Chapter Text
Swight
Whoever this guy who joined his class is— is clearly pregnant.
Or at least, that's what Swight thinks they are.
If it was fat— that would be very concerning. Swight doesn't fat shame people, he's seen fat people be amazing pvpers, but clearly this guy is just pregnant. Concerningly young sounding— maybe it was just the voice changer? But very much pregnant. They were hiding it horribly, if Swight could see their face maybe he would've been convinced it was just someone fat maybe an underlying health condition, but clearly the fat was not just fat. But a baby in the oven. Swight couldn't tell how far along they were. Was this ethical?
Killing players and hunting them down wasn't exactly ethical but Swight can draw lines in the sand.
Their netherite armour had gleamed in the sunlight yesterday, after seeing farmer after farmer, vendor after vendor, who at best had one piece of iron armour; seeing the beautiful look of fully enchanted netherite was exciting. Moreso how excited the kid seemed to be over the prospect of joining his dojo. Everyone had said no, they weren't built for fighting, no one wants war at the front of their doorstep. He scowled at the memory. Swight twirled his wooden sword. Looking at the sorry crowd, not one of them looked promising aside from invisguy and Yungy. Even then, having good armour didn't mean they were good at pvp, could just be someone rich seeking something to do in their free time— what better activity to alleviate boredom like training under one of the best in the world? The guy had potential at least.
Wimpy looked at him, sweating buckets. Their grip slightly shaking, he readies his shield for the hit. Thud! It doesn't come close to disabling it. He's glad he has sunglasses on. He can't stop the small noise of nearly laughing though.
"O—okay! You didn't do the trick." Swight walked closer to Wimpy, going around them to fix their posture. Swight grabbed their shoulders— forcing them up and changing their grip on the sword, "you have to swap from the sword to the axe, alright, got it?"
Wimpy jerks forward from his pat.
They fail, to no ones surprise. It was going to be a long day. At least the invis kid could pick up what he's teaching. A little cocky but something at least.
Swight rubbed his eyes, he was going to get a headache. Swight lets them take a break, clearly most of them are not used to the pure amount of energy needed to actually properly train. He rechecked the contract with law; opening his communicator— none of his sources has updated where Flamefrags could be. He could hear them argue still even in the comforts of his office.
—
Invis guy was an eager student, dissapointing that a teammate had died but they would've been elimininated in the first place anyways, Swight rationalizes.
Somehow, despite the mission he sent them on; that should have tuckered them on, they still had the energy to fucking argue. Over invisguy. Maybe he should intervene, invis guy was pregnant and they didn't want their identity revealed, who was Swight to judge. They, led by Yungy, were ganging up on someone pregnant. It's hard not to emphasize on it because it's right there. Jutting out. In armour. Swight didn't even know they made armour for pregnant people.
They looked tired. Clutching their belly as they walked up to Swight and the rest, boots making sound as they stood on left over planks. He had an air of dignity that most people didn't have, chin raised, although posture hunched and holding onto his pregnant belly, they still looked graceful. Patience would do invisguy well, could probably turn this whole thing around with an ounce of patience and a little charisma. They were backed into a corner, Yungy had valid points but Swight really didn't care, doesn't think he has the energy to. All that mattered was skill really. Swight wasn't going to defend them, let their skills speak for themselves but Yungy really did need to realize they were pregnant and that might be the biggest reason on why they were staying invis.
Swight doesn't feel guilt often. He did feel a slight ping of it when he sends off invis guy to fight off people who also had netherite on. He wonders what fighting while pregnant felt like? Definitely heavier. Weren't they scared of the possibility of miscarrying? Clearly from how they're fighting, they're much more careful and guarding of their stomach. Invis guy was competent at least, and very much not a coward. Swight could get to know about them since Yungy proved himself a loser. They were going to go on a mission together, he could get to know about invisguy and the baby, he could get to the law mission after some trust has been built.
—
"Why is he invisible?" The mountain leader said with caution. Swight's well aware of the newly implemented rule the Law made, invisguy was an exception.
Swight put his arm out, trying to get invisguy behind him, "Don't worry about it, he's with me,"
"Yea, I'm chill, I'm chill," he defended himself.
The leader continues with their speech, Swight nearly groans, bored. He's heard the same schpiel from all sorts of people, "how are we getting paid? I don't work for free." He cuts off the leader.
They flounder, "we— I just told you we don't have anything,"
Scowling, "I don't work for free."
"The— the bandits are rich. They have a vault somewhere full of valuables, you guys can have whatever is in that vault. We just need you guys to get rid of the problem,"
Swight looked to his right, Invisguy seemed eager to do the job, "fine." He walks up to the leader, looking down, "if I did all that for nothing. I'm coming for you, I'm not someone you want to owe debt to." He threatened.
The leader and his friend nod— well, tries to but they seemed pretty frozen from fear, "we'll shake on it," Invisguy says in his stead. They shake his hand instead of Swight's. Probably from fear.
Invisguy waddled behind as they searched around the town for an empty spot.
The little arena near the center of town should do just fine.
Invisguy repotted invis, adjusting the straps of their diamond armour especially around the stomach. He swung the wooden sword a couple times, adjusting to the lighter weight before getting into position. Invisguy swung first. Fighting a familiar position for them, they hesitated on disabling his shield he notes. An aggressive fighter too— constantly trying to aim a hit on him, Swight held back on his swings— trying to aim for their shoulder instead of the stomach. He didn't know whether Invisguy was being slow on purpose or it was due to the baby but either way it was easy to juke them.
Invisguy backs off, sounding a bit more exhausted than he should be from a simple spar. Then again, the baby could be siphoning off his life force, "yea, I don't know what to do in that situation,"
"I can see everytime I hit you back, and you're in the air. You instictively hit my shield with your sword," Swight says as he jumps around from excess energy, "in that situation—" he brings his shield up— "you should a hundred percent go for a disable,"
They nod.
Swight walks closer, "if I had to say one more thing," they stood at attention, "your shielding speed..." he motions for invisguy to give him an example again.
Too slow, he thinks when they do.
"You're leaving too much of a gap when you're shielding and hitting—" he walks behind invisguy, taking their wrist and making the same motions invisguy did earlier— "You're going like this. When you can—" he helps them do the actions at once— "do it at the same time."
"Like this?"
"Yes, exactly,"
It's hard to focus properly; making all the right commentary when all Swight could think of was the milky scent coming off from invisguy. It was pregnancy. Crazy. Even crazier was the amount of bandits coming after such a sorry little town. There were a lot more than he expected, was it ethical to be doing this? To bring someone very much pregnant into the fray. At least they can hold themselves up. Most competent pregnant person Swight's ever met. Which isn't a lot. This is the first he's ever met someone pregnant.
Invisvuy hesitated on actually killing though. Damn, this invisness is serious. Swight was a little nosey on who they could be.
Another town to go to, they start their journey again. Swight couldn't wait to sleep on a stack of riches.
Invisguy was a curious person. Swight doesn't really think about the specifics a lot. A job was a job. He was getting paid. Most people he killed were weak, there wasn't much excitement most of the time, yes, he was one of the best but that was it. Swight had no need for any sort of title. Payment's enough.
"You don't have a type of person you don't like? Like specifically or like— that'd you'd like to kill, specifically," they ask. Swight grabs their hand seeing them stumble. Invisguy gives him a little nod of thanks.
Swight doesn't think he's particularly a hateful person, but the question raised an opportunity where he could ask invisguy questions once he answers, "well— I mean–if I had to choose one," he ponders for a second, "probably people who kill for stupid stuff like titles or ranks or vengence. That stupid stuff."
He holds out his hand for invisguy to take, they do, Swight guides the both of them across the river, the water icy cold from the weather, "Honestly, I kinda despise people like that,"
Pathetic is what he thinks.
"Yea, I kinda agree," he quietly says.
"Anyway! How long have you been fighting?" He pivots. Curiosity gnawing at his brain. "I think you're pretty good,"
"Uhhh, probably like two months?" Two months?? "Or something—" oh, he said that out loud— "I mean I only started taking it seriously,"
"For two months— bro you fight like you've been doing this for years."
Invisguy nervously laughs, "I guess I pick things up pretty fast," they like praise he notes.
"Well, that doesn't matter as long as you're useful to me," he kicks a rock as he talks. "Can I ask a maybe an inapropriate question?" He looks behind.
They falter for half a step, "uh, sure bro?"
"Are you pregnant?"
Invisguy stops in his steps, gripping the hilt of their sword, cocky, how exciting he thinks. "Is that going to be a problem?"
"No, no, just wanted to confirm,"
"Yes, I'm pregnant," they look beyond his shoulder, "I think we're here,"
"Huh?" He looks behind, seeing grey walls, "well," they continue walking, "should you be, uh— fighting when you're like this,"
Invisguy makes a little noise, if they had a tail probably flicking back and forth annoyed at the question, "am I not to your like— standards?"
"You are." They dig through rubble, the town seemingly already been raided, some splatters of blood smeared on walls and dirt. The wind howled through empty houses, "you wouldn't be my sidekick if you weren't just— just wanted to make sure you know,"
There were barely any survivors. Entire buildings having huge holes in them. Invisguy walks ahead of him, scouting through the buildings, they had good eyes spotting particles. Maybe he was used to seeing their own. Swight's heart drops to his ass seeing invisguy dissapear into the flooring. He hears the sickening pop of a totem. Fuck. "You good??" He shouts.
"Don't come down!"
"You sure??" Swight bounced around the hole, looking around— it was just a normal house plus trap. There wasn't even anything else. Just some crummy trap.
"Yes— I'm good. Just— don't come down!" They shout.
Swight doesn't listen, immediately finding a spot to dig down. He had a responsibility to his very much pregnant sidekick. What was the point of emphasizing helping out your teammate and protecting them if he couldn't do the same.
—
There were a lot of things not lining up with invisguy. Two or four months were a huge difference.
Their identity can't be that important that they didn't want any kill messages to pop up. They were skilled. All the training they were doing was paying off. Why hesitate? They were going to get paid too. Swight's sword pierces through the bandit's armour, collapsing to the floor before dissapearing into a poof of air. Looking above, invisguy was slowly picking them off with his tnt minecarts. They worked together well in his opinion, despite how weird they were occasionally. Then again. Baby.
Invisguy tensed hearing the law's horn.
A law officer hopping down, "we saw a couple death messages pop up! Everything good here?"
Looking around, it was a mess but no casualties on Swight's side, so, "yea, everything's chill,"
"We've been looking for you actually,"
Swight does a little 'tada' pose, "well, I'm here,"
"We have some intell about Flame, he went missing, we're assuming he's faking his death and taking on another identity," ah, "so he could be anybody."
"Oh, that is interesting." Looking through his peripheral, invisguy was busy managing his e-chest.
"Some things to look out for are: uses cobwebs, really good, shielding stuff, he's very smart, a quick learner, yea, that typa deal,"
"That is very interesting," Swight feels betrayed. Looking right at invisguy, or, Flame. "Well, hey, invisguy, hello? Yo, I'm— that sounds very familiar,"
"Yea..." they shuffled back and forth, holding their belly.
"To get my trust, I'mma need you to get out of invis," please don't actually let it be Flame and Swight can get a nice, good, obedient, sidekick. Who also happens to be very much pregnant. "If you really want to be my sidekick. Let it run out,"
"Uh, do I really have to do that? I feel like it's—" they walk a bit farther back, hand still on their belly, Swight winces, "I've been listening, I don't—"
"Dude, you've been kinda suspicious," man. Fuck. "Now that I think about it, you're surprisingly good off the bat, you show insane battle Iq— How suspiciously good you are at outnumbered fights— I mean—"
"That's what Flame does! He kills like entire armies," the officer backed up. "Who are you?? Show us who you are."
"Uhm, I don't have a name,"
Swight took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, cleaning them as well, that was the most stupid reasoning Flame could've chosen. "Dude. Really? Why are you being so defensive over this??"
They go back and forth. Swight fixes his posture seeing Flame steel himself.
He sighs, seeing the invis run out. "So you're Flamefrags. The whole time?"
"Uh, yea,"
"I should've— I should've known." Hurt marring his words. "I can't believe— I was training my enemy this whole time. Training the guy I'm going to kill. Ha," he bitterly chuckles.
—
Flamefrags was pregnant. Swight wasn't swayed by any of the sob story Flame was spouting. He didn't care.
It was his own fault for being pathetic. Chasing after titles— vengence like that.
At least Swight could keep the vault to himself. The feeling of fresh sets upon sets had his mouth drooling. There were stacks on stacks of pearls, golden apples, Swight was going to be living in luxury for a long while. Was it ethical fighting someone pregnant? No. It wasn't ethical but said pregnant person had hands and put belt to ass. Flame was strong. Swight was going to have to work harder to complete his netherite set again; he can't remember the last time his heart raced that fast. He misses the way adrenaline sang in his veins fighting someone actually worthy.
Seeing Flame walk away sweaty, constantly on guard for that horn, he calls out one last time, "wait– wait, wait— I just want to give you credit, not many people can force me to wear this netherite set, considering yaknow—" he gestures to himself— "my status as a pvp-er, anyways. Stand proud. You are strong."
Flame perks up, brushing his locs off his shoulder, "thanks bro, uhm, well— I'm not most players, and I'll give you credit for that. The training really helped with that, so I appreciate it," he shyly says.
He really was cute. No wonder he got knocked up. Swight shakes his head. What the fuck was he thinking.
"When this is all over, I think you should become a mercenary one day," he walks closer to the middle to get a proper look at Flame for the last time in probably a long time, "I think you'd do a really good job at it," he praises. Testing the waters.
Flame bites his lip, looking to the side even though he had a blindfold on, tiger ears twitching a bit. "I'll consider it." He fiddles with his fingers. He looked back up to Swight, "uhm, my bad for snaking you out—"
The horn blows.
"I— I have to go—"
Swight runs, catching up to Flame, pulling his hand, "I specialize on one to one combat. If you want to fight off a thousand people in netherite. You have to expand your weaponry. If you want to defeat huge groups of people," He advices. Flame nods, absorbing his words.
He really was cute, goddamn.
Seeing him run off, pickaxe ready at hand... Flamefrags really was pregnant. Holy shit. Who the fuck could be the father???
Manepear
Looking down from above, Flame looked like the same exact cub from all those years ago.
Mane held back a groan, vengence has entered the mouth of his cave and looked to him sword in hand. Mane thinks back to his last interaction with Flame, diamond trims and an argument. A deal made and a knife— moreso mace ready to strike again at his little brother's back; it didn't fall through. He shivered at the flash of purple in his mind. He hasn't seen Flame in years it felt like. Maybe it has been years, he scratched his ear. Flame had grown up clearly, grown up even more without Mane's careful eyes. Locs falling past his shoulders, he has new armour on, trims nearly mimicking the stripes of his tiger heritage. Flame had a cape on too. Huh, that's new.
"I have something specifically for you,"
His ears flatten to his head, gut dropping, Flame's tail wasn't flicking, god, his little brother had already steeled himself.
"Yea, I know you do," he warily circled Flame. "I'm ready bruh,"
"Oh, aight, bet," Flame smiles. Looking for something. "So we can start right now? Pretty much, I wanna like—"
He clicks his tongue, throwing pots up into the ceiling in quick sucession, feeling the affects absorb through armour, through skin. "Why are you potting up on me—" Flame nervously laughs.
Immediately side stepping and jogging off, he splashes himself as Mane strikes. Flame raised his shield up barely on time for his next hit. Even with the blindfold on, it's clear as day that Flame was flustered by the flurry of hits sent his way. The sounds of swords clanking and shields deflecting echoed in the cave of his home. Flame throws a pearl, the crunch of a golden apple quickly following behind him. "How are you so—"
"Fast? You know who I am," he chases behind Flame. The backside of Flame's running figure nearly reminiscent of days in the sun. Curls bouncing intead of locs. Mane shook his head.
"I'm a little confused–!" Flame turned around just in time to block his spear. Splinters of wood fly off as Mane pulls it back out. "I genuinely didn't know the spear worked like that—! Oh, yo bro–"
His muscles vibrated as Flame's sword connected with his shield, Mane grunted at the force of the hit. Flame has gotten stronger. He can't stop the proud smile from forming. Flame deflected his sword somehow still yapping, "Why are we fighting? Dude— bro why are we fighting? Hello?"
Mane's face scrunched. Flame went to his base, fully geared up, is there not any other reason as to why? Flame was there to get vengence. "Bro you tell me?? You tell me why we're fighting." He pearls away, chugging another potion, "tell me why you're here if you're not trying to get this over with." His tail whipped back and forth.
"We have some unfinished business, right?" Mane makes sure for clarification.
Mane speared towards Flame, he struggled keeping his shield up, sweat already sliding down his cheek. Panting as he constantly brings his shield up and up and up, to block Mane's hits. "You think— you really think it's about Zam empire— that's why I'm here?"
Mane freezes.
Flame runs away. Clutching his belly, Flame held his sword defensively ten blocks ahead of him.
"Is that not why you're here?" He squints at Flame under his blindfold.
"No??? Why would I be here about— dude— why would I be here about Zam empire–"
"Then get to your point!! Doing all this talking—"
"Bro!! I'm about to get to my point—"
"You came here talking 'bout I got you something— and, and assume me to not pot up bruh."
Flame guffaws, crossing his arms, tail flicking back and forth.
"What do you expect??" He gestures with his hands.
Flame stutters.
"What do you want me to do?? 'Ohhh let me hear you out! What do you got for me?? Is it a gift?'" Mane says in the most obnoxious voice ever. "Bro, I know it's potions and a sword. I know you." He points at an increasingly offended looking Flame.
He looked just about ready to blow up, face reddening and Mane is sure if he was two blocks closer, everything would start feeling hotter, sparks already beggining to fly up around his head and the tip of his tail. Flame was an idiot for thinking Mane was an idiot but it's nice to know his little brother was still that— His silly little brother.
"Oh my god bro," Flame rolls his eyes, lifting his chin haughtily.
"Get to the point bro," Mane taps his foot impatiently on moss.
"Okay— I wanted to train! I wanted to learn training— I want to learn," he forces out. Like Mane was pulling his baby teeth.
He crosses his arms, checks his claws, "you want training?"
Flame drops his arms, looking Mane dead on, "yes,"
"First of all, no. No, no, no, no. You–" he makes a one with his finger— "first of all, there's two of all. Were gonna start with the first one."
Flame looks at him with a deadpan expression, 'really?' All over his face.
"First of all, we're not on a trainer basis." He elongates trainer, making an 'x' with his arms. Mane cuts Flame off before he can speak, "I'm not tryna help you with nothing bro." He makes a two with his fingers, "second of all, what do you have to learn from me? If anything, you should be teaching me something—"
His little brother cuts him off, "the spear. The spear." Flame walks a tad closer, "I want to learn the spear, that's— that's like a weapon I have no idea about," he admits.
Fuck his stupid chungus life. "Did you miss my first— I'm— I'mma bring you back to my first point. I know you have a hard time listening—" Flame takes perfect offense to that— "let me bring you back to the first point. Why would I help you?"
Flame fidgets back and forth, his sword going back to it's sheath. Head turned down, then looking back at Mane, "cuz we're brothers, bro. You won't train your own brother?"
"Brothers?" He snorts. Yes, they were brothers. But were they though? Mane doubts it. He's done a lot. Flame has done a lot. They haven't talked to each other in years. "We were brothers. Now, I don't know, I feel like an only child."
He knows he's twisting the knife but Mane has to ensure something. He doesn't know whether it's survival or self preservation but either way.
"Okay, what— what can I offer you?"
"Nothing." He cuts off.
"There's really nothing– nothing I can offer you?" He sounded really sad and desperate.
Mane looks away, counting slowly. "There's something you can offer. It's not an item though, you like fighting right?"
"Um, of course, bro,"
—
Flame must think he's an idiot.
Bad posture, big clothes, armour put on a certain angle, the milky scent emanating off Flame.
Mane hasn't gotten a proper view of it, the proof was in the pudding. Flame had a cub. It would explain the slowness, he still faught agressively but the hesitance was there. Mane wants to say he doesn't know why Flame would keep this a secret but he knows why he isn't telling him anything.
The horses made a satisfying clop with each step they took. Flame looked vaguely uncomfortable on horseback despite being a better rider than Mane. Who could be the father? Seeing how Flame was still a free spirit; going out of his way to still train pvp, the father was clearly out the picture. It couldn't be Zam. That's for sure. Zam wouldn't let Flame out of her sight if it was her baby. Zam always showed preferential treatment towards Flame too, in the first place. Judging at a glance, Flame was probably four months along, maybe six at the farthest. Then again it depended whether or not whoever put the baby there was a hybrid or not. Who was Flame close to? Jaden? No, can't be. He'd be present with Flame on this escapade, not too far away from him. His shield would have some pirate motif to it too. He can't think of anyone else, it's not like Flame was constantly updating him who he was close to, hell, Flame doesn't update him point blank. Mane gripped the reigns tighter.
It can't be Wemmbu... can it?
Mane shakes the shivers out of his body. Flame has too much honour, too much of a goody-two shoes to ever consider laying down with someone like Wemmbu.
Unless the baby making wasn't consensual.
Mane clenched his jaw hard enough it hurt. Wemmbu would go that far, he thinks. His fucked up version of revenge. Wemmbu would be dead already if that was what happend. Yeah. Yeah. Wemmbu would be a dead man if he touched Flame like that. Flame wouldn't just take it and let Wemmbu live. His little brother loves vengence. The possibility of the cub not being consensual still stayed. Flame could've gotten overwhelmed, potted with something hard to get rid off— Flame could've already gotten revenge and is now just carrying the baby.
Would Flame get rid of it, if that was the circumstance?
Aborting a nether hybrid fetus was nigh impossible. There's a reason why they opt to birth the babes then bury them in soul sand valleys. Maybe that was what Flame was doing.
Mane nodded to himself, feeling assured. Flame was probably going to abort the baby in a soul sand valley. Probably already gotten revenge. The grip on the reigns don't ease.
Mane drunk a pot. Looking behind, Flame looked haggard, sleepy.
"By the way, I'm curious, the one thing I heard about the Law is that they serve justice for the people," he starts. Flame perks up. "So, what's your issue with them? I feel like that's something I would have an issue with," he loves the fun lifestyle. Even if it's considered criminal.
"I, like, for a while they've pretty much been chasing me around. For like a long time," Flame's horse caught up to Mane's.
"Chasing your for a while?" Mane scoffs, as if. "You're Flamefrags. Kill 'em,"
"I've been killing them. They pretty much devoted their entire thing, to like, killing me. I don't know why it matters so much. They've been chasing me for a while." Flame looked annoyed as he recounts, "I've only been exiled from the server recently. Yet! I still find myself still being chased after I was exiled!" He spits.
Their horses down trod the mesa hill, slowing down their gallops as they near the water. Mane hops off his horse, going up to Flame's horse, he graps his little brother's waist— yep, that was a pregnant belly alright, and pregnancy weight— helping him down. "So, my plan is to like, learn more pvp, learn to cart a little better. I'm already decent, I wanna learn the mace," he says with derision. "I probably won't be using it too much, but doesn't hurt to learn. Then I wanna go back and become a combat master,"
Flame was such a cute kid. Despite, probably, having a higher body— kill count than Mane, the amount of vulnerability he displayed and honesty in his desire to become the best fighter was cute. There wasn't any other word around it. Chasing title after title, wanting acclaim. He really did remind Mane of a younger, more stupider version of himself. Mane watched as Flame readied a boat for the both of them, continuing on with his ramble. He still had the same dreams from when he was a kid— still striving for them somehow despite the pregnancy. Was the Law, really the Law, if they had no qualms hunting down and exiling someone pregnant. How and who got Flame pregnant still gnawed at the back of his head. He looked at his little brother with concern who was just happily petting the horses. Flame was going to run himself haggard, burn out if all he cared about was his title, Mane thinks.
Maybe, having this baby was something else to care about, worry about more than titles or people's opinions of.
Whatever, at least Flame wasn't sleepy anymore.
—
Mane didn't hesitate on running. He never does. The thought of having netherite set on netherite set tempted him. The taste of sleeping on piles of golden apples drool worthy. Mane wasn't the type to fight whole legions of players though. He's there to quickly kill, have fun, loot, and leave. More than ten players were on him and that was not fun. He already indulged in Flame anyways.
He misses his horse. Groaning at the world, he was already tired of walking. Body starting to hurt Mane.
The Law wouldn't treat Flame that badly.
They were the Law. They weren't going to mistreat Flame. His pregnant little brother who called out for him as he got overwhelmed by more than twenty people in netherite armour. Hissing and clawing at anyone who got close. His little brother who yelled for his help...
Mane hit his head on a nearby tree. Shouting at nothing.
He puts down his enderchest, rummaging through the enderchest, he fumbled for his spare loot box and a handful of invis pots. Mane took a deep steadying breath. Experience twinkled around his with each smash of the bottles, his armour slowly mending itself together, splashing down an invis pot paired with speed for good measure. They don't make it far, still deep in the earth's belly slowly digging themselves up from the same spot Mane last saw his little brother. Flame's tail whipped anyone who got close to him, his bitchface put to the maximum. He still had the audacity to talk back despite being stripped down to only the clothes on his back. None of them seemed to particularly care about the pregnant belly. Still choosing to shove and hit Flame when he wasn't walking in the direction they want or fast enough. Mane feels a growl build in his chest, he bit his tongue, not wanting to alert anyone.
They travel through a dense jungle, the humidity sticking onto his bare skin. Mane deserved a long ass shower after this. It's a goddamn journey, Mane wanted to complain out loud so bad. One clearly Flame having been an accomplice to the bombing of one town and having fought off a group of well prepared group of Law men; is struggling to take. The sun wanted to take somebody out he swears by the time they reached the desert. Flame's steps were near limping, both hands holding his stomach— probably trying to alleviate the weight of it— but he still had a lot of snark left in him. So, Mane went on ahead to scout the Law base.
Nothing special he thinks walking around brick buildings. Their hiarchy showed through how the diamond players gave the netherite players a wide berth, especially surrounding what Mane assumes is the office for the more higher ranked players. Mane finds the prison, the flash of familiar elder guardians flashed through his vision.
Mane waits around the outer shell of the prison building until Flame's nametag neared the prison. Slowly their voices start filtering through, Mane leaned his back to the wall until his little brother was placed inside his cell. Even through the walls he can hear his cellmate grating his ears. God bless Flame's patience. Mane can't imagine dealing with that and pregnancy. Looking through his inventory, he grins as takes out tnt, placing them haphazardly along the wall. Mane aimed his arrow to the tnt, counting down, fire quickly spread to the tnts. The walls don't stand a goddamn chance. Mane quickly placed his loot box down— Flame looked close to tears upon seeing him. Immediately exclaiming his name to— to hug him. Mane ignores the fuzzy feeling, scruffing his cub's neck to make him focus back on the shulker. "Go, go. Go, go, go, go!" He throws invisibility on Flame.
Why wasn't he taking off the armour?
Mane gave chase after his little brother. Ignoring the hooting and hollering from the other cell, guards already begining to be alert from the pure amount of noise they both made. He kicks one in the chest, before spotting bright copper orange on the roof, "Mane! I can't— I need you to break my armour!"
Shit. Curse of binding.
"Okay, okay, I gotchu—" windbursting up.
"Break my armour— breakmyarmour—" impatient little shit.
Mane clicked his tongue, punching areas that did not get anywhere close to the stomach, "I am. I am. I'm trying." He takes Flame's hand, giving him golden apples, "eat that. Eat that!"
"They're coming— don't, don't kill anyone!" He says while pulling Mane's locs. "The netherite people are gonna come if you do,"
"Alright! Alright! I'm not,"
Flame ran, Mane's hands itched for his spear— sword— anything to get rid of the crowd following after them. He didn't like how far Flame was bouncing in the air. Windburst taking him up and up. "I have an idea!"
Flame led them back to the prison— for some reason. Quickly losing the big crowd following them, Flame lands himself on the ledge, breaking open a window to crawl through. Mane pearled up, crouching against the wall. He broke more of the window before entering the same window, immediately shutting up lest he alerts the law. He crouched over to Flame. Who hits him. The fuck. Who does he think he is??
"You idiot! My dura! Hit me!!"
Oh! Mane starts hitting Flame again. That was on him— looking through the window at the sound of glass crunching. Shit. Mane pushed Flame to make him start running again.
Flame's stubborn ass still refused to leave the prison. Who raised this fool?? His items still within the heart in the prison probably. Or worst case scenario in one of the guard's inventory. Or ender chest. Mane struggled seeing the particles as Flame ran. Still somehow having energy despite the very exciting day they had. The hairs on his tail were standing on end and he somehow lost Flame.
"Flame. Flame," he whisper shouts. No response. Until—
On the high wall of the high-ranking idiot's office, he sees glass break. Idiot. Mane hops on down from the wall to follow.
—
Flame slept soundly in his nest. Immediately conking out the second he got finished from the shower. Not even asking permission to sleep in his bed, just positioning Mane's sheets how he liked them and slept.
Curled up in his bed, his milky scent was going to stain his sheets and his instincts are going to be up his ass demanding where his cub was and why he's abandoned his cub this time of need. This was Flame's revenge for all of Mane's wrongdoings he swears. He grunted when his ass touched the bed, he shimmied closer into his nest, Flame looked comfortable and sound. He can't help but to pet his little brother's ears then head. He really didn't look all that different from when he was a kid. Mane uncovered the blanket on Flame's belly, placing his hand on the belly, brown skin stretched over the growing babe. A calloused hand goes on top of his. Flame makes a disgruntled noise.
"You know no matter what we're doing, whatever argument we could be having—" Mane swallows— "You're still my little brother. You know that right?"
Flame hisses a little, still annoyed at being woken up but still curled closer to Mane, trying to put his head on Mane's lap, "even if I'm far out, no matter what. You'll always have your big brother here,"
"Uhuh," Flame puts his hand near his ears, Mane starts scratching them, "big brother," he says mockingly.
He quietly snorts, "whose the father?"
Flame freezes.
He forces his eyes shut. "Flame."
"No."
"What— what do you mean no??" He pinches Flame's nose.
His hand gets pawed off, "It's literally none of your business Mane,"
"Are you keeping the cub or 'ol traditional?"
Flame snorts, taking back Mane's hand to nuzzle it, "I'm keeping the cub,"
A noise from the back of his throat makes it out his mouth. "I'm not looking for your approval Mane,"
"Fine, fine. Keep the cub. Who's the baby daddy?"
Flame opens his eyes to glare at him.
"No one, I acesexually reproduced,"
Mane can't stop the laugh from forming. It's all the confirmation he needs really. Flame was carrying Wemmbu's baby. What does he get out of deflecting? Barely present father, Flame going off on his merry adventures of trying to become a combat master, everyone else Mane theorized either didn't make any sense or Flame would never give them the time of day, and the rest of the options wouldn't have let him wonder off this much. Wemmbu fit the bill, if it was a rando— Mane doesn't think Flame would say that. He'd say something along the lines of dealing with the problem— or at least if he remembers what Flame's personality is like. It made too much sense to Mane that it was Wemmbu. Refusing to tell Mane who the babydaddy was, choosing to keep the cub, saying he made the baby himself... it could be Flame's stubborn pride— well, that works two ways. His stubborn pride as in, he's the one carrying the baby; doing most of the work hence Flame being the only "parent". Or, his pride can't take the hit of being taken advantage of.
'Did you want it?' Sits in his mouth. Tasting like gunpowder and blood. If Mane asked that, whatever semblance of progress they had the past week or so— will go down the drain. He continues petting Flame, his purrs slowly building up. Mane can't place the last time he heard his little brother purr. Where was Wemmbu now? It's highly unlikely he knows Flame was pregnant. Maybe he did. Maybe his intentions were to force a baby inside him. His chest concaved, stomach twisting inside.
Mane sighs watching his little brother slowly fall back asleep.
Flame was like a lamb. Mane is well aware of what he's capable of. What he's done. Still, it's easy to pull wool over his eyes. To lie, to decieve, to use. Maybe he'll go back to the main server, he was probably going to miss the birth of his nephew, maybe niece; but that doesn't mean he wasn't going to meet them.
Would Wemmbu even want to meet him? He clenched his jaw.
Adjusting himself and Flame in the nest so his little brother can sleep on his chest. Wemmbu has no choice but to meet him. Take responsibility.
ItzRealMe
The sky blackened, stars slowly draping the night sky, Itz ran his fingers along quartz walls. Parts of the base having been reduced to rubble already. There were still feathers occasionally stuck or tucked away in certain corners. Broken picture frames. Shattered glass and rocks made a satisfying crunch on the ground. His elytra flowing with the wind, he didn't slow his pace or quickened his steps when he spots a nametag.
He drinks a pot, just in case. A totem on his left hand.
Flamefrags stood in front of him fifteen blocks away, standing at attention a hesitant smile.
"What are you doing here? Are you here to kill me?" Flame's reputation preceded him. Going around his merry way, fighting people, building up his title. Itz bounced on his feet; making his heart slowly pump up.
"No I'm not– okay, I'm not here to kill you, I was just passing by this base. And you know, I came across you." He sheathes his sword. "So, uh, are you down to do some training?"
Itz shrugs, the question honestly shocking him, "I don't know, I mean, I'm- I havent played in a long time." He paced around, "I don't know how good I am anymore,"
Flame didn't seem to take his answer, crossing his arms over— a very pregnant belly. What?
"Oh come onn, I don't believe that, there's some knowledge in that dome that can— just tell me something,"
ItzRealMe feels a new sort of discomfort. Should Flame be out and about like this? "I try to avoid conflict, you know? That's why, actually why I retired." He stands still to take in a proper look at Flame.
There's no plausible deniability, the armour he had on did little-to-no hiding over his clearly pregnant stomach. Flame still held himself in a sure-fire elegant manner in his armour, hand resting ready at the hilt of his sword should anything happen, shield equipped on his non dominant hand. His locs braided neatly with shorter bits framing his chubbier face. Itz's elytra twitched. He really wanted to fly away.
"I've been— I used to be number one, I used to be killing everyone. But now, yeah, I'm not trying to be involved in that." Itz scratched his head. Gesturing to Flame, "I don't know if I should be helping you train." Staring clearly at Flame's stomach.
That, and he has errands to run. A nice errand called; turning himself in.
"And, and plus. Even if I were to train you— I can't because the Law is currently hunting me down and—" he sighs, "I don't want to deal with that anymore. So, yeah, I'm gonna turn myself in now, have a good day Flame." He walks, trying to go past Flame who had a fire-y look to his face. He grabs Itz's arm.
"I was actually heading my way back to destroy the law!" Pregnant??? "And, the only way I can actually defeat them is if I become a combat master on Unstable. And, I mean, maybe! If you helped train me, it would help me stand a chance at taking them down," he quickly rambles in one go.
"If I take them down, neither of us have to deal with them! It's a win-win situation," Flame adds.
Again. Pregnant??
Seeing how eager and determined Flame was, hearing the stories about him, even if Itz said no, Flame would most likely go out of his way to hunt him down to get the training he wants or find someone else to do it for him. Itz really isn't fond of the thought of someone else doing it, the possibility of Flame getting taken advantage of— especially with the baby didn't sit right with him.
Two birds one stone, the Law gets taken care off too.
Even if it isn't particularly ethical.
"Um, yeah. I mean, now that you mention it, maybe. It's not, maybe it's not a bad idea," Flame lets go of his arm. "I've actually heard a bit about you," Flame's ears perk up. "I heard you're pretty good at pvp. Maybe it's a good idea,"
Itz starts walking again into the ruined base. "Come on inside,"
Flame follows behind him. "Are— are you trying to trap me bro? Or kill me," he warily asks.
"There's no trap, there's no trap, trust me." He reassures. Itz isn't so horrible he'd kill someone with a baby. Christ.
Itz held out his hand to help Flame across some more strenuous paths inside the base, he didn't really have a particular spot in mind, "if— if you train me bro, I can guarantee that the law won't hunt you down,"
Itz hums, finding a section with a hole to the roof. Hauling himself up with a grunt, he turns around to offer a hand, Flame takes it. He was very much heavy. It was most definitely not faked.
"I'm a quick learner, I'll become strong enough to take down the entirety of Law—" while pregnant... "we'll both be off the hook,"
Itz nods. Flame had an air of stubbornness, he has no doubt that Flame will fill his own end of the deal. A steady confidence of his own capabilities which Itz can respect. It's just— there's an elephant in the room. Maybe all those years as number one has gotten to his head, maybe all those bodies in his closet, either way Itz was going to train Flame despite the pregnancy. They end up on a nice flat section of the roof, a good enough place for an explanation.
"Okay, so Flame, Flamefrags. I'll train you but— first thing I need to tell you is every player, no matter how long they've lived or fought, no matter the weapons they use, everyone has their strength and weaknesses." Flame eagerly absorbed the words.
"So, for a normal player, what this could mean is maybe their weaknesses are that, they're incapable of executing certain—" he makes a general swinging gesture— "certain strategies. And in contrast, a combat master can use all strategies." Itz makes a big rounding gesture.
"They know how to execute all the techniques," a spark is lit in Flame's entire form. "They can do this with every weapon, and every style. It's what makes a combat master, what makes them strong is the player. It's how good they are—" he points at Flame— "It's not the weapon." He rests his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Itz straightens his back, "to be sure, that you have the skills to be a combat master, I want you to try and get a totem pop on me with all the main weapons." He's confident in Flame's skills. Despite the pregnancy, and despite his retirement. "I'm retired now, so if you can't pop me now, you have no chance on becoming a combat master on here,"
Flame takes on a determined look, tail swaying in the air. "Works for me,"
They both walk to the edge of the building, "You're gonna hit the water bucket clutch?"
Flame hops on down, his heart drops a bit immediately looking down. Flame lands it, "nice, nice!"
Maybe training someone pregnant wasn't the best idea.
—
Flame sat a couple blocks ahead of him, back showing to Itz as he took off his armour. Massaging his sore body and groaning at back pain.
It's not often Itz feels guilt. Could probably count on two hands how many times he does feel guilt. Flame struggled keeping up, no matter how much he tried and tried again. He picked up on the mace well enough, he knows the motions— don't get Itz wrong Flame is a quick study. It's just that— he's pregnant! The fact that Flame was even capable of landing hits with the wind charge and pearl was scary enough. Itz was already going as slow as possible with the lessons. Any slower and Flame was going to pick that up and fight Itz for underestimating him. Itz was not about to pick a fight with someone pregnant who shouldn't be doing all this in the first place— Flame was already determined to go off the next day to master the zone too.
Retirement was supposed to be easy— stress free even. Maybe Itz could finally try dating. Now, Itz felt like a single father of one unruly child who happens to be pregnant.
"Do you need a healing salve Flame?" He finally asks after seeing the poor man try and fail to alleviate his aches.
Flame looks behind, wary. Itz takes out the salve, offering, he looks ready to say no but the look on Itz's face has Flame yielding and sitting closer. Like a cat... well, he is a tiger hybrid. "Where does it hurt the most?"
Flame's ears airplane, then, "my back, can you—?"
"Yea, yea I got it," Itz scoots behind Flame, "I'm going to lift your shirt up now. It's going to feel a little cool at first then really warm, is that okay?"
Flame hisses at the gentle tone, he lifts his hands up, "just— just get on with it bro,"
Itz nods, lifting the shirt high enough he could properly asses Flame's back. A couple tiger stripes, scars litter his back, some beauty marks too. He opens the salve, scooping it onto his fingers, Itz rubbed it to his lower back then up. He slowly massages the paste onto brown skin. Itz could feel numerous knots in the muscles, was Flame farther along than he thought? He looked really big. Flame made a little noise as he went over a spot, "there?"
"Yes," he continues on. "Sorry, you shouldn't— I'm not— I'm good, it's just—"
"You don't have to explain yourself," he reassures Flame. He hears sniffles from in front of him, man. Itz does his best to alleviate the aches, smoothing out knots from earlier training and god knows from when or where. "Are they— is the Law still hunting you down... despite, uh, this?"
"Yea. That's why I have to destroy them,"
Itz hums. Flame was crazy. "How far along are you?"
Flame makes a thinking noise, over his shoulder Itz sees him counting. He scoops more of the salve. Flame shivers when he feels it touch his skin again, "probably like six months." He says casually.
Itz chokes. "Six months??" He guffaws.
"What? What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing, nothing." What the fuck. Holy shit? Flamefrags was six months pregnant?? Itz was right on the money.
Flame suddenly grabs his wrist— stopping Itz abruptly. "What? What's wrong? Was I going too hard??" He panics.
"No. No, no. It's fine— just, I can feel it touch my spine—" Itz gags. Unable to stop the noise.
He covers his mouth. Biting his finger. He closes his eyes, the image of the baby touching Flame's spine making the contents of his stomach want to claw up sending goosebumps all over his skin.
Flame snorts, looking behind, something amused in his face. "You good Itz?"
"Yeah... just fine, are you good?" His ears flush at embarassment.
Itz didn't know babies could do that. He could do without that information actually.
"Yeah, its been doing that lately,"
Itz nods. Flame was too nonchalant about that. He lets go of Itz's wrist, he tries to go back and massage like normal but his hands feels weak.
"My cub's toes were on my ribs earlier when I was doing the pearl throw," he says fondly with a slight laugh.
What the fuck. Itz's hands felt really weak. "You— are you sure you can continue training??"
"It's no biggie. I want to become a combat master,"
Flame was crazy. A goat horn blows in the distance, Itz watches as muscles tense and straighten in Flame's back.
"Did you hear that?" Itz whispers.
"Yea. It's Lawmen." He immediately stands up getting ready to gear up.
Itz frowns, gut churning, "I— I don't think I feel comfortable with sending you out there,"
Flame frowns, tail flicking, he immediately replies, "well— this is the perfect opportunity to put everything I just learnt to use." Flame put back his armour with smooth familiarity. Doing so in record time. "What happend to not fighting?"
Even with the blindfold on, Itz recognizes a challenging look in someone's eyes when he sees it. "I'm not— I'm not tryna fight. We could run to another place, stay away from BAT and Law. If— but if, I could hold a couple of them back as you run and then I'm just going to fly above you,"
Flame hisses, "You're going to fly up above me— invis— I don't care. You're going to watch me. I'm going to master the zone." Then he leaves.
Itz wants to tear his hair out. He throws invis on, applying his elytra with haste, he doesn't want to fight but he has everything ready should anything happen. This was horrible. What has his life come to?
—
In the savannah, bugs seemed to fly freely, some landing on his skin making Itz immediately slap it. Barely missing the bug. He wonders who could've made the floating island they were heading to. Flame looked comfortable at least even with the heat, he slowed down a little.
Itz knows that weight played a huge factor in pvp. Depending on their style of fighting, being small or huge made life or death.
The stronger— heavier you were, the heavier the hit was going to be with the mace. Flame still struggled occasionally with the weight of the heavy core, he didn't shake or anything, but the way he constantly readjusted his grip, his stance, having to let the mace rest on the floor before picking it back up told a story. His weakest weapon truly. The pregnancy added weight that the heavy core liked though, itz noticed. Itz has lost some weight, no longer as bulky as he was when he was the first in the world. He remembers opening his communicator, reading some of the news, Itz doesn't really know how actually skilled Wemmbu was. Most of the clips uploaded he's seen being the destruction he caused or blurry-shaky barely clear cam footage of him macing someone; but he had the build for a mace. Bulky but not for show, functional muscle that kept the body moving and moving. Enough agility to move the mace quickly and strong enough to do so.
Maybe Itz should get into weightlifting as a hobby. It's kind of funny seeing how much Flame dislikes the mace. Definitely not going to bulk up for the mace once he's finished with the pregnancy.
The savannah heat wanted Itz dead. His armour pressed uncomfortably to his skin from sweat. Looking behind, Flame looked completely unaffected by the heat. They were walking a slower pace to accommodate Flame. Itz would kill for an ice cream.
"So, like, what do you just do? What did you used to do on the server?" Flame starts conversationally.
What did he do? His scars throbbed on his skin, Itz smiles, slightly fond, "well, back in the day, you know, I used to fight people for fun." He wipes off his sweat with the back of his hand, "from time to time, people would hire me to kill people,"
"Yea, makes sense, I've been in a few hiring situations,"
Most skilled fighters that Itz knows off were soldiers for hire. Flame being one of them didn't shock him.
"I mean, but– I mean, I wasn't- I'm not as good as you but yeah," Flame nervously laughs. Itz chuckles, cocky but tries to be humble he sees.
"So, like, what was it like in your prime? Like, I know like, what was that like in your prime?"
"In my prime?" Man, that made him sound really old. Flame makes a noise of agreeance. He stops at the sandy shores of a river, the cool water soothing his overheated skin. "I was unstoppable."
"I believe you,"
"Yea?" They start crossing the river, Itz constantly looking behind him to make sure Flame was okay.
"I mean, I've heard a lot of stories." Flame stumbles as he exits out the water, Itz grabs his shoulder to steady him.
"Yeah, at a certain point, I've done everything, I have nothing else left to prove," Flame looked like he wanted to argue against that but didn't. "And I sort of just retired,"
"There's not much left to do. Just the same thing over and over." Itz wanted proper retirement. Go on a date. The sky was a milky orange, maybe they should set up camp.
—
There was something fresh about Flame. It was like looking into a mirror to the past.
He continued massaging Flame, guilt constantly screaming at the back of his head on maybe, he might've, went a little too hard on someone pregnant. But hey! It got results!
Still, he dug his knuckles into muscle. Letting Flame's tail rest on his lap.
Itz doesn't know whether it was coincidence or fate that he met Flame on the day he wanted to turn himself in, either way, he's grateful.
Theobaldthebird
Theo doesn't think he's mentally ill or particularly traumatized. He's your average, really good, really big bird, amazing tnt carter pvper.
Being mentally ill was reservered for people like Parrot. Don't get him wrong, Theo loves the little guy— there's just something deeply wrong with him. Theo's just exhausted. That's why he's seeing things. The election stress is getting to him, fighting off would be assassins, and hey, he's never been the best at faces. Or spelling. That's why he's seeing Flame pregnant in front of him. He's just seeing things. No other reason.
"What are you doing out here bro?" Parrot tries to ask nonchalantly.
"Well..." he looked bashful. Flame was still putting his armour back on, Theo couldn't avert his eyes from Flame's belly. The shirt he wore too thin for the snow tundra of the northern council; Theo could see his nipples.
"Aren't you exiled from like the entirety of law territory?" Parrot ends with a nervous chuckle, his head looking down to Flame's belly too. "I thought you're not supposed to be here,"
"Uh, yeah." Flame finishes with the final buckles of his netherite armour, "I'm really not supposed to be here. That, yeah, that's why I was invisible." Flame fiddled with his fingers before standing straight, pregnant belly clearly jutting out. Wow. Theo was seeing things.
"Well, I'm really just here because— I just got a question for Theo—" oh? "It's not really related to you by any means,"
"Well, me?" He tries his best to not sound too excited and nosy. Flame nods, almost shy. "When does anyone go— ever go looking for me?"
Flame starts pacing, looking behind, twirling his sword out of habit, "well, okay. Let me— let me just start from the begining." Parrot perks up with interest, Theo nearly groans at another, probably, long as hell backstory. "I guess for the past month or two, I've been training with every weapon—" Parrot turns to Theo and mouths 'while pregnant?' he shrugs— "sword and shield, spear, mace—"
"Oh, boy..." Theo knew what Flame wanted from him.
"And all that. Learning tons of different things. And really, there's just one more thing, you know," he bounces on the ball of his feet. A smile on Flame's face. "I really need to get my hands on... before I'm a lot stronger,"
"Oh, boy...." he sighs. Parrot still looking back and forth. Something super nosy in his eyes, Theo could already see theories forming behind them.
"And as you know, that's– uh, some tnt minecart pvp. If you're trying to help me out you know," Flame's tail was raised up, lips caught in an alluring smile, he hilts his sword.
Theo swallows. Honestly, he's kind of tempted but the thought of leaving Parrot alone kind of worries him. God knows what he'll do if he leaves the suicidal bird alone. "Listen, I might consider it, but I really don't have the time right now, like we gotta go to the great sea—" which he dreads. He hates the feeling of salt water on his wings. He shivers at the thought of the feeling— "we do not have that much time to win this election,"
Flame deflates, tail lowering, ears twitching. "Yea, we're currently like, I'm like candidate in the serverwide election that's going on," Parrot pipes up. Thank god, he wasn't the only one speaking. "And the only way that we're really gonna win is by finding Wemmbu out by the great sea,"
Flame's face drops to a disgusted look at the mention of Wemmbu. Parrot asks, "like, is this something that has to happen now?"
Parrot's nosy ass probably wanted to reschedule the whole thing so he could hound Flame for answers on the whole pregnant look he's sporting right now. Theo wanted to know too to be honest.
"I mean, it's really now or never. I don't really..." he starts rubbing his belly. "I don't really have a lot of time, so... you know? Come on bro," he pleads softly.
Theo winces. He quickly whispers to Parrot, "should someone pregnant even be out here in the cold?" Parrot shushes him, making weird rapid hand gestures Theo doesn't fully understand, "okay, on the one hand. I can train this goofy goober—" Flame throws snow on him.
"Wait– hold on." Parrot looks at him befuddled.
"—in pvp. On the other hand, I could go to the great sea and save the server..."
"What? What, Parrot what?" Flame turns his head to Parrot. Flame made a weird face, he fixed his armour around the stomach then stretched his body before relaxing again.
"So, the reason why you're even exiled from law territory in the first place is because you—" Parrot makes a couple other hand gestures— "you pretty much single-handedly killed a thousand players right?"
Even with the blindfold on, Theo can feel the eyeroll a thousand blocks away.
"Are we just going to completely ignore the fact that you did that?" Parrot presses on.
Theo pulls his arm, whispering, "dude, let off. He's pregnant." Theo angles his ear so he could probably hear Parrot.
"What difference does that make??" He aggressively whispers back.
"I don't know, a baby??? Parrot come on,"
"It wasn't single-handed." Theo holds in a laugh. The visage of Wemmbu haunting everyone present right now. "Like, I guess,"
"Didn't you also kill a law person?" He reminds Parrot.
Parrot's ear wings bristles. Looking at Theo slightly annoyed, "I mean, I did, but I didn't kill like a thousand of them, but yeah, I guess you have a point." He turns to face Flame again, "so, why are you training? Like, what are you training for?"
"Uh," tail beginning to show Flame's annoyance, "I don't really have bad intentions or anything. Uh," he starts shifting his weight, "It's really just to get back at law." The law was hunting someone pregnant. Theo could already imagine the campaign posters. "Because, as you know, I'm exiled for the a thousand players. However, I just can't believe that they didn't intend for that to happen. Lettuce was hunting me down for— I don't even know when! And, he just wouldn't let go. It's obvious that he wanted it to happen," his voice getting higher with emotions.
Flame swallows, placing his hands underneath his belly, "like, I just can't believe he wouldn't want that to happen. What— what do you expect?? Like trying to fight the two strongest players?" He scoffs.
Theo, personally thinks, Flame was worried for all the wrong reasons.
Theo clears his throat.
"Okay, you're strong too," Theo preens, "but me and Wemmbu—" he says with a weird sort of smile, nearly fond. "What was he expecting?"
Flame seeing Parrot's and his hesitance, "if— if you don't train me now, how am I going to be strong enough to take down Law? In reality, there's not many players who are actually trying to do that. So, you would actually be like hurting yourselves alot—"
Parrot mouths at him, 'while pregnant??'
"I mean." Theo turns his body to face Parrot, "what are your thoughts on this? Like, I'll leave this up to you,"
"I think, it's you're call bro, like at the end of the day. You're the one that Flame is trying to get trained by,"
Flame walked closer to them. Footsteps loudly crunching in the snow. "And I think Flame actually needs help from you,"
"Please," Flame pleads.
"Do you have everything set up?" Theo asks to make sure.
Flame curls his upper lip, "yes. How long do you think I've been fighting for,"
Parrot quickly hands a slip of paper to Theo. Then runs off. Typical. "Well— I'm going to leave this to you guys, I really have to head off—"
Flame grins, bouncing on his feet and pacing happily. A cat who got the cream. "Looks like you have no choice but to team with me!" He grabs Theo's hands— surprisingly hot despite the weather.
"Have fun!" Parrot shouts behind.
Well, in a way Theo got what he wanted. He pocketed whatever note Parrot gave him, "honestly, this seems more fun than going to the great sea," he says conspiratorilly to Flame. He squeezed Flame's hand.
"See bro, see bro. It works out,"
Up close and personal with Flame, aside from whatever scent he picked up from what was most definitely perfume or cologne were the milky undercurrents of someone with a baby. There's a reason why people were 'seduced' (in a way...) by pregnant people. The milky scent was nearly addicting.
—
Theo I know you're not going to check your communicator as your training Flame. I need you to ask Flame these questions but you can NOT just ask him straight-forwardly. That will make Flame shut up and not want to talk to you at all. What we need is information.
If you want to start right off the bat, go, 'wow Flame, I didn't realize you were' gesture to Flame 'maybe I'm just dense or something, how far along are you?' and if flame answers that, here are some questions, (REMEMBER DO NOT ASK TOO STRAIGHTFORWARDLY):
- when did this happen?
- was this planned or an accident?
- is the father in the picture? And if he is, who is it?
- (If Flame says yes on if the father is in the picture) Are you and the father an item? Is this your guys's baby or just your baby?
Theo stared at the paper. How the fuck did Parrot write all this during their conversation.
He folds it back into his pocket before Flame could spot it, the fireplace sufficiently lit with a pot above it; when he turns back. Must be pretty convenient being a blaze hybrid. He secures the ropes for the tent one final time before sitting across from Flame. Stretching his legs straight.
"I'm worth the training right?" Flame asks with a cocky smirk. He sprinkles some spices into the pot, water steadily getting more boiled.
"You stole like all my students skills when you like murdered them all,"
Flame snorts, scraping off diced vegetables into the pot. "You like absorbed all into you,"
"I wasn't seeing them instacarts like that. So may— maybe they weren't– they didn't have the potential after all," Flame had an ego, it was cute. Theo watched as he adjusted the falling strap of his tanktop.
"No, to be honest, they kind of sucked—" Flame laughed— "that's all right. Honestly, you've done better than every other player I've seen," he comments sincerely. It's a relief, Theo would've flown to the great sea if Flame had zero potential. Or took a nap.
"Really?" Flame asks almost a whisper. Theo had to strain his ears to hear it. Shaking his calves, he stands back up to sit closer to Flame to better hear him.
"Not, not many people know how to cart this well. Just like right off the bat." Theo liked the eager look in Flame's face. "In fact, I was looking for an excuse to ditch you. If you missed those," he admits.
Flame brushed his locs off his shoulder, scoffing an okay.
"I'mma be real I didn't prepare any cart for this, uh, we need to go grab more," preferably the next day. When was the last time he had slept without worrying for assassins. Or mercenaries. Either way.
"Oh, yeah, I guess I need some more,"
"I had no idea that this was going to be actually worth my time,"
Flame punches his shoulder, "oh my god." Theo grins at the his new student, "so, okay. Where am I supposed to get carts? I'm exiled everywhere." He stirs the pot, the soup smelled really good. Flame took the spoon to tap it at the back of his hand, pink tongue peeking out to taste it, he sprinkled some more seasoning, "now, I can't go to merchant city. Capital city's off limits. And we can't really get spotted together,"
Kinky. Anyways. "Have you ever been to the black market near capital city?" it was illegal anyways, it should be fine.
Flame makes a face, ears airplaning. "Uhhh, I have... but um, I did some bad things last time I was there..."
Theo looks at Flame exasperated, "okay, bro. Just, like, just take invis. It'll be fine,"
Flame shakes his head, "they're gonna notice me,"
"I didn't notice you—"
"They're gonna notice me off my armour—"
"Listen, listen, this is where my guy is at," What's the worse that can happen?
—
Theo rereads the note Parrot gave him. Nodding to himself, easy enough, it was a bit of a journey anyways plenty of time for a conversation.
"So, like, uh Flame. I didn't realize— uhh– you were—" invis particles brush up near him, he gestures to the very much jutted out stomach— "maybe I'm just dense or something. When did this happen?"
He couldn't see Flame's expression or tail. Parrot if you can hear me, I am not built like you and I'm sorry I can't pry information out of—
"Uh, probably like— wait lemme count actually," and Flame actually does. Parrot was going to be so excited for the gossip. "Most likely like seven months? Ago, just about seven,"
Theo has never been more glad he has sunglasses on. He takes out a marker, scribbling the number seven on his skin, "and— and the law? What has it been like with law and— and, you like what's happening there? Are they still hunting you down despite all this?"
Absolutely drool worthy campaign. Theo can already see it.
"Umm, they've just been hunting me down relentlessly. I– I still don't understand 'till this day why when they exiled me, they started hunting me down again. They literally asked me to leave. I left. I just don't understand,"
'The law is actively hunting down someone pregnant. Although he is a criminal, he has respected exile and yet the law still chooses to hunt him down. Giving no rest for the poor mother' fuck. Theo was so good at this.
"So, they asked you to leave, then you go, then they wanted you back?" Holy campaign. Parrot was so going to be king.
"They want to kill me now? Or something," he nonchalantly says. King Parrot was going to be real.
'The Law wants pregnant people dead.'
"So it's just been you alone?" Theo can't think of any other way to reformat Parrot's questions.
"Uh, I guess, kinda,"
No father... so who was the father?
"What have you been doing?" Flame asks.
He slows his pace down, waiting for Flame to properly catch up to him, "I've just been helping Parrot win the election. Um he really sucks at campaigning. So I've been like carrying him," he rubs his nose, proud.
Flame snorts, "I'm sureee you're carrying Parrot,"
"What are you laughing about, what do you know about what we're up to," Theo crosses his arms.
He gets gently pushed, "I know Parrot's smart. That's for sure,"
Theo huffs.
Theo was having a lot more fun than he expected. Flame struggled with the fast pace when it wasn't pvp focused. Lagging behind, occasionally even Flame would yank his wing to get him to slow down. It was weird. Seeing someone like Flame pregnant felt unreal. Who was the father?
Clearly they're a deadbeat.
Which could also be another campaign hook.
'In Parrot's kingship, parents and would-be parents will be getting childcare!'
Convincing Parrot to do childcare was as easy as pie anyways.
"—do you think I have it?"
"What?" Theo pulls Flame closer, his skin so warm under his touch, "speak louder. I can't hear that well,"
"Is it 'cause of carting?"
"Yeah, you don't become a master without a couple sacrifices here and there," It's not that bad. "What was your question?"
"Um, do you think I have like, like what it takes for carting?"
Theo holds out his hand for Flame as they went down a steep hill, "honestly, I think you have what it takes to become a pretty good carter,"
"Really?"
Flame liked being praised he notes. "Yeah, I really think so. But there's probably, like a bunch of stuff you need to learn like uhh– to do it properly,"
Flame hums. His heat distracting Theo for a second.
"And, and effectively, there are a few tricks I can teach you,"
It's a shame carting wasn't the type of pvp where you get to be up close and personal when teaching.
They finally reached the strait that separated them from capital city, Theo readied a boat for them to use. Flame sat on the crafting table with a grunt.
His wings bristled. Theo immediately turned behind. He sees a random man. "Uhhh," in netherite.
"What do you think you're doing?" Theo squints to their nametag. His head swivels to Flame from Theo, "oh my god. Invis. Seriously?"
Theo immediately walks up, puffing his wings up, trying to block Flame from the lawman's view, "sorry almighty forty-two—"
"It's seventy-two," he corrects.
"Almighty seventy-two, um this is my good friend who is very pregnant, and someone just so happen to splash them with invisibility on our merry way, um isn’t that right?"
"Yea! I'm just tryna have a nice little walk and someone just splashed me and it gave me a scare!" Flame says in the most stupidest higher octave voice ever.
Theo schools his face. Digging his talons into his fist.
"You know the rules on invis—" seventy-two starts pushing forward.
Theo pushes him back, absolutely zero etiquette with these people, "you— you go bring us a cow and give us milk, and he'll drink it. How 'bout that?"
"You need to uninvis right now." He points at Flame.
Theo groans, "why am I doing this." He turns to Flame, "you still have carts right?"
—
Flame dug through the dirt without caring about the intricate redstone wiring of the door, dropping down with a loud thud. Well, that was one way down, he replaced the blocks Flame broke.
Theo leads the way down with Flame using his shoulder as a railing as they slowly made their way down the steps, "I can't be seen with you,"
"You go on run up ahead and I'll be right behind you,"
"You sure?" Theo looked to Flame's face.
"Yea, just go up ahead, just signal to me once you get your carts so we can dip,"
Theo starts a light jog towards the main body of the market, voices of people were mashing together, the smell of the underground market strongly smelling of mildew and potions. A couple regulars nod their head at him, he nods back. He stretches his wings, "yo Theo, where's Parrot?"
"Just the usual stuff; campaigning! Vote for Parrot!" He hollers back.
"Already did bro!"
He finger guns them. Smiling when he finally reaches his guy, they dap him up. "I got a couple gaps for you, some diamonds, here—" he hands over a shulker— "I want that back,"
Looking around he can see Flame waddling around trying to get trades in himself. Flame was worried over nothing. A couple people went up to him, showing their wares for trade.
His guy tapped his shoulder— startling him a bit. Theo takes his shulkers full of tnt carts.
Passing by Flame as he does, Theo doesn't hesitate to sneak in a glance on his backside. The pregnancy was doing wonders for Flame's body. Theo finds himself at a comfortable corner, leaning on the wall to relax, he lets his head touch stone bricks. Letting out a breath that was more a sigh than anything. Even when the election is over, Theo still had work to do. Maybe he could convince Parrot to take a week's break before implementing change. From treasure hunts to chasing fucking Wemmbu down to election campaigning, when was a bird going to get his rest? When he dies? Hell no. Theo fumbled for his pockets, shit, didn't even take his communicator with him. Parrot was right. A couple kids crowd around him. Theo should trim his hair.
It's nice being glazed by the kids, he nods, pretending he's listening to them.
Flame gives him a thumbs up. Slowly walking back the way out— then Flame immediately backtracks— running towards an empty stall. What? Everyone else starts doing it too.
Theo watched as TheGODofwar walked around, demanding everyone's attention, spouting bullshit Theo doesn't care about. They all clamour towards him, suddenly gifting him things. Theo can't hear it all too well. Everything sounding muffled and ringing from where he's stood. They all seemed to crowd where Flame was hiding— oh shit— Theo tidies his inventory, laying out his carts and pots. His feet moving to where the crowd accumulated, the crowd parts when Flame gets pushed by TheGODofwar. "You're not supposed to be here,"
Flame hisses.
"Woah, woah, lay off man. He's pregnant," the campaign posters are calling Theo's name. Seeing tensions rising instead of deflating, "why don't we go outside and talk it out?" He signals Flame to go behind him. "Like gentlemen— probably..."
"You working with him?" TheGODofwar stalks up to him. Bad breath and too tall. Pick a struggle.
"No, no. I just wanna continue on trading... in this beautiful market without disruptions," he gets a couple good nods here and there. "I don't know the gentleman over there but I don't think we should be—"
TheGODofwar cuts him off. "You know working together with a fugitive is against the law right?"
"Dude. He's pregnant!" He points behind to Flame who was already twenty blocks away, closer to the hallway out. Good.
"I'm- I'm just chilling," Flame raises his hands in fake surrender. He turns around, "so I'mma just leave,"
TheGODofwar follows Flame. Shit. Theo matches his pace with him, pushing away the gaggle of people following him.
"Can you stop following me?" Flame's tail whipped back and forth.
"No I won't," this has got to be a war crime or some sort.
TheGODofwar catches up pulling Flame's arm, "you and me, we're going to duel right now." Pulling out a sword.
"Woah!! Guys! He's pregnant!" Theo hollers.
Flame was a very capable man, scary capable even, being able to still fight while carrying at seven months is an insane thing to do; but just because he's capable does not mean it's ethical. What is wrong with people??
The law mostly...
'The Law endangers pregnancy and your unborn child!'
Parrot better be grateful.
"Wait, what? You wanna fight me?" Flame holds his belly.
"You don't have a choice in that matter." Theo sees the pots in his left hand.
"You'd really endanger a baby???"
Flame looks at Theo annoyed for some reason.
"I don't— I'm not really looking for a fight, I don't really have stuff on me,"
Flame was stressed over the wrong details!
TheGODofwar splashes right before him, "I already gave you a fair chance." He gravely says. What chance?? He's fighting someone pregnant for pete's sake.
"Oh, so you're mad I don't wanna fight you," Flame snarks. He pots up as well— Flame should be running right about now. For some unknown reason. Flame swings first.
Theo closes his eyes. Pulling his rat tails, he ushers the crowd back, "we should continue to do some more trading!" They follow him like ducklings.
He looks back to Flame shielding from a hit.
"Wow, amazing trade guys," they both danced— fought with choreography that most people would struggle to keep up watching until they were in a stall.
Theo jogs up to them, Flame hissing and snarling as he aims his axe to TheGODofwar's head. He dodges it, "ladies, ladies, you're both beautiful, okay?" Flame shoves past him, getting Theo splashed with some strength too, "we don't have to be doing all this—"
TheGODofwar chases after Flame. Potting up speed at his feet, he has a bigger advantage seeing how he doesn’t have to tote around a baby in his stomach. "Wow! Should— should you be bodying Flame– I mean this totally random guy who is pregnant."
It's hard not to be entertained by the fight. Sure, Flame was getting bodied, just a little bit, but it didn't detract from the fact that he was a beautiful fighter. His skill with the sword was unmatched, holding it with so much familiarity as if it was just an extension of himself. Still, Flame was very much pregnant, and it was showing in his delayed response time.
"I don't have speed, I'm not tryna fight you seriously. You know that right?" Flame mentions as he runs to the entrance.
TheGODofwar stays silent, "woww you really don't like talking,"
Flame didn't seem to understand time and place.
Flame gets shoved against the redstone contraption, Theo doesn't hesitate to yank TheGODofwar back. "You guys are trying to get out of here too?"
He manages to dig out, "oh yea, I'm also trying to get out too," Flame nervously giggles.
Theo loses sight of where Flame throws the pearl. He groans as his exit hole was blocked by TheGODofwar, digging out, he readies an invis pot in his inventory. Wings stretching out, he takes flight. Watching the trail of wood, fire arrows, and broken branches religiously follow after Flame and TheGODofwar. Finding Flame in an empty enough spot, "oh whoops! I accidentally dropped my invis!"
Flame immediately starts stripping off his armour.
—
Theo shivered when warm fingers neared the base of his wings. It's hard to press closer with Flame's stomach in the way. It didn't matter. Theo tilted his head, tongue slipping inside Flame's warm mouth. It was kind of hot, the way his pregnant belly was pressing up against Theo's abdomen. God, Flame was so warm. His hands moved from his student's waist to his chest, Flame made a little noise at that.
It's hard not to squeeze when it looks so swollen and needy.
Theo swallows the whimper Flame made. The wet sounds of their kissing was drowning out any sense of reasoning in Theo's head. It's not like Flame was in a relationship himself. No babydadddy in the picture, he was free to do whatever he wanted.
Flame parted them to catch his breath. "We— I shouldn't be doing this,"
"Why not?" Theo leaned in again to kiss the corner of his mouth. Trailing his lips to the beauty mark on Flame's neck, "you want it. I want it. I don't see why not,"
Flame shook his head, Theo squeezed his chest some more. His whimper was unobstructed by anything. Theo could be deaf and he'd gain back the ability to hear just for that.
"I–" Flame shakes his head— "this–" Theo bites the junction between Flame's neck and shoulder, licking the indents his teeth left behind. "Theo! Bro- bro I shouldn't be doing this–"
"Is it 'cause of this?" Theo's hand went to touch his stomach.
Flame pursed his kiss swollen lips. Claws went up to trace the scars on his cheek, pushing sunglasses up, Theo licked his lips. Tilting his head to kiss, it's reciprocated, he makes a noise when Flame's scratches the wing near his face. Kitten fangs graze his lips, the taste of blood mixing in their kiss. Flame pushes him away again, apologetic. "I can't,"
"Is it the father?" He blurts out before thinking.
Flame turns his head away. "Yea— okay, yea that's fine. We— we don't have to do anything more than this,"
"You sure bro?" Flame asks for some reason.
"Yea?? It's fine, I mean, I already got to like make out with you— I feel like, I feel not a lot of people get to say that," Parrot was going to get the craziest story.
Flame still looked unsure. Putting his hands back to his lap, "don't go running around sharing that with everybody,"
Theo chuckles, taking Flame's hand, kissing his knuckle, "our secret," plus Parrot. "Where are you going after this?"
"I'm going to beat TheGODofwar,"
What the fuck.
"No????" Theo shook Flame's shoulders. "Don't do that?? He bodied you!"
"I'm going to win. And prove myself your capable student." Flame shook off Theo's hands.
Theo pulled his hair, "Nothing I say is going to stop you is there,"
"Nah,"
He lets Flame go. Concern churning in his stomach. The only information Theo had gathered for Parrot was:
- Flame was seven months along
- Deadbeat babydaddy
- Complicated relationship with said babydaddy
He hopes Parrot can do a better job at making a theory on what that could possibly mean.