(no subject)

[kingwithnocrown]

Who: Izaya, Dark Link (Sola), Shizuo, and Zelda
Where: On one of the higher buildings in Vatheon for Link and Izaya, ground for Zelda and Shizuo. Yanno how it goes.
When: Friday Evening- just before the sun sets.
Style: Prose for emotionally cryptic content and whatever.
Status: Closed

There had always been a lurking desire, a curiosity of what it was like to die. Izaya liked to think that every human had that curiosity. They wanted to see what dying felt like. They wanted to see, especially, what came after death. Izaya, while an atheist, had always wondered what lay in store for the demsie of his self. There was a thick fear of no longer existing in the world. Perhaps that was the thing that had drawn him to be so fascinated with people who were suicidal. He always wondered how their mind-track worked. How did they actually get to the decision that they wished to die? How, how, how? Izaya was a little surprised more people in Vatheon didn't kill themselves just to understand. Then again, Izaya came from a world of mild despair and heavy apathy.

His shoes were just barely over the edge of the building. It was a long fall but he had made falls like this before. But he had always skidded over the side of the building and used it to break in the fall and narrowed his body down to more so run along the side rather than fall. Today, he would not do that.

At first, he had planned on simply watching Sola fall and explode out in a pile of gore at the very bottom- but....Then a black thought came to mind.

What if he jumped too? A smirk slowly crafted itself across his face and a rare form of insanity breached upon his expression. He was a horrible person and he was so very aware of that. The irony of it all were the people who tried to reassure him that no, no he was a good person somewhere in it all.

Sickly enough, deep down, Izaya knew that that actually just simply wasn't true.

He knew that this was taking a knife to any foundation of a relationship Shizuo and himself had but what did it matter? As far as Izaya was concerned, he was more alone than ever before. Shizuo was preoccupied with the past himself and Izaya had never said that this would be easy. Izaya felt a disgusting amount of hate and spite towards Shizuo. As well as Zelda. He wanted to hurt her in indescribable ways. He wanted to hurt Shizuo and deliver to him the pain of the world. He wanted to split apart his mind at the seams and shove his heart into a pit of acid.

Since Shizuo had so generously given him his heart to do with as he pleased.

Izaya knew that that man would never love him, never find him important- his most important.

Maybe it had cracked Izaya deeper than he'd ever be able to explain. Maybe this was his breaking point. But it was a glorious breaking point if there ever was one.

And he spread his arms out like a holy saint of the suicide and twirled carelessly on the edge.

He faced Sola, smile of sheer excitement on his face.

"They should be here soon."

He had sent both Shizuo and Zelda individual texts to excitedly request them to meet them where both Sola and Izaya were. And Izaya only wished the building were lower- if only to see their faces.

Comments

[a_violent_end]

Shizuo wasn't thinking clearly.

How could he?

There was a subtle, irrational desire to put Sola back together again, to somehow make him whole, and he even went so far as to move forward, as if to do that, as if he could somehow make it better by treating it like a puzzle. It was completely illogical, but a traumatized mind hardly knows how to make sense. And the guilt - it was beginning to grow and fester, even in those early moments.

Then he heard Izaya.

Izaya.

It was like something clicked on in his mind.

And then Shizuo didn't see Sola or Sheik, anymore.

All he saw was Izaya running away and Shizuo wanted to track him down. He wanted to get Izaya in his hands and shake him or crush him or yell at him or fucking break down because he ruined everything and he killed Sola and he did it - he hurt the person most important to him -

Shizuo didn't know what he wanted. He just wanted to make sure Izaya couldn't run.

So he took off after him, motivated by that singular desire, and did not stop running.

[zelda_hylia]

Zelda didn't even try to stop him. She curled over Sola and let out a keening wail, crying unashamedly right out there in the open for much longer than she ever intended to. She's nothing if not strong, though, and so before long she puts Sola's arms over her shoulders and stands, slowly trying to move his body somewhere less public, out of the bloody mess that he had left behind.

Threadjacking with permission!

[relinquishing]

It had been the piercing cry that had grabbed Guy's attention. He couldn't place the voice, but it had been close enough and pained enough that he had dropped what he was carrying and darted through the nearest alleyway

The scent of blood was strong and more than a little alarming as he skidded around a corner, skirting around one of the larger buildings in town. He heard the shuffling of feet and fleeing bodies going down another street, although he couldn't make out the two figures with how dark it had been.

And then he turns once more, and there was Zelda, arms coated in blood, dragging a similarly-tainted body into the alley.

The body of Sola.

"Zelda-- what--"

His eyes widen. With the amount of blood and Sola appearing so unresponsive, Guy's mind is starting to jump to some pretty nasty conclusions. But it only takes a moment before he shoves them aside. Zelda already appeared shaken, and he wasn't about to make the situation worse with unnecessary questions.

The blonde sets his jaw, his expression slides into more neutral ground and his gaze set firmly on Zelda rather than the figure on her back. He steps forward, hesitantly keeping a good two feet between them.

"Zelda. What's going on - what happened?"

[zelda_hylia]

"Sola jumped. He's - he's dead," she murmured. Most of her tears had dried by then, but a few were still making their way down her cheeks. She made no move to wipe them away, shifting under Sola's weight. "I healed him, but it was too late."

For a dangerous moment, she looked like she might throw herself at Guy and start crying all over again, but she took a breath and stopped herself from doing something so inappropriate. "Guy, can you... can you help me carry him? I don't think I can make it back home," she said in a strained voice. She was exhausted enough that she didn't even think of turning in to Sheik.

Whoops staying in third this time, hah.

[relinquishing]

Guy fought to keep a string of curses under his breath. Damn. Damn, this kid had barely even begun to live, if what Ion had told him was true. Why the hell would he even consider such a thing?

Certainly not over everything that had happened during the curse, he hoped. Sure, Sola had been torn up about it. Even driven to sickness by the aftermath. But to death?

Tch... the idiot.

The tension in Zelda's voice was enough to snap his attention back. Guy gave a firm nod at her request, taking another hesitant step forward. After a moment, he gingerly circled around her, placing firm hands against the arms of the corpse resting on Zelda's back.

Immediately, Guy's actions froze.

He closed his eyes and took in a shallow breath.

No.

No, no.

He couldn't afford to have that happen here. Just this once, just this once, he needed to keep his fear under control. But he could feel anxiety bubbling up inside him as he realizes just how close he is to touching the woman in front of him, and it comes through when he speaks.

"H-here, let me take him, alright?" He winced as he heard his voice crack, then swallowed dryly before trying again with a firmer tone. "I can carry him - I'll stay right here and keep him with me. You give yourself room to rest. Please, Zelda."

She looked worn enough as it was. Guy hoped Zelda would just allow him to take the body. He could manage that just fine; it was the alternative that he wasn't so sure about... and his hands were already starting to shake.

[zelda_hylia]

Zelda tensed up when she felt the weight lifting slightly from her back. She grabbed his arm, looking fiercely defensive when he tried to take Sola away entirely.

"No. I want to help."

[relinquishing]

"Kkkk--- N-no, NO, get OFF--"

Zelda's fingers had barely gripped his arm before Guy fiercely yanked it back, pushing against her other shoulder with his free hand, as if he'd been burned by the touch. He released his hold on Sola and scrambled backwards, not stopping until his back was against the nearest wall, his face pale and his breathing tight.

He stared at her for several long moments, before the frantic look in his eyes finally clouded and his expression tightened into a grimace.

"S-sorry."

[zelda_hylia]

She stumbled and almost fell when he let go suddenly. His extreme reaction broke through her haze. What in the world was that about? She had only touched his arm! She did vaguely recall him talking about his personal space when they were worrying about the mistletoe together, but even Zelda didn't care if someone touched her arm

Her eyes were comically wide when she finally managed to respond to him. "I-I'm sorry? I didn't intend to harm you...?"

[relinquishing]

Guy attempted a weak chuckle at that, his palms up and waving. "Hah...N-no, please, don't apologize. No harm done - y-you didn't hurt me or anything..."

He exhaled slowly, a hand running through his hair as his voice took on a more somber tone. "Sorry. I-it's just a reaction - I can't control it." He ran a hand along the back of his neck, shakily pushing himself up and away from the alley wall. This was the worst time he could possibly think of to be dealing with this.
It was always difficult to explain. Guy hoped he wouldn't have to, at least not in detail - Zelda surely had enough on her mind without having to worry about his reactions around her.

"Are you alright? I didn't mean to shove."

[zelda_hylia]

"Yes, I am fine. May I ask what caused the reaction so I don't inadvertently do it again?" she sounded genuinely concerned, even as upset as she was. Zelda wasn't used to people recoiling from her like that, most people seemed to find her to be pleasant enough company. She didn't need too many details about the situation, but she wanted to be sure that she never made Guy look so completely terrified ever again.

The princess shifted her weight under Sola, watching Guy carefully. It was almost as if she had caused him some sort of trauma just by touching him.

[relinquishing]

"...I'm terrified of women."

There. Plain and simple.

He sighed. "That's it. That's my only reason. Please don't take that too much to heart, alright? Besides, I'd still like to help, regardless of... this." He gestured vaguely at himself. Unless Zelda let him carry the body, there wasn't much he could do, other than escort her and make sure she made it home in one piece. If she was going to remain stubborn about it, that was her choice. But he wasn't about to leave her alone with a dead body.

[zelda_hylia]

"I see. Well, I do need the help." Izaya knew about Sheik now, so what did it even matter? If he set his mind to it, the whole city would know. She might as well just take advantage of the transformation ability. Zelda set Sola down carefully, bringing her hands in front of her. There was a flash, and then the Sheikah stood where the princess had been moments before, kneeling to pick up Sola again.

"Is this better?" his voice was significantly deeper, not to mention the physical changes indicating that he was no longer a woman.

1/2

[relinquishing]

"Ah..."

He was used to magic, and he had known that Zelda had mentioned her own abilities in passing. But having the flash dissipate and seeing a completely different person in her place was... unsettling. It took him a moment to process what just happened. Or who exactly was standing in front of him.

This was Zelda, right?

Zelda, with some very ...obvious changes.

2/2

[relinquishing]

"...Yeah. Yeah, you're fine." He clears his throat and steps forward, tucking his own arm around Sola's body. Even with the knowledge that this man was actually Zelda, he still found his anxiety completely at bay.

That was... odd.

He fought to keep a grimace of disgust off his face. Oh, how he hated this ridiculous fear. He took the chance to change the subject before they could linger on it any longer.

"Do you have a destination in mind?"

[zelda_hylia]

"My house," he responded gruffly. "It's the third one in the Ordo neighborhood, here in the middle district. With both of us carrying him, we should be able to make it there in about 15 minutes."

Sheik cleared his throat awkwardly. "Thank you for the help. I appreciate it. I won't speak about your condition if you don't want me to."

[relinquishing]

Guy shrugged, adjusting his grip around the body as he did so. "People find out eventually, so... do what you please. There's nothing to discuss about it, anyways."

There were, after all, only so many ways to say 'I'm deathly afraid, but I don't know why'. It wasn't much of a conversational topic, even if people wanted to discuss it.

He shoots a quick smile at the other man. "And hey, it's never a problem. Here to serve, alright? So lead the way."

/drags Reiko back in this thread after Guy's next post?

[zelda_hylia]

He nodded stiffly, heading towards his house in complete silence. What else was there to say? Sola was dead. Sola was dead and he hadn't ever bothered to say how much he cared about him, hadn't even realized it until he had been in danger so suddenly. He knew now, though. He loved Sola. Not in the way Sola wanted, but he did.

As they got closer to the house, Sheik took out his SFC and sent Zelos a quick text with one hand.

Something bad happened. Don't be too shocked. Leave the front door open.

Reikooooooooo!

[relinquishing]

He had kept his mouth shut during the walk. He has heard a little from Ion and knew that Sola had thought well of Zelda. He couldn't say he knew her feelings in return, especially given how the curse between them had turned out. He wasn't about to ask anytime soon, however. She had been in tears, after all - whether it was from the trauma or something else entirely, Guy wasn't really in a position to decide.

He did, however, drift to the thought of how Ion would take the news. The Fon Master has seemed so attached to the silver-haired kid, and they apparently had more in common than most people knew. Guy struggled to think of how Ion would handle his friend's death. The boy was rather delicate, after all - very soft at heart, even in times of peril. If only Anise were around. She could cheer him up.

Guy adjusted his weight as 'Zelda' messed with his communicator, keeping his eyes on the walkway. They had mainly stuck to the back alleys and smaller roads on their way through the city, and luckily hadn't come across anyone yet. But if Zelda was contacting someone, that probably meant things were about to change.

He slows his pace slightly, just enough for 'Zelda' to put his communicator away and re-adjust his grip.

"Hey. Are your housemates going to have issues with this?"

Never fear, the Great Zelos is here~

[chosen_gigolo]

As soon as Zelos receives Zelda's text he leaves his SFC and heads downstairs opening the door to the sight of Sheik and some blonde he didn't recognize a bit down the street. They're walking slow, encumbered by something and Zelos' frown deepens as he leaves the house, door ajar, to go and meet them.

He recognizes the body after a few steps, the platinum hair and gray-cast skin obvious in the evening jitter of the street lights. He's not breathing, and Zelos closes the gap, willing himself not to sound too shocked, as Zelda had asked.

"What happened? Did that crazy broad get to him? Or that huge Troll everyone's freaking out about?"

[zelda_hylia]

Sheik doesn't have to answer the question about housemates, because there he is. He shook his head, voice cracking slightly again due to the question that he did have to answer.

"He - he jumped..."

That was all he said. The reason he jumped was clear to Sheik. Izaya and Sola on top of a building, calling Zelda and Shizuo to watch? It was because of how they felt for them, obviously. It was his fault.

Whoops Guy is not too helpful right now

[relinquishing]

He doesn't recognize the redhead that comes sprinting down the street. But the reaction on his face and his tone of voice towards Zelda were enough to show that he at least knew Sola... and that he was probably the housemate that he had just asked about.

He lets the two talk and figure out things among themselves, watching the wave of shock ripple between them. Guy kept his mouth shut, his hand firm on the body next to him. He'd continue to assist when and where he was needed. But a thing as delicate as death wasn't something he needed to butt his way into.

[chosen_gigolo]

"He jumped? Why would he do that?" Carefully, Zelos moved to take the burden from Guy, nodding his thanks for helping Sheik this far. From what he had seen of Sola when he visited, he'd been a happy kid, so why..?

With a shake of his head, Zelos tables his questions for now and focuses just on getting Sheik inside and back to Zelda so she can let it out. He looks at Guy again. "Thanks, I got it from here."

[zelda_hylia]

"Because of me." He didn't say anything else, he just went inside to get a bundle of sheets to lay on the spare bed so that Sola wouldn't make a mess of it. Sheik had already thanked Guy, and he didn't feel like talking any more.

[relinquishing]

Guy gave a firm nod in return, slipping away so that Zelos could take Sola's body. "I'll keep things quiet for now. Someone should probably be notified about the scene, before people wake up and panic. Take care, you two."

And with that, he turned on his heel and quietly made his way back down the street. Let them break the news - it was their right to do so, as far as Guy knew. And as concerned as he was for Zelda, he barely knew the woman enough to offer support.

Right now, he would just have to figure out how to handle Ion's inevitable reaction to this whole mess. And he had a long enough walk home to mull over it.

[chosen_gigolo]

It took Zelos a moment to place Guy's voice but he remembers it from their conversation regarding what to do about Yuno. Now isn't exactly the time for pleasantries though and Zelos lets him head off, hitching Sola up on his shoulders and walking inside, pulling the door closed with his foot. He pads, barefoot (since that's how he had been just around the house) to the spare room where he can hear Sheik rustling around and carefully lowers the body to the prepared bed. It's not a permanent solution, but now isn't exactly the time to discuss what to do with him.

Arms now free, Zelos wastes no time in pulling Sheik into an embrace. "It's not your fault." His voice is comforting, but firm, brokering no argument.