[And on the other end of the equation is the event that noone expects. It's that horrible, despairing turn that leaves you standing in shocked surprise.]
Takeru looked up from his computer as someone knocked on the door. He looked at the time on the screen with a frown. It was unusual for anyone to interrupt him at six-thirty in the morning. With a shake of his head, he pushed back from the desk and walked to the door as his visitor knocked again.
"Who's there?" He called, though he doubted that it would be anyone but another digi-destined. They were the only ones that would have a reason to stop at such an odd time of day. He ruled out Kari, who would be preparing for her class. Matt was still in training for the space program. Cody would be asleep, or would have called first. Yolei and Ken lived would have phoned first, also, the same with Izzy and Joe. That left Sora and Mimi, which he doubted, and Tai and Davis.
"Hurry up, TK!" Tai, then, since Davis still couldn't seem to get his name right. He thought about making the older man wait longer, but the forceful knock that followed his announcement could only lead to one thing. Either Takeru would open the door, or Tai would knock it down.
He unbolted the lock, and turned the knob, not surprised to find a raised fist on the other side. "Give me a minute to unlock it, will'ya?" He glared at the brunette, not fazed all that much by the unexpectedness of his visit. He was starting to get a writer's block, and he needed the escape. "What's up, Kamiya?"
With a grunt, Tai pushed past him, and made himself at home, sinking into the couch and putting his feet on the coffee table. With a small smile that he hid, Takeru shut the door and reworked the bolt. You couldn't be too careful in the city: too many weirdos walked at all times of day. "Nothing much, Takaishi."
Takeru grinned at his friend. He had always liked Tai, for many reasons. His open personality, his leadership, his loyalty. The way that he had always been there for all of them, especially Matt and Kari, and himself. He held a great respect for Mrs. Kamiya, who had raised two wonderful children, in the blonde's eyes.
There was no answering grin on Tai's face, though Takeru shrugged it off. Whatever would drag the other man out of bed that early in the morning probably wasn't a trivial thing. He sat down next to him on the couch, turned toward him, keeping his body language open. He wouldn't pry, since he knew that nobody could force Tai to talk when he didn't want to.
With a blank expression, brown eyes met blue, and Takeru had the distinct impression that Tai was sizing him up for something, taking his measure. As if he wasn't certain that he could handle whatever he had to say. He had seen him give his brother that same expression when he wanted to do something reckless, and he knew that Matt wouldn't give in without a lot of persuasion. The look that said that he was going to win no matter what, and he didn't give a damn if Takeru liked it one way or another.
"You're a loyal person, TK." He started softly, his gaze moving away from the blonde. Takeru took a deep breath as Tai looked away. He had started to feel very uneasy with his friend, and he didn't like that at all. "Good, strong, loyal Takeru Takaishi."
"Um. Sure, Tai." He wasn't certain where this was going, but that soft tone of voice was almost as unsettling as his expression had been.
"There isn't much that you wouldn't do for your friends, is there? Or for you family, for that matter." Takeru agreed with a nod. Tai caught it from the corner of his eye. "You always amazed me, Takeru. You were always optimistic, except when you thought that you wouldn't be able to do anything to help the ones that you loved."
"I hate feeling helpless. I would do most anything for my friends, and for Matt. He's the most important thing in my life, even before my mother. She's wonderful, but Matt's always known me, and understood me in ways that a mother can't. For Matt, there is no limit to what I would do."
The look dissolved from Tai's face, only to be replaced by a smirk that he turned on Takeru. "I thought as much. You think so highly of your brother." The younger man jerked back a little, taken aback by the scorn in Tai's voice. He didn't understand what was going on at all, and he didn't like not knowing where the conversation was going. The feeling of helplessness that accompanied it.
"What's up with you, Tai? You're acting really weird, and it's making me uncomfortable." He moved into the corner of the couch, away from Tai, distancing himself with the action and the tone of his voice.
Tai laughed, the sound cold and unfriendly. "Oh, little Takeru. So sweet, so naive." He looked at the blonde with an unnreadable look. "You're brother is in trouble, and it could cost him everything. His family, Sora, his career. Even some of his friends, and the respect of the world and your family."
"What are you talking about?" Takeru was seriously worried, now. His eyes darted to the phone. Maybe he should call Matt. He'd know what to do with his best friend, he'd understand the strange mood that he was in.
"Don't even bother, Takeru." He used his full name in a scornful manner, his eyes dark with several emotions. Anger, hatred, disgust, lust, and the barest, briefest flash of pain. "Your brother can't save himself. He's already failed to do so. None of the others care as much as you do, Takeru. They can't help him."
A hard knot in his stomach, Takeru asked the only thing he could. "What do I have to do?"
Again, that cruel laugh. He cringed slightly, which seemed to amuse the other to no end. "You have to do exactly as I say, Takeru. Should you fail to follow any of my instructions, I will personally see to your brother's destruction. If you go to him, I will make sure that I ruin both your lives, especially his. Go to any of the others, and I will ruin them as well."
"Why the hell are you doing this, Tai? Matt's supposed to be your best friend. I'm supposed to be your friend, dammit! What's the point in all of this?" He gestured with one hand, the other running through his hair in agitation.
"Simple, really. Your brother has fucked me over in more ways than one, and I will have my revenge. You, Takeru, are my revenge. You'll be my slave, my servant, obedient to all of my wishes. He'll look at us and wonder. He won't miss the fear and hurt and anger in your eyes. He'll ask, and he'll hurt for you, knowing that he's to blame. And in the end, when he can't find another way, he'll crawl to me. He'll beg me to stop, knowing that it's his fault."
"You're going to destroy him, anyways! Why should I agree to anything?" The anger burned brightly in both pair of eyes. Takeru didn't feel particularly submissive at that moment. He almost considered trying to fight the older man, but he knew that Tai kept fit, where as he did not.
"Because, if you're truly good, then he won't know that anything's wrong. And then you can spare him the heartbreak of knowing that you sacrificed yourself for his happiness." Tai grinned smugly, the anger in his eyes giving way to a dark triumph.
"I think I hate you right now, Tai. You disgust me, and I want nothing more than to see your face pounded in, and the shit beat out of you." Takeru clenched and unclenched his fist.
"I'm glad that you agree, my Takeru. That's what you are, now. Mine. First thing you do. Call your landlord, and tell him you're moving at the end of the month."
Takeru didn't bother trying to pretend ignorance. "Is there going to be enough room at your place for my stuff?"
The grin widened. "Of course, my Takeru. We can use the second bedroom as an office." Takeru swallowed, catching the meaning behind that sentence. Tai's apartment only had two bedrooms. Any doubts about his new capacity in Tai's life faded away, leaving him feeling disoriented and neauseated.
"And what do I tell the others?" His voice was resigned, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"For now, simply tell them that you lost your lease, and you're staying at my place. For the sake of Matt's peace of mind, I'd try to sound happy." He grinned at the weak glare that Takeru gave him. "If you like, I'll even let you sleep on the couch. For a little while."
They both knew that Tai wouldn't let that be a permanent situation. He stood up, smiling down at the stunned blonde, obviously enjoying his discomfort.
"Tomorrow, we go shopping. We'll need a couple of things, including a larger bed. Sweet dreams, my Takeru. Be at my apartment by ten tomorrow. Pack only the things you don't need immediately. Your clothes can stay until the end of the month."
Takeru didn't bother to stand up and see him out. He stared at a spot on the wall, the click of the door echoing loudly through the apartment. It had started out as such a beautiful day, with the birds singing, and his writing was going well. And then it had turned to hell in a matter of ten minutes.
He bowed his head, rubbing his forehead with his right hand, eyes closed. He could feel the despair wash over him, settling into his bones, choking him with tears that he wouldn't allow to fall. He owed his brother so much, loved him more. There was nothing he wouldn't do for Yamato Ishida. Nothing.
___________________
No, it's not one of my normally happy fics. It's not even an angst turned fluff. I just want everyone to know that I love Tai. He's one of my faves. I'm sorry if anyone has qualms about him being as much of an asshole as I make him/am going to make him out to be. He's very OOC, so is Takeru. They all are, sorry.
This fic is dedicated to Allison-Michelle, who entered and won my contest. She requested an angsty/drama Taikeru, in which TK is an unwilling participant. It will be sad, and very depressing.
Ahead: Rape, suicide-attempt (No more hints than that), and lot's of sadness and Evil Rapist Tai.
[Words inside the brackets indicate something that Takeru is writing, mainly for his book. The passages don't always coincide with what follows, but it will eventually turn up someplace in the story. It adds a kind of irony to some of it, but not always a direct forshadowing. They are used to illustrate a passing of time. Sometimes days, sometimes hours, sometimes months.]
Author: Rae (penname)
Title: Anything for you
Content: Angst and drama. Violence, and verbal abuse. No fluff, no humor, no romance
For those that hate this, I'm sorry. For anyone that likes this couple, I may write another Taikeru, if anyone wants.
Takeru looked up from his computer as someone knocked on the door. He looked at the time on the screen with a frown. It was unusual for anyone to interrupt him at six-thirty in the morning. With a shake of his head, he pushed back from the desk and walked to the door as his visitor knocked again.
"Who's there?" He called, though he doubted that it would be anyone but another digi-destined. They were the only ones that would have a reason to stop at such an odd time of day. He ruled out Kari, who would be preparing for her class. Matt was still in training for the space program. Cody would be asleep, or would have called first. Yolei and Ken lived would have phoned first, also, the same with Izzy and Joe. That left Sora and Mimi, which he doubted, and Tai and Davis.
"Hurry up, TK!" Tai, then, since Davis still couldn't seem to get his name right. He thought about making the older man wait longer, but the forceful knock that followed his announcement could only lead to one thing. Either Takeru would open the door, or Tai would knock it down.
He unbolted the lock, and turned the knob, not surprised to find a raised fist on the other side. "Give me a minute to unlock it, will'ya?" He glared at the brunette, not fazed all that much by the unexpectedness of his visit. He was starting to get a writer's block, and he needed the escape. "What's up, Kamiya?"
With a grunt, Tai pushed past him, and made himself at home, sinking into the couch and putting his feet on the coffee table. With a small smile that he hid, Takeru shut the door and reworked the bolt. You couldn't be too careful in the city: too many weirdos walked at all times of day. "Nothing much, Takaishi."
Takeru grinned at his friend. He had always liked Tai, for many reasons. His open personality, his leadership, his loyalty. The way that he had always been there for all of them, especially Matt and Kari, and himself. He held a great respect for Mrs. Kamiya, who had raised two wonderful children, in the blonde's eyes.
There was no answering grin on Tai's face, though Takeru shrugged it off. Whatever would drag the other man out of bed that early in the morning probably wasn't a trivial thing. He sat down next to him on the couch, turned toward him, keeping his body language open. He wouldn't pry, since he knew that nobody could force Tai to talk when he didn't want to.
With a blank expression, brown eyes met blue, and Takeru had the distinct impression that Tai was sizing him up for something, taking his measure. As if he wasn't certain that he could handle whatever he had to say. He had seen him give his brother that same expression when he wanted to do something reckless, and he knew that Matt wouldn't give in without a lot of persuasion. The look that said that he was going to win no matter what, and he didn't give a damn if Takeru liked it one way or another.
"You're a loyal person, TK." He started softly, his gaze moving away from the blonde. Takeru took a deep breath as Tai looked away. He had started to feel very uneasy with his friend, and he didn't like that at all. "Good, strong, loyal Takeru Takaishi."
"Um. Sure, Tai." He wasn't certain where this was going, but that soft tone of voice was almost as unsettling as his expression had been.
"There isn't much that you wouldn't do for your friends, is there? Or for you family, for that matter." Takeru agreed with a nod. Tai caught it from the corner of his eye. "You always amazed me, Takeru. You were always optimistic, except when you thought that you wouldn't be able to do anything to help the ones that you loved."
"I hate feeling helpless. I would do most anything for my friends, and for Matt. He's the most important thing in my life, even before my mother. She's wonderful, but Matt's always known me, and understood me in ways that a mother can't. For Matt, there is no limit to what I would do."
The look dissolved from Tai's face, only to be replaced by a smirk that he turned on Takeru. "I thought as much. You think so highly of your brother." The younger man jerked back a little, taken aback by the scorn in Tai's voice. He didn't understand what was going on at all, and he didn't like not knowing where the conversation was going. The feeling of helplessness that accompanied it.
"What's up with you, Tai? You're acting really weird, and it's making me uncomfortable." He moved into the corner of the couch, away from Tai, distancing himself with the action and the tone of his voice.
Tai laughed, the sound cold and unfriendly. "Oh, little Takeru. So sweet, so naive." He looked at the blonde with an unnreadable look. "You're brother is in trouble, and it could cost him everything. His family, Sora, his career. Even some of his friends, and the respect of the world and your family."
"What are you talking about?" Takeru was seriously worried, now. His eyes darted to the phone. Maybe he should call Matt. He'd know what to do with his best friend, he'd understand the strange mood that he was in.
"Don't even bother, Takeru." He used his full name in a scornful manner, his eyes dark with several emotions. Anger, hatred, disgust, lust, and the barest, briefest flash of pain. "Your brother can't save himself. He's already failed to do so. None of the others care as much as you do, Takeru. They can't help him."
A hard knot in his stomach, Takeru asked the only thing he could. "What do I have to do?"
Again, that cruel laugh. He cringed slightly, which seemed to amuse the other to no end. "You have to do exactly as I say, Takeru. Should you fail to follow any of my instructions, I will personally see to your brother's destruction. If you go to him, I will make sure that I ruin both your lives, especially his. Go to any of the others, and I will ruin them as well."
"Why the hell are you doing this, Tai? Matt's supposed to be your best friend. I'm supposed to be your friend, dammit! What's the point in all of this?" He gestured with one hand, the other running through his hair in agitation.
"Simple, really. Your brother has fucked me over in more ways than one, and I will have my revenge. You, Takeru, are my revenge. You'll be my slave, my servant, obedient to all of my wishes. He'll look at us and wonder. He won't miss the fear and hurt and anger in your eyes. He'll ask, and he'll hurt for you, knowing that he's to blame. And in the end, when he can't find another way, he'll crawl to me. He'll beg me to stop, knowing that it's his fault."
"You're going to destroy him, anyways! Why should I agree to anything?" The anger burned brightly in both pair of eyes. Takeru didn't feel particularly submissive at that moment. He almost considered trying to fight the older man, but he knew that Tai kept fit, where as he did not.
"Because, if you're truly good, then he won't know that anything's wrong. And then you can spare him the heartbreak of knowing that you sacrificed yourself for his happiness." Tai grinned smugly, the anger in his eyes giving way to a dark triumph.
"I think I hate you right now, Tai. You disgust me, and I want nothing more than to see your face pounded in, and the shit beat out of you." Takeru clenched and unclenched his fist.
"I'm glad that you agree, my Takeru. That's what you are, now. Mine. First thing you do. Call your landlord, and tell him you're moving at the end of the month."
Takeru didn't bother trying to pretend ignorance. "Is there going to be enough room at your place for my stuff?"
The grin widened. "Of course, my Takeru. We can use the second bedroom as an office." Takeru swallowed, catching the meaning behind that sentence. Tai's apartment only had two bedrooms. Any doubts about his new capacity in Tai's life faded away, leaving him feeling disoriented and neauseated.
"And what do I tell the others?" His voice was resigned, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"For now, simply tell them that you lost your lease, and you're staying at my place. For the sake of Matt's peace of mind, I'd try to sound happy." He grinned at the weak glare that Takeru gave him. "If you like, I'll even let you sleep on the couch. For a little while."
They both knew that Tai wouldn't let that be a permanent situation. He stood up, smiling down at the stunned blonde, obviously enjoying his discomfort.
"Tomorrow, we go shopping. We'll need a couple of things, including a larger bed. Sweet dreams, my Takeru. Be at my apartment by ten tomorrow. Pack only the things you don't need immediately. Your clothes can stay until the end of the month."
Takeru didn't bother to stand up and see him out. He stared at a spot on the wall, the click of the door echoing loudly through the apartment. It had started out as such a beautiful day, with the birds singing, and his writing was going well. And then it had turned to hell in a matter of ten minutes.
He bowed his head, rubbing his forehead with his right hand, eyes closed. He could feel the despair wash over him, settling into his bones, choking him with tears that he wouldn't allow to fall. He owed his brother so much, loved him more. There was nothing he wouldn't do for Yamato Ishida. Nothing.
___________________
No, it's not one of my normally happy fics. It's not even an angst turned fluff. I just want everyone to know that I love Tai. He's one of my faves. I'm sorry if anyone has qualms about him being as much of an asshole as I make him/am going to make him out to be. He's very OOC, so is Takeru. They all are, sorry.
This fic is dedicated to Allison-Michelle, who entered and won my contest. She requested an angsty/drama Taikeru, in which TK is an unwilling participant. It will be sad, and very depressing.
Ahead: Rape, suicide-attempt (No more hints than that), and lot's of sadness and Evil Rapist Tai.
[Words inside the brackets indicate something that Takeru is writing, mainly for his book. The passages don't always coincide with what follows, but it will eventually turn up someplace in the story. It adds a kind of irony to some of it, but not always a direct forshadowing. They are used to illustrate a passing of time. Sometimes days, sometimes hours, sometimes months.]
Author: Rae (penname)
Title: Anything for you
Content: Angst and drama. Violence, and verbal abuse. No fluff, no humor, no romance
For those that hate this, I'm sorry. For anyone that likes this couple, I may write another Taikeru, if anyone wants.