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 Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 4:23 pm
Malus hated being out alone at night; he might have been a Super Senshi, but he hated it. Some nights his mind would wander and he would dream that maybe it wasn’t so bad, but tonight wasn’t one of those nights. Tonight, even if he was powered, he felt strangely off.Weak.
He suspected that this was Michel’s idea to get him out of the house and build some confidence; they were supposed to patrol together tonight. Zac was going to come home and they were going to go out together and power up. Now, Zac wanted to meet him in the park, powered.
Evan really couldn’t say no. He wanted to, but he was so desperate to try and prove that he wasn’t weak that he’d immediately agreed.
…And then spent ten minutes pacing around the house, trying to think of ways out of it before he finally, begrudgingly, slipped out of the house and powered up.
It wasn’t supposed to be a long walk; Malus could have made it in ten minutes if he really wanted to. Instead, he was very carefully traveling, staying keenly aware of the energy signatures in the area and all the rustling bushes and every little shadow, every distant sound. He didn’t want to be caught unawares.
He wanted to prove that he could do this and so he walked, as confidently as he could manage, towards the rendezvous point in the park.
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 4:50 pm
Tobias had thought he was going to bum around tonight as Andalusite, he had thought about it, and even had decided that it would be a good idea, but then he ended up getting some fast food and just chilling on a bench along the side of the road, like some wealthy hobo.
He had told himself that he would power up as soon as he was done, but then he had gotten the large fry and the eight pack of chicken tenders, so that might be a while.
As he was dunking his fourth piece of chicken, and starting to regret the size that he had bought, he noticed someone walking...a rather familiar someone. Someone who’s scarf he had tied in his hair even as he sat there.
“Oi! Purple kid.” Sure, he knew that he was a senshi, or at least...he knew now that the kid was a senshi...but still. He didn’t hold any grudges against him as Tobias...only Andalusite.
His cheek throbbed even as he thought of their last encounter.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:57 pm
Malus jumped at the voice; he had passed a few civilians already and had just walked quicker, gaze averted as if it would spare him their judgmental glances. This one was hard to ignore and his gaze immediately found Tobias on the bench.
A smile threatened to appear on his face and he very nearly raised his hand to wave and call a greeting before he remembered he was Malus and that would have just made things awkward.
Instead, he offered a hesitant smile. “Hey,” he greeted. “Long time, no see. You look like you’re doing better this time. How are you?”
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:58 pm
Tobias popped another fry into his mouth and held out one of the chicken tenders. “I’m doing a lot better this time around. No mutant pigs trying to make me dinner. And speaking of dinner, if you’d like to join me, I still have quite a few tenders and fries left, I’d be more than happy to share with you, purple dude.”
He winked and scooted over slightly on the bench, making sure to nod at the space made. “There’s plenty of room here for you, if you’d like to join me. How are you doing? Everything okay? You look...a little different. More purple. Did you add to your costume or something?”
Perhaps, if he was lucky he’d get the new scarf too...it was a little different than the one he had currently...and it would be nice to have a spare. “Tell me about yourself. If you’d care to join me. I’m not limping anymore, so that’s a good thing.”
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:00 pm
Malus tried not to grimace at the offered chicken tender. The idea of fast food—of that fast food made his stomach churn, and it was all he could manage not to power down and just drag Tobias home so he could cook something decent for him.
“I’m okay, thank you,” he said instead. “I just ate. But those are—you know those are really unhealthy, right? I’m sure there’s someone in your life that would cook you something much better if you were really hungry,” he suggested, almost sounding hopeful.
But it wasn’t a topic he could really expand on without being obvious; Tobias had spent enough time with Evan to know how much of a food snob. Still, he didn’t want to be rude—and if Michel wasn’t in a life or death situation, Malus could spare a few seconds to talk with Tobias.
Just to make sure he was okay, of course.
He carefully took a seat next to Tobias and tucked his hair behind his ear before chancing a look up at Tobias. “It’s Malus. My name, I mean. Not ‘Purple Guy’. Just, if you were wondering. I, uhm,” he paused and brushed down his vest before shrugging a bit. “I am a little different, since we last met. I got a little stronger. So my uniform’s a little different now. I don’t really know what else to say other than that, but I’m happy nothing’s trying to eat you right now.”
He drummed his fingers on his knees nervously. He was worried about Tobias going out after dark and couldn’t help but ask, “How can you be so calm about being out at the park at this hour after what happened? Aren’t you worried something’s going to jump out and attack you?”
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:02 pm
Tobias laughed, taking a bite out of the fried tender. “Oh, don’t you worry, there is. But sometimes I think that I bother him too much, he’s a great guy and I love him to death, but sometimes I feel like I’m being smothering and overbearing so on the nights that I want to give him a break...I eat fast food. Or Takeout. Or frozen pizzas, whatever I’m in the mood for, besides, and I swear, Malus? That right? I swear if you tell him, not that you’ll ever meet him, but if you tell him, I’ll be very cross with you. He would skin me alive if he knew I was eating this crap.”
The tender was defeated as he popped the rest of it in his mouth, considering the last question that the senshi asked him. He couldn’t just out and out say that he was stronger now too...but…
“How could I possibly be afraid to be out at night when I know you’re out there just waiting to jump in and protect me? I know I’m safe so long as you’re still out there. You’re a hero, after all.”
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:03 pm
Malus wanted to say that Tobias didn’t bother him at all, even with all his teasing; he hated having to hold his tongue. He wanted to protest and say that he liked the company and he wanted to chastise him for eating so terribly. There was a faint dread that blossomed in the back of his mind that worried that Tobias wasn’t talking about him, but he pushed the thought away.
He nearly squirmed when Tobias referred to him as a hero and shook his head. “No, I’m not. I just want to make sure people are okay. There are a lot of bad people, bad things out here. And it’s scary, not knowing if you’re going to make it home alive. I just want to give people a little piece of mind, if I can. But I’m not around all the time. I’ll protect you as much as I can, but you’re not doing yourself any favors by walking around in the middle of the night. Or by eating that,” he said, gesturing towards the fast food bag.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:04 pm
Quietly, Tobais nodded, his eyes on Malus for a long moment. “All right then. Why don’t you walk me home if you’re that worried. I don’t want to cause you grief.” He sighed, taking a look at the remaining three tenders and half full container of fries. “If you’re sure you don’t want these, I’ll toss them. Maybe I’ll call my boyfriend after all...I’m sure he’d be able to make me something nice for dessert...at the very least…”
He trailed off and shrugged, closing the container and tossing both it and the french fries into the nearest trash can.
“But, make sure I get home safe, yeah? Will you walk with me, Malus?” Tobias grinned, holding out his hand towards the senshi.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:05 pm
Malus’ eyes immediately returned to Tobias. “Boyfriend?” he asked, expecting the worst. His heart was pounding in his chest and he could swear that the corners of his vision were blackening. Instinctively, he reached out to accept the hand. It wasn’t until he felt the familiar grip of Tobias’ hand around his own that he realized once again Tobias did not realize he was Evan and this was probably very strange.
It was too late to draw his hand back and Malus tried to swallow the anxiety. He should have been relieved that the junk food was gone but instead he was still reeling from the idea of Tobias having a boyfriend, especially when he’d been so keen on pursuing him.
But, Tobias was handsome and charismatic and kind—it wouldn’t have been any surprise if he had people lined up to date him. And Evan had been saying no for so long—why shouldn’t Tobias get bored and find someone to say yes? Jealousy swept through him and he held Tobias’ hand a little tighter.
“I’ll walk you home,” he said after another second—because, regardless of whoever he might be dating, he cared about Tobias.
He wanted him to be okay.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:06 pm
“Yeah, he’s the best. Great guy. His name is Evan and he is...quite honestly the best thing in my life right now, though not that I’d admit it to him.” His fingers curled around Malus’s hand and he grinned. “Though, Mal. You almost sound jealous. Did I make such an impression on you with the wild mutant boar? Because if you’re worried about someone stealing my affections…” He shrugged helplessly. “You’re just too late. My heart belongs forever with Evan...but I won’t hesitate to accept your sash as a token of your undying love for me. I still wear the old one. I don’t know if you noticed.”
He shook his head slightly, letting the scarf flutter for a moment before taking off towards his home. “He’s utterly the best cook in the universe too, bar none.”
Tobias was grinning as he walked and the pride and adoration that he felt for Evan wasn’t disguised at all in his voice. “He’s honestly...the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m the luckiest guy in the world because he’s in my life.”
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:07 pm
Very nearly did he breathe a sigh of relief; it hadn’t even occurred to him that he should be concerned that Tobias was introducing him as his boyfriend to strangers, but he found solace in the fact that when Tobias was talking about his boyfriend he was talking about him—not someone else. The grip on Tobias’ hand relaxed but he kept a decent hold on him.
It was easy, when Tobias was saying such nice things. He was torn between smiling and being embarrassed, but ultimately he was still too caught up on relief to be too giddy about all the nice things Tobias said.
“I’m not jealous,” he assured. “I think it’s sweet.”
It was, wasn’t it? The way Tobias was gushing about him. He couldn’t help but wonder if Tobias knew that he was Malus and that was the only reason he was saying such things, but there were only a small number of people who knew his identity, and both Zac and Cambria wouldn’t have talked to Tobias about this side of him without talking to him, first.
His eyes darted to the scarf Tobias was wearing and he realized how much of a part of Tobias he’d associated it as. He glanced down at the sash he was currently wearing and then back at the purple scarf Tobias had in his hair.
“If I gave you my sash, how do you know he wouldn’t get jealous? I wouldn’t want anything to come between you two.” With his free hand, he tugged at it just slightly, thoughtfully. “Why do you wear the old one, may I ask? I mean, you’re allowed to do whatever you want with it, I had just been worried about your injury when I gave it to you. I mean, the purple is a good color for you. It’s very pretty. This one,” he tugged lightly at his sash once more. “It’d be a lot harder to match with anything. It’s got a lot more colors.”
It was more transparent, too; it looked more like stained glass and, while Malus found himself admiring the design, a part of him couldn’t help but want to see how it looked in Tobias’ hair.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:07 pm
“It makes me feel safer.” Tobias shrugged, squeezing the hand in his. “Besides, I like the way it looks in my hair. I think I might keep growing my hair out just for the scarf, I don’t know.” He grew quiet for a moment, still walking. “I don’t think he’ll get jealous. But maybe he’d like to wear my old one...I don’t know. Maybe him and I could dress alike...that might be cute, right? Or stupid. Most likely stupid.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. You saved me, and I just...I appreciate that a lot, I never really got a chance to thank you...if you hadn’t turned up when you did...I would have just...you know. Not made it to the point where I am having the conversation with you that I’m having now so...Thanks, Malus. You saved me, and I won’t forget that.”
Tobias wanted Evan now though. He was starting to get a small pang of guilt saying these nice things to this senshi...guilt that he didn’t think had anything to do with the fact that they were on different sides...and everything to do with the fact that this guy wasn’t Evan.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:09 pm
Malus smiled faintly; if things had turned out differently, he wouldn’t have Tobias. Maybe he’d still be a recluse, hiding away from the world. With only Zac and Cambria as his friends, he might not have ever strayed from their side. With Tobias…
It had been enough to make him get out into the world. It had breathed newness into his life and given him the courage to take steps to live.
And if he wanted to use his sash to use as a headband, Malus couldn’t see any reason not to share. “You’re very kind,” he said, finally unfastening the sash. He had to give it a few tugs to remove it from his waist but promptly handed it over. “You don’t have to feel like you owe me anything, just so you know. For ‘saving’ you. I was just in the right place at the right time, and I’m happy I could do something to help. But you don’t owe me and I’m not going to hold it over your head. All you have to do is live your life and be happy and make good decisions, and that’s thanks enough for me. Okay?”
He kept his fingers in Tobias’ as they walked and, though he kept a brisk pace, he seemed like he was still trying his hardest to pay attention to Tobias while also staying aware of their surroundings. He didn’t want another youma to jump out and ruin tonight before it really even began.
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