Chapter Text
"Oh my days…" Wemmbu groaned as he stretched his sore wings to the sky.
The End demon felt the warmth of summer on his skin. The warm sunlight seeped through in the betweens of the membranes– its light bounces with a purple hue onto the stray grass and cobblestone path. He kept stretching until a pop sounded itself, and his muscle released the tension that had been building up from the long flight. He then cracked his neck side to side, before finally looking around the crowded environment.
It's been almost a month since LettuceK was captured and locked in the prison of the kingdom. And the server has fallen into a peaceful state under Parrot's rule, as far as Wemmbu was aware. He didn't want to get involved in politics again, not when he would be hunted down for almost half the year when that happened. He shivered at the thought of being homeless the entire time and the paranoia that followed him.
It's not like it was Wemmbu who's peaceful. The demon wasn't born for the quietude. He goes out to take bounty requests and missions from neighboring civilizations once in a while, and the excitement from popping totems and crushing skulls would often give him the adrenaline he's always yearned for. He was just glad that he didn't need to worry much about draining his resources and instead did things at his own pace.
Hell, he doesn't really keep much PvP materials in stock these days. Only keeping the essentials just in case of something going horribly wrong. Which was getting rarer each day. He even started a farm near his treehouse when missions became too tiring.
Wemmbu lazily opened up his inventory and looked through it, finding a specific shulker and placing it onto the ground. "Okay, let me just do a double check on this stuff…"
His eyes scanned through the various items stored inside the shulker box. Apples, water bottles, books, and fishing rods with full durabilities laid tidily in it, organized in a way that was meant to use the limited space of shulkers to the best of its ability. It was pretty efficient, Wemmbu had to admit.
Oh well, the last thing he needed to get were the baits for the fishing rods, that should be easy enough to find. Wemmbu tossed back the shulker in his inventory and made his way into Merchant City.
He was just finishing up a bounty when his communicator rang a familiar ringtone that made him remember what day it was. He felt kind of bad, letting his friend wait for him just because he was too absorbed into chasing the thrill of fighting. But they wouldn't have been friends for this long for nothing if a simple late arrival would blow up their bond. Wemmbu would just get him a snack and maybe a new book as an apology, because giving gifts will always be easier than actually apologizing. He's just nonchalant like that.
Merchant City rumbled to life just as rowdy as it always has been; the vendors shouts from one end to the other to sell their items, discounts thrown everywhere like snowballs, and the signs were just as eccentric and scammy. Which wasn't new or anything, Wemmbu just didn't have a good experience being scammed in a market before. He has learned to actually see which shop worth his time now.
Wemmbu lets his leather boots wander through the stalls, eyes focused on searching for baits and snacks he knew his friend would enjoy. Preferably something with apples on it, he seemed to enjoy those. Or maybe watermelons and a treat with ice on it. That's the usual stuff people bring to beaches right?
Right, beaches. For some reason, instead of fishing at the lake that's located literally under his house, his fishing-franzied friend wanted to do his definitely very fun hobby at the sea instead. Wemmbu couldn't understand why, they both basically give you fish! Seemed like a pretty inefficient way to get something to eat, especially so when they both had been eating enough from the farm they're taking care of.
The angel insisted anyway, mumbling and ranting about how different it is, and how philosophically fishing is an astronomical hobby to have as it required the patience Wemmbu would never have. Which was fair, the demon does not have the patience to sit at the same dock for over five hours doing nothing but watching the sea.
Wemmbu should have said no, telling his friend he had a mission to do, or simply be honest about how lazy he feels. But he nodded then, for some reason. It just felt right– like a promise meant to keep.
The demon sighs when he realises he has passed the fishing shop when he saw that he's at the end of the cobbled road. He turned his boots around, the heels clacking over the cobblestone as he made his way back. God damn it, he's gotta make Eggchan catch the most insane fish to pay him back. He's grown tired of eating potatoes and steak all day.
***
The beach greeted him with a hot wind against Wemmbu's wings. The sky was an annoyingly bright blue, and surprisingly there were no clouds around. A perfectly framed summer sky. Literally the best time for Wemmbu to laze around and sleep all day. But sadly, his bed was a mere dream, he let out a huff of defeat.
When Wemmbu landed on the dock with a shulker filled with requested items and a bonus pastry, his best friend was sitting peacefully. His ear wings fluttered at his presence, and something told Wemmbu he's excited about today.
Eggchan looked glowing, in a literal sense. His white hair bounced the light from the summer sun and made his whole persona blindingly white.
"Brother, where have you been?" The angel greeted him without even looking back. His shoulders were relaxed, yet clearly focused on the water in front of him.
Wemmbu whined, dropping the shulker beside the fences. "Look man, this guy was like– crazy good at hiding. It took a while to find him," He took out a fishing rod, and made himself comfortable beside Eggchan. Well, as comfortable as he could on top of a wooden dock.
Eggchan snickered, "Dude, you can tell me if you're washed bro."
"Bro, I'm not washed!" Wemmbu jokingly shrieked, the water rippled beneath them. Eggchan giggled as he hushed the demon down with his finger. Wemmbu gave up and just decided to mutter how stupid this whole thing was.
"All those days living in peace caught up to you, Wem. That's just what life is" Eggchan continued, still in that annoying tone of the all-seeing-eye he always insisted.
Wemmbu sulked into himself, his fishing rod wobbled with the water and his movement. "Whatever dude, just— why can't we fish back at home anyway?"
"Bro, it's different." Eggchan insisted, again, "It's like asking why people go to Redstone Town instead of mining redstone themselves."
"That makes literally no sense." Wemmbu argued, but Eggchan simply shrugged. His focus went back to the sea.
"Shh… you promised me bro."
"When have I ever done that?" Wemmbu sulked. But his hands are already busy preparing his own fishing rod and bait.
"Like– Uhm, wait actually I don't know…" Eggchan trailed off, hesitating.
"Whatever man, just focus on your stupid fishing,"
It was calming, Wemmbu thought. He would never say it out loud, but something in him felt at peace watching the waves hit the dock's supporters. Oddly satisfying would probably be the word to describe it. With the sun no longer literally at their head, the wind turned colder and much better for Wemmbu's standard.
He could hear the flipping of books beside him, the bobbing of fishing bait possibly forgotten in favor of words written in ink onto paper. Eggchan was already neck deep into the couple of books Wemmbu carelessly swiped into the shulker box. The fresh apple fritters and the sliced watermelon he got were even untouched by the angel. Wemmbu's hand eventually slithered to the box of snacks he got, and made himself busy with nibbling down the fresh watery fruit.
He supposed fishing was fun, in its own odd way. He truly does get why Eggchan enjoyed this simple hobby. Egg was never the fighter type. He sneaks in sloppily into insane situations to help Wembu and he'd rather stay at the back and shoot his arrow, praying to whoever was out there it would hit the enemy. In this server where violence and robbery was just another day, it would make sense for Egg to yearn for activities with less stress put onto him.
But Wemmbu is the total opposite; he yearned for the thrill of fighting. He revels in the feeling of blood dripping down his fingers, and the realization that he's always been strong. Fishing never really came up to him, not until Eggchan came around. Since then, to Wemmbu, the hours spent sitting and staring at water rippling felt like a therapy session with nature, and the reward usually was enough to settle the score between him and his stomach. It's a win-win situation.
Wemmbu wondered if Eggchan was actually sent for him; to guard his back when he's on the front lines, wrap him up when he's unraveling, sit with him when everything got too loud. All the comforting acts that spelled out loyalty and trust between the angel and the demon.
He wondered if in another world, would he still have an Eggchan to his Wemmbu?
Wemmbu sighed when he realized he'd already finished half the snacks, stopping himself to leave the other half for Eggchan. He knew not to mess with his food years ago, he wouldn't want to repeat that. With nothing to do, the demon shook his feet impatiently on the docks, knocking on the hardwood floor with his heels. He really was getting snappy; the sun was slowly moving down, the summer air was getting colder, and Eggchan's bucket still had one or two salmon in it. A few books laid beside the bucket, maybe Wemmbu should ask for it later.
"Bro, when is it—"
Suddenly, a splash was heard and the two were drenched in cold water. It felt refreshing against the summer heat, but Wemmbu didn't want to get wet in the first place. His poor, awesome-nonchalant fit will now have to be washed as soon as he gets home.
When he opened his eyes, Eggchan had a giant swordfish on his hold. The scales of it shone with the summer sun, and it's trying its best to wiggle its way out of Eggchan's somehow strong grip. It looks like it's double the height of Egg himself, and Eggchan is taller than Wemmbu.
The angel smiled smugly, "See bro, it's all about patience and skill."
"You did not just catch that," Wemmbu accused. He can't believe this, it's just like when Egg kept getting insane book enchantments while he got sticks for all his baits. Sticks. Wemmbu hadn't even crafted sticks for years and he's getting them from fishing at the same pond Eggchan got mending from.
"Wh– dude you just saw me bring it up!"
"You're using your whatever angel power! It's cheating!" Wemmbu sulked, folding his hands like a child.
"Why would I waste it on a fish— actually, not a bad idea." Eggchan sputtered, "Bro, no– that's not the point!"
In the weakness of Eggchan's laughing and trying to argue with Wemmbu, the fish saw its chance and flew gracefully out of the angel's hands and back to the sea. As if being petty, the giant wave ended up wetting the duo again. The sea washed over them and the dock, drenching them in salty, fishy water.
Wemmbu merely stared at Egg with a disappointed look, "No way you just did that."
Eggchan shrugged, his face stoic as usual, but definitely uncomfortable from the moist feeling of his usually lightweight wings. "Bro that's like, entirely on you."
The two locked in a staring contest; eyebrows furrowed and lips forming a straight line. If anyone would see it, they'd think the two as enemies and were about to tear each other's throat right that second. It was natural; angels opposed demons and so forth.
But it didn't take long for the competition to end, because they ended up snickering and laughing out loud after seeing how ugly each other's faces were. They didn't care if there were other players around them, or if Wemmbu's infamous sound barrier-breaking laugh somehow destroyed a poor bird's hearing. The duo were giggling and cackling stupid like two kids who just learned what being a rebel actually meant.
The sun is slowly setting, they're still dripping wet, and they should probably head back home before they catch a cold.
The two packed up their two salmon and a couple of books of enchantment back into the shulker, bantering here and there about their recent impromptu bath session and about the day they've spent. Wemmbu wasn't surprised when he heard Egg had been on the beach far longer before he had arrived.
"Why do you even like the beach?" Wemmbu idly asked, his hands fiddling with the rod and its annoying line.
Wemmbu knows Eggchan liked nature, despite his reclusive tendencies of holding up just to finish writing lore in his room. But he never expected the beach. It seemed too dirty and annoying for the angel, especially with the wings. But maybe even Wemmbu still have something to learn about Eggchan, despite all the years they've spent together.
Eggchan was silent, his wings sat stiffly on his back and Wemmbu raised his eyebrow in confusion.
"It just felt right, I think." Egg finally answers after a millenia of silence, and Wemmbu lets it go. Maybe Egg would talk about it when he's ready, but it's definitely not now with drenched clothes and a salmon to cook.
"Okay bro," Wemmbu assured, and he could see the wings slump back into relaxation.
Wemmbu hauled up the shulkers into his inventory, and offered his hands to let Eggchan up his feet. He stretches his limbs and wings, earning a satisfying pop he always liked to hear and feel. He could see Eggchan doing the same, his lanky figure even covered the setting sun in front of him.
The walk home was uneventful, filled with nothing-conversations, the subtle hum of nature and the fading noise of the waves. Maybe the beach isn't that bad, after all. It did feel pretty relaxing, even if Wemmbu would never admit it. He glanced at his tall friend, seemingly bored out of his mind but the demon knew damn well Eggchan was as happy as he could get. His pure white wings fluttered subtly and his usually straight line of a lips was smiling a miniscule bit.
That's good. That just meant Wemmbu had done something right. He lets his gaze to the path in front of them, fields of green grazed their feet softly.
"Yo, Egg. Let's eat at mine today," Wemmbu mentioned, when the tall treehouse and whatever-abomination of Egg's house became visible behind the hills.
"Sure bro, as long as you peel me apples," Egg shrugged nonchalantly, even if his head wings fluttered subtly.
"Okay bro, you're such a baby," Wemmbu scoffed, he didn't deny it. Eggchan giggled stupidly.
It's always at this leisure time of their adventure when Wemmbu felt like all the exhaustion he felt drained instantly when he's near Egg. Even after long winded fights, strained runnings and deafening orbital strike cannons, there would always be a time where they're just doing nothing, and it felt better than how the word described it to be.
Nothing else in the world mattered anymore; not the bounties he still needed to finish tomorrow, not the farm, not whoever Arachnid was– it's just Wemmbu and Eggchan.
And Wemmbu could never wish for anything more.