Title: Nor Shall Thou Defy Me Further
Continuity: Marvel G2
Characters: Jhiaxus, Rook
Rating: PG
Genre: Angst
Warnings: Songfic. Violence.
Word Count: 300+
Summary: Jhiaxus is not the cold, collected figure he appears to be, as Rook discovers in dents and blows.
Now truly I am king of the world
Master of fate
Damned shall thy house be
Thou shall not question my power
Nor shall thou defy me further
- "The Steadfast" by Blind Guardian
Jhiaxus stood, battle-mad, over the corpse of his rival. In his mind, the rival yet lived, mocking and malicious. Jhiaxus could still see that sneer, realer than the pain of the death mask. He tore into the corpse, fingers rending metal. Circuitry and wires flew, confetti, a celebration. The warlord had started splattered, but now a rain of hydraulic fluid drenched him, and even that deluge did not quench his thirst. His opponent lived, even as he broke his struts. He lived in glory lost, in humiliation undying. He lived in Jhiaxus's own mind to forever taunt him.
Something feeble and faint intruded. Jhiaxus pushed it away, kicking the shreds of his enemy. Was the bitter taste in his mouth loss or just leaked fuel, his own and his foe's entwined?
Again, the sound invaded, like oil sliding across water. It wormed its way inside his head and infiltrated his defences. Jhiaxus shook, uncertain. Shrapnel driven in deep into his armour by his maiming spree prickled and tickled.
"He's dead, sir. He's dead," Rook insisted, voice faint and reedy.
Jhiaxus stared at his aide if he were a stranger, unknown and unknowable.
Rook was clearly terrified. He wrung his hands and looked almost as apt to remove his own fingers from the wringing as Jhiaxus had severed those of his rival. He repeated, "Sir? Please. Come to the medical ward, sir."
Jhiaxus struck Rook. The car was nearly severed in twain by the force of the blow. He looked up at Jhiaxus, pleading and pitying, "It is over, sir."
Jhiaxus flew, aghast at what he had done. The medics would find Rook, faithful Rook. No, it was never over. His rival, crude and uncouth, was alive. No matter how many monsters Jhiaxus killed, they all would live. The monsters were inside him, and they slipped their surly bonds so easily. Perhaps next time he would kill Rook. Perhaps not even his aide's death would snap him to his senses. Then Jhiaxus would die along with his veneer of civilisation, and the abominations he kept chained inside would reign.
The End
Author's Note: Jhiaxus was an interesting figure in Marvel G2. He tried to be an emotionless, civilised figure of ruthless logic, but deep down inside, he was more angry, violent, and barbaric than most. This is an old fanfic of mine, written 2006-09-18, and mostly just tossed up here to collect my fanfics in one place.