Get into the van, kiddo.

[captaincatblock]

[Peace is a funny thing. It's been teased and denied for so long that now that it's happening, it's almost weird. He'd missed most of the drama with the princess and her traitorous Terran Knight -- not that he's fully convinced of it, but if it gains them this peace, then he won't question it -- but he had been returned to his kin as Earth's first peace offering.]

[Kuroo hadn't been too happy about that, hadn't even had the time to say good bye to Tsukki after being whisked away by a couple of generals and then thrown into political chaos. But he had endured it, because he knew that eventually, the princess would get to the small issue of Kuroo's kataphrakt and how he intends to spend his time on Earth. He could be a diplomat, he'd offered, or teach his fellow Versians about Terrans, since he's learned a lot. Anything, he had added meaningfully, if he allowed him to keep his landing castle close to Earth if not entirely on its soil.]

[He'd gotten some leeway in the end, after weeks of endless talks, so here he is now striding into the hanger where they kept his mech, in full Count regalia. Oddly enough, he only has Terran escorts with him, and they back away well enough when he reaches his destination.

Tsukki? Oiii, I'm looking for your mechanic, Tsukishima Kei. [first he calls out, and then just outright asks someone to find Tsukki for him]

Comments

[hellacene]

[he's doing some last-minute adjustments to the kats when he receives word that the count had apparently come back and wanted to meet him. when he had left, he didn't even say goodbye to him properly, so tsukki is feeling a bit slighted at his arrival. he understands the frenetic pace of peace where it was finally offered; his reasons for being angry at kuroo for leaving is more personal than anything else.

he decides the count can wait for him as he changes his clothes to something less greasy. his boots are heavy when they walk down to the hangar where he is, noticing the full regalia for one. it's been a while since he's seen kuroo in those clothes. they did not, unfortunately, make him look any less attractive.]

Oh? You look like you're aching to go back into your cell, Count. Is this nostalgia?

[okay, so he might be angry. but just a little.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo notes the coldness, but figures he deserves it after disappearing for such a long time without sending any word back. Still, he shoulders past it and beams widely at Tsukki as he sees the blond approach.]

No. I'm here to pick up my Kat. I figured you'd appreciate finally seeing it move.

[hellacene]

[he raises an eyebrow at that. perhaps the princess had something to do with the kat functioning again? he takes out a bunch of keycards from his pocket and leads him to where his kat is - they moved it into a section of the second hangar since it wasn't being used much anymore, plus it was just too big to move to another place.

however, it certainly doesn't look like it's stood there gathering dust, as it looks clean and polished. tsukki had been doing maintenance in it while he was away, applying the ones the count wanted and some that he thought would be necessary as well.]

Whenever you're ready, I'll send a message to control so you can leave.

[captaincatblock]

[He grabs Tsukki's free hand in his as soon as they're in the less public hangar, bumping shoulders with his Terran friend, but doesn't make a comment until he sees his Kataphrakt. The way his expression lights up makes him seem very young, and he almost looks like he wants to run over.]

I'll wait for you to do that, and then you have to come up with me. [Grin.]

[hellacene]

Come up with you? [tsukki looks incredulous.] I have work, you know.

[it hasn't escaped him that kuroo is still holding his hand, and he reluctantly grasps it with his own. it's been too long. the truth is he really did miss him.]

[captaincatblock]

I promise I'll make it worth your while. [And he sort of leers, except he ends up with a grin.]

Thanks for taking care of her while I was gone. [He can recognize your handiwork by now.]

[hellacene]

One of us has to be able to keep their word.

[and then he leaves to inform control that the count's kataphrakt is getting ready for launch. after that, though - climbing the kat? he'll never make it back in good time after this break.]

[captaincatblock]

[Ouch. But he deserves that, seriously. He waits for Tsukki to join him in the cockpit before he does anything, so he leaves the hatch open.]

Come in here with me. Please? [And he presents to Tsukki his most winning smile.]

[hellacene]

[tsukki makes a face at that, frowning. and then, because he's a seriously weak terran, he sighs and makes the move towards kuroo's kat, down the familiar hatch. he must've worked on the kat numerous times, but it doesn't feel as right and familiar as it does until kuroo was beside him.

he stands around where the aldnoah is, glancing at the giant screen.] And? What did you want me here for?

[captaincatblock]

[Impishly, Kuroo pulls him by the waist until Tsukki is on his lap, and then just hugs him for a moment, nose to Tsukki's neck.] Missed you.

[hellacene]

.... this is cheating, you know.

[it's hard to get angry at someone who took the time to come back because of him, braving his anger all the same.

he lets kuroo cuddle with him for a while, his fingers playing with the lapel of his red coat.] I was really upset when you left.

[captaincatblock]

There's no such thing as cheating in the battlefield of romance. [sniggers against Tsukki's neck, but he runs his hand up and down Tsukki's back as if in apology.]

They just sort of bundled me up and threw me into a car in the middle of the night. A lot's happened, yeah? But I see you've been busy with my Kataphrakt in my absence. [He nuzzles him for a moment, and then looks around the cockpit with a sort of amused and appreciative look.]

[hellacene]

[tsukki rolls his eyes at that.]

I made her better. [and then, quietly - ] I'm glad you can be with her again.

[and then he kisses him, because it's been way too long and kuroo's about to leave.]

[captaincatblock]

[Ah-- what the heck. That goes straight to Kuroo's heart. He kisses Tsukki back with a sense of urgency borne of not seeing him for such a long time, and then he reaches up to close the hatch on them.]

Sorry, Tsukki. Give me a minute here, I'll show you something. [Kisses his cheek. And then he thumbs at the pin of his cravat to take it off.]

[hellacene]

[he raises an eyebrow.]

I've seen you naked before, that's not going to work on me anymore.

[captaincatblock]

[He laughs.] How lewd. I thought you wanted me for my Kat, but it's actually my body, isn't it?

[He stabs his finger with the pin, though, and then reaches forward to smear the drop of blood on the Aldnoah Drive at their feet. Surprise, it glows, and everything in the cockpit just powers up in a whirr of muted machinery and beautiful engineering. The screens glaze out to show the hangar interior around them.]

Some Terran friend of the princess figured out how she can distribute the Aldnoah activation ability temporarily. [Although he had to kiss her. He hadn't been sure if he was going to get murdered for daring to insist on having to go back, regardless of her busy schedule. But in the end, this had been the compromise she was willing to give him.]

[hellacene]

[there're way too many things going on that tsukki was alarmed by, but the most surprising one was the kat humming to life around him after kuroo pricked his finger.

and he was right - the screens are big and in high definition.]

But - temporarily? What does that mean?

[captaincatblock]

Meaning I can only do this just this once. [He rubs Tsukki's forearms.] But it depends. Since we're sharing the Aldnoah technology, they might find a way for anyone to start this on their own.

[He reaches around him for the controls, checking to see if everything is in good working order. To his surprise, music filters into the cockpit, and he chuckles.]

[hellacene]

Just once - [wait, now that everything's online -] I should probably go back. I don't want to delay you back to your castle.

[where's that thing to open the hatch, he has to get out of here. from the kat's comms, command from the bridge is asking the count if he's ready to go.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo keeps his arm firm around Tsukki's waist, and tells command that yes, he's ready to go. And then he moves his Kat out of its cubby, in preparation to head out, effectively locking the hatch as its safety triggers.]

Stay with me a while, Tsukki.

[hellacene]

[it's only then that tsukki realizes what's going on.]

Kuroo.

[kidnapped. he's being kidnapped by a count. this is ridiculous. and shortly thereafter, before he can tell command he's right there, the kat takes flight.]

[captaincatblock]

Tsukki~ [he says back, looking much like a very pleased cat. He doesn't offer any other explanation, because he doesn't want to ruin the surprise, but the landing castle is actually just inside the Earth's stratosphere. He'll need it to get back to space, after all, once he comes home with his Kat.]

Just enjoy the view. [It's too bad his hands a bit busy with the controls now, or else he'd cuddle.]

[hellacene]

You're bringing me to your castle. You -

[he doesn't know whether to be impressed or annoyed. so he'll settle for folding his arms over his chest and being utterly confused. in a rather petty voice,] They're going to find out I skipped work because I wanted to look at space.

[captaincatblock]

I'm sure I can do something about your superiors at work. After all, in a weeks I was with you, I got to become friends with some of them. [Not really. But Kuroo knows how to play the politics game and this is easy stuff.]

[He sets the course for his landing castle -- they'll get there in like ten minutes or something -- and gives in to his urge to cuddle.] I couldn't wait. [kisses him at the neck.]

[hellacene]

[he lets kuroo cuddle him. everything is happening at a pace that's too quick for him. he doesn't think kuroo would be stupid enough to hold him hostage, but he also misses him, and now that he has the chance to actually be in his castle he remembers that kuroo has an observation deck. above all things that's what he wants to see.

he's absolutely impossible, but he's kuroo, and he came back for him. that's all that matters. he runs his fingers over his messy hair and replies with,] I'm not sure I'm dressed enough for a castle.