"I don't understand you."

Breathing, harsh, angry. Blue eyes staring in anger and horror as he crosses his arms, tilting his head and giving the man on the floor a smile. "Now, what's that look for? Surely I haven't done something that you weren't already expecting."

"You're not supposed to be like this."

He blinks. The man is still staring, eyes pained and wide and so familiar, so safe. For a moment, he almost wants to cry, break down just like when his limbs were bursting over from the seams and monsters ripped through his skull.

But the smile slips back on, and he laughs darkly. "I don't recall having to conform to your ideals, Howard. After all, you went galavanting off to be Walker's watchdog."

"That's not what I mean."

"Then speak clearly, now, clearly." He hums, lifting his glass and taking a sip from the rim. "I thought Inspectors like you were required to turn in reports weekly. I don't see how you managed to keep your position if you couldn't even clearly communicate your findings."

"That's not the point, Tokusa." Howard Link breathes in, trying to control his temper, pull in the reins. "You're not supposed to be with the Noah."

"I'm not supposed to be alive either, but that doesn't stop me, now, does it?"

"Are all of you like this?"

He tilts his head to the other side, smirk still set on his face. Don't let down your guard, don't let the mask slip and crack on the floor. "Specify 'you', if you please."

Hesitation. Careful wording. "All of those injected with the Akuma cells."

"Then, no." He sighs, lifting his hand up for inspection. He'd have to talk with the Noah about the remade body - the nails were starting to peel back and crack again. "Goushi and Kiredori died a while ago."

The man freezes, expression stricken. "What?"

"You didn't know? I thought you would, being Central's dog."

"Don't." When he bends his head, Tokusa can see the faint tremor of his shoulders as he tries to control his breathing. "Don't, Tokusa."

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Because this isn't you."

His temper flares, bright as a flame, and he stands up, nearly knocking the chair to the floor. Link starts, staring in shock and wariness. "Don't tell me what I am or am not," he snarls, feeling his lip curl and his throat burning with bubbling rage. "You've lost that right, Inspector, when you took the egg in the first place. You gave it to Central, you gave them the device they needed to make us into what we are now." He barks a laugh, spiteful, angry, Noah has corrupted thee. "You have no right."

"We were friends."

Another bark, a mockery of laughter. "We were leeches. We leeched off of each other's lives to survive." He twists his head to the side and grins, icy sharp and boundless cruelty. "I hardly think that's the definition of a friend."

He doesn't wait for Link to speak. Instead, he turns and walks out of the room, out of the room with the blonde-haired monster and to the hall, where the Noah is waiting silently, patiently, with their eyes made of gold and their crosses bled with truth.

Practice fic, because I haven't written any fanfiction for a while, and I've always wanted to write Link/Tokusa. Semi-AU, considering that Link really isn't in any shape or form to be talking/moving/breathing in current chapters. Purposefully short.