I'm just smashing my face into another tomorrow
Closing today go over yesterday's audio
Killing some time till I'm flushed out or I'm told to go
I'm only killing some time inside my house of noise
Killed by the climb killed by the lows and the highs
Killing some time till I go deaf in my house of noise
I got a burning inside
To scream you know I'm alive
I've every right to be me
I've got a brain but it's dead
A heart that's easily led
I've a remote but no TV
I'm kicking both of my legs
My arms and bangin' my head
But nothing seems to be right
I'm lost in life on a roll
Burning up in a hole
I'd like to bid you all goodnight
Rumors about the abbey deep beneath the ground had existed for ages; they were passed down through countless generations. People whispered in mysterious tones of a legendary power, something BioVolt had been searching for since their beginning.
As they walked through the dark depths of its hallways, they felt their minds fill with intoxicating whispers. Guided by this ever-alluring promise, they seemed to question if they'd lost their sanity. The air around them seemed to tremble, scared to move or make a sound that might disturb whatever ancient being slept within its walls. No one knew what had been there thousands of years ago. But those who stayed long enough experienced it—this place was alive.
Before BioVolt was the Abbey; and the Abbey was built on the foundation of the unknown.
He couldn't shake the sensation that something was amiss; the night seemed darker, like a black veil had been cast over Moscow. Streetlights flickered and the shadows of passersby and criminals lay in corners of the city. The people were anxious and tense, as if something sinister lurked beneath the surface.
What kind of fiends were these? Had someone opened portals to other realms, or was this natural? How did it connect to the faith of Solomon? So many questions without answers.
Exhaling heavily, he sat in his car parked on a nearby corner. He was close enough to observe the workshop. The FBSC had been staking it out, presumably arriving just after he and Boris had left this morning. "Fucking Rachel and her intel." He had to give it to her.. she was keen and an excellent tactician.
He didn't have the energy to deal with them anymore. Out of bullets, he started to think about obtaining heavier arms while he was at it. Maybe his skillful attempt at Bifron had made it look like he had no qualms punching a bit beast between the eyes... but he was aware that his luck had been stretched thin in fighting that one.
"Not as lucky as they though.." He muttered to himself, thinking about Raul and Julia. A brief look at his phone made him wonder if he should call her, but generally, it would be for selfish reasons, just to hear her voice. With haste, he glanced through the message box: a lot of missed calls from Brian, and a text message from Spencer with details on where they had taken Raul and an update on his state.
Tapping the top of the steering wheel impatiently he assessed his priorities. He had to obtain new arms and restock first. Wrapping the collar of his vest around his neck, he left the car and blended into the darkness of the night. The streets were eerily quiet; only the rumbling of equipment in nearby workshops could be heard. He walked quickly but kept his head low, his eyes trained on the agents ahead of him.
With a quick gesture from his hand two hounds appeared from the shadows at his feet. As he got closer he lunged forward, and both hounds jumped on the agents, dropping them unconscious. Then, he dragged both bodies up an alley that was dead-ended with a brick wall. He climbed over it effortlessly and stood at the top for a few moments surveying the back of the workshop where three more agents were visible.
Annoyed, he thought about how to proceed – since most of his energy had already been used up and maintaining two hounds proved difficult enough.
Tala motioned for one hound to accompany him as he scrambled up the drainage onto the flat roof. Old scaffolding materials were scattered about from a project that had been long forgotten. He grabbed a frame and threw it in the opposite direction, causing three agents to turn around with their guns drawn. The first hound then leapt out of the shadows while Tala dropped from the roof with the other hound, and within seconds one agent had been incapacitated while the second took more effort to take down. He managed to grab hold of the third agent in a headlock, but suddenly a sharp pain shot through his head making him lose focus for an instant which caused the hounds to vanish. The agent elbowed Tala in the ribs causing him to release his grasp and allowing him to free himself.
The agent aimed his gun at him, but before he could pull the trigger Tala stepped forward swiftly, grabbed his arm that held onto the weapon, and twisted it backward, trapping him in a chokehold. He applied pressure on his mouth and nose until he passed out; when he let go of him, the man crumpled onto the floor.
Heaving a sigh, he thrust open the back door that lead into the mess of a garage. It was plain to see that the FBSC had searched the place, but he always made sure to keep what had to be hidden in a more secure place.
It wasn't like he suspected this might happen - but he was aware of the possibility that either the cops or other government authorities could barge in on him at any moment. After all, he wasn't exactly known as an exemplary citizen.
Stopping at the truck in the center of the room, he released the handbrake and pushed it slightly forward, revealing an access point into the inspection pit. Climbing down the ladder, he removed one of the metal gratings at the bottom and pulled up on a handle. He heard a click as something shifted into place. He stood upright and yanked back on the handle once more. Beneath was a hollowed-out space with a metal casing inside. Lifting off the top of the container, there was a box filled with bullets, papers, several different license plates, and a set of keys. He grabbed everything quickly, reloaded his gun and stuck some extra magazines in his pocket before replacing everything back to its spot and climbing out of the pit.
He strolled around a bit longer, knowing it would be a while until he returned. He wasn't usually the type to get sentimental over anything, but this place was special to him; he built it from the ground up and spent countless hours here. This was his second home.
Tala gritted his teeth in frustration, knowing that he was powerless in the current situation. Despite his strength and capacity for government takeover, a federal organization and a group of crazed fanatics had him cornered. He was beginning to tire of playing by the rules, all for the sake of a false sense of protection. At BioVolt, there were no rules; he did whatever it took, no matter who or what stood in his way. He burned entire villages down without any regard for collateral damage. Tala was well aware of his capabilities, and the thought brought him a sense of peace that also terrified him.
He entered the small, cramped office and slumped onto the sofa. His hand ran over his face and through his hair, but he was quickly reminded of the laceration on the side of his face. He didn't care about it anymore and didn't have any motivation to deal with it. Before everything went wrong, he always knew where he stood, what had to be done first, and how to build a future that he saw as ideal. With his team by his side, he felt like they could do anything, go anywhere, and not give a damn. And then, something unexpected happened; Julia entered his life. If anything, Tala longed for peaceful days without interference from anyone or anything. Maybe it was divine punishment.
But God was dead. Those years of fighting in the shadows, they felt wasted, and the reality was how he had zero control in the entire situation whilst everybody was pulling him in every direction. How he longed for a long sleep, one where his mind was just quiet for once. Where the droning noises and agonizing shots of pain would just keep away. He didn't want to take a fucking painkiller or drink another bottle but what choice did he really have?
Tomorrow was going to be another endless day of meetings with people who weren't willing to cooperate. Whether he attended or not, would it make a difference? His job was to keep the monsters at bay and once he had done that, the FBSC would hunt him down and never stop until they found him.
He eased himself into the couch and looked up at the ceiling. His breath hung in the air, but he barely noticed it as the temperature dropped. The power he had obtained did not come without consequences, and he had felt them deeply.
Now, he wanted only to let the ticking of the clock keep his mind from dwelling on darker ideas. It would only be a matter of time before he had to face reality again, he owed it to his brothers for their assistance earlier today. They deserved a real explanation for putting up with his antics all these years, but where would he even begin? He just had to make sure they didn't follow him, as he knew they wouldn't have the same resistance against the corruption from the rifts like he did. The thought of them ending up in one of those places was too much to bear…
Finishing gathering everything he needed, he marched out the front door, driving towards his destination. At least the FBSC wouldn't be able to trace where he was going that easily. It was moments like these when it really paid off to use all those false names and documents.
Surrounded by the safety of the tall wooden fence the house stood hidden between the others in a small residential area at the far outskirts of the city. From outside he could already hear their endless bickering and it made him chuckle.
He inhaled, then opened the door and discarded his muddy boots and protective armor to the floor of the hallway. He stepped into the living room and saw that all three had hushed. He rolled his eyes at them, striving to ignore their uneasiness. "Just spill it," He gave a sharp command as he pulled up a chair and placed it beside the couch they were sitting on.
Examining their expressions, Ian was silent - he usually just avoided any disputes. Spencer managed to keep his cool but it was obvious that his patience was wearing thin. Brian's face showed signs of anger.
The atmosphere had become increasingly charged in the silence when Brian's forbearance ran out. Popping up from the couch, he was about to vent his rage when Spencer cut him off and said, "Just tell us what went down today." His words sounded more like a request than a demand.
Did he need to waste his breath attempting to explain something he didn't even understand himself? He had seen enough with the Gehennalis over the years to know that what your eyes tell you is never the whole story. They twist and contort minds, corrupting reality beyond recognition.
"I have been running with the FBSC for a while now, a couple of years, five give or take." Ian and Spencer exchanged a quick glance, but both kept silent.
Brian, on the other hand, was quick to respond. "What's that got to do with anything?" he asked, his voice rising with anger. "What did you do, and why do you look like you've been in a warzone?"
He sighed, but ignored Brian's comment. At this point he'd probably just spits out anything that his brain comes up with anyways "I struck a deal with the FBSC," He began. "They began purging teams owning sacred beasts and we were top of their hit list."
Spencer blinked in awe "You mean to say that they were responsible for some of those disappearances?!"
Nodding slowly he confirmed Spencer's remark. "They treaded carefully with teams affiliated to the BBA since it would immediately cause suspicion and they needed to keep being backed by the government and the common folk." Leaning back in the chair he crossed his arms. "But I suppose we can all guess why it would be us that they wanted to rid off first."
Brian spat, shaking his head in disbelief. "Damn, if I'd seen them coming, there wouldn't have been any survivors."
"Nobody survived," Tala said tersely.
This made the other three look at him with surprise and worry. "W-what do you mean?"
"I think they were afraid of us and wanted to take us out one by one," he said, guessing their motives.
"Heh, like they should be," Ian huffed.
Tala ignored him. "Realizing I was onto them, they proposed a deal. Either it would be a large-scale game of cat and mouse between both sides, or the FBSC would let the BBA teams go free and avoid losses on both ends. There was no way I could've tried to travel around the world preventing them from catching everyone, but nor could they succeed in it."
"And so the deal led to a ceasefire for everybody," Spencer finished his thought. "Though- there is much more to it than a shady deal with a federal organization, isn't it?"
"The Gehennalis issue is far more complicated than anyone understands. The BBA presented a video at the last meeting as evidence, although I suspect it was obtained by one of the FBSC agents. Especially since that girl... has died."
Spencer was unflinching as he inquired, "How can you be so sure?"
"I pulled the trigger," Tala answered plainly.
Brian exhaled a discouraged sigh and muttered, "Fuck, Tala. So what was all that bullshit about a new future, you thought you could just go off on your own not thinking for a fucking second about how that affects any of us, the entire team?!" His voice rose with anger as he spun around to face Tala.
Tala got up and shot back without hesitation as Brian got closer. "You think I'm trying to give us another BioVolt? Do you honestly believe I'd have any of you follow me after the clusterfuck we saw there?" His chest heaved with fury and his heart beat faster as his rage grew. He knew Brian aimed for him to bite back but despite that knowledge he wasn't holding back.
Their faces nearly touching, Brian refused to back down an inch. "Do you really think none of us care what happens to you, or are just content letting you disappear without a trace?
Ian wanted to jump in hearing such bold accusations, but Spencer held up a hand prohibiting him from speaking."Let them fight it out; at worst they'll break something," Spencer mumbled under his breath.
"And then what?" Tala's voice bellowed louder as seconds passed. "You want to sentence yourself to death? No one has to obey me and I'm not forced to tell you every damn detail of my life!".
"We're not made of paper and it's a life that we all made," Brian countered. "Any of us has done questionable things, and I'd take a fucking bullet for you. You might feel guilt for BioVolt but don't you think that we hadn't felt that amount of defeat back in Australia?!"
As Brian spoke, Spencer's face drooped and he shifted his gaze downwards. "Brian is right...if any of us had just done more, you wouldn't have had to take on Garland and Boris alone."
Tala's eyes flickered with a hint of regret, but he quickly swept it aside. "I didn't need any of you then, and I don't need you now." His voice was cold and distant, and his eyes bore into Brian's with an intensity that made him take a step back.
The falcon blader was on the verge of turning away from the situation, but as it sometimes happened before, his inquisitive nature won out. With a single step forward, he swiftly pivoted on his heels and threw a punch directly at Tala's face.
"Here we go..." Spencer sighed and decided it was best to leave the room while the other two argued. He knew better than to try and step in between them when they began bickering.
As the punch landed on his jaw, he felt his lip tear open. He wiped away the blood and looked at Brian with a satisfied smirk, instead of rage. "You still punch like a little bitch, Brian. Is this all you have to show for yourself?"
Brian's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "I'll show you what I'm made of, Tala," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Tala's smirk only grew wider as he raised his fists in a defensive stance. "Come on then, let's see what you've got," he taunted.
Brian launched himself at Tala with a ferocity that surprised even himself. His fists flew through the air, each one landing with a satisfying thud on Tala's body. Tala fought back, his own punches landing with deadly accuracy. The two bladers circled each other, trading blows and insults until they were both panting and bruised.
At last, Tala landed a punch that made Brian stagger. He stumbled, almost tripping over a chair, but before he could hit the floor, the redhead caught hold of him by the collar. In a metaphorical sense, Tala was never going to let him fall.
A moment passed and almost like nothing had ever happened between them the four of them had taken a seat at the kitchen table, each with a beer in one hand and Brian holding a bag full of frozen peas against his cheekbone. Tala leaned forward, his head resting on the table while Spencer stitched up his shoulder where Bifron had stabbed him.
Spencer sighed exasperatedly and mumbled, "Why is it always me fixing you two up?"
Brian let out a chuckle and took a sip of his beer. "Although, without us you'd never have gone into medicine in the first place."
Spencer glared at them both, but knew better than to retort. He was right, after all.
Ian leaned back in relief that his home was peaceful again. While their argument didn't make it all better, it had certainly helped to clear the air. "So what happens next?"
Tala ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled a heavy sigh. "Tomorrow, they're planning to have some sort of gathering with the FBSC and the BBA. I don't know how that'll go-they can hardly stand each other now."
"Hm.." Ian uttered, opening his laptop and displaying a news article. "I'm not so sure about that." The photograph captured the moment Mr. Dickenson, Rachel and Kai had shared a handshake an hour ago.
"Looks like Hiwatari is up to his old tricks again," Brian said.
Narrowing his eyes Tala thought of the situation. The entirety of this photo was just as true as Rachel's promises. Void of anything meaningful. In a sense... he was free from the FBSC now, they had way too much on their hands now to deal with him not honoring his end of the bargain. Even Rachel had to be wise as to how to use her resources now, without him half her agents would simply perish in a rift. Therefore she'd not be so quick as to go after the teams so easily. Besides the faith of Solomon is going to make a move, he was damn sure of that.
Considering the assets he had he didn't have a whole lot to run with. His team was extremely dependable but he wasn't going to risk finding out whether they had the same resilience as he did to the Gehennalis. Because if they didn't.. there was no turning back. At the same time he had Boris in his corner, a genius madman, but he trusted him more than the FBSC right now. He wasn't going to bet on the BBA's help either, instead he was considering breaking in again in the basement and get a hold of both Judy's and Tatsuya's research. The BBA were cowards, but their intel was pretty solid. Beside's wherever the BBA was going, so were the teams. Lastly, he needed to figure out where Kai stood this time around, making sure his loyalties weren't against them in the long run.
"Alright, fine," Tala said, arms crossed and leaning back. "But swear to me that you won't come after me no matter how bad things look." All three of them nodded in agreement, but Tala could tell they were just going through the motions. "Bunch of liars," he thought to himself with a small smirk.
Then, for the next two hours, Tala detailed his involvement with the FBSC, including scouring off most of the European continent to keep the fiends at bay. He spoke about the numerous agents who had given their lives in the fight against evil and how their organization had solidified with Rachel as its head. Little was known about the board that stood above her, though he had fully utilized his cover as a workshop owner to create some distance between himself and everyone else.
Eventually he came to the point of what made things turn into a landslide. "about three weeks ago I got a notice that my old man had passed away,"
"Hold up!" Ian interjected. "You mean your biological father?!"
Tala nodded in confirmation. "It was nothing special, only to make sure he was truly gone. But then Boris showed up on the same day."
Brian's hands gripped the table and his bottle so hard the glass might have shattered. "Tell me you at least buried him alive there?"
Tala let out a small laugh. "Wishful thinking," he commented. "No, he didn't seem to have any kind of support — it looks like he's going at it solo in some last-ditch effort to finish what he dedicated his life to. I hadn't really taken him seriously until he showed up at an investigation site from the FBSC."
"He must have been desperate to try and get into the FBSC, even though you're sure he had nothing to do with them?"
"No way," he said, ruffling the back of his head. "The investigation didn't go as planned - a Gehenallis took out everyone except us two, he was like Rambo, leaping over debris and avoiding attacks."
Ian and Brian were both in fits of laughter. "That guy must be at least seventy!" Spencer and Tala also found it amusing, and they couldn't help but chuckle. Even back when he lived in the abbey, there was no way he had ever been so fit.
Merely thinking about that evening gave Tala chills. He and Boris had been walking for hours when he'd run out of painkillers, which made the whole experience even worse. It wasn't something he wanted to talk much about. "We encountered a few FBSC agents while on foot and they started shooting at us. Thankfully, I knew some of them weren't hostile towards me, so we managed to get away from them. We had only been back in Moscow a few hours when I realized that bitch Florente had summoned Bifron."
"Was that... bit beast?," Spencer questioned out loud. "Like the ones in the rift then? Because if you say that they corrupt the minds how come you, Julia and Raul had remained unaffected."
Tala was a bit uncertain how to respond and he wasn't ready to accept that Boris had been stating that entire family thing either. "Bifron and the other one we encountered during the investigation were much more powerful than the ones emerging from rifts, I think related to this hierarchy thing Tatsuya's been going on about. Those two..." He paused for a moment; most likely they had never noticed that Mihai had taken care of them, probably in order to lure him towards the Fath of Solomon, but that didn't seem to be influencing Tala's decision. "They had been affected by exposure, though not for long enough, thanks to all of you acting as quickly as you usually do."
Spencer raised an eyebrow in suspicion, but kept his mouth shut. He could tell that Tala wasn't telling the truth. Although it was clear that Tala had gone through a lot of pain, the redhead never once talked about it. when he was stitching him up, he noticed all the tattoos on Tala's back alone: some were faded while others were still fresh and new. It seemed like covering up one with another had become a cycle for him; there was no end in sight. It had been like this ever since leaving the Abbey, and nothing could make him talk about it. But something wasn't right; he had to be taking something to manage it all. Nevertheless, he remained stoic and unfazed by it.
For now, they seemed to be content with the information given. He just had to wait and see what was going to unfold next. That image of Kai still lingered in his mind though. Tapping the glass bottle a few times, he stood up from his chair and started walking towards the door. Brian sprang up almost immediately. "You're not going alone."
Tala turned to look at Brian, but there was no need for discussion; it was clear that Brian wasn't letting him go solo. Tala sighed and said, "Alright then, let's go for a ride."
The car ride was full of sniping between Brian and Tala. When the enormous building from the Hiwatri firm appeared in view, Brian's expression soured. "Your idea of going for a ride is shit," he said with annoyance.
"If you don't like it, I can take you somewhere more romantic next time," Tala retorted playfully.
As if he owned the entire world, Tala came in at full speed. The exhaust roared like gunfire and Tala slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden halt right at the entranceway. A few employees fled in fear, not expecting such a dramatic entrance.
Slowly Brian turned his head to look at the redhead with a widespread smirk. "That ought to get him down here quickly."
Exiting the car, they leaned against the door panel for a few minutes. Through the tall glass doors, Kai stormed out of the elevator with an entourage of black suits struggling to keep up with him. The security guard barely had enough time to open the gate for the incoming director before he burst through the doors. His face was wrought with fury as he grabbed them both by the collar, but all they could do was stifle a laugh. "You two better come in and explain this," he growled.
Tala glanced at Brian and clicked his tongue. "You owe me now. That was less than five minutes."
"Tch," Brian grumbled. "I had hoped he would have taken the stairs."
Grunting in frustration, Kai was greatly irritated by Tala's little entrance. Brian would always back his plans, no matter how ridiculous they were. Despite what had happened between Australia and the current day, the two had barely interacted unless it was absolutely necessary. While Kai chased after his grandfather's legacy, strengthening the Hiwatari claim, Tala did what he wanted. Kai longed for a more substantial connection between them, but trying to make sense of Tala's choices never worked out as the red-haired man made up his own rules.
Kai walked in the lead, and with just one of them, people stepped out of their way. But when all three were together, the effect was even more intense; the suits that had followed Kai earlier didn't even get into the same elevator. They stayed silent until they reached the top floor. Once there, Tala immediately spotted Rachel walking towards them with Matteo at her side. Neither pair interacted but as they passed each other, Matteo 's shoulder touched Tala's as he he deftly put something in the palm of his hand. He could feel it was riftstone, but there was something special about it. For now, he tucked it away into one of his pockets. Tala recalled him saying: "You have allies within the FBSC, Rachel's administration has been making enemies among her staff and it doesn't look good for what's to come."
The two heavy wooden doors opened to reveal a luxurious office belonging to the Hiwatari Firm. Brian hummed in admiration while Kai walked over to a cabinet and took out three glasses. "I assume at least one of you is a raging alcoholic by now," he said with a hint of humor.
"Actually we had a bet going, thinking it would be you," Tala responded, looking down at the cityscape from the large windows that lined the walls. He couldn't deny this view was impressive, but he still preferred wandering around on the streets below than being cooped up in some high-rise building.
Kai's grumble was almost a question in itself. "How many bets have you guys made over me?" He had been caught between the Bladebreakers and the Neoborgs for as long as he could remember; wondering if he should stick with those he grew up with, or join the ones who had saved him from spiraling out of control. The Neoborgs were surely the outlaws while the Bladebreakers represented more civil behavior. But, deep down, Kai felt like he belonged to them—even though he had an obligation to respect his legacy.
The Neoborgs showed no regard for Kai like they did with Tala. It was the redhead that was able to control the actions of all three, and in turn they kept him in line. The bluenette may not have had a place among them, but they had never turned their backs on him.
As Kai poured the drinks he began to speak, "I assume you're here because of that photograph."
Tala didn't take her gaze away from the window. "You've changed sides more often than a hairdresser, Hiwatari," she commented without looking at him.
He slumped his shoulders in response to his statement. "I had to do what was necessary. Now the FBSC has even more of an advantage over BBA. Pitting a fresh team with a bit beast against a veteran team not allowed to use theirs."
"They weren't aware," Tala said in a firm voice. Even if Raul and Julia had Thunder and Torch Pegasus... He highly doubted that they would have been able to face off against a Gehennalis of that caliber.
Meanwhile, Brian plopped down on the sofa, resting his arms behind his head, and began singing quietly under his breath. He kept a watchful eye on Tala as if he was his personal bodyguard, not paying any attention to Kai.
Kai shifted to stand beside Tala, remarking, "That can be true, but the FBSC will still turn it around. For now, the media still has BBA's back since people want their Beybattles and FBSC is blocking that from happening."
Tala swiveled his head to look at Kai. Even though he wasn't intimidated easily, it was then that he realized how much Tala had grown in strength; he was a head taller than him now and training had made him more defined than ever before. A little hesitant about what he wanted to ask, Kai started with a tentative, "Tala... Are you aware that Bo-".
"Yeah I know," he interrupted. "Boris has been around for a few weeks now."
Kai exclaimed incredulously, "Why didn't you tell us this from the beginning?! Do you know what Boris did at the stadium?!"
"Kept you all from getting in my way," he replied coolly.
Kai stood with his hands on his hips, infuriated. "Your arrogance knows no bounds!"
"Welcome to our world," Brian interjected.
Sighing, Kai regained his composure and said, "He took Tatsuya's research without permission. And more."
Tala shrugged. "So what? He'll publicize it the moment he finds a new rock to show the world. Regardless of how much of an egomaniac he is, Boris is still one of the most knowledgeable people we know. What's worse is that all his information is stored in his head."
Kai asked skeptically, "And that doesn't bother you?" With a glare, he spun around and stood above Kai.
"What bothers me is your involvement with the BBA and the FBSC, having them battle it out legally. That's all well and good, but don't stick your nose into matters when all you do is sit behind meeting tables drinking coffee made of beans that monkeys shat out."
At Tala's reply, Kai drew up his fist and punched the window with a loud thud. The noise echoed throughout the office. "You're one to talk," he said. "For years Mr. Dickenson kept you from getting involved between it all. Do you know how many times the BBA could have used somebody with your skill set? Yet suddenly you show up in gear like the FBSC fighting, down a bitbeast as if it's nothing. So which one of us has been meddling in things that don't concern us, hmm?"
Tearing his eyes away Tala let out an annoyed sigh. Things were so much easier when he could just fight Kai for the sake of being right, but times change everything eventually. "So, what is it that he wanted then."
Straightening his suit, Kai took a sip of his drink as he told Tala the story of Boris waving an old-looking book in Tatsuya's face. Tala frowned, remembering that when he was snooping in Tatsuya's office, he spotted something that might have caught Boris' eye: "Ars Notoria." It still wasn't clear what information Boris possessed or how much of it was reliable.
"He wanted to exchange it for Black Dranzer," Kai continued.
Tala's eyes widened in surprise. "That bitch had it all along?" His voice betrayed his anger.
Kai squinted at him. "Are you referring to Professor Tate?"
"Never mind," Tala grumped, rolling his eyes. "Besides, it's not like Boris has much use for Black Dranzer without either one of us."
"Yeah.." Kai mumbled as he studied the glass he was spinning around. He hated to admit it, but Tala had been far more successful than him in controlling Black Dranzer. Perhaps his own madness gave him the edge needed; after all, one can't corrupt what's already corrupted. When he was younger, Kai viewed him as this stable fortress amidst the chaos that was BioVolt. Even years afterward, he'd maintained his composure and Kai had never doubted him. Until one day, documents about BioVolt were put into the hands of Mr. Dickenson. After Tala had thrown the game against Tyson. Kai had learned that Boris took them back to the abbey. It was unclear what had gone prior to it, but that same night a carnage had occurred within the walls. Stalagmites made of ice, dark like the depths of a lake were shot through a wide array of guards and many others like javelins. Entire hallways had been frozen solid with pools of blood scattered over the flooring. Inspectors had a difficult time to navigate the abbey, as if the building itself was trying to keep people away. In the end they gave up, and so the investigation died.
"No doubt Boris will come to you first," Kai carried on. "I suggest that we just have him play it out so we know what his endgame is. As for the FBSC, I have a reliable contact who had managed to infiltrate; you've met him many times before."
Pieces fell into place in Tala's mind and he gave a small smirk. "Matteo.."
Kai nodded. "Though don't fret, he kept quiet about you - always jabbering about soldier's honor since you rescued him multiple times. He's an outstanding informant otherwise."
"You knew all this but never told Mr. Dickenson," Tala reflected. "For once, you're being more dependable than usual."
"Not everybody is your enemy, Tala," Kai said in a quiet voice. Something he hadn't heard before, but delivered with an undertone that made it sound like an empty promise. Tala shuffled his feet and peered out of the window again. "Do you really think anything productive will come out of tomorrow's gathering at the stadium?"
Kai sighed. "Are you bailing on us?"
"If everyone is here, then they won't be out there causing trouble for me," Tala reasoned. "It's too good of an opportunity to pass up."
Kai had to admit that his logic was sound. "Fine, I'll keep them occupied as long as I can. But you have to stay in touch." He stretched out his hand and handed Tala a burner phone. "Any ideas where to start?"
He took the phone from Kai and glanced over at him, replying honestly, "Not in the slightest." He hadn't the faintest idea where to start; he was just going to have to rely on his gut instinct and scour the city until he found a lead worth following.
The bluenette sighed. He often found himself frustrated by the way Tala never seemed to give a straight answer. Despite his reputation as a genius, sometimes he acted incredibly naive and immature. He shook his head in disbelief.
A knock on the door caught the three of them off-guard. Kai beckoned for whoever it was to enter. Hilary's face appeared in the doorway; she had come to take him home, but when she saw that Brian and Tala were still present she asked if they needed more time to discuss.
"So," Kai said aloud, relieved that Hilary was there. "She decided to join us then."
Hilary smiled and opened the door wider, revealing Julia standing behind her with her hair partially obscuring her face. Her eyes were slightly puffy and red, and she had swapped out her formal attire for something more comfortable.
Brian lifted his head backward to greet her. "Sup Julia," he said.
"Hi Brian…" Her voice trailed away as she noticed Tala lingering at the back of the room. She inched closer while holding onto her shirt sleeves with tight fists.
Hilary tilted her head in confusion at the way that Julia was looking at Tala and even more so... the look that he had. Never before had Julia told her that they were acquainted in any way and the spanish was one of her best friends.
Pushing himself off the wall he broke eye contact with her and ordered Brian to get up. "Come, we're done here anyways."
Brian shot him a puzzling look, this was Julia standing before him and yet he acted as if he didn't know her. "Right.."
As he passed her, she called out his name. "Please, wait," she begged in a vulnerable voice. She glanced around at the other people, then hesitantly looked up into his eyes. Unable to speak what was on her mind, yet desperately wanting his presence, her emerald eyes pleaded with him.
Hilary was beginning to understand the situation. Whenever the topic of who the girls liked came up, Julia would give a knowing look that suggested someone was on her mind-which she always denied. But now it all made sense. Hilary had never considered the possibility of Julia being involved with a neoborg, let alone Tala; the very thought of her best friend with him was even worse. Nonetheless, keeping Julia's mental health and current struggles in mind, Hilary decided scolding would have to wait. She reluctantly motioned for Kai and the Brian to follow her out: "I'll wait for you at the car." She smiled reassuringly at Julia.
Brian wasn't taking orders from her, so he simply glanced over at Tala who gave a small nod.
As the door closed, Julia felt like she could finally let go of the facade she had been holding up all day. She had gone through a plethora of emotions - from anger to grief, feeling empty and powerless at it all. She had great friends surrounding her, but the one person who could give her that feeling of security was what she needed the most. As her head lowered, he took a step closer. She grabbed his shirt and buried her face against his chest. Quiet sobs became floods of tears.
He didn't know how to comfort people properly, but he was affected by her sadness. A little hesitantly, he lifted his arm and placed his hand on the top of her head patting it softly. Tala scolded himself inwardly. If only he had gotten there sooner. "I'll make them pay, don't worry," he said with confidence. But he had to keep a lid on his anger for now.
After a few minutes she took a few deep breaths and wiped the tears with her sleeve. "If you hadn't been there..," she didn't finish that thought, it would only bring her more pain. "Thank you Tala, I mean it."
The power of her stare made him squirm, so he quickly looked away and whispered "No problem…" under his breath.
It was odd to witness him so uneasy, and she had to hold back laughter. Tiredness overcame her, but before she could stumble he had taken a firm hold of her.
"Are you still staying with them?" he inquired, referring to Kai and Hilary.
"Y-yeah," she replied uncertainly. It was more of a demand from Hilary than it was her own choice. She cherished her friend but there was something intimidating about seeing Kai and Hilary as this seemingly perfect power couple.
Tala mulled it over for a few moments. "Spencer will be around the hospital for work too if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Julia smiled gratefully at Tala. His unexpected kindness had taken her aback - she had known him for a long time, and he had always been difficult to read and so dismissive of other people. Through the years, they had maintained some form of relationship between acquaintances and one night stands, but Julia had held out hope that something more could be there. Now, her hopes were confirmed; when she needed him most, Tala was there for her in a way she always wanted.
Without giving him a chance to resist, she pulled him towards her and pressed her lips to his, her eyes closed. When she pulled away, she saw the surprise etched on his face. "Sorry.." She said biting on her lip. "It's just that... it will probably be a while before we're going to have a cup of coffee again."
It was difficult for him to let her stay at Kai and Hilary, rather than take her with him. He wanted her near; needed it, even. But he had already begun to risk his brothers' safety on this mission, and having both Raul and her involved would only increase the chances of something happening. He hadn't settled his score with Florente yet; so there was a chance that she could return seeking revenge. Today had been close enough as it is... he didn't want to consider what could have been if things had gone differently.
Despite all his doubts, Tala couldn't deny the intense attraction he felt for Julia. Spencer had once tried to explain it all to him, but maybe it was something that had been buried too deeply by now. He just wanted to see her smile, start a few arguments in a beydish out of pure fun and then drink until they got thrown out of bars again. The times he'd spent with her were good memories, and he didn't have many of those to begin with. It's what made life worth fighting for.
He leaned back and placed his hand on top of her head. Her curious emerald eyes met his as a devious smirk came across his face. Then before she had the chance to prepare, he ran his fingers through her wild hair, making it more disheveled than before. "Come on, you've been through worse," He said tauntingly.
She started with a couple of small giggles, but then her laughter grew. Still, he was right—Raul had made it to the hospital and was in stable condition. She didn't have to spend the night alone in her hotel room. No matter where she ended up going, the BBA stood behind her; her friends were standing by her side; even he was right in her corner. Tala was known as violent, if you ordered him to go right he'd take a left instead, reckless and impatient. But for Julia, he was the perfect storm.
She squeezed him with all the strength she had, wanting to engrave his scent and rhythm into her memory. "Tala?" she uttered through trembling lips, desperate for an answer.
"Yeah?," he replied softly.
"I can feel something terrible lurking ahead and I'm not expecting you to talk about it, but promise me that you'll come back safe no matter what." Her eyes pleaded with him.
He didn't want to make any false promises, and had no clue how things would turn out. He gripped a strand of her hair in his hand as he stared but did not reply to her question. If he gave an answer it would become concrete and his survival up until that point had been based on luck and a lot of skill. Lying was not a problem for him, unless it involved Julia; it seemed to go against all his beliefs.
Eventually he cut the silence. "We should.."
"Yeah.." Julia replied reluctantly.
There was a heavy tension between them as they went from exiting the office, to taking the elevator down to the ground floor. She was glad with Hilary's hospitality, but she yearned to go with him, even if it was only for one night. He struggled too, running through the pros and cons in his mind over and over again. He reasoned that it would be better off this way, but found himself feeling worse and worse with every thought to a point that it was becoming unbearable.
As they stepped outside the building, each went their own way. Julia greeted Hilary and Kai and before she got into the car she shot him one last glance before tearing her eyes away.
Brian glanced sidelong at the redhead in the car seat, and then out the window. He hadn't ever truly been fond of what was going on between them, but that had more to do with not being able to accept someone new into their midst. Even though they had known Julia for many years, Brian still couldn't see her as anything more than an outsider. But she did bring something in Tala's life that none of them could—that was undisputable. Brushing away his reservations, Brian rolled his eyes. "Spencer will be close by, so…"
He stayed silent while driving off, his knuckles turning white from tension as he gripped the steering wheel. At some point he made a sharp turn and drove into an alleyway. "Wait here," Tala commanded Brian before he stepped out of the car and entered one of the buildings.
Brian had grown impatient after half an hour or more, but then he saw Tala reappear from the building. When he got back in the driver's seat, Brian noticed a patch of Saniderm on his hand with Юлия written underneath it. "You find yourself an empty patch?" Brian asked teasingly.
"Something like that," Tala muttered under his breath.
"Are you gonna tell her?" The Falcon Blader inquired.
"No," he said firmly.
A/N
Song: House of Noise - Massive Wagons
-Sorry for taking my damn time in writing this after the holidays but I'll try and get the frequency back up again!
-Shout out to Mkay who is an absolute dear and a loyal proofreader! I really appreciate your help and input 3
- Something I felt like I needed to elaborate a little bit on. Considering the ages Tala is around 26 in Revenant. G-rev took place when he was 17/18, Therefore those events took place around eight years ago.
-People who say that writing get easier the more you do it, obviously never tried making a fanfic T_T
-Юлия says Julia in cyrillic
