The Parasite

Sunset did her best not to worry about Twi’s tracker. She was convinced Twi would sooner believe it was faulty than accept that her friend was actually the infamous vigilante. So Sunset just focused on finishing out her last assignments before spring break, enjoying how classes had generally slowed down.

Finally she was leaving her last class, calling goodbye to her fellow students and already feeling relief. She’s really been needing this break. Sure, she planned to get further into her hit list over the next week, but she also planned to relax on the beach, go shopping, and just enjoy herself.

As usual when walking back toward her dorm, she saw Twi on the way to the science department. The other seemed lost in thought, and Sunset called out to her, making sure she had her attention before waving.

Twi smiled and waved back, jogging over to talk to her. “Hey, did you finish your last class?”

“I sure did. How many more do you have today?”

“Just two. And as soon as I’m done I’m gonna keep working on my tracker. I’m so close to a breakthrough, I just know it. I’ve been going over the research paper again and again and it’s very clear on the chemical make-up of Red’s genetic code, I don’t know what I’m missing, but I like a challenge.”

Sunset chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You’re a genius.”

Twi blushed. “Well, I hope I figure it out soon, because if not I may just have to scrap it and start over. Or give up, but I don’t like doing that.”

“If it’s stressing you out, maybe you should shelve it for a while. I mean, you’ve already got so much going on with your double major and everything. Even if you did figure out a way to track Red, that could just put you in danger.” Sunset grasped her shoulders. “I don’t want it to hurt you.”

Twi took a deep breath and reached up to take Sunset’s hands, lowering them but not letting go right away. “It’s risky, I know. But I think if I track it down… and all of us Elements go after it… we could stop it. We can do amazing things together.”

“We have done a lot of amazing things. But I can’t help thinking about the possibility of us failing. We’ve never faced an enemy like that before. We aren’t facing the threat of mind control or enslavement here… that thing would probably kill us. Horribly.” Sunset sighed, looking away. “Sorry, I don’t want to be so negative about your plan. I’m just… scared.”

“I understand.” Twi nodded, letting go of Sunset’s hands, though she reached up to turn the other’s face back toward hers. “Maybe… I will put the project aside for a bit. Wait to see if we learn anything more about Red. I don’t want to take it on without being sure we can beat it.”

Relief swept through Sunset. Not just for herself, but for the other as well. She pulled her into a tight hug. “Sounds good. Thank you.”

“No problem.” Twi hugged her back, briefly nuzzling her face into Sunset’s shoulder, and when they leaned apart, Sunset’s gaze lingered on her lips before going to her clever purple eyes. Oh, she wanted to kiss her so bad. But she didn’t, instead just taking a step back and awkwardly dropping her arms to her sides.

“Well, guess I should let you get to class,” Sunset said.

“Oh.” Twi blinked. Was it just the crush speaking or did Twi seem disappointed? “Yeah, I should go, then. Um, when were you planning on leaving?”

Sunset and Carnage had debated for some time on when they wanted to leave, and had eventually settled with right after Sunset’s last class. “Now, actually. I just need to go back and pack, then I’ll be heading out.” She checked her phone for the time. “I have enough time to make it to my hotel tonight so I was going to go ahead and get settled in.”

“You’re going to the beach, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Ah, so jealous! Shining Armor lives further inland and I’m not sure we’ll really get to go swimming. Have fun!”

“I will. You have fun too, okay? No studying on your break. Spend time with your brother.”

“I’ll try my best.”

They laughed and exchanged another quick hug as they said goodbye. This time, Twi gave Sunset a small peck on the cheek before pulling away. It was so quick that Sunset hardly registered it until the other was already walking away.

Sunset touched her cheek, staring off into space as she processed what just happened. That was a kiss. Twi just kissed her. She looked over her shoulder and briefly met Twi’s eyes before the other looked forward again and walked faster. Sunset grinned sheepishly and continued toward her dorm. That really just happened. Spring break was off to an amazing start.

What a hopeless romantic, Carnage grumbled. I don’t think I’ll ever get your desire for her.

I wouldn’t expect you to. You seem incapable of love.

Love is unnecessary. A byproduct of your need to seek out a mate, as you are a sexually reproducing being. My kind reproduces asexually and thus we have no drive for romantic partners, as it is unneeded to propagate the species.

No drive for romantic partners, huh? I don’t know, Venom seems pretty into Twilight.

Venom is inferior and defective. He is hardly representative of our kind. His feelings for that equine are disgusting.

Sunset shook her head. It seemed every time she grew content with Carnage, she was reminded of just how alien he was. His dismissal toward both her feelings and Venom’s stung slightly. If she pursued a relationship with Twi, was that what she was going to have to listen to the whole time?

Of course not. Like many of the incomprehensible things you think and do, I would tolerate you pursuing your romantic interest. I don’t care one way or another as long as I’m fed.

And you will be. We have an agreement. I'm not letting you go hungry.

She felt his satisfaction at that. When she got back to her room, she grabbed a bar of chocolate to snack on while she packed her suitcase with a week's worth of clothes. It was going to be tedious juggling her hunting with her vacation time, but she was confident she would be able to pull it off.

Carnage stretched out of her, forming a couple tendrils to reach out and move her laptop into its bag. “Perhaps I could offer a solution.”

“What do you have in mind?” she asked, holding out her hand to take the laptop bag from him and set it next to the suitcase.

“You can use your days to have fun and enjoy your vacation. And at night, I can use our body to carry out your justice for you while you sleep.”

Sunset gave him a curious look. “Can you do that?”

“Easily. Once you fall asleep, it just takes some simple regulation of melatonin in your brain to keep you under while I take full control of our body and do as I like. You won't even notice it. It's perfect for both of us! I get to eat, you get to spend your waking hours vacationing, and we make the world better. Doesn't that sound nice?”

“It does,” Sunset admitted. “But... I'm not sure. I don't know if I want you controlling our body without me watching you.”

“Why not? Are you saying you don't trust me? After all this time?”

Sunset sighed and put the last of her clothes into the suitcase, standing and going to gather her toiletries. “No, it's not that, I trust you, just... I don't know, it gives me a weird feeling.”

“What can I do to reassure you?”

Sunset was glad he was willing to compromise with her more these days. She met his eyes and said, “I might just need some time to get used to it. I'll think about it during the drive to the hotel, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Just promise that you'll stick to our list? Don't go nuts like. Like you did back at the prison.”

“I'll only harm those who deserve it.”

She nodded. “Alright. Well, let's get going.” She finished packing and took out her phone, sending a group text to her friends to let them know she was about to hit the road. They said goodbye and wished her safe travels, along with sending advice of varying usefulness. Ranging from making sure she stopped to rest if she got tired to slamming two extra-strength Five Hour Energies to give her a little boost.

Sunset chuckled and pocketed her phone. She wasn't going to be driving that long but she could always count on Rainbow to make her laugh. She also briefly wondered if Rainbow had experience with that situation. It wasn't out of the question, that woman was ridiculous.

After giving her dorm a final once over, running through a mental checklist of everything she needed for her trip, Sunset picked up her bags and headed out. She locked the door and immediately tested the handle to make sure it really was locked. It was good to go. She hadn't left anything too valuable in there but she still didn't want to get robbed over the break.

She lingered for just a few more moments outside the door as she again ran through what all she had packed, and Carnage assured her she had everything she needed. She nodded and went downstairs, going to the parking lot.

“Alright, any music preferences?” she asked as she got in her car, tossing the bags into the passenger seat and starting it up.

You know what I like.

“Let me guess, thr-”

Carnage popped his head out from right near her neck and shouted, “Thrash metal!”

“Should have known.” Sunset connected her phone to the car's radio and put on Pandora, selecting a station that played a good mix of music they both liked. While Sunset has noticed Carnage's dislike of high-pitched noises, he seemed to love aggressive beats and epic guitar riffs. It was one of the rare things they could agree on.

Sunset set the GPS to the hotel's address and pulled out of the parking lot. As soon as she was on the highway, she tapped the button to put down the roof, letting the wind blow through her hair.

“Whoo, spring break!” she cheered, pumping a fist in the air.

“Hell yeah! We're going to have a blast!”

Sunset turned the music up and the two of them rocked out, headbanging and singing along. She shot the other a grin and he grinned back. They really were getting along these days, weren't they?

Once there was a lull in the music, Sunset commented, “Hey, I think I'm cool with you working at night while I sleep. But I want you show me who you went after each morning, alright? Just so I can keep track of things.”

“Your proposition is agreeable.” Carnage was very pleased. Her level of trust in him was astounding and it wouldn't be long before he took advantage of it.

Sunset got back to headbanging to the music, pounding out the beat on the steering wheel, and Carnage looked outside as he remembered the many days they've spent running along this very road. He couldn't wait to explore some fresh territory.