● Graviton
Exact Location: The Star Lord's Villa.
Bells rang, drums were being played, and sounds of different melodies reverberated through the walls of the villa. The band playing the music sat in the middle of the arena with the guests and other crowd surrounding them. The people continued to sing divine words and move their bodies in rhythm to the sound being played. They were lost in their act, pouring their entire soul into the worship of the Greyes, all forgetting about the issues they had with the human, Aeson, leading the prayers.
Aeson wore a black silk dress that stretched down to his ankle and a large black bead around his neck, wrist, and ankle. On his forehead was a black paint that ran over his nose to his chin. He paced around the guests who sat around the band, leading them in the obligatory prayers.
High Priests, Primes, scholars, rich, poor, every Grey Lander and believing humans, regardless of their class, or age were all gathered. It was the one moment that they all involuntarily forgot their differences, at least for that moment.
The Star Lord's impersonator, Atlas, sat on the seat designated for his figure, on an elevated area with Aurora and the remaining Heavenly Protectors that were still at the Villa by his sides.
They continued singing and moving their body for a few more hours before it finally came to an end. The band packed up their things and retreated out of the scene, leaving only the people there.
One of the many Prime around stood up and started towards the ash-haired man, Aeson. He glared at him for a few seconds before turning to the Star-Lord.
"My Lord, the other priest and I sat and conversed about the problem… with all due respect… that YOU created on this planet," he started. "Aeson is an extremely talented kid, yes, and he probably has more talent than most of the other Primes that have spent more time at what they do."
He stepped forward. "But even with that much knowledge, it is not right for a human to lead the Gravity Fall-- we let him lead this day because it is only the demonstrations, but we can't let it happen for the forty-nine hours walk to come in three days."
Atlas had no idea how to respond to the Prime. He turned to Aurora for some kind of help but she paid him no heed, not even sparing him a second glance. He swallowed and turned back to the Prime. "I have heard your complaint, and I'll think about it."
"Please do, my Lord, unless you desire another conflict."
.
.
.
----
"Footsteps."
"Mother, I hear footsteps." A young boy stepped in front of his mother and pulled out a dagger from his pocket.
The woman behind the boy pulled out the pin she used to hook up her hair and held it up, allowing her hair to pour down her shoulder.
The footsteps drew closer and closer until it finally faded. The door unlocked and in walked a tall pale skinned man with silver white hair and grey eyes. He quickly put his hand up the moment he caught sight of the two.
"Kieran, it's you," the woman said.
The two lowered their weapon as the man named Kieran shut the door behind him. "Are you okay?" The lady asked while approaching the man.
The pale-skinned man grabbed her hand and moved away from the young boy. "The others have dispatched men to search for you," he started. "You know what will happen if they find you." He placed his hands on her shoulder.
She exhaled and turned to her son. "What about him?" She probed.
"They know what you look like, but not him… they won't be able to find him if we distance ourselves from him, it's the only way to keep him safe and stay alive ourselves."
He could see the sadness in her eyes. She was hurting, and it was all because he was in her life.
"I will make sure you see him again on Grey Land," he said. "I promise."
She raised her head and smiled ruefully. "I'm glad we met."
"…?"
She gently placed her hand over his chest. "I know you are blaming yourself for ruining our lives, but I want you to know that I am glad we met, and I'll walk the same path again if I had a second chance."
He smiled and caressed her head before turning to the young boy. He curbed in front of him and fixed the boy's clothes. "How do you feel?"
"Strong."
Kieran chuckled. "Good."
"Now listen to me… I'm going to give you your final lesson and advice," he started. "Like I've always say, you are not like any other kid you see out there, you are different, you are special… be sure to keep practicing what I taught you, and once the markings I told you about start appearing, you must avoid the Zone for a while and prepare yourself because they'll begin searching for you. The Zone and using your abilities strengthens the mark and they will be able to find you if the mark is strong."
"No matter what, do not let the mark show until you are ready. Do not use your ability until you are ready to face the danger it comes with."
He tucked a stray hair behind the boy's ear. "Mom and I will be going away for a while, don't be scared boy, you have to remain strong because you have a big role to play."
He stood up and took a step backward, allowing the mother to take his previous position.
She collected the dagger from her son's hand and handed the hairpin to him instead. "Till we meet again, Liam."
The teal-green-eyed man opened his eyes to his reflection in the mirror in front of him. His chest danced up and down in response to the memory he just revisited. He unbuttoned his shirt to see the strange markings that were now appearing on his chest.
More memories that were deep in his mind began to resurface, but just as he was starting to open them up, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He took out his phone and moved it to his ear.
"Hey, I just got off the phone with Zara, she sent me her address if you want to meet, her fiancé will be away for a couple of hours."
"I was actually hoping I could meet him," the light brown-haired man said.
"Come on, she wants to do this alone, don't cause any problems and make things more difficult."
"Fine. Are you coming with?"
There was a bit of silence before Tom replied. "I can't, I have to take Lyra to the hospital."
"Why? Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, just some checkup."
"Alright, thanks for the help." He slipped the phone into his pocket and buttoned up his shirt.
The teal-green-eyed man looked at himself in the mirror one more time before walking out of the house.
A few minutes drive later, he arrived at the location sent to him by Thomas. "Whoa," he exclaimed, taking in the huge hotel that stood before him.
The teal green-eyed man made his way to room 2005 and planted a soft knock on the door. A few seconds later, Zara opened the door. She froze in her tracks as she saw Liam. "Liam, what are you doing here?"
The teal green-eyed man raised his brows. "Err… room service, I work here at night."
A small smile appeared on Zara's lips but it disappeared just as quickly. She stepped aside, allowing him into the room.
"It was Thomas, wasn't it? He gave you my address after I specifically told him not to."
Liam nodded. "I thought we were close enough to share our deepest secret."
The arctic blue-haired lady raised her brows. "Are we?" She probed. "You didn't even believe I had a fiancé."
"You didn't make it believable."
She shook her head and turned to a fridge. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"I'm good."
Liam walked further into the room and sat on a couch. "How are you holding up?" He asked.
"Since you've declared that 'we are close enough to share our deepest secret' I'll go ahead and say not too good."
"Wanna talk about it?" Liam tapped the space beside him. The arctic blue-haired lady sighed and sunk into the couch.
She buried her hand in her palm and exhaled deeply. "My mother was a Sweeper herself," she revealed. "Before the organization, she used to enter the Forbidden Zone with my older sister and they completed raids together, but things didn't go well one raid and they got infected. Min, my sister didn't make it and mom had been in intensive care ever since… she's the reason I became a Sweeper myself, to use the Chips I get to pay for her treatment, but."
Liam placed his hand over her shoulder and placed her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Zara."
"I'll get over it, I always do."
"What about your fiancé, Mac? Are you sure you want to do this?"
She tucked back a stray hair and sighed. "I no longer have a reason to be a Sweeper, so I think it's the right thing to do. We have been together for more than a decade."
"I've heard stuff about him from Tom, and I don't think marrying a guy like him is the right thing to do, no offense."
Zara smiled and softly slapped his face. "I'm gonna miss your silly comments, and Tom's jokes… I'll miss you two."
"I see you've already made your decision."
"I…" Before she could complete her words, the door burst open, and in walked the man the two had been conversing about, Mac Nancy.
He stood by the door, staring daggers at the two, his eyes moving from Zara to the teal green-eyed man, but especially stabbing Liam.
....