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"Been 'round London yet?"
"I have gone sightseeing. I've been around quite a bit, I'd say."
"No ya haven't. You haven't seen the real London! But don't worry, I can show you."
"If you mean what I think you mean... Isn't that rather dangerous?"
"The hamon master's scared? Don't worry, I'll protect'cha We'll be back before midnight."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They sat alone on a rooftop overlooking the city. Well, not the whole city, but a part of it. The sun was setting, probably, although the sky was cloudy so it was hard to see. In any case, it was getting darker. They'd been all over the place that afternoon. Backstreets, bars, underground, in places they shouldn't be, Speedwagon tugging his friend along, exited and eager to show him everything about his city that he loved, and more. They'd been to several pubs, some stranger than others, but neither of them had gotten drunk yet and so when the adrenaline had finally run out they found themselves where they were now; on a rooftop. Speedwagon sighed contently and continued watching the city. Today had been fun, really fun. He hoped his friend felt the same way.
"Hey," he said, without taking his eyes off the lights. "What d'you think? Now you've seen the real London."
Baron Zeppeli sat with his legs crossed, studying the ground under him. He smiled as his friend spoke up, but took his time answering.
"It's been... Quite interesting," he said after a long pause. "And I think that... That the parts of London that you've showed me are far more interesting than whatever I managed to discover on my own." He chuckled, and a hint of sadness stole over his face. "Thank you, dear Speedwagon. For... For making me feel... Young again."
Speedwagon's brain lagged momentarily. The statement was shocking to him and so it became funny. "Young? Baron, you are young," he said with a laugh.
"No, I'm really not," Zeppeli insisted. His voice was plain, the happiness from before driven out. He sounded like a teacher trying to talk to his unruly student about the horrors of war. "To tell you the truth, I feel ancient. And I've already lived through the prime of my life. I missed my chance, so to say..."
"How'd'you mean?" Speedwagon leaned back on his hands, brow creased. If they were gonna have a heart-to-heart, so be it.
"I spent twenty five years chasing death," Zeppeli said, gesticulating as he spoke. "Not knowing when, but knowing how and knowing it had to be painful. All I did, I did to die at the right time. And I missed out on, well," he scoffed without humour, "everything! Everything that comes to being a young man in a big world. I lost it all." He looked up at the grey clouds and sighed. "And now it's too late."
"But..." Speedwagon said reproachfully. "But your body isn't old, right? Your body is at the prime of its life right now, 'round 25, you said so."
"Yes?" Zeppeli said. It was clear that he hadn't expected Speedwagon to be able to counter his moody argument. Nevertheless, he was watcht his friend intently.
"An' you'll die when your body's gotten old right, from where it is now?" Speedwagon continued.
Zeppeli nodded.
"There you go!" Speedwagon waved a hand at the darkening sky. 'Problem solved! You've got loads of time left." Zeppeli looked at him in astonishment. He ignored the pointed look and continued. "As for your brain, well, that's about mindset ya see. I know for sure that I'm never gonna stop bein' young on the inside." He meant what he said. He hoped his friend understood him. "So, don't come at me with that "I'm too old" crap alright baron? You're still young."
Baron Zeppeli couldn't help but smile, although he tired to regain his moody composure. He'd intended to remain sulky for longer than this. "Well technically," he said. "I'm fifty."
"Technically we aren't allowed on this rooftop," retorted Speedwagon. "It's private property, and I'm pretty sure we're breaking the law."
"That's a dangerous mindset, Speedwagon."
"I am dangerous."
They laughed. Not that it's been very funny. They'd just always found it easy to laugh with each other. Erina had once teased Zeppeli about his laugh, although not to his face but to Speedwagon's as they were out of earshot. Speedwagon couldn't understand what she found so funny. He adored Zeppeli's laugh, because it sounded so strangely pure and genuine. It was not the laugh of a man who was afraid to show his emotions. He didn't hold back to try to look good, which of course made him look all the better.
"Look at it like this," Speedwagon said. "You lost all those years chasin' a fate you didn't want. But you've also been blessed with longer life an' longer youth, right? So you'll get to live the same amount of time _not_ knowing when and how ya die as any normal person would! Think of those lost years as if... You briefly jumped out of time. And now you're back, and your life can continue."
"That's..." Zeppeli nodded. "Comforting. I like it." He leaned back. "And now that I'm free, as you imply... What do I do?"
Sort of out of impulse, and out of the sudden worry that the baron would go off somewhere and dissapear forever, Speedwagon blurted out, "Stay! Stay with us!" He coughed. "I mean. If you'd like to. We like havin' you around, me an' the other two. Stay here, for a little bit? Or if-- if you wanna go, maybe I can come along? Just for fun?" He hoped the dimming light hid the redness that spread across his cheeks, he had not meant to be so straight forward.
"Dear Speedwagon, I've been traveling and traveling for nearly three decades," Zeppeli said warmly. "I would gladly stay here with you."
"Oh." Speedwagon breathed out. "Good."
They stared at the sky for a little while. Silence fell, and the bustling of the city seemed to quiet down.
It really had gotten darker.
"Oi," Speedwagon said. "I think it's gonna rain."
"Oh, do you mind?" Zeppeli said. "We could seek cover somewhere if you'd like. I like the rain, though. It never bothered me..."
Speedwagon thought for a moment. "No," he said as the first drops started to fall. "I don't mind."