milliways_bar | (no subject)

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xaldin

(no subject)

Billy's out by the lake, playing a game of tag with his three Nobody bodyguards. They're faster than he is, of course, but he's playing a good game.

Come join them?

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Xaldin makes an expressive gesture with his hands.

Well, that's helpful. Billy shrugs. "But you were-- I don't know. With Kate."

"Kate attempted to force me to do something that would not help me." Xaldin says, "When told, repeatedly, that sparring with her would not help and that I need more for focus she attacked me.

"I gave her the very slightest taste of what I need - if you wish I will demonstrate exactly what I did. It is nowhere near the offences I perpetrated on you."

"I know. You told me." He didn't actually get around to hearing much of Kate's side of the story. She was too angry for that. "It's--fine. I just meant, we're kind of a group. I thought you might write us all off."

"We don't work like that." Xaldin says, "Writing off a group because of the potential spite from one person, on either side, is not practical."

"Right. Logical," Billy nods. "I -- forget."

"We aren't normal." Xaldin says with a small sigh, "I will cease to be your ally if you betray me, or if you state that you wish to break the alliance. No other way."

"Right. I won't -- betray you." He looks down at the game on the ground, rather than at Xaldin. "I'm not even sure who I would betray you too."

"The King. VIII. Sora. Riku." Xaldin says, counting it out on his gloves, "I am trusting you to tell me what I am doing wrong - if you gave me false rules I would be betrayed."

"I can't promise I won't give bad advice, Xaldin. I'm seventeen, doing stupid things is in the job description."

"Which is different from falsities on purpose." Xaldin states, "I'm amoral, not stupid."

"Well, given that your -- Zexion is actively trying to break time, I'm not sure there's a difference."

"I've already gotten word from him that he survives this far." Xaldin says, "One of the Dragoons found a Blue Mage with a message."

"Have you told him that yet?"

"Of course." Xaldin says, "I also told him that since I was the one who had proof he survived I would not interfere in any manner to either help or hinder his attempts at gathering more information."

"Good. That shouldn't hurt things too much." Not that Billy's an expert in time travel. "Sorry I'm just afraid-- well. You and Xigbar saved my life, after the Cube, probably."

He's not sure what happens when history shifts.

Xaldin nods, just a little bit, "I understand."

"Right. I'm not sure if I ever thanked you for that."

"I should have gotten there earlier." Xaldin says with a sharp shake of his head.

Billy's silent. He thinks so, too, but, "There's nothing we can do about that now. It all turned out -- alright. No one died. Permanently."

He did what he could.

"If it becomes necessary again it will be faster. The path gets easier each time it is walked."

He won't say how often he's walked it to be certain he's not too late next time.

Billy looks startled, at that. "I hope there won't be a next time."

"As do I." Xaldin says, "But war is war."

"Yeah," Billy says softly. "It is."

"I will come as quickly as I can." his face is as empty as his eyes are, "I promise."