''Hmph! I see that you have already dispatched of such mediocre a fixer, as expected! My assistance was not required in the slightest! For the most beloved of my kin is a true master of-''
The sudden tirade of praise coming from the mouth of a man I thought was hibernating just two seconds ago had quickly begun to go into one ear and out the other, not that I was intentionally ignoring him, it was closer to a byproduct of sheer disbelief.
In my racing mind it was quite difficult to process just when and how he had woken up and managed to sneak up behind me without a single noise being made, but trough the haze, a single thought was continuously repeating itself in my head.
''And to think we had become acquainted mere days ago! Such a profound pois-''
''Are you fucking serious right now?'' Was that exact thought.
Byron blinked, seeming mildly taken aback, before tilting his head and allowing a look of mild confusion to cross his features.
''Pardon?''
''WHAT DO YOU MEAN "PARDON"!?'' I stomped at the ground angrily, not very intimidating honestly but still making a squelch, this portion of the carpet was chock full of blood more so than any other after all.
''Hm? Confusion had merely struck me thanks to mine kindred's actions, additionally, language-''
''THAT WASN'T AN ACTUAL QUESTION!''
''But the inquisitively contained within your tone spoke otherwise...?''
''...''
My eye was twitching so hard it was almost popping out of my skull.
''How do you still not understand social cues''
''Lines?''
''No not queues you fucking-''
''Language.''
''YES YES I KNOW OKAY JUST- SIGH'' Deep breaths here, just got to remind myself, deep breaths...it'll be fine, I've dealt with this stupidity before, this time's no different.
The adamant stance on swearing was what annoyed me far more though, could've sworn he was fine with it a day ago, can he pick a lane or something...?
''Look...'' Massaging my temples, I put those thoughts aside and go to ask the question that's been weighing on my mind. ''Can you just tell me if you were seriously awake during all of that?''
Byron remained silent, placing his hand to his chin and contemplating.
''Yes.'' Before replying bluntly
''...Yes?''
''I was in a state of conscious yes, hmph! An idea most ingenious on my part, a position most advantageous indeed! T'was perfect for allowing me to see mine kindred "aurafarming" as the youth would sa-''
''AND YOU DIDN'T FUCKING THINK TO HELP ME!?''
Those words left my mouth prematurely, before saying them I could already imagine, or, was more so confident, that I'd get a predictable response.
Also what the fuck is ''aurafarming'' where did he even-
Never mind....
''Not in the slightest! The thought had not crossed my mind!'' I got the most blunt and honest answer possible, of course, my intuition was spot on.
''...''
''Are you serious?'' And it still annoyed the hell out of me.
''No falsehoods taint mine speech!''
''...''
You know I often had thoughts about what would be the first thing I'd buy upon receiving a large sum of money and never once did blood pressure medication make it to the top of that list but, guess there's a first for everything....
''Sigh.'' Whatever, it wasn't possible for me to stay mad at him for any prolonged period of time.
''Look...'' I dragged my hands down my face, equal measures in exasperation and exhaustion. ''I'm not really mad at you but...can you just help from now on when stuff like this happens...?''
''Hmph! Verily, I shall make sure that no harm is to befall mine kindred then!''
''Sure...that works I guess..''
Ignoring the stupidity of this situation for now, with another small sigh my attention turned to the general state the apartment was left in after that little scuffle, it was a shitshow of course, even ignoring the bodies, which if both memory and a general sweeping of the room served me right there were 11 of, just the blood alone was a pain in the ass to deal with.
Byron was also talking to himself behind me, which was becoming increasingly harder to tune out, fortunately however, the smell of blood that was festering in the air made it easier.
A nice metallic scent, would be lying if I said it didn't make my mouth water just slightly, the necks of all those fixers were looking awfully appetizing all of a sudden.
''.....Mhm, guess another bite couldn't hurt...''
''Ooh! You seek to feed?'' At my mumble, Byron's attention shifted.
''Uh...'' To which I took a quick glance over my shoulder, being met by his starstruck and cheerful expression, mildly frightening to say the least, took me a little before I could blurt out any words. ''Sort of-''
''Allow me to provide then, if so is the case.'' Which were immediately cut off.
Before so much as another thought could occur, let alone a word leave my mouth, Byron stuck his hand into the chest of a dead fixer, prodding around the cavity he had just made before stopping, squeezing, and pulling out the man's heart with the arteries still connected, his hands so bloodied they were completely red.
One more motion was made, a sharp tug to fully rip the organ away from those arteries, thankfully the amount of time he spent dead made those blood vessels only leak a minor amount of liquid, as most of it was already, yknow, on the fucking floor.
''Ah! Here mine kindred!'' Byron then, held it in his palms, and nudged it towards me.
''...''
''Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....''
I...was used to killing and eating people, but...not like this, I'm pretty sure I could see a small twitch in that heart as it rested in his palms, still it...sort of made sense? The heart was the organ that had the most amount of blood in it, guess it could be like a juicy apple or something...?
''I-...'' After some reluctance. ''Sure....how....how bad could it possibly be.'' My hand reached out to grab it.
''Hmph! Most splendid!'' Byron nodded with a smug smile, walking over to another fixer before doing the exact same thing he did with the previous one. ''There'' He shook some blood off his hand before looking towards me over his shoulder. ''Now we may feast toge- hm?.''
Seemingly, this fixer was mildly better off than the rest, having some metallic device that my brain couldn't hope to understand the workings of, most likely an augmentation of some kind though, embedded in his heart.
Byron just gave it a scrutinizing look, shrugged, then nipped it between two fingers and yanked it out, tossing it behind himself where it hit the wall with a clink.
''There! Now we may feast!''
''...You go first.''
''Hm? But-''
''Nono, I insist.''
''...''
''Alright!''
Without much further deliberation, Byron looked at the organ held in his palm with a hungry look, and just opened his mouth wide.
''Ah~'' Holding it aloft above it between two fingers, he released the pinch.
It fell into his mouth quite smoothly, his cheeks were stuffed once it was inside, much like a chipmunk, as he chewed I could hear sloshing and squelching coming from his mouth.
''....Uhhhhhhh.'' Honestly all those horrifying noises had me second guessing if this was even remotely a good idea, and taking glances at the one in my hand every now and then only worsened that.
Byron didn't care though, seemingly finished chewing, he thumped his chest a few times and swallowed, his throat bobbing up and down upon doing so.
''Ah~! Tis most refreshing as always! Now!'' With his hands on his hips, he turned to fully face me, from the previous angle I couldn't see it but from this one it was evident that it had stained his teeth completely red....gross. ''Your turn!''
''.....Do I have to?''
''Hmph! Yes! This is a most opportune moment to bond in feasting!''
''Uh...''
With another scrutinizing look being given to the heart, I just shrugged again, can't be that bad right...?
Brought it up to my lips....
''Ah~''
And swallowed.
Immediately after doing so the regret was quick to set in, it had...just the most atrocious texture, like a piece of very chewy rubber in my mouth, slimy too, it was my fault for believing a raw heart could taste any good.
Still, it was too late to spit it out, so, the process of chewing began.
Somehow the flavor was worse than the texture by a magnitude that seemed impossible, even the sweet taste of blood gushing out with every bite struggled to mask it, but with every second it did get better.
Not that I was getting used to the flavor, it was just that the amount of blood in my mouth began eclipsing the heart's weight, soon enough though that flavor did improve.
Well, it didn't improve, just disappeared thankfully, it had taken on a consistency more reminiscent of thoroughly chewed gum after a while.
Oh and Father was watching all of this with complete glee by the way, the guy was enamored.
Once I thought the chewing part was done, my mouth was completely full of blood.
It tasted....quite good now actually.
I swallowed.
''Ah~'' And slumped upon doing so, letting out a small exhale, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, in all honesty that was quite filling.
''Hmph! To succeed so thoroughly on his first try, nothing less-''
''"Is expected from mine kindred" Yeah, I know.''
''...''
Byron pouted at that, of course he fucking did.
''Do not interrupt my praise most sincere!''
''..Right'' Lightly scratched the back of my head with an annoyed look at that. ''My bad...''
My teeth still felt all sticky from that though, whether it was bits of meat or blood I couldn't tell, il just wash it out later.
For now though...about the apartment.
''.....Uh....What can I do about this exactly...?
''Hm? About what?'' Byron inquired next to me.
''The place is covered in blood.''
''Oh yes! The smell is most delightful!'' Yeah...to you maybe.
''Hmm...Maybe I can-''
DING
My thoughts were cut off by a notification on my phone, to which Byron had also turned his head.
''That's weird...'' I muttered, who could possibly have my phone number-
DING
Again, another notification as I was lost in thought.
Pulling it out of my pocket, Byron for some reason thought it was a good idea to place his head on my shoulder to get a look, scooting away an effective deterrent even if it made him pout and cross his arms again.
''Let's see...''
Opening the screen, I saw two notifications, both from unknown numbers.
The first one read as ''Oi, your clothes are ready, come get them''
Ah right, that workshop, Ren...something? I think was his name, in all honestly, completely forgot about it.
That other message though, far more concerning.
''The Thumb Summit is within seven days, make sure to arrive on time.''
"Ah right...." Only now did it seem to register to me, this isn't my phone...it's a Kurokumo clan member's.....that I merely happened to steal
That was mildly concerning, I was on such a high after killing the kurokumos I completely neglected the thought of what the thumb would be doing about it.
If the Kurokumo clan failed to show up, the thumb would probably issue for them to be cut off but, that was already done and dealt with, which meant the next course of action would be them coming for our heads.
We were nowhere near capable enough yet to fight them, Byron might've been through sheer raw might, but not me, we could probably take down a Capo if we really tried, but a sottocapo was out of the question, and one would most certainly show up if we caused that much trouble.
It'll...probably be fine?
Still, that first one...probably something I should do.
''Oi, Father.''
''Hm?''
''I'm uh, heading out again.''
''HAH!? SO SOON!?''
''Uh..yeah?''
''Sniffle'' Byron wiped his nose theatrically, to be separated from mine kindred yet again....for what purpose, tell me!''
''It's...just me going out to get some clothes.''
''HMPH! THOU ARE ABANDONING MY COMPANIONSHIP FOR AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING!?''
''I uh...''
''Sigh'' This fucking man I swear.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't a little tired of him, but an annoying voice in the back of my head was egging me on to not keep him sad.
''We can stay in touch okay, just add my number'' I reached my phone out towards him. ''I'm going to take a shower before I head out, I'm still all bloodied up, make sure to do my dailies too.''
''....Add your number?''
''Phone number, so you know, you can message me and stuff.''
His face lit up at that.
''I MAY CONTACT MY MOST BELOVED OF KINDRED DURING HIS PILGRIMAGE!?'' He shouted, right in my face, almost went deaf from how loud it was, even flinched back slightly.
''...Uh, yeah?''
''HMPH!'' Byron crossed his arms and pouted immediately after again, ''I am still to be separated from my kin but....hmph! I suppose thou compromise is most acceptable.''
With those words, Byron took the phone from me, beginning to type frantically as I casually walked past, already halfway to the bathroom.
''Don't forget the dailies! My Arktemplars account sucks!'' I shouted over my shoulder, and stepped inside.
''...''
''Sigh''
What a bother, this whole bloodfiend thing's been a never-ending stream of problems.
Whatever, a nice scrubbing's going to help me take my mind off of that thumb thing.
....
Hopefully.