Path of the Hunters [PART 4] (NSFW)

"Greetings, human. Who the hell are you?"

Cross smiled, turning to Sunny. "Feeling better, now?"

*

She smirked. "Don't tell me you're thinking about lil' ol' me?"

"Tons. I'm just exhausted as hell."

*

He blushed. "Just... just about our promise."

"That makes two of us. Those bastards just kept coming, and overloading earlier didn't make things better."

*

She smiled, blushing slightly. "Just don't go overboard, okay?"

"Your lord and savior."

The hedgecat grinned. "I somehow doubt that."

The dog smirked. "Yeah, well, this part's over now. What's next?"

"London," Aurélie replied.

*

"I won't."

"Shall I make it rain fire to prove you wrong?"

Her smile was bright and amused. "No, thank you."

Nova nodded. "Once we hit the base, we're heading right back out."

*

She leaned across the table, nearing him. "How do I know you won't?"

"Well there goes the rest of my day."

"Smartass..." Muttered Katherine over his helmet speakers.

"Oui."

Sunny groaned. "For real? That fast?"

"The sooner this is over, the better."

"You're an odd human... I like you," she decided and shifted to sit in Cross's lap.

*

"Um... I don't know."

"If you don't wanna go," Nova said seriously. "Feel free to sit out. This don't involve the rest of you, anymore. I'm not draggin' anyone else on a suicide mission."

*

"In other words, you won't know when enough is enough, either?"

"Fuck that. I'm seein' this through til the end."

*

He frowned. "I... guess not."

"Aren't all of you rather exhausted by this mess? If anything, I'd suggest at least a day or two of rest before heading out again. Exhausted soldiers make mistakes. Mistakes get you killed."

"There is no time," Kane said. "This is something that 'as to be done as soon as possible."

Briggs sighed. "Can't exactly let you play the hero. That'd look fucked up on my part."

"I'm not exactly gonna let my friends risk their kids becoming orphans," Cross said. His teeth gritted slightly, the familiar migraine surfacing.

"We got your backs," Sol said. "A team sticks together, no matter what, right?"

Mani nodded. "Personal matter or not, we won't leave your side."

Nova smirked, shook his head. "Noble. Stupid as fuck, but noble."

*

She grinned, sitting back. "Relax! I'm just teasing!"

Star nuzzled Cross. "I love you," she murmured. Louder, she said, "I don't know what's going on, but can I help?"

"...Hell, if they'll let Elesis off her bet for a while, you can stay behind and take care of the kids. Christ knows you're better with babies than she could be."

"Babies...? Oh! Yeah!" She grinned at Aurélie and Nova. "You had them! Are they adorable? What are their names?"

Aurélie smiled, laying her head on Nova's shoulder. "Of course they are adorable. And their names are Aurora and Dart."

*

He blinked, then leaned over their small table to kiss her on the cheek. "Okay."

"What in the world is so damn important that you have to strike now instead of two days from now??"

"The safety of mes enfants," Aurélie snapped. "They will not stop attacking us until we 'alt their orders. This leaves everyone we are friends with vulnerable! They will stop at nothing."

"Who else besides this little group is in immediate danger of attack?"

"We'd rather not think about it, in fear of Murphy," Sol said. "Anyway, they are kinda cute. Hard to believe Nova could help produce something like them."

Nova glared fiercely at the hedgecat male. "The fuck do you mean by something!?"

Sol's eyes widened. "Oh, sh- My bad, man! I did not mean it like that!"

Mani sighed. "Honestly Sol, slip-ups like that will get your insides torn out, literally. Anyway, I think we can let Elesis off the leash, this time. Though I have to admit, she's done a pretty good job with Yue."

*

She blushed deeply, almost reaching a hand up to touch the spot... She shook herself, recomposing. "S-seriously though, you gotta have more confidence in yourself than that!"

He sighed and shook his head. "So this isn't something that you can get rid of using high-explosive rounds fired from a vulture at several thousand feet?"

"Typical human nature!" Mani snapped. "Destroy everything, and hope for the best! Don't you see the insanity in that!?"

"Mani! That's enough!" Sol's words silenced the hedgefox, who hung her head, not looking at anyone.

Damien laughed, "What? And your method is any better? Since we got here, we've been privy to the simple knowledge that you aren't that much different from us, so cut the holier than thou attitude and prejudices. You're only making a fool of yourself."

...And Mani snapped. "You bastard!!" she shouted, not in english, and rushed the human. She didn't get two steps before falling to the floor, unconcious... By her own husband's hand.

Sol sighed, cracking his knuckles. "...Damn it."

Star frowned slightly. "We don't just rush straight to kill. We need reasons. And if... Well, whatever the heck's going on doesn't require mass murder... We would all rather go for strategy first."

"Any idiot can jump straight to kill," Sunny added.

"Says an idiot."

"Shut the hell up."

Star only smiled.

*

"I don't know how..." He frowned thoughtfully. "But I'll try."