Fandom: Identity V

Rating: G

Length: 2500 words

Content notes: Submission for Challenge 367 - Pet. Contains: Naib Subedar | Mercenary & Mini-Hastur

Author notes: This work is a self-indulgence, and all my love for my dear in-game pet, a mini-Hastur.

Summary: What is the world in the eyes of a mini-Hastur?

A multitude of eyes peeked from the tattered yellow hood. Small hands lightly grasping at the bars, and tentacles squirmed on the cage’s doors.

He should be wary— this was the visage of a Hunter shrunken into a comical minuscule form. And out of everyone they faced that he’s not sure if they’re even human at all due to their powers and appendages: claw-like hands extended into tentacles, akin to how their lower body presented as a mess of those limbs, slithering across the map in the matches with loud squelches.

And yet, it stretched one of its red hands out- similarly bandaged like its larger version- and he found himself reaching for it, meeting its flesh with a fingertip.

The touch was warm and soft. Crooning noises thrummed with vibrations.

It’s really uncanny but…

“I’ll take this one,” He found himself saying these words, as he pulled at his pockets, accessing the subspace for the bags containing the fragments he had collected over time.

Lady Nightingale snapped her fingers, as the bag felt a bit lighter and he stowed it back at his pockets. Just in time as he heard an unlocking sound, followed by a gurgling noise and a mess of slithering noises before he heard it whoosh through the air.

He looked up just in time for the mini-Hastur to land on his face with a surprising squish, the force of impact nearly knocking him backwards as it hugged him tightly, limbs locking around his entire head with what he assumed as happy noises.

-x-

A sliver of the brightening sky pierced his consciousness from sleep, slowly bringing him to wakefulness. Crawling from where he slept under the blanket, he glanced at the far side of the room— dawn has come. On a whim, sneak out of bed, careful not to wake up the other occupant, as he hopped on the nearby table and peered at the curtains. The night sky gave way to the rising sun and its canvas of the upcoming day. Stretching his limbs, he watched it for a few moments until the sun rose a bit more on the sky.

Today, the Master will— once more? As always?— participate in a series of games, he remembered. And yet, he glanced back to find him remaining there on the bed, dead to the world and the sunlight filtering through the window. Jumping back up on the bed, peeking at the sleeping face huddled under the blanket, he started tapping his head, between the temple and the cheeks as he remembered from the instructions. Or, the skin he could reach, as much as Master permitted it— with how he retreated further in the blanket.

Well, he did say he might do this, so he pushed on with his entire weight, using both hands to nudge him to wakefulness, careful not to topple over and squish his face with his weight or pull on those stray bangs framing his face. A couple more minutes but he noticed the movement on his eyelids and soon enough, Master’s eyes did open just a bit into slits to stare at him.

One hand reached up to pat him on the head, making him pause. “Thanks... Morning.”

And then Master proceeded to sit up, heading for the bathroom to freshen for a bit, as his usual, whilst he took a moment to press his face on the now vacant bed. The Master used to scold him when he tried to follow, so this might be the next best thing. That, and use a bit of his magic to summon a tentacle and pull on the blanket, so that it won’t spill from the bed— perhaps this time, he’ll manage to tidy it up. At least, with this, it’ll be enough to distract him until he returned.

And soon enough, Master did return, pulling his arms through the sleeves of his green coat, much as he got up and raised both his hands as he approached him. Near the edge of the bed, Master scooped him up to his arms.

“Thank you for tidying the bed,” he murmured with a yawn as much as he tried to hug him back. Adjusting his hold, they set out of the room and into the lobby.

-x-

There were 4 seats on one table and a bit of food. Master took a seat, picked a plate and broke off a piece of bread towards him to try.

Taking the small piece and placing it in his void, he tilted him head for a few seconds moments to process it, before making a crooning noise— it was pleasant, a bit soft, still warm. Much as Master had started the process of consuming his share, whilst occasionally breaking off pieces for him to try. Over time, upon finishing the food, they remained there, waiting for the others’ arrival.

Sometimes, he hopped off the table to the floor and back up his chair, in a cycle, although he asks for help when he got stuck trying to get back up the table. Sometimes, he stayed around the back of Master’s chair, loosely playing along his ponytail, and other times, he took over an empty seat so long as the other player hasn’t arrived yet.

Small things to preoccupy them while they wait, much as Master could take a nap, check his elbow pads, stand up and walk a bit to stretch his legs and all that.

But in the end, when the other three arrives and they finish their meals, when the Hunter takes their seat too, and the timer rings… Seconds go down and a flash of white— they all wake up in a different land and setup.

The game had began.

-x-

“In matches, first thing first, remember to keep yourself safe. So, if the hunter is near, you can run.”

Sometimes, he disliked this instruction. He sensed them- whoever or whatever it was that were also in the same match.

And yet, he followed that order, bolting when he can.

Sometimes, Master notices and reacts upon his actions to prepare to run. Parts of him are glad that he is attentive enough to him, even in the middle of a match with so many things going on that he, with his numerous eyes, feel that it is too hard to track. Master sees his movements and moves accordingly, even though sometimes, it is a bit of folly— he had gotten distracted a fair amount, after all.

And sometimes, Master breaks this rule himself.

When he has to run interference, when the hunter chooses to go after him first, and most importantly, when he risks himself to appear before the hunter to do his duty as what he says. Leave him, head for safety. Without a guarantee of his.

So he decided, if that was the case, he will just have to run back to him, even if that meant they were both going to end up chased in the end.

Like today.

It hadn’t been less than a minute and he might have gotten a bit distracted chasing after a butterfly, but the sound of wood crashing against the wall and frustrated otherworldly screaming made him realize that Master was getting chased. Hurrying back, he found him rounding the corner.

“Ah, up, hurry!—” Master called, noticing his approach as he dropped another pallet to to put as much distance between him and the red light behind him. Without hesitation, jump into those arms, one hand curling around him to hold him near his shoulder, ensuring he won’t fall— the other slamming with the rest of his arm against the nearest wall.

The wind flitted through his peripherals, as he looked back to find the hunter pausing, assessing if giving chase is worthwhile, given the way the surroundings distorted with the speed and acceleration that the Master ran as fast as he can from that initial point of impact.

He cheered a bit when he saw the enemy retreat, the echoing shrill of the Teleport trait being used, just as Master glanced back, huffing as he slowed down, changing his course to that of a nearby machine.

-x-

Matches were… these daily instances. Master has to participate. He’s not sure if he wholly understood everything. Four people against one hunter— winning is by escaping this game through exiting the gates, which only opens after five machines were decrypted. Some were fun, with most of them playing around, Hunters taking a break and everyone relaxing their guards.

In times like this, the Master waved him off when he looked far away, motioning him to go explore, enjoy the world and all. Off he went to see the other players, play with their fellow pets, to peek at the different parts of the map. To see this world, sometimes bringing small things back to Master, other times, seeing him move across the map and hurrying to return to his side.

Some were not so much, with bad endings he’d rather forget about.

In those times, he’d return to find Master collapsing at the corner of the map, or even, against the feet of the Hunter. The latter situation is worse, because that meant he’ll get strapped against the chair, with him unable to do anything. Lamenting that he didn’t get to run away as he did, he could only return, shaking by his Master’s leg in fear and worry. At least, in times like these, the Hunter ignored him a lot— much as Master tried to reach for him to calm him down. His size and lack of ability to do anything to help him non-withstanding, bide the time and watch the chair’s timer go down until it sent Master back to the Manor, leaving him behind.

But most of all…

“In matches, if I start reacting against the machines or the wounds, just ignore it.”

He didn’t mind the first instruction but the second order that Master told him, he… disliked it. It doesn’t show immediately or as evidently, but Master had memories about the machines and their noises, specifically, alongside the wounds that get more aggravated the more he faced the hunter and took damages.

Just as much as he thought Master disliked when he got scared and trembled in fear, and his response to try and comfort him— he could only try to repay the favor. But there’s not a lot he could do with his size and all.

So he sticks around him, jumping around, playing silly with his circle, sinking underground and anything he could pull off to try and distract him. Sometimes it works, and Master laughs, cheerfully finishing the cipher without issues. Of course, that also meant that sometimes it works too much and Master makes a mistake and causes a shock- or sometimes, it does not work as Master is already long succumbing to the pain in his head that stops him from moving too much.

But all in all, he could only Stay.

Stay, as much as he can— even if it meant ignoring the impulse to run when the Hunter comes close. Instead of running away, he hops onto Master’s hood and clings there on the cloth or on Master’s shoulder, which recently, Master understood as to let his hands free to move around and not worry about him. If all else fails, follow, trudge along at his fastest speed to catch up as he gives way to a chase, not too far that he cannot see the events unfold, not too close that he will be in the line of fire if things go awry.

Stay, remain by his side, and not fleet about. Stay as he figures out what to do and if he couldn’t, try his best to give as much comfort as he can even with his mere presence.

Until the end of the game and all of its instances.

-x-

Whether Master exits the game facility from the gates or through the dungeon or even the rocket chairs and in surrender, they return to the Manor. All wounds healed and waiting for the next notice of the game they need to play, return back to Master’s side, whatever the result.

Most of the time, Master hugs back anyways. Press his face atop his hood and for a moment, remain in that peace.

Grasp back, as if his small hands can reach more than he could manage, snuggle deeper and reach the same temperament and return to normal.

Until the wounds disappear, and the trembling stops. Until the adrenaline fades alongside its rush.

Until he could pick himself back up and pull away, patting his head as he squeezed on his hands in silent support, and get back to the rest of the day.

And the cycle begins again. Either it’s time for lunch, dinner, take as many games as one can. Time in this Manor repeated and washed over and over with the same structure of games, some occasional events to break the norm and live within this mess.

Master brings him along— sometimes, in the break times and sneaking around the Manor, or just peacefully spending the day with Master with to cook and try out new snacks or read some new books or just sleep in a newly discovered nook.

That’s just things here.

-x-

“Hey, Naib, why did you get a mini-Hastur?”

He stopped in his tracks at Norton’s question. “He’s cute. I like it.” Said pet was currently lying on its belly, whilst clutching the top of his hood, probably watching their proceedings.

“No, are you serious?”

Aesop popped from behind the Prospector and he scratched his cheek, as he saw the Eli was also hanging there. What is this, an investigation? Considering the statement, he began with an answer, “At the risk of sounding like Eli-”

“Oi— what does that mean?”

“Stop cutting in, and don’t protest,” He grit out much as mini-Hastur clambered down and he automatically reached up to cradle it in his arms— akin to a shield between himself and the others. Wide eyes glanced at him and he gave it a squeeze, receiving a pat before it turned to face the other three. “And yeah, this sounds like something you’d say, but there is comfort in realizing there will always be things beyond understanding in our lives and being at peace with their existence.”

He doesn’t need to see the way mini-Hastur’s eyes disappeared, or how he raised his hand slowly as if akin tot he Hunter, before waving at them and making a crooning noise with large rounded eyes. The other three had frozen for a moment, as if they are in a game and seized by fear, before subtly relaxing at the innocuous movement. Without waiting for another reply, he turned and bid them goodbye.

What else is left to be considered but his feelings on the matter. It drew him in and he decided to keep his pet. That’s it.