Fic: Adapt to Live [Part 17]
Nov. 18th, 2015 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonFandom: Noblesse
Summary: It's been a long time since Tao had seen an angel, not since ze left Heaven and turned into a demon. Ze hadn't thought it was possible to pass through the barrier between Heaven and the physical realm without changing. M-21's task in the physical realm is to kill as many demons as they can. Except the pieces aren't fitting together.
Contains: Violence and blood.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General
Word count: 2,083
Total word count: 37,011
Status: Complete
M-21 couldn't move. Every part of them was demanding to pay attention at them, to notice what was happening that M-21 couldn't think. Everything was directed towards the demands of their body, and they struggled to breathe. It was like their body was trying to direct energy to make sure M-21 knew it was hurt.
They couldn't move without smaller flares of attention demanding they stop moving, threatening to hurt worse.
From the corner of their eyes, M-21 saw M-24 land to their level. Saw their blood trailing down M-24's sword and dripping to the floor.
"Was turning into a demon and possessing that body worth it?" M-24 asked, hovering closer. Their words faded in and out of M-21's hearing.
M-21 struggled to move, to do something. They couldn't gather enough concentration to even flit.
"You're experiencing pain, aren't you? That's your punishment for turning your back on the Lord."
No... It wasn't. And M-24 was wrong. Pain was for telling the person when their body was hurt. But it was because of touch, Tao had shown them that. Everything was connected. Too much of one thing could hurt, but so could not having it all.
"You could take far more blows than this before."
M-21 knew that. When they'd sparred together, they would trade blows until they grew bored. Being stabbed meant nothing to a non-physical body, and the only thing that tired was their attention.
M-24 was stalling; they should have done the killing blow by now. M-24 didn't want to kill them. Neither did M-21, and they squeezed their eyes shut as M-24 drifted closer.
"Now you can't even move after one. Why did you possess that body if you can't use it?"
The attacks had never hurt because they'd never channelled their power into their swords. Not like Tao with their whip, and not like how M-21 had seen Frankenstein do. Not like how Seira and Regis summoned their weapons and held the power in their hands, not just using power to call their weapon to them.
M-21's chest was roaring again, something struggling to unfurl from their heart and consume them.
Pain was there to tell them when their body needed something. And Tao had been telling them that everything their body did, it did for a reason, and if it wanted to do something that could consume them whole, then they would let it.
M-21's power flared in their body and they saw M-24 freeze. They held onto the power, letting their power take over their body.
They couldn't do this for long, M-21 knew that much. Not when they were throwing everything into the attack.
M-21 gritted their teeth, letting the hurt and anguish howl in their heart as they flitted far above M-24, out of the reach of their sword. "We adapt!"
M-21 flung their hand down, releasing the power rolling them, seeing their power as an extension of themselves instead of a tool.
The shockwave engulfed M-24 and some angels while others flitted away. Nothing was left when M-21 let go of their power, the attack fizzling out of existence. Just like the angels they'd attacked.
M-21 panted and wavered in the air, only able to beat their wings one more time before plummeting again.
They had no energy to slow their descent. They were empty, everything spent.
M-21 saw an angel flit next to them, their sword swinging towards them. They couldn't have dodged if they'd wanted.
Except something slammed into M-21, taking them out of the way of the strike.
"I've got you, kid," someone - Tao murmured as they carried M-21. "Rest now, all right?"
They couldn't do anything else.
Everything moved in a haze, M-21 unable to concentrate on what was happening as Tao flitted from place to place. It was getting colder, lights brightening the edges of M-21's eyes.
"-get out of here."
What?
Tao's smiling face blurred into view. "Flitting out, kid."
Oh. Were the others-
M-21 sucked in a breath, shock at rain whirling into their face again.
Their body was starting to throb again, telling M-21 where it hurt again.
It was a little easier to breathe compared to before M-21 had entered the barrier. The wind had died down and as Tao flew down, M-21 could feel magic in the air, warming them up, something lighting the ground ahead of them. It was like being swathed in a warm blanket, not the prickling heat inside the barrier.
"Stay with me, kid, all right?" Tao murmured, adjusting how they held M-21.
They weren't going anywhere but M-21's heart ached. They'd killed M-24. They'd had to so the barrier stayed in tact, but the reasoning felt hollow.
Their breathing hitched, tears welling up in their eyes and M-21 gave the feeling free rein in their body.
* * *
M-21 was lying on something. It was a little scratchy against their skin, but it was warm.
But...why was it scratchy against their skin? The clothes Tao had given them didn't feel like that..
When they opened their eyes, white surrounded them. White tiled ceiling, white bed with white sheets. They'd never been here before. Where were they…?
They turned their head to the window, watching the thick snowfall outside the glass. Did that mean the barrier was sealed?
"Hey, kid."
"Mmh?" M21 turned their head towards the voice, recognising it.
Tao was sitting next to them, leaning against the bed with an arm draped over M-21's
"Where...?" It was hard to speak, their mouth dry.
"You're in a hospital, kid."
A hospital?
Tao smiled at them. "It's a place where people go when they're really sick or injured to get better. You took quite a hit."
They had, hadn't they... M-21 concentrated on breathing, their stomach rolling around. It hurt, making it harder to breathe.
Their body wanted minimal movements, and M-21 listened to it, keeping still.
"Good job on learning how to attack," Tao said, reaching over to ruffle their hair. "I saw it."
They had? M-21 ducked their head, leaning into the touch.
"You need to learn how to block, but I can teach you, heh."
M21 knew how to block, but they had to learn how to do it with their new abilities. Had they done it against M-24's sword? M-21's breathing wavered at the thought of them.
"You okay, kid?" Tao asked, and M-21 shook their head. "Ah." Tao pulled themselves up to sit next to M-21.
M-21 exhaled, bracing themselves and then rolled over so they could wrap an arm around Tao.
Tao hummed, running their fingers through M-21's hair and curled a wing around M-21. They…they would be okay. Should be. If they thought about something else.
"The barrier...?" M21 asked as Tao gave them a cup.
"The barrier's fine," Tao said, holding the cup steady as M-21 drank from it. "It's in tact and all sealed up." Tao exhaled, glancing out the window. "There's a chance it could be forced open, but it's stable for now."
"And you," Tao said, setting the cup onto a nearby table when M-21 was done drinking. Tao tapped M-21's forehead with a knuckle. "Don't scare me like that! Running off by yourself."
M-21 wouldn't promise that. If a similar situation happened again, they would do the same thing as before.
Though next time hopefully not get as injured...
There must have been some of M-21's thoughts expressed on their face, because Tao's face softened into a small smile, and they chuckled, ruffling M-21's hair again. "Stubborn kid."
The door to the room opened and Frankenstein walked in, a number of books tucked under their arm.
"Boss!" Tao grinned and moved to get up.
"Sit." Frankenstein raised an eyebrow at them and Tao leaned back with a small laugh.
Why had...? M-21 glanced between them, trying to work out what part of the conversation they were missing this time.
Tao saw M-21's confused looks and they cleared their throat. "I wasn't able to get out the fight unscathed either, and Boss is insisting I move as little as possible."
"For good reason," Frankenstein said, closing the door behind them.
So if M-21 hadn't been there, Tao could have gotten off worse… They had been helpful in that fight.
Frankenstein set the books beside the cup Tao had put down. "These are for you."
They were? M-21 glanced at the spine, reading the titles and... "Name books...?" They stared up at Frankenstein, their eyes wide. And those were for them?
Frankenstein smiled. "You will be here for a while, so I thought you might like to pass the time doing something productive."
M-21 wanted to reach over to pick the one at the top of the pile, but their body was already aching again. And Tao was in the way.
"You don't need to start straight away," Frankenstein said as Tao picked the top one up and started to flick through it, low enough that M-21 could see the names. "And you need to rest more than Tao does."
"If you don't like any of these," Tao said, looking at them, "I can introduce you to the internet and we'll start looking for a name you like there." Tao paused, their gaze drifting. "I'll introduce you to the internet anyway, heh."
"I... Thank you," M-21 whispered, closing their eyes.
They would do this. They would find a new name for themself that they wanted. Their designation... M-21 had always known it was a placeholder until they were given their new name, but now... They were glad Tao and Frankenstein didn't know it and wouldn't call them it.
Their mouth curled thinking about it. Their designation was a reminder of all the bad things that had happened, that they'd found out. Of what their batchmates had gone through, what Crombell had done, making more of them like they'd meant nothing.
"What are you going to do now?" M-21 asked, watching Tao go through the book, tilting their head at whatever was on the page. M-21 could wait until they had enough energy to lift their head and their body didn't protest quite so much to start searching what to call themselves.
Frankenstein hummed. "I have a few more lectures to do here, but after that," they said, glancing at Tao, "we're leaving the country."
W-what? They were? M-21's mouth dried again as they stared at the two.
Frankenstein leaned over and patted them on the shoulder. "It's all right. We came here due to my job, and I'm no longer needed."
"And you got that job to help you find your Lord," Tao muttered under their breath, one corner of their mouth twitching up.
"I did, yes." Frankenstein nodded.
They had?
Frankenstein's smile faded to a frown. "Though it seems we have a new job alongside that one."
"What is it?" M-21 asked.
"We need to check if that-" Frankenstein tilted their head towards the window. They had to be talking about the barrier. "-is stable everywhere else."
Oh. Tao had already mentioned that. And they would need to do that, just in case. M-21 fidgeted with the edge of their blanket, their body tensing, even as their body protested at that. They should ask. Tao had said Frankenstein didn't mind answering questions. "…Can I come?"
Frankenstein blinked at them and so did Tao. Why did they seem surprised by their question? Did they not want-
"Of course you can, kid," Tao said, closing the book. "We're not leaving you behind."
They relaxed at those worse, sighing. That... That was good. They hadn't wanted to be left behind.
"...But," M-21 said, frowning, "what happens if it is weakened somewhere else?" They wouldn't be able to close the barrier if they didn't have the help of a Loyard or a Landegre.
At that, Tao snickered, their shoulders shaking.
"Seira and Regis have already asked if they can join us," Frankenstein said, their voice wry.
They had? They wanted to work with demons? Which…they already had, but with some reservations.
"Regis' grandfather would like to speak with us beforehand however."
What was a grandfather? M-21 would have asked, but they yawned instead. They should sleep. Rest. Then they could ask whatever they wanted.
They were in a new world, in a new body that they were only just working out how to listen to. A new way of existing, of living.
But they weren't doing that alone. They would adapt.
M-21 closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.
___________________________________
END
___________________________________
Summary: It's been a long time since Tao had seen an angel, not since ze left Heaven and turned into a demon. Ze hadn't thought it was possible to pass through the barrier between Heaven and the physical realm without changing. M-21's task in the physical realm is to kill as many demons as they can. Except the pieces aren't fitting together.
Contains: Violence and blood.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General
Word count: 2,083
Total word count: 37,011
Status: Complete
M-21 couldn't move. Every part of them was demanding to pay attention at them, to notice what was happening that M-21 couldn't think. Everything was directed towards the demands of their body, and they struggled to breathe. It was like their body was trying to direct energy to make sure M-21 knew it was hurt.
They couldn't move without smaller flares of attention demanding they stop moving, threatening to hurt worse.
From the corner of their eyes, M-21 saw M-24 land to their level. Saw their blood trailing down M-24's sword and dripping to the floor.
"Was turning into a demon and possessing that body worth it?" M-24 asked, hovering closer. Their words faded in and out of M-21's hearing.
M-21 struggled to move, to do something. They couldn't gather enough concentration to even flit.
"You're experiencing pain, aren't you? That's your punishment for turning your back on the Lord."
No... It wasn't. And M-24 was wrong. Pain was for telling the person when their body was hurt. But it was because of touch, Tao had shown them that. Everything was connected. Too much of one thing could hurt, but so could not having it all.
"You could take far more blows than this before."
M-21 knew that. When they'd sparred together, they would trade blows until they grew bored. Being stabbed meant nothing to a non-physical body, and the only thing that tired was their attention.
M-24 was stalling; they should have done the killing blow by now. M-24 didn't want to kill them. Neither did M-21, and they squeezed their eyes shut as M-24 drifted closer.
"Now you can't even move after one. Why did you possess that body if you can't use it?"
The attacks had never hurt because they'd never channelled their power into their swords. Not like Tao with their whip, and not like how M-21 had seen Frankenstein do. Not like how Seira and Regis summoned their weapons and held the power in their hands, not just using power to call their weapon to them.
M-21's chest was roaring again, something struggling to unfurl from their heart and consume them.
Pain was there to tell them when their body needed something. And Tao had been telling them that everything their body did, it did for a reason, and if it wanted to do something that could consume them whole, then they would let it.
M-21's power flared in their body and they saw M-24 freeze. They held onto the power, letting their power take over their body.
They couldn't do this for long, M-21 knew that much. Not when they were throwing everything into the attack.
M-21 gritted their teeth, letting the hurt and anguish howl in their heart as they flitted far above M-24, out of the reach of their sword. "We adapt!"
M-21 flung their hand down, releasing the power rolling them, seeing their power as an extension of themselves instead of a tool.
The shockwave engulfed M-24 and some angels while others flitted away. Nothing was left when M-21 let go of their power, the attack fizzling out of existence. Just like the angels they'd attacked.
M-21 panted and wavered in the air, only able to beat their wings one more time before plummeting again.
They had no energy to slow their descent. They were empty, everything spent.
M-21 saw an angel flit next to them, their sword swinging towards them. They couldn't have dodged if they'd wanted.
Except something slammed into M-21, taking them out of the way of the strike.
"I've got you, kid," someone - Tao murmured as they carried M-21. "Rest now, all right?"
They couldn't do anything else.
Everything moved in a haze, M-21 unable to concentrate on what was happening as Tao flitted from place to place. It was getting colder, lights brightening the edges of M-21's eyes.
"-get out of here."
What?
Tao's smiling face blurred into view. "Flitting out, kid."
Oh. Were the others-
M-21 sucked in a breath, shock at rain whirling into their face again.
Their body was starting to throb again, telling M-21 where it hurt again.
It was a little easier to breathe compared to before M-21 had entered the barrier. The wind had died down and as Tao flew down, M-21 could feel magic in the air, warming them up, something lighting the ground ahead of them. It was like being swathed in a warm blanket, not the prickling heat inside the barrier.
"Stay with me, kid, all right?" Tao murmured, adjusting how they held M-21.
They weren't going anywhere but M-21's heart ached. They'd killed M-24. They'd had to so the barrier stayed in tact, but the reasoning felt hollow.
Their breathing hitched, tears welling up in their eyes and M-21 gave the feeling free rein in their body.
M-21 was lying on something. It was a little scratchy against their skin, but it was warm.
But...why was it scratchy against their skin? The clothes Tao had given them didn't feel like that..
When they opened their eyes, white surrounded them. White tiled ceiling, white bed with white sheets. They'd never been here before. Where were they…?
They turned their head to the window, watching the thick snowfall outside the glass. Did that mean the barrier was sealed?
"Hey, kid."
"Mmh?" M21 turned their head towards the voice, recognising it.
Tao was sitting next to them, leaning against the bed with an arm draped over M-21's
"Where...?" It was hard to speak, their mouth dry.
"You're in a hospital, kid."
A hospital?
Tao smiled at them. "It's a place where people go when they're really sick or injured to get better. You took quite a hit."
They had, hadn't they... M-21 concentrated on breathing, their stomach rolling around. It hurt, making it harder to breathe.
Their body wanted minimal movements, and M-21 listened to it, keeping still.
"Good job on learning how to attack," Tao said, reaching over to ruffle their hair. "I saw it."
They had? M-21 ducked their head, leaning into the touch.
"You need to learn how to block, but I can teach you, heh."
M21 knew how to block, but they had to learn how to do it with their new abilities. Had they done it against M-24's sword? M-21's breathing wavered at the thought of them.
"You okay, kid?" Tao asked, and M-21 shook their head. "Ah." Tao pulled themselves up to sit next to M-21.
M-21 exhaled, bracing themselves and then rolled over so they could wrap an arm around Tao.
Tao hummed, running their fingers through M-21's hair and curled a wing around M-21. They…they would be okay. Should be. If they thought about something else.
"The barrier...?" M21 asked as Tao gave them a cup.
"The barrier's fine," Tao said, holding the cup steady as M-21 drank from it. "It's in tact and all sealed up." Tao exhaled, glancing out the window. "There's a chance it could be forced open, but it's stable for now."
"And you," Tao said, setting the cup onto a nearby table when M-21 was done drinking. Tao tapped M-21's forehead with a knuckle. "Don't scare me like that! Running off by yourself."
M-21 wouldn't promise that. If a similar situation happened again, they would do the same thing as before.
Though next time hopefully not get as injured...
There must have been some of M-21's thoughts expressed on their face, because Tao's face softened into a small smile, and they chuckled, ruffling M-21's hair again. "Stubborn kid."
The door to the room opened and Frankenstein walked in, a number of books tucked under their arm.
"Boss!" Tao grinned and moved to get up.
"Sit." Frankenstein raised an eyebrow at them and Tao leaned back with a small laugh.
Why had...? M-21 glanced between them, trying to work out what part of the conversation they were missing this time.
Tao saw M-21's confused looks and they cleared their throat. "I wasn't able to get out the fight unscathed either, and Boss is insisting I move as little as possible."
"For good reason," Frankenstein said, closing the door behind them.
So if M-21 hadn't been there, Tao could have gotten off worse… They had been helpful in that fight.
Frankenstein set the books beside the cup Tao had put down. "These are for you."
They were? M-21 glanced at the spine, reading the titles and... "Name books...?" They stared up at Frankenstein, their eyes wide. And those were for them?
Frankenstein smiled. "You will be here for a while, so I thought you might like to pass the time doing something productive."
M-21 wanted to reach over to pick the one at the top of the pile, but their body was already aching again. And Tao was in the way.
"You don't need to start straight away," Frankenstein said as Tao picked the top one up and started to flick through it, low enough that M-21 could see the names. "And you need to rest more than Tao does."
"If you don't like any of these," Tao said, looking at them, "I can introduce you to the internet and we'll start looking for a name you like there." Tao paused, their gaze drifting. "I'll introduce you to the internet anyway, heh."
"I... Thank you," M-21 whispered, closing their eyes.
They would do this. They would find a new name for themself that they wanted. Their designation... M-21 had always known it was a placeholder until they were given their new name, but now... They were glad Tao and Frankenstein didn't know it and wouldn't call them it.
Their mouth curled thinking about it. Their designation was a reminder of all the bad things that had happened, that they'd found out. Of what their batchmates had gone through, what Crombell had done, making more of them like they'd meant nothing.
"What are you going to do now?" M-21 asked, watching Tao go through the book, tilting their head at whatever was on the page. M-21 could wait until they had enough energy to lift their head and their body didn't protest quite so much to start searching what to call themselves.
Frankenstein hummed. "I have a few more lectures to do here, but after that," they said, glancing at Tao, "we're leaving the country."
W-what? They were? M-21's mouth dried again as they stared at the two.
Frankenstein leaned over and patted them on the shoulder. "It's all right. We came here due to my job, and I'm no longer needed."
"And you got that job to help you find your Lord," Tao muttered under their breath, one corner of their mouth twitching up.
"I did, yes." Frankenstein nodded.
They had?
Frankenstein's smile faded to a frown. "Though it seems we have a new job alongside that one."
"What is it?" M-21 asked.
"We need to check if that-" Frankenstein tilted their head towards the window. They had to be talking about the barrier. "-is stable everywhere else."
Oh. Tao had already mentioned that. And they would need to do that, just in case. M-21 fidgeted with the edge of their blanket, their body tensing, even as their body protested at that. They should ask. Tao had said Frankenstein didn't mind answering questions. "…Can I come?"
Frankenstein blinked at them and so did Tao. Why did they seem surprised by their question? Did they not want-
"Of course you can, kid," Tao said, closing the book. "We're not leaving you behind."
They relaxed at those worse, sighing. That... That was good. They hadn't wanted to be left behind.
"...But," M-21 said, frowning, "what happens if it is weakened somewhere else?" They wouldn't be able to close the barrier if they didn't have the help of a Loyard or a Landegre.
At that, Tao snickered, their shoulders shaking.
"Seira and Regis have already asked if they can join us," Frankenstein said, their voice wry.
They had? They wanted to work with demons? Which…they already had, but with some reservations.
"Regis' grandfather would like to speak with us beforehand however."
What was a grandfather? M-21 would have asked, but they yawned instead. They should sleep. Rest. Then they could ask whatever they wanted.
They were in a new world, in a new body that they were only just working out how to listen to. A new way of existing, of living.
But they weren't doing that alone. They would adapt.
M-21 closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.
END
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