TW: Violence

Sjin hurled himself once more at the wooden door, his entire weight being forced against the frame yet alas, the hinges sneered at him for the fifth time. Growling in frustration, he sank next to the offending barricade. No way was he going to get out of this marble prison cell anytime soon...

Concluding this fact, he now switched his laser on to full-blast, yawning as he did so. The red light indicating high voltage flashed sluggishly, it's ruby intervals rocking his thoughts... His vision becoming fragile blurs of colour...

But he had to stay awake.

Even if it meant to face the wrath of both opposing companies the very next day. After all, it was better than waking up against a tree, hands tied around the trunk whilst being constantly shouted at by an arrogant dwarf.

Now there's an image... Sjin giggled, grasping the weapon tighter still.

Sleeping was completely out of the question... As was leaving.

Yet perhaps he could use the latter to his advantage... To assist him in the tiresome process of keeping concious. Although not keen on betraying his friends's trust, the temptation for him to explore in more depth their advances in technology was far too great.

The oppurtunist now stood, and started fumbling for the ladder's rungs fixed tightly to the wall. After many un-coordinated steps and loud curses, he reached the top. Sjin exhaled with relief, only to find himself gasping for air soon after as a gloved fist met his jaw with rage.

"OW!" He yelped, his lower back digging painfully against the entrance to the next storey.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"

"For comin' in here in the first place."

The voice was easily recognisable; it wavered on teh tip of each word, stating opinions as if automatically correct.

"Lalna," Sjin hissed, ",you bastard..."

Lalna shrugged, crouching down to become level with the architect's venomous gaze. "Answer the question. Why?" Sjin paused momentarily, trying to re-gain a distant memory...

Sips needed... Ah, yes–

"Sips needed some gold, but you guys were fast asleep, and– And I didn't w-want to wake you."

"I wasn't asleep."

"Yeah, well, I only worked that out a couple of minutes ago... Due to that "wake up call" of yours–"

The blond smirked, his eyes glistening turquoise with competitiveness and smug.

"Process of elimination..? The kind of "Who wasn't in their bed?" thing?" Lalna asked pedantically, glower held.

"Yeah, w-well, you fall asleep on the job twenty-four seven... Y-you're right, I should've known..."

"Unlike you, who's traipsing around like some half-wit! Why, I could pull off a war with the snap of my fingers, and you wouldn't even see it coming!"

Sjin hoisted himself from his previous position, now looming naturally over Lalna. Their difference in height wasn't very much, but what there was of it gave the spaceman the upper-hand nonetheless.

"Oh yeah..?" Sjin spat.

"Mnhmn." The enemy laughed, holding up his ring-finger as proof. It was dressed with jewels and loops of destruction, each one glimmering a different colour to the last.

Suddenly, two hands grappled the Scientist's shoulders, pinning him roughly against the wall.

"You won't be so bling when you haven't got this ring–" Sjin snarled, toying with Lalna's hand in attempt to prise his flying item off his finger, increasing the pressure on his wrists to stop his struggles.

"Argh! GET OFF ME!," He shouted, "You're just jealous! That's– That's it! I-sn't it! Why you– Came here in the– First– Place!"

Sjin flinched slightly, memories of a distant past flooding his thoughts. The war was provoked by envy... That's right– He was so consumed in petty admiration that he forgot his own alliance with Lalna. Blinded with hate, he destroyed everything in his line of sight.

Laughing... He was laughing manically, sanity dissappearing with each brutal shot of the ring. Fire... Swallowed in heat... And then he felt two arms wrapped around him protectively, as if being carried to safety...

He awoke next to Sips, who, at that point, was yelling to his full lung's capacity about how "YOU COULD'VE DIED!" and "You're lucky you didn't piss him of too bad, idiot!"

Sjin's grip loosened at this, not wanting a re-lapse of the disaster that once was. Lalna relaxed, no longer tense.

"I–" He interrupted, yet a forefinger was placed upon his mouth before the blond was able to continue.

"Lalna... Jeez... I'm... I'm sorry–"

"It's... It's fine... I mean–"

The architect neared, his grip now faltering; stomach performing complex acrobatics. Of course, the element of rivalry was always present whenever the two men met, but it was these fiery disagreements that drew them closer each time.

Sjin moved his finger into one of Lalna's golden locks, twisting it clockwise with dexterity. "Sjin–" He whispered, breathing unnoticably faster with anticipation.

And as a final indication of silence, the spaceman closed the gap between them, crushing their lips together roughly...

Credit to alltheshipsallofthem on tumblr