[RL with Zechs] [Crossplot]

[tyki_tock]

Tyki parked in front of the building and scanned the skyline. Fuck, there were Akuma here, too. he could see their irregular, bulbous shapes hanging here and there between the buildings.

As he stepped out of Hakuba's world-hopping car, one of the second-levels drifted towards him.

"Noah-sama...Noah-sama~ We kill for the Duke."Yes, yes, good for

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[thricedeadwind]

Zechs was still dressed in what was now considered to be his 'uniform' - the outfit of a Turk. He was talking furiously on the phone with Tseng, and snapped the phone closed with a scowl as Tyki walked into their apartment. His entire frame was tense, and his expression was mostly calm. This was the time for him to be a soldier. Even if he was powerless to fight the enemy which faced them.

"I had noticed," Zechs replied, his voice calm and with a hint of steel. Not anger, but command. Retrieving a bracer with ShinRa-issued materia and snapping it onto his arm, beneath his jacket, he said, "Which means I cannot leave."

He wasn't a fool. This would surely spark a negative reaction.

Yet it was time for Tyki to face certain realities, Zechs felt.

[tyki_tock]

Tyki should have realized this would be Zechs' reaction before, he really should have. He stared at his lover for a moment, marshalling his forces for what he now realized was going to be a difficult battle of wills.

"No," he said, his gold eyes narrowing. "Don't be a fool, love. We can get Rufus if you want, but we must go. There is absolutely nothing you can do for this city, except die in it, and I will not allow that."

[thricedeadwind]

Rufus' Christmas present to him - the semiautomatic rifle - was inside of a locked cabinet in the hallway. Zechs was opening it now, and loading in the rounds. In truth, he had no intention of fighting the akuma, as much as he wanted to do so. But one couldn't really tell that by looking at his face, perhaps not even Tyki. His expression was eerily calm. There was a reason for that; he had hoped he could impart the truth of this situation to his lover. Becoming ready to face akuma futily was the best way to do so.

"And where would our selves go?" Zechs asked. His tone remained unchanged. Inwardly, his heart ached, and some of that was probably visible to his lover. But these things had to be said. "Why stop at Rufus? It is impractical to save all who deserve our protection. It is also impractical to run whenever we are faced by these akuma, until there is naught left within the worlds but us."

Zechs turned now to look at Tyki. His expression was pained, try as he might to school his face into the appropriate visage.

[tyki_tock]

Tyki's expression was hard. That gun was useless. Zechs should know it was useless. So why was he even bothering with it.

"We'll go to Switzerland," Tyki said stubbornly. "There are Akuma on that world, too, but the house should be safe enough. I will instruct any that come near to leave us alone and to pass the message on. But I can only protect one place effectively."

He shook his head. "I know you want to protect everyone, but I don't know what you want from me, love. I will protect those who are dear to me, but I can't be everywhere."

[thricedeadwind]

"There will be akuma everywhere," Zechs answered coolly, slinging the rifle onto his back, safety latched on. His next words were somewhat pointed. "Merely telling them to ignore our selves is not enough. Especially once your Duke begins to wonder who would divert his soldiers from such a simple and meager location."

His eyes narrowed. But his words now were rather honest, despite all of his icy words before. Zechs still attempted to remain calm, if only so he could keep his composure. "I want only your own self, my love. But this is not enough for you, or for our associates. Your war is no longer of your world. It will destroy them all, and for little reason. Neither of us want this."

Very low now, but no less firm, Zechs said something which he had held himself back from saying since the very beginning of their relationship. "Fight against the akuma, Tyki. You have the ability to destroy them."