ㅤㅤNeo stared at the files on the surface of his bed, gazing upon one in particular in deep interest. He didn't say anything - mostly because he had no one to say something to. Instead, he shuffled the stacks of paper together and shoved it into the folder, closing it and sliding off the bed. Urgently, he walked out of his room and headed straight down the hall and curve that led him to where he needed to go. He stopped at the door before him, paused, then did the only thing he could do.
ㅤㅤHe knocked.
ㅤㅤChristopher was the one who answered the door, wearing glasses with tired eyes behind them. "Oh, it's you." He hummed. "Funny to find you here. Is something else wrong?"
ㅤㅤNeo narrowed his mismatched eyes carefully, trying to figure out how to word his statement. "Yes?" He began. "But not with me. Can we talk for a few?" He paused. "Privately."
ㅤㅤChristopher squinted before rolling his eyes, stepping aside to let him in. "You know, I could actually be getting something useful done, but I guess I can stand to hear you out," He mused as Neo entered, closing the door. "Sit."
ㅤㅤNeo cautiously did so as Christopher took a spot across from him at a desk. The office was very similar to Quilliene's, except with white and grey bases and frosty blue accents. Neo dropped the file in his lap and gleaned over it, searching for something specific for such a painfully long time that Christopher sighed impatiently. Then he found it, reading the first few lines with a frown.
ㅤㅤProject EXO-347
ㅤㅤDNA: One Who Bares Their Tusks (OWBTT)
ㅤㅤDNA: Fyra - Devil Servant (F-D-1)
ㅤㅤDNA Receiver: Christopher Ravenheart (CR)
ㅤㅤ[ REDACTED MEMORIES ]
ㅤㅤSimply just the last two words made Neo shift uncomfortably. He pulled free the stapled papers and passed it over to Christopher, whose brows furrowed even more before he hesitantly took them. His eyes darted across the lines, widening with confusion while a startled expression crossed his face. He glanced at Neo.
ㅤㅤ"Where did you find these?" He demanded.
ㅤㅤ"Long story short?" Neo rubbed his hands together. "Liene found files under her floorboards, and then Fyra gave this file to her. She asked me to look it over, and... I wanted to see if you knew anything about it. I wasn't supposed to tell you, so..." He looked at Christopher again. "There's more. Things that I don't know if you remember. It's nothing nice, nothing good, but... are you missing memories?"
ㅤㅤ"What do you mean, missing memories?" He blinked and gave Neo a quirked eyebrow, looking through the pages. When he finished, all the while Neo sitting in silence, he closed the papers and set them down with his glasses. He pinched the bridge of his nose in concern. "The things within those pages sound monstrous, Neo, they do, but I'm not even sure if they're true. I'd love to assist you and my sister, but I don't remember any of this." He held his temple for a moment. "Gods, this headache-"
ㅤㅤJust as soon as Neo was about to say something, Christopher sharply recoiled, as if something wounded him. Both hands flew to his head while he let out a strained groan, all while Neo moved the papers from his lap and scrambled to his feet. Calling his name, Neo rounded the desk, but then Christopher raised his head sharply as if he had just woken up and stopped reacting.
ㅤㅤ"Chris!" Neo said again. "Are you okay? What happened?"
ㅤㅤ"Neo?" The prince looked at him in confusion. "What are you doing? How did you get in this room?"
ㅤㅤThe bodyguard paused. "What?" He muttered, then spoke louder. "What do you... mean? I've been in here, we were just- just talking about..." He reached over and grabbed the papers in front of Christopher and looking it over.
ㅤㅤ"Excuse me?"" Christopher frowned. "What in the bloody hells are you talking about?" He stood up. "I've been sitting here handling the paperwork for my sister, and..." He paused. "Then I must have fallen asleep." He stood in silence for a moment, then shook his head. "How did you get in here? The only way you
can get in here is if I invited you recently... and you've never been in my office."
ㅤㅤ"You did invite me!" Neo said desperately. "You did! We were just talking about what's in these papers," He shook them in one hand. "When you were young, and your dad did those horrible things to you! He chained you in a room and took your spinal fluid and bone marrow, but you don't remember any of it!" He stopped, panting. "You don't... remember..."
ㅤㅤThe prince was simply gawking at him, seemingly deciphering that Neo had gone mad. "Are you taking any particular medications?" He asked suspiciously. "Are you on it? Off it? Did you inhale a big one before you walked in here?"
ㅤㅤThe bodyguard struggled for words momentarily, staring off into space before he held up a finger. "I'll be right back," He said, before disappearing from the room.
~~~
ㅤㅤTwenty minutes later, Neo had returned to the office after fetching something - or someone - that could help. His heart was in his throat, worry in his mind, uncertainty throughout his body. However, he knocked anyway, and Christopher appeared just as quickly. Alas, he didn't seem quite as pleased as he did before - and before, he wasn't even pleased.
ㅤㅤ"Neo," He said irritably. "If you're back again to bother me with your delusions, I really suggest you find someone else to do so with, because unlike my sister... I do not. Have. The time. To entertain you."
ㅤㅤ"Just let me in," Neo demanded before his voice softened. "I have... someone that might help."
ㅤㅤFrom behind him, a pixie flew into view - a female with a green leaf dress and blonde hair pulled into a bun, her skin a fair pink. She smiled, offering a deep bow. "Greetings, your highness," She said sweetly. "My name is Aurya. Neo tells me you are having a problem with your memory - I may be of assistance. Afterall, I owe him a favour after saving me and my friend from a hungry cat."
ㅤㅤChristopher seemed to regain his patience slowly, but huffed anyway. "Pleased to make acquaintance, Miss Aurya. Do come in - both of you. Quickly."
ㅤㅤHe moved to the side and motioned for them to come in with a strangely polite gesture. Aurya flew in first, Neo giving Christopher a second glance before entering. He didn't sit down this time, instead standing behind the chair as he crossed one arm over his chest and bit into the nail on his gloved thumb on the other. Aurya sat on the arm of the chair, keeping her knees together and her head high, hands crossed over her lap while Christopher sat across from her.
ㅤㅤ"Neo tells me you forgot the first time you read that file," She said, motioning to the ones on the desk. "Would you mind showing me?"
ㅤㅤChristopher looked between the pixie and Neo carefully, giving Neo one last exasperation before he picked up the file. He opened it once again, and it was almost like a recording of the previous instance. Similar facial expressions and a sense of denial that Christopher seemed to have before he looked at the fae and Neo. He seemed to be taking it much more seriously this time.
ㅤㅤ"The things on these pages are rather morbid," He said slowly, placing the file down. "And by the look on your face, Neo, I can only assume that they're true. But... I honestly don't remember a damn thing, so-"
ㅤㅤThen, before he could finish his sentence, it started once again. The obvious pain wringing his face, the cries of anguish that seemed only half audible due to the shock in his system. Neo cursed, looking over to Aurya. The pixie nodded and flew right up in front of Christopher. She waited until he leaned forward at a point in time, holding his temples, then flew forward.
ㅤㅤWith a touch to his forehead, a bright pink light warped the room, and what looked like crystallised needles poked into Christopher's head. It look like it would hurt, but apparently it didn't, because he instead slumped back in his chair while those needles disappeared into thin air. She flew back next to Neo, crossing her arms and sighing.
ㅤㅤ"Now we wait for him to wake up?" He asked nervously.
ㅤㅤ"Yes," She answered. "Hopefully then, he will at least remember what he read. Maybe even more than that."
ㅤㅤSo, Neo waited. For the next ten minutes, Christopher was exhibiting a rather bright blue hue that blocked out the sun from the windows. With each exhale he released, he could see white puffs of mist from his lips. A filing cabinet in the corner seemed to be encasing itself in ice, and the room was growing even colder.
ㅤㅤNeo was pacing the entire time. Due to his usually warm nature, he was shivering in the cold, but he paid no mind. Aurya was simply floating and staring at Christopher with a solid expression on her face, waiting patiently. Neo asked about three times when he would wake up, and she simply replied, "Soon."
ㅤㅤFinally, when Christopher did awaken, his expression was rather timid. His pale blue eyes were full of a range of emotions that told Neo he didn't quite know or understand them himself. As the prince leaned forward, he waved one hand at the room, the ice around the filing cabinet dispersing while the room grew a bit warmer.
ㅤㅤ"Apologies," He mumbled. "I needed time to process."
ㅤㅤNeo eagerly came forward, staring at him expectantly. "Do you remember anything?"
ㅤㅤ"I-" Christopher began harshly, then softened immediately. "Yes, I remember quite a lot. A lot that I'm surprised I forgot. And things I almost wish I still had..." He stood up, touching his head gingerly. "I need to process this. Alone."
ㅤㅤ"Uh..." The bodyguard muttered, then nodded. "Right. I'll go, then. Just... come find me and Liene when you're ready to talk."
ㅤㅤAurya bowed at Christopher as Neo simply turned and opened the door, leaving it ajar for the pixie to fly out before closing it behind him. He took a deep breath before sighing out heavily. Aurya and him had their farewells and he thanked her for her time. After a moment of standing alone in the hallway, he left the entrance to Christopher's office, the only sign he was ever there being a black stain on the wall by where he was once standing.