"Hmn…?" Nara yawned, opening one eye, slowly, clawing her way back to consciousness as if through a thousand heavy quilts. When she managed to sit up, she realized she was on the road, lying in a bed of coats and scarves bigger than herself. She was surrounded by a ring of people- but they weren't facing her. No, every single one faced away, and there was shouting.
"What's going on…?"
"That is a demon implicated in the attack!! We don't want to hurt her, but we have orders to take her in for questioning!!" Somebody shouted as Nara slowly climbed to her feet. Fatigue still pulled at her, but it wasn't impossible to stay awake anymore.
"This demon is anything but implicated in the attack!!" A man near her shouted emphatically. "She's saved my baby girl, don't you understand that?! Have a heart, you monster!!"
"She saved my damn baby!! My baby hacked up the ash like it was nothing!!" A mother screamed. "So if you want to arrest this demon then you're going to have to kill me, and all of us!!" Her voice was hoarse with tears, and Nara blinked rapidly, surprised, closing her eyes for a long moment. She tried to speak, but before she could, the argument raged on.
"Again, we don't want to hurt her at all, our orders are only to take her in for questioning!"
"So that what, you can lock her in a cell and run tests on the rare demon!? No, like hell, you're not touching her unless you want the entire nation to watch Contracted Arms kill a horde of innocent civilians on live TV!!" Another man screamed, shaking his head. "My wife was in one of those fires you bastards, and now she's going to live!! Do you understand that?! We don't care if this demon was at the site of the attack, you're a damn fool if you think she's guilty! We won't move until she's got her strength back, and that's the end of it, you uniformed bastards!!"
"Screw the system, we stand with our own!!" Another voice, and Nara blinked back tears, slowly raising her voice.
"I'm awake. Don't get yourselves killed for me, they can arrest me if they really need to-"
"No." An old woman looked back at Nara with eyes as soulful as her own, and Nara faltered, unsure how to argue. "Girl, you've saved a great many people, today. We won't let you become one of the things that happens behind closed doors, dearie." Past her, Nara could see them; the original team who'd arrived at the scene, the young blonde man grinning at her from ear to ear and waving, pulling his smoke mask down. He, the blonde, stepped forward, and though immediately four or five of the citizens blocked him off, Nara could hear his shout.
"Let me into the circle, to talk to her!! I won't try anything, you all can record me or whatever you need to!!"
"Let him through- he's got honest eyes, this boy," The grandmother affirmed, and Nara stepped back as the agent stumbled through the circle and walked toward her, raising his hands in surrender.
"Nara, right? Hey, listen to me, carefully," he muttered as several people turned eyes to them. "You have to come with us, no matter what," He continued, but he was getting quieter, and Nara had to angle her ears toward him in order to hear the rest. "If you keep resisting, the next step is to call the Director from the Capitol. I know him, he's a good man, he won't do you wrong. Don't leave here until Aerendyl asks for you, or you're right, you could be just another coverup. Never seen a musical demon like you," he added, and backed off, raising his arms, shouting. "Just saying demon! Don't make them call in the big guns! I'm trying to save you!" Putting on an arrogant mask, he chuckled and pushed through the civilians, leaving Nara in the ring of supporters once more.
"Alright!!" the blonde shouted. "I thought she'd be cool, but no, her personality isn't as musical as her magic!! Guess we'll have to call the director!!"
"No, we won't," Another agent snarled, raising his gun, but the civilians stood firm, and Nara gasped as she saw the scene unfold further. The blonde agent, the one who'd spoken to her, told her to wait… he pulled a gun on his fellow agent, raising a sidearm to the man's head.
"I said, I guess we'll have to call the director. I don't know where your orders differ from mine, but I was told that Nara here is to be questioned, not harmed. If I were to have, say… reasonable suspicion that you sympathize with the cult, they won't bat an eye at me pulling the trigger. Put your gods damned gun down, bastard."
"I- you-!!" The other agent gagged as his younger coworker glared.
"Stand down Brant, and if you want to challenge me you can do it in court. I'll have myself moved to another city after this but you, will, not, touch, her," He snarled, as the civilians around Nara bristled protectively. Slowly, Brant holstered his gun, snarling.
"Yo Nara!" The blonde called out, and she raised an eyebrow, standing on tiptoe to meet his eyes. "My brother Vilhelm sends his regards from a city far away. I'll seek whatever protection I have to." The rest of his squad, seemed more confused than anything- maybe, Brant was an outlier…?
"Thanks. I'll be here until the big guy arrives," Nara spoke sheepishly. Thank you, all of you-"
"Think nothing of it, girl!!" The grandmother spoke again, and the wall around her solidified, the sound of song and dance once more rising, making her body crackle with static even more than before, energizing her.
Some time later, a tall blonde man who's age was hard to decipher walked up to the ring, eyes narrowed, and of course, he was barred.
"My name is Aerendyl Farran!" He shouted out, pushing a long, curly lock of hair out of his face. "I'm here to collect you, Nara, I was asked to come by a man I trust, and informed of what you've done today!"
"What will you do with her?!" A young man challenged, even though he stood two heads lower than Aerendyl, and planted his feet.
"Questions, nothing more," Aerendyl shouted to be heard over the noise. "We can go to my home, or the police station where I'm from- whatever you're comfortable with, okay?! I have questions, and decisions to make, but I damn well don't believe in removing your autonomy!! You care to know what happened to the last girl who trusted me and came with me?!"
"What's that?!" Nara shouted back, raising her eyebrows.
"Got her enrolled at Contracted Arms Academy!! If you're not a criminal, I've got no reason to hurt you, or detain you. I just want your version of events, then we can worry about getting you home!!"
"I don't have a home, I'm looking for a woman!! She's got something of mine!!" Nara shouted back, and Aerendyl raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sure we can help you find your missing belongings; I've got a lot of money and manpower at my disposal. Will you come with me? Please? You can say no, I'll call my men off, but I just want to talk!!"
"How about you call your men off and we talk right here in town!! You can buy me coffee at one of the twenty-four hour diners across town!!"
"Asking me out on a date?!" Nara laughed, for Aerendyl seemed… alarmed.
"Nah, don't swing that way!! I'll tell you everything if you swear you'll try to help!!"
"I swear!!" he shouted, and Nara nodded softly.
"Alright, let me out!!" She asked, tapping the shoulders of the men in front of her, and they nodded, letting her go. Before she reached Aerendyl, though, one grabbed her arm, and Nara looked back, confused.
"Thank you, Nara. You saved so many, we can never thank you enough, you're more of an angel than half the real ones," His eyes were sparkling, and Nara smiled, gently pulling the man into a hug. After a long moment, another person hugged her- and then another, another, another, until Nara found herself at the center of a pile of twenty, thirty, fifty people, sighing softly, laughing.
=
"Be not afraid," The sloshy mess on the floor gurgled wetly, and Lynx flattened herself against the wall, staring. "I didn't want to reveal the truth to you, not like this, and not so fast- but I can't have you thinking that I'm out to take advantage of you, or hurt you. To love, is to be seen, and to be changed, is that the saying…?" Whatever this demon was, it laughed wetly, voice like the rumble of an ocean in a storm. "Oh, Lynx, I'd rather you find me and disgusting, and run, but understand, rather than believe, for even a moment, that I am what I look like," It- no. No. Not it. Alice, Lynx reprimanded herself and slowly stepped forward.
"What… what are you?" She whispered. Before her was a mass of black, oozing, bleeding sludge, and the floor around it was streaked with blood and grime liquefied ash. Just under the surface, something shone in the light like razor blades polished to a mirror sheen.
"I am…" The voice rumbled from no visible mouth- for there was no face to look at, only a mouth. "I am… I know not, what exactly I am, Lynx… I know that the staff here, they pity me, and as such, they listen to me. Even if they'd rather not, I am the one with the account numbers to pay them very comfortable salaries."
"Then…" Lynx swallowed, standing still, cautious.
"Don't you understand, yet? You're smart Lynx… but maybe, you're also in shock…" The gurgling, wet voice spoke. "I had them make that doll- it's an artificial body, a doll, a homunculus. It doesn't age, or die, and it runs on Ichorum- that's the Alice you know. This, in front of you, this is me."
"You…" She blinked, slowly, beginning to understand, lips parting in a small o. "You believed that you caused the deaths… the pain…"
"What child wouldn't blame themselves?" The voice spoke wistfully, if you could call it that when it was reaching Lynx through a layer of slime and fluids. "I want to grow to understand whatever magic that notorious cult wants to master- there are rumors, you know? Mass graves, sightings of the "leader's new body", tabloids… at first, it was just a rumor, but Aerendyl is well acquainted with my family, as one in his position must be, considering my state. He confirmed, for me, what the cult seeks, and promised me information on any developments, granted we can alter them to spare lives."
"Uh huh…?" Lynx swallowed, shaking her head, tail lashing about.
"He found notes- on a cultist's body, killed during a riot. It was somebody a bit higher on the chain, but they were incomplete. My family and I organized a ritual, we tried out best… and suddenly, I could project myself into the doll. It… went wrong, though. My soul is fractured- here, I have my rationale, and my self control- but in that doll, my rationale fades- I feel like but a bumbling idiot, unable to be angry or defend myself- in a way, I hate the doll, but I know the truth, it pulls at me."
"You got… a piece of your soul into the doll."
"Most of it, even," The monstrosity before her confirmed, undulating, rippling. No, Lynx tried to remind herself- not monstrosity, it was Alice, right…? "It's almost good enough," Alice continued, "-but it hurts. There's a hole in my core, and it aches, it pulls, it hurts- every moment spent in that doll, it wants to dive into my body here to reunite with the rest of it, and I spend my time resisting the need to wander back and jump in- that is why I did not allow the doll into the room with you, lest my urges grow too strong and I grab it, wasting years of experiments, of money, of time.
"You… you said you love me, and this, this is separate," Lynx mumbled, confused. "Now isn't the time, though- can I help?"
"You can, by continuing as you are," The mass that was Alice burbled and rippled. "I want your issue to be resolved, the extra piece of soul. In turn, maybe I can figure out the key to my own problem. But I do, love you, Lynx, as disgusting as it may seem from your point of view, now."
"M-Mn," Lynx nodded. "Not disgusting. Think I need some time to be alone, though. Process. This is- this is a lot. I want to help, no idea what I can do-"
"If I were to be fully selfish… the very embodiment of my given name, Sin, as greedy as can be…" The mass quaked, and Lynx realized, after a long moment, that it was… laughing? It was!! "I'd ask you to be the doll's- my- friend, if nothing else."
"Really? That's what you'd ask, if you were being fully selfish?" Lynx asked, narrowing her eyes and stepping forward. "Be honest with me Alice."
"…No. I'd ask for nothing to change. I… would ask you to pretend that all of this never happened, and know that I… really do mean the best for you, even if you're… the only one who knows me, for real."
"Then why show me? Doesn't showing me seem like an overreaction, based off such a small misunderstanding? Arguing with me would have worked- explaining that I clearly have something the cult leader would be interested in and so it only makes sense."
"This wasn't about proving I'm not a cultist, not really," came that sick, wet voice.
"Then what was it about?" She asked gently, angling her head, confused.
"It was about showing you what I stand to gain from you."
"I…"
"Lynx, if I didn't explain, wouldn't the seeds of doubt have taken root?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well… no…" Alice warbled, her body undulating just a bit faster, metal clinking around inside of her. "I was afraid, Lynx."
"Afraid why? Because I threw you against the wall? I'm sorry,"
"No. In confirming that the cult likely wanted you, I revealed my own interest in your condition. I became scared you wouldn't trust me- and I thought that it'd be better for you to trust and hate me, than to accept my oddity while worrying I was out to harm you. I was scared you'd leave because you can't trust me," The voice admitted.
"Rather me leave because I hate you…?" Lynx whispered, angling her head, thinking. "So… you wanted to remove my curiosity about your motives instead of letting it sit, knowing it may cause me to leave?"
"I want you to believe me. That I don't want to hurt anybody, ever again," The voice rumbled lowly, and Lynx, oddly, felt tears pricking at the backs of her eyes, an odd sense of familiarity. "Even if it means you see me as a freak, even if you run, even if you never look at me again, know that I don't mean any harm, at the very least." Lynx glared for a moment, down at the slime in front of her, breathing deeply, thinking. "You accepted my false smile… I want you, at the least, to know me… and I would rather you just leave than speculate as to whether you can trust me…"
"If I touch you, will I die?"
"As a demon… no, but growing an arm back can take a long, long time… why…?"
"Because, Alice, I'd really like to give you a hug right about now. How about you haul ass back into that doll outside, so we can get you home?" Lynx sighed, tears still pricking at the backs of her eyes. "Oh and by the way, Alice? You're an idiot. You could have explained that you wanted to learn about my odd condition without all of this. I would have trusted you, you over thinker you. Still… I, appreciate the trust."
There was silence, for a long moment, and then the lights went out, and Lynx had just begun to bristle when the door swung open. Aurelia was there, standing in the shadowy doorway, squinting.
"Lynx? Are you okay?"
"I am, I'm okay," Lynx whispered, then cleared her throat and spoke up. "I'm okay! Coming,"
"Good, you were starting to worry me being gone so long," Aurelia swallowed, and Lynx hastened herself out of the room, looking down at Alice's slumbering body as the door hissed shut behind her and locked itself, ejecting the key, which she just caught on the tip of her tail, flicking it into Alice's lap just as the succubus slowly opened an eye, then both, groaning, eyes unfocused.
"So…" Alice whispered, smiling tiredly. "Will you… trust me…? I just want to be around you, even if I can't love you! I'll respect you, and your boundaries, I swear…"
"I need time to process," Lynx whispered, yanking Alice to her feet, and into a hug, crushing her harshly. "Need time to be alone. Not pushing you away. Need, time. This was, a lot. I'll walk back once we get outside."
"For what it's worth," Aurelia mumbled, somewhat awkwardly. "I'll uh, I'll do anything I can to help you uncover your past, still, Lynx, I am your friend. I'm sorry I didn't want to go into the murder chamber. I don't care what was in there Alice, you seem… cool! Haha…"
"That's fine," Alice laughed softly, tears spilling onto Lynx's cheek as she smiled into the cat girl's neck. "That's fine, that's fine, that's fine," She repeated, starting to sob like a baby, knees weakening. Lynx held her, close, as she grew louder, louder. "Thank you, thank you…"
"I'll uh, wait by the elevator," Aurelia muttered, walking away, and Lynx silently mouthed an apology to her, as she went, holding Alice tightly, rubbing her back.
"I'm sorry Lynx, I'm sorry I showed you that, but I wasn't pretending to love you so I could figure out your magic weird thing, I just wanted to be your friend, for real, because you didn't make me bad for my missing emotions," She sobbed out, and Lynx crushed her closer, tighter, quietly shushing her. Alice, though, sobbed harder, like a baby, and leaned forward, toppling Lynx onto her ass, crying freely into the cat girl's chest. "I'm so sorry, I don't want to hurt anybody else, I don't want to hurt you, I didn't mean to I'm sorry,"
"You're okay, Alice… you're okay… I'm here, I'm still here, you were over thinking, I'm here…"
"I needed you to know I'm not using you, I'm so sorry," Alice sobbed out tiredly, brokenly, and Lynx quietly rubbed her head, nodding.
"I'm still here," Lynx cooed softly, rubbing her head, shoulders, back. "Still here, still here…"
"I'm a plague, you, I'm sorry," Alice looked up through watery eyes. "I'm sorry,"
"I'm, still, here," Lynx whispered, slowly leaning down and kissing the succubus- homunculus? Lingering, slow.
"I'm sorry,"
"I'm still here."
"I'm not using you,"
"Didn't say you are."
"I'm not using you I swear-"
"Got something to learn from me, not using me," Lynx affirmed, and Alice sobbed, harder, burying her face in the blonde's chest one more. For once, she wasn't smiling at all. I guess you're missing your anger and your indignation, but not your misery…
I'm sorry,"
"No, no."
"I'm sorry,"
"I'm still here, Alice." Lynx held her, and the succubus tried to speak again, but her face fell flat with her lover's chest, and she cried freely. "We can both be freaks with a half soul inside of us, together, okay?"
"I love you," Alice cried, hopelessly. "I'm so sorry I love you, but I wanted you to know me and-"
"Mn… I love you too, Alice," Lynx whispered, blinking back tears, unsure why she felt like she might cry. "Now come on, we've got to get outside- and please, I want to walk home alone. I need time to think, to breathe. Just, please- don't be sorry. I'm not going to die just because you love me, even if that's your belief, your fear- I'll prove it wrong."
"Please, please prove me wrong," She sobbed quietly, eyes shut, voice becoming raw, scratchy- and yet still, she smiled. "I just wanted you to,
"O-Okay," Alice whispered, slowly staggering to her feet, smiling. "L-Let's catch up to Aurelia…!!"
"Don't need to fake a smile right now, idiot," Lynx whispered, slowly standing as well, and Alice faltered, tears spilling down her cheeks, still, her body trembling.
"Maybe I w-want to this time, for real," Alice cried again, and as they walked, another round of sobs began. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,"
"Come on, come on…"
"I want to be selfish," Alice whispered, sobbing quietly, her voice so soft Lynx almost missed it. "I don't want to be alone tonight,"
"I'll come sleep with you," Lynx whispered, slowly hugging Alice's waist as they walked. Up ahead, Aurelia was waiting, tapping lazily on her phone. "Give me the space to walk home Alice. Alone. When I get home, I'll come to your room, what number was it?"
"One e-eleven," She hiccupped softly, pushing a button on the elevator controls. "Sorry for c-crying, Aurelia…"
"No, you're fine." Aurelia shook her head. "Girl boss I just think that whatever happened in there is for you and Lynx to share, and me to wonder. I'm still both your friend- oh- woah okay, okay," Aurelia laughed as Alice hugged her, and slowly returned it with her arms and tail. "Come on come on, get in the elevator girl or Lynx is going to think you're losing interest!!"
"Lynx…" Alice sighed, and together, the three of them stepped into the elevator, beginning to rise.