sword_breaker | Myth!AU

[There's a slight wind to give signs that colder weather was going to hit the city at some point but otherwise the chill didn't faze many much with the sun pouring down rays without any resistance from white wisps streaking across blue. Another busy work day for most people as they packed the sidewalks in order to accomplish whatever the day asked of them to do, some of them heading off towards lunch break even as the afternoon brought along ease in traffic after the rushing around or rather dead still in the morning commutes that always came like clockwork. The towering skyscrapers piercing above while scattered about were busy shops and apartment complexes ranging to the higher end of the spectrum, fortunate for several residents of them being close to where they worked usually.

However it didn't matter much to the man lying face first towards the blue in an alley, red bursts staining his shirt in an act of fatal defiance against the fabric. He wasn't caring about anything anymore. Pools of crimson have congealing into a sticky mess at his side to keep company with the broken body though it was a waste honestly. A barrier of yellow and black tape announcing the crime scene as if the body and the blood weren't enough already to do so. Officers scurrying about to comb through every little thing in order to scrounge up evidence ranging from fingerprints to shell casings while a medical examiner started jotting down notes as though it were a race.

To be fair, it was a race that was ticking away for all of them but yet he didn't exactly have to put so much effort into finding out the who, why and whatnot of this particular case. Never really showed interest in the exact details of a person's death as it wasn't under his job description nor would he if paid enough, more so content enough with the tasks that were scheduled for him to do. He sends a confirmation of his arrival with a quick text before stowing away the smart phone into his back pocket and assessing the fussing police. No doubt Matthieu was going to blow his phone up with messages after getting the answer but that could be ignored.

Passing underneath the tape, the man eased through the scene with no problems coming from the uniformed others. Though that was the point of having such a decent illusion in order to essentially make him invisible, allowing a much easier time accomplishing his tasks without the stupid questions that would be raised at his presence much less what he would do here. He had the slight frown that could've been considered appropriate for the situation but the claw marks and irrevocably damaged right eye would certainly cause a more sinister thought process to occur. Maybe even be considered as a hit man that had down the crime but to be fair he didn't hunt unless told otherwise and certainly not boring humans such as this idiot. Besides a man decked in a suit stood out in this mess with much help to his disregard of everything save for the dead man who certainly was still brimming with the confused energy of a trapped soul. Definitely need to rectify that.

James crouched down right next to the examiner and fished out a knife before making an incision right at the heart before reaching down to draw out the reluctant soul. The reaper was only doing his job and besides no one was going to see him do his work, not the police nor the surrounding crowd of onlookers.

He was looking forward to the break after this one, sneak away towards his usual haunt; a coffee shop that boasted fantastic blends that were more so a necessity at this rate rather than a mere commodity and plus the perfect spot he claimed by the window in order to watch the world keep moving. The energy from the illusion would be easily restored during that. Then it would be another one in midtown before being able to return back home for the day and unwind. That or check with the bar to make sure a friend or two didn't snoop around more than they should. The former was going to be the most probable though so he shows the other idea to the back of his mind before focusing.]

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And what exactly is that idea?

[He trusted the dullahan but still that slight worry. Maybe he shouldn't have come along.]

You wanted to learn how to ride.

[He's definitely smirking now, wide and toothy]

Gotta give you the real road experience. I can disappear me n' the bike, just not anyone else.

I know.

[Liam might be smirking and all but he's still doubtful and keeping his expression neutral. Sorry dullahan but this is one broken reaper. He's used to not being wanted.]

Different invisibility though. How are we supposed to see each other?

Don't gotta see. Just gotta feel, yeah? Whole arms on the waist thing so you don't fall off.

[He may still be smirking, but he's trying his best to assuage any fears.]

Main important thing is that none of the mortal see what we're about to do right now.

Sure, whatever you say.

[The effort helps somewhat but the fears are still there. It's apparent when he starts working his energy to feed the simple magic and turns his back to the other man. Soon enough the reaper slipped out of sight, completely invisible.]

Promise it's gonna be okay.

[To prove his point he reaches out a hand in the direction of the vanished reaper.]

'cmon. Trust me.

[He turns his head back towards the dullahan, letting the promise sit in the air. He wants to believe that so much but old mistakes flash in the back of his head, making him hesitant after such talk of being invisible and the difference between their magics.

However he winds up taking up the offered hand and moving in close. It feels like he climbed over a mountain and his chest is tight with anxiety.]

've got you. Promise.

[His talents don't extend into seeing through illusion, so he can only hope that his offered hand is enough and there's a moment of panic before he feels fingers entwine with his own. There's a form close to him soon after, and to emphasize his point he gently kisses the back of the reaper's hand. Or what he hopes is the back of his hand.]

Here, get situated first. I'll go lights out after everything is settled. Not until then, promise.

[And with that he's gently leading James towards the bike, throwing his own leg over to get comfortable then urging the reaper behind him.]

Hands work best around my waist.

[He believes that now but the anxiety continues to cling to him without any show of stopping and it's evident when he squeezes Liam's hand. That and how quiet he's gotten. However there's no hesitation or resistance in following after his lead.

His hand slips out of the dullahan's before he eases behind him and onto the bike with an uneasy glance around. What if this was a bad idea? The reaper wraps his arms around him before pressing his face into his shoulder.

So many what ifs running around in his head.]

I got you.

[To emphasize the words, he reaches down to gently squeeze the reaper's hand for a moment or two. As reticent as he is to break away, he has to however and with another reassuring brush of his fingers over James' he pulls his hand away so that he can get situated. His bike itself was an extension of his will, it'd always been so familiar, but it's the first time he's allowed anyone else to ride. There's something poignant about that, if he thinks too hard. Something almost intimate.

That's for musing on at a later time, though, because there's a rumble of noise as he kicks the ignition and the bike starts to life. Everything nominal of course, it's as much an extension of him as it is a tool anyways, and so it's not difficult to slowly bleed the colour from it, and from himself, until he too is invisible to the mortal eye.]

Remember when I said hang on? Hang on.

[And with that warning, he kicks everything into gear and there's no moment of hesitation before they're screaming out of the ally and into the street. The noise is eradicated to onlookers, thankfully, and the invisibility protects them from any watchful eyes, but that doesn't mean that he's going to play safe beyond that. Fast, dangerous, and reckless. The perfect trifecta.

It means that he's weaving around cars, mortals, obstacles, at a breakneck speed, laughing all the while. Restraint isn't quite a strong suit, unfortunately.]

I know.

[That's all he's able to manage and it's shaky to say the very least. Everything from his training to the fucked up fractures in his mind are telling him to letting go and run away from this. That this wasn't going to be well for him and it was a mistake. However he sticks around regardless.

His glasses thankfully had removed so nothing else was to be worried over. He appreciates the soft touches, wishing for them to be a constant rather than so brief. He trusts the dullahan though.

Then there's the cascade of noise and motion that assaults him. The regret and nerves return with new fury and strength against him. This was a mistake. A serious mistake on his part. He shouldn't have done this. He should have said no. His knuckles turn white as he grips his arms hard around Liam and screws his eyes shut. Should've said no.]

[For a while everything is good, better than good really. His head is returned, there's wind in his face, and his boyfriend's (that's still such a novel word, boyfriend) arms about his waist. Really, he couldn't be happier.

But the longer he thinks about things, the less excellent he realizes things are. The first two are fine, yes, but what he had taken for mere closeness feels far more like a vice grip when he gives it more than half a thought.

They aren't home yet, close but not quite there, but he peals into an empty ally and lays on the breaks nonetheless. When they're finally stopped, he twists in his seat to try to look back at James. Invisibility hampers that, and so he reaches a hand out and fumbles along the reaper's arm until he's able to get a good, steadying grip.]

Hey. Talk to me.

[Everything slows down to a halt but his blood continues to thunder in his ears while his heart races enough that he wouldn't be surprised if it never stops. He doesn't want to open his eyes. There's no sense in holding as tightly anymore yet he doesn't relinquish at all.

Glancing around, he notes that they had stopped in alley. It wasn't home. He had stopped them from reaching the apartment because of his dumb fears and that crushes him.]

I-I'm sorry. I'm fine.

[But he's not. Something dark and lingering reminds him mockingly that he's not. It shows as color slinks back and reveals his shaking form.]

[Not good, not good. Something is definitely wrong, and it's strikingly obvious. Shit, this hadn't been his intention at all, and now he's scrambling to try to make things right.]

Woah, woah. Hey.

[Colour bleeds back into his form, and he keeps his touch soft as he rubs the reaper's arm in as soothing a manner as he can manage.]

No, shit, I'm sorry.

[Being able to be seen as much as seeing the dullahan helps and it shows as his grip starts to lax against him. He latched onto the soft touches to drag himself out of the dark that his anxiety had buried him in. Breathing was starting to get easier.

The reaper leans in with a less pained look to his face. Second chance. He wasn't her. This was safer than that hell. Breathe.]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It shouldn't have.... I'm sorry.

[Focus on the feel of the bike and the dullahan. It wasn't the same. Far from it and he soon crumbles against him. Apologies continuing to slip off her tongue. But the big thing is that he breathes and relaxes slowly.]

No, no.

[This is something so new and such a quick turn, it's left him scrambling to keep up. But this is James, this is the reaper who's caught his eye and his heart, and whatever it is that's going on with the man he needs to fix it somehow. Seeing him in such pain-]

No, you're fine, you're okay. I'm sorry.

[Are these the right words? For once in his life, he's worried they aren't.]

I-

[He hesitates for a moment, then makes up his mind, still gently rubbing James' arm with his thumb.]

I'm gonna put an arm around you. Is that okay?

[Finally he feels safe enough that his hold loosens around the dullahan and he focuses on steadying his breathing. The tightness in his chest is there but it's faded to a dull ache rather than a constricting force. Everything was slowly clearing up but it still hurts.

Gods that asshole screwed him up good. Why wasn't she satisfied with just his eye?]

Please, Liam.

[It comes out shaky still and he isn't certain if he can manage more than that right now. But saying the name helps. A reminder that things were different and someone else was here.]

've got you.

[It comes without any forethought, because it's the truest thing he's said in a long while. Seeing the reaper so small, so vulnerable, hurts something deep in his chest, and protective instincts normally quelled rush to the surface all at once.

He shifts on the bike, wrapping his arm around James' shoulders with enough pressure to reassure, but still room for the man to pull away if he needed to.]

'm sorry.

[Being pressed in but having that option of escape was nice to have but he's not wanting to pull away. Instead the reaper is too busy melting against the dullahan and burying his face into the crux of his neck. This was much calmer than the rush of noise and sensation that was the bike ride.

He can actually breathe like this and everything starts to settle out. This was ok. Things were going to be alright. He trusts Liam.]

...not your fault. It's ok.

Still sorry.

[And he means that, tracing small soothing patterns along the reaper's back as he holds him.]

We're close enough to walk back, don't have to do that anymore. Promise.

Don't be.

[It was his own damn fault for getting so worked up and overwhelmed because all he can focus on was the overwhelming sensation of being told to disappear. To be boxed in and having to vanish. Why was it that hard to not be able to do that with ease? because she fucked with his head enough to cause panic when someone makes it the only option.

So he keeps his face buried away for now. Shaking his head, he tries to scrounge up some courage.]

No we should finish it. [Because he wants this to be a good thing and not being soured by awful.]

We're only doing it if you're okay with it.

[And that's that. There's no argument to be had, as far as he's concerned.]

'nd there's nothing wrong with not being okay. Promise.

I'm good. Now I am. You're not her.

[He starts to peel himself away from the dullahan though remains close in the end to soak up more of his reassuring presence. Things were no longer stressing. Everything was back to their normal pace as he stares ahead at the building.]

I know but I got it now.

[There are so many questions that he wants to ask, first and primary being 'who is her'? but this is neither the time or the place for such, and in as much he stows that thought away.]

Promise we'll stick to the speed limit for now, okay? And no more disappearing.

No we can go back to what it was like. I got it.

[Sighing softly, the reaper shifts around to better grip Liam's waist again. He takes in a deep breath before trying to sort himself out and then it's onto settling his energy before spreading it out to cover the both of them in invisibility.

It takes a lot more out of him than himself but it got the job done. Even if he felt like he had been kicked in the chest again.]

T-there.