Of The Bonds That Bind
Abby Ebon
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Disclaimer: I do not own DNAngel or X-Men. Nice Try.
Summary: At the age of fourteen, Daisuke Niwa learned from the X-Men what he was – a mutant. But, his powers manifested at the age of seven, not in his teens, forcing him on the streets of Japan at a young age, having been trained as a thief all his life, he put those skills to use to survive.
His mutant ability is hardly normal either, he puts an entirely different swing on the phrase "split personality" because – his mutant ability has a personality all 'his' own, and when Daisuke is in danger – Dark emerges from his own body, changing it to Dark's 'own' to protect him; otherwise Dark is a rather talkative 'mental voice'. Daisuke doesn't remember much about his life before the X-Men, except for the boy he dreams of.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
: Dark's Thoughts to Daisuke:
-Daisuke's Thoughts-
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Alone…Or Not…
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
-I don't want to die…- The seven year watched, wide eyed, as his mother had approached him with a butcher knife. Unnoticed to the little boy whose eyes were only for the knife, tears were falling from her eyes - down her cheeks. It was early morning, and she hadn't yet put on her makeup, her face was pale – and the grip on the butcher knife clammy.
"D-Daisuke, baby, I'm so sorry…" She whispered – her eyes were not on him, but on the two red wings that had sprouted from his back this morning. She had screamed at the sight of them, calling for his father calling in on of those "mutant freaks".
It was his father who had told her to get the knife. It was his father who had sat down on Daisuke's cot in the chilled basement, had hugged him awkwardly, then sat him in his lap and told him that everything would be alright, that they'd get rid of the wings – then Daisuke wouldn't be taken away or experimented on in a lab.
Daisuke hadn't understood how they'd "get rid of the wings" until his mother had came down the stairs – and he had seen the glint of silver from the butcher knife.
His father had acted swiftly, holding him down on his stomach caught between his father, and the cot, Daisuke's wings and feathers held aloft in his powerful hands.
His father's hands that he had trusted, for just yesterday they had been used to throw and catch him in the air, for Daisuke had always loved to feel like he was flying. He couldn't understand why his mother and father were not happy for him – why they could not see his delight in the newly grown wings.
Instead of delighted, they were horrified, seeking to cut them from Daisuke.
"Mommy?" The boy whispered, and his mothers step faltered, and then her eyes again went to the red wings and her grip on the knife tightened, her resolve hardening.
"Just do it!" His father hissed at her, the little boys heart fluttered like the wings of a caged bird.
He felt his heart pulse aloud in his ears- once, twice...and felt heat flooding him. It was overwhelming, overpowering, heat- not just warmth.
: It'll be alright kid, I promise you. : A voice that wasn't his own- yet came from within him- spoke, but not aloud; for although he heard it- it wasn't with his ears… It was the last thing he remembered...
Then there was darkness...
When Daisuke awoke, it was another morning. In an alley, off the main road somewhere in the city (he wasn't allowed to go to alone). He didn't remember getting away from his parents, and he didn't even remember where he was.
The innocent eyes of a seven year old, called Daisuke - stared at his hands through his newly forming tears. His hands were small and already grimy with dirt - even though it was still morning.
His mom hadn't let him wash his hands…
And now he was alone on the streets...
He was seven years old today, and out on the streets. Red hair fell over his expressive eyes, and the little boy wrapped his arms around his knees, and cried for the loss of everything he had ever known.
: There, there, it'll be alright. I am Dark, a part of yourself, and I will protect you. :
It was that voice again! The little boy thought suddenly looking nervous, as that voice - Dark, was who he suspected had made the wings – and then made his mother and father hate him!
The child looked around, nervous, and from within his own mind the voice chuckled - in an amused sort of way, and the boy gulped.
: Oh Red, I could never hurt you…: Dark 'whispered' in his mind, almost sadly.
"My name isn't Red!" The little boy shouted aloud at the voice called Dark, as he was alone, and no one was there who would think strangely of him. He didn't care if they did anyway…it didn't matter anymore.
: I know that it isn't your name, but it's what I'm going to call you from now on. Don't think things like that, it does matter that you think your alone, your not, I will always be with you… and you matter to me : Dark 'said' sounding final. The little boy accepted this new name, though he wasn't happy about it.
: Now, to find food.: Dark 'murmured softly', and the boy felt the heat return – and the darkness fell over him again, holding and nurturing him in the shadows of his own mind.
Where there had once sat a boy of seven sat a suddenly older boy, of perhaps ten. Where the boy-child had been scarlet haired and ruby eyed, this one was darker as well as older.
He had darker, purple, hair, and royal purple eyes.
Dark, now fully formed and changed, smirked at nothing in particular, stood, and proceeded to do what he did best – which was, of course, to steal. For though Daisuke did not know it, the 'traps' and 'games' he had played with his parents had been training for becoming a thief.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Seven Years Later,
Daisuke -14, Dark - 17
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Dark's eyes opened, only to see the darkness of the night and the shadows of the branches of his favorite tree on the campus of Xavier's Institute for the Gifted, stretched out above him. The branches he laid on cradled his body, and he glanced around suspiciously to see what had awoken him. Daisuke stirred, 'awakening' and using Dark's eyes to see what was going on.
-Dark, what is it? - Daisuke asked of him, Dark sighed and sat up, his eyes trailing to the yard. The pool – not far off, slid closed, and Dark chuckled.
"Seems the X-Men have returned, hopefully with the new mutant they'd gone out to find. Let's go greet them, eh, Daisuke?" Dark spoke aloud, sliding down the tree, stretching like a cat to hear his back pop, then set out across the yard, going from shadow to shadow, unnoticed by the cameras and sensors – Dark would have to remind Xavier to update them – again.
He slid open the window in the kitchen, sneaking into the mansion. Technically, Dark was not allowed to leave his room at night – officially he had told Xavier, Jean Grey and Scott to "suck eggs".
If he wanted to sleep in a proper park-like tree instead of a bed that had him feeling as vulnerable as a babe, and gave Daisuke nightmares for obvious reasons, then Dark would do exactly that. Rules be damned, besides – as of yet they'd not been able to find a mutant able to grow a tree in his room for him. Not that Xavier would 'allow' that either…
Just like he didn't 'allow' the students into the lower levels of the school, for it was for the "X-Men", their teachers.
Dark had never been keen on rules, something his mentor, Remy, or Gambit as he was called by his fellow X-Men, had understood. Being a thief himself, Remy had encouraged Dark's curiosity and explorations; when, once, Dark had been caught, Remy had sweet talked the others into believing him when he said it was for Dark's sake that the thieving skills not fade.
Remy had disappeared though, and Dark had been alone for a year…
Dark shook off his thoughts, walking down the lower levels without fear of discovery. H was, as Dark, soundless and as graceful as a cat. He spotted Jean crossing the hall up ahead, and quickly sped soundlessly after – keeping his mind blank, and not too worried for discovery with Daisuke.
Jean had long ago confessed that of the two of them, she only sensed the one who currently controlled their body. The other fading to background 'noise', Dark wasn't sure how he felt about this – but Daisuke and he could always come back, and no one had ever been stuck in the 'background' too much.
"Hey, Professor, how are things going tonight?" Dark asked smoothly stepping foreword into her medical ward, a fleeting smile crossed Jean's lips, and she glanced at him, then back to the man stripped and strapped to the steel medical bed.
"Fine Dark, you have class in the morning." Jean made no other mention of his midnight wanderings. Dark looked down to the wild looking man on the bed, a stranger, Dark tilted his head, taking in his appearance – he was muscular, could have been a wrestler, for he seemed the type to fight.
He had a haggard look about him, he didn't take very good care of himself – his hair was uncut, he was dirty, and smelled of booze and cigarette smoke. He could see Jean was trying not to breathe it in too much – she hated cigarettes, something about the "mental taste" of a persons mind when they'd been smoking and drinking.
Despite that – Dark's eyes scanned the papers on him, dismissing the medical jargon that Jean put on to annoy him (because he firmly believed he was the only one to sneak into her lab and read it) but Jean never told him he couldn't read others files, only warned him about not specking about it to others. And who'd he care to tell?
He was rather baffled that although the man smelled of drink and cigarettes there were no signs of them in his body, he looked from the files to the man – and then to Jean, his eyebrow raising.
"If this is your bed-side manner, it's a wonder Scott doesn't have to fight off the men left and right." Dark leered teasingly – his female teachers and fellow students had quickly grown to adore him, and he teased and flirted to drive the male students and teachers to glaring at him. It was fun – and harmless, because Dark did not care to be in a relationship, and everyone had learned that Daisuke was innocent in that regard – he was everyone's little brother.
Nevertheless, Jean blushed, even as she rolled her eyes.
"The straps are for his own safety, he struggles in his sleep." Jean explained even as Dark's eyes went to the x-rays – he understood them well enough, this man by all rights should have been dead twice over – once for the metal in his body, and twice for his age. He looked young – anywhere from mid-twenties to thirties, in truth, his age was impossible to know because his bones were metal, and his body had healed all injures.
"Was he the only one you brought in?" Dark asked, leaning against the wall as he watched Jean work- she paused, and bit her lip, thinking.
"No, actually, we also brought in a girl who was with him; would you like to meet her?" Jean inquired softly; setting down her clipboard, Dark shrugged – and Jean smirked. She knew Dark couldn't help but be curious of a new student – such information usually got him into trouble – or made to be 'useful' for the professors.
"Sure, I guess." Dark answered softly, and Jean smiled at him – it was a beautiful smile, and Dark knew he'd been played.
"I'll tell Xavier you're on your way." Jean told him, shooing him out of the lower levels of the school, her presence in his mind a feather-weight as she guided him to Xavier.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
AbeoUmbra's Thoughts…
Well, shit.
If you read this before September of '07, you'll likely remember why I'd need a cussword.
I'm impressed with the fact that people have 'flocked' to the idea so readily. Well, if so many people like it, and have reviewed for it, I suppose I'd best make a good example for other people who embark in writing an X-Men/DNAngel crossover. There will be others, count on it.
Truthfully, I can say that this won't be an epic story, I rarely write something over fifteen chapters, so don't expect it – when I end it, and it will, eventually, be ended, it'll likely end with a 'good feeling'. Now, if you aren't familiar with the X-Men Comics, you'll at least be familiar with the movies – or so I hope; if not, I'm not explaining too much as I go along, so do research it on your own.
Plan is thus; this follows the X-Men movies, since it 'starts' with the first movie, but from a side-point-of-view. The first five chapters will be focused on Dark and Rogue, who develop a budding friendship, with Daisuke playing the 'cute, caring little brother role' and Dark a 'protective, big brother' role.
Bobby "Ice Man" Drake is going to be teased, mocked, and generally dismissed as too 'lowly' for big-sister-Rogue by Dark, yet still a 'friend'; St. John Allerdyce or "Pyro" is Dark's best friend – or enemy, tricky those two…
Daisuke however, is friends with Kitty Pride has a small crush on her. I do wonder how Rogue will react to the Dark/Daisuke change. For the record, I didn't come up with this bunny all on my lonesome; I had the help of a friend- who I promised to mention if I posted it; tsukasa030, so many thanks for hearing out my nutty plan, and encouraging it.
To those of you who've read this before, there are some changes – because now I have a plan and a sort-of plot, most of the factors of the old story are still going to be in this one, just revealed as 'dreams'. Dismiss what used to be the third chapter, sorry for any confusion this may cause.