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Post by skyeknight on Aug 13, 2018 19:24:07 GMT
"Destroy the... It's not... You wouldn't."
She stared at him in open disbelief. Shadow loved the people in the town, even if they weren't always on his side. He poured every iota of his being into keeping the people safe. He wasn't capable of destroying things. She was about to deny it further but he looked so serious. Like this was truly an agony for him to admit. He wanted to do anything but this. So she took a deep breath, pushing down the dread that started to creep into her heart.
"How?" she breathed.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 15, 2018 17:21:02 GMT
“I have no choice...if I refuse, he’ll kill everyone I care about.”
That was as bluntly as Shadow could put it. Destroying the world would not guarantee people wouldn’t be killed. However if he did what Disparion was forcing him to do, yes forcing because every time Shadow defied, he literally froze in body and mind, the chances of his fellow officers helping would be higher. They would be okay. He’s rather have injuries than death.
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Post by skyeknight on Aug 18, 2018 1:39:34 GMT
This was a lot to be thrown at her at once. But Shadow was coming here to warn her. She had to keep her head with her instead of letting emotion rule her heart. Easier said than done. Lately her emotions had seized control of her actions and were hard pressed to let logic dictate once more. This was not an idle meeting to gossip about the love life with Jane that might not even happen if this came to pass. Her heart went out to him. He really was in between a rock and a hard place.
"What do you need me to do?" she asked.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 18, 2018 2:40:03 GMT
"I want you to look out for Sunshine while I'm gone. It will hit her the hardest..."
He trusted Aqua to look out for her. He trusted many people on the Unit. Riku, Yang, and, as much as he hated to admit it, even Pitch could have been a good eye on his partner. Sunshine would be stubbornly trying to find ways to talk him out of it. They would all be in vain. He would be stuck for a good long while at the mercy of whatever Disparion had planned for him after the whole end of the world fiasco.
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Post by skyeknight on Aug 20, 2018 2:35:11 GMT
Shadow might as well as have been telling her he was dying. It felt like she had been sucker punched with the information. A goodbye, like the one she never got with Terra. Was he telling her this because he knew of her need for goodbyes? For one last farewell? Her heart clenched. She fought back any emotion. She would cry when Shadow was gone. Only then. Because she didn't even know how to stop this. How do you stop the world from ending?
"Does she know?" Aqua had to ask.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 20, 2018 17:12:40 GMT
“I’m going to tell her,” he answered.
The way she looked at him was heart wrenching. It burned him inwardly. He had seen her watery eyes, blue like the water she was named after, look at inn imoringlt. The blue eyes...they were Maria’s eyes. He looked down so she didn’t see him water up. Anything to keep her from crying.
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Post by skyeknight on Aug 23, 2018 17:31:56 GMT
Aqua closed her eyes, feeling at least a tiny ounce of relief. It would be a difficult conversation with Sunshine and Shadow. Aqua wished she could spare the woman the pain, but knowing what happened was better than being left with more questions than answers. Aqua herself had a hard time letting go of the past.
"You have to..." she told him. "Not know what happened to..."
She trailed off. She supposed she didn't have to explain her hurts. Shadow knew all too well. It was thanks to him she even got closure.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 25, 2018 4:16:06 GMT
Shadow shook his head. Aqua didn't need to finish her sentence. The experience had shaken them both. But in a weird way, discovering the truth and putting Aqua's hurt past behind had, weirdly enough, made them much more trusting. She was one of the few cops besides Sunshine and Yang that he trusted.
"I know," he said. "I refuse to let the same hurt that happened to you happen again."
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Post by skyeknight on Aug 27, 2018 18:11:03 GMT
"Thank you," she said.
It was a horrible thing to thank him for, but it was such a relief to know that Sunshine wouldn't have to go through what she had. But Sunshine also wasn't romantically inclined to Shadow. She was married to Riku. This had to be hard for him. Aqua scrubbed a hand over her face. She felt so helpless. Knowing there was something bad about to happen but nothing she could do to stop it. It made her chest go tight with the fear of it all.
"Are you sure there's nothing we can do?" she asked.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 28, 2018 3:58:23 GMT
"If you want to help me? You'll ensure everyone in Bellerouge stays safe. That's all I ask of everyone. Don't look for me, don't try to save me. It'll only get more people hurt."
He was making everyone keep that oath. Maria had asked him to keep an oath as she was dying, well, he would be doing the same. A wish Maria had wanted and now, he was projecting onto others to do the same with. These were his . He trusted them dearly. Whether or not the attachments he had to all of them were made from, well, genuine care, that was something he wasn't sure he could answer. Some he knew were trite and true, but some he doubted others were making out of obligation.
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Post by skyeknight on Aug 28, 2018 14:21:39 GMT
"I... will do what I can." she said.
Did Shadow know how much he was asking? Keeping an entire city safe during a catastrophic event? Perhaps. And to leave him to his fate? He had to know people wouldn't just accept something like that. That someone would look for him. Because they cared. Maybe Jane. Maybe Sunshine. Shadow knew to make her promise because she would be hard pressed to say no if it was a last request. It left her with a tightness in her chest and a pain that was starting to throb. Shadow was a friend, perhaps not a close one, but it was still uncomfortable to know she couldn't do a thing to help him.
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Post by Zuyuri on Sept 1, 2018 17:43:07 GMT
The slightest trace of a smile crossed Shadow's face. The lips were twitched, but it didn't reach his eyes. His perma-glare had laways mde it difficult for him to project any emotions besides anger, cockiness, or grim determination. Yet he did feel relief that Aqua was listening to what he had to say, and that she respected his wishes. She had always been good at that.
"I hate giving you such bad news when you just got off work. I really do."
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Post by skyeknight on Sept 5, 2018 19:24:22 GMT
"No. I... I'm glad you came to me with this." she said. "Gave us some warning..."
She always had the hardest time with goodbyes, particularly after what happened with Terra. Leaving was always so hard for her because she was always afraid each meeting would be her last with that person. She was scared that Shadow would be gone too. Just like Terra and just like her parents, but they both knew they had to protect the city. It was their job. If she could find a way to save him without costing too many lives, she would. But the civilians needed her. It's probably why Shadow was letting her know.
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Post by Zuyuri on Sept 8, 2018 23:43:09 GMT
"I made the mistake of not telling people anything when I last disappeared. I never want to do that again. Besides, I've grown to let my guard down and trust people to do my job...better than I would have."
If he had stayed behind to fight Disparion, he knew what would happen. His father would turn him into a puppet by force, turn against those who worked to save him. Through him, his friends and allies would be injured or worse. It was a threat Disparion made time after time. The Devil never went back on his word, which was a traiot Shadow hated to admit, but he did share.
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Post by skyeknight on Sept 12, 2018 15:18:03 GMT
Aqua nodded. They had both learned to open up thanks to their partners. Aqua may have detested Riku at first on the mere principle of him being her 'replacement' partner, but he grew on her. Refused to let her wallow in her own sorrow and pushed her to become a better person. She ran a hand through her hair, feeling even more exhausted than before. It was a lot to take in.
"Are... you going to be okay?" she asked.
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