I Will Fall In Love With You Over and Over Again.

by DisasterReasonable48

Summary:

Hyperlaser didn't know what it was like to live for someone until he met Katana. His purpose, his angel, his Katana. He now didn't know how to live without him to drive forward seeing after every mission.

 

Then he loses Katana.

Follower Katana au angst bc I was on team tragedy so here's a bit of a tragedy

Chapter 1: Is It You?

Hyperlaser didn't live for much. He was as much drifting through life as much as the next Blackrockian schmuck who was too valuable not to be killed off yet. Ever since he was young, he did as told, performed what was asked of him and did it well. Too well. His skill was a curse as much as a blessing. Hyperlaser was direly lonely, but he was the last Blackrock soldier of flesh and bone. It made him a bit of a celebrity in the faction, though it never went to his head.

Hyperlaser never had much of a reason to do the things he's done other than “Because it was asked of me.” There was no reason for his violence, other than senseless slaughter. Maybe he could write it off as “So my comrades’ deaths aren't in vain.” But he knows as he looks down into his half full glass of alcoholic drink that those were in vain regardless. He sighed, mostly just out of the fact that this empty feeling would persist.

Maybe if he weren't such a coward, he'd just leave Blackrock already like he said he would a dozen times before. However, with his status, that'd be virtually impossible legally. Blackrock would never let him willingly go. So what would he fight for now? The lonely Blackrock soldier whose only true friend was that of a horned black cat. What a pitiful life.

His head dropped down. Another lonesome night at drinking. He had come out to Thieves' Den for a mission he had completed in record time. So what's wrong with a small celebratory drink? Was it so celebratory if it made him think like this? Who knows. This drink had no purpose in the long run. The blood on his hands has no purpose.

And that's when it changed.

An inphernal he had never met before walked in and sat in the empty seat next to him.

Hyperlaser's eyes shifted to glance at the stranger. Oh. Oh oh oh. How beautiful. Hyperlaser was convinced he was looking at an angel. A taller inphernal who looked maybe a handful of years older than him. Red horns that sprouted from the sides of his head that curled up as it grew forwards, long hair that was wild and free, a pale haori jacket that covered his well built frame, and a porcelain mask that hid his face. Hyperlaser was rather glad his seeing mask didn't show any signs of where he was looking. He'd be rather embarrassed if the angel next to him caught him staring at his build.

Then the angel spoke, “One glass of sake, please.” and oh oh oh… it was music to Hyperlaser.

It was ridiculous in hindsight, really. He was getting all flustered and worked up because this stranger ordered a glass of sake. How unprofessional of him. It was unprofessional of him to keep staring as well, like he has never seen another creature as beautiful as this stranger. He hoped it was the alcohol finally taking its toll. It seemed like he spent hours looking at this lovely thing next to him, but it was only a few minutes in reality. Which he was brought back to when his thought trained was interrupted by that beautiful voice.

“From Blackrock? That's a bit of ways away from here.” The stranger says with a curiosity. His head cutely tilts and it reminded Hyperlaser of a curious owl.

Hyperlaser seemed to flinch at the question from the suddenity of the voice. His hands clasp around his half empty glass, he was so nervous all of a sudden. He nods in response.

“It is. Out here for a bit of celebration.” Hyperlaser says as he let's out his breath.

The stranger hums and his head straightens, “What for?” He questions again.

“It's…” Hyperlaser hesitates. What was there to even celebrate anymore? “Just to celebrate to be able to see another day, I suppose.”

The metaphorical angel seemed to think about this answer for a minute. “I suppose I'm celebrating that tonight too.” He says.

There was a comfortable silence that washed over them. The bar’s background chatter still sounded but it was a comfortable static in the background of their bubble.

“My name's Hyperlaser. What's your's?” He almost felt himself stutter.

There was a small moment of hesitance from the stranger. “Katana.” He said bluntly.

Katana.

Katana, how elegant. A gear name that was as respectful as his assumed gear. A name that'd haunt Hyperlaser, he was sure.

The glass of sake Katana had ordered arrived, sliding down the counter to him. And their night of slightly tipsy conversations commenced.

Between small talk and one off comments of things in their world that Hyperlaser would yearn to memorize like scripture, were some remarkable questions and answers.

“What do you do for work?” Hyperlaser asked first.

“I'm on a quest of sorts you could say. I'm training to purify the world of it's corruption.” Katana puts it plainly. Oh, angel, how Hyperlaser prays you'll succeed. How you'd bless anyone with your presence. “What about you?” Katana asks back.

“I work in Blackrock's army. Nothing special.” Hyperlaser shrugs off as he holds the glass under his helmet to drink from.

“What is your helmet for?” Katana asks, noticing the odd drinking position. There's a pause, “No need to answer if it's… not something you'd wish to discuss.”

Hyperlaser shakes his head. “No, no. It's quite alright! It's just an aid of sorts. Helps me see, without it I'm practically blind.”

“Bet that makes it hard to be a soldier.”

“It does, but that's why it's there. They decided my skill was too well to waste.” He says somewhat proudly. Why was he proud of this now? Was this showing off??? Why was he doing that???

This thought spiral was interrupted by Katana once more, “Well a remarkable marksman must be kept in tip top shape I suppose.” Katana's posture eases back in the seat. “Maybe I can see one day?”

“Maybe one day.” Hyperlaser echoes. Part of him wanted to show, but feared it at the same time. “What about you? You have that mask, what for?”

Katana fluffed up, it looked like discomfort and Hyperlaser's soul panged with regret and guilt. “You don't have to ans-” “No, you shared your reason. It’s only fair I share mine. It's a cultural thing here in Thieves’ Den. It hides shame.” Katana says solemnly. He took a swig of his sake.

Shame? This angel had regrets? How unfair this world was, to sully a beautifully divine creature's soul as to give Katana shame. If Hyperlaser could, he'd shoulder all Katana's shame so he could be truly free.

The rest of their conversations of the night were truly unremarkable. But Hyperlaser could revel in this presence of this mortal he swore was an angel in disguise. This thing he knew was truly free.

“Will I ever see you again?” Hyperlaser had to ask before they parted into the night.

Katana looked down at him with a slight tilt in his head. “Would you like to?”

“I quite enjoyed our talks, I would like to yes.” Hyperlaser said with a hidden smile. The first one he's had in a long, long time.

“Then yes. I visit this bar frequently. If you do as well, we might see eachother again. Now goodnight Hyperlaser, have a safe travel.” Katana turns and vanishes.

Hyperlaser stood there in the street, staring at where Katana once stood.

Something- No. No, someone to live for. A purpose. A reason in all this madness. Katana. His purpose.

———————————————————

Days, weeks, months, years flew by. Every mission he completed was celebrated by a trip to Thieves’ Den, to this one small bar there. To this certain seat at the bar, next to his purpose. Next to Katana.

Conversations of their lives, of the menial and domestic, of their work and their achievements, of phestivals and phights. Of the opportunity Dom and Valk gave them to see eachother much more. They had grown closer than ever, Hyperlaser couldn't be happier. His performance went up, all to see Katana even more. They became close. Very close.

Katana didn't like the seven deities. It was no secret. Hyperlaser had a neutral stance on them, no faith but not much he could say was ill will. Katana's stance really came to a head after a phighting match with the swords present. His team had lost horribly and Katana was uncharacteristically frustrated by it. Leading to a long, long night at the bar.

Now they were in Katana's apartment, just them two. The apartment was very homey, very lived in. Small trinkets and souvenirs from all the factions in an array of somewhat organized mess. It was like a nest, fitting for Katana's owl-like mannerisms. As much as he was fond of this apartment, Hyperlaser would never let Princess loose in here he'd never find her again he'd fear.

They sat close together on his couch. It was soft, warm, and more intimate than the either would want to admit. Hyperlaser held Katana close and dear in his arms, it was quiet. Despite how taller Katana was to Hyperlaser, it seemed like he appreciated being the one held. Just one problem, there's tusks in Katana's mask. They were digging into his chest.

It was odd, Katana had seen Hyperlaser without his helmet a myriad of times but Hyperlaser had not seen Katana without his mask not even once. It was beginning to bother him as much as he hated to say it. Hyperlaser grimaces before he speaks.

He pulled Katana a bit back to get the pressure of the tusks off his chest, “Pardon me Katana, but could you remove your mask? Your tusks are digging into me.”

Katana hesitates. There's a long thick silence as he looks down and as he thinks. How Hyperlaser wished he could tell what was happening in his brain. It made him feel guilty for even asking, he knew it was a sore subject for Katana even if he never knew what shame Katana felt like he needed to hide.

“My apologies, Hyperlaser… I…” Katana tries to find his words, he sighs before looking back up at him. “I will take off my mask for you, but… if you would… remove your helmet. I don't want you to see me. Please.” Katana looks away again, reconfirming his own feelings of shame rising up once more.

Hyperlaser only had his helmet on still just to look at Katana. Only for Katana. But just like his reason for keeping it, he'd take it off too, if only for Katana. He takes off his helmet and he lays it down on the cluttered coffee table. Katana watched him from laying on top of him, carefully he messed with his own mask and laid it next to Hyperlaser's helmet.

Katana's freed face lays back down to were it was, now much closer to Hyperlaser without his mask poking into him. Hyperlaser's hands combed through Katana's wild hair with ease, the texture soft and feathery.

“You do not have to keep all your troubles to yourself, Katana. I wish you'd share them with me with how much I share mine with you.” Hyperlaser says as his foggy eyes stared into nothing. “I feel as if I know very little about you.”

Katana was quiet. Deathly so. “That's a good thing.” Katana said quietly and quickly.

“Not when I hold you closer than I have anyone else in this hell of a world. I want to know you, Katana, to hold you closer, Katana.” Hyperlaser's face somewhat scrunches up as he says this. He was walking on the line of dangerous territory he knew. However he knew that his angel he held close wouldn't do any lethal damage to him.

From where Katana's hands rest on Hyperlaser, they clutch into fists. “Fine.” He takes Hyperlaser's wrists and hands into his own and puts them on his own face. “Know the shame I hide. Know how horrid I am.” Katana says as if he's holding back tears.

Hyperlaser pauses with surprise of this suddenity. His hands lightly grazed Katana's face, his eyes still saw nothing so his hands would have to see for him. Katana's face to the right was smooth and handsome, well built like the rest of him. His left side of the face was scarred. A scar that ran from his empty eye socket to the large gash that kept his sharp teeth on display. It would have been a bit odd to have his hands on Katana's fangs given any other context, but this was quiet and understanding.

“Katana…” Hyperlaser begins breathlessly.

“You don't have to say anything, I'd prefer it if you didn't. I know what it is and I know what I am. It's dishonorable and-”

“You're beautiful.” Hyperlaser finishes his thought with that same breathless awe. It shut Katana up quickly. Even if Hyperlaser couldn't discern the fine details of Katana's face with his eyes, he could easily tell how Katana's face fills with blush. It made him smile, what a privilege this is, to hold his purpose like this. To hold such a divinely undivine mortal. To hold an angel. His eyes close as he rests his helmetless head on Katana's maskless head and closes his eyes as the night consumes them both.

———————————————————

Of course all good things are never meant to last. Almost seemingly overnight, Katana just… vanished. Hyperlaser made notice when he stopped showing up to phights. Then he hadn't gone to their favorite bar in days. The real kicker was how cold and empty his apartment was. Even his neighbors, those three brightly colored younger phighters who worked at the Cafe in Crossroads, had not even seen him either.

Worry and concern gripped at Hyperlaser's very cores. His purpose, his angel, his… Yes, his Katana was missing. He couldn't be. He shouldn't be! Unfortunately with his job and his faction, Hyperlaser couldn't afford to go out and look for his purpose. Every second of every moment in every mission became absolutely agonizing.

Every glass of alcohol he used to prefer became glass after glass of sake before he got physically sick of it. Hyperlaser never knew what it was like to live for someone until he met Katana. Then he had every reason to keep doing so. Then Katana was gone. Leaving Hyperlaser alone again to go back to the cold apartment of his back in Blackrock. Among robotics and cold unfeeling steel.

Princess had noticed this shift in her doting owner and made it her best offer to comfort him. Licking his cheek where tears should be falling if they could. It was pitiful. His performance began to falter as well. He was more distracted during his missions and coming up with just adequate results than his normal far and beyond perfect ones. This became a new routine. Going back to barely passing enough worth to keep his head in Blackrock.

He laid flat on his back in his apartment. Not doing much as Princess loafed and purred cozy on his chest. He pet her in some attempt trying to self cheer himself.

A knock at the door snapped him out of his daze. Hyperlaser got up and answered, his helmet cold in the Blackrock breeze. Outside his door stood a shorter green inphernal from Thieves’ Den absolutely shivering. Shuriken, Katana's neighbor as he recognized, it gave him some odd sense of suspense.

The younger inphernal shivered, “C-Can I come i-in?” Shuriken stammered. “I-I have news y-you w-would want to h-hear.”

Hyperlaser's eyes widened. He widened the door and gestured for Shuriken to come in. Shuriken sneezed and sniffled from the cold. “How do you even live up here?” He coughed. Shuriken sat down in Hyperlaser's living room as the door was locked and shut behind him.

“What… what news was so urgent you have to see me now, Shuriken?” Hyperlaser inquires with a stern look. He didn't want to face him. He didn't want to. He couldn't.

“Well.” Shuriken started off, he slouched over to sit forward, “How much do you know about the cult in Lost Temple?”

“Not much, I'm afraid.” Hyperlaser notes as he sat across from Shuriken in a kitchen chair.

“Didja at least know that Katana used to be a part of it?” He asks.

“Had my suspicions, yes, but that was never any of my business.” Hyperlaser tenses at the mention of it. It was hard to find a one eyed inphernal nowadays who didn't have some part in their cult.

“So… not gonna name name's but after a scuffle between the cult and a few fellow phighters… they found Katana. Alive.” Shuriken explained as Hyperlaser's eyes widened. “Just this morning, but he's not himself. Not at all. Bu-”

Hyperlaser rose from where he sat and grabbed Shuriken by his collar, “Where!? Where is Katana now!?” Hyperlaser almost yelled in Shuriken's face, almost. Many things ran through his mind but he tried to keep composure.

Shuriken look a bit shaken up, “In his apartment! Vine Staff is making sure he's okay physica-” Hyperlaser dropped him and took off. He took off and ran, ran faster than he ever had before in his life.

Ran like he was running out of time, running like… like he had purpose again. To see his Katana, to see his angel, wild and free once more. To have someone to live for again. Fuck Blackrock, fuck the Church of the True Eye, fuck Lost Temple, and fuck everyone who ever had a part in Katana's disappearance.

Hyperlaser practically kicked down the door to Katana's apartment. Vine Staff and Slingshot let out a very surprised yelp at the very sudden intrusion. Shuriken was behind Hyperlaser, far more out of breath than Hyper was.

“Where is Katana?” Hyperlaser forced out as gently as he could.

Slingshot looked away with guilt, Vine Staff looked anxious. She walked to Hyperlaser, “Please, before you see him you must know the condition he's in is far from what you knew him as. I… I don't know the full story but…” Vine Staff looked away from Hyperlaser, “He was a traitor to the church or so I've been told. It made him a target for their further projects as some form of vengeance. They… The Church…” she looked nauseous, like it made her sick. “Somehow… Some way… They stole the Illumina's severed wing and made use of the blood from it to attempt to make their own gods… and Katana he…” Vine Staff's eyes watered with tears.

Hyperlaser could put the two and two together and put one of his hands on her shoulder in an attempt of reassurance. “You don't need to finish that. I can put it together. Just… is he alright..?” Hyperlaser asks.

Vine Staff looks at him like she tried to answer that question herself. “Living..? Yes, but mentally he seems not all there. He's in his bedroom, but if you see him… Please be patient with him, we still aren't sure how to help but we're gonna try.” She smiled. Though it was an obvious front.

Hyperlaser nodded, “Thank you.” He took his hand off her and walked past to the room. Hyperlaser gently opened the door and there he stood, Katana.

Katana stood in the room by his lonesome. He was all dressed in pure white, an outfit that was befitting a nun or bride. It made Hyperlaser want to hurl, what did they do to his Katana? A long white skirt that touched the floor, long sleeves that puffed at the cup, a ruffled ascot tie, and hood that hid his hair. His mask was cracked, displaying the scars Katana hated so much. What really got Hyperlaser were Katana's new more bodily changes, wings that drooped down unnaturally from his back, a halo that spun made of a language long gone, and his horns had mutated small teal spikes that make them look a bit similar to Vine Staff's.

“Katana..?” Hyperlaser approached the taller figure slowly and gently reached up and removed his mask. Katana didn't resist, not even a single word.

Katana's expression was that of brainwashed gentleness. A smile that was uncannily sweet and eye that were wide and thoughtless.

“Good afternoon!” He began to speak finally, “Are you with those kindly non-believers outside?” He asked. He stood still, not even tilting his head.

Hyperlaser felt his heart ache as Katana spoke far more jovially than he would normally. “Non-believers..?”

“Yes. Those outside who don't follow our Divine Illumina's Unity.” He blinked as his smile didn't change.

Oh, Katana… Oh, his Katana. He'll kill every cult member a part of this. Just for him. Only for him. Oh, his angel—who now looked closer to that descriptor now than prior—who had been hunted down and had his wings clipped.

“Yes… I guess you could say that but… do you really not remember me, Katana?” Hyperlaser wanted to cry, but was incapable so held Katana's face so gently.

“I'm afraid that I do not remember much prior to my resurrection and ascension, apologies.” Katana's expression doesn't change. “Those non-believers outside also asked me that question, but like them, you know my name. That must mean you knew me, yes?”

Hyperlaser nodded quickly with joy, he couldn't remember much… but there was hope. Hope to spark something back in his memories. “Yes! Yes! We are friends, close friends, I've missed you dearly Katana. I…” he hesitates, he needs to stop being a coward. “I love you Katana. You gave me purpose to keep putting effort into living and… and I never told you that before you vanished. I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry, Katana. I should have told you sooner.” He felt like he was crying, even if that was impossible.

Katana didn't move, didn't waiver, didn't falter. His face stayed unchanging. “I…” He started, he sounded more like he was thinking and trying to recall how he had felt. “I think… I think I loved you at some point. Those feelings now, like everything else I have felt since my ‘rescue’ from my sanctuary this morning though have been clouded in mystery and confusion. It may take a while under the Illumina's guidance to truly feel like myself again. I beg of thee your forgiveness, Hyperlaser.” Katana's hands clasp together like a prayer.

Hyperlaser felt hurt, but he understood. If he was in Katana's shoes he'd be confused by a lot of what's going on too. “Always, you'll always have my forgiveness. Don't beg, never beg.” Hyperlaser says. He puts Katana's mask back on him. “I'll… I'll be back, just wait here.” Hyperlaser explains as he exits.

“Of course.” Katana stood as still as he was as when he had entered.

The trio of inphernals still stood in that living room all wearing the same sadness on their faces. Hyperlaser sighs. “So… so now what..?”

“I'm not sure.” Vine Staff answers bluntly, “Medkit said that it would be highly unlikely Katana can really be alone right now like this.”

“I'll stay with him, I'll take care of him, please. Just let me help.” Hyperlaser quickly interjects. “I'll leave Blackrock and I'll stay with him. I have the cash to stay here 24/7 for a good while.”

Vine Staff looked back to the other two. Shuriken just shrugged, Slingshot had simply said “Well, that means our work schedules won't have to change much.” Vine Staff looked back to Hyperlaser.

“Fine, would you need help moving your stuff here or..?” She begins.

Hyperlaser shook his head. “No. Don't trouble yourself with it. I can do it on my terms, consider it done. I can be moved in by the end of this week.”

Slingshot's head tilts, “I thought the process to get out of Blackrock takes a lot longer to get out of?”

“That doesn't matter, I'll figure it out. I always do.”

———————————————————

Hyperlaser now by law of Blackrock was a criminal. He ran away and labeled a traitor. It didn't matter, phights didn't really care about your criminal history so he still had a source of income. The biografts they sent after him were never competent enough to get a single hit on him so he was safe.

It had been half a year since Katana's rescue. Hyperlaser's taken to reorganizing their now shared apartment to be a mix of both his and Katana's stuff. As well as make it a bit better for Princess to live here as well.

Hyperlaser was making breakfast this fine morning, he was not the best cook but it was not like Katana seemed to mind. Besides, Slingshot had begun coming over to help him out with it sometimes so he was improving. Today's breakfast was pancakes. Hyperlaser had both plates in his hands as he walked towards Katana's room.

Hyperlaser opened the door with a smile shielded by his helmet, “Good morning Katana. I've made breakfast!” He sat on the edge of Katana's bed.

Katana laid awake, staring at the ceiling. He mindlessly pet Princess who snuggled up to his side. He was silent and soundless, he had begun this silence after an episode a few days back.

Katana had come to his senses and was horrified by what he saw, he despises what he saw. Things were thrown and broken. He had scratched and tried to injure himself. Thankfully, any wound Katana self inflicted were mere scratches and were bandaged easily. Every passing day of silence though was even harder for Hyperlaser. Katana stopped sporting that gentle rehearsed smile at the very least, but now he just simply looked haunted.

Hyperlaser placed Katana's pancakes on the bedside table and sat Katana up right before taking the plate, “Come now you must eat something.” He fiddles with the fork in his hands getting a smaller bit of the fluffier pancake and raising it to Katana. Katana at the least wasn't much of a problem when it came to eating. He didn't have the will to feed himself, but not enough despair to let himself starve and die. So this was a middle ground they could compromise on.

The empty plate was discarded to the side. “What would you like to do today Katana? I was thinking we could go out to the Cafe in Crossroads for a nice walk, some fresh air would do you some good.” Hyperlaser explained as he brushed Katana's hair, the cult had cut his wild and free hair to a short cut above his shoulders, it sat straight and neat on him. Hyperlaser hated it as much as Katana most likely did.

Katana was quiet as he had been. They were both dismissed from phights this week due to the episode Katana had which meant a lot more freetime. Hyperlaser let out a small sigh as he maneuvered behind Katana to straighten up his feathers. Medkit had said that in due time if Katana truly put effort into it, he could most likely fly small distances if trained hard enough. It was a thought Hyperlaser liked to entertain, how beautiful his angel would be in the air.

It was quiet in the room once more. Soft purring from Princess being the only sound.

Katana looked away to the light coming inside through the window. He mumbled something.

Hyperlaser looked surprised. “Pardon? I couldn't quite hear you, Katana.”

“I'm sorry that you have to deal with this, Hyperlaser.” Katana said barely above a whisper. It would have sounded like mumbling again to the untrained ear.

“No! No, don't apologize. You are no trouble to me. Not ever once.” Hyperlaser shook his head.

“Even though most of my memories are foggy and I am bathed in divine corruption, you still bend yourself over backwards for me. I don't get it. Why?” Katana's gaze doesn't move from the light outside.

“Because, you are the reason I want to put effort into anything at all. The reason I wanted to keep truly living. I would not discard you for the world, and I would burn down the world for you.” Hyperlaser says as if it were common sense. He wasn't as afraid to verbally tell Katana of his adoration for him anymore as he used to be.

Katana looked back to Hyperlaser. “Thank you, Hyperlaser.” Katana smiled, showing his pointy teeth willingly. The sight made Hyperlaser light up himself. Katana looks back out the window with that same smile, “A walk sounds nice…”

And upon a greater inspection, Hyperlaser realized Katana's horns were slowly fading back into that ruby red. His Katana would soon be back yet. Slowly fading back like the color on his horns. And today was a new day.

Chapter 2: Have My Prayers Been Answered?

Summary:

The night Katana saw the Follower in the mirror.

Notes:

Hey didnt plan on making a 2nd chapter of this but they would NOT leave my mind so I wrote the night where Katana had his breakdown. As a treat

Bright lights blinded his one good eye from overhead. Katana squirmed, but he could not break free of his restraints. Many inphernals he considered like family now towering over him with smiles laced with venom. Snakes, they were now. Katana had simply found himself in the position of prey. He left them for the better. He made new connections and had done many things he was proud of.

Katana met inphernals like Vine Staff, Shuriken, and Slingshot. Three younger inphernals he would advise if they ever came to him for it, he was simply a door away from them now. Three truly friendly faces in a world of corruption. He doesn't regret leaving the Church, not at all. He's been all over the Inpherno now, saw such scenery he never had before, saw creatures he never even heard of, made bonds when he told himself he would no longer hold anything precious to him anymore.

What a foolish liar he was. Katana had made bonds with those who made him laugh, who made him worry, who made him make faces he never made before. Katana was not free of greed's corruption, he wanted more, and more he did get. In the form of the Inphernal named Hyperlaser. Oh, Hyperlaser… you'd hate to see him now. Hair cut and splayed out for vivisection. Weak. Vulnerable. Things Katana never willingly was before.

“Ichor, please.” One of the inphernals requested.

A syringe of God's blood, Illumina's to be exact. Katana struggled more against his restraints. Pointless it all was. He screamed and shouted against the makeshift gag they had him confined in.

“Scalpel.” The same voice requested.

Katana would try and say he lived his life without regrets, but he couldn't. Be had many, he was only mortal. How long that mortal detail lasted was a different thought. He did regret. He regretted not being more open to Hyperlaser. He never told him anything about any of this despite how much Hyperlaser trusted him with the burdens of his personal life. A privilege reserved for him and him alone.

“Can we get the wing in here? We might need more Ichor from it.”

Katana did all what he could do in this moment, close his eye and try to get away from here. To pray that this would go away. No one was coming to save him—Katana knew it well—so please, let him die on this table and die a martyr rather than a holy thing for the Church to play with. Katana could rest easy that way.

The ‘doctors’ marked incision lines on his chest, made notes of things, discussed how to make his ‘redemption’ stick harder. They raised the cold, sterile scalpel to the mark and-

Thunder is what greeted Katana when woke in a cold sweat, he jolted into a sitting position. Rain pattered the window and drops ran down the glass. Katana huffed and puffed, he couldn't breathe his chest hurt his back hurt his everything hurt. Water. He needed to get water, that would fix him. Yes, no silly nightmare would shake this samurai.

Besides, him back at the Church? Becoming some divine abomination of false gods? Hah. Never. That would never happen to him! It couldn't, he wouldn't allow it. He just needed a glass of water, maybe a small midnight snack. Yes, that would set him straight from some foolish nightmare. Truly, what was he doing taking a nightmare too seriously? A newly spawn?

Katana dragged himself out of his bed and down the hallway of his apartment. It was oddly unfamiliar to him, there were a few new things decorated about and some things had moved. These changes were all in line with comments Hyperlaser had made about his organization skills, but Katana could not recall when these changes occurred. It didn't matter though, that was a morning Katana problem. Unfortunately it did make Katana less graceful as his memorized pathway to his kitchen changed a bit, he kept getting caught on things, but he had no blanket wrapped around him? So what was even getting caught? Maybe he should start tying his hair up before going to bed, if it wasn't a blanket or his clothes getting caught it was usually his hair.

The cool water did wonders for Katana mentally at the very least. So much confusion for the newfound unfamiliarity in his own home. He looked across the room in the sort of half-awake stare he was committed to. Oh, Hyperlaser was asleep on the couch. Must've had a rough day at work or else he wouldn't be staying the night, that was fine Katana just wished he could remember the reason. Either way he didn't look entirely comfortable so Katana got him another pillow. There, now he looked far more comfortable.

Katana began the slow trudge back to his room and that's when he caught a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror. The door was opened askew and as he walked by he spotted something that looked… feathery on him. Of course he did a double take and went back, opening the creaky door with a panicked rush.

Who…

Who was that in the mirror looking back at him?

His hair was straight and short despite him being asleep just a while ago, spikes protruded from his off-white horns, his empty eye socket now full of some divine light that glowed gently, wings sagged behind him with feathers poking out from getting caught on furniture earlier, the most damping thing was the fresh scar that stretched from under his chin and followed down his major veins. No. No. No no no no no no. That was not him in the mirror. That is not someone who anyone should call ‘Katana’ in the mirror.

That meant that the nightmare was…

That meant he was…

That meant that they really...

Katana couldn't hold back and threw up right there and then, tossed what little food he actually had kept down right back up and into the sink. What a nightmare, what a nightmare! It was corruption. He was corrupted. He needs to be purified! He needs to be cleansed! He needs to be destroyed by his dishonorable blade.

Katana summoned his gear and held onto it like a lifeline. The blade was modified, like the rest of him. White like that unholy false deity. His grip slipped and the katana made a clattering noise as it dropped onto the tile. It was loud but that did not deter Katana. He looked back at his reflection with venom. He clenched his fist.

A muffled voice from down the hallway called his name, but he could not hear them from the drowning static that filled his mind. Katana reeled his fist back and shattered the mirror. From the small wounds present on his knuckles flowed a clear liquid with small hints of red, it was Ichor with a small amount of his normal blood left over. Katana wanted to throw up again, he felt dizzy and his head hurt as his lungs began to breathe harder and his heart rate went faster. He gripped one of the larger shards, it was pure unlike his blade that reflected his soul therefore he could purify himself with it.

“Katana…”

Katana looked at the glass and to himself.

“Katana!” That was until his plan was thwarted by another inphernal smacking the glass out of his bloodied hand.

Katana stared at where his hand used to be a moment before looking to the other inphernal. Hyperlaser stood in the doorway, he looked worried and concerned to a significant degree. It made Katana feel guilty, he should not have to worry about such a disgraceful creature. What's worse? He had his helmet on. He could see all of Katana. All of this unpurified garbage.

“Katana, are you alright!? You aren't hurt are you?” Hyperlaser approached him gently, slowly moving his hands in an attempt to not startle the other.

Katana couldn't stop the tears that began to cloud his only eye. “Don't look. Please, don't look at me..!” He had barely managed to plead. “Don't look at me! You can't!” He screeched. Katana grabbed the few empty cups of the bathroom counter and chucked them at the other inphernal.

Hyperlaser blocked the cup that simply just pathetically bounced off of him, he took off his helmet and tossed it back onto the couch a while away. He slowly approached Katana, hands extended as he spoke calmly, “There. I can't see you now. I cannot look at you, Katana. I promise you, I cannot.” He slowly approached in an attempt to try and calm the frantic swordsman.

Katana backed away from Hyperlaser with each advancement. Katana shook his head slowly, “No. No. Please don't come close, I'm corrupted. You'll get corrupted too, please Hyperlaser don't do that to yourself; I can't live with myself if I corrupted you too.” Katana wailed and pleaded. Though he didn't seem to listen. Katana backed up, his wings dragging against the floor. He stepped on his wing and fell back onto the floor.

“Katana…” Hyperlaser said with a saddened look. “I wish you wouldn't talk like that, you aren't corrupted, just hurt.” Hyperlaser couches down to Katana. “And I want to help you heal.” He gently takes Katana's hands in his own. Hm, a few cuts from the mirror but nothing that seemed dire. Hyperlaser retrieved the nearest first aid kit and got Katana's hands bandaged tightly.

Tears fell from Katana's eye and dropped onto the floor with his Ichor. He was speechless as he shook his head. He needs to push Hyperlaser away and run. To get so far away from him so he could never hurt the mercenary again by being here. Yet, he didn't. When that mercenary put his scarred hands on his and brought him closer in an embrace, Katana melted into it. He melted into it despite everything telling him not to. That he was an unholy, corrupted, and hideous thing and should not be held so gently. Yet, it felt so nice and so grand.

Katana buried his face into Hyperlaser's shoulder as the silent sobs failed to stop only being muffled by the pajamas Hyperlaser wore. Hyperlaser's hands rubbed circles in Katana's back very gingerly, carefully to avoid touching the wings that twitched uncomfortably behind him.

After what felt like hours the sobbing had become quiet sniffles. “Let's get you back to bed, Katana.” Hyperlaser says barely above a whisper. Katana only answers with a simple nod. Hyperlaser brought them both up to their feet, if he could he would simply carry his Katana but he was a bit too short to make that work, so this was a compromise he could settle with.

Hyperlaser laid Katana down and tossed a sheet over him. Hyper turned to leave, he had wanted to get his helmet and clean the mess in the bathroom proper, but Katana grabbed onto his pajamas sleeve to prevent him. “What's the matter, Katana?” It made Katana feel guilty, Hyperlaser said his name so kindly every time. Katana just tugged on his sleeve. “Would… Do you want me to stay?” Hyperlaser finally asked.

Katana nodded and pulled a bit stronger this time. Hyperlaser waited a moment, “Are you really sure? I don't want to make you uncomfortable.” Katana nodded in response, this time with more vigor. Hyperlaser seemed to accept defeat and laid on top the blanket next to Katana, trying to keep at least some barrier if it was still too much. Katana grabbed onto Hyperlaser and snuggled into him regardless of the awkward blanket barrier. Hyperlaser held him back kindly and brushed his fingers through Katana's short hair, just like he used to. It was cozy, it was safe, it was normal…

Katana tried to fight the pull of drowsiness, but he couldn't stop his eye closing from how heavy his eyelid felt. But this loss was one he could accept as the warmth of sleep washed over him.

Tomorrow will be a new morning.