"No, normally I'm too drugged up." Adrien mentally high fived himself because he didn't seem to have pissed off Alex too badly yet and stretched. His back popped loudly, followed by his shoulders and left elbow. He winced. "Um… sorry about that."
Alex grunted slightly in response as an ‘it’s whatever’ type of thing. He sighed before pushing himself up into his arms, stretching himself. He could feel his power pretty much completely refreshed, and he knew he wouldn’t be so grumpy… well, maybe, “Why did you get up in the night?”
"Hmm? Oh, I have heart problems." Adrien leaned back against the bed frame, muffling a yawn with his hands. "I get these really awful chest aches," Adrien rubbed is chest unconsciously, "and they can make me pass out if I'm not careful so I had to go grab some Advil. It doesn't work super well but it's all I can really afford. Anyways, why do you care?"
Alex rolled his eyes, waving his hand idly, “Aight whatever then, sorry for trying to be civil.” He grumbled, sitting on the end of the red away form Adrien. He rolled his shoulders, warming up his muscles. He knew he’d be jumping soon.
Adrien rolled his eyes, a little hurt because he'd been asking a serious question. He slid down onto his back, splaying out on the bed, and sighed. "I was being civil," he said pointedly. "You just can't tell the difference between sarcasm and sincerity."
“Technicalities that won’t matter in the long run,” He sighed, doing a few more arm stretches and muffling a yawn, “I can prove that everything I’m saying is true, now. I can make the jumps.”
"Technicalities that mean everything when trying to convince a cynical stranger to trust you." Adrien sent him a meaningful glare. "Maybe I don't wanna go somewhere unfamiliar with an asshole stranger, ever think of that?"
Alex rubbed his face with both hands, “Fine, right whatever,” He mumbled, “Sorry.” Goddamn he hated apologising, but he’d do it if it meant any chance of convincing Adrien.
"I'm incredibly moved by your deeply profound and heartfelt apology," Adrien deadpanned, resting his hands on his stomach. "But the answer is still 'you're creepy and I don't wanna go anywhere with you', sorry."
“Okay, I get it. I’m creepy, I’m weird, I’m talking shit that makes no sense,” Alex half looked over his shoulder at Adrien, “I’m sorry for being such an ass, it’s just who I am but please, one jump there and one jump back. If somehow you still don’t believe me, I’ll leave you alone.”
Adrien gave him a long scrutinizing look before he sighed and sat up. "Fine. Just let me get dressed." He stood, gathering his clothes quickly, and slipped off to the bathroom. He returned a few minutes later with a scowl and an extended hand. "Beam me up, Scotty."
Alex had strapped his sword to his side in case he needed to use it while Adrien was gone. He fornwed at what he said, not getting the reference, “Hold on tight.” He mumbled. He took his hand, pulling him closer to his body before he jumped.
The Void constricted the both of them and the World Walker get a tight hold of the other male so he wouldn’t get lost somewhere unpleasant. In a matter of seconds, they came out on the other side.
Yrelta’s three moons were high in the sky, the darkness and the grey and the lack of colour obvious. Flames from the academy was what Alex noticed first, and his heart sunk, “Believe me now?”
Adrien jolted, staring up into the three moons and then around the black and grey landscape they found themselves in. "The only thing I believe is that I'm starting to hallucinate. What the fuck is going on? Why does it look like we're in a movie from the 1940s?"
“How the fuck are you gon-“ Alex stopped short and snapped his head to the woods behind them, narrowing his eyes before looking back to the city, “It’s just what it’s like. And it’s home.”
"It looks like a sad wasteland, so it's exactly the way I envisioned your home." He took in his surroundings for a few more seconds and… well, there was really no way to rationalize this, was there? He was in goddamned fantasy land. "Good lord, Is that on fire!?"
Alex let out a soft growl, “Hyra. He’s the one behind all of this, him and his beasts.” There was another loud crunch from the trees and one of the night stalkers emerged, letting out an ear piecering screech that had Alex drawing his sword immediately.
(Can I get a brief description of the night stalkers?)
Adrien flinched and hid behind Alex, suddenly regretting several of his life decisions. What the fuck was that!? And did Alex really think he could take it down with just a sword!? They were going to die before Adrien even got to use his supposed magic.
The weather got stormier, dark clouds gathering overhead as he panicked. Lightning crackled anxiously above them.
(They move like apes, although skinnier and quicker, very bony. grey skin that almost looks wet and slimy and with undertones of purple. Viewed are obvious. They have no eyes, just skin where they would be. Two slits for a nose and a moth with fangs and sharp teeth, sharp claws.)
Alex’s head snapped towards the storm, then to Adrien. He knew the other couldn’t control his magic yet, he didn’t even believe it was real so there was no point in trying to convince him to use the stuff.
The night stalker lunged, Alex meeting him halfway and blocking its claws with his sword, pushing it back just a small amount.
(I'm heading to bed. Goodnight!)
Adrien was slowly starting to scramble away from the slimy ape mutant, trying his best to not hyperventilate. He was doing a pretty decent job, all things considered. He clamped a hand over his mouth to keep from crying out when the thing lunged at Alex, surprised that he managed to beat it back instead of collapsing to the floor crying.
He swallowed thickly, noticing the clouds above him for the first time. The night had been clear, hadn't it? Was… was all this magic shit real? The thunder rumbled in what seemed like annoyance, almost like it was trying to give an exasperated yes, and he let out a soft whimper.
Alex tried not to let the thunder distracted him as it lunged at him again, sending the two rolling to the floor in a mess of limps and clashing of nails on metal. He wanted to call out to Adrien to at least get a hold of himself a little bit knew the kid was still getting used to this whole situation.
The Night Stalker tried to bite at Alex’s neck but he pushed him off, scrambling back to his feet.
Adrien backed up until he tripped and fell on his ass, still scrambling away on hands and knees. He could still see the whole fight. When the… god, he didn't even know what those nightmare creatures were, when the thing tried to bite at Alex he finally snapped and threw his hand out in an attempt to do anything to help him win the fight. He didn't know what he was expecting, but it certainly wasn't what happened.
The storm turned brutal in the next few seconds, lighting striking closer and closer until it hit Adrien dead on, bathing his fearful expression in bright white light. It didn't hurt him, though. It arched out of his extended hand and scorched the nightwalker until it was burnt out carcass.
Alex’s eyes widened a little, clutching the sword to steady himself as he caught his breath. Adrien had actually fucking done it in his own state of panic. The World Walker let out a light laugh, shaking his head in disbelief, “You fucking did it. Thank you.”
Adrien looked down at his hands, still crackling with excess lightning, and fought the urge to scream. He should be dead. He just got struck by lightning. The storm rumbled disapprovingly and he glared up at the sky. The electricity felt strange inside him, too cold and too hot and too much. "Alex!? What's happening to me!?"
Alex rushed over, for once in his life worried about another person yet he tried not to think too much into it, “Hey, this is normal for you,” He knelt down in front of him, taking Adrien’s hands once the excess lightening was gone, “I’ll help you control it, it’s kinda what I was tasked to do.”
Adrien squeezed Alex's hands tightly, clinging to him like a lifeline. He was shivering from both the coldness of the night and the horrible empty feeling in his veins now that the lightning was gone. "I don't like it, please don't make me do that again."
Alex sighed quietly, his features softening slightly as he brought Adrien close to his chest to hopefully warm him up a little, “Let’s get you home, we can have this conversation later.” He picked him up, making sure the smaller male was secure before he jumped the back to Earth.
Adrien was still clinging to Alex when they got home because Alex was warm and safe and knew what was going on. He didn't feel quite so empty when he could touch someone else. "So that was the m-magic you were talking about?"
Alex nodded, gently placing Adrien on the couch, “Yes, it was,” He replied, unhooking his sword and placing it neatly by the front door for now, “Even though that was your first time using your power like that you did a good job.”
Adrien curled up into a little ball on the couch when Alex left, scratching at his arms. It felt like the lightning had bored holes in his arms and now they were empty and awful. His chest was starting to ache too, the cherry on top of this already distressing moment. "I… I hated it. I can't do that again."
Alex walked back, siting down next to Adrien and taking. His hands so he’d stop scratching at his arms, “I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to. The beginning is always the worst, it was the same for me, too, but… with training it will get better.”