“He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise.”

Regret was a feeling he had known for the past month, twinged with hints of despair. Reeling from what he’d done as a whole being for the sake of power was truly soul-crushing. Alas, he’d done what he could.

V held no regrets for what he’d done to survive. Desperation fueled his every move in his last few hours of life, clinging to Nero desperately as he struggled every step of the way towards the bottom of the tree that started all of the mess. The mess that he had created. Or rather, his other half.

He held no regrets for surviving, for holding his cane above the gaping wound of Urizen, hearing his twin’s rapid footsteps as he no doubt realised what he was about to do, plunging it deep within-

And then nothing. At least, for a little while.

It was a surprise. He’d thought he’d just be… Whole again. Himself. One being, no longer split in a desperate attempt to survive his grave injuries. A small part of him would have rather let himself die, in hindsight, if only to undo the damage he had caused in reaction to the Qliphoth appearing.

“Hey, paper boy, wakey wakey.”

As short as it was, he’d had a good life, just being his human self. Even if his sleep was hardly comforting. His thoughts, now that he could think on his actions throughout his life, were nothing short of hostile, pointing out every little mistake he’d made, from the mundane to the destructive. They’d even found a way to make him feel bad for wanting chocolate more than Dante, back when they were a happy family together.

“Seriously, Shakespeare, the sun’s shining, now’s not the time for a nap!”

He supposed he was paying for all his mistakes now, sitting in the darkness of what he assumed was oblivion. He didn’t even get the right to go to hell yet. He shouldn’t have existed at all, yet-

ZAP!

“Gah!”

An electrifying feeling shot through him all at once. That made him pause for a moment. He shouldn’t even have a body, yet…

He felt his eyelids open instinctively as the shock wore off, warmth hitting him as his mind came to. His body still felt weak. Very weak. He could barely even turn his head, trying to find the cause of the shock. One certainly would think his new lease on life was kinder to his health...

“Oh, finally! Geez, I know things were rough for ya, but daylight’s burning, and I got no clue where we are!” A familiar voice squawked, nudging his arm with his beak. “Now, you gonna stand up or do I need to give the Griffon special?”

He chuckled on instinct. This was a nice reminder of why he liked him, even though he was nothing more than a nightmare. Rocky start or not, he still had come to rely on him. Still… Why were they here? He should be...

“Ah… I’m afraid I’m a little strained to move right now. I’m not in any shape to do much at the moment.” Lamenting was all he could do, his throat dry from thirst as he weakly turned his head towards the familiar, a small smile on his face. “Though I’m glad to see a familiar face… Wherever we are.”

Griffon ruffled his feathers a bit in reaction, sputtering as he looked away.

“Well, you better get back into shape real quick, uh… If you’re not dying anyway.” He tried to keep light-hearted, but the concern remained, turning back to him. Even now, he cared.

He looked back up to the sky, squinting a little as the sun bore down on him. He felt weak, but the draining feeling he had grown accustomed to over that month and a half separated wasn’t there. If anything, things felt… Normal.

A hazy memory floated up in the back of his mind, the image of himself lying in bed sick from the flu. Being half demon, he didn’t think he could get sick, but he supposed in hindsight it was because of his age. He felt bedridden, but it was hardly dangerous for him. He wasn’t… Well, dying.

“No… I’m just tired. Being on the brink of falling apart would cause that.” He sighed, closing his eyes momentarily, feeling the wind’s gentle breeze hit his prone body. For the first time in what felt like years, he could relax momentarily. “Are we in danger of being hunted?”

He heard a light thump as Griffon lowered himself to the ground beside him, sighing in relief. “Phew. I wouldn’t say danger, but, uh… Well, it’s only the two of us. The big bad kitty and the big guy’s not here. We’re in some kinda garden. Real fancy, too. Like some kinda queen’s living here or somethin’.’” He paused for a brief moment, pondering. “Though I know we aren’t alone here. This place is… Well, it’s got horses in it, at least.”

He almost didn’t register that last part.

“Pardon me?” He craned his neck down once again to his familiar, brow quirked in confusion. “Did you say horses?”

Griffon stood again, nodding. “Yeah, I know, sounds fucking stupid, but I’m telling ya the truth. I managed to peek in one of the windows and I saw a horse pushing a cart filled with food somewhere. Wherever we are, it ain’t normal.”

He hummed to himself, looking to the nearby hedge. From what he could gather, they were somewhere secluded, hidden, but still reachable. He could see why he wanted him awake now.

Still visibly weak, his body strained as he tried to sit himself up, only for Griffon to quickly jump up and push him back down again.

“Oh, no you don’t, V. You’re in no shape to move right now, and for once you’re gonna sit your ass down for a few minutes to rest. I’ll have another look. Got it, Paperweight?” His concern was showing again. His eyes glowed intensely as he stared him down, unmoving. Daring him to move.

“... I’ll stay put, then.” He smiled a smidge, reaching up to pat him with a gloved hand. “But the moment there’s someone coming, you’ll help me move. I’m in no condition to fight right now, and not even bravado could mask that.”

Happy enough with his response, Griffon gently shoved his hand away from him, hopping off his chest as he spread his wings.

“Yeah, yeah, sure. What I get for showing care for my master, sheesh.” He turned one last time to him, eyes pointed. “... Glad to have you here still, V. Even if it’s… Weird right now.”

He shook his head.

“Indeed. I’m, glad to have you around still. Misery loves company.”

Griffon snorted, turning back around.

“Yeah, well, I’m a bundle of sunshine compared to your goth ass.” With that comment, he took flight, keeping low as he turned around the corner, disappearing behind the bush, leaving V once again to his thoughts.

“... And what is wrong with my lifestyle, exactly?”

He’d kept quiet since Griffon had left. It’d been… A while. That was getting a tad concerning. Griffon couldn’t go far without him, contract or not, so he couldn’t be too far away from him. Maybe he could…

He tried once again to sit up, with considerably less difficulty, as he grunted from the effort. It’d be difficult walking, but he could at least stand again. He could perhaps take a look around. Maybe he’d feel Griffon’s presence.

With a little effort, he lifted himself up to his own two feet, grimacing a little as a dizzy feeling of vertigo hit him. Even when not dying, he still felt weak.

He frowned to himself at the thought. All the time seeking power, and for what…

He shook his head. Enough with the dwelling. Griffon was what was important at the moment. Reaching for a nearby tree for balance, he lifted one foot, stepping forwards awkwardly as he felt his other leg buckle a little. Maybe not walking, then. Still, he had to find Griffon somewhere…

He closed his eyes, focusing on what little demonic energy he had left. It was risky, given his condition, but without him he was dead anyway. Using that energy, he called out to Griffon-

…

…

A call back. One filled with panic.

“Ah. Damn.”

He opened his eyes again. This wasn’t good. He had to call him back, and quickly before he got hurt. His arm lifted up, coming to rest straight beside him, and he called again to Griffon.

“Come back.”

He waited for a moment… And sighed. No response. He lowered his arm. Not enough-

“-AAAH-”

A heavy weight landed on top of his head, forcing V back down to the ground again as he lost balance. At least it worked.

“AAA- Oh, hey, it worked.” Sounding far too calm for someone just being in danger, Griffon hopped off his head, brushing his hair with the wind as he fell. “C’mon, V, we gotta get moving quick, before those horses come knocking and lock me in some enclosure. They don’t like me very much, heh.”

He groaned as he pushed himself up once again, thankful that his strength was returning him slowly. It’d take a few days before he was back to what strength he had, but he could at least limp along if he had something to hold onto.

“And, pray tell, how exactly did you get yourself discovered?” He glanced down at Griffon as he grasped that tree again, beginning the difficult walk with the bird following in tow.

“Uh, well…”

Griffon was trying to be sneaky, he really was, but he wasn’t exactly built for it, now was he? No, he wasn’t. He was built for combat, for standing up to his foes, even as a nightmare, as much of a hindrance as that was for any party involved. So he didn’t find it funny that he was suddenly forced to pose as a dumbass bird in the garden as those horses came walking in, presumably to do some dumbass shit or to clean it up.

As they approached, he looked at them, trying his best to keep a dumb look in his eyes, a gasp ringing out from one of them as they looked at him. Imagine his surprise when the left one opened their mouth.

“Oh, what a magnificent bird!”

What.

He masked his surprise as a squawk as the horse that was currently speaking to him looked up at his perching spot, eyes filled with awe. He really shouldn’t have been surprised, considering what he was, but he was a demon, not a… A talking horse! He couldn’t sense any demonic energy coming from either of them! Seriously!

“Oh, what plumage! Those feathers! Oh, that beak! Where’d you come from, you pretty little thing?” The horse with enthusiasm was trying to reach him, jumping up in vain as he stared down at her, still trying to keep that dumb look in his eyes and now fighting back the urge to make a biting remark about her enthusiasm. The other one, though, it looked rather unnerved by him. Understandable. He was a big shot in the demon world. Well, his real self was, anyway. That counted, right?

“Uh, Sweet Pea, that bird looks a little… Dangerous. I mean, that has to be a hunter, right? Those talons look like they could claw out your eyes…” She shivered at that, backing away.

He squawked in response, flexing his feet as a show of said talons, the glint shining in the light. Sweet Pea, as she was named, stupid fucking name, wasn’t bothered at all. She seemed rather happy about it. Weirdo.

“Oh, you’re right! You’re a dangerous bird, aren’t you? How’d the Princess find someone like you, huh?”

A Princess owned this place. At least he wasn’t going back empty-clawed. The horse tried again to reach him, but this time he backed away into the air, squawking almost mockingly as he stared down at her.

“Sweet Pea, be careful! Don’t make it angry!” The other horse kept her distance, yet still stared at her friend with fear. Good, she was the one with the brains of the two.

“Oh, relax, Sunrise, he’s just startled. I’m sure the Princess wouldn’t bring a dangerous bird here and let it roam free.” She backed off at least, looking at him with awe all the while.

If only she knew. He couldn’t help the slight chortle that came out of his throat, catching the pair’s attention.

“... Huh?”

“Did it just…”

A pang of fear hit him, realising the mistake. Maybe if he played it off?

He squawked again, trying his best to make it sound like that laugh. It didn’t work, judging from their narrowing eyes.

“Sweet Pea, I don’t like this…” The other horse started backing away again, looking at her friend anxiously. “Maybe we should get the guards? See if this is their bird?”

“Hm…”

Sweet Pea looked suspiciously at him.

“You’re right. Let’s go.” She turned around quickly, hurrying along. He couldn’t let that happen. Not in a million years, nope, nuh uh. Thinking quickly, he took flight again, quickly darting away from the area. The pair didn’t let him go so easy though.

“H-Hey, come back here!”

“... And then you called me back. Sorry for the head hit, by the way.”

He sighed to himself. At least he didn’t reveal he could talk. Still, the guards here could be looking for him, and that was a bad sign. They had to find a way out of there quick before either of them got caught. He didn’t know how that would go, and he didn’t particularly care to find out. Not while his other means of defense were missing.

“Did you at least see a way out of here, or am I going to have to hobble around blindly?” He looked to his side to watch for any horse on the lookout, before beginning the limp across the path to the next set of bushes. The gate was nearby, so at least he was nearly out of this particular maze.

“Uh, no? Before I could get anywhere the horses stopped me. Though it’ll be a cakewalk compared to Red Grave.” He felt the ink of his tattoo pulse a bit as he chortled to himself. “Maybe I should have brought my garden shears here too. Much easier than the Qliphoth to cleave through, eh?”

He smiled to himself.

“Heh. Keep sharp, I may need you if we get caught.” He ached for his cane right now. It’d make this at least a little easier for himself instead of stabbing his hands on thorns or splinters.

“You know I got your back, kid. Remember, dying is whack.”

He shook his head. In a way, he was thankful he had Griffon out of the three. He wouldn’t know what to do if he hadn’t had him to bounce off of.

“Just a little further.”

“Halt!”

… Damnit.

Author's Note

Woag funny goth boy in horsey world poggies

Whipped this up in an hour because I had the urge and the voices won so here have this starter, may continue it may not I don't know but hey it'll be good to flex my writing chops again after a couple years