However, this fic didn't get an R rating for nothing. There are two pairings, both of which involve Rune. The first should be obvious, and I warn you, Rune is going to suffer. I apologize up front to the Rune fans. Please, be warned, if you can't stomach rape and torture of your favorite character, I'd advise you avoid this one. I fix him later on with the second pairing, but you gotta break it before you can fix it, ne?
As to why the Hell I wrote it? Well, first off all, I blame it all on my dear friend Celleri. She talked me into it. (Kidding, C-chan.) It all started with an IM discussion about why on earth there is no yaoi in the PS fanbase, given the over-abundance of yaoi in every other fanbase, and the boundless opportunity presented by the game itself. In short, I took the job of writing this fic on a dare. To see if I could, and because, I'll admit, there's a healthy yaoi fangirl in me, although I don't usually write non-canon yaoi--ie, any yaoi other than Tomo angsting over Nakago (characters from the anime Fushigi Yuugi), because it's hard to write Tomo fanfiction that isn't yaoi. At any rate, here is the first angst-ridden chapter, have at, have fun, and flame away; that's half the reason I'm posting this here anyway.
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The stars glittered brightly in the heavens, their light casting the land below in a cool wash of silver. They glimmered in the cerulean depths of the hair of the man watching them, pain aching in pool-blue eyes. His handsome face upturned to the skies, Rune wrestled with his grief and, moreso, his guilt. It was a pretty speech he'd made to Chaz, but then, what did the boy have to feel guilty for, anyway? He'd done all he could, a stark contrast to a certain Esper.
I knew. I knew, Alys. The moment it happened, I knew. But I still didn't go to you. Why? Why was I cowering back in the Tower instead of fighting with you? Am I that much of a coward?
He raked a hand through his hair, already mussed from numerous such gestures, and gave a rueful smile to the night sky, the amusement not reaching his eyes before it faded and died.
Are you laughing at me now, Alys? Telling me to get off my backside and help when I'm needed? But you can't make me. Not anymore.
Rune turned his attention from the stars with a soft sigh of regret. "It's my fault," he told himself softly. "I should have been there, Psycho Wand or no. I could have gotten us away when things got worse. But I was too damned arrogant to fight with anyone but her."
She would have welcomed him, he knew. If he'd deigned to join her. And now it was too late.
Sorry, Alys. You'll never know how much. But I didn't join them before, when you were with them, and I'm not going to join them now. Teamwork just isn't my style. But I'm not going to let your death go unaccounted for.
Lifting the Psycho Wand in one hand, he gave it a practice swing; despite its power, it was no different than handling a staff, really. Its golden surface glimmered in the quicksilver radiance of the stars, all but shouting its power in a steady pulsing at Rune's touch.
This is all I need. I'm going to make him pay for your death, Alys. You won't be unavenged. I swear it.
Turning, he invoked Ryuka, calm as the world around him dissolved into the fields outside of Kadary. Determination burning in his eyes, he strode firmly towards Zio's fortress, a black etched shadow cut into the star-flecked horizon.
The dark walls soared high and unassailable as he approached. The air was heavy, oppressive, wind whipping his cloak behind him. Glaring up at the battlements, he raised his voice in a cry of challenge.
"Zio! I call you out, Zio! Face me!"
The man who appeared at the turrets was tall, with dark hair and a cold smile on his porcelain-pale face. The evil enveloping him swept over Rune's trained senses like some choking, noxious gas. The Esper did not acknowledge--would not allow himself to acknowledge--the strength of that power as Zio replied, his voice carrying over the distance.
"Another visitor? But at least you have the courtesy to come openly. For that, I'll grant you time to explain yourself before I destroy you."
Unflinching, Rune shouted back, "I'm Rune Walsh. I've come to avenge the death of Alys Brangwin, monster!"
The other man smirked. "There's nothing to avenge. The woman took the blow by her own choice. But if you wish to join her in the next world, I'll be more than happy to send you after her."
"Go ahead and try," Rune answered, throwing one hand into the air and calling upon his magic. "Flaeli!"
The bolt of fire descended, and Rune watched as it struck and simply disappeared inches from Zio's head. Nodding grimly to himself at the affirmation of the barrier, the Esper raised the Psycho Wand to dispel it.
"I gave you first cast, as my guest," came the voice from above, distracting him. "I believe it's my turn now.
"Corrosion!"
Rune's eyes widened as he hastily tried to raise a shield, then he cried out, struck by the spell. Gritting his teeth, he firmed his stance, glaring at his opponent as he again focused the power of the artifact he bore.
Zio vanished.
Rune hissed a curse, head jerking up as he searched the walls for the older man. Suddenly, black gloved hands reached from behind him, seizing the Psycho Wand and twisting it parallel to the ground, jerking it back hard into his throat. Choking for breath, he felt Zio's smile as he was pressed against the man's chest, the golden staff cutting off his air and sending dull flashes through his vision. Sharply aware of the breath at his neck, he growled angrily, hands shoving against the Psycho Wand, an action which only pushed him further into his opponent's arms.
Then Zio bent his head close and, for a heartbeat, Rune felt him gathering power before the voice whispered in his ear.
"Hewn."
Rune froze, stunned, then staggered as Zio shoved him forward, the wind spell lashing at him viscously before throwing him to the ground. Gasping in pain and too shocked to concentrate enough to perform a healing spell, he managed to turn to the side as Zio calmly approached his prone, sorely injured body. "Hewn," he choked out, panting. "That's--Esper magic... How did you--?"
His opponent knelt, that same mocking smile playing at his lips, and Rune saw the confirmation in his jet black eyes.
"You--Esper?!"
And if Zio gave an answer, the reply was unheard as everything went black.
-
"He's gone after Zio," Rika said quietly when a search failed to find the missing Esper.
"He--after Zio?" Chaz's voice sounded numb even to his own ears.
"The Psycho Wand is gone, too," Hahn said quietly, his eyes dark and solemn as he entered the room.
Chaz cursed softly. Rune, you stupid, arrogant--!
"What are we waiting for, then?" Gryz demanded. "He'll need our help!"
The young man shook his head. "We can't. Not without the Psycho Wand." The words felt tight and strained in his dry throat.
"We can't just sit here cooling our heels!" the Motavian argued. "What if Rune dies because we aren't there?"
"He'll be fine," Chaz snapped, trying to ignore the growing lump of sickened fear in his heart. "He has to be. We've all seen how powerful he is, right?"
Gryz's reddening eyes narrowed and his response was quiet and harsh. "Yes. But we've seen how powerful Zio is, too."
The blond opened his mouth to reply, and found himself without ready answer. He looked away, hesitating, unsure. Maybe we should go...
"Chaz is right," Demi said softly. "We cannot fight Zio without Rune. We are not strong enough yet, even if we did have the Psycho Wand. And there is no way to know whether or not Rune might have escaped on his own."
Chaz shot the android a grateful look and squared his shoulders, looking back up at the Motavian. "It's settled. We wait, at least for a few days." He drew a deep breath, trying to banish his misgivings. "If he's not back yet, then we'll--we'll see."
Rune... You stupid jerk. Please be all right.
-
The distant, throbbing pain resolved itself into clarity as Rune felt someone grab his hair in a clenched hand and lift his head. The Esper opened his eyes, blinking to clear his blurred vision and stared at the sable eyes looking down at him. "Awake now," Zio said quietly, his face impassive. "Good. An offering is best made with the sacrifice conscious."
Anger flared with pain as Rune shifted, noticing the shackles locked around his wrists and ankles. Ruthlessly throttling back a pained groan, he glared at the man in stubborn, haughty silence, mentally assessing his situation.
"Defiance. And strength. Fortunate for you; you'll need them both." The lack of emotion in him was unsettling, something Rune was trying not to think about. Without loosing his grip in his captive's hair, Zio pulled a flask of Dimate from his cape and pushed it under the startled man's face.
Rune gave a low hiss as he felt the healing vapors take effect, and stared up at the older man in masked confusion.
"The first sacrifice requires that you be in good health," Zio said calmly.
"First sacrifice?" Rune asked with stinging sarcasm. "I'm to serve as more than one?"
Zio gave him a dark smile in answer, not the most comforting of replies. "Many more than one. I'm not going to kill you, Esper. Not yet." Still smiling, an expression that didn't reach his eyes, Zio leaned closer, pushing Rune's head against the wall.
"Rage," he said softly, a light of intensity smoldering in his crimson eyes. "Fear. Sorrow. Suffering. They're all excellent offerings to Dark Force. But they're not the only ones. They're only a handful."
His fixed gaze unwavering, Zio continued, his gloved hand rising to pull free the chain of Rune's cape, letting the white fabric slide abandoned to the floor. "Hatred. Despair. Helplessness. Vengefulness. Shame. Lust. Jealousy." He raised a hand, white circles spreading out from it as he invoked Rimit, and Rune felt his strength seep away. He fell limp in exhaustion, and the older man released him, cool and utterly detached.
"Why would I kill you when I can do so much worse while you're still alive?"
Gritting his teeth, Rune forced out his words. "What the Hell are you babbling about, Zio?!"
He felt the unseen smile. "You'll know soon, Rune Walsh. Very soon."
-
Rune lay limply on the bed, too drained to waste his strength with words, glaring at his captor suspiciously. Zio had discarded the ebon armor shoulder-plates and, with them, his flowing cape of black and red. As Rune watched, he peeled away his shirt, dropping it neatly in a chair by the window, the glove still on his right hand. Likewise removing his boots, he approached the bed, an impassive expression on his face.
The Esper's eyes widened, a stab of cold apprehension slamming into his gut as, moving with calm unhurried purpose, Zio drew a dagger that looked definitely ceremonial, and not at all pleasant. Sitting down on the side of the bed, he slowly drew the blade down the front of Rune's shirt, slashing it open, pulling it away, and dropping it to the floor. Next, he lifted Rune's ponytail and, with a deft slice, cut the tie, loosing a spill of pale blue hair over the Esper's shoulder.
With his gloved hand, he tilted up Rune's chin. The sense of darkness was so thick, so palpable, that the physical contact almost burned. Rune jerked, trying to shy away, feeling desperation begin to sheet through him, raw and ragged. Zio gave him the slightest of smiles, simultaneously capturing his chin in that tainted hand and threading a grip through his hair, the flat of the dagger pressed against his jaw, the tip pricking his neck.
"Tell me, Esper," he began, almost conversationally, "have you ever known the touch of another?"
Rune felt his heart begin to pound against his ribcage as, again, he thrashed weakly against the hold, a curse slipping through numbed lips. The smile widened as Zio lifted himself up, straddling his captive in a single smooth motion.
"Good," he said as leaned closer, ebon gaze hypnotizing, intense. "Then your innocence will be the first sacrifice to my god."
Then his lips were on Rune's, cold, ruthless, the hand at his chin clawing fiercely downward. Stomach roiling, the younger man turned his head to the side, and the light of the setting sun assailed his eyes. He fought. Oh, he fought, with all strength he could wring from his enspelled body.
But the pain came, with his wrists pinned against the mattress, his fists clenched in the sheets, his back arching up as he loosed a hoarse cry of pain. It stabbed--again, and again, and again, not ceasing until long after he could no longer see the light.
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To be continued, obviously; I'm not evil enough to end it there. There's a lot more that has to happen yet. More chapters soon to come! ^__^ Oh, and I know the title is completely and utterly lame and cliché and an understatement. When I come up with something better I'll let you guys know.