Chapter Text
Ashes hand clamps down onto Wifies, pulling the dog mans arm outward as they sidestepped. The melodic rhythm of Stalkers Tango drifts through the little house out in the middle of nowhere. Wifies closed his eyes, allowing himself to be moved like a puppet. Ash raised both their arms, spinning Wifies into a hypnotic trance. His eyes open for a brief second, only to see Ashswaggs own pupils staring back at him with a manic sort of possession that bordered insanity.
“Come on my darling, put your back into it.” Ashes gravelly voice rung out, pulling Wifies out of his disassociation. His ears twitched at the pet name Ash referred to him as, his tail threatening to give a slow wag behind him.
“Thought you enjoyed being in control?” Wifies questioned, a smirk tugging at his lips as he pulled Ash close, their chests touching. Ash gave a huff in response, bowing Wifies down to show that he was above him.
The two continued their tango, the record glitching and going static after a while. That’s what the farlands do. Wifies thought to himself, eyes locking onto Ashes purple pupils. They weren’t soft like lavender, instead a deep purple that could hypnotize even the most hardened soldiers.
Their relationship was... complicated, to word it simply. They weren’t in love, but their chemistry was stronger than magnets pulling together. Some days they would hate each other, other days they were all over the other. It worked, in a twisted sense.
Wifies was pulled out of his mind when Ashswaggs hand tightened around his as he maneuvered Wifies into a spin before bowing him so low to the ground that he should’ve just been lying on the floor. Wifies cheeks were dusted in a light rosy color, eyes averting to anywhere but Ash.
Ash knew what he was doing to Wifies, a dry huff of a laugh escaping his lips. Wifies was completely wrapped around his finger, and in this state of vulnerability, Ashswagg knew he could use that to his advantage and keep Wifies here forever.
The dance ended with Wifies and Ash puffing, their bodies pressed against each other like they were trying to merge into one being. Wifies tail let out an involuntary wag, thumping against his leg once, then twice.
Their moment was interrupted when they heard a firework rocket whistling in the distance, an indication that someone was rapidly approaching. Ash shoved Wifies off quickly, his butt landing on the wooden boards with a thud, his eyes narrowing into a serious look. Ash rummaged through his pocket until he felt the familiar shape of and invisibility potion. His eyes locked onto the other boy, a shared understanding of what was about to happen passing through them. Ash held the potion out, insisting Wifies drank it, and quickly.
Wifies silently obeyed, nodding, because he understood the circumstances. It didn’t hurt any less knowing Ash would shove him away that quickly so that his mask of confidence could be placed back on. His fingers trembled as they locked onto the cork, pulling it out of the narrow glass neck of the potion. Smoke curled out of the bottle slowly, spiral shapes falling to the ground, a foggy haze replacing Wifies vision. He opened his mouth, pouring the concoction down his throat. It burned a little, a cough leaving his chapped lips. It tasted like nothing, yet the aftertaste was a mix of bitterness and guilt.
Wifies rose from the floor slowly, knees wobbling as from his feet up, his body started to fade into camouflage, the only indication he was even there being the white spirals that were a side effect of the potion.
The person’s nametag came into view: Parrotx2, Wifies former best friend. He wanted to hug him, scream that he wasn’t dead, but that would mess his whole plan up. It’s for the best, Parrot. Wifies mind wandered, his brain working quickly to calculate the probability his plan successes. He knew Parrot was smart, but nobody was smarter than him. He had this planned out months in advance so that it was so fool proof that not even he could predict it. Wifies rummaged through his ender chest, quickly pulling his netherite armor over himself. It glowed purple, indicating the many enchantments that was on it. His chestplate had a special white eye trim carved into it, indicating he was higher than any other person in the mafia before it crumbled like every other civilization made in this world of pure anarchy.
Parrot knocked on the wooden door, his right talons clenched into a fist. He had been given the coordinates to Ash’s new base, and he came in hopes of answers. Inside the house, Ashswaggs boots clicked on the wood with a slow purpose of making sure Parrot knew he hadn’t lost his confidence.
The door opened with a creak, and there stood Ash, and the invisible player that refused to leave Ashes side. His eyes crinkled into a predatory glare, a cocky grin spreading on his face.
“Oh if it isn’t Parrotx2.” Ash said, drawing Parrots name out. Even if he was armorless, Parrot still felt a shiver of fear climb up his back.
“Ashswagg.” Parrot gritted his teeth, tilting his chin up to look less fearful than he really was. His eyes darted to the side, sizing the guard up. Both were taller than Parrot, meaning he’d have to look up anyways. His talons curled around the hilt of his sword; the opal carved into it pulsing as it felt the intensity of Parrot’s emotions that he was battling to keep contained. He stepped into the threshold of the cottage, feeling uneasy. He felt the invisible guard’s eyes burn into the back of his head, even though he couldn’t see their eyes. He paced the small place, looking around with intensity, trying to observe all the details from the way a rose wilted like this house had been here longer than he assumed, to the glass bottles of water lined on the counter in a neat row of fours. He spun on his heel, facing the two taller people.
“Why’d you kill Wifies?” Parrot managed to get out, swallowing hard to brace himself for the answer that could shatter his whole way of thinking. He pulled the sword out of its satchel, the blade catching the light and glinting menacingly. Parrot didn’t want to, but he knew if his emotions bubbled over, he’d try to kill Ashswagg, and yet, a small part of him already wanted to stab the blade into him with an unforgiving glare.
The invisible person behind Ash tensed up at the sight of the blade being drawn, their heavy armor boots clanking on the floor as they stood protectively in front of Ash, their hand resting casually on his shoulder.
“I didn’t kill Wifies.” Ash proudly announced, shrugging their hand of his shoulder and walking outside into the fresh air of the evening. He outstretched his arms, fingers spreading as he laughed up at the gods above. Parrot swiftly followed behind, standing on the edge of the ravine, the grass swaying gently around him.
“What’s that supposed to mean, Ashswagg!?” Parrot finally snapped, stepping up onto the opposite side of the bridge. He held the blade so it tilted towards Ash.
“The director… He’s the one to blame.” Ash’s voice rang out, the message cryptic. Who was this director person? Why did they want Wifies dead? When did this person decide Wifies was a threat? Parrot’s head spun, a million thoughts rushing in. He couldn’t wrap his head around it, because it was so sudden he almost didn’t believe it. Ashswagg got into his head, his sword falling onto the wood with a loud clang. He was more than just confused, he was completely perplexed. He bore a death stare into Ashswaggs curly head of hair, a bitter laugh escaping his chapped lips. He’d been in a really shitty mood ever since Wifies died, his whole selfcare routine completely forgotten as he focused on just staying alive. This was the breaking point, those words had shattered his fragile mind, opening it to the fact the world was much crueler than he had first imagined. The wolf preyed on the rabbits, pouncing on them in their most vulnerable moments, and Wifies had fallen victim.
“I beat you though. I’ll beat this director too.” Parrot replied, a smile gracing his lips at the thought of taking another villain down and saving the server from destruction.
Ashswagg turned towards Parrot, maintaining eye contact with the bird hybrid. He wanted him to be uncomfortable, to feel the weight of the consequences of always trying to play hero.
“You can’t save everyone, Parrotx2. Not Wifies, not Luigitoan, and not Dean. You will learn that no matter what you do, someone will hate you. This works in cycles. After me, there will be another big bad villain out there terrorizing the world, and it’ll continue in a never-ending loop.” Ashswagg jeered, his head turning to investigate the fog of where the farlands stretched for miles, only for it to end, and the normal terrain would blossom.
“This director is smart, Parrot. Much smarter than you, so I’d suggest you’d get a move on.” Ash muttered, his head completely turned so he could only see Parrot’s confused expression in his peripheral.
Parrot stood in shock for a minute, body completely tensed up. His eyes were wider than saucers, and he looked like he saw a ghost. Parrot wished he had seen a ghost, because everything Ashswagg said made his heart drop lower and lower into the pit of his stomach.
He turned away, equipping the elytra onto his green wings. They would enhance his flight duration, as his flight feathers hadn’t fully formed. It was a glitch in the system, something that meant he permanently couldn’t fly unless he had support, so he was essentially disabled.
The rocket burst into the air as he held it with both hands, the elytra spreading out and fluttering gracefully as he made his exit. The remaining sparks of white landed on the grass next to the bridge, making a small bang before going out.
Ash turned back to the house; hands folded neatly behind his back as he strode slowly. Wifies was on the porch, the invisibility glitching and showing parts of the man underneath. The invisibility flickered out like a candle, Wifies satisfied smirk planted on his face. The armor was heavy on him, but his heart felt heavier knowing he made Ash lie to his former best friend, just to make sure his plan succeeded flawlessly.
“Enjoy the first social interaction with someone who wasn’t me?” Wifies questioned in a condescending tone, an eyebrow arched up in curiosity.
“I guess I did. You owe me for that though, it was hard to say someone had superior power over me.” Ash declared, trying to look as serious as he could, but the corner of his lip twitched in protest.
“Do I now?” Wifies teased, sidestepping towards Ashswagg with an intent to try and crack his façade and make him blush. Even if it was the most microscopic of pink or red tinted on his cheeks.
“Yes, you indeed do, puppy.” Ashswagg drawled, leaning in so their noses were just touching.
“Not until my plan is carried out.” Wifies responded in a monotonous tone, the air becoming awkward as Wifies lost his teasing manner. An underlying tone of guilt was pulling him down, because his plan would destroy their lives.
Ash rolled his eyes in return, sensing the abrupt shift and yet not questioning it. Ashswagg could sense the glitch in the system long before Wifies could even identify his own feelings. He knew Wifies would crack soon, he just couldn’t quite put his finger on when.