[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

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[thricedeadwind]

Zechs' face crumpled, before his brain finally started working in higher gear, and he masked it. He sat up, no longer slumped against Tyki - but not pulling away from him, either. He brought his hands to his knees and grasped them, feeling the unnatural give of the false one under his hands, thinking. His breaths were even. His face was now calm.

Tyki had lied to him. Entirely honest his ass. This caused him to tremble, just slightly, unnoticeable from a distance. Very noticeable for one sitting flush against his side, like Tyki.

Tyki would - has been currently - in danger again. Killing people for one part of his pleasure, but not truly believing in the cause any longer. He knew the Noah was telling the truth - but merely being the Noah didn't change his convictions. Zechs knew he didn't want humanity to be destroyed, not ultimately.

So where did that leave the Earl? The Exorcists? The inevitable purge of humanity, or with Tyki's inevitable defeat?

... Why did he lie to Zechs? After they said they would stand together against any

[tyki_tock]

Tyki didn't reach for Zechs, though he wanted to with every fibre of his being. He wanted to hold him close, to make him understand that he loved him, and that was all that was important.

But he was afraid that Zechs would only pull even further away, so his hands stayed where they were, one holding his cigarette, the other in his lap.

"Yes, I do," he whispered. "Yet I also belong there. And...and if I did not go, then the Earl of Millennium would rob me of everything I care about. He would have attacked our wedding, my love. I didn't...want anything to ruin that. And then I didn't know how to tell you."

The words came in a rush, and he looked down at the dark hand sitting in his lap, his curly hair falling into his eyes. "I am so sorry, my love."

[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

[tyki_tock]

The anger, though expected, was still a blow to Tyki. A part of him whispered that Zechs expected too much of him, that he couldn't live up to it, and that this would spell the end of their relationship. But that couldn't be, it couldn't. Tyki had made a mistake, had been foolish, perhaps, but Zechs would forgive him.

"Yes...I promised," he said. "And I have no excuse, except for that given by the scorpion to the fox."

He looked up. "I am the man you married, my love. I'm sorry for lying to you - I should not have. I have regretted it every day, and I have been a coward. And if I led you astray, pretended to be someone I'm not, and that lured you to marry me, then... then I am sorry for that, too."

[thricedeadwind]

Zechs was still angry, but not too far gone to miss the fear of rejection within Tyki's voice. Yet this only incensed him for a different reason. He finally opened his eyes, raising his gaze to look at the Noah. His eyes were narrowed in a fierce glare, and he snorted heavily out of his nose. His tone didn't abide for excuses.

"You foolish idiot," Zechs growled, "whom else did I marry but you? At what other time did I not know about your nature, realize your dual thirst for human blood and joy in their living selves? The only thing you have pretended to be is honest - "

And it is then when Zechs blinked, the surprise dousing some of his anger, " - for that is the reason your Shadow manifested itself so." Blinking, feeling anger still but no longer glaring, he asked, "You have been lying to yourself as much as you have me, have you not?"