Cruel Intentions
By RaVen0us
Part two: Manipulator and the manipulated
Note: All I can say this chapter is too sensual, and a bit too odd for the actual plot I planned :+ Warning: It's not what it appears to be. Why is Thomas suddenly cocky? Why did I place this to action adventure category? Why is it rated PG 13 ( ? The suspense continues----
-RaVen0us
Raven awoke in the same much condition he'd gone to sleep in, his body tight and aching with pain, probably caused by stress and the cold weather. Seeing he would have to be fit and well enough to resume his quest sooner or later if the weather subsided, he got up and grabbed some of the clothes he could find to get himself warm. Raven pulled on some jeans and a heavy sweater, and cautiously tiptoed to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. He heard Shadow making a worried grunt, and he looked through the living room.
'Of course, its Schubaltz's little brother.' He nearly forgot that he let the lieutenant in several hours ago. God, and he thought it was all a dream that he let the blonde in and even gave him coffee. He could have done something less stupid at that time, probably knock him unconscious---then tie him around the horse, and drag him out downhill to devil who may care where. The sleeping stranger lay on the couch, partly covered by his drifter cloak and some covers. His clothes were neatly folded on the coffee table. Apparently, Thomas was a restless sleeper, as the covers were twisted around his body. He'd thrown them away from him, exposing his upper chest and stomach. The faint rays of the emerging sunlight drifted across through the window, highlighting the sharp planes and valleys of his slender body. There was an odd expression on his face, and he was panting softly, caught in the throes of some dream.
Raven found his eyes fixed on the steadily rising and falling chest, and frowned a little. There was an odd weakness in his knees and his breathing seemed to quicken. His mouth momentarily went dry, as his eyes feasted on that gorgeous expanse of chest. He felt irresistibly drawn to the older boy, like a moth to a flame. He had to fight an urge to go over and plant his own lips on that incredible mouth. Thomas moaned softly and murmured a name, and Raven stepped back as he abruptly realized just WHAT kind of a dream the lieutenant was having.
Feeling a hot flame surged in his groin, Raven cursed himself. He finds a solid wall near him and starts to bang his head in slow hard intervals until it grew painful and raw. Getting drawn to the 'enemy' is a different thing! What was he thinking? He muttered silently; face flaming trying very hard NOT to think about the incredible erotic picture Thomas had made, sprawled out over the couch in wonton abandonment, calling out a name.
Karl's name.
A slow sardonic smile crept to Raven's lips; the colonel must have done something to Thomas--probably not a nice one. When he was gaping few minutes ago, he assessed how unnatural the blonde one moan-it seems like a moan of someone coerced to do 'something.' And with that means,
"Colonel Schubaltz had something more than brotherly love." Raven whispered, he can imagine it now, what if such scandal spread like wild- fire in the whole imperial army. It would be nice, to see the man who imprisoned him once, to be demoted---or exiled because of such 'unnatural' liaisons. But he has to prove that something have happened between the two brothers, and if he did, it would be his sweet revenge and it would be the end of their careers. It would be much fun than blasting their bases into smithereens.
He carefully thought about it, wondering how he'll carry out his plan while he busied himself starting the coffee, then with a perverse notion, threw away Thomas' dirty clothes. He went out to check on his Geno breaker then returned to the cabin for a quick cup of coffee and then leaving a note, he brought Shadow along side of him for an hour to trek along the mountain to scout on any possible soldiers who might know where he is hiding. When he got back, his 'guest' was in the shower. He absentmindedly set two places at the breakfast bar and began to fix anything edible he could find. The pantry is all full of canned goods, last night he had canned meat and vegetables---maybe this morning he'll get lucky and find canned sausages, beef and soup. He wished there would be a boxful of cyanide to which he could lace the food, but no such luck. 'Nah, just let the man eat. Then maybe sooner or later he'll just buzz off.' He silently thought. He starts to cook breakfast, reluctantly setting two plates and the aroma greeted Thomas as he emerged from the bathroom.
"I threw your clothes," Raven said simply, seeing the blonde has nothing on but a short towel on.
Thomas didn't respond, but proceeds to give Raven a quick sharp glance then he went to another room. He re-emerged later wearing a blue long sleeved sweatshirt and a pair of khakis, clothes from the previous owner that seems to fit him. Raven noticed something unusual, for Thomas is not wearing the portable link to his left ear, nor was the band that attached it to his head. He hardly removes any of them. Come to think of it, he didn't even see him wearing those when he first appeared to his doorstep. Anyway, Thomas proceeds to dry his dirty blonde hair and quietly stood beside the table,
"You can sit down if you want breakfast," Raven muttered, as if to answer his unasked question, to which Thomas happily obliged. The gray-haired boy looked at him as he finally sat down at the other side of the table. The clear, steady green eyes that looked at Raven out of that handsome face found no interested awareness in his own indigo stare. Raven get his share, placed the food before Thomas, and began eating his own breakfast.
After a moment he followed suit. Then he sent him a front glance, "You're a good cook," he noted.
"Yeah, whatever." Raven didn't look at him.
Thomas tried again, "Thanks for the couch, and thanks for not killing me last night and letting me join breakfast with you."
"Sure thing. You're welcome."
He laughed suddenly, a short sound that was barely amused. "Hardly, hardly welcome."
"You weren't invited." He snapped at him.
*****
Nothing more was said until the meal was finished. Raven poured more coffee for them, but took his to the sink as he began cleaning up. Silent, Thomas rose and began helping. Raven accepted the help matter-of-factly, but didn't comment on it. When they were finished, Raven took his mug to the living room, and Thomas followed suit. He sat on one end of the couch; and the blonde took the other.
"You have," he said finally, "-gone to some lengths to make this entire morning painfully impersonal."
"I haven't gone to any lengths at all." Raven smiled a twisted smile. Deep inside, he is starting to get irritated of Thomas' sudden cocky attitude. He didn't know where it came from, but whatever it is, he is determined to make him speak. "I am what I am, Schubaltz."
"Thomas, for god sake. Calling me by my first name won't strike you mute."
Raven said nothing
Thomas frowned, "Look, will it kill you to talk to me even for ONCE like a reasonable human being than something your organoid dragged in?"
"Have I done that? Sorry."
"You're so cool." He stared at him, a fixed gaze that probed and searched. "So---unflappable. Even yesterday, when you were tired."
And Raven was surprised to find himself briefly tempted to explain the coolness Thomas commented on, the control. He frowned a bit, not pleased by the impulse, and said,
"You should get started back to whatever your damn mission will get you right now. The avalanche that covered your zoid didn't necessarily make that much damage and you can get it warmed up easily. Just take a darn horse near this shelter, and go downhill then scram."
Thomas slowly finished his coffee, never taking his green eyes off Raven, and then reached over to set the mug on the coffee table. Leaning back, he said musingly. "I heard there is a ranger in the area you chased off the mountain with a load of buckshot in his pants. Would you do that to me?"
Raven felt like his cheeks are burning with rage, 'So he thinks this is a fun game? Acting so damn cocky and all?' He tried to calm down, and finding himself asking him, "Do you think I wouldn't?"
"Oh, I think you would. I think it wouldn't matter to you a bit, not ever, since I'm a GF team member and I'm plainly just your enemy." He paused, and then went on. "What I'm wondering, really is why. Why are you hiding up here, why a beautiful, skilled and 'domesticated' person like you would be so cold?"
Raven felt his blood boil as Thomas pointed out sarcastically that he is 'beautiful' and 'domesticated.' He knew that he was trying to provoke him, probing more reaction from him. Raven was, again briefly, tempted to tell him why, but he said nothing.
"How old are you?" he asked abruptly.
"None of your business." He snapped back, avoiding the green gaze.
"You didn't know how old you are?"
"No!"
"What's your whole name then, Raven?"
"This is not even my real name!"
There was a long silence that followed afterwards. Raven felt something gathering, tensing, and threatening to spring from the dark closet where it lived. Thomas Schubaltz, he realized dimly, was very good at probing and all his instincts were shouting at him. He wanted to get away because when dark things leaped from closets and stood nakedly between two enemies, for he have exposed his weak spot.
"I don't remember anything." Raven stood up abruptly and carried their coffee mugs to the kitchen. Damn, he could strangle the persistent dickhead right now!
"Raven---"
The gray-haired one started when the voice came from behind him.
"Raven, I don't want to pry but---"
"If you want to live, then don't." He muttered acidly, suppressing an instinctive physical withdrawal when he saw how close to him the other zoid pilot stood. Too close---he was too close to him. Too close to his pain. "Stop asking questions. You turn up on the porch one day and expect my life story the next?"
He nodded slowly, "All right, I had that coming. It's really none of my business, is it?"
"It's none of your business," he agreed.
There was another long silence again; Thomas swore that when Raven looked back at him, there is a breath of murder in his indigo eyes.
"I'm not normally inquisitive," Thomas murmured, "It's just that I never cared for shadow-boxing."
Raven thought he knew what he meant, but asked anyway. "Meaning?"
Thomas crossed his arms over his chest and seemed to study Raven intently. "Well when a man finds himself interested with another person, he generally has to contend with the person's past, because he isn't a part of it."
"You don't waste time with small talk, do you?"
"I can't afford to, can I? At any moment I may find myself tumbling down this mountain, speeded along by your shotgun or being blasted away with your genobreaker."
"There is that." Raven fought off the urge to relax and enjoy his approach. "Look, Schubaltz---"
"If," he interrupted conversationally, "-you don't start calling me Thomas, I'm going to kiss you silly."
Raven blinked, "Look, Thomas---"
"Works every time," he told an invisible third party. "All you have to do is threaten a fate worse than death."
Raven has had it, first Thomas is probing to his past and now he is FLIRTING him? And he is letting him get away with it? Enough is enough!
He gave him a hard cold glare, "Look here, 'Thomas'. I don't know what got into that big head of yours that made you think that you can take me on, but I'm warning you. I knew something that could ruin your career and that Imperial Army Colonel brother of yours. You are both going down."
Thomas gaze suddenly went cold, and perplexed. "Such as?"
"You didn't think I know?" Raven replied sarcastically, "You are a damn restless sleeper, you keep on moaning big brother's name. Where is he now that you needed him?" he chided,
"Cease your mouth you darn brat," he countered, the words where as cold as they seem to pierce like shards of ice. Giving Raven a jolt of surprise, "My brother is dead, killed in front of my eyes at the damn Wind colony attack."
Now it's Raven turn to be perplexed, what the fuck is Thomas talking about?
"Fool."
Thomas let out a roar of wicked laughter, so wicked that Raven accidentally dropped his mug and his pallid face jaw gaped in shock. Thomas Schubaltz has gone insane. Very, very sickly insane.
"I'll show you who the fool is now, I just came here to know what I need to know" he smiled coldly, much more wicked than Raven's. He raised his voice, "Shadow!"
The black organoid suddenly materialized beside Thomas aid.
"No," Raven finds himself angry, shock and disappointed. "Damn it Shadow! What's wrong with you?! Come here!"
He made a motion to reach for his dark organoid, but it seems that it failed to recognize him. It snapped back at Raven, attacking him, sending him crashing to the floor.
"It seems you have taken well of your Genobreaker," he said mockingly. "Shadow, mobilize!"
Raven watched in shock, as his organoid followed his enemy's order and swiftly rocketed to the woods and through the red zoid.
"Damn you, Thomas!" he snarled angrily, and made a move to lunge toward Thomas, but to no avail. The blonde produced a gun to his hand and shot Raven by the shoulder. Everything seem to went through a slow motion, he witnessed slowly as the genobreaker had taken a life on its own, the wicked smile of Thomas lips, as Raven himself slowly fell back-----back with his mouth open in an angry soundless scream, blood spurting out from his wound. There came another shot, another burning pain---and Raven felt like he no longer have control or feeling of his body. The shot injured him directly to the knee, busting his knee cap. He watched it bleed, broke and slowly everything seemed to sound so far away, then he felt his head hit the solid cold floor. He finds himself choking on his own blood, hazily remembering a thick shoe sole crushing his neck, depriving him painfully off air.
The blonde haze appears one last time the gun cocked in between his eyes, before he felt the darkness' embrace.
"See you in hell, Lieutenant Blitz Flyheight."
-continued-
** Yes I know, TOO CONFUSING isn't it? I might imagine a couple of shocked responses on 'where did THAT come from?' *sighs* let me put this---Thomas in here is not actually Thomas- but that of a parallel dimensional reality- hmmm, weird ne ~^; you can email me on your whine and i'll be sure to answer -Rav-chan **
By RaVen0us
Part two: Manipulator and the manipulated
Note: All I can say this chapter is too sensual, and a bit too odd for the actual plot I planned :+ Warning: It's not what it appears to be. Why is Thomas suddenly cocky? Why did I place this to action adventure category? Why is it rated PG 13 ( ? The suspense continues----
-RaVen0us
Raven awoke in the same much condition he'd gone to sleep in, his body tight and aching with pain, probably caused by stress and the cold weather. Seeing he would have to be fit and well enough to resume his quest sooner or later if the weather subsided, he got up and grabbed some of the clothes he could find to get himself warm. Raven pulled on some jeans and a heavy sweater, and cautiously tiptoed to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. He heard Shadow making a worried grunt, and he looked through the living room.
'Of course, its Schubaltz's little brother.' He nearly forgot that he let the lieutenant in several hours ago. God, and he thought it was all a dream that he let the blonde in and even gave him coffee. He could have done something less stupid at that time, probably knock him unconscious---then tie him around the horse, and drag him out downhill to devil who may care where. The sleeping stranger lay on the couch, partly covered by his drifter cloak and some covers. His clothes were neatly folded on the coffee table. Apparently, Thomas was a restless sleeper, as the covers were twisted around his body. He'd thrown them away from him, exposing his upper chest and stomach. The faint rays of the emerging sunlight drifted across through the window, highlighting the sharp planes and valleys of his slender body. There was an odd expression on his face, and he was panting softly, caught in the throes of some dream.
Raven found his eyes fixed on the steadily rising and falling chest, and frowned a little. There was an odd weakness in his knees and his breathing seemed to quicken. His mouth momentarily went dry, as his eyes feasted on that gorgeous expanse of chest. He felt irresistibly drawn to the older boy, like a moth to a flame. He had to fight an urge to go over and plant his own lips on that incredible mouth. Thomas moaned softly and murmured a name, and Raven stepped back as he abruptly realized just WHAT kind of a dream the lieutenant was having.
Feeling a hot flame surged in his groin, Raven cursed himself. He finds a solid wall near him and starts to bang his head in slow hard intervals until it grew painful and raw. Getting drawn to the 'enemy' is a different thing! What was he thinking? He muttered silently; face flaming trying very hard NOT to think about the incredible erotic picture Thomas had made, sprawled out over the couch in wonton abandonment, calling out a name.
Karl's name.
A slow sardonic smile crept to Raven's lips; the colonel must have done something to Thomas--probably not a nice one. When he was gaping few minutes ago, he assessed how unnatural the blonde one moan-it seems like a moan of someone coerced to do 'something.' And with that means,
"Colonel Schubaltz had something more than brotherly love." Raven whispered, he can imagine it now, what if such scandal spread like wild- fire in the whole imperial army. It would be nice, to see the man who imprisoned him once, to be demoted---or exiled because of such 'unnatural' liaisons. But he has to prove that something have happened between the two brothers, and if he did, it would be his sweet revenge and it would be the end of their careers. It would be much fun than blasting their bases into smithereens.
He carefully thought about it, wondering how he'll carry out his plan while he busied himself starting the coffee, then with a perverse notion, threw away Thomas' dirty clothes. He went out to check on his Geno breaker then returned to the cabin for a quick cup of coffee and then leaving a note, he brought Shadow along side of him for an hour to trek along the mountain to scout on any possible soldiers who might know where he is hiding. When he got back, his 'guest' was in the shower. He absentmindedly set two places at the breakfast bar and began to fix anything edible he could find. The pantry is all full of canned goods, last night he had canned meat and vegetables---maybe this morning he'll get lucky and find canned sausages, beef and soup. He wished there would be a boxful of cyanide to which he could lace the food, but no such luck. 'Nah, just let the man eat. Then maybe sooner or later he'll just buzz off.' He silently thought. He starts to cook breakfast, reluctantly setting two plates and the aroma greeted Thomas as he emerged from the bathroom.
"I threw your clothes," Raven said simply, seeing the blonde has nothing on but a short towel on.
Thomas didn't respond, but proceeds to give Raven a quick sharp glance then he went to another room. He re-emerged later wearing a blue long sleeved sweatshirt and a pair of khakis, clothes from the previous owner that seems to fit him. Raven noticed something unusual, for Thomas is not wearing the portable link to his left ear, nor was the band that attached it to his head. He hardly removes any of them. Come to think of it, he didn't even see him wearing those when he first appeared to his doorstep. Anyway, Thomas proceeds to dry his dirty blonde hair and quietly stood beside the table,
"You can sit down if you want breakfast," Raven muttered, as if to answer his unasked question, to which Thomas happily obliged. The gray-haired boy looked at him as he finally sat down at the other side of the table. The clear, steady green eyes that looked at Raven out of that handsome face found no interested awareness in his own indigo stare. Raven get his share, placed the food before Thomas, and began eating his own breakfast.
After a moment he followed suit. Then he sent him a front glance, "You're a good cook," he noted.
"Yeah, whatever." Raven didn't look at him.
Thomas tried again, "Thanks for the couch, and thanks for not killing me last night and letting me join breakfast with you."
"Sure thing. You're welcome."
He laughed suddenly, a short sound that was barely amused. "Hardly, hardly welcome."
"You weren't invited." He snapped at him.
*****
Nothing more was said until the meal was finished. Raven poured more coffee for them, but took his to the sink as he began cleaning up. Silent, Thomas rose and began helping. Raven accepted the help matter-of-factly, but didn't comment on it. When they were finished, Raven took his mug to the living room, and Thomas followed suit. He sat on one end of the couch; and the blonde took the other.
"You have," he said finally, "-gone to some lengths to make this entire morning painfully impersonal."
"I haven't gone to any lengths at all." Raven smiled a twisted smile. Deep inside, he is starting to get irritated of Thomas' sudden cocky attitude. He didn't know where it came from, but whatever it is, he is determined to make him speak. "I am what I am, Schubaltz."
"Thomas, for god sake. Calling me by my first name won't strike you mute."
Raven said nothing
Thomas frowned, "Look, will it kill you to talk to me even for ONCE like a reasonable human being than something your organoid dragged in?"
"Have I done that? Sorry."
"You're so cool." He stared at him, a fixed gaze that probed and searched. "So---unflappable. Even yesterday, when you were tired."
And Raven was surprised to find himself briefly tempted to explain the coolness Thomas commented on, the control. He frowned a bit, not pleased by the impulse, and said,
"You should get started back to whatever your damn mission will get you right now. The avalanche that covered your zoid didn't necessarily make that much damage and you can get it warmed up easily. Just take a darn horse near this shelter, and go downhill then scram."
Thomas slowly finished his coffee, never taking his green eyes off Raven, and then reached over to set the mug on the coffee table. Leaning back, he said musingly. "I heard there is a ranger in the area you chased off the mountain with a load of buckshot in his pants. Would you do that to me?"
Raven felt like his cheeks are burning with rage, 'So he thinks this is a fun game? Acting so damn cocky and all?' He tried to calm down, and finding himself asking him, "Do you think I wouldn't?"
"Oh, I think you would. I think it wouldn't matter to you a bit, not ever, since I'm a GF team member and I'm plainly just your enemy." He paused, and then went on. "What I'm wondering, really is why. Why are you hiding up here, why a beautiful, skilled and 'domesticated' person like you would be so cold?"
Raven felt his blood boil as Thomas pointed out sarcastically that he is 'beautiful' and 'domesticated.' He knew that he was trying to provoke him, probing more reaction from him. Raven was, again briefly, tempted to tell him why, but he said nothing.
"How old are you?" he asked abruptly.
"None of your business." He snapped back, avoiding the green gaze.
"You didn't know how old you are?"
"No!"
"What's your whole name then, Raven?"
"This is not even my real name!"
There was a long silence that followed afterwards. Raven felt something gathering, tensing, and threatening to spring from the dark closet where it lived. Thomas Schubaltz, he realized dimly, was very good at probing and all his instincts were shouting at him. He wanted to get away because when dark things leaped from closets and stood nakedly between two enemies, for he have exposed his weak spot.
"I don't remember anything." Raven stood up abruptly and carried their coffee mugs to the kitchen. Damn, he could strangle the persistent dickhead right now!
"Raven---"
The gray-haired one started when the voice came from behind him.
"Raven, I don't want to pry but---"
"If you want to live, then don't." He muttered acidly, suppressing an instinctive physical withdrawal when he saw how close to him the other zoid pilot stood. Too close---he was too close to him. Too close to his pain. "Stop asking questions. You turn up on the porch one day and expect my life story the next?"
He nodded slowly, "All right, I had that coming. It's really none of my business, is it?"
"It's none of your business," he agreed.
There was another long silence again; Thomas swore that when Raven looked back at him, there is a breath of murder in his indigo eyes.
"I'm not normally inquisitive," Thomas murmured, "It's just that I never cared for shadow-boxing."
Raven thought he knew what he meant, but asked anyway. "Meaning?"
Thomas crossed his arms over his chest and seemed to study Raven intently. "Well when a man finds himself interested with another person, he generally has to contend with the person's past, because he isn't a part of it."
"You don't waste time with small talk, do you?"
"I can't afford to, can I? At any moment I may find myself tumbling down this mountain, speeded along by your shotgun or being blasted away with your genobreaker."
"There is that." Raven fought off the urge to relax and enjoy his approach. "Look, Schubaltz---"
"If," he interrupted conversationally, "-you don't start calling me Thomas, I'm going to kiss you silly."
Raven blinked, "Look, Thomas---"
"Works every time," he told an invisible third party. "All you have to do is threaten a fate worse than death."
Raven has had it, first Thomas is probing to his past and now he is FLIRTING him? And he is letting him get away with it? Enough is enough!
He gave him a hard cold glare, "Look here, 'Thomas'. I don't know what got into that big head of yours that made you think that you can take me on, but I'm warning you. I knew something that could ruin your career and that Imperial Army Colonel brother of yours. You are both going down."
Thomas gaze suddenly went cold, and perplexed. "Such as?"
"You didn't think I know?" Raven replied sarcastically, "You are a damn restless sleeper, you keep on moaning big brother's name. Where is he now that you needed him?" he chided,
"Cease your mouth you darn brat," he countered, the words where as cold as they seem to pierce like shards of ice. Giving Raven a jolt of surprise, "My brother is dead, killed in front of my eyes at the damn Wind colony attack."
Now it's Raven turn to be perplexed, what the fuck is Thomas talking about?
"Fool."
Thomas let out a roar of wicked laughter, so wicked that Raven accidentally dropped his mug and his pallid face jaw gaped in shock. Thomas Schubaltz has gone insane. Very, very sickly insane.
"I'll show you who the fool is now, I just came here to know what I need to know" he smiled coldly, much more wicked than Raven's. He raised his voice, "Shadow!"
The black organoid suddenly materialized beside Thomas aid.
"No," Raven finds himself angry, shock and disappointed. "Damn it Shadow! What's wrong with you?! Come here!"
He made a motion to reach for his dark organoid, but it seems that it failed to recognize him. It snapped back at Raven, attacking him, sending him crashing to the floor.
"It seems you have taken well of your Genobreaker," he said mockingly. "Shadow, mobilize!"
Raven watched in shock, as his organoid followed his enemy's order and swiftly rocketed to the woods and through the red zoid.
"Damn you, Thomas!" he snarled angrily, and made a move to lunge toward Thomas, but to no avail. The blonde produced a gun to his hand and shot Raven by the shoulder. Everything seem to went through a slow motion, he witnessed slowly as the genobreaker had taken a life on its own, the wicked smile of Thomas lips, as Raven himself slowly fell back-----back with his mouth open in an angry soundless scream, blood spurting out from his wound. There came another shot, another burning pain---and Raven felt like he no longer have control or feeling of his body. The shot injured him directly to the knee, busting his knee cap. He watched it bleed, broke and slowly everything seemed to sound so far away, then he felt his head hit the solid cold floor. He finds himself choking on his own blood, hazily remembering a thick shoe sole crushing his neck, depriving him painfully off air.
The blonde haze appears one last time the gun cocked in between his eyes, before he felt the darkness' embrace.
"See you in hell, Lieutenant Blitz Flyheight."
-continued-
** Yes I know, TOO CONFUSING isn't it? I might imagine a couple of shocked responses on 'where did THAT come from?' *sighs* let me put this---Thomas in here is not actually Thomas- but that of a parallel dimensional reality- hmmm, weird ne ~^; you can email me on your whine and i'll be sure to answer -Rav-chan **