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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 3, 2017 3:15:11 GMT
New moons on night shifts were never fun. New moons meant that creepers would be taking advantage of attacking the police statio. The good news was the collateral damage caused by a darkness fight was mostly repaired. The bad news was that the Nevermore kiosk would be closing down soon, and getting a caffeine fix was a race. The worse news was that Sunshine had gone to close up the bakery, and probably off her new 'boyfriend', and that meant Shadow was stuck with...
Pitch.
At least the anger had died down. For the most part. As Shadow took his order and settled, he looked for any signs of Pitch. The Others Unit decided to divide and conquer the big threats targetting the city. Vanitas had all but vanished from the radar, which made the job a bit easier. That meant that the focus could go to rounding up the dangerous Other criminals that had escaped the prison riot and, of course, Thrax. He stirred the black coffee until a whirlpool formed. He winced as his still tense shoulder, which no longer bled but still hurt if the muscle was flexed. The sooner this was take care of, the better.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 3, 2017 4:57:10 GMT
Despite the late hour and the fact that the Nevermore kiosk would be closing soon, the door opened briefly onto the fragrant night air of Bellerouge before closing once more. Steps slowly approached where Shadow sat stirring his coffee and stopped only just behind his line of vision. A deep silence descended over the kiosk in those moments and the shadows visibly deepened before the soft, cultured voice finally spoke.
"Shadow."
Pitch spoke barely above a whisper as he stood several feet behind where Shadow sat. It had been several weeks since the two of them had even seen each other and longer still since the violent confrontation between them. Yet the tension that filled the small space between the two was as potent as ever.
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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 3, 2017 20:28:16 GMT
"Pitch."
Despite the gruff reply, Shadow showed no hints of anger or annoyance. That was gone. His darkened officer colleague wasn't the person to be angry at. The only light in the area, not counting the small alcoves above, were Pitch's bright yellow eyes.
The homonculus had no other comments. He just reached into the side bag and retrieved a folder. Inside was a map of Bellerouge, typed up information, and scribbled notes on suspects, including officer names.
Pitch's name was written next to Thrax's
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 0:07:04 GMT
Pitch didn't say anything in turn as Shadow acknowledged his presence but stepped fully into the small pool of light offered by the alcove. However, he didn't sit and merely stood opposite the homunculus, waiting to see how he would play their less then friendly reunion. After all, the Demon hadn't been the only one to suddenly disappear from the BPD.
Shadow himself remained quiet and responded merely by pulling out a folder from the side bag sitting next to him. Pitch noted how Shadow moved his shoulder somewhat stiffly as if her were in mild pain or had received a recent injury. However, he made no comment as the homunculus put the folder down so that the contents could be clearly seen. A map of the city, a list of recently complied statistics, and his own name written next to that of the wanted criminal Thrax.
Pitch took all this in with only the briefest of glances before looking up at Shadow and lifting a single eyebrow. The gesture said it all.
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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 4, 2017 0:47:10 GMT
"You were on an undercover mission when this was planned out. I thought I'd bring you up to speed."
The explanation was simple. Almost dull even. Considering the jail heist and people getting hurt, it was all up to the Others Unit. They couldn't focus on one individual case at a time; it'd be playing into Thrax's plans.
"We all agreed you," he winced as his shoulder popped, "would be ideal in going after Thrax."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 3:30:09 GMT
"Really. And here I just thought the BPD was giving me a special treat."
Pitch's sarcasm laced every word as he spoke. It really was no surprise that the BPD had given him this assignment despite his less then consistent involvement since the prison break. He'd already proven time and again that he was more then capable of handling many other Demons. Even so, it had taken the BPD this long to finally give him the case and he could guess that a certain amount of animosity still existed because of his own recent actions.
Well, now he had free reins at last. Now he could finally face Thrax on his own terms.
"Very well. If that is all, I'll take my leave."
Pitch was already turning, ready to leave the kiosk and Shadow behind.
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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 4, 2017 4:16:41 GMT
"That's...not all."
Well, this was going to be one hundred percent painful. It was was even more painful than Frollo stabbing him in the shoulder, or when Thrax gave the homonculus a beating when he had been protecting Yang at the ball. If there was one thing Shadow hated outside of being disrespected or judged, it was swallowing his own pride. Admitting the very thing he was telling Pitch now. Even a trace of resentment was spat out;
"...I was wrong."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 4:41:35 GMT
Pitch was only a moment away from disappearing into the surrounding darkness and leaving Shadow when he heard what the homunculus said. And it froze him. It took him a moment to process what the red and black figure had said, to let it sink in and to realize that he was apologizing. The stubborn and proud Shadow was actually apologizing to him.
However, in the brief moments of silence that accompanied this sudden admission of mistake, the Demon felt nothing but a flicker of anger deep within him.
"Spare me your heartfelt apology, Shadow."
He stood on the threshold then, wanting to leave but at the same time finding him anchored to the spot by the anger.
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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 4, 2017 5:02:51 GMT
"I'm not giving you a heartfelt one. I'm giving you an honest one."
Hearts in demons was almost unheard of, but Shadow wouldn't dare say that. Not when the tension in the room could be cut with a knife. That and he recognized the look on Pitch's face. That slightest glint in the eyes, that almost petrified stance, even the conflicting stare, wanting to go but at the same time wanting to stay. A Demon's anger was dangerous to play with.
"And like it or not, we're a team. Yes, it's splintered, but the people are our focus now. So let's turn our attention to that and direct our anger towards who and what really deserves it."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 5:25:26 GMT
"Honesty? A team?"
There was a moment in which the world seemed to grow perfectly still and silent, so much so that you could almost hear the beating of a heart or the rush of blood through veins. Then Pitch began to laugh. It was soft, barely more then a snicker when it first started but quickly growing in strength and sound. It was clear and uncontained but so very cold, seeming to fill the entire space of the kiosk with its deadly chill and threat.
"Oh how high and mighty you sound with your words of honesty and teamwork. So do tell me, where were those same sentiments of yours during our last encounter?"
His tone was light and calm, deceptively so. The spark of anger in him seemed to be tapping into something within the Demon, something he couldn't find a name for yet but that was bubbling up inside him even as he spoke.
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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 4, 2017 5:31:00 GMT
"Buried under deception. You and I both know of Disparion's games...at least, now we do."
Shadow's answer, again, was honest. Disparion had used Shadow's biggest weakness, his drive to learn the truth, into a spiral of lies. That very anger had nearly killed people. It did once.
"He's at bay for now. I know the truth, and I'd be lying if I said I liked what I had willingly given up."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 19:15:00 GMT
"Finally done playing into Disparion's hands then, are you?"
Pitch's tone was so sharp in that moment it seemed like it could cut through flesh. He no longer had his back to Shadow but was facing the homunculus head on and the yellow of his eyes seemed to have been set ablaze in that moment. For a moment, the more rational part of the Demon tried to reason that this anger was counterproductive and unprovoked. However, another part of him, a deeper part, instinctively knew this was right. If he didn't let these thoughts, these feelings out into the open now they could easily lay the groundwork for disaster later.
"Your words might be effective at pacifying the likes of Sunshine and the rest of the Others Unit, but don't think for an instant I will forget this. I know better. Once you've tastes the sweet allure of the darkness, it never completely leaves you."
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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 4, 2017 21:58:00 GMT
"Is that why joined the force then? To get out of darkness' reach as long as you could?"
The reply was cold. Shadow had learned the hard way that responding in anger was bad. So, he settles in choosing to go with cold and uninterested. Pitch was faxing him, yellow eyes looking into red. The big thing was they were in the same boat, with the awareness of the Devil and the seductive pull of darkness
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 5, 2017 17:53:37 GMT
Suddenly, all the lights flickered for a just a moment in the kiosk before flaring back to life. Within that brief span of pure darkness, Pitch instantly appeared in front of Shadow, his face barely an inch away from the homunculus.
"I joined because it was the first time I was free to make my own choice!"
The dark energy that swirled around his form in that moment was only just kept in check in that instant. His whole body was tensed as if preparing for a fight, his normally cool eyes blazed with a strange heat and his face was set into what could only be described as a snarl. His normally emotionless demeanor had given way to one of pure anger, contempt and....yes, betrayal. At last he had a name for that bitter, hot feeling that had been building up inside of him. It was betrayal.
"I joined because for the first time ever in the long years of my existence, I knew Disparion's way was not the only way."
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Post by Zuyuri on Apr 6, 2017 3:06:25 GMT
The kiosk flashed to darkness for the briefest of moments. Anyone who hadn't talked with Pitch before would have assumed it was just the lights having a freakout, but Shadow knew it was a plot Pitch used many a time. He was looking up at Pitch, who was very much on edge. It was probbably the first time he had ever seen the Demon irate.
"I have a question, and no, it has nothing to do with the memory wipe."
He asked it because it was one question that remained unanswered. IA question that tied back to the demons running loose in Bellerouge. These demons were acting alone. Disparion wasn't puppeteering them the way Shadow had been controlled. Thrax was on his own terms, Vanitas...well, Vanitas was still young and probably kept away from the dark lord which would explain his free-will. But a powerful demon reforming...it was unheard of. Shadow had just ignored the glaring issue and moved on with his own business. But the question had to be asked if getting to the demons was going to happen.
"Tell me; How did you cut Disparion's ties from you? I don't want a repeat of what happened...not if it means hurting more innocent people. The people I swore to protect."
The tone in his voice wavered from stubborn questioning to quiet remorse. Because of that anger, Yang had lost her arm. So much worse could have happened.
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