aerialassault | 006 [Action/Audio]

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006 [Action/Audio]

[Action: Locked to Souji Okita]

[Consciousness crept upon him slowly, like a migraine. It slipped in through the window panels with the sun and stung his eyes, but for once Cliff did not want to awaken. He instead rolled over with a groan, burying his face under his arms and promising himself another ten minutes.

But a nagging sensation in the back of his mind kept sleep at bay. He knew in his gut that it was something important, something that was blue and white...

...Fayt.

His eyes snapped open as he crashed into the memories. The dogs and the cultists were all a blur, but the spear stood out in his mind. It was only when he sat up that he registered the not-entirely familiar surroundings and the warm body lying by his side.]

[Action: Locked to Fayt Leingod]

[He messed up, and there was no way to fix and forget about the mess that he had left for everyone to deal with in the battlefield that was once Zompania. It was afternoon by the time he returned to his apartment in the ground building, wearing a fresh set of denim jeans and a comfortable tee-- both of which fit because of some miracle. The dark shades he wore were new, as was he bag he carried by his side that contained the clothes he borrowed off of Souji and yet another set of loose white pants to add to his small collection.

Entering as quietly as he could manage, Cliff did a once-over of the apartment to make sure that things were still mostly as he left it. The Vac whirred and hummed patiently as it made a pass over the carpet, and Cliff found himself smiling.

At least that was still functioning.

After throwing his belongings into his room, he made for Fayt's. A quiet knock was the only warning he gave before he nudged the door open...]

[Audio: Open to All]

Yo. It's Cliff.

[It was dark by the time he reached for his journal, but he didn't care. There were plenty of other people that he wanted to see, but there was no way he could go visit them all in one day.

This was the next best thing.]

Can I get a headcount of who all's here and a tally on the damage? And, is the bar open?

[He'll be heading there later if he get's confirmation. For once, he plans to drink unil the damage doesn't look so bad.]

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That's just all the more reason to keep using that word.

[The joke was short-lived when he saw Souji still when the topic turned to the absent Harada. It was as if a wall went down, and once more Souji closed off a part of himself to the rest of the world. No one could follow him once he went there, Cliff knew-- all he could do was be supportive and patient.

Besides, he realized bitterly, this time it was partly his fault.]

Honestly, I don't know much about what you did back in your world. One day I'd like to hear more...whenever you're ready to.

[Cliff followed, and relaxed back against the counter to watch Souji cook without being in the way.]

For now, could ya do 'em scrambled? With some salt and pepper?

There isn't much to say really.

[He did at Cliff asked, putting a dash of salt and pepper into the bowl as he mixed with a pair of long wooden chopsticks.]

We are the Shogun's personal police force and are charged with protecting the capital and enforcing his laws. My country is on the brink of civil war since the foreigners came, between those who wish to reinstate the emperor and dissolve the old ways and those who wish to uphold the government and protect them. It's more complicated than that, I suppose, but it boils down to that in a way.

[He finished whisking the eggs and turned on the stove, waiting for the pan to heat.]

We have different ideas of how to defeat the foreigners who are trying to flood onto our shores and change our way of life. The Joi think that by reinstating the emperor, they can force them out with a war. The Shogunate thinks that we can only defeat them by first opening our doors to learn from what they have so we can later turn it on them.

[Souji shrugged slightly and slid the egg batter into the pan, listening to it sizzle. Everything he said was detached from his reality now. This was the textbook answer, the things anyone could find from what Souji had left in the library. Books about the Shinsengumi, the people, and the outcome, however, he'd carefully picked out and removed, destroyed or obfuscated enough that no one could read them.]

It's a difficult time for my country, but our lives are relatively dull. We patrol for the Joi rebels and ensure that no harm comes to the Shogun, his retinue or the Emperor while we are in Kyoto.

[Cliff leaned back and closed his eyes, carefully paying attention to the details without having to worry about the visual filter for the moment. Although the story, simple as it was, sounded almost distant and detached from what must have been the reality, Cliff didn't persue it. All he did was focus on the information offered, plain and simple...

He could smell the eggs start to sizzle in the pan when Souji took his pause.]

That still sounds rough, even if the day-to-day was boring. Having to deal with people coming in like that is always a pain.

...actually, it sounds sort of like what people in my grandfather's generation had to deal with. There's never an easy, clean way to deal with situations like that.

Eventually, we will have to go to war. [He swirled the chopsticks through the cooking egg, breaking up bubbles.]

Although yes, it's likely what your grandfather went through. Does that make me as old as him then?

[Cliff chuckled at the little joke.]

I hope not. That'd be a little weird, don't you think?

[Opening his eyes once more, he crossed the few steps that separated the two of them and snuck up behind Souji, pulling him into a careful hug.]

But, really. I don't care how old you are. Just don't vanish on me this time.

But I'm getting used to being--

[His joke cut off as Cliff hugged him from behind. The simple gesture made him stiffen instinctively, not used to having anyone at his back, let alone being on the receiving end of affection. He lowered his eyes, relaxing slightly and managed to force a smile onto his face even if Cliff couldn't see it.]

...I wasn't the one who vanished.

[His laugh was more bitter this time.]

Yeah, you're right. I guess I really did vanish on you this time.

[He rested his chin atop Souji's head, just taking comfort in the scents of Souji's cooking and the proximity that they shared.]

I'll be more careful next time...I just pulled a papa bear on Fayt. I couldn't help myself.

I don't blame you for it, or anyone really. [Other than the cultists, and Souji had made them pay dearly for taking both Fayt and Cliff from him. Even after he'd discovered Fayt alive, he hadn't been able to rein himself in from trying to destroy the enemy so thoroughly, he almost killed himself to do it.

Cliff didn't need to know that though, and Souji pushed himself to relax, swirling the chopsticks through the egg as it began to cook thoroughly.]

I'm sure if I had been there, I would have done the same thing.

But I've been here for too long to vanish now, so you don't need to worry about it.

[It was a good thing that Cliff didn't have that detail-- he would have been more concerned about everything that had happened in the aftermath than he already was.

The tightness in Souji's shoulders was obvious in their closeness-- Cliff idly lifted a hand to try to smooth the muscles out while he watched the egg from his vantage point.

All he wanted, truly, was the closeness.]

Hah. Good. I don't wanna have to go chasing you down again. You're a tricky guy to find when you wanna be.

It comes from having people want to kill me.

[He finished off the egg and turned off the heat, transferring the eggs to a plate. The rice was warmed by now, so he opened the automatic rice cooker (and amazing invention if there ever was one) and scooped out two paddles of rice into a bowl. He set both of them down on the counter and turned his head slightly to look up at Cliff.]

I promise not to go anywhere if you do.

[Heedless of the eggs and rice, Cliff stared down at Souji with confusion plain in his eyes.]

...who says I'm looking to kill you, Souji? [He understood the first part easily-- having experienced murder attempts himself, he knew how useful the art of vanishing was...if it could be pulled off. But, the second part was simply baffling.]

You've got it backward. I don't wanna let you go.

[Souji laughed a little, shaking his head.]

I meant it was a skill I learned back home. It's simply proven useful here, time to time.

[He twisted slightly in Cliff's arms, turning around so he was facing him and patted the Klausian on the chest.]

Honestly, if I thought you were ever going to try to kill me, I'd never have let you this close.

[Relaxing, Cliff found a smile spreading on his lips despite himself.]

Then I'm honored. There can't be that many people who are allowed to get this close to the handsome and dashing Okita Souji.

[It was a small joke, but one that felt necessary at that point. There was so much that needed to be said...

But he had Souji, hot food, and his focus was a little better now. This was more than he had hoped for.]

[That earned an honest laugh from him and he turned away, getting a plate out for pickled vegetables.]

I've been called girly before, but never handsome. That's new.

Well. You said before that you wanted to be handsome instead of pretty.

[Headscratch. He watched Souji gather more materials, testing out his focus once more while he pondered all of Souji's layers.]

Handsome...pretty. Like I said before, hot is hot.

[Souji shook his head and finished preparing the meal.]

You remember the strangest things.

[Turning his head, he looked up at Cliff, trying not to be too obvious as he watched the way Cliff's eyes focused.]

You should eat, then go see Fayt-kun. He needs you.

[However much Souji tried to hide it, Cliff knew him well enough by now to notice the not-entirely subtle concern in both his actions and tone. He huffed in bitter amusement.]

...I know, and I will. He's the first guy I plan to see.

[Fayt was the most important person too. Although it was a long time ago now, Cliff still clearly remembered the battle in the Kirlsa Training Facility. It was a trap...Quark lost several good members that day...

And Fayt lost his father.

He shook his head, shoving away the memories of all of the people who had died for Fayt's safety and trying to forget about how he now counted among that number.

Instead of dwelling on it, he offered Souji a tired smile.]

Thanks Souji. For everything.

[There were things he didn't know, but it wasn't his place to know and for once, he was fine with that. He nodded and then placed all the dishes on a tray, picking it up to hand to Cliff.]

I haven't done anything but make you eggs, and admittedly, possibly not very well. It isn't often I cook them this way.

[Cliff huffed in a soft chuckle in amusement at Souji's humbleness, and gladly took the tray in his hands.]

You're here, and that's worth the world.

[No, you're here and that means the world to everyone.

Souji only smiled, rather than say what was on his mind, and nodded toward the kitchen island where a two tall stools sat lined up. When the others had left, he'd stopped using tables as much and until recently, he hadn't had people coming over to eat.]

I won't be going anywhere, so eat before you fall over and crush me.

Shall I call Fayt and let him know?

[Cliff wouldn't have cared if they sat on the floor. Just the notion of having hot food with someone he cared about and being alive was enough for him at the moment. Visual problems aside, he couldn't think of too many feelings that were better.

The only thing that would top this would be seeing Fayt.]

Nah, [he said, carefully pulling out one of the stools,] I think I wanna surprise him. It might work better that way, actually.

...He'll have less time to worry over it, not that he isn't already. Man, I hope that guy's taking care of himself.

[Normally, he would have been able to report on Fayt's well-being. He'd have made sure the boy was taking care of himself. He'd have brought him meals just in case and have gone to see him and keep him company.

Instead, Souji had heard the messages Fayt had left him over the network and only penned meaningless responses to assuage Fayt's fear. He'd ignored him when he tried to come over, refusing to even go to the door. It'd just been too difficult to get out of that place in his head where he saw the sword fall, the flash of light, and him too far away to do anything.

Souji's smile wavered slightly and then he nodded, forcing it back to its former brightness.]

He has been. It's been difficult for him, but seeing you will make it better. He's been blaming himself since that day, no matter what we say or do.

...

[He suspected that there were pieces that were being left unsaid, but that could have been his own unease clouding his judgement. While he knew Souji's habits, he also knew Fayt's. If things had gone the way Cliff thought they did...then, frankly, he was glad that there weren't more casualties that he knew of.

Yet.

Who could say for sure what all had transpired?]

I don't doubt it. That guy...he's got a big heart. A little too big sometimes, but he was raised in a quiet part of the world. Besides, it suits him.

[He took a bite of the eggs and rice, just glad for the nourishment it provided.]

It does.

[And it was better to have a big heart and be hurt sometimes, than to be what Souji was. Fayt could fight without losing himself, he was strong.

He smiled, resting his elbows on the countertop, leaning forward as he watched Cliff eat.]

He might have put more spices in there though. I might have some fish I can cook, if the eggs aren't enough.

[But Fayt probably did risk himself, Cliff knew. If his emotions ran high and he fell beneath the weight of them, there was no way that Cliff could guarantee anyone's safety. Souji's words while he ate his food were reassuring enough for him. After all, if Souji had seen Fayt....then the worst hadn't happened.

Cliff offered a tired smile in return. There was no point in hiding from Souji.]

Nah, this is perfect. I've a hunch that a few others are gonna try to feed me too, if they've figured things out already. Sheesh...I wonder how many people know.

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