Jiren leaned against the wall of the meeting hall, letting the air cycle through his lungs. He had been working with ODMA for so long, he had almost forgotten what simplicity felt like. For the first time in years, he had a specific target. No longer would he have to scream of justice into the void, or try to push for progress in the face of some endless war. Perhaps it would be like the old days. Though there had never been ‘good days', and he could never have seen it at the time, the years he had spent with the Pride Warriors felt somehow... Homely. In spite of all the struggles and hardships, and in the face of impossible odds, having someone to guard his flank always filled him with a sense of warmth and purpose. Not that he had ever needed protection – not since he was a boy- the Team seemed willing to die for him anyway. Maybe he had been wrong about it all. Maybe he should have stayed in his own world and tried to find a place there. He vanquished such thoughts with the bow of his head. No. Those days were gone. Every moment he spent thinking of yesterday was a moment wasted. There were more important issues at hand.
Gods.
Toppo wished for a time when. He didn’t have to think about such beings. It was strange to think that a few decades ago he would have scoffed at the idea of a higher power. The forces of nature would never bend to save men. There was only him. There were only the Pride Warriors. That was the first lessons Jiren had taught him. It would prove to be the first of many. When the oppressed and downtrodden looked up to the stars, the Pride Warriors would be there. The would be the force of nature they begged for, ready to break the chains of fear in a series of swift strikes. Liberty. Freedom. Justice. This was the creed be had once believed in. The creed that had given him the power the lead his family through the darkest nights and bring them together in the brightest days... The days before the Gods. The days before their corruption, their interference and sin were some of the sweetest he could remember. But memories were all they were. He could have smiled at the thought of the simpler times, but he lacked the will. He had a job to do. The both did. They had Gods to kills.
And if there was one thing the world needed less of, it was Gods.
Toppo caught the eye of his old friend from across the meeting hall, only for his gaze to be dodged by Jiren. He had recognised him- there was no denying that- but it was as of he couldn’t bring himself to look him in the face. Lost in the blackness of Jiren's eyes, Toppo was filled with one dark thought forced its way into the centre of his mind; the idea that connection they had once shared was now long gone. Jiren was a changed man, reborn in the fires of his last great battle. The heat of passion and fury that had once burned so brightly within him had been replaced with an unnerving stillness. He had abandoned the traditional red jumpsuit he and Toppo had once shared, and was now clad in the threads of his new allegiance: a grey cloak branded with the crest of the OMDA.
“I see you're sporting the team's colours, Jiren”
He masked his worry beneath his flowing moustache, the ends teased between his fingers
“Its... Been a long time”
“Not long enough. What brings you here?”
Jiren snapped, his gaze fixed firmly on the floors of the meeting room, his stare not breaking. Toppo was taken back by the frost reception, but by no means was he surprised. He had let his friend down one too many times to still call him brother... At least out loud. He felt a stone move deep within him, tipping the ball from his playing field. In spite of his growing strength, he felt increasingly powerless with every passing moment, as if Jiren's stoic soul was draining his spirits dry.
“Every since you left after the Tournament... I've been searching... I’ve seen the multiverse, from Earth to Ash. I had experiences valuable to the OMDA. They offered me a place with them. And when they told me you had been fighting with them for years I—”
“Should have said no. You shouldn’t have left Universe 11”
“I couldn’t stay there, Jiren. You know that...”
He released a breath of built up burden
“After... What happened...if I had stayed...”
“--Then you would have had to accept your fate- Your punishment. Where is your Pride, Toppo?”
Toppo felt his patience slip
“Where it always has been! I did what I had to do to protect my world, as did you! You can’t run from yourself forever, friend...”
“And you can?” His words remained still “You can run across the multiverse trying to find me, all to hide from your duties as...a Destruction God”
Had he not known better, Toppo could have mistaken Jiren's tone for disgust.
“I never wanted to hurt people, Jiren. I dont want to have to destroy the just. I came out here because... If we can kill one God...”
“No” His eyes snapped shut and his body grew tense. Now Jiren was the one growing weary with their... Debate “I won’t turn my back on Belmond. He’s a Destroyer. But he’s no better than you...”
“For what its worth... Warrior, I'm so—”
“No more. We won’t talk of it now. We have work to do”
As Jiren strode from the hall in search of space, Toppo willed himself to follow. He had travelled to Ash and back to find Jiren, and he wasn’t going to let him leave without saying his peace. But maybe Jiren was right... There was much work to be done before they could have the space to make peace.
“Brother...” Toppo breathed to himself “I didn’t think it would end up like this... Even after all these years... I had hoped for something... Different”
---
“'Big' doesn't cover it”
Jiren muttered in an empty voice, looming over the buffet table like a spectre. He wasn’t hungry. He was never hungry. He simply wished to keep an eye on the men he would soon be fighting beside... Or behind, as the case may be. For the most part, he doubted his interference would be required for a majority if the mission. He was more of a deterrent than a soldier any day of the week. Or at least, that was what his pride seemed to whisper in his ear.
“Eat well. There might be some time before you'll have the chance to eat agai-“
“Please, excuse my friend here. Jiren never was the... social type. My name is Toppo”
The alien outstretched an enormous gloved hand to Ben “The Hero of Freedom is at tour service, young man”
@Jeremi @Alex Azure @Crow
