for mysteriousness

[fronter]

( everything feels different. tastes different.

... sounds different.

there's nothing in his head now but his own thoughts, each of them racing as he tries to recount how he'd ended up in an alley with the taste of ash in his mouth. but he can't remember anything except the pain, the anger, the overwhelming sensation of what it meant to die. but he hadn't, and now, every part of him hurts. his hands, his face.

an extremely uncomfortable weight settles in his chest, and baby forces his eyes open.

he's alone.

the background noise of the city rushes to meet him like a warning: get moving. go somewhere, anywhere. hide. huntrix might still want to finish the job, and baby's self-preservation has him clawing his way to his feet before another worry crawls up into his throat.

what about mystery?

it's an odd panic that he quickly squashes down, pulling the singed robe over his head and grateful for his jeans and shirt underneath. they're ruined too, but it's less obvious than his performance-wear. he's uncomfortable regardless, staggering forward and sticking to the back streets. all he can think about is the other demon. was he safe? was he still there? anything beyond that causes baby to feel nauseous, so he moves and walks and keeps his head down until he gets where he's going.

an apartment he and mystery had decided to buy without telling any of the others, especially jinu. small enough for them, a place they could go if they wanted to exist for a few hours without an audience. but baby doesn't have a key, and he uses what little strength he has left to test one of the windows and crawl through one that's, luckily, open and accessible. he drops onto the floor once he's inside. )

Myst?! Mystery? ( his voice is scratchy, the pain and distress audible in his voice. ) Are you here?

( what the hell should he do if he's the only one left? )

Comments

[mysteriousness]

[the last thing he remembers is his face being slashed by that young huntrix girl. everything went dark and then—

brightness. too bright, enough so that he raises an arm to shield his eyes from it. wait, he's still able to move? he's still alive? but how—? it's impossible, and yet here he is, sprawled out on an empty sidewalk, trying to gather himself.

when he finally is able to move again, mystery rises to his feet, outstretching a hand to catch himself on a nearby wall when he stumbles. once he's able to see properly, his free hand raises to touch the side of his head where there's a throbbing spot, his fingertips gingerly rubbing at it in an attempt to ease the pain.

baby, is his next thought, and suddenly the pain isn't anything he's worried about.

he squeezes his eyes shut, trying to remember, but he can't seem to recall if baby was killed because it must've been after he was if that's the case. no, no no, that can't be true. he can't be stuck here without baby.

there's one place he could be and whenever he's more stable, he breaks out into a run, not caring about what he may look like currently; nobody's going to stop him and he's not stopping for anybody, so there's no reason to concern himself with that. he runs and runs until he's breathing heavy, his feet ache and his lungs burn, but he doesn't stop, not until he reaches his destination.

once he's there, mystery approaches the apartment door, silently hoping that his pockets aren't empty. he finds that they aren't and with key in hand, he bursts through the door, panting, his hearing honing in on the voice he can hear.]

Baby? [and he rushes through the home, searching for the other male, his body aching so much, it feels like he's going to collapse, but he can't, not while he's still looking.] I'm here!