" ... The fuck?!" Kane snarls, upper lip twitching under his growing stubble. Aggressively, his arm swung the bloodied machete, the blade slicing through the air with a sharp swish. His cobalt glare sweeps over the wasteland, fist clenching around the grip of his weapon as nothing reveals itself. The desolate landscape is a vast ocean of dirt, dust, and stillness that peaks his instincts to spike. The sky is the only shifting element; thick, heavy gray clouds roll, thunder rattles, and the bright elegance of lightning strikes. The simple fact he – they, Valli – risked their lives for no reward. No satisfaction in ending this, of Ashing what they originally came for.

Kane can't deliver an excruciating death if there is no Monster to Ash, and it pisses him off.

Swinging his arm again, his boots kick dust as he harshly shifts. Growling out a vexed shout once again, "What the fuck!"

Valli started at the first outburst, minutely flinching out of his stupor at the disappointing yet interesting development. The grayish film over his orbs glints off the light of the electrical storm above, but his sight is vibrant and filled with colors that leave him in disbelief. Only when he turns to the other man that his breath is stolen, leaving him breathless. He's had a general idea, a concept, of what Kane looked like. Had that Djinn illusion created what he imagined, had Sunny and Addy described features and a dimmed peek in the Void. However, what he is witnessing is the only pure, uncontaminated Kane he had the pleasure of observing.

All broad shoulders, long strong legs hold pounds of peak muscle and vigor shaped in a stocky torso, flexing arms beefy. He's taller than Valli estimated, merely an inch or two off of what he tried to picture. The military-issued, multi-pocket copper jacket is stained in a gore rainbow of crimson, dried dull green or dark shades of blood. His stained henley is ripped, and shredded to reveal a third layer of shirt that is just as torn. There are nips, scrapes, and long scratches along his flesh welling with crimson blood yet Valli is relieved the man made it out relatively unharmed. Like his tops, the jeans he wears are clawed, holes loosening the pant legs and damp with sweat, blood, and chunks of burnt flesh.

The fabric is jerked with his harsh, angry movements, flapping in the windless, stiff air. Color-birthed eyes catch on the dirty blonde hair, natural highlights glinting, the darker growing stubble along a sharp jaw; marveling at the sun-kissed flesh revealed to him, at the brilliant fiery cerulean of his eyes as they flick over their surroundings. Kane has small white marks littering the sides of his face and neck, tiny healed scars from past Hunts. The younger man can imagine the rest of his boyfriend's covered body, the lasting scars from bad hunts. He wonders if he'll be able to see them, or if he'll need to use his hands and mind to memorize them.

"Kane..." Valli doesn't comprehend how his voice worked the words when he feels as if he is frozen in disbelief, blinking owlishly at the taller Hunter.

Instantly, he watches how his voice affects the man. Kane spins on his heel the moment the words, the light faint tone, reach his alert ears. Dust kicks under his boots stuffle, those dark ocean eyes settling on his form in a snap and there's no hesitation, no wasted time in the long strides he makes to stand so close Valli can feel the warmth of his body and the light graze of the machete as Kane moves it away from him. For the first time, he can say he locked eyes with his boyfriend and observed as they flicked and scan over his face, body, and limbs to check his safety. He can witness the deep concern, not said, but buried in his heavy gaze. A large callused hand softly cups his jaw, smearing the blood splattered on his face and Kane's wide palm. The rage is easily left behind, the snarl lowered into a worried frown like his furrowed brows, and the grunted words match the expression. "What's wrong."

Valli can merely blink for another moment, senses nearly overwhelmed by the sweat musk from Kane mixed with the stinking gore covering them, and observing the utterly adoring affection he hasn't seen before. For a second, he doesn't think his sputtering brain could signal to his vocal cords to work. But the words slip out in a shocked little whisper, his eyes suddenly glossy. "I can really see you. Like really really. You're clear. Like that one song!"

This time, the proud smirk that slips on Kane's lips is seen without a filter to hide and Valli's chest tingles pleasantly. Warmth spreads through his veins, and the gruff response sends a shiver to tremble his body. "You can see colors?" The animated nod of confirmation gained a softer smile, and a wide thumb rubbed along his messy cheekbone. "Damn, we should've brought a mirror for you or something. Let you see how pretty you are."

Despite the situation, the mess of foul-smelling blood and flesh; no matter how Valli had been chopping heads off, he flushes brightly at the affection-lined words. He'll never get accustomed to being told he is pretty, it has been too long since someone uttered such lovely descriptions of his appearance. The scars carved into his skin have loosened his self-confidence; they feel thick and tight, and he knows they may not look any better than white welts. He is overjoyed that Kane is a sweetheart deep down, that the rough and gruff Hunter has a soft inner. Kane smirks, proud of the pink blush that appeared under the drying monster fluid coating the scarred man's cheek and neck.

Momentarily, he forgets the intense fury that had only just cooled down. It's present, simmering under his skin like slowly boiling water. Vaguely, he wonders what Valli sees when he stares with those faded-gray film-layered eyes with a starstruck gloss. It doesn't matter; Valli chooses to be with him. If he decides to leave, Kane has no decision to argue. He's beyond grateful his boyfriend chooses him, rather than another man. A small piece of him is terrified now that he is seen in full HD (one could say), Valli might see how much of a mess he is and demand he leave the house. Logically, it is impossible the man would be that shallow and Kane knows that small piece is irrational. In the grander picture, personal feelings aside; he prays to Gods he hates for Valli to keep his rediscovered sight.

The women stand in confusion, awe, and pride behind the men. They can see lips moving, yet they have wandered further away to peek around the dead world they stepped into. Words are unheard, but the intimate postures and the gleeful bashful shifting of Valli's legs closer to Kane; give good hints. Sunny grins brilliantly at the picture of her grumpy nephew caressing Vallis' jaw softly, a real smile on his forever scowling lips. She can not remember a time when Kane held someone as tenderly; the man had one-night stands to release steam – rough, dirty, and quick. Never had he introduced her to a boyfriend or a woman, never stayed after a sexual encounter with someone, never even bought someone else breakfast.

The fact alone he pushed his frustration back to turn to Valli, that the Hunt is put on hold, is enough for Sunny to know Kane will not leave the blind hunter. In her viewpoint, this fact is signing them as married in the Hunter World. Back in her days, when Hunters left a Hunt behind for a woman (or man) it was a sign that their focus changed. They weren't returning to an empty motel room any longer, weren't alone in the world; they had a loved one to keep living for. The sudden shift in recklessly unprepared, constant Hunting switched for carefully planned, Partnered hunts became a symbol. It was unlikely the couple would separate — once in the supernatural you're always in. They'd hunt together or one would hold a base point safe, but they'd be seen as a married partnership to other Hunters.

"What do you think is happening?" Sunny tilts her head to glance at Addy, the witch stands next to her with a pretty smile and bright eyes as she observes the men.

The other woman hums thoughtfully, shrugging lightly with her right shoulder. "If I read Vallis' lips correctly, he has his full sight back here. Full color – he can see Kane quite clearly."

"Oh! That's amazing!" Thrilled for Valli, the female hunter's grin broadens, hands clapping softly. She can only imagine how relieved Valli could have been to have the opportunity to see Kane, and she hopes he can have it restored in their world as well. She doubts it may be possible, but the Supernatural is unpredictable and chaotic. "I hope he keeps it. Kane would take advantage of the temporary sight if they were alone, show Valli everything."

"Ah, gross!" Addy squeals as Sunny snickers, the Witch slapping at her uninjured arm softly.

###

Kane keeps Valli secure at his side as they spend hours upon hours walking through the dull, windless barren land. Sunny leads, Addy paces casually behind her, and the men lag at the end. With a heavy arm swung over his shoulders, Valli leans into the unyielding torso as he allows himself to take in the dismal, flat landscape. Scarred eyes wide, the scars tight with tension and curious crinkles on his forehead.

Hands clenched at weapons, Valli's spear held tight in his fist as they prepared for an ambush or surprise attack. The further they walk into the distance, the more tension rises in their bodies; muscles grow rigid, guns active with a small click, and trained eyes search in experienced swift glimpses for any sign of life. The only sound, except the booming thunder, is the faint crunch of their boots over the dry, cracked dirt. There are no trees or greenery in sight, merely rusted metal bits and dull brown mud and dust. The clouds overhead span greatly into the horizon, bubbly with heavy gray rolls and loudly announcing themselves by the echoing screams of thunder. Sunlight appears to be non-existent, while the surroundings are bright and humid, there is no trace of sun in the sky.

To them, they walk for hours, perhaps even days. The sky is unchanging, roll upon rolls of tremendous clouds reveals no clues of a sun or a moon. It doesn't brighten from the vivid, clear view nor does the surroundings dim at nightfall. It's a disorienting sensation, minds strained thin from exhaustion, hyper-aware base instincts of danger and survival. With no sense of time, they lose the ability to sleep for more than an hour or two in fear of getting ambushed while vulnerable. Addy keeps spells ready and sparks crackle at her fingertips. She feeds off the unending electrical storm, the pure energy of the lightning similar to a charging source for her depleted battery. The natural, purest energy crackling and boiling in the sky calls to her energetic Seiðr bubbling under her flesh. The sensation gives her a high like no other, a constant stream of empowering force that makes her nearly light-headed. Addy leans against Sunny when it's too much, her feet stumbling over each other as her head and veins get swarmed by a new reboot of Seiðr levels. The Hunter balances the witch, unquestioning, yet sparing a concerned glance.

"I'm getting pissed again." Kane deadpans, hiking his arms along Valli's shoulder to adjust its settlement. His voice sounds tiny, unechoing in the vastness. From his side, the younger hunter snorts and nudges beefy ribs with a thin elbow bone.

"You're always pissed at something."

Kane pinches the nose of the other with two fingers briefly, smirking at the shocked sputter and giggle. "Smartass. I'm extra pissed then."

"I get it," Sunny speaks up, pausing a few feet away from the men with Addy humming softly at her side. The witch sways in an unfelt breeze, the spirited rainbow paths in the vision of her third mind's eye reveal the flow of waves in the still air. The Elder raises her eyebrow but ignores the oddly blissful woman. "We should've run into something by now if there was a target here. This feels like a goose chase."

"But it's not!" Valli cuts in, empty hand clenching onto Kanes torn jacket sleeve desperately. He is aware the situation appears bad and suspicious, but they need to see this Hunt through while they can. His gut is predicting a fight, he can feel it on the raised hair of his arms and nape of his neck.

The outburst receives peculiar glances, yet they brush it off easily. Kane grunts, inhaling a deep, long breath as he casts a questioning peak at their surroundings pointedly at Valli, eyebrow arched in a challenge. Behind the man's shoulder, Sunny smiles reassuringly as she hides any sarcastic remark or expression– if it were anyone else, she'd simply laugh in their face. They're at a disadvantage if there is anything within this dirt pile of a surface. Exhausted, hungry; direction lost (unless Venus can find them, she'd wandered off), and only decent on usable ammo. The Elder Hunter has accomplished hunts with fewer, but with three people to care for she doesn't wish to attempt it.

A rumbling grunt coos at Valli, Kane bobs his head as he snaps his fingers at Valli's ear softly. The distressed man stares wide-eyed at the broad Hunter, afraid they'll leave again before the Hunt is finished. Valli craves for this specific case to be finished, eager to get back to his low-risk life. Simultaneously, he is both grateful and upset that Monsters came to him – that they found him. Without a threat to keep returning too, Kane wouldn't have stayed at the Bed n' Breakfast and they wouldn't be where they are today. However, he hates that his fate is to be blind, to do this seemingly impossible task where his sight isn't the main issue.

Kane pokes at Valli's cheek, indenting the soiled, soft flesh to draw out an uncontrollable flicker of a smile at the unexpected action. The man smiles, observing his boyfriend lose the fear of returning momentarily. Sagging into the hold on his jaw, a long sigh escaped as his scarred eyelids fluttered closed. "We aren't going home, Val. Ma's just taking notes, that's all we're doing right now. We'll find and ash whatever the hell is in here."

Bashfully, Valli nods slowly. Sunny is smirking when he peaks over to her, his Aunt snickering quietly with a playful wink, light-heartedly mocking the domesticated Hunters' actions. Nervously giggling, he drops his forehead to Kane's barrel of a chest, words mumbled into the man's torso. "Sorry. It's just, we're so close!" As much as Valli hates it, he whines like a child refused a silly toy. Rising his voice, his head flies back revealing frustrated glassy eyes. "My gut tells me something is here, dangerous, and that we can't leave! But there's nothing to fucking see!"

"So we stay. No matter what." Is Kanes simple reply, accompanied by a shrug and a forehead peck, disregarding Sunny's leadership or possible decisions. He trusts Valli's instincts. All three of them, from his partner to the Witch, stare at him, bewildered and (in Sunny's case) mildly annoyed. The grumpy man tilts his head, eyebrows bouncing briefly, adding casually – also disregarding he'd never said these words to anyone else in his life, even his Father. "I trust your instinct. If your gut says to stay, we stay. We'll figure shit out, we always do."

Sunny pats Valli's shoulder, hard enough the lithe man stumbles slightly into Kane and the woman chuckles. "As much as I don't trust this place... You and my son I do, so we'll stay." She pauses, glancing at the Witch, who has been perfectly content to hum and move with the lightning strikes; dancing to an unseen path. She adds, "although, I don't know how Addy will be sober. She's getting a little electrical drunk over there."

Valli giggles, overjoyed he can witness Addy being silly. It's been years since he could observe the seemingly unpracticed dance with nature. This world appears to have a source of natural (untainted by Seiðr, monsters, or humans) reserves, the invisible paths of energy and forming Seiðr wisp through the still air; guiding the Witch around the Hunters in a beautiful flowing ballad dance. He knows if she had her shawl and skirts (the pretty pink/purple ones, not the dark and stiff ones she wears now) would be flowing gracefully with her smooth movements and bounces. Grinning, hugs Kane as he watches, unable to remove his stare from his aunt. "She'll be fine! She's just restoring her levels. Once a fight begins, she'll be focused and stronger."

"Good."Kane rolls his eyes as Addy leaps off her feet, legs spread and arms out wide like a schoolgirl at recess. Large arms curl over Valli's chest, dragging him flush against the taller hunter's firm torso. He just hopes the new boost of power will be enough for whatever is supposedly here.