When you get what you want but not what you need

[poaceae]

Who: Fern and Dark Cacao
What: Comeuppance for murder
When: Evening of the Suri fight
Where: Out in town
Warnings: Suicidal Ideation, probably more

Fern had obediently followed the seagull that Stan sent with him to the Inn and picked out a room after some insistent pecking and squawking, but he left soon after. "They won't forgive", Suri had said. Dipper had already attacked him, and he hasn't seen those dragons again. There are probably more people in town who are out to get him, and it seems like a bad idea to stay in a place as busy as the inn can be.

It's freezing outside, but he hardly cares. It's actually less painful now, with a human body. He even has a new coat, one without so much blood on it. His backpack still has stains, but it's not too obvious under the coat, and he's ditched the scarf and extra hat. It's not really enough, shorts under his snow pants, a short-sleeve shirt under his coat, his normal bear hat and nothing more. He still shakes a bit, hands tucked in his armpits as he trudges through the snow and wonders what to do with himself now. At least he's not crying anymore. But grief, horror, shock, and the stubborn tracks of too many tears still line his face.

He's human again. He should be different, shouldn't he? Better? He should be... not Fern. But he doesn't like Finn. He feels like a monster. So who is he now?

Comments

[winterfrosting]

If it had been up to just Cacao he would have set to tracking the boy the moment he was out of the fight. But there was Lily to think of. She had to be told, and his wounds tended. Almost against his will he had passed out from the blood loss and grief alone, protected from the horrors for a few hours in her arms.

But he doesn't sleep long. The healing water and his Soul Jam have done their job. He is far from his prime, but he is Enough. He takes his sword, and with a soft call sets Oreo to follow him. As soon as they're outside the Twin Dragons manifest, hissing.

"Finally. We were starting to wonder if you didn't care, Master!"

"Silence." He responds with little inflection at all, and that is enough to make the beasts settle for now. They would have their blood either way. He kneels down to his wolf, giving him the sharp command. "Find. Vanilla." Oreo's tail wags- oh! They are going to find Vanilla! He was worried when dad came back alone...

Cacao is glad he doesn't have his bone ring on. He's not sure he could bare the wolf's innocent questions. Regardless he is trained well, and takes off, nose to the snow, with Cacao on his heels. Cookies smell strongly compared to humans, he's found (even if humans smell... quite a bit worse in his opinion) so it doesn't surprise Cacao when Oreo finds hints of strawberry on the air.

The wolf throws back his head in an excited howl, and Cacao hopes his husband's killer can hear it.

[poaceae]

Fern flinches as the howling of a wolf reminds him that other risks out here than just other people. He has the Autumn Sword at his back, and he reminds himself to use it if needed. He keeps trying to summon the Grass Sword when he can't anymore, and that sort of thing might get him killed. However he might be feeling right now, being ripped apart by wolves sounds like an especially unpleasant way to go.

He doesn't notice that only one wolf has howled, or that it's coming from somewhere in town.

[winterfrosting]

Oreo goes running, Cacao following close behind, charging through town. It doesn't take long to find Fern, and Cacao slows to a walk. He whistles sharply to keep his cream wolf from running up to the boy- if he killed his damned DOG too he really might just lose all sanity right then and there.

"You. You are Fern, correct?"

[poaceae]

The sound of paws and feet along with that whistle have Fern stopping in his tracks, looking all around him in a panic until he spots Cacao. He doesn't know who this is... but he looks angry. Fern takes a shaky step back.

"I... Who... Who wants to know?"

[winterfrosting]

"I am Dark Cacao Cookie. Pure Vanilla Cookie's husband."

Said with just barely contained rage it's clear he expects Fern to know exactly what that means.

[poaceae]

That, he understands. He freezes in place, forgetting for a moment even to breathe. This person wants to kill him. He would be sure of that even if it weren't for the poison in his tone. This person wants him dead. That means this is it for him. This is where his life ends.

...

He doesn't relax so much as he deflates, his shoulders slumped, his head down, his arms hanging lifelessly at his sides. PV's husband... Fern didn't even know PV was married. How cruddy is that? This person he liked, and Fern never even bothered to get to know him before ripping his heart out with his bare hands. He really is a monster.

"Oh," is all he says, staring at his feet while more tears prick at his eyes. What else can he say? An apology would just be a slap in the face. He can't believe the magnitude of his own cruelty. How could he not have known before now? What the bjork is wrong with him?

[winterfrosting]

"...oh?"

Not the response he expected. Running, yelling, lashing out. Even pleading. His sword lowers, blatant confusion on his face.

"That is all you have to say for yourself?"

[poaceae]

He still can't think of anything, so he nods without raising his head.

"Yeah."

With the release of all that tension, he starts to shake again. It's so cold, and he's so tired, to a degree he doesn't remember ever feeling before. He should probably be scared of dying, of whatever this person might do to draw it out, but he's more scared of himself.

A thought occurs to him, and he twists to pull the sword out from his pack. He tosses it unceremoniously on the ground a couple of feet in front of him. That should at least make it clear that he doesn't plan to run away or fight back.

"Go ahead."

[winterfrosting]

The sword tossed is very clear... and if anything just enrages him more. If the boy looked any less pathetic he would assume it was a ploy to his honor. To make him lower his guard before a dagger was pulled.

He raises his sword... then with a curse stabs it into the cold earth.

"Oven damn you."

[poaceae]

He jumps a bit at the sound of the sword striking. Okay, he was a little scared. He's confused too, and looking up at Dark Cacao and wondering what this means.

"...What?"

He wraps his arms around himself unconsciously. It's so cold.