Clu hated the Games anymore. Hated having to watch his people killing each other, and no one caring about so much death. It hurt him inside, and he always felt sick afterward. As soon as he could, he ran from the sky box, his cape fluttering behind him. Not that anyone would care, the event was over. He could leave.
But he also wanted to be alone. He didn't really know where he was going, but he ducked into a dimly lit room and shut the door behind him. They wouldn't search for him for a while he knew.
A sound made him freeze where he stood. He was not alone in here.
"H-Hello?" He called softly into the near darkness.
The enforcer's broken purr was the only sound in the room, something he couldn't stifle or hide, constantly rattling in his chest. He'd just come from the games himself, though of course he'd been on the other side, the architect of the death Clu was so hesitant to witness. Not that he had any choice. Rinzler rose fluidly to his feet, unsure why Clu was there but bowing slightly to the admin anyway, his posture cowed. His body was shaking slightly, though, just barely noticeable in the dark. It wasn't often anyone so much as touched Rinzler in the games; he was far more skilled than any of the strays and nobodies the Occupation threw at him for execution. But this time they'd tossed in a captured member of the resistance, and something about them had made Rinzler hesitate. A flicker of recognition, maybe, and it was just enough for them to land a blow before Rinzler derezzed them, too. He was injured, but even after the match was over they never healed him - just left him to figure it out.
[Trimmed]
Rinzler slept soundly, untroubled by nightmares or really any dreams at all. When he woke, it seemed like Clu was still asleep, and he didn't want to wake him - so he stayed still, keeping his purr low.
Perhaps he'd do some training this cycle. Or spend it with Clu... or perhaps they'd finally put their plans into motion.
It didn't take much longer for Clu to wake up. His eyelids fluttered open and he smiled when he saw Ringer.
"Good morning, my love." He said softly.
Rinzler let out a pleased little purr, kissing the stubble on Clu's jaw.
He gave a soft hum of his own, kissing whatever part of Rinzler's face he could.
"Would you like some energy this morning? I would." He ran his fingers through Rinzler's hair.
"Yes." Rinzler whispered, though he showed no signs of letting Clu up.
".........Okay, who's going to go and get it, then?" He asked with a laugh, "Not that I'm complaining at all. I love just holding you, Rinz."
Rinzler snuggled a little closer for a moment before finally electing to get up, giving Clu room before gracefully sliding off the bed, his touch lingering on Clu's shoulder before he moved away to grab them both some energy.
He smiled to himself as he waited for Rinzler to come back.
"Thank you, love......So, what shall we do this day?"
Rinzler handed him his glass of energy, a pensive sound leaving him. "Will Tesler tell us when it's... time?" To attack, to take back the Grid.
"Time? Is he supposed to tell us something? I don't remember asking him to."
"He has to gather forces... to attack." Rinzler pointed out; they couldn't walk up to the admin tower alone to take out Pavel.
Well, if it was just Pavel himself, they probably could. But being the coward he was, he would likely have an army to hide behind like he tried to do when the Argon mechanics stood up to him (and according to Beck AND Tesler, he ran away with a comically high-pitched scream. From then on, it was either Paige or Tesler himself who brought things in for them to work on. Which was fine, these two were better customers and Tesler sometimes gave small tips in the form of energy.)
"Right......You're right......but, uh.......I think WE were supposed to tell HIM when we were ready to do it."
"... I'm ready." Rinzler said softly; he didn't see the point in waiting. "Are you?"
Clu didn't need to think about it long. They had been preparing for this for a while now, there wasn't much more they could do. And waiting would only give Pavel more time to hurt, kill, or repurpose more people. Exactly what they didn't want. No, the sooner they struck, the better.
"I am," he nodded and gave a soft smile to Rinzler.
"Come on. Let's go tell Tes."
Rinzler nodded, and together they set out to tell Tesler and gather their forces. It should have been intimidating, frightening, but Rinzler wasn't afraid. This would be easy, considering everything else they'd faced. Pavel couldn't touch them together, and soon Clu would have his proper place as Admin again.
They sent their message to Tesler, then began their final preparations. This would be the last time they left the house as it was. If they were successful, they would return with Clu in his rightful place. If they weren't, well, they wouldn't be returning at all.
Rinzler seemed to catch that hesitation, that... moment of almost nostalgia for something that might soon be gone. He touched Clu's shoulder, a silent question or bit of comfort.
"Let's go, Rinz." He said as he pulled out his light jet baton.
"You want to ride with me or separate?"
"With you." Rinzler said softly, rezzing his helmet.
He smiled and gave his helmet a soft kiss as he rented up the jet and let Rinzler climb on. Then they shot into the air, circled once for altitude, then, knowing Tesler and his forces were already on their way there, took off for Tron City.
Rinzler smiled behind his helmet and climbed on with his love, pressed against Clu's back as they flew, but also keeping a lookout.
They caught sight of Tesler and his full force.....and a few Resistance groups....barreling toward the heart of the Occupation. And beside the general, on his own military lightcycle (the whole group had chosen lightcycles for the advantage of speed) was Beck in his white Tron suit. Both of them flashed lights when the gold jet swooped low over the group, as if it were leading them on toward their destination.
And soon, they could see the Admin Tower, stabbing up at the sky.
Behind them, Tesler must've issued a command, because Clu could hear entire flights of jets forming up, getting into combat positions, and if he looked hard enough, he could see the lightless forms of the stealth pilots leading them on. Tesler's plan, it seemed, was to hide some of their number in the sky until it was time to attack.
Rinzler stayed by Clu's side, determined not to leave him or lose him. They would not be separated this time, and he would not allow Clu to be harmed.
As opposed to their organized forces, Pavel's could only be described as ragtag. It was obvious they would win, though he wouldn't call it easy.
"We'll take care of these null units," Tesler said over the comms, "You two go for the Tower. You'll have aerial backup, plus the Resistance fighters hidden in Tron City. There's more of them than you think."
"Thank you," Clu said back, "For everything."
"See you on the other side, old friend!" Tes called. Then he and his forces met the enemy head on.
Clu and Rinzler didn't get to see much of the fight as they shot over it, on toward the Admin Tower. Where they hoped Pavel shook in fear at seeing them coming for him. Energy crackled in the air around Clu, his power seeming to radiate off him, and one could almost swear his eyes were glowing a fiery gold. The Occupation's key asset was now its most dangerous enemy. An enemy that did not intend to lose.
They landed together on the tower, and as Rinzler derezzed his jet he took a moment to simply admire his lover; it stirred something in him to see him confident in himself and his power, as he should be. That confidence shone in his eyes, and Rinzler couldn't help a little smile as he nodded toward the entrance.
Clu gave him one back before a wave of his hand slammed the doors (which had been locked) open, a wind from seemingly nowhere blowing his robes and cape around. Yet the programs inside, while understandably surprised, could tell he wasn't after them. Civilians and non-soldiers let them pass easily. They shared a knowing look when they met Pavel's first defense and drew their discs.
Rinzler stepped ahead as they encountered resistance, drawing both his discs and igniting the edges. Pavel's sentries weren't much of a challenge; Rinzler derezzed them without hesitation, moving through his usual acrobatics with little effort. Clu didn't even have to lift a finger, but the elite Black Guard they encountered next were not so easy. It was possible some of these programs were trained by Rinzler himself, in another life. They weren't pushovers, though he did not fear them, either.
Clu didn't back off from them either. True, he had a more defensive style, but it was still quite effective. Besides, he wasn't going to let Rinzler face them alone. They were in this together now. He held off on the last guard after they had disarmed him.
"Tell me where Pavel is," Clu hissed, "and I won't let you be derezzed."
"You should answer, program." Rinzler added warningly in his broken growl.
