No. Crying. They were crying. Sobbing.
He lowered his eyes and saw an empty glass bottle abandoned near Imogen.
His alert green eyes shifted slightly more, resting on Ashton. He was sitting next to them, face buried in a large stoney hand. He couldn't make out his words, but he knew Ash… “Fuck. Shit. Piss.” Surely.
A smile started to form seeing his friends, still okay. Battered, but not fallen. But where was Otohan. Had she fled? His eyes shifted once more and discovered a newly formed crater, and the charred and bloody remains scattered around the red and now sparkling earth. The sight caused his heart to skip, until he recognized the features… Otohan.
Oh thank the Gods.
He hadn’t believed they would survive that fight, but his friends had pulled it off. He closed his eyes and worked to catch his breath… slow his heart rate. A technique he had learned years ago.
It was over. It would be okay… he gave himself a moment to let the adrenaline subside, and opened his eyes again.
The sparking red soil caught his eyes now.
It wasn't sparkling before, how long was I down?
What is that?
He knelt down for a closer look, and ran his hands across the red soil, sprinkled with yellow fragments.
Pieces of metal? Where did all the metal pieces come from?
The gears in his head began to put the information together, but it didn’t seem to want to click into place. His shifting eyes scanned the cave once more and fell on Fearne. His Fearnie…
He watched those big eyes of hers filling as she stepped carefully into the crater bent down.
Wait, what happened… why is she so upset if Otohan was dead? Why were the others so upset? They won, somehow.
At least this fight. He knew it wouldn't be their last.
This was just one battle, one of many in the war.
He scanned the cave again assessing his friends. Imogen and Laudna were looking pretty battered and drained, but not quite as rough as Ash. Then again, Ash always looked pretty rough. Chet (who had moved over to check on Everoa) looked real rough, but he had seen him go down hard. Otohan took no mercy. Luckily FCG had helped him.
FCG. Did he escape? He had been running…
As he started to look towards where FCG had been heading, movement caught his eye. Orym looked over just in time to watch Fearne stand, clutching a large metallic chunk… She ran a hand softly over the metal, wiping away some of the dirt. It was what remained of FCGs smiling face. The eyes were cracked and FCGs smile was now disjointed and crooked, but it somehow still felt… warm.
“Letters?” He heard the words croak weakly out of him, as he looked into Fearne’s and then Chets eyes. He read their faces. Tight, with wet eyes. Feeling his heart shattering, he knew.
“No. Nonononono.” The words softly left his lips. Fearne, barely holding back her own tears, rushed to him. Her comforting arms gathered him up, swallowing the small body with her embrace as Orym buried his face into her.
***
The stony figure stood dumbfounded and unsteady, leaning against their hammer and lost in thought, until weary eyes caught on an unnaturally bright glint of metal in the cave wall.
No one gets left behind.
The words echo in their head on repeat, taunting them, but all that escapes their lips is “Fuck.”
Ash takes several slow strides, unsteady feet leading them to the rocky wall near their exit.
The piece of metal embedded into the wall was a distinct shape…
A coin. No, the coin. That. Fucking. Coin.
That fucking coin that he always trusted.
What a lot of damn good it and his God had done for him.
Ashton jammed his fingers into the rock around the metal, gripped firmly and yanked. The rock crumpled away easily and he palmed the coin, staring numbly at it.
“We have to make this count” Chet’s scratchy voice stated matter of factly. Ashton looked over to see him snatching up the backpack.
“Right.” Ash muttered, hastily slipping the coin into a pocket. Quickly gathering anything they could find, they focused on the task at hand. Focusing, keeping busy, and intentionally avoiding looking at their friends’ faces.
They were not ready to see that yet.
There would be time for breaking down later, when everyone else was safe. He had to make sure they got back safe, or his friend's sacrifice would be meaningless.
***
The blood and dirt covered halfling wiggled out of Fearne’s arms, so she reluctantly set him down gently, making sure he was steady enough on his feet before fully letting him go. His eyes darted around the debris littered on the ground. So many pieces. He knew, deep down, it was futile, but he helped them gather all the pieces they could.
FCG. So many pieces.
Fresh Cut Grass. Maybe...
His body may have been weak from exertion and damage, but Orym’s perception didn't fail him, quickly spotting what he sought. He could sense Fearne following near him, as he maneuvered towards a shiny chunk that had caught his eye. He wearily crouched and picked it up, turning it over in his small hands carefully, avoiding the sharp edges. Familiar slash marks arched across it. Like blades of grass reaching for the sun, or swaying in the wind. Tiny, calloused fingers, stained a smattering of browns and reds with soil and partially dried blood, carefully caressed the familiar recessed lines in the smooth metal.
Letters.
He closed his eyes and hugged the piece of metal tightly to his chest.
FCG.
Our Faithful Care Giver.
A new, horrible thought rose to the surface.
FRIDA. Fuck.
What am I going to tell FRIDA…
Unconsciously he gently rubbed the moons on his shoulder. The physical pain that lingered taking a backseat to the anguish that burned through him. It was not a new feeling. He didn't like it. He would rather feel the physical pain.
He closed his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing and refocus his thoughts, but it didn't help.
It should have been me…
Letters should be with FRIDA, and I would be with Will. And Dad.
Oh Dad, I failed.
Again.
He tightly gripped his tattooed shoulder.
This is too big, and I'm, I'm too li….
A firm hand squeezed his other shoulder, breaking him away from those spiraling thoughts. He glanced up, first to the hand, then up Fearne. She was leaning down, but he still had to look up at her. Her expression was full of concern, her voice soft, warm, and comforting, “You okay?”
He didn't think he knew the answer to that yet, but he knew he couldn't talk without falling apart, so he simply flung himself around her in a tight hug. If she could feel the tears soaking into her skirt, she didn't say anything.
***
Fearne was barely holding it together. FCG was gone. She had never lost anyone she loved like that. But her best friend needed her, so she focused on him. Orym was a hardened soldier, the Savior Blade of the Tempest. He fought steady and bravely. He was a little guy, but so strong and agile. She had never seen anyone do so many sit ups, or wield a sword with such grace and control.
But his heart was fragile, having already been broken, and not yet fully mended.
Not that it ever could be. Some wounds never fully heal. She was starting to understand that. Her heart began to crumple under the weight of their mutual loss, compounded by seeing the pain in Orym’s face.
She could feel his rough, gasping breathing as he clung to her. “I’m just so sad…” he finally managed to say, his voice wavering and cracking.
“Me too, buddy. Me too.“
She couldn't fix their broken hearts.
So she gently rubbed small circles onto his back instead, pushing away the sad thoughts, and focusing on comforting him.
I can't fix this, but I can remind him that he's not alone.
Suddenly, Orym jerked his head away from her to look towards the cave entrance. She could see the spot he left behind, damp and soiled with blood and dirt (although her clothes were already quite soiled beforehand). Chet had also glanced over his shoulder at the same time. They must have heard something.
Quietly but firmly Chet informed them “We have to move, we won't be alone here long.”
She watched Orym nod, his face now stern and determined. A grim look, with the dark smudges the tears had not yet managed to wash away.
A soldier's face.
Fearne lifted him, easily swooping him up and onto her shoulders. So light! And so drained, his grasp weak as he held on. Between being so exhausted from the fight and his little legs, she was sure he couldn't move as fast as they needed to. And they needed to move fast. They needed to find a safe place. They all needed to rest.
***
Orym slipped the hunk of metal he had been gripping into his bag as Fearne lifted him
“Let's go!” Chetney growled.
“On it!” Ashton raged and punched the wall where the exit was. That was something he was good at.
“We still need to find the …” Laundna’s frustrated statement was cut short.
“Found it!” Imogen exclaimed, briefly holding up the staff FCG had been carrying. Laudna stopped her search with a sigh of relief, hugged her girlfriend, and made her way to the others.
The staff. Smart.
Imogen was smart. Orym had known since early on that she was leadership material. They would need the staff for its ability to teleport everyone. Soon. Too bad it needed to recharge first.
Imogen moved to follow, but stopped short. Keeling down she gently kissed her fingers, and pressed them into the cave floor. Her lips moved in a whisper, but he read their movements, "Thank you, Letters."
Letters.
someone would need to attune to it.
Because…
Letters. Letters is gone.
I failed.
I wasn't enough, even with the powers Nana Mori gave me.
Orym felt a firm squeeze on his leg, grounding him. Fearne kept one hand firmly around one of his legs to make sure he didn’t slip off as she rushed down the tunnel.
He held onto her with as much strength as he could muster, as the remaining Bell’s Hells fled for their lives. He was glad for the ride. He needed to save his energy, not that he had much left, in case they had to fight again.
He looked at his friends, all beaten and tapped out, but pushing themselves past their limits once again. Helping to steady one another and make sure everyone was keeping up.
He had great friends.
Weird, but great. Dad and Will would have loved them. Maybe they are getting to meet FCG…
It was a comforting thought, although his heart still ached. Orym hugged Fearne’s head tighter and nuzzled against her hair a little, careful to avoid her horns.
I couldn't save FCG, but for now I need to focus on getting the others home.
Home safe.
Alive.
Somehow.
Dad and Will wouldn't stop fighting, and neither will I…