She didn’t know what this new form meant, as she lifted a piece of the material up, noticing that her heels were the same light blue of her pendent and stared at them.
They were heels.
She had never worn heels in her life.
“There is heels on me.” She stared at Laby, as if through all of this, that was something that just could not be true. Heels were...heels….
She clutched her chest as her gaze landed on the crack underneath the skin. “There...what…” She tipped the collar down and stared at it. Even worse than heels, apparently she had a hole in her chest.
xxx
There was a twisting feeling in his gut as he looked upon Regan - no, she wasn’t Regan like this, he needed to give her a name or find a cat -
“I never understand how they pick the uniforms,” Labyrinthite replied, letting his gaze drift across her new clothes, the length of her hair - he didn’t understand why it was always so long it was impractical. “We can work on them, at least they’re not very high.” He imagined walking in them would be difficult if she hadn’t worn any before.
“We need to give you a name, unless you want to find out your - “ he hesitated, he didn’t want to say true name because whatever he called her would be true enough. “We’d have to involve more people and I don’t - “ he sighed, because selfishly he didn’t want to expose her to more people in the Negaverse this soon. He wanted to grant her power and he had, now he wanted to keep her close.
Wanted to show her everything personally.
“Adamantine seems fitting, if you like it,” he suggested, offering a weak smile. “I know it’s all strange but - I’m going to help you. I don’t plan on
leaving you on your own about this, okay?”
xxx
“I feel we should have a discussion with them.” She stared at Chase and let her arms fly out. They were covered in a sheer sleeves, held at her wrist by a silver cuff. She looked like the princess, frankly, from Frozen. Less cape, darker blue. She had no idea what this meant.
“A name?” She looked at him. “I don’t wanna wait for someone else to come along and name me, if that’s the case?” She tilted her head. “I’m yours, so only you have the right to it.” She waited to hear her name, and her eyes widened at the choice. Wasn’t that once a fantasy mineral? The strongest that had been made usually. What a oddly...surprising choice.
“As long as you take responsibility.” She waited a moment. “The hole...in my chest...Is it dangerous?” Really what she wanted to ask, was did it expose her?
xxx
Her outfit had more draping fabric than he’d expected and more skin was exposed than he would have ever thought that he’d see but he didn’t comment because, well, it was clear that she was already uncertain. “Too bad it’s the Cauldron and no one gets to go there, if their cycle isn’t to be renewed, outside of one.” Cosmos, guardian of the cauldron. “You’ll get used to it,” he assured her, leaving off the probably.
A name?
I’m yours, so only you have the right to it.
There was a swirl of emotion that curled around his heart, twisted in his belly because while the statement could be interpreted in many ways Labyrinthite knew what Regan - Adamantine he reminded himself - meant. They were two objects hurdling through space that had fallen into each other’s orbits. Understanding each other was easy and the man beneath the general had every intention of taking responsibility for how she adapted in the aftermath.
He’d do whatever was in his power to make sure she could protect herself, to use the new found powers to the full extent of their capabilities.
“Adamantine because we’ll forage you into something new.” Something deadly. “I take responsibility. You’ve got me R- Adamantine. I’m not going anywhere.” Not unless she demanded it and meant it, but he didn’t see that day coming.
“No, it’s not it’s just - “ did he call it cosmetic damage or something else? “It’s a sign of what side you stand on. That you stand with us - me.” He reached for her, hesitating with a hovering hand above her shoulder. “You’re faring better than I expected but - you’re a fighter, stubborn.” The corners of his lips curled up in a soft slanted smile.
“Do you have any other questions? We should go back to my house.”
xxx
“A cauldron?” She tilted her head, imagining a large witches tool, rather than a galactic pot that stewed up seeds and threw them out. “Well, I’ll make do.” It didn’t really really bother her. Some part of her even felt a bit pretty, like a princess. Not that she was one of those, okay, it was just nice to imagine that she could’ve been. Especially in this form.
“I hope not.” She crossed her arms, look at him and then looked at a very tall tree. The next words that came, they were harder for her to say, and she struggled with how to say it.
“I don’t want you to go ever.” She made a tch sound, “I don’t think I will ever find a person….like you? For me.” She breathed out, pleased with how the words came out. It was a sort of confession but also like...she knew he would understand. He always understood.
“How to I go back to normal?” She waved a hand over the clothing, “I can ask you the rest at your home.” She stopped, “Wait...your home?” She had never been, was that okay? She was really tired though, and between this awakening of power and her injuries from Paul, she was practically on the verge of just falling over. But true to her name, she was too stubborn and remained standing.
xxx
“It's complicated, I don't know how to explain it properly but when I find a way I will,” he assured her, resolving to find more information on the cauldron. He only knew of it as a concept, would only likely know what he could be told second hand.
It wasn't like Cosmos would talk to him, or he didn't think she would. If he were her, there wouldn't be a chance in hell that it would happen. Still, there were other ways to obtain information.
I don't want you to go, ever, she admitted and Labyrinthite could see how hard it was for her to say.
“Don't worry,” he said quietly, gently touching her shoulder, “you've got me, I'm not going anywhere.” He said it forcefully, like there'd be no arguments, no doubts about it.
Labyrinthite - Chase - had no intention of leaving her, ever.
“It’s a reaction, you just focus on letting the magic melt away and it will,” he explained letting his eyes close briefly when he exhaled and shifted from general to plain man.
“We'll be going to my house, if you don't mind that is,” he added quickly, bright eyed searching her face. “When we get back to Hermes, I'm going to use a quicker form of transport to take us back. The awakening process is always exhausting,” he explained, standing before her as Chase. “I'd rather not risk you falling off,” he teased cracking a grin.
If he made light of some of it, perhaps it would make everything flow smoother.
xxx
“It’s cool.” She murmured. “I don’t think I could handle all the information anyways…” She sighed, taking a deep breath.
“Thanks.” Her hand casually reached up and laid on Chase’s. Physical contact was even harder, but sometimes she understood the need to convey emotion through it. It was sad because normally she didn’t have much emotion, but when she did, she felt every bit of it.
“Oh.” Well it sounded easy enough. She imagined (much to her surprise really) that the dressed fell away, taking away magic with it. In a sense, the dress...this powered form was a new armor for her to use, a new wall and taking it off felt…
It felt like she was really stripping away something. Which in the end would be fine, because she assumed to power up, it would be the same principle.
“I don’t mind.” She opened her eyes and Adamantine was replaced with Regan, in her normal clothes and the cast back on. “There’s….a quicker way?” She asked, as they headed back to Hermes. She mulled over it and then…”Don’t tell me we can like...beam up scotty or something…”
xxx
“We have time,” Chase assured her, a gentle squeeze of the shoulder accompanying his words. “Not everything needs to happen at once.” He would work her into everything as slowly as she required, besides, she was still healing and he didn’t want to overwork her.
Regan was precious to him, in ways he couldn’t properly explain, so he was going to take his time introducing her into everything if he had to. And if he got to keep her privately longer because of it, then he didn’t mind so much.
“Not quite like Star Trek but similar concept, I think?” He wasn’t that familiar with the old sci-fi shows, because they’d never really been something he’d been heavily invested in but he got the idea. “Teleporting is a thing,” he shrugged guiding her back to Hermes. “But it’s more like...Charmed? Blink and you’ll shift planes or something.” He wrinkled his nose when the example didn’t make as much sense as he’d thought it would.
“I’ll show you, it’ll be easier to show than to explain.” There were lots of things that were easier to explain by showing rather than telling. When they were back by his motorcycle Chase breathed and let the chaos wash over him, becoming General Labyrinthite once more.
“It’s a strange sensation, just hold on to me and you’ll be alright,” he informed her, offering a hand with the palm facing up. It would be easier to loop an arm around her and hold her close to keep her steady when they moved from one location to another, but he wanted to respect her boundaries and need for space. If she stepped closer on her own, then it would be fine, otherwise he’d simply hold her hand.
“Let me know when you’re ready.”
xxx
She would always be grateful that Chase had this endless supply of patience. With her, and with their situation and as a person in general. She could’ve never suffered the same way he did, and wondered if the position was reversed, would she be like that?
Instead she hustled over to him, and Hermes, sliding her newly unpowered hand over the seat. Her idea was that she was suppose to get back on the bike again but then...he transformed back into his powered form.
“What’s a strange-” She narrowed her eyes, looking at him with speculation. The fear of...of just doing something...OF just whatever he was planning made her head hurt, so she just stopped thinking about it.
“You have a thing for me holding on to you, don’t you?” She slid over to him stared at the chest. Inherently, there was nothing wrong with the space. Alex...Chase. He was safe. She had to remember that everything about him, that was her safe spot. She pressed gently his against chest and wrapped her arms around carefully. The firmness and the warmth was different. Really it would’ve been a odd scene, a sudden hug and perhaps the way she held him was not normal but really….”Okay any time now.” She was only a little embarrassed by the contact.
xxx
He didn’t expect her to fold into him the way that she did, with his arm wrapping around her shoulders and holding her tight against him. “Maybe. Is that a problem?” He teased, an easy, playful smile crossing his mouth as he reached for Hermes and gripped the handle closest to him.
It only took a second for him to teleport them into his garage, glamour melting almost immediately after. His grip was still firm and gentle on Regan even as he released the bike. He twisted almost immediately to check on the girl, hand reaching for her cheek before hesitating and falling against his side.
“It’s different but - when you rank up you’ll be able to do it too. It’s handy but I recommend dropping your glamour immediately.” His stomach twisted at the thought of the knight and senshi who’d discovered his identity.
He wasn’t going to risk Regan, he promised her a safe space and had practically vowed to protect her.
Nothing would happen to her as long as he was around and if it did -
Well whoever hurt her probably needed to fear for their life.
“Come on, let’s get you inside to a bed.” He remembered when he’d been corrupted, when he’d been promoted and how weary he’d been as a result. “Can you walk okay? I don’t - I can carry you. It might be easier.”
xxx
She had blinked. It had literally only taken a second for them to be shrouded in dark woods and night and be replaced with cool concrete and structures. Her head swiveled around, taking in the sights and then looking up at Laby with a brief confusion.
“You really did it!” She sputtered a bit, and his gentle brush over her cheek made her blink again. Since they were still in the garage, she assumed this meant the end of the journey. Her gaze lingered on his face before she reached up to mirror his gesture and gave him a very hesitant and tired smile.
“You are far more amazing than I ever thought.” She let her hand drop and stepped away. “A bed would be nice.” Her legs felt like jelly but in order to prove her worth to Chase, and to Laby, she shook her head.
“I can do it.” Her first step almost made her fall over, so she laid a hand on hermes for a second to steady herself, then she squinted. “I’m strong. I can do it.”
xxx
He hadn’t expected her to mimic his gesture and the surprised showed in the upward tilt of dark brows and the slight lean into her gentle, faint touch. When her hand fell away he swayed back, still hovering close but keeping from crowding her. It was hard, there was such a protective pull from him to her and he was worried that she collapse beneath the corruption and the desire to put on a strong front before him.
“This is only the beginning Regan,” Chase said softly, the tips of his ears reddening slightly from her compliment. Things like that meant more coming from her, because she didn’t express much. “There’s a whole realm of things I’ve yet to introduce you to.”
There was the Rift, where she could not venture alone. The castle in all it’s dismantled glory. He might even be able to take her into space, depending on who he could coax into ferrying them. There was the combat and heat of the battle Labyrinthite he had no doubt she would eventually see.
He wondered if it would leave her in awe as teleporting had done or if she would be afraid. He hoped she would always believe that she had nothing to fear from him.
“I do not doubt your strength Regan,” he said softly, a gentle hand against her back to steady her as he lead her inside, towards the stairs that would lead to the array of unused rooms. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”
He knew she was strong, capable. He wouldn’t have picked her for this other life otherwise.
xxx
There was a deep understanding and trust with anything that Chase said, and she couldn’t help but notice the reddening of his ears. Learning more about the man, that was something she counted as a wonder in her new world.
Teleporting, battles, space? Those things, she wouldn’t even be able to comprehend. She struggled to right herself again and her stubbornness was dueling with her tiredness. The latter clearly winning out. She struggled to move back to him and then looked up.
“I’m embarrassed.” She admitted, “Asking for help. I am not used to it. This? I don’t know.” She leaned her forehead against his chest. “I’m really tired, you’re right. Just like...It’s weird. Do people just ask to be picked up or something..” Her face fell very flat. “Will you carry me to rest somewhere?”
BECAUSE SO AWKWARD WAS SHE.
xxx
There was a soft, fond smile on his mouth when he looked at her, suppressing the chuckle that threatened to burst from him. He had been, admittedly, waiting for her to break and admit that exhaustion seeped into her bones more than she realized. He was prouder than he realized when she admitted that she needed help and even more so when she told him how hard it was for her to admit it.
“Hey,” he said softly, reaching to push a loose curl behind her ear. “You don’t have to pretend with me,” he promised, carefully rubbing soothing hands along her back. “Of course I’ll carry you.”
Chase wasn’t sure he was capable of telling Regan no. He pulled away carefully, strong hands gripping her upper arms before he stooped and scooped her legs into his arms and proceeded to carry her bridal style through the door into the house and up the stairs. He cradled her carefully against him, secure and strong without being too much, he hoped.
When they made it to his room, he toed the door open carefully then brought her to his bed, setting her down on it gently. “I’ll take care of you as long as you let me you know.”
xxx
“I know you keep saying it.” She was trying after all. To rely on someone. She tried not to make a sound as she was lifted and kept her chin tucked to her chest. There was something very comforting though, in relying on him. When her body felt fragile and weak and he was holding her, she felt cared for and not scared.
His promise had never changed, no matter how many times he told her, and for that, she was grateful. Her head rolled to rest on his shoulder and she closed her eyes.
This warmth and this care and this trust. She claimed not to understand love, nor would she ever but in this moment, she felt...something seeping out of her and though she couldn’t phrase it for what it was, her mumbled half phrases meant more than they ever said.
“Alex.” She murmured. “Thank you.” And lulled by his warmth and care, the girl passed out from exhaustion before they even made it to a room.
xxx
Chase brushed hair from Regan’s sleeping face, careful not to disturb her as he shifted the comforter until it was drawn over her body. “Any time Regan,” he mumbled softly leaning in to press his lips to her forehead in a very gentle manner, so light it was almost as though he hadn’t done it. He stood there for a moment looking over how peaceful the girl looked when she was sleeping and how, perhaps for one of the few times since he’d met her -
Regan looked at peace, unafraid.
Selfishly, Chase hoped that was a result of him. “Sweet dreams Regan,” he whispered, peeling himself away from the bed and leaving the room. He’d find her later, after he’d given her a chance to rest.
pixie nyxie
