Work Text:
Catching Up
After waiting for two years, I get the long awaited call.
KHUN!
Bam.
Everything in a greeting that I could want.
How are you feeling?
As well as can be expected. Where are you?
I hear some uncertainty enter Khun's tone with his question.
Did Isu not catch you up?
I wanted to hear it from you.
Typical. Doesn't trust anyone or anyone's secondhand account of events. I sigh.
Ah, okay, that makes sense then.
I say briskly.
What?
Khun asks sharply. I decide to blow by that question in favor of the first one he asked.
I'm on my way to gain Slayer Baylord Yama's favor. It's going to be a bit of a process.
What? Why would you need that?
I can hear the uncertainty growing again.
Isu seriously didn't tell you anything did he?
Bam, just tell me.
Notes of desperation have entered Khun's voice. I can tell he's starting to get upset.
Where do I even start?
I groan staring up at the fake ceiling.
Why do you need the Slayer's favor Bam? I thought we were done with FUG.
I didn't have a whole lot of options.
What happened?
Khun asks tentatively.
Something big. Jahad came to fight me himself at the Hidden Floor. He knows I exist now.
I hear Khun gasp and fall silent. I know what Rachel did to you. I won't forgive her. I might just kill her.
I say to give him something else to chew on that might be easier to manage. Khun responds by gasping my name with a sharp intake of breath.
So, tell me Khun, which clusterfuck do you want to swim through first?
I laugh hollowly.
Bam...
Khun admonishes. I hear sorrow and a depth of fragile affection. It pisses me off.
What's done is done. I don't need your judgement, Khun.
Bam.
Khun's voice tightens. He laughs brittlely. So cursing is a thing we do now?
Yes, Khun. It is.
I say flatly, without emotion.
Thank fuck.
Khun laughs weakly. I laugh bitterly. A weight lifts off my shoulders.
I'm going to avenge my master Khun. Kallavan made an attempt on his life. Maschenny got involved. He's been captured.
I know that even though Khun has been in a coma for several years he will know the significance of those names.
How...?
Khun trails off speechless. I can visualize the faces he's making, flashing through thoughtfulness, then confusion, then disbelief.
Jahad declared war on every regular on the Hell Train as we made it back from the Hidden Floor. He wants me dead. My master was coming to help me.
My voice breaks.
Bam. It's not your fault.
But, it is my burden to bear, Khun.
You're only a regular Bam.
Khun's voice is soft over the pocket line. I scoff at the statement, grateful that Khun caught my subtle reference to disobeying my master to get on the damn train in the first place.
Irregular.
Then, why do you need FUG?
I sigh, wishing for a small moment that Khun could see past Viole to the deep resources available.
We almost died at the last station for the Hell Train. Rankers were waiting to attack every regular on the train on Jahad's orders. Kallavan came after me. We slipped away barely, but Kallavan wasn't going to stop. We had to disappear. Hwa Ryun contacted Madorako to get the Ghost Ship. She used the soul stirring ladle as leverage.
Khun sighs massively. I can almost hear the clinks of him putting together the cause and effect of each action we've taken since escaping the Workshop Battle together that led to this conclusion.
Oh is that all?
Khun's voice now laden with bitterness and sarcasm.
Actually no.
My voice is dead again.
We're still wanted and in hiding. And Hansung Yu showed up along with Evankell during the fight at the last station, they were fired from the floor of tests apparently. They are both training me.
Will we ever be rid of that coffee addict?
Khun wonders aloud, albeit mostly to himself.
I learned something from him.
My tone is still dead.
Something actually useful?
Khun scoffs.
Yes actually. It's some shinsu theory that I've been able to apply.
As I get deeper into the explanation of the loops I can create now, my tone lightens and Khun's voice perks up.
What else have you learned since I've...
Khun trails off, uncomfortable with completing the sentence. I jump immediately into an explanation of what I've learned of orbs from Evankell. Just as I'm starting to go into her teaching method of having me fight, Khun cuts me off.
What does this have to do with the Slayer Yama?
Well, most of FUG is sleeping right now. And we're going to need all the help we can get to rescue my master.
Okay.
Khun's voice is firm, finally assured. Where are you again, so that I can follow?
I look back up at the fake shinsu sky and take a deep breath in.
I'm on my way to The Cage.
What's the plan?
I've had to rescue this fighting dog Louie, so that I can get to Deng Deng, who is wanted by Slayer Baylord Yama.
And how are you going to do that?
Well, Deng Deng in prison, so I'm going to get arrested and blow up the jail to get everyone out safely. We're on our way there now.
YOU'RE GOING TO WHAT?!?!?!
I just smile and end the call. I laugh imagining Khun stomping off to find Isu and rip him a new one.