Chapter Text
“I don’t have a daughter anymore!” he spat, eyes cold, face twisted with disgust. I looked at mom, her hands clenched in fists.
“Well, if you don’t have a daughter anymore, then I DON’T HAVE A HUSBAND!” she shouted back. Everything was falling apart right in front of my eyes.
I would have given anything to run away from it, but the blade that protruded from my arm was stuck in the table. The blade that was unraveling my family, the blade that proved I was a demon weapon. I clutched at my arm, trying desperately to pry it from the wood.
“Come on boy,” he said, grabbing Sydney and pulling him toward the door, “we’re leaving.”
“What about Mom, and Rue?” Syd pleaded, looking back at me.
Mom stood tall. “You’re not taking my son from me.”
“He’s not your son to take, you witch,” he spat back.
“That’s mom, she’s not a witch,” Syd said.
“Stop arguing, boy. weapons came from witches, and where do you think your sister got that from? Cause it certainly wasn’t me.” He pulled Syd out the door as I collapsed, my arm finally returning to normal.
Hitting the floor, it rippled like the surface of a lake and I sank through it, drifting into the darkness below. Every second taking me farther away from Mom. My throat felt tight and I wondered if I would drown, but I just kept sinking until there was nothing but darkness.
I tried to scream, but the deafening silence swallowed it along with my family. I felt the tears streaking down my face and wiped at them, clearing my vision and finding myself in my bed again. The covers were thrown to the side in my fitful sleep. I dragged myself out of the bed, limbs sluggish, and found my way towards Syd’s room. Colliding with furniture along the way, the layout was still unfamiliar in the dark.
Sydney must have heard me because as I got to his door, it opened. I felt guilty waking him up so late, especially with class tomorrow. But as usual, Syd didn’t show an ounce of irritation on his face; always the strong big brother. He simply stood there, rubbing the sleep from his tired amber eyes.
“Nightmare again?” he asked softly. I nodded, and he pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back before chuckling. “Did I tell you, when I left, I punched him in the face?” I shook my head. “He was bad-mouthing you and Mom again, and I just swung.” He smiled. “Best part? My arm transformed as I did. You should have seen his face when the realization dawned on him that the weapon blood must have come from his side.”
I smiled solemnly at this; the memory hadn’t quite faded yet, but I was starting to feel better.
“It’s late and we have class in the morning, we should get some sleep.”
“I know… would you stay up with me a little longer though?”
“Of course.” We sat on the couch. “Hey, remember not to let anyone know that I’m a weapon okay.”
“Cause only a weapon and a meister can be partners, right? I remember.”
“And I think we should avoid letting anyone know we’re related. It might be suspicious, and it should be easy since Mom changed your last name,” he said, running a hand through his purple hair. It was lighter than my own, but I wondered if that was an obvious indicator we were siblings.
I loved my brother, but ever since we were reunited at DWMA, he’d been different. He had immediately decided that he would be my meister despite being a weapon himself. Not that it bothered me much, it’s not like I had anyone else I’d prefer to be my meister. The only friend I had made so far was a weapon too; Marie was so bubbly and energetic. It was contagious and made me brighten just thinking about her.
“You know you could change your name too. Take up a stage name if it bothers you that much,” I offered.
He looked upwards, chewing on it for a moment. “That’s actually not a bad idea. It would certainly make things simpler with that other Sid.” He nodded. “But what would I use?”
“I don’t know,” I said, looking around the room. “It’s your name…” I started to say when my eyes landed on our book collection. “Wait.” I walked over to the shelves and ran a finger over the leather spines. “Finn? How about Twist? Oh, oh I know, Pip!”
Syd turned to look at me from his spot on the couch. “What no, I’m not changing my name to Pip.”
“Aww, but Pip and Poe sounds great!”
“Rue…” I couldn’t see his face clearly, but I knew there was an annoyed frown on his face.
“Okay… how about Sikes?”
“Get your nose out of Dickens and actually help me.”
“I am helping!” I said; he simply grunted in response. “Fine, no Dickens. Ahab?”
He glared at me, unamused. “No.”
I pulled a book down and thumbed through it, only able to make out the titles in the darkroom. “Pym? Tamerlane? Lee?”
“There are thousands of Le-” He stopped, staring at the hefty book in my hands. Likely recognizing its shape. “I’m not naming myself after a girl. Certainly not one murdered by angels.”
“Fine.” I replaced my copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s work back on the shelf.
“We can talk about it later, it’s late and you should go back to bed.”
I sighed, but headed towards my room, anyway. “Ok boomer.” I replied. It had become a nickname for him, what on account of his loud booming voice and explosive temper. Now that we knew his weapon form it was even more fitting.
I glanced at the clock before flopping face first into my pillows; it was going to be a long day tomorrow. It ended up being longer than I imagined, and I found it hard to focus too much on the lecture, most of what professor Albarn was saying we already knew. After the late night and Syd (or rather Boomer now) waking me up early to submit his stage name change form, it was hard to stay awake.
It surprised me he chose Boomer; what a sentimental dork. It was kinda a shame that it wasn’t an inside joke anymore. But it made me smile to think that we were that close still. We’d always have each other’s back.
“When a weapon acquires ninety-nine human souls and a single witch’s soul, they become a Deathscythe.” The teacher droned on. “Becoming a Deathscythe isn’t the end all be all of being a demon weapon. But it comes with many privileges, and many people make it their goal.”
“Are you planning on becoming a Deathscythe, Marie?” I asked, turning my attention away from the lecture. I still wasn’t sure what I was planning on doing after I graduated. But the acclaim of being a Deathscythe had a certain sense of appeal to it.
“Why would I want to be a Deathscythe? It’d be so much work. I just want to find a nice man, get married, and have a relaxed life,” she replied, sighing happily.
“That’s why we asked two of our top students to demonstrate what a weapon-meister pair are capable of,” the professor continued.
“You know Deathscythes are really popular right?” Syd— no, Boomer said, not bothering to look our way.
“Oh yeah, I bet you’d have suitors lining up if you were one,” I added. Marie lit up a bit with the thought.
“That’s why I’m gonna be the next Deathscythe,” an unfamiliar voice came.
I turned my attention towards it to see a red-headed boy grinning at us as he headed to the front of the class. With him was a more reserved looking boy with silver hair and glasses. I hadn’t even heard the classroom door open.
“You’ll become a Deathscythe because, like the rest of our family, it’s in your genes. Now stop flirting Spirit, and show them what you two are capable of,” the professor said.
The redhead— Spirit gave him a sour look, like he’d heard it far too many times in the past. I looked between the two, realizing that they had the same red locks and some similar facial features. They must be related, I concluded. There was a comfortable distaste between them that felt familial.
“Hey, I bet I can become a Deathscythe before you, Marie,” I whispered, grinning— there was nothing like a competition to get your butt in gear.
“What do you wanna bet?” she whispered back.
I didn’t respond; my attention focused on the boys as Spirit transformed into a black scythe, falling into the shorter boy’s hands. He spun the weapon around with a languid ease, his commanding movements flowing from one movement to the next. It was so graceful, so fluid. I wondered what it must be like to be handled like that, what that connection must feel like.
They must have an amazing partnership. They were clearly very different people, but they must have a great understanding of each other with how they connected.
I’d wondered before coming to DWMA what kind of partner I’d get, what kind of person they’d be. But when I walked into orientation to see Boomer, that possibility died. I loved my brother and being partners wasn’t bad, but how different would it have been to be handled by an actual meister?
“He looks so relaxed…” I whispered.
Boomer scoffed next to me. “More like bored.”
Leaning my arms on the desk, I placed my chin in my hands. The silver-haired boy sliced and slashed at the air, the sound it made giving weight to the strength and speed of his attacks. I watched every movement with rapt attention.
When the demonstration was over, the professor dismissed the class. Leaving my bag and books, I rushed down and out of the class, ignoring Marie and Boomer calling after me. I wanted to catch up to those senpais, I wanted to know the silver-haired meister’s name.
I found Spirit in the hallway. Most students were still collecting their belongings, but he was talking to a girl. I looked down the halls, but his meister was nowhere to be seen. My attention was drawn back to the two at the sound of a smack.
Spirit was rubbing his face, the girl storming off. I approached him slowly, feeling like I’d just witnessed something I shouldn’t have.
“Spirit-senpai?” I asked timidly.
He turned to me, a warm smile on his features, even as a red palm print appeared on his cheek.
“Just Spirit is fine,” he said.
“Oh ok, Sen-Spirit… that was an impressive demonstration.”
“Yeah, we’re the top of the E.A.T. classes. I’m gonna be the next Deathscythe, baby!” he said, giving me a wide grin and a thumbs up. It was so over the top that it was comical. My hesitant smile quickly broke down into laughter.
“I’m sure you will. Speaking of, where did your meister go?” I asked, looking down the hall again. I had hoped for a chance to talk to him as well.
“Oh, Stein’s not very social,” he said dismissively, waving a hand. So his name is Stein. “Besides, I’m much more interested in you. What’s your name?”
“Oh, my bad. My name’s Poe, well, Rue. But everyone calls me Poe,” I said, offering him my hand.
“A pretty name for a pretty girl,” he said, grabbing my hand in both of his and kissing it.
“Well, aren’t you the charmer?”
“I try… is it working?” he said, eyes looking up at me hopefully.
“Nope.”
I watched as his face fell, body slumped in defeat. Pitying him, I patted his shoulder.
“Come on, cheer up Spirit. Someone will fall for that charm, eventually,” I reassured.
He looked back up, eyes meeting mine as he exhaled. “You think so?” he asked.
“Yeah, maybe just give it a bit of time before laying it on so thick?”
A small smile spread across his face, one that looked a lot more genuine.
“I’ll make a note of that.” He paused, his posture turning more comfortable. “You know… I think you’re the first girl that my flirty attitude has not immediately turned away,” he continued, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. I tilted my head at this.
“Why? Being flirty doesn’t immediately make you a bad person.”
“Poe, right? I’m Spirit Albarn,” he said, holding his hand out for me this time. I smiled warmly as I shook it. Albarn; so they were related.
“Nice to meet you, Spirit.”
“Anyway, I should go catch up to my meister before he gets himself into trouble.” He looked annoyed. “I hope to see you in E.A.T. classes Poe,” he added as he walked away, waving.
It looks like I made another friend, and I smiled. I guess I have a goal to work towards now; gotta make it into E.A.T. classes.
“Oh, you will!” I called after him.