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 Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 7:59 pm
Traffic was hell. Naturally Zac had gotten stuck in the worst of it, and there were three detours on the way to Tobias’ house. What anger he had been maintaining had only worsened and he found that he was rapidly drifting into ‘unreasonably upset’. He seethed in silence; he kept the radio off, kept his phone next to him. The sun had just dipped below the horizon when he pulled into the expansive driveway.
Tobias’ home was an image of grandeur, and despite how good Tobias was for Zac, he was mad at him. Evan shouldn’t be running away to anyone else; Zac was used to being the one he ran to. Even when he had made the problems.
Zac wasn’t going to lose him to anyone.
He shoved himself out of the car, ignoring the tumultuous emotions stirring in his stomach. He closed the door with more force than he’d needed to, not because he was that mad but because he was trying to distract himself from his trembling hands.
If Evan wasn’t here, they were screwed. He had no idea where else he could be, and if Tobias didn’t know what had happened…this wasn’t how he should find out that Evan was missing.
But Zac couldn’t afford to think like that.
He had to tell himself Evan was here, inside, calmed down, and ready to talk.
Normally, Zac would have knocked—a heavy, intense rap, but he didn’t trust his own strength right now and he didn’t want to give the impression that he was trying to break the door down.
Instead, he stood tall, and rang the doorbell.
Waiting for someone to answer was hell.
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:19 pm
Evan was almost asleep. Tobias had been close to drifting as well, and he knew that Maxim was out and in little doggie dreamland by the way his paws kept twitching, it was cute.
…And then someone had to go and ring the goddamn doorbell.
Thankfully, Maxim seemed to be sleeping deeply enough that he didn’t notice. Gently, Tobias pulled away from Evan and kissed the top of his head. “I’ll go see who that is and tell them to go away. I’m sure it’s one of your lot so…don’t worry, you’re obviously not here.”
He grinned down at the boy and walked to the door, drawing in a breath and steeling himself for battle.
Opening the door, Tobias snorted when he saw Zac standing there and made to close it, though paused and took a step outside, stepping between the door and the male who was clearly trying to get in and hurt Evan more.
“What. What could you possibly want, Zac. I think you should just turn around and go.” Tobias’ voice was flat, though there was a hard edge to it. He wouldn’t mind shoving this guy down the stairs or smashing his face into the pavement a few times. It would be good for his psyche. And it would just make him feel a whole lot better about everything.
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:28 pm
Any relaxation Evan had reached was lost; the doorbell jerked him awake and once Tobias mentioned that it was probably someone there for him, he looked worried. His stomach clenched and he nodded, but his brows pressed together and his lips pursed. He looked like he might be sick but simply nodded and drew the dog closer. He didn’t watch as Tobias left and he didn’t try to get up.
He didn’t want to be caught here. He didn’t want to talk to any of them.
Zac eyed Tobias when he stepped out and felt a familiar burning annoyance as he looked at the guy. Evan wouldn’t be dating him if Zac hadn’t given his approval and he wanted to rub it in this guy’s face. But now maybe wasn’t the best time, not if Tobias had been the one he ran to.
“You know what I want,” he said curtly, not intending to let himself be bullied by this punk.
“I want to talk to Evan. And I know he’s in there, so don’t give me any s**t because if he wasn’t here, you’d be out looking for him. So, with all due respect, I don’t care what suggestion you’ve got for me right now. You don’t know what you’re talking about. This is between me and Evan, and I need to talk to him. Preferably now.”
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:33 pm
“He doesn’t want to talk to you. He doesn’t want anything to do with either of you. I don’t know what the hell you did to him, but you’re not getting near enough to do it again.” Tobais crossed his hands over his chest and was glad that he stood on the top step. It was nice to be able to look down on Zac.
He had always hated him…and not for the first time did he feel the urge to rip the starseed from the male’s chest. It would be so damn satisfying. And it would solve Evan’s issues…though…he supposed that Evan would be a little upset if Zac wound up dead while out looking for him but…
The temptation was there. And if Zac didn’t hurry up and leave, he would just end up giving in.
…Maybe he could just threaten with it. Take it out, and shove it back in and…
A smirk crossed the teal haired male’s face and it took every effort not to laugh. He was supposed to be serious right now but.
“You should leave. You’re not wanted. You’re not needed. Evan is where he’s safe. I’ll take care of him from now on. He doesn’t want to see you again.”
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 5:24 am
The smirk that appeared on Tobias’ face would have been enough to warrant a fist to it even if he hadn’t opened his stupid mouth too. Zac’s hand clenched at his side and a disgusted smirk appeared on his own face.
“Big words for a little s**t. You don’t know what Evan wants. You don’t know what he needs. You’re just a fool who got lucky, got your foot in the door and shoved you way into his life. And the stupid thing is, I thought you were good for him. But if you’re going to come between us?”
Zac glowered darkly. “Then I’ll remove you. Forcibly. So why don’t you get down out of my way and go get Evan before you do something stupid and get yourself hurt.”
As if he could temper his anger, as if they could rationally talk this out, as if ‘being nicer’ was going to make a difference, he insisted—with only slightly less agitation— “I just need to talk to him. He doesn’t understand and he’s going to get himself worked up over something stupid. So I need to talk to him before that happens, and if you care about him you’ll listen to me. I’ve known him for longer than you, seen him through worse things than this. Whether you like it or not, if you want him to be okay, you need me. And I need to talk to him, now.”
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 8:19 pm
Tobias shook his head, his anger finally getting the best of him finally. It took only a second of concentration before the chaos rippled over him, hiding Tobias and presenting Andalusite in his place. It might not have been the smartest idea to out himself but...honestly, he was ready to just pull this a*****e’s starseed and be done with it.
The more he thought about it, the better it sounded.
“I don’t really think you know just who you’re talking to, Zac. I don’t think you realize the position that you’re in right now. It’s time for you to leave, and forget that you ever knew Evan. You are bad for him. You’ve always been bad for him, if I’m understanding right, and I assure you, he’s much better off with me.”
Andalusite smirked, summoning his bow and arrow. “I can protect him better than you can, so, scram. You’re out of style, and it’s time for Evan to truly be happy. Which is my job. Now, before I kill you, I think you ought to listen to me and go. Now.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 6:44 am
A look of horror passed over Zac’s face, not because Tobias’ transformation scared him but because that was it. The last straw, the last reserve Zac had.
A Negaverse agent, right in front of him.
He didn’t have to power up to know what he was looking at.
The weapon didn’t stop him; he ascended the last of the steps and raised an arm to brush aside arrow. With his other hand he gripped the front of Tobias’ uniform and shoved him against the wall—and then, he hit him.
Hard.
Zac pulled no punches; he slammed his balled fist right into the center of Tobias’ face before he could even manage a coherent thought.
“What is this?” he growled, voice dripping with anger, with horror.
He might not have liked Tobias, but Tobias was supposed to be good for Evan.
The Negaverse was not good for Evan.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he seethed lowly. His voice trembled with rage, mortified by this betrayal.
Tobias was in the Negaverse.
Tobias was in the Negaverse. And here he was, claiming he was good for Evan? Better for him than Zac?
Bullshit.
He should have powered up, he should have crushed this moron with his own energy signature, should have beat him to death with his giant clock hand. There wouldn’t be a murder weapon, no one would know it was him.
Evan would know, though.
The thought of hurting Evan was the only thing that kept him from powering up. Mentally, briefly, he dared Tobias to try and attack him.
But that wouldn’t make this situation any better. He’d already hit him so hard that his own hand hurt but he knew he couldn’t yell as loud as he wanted to, or beat his head against the wall like he wanted to. Not without alerting Evan.
This was the last thing Evan needed to see after the day he’d had. He already thought Cambria and Zac lied to him, betrayed him.
What the hell would this do to him?
His blood suddenly ran cold. Did Evan know?
…No.
No, Evan couldn’t have.
But still, Zac couldn’t risk it.
He gripped the front of Tobias’ outfit and heaved him up, shoving him against the wall only once.
“What the <********> have you gotten yourself into?”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 6:09 pm
Andalusite enjoyed that look of horror, he was savoring it, imagining all of the fear going through Zac’s head and waiting for the male to turn tail and begin running away...until suddenly he was shoved against the door and there was pain radiating from his face.
He wasn’t sure what was happening for a long moment, but he had the sinking suspicion that Zac wasn’t as afraid as he had hoped to make him...in fact, he was starting to think that perhaps the a*****e wasn’t afraid at all...and not only that, he seemed to still have the upper hand in all of this and...that was just…
This was not how this was supposed to turn out.
He spat out a mouthful of blood and sneered at Zac. “What have I gotten myself into? What kind of a ******** up stupid question is that? I have power. I have the power to protect Evan. I don’t see why you’re freeing out so much, a*****e.”
His weapons had clattered to the ground and his fingers itched to have them back. If he could just...put the damn arrow in his back...it would solve everything.
“Put me down, now. I don’t think you understand who and what you’re messing with.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 7:29 pm
“Really?” Zac challenged. “Does this feel like power?”
He pushed him against the wall again, just to emphasize the grip he had on him. He wanted to hit him again; the mouthful of blood wasn’t payment enough for what he was going to put Evan through once he found out. He refrained, but he was looking for any excuse he could find to slam his fist into his cocky ******** face again.
“You think whatever covenant you’ve sold yourself for is going to keep you safe, protected? Do you really think that power comes without a price? Because you’re stupider than I thought if you think you’ve been blessed with some gift. You’re a pawn, moron. You’re disposable. You’re borrowing someone else’s power at the cost of your morality, you’re life. So—you think I don’t know who I’m dealing with? What I’m dealing with?”
He grit his teeth and glared at Tobias.
Tobias, or whoever he was pretending to be in that stupid ******** uniform.
“I’m dealing with someone who didn’t get the memo. You’re little night time club is a deathtrap, and you’re nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game. You think you’re special? You think you’re the first Negaverse agent to walk into my life?”
His eyes drifted inside the house, to where he knew Evan was.
His eyes found Tobias’ again.
“…Our lives?”
His lip curled into a sneer. “Evan’s going to have a real ******** party when he finds out his boyfriend’s in the Negaverse. And if you think he’s done with me, watch how fast he dumps your a** when he finds out what you are. What you do.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 7:30 pm
A small look of hesitation crossed Andalusite’s face and he spat another mouthful of blood before glancing away from Zac’s gaze. It wasn’t that bad. Not as bad as he was making it sound...he wasn’t...Evan wouldn’t be upset...not upset enough to break up with him at least...that would be stupid.
“I would never hurt Evan.”
The words were out of his mouth before he had the chance to think them through...but they were the truest words that he could have said at this point.
Slowly, he let his powered form fade and looked back to the blonde.
“Put me down, Zac.” Tobias’ voice was softer now, a little more pensive, and for a moment he just wanted to ask what he had meant by them having had a Negaverse agent in their lives but.
“...I’ll tell Evan than, okay? I won’t keep this a secret from him if you’re so worried. He won’t leave me for this. I know he won’t.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 7:32 pm
Zac’s sneer didn’t fade but he managed to drop his grip on Tobias. His adrenaline was still high; he could have been gentler instead of just dropping him, especially with as complaint as he was being.
But, he wasn’t; he was furious trembling with unbridled rage.
He could give Tobias credit; he was good for Evan, but he didn’t seem particularly smart. It might have been Zac’s ego, but he liked to think that he’d have been able to tell if Tobias was lying to him and, even now, he didn’t get the impression that the man was being anything but sincere.
But it wasn’t good enough.
“You don’t get it,” Zac said, shaking his head. “If you keep up on the path you’re on, you won’t get a say in it. Down the road, Evan won’t be anything more than fodder, some thing you can harvest and run back to your boss like a good little boy. The Negaverse isn’t equivalent exchange—you don’t get what you put in. They take, and take, and take. Everything, they’ll take from you. Your humanity, your life—Evan.”
And oh, Zac would not let that happen. He would skin Tobias alive before he let the Negaverse get their hands on him.
Again.
“He’s mad at me right now for keeping a secret I shouldn’t have. I don’t know what he’s told you,” but judging from Tobias’ response he had no idea about Evan’s Senshi life, “But I can tell you that much at least. I was trying to protect him, I didn’t want him to have to deal with information I thought was just going to mess him up. And you’re secret,” he scoffed and shook his head, drawing back just a step.
“Yeah. This s**t isn’t the sort of thing you keep from him. But telling him isn’t going to be enough. I don’t even want to let you go back in there with him, knowing what I know.”
Evan couldn’t handle it; what if Tobias tried to hurt him? What if Tobias got it into his head that he needed to take Evan to Negaspace, that he needed to awaken him. To corrupt him?
Zac would find worse things to do than kill him if he tried.
He didn’t say it, but as much was obvious in his eyes.
“I won’t let him be involved with this s**t. I don’t care how good you are for him, I don’t care how much he hates me right now. I care about him, and making sure he’s okay. And I’ve worked my a** off to get him to the point where he was even healthy enough to go out in public. Hate me all you want, but he wouldn’t be with you if it wasn’t for how much time Cambria and I put into helping him. So you don’t have to trust me, but trust that I would do anything for him and I won’t let you ruin that. I don’t like you, especially right now, but I’m not so stupid to think that he’s going to forgive me any time soon if I take you out.”
It wasn’t a question of if he could do it. Just if he was going to.
“I could text him right now and tell him what you are. It’s not a question of if he’s going to find out, it’s what you’re going to do about it. Because there’s no way in hell you and him are going to stay together. It’s out of the question. Literally an impossibility—you don’t get both. So you tell me right now which one you choose, because if it isn’t Evan, I’m taking him home right now, and you’re going to lose his number. Forever.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 7:33 pm
Tobias frowned slightly, shaking his head. “I would never hurt Evan. He’s not fodder--he’s not just some tool for me to get ahead. He has nothing to do with this part of my life, and I wouldn’t involve him in it. He’s way too fragile for any of this. He’s better off not in this war at all.”
He wasn’t quite sure what Zac was asking...but he didn’t think he liked where the male’s thoughts were headed. “So what, you want me to just give up? To stop powering up and just turn my back on the Negaverse? If that’s what your asking, fine. I won’t go out. I won’t do anything with them anymore. I’m not well known. Nobody’s going to miss me.”
It wasn’t like his General was involved with him at all. And it wasn’t like he had anyone that really mattered...except maybe Laurie but…
“Would that satisfy you, Zac? I’m not leaving Evan. He’s my everything. Nothing in this world is more important than he is.”
He felt somewhat sick. Maybe showing off and revealing himself just to seem bigger and tougher than Zac hadn’t been such a good idea anyway.
“...Don’t take him away from me. I’ll fix this.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 7:35 pm
Tobias looked sick.
Good.
Zac’s anger still hadn’t ebbed, but his need to make Tobias bleed had. His heart was still pounding in his chest, but not loud enough that it deafened his rational thoughts.
What was left of them, at least.
“There’s not many ways to fix it, Tobias.” His voice was cold, but firm. Tired, even. But he couldn’t spring that on him, not tonight. Not when he might run away. This whole thing was a ******** mess and for as much as Zac wanted to handle it on his own, to keep Evan safe and in the dark…
That was the whole reason he was on Evan’s bad side right now. Because he was too busy censoring the world, trying to protect Evan.
He knew how it looked, from any angle—bad. Even if his intentions had been good, for the most part. He didn’t think that Evan was ready, but maybe that was a mistake. Evan hadn’t been ready for a lot of things, but he had persisted and overcome them.
And this wouldn’t have happened if he’d just told him from the beginning.
Cambria was right, it was out of fear. Fear that he’d be rejected, that he’d upset Evan, that he’d lose everything he worked for.
Fear that he’d lose him after working so hard to bring him back, to make him okay.
He needed to make things right, to make everything right. Evan giving him the cold shoulder and running away wasn’t doing him any favors, wasn’t making his job any easier. Whether he wanted this or not, he needed Tobias on his side if he wanted to make this any easier on himself.
And he needed stupid ******** Tobias if he wanted Evan to be okay.
His first boyfriend, his first real boyfriend, who had been a good, healthy influence on him. The guy who gave him the strength to get out of the house, who encouraged him to follow his dream, to get his truck up. Tobias had brought him out of shell, helped reintroduce him into society. Helped him live again. Help him develop some self esteem, feel better about himself, trust people.
Trust.
Zac deflated just slightly and glanced back into the house, wondering how long he could keep Tobias out here before Evan started to worry. Of course, he probably had every reason to worry, what with the blood smeared across Tobias face. Zac should have hit him again while his adrenaline was high enough that he could have justified it.
“It wouldn’t satisfy me, but it’s a start, yeah.”
No, purification was the only way he’d be satisfied. And, even then, that could have one of two consequences and he didn’t think there was any way to control them. He’d kept his memories, the ones that mattered.
Tobias would be lucky to do the same.
Zac needed to go home and tell Cambria. He wanted to check on Evan, wanted to drag him home and keep him safe, but this whole thing was mess waiting to spill over.
“You have to tell him, first. And you have to do it soon. Like, now.” Or, maybe not now; he didn’t know how messed up Evan was. He swallowed; he didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to give him any time to get himself stuck in a situation he couldn’t control. “…Or whenever he’s had enough time to calm down. But I mean, seriously, as soon as possible. If you’re serious about him, about being with him, you and I are going to have to have a long talk. But I’m not wasting my time on that unless he still wants to be with you after this. And even if I hate your guts, as long as he loves you I’ll watch out for your sorry a**—but I’m gonna tell you know. You’re in for some s**t, kid. You need to get out of there. The Negaverse isn’t going to do you any favors. So you clean up your face, you make sure he’s okay, and then you tell him. And you tell him to text Cambria because she’s in tears right now for something I made her keep secret. She loves him. She doesn’t want him to hurt. He’s allowed to be upset, but you make sure he blames me, and you make sure he knows that I want to talk to him. I want to clear it up. I want to answer his questions, and I want to tell him everything.”
Everything he could remember, at least.
He should have brought the notes he left for himself.
Hell, he should have done a lot of things, but it was too late for that. Now, if all he could do was make sure Evan wasn’t upset with Cambria, at least he could have faith that he was okay.
Zac could take the blame, all of it. Even if he didn’t feel like it was all his fault, he wasn’t going to argue it. Not now, not when it was more important to know that Evan could have faith that he still had a lifeline.
…Even if it made him sick to think about, what the ******** ever.
He grit his teeth again and made sure Tobias could see how serious he was.
“And if you hurt him, I swear to God, Tobias. If you do anything to him, I will ruin you in every sense of the word. I will give you one chance to make this right.” One chance, and it was already making his stomach churn to think of all the things that could go wrong. “And if he’s still willing to put up with you, we will make this right.” He shook his head. “Don’t make me your enemy. I don’t want to be. So you text me, and you tell me what’s going on, if he isn’t in the mood to talk to me yet.”
He drew in a breath, ran his fingers through his hair, and exhaled. “There’s still time to save you. No matter what happens with Evan, you need to think about your future, too. The Negaverse will chew you up and spit you out. You stay with them and you’ll be a monster. Now, I think you’re an idiot, but I think you’re smart enough, arrogant enough, not to want to be anybody’s puppet. So if you value your life, your free will, your self, you think about that too. And after you talk with Evan, if you really want out, call me.”
Zac was going to be sick, he knew it.
“And I’ll help you.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 7:36 pm
Tobias watched Zac for a long, long moment and finally gave a small nod, holding his hand out. “Okay. I’ll think on all of this. I’ll talk to Evan...and we’ll figure this all out. I’ll tell him to call you--it might not be tonight, he’s still really upset so…”
He let out a sigh and spat another small bit of blood from his mouth, looking as though the weight of the world was suddenly on his shoulders. “...I guess I should have just kept this to myself. I...involving you and involving Evan was a mistake and I do realize that but…” Swallowing and wincing at the coppery taste in his mouth, Tobias leaned against the door and rubbed at his eyes with his free hand.
“Whoever you dealt with in the Negaverse really seems to have made an impression on you...I’m sorry for whatever you and Evan had to go through--I’m not a puppet. You’re right about that...I’ll...I’ll think on your words, Zac. I promise but...but I have to go in now...I’m sure Evan’s worried out of his mind and is making up all sorts of worst case things that are going on with you and me...and I know he’s going to flip when he sees my face.”
Tobias managed a little bit of a grin and sighed. “You have a good hand there. That was a pretty decent punch...I’m…”
Standing a little straighter, he held his hand out more firmly.
“I’m glad you want to help me. It’s...nice to have you on my side.”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 7:37 pm
For a moment, Zac didn’t take it. He observed Tobias, tried to read into his expression, his posture, his words. He tried to look for some reason not to trust him so he could just end this before he regretted it, but…
There was nothing but honesty, at least so far as he could tell.
He exhaled and extend his own hand, gripping Tobias’ firmly. He shook on it, a promise between the two of them. “It was a damned good punch and you know it. Something you could benefit from learning. I’ll teach you sometime.”
If he didn’t have to kill him.
They weren’t friends, he reminded himself; they were just playing nice because they shared a common goal. They both cared about Evan, and about self preservation, and this was just them meeting in the middle. Tobias needed Zac now; even if he didn’t want to admit it, even if Evan was mad, Zac still had more control over their relationship than he knew Tobias wanted to admit.
…And Tobias had more control over Evan’s friendship with Zac than he wanted to admit, but Zac hoped that he was the only one that had picked up on it.
Sabotaging each other wasn’t going to help anyone, and in the end they’d both wind up suffering from it. And so would Evan, and that was the only reason they were both here tonight.
Except, he had to leave, and he had a sinking feeling in his stomach that it wasn’t going to end well afterwards. Leaving without doing anything felt like giving up; he felt like a quitter. He felt like this was going to bite him in the a**.
…But he had to trust Evan, and he had to trust Tobias.
His stomach churned and, after a few seconds of shaking, he retracted his hand.
“…You head in, then. I don’t know how long he’s going to be staying here for, but I guess…text me how things are going. I need updates.”
He wasn’t asking; he was trying to play the tough guy but he was clearly genuinely worried for Evan. “…Cambria said he left in a hurry, so tell me if he left anything at the house that he needs. I can drop it off. Just. Keep me informed.”
Perhaps, the gentlest, most polite thing he said all evening: “Please.”
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