10 Years Ago

The Seeker awoke to the sun streaming in through the window. Moving gently to avoid the pain from the hangover he swung his legs out from the bed when he realised, there was no pain. He could open his eyes fully and register the morning sun without squinting and reaching for a hip flask.

Trying to figure out what the hell was going on and slowly, each flash of memory being served up with an almost malicious glee from his brain which did not feel pickled for once.

Heading out with Steve, the beating at the House of Levi, his nose! Even as his hands were going to his face another flash, the sound that he was so sure would become a permanent addition to his night terrors, the snapping of his shins.

His hands met perfect flesh, the kind of nose you had to pay for. He then waggled his legs off the edge of the bed and noticed that they seemed shorter than they should. They were in perfect condition though, the twisted body horrors he had as legs yesterday were gone like a fever dream.

That took him minute. Finding out that your body is not the same size as it has been your entire life, he was missing some length. What was going on? The Seeker gingerly stood up, unsure if these new, shorter gams would take his weight. No problem although the world did seem slightly wrong, seeing the room from a different height.

That could also be the fact that what he was seeing was so clear, not through the veil of the habitual hangover.

Valkyr!

The memory of Valkyr becoming something else, something obviously not human, slammed into him. Where was he?

Throwing on some clothes, he was about to leave then grabbed his old overcoat. Sure, it smelt like a donkey had been sick in it but he was not comfortable with how out of proportion he felt.

Heading downstairs he heard someone moving around behind the bar. Was that washing being done? No one washed in here, it was just me and Surly Curly, the owner, and she had not stepped in here since I had started.

Going downstairs was odd, everything felt off like the moments just before blacking out from drinking. The Seeker reached the bottom and rounded the corner into the main bar area and there was Valkyr, behind the bar washing pint mugs. They looked so clean you could almost drink out of them.

Valkyr looked up when Seeker walked in, he just stopped, his perfectly manicured hands deep in the sink. They stared at each other.

Seeker broke first, awkwardly clearing his throat “So, ahhhh…you…” Trailing off he gave up and shrugged “Thanks, I guess?”

Valkyr dried his hands on a cloth that was probably just making them dirty again and cracked a wry grin. “Seeker, ever eloquent.” He gestured over to the taps “Pint?”

Automatically he begun to say yes but realised he was enjoying this new found ability to be able to breathe without causing pain. He shook his head. “No thanks.”

Valkyr’s eyebrows began doing a comical attempt to climb into his hair at that. Seeker shot him a glare “Hey, its your fault. I am liking this no hangover thing.”

Valkyr nodded and waved to one of the tables “Well, lets get this over with.”

Sitting across from each other Seeker waited for a beat, Valkyr just watched him. Clearing his throat Seeker broke first “Fine, be that way. Did you want to talk about your Super?”

He was not even halfway through the sentence and Valkyr was shaking his head. “Alright, alright.” Seeker agreed. Gesturing to himself “Thanks though, you are a better friend than I deserve.”

Valkyr softened, Seeker had not realised just how tense and tight his friend had been. Valkyr obviously didn’t want anyone to know about his Super. “You are welcome, my friend. I am sorry about your legs, I did the best I could but the damage was too severe. I had to remove the shattered chunks and fuse the bones together. You lost a bit of height.”

“I noticed.” Seeker replied. It felt weird, cold, awkward between them. This was wrong.

The moment stretched, the seconds turned into minutes.

Finally Seeker could not take it any more and broke the silence again. “I am not going to ask about your Super, I hope one day you will tell me more about yourself but only when you are comfortable. I don’t mind waiting.”

Valkyr simply nodded. “So, what happened to you anyway stumpy?”

“Stumpy!?” Seeker burst out then saw his friends lopsided grin. “That’s rich from you bird man.” They both just started to laugh, not in the “that was funny” way, more from the release of tension.

“I deserved that.” Valkyr said.

“Yeah, you did.” Seeker agreed “Well, I got talking to Steve the other day and he brought up the House of Levi without my prompting. I thought it was a stroke of luck.”

Seeker tried to suppress the shudder. It didn’t work.

He continued “Remember both you and I thought it was like a self help group or something for all us copies.”

The slight tightening of Valkyr’s eyes when Seeker called himself a copy did not go unnoticed however it was ignored, the Seeker continued. He knows who he is.

“So Steve took me to the House and I had my own expectations, I didn’t think that I would be in danger. It is some sort of weird cult, there was a definite leader who kept going on about my Mission, trying to find out what it was. I still do not know what he was actually after.” Taking a deep breathe, trying to move past the sound of his legs being snapped, Seeker pushed on.

“I have no idea what is going on there but I don’t think they have any answers for me.”

“Do you think the Levi that got you out will show up here like he said?” Valkyr asked, then paused. “Shit, I didn’t even think about it. Do you think he will show up by himself? Are you safe here?” Another pause before “Did… did you want to stay at my place tonight?”

Seeing this Adonis, who was always so collected, stumble over his words was off-putting however at the same time Seeker felt warmed that the man would offer up his sanctuary.

Seeker thought about it for a moment, more as in he wanted to finally see Valkyr’s place than thinking he was in any danger. Valkyr had already offered up so many of his secrets to him recently that he did not want to push it.

“No thanks, I don’t think he is any trouble. He is the one who risked himself getting me out. Whatever is happening there it is a cult, run with a fist.”

Again Seeker cast about him for a pint mug then slumped back disappointed when he remembered there was not one. He then realised that he had not doubled over in his usual morning ritual of a coughing fit.

Seeker’s voice was still rasped raw but it didn’t hurt. Another reason he owed Valkyr literally his life. He looked around at the dark interior of the tap room. The smoke stained exposed wood, the mysterious marks on the floor. Suddenly he saw it as the hovel, the fetid depression nest he had been hiding in for months now.

Valkyr looked questioningly at Seeker “What about Steve? He knows exactly where to find you? They know where you are. You need to get away from here, you need to get to safety.”

Steve. Again, Seeker had not thought of that. His brain was trying to get back up to speed now that it was not fighting through a constant fog of alcohol.

“Ahh shit, they know exactly where I am. They don’t know I have a weird bird healer person as a friend though. That might have bought me some time.” Seeker mused. He looked at Valkyr sadly “I think you are right though, I need to leave this city. I am a Levi though, I have no friends or family outside. I have no where to go.” He tried to not sound so pathetic however the idea of starting again, without having Valkyr with him was hurting his soul.

Valkyr nodded slowly “I know my friend, I wish it was not the way it is but…” He paused “This could be good for you.” Valkyr looked around the dim interior of the Skin Drum “I will always have fond memories of this place but maybe it is time to move on. You have been slowly committing suicide here for a while now. I have tried to be your friend however I think you should hear what this copy has to say and then leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow!?” Seeker burst out “That’s too soon! I need to…” He trailed off morosely. “I don’t have anything to do except say goodbye to you do I?” Seeker sat there and questioned what he had even been achieving being alive. He had one friend, a shit job with an even shittier boss. He hated leaving the Skin Drum and being faced with all the copies every where reminding him of what he was trying to hide from.

Valkyr watched it all cross the Seekers face “If you let me I can help you again. I have a friend, he would take you in. It is in a monastery though, so you would have to continue this smoke and drink free lifestyle you have embraced for all of 30 minutes.”

Seeker sadly smiled at Valkyr “That sounds interesting however I have not been exactly diligent with my savings. I am not sure I would be able to pay for the transport let alone stay somewhere without working.” He hardened his gaze “That was not a cry for help or a handout bird man.”

They stared at each, one angry and embarrassed, the other understanding. Seeker dropped his eyes first, Valkyr spoke softly “Please, let me help you to leave. Lightning owes me, he can get you there in a heartbeat and I have made more money than I could ever spend. How did you think I could afford to come and just waste my life with you? Please?”

Seeker swallowed, he was trying to think of a reason to turn down this offer more than stubborn pride. He was being handed a gift. Softly, so softly as if he didn’t want the world to hear how scared he was he asked “I don’t want to be alone again. Will you come and visit me?”

“Of course my friend.” Valkyr smiled.