Venom and Vows

"No. Former mafia.There's a big difference. That little tigress is a good girl and her family is trying to wash their hands clean. It may take a while but they are genuinely trying…." 

Ouroboross voice was a little wistful, his eyes a little unfocused as he corrected the small misunderstanding Leo was having. 

Leos gaze changed as detected that the Snake was once again being genuine but couldn't help but notice the way he spoke of someone else's family invoked the feeling that he was…jealous. 

Ouroboros noticed the strange look Leo was giving him and turned away with a sigh and began to walk again.

"Seems I am not all that great at keeping myself in check when it comes to family huh?"

 Ouroboros floated a self-deprecating smile on his face as a gloomy aura settled around him. 

Leo, while still apprehensive, decided to walk beside him. 

"It can't be that bad. I get that you have a terrible brother but they can't all be that bad…"

"Anthony is on the nicer side when it comes to the vipers I share blood with. They are the lowest of the low, treating regular peoples lives like fodder, they are the kings and everyone else are peasants"

Leo was silently shocked as the snake scoffed and revealed some of the horrors that plagued the family he shared a name with. 

"The head of the company is like their throne. They are willing to betray, scheme and use the lives of others as pawns to further their own ambitions. They are monsters wearing human skin." 

The Snakes smile was amicable yet heartbreakingly sad as he opened up for reasons even he didn't know. 

"As for myself, I am a child born out of wedlock, I don't share the same mother as the rest of them so they view me as some sort of filthy half breed. To them I am just some mangy mutt that they can berate and order me around as they please….". 

It was his eyes that betrayed his deep sorrow and heartbreak. It was as if his joking and lighthearted teasing persona was a puppet operated by a broken and sad child. He was able to act the way he did because he never let anyone in. 

Leo was stunned as he listened to the impromptu confession of the snake as they strode through the forest. He didn't really know what to say as the typical methods of consolation felt cheap and insincere. 

"Hey…I won't pretend to know what it is like to go through what you have, your family sounds like hell in a handbasket honestly…"

Leo took a moment to pat the mans shoulder as he tried to offer him some comfort. The pure intentions that Leo gave him was somewhat endearing to Horo.

"However, I believe that there is at least one person there that you care for. Otherwise you would have long since run for the hills no? You don't seem like the kind of guy to stick your neck out for people you hate." 

The Snake burst out laughing as Leo hit the nail on the head directly with that remark. It was like the young man beside him could see through him. It was a bit unnerving yet somehow it felt nice for someone to see through to the real him. 

 "Hah! You caught me there~! But today is not the day we talk about them."

 He admitted that Leo was right but shut his mouth right after. No matter how easy it was to talk to him, he wasn't going to lay all of his heart out like that so easily.

"Alright… Well the only thing I can say is that Family isn't all about blood. Despite what others may think, Family is for you to choose. If you want, this little makeshift party can be your new family. The choice is yours" 

Ouroboros scoffed at the cheesy sentiment but he had to admit it but it did make him feel better, even if only a little. He reached out a hand and ruffled Leos head

 "You are not bad…for a kid that is~" 

"Jackass! We are nearly the same age!" 

Leo hissed, feeling offended that he was being treated as a kid by someone he had sincerely just tried to comfort. . 

"Oh? You are so tiny I thought you were like 15…at best~!" 

Ouroboros snickered before running off, having a feeling that Leo was about to snap and chase after him. And he was right. Luna immediately lunged and chased after him with a snarl 

"You Motherf...Luna is gonna be wearing a nice snakeskin jacket when I am done with you!". 

"Hahahaha! Catch me if you can then~"

 the Snake laughed boisterously with his teasing tone. The smile on his face was the most genuine one he had shown in a long time.

After a couple of minutes of sprinting, Leo stopped running, trying to catch his breath, using a tree as support while Ouroboros had climbed a tree and was sitting in the branches kicking his legs in amusement. 

"Out of breath already? The ladies wont like a man with no stamina~"

"Horo… I swear to god, it won't kill you to just….shut up now and then" 

Leo was huffing in annoyance. There were a couple of times he had almost caught the snake but he always slipped away at the last second. 

"But thats not as much fun~" 

The smug grin of the snake looking down at him seemed to carry a different emotion than it had before. It was almost as if there was a hint of caring in it now. . 

It was then that a screen appeared before Leo and Ouroboros. 

Bond Breakthrough: Genuine Connection has formed between the Bearer of the Zodiac : Snake. 

Zodiac: Snake Completion % Cap has Increased. 

Bond of the Zodiac: Snake has reached 10% Completion. Buffs will be applied accordingly. If the player wishes, they may also choose to permanently bind the Bond to the chosen player. Doing so will result in 

Zodiac Bond : Snake shall be permanently bound to Player: Ouroboros. Zodiac Bond : Snake Growth shall become uncapped. Total Available Zodiac Bonds shall be reduced to 10.

Do you wish to bind Zodiac Bond: Snake to Player Ouroboros? 

[Y/N] 

Leo looked at Ouroboros who also had a similar notification. His playful demeanour disappeared as he silently waited for the decision Leo made. 

Seeing him try to be expressionless, Leo smiled at him with a smirk of his own as he teased. 

 "What? No quips? You nervous I'll say no?" 

"Possibly…. Maybe I want to be chosen as a part of a new 'family'..."

 Horo reply was soft as a hint of longing leaked out from his voice. 

"Well then…." 

Leo had a smirk on his face as he paused for a few brief moments.

 "Welcome to the family then. Please take care of me~"

When Leo pressed the Yes button, Ouroboros was stunned but was undeniably happy. However that notion quickly faded as he felt a sharp pain in his chest as an violet light burst from his chest. The suddenness of the pain caused him to lose his balance and fall out of the tree, landing on his back with a loud thud.

[-60] 

"Oww…." 

he groaned in pain as he laid on the ground, having all of his breath knocked out of him.

"Are you okay?!". 

Leo was concerned as he moved to help his companion up. 

"Yeah…I'll live" 

the Snake grumbled as he looked at the faint snake imprinted onto his chest in a vibrant violet colour. 

Zodiac Imprint Complete. The following buff(s) are currently in effect. 

Skill: Snake Venom

Description: +10% Poison Damage. +10 Poison Production, +1% Poison Resistance, Daggers have a 0.1% chance of adding Poison damage equal to 1% opponents max health. 

Applied to: Ouroboros, Leo

Seeing the new skill that he got from getting a bit friendlier with Leo, Ouroboros gave him a slightly teasing smirk. It was nice to have someone he could talk to. 

"I think you have a real good future as a therapist." 

"You can shut up now…" 

Leo growled back as he fought the urge to punch the Snake upside his head. 

"SKREEE!" 

"Well it looks like we will have to put this lovely chat on hold for now, we have some gobbies to kill~!" 

Ouroboros laughter was light as he pulled out his knife. 

"Lets finish this fast, I don't want the girls to blame us if we are too slow." 

Leo floated a confident smile of his own as he cracked his knuckles readying himself for the coming horde. 

The two quickly glanced at each other and with a mutual nod, they charged forward as goblins began to pour out from deeper in the forest.