clockmaster | [RL with Zechs, Tyki and Rufus]

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Current Location: GaiaZechs's apartment (Gaia)
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[RL with Zechs, Tyki and Rufus]

Hakuba shivered, the weather wasn't any better now than when he left Gaia a few days ago. He nearly killed himself driving the iced road, he still needs more driving lessons. The detective couldn't use the flying broom, he gave it to that demon woman, Trish, anticipating that Elphaba would not mind. He imagined that the witch would symphatize with another woman who was being hunted like her, and, after all, the broom will fly back to it's original owner if something goes wrong. If not, he would just have to deal with another psychopathic friend.

The boy realy hoped that all was going well on the Ark...Tyki was really alive, and he remembered Zechs and the community. Such a relief. Hakuba was still worried and a bit scared, but damn him if he was going to left that kind of emotions to take control. Hakuba was in front of Zechs's door now, he had the keys of the apartmen, but he hesitated. Zechs was less than joyful when he prevented him to go to his lover's side for the second time. Knowing that trying to trying to delay the inevitable was useless, he opened the door carefully.

"Zechs?"

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Zechs was rarely so furious as he was now.

It hadn't helped that he was so concerned for Tyki once again. Or that he felt somehow that he failed his lover, by not seeking him out more vigorously. Or that he knew he was basically helpless in this situation, as there was literally nothing he could do against akuma. Though this all would help to run his temper high.

No, it was the insult from Hakuba which really was the telling blow. The detective, only perhaps eighteen himself, calling Zechs a child. Calling his plans pointless! Implying he was suicidal, of all things. And then saying he had lost control. Then the boy dared to taunt him. "If you have the need to fight, come here and make do it, Zechs. No, wait, you can't."

So when Hakuba opened the door, Zechs was well prepared to both figure out his plans and to face the boy detective in such a fight.

He was wearing the ZERO helmet and holding a practice fencing blade - dull and mostly harmless, of course, he wasn't that mad - looking all the world like Dorothy Catalonia three years ago though he didn't know it. ZERO was on, feeding him information ... It was almost a calming factor to his mind. Focused him. Crystallized his goals.

Holding the tip of the fake sword downwards, Zechs challenged Hakuba when he saw him in the doorway, "If you so doubt my strength, Detective, come upon me now." His head was lifted in defiance, but his eyes were hidden under the gray helmet. Those lips were twisted in an eerie grin.

"Welcome home to you too." Hakuba replied back as he close the door. It was a good thing that he left his fencing sword on the apartment the first time he was there.

He wondered if he'd had made the right decision showing up at Zech's place. On the other hand, life wouldn't be nearly as interesting as it was if he hadn't. Although he wasn't really sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Wasn't friendship supposed to be like? In the good and the bad times, just like marriage? Or beating the crap out of each other, in this case.

"Do you want to fight here, on the living room?"The blond asked him loftily.

Edited 2008-12-12 15:23 (UTC)

"I had no wish to fight you," Zechs said coldly, not moving from his spot in the center of the room. It was clear when examining the wires from the helmet that the man was pretty much tethered to the living room, which might have been a good thing for Hakuba. He continued in the same calm, icy tone, "You had insulted my person. You had challenged me when I asked for an apology. You taunted me."

His sword waved to the side, once, then he flicked the tip downwards again, testing the weight of the fake blade in his hand. Even now, with ZERO coursing through his brain, he didn't actually want to hurt Hakuba. Only teach the boy a little humility and respect. Show him how in control he was - and all of his strength. Perhaps he'd never get an apology from him again, but Hakuba surely would never dare insult him in such a way again.

"And then you came here, when I advised it to be unwise. So, should I tell you to meet me in the living room, Detective? Or will you once again do the opposite of whatever I would tell you?"

"You refused to listen Zechs. You're so blinded by the fear of losing the person you love that you don't care who you hurt in the process. Not even if you hurt yourself."

The younger man took his suit jacket off and draw his own sword. Hakuba turned his hawk-like gaze towards the man, frowning slightly. He didn't like the idea of Zechs connected to the ZERO, he knew what the program could do without a real enemy, he didn't wanted to imagine what it will do with a real opposite. Something was off with Zechs as well. He just couldn't put his finger on it, but he'd learned to trust in instincts. They rarely led him wrong.

It was not going to be a fair fight. He didn't care.

"Don't complain if we ruin the furniture."

Edited 2008-12-12 16:03 (UTC)

Perhaps Hakuba had remembered that Zechs was planning on stalling the ZERO tests earlier that day. There was good reason for that. There was also good reason for his initial fear of the system, and the fact he asked Tyki never to allow him to build it. The ZERO twisted the mind. If nothing else, it made the user dependent on it. Zechs was smart enough to realize that was beginning to happen to him, and wanted to stop.

But the detective was right. Zechs didn't care if he hurt himself in the process of helping Tyki. So here he was with the ZERO again, attempting to find answers. And, of course, ready to soundly defeat Hakuba.

There would be no contest. Such a fight was very unfair against the detective. Only a few could best Zechs without the ZERO, and with the system ...

"I will not hurt any others," Zechs said arrogantly. "To do so would dishonor him."

And then dismissed Hakuba's concern with an arrogant gesture, waiting for the boy to make his first move. "It's Rufus' furniture. I'll repay him if necessary."

“Keep that idea in mind.” Replied the blond, his tone as dry as he could make it. An idea already forming in the back of his mind.

Clarisse was trembling now, moving it's wings slightly. The second after he took her jacket off the tease moved from the pocketwatch of his suit to the pocket of his shirt.

Hakuba was never a person who liked to rush things, and he wasn't fool enough to attack without knowing the opponent. He liked to study the others movements before to attack to react the proper way, it was a pity that he never saw Zechs fencing before.

The only movement that Hakuba did, was to move his free hand over his heart for a moment, caressing Clarisse. He was going to need her and probably lose her, to do what he was planning. He hoped that the small contact trough the fabric was enough to make her understand.

He didn't move after that, It looked like he was making eye contact with Zechs, if that was possible with the helmet, but he was really keeping an eye on his surroundings. Detective instincts never completely shut down, after all. Hakuba was interested on the cables, and most important, the computer who was controlling the ZERO system. his face revealed nothing.

"Of course," Zechs said, smirking confidently. "I can disarm you within moments. However, perhaps I shall be kinder to your person."

The ZERO took in all information around him. It was as if he was seeing the room with his own eyes, but far better. The program saw Hakuba stall before battling the man, analyzed it, and plotted out probable reasons why. Zechs now knew the boy preferred to see his opponents in action before he fought them. The system monitored the way Hakuba was holding the sword, and his stance, and his nervous gesture of rubbing his shirt pocket.

Paths and possibilities spiraled out before him, and Zechs felt a surge of confidence. He could see what the ZERO showed him. It had difficulties focusing without an opponent before his person - but in a clear situation of battle, Zechs could understand the ZERO. This made him feel better about his failures previously. Until now, he'd been unable to glean any real information from the program.

"Defend yourself!" Zechs demanded, then started forward with his sword. Graceful and moving faster than would normally seem possible, the former soldier feinted twice before driving forwards, intending to strike the sword from Hakuba's hand.

Hakuba remained still, he simply watched Zechs as he moved faster than a normal human should, not moving an inch even when Zechs draw his sword.

As much as he learned form the ZERO system, the program would be informed Zechs about all the probabilities, all his moves...his moves. Hakuba couldn't sure at 100%, but he doubted that the ZERO had analyzed a tease movement before.

When Zechs was close enough, Clarisse got out from his pocket and moved to attack what she considered a danger to the boy. Hakuba reacted fast, using the tease’s distraction to move around Zechs, the blonde man forgotten for a moment as he centered all his attention on the computer.

He helped in his creation, it was his responsibility to help in his destruction.

The punch was so hard it broke his left hand, and Hakuba remembered why he hated fights as the excruciating pain burned his whole limb, and drained it of strength. The now broken computer fell on the ground with a loudly clank of metal, pieces flying all around.

Hakuba bit his lower lips to suppress a moaning sound.

“I warned you about the furniture.”

Edited 2008-12-13 05:29 (UTC)

The tease threw a few calculations off, and for a moment, Zechs hesitated. When Hakuba darted past him, Zechs turned around in confusion, ignoring the tease completely. He didn't want to strike against the boy's unarmed back. The ZERO said it was the best tactic for him, but he fought against the impulse, tightening his hand around the sword. He would not actually hurt his friend, even if he was pissed at him. Most of all, he would not strike against someone defenseless.

And then the ZERO ... died. Its mechanical song of possibilities and probability left Zechs' mind, and so suddenly bereft, he stumbled and crouched on the floor, clutching his head in pain. It was like waking a person from a nightmare. He was disoriented and confused, for a moment all he could do was rock in that crouched position.

That indefinable rage filled him again. His ZERO. How dare the boy! He needed the system, why didn't anyone understand that? The program made him better, faster, stronger. It would keep him from being helpless. His face twisted in hatred and anger, and he began to move up from his crouched position.

But then he noticed Hakuba clutching his hand. His anger chased away some of his normal civility. "What the fuck did you do to your person?"

Perhaps the ZERO system detected the doorway opening, but it all happened fast enough that neither man had a chance to react to the large black rectangle that suddenly appeared against the wall. Always before the doorway had been white, composed of hexagons, but this was an impenetrable black.

Different Ark, different doorway.

Tyki stepped through just in time to see Hakuba destroy his hand and a perfectly good computer.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

Tyki's voice was an exhausted rasp, but it was perfectly understandable. He stepped through the doorway and it disappeared, which was a good thing because he immediately leaned agaiant the nearest wall for support. His face was drawn with pain after walking all that way alone, but his eyes were bright and lucid.

He no longer had the scars on his forehead, but his skin was still dark, and his eyes golden. He was dressed in a black nightgown of Victorian design, all lace at the collar and cuffs, and falling in a shimmer of silk down to his feet.

They way Hakuba was clutching his hand - and the slight strain in his voice - Zechs resisted the urge to curse. He was so filled with high emotion right now, but mixed in with some of that anger was guilt. It was obvious the detective broke his hand. And it was .... Zechs saw it as his own fault.

That guilt only increased threefold when Tyki entered the room at last.

Immediately Zechs shoved off the helmet to see the man with his own eyes. If he was still connected to the ZERO, he'd almost think he was still hallucinating. Within his expression, clearly broadcast without a single facade, were all of those emotions. Concern. Relief. Love.

Guilt. Residual anger. And, of course, self-loathing. The rage of having ZERO destroyed still ran through him, making him tremble slightly from it. But despite his efforts, Hakuba had injured himself. And with all of his efforts - Tyki came back on his own. And witnessed it all.

Fighting to tame all of this down - being pulled so suddenly from the ZERO not helping the situation - Zechs tried to stand, slowly. In a low, weary voice, not yet able to run towards his lover - though that's exactly what he wanted to do - he said to Tyki, "Tyki. I ..."

Stood. Felt ashamed of himself, but still so angry. But reason was returning to him, a side-effect of that guilt. Almost soundlessly, he said, to both men in the room, "I am sorry."

The boy let go the sword that he was still holding and held his broken hand, leaning against the nearest wall himself, sittign on the floor. He blinked in confusion when he saw the black door, and looked back from Tyki to Zechs like if it was a tennis match.

Hakuba feel like a bit of an intruder when he noticed Zechs's fight with emotions at the view of his lover again, but for the sake of his broken hand, he had all the right to stay. It was hurting, and he didn't had the strength to stood up and move to another room.

"Tyki...she..she really did it..."He couldn't help himself, a growing laugh started on his throat, a cynical laugh, mixed with a weep. "Nice pijamas..." Hakuba smiled wryly at him and made a sobbing sound.

The door shrank and disappeared. Tyki was looking from Zechs to Hakuba and back, his own face a mixture of relief and love. "Would someone please like to explain to me what is going on?" he asked, with a little bit of irritation.

He wanted to go to Zechs, to hold him so tightly and never let go. He also wanted to go to Hakuba's side and make sure he was all right.

He couldn't do either because he was concentrating on just staying upright.

Tyki was there and he was having problems standing. Hakuba remained and was in enough pain he was almost sobbing. Zechs felt torn, and the expression was clear on his face. And that raging anger still beat within him. Darkly, something muttered, perhaps you SHOULD let the detective suffer. He destroyed what you needed.

Zechs had too much self-control to listen to that voice. Fighting the urge still to run towards Tyki, he began walking towards the man, past Hakuba, that last bit of iron control he could summon in every step. Trying to keep his voice calm, but pretty much failing, he said softly, "I'll ... I will explain. Later. Saguru must be seen to."

He walked past Tyki as well, into the master bathroom, retrieving the potions kept there. While Turks were supplied with both materia and potions, Zechs was quite frankly crap with magic. Especially healing magic. Inwardly, Zechs' emotions still rolled within him. He wanted to punch Hakuba across the face. He wanted to hold Tyki tight and ignore the rest of the world.

Hakuba was Tyki's friend as well. To ignore the boy would dishonor his lover.

Kneeling before Hakuba, he offered a potion. Quietly, he said, "... As much as I disagree with your actions, Saguru, for what it is worth ... I apologize."

One hand trembled slightly. He was so damned angry. The ZERO ...

Hakuba wanted to point out that he could take care of himself, even if it wasn't true, but Zechs was already gone.

Clarisse fluttered around nervously, feeling Tyki’s powers. She stopped for a moment in front of the Noah and then went to Hakuba’s side, landing over his knee. The boy looked at the butterfly affectively. "Good tease." He murmured, the butterfly moved her wings.

Hakuba moved his hand involuntary and suppressed another yelp. Akako was not going to be happy with him. When Zechs come back and offered him the potion, Hakuba raised an eyebrow, but he didn't wanted to be rude. It was obviously that Zechs was doing huge efforts to not to strangle him.

"Apology accepted." Hakuba replied in a soft voice. He took the potion with his safe hand, even if he was used to them thanks to Akako's he never liked to drink anything that he didn't know how was prepared. That was Kuroba and Nancy's fault.

"I understand if you can't see it like that." Hakuba's eyes narrowed for a moment and he looked at Zechs in the eye. "But it was for the best. That thing..." he gestured to the destroyed computer with a movement of his head. "It's an addictive venom."

With a bit of an efford, Hakuba managed to stood up, still holding his injured hand. He knew what Zechs needed, and Tyki's too.

"If you forgive me, I need some tea." He smiled at both men and disappeared on the kitchen, closing the door behind him.

Edited 2008-12-13 04:13 (UTC)

Tyki watched as Zechs got Hakuba a potion and the boy took it, then disappeared to make some tea. Tea, that would be nice.

He looked at Zechs, still waiting for an explanation for why he'd been dragged out of bed. Trish hadn't told him anything, and then he'd walked into his home for the first time in two months only to find his lover and his friend fighting.

He was way too tired to deal with this. "Talk to me," he said, looking at Zechs. "Please."

Absently, he nodded to Hakuba, his face dark and preoccupied. If the boy didn't drink the potion, he'd probably force-feed it to him. At least then he'd enjoy himself.

Zechs no longer hesitated. He immediately stood, crossed the room, and took Tyki in his arms. It wasn't just to embrace the man - though that was a good deal of the reason he did so. The Noah was obviously exhausted and was having troubles standing. He allowed his lover to rest the majority of his weight upon his own self, if he chose.

Eyes shut, face buried in Tyki's hair - but being gentle, so gentle - he said softly, "Chirst, Tyki. Just ... I tried so hard ... I'm so sorry I couldn't reach you."

He didn't know where to begin to explain their odd behavior when Tyki entered the room, and didn't know what Tyki would say should he do so. But right now - he really, really needed this. Especially if Tyki was to get angry with him later.

In close proximity, it was that much more obvious the weight Zechs had lost, and the pallor of his face, and the lines drawn across it. The living room was a mess of wires and now broken computer parts. Zechs smelled almost overwhelmingly of roses and ... Wait. Was that a cologne similar to the Noah's own?

Tyki had missed Zechs as much as Zechs had missed him. In fact, for him it had been even longer, though he'd been unconscious for a lot of it. When he'd realized how long it had been, in fact, that was when he had started plotting desperately to find a way to send a voice post to assure everyone he was all right.

His arms went around Zechs, noted the weight he had lost, smelled the scent of roses and understood their significance. Tyki had also lost weight and condition, but that had been because of enforced bed rest, not starvation. He was grateful for the support, though his heart was sinking. Why was Zechs apologizing to him, over and over?

"What did you do?" he asked softly. "Zechs, my love, I wanted to see you more than anything, but...what is the meaning of all of this? Why did Trish come for me? Why are you and Saguru fighting?"

For a minute or so, Zechs couldn't bring himself to answer his lover, and merely held him, cherishing the moment. Tyki felt so fragile to him. It was clear he was still recovering from his injury. A voice of reason within his mind wondered if Hakuba was right after all - if the Earl was making his lover stay in bed, not keep him captive. Emotions still swirled within him, made his throat tight.

But he didn't view himself to be a coward, and couldn't lie to Tyki. Even ... His hands tightened in the man's shirt. Even if his lover would be furious with him. Refuse to speak with him after this. Especially since his actions had been useless. There was nothing he had done to help Tyki at all.

That indefinable emotion in his voice, Zechs explained at last, "I did not know if you were alive or dead. Then, I was told you eventually lived and were sane, yet did not return, and ..." Zechs took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I ... I built it. It was the only tool I could conceive which could give me the power to assist your person."

He was going to say more, but paused again, feeling the anger at the loss of ZERO flare up inside of him again.

Trying to prepare tea with one hand proved to be more difficult than Hakuba expected. Finally he managed to do it out of stubbornness, and he sat on the kitchen’s table with the warm cup in front of him. He made enough tea for Tyki and Zechs, once they were done with their own problems.

Having Tyki with him will be good for Zechs’s sanity, Hakuba mused, but he wondered if the millennium Earl was already looking for him. It looked like Tyki was going to faint any moment, he was in need of more rest, that to start. All of them need it.

The potion was on the table next to the mug, Hakuba frowned at it as if to blame it for all the problems they had. He was discussing with himself about drinking it or not, because he didn’t liked the idea at all, but the pain of his hand was crushing him.

He waited.

Tyki would honestly have pulled away if he could have. He straightened a little, looking into Zechs' face and searching his expression. "That's what that helmet was?" he asked. "The ZERO? The thing that nearly destroyed your world?" He shook his head. "The thing you promised me you would not make?"

"Damnit, Zechs," he growled. "And what did it tell you? Did it tell you that I was in some kind of danger? That Hakuba was your enemy? Is that why I've been brought here to see this...this lunacy?"

Zechs looked away, unable to meet Tyki's expression. He wanted to withdraw as well, but he was kind of holding the Noah upright. But betraying that inner vulnerability, his hands tensed briefly on Tyki's nightshirt again, before he realized what he was doing, and undid his grip.

"It told me nothing!" Zechs admitted, for the first time, even to himself. Without a clear enemy or mission, and with all of the information from the forum, all he was able to get were nightmares. As much as he was drawn to the system besides. "I ... I knew something must be wrong, for you to return. Yet there - there was nothing I could have done! I couldn't merely sit and wait, helpless. But ... the ZERO could do nothing, as much as I tried, and then ..."

He shuddered. Perhaps given another day or so, and he would be back at the ZERO again, like a dog to a bone. Or if Tyki hadn't come back, he would likely be lost to the system again, trying to convince himself he could make it work. But there were so many conflicting emotions within his mind right now. Hatefully, he said, "I was going to perfect the system. Yet I was not going to let it destroy my person counter productively. I halted tests this morning. Yet ... when you ... I had heard you were captive ..."

Bitterly, he said, "The Detective has destroyed it, besides. Will that not please you?"

All of that anger within was visible now.

"Yes," Tyki said quietly. "It pleases me. Saguru did what I asked him to do, I sense." He sighed softly and reached up, threading his fingers through Zechs' hair. "But it does not please me that you are so distressed, my love."

"Please, help me to sit down. I...I'm in a bit of pain." He drew a breath. "Where did you hear that I was being held captive?" he added with obvious confusion in his voice.

Tensing, Zechs allowed Tyki to run those hands through his hair, some part of him wanting that contact more than anything. But he felt so conflicted right now. He was angry at Hakuba - and in a twisted way, angry at his lover as well, for being glad the ZERO system was destroyed. But he also felt tremendous guilt, and inadequacy. He wasn't able to do anything, and the one tool available to him was lost now. He was also weak. For ... Bitterly, Zechs said, "Oh, is such true reason why I have gained a new housemate?"

Only because Tyki asked the boy to. Of course.

Love and concern was still there, of course, warring with his more dark emotions. Without hesitation, he led Tyki to the sofa, moving spare parts and bits off of it. His arms were gentle as he helped his lover sit. His face was tense and harsh with all of those conflicting emotions, including his love for this man.

"You had said little within your message," Zechs said, his voice concerned more than anything else, despite his other feelings. "Yet you clearly said your Duke would not let you leave. I ... I feared the worst for you. It has been two weeks."

Tyki grunted as he sat down and leaned back, closing his eyes. His arms remained tightly around his lover. "I asked Saguru to keep an eye on you should the worst happen," he admitted, a little nervously. He knew that this wouldn't go over well with Zechs. "I knew that he was a friend to you as well, and I was concerned that you would withdraw from all of your supports."

His arms tightened slightly, and then his eyes opened. "Two...weeks?" he asked in confusion. "It's been closer to two months! And what message I--" Horror transformed his face for a moment. "I didn't mean to post that," he said. "Because I wasn't finished. Damnit! I had meant only to reassure you that I was all right. The Duke hadn't let me out of my bed, but...not because he was holding me captive. Yet I was still desperate to get word out to you, for I was certain you'd be worried."

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[RL with Zechs, Tyki and Rufus]

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