guardian of the storm | ✓

Chapter Fifty-Four ~ Late Nights

warning: lots of swearing ahead

~Chapter Fifty-Four~

Her eyes burned and her stomach churned so violently she was surprised that it hadn't climbed out of her throat yet. She tipped her head back, pieces of her hair sticking to her glistening skin and parted her lips, letting the liquid fire cascade down her throat. As Winter slammed the shot glass down, Aexstra grinned and patted her on the back. "Just like old times, eh?"

She narrowed her eyes at the grinning teal haired male, "This is how you three choose to spend your time? Trying the various alcohol that," she cast a glance at the silver haired bartender that was rapping along to a very language choice song, "is being served by a former Akatsuki member?" Kuki shrugged, knocking back another soda and looking grumpy that she'd finally run out of donuts, and Kishi looked as if he was ready to pass out.

"Yo bitch," Winter glances up as the bartender slams a tall glass with a clear liquid in it in front of her, "try this. Maybe it'll wipe that stupid ass scowl off your face."

"I can't believe you of all people are in heaven." She mutters, pushing a few strands of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, I killed a shit ton of people but the big man said it was okay. He's kinda fucked up in my opinion, but if that weasel is able to stay here I think I'm in the clear." He leaned against the counter, a rag slung over his shoulder, his vivid purple eyes glinting in the dim light. "You're new around here aren't you?"

"I suppose." Her nose wrinkled as the strong drink floods her senses, causing her cough.

"Did ya'll hear about that Winter chick? Apparently, she died and her brother threw a hissy fit because it wasn't 'her time' or some shit like that. Anyways, I've heard she's really hot and—"

"And you're looking right at her," Aexstra says slyly, his cheeks flushed with alcohol.

Hidan's eyes widen and he looks at Winter, his eyes roaming up and down her slouched over form. "You're her? Shit man, I thought you'd be a little bigger around the," he winces as he's roughly bumped into by a blue haired male who shoots him a pointed look, "uh, I mean you look great being dead and all."

She raises her glass slightly, an eyebrow cocked, "Thanks."

He grins, his usual cockiness coming back, and winks at her before moving onto another customer.

Rolling her eyes, Winter sipped at the strong drink, deciding it was going to be the last drink of the night. As midnight gave way to the twilight hours before dawn approaches, Winter found herself helping Aexstra back to his apartment, the man mumbling incoherent sentences.

While some people were glad to go to Heaven, others found themselves in a restless state, for those they cared about were left behind. So they find other things to occupy their minds, like giving themselves alcohol poisoning apparently, Winter thought dryly. She pick locked his door since the teal-haired man looked half-conscious, and dragged him over to his bed, dumping him on it unceremoniously.

She started walking out of the bedroom, pausing in the doorframe, and casting a glance over her shoulder at the slumbering man. An image flashed through her mind— blood splattering across a war-torn battlefield, Sairen screaming as she transformed into something that showcased the horror she felt, and the aftermath that followed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered so quietly one might mistake it for a mere brush of wind fluttering through tree branches, "all of you deserved better."

She filled up a water glass and left an anti-nausea pill next to it, placing it on the nightstand next to the bed. Then, like the shadows that fade from the world as the sun rises, Winter faded away into the background.