The Scavenger’s Sister

Raziel opened her mouth to snap back, but the words caught in her throat. He wasn't wrong, but she hated that he could see it so clearly. She turned away, staring into the fire. "I didn't ask for this," she muttered, more to herself than to him.

Leon's gaze softened. "I know. But we've all got stuff we didn't ask for." He paused, his voice quieter now. "You're not alone in that."

Raziel didn't respond, her thoughts swirling as she tried to process everything. Leon's words hit a little too close to home, and the memories of her past—her old House, her powers, the branding—started creeping back in. She clenched her fists tighter, trying to push it all down.

Leon glanced at her, sensing the shift in her mood. He didn't press the issue, though. Instead, he shifted the conversation again. "So... how long have you had those powers, anyway?"

Raziel shrugged, still not meeting his eyes. "Since I was a kid. I didn't know what they were at first. My parents thought it was just fire. Super hot fire."

Leon raised an eyebrow. "And when did you figure out it wasn't?"

Raziel's expression darkened. "When it started burning me too."

Leon frowned, his curiosity growing. "You can't control it?"

Raziel's lips tightened into a thin line. "Not really. Sometimes it just... happens. Especially when I get angry or scared." She paused, her voice dropping. "Or when someone touches me."

Leon blinked, the pieces falling into place. "That's why you freaked out earlier. When I grabbed you."

Raziel's eyes flicked to him, her expression hardening. 

Leon nodded, understanding. "Woah, trying a new tactic to kill me? Death by staring? Anyway, you're gonna have to figure out how to control it. Out here, you don't get second chances."

Raziel's jaw clenched, but she didn't argue. She knew he was right, even if she hated hearing it.

Leon watched her for a moment longer before standing up, stretching his arms. "Alright, get some rest. We've got a lot to do tomorrow. I'll teach you how to fight, and maybe—just maybe—you'll stop burning everything in sight."

Raziel shot him a glare. "I can fight."

Leon grinned, walking over to his pack. "Yeah, we'll see about that."

The faint light of dawn filtered through the cave entrance, casting a soft glow on the rough stone walls. Leon stirred from his makeshift bed, the cool air waking him faster than he liked. He stretched, his muscles aching from the previous day's journey through Ein Soldat.

He glanced over at Raziel, who was still asleep by the fire, her body curled in a ball with the oversized shirt she'd begrudgingly accepted the night before draped awkwardly over her. Her wild hair was even more disheveled now, and Leon had to suppress a chuckle. For someone who talked so tough, she looked like a kid—albeit a dangerously powerful one.

"Time to get up," Leon called over, his voice raspy from the night's chill.

Raziel groaned, burying her face deeper into her arm. "Five more minutes..." she muttered, her voice muffled.

Leon shook his head, rolling his eyes. "We don't have five minutes. Sun's up, and so are other people. If we're gonna get anywhere today, we need to move."

Raziel grumbled something incoherent, but eventually, she sat up, rubbing her eyes groggily. Her hair was sticking up in several directions, and she blinked blearily at Leon, still half-asleep.

"Don't say it," she mumbled.

Leon smirked. "Say what?"

"That I look like hell."

"I wasn't gonna say it," Leon replied with a grin, "but since you mentioned it..."

Raziel shot him a tired glare, the faintest flicker of flames dancing in her eyes, but it quickly died out as she yawned. "We're training today, right?" she muttered. "Let's get to it."

Leon chuckled, already anticipating her reaction. "Not exactly."

Raziel's head shot up, eyes narrowed. "What do you mean 'not exactly'? You promised we'd train."

Leon shrugged, pulling his pack onto his shoulder. "Yeah, but first things first—we need to get you some proper clothes before we go running around."

Raziel scowled, sitting up with obvious annoyance. "Are you serious? I've been waiting to show you I can handle myself, and now you're talking about clothes?"

Leon crossed his arms, meeting her glare with a calm expression. "Look, you can't go scavenging or training in scraps. It's not practical."

Raziel rolled her eyes dramatically, tossing the blanket aside. "I've managed just fine so far."

Leon smirked. "Barely. You're one ripped seam away from showing more than you bargained for."

Raziel huffed, standing up. "This is ridiculous. I'm fine."

"Yeah, well, you also don't know the first thing about proper etiquette," Leon said, poking at her. "You're rude, reckless, and pretty much the opposite of 'refined.' You think that's gonna help you when we're dealing with other scavengers?"

Raziel glared at him, crossing her arms. "Since when did I need to be refined? You're just some scavenger. What's this about etiquette all of a sudden?"

Leon sighed, shaking his head. "Look, I'm trying to help you not get yourself killed or attract the wrong kind of attention."

Raziel narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "I don't need your help."

Leon gave her a deadpan look. "Clearly."

There was a brief pause as the two stared each other down, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Okay, okay. Fine," Raziel muttered, throwing her hands up. "But this is stupid. I'm ready to fight, not go shopping."

Leon grinned, leading her deeper into the cave. "We're not shopping. I've got a stash."

Raziel raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "A stash?"

"Yeah," Leon said over his shoulder, his voice dropping slightly. "And showing you this stash is basically like giving you my soul."

Raziel frowned, her curiosity piqued. "Your... soul? What, do scavengers sell their souls for clothes now?"

Leon kept walking, muttering under his breath. "Maybe I am going crazy, showing this to you. What the hell am I thinking?"

Raziel shot him a sideways glance. "You've definitely lost it. Not surprising, really. You seemed a little off when I met you."

Leon stopped in his tracks, giving her the most deadpan stare he could muster. "Ha. Ha."

Raziel smirked, satisfied with her retort. "Hey, you said it."

Leon shook his head, continuing down the narrow tunnel. "Let's just get this over with."

After a few minutes of walking, they reached an old, rusted door embedded into the rock. Leon crouched down, fiddling with a hidden latch, and with a soft click, the door swung open.

Inside was Leon's stash—a small room filled with supplies: old tech, scavenged tools, and most importantly, clothes. The walls were lined with makeshift shelves, and Raziel's eyes widened as she took it all in.

"You really are holding out on me," Raziel said, stepping inside and looking around. "And here I thought you were just some basic scavenger."

Leon rolled his eyes, leaning against the doorframe. "Don't get used to it. This isn't exactly a free-for-all."

Raziel rifled through a stack of folded clothes, unimpressed by most of them. "So... you've had all this, and you let me run around in rags?"

"You're the one who didn't want new clothes yesterday," Leon shot back, crossing his arms. "Now's your chance to fix that."

Raziel made a face, holding up a pair of pants and shaking her head. "These look like they're for giants."

"They'll fit," Leon said, not even looking up. "Trust me."

She found a long-sleeved shirt to go with the pants, though she didn't seem too excited about it. "Fine," she muttered, walking off to the corner to change. "But if I don't like any of this, I'm going back to the old stuff."

Leon smirked, turning his back to give her privacy. "Trust me, you'll find something. We're not going anywhere until you're dressed like someone who can actually handle herself."

Raziel grumbled loudly from the corner. "I can handle myself."

Leon raised an eyebrow but didn't turn around. "Can you? Because from what I've seen, you're more likely to burn yourself alive than anyone else."

Raziel peeked out from behind the shelves, shooting him a glare. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Leon shrugged. "Sure I do. I'm the one who saved you—remember?"

Raziel muttered something under her breath before stepping out, now dressed in the new clothes. The pants fit her snugly, and the long-sleeved top actually covered her properly. It was the first time she'd worn something practical in... well, a long time. She looked more like a scavenger now, though her scowl told Leon she wasn't thrilled about the change.

"Well?" Raziel asked, crossing her arms. "Happy?"

Leon gave her an appraising look and nodded. "Much better. You almost look like someone who knows what they're doing."

Raziel crossed her arms, still not entirely convinced. "Feels weird."

"You'll get used to it," Leon said, adjusting his own gear. "And trust me, you'll be grateful the first time you get into trouble and don't have to worry about your clothes falling apart."

Raziel grumbled but didn't argue. As much as she hated to admit it, the new clothes were more comfortable. "So, now what?"

Leon slung his pack over his shoulder, smirking. "Now? We head out. But first..." He pointed toward her boots, which were worn and barely holding together. "You're gonna need new shoes."

Leon watched as Raziel reluctantly glanced down at her worn-out boots, her lips pressing into a thin line. She let out an exaggerated sigh, running a hand through her wild hair.

"Seriously, boots too? What's next, a hat?"

Leon chuckled, already rummaging through his stash. "If you think a hat's gonna help you survive out there, then sure, I'll find you one. But for now, let's focus on keeping your feet intact."

Raziel scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. "My boots are fine. They've been through worse."

Leon pulled out a pair of sturdy, dust-covered boots, holding them up for her inspection. "Fine? They look like they've survived an apocalypse and a half. You'll thank me when you don't have to hobble around on shredded feet."

Raziel rolled her eyes but stepped forward, begrudgingly taking the boots from him. "I still think this is stupid. My old ones are perfectly—"

The moment she tugged at her old boots, the sole of one completely detached, flopping onto the ground. Leon raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing wider as Raziel stared at the broken boot.

"Perfectly fine, huh?" Leon said, his tone dripping with amusement.

Raziel glared at him, chucking the boot across the room. "Shut up."

"Just saying, maybe I'm not as crazy as you think," Leon replied, giving her an exaggerated shrug.

Raziel grumbled under her breath as she shoved her feet into the new boots, which were a bit oversized but sturdy and far more intact than her previous pair. She wriggled her toes, testing them out. "Feels weird," she muttered.

"You'll get used to it," Leon said, adjusting his pack as he leaned against the doorframe. "Just try not to complain too much when they save your feet from a rockslide or something."

Raziel stood up, rolling her eyes once more. "I don't complain."

Leon's smirk returned as he motioned for her to follow. "Right. You never complain. You just whine a lot."

"I don't whine!"

"Whatever you say," Leon said, turning to lead her out of the hideout. "Now that you're finally dressed like someone who doesn't want to die, we can actually get moving."

As they stepped out into the narrow tunnel leading out of the cave, Raziel huffed, glancing at Leon's back. "You know, for a scavenger, you sure do talk a lot about etiquette and proper clothing. You're starting to sound like some weird, overbearing house leader."

Leon glanced back over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "Better get used to it. Someone's gotta teach you how to function in the real world, and since you're stuck with me for now, it's my job."

Raziel snorted. "Yeah, well, don't expect me to start thanking you any time soon."

As they stepped out into the open, Raziel shot Leon an annoyed glance. "Alright, enough with the scavenger fashion show. Are we finally going to train now?"

Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "Training? Not yet."

Raziel's brows furrowed, and her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, 'not yet'? You've been talking about all this prep, but now what? You wanna play dress-up some more?"

Leon stopped, turning to face her with a smirk. "Look, you're not gonna get anywhere with training if you collapse from hunger first."

Raziel crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently. "So now we're hunting for food? I thought the point was to train."

"It is, but you're missing the point," Leon said, pointing at her in that infuriatingly calm way. "Survival's more than just knowing how to fight. You need food, shelter, resources—basic stuff. Plus, while we're out looking for something to eat, we can work on a few other things."

Raziel raised an eyebrow, her irritation simmering just beneath the surface. "Like what? More scavenger rules?"

Leon leaned against a nearby rock, crossing his arms as if he were about to deliver some grand lesson. "Like how to not snap at everyone within a five-foot radius. And maybe... some etiquette."

Raziel's flames flickered at the word 'etiquette,' a dark heat radiating from her body. "Oh, hell no. You think I need lessons on how to act?" Her voice rose with her temper, and the flames around her intensified.

Leon took a step back, raising an eyebrow as the air grew thick with heat. "Whoa, easy there. No need to burn down the whole place."

Raziel's eyes blazed with fiery defiance, the dark flames licking up her arms. "I don't need lessons on how to behave from some scavenger."

Leon remained calm, even though the growing heat made him want to back away more. "You're right, you don't. You're doing just fine. You've only set fire to the air twice today, insulted me about eight times, and, oh yeah, almost burned yourself alive yesterday. Clearly, you've got this all under control."

Raziel glared, her flames flaring even more at his sarcasm. "What's your point?"

Leon sighed, keeping his voice steady but firm. "My point is, we're out here together, and you're not on your own anymore. That means you've got to learn to keep it in check—your powers, your temper, all of it."

Raziel's flames flickered, her expression shifting from anger to something more uncertain, though she tried to hide it. "I'm not gonna change just because you think I need to."

"I'm not asking you to change who you are," Leon said, his tone softening slightly. "I'm asking you to control it. There's a difference."

Raziel clenched her fists, the flames slowly dying down. "Fine. But if you think I'm gonna let you teach me how to 'behave,' you're out of your damn mind."

Leon grinned. "Hey, I didn't say you had to behave. I just said you had to stop flaring up for five minutes."

Raziel huffed, the last of her flames flickering out as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "I hate you."

Leon chuckled, turning to continue walking. "Yeah, yeah. I'm growing on you, I can tell."

Raziel grumbled but followed after him, her temper still simmering beneath the surface. As much as she hated to admit it, he had a point. But that didn't mean she had to like it.

Leon led the way through the underbrush, his steps light and deliberate as he scanned the surroundings for signs of food. The trees were sparse, and the ground was rocky and uneven, but this wasn't Leon's first time hunting for food in a tough spot. His eyes flicked from one plant to another, mentally cataloging the edible ones.

Behind him, Raziel trailed with a visible scowl on her face. "Why are we even doing this?" she muttered. "I thought we were training."

Leon didn't bother turning around. "We are training."

"Really? Feels more like babysitting."

"You wanna survive out here, you need more than brute force," Leon said, pulling a berry from a low-hanging branch and inspecting it. "It's about survival. Not just smashing things."

Raziel crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "I don't smash things."

"Right. You burn things." Leon popped the berry into his mouth and grinned over his shoulder. "Totally different."

Raziel shot him a glare, flames flickering briefly at her fingertips. "I can handle myself just fine without scrounging for berries."

Leon raised an eyebrow, still chewing. "Sure you can. And what happens when you've burned through all your energy? You gonna roast yourself next?"

Raziel's temper flared, and the flames on her hands surged briefly before dying down. She shoved past Leon, her frustration spilling over. "Watch me," she muttered, stalking ahead.

Leon sighed, shaking his head as he followed after her. "You know, for someone who can literally burn down a forest, you've got zero patience."

Raziel ignored him, her eyes scanning the ground for anything that looked like food. She spotted a small rabbit-like creature darting between some bushes and smirked. "There," she said, pointing. "I'll get that."

Leon saw the creature and frowned. "Whoa, slow down. You can't just—"

But before he could stop her, Raziel raised her hand, and a burst of flames shot toward the creature. It squealed and bolted, leaving a charred bush behind.

Leon stared at the smoldering remains of what could've been their meal. "Well, that's one way to ruin dinner."

Raziel groaned, her flames dying down. "I had it!"

Leon walked over to the scorched bush, kicking at the blackened ground. "Sure, if 'it' means 'set everything on fire.'"

Raziel folded her arms, looking annoyed. "I'm not used to doing things your way."

"Well, that's clear." Leon chuckled, though it was more out of disbelief than amusement. "Look, I get that your powers are strong, but out here? You need to dial it back. Sometimes it's about strategy. Patience."

"Patience is boring," Raziel muttered, scuffing the dirt with her boot.

"Patience keeps you alive," Leon corrected, his tone more serious now. "And trust me, out here, staying alive is the only thing that matters."

Raziel didn't respond, but her jaw tightened in frustration. She hated being wrong, but more than that, she hated feeling useless. She wasn't used to being told what to do—especially not by someone like Leon. Still, she couldn't deny that her impulsiveness had cost them a meal.

Leon, sensing her frustration, softened his tone. "Look, I'm not saying you can't use your powers. I'm saying... control them. There's a time and place for everything."

Raziel glared at the ground. "Yeah, well, maybe next time I'll just let you catch the damn rabbit."

Leon smirked. "That's the spirit."

As they continued through the rugged terrain, Leon kept his eyes peeled for more opportunities. He spotted a cluster of edible plants growing near a fallen tree. "Here, let's try this." He crouched down and began picking the leaves carefully, motioning for Raziel to join him.

Raziel watched him for a moment, feeling an odd mix of irritation and curiosity. She knelt down beside him, albeit reluctantly. "What is this?"

"Dinner," Leon said with a grin. "These leaves are edible. Not exactly gourmet, but they'll keep us going."

Raziel made a face, glancing down at the handful of leaves Leon had given her. "You've seriously been living off this stuff?"

Leon shrugged, already munching on another berry. "Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. Out here, you take what you can get."

Raziel eyed the leaves suspiciously, sniffing them before taking a small, reluctant bite. Her face twisted in distaste. "Ugh, this tastes like dirt."

Leon smirked. "You'll get used to it. Or starve. Your choice."

She glared at him but kept chewing, clearly not enjoying the experience. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Watching you struggle to eat plants? Yeah, it's pretty entertaining." Leon chuckled, grabbing a few more leaves. "But hey, maybe if you're nice, I'll make you something better when we get back."

Raziel snorted, giving him a sidelong glance. "Nice? That's asking a lot."

Leon grinned. "Figured as much. Still, wouldn't kill you to try some etiquette. Just saying."

"Etiquette," Raziel scoffed, tossing a chewed-up leaf to the ground. "I don't need to impress anyone."

"You don't have to impress anyone," Leon said, crouching down to grab more plants, "but you should probably learn not to scare them away before they even talk to you."

Raziel rolled her eyes. "I'm not scaring anyone."

"You nearly roasted me the first time we met," Leon pointed out. "And I'm still here, so, y'know... congratulations."

"Don't push your luck," Raziel muttered, though there was a flicker of amusement in her tone.

Leon raised an eyebrow. "See? Progress. You didn't threaten to burn me alive just now."