The Flavor of Revenge

[Hoshi]

"I know I'm not very good at farming, but the collective needs me." I reply to Riku. I yawn and rub my eyes. "I am going back to my hotel, goodnight Riku." I wave goodbye and head back to town and go to my room.

[Pakkanen]

"It is possible. I have found that many of the things that Red Infinity talks about are not true. I assume that it was true, because everyone seemed so pleased that the religious rebel had perished." Pakkanen looks at Sasha sadly. He wishes that Sasha would care for him in such a way. It is possible that if Sasha ever underwent the final transformation, it would change his heart. That gives Pakkanen hope.

"I must go now, Sasha. I have work to do. Be well." Pakkanen leaves silently and locks the door behind him.

[Sasha Kropotkin]

I don't say a word as Pakkanen leaves, only sit in mute anguish. My already evicerated soul is torn in two, the pieces aren't even fighting over each other any more, they just simply lie in a pile of ashes.

I look at Antero, still sleeping blissfully, almost blissfully unaware of what has been going on. I glare at his complacency, my eyes sharply squinting as though I could pierce his heart with my gaze.

There is nothing left for me, not even hatred. My glare softens into a numb stare, and I eventually look away, tears stream down my face again.

[Riku]

I sigh and shake my head before looking at the farms. ... I shouldnt have left that note.... I turn and start flying towards the shrine, I sigh as I sit on the roof, *I wonder if anima got my message...., oh well, if he didnt which he should have, even if he has a mind shield, and he goes for them then capital city is as good as gone...*

[Antero Black]

Antero has wonderful dreams. In his dreams, he can fly. He flies between the buildings, looking down at all the people and laughing. And when people hear his laugh, they run for cover. Windows start breaking the louder he laughs. And then he starts to shout, and when he shouts, the buildings come down. Everyone, look up at Antero! They shout in terror. In the midst of it all, he sees Sasha. Sasha doesn't run, so Antero yells louder until Sasha's body shatters into a million pieces on the pavement. Antero wakes up laughing.

"What's up?"

[Sasha Kropotkin]

I smile as Antero wakes up in a fit of laughter. I stand up, and walk towards him, my face still wet with my own tears. I run my hand across my cheeks and sit down beside Antero.

"Nothing... Just come here..." He says, wrapping his arms around him.

[Antero Black]

Antero embraces Sasha, and feels happier than he did earlier. "When we get out of here, Sasha, will you make me peanut butter and syrup pancakes? You make them so good..."

[Sasha Kropotkin]

I smile, my eyes are no longer leaking.

"I'm afraid that I'm all out of the special ingredient, Antero, but I'll do my best. I'll make you cookie pie too." I say, my embrace tightening.

"I'll be sure to teach you how to make it. And tell Wyrm that everything is going to be okay." I say, still smiling. "Tell him not to worry. Can you tell him that for me, Antero?"

[Antero Black]

"Why don't you tell him yourself? I'm not your messenger boy." Antero says. "And I don't wanna make my own food, you do it better. And I don't like cooking. It's for wusses." Antero doesn't know why Sasha is talking like this. It makes no sense. He's acting as if he doesn't want to come back and help Antero.
"You're not going to leave me. I won't allow it."

[Sasha Kropotkin]

I giggle.

"Oh Antero... You know, you need to become self sufficient. Simona and I aren't always going to be around to look after you. Just promise me you'll tell them that it will be okay, promise me." I say, my arms still around him.

"You'll do that for me, won't you? It's just one little request. And tell Wyrm that if he touches my guns, I'm going to f**king kill him." I clench him tighter.

[Antero Black]

"Fine, whatever, I don't care." Antero rolls his eyes boredly. "You know, we have good times together. Remember when we did bad things in that church and then burnt it to the ground? That was a lot of fun. Good thing Simona never found out about that one. If she knew half the things we did, she'd have a heart attack." Antero laughs and kisses Sasha. He is glad that Sasha got over his distance, and that his friend seems very interested in him at the moment. He likes the attention. He sucks it up like a destructive little anarchist sponge.

[Sasha Kropotkin]

I laugh.

"We had great times together..." I say, brushing my cheek up against his. "Hey, I didn't want to tell you this, but the keys to my shop are between my mattresses, in a hole on the bottom one. I'm sure there are lots of rocket propelled grenades or high explosive grenades you can play with in there."

I kiss his cheek and pet his hair, still embracing him.

"I've saved up plenty of money, so if you need anything, you'll know where to find it. The key to the lock box is on the same ring."

[Antero Black]

Antero is elated that Sasha is giving him his money, and access to all of his weapons. He has dreamt about it many times, and even thought about taking Sasha's life a few of them just to get his hands on some of his cool hardware. Antero smiles brightly, like a little child on Christmas.

"I love you, Sasha. You are the best. I wonder if there's cameras here. Let's piss off the people who are watching, or gross them out. What do you say?"

[Sasha Kropotkin]

I laugh.

"I love you too, Antero. Don't forget that. I'm sorry I don't say it enough, but I really do." I say, kissing his cheek. "You are darling to me... Now my darling, what did you have in mind?"

[Antero Black]

Antero pulls up Sasha's shirt, kisses his chest, and pulls the shirt off completely. He laughs, and kisses him again. "The sky is the limit, anything that will turn their stomachs. If we're gonna be in here, I say we make the most of it."