*27; video
[Trees fly by in a blur, only stopping for a short second before blurring again. Twigs snap and leaves rustle among with the insistent clomp of hooves and low grunts. Quick and lighter footfalls could be heard between everything else, keeping close pace to the other set. Then suddenly a clank, a sword being drawn, and the sound of that heavy sword
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Souh. How's it going, Angeal? Looks like you've been keeping busy. And you avoided killing any trees this time, too!
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[There's a soft, upward tilt of his lips in response to the laugh. It almost has a calming effect. Or it would, if there wasn't something else on his mind.]
Oh yeah? That's good. That's really...good. Kinda looks like fun.
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[It's almost like he's playing dumb, ignoring the faults in Zack's speech, the hesitation that wanted to lead to something else.]
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So is leading a sixteen year old to slaughter half a race. But he bites his tongue on that one. He doesn't want to argue with him--not on that subject, at least. Especially not when he's relieved to have him ripped away. Again.]
Yeah. I kinda figured. But I meant you looked like you were having fun.
Oh, Zack knows he is. And it earns him the slightest narrowing of his eyes.] Look, I--
I really think we need to talk.
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He knew it would come down to this but he was somehow hoping he could have avoided it.
Then again, it was Zack. There wasn't much that could be dodged with him. His head lowered just a tad.]
About what, Zack? I don't think there's much to talk about.
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Avoidance of the subject wouldn't have worked for very long. Zack was tirelessly persistent when he wanted something. As Angeal well knew.
Then again, he wasn't out to embarrass him. But ignoring that things had shifted wasn't going to do either of them any favors.]
D'you really have to ask that? You know what I mean. ...I can't believe you just said that. [Cue the jaw drop.] There is. There completely is, and we are gonna talk about it. Like it or not.
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Then start talking.
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[That look is nearly a slap in the face. Zack suddenly finds himself wondering if he is pressuring Angeal into a subject he clearly doesn't want to bring up. He doesn't attempt to get him to meet his eyes. Not for the moment.
It feels strange, this role reversal.]
Fine. You can't just keep pretending it never happened, Angeal.
Besides, you liked it. ...Didn't you?
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[He stopped mid sentence, not sure how to respond. Of course he liked it, it was nice. Very nice actually, but. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. The look on his face would have told anyone else 'no' but, if Zack knew any better, it was really a look of guilty pleasure.
Angeal was more than bewildered on the whole subject, some more than the other. And it had been well over a few minutes before he looked up into the screen, but by then it had been far too long for Zack.]
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Then what are you saying?
[Of course, he didn't get a direct answer. Not that he was really expecting one, given the circumstances. But that did nothing to still the impatient drumming of his fingertips against his arm. Any other time, he would've caught himself at the gesture. But he was so intent on what the other man had to say for himself that it went unnoticed for the moment.
The longer it took for Angeal to respond, however, those fingers slowed, a sense of unease and nerves washing over him. By the time he finally glanced up again, it was clear that he was edge.]
I knew it. [And then an irritated noise.] I don't see what the big deal is.
That's supposed to be a good thing, you know.
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Of course I enjoyed it. I wouldn't have kept it up if I didn't. But I don't expect you to understand why I'm thinking the way I am. ... You were... very good, Zack, and [He laughed, rubbing his eyes.] I'm having trouble coming to terms with a few things.
[Again, his sight is anywhere but on the screen and at Zack. If he looked at the boy he was much more likely to blurt things out from his heart than try to rationalize them though his head and out his mouth.]
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[The words, when he breaks in, are gentle and pitched low. It's clear that Angeal's having a harder time coming to grips with things than he'd thought, and so Zack can't help but take pity on him.]
Angeal, look. I get it. You don't have to say anything. If...if you need to take your time and thi--
[Well, that was unexpected. The praise, that is. And he draws up short accordingly, for the second time in his life actually speechless. Which, in Angeal's case, could be considered a blessing.]
But before you say anything, I just... I love you. Like really, actually. In 'that way.' S-so...
[It's his turn to glance away for a moment, taking a calming, if somewhat shaky, breath.] I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wa...[Cue a hastily cleared throat and a second attempt.] I want you. [All in a rush, but the truth is out. And suddenly Angeal isn't the only one able to hold his gaze.]
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