It's been a while since we've done that…
Yeah, but we have no choice.
We're doing it.
Lance was determined to not let the gods win this one. Plus, he had vowed to protect her to the best of his ability. He wouldn't back out on that. The Chimera stepped up to Tempest's head, then bowed its three heads to touch them against hers. They stretched out their connected mind and reached for Tempest's. She would need to let them in. If not, it was either enter by force or do nothing. Both options were not an option in Lance's book.
Tempest was in pain. She was pain. She was trapped in her own mind, unable to tell anyone what was wrong. People would get hurt because of her, and she couldn't help it. Then, suddenly, she felt someone trying to get into her mind. She resisted at first, then recognized it. She let them in. They could tell the others what was happening.
Tempest. It was a desperate Lance talking. Connected with his brothers, he was better at expressing how he was feeling. Tempest, we want to help you. But you have to let us. We can destroy the virus, but you need to tell us where it is.
Tempest was finding it hard to think. "A-alright," she managed to get out. "Come in."
They entered her mind and searched for the source of the virus. It was spreading rapidly. They decided to spit up their collective conscience to cover more ground, so to speak. Lance's mind curled around Tempest's comfortingly, as if he was cradling her in his arms. "I'm sorry if it sounded like I didn't care about you." He spoke to her to try and get her mind off of what was happening while his brothers frantically searched for the source of the virus. "I do. I just find it hard to express myself accurately. Or even recognize what I'm feeling."
Levi found a dark mass and beckoned for Leon. The two tried figuring out how to destroy it quickly but as painless as possible.
If it was possible, Tempest would have blushed. "Oh," she said. It was easier to not think about the pain when he was 'talking.' "Well, I-I care about you, too."
Lance seemed to heave in relief. So she didn't completely hate him. But what had he done last night to upset her? Not now. A subject for a later time. "Levi seems to find your brother attractive. He turned into a lizard to avoid talking to him." Lance shamelessly dug into his brothers' minds to find something to talk about with Tempest. "I also remember the disaster that was Leon's first crush."
The two victims of this subject grumbled in irritation but kept their focus on the black mass. There were a few cracks in the seams that they could use as leverage, but they were still unsure.
Tempest laughed. "Levi? He has a crush on my brother? Which one?"
His own consciousness flickered with humor. "Aquarius, I believe he said his name was. And it's not so much a crush as a physical attraction."
Tempest laughed so hard she almost cried. Mentally, at least. "Aquarius? Oh, that's priceless! I bet he smirked at him. Aquarius is such a flirt, it's horrible. I don't think he believes in commitment."
"I think that's enough about me," Levi mumbled. If he were in his physical body, he'd be as red as a firetruck.
"Aye. Leon's story is much more interesting," Lance agreed.
"Ey!" Despite their bickering, Levi found a crack that they both could fit through. They entered the mass to destroy it from the inside out. Unfortunately, that meant they lost contact with Tempest and Lance. They were on their own in Tempest's mind.
Outside, Tempest's back arched. Aquarius watched her worriedly.
"What happened?" Tempest asked curiously.
Lance's consciousness wrapped tightly around Tempest's mind in response. "They are destroying the virus. Unfortunately, it's not so simple or painless." He paused. "Did I ever tell you that Levi carries around a random bag of chips everywhere he goes? Annoys me to no end."
Tempest winced as she was reminded of the pain. She tried hard to focus on Lance's voice. "Why does he?" She asked.
"Who the hell knows. He and Leon will just pull it out and start munching away at any given time of day. I think it's just to annoy me."
Tempest snorted. "I can see why. You're fun to annoy."
He sighed. "Figures you would join in. Am I to never get any peace? The gods must be punishing me as well."
Tempest smiled. "They must have." Her grin faded as a fresh wave of pure pain shot through her.
Aquarius winced as the volume of his sister's screams were raised.
Levi and Leon were almost done, but the god's handy work was difficult to unravel. They winced inwardly whenever they felt Tempest's mind shudder in pain.
"Tempest, focus on me. Tell me about yourself. Your family or friends. What are they like?" Anything to get her mind off the pain. He was desperate and distraught that he couldn't do anything else about it.
"Well, I have a deaf dad, a queen for a mom, an idiot brother, a mute brother and an arrogant brother. Also, I have some elf friends and a certain someone that I think I'm falling for." She winced as another wave of pain hit her.
Lance would've frowned if he could. "Oh? That sounds… interesting. I smelled my sisters when we neared here. You've met they Hydra?" He didn't want to talk about that certain someone. He'd rather not approach that subject, lest he finds out something he didn't want to find out.
"The Hydras are your sisters? They creep me out," Tempest shuddered.
"They are like us, one creature split into five different entities. They are older and their soul is split up into more bodies, so they are more detached and less… alive. But they have quite the personality when they are joined together."
Leon and Levi were almost done. Just a few more maneuvers and things to destroy, and she would be free from the virus.
They still creep me out." Tempest tilted her head mentally. "So… if you weren't joined with your brothers, you'd be more-" She was cut off by an excruciating wave of pain.
Aquarius plugged his ears as Tempest screamed so loud that it shattered glass. A few birds fell out of nearby trees.
One last piece left for the brothers to destroy.
Lance frantically tried calming her, but he was running out of ways to do so. "Tempest? It's okay, they're almost done." He at least hoped. "I would be more what?" he tried prompting her, getting her to talk again. He quite liked her voice–and it wasn't because of the charm–even though now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Their minds were linked, and if she paid even the slightest attention, she would be able to read his thoughts.
"N-nicer," Tempest grunted. "I was going to say nicer." She was breathing hard, and sweat was pouring down her face.
He didn't really know how to answer that. "If I didn't have a third of a soul, I would perhaps be… nicer, as you say… Why do you ask?"
Tempest shrugged. "Just a joke." Her thoughts were a bit sad. He didn't get it, did he?
"Oh." Was he really so dense as to not recognize a joke? "Apologies. I–I'm not very good at such things. To be honest, I've been winging this entire conversation."
Tempest gave a small chuckle. "I know. Sorry, I had to. You really don't get jokes, do you? Poor you. When this is over, I'm going to be teasing you for the rest of my pitiful life." She didn't realize what she had thought-until she had already thought it.
