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By the time they returned to the S.S.S Annex, Lloyd was exhausted. He’d battled monsters and members of Ouroboros that drained him less then KeA’s energy did. How could one little girl possess all that hyper energy. As he glanced to his silver-haired companion, he flashed a sympathetic smile. They both collapsed on the couches simultaneously with deep sighs. KeA still had energy to spare, as she greeted Zeit and proceeded to hug him. As the girl laid upon the patient wolf, Lloyd just shook his head in disbelieve. KeA had only been with them for mere hours, and yet she was already irreplaceable in their hearts.
“Where’s Randy?” He questioned with worry as Tio emerged from the kitchen. It was her night to cook dinner. The bluenette shrugged and was barely able to answer before she received a KeA tackle. “Mmm.” Lloyd pondered and stood up, despite the protesting from his tired thighs. He stretched, extending his arms to the ceiling and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Bring him home.” Elie nodded, able to understand exactly what Lloyd was considering.
“I will.” He smirked and walked over to KeA and Tio. “Be good, don’t wear out Elie too much.” He chuckled and patted both their heads, rubbing their soft hair.
“I made stew.” Tio looked up at their leader and pouted. She too understood what Lloyd was about to do, but she worried he wasn’t eating. Especially after a long day running around Crossbell.
“Sorry, Tio. I’m sure it tastes amazing too. I’ll have some with Randy when we come back, okay?” He gave her an extra headpat and took her smile as reassurance.
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Lloyd left the Annex and took in a deep breath of the crisp night air. He’d known something had been up with Randy ever since the conclusion of the auction. No, even before that, it started after the race in Downtown. That faint red hostile aura, and empty expression in Randy’s eyes. It has only happened for a moment, and yet Joshua had been able to sense it. Against Garcia, Randy had been ready to put everything on the line for the S.S.S. He had been prepared to unleash whatever that hostile aura was.
First, Lloyd tried contacting Randy on their enigmas. He had little hope Randy would answer. As the other line didn’t connect, he sighed and put the device away in his back pocket. Time to do what every detective is good at, hit the streets. After asking around, several eyewitnesses reported a red-haired man heading down the St. Ursula Byroad. If it had been anyone else, Lloyd would be overly concerned. The Byroad was filled with monsters, especially at night. He knew Randy could handle himself, but still…
Lloyd walked down the Byroad between the orbal lamps the best he could. He ran into the occasional monster, nothing he couldn’t take care of himself. His concern increased as he’d walked fairly far from Crossbell and there had been no sign of Randy. He was approaching the Lupinus River Ruins when the sound of a war cry reached his ears.
“Randy!” He called out and left the path of orbal lamps. He crossed a bridge and instantly stopped, as he suddenly became suffocated by a strong violent aura. His knees started to shake from the pressure and clear presence of something vile. Was Randy in trouble?! He raced forward, despite the screaming in his brain to run away, run away, run away!!
----
For the S.S.S he’d been prepared to expose his dark secret. Their back had been against the wall with the Killing Bear breathing down their necks. He’d finally found a family, a true family, not like the Jaegers. He wouldn’t let harm come to them, even if that meant breaking the promise, he’d made with himself. The only way to defeat a Jaeger like Garcia, was to become the Red Reaper. He’d steeled himself and accepted the monster within during that moment. Sergei arrived seconds later, but it had been too late. The monster had been awoken and rose to the surface. He feared this time he could not put it back to sleep. Until he could, he was not fit to be around the S.S.S.
He knew Lloyd would stop him, give some pure-boy speech about family. How could Lloyd understand anything, he was pure-hearted and had no blood on his hands. He called Randy his partner, his brother, he deserved none of those titles. He betrayed Lloyd’s trust by keeping his past a secret, but how could someone like Lloyd accept the truth? His honor as a detective was admirable, he fought against the scum that made Crossbell unbearable at times. How would he accept that Randy was also scum? He couldn’t.
“CRIMSON GALE!” He shouted, as his red aura surrounded him like a wall of flames. He forced the power down to the head of his halberd. He slammed the weapon into the stone of the ruins and cracked the ground. The monsters disintegrate in seconds, with wild eyes he whirled on his heels to attack the approaching entity.
“That’s no way to greet your partner.” Lloyd grunted as his tonfa’s blocked the strike. He was forced to one knee from the power. His joints screamed as the pressure forced the cartilage into the stone beneath. That was going to leave a bruise in the morning.
“You shouldn’t be here.” Randy wasn’t in his rational mind, as he swung his halberd in an arc, prepared to split Lloyd in two.
“Neither should you.” Randy might have incredible power, but Lloyd was faster. It was one of the reasons they worked so well as battle partners. He quickly rolled to the side and dodged the strike that broke more stone. “Tsk.” He quickly scrambled to his feet, tonfa’s at the ready.
“I can’t return with you.” Randy lowered to the ground with his weapon outstretched to the side. The aura started to swirl around him again, it fanned out in waves, causing weaker monsters to flee. Lloyd planted his feet firm in preparation for what was coming.
“Tell that to Tio, Elie, Zeit and KeA yourself.” A little power wasn’t enough to send a Bannings running.
“Don’t you see what I am!” He roared, letting Lloyd see the whites of his eyes. He felt like a demon, he felt invincible as the monster took control and heaved the halberd into the air over his head.
“I only see you Randy, and I always will.” He took the hit and went down on his other knee. His shoulders buckled from absorbing the impact.
“I’m a monster.” He shouted.
“No.” Lloyd grunted, desperately trying to maintain his composure.
“I’m a Jaeger.”
“Was, you’re a member of the S.S.S now.”
“My hands are stained with blood.”
“I’ll still hold them.” Lloyd clenched his jaw, where was this power coming from. He pushed up with all his weight to give himself a moment to escape. He bolted to the side but was caught in the stomach by a sideswipe. He went down, falling backwards, his tonfa’s scattering to the side. He choked as the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. He gasped for air, as blood trickled down the corners of his mouth. He coughed as his chest heaved in panic.
“Lloyd!” Randy dropped his weapon and rushed to his partners side. “Come on man, breath.” He knelt and gathered Lloyd’s head into his lap and slapped his cheek lightly to keep him focused.
“I will--- hunt you--.” Lloyd coughed again and took in a big gulp of air.
“Focus on breathing, will ya.” Randy cut him off and lowered his head, his bangs shield his harsh red eyes. “You see, I’m a monster Lloyd. I tried to suppress the bloodlust, haha.” He ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the night sky. It was clear, and beautiful, almost like it was mocking him. The moon was full and illuminated the ruins perfectly. He looked around at the damage he’d caused, and mostly off all the pain he inflicted upon Lloyd.
“Randy.” Lloyd started to feel his body relax, and breath normally. His diaphragm was hot and pulsing and his torso felt like it had been hit by an orbal bus. “Monster or not.” He reached up and cupped the red-heads cheek softly. “We are brothers, family, we are the Special Support Section. I’m not leaving till you—”
“Okay man, okay…” He placed his hand over the one on his cheek. Randy couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched him so tenderly. He didn’t really know love or kindness growing up. And yet, this stupid pure-hearted boy made up for all of it.
“Elie is going to going to be furious with you.” Lloyd slowly lowered his hand and, just enjoying resting in in the man’s lap looking up at the stars.
“Don’t remind me.” He chuckled lightly and leaned back to look up at the stars again.
“You can tell me Randy, when you’re ready, about your monster. I’ll help you defeat it. You and I, are stronger together.”
“Ya man, we are.” He even managed a half smile. “Let’s get you up.” He hooked his arms under Lloyd’s shoulders and eased him to his feet. Lloyd held his stomach and limped slightly as he collected his tonfa’s.
“Let’s go home.”
The pair arrived home, very very late. As Lloyd couldn’t walk very fast. The two had to endure a stern lecture from Elie before even being allowed to eat Tio’s stew. In a way, being lectured was nice, it meant Elie cared and worried. The two boys just grinned through the whole ordeal, eventually even Elie had a hard time being angry. Instead of sleeping, the pair ended up on the roof of the annex. They spent until dawn ripping at each other’s battle performance and watching the stars.