Chapter 19: Ren Wakes Up
It had been a week since Bahamut and Ren’s last banter. In that ti, Bahamut had adapted to his new life, slowly consolidating his strength until nearly half of his power felt stable and refined. He was no longer stumbling through blind instinct, he was a full-fledged 1st Tier, Circle of Body practitioner.
Yet, the hunger for strength wasn’t his only concern. He lacked knowledge. Real knowledge. What he understood of the world ca only from Ren’s mories... and since Ren had been blind, his understanding of the world had been little more than scraps.
"System," Bahamut muttered as he rested under the shade of a tree, "is there a way for
to get a basic understanding of this world? Anything at all?"
The familiar chi rang before the system’s cold, even voice answered.
[Negative. The system’s purpose is to provide support, refinent of abilities, skill integration, and survival resources. Knowledge of the world itself must be acquired by you.]
Bahamut sighed, tilting his head back against the trunk. "Not even a clue?"
There was a pause. Then the system replied, almost sounding exasperated.
[You already have clues. What more are you expecting, a bedti story?]
Bahamut’s jaw dropped slightly. "Did... did you just...?"
[Clarifying: No, I did not. You’re imagining things.]
"Tch. I regret asking you for help."
[And yet you always co back.]
"Shaless."
[Efficient.]
Bahamut clicked his tongue and waved his hand in annoyance, though the corner of his lips tugged upwards. For all its coldness, the system’s sarcasm made the silence a little less lonely.
As Bahamut exchanged barbs with the system, a faint rustle drifted from the cave nearby, the sa cave that had served as his shelter these past days. His sharpened senses picked it up instantly, every nerve in his body going taut.
He turned his head, eyes narrowing. A faint silhouette shifted in the cave’s darkness, the small, familiar outline of a rabbit.
"Ren?" Bahamut’s voice cracked with a mix of surprise and relief. In an instant, he was on his feet, his body moving before his thoughts could catch up. He strode quickly toward the cave entrance, heart pounding louder than the sound of his footsteps.
It couldn’t be mistaken. After nearly a week of silence, of speaking only to an unresponsive body, Ren’s presence stirred again.
"Ren, buddy... you’re awake?" Bahamut called, his tone softening with an uncharacteristic tremor of hope.
The rustle grew louder as Bahamut stepped fully into the mouth of the cave. His grey eyes, still blind but sharpened by his other senses, caught the faintest rise and fall of Ren’s small chest. The Chaos Bunny was sprawled across the stone, ears flicking weakly, his fur dulled but alive.
"Ren..." Bahamut muttered again, low and rough, as though saying the na grounded him.
The rabbit’s head shifted, and his voice carried, faint but annoyingly smug."Tch. You’re too loud. Were you crying out here every day, waiting for
to wake up? Pathetic."
Bahamut’s jaw clenched, but his lips quirked at the corners. "...Still yapping like a drunk dog. Figures. Even after a week, half-dead, you co back just to insult ."
Ren chuckled, the sound strained but mocking. "Hah... and look at you. What the hell are you wearing? Don’t tell
that’s... fox hide? You look like a cave-beast who lost a bet. Your sense of fashion is so screwed even after a week."
Bahamut instinctively glanced down at himself, his crude stitched-up hide jerkin and uneven leggings sticking close to his still-scarred body. He clicked his tongue. "...Better than being naked. Unless you wanted
walking around with everything swinging free."
The bunny wheezed a laugh, his ears flopping against the stone. "Pffft... don’t flatter yourself. I doubt there’s much to swing. Still, this suits you... Bahamut, the savage cave-man beast. Just missing a club to complete the look."
Bahamut crouched down, his expression twisting between irritation and faint relief. "...I should’ve left you unconscious. Peace for once. Now I regret saving your furry ass."
Ren tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes glimring faintly despite the fatigue. "Hah... admit it. You’d have gone insane without . You need soone to keep your ego in check."
For a long mont, they simply stared, one blind but unyielding, the other weak but grinning. The silence stretched until Bahamut finally let out a grunt, sitting back with a thud against the cave wall.
"...Annoying rabbit."
Ren smirked, eyes half-lidded. "Love you too, cave-beast."
Ren twitched, his ears flicking as he tried to push himself upright with his stubby little paws. His body trembled imdiately, strength still sapped from the coma.
"Damn it... legs, cooperate," he muttered, wobbling like a drunk before falling flat on his side again.
Bahamut smirked, arms crossed as he watched. "Heh. You look like a potato rolling around. Should I fetch you a wheelbarrow?"
Ren glared at him, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Tch. Shut up. I don’t need your pity, beast-boy."
"Pity? This is entertainnt," Bahamut shot back, leaning lazily against the stone wall. "I could watch you flop around all day."
Ren huffed and tried again, ears straining forward as though they could give him balance. He managed half a hop before collapsing again with a thud. "Okay... maybe I need... a little help," he admitted through clenched teeth.
Bahamut raised a brow, smirk widening. "What was that? Speak up. I don’t think the cave heard you."
Ren grit his tiny teeth. "...Help
up before I chew your hide clothes while you’re sleeping."
That earned a short, rumbling chuckle from Bahamut. "Fine, fine. Don’t start crying." He crouched down and scooped Ren up effortlessly, the bunny’s light body fitting easily into his scarred hands.
Ren wriggled indignantly. "Oi! Don’t carry
like so damsel! Put
down properly, beast-man!"
Bahamut held him up eye-level, his blind grey eyes locking onto Ren’s faint crimson glow. "...You’re lighter than a sack of leaves. Maybe I should tie you to my belt and let you dangle there. Accessory bunny."
"Try it," Ren growled, "and I’ll make sure your future offspring are nothing but a dream."
Bahamut laughed, actually laughed, deep and unrestrained, the sound echoing in the cave. "There you are. Sa irritating bastard as always."
Ren stopped squirming for a mont, blinking in surprise at the sound, before clicking his tongue. "...Tch. Don’t laugh like that. It’s weird."
Bahamut ignored him, still chuckling, as he set Ren gently down on a softer patch of moss.
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