Work Text
Two young men sat in a mansion just at the city's edge, they are part of an idol group boyband who had just finished a performance. Normally by this point they would be changing their clothes and get themselves ready to rest for the night, but they haven’t. This is because they are awaiting the return of the third member of the group who said he was going for a brief 10-minute walk of the neighborhood. But it has now been 40 minutes and he has for whatever reason not returned yet, this is making them quite worried albeit in their own ways.
“Hey Scara, why do you think Aether is taking so long to return?”“I don’t know Kazuha, not that i care for all i know he’s out there thinking about his sister complex again”“If you don’t care why you haven’t changed clothes then?”“That’s….. None of your business”
After that brief and rather awkward exchange, they both fell silent. At first, it might seem that these 3 shouldn’t get along with each other with their clashing personalities. However, over time they have developed a deep-level bond which has connected them even through their surface misgivings to each other this occasion being a showcase of that. Before this rather odd display of friendship could go on longer however the front door opens. From it enters a familiar figure whose presence has been long awaited for, taking a few breathing cycles he closes the door and greets his waiting groupmates.
“Hey guys i have returned, why haven’t you two changed clothes yet?”“Aether! We’ve been waiting for you because you take so long to return from your walk!”“Eh? You guys worry too much I’m fine, i just took a longer route to get back here that’s all”
“Really?”
Aether’s explanation might have been enough to convince the pure-hearted Kazuha, however it was far from enough to convince the colder more cynical Scara.
“Oh quit excusing yourself now would you?”“Eh? What do you mean?”“I can tell you’re not telling the whole story, those little bruising marks on your cheeks and stomach are signs enough”“Ah….”“Did you get into a scuffle out there or something? Come on now tell us the full story here”“Alright alright, guess i can never fool you now can’t I hahaha”
With that Aether sat down with his groupmates making himself comfortable, after letting out a sigh he turned to them and with a knowing look began telling them what happened while he was out on his walk a few minutes earlier.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
I may have been wallowing in too much in my thoughts for my sister tonight. The police told me that Venti is still refusing to talk, it’s clear he’s hiding something but I now think that something might not be what we had thought. These thoughts and more circle in my head as I walked almost aimlessly around. Usually even with this state I would still be aware enough to try and avoid walking into the bad parts of this place, however it seems that tonight I failed to do so. I just let my legs take me wherever without realizing it, I probably would have continued like that had a voice suddenly not snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Hey you, stop!”
I instantly stopped and looked up, I found myself locking eyes with a young man who appeared to be of the same age as me. My first reaction was that of confusion, more specifically confused at his look. Teardrop-shaped face pain on his right cheek, and shaggy articles of clothing with straps all over seemingly at random. I couldn’t fathom someone dressing like that, and then the realization of what I had just done hit me.
“Ah yes, they warned me to not go to this parts…. Guess I forgot about that”
We have been warned that in these bad parts roam youths just like him, youths with unusual clothing sense and even more unusual behavioral patterns. It’s a subculture movement or something I can’t remember now. When I realized where I was I grimaced and started trying to think how I could get away from this encounter. However, before I could formulate a plan the man before me spoke again.
“It’s not often that someone looking as spiffy as you are walking around these parts you know hahaha” He said with a wide smirk on his face, a brief chuckle escaped his mouth as he walked towards me.
I stood still, trying to remain calm and prepare myself mentally for what might happen next. Well what happened next was that he wrapped his right arm around my neck and shoulder, followed by inching his face closer to my ear. Afterwards he spoke again, this time whispering into my ear.
“My name’s Lyney, nice to meet you”
His tone sends shivers down my spine, to a woman I guess it might be seductive but to a man like me it’s just straight-up creepy.
“Since you’re already here why don’t you come with me? My siblings Lynette and Freminet would be pleased to meet you”
Alarm bells started ringing within me, this stranger I just met was now trying to get me to a second location. This cannot possibly lead to anything good, and so I decided it was time to go. Trying to still be polite I gently grabbed his arm and got it off my shoulders while saying to him;
“Look man I’m sorry, I’m actually going home right now I don’t have time to go anywhere else”
It was looking well and I thought I could get away with no problem, but then……
SMACK WHACK
A sudden sharp pain starts shooting up from my stomach and chin, in the moment I didn’t know what happened. But now thinking back with a clear mind I think he kneed me to the gut followed immediately by an uppercut punch, it made me stagger back a few steps in a daze. Although I didn’t know what happened in the moment I was able to at least realize one thing, I was now in great peril with this encounter turning violent.
“Aggghh what the hell man?”
Those were my first words afterwards while clutching my stomach in pain. When my vision fully cleared I saw that wretched man clearly, he was now smiling with a grin that can only be described as disgusting.
“Alright now boy, I think I can drop this thinly veiled good guy act”
“Huh?! What do you mean?!”
“What I meant is, do you really think I don’t know who you are? Of course I do!”
“Figures……”
“The oh-so-beautiful and talented leader of a rising star new boyband, the whole city is gushing about you and your group I tell you!”
I didn’t say anything back in response to that, still in the process of realizing how much trouble I was in.
“You see here Aether we around these parts don’t really like members of the famous elites, to us they’re all just a bunch of pompous pieces of travesty”
“So why are you taking an interest in me now suddenly Lyney?”
“Because you see if there’s one thing we want it’s to show members of the famous elites what is it like at the bottom of the barrel”
”I see……..”
“And because you’ve strolled onto our territory I find it fitting to take you in and have a bit of fun with you, I hope you catch my drift there hahaha”
I did catch his drift, and I don’t like it. He’s gonna take me to a hidden second location and have their barbaric ways with me. The thought utterly terrifies me to think about, even now it sends a chill to my bones. I then fully realized I had to do something fast, or else I might end up on a missing person’s case list.
“I am not going with you….” I said in defiance now determined to escape this situation at all cost.
“As if you have a choice in the matter, guess I have to take care of you myself then hahaha” He said glaring at me, a short unhinged chuckle escaped his lips.
And with that he charged me leading with one of his fists, it’s clear he now intends to knock me out and forcefully take me to wherever he had in mind. I on my part realized I have to do something if I want to get out of this. And so I steel my resolve and prepared myself to use the lessons from the martial arts course we took together to stay fit. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and then…….
SWOOSH
BAM WHAM
Completely trusting my instincts I waited in place and when I felt the time was right I ducked down to avoid his punch. Thankfully my instinct judged correctly as I felt air quickly rushing above me, one thing I’m sure you two remember from our lessons is that you should never leave too much of a time gap between your moves. And so afterwards I open my eyes, see where he is and very quickly take aim at him and counterattack. Just two measured punches nothing more, sank one deep into his exposed belly and another across his cheeks. Deep within me I dearly hope that will be enough to end this without it getting any worse, thankfully though it was enough.
THUD
If I had hit him one at a time he might have recoiled and experienced shooting pain from my punches. But because I didn’t do that and instead punched him twice basically simultaneously that didn’t happen, instead I watched the colors instantly wipe off of his face followed by his body becoming limb. I didn’t have to do anything else as a mere few moments later he fell to the ground like a tree, a loud thud sounded off as he fell fully onto the ground knocked out unconscious.Thinking back now I think I might have just indirectly seriously injured him from how loud that thudding noise was. However, in the moment I couldn’t care less since now my escape opportunity has opened. I sprinted away from him as fast I could frantically searching for a way out of the area, thankfully they still have accurate road signs over there and after a little bit of time I managed to navigate my way back here. A little bruised as you have pointed out yes, but in the very least I’m here safe and sound now. Who knows what would happen if I just went along with that creep, and honestly it’ll be better to never think of that possibility………
………………………………………………………………………………………………“And so that was the story of my little escapades tonight hahaha”
Aether finished telling the story with a chuckle, probably thinking it would relax the situation down from his rather intense story. Unfortunately for him that did not happen, his groupmates remain silently staring at him as they have been since he began his story. The silence in the air was almost heavy enough that you could cut it with a knife, eventually Kazuha broke it and spoke up.
“Do you want to report this to the police Aether?”
“No, I don’t think that’s necessary. Ultimately that was just an unpleasant little encounter”
Scara let out a long sigh before shaking his head and standing up from the sofa they were sitting on.
“You have a funny definition of an encounter don’t you?”
Without waiting for a response he started walking away from them in the direction of his room.
“At least you’re still one piece, that’s good news I suppose”
“Scara where are you going?”
“I’m going to change clothes and go to sleep Kazuha, where do you think I’m going?”
And thus he went and disappeared into his room leaving his groupmates on the sofa just like that.
“Don’t worry about it Kazuha he’s always been like that, he might seem cold and rude in situations like this but in truth that’s just his own weird way of showing that he cares for others”
“Yeah I know that Aether, I’m just a little taken aback still by your story”
“Well there’s no point in us sitting here just thinking about it, and Scara is right it’s late now we should call it a night and go to sleep”
Aether got up and put his hand on Kazuha’s shoulders in a gentle grip, smiling at him in the process to reassure him out of his current discomfort.
“Don’t worry about me, I can treat these minor bruises myself it’ll be just fine in the morning hahaha”
“Alright then if you say so then I’ll get going too”
“There you go that’s the spirit, trust me we are strong when we have our hearts together, do that nothing will stop us””Whether that’s other groups of the forces above concealing the truth of the world from us, we will beat them all!”
“Exactly!”
Both laughed briefly putting their previous worries and doubts aside. Afterwards, they pat each other on the back before going into their rooms for the night. It has been a long day indeed for them, however their journey ahead is longer still. Although it would be prudent for them to remain on their toes as they go along, it would not hurt to let themselves off and relax for a while. The gods as much as they choose battles to fight for their subjects also assign them times of reprieve, because everything should be balanced as it all should be…………….