clockmaster | [RL With Zechs- Noah'splot]

"Debitt has told me he is sane," Zechs said, his voice strained with worry despite his best efforts. Even he could only keep up his heartless mask for so long. "But we cannot know anything further. Not until I have more information."

That was the purpose of ZERO, after all. Zechs was also considered to be a heartless bastard as well. During the war, he had betrayed his allies and committed treason against his own military for higher ideals. He held his own sister under guard - for her own safety, but under duress - and was willing and able to kill his closest two friends. Few people who knew him well on his world actually liked the man.

"Debitt assumes I am like any of the Noah's other friends. He is known for having human associates. They will not discover there is a deeper connection." Zechs' tone was becoming more stained. He knew he had acted in haste. And he didn't want to place Tyki in jeopardy. But he didn't know what else could be done. And he couldn't simply do nothing.

"The Exorcists already know Mikk and I are ... close, unfortunately. At Mrs. Bella Cullens' wedding, the ..." Zechs was finding it difficult to speak. His hands clenched his knees. "... the large reason Mikk left at all, not fighting the Exorcists further, was because he ... feared for my safety."

Zechs' face was still calm, unnaturally so. But his eyes were shut, concentrating on maintaining that demeanor.

"I'm not totally sure about what happened on Miss Bella's wedding. I just know that it was bad, and since I know that Cross was a friend of her. I'm right If I assume that he was on the weeding as well? Noah's and Exorcists... recipe for trouble."

The blonde boy listened to Zechs words, he sounded like a man older than his real age. Hakuba felt his own facade cracking slightly.

"I can't see how a program like ZERO can help you in that..." Hakuba murmured softly, looking sad, and sighed. "..but I will do all I can to help."

Hakuba cleared his throat and looked away, glad to have the computer to work with instead of looking at Zechs. He knew that sometimes one put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.

He sank down into the chair at the same time multiple browser window popped up on the computer screen.

"Two of the Noah were invited - Debitt and Jasdero - and the Exorcists Allen, General Cross, General Klaud, and Kanda were also invited. Ty-" Zechs stopped, clenched his knee harder, then calmed. "Mikk decided to attend because he was worried his cousins may be attacked and killed. When the twin Noah attacked the Exorcists, Mikk joined. Events progressed predictably from there."

This was very hard. The more Zechs talked about this, the more that he was reminded why he was so worried. He had been coping before because he was concentrating on a plan of action. This was focusing on the man he was trying to help, which made him emotional. Zechs realized now that Tyki must have ... loved him even then. He swallowed.

"ZERO will be a tool I can use. Right now, there are too many variables and possibilities for us to judge what the correct course of action is. With the ZERO, I will be able to see all the correct paths and possibilities. Such is advanced usage of the machine, which I have previously mastered." Zechs' voice was full of his own arrogance, and just a hint of that underlying madness. "Currently, I have no ... ability, to assist anyone. The ZERO system will change that."

Zechs was just on the edge of breaking down, but was holding onto his calm facade by a thread. He wasn't putting up his walls to keep Hakuba out. Nor was he trying to call for attention, to see if anyone cared enough to see beneath them.

He was trying to protect the boy from what lay within. One hand held his glass tightly. Zechs drank more deeply from it, the bourbon not managing to sooth him any longer. Indeed, he looked and sounded like a man far older than twenty-three.

Hakuba’s face was concentrate while Zechs explained him the wedding’s events, but he smiled slightly when the older man talked about his capacities. There, there, Zechs was sounding a bit crazy too, but the strong character of a soldier was still there too.

He was refusing to call Tyki by his name. It bothered Hakuba a lot, but he tried not to pay attention to it for now, noticing that Zechs control was in tin ice. He really wished that Zechs choose the coffee instead of the tea. Oh well, the night was going to be long.

Doyle's voice interrupted them, it was probably keeping an ear on them, Hakuba thought.

"Master Hakuba, I'm nearly done." The detective looked at the screen, where more windows opened and closed by themselves,data scrolling by faster than Hakuba could track. He closed his eyes, leaning back in the chair, half afraid of what the answers were going to be.

"Found him." Windows closed as Doyle show him a long file indicating the security system of the ZERO program. Hakuba frown in annoyance. That was going to be a hell to hack and he will need to use Doyle to create some problems in another interfaces to cause a distraction while he was working. Doyle was a master hacker, but Hakuba wasn't particularly enthralled with the idea of the A.I. breaking the law, even if Zechs told him that this wasn't illegal on his world. Doyle was quite happy to stay out of everyone's radar, thank you very much. That means that Hakuba will do most of the hard work.

Hakuba incorporated a bit in the seat and started to work, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard.

"It's going to take me hours just to go trough the first walls of the system. Can you do me a favor? I like to work while I'm hearing something....Tell me a good memory of yours, Zechs."

Referring to his lover by his last name - something Zechs had almost never done, in the past - distanced himself from what was going on, emotionally. If he called Tyki 'Mikk' instead, then it was almost as if he was talking about someone else. It was his own method of coping. It wasn't working very well.

Absently, he glanced at the computer when the program Doyle claimed it had found the security system. Zechs also noticed the look of annoyance on Hakuba's face. Whatever security was around the ZERO system, he guessed Heero Yuy himself might have written it. Which would mean it would be almost, but not quite, completely uncrackable. But Hakuba didn't say it was impossible. He just claimed it would take a while.

Zechs' smile was wry. He finished off his glass of bourbon, then frowned at it. Did he get another? Perhaps it was time for coffee instead. He wanted to remain awake for this. For now, however, he didn't touch the mug.

"A good memory?" Most of his good memories, of late, were rather painful instead in present context. Zechs thought further back. "Do you know why I was known as the Lightning Baron?"

Hakuba never took her eyes from the computer, hoping that Zechs would understand that he needed to center his attention on the screen, but on the corner of his eye he saw how Zechs drank the last of the glass.

"Because or your awesome golden hair?" Hakuba commented, trying to sound like a soft joke, not mocking. he knew that Zechs wasn't on the mood, and either was him, but a change of subject would be good for now.

Zechs' face tensed, but he recognized Hakuba was attempting to joke, and didn't comment upon it. Under different circumstances, he might have attempted a polite, fake smile, but he was too on edge to accomplish such a thing. The best he could do now was remain calm.

"As much as I appreciate the compliment," Zechs said wryly, the most he could manage as his own joke, "No. That is not the reason." He picked up the coffee mug, and let it warm his hands. He smelled the liquid within it, yet still did not drink.

"When I was fifteen, a small and somewhat insignificant terrorist organization attacked an Alliance base in Asia, off the Pacific Ocean. The Specials - an elite and highly skilled military branch of the Alliance, nearly independent of them - were called in to suppress the terrorist activities."

"I was one of the few pilots selected. The Specials came to this insignificant mission because they wished to test the mobile suits Romefeller had recently developed. Yet, the commanders in charge also wished to test my skills. I did not disappoint them."

Zechs paused, still inhaling his coffee's scent, not yet drinking the liquid.

Hakuba made a face at Zechs' bitter irony, he was never good at jokes after all, that was Kuroba's strong point, not his.

Listening with interest, the detective nodded. "Go along, please. Who give you that name? The Specials themselves?"

"Yes," Zechs answered, a bit of pride coming into his voice. But also a hint of annoyance. He enjoyed his skill and was proud of the position he had earned. But he also wished he wasn't worshiped as he had been by some of the Alliance and OZ soldiers. Such regard helped him as his role of Treize's pawn, but he didn't enjoy it.

"When my commander asked of me to end the battle quickly, within three minutes, I informed him I could accomplish it in one. And my actions supported my words."

There was also a little of melancholy there, also, but Zechs didn't elaborate upon it. "I suppose, before then, he did not view me as an equal. Some boy, perhaps, who was filled with arrogance yet little skill. However, he said I fought like lightning, and the nickname developed from there."

"It's a bit annoying when someone can't see you as an equal just because of your age." Hakuba commented nonchalant, Zechs's words calling him a God damned kid because he refused to let him take a worldhopp to the ark were still burning on his mind. He knew that he need more experience and that there was still a lot to learn, but he hated it when people judged him by his looks.

He couldn't care less about if he was young, or if he looks too pretty as some idiotic officer informed him one day. The important was the brain and the mind, not the looks. On a case, you can't trust your eyes, the most innocent looking person can be the most sadistic criminal. And it was the same with his private life, that was one of the reasons that he liked men and women without distinctions. He cared for the person behind the bodies.

"But you prove them wrong, and you show them how good you were, and that's the important thing. You must respect yoruself, the other's opinions aren't always important."

Zechs glared at Hakuba a bit, but ignored the hidden barb. He called Hakuba a kid because he was angry, mostly. When he was just nineteen, after all, he commanded armies and nearly destroyed the Earth. It wasn't his age - it was his experiences. Hakuba was never a soldier, and he had never been forced to kill a man. Never learned how to estimate how quickly he could kill men.

In that way, Hakuba would be forever young to him. But it was also why, except for when he was angry, Zechs didn't consider it an insult. It was a compliment instead.

Zechs was the last person to judge someone merely by their looks. Especially based on his own experience.

"Other people's opinions are rarely so important to me," Zechs said coldly, but admitted - showing a great trust in Hakuba, "except this man was one I wanted to impress and gain the respect of. I had admired his abilities as a soldier for a few years, and we had much in common. When he could see me as his equal, we could become friends."

Bitter, he said, "Such petty things were important to me at the time."

"Thing like that is what give us a reason to keep trying, Zechs. Some people call it hope, I call it stubbornness."

Hakuba looked at him for a moment and smiled. Zechs had still to drink the coffee, but at least the mug was on his hands now. The detective turned back his attention to run an specially difficult code who will break some of the security walls. The Zero system have a lot of them, and some they were just fake ways. A bunch of security to find nothing, just a loss of time.

"Was you successful? You two become friends I mean?"

(ooc: is he talking about Treize?)

Zechs' features tensed once again, but this was a welcome distraction for him. Talking about Treize was infinitely less painful than talking about Tyki. Not surprising. He hadn't meant for their conversation to travel down this path, but he wouldn't divert it.

Also, he was drunk. While he hid it well, it made him a bit more talkative about certain things than usual. Hakuba was merely lucky enough to witness it.

"For a time," Zechs acknowledged. "We were even close. Understanding ... was an important issue between us. We had felt there were so few people who could know the sorts of persons we were, beneath our masks. Who could share the visions we could see for the world."

Zechs' expression was dark. "Yet perhaps it would have been a better thing if I had not become friends with such a man."

Hakuba made an small movement of the head or a murmuring sound from time to time to let him know that he was listening; even if he was actually frowning at the screen, like to blame him for all their problems.

Zechs was still tense, it was obviously that he was a man who valued his secrets and didn't enjoy the idea of sharing them. hakuba respected that, and feel honored to have Zech's trust, even if it was increased by the sorrow and a slightly drunken state. he wondered how Tyki did it to get under Zechs's shield and if they close relationship was exactly because they share a really difficult past and some dark secrets.

"..why that?"

Hesitating, Zechs took a moment to respond to Hakuba's innocent question. To buy himself some time, he sipped lightly at his coffee, barely consuming any of the drink. Merely stalling as he attempted to think of how to explain. He wanted to tell the truth. But he didn't know how much of the truth he should tell.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Hakuba. He could tell the boy secrets, obviously, and they would be kept. But a lot of this sort of thing was private, emotional. Yet more than anything else, he didn't know if the Detective could understand. It came down to experience again. Hakuba had never been a soldier, never killed anyone, never contemplated the murder of millions. Tyki and he could form such a close friendship initially because they were both monstrous.

"... He was a man who was excellent at manipulating other persons. Especially those who he cared for, who cared for him in turn. I was commonly known as his pawn, and for a time I was proud of my role. Yet eventually, even when I broke all ties with him - I still felt as if I was a part of his larger mechanizations."

Zechs looked rather grim, hardly calm at all. Yet at least he wasn't thinking about Tyki, injured and alone on the Ark. This was a past memory he had already defeated. "If I had not known him as I had, things might not had happened as they did. Though be it for better or for ill, I do not know."

Eyes focussed on a binary code now, Hakuba feel Zechs hesitation. He was telling him more with his silence than his words.

"... He was a man who was excellent at manipulating other persons. Especially those who he cared for, who cared for him in turn. Hakuba knew about this, at some level, her mother was like that, and he was afraid to become a person like that some day.

"You couldn't help yourself, Zechs, sometimes we can't choose the person we get interested in, we just do.Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons." Hakuba sighed and quoted Oscar Wilde. "I like persons better than principles, and I like persons with no principles better than anything else in the world.".

Zechs glared. "One may always help themselves. Choice is one of the few things we are afforded. I had given my trust willingly to such an individual, and I may have chosen wrongly. Even with ZERO, I could never determine if such a path was the correct one."

As he drank more of his coffee, he was feeling increasingly tired. Normally, this would make him suspicious. Angry. Violent. But a strange sort of calm was settling as well. Perhaps some of the bourbon was finally having its intended effect?

But Zechs didn't want to sleep. He didn't want to dream.

"... How goes the hacking, as we speak of the program?" Zechs asked.

At Zechs's glare, Hakuba smiled softly again. Even if Zechs was still worried, and patronizing him a bit, it was good to hear him concentrated in other's thing than worrying about Tykis. Not like that wasn't comprehensible, Hakuba was worried as hell too, but showing it and panic will not help anyone. So he choose to be the cold heartless bastard because sometimes someone needed to be that.

He noticed how Zechs's body language changed as he drank. Akako's potion was working, slowly, like a caress of the lady of the night, calling him to sleep.

"Sadly, it goes slowly. It can took me more than I first expected. That's why I told you about not making fast judgments, they explode on your face. I thought that It would just took me the whole night but maybe it's a bit more, even with Doyle working on it too. Who designed the system was a genius or a mad person. A mix of both, probably."

Zechs was trying very hard not to show his worry and panic. But it was extremely hard, even for someone like him. Who didn't even bat an eye when his closest friend died. But he had never loved someone like this before. And he had never been told he could do nothing about a situation as an adult. Zechs always could cope better if he could do something.

But Hakuba's words had an unexpected effect. Zechs laughed, darkly and and morbidly, but he laughed all the same. He gave the Detective a more honest look than he intentionally had all evening.

"The scientists who designed the ZERO system were mad. But the man - the boy - who designed the security system around it is perhaps madder. But he was the finest warrior I have ever faced in battle. If you can best him in this, you will indeed earn my respect. He is not a force to be trifled with."

The boy wasn't sure if the laugh was scary or relieving, but he grinned back.

"Well, he certainly must be proud of his creation."

A boy uh? Kid where usually better at technology than adult gave them credit for, that's going to be interesting.

"But anything is sacred, Zechs. I estimate that it will take me a day, maybe less. Don't worry. Can you told me a bit more about him? Maybe it will help me to understand why the program is so challenging."

Thinking, this being difficult as Zechs grew increasingly tired, he tried to think of the best way to describe the pilot of Gundam 01. Slowly, he offered, "He would have written the security program sometime after the war, I am guessing. I know the ZERO system is only archived for research purposes. But we are all very concerned it could fall into the wrong hands."

Heero Yuy would say Zechs' hands would qualify as the wrong ones, he would guess, but they weren't going to mention that. Shifting a little more in his chair, becoming comfortable, he continued, "His reflexes and strength are superhuman. Even during the war, when he was about fifteen, he looked to be much younger. But intelligence points evidence to the boy having been involved in various terrorist organizations since early childhood."

Zechs was also more genuinely relaxed now than he had been previously. Talking shop, as Noin might call it, helped to calm him considerably. "He works best in solo missions, but has the ability to work together with team members when required. He follows orders without hesitation, but has the ability to question orders. That was not trained out of him. He is currently a high ranking agent in the Preventers Peacekeeping Organization. His presence there alone frightens some government officials into remaining peaceful. He's considered one of the most dangerous people alive."

So was Zechs, but he wasn't boasting about himself. He was speaking almost fondly, as if recalling someone he was close friends with - rather than someone who he had faced as an enemy.

Hakuba rubbed the back of his neck and took a sip of his own coffee as he thought about the information that Zechs shared with him. Just fifteen years, and he did all that. Strange. Impressive too.

"And might I inquire what was your relationship with him?" This was said in complete innocence and determination, meeting Zechs's eyes.

Edited 2008-11-30 04:15 (UTC)

Laughing again, darkly, Zechs ran a hand through his hair. Why was he so tired? He felt like he was about to fall asleep. But stubbornly, so stubborn, he stayed awake. Sleeping meant he may dream. Zechs knew what sorts of nightmares he would have. And once again, he would have to deal with them alone.

"He was the only man who could defeat me in battle when I was at my best," Zechs said. No exaggeration. Merely fact. "We understood each other well, though we were often on opposite sides of the war. In battle, there was a sense we were equals, though we were determined to kill one another. We knew our roles well. We were soldiers, killing machines, little more. All the same ... He is a better man than I."

At last, his face grew dark at the end of this. Heero Yuy should have killed him three years ago. He hadn't. If they were really soldiers who followed the ZERO system's instructions to the letter, then Zechs should have never lived.

But he was alive now. Zechs stifled a yawn.

"Like machines, Zechs, a person can always improve. Don't be so hard on yourself." Hakuba drank again, hidding an middle smirk. The potion was working, he hoped that Zechs would be sleeping in less than an half hour.

He knew the sensation, Akako gave him the same potion a few times before, the times where the heist with Kids gone really, really wrong and people get shot at or nearly killed. It gave him peace, at least for a few ours, and prevented him of dreaming. Just the calm of the nothingness. He always woke up more relaxed and energetic than a normal sleep, that was another difference of the potions and the sedatives.

Unlike Hakuba, however, Zechs didn't know the sleep which would come would be dreamless. Thus, he still tried to fight against it, even if it was futile. As he slumped in his chair, he still managed to have an air of upright nobility. This, too, indicated a trust of the Detective. Zechs didn't fall asleep in front of just anyone.

"... You have not any idea, Hakuba, of what I had attempted to do," Zechs said, his voice growing more soft and weary.

"I call you a boy, and you act insulted, yet I compliment you. No one should be made to do the things I had chosen, all for revenge, all for peace. All twisted and wrong. You are so young. Be glad," he murmured, fighting still to keep awake.

His hand clenched, then relaxed. For some strange reason, it was hard for him to become angry at the moment. More of the bourbon's effects? But that seemed so strange.

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I need to dissappear again for a bit, be back in 2 hours >_> sorry

It's okay dearie. <3 I'll be here!

I'm back baby! :D

*dances* *gives you cookies*

YAY! *nom nom nom nom* :3

Everyone loves cookies! <3

Oh so true <3~ Chocolate cookies are the best!

With a bit of milk~

Yummy, oh yes ^_^

The world needs more cookies. :D

And panckakes :D specially for Emo!Zechs....he needs cookies with Tykis' shape or something >_>

zomg pancakes are awesome. And waffles. Hakuba should cook some for him. <3

He will cook for him on the morning..if Zecks drink the damn coffee >:|

Don't worry, don't worry, he'll drink it. He might hate Hakuba for drugging him, though. >.>;;

Akako's poison can't be detected. Hakuba will say that he fell sleep 'cause he was drunk >_>

Hakuba should be glad that Zechs is drunk and therefore less suspicious. >.>;;

<_< Hakuba is innocent as pure snow...sneaky detective is sneaky >D

All Zechs can say was he'd better get a ZERO out of this. D:

He is, but Hakuba is delaying it on purpose, and Doyle will keep and eye on zero <3

If Zechs doesn't get the ZERO system from Hakuba he'll just go to someone else D:

He will give him ZERO, but with an undetectable portion of Doyle in it who is watching over Zechs<3

Just as long as the ZERO doesn't somehow corrupt Doyle. :o

Nah, and Doyle will not really do anything to ZERo either :3

*evil grin* Don't know what Doyle will tell Hakuba, though. "Day 03: Zechs sitll crazy."

dances gives you cookies

YAY! nom nom nom nom :3

evil grin Don't know what Doyle will tell Hakuba, though. "Day 03: Zechs sitll crazy."