Lynx winced and groaned as she came to, vision hazy; she remembered the stairs, leaning on Alice… she remembered exhaustion catching up to her, harder and harder… and then, nothing. She must have passed out- and now, that shimmering golden light was everywhere, like warm snowflakes drifting through the air, but… the stars were there, too. There was laughter, and merriment, and joy- the things she'd spent a hellish few days without. Gods, how did J and Elijah find the will to keep going… how do any of them, when CA left them all to rot…? Thoughts for later…
Groaning, the blonde slowly sat up, coughing weakly and shifting, stretching, her tail curling around into her lap. Nearby, Nara sat on her ankles, humming and talking about star readings with a disheveled, gray-haired man who looked like he might have been homeless. When Lynx sat up, though, her head snapped around and after a split second's hesitation, Nara moved forward and grabbed Lynx's shoulders, glaring into her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"N-Nara- yeah, I'm okay," Lynx muttered, eyes softening. Thank everything that it didn't take your form.
"Are you? No lies, Lynx, how are you feeling," Nara whispered, resting a hand on Lynx's chest, which was now covered, she noticed, with a warm, olive-colored sweater.
"I'm feeling fine," Lynx smiled, coughing into her elbow a second later. "Okay, a little sick, but I'm fine. Swear."
"Mmm… okay," Nara murmured, and Lynx gently laid her hand over the kitsune's where it rested on her chest.
"Where is Alice? Elijah, J?"
"Alice ran to the store- said she was getting something for you, real quick. J, Elijah- if you mean the two men that came out with you, they were arrested. They're being interrogated by Aerendyl, last I heard."
"Good. He'll be fair," Lynx nodded, deflating some. "I'm sorry, Nara. One minute I'm trying to back off and give you space to sort your feelings, and the next… well, clearly I'm more trouble than you ought to- mnf-" Lynx, eyes widening, loosed a small, surprised moan as the kitsune kissed her, freezing for a moment. When Nara leaned back, it was with a laugh.
"Yeah, sorted out my feelings. You think that you are a terrible person, Lynx, but this is far from the truth."
"This concert," Lynx whispered, trying to change track. "This, was to… Alice said it's a concert to celebrate my escape…?"
"Well, call me manipulative if you wish," Nara replied with a smirk, glancing sideways as the homeless man, who had until now been watching curiously, shuffled away with a chuckle, grabbing a beer and disappearing into the crowd. "I asked for a favor in return. Eastbrook, I saved. You, Eastbrook saved, as did everybody else inspired by that night. Are you proud of me? I have… utilized my abilities quite well."
"Y-Yeah," Lynx mumbled, blinking slowly, eyelids painfully heavy. "Proud of you, for sure, if that's worth anything. No joke, you and Alice… gods, I wouldn't have made it out on my own. I tried so hard, but if not for the two of you…"
"We were there. That is all that matters."
"Why would you go so far out of your way for me…?" Lynx whispered, eyes glassy, head heavy.
"Because," Nara answered with a smile. "One, it is just the right thing to do. But, in addition… I really think you're a gorgeous, badass woman who wishes to improve the world around her. Your hostage negotiation, well intentioned if nothing else. The desire to be active, and help… I think that you may be confused, but you are a good person who wishes to help, even when it hurts. Do you not understand how rare that is?"
"I just, I'm not," Lynx shook her head and gasped as Nara leaned in and kissed her slowly, deep, smiling into it.
"You are. You're a terribly traumatized woman who wants to be better than her past. In a world of gods and arch demons and corrupt, terrible angels; can we not just enjoy this? Girls in a world they hardly understand who want to do good; why ought we to complicate it worse than that?"
"I hate you," Lynx mumbled and pulled Nara down, kissing her again, deeper, angling her head.
"I mean it," Nara whispered breathlessly, swallowing. "The hostage negotiation, the care for Aerendyl and Alice, my feelings and needs; you say you're a terrible person but I see you do nothing but take accountability, and try to-"
"Shut, up," Lynx whispered breathlessly, laughing- and this time, when their lips crashed together, Nara leaned in and deepened it herself.
-
It killed her to leave Lynx there, resting in a tent at the concert with Nara and a homeless man watching over her… but there she stood, sore and with her clothes half destroyed.
She said the monster looked like me, right? That's why she shoved me away- she doesn't hate me- she wouldn't hate me, right? Gods, Alice, you're pathetic, how do you manage to whine in your own head- seriously though, she, she wouldn't hate me, she wouldn't, that's not, that, she wouldn't-
Focus. Come on. Do something to set yourself apart from that freak. Something obvious. What can I find in a corner store that's not me using a little magic to cheat. How can I, try…
Makeup washes off- oh, hair dye-!
"Hey pretty girl, you looking for something?" A young man approached her, and she looked him up and down briefly. Name tag. Walkie talkie.
"Thank you, however, I'm gay. Like, turbo gay. Don't wanna lead you on. Like if there was a trophy for being the most gay girl in the world I'd be too busy kissing a girl to go receive it. They'd have to mail it."
"Hey, thanks for being transparent," The employee smiled. "If you're not uncomfortable, is there something I can help you find?"
"Eh?"
"No means no. I still work here though, what are you looking for?"
"Hair dye," Alice sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "Could use magic, but I want it to be authentic. Effort, or whatever. The gesture."
"Oh, okay- how long do you want your dye to last?"
"As long as possible."
"Oh, so the good brands are going to be right over here," The employee grinned and led her a bit down the aisle, showing a certain set of boxes. "These would be what you're looking for."
"Thanks. You a gamer?"
"Yeah, actually, why do you ask-"
"I know this angel who comes here for her tampons twice a month; green eyes and always in some shitty graphic T. She's easy, if you want to ask her out."
"O-Oh!"
-
"Concert won't end for another couple hours," Alice groaned, letting her head fall back, soaking her hair haphazardly, rinsing, swallowing. "Ugh… Lynx might not even ask if this was magic or real dye… and then I'll just look like an idiot…"
She shuddered, strongly, a twinge of pain lancing through her side, body raging for sleep. Not yet, though, Alice told herself, wincing as she straightened up, swallowing, pushing out of the room, pushing her hair into a towel and making her way toward the door. As she did, two locks escaped, framing her face; one snowy, the other gingery-orange like a pumpkin.
-
"Do you want to join the festivities?" Nara smiled, and Lynx leaned back, not even noticing the spit bridging their bottom lips until Nara, giggling, swiped it away. "Come come, this is a concert. I would be remiss if you did not enjoy at least a song or two."
Lynx nodded, swallowing, and spoke through gritted teeth, when she did. "Sounds good. Let's…"
"Let's stop complicating things, and be girls who have something to celebrate and a lot of hormones, and feelings, and are so very human, for a pair of demons," Nara offered helpfully, taking Lynx's hand, helping the blonde to her feet. "Alice should be back soon, but for now…"
"Hey!!" A voice, masculine, and Lynx looked up as a reporter approached them. He was grinning ear to ear, but his camera hung at his hip; he'd come to talk, not harass, it seemed.
"Can I get an interview? Please??" He begged, bowing deeply, looking up at them. "Please come on you totally have to let me, please-"
"No," Nara laughed, and Lynx grit her teeth, stepping forward, wincing as her right foot came down.
"I'll talk to you- if that's okay, Nara?"
"You need rest-"
"I feel okay. Enough for this at least, I swear."
"Then alright, but you sit down for it."
"Sure," Lynx nodded, wincing as she sat down; eager, practically tripping over himself, the reporter sat facing her, a few feet away. "Nara, can I borrow your phone?"
"Sure…?" The kitsune handed it over, unlocked, and Lynx punched in a number she'd memorized, holding it to her ear.
On the second ring, he answered.
"What's up, Nara?"
"Aerendyl, this is Lynx-"
"Lynx-!!"
"Aerendyl, do you truly believe what you say? That you want to change the world for the better? To make CA an agent of the people, and cleanse its corruption?"
"Yes-? Why-" Click, Lynx hung up and handed the phone back to Nara.
"What do you want to know, reporter?"
"Can I record?" He pleaded again, taking out his phone.
"Sure. What do you want to know?" Lynx asked again, swaying, vision fogging for a moment; she slumped, and Nara guided the blonde to lean on her shoulder.
"Why did you enter the sewer systems underneath Ravenhold? Some people speculate that you, Nara's lover, disappeared into the Old City!"
"Contracted Arms," Lynx began. "-is well aware that the Old City is not abandoned." As she spoke, the man's eyes widened, but she pressed on, heedless of whatever consequences may come. "The drug that plagues much of this nation, from what I gather? The largest production factory- one that makes regular, monitored runs into Ravenhold every so often- it's down there. They're stuck, it's their only way of life."
"What are they trapped by?!"
"On one end, the Frozen North. The legend of the Bleeding Ice, I heard that mentioned a few times."
"The ancient dragon who supposedly stalemated a god of pain and torture?!"
"On the other, an arch demoness who can read thoughts and use illusions to manipulate you, pulling you deeper and deeper into her web. They're stuck; but they do, now and then, sneak past this… ancient dragon. There's a way out."
"Then, why would CA do nothing to save them?! Criminals can be rehabilitated, and those people should be brought in, put behind bars to shape up or rot!!"
"I…" Lynx thought, swallowing. Cut Aerendyl slack. You owe him. You love him.
"I understand," Lynx began, trying to be delicate. "-Money matters, and people will always hold greed in their hearts. CA, though… it's beyond corrupt, and I believe that, while Aerendyl has your best interests at heart, the CA does not. Experimentation on helpless indivuals, lies, deceit, coverups, ignoring regular drug trade… I can't even give you a flashy one liner like, make CA great again- because was it ever great? CA was a wartime military meant to set an example… and control. There's a reason that officers carry not tasers and tear gas, but military-grade assault weapons. Maybe the weapons aren't the issue… but no. I don't think CA cares about saving people. Not when it's that or a profit. I… may regret this," She added, wincing, nose scrunching up, lip curling. "-I trust Aerendyl, and I do not trust CA. Even as part of it, myself."
"Then, will you leave CA?" The reporter asked with wide, rapt eyes, and Lynx smiled tiredly.
"We shall see. If I die or disappear in the coming weeks; it was Contracted Arms silencing me. I have no suicidal thoughts. I do not drink and I avoid drugs. There will be no accidents. There will be no mistakes. If I vanish; it was Contracted Arms, no matter what you're told."
"You believe they'd kill you?"
"I," Nara cut in. "-am the product of a God who calls himself the Playwright. He takes souls from the dead," She continued, as the reporter's eyes somehow widened further, jaw dropped lower. "He reincarnates them when the time is right, in his eyes, interrupting the cycle of life and death to create the ideal story. By the arguments of some, every word out of my mouth could be on his whim. Or maybe that god, he is angry that we have our own wills- I could not hope to know." She swallowed, and continued.
"What I can tell you is that Contracted Arms caught me after reincarnation at an airport and, while I was lost, confused, in a world I no longer recognized, they locked me in a cell and pumped me so full of drugs I could hardly think without aches and pains. I was saved by a rookie officer who wanted to do good- who ripped the needles out of me, risking his future for my escape. Contracted Arms has good people, truly; ones who want to help you."
"CA itself, though," Lynx cut back in. "It's not good. It's not thinking of you before the money. I understand that there is a bigger enemy, right now; the terrorists, the demons and angels who, high on angel shots are committing acts of violence; like the Eastbrook bombing. Answer me this though; for all the addicts and criminals we kill, how many programs have we opened to help them recover? Not all, sure, but how many addicts would change if they were not desperate, and unsure where their next meal might come from?"
"Wow…" The reporter laughed, the sound shocked, horrified.
"Only thing I need you to do for me is not post this interview until the day after tomorrow," Lynx smiled. "I've given you everything you want, and I'll even do you one better- I'll promise not to give an interview to anybody else, if you swear you'll wait forty eight hours. You'll be the only one with your name on this story."
"Why-"
"I really need a good night's sleep," Lynx laughed, shaking her head and sniffling. "I know damn well I just borderline shot myself in the head, with that little speech- but Aerendyl says CA needs to change, and I trust him. Change… starts with accountability."
"Am I interrupting, something?" Alice's voice, and Lynx looked up, stiffening… only to relax. Alice had found them, and now she sank to her knees beside Lynx with a smile, cupping her cheek even as her head rested on Nara's shoulder. Piercing blue eyes, slimy, tentacle-like tail… but there was something different now, complimenting the light dusting of freckles along her nose. Alice's long hair, snow-colored as always… but the under layer, visible behind her shoulders, was orange as a pumpkin, as were the tips of her hair.
"Alice- orange?"
"You pushed me off, said that the Demon looked like me, right?" She smiled, and leaned closer, testing the waters; only for Lynx to send her back, a bit, with a harsh, brutal kiss, instinctively biting her bottom lip as she drew back.
"You-"
"The demon didn't have orange hair with white, did it? I… it's real dye. Not magic, not permanent. I wanted to show you," She sighed, looking away, cheeks reddening. "That you're worth real effort, not a flick of the wrist and a dismissal."
"You didn't have to-"
"I wanted to. What, is orange a bad color for me? I thought it would look go- Mnf-" Alice huffed as she was kissed again; Lynx leaned in, letting her mouth open just a bit; oranges and warmth and smores, bonfires and self hatred but love- so much love and the feeling it had nowhere to go- I am soooo gonna struggle to get used to smelling souls, personalities, whatever.
"Hey, bitch," Nara huffed, grabbing Lynx's cheeks and yanking her around- the blonde gasped, tasting something so, so different as she melted into the fox; fires and warmth and songs and stories around the bonfire- smoke and reeds and ocean water, as their tongues warred, before she drew back, eyesight hazy.
"God you two- taste so good-"
"What?" Alice asked.
"Huh?" Nara.
"Still recording by the way," The reporter smirked. "Out of respect, though, I'll ommit this part from the interview."
"Good boy," Lynx chuckled in smoky tones, and began to slowly climb to her feet, swallowing. "Cmon, girls, let's get out there. I wanna see these bands up close, you know?"
"Wait, please," The reporter cut in gently. "Can I please ask just one more question?"
"Yes?" Lynx laughed, raising an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why speak out against CA, when they've helped you as much as they have?"
"It's the right thing to do. How many die because nobody helped? Because they prayed somebody else would take care of it- or because they said; 'I'm just me, too normal, I can't help.'? Listen," the blonde continued, sighing. "I want to be a kind and virtuous person- even when it's hard, I want to speak of what I believe in. Is it for brownie points? No. If I'm too afraid to speak the truth- to stand up for what I believe in- who will? I won't be another sheep- and I don't want credit, for it. I want to know that when I go to sleep at night, I lived that day as the best person I can- and right now, that means honesty. No matter what consequences come after."
"So you just, want to be good?"
"I want to be the best I can be. Not compared to you, or anybody. I can do good- so why wouldn't I? It's how I'm wired. It would be harder to do nothing, and know that I could have stepped forward. This… this is what CA should be. What Aerendyl wants it to be."
"Will you stay with them, then?"
"I will continue to do good. Whether that aligns with CA or not… we'll see."
"Demon speaking like an angel," The man laughed, shaking his head.
"I'm a person. Like you, and anybody else," Lynx replied dismissively. "I don't need wings and a halo to be honest."
-
It was magical- it was. Bodies pulsed and cheered and laughed; Lynx was shaking hands with people she'd never heard of or seen, and so was Nara- even though the kitsune awkwardly refused to let go of Lynx's waist, eyes wide with nervousness. Alice clung to them as well, laughing and twirling, leading the blonde around; at some point, she felt her head spinning- regardless of what she'd said in the interview, that was not normal fruit punch…
And amidst the laughter, the cheers, the sweaty bodies and the making out and the music- Lynx opened her mouth, laughing, and inhaled, overwhelmed by the raw goodness and love, unity that flooded every fibre of her being.
At some point Aerendyl showed up, and she remembered hugging him, laughing and sobbing into his shoulder as he apologized over and over- but the conversation was a blur, and all she could think was how hot the scars on his neck and forehead were before Alice pulled Lynx away, telling Aerendyl she was drunk, and he should come see her in the next couple days.
Dancing, dancing, kissing, celebrating; Lynx found herself on stage, screaming into a microphone and laughing, with Nara sheepishly grabbing another microphone and singing with her as Lynx used a hand to mop sweaty, lank hair out of her face, singing on and on and on.
"And by the way?!" She laughed, at the end. "WE GOT PAST AN ANCIENT ARCH-DEMON, ARE WE METAL OR WHAT, BITCHES?!!! BAHAHAHAHA~!!!!!" And then she fell, and Alice caught her along with some random crowd members, and Lynx laughed harder, crying, looking up at the sky through a haze of swirling golden glitter. Ah, if only I could just stay here for an eternity, feeling like this…
Much time later, Lynx stumbled, and Alice caught her, smiling, kissing the blonde's temple.
"Pretty girl, I changed one other thing-"
"Shurrup, you're fine, beautiful, I don't care about-"
"I wanted to," Alice smiled, as the two collapsed into a bed of flowers, laughing. "I always saw myself as inhuman, shitty- so my dolls matched; no heart, no proper veins."
"Huh…?" Lynx sighed as Alice pulled the cat girl's head onto her chest, and Lynx laughed breathlessly, eyes widening. Thud. Thud. She has a heartbeat now.
"Hey, you two left me behind," Nara huffed, and Alice shoved Lynx partially to the side, sitting up and grabbing Nara's shirt, yanking the dark haired girl down into the pile with a giggle, laughing harder as Nara yelped, back bowing instinctively; all three starting to bubble with laughter, shaking their heads and lying together, comfortable.
"Oh, by the way," Lynx slurred, sighing and leaning back, closing her eyes.
"Yeah?" Nara chirped, angling her head.
"What is it?" Alice asked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh my god, bitch, did you fall asleep??" Laughter bubbling up, she tangled a hand into Nara's hair, grinning. "Sorry I disappeared so much. I was… well, after Aerendyl told me where she was, I bought up a ton of electric wiring and started modifying all the failed clones I had to channel better. Then I met with this shady-ass merchant and bought this remote control module system meant for automata; they were imperfect- discarded, not regulated. I got to work, prepping an army of decoys to help me go in myself. I didn't know our plans would line up so perfectly."
"Could have talked to me," Nara offered, her head suddenly bobbing, eyelids fluttering.
"It's okay, fall asleep," Alice smiled, laughing. "Go on~"
"No, I won't be doing any such thing, do not tell me what to do," Nara sighed, passing out, snoring into Lynx's breasts, crowned by the soft bell of Alice's laughter.
Glancing sideways, seeing the reporter from before holding his hands together as if in prayer, she nodded and leaned down, kissing Nara's head as the sound of a camera shutter clicking reached her ears.
-
Aerendyl sighed, leaning back against the trunk of a tree where he sat among the branches, and looked up at the man sitting above him.
"Not going to stop her?" Timio grinned down at the blonde, raising an eyebrow.
"She's right," Aerendyl admitted. "True change has to start with accountability. I'll let her rest a few days, and when that interview goes live… I'll do what I have to do."
"What's that, Aerendyl?"
"Stand behind her. She's got no idea what she just did to herself, but I'll help her navigate it."
"I'm glad," Timio whispered, closing his eyes. "That I wasn't wrong about you. That you're just a confused, lost, tired man- not a terrible one."
"Maybe I needed to be humbled," Aerendyl shrugged. "A problem I couldn't throw myself at and kill."
"Good man."
"Thank you," Aerendyl muttered, sighing. "For… the reality check. The reminder of what I believe in."