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The entire day had been hard to cope with. The pink and white decorations, the proud display of hearts and chocolate. All of them were little reminders that last year he had been in a relationship, last year this time he had been starting a relationship with a man that he had grown to love and adore. But now he was left with nothing all because he had jumped head first into a confrontation that ended in disaster and pain. By the time the day had been half way through Terry had gone and sequestered himself in their-no, his, room. Of course it didn’t help the reminders at all and instead made it worse as he ended up staring at an innocent ring inside a box that had been hidden from the other man while Terry had built up the courage to ask.

Now it was practically worthless. It’s purpose derailed thanks to him and his stupid mistake. If the ring ended up getting wet with falling tears during the time he stared at it, he didn’t care.

When the day turned into night though he put the ring box away and left his house, not bothering to tell anyone where he was going, and powered up. He kept to the rooftops as he moved along the city, ignoring just how off he felt since he had been pushing himself so hard these past two weeks, and looked for anyone or anything that he could take his grief out on.


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He hated his birthday, hated it with a passion, and while he could and perhaps should be spending it with Aiden his other half seemed to know how much that was not going to happen. He was going to go out tonight and tomorrow they could do something...or in a few days - just not today. Tomorrow everything would go back to normal.

He could have wandered about the city in civilian form, just watching all the sappy couples but he didn’t. He’d had enough listening to students twittering on and on about the up coming holiday in the two weeks leading up to today. Plans to go here or there and to do this or that. It was nauseating if he were asked, and if he were inclined to give an honest answer.

As he drew closer to a rather small cafe, all decked out in holiday appropriate decorations, the General felt a smile tugging at his lips. He really was not in the mood to see any more of this out of control idiocy people called affection. Why was today such a special day to show it? To go beyond the normal? If you were this...in love...why not be like this every day? Shuddering at the thought, though at least it would make more sense to him, he made for the cafe’s door and kicked it in and kicked it closed. Tonight he was grabbing energy and leaving a cafe full of unconscious couples, at least that was the sudden plan.


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Since he was wondering the rooftops looking for a fight, as soon as the Negaverser’s energy came into his range he was quick to head directly towards it. He didn’t care that the signature was clearly higher than his own and if he had stopped to think about it it wouldn’t have made much difference anyway. If a General was out and about then that meant trouble for anyone that they were around. If he hadn’t been so lost in his grief though then he would have paused long enough to send out a message asking for help to at least someone, although it would have been more than likely either Gévaudan or Hawara or both, for back up.

Instead he just rushed straight to the signature and found himself in front of a cafe that was decked out in Valentines decorations and was under assault by a short General in a long coat. Erebus kicked in the door while ignoring the decorations the best he could and glared at the other man. “You know I don’t think these people appreciate you interrupting their night.” he said with his oar held in a position that would let him switch between offense and defense quickly.


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He’d felt the signature, likely before they’d felt his, but hadn’t given it much thought. He hadn’t figured someone would seek him out...though some would of course, some really weren’t the brightest, so he’d waited to see what would happen. Already a few couples lay head down on their tables, or the floor, others huddled together as they’d rushed around trying to get out. Teleporting, when put to use, was good for herding people and keeping them from doors.

Speaking of doors...the front one was being kicked open by the squire - how nice. Turning slowly, ashen hair falling about his face he smiled. “I don’t really think I care much what they appreciate or don’t appreciate.” Shrugging he let his gaze dart down to the ore and almost laughed.

“Well, that’ll help with the creek you're going to be up if you decide to not turn and leave.” His own weapon was summoned to his hand and held tightly. “I suggest you be smart and leave - before I decide to beat you with that toy of yours.”


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His eyes darted around quickly to check on the people but he couldn’t tell if any of the ones on the floor were just unconscious or dead right now when he needed to keep most of his focus on the General in front of him. “You don’t care at all that they were just looking for a nice night out? What’s the matter? Good stood up for a date?” He taunted and refused to show that his own words hit himself hard even if that wasn’t what happened.

The spear the officer summoned made him clench his oar tighter but all he did was smirk, not caring what damage it could, and most likely would, do to him if this fight happened. “I think you will find that this ‘toy’ will be used to beat you instead. I think I’ll do the brave thing and stay here before you hurt any more civilians.” Of course brave often times went hand and hand with stupid but he wasn’t going to say that. Besides he had been looking for a fight to get his mind off of Seung anyway.


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“Stood up? Hardly!” Laughing he shook his head, slate eyes bright and showing clear amusement over the other's words. They didn’t bother him, they were amusing and nothing else. “But yes, I care what they are doing out tonight, I did target them because of today as I’m sure you figured out.” The others words told him that much. The other knew he had picked them because they were celebrating Valentine’s day. He had a reason for going for them, though it could have easily been the people at the restaurant down the block, or one a few blocks away...or even some other cafe.

“You...beat me - now that is amusing. I’d like to see that.” The next moment, after those words passed his lips, he was gone. When he did appear again it was behind the other and he was bringing his weapon up and swinging it. He didn’t use the blade, yet, but rather the solid ball on the end. He swung it like a bat at the other intending to bring the knight to the ground.

“Little squire’s should learn their place...before they get put in place.”


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“So you were jealous or just being a Grinch, how very Negaverse of you.” Erebus said with a quick roll of his eyes. He wasn’t really surprised that any officer would target any Valentines couples really seeing how there were so many of them they didn’t need an excuse more than that. But figuring that it could just be the General aiming for a good sized group of people wouldn’t stop him from tossing out other idea to see if they annoyed the shorter man.

His eyes were quick to return to the General however since it wouldn’t be smart to keep looking away. “Well if you keep bothering these nice people maybe you will see it.” He quipped back, are at least that’s what he was going to say but before he could do more then open his mouth the other man had teleported behind him. He managed to just barely dodge the swing of the weapon by ducking and he returned the attack with a swing of his own oar, ignoring how that quick movement had made him slightly dizzy. “And short General’s should learn to be more festive.”


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How very Grinch of him? Oh how cute! Though that was true, in a way. He did hate the holiday and all the affection floating about. He was not a fan of it and so he was targeting couples today because of his disdain for the day, Had this been any other day he would not be kicking open a cafe door and draining people in the open so much - this was bad for pr.

“Ah, but where would the fun in that be? I much prefer taking their energy and leaving them behind to pick themselves up later. Though you offering yourself up in sacrifice is much more pleasing.” Shifting his hand hold, hands sliding along the poles shaft, he took another swing at the other. This time aiming with the spread end. It was a short blade but it could and would cut nicely.


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“Very rude, someone turned you down didn’t they since you said you weren’t stood up.” He taunted, not even touching on the idea that he was offering himself up for a sacrifice. It wasn’t that it was terribly far off even if he didn’t think so seeing how he had gone looking for a fight already tired and not on the top of his game in the first place.

He moved to dodge the spear again but this time was just a hair too slow and ended up with a cut in his clothes and arm, causing him to bite back a hiss. “I think it’s time to get this more out in the open don’t you?” He didn’t wait for an answer and instead took another swing at the short General, trying to force him outside of the cafe where he would be farther from the civilian’s and there would be more room to move.


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Turned down? Him?! That was amusing, though he didn’t say it his laughter perhaps did. When this was over he was going home, to Aiden, and curling up in bed with his partner. He knew what he was going home to and the others words rolled off his back, amused him, but didn’t upset him. He knew they were aiming to rile him up, get him going, and it was a game he played as well. He was just more...intense when he played, sort to speak.

“Oh no...not yet.” He said shaking his head, smile in place. He let the ore hit him this time and blinked once. It hurt, of course it did, but it had hit his shoulder and judging from the pain...it would leave a good bruise there. But it wasn’t anything compared to what me moved to do. His weapon dropped, for now, it vanished as he shot forward intending to grab the squire and throw him across the cafe into either a wall or a table...maybe he’d hit a wall and fall down onto a table?

“I’m not done playing in here yet. I rather dislike these tacky decorations...you can help me in removing them.”


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Well clearly he wasn’t doing a good job of throwing the General off his game judging by that laughter but Erebus wasn’t deterred. Who knows he might find something that was a touchy button to push if he kept going, though whether that would be a good thing or not he wasn’t sure. After all he didn’t even know who the General was let alone what he would be like angry.

When the oar managed to hit the short man, Erebus couldn’t help but think it was cathartic even if it didn’t do much of anything to actually stop him. However that thought was dropped quickly like the spear as he was grabbed and tossed, not having expecting it so wasn’t able to dodge in time. His breath left him in a rush as he slammed into a table and it smashed beneath him from the force. It took him a moment to catch his breath and shake the spots out of his vision then he got to his feet and held his oar up defensively. “I think I will have to decline even if some of it is tacky.”


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“Ah, that implies I’m giving a choice.” He stated while walking toward the other, slowly, his boots clicking on the floor as he closed the distance. “I’m really not in the mood to give options - just nicely worded orders.” He stated with a tilt of his head and a bit of a smile, like the cat which got the bird and the cream.

Kicking a piece from the now broken table, ignoring it as it went sliding across the floor, he stopped in front of the other. “I do believe you’ll be assisting me in some redecorating.” Whether he liked it or not, he didn’t care, they’d wind up tearing the place apart by the time he was done. “Unless of course you care to run away now, while you can still move.”


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He would never admit that watching the General walk slowly towards him with that smile sent a shiver down his spine. “Sorry but I don’t listen to chaos minions so you will find that order ignored.” He said, keeping his tone light and fear free, not about to give the shorter man any idea that his intimidation tactics were working.

It wasn’t like he would have run out on the civilians at this point anyway so it was easy enough to decline the ‘offer’ to run away. And decline he did by switching his grip on his oar slightly then swung hard at the other man once he was close enough. “Running isn’t an option for me but it still is for you.” he said as he moved to combo that swing with a kick.


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“Minion? No, no, no little knight. I’m not a minion...I make them.” He replied his voice dropping and drawing his words out as he spoke. “Do you know how I make minions?” He asked the other, his smile twisting and the corners of his lips moving upward further. “I’m sure you’ve seen a starseed taken….only rather than taking it from the person….you shatter it inside of them. It may take a few minutes but in the end you have an obedient minion - a youma. I made my own youma.” He had continued on as before, his voice low and drawling things out in something of a dark purr.

The swing hit, again, this time it did break his balance and he tipped to the side. Catching his balance the General grabbed the foot and pushed, hard, in an effort to send the taller male backward. “Maybe I should make another…watch you writhe on the ground in pain as the change takes hold and makes you into something pretty and useful.”


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Erebus forced himself not to show just how much the words of the General made his heart race in fear. He could remember seeing starseeds taken, could remember fighting to save them and sometimes not being able to save the person anyway. But he had never seen someone turned into a youma and hearing it described sounded just as horrible as he had imagined it would be. It didn’t help that the other man apparently had the perfect tone going to make it sound even worse.

His leg getting grabbed was something he expected, as was the shove so while he did stumble back a bit he didn’t got far nor did he fall down. “No thank you, I’m pretty and useful enough.” He said as he dropped low to take a swing at the General’s legs. On one hand he needed to force the man outside away from the civilians, on the other hand all of the talking was making him want to keep his starseed far away from reach thank you.


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This one seemed to not be as...energetic as some knights and senshi were...perhaps even a bit lacking in energy. That was perhaps why he didn’t expect the leg sweep and he went down with a thud and a thunk, that was really going to hurt his tailbone...already did in fact. Reaching out his weapon appearing again he jabbed it toward the other, from his place on the ground. “Useful...to whom? Certainly not to me...but you could be.”


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Thanks to the move he had just done, it left him momentarily dizzy again so when the General lashed out with the spear he could only move enough so that it left a deep gash on his shoulder rather than impaled. “I’m not interested in being useful to you.” He said, ignoring the first bit asking who he was useful to. Instead he took the time to get fully to his feet and kick out at the downed man while swinging his oar to try and knock the spear out of his hand.


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Rolling across the floor, to avoid the ore, he pulled himself up onto his feet and stood slowly. “Ahh….a shame. I could have made you a very useful little pet.” He really could just force the issue if he wanted, it wouldn’t be that hard infact, but he didn’t. Rather he went and moved to close the distance between them again and grabbed the other by the neck and the waist of his pants. Aiming to pick him up and throw him toward some more decorations, and the glass windows of the cafe. Let him take out those tacky lights.

“I do apologize - but you are going to help me in redecorating this place.” Yup, he was going to ruin people's Valentine’s day and he didn’t give a s**t. This was, in fact, more than he had been hoping for even.


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“I am no ones pet!” He said as he got ready to attack the General again but before he could he was grabbed, picked up, and tossed around. As he flew through the air he clipped some of the decorations so instead of smashing through the window like the officer aimed, he instead slammed half into the windowsill and half into the window, shattering it and raining glass down on him. Thankfully his clothes protected him from the glass for the most part but he still ended up with some cuts on his face, one of the few places that is skin wasn’t protected. He shook his head to try and force the daze back and started to get to his feet. “You must really hate pink and hearts.” He said, forcing the words out.


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“Couldn’t tell till now?” He questioned the other, smirking lightly. His hands were in the pockets of his coat as he tilted his head to the side. “Now then...do you plan to continue this game?” He questioned with a raised brow. This was getting...boring really. He’d have some bruises but the squire was going to be bloody and a bit of a mess due to this - poor thing.

“Or should I end this for you?”


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“No just stating the obvious really.” Erebus said as he made his stance steady. At the question on whether he was going to continue or not he gave a shrug and simply responded with. “I plan on changing things up.” That said he smacked the ground with his oar while pushing his magic out. He darted forward as the ground started to ripple around him and punched at the smug General’s face.


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“I see.” And just those two, short, words alone spoke volumes of how much that annoyed him...how much he disliked it. “Oh, really..do tell.” Or show, it seemed he was going for show and tell and showing was coming first - how nice.

While he felt like his energy was leaving his body he felt a smirk twisting his lips and rearranging his features into something less kind, less blank. As a fist landed, hitting his nose, he felt his head snap back. A yelp escaped the petite General as he brought his hand up to his nose and came away with a few spots of blood on his hand. Oh, now that wasn’t very nice. Snorting up the blood, before it could drip further, he felt it go down the back of his throat - he could taste it.

This was where he was going to push buttons, do something he was good at. From a pocket of his coat he pulled out an energy orb and popped it like candy into his own mouth. If the other was going to drain his energy...he was going to grab more energy for himself. “Keep going, lets see how much I can take in...maybe even a starseed.” Not that he’d taken any...yet. He wasn’t planning to either but he would still say it, it would still affect the other and that was the point of words - to garner a reaction.

“Now then…” And he grabbed his weapon, summoning it to his hand, and keeping his hands close to the top of the shaft he jabbed the blade toward the other.


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Erebus gave a small smirk to the General when his hit caused him to bleed but there wasn’t much emotion behind it since he knew that it certainly wouldn’t do much more then maybe tick the shorter man off. He had hoped that his magic would throw the Negaverser off since he doubted it was often the officer felt his own energy draining but judging by the way the chaos minion reacted by eating the energy ball it wasn’t going to do much just yet. “Just try it, I’ll stop you before you could.” He said in response though he wasn’t sure that was something he really could do and he rather hoped that the mention of eating a starseed was a bluff.

He then let out a yelp as ge tried to lean back and to the side to avoid getting shish kabobed but couldn’t move fast enough to completely avoid getting stabbed in the shoulder. In response he lifted one hand to grab at the spear and kicked out with a leg at the General.


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That was the problem with a close in attack, it risked him getting hit by someone who had more reach. That was one reason he liked keeping a distance with his weapon, it let him reach out and touch someone while they were too far away to reach him - even with their long limbs! Being in close allowed him to strike but it did leave him open and he had further to move to get back and escape, as most people seemed to have longer reach than he did - damn it.

Finding a foot planted in his stomach was not something he cared for, in fact it did knock the wind out of him. He was lucky he was working on a mostly empty stomach as well. Doubling over he drew back, let the other have his weapon for the moment. He’d like to see the other try and use it, especially since he could just summon it right back into his hand. Stepping back he found himself bumping into a table. Turning he lashed out and sent it flying with a well placed kick, watching as it nearly hit two poor civilians. Earning him a scream from one while the other squeaked and tried to hide behind the first - pathetic.


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While he was glad that the General temporarily didn’t have his weapon in hand, he knew it was just that, temporary. So he pulled the tip out of his shoulder with a hiss and instead of trying to use the weapon he dropped it off to the side then darted forward to swing at the General with his oar while his attention was momentarily split to some of the civilians. Hopefully they would use any distraction his fight with the officer to run away but so far most of them had stupidly stayed, some not even bothering to try and escape into the back rooms.


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It seemed the fight had scared several of the civilians into a state of shock which included an inability to move...how nice. He really did hope people like this became knights and senshi - they’d be sitting ducks. People like this...these were the same people he fought to protect from the other side...people who were this terrified and who stuck around as these twits did. He held nothing against those who were unconscious, couldn’t really, but the rest...they should have left - fled.

His thoughts were brought right around to the knight when he was smacked with an ore - again. Damn it, he was going to take that toy and beat the knight with. Even after it hit him, skin throbbing, he reached out to grab hold of it. “That hurt.” His face was rest and starting to turn color in spots already. His fair skin prone to coloring fast and easily. Yanking on the ore to pull it free from the others hand. “Allow me to show you how to properly beat someone with such a weapon.”


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“Good, it was meant to hurt.” He said in return. So far there hadn’t been many that actually aimed to pull his oar away from him in a fight, let alone actually do it, so he hadn’t been prepared to play tug-o-war with the shorter but stronger man which lead to his weapon slipping from his hands and his magic coming to a stop. Even as he made to grab the weapon back he got ready to back up and put distance between them incase the General was serious about beating him with his own weapon.


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Oh, he was dead serious. He took that ore and swung it back before bringing it forward at it’s owner. Now to see just what this little wooden toy was made of, was it stronger than his own spear- he doubted it. He was still going to put this ore to good use though. Holding it tightly in his gloved hands he had no problem in swinging it at the knight and going for a second follow up swing either, intent on doing just as he’d said he would - beating the knight with it.


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When he couldn’t grab his weapon back from the General, Erebus tried to backpedal quickly to avoid getting hit. The first swing caught him on the arm though and the second got him on the leg so between his backwards motion and the wood and part metal oar slamming into his leg he got sent to the ground with a shout of pain. He didn’t just lay there though, with the leg not hit he did try to kick out at the General in retaliation once he had his bearings.


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The kick to his own leg had his leg giving out under him and brought him down to one leg as the other was now best as his knee had given under him. When he pulled himself up, using the ore to help, he decided to stab downward at the other with the end of the ore. AIming for the stomach or chest shot he made to kick at the other also.

“Stay down, where you belong. Just give up.” He wasn’t about to let some little squire win. Even if he was bruised, could feel his leg throbbing from the kick, and he was pretty sure his nose was going to be tender for a day or two...might even bleed a few more times...if he went to sneeze or blow his nose.

As it was he’d had to snort and snuffle blood down his throat a few times during this whole fight. Finally though the bleeding seemed to have stopped...he wasn’t sniffling and snorting blood anymore.


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He had been trying to use the time where the General was forced down to get up himself but found he wasn’t fast enough and got his own oar to his stomach, knocking the air out of him so when the kick came and got his already sore arm from previous hits he couldn’t make much of a sound for the pain. Holding his arm to his chest with his less hurt arm he gave the General a glare as he caught his breath. “I’m not giving up!” He said and kicked out again at the shorter man. He wasn’t going to just roll over and let the chaos agent win, not when he could still hurt the civilians in the building.


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Jumping back to avoid the incoming attack from the other, not about to let himself take more hits from the squire, he felt his knee buckle for a moment but locked his leg before teleporting. Appearing on top of the Squire he straddled him and reached out, hand coming out like a snake striking, and grabbed the other by the hair. Fingers tangling in the others brown locks he lifted his head before bringing it down to the ground.

“I’m going to make you give.” He was going to beat the other like he’d promised. He was going to bounce his head off the ground until the other lost consciousness or until something stopped him.


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Erebus took a sharp breath in when the General straddled him and jostled his hurt arm, not having been prepared at all for the weight of the other man, nor for the hand grabbing his hair to slam his head to the ground. As soon as his head hit he saw stars and the world spun in a way it really shouldn’t while he was flat on his back so it took him a moment to respond to the smaller man. Said response was a punch at the other’s face with his unhurt arm though he wasn’t sure if it was even aimed right.


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Moving his head to avoid the punch, seeing it coming, he bounced his head again and smiled sweetly down at him. “Just behave and give up and I’ll leave you conscious. Don’t and well...” Trailing off he tightened his hold on the others hair. He would leave him either unconscious or maybe dead, depending on his mood. Either way the other would not like the outcome.

Pressing his legs in further on the others sides, digging his knees in, the ashen blond glanced about the cafe. Now that he had the time to properly look about. Some looked terrified...it looked like a few might have finally left - smart. He was going to leave the others unconscious, with the pesky little squire, when he was done. Let the cops find them all.


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Once again he saw stars as his head slammed into the ground and he let out an involuntary moan of pain. “Alternately you could just leave.” He said, slurring his words a bit on the last bit and tried to buck the General off. He couldn’t look around to see if there were anyone still hanging around but from the way they had been shell shocked earlier there probably were. Between that and seriously doubting that the chaos officer would just leave him and them be if he gave up, was going to continue to struggle thank you very much.


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“I could...but I’d prefer not to. You are the one who ruined my evening.” He answered calmly as he bounced him again and deciding that this stubborn little squire was going to keep it up, was going to try and keep this fight going on, the General turned his other hand in a fist and sought to punch the other in the stomach - hard.


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Erebus went limp as he tried to catch his breath from the punch and and the pain of the latest hit to the floor. At this point he was seeing anywhere from two to three Generals with how much his vision was swimming but he fought to stay conscious. “And yourrrr the one who ruined theirssss.” He slurred out after a moment, though he didn’t make any moves other than to speak at the moment.


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“Indeed, I am. So very nice to point out the obvious.” And he brought the others head up and back down then, intending to put his lights out for now. He was sure the squire was close. “No go to sleep like a good little knight.” This little squire had the ability to last a while, to take a beating, it was annoying.


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Just before the General slammed his head down once more, Erebus made one last attempt to fight back, punching out again at the agent. However he wasn’t even sure if it did connect before his head slammed down and the world went black.


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Standing, slowly, on wobbling feet he was tired but oh so pleased, if the smile didn’t say that enough. Making his way around the room he did just as he planned to - drained every civilian till they wound up unconscious. By then he was hearing the sound of sirens and so that was his que to take off - teleporting out. He would, thankfully, arrive close to home where he could power down and walk the rest of the way. All the while hoping Aiden was asleep and wouldn’t wake up and see him in this shape...a hot shower was needed as well as something for the bruises.