Chaos-Two didn't understand. That little rat thing had been screaming only the day before. Perhaps out of fear, out of pain. Vargas had nearly de-winged it. They could almost feel pity for it, but they refrained from showing such an emotion at the moment.
They dropped a fruit in front of it and dropped down to all fours,
A command. Their first, they believed. There were no butterflies here. None of that emotion they struggled to find a word for. Not... yet.
They sighed and lay down, setting their chin on their hand, staring at the creature in front of them currently demolishing the poor piece of food. It didn't deserve that.
They gave Agate-One a flat look,
This was going to be a long four months.
Vedette looked up and shot a nasty look at Chaos-Two, growling and glaring at the fruit. She needed to be nice to this imbecile, though. If she sucked up to them, she'd have an ally.
She ate the fruit and glared at Chaos-Two again, grumbling before reluctantly walking over. She hopped into the space where their arms folded and curled up there, flopping their head on their arm.
Fuck Vargas.
Vedette wasn't a number. Not a gemstone. Perhaps this weakling would understand.
This was too easy.
Chaos-Two shrugged,
They were not his child. They were a tool. But they were Khavur's sibling and the same to the other spawn.
They were alive because of his... mercy.
But as long as she was quiet.
Chaos-Two picked up Vedette by the scruff and stood, carrying her towards their nest and setting her down in it. They walked around in a circle before settling down with a huff.
Vedette squirmed and hissed as she was picked up, but quickly curled up against Chaos-Two's body heat. The Sentinel was somewhere nearby, probably. Watching. Fucking stalker.
She deserved a name just by being born! She was Vedette!
But she supposed training couldn't hurt. At least she'd be able to defend herself a little against the bastard known as Vargas. She stood up and shook herself out, turning to Chaos-Two.
Well, that was one way to get her motivated.
They sighed and lifted their head again, resting their chin on a hand,
Chaos-Two scratched at their chin and hummed,
Vedette didn't care about Chaos-Two's sibling, but it was a warning. Escape wasn't possible, not without consequence. But the urges to fight and to bite and kick and scream were ones she didn't really feel like fighting.
But Chaos-Two was right. Putting those urges to work instead could be something she could possibly do.
But someday she'd bite Vargas' stupid nose and taste the blood under his skin. She'd add to his collection of scars.
Chaos-Two sighed and very carefully ran a hand down Agate-One's back. They thought for a moment, and nodded slowly.
They pulled their hand away and quickly checked to see that they hadn't accidentally pricked themselves again, and sighed softly. They'd have to find a way to make a kind of armor or something...
The child nodded slowly and let Chaos-Two pet her, scratching her claws aimlessly against the stone. She finally stood and made her way to Chaos-Two, snuggling up against them for comfort.
An ambitious dream, but she'd stick to it. She would make Vargas fear her.
Chaos-Two sighed and pulled Agate-One closer, watching her slowly fall asleep against them. They were kind of cute, past the rage and anger. Perhaps it was a matter of guiding it into the right direction... and away from Vargas.
Gently, they touched her wing to check on it, wincing as she flinched away. Wounded... or traumatized? They didn't know, but they didn't want to wake her up. So they curled up around Vedette Agate-One, feeling that word well up. The dangerous word.
Love.
They were going to be in so much trouble...