Years 3 and 4.
Year 3
A while has passed since Leksy’s last fight with Flare. Since then, the village has learned of his hero powers and he has been fulfilling tasks for needy villagers for extra money.
Leksy’s 20th birthday has come around and some villagers.. *surprise* him with a little something.
They take him to the site when his present is…
Leksy: So, what is it you’re so excited to show me?
Villager 1: [excited] This!!
The villager points to a board with a piece of cloth over it. The villager pulls to cloth to reveal…
Villagers: Happy Birthday!!
Leksy: Oh, thanks! [nervously] W-what is it?
Villager 1: It’s a task board!!
Leksy: [shook]…a what?
Villager 2: We ask so much of you and love what you do, so.. we made this to help keep things more simple.
Leksy: …
Villager 1: So, whenever a villager needs a task taken care of that involves a beast, they’ll post it here, along with how much they’re willing to pay.
Leksy: Uhh..
Villager 2: [nervously] Obviously, you don’t have to take them ALL on! But it would be a great way for you to make more money and help us out.
Leksy: ….right.
Villager 2: [awkward] So, yeah..
Villager 1: Happy birthday!!
Leksy fakes a smile and we move on…
A few months later.
Leksy has been hard at work, making money by battling beasts. The villagers have really been testing his limits.
One day..
Leksy is recovering from a quest. Flare has tracked him down.
Flare: Whatcha up to, hero?
Leksy: Flare!? Where did you come from!?
Flare: I haven’t seen you in a while!! Wanted to make sure you’re still around.
Leksy: As you can see, I’m still kicking..
Flare: Great!
An awkward silence fills the air.
Flare: So… wanna go a round?
Leksy: Now!?
Flare: Why not? We’re away from the village. I know how much you love that place.
Leksy: …is that why you haven’t been attacking it recently?
Flare: ….no. I just.. haven’t felt the need to go there. Unless it’s to track you down, of course.
Leksy: ….right.
Flare: So, are you up for a little battle? My dark magic Vs your hero energy stuff? The usual?
Leksy: Uhh…
Flare: I’ve made more robots if you want to get them involved~
Leksy: That.. won’t be necessary.
Flare: Damn.
Leksy: Flare.. you haven’t done anything that’s making me want to fight you right now. Actually, it’s been pretty quiet on Typhoon’s end recently.
Flare: There’s a reason for that. And.. you don’t want to fight for the sake of fighting??
Leksy: What’s the point?
Flare: [confused] …you’re a strange man.
Leksy: Also, I’ve already had a fight today, so I’m not in the best shape…
Flare: WHAT!? WITH WHO!?!?
Leksy: Well, since I’ve been recognised as a real hero, people have been asking me to do some jobs for them, most involve fighting. [under his breath] Though I do wish they’d slow down a bit…
Flare: I can’t believe you’re fighting other people!!!!
Leksy: I get paid really well for it too!
Flare: …
Leksy: …..uh?
Flare: I’m heartbroken.. I thought you were the one.. but here you are, being paid to fight other people…
Leksy: And beasts.
Flare: I….
Flare sighs and turns around. He starts to slowly walk away.
Leksy: Flare…? Do you still want a battle?
Flare quickly turns around.
Flare: I guess a quickie wouldn’t hurt.
Flare throws a smoke bomb on the ground.
Leksy: [coughing] What??
Flare, cloaked in smoke, punches Leksy in the stomach.
Leksy: !!!!
Leksy falls to the floor.
Flare: That’s all you’re getting from me today.
Flare: Toodles.
Flare disappears.
Leksy: Ugh.. what the..
An hour passes.
Leksy is still tending to his stomach.
Flare appears again.
Leksy: Wha– why are you back!?
Flare: Are you seriously still recovering from that punch?
Leksy: Sh– shut up…
Flare: Aww. A hero with a terrible pain tolerance, you don’t get them too often. Poor baby.
Leksy: It felt different than usual!! Can you leave, PLEASE!?
Flare sits down, in defiance.
Leksy: You’re ridiculous.
Flare: Do you want me to rub it better?
Leksy: Definitely not!! I don’t want your hands near me again!
Flare: [sad] Hero…
Leksy: You said magic against magic, not a hard punch to the gut!!!
Flare: [feeling guilty] Right…
Leksy: Hm?
Flare: What?
Leksy: That was almost a real, human response, none of your sarcastic jokey stuff.
Flare: What? You think I can always keep that up?
Leksy: ….
Flare: I guess it seeps through the cracks sometimes…
Leksy: …
Flare stands up.
Flare: I’ll leave you alone.
Leksy: ….Flare?
Flare makes a portal.
Leksy: Flare, wait.
Flare: Why?
Leksy: …
Flare leaves.
Leksy: Did he.. feel guilty about punching me??
Leksy: He’s beat me down more times than I can count, but now he’s feeling bad?
A little while later..
Flare returns with a wet flannel.
Flare: I thought you might still be here.
Flare: [passing the flannel to Leksy] Here. If it hurts that much, see if this’ll help.
Leksy takes the flannel.
Flare sits down next to him.
Leksy: I wasn’t expecting you to come back.
Flare: [still feeling bad] Yeah, well..
Leksy tends to his stomach.
Leksy: You seemed really off today..
Flare: Funny how you can pick up on that.
Leksy: Considering your usual bombastic, flamboyant self, it’s pretty noticeable.
Flare: [smiling] Heh, right. Yeah, I just had a bad day with Typhoon.
Flare: It’s fine though.
Leksy: …
Flare: I forget how sensitive you are.
Leksy: I just need to build up my pain tolerance more..
Flare: Heh. You need to build up more than that.
Flare strokes Leksy’s arm with the back of his fingers.
Leksy: How about we forget that event…
Flare: But you were so cute~
Leksy: [angry] You teased me and left me hard in the forest!!
Flare: Ready to burst and it took hardly any time at all.
Leksy: [pouting] I’ve changed my mind, you can warp away now.
Flare: [smiling] Aw, hero, come on.
Flare kisses Leksy’s shoulder.
He pushes Leksy back slightly and puts his hand on the flannel on Leksy’s stomach.
Leksy: ???
Flare: Tell me, what can I do to make it up to you?
Leksy sighs.
Flare: Do you want to continue where we left off?
Leksy: Out here? Not really.
Flare: Do you want to go somewhere else?
Leksy: After last time, I don’t think I want you touching me again.
Flare: …
Flare: [smiling] Would you rather touch me?
Leksy: … F-Flare..
Leksy gets up.
Leksy: It’s late, I’m going home.
Flare: That wasn’t a no~oo~
Leksy: Bye, Flare.
Leksy: I’m keeping the flannel.
Leksy starts walking home.
Flare is left smiling.
A few days later
Leksy is relaxing and bathing in a spring that he found recently. Things are quiet and he’s enjoying himself.
The quietness is destroyed when Flare appears.
Flare: Oh! Hey, hero!
Leksy: F-f-Flare!? What the hell are you doing here!!?!?
Flare: Relax, I was just around the area. I’m not here to fight.
Leksy: That’s a first.
Flare gets closer.
Flare: I see you found one of my personal favourite bathing spots~
Leksy: If you have no intention of getting in, could you leave?
Flare: How rude. Also, that almost sounds like an invitation.
Flare: Well-
Flare takes his jacket off.
Flare: I suppose I am in need of a bath, so.. [smiles] I guess I will join you.
Leksy: What!? I was joking!
Flare: [stripping] Yeah, well, I’m not. We can have a nice, naked chat. Nothing to hide.
Leksy: ….you’re kidding.
Flare: Does it look like I am?
Flare finishes stripping.
Leksy: Uhh….
Leksy: That’s.. way more of you than I ever needed to see.
Flare: [hands on his hips, smiling] Yet you can’t stop looking.
Leksy: …
Flare joins Leksy in the spring. His mask is still on.
Leksy: You’re not taking the mask off?
Flare: Nah. I’d feel a little too naked without it.
Leksy: …you really are a strange one.
Flare: [smiling] So I’ve been told. Many times.
Leksy: You really just want to have a chat?
Flare: Why not?
Leksy: Uh, because we’ve been enemies for the past 3 years?
Flare: Hey, we’ve had some good times!
Leksy: [sarcastically] Yeah, I’ve loved all the times you tried to kill me. [Under his breath] And sexually harass me….
Flare: See?
Leksy: [glaring]…
Flare: I can’t help it, I love fighting you. You’ve come so far in just a few years, it’s pretty impressive. Every time I see you, I just want more!
Leksy: That sounds.. concerning, actually.
Flare: Except right now. I can hold back an urge.. [looking at Leksy] or two.
Leksy: If you even TRY to touch me, I’ll end you.
Flare: So feisty. Still upset that I punched you?
Leksy: …
Flare: I told you, I was having an awkward day with Typhoon. Usually, seeing you helps me unwind.
Leksy: But you decided to take it out on me, instead.
Flare: I did..
Flare moves closer to Leksy and rests his head on his shoulder.
Flare: And that was very shitty of me.
Flare: Wanna kiss and make up?
Leksy moves Flare away and stands up.
Flare: [taking in the view] Ohoo~
Leksy: I’m done bathing. Have fun doing whatever evil thing it is you’ve got planned.
Leksy gets out of the spring and gets dressed.
Flare: Awww, already? But we could have done so many fun things together!
Leksy: You can do “fun things” by yourself.
Flare: While that’s true, it would be more fun if you were here with me.
Leksy: Bye, Flare!!
Leksy leaves.
Flare: He’s probably never going to forgive me for that, is he?
Flare laughs.
Year 4
Coming soon..
