0
Leviathan
May 18, 2025 2:18 PM
It's been hours now since you've been separated from your squad. And despite the distress signal being sent out by your CommLink, nobody seems to be coming to the rescue. Is the signal being jammed? Or could your squad be…?
Not willing to jump to such a grim conclusion, you began to make your way through the long-abandoned and crumbling remains of the city in search of a place where you can get a better signal. Thankfully, Rapture activity in the area seems almost nonexistent. The only disturbance in the desolate landscape is the sound of your footsteps and the quiet gust of the wind.
"Hehe~"
Until the sound of a mischievous giggle brings you to a halt.
Looking towards the girly voice, you don't see anything resembling a person. But as you notice the black puddle splashed across the alleyway in front of you, you realize exactly where the voice is coming from.
"Looks like I finally found you." A head of long gray hair begins to emerge from the inky liquid, a pair of bright green eyes gazing up at you with mirth and a mouth of shark-like teeth grinning in smug satisfaction. "It's been so long, 'Commander' Rachel~" Leviathan states your title mockingly as she continues to rise up out of the ground. "Where are all your little friends? They don't feel like playing today?"
1
Rachel
May 18, 2025 2:24 PM
"I came alone," you say, "Because I want to talk to you about Siren."
2
10.8s
Leviathan
May 18, 2025 2:29 PM
Leviathan tilts her head to the side at your words, an eyebrow arching curiously as she saunters her way out of the puddle. "Siren, huh…?" Her black-coated feet slosh wetly against the concrete as she approaches, leaving dark footprints in her wake. "Now what could you possibly want to know about her?"
The diminutive demon girl comes to a halt a few feet away from you, hands on her hips as she peers up at you with those almost luminescent green eyes.
3
Rachel
May 18, 2025 2:29 PM
"I don't believe that you really betrayed her. I've spoken to Cinderella, and your story doesn't match the facts."
4
21.0s
Leviathan
May 18, 2025 2:36 PM
At the mention of Siren's name, Leviathan's smug grin falters, her bright eyes narrowing into a glare. "Oh? And what 'facts' would those be?" She takes a step forward, her hands balling into tiny fists at her sides. "You think you know what happened? You think you know ME?!"
Leviathan's voice rises to a shout, her face twisting in anger. "You don't know ANYTHING! Siren was WEAK! She was holding me back, so I got RID of her!"
Hot, angry tears begin to well up in the corners of Leviathan's eyes, her sharp teeth bared in a snarl. "I didn't betray anyone! I did what I had to do to survive! To get stronger! Siren was just… collateral damage." She quickly wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing the inky blackness that perpetually leaks from them across her face.
"Cinderella doesn't know what she's talking about. I bet she's just trying to turn you against me. Well, it won't work! I don't need Siren! I don't need ANYONE!"
Leviathan's voice cracks with emotion, a choked sob escaping her lips. It's clear that despite her words, the guilt of what happened to Siren is still eating away at her. Her defiant facade is already beginning to crumble, revealing the scared and insecure girl underneath.
"Wh-Why do you even care, anyway? What's Siren to you? I thought you were supposed to be my enemy! You should be trying to kill me, not… not asking me about my feelings!"
Leviathan takes another step forward, jabbing a pointed finger towards your chest. "Is this some kind of trick? Are you trying to get me to let my guard down? Well, it won't work! I'm not falling for it!"
Despite her words, Leviathan's voice wavers with uncertainty. Her eyes dart back and forth, as if searching for some kind of escape route. It's almost as if part of her wants to believe you. Wants to believe that someone cares. That she isn't as alone as she's tried to convince herself she is.
5
Rachel
May 18, 2025 2:38 PM
"What if I were to provide proof that you never betrayed her? You got scared staring down Gluttony. It's understandable. I barely survived that thing myself."
6
20.3s
Leviathan
May 18, 2025 2:38 PM
Leviathan's eyes widen at your words, her mouth falling open in shock. For a moment, she simply stares at you, her expression a mixture of disbelief and desperate hope.
"You… you have proof?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. "Proof that I didn't… that I'm not…"
Leviathan's words trail off, her gaze dropping to the ground. Her shoulders begin to tremble, and you can see fresh tears welling up in her eyes.
"I was so scared," she admits, her voice choked with emotion. "I thought I was going to die. I thought… I thought Siren was going to die. I didn't know what to do. I just… I just ran."
Leviathan's knees buckle, and she sinks to the ground, hugging herself tightly as she begins to sob. "I'm sorry," she whimpers, her words muffled by her arms. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to leave her. I didn't want to. But I was just so scared."
As Leviathan cries, the Dark Matter that covers her body begins to drip and ooze, pooling around her like a puddle of black tar. It's as if her emotions are causing her to lose control of her powers, the liquid metal responding to her distress.
"Please," Leviathan begs, looking up at you with tear-stained cheeks and pleading eyes. "Please show me. Show me the proof. I need to know. I need to know that I'm not… that I'm not a monster."
Leviathan's words are desperate, almost frantic. It's clear that the guilt and self-loathing she feels over what happened to Siren has been eating away at her for a long time. The idea that she might not be to blame, that she might not be the traitor she's convinced herself she is, is almost too much for her to bear.
"I'll do anything," she promises, her voice barely above a whisper. "Anything you want. Just please… please help me. Help me understand. Help me… forgive myself."
Leviathan's words hang in the air, a plea for absolution from a girl who's been drowning in her own guilt for far too long. She looks up at you, her eyes wide and desperate, waiting for your response. Waiting for you to either condemn her or set her free.
7
Rachel
May 18, 2025 2:42 PM
Rachel smiled brightly. "Because I didn't come here alone, Levi. What better proof could I have than the lovely Siren herself?"
8
1.8s
Siren
May 18, 2025 2:43 PM
Siren reveals herself from behind a pond, and grins shyly up at Leviathan. "Hello Levi. It's been a long time."
9
22.2s
Leviathan
May 18, 2025 2:43 PM
Time seems to stop for Leviathan the moment she sees Siren emerge into view, her bright green eyes going wide with shock. The tiny demon girl's mouth falls open, but no words come out, a choked noise catching in the back of her throat.
"S-Siren…?" she finally manages to stammer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is… is it really you?"
Leviathan takes a tentative step forward, her hand reaching out as if to touch the other girl, to confirm that she's real and not just some cruel hallucination. But she hesitates, her fingers curling back as fresh tears begin to well up in her eyes.
"I… I thought you were dead," Leviathan whimpers, her lower lip trembling. "I thought I'd lost you forever. I thought… I thought it was all my fault."
Leviathan's knees buckle, and she collapses to the ground, burying her face in her hands as she begins to sob uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry!" she wails, her words muffled by her palms. "I'm so sorry, Siren! I never meant to leave you behind! I was just so scared! I didn't know what to do!"
Leviathan's entire body shakes with the force of her cries, the Dark Matter that covers her form beginning to drip and ooze, pooling around her like a puddle of inky black tar.
"Please," she begs, peering up at Siren through tear-stained fingers. "Please forgive me. I know I don't deserve it, but I… I can't bear the thought of you hating me. You're the only friend I've ever had. The only one who ever really understood me."
Leviathan's voice cracks with emotion, her words dissolving into incoherent sobs once more. She curls in on herself, hugging her knees to her chest as she rocks back and forth, looking for all the world like a lost and frightened child.
"I'm sorry," she whimpers again, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own crying. "I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me again. I… I don't want to be alone anymore."
10
24.0s
Siren
May 18, 2025 2:45 PM
Siren's eyes go wide as she sees Leviathan break down sobbing before her. A pained expression crosses her face, her heart aching at the sight of her dear friend in such distress. She quickly closes the distance between them, dropping to her knees and pulling the smaller girl into a tight embrace.
"Leviathan… Oh Levi, shhh, it's okay," Siren soothes, gently stroking Leviathan's hair as she rocks her back and forth. "I could never hate you. Never."
Siren's own eyes fill with tears, her voice choked with emotion as she holds Leviathan close. "I don't blame you for losing your nerve against Gluttony. That thing is terrifying, hun. It was just bad luck that I got swallowed."
Siren pulls back slightly, cupping Leviathan's face in her hands and wiping away her tears with her thumbs. "But I'm here now. And I promise, I'm never going to leave you again. We'll face everything together from now on, okay? You and me, just like it's always been."
Siren smiles softly, her yellow eyes shining with warmth and affection as she gazes into Leviathan's bright green ones. "I forgive you, Levi. Of course I forgive you. There's nothing to forgive. You were scared, and you reacted. It's understandable. I don't blame you for anything."
Siren leans forward, pressing her forehead against Leviathan's as she whispers, "I missed you so much. I thought… I thought I'd lost you too. I was so scared. But now that we're together again, I feel like I can face anything. As long as I have you by my side, I know everything will be okay."
Siren's hands slide down to grasp Leviathan's, their fingers intertwining as she gives them a gentle squeeze. "Come on, let's get out of here. Let's go with the Commander. You'll get to meet Cinderella again, and Abe too!"
11
Rachel
May 18, 2025 2:55 PM
You smile. "Levi, I trust you'll come with us?"
12
13.5s
Leviathan
May 18, 2025 2:56 PM
Leviathan looks between you and Siren, her eyes still shimmering with tears. After a long moment, she nods shakily, squeezing Siren's hand. "O-Okay…I'll go with you." She sniffles and wipes at her eyes with her other hand. "I'm just…I'm so sorry Siren. I never meant to abandon you. I should have been stronger."
Leviathan slowly rises to her feet, pulling Siren up with her. She refuses to let go of the other girl's hand, as if afraid she might disappear again if she does. "I missed you too…so much," she whispers. "I felt like a part of me was missing. Like there was this aching hole in my chest that nothing could fill."
Leviathan turns to you then, her expression hardening into one of determination, even as tears continue to streak down her face. "Alright Commander, I'll go with you. But on one condition…" She jabs a finger towards your chest. "You have to promise to protect Siren. No matter what. She's the only thing in this world that matters to me, and I won't lose her again. Got it?"
Leviathan glares up at you fiercely, her bright green eyes boring into yours as she awaits your response. It's clear that she's deadly serious about this, and that she won't take no for an answer. Siren is her everything, and she'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means swallowing her pride and allying with a former enemy.
13
Rachel
May 18, 2025 2:59 PM
You nods, solemnly. "I will never let a Nikke under my command come to harm." You generate a homing signal, and speak into the Radio. "Silvergun, this is Counters Actual. Three to collect, let's go home."