Blessed Crusade (CC/DtbB RP)

[Elf]

Chrono gave about a millisecond's pause at the sight of Ran with his heel buried in the back of the Guard Demon's head. He honestly hadn't been expecting the sweet, gentile boy to be such a wrathful fighter...but then again, if he had bad blood with the Dragon Court, Chrono should have been expecting it.

There. Ran was away from the target. He'd done a good bit of damage to it too; the boy was strong. That just further proved Chrono's theory--if Ran had this much strength with his powers Chained, then Unchained, his potential was...

Chrono darted in. The Guard Demon was just coming to its senses; Chrono had to strike. He couldn't use energy attacks in such an enclosed space or he could bring the whole alleyway down on top of the kids. Not that he needed to. His speed and claws were more than sufficient.

Give peace to the lost lamb...

Slash! "GRAAAAGH!" In a blink, Chrono's wings had brought him up and through an upward strike, leaving a long clawed gouge in the demon's front.

Give rest to the wolf's fangs...

Swipe! "AAAARRRGH!" He made use of his newfound altitude to gouge the demon back down again.

And give death to the devil!

Flash! Chrono slowed down enough to see again just as he came out of a spin. Both his clawed hands were bloodied. Behind him, the Guard Demon bled out, teetered, and fell into the alley wall with a crash.

"Amen."

[Meryck]

Ran blink-blinked in surprise and awe. He inhaled a breath of air through his mouth. The "taste" of death was already in the air, and Chrono hadn't even broken a sweat in taking the Guard Demon down. "...Holy Hell..."

Reg blinked in surprise. Wait, "amen"? ....Wouldn't a Demon who happened to be a Christian be a paradox....? Aw, hell, screw it. She shook herself out of the religious complications and walked up a bit closer, otherwise unfazed by the whole situation. She eyed the dragonoid corpse. "It it springs back to life, I'm going to scream."

"Don't worry", Ran softly affirmed, wincing as the adrenaline in his body fell away and he realized his arm hurt, "It's dead."

"Good." She looked over, finally getting a good glimpse at Chrono's Full Demon form. "...Remind me to never toss you out a window again."

[Elf]

Chrono straightened, shaking his hands to disloge the blood from his claws. He didn't bother to turn; the creature's aura was completely gone. It was quite dead.

The demon looked up at Reg, blinking at her. It took a moment for his stony countenence to melt back into the warmth that he normally showed. "Don't worry," he said with a chuckle and a half-smile, "I will."

But the warmth was gone almost as soon as it had come. Chrono stiffened in sudden alarm.

"Two more on the way," he growled, "no doubt sensing their comrade is dead. Coming from the street--"

He cut off there, having no more time to talk, for as soon as he darted forward just enough to put himself between the alley opening and Reg, a monster came barreling around the corner to the sound of screams and honking horns.

The creature was as massive as the first one, but faster. It looked like little more than an overgrown lizard, but it was GROWN; on all fours, it still stood over 30 feet tall. It let out a snarling hiss, its reptilian eyes wide, yellow, and thoughtless as it steamrolled towards the trio at locomotive speed.

Chrono didn't have time to think. He did what he could with what he had on hand.

"UurrrAAAH!" Chrono barreled forward, hefted up one of the dumpsters, and hurled it at the oncoming demon.

[Meryck]

Ran darted forward in a blur. Adrenaline pumping again, the attack became a double hit-- the dumpster hit it it the face, and the young demon aimed one of his kicks for it's throat. The force of the attack knocked the huge dragonoid out of the alley and into the street. Reg bit back several curses as she scrambled forward. Okay, at least the monster was out of the cramped alley, but she and the boys had to get out too, or else her gun's shots would still get them.

She caught a glimpse of a Summoner's Circle and many bloodstains in the building with the missing wall as she ran past it. Found the Contractors...

Meanwhile, Ran had already continued the attack, darting up and burying his heel into the back of the dragonoid's skull, as he had done with the first one. Sadly, this one was better suited to bone-shattering hits than the other and recovered faster. The young demon sidestepped the counter-attack and aimed for the shoulder, lip curling to bare fangs in aggravation and contempt.

The lovely thing about people forgetting he had claws was the fact that no one remembered to block said claws in any way.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.

[Elf]

"SKRREEEEEE!" The dragonoid let out a gurgling shriek as Ran's claws cleaved its shoulder to the bone. It had been trying to charge the boy, to get back at it for the heel kick to its head, but its momentum only sent it to its face as its right foreleg was suddenly rendered useless.

"Nice!" It wasn't normally something to be proud of, being capable of massive destruction, but Chrono couldn't help but shout the encouragement. The demon was down. Chrono went in for the kill.

"UUREEE!" The demon's scaly head popped up just as Chrono reached it. Startled by the screeching cry, Chrono was suddenly in a prime position to be prey.

"Aaargh!" Chrono let out a yell as the dragonoid's massive jaws clamped down around his middle. The thing's teeth stabbed almost all the way through his torso. He coughed, blood spattering his chin.

[Meryck]

Ran's face went from alarm to rage in a manner of two seconds. Fangs pulled up in a feral snarl, the young demon brought his heel down on the dragonoid's neck.

Snap.

"Grck--!" The huge monster jerked, convulsed, then fell limp, jaws loosening on the elder demon, blood pouring out of it's mouth, yellow eyes blank. Ran snorted, then promptly pried the jaws the rest of the way off Chrono.

It was at this point that the final demon screeched around the corner. It looked like a slightly bigger version of the first one, set on murder and food, rippling with muscles, drooling horribly....

"Aw hell no." And it had unfortunately come out just as Reggie got out of the alley. And since she no longer had to worry about shrapnel casualties, it took her the blink of an eye to bring her gun up.

Bang Bang Bang. Three bullets between where the eyes would have been, scatter-fire mauling the face and back. The dragonoid let out a horrid screech and collapsed.

Perhaps a bit anti-climatic, but Reg was far too sick of the gallivanting Guard Demons to care. Holstering her gun, she trotted up to the boys, face shifting from disgruntlement to worry upon looking at them.

Ran's arm and Mark took this time to throb and remind him that he was hurt and he had upset her. Again.

[Elf]

Chrono's eye widened. He was awarded a front-row seat to Ran's rage. He watched as a single heel-kick snapped the dragonoid's neck and sent it to Oblivion.

"Hrngh--" Chrono winced as Ran helped pry the thing's jaws off of him, but that was it. Now that he no longer had a set of fangs in his lungs, it was quite a bit easier to breathe.

The elder demon barely had time to open his mouth to thank Ran for his help when the third Guard Demon came barreling around the corner towards them. He stood and turned, but teetered; he'd already lost a lot of blood and hadn't had time to heal yet; it was coming on fast, too fast--

Chrono's wide eye fixed on the creature as three shots later, it died with a screech.

His gaze rounded on Reg, eyes still wide. Wow. "Nice shot."

Chrono let out a cough, pulling his hand away with a wad of blood in it. He shook the hand off as if the blood meant no more than water. Alarm filled his face when he saw Ran's injured arm; he stepped immediatley over to the younger demon. "Are you okay?" He glanced over at Reg, just to check up on her too...and that was when he saw it.

Over Reg's shoulder sat a massive hole in a wall, against which one of the Guard Demons had collapsed. Chrono saw what lay inside that hole, and froze. It took him all of a nanosecond to recover; he then leaped into the air and zoomed over to the gaping brick portal.

"No..."

All he could see from within the gloom of the unlit room was a Summoning Circle, a bodiless hand, and a shock of bloodied hair. It was enough. He turned away, fists and teeth clenched.

The demons were dead...but no one was saved. God, have mercy on them.

[Meryck]

Reg had managed to get to Ran, but before she could chide him on being far too reckless, Chrono's alarm and panicked leap caught her by surprise, forcing her to watch as his emotional pain at the Summoners' deaths hit him.

She felt no love for Summoners, but still...poor Chrono. She glanced at Ran, who had finally managed to fully calm down. He smiled, and nodded, sadly, resigned.

I think he's in more pain than I am. She caught the meaning, managed a short nod in response, then turned and went over to the elder demon. Alarmed when he didn't notice her, as he turned, pain tight on his face, she reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, worriedly.

You poor, poor bastard. You've seen too much of this sort of thing, haven't you?

[Elf]

Chrono felt the hand on his shoulder and gave a start; he opened up his grimace to see Reg standing there, looking up at him with pity, with understanding.

The Sinner lay his hand lightly over hers and smiled, though the tightness of pain around his eyes was all too obvious. "I'm alright." Thank you.

[Meryck]

"Liar." The response was flat, direct, and all too truthful. Dammit all, she lived with Ran for seven years; did Chrono really think he could pull one over on her? She took her hand back, gently...

Just to step forward and tenderly hug him. "Dammit, Chrono I don't need another person pretending they're alright when they're not."

[Elf]

Liar. Chrono flinched. Yeah, he was, and a terrible one at that. It wasn't often that someone called him out on it, though.

She embraced him; his eyes widened, just slightly. But his face softened, settling into another pained smile. "Am I really that obvious?" He couldn't help a dry chuckle.

Nor could he deny the comfort. He returned the hug gently, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. He had nearly two heads over her in height, and he barely knew her, so there was no reason to do anything more.

But he'd needed a hug, honestly, and she'd sensed that. His smile widened. What a sweet young lady. Ran, he couldn't help but think, with her by your side, I think you'll be alright.

[Meryck]

Later...

After scrambling home and avoiding the other detectives (who had punched in while the demon boys and Ms. Alastor were gone) as much as possible, Ran found him self yet again in the infirmary, arm bandaged and protected from infections.

And completely at the mercy of Reg's stalled aggravation. He rubbed his sore head as the girl retracted her hand, snorting.

"How many damn times is this gonna happen before you learn to keep AWAY from jaws bigger'n' you?"

"Oh, you're no better."

"I beg to differ."

"Why's that?"

"I don't get munched on as much as you do." She had a point.

"Right then...sorry."

"That's what you always say", she groaned. Then sighed. Then promptly hugged him. After sputtering and blushing, he tentatively hugged back. She smiled, quietly.

Well, at least he wasn't in severe emotional pain. This time.

He yawned slightly, letting her go and stretching. "Mmm. Think I'm gonna go sleep this off."

"Good idea." He stood, and offered her his good hand up. She took it and brought herself to her feet. Softly, shyly, he kissed her hand, causing the both of them to blush.

"...See you later...."

"...Sweet dreams." He smiled, cheeks a nice cherry color, letting her go and quietly exiting the room in favor of his own. She sighed and exited also, intent on getting one of her books to curl up on the couch and read until something happened.

[Elf]

Chrono leaned against the door of the infirmary for a bit, watching the whole scene. His smile grew by the second as he realized he might never grow tired of watching these two go back and forth. The blush on both their faces made him hide a chuckle behind his hand--his left hand. His right had returned to its usual stump the moment he'd powered down and banished his horns and wings from view.

The older demon gave Ran a wink and a roguish smirk as the white-haired boy headed for his room. The meaning of his look was clear: Oh come on, just admit you like her already. He chuckled aloud at the expression this conjured out of Ran.

He might have done the same at Reg, but right as the black-braided Chi Detective passed him in the hall, it happened.

An involuntary wince passed over Chrono's face. One hand wandered up to clutch his head. He took in a brief, shuddering breath, then looked up to see Reg giving him a peculiar look.

"Heh." He smiled, unable to think of a lie right away. "Coffee's great, but you know what it does to the digestive system! I'll...be in the bathroom if anyone needs me." He hurried past Reg before she could respond; she'd called him out on one lie, and he did not want her to question him on this one.

When he lay his hand on the bathroom doorknob, it happened again--a flash of pain, like a lightning strike through the brain, dazzling his senses and shooting his equilibrium to hell. He swallowed, turned the knob, and stumbled inside, flumping against the door the moment it was closed.

Not again... His shaking hand dug into his hair; he grimaced, trying to will away the pain. Not here...please, not here...

His prayers went unanswered. The pain zapped him again, and before he had a chance to catch his breath, jolted through him a fourth time.

"Ugh..." Chrono sank to the bathroom floor, leaning against the door, closing his eyes and breathing hard. This wasn't as bad as it could be. If it just went away now, he'd be fine...

But the pain flashed again, and on the fifth time, the flash turned into a constant scream.

"Guh--!" Chrono bit down on his lower lip, choking back his cry. He managed to keep from making too much sound, but oh God did it hurt--it felt like his brain was being electrocuted, like his skull was splitting apart from the inside, like his body was being roasted over open flames--

Then the crackling on his arm began. The skin split into honeycomb patterns, snaking up to his shoulder, right to the point where he'd lost his arm when the Geas first began.

"Huulgh--" The next thing he knew, he was bent over the toilet, heaving. A lurch of regret went through him as breakfast ended up in the toilet; Crysta had been so kind to him, and here he was wasting it. He heaved until his stomach was dry, then heaved some more, for the burning and the crackling and the noise, the high-pitched, whining, buzzing ring inside his head, would not stop.

Finally, the residual Geas subsided, dulling until it was nothing more than a faraway throb in the front of his skull. Chrono slumped to his side, eyes half open, blessing the coolness of the bathroom tile on which he lay.

Breathe. Just breathe.

[Meryck]

Chrono had learned nothing from earlier, it seemed. Reg knew pain when she saw it.

Coffee her foot.

She waited for a few moments so he couldn't catch her following. She she heard the cry, the crackling, the heaving- not sure if she was thankful or unthankful about the bathrooms not being as soundproof as the rest of the building (people lying about their health tended to hide in the bathroom, so making in soundproof entirely would have just been stupid).

Lying about an emotional state was one thing, but this--

Aw, hell. She didn't even know what to call this. She gulped, being able to feel the pain from the other side of the door. She called out tentatively; "C-Chrono...?"

Her voice betrayed everything, but she didn't care- he was hurting so bad...and she was such a bleeding heart when it got down to it.

God, how long had he been suffering, anyway? This could not have just appeared out of the blue.

Please, just don't let this have come out of the blue....

[Elf]

His eye swam up towards the bathroom door, opening a bit more in alarm. Crap, he'd been found out. Not that he'd been very subtle exactly, but it would have been nice not to worry her...nice to not hear that sound in her voice.

No, he pleaded, don't. Don't hurt for my sake--

"M...fine..." Damnit. His voice sounded far too weak for that statement to be anything close to believable. He clenched his abdominal muscles, trying to lift himself up, trying to get his arm underneath him to push himself into a sitting position. He managed to lift himself halfway up and plant his palm on the floor, but he had to stop to breathe. His arm trembled with his own weight.

C'mon, you weakling, get it together, a disparaging voice chastised inside his head, sounding a bit like a certain white-haired demon he'd fought long ago. Chrono grunted as he heaved himself upright, stopping again to breathe once he'd managed to lean against the bathtub.

"M'fine, Reg," he tried again, but grimaced as his voice still sounded thinly against his ears. "It's'alright."

Don't burden yourself with this, Reggie...you're young. You have better things to do than worry about an old fart like me.

He prayed that she wouldn't open the door, wouldn't see him slumped over with his face in his knees and panting, but figured with the way his luck was running right now, that prayer wouldn't be answered, either.