because today is the very last day.

[ordine]

We'll allow you to be in Class VII under the guise of someone being brought in to be an example for the other students. I'll trust that you'll watch over those children and, at the same time, look for signs of Rean Schwarzer being one of the key members of the Imperial Liberation Front.

"Man, they're always giving me the hard jobs. Slave drivers, all of 'em!"

But, that didn't matter now. Rean was here at the academy, sleeping among the members of Class VII, keeping to himself and looking for Crow at every opportunity. It wasn't like Crow hadn't seen him around once or twice, having caught a glimpse of him when Rean was running around delivering student notebooks with all the enthusiasm as a workaholic, but...

(The rot has already begun to settle. He can feel it somewhere deep inside of him, scalding hot and dark as it coils around his heart. His inner beast sings for its kin, for Rean, and it's slightly frustrating how empty he realizes that he was without him.)

He was treading some very fine ground. Both Sara and the Principal believed him when he said he had nothing to do with them anymore other than the occasional check-in to make sure everyone was alive, but with Rean here it was like everything was either going to get really intense or really catastrophic. Or maybe it'll be both? I really hope I'm worrying for nothing.

The door to the classroom swung open with a simple push and he breathed in real deep, mustering up a fearless smile as he walked inside and settled in front of the class between the students and Instructor Sara, all the mirth in the world in his eyes even as they scanned the starstruck faces of his new classmates searching for the one he was looking for.

"So, a little birdie told me you all needed a good role model for the next two years and I was gracious enough to accept. Starting today, I'll be a member of Class VII with all you fine folks-- hope you guys don't mind. It's gonna be pretty sweet! ♪"

Comments

[rean]

Rean was at the back, at the very last row. He'd picked the seat nearest to the window -- admittedly, because an old friend joked that if he had to go undercover somewhere, the best spot was always the spot nearest to the easiest exit -- and was slumped on the desk pretending to be asleep when he heard that very familiar voice.

Crow. It had been several years by now since Crow had left the ILF with Ordine and pretty much disappeared from their collective radars. Crow had been the best agent there was in their group and he'd used it to successfully evade them. Evade him; though, he was certain that wasn't much of a feat in itself. Despite the time lag, Rean could recognize that voice -- the tinge of playfulness Crow infused his speech with, when he was trying to be friendly -- anywhere.

He stamped out the burning urge - almost literally, with the mark on his chest flaring up ever so slightly- to just shoot up from his chair and quickly make sure it was Crow introducing himself in front of the class. His cover was that of something of a lazy and eternally sleepy student so Rean had to, somehow, pretend not to be particularly interested.

He made a show of stirring before slowly lifting his head up from his desk to 'sleepily' study their new arrival.

He froze when their eyes met. Crow easily stripped him of whatever pretense he'd set up. He wasn't hiding who he was, not from Crow at least, but that small bit of confidence he'd gained from pretending to be an unlikely addition to Class 7 with his near-narcoleptic tendency to sleep anywhere, and barely-passing marks that Class 7 had accepted so easily.... well, it made Rean feel like his lies were paper thin and that he had to try harder, especially now that Crow had decided to appear here, right before him.

[ordine]

There we are. Good boy.

Crow's mind was full of praises upon seeing that familiar tuft of hair pop up from the desk to stare at him, all shocked awe and slightly blistering heat in his own chest. He was able to ignore it in favor of waving off the flying concerns of having a second year in their class, of it being the student who swooped in and took the top marks of the year like it was nothing (he remembered that as the requirement for them to see how serious he actually was about attending the academy), and the debate of whether or not Crow is actually a good role model.

He was almost appalled at their lack of confidence in him. Almost. It wasn't like he had a lot of interaction with them yet and while Sara explained to them that Crow actually took part in Class VII's prototype class, Crow's already started to direct his gaze back at Rean if only to just--

Wink.

Flirty and friendly and overflowing with stars, Crow winked at him from across the room as if that would be recognition and sign enough that he knew who he was and there was nothing to worry about. That, Crow hoped against hope, would stay true for as long as humanly possible. He wasn't entirely sure what his old friends were up to, but it smelled way too fishy.

The occurrence in Celdric and Rean enrolling in Thors...

Crow was worried. The last thing he needed was to be convinced to come back, but if Rean was still involved with the Imperial Liberation Front then he had no choice but to investigate. His last talk with Scarlet ensured that, if Rean stayed, he would at least be watched over until he left, but now Crow's concerned that he never did.

Why? He has a family to return to who're worried sick.

Crow was intent on finding out.

[rean]

There was very little Rean could do about the heat rising up to his cheeks. He could learn subterfuge, learn how to lie just a bit better, but willing himself not to blush, or keeping all those little instantaneous reactions in check, were still things that were far beyond Rean's reach. No amount of effort was going to give him mastery over those in a span of several years and so, instantly feeling like he was laid bare for anyone who took that moment to look back at him, to look long enough even, Rean feigned a yawn and curled back up on his desk, like a little turtle retreating into his shell.

One way or another, he was going to have the talk he'd long wanted to have with Crow. Right now, surrounded by classmates and under the watchful eye of Sara, there was very, very little he could do.

[ordine]

Crow didn't bother to hide his own amused snrk, deigning to stride down the isle to the desk in front of Rean's with a gait that speaks levels of how self-confident he is in his identity and choices. He would always maintain that he did what he had to do, no matter what anyone asked, but knowing that Rean likely had something to say to him wasn't going to deter him at all.

Under Sara's watchful gaze, Crow still reached over and ruffled Rean's hair before sitting down, unmindful of the disturbance he's caused thus far.

It was just another day in another class here at Thors Military Academy for him. And now, he wasn't entirely alone or heart-achingly empty anymore.

[rean]

Rean shivered a bit, keenly feeling Crow's fingers as they ruffled his hair. Crow had done that to him before, many times. It had been a common gesture between the two of them, but like this, when Rean was trying to ignore Crow in front of the whole class, it seemed to multiply the gesture's effect. He pretended not to notice, to still be blissfully asleep, but he was sure Crow could see the way his ears grew slightly redder.

He wondered if he was going to have to answer why Crow did that to him. And what Crow's plans were, to begin with....

[ordine]

Crow, being the honest little shit he was, couldn't keep the delighted little laugh inside at catching Rean's reactions and that spurs one of their classmates's - green hair, miffed expression (over having been so thoroughly surprised) - questions, ones he took without missing a beat even as he turns to the side to casually card his fingers through Rean's hair. Crow was always comfortable with Rean and to see him here made his entire body tingle with happiness.

The Instructor had already finished her own introduction for Crow to the class, so it left Crow (and Rean) open to a new stream of questions.

"Why are you acting so familiar with him?"

He was all too happy to oblige, no matter what the situation at hand. "Oh, yeah! He's an old friend." Really, really old. "You won't have any problems with this one. He's a good kid."

And Crow had nothing but praises for Rean: a good kid, pretty strong, very fluffy and well-mannered. A proper noble gentleman with a good heart. Rean always wore his heart on his sleeve, so walking in and seeing him taking his joking advice only made Crow more suspicious of him. But, it didn't seem like he was any different than before; he still blushed at innocent flirting and got a little embarrassed over even more innocent ruffling. Crow was looking for a reaction and he certainly got what he wanted.

It was teeth rotting cute.

[rean]

And just how are you going to explain how we're old friends?, Rean grumbled in his mind. He said nothing, of course, just kept his head down. He was aware, though, that Crow was definitely going to take this chance to feed them anything he wanted... unless Rean cut in. And that, Rean wasn't confident he could do without blowing at least part of his cover.

He couldn't help it, but even like this, he was sure he wouldn't be able to completely control what he said, let alone his actions, around Crow.

[ordine]

And speaking of the devil, Laura piped up, "An old friend?"

Crow's all smiles and sunshine as he answered, taking Rean's silence in stride, almost as if he were taking it as permission to say what he wanted until he's stopped, "Yup! ♪ We met back in my wild, rebellious days. Been a while since I last saw him, though. Since he's not awake to tell me himself, how's he been so far?"

Here, Crow didn't expect to hear that Rean slept through his classes with the excuse of having borderline narcolepsy and his grades were just barely passable. If anything they told him was new information at all to him, he didn't show it, and instead hummed along in confirmation like he knew what they were going to say all along. All of it reeks of something suspicious, but none of his suspicions leak through his face or tone as he keeps them schooled perfectly pleasant and cheerful.

Nothing about the field study was mentioned, which was fine with Crow; he already knew the details having heard it from Sara as he read through the reports. He was glad, at the very least, that everyone handled their business. It looked like he would have to snoop a little more on his old friends, though.

Cutting in when they're finished with their tellings of Rean's sleepy tendencies in and out of class, Crow played with a lock of Rean's hair idly and said, "We~eell, I guess some things do change. At least his fluffy head of hair isn't one of those things. ♥"

Once a pro at changing the subject, always a pro at changing the subject.

[rean]

Crow's avoidance skills certainly didn't change, Rean thought to himself. He could think of a quip or two to fire back with, but decided to save it for later and spent the rest of that class pretending to be asleep anyway. Once in a while, Crow's fingers toyed with his hair - as if trying to get him to rouse, or at least say something while the rest of the class' attention was firmly on the board in front of them - but Rean persevered.

When class ended, that was when Rean decided to act. When he was sure no one was looking, he pulled Crow towards one of the abandoned class rooms and locked the door behind him. This particular room was always locked - Rean made sure it was - and had nothing particularly remarkable stored in it so he was confident nobody would be coming in anytime soon, or would be eavesdropping at them.

"It's so nice of you to finally show up again after all this time."

[ordine]

It had been a while since Crow was able to just sit somewhere and casually touch someone the same casual way he was touching Rean. He could do it with Towa, sure, but she was one girl whose heart he didn't want to play with, being his friend and - sometimes - the person he went to for support. What he told her was mundane and hushed between the two of them, never particularly deep because he was her rock too, simply seeking someone to listen. In the beginning, that was all he could do, and nowadays he doesn't bother.

Crow made himself steel in case something happened and, with Rean dragging him away to an abandoned classroom, he found that he was glad for it.

So nothing changed after all.

The last thing Crow needed was to wear another mask. His expression turned closed off and quiet, the smile on his face loose and cool as he answered, "I don't know what you're talking about. I've been at this academy for two years now; you're the one who dropped in on me." And he could've sworn he didn't really do anything to warrant chasing, but maybe he was wrong all this time. "So, what's up?"

It never hurt to maintain a friendly disposition. With Rean, he knew he didn't need to worry; he could be casual and friendly and Rean wouldn't take advantage of it. Still... He had his doubts now and he wasn't going to drop his guard until he knew why Rean was dragging him around.

[rean]

"I knew you were here," Rean cut to the main topic. "That's why I'm here. But why didn't you show up until now? I didn't change my name for a reason, you know?"

With this, Rean knew he was laying it plain for Crow. Not that Crow wouldn't be able to figure out the particular reason Rean was here at Thors. But, as Crow once told him, letting your opponent know exactly what your intentions were didn't mean you were accepting defeat. Accepting the inevitable was also a way of gaining the upper hand, at least, in the sense that you were confident about it. On the defensive, grasping what little secrets he had, all the while knowing Crow would pick him apart easily, was not a state Rean wanted to be in.

[ordine]

"What? And you expected me to come to you like a paranoid puppy? Yeah, no, that wasn't happenin' any time soon," Crow huffed, the undercurrent of a laugh in his voice. "I figured you were here to actually attend class, study, and broaden your horizons like the rest of the good ol' students here... Didn't wanna hang over you like a shadow. Imagine my surprise when I found out that you weren't doing too well."

Oh, he knew Rean's game, exactly what he wanted down to a t. But, Crow was excellent at talking his way out of extra responsibility and old burdens. He put the Imperial Liberation Front behind him with drafts with plans all over them for a few years after he left; he didn't leave them bereft, but certainly he did leave. There was no arguing that.

He wanted them all to scatter. He wanted to protect what was his.

"Speaking of your name: have you gone back to see your family the last few years?"

[rean]

Rean crossed his arms across his chest and frowned. "That's not up for discussion. And if you were so surprised, why didn't you check up on me sooner?"

He hadn't picked the cover so Crow would find a reason to be worried and come to him. It was just the easier cover to play for him; the other option was to be a playboy gambler, a plan they'd originally written for Crow when he toyed with the idea of entering Erebonia's most prestigious military school. Anyway, now that Crow mentioned it, he figured he'd milk it for all its worth. And besides, it the other topic Crow brought up wasn't something Rean wanted to talk about.

CROW YOU SUCK

[rean]

A little birdie told Rean something. Something important. Something, that concerned him and he would've liked to hear about from Crow himself, not some other person.

"Crow!" And so here Rean was, throwing the door to Crow's room wide open, marching in with a purpose...

"We need to talk."

you have to be more specific. what exactly does he suck??

[ordine]

It's like nothing ever changed when he was away.

They used the plans he'd drafted for years into the future, sped them up, and tore into them like a pack of wild dogs on the hunt, and then they proceeded to keep Rean here and threw him into Thors to retrieve Crow when they found they were at the end of the line and needed someone with enough common sense to crush anyone in the way with as little casualties as possible. Crow reprimanded them with the fury of a scorned woman about using Rean to get to him. He had no doubt they'd do it again if he tried to leave, and so he had no choice in the end: he was going to stay and see the rest of the Front's quickly ticking time through and destroy it all with his own hands. The process itself wouldn't be too difficult; it was the people management he was going to have a minute amount of trouble with.

However, it wasn't anything he hadn't done before back in Thors. He would send Rean back to either Thors or Ymir, Vulcan to Calvard, and Scarlet to Liberl; Crow had contacts everywhere. He could call Toval, bring him in to help, and keep in contact with Sara so that he would have the backup he needed to take care of things.

None of it was particularly hard.

He just wished he didn't have to do it. He wished they would've scattered on their own. He wished he hadn't needed to tell Elise behind Rean's back where Rean was before the attack in Heimdallr. He wished he hadn't needed to meet that priest and sic him on Scarlet. He wished Giliath Osbourne would just stop calling him.

He wished, and he wished, and he wished.

That was the past now, though. Making friends with George, Angelica, and Towa, and the students all around school, acing those exams and escaping with the highest scores the Academy's seen in years, flirting around the edges of love and friendship while simultaneously and continuously flirting as friendly as the day he met him with Rean, kissing him during the end celebrations of the festival and satisfying a soul deep bestial urge, returning to the Imperial Liberation Front and distancing himself from everyone (Rean included), and locking himself up in this room with drafts for plans he doesn't want to put through -

Ah, Crow closed his eyes and turned a blank page over while nursing his mug of coffee, a frown settling onto his face. Thaaat is definitely a headache I feel coming on to me. Aidios, have mercy...

He was able to reach for his food before the (most attractive) devil himself came busting in through Crow's door like Crow had a couple million mira warrant out for his arrest - he'd be busting down the door and turning himself in if that were the case - looking all sorts of angry and frustrated and directing it straight at Crow. The only words that Crow could manage were all varying ways to word a single word.

Crow looked as confused as he honest to Aidios felt. This wasn't about the distance, was it? He didn't have an excuse for that one yet, but he supposed it was about time that he started thinking of one before Rean started thinking of hitting him with his tachi.

"...What? Did something happen?"

50 mira, bad life decisions, calling my sis on me so on so for

[rean]

"Did something happen?" Rean repeated before marching closer, jaw set with determination (and irritation). Once he came up to Crow's desk, he slammed his hand on it as his way of wordlessly telling Crow to stop whatever else he was doing and pay attention to him.

But he did pause, to catch his breathe, and to calmly walk back to the entrance and close the door. Of course, he had to remind himself, he needed to try and approach this calmly, even if he was angry and could already feel that familiar itchy warm on his chest as a result of that.

With one final exhale, he faced Crow again. "Scarlet told me," he said slowly. "I know why you left the Front, Crow. Why didn't you... why didn't you ever tell me?"

HE HAS NO GUILT, NO SHAME

[ordine]

"Damn, you are mad," Crow breathed out, righting the tremble of his draft pile from the force of Rean's hand slamming on his desk. He set his coffee down once Rean closed the door, picking this time as the right time to open both his eyes and his ears to Rean's problems.

(Just like he always does. Always. Everything about Crow would always be open for Rean.)

Except for the fact that Crow wasn't expecting to hear those words out of Rean's mouth. Crow swore Scarlet to absolutely secrecy about that particular subject and the fact that she still ended up telling Rean made something in his chest burn - faintly, before being snuffed out by Crow's easy acceptance of the situation. So, we're going to have this talk after all.

Crow smiled calm and collected and said, "Tell me something, Rean: why would I ever tell you something like that?"

[rean]

"Do you think I'm happy to know the reason you wanted to throw away your goals was me?" Rean didn't answer, of course. He knew, in Crow's mind, there wasn't a reason for him to tell Rean anything. He was always so infuriating like this, going off on his own, coming up with plans and leaving out the important parts because he thought his subordinates didn't need that kind of information. Well, maybe they did. Maybe they didn't want Crow taking on more than he probably should, even if he was the best combatant the Front had, bar none.

"You could have at least talked to me. Told me why you thought that way. And I would've told you why you shouldn't leave. Why I still think you deserve to have answers for the wrongs this country did to you."

[ordine]

"I could've talked to you. You would've told me something like that, and I would've carried on as angry as I was when I started," Crow started, a sneer building up in his tone before he was able to calm it down and shake his head, "and you would've continued spiraling away from a family you loved, falling into all of the violence that was indefinitely down the road.

"How could I do that to you?"

He wasn't asking Rean. It remained a rhetorical question, one he was always asking himself: how could he have brought Rean, so innocent and blindingly pure, in to something so twisted and complicated? Crow was in the dark and he needed to find a way out without dragging Rean through the mud. Sometimes he still thought he was there, that he was already dead, that none of what happened between he and Rean, he and anyone, actually mattered.

Closing his eyes, Crow raised a hand to pass it over his face, before he asked, "What does it matter now, anyway? I'm back, aren't I? That's what you all wanted so bad." So bad that you would blindly allow these people to use you against me.

He was back, only in physical form. His heart was with Rean, his body with the Imperial Liberation Front, and his thoughts were split between those two things and just about every damn thing else that Crow was juggling in his mind.

[rean]

"It was my choice to follow you. I knew what kind of life I'd be living and I chose it nonetheless. I didn't follow you blindly, Crow, so you shouldn't have to feel like you're responsible for 'corrupting' me." Rean followed him because he wanted to, because he cared for him, and because even if some of the things the Front did were against his beliefs, he thought he could help find a better way. He couldn't stop them from fighting, from performing acts of terrorism, but he could help them - help Crow - find the fastest way to their goals. That was what he thought back then.

"And even before I met you, I'd thought of distancing myself from my family-- You didn't have to tell Elise were I was." Crow would know since he had been up there, eavesdropping on Elise and him, but Rean reminded Crow anyway. He wasn't a noble, and the Schwarzers were better off without him anyway.

[ordine]

"I did have to tell Elise where you were... I mean, it was obvious you weren't going to man up and do it. Rean, your family loves you. It doesn't matter that you're not a noble." And he smiled again, frown turning upside down, soft and true. "I never required any of the members of the Imperial Liberation Front to distance themselves from their families - if they still had any family left, they were free to come and go as they pleased. You wanted an excuse to get away because you thought your presence hurt them when it was the exact opposite."

Crow could understand where Rean was coming from. Taking Rean in hurt the Schwarzers in the eyes of other nobles, but the Schwarzers aren't normal nobles. They couldn't have cared less about that because to them, Rean was their real child regardless of the lack of shared blood between them. Class VII's trip to Ymir before the festival just reaffirmed that fact in Crow's mind even more.

They were so happy to see Rean and Crow just felt so unflinchingly guilty. Even now, with that hurt guilt leaking into his tone even the smallest amount, Crow feels guilty for so many things that he's done.

"But I'm sure that deep down, you already knew that. I don't doubt that you did want to follow me and that you still do, but..." But, he trailed off, not willing to finish what he said.

It was unacceptable. Crow just couldn't stop hurting the people he loved.

[rean]

Crow's aim was impeccable, Rean knew, and those words of his just now hit him right where it hurt: There was no denying how much his family loved him, even if they weren't related by blood and even if they were looked down upon by other nobles for taking in a commoner like him. He looked away, to regroup. He wasn't just going to take that and concede.

"You don't have to be the only one doing all of this, I wanted to be with you. Still want to be with you..." He blushed a little, remembering something from a certain festival event. "...To be comrades with you at the Front again. Don't hide things like that from me again, Crow. Please."

[ordine]

It took Crow a second to register the fact that Rean was blushing, but when he did his expression naturally took on a teasing smile and shine, his mouth forming the words and opening to voice it before he even gave it permission, "I want to be with you, too, in all sorts of different ways and positions. ♥"

And then he closed his trap and very nearly bit his own tongue because now was not the time for sexual innuendos and teasing his poor little boy...friend? Old habits were hard to tear himself away from and teasing Rean just came so naturally that he couldn't help himself.

After clearing his throat, he waved his hand in the air vaguely and moved away from the desk. "For however long this lasts," he paused only to walk around his desk and over to Rean, raising a hand to ruffle Rean's hair in a touch that was way more tame than any lover would've given their significant other, "I look forward to working with you again."

Of course he wouldn't promise Rean never to hide something like that from him again. Crow was already planning things out with people all around Erebonia to tears his own organization apart and nothing that Duke Cayenne does could even begin to stop it. But, for now, he could pretend that everything was fine and that he wasn't planning on leaving again once everything was over.

[rean]

Rean wanted to flinch away from Crow's hand in his hair, to at least show how he wasn't compliant to all of this. He knew he didn't quite get Crow to see things his way; Crow was stubborn like him. But he, admittedly, liked that simple gesture. It was familiar and reminded him of their earlier time in the Front, when Crow's whole life was for building up the Front into something that could take the Erebonian on equal ground.

"I don't just want to work with you again, Crow. I want you to be honest with me too. No more lies. I'm your comrade, too. Your... friend."

[ordine]

"Haha," Crow laughed, cold, but crystal clear and clipped as he took his hand back and turned away from Rean with the intention of returning to his drafts to end this charade.

He understood how a cat felt having its fur rubbed the wrong way now except it felt like someone scraped their claws over his heart and his head and was still in the process of tearing them to shreds. The throb in his head returned full force, but he kept on talking, looking over his shoulder with a smile that froze over.

How could Crow ever be honest with Rean?

"If you seriously want some honesty, you can have some: the Chancellor is still alive, still calling me, still trying to pry into my life and make a little hole for himself like he belongs there. Meanwhile, I have Duke Cayenne and Rufus Albarea on my back with you, Vulcan, Gideon, and Scarlet close behind. Do you really think I can be completely honest with anyone right given how tense the situation is?"

Even though right now he needed someone he could absolutely trust without a doubt to hear him out and keep his secrets close to their heart and to themselves, Crow wasn't convinced he had a good list of candidates. With the odds piled up against him he had no choice but to trudge on alone.

It was all that he had anymore.