presidentheartbeat | Dumb Redhead Thread

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[There's probably something to be said about having 'oh, hell, I really should've brought a change of clothes, huh?' be Zelos' first thought after being stabbed and stumbling as far away from the current town their traveling party's staying at, but whatever it is it currently eludes his mind at the moment. Because he's much too busy holding onto his wound, trying to will himself to put one foot after the other, trudging through grass and dirt until he's deep into some woods he can't recognize, bathed only in the moon's light as it cuts through the foliage and the night.

Somehow, despite the pain that comes with the action and the wince that nearly causes him to lose balance, Zelos still finds it in himself to laugh. Well, this sure went south, didn't it? He's pretty damn lucky nobody saw him sneak out, much less get fucking jumped at by a bunch of randos with an agenda against him.

The problem is, though, that now he's dangerously low on mana and pretty sure that he's going to die if he doesn't get some medical help. And, considering everything else he still has left to do, he kind of just can't let that happen. He needs himself alive--at least for now, thank you very much. So it's either go back and get people asking questions that are better off unanswered, getting help elsewhere and risking another trap, or dying in the woods. Honestly, none of them appealing.

Except for one last, desperate measure that tastes sour like weakness and feels heavy like failure, yet is also his one ticket to, you know, living.

Zelos grits his teeth.

Fine, fine, whatever. Fuck. Aimless, in pain, and already feeling the delirious numbness of blood loss, Zelos stumbles until his outstretched free hand has found a tree in these woods, then leans against it and fishes in his pocket for the little device a certain asshole seraph gave him. Numb fingers fiddle with it until he's entered the number he wants, and he breathes a sigh of relief the moment it finally starts to make a connection. He waits, waits, waits and waits until the little screen comes to life, and then--]

"Yooo, hey there," [Zelos grins, already sliding down the tree trunk until he's sitting on the grass, breathing heavily.] "You, uh, got a sec?"

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[Keeping himself awake until Kratos arrives is perhaps one of the hardest things Zelos has ever done in his life, second only to actually, you know, Living. Ha, ha, ha. The bitter laugh that escapes his lungs at that rakes his chest and brings more pain, which gives him a second wind to take a deep breath and open his eyes. He tries to keep them open even if his eyelids are growing heavier by the second.

Fortunately, Kratos arrives at least somewhat quickly enough. He wants to fret over Zelos and the Chosen lets him; really, with all the blood he's lost there's not much that Zelos can do to stop him, so he simply focuses on keeping himself awake and alert through the seraph's checkup and eventual questioning. It's hilarious, so Zelos laughs. It comes out as a wheezed breath of air rather than an actual goddamn delighted chuckle.] "Why didn't I think of that, huh?" [he slurs, trying so hard to keep his eyes open even if his head's starting to droop.] "Sure, lemme just... jeopardize evrerythin'. She's observant as fuck."

[He's becoming incoherent, which fucking sucks. Zelos tightly clings to whatever grasp he has on the present and tries not to think about how he's slowly, slowly bleeding out in the middle of bumfuck nowhere with fucking Kratos as his last witness, tries to continue that thread of thought instead.]

"Would've... found me out. Questioned why." [He snorts.] "Not good for you, right?"

Zelos is covered in various cuts and bruises, but it's the stab-wound in his abdomen that needs immediate attention. Kratos lays Zelos flat on the ground so the skin and muscles around the wound aren't bunched up in all the wrong ways. Zelos is too delirious to mind, which is both a good thing (in that he is awake, and that he isn't making Kratos' life more difficult), and worrying. How long has Zelos been out here, alone--

No, better not to think about it.

Kratos presses his hands to the wound and channels his mana, sitching up the wound with magic as he listens to Zelos explain himself. Alright, alright, that all makes sense. But if Zelos got hurt on Cruxis business...

"Who did this to you?"

[Zelos barely feels Kratos lower him to the ground, so focused as he is in talking and finding the right words to say. It's not until he starts feeling the sting of mana healing him that he allows himself to relax against the ground little, finally just putting his life in Kratos' hands and trying to come up with an answer to his next question instead. He pays no mind to the relief that bounces at the back of his mind. Zelos is too exhausted to be terrified of the implications of that, anyway.

Shrugging is barely a heavy movement of his left shoulder. Goddess, he's so tired.] "Assassin," [is all he has the mind to say. It goes a little deeper than that, really--a mixture of snooping where one is not supposed to, of old vendettas, and a healthy dose of the pope being the dick he is, but. Zelos purses his lips and quickly decides that Kratos doesn't have to know more than that.] "Was an ambush."

[His eyes are closing. Healing magic is so refreshing once it stops aching. Zelos wants to go to sleep so bad.]

Of course. Not very specific, and certainly won't do Kratos much good if he wishes to hunt the assassin down, but-- Well, it's not like he needs to hunt the assassin down, does he? So he pushes that thought out of his head.

He can see sleep start to claim Zelos, and hums to himself. With an injury like this, the more rest Zelos gets, the better, but first:

"You will need to return to your companions before morning, won't you?" Kratos asks, somehwat urgent. It's doable, but not if Zelos wishes to be in tip-top shape before returning. They may need to brainstorm a cover story, so that Raine will not pry too deeply, but Zelos doesn't really look like he'll be much help on that front at the moment.

Edited 2019-02-13 06:44 (UTC)

[Stop trying to give in to your blood loss-induced exhaustion, Zelos, you need to stay awake and fix the mess you made. Forget Raine questioning him to hell and back--if Zelos returns the way he is now, he will alert the entire party. He won't get any rest at the pace they're going, either, and he needs to keep all of this a well-buried secret and at least be able to pretend he wasn't on the brink of death just now. So Zelos groans, raising a hand to try and grasp at Kratos' arm, trying to hold onto and anchor himself to something warm and alive to keep himself grounded. He breathes deeply, slowly. The magic is already closing the wound, so all that's left now, besides his other injuries, is the leftover pain and exhaustion.

He huffs, loud and slow.] "I need a change of clothes," [he mumbles, opening his eyes. He laughs a little at the fact that that's still in his mind, and the sound dies out in a groan when he tries instead to pull himself up by gripping Kratos' arm tightly. Stupid choice, maybe, he realizes as soon as he starts to sway and his mind swims, but. He really has to get to work.] "And... an alibi. And to wake the fuck up."

Edited 2019-02-13 17:08 (UTC)

Zelos starts to get up, and Kratos gently-- but forcefully-- pushes him back down.

"Don't move. You can afford another few minutes. It will be a few before the healing has completely finished, anyway."

Hand pressed to Zelos' chest to keep him where he is, Kratos considers Zelos' request.

"A change of clothes will be easy," he says. (Even if he has to fly to Meltokio to break into Zelos' mansion, it's still an easy task. They have a few hours before morning, besides.) "The alibi... will be more difficult. I doubt your companions would take my word."

[It's kind of a little humiliating that Kratos can just push him back down and Zelos can't fight him back--for a variety of reasons that don't necessarily stem from him being extremely weak right now, mind you. It's just the angel strength. Yeah, let's leave it at that.

Now on the floor again and while glaring up at the seraph, Zelos blinks himself to clarity and has the mind to act as offended and put off by Kratos' insolence as he possibly can right now, scoffing and rolling his eyes for dramatic emphasis. He looks away from Kratos and grins, bitter.] "Babe hunt gone wrong, or something. Doubt they'd... care to pry after that."

[Maybe it's not the perfect alibi, but it sure sounds like him, doesn't it? And they don't have to know he was stabbed--all this has to cover is how fucked up he looks and why he was outside so late at night. It should do.]

Kratos... shouldn't be surprised that that's what Zelos goes for, really, but he remembers very suddenly a couple reasons he's ultimately not that fond of Tethe'alla's Chosen.

Whatever. It's not his business the mask Zelos creates for others to see.

"Probably not."

Kratos runs another cursory check over Zelos' injury. It appeears to have healed fine, but Zelos is definitely going to be a little stiff for at least a few days. But, maybe that isn't any of Kratos' business, either.

"How are you feeling?"

[Oh, Zelos can just feel the disapproval and hate emanating from Kratos. It's what he's used to, so of course he can recognize it easily in the way the man clams up and starts running final checks. Whatever, really. At least Zelos already feels physically better--less on the brink of death and more exhausted and in pain, and it's getting easier to think and speak now--so everything else should be fine.

Alright, then. Breathing heavily, Zelos braces himself before he once again tries to get up, pushing against Kratos to try and do so. It hurts. He grunts and uses the hand he still has on Kratos' arm to pull himself again. He won't let Kratos fret anymore. Fuck you, bitch seraph. He's done being weak.] "Like what I think crashing a Rheaird feels like. I got fucking stabbed, Kratos."

[He's trembling a little, reality crashing down on him. Goddess, he almost died. Zelos doesn't really know why he's being such a dick about it, but he is aware that he needs to cut that shit out if he wants assistance for the next few steps in hiding the evidence. The night is still young, so he has time, but he doesn't want to risk it by being sloppy in his exhaustion. So he pushes all that to the back of his mind and bites his tongue as he meets Kratos' eyes.]

"Okay, we need to plan this out." [Zelos purses his lips for a moment, uncomfortable, but eventually grins and pushes on, playing up the charms even if he knows they won't work.] "I need a change of clothes and to not smell like blood and death. Hate to intrude here, K Dude, but do you have any safe house I can at least prepare in before I finally go back to my sweet, lovely little friends?"

Kratos sighs, exasperated, but doesn't fight Zelos when he makes to get up again. He's in good enough condition.

"Well..." Kratos considers the request. "Meltokio is not too far from here. I assume your own house is safe enough?"

[Zelos shrugs, tired but fighting through it to make a scene for the drama of it. He scoffs.] "Oh, totally. We could probably crash right through my window and do whatever. Sebastian's pretty used to my bullshit already, anyway." [Then Zelos' grin grows a little sharper, more mischievous. He's still kind of mostly leaning against Kratos for support, but he still goes and says,] "Sounds like a plan. Just lemme grow wings real quick and fly there."

[Son of a bitch, Zelos, stop being like this you need him to not ditch you.]

Kratos scowls.

"Unless you've completed the angel transformation without my knowledge, you don't have wings."

(Kratos, for the love of fuck, do you have to patronize him like this, just offer to carry him and be done with it already--)

[Zelos' eyebrows are going to fly off into the stratosphere faster than Kratos will on Derris-Kharlan in the not-so-near-future. The grin still in place, he manages to return the glare.] "Oh, totally. Didn't you know? Mithos really wants a backup plan, so this whole journey to undo the seals and whatever also doubles for me to do the Chosen's journey on the side." [He chuckles under his breath, brings both of his hands together, and flaps his palms in a gesture of mock-wings.] "Whoosh."

[Maybe he's just delirious with blood loss right now, but that's kinda the funniest shit ever, so Zelos laughs. It's a little deranged, though, so he wills it the fuck down, drops his hands to support himself and sets a hand on his chest to calm down.] "Yeah, anyway, that's a no," [he manages through giggles.] "Not all of us can be angels yet, my dude."

Zelos is laughing. That's a good sign? No. A bad one, probably. Luckily Kratos' next-- very necessary-- offer will likely sober Zelos right up.

He hates to offer so much that he almost doesn't, but it's necessary, so.

"I mean, it is perfectly within my capabilities to carry you."

(That wasn't even a proper offer for the love of fuck stop being so damn condesending--)

[One second for his jaw to drop.

Two seconds for his face to turn incredulous.

Then,]

"Pardon."

[Stop, stop, stop. Close that gaping mouth before you look even more ridiculous. Zelos clears his throat and looks away, decides to pick the offended yet completely resigned look to present instead of the outraged one, accompanies it with crossed arms. God, he hates how he sees the logic in the offer, and he agrees to it, really, but fuck does it hurt his goddamned ego to accept it.] "I mean," [he begins,] "I guess that'd make sense, huh? Easiest transport, fastest. But, ugh," [he uncrosses one hand to flap it in the air, looking back at Kratos with an expression that spells I am threatening you for real.] "Just don't do bridal carry, or I swear I will make you regret it."

Kratos stands there silent for a second as he tries to calculate a separate option, but there literally is not another way to carry Zelos that isn't going to get in the way of Kratos' wings. So. Zelos will just have to deal! He can't make Kratos regret his life any more than he already does, anyway.

So Kratos just picks Zelos up bridal-style and hops into the air to gain height before Zelos can think of just squirming out of this.

"Unfortunately, any other way would get in the way of the wings," he informs Zelos.

On to Meltokio--

[The moment that Kratos picks Zelos up into his arms, Zelos yelps and attempts, weakly and fruitlessly, to push himself off and at least fall back into the dirt and let it reclaim him. The second that they're in the air, though, he clings tightly so he won't fall.]

"What the fuck!" [he shouts. He's already a little dizzy, but now with the added adrenaline from the surprise and flight, he starts breathing heavily, his mind getting a little foggier.] "You... you tell anyone about this and--and I'll end you!"

"Understood," Kratos says, smiling just a little.

The flight to Meltokio is uneventful, and the cover of night allows Kratos to just fly straight to Zelos' mansion instead of having to bother with walking through the town itself. He doesn't crash though Zelos' window like Zelos suggested earlier, instead just dropping right in front of Zelos' back door. He sets Zelos down as soon as they're on ground.

[As soon as he's set down, Zelos manages to stand on his own two feet for a grand total of two seconds before he takes a step forward and gracefully falls right on his knees. He starts heaving a little, shaking as the adrenaline rush makes its way through his exhausted body.] "Hooo boy. Oh my god, fuck," [he laughs, one hand on the ground and the other on his chest,] "I'm gonna throw up. This is worse than coming home hungover. I'm going to die."

[He'll be fine, he's just also a bitch and, honestly, he's not actually very confident he can get up right now.]

"You are not going to die."

Honestly, why does Kratos have to get stuck with the assholes who are needlessly overdramatic when they've been injured. Yuan acts just like this.

Kratos sighs.

"Come on."

He bends down and slings one of Zelos' arms over his shoulder, helping Zelos to his feet. If they could at least get inside, that'd be a start. If they could get to the bathroom, for Zelos to throw up if necessary or get himself into the shower, that'd be better. Zelos will probably feel a lot better the moment he stops reeking of blood.

[Zelos can't really complain when he's helped inside, given how he's spending most of his attention right now in making sure the nausea doesn't fuck him over and in trying to get the stupidest, most slurred out shit out of his mouth.] "I am going to die," [he chooses to start by ignoring Kratos.] "I am actively dying. Actually who says I didn't already die and this is just my death dream." [He staggers back a little, groans, shuts his eyes tightly while he presses his free hand against his temple. Dear god, he feels like shit.] "Uuuggghhh, shittiest death dream ever. Fucked up that you're in it. I'm going to throw up now."

[And then he does.]

*God.

*DAMMIT.

They were literally feet from the bathroom, Zelos, could you have not waited two more seconds!!!

Kratos bites his lip and inhales slowly, trying not to get too frustrated-- or at least, not show it. It's fine, it's fine, Zelos didn't puke on him, and it's not like he has to clean up the mess. That's Zelos' problem. Or... Zelos' butler's problem? Whatever. Not Kratos'.

"Unfortunately, we're both alive and awake," Kratos says, dryly.

He maneuvers them around the vomit on the ground and gets Zelos into the bathroom, letting go of the Chosen only once he's sure Zelos isn't going to topple.

"Do you need anything else?" he asks, too polite to just leave without being told it's fine. (Even though logically he knows what Zelos probably wants of him is to just fuck off and let Zelos handle it from here. Too bad Zelos still needs a lift back to his companions.)

This is now the most embarrassing night of his life. And Zelos has had several horrible nights in his life. Kratos practically just throws Zelos into the bathroom (that's a lie, he got carefully deposited in there, he's just being a baby) and Zelos pushes himself further inside until he's got his hands on either side of the sink, heaving a little just in case he throws up again.

He feels like shit. He looks like shit. But he has to wave Kratos off if he's going to clean up and get changed, so he pathetically flaps his hand about while staring at the water running down the pink marble of the sink. He tries for a laugh and ends up with a painful wheeze. So next he clears his throat. "If I die," he begins, voice rough, "make sure to dump my body in front of the pope. It'll be funny." Zelos sets his hand back down on the sink and whines, spitting into the sink. "Leave me alone to die otherwise, though. I'll be done in a bit."

He bites onto the 'thank you' resting on his tongue instead of saying it out loud.

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Dumb Redhead Thread

SHUT THE FUCK UP OH GOD

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i'm not sure we thought this through

Don't worry I won't let him rest

:( !!!!!!

HE'S OKAY

kratos don't be a bitch again

What is he doing

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I WISH I HAD MORE FUCKORED ICONS

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(kratos voice) sorry you were dying but i was finishing kh3--

[Zelos voice] How was the ending

(kratos voice) I WANT A REFUND

[Zelos voice] WHAT'S WRONG LAD