Chapter 60: Concerns

Monsterlover96 - Uh, nooo?

Grimlock23ghost - I see it as a culmination of over a decade of depression + the shock over the whole thing = That.

ArashiNokitsune - A shadow war sounds doable.

Guy who likes reading 20017 - ... None, actually. Sadly, Cauldron isn't always responsible.

SixFtWookie - I kinda see that now, but I'm way too deep into this to stop it.

Undeen - Oh... I keep getting the two mixed up, and I'm starting to fucking lose it.

Alkeniew Andilite - Ch 55 is where he was confirmed dead. During Vicky's interlude there are a few lines where I mentioned that the door was open, alluding to him hearing the fight, her not seeing him the whole day, and then 55 is where his body is found.

theacoffire - ? What part of he cut his arms long ways is misleading there?

Barbaric Bob - Wait, that's actually devious. I love it, probably won't use it, but still love it.

MasterDarkElf - Phoenix's Behemoth is named after Beelzemon's bike, but is based on the Kawasaki Neon Green Trike.

So, this is the chapter I accidentally uploaded first yesterday, but I cut out 3k words and moved that cut portion to the next chapter so it can be focused on more. If you accidentally read this chapter first, and didn't check out the one from yesterday, do that.

This is going to focus on the start of the Throuple, and some important information.

[Phoenix's POV]

As soon as Aunt/Mom Melody, something I still had to figure out, confirmed the news, I looked at Amy... And visibly watched as the news was being processed. It started slowly, the expected "Huh?" Coming from her as she stepped into the denial stage. "Wh... What do you mean?"

Melody seemed to wilt a bit, but still powered through. "# He's... Gone... Again, I'm sorry Amelia. #" And with that double down confirmation, Amy's pupils dilated, she started breathing erratically, and I could tell she was moments away from spiraling. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out where her thoughts would go, especially because it was the 'Correct' conclusion to come to.

She would blame herself. After all the one time she decided to fight back and the result was this. I had no doubt in my mind that she'd put that picture together and only spiral further downward...

That was my que though, so I got up, which was easy considering I'd expected this to happen and planned accordingly, and brought Amy in for a hug. It Worried me that she didn't immediately react to the contact, if she went catatonic I'd need to get the fucking smelling salts or something, but after another moment her eyes snapped shut, her arms weakly wrapping around me as her body collapsed against me, tears forming as it did. She didn't even seem to be bothered by the lingering scent of blood, my unhealed wounds, which would be gone in a bit, or the fact I was bare chested at the moment. (Yeah, she's going to be fucking mortified when she's better.) That would come later though, we'd need to get her through this first.

Taylor soon joined in the hug, one arm wrapping around the brunette, the other around me as we held the crying healer. That seemed to do it since Amy started to breakdown, arms tightening around me as she sobbed. "$Mama?$" Taylor and I both jolted at that, our eyes snapping down towards Scylla, who had raised her body up to be closer to Amy's head, looking at us, then at her Mother in Concern and Confusion. "$Mama, what's wrong?$" Unfortunately, it didn't seem like Amy even realized Scylla was calling for her since she just kept crying.

Seeing that calling for her didn't work, she turned to me, her eyes meeting my own. I knew what she was going to ask, there was no way I couldn't know, but I wasn't ready for when she asked it. "$Daddy, why is Mama crying?$"

The emotional Heartbreak Taylor and I felt over our Bond, as well as the question itself, hit me harder then anything I'd ever felt.

The follow up thought of how I was going to explain the death of a family member to my literal day old child hit me nearly as hard as the Heartbreak did.

[15 minutes later]

After that whole thing happened, Amy ended up crying herself into unconsciousness, again, which led to me carrying her back up to Taylor's room. And just like last time, Taylor stripped her out of her robe, as well as the pendant, setting them aside the nightstand with her guns after I laid her on the bed. She hadn't woken up at any point during or after that, but Taylor left another wasp to watch over her until she did... And a spider, just in case Scylla ate the wasp at some point.

Speaking of the little snake, I'd bitched out and hadn't gone into too much detail about why her Mother had been so Sad... I just couldn't find it in me to explain Death to her, so I didn't. The best she got was 'Your Mother lost someone important to her', and that was it. I knew we'd have to have that conversation eventually, but I didn't want to do it now...

Moving on.

With that done, we left my girlfriend's room and entered the livingroom. My Other Half and I practically collapsed onto the couch, reflexively cuddling up as she leaned into my side, while one of my arms draped itself over her shoulder. There was no conscious thought put into it, we were just used to this arrangement by now.

Anyway, neither of us said anything for a bit, me because I was Tired after today, I'd been woken up way too fucking early, had shit to deal with in the form of Bakuda, fought my girlfriend to keep her from going off on her own again, and stayed in operation for a good 4-5ish hours... Without taking time to have breakfast OR lunch! (Fuck, I'm hungry.) Going Ultimate didn't help that either.

While those were my issues, my Other Half was processing everything that happened, still healing from the wounds I gave her, and probably thinking about Amy. I knew I was considering she was practically my only friend... Outside of Lisa, but we hadn't really hung out in person, so her 'Friend vibes' had yet to be confirmed in person... (And damn if that isn't kind of Sad.) Not that I particularly cared about how it looked or anything, 1 or 2 friends was good enough for me.

Letting out a huff through my nose, I sunk into the couch, leaning in a bit to my girlfriend's side. She pulsed with Warmth with that, burrowing into me like a cat. We stayed in silence for a while, just taking in each others presence as we both thought about shit. (So, I've got Ghostfreak now...) That was a big thing, both the acquisition itself, and in what it meant. Ghostfreak added a whole new arsenal to my already massive armory... And that wasn't even factoring in whatever the fuck Ultimate Ghostfreak could do.

He also added a few issues like the possibility of a sentient ghost alien breaking out of the Ultimatrix... (Wait... Are they asexual?) That thought made me pause, because for the life of me I had no idea how Ectonurite's bred... (Oh God, am I going to have ghost kids?) One might think I was blowing this out of proportion, but considering I was already expecting to lay a clutch of 8, at the very least, of Necrofriggian children atleast once in my lifetime, my Concern was real fucking valid! ESPECIALLY considering what Ectonurite's could do.

They were nearly as Terrifying as my girlfriend, and that was saying something considering she controlled upwards of 20 million insects earlier... And that was low balling it... Though, Taylor side eyed me as I thought that for some reason, narrowing her eyes as I met her look. "You thought something rude."

I just stared at her, raising a brow as I did. "As opposed to when I'm not?"

Taylor rolled her eyes at me, conceding the point. "Anyway..." She frowned, her nose twitching a bit as she sniffed. I just watched her do her thing, not even doing anything when she looked at my neck and chest, small spikes of Guilt as she trailed the wounds, then up to my eyes. We just stared at each other for a second, then she spoke up. "We should probably go take a bath. Get clean and healed up now that we have the chance."

After taking a moment to blink, then realize that no, we hadn't showered today, I nodded. "I'm down."

And so off we went to get cleaned.

[Another few minutes later]

Sitting beneath the shower, which was adjusted a bit higher to hit where we were, and spitting out water mixed with the weaker Serum, I had to admit that this was a good idea. Feeling the hot water on my body, when it wasn't being absorbed by my hair, because that was apparently a thing now, my wounds and aches healing just a bit faster, and having my girlfriend laying between my legs just made it easy to zone out and just not think of anything.

Though, that might've just been the Exhaustion coming in and deciding that I should go back to sleep now that no one was trying to start shit... (God, I hope that's not a jinx. I don't know if I have it in me to spare whoever starts some shit with us right now.) There was also the point that my Other Half would probably get to them first, but oh well.

While I was thinking about that, my girlfriend leaned her head back a bit, looking up at me, making me fight the urge to kiss her... Which was difficult since we were both naked, in the shower, and pressed up against each other... I somehow managed not too though, and that alone was more then I could've asked for.

My internal debate aside, we shared a look, staring at each other for a moment, then simultaneously Unmuted our thoughts. I don't think I've ever been more Comfortable in my life, I felt that on a spiritual level, because despite the fact that we were in a prime position to start fucking, I was too Comfortable to go for it. Good boy. I snorted at that, getting a smile, as well as a playful grind against my dick.

My eye twitched at that, More then that but okay, but I ignored it since I knew she was just fucking with me. Mhm, no matter the teasing, I'm not exactly in the mood to try anything. I hummed at that, letting it be.

After that she turned away and we just sat in the bath, the water slowly filling up as we Relaxed and thought about whatever came to me that meant nothing, because I was closer to going to sleep then thinking/working on anything. My girlfriend was mostly doing the thinking, her thoughts becoming some nice background sound as I just laid there with her.

Though that didn't last for long, thoughts about today eventually popping up in her mind.

What are we going to do? I opened an eye at that, looking over to my girlfriend, who was just staring up at the ceiling. I didn't say anything, knowing she wasn't exactly asking me, Input would still be good. That got a hum out of me, as well as one of her own eyes looking at my own. [From the top. What are our priorities?]

Amy. I wasn't even Surprised that her first thought was to the brunette. My girlfriend mentally grumbled at that, but went on. |She's right in front of us, we can reach out and actually help her.| She had a point, one I easily conceded to. Knowing that, she went on. |Next...| Her face scrunched up, thoughts whirling around in a mental debate that I tuned out, then went slack as she looked away and sunk onto me a bit more. |Next should be gear. Amy needs a Suit, weapons that aren't just a spare Hawkmoon and Sentinel... Maybe a bike?| Now that was actually a Surprise to me. I fully Expected her to put her Dad there, not Amy.

There was a small flash of Trepidation, followed by Resignation at that thought, making me frown and hold her closer. Comfy. My lips twitched at that, but I didn't say or think anything about it, deciding to just let her think. Affection pulsed at that, but it was set aside as her thoughts went back to work. |I want to get my Dad back, I really do...| She bit her lip, but let out a huff when I dropped my chin onto the crown of her head. |But what if they take Amy?|

I froze, any Exhaustion I felt leaving me as I thought about Cauldron, because we all knew it was them, Coil was guaranteed to be with them at this point, so blaming him would still mean blaming them, taking Amy. Tightening my arms around my Other Half, I scowled at nothing. [Then I'll rip out their spines and use them as bolas to keep them still as I beat them to death.]

... The fuck? That, combined with the Incredulous look she was sending me, brought me out of my homicidal thoughts, More like manslaughter, but go on, and made me snort. |Murderous inclinations aside, you get why I'm Worried, right?| That brought my scowl back, but I still nodded. Amy was the Mother of my Daughter, and one of the only people I cared about on this stupid fucking death world.

She was special, and no one would take her from me, Us. Turning an eye to my Other Half, I met her Possessive jades, my scowl falling away as I grinned. [She's ours then?]

My Other Half just snorted, looking away as she did. |Scylla is my Niece, and Amy's my friend too. We're already going to do our best to help her through this, and I'll be damned if anything happened to her before we can really get to know her.| I hummed at that, mentally Agreeing with her as I did. |Plus, she's joining us anyway, so we might as well give her the whole package.|

I also Agreed with that, because making a new set of gear, especially something unique for the pocket plague, Taylor snorted at that, would be fucking great! [Think I should incorporate a plague doctor's mask?]

Instead of denying it, she actually thought about it. |I mean, we'll need to ask her when she's in a better headspace, but maybe?| She had a point. Of course I do. That was ignored in favor of going back to the main train of thought, which made my Other Half frown. |After that...|

The lip biting returned, so I poked one of her abs, one of her formerly wounded abs courtesy of a mean Dead Space Stomp I hit her with earlier. She grumbled at that, a hand wading through the healing water we were in to push it away as she 'Glared' at me. I just smiled back at her, getting an Unamused huff. |Anyway... After that will be Dad...| She trailed off again, bits of Guilt starting to seep over from her side of the Bond.

So in order to dissuade any kind of self deprecation, I did the mature thing...

Pointing blame elsewhere! "Check check 1 2, why the fuck did neither of you tell us about the man-napping?" That instantly made my girlfriend twitch, They knew?! There it was.

Over the sound of the shower, and the water hitting more water, we heard my Future Self clear his throat. 'Straight answer? That didn't happen for us.'

We both blinked at that, Confusion pulsing from the both of us. "How? Aren't you US?!" While that was a good question, I had pretty good idea of what was going on... And not exactly liking it.

This time, another voice sounded out, Taylor's Future Self. "Well... We're... We're pretty sure that this was my fault.' Yup, I saw this coming. Before either of us could question what she meant by that, she went on. 'Remember how I told you MY Corazon and I had a... Disagreement?' A snort rang out at that, but no one needed clarification on who it came from. Still, my girlfriend nodded, so her Future Self went on. 'Anyway, after we fought I went to stay with my Dad for a bit. Nothing really happened before the bombing though... But since that didn't happen...'

Comprehension dawned through the Bond, my Other Half instantly getting it. "They went after him..."

Future Taylor hummed at that, though I decided to point out the big fucking flaw there. "Shouldn't they have made a move on you then? If you stayed with Mr. Midlife Crisis," I could feel nails dig into my leg, the obvious Warning being obvious, Again, as it should be, but I ignored it and went on. "Then wouldn't they have used the sole chance that I wasn't there to make a move?"

There was silence for a bit, both of my Other Halves seemingly thinking about it, before my Future Self spoke up. 'I mean, they could've, but they didn't. Might have something to do with the whole blind spot thing.'

We took that in, our thoughts intersecting a few times, then eventually decided that without knowing more we would just settle with them not wanting to risk a fight this early. Probably wasn't the truth, but it was good enough. For now.

With that done, I asked the next big thing. "Amy's Dad?" There was silence for a bit, the only sounds coming from the shower, making my Other Half and I frown.

Though, Future Taylor came in, so they were probably just thinking about it. 'Well, in our timeline, that still happened... The issue there is that it happened later. Like, after Brandish's trial... Which was originally a month away... And was stopped before the worst happened.' Ah, so it wasn't that they forgot or anything, As if that's something one could forget about, it was just another butterfly effect...

Which didn't really make much sense to me, Me either, but whatever. It'd happened, and we couldn't exactly change it, so I moved on. "Ghostfreak. Sentient or no?"

There was another huff, but the answer still came. 'Base Ghostfreak? No.' Well, that wasn't Suspicious at all. 'But Ah Puch?' Good name for Ult Ghostfreak. 'You'll need to watch out for accidentally birthing Ectonurites.'

A record being scratched went off in my mind, Alarmed Confusion coming through my girlfriend's side of the Bond as it did. ""What?"" He didn't even answer the question, just immediately jumping to a whole other issue!

My Future Self snorted, asshole that he was, Asshole that you are, okay, now that was just rude... True, but rude. |Deal with it.|

I rolled my eyes, but was interrupted before I could respond. 'So, Ah Puch is basically like those bugs that control other bugs as babies, then pop out of their host by killing them.'

(Fuckin WHAT?!) My mind flashed with a few images of bugs, a fly I recognized from a YouTube video I watched in my last life, and a few others that did just that. My eyes naturally drifted to my girlfriend at that, because she was the one that knew all about them, but she just mentally shrugged at me, not deigning to answer/

'Fun fact,' Neither of us thought this would really qualify, But it's you, so this is expected. That went ignored. 'Ectonurites have a 7 month incubation period. During the first month nothing major happens, but the child will, at some point, form a mental connection with the host. Then, when the 2nd month rolls around, they'll begin to encourage their hosts to neglect their health, eat less, take less showers and other hygienic things, and slowly ramp up that behavior. Then, during the last month of their incubation period, when their hosts are emaciated husks, they'll encourage their hosts to find some secluded place where the final part of their birth can happen. When their hosts are isolated, their bodies will shut down, then begin to be covered in a cocoon like thing that eventually turns into the shroud that covers base Ghostfreak. It's why our Ghostfreak looks like a corpse, because technically it is.'

...

...

...

"Well... I know what my nightmares are going to be for a while." My Other Half just gave a weak nod, not bothering to say or think anything else.

'Heh, pussies.'

I mentally put 'Find a way to hurt my Future Self' higher up on my list of things to figure out. |I'll help. I don't know how yet, but I'll do it.|

After... THAT, disaster, and making a blood pact to never mention again, as well as ensure I didn't accidentally set off a Ectonurite invasion on accident, we sat in audible silence for a bit. We'd turned the shower head off, so now we were just laying in a still bath, the water/Serum coming up to our chests as we just stayed together and thought. [So, we focus on Amy for now... But how should we start? I've got ideas, but we both gotta work on this.]

My girlfriend sighed at that. |I know. My first idea is to just do what you did for me,| A brow shot up, my eyes exaggeratedly raking over her naked form as I poked her stomach, getting a mental and physical eye roll from her. |Not like that you horny bastard.| I grinned at her, sending an image of her subbing, getting a small pulse of Fond Exasperation, and another hard pinch to my leg. |Anyway, we talk to her. We provide a physical reminder that we're here, and that we care. She's going to need that, and small shows of Affection to back it up too.| Having it said made it easier to get what she meant.

It helped that I Understood what she was getting at too. [And if she gets attached?]

Taylor sighed again, rubbing her eyes as she leaned into me. |I... I don't think we should discourage it?|

I blinked, looking down to my girlfriend as I registered what she said. [What?] Yeah, that's the expected response.

Opening her eyes, she looked up to me and met my own gaze. |She... She needs this. Aside from Scylla, you, me, and maybe a few members from New Wave, she's on her own. She needs people that she knows won't leave her or die on her... We can be those people for her.|

Taking that in, I had to admit that she had a point. Hell, the whole 'Red Queen' thing was because no one had managed to help her before she had a mental breakdown and snapped. If we played this right, which we most likely already were, then we'd be able to disarm that whole situation before Leviathan came to swing his prehensile dick around. There is something fundamentally wrong with my boyfriend.

I snorted at that, but kept thinking. (We could definitely do it, Amy already has positive opinions of the both of us, a 'Minor' crush too given what we've seen.. Though...) I looked at my Other Half, the question at the forefront of my mind. [Why does this feel like you're projecting onto her?]

Goddammit. Taylor squirmed at that, pretty much confirming what I thought. |It's... It's just...| Looking down, she placed a hand on one of mine, gently squeezing it as she did. |... Okay, so maybe I am.| Well, I already knew that she was, Hush, those bits were just confirmation. She huffed at that, but didn't say anything else about it. |It's just... If you never showed up, I'd be going down a different path. Be a different Khepri then the one I am now... But I'm not. I'm not Skitter, some lost little girl against the world who lashed out with extreme prejudice, a warlord of a broken and dying city, or anything like that. I'm Khepri, the second half of Pantheon, affiliate to The Guild and foremost Master in the world. That... I want to help Amy like I've been helped. Bring her up from the depressed and weary Panacea, one who would snap under the weight of the world and bring it down with her, into something else... Someone, else... And if that means that she falls for us, then so be it.| My Other Half looked at me, eyes narrowed as she did. |Just no overly sexual innuendoes or jokes for now. She'd probably feel like she'd have to do something if it was consistently brought up.|

[I see the point.] I also Agreed with it considering Amy would be at her lowest point for a bit, probably easy to manipulate/coerce her into doing things she normally wouldn't do. The mental stare and strong sense of Warning she sent me made me roll my eyes. [General observations, I'm not going to do anything like that.]

It also made me a little Annoyed that she'd think I would considering I actually cared about Amy, Guilt was the emotional response that thought got me, |Sorry...| While that was the 'Verbal' one.

I just huffed and poked her stomach. [Not fine, but I get it.] The Guilt was still there, but it'd probably go away after some cuddling. Not that easy. That just sounded like a challenge. Fond Affection came from that, making me grin. [Anyway, yeah, I get it. Tone down the sexual stuff. Probably means we'll need to channel our inner priest/nun too.] Sensing the Confusion made me roll my eyes again. [If we took time to start having sex again then Amy would probably end up finding out, which would either end up with her becoming our voyeur,] The minor spike in Interest was noted and set aside. [Or getting her heart broken, which would fuck up her mental health even more then it is now. So, even if one of those is far better then the other, we'll have to cut back on fucking.]

My girlfriend processed that, then sighed. |Makes sense... I don't like it, but I understand.|

I snorted at that. [You don't like it because you won't be getting dick for a while.]

Taylor huffed, attempting to dig her wet nails into my skin, and failing. |It's not like you like it either. It takes two to have sex you know.|

She had a point, Of course I do. [I don't like it. Morning and 'About to go to sleep' sex is great, but I can function just fine without it.] The Skeptical vibes only made me huff. [Besides, depending on how long we're both backed up, the next time we do go at it will probably end up with us sleeping like the dead and waking up like we'd won the lottery.] She snorted at that, but was far too Amused to really say anything about it.

After that things went from there, the conversation eventually dying dying out after we ran through the last of the mention-able topics. With nothing else to talk about, and our wounds pretty much healed, we decided to drain the bath and head out.

We were hungry, and I was going to get something to eat or so help me God someone was going to get a Humungousaur sized foot up their ass.

[Taylor's POV a few minutes later]

Standing besides my boyfriend after the shower, our hair somewhat fluffy after all the water/Serum they absorbed, I couldn't help but take some glances his way. Sure, we'd literally been naked in a bath together, but there was something about wet hair, a semi transparent white shirt clinging to his body, and plaid pajama pants that ticked alot of boxes for me. [Same... Also half of the reason that's the majority of my home clothes.] That made sense. It was partially why I preferred the oversized shirts and short shorts that I was wearing now too.

That aside, we were currently in the kitchen, looking over the stored foods we had. Neither of us were in the mood to cook for ourselves, and since we had enough food in storage we were free to pick something to eat and just dig in. (Though, I dunno if one each will be enough.) My appetite was far bigger then before considering I not only worked out on a daily basis, but was also becoming something more then Human, and needed more fuel to power myself.

"... I have to ask... When the fuck did you make a Turducken?" To be fair, that was a good question. We had a bunch of different food in storage, dishes cooked by the both of us, individually and separately, so obviously there would be some containers with food we wouldn't know about... Mostly because they were meant to be for special occasions or things like that.

Or for when we wanted something that would take a while to cook just so we could save it and gorge ourselves on it later...

Like the aforementioned Turducken my boyfriend was looking at, and only sort of drooling over. Oh shit. Snorting at that, and the way he wiped the drool away, I answered. "On one of your runs as Wildmutt." His runs lasted for a half hour at minimum, an hour maximum, which was more then enough time for some dishes to be prepared. Turducken can be made in under an hour..? I shrugged at that stray thought. "With a kitchen as good as ours, yeah."

He nodded at that, turning back to the dish. "This..." His eyes snapped to me, stomach rumbling like our bikes. "Taylor, babe, Mi Reina, I Love you, I really do," Him sending over his Love was cheating. "But if you ask me to share this I will start throwing hands and feet like a demented howler monkey infected with rabies."

I had to take a few moments to process that, because my boyfriend just kept saying stupid shit with the straightest of faces, but when I did I snorted. "If you take the Turducken then I'm taking the pork roast." That got him to pause, his eyes roaming over to the aforementioned pork. That's...

While he debated that, I made my way over to the pork. Cheater her may be, 'Scuzzie? But damn was he good at making delicious food. (I am too, though I cheat less.) His mental eyes focused on me at that thought, and I turned to meet his narrowed eyes with a small smile. "Yes?"

My boyfriend and I stared at each other for a second, then he huffed and snatched the Turducken up. "Just for that I'm stuffing myself full of bird meat, and you won't stop me." He immediately paused after saying that. ... Wait, that didn't sound right. My lips twitched at that, getting him to twitch. Nope. Nothing happened. Seeing my boyfriend speed walk, Power walking, 'Power walking' out of the kitchen was taking a strong pull of willpower to not crack, but I managed to keep it together...

"Heh. Dumbass." Grabbing the pork, and deciding to just eat as much as I could, I didn't bother to stop myself from snickering about the situation. The mental 'Hmph' he sent over was what did it though, and I found myself giggling over something that wasn't even that funny to begin with.

Things were going to be rough for a bit, but we'd get through it, we always had and always would.