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“I wasn't too impressed with what you did back there.”
Gopg stood in front of the massive burgundy throne, flames radiating off the big armrests. Gop gripped the trident in his hands, the warmth waving over his skin like a heatwave. His head was pounding with a headache.
He wanted to rest the trident up against the wall, leave it for a bit but his hands couldn't seem to let it go. He now wore fireproof gloves because of the scolding hot burns that were appearing on his skin from the constant holding of the pitchfork grip.
He wasn't proud of it. But he couldn't let go without feeling so…
Cold.
He didn't like the feeling. He hated it. It made him feel so alone.
So when Tusu said those words.. it made his spirits dwindle a bit. He's been waiting to join the Syndicate for almost a week now, he shouldn't be doing these bounties right now, he should be a part of it now. A new family. New people to rely on, instead of being used.
He felt that feeling creeping up again.
“Seriously?” Gop lightly chuckled, nervousness and disappointment leaking through his tone. He was hoping for a little more.. pride? Fulfillment?
Nothing.
“I know you can do better than that. So.. for your last bounty..” Tusu tossed him the book, Gop catching it in his open hand. The glove seems to ache under the book as if it was too heavy to hold. He swallowed, adjusting it so he could open the leather cover while still holding his trident in his other hand.
He flipped the cover open.
He stumbled at the name, his world flipping on its head as he read the name over multiple times. Sweat from his hard grip on the trident made his head spin more.
When was the last time he ate? He couldn't remember, but now he felt overwhelmingly nauseous as if he hadn't had nutrients in a long time. His eyes glared at the name, hoping the words would change on the paper, hoping the name would shift to someone else's, hoping the paper was wrong, that Tusu was playing with him.
Dumb.
It said Dumb.
“No, no, no I can't do this.” Gop tossed the book to the floor in front of Tusu, refusing to kill his former best friend. He wasn't the best, but.. but he tried.
He tried…
“You will do this.” Tusu stared into Gop’s eyes, sternly and coldly. Gop’s hands moved to his trident, almost dropping the book between his fingers.
“I am NOT doing this! He's my friend, are you nuts?!” Gop took a step back, almost gripping down the stairs. He gripped the trident harder, flames licking his fingertips. The heat turned up, it seeping through the leather.
“You are doing this.” Tusu stepped forward, the crowned helmet gleaming on his head from the flames. Gop’s took deep breaths, trying to back away before Tusu grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him forwards.
“This is your last bounty, if you want to join us, you will do this.” Tusu tilted his head examining Gop’s panicked pale glowing eyes. “Scared?”
Gop pushed Tusu off of him, holding his trident in front of his body. He almost wanted to rip the gloves off just to feel the brain fog the weapon provided.
“I'll take the trident away.”
“No you won't. I'm not doing this.” Gop took another small step back.
“Not doing this?”
Tusu threw a windcharge at his feet, Gop screeching as the floor opened up beneath him. His hands let go of the trident out of surprise, his body going cold. He cried out as wind howled in his ears, the man landing on his stomach.
The walls were lined with hanging bounty posters, multiple with his face on it.
The ram horns. The heterochromia eyes, the bland face. The golden chains hanging from his hair and horns.
He whined, moving his gaze away from the posters flooding his blurry vision, reaching for his trident.
Legs appeared next to him, kicking the trident away. His arms huddled close to his chest as he tried to push himself up, tears falling from his eyes.
He felt so cold, his hands didn't feel any warmth, goosebumps littering his skin. He whined, pushing himself off the ground into a standing position as he stared at Tusu. He tried to hide his eyes from the posters that made his heart twist, his stomach turn.
“You see these posters around us?”
Gop refused to look at them.
“Look at them.”
Gop shook his head, rubbing his cold arms. He reached for the trident, only for Tusu to kick it farther away. “You need to learn to have some distance.” Tusu explained as Gop shivered. Tusu stepped forward, feeling Gop's forehead with concern.
“You have a normal temperature, you shouldn't be shivering like this Gop.” Tusu’s gentler eyes found the man’s, Gop’s kitsune mask slipping down the side of his face.
“Just.. give it back. I don't feel good..” Gop held his stomach as his vision faded in and out. He didn't realize he hadn't had real food in a few days. He's been relying solely on golden apples and potions to survive which made him nauseous.
He felt like he was going to be sick.
Tusu rolled his eyes, keeping his foot firm on the trident. “Look at the posters.”
Gop's eyes followed the wall slowly, Dumb covering his vision. He tried to cover his face with his mask only for Tusu to rip it off. So he used his hands instead.
“Do you not remember the times he used you? The time he stole Pika’s trident to immediately throw it away?”
Gop shook his head, the memory playing in his head. The beautiful teal trident, one that shimmered like sea glass in the sunlight, lost because Dumb was too trusting.
“Do you not remember the time he left you behind? When you were kidnapped? Are you just going to forgive him for the words he said to your face and behind your back?” Tusu stepped forward, his arms behind his back. Gop’s eyes found the trident resting on the floor behind him, huffing as Tusu raised his chin. His dull eyes found Tusu’s sparkling ones, the crown shining in the faint light.
“Do you still trust him for what he's doing to you?”
Gop’s head started to shake before stopping. He was majorly unsure of how he felt about Dumb. On one hand, he was his last and best friend. On the other, he couldn't ignore the hurt.
“I need you. Don't leave.”
“If you are just going to complain, leave.”
He was still conflicted, but he needed his trident back. He felt as if he was going to collapse.
“I don't trust him anymore. That doesn't mean I want to kill him.” Gop answered to the best of his ability as he stumbled. One of his gloved hands moved to the side of his head as a lightheadedness draped over.
“Well, if you are going to join us, you need to learn to move on. To leave shackles behind you. Be a fresh, new, better person.”
Gop nodded, his eyes glazing. Tusu backed up, picking up Gop's trident. He tossed it back, Gop scrambling to grab it desperately. He panted when the warmth filled his hands, his head hitting the base of the prongs. His brain fogged, his breathing relaxing as energy filled his bones once again.
“You seriously need to distance yourself. It's unhealthy.” Tusu stared at his messed up figure. Gop wanted to snap back with something about Tusu’s crown but held his tongue. He is the leader of the Syndicate, he didn't want to lose his chances of joining.
He didn't want to be alone anymore.
Tusu handed him the bounty book along with his kitsune mask, the book with his former best friend’s name and face.
“So are you going to do it then?”
Gop nodded slowly, staring at the words. He huffed, watching Tusu walk away silently, leaving him in the gaping hole in the floor. The posters waved lightly in the small breeze.
Gop took his trident, swinging it through the papers that had Dumb’s face on them, tearing the paper in half.
He didn't want him looking back at him.
—
“You don't look too good.”
Gop found the stairs that led out of the hole he fell in. He reached the throne room he entered, walking back through the hall. He avoided Tusu’s glare; he could feel seething through his back.
Nem was waiting for him at the end of the hall, concern hit his features when he found Gop’s face.
“I'm fine. Let's just go.” Gop walked past him, gripping his trident hard and firm.
“You look really pale. Maybe we should take a break–”
“I don't need a break okay? I need to finish this bounty.” Gop stared at the leather cover, his stomach turning again.
He didn't want to do this bounty. He really didn't want to, but now he had no choice. Tusu wouldn't like him coming back and saying he couldn't do it. So he would have to tough it out.
Give Dumb a death that was quick and painless.
Nem moved his hand to Gop's head, pulling away rather quickly. “You are burning hot. Is that normal?” He asked, his eyes moving down to the weapon Gop held. “Yeah, ever since I got it my temperature has been whack. So leave it.” Gop grumbled as he stuffed the book in his pack.
Nem grabbed his wrist, pulling him towards the trees. “What are you doing?!” Gop tried to pull his hand free. “We are going to take a break and you are going to eat something. Drink some water too.” Nem said sternly, dragging him towards a small pond in the distance. “I don't have time for this.”
Nem laughed. “You have time. You are not getting out of this.” Nem found a spot, sitting him down in the grass as the android sifted through his inventory.
“Drop the trident.”
Gop froze. “Why? I don't–”
“You do. You need hands to eat and drink so drop it.”
Gop gulped, dropping the trident next to him on the ground. He immediately felt cold, the lightheadedness from the lack of nutrients appearing again. He whined, Nem handing him a piece of steak.
“You'll feel better, trust me.”
Gop nodded slowly, taking a big bite of the perfectly cooked meat. He smiled, his hands relaxing. The lightheadedness lifted a bit, his body relaxing without the help of his weapon.
“See? What did I tell you.” Nem smiled, nudging Gop’s shoulder.
The android tapped his knee as Gop wolfed down the rest of the steak. “I know Tusu can be a bit.. much sometimes. Just don't get too caught up in it okay?” Nem gripped his shoulder. Gop nodded slowly, the steak he held minutes ago gone.
“Who do you have?” Nem pointed towards the book. Gop opened the cover, Nem staring at the description and picture. “Know them?”
Gop nodded.
“Well, if you need help–”
“I can do this one.”