Fandom: Tales of Symphonia 2
Title: A Price Fairly Paid
Author/Artist: Windy
Theme(s): Alpha set #5 Justice
Pairing/Characters: Richter/EMil
Rating: PG
Disclaimer/claimer: Don't own ToS, but if I did, it'd probably be yaoi. XD
Summary (if needed): Richter wants justice for Aster's murder.
A/N: These are a bunch of Richter/Emil oneshots that I wrote for the LJ theme 30 smiles. I just wanted to share them with you, because there is no enough Richter/Emil on this website. C&C appreciated!
A Price Fairly Paid
"R-Richter?"
The stutter was back. Richter closed his eyes, his sword held defiantly out in front of him. He couldn't stand to be taken in by the tentative voice, or his huge green eyes. Richter knew if he looked in them, he would be lost within their depths, and his will would falter. He needed justice, revenge for Aster, who had died at Ratatosk's hands. Still, killing Ratatosk meant killing Emil, and despite the fact that it needed to be done, Richter would never be able to forgive himself when it was over.
"Don't!" Richter barked, not even opening his eyes to gaze upon the stricken face. "Emil, I will not be fooled any longer. I know that you are actually the Summon Spirit Ratatosk, and Aster's murderer!" He opened his eyes in time to watch Emil flinch away from those harsh words, still at the edge of his blade. There was truth in his words, they both knew, but Emil, the boy he'd come to know, to love, to care for in more ways than he knew how to care for a person, couldn't be the murderer. No, it was the other personality, Ratatosk, the one that appeared when beckoned for a fight that he wanted. It was that face he could kill, twisting with murderous intent in his red eyes. Richter had been sure that when he challenged Emil, Ratatosk's personality would come forward to protect the boy.
"Richter!" Emil cried, his voice breaking. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I know it's true, I am Ratatosk." He winced at his own words, as though reluctant to admit it out loud. "And I... did kill Aster..." His hands clenched into fists at his sides as his eyes filled with tears. "But I won't fight you!" the boy insisted.
Richter faltered, his grip on his swords failing. "What?" he croaked.
"I won't!" Emil insisted, taking a step forward, his neck just slightly closer to the tip of his blade. "Richter, we've been spending a lot of time together, and I really like helping you find all the things you need, even if I am a bother sometimes. I know that I apologize a lot, and I get in the way..." he trailed off, his eyes turned downwards as tears slipped from his eyes, carving paths down his cheeks. "But I really do care for you, Richter! I don't want it to be like this between us! I don't want you to hate me!"
Richter was frozen in place by the stunning proclamation as Emil shook before him, unable or unwilling to stop the tears slipping from his eyes. "You idiot," Richter growled softly from the back of his throat. "Don't you realize that I mean to kill you? You're a threat to us all, my enemy!"
"Then kill me!" Emil said, throwing his arms wide. "I'm just going to return to my core state, and even while I'm in my core, I'll keep on loving you, Richter! It's stupid, and I d-don't care." He shook his head, scrubbing wildly at his tears. "I know I can't give you back Aster, and if I could, I would give up my life for him. And if it'll make you happy, then I'll die here, Richter, because I don't want to fight you. I just... want to stay by your side..."
Richter froze, his dual blades freezing before slowly they were lowered from Emil's neck. The youth blinked at him, tears still slipping from his crystal green eyes. The redhead couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt for causing the grief that marred his face.
He approached the young man, knew he was weak as it was happening, knew that one day he would come to regret it. He grabbed Emil by his shoulders and shoved him back into a tree. The blonde cried out, staring up at Richter with impossibly huge eyes that wavered with tears. He could see the trepidation and wonder in his eyes, trusting, yet anxious.
"Don't ever throw your life away for me," Richter growled, shaking him to get his point across. "Don't think that it would make me happy because, damnit, it won't."
Emil stared in confusion for a moment as Richter placed a hand to the side of his face. "I'll make it up to you in some other way, I promise," Emil croaked quietly. He clutched tightly at Richter's jacket, pressing his face into his shoulder as he continued to cry. "I know I'll never make it up to you for killing him, but I can try..."
Richter cupped his chin, pulling it up so Emil's deep green eyes faced him. The boy was still crying, his eyes red with tears, making a disturbing contrast. "I am a fool, Emil. I'm sorry. Please forgive me," he whispered, pressing his lips against Emil's in a soft, tender kiss. "Sometimes my anger clouds my judgement."
Emil looked up at him and smiled through his tears. The image nearly broke Richter's heart. "I forgive you," Emil said, wrapping his arms around the other man and holding him tightly. "Never scare me again."
"I promise," Richter whispered. "Revenge is not worth losing you..."
-End-