Work Text:
-yelling, all around.
Welt ignored it for the sight in front of him instead. On the screen before him was the last shot recorded by Screwllum within Amphoreus' simulation of Caelus and Dan Heng. Its pixelated, jpeg scattered like dust across the image but.
It was good to see them alive. Alright.
His hand gripped around his cane, even looking at them now. Dan Heng never liked using that form, and he looked harried underneath the trained calm. Combat must have been harsh, Welt can scratches on one shoulder. Caelus was impenetrable but alright. So ready to take on the burden... Welt sighed.
"We've lost the signal Madame Herta!"
"Path energy rising wildly, the interference is-
"Dan Heng-"
Right in Welt's ear, Screwllum's cut through it all, "My Anchor has been activated. The cycle has reset."
Welt tore away from the screen, and faced the other. "Do you, can we get eyes on him?"
"Give me a moment..." Screwllum doesn't seem to move much, only twitching his right hand, manipulating controls that Welt couldn't see.
He stood there, patient. There was nothing to be done but be patient. Even as tension pulled through him, as yelling continued all around, Welt didn't move and just hoped.
A few more moments passed, and a light flickered through Screwllum's optics. "There. Take a look."
Welt sighed, and turned to check on Caelus.
The screen was brighter, certainly. Gold waved on either side from the trees to the wheat in all the fields. The trailblazer stood in front of a farmer in whatever town this was and he seemed... fine.
Welt traced along the site, looking over clothes. No sign of injury, and his expression wasn't exactly happy, heavy with whatever turn of events led his here, but not broken. Still moving forward and chatting.
The villager says something, waving toward the sea, and
Welt's breath freezes in his throat.
There's an unfamiliar shift in the shoulders, like accounting for the weight of something that wasn't there as Caelus moved to put his hand on his heart, right on his clavicle. He smiled, and it was soft and warm like the sun shining.
Its wrong.
(Caelus always puts at least a finger or two on his train pass. The edges of the pass are a little dulled, Welt knew, from how often Caelus did this. Like he was swearing on the pass, or taking comfort in it. It was sweet, and it made Welt's heart soften every time he noticed.)
Its a kind smile. Heroic. Open and true to someone else.
Welt closes his eyes to it, and glances away. "I thought the beacon was supposed to keep the scepter from effecting his memories."
"Indeed." Screwllum's expression didn't change, even as he steps closer. "That only eliminates a single cause from the list, however."
Welt settled his eyes back upon the boy he promised himself he'd protect, watches as Caelus wanders further down the street and randomly attacks a wind chime.
"There is no way at this time to know just what that Trailblazer encountered, in those short minutes."
No. Welt agreed. No way at all, trapped here on the other side of the cage.