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Another night meant another patrol. Now that courses were over for a bit, it was easier to slot patrolling and gathering energy in without sacrificing sleep. Taking out one of the magic earrings, he put a normal piercing back in its place before handing the magic one to his partner. “In case something happens, show me an image of where you are so I can get there quickly. I know your wraiths have a bit of distance they can travel but I have to get a bit closer to targets.” It meant that at some point they would get split up and his signature as a General might be a beacon for enemies.

“I should have enough gathered before the magic wears off and the earring comes back to me but still, be careful.” Aloysius knew Liam could handle themselves but he still worried a bit, it was hard not to worry. The neutrality that the dark mirror had also meant that there were enemies on both sides who didn’t quite agree with their existence. It was something he’d been aware of since they’d been attacked by an agent.

“I will let you know, I know where some of the mirrors are and try to stick close to them so you can get to me quickly.” He’d programmed them in as pins on his watch, just in case. Nudging the other back, he stole a quick little hug and then started off towards the red light district. Keeping to the rooftops, he siphoned off energy from the people below, watching as it swirled into a small orb in his hand. It was quick work, at least this part, as he focused on the signatures in the area. He could feel them all, both chaos and order, and he tried to keep tabs on how close they were to him and the area Melpomene was in.

If he knew his youma wouldn’t peck at his partner he would have sent them with him. Though he was sure the other could bribe his youma with crystals if he gave them a sack of good quality ones. Voce had gotten smarter and it was something he was getting used to even if it had proved beneficial to finding the things he needed. Other than that little change, everything else had remained much the same.

Sitting on the edge of the roof, he put the first orb away into subspace before starting on the next one. He felt a bit less on edge when they came out with him, not that anything had happened while he was out in a long while. Running had been something he’d started to do, to keep safe and to avoid larger fights on his own. Though the risk of things had dropped since he’d reached General, he still wanted to make sure he got back home safely to the other. Some of the smaller auras were getting closer, the ones that couldn’t sense things as well he figured. They weren’t close enough to worry about yet though but he’d keep a feel out for them as he went back to draining.

If he needed to fight, there were options now, both short and long-distance. There was that bit of well-roundedness to things now even if he hadn’t had much luck with the bat when fighting alongside Lacerta but he’d been distracted by her getting hurt and reacted with less care than he normally would have used. He could bring in some youma as back up but he’d have to be careful with that around his partner because they could be a target too.

Another orb down but things started to feel a bit peculiar, those auras he’d felt were passing him and heading in the other direction. It made sense but he had a bad feeling and started walking along the rooftops as he siphoned off a bit more. It would be fine though right? They were strong and had stayed out of trouble most of the time. Pulling his pack of cigarettes out, the poor crushed thing had been the last pack he had. There were only about five left and he’d been already dealing with not having as many a day as he usually did. Pulling one out now though and lighting it helped calm him so he could think a bit clearer as he exhaled the smoke into the night air. This little luxury of his would end soon though, it had to.

Making it up to a taller building, he looked around to see if he could spot anyone from that better vantage point. It had looked like maybe a knight or a senshi, but he barely caught the bit of white as they weaved between buildings. Maybe just a patrol, nothing to worry about. No teams or groups large enough to follow him. Definitely not the senshi that had gotten him all those years back or the one that had burned his sister. They were still loose, still breathing, which was something that had to be remedied one day. Going out with Beni occasionally to try to find them to settle the score. Sighing, he dropped back down to the lower rooftops as he made his way deeper into the district to work on things.

It was alright, they knew how to be safe. He just kept telling himself that as he worked on things, it was all he could do without suffocating Liam with his worries. They weren’t made of glass, not in the same way he felt.

She had been out looking for chaos, typically those who followed the Negaverse, but she wasn’t fussy when it came to who she went after. Chaos was chaos to her, it always would be, they all used innocent humans for one thing or another. If it wasn’t energy it was starseeds or both even. So when she felt a weaker dark mirror senshi she headed for that aura, they wouldn’t sense her just yet, she was hoping they wouldn’t run. They would be easy if they didn’t run, believing she might be one of those nice and forgiving sorts. Too many thought the dark mirror were innocent or at least neutral in things and that that bad, when compared to the Negaverse, she had no such thoughts. They were all chaos.

They all needed to be dealt with swiftly before they brought more into their circle. She would handle this one and then she would go back for that General, though she was likely to need to call for backup to take on a General, but that would come later.

Closing that last bit of distance on the rooftop, she threw her magic out at them. Wisps of magic bound them to the spot as she grabbed a piece of loose rebar from one of the piles of trash on this particular roof. It had looked like it was under construction so she had some decent coverage from things. “No more running, not unless you can break your own limbs to get free.” Smiling a bit as she watched her magic climb its way up their body to make sure they couldn’t break free. It would take a bit of time to work its way up past their legs but it did a good enough job to keep them from escaping through a mirror.

Holding the piece of metal like a bat, she aimed for their free arm first, trying to break something if she could. She’d play with them just a little then finish them off in time to call another senshi on her team to aid with the General.

Ah this was easy, too easy. Stepping just out of the way of their vomiting she moved to swing at them again. Another member of chaos would be wiped from this city, a job well done. She could still feel the General nearby, maybe moving a bit closer but not with any purpose just probably a route they were taking through the district. Either way, it was better to just end it before they decided to shout instead of making more of a mess of things.

Rearing back to swing for their head, she smiled and started to swing for the home run. “Good night.”

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The image hit him like a truck alongside a sick feeling of nausea, sending Chalcanthite leaning against the HVAC of the roof he’d been on. Flashes of the location they were in, points in the sky to see signs or rooftops, and the image of a senshi with a long rod of metal. He had to get there, and fast.

Looking over the rooftops he saw one of the signs and figured out just about where they might be. It didn't take long, just a few teleports, and he was on the same roof as them both as the senshi started to swing for a killing blow. There wasn’t any time to plan, he just moved as his rapier came to his call. Teleporting in front of them and blocking the metal with his blade, a screeching ring came from his weapon as it started to resonate.

His nerves were on fire as he moved in on them once that move had been stopped but now he needed to stop them. They couldn’t be allowed to live, there wasn’t any point trying to bring them over or even get them corrupted forcibly. Not after they tried to kill his partner, it hadn’t even been just a roughing up either. The intent was there so he intended to return the favor in kind.

“No.” Teleporting in front of them again he reached into their chest. “You don’t get to do that and get away with it.” It was cold anger as he forced them to the ground, squeezing their starseed as he went. Icy eyes watched them as they struggled but felt nothing other than hate for them as he held onto their core. Once they were down all the way, he freed their starseed from their chest and got back up. He sent it away, into that private little dimension of his. Out of sight and out of mind as he reached out for some youma to clean up the mess. Some dogs to tear apart this enemy, just as they’d torn apart a civilian for him once before. It had been a long time ago though but just as warranted as it was now and he’d hide this starseed next to theirs beneath the floorboards back home. They would be awake for part of it, maybe just a bit but he wanted them to suffer a bit for what they’d done.

For a moment he stood there, wanting to watch it happen but he knew it was handled and hurried over to his partner. Wrapping an arm around them as the magic started to fade. “I’m here, it’s okay. You’re okay.” Speaking quickly as he checked them over, words tripping over themselves as he noticed their arm hanging limply. He’d have to get them to a hospital, at least he knew this time the senshi couldn’t follow and find the other like he had worried about with his own injuries in the past. There was a mess of vomit on them and the ground but he didn’t care as he held them.

Letting them adjust as needed, he thought of which hospital would be the best to go to. With them being sick he could argue that it was a drunken fall or something if he had to make up a lie. “It will be okay, I can get us to one. You need to power down though once we get close and we can walk the last bit of the way.” Holding on to them tightly but carefully, he focused on the hospital nearer to their home. Just a block away from it in an alleyway.

“Just follow my lead on things, I should be able to get things sped up.” He’d throw his name around and the money attached to it if he needed to so they could be seen quickly. Pulling them along, he powered down and pulled out his phone to text Desiree so they knew what had happened. “When we get home, you are staying in bed and letting me take care of you. No questions, no excuses. Desiree will be making sure you stay put when I have to work.” They’d scared him but this time, he’d been able to do something about it. Forcing the tide to change to keep them safe.

He’d have to keep doing it, keep building himself up to make sure they were safe.

He felt a bit bad, forgetting how harsh teleporting could be on someone who wasn’t used to doing it. “Sorry…” Matching their pace so the other could lean on him, he finished the text he was sending before cringing a bit. He’d have to tell Mel, he hadn’t told his sister about Desiree just yet since that had all moved pretty quickly in the last week.

“Once the semester picks back up in the next week but for now focus on rest. I can gather notes and turn things in for you if needed, I am there every weekday anyway to teach and prepare for lessons.” As they reached the doors of the hospital, he bit the bullet and shot off a quick text to Mel as well. There would be a phone call soon but he’d handle it after Liam was in a room. “I can handle Mel on this, we still need to tell her about Desiree. Whatever you messaged her has kept her from popping in so she has yet to see our little guardian. To be honest she may just be out on a trip somewhere for the holidays but I would like to think she listened to you.”

Walking inside with them, he started right towards the desk and got to work making sure everything was managed quickly. Slipping into that calm and collected role to make sure his points got across and his wishes were respected.