[RL with Zechs] [Backdated to Shadow Event]

[tyki_tock]

After taking leave of the others who'd come to help Zechs, Tyki took his husband back to their apartment, which wasn't far from the dungeon Zechs' shadow had created. He'd have taken them to their island, or their house in Switzerland, but frankly he didn't want to brave the dangers of the TV world when they were both so exhausted

Comments

[thricedeadwind]

"Since the wedding?" Zechs hissed, before he could stop himself. His eyes clenched shut tighter, and he shook his head. He brought one hand up at his face, masking it and trying to collect himself far better. At the time and often since, Zechs had indeed wondered why someone as supposedly powerful as the Earl hadn't noticed Tyki's absence; hadn't sent those to investigate. But now he knew why. And despite everything else, he felt betrayed.

Zechs didn't pull away, but the trembling didn't cease either. He was so tired, and yet he was growing increasingly furious. Conflicting against those, though, was almost a sort of empathy. He had only spoken to his own Shadows a few hours before. What would he have given to protect his loved ones if they had a mind of their own? What sorts of things would he sacrifice to protect Tyki? Short of nothing. But it didn't excuse ...

"You promised me," Zechs said, his tone less calm than he'd like, "we would stand together against anything. Yet you deliberately shut me out. And now you pretend you have no choice in your own future, as if you were forced to be there. When we had said we would define our own ways in the world."

It was stupid and irrational. Already, part of Zechs logically knew Tyki was doing the right thing now by coming clean. It also told him he probably had no choice, whether or not part of him still enjoyed being the Noah of Pleasure. But it didn't change that hurt, wounded voice inside of him, which demanded, why couldn't I be enough? Hating that feeling inside of him, it made him the angrier.