[Chapter 1 - SCENE] No, you may not kill Sync

[ashes-of-flame.livejournal.com]

Who: Asch and Sync
Where: Deo Pass
When: After Asch leaves Akzeriuth
Warnings: They really don't get along



Asch fingered the gift for Meredy, sitting in his pocket, and left the mining town. Ion wasn't here, and hadn't been here. He wouldn't get any clues by sticking around. However, there was one thing that had been bothering him. That had been bothering him since he left Daath, in fact. Asch kept walking, until he found a particular place he liked in the Deo Pass, one where there was no place to hide, nor was there anywhere to run, not with the rock walls so high. So Asch went to the center of the area, stopped, and turned around. "I know you're following me, you might as well come out."

In a flash of black and green, Sync jumped down from his ledge and landed not ten feet from the other God General. "Why did you wait so long to say anything if you knew I was there?" He rested a hand on his hip, the afternoon sun casting a long shadow from his mask to his face, making the expression beneath unreadable.

Sync. It had to be Sync. With the possible exceptions of Legretta and Judas, Asch was fairly certain he knew enough about the other God-Generals to manipulate them into doing what he wanted. But Sync... Sync was an enigma, and not just because of the mask. Asch always got the strange feeling from the boy that they were similar in ways, kept apart from all but the other God-Generals by Van, but Asch didn't know why or for what purpose. "Didn't seem to matter much," Asch replied evenly, not betraying any emotion. "If we were on the same mission, you would've left Akzeriuth by a different route, instead of following me directly. For what purpose are you following me?"

A good question to be dodging, Sync decided. It was probably obvious that the commandant had wanted Asch shadowed, but just in case, it was better not to say anything. "What, you expected me to trust you or something? Like that was ever going to happen."

Asch snorted. "I don't expect you to trust me, but I expect the Commandant to trust that I can fulfill my mission as ordered."

Sync scowled slightly. "I don't think that's what he was worried about," the boy replied stiffly. "You should worry less about your own problems and more about your waning loyalty to Van."

Asch raised himself up. He might not be all that tall, but he was at least taller, and more solidly built, than Sync was. "When have I given reason for you to think I am anything less than loyal to the Commandant?"

Sync waved him off dismissively. Asch's stature was less than intimidating. He wasn't remotely concerned that he'd have trouble against him in battle. Asch was too slow. "Whatever. It doesn't matter right now. We don't have time to waste picking fights with each other." He paused. "By the way..." A smile crept smoothly along his features. "I didn't know you were into souvenirs."

It took all of Asch's willpower not to flush as red as his hair. If Sync found out about Meredy... "Just because you have no one who cares for you, don't assume the rest of us don't."

That was too much to take. Sync burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Are you kidding me? For one thing, I don't care if anyone likes me. If I wanted friends, I'd act like it." Wasn't like would need said friends once Van enacted his plan, anyway. "Who knew Asch the Bloody had a soft side?" Sync shook his head, still smiling. "Sad."

Asch, while Sync was spouting off, had been muttering under his breath. "O darken storm cloud, loose thy blade and run mine enemies through!" Asch raised his voice to address Sync. "Not as soft as you would think. Thunder Blade!"

A bolt of lightning came down out of the previously clear sky, straight toward Sync's location.

"Damn!"

Sync jumped sideways, just barely clear of the strike. "Learn to control your temper!" he shot, aggravated. "As much as I'd enjoy breaking a few of your ribs, the commandant would skin us both. We have more important things to do."

"I'm going to Kaitzur to check for information on the Fon Master." Asch announced. "If you'd rather not have that happen again, I'd advise staying clear of me."

"It's not like I chose to follow you for lack of anything better to do with my time," Sync answered, following briskly as Asch began to walk away. It would be better to stick with someone for support anyway. He wasn't allowed to take down Ion on his own. The boy was an airhead, but he certainly wasn't too stupid to notice an uncanny resemblance when he saw one. "The others were paired off, and you're just who I happened to get stuck with for the dirty work."

Asch knew what Sync was saying wasn't entirely true, as Arietta, Balir, and Legretta had been grouped together (albeit, Balir seemed to have his own interest as part of the group going to the Shurrey Hill area), but, it was certain, that Van did like using the God-Generals to keep tabs on each other. Especially with Mohs getting excited about things in the Closed Score coming to fruition soon (Asch wished he knew what those things were), and Van constantly telling them that "the plan" would soon be commenced (which Asch also wished he knew about). Asch scowled, but decided to ignore Sync for the time being. He wanted to get to Kaitzur, see if he could get information on the Fon Master, and then get done with this mission, so he could get back to Daath. And, more importantly, back to Meredy.