Pyra played with the hem of her cloak idly as she followed Rex back to Tora's house. Despite talks of an execution, Rex did not seem overly concerned even with his attempts to seem that way. He definitely did not strike her as the heartless type, and he had insisted on a rescue operation. She surmised that he was simply confident they would succeed.

That may have been reassuring for what normally may have seemed like a less than wise course of action, but it allowed Pyra's mind to wonder. Namely to thoughts about her driver. She did not know what to make of him. He knew she was essentially, as she saw it, a cheap imitation of an Aegis, but he did not seem to care. It was almost like he did not care about the full power of the Aegis, but even still, why bother with the replacement?

Whatever the reason, she was filled with uncertain emotions at the idea that maybe, just maybe, she was important to him. Not the Aegis, not Mythra, but Pyra. Though she also entertained that perhaps there was another reason he had been transfixed with her future self, or maybe she had been imagining it. Maybe they were one and the same to him. Maybe recognition of herself alone was asking too much.

He's an odd one, isn't he?

He's piqued my interest, Pyra responded.

Well, just don't forget our goal. He should be useful in stopping Malos and Jin with his knowledge and not being a half-way bad driver, but we still have a goal.

Do you…think he knows about that too?

Why would we have told him?

Pyra did not respond, but she had a suspicion that they were close. Not just her either. The trust the future Mythra had put in him was, well, astounding to say the least.

Just be careful. Don't get too close. I got close before too…

I know, Mythra. I know.

That night, Rex waited for Tora and Gramps to fall asleep before slipping away. Pyra noticed him though and decided to follow after him. He did not go far. He slipped into the room with the artificial blade and just…looked at it. Pyra was not sure what to do at first, but the creak of the floor made her choice for her.

"Hmm?" Rex looked back but calmed down when he saw who it was, "Oh, Pyra. I was just…thinking."

"What about?" Pyra slowly walked up to her driver.

Rex turned back to the artificial blade, "Different things, but…she was a bit different the last time I saw her. Older I guess."

"Older?" Pyra raised a brow.

"Well, sort of at least. Poppi really grew along the way. You'd hardly realize she was artificial by the end." Rex swallowed hard trying not to think of the flying shrapnel that used to be a dear friend he had essentially watched grow up.

"Rex?"

"Hmm?"

"You're shaking."

"Huh?" Rex looked down to see that his hand was trembling. He quickly grabbed it and steadied himself, "Sorry about that. Just some…bad memories."

"Rex…" Pyra swallowed seeing the state her driver was in – the pain he bore under the surface, and she could not help but think This is my fault. Rationally, she would not want to leave him to die in that wreck of course, but…maybe it would be better if she left him alone. If only they had never existed in the first place.

Mythra said nothing. She took no pleasure in this, but at least this way maybe it would be easier in the end.

"Don't go there," Rex surprised both of the Aegises by looking at Pyra sternly. His voice was soft so as to not awake the others, but it carried a sternness that demonstrated his passion, "I know that look. You're trying to blame yourself for this. Well, don't."

Rex looked down, "If anything…maybe I should blame myself." With a sigh, Rex continued, "When we first started out…I was a pretty bad driver for you. I overextended myself forcing you to try and compensate, and I didn't mean to, but sometimes I'd get so caught up in the action that I wouldn't realize that you were in pain or exhausted."

"Rex…"

"Because of me…someone died, and…and you got hurt. They took you. You…you almost died," Rex put on a decent front, but one look into his eyes told Pyra that he was on the verge of breaking, "But I promise you, I'll protect you this time. You, Mythra," Rex looked at Poppi, "And all of them."

"Rex," Pyra saw the sheer determination in his eyes. She had never seen anything quite like it. Neither had Mythra, "I believe you."

Rex returned the gesture and regained some semblance of calm, "Thanks. Now, come on, let's get some sleep."

Rex looked around the corner. Their infiltration of the titan battleship went off without a hitch. Rex even got to avoid calling Pyra heavy. Wins all around. He had considered telling Tora to double check Poppi's settings, but…he supposed it would not hurt for Pyra to know about his…quirks sooner rather than later. Honestly, it was not even as bad as the initial scene had let on. He may have been really into maids, but he genuinely cared for Poppi. Of that Rex had no doubt.

"Coast is clear," Rex turned back to the others before leading the way to Dromarch's cell. Fortunately, they had done a better job of avoiding guards so far. A feat that was helped along by Morag's trap.

Well, he was not about to neglect such an opportunity. Though, that did mean Morag was waiting for them. He could go around her, honestly, but…well, he was not feeling up to fighting his way through the entire Ardainian army as they tried to get Pyra.

All the same, Pyra prepared to free Dromarch. Thinking ahead, Rex motioned for Tora and Poppi to back up a bit. He then gave a reassuring nod to Pyra causing her to blush at why he had done that. She was mortified to think about what may have happened before. With a deep breath, she started to charge up. The door proved to be no match for Pyra's charged blast making Pyra get a decent idea of what had actually happened. Could she really not control such meager power?

"Dromarch!" Rex looked past the peeled metal of what used to be a door, "We're here to rescue you!"

"Master Rex! Mistress Pyra! I had given up hope of a rescue."

"We don't leave friends behind," Pyra had some insight into what those words meant to him now. In the end, he a boy desperately trying to save his friends. Come to think of it, he had not mentioned Elysium since this Rex came back. It made Pyra wonder what had changed.

"Rex-Rex!" Tora flapped his wings, "We should go now. Soldiers could be by any minute!"

"Who is–"

"This is Tora and that's Poppi," Rex quickly introduced, "Now, Dromarch, lead the way to Nia, quickly."

"Right, follow me."

"Well, that was easy," Nia commented at the fainted Dhugal. It had all happened so quickly. Rex had easily bypassed his blade and only stopped his sword just short of the consul's skull causing the man to faint and probably wet himself. Nia found herself reevaluating the kid again. Just who or what was he? Or was this the Aegis at work?

"Come on," Rex waved his sword, "They'll be expecting us."

That was another thing, how had he known that this was a trap? More importantly, why did he come if he knew it was a trap? She just could not understand this kid sticking his neck out for her like that. Then again, he did not seem to be in any particular danger.

Pyra did not hesitate to follow Rex. He had been right so far. They had avoided most contact with the Ardainian troops and those who had been unfortunate enough to run into them did not even have time to draw their weapons before Rex had them knocked out. They were hardly the Empire's finest, but still…

They managed to make it to the entrance to the base only to have familiar blue flames block their exit. However, if one had been watching closely, they would have seen that Rex had been the only one not to so much as flinch. He had been expecting it after all.

"So, this is the Aegis," Morag approached causing Rex to swallow. He could appreciate her safety later. For now, they were opponents, "Hand her over, boy."

"That's not going to happen," Rex ignited Pyra's sword, "I don't care what you think about her, she's no weapon! It wasn't her fault what happened five hundred years ago!" Rex's words had caught the attention of both Aegises. He knew about that, and he still did not hate them?

"So, you know about the Aegis War, but do you really think you can control that power?"

"No," Rex nodded his head surprising everyone there, "It's not about control. It's about working together, and together…we are strong."

Morag was surprised. It was a good answer. Not one she would expect from a new driver. It took most years to really figure out how to be a driver. It was a matter of teamwork, not control. Despite that, this was a serious matter.

"A good answer, boy, but I hope you realize that I cannot simply allow you to leave with the Aegis."

"I know, but I hope you know I can't let you take her."

Morag smirked despite herself, "Very well then, boy. We shall let our weapons do the talking."

With that, Morag launched into her assault, and Pyra barely dodged in time. Her mind was swirling both with the revelation of Rex's words of the Aegis War and having to face Brighid and her driver. Brighid. She could go toe to toe with Mythra. What hope did she have? Even if Rex was talented, at least before she had no driver, but now…

Pyra looked up and dodged a whiplike sword. She had to focus. She had taken on Malos and held her own, but he had not been at full strength. The mere fact he had a blade demonstrated that much.

"Pyra, are you with me?" Rex looked back at her in a brief moment of respite.

"Y-yes," Pyra nodded causing Rex to smile, "Good, cause we need to be ready to book it."

Before Pyra could ask, Rex met Morag's swords again deftly matching her movements which had her rather curious and disturbed. He was matching her movements well. Too well.

"Tell me, boy," Morag grit her teeth as they locked weapons, "Where did you learn to fight?"

Rex smirked. He knew that Morag was by no means giving it her all. He may have come a long way, but her swordsmanship still blew his out of the water by a comfortable margin. That said, she and Zeke had both taken to training him, and he even had experience using her rather unique whip swords.

"My Gramps made sure I knew how to fight, but I got some extra training."

Morag pushed back, "And just who is your grandfather?"

"Hello!" Azurda waved from Rex's helmet causing Morag to get momentarily distracted. That was the opening Rex needed. Morag covered her face from the overly bright flames that surrounded her but always stayed far enough to keep from seriously harming her. By the time Brighid had dispersed the flames, the boy and the Aegis were leaving the base. Rex turned back with a smirk and swung his sword sending a wave of flame at the inquisitor forcing her to deflect it. In that short time, they were already out of view by the time she left the base leaving her to scan the dark horizon with her night vision having been impaired by the bright flames.

"Well played, boy."

"Well, thanks for the rescue," Nia told them once they were sufficiently far away from the city, "But I think I'll be going now."

"Why don't you come with us?"

"What? And go hunt for Elysium or something? Don't tell me you're still on about that? Do you really think that it's real?"

"I know it is," Rex said without a hint of doubt that got both Aegises attention. He had been there, but there was something else in his voice. Something was not right there, "Come with us. Help us save this world."

Nia stared wide-eyed at the salvager before her. She thought what he was saying was ridiculous, but at the same time, he said it with such certainty. As if it were perfectly doable. It was hard not to be curious. Especially given how well he had been handling himself as a driver.

"Hmm, alright then. I'll tag along for a while."

"That's great!" Rex grinned. He was not sure how things would go since, well, Elysium had not turned out as life saving as he had hoped. Still, they had to take care of Malos, then they could work on a solution to the titans.

However, after making camp, Rex remembered that he was not wounded this time, though he kind of wished that he was so that he would have had an opening to talk with Pyra. Things felt better after their chat, but the fact of the matter was that he was in love with her and she hardly knew him. It was painful.

"Uh, hey," Rex approached awkwardly as Pyra stared at the campfire. Everyone else was drifting off, and Pyra might go to sleep soon herself, "Mind if I join you?"

"Huh? Oh, um, sure," Pyra scooted a bit to give Rex a little more room to sit.

Rex took the spot and the two sat awkwardly for a while. What did he say? As the two stared at the sparks floating upward, Pyra fortunately bailed him out by idly commenting on the beauty.

"Yeah, probably because you made it," Rex almost reflexively retreaded ground. However, this time he was a bit less awkward. He had made peace with his feelings. They were mostly sorted, and he knew what his heart wanted.

"Oh, um," Pyra's blush was obvious though even with the firelight dancing on her face. Her embarrassment made Rex shrink back. Would she ever…did she ever return those feelings?

"There, uh, there is something I should tell you. This is important to both of you actually."

"Oh?" Pyra managed to look him in the eye.

"Well, you know how we're connected?" Rex put two fingers on his part of the core crystal causing Pyra to put her hand over hers.

"Yes."

"Well, we kind of share a life force apparently. I'm not sure about the details, but it means that if one of us gets hurt, then the other does too. It also means…that you're both mortal now."

"Oh…"

"Don't worry though, I won't let you get hurt like you did before. Not this time."

"I hope you won't get hurt because I'm not in sync," Pyra commented quietly.

"Hey, none of that," Rex put a finger to her chin and lifted her gaze, "And if you make a mistake, well, just think of it as payback for all the time you wound up with my wounds. No more blaming yourself, okay?"

"I…sorry."

Rex smiled sadly and just sat there not saying anything, but he was there if she needed him.

"Ah!" Rex was startled away by a sudden jolt and slight pain to his side. Looking up, he found himself looking into golden eyes.

"Let's talk."