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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I trust you, okay? Anything you don't like, you say so and we stop.

[He does take a less drastically dangerous route though, making sure to curb any reckless riding for the sake of the reaper. When they finally make it back to the apartment, he kills the engine and leans back into the other man to make sure he's still there.]

You okay?

Understood.

[The rest of the ride goes over exponentially better than previously thanks to having settled away that attack and having more control over the situation. He didn't want to ruin the dullahan's fun because of it all though.

So when they get back, he gives a small nod in part to feeling guilty. Maybe he was too messed up for this. All of it really. However he sticks to being quiet and slips off the bike, focusing on bringing them back into view.]

Hey, hey.

[Quiet isn't good, and he's certainly not going to overlook the fact that the reaper has suddenly pulled back into himself again. Shit, he really did screw things up pretty badly before.]

James.

[The name is spoken gently, filled with concern, as he blinks once, twice as the both of them come back into view.]

Talk to me.

[A soft sigh slips out and he turns back towards the man with a grimace. This was going to be a tough one to explain. That and well it wasn't something to be discussed in public really.]

Inside. I promise.

[Turning away, the reaper heads inside of the apartment complex.]

Okay, yeah. Alright. When you're ready.

[Pushing would be the worst thing he could do, as far as he's concerned. James will come to things when he feels ready to, and trying to force anything would just be cruel.

Instead, he's quiet as he follows the reaper up. He remains a constant presence though, near enough to provide comfort and stability but not so close that it could be overwhelming.]

[Once up in the apartment, he steps away for a moment and works on setting up a charm that has seen more than enough usage over the years. It was a simple calming one. Something to take the bite off the nerves after attacks such as the one that happened on the ride back.

A hollow laugh is given as he lets it settle on his arm and watches it vanish slowly.]

Even if she can be a pain, the fae knows her stuff.

[He skirts past the dullahan while rubbing the fading mark. The couch a suitable place to stash himself onto even with all of the damage.]

I...What happened out there wasn't your fault. Not really. Someone else screwed me up and that's the parting gift they gave me...as much as the whole partial blindness too.

[He's uncharacteristically quiet as James works, watching over the reaper with a concerned eye but trusting him to know what was for the best. While there's a flare of worry over the charm, he doesn't speak his mind; he can only trust in James now.

He stashes himself near the couch when the reaper moves, leaning up against one of the damaged arms as he listens. It's not good news, and it's something that twists deep inside his chest in a way that he'd never thought possible. There's anger too, not at the reaper but at whomever was responsible, but he keeps it carefully controlled as he listens. For as much as he's been used to using violence and intimidation to get his way, the person wasn't here and it would accomplish nothing.

Instead, he'd rather be there for James.]

I-I'm sorry.

[It feels weak, but it's hard to come up with words that could even begin to fit.]

I never thought it would actually happen. She was probably one of the sweetest people I met at first and we hit it off. Dating her was as simple as breathing. Then it suddenly wasn't.

[He knows he's rambling and shouldn't be delving into the mess again but gods he had to get it off his chest. Maybe that would get rid of the rest of the suffocating feeling. His throat could stop being raw and constricted.]

I didn't notice it at first. She was a necromancer and had sworn it off from what she said. All of the illegal stuff wasn't going to happen but it kept popping up. We fought. A lot. Then finally I realized how much control she had over me. How she had wormed her way in.

Too late though. She twisted me into a monster to do whatever she wanted. ...took me months to get back to normal looking. She took my eye when I broke free.

[A shaky breath taken in.]

So it's not your fault why I'm so fucked up. The attack just...yea.

[He can't interrupt while the reaper speaks, doesn't have it in him, but there's a steady swell of concern that bleeds into simmering rage as the tale goes on and on. His own feelings about necromancers aside, what James is speaking of is downright disgusting. Invasion and violation of the worst sort, and were he able to he would find this woman immediately and tear her to shreds.

That isn't an option though, and he knows that. What he can do is be there for the reaper, for his boyfriend, and that's the most important thing.]

'm sorry. That you had to experience that. 's not right. Not at all. And I promise, you just tell me if something isn't okay, alright? IF it's not alright, it stops, no questions asked.

[He rubs the back of his neck. It feels like a very human gesture.]

Not gonna let anything hurt you. Promise.

Don't apologize over what happened. Never going to make it easier save for moving on. I ugh...thank you for understanding. And I promise to tell you if something comes up.

[He melts into the end of the couch, lightly tracing along the lines of the runic charm pulsing on his skin. Telling what had happened always makes him feel as though he was significantly smaller and almost like a child speaking about the boogeyman or some other story that perpetuates nightmares.

It had been a while and he's still healing from it all. The reaper actually wasn't too sure whether or not he would ever go back to being the same regardless of time.]

And here I was supposed to be the protector.

[A sad laugh slipping out and short lived at that. He glances up at him, an inquiry about joining him on his lips but never spoken.]

You are a protector.

[He's at least very certain of that, and hopefully James will forgive him for the intrusion because he's right behind the reaper as the man curls up on the couch. There's enough space to give James room, hopefully to not crowd him, but he's bound and determine to be there for him no matter what. And while he may want to lean in and take the other man in his arms to do so without explicit consent is unthinkable, especially given the new revelations.]

Saved my sorry butt when I was in trouble, yeah?

Yea...

[Watching him move around the couch, he tilts his head as he mulls that over before nodding in agreement. That was what he had done only hours prior and maybe he was more than intrigued at the idea of the dullahan willingly wanting to protect someone let alone him, a reaper. However that made sense somehow and he doesn't question it further.]

You should get on here. Do a better job of protecting that way.

[More like he wanted to be selfish and curl around him.]

Guess I should then. Can't have me slacking on the job.

[That's the permission he needs, and with a quiet noise he slides onto the couch next to the reaper. He's still respectful, still allows James space, but he's more than there to support the man with everything that has happened.]

[That was better but not exactly what he had been expecting to happen though he can understand why the dullahan was still wanting to give him space. Especially with what he had explained only a few moments ago. Still the reaper was more than keen on rectifying this.

Forgoing his spot at the end of the couch, he slips into the dullahan's lap with a soft pleased noise before burying his face away into the crux of his neck. Time to test out that trust.]

[Oh. That's something he hadn't expected, but if James trusts him enough to be so close he's more than willing to hold him. Tentatively he reaches out to wraps his arms around the man's waist, humming under his breath and leaning over to press a soft kiss to his temple.]

[Another pleased noise slips out from the reaper and he simply curls further into the dullahan's lap, nuzzling gently. Everything that he had done today was worthwhile in the end so long as he had Liam still sticking around and the both of them being safe as much as content. He didn't care if his apartment had been made a mess or if he had to divulge his past.

Liam made all of it worthwhile.]

Promise.

[He's quiet, and the words are all but whispered into James' hair as he gently noses the man's temple.]

Promise I'll protect you. If you're not already saving my sorry butt.

[There's a quiet laugh, and he traces slow patters along the reaper's side.]

[A low hum slips out as he nuzzles into his shoulder and pressing into the gentle touches, closing his eyes while he works. This was so much better compared to the earlier messes he handled.]

I promise too. I'll fight for you until you don't want me to.

Better get used to it then, 'cause that's never going to happen.

[And he really does mean what he says. It's been far more than he'd ever thought he'd get when he'd first chatted up the reaper in the streets, and he's so entirely grateful for that.]

Ugh...I um thank you. Seriously.

[This isn't what he thought would happen compared to when all of this started. When he decided to start up a shaky relationship with someone that he knew how to hunt and fight. Instead he wound up using his knowledge to protect and recover him.]

The bed has more room by the way.

[Oh, that's certainly a suggestion. There's an inkling in the back of his brain, but he quells it. Right now is for making sure James is alright and comfortable, not for his own sidetracked thoughts.]

Tired? C'mon, probably super comfortable too.

[He presses a small, loving kiss to the reaper's temple.]

[He wasn't meaning it in a suggestive way at all. More so he would be more than happy to be on a piece of furniture that hadn't been ravaged by a headless and infuriated dullahan. That and there was truly more room on a bed so they could spread out.]

Not tired but more space.

[The reaper slides out of his lap and heads off towards the stairs. He can handle getting up there on his own. Bad enough that he was consoled so much during the ride back to the apartment.]

Space is good.

[He's not thrilled to lose contact with the reaper, but he allows the man his space. This is about James, not about him, after all. So he follows along quietly behind the man.]

Easier to curl up. Especially on something that doesn't have cushions losing stuffing.

[The reaper was keen on reestablishing the contact with the dullahan whenever they reached the upstairs. His hand seeking out the other's with a low hum.]

Company is better.