"In my hands is your life. Trust me. Embrace me. I'll end your strife."

 

That is the motto of all members of "Heaven".

The members, called Strikers, protect the people in the world with unexplainable and extraordinary powers. They were sent from the gods themselves to watch over the humans in their time of need. And now, a new evil has risen, ready to annihalate the entire human race and anything else that stands in their way.

 

The enemies, or Slashers, have one mission only: To find the object known as the 'Devil Factor', a ruby orb who's power is yet to be known. However, the Strikers take no chance to hesitate.

 

The time to fight is now.

 

 

The Roleplay will start but sign-ups are still open.

 

You may begin.

( Okay, the internet goes off at 11 on my iPod... Found that out the hard way. [/shot] )

 

Zeph snorted, the laugh catching in his throat with an entirely unattractive noise, but he didn't try to mask it or muffle it. It tore out of him, after all, even if it wasn't surprising him.

 

"Oh, boy, Lu, you're only digging yourself in deeper here," he replied, taking almost a patronising tone, casually flicking the lighter on and off, clicking it at a steady rhythm, not really caring when the light flaring and disappearing left imprints on his vision. It probably wasn't going to bother Destiny, he knew that- it wasn't like the change would affect her vision too much, where he was going from pitch darkness to bright, thanks to his lack of night vision.

(xDDD That means more time to RP~ And for us to talk ^^')

 

"S-says who? You?" She stuttered, trying to get out an insult, pulling away from him, or at least, attempting to. His grip on her arm was strong. So strong in fact it made her a little antsy. It was to close to how she had been handled before. No! Stop it Destiny, you're not to think of that! She scolded herself, flinching at the tone she used on her state of mind.

 

"What's your deal then? Calling me cute and all!"

He raised his eyebrows, feigning innocence. "Oh, did I? Maybe you're hearing things, Lu. Why, does it bother you?" Zeph wasn't laughing loudly anymore, but there was still humour sparking in his eyes, a wide smirk on his lips. It was a good humour, though, not malice- the laugh behind them was less mocking as it was honestly surprised. He'd expected her to get angry with him like she usually did- surely the effect of the Temple couldn't have forced her to turn around this fast, could it?

 

For a moment, he reminded himself that maybe, just maybe, she found it harder to smother her problems than he did.

Destiny swallowed the lump in her throat, trying not to show that yes...maybe it did bother her. Especially when she didn't know if she was being used for his entertainment. Like the rest of them....she hoped he wouldn't. She couldn't deal with that again. Not knowing was the worst and it hurt so badly to feel that. To...not be necessary. Or wanted.

 

"...." She was silent for a moment before looking up at Zeph. But not in a cruel way, or mocking, or annoyed. It was almost a pleading look. "Yes. Maybe it does."

Blinking, for once, Zeph was silent for a long while. He paused in flicking the lighter, leaving it aflame, staring down at her, expression completely unreadable.

 

"Remember," he started, voice cautious. "We're Slashers. Slashers don't..." And, for a briek second, a smile flitted across his face, just as he doused the light, hoping the difference between it and the pitch blackness might affect even her sight. Not that it would make much difference. "...If you mention this to anyone, I swear, your life won't be worth living," he mumbled, no real edge to the warning.

 

Still keeping his grip on her tighter than ever, he leant in and pressed his lips against hers.

(-falls off chair from shock- I did not see that coming )

 

Destiny blinked, eyes widening as she felt Zeph's lips push against hers. He was kissing her. He was kissing her! The female didn't know how to react to that, other then feel confused. This had never happened before. Well, it had but...not like this. She fought a losing battle with herself internally on either kissing back or pulling away to yell at him. She voted for the second one...kind of. She willed herself -not that it was that hard- to kiss him back momentarily before pulling away for "air" and looking sheepishly to the ground.

 

"I swear....if you tell anyone either..." She knew she wouldn't but you never knew with Zeph.

When she pulled away, Zeph nearly lost his balance, stumbling forwards- merely because he hadn't really been thinking about it. He cleared his throat, letting go of her- his grip had grown so tight, his fingers were falling asleep, pins and needles prickling at the tips. Shaking it, he ran it through his hair, tugging at tangles and knots he knew he didn't care about.

 

"Uh, well then. The Strikers. The mission." He tried to change the subject, blatantly- and horribly awkwardly.

Destiny nodded, looking to the side, trying to re-craft the mask that had been momentarily broken. She cleared her throat, turning around to conceal her face. Because she was smiling, lightly, and touching her lips that still tingled from the kiss.

 

"Right...we'll head back first and get some rest and think out a new game plan..." She stated, regaining her usual tone, but for the first time in a while she let her hair hide her face, let it serve as an inky black curtain to melt into the night. After all, she wasn't about to let Zeph see her true emotions. That was a one time thing...maybe.

"Man, we're gonna get chewed out," he groaned, tossing the lighter into the air, catching it gently in his palm. In the dim light, he stared moodily down at it. Even in the gloom of the street, the very little light there still reflected against the slight uneven surface of his left hand; catching against the map of scars there, crisscrossing over just that one palm. Like they were some cryptic language, telling a story he could never say himself. It was just a shame he had to be left handed, and he had to have let that hand be the one...

 

He snapped out of his thoughts, closing his fingers into a fist over the little object, the cold metal feeling soothing against the skin.

"We didn't even scare them off, and for all we know, they might have realised they got close to the entrance."

"Not likely. The Temple of the Damned isn't even where the entrance is. It's back at the dock..." Destiny admitted slightly, snapping her fingers as an offering to know if they were allowed back. She rubbed her neck gently, flinching as she rubbed a tender spot before looking back to Zeph.

 

"Why?" She asked suddenly, looking at him with seemingly uncaring eyes.

He scowled. "Well, Luna, people can move, you know. And you did tell me that they were "dangerously close", didn't you? Doesn't seem very close to me. And we could go back. I could handle the Temple. I'm not pathetic." The antagonism in his voice, his posture, seemed too strained, too forced. Almost like he was trying to push the anger, overacting. He dropped the fist into his pocket, loose change clinking from the movement, and turned back the way they'd came, trying to appear about to stomp right back.

 

He didn't go to step forwards, though, no matter how sure he tried to look.

Destiny blinked, looking at Zeph irritably. But she couldn't help but feel sympathy for him, easily seeing how forced his position and words were. She didn't want to go back there...not after what happened. She knew Zeph would go back to his untouchable state. And she wasn't sure she liked that.

 

"No. You remember what--" Before Destiny could finish, she felt a creeping sensation run up her spine, she immediately looked to Zeph. He wasn't showing any signs of distress which meant..."Go....fine...just go. I'll catch up, just give me a minute okay?" She stuttered, resisting the urge to fall to the ground as her knees buckled.

He took a few steps, then hesitated, half turning- and swore. "What's wrong? You don't look so good." He stated the obvious, but allowed just a little concern to leak into his tone. His expression softened, inexplicably, and although he didn't exactly rush to her side, he didn't take another step away.

 

That had to be something. But, he told himself, he simply thought it was a stupid idea to split up with Strikers around. There could be more nearby. That had to be why he wasn't simply carrying on.

Destiny looked up, glaring slightly to hide the hurt and pain filtering through her body. He was mad at her. Really mad at her, for trying to abandon the mission or for...well...kissing Zeph, she wasn't sure. But he was punishing her. And that was something that, whether he had feelings for her or not, he would not be allowed to see. Simply because Destiny didn't want to seem weak in front of him. She had dealt with that enough from everyone else.

 

"Just go ahead. My stomach hurts. I'm fine." She hissed, attempting to sound nonchalant as she wanted to be.

"Why? You eat something bad? Or-" Zeph paused for a moment, thinking things through, and bit his lip, turning properly to face her and closing the gap between them. "...Is it him?" he asked, quietly, crouching his knees a little so he was closer to her level.

 

(Short post is really really short... [wail])

Destiny looked up at him, holding her stomach tighter through the night gloom. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to say it was him, that he was angry and making her suffer. But this is why pride is such a horrible thing. She wouldn't let herself.

 

"I...I just ate something bad is all..." She saved, giving him a forced smirk. "Why do you care? Just, go. I'll be there."

"Ah, could have been that takeout I left out last night. Or just your bad cooking. Wouldn't surprise me." Zeph shrugged, straightening up and taking a few steps back, his gaze calculating. Trying to figure her out. Maybe it was just that he cast aside his own pride so much and so often, but it seemed stupid to him. It was obvious she was lying- the first thought in his head after hearing her reply was simply "Bullshit." But he chose not to voice it. If she wanted to pretend and believe she'd fooled him, let her.

 

"I expect you running after me, you hear?" he practically ordered, trying to sound brisk and yet at the same time his usual teasing self.

 

It sounded fake to him. Crap.

"Yeah...sure." She mumbled, waiting for him to leave. She knew he was worried...or, at least, concerned. But it didn't matter. She felt a wave of pain shoot through her and she gave a startled yelp, falling to her knees, clutching her stomach. It hurt...it hurt so bad.

 

"St-stop...please..." She begged looking to the slick ground, hoping her distress satisfied him. But it didn't. Instead, the next instant caused her to cripple to the ground, her fist shoved into her mouth to stifle her scream. Zeph still wasn't far enough away. Normally it didn't matter when they were ion the base, her walls were sound proof. But here...he needed to focus on the Devil's Factor. Not her. they were Slashers, they weren't supposed to care.

"Luna?"

As he turned back, Zeph winced a little- he sounded like a child, a stupid whiny kid. But he still faltered there, torn- not between duty or any crap like that. More of between saving his own ass from even more punishment later on, and stopping for her. He chewed at his lip for a moment, then, hands in fists at his sides, headed back towards her.

 

"That's it. You can't go anywhere like that. If he's going to punish you for nothing, I can't WAIT to see what he has in store for me. But if he doesn't stop, we are going back to base," he demanded, voice bitter.

Destiny shook her head, quivering away from Zeph, her lip bleeding from the vicious bite marks she left in her flesh to muffle the indistinguishable screams. White hot pain shot throughout her body and she looked up at him through the darkness, disbelieving. From this height...he looked like the shadow of her disappointed mentor, her father. But he wasn't disappointed. He was caring. Destiny didn't know which was worse.

 

"It's f-fine...ngh..." She attempted to stand but only stumbled. "It'll pass. It usually d-does." She widened her eyes. "I mean...if it ever happens anyway." She tried to cover that slip up...not likely.

Astra looked at Skyler.

"You feel the aura too?" She kept walking into the ballroom. No way the Slasher would fight them when they were outnumbered. She gazed around the room, admiring the velvet curtains and glass ceiling. As creepy as this place was, it did have SOME class.

 

"Don't worry, Skylight. Just stay close."

He couldn't help but think she looked pathetic like this. It was an automatic reaction, he thought, to see that in the way she was shaking, unable to stand on her own. Maybe he was just being malicious, without really meaning to be- instinctively, he saw the worst in people. Saw it as weakness. He recognised it in himself, too- that was how he knew what he should hide. And maybe that was why he didn't turn and walk away. It couldn't simply be cowardice, that he was afraid of being outnumbered by Strikers if he went off on his own. After all, that fear hadn't stopped him desperately wanting to be alone back near the Temple.

 

For a moment, in that dim light, he was six years younger, back when it started. Almost looking at himself from a distance- it was strange, but he shook his head violently, trying to dispell those thoughts. Reaching down, he grabbed none too gently at her waist, dragging her in one rushed moment up to her feet- practically yanking her into a standing position.

"Ignore it and it'll go away," he said, voice rough.

Destiny gulped looking up at Zeph skeptically. Was he trying to help? Or was this his was of calling her pathetic? She wasn't sure but she had to realize...he had a point. Ignoring it would mean that the 'Superior' would see it didn't get to her anymore. It was a simple solution. So she focused not on the pain but on the warmth from the Slasher next to her. She tried to take small comfort in his rough grip and found herself giving a relieved smirk. He was right for once. The pain had lessened significantly, not pushing her to a state of weakness. She'd have to thank him later...Or threaten him.

 

"This stays between us as well, understand...Zeph?" Destiny stated, straightening up a bit and regaining her serious, 'higher-than-thou' composure, only flinching just slightly at her sudden movement. "We should find Scarlett."

Zeph rolled his eyes, and let go of her- although he didn't take more than a tiny step back, hands still hovering near to her in case she suddenly fell again. She looked a little better, he could tell that, but he still couldn't shake the feeling she might just suddenly keel over. Thinking of the worst, like she'd told him to.

 

Since when did he follow orders?

 

"Alright, fine. The news that you do have a heart and you can be hurt might be such a shock it could induce heart attacks. And don't let it be said I don't value my fellow Slashers' heart health. So long as we head back the way we came, we should bump into her. You all but dragged me half the way back."

Destiny felt her amused smirk grow wider, almost into a grin. That was the Storm she knew and she preferred he stayed that way. Taking note of his hovering hands, she reminded herself to be thankful and not swat them away. It was so hard not to. Stretching just slightly and gasping at the pain it took while doing that she stopped, pushing her hair out of her eyes bashfully. It was so embarrassing to be seen this vulnerable. She began to walk back in the direction of the temple and lowered her head, making her voice quiet.

 

"And...just because I don't show anything doesn't necessarily mean I don't feel anything." She then made it a point to walk a little faster, even though she really couldn't with Storm's arms lingering.