Work Text:
This is the end of your days
It's time we end the charades
Open the cage, I want to play
Time for the bridges to blaze
I'm slipping into a craze
Twisted images into the brain
Turn up the volume on the pain
Give me the feeling I crave
Show me your villainous ways
Show me the killer's awake
Make me afraid
That's how you bring me to life
Make the adrenaline race
I want a taste
“FOOLISH!!!” His best friend in the whole world screamed his name, a red and black cloaked demon standing above her with a triumphant gaze as he swung his blade once more into her tender flesh.
The totem named spent this whole ride over here trying to calm the anger bubbling beneath the surface of his golden skin, this event was bringing out the ancient rage within his heart and that was a dangerous concept. He was barely holding back the lightning crackling between his bones, attempting not to electrocute his trusty steed that brought him as fast as he could.
The shark hybrid knew something was wrong the moment Jaiden’s death indicators repeatedly appeared on his communicator, initially she worked out a deal with the devil for a few kills then she could run free but it appears the demon wanted more.
After days of watching his friends die repeatedly, feeling the blades of steel himself as he stitched their wounds, he was reaching a point of no return. Their life prior had been full of stressful things, yes, but nothing compared to this harsh landscape they had now been tossed into. Given tasks to kill their fellow islanders for the sake of points, the totem did his best to lift morale when needed.
But hearing Jaiden’s terror as Bad killed her another time, her scream abruptly cut off as nether particles surrounded her corpse and disappeared, he danced along the precipice of no return. A few heart-wrenching seconds later, she reappeared at their spawn with a brand new scar where Bad had slain her.
Watching as the demon turns his gaze upon the terrified avian with feathers the same shade as an aurora borealis Foolish throws himself from his horse's saddle and directs it far away. Jaiden peers his way, her horror painted upon her lovely features in a masterpiece of defeated agony, and her shining onyx eyes widen as the first strike of red lightning snaps across Foolish’s skin. Looking over the edge within his heart, he leaps into the chasm letting his ancient abilities awaken as crimson tattoos flash to the surface of his skin and his long night sky tresses free themselves to blow in an invisible wind.
He takes one last look at Jaiden through the emerald eyes she felt safest in, and breaks the seal around his soul.
With a loud groan of agony, the markings beneath his skin shatter and begin to tear apart as his powers flare, gorging themselves on the death energy that surrounds this battlefield. They slowly fade beneath his skin once more to become a dull, flashing edge that only added to his effect.
“Bad.” His normally joyful voice has dropped into a low serenade, a beautiful symphony of danger as the demon he called upon slowly turned his way. “Step away from her.”
“Foolish…” Jaiden breathes out, wrapping her nightsky wings close to her shoulders as she drags herself away from where he approached. “Foolish, what’s going on?”
“Oh Foolish, it’s about time you were finally yourself.” Bad taunts, drawing his axe back into a more defensible position as two blades of storm flash into Foolish’s palms.
“Jaiden.” Foolish bites out, his teeth sharpening back to his fangs contouring his voice to have an unsettling tone. “Run!”
Not waiting to see if she does so, he closes the distance between himself and the demon slamming both his blades down onto the shield he barely changed to in time.
I feel my rage erupting
Feed my appetite for destruction
Blood rushing
I love when
You feed my appetite for destruction
“It’s been so long since I saw those blood-red eyes.” Bad announces when they are close, Foolish baring his teeth at him as lightning crackles around him once more. “You got your juice back too, good, I don’t want this to be easy.”
Shoving him back with an impressive show of strength, he swings his glimmering axe which Foolish catches with his blade, trading blows with each other as the clouds rumble above. The tiniest part of his heart started to worry as the environment around them warped to his wants, craving the blood of this beast across from him who hurt the only person to ever truly understand him here.
Bad’s snow-white eyes narrowed as they fought, dancing across the battlefield in a scenario as old as time. Neither were sure why fate kept tossing them back together, a sentiment shared between was the other only existed only to spite them. But since arriving upon these blood-soaked sands beneath a red sky the demon had been nothing but a menace and it was poetic that the one to eventually fight back against his tyranny was the one who knew him the longest.
Putting himself between Bad and where Jaiden was sheltering in their first base, he screeches in rage as Bad blocks yet another strike. It was a clumsy defense, one Foolish nearly knocked aside with a follow up attack from his second sword before Bad retreated a few steps.
“You’ve been training.” Bad comments, something Foolish only sneers in response to, the language of this modern day leaving his brain as his anger feasted.
He felt drunk on the red that stuck his feet to the ground, unconsciously pulling all the energy of fresh death into his heart. The storm around them was slowly increasing in its ferocity, drawn in by their element as crimson lightning flashed around the one who was created from the chaos nature would rain down upon them.
He was a primal creature, forged in the kingdoms of above in forges using lightning bled by the gods. The totem felt his soul slowly start to weave itself into the ground around them, more and more strikes from above closing in on the dueling pair.
This is when Badbayhalo hesitates for the first time, a flash of uncertainty crossing his face as Foolish’s body trembled with the thundering power swirling around above them. This mere pause is enough for the shark to draw his first blood, opening a large gash in the demon’s forearm that begins to leak golden essence as he stumbles back.
That enticing aroma fills Foolish’s enhanced senses, his tattoos flashing once more as his forearms slowly cover themselves with scales instead of golden flesh marked with red manacles. He needed more, he wanted that demon to bleed all that wonderful liquid from his body so the totem could gorge himself on it, able to taste a fallen angel’s heart once more.
As his jaws snap when that impulsive decision is made, Bad puts up his first show of surrender. “Okay, I have had my fun…I’ll just get out of here and you can take Jaiden back—no hard feelings right?”
“No hard feelings about causing her untold amounts of pain?” He growls out in a language only spoken in the dimension haunted by chilling bells, tone mangled by his rage. “You have killed Jaiden at least a dozen times, you heartless bastard!”
With that, the first strike grazes Bad as it slams into the ground a mere block away from him, scorching the right sleeve of his cloak he hid his features beneath besides his cold marble eyes. “It’s time you face the consequences of your choices, devil.”
“Fudge, I might have made a mistake.” Bad tries to retreat until Foolish fuses himself with the storm to appear directly before him with the next lightning impact, reaching out to grab his neck.
The shark’s weapons disappear as Bad’s clatter to the ground, occasionally being shocked by the electricity running through the totem’s bloodstream.
I heard you wanted a war
Funny, I wanted it more
Here comes the "bang-bang" on your door
It's time to back up the noise
I've been ignoring the voice
Begging me seek and destroy
It's eating my core
Feel like a time bomb in the eye of a storm
Let all the chips hit the floor
Do everything that you want
Settle the score
That's how you bring me to life
That's when I'm feeling recharged
I want it all
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…
It was all the old crow could chant within his mind, thinking of the frantic messages from Jaiden after Cellbit awoke him from his slumber when his device alerted him. In broken texts filled with mistakes she explained Bad had taken to killing her directly beside where they spawned upon their death up until Foolish had found out and rode to attempt to save her.
Phil gathered together his gear quickly after they stopped receiving responses, worrying for the worst he and Cellbit took off on their horses in a rush to return to their first base. They made fantastic time, both pushing their rides to their limit out of fear for their friends.
They are at an all out gallop as they cross into the boundaries of their old home when Phil yanks the reins back to stop them quickly seeing the stormy sky above tinged crimson.
“Hey Phil, what the fuck is going on?” Cellbit gasps through his gas mask, wearing the symbol their group came to find comfort in, handsome face confused as Phil’s mouth drops open.
It can’t be…
Without a word he gets off his horse and sends her off far away from the scene opening up before them, Cellbit following the crow’s actions without having to be requested and carefully cresting the hill they used to live in the valley of. The winds whip back their clothing as they observe what is happening, Foolish holding Bad by his throat in the middle of a smouldering field.
However Phil’s priority became clear when he saw the shattered lines of crimson flash across golden flesh, taking a deep breath as he prepared to enter a scene he had hoped to never see again. Cellbit reaches out to stop him, reminding Phil he isn’t alone as he waits in silence for the crow’s orders.
“Get to Jaiden and go to the shore we arrived upon.” His tone leaves no room for discussion, Cellbit clearly torn about leaving him to face the horrifying battlefield stricken with electricity until finally the blonde narrows his eyes. “Go. I’ll explain later, I swear.”
Taking that as a promise, Cellbit fades back into the sparse flora to circle around to the tower as Phil takes a deep breath. Choosing to sheathe his weapon instead, he gathers his wits then takes his first step out of where he had been crouching.
Not flinching as an explosion sounds to his left, he continues forth unhurried as the demon pleads for the mercy he himself didn’t provide. Cautious in his approach, he is a mere few blocks away when Foolish whips his head in the crows direction.
His ruby eyes glowed with power, fangs flashing as he growls towards Phil who holds up his hands.
“I am not here to interfere, mainly to deal with the aftermath.”
Bad’s panic only increases hearing the crows declaration, tossing a pleading look towards Phil who simply glares back with his ocean gaze. The demon is attempting to escape but is prevented by Foolish’s tight grasp, a simple movement away from snapping his neck if he fights too much and holding him in place with the electricity he was attuned to. “He’s going too far!”
“No, I think he’s giving you grace you didn’t give my family by not having killed you yet.” Phil’s own rage simmers forth, but he is able to keep it under control only letting the smallest show of his own deadly abilities flash in his eyes as a murder of crows fill the skies Bad begged. “However, Foolish, if you slay him I do not know what will happen to you.”
Something Phil felt terrible to say, his memories pulling forth a time eerily similar to this when he was forced to fight the shark for nearly a week before they sealed his powers. When the shark became surrounded by death he lost himself to the want to consume it, the tattoos he wore for eras an effective hold until now it seems. Phil had borne witness to a world’s death due to circumstances that echoed these, just before they crafted the sealing spell formed of enchanted ink.
“Please don’t make me have to take you down.” Phil’s own voice is soft, resting his hand on his trusty sword watching Foolish consider his options.
“He murdered Jaiden. Repeatedly!” Phil watches another of the inked chains across Foolish’s chest snap, his destructive capabilities barely restrained by the tiniest threads of magic. “He deserves to feel all the pain he dealt about a thousand times over.”
“I agree.” Bad’s gasp is nearly comical if it wasn’t for Phil watching the potential end of this world brought about by an awakened Totem of Death. “But do you want to risk killing the rest of our team like that? With you crazed off the energy release after a demon’s demise?”
The smallest hint of hope fills Phil’s chest watching Foolish consider the idea, hoping he can still understand the logic the crow presented. “Tell you what, we release this bastard and take Jaiden back to our base to patch you both up? Even though we are literally going through Purgatory, let's do so as a united family, Jaiden is very worried about you right now.”
That last sentence is barely above a whisper but it has its intended effect, Foolish turning to look where Jaiden and now Cellbit are waiting. Phil watches Foolish’s hold on Bad trembles for the first time as he observes the scene before him.
The taller brunette man stands protectively in front of the avian woman, peeking around his shoulder with worry heavy on her face as she stared at her best friend. The crow was proud the shark had finally found someone he could trust here, liking watching the immortal being slowly let more friends closer for the first time in many, many moons. The bluebird and totem grew close very quickly, Foolish defending her at every occasion needed, a favour returned by Jaiden. They had a deep understanding of how one another worked, and she knew there was something deeply wrong with her closest companion right now.
I feel my rage erupting
Feed my appetite for destruction
Blood rushing
I love when
You feed my appetite for destruction
Phil waits for Foolish’s next action with a calculating gaze, keeping his weight balanced in case he suddenly needs to move. Jaiden eventually shoves Cellbit aside and brazenly walks out into the storm, the weather morphing around her as Foolish concentrates. The crow is in awe watching the scene, praying to the Goddess the avian will be the voice of reason they all needed.
“Foolish, please.” She coughs out, Phil himself barely suppressing a hiss of rage seeing all the new scars across her skin tearing through her own art pieces inked beneath her skin. But those tattoos were choices, Foolish’s were required to keep him in check. Something he appeared to have willingly broken, all on this intriguing woman’s behalf whose feathers were painted like the northern evening sky. “Let’s go home.”
With a final snap of power which Bad makes a noise of pain in response of, Foolish releases his clasp and turns entirely towards Phil. The crow turns to tell Bad to get the fuck out of here to empty air, the demon clearly realising he had caused enough problems and fled off in the opposite direction.
Phil takes a step back, holding out his hand to stop Jaiden’s arrival as the atmosphere gathers in front of them once more, Foolish screaming as it erupted towards heaven from his body as he forcefully ejected the energy his powers fed on.
Swaying, Phil reaches out to catch him as he almost falls over. Cellbit catches up to them now as Jaiden reaches out to embrace Foolish where he is supported by Phil, the brunette with a single white streak the last to join. Phil calms himself and slowly the tension releases from his shoulders, thanking Her above that Foolish was going to be alright.
“Mate, we agreed to stop having to do this.” Phil weakly jokes as Foolish coughs, clearing his throat as he gives a small smile.
“Sorry Phil, this has been a lot.”
In that sentence Phil feels his age, having existed for quite a while before their paths first crossed when the shark was much younger. “It’s okay, let’s not dwell on it right now.”
Jaiden is still uneasy, looking over her shoulder far too often for Phil’s liking. Making a definite point to draw his sword, he keeps watch as they start their journey back to where the boat waited. Cellbit takes over walking with Foolish, the group silent for a good long while before the inquisitive man breaks the silence.
“Can I ask what we just saw?” Phil’s heart aches hearing the uncertainty in his dear friend, slowing his pace so he walks by Cellbit’s side as he answers the question.
“That is what happens when you push a Totem of Death too far. It’s been a while since the last incident, but I hope I remember how to craft the spell to seal his powers away again.”
“Goddess, I hope you do.” Foolish’s voice is weak, his face fallen with disappointment. “I can’t believe I let him break me.”
“He didn’t, even we can run out of patience, shark.” Phil’s voice is heavy with many stories shared between their ageless hearts. “Stop beating yourself up, anyone would snap after what he did to Jaiden.”
He hears the acid invade his tone, the woman he spoke of flinching misinterpreting his anger. “You were both put in an impossible situation, there will be no blaming oneself in this group. Where’s that BOLAS attitude we are known for, hm?”
Cellbit laughs as he straps his gas mask back to his face, Phil following suit with his own shaped slightly different with a longer nose piece like a crow’s beak. They help their hurt teammates place theirs on before getting into the boat waiting by the shore, the wind across the sea occasionally toxic and it felt unifying to do so.
I feel the monster rising up inside and I can't hold it down
I'm hungry for destruction
Pieces crumbling, fall into the ground
Dawn light peaks above the mountain that protected a family forged in blood and desperation, four souls barely awake as they complete their task. It had taken them a few hours to put together an ingredient list they were confident was close to correct, rummaging through their stores as Phil invoked his abilities as an Angel of Death to give them the last thing they needed.
After a single drop of his starlight blood darkened with his wife’s influence is added to the ink, Jaiden begins the long process of repairing the tattoos crawling across Foolish’s skin. As their resident expert, before they were tossed into this hell she was well known for her services involving the art. Here it was a much simpler, improvised machine that hummed away but it worked for the task she needed it to perform.
Foolish kept fading in and out of slumber as Cellbit held his hand, Phil keeping watch while Jaiden worked away. This was quite different than when they did this ceremony originally, but Phil found himself appreciating these mortals they had come to love willingly work their way through exhaustion to save their friend.
Earlier Phil had sketched back out the sigils across Foolish’s golden skin to make it easier, Jaiden stopping to take another swig of tea before the machine hummed to life once more. Cellbit is rubbing Foolish’s hand with his own digits when he breaks the silence, the totem having fallen back asleep.
“What could have happened if he killed Bad?”
A question Phil hoped he didn’t have to answer, the crow winced as he refilled his companion’s mug with tea before settling down on the chair he had taken vigil upon. Their other teammates were scattered in various corners of their cavern base still asleep, Jaiden reaching out to Cellbit as he was one of the lightest sleepers and he was her best chance.
“The soils would have boiled like the sea as he rained hell from above onto us, I doubt we would have been spared tonight if he did snap that devil’s deserving neck.” He hates the terrified looks that are traded between Cellbit and Jaiden, his next words quicker and less thought out. “But he only reaches this point if he is pushed too far, I haven’t seen this in many moons.”
“How many?” Cellbit’s guarded gaze was perfectly understandable as he spoke.
“At least a century's worth.” Phil assures, his company looking less concerned but the tension hadn’t melted yet. “Look, he is going to blame himself enough for all of us when he wakes up and remembers what happened. He cares more than he says about you two, this is coming from someone who has known him much longer than even an idea of your existence did. Take comfort in the fact that once his abilities are sealed it's only on behalf of his friend’s he is willing to risk breaking that spell. I am going to leave it up to him whether we tell the rest of BOLAS but please know he would rather die than harm you.”
“I once told myself nothing would ever break the trust we share and tonight's no exception.” Jaiden says with confidence after a few moments. “In fact, I feel cared for because he was willing to risk it all to protect me.”
“Once the seal is complete, he will be the same old Foolish you know and love.” Phil confirms, meeting his eye to Cellbit’s. “I swear that upon my life, even if he did give in I would have saved you.”
He had no other choice, his heart admits, meeting the cautious gaze of these lovely souls who would be memories to him far too quickly. Treasureing how Cellbit eventually accepts it, they keep each other awake until Jaiden finishes the seal.
Phil spends the last energy he has to provide the final lock on the seal that was inked over Foolish’s heart, fresh crimson tattoos extending beyond in the lines they once lay until he drew on the stormy chaos within his core.
Cellbit drags himself off to bed afterwards, his clever eyes heavy with sleep as he leaves the room they had gathered within. Jaiden stays directly beside Foolish, staring down at him as Phil gathers his things to go rest himself before he pauses to ask the night sky avian one last question.
“Are you going to stay by his side?”
She nods as she removes a book from her inventory to sketch in to pass the time, a second wind overtaking her near the end of her task. “I don’t want him to wake up alone.”
“That’s a good call.” Phil confirms, gathering his aching wings close to his spine as he stands. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to wake me up.”
“I think we will be okay now.” The crow admires how she holds herself, pale scars evident of her strength as she reaches over to brush a stray piece of his hair from his face. “I have many things to pester him about, I better start writing down my questions before I forget.”
With that, Phil knows it's all going to work out. He had been scared himself all those hours ago seeing skies straight out of an apocalypse above them, Foolish being able to come to his senses then Jaiden taking great care of her dear friend afterwards had restored his hope they were going to be okay as a team.
“I hope you rest well, Jaiden.”
“Thank you Phil, you too.” He smiles at her fond grin his way, though they were facing some of the worst events they had seen on this world he was grateful for the chance to get to know the people he didn’t often see.
The moment he leaves her sight a sneer overtakes his face, threatening his own revenge on the demon who reportedly had killed one of his flock ruthlessly. Calming himself with the knowledge the best hunter is patient, he files the thought away for later what retribution he wished to subject Bad too.
Settling down where he had chosen to roost, a higher plateau tucked further from the rest of their base he lays down upon his thin bedroll while still contemplating what to do. He was incredibly grateful he didn’t have to attempt to contain an awakened Totem, his old body had a lot more aches these days from the endless fighting his lifetime led him through.
His bedtime tale became the tasks they would have to do tomorrow, forcefully changing what he was thinking of so he didn’t send himself into his own spiral. The last thing he sees is the amazing vision of Jaiden willing to walk into a harsh storm for her dear friend. He comforts himself that they would all weather this system as a family bonded by bloodshed and circumstances, made stronger by those who chose to be at their sides no matter the consequences, a hand to hold when the ground was swept from beneath them.
It had been many moons since Phil felt so safe, he only hoped the shark would awaken with the same feeling in the morning. If Foolish didn’t, there would be several people to remind him. The crow was positive there were two souls in particular who would comfort him, and he would believe them if no one else.
That would have to be enough to get through these next two weeks together, and Phil had faith it would. They were all stubborn bastards after all, too defiant to remain defeated for long. They would come back swinging after providing soft care to one another after this scare, that Phil could promise.
I feel my rage erupting
Feed my appetite for destruction
Blood rushing
I love when
You feed my appetite for destruction