[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/dynalight-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210129/5dfe41342945abb68192ffb1a0f4ba23.png[/img][/url] [img]https://i.imgur.com/vQ0MMg5.png[/img] [color=black][sub][sub] COLLAB BETWEEN [@Rodiak], [@Vicier] & [@Pyxis][/sub][/sub][/color] [sup][center][color=black][b]____________________________________________________ [/b][/color] [color=pink][b]_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _[/b][/color][/center][/sup] [/center] [indent][color=silver] Anzu had let go of Carlos's hand long ago and was now pacing in front of the Hades cabin. Black eyes darting from the door to the window and down to the ground in front of her. She could feel it, deep in her core eating away at her gut all the while her blood boiled under the sun. Her fingers were kept busy by tracing the patterns of her sword's sheath. The tiny intricate patterns that were engraved in Anzu's mind already were not helping her keep her cool. Carlos had tried as well, and even he knew when to back off and let her simmer for a few minutes. And despite her the bubbling anger in her core, Anzu was worried sick for Erin. She couldn't imagine what the other girl must be going through at this moment. To know that if she failed, she'd be turned over to the God of War and be at his mercy. Fuck. Anzu groaned, kicking one of the rocks in front of her and watching it skit away and down the small trail of cabins. That's when she spotted Erin walking down the stairs of the Ares cabin. Anzu wasted no time. She didn't even let Carlos know as she bolted towards Erin. Her hair whipping behind her in a pastel pink trail and katana in hand. When she finally reached Erin, she said nothing as she threw her arms around the other girl tightly and held her there for a few seconds. [color=d998a0]"Fuck him. Fuck him and his stupid face."[/color] Anzu huffed. After a few seconds, she finally pulled away to examine Erin. Her eyes softened, but the heat in her only grew when she saw the state Erin was in. Gods, it broke her heart. Anzu reached up and ran her slender fingers through the dark hair. [color=d998a0]"Talk to me, Ren."[/color] Her voice was now soften, gentler. She hated seeing her friend like this. The feeling of Anzu's arms wrapping tightly around her lithe figure; Erin froze. Her body stiffening. The blur of bubblegum-pink an unexpected obstacle, though... it wasn't as though it was unwelcome. Even still, she didn't feel as though she deserved this. Any of this. She didn't deserve the onslaught of love and support she was getting, not when she knew damn well how much of a bitch she was to almost everyone in the camp. Friends not excluded. But after a few more moments of contact... she couldn't fight against it any longer. Tears once more glistening in her dark eyes; Erin closed them. Her arms raising to wrap tightly around the other girl's figure; gentle at first, but it wasn't long before she tightened the hug. Holding her friend - and pretty much her only female friend - almost desperately against her. Fingers splayed at first; Erin gently curled them. Her head dropping down to bury into the crook of Anzu's neck, her voice was a soft mumble. The warmth of her breath flowing out over the girl's skin. [color=#918ABB]"..I-... I didn't do this... I swear on Styx..."[/color] Carlos approached the two girls quietly. He knew how much Anzu loved Erin, how much she cared for the girl, and how badly she wanted to protect her. Despite Anzu's cold and abrasive outer shell, she had managed to slither her way past Erin's walls. It was a friendship he had never seen coming, and yet here he was watching the two girls embracing each other as if it would the last. Carlos stood there, giving the two of them a few minutes to themselves. He didn't want to but right in, not yet anyway. He understood how badly a much-needed hug Erin needed at the moment. A few minutes passed before he cleared his throat and place a gentle hand on Anzu's shoulder. [color=7F6B5D]"Hey, you don't have to swear on Styx. We know you didn't do it, Erin."[/color] His voice was low, almost smoothing. [color=7F6B5D]"If we can help in any way, you tell us, okay? You're not alone in this one."[/color] Anzu had buried her face on Erin's dark hair, eyes tightly closed, holding back her own tears. Her hands held Erin tighter when she heard those words. She didn't have to say that; Anzu knew Erin hadn't done shit. She was an innocent woman being put on trial for a crime she had not commit. The more she thought about that, the more Anzu felt the lump on her throat rise and her skin boil. She wanted to scream and curse at the real guilty party, tear them down, and rip their insides for doing this to Erin. Carlos's hand, cold against her warm shoulder, made her snap out of the trance. The contact made her realize that they had been in this position for a few minutes now. She pulled back slowly and tenderly cupped the sides of Erin's cheeks, using her thumbs to wipe any trailing tears. [color=d998a0]"We know, we know you didn't do it."[/color] Anzu shook her head just a tad, strands of her colored hair falling over now soft gaze. The gentle touch against her cheeks, ridding her of her tears, and Erin couldn't help it as her gaze drew back up. Her dark eyes rising to meet with the two figures that were stood in front of her. It was something she wasn't sure she was going to get used to- all day she'd had company. From the moment she'd left- no... fled. She'd fled the Big House, and the freak in the attic. And now-... [color=#918ABB]"..I-..."[/color] But the words were stuck in her throat. It was just-... Why was it so hard..? Asking for help was supposed to be natural- something that everybody did. And yet, it almost physically pained her to so much as think about it. She knew it was pride. She'd never had such hubris until four years ago, but still. Closing her eyes, her brows furrowed and head angling slightly, showing physically the struggle she was going through over her features, Erin drew in a breath. And letting it out slowly, she tried again. Her voice soft... broken, [color=#918ABB]"..I-... I need your h-help..."[/color] It truly was heartbreaking seeing the two of them like that, especially Erin. Carlos had always seen the daughter of Hades act so distant, and it was no secret that the girl could be a bitch, but now... Now that Anzu had gotten close to Erin and by association, he had grown closer to her as well. Erin didn't deserve this; she already had enough on her plate. Carlos stepped closer, careful not to overwhelm the girl in front of Anzu, and nodded tightly. [color=7F6B5D]"Of course, we'll help you in any way we can."[/color] Carlos smiled, [color=7F6B5D]"Name the time and place, and I'll be there, right Zu? I'll be your lucky charm."[/color] He was trying to lighten up the mood a bit, cheer up the girl and show her that even in situations like this, she couldn't let them get the better of her. The corner of her lips turning up in the smallest shadow of a half-smile; Erin's soft laugh was more like a scoff as his words hit her ears. It couldn't even be helped. The reaction was involuntary; though she did manage to refrain from rolling her eyes at the irony of it all. Here she was, struggling to even [i]think[/i] about asking for help, and he was just offering it up on a silver platter. And he didn't even realize it. [color=#918ABB]"..how about as soon as possible..?"[/color] The words tumbling from her dark lips before she even really thought about them, Erin shifted her gaze. Focusing it more directly on the man standing in front of her, even as her fingers curled over Anzu's side; hands having slipped down as they pulled away from the hug they'd been entangled in, [color=#918ABB]"..packed... and-... and ready to come with me..?"[/color] As soon as Anzu heard the words from Erin's lips, her head turned to look at Carlos. Her lips parted, but no sounds came out. Carlos? But he couldn't leave, not without her. What if - no. It would be selfish of her to try to hold him back. To not allow him to go and stay at her side. Anzu lowered her hands down to her side and away from Erin's face as she fully turned to look at Carlos. [color=d998a0]"You'll come back with Erin when this is all over."[/color] She already knew the idiot would agree to go with Erin. Carlos wasn't one to shy away from an adventure. Especially one as big as this. [color=d998a0]"Take care of Erin,"[/color] Anzu looked at the girl, the tiniest smile ghosting her lips. [color=d998a0]"You'll have the camp's lucky charm with you."[/color] She took Erin's hand with one hand, and with the other, she tucked some of the dark hair behind the girl's ear. [color=d998a0]"Don't let him get in too much trouble, okay?"[/color] Anzu had a sick feeling in her gut when she said that. [color=7F6B5D]"Yes."[/color] Carlos didn't even have to think about it. It had crossed his mind when Erin had, for the first time ever that he knew, asked for their help. While he had thought that she'd be asking Anzu, he was surprised to see Erin turn to him. Anzu was by far a superior fighter than he was. She had been trained since birth, following her family's tradition. At the same time, Carlos was glad that Erin had asked him and not her. He'd come back. He had enough luck in his pocket to know that he wouldn't die out there. Anzu didn't. Despite all of her training and discipline, he was always afraid he would lose her. [color=7F6B5D]"I'll come back, Zu, don't worry."[/color] The hand he had resting on Anzu's shoulder gave her a little reassuring squeeze. He'd never forgive himself if he didn't come back. [color=7F6B5D]"I'll be a good boy."[/color] [color=#918ABB]"..I promise..."[/color] Nodding her head a little stiffly, the slightly nauseating feeling she'd had earlier in her cabin returning, though this time, she knew it was out of guilt. It was more than clear that Anzu didn't want him going- as much as she put on that front, the girl cared deeply and with every fiber of her being. And knowing that she was the reason behind the worry-... Erin's stomach churned at the thought. Fingers curling, she gave a gentle squeeze of her friend's hand as though in an attempt to reassure her that she'd at least try her best to keep Carlos from getting into trouble. Just another weight to add to the already heavy load on her shoulders. [color=#918ABB]"..you guys know I wouldn't ask if-..."[/color] She let her words trail off. They all knew where she was going with it anyway. She'd just never ask. It was as simple as that. [color=d998a0]"Shhh, we know."[/color] Anzu caressed Erin's cheek, the smile returning to her lips once more. [color=d998a0]"It's okay."[/color] She had to get over her fears. She didn't want to lose Carlos. She didn't want to lose Erin. Or anyone she so deeply cared about. Anzu took a deep breath, hand moving from Erin's cheek to her shoulder. There were no ill feelings towards the girl in front of her for choosing Carlos. He was the lucky one, after all. [color=d998a0]"And you, you better take care of Erin, okay? When she comes back, I better not see a scratch on her."[/color] Anzu whipped her head to look at Carlos with her dark eyes. It was a warning to him, too; Carlos wasn't allowed to get hurt. They would have to talk, go over everything and make sure Carlos promised her properly that he would return to her no matter what. Because if he didn't, he'd force either Erin or Spencer to open a portal to Tartarus so she could drag his ass back. Anzu's eyes soften for a second or two before turning back to Erin.[color=d998a0]"Want to go to Carlos's cabin? Relax a bit before going back over there?"[/color] Anzu glanced back at the cabin Erin called home for a second. He could see it in their eyes. Both of them. Both girls had their own thoughts and feelings bottle up for their own sake. All Carlos could do was put his luck to use and help Erin get that stupid bird and come back. He saw it when Anzu looked at him, and the warning as well. That girl would go through all versions of hell for the people she cared about. Carlos loved that about Zu. [color=7F6B5D]"No hair on Erin's head will be hurt."[/color] Carlos chuckled softly, moving his hand to rest on Anzu's lower back. [color=7F6B5D]"You're welcome to come over,"[/color] He nodded, offering Erin a smile. It was tempting- so fucking tempting. Though even as the thought of accepting the offer entered her mind, it was quickly overshadowed and drowned out by Brandon's familiar voice; echoing the same words that he's said to her before she'd left him to get on packing while she searched out the others. [color=black][i]'Either way, we gotta hurry up and get a move-on, Ren. Time is of the essence.'[/i][/color] Time... it was a bitch. And it was currently working against them. [color=#918ABB]"..I want to- I really fucking want to... but I can't..."[/color] She couldn't believe the words were coming out of her own mouth; and shaking her head lightly, Erin closed her eyes. Heaving out a heavy sigh before her dark gaze returned to the duo before her, [color=#918ABB]"..if-... if I put this off, I'll just end up changing my mind..."[/color] Trailing off, she drew her hands back into her body. Once more slipping them into the pockets of the hoodie she'd not long ago [i]'borrowed'[/i] from her childhood friend, [color=#918ABB]"..I should really deal with what's waiting for me in my cabin... D-Do me a favor, though..? If either of you see bolts for brains... tell him to come see me..?"[/color] Nodding, Anzu let Erin pull away. [color=d998a0]"If we see him, we'll let him know."[/color] She took a step back, her back pressing against Carlos's side. It wasn't a surprise that Erin had decided to take Zeru with them on the quest. He was a capable fighter that had the ability to fucking fly. It was pretty much a given that he would be a vital member of the group. [color=d998a0]"Go, I'm sure you have a lot of people to talk to."[/color] Anzu would have to help Carlos pack, make sure he took enough pair of socks and a toothbrush. Make sure he'd be ready to leave camp when Erin and the rest were ready. Her fingers wrapped around the hilt of her sword tighter at the thought again. She could hear her [i]O bāchan[/i] scolding her all the way from Osaka for being so weak. The hand Carlos had placed on Anzu's back wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer against him as he looked at Erin. [color=7F6B5D]"We will. I'll be ready when you are, Erin."[/color] He offered the girl a smile and a nod. He was excited, Carlos couldn't help that. He'd be leaving camp in a few hours, and he wasn't necessarily the best at hiding his emotions. And he wanted to show Erin he wasn't afraid of going out there. That wasn't the problem, anyway. [/color][/indent]