Chapter Text
It had been a long time since Derlorde had looked in a mirror.
The man had gone to Avery’s bathroom to attempt to clean himself up because he probably hasn’t had a shower since his escapade at the crossroads. Avery insisted that he’d help the man, due to his injuries, but Derlorde had refused. He’d only known Avery for a day or two, why would he let him see him in such a vulnerable state?
He began to undress, leaning on the wall to remove the weight off his leg. He started removing his armor piece by piece and delicately (as he can) and placed them on the floor and then arranged them neatly. As soon as all his armor was off Derlorde finally removed his helmet before he noticed the mirror sitting on the other side of the room. A frown formed on his face as he looked at himself in the mirror.
Scars ran along his well built tanned body in a light peach colour, each displaying their own stories. He wasn’t bothered by them, never was, he was almost proud of those scars. It was his face that bothered him the most.
He didn’t recognise that face, the one staring back at him. That face had seen everything, that wasn’t the innocent little boy who loved playing knight with his siblings. That wasn’t the little boy who always played innocent little tricks on his family. That wasn’t the man who was loyal to his king and served him well. That was the face of someone who had given up, seen too much of everything. A face that no one will ever want around their home. At that moment he was reminded why he doesn't look at mirrors or reflective surfaces in general anymore.
Derlorde huffed as he removed his cape draping it along the mirror to cover it up. He took off the rest of his remaining clothes and stepped into the shower with a huff turning it on. Once again leaning on the wall.
To say the shower was fairly unpleasant was an understatement. The new cuts that had been formed on his body from his escape burned under the cold water, especially the injuries to his leg and knuckles. It felt as if his whole body was on fire. Derlorde let out a quiet hiss of pain but he continued to stand in the shower letting the cold water seep deep into the small slits of his skin. He looked up into the water letting it run down his face, it was almost soothing in a way for him. This is the most calm he’s felt since his encounter with it.
For a while he just stood, trying not to think about anything that had currently plagued his mind, besides the weird visions he’s been having. His thoughts lingered on the strange images trying to make out what they could’ve possibly been. But they were all too blurry and there were too many he couldn’t just focus on one because another would just pop up into his train of thought. He was getting a headache from this. All he managed to make out were two figures, too blurry to make out, holding hands? He couldn’t see properly. It wasn’t useful information, it just led to more questions. Eventually he gave up and began to finally wash up.
–♪–
Avery sat on the couch staring blankly at the tv. He was bored. He could go hunting for food but he still had this guy in his house and he can’t just leave him by himself. Not that the slime didn't trust him at all; he just doesn’t know what to expect from the knight. He sighed leaning back thinking back to last night when he first had interacted with Derlorde. The knight didn't talk much, half the time they both just sat in silence.
Avery had many questions about him, who was he? How did he get into that hill? Was he the guy that wrote the book? Does he like salmon? Anyway besides the point, Avery had more questions than answers about the other man. Soon the slime got up and decided he’d practice for the upcoming Skywars tournament, it was a good way to cure his boredom and ease his mind in a way as he waited for the knight.
Avery made his way outside to the practice dummies he had set up with a wooden sword in his hand. He stood across from the wooden battered dummy. Avery took a deep breath getting into a fighting stance. The slime lifted his sword hitting the dummy repeatedly at different angles, each slash adding an extra dent into the damaged wooden frame. A huff left the man as he kicked the dummy to the ground in irritation.
Practicing on dummies wasn't the most efficient or fun way to train for skywars in his opinion. He needed no, wanted to spar with someone. But he doesn’t have many options in the first place, he has friends of course but all of them live in towns thousands of blocks away from Avery's humble abode. The slime stared down the wooden frame, before giving one last kick of annoyance.
The slime walked back into the house to be met with Derlorde sitting on the couch, clearly finished with his shower. “Back so soon knight boy?” Avery teased, but Derlorde rolled his eyes. “C’mon dude, humour me at least!” Avery sat down next to the knight with a cheeky grin on his face.
The slime's eyes wandered over Derlordes helmet, trying to see what was under the shadow that covered his face. Derlorde looked back at him with an unamused expression before flatly asking, “What are you looking at?” “You.” “Why?” Derlorde tilted his head like a puppy that was confused. “I mean, I’m curious what's under your helmet? Like I mean duh a face but what do you look like?” Avery responded with a grin still plastered on his face. “Nothing,” the monotone voice replied. Avery's smile faltered slightly, almost disappointed. The slime shifted on the couch before asking something else, “How’s your leg feeling? And your knuckles?” “Sore I suppose, the shower didn’t make it any better.” Avery nodded, glancing down at the man’s knuckles and leg with a sympathetic expression. Soon a comfortable silence fell between the two
“Hey dude,” Aver started, breaking the silence. “You like salmon? I’m making it for dinner if you want!” Derlorde looked down at the slime slightly surprised before nodding. “I suppose so, I’ll eat anything honestly.” “Great! Salmon it is!”
At least Avery got an answer to one of his questions.