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 Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 4:53 pm
The day hadn’t been long in coming, but now that it was here, it felt as though it had snuck up on him and as Andalusite stood there, surrounded by two senshi and a knight…because of course both Zac and Cambria had been involved too…of course they had. It was no wonder they had both been so eager to help him. So understanding, so willing to lend him a hand. To talk if he needed them.
But right now, the captain just felt small. Bewildered and quite unsure of himself. He had the email from Laurence printed out and waiting for him at home, as well as a long list of all of his usernames and passwords for things.
He had taken out more than enough money to last him and Evan a good few years, and Laurie had promised to keep sending some money to Evan every few months or so.
Everything was worked out, but now that the moment had finally arrived, he thought he might faint. Or run…or call for backup. But…he kept himself steady, trying to keep his breathing even. This was going to be okay. This was what they had wanted…what they had been waiting for. This was his life changing move…to be with Evan.
Evan. The most important person in the world to him...the keeper of his heart, and the light of his life.
Literally.
Quietly, Andalusite moved closer to the purple clad senshi, taking his hand and squeezing it, hoping the boy couldn’t feel him trembling.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:14 pm
Malus’ fingers curled tightly around Andalusite’s. His grip was solid steel, unwavering, unflinchingly. He might have been holding the hand a bit too hard, but there was nothing about it that betrayed the fear and uncertainty coiling in his heart. His face was straight and his brows were forcefully unfurled; he didn’t to give any indication that he thought tonight was the night he lost Tobias.
He looked over at his boyfriend and smiled reassuringly but couldn’t find the voice to speak. Too afraid that if he said anything his nerves would unfurl, he instead elected to keep his lips pressed in a firm line. It was a smile, at least.
Michel looked less interested and more annoyed, but he’d been fidgety all evening, huffing around and making sure everyone had everything ready—fussing that there were no loose ends, keeping things moving to make sure Tobias didn’t chicken out of this.
At this point, there was no escaping.
There was purification, and there was death. They’d given Tobias—Andalusite—too much insight into their own personal lives; if he backed out, they’d all be targets, and he couldn’t risk putting Cambria or Evan at harm.
He stayed off to the side, near enough to Andalusite that if he tried to run, he’d have time to catch up. The teleportation thing was a bit of an uncertainty, but he was hoping that as long as Evan kept a good grip on him that wasn’t something to concern himself with.
Tobias wouldn’t give up on Evan, not now. Not when they’d come so far.
Not when they were so close.
“You ready?” he asked, breaking the silence between the group. His eyes had settled on Andalusite. “The faster you get this over with, the faster you go home.”
“There’s no rush,” Malus said, holding the hand a little tighter. It seemed he could manage to keep a straight tone for Michel, but he sounded uncharacteristically argumentative. “He can take his time. He’s not going anywhere. So we’re going to do this right.”
Malus turned to Andalusite. “It’s okay. Don’t let him stress you out. We’ve got this.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:17 pm
Lysithea stood near Michel, giving a soft, sad little chuckle and placing a hand on his arm. “…Don’t be mean, Michel. You were in his position once, do I have to remind you?” Her voice was gentle, and she looked at the blonde with a fond sort of love in her eyes. “He’s scared, it’s a big step…and he’s doing so well…”
She placed her head on his shoulder for a moment, then drew away, her dark blue eyes filled with apprehension and worry, watching the teal haired male squeezing Evan’s hand. Watching the way his dark eyes kept flitting around, the way he seemed to grow paler and paler.
“…We should get it over with soon, though…” Andalusite looked at Michel sharply, a frown marring his face, the first real sign of unhappiness he had outwardly shown. Quietly, tried to stop his trembling by holding Malus’ hand even more tightly. He ducked his head and blew out a breath. “…I’m scared, Evan…”
The words were whispered in his ear, and the fear was easy to hear, the way his voice trembled, the way his very body shook. He was scared. He didn’t want to forget. He didn’t want to lose everything. He felt his heart beginning to race and if he hadn’t been holding on to Malus’ hand so hard…he knew he would have teleported…as it was…he was tempted just to go and bring the boy with him…
They could just corrupt him. Corrupt them all and…
No. Damnit.
That was the whole point behind this. He couldn’t do that to Evan…to Cambria and…and to Zac…
Finally the Captain drew in a breath and placed his head on Malus’ shoulder. “I’m ready…please. Let’s get this over with before I do something stupid and ******** everything up…”His words carried over to Lysithea’s ears and the senshi drew in a small breath, before closing her eyes and reaching out with her starseed as she had done many times before. Cosmos. They needed the aid of Cosmos to save him.
Everything would be all right. She knew it, but…they just had to get there
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:18 pm
“Probably,” Michel glanced at her as he muttered his answer. “I mean, I don’t remember, so.” But, he could take a hint, so he stopped prodding Andalusite and let Malus and Lysithea take control. It didn’t matter if he’d done this before; there were parts that he didn’t remember—felt like he remembered, either because he had imagined it or had it recounted to him, but this was still a first for him.
Watching someone else do it. Helping them get ready for it.
He was anxious, in his own way, and that meant that he was pushy and impatient. He wanted to get this over with so he knew how much he was going to have to work to piece everyone back together again.
If Andalusite lost Evan…
He could tell by the Senshi’s face that he was terrified; he knew Evan too well to have any of his masks work.
But, he was trying, and it was a braver face and a more convincing lie than Evan had ever managed before.
Malus squeezed Andalusite’s hand reassuringly. “It’s okay to be scared,” he said gently. “But no matter what, you’re going to be okay. I promise.”
He glanced to Lysithea, well aware of what she was doing; he’d seen it before and he supposed he’d see it again. He just hoped Cosmos wouldn’t choose tonight to be too busy to help.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:21 pm
She wasn’t. Like a shooting star in the night sky, Cosmos’ arrival was imminent. She had no presence, no energy signature, until the white light manifested before them in the shape of a beautiful, tired woman. She held her staff in her hand and stood tall and proud. Expectant. Her eyes roamed across the face of everyone in the group, taking in who she recognized, who she didn’t know. She was anticipating the situation, but everything seemed clear once her eyes found Andalusite. “You seem to have a lot of friends supporting you, Agent. I suspect I am here to purge the Chaos from you.” Her grip loosened on the staff and she seemed to relax, only just slightly. “Is that what you want?”
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:21 pm
Lysithea’s eyes found those of Cosmos and she gave a relieved, thankful smile, resting more heavily on Michel. “Everything will be fine now. There’s nothing to worry about. He’s not going to make the wrong choice. Evan and Tobias will be okay…you made it through purification still intact…and Tobias will too. I can just…I have hope. And a lot of it.”
She had to. That was the only way to really get through this.Andalusite drew in a long breath as the sudden bright light turned into a very strong energy signature. His skin felt like it were crawling with thousands of little legs and his urge to run was stronger now than it had ever been, but he nodded at her question, swallowing hard before looking back at Malus, giving the boy a long, searching glance, hoping to remember…something about him. Anything.
And finally he drew the senshi’s hand to his lips, kissing the back of it with as much tender passion as he could convey, his eyes full of fear, and just a small bit of hope. When he drew his hand away, he took a few steps towards the white haired woman, taking in her appearance, then glancing over towards Lysithea who looked as though there was nothing out of the ordinary going on…
“You…ah…you do this often huh? I guess…you’re the one that helped…well. Everyone here but her…You’re the one that helped Malus…not be a youma anymore?”
He managed to give the woman a smile and drew in another deep, calming breath. “Yes, please. I would very much like to be saved, if you wouldn’t mind…I…I would appreciate it more than I can say. My friends deserve better from me, and I’m ready to change.”
Andalusite was surprised by how easily the words came. She was right. He had good friends here…and they were here. Here to support him. Here to love him.
And he wasn’t about to let them down. “Thank you, for what you’re going to do. I just…want to say it now.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:22 pm
Malus was trying his hardest to keep a straight face, but when Andalusite dropped his hand, when he turned his back to him and walked to Cosmos, he faltered. His strength wavered and he visible trembled, now. He tried not to look afraid, tried not to let the moisture build in his eyes, but he couldn’t hide it.
Looking at Cosmos was enough to make him weak. He knew what she had done for him, and yet he couldn’t manage to find any words to thank her. He was terrified of making a fool of himself, of seeming rude by saying nothing, of distracting her when she needed to focus on Tobias…
He trembled and just inhaled quietly, trying to keep himself steady.
Michel noticed, and a look of sympathy crossed his face, but he seemed to be of the same mind. He couldn’t allow a distraction for Andalusite or Cosmos, not if they wanted to keep Tobias and dispel the Chaos.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:23 pm
“Not often enough,” Cosmos answered easily. There was too much Chaos in the world, and though she would willingly purge all of it if she could, she still needed a willing participant. Her eyes went to Michel, to Malus, for only a second; she didn’t dare take her eyes off of Andalusite. She wasn’t one to waste time and, instead, wanted to ensure his safety away from Chaos as quickly as possible. She was not one to rush things, though. She was patient. “You do not need to thank me. It is my duty.” One hand reached up, gentle and welcoming. She placed it over his chest. “We will save you. Your future will be better, brighter. And your friends will guide you. Are you ready, now?”
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:23 pm
Lysithea didn’t waiver. She couldn’t. And though she, like Michel wanted to go to Evan, to comfort him, to support him…she had to keep believing that this would all be worth it. Had to keep believing that Tobias would pull through this. They had done enough. Made enough memories. Shown him how they powered up, both when he was Andalusite and when he was Tobias. They had crossed every bridge. Taken every precaution. Transferred quite a large sum of money...and now they were here. And it was time.
Quietly, she tried to catch Evan’s eye, blowing him a gentle kiss.Andalusite swallowed hard, closing his eyes for a moment. He was ready. He had to be ready. He felt the hand on his chest and for a moment, a cold fear, a sickening dread filled him, and before he could stop himself, he turned around and bolted for Malus, drawing the boy into a deep, desperate kiss, trembling.
His lips found the male’s eyes, felt the dampness there and swiftly kissed the tears away.
He took a moment and just stared deep into those teal blue eyes, feeling his fears floating away as the thought of Evan filled every inch of his mind.
The process took less than a few seconds, and then he was back to Cosmos, taking her hand as gently as possible and placing it back on his chest.
“I’m ready. Thank you.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:25 pm
Malus nearly missed the kisses, the gentle looks. He was too busy trying to hold it together. When Andalusite bolted, he immediately thought the worst. His stomach dropped and a dull, empty ache washed over him. He felt failure, disappointment, loss, despair—until he realized that Andalusite had run to him.
The kiss reassured him immediately; it blinded him from the emotions swarming him and let him focus on just Andalusite, just Tobias. It gave him faith that things were going to be okay. He didn’t want the kiss to end; as soon as his tears were kissed away, more replaced them; he just tried to hold it together for long enough not to make Tobias doubt.
Andalusite turned away. Malus couldn’t stop the tremors that ran through him at the thought of losing him.
He had prayed and begged and screamed wishes before, when things were falling apart. When he was helpless and hurting and hopeless and breaking.
He had never wished harder, for anything, than to keep Tobias.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:25 pm
Cosmos watched, a bit of confusion on her otherwise reserved face. But, she smiled softly, her fingers resting lightly over his chest. “This may sting. The Chaos will fight me. But you will prevail. Hold your precious thoughts close to your heart,” she said softly, and then pushed a wave of soft, white energy into him.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:26 pm
She said that the chaos would sting, but he hadn’t been expecting for it to hurt. There was a warmth at first, like slipping into a bath, but suddenly, the warmth turned to a scalding heat and it was all that Andalusite could do to keep his mind...focused.
Focused on what?
It felt as though the fire was burning...burning something away...something important…
Tobias didn’t resist the fire though, he felt cleaner. Lighter as it passed over him. Through him. Though, after a moment, the thing that he had to remember came back to him in a flash. Evan. Evan the love of his life. Evan the...the reason he was doing…something.
When the white glow had faded, there was one less captain in the city, and one brand new, purple clad squire who blinked and swayed unsteadily on his feet for a moment. 
Quietly, his dark eyes landed on the white haired woman in front of him, and a small frown crossed has face, though as his eyes traveled to the two other strangely clad people--he realized slowly that he knew them. He had seen them before. Watched them change from Cambria and Zac.
He nodded slowly to himself and turned fully around, his expression softening as he saw Malus. Malus who had saved him. Malus who loved him.
Malus who was Evan.
Without a word he moved towards the senshi, drawing him into his arms and holding him tightly, whispering into his ear. “...Hey you...what’s going on? Who’s that white haired lady?”
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:27 pm
Malus’ breath seized; Tobias had come to him. He didn’t know this new knight by name, but he had come to him. ‘Hey, you’. It wasn’t a name, but it was something. If Tobias remembered being a Negaverse agent, he would have known what had just happened, he wouldn't have been asking who Cosmos was—right?
Hopeful, he tried to speak, but he couldn’t make any words come out. He clung to the Squire before him like it was the only way to hold himself together. For a long moment, the only sounds he could manifest came in the form of sharp exhales, like he was almost ready to form a word but couldn’t make the last push to do so.
Michel watched, and just as the Knight was about to step over and say something, Malus managed, “She’s the one who purified you, Tobias. She helped you leave the Negaverse, the people who were just going to hurt everyone. What—how much—what do you remember?”
He tried to keep his breathing even, tried to keep his words from fluctuating, but he was drowning under the weight of his emotions and his tone warbled as he tried to filter out the overwhelming emotions.
Tears were again in his eyes but he kept willing himself not to cry.
It was helping, albeit barely. He held his breath, trembled, as he waited for Tobias to speak.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:28 pm
The squire held Evan tightly, his gloved hand coming up to stroke the soft, dark hair. “Hey, hey Evan…why are you so upset?” He listened to the senshi’s words and tried to remember…but he could only remember what the others had told him. The Negaverse was full of bad people…and he had been…been on that team? When his friends…when his Evan…
“I’m still me…and I suppose, I made the right choice with all of this. I’m still…I’m still your Tobias. And you’re still my Evan, and Zac and Cambria are over there in their super hero outfits, so everything is okay, right?”
His lips grazed the boy’s forehead, and then traveled to his lips, capturing them in a lingering kiss, that almost sparked something. But it was no more than a recent fleeting feeling of fear and desperation…things that didn’t belong in this wonderful moment.
Quietly, he rested against Malus for another long moment, and finally turned so he could look at Cosmos, giving a large, though tired smile. “Thank you, thank you so much for what you’ve done…it means everything to me…”
It really did.
He was home.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:30 pm
Malus’ form faded into Evan almost immediately and tears bubbled from his eyes as he squeezed the man closer. “I’m not upset!” He insisted through the tears. “I was just really worried, Tobias! Or—whoever, whatever, you are. I don’t care, you’re mine. You’re here, and I love you, and I don’t have to do all that work to make you fall in love with me again. I was going to, I’d you forgot me. I had a whole list of dates planned to make you fall in love with me. We can still go, but,” he shuddered and relaxed against the squire. His strength had faded along with his adrenaline and he was just a tired, weepy mess now.
The stress of the past week had finally caught up with him, but he could relax now. He didn’t have to try and cram in making more memories or researching how to manipulate what memories were kept when leaving Chaos behind. He felt the burden of worry of stress slip away, but it left him exhausted. He could stand there, against Tobias, but he didn’t know if he could walk. They needed to; Cosmos was a beacon in herself, and she lingered even now. Evan felt guilty about keeping her; he just wanted to go home.
But...he couldn’t imagine moving, couldn’t imagine letting Tobias out of his arms.
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