The Desert is Cold in the Dark [Dark Data]

[Summer]

Heavy breaths escaped the spirit of storms as he lay. Disturbed by the heaving of his chest, sand shifted, slowly seeping into every crack and crevice of his clothing. His jacket and pants were slowly caked by a fine layer of mud as all that dust and dirt drew out the rainwater soaking them. The hot desert sun beat down on him, unhindered by the clear sky above. Unsuited to such an arid environment, there was no doubt that his storm clouds had likely been short-lived. Or they’d just been in there a lot longer than it felt like. Here in the omniverse, either one was a possibility.

Somerled slowly rose up to a sit, dirt stinging his wounds. Mud stuck to his wet hair and neck, an uncomfortable sensation for the monster. For a moment, his eyes flicked back up to the endless blue expanse above, and he debated conjuring up a little shower to wash it away. He quickly shoved that thought out of his head. That would only serve to create even more mud. The split spirit cast a quick glance over to his allies, both of whom were slowly rising to their feet. Protected by his suit until the last, Jim was spared from a muddy fate, but Sun wasn’t so lucky. The monkey boy slapped and scrapped at all the dirt covering his clothing.

Raynor locked eyes with Somerled, and the monster held up a single finger. One moment, please. He didn’t have time to deal with his deafness earlier, on account of the whole running for their lives, but now he had all the time in the world. He lifted his good hand up, palm to the sky, and concentrated, summoning up a glob of omnilium. The rainbow coalescence molded to his whim, slowly forming a healing salve of some sort. Such things had existed in his world, though with his healing ability, he had never needed them. There was always a first for everything.

Whatever it was he had summoned finally appeared, stuck in a pipette or syringe of some kind. He lifted the syringe to his right ear first, jamming it down the canal and injecting its soothing gel into the deepest part, even past what remained of his eardrums. The salve swiftly began its work, and a faint ringing sound slowly rose to life. He quickly followed it up with his left ear, and waited. Slowly, his hearing began to return, and he was soon greeted by the sounds of sand shifting as Sun shuffled around impatiently.

“Hello?” Somerled said, testing out his hearing. His own voice sounded faint to him, but he was almost healed.

“Hello!” His voice responded, briefly borrowed by his other half. Sun stopped in his tracks, and Jim crossed his arms, raising a curious eyebrow.

“Uh... I thought we weren’t doing this?” The storm spirit lowered his voice a bit, heat welling up in his face.

“Normally, no. But I wanna have some fun too,” Sonny answered without a care in the world.

“Er, weren’t we doing this by deaths?” Somerled said, looking over to the side and trying to pretend his allies weren’t hearing this.

“Change of plans, Summer. You just sit back, relax, and do some math in your free time or something. It’s what I’ve been doing.”

“Hm... fine...” he mumbled after a few short moments. Truth be told, he needed some rest. He’d been going non-stop for what felt like days. It’d be nice to turn off his brain for a bit and relax. He let his other half take over, and his body slowly dissolved away.

---

“Ah~” Sonny sighed melodically, his now-corporeal arms stretched high above his head and his golden hair glinting in the sunlight. The brilliant mid-day sun suffused his body with warmth, and though he could still feel the wear and tear left by his other half with, that didn’t matter right now. All that he cared about was finally being able to move and stretch. Heat and dispersing energy rolled off his very being, and the damp clothes that had once pressed against his skin rapidly dried off. Mud turned back into sand and shifted off of him, leaving him warm, dry, and clean once again.

“Hello!” The sun spirit cheerfully greeted his new allies, both of whom were giving him rather confused looks. “I am Summer Murdoch,” he said with a wave of his only hand. “Spirit of the Sun, one half of the person you’ve been travelling with. Please, call me Sonny, and him Summer. Makes it easier on all of us.” Jim opened his mouth to say something, staring incredulously at the blond-haired spirit, but was quickly cut off.

“Are you going to do this every time?” The storm spirit spoke just as his other half finished, hijacking their shared voice. “Somerled. I’ve had this name for years. I’m not about to give it up.”

“Names are just convenient ways to refer to people. The person is what matters,” Sonny took on a condescending tone, grinning cruelly.

“...You heard that?” his voice fell.

“I hear everything, Summer,” the sun spirit’s said cryptically, grin still plastered to his face. “But!” His voice turned dramatic. “Who knew there was a sentimental side to such a stoic, unfeeling mons-”

“-Oka-!” The storm spirit tried to break off Sonny’s rant by giving up, stealing their voice mid-sentence. Two sets of words scratched at the sun spirit’s throat, and everything he was trying to say was cut-off by a violent cough. The benevolent youkai doubled over, head falling near his lap as he hacked, trying his best not to lose a lung. He took in a deep breath once it had faded away, steadying himself once again, and locked eyes with Jim.

“Hello! My name’s Summer Murdoch, Spirit of the Sun! Please, call me Sonny,” he greeted him properly for a second time. “Thank you for taking care of my other half, Summer.”

“It was a pleasure working with you...” The newly-monikered Summer mumbled half-heartedly.

“Apologies for the rough introduction,” the sun spirit slowly rose to his feet, mouth turned up in a radiant smile. “I hope we can get along!”

“...What?” Jim and Sun said simultaneously, a look of total confusion painting their faces.

Used 1 Medigel to heal 1 point of damage and fix Summer's deafness a bit