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Travelling was much easier now that Paracelsus was human. For one thing, A.B.A didn’t need to use all her strength to drag him around, allowing the homunculus to focus on other things like eating or sleeping. It also gave the couple more time to talk on their travels, as opposed to Paracelsus talking while A.B.A wheezed out responses. Most importantly, however, it meant that less people stared whenever they entered the fray. A few raised eyebrows at their fashion here and there, yes, but considering the other types of people who dwelled around these parts, that was par for the course. Besides, less prying eyes meant lower chances of A.B.A furiously attacking a random citizen if they even slightly glanced their way.
The pair didn’t have an exact final destination in mind, but they didn’t care. Considering everything the two had been through, any moment of rest and relaxation with one another was something to be savoured. A.B.A clung to her husband’s arm as they slowly walked out from the shade of the forest they had passed through to a sunlit, cobbled path, leading to a small town. In the distance, a large group of locals could be seen; some sat around chatting, some walking with food in hand, some even dancing. It was noisy- far noisier than what the lovers were used to- but it was a pleasant change of pace.
“Sounds pretty lively over there,” Paracelsus chuckled. He raised his head, sniffing the air a little, “Something smells good too! I wonder what’s going on.”
A.B.A looked around for a moment, trying to avoid eye contact with the gradually growing number of people who started to pass her until she eventually located a small, brightly coloured wooden sign that had been nailed to a fence.
“A market…” she muttered. “We’ve stumbled into this town on a market day.”
“I’m vaguely familiar with the concept of a market,” the weapon replied. “Do you want to have a look?”
The homunculus fell silent to think before quickly glancing up to her husband. “Mm… Yes…” she said, excitable giggles escaping her barely parted lips. “We might be able to find some matching jewellery in there!”
Before Paracelsus could acknowledge his wife’s comment, he found himself being dragged by his arm and his leash into the crowd. The market was bustling with people, but not so busy that it was impossible to move. Stalls of varying sizes lined the perimeter of the town’s square and nearby streets, the vendors cheerfully bantering with passersby in an attempt to draw them in to look at their wares. The air was heavy with a cocktail of scents; smoked meat, fresh produce, and sugary sweets. A few weeks ago, Paracelsus would’ve found it all overwhelming, but he had adjusted to how his body reacted to the senses now.
The pair began meandering between the different stalls, A.B.A still clinging tightly to her husband as they weaved between the clusters of customers. Occasionally, the homunculus would stop dead in her tracks to gaze at some wood carvings or metal figurines, but would continue onward just as quickly. Paracelsus, on the other hand, was more interested in looking at the selection of meats being displayed by the town’s butchers. He would’ve asked for a sample, if not for the fact that the shopkeeper would want to cook it before offering it to their patrons. A.B.A had warned him that humans weren’t made to digest raw meat, but it was a risk he was willing to take for the taste of fresh blood.
Eventually, the lovers found themselves in front of a fruit stand, mesmerised by the rainbow of produce before them.
“Wow, how pretty,” the weapon gasped. “I’m not usually one for stuff like this, but it certainly looks tasty, huh, A.B.A?”
The homunculus brought a hand to her stomach, her brows turning up a little. “Indeed… and I could use some sustenance…”
Paracelsus smiled. “Sure thing! Pick what you want.”
A.B.A took a moment to survey the abundance of products in front of her. Food of any kind, let alone fresh food, was entirely alien to her until recently. While any choice would’ve been good enough for her, she wanted to make sure she picked something she knew she would like. After a minute of deliberating, she pointed to a punnet of plump blueberries.
“Oh, you want those?” Paracelsus chirped. “They are your favourite colour, I suppose.”
A.B.A nodded, emitting a cheerful purr.
“Alright, can you let go of my arm for a moment and hand me some money please?”
Reluctantly, the homunculus did as she was told and removed herself, reaching into the small pocket on her shirt and pulling out a tiny cloth bag that jingled as it moved. She pressed it into her husband’s hands who thanked her with a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Okay, one pack of those blueberries and-“ The weapon quickly gave the stall another look over. “- one red apple, please.”
The shopkeeper gave him an affirmative nod, placing the two items into a paper bag. After spending an embarrassingly long time counting his coins, Paracelsus handed them to the vendor and tucked his purchases under his arm, apologising for the delay.
“Alright, A.B.A,” he began, cheerfully, “you can hold onto me again if you’d like-“
Much to the axe’s horror, when he turned to look to his wife, she was nowhere to be seen. Gone. Panicked, he frantically looked around, occasionally standing on his tiptoes to try and look over the crowd of market-goers. The weapon could suddenly feel his heart racing, his nervous system kicking further into overdrive by the second, but he had to keep his composure. He looked back at the shopkeeper.
“You, uh, didn’t happen to see where my wife went, did you?” He asked, anxiously.
The shopkeeper pointed to the left with their thumb. “She scampered off that way while you were counting your money, pal.”
The weapon took a deep breath in through his nose, attempting to keep a friendly smile on his face. He handed his purchases back to the vendor. “Do you mind holding onto these while I go and find her? I promise I won’t be long.”
The shopkeeper shrugged and, the moment the bag was out of his hands, Paracelsus made a dash in his lover’s alleged direction.
It had been years since A.B.A had been out of his sight. While most of that was down to her obsession with him, as a human, he was more responsible for keeping an eye out. Clumsily, the axe made his way through the crowd, his blue eyes manic in their sockets as he scanned the area for any trace of his partner. Her green hair, her bandages- anything that could indicate that she was there. He swallowed heavily, pathetically out of breath for how short a distance he had sprinted. Stupid human body.
Luckily, his beloved hadn’t gone far.
When Paracelsus located his wife, he found her standing in front of a large stall, practically bouncing in excitement. It took the weapon a moment to calm down from his spell of panic- and to realise what the booth was selling. Splayed out on the tabletop was an impressive selection of swords, maces, and axes, with larger, longer ones being hung behind the shopkeeper. The banner along the top of the stall boasted that the weapons were all handmade with the finest, locally sourced materials, but Paracelsus could do nothing but scoff at the sight.
“A.B.A, what’s all this?” He asked, trying to disguise the biting tone in his voice.
The homunculus didn’t even turn to look at him. “Isn’t it obvious?” She squealed. “These are all wonderful weapons! So many perfect instruments to maim and crush skulls with!”
Paracelsus watched as his wife ran her fingers along some of the blades, giddily picking a few up and asking the store owner some questions, like a child in a candy store. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but seeing her engage in such behaviour made him feel… odd. The weapon loved seeing his wife happy, but the sparkle in her eyes ignited something less than positive within him. A pit in his stomach; a twitch in his eye. He grimaced.
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say they’re wonderful. They look like toys to me,” the axe spat. “Besides, what are you even looking at those for? You already have a weapon, remember?”
A.B.A paused her enthusiastic browsing and finally looked to her husband, a bashful expression on her face. She hushed her voice so the vendor couldn’t hear. “Well, yes… but your new body is so delicate, dear. If I was to use you like I did before, you’d break,” she whispered. “Maybe here we can find something we can use to spill blood together! Won’t that be nice?”
Paracelsus widened his eyes. Did he hear that right? She was afraid he would… ‘break’? Him? Flament Nagel- the demon axe that had harvested a million souls and bathed in blood? She wanted to replace him with some- some run of the mill blacksmith’s tool?!
The corners of his mouth spasmed and in an instant, the weapon found himself overwhelmed with emotion. His throat tightened, full of a mix of words and bile, either of which could spill out at any moment. He clutched at his chest with one hand, digging his nails into his palms with the other behind his back. The feeling was unrecognisable, but so familiar at the same time. It had the ferocity of anger, setting his jaw; it flooded his body with dread; it forced his beating heart into his mouth like sadness. It was all these emotions, yet none at all. It was unique.
Regardless of what he was feeling, he knew one thing: he was not going to be forced out of A.B.A’s hand by some pathetic tinker-toy. Just the mere thought of it made his blood boil. Human or not, he was still her axe. Sure, his new body was soft and full of blood and guts, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t protect her. He wouldn’t allow anyone or anything else the luxury, either. He was hers, that was that, and that was how it had always been.
Sneering, Paracelsus put a hand on his wife’s shoulder, causing her to halt her conversation with the shopkeeper. His grip was firm, but not enough to hurt her. He had to contain himself.
“We would love to stay,” the weapon hissed, “but do you mind if my wife and I have a quick chat about something first?”
A.B.A didn’t have time to register her husband’s words before she found herself being the one dragged away. After a few moments, she was being hurried into a quiet backstreet, a good distance from the market.
“Paracelsus?” A.B.A panted. “What’s going on? Are we in danger?”
Paracelsus folded his arms, his face uncharacteristically sour. “How long have you been planning to replace me?”
The homunculus looked stunned. “R-Replace you?” She stammered. “What do you mean? I could never replace you, dear.”
“Oh, stop it,” the weapon scoffed. “I saw you at that shop just now. You literally said that you needed a new weapon because my new body is too ‘weak’. That means you’re trying to replace me!”
A.B.A remained in shocked silence, running her fingers through her hair anxiously. In all the years she had been by his side, she had never seen her husband so frantic. He looked like he was on the precipice of bursting into tears and tearing someone to shreds. His body language was jittery and tense, and before the homunculus could say something, Paracelsus threw himself to his knees, grasping at his wife’s free hand.
“Please, A.B.A,” he pleaded, “tell me what I need to do.”
“What?!” A.B.A yelped in response. “What do you mean, dear?”
He tightened his grip on her hand, his eyes wide and imploring. “Tell me what I need to do to prove to you that I’m not weak.” He looked over to the entrance of the backstreet, silhouettes of market-goers occasionally passing by. “You just say the word and I’ll slaughter every single one of those worthless humans out there.”
A.B.A chuckled nervously. “But, dear, what happened to no violence?”
Paracelsus’s lip curled upwards, exposing his teeth. He could only wish that they were as sharp as they used to be. “I’ll do what I must to prove myself. To show you that I cannot and will not be replaced! Especially by the creation of some common market blacksmith.”
The axe could feel his hands tremble slightly. This emotion, whatever it was, caused his skin to crawl. He was aware that he wasn’t helping his own case- what was more weak than groveling in front of someone you love?- but he couldn’t help himself. He pressed the back of A.B.A’s hand to his forehead, now entirely unable to look up at her. Pathetic. Why did this meek vessel have to come with so many complicated feelings?
“I know I’m not the same as I was,” Paracelsus whimpered. “I know I’m soft and emotional and useless. I know I’m wasting this body you worked so hard to get me, but please… You can’t replace me, A.B.A, I’m begging you.” His hands crept further up her arm, clinging to her sleeve. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll fight tooth and nail. I’ll fight until this body can no longer stand. Just please don’t replace me.” He stifled a furious sob. “If I can’t be your weapon, if I can’t protect you… then what am I?”
A.B.A could do nothing but look down at her husband. The sight of him like this made her heart ache. However, as sad as his cries and pleads were, she couldn’t deny that it made her a tad… excited. For so many years, she had been the one in such a state; terrified of him leaving her or finding someone else. Someone better. But now, the tables appeared to have turned. It was pitiable, yes, but undeniably cute- and it was a perfect display of just how much he loved her. He had subjected her to his influence, but it was clear she had an affect on him too.
Attempting to remain cool-headed, the homunculus kneeled, using her free hand to cup her husband’s tear stained face. It was a barely noticeable movement, but he leant into it.
“Paracelsus,” she cooed, “are you jealous?”
The weapon raised his head, sniffling. “Jealous? Me? I’m not jealous.”
A.B.A couldn’t help but laugh. “But you are! You’re jealous of that blacksmith’s wares!”
Paracelsus huffed, looking away. “I am not jealous. I’m just… afraid of losing you to something so- so inferior to me! It’s like being scared and angry and horrified all at once… A wretched feeling.”
“That’s jealousy, dear,” A.B.A reaffirmed. “I know all about it.”
The weapon sighed loudly, sitting back on his heels. He was thankful that his bangs hung in front of his face, covering his humiliated visage. A.B.A kept her hand to his face, making small circles with her thumb.
“You know, dear,” the homunculus murmured. “It’s nice to know you have these feelings too.”
Paracelsus looked at her through the corner of his eyes. “What?”
A.B.A leant in a little, unable to hide the colour forming in her cheeks. “When we first met, sometimes it was… hard to figure out whether you cared or not,” she began, “and with you getting your new body, I was afraid that your feelings would change even more.” She crawled closer to him, tilting his face back to her. He was flushed too; part embarrassed, part tearful, part flustered. “But now I see that you DO care. That you love me the way I love you. So much so that you were willing to kill all these people just to prove you weren’t weak.”
The weapon let out a nervous laugh. “Of course I care,” he chuckled, “I’m your partner, A.B.A. I’ve spent so much time fighting by your side, I was worried that- now that I’m like this- I wouldn’t be what you want-“
Paracelsus suddenly found himself cut off by the feeling of A.B.A’s lips on his and, before long, her tongue in his mouth, weaving between his stitches. She could taste the tears that had seeped into the threads. The homunculus pressed herself against her husband, her hands squirming into his hair as his shakily placed themselves on her hips. While Paracelsus was slowly getting used to being intimate in human form, sudden bursts of passion still caught him off-guard. He couldn’t help but moan as his wife continued to kiss him, slowly rolling her hips and massaging his scalp. His eyes fluttered between open and closed; his instincts told him to sit back and enjoy, but his brain was asking why she had suddenly pounced on him.
Before he could get too lost in his urges, the weapon pulled away.
“A.B.A…?” He murmured. “W-what’s all this about?”
The homunculus giggled, wiping away a trail of drool with one of her loose bandages. “Mm… Can I not just kiss my gorgeous husband?”
“Well, yes, but… you weren’t just kissing me.”
A.B.A stood up again, a smug look on her face. He looked so cute kneeling down there. “Admittedly,” she began, tracing a hand down her chest to her groin, “seeing you plead like that was just so precious! It’s made me all… hot and bothered.” She rubbed her thighs together eagerly. “I love seeing your love for me in action- even when you look so weak.”
The second she finished her sentence, A.B.A was suddenly pinned against the wall, her husband looming over her. Any sort of weepy pitifulness had drained from his face, instead replaced by a look of fierce anger.
“Don’t you dare call me weak. I am NOT weak!” He growled. “Don’t forget who you chose as a partner. I am The Sanguine Gale! I’ve driven hundreds to their graves. I might be in a different body, but I. Am. Not. Weak. I’ve already said I’d prove it to you, so why won’t you let me if you think I’m so pathetic?!”
The alley fell silent and, in a matter of seconds, Paracelsus realised what he had done. He straightened up a little, the pit in his stomach opening up again.
“Oh! Uh, A.B.A! I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me. I just- I don’t want you to-“
A wide grin split the homunculus’s face. She tugged at the bandages around her thighs, exposing herself; her slick skin glimmering in the little light of the shady backstreet. The sight sent a wave of arousal through the weapon’s body. She… enjoyed that?
“I knew that would get a reaction out of you,” A.B.A purred. “Now, dear, let’s put all that emotion to good use.”
Without warning, A.B.A reached forward and tugged the axe’s leash, pulling him in for another kiss and making sure his body was as close to hers as possible. She dragged her hands down his chest and stomach, settling on the bulge that had emerged in his suit. The homunculus groped at it ardently, causing her husband to groan into her mouth, but she refused to let him pull away, tugging at his stitches with her teeth if he let his head drift back.
In one firm motion, she pulled down the weapon’s zipper and took his erect cock into her hand. He shivered at the feeling of her cold flesh. A.B.A gave him a few shaky strokes, his veins throbbing beneath her fingertips, and pressed his tip against her soaking cunt.
A.B.A drew away from their kiss, batting her eyelashes. “Alright, dear,” she breathed, “don’t hold back, okay? Pump all that jealousy and anger into me-EEE!”
The feeling of her husband’s cock suddenly pounding into her rendered the homunculus speechless, clinging to his leash for leverage. Paracelsus bowed his head, resting his chin on his wife’s shoulder; desperate, aggressive grunts punctuating every thrust. He reached underneath one of A.B.A’s thighs, pushing it upwards so he could enter her further. The pair had been intimate like this many times, but something about this felt… different. The ferocity of the axe’s movements were a far cry from his usual gentle approach, even when he was technically in the more dominant position. A.B.A could’ve sworn she was being torn apart, split open by the sheer viciousness of her husband’s advances, but- if that were true- surely it shouldn’t have felt so good.
“You’re mine, you hear me…?” Paracelsus huffed, his breath burning hot. “If I ever catch you trying to replace me again, I can’t guarantee there won’t be any blood on my hands…”
“Aha… Aahn… N-never, dear,” the homunculus moaned in response. “I could never replace you!”
A.B.A moved her hands to her husband’s back, clawing through his leather suit at his shoulder blades. He felt so tense. So powerful. Maybe she was ridiculous to look at other weapons. She felt herself go slightly limp as her husband’s thrusts got faster and heavier. His needy, feral sounds were like music to her ears.
“Mine. All mine,” he growled through his teeth. “My wielder. My wife. You’re mine. No one else’s.”
A.B.A could do nothing but cling on and enjoy. She had dreamt of scenarios like this. Having her husband utterly destroy her. Being the one desired and coveted. It was everything she could have ever hoped for. Her mind was a pleasured puddle, sloshing around in her head occasionally giving her enough cognisance to let out a few- almost drunken- whines. Her whole body throbbed with heat, pooling in her core. She could’ve died there and then and been the happiest woman in the world.
“A.B.A,” Paracelsus groaned, “I-I don’t know if I can hold out much longer-“
The homunculus giggled, her tongue practically lolling out her mouth. “I know, I know,” she slurred, her eyes barely open. “Do it, dear. Dump all those horrible, wicked feelings inside me!”
The weapon’s body stiffened. Regardless of how in control he was, he could never resist his wife’s commands. With a guttural cry, Paracelsus released himself, flooding his lover’s pulsing, hungry innards with his cum. He held her against the wall as she too reached climax, ensuring every last drop of his seed was deep inside her as she practically wrung it out of him. His breathing grew laboured, his knees buckling slightly at the sheer force of his own orgasm. He raised his head slightly to see a string of saliva he had left on A.B.A’s shoulder; part of him wouldn’t have been surprised to see traces of the black goo he could morph into in his old form.
Gently, Paracelsus helped A.B.A lower her leg, keeping her upright as she placed her foot back on the floor. With a satisfied hum, the homunculus collapsed onto her husband, wrapping her arms around him tightly, her head pressed to his chest. The weapon rocked her, taking a moment to bask in the afterglow of his impassioned tirade. His entire body was tingling, weak and warm, but giving in at that stage would’ve been the ultimate irony.
“I love you, A.B.A,” Paracelsus whispered. “I’m, uh, sorry for getting so intense back there.”
His wife nuzzled into his pecs, not so subtly trying to get a deep breath of his scent. “I love you too,” she cooed, “and you don’t need to apologise. In fact, I’d like you to be more intense more often.”
The weapon chuckled half-heartedly. “I’m not so sure about that. I could do some real damage.”
A.B.A started tracing heart shapes on his back with her finger. “Don’t tempt me…”
The pair stood together in silence, enjoying each other’s embrace, until they were both alerted by an odd grumbling sound. A.B.A whined.
“Oh, that’s right… I was so caught up in all of this I forgot I needed food.” She glanced up at her husband. “Do you still have that fruit we bought?”
Paracelsus took a moment to think, his eyes snapping open in realisation. “Our fruit!” He exclaimed. “I left it with the shopkeeper after you wandered off!”
The weapon quickly made himself and his wife decent, carefully rewrapping her bandages to make sure her delicate parts were covered. Once he was done, he took hold of her hand and the couple slowly made their way out of the alley; A.B.A clinging to his arm as she did before.
“Come on, let’s go get our snacks,” Paracelsus said cheerfully. “We might even have enough money for a few drinks too.”