[h1][center][color=#c0001d]Eris[/color] and [color=gold]Kate[/color][/center][/h1]

[center](collab w/ [@BunniesOfDoom])[/center]

Kate didn't react to the chaos-bringer as the villain grabbed her throat. Her face remained neutral as she sent flames licking out of her neck, ensuring that the crazed woman's hands wouldn't be able to keep their grip for long. As she did so, Kate responded with an uncharacteristic calm in her voice - both for the fiery-tempered goddess, and for the situation at hand. [color=gold]"Different to who, exactly?"[/color] she began, speaking slow and measured. [color=gold]"Did you really think I was somehow on...on [i]your[/i] side?"[/color]

Eris's gaze flickered for a moment, blinking fiercely as if trying to keep tears away. She held tightly to the woman's throat for far longer than she should have, the flames cutting into her skin and causing it to bubble. Eventually she released with a hiss, ripping her hand back and grabbing that wrist. [color=#c0001d]"I should have known you were no different than the others. I thought-,"[/color] she paused a moment as she shook her head. [color=#c0001d]"It doesn't matter anymore."[/color] The ground below her turned to liquid and she began to sink below. [color=#c0001d]"You're just like every other lying hero out there."[/color] 

Kate's expression turned angrier as Eris spoke, and doubly so when the chaos-bringer began to sink into the ground. [color=gold]"Oh no you don't,"[/color] she snarled, and jumped at the villain as she sank into the ground, grabbing her forcefully as she did so. As they both sank completely into the ground, Kate kept her forward momentum going to endlessly tackle the villain through the ground. She had hated this before, but this time she was angrier and felt that she had the upper hand.

As they crashed through the liquidfied floor, Eris kept her power going. One floor after another, they pushed through until she finally brought the power to an end and the two crashed harshly onto the ground floor of the prison. Liquid from the floors above them dripped off them like water. Eris found herself trying to get her breath back as she lifted her leg and sent a harsh kick at Queen. [color=#c0001d]"Get off me!"[/color] she wheezed as she scrambled to try and get out from under the woman. 

The debris that followed them down hit Kate heavily, as the two landed in a way that Kate was essentially a shield for the villain. Kate winced as she felt the heavy impacts on her back, which her wings were powerless to do anything about. Then before she could react, she felt the heavy kick from the chaos-bringer below her, which hit just above her knee and caused her to partially roll off as the force of the kick sent that leg airborne. But Kate was quick to react, and not about to let the pain get in the way of her objective. She managed to keep hold on the villain with her arms grasping their counterparts tightly, and she brought her leg back down to knee Eris wherever she could manage. Her eyes sparkled with flame as she scowled back at the villain. [color=gold]"Make me,"[/color] she replied darkly.

Eris squirmed underneath Kate, trying to wrangle herself free. [color=#c0001d]"You're such a child! Make me? Really?!"[/color] She eventually was able to wrangle an arm free and she reached out to grasp a hold of a light fixture by its pole. She brought the item around in a swing, hoping to knock Kate off her and finally get some wriggle room so she could get a full breath of air. At this point, her lungs were burning but her diaphragm refused to expand far enough to let her get a full breath, especially with Queen holding onto her so tightly. [color=#c0001d]"Get off me!"[/color] She repeated again, though this time far angier than a moment before. 

Kate found herself somehow even more annoyed as the chaos-bringer managed to get an arm free and grab hold of something to attack with. Though Kate wanted to keep the villain down, she also knew that light pole would probably hurt a lot, and made the split-second decision to stop that instead by halting its swing with both of her hands shoving against it. She still sat on top the villain, but no longer had control of her upper body as she stopped the light pole in its tracks, using her two-handed advantage to yank it free from the villain's grasp and toss it aside where it couldn't be reached. [color=gold]"Who's the child now, you pest?"[/color]

[color=#c0001d]"Pest? Pest?!"[/color] Eris's anger flared, causing the area to be doused in red as her power consumed the room. [color=#c0001d]"I am not a pest."[/color] Her voice grew slow and dropped a few octives as her red eyes locked on Queen's face. A dark grin crossed her face as she brought her hands up by her chest, red energy condensing there between her palms. [color=#c0001d]"I'm a fucking monster."[/color] With that, she released the energy in a powerful pulse, Queen directly in its path. 

As the chaos-bringer built up red energy, Kate had plenty of time to manifest a shield in front of her. When the energy was released, the shield did not stop the attack. Instead, it translated the energy into a harsh knockback, sending Kate flying backwards across the derelict room and breaking the shield construct in the process. Kate barely had time to think as she was sent flying, using her wings in a desperate attempt to slow down before smacking the opposite wall. This wasn't enough though, and although she did slow her velocity considerably, she still smacked against the wall with enough force to briefly knock the wind out of her as she fell to the ground. She paused a moment as she caught her breath, and then looked up at the offending villain, flames dancing around her eyes, hair, and fists. [color=gold]"Yes you are,"[/color] she said coldly. [color=gold]"You are a pest. And nothing more."[/color]

As Queen was flung off, Eris rose up from the ground quickly, finally able to take a full breath and feeling the relief as the burning sensation in her lungs began to fade to nothing. She snorted as she stepped over to the lamp that Queen had just tossed to the side. She hefted it in both hands as she turned to face Queen, her eyes dark and dangerous. [color=#c0001d]"Tell me, Queen. If I make you bleed, will it be golden like ambrosia? How hard do I need to hit you to find out?"[/color] She stepped over towards the woman, raising the lamp up like a major league bat before she brought it down towards the woman's head. 

Despite her anger, Kate managed a smile as she watched the chaos-bringer grab the lamp and attempt to talk big. [color=gold]"You'll never find out,"[/color] she replied as she manifested two short swords, set them alight with flame, and used them to slice the lamp in half as it came down towards her, causing the two halves to fall harmlessly beside her. She then brought the two swords to an X, inches from the villain's throat. [color=gold]"You are but a pest. It is your destiny,"[/color] she said with a smirk.

Eris let out a manic laugh as Queen brought the swords up by her throat. [color=#c0001d]"My destiny? My destiny is to burn this whole world to ash. And you and any other pathetic hero isn't going to stop me!"[/color] She brought a hand up, sticking it between the blades at her throat before using her other hand to fire chaotic energy at the woman, that hand with a finger and thumb extended like a gun. She even made pewing noises as she shot the chaotic energy at her. [color=#c0001d]"Heros are just lying fools who think they're better than anyone else! When the world burns, what will there be left for them to save? What would they do then? Turn on each other? I can't wait to see."[/color]

Kate watched as the chaos-bringer lived up to her name (well, the name Kate thought of her as anyway) and "fired" a chaos bullet right at her face. But she didn't try to dodge it; she let it graze her cheek, leaving searing pain and a noticeable mark on her face. She smiled, almost endearingly, at the villain. [color=gold]"Another scar for my collection,"[/color] she said brightly. [color=gold]"How kind of you."[/color] Her tone got darker as she continued, not ever moving the two swords from the villain's throat. [color=gold]"You can't even burn a parking lot to ash. You're no real threat. But if feeling like you're somebody makes you feel better, I won't stop you."[/color]

[color=#c0001d]"I'm no threat?"[/color] Eris's eyes moved to the new scar on the woman's face before she leaned forward and licked it. [color=#c0001d]"This nice little mark says otherwise."[/color] Her hands began to pump her energy into the blades at her throat, finally sick of having them there, no matter how enticing and thrilling it was. When the blades showed no signs of melting like she had expected, she let out a scoff. [color=#c0001d]"I'm sick of this. Bored already. This is just turning into a see who's dick is bigger show. I'm not here for your entertainment or anyone else's for that matter."[/color] A wall of chaotic energy formed in front of her and she used it as a spring board to push away from the blades by her neck. Then, while still jumping back from Queen, she began to spawn more chaotic stepping stones. She ran along them, heading towards the window just on the other side of the room. [color=#c0001d]"Catch me if you can, copper!"[/color] She called out with a cackle as she ran. 

Kate rolled her eyes as the chaos-bringer tried to run from her. [color=gold]"Playing hard to get, I see,"[/color] she called out after, her wings catapulting herself into the air as she gave chase. It took her seconds to reach the window, alighting on its sill like a bird as she watched the villain reach her. She crossed her arms in theatric disappointment. [color=gold]"Running? Really?"[/color] she said judgingly.

Eris couldn't help but laugh at the way Queen reacted to her attempting to flee. She paused on her stepping stones, her head tilting to the side as she eyed her. [color=#c0001d]"Oh,"[/color] she swooned as she batted her eyelashes at Queen. [color=#c0001d]"I knew there was a reason I loved you."[/color] She laughed as the stepping stone under her vanished and she plummeted down towards the floor again. Her red energy formed below her, developing a slide and catching her before she hit the ground. She slid along it, giving a wave over her shoulder as she zipped along towards the open door of the room. As the slide came to an end, she popped off it and began a sprint down the hall, heading for where she hoped was the front door. 

Kate sighed and shook her head as the villain once again flirted with her. This charade would never end, though Kate supposed she preferred it to her opponents being angry all the time. Still, she wondered what the chaos-bringer's motives were, considering how diametrically opposed the two were. She was in no hurry to catch up because she knew she could fly much faster, so she casually lept off her perch on the windowsill and gave chase, not bothering to go anywhere near her top flying speed. That wouldn't have helped anyway, considering the tight corridors, but even in her relaxed pace she caught up to the running villain in no time, choosing to fly behind her and match her pace. She made a point to let out a loud yawn as she did so, both announcing her presence and broadcasting just how hard she wasn't working.

Eris peeked over her shoulder to see Queen casually flying along behind her. She let out a bit of a laugh as she whirled around, running backwards, her pace slowing significantly. She let Queen's momentum carry her close as she threw her arms out to embrace her. She wrapped her arms tightly around the angel before she let her feet slip out from underneath her. Either Kate would carry their weight aloft or the two of them would crash down into the floor below. Either way, Eris didn't care as she brought her mouth up to kiss Kate. [color=#c0001d]"I can't be mad at you. Look how your wings glisten in the light. You are beauty incarnate. Venus born in an angelic form."[/color] 

Kate expected the villain to continue running, or to duck into a room, or to attempt to throw up some chaos walls. What she did not expect was for her to turn around and stop, making Kate run into her even at her relaxed pace. As Eris embraced Kate, she briefly kept the two aloft before being confused enough to stop using her wings, which resulted in the two falling and briefly tumbling, before coming to a rest on the ground. At was at this moment that Kate noticed she was being kissed once more by the villain. She had a flashback to the park, where they had first met...and fought. This time it was a little less bewildering, considering their brief past, but still confusing enough for Kate's mind to very briefly short circuit before snapping back and realizing she had kissed the villain back. This made her even more confused, which was only compounded by the chaos-bringer piling on the pillow talk. Kate tried a few times to speak unsuccessfully, before finally getting her mind back in (relative) working order. [color=gold]"What...is this?"[/color] she asked simply.

[color=#c0001d]"This is love, my sweet Queen. Don't act like you didn't just kiss me back."[/color] Eris's hand slid along Queen's cheek, carrassing it lightly before she ran her finger along the newly formed mark there. [color=#c0001d]"You have to admit, we make quite the couple."[/color] She laid there on her back, gazing into Queen's face with an alluring smile. 

[color=gold]"Do we, though?"[/color] Kate asked. [color=gold]"People like you are who I came here to fight, and to defeat. Not because of some costumed heroes, but because it's what I was made to do. And we did just fight, did we not?"[/color] She sat in the silence for a bit, looking down at the villain's oddly comforting smile, considering her still-glowing red eyes and all. [color=gold]"How does...this...work?"[/color]

Eris allowed her head to tilt to the side. [color=#c0001d]"It doesn't work."[/color] She said with a small laugh. [color=#c0001d]"It's not supposed to work. You said it yourself, I'm the type of person you live to take down and yet,"[/color] she waved a hand, gesturing to the two of them laying on the ground together. [color=#c0001d]"Here we are. If there's anything I am very, very good at, it's breaking the rules."[/color] She slid her fingers through Kate's hair. [color=#c0001d]"We just need to break a few rules and the world would be ours. No one would ever stop us, could ever hope to stop us. Just me and you."[/color]

[color=gold]"But see, that's where you lose me,"[/color] Kate replied. [color=gold]"I'm not here to conquer. Never was, never will be. I've done enough conquering for generations. Here, I'm here for..."[/color] she paused. [color=gold]"Well, not that. I'll never want what you want, and at the end of the day I need to stop you if you're going to put peoples' lives at stake. Especially since none of the so-called 'heroes' can fight worth shit,"[/color] she said with a small chuckle. [color=gold]"But...here, now... I like this."[/color]

Eris allowed her eyes to scan Kate's face, her thumb lightly rubbing along the woman's cheek. [color=#c0001d]"It is nice, isn't it? Just take a moment for ourselves. The world be damned."[/color] Her lips pursed for a moment as she watched her. [color=#c0001d]"What if, we just leave, yeah? Who's going to stop us? Those heroes definitely can't stop me and they don't give a damn about you. Let's just go. Live our lives how we want to live them, together. I'll even stop killing people, well, some people. I can't promise you a lie. Some people will die by my hand. That's just how life is for me but I could hold back. For you. If that's what you want from me. I would hold back for you. Maybe just kill the really bad heroes. You know, the ones doing it for all the wrong reasons. The fake ones."[/color] She was trying to negotiate in her own way. She was very, very bad at it but she was willing to try. 

Kate sighed. [color=gold]"I don't mind if you kill evil people. You'd be doing me a favor, honestly. But even the heroes doing it for the wrong reasons are,"[/color] she paused and lightly put her head over her face as if to cover it in shame, [color=gold]"...I hate to say it, but necessary."[/color] She made a show of spitting after she said that, as if she was spitting out the words she had just said. [color=gold]"I can't do everything for this town. One day [i]real[/i] evil will show up and Liberty City will need everyone it can get to defeat it. Right now we have no chance. So as much as these pathetic heroes infuriate me...I need them to stay alive."[/color] She sighed and gazed into the villain's eyes. [color=gold]"Not to bring the mood down or anything."[/color]

Eris laughed lightly, moving her other hand to the woman's other cheek. [color=#c0001d]"Then we continue this dance. Day in and day out, we go against each other. I do something to lure you out, you defeat me or chase me off. Rinse and repeat and we never get to be together like we want."[/color] She let her hands drop down on each side of her head, looking up at Queen with a dark smile. [color=#c0001d]"I love you, Queen. You deserve to be recognized for your greatness. You are a true hero and if it means that I have to still be that villain until the world sees it too, then so be it. I'll be the villain the world needs so you can shine."[/color] She leaned forward, bringing her lips up to meet Queen's again in a deep kiss as her hands moved up to cradle her face. [color=#c0001d]"I'll see you again, my sweet angel."[/color] The ground below her began to ripple as her power turned it to liquid. [color=#c0001d]"And until then, fight the good fight and I'll continue to go bump in the night."[/color] She began to sink below the surface, her hands being the last things to leave. 

Kate watched the villain sink into the ground, knowing that she wouldn't be able to stop her this time. She lay there for a long time after, thinking about all that had just happened. [color=gold]"It doesn't have to be one or the other,"[/color] she spoke softly, as if the chaos-bringer could still hear her. She felt torn at a deep level. She knew she could never abandon her purpose, but she wished deeply to continue down the road of love with the chaos woman. She knew there had to be a way to do both, but it would be tricky at best and cataclysmic at worst. Of course, the easy solution was for Eris to stop killing and causing mayhem, but Kate knew there was no chance. So, she resigned herself to staying the course, and hoping to steal a kiss from the mysterious woman whenever they found themselves alone after a fight. For now, she had some heroes to address.

[hr]

[h1][center][color=#c0001d]Eris[/color][/center][/h1]

Eris rose up out of the ground a few blocks away. She clawed her way through the liquid cement until she was on her knees on the sidewalk. She sat there for a while, thinking about what had just occured. She was so close, so incredibly close to getting Queen behind her. She drove her fist into the cement, feeling a sense of euphoria as her knuckles split on the sharp ground. She brought her hand up, looking at her bloody knuckles for a moment before she licked the blood from her hand. Her uninjured hand dragged along her face and she drifted back and away, Kersey's eyes being the ones to open and look around. She blinked a few times as she slowly stood from the pavement. She wasn't sure where she was or how much damage she had done. Her hand hurt and when she looked down, she saw her knuckles split. She hoped the blood on her hands were her own and not some poor doctor that Eris had killed like she said she would. She didn't have her bag. She didn't have her laptop. She didn't even have their trench coat. She was still in that hospital gown she was wearing when Eris took over. She needed to move, figure out where she was, and go home. She couldn't linger, not out in the open and so obvious. So wrapping the gown tighter around herself, she began a barefoot sprint to no where in particular. She was just going to keep running along the streets until she recognized something, anything. After all, all roads eventually lead to Rome. 

[hr]

[h1][center][color=gold]Kate[/color][/center][/h1]

Kate eventually made her way out of the compound. Despite the fact that Eris had escaped, Kate considered her efforts a success as no doctors had been killed at the villain's hands. Still, as much as Kate had to admit that she did have a spark with the chaos-bringer, she was not happy that the villain was loose again, and undoubtedly soon to cause trouble once more. But for now, she was ready to put her mind at ease for the rest of the day. She decided to take a lazy flight over the city instead of taking the subway or a cab, as snaking through the skyline was always relaxing. Unfortunately for her though, her respite was short-lived as about halfway home she heard some commotion. She turned the corner to see what the fuss was, and...[color=gold][i]well, shit.[/i][/color]

A huge four-armed...thing appeared to be terrorizing the block in front of her. She could see a handful of heroes attempting to do something, noticing an oversized girl the most as she seemed to be the best match for the monster. But it wasn't looking fantastic for the heroes, which made Kate roll her eyes, and then she saw it. That lady from the park that had interrupted Kate's fight with Eris. Her anger flared up immediately, in such a way that really proved she was deserving of being a citizen of Liberty City. [color=gold]"Oh FUCK this asshole,"[/color] she yelled, and flew full speed at the battle. As she did so, she manifested a huge two-handed spear and targeted the large monster. For one, she felt that the girl from the park wasn't as big of a threat, and for two, she saw said girl get pinned to the ground by an unfamiliar hero as she approached. Attacking the monster was the better tactical choice in that moment, so she careened straight for it. As she closed in, she lit the spear with flames, and used both arms to send the spear straight at the monster's chest. She didn't know what the monster was made of, but this was a great way to gauge what it could take.

[@BunniesOfDoom] [@Omega Man] [@Eviledd1984] [@Silver Carrot] [@Azure Bubbles]