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 Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:44 am
As Lyon tested out his leg, Aliez watched him to make sure there were no tells that would indicate he was trying to cover up being more injured than he was letting on. It seemed as though the knight was being honest in his assessment, at least, which meant Aliez could relax his shoulders a bit.
“I’m not sure of the likelihood,” he admitted with a small frown. “I would offer to establish means of communication, but… our devices are unable to reach those of magical origin. Perhaps one of your earth phones could be synced,” he said, mostly to himself as he brushed his fingers over the machine on his lap again. It was just a comfort for himself more than anything.
“I would like to check in and make sure your leg is healing properly, though,” he nodded as Lyon worked on getting his boot back on. “I could meet back here in a few days around the same time, if you are available then.”
By then, he could obtain some of what humans called burner phones, which he knew should work with their technology, while also keeping the knight safe from identification.
A frown crossed Aliez’s features as he thought about his role in everything, and eventually let out a small sigh.
“I do not want to mislead you. Our current benefactors while on Earth… is the Negaverse,” he said quietly, looking up at Lyon with earnest vulnerability. “They have made it very clear that we are only as welcome as we are useful to them. Should we cross paths with an agent while together… I will not be able to do anything that might damage that alliance.”
There was shame in his voice, and in his expression, but he looked away before Lyon could look too deeply. He didn’t want to cause trouble, he just wanted Lyon to know the truth. Or at least as much of the truth as he was comfortable sharing.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:44 am
Lyon tilted his head while Aliez spoke. He knew the Negaverse was bad, he knew they were the ones that made youma and stole starseeds. He knew to stay away from anyone wearing a strange, dark outfit.
No one had warned him about aliens but he was pretty sure he could see why.
Aliez didn’t really seem like he was much of a threat. Looking at him with those puppy dog eyes? It didn’t matter how quickly Aliez looked away, Lyon saw.
He leaned a little closer, tilting his head so Aliez couldn’t quite look away entirely.
“Well, that’s a bummer.”
His elbow was digging into the ground and his head was tilted as close to a ninety degree angle as humanly possible just so he could peer up at Aliez.
“I won’t threaten your alliance. Sounds rough. But I guess they’d want to keep you on a short leash, huh? If you can do things like this.” He gestured to his leg, all the while very badly wanting to ask what else can you do?
“If you’re with a Negaverse Agent and we cross paths, it won’t hurt my feelings if you have to play it cool. That’s fine, I won’t be upset. It’ll be our little secret. You do whatever you have to do to stay alive–oh, but don’t hurt me too badly, if you can help it. And don’t aim for my face? I want to stay pretty for as long as I can. Other than that,” he shrugged. “No stress. But don’t hang out with Negaverse agents any more than you have to, I want to run into you more often. But I guess, for starters, you said meet up in a few days? How about Thursday night, can you do ten? I’m flexible.”
He didn’t bend his leg behind his neck just to prove it, but he did think about it.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:44 am
Aliez let out a small breath that he didn’t realize he’d been holding and shook his head when Lyon requested he not hurt him too badly.
“I don’t have a weapon,” he reminded him, although he knew Lyon might have just assumed he’d meant he was unarmed when he first approached him. Aliez held up his arm with the vambrace he wore, gesturing to it with a small nod.
“But I do have a shield. I’m… not much of a fighter. I wouldn’t hurt you. I’d rather focus my energy on other things.” Like helping patch up those who might be injured. A temporary, grim expression crossed his features when Lyon suggested he not hang out with Negaverse agents more than he had to. He wanted to tell Lyon that his ideals -- the Vanguard’s ideals -- were not compatible with the Negaverse. But so many who had fought on the Hilltop had only seen them being taken in by the Negaverse.
What they failed to see was that there was no other choice. None that would result in their survival, at least. Maybe they could live in hiding, but how could they save their world, or anyone else?
“Thursday at ten should work,” he refocused and looked up at Lyon with another soft smile. “Maybe then I’ll have this poor little one more covered,” he glanced down to the little robotic creature in his lap. He was determined to make it look less… obviously mechanical.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:44 am
“Anything can be a weapon if you’re creative, or determined, enough,” Lyon pointed out, but not for the first time tonight he found his eyes falling to the weird little robot in Aliez’s lap.
“What is it?”
He’d been good, not asking so many questions. But–he had like ninety off the top of his head and if Aliez gave him much time, he could double that in seconds.
“It looks, um. Creative.”
…Not weapon-y really, but if Aliez threw it at someone, it could probably do some damage. Boom, weapon.
Lyon tried to sound supportive, even as he was slowly dragging himself up. He started by putting weight on his uninjured leg, and then gradually the other one too. It was sore. Walking home wasn’t going to be fun, but it was going to be manageable. He brushed his hands over his rear, trying to brush off all the dirt, but he promptly offered a hand to pull Aliez up, too.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:45 am
Aliez glanced up when Lyon offered a hand to help him up. He hesitated, eyeing him a bit warily because he had an injured leg and shouldn’t be putting pressure on it, but eventually took his hand to get to his feet.
“This is going to help me the next time there’s a big fight. I can’t put up my shield and tend to injuries at the same time, so I wanted to make something to do that for me,” he explained, letting the cat sized creature climb up onto his shoulder. It tilted what was probably its head, since that was where the ocular nodes were positioned, watching Lyon with… well… since it was mechanical, it didn’t really feel anything, but perhaps Aliez had programed it to appear curious, because it certainly looked curious now. As curious as a little robot could.
“You’re okay? No shooting pain?” he asked, glancing down at Lyon’s injured leg. “If it starts to get red, make sure you soak it in warm water and some baking soda. That should help soothe any itching. Try not to scratch, if you can help it.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:45 am
Were these aliens mindreaders, too? Lyon looked at Aliez for a moment and thought of the most scandalous thing he could envision, and when Aleiz did not change colors in the slightest, he supposed he did not have such skills.
It was dangerous to himself to dwell on such thoughts for too long, so he didn’t push his luck.
“No shooting pain. I won’t scratch it. I’ll be a good boy and take a warm bath. Doctor’s orders. You could prescribe me some time off from school, too. If you’re being generous. Just kidding,” he said, flashing a quick grin. It was easier to look at Aliez than it was his little robo-pet.
Not because the thing–creature–wasn’t interesting, but because he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be looking at. “The next time there’s a big fight–” oh, wait, was he supposed to be there? “–I’ll have to come find you and your shield. Just kidding about that, too. I won’t get you in trouble with the Negaverse. I’m pretty good at keeping secrets.”
He tried to look into the–eyes?–of the strange creature perched on Aliez’s shoulder, but Aliez’s gaze was much gentler. “...So I’ll see you Thursday?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:45 am
It wasn’t that difficult to assume that Lyon might be having a bit of trouble with the way he was favoring one leg over the other. He’d nearly been in tears over the pain when Aliez had approached to help. But it was good that there was no shooting pain and that he seemed like he would be good with listening. Alright, Aliez wouldn’t worry about it too much. He barely knew the knight, but he couldn’t help but feel responsible for injuries he helped treat.
“Come find me and my shield,” he nodded even if Lyon said he was just kidding. “The Negaverse can’t help who I’m shielding if everyone is in danger. But thank you for your discretion.”
It would be nice to know that he didn’t have to worry about the Negaverse being upset with not just him, but with Lyndin as well. He didn’t want to risk that happening.
“Thursday sounds like a plan,” he nodded and offered Lyon one last smile. He wouldn’t linger, just in case there were other things Lyon needed to do. But he was glad he’d been there so he could be useful.
Fin!
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