Dreamland Gardens
(word count: 3,952)
- DREAMLAND GARDENS // JANUARY 16TH -
Xavia glances around the park as he advances toward the haunted house exhibit. He takes in all of the sinister figures and shadows dancing on his path. Even for him, this isn't exactly a walk in the park. Those damn clowns... This place is giving him the creeps.
Taking a deep breath, he steps forward and pushes open the creaky door of the haunted house. It's quiet, far too quiet. Which makes him all the more anxious to grab the mask and leave. His dark brown eyes narrow as he walks past the grotesque decorations, trying to ignore all their lifeless stares. The mention of a curse at least makes things more interesting... But Xavia doesn't believe in curses.
He soon reaches the spot where the item is supposed to be displayed - a glass case that now stands empty.
"Oh, were you lookin' for this?"
Xavia turns on his heel at the sound of that all-too-familiar voice. Argent, leader of a rival thief group known as Silver Ravens, leans casually against one wall while twirling an ornate mask between his fingers.
Medium-length black hair hangs loosely around the man's face and his piercing green eyes gleam with arrogant confidence. His arms are wrapped with bandages and just looking at him pisses off Xavia immediately. But Argent's abilities are undeniable and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Scowling deeply under the dim lighting, Xavia growls out, "Argent... Should've known you'd be here."
"Been awhile, huh, old friend?" Argent remarks with a cocky grin dancing on his lips.
"The last time was more than enough," The white-haired man replies crisply, holding out his hand as he takes a step forward, "Hand over the mask. I won't ask again."
Argent continues twirling the mask on his finger, unbothered by Xavia's stern tone, "Sorry, no can do. We're getting paid a lot to get this back to our buyer," He shoots him a smug grin, confidently adding, "You really want to go another round and lose?"
"I don't plan on losing," Xavia declares defiantly as he swiftly unslings his twin scythe from his back. Gripping the weapon firmly, he locks eyes with Argent, "I've got a job to do and I'm not letting you get in my way."
Whether by fighting, stealing, or negotiating... It doesn't matter how he gets that mask as long as it ends up in his possession. Argent may be cocky but he's no pushover. This won't be easy.
"That's a shame. I was really hopin' we could come to an agreement," Argent remarks before tucking the mask into his backpack. He then unsheathes his dual hook swords from their hip holsters with practiced ease, "Shall we get this over with already?"
"With pleasure," Xavia retorts, maneuvering his weapon into an attack position, "Don't think this will be like last time."
Argent merely chuckles, a sardonic sound that echoes around them eerily, "We'll see," He replies, then charges at Xavia without any hesitation.
Xavia manages to parry the initial attack with his scythe, catching Argent's hook swords with one of the scythe's dual blades. With a sharp maneuver, he deflects the attack and spins the scythe around, the other blade whistling through the air, "Not so fast," He mutters, aiming a swift counterattack at his rival's midsection, the curved blade slicing towards Argent with lethal accuracy.
However, Argent skillfully blocks it, catching the scythe's blade between the curved ends of his hook swords. With an abrupt twist of his wrists, he pushes Xavia back, forcing him to stumble. Seizing the opportunity, Argent launches another assault, spinning one hook sword in a tight arc towards Xavia's midsection while the other slashes diagonally at his shoulder.
Xavia sidesteps just in time to evade Argent's strike, using the momentum from his quick dodge to his advantage. As he shifts his weight, he expertly rotates the scythe, one of the blades arcing upward in a lethal sweep aimed at Argent's neck, "Getting rusty there, are we?" He taunts, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The blade comes dangerously close, targeting a critical spot that forces Argent to react quickly.
Argent laughs bitterly as he ducks under Xavia's swipe with a flourish, "You wish," He retorts, feinting an attack to Xavia's left. As Xavia moves to parry, Argent swiftly shifts his stance, delivering a powerful blow to Xavia's side with the flat of his hook sword.
The white-haired man winces, pain shooting through his side, but he hastily retaliates with an unhesitating strike of his own, "You're too confident for your own good," He grits out through clenched teeth.
With a quick, practiced motion, Argent crosses his hook swords in an 'X' formation, catching Xavia's blade between them and twisting sharply to the side, deflecting the attack with ease.
A knowing smirk appears on Argent's face at the sight of him struggling slightly, "Not using your nen this time, eh?" He provokes him.
Xavia's dark eyes flash dangerously as he lunges forward again, "I don't need my nen to deal with you," He spits out defiantly. Argent's constant mocking is clearly an attempt to get under Xavia's skin, and Xavia knows it. However, he refuses to let Argent's remarks affect him too much, focusing instead on his next move.
"Since you know I'll just use my ability to nullify it?" Argent prods as he effortlessly sidesteps Xavia's oncoming blow. With a fluid motion, he ducks low and pivots on his heel, evading the scythe's arc gracefully, "Looks like you finally learned your lesson, kid."
"Keep underestimating me, Argent. It'll be your downfall," Xavia sneers back. As he speaks, he swings his dual scythe in a wide, sweeping motion aimed at Argent's knees, trying to catch him off guard, "And quit calling me kid," He adds sharply, punctuating his words with the aggressive attack.
Argent merely shrugs impassively, effortlessly evading Xavia's strike with swift, fluid movements. As the scythe sweeps toward his knees, he leaps into the air, performing a graceful backflip that carries him safely out of range, "Whatever you say," He responds nonchalantly, landing lightly on his feet with a confident smirk.
"Enough of this!" Xavia suddenly grunts in annoyance.
With a decisive flick of his wrist, he sends one blade slicing through the air towards Argent, forcing him to retreat further or risk getting cut. At the same time, he swings the other end around in an arc aimed directly at Argent's midsection.
Argent dances back adeptly but Xavia is relentless. His attacks come faster and harder as he spins and maneuvers, using his agile footwork to keep up with Argent's movements while also attacking from unexpected angles.
The sharp sound of metal meeting metal fills their surroundings repeatedly as Xavia launches attack after attack with practiced precision, whirling and twirling like a deadly cyclone that never seems to let up on its assault.
Despite the intensity of Xavia's onslaught, Argent remains calm, his eyes sharp as they scan for any potential opening in his opponent's attacks. Every swing, every thrust from Xavia's twin scythe is met with a nimble dodge or deft block from Argent's hook swords.
A smug chuckle escapes him as he spots an opportunity amidst the whirlwind of strikes. In one fluid motion, he sweeps low with his hook swords aiming at Xavia's feet, effectively catching him off-guard and sending the white-haired man sprawling onto the ground.
"Best of luck next time, Xav," He bites out mockingly. He takes this chance to make his escape, swiftly exiting the haunted house exhibit without looking back.
Xavia grits his teeth in frustration but doesn't waste any time dwelling on it. With determination etched across his features, he hurriedly picks himself up and heads after Argent, "You're not getting away that easily."
As they finally reach the entrance of the haunted house, Argent turns to throw a smug retort over his shoulder, "Oh, I think I am," He says, subtly tilting his head at the last moment to dodge a projectile dart aimed at him from behind.
The dart, moving with deadly precision, strikes Xavia in the shoulder before he can even comprehend what's happening.
"Dammit... Not good..." Xavia grumbles under his breath as an unexpected sting spreads through his arm and starts seeping into his system. His vision begins to blur almost instantly, and he sways dangerously on his feet, yet he stubbornly attempts to keep moving forward.
A tranquilizer? This low tactic takes Xavia by surprise. It isn't something he expected from Argent... But now there's no room for error. If he doesn't manage to fight off this sudden wave of dizziness fast enough, he's done for.
"Sorry, can't afford to have you waste our time," Argent's tone is casual as if he's discussing the weather instead of his betrayal. He points over his shoulder nonchalantly, "Brought backup with me this time."
Xavia's vision continues to blur and he feels his body going numb alarmingly fast. Despite this, he manages to clench his teeth against the overwhelming disorientation and growls out defiantly at Argent, "You... Bastard..."
His dual-bladed scythe slips from his grasp and drops onto the ground next to him with a clang, echoing loudly in the silence around them.
"Nothin' personal, kid. Well, maybe a little bit," Argent admits sardonically, giving Xavia a cold look, something malicious flickering briefly within his green eyes, "But... Would it be so bad if I just finished you off now? It'd mean a lot less trouble in my future."
Xavia can hear the pounding of his own heartbeat inside his ears, almost deafeningly loud amidst this chaotic situation. With great effort, he forces himself to weakly lift his head, looking up at Argent despite his visible trembling.
Even on the verge of collapsing, he somehow manages to spit out a taunt towards Argent, "Go ahead and try."
"You're real cocky for someone who can barely move," Argent retorts sharply, his voice resounding in the eerily quiet surroundings of the amusement park.
Despite his rapidly deteriorating condition, Xavia manages to shoot back a counter with equal venom, "You talk too much for someone who hasn't actually won anything," If he can keep Argent engaged and distracted long enough then maybe... Just maybe he can find an opening to save himself.
Argent's brows knit together in confusion at Xavia's words. It takes him a moment before realization hits him and he breaks into derisive laughter, "Haven't won?" He chuckles, sounding completely self-assured as he waves the mask triumphantly in front of his opponent, "I've got the mask. I've won."
Summoning every ounce of strength, Xavia forces himself back onto his feet, grimacing as unbearable pain courses through his body. He steadies himself, breathing heavily, "The only thing you've won is my patience wearing thin," He snarls, his voice strained yet strong.
In response to this blatant display of defiance, Argent moves forward and presses the end of his hook sword against Xavia's chest. The sudden force sends him hurtling backward, crashing hard onto the pavement below.
"You just don't know when to give up, do you?" Argent taunts, a cruel smirk painted across his face as he observes Xavia struggling once more.
Xavia clenches his jaw against the searing pain radiating from where he had been struck, determined not to let it slow him down. He meets Argent's gaze with an unwavering intensity, his voice fierce and resolute, "And you don't know when to shut up."
"Do me a favor, Xav," Argent begins slowly as if he's relishing every moment of this. He takes slow steps closer towards the wounded man sprawled out on the ground, "Send me a post card from Hell."
He raises his swords high above them, positioning them for a decisive strike. The blades are aligned perfectly to deliver a clean and quick kill when driven downwards.
"Only if you give me your address," Xavia remarks evenly, maintaining a steely gaze and an obstinate demeanor even in the face of impending death. He stares right back at Argent, meeting the cold glint of his blade head-on.
As Argent lunges forward to deliver the fatal blow, Xavia's mind is flooded with memories within just a few heartbeats. His life flashes before his eyes, every bitter memory from his past; the warm smile on his mother's face that he holds so dear... He wishes he could see her one last time, but at least she won't have to worry about him anymore.
He closes his eyes tightly against this reality, gathering all the strength left within him as he wills himself not to panic.
Suddenly, without warning, an arrow whizzes through the air, piercing Argent's neck with deadly precision. The unexpected strike makes Argent gasp out loud as he reflexively reaches up for the embedded shaft, trying desperately to dislodge it while blood spills out profusely from where he had been hit.
A couple more seconds pass before Argent finally succumbs to his injury and collapses onto the ground below, silence replacing what once was filled by smug laughter and derisive words.
Blinking in pure shock, Xavia takes a moment to glance around frantically, trying his best to locate the source of the unexpected intervention, "What the hell... Just happened?" He breathes out, still struggling against the debilitating effects of Argent's poison.
Upon scanning his surroundings thoroughly, he soon finds himself staring in sheer disbelief at a familiar figure standing atop the Ferris wheel. His mind races as it desperately tries to process this new information, "Dusk? Is that...?" He can't finish his sentence, too astounded by her accuracy and timing.
She managed to shoot him down from such an incredible distance? He had never imagined she'd be capable of such an impressive feat. It seems he owes Dusk one now.
From her elevated perch, Dusk catches sight of another figure in the distance, the man who shot Xavia with the dart, prompting her to quickly adjust her aim. She releases her breath slowly as she lets the arrow fly, watching with satisfaction as it lands right on target.
"Gotcha," She whispers triumphantly under her breath.
Once satisfied that no more imminent dangers are lurking nearby, Dusk wastes no time in making her way down from atop the Ferris wheel. Worry etches clearly across her face as she sprints towards where Xavia lays sprawled out on the ground.
Upon reaching him, she drops onto her knees next to his collapsed form, panting heavily from exertion, "Hey," She greets softly, careful not to startle him after everything he's been through.
Slumping heavily against the cold, hard ground beneath him, Xavia manages to summon enough strength to turn his head towards the source of her voice. Despite his vision being blurry and distorted from the tranquilizer's side effects, he can make out her face clearly, "Dusk," He rasps weakly.
Hearing her name called out softly yet unmistakably by Xavia, Dusk can't help but return a small comforting smile, though her eyes reveal how worried she truly is for him, "Yes, it's me," She reassures gently, as she begins checking on his condition as best she can.
The tranquilizer dart was certainly strong, and its aftereffects are undeniable. Dusk carefully examines Xavia, her fingers gently brushing his forehead to check for a fever. She watches his eyes closely for signs of clarity, relieved to see full recognition in them. She checks his pulse, feeling the steady beat beneath her fingertips.
"At least you're coherent enough to recognize me," She murmurs, hoping the lingering effects will start wearing off soon.
However, in spite of all this concern directed towards him from his new partner, Xavia merely scoffs slightly at it all, stubbornly attempting to push himself up into a sitting position despite his body clearly protesting against the movement, "Didn't ask you to save me."
Dusk lets out a sigh, yet she also finds herself unable to suppress a small smile that slowly creeps onto her face, "Well, you're welcome anyway," She remarks, extending an arm to help him sit up.
Predictably, Xavia ignores her offer. Instead, he winces sharply upon finally managing to prop himself into an upright position, shooting a disgruntled glare in Dusk's direction, "I didn't need your charity," He complains bitterly.
Dusk merely chuckles lightly and meets his glare with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "And yet, here we are."
"Some partner you are, using this as leverage," Xavia grumbles half-heartedly under his breath.
"Oh, believe me," She swiftly counters, her tone laced with playful defiance, "I could be using this in a much worse way. But I'm nice like that."
"Frightening thought," Xavia retorts dryly. Despite his initial reluctance, he finds himself somewhat appreciating Dusk's company at this particular moment.
"I aim to please," She quips, enjoying the surprising, but not entirely unwelcome change in their banter. There's something oddly satisfying about seeing Xavia so relaxed under these circumstances, "Do you have the mask?"
Xavia glances at Argent's lifeless body sprawled out nearby and mutters indifferently, "Should be in Argent's backpack."
Dusk arches an eyebrow curiously, "Argent? He's the guy with the scary hook swords?" After mulling it over briefly, she sighs reluctantly. Rising from her crouched position beside him, she begins to walk over but pauses, turning back to ask with concern, "Wait, am I going to be cursed if I touch it?"
Rolling his eyes exasperatedly at Dusk's superstition, Xavia weakly scoffs at her comment, "Only if you believe in that sort of thing."
"Coming from a guy who just got taken down by someone with hook swords, I think I'll keep an open mind about this," She bites back, her tone laced with a hint of playful sarcasm as she cautiously approaches Argent's body. Careful not to disturb it too much, she begins rummaging through the backpack that's still strapped onto him.
Xavia sharply responds to her mocking remark, "Watch your mouth. Tranquilizer or no tranquilizer, remember that I can still kick your ass," He warns, though the small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips reveals his amusement at their current back-and-forth.
Glancing over her shoulder briefly, Dusk gives Xavia an entertained look, unable to resist teasing him further, "I'd like to see you try."
"Just wait and see."
Eventually finding what they're after, Dusk cautiously picks up the ancient mask and takes a moment to study it properly. It's creepy looking yet fascinating in a haunting sort of way. Carefully tucking it into her own bag, she returns to Xavia with a triumphant grin playing on her lips, "Mission accomplished. Can you stand?"
"I don't need your help," Xavia proclaims stubbornly, even as he uses the wall to support himself.
Shaking her head at his denial, Dusk nevertheless extends an open hand toward him, "Yes, you've made your point very clear."
Ignoring her offered help, Xavia instead opts to push himself up into a standing position, albeit with some difficulty, "Told you," He grunts defiantly, shooting a glare in Dusk's direction. Almost immediately, however, he stumbles unsteadily.
Dusk can't help but raise an eyebrow skeptically at the sight. Acting on instinct, she swiftly reaches out and grabs Xavia's arm just in time, preventing him from falling over completely, "Yeah, yeah, I'm still not convinced," She quips playfully while offering him some much-needed physical support.
Feeling her arm tighten protectively around his, a faint, amused smirk forms on Xavia's lips as he grumbles, "Let's get out of here."
"Sounds like a plan," Dusk replies with a nod, offering him a reassuring smile. She steals one more lingering glance at Xavia before they make their move.
However, catching sight of her gaze from the corner of his eye doesn't sit well with the normally stoic man. Turning sharply to face her, Xavia snaps irritably, "Stop staring."
Just as quickly, Dusk vehemently denies the accusation, "Wasn't staring," She retorts defensively, her cheeks tinged red from anger and embarrassment, while hastily averting her eyes from his piercing gaze.
Taking a moment to study Dusk's profile more thoroughly, Xavia finally feels compelled to begrudgingly admit, "You're actually... A decent shot. That shot you pulled off wouldn't have been possible for any normal archer. Was that your nen ability?"
Upon hearing his rare words of praise, Dusk blinks in surprise before slowly answering with a growing smile, "Yeah! I can enhance my eyesight using my nen. It lets me see really far away, and I also use it to enhance my arrows, making them fly further and hit their targets with better accuracy."
"Huh," Is all Xavia can manage to say after listening attentively to her explanation. Despite his usual cynicism, he finds himself impressed. Her ability is practical and highly useful, two traits he greatly admires.
Seeing his underwhelming response, Dusk feels a small sense of giddiness wash over her. It's progress, no matter how minor it might seem to an outsider. Maybe there could be hope for them after all.
An awkward silence falls between them once again, temporarily halting their short-lived banter. However, Xavia finds himself not caring as he stares resolutely into the distance, "Let's head home," He murmurs quietly, almost as if speaking to himself.
Maybe having a partner won't be as annoying as he initially imagined... Not that he would ever admit his thoughts aloud, especially not to her.
- VAN HELSING GUEST HOUSE // JANUARY 17TH -
Xavia lounges comfortably on the couch when, suddenly, the front door swings open with a loud creak. This unexpected intrusion brings in Dusk who's lugging several suitcases along with her. Right behind her enters Zane, carrying an absurdly large box, which he promptly sets down as he steps into the house.
Raising an eyebrow at this peculiar sight, Xavia can't help but eye them both suspiciously from where he sits, "What the hell is this?" He grumbles, not even bothering to get up from his comfortable position on the couch.
"Well, Xavia... About that," Zane replies hesitantly, nervously scratching the back of his head. A sheepish grin spreads across his face as he finally reveals their reason for being here, "Dusk is moving in with you. Aurelius' orders. Don't shoot the messenger, alright?"
As soon as the words leave Zane's mouth, Xavia's eyes narrow skeptically, clearly displaying his annoyance as he snaps, "And I wasn't included in this decision because...?"
The navy-haired man shrugs apologetically, raising a hand defensively, "Didn't get the chance to tell you earlier since you stormed out. Besides..." He tilts his head slightly towards Xavia and meets his glare with a challenging stare, "It's not really something we need your approval for."
An irrational wave of anger instantly surges through Xavia, causing him to scoff loudly in frustration, "I can see that."
First off, he was forced into accepting a partner he didn't want or need. And now, a roommate too? What kind of fresh hell is this turning into?
"Hey, hey," Dusk interjects, her eyes darting between Xavia and Zane as she tries to mediate the situation, "Let's not start a fight over this, okay? I'll try to stay out of your way as much as possible."
A deep frown etches itself onto Xavia's face as he slowly brings his hand up to rub his temples in frustration. This is all starting to give him a massive headache, "Yeah, well... You better," He finally manages to say through gritted teeth.
She offers a small nod, not entirely appeased but choosing to drop the subject for now, "I will."
Xavia falls into an uncomfortable silence, breaking it only with pent-up sigh. Without another word, he waves his hand dismissively at both of them, silently signaling them to continue with their moving process.
"Well, that went better than expected," Zane murmurs under his breath, mostly to himself. Sharing a quick glance with Dusk, the navy-haired man then directs her attention to a nearby open room, "That'll be your quarters for now."
As Zane leads Dusk away, Xavia squints after them in annoyance, making no attempt to hide his irritation. He sighs heavily and leans back onto the couch.
"Leave it to Aurelius... Always making decisions without ever giving me any say in the matter."
Frustration simmers within him, tinging his thoughts with a bitterness he can't shake off. Surrendering to the uncertainty ahead, Xavia closes his eyes tightly and lets silence overtake him once again.
3 notes
·
View notes