the_campus | Check one angel and boy.

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Check one angel and boy.

[There's a new face wandering confusedly around Campus today! It's a young boy who's age is hard to tell -- likely somewhere between 14 and 17 -- who's dressed in some kind of weird medieval hoodie and pants with rather thick, metal-plated boots. The bag slung on his back is definitely big enough that he must be hauling a bunch of stuff, while the sword tied to the top of it has an odd sheath that's almost too ordinary.

Whoever he is, he appears to be completely lost, occasionally peering out of windows or looking into doors, as if he's trying to find someone or something. He looks almost terrified of any actual technology that he stumbles across and sometimes just stops in the middle of the hall to tilt his head, as if he's listening to some far-off voice.

For anyone with a high magical or spiritual sense, the boy is absolutely radiating a holy, angelic aura, to the point that it's almost visible. For everyone else, he seems completely normal, if with an odd, comforting aura instead.]

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Hoh? I could have sworn it got stronger after you heard about my presence. Was I imagining that?

[Interesting... the kid clearly had more to him than he was showing. He was probably older than he looked...]

Tch. It's clear you can sense what I am, at least in part. So there's no point in keeping up the usual friendly act. But isn't it telling that your first thought is fighting, while mine isn't?

[He tosses the hairbrush, catching it carelessly.]

Just because something is evil, that doesn't mean it's randomly violent! But if we have to fight, I'd prefer to face you at your strongest. You told my host that you didn't have much energy. Facing you now would be boring.

Of course you were. With the state I am in, do you really think I would waste energy on strengthening that aura for no reason?

[Yes, but Bakura doesn't need to know that. Zero tilts his head a little, confusion seeping onto his face as Rufael falls silent, thoughtfully.

Heh... "boring," eh? He suddenly feels like he has a better idea about this spirit.]

That's certainly true enough. [The aura fades some, to slightly lower than it was even before Ryou met Zero.] There, then. That is as far as I can "ration" it without having to actually expend energy to suppress. Will that do?

Edited 2013-11-13 19:58 (UTC)

...That's much better. Thanks.

[He honestly sounds surprised. Huh. He hadn't expected the guy to be that accommodating. Was he up to something? Setting the hairbrush down, he relaxes back against he couch, looking over the two of them thoughtfully.]

If you had questions, ask them now. I'll relinquish control to Ryou, if not.

Speaking of which, he's asleep right now, so he doesn't know anything about this. If you want to keep up that innocent act around him, you might want to conjure it up before I wake him, Zero. He doesn't have to know what kind of a person you truly are.

I don't blame you for being surprised. However, if you are willing to be civil, then there is no reason that I can't be as well, is there? It would be better for both of us in our current situation to keep things amicable.

Wouldn't you agree?

[Truly are... Zero's face falls a little at that as the mercenary eyes dissolve, hands moving to rub his arms as if he's suddenly cold. That's right... in this place, he wasn't known at all. Someone like Ryou could...

For a brief moment, there's a flicker of magic, half-corporeal wings appearing from Zero's body and wrapping around him as that aura raises again, briefly, before both disappear. The gesture seems to be comfort enough, though, and he sits back down with a nod.]

I have quite a few questions, in fact... but they can wait, for now. Assuming I can trust you to be truthful about it, since I certainly know you will be getting more information than I would like on us.

I've got nothing to hide. You've already discerned my true nature, after all.

[And it's useful to him, too. So he has the same aura to this guy as demons from his world... that was helpful to know. Combined with the control power that damned duel monster had over him... it was starting to fill in the blanks, little by little. Could it be... that he truly was the same as them? Considering how at home he felt in the world of darkness... in that realm of shadows that they treated as home...]

Then, shall I awaken my host?

If you would. I have a feeling we'll have well enough "time" later on.

[He leaves that vague, falling silent even as Zero shifts uncomfortably on the couch. He tosses a thankful look to Bakura, guarded as it is, and glances out the window so Ryou can't see the traces still there.

A spirit known as Bakura... and likely held in that strange object from Ryou's gesture. This world has suddenly gotten a lot more interesting... and worrying.]

...

[Right, that was dizzying. He blinks a few times, glances over Zero as subtly as he can to make sure he's not injured or soulless, then smiles a little.]

What were we talking about?

[Zero glances back over, pulling up a piece of his hair with that dried blood in it to answer. Random tangles stuck with worrying body fluids is where you were, Ryou.]

Edited 2013-11-13 20:16 (UTC)

Ah! Of course! Did you want me to help you wash it out, Zero-kun? Or did you just want to do it yourself?

[Poor kid. Hair like his must be a pain to deal with when dealing with battlefields and the like.]

[He holds up one finger to try to indicate the first option. Oh sure, he's more than capable of taking care of himself, but after that... he has a sudden urge for that soft warmth again.

He shakes his head a little, trying to get the sudden look off his face as he instead replaces it with a curious one, as if asking if the offer is really okay.]

Un, that's fine! [Standing up, he offers his hand to the boy. How cute... He can't help but smile.] Just come with me.

[Ah, good! Zero smiles, reaching out to take Ryou's hands with both of his again, clinging a little tightly.]

I think... I'm going to rest for a while, Ryou. If there's a problem, Zero will wake me up again.

Huh? Un, that's fine! Please rest well, Rufael-san.

[He can't help it. Seeing that kind of happiness just from such a simple touch... what misery must this kid have endured?]

Please excuse me.

[Reaching forward, he hugs the boy to him with his free arm.]

[When he's pulled into the hug, Zero stiffens, confused. For a moment, his mind just stops, this affection so long since forgotten that he isn't even sure how to react to it at first.

After a moment, his hands release Ryou's, going around the taller boy's body. Though the tough is light at first, it quickly turns into a tight cling, Zero burying his face into Ryou as his shoulders begin to shake. This burning at the back of his eyes...

It's been a long time since he's actually cried like this.]

Zero-kun... [He rubs the boy's back soothingly as he hugs him close. There's nothing but sympathy and kindness in his touch, or in his feelings towards the boy.]

It's alright... If you need to cry, go on. I won't judge you... [It's not in his nature to push the boy away. Even if it's a little uncomfortable for him, not being used to close contact, he doesn't mind it.]

[It was already worth it. To be able to feel this, to have someone pull him close like this, it was worth being pulled to this place. It didn't matter if they were trapped. It didn't matter if this place did have enemies or demons or whatever it did. It wouldn't even matter if they didn't go home for decades or longer. As long as Rufael was in him, after all, he was immortal... and the angel was in no real hurry to be unsealed either. They could wait, and in the meantime...

He had something like this, now. As long as he kept that "real self" away... would he be able to keep it?

He quietly mouths the name "Ryou," even as it seems like he doesn't want to let go anytime soon despite the grime and blood.]

[Truthfully, Ryou wouldn't have judged him even for that 'real self'. Not knowing about it, however, he simply lets him cling as long as he wants, slim fingers stroking through his hair and rubbing his back to try to comfort him. It was its own reward, bringing comfort to someone who obviously needed it.

Loneliness was a curse, and this boy had obviously had his share of it despite the angel's presence.]

Come on. You don't have to let go, but let's get you cleaned up.

[He sniffles a little bit, nodding and leaning back enough to rub at his eyes. His hands go back to Ryou's, Zero smiling even through the wet face he's got.

He nods a bit, seeming to be a little more at ease now.]

[Ryou smiles brightly, steering him towards the bathroom.]

You've got another choice now. I can just wash your hair in the sink, or you can take a bath and I'll help with your hair when you're done. If you decide to take a bath, I can wash your clothes too, if you don't mind wearing some of mine while yours dry.

[The smile only kindles his a bit more, and for a moment he really does look like nothing more than a simple child.

Bath... that sounds like the better option, so he holds up two fingers to try and indicate it. It wouldn't be the first time he's worn oversized clothing, after all. They didn't tend to make armor or adventurer garb in child sizes.]

[Setting the bath waters running, he kneels beside it and keeps testing the temperature with his hand. It takes an irritatingly long time to fill up, but when he turns the tap off, it's full enough to be luxurious. There's a lot of bubbles too, since Ryou never really did grow out of that phase.]

There we are!

[Getting up off the ground, he turns his back so that the boy can get undressed and get in in peace.]

If it's too hot, just put some more cold water in, okay? We've got a pretty limitless supply of most things here.

[Bubbles.

Bubbles.

Bubbles!

Zero can't help but stare in awe and delight at those, though he patiently waits until Ryou's done messing with it. He blinks a little confusedly at the turning around, but drops the armor in the corner, out of the way for now so he can clean it later.

After a moment of thought, he puts his clothes up on the counter, then carefully gets in. It is a little hot, but it's a pleasant kind of heat, and definitely not too much.

Now that he's actually in it, of course... he can't resist playing with the bubbles, giving a soundless laugh even as he does.]

[Ryou glances around and giggles a little at the sight. He really is a child at heart, huh? They're going to get along famously, he can tell.]

I'll be back in a minute, okay?

[Taking the boy's clothes, he disappears into the kitchen to put them into the washing machine. That done, he carefully picks out some of his own clothes for him to wear, bringing them back in with him and setting them on the counter.]

Here you go.

[He's not seen this kind of thing for a long while, so it's a blessing he never thought he'd have to just play around and forget for a while. He looks up when Ryou comes back in, waving a little and still grinning brightly.

Curiously, he leans on the side of the tub a little to peer at the clothes, wondering a little. How did that kind of thing feel? It looked different...]

[He waves back, wondering curiously how long it's been since Zero got to relax like this. Probably a long time. If he was an adventurer, like Rufael had said, he probably had a hard life.]

Take as long as you need. There's no rush.

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