Like Twins

The meeting had been simple. Apparently, experiments were over with. The largest complication was finding Zekkai, but they had him called over the intercom and met him by the entrance. Blood Talon had been somewhat amused at people getting turned on by the events, but didn't argue. He simply handed out an even twenty grand to each person present from the cash he had been given, assuming that the credit card they gave him was functional so that he didn't have to economize that strictly. Otherwise, they'd have to make another trip...

Doormat Yankee's idea of celebration was apparently bending over for Babo as soon as possible. Blood Talon had expected candy shopping, but he guessed they'd have time for that - and the fish movie they kept raving about - later. The four roommates headed straight back to the hotel, but when they got there, Hwoarang locked himself in the bathroom. Jin didn't seem to like that much, and set off to train. So it was just him and Zekkai there, so Blood Talon started organizing the document folder he had been given by the organization. Hopefully there was enough information in there to pull the mission off.

No one bothered him for the first few minutes. Zekkai busied himself looking through the phone book, but was bored of that in no time. The book went back in the end table and the redhead carefully sat on the bed, watching BT with curiosity. "Do you think we'll, uh, get a flight? I mean soon? If the flight's in a month we might be too late, so we should probably aim for a few days, right?"

After finishing the paragraph, Blood Talon glanced up at the other Korean. "Sure, I'll book us a flight sometime soon. But we need to go there as a team, not as eight individuals. Besides, trying to get tickets for tomorrow isn't going to work, and if I try to book them by normal means, I doubt we can get tickets for the first three weeks. Intercontinental flights have a tendency of filling up."

"Yeah, I guess..." Silence stretched on for another short while. Whatever was going on in Zekkai's mind, he seemed too untrusting to say it directly. "Hey, do they have any phone numbers in there for the G Corp?"

That was a strange question. Blood Talon considered it for a while, then shook his head as he watched the other redhead closely. "I doubt it. If they know we're coming, we're as good as dead."

"I wouldn't give them any reason to suspect anything. I just wanted to check something." The peculiar redhead chewed his lip in thought and glanced at the window. "Do they have any information on who we will encounter? Is Mishima Kazuya there?"

Blood Talon sighed. Why did the guy want to know? He browsed the folder for a bit, even though he already knew the answer to the redhead's question. Was it asked because Zekkai was in doubt whether they could beat the guy? Blood Talon had no doubt. Either of the three Jins with a spine would win hands down. "Yes," he finally admitted, "he's there."

The other Korean closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. "Is it still a betrayal if he's not even the one I knew? What if he doesn't even know who I am?" His voice was quiet as if he were speaking to no one in particular.

Betrayal? Betrayal of whom? Now that sounded too risky to let pass, just like that. "I don't understand," the Blood Talon said with casual ignorance, "what do you mean?"

Still, Zekkai refused to meet BT's eyes. He got up from the bed and paced across the room before turning around again. "I'm about 95% sure I'm not the real Hwoarang. I wasn't sure at the beginning, but if he's still in Nebraska then that means what happened to me didn't really happen. You know, a while ago I was straight and I wasn't anything close to being a masochist, but then I met Mishima-sama."

Sounded like something he shouldn't miss. "Go on..."

He paused and sat down on the cot, holding his head in his hands. "He ruined my whole fucking life, but I'd do anything for him. He did so much for me, too. But it doesn't matter, right? Because this isn't the one I loved, so... I don't know."

Standing up and walking over, the Blood Talon looked at that figure. To think it was only a day since they had sex, yet this person was so far from what he had thought he was. He sat down next to Zekkai, wrapping an arm around him and pulling them together. "Zekkai..." he started in a calm, comforting voice, "look. If there's four of us out there, why wouldn't there be four Kazuyas? Just because the one we'll encounter isn't the one you loved, doesn't mean the one you loved isn't real."

Zekkai buried his face in the Blood Talon's shoulder briefly before he seemed to regain some pride. Placing a light kiss on BT's cheek, he shook his head and waved at the files. "Nobody would be stupid enough to clone him. Thanks, but I'm fine." He broke into a weak chuckle. "Believe me, I've had worse scenes than this. Just be glad I didn't start waving around a knife and crying."

There was a knock on the door. With a pat on Zekkai's back, Blood Talon pushed to his feet, taking the file with him under his arm. It felt a bit silly, but he couldn't turn his back on those documents. Even in his own hotel room. Opening the door, he saw Hiro - thankfully in human form this time. "Good evening, Hiro!" He said with a smile.

"Hello Blood Talon," Hiro responded, sounding a little out of breath. He glanced past into the room and once seemingly satisfied with what he saw, he met the Korean's eyes. "I can't get rid of the taste of blood in my mouth, so I wanted to come and make sure you were alright. I apologise for becoming that thing right after telling you I wouldn't."

Blood Talon looked into those beautiful, brown eyes. After Kazama, Hiro was definitely the next best thing... flashing a friendly smile, he left the papers by his feet, wrapping both arms around the Japanese and giving him a nice, firm hug. "Thanks for backing me up..." He whispered.

The man seemed to freeze still. Gradually he returned the hug, but he was hesitant about it. Hiro stayed quiet a few seconds before responding, his calm voice greatly influenced by confusion. "So... It didn't do anything bad?"

Well, that depended on whose glasses one was wearing. The Korean pulled back with an amused smirk, looking Hiro in the eyes again. "It killed a couple of dozen people and looked like it was going to go for me again, but then Zekkai hit on it, and it decided to leave me alone."

"I'm glad that's all it did, then. Perhaps I should have a talk with Jin and Kazama about controlling it before it creates a catastrophe." Hiro leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, his gaze lowering thoughtfully to the floor. "Why was it after you? I was sure it had no interest in killing Hwoarangs..." He sighed hopelessly and shook his head.

With a friendly smile, Blood Talon put a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "You're right. It has no interest in killing me." He sighed, shaking his head at the obvious realisation he'd had earlier that day. "It wants me, Hiro. Whereas that could've been nice, I'm not sure how healthy it is for me. You're kind of... brutal in that form."

The Japanese stiffened and looked up at BT. For a split second he looked almost panicked, but quickly regained his composed front. "It... wants you? Yes, I really need to find a way to control it. Letting it hurt you is simply not an option."

It was stunning to see one of the cooler Japanese lose control like that, even if it was only for an instant. But he wasn't sure if he could bear it anymore. It felt too much like Kazama standing there in front of him, and the impulse to kiss the guy was getting tiresome. "I won't be very happy with you if it does..." Blood Talon said with a sigh, then glanced back at Zekkai.

"I'd expect no less." A hand came to rest on his shoulder as Hiro moved closer. It appeared mostly innocent; a calm face and staying a respectful few inches away. For an instant, his voice took on a demonic tone as he whispered too low for anyone but BT to hear, "Keep your windows locked, Blood Talon, because there are no guarantees."

He felt his heartbeat turn to thunder instantly. Was it there, right under the surface? He took a few deep breaths to calm his mind, using all his willpower to refrain from taking a step back, instead moving both his hands to Hiro's hips. "You apologized yesterday..." he whispered back, knowing that message could fit both those minds, since they both apologized, "don't think you get away with it that easily again..."

The Japanese glanced down at the Blood Talon's hands. He seemed bothered by something, but he didn't make any move to walk away either. "I have no intention of trying to get away with anything. If it takes over, there is nothing I can do to stop it, no matter how much I want to." Hiro rolled his shoulders nervously and glanced at the window.

Letting out a sigh, the Korean calmed down again. Maybe it had just been his imagination. Pulling out his wallet, he opened it and put 20 000 yen in Hiro's hand. "Here. Pocket money." He said with a smirk, carefully judging the reaction.

"There's more important things to spend this money on. I don't need it." Hiro took Blood Talon's hand and placed the money in it. He claimed eye contact, his gaze completely serious and unwavering. "If you ever need help, come to me." He spun around and started back out the door.

~~~

This is a collab, written together with Chlover. You can find her author profile here:
http://games.adult-fanfiction.org/authors.php?no=26260