LU 264 - Mira 13

... You know, it's getting far too frequent that I end up going unconscious. But now it was in the middle of nowhere.

My body ached in it's entirety as I awoke from my unconscious state, a groan escaping me as I forced myself to sit up, to gauge where I currently was- Wincing as a sharp pain made itself known in my upper left arm. My hand instinctively went to cover whatever wound I had there, if there was one at all, and I let it settle there for a moment. I begrudgingly stood up, finding that I stumbled a bit and nearly fell onto the ground again, taking a look at where I was currently situated.

*A cave...* But an open one. As if my body had forced itself to take cover from any potential rain in the fleeting moments of time that I had, before I had fallen unconscious... Ugh. I pulled my hand away from the spot that ached more than others, finding that my own violet blood now stained my hand- and cursed to myself aloud. I then began questioning myself; *"Did we lose-?"* with no answer in return.

I prompted my body to go forth, visibly shaking and stumbling from the dulling ache over my very being, before making my way to the opening of the crevice, just to find the remains from the destruction of what once was flat ground. Everything had been *destroyed.* The dust had just begun to settle as well, it seemed. Craters were formed from the mass amount of TNT that everybody apparently had on hand, and from the Wither that had been spawned within the midst of the battle. I hadn't known who had summoned it, but it caused destruction nonetheless. And now I was one of the only conscious people that remained at this moment, one of the first to see the aftermath.

*"We... We **lost.**"*

The words were uttered almost subconsciously as my eyes trailed along the ground, trying to find familiar faces amongst the scattered others that had fallen unconscious- Just to find that either they had been facing downwards, or turned away from me, not of their own will of course. The few faces that I did see, were some that I didn't recognize, but I knew that some were part of the enemy regardless. A dry laughter escaped my lips, before I began cursing out the one that had recruited me, last second, into this war; *Space Bean.*

*"Why did I even fuckin' bother comin' to help when I was recruited last second,"* I rhetorically questioned to nobody in particular. Probably myself... My trail of thought had been interrupted as, when I had turned to take a step away from the former field, the aching in my body seemed to return. And once again, I cursed out Space, in my anger and self-loathing. *"Space can go fuck himself after all this shit-"* I didn't care anymore if he had been around to hear what I said.

*"Who cares if what I had done had cost him his immortality and his trust."* The words I spewed out had been far more spiteful than I had intended them to be, but it was frustrating. The 'Amathian Empire' had suffered a loss, under his and Vice's rule. What was the fucking fight even about..? *I didn't know.* I hadn't been told, if I remembered right. The only information I had was that there were rebels, and we were fighting them... And that lead to us losing.

I shook my head, trying to get that thought out of my head as I tried figuring out where I should go from here... I couldn't head back home just yet. Jeremy would probably.. worry too much. The castle was a no-go, I doubt that if anybody still remained there, they would also worry. Then I remembered one other place I could go-

*"Ehghg-... I know I joked about having to probably go back to Styg's place after all this, but I didn't expect it to come to reality..."*

... Not that I minded, too much. I just felt like a burden, when I was there the first time. But I'd also have to go through the Amathian Empire - if it would still be called that, after all of this - to get there. I shrugged off the thought, before I began making my way back to Styg's place... Just then realizing that regardless of who I went to, they would worry- At least Styg could properly tend to my wounds and injuries.

Nevertheless, I began the trek back to what once was called Spawn Town. Across the Amethyst bridge, I stared up at the buildings with a somber expression. *"Now this place is probably fucked over because of that stupid 'war'-"* I mumbled to myself, before trudging onwards towards the center. I looked to my right, towards the police station, deciding that I should grab the small amount of things I had within my office of the building.

Thus, I went towards it, going to my office, and tearing down one of the walls to get to the upper part of it, displaying two chests- Both mostly empty, aside from some compasses within one of them and a book, and snatched them all up. I recalled how I had gone up here at one point, earlier that day- The day prior? To grab one of the nine compasses that were originally here, to give to Styg. In case he had ever wanted to visit my home, should I end up leaving his any time soon.

A small smile came to my face as I recalled the small memory, and how he seemed grateful about how I had given him such an object. It was just a small thing, yet he seemed so happy? about it. At least from what I had seen... I just hoped that he didn't end up throwing it away anywhere. *I hoped that he didn't feel it was awkward after the fact.* I then remembered that I would have to go speak to Styg again- Is Styg gonna be mad that I'm genuinely going back, after that joke I made when we had last seen each other..? I hoped not.

I then left the town, for probably what would be the last time, heading towards his manor across the river. Of course I rushed myself, as I didn't intend to stay within the town for very long, but it just caused my body to ache that much more as I hadn't given myself any time to rest whatsoever this whole time. As soon as the manor was in sight though, I began to ponder how I would go over speaking to him again- Just deciding to go with a joke-like approach, to hopefully ease his worrying when he would see me - if he even would worry.

Forcing myself to warp towards the front door of his home, I knocked, only twice, waiting for the expected response- Only for Styg to open the door, and acting surprised to see me again... Covered in crimson blood, along with my own of purple, and being injured. I simply joked slightly, saying *"Hey, that's not how the joke goes... You're meant to ask 'who's there',"* offering a dry chuckle afterwards. He appeared to panic regardless of my poor humor, telling him that I was in the state that I was because of 'the thing Space needed me for'. He rushed me into his clinic after I spoke, and I felt a pang in my heart seeing him so worried about me. It felt like I was just intruding on whatever time he had to himself away from me.

*"Can I collapse-"* I asked in an almost joking manner, trying to lift up the mood with yet another chuckle. But his worry seemed to out-weigh whatever humor I was trying to offer, with his words; *"Don't, stay with me here, Mira. You're better to me conscious than not."*... I couldn't help but try to tease him, just a little, by joking yet again whilst I got onto the medical bed that I had laid on for a few nights prior to this, *"**Man**, you really want me around that badly-? Haha- Joking..."*

His response to my words was complete seriousness though, but yet it was something I had not expected, from somebody like him. *"Yes, I do. Now take off your clothes."*

... WAIT, HUH?!?!

I felt my face heat up in embarrassment, just to cover it with my hands- Surely, I was just misunderstanding!! **SURELY**!! RIGHT?!

*"... So I can see the extent of the damage."*

... OH. OH THANKS, STYG, FOR JUST- *Embarrassingly* stating something so boldly without giving the context first!! And yet I still felt the heat in my face as I moved my hands away, feeling that it was visible to him as well as I just. Sat there. Like an embarrassed little fuck- Registering what he said fully before I had held my right hand onto the wound I had once again- And yet he seemed so oblivious to the fact that he said something so.. odd- ANYWAYS!

*"What, did I say something wrong?"*

Oh there was the confirmation that he was oblivious to what he had just asked! I merely asked if I could keep my clothes **on**, to which his expression deadpanned, and he replied; *"Armor off, and you have to tell me where it hurts."* He seemed almost.. irritated-? In a way. So after I took off my armor, I decided to clear up why I had made the request to keep my attire **on**. *"Look, you just asked me to b-basically strip for you-"*

... And now he was the one that got all flustered, his face going visibly red as he backed away from me to the wall, hiding his face in his hands similarly to how I did.

*"You know that's not what I meant,"* Styg spoke with a slight shake in his voice. It was clear he was embarrassed now, and I couldn't help but find it almost humorous, and slightly endearing... Finding it almost.. cute that he got embarrassed- *WAIT NONO BAD. DON'T THINK LIKE THAT- ~~NOT NOW.~~*

*"UH ARM HURT, YES,"* I blurted out, trying to shift the attention to my injuries instead of emotions at that moment- I felt myself blushing yet again, turning my head away from him as I refused to allow him to see my full embarrassment. It appeared that the distraction worked, as he turned back to face me, and began working to patch up the injury that I had mentioned- It was a rather obvious one regardless.

We were.. silent for a bit. I still felt the lingering fluster from before, until he broke the silence; *"Multiple lacerations, bruising, possibly even sprained... They really got you good, huh?"* I was glad for the distraction as it broke me from the embarrassment I still felt, and we began chatting slightly about what had happened. I told him about how I was brought into that fight with little to no knowledge of what it was for, mentioning that I was a police officer in the middle of it- Then finding myself regretting that I had accepted Space's offer to become one so long ago. Eventually he had mentioned something about how Space acted during the time that Styg had known him, before they had.. 'reunited', to which I asked how they met, just to earn the response of *"It's... complicated,"* before he continued on.

*"He was once an ally, though not really of his own volition... then an enemy. Now I suppose we're allies again. I hope,"* he spoke with an almost upset tone to his voice, to which I expressed that I also hoped that they were 'allies' again- Mostly for Styg's sake. *"Was he also one of those people you said that you wanted to apologize to..? A few days ago-"* I questioned, hoping that I wasn't prying too much just asking such things about his relationship with Space.

*"Yes, he was. Though it seems he's forgiven me already. I'm both grateful for it and confused that he forgave so easily..."*

*"Well, it's good that he forgave you at all, right?"*

I offered a smile as I responded to his answer to my query, then asking how long it had been since they had last seen one another- To which I then found out, after further speaking.. that Styg was over a thousand years old. That Illios and Space's ages now were Styg's age, from when he had met them both.

*"You'd think I'd have a little more to show for it, with all the time I've had..."* Styg spoke with a slight half-hearted chuckle afterwards, to which I responded almost immediately; *"Well, keeping to yourself is not something that anybody can blame you for- You don't have to 'show' that you are your age. if any of that makes sense-*"

*"... I'm a little dumb right now, I apologize- haha.."*

I apologized, simply for if my words didn't make sense. I turned my head away, trying to look at anything other than him at the moment. He simply stated that it was probably blood loss that made me all 'dumb right now', in my own words, then claiming that he had finished suturing my arm, and asking if I had any other injuries.

... I remained silent for a second, before claiming that I wasn't sure, to which he replied *"See, this is why I asked you to-... Nevermind."*

I felt bad that I hadn't done as he had asked, but I didn't want to burden him any more than I already had as it was- So I merely apologized, before he handed me a potion, saying that it would help me to heal over the next few days. As always... I then thanked him for it.

*"Of course, I did say my doors were always open to you after all. And as always, you're more than welcome to stay here while you recover."*

There was a moment of silence after he spoke, to which I had hoped was him taking his time to realize I wasn't thanking him just for that. But when he hadn't spoken up, I decided to clarify *why* I was even thanking him as a whole- *"Well- For more than just.. y'know, taking care of me and all- Like, just listening to what I've had to say. Being someone I could talk to-... and for trusting me with what you've said as well."*

He remained quiet for a second after I spoke, before he replied; *"You've got the kind of face that's just easy to talk to, I suppose. Thank you for listening to my... ramblings, as well,"* causing the heat to return to my face from what he had said at first. It felt like a compliment.. I decided to laugh off the embarrassment I felt from it. *"It's really.. not an issue- If you ever have anything to say whatsoever, I'd be happy to listen, like you've listened to me."* Then reiterating that I felt that he had kept a lot of things to himself for a long time... Which he confirmed.

It started getting silent all over again however... So I began to ramble, about how I was glad that I had met him. Even going as far as confessing that whether it was 'fate' or anything like he's said, I wouldn't have wanted to meet anybody else but him, when I had. He claimed that he was also glad that he had met me, which caused me to.. yet again get a bit flustered. I didn't quite understand why- But it was fine. At least the feeling was mutual. We smiled at one another briefly until I turned my head away, feeling awkward now...

But I felt like I wasn't done with everything that I had wanted to say, or do- It was almost far too timid of me to be all stuttery and whatnot as I asked for one last thing, but upon him acknowledging that I still had something to do, I slowly got off of the bed I had been sat on, stating that I would get back on it after I was done with what I wanted to do. He seemed concerned, telling me to be careful, but... I hugged him. Whether it was to keep myself stood upright or not didn't matter, because it was what I wanted to do regardless. He seemed to be caught off-guard by the gesture, to which I spoke up as he kept silent; *"I-I feel like you might have needed one... After what I'm assuming to be... over 500 years of not having one."* I then apologized, twice- Once for the potentially rude assumption, and if it was too sudden or anything- Saying that I could let go if it was awkward or anything.

As he returned the embrace I saw him take off his mask from the corner of my eye as he pressed his face into my shoulder, a wet feeling there as I panicked a little about if he was crying or not, and loosened my hold on him, but yet he thanked me regardless- I felt his hold on me tighten slightly before releasing me, to which I let go of him in turn. It shouldn't have shocked me so much, but seeing him without his mask- It surprised me. I only caught myself staring though when he began to speak up, breaking me out of that stupor- *"Thank you, I- needed that, I think."*

I still felt a bit of panic in myself as I saw his tears, to which he also appeared to notice himself- *"Ugh, now my face is burning, how unbecoming. Ow.."* He spoke as I debated what I could do to help in that split second, then decided to lighten the mood a little before I did anything, *"You.. said that when we met too, haha-"* I then pulled the sleeve of my dress shirt over my hand as best I could, then trying to wipe away Styg's tears away for him as best I could. ~~Gave me an excuse to look at his face a bit longer-~~ Nono, no thoughts like that right now.

I noticed that he was looking away as I did what I had, then backing up, feeling awkward now. I merely apologized if that action of mine was odd or anything, then awkwardly stumbling over my words when I spoke again- *"I-I'll, um- j-just get back on the bed- um..."* Which of course, I did- In which he responded, stating that he should probably get some air. I apologized, yet again, about the awkwardness of the situation, watching him leave the room, as he told me to rest well... And I couldn't keep my mouth shut, even after that. *"AH WAIT-"*

He turned to look towards me after I yelled out for him, suddenly feeling myself grow increasingly more embarrassed as I realized I *didn't know why I did that.* I scrambled through my thoughts briefly, before realizing he hadn't put his mask back on- Ah! *"Y-You look nice- without that mask,"* I admitted with a stutter, giving an awkward thumbs up. I caught the sight of what I think was him blushing while reaching up to his face, before he had left- **AGHGH** I flopped backwards onto the medical bed, hiding my face in my hands as I now debated things... *Especially involving him-* Why was it so embarrassing saying all those things to him-?? I was just saying the truth- Simple compliments, nothing more!... Right?