Chapter Text
The last thing York wanted to do was to go back. Back to that place. Back to that town. Anywhere near that region. He had enough nightmares to last him a lifetime.
The creatures, the battles, the trauma, the truth of his own government – could anyone blame him?
But Miko, Troy, and Anesha wanted to go. They wanted him to take them. To see for themselves if his story was true. It was not that they did not believe him. Not entirely. For Miko and Troy it was a little harder to accept that it could be true. And a small part of York did not want to believe it either.
He wanted it all to be a dream. He wanted it to have been a delusional little subworld, cut off from the real world.
But the town truly did exist. The maps they found were familiar to him. He recognised the layout, how there were two gas stations, a general store, a police station, a lone doctor’s surgery, a museum on the outskirts of town. Most importantly, it showed the abandoned and disused Chiko Mines.
So, despite his reluctance, despite his trepidation, York agreed to a road trip of sorts. Allowing his friends to talk him into inspecting the region from a distance. From a safe distance.
He thought it to be pointless, however. He was unsure how much time had passed, but he was sure the military was still roaming about the place. Hell, upon searching about the region on the internet, rumours abound that the town had suffered from a terrible methane gas leak that killed practically the entire population, and the military had been sent in to find the source. So, the entire region has been off limits for a month or so.
There were even stories about the “disused” Chiko mines exploding under mysterious circumstances. Of course, the leaking methane gas was to blame. After all, the mines had a past of gas leaks. That was the reason it was shut down, after all.
It…was amazing how convincing the story sounded to the uneducated. York himself would have dismissed the whole thing outright as a tragic series of events if he had not experienced it for himself.
While going back to that town, with its abandoned streets and eerie boarded up buildings was the last thing York wanted to do, a more curious part of him actually did want to return. To pass through the places where the barrier once guarded. To walk through the streets with more people in them. To find the house that acted as his and his companions’ safe haven.
And to find that abandoned shrine to pay his respects to the Shinto Priests that passed several barriers, seemingly time and space itself, to stop a dangerous threat from consuming their world.
York could not help but grimace when a military truck rolled past. He sat outside at a street side cafe with his companions, not at the town they wanted to visit. But one at the base of the mountains leading to the region. The closest town they could venture to without the military and ultimately the government breathing down their necks.
Miko looked at him worryingly. “Are you all right, York?” She asked, quietly.
“Yeah, fine.” That was a bit of a lie. He kept waiting for one of those military bastards to suddenly turn to him, to pull him into a headlock and arrest him. Or at least take his fingerprints. He made sure not to leave any indication of his identity behind, but there was little time for him to scrub the place clean of his fingerprints.
He might not have much choice but to wear gloves when going out from now on.
“I heard that military may have finally found the gas leaks.”
“I hope so. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since this whole ordeal.”
“Me either. And that huge explosion five nights ago. My knees are still shaking!”
York listened to local gossip with mild interest. With the defeat of the Hateful One, along with the Onis and the destruction of the mine there was little else that the military could do in the region other than clean up their mess and scamper out with their tails between their legs.
The rest would be up to the government and any media organisation they had working for them to gaslight the public into believing that a tragic but wholly natural accident had occurred. And anyone stating otherwise was a crazed conspiracy nut.
“York, you don’t look at all comfortable,” Troy suddenly pointed out.
“Well, no shit,” York mumbled as another military truck, this one a cargo truck transporting something under thick black tarp ambled past the tight, crowded streets. “These bastards made my life hell for two weeks. I don’t trust them as far as I could…”
He trailed off when a corner of the black tarp furled back due to the wind, revealing a familiar dark green vehicle beneath. He only caught a glimpse of it as the truck rolled past, disappearing around a corner but he recognised the vehicle immediately.
It was the jeep. Their jeep. The one that faithfully got them around the damn region for two weeks without missing a beat.
“What’s wrong?” Troy asked, prompted by York pivoting in his seat in his attempt to follow the truck with his eyes.
“Did you see that?”
“What?”
“The jeep on the back of that military truck.” York turned back around to face everyone and rested his elbows on the table so that he could lean forward, keeping his voice low. “That was it. That was the jeep we used.”
A furrow appeared in Troy’s brow as he realised the implications. “Why would the military be interested in it?”
“Because we drove it to the abandoned mines, where the emergency exit to the laboratory is.”
They were definitely going to dust the thing for fingerprints. Lyner, Lazarus, and Zelos did not have to worry about their prints being entered into a government database, but for York he had to be incredibly careful about future endeavours. Of course, he had no plans to commit any federal crimes, but you never know what kind of bullshit the bastards might pull.
York found his mind quickly drifting to his three former companions. He wondered where they were and what happened to them. He…worried for Lyner, especially, he had to admit. The guy was not in the best of shape the last time he saw him.
York had returned to the World of Souls with Lazarus. After the defeat of the Hateful One, by Lyner’s hand alone, a strange rip in reality opened up, allowing for him and Lazarus to return. Zelos had ordered them to leave first, practically pushing the both of them through. He obviously was not going anywhere without Lyner. Lyner, who laid barely moving, perhaps on the verge of death, several yards away.
Heh, it was strange watching an asshole like Zelos turn into a devoted puppy whenever he was dealing with Lyner. But…he had to commend him for staying loyal to the guy.
He…wished he could have at least seen the two after everything. There were still so many things he wanted to talk with Lyner about. Lazarus felt the same. But they did not even get the chance to say goodbye, there was just too much chaos during and after that battle.
Neither Lyner nor Zelos returned to the World of Souls. They were sent back to their own world. By the Shinto Priests themselves. Lyner was in no condition to fight against the Black Baku, nor would he be able to withstand so many worrying emotions directed his way.
That was what the Shinto Priests said, anyway.
Yeah, the guys had actually revealed themselves in the World of Souls. Sent by Lyner himself to deliver a message to Lazarus. And to York, too. He was unsure of what to think of the idea of possibly having a group of Shinto Priests watching over him. But it was just like Lyner to request something like that.
He…wondered if Lazarus made it to the Fantasy World.
“It’s not gas leaks. The government is lying to you.”
“Ooooookay, mister, I think you may have had too much to drink.”
“Wait, isn’t delusions part of the symptoms of the gas leaks? Maybe we should call a doctor?”
“A doctor won’t help with this. Blowing up the mines won’t help.”
York sat up straight in his seat at the gaggle of voices several feet away.
Wait, that voice…it could not be him. There was no way he could have survived all that time by himself!
York pivoted in his seat once more as he desperately searched for the source of that voice. The one that sounded so much like the one from the recordings. Like the man who had fled from the military, from the laboratory with important documents, unconcerned about his own life in a desperate attempt to warn others.
If he was alive, York at least wanted to see him.
After a moment his gaze finally fell upon a gaunt, tired looking man as he sat on a bench under a tree. His skin was pale and his eyes dark from many nights of sleeplessness. He looked to be in his forties, but he could be younger. It was hard to tell due to how utterly exhausted he appeared to be.
He looked as though he had been put through the ringer. In a way, he looked similar to how Lyner looked after his first encounter with an Original Oni, before they realised how sick he truly was.
That was him. That had to be the defector.
York turned back around and looked over at Miko. “Do you have a notepad? I need some paper.”
Miko looked confused. “But why?”
“Just give me some. I need to write a note.”
Although still utterly confused, she obliged in his request and rummaged around in her handbag for a moment before she pulled out a small spiral notebook and pen. She handed them straight to him and York immediately flipped over to a blank page, slightly frantic as he did not want the guy to wander off.
York had to pause as he pondered how to write his note. Lyner had left the guy a note in his bunker when they ransacked it for information about Empaths and the Original Mother. He was unsure what was in the note exactly, but what he did know was that Lyner did not leave any identifying information. No names, no locations. Just enough to let him know that he was not alone.
So, York had to do the same. He knew he had to be careful. He could not reveal any identifying information, nothing about him or any important location he did not want anyone else to know about. But he wanted the guy to know, just like Lyner did back then, that everything he had done, the information he had gathered had been valuable to them.
‘I can’t tell you my name or what I have endured, but I know who you are and what you’re going through. I just want you to know that the Original Mother has been destroyed and with it all the Onis that was created through it. The secret military laboratory has also been destroyed, self-destructed after the battle against the Original Mother. We couldn’t have done it if you hadn’t gathered all that information for us to find. It was very useful. We appreciate everything you did, even though you put your own life on the line. Everything you did was not in vain. It’s over now. Stand down, soldier.
Regards, a fellow survivor.’
Ugh, that sounded kinda informal and cheesy, but York really could not say any more than that. The guy, whose name he still did not know, was sure to understand everything.
It had to do.
York ripped the page from the notebook and stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Troy asked.
“I’ll explain when I get back.”
Before anyone else could question him further, York folded the note in half and turned on his heel. Thankfully, the guy had remained in place, sat solemnly on that bench, in the shade of that tree. York felt pity for the guy. He likely believed that the Onis were still a threat, even with the laboratory destroyed. Hopefully the note would give him some closure. If not reassurance.
Maybe it could give the guy the incentive to take off and hide somewhere else, far away from the military. The bastards had to be looking for him.
“Hey,” York greeted as he reached the man.
The guy just raised his head wearily. “What? Here to mock the conspiracy theorist, too?”
“Nah, I just wanted to give you this.” York offered him the note, which was regarded with a wary stare.
For a moment York wondered if he had to throw the note at him, but with a sigh, the guy took it, not uttering a word. He did not immediately read it, but he also did not toss it aside like trash.
York offered him a smile. “Appreciated all your work.”
The man furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes at him, obviously confused. York thought it was best not to say anything else, though there was much he wanted to ask him, especially in regards to how he managed to survive on his own for so long. Yet, he knew he couldn’t. Not with the military so close.
So, he turned on his heel and walked away, back to where his friends waited for him at the cafe.
After a few more snacks, they should probably get back on the road. York did not fancy hanging around a military infested town for very much longer.
When he returned, he received several stern looks, all telling him that he had some explaining to do. With an annoyed sigh, York spent a moment inspecting his surroundings to ensure that no one could eavesdrop before he rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward, prompting his friends to do the same.
“I don’t know how, but that guy is that defector I told you about.”
His companions’ eyes widened in surprise, and they discreetly turn their gazes over York's shoulder toward the man.
“Are you sure?” Troy asked.
“We’re about to find out. Is he reading the note?”
Troy turned to look again. “…Yeah, he just unfolded it now.”
York could not help himself. He pivoted in his seat also and watched from a distance as the man ran his gaze over the note. At first his expression was neutral, if weary. But he suddenly stiffened, his slouched posture straightening as certain keywords began to register in his head. Information that only someone within the exclusion zone could possibly have known about.
He unexpectedly slouched forward, all the tension leaving his body as he laid the note in both of his hands and dropped his head down. His shoulders shook as he pressed his hands together in prayer, the note held tightly, as if it was the most precious treasure.
It was clear that the guy was crying.
“What did you tell him?” Miko asked quietly.
York kept his gaze on the guy, watching as he now clutched the note to his chest and wept openly. “Just what he needed to know.”
… … … … …
The peaceful sound of ocean waves gently lapping at the shore, accompanied by the chorus of seabirds, filtered through to Lyner’s hearing as he awoke from a deep sleep. Soon, he was able to draw in the scent of that undeniable tang of sea salt air. Yet, there was another scent. One far more intoxicating and heady.
As was the warmth that was drawn close to his body, melding so effortlessly against him, holding him so close without restricting him in anyway.
Lyner’s eyes fluttered open. Before him white curtains waved softly from the open windows, dancing on the comforting morning breeze as an expanse of an endless blue sky and sapphire sea unveiled beyond.
A sight he viewed from where he laid, head resting upon Zelos’ chest, his arm draped lazily across his torse. In turn, Zelos had his arm, cushioned by a pillow, curled around his back and waist to ensure his comfort. Sheets slightly ruffled, limbs unashamedly entangled, bodies close but comfortable.
Lyner sighed, stretching languidly, before he nuzzled his cheek into Zelos’ chest. Zelos murmured something in his sleep in return and curled his arm tighter around Lyner’s shoulders, drawing him even closer. Such a response was an indicator that he was soon to awaken, too.
There was a whole new sense of peace with knowing that there were no responsibilities, no commitments that needed to be attended to that day. Or the next. Nowhere they needed to be. Nothing they needed to do.
It was just them. Just the two of them.
Lyner was still recovering. The final battle against the Hateful One was not an easy one. It had left him drained – physically, mentally, and spiritually. But his empathic abilities remained. As did his stubbornness.
As soon as Lyner was able to walk again, he asked Zelos if they could begin their fresh start. He needed it. He needed him to just…take him away. Away for a while. Away from the bustle of cities and towns. Away from the flurry of emotions. He did not need any more healing, just time to regain his strength.
And he could do that with Zelos.
Visiting places he had never been before, staying at out of the way inns – Lyner had not realised how much he needed that. And it was made all the better with Zelos by his side.
Zelos finally began to stir, pulling himself from his slumber. Lyner lifted his head from his chest just in time to watch as he crinkled his nose before his eyes fluttered open. He ignored everything else around him to roll his head in Lyner’s direction, his gaze immediately settling upon him.
As a way to greet him good morning, Lyner mustered up the strength to push himself up and to lean over Zelos, to kiss him softly on the lips. It was meant to be a gentle, but chaste display of affection. But the hand against the back of his head and Zelos own incessant lips deepened the kiss, and who was he to object?
The next thing Lyner knew his back was pressed against the mattress and Zelos was above him, his warm and strong body against his, and his lips, incessant but sweet, never leaving his. He uttered a contented sigh as he willingly sunk against the bed, against the soft tangled sheets. One hand rested against Zelos’ back, his fingertips idly trailing across the taut muscles, and his other hand held the side of Zelos’ face, his fingers threading through his hair.
Lyner always lost track of time whenever he was in such deep and meaningful embraces with Zelos. The world around them became lost, forgotten. Only thing that mattered was the sensation that was Zelos. His touch, his warmth, his breath, his scent, his emotions – how they all centred on him.
He had no idea how much time had passed; be it five minutes to an hour. Either way, he uttered a soft moan of disappointment and loss when Zelos pulled his lips away from his. He stayed where he was, however, with one arm cushioned with a pillow beneath Lyner’s neck and shoulders to cradle him against his chest as he rested the vast majority of his own weight on his elbows, planted on either side of Lyner’s body as to not to put any unnecessary pressure on Lyner’s recovering body.
“We should head downstairs for breakfast.”
“You say that, but you’re not giving me much incentive to get up.”
Zelos could not prevent a smirk. “Normally, I’d be more than happy to keep you in bed, but you need to get something to eat.”
“And I suppose waiting until lunch isn’t going to satisfy you?”
“Not until you recover.”
Lyner pouted. The cruellest incentive to heal if there ever was one.
Zelos leaned down to kiss the pout away and to pacify him before he rolled off him and brought him into a sitting position upon the bed in one fluid motion. Lyner’s head swam for a moment, his world at a tilt in a manner that was unfortunately common. And as Zelos slipped out of bed, he helped Lyner to do the same.
The battle against the Hateful One…took a surprising toll on his body. The whole ordeal through the laboratory did. It was baffling to him, honestly. He had been through worse. Much worse. He had received physical, near life-threatening injuries that had sent him to the hospital and out of commission for a few days. But he was always back in action after a day or two.
Yet, a few days had passed, and he was still in the recovery phase. It just proved how toxic that miasma truly was to Empaths. He tired easily. He could be a little unsteady on his feet and needed an aide to ensure he did not collapse. Was prone to the cold. Had random bouts of coughing fits. And, understandably, developed migraines should he be overwhelmed by the emotions of others.
Though the latter might just be due to the fact that he was an Empath now.
As Lyner dressed in acceptable attire for breakfast in an inn by the sea, he was stopped dead in his movements by a presence. One that was surprising. One that was all-too familiar. One that he hoped he would sense again.
“Wait…”
Zelos was immediately concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“Lazarus. I can sense Lazarus’ aura.” Lyner grasped onto the front of Zelos’ clothing, unable to contain his excitement. “I can actually sense his aura, Zelos.”
With Zelos’ help, Lyner made his way out into open hallways of the inn and toward the foyer. Lazarus’ aura was close by. Just outside, actually. He appeared to be approaching the inn itself. Why he was making his way to such a remote location was a question Lyner would have to ask him later. In all honesty, it really did not matter.
They entered the reception foyer just as a man, with spiky blond hair, blue eyes, and an all-too nonchalant stance ambled up the sandstone steps. Casual, confident, and comfortable, there was absolutely no mistaken that he was the Lazarus they knew, the man they had spent two weeks within the Human World battling against creatures created by the manifestation of anger and fury.
He truly made his way into their world.
“Lazarus!”
Lazarus immediately snapped his head up, startled for just a brief moment before an all-too friendly smile appeared on his lips and he waved. “Hey! There you are. Finally tracked you down.”
Lyner briefly left Zelos’ gentle hold to stagger a step forward and all but flung his arms around Lazarus’ neck in greeting. “You made it here.”
“Oof, easy.” Lazarus immediately wrapped his own arms around Lyner’s waist in surprise as he stumbled a half step back. “You missed me that much?”
“I’m just so relieved that you decided to continue to live,” Lyner explained.
There was a sense of embarrassment in Lazarus’ aura. “Yeah, well, I didn’t really have much of a choice, I suppose. You did send a bunch of Shinto Priests after me.”
Lyner laughed lightly as he pulled back from the hug. “I guess I did.”
He wished to say more when a sudden tickle in the back of his throat turned into an abrupt coughing fit. He immediately turned away and covered his mouth with his hands, his shoulders hunched forward and tried to minimise the attack as best he could.
Zelos was immediately by his side, an arm around his waist to offer his support as he tugged at his hands, uncaring about good manners or common courtesy. “Hey, easy. You need to sit down.”
The coughing fits were nowhere near as rough or as draining as those he had experienced in the Human World, so he was only slightly breathless when it finally died down. “I-I’m all right,” he insisted.
“Now, let’s sit down and have a coffee or something,” Lazarus suddenly suggested, wisely choosing not to make a fuss. “After all, we need to catch up.”
There was a little restaurant connected to the inn, so with breakfast still being served, they moved in there to continue their conversation. They chose a table outside on the balcony, overlooking the crystal waters of the sea. The warm sun and the fresh air were greatly beneficial to Lyner’s health, which was one of the reasons they chose to visit.
After ensuring that Lyner was comfortable, Zelos wandered off to get him something to eat and drink, leaving him momentarily alone in the company of Lazarus. A subtle sign that his mercenary trusted the blond-haired gunner enough to keep him company.
Of course, he was still keeping an eye on him. Lyner could never get enough of his protectiveness.
Lazarus leaned forward in his chair; his elbows folded a top of the table. “You’re looking better. Considering how you were the last time I saw you.”
“Y-yeah.” Lyner smiled awkwardly to hide a grimace. “I was in pretty bad shape. Still haven’t recovered fully. The…the Hateful One tried to take me down with it, you see.”
Lazarus frowned. “Is that so?” He clearly did not know nor anticipated that. But after a beat, he managed to plaster a smile to his lips once more. “I guess it was a good call for those Shinto Priests to send the two of you straight home then.”
“Hm. We ended up close to a place Zelos knew.” Lyner’s gaze drifted out to the bright blue sea for a moment. “Honestly, I don’t remember much the first few days after returning. I was, you know…”
He remembered only fragments. Of waking up, feelings of Zelos’ restrained worry, his own feeble attempts to reassure him, before darkness of sleep. He was just…so tired.
“Yeah, I get it,” Lazarus said, drawing Lyner’s attention to him once more. “No need to dredge up painful memories. The fact that you’re up and about is a good sign.”
Hm, it truly was. And it was all due to Zelos.
Lazarus fell silent as he tapped his fingers atop of the table, hesitation in his aura. “Hey, can I ask? About that mark?”
There was no hesitancy in Lyner’s actions as he raised a hand to brush aside the bangs from his forehead.
“Ah,” Lazarus uttered, actually a bit disappointed. “So, it’s still there.”
Lyner smiled, understanding Lazarus’ disdain for the marking. “It’s apparently the physical representation of my empathy. So long as I’m an Empath, it will remain.”
A faraway look appeared in Lazarus’ eyes. “I wonder if…”
“Hm?”
As quickly as that expression of contemplation appeared, it vanished, and Lazarus shook his head dismissively. “Nah, it’s nothing.”
A mere moment later, Zelos returned with the breakfast he had ordered for them. And with it a few cups of tea, which what Lyner looked forward to the most as his throat still ached and burned thanks to that last coughing fit.
Zelos handed Lyner his tea before he turned and arched a questioning eyebrow toward their gunner companion. “Hey. Earlier, you said you tracked us down.”
The grin on Lazarus’ lips was mischief incarnate. “I certainly did. Not long after entering this world, I bumped into Meu, who in turn heard all about the two of you from your friends, Zelly.”
Zelos’ eye twitched, tellingly. “Gossiping pricks…”
Zelos’ friends were quite something. Though, it was good to meet a group of people who were also very adamant in Zelos’ inherent kindness.
“After that, I just had to follow the adoring coos about the prickly mercenary and the delightful blond duo who acted like newlyweds.”
It was fortunate that Lyner had not taken a sip of his tea or he would have spat it out in pure embarrassment. He felt himself blush fiercely, nevertheless. Th-they were not that bad!
“A-anyway, how is Meu?” Lyner stuttered as he tried to play off his embarrassment. “How were the others when you returned to the World of Souls? Sorry that it was left to you and York to explain everything that happened.”
“It’s fine.” Lazarus continued to smile playfully as he leaned forward to snare a cup of coffee before he lazily leaned back into his seat. “Some things can’t be helped. Meu is doing fine. Absolutely thrilled to pieces about the two of you, as you can imagine.”
Zelos’ eyes narrowed. “What the hell did you tell her?”
“Relax,” Lazarus replied, casually, confidentially, not at all reassuringly. “Just the facts.”
Zelos slammed his fist onto the table abruptly, causing the cutlery to clutter as he leaned forward confrontationally. “Bullshit.”
“E-easy, Zelos,” Lyner tried to pacify.
Lazarus was far from intimidated. In fact, seemed to be having the time of his life. Thankfully, he knew when to quit and chose to swiftly change the subject. “Anyway, not long after York and I returned and were reunited with the others, the Shinto Priests revealed themselves to us. They’re quite the strange bunch, aren’t they?”
“They’re a little overly formal.” Lyner had to smile. “They weren’t able to communicate much due to the barrier they were creating and because of the Hateful One. And you’d be a little strange, too, if you spent hundreds of years trying to keep the manifestation of hatred sealed and hidden.”
Lazarus waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, excuses. It’s just because they like you better. Anyway, they explained to us that the two of you had been sent on home instead. And that you were in need of some…healing. That you were not in the best state to help in the battle against the Black Baku.”
Lyner winced. “I imagine that was alarming news to the others.”
“You’re not kidding. Ayatane and the girls didn’t take it well and started asking all sorts of questions. Took us hours to explain everything.” Lazarus paused as he trailed a fingertip over the handle of his cup, unexpectedly serious and solemn. “I…also explained to them about the two of you. About the fresh start the two of you are hoping to do once you returned here.”
Oh…
“How did they take it?” Lyner asked quietly.
Lazarus shook his head. “Not well.”
“I see.”
Lyner tightened his hands around the warm cup of tea as he stared down into the light brown liquid. It was…disheartening to hear, yet he could not blame them entirely for reacting negatively. Who could respond in a positive manner to someone else telling them that a friend, a companion had disappeared for two weeks, endured unknown trials, almost died, found the love of his life, and chose to start afresh elsewhere with him – all without them knowing a single thing?
The least he could have done was explain everything to them himself, face to face.
To be fair, he was in no condition to do so.
“I’m not surprised, to be honest,” Lyner murmured.
Next to him, Zelos snorted and gave a wryly smile. “Neither am I.”
Lyner immediately frowned and turned in his direction, protectiveness and indignation bubbling in his chest. “Don’t be like that. They just don’t understand.”
“Easy, it’s fine,” Zelos soothed as he rubbed his hand comfortingly up and down Lyner’s back. “I’m used to it. And it’s understandable.”
Lyner did not believe so. If he could just talk to them about it, he could make them understand.
“York and I tried to explain the whole Empath thing,” Lazarus continued. “About how you can’t be near anyone with negative emotions or even strong, overpowering emotions, and how Zelos was the only person that brought you comfort. It was hard for them to truly comprehend anything I was saying, I suppose. Or maybe they didn’t want to understand.”
Lyner suppressed a sigh. Instead, he gave his fellow blond a small smile. “I appreciate the consideration, I truly do. You know, it really is good to see you again. I’m glad you chose the Fantasy World. I knew you would fit in well here.”
Lazarus leaned back into his chair and waved a hand dismissively and casually again. “Nah, I had to choose the Fantasy World. I don’t think I’d last a week in the Human World without pissing someone off in the government.”
Zelos snorted to hide his amusement. “Yeah, that’s a good call.”
“I hope York is staying out of trouble,” Lyner could not help but worry.
“Those Shinto Priests are going to have a wild time with that redhead,” Lazarus replied, light-heartedly.
Lyner had to laugh. “I might have asked too much of them.”
Lazarus abruptly sat straight in his seat, a clear indication that he had just remembered something important. “Ah right, it’s good that I found the two of you rather quickly. Everyone from the Fantasy World is going to be meeting up at Meu’s place soon for a get together. You two have to come.”
A get together? That did sound like fun.
“I do want to see them again. But not if it’s going to cause any trouble for Zelos.”
As much as he missed his friends and companions (which was a lot, he would admit), he hoped that the get together did not lead to certain…arguments about his decisions and choices. And possible demands that he reconsidered said choices.
“Maybe if they see the two of you together for themselves, they’ll back off,” Lazarus offered. “Besides, Meu is going to be there. I doubt anyone will start an argument with mother Meu ready to attack.”
Lyner smiled. “Maybe.”
Lazarus suddenly placed his hands atop of the table and pushed himself to his feet. “Oh right, I need to book a room while I’m here.”
“You rolling in cash already?” Zelos asked with an arched eyebrow.
Lazarus sent him a telling grin as he turned to walk away. “A hired gun is always useful.”
The two of them watched until the blond-haired gunner was out of sight before Zelos uttered an exasperated sigh and raked his hand through his hair.
“Sounds just like Meu to pull a get together soon after everyone returns,” he muttered. He then turned his attention toward Lyner and gave him a questioning look. “I know where the crazy old bat lives. Do you want to go?”
It was a little too soon, with him still recovering and getting used to being surrounded by so many emotions. The emotions of strangers were bad enough, but those he knew and cared for was another new challenge.
But it had to be done. He could not hide away from them forever.
Lyner rolled his cup of tea between his hands idly. “It’s going to be difficult, with so many emotions being thrown at me at once. But I do want to see everyone again. Just to see how they’re doing. But if you don’t want to go, I won’t go.”
“Alright, we’ll go,” Zelos relented, for his sake. But there was a spark of curiosity in his aura, too. “I won’t hear the end of it from Meu if I don’t. But if they get too rowdy, I’ll happily play the asshole they think I am and pull you out of there.”
Lyner chuckled as he leaned forward, deeper into Zelos’ arm and against his side. “Thank you. It…would be a good opportunity to formally explain my decisions to Lady Shurelia, I suppose. After all, they’ll need to find someone to replace me back home. Well, my former home now. They won’t be pleased, but there is little they can do about it.”
“You really all right with this?” Zelos asked, a bit of hesitation in his voice.
By “this” he meant their fresh start. The two of them travelling the world together, just the two of them. With Lyner having to choose between his suffocating life and the life of freedom with him.
Not because he, himself had any regrets. There were no regrets in his aura. Only concern, worry that he might be a little bit too greedy. That he might be somehow influencing Lyner’s choices and decisions. That he might be unwillingly keeping Lyner away from his friends and family.
Lyner smiled as he peeled himself away from Zelos, to turn to face him. Zelos truly was kinder than he gave himself credit for.
“I told you; I’ve made my decision.” Lyner gently framed Zelos’ face within his hands. “And there’s no outside force, absolutely no one from any realm that will make me change my mind. You’re stuck with me now, so you better get used to it.”
The corner of Zelos’ lips twitched into a half smile as he interlocked his fingers against the small of Lyner’s back, drawing him closer toward him. “I’m sure I’ll manage.”
He then kissed him, uncaring of who would see them together.