Diego's brow furrowed, contracting violently, his heart racing, as once more it began.
Diego.
His long body tossed, rigid with tension, tearing at his bedcovers in response to the impossible velvet voice, tingled with malice and madness.
Diego.
He recoiled, drawing away from the gentle, always accusing voice, ever twisting it's blade in his heart, from the delicate pressure of the hand laid comfortingly on his shoulder.
You killed me, Diego.
The bright blue eyes were tightened in fury, the leather clad fingers reaching out to dig into the flesh of his arm. As he had so many, many times, Diego closed his inward eyes and pleaded for the vision to leave him. The grip tightened then, forcing him to see.
Luis Ramone, living still, stood over his bed, a powerful, stark vision, clad in black from his hands to his feet, his foil at his hip, his fine features contorted in rage.
You failed me, Diego.
"No." Diego cried out then, covering his ears and squeezing his eyes tight shut. He could not bear to look again into those soft, earnest blue eyes and to see all that was lost. Then the soft touch at his shoulder swept downward, encircling and intertwining the bare flesh of their palms.
"Luis." Diego entreated, using the name in death he had never used in life. "Luis, please."
He saw then, and wept, as always at the sight.
Luis Ramone, living no more, kneeling at the side of his bed, his golden hair caressing at the lapels of his brilliant white suit, his eyes reflecting pools of Diego's own torment.
You let me fall.
Leather clad figures dug into his flesh, trailing deep scratches, shards of black fragments embedding his wounds. Crazed, frenzied eyes bore into his own.
You knew Diego. You knew I was inside him all along.
Naked fingers brushed at his cheeks, belying the whispered words and soothed Diego's stinging tears. The hand within his own released to join them, the beautiful, compassionate eyes so close now to his own.
You tormented me. Humiliated me.
Then the gloves were clasped about his throat, the wild eyes widened. Luis Ramone-still living-was drawing out his life.
Every time you hurt him, he hurt me. Driving me down further and further inside until I was only a flicker without even a voice.
Luis Ramone, gone forever, cradled his shivering body in his arms as Diego sobbed into his golden hair.
