World / Series: Steve Lab, Rainbow Quest
Timeline: ?????
Overall Feeling: Chaos
AU: Steve Lab, Darkest Hours
Characters: Darkest Hour!Sabre, Darkest Hour!Prof. Red, Prof. Favre
Settings: The Lab
Word Count: 957

WARNING: Potential spoilers to the future chapters of Darkest Hours of Time, possibly in the continuation of the Morning Hour or in future books that continues the story

*

Sabre wasn't sure if he was imagining things or not, but he most certainly can't miss the hostile look that this– Professor version of himself gives. It makes his wings puffed up cautiously, despite being a chicken Hybrid, he can most certainly do something, even if it wasn't really much per say.

Chickens aren't really known to be threats unless it's in a very large group after all.

Yet right now, he was stuck with the Professor, which he really didn't like at all. He had just wanted answers, answers about why his papa wanted him to seek out the Red Steves. He was very sure that his Dad was the last– but here he was, reluctantly following his weird counterpart of some kind.

Granted, it was either he followed the hostile stranger or stayed and risked being hurt by the Corrupted Sun.

Seriously, it was like they're trying to frame his Papa, which really wouldn't be shocking, but he also doesn't know how much those mysterious Corrupted Sun members know. They knew about Crystal and they even knew about the whole situation with Rainbow Red! The creepy stalker from years ago!

Most of all, they knew about Light Steve– well, not the Light Steve he knows that leads the Colorless Guards, no. He means the Light Steve that he knew from when he was younger that once lived in the Orange village with them, only to leave out of fear that– he shakes his head. It had already since happened, he wasn't sure where he was anymore, but he knows he's fine.

Somehow.

He wasn't sure how, but that's the only explanation he could think of when he felt a sense of relief in knowing that he's fine–

"Come on Saga, we need to hurry before nightfall and quite frankly, I don't have any reasons to help you at night." Sabre wasn't sure if he should be grateful or offended at the implication that he's helpless at night. Most of all, he didn't even ask for this stupid Professor version of himself to help either!

Of course, in his typical fashion, he chirps at him angrily, only for the Professor to ruffled his hair, making him squawk in annoyance.

How dare he!

"By the way, we have arrived, there's a friend of mine here that would love nothing more than to meet you." Sabre blinks, seemingly puzzled by what they had meant– only to be taken back when the Professor had shoved a bundle of cloth into his hands. "Wear this, that way no one would suspect a non-steve being like you to be trespassing." Sabre huffed by the order, but complied.

Mostly because he really didn't want anyone to question his wings.

Wait.

Is– Is this quack of a Professor taking him to the Red Steves?!

Before he could even remotely ask questions– the Professor immediately picked him up and ran.

Of course, this did not go unbothered by Sabre, who immediately screeched in surprise and held onto him for dear life. The only time he was granted a break was when the Professor had suddenly stopped! He immediately collapses to the ground, for once– he is very happy to even be on the ground at all.

"Come on kid, Professor Red should be in his lab right now, he'll be sure to help you tremendously." Sabre scowled in anger as they got up, he winced when he felt his wings brushed against the rough fabric of the cloak, he couldn't wait to ditched the thing and burned it.

He rather not keep anything from this quack version of himself who considered themselves a Professor.

Nonetheless, he followed the dumb Professor into the lab where they're greeted by...an android? The Android called themselves Assistant Steve, who leads them to the Professor Red that was mentioned before. In the meantime, he took this moment to remove the cloak and put it in his inventory, he might as well get rid of it now–

"Kid, where did you get that hair clip?"

Sabre looked up to an angry looking Professor Red Steve, but he was confused, what was he angry about and why did he ask about the hair clip in his hair?

"What hair clip-?"

"The Crown."

Sabre now understood, although still confused on why he wanted to know about that particular hair clip. So he answered.

"It's a present from my dad, since you're a Red Steve– I guess it's fine to tell, but my dad is Veilen or as he's probably known as to you guys, Alchemist Red Steve." Sabre simply answered, although albeit confused when he saw Prof. Favre suddenly smiled, waving goodbye as he followed Assistant Steve elsewhere.

He doesn't even question it further when Professor Red Steve suddenly hugged him– making him let out a startled chirp and instinctually whacked him with his wings. Thankfully, it was enough for Prof. Red to back away, seemingly sad, but excited.

"Awww, I didn't know my brother had a cute adopted child like you! Granted, I never thought he adopted a player at all, assistant would have been nice too, but still! How cute! Ooh, we should also preserve those wings of yours, I can't imagine that being comfortable."

Sabre stared at Prof. Red, jaw dropped.

There's no way this guy is his uncle– he sounds like a lunatic. Mostly because he didn't even know he had an uncle at all! How many secrets did his Dad even have?!