It hadn't taken too long, for the bonding ceremony to commence, and Icthius was giddy for its arrival. Not only for his unquenchable lust for making history through this, which he would, of course, it was inevitable, but also because Bastion had been terribly anxious ever since he'd signed them up. Honestly, it was he who was frightened to death that Totorian would find them out and...and what? Icthius snorted. Totorian wouldn't do anything just because Bastion-Icthius decided to find themselves a couple companions. To make history. Surely a gentleman of his stature would understand that.
Never the less, Bastion hadn't stopped fidgeting for the three days straight, and it was really quite uncomfortable, having a head moving about between one's shoulder blades like that, no concern at all for the present body. Icthius was beginning to fear he'd develop some sort of rash or permanently tangled fur.
Or perhaps it wasn't the prospect of bonding that had Bastion's knickers in a twist. Perhaps it was the...thing Totorian had acquired.
Perhaps, and Icthius' lips curled in a smirk at the very thought, it was the prospect of his precious knights, his ever so beloved loyalists, losing that had Bastion so terribly discontented.
But he couldn't dwell on that now. He had a bond too look after! And oh wasn't she the most gorgeous thing he'd ever seen? Her beautiful strawberry hide, mottled darker, with that pleasantly grey-pink underbelly that carried on to the spot beneath her chin and down the full length of her whip-like tail. She may not have been a slender and agile looking as Bastion's unexpected acquirement, but she was certainly the brightest.
.:That's not very nice, Vzexee is pretty too:.
Ah, yes. There was that, wasn't there?
Icthius scowled a little, flicking his ears back against Bastion's half-buried face. Xyppia was ever so very insistent that he be nice. He was nice! Nice enough, anyway. No proper gentleman was any nicer than he. Icthius lifted his head and gave a little sniff.
.:Not as pretty as you, my dear:. he arched a brow and let his scowl slide into an easy smirk.
Xyppia shot him a distrustful glance, and he could feel her uncertainty cascading off of her through their bond link. Should she take that as a compliment, or stick up for Vzexee? Eventually she chose to do neither, casting her eyes back on the shining floors of Star City's metal streets.
Icthius lifted his head just a little bit higher. Perhaps he should have felt bad, gloating over his bond's misfortune, of all things, but simply sharing his mind with someone wasn't going to change who he was. Icthius was quite content with himself as is, no sense in messing about with perfection, after all.
.:.:.::.:.:.
Totorian was not 'at home' when they returned to the hotel room, an elaborate place that must have cost a pretty penny, consisting of three individual bedrooms, a joint lounge, and two private bathrooms. Not that humanoid bathrooms were terribly conventional for such a breed as the Watarus, but it was nice none-the-less. Aesthetic and rich. Icthius had gloated over it when first they came, but the novelty wore off within the first few days of their stay. Bastion hadn't liked it from the start.
He knew what was in that third room, after all, and he didn't like the thought of being locked out of it. That meant his unwary second head could conspire with Totorian without his knowledge. Which, as he'd witnessed waking alone and bodiless on more than one occasion, had most certainly occurred.
.:It's all right:. the quiet, sexless mind voice of Vzexee wriggled its way into Bastion's conscience .:Any conspiracies will be countered by the greater good. Once we return to your planet we can send a message to your loyalists, then their conspiracies won't matter, will they?:.
Bastion shifted uncomfortably in his pouch. .:Perhaps, but it will be difficult to send a message to anyone while we're prisoners:.
.:We'll find a way:.
Perhaps. He wanted to send the word again, but he held it back. Bastion's uncertainty would not deter his bond's plans. It worried him, although he certainly thought the same way on many occasions, that Vzexee would see nothing but black and white. Sometimes sacrifices had to be made, after all, and sometimes there wasn't time wait for the right thing to come along.
Hopefully, and Bastion was loathe to think otherwise, Vzexee wouldn't be subject to this fact through first hand experience.
"And this is our bedroom. You'll be sleeping with me, of course, hopefully there's enough room for...the other one, as well,"Icthius shot a narrowed eyed look at Vzexee before craning his neck to stare down at Bastion's partially concealed face,� It�s not going to burn the bed things, is it Bastion?"
.:I'll try not to:.
"No,� said Bastion.
"Honestly, Bastion, you're becoming terribly incoherent. First you off and bond some...flamed hellion that's improperly sexed, and now you can't seem to string words together,"Icthius rolled his eyes,� I mean, really, Bastion."
Bastion could almost feel the discontentment rolling off of Xyppia in response to that. It was terribly...amusing, that Icthius, of all the potential bonds and sponsors, would take home the one of them who was most insistent that he be nice. Although, perhaps, it wasn't such an irony after all. The caetran (for that was what they were called) seemed rather...positively aligned. Not neutral, but good, wholly and completely. Or, at the very least, incomprehensibly nice. It was Icthius' own fault for acting on impulse that he got saddled with such a disagreeable bond.
Bastion felt terrible for Xyppia.
.:She's all right:. Vzexee's mind-voice chirped pleasantly .:She'll make something of him:.
Would she? Bastion withheld an awkward twitter of a laugh, burying himself further in the fold of the pouch. He wasn't sure if anything could be made of Icthius, but, like Bastion himself, Xyppia would become accustomed to Icthius' mentality. Her situation wasn't much different from Bastion's own.
"Oh, shush, Xyppia. I'm right and I'm certain you know it as well,"Icthius tipped his nose cieling ward and Bastion felt their tail flick against the silky carpets,"Bastion will never make anything of himself. He was never very ambitious to start with and he's only getting worse and worse as time goes on."
"Icthius..."
Bastion started at the word. How often had he said that, in those precise tones. This time he couldn't help the smile that flit across his lips. He was glad Icthius couldn't see it.
Icthius gave a roll of his eyes and bounded toward the next room, wrenching his claws around the door handle to push it open. Finding herself ignored, Xyppia gave a little sigh and trotted after him. Bastion couldn't have felt more sympathetic.
Bastion couldn't see but he immediately realized where they were. The third bedroom. With The Weapon. His head gave a little shudder and he flicked his eyes toward the two caetrae,"Icthius, I don't think it wise-."
"And this,"Icthius continued, rather loudly,� is the rebels secret weapon,� he puffed his chest a little, grinning,"Our secret weapon."
Bastion felt the shudder course through Vzexee's body, and watched his bond recoil from the room with a look of distaste twisting its maw. .:Bastion, this thing is evil:.
Bastion could have easily said the same. His mind voice bubbled with agreement, but any actual coherent thoughts were forced from his mind as the hotel room door burst open with a reverberating bang that caused Bastion-Icthius to jump and bristle his fur. Icthius immediately gave a hiss and turned about, shooing Xyppia out of the room after him.
"You're back! Good, good,"Totorian's voice floated down from the door,� I was beginning to wonder..." Bastion-Icthius rounded the corner, bonds in tow, and Totorian's mouth snapped shut with an audible 'click' of sharp teeth smacking against one another. Bastion couldn't see, but he could feel, both through Vzexee and Icthius, as the Watarus' eyes traveled over the caetrae, sharpened and unhappy.
Bastion sucked in a breath.
"Indeed we are, Totorian,"said Icthius, oblivious and smirking,� I hope we haven't worried you too much."
"...no,"Totorian's voice was quiet, almost contemplative. Bastion didn't trust the calmness of it. It wasn't right,� But perhaps I should have been."
"Oh?" Icthius cocked his head a little, flicking his ears upward.
Shut-up, Bastion wanted to say. Shut-up or he'll kill us.
.:He won't, will he?":.
Bastion didn't answer.
"Indeed,"Totorian padded toward them, his claws ripping soft, silk threads as they sank into the fabric and pulled out again. The noises were small and the damage completely unnoticeable, but each miniscule tear caused a cold shiver to course through Bastion's mind...and Vzexee's in turn.
"It seems you've brought home companions, Mr. Icthius."
"Bonds, actually,� said Icthius, catching Xyppia's eye. He jerked his head forward, and Bastion was almost positive a thought or two passed between them before she finally waddled forward and dipped her head in a polite bow.
"I'm Xyppia,"she said,� It�s very nice to meet you..." there was a long pause, before she continued,"Mr. Totorian."
Quick to follow Xyppia's example, Vzexee hurried forward, casting a lingering glance at Bastion before bowing in turn, its flames flickering awkwardly, brighter than normal. It was uncomfortable, Bastion could feel it, just as he could feel that uneasy tremor in its mind. He hoped the poor thing wasn't shaking, but there was nothing he could do as a disembodied head. He could even see him...
"And I'm Vzexee,"its voice shook as it spoke, but was otherwise loud and confident. It was trying, at least, not to seem weak before this stranger.
Bastion wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Bonds?" Totorian managed to drag his eyes away from the hatchlings to land back on Icthius,"I was under the impression that one had to...sign up, in order to participate in a bonding ceremony."
"Quite right, Totorian, but Bastion simply refused to let me tell you our plans,� he rolled his eyes,� I mean, honestly, but one must throw their other a bone now and again, mustn't they?" Icthius gave a little sigh and sat, causing Bastion to roll forward against his dorsal fin, his nose pressing into the hard cartilage, but he dare not move. He dare not even breathe.
.:Vzexee, come back here, I don't want you hurt.:.
Vzexee craned its neck and trotted quickly back behind Bastion-Icthius, Xyppia in tow.
.:Nothing bad's going to happen, is it?:.
.:I don't know:.
"Indeed,� the word was growled, and Totorian slunk around them, his ears pressed back against his skull. Bastion could finally see him, his hackles raised and fur bristled, lips curled back in an almost-snarl.
What had he done?
Bastion stiffened, urging Vzexee on around to his other side. He did so, warily, but Xyppia didn't follow this time. She sat where she was, sizing him up with a horrid little frown marring her pretty rouge face.
"And you've showed them the weapon, have you?"
"Certainly. She is my bond, after all, she'll be able to join our cause."
"And tell me, Mr. Icthius, what cause is that?" his eye drifted to the bright and flickering form of Vzexee,�And what of your other�s bond? Is he going to join our cause as well?"
"It,"Icthius correct with a soured tone,� hardly matters, does it Totorian? One dragon is certainly good enough."
"I'm not a tool!" Xyppia growled,� And you're being horrid, Icthius! Vzexee matters as much as I do."
"Oh, shush, Xyppia,"he rolled his eyes again before returning his attention to Totorian,"She'll need a little convincing, of course."
"What cause, Icthius, do you think you're fighting for?"
Icthius shifted his feet a little, cocking his head and sliding his mouth open in a proper smirk,� We�re to return the true king to his throne, of course, and do away with the loyalists."
Totorian gave a grunt and slunk off to the other side of the room. Bastion could just make him out from over the edge of the pouch, pacing back and forth across the back wall. He stopped, jerking his head towards them,� You remember why I brought you here, don't you?"
"Of course, Totorian, I'm not daft. You brought us to prove that we are loyal to you, and to the true king."
"To get the weapon,"Totorian continued, as if he hadn't heard Icthius' words,� And to prove your loyalty by not telling anyone of it."
Bastion felt the muscles of his body tense, and a quiet little gasp echoed from Icthius' mouth. Realization, as it were, had dawned. Immediately Icthius leapt to his feet and trotted forward, his ears pushed back and shadowing Bastion,� I�d never have shown her if I didn't believe she was trustworthy."
"Trustworthy to what, Mr. Icthius? The rebels or the loyalists?"
"The rebels, of course. You know I'm loyal, Totorian."
"You?" Totorian gave a humorless chuckle, "Yes, perhaps. But not your other, and not his bond either." He sat down, hard, and looked away, teeth clenched in a silent snarl.
Icthius stepped forward, readying himself to speak again, but Totorian cut him off,� How long is it now, Mr. Icthius, until you have to relinquish control of your body?"
"Three days, but-."
"Good...good,"Totorian nodded to himself,� We�ll return home then...I believe I have things sorted out."
.:What does that mean, Bastion? We'll be all right, won't we?:.
Bastion didn't reply.