A Flower in the Dark

Void had managed to contact Hush and Soldat via their mental link,  both brothers were now on their way to pick up his sorry ass from the campsite he was at. They would be there soon, before the police hopefully. A few campers had escaped earlier in the night but it was still a long way to the nearest police station. As he sat amongst the gore, the bonfire now beginning to smolder and dawn finally coming into view, he thought over the events of the night before. He swallowed the lump in his throat as his face flushed in humiliation and embarrassment...

He had been sent on a solo hunt by Mother, it was simple enough; pick off a single camper from the group in the forest. All Mother needed was one. It was nearing midnight, the air was cool and heavy with the smell of liquor, weed and the large bonfire that was still blazing away. He had managed to lure one of the girls away,  out of view and into the forest, a quick blow to the back of her head with his axe ended her; swift and easy. Her skull gave away like dry rot. He left her there for Mother to take away and consume. He planned on sneaking through the camp a little to pilfer some of their recreational enjoyment but stopped at the tree line when he heard screaming. 

That's when he saw two of those three idiots, they were raging through the camp. One with his hatchets and the other with a  crowbar. He saw two maybe three of the campers hop into one of their cars and careen down the dirt road out of the campsite. The others weren't so lucky, a few took off into the woods; a cliche mistake. The two masked men followed them into the woods. Before Void could contemplate where the third guy, the hooded man, was the wind was knocked out of him and the world around him became a blinding blur.  Speak of the devil... The hooded man had rammed into him at full force,  taking him completely off his feet and into the open campsite. Void let out only a grunt as he violently hit the dirt and slid a few feet away from the other man. The hooded man stalked around him like an animal as he momentarily struggled to stand up, he had been disoriented by the sudden force.

These three, and whoever their boss was, Mother had made it clear that they were to run if they ever saw them. She would never elaborate further as to why.

The hooded man was lean and far taller than Void; jackass... He wore a full-faced balaclava with a red frowny face stitched into it. A dull yellow hoodie, worn-out jeans, black leather gloves and hiking boots made for a strange get-up when you're out killing people. He didn't see a weapon on the guy but  Void couldn't risk it. He couldn't stick around to face off with this guy, not with his two partners out there somewhere. It was only a matter of time until they came back and Void was alone, he couldn't take all three. When he finally staggered to his feet he cautiously followed the hooded man's circling and when he saw an opening he went for it. Void ran at the man making it like he was going in for a hit only to duck and slide beneath the man and through his spread legs. Unfortunately for Void, the man seemed to anticipate the feint and turned on his heel. He ran Void down, grabbing him by his braid that flew freely behind him and yanked him back hard, snapping his head back in the process and sending a jolt of pain down his spine. Void flew back into the guy's chest where a thin but muscled arm wrapped around his neck and applied enough pressure to make his vision spotty. Void blindly clawed at the arm.

The man brought his covered mouth to Void's ear and spoke.

"No hard feelings little flower,  our boss just so happened to have his heart set on this site too." The man's voice sounded like it was being filtered through something, a  voice changer? It was deep, staticky and held amusement, he was enjoying this.

Wait... Flower?! Did this guy know his real name? Lavender... Void had stilled at that remark, genuinely terrified that he was possibly found out. 

"Don't be too surprised. I  already know who you are, I know where you live too. Such a nice little cabin. You make for a sweet little housewife." The hooded man chuckled.  "The name's Hoodie, to you at least. I hope you remember it~" Oh yeah,  he was definitely enjoying this. 

Void began to struggle again before bringing his chin towards his chest and flinging it back, the man was close enough for Void to bash the back of his head into Hoodie's face. He knows he hit something, maybe his nose or at least a busted lip. The hooded man only recoiled slightly before taking a step back and kicking in the back of Void's knees, sending him to the ground before swinging another swift kick to the side of his head. It sent his mask careening off his face and his body violently flew to the side. His vision went momentarily black.

Void lay on the cold forest floor, snapping back from being stunned and writhing from the blow, his head pounding and sending shock waves of pain through his whole body.  His axe which was harnessed to his back dug painfully into his spine.  The cold of the night began to seep through his clothes, his legs beginning to ache, the old burn scars flaring to life again. This is why it was supposed to be quick, it's too cold for this shit. 

"Do  those nasty old scars hurt, little flower?" Hoodie let out a distorted laugh, sounds like he might have hit the voice changer, as he reached down towards Void. He violently yanked at his axe and flung it into the thick bark of one of the trees. He then turned back to Void and grabbed him by the collar of his oversized leather jacket, dragging him towards the bonfire. "Don't worry, we're not allowed to kill you. It would be a  shame to put an end to such a pretty face." Pretty face or not it didn't stop him from punching Void square in the face before dropping him unceremoniously near the fire. Blood dribbled down from his nose as Void took a bleary second to appreciate the warmth now radiating over him.  It wouldn't be enough to stop the pain that was coursing through his legs but it would stop it from getting any worse. He needed to get home.

"W-why the fuck bother with me then? Why go out of your way to be a, ngh, prick?" Void spat out.

"I just wanted to introduce myself. Is that so terrible?" Hoodie tilted his head and shrugged.

"And the other two stooges? Who are they?" Come on talk some more... 

"Ah ah, I don't think so. That's not how this works. They're almost done now anyways and then we'll sadly have to part ways. It's just you and me  until then." Yay, lucky him. He just wants to watch Void squirm, it's not like Void could stop them now even if he cared enough to do so.  There's no other reason. Void wasn't going anywhere, not until his legs stopped throbbing. And his head... He tried to contact his brothers but he couldn't concentrate long enough to form a mental link. It also felt like there was something or someone trying to block him from doing so.  It felt like Mother but different...
Hoodie idly looked around the campsite as if he owned it, plucking a beer from one of the coolers before walking back to where Void lay. Is he gonna take the mask off?  No. He lifted it just enough to reveal his mouth and nose. Pale skin with a thin mustache and light stubble dotted his face, thickening near his chin. Blood was smeared around his mouth where Void head-butted him and he swiped the back of his hand across it before popping the tab on the beer. He took deep gulps from the can, only stopping briefly to shake it in Void's direction. Void shook his head slowly, that brand wasn't for him... and he didn't want it anyway!... definitely not from him. Hoodie finished off the beer, crushing the empty can in his hand before tossing it into the bonfire.

Hoodie looked down at him again and smirked, Void could make out a gap between his two upper front teeth. It looked like he was going to say something before his smirk faltered and his body jolted lightly. "Looks like the  other two 'stooges' are done." He tilted his head again, a smirk coming  back at the insult for him and his partners. With a mock pout, he stated  "Looks like we have to part ways. I was enjoying our little date." His voice was unfiltered now and it sounded so... normal, smooth with a  light southern lilt but there was slyness to it, one Void knew meant trouble with or without the mask. He sauntered over to where Void's mask had landed earlier.

Void sneered, he couldn't hold back his sass, he was pissed, fed up and in pain. And his pride was wounded.  "This is what you call a date? How unsatisfying..."

All amusement was wiped from Hoodie's exposed mouth as he frowned, the corner of his mouth twitching in mild irritation. Looks like he didn't like it when his ego was attacked. Bitch. Hoodie stalked towards him,  grabbed him by the white t-shirt he wore under his leather and yanked him up and onto his knees. Void could feel the muscles in his thighs quiver in pain as they were forced to bare his weight so suddenly. Void grabbed onto Hoodie's wrist with both hands but didn't dare do anything else. Hoodie leaned down to invade his personal space, they were face to face. The dim light from the bonfire flickered across his face, casting strange shadows over his features and Void could only look at where  Hoodie's eyes would be as he still couldn't see them. He could almost feel the intensity of them wash over his face. How the hell was he able to see with his eyes covered like that? The smell of cheap beer washed over Void's face as he glared back at Hoodie, but it dropped instantly as the smirk returned to Hoodie's face. His tongue poked out and quickly wet chapped, blood-stained lips. Hoodie lightly bit at his bottom lip before he spoke.

"You want to be satisfied little flower? I'm afraid we're all out of time for that." Hoodie leaned in closer to Void ever so slightly and tilted his head.

Void could feel his face heat up and his mouth go dry as he audibly gulped. What the fuck... What even..??

His eyes fluttered lightly as time seemed to slow, Hoodie got closer, their lips were so close... Void didn't know why but his eyes slid closed as he waited for something... This guy literally just rocked his shit, his head was still pounding and now he was on his knees desperately waiting,  for what? A kiss? What kind of fucked up decisions in his life had led to this? Wait... never mind, forget that... It was probably the blow to the head...

The tension was palpable as warm breath washed over his face and a nose lightly brushed against his own but nothing touched his lips. 

"Goodbye Lavender. I'll see you later.~" With that Hoodie laughed, released Void and he fell back onto his ass. His mask was tossed at his chest and it landed in his lap. Void stared dumbstruck, mouth slightly agape as Hoodie fixed his mask,  pulled his hood back up and casually walked back into the tree line as if he hadn't just left Void hot and bothered before completely disappearing, swallowed whole by the forest.

Void sat uncomfortably in the dirt and let out a shuddering breath. "Holy shit..." 

His brothers can NOT find out about this...