POV Reborn
The day already started bad. The espresso was empty. He knew this could mean nothing good. The gods wanted to punish him. Then the lackey started to act weird. Well, weirder than usual. He randomly paused, his face would crunch up and his eyes would glaze over. Seconds later Skull would be going about as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Reborn decided to keep a close an eye on Skull today. After all he was his teammate...he was one of his potential elements. And Skull had something...Reborn couldn´t pinpoint what, that made him want to protect the civilian.
Skull had caught his notice quite a few times in the nine missions they had so far. One moment he would be his normal obnoxious self and in the next he acted like a war hardened soldier. He dodged bullets like he had never done anything else... And where the fuck did he learn to disable a bomb?! Things didn´t add up.
More importantly why where his instincts always screaming at him to watch out for Skull? Why did he automatically search for Skull first after a battle, why did he make sure Skull was uninjured? And why did he become even more vicious should the cloud have a wound...?!
Sometimes Reborn was almost sure Skull´s dump self was all an act, a well-constructed mask, but then again...the breaks from his masked self-seemed to be too random... It wasn´t like he always acted different when they were in deep shit on a mission, when they had to fight for their lives, no not the case. Sometimes his act would fall in the mornings at breakfast, his eyes would betray a cold rage, which made chills run down Reborn’s spine.
Anyway, back to the cursed espresso free day. Reborn was in a mood. Then shit hit the fan.
Skull clutched his head, deathly pale, swaying lightly, his breathing ragged.
Reborn shot to his feet.
Skull screamed. It was a loud piercing scream full of unimaginable pain. Reborn had heard damn many screams in his line of work, but no scream had felt so soul deep full of agony but determination to fight.
Reborn caught him. Caught Skull as he collapsed, but still the screaming did not stop. Skull was withering in his arms, hands clutching his head, pulling his hair. Reborn had to forcefully restrain him. Unexplained panic filled him. He cared for Skull, fuck why?!
The others were at Skull´s side in no time. Had heard the cry and missed no time to rush there.
Reborn tried to find the cause for the pain with the help of his flames. “It´s his brain. Something is happening to his brain...” Just as he was about to try and help somehow, Skull stilled. He sacked into himself, not moving.
Verde scrambled closer, checking for his pulse. Reborn almost snarled at him, didn´t want him to come close, but understanding that Verde was one of the elements... His instincts were running amok...
“He isn´t breathing!” Verde seemed to have stopped breathing as well.
“Fuck!” Fon had never cursed before, the smile on his face was missing, his serene facade broken.
Lal was kneeling next to Verde, hands balled into fists, eyes resolutely shut.
Viper was silently hovering behind the pile of bodies on the floor, hands wringing together, clearly distressed.
A shock wave. A shock wave came from Skull´s body, broke free of him and suddenly Skull took a deep breath. A contend smile on his face.
At once everything became clear. All the messed-up instincts, all the strange protective possessive urges...
The world brightened.
His breath stocked. Amazed Reborn stared at the man in his arms.
Skull was surrounded by bright orange flames. Sky flames! Skull was a sky!
Skull was a damn powerful sky! His flames felt amazing. His flames were so strong, they immediately reached out for the elements around him. Forming a tiny connection.
Reborn could only gape, his heart beating almost out of his chest. Verde shuddered. Lal opened and closed her mouth like a fish. Fon took a deep breath like a starved man. And Viper´s feet hit the floor; he had forgotten to hover.
Skull was his sky!
Skull was their sky!
Holy fucking shit!
In that moment Skull shot up, eyes wide. “Fucking hell, I will fucking kill them!”, his voice was rough from all the screaming.
Reborn could only watch mute as Skull looked around, his gaze staying with every one of them for a second. Assessing, contemplating. His eyes held the glint they always had in his phases as a warrior. In those situations, when he acted completely out of his normal dumb Skull character. Was this one of those moments again?
Reborn wasn´t sure he wanted that, he wanted him to be a competent sky, wanted him to know life.
He slowly, gingerly tried to stand up. Though he only managed to get to his knees, then he paused. His arms were shaking as he pushed himself up. Finally breaking out of his stunned state, the hitman came even closer. “Let me help”, his protective instincts were still running crazy and seeing his sky weak and helpless didn’t make them better at all. Skull watched him for a second, then he nodded.
“Please.” Reborn let out a breath, he didn´t know he was holding.
His system was still fluted with sky flames, making him damn sensitive to Skull. Had he rejected him, it would have been a deep blow. The hitman snaked his arm around his sky´s waist and pulled him up with him. Somehow Reborn knew he didn´t yet feel comfortable enough to be carried entirely, therefore he only took as much weight as possible and otherwise led him to the couch. While he touched him, the sun flame user took the opportunity to scan his body again. Making sure whatever had affected him just now didn´t leave him worse.
He signed deeply, yanking his hand through his hair, after he let himself fall down on the sofa. The others had watched the happenings silently, but not once leaving Skull out of their sight. Skull closed his eyes for a second, seemed to concentrate.
“You are bonded to me”, His tone was resigned, grave even. The hitman tensed, clenching his hands. Skull did not sound pleased, not at all. “What happened? Are you ill? Why do you suddenly have sky flames?”, Verde wasn´t able to hold his curiosity back any longer, blurting out questions.
“The seal finally broke. And no, I am physically fine, now that is.” “Seal?” Skull shook his head lightly. “They sealed me away. Took apart my personality and abilities…imprisoned me in my own mind, letting me watch as my body acted without my consent, like a god damn puppet…”
With every word he got more and more agitated. Anger building, flooding the bond. Strangely wind had picked up around Skull, whirling around him. His eyes glowing orange.
But all of this he didn´t fully register. How dare they?! How dare they chain his sky?! How dare they bring him so much pain and suffering!? And suffered he had greatly, Reborn could clearly feel it drumming through the bond. A weaker man would have been weeping on the floor quite some time ago. The others obviously didn´t feel different, the pressure in the room rising. Only for him so stop it all. Only for him to take a deep breath and reign them in.
“Calm down, it achieves nothing losing control now. I have waited for too long, worked too hard to free myself to not plan my revenge out carefully.”
Their sky sent soothing waves towards each of his elements. Bringing them back from their all-consuming rage. Slowly. They settled around Skull, waiting for him so explain. To give them the enemy.
“Tell us. Are you really Skull? Or was that…”, Fon did not finish the sentence, but it rang clear for all to understand. …or was that as well a construct they built? Was that as well your prison?
Just now Reborn was all too aware how fast they had accepted his outrageous explanation. Not even questioning for a second, if he was bullshitting them. Must be the new formed bond. As if Skull had sensed his musings, he began: “I am actually quite surprised you even believe me. My situation sounds like a bad fanfiction idea.”
“The bond, it´s already so very strong. It´s plain incredible, I have never heard of a bond forming so quickly with such intensity.”
“You are able to distinguish if I am telling you the truth. That´s certainly helpful. It will make things easier.” Skull took a deep breath trying to sort his thoughts. “It is a long and unbelievable tale. Do any of you know of Harry Potter?”
He cut right to the case. Viper gasped, shaking their head in immediate denial, not liking in the least where his conclusions were leading him.
“Viper?”. Reborn´s voice was sharp.
“I…Hadrian Potter is the savior of the wizarding world and…”
“Wizarding world?!”, Verde exclaimed confused. Oh dear, this could take a while. “I am a wizard; my name is Hadrian Potter-Black and I am part of a huge secret society hidden with wards and spells from non-magicals. Similar to Omerta and flames.”
In the next half hour he gave a short overview of the wizarding world and his own history.
“I defeated Voldemort after years of battle, death and destruction, when I was twenty-five. Afterwards the wizarding world slowly started turning on me, fearing my power. Their views had been twisted too much. Only those part of my army, the people I lead and fought with for eight years after the disastrous Battle at Hogwarts stood by me.”
Viper had flown closer, now almost pressing to his side. Wordlessly giving their support. The others were caught in a whirlwind of emotion. Horror, pain, awe, and rage on the forefront.
“They started to take down and pick apart those closest to me one after another. Making up outrageous crimes, blocking their job opportunities or outright chasing them out of the country. The rest of us were about to leave as well when we were caught unaware. I remember being drugged up, bound by magic suppressors, caged in a room filled with runes…”
At this point his monotone voice wavered, up to this point he had mostly recounted the happenings with the discipline of a soldier reporting. Now he had to swallow visibly, hands clenching to keep his composure.
“They tortured me, to make me weak enough to…” Fon pressed his body to Hadrian´s side, not sure if the body contact was wished but not able to hold himself back any longer. Reborn´s nails were leaving almost claw-like marks in the couch. Verde had clenched the pen in his hands so hard it had broken in half. Lal wasn´t faring much better, having ripped the pillow she was holding in two. “…bind me, to force me in the backroom of my own body. They crafted Skull, the fucking…argh…while I had to watch his foolishness, all the while trying desperately to undo the spells keeping me captive. In the last weeks I gradually managed to emerge more often, this morning I finally destroyed it completely. I am in control and will never relinquish it again!”
Reborn felt like burning the world, burning those fucking cowards who had tortured his sky. Even Fon had long given up on his ever-present poker face, his hands fisted. The harsh grimace on Verde´s face would be hard to smooth out as well. Hadrian took a deep breath and concentrated: “Calm yourselves. Revenge will be served, but we must plan carefully. For now I need to contact my allies and assure them of my wellbeing.”
Hadrian had included them without question, it made the hitman feel all warm inside, barely suppressing a shudder. To think he would ever get to feel the wonder of a voluntary bond.
Their sky’s hand shook slightly form the strain, but he still waved it and two fully corporal patronus emerged. A majestic dragon and a phoenix pranced through the room. The others were in awe. Viper was almost hyperventilating. Two fully corporal patronus with just a swish of his hand, no wand!!! What the fuck! That was impossible! No one was this strong, not even including the fact that he had beforehand broke down his prison wards and spells.
“What is it?”, Verde questioned the thumb when Viper hit the floor for the third time this day. “Hadrian…had…patronus…no wand…that´s…” “Speak in clear sentences!”, Reborn stressed. “Viper meant to point out, that I just performed an impossible feat of magic.”
He motioned the two light figures to himself. “Draco, Blaise, Luna I was finally able to free myself. I am currently safe, please do not panic. No rescue is necessary.” Before he sent those two on their way, he tapped their forehead, giving them his current coordinates. Hadrian knew without a doubt his three most loyal would rush to him as fast as humanly possible and would definitely panic. Mission for now accomplished he allowed himself to slump slightly. For now, I will have to wait for those three to arrive. Please do not be alarmed should they simply appear without a warning and ask of their identities before you shoot! In the meantime, I would like to take a quick nap. Viper will undoubtedly be able to answer a lot of your questions, do not mind me, I will take the couch.”
Fon nodded and moved to make more space. Hadrian fell into an exhausted sleep as soon as he let his eyes fall shut. Once again they could only thank the bond for the trust it already afforded them, otherwise they would have never seen the wizard so vulnerable.
The new elements, not daring to move too far from their sky this freshly bonded and after his horrible past came to light, merely moved about two meters to continue their conversation.
Half an hour later they heard a crack from the garden. Sensing three people simply appearing they were at high alert immediately. Lal and Verde positioned themselves closer to their sky, guarding him. While Reborn, Fon and Viper crept outside.
“Who are you?”, Reborn demanded, his finger twitching eagerly to press down on the trigger.
“Hadrian Potter-Black is he here?”
“We were called by him!” The tall blond one drawled. The elements eyed the strangers.
A woman with shoulder length blond hair and radish earrings, a blond lord and a broad-shouldered black man.