Disclaimer: Toei's, not mine
Notes: This is my attempt to take a character to a dark place without making him unrecognizable. Domon X Sion, some Yuuri X Tatsuya
--
It had taken awhile, but Sion felt like he could relax again.
The worst part had been, without doubt, leaving Tatsuya. The pain was still fresh for all of them when they returned to a century where they had no idea what was waiting for them. And after their last meeting with Ryuuta, they had all been expecting the worst from the Time Bureau.
Except the worst never happened-- something Sion was almost positive had to with the fact that Tekku had irrefutable evidence of Captain Ryuuta's betrayal, but he had decided to keep quiet about that. Instead of becoming one more scandal in the mess that was currently the Time Bureau, they were quietly discharged. Ayase took the cure for his disease (and if there was one good thing about having to come back to the thirtieth century, that was it) and went back to pro racing, Yuuri returned to the police and the last time Sion saw her, seemed to be getting along just fine with her family. And as for Domon...
--
He remembered seeing him on his
doorstep, giving his best attempt at a smile. "You and Tekku seem
to be doing pretty well for yourselves." It took a few
seconds to shake off the shock. "Domon-san? But I thought you had a
match--" "Yeah, about that." He scratched his head,
which by now Sion knew he did whenever he was troubled but didn't
want anyone else to know it. "I got bored, so I thought I'd
retire. Let someone else have a shot at the championship for once,
you know?" "Domon-san..." He played with the
frayed edges of his wool cap (one of the few things they had been
allowed to take with them from the Bureau), any attempts to not look
completely miserable forgotten. "So, I was thinking, well, more
like hoping that... maybe... I could stay with you guys for awhile,
if that's okay."
--
Of course he let him stay. It was Domon, after all. And even though he visited him after matches, there were times he missed him so much that it was hard to breathe. He just wished he knew why Domon had given up the life he loved so much... but he knew better than to ask. While Domon was acting more like his old self now than the unhappy being that had greeted him on his doorstep, there were still times when he would, and it was the only way he could think of to describe it properly, shut himself off from the world. Best to let Domon say it himself than to try to drag it out of him.
So they simply continued to live their lives quietly together. Their home was near a beach that wasn't the one where he met Tachibana, but it still reminded him of the place he had come to think of as his home. He did repair jobs for the neighbors, while Domon taught a self-defense class. It wasn't perfect. Perfect would be the four of them together with Tatsuya again. But he was content with what he did have, and he was starting to think Domon was as well.
"I'm home." Strange, it was Domon's day off but the door was locked... he was probably getting groceries for the week, and this was about when Tekku went through his rest cycle. After reminding himself that an ex-Time Cadet didn't have to be on guard every waking moment, Sion typed in the combination and went inside.
... There had been a struggle. That much was obvious. But what he couldn't tell from the strewn furniture and broken windows was what had happened to Domon or--
"Tekku!" The navigator robot was on the floor, deactivated. He stumbled over to his side, making repairs as fast as his fingers would allow. Please, please be all right. To his relief, the metal eyelids fluttered open.
"Sion... thank goodness you're safe..."
He cradled the robot a little closer. "What happened? Is Domon-san okay?"
Tekku closed his eyes again, a definite sign that Sion's last minute fix hadn't been enough, and that he'd require more extensive repairs before he could function properly. "Table..." Having used up the last of his reserve power, Tekku shut off again.
Still holding the owl in his arms, Sion made his way to the table... which, now that he noticed, was the one thing in their house that hadn't been torn apart. Sure enough, there was a holo-disc resting there, gleaming dully in the afternoon light.
Acting more on habit than anything else, Sion pressed the display button with his free hand. A thin, middle-aged man with no distinctive features appeared.
"Hello, Sion. I wish I could see you again in person, but this will have to do for now."
No... not again...
"I've been told you've done quite well since you ran away. Believe me, no one is prouder of you than myself and everyone else here at the lab, but... Sion, it's time you came home."
His grip on Tekku tightened as he tried to keep his balance. No. No. There was no way he would ever--
"However, I know I most likely would not be able to convince you by myself. Therefore, I brought along someone who may be able to make the idea of returning more agreeable."
The camera swung violently to the left. Domon was there, bruised and bleeding, but still holding his own against the guards who had him by the arms.
"Sion, whatever you do, don't--"
The camera was back on the scientist, so he only heard the metal striking against flesh. "I do hate having to resort to such barbaric measures, but your safety is our priority. Make no mistake Sion, this man's life is nothing compared to yours as far as we're concerned."
His lips twisted upwards into a sick excuse of a smile. "But I suppose what really matters is what his life means to you, doesn't it?"
The disc shut off automatically as the message finished playing. Sion was only vaguely aware of shattered glass digging into his knees as he sank to the floor. He... he had thought he was finally free, but they were back... and they had taken Domon...
They had taken Domon.
He forced himself up and began repairing Tekku. The anger was burning steadily, giving him the strength he would need. He had been a Timeranger. He had helped save two centuries. They were not taking away everything, everyone he had worked for.
He was going to get Domon back.
