The fingers of Pandora's left hand clenched against cold metal, dragging her feet up one more set of stairs. It was three in the morning, pitch black, like the tattered, stained fuku hidden under a palm clasped at her side.
How many times would she patrol alone before she learned her lesson?
Last step.
The one youma would have been easy enough, but its aura had masked a second. By the time Pandora had registered it was there, it had locked its smelly teeth into her side. Pained, angry (at herself, mostly), and tired, Pandora had spent another wave of power in the act of crippling it and then headed for safety.
The area underneath the columns of an empty Judicial building was dark, empty. She crept back to the darkest corner, leaned against a wall and got ready to power down.
Immediately, she decided it was a horrible idea. Her inward breath hissed and she crumpled down at the new wave of pain. The civilian body was not meant for deep wounds, and it would be a few moments before her reeling head cleared.
- Thyone had thought she was tracking a power signature. That trace of self-righteousness that signalled some order loving jackass causing problems in her newly claimed city. Later, she would blame it on intuition and be glad for the six sense that had pulled her toward abandoned stone and metal, a place which was bustling with suits and uniforms during the day, and now echoed with the click of her heels.
She heard a grunt of pain, and it sent an icy shot of apprehension through her spine. The senshi of hedonism couldn't feel power, not anymore, and that meant a civilian. Maybe she wasn't supposed to care, but no one was here to tell her otherwise, and as she rounded a corner and caught sight of too-familiar colors, a black polo with design she recognized from the equestrian center, her steps increased to what was almost a run.
The sight of redhead made her stomach flip, and she took in a nauseated breath, "Lib-" she bit her tone, shutting herself up as she forced herself to stop a few yards away and assess the situation. She wasn't Avery, and this wasn't a safe place. No where was, really.
There didn't appear to be danger, she felt, saw, and heard nothing, but... Liberty Reever, of all people, awake, out of the house, and... Not well. "Are you alright?" She managed, attempting to not sound too strained. Libby was a nice girl. What the hell happened?
As soon as the clicks echoed, numb, though her head, Liberty was struggling onto her feet. Having no knowledge of who it might have been, she expected the worse.
Hand on one wall, she attempted to rise, tiptoe away from the sound.
Lib
It was cut off, whatever the word might have been, and the redhead jerked a look just to the right of her shoulder. In that instant, her blood ran cold.
So rarely was she truly afraid, that she had forgotten what it was like to feel the emotion. Situations happened so quickly, Pandora was used to reacting, or being prepared before they happened. Now, she was trapped in the middle--she had not prepared for this situation, and she had much too much time to think about it.
The swallow in her throat was fear, and she locked wide, bright eyes with Thyone. Her breath slowed, like a wild animal who has come to know it's fate and accepted it.
"No," she breathed. She couldn't lie, even if she tried.
No help to the corrupted senshi standing before her. Was she going to get played with like a toy, and left for dead at the end? Her hand curled against the wall.
She could still throw a decent punch. There was a logical pounding her head, reminding her over and over that the warm-skinned, curly haired menace before her did not know who she was, but the panicking, back of her mind responded easily with she has to, she has to.
Pandora took another slow step, some feverish desire to keep going ingrained into her subconscious.
- Thyone knew who she was, but it wasn't what Liberty, no, Pandora, was afraid of. The redhead's name was burning her tongue to hold in, scorching the roof of her mouth. Thyone's hazel eyes dropped from the green to her chest, to the name.
"... Liberty," it eased the strange tightness in her chest, to say the word, and she was able to breathe again, look over the younger girl, caress the places she was favoring as she walked with worried eyes.
Then Libby's words came, in a tone Thyone [or rather Avery], had never heard before. Rough, cold... Scared?
What do you want?
They were demanding, and Thyone's tone was almost shy in response, soft, as if dealing with some sort of animal. One she had a right to take care of [she didn't].
"You're hurt," as if that was an explanation. "Let me help you, alright?"
She swallowed, taking a half step forward herself when it almost looked as if Liberty was going to stumble. "Please."
And then Thyone could find out what the hell happened.
How dare she. How dare she use her name like she knew it. Liberty scowled, despite herself, wanting to cover up the name, reverse what had happened.
She watched as Thyone's eyes moved down. Liberty did not glance down, but she was thankful that the black polo would have kept the dark patches of serum and blood hidden. There were no tears in her work clothes. Her opponent wouldn't know how bad it was.
You're hurt.
Liberty felt kicked in the gut. There had to be a way out of this. How many steps could she run?
By the dizziness in her head, maybe three.
Turning, she faced fear head on.
Please.
Thyone received a stare in answer. Liberty's brain tried to make sense of the words, unable to deny the cracked, needing way the please sounded. Like this woman actually wanted to help.
"I'm not ready to die," Liberty said firmly, as if this would deter any sort of attempt to. Perhaps it was her way of saying she would fight back.
A glance down, back, and then the word, "Okay." It was a reluctant answer, but it was said with apparent finality. Liberty's eyes never left Thyone's body as she waited for the sudden reverse--the kiss that became a punch, the help that became a knife across her throat.
- "I'm not going to hurt you," Thyone tried to hide the indignant undertone, the surprise that borded on upset, in favor of something more productive. "Let me see." She asked, rather than just reaching for the hem of the polo, as much as she wanted to. If she'd been Avery, it would have been different, but she could see the hard edge of Liberty's jaw. The distrust. Did she know about the senshi? Was she just suspicious of strangers?
It made sense. Something had attacked her, and recently.
Thyone would've been on edge, too, and that knowledge helped her stay calm. "The hospital isn't far," she assured her. "If you let me, I'll make sure you get there."
Something told her that Liberty wouldn't let her carry her, but... Maybe she could at least get an arm around her.
"I know. I know exactly where it is."
Both Liberty and Pandora had known injury was inevitable. Now, she hoped the knowledge would keep her captor honest.
A seconds of heated staring, assessing, and Liberty was leaning into the wall. Blood-streaked fingers were fingering the edge of the polo. The shirt tensed, drying blood holding a death grip on the fabric. Liberty winced as she tugged it free, rolling it up to her chest.
Taking in deep, long breaths, she nodded towards the other woman and Prayed that she had not made a mistake. There was not even a knife for backup, as she had made the mistake of leaving it at home.
It left her hand free to grip onto Thyone's arm when she came close, however. To some, it might have seemed a gesture of needing support. For Liberty, it was a matter of distrust.
- "Oh, honey," Thyone's words were all Avery, instinctive and the soft, soothing concern of a woman used to patching up her active older brothers if it wasn't bad enough to be immediately carted off to the doctor. It let Liberty know that she was brave, and strong, and that everything would be alright now. "Something nasty got a bite of you."
Thyone had to wonder if it was a normal creature or not. Knowing Destiny City? Not. No wonder Liberty was so on edge. If must've hurt like a b***h.
It only took the brunette a few more moments of watching pent up pain in Liberty's muscles before she realized she could do something about it. "I'm going to make it feel a little better." She'd have asked the redhead to close her eyes, but... It didn't seem like that would be something Liberty was interested in trying.
Hopefully she wouldn't completely freak out.
The senshi of hedonism took a step back, or rather, a half step when Liberty's tight grip on her forearm caused a tug, and held her palm up to her painted lips. A whisper, and she blew, sending a cascading shower of gold light over the injured young woman's body.
It would make her feel good, if only temporarily. Perhaps long enough for Thyone to get an arm around her, begin the walk toward the hospital.
No matter how much Liberty wanted to believe she hated the way the Senshi said honey, she really did not. It tingled memories of home, her father's soft, understanding tone as he explained to his daughter why the world acted as it did.
Something nasty got a bite of you.
"Yeah." Liberty shifted, despite herself, as silky, grecian fabric twitched her skin and was gone again. How had she been attracted to this woman for even the briefest of moments?
As she was raising her eyes to meet Thyone's, the panic spread like a poison. Then, like a breath of ocean water that stung the eyes, choked the lungs before the gasp of crisp, life-giving air, the answer hit her.
"Yeah it did," she murmured again, chewing one side of her tongue gently as she pushed away the desire to cry. It was not easy to go from anger to nostalgia.
The redhead caught scent of warm summer evenings, sweat dirt, aftershave. A lingering taste of peaches and cream touched her tongue and she let it out in a sigh.
"You smell safe."
Liberty's fingers relaxed.
- It worked.
"Come on, sweetheart, let's get you moving." Thyone ignored the heavy thud of her heart as Liberty leaned into her, dismissing it as concern that the clock had started ticking before fear and distrust crept back into those new-grass green eyes. She slipped an arm around the stubborn girl, who had suddenly become so pliable, and felt no qualms about using her boosted strength to take almost all the weight onto herself. It didn't feel like much, with her increased strength and speed, and the hospital wasn't far.
The magic would fade quite awhile before they got there, but, if needed, Thyone could try and dose her again. She didn't know how much she could give before her powers would abandon her, though. She'd never had a reason to use them more than once.
Their feet had carried them from outside the shadows of the building and onto the street. Ahead, she could see the still-bright lights of the Hospital. A few minutes, at most.
A compliant Libby leaned entirely into her guiding savior, sweeping in the calming smells, melting into an easy touch.
For a moment, one poignant by the raising of the hair on the back of her neck, Liberty forgot where they were going.
The "Where are you taking me?" came out snappishly, riding on the edge of dangerous. Naturally, she had to be dosed again, fell in even easier with the mellow, accented tones.
And then, when it wore off a second time--just across an empty, cold street from those sanctuary lights--it was almost unperceivable.
Liberty straightened, found her wound hurt more than it had and glanced towards hazel eyes. The world once again smelled like damp, oily grit.
"What's your name?"
- Thy had forced herself not to react defensively when Liberty snapped, feeling the tension in the wounded girl's body and keeping her own relaxed to show that she didn't intend on becoming aggressive. She'd quickly used her magic again, before offering a soothing "To take care of you," and continuing on their way.
Across the street from the hospital, they separated. Or rather, Liberty pulled away and Thyone didn't stop her, her gaze instead moving from redhead to the building, and back.
"Thyone." She paused, brow furrowing slightly as her lips pursed. "Go in there, and be careful. Call someone to pick you up."
Call me.
It was unlikely. They didn't know each other very well. Maybe Kess? Kess would definitely be awake...
The senshi shook her head at herself before back-pedaling and disappearing around a corner.
"Thyone."
Liberty was repeated, still standing there after the leaving, rich, looping curls had been burned into her memory.
"How am I supposed to fight an enemy like you?"
A Negaverse General had saved a civilian's life. The eternal, Maia, had helped her take care of a fledgling member of Chaos. Now, Liberty was standing on the edge of a lonely street, numbly aware that the Corrupted had aided her.
If it had been Pandora wounded, would she be dead tonight? Why did it make a difference?
The bile was creeping up her throat, so Liberty worked her way slowly into the hospital. The wound was cleaned, dressed, and Liberty was strangely surprised to find it was not as bad as she had originally thought. Most importantly, it had missed vital organs.
Maybe, next time, she'd intelligently patrol with someone else.
Probably not.
