It had been yet another long day. When was the last time he’d had a short day of work? Coming home tired, both emotionally and physically, the ashen blond managed to get the front door open after some issue with the door knob, I need to replace this soon, he thought as he stepped into his home. He was glad to be home, where he didn’t need to fear speaking his mind. He couldn’t lie, he had never gotten good at it; so instead he learned to not speak at times. It was for the best, he didn’t need to slip with something or gain the attention of his fellow General Queen’s and General King’s, or even someone lower in rank. He didn’t trust the vast majority of them; even those he’d been friends with before everything had taken this downward turn. The few he trusted were held close and were, whether they knew it or not, under his protection whether it was needed or not.

“I don’t like this world at all. i mean the laws are good, for the civilian populace. But their freedom…” Shaking his head as he made his way further into the living room, his shoes already having been toed off at the door. “I hate it...all of it.”

He didn’t hate all of it, he liked that no one was starving, the healthcare, and a few other things but right now he was frustrated and tired. He hadn’t signed up for this all those years ago. He hadn’t sacrificed and lost so much just to gain this. Sighing heavily Alex raked his fingers through his hair, pulling free the tie which had held it back. He could hear Cadha running out of the kitchen and toward him, the little dog seeming to be as happy as ever as he hadn’t the understanding nor a clue as to what was going on outside of his home. Bending to scoop up the Scottish Terrier he held the little dog against his chest as he padded his way into the kitchen on socked feet.

Upstairs Zach laid asleep across their king size bed with his hand draped over the side resting against Riley. That was until his dog got up and barked twice before licking his hand indicating that Alex had gotten home. Eyes near black from dilated pupils having been startled from his slumber, the black haired boy sat up abruptly and looked around in a bit of a daze. Even with the war in their favor, things like this still put him on edge.

“Christ dog…” he glared over at his Chesapeake Bay retriever with an annoyed look; though he wasn’t mad, how could he be? Riley was doing exactly what he should be doing and letting him know something was up. Plus who in their right mind could be mad at a face like that? Tongue hanging out, tail wagging so hard his butt couldn’t stay still. You will be the death of me, not a senshi or a knight… you. “Come here you butt head” he said with an endearing tone in his voice.

Zach raked his fingers through his ebony colored hair to calm his racing heart, that jump start to the evening really did a number on him. Swinging his legs off the side of their bed he got up and walked over to the door to let his dog out.

Thud thud thud thud thud…

The sound of Riley running down the stairs to greet Alex made the dark haired boy just shake his head and smile as he followed after the excited pup. There in the kitchen, with his back facing towards him stood Alex. Snaking his arms around his boyfriend, Zach buried his nose in the blond’s long hair, drew in a deep breath and placed a kiss upon his head “You’re home late. Are you okay?” he asked with a bit of a pleased purr in his voice. Not being around Alex made him anxious and the only way to bypass this feeling when he was at work was to try to relax and take a nap; which he had been doing up till a moment ago.


Slipping out of Zach’s arms, in order to bend and set Cadha onto the floor, he stood back up and turned toward the other. Reaching out, he took ahold of Zach’s hands and wrap them about himself again. “I’m fine. Tired, annoyed, the usual really.” The other knew how he felt about the turn things had taken long ago, he didn’t hide how he felt at home.

“I spent the day working on more things to help the people. It’s just...we work on things to help them, all the while ripping away their freedoms. I have to find a way to end this...but how? So many heads to the beast and no way to kill them all at once.” And he didn’t want to kill them all, even though it was likely the only way to stop this.

A glance to the chestnut colored dog had the blond smiling gently. “Were you two taking a nap?” He questioned although he knew the answer, it wasn’t an uncommon thing to come home to. “I hope it was a good nap.” Moving in to lean against the other, laying his head against the others chest and holding onto him. He hadn’t had a good day, but when did he ever when it came to these things? He’d rather fight but given his dislike of what he was fighting for he couldn’t find himself doing that every night, or even most nights. He still went out looking for fights, looking to kill and in truth enjoyed it, but he couldn’t make that all he did for the Negaverse. He had taken the route he had so he could at least help in some way, even though it didn’t feel like it was ever enough. It wouldn’t be though...not until the people had their freedom restored.

“Eh” Zachary shrugged his shoulders, “It could have been better had I’d set an alarm rather than leaving it to him to wake me up.” In truth it could have been a lot better, the things he had done in recent battles had since plagued his dreams and at time kept him up at night. To a degree it still bothered him a bit as to how easily killing came now days, but when it came down to it, Zach knew he’d do what it took to keep Alex… Benitoite, safe. “So what’s going on?” he asked while guiding the blond into the living room so they could take a seat.

“They are back to considering a curfew for the people.” One hand gently held to the others shirt while the other simply rested against the others cloth covered form. “Another thing to be taken.”

With a sigh Zach’s arms tightened around Alex’s smaller frame. He understood how hard this was on his boyfriend and the toll it was starting to take. “It needs to stop,” he said more so in agreement to Alex’s distaste towards this new action taken by the Negaverse. “Otherwise things will start to unravel when more people join the resistance to fight these constricting laws. What are they thinking…?” he asked though it was more rhetorical than anything.

“I can’t even begin to guess what they are thinking. People will eventually rebel and I can only hope that when that happens we can flee fast enough. I don’t care to be caught in the chaos and wind up like Marie Antoinette when the French got their hands on her.” No, he’d rather flee, cowardly as it was, and get away and let the civilians take their revenge along with the senshi and knights. Maybe a peace could be reached and then, and only then, could they return and live peacefully in this city.

“I’ve been doing what little I can to help, to try and undo what we’ve toiled away to bring about. I’ve been feeding small bits of information to a knight. In the hopes he can pass it along and help save some civilians. I can only hope that when this is all over, when the other side removes the corrupt Negaverse members, from power that what help I provided will give us a pass and spare us.” He was trying, hard, to do this but it was not easy to play in the shadows as he was. it was dangerous and the concept of life and death were never more serious than they were now.

At only twenty four years old he was playing a dangerous game and hoping that his gamble saved them both in the end. “This wasn’t what I was told when I joined. We were fighting to keep people free from the other side, they were the ones who were going to enslave people and such. Instead we’re the slavers and the people our slaves. It’s like too many books that I’ve read. Books I loved and yet hated the governments in - because they were clearly bad.”


Zachary remained silent, listening to Alex as he let out everything that weighed on his mind all the while combing his fingers through his blond hair, resting his cheek against his head while he used his free hand to rub soothing circles across his back. He knew full well for how much this affected the other, how hard it had become to keep his secrets; it is, after all, why Zach did what he did; why his hands dripped with the bloods of others and his blades were forever stained red. “Whatever you decide to do I will keep on protecting you from anyone who may view you as a sympathizer like Kazenite.”

Pulling back just for a moment Zach untangled his fingers from that ashen blond hair and hooked a finger under Alexandre’s chin “My loyalty is to you, not the Negaverse.” He spoke with a firm voice; there was no looking away or sign of wavering in his decisiveness as sapphire blue eyes locked with those of slate. If there was any doubt floating around Alex’s mind Zachary was determined to dash those fears as he leaned forward barely brushing his lips against the others “I will fall as far as I need to in order to protect your secrets.” he whispered for Alex’s ears along as though there might be another listening in before sealing the promise with his lips. “Do not hate me for the things I’ll do to keep you safe.” he pleaded, tightening his arm around Alexandre’s waist.

Smiling up at Zach, as his head was tilted up, his own light eyes met the others darker eyes. “I know and your loyalty means everything to me.” Especially in this troubled sea of blood. He needed someone he could trust without question and he had it. He couldn’t trust many anymore. Friends of the past were still friends but were no longer privy to as much as they once had been. he couldn’t, and didn’t, show weakness to them much less talk openly to them. He couldn’t risk it given what he was working toward; even if it was a slow going thing.

The first brush of lips was expected, he had felt a tightening in his chest as he waited for it, and he gentle brush of lips was returned ever so gently by the shorter male. “I will catch you when you fall then.” As he would be undoubtedly be waiting for the other, if he wasn’t already that far fallen. The kiss took him by surprise and a soft sound, something between a sight and a soft moan of pleasure, passed his lips. “I would never hold it against you. I never could.” Not after everything he’d done for so many people and for the cause. Zach was doing it all for a cause better than the one he’d committed so much bloodshed for.

“Just don’t leave me - ever. I need you here, at my side, I cannot lose you in this war.” The pleading notes in his voice and the raw emotion left little doubt of how much losing the other would affect him. He wouldn’t be able to survive it and he knew it. he needed the other. “So please, be careful.” He whispered, his own paler eyes locking with the others darker blue eyes.

“Kazenite will always think that of me when it’s not true.” He didn’t sympathize with the senshi or the knights, even if he worked against his own side in some ways. “They are a means to an end. I sympathize with the people - the civilians of this city and beyond.” As he always had and always would, with his last breath he would fight for the people. It was his own freedom, and protecting it, which had brought him into the war and it was the freedom of everyone which had kept him in the war and on the side he was on till he’d become so caught up it was like a fly caught in a spiders web. How could he have not seen this all on the horizon? How had he missed it?

“I know you will...and I wish you wouldn’t. I wish it were just me so steeped in blood and not you as well.” Although he had more blood on his hands, and pooled around him, than Zach did. “Kazenite doesn’t realize that I protect the senshi because she is useful to us...she is honestly neutral in all of this. With a war around her, bloodshed, and seeing the Negaverse become what is has she has held firm in her neutrality and I appreciate and respect this. To stand firm as she has, as unwavering, it takes more strength than most could ever understand. I respect her too much to force her to turn and I know it would break her, leave her useless to us and to her own.” And while it would be strategically wise to keep her from helping her side it would also take away help from his own. That was what he pointed out time and again when questioned. He would defend the little senshi of prayer against any who attempted to bring harm upon her.

“There’s only so much you can do Alex. When it all comes down to it, she’s still a senshi and one of these days you may find yourself with your back against the wall and you’ll be forced to make a choice.” The truth was harsh but he needed to know. If he wasn’t able to be the one to corrupt the little one than Zach would do it for him. The girl meant something, what exactly that was he wasn’t entirely sure of but he trusted Alex none the less.

“I’m sure she appreciates all you’ve done for her this far. Just don’t let her be the reason all of what you’ve been doing unravels at the seams. The citizens should remain top priority; and I will do whatever it is you ask of me to ensure that your vision becomes a reality, not the one that’s been set in place.” Zachary released his hold round Alex for a brief moment so he could sit down on the plush couch then encircled his arms around his boyfriend once more urging him to sit down on his lap. The world had taken a turn for the worse, just as Alexandre had said; the government had been corrupt and the citizens enslaved. Many lives have since been lost, his father, not that he truly cared, had been one of the casualties along side several of his friends from college.


“I know…” And that bothered him. She was still a senshi and there was only so much he could do, he didn’t have a death wish. He had long ago, years ago, accepted that he would dance with death every night and now every day as well. But to leave the dance floor with death was not something he planned to do, not until he was old and gray. Biting his bottom lip he shook his head. “I hope it never comes to it. I don’t wish to betray her, she has never betray me.” She knew he didn’t approve of these things, it been a discussion of theirs. He knew if he had to turn on her that she could turn on him, tell them what a traitor he was, but he knew she wouldn’t betray him to his own side. She was too good, too kind for that. This war doesn’t suit her, and yet she was a blessing to have.

“I know...I have to carry on and continue what I’m doing. I can’t allow myself to be caught...or be suspected much more than I already am.” If it ever got let out...if he was ever caught... he didn’t need to wonder what the outcome, in the end, would be. He’d be dead and it would either be a fast death or drawn out with torture leading up to it, and he had a feeling it would be the torture than death route that sought him out. It would be a shame for his side to have such a high ranked traitor - something to cover up and hide.

As Zach sat and motioned him to do the same - he did. Seating himself in the others lap he drew his smaller form up into the others lap completely. “We should make dinner...and then go for a walk or call it a night...either or...maybe a walk for the dogs before calling it a night.”

“We can make dinner in a little bit, just relax for now and unwind.” Zachary tightened his arms around Alex and rested his head on the blonde's shoulder. He knew how hard this was for Alex. All they lying and sneaking around trying to stay out from under the watchful eyes of those who would turn him in without a second thought. If it came down to it, Zach knew how far he’d go to keep him safe, even if it meant taking out one of their own or stepping into the line of fire; he would not allow Alex to be caught let alone die, not if he had anything to say about it.

If Zach thought Alex was clueless over how loyal he was then he needed to think again. Alexandre knew just how loyal the other was and it bothered him, or rather it worried him. it made him strive even harder to keep under the radar. He couldn’t risk himself as he knew Zach would throw himself into harms way and give his life if he had to.The ashen blond knew he couldn’t live with himself if he let Zach martyr himself for something the General King had done or not done, whatever the case may be.

“Alright…” He didn’t want to argue it, he needed to relax anyway, and allowed Zach to maneuver him about. Stroking the others dark hair he let his own eyes drift closed. “Promise me...if anything happens. if I’m ever discovered...you’ll get the dogs and yourself to safety. I don’t trust that someone wouldn’t kidnap Riley or Cadha, either of them, and torture or kill them in front of me - just to break me. And you….your obvious. They’d go after you to get to me...to make my torture worse and get possible answers from me. I - I can’t...I couldn’t bare it if they got you or either of the dogs. I can hold strong so long as I know you’re all safe.” he’d have to hold strong until his body would give and he’d finally leave the dance floor hand in hand with Death himself. He’d leave smiling even as he’d know the others were safe, his family safe in Europe and these three somewhere else. “Find one of the senshi camps and lay low - don’t ever power up or let them know. Just show up with Riley and Cadha. Tell them I was killed but don’t mention who I was - never. They’d question you and not trust you.” Words spoken by someone who thought he was going to get caught? Who felt the noose about his neck? No...just the words of a planner and someone who wanted a plan B, C, and D for this. Plan A was what he was doing now.

The senshi who still walked Destiny City and the area surrounding the borders did so because they were curious and smart or incredibly strong. There is no way they would let him within two miles of the camp if a mauvian had anything to say about it. “Don’t worry about the dogs” he replied as Riley laid his head on Alex’s lap and Cadha jumped up on the couch beside them. It was almost as if their ears were burning because they knew they were being talked about. “If things get that bad I’ll make sure they’re safe.”

Without much warning Zachary leaned Alexandre back rather unceremoniously splaying him across the couch deftly moving out from underneath the blonde’s legs. Blue eyes locked with those the color of slate as the black haired man leaned over resting both arms beside Alex’s shoulders creating divots in the cushions as he straddled the other man’s hips effectively pinning him where he lay. “As for the other stipulations. Are those demands from my King or a request from my partner?” Either way the answer would be a firm no. His duty as a General often crossed with his duty as Alex’s boyfriend; it was his responsibility to keep him safe.

Surprised by the change in position he took a moment to wriggle under the other to get comfortable, Rolling his shoulders and wiggling his hips, he settled soon and stared up at the other. Slowly the ashen blonds arms rose and settled over the others shoulders. Dragging Zach in for a slow, light, kiss before he responded to the others question.

“I would never order you around.” Even as a General King he never ordered his General. Yes he told him to do things, or asked him to do things, but never gave him direct orders. Some might think it weak but he didn’t enjoy ordering others, just telling people what to do. There was a difference; the tone of voice made the difference.

“Mmmm...I ask you as your partner. I couldn’t handle it if I lost you to this war.” The words whispered into the others ear as he held the others head down, fingers tangling into the hair at the nap of the others neck.

“Then we must keep your secrets safe.” He whispered in return, lowering himself so he laid comfortably beside Alexandre before seeing to his partners other needs first.