"Contrasting Previous"

DISCLAIMERS: Don't own.

WARNINGS: Shonen-ai, will get better at the end, I promise. This is incomplete, by the way. Expect the last and second chapter before the end of August.

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Seven years ago today, Viktor joined the Liberation Army. The world had changed a lot since then, thanks to him and his comrades. He liked to think he had changed as well, and maybe he had -- maybe he hadn't. He could still look in the mirror and see the man who led Tir McDohl into greatness and the man who had rescued a skinny pale boy from a river two years ago. He had aged a bit, but then, hadn't they all? War did that to people -- he had seen it firsthand, twice. He had seen the faces of those he loved the most turn haggard or fierce with an oncoming battle, had even watched a few soften as they took their last breath.

The point was it had taken him a lot to get to where he was today. So much had happened to him, for the good and for the bad. And sometimes when he was having trouble getting to sleep at night, when the omnipresent breathing nearby failed to soothe him, he would get lost in reverie. Tonight was one of those nights, he supposed. Even as he toyed with his sleeping partner's fine hair and bandana, his mind was far away, back to a time when all of this had only been a glimmer in Viktor's wildest imagination.

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The world outside the window was an endless pale gray, the raindrops smattering relentlessly against the panes made the landscape appear either melted or crystalline, Viktor was unsure which. It had been raining for over three days now; the ensuing floods threatened to wash the small city of Lenankamp away. As it was, the water in the sewer meeting room of the Liberation Army was already up to his ankles and probably getting higher by the minute. For the moment, all the meetings were being postponed. Nobody wanted to talk war with wet feet.

That left Viktor high and dry -- in more ways than one -- with nothing to do. He wasn't much into the whole strategy and planning part of this operation, as either Sanchez or Odessa easily bested everything he came up with. Viktor liked to think of himself as the brawn behind the brains; anything they came up with he could and would readily carry out. And also, he brought a spark of personality the group so desperately needed.

So far, he was the newest member of the Liberation Army. Although Viktor wasn't originally from the Toran Republic, he had taken up their causes as his own and pledged to never stop fighting until the fall of the Scarlet Moon Empire. The past few months Viktor had spent in collaboration with his colleagues as they planned great things for this new country they were to create. Everyday was an exercise in conspiracy and everything he said was uttered in a hushed whisper. All in all, it wasn't exactly as he had thought it would be. But that was alright; he hadn't had much to do, anyway.

But there was an upside. Viktor had met all sorts of new and interesting people. He was still fairly new to Toran and joining with the army had really let him see more of it. From the Golden Capitol of Gregminster to the stout stone buildings of the Dwarf Village, Viktor had toured the country always looking for someone to help with the war effort. The members who came before him were pleasant enough as well.

Odessa, the leader of the whole affair, was a woman with beliefs and morals of steel who still managed to be kind and gentle. She guided the resistance with an open hand -- willing to accept help where she could find it and at the same time, ready to smite her enemies as they made themselves apparent. Viktor admired her superior leadership abilities and her beauty -- if only from afar. She really wasn't his type, and in any case, there was another that had captured his attention: Odessa's possessive young lover, a man named Flik.

Originally from the Warrior's Village, Flik was truly the main strength of the army. Whatever they decided down in that dank little room, it was usually Flik who put the plan into action. He was tall for a southerner, with the oddest mix of blond and brown hair. Viktor wasn't sure if that was a common trait for one of his nationality or if he was some fluke, but he enjoyed the quirk nonetheless. Flik had fine features and flawless pale skin, a combination Viktor had noticed and appreciated almost immediately after meeting the man. But has he stated before, Flik was hopelessly devoted to Odessa and probably frighteningly heterosexual as well, making Viktor's chances with the young man slim to nil. He cursed his bad luck, but figured if it was meant to be, then he would have met Flik when he was unattached and easily taken advantage of. If that was possible at all.

So for now, Viktor sat in the bar of the local inn, watching as the landscape drifted away. A beer sat untouched in front of him, making a wet ring on the table as condensation slowly ran off the mug. The conversations of many filled his ears, flowing together into an angry torrent of noise not unlike what it must have sounded like outside. Viktor closed his eyes and imagined it was the pulse of a river and not the pulse of fifty sweaty bodies enclosed in a space far too small.

Normally Viktor would have made himself part of that river, talking and yelling and arguing, but today his heart was just not in it. Maybe it was the rain that dampened his spirits, perhaps it was something else, but today the sound of everyone else having a good time just made him sad instead of making him want to join in.

Viktor placed a single coin on the table as he got up, along with the unfinished beer. He knew as he ascended the stairs that his room would hold no comfort either, but for lack of any other place to go, opened the door and entered anyway. Much to his surprise, Flik was waiting for him there, arms crossed over his chest, looking disdainfully about the room. Before Viktor could say anything, Flik turned and pinned him with the same unpleasant look.

"Where have you been? A meeting was called fifteen minutes ago," he said, lips curling up in an impatient sneer. Flik was obviously a man who hated to be kept waiting.

"I was in the bar. If you needed me -- " Viktor frowned, hating the curt tone the other was taking with him. It had a hint of superiority in it, like Flik thought he was better than Viktor was and he was trying hard to restrain that thought.

"I should have known." Flik interrupted as he brushed past him. Evidently Viktor had been dismissed and the conversation was over. Viktor turned to watch as Flik walked down the hall, moving like he had a purpose.

As prominent in the Liberation Army as Flik was, one would think that he could be a bit more inconspicuous. But the man's almost constant frown and determined manner -- not to mention the bright blue cape and headband -- seemed, at least to Viktor, to arouse quite a bit of suspicion. But no matter what he thought. He was just some crazy foreigner who joined because it seemed like the thing to do at the time, which was clearly what Flik thought.

Viktor waited a few moments before following the man into the main room. Unlike Flik, he did have a sense for the covert when it suited him. By the time he got there everyone else had already gathered. Odessa sat at the head of the table with a frown creasing her brow. The other's eyes darted nervously about the room. As unlikely as it was, they were always afraid of their cover being blown. Viktor took a seat at the far end of the table. He looked over at Flik, unfriendly expression and all, and Viktor realized it probably wasn't as unlikely as he thought it was.

The meeting came into session as Viktor sat down. Odessa greeted him with a friendly smile, happy, or at least pretending to be, that he was here. Viktor imagined that she greeted everyone she met with that face. It certainly disarmed one. Who could believe that such a lady could ever be planning a coup?

"Welcome, Viktor." Odessa said warmly, before her eyes turned hard and the authority she so masterfully held asserted itself. "It's come to our attention that there has been an incident in Gregminster. Barbarossa and Lady Windy are moving and General Teo is involved in somehow as well, though we don't know in what way." The men around the table gazed at her respectfully as she continued. "Even a disturbance as small as this could just be the opportunity we need to get the edge over the Empire."

"What do you purpose to do, my lady?" Sanchez said quietly. He leaned forward onto his folded hands.

"Viktor, I want you to check it out. See what this could mean for us." Flik shot out of his seat, the chair clattering to the floor behind him.

"Why him?" He protested; hands curled into fists on the tabletop. "We don't even know if he can be trusted or not!"

"Flik. I have faith in him, why don't you? They know all of our faces already. We need him!" Now Odessa was standing as well, frowning sternly at Flik. Flik returned her frown for several intense seconds before sitting down and looking away. Viktor wondered whether the man he was upset because he knew Odessa was right, or if he was just embarrassed because the woman had reprimanded him.

"Anyway," she said, turning away from Flik, "I need you to head out there as soon as possible and report back within four days. If you stay out longer than that, we will be forced to assume that you've been captured." Once again she smiled. "Just go with your instincts on this one."

"You got it," said Viktor jovially, despite the gravity of the situation. He rose from the table, sparing only a quick glance at Flik. The other man refused to look at him, but on his face was an angry scowl. Viktor absently wondered what he would look like without it, but figured Odessa was the only one lucky enough to see that. He left the meeting room to go pack for his overnight stay in Gregminster.

He was glad Odessa had decided to give this mission to him. Viktor had spent far too much time cooped up in the tiny inn and he felt that if he stayed here a minute longer he would explode. He would have rather left on good terms with everyone -- as good as they could be, of course. Viktor noticed that the longer he was in the group the more he pissed Flik off. The man may have been beautiful, but he was a real bitch as well. But Viktor supposed those two traits often went hand in hand, anyway.

When Viktor had made a small pack with only the bare essentials he went downstairs to check out of the inn. A few of the other guests waved good-bye to him from their drunken haze and he happily returned the gesture. The innkeeper looked at him oddly, perhaps because he planned to travel even though there was a heavy downpour outside, but took his key and his money regardless.

Viktor paused before the door to put his coat on, useful only because it was made from oiled leather, not because it provided any real warmth or looked good. Almost immediately after closing the door of the inn behind him, a hand grabbed his wrist and squeezed with surprising strength. Flik stood there, malice dancing in his clear blue eyes. The pressure of his hand increased before Flik spoke.

"I don't trust you and I don't have faith in you," he said coldly. He stared up into Viktor's face, unabashed, awaiting a reply. Flik either hadn't noticed or hadn't cared that Viktor was a good seven inches taller than he was and that just one of his hands could easily encircle both of his wrists. Rather than smashing the smaller man, Viktor just smiled, though it was really more of a baring of teeth.

Inwardly, Viktor sighed as he calmly pried Flik's fingers off of his wrist. He truly did like the man -- he thought they could have been friends, if Flik had wanted to be. But if this was the way it was going to go, well, then, he couldn't let a threat go unanswered, could he?

Flik remained expressionless as Viktor slammed him against the side of the inn. One hand kept a tight hold of his throat and the other anchored both of Flik's above his head. Despite Flik's efforts to remain neutral, Viktor saw panic flash in Flik's eyes before he quickly stamped it down. He nervously licked his lips before locking eyes with Viktor again. That unconscious, quick movement suddenly reminded Viktor of just whom he had pinned between himself and the wall of the inn.

Ah, what to do, what to do. Viktor was of two minds then, the sensible one telling him to let him go; that one wrong turn doesn't deserve another. The other said to do what he liked -- they were never going to be friends, anyway.

"Do you have something to say to me?" Flik asked, as though this was all a great inconvenience to him and he had a million better things to be doing instead of finishing what he started. It was then that Viktor decided that consequences be damned, the man was asking for something -- and this was a hell of a lot nicer than beating the crap out of him.

Keeping his hand securely on his throat, but moving it so that he could tilt Flik's face up, he looked steadily into Flik's eyes. "Yeah, I have something to say to you," Viktor replied. Flik snorted, obviously expecting an insult or something else to further waste his time. But Viktor continued, "I would have liked to be your friend, even after the hard time you've been giving me but you're never going to let that happen, are you?"

Flik's lips came back from his teeth in a growl. "I don't want you as my friend. I have enough," he said.

"We'll see about that," Viktor returned. He stood there for a few moments more, getting soaked by the rain, thinking, and trying to make up his mind. After a while, he asked, "How do you really feel about Odessa, Flik?"

Flik, who up until this point had been struggling to get his hands free to no avail, stopped and pinned Viktor with a look of pure loathing.

"That's none of your damn business! Let go of me!" Flik gave one final jerk to his wrists, and when nothing happened he just glared up at the other man defiantly, smiling a little. "She doesn't really go for men like you, anyway."

Viktor couldn't restrain the laugh that bubbled up from his chest. "Is that what you think? You are a stupid man!" Flik's expression turned from spiteful to bewildered. "If you could see farther than down the length of your nose, you might have realized that it isn't her I'm interested in."

"What --!" Flik exclaimed but was cut off by Viktor's lips on his. For a long moment Flik was too taken aback to respond in any manner, and even after the shock wore out he could not pull away. Eventually Viktor pulled back, releasing the man all at once. Flik remained frozen, unable to move despite the hands that no longer held him. Viktor sat back and watched him, taking in his reaction. All at once Flik's eyes turned angry and he lashed out before Viktor had a chance to defend himself. He felt his jaw pop out of place as Flik's fist made contact with it. He fell backwards into the mud holding his face. Flik glared at him hatefully before turning around and going back in the inn. Through the sound of the rain and the excruciating pain in his face, Viktor thought he heard Flik say something like, "...disgusting." He would have laughed if he could've.

With shaking hands Viktor removed his gloves. He took a deep breath -- he knew this was going to hurt -- and, placing two fingers behind his back teeth, pushed until he felt the bone slide back into place with a sickening 'pop.' Viktor held onto consciousness only by sheer will. Who knew Flik was that strong?

He picked himself up out of the mud and had to wait until his vision stopped swimming before he went to retrieve his pack and headed out to the road. He really should have seen that one coming. Did he expect Flik not to retaliate? Perhaps he hoped his feelings would be returned after all. What a laugh. He should have just gone with his instincts and left well enough alone. But he had always been like that. Viktor, growing up, had always been the one to poke the sleeping animal and then to run home crying and bleeding after. But then, he'd always had a mother to go crying to. Nowadays, he didn't know anyone well enough to ask him to please relocate his jaw.

His face was already starting to bruise by the time Viktor finally got out of Lenankamp. The mud sucking at his boots made walking extremely difficult, and the road was nothing more than a viscous death trap waiting for him to fall to his watery grave. And Viktor would have, if he wasn't driven forward by the need to prove Flik wrong.

The way it was looking now, Viktor expected to barely reach Gregminster by dark and that was if he didn't get held up by anything else. He thanked God he wasn't in Jowston, where the rain would be freezing if it weren't snow. He'd be lucky as it was, if he didn't catch a cold. He was already running a fever from the little mishap with his jaw.

He breathed a sigh of relief when the bright golden lights of Gregminster graced his vision like a vision of angels descending from heaven. Even though he'd been wearing his coat, water had managed to soak through every surface on his body -- he felt like the dampness had come through his skin to his very bones. He was eager for a room with a fire and some dry clothes.

Luckily for him, when Viktor got to the inn the innkeeper was still awake, though she looked at him like he was some monster straggling indoors, intent only on dirtying her rugs. He paid for a room with the money Odessa supplied him with and went straight up to it instead of lingering in the bar for an hour or two as was his usual custom. His jaw was throbbing in agony and the thought of drinking, much less eating, made him feel sick to his stomach.

The first thing Viktor did upon entering the room was strip off all of his clothes, leaving them in a wet heap on the floor. He kindled a fire next, building the flames into a roar before sitting back on his haunches and enjoying the heat. It wasn't long before his eyelids started to droop. Viktor laid his clothes out by the fire, praying that it would be enough to dry them by morning. Then he made his way to bed, smothering the room's single lamp before he tumbled into the awaiting sheets, asleep before his head hit the pillow.

When he awoke the next morning the sun was shining brilliantly through a few straggling clouds. It was an unexpected but welcomed surprise. Viktor rose and found the fire he had built reduced to glowing embers, but his clothes were thankfully dry. As he was pulling them on his stomach released a pitiful sound telling him that, despite the sore, throbbing pain in his face, he needed to eat something.

The bar downstairs was empty, not surprising for the early hour. He asked the lady there for some water and biscuits with honey, nothing he'd really have to chew very hard. When the woman bustled away to get his food, Viktor took a seat near the back, hoping to have a moment of peace before he started on his mission. Shortly after sitting down, he heard the sounds of a scuffle in the main lobby.

Viktor waited for as long as he could before his curiosity took the best of him and he peeped around the corner for a look. A group of people stood there with a boy, surrounded by guards. They didn't look like people the guard would usually give trouble to. The boy in the center, afraid, but obviously trying not to be, was familiar. Then Viktor realized, of course, he was Teo's son. This must have something to do with what he'd come here for.

Thinking fast, Viktor came up behind the group of people, snatching a purse at random. The guard was easily bought off -- he sauntered away with the pilfered money. Viktor quickly exited the hotel, hoping the others would follow behind him, and they did. When he was a safe distance away he turned to face the people he'd rescued.

"I'm Viktor," he said, when they'd caught up. The adults crowded around the boy, shielding him from Viktor's view. But before one of them could speak, he broke out of the group and, presenting a hand to Viktor, said, "I'm..."

And that was the first time Viktor met Tir McDohl.

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Ah, ah, end part one! So, what'd you think? I'm trying to put a different kind of twist on the whole Viktor/Flik/Odessa thing that comes up so frequently. If I'm succeeding or not is your opinion. Well, anyway, I DO hope you enjoyed it, because I wrote this right before my mom went in to the hospital and I kinda forgot about it! I do like this story's ending, so I'll try to write it out and post it soon, okay? Everyone have a nice day, and thanks for taking the time to read it. I do appreciate any feedback, as well.

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