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Neutral
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The flinch hit Feo harder than any weapon ever could. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen someone recoil from him in fear or tread lightly around his temper, but this time was different. This time it wasn’t some stranger or an adversary. It was Lucius. The man who had fought beside him, comforted him, stayed with him through the worst of it. The man he loved. - And Lucius had flinched. - Feo's body went stiff once again, stiffer than it had gone when he'd heard the giggling. His chest was heaving with the lingering remnants of his anger, but the fire was already burning out. His gaze locked onto Lucius, who was sitting there, hands carefully at his sides, meeting his eyes. Was that fear in those perfect blue depths? It hit Feo like a physical blow. The realization that his rage—uncontrolled and all-consuming—had made the person he cared for most feel unsafe. He could see it in Lucius’s tense shoulders, in the guarded way his sapphire eyes met Feo’s, like he was something dangerous, something to fear. It was like staring into a mirror and seeing something twisted and ugly looking back. - Without thinking, Feo dropped to his knees right where he stood. The sound of his weight hitting the floor was heavy, deliberate, but nothing compared to the weight crashing down in his chest. The fury that had burned so brightly moments ago was gone, replaced by a tidal wave of guilt that threatened to drown him. He stared up at Lucius, his green-blue eyes wide, desperate, brimming with shame. - “Dove,” Feo whispered, his voice cracking as he reached for him but stopped just short of touching him. His hands hovered in the air, trembling as though he didn’t deserve to make contact. “I— I’m sorry. I didn’t mean— I didn’t want to—” He bit off the words, choking on them as they caught in his throat. - His hands fell to his lap, gripping his knees as he stared up at Lucius, unable to bear the thought of the winged demigod feeling anything but safe with him. “Please,” Feo begged, his voice low and raw, “don’t look at me like that. Don’t… don’t flinch away from me. I— I couldn’t stand it. Not you. Anyone but you.” - His heart was pounding, his breath shaky as he knelt there, the fire from earlier nothing but smoldering embers now. The anger that had consumed him felt distant, like it belonged to someone else entirely, and all that remained was the crushing guilt of what he had done. Feo had seen that look before—the wary, careful look of someone bracing themselves for the worst. He had vowed just days ago never to see it in Lucius’s eyes. And now, he had broken that vow. - “I’m not mad at you,” Feo continued, his voice trembling as he looked up at Lucius. “I swear, Lulu, I’m not mad at you. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t— It’s me. It’s all me.” He shook his head, his fingers digging into the fabric of his pants. “I let it get to me. I let her get to me, and I shouldn’t have— I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. You didn’t deserve that. You never deserve that.” - The words tumbled out in a rush, frantic and desperate, as though he could somehow undo what had already been done. Feo’s eyes searched Lucius’s face, looking for any sign that he was okay, that he wasn’t scared, that the flinch had been a momentary reaction and nothing more. - “I’d never hurt you,” Feo said, his voice soft but resolute. “You know that, right? I’d never—” His voice cracked, and he lowered his head, his hands falling to the floor in front of him as he leaned forward slightly, his forehead nearly brushing the ground. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” - He stayed there, on his knees, his chest heaving as he tried to rein in the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. His shoulders shook slightly, the guilt so heavy it felt like it might crush him. Feo didn’t care about his pride or how pathetic he might have looked in that moment. All he cared about was making sure Lucius knew—knew that he was safe, that he was loved, that Feo would do anything to make it right. - Slowly, Feo raised his head again, his eyes meeting Lucius’s with a look of quiet desperation. “Tell me what to do,” he said softly. “Whatever it is. Tell me how to fix this. Please.” His voice broke, and his hands clenched into fists on his knees. “I can’t— I can’t lose you, Lulu. Not over this. Not because of me.”
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Lightbringer
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The anger that Feo had immediately dried up like dew under a summer's morning sun. It dried up with Lucius's hesitant sadness. This... wasn't what he wanted to see. It was cold, empty and silent... but at the same time, Lucius was so frustrated with himself. How could he have done that? He was weak enough that he couldn't get a grip? Somebody shouting was enough to make him slip up? He had done so much more, been through worse and then he had gone and flinched like some lost puppy? What sort of idiot did that? The silence that filled the room was suffocating, far more than the fiery rage that had rolled off of Feo mere moments before. Hidden inside of the silence was absolute betrayal in Feo's eyes, a wide eyed guilt that stared back at him from the demigod who had collapsed to his knees. "It's--it's not your fault," Lucius said quickly, shuffling toward Feo to hold onto his hands. "It's not your fault--no. I know. I know," he whispered quickly, squeezing Feo's hands in his own. He had to reassure him. He just did. It wasn't Feo's fault at all. Feo hadn't done ... a lot of things. And Lucius knew, deep down, that it wasn't Feo's fault at all. But the rush of familiar circumstances had pulled on old habits. But because he had been fighting them, he had slipped up. "I'm okay. It's okay," Lucius urged quickly, one hand released Feo's to cup his cheek. "It's okay. Alright? I'm fine. It... it wasn't... it didn't mean anything. That was my bad," he said quickly. His own frustration boiled in his chest, aimed at whatever that thing was out there. "You stay here," Lucius finally said, his voice quivering. His hand slipped down, grabbing one of Feo's knives and his watch. Lucius stood up from the ground, knife in pocket, bow in hand and marched toward the door with a rather frustrated step. "You stay here, I'm telling her to piss off unless she'd like to be fishing for new teeth." He pulled the door open and stepped out, glaring down the hallway in both directions. His eyebrows furrowed, a dangerous light in his sapphire eyes. His voice was firm but low, cautious not to disturb other hotel guests. "You have three seconds to show up or you're going to be reaching out from the afterlife," he hissed out. "Get your arse over here and start talking. Don't try and lie to me either, you are the absolute worst at it. I should be on a plane to head back to campus and then out into the world again by now. I should be on a train, so get over here and start yapping--or so help me, I will find you and end you."
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Neutral
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Feo’s heart clenched when Lucius shuffled closer to take his hands, squeezing them tightly in his own. His voice was soft and quick, filled with urgency and a need to comfort, but that only made Feo feel worse. Lucius was blaming himself for something that was Feo’s fault, no matter how he tried to spin it. Feo felt like he had been gutted, his earlier anger replaced by the sharp, hollow ache of guilt that he couldn't seem to escape. - When Lucius’s hand moved to cup his cheek, Feo leaned into the touch instinctively, closing his eyes for a moment as if that could make everything disappear. “Lulu,” he said softly, his voice breaking. But before he could say anything else, Lucius was already moving, his hands leaving Feo’s as he stood with newfound determination. - Feo’s eyes snapped open as Lucius grabbed the knife and watch, then headed toward the door with a purposeful stride. “Wait—” Feo started to protest, but Lucius’s firm words cut him off, leaving him stunned for a moment as the ethereal boy stood in the doorway, guarding the life of a man he barely knew. - The hallway was eerily quiet, the faint hum of distant hotel noises barely audible. Lucius stood just outside the door, his sapphire eyes sharp as they scanned the space around him. His voice, low and threatening, carried down the hallway like a cold breeze, cutting through the stillness. - For a moment, there was no response. Just silence. But then—soft, measured footsteps echoed down the corridor, accompanied by the faintest trace of a giggle. - From the shadowed end of the hallway, the woman stepped into view. Her dark hair fell in loose waves around her face, and her piercing blue eyes shone with a mix of amusement and something colder, more calculating. She moved with an easy confidence, her expression unfazed by the threat Lucius had just issued. If anything, she seemed entertained. - “Well, well,” she said, her voice smooth and lilting, “aren’t you a fiery one?” She stopped a few feet away from Lucius, tilting her head to the side as she looked him over with a curious, almost predatory smile. “You’ve got quite the mouth on you, I’ll give you that. But it’s not a very polite way to greet someone, now, is it?” - Her eyes flicked toward the outline of the knife in his pocket, then back to his face, her smile widening slightly. “What’s the plan, bird boy? You gonna stab me and hope for the best? Or maybe shoot me with that bow of yours? Go on, then.” She gestured toward him with a casual wave of her hand. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” - Her tone was taunting, teasing, but there was an undercurrent of something darker beneath her words, something that suggested she wasn’t just playing games. “Or,” she continued, taking a small step closer, her gaze steady, “you could take a deep breath, stop acting like a territorial hawk, and mind your own damn business. Your choice. But I'd reccomend the second option, both for you, and the sake of your incredibly emotionally unstable boyfriend. Oh, Azzy!” She called through the open doorway. "It seems you have a type, gorgeous! When are you gonna stop hooking up with blondies and find you someone that isn't daft?" She laughed. - Feo nearly snarled. He was going to flay her. - She crossed her arms over her chest, leaning slightly against the wall as she waited for Lucius's response, turning her gaze back to him. The amusement in her eyes never wavered, but there was a flicker of something else there too—something calculating, almost dangerous.
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Lightbringer
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Lucius squared his shoulders, watching the woman as she stepped into view. Those eyes and the hair... but his own expression was dry and clearly unamused. While he hadn't really ... actually hurt anyone before, today sounded like a great day to practice targets. The entertainment was good, it meant that she didn't think of him as an actual threat--which allowed him the upper hand. "Y'know, it's also not polite to go stalking a pair of college kids either," he replied dryly, resting his weight on one foot. One finger curled at his side, looped into his belt loop. His head tilted to the side as she kept yapping on and on about nothing particularly important. Did she have anything to say that wasn't just a rehashing of what everyone else already thought? "I would love to mind my own business, I really would," Lucius stated with a short laugh, a dry scoff, "however, I can't 'mind my own damn business' because somebody else has decided to stick their nose in it. Which means, now, I have to stick my nose in other business to get rid of it and get rid of a nosy Nancy!" He took a step forward as she did, meeting the woman before she could get to the door. This... this kind of thing felt exhilarating in all the wrong ways. His hand moved from belt loop to pocket, removing the knife. He hadn't the faintest clue how to actually use a knife but if he had confidence, it'd work. That was how it always went. "Y'know, I really didn't think I'd find anyone who's dumber than I am... but here you are. You're practically begging for first place in the idiocracy department. Might as well take manager's position, eh?" His eyes flicked over the woman again. "Who are you, what are you doing and who sent you?" Lucius finally relayed the questions, leaning against the doorway, looking over the knife blade. "If you'd like to remain as you are, you'd best talk. You like yapping about useless information, how about talking about something useful for once and make something of that...?" He gestured to the woman, up and down idly. "Since clearly, you haven't figured out a good enough use for it. No, no, go stalk college kids. Pester them until they decide to make a second type of swiss cheese out of... this pathetic waste of space." He let out a dry sigh. "I'd rather not have to, but y'know... Asrifeon doesn't deserve whatever sort of nuts you are." He wasn't dreading the inevitable swipe of the knife... really. Oh he absolutely was. He was just preparing himself for the sound, the feeling and hoping that it would be a quick solve and Feo wouldn't ask too many questions.
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Neutral
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She tilted her head slightly, the teasing smile faltering for just a fraction of a second before returning with a sharper edge. "Oh, sweetie," she drawled, "you think you're clever, don’t you? Bold words for someone so far out of his depth. But I’ll humor you. Call it my good deed for the day." - She straightened from the wall, her movements fluid and deliberate, and took another step closer. The air around her seemed to shift, growing heavier, as the playful façade began to crack. The sharpness in her expression deepened, the glimmer of amusement in her eyes giving way to something colder and far more dangerous. "My name’s Aera," she said, her voice low but clear, carrying a weight that seemed to echo in the silence. "As for what I’m doing here, let’s just say I’ve got unfinished business. And who sent me? No one. I work alone. Always have, always will." - Her gaze flicked to the knife in his hand, her eyes narrowing slightly as her smile widened again, this time with a predatory edge. "But you? You’re the one who doesn’t belong here. Playing hero with no idea what you’re up against. You’re lucky I’m feeling generous tonight. Otherwise, you’d already be a smear on the wall." - She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "And as for Azzy?" Her smile twisted into something cruel, a mockery of amusement. "You don’t know the half of it. But don’t worry. You’ll find out soon enough." - Feo, who had been listening from just inside the room, stepped out then, his footsteps deliberate and heavy, his eyes blazing with fury. "Enough," he snapped, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He moved to stand beside Lucius, his presence a solid wall of defiance and protective energy. He placed a gentle, reassuring hand on his waist, his other knife between his fingers in the other hand. "Whatever game you’re playing, it ends here. You don’t get to waltz in and start throwing threats around. Not to him. Not to me." - Aera raised an eyebrow, her expression neutral but her eyes dancing with something akin to delight. "Oh, Azzy," she said softly, almost mockingly, drawing out his name as if savoring it. "Still so dramatic. You haven’t changed a bit." - Her gaze flicked back to Lucius, her smile returning with an unsettling ease as if the confrontation only fueled her amusement. She took a slow step back, her movements unhurried, as though daring either of them to stop her. "But fine," she said, her voice laced with mock resignation. "Have it your way. For now." - Feo’s fists clenched tighter, his body taut like a coiled spring ready to strike. "You’re not going anywhere," he growled, his tone low and threatening. "You think you can just show up, throw your weight around, and leave without consequences? You’re going to tell us exactly what you want and why you’re here. Now." - Aera’s smile didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—annoyance, perhaps, or maybe recognition that Feo wasn’t bluffing. She tilted her head again, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before shifting back to Lucius. "Oh, I’ll tell you what you want to know," she said lightly, though the edge in her tone betrayed her irritation. "But only because I feel like it. Not because you asked so nicely." - She took another step forward, her focus fully on Lucius now, her eyes scanning him with a mix of curiosity and calculation. "You, little bird," she said, her voice softer but no less cutting, "have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into. But you’re brave, I’ll give you that. Brave, or stupid. The line between the two is so very thin, isn’t it?" - Feo moved slightly, stepping just enough to place himself between her and Lucius, his wings flaring slightly as if to shield him. "That’s enough," he snapped, his tone like steel. "Say what you need to say and then leave. You don’t get to toy with him." - Aera sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Fine, fine," she said, raising her hands as if in surrender. "No need to get your feathers all ruffled. Here’s the deal: I’m here because of you, Azzy. You’ve made some enemies—or, really, enemy, and let’s just say not everyone is thrilled about your little… escapades." - Her eyes darkened, the teasing tone vanishing entirely. "You’re meddling in things you don’t understand. Dangerous things. And if you’re not careful, you’re going to drag him down with you." She nodded toward Lucius, her expression serious for the first time. "Is that what you want?" - The tension in the hallway was palpable, the air thick with unspoken challenges. Feo’s jaw tightened, his wings that had come out and puffed up to make himself larger twitching slightly as he resisted the urge to lash out. "If you’re so concerned," he said through gritted teeth, "then why don’t you tell us what we’re up against? Or are you just here to play games?" - Aera’s smile returned, but it was colder now, devoid of humor. "Oh, I could tell you," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "But I won't." Edited at January 26, 2025 10:25 AM by Lackadaisy
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Lightbringer
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((We're going to forgive me because I am on mobile. And it sucks. lol)) Aera got it wrong. Lucius did not think he was clever in the slightest. He was just riding off the fact that his sheer stupidity was working so far. Out of his depth? Nah. He was right where he felt comfortable. Doing something horrifically stupid. "Y'know--" His words were cut off when Asrifeon stepped out from the room behind him. Oh fantastic. Oh this was absolutely fantastic because now, when Lucius decided he had enough of this lunatic, he could feign the story that she had attacked him. At least he could get an A for effort. "I use the line of brave and stupid like a jump rope, thanks," Lucius replied loftily. "Hasn't snapped yet, so I'm doing pretty good." Not entirely the smartest answer he could come up with but he felt pretty proud of it nonetheless. What he could see behind dark feathers. Oh, oh this was perfect actually. The feathers hid what he was going to do. Or what he was thinking. Drag him down? Boy howdy, these people have it all twisted up. Feo was not the person in charge. Not at all. Lucius was. Lucius was the one dragging Feo around. "Next time you try pulling something like this, you might want to make sure you get your facts right," Lucius chirped from behind dark feathers, adjusting his hold on the knife. That felt... sturdy. It looked like what Feo was doing with his. In true fashion of hoping for the best, Lucius leapt from behind the dark feathers and attempted to slash at the woman. She hadn't given an answer, therefore, he was obligated to come through with his threat. And hope he didn't break his arm in the process.
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Neutral
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Lucius moved fast—faster than Feo expected—and the knife in his hand flashed with determined recklessness as he lunged forward. Feo’s wings flared out instinctively, but they couldn’t block what was already in motion. The blade slashed through the air, aimed directly at Aera. - Feo tensed, his breath caught in his throat as he watched the strike, but something was wrong. The knife didn’t stop—it didn’t meet resistance. Instead, it passed clean through her chest, as if she were made of nothing more than mist and shadows. A faint ripple shimmered across her body, and she didn’t even flinch. - Aera clicked her tongue, a sharp, condescending sound that echoed in the hallway. Her expression shifted from amusement to pity, her lips curling into a faint, disappointed smile. "That’s sad," she remarked dryly, glancing down at the knife that had done absolutely nothing to her. Her tone was devoid of anger or fear—just mild annoyance, as though Lucius had failed some sort of test she hadn’t even bothered to explain. "Really, that’s the best you’ve got, Lulu? I was hoping for something... sharper. Guess I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up." - Feo’s blood boiled. The taunt wasn’t meant for him, but it hit its mark all the same. He stepped forward, positioning himself between Lucius and Aera with deliberate care, his wings closing slightly to shield Lucius without smothering him. "What the hell do you want, Aera?" he snapped, his voice low and dangerous. His hands balled into fists at his sides, and though his tone was calm, there was a flicker of raw fury behind his words. "If you’re here to prove a point, you’ve done it. Congratulations. Now leave." - But Aera didn’t leave. She tilted her head, regarding Feo with a smirk that made his skin crawl. "You’re awfully protective, Azzy," she said softly, almost mockingly. "It’s sweet, really. Almost makes me believe you care. But you and I both know that’s not why I’m here." - Her gaze shifted to Lucius, and her smile widened, cold and calculating. "You picked an interesting one," she said, her tone light but laced with something darker. "He’s brave, I’ll give him that. Stupid, too, but that’s half the charm, isn’t it?" She took a step closer, and the air around her seemed to grow heavier, colder. "The question is, Azzy—how much is he worth to you? How much was Iven worth to you? Evidently not much." - Feo’s jaw clenched, enough to make his teeth throb, and he took another step forward, his wings spreading slightly as if to block her view of Lucius entirely. "I’m not playing your games, Aera. And don't you dare ever speak his name. I swear, I will hunt you down, wherever you truly are, and cut out your tongue for this," he growled. His voice was steady, but his knuckles were white as his fingers dug into Lucius's side, and the blade. "If you think you can waltz in here and start threatening him—" - "Threatening?" Aera interrupted, feigning innocence. She placed a hand over her chest, her smile widening. "Oh, Azzy, you wound me. I’m not threatening him. I’m just... curious. I mean, you’ve always been so good at keeping people at arm’s length, but now—" She leaned slightly to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of Lucius behind Feo’s wings. "Now you’ve got another little pet project, don’t you? How cute. Maybe the 'dumb blonde' rumors are true. Is it the stupidity that you're attracted to? Maybe the hair color? The sickening optimism? The way that they're always shorter than you? The trauma? Or maybe the way they melt into your arms, so you feel like you can have something to protect, since you failed to protect yourself?" - Feo’s temper snapped, and he took another step forward, forcing Aera to stop in her tracks. "Get. Out," he hissed, his voice sharp and commanding. The fury in his eyes was matched by the barely restrained energy radiating off him, a crackling tension that made the air around him hum. "You don’t belong here, and you sure as hell don’t get to talk about him like that. Leave. Now." - Aera’s smile didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something calculating. She took a step back, her hands raised in mock surrender. "Fine," she said lightly, her tone dismissive. "I can see when I’m not wanted. But this isn’t over, Azzy. Not by a long shot." - She cast one last glance toward Lucius, her expression unreadable, before turning and disappearing back into the shadows. The oppressive weight of her presence lingered for a moment before finally dissipating, leaving the hallway silent once more. - Feo exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he turned to face Lucius. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft but steady. His eyes searched Lucius’s face, checking for any signs of fear or doubt. "You don’t have to—" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "I shouldn’t have let her get that close. This is my fault. I—I have no idea what she's doing, or why she's here. I don't know her, Lulu." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't even know what she is. How did she.." - He wrapped his wings tighter around Lucius. "What do we do..?"
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Lightbringer
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While he was never going to ever admit it out loud, the vast majority of himself was relieved that this thing was merely an illusion. The feeling of the knife passing through air, left him slightly irritated. She wasn't even real?! "You can't even be here in person?!" Lucius let out a sharp scoff. "Good gravy, you are such a cowar--" the rest of his sentence was muffled in the rush of dark feathers. Feo's wings closed in around him--probably for the best before he did anything else stupid. His relief was drowned out in the rush of frustration. He struggled in the feathers, pushing at the soft trap until he gave up and huffed. He scowled in return. "When I get my hands on you, you'll be the next flavor of Swiss cheese!" Lucius glared out and over dark feathers with sapphire eyes, his anger aimed at Aera. "Piss off--" most of what he had said was a grumble and even then, it was muffled by feathers. "I got myself in this spot!" "Also, I don't have trauma. Clearly you do, considering the fact you can't even insult me in person. What kind of coward decides to send an illusion? One who's scared--" Lucius struggled in the feathers again, determined to try and get his way over to the woman again. If nothing else to just see if he couldn't be a pest. He couldn't harm her, no. But could he walk through? What if he just stood there in the illusion? At the last fleeting glance, Lucius scowled and lifted his hand up to flip the woman off as she disappeared. "How dare she think--" he cut off as Feo turned to him. Lucius was far more angry than he was scared. "I'm fine. I'm pissed but fine. How dare she think she can go and just do that? We've made an enemy? Oh, no, whatever will we do--nah. She should be worried--" He cut himself off again to take a deeper breath. "We carry on. We're going to get on the train, we're going to fly to Florida. We are going to go on as normal. And if she comes poking around, we ignore her. She doesn't get the time of day or nothing. Because I will--I will make Swiss cheese outta her. Don't you doubt it. I'm so--ugh! I can't believe she thinks she's all that and a box of rocks. She's such a rookie, sends an illusion, tries dredging up the past and threatening us--she can't even carry through--doesn't have the facts right and--AND--has the audacity to try and state that we made enemies. We didn't do nothing, we're traveling the mortal world. That's not something that makes enemies."
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Neutral
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Feo stood silently, his wings half-lowered as the tension slowly drained from his frame. He had pulled Lucius back, shielding him from a threat that wasn’t even physically present, yet his instincts had screamed to protect—to act. And now, in the stillness that followed Aera’s departure, his mind reeled. The mention of Iven, the biting taunts, the venom laced into every calculated word—all of it pressed heavy against his chest. But Lucius’s fiery response, his unwavering defiance, had been the one grounding thread keeping Feo from unraveling completely. - Feo pushed the door closed; as it clicked shut behind them, Feo released a slow, measured breath. He flexed his fingers, trying to ease the lingering tension from gripping too tightly, and cautiously let his wings unfurl to give Lucius space. The feathers shifted, brushing gently against the floor in a low rustle, before settling back against his shoulders. His gaze flickered to Lucius, ensuring he was upright, steady, and unharmed—at least physically. - But Feo’s focus didn’t linger long. His mind churned through the words Aera had thrown at him, dissecting the implications, the veiled threats, and the cruel precision of her insults. His throat tightened at the mention of Iven’s name, as though Aera’s words had reached inside him and twisted something raw and tender. How had she known? What did she truly know? - The silence stretched as he fought to find words that didn’t sound hollow or strained. He shifted, glancing at Lucius once more before forcing himself to speak. “You’re right,” he murmured, his voice low and uneven. “We move forward. We don’t stop for her. We don’t give her the satisfaction.” His eyes darkened, his tone sharpening. “But don’t mistake her cowardice for weakness. Illusion or not, she’s watching us, waiting for us to slip. She doesn’t just want to rattle us—she’s planning something. And I won’t let her get the chance to try again.” - He moved to the side of the room, pacing in measured strides. His wings remained partially spread, brushing the walls in restless sweeps as though they carried the weight of his unease. Feo’s steps faltered for a moment, and he turned back toward Lucius, his expression softer, more contemplative. - “She knew too much,” he admitted, his voice dipping quieter. “More than she should’ve. About me. About us. About…” He clenched his jaw, cutting himself off. A hand raked through his hair, and he looked away, his shoulders stiff. “Whatever game she’s playing, it’s not just random. She’s baiting us—trying to dig deeper. And I need to figure out why.” - He leaned against the edge of a bed, wings folding tightly against his back. His knuckles rested against the surface, pressing into the wood frame with enough force to leave faint marks. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this. It’s my mess—it always has been.” His gaze flicked upward, meeting Lucius’s briefly before dropping again. “You don’t deserve this. None of it.” - The tension in Feo’s posture betrayed the storm in his mind. Whatever burden Aera had stirred to life, it was clear he was determined to carry it alone. He desperately needed to cry, to mourn, but bursting into tears would provoke questions from Lucius, and he really did not need that right now
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Lightbringer
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Lucius, once freed from dark feathers, took to ruffling his own hair and scowling. He paced back and forth for a few moments before pausing to take time to calm down. His thoughts were inwardly racing and reeling, spinning around with the fueling of fiery anger. He needed to calm down. She was gone, she was nothing more than a pest. A fly buzzing on the window. That was it, that was all she was. He took in a deeper breath, his hands moving down the air, as if smoothing something down. Lucius glanced toward Feo once more before removing the watch from his wrist. His footsteps were far more deliberate as he crossed the room. Now that he knew, more or less, what the woman was... he was far less panicked. But the look... in Feo's eyes... that twisted his heart strings. "You don't get to decide what I deserve or don't deserve," Lucius said firmly, his shoulders squared. "If I want to be a part of it, that's my choice. You're not gonna stop me or chase me off," he stated as he sat down beside the Norse demigod. His sapphire eyes flicked up and down over Feo for a few moments. "You don't have to talk about it, but if you want to take a moment to let it out, I'm here," Lucius offered his wings and arms, settling on the bed with a small and lopsided smile. The words she used hardly meant a thing to him. They were echoed words of things that he had been used to hearing all the time. Echoes of teachers, mother, old friends and more. They were nothing new. He took in a small breath. "We can just rest here. She's nothing more than a mere annoyance at best," Lucius whispered softly. "I love you, Feo. That's not going to change."
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