Sorry about all the foul language. Dilly-sama has such a potty mouth. But I suppose we cannot blame him, ne? If I were Dilly I'd want to cuss a lot, too. Thank-you for your reviews! *gets all smiley.* They let me know that I'm talking to an audience, and not just to myself. Although, I don't mind talking to myself, there are a lot of people to talk to. However, it's always nicer talking to someone intelligent for a change. Look at me, I'm just stalling by talking so much! Here, let's stall some more with a disclaimer! Those are funny.
DISCLAIMER: I don' own the Esca boys, and the world is better for it. Much yaoi lemony goodness would ensue. And Hitomi fans would have a pleasant little gravesite to visit. So I don't think that'd be good for the general public's sanity. But I don't much care for the general public, do I?
Mu. Or Moo. Or even Mue! If you can think of more ways to spell this word, alert me by email! I like getting email. You could email me just to bug me. Or see what I plan on Doing for the day. I'm serious. I rarely even get junk mail, how's that for pathetic, huh?! TOP THAT! I dare You! I bet you're too cowardly to accept my challenge! Gya HA HA!!
Anyhow, I should probably begin writing this chapter, huh? Sorry about all the rambling, it's 12:17 am. But, if you were smart, you probably simply just skipped this extra long into and started reading, ne?
" Gatti, what's happening to me?" he hissed under his breath. "I can't feel anything."
Gatti watched wide-eyed at his commander. Dilandau stood and dragged himself over to the oil lamp on his desk. Its dancing flame seemed to laugh at the soldier's weakened state. Dilandau turned his hand though the flame. Smoke blackened his hand quickly and it began to sizzle as the water in his skin started to evaporate. He smiled to see the fire was having fun.
" I don't feel it. Usually it kinda hurts and I know I'm still alive, but I'm oblivious to the pain now," he rocked his head back to look at the stunned boy-solider, " Do you think I'm dead?"
He weaved his way back to Gatti and sat in front of him. He blew out the few remaining flames on his hand. Gatti remained silent, afraid of this desensitivity and averted his eyes. Dilandau ran his hot, charred fingers down Gatti's face, and snickered at Gatti's reaction. Gatti flinched, how could his commander not feel that? Just seeing that happen was torture. Sure, he was a pyro and used to burns, but this was major!
"Do I feel dead, Gatti? Come on, be honest," he taunted as Gatti forced himself not to shy away from his touch.
"Sir, Albatou-sama, sir, let me. . . let me bandage that up. Your hand will become infected you won't be able to use it if I'm not allowed to do that, . . . .sir," Gatti said, trying really hard to persuade his captain to allow him to save his precious, perfect hand. How would he be able to fight as is? What if we got a mission call? What if the dragon showed up? What if, what if . . .
Dilandau looked at his hand, unfazed. He sneered, " Fine, go ahead. Nothing is going to die before me if I can help it. I'm going to be the very first one to see him again and I'll pay that bastard back."
Gatti, decided not to comment, he was on dangerous ground anyhow. He ran to retrieve the medical supplies and returned as quickly as possible. Dilandau was back on the bed. He lay on his back, and appeared if he was trying to get into the most vulnerable position possible, with arms and legs spread away from each other. He simply stared into empty void. Gatti called out his name, no reply. He didn't even blink when Gatti began to dress the burn.
It was too quiet, Gatti couldn't even hear the hum of the Vione's engines whirring. No birds, not even the clock on the mantle seemed to make a sound. He listened for his own heartbeat. It felt as if he'd gone deaf. He quickly checked his pulse, just to be sure. He laughed at himself for falling into his commander's delusion for a moment, the sound of his own voice startled him. He did his best, considering he only had basic medical training. It would heal, and Dilandau-sama would fight again. Finished, Gatti turned to go, but Dilandau grabbed his wrist.
"Don't leave me alone with him, Gatti. I won't forgive you if you do."
Gatti swallowed the nervous lump in his throat, " Hai, Dilandau-sama."
"Then come lay down with me. Show him I'm already taken, that way he can't have me. In fact, let's make him jealous. We'll make his blood boil, I know he's watching me. Come down here, get me if you want me so badly!" Dilandau yelled at Shi, then he rolled his head to look at Gatti with strange, empty eyes. "Come on Gatti, what are you waiting for? Why don't you jump me? Isn't that what you've always wanted to do?"
Dilandau sat up and pulled Gatti next to him on the bed. Dilandau wrapped his hands around Gatti's face and tried to pull him closer. The boy-solider didn't want to, not like this. This was just scary, why was his commander doing this to him? It hurt. It hurt when he shoved needles into his heart. Gatti squirmed and did his best to worm his way out of his patrons grasp, but failed oh so miserably.
"No . Sir. . . I've got to get back to the ranks . . .," was followed by some incoherent excuse.
"Just do what I say, you piece of shit!"
"NO!" Gatti yanked himself away and backed up. "You're delirious! Just stay here and take care of yourself for once! Leave me BE!"
Dilandau was livid as he leapt to his feet and prowled towards Gatti, snarling at him like a lion," You are MY Slayer and you will do as I say, NO questions asked! Do you hear me?! Now get over here!"
"No."
Oh, the woe that can come from that word. Gatti suffered it all wordlessly. Somewhere along the way Dilandau had found a bottle of vino and that only fueled his animalistic passion even more. Gatti could not do a thing but endure it with silent grace. His choice was to follow his commander. This was his own fault. His own fault . . . but it hurts . . . Dilandau-kun, where did you go?
Tick . . .
In Dilandau's mind all he could see was red flanked by the cruel laughter of It. He sacrificed heaven for the Slayers, and it wasn't worth it. This dog needed to understand that it was his fault. 'No.' How dare he?! Betrayal, disloyalty, disgraces! Dilandau didn't even care if Gatti existed any more. Even still . . . he did care for his injured hand. That isn't enough to forgive! Is it?
Tock . . .
Gatti doubled in on himself then spat up blood. Please, gods, let him be sparred to see the morning. If he asked for nothing else, let him be spared now. When the next blow didn't come, it seemed that the gods of Gaia had answered his prayer. Gatti peeked up to see what was going on. Dilandau had the sweetest, concerned look on his face, he actually looked his age, an innocent 15 year-old boy. Not the drunk, psychologically unstable, pyromaniac General with a small task force and a messed up background with too much experience in the art of war he actually was.
"Gatti, will you be ok?" a smile played on his lips, "I think I just had too much to drink. The demon is stayed for now. I'm kinda tiered. Why don't you give me a kiss and you can go to bed, ok?"
What the hell kind of mood swing is that?! Well how convenient for Dilandau-sama to just all the sudden feel sorry for beating me half to death! Gatti heaved himself to a sitting position, spitting up more blood in the process. Dilandau just watched, patiently.
"You sick-o. Some Captain, beats his subordinate. Really tough of you, you know that?" Gatti spat, glaring at Dilandau.
Dilandau gave *that* infamous smirk to Gatti. He pulled the weak and beaten Gatti close to his chest, ear over heart. " Do you hear that? I am still alive, and your commander. I decide what happens to you . . I would be nice if I were you." Dilandau said in a whisper.
Gatti shook with fear as Dilandau passed on the kiss of Shi to him. But, he became swept up in it. Dilandau tasted sweet, like black cherries. The sun was setting and was already well into twilight. Stars gazed at them with envy, that Dilandau would have a mortal in their stead. Gatti elicited a moan as Dilandau started caressing the bruises on his neck with his mouth. No one would dream like this, but how could this be reality? A surreal state held them for a time, and it was good. It was just he and the only person that held any meaning in his life now, Dilandau-kun.
Gatti was brought back to merciless reality when Dilandau slapped him, "That's for earlier, and for making me care about you. Now leave."
So Gatti left, the poison of Death's kiss already running hot in his veins. That poison that kept suicide just as out, just as out of reach as life was. Desire and hate, fascination and disgust filled Gatti for both the world and himself. Still, nothing changes.
Only Miguel noticed as Gatti silently came to bed.
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yup. That's the chapter. Wow. That's creeping even me out. Is it a good sign when what the author has written even freaks her out? I'm not even sure any more . . . Any-hoo!
Alert! I am NOT, simply NOT updating till I have a total of /5/ reviews for THIS chapter! I'm sorry. But you can always review!