mindcracklove | Fic: Shadow Fall, Chapter Three

Chapter three from the collaboration team of Celeste and Thero, please enjoy!

In this chapter: Nebris pays Guude a visit, seeking answers...

-0-

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” - Oscar Wilde

It was a full five days before Etho returned, and he was only around for a fleeting instant, depositing a file on Nebris' bedside table before departing again. The file contained all he had learned about the shape-shifter known as Pyro... Which was quite a bit. It included a picture of his humanoid form, a full breakdown of his powers and abilities and a brief history of his life up until he had gained his powers. He only received them 3 days before he challenged Nebris... But the file was very vague on the details of the granting. Typically there were witnesses... But it seemed there had been none, this time.

Nebris devoured the file the moment it landed on his table, spending hours going over every single detail it contained. The pictures he stared at and touched until he had the face memorised, imprinted forever in the back of his mind. A face to the pretty voice. The recent appearance of the powers and the lack of witnesses were interesting, highly so. Guude usually liked to make sure that the newly empowered awoke with a gaggle of friendly faces to help them through the change...what was different this time? Curiosity burned and Nebris was itching for a flight anyway. It would kill two birds with one stone to fly out and see Guude, just ask him why...surely that couldn't hurt? He glanced at the dark shadows by his bed and swirled his hand in the murky depths, catching some of the blackness and drawing it to him. He wasn't able to control the shadows, that was solely Etho's domain, but he could take a little of it with him, just in case something went wrong and he had to beg for help. It would be costly, very costly, if he had to ask, but it would be worth not dying at the hands of an angry Bestower. He caught the swirl of blackness in a small vial and pocketed it, heading for the exit. Topside, he shifted forms and took to the skies, relishing in his freedom in the air. Once he was high enough, he flew for Guude's home.

Along with the ability to grant the powers, Guude was gifted in sensing when those who had them were near, and it mattered very little who had granted the powers... But there was a difference in the "feel" of powers granted by him, and those bestowed by Vechs. So Nebris knew the bestower would know it was not someone of his creation who approached when he felt Nebris' presence.

Nebris landed, carefully, afraid to trample anything and anger the powerful man who lived here and slowly shifted forms, trying his best not to seem aggressive. The Bestower was waiting for him, arms crossed over his chest and staring the Gifted down. Once he stood there, nervously flattening out his waistcoat, he wasn't quite sure what to say to the approaching man.

"Uh...hi." he blurted out.

Guude continued to stare, giving a curt nod in acknowledgement of the greeting.

"Look, I know I'm probably not supposed to be here, but I have questions and - and I thought you could help. I'm not here to cause a mess, I promise, I just...need answers."

Guude's eyes were deadpan as he examined the shifter, staring him down. He kept his arms folded across his chest and walked around the man before him, keen eyes looking for any telling signs that he was lying, that this was a trap. Finding nothing he stopped in front of him again... and smirked.

"C'mon in, guy." He turned, motioning for the other to follow.

Nebris breathed a sigh of relief. He meant no harm at his intrusion, and as such had nothing to fear from the Bestower… But Guude was an intimidating presence. He could take his powers away from him as swiftly as Vechs had granted them. He had to tread carefully.

Getting them set up in a sitting room and offering drinks, Guude sank into a chair and sprawled out comfortably. "Before you start askin', I'm not giving you anything that will compromise anyone, or their identities. You ask your questions, but just know that I won't answer if I feel like it's gonna put one of my guys in danger." He warned, eyes narrowed as he watched the shifter intently.

The offer of a drink and a seat were completely unexpected and Nebris accepted both gratefully, immensely more relaxed since he hadn't been blasted back to his base yet. "I understand.” He murmured, nodding his acknowledgement of the warning. “I won't ask about anyone's name or location. I just...need to know the reason behind someone. I guess it should be obvious who really..."

Guude arched an eyebrow. "If it were obvious I wouldn't be asking." He said quietly, leaning forward and giving Nebris a searching look.

"He called himself Pyro...he's like me, and I wanted to know why." Nebris looked down into the glass instead of at Guude. "I mean...I guess I can understand why the dragon shape, makes sense but...why him? Why give him exactly the same shape shifting power as me? And why does he hate me so much already?"

Guude shook his head. "I haven't given anyone powers like yours. Ever." He leaned back, rubbing his chin with a hand, thinking. "That was that green dragon you fought about a week ago, right? I saw the news coverage, heard some accounts... But I didn't give him his powers. You're barking up the wrong tree, guy." He smirked and shook his head again, chuckling. "Vechs you sly sonuvabitch... What are you playing at?"

Nebris looked up, eyes wide. "You didn't?" he asked, shock colouring his rough voice. "But...why would Vechs make him to - to hate me? To fight me? I don't ...understand what's going on..." His own maker, why would he do that?

Guude shrugged his shoulders. "I'm the wrong person to ask about that, guy." He said with a smirk. "Sounds like you need to have a chat with your maker... Or, y'know... You could always try and capture Pyro... Try to get it straight from the Dragon's mouth." He chuckled at his own joke and leaned back in his chair.

Nebris cursed softly, afraid to venture near Vechs still. Some part of him still hoped Guude was kidding, that Vechs had nothing to do with this. "Dammit."

"Believe me, guy. I'd help you if I could... Because you look downright hot and bothered about this ‘Pyro’ kid." He offered with a sly grin. "Reminds me of how that BDoubleO guy always gets around me... Should probably ask him about that."

Nebris groaned and set down the glass to hide his face in his hands. "This is not how I pictured this conversation going at all..."

"I told ya, I got nothin' for ya. Yer barkin' up the wrong tree comin' to me about this, because until you told me about him... Until I saw him on the news... I knew nothing about this kid. Didn't even know he existed." Guude just shrugged again, unsure of what else to say.

"...I best take my leave then...sorry to intrude." Nebris murmured, getting to his feet. "Find a different tree to bark up..."

Guude chuckled and waved. "Don't let yer tail hit ya in the ass on the way out."

Nebris hurried out, biting back a retort he knew would only get him attacked. It was not a good idea to anger a Bestower, especially after Guude had kindly answered all his question. Even if the answers had been along the lines of ‘I don’t know’. Outside, he shifted and took to the skies once more, flying high above the clouds to try and clear his head in the cold air.

-0-

Back inside, Guude hummed thoughtfully as he considered the situation. Something was going on and it called for a visit. He grabbed his things and headed out. He knew exactly where he was going and soon enough wound up just outside Vechs' lair. The other would sense him, he always did. As the only two Bestowers around the area, it was very hard not to pick up on and become familiar with each other’s presence.

The other Bestower was waiting for him, goggles and hat securely on his head and face, obscuring most of it from view. It would make his expressions mostly unreadable. Vechs had one hand in the pocket of his overalls, his posture causal. The other hand raised up to stroke his pet bat, napping on his shoulder, on the head.

"About time you showed up." he called, not bothering to get up from his seat. He and Guude had known each other for a long time, there was no need for formality after everything they’d done and been through together.

"And since when did you go around giving out powers to those who wanted to be good guys, Vechs?" Guude asked, stopping before the chair to fold his arms over his chest and tap his foot. "What's your angle? You've got some explaining to do." Guude was actually a little miffed at someone encroaching on his territory.

"Explaining. Right." Vechs sighed heavily and motioned him to one of the chairs around them. "You're going to want to sit down for this." he warned, summoning a drink of heavy alcohol for them both.

Guude arched an eyebrow but followed, sitting comfortably and taking a long draw of the drink, looking Vechs over and trying to figure him out but it was so hard with those goggles...

Vechs was studying him just as intently through the dark goggles, swirling the glass in one hand. There was a long, tense silence before the Bestower finally spoke.

"How much..." he asked slowly, drawing the question out, "do you know about Etho?"