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When; June 26th, Late Evening
Rating; Erm, PG?
Characters; Yuri Volte Huyga

harmonixed and Alice Elliot

magnificat
Summary; Alice finally makes it to one of the apartment buildings and goes to meet Yuri on the roof.
Log;

Her shivering body had managed to renewed itself at the prospect of seeing Yuri again, and in moments no less, if it could be believed. Alice wrapped her arms around herself and pressed onward through the torrents of snow and ice toward the closest of the looming buildings she could see, hopefully one of the free apartments Mr. Belmont had mentioned. The petite woman trudged through the snow, or waded really, to the door, which she promptly threw open with her last remnants of strength. Falling against it as it closed, Alice took a moment, back pressed against the door, to recover and brush herself off. The building itself seemed large and spacious, hardly the sort of accomadations that one would rent out for free. She closed her eyes, breath coming in deep gasps as she warmed herself by rubbing her hands together and jumping up and down in place. She was quite certain that she probably looked terrible silly doing so, but what anyone trapped in that storm wouldn't suffer for a bit of warmth.

But she didn't have time to be suspicious right now. Willing herself to keep moving despite the persistant shivering, Alice made her way to the stairs and began to climb. Her mind raced with a million thoughts, but none of them dared to stop her. She'd even managed to ignore claiming a room and procuring a blanket for the trip up and outside. Perhaps it was a silly thing to put off, especially with the very real prospect of frostbite on the horizen, but there was a part of her, no, not just one part. All of her had yearned to see him again, and to know he was here, here as she was... Somehow the weather wasn't stopping her.

Alice was panting when she finally made it to the rooftop, forcing the door open as she very nearly stumbled outside into the snow. Arms wrapped tightly around herself, the young woman walked over to the edge of the roof. The snow was almost blind as she squinted to look up at the sky, one arm coming to shield her eyes from the snow as she kept a look-out for a familiar, winged figure.

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If he stopped to think about it - something Yuri wasn't exactly known for, persay, but something he did indulge in from time to time - the fact that it was Alice and that she was here and alive and everything else that had apparently come to be would have bothered him. Rumours of no way out, no trains going anywhere, all of it went over his head. And for good reason - he didn't care much. He had his memories, his fusion powers - which he was happily abusing there and then, the Amon form a second skin and burning fire to cover him, speed suddenly the only thing he cared about - and he had, as impossible and dream-like as it may seem, Alice.

She who he'd tried to bring back from the dead, had almost succeeded, had- Thoughts. All he had. He was glad for the snow, for the minimum of people about, none of whom seemed to notice him, a black spot in the sky as he sought out a sight sorely missed. The Godslayer didn't want questions, pointing fingers, a reminder that he was all too much of a monster himself. He just wanted Alice, to remember the person who sacrificed her life to give him his own.

His landing wasn't exactly graceful once he'd spotted her, all wings and heavy feet, forcing snow aside and making his own blizzard, unable or unwilling to change back as darker eyes stared down at the sight of the only person he'd even actually placed before himself without hesitation, even before knowing her name. But that was his tough exterior, the part everyone else had to know, and certainly wasn't for Alice who shouldn't be standing outside, shivering in the cold. Steeling himself - she'd died, he'd dug the grave, this had to be the weirdest, most stupid dream he'd ever had - Yuri shed the form, cocky grin in place and hand half raised in a sheepish excuse of a wave. "Hey."

Alice spotted the large, winged formed as a blur just before he landed. She squeezed her eyes shut as the snow flew about as he touched down, but only for a brief moment. Despite the whipping winds, she opened them again, not even certain whether or not she was shivering anymore. The dark, hulking form of what lurked in his mind was not met with even an ounce of terror when her eyes met his dark ones. In fact, to a bystander if there'd been any, she might've been considered mad as her eyes filled with happy tears and a positively vibrant smile came across her lips, lips that had been trembling as teeth chattered beneath them.

"Y-Yuri! You're really here..." she managed to stammer. An afterthought came as the young, formerly-deceased woman realized the words would've been more suited to him, but just to see him again, to be with him in person and be able to speak to him in more than just some ghostly fragment of a memory. There was no doubt that she would've given up everything for him again if she had to, and she'd never regretted it in the first place, never hesitated when the question was asked. It was a blessing, truly a blessing, to be able to breathe and laugh and smile with him again.

As she moved forward, Alice's wobbly legs gave out on her, having been subjected to the freezing cold for far too long despite the fact that she'd all but forgotten their state when he'd arrived, and she fell to her knees in the snow with a startled gasp. Not wanting to alarm him, she offered a shaky laugh.

"I-I'm sorry. S-still a bit of a k-klutz," she managed as she smiled up at him despite herself.

He was at her side in a second, skidding slightly in the snow, moved by her tears, her voice, her laugh, her stumble, by her. Of course he was here, he'd wanted himself here - maybe, he wasn't sure this was exactly how he'd have dreamed his perfect world, but then again, Alice was here so what did it matter really? - but words were failing in front of her and he just 'hrmph'-ed softly. Nervous hands reached to support her, Yuri writing off the shaking fingers as caused by the cold.

He had to speak, as fragile as the moment was, as much as all he wanted to do was hold her, so he sighed softly. "Come on, we'll go inside, okay?" He wanted to say, we'll talk, but he honestly didn't know what there was to say. How the Godslayer managed words at all, when his mouth felt dry and stuffed with cotton wool, was beyond him and yet he managed, the still shaking fingers - though he managed to control it for the most part - offering Alice an aid in standing again. He was tempted to carry her, but pushed those thoughts aside, believing she probably wouldn't appreciate it, and settled instead on being as supportive as he could muster without overstepping any lines.

Alice was able to pull herself to her feet thanks to Yuri's support, but not before she spent a few moments lost in the past and unaware of the cold (or the fact that she was staring), remembering the many times he'd come to her side again and again, remembering how she's so often promised herself that she'd pay him back somehow. Here they were again, after everything.

She snapped back to reality when she heard his voice, obviously a little embarrassed by the fact that she'd probably been caught staring at him as though she couldn't believe they were really together like this somehow. Alice drew herself to her feet with no small degree of effort.

"Th-that's probably a g-good idea," she admitted as she started to take small steps back toward the door. Turning her head to look up at him, she added, "I haven't t-taken a room just yet. I... was probably t-too..." Her voice trailed off as she shivered, possibly to cover up the fact that she wasn't quite sure how to say it in just a few words.

There would be time later. To have it again was nothing short of a miracle.

He wasn't panicking, there was no way he, Yuri Volte Huyga, Godslayer, Harmonixer, world saving - Two times now! Twice! - hero could ever panic. ...Unless ghosts were involved. But still! He did not panic when it seemed like Alice had just stopped. He couldn't, because he was pretty much unable to move himself, each small movement an agonizing effort to maintain his distance and self, aware of every monster soul within him growling softly for being so close to her light.

Yuri pushed her gently towards the door that would lead her into warmth, shelter, everything he doubted he could be all things considering. She felt cold, but that was because it was cold, right? Cold caused by cold. And she was shivering, and he wasn't doing a very good job here but he couldn't help but smile. "Then we'll just choose one together, s'fine by me. In with you though-" he punctuated it with another soft insistence that she keep moving, "-Before you get sick." She really did feel cold, and he tried to not let it bother him. It was just because of the weather, it had to be, and he pushed aside thoughts and memories of carrying her to Domremy. This Alice wasn't that one, this Alice was alive and talking and in front of him and- And he'd been the one staring, taking in every strand of hair, each fleck of snow dotting her blue outfit that really wasn't ideal for the cold, the position of her hands. He shrugged it off with another trademarked grin, taking a few steps beyond her, trying to hurry her back inside.

He'd have more to say then. Maybe.

Alice nodded, having not even entertained the notion that she might get sick oddly enough. That particular lapse of good judgment could probably be attributed to the fact that she'd had her mind on other things at the time. There wasn't much more she would be able to say at the moment. Maybe it was because she was freezing. Maybe it had to do with something else entirely. Whatever the reason, the girl hurried back to the door as quickly as she was able, assured by Yuri's presence behind. She didn't even have to look back. She knew that he'd be there if she did.

When she reached the door, Alice somehow managed to pull the handle and the door open, willing her shivering fingers to grip the cold metal. She almost wanted to smile triumphantly, but it was hardly the time. She needed to get inside and warmed up as soon as possible, seeing Alice Elliot had spent far too much time out in the cold as of late. When she did stumble inside, she leaned against the wall to wait for Yuri to enter and close the door, taking deep breaths as best as she could as the lingering shivers would hopefully begin to fade with time.

The Harmonixer spared her a glance, nerves on edge with the removal of the weather as a blaming force, no more excuse for shaking fingers and inability to accurately focus his sight. So facing the recently shut door was a relief, but one he didn't abuse too readily, turning back to her he waited patiently, content to merely watch something he thought he'd never see again.

He shouldn't have let her wait on the roof for him, but he'd been selfish. Yuri had wanted something to come home too - though the fact that this wasn't home faintly registered in the back of his mind, this wasn't any place he'd ever been, some odd place that apparently didn't connect to the rest of the world he knew. His hand raised, dropped, unsure what boundaries were allowed to be crossed and what still lay between them, unspeakable and unyielding.

But some things had to be said, and drawing breath he might have been holding, the Godslayer straightened, pushed himself away from the door and headed for the stairs. "What sort of place do you want?" He wanted something fairly high, a place to see the sky from and feel his freedom, beyond that he didn't care. And a place few people would feel compelled to visit, selfishly wanting to protect Alice, now that he had her again, keep her for himself and him alone. Unfair, of course, but he could dream, walking slowly so she wouldn't be left too far behind as he started down.

Alice assumed that the lingering chill would stay with her a couple of days, given the time she'd spent outside in the blizzard, but even just having a thick, solid door between her and the snow seemed to be helping. Unable to stop smiling, awkward as the situation seemed to be for the both of them, she watched him pass her and moved to follow as he headed for the stairs. There was so much to say, so much that she felt as though she were about to burst, but it wasn't time yet. Or maybe they were both waiting for the other to move, to say what they were thinking. When she'd seen his hand raise and then drop, a small gesture that she'd managed to catch, the silver-haired woman had yearned to reach out and take. She wondered as she trotted to catch up why she hadn't. And then they were speaking, casually again.

"Somewhere high up," Alice breathed, as though she'd read his mind. "It'll be quiet, I'd think, and it isn't as though we'd have to take the stairs often. At least, you wouldn't." The words drifted off into silence again, and, in a delayed reaction, she reached out to take the hand he'd almost offered in both of hers. Warmth... Even if he wasn't physically warm, he carried such warmth.

He smiled ruefully at the comment, mind already made up not to call on the fusion monsters still at his disposal too much, if at all. If he was right, then he no longer had a reason to fight, no world to save. If he was right, the worst thing he had to worry about was offending Alice in some way. If he was right, then he could be very happy indeed. Of course, if he was wrong, then at least he still had Amon, the dark demon's presence a purring in the back of his mind.

A purring that ceased with the taking of his hand, and Yuri glanced at the connection between them with a more truthful smile. "We'll do whatever you want, Alice."

It was the truth. He'd always do what she wanted.

Alice wondered for a moment if the remark had been in poor taste, wondering what had driven her to say something like that. She was about to utter some form of apology when he spoke up, smiling at her warmly at her as she took his hand. She wasn't at all used to being so forward, innocent as the gesture was, so she smiled back as a faint blush spread across her cheeks now that they were standing in the midst of a storm. She looked down, still holding on to his hand.

"This is fine, then." Alice stopped at the current floor they happened to be on. It hadn't been long since they'd start, and a higher floor would be nice at that, regardless of reasoning. At least for a time, she wanted some peace and quiet. Not that things would necessarily be quiet with Yuri around once the ice melted, figuratively speaking. Alice bit her lip, the same sensation she'd been feeling all along welling up inside. Perhaps the stairwell wasn't the best place to be saying this, but...

"Yuri, thank you. Again," she said softly. He always came for her when she needed him, even before she knew she loved him.

He wanted to tease her flushed cheeks, to force the last remaining awkwardness out of the situation but her words made him chuckle slightly even as he sought to continue walking, to find a door and choose and claim it and then be done with it. Yuri's free hand moved to ruffle his hair nervously, the words slipping out without his mind running them over, "Hey, come on! That's my line, geez."

He didn't want her to thank him, not when it was her life that had saved his, not when even despite that he'd managed to find her again. He wanted it to be understood, for words to be the secondary mode of communication, for a world that consisted of here and now, her and her alone, everything else unneeded in the face of what he was sure Jeanne would have labeled as his happiness.

"You're welcome, though," he mumbled, the after-afterthought echoing. Alice had always been good at getting his manners to shine through.

"You wouldn't need to-" Alice stopped herself upon hearing him actually, if grudgingly, accept her thanks. Perhaps that was the best course of action, as they'd both go on thanking and insisting they didn't need to be thanked in turn otherwise. She smiled softly, saying nothing else as they searched the hall for an empty room. The corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, and this particular floor seemed quiet enough.

"How about this one?" she asked, letting go with one of her hands to point at a random door, labeled '900' on the right side of the hall. Although it sounded as though the floor was nearly vacant, it wasn't best to assume such things. "We should probably knock just in case," Alice added as she raised a hand, oh, and it wasn't trembling as much anymore, to knock on the door.

Yuri moved as she moved, positioning himself to lean against the wall next to her chosen door. He couldn't stop his gaze from constantly falling to her, to the way she moved and reacted and stopped and knocked and every little thing like the rise and fall of her chest. The things he'd missed, in the time it had been. Time in Domremy, in Russia, Japan, Wales, all over the world one more time. He'd been patient then.

Yuri wasn't so patient this time though, and after allowing a mere thirty seconds to pass he went ahead and tried the door, letting it swing open of its own accord. "Looks empty to me," he offered, casual shrug and innocent look in place. "What do you think?"

It was so like Yuri to just barge in without bothering to consider that the room might just be occupied. Alice managed a startled "Yuri!" before he revealed that the room was indeed empty. She sighed, relieved that they hadn't just intruded on someone's private time and stepped into the room, still cautious. It all seemed so very strange to her... Still, the room looked nice and comfortable. It was certainly large enough to make a livable space, and she'd have a chance to bathe and change and-

-and it suddenly occurred to her that she hoped very much that there was a set of clothing to change into. Though wouldn't that just be too convenient?

"It's very nice," Alice commented casually, not thinking about her wet clothes or the prospect of having to change for the moment. Or rather, she was forcing herself not to. She turned to look back at him. "Do you like it well enough?"

"I told you already, whatever you want." Yuri let the door shut, surveying the furniture and promptly choosing to gracefully flop onto the nearest sofa with a small grunt of effort. He was still worn out from the events prior to arriving here - where here might be he still hadn't worked out, but it was a here, at least - and honestly, even the graveyard had appealed, as snowed-in as it had been, as a place to rest. Why did saving the world have to take so much out of you?

But the sofa was comfortable and much better than the hard floors he'd become accustomed to, and he closed his eyes, the Godslayer rather content for the time being. "If you like it, then it's perfect."

As Yuri fell back into the couch, Alice scanned the room, eyes eventually coming to rest on exactly what she'd been looking for. A thick afghan, sporting shades of autumn, was draped across a nearby chair, and she instantly grabbed it to drape it across her slender shoulders. That done, the next task would be to pluck the pins and untie the ribbon that had held a formerly prim, neat hair style in place. It wasn't the most pleasant of jobs, considering the fact that plucking hair pins out of cold, wet hair with similarly cold, wet fingers wasn't at all comfortable. She would've taken a seat, but it would be terrible to ruin any of the nice furniture with wet clothes.

Alice had to smile at Yuri's remark. She would've protested that his opinion was just as important, but the thought was shared. She'd really only picked a place at random. Sharing the graveyard would've been just as acceptable, if not realistic, provided that he would be there with her.

She wanted to talk, really she did, but Yuri looked so comfortable and weary. Alice was rather spent herself but doubted she'd be able to sleep any time soon.

"If you want to go to sleep, you could always take the bed. I... probably won't be able to get to sleep tonight anyhow," she offered, half of her wet hair hanging free now.

He chuckled - did he really look that tired? Yuri didn't mind either way, but if there was one thing he didn't like about the plan, it was Alice not sleeping. Forcing himself to sit forward, resting his hands on his knees, he watched her for a moment.

Hair down, huh? He tried to ignore the flashback of Roger's laboratory, and failed rather miserably. Coercing his mouth into a wry smile instead, he heaved a sigh both impatient and understanding. "You should rest though. And I can slum it, you take the bed."

Alice figured that nothing would come of arguing the point, much as she wished he wouldn't have to sleep on the couch or the floor... She imagined the couch would be a first choice. She smiled, maybe a little tiredly, at the concern but shook her head.

"I've got to- got to bathe first," Alice managed, reminding herself that she'd need to do a thorough search of the apartment to see if there were any clothes or robes to wear until she washed her usual garb. "And besides. I'm a little... I don't know. I'd grown a bit accustomed to... well, you know. It's strange for me." And perhaps a little frightening.

He didn't really know, but nodded anyway, leaning back once more. "Go ahead and do what you want then. I'll be here." It carried the unspoken weight of the words 'and I always will', the determination set in Yuri's face. He was glad she didn't contest his point, and besides, the place looked like it might have another bedroom, so it wasn't all that bad.

Not that he would have cared either way, of course. He was just- Relieved. He'd had to have done something right, if Alice was here. That was certainly something to be glad for.

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