You again? (Ssafirsotibones)

[Leigo]

Summer 54th, 512 AV People often spoke of that feeling. As if the walls were getting closer together, they would say. It couldn’t even partially match up to the surprise Leigo was feeling when three strangely familiar faces dived in front of him. Taking no step, the boy glimpsed at them in hopes of recognition. One of them was limping – big deal, boy – half the town limped at some point in their lives. One was in good health as far as the blond could tell – cautious though; they all were. And then there was the last one – large not yet healed scorched crust of flesh and grotesque monstrosity. It didn’t take the boy long to piece the information together. They were the thieves that wronged him. The brave one that stepped first and got burned for it, and then there was the coward who ran. To top it all off, Leigo recognized the limping man as the worst scum compromising a corner to the trio – he was the one that attacked Aehra. He wanted to kill them all where they stood, but there was no way he had time to make up enough res in such close quarters. Judging by the cocky grins on his enemies’ faces, they knew it too. One way or another, there really was at least one brain to the three of them – as unbelievable as it sounded. “Do I need to kill the three of you as well?” Leigo stood uncompromising. Showing weakness would be the death of him in such a situation. They might’ve known it took time for him to scorch anyone, but could they ever truly be certain that was the only thing he could do? In his head, Leigo wrote two musical pieces. One was meant to honor the joyous occasion of these three idiots actually growing a pair. The other, however, only rang murky tones in sweet whispers of oblivion. He couldn’t get out of this. There was nowhere to run to, and with his wounds not healed completely, he wouldn’t have been able to either way. Before anyone could say anything, boy took the offensive. Extending what little fingernails he had into a clawlike grip, the boy dug them deep into the thief. Needless to say it was the one with wounds across his chest. Incredible screams filled the air, but before Leigo could marvel at this reaction, two hands pushed him to the ground. He knew one of them had a hurt left knee, but in the ruckus of it all it wasn’t sure the blond would get an opportunity to grab by the injury and jerk as he pleased.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Why did Bones have to have so much principle? So much chivalry? All it ended up with, was him never having any peace. It seemed like he couldn't walk home, or walk down a street, without having to rescue some person in a predicament. But really, he just could not stand it. Seeing a bunch of people take advantage of another. Someone strong abusing there strength, to hurt those who could not protect themselves. Or people ganging up on someone, using greater numbers, to take on someone in unfair combat. He had no problem seeing one guy take on another, and see them in a knock down drag out fight. Petch, he might even consider 2 on 1 okay, if it seemed like the one was particularly strong, like him, and could handle it. But 3 on 1? Well, that was in that murky grey area of social responsibility, in which he had to act. He had just been walking, as always minding his own business. But then, how the petch did such things always end up right in front of him? It was like there was some god going around dropping them in his path. And he wasn't in Alvadas anymore, so he couldn't even blame the city for doing it to him, and dropping him into places. As he saw the one man come at his foes, getting in a strike, only to get knocked to the ground, Bones acted. He came running at them, sprinting for a few ticks at the man who had pushed him to the ground, unknowingly the man with a limp. Bones came sprinting at him, and street fighting style, tackled right into him. The man stumbled in surprise, and Bones took the moment of his stumbling, to use a bit of leverage, and use one of his wrestling take downs. Grabbing at his legs, he took them out from under him before he could turn, and laid him out on the ground, laying next to the solo fighter they had been attacking. Before he could descend on him though, he saw a punch coming at him from the uninjured man. He turned to face him, and brought up his hands. He blocked and pushed the mans right hook to the side with his own left. This left him open to a counterattack. Bones got in two punches to him, one hitting him in the shoulder, and the other catching him in the mouth, blood coming away as he had busted his lip.

[Leigo]

There were few brief moments of physical pain where the thief’s fists connected with Leigo’s forearm. The poorly hastened block left clear space for another swing at the boy’s chin. While the first punch hurt, the second left his head pounding long enough to almost miss someone coming to his rescue. Pain he could deal with – owing was a much worse situation. The one with obvious burns on his chest was still rolling on the ground and crying perhaps. Leigo couldn’t really care that much. What he did care for was this newcomer. Mountain of a man in the boy’s eyes, he was even taller than the blond – only much stockier. The other two seemed to forget about the puny boy when faced with someone so big and their attention immediately redirected to the stranger. This man who seemed to be helping him could certainly hold his ground, but Leigo couldn’t just let him finish it on his own. Sitting up slowly, the boy knelt onto the neck of the one helpful hands had already tackled. Blond wouldn’t allow him to breathe if it were up to him. Thieving scum didn’t deserve to breather, or breed. Funny how those two words sounded almost the same while depicting life from two quite various standpoints. Leigo had no particular fight in him, but each of these thieves reminded him of Lion and the smugglers and his father… and he just wanted them to die; all of them.

[Ssafirsotibones]

The one he had tackled to the ground, was the one the solo person went after. Really, after Bones had done all the work of taking him down, and rescuing this solo person, he went for the one Bones had taken out? Well, he supposed it made more sense, then the man who was rolling around for no reason Bones could see. Though he did seem kind of injured. Bones wondered what the story to that was. Or the story to these men going after this man by himself. Though a thought did occur to him, maybe he was not to good of a fighter? Perhaps that was why he had gone after the vulnerable person Bones had unseated. The man he had scored a few hits on, came back, not having given up, his guard up, hands in front of his face... Bones simply tried smiling at him, giving his animal like grimace of an attempt at a smile. He took a step forward, and stomped on the mans left foot, then punched him in the gut. Best to mix things up, a combination of dirty brawling, and straight up and refined unarmed. The mans guard dropped as he was hit in the stomach, leaving his face open. Bones took the opportunity, winding back his right hand far, and laying in a punch to the right side of his face, knocking him right off his feet and onto his back. Then he turned to the solo man, and gave him a smile to, the same horrible smile, which could vaguely be seen as a attempt at a human expression. "I'm Bonesss. And you are? And what isss sse deal wiss ssisss lot?"

[Leigo]

Still stomping firmly onto the man’s throat, Leigo turned back to this stranger. Taking a better measure, he was certain there was no mistake in his earlier judgement. The man was huge. Raising himself up, Leigo stomped onto the thief’s neck like an enraged beast. “I’m Leigo” he paused without significant thought of the man “They need to die; that’s the story.” Stopping again, blond gave him the time to process. “If you don’t have the stomach for it, back away now; I appreciate what you’ve done so far.” This man was obviously a foreigner, so Leigo wasn’t really concerned with what he said much. “Bones was it? Where can I find you to repay the debt?” going towards the man Bones had knocked out, the blond had every intention of ending this idiot as well. And unless someone stopped him, he would.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Leigo. Bones took in the mans face, as he viciously tried to suffocate the man, and break his neck. Really, he was not doing a good job, as Bones could have done it with one blow. He stood there, and stomped on the mans neck, like some common thug. Bones arm twitched, and he nearly took out his gladius... But he thought better of it... Not a good idea to reason with a man, with a weapon drawn. It would seem to much of a threat, and anger him. He put himself in front of the man, to block him from Leigo. Better to talk without blade out. "Ssat isss not for you to decide. It isss not right, to sssit ssere and kill ssessse men, unarmed and defenssselessss, no matter what ssey have done. To kill sssomeone in sssuch a way, for no purpossse beyond anger, would be murder. I cannot allow ssat." Bones could certainly stomach killing. He had killed more than his fair share of people and things. Heck, he had even eaten a few people, so could literally stomach it. But his following of Caiyha, was against senseless killing. He knew sometimes things had to die, for others to live... But to kill for no reason... That was not right. "We can bring ssem to sse guard, and tell ssem what ssey did. But killing ssem will only get you into trouble, and make you a murderer. You would be no better ssan ssese ssugsss, who tried to attack you. Do you really want to sssink to ssere level, and become a petty murderer?" Bones stared the man down, not budging, a solid look on his face and posture... He was not backing down... He was not going to let him do as his rage said to. "It isss one ssing to kill a man in fair combat, in sse midssst of battle, or if ssere life endsss for a purpossse. But ssisss... Ssisss isss sssenssselessss murder. You will not like were ssat pass takesss you... Or what you would become."

[Leigo]

Leigo looked up at the man, his gaze uncompromising. Who was this foreigner, and what in Laviku’s petching gourds was he doing? This was Zeltiva, not some hellhole Bones crawled from. It was refreshing to have to look up at someone – it was rare for him to get that chance. “Just as it would’ve been murder had you let them stomp on me enough to provoke real anger” Leigo wouldn’t show weakness now either. This man was clearly bigger, stronger and a better fighter. Yet Leigo had magic and he had Onuo and that made this fight more than appealing to him, or so he thought. “And who do you think you are to make such decisions? A guard? A citizen? Laviku himself?” blowing off some steam, the blond never tore his gaze away from Bones. “These thugs are not the only ones. Their deaths were already promised.” Considering his next words, Leigo weighed carefully “These bastards have already tried to butcher women, children (of course this was all Aehra so far – but hey, he wasn’t lying) and yours truly. Do you really condone such scum to continue living?” not yet letting him answer his question, the boy’s voice never ceased. “To let them live is to put more lives at danger. To bring them to the guards won’t solve anything, they’ll be out and about in a matter of days… and they’ll try this again only then there will be more of them. I’m trying to have you see sense here. If you defend them now you only risk much grander bloodshed in the predictable future. Killing them now will send a message. They’ll know who did it. And they’ll stop.” Stopping briefly, Leigo dropped his gaze to the sword. “You might be a witness, Bones, but you are only one. And don’t think that enlarged toothpick will help you if you provoke me” there were many more insults he had for this insolent bastard who saw it fit to question his motives. Leigo knew they were thieves. They must’ve been affiliated with Lion. They needed to die – all thieves needed to die!

[Ssafirsotibones]

Bones was itching to reach up over his shoulder, and pull out the gladius strapped across his back... So tempted... It would just take one motion... Reach up, pull out, and on the descent, hack into the mans flesh... So easy... But he fought that, not giving into his internal rage and hate, and anger... His instincts of a snake telling him to lash out, and show him why to listen and fear him... And his mind keeping it in line... Really, this human had no idea who he was messing with... Humans, so weak, and yet so cocky and sure of there own might and right. "Ssso in osser wordsss, now ssat sse sssituation isss reversssed, you wisssh to do sse exact sssame ssing, ssat ssey tried to do to you... To become asss bad asss ssem..." As the human stared him down, Bones did not flinch, glaring right back. This human, so sure he knew what was right, and who Bones was. He knew nothing of him... Of what he had done... The many things he had done... The lives he had taken... The slippery slope he was know wanting to run down, which Bones himself had traveled intermittently for a long time... "I am me. I am sse man who jussst sssaved your life. And I sssee it isss asss it isss, wissout anger in my eyesss, blocking sse truss and clouding my judgement. What will ssisss murder accomplisssh? Nossing. Jussst anosser dead body. Anosser deass, and you becoming ssat much more lossst asss a cossst." "Nossing. It will do nossing. It will only perpetuate it. If you kill ssessse men in retaliation, it will only bring more anger and hate, and more will be killed in retaliation againssst you, and ssso on and ssso forss. Do you really ssink sse messssage ssey will receive will be to ssstop? If you truly do, ssen you are a fool, and a blind one at ssat." And now the man was threatening him? Really? This man he had so recently rescued? "Really? Isss ssat what you ssink? You really ssink you alone ssscare me? Me and my blade here, have ssseen ssingsss ssat would make your ssstomach turn. It hasss cut ssrough ssroatsss, hacked off limbsss, gutted men, sssoaked in sse life blood of untold many... Wiss ssessse fistsss I have sssnapped men'sss necksss, ripped off limbsss, killed men... Watched ssso many die, often at my hand... And you quessstion me... And wonder why I sssay what I sssay... I sssay it because I have experienced, and know sse cossst of deass, even for sse one left alive..."

[Leigo]

The situation had come to a standstill. Not knowing of Bones’ serpentine identity, Leigo was certain he could and would kill this man. His less casual companion however had set its sights on a more treacherous route of deception. “Huuumans…” Onuo’s usual alien voice was butchered beyond recognition. Perhaps Bones wouldn’t listen to the as far as he could tell invisible alien, but it was bound to scare him. And scared opponents were always easier to manipulate. Each could play their part. Hopefully this wouldn’t be a failed rerun of the Anselm trial. “Not now master, I promised I’ll…” it wasn’t really planned for Onuo to cut him short so soon, but hardly any of it was. At least the familiar could lie easily – it didn’t have to worry about facial expressions. “You’ve done enough” voice had become somehow old and wrinkly, but it was still cold and strong. As far as the stranger could tell, this voice was creating itself out of nothingness behind Leigo’s back. Somehow the pair was certain Bones would find this thought rather disconcerting. The blond would keep quiet as if his mouth was bound by yet another bizarre occurrence. “… so weak” as if all of a sudden finishing its first thought, Onuo kept speaking. “He is not alone, Bones.” Deep unworldly sighs pitched the air “You can take two of them, and run!” something like a hum escaped Onuo’s excuse for lips and, he finished “Take two of them and go, or stay and all four of you will die.” The familiar wasn’t one for grand ego measuring contests, but it seemed strangely amused by the current predicament. “One for each life you think saved, or you can be the death of them all…” one last loud thought. Both of them confident the man wasn’t thickheaded enough to pass up the opportunity, the pair hoped silently for the best outcome. Closing his hand firmly, Leigo would start pooling up and elongating res inside the fist. If Bones reacted the wrong way a foot long earth spike could easily be cast into his neck. Surely the man was stronger, but from what Leigo had seen he wasn’t really faster.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Bones had been standing there, working well to keep from literally ripping this mans head off, and eating it. When sudden voice came out of seemingly no were. As if Bones did not already have enough issues to deal with. Of course, the first thing that came to Bones mind, was a ghost. A ghost! Of all times, now he was to be attacked by a ghost. But no, the man was calling it master. Was he subservient, and following the orders of this spirit? Regardless, they had miscalculated. Bones was not a normal person. In fact, he was not even human. And when he saw something like this, that set him off, that riled him, it simply angered him, and made him more violent. In a flash, his hand was up to his gladius, and had drawn out the blade to the slick of leather on steel, as he held it in front of him. Unfortunately, the only threat Bones could see was Leigo, so he was the one his anger settled upon. The one who would be taking his attack, if Bones was pushed to far. He held the weapon at the ready, and would take a step forward to bring it to Leigo's neck, though would not try to cut into him just yet. "Ssspirit. Do you ssink me to be a fool? I am no foolisssh human, ssso young and insssignificant, to fall for your ploy. Now eisser you leave me be, or I kill your ssservant. Ssshow yourssself. I do not take well to tricksss and deception. Now you leave, not me. I am not a good enemy to have, and ssreatening me isss a good way to make me one." Bones didn't need to be fast really, to pull this off. He was skilled in using his body well, and his blade, and could quite easily slice through Leigo's neck like it was a blade of grass, even if something was cast into him. In fact, he would likely be put into a great rage, in the moments before he died, and make sure to take anyone with him he could, who he considered responsible for his injury or death.