Chapter Summary:
It has been several months since the events in Magnis. Ryuk and Tyson have a chance encounter, the two of them now on opposite sides of a stalemated war. Things go from bad to worse when the two of them are charged with eliminating an army of mechanoids. Can the two teens put aside their differences and work together in spite of their personal feelings? This piece can be considered canon.
– TEAS: The Lost Archives –
Chapter 3: Confidants
The bifocaled redhead was seated in her chair, burning the midnight oil as she toiled for her passions. Her lab coat discarded, it was hung up lazily on the side of her desk.
Undine held a pen in her teeth as she typed away like a woman possessed. Every so often, she would stop to denote something or jot a quick detail down on some nearby scrap paper before hurrying back to the monitor and keyboard before her.
The moon hung low above. Having left her lab, the Deiglyian's head scientist presently found herself in an old quarry that had since become a military testing zone.
Sheet metal hung from the surroundings. The barren and stripped clean epicenter of the spacious excavation area acted as the perfect site for all sorts of live-fire exercises and the like. Tonight would be no exception.
Just in front of her work station, the wayward woman had set up one-hundred newly designed mechanical drones. Their parts freshly manufactured off the assembly line earlier that very week.
The machines were humanoid in shape and stature. The overall design mirrored older models, but were far more sleeker and compact. A singular wide and red lens was built into the center of their heads. Not yet active, they remained upright and rigid. A ten by ten chorus row of steel manikins.
"Explain to me again why it is I'm here?" Tyson brought up in a dour mood, approaching the woman from behind.
The scientist spun around on her swivel cushion, a bemused smirk finding itself on her face. Her bewitching gaze focused in on the obstinate younger man. "Well, Theo..." She began, taking up a mocking attitude. "...I told Hollowright I was going to need some laborers for tonight's experiments. You must have been chosen at random. What else can I say?" She teased, donning a wry expression.
Tyson crossed his arms at the other's explanation. "I actually caught a glimpse at that documented request when passing through the depot. You initially asked for a small unit, which the good general denied immediately. When you changed your request to two trainees, he took pity on you and sent you me."
The redhead smiled innocently at the other's deductions. "Which is what I wanted all along from the start." She chirped in a coy demeanor. Starting to turn back around, she gave a slight shrug. "That's the way it is with management. You have to learn to ask for more if you ever plan on getting anything you want from the bigwigs."
Catching the corner of the other's seat, Tyson whipped her back around to face him again. An agitated look was well ironed onto his face since long before. "Let's go back a few steps, shall we?" Leaning down, he pressed his scowling mug right up against her face. "It's bad enough you dragged me off in the middle of my military training, but you haven't had me do anything constructive at all this entire night. The most proactive task you've handed off to me was running a small wooden crate from one end of this hollowed out pit to the other. Which, may I remind you, you've asked of me three times now."
"It's a very important box." Undine replied sheepishly in a taunting manner.
"In what fashion?" The scrutinizing man complained, having his fair share of doubts.
The redhead adjusted her glasses. "Because, if it wasn't here you'd have nothing to do." She informed, spinning back around.
As Tyson watched the woman return to her work, he initially opened his mouth to rebuke the claim. After a moment longer of consideration, he shook his head and shut his mouth. "You're enjoying having seniority over me, aren't you?" He asked with spurn.
Looking over her shoulder, the redhead flashed the most smug expression he'd ever witnessed. Finished cranking out a few more lines of code, the scientist spun right back around with a small notepad in hand. Her pen back within her grasp, she jotted down a few things. "Listen, if you're that bored, run a pickup for me in town. Some food too. Unless you're cooking." She teased at the end, extending her note sheet.
Swiping the list, the man's eyes perused the items and their associated quantities alongside them. "You're covering this?" He questioned, struggling to even recognize half the components. "I can't imagine most of these are affordable."
To answer his concern, Undine printed out a military form from the side of her terminal. Messily signing her signature at the bottom, she handed that over as well. "Requisitioning supplies from HQ takes too long. Just flash this form in front of the shopkeep. Since the town is Deiglyian's governed, they can brush the cost as a tax write off. It's a port town, so they should have some good stuff."
Reading over the form with far more interest than Tyson allotted any of his other tasks, his intrigued eyes scanned over every minute detail. "Is this actually how the system works?" He brought up with a diligent concern, not liking what he was saw.
Stretching, the glasses adorned woman relaxed back into her chair. Pulling her knees up, she passed off a more shrewd expression. "Works?" She couldn't help but fight back an impish giggle. "No. This is how the system is exploited."
"Lovely." The recruit lamented in a dry sarcasm. Making sure his paperwork was in order, he started a hurried stride out of the testing zone and out toward the radial town of Tregough.
Watching her unwilling assistant take his leave, Undine followed his trail with light amusement. Following another stretch, she went back to her busied work.
. . . . . . . . .
A dust storm had blown into the otherwise sleepy town of Lun Des that day. Doors were locked shut and reinforced, glass windows had been taped together, the usual precautions one would take to nasty weather.
It was a risk that came with the dry season. The residents were all stocked up and prepared. Each of their homes and storefronts used as a refuge. From an outside perspective, the town must have looked evacuated.
With a hearty grunt, Tyson had just finished moving all the tables and chairs away from the windows. Wiping his forehead off with a rag, he gave the now sparse first floor one last look over to make sure he had not missed anything.
As he surveyed the empty bar, he caught a quick glance outside. Barrels of sand and wind flew passed his sight with a visible intensity that seemed to shake the whole building along with it. The boards which lined the tavern left creaking as its flexibility and resilience were tested.
"Upstairs is clear." Ryuk informed, sliding down the railing of the staircase as he joined the other on the first floor. Hopping down, he landed on his feet and snuck his hands into his pockets. Turning his head toward the outside as well, he let out a prolonged whistle. "Getting pretty bad out there, huh?" He made mention, casually.
Rolling his sore neck, Tyson stared at younger. "All the more reason you should head down to the basement with the others."
Sighing at the older's more than expected friendly demeanor, the teen dropped his shoulders. "You're welcome for helping, by the way."
Disregarding the other's complaint, Tyson answered first with a sharp glare. "I never asked for your help." He stated clearly. "I could have more than easily done it alone." Ending the conversation before it even had a chance to grow, he started heading for the storeroom.
Rolling his eyes, the golden eyed teen followed with a few less than enthusiastic steps behind. "I never said you couldn't Tyson." He began, complaining to himself. "It's just easier together." His last comment expectantly earning him no response.
The older did not even respond to the comment. Instead, he pressed on to the storeroom. Opening it up, he held it agape for the younger. Once both were inside, he made sure to shut the door firmly and fasten it closed tight, sealing them in.
When Ryuk moved over toward the entrance to the basement staircase, he found the barkeep hunkering himself down by the door. Taking off his vest, he started to light up a smoke.
With a bemused smirk, the acrobatic teen motioned for the stairs. "C'mon you antisocial. You too." He instigated, trying to coax the other downstairs.
Leaning up against a wall, the smoker took a brief drag. "I need a breather." He informed, the irony not lost on him. "I'll stay up here for a time." The man confessed, keeping to himself as he usually did.
At the response, Ryuk frowned childishly.
Noticing the glare, the older matched it with a scowl. "What?" He cheaply barked.
His expression flipping to that of a mischievous smirk, the short haired boy strolled back a few steps. The two now face to face. "I think I'll stay up here too actually. Wouldn't want you to get lonely." The adolescent informed, making it more than obvious he planned on irritating the other out of sheer provocation.
"Juvenile." Tyson criticized, taking another drag.
Defiantly, Ryuk kept up his agitating smile toward the other's verbal disapproval.
In annoyance, Tyson blew what smoke he had gathered in his lungs into the other's face. His expression stonewalled as ever as he did so. The rude action throwing the other into a small coughing fit.
. . . . . . . . .
Standing on a corner of a Tregough street, a nighttime breeze wrapped around the pair of Ryuk and Alice. The two of them stood opposite of a small couple and their knee-high child. While the streets themselves were thinning as many did from the moon's approach, a dwindling number of carriages passed by now and then nonetheless.
"I can't thank you enough for what you did for us young man." The husband applauded before shaking the teen's hand. The action repeated so many times prior that light tire was beginning to show on the young knight-to-be's face.
Pulling away his hand, Ryuk held it proper at his side and he stood up straighter. "It wasn't a problem at all, sir. Any knight would have done the same." After brushing aside the compliment, he brought up a cautious gaze toward his partner beside him.
Alice smiled earnestly, sharing in the couple's adoration. "Yes. Even though he's still just an app–"
Before she could finish her demoralizing description she'd become more than known for by the other, Ryuk yanked her in close, catching her off guard. Afterword, he stepped in front of her, cutting her off completely. "An appealing representation of a virtuous youth! While I think that's a bit much Alice, I guess I can't disagree." He exclaimed, shoehorning in a few self-focused compliments.
Pulling herself out from behind, the young girl tried to brush passed the other to reclaim her stolen footing. "That's not what I was going to say." She said, fighting back with indignation. "I was going to tell them you're still—"
Ryuk repeated the same motions as before, stepping further up front. His offhand used to fight her from behind. "Still walking the path of chivalry and striving to better myself. Couldn't have said it better myself, Alice." The youth announced, modesty be damned.
The wife laughed to herself at the two's more energetic display. "Still, I was so surprised when I saw you tackle that mugger."
Canning the horseplay, the knight in-training retook a more suitable stand. "Anyone would have done the same."
The husband let out a lowly laugh as he shook his head. "Not in this town, young man." Looking down at his son, he urged him forward from behind.
"Thanks mister!" The child chimed with an ear to ear and toothy smile.
Taking a knee, the teen rustled the kid's already messy hair. "No problem."
The husband rested his hand over his son's shoulder protectively. "If there is anything I or my family can ever do for you. Please—"
"Just take care of yourself." Ryuk prompted with a courteous and proud gaze. Humility shining back into the forefront.
Caught off guard by the sudden noble request, the man smiled. As he left with his family, they gave one last wave before retreating across town toward their home.
Once alone, Alice shoved her partner playfully from the side. "Jerk!" She called out, laughing as she did.
The male turned aside, feigning ignorance. "I can't even grasp what you're talking about." The talkative teen joked, ignoring the other's increasing pushes.
As Alice went to playfully nudge him again, her partner turned toward the shove with his shoulder. Taking his lumps, his pleased smile never faltered.
The both of them getting it out of their systems, Ryuk tidied himself up and fixed his apparel to look more proper. "Sea air's a nice change of pace from the dry desert, huh?" He brought up, taking a look around the port town's rustic architecture.
The redhead smiled and nodded at the observation. "Different can be good now and then." She chimed with a chipper nature.
Her amber eyes roamed with similar wanderlust to the teen before settling back on her partner. Locked onto him, she stayed that way until the unwarranted attention dragged his gaze to meet her. "Why does Anya even ask you to run errands for her?" She asked, stiffing a small laugh. "You always get caught up in something along the way."
Standing up straight, Ryuk slid both hands onto his hips. Donning a stoic expression, he faced his partner in earnest. "Alice, I always accommodate everyone as quickly and efficiently as I can." He informed keenly, lying through his teeth.
"We got here in the afternoon." Alice brought up. Resting her case, she stared up at the starry sky above them.
Unmoved, Ryuk remained still and impassive. After a few more seconds, his serious facade crumbled as he leaned down and laughed to himself in a jovial fashion. "Yeah, well, it's not like she has much of a choice anymore these days. Tyson used to go through dozens of traveling merchants that crisscrossed their way through Lun Des." A deep grin stretched across his face. "He got so familiar with some the caravans that he even started ordering in requests. When Horace found out, he was stunned. Once he even..."
This wasn't the first time the up-and-coming knight went on a tangent like this about the former Lun Des barkeep. In fact, since the man's departure, it had almost become a regular routine. Alice didn't mind, her friend always became even more cheerful than usual during such stories, at first anyway.
Wrapping up his tale, the smile Ryuk more than happily showed off started to drain. Turning away, his partner could tell the remnant of the bright expression was nothing more than a falsity. It was a fake smile that did not reflect at all how its owner felt. "Anyway, Alice, let's get going. Anya's gotta be steamed enough already with how tardy we are." He brought up, quick to change the subject. "You still got that coin purse she lent us?"
With an understanding expression, Alice nodded. Not wanting to touch on any uncomfortable territory, she took her place next to him, ready to once again return to their shopping trip. "Yeah. It's right..." Reaching around in her pockets, she checked every pouch on her person, and then she did it again. Always the type to wear her heart on her sleeve, the older took notice of her worry instantly.
With a snide smirk, he leaned in close. "Uh oh~." He teased lightheartedly.
"N-No, w-wait. Just give me a second." She pleaded, giving herself another once over.
With a considerate smile, the adolescent pointed behind him with his thumb. "We started chasing that guy down a little up the block. I'll check over there. You look around near that store we caught him at."
"Okay!" Alice agreed in a spirited manner.
The two broke off from one another with varied responses. Ryuk had a spring in his step but he never delved passed a well paced walk. His partner, feeling more responsible, ran as hard as she could in the other direction. So worked up, as she turned the street corner, she immediately bumped into someone.
Colliding with a man of larger stature, the girl fell right over onto her rear end. "Sorry." She apologized, still looking toward the ground. Recovering from the stumble, she looked up at whom she smacked into, only to find an unexpected familiar face.
Taking a knee, he extended a hand, the rifle slung over his shoulder dipping slightly as he did. With an inaudible sigh, he wore a jaded expression. "Be more careful."
Staring agape, the redhead hesitated a moment before accepting the other's help. With his assistance, she was brought back up onto her feet. "Th-Thank you, Tyson." She gratefully acknowledged, still somewhat stunned.
With another sigh, this one much more pronounced, the recent Deiglyian recruit started adjusting his collar. Irritation marred his face. "If you're here, I imagine he can't be far behind." Turning his head away, he appeared to fight back a deeper scowl. "This night is just becoming..." Lowering his voice, he started muttering grievances to himself. The uniform clearly not changing his standoffish nature by any means.
Alice gulped a little nervously. "Um..." She squeaked out, trying to muster up her voice toward the old acquaintance.
"Alice." Tyson addressed authoritatively with confidence, calling for her attention.
"Yes!" The younger girl shouted back. Caught off guard by the other's sudden outcry, she replied more loudly than she normally would have intended. When the blaring reply earned her an analytical stare, she hung her head lower. "Sorry." She meekly apologized.
Tyson appeared to make the decision to ignore the girl's curious behavior as he cleared his throat in place of bringing attention to it. "As I was about to say, I don't know why you two are here, and I don't want to know. It doesn't concern me." He noted indifferently. "I'll give you some advice. Don't draw attention to yourselves. This town was colonized under Deiglyian rule. That means you'll find military personnel instead of police or militia here. Avoid standing out." He begrudgingly advised.
"You see... um... about that..." Alice began several times before trailing off. Uncertain of whether or not she should bring up recent events, she ended up holding her tongue.
"I shouldn't even ask." The former barkeep uttered with dread, his shoulders slacking in term. Raising a hand, he held it up to the bridge of his nose preemptively. "What did he do this time?" He asked, fighting back a groan.
Alice laughed sheepishly. "He, um... he stopped a thief earlier and chased him through a crowd." She admitted worriedly. "He kind of tackled him through an open window of a shop."
Nodding, Tyson began massaging the skin below his forehead. "Of course he did." Cracking his eyes back open, they narrowed on the girl in front of him. "When? How many witnesses? And was it reported?" He asked, one after another without pause.
"Well, uh..." The redhead paused briefly as she pondered the questions one by one in her head. "About fifteen minutes ago. Lots. And... I don't think so?"
The man scowled. "I assume he wasn't modest about flashing the 'K' word either?"
Alice could only nervously chuckle at the other's assumption.
Lowering his hand, the draconian teen rubbed his chin as he stared off in contemplation. "It's late. Which means the chances of it being reported tonight are lower than if it were earlier in the day." Turning back toward her, he shifted his hands back to his sides. "So long as the two of you are gone by morning it shouldn't be a problem."
"Oh. Okay." Alice acknowledged, looking around near the ground, clearly distracted.
Raising a brow at the other's strange behavior, he looked down to see a small parcel beside the steps of the store they stood in front of. Bending down, he snatched it up. "Is this what you're looking for?" He asked, presenting the tiny carryall in front of him.
"Yes!" The teen cried back in excitement, carefully grasping the parcel with both hands as to not repeat the same misstep. "Thank you." She praised sincerely.
"It's fine." Tyson said, brushing the barely considerate act aside. Turning around, he stopped halfway and looked over his shoulder. "To make it up to me, don't tell Ryuk I was here."
Alice blinked in confusion. "What? Why?" She asked, her wrinkled brows denoting her physical distress at the other's request.
Tyson had completely given the younger girl his back at this point. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out his shopping list. His eyes scanned it one more time, seemingly ignoring her as he did. "It's better that way. Less complicated." He disclosed, giving his final thoughts on the matter.
Looking down again, this time with dismay, Alice began playing with his fingers. Holding her arms, her fingernails tentatively dug into her skin. "He still talks about you. I just, thought you should know that." She revealed somberly.
The former barkeep halted a step before entering the store. With an audible huff, he shook his head and entered inside without another word.
Reluctantly, the redhead trudged off. One short footstep one after the other, Alice found herself watching the ground as she walked. With Anya's coin purse clutched finely in hand and a sour look in her eyes, she was barely watching where she was going.
"Good job Alice. You found it." Ryuk called out, walking over to meet her. Picking up on her gloomy state instantly, concern painted his features. "Alice, what's wrong?" He asked urgently.
Fidgeting, Alice bit the inside of her cheeks. The night air nipped at her pale skin all the while. "The truth is..."
. . . . . . . . .
Still utilizing the storeroom as a bastion from the dust storm, the two teens now sat opposite of one another on the floor. The two stared at one another. One, energetic, the other, miffed.
Tyson frowned more deeply all of a sudden. "Why do you do it?" He asked with irritation, not intrigue.
The young blacksmith returned the question with a baiting smirk. "Do what?" He teased, lying one of his legs over the other.
The bartender leaned back, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. "Go out of your way to annoy me to no end?"
Straightening up his guise, the knight-to-be shot out the most wholesome and innocent smile he could muster. "Because you let me." He informed, cocking his head ever so cheerfully. Under better conditions, he may as well have been sparkling.
Subduing an eye twitch, Tyson released a huff. Reaching down, he squashed the remnants of his dying cigarette against the heel of his shoe. "Walked right into that one." He commented aloud, flicking the extinguished bud away.
Letting out a few snickers, Ryuk's face softened up into a far more genuineness. "Tyson, you have got to learn to lighten up. You're gonna explode."
Leaning forward, the older boy drilled a glare into the other from a near point-blank range. "And whose fault do you think that is, huh?"
With an uncomfortable forced laugh, the younger pulled back a bit. He glanced away, doing his best to avoid the pair of daggers stabbing into him. "Haven't got a clue."
Noticing the older pull back, Ryuk rocked forward, leaning in. "Tyson, since we have a minute, we gotta talk about your bar-side etiquette."
The part-time philosopher stunted a scowl, glaring ahead once again. "Excuse you?" He voiced in clear displeasure.
With a laugh, Ryuk pointed, sticking his finger right in front of the other's face. "See, that's what I mean. I've never seen someone so disrespectful to his customers."
Slapping the appendage away from his face, Tyson kept up his less than accommodating expression. "Is that a fact?" He said, only proving the other's point further.
Waving off the other's abrasive gesture, the young smith sat up more properly. Leaning his shoulder against his side of the wall, he teased a fresh smile. "Really, I don't even get why we're having this conversation. Mr. mayor's son definitely had servers. You should know it's your job to be pleasant and accommodating. A smile always on your face." Framing his chin, he stretched out and highlighted his own.
Tyson fixated his loathing glare back toward the younger. "An unemployed freeloader is prohibited from critiquing someone else's customer service." He informed with a hard edge to his tone.
Turning away at the slightest sign of retort, Ryuk averted his eyes. Laying his hands on his knees, he tapped them impatiently. "Jin says I'm technically a student, and should focus on personal development for right now." He seemingly bragged.
"Oh, spare me." Tyson complained, rolling his eyes. "The man still relies on the barter system." Still crossed arms, his grip tightened over his biceps. "A student." He scoffed, grumbling to himself, the phrasing clearly bothering him. "Should I even ask of what practice? A student of the craft?"
Ryuk shook his head, reaffirming himself with a determined look and cocky smirk. "Not just smithing. Jin says I should aim to be a student of the world."
Tyson restrained his gaze as he too began looking off. "It doesn't matter."
The two holding their tongues, neither said anything for an extended time. Each of them sat perfectly still, both of them listening to the surrounding sounds of the harsh storm as they were swallowed up by the silence within each other's company.
. . . . . . . . .
Storming out of the corner store, Tyson slammed the door shut behind him. An open crate of miscellaneous tools and materials were tucked under an arm. Red faced, he stomped a foot. "Headlight fluid... real funny. I'll remember that one you witch." The recruit bitterly grated to himself.
"Yo." A male voice greeted, whipping the white clad teen's head over toward him.
Standing in the center of the barren street, Ryuk stood stationary with his hands slipped into his pockets. There was a downcast look about him as he shot a less than friendly glare ahead of him.
Tyson's expression fell at the appearance of the other. Resetting into a natural frown, the normally reserved man felt his shoulders drop. "This night just keeps getting better and better." He bemoaned, a rouge chill of wind passing through the two of them, neither so much as flinched at its presence.
. . . . . . . . .
Back at the Deiglyian owned quarry, Undine sat typing at her terminal. "And almost... Finished!" With an excited tap of her enter key, her creations sparked to life.
The machines jerked from a slouch to a ridged upright footing. Their singular lens each lighting up with a menacing red glow that pierced through the shadows.
Reaching over to the side of her desk, she went to pick up a cd in a protective case. Instead, right before grabbing it, she pushed it to the side. Underneath it, in a similar case, was another disc. The word 'Virus' scrawled on the top of the casing.
Pondering the thought with a hum, a mischievous smirk befit her face. "Tyson did say he was bored." Undoing the casing on the tainted disc, she inserted it into the terminal without another second's worth of consideration.
Standing up, she started some basic stretches. Walking away to fetch something, a download bar appeared on her computer monitor as the data was transmitted over to her creations. "I hope I can get some good data out of this." She mused, not a care in the world.
As she turned away, the red light in her manikins gaze only lit up further and further. A few twitching sporadically as short sparks of electricity coursed throughout their circuitry.
. . . . . . . . .
Almost a mile outside of town, both Tyson and Ryuk were walking down a footstep paved road. Even here, the sea breeze still extended out to them.
The older walked in front with his crate of materials still under one arm. Half a step behind, the knight-to-be followed in suit.
Ryuk glanced up at the older, looking away before he spoke. "Did I ever tell you that you look awful in white?" He denoted neutrally.
Holding in a groan, the recent recruit kept his gaze trained forward. "As a matter of fact, I remember you bringing that notion up two—"
"You look awful in that coat." Ryuk informed callously, cutting him off.
"Three other times." Tyson corrected. His prior withheld groan making itself known.
Marching in their general direction came a sea of red eyes. A hundred freshly dispatched drones advanced toward them with heavy menacing stomps. The crushing approach so mighty that one could have been mistaken it for the sounds of a stampede from livestock tripling their numbers.
Ryuk cocked a brow at the machines unexpected appearance. "Up already, huh?"
Tyson held his position, cautiously observing the marching horde. "No. They shouldn't be." His eyes shiftily looking about, something troubled him. Looking over his shoulder, he verified the direction of the port, just to be certain. "Somethings not right. We can't let them get close to the town." Putting down his cargo, he took up his rifle in hand.
With a light snicker, Ryuk unholstered both of his handguns. Holding them low at his sides, he pulled back on each of the hammers and readied his trigger fingers. "I'm getting permission to destroy Deiglyian property? That's a new one." He retorted, spinning one in his grip to warm up his fingers.
Cocking his firearm, the former bartender pressed the stock up against his shoulder and took aim dead head. "Wipe them out!" He ordered fiercely, taking the first shot.
As soon as he pulled the trigger, the crying gunshot toppled over a drone down center, close to fifty meters away. The moment it fell, the lights in the enemies sensors lit up strangely and at irregular strengths. When the toppled foe hit the ground, the rest all broke out into a mad sprint, drawing closer by the second.
When the golden eyed youth took out a few with some well aimed pot shots, the small change in their numbers wasn't even noticeable. Undeterred, he reloaded right away, not a second wasted.
A hectic collision moments away, Tyson ran forward like a bolt to meet the steel forces head-on. A stone's toss away, a leading drone leaped right at him. Staying focused, the ever expressionless man stiffened his dominant shoulder. Sticking out his elbow, he grounded his stance and shoved his bayonet forward. His rifle took on the visage of spear as the head carved right through the unit's head.
They moved in a swarm, encircling the two by washing over them in a pincer formation. When only so much could come from the two sides, a heavy majority leaped straight overhead, overtaking the moonlight as they dismounted behind them to ensure no escape.
As another drone left the mob, rounding the soldier from the side, it darted inward and threw a punch forward. The fist of smelted alloy rocketed out in front, the man's head being its clearly readable target. A certain bestial quality to the violent motion.
Pulling back on his rifle, the man smacked the oncoming blow downward with the butt of the weapon. The force redirected, it flung into the hard ground, the metal limb digging into the rock, down to elbow length with ease. The awkward position had forced the machine to drop onto a knee to prevent itself from falling entirely.
With his recent attacker immobilized in that instance, Tyson held his firearm more naturally. Pulling back on the bolt-handle, he fired a clean round into the kneeling drone's head at a point-blank range. The bullet pierced through red lens as it leaped out through the back of the head. The crimson light going dark, the machine fell back lifelessly.
As he armed his weapon once again, a new machine flanked him from behind. In the moment he turned around, a stray shot blew the metal manikin away as it crashed onto the ground by the soldier's feet.
Glaring over his shoulder, he turned to see his younger accomplice, acrobatically dodging the handful he was dealing with. The smoking barrel of one of his handguns answering his inquiry.
Tyson raised a scowl. "I didn't ask you to look out for me. I can handle whatever comes my way alone." He barked, returning to his own battle.
Facing back ahead of him, Tyson found a new foe barreling toward him, both hands reaching out to snatch him up. Raising his weapon horizontally, he reacted barely quick enough to impede the grab as he forced it to meet his weapon instead. The machine's mighty hold was more than enough to push the soldier backward. Even with all his strength and a firm traction beneath him, he was lead back without a single hitch.
Rolling to avoid a springing manikin, Ryuk slid over onto his back halfway through. Gazing up at the stars, he fired off a bullet up ahead and downed the drone above him, making it crash into the ground where it was meant to land. Quick to his feet, he kicked away a nearby machine before leap-frogging the next. "Never said you couldn't. Grouch." He shouted back, finding it difficult to split his focus.
The younger's lively movements were helping him evade the horde, but also backfired in the sense that it drew more toward him. Standing still to catch his breath would be all it would take to get overwhelmed on the spot. Dashing away, he fired a few isolated shots to ward off a few closing in.
Still being pushed back, Tyson swept the legs of his aggressor. While not grounding him, he was able to make the machine stumble. In its faltering moment, he yanked his weapon back. Seizing the opportunity, he stabbed the bayonet through the other's chest.
The machine's eye dimmed. Its body, rendered still as a statue.
As the passive man went to remove the pointed tip, the light retook the mechanical creature's lens. Its core began to vibrate, a thunderous roar beginning to emerge from its glowing core.
In a stroke of alarm, Tyson kicked the drone away and onto the ground. Running away, the machine blew, blasting away a few of its kinship in the process. "The cores are volatile!" The soldier warned, brushing some soot off his coat. "Strike the head to avoid a mess!"
Ducking a grab, the knight skipped back and away from the most recent attack. When two more closed in, he carefully spread his footing. As the closest moved in, the adolescent dodged toward the further. He had willingly moved himself to the closest range possible, his skin centimeters away from cold steel. Whipping out his gun, he blew a hole from underneath the chin out through the top of the head, dropping the since anchored scrap.
While the latest to fall crumbled, Ryuk positioned himself behind it, using its dead frame for protection. Leaning on its shoulder, he took out another two with well aimed head shots. Earning a fleeting moment of rest, he grinned over his shoulder. "What if I like making a mess?" He jeered, still trying to provoke the older associate. As soon as the taunt left his mouth he was on the move again, a new herd fast on the approach.
Tyson grit his teeth as a lone acting drone leaped at him without warning. Stabbing upward, his bayonet pierced its chest just like the last. When it started to glow and vibrate dangerously, he fired off a round. The barrel blocked, the bullet drove the machine off with force rather than pierce its metal hide. The drone flew back, landing into a group of its comrades and blowing them up to specks of shrapnel.
The swarm breaking away from him for the moment, Tyson stabbed his rifle into the ground and leaned against it to catch his breath. "I'm not your babysitter. Make your own decisions!" He shouted back, rearming himself as he loaded in a replacement bullet.
Ryuk ran in a straight line, hoping to create some distance. The result however was nearly ten machines all chasing after him in a messy mob. When one vaulted toward him, the teen weaved and kept running. The manikin falling from his missed attempt, it was immediately trampled.
Ryuk turned back expecting to find the rouge units pile over top each other, instead, he saw a frightening sight. The first to fall did hinder the others, as he predicted, the clumsy action had caused a sloppy heap of metal as they piled atop one another. Instead of just stopping there, they crawled and dragged themselves over each other, desperately reaching out for him in the process.
Stopping short, the knight expertly repositioned his feet and dodged hard to the side, swiftly turning at near right-angle at his top speed just in the nick of time.
With the machines fumbling over themselves, Ryuk took aim as he slid onto his back. Rather than aim for the head again, he chose the chest of a drone near the bottom of the clingy pile. Firing, a violent light started to emanate from the base of the jumbled mass. Moments after the building light and hum was overshadowed by more and more of the mechanical monsters. The base detonated, taking nearly all ten with it and dislodging another five.
Picking himself up, the teen wiped some sweat off his brow. "Definitely like making a mess." A smirk fit his face as he spoke, worn in an attempt to mask his worry.
Looking over, the knight spotted a pair running for Tyson from behind. Without any consideration, he sprinted to meet them. As he approached, he realized he might be able to stop one, but both would be tricky with his comrade's position. An idea building in his head, he altered his path from one that would intercept, and turned it into one that raced the pair to reach the soldier first.
Picking up his pace, Ryuk dug the balls of his feet into every dashing footstep. Closing the distance, his course of action didn't fall on deaf ears. Tyson turned to face him as he grew closer and Ryuk jumped up the moment he did. Reaching for his guns, the knight's feet collided with the older's chest. Tyson braced himself a moment before impact. The white-clad combatant was pushed back, but he didn't fall. This being the plan all along, the younger leaped up off the other's chest and drew both handguns. Still airborne, he fired off two rounds, each one passing through the center of the other two dubious machines, the bullet trajectories passing right over the former barkeep's shoulders.
Landing and taking a knee, Ryuk grinned up at the older. "You're welco—"
Before he could finish, Tyson aimed his rifle near the younger's head. Dipping it to the side on impulse, a shot was fired. After the gunshot, a heavy thud was heard behind him. His expression dropping, Ryuk glanced over his shoulder to see a dead machine collapsed mere steps away from his back.
"We're even." Tyson acknowledged, giving his back to the other again as he set his sights on new threats. "Now stay on task."
Shaking his head as he stood upright, the adolescent reloaded again. "And people tell me I can be fickle." He complained to himself, staying aware all the while.
The machines numbers decreasing bit by bit, they started to huddle together more. The ring that ensnared them tightened up. Shifting around, they ran both clockwise and counter-clockwise in units. A metal whirlpool shrinking as the fighting area within condensed by the second.
Tyson held his ground as a pair ran at him from opposite sides. Eyes focused on one, he left his exposed back to the other. While giving one what appeared to be his total attention, he started carefully backing up inches at a time, creeping toward the unwatched foe. About to be tackled, he jammed the stock of his rifle behind him up in the direction of his shoulder. The machine was stunned as the wooden frame was bashed into its sensor.
Using what leverage he had made to full use, Tyson hurried behind the dazed drone. Leading it forward, he whacked it in the back with his rifle, sending it careening forward. The action, forcing the opposing machines to crash into one another. Taking aim with his rifle at close range, the soldier fired a single shot, the round finding its way through the back of the head of one automaton and out the other.
While keeping busy himself, Ryuk saw a portion of the other's maneuver from his position. Smirking again, he kicked an enemy away and wandered a little closer. "Nice one, there. Gotta say, Tyson, you've come a long way for an reclusive guy with knight envy." The teen baited, taking his fun where he could.
His face as vacant of raw emotion as usual, the older looked over his shoulder with begrudging annoyance to launch a steadfast glare. "Take. That. Back." He ordered slow and bitterly.
Jumping up, Ryuk landed on the head of one of his opponents and used it as a spring board to clear a handful more. Landing, he started running off again. "Wow, not even a retort. I really touched a nerve with that one, didn't I?" He teased further while on the run.
When a machine darted away at a medium range, Tyson attempted to fire another clear shot. At the distance, his aim wavered and it ended up skimming the side of its head instead of passing through it. Off course, it kept going and bit the ground in front of the sprinting swordsmith. Whether that was intentional or not was hard to say.
With a scowl that leaned closer to a pout, Ryuk shot the other a dirty look. "Sure you know how to use that thing?"
As if to prove a point, the older slammed his weapon frame in front of him, bashing the body of a drone ahead of him mid-swing. "I'll manage." The teen informed coolly, whipping the machine around. With the strap of his rifle, he snagged it around the joint that bridged its chassis to its head, strangling the neck until the unit was dropped to its knees. With a dire yank, the joint was pressed in and the struggling machine became still. Undoing his sling from around the drone's destroyed neck, Tyson retook proper form.
Skidding to a halt near the older Ryuk smacked his revolver against one of the machines that had given chase. Disoriented, from the blow, the teen took advantage and blew it back with a high kick. Glancing over at the other, Ryuk cast aside his gaze, finding it difficult to keep eye contact. "You, uh... seemed pretty good at that. Like, you had practice." The implications of his words hurting the youth more than he expected.
Turning around at the accusation, Tyson pulled back on his weapon's bolt-handle. "Don't think about it." Was all he had to say, and all he would.
The ring of opposition that had surrounded them suddenly stopped. Each of the frenzied machines lifelessly stiff as they all stared at the two in a studying manner. After a few moments, they started marching in, every one of them moving in complete unison with each other, the ring closing by the second.
At the show of aggression, the two boys from Lun Des stood back to back, covering any blind spots shared between them. Each readying their weapons for the real battle about to begin.
"Low on ammo." Ryuk informed, loading the last of his bullets into the chamber.
"Same." The older mentioned, pushing his final round into the barrel.
With a sigh, the younger slumped his shoulders. Looking around, his spirits sunk a little. "Might wanna pull back here, Tyson." He suggested, advising practicality.
"You don't get to tell me what to do." The once part-time philosopher surly answered. An unprovoked and callous venom to his tone.
Caught off guard by the other's remark, Ryuk clenched his hands tightly around his dual firearms. Whipping his head over his shoulder, he dug up an angry stare. "What's your problem with me?" He cried with indignation.
"My problem is that you never take anything seriously." Tyson kept his back toward the other as he began to speak. Perhaps it was out of spite, maybe it was just an old habit rearing its head. "Peoples lives could be in danger and you're screwing around!" He chastised irately.
Shaking his head, the younger too started to face himself away from the other. "You were always like this." The knight-to-be informed, only somewhat under his breath. "No one's ever good enough for the oh so immaculate Tyson." He criticized more openly.
His shoulders boxing up, Tyson released a pent up huff. "It's not my fault that the task of making sense of everything always fell on me." Displeasure lining his subdued voice.
"Making sense of everything?" Ryuk repeated in confusion. Turning around, he started speaking straight toward the older's back. "Making sense of everything? Tyson, I'm risking my life and limb to save a bunch of strangers who'll never thank me. I'm a knight who's fighting with a soldier!" Moving to the other's side, the older only turned away again, but that didn't shield him from the continued duress. "None of this makes any sense!" The teen shouted, hammering his point home. "You wanna know what I think?" He asked as he rose a hand and grabbed the other's shoulder.
The horde maintained their steady approach. Their perimeter shrinking, the single row began to grow into multiple rings. The menacing gaze still boring into their targets from the bleak surroundings.
Yanking the smith's hand off his shoulder, Tyson turned himself around. He squeezed the other by his wrist for an instance before throwing the appendage back toward its owner. "Please!" He retorted bitterly. "I'm dying to know. Tell me exactly what the great dream chaser Ryuk really thinks of me!"
"You want me to say it as is, huh?" Ryuk asked in verification, the other's ill-tempered attitude starting to rub off on him.
"Oh, I'm all ears." Tyson snapped back, throwing out another glare.
The machines closing in, a unit from the front of the pack suddenly sprung at Tyson from behind. Witnessing this, Ryuk leaped passed him to head off the attacker before any damage could be done. Firing one of his handguns early, he used the recoil to propel a right hook. Slamming the top of the barrel against the side of the mechanoid's head, knocking it clean onto the ground mid-strike. "I think you're damn upstanding!" The teen roared, giving the answer all he could.
Staring wide eyed at the younger, the former barkeep's vision tightened up as he saw a pair follow up on the initial attack. Their prey being the open and vulnerable knight in front of him. Stepping in, he weakened one's footing and hurled him into the other, tumbling the two roughly onto the ground and away.
Standing tall, he gazed down at his comrade from over his shoulder. "Me? You're the one who gallivanted around the continent like you were on some damn sort of pilgrimage! Saints would be impressed with all the good you've accomplished." Writhing on the ground, one of the drone attempted to sit up. "Deeds you've performed while I was waiting tables." Plunging his rifle down head first, it stabbed through the machine's layered cranium.
When the other rose and tried to take down the soldier, Ryuk sprung across again to cover him. "Are you kidding me?" He hollered back, kicking the other away and back into the surging ring around them. "You practically ran Horace's tavern! He had to hire three people to pick up all the slack you were carrying. There's no way I could have done all the ordering, serving, cooking, cleaning, trading. I'd've been overwhelmed by day two!"
Clenching his jaw, the military recruit hung his head a little lower. "None of that matters anymore. Dreams and aspirations can only take you so far. When everything comes down to it, someone has to be the responsible one. And that someone had to be me." There was a clear anguish in his tone the more he spoke, he hated the words that left his mouth.
Shaking in frustration, Ryuk studied their grim situation, struggling to keep his wits about him. "Why? Why are you always like this?" He begged the question, the other man's words and actions incomprehensible at this stage.
The blue eyed man's stature only grew more crestfallen before answering. "Because someone has to be." The words seeming to wound him to a degree.
Turning away from the horde, Ryuk looked to his former friend once more. "No they don't Tyson!" Ricocheted the younger in a cheap counter-point.
"Yes they do." Tyson replied solemnly and adamantly. A middle ground, impossible.
Stepping in, Ryuk forced the other to face him properly. Pulling his head down, he made him stare into his resolute and golden gaze. "Alright. Look at me. No matter what happens here; what happens to us. I'll take full responsibility!" After his promise, he released the other and drew his weapons again, keeping his attention on the still embarking wave of foes before them. "That means you're finally free to cut loose. Happy now?" He challenged, still upset.
A large group descended upon them from all angles. Ryuk's defiant stare wavering as he contemplated how to fend off the current threat. Options limited, a dreadful hopelessness started to sink in as he lowered his head in a pungent acceptance.
Just and the swarming manikins were about to pounce, Tyson shifted his hold on his rifle. Instead of the natural position, he grazed his offhand just under the barrel while the other acted as a counter-weight near the bottom end, like he would a spear. Raising it overhead, he spun around and threw his whole weight behind a wide lashing swing. All threats, knocked away at once in one marvelous motion.
Plunging the rifle headfirst into the ground, Tyson started cracking his neck. Utter indifference painted his face. With a slow exhale, he stood more noble with shoulders back and head held high. "Fine then." He all of a sudden recited. "If we're to make it out of this, I'll have to act up— fall back on what I used to be."
Forcing a laugh, the knight stood up more proudly as well, falling back on his comrade's reassurance. "Now I'm starting to get worried." He teased. "Hold up." The younger spat out, turning around. "What you used to be?" He rightfully questioned. "What were you before a soldier exactly?"
Tyson dropped his Deiglyian branded coat, letting it crumble onto the cold ground. When one of the batted away machines lunged forward again, the expressionless man delivered an open palmed strike blow to its chest, blowing it into another behind it. The pair was sent toppling over like a house of cards. "A student of the world, obviously." He delivered with a straight face.
"Ha!" Ryuk jeered, laughing genuinely this time around. "Now we're talking!" The other teen boasted, his previously dashed confidence returning in a flood as his face lit back up to match.
Scrambling back to their feet, the first machine to rise started running toward the seemingly unarmed youth. When the bare-fisted combatant readied himself, his ally ran passed him. Throwing himself between the two, Ryuk dropped to his knees, sliding underneath the sprinting mechanoid amidst its strides. After passing under, the teen aimed behind him with both pistols and peppered the target in its back.
When the steel enemy faltered from the unexpected assault, Tyson seized his wounded opponent by the face with his dominant hand. Moving in, he threw out the other's footing and led the back of its skull into the earth by crashing its own weight into it. Slamming the head into the ground, it fractured into pieces, wrecked in one fell swoop.
Rolling back onto his feet, the knight was quick to rejoin his associate. Standing side by side, the duo spotted a few huddling together. Glancing up at the other, the youth motioned toward them with a brief movement of his head.
Nodding cordially, Tyson faced them fully. "After you." He asserted shortly.
With a smug look, the younger repeated the gesture. "Please, I insist."
After another quick shared glance, the two bolted outward together.
This time, instead of retaliating, the two teens were the ones to make the first move. Taking an early lead in their sprint, Ryuk picked a target by giving one of the drones a heavy kick to the chest. As the machine staggered back from the blow, the knight pivoted to the side.
Following right behind, Tyson continued the attack where the other left off. Moving with haste, he disoriented their target with a butting cross palmed blow to the side of the head. After, he took a step back, allotting more room.
Moving back in, Ryuk switched up his footing a performed a high kick, the strike landing under its chin. An ounce more of pressure and the machine would be sent hurdling back. Once again, he pulled out immediately after instead of following up.
Stepping forward, Tyson delivered a rising hit in the machine's lower core. The direction of force was redirected. While lacking power, it pulled the drone's body downward as opposed to away. With the foe doubling over, the soldier took a knee, angling his back toward the stars.
Running in, the knight approached from behind. Leaping ahead, he pressed his back against the other. Rolling over, back to back, the acrobatic fighter dispatched two falling kicks with his heels along the way before landing on his feet.
Rising back up. Tyson let out a long breath before shifting his weight and moving in with purpose. Giving his all to an open-fisted strike, it collided with the steel manikin's head at its pinpoint center. With all the abuse it had taken to get to that blow, when the palm connected, the cranium flew back, crumbling into over a dozen pieces before the now headless body fell flatly to the soil, like cast out wet cardboard.
At the ravaging sight, for the first time, a few of the machines took a step back, retreating away from their targets if only partially. They had been slowly adjusting on how to fight. Yet, at that moment, now matter how briefly, they discovered fear.
Smirking at what they had witnessed, Ryuk rejoined the other. "Can machines even get scared?" He bragged, jogging lightly in place to keep his body limber.
As Tyson stared emotionless at the dwindling horde, he began to crack his knuckles. "If not, they're about to learn."
Stopping in place, the adolescent knight-to-be adopted a downright nefarious fanged grin. "Yeah they are." He replied in agreement, almost coming off sinister.
In desperation, a lone drone vaulted toward the unarmed fighter. Without even giving the machine his full attention, Tyson brought up an arm and bashed his elbow into its eye sensor once it was within range. The blunt motion cracking its lens into a disjunction of tiny fissures. Stepping away, he gave the injured machine his back in full. With the same arm that crippled it, he pointed over his shoulder toward it with his thumb.
At the signal, Ryuk ran in. Leaping up, he gave a strong double drop kick. Landing high, the twin pair of boots split the weakened head section clean in half. Before the teen could plummet to ground, a hand yanked him by the collar and pulled him back, restoring his footing before any unprofessional landings could transpire.
Perhaps seeking revenge, a new drone ran in and fired off a wild swing at the older of the pair. Finding a new mark, Tyson ducked the high blow then grabbed it by the face similarly to a prior one. Finding his accomplice, he started slowly walking toward him, leading and dragging the machine in front of him along the way like a helpless puppet, whether it wanted to or not.
Seeing the act, Ryuk started firing bullets into the back of the manikin's head that the older was guiding over toward him. Back-peddling as he did, the pair stayed at a close range until two more shots were administered. With a rough throw, the machine was hurled backward toward the younger, one last shot piercing straight through the skull.
With divergent expressions, the two grouped back together, side by side. Reaching up, Ryuk patted the older's shoulder once firmly, signaling he was with him and ready for more. Without another signal, without a word or even the faintest of passing glances, the two charged forward, facing danger head-on.
The mechanoids swarmed the pair in a mob. Despite this, the duo fought them off resiliently. Without any vocal planning, the two played off each other's moves. When one went in, the other followed. If one wasn't able to finish a target off, the other did. Should one ever be left open, the other dedicated their all to picking up the slack.
Amidst the chaos, scrapes and bruise lost their true meaning. Rather than proof of a mistake, it became a sentiment of effort. The first few challenged the other to fight harder to earn their own marks, and so they did. Both boys became riddled in light injury one after another as they brawled valiantly beneath the moonlight sky.
The enemy's numbers falling down into single digits, the battlefield had become a graveyard of scrap. A scattered field of fallen foes blooming in front of the driven teens.
Ryuk breathed heavily as he stared up at the older beside him. A silent chuckle echoed through his body as he drooped forward. A thick sweat coated his skin like a body oil.
Next to him, the normally distinguished youth was equally disheveled. The typical vigor that he encapsulated within his demeanor had drained outright. Both of his feet were spread wider than usual, it was as though his own weight would have toppled him otherwise.
While exhaustion paled to describe the knight's sore and aching body, he could not help but smile up at the other's ever placid expression. While pushing himself to stand up more, his body swayed to compensate. "I think part of me always respected that about you. How up front, you always seemed cool and collected, even when you were raging on the inside."
Dragging a hand through his dirt and sweat covered hair, Tyson met the other's adored stare. "Perhaps the opposite could have been said about you." He conceded while agasp, returning the sentiment. Glancing over, his eyes rested on the abandoned rifle he forsook earlier in the evening, its location only a short distance.
Both turning forward, they stared at the two sole surviving drone left. Having endured a few tussles with them along the way, they too had their fair share of battle scars of scrapes and dents.
Rather than running in immediately, one of the steel warriors turned to the other, then the second did the same. One's lens blinked twice, then went dim. A moment after, the other did the same. Both turning forward again, they both blinked in unison, lowering their bodies in synch as they prepared a runner's kickoff stance.
Staring at the bewildering sight, Ryuk looked to his breathless ally. "These two are acting different. Any ideas why?"
Tyson stared at the two, his head eyes studying their every move, no matter how simple they may have seemed. "She mentioned something about them being adaptive. I never considered..."
While the teen was trailing off in his own thoughts before he could finish his sentence, the mechaniods broke toward them. Digging up the ground as they ran, one machine purposely slowed down so that it could follow directly behind the first. Its body partially hidden as they approached.
Taking the front most position, Tyson moved out and uprooted his rifle from the ground beside him. "This has gone on long enough." As he went to take aim, the lead machine pulled back a fist, readying a running assault. When the soldier traced his finger along the trigger, his foe halted its attack and darted away instead.
When the rifleman flinched from the unexpected feint, the one behind vaulted into the air. As it fell, it stuck out its front leg. Performing its first kick, it perfectly mimicked the younger's preferred technique as it closed in on the enlistee. As soon as it had taken up the position, panels on its back slid out to reveal a set of thrusters. Blazing through the air, it shot downward.
The shock was dispelled almost immediately. Throwing his body to the ground, he moved out of the designated path just in time to avoid the heavy crash that sunk in near his side.
The machine landed like a needle that had been shot from an artillery cannon. Its lower limb broke solid ground with immense ease. A modest crater left on impact, it instantly after leaped back up into the sky. With the use of its recently utilized thrusters, it changed its course once airborne. Dashing through the winds, it anew sought out the soldier.
Aiming up with his rifle, his partner did the same with his pistols from the side, aiding his companion. Both of them lit it up with gunfire. Their final ammunition spent as they perforated the metal being. The machine's course intricate as it was speedy, neither trusted themselves to target the head. Both of them riddled the combatant through the core from the front as well as the back.
The light in the drone's eye flickered as sparks shot out through its now damaged midsection. Losing control of its thrusters, they blew out behind him, shooting him into the ground earlier than planned. With a heavy collision, it crashed into the ground with its body and barreled away. The number of assailants now cut in half.
The sole remaining solitary machine stood between the pair. Rendered immobile for some unknown reason, it waited for the youths to attack.
Ryuk was the first to move in. In doing so, the drone opposed the claimed distance with an open handed punch, similar to the former barkeep. The youngest forced to pull back as a result.
Frowning at the lowly imitation, Tyson got up and inched closer himself. Once withing reach, the machine flung out a sloppy high kick that produced another quick retreat.
The two teens glanced at each other and gave a steady nod. Moving in together, the duo struck before any retaliation could be devised. The younger kicked and the older drove his open palm forward. Both connecting on opposite sides of the mechanoid's head, it was pressed together, crushed flat.
Disabled, the machine staggered a few steps back then fell hard onto the ground. The red glow of the final machine blinking before dying off like all the rest.
With a long groan coupled with a huff, Tyson cracked his neck again. Walking over to the jacket he removed earlier, he shot a scowl over at the smith. "Don't think for an instant I'll thank you. What you just did was nothing short of a knight's duty, after all." He spoke out, avoiding any and all expressions of gratitude.
Sighing at how difficult the other was being, the younger shook his head, following directly behind. A tired smile painted his scuffed up face. "Yeah, yea— Tyson!"
Whipping his head forward, the soldier saw the reason for the other's sudden outcry. Directly in front of him was the now standing former partner of the last two drones. Bullet holes marring its center frame, fire spewed from its now violently humming and shaking damaged core. Spreading its arms wide, it went to grapple the older, aiming to take him out along side it with its final actions.
Tyson froze initially. He saw how far along the machine's detonation was. Wagering he had less than a second and a half to react, his feet fastened themselves to the ground. Overwriting his body's natural instincts and fear response, he leaned away, attempting to run, but he knew it would be too late.
Dashing underneath his arm, Ryuk ran forward, bashing a shoulder into the drone's volatile chest. The daring move bought them about a foot's worth of distance, but not a speck more of time. Now in the lead, the teen rose his arms above his head to shield himself from the oncoming blast he was now positioned front and center of.
Right as the haywire machine exploded, Tyson tackled the younger from behind. Pressing the two of them onto the ground, he pulled the knight tight into his chest, bracing the blunt of the detonation with his own back in the process.
Following the destructive bang, a dense smokescreen settled over the immediate area. The shaking ground subsiding no sooner as all parties were swallowed up by the gluttonous black cloud.
. . . . . . . . .
The dust storm seemed to have settled directly over Lun Des. With the walls still rocking, the two teens had decided to move away from the cluttered shelves in precaution. Taking up a small vacant corner, they sat next to each other, shoulder to shoulder in the still rooted muteness.
Ryuk watched as a few of the shelves teetered, their contents wobbling. "This thing really ain't leaving. Guess I'm getting the day off from Jin's daily workout." The dark haired youth voiced, still trying to make small talk.
"I almost pity how much you try to impress me." Tyson mentioned curtly, playing with his cuffs.
The younger could help but laugh at how blatant and unprovoked the response was. The unexpectedness of it all left him all smiles as he glanced up at the teen beside him. "I don't need to try to impress you, Tyson." He was quick to retort.
With a flat expression, the drink mixer gave up on straightening his sleeves and instead began rolling them up to his elbows. "Is that a fact?" He asked with notable disinterest.
"Yeah." The other chimed. "It happens naturally." The lines rolling off his tongue like silk.
Resting his hands on his pulled up knees, Tyson stared unstirred toward the younger beside him. His eyes lingered on his cheeky expression. "I suppose there is some merit to that." He acknowledged, allotting the other that much.
Before the knight in-training could even open his mouth to continue their fatigued conversation, Tyson made his move. Slamming an open hand onto the wall right beside the other, the bartender leaned in close. The act, pinning the other where he was and preventing any escape. His strong emotionless gaze unfaltering, even now.
Unable to conceal a nervous gulp, Ryuk did his best to meet the other's stalwart eyes with only limited hesitation. The stern look eventually chasing his stare off, the younger couldn't help but glance away. "It's a little cramped in here. I think the heat's finally getting to you." The budding smith joked, trying to diffuse a bit of the tension.
"It's fine." The older said, selfishly dissuading the other's concerns. "Even if I am in a daze, it's important to make mistakes when you're young. Lest we repeat them when we're older." While he spoke, he inched closer still, bridging the gap little by little.
Ryuk could not fight back another hard swallow as he timidly stared off. His eyes would on occasion shift back over, only to dart away soon thereafter. "Yeah... well..." He stuttered, caught between the uncertainty of what to say while also terrified of letting the silence engulf him.
Halting his approach inches away from the other's face, Tyson paused. "This is the part where you're supposed to push me away." His words offering the younger a chance to withdraw.
Replying with a light chuckle, the wayfaring youngster finally welled up the courage to meet the other's gaze again, collecting himself in the meantime. "I know." Staying put with a cheeky smirk, he relaxed up, not moving a muscle as he resolved himself for what was to come.
Done waiting, the blue eyed barkeep acted on impulse. Caressing the back of the younger's scalp, running his fingers through his hair, he pulled him in, sealing their distance with a brutish kiss. In doing so, the world seemed to stop. The culling winds ceased at that instance as sheer silence filtered in. That which unnerved the younger the most had enveloped him, in more ways than one.
When Tyson retracted himself, the other was left huffing, his chest rising and falling heavily. "Do you hear that?" He asked the younger snappishly, ignoring his impassioned state.
Eyes still closed at first, Ryuk reluctantly cocked one eye open. "Tyson, I don't hear anything." His tone exposing the annoyance he felt from the older's interruption.
"Exactly." Rudely, Tyson pressed an open palm against the other's face. Shoving him away callously, he tossed the other to the floor as he started to push off onto his feet. "The storm's passed." He announced, immediately heading toward the door to the front of the bar.
Dragging a hand down his face, Ryuk wore the injustice like it were a fitted veil. "Learn to read the mood." He complained aloud, receiving no comments. Watching the other leave the room, he laughed lightly to himself. "He beat me again." the knight conceded with heated cheeks.
Picking himself up off the floor, the knight in-training gave one last and longing look before heading down toward the basement. The two, each heading off in opposite directions.
. . . . . . . . .
His body tingling with pins and needles, Tyson stirred. The hard ground he rested against being a firm anchor as the rest of his senses groggily began to fade in.
"...son! Tyson!" Ryuk shouted over and over from above, shaking the older who up until recently had remained unresponsive.
Blinking slowly, the older stared up as the knight's body focused up into view. A long ringing in his ears dulled gradually as he aimed his glossy gaze at the familiar focal point atop him.
With a heavy sigh of relief, the younger of the two seemingly collapsed within himself when he noticed Tyson's more cognitive body language. Falling onto his knees, his right hand never let go of the older's shoulder.
Pushing up off the ground, the soldier propped his body into a seated position with rigid difficulty. His joints all fought him as he did so. "I've been thinking about the most nonsensical things today." He commented aloud as he forced himself more and more upright.
Spiked with worry once again, Ryuk did his best to keep the other idle. "That's real great, Tyson. Don't move so much. Stay still." He urged, no attempt given at trying to hide the worry which surrounded him.
Sitting up relatively normally, Tyson rubbed his sore neck, ignoring the other's advise in whole.
Shoulders slacking, the knight sighed again. "Geez. What were you thinking back there?" His complaints seemingly falling on deaf ears when he earned no immediate response.
Still feeling his tender body out, Tyson paused. "You left yourself open. I had to compensate." He mentioned, downplaying his role.
Frowning, Ryuk rocked forward, minimizing their distance. "My coat's thicker than yours, remember? And you used to say I was reckless."
Not very fond of being belittled, the enlistee found it was time to remove the other's possessive hand from his shoulder. "I wasn't being reckless. I made the conscious choice to protect what was more important." The statement handed out as robotically as the forces they had the displeasure of fighting all night.
The younger adolescent gawked at the older at his completely nonsensical declaration. Dumbfounded, he could only continue his bare stare. "What? Look, I'm only gonna say this because you'll probably be too zonked out of it to remember any of this anyway. So, here it goes." The prolonged build up highlighting how abashed he was, if nothing else. "I'm still just an apprentice. I haven't even been knighted yet. You're an enlisted soldier, a noble too. Mayor's son, disowned or not. No matter how you slice it, Tyson, you're way more valuable than I could ever hope to be right now."
Narrowing his gaze in disapproval, Tyson turned his head outward. Avoiding the other's earnest gaze, he made a noise akin to frustrated growl. "When I said you were more important, I meant to me."
The hits just kept coming as Ryuk stared once again in further disbelief. "Oh." Was all he could utter, this being one of the rare palpable moments when the silver tongue was left at a loss for words. "Well then, how about we just forget about all that embarrassing stuff I just said?"
"Only if we do the same for me." The older replied, clearly as uncomfortable with the turn of events as the other.
"Sounds good." Ryuk choked out, casting away his gaze.
Done wallowing about, the soldier started to push off into a shaky stand. As he did, the other rose with him. Putting his weight beneath him for the first time, the recruit almost fell right away.
"Tyson!" The smith shouted in worry, catching the other before he could collapse.
Holding onto the younger's shoulder for support, Tyson pulled himself up into a proper stand. Afterword, he removed the other's tight hold. "That's more than enough. I'm fine." The other criticized, brushing himself off.
At the other's response, Ryuk steadied an uncertain look, not sold by a long shot. He didn't seem to like the idea of leaving the other's side by more than a step's distance at the present.
"Don't give me that look." Tyson instructed, crossing his arms. "Unless you or Alice have spontaneously awoke to the healing artes overnight, then the best course of action I can take is to go back to base. I'll apply some military first aid and get some rest." Even when recovering from shell shock, the reserved man was ever the pragmatic.
Ryuk nodded reluctantly. "Yeah... I guess." Not yet convinced.
The soldier face grimaced. "Stop dawdling. We're far enough away from the town, but that ruckus was sure to gather some attention. Get going before a patrol spots you."
Realizing how the other wasn't budging on the matter, Ryuk nodded. "I'm going. I'm going." With a weary smile, he gave half-hearted wave and started off back toward the town.
After about a dozen steps away, the teen shook his head. "It couldn't have been a normal guy. No. You had to fall for the aloof older boy who worked at the bar." He voiced, complaining to himself.
Coming to a stop, worry getting the best of him, Ryuk peered over his shoulder to check on the other one more time. When he did, he saw Tyson staring straight at him. He had not moved and inch, and in all likelihood looked as though he planned on it until the younger was safe and gone from sight.
Feeling his ears heating up, the youth turned forward to hide his betraying smile. The knight sighed contently as he started heading off again. "And you fell hard."
. . . . . . . . .
Limping down the staircase into the metal-lined quarry, Tyson dragged a hostile glare around the interior. After spotting the head scientist herself, his focus remained on her entirely as he came down.
"Welcome back!" The redhead greeted warmly, raising her arms enthusiastically.
Staggeringly making it over toward her work desk, the worn man dropped off the goods he was made to fetch earlier that night. Even after dropping off the added weight, his shoulders still carried a heavy weight to them.
Turning around, he exposed a steel wrapped severed head of one of the drones tucked carried under one arm. Moving it into his hands, he lightly lobbed the head up into the air between them. When it fell, it hit the ground with a dense force and shot out a metallic ping.
Clang!
After, it started to bounce, almost comically. Rolling by the end, it stopped just before its creator's shoes. "Your machines may have a glitch or two." The man informed with a cold ire.
Cocking her chin to the side slightly, Undine didn't give the destroyed manikin more than a second's worth of her attention. "Hm? Oh, no." Shaking her head, she kept up her cordial smile. "I intentionally ran a berserk program." She revealed without hint of remorse.
The former bartender cocked at brow at the new information. "Intentionally?" He repeated back to her slowly, as though he had misheard her.
Nodding, Undine spun around back toward her terminal. "Uh huh." Before going back to typing away on the console, she leaned over and flashed a smirk that held more than a shade of arrogance. "Thanks, by the way. Because of you and Ryuk, I was able to get a ton of usable data." Sitting up, she patted the side of her computer appreciatively. "It'll help a lot in the future."
With the same unwavering look he always wore, Tyson threw out the dirty look over her shoulder toward her machine.
Noticing his stare, the scientist sat back down and turned back toward him. "I'm backing it up right now." She brought up, staying abrupt.
Unsure, the man rose an uncertain brow as he slowly approached. "My knowledge when it comes these sorts of things is rudimentary at best." He conceded, stopping directly in front of her.
Smiling proudly, the redhead adjusted her frames and stuck out her chest. "Well, normally we store data in a tower or a drive. Think of it like a digital locker." Upon receiving a cognitive nod, she continued. "Too bulky for my tastes. I designed this one personally to store information through a backboard behind the monitor to save room." Expecting praise, she leaned in. "Pretty impressive, huh?"
His face didn't so much as budge. "Might I take a look?"
Pouting, the redhead rolled her eyes. "Su—"
Pushing passed her, Tyson rose his gun overhead and aimed the bottom downward. With a serene calmness, he slammed it down, crashing straight through the screen in one go. Pulling it out, he repeated the action again and again.
Standing up and taking a step back, Undine rose her arms to shield her from any potential oncoming debris. "Tyson!" She called out in reprimanding fashion, but he only pressed on.
Stopping, the blue eyed enlistee turned his rifle around in his firm grip. Grabbing it near the barrel as well as the back, he started plunging the attached bayonet inside to skewer areas he hadn't been able to reach prior.
Stomping a foot, the scientist lowered her hands. "Stop it! Just— Hold on!" Reaching for his arm to try and stop him or at least hinder him, she was immediately cast off. "Would you— Enough already!" She cried out, ceasing him. She blinked in surprise.
Tyson remained still. Dislodging his weapon, he became idle. Both his chest and shoulders raised heavily as his body aimed to relax after the impromptu exercise. Opening his mouth, he let out a few tired gasps.
Tentatively, the woman started to ease her tense shoulders. "Have you—"
Cocking his rifle, Tyson fired off a single round into the dilapidated remains of the computer. Pulling back on the bolt-handle, he shot off another, and another after that.
Frowning childishly, the older woman crossed her arms, zipping her lip. Unamused and annoyed, she planted her feet where she stood.
At the last bullet, smoke started simmering out from the center of the completely shattered monitor screen. Calmly, Tyson put down his firearm and started rooting around the interior drawers of the woman's desk. Pulling out a small fire extinguisher, he aimed the nozzle at the machinery and gave a squeeze. Hosing down the humble beginnings of the contained electrical fire, Tyson's face remained still, not yet etched by the slightest sign of emotion whatsoever.
The extinguisher's contents diminished, the fire preventative spat out dry puffs of air. Emptied, it was dropped callously onto the floor.
Tyson's handiwork had left the terminal destroyed from top to bottom. Small singed marks littered the interior of the monitor's frame. Its body warped and misshapen. A dense and messy foam coating the interior and even oozing onto the keyboard.
Reaching back into the same drawer as before, Tyson pulled out a small first-aid kit. Picking up his rifle with the other hand, he started walking passed the redhead. "See you tomorrow." He said, taking his leave. The expression on his face was effectively cool and contained, looking the same as it did when he initially entered.
Pushing up her glasses onto her forehead, Undine closed her eyes. With her thumb and index finger, she started massaging her shut gaze. "See you tomorrow." She tiredly replied, unsure of what else she could possibly say.
Author Notes:
I'm just gonna say it and get it out of the way. Ryuk has always been bisexual and his history with Tyson was hinted multiple times just never explicitly stated until this chapter. Moving on.
Much like Gray, Tyson was an important character that aside from the events of the finale, didn't really get a chance to shine. This chapter gives Tyson some action, as well as some much needed character development. We also get to see a window into what the two were like prior to the main story. Furthermore, it highlights a sharred parallel of Tyson and Ryuk with the fueding brothers of Victor and Jin respectively.
