"Contrasting Previous"

Chapter II

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DISCLAIMER AND WARNING: Same as before. Nothing's changed.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey! So, yeah, the second chapter of Contrasting Previous. I hope that it turned out the way you all hoped it would, I'm rather infatuated with this story myself. Anyway, I just wanna give a big shout out to all the Suikoden Yaoi writers, and those of the rest that wish that they were. Yeah, shout-outs.

Oh, yes, and this is about as artistic license as you're going to get... it's been a long time since I've played Suikoden I, but I'll try to do my best with accuracy, but, you know how that goes. Please, just read this with an open mind and keep in mind that I tried to do my best with keeping to the game. Wait, that's a lie.

HEY! Everyone watch out for a special guest appearance of Flik's Pout House... the actual house!

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In the warm and rather full bed Flik rolled restlessly, jostling Viktor into the present. The younger man growled something, a frown creasing his otherwise smooth brow even as he slept. Viktor laid a hand on him and almost immediately Flik's expression softened, becoming peaceful once more. The sudden change made Viktor laugh silently to himself -- if only the other man was as manageable during the day.

But the truth was that Flik was as fickle and volatile when he was awake as he was when he was sleeping. He'd been that way for as long as Viktor had known him, especially towards Viktor. Weathering Flik's moods had become a daily aspect of Viktor's life; one that he half enjoyed and half resented. Most times when Flik started taking on an imperious tone with him, Viktor would rather bring him down a peg than let it go. He supposed that was why most of their quarrels started.

The fights that he and Flik had were never long and rarely ever violent. To a certain degree Viktor took pleasure from them, the screamed arguments and the occasional tussle brought a bit of variety to his boring daily routine. And, of course, the make-up afterwards was fantastic. A small grin hovered around Viktor's lips. However, their clashes were now less frequent than when they first gotten together -- the easy camaraderie and deep understanding that comes with years upon years of time together made the relationship as smooth as it was ever likely to get.

In his sleep, Flik muttered something that may or may not have been Viktor's name and burrowed deeper into the mattress and the other man's side. Despite the warm temperatures outside, Flik's hands and feet were like blocks of ice resting on his chest and legs, causing Viktor to wonder if perhaps Flik was coming down with something. If he had, chances were that Viktor had already caught it as well. It didn't much matter -- Viktor couldn't think of many other things he'd rather be doing than being confined to his bed with the younger man for a week.

Viktor sighed. In the dark, deep silence of the night, sleep still would not come to him. Minutes passed unheard on the clock in the far side of the room until the hour hand struck three and the clock chimed softly. Viktor's eyelids didn't droop, but he closed them anyway, hoping to maybe fool himself into sleep. But instead his mind's eye was flooded once again by images of the past -- looking out of the Toran Castle and seeing a boat approach with a blue-caped figure standing on the deck... the expression of sadness and dread on Mathiu and Tir's faces as Flik was announced...

If Flik hadn't been so essential in the foundation of the Liberation Army, Viktor was sure that both the strategist and the young leader would have hoped that he would never return... if only to spare him the news of what had really happened down in the sewer. It was such a long time ago, but Viktor could still see the devastation of loss outlined in aching clarity on Flik's face...

And was only to get worse from there.

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"I am sorry, Flik, Odessa is dead." Mathiu delivered the news the best that he could, but it still came out sounding harsh. The small party assembled in the meeting room all looked away from the blue-clad man, Viktor included, the man's evident pain too strong and too personal to look upon. At that moment everyone wished they were somewhere else -- anywhere else, but here. None of them wanted to see Flik's strong, confident countenance crumble.

The atmosphere in the room was excruciatingly tense as Flik blinked, and, very slowly, said, "You're lying." Young Tir McDohl stepped forward, shaking his head, though even he could not meet Flik's eyes. The young man suddenly turned to Viktor, his eyes wide and begging for help. Viktor noticed that McDohl's hands were twisted in the rich cloth of his shirt to keep from wringing them. He felt sorry for the boy, and so lightly cleared his throat.

Flik's eyes lighted on Viktor, and suddenly his gaze turned a different kind of cold. Viktor supposed that it was for the best, at least Flik couldn't hate him any more. Keeping his expression as neutral and as apologetic as he could, Viktor tried to explain what happened. "We were ambushed in Lenankamp. There was a leak somewhere and they found out where we were. Odessa died saving a child that had snuck down into the sewer. She was already dying by the time we found her."

For a long time Flik didn't say anything, his head lowered and his hands curled into fists at his sides. Viktor wasn't sure, but he thought that the man might have been shaking. Finally, Flik looked up, and eyes that had been full of pain were now filled with accusation. "And you did nothing to save her?" He demanded, the question directed at Viktor.

"There was nothing we could do," he replied. Viktor was surprised to hear himself almost pleading with the other man. Why did he care so much about Flik's approval? He was never going to get it anyway.

Heedlessly, Flik shook his head. "You could have done something instead of just watching her die!" Viktor just looked at him as the younger man seethed. Sensing a possible conflict, Mathiu interrupted.

"In the meantime," the strategist said, "McDohl has taken command over the Liberation Army."

"What --!" If Mathiu was trying to calm Flik by telling him this, he failed, badly. Before anyone else in the room could say anything to either help or further anger the man, he had briskly turned, almost running from the Toran Castle. Flik's departure left the occupants of the meeting room feeling unsure about whether they should be relieved or even more unsettled. No one spoke, no one even looked at one another for several long moments. The room was silent save the sound of feet scraping on the stone floor and the occasional embarrassed cough.

"Someone will have to go get him," Mathiu said quietly, breaking the silence. "We need him desperately." McDohl paled at the implication that it should be him, finding the thought of spending more time with the angry, broken man unnerving. Yet, he did not try to pass this duty on to anyone else. Viktor found that extremely admirable, but totally unnecessary. The last person Flik would see would be McDohl followed immediately by Viktor. But Viktor wasn't afraid to use force to gain entry, if need be. He would go.

When he informed everyone else of this, McDohl's young face flooded with relief. He gave Viktor a grateful nod as the older, taller man ran from the castle, trying to catch up with Flik. By the time he'd gotten to the dock, Flik had already left, his boat yards away from the shore. That meant he'd have to wait another two hours or so for it to return. Viktor cursed as he watched the small vessel float away. He returned, his expression clouded with frustration, and waited in his room.

Three hours later he was on his way to Kaku. The boat bobbed and rocked along, and as much as he didn't like to admit it, Viktor couldn't hold back the wave of nausea that sent his stomach roiling as well. For most of the trip he hung about the deck, watching the small town grow bigger and bigger as they neared it and trying to keep the cramps that seized his belly at bay.

At least he would have no trouble finding Flik in a town of this size, if he were still here. A quick check with the men on the dock confirmed that yes, a man wearing all blue had come through here a few hours ago, he'd taken up in that house over yonder. Viktor didn't have time to be relieved that the other man had not gone too far. He had no idea if Flik would stay there much longer. Viktor ran to the house indicated to him by the villager, though it was only a quick jaunt.

A few men stationed outside looked at him oddly as he reached for the door but did nothing to stop him. Viktor burst into the dark, single-roomed cabin with a clatter, making the room's single occupant jump and stare. Flik regarded Viktor with barely leashed anger and loathing. The younger man's lip curled up in a sneer as he hissed, "What are you doing here?"

Viktor had already predicted that this wasn't a situation that he could smile and laugh his way through, and so did not even try to put Flik at ease. Instead, he just cut to the chase. "I want you to come back with me to the castle," he demanded, his voice clearly not leaving any room for arguments. That did not stop Flik, however.

"I don't want to go with you," Flik gritted out. He was leaning up against the dead stove, his hands twisted into white-knuckled fists on the top. "I want nothing to do with you or the Liberation Army."

This made Viktor snort and almost laugh. "What? Just because it's not going your way anymore you'll abandon your ideals? Or should I say Odessa's ideals? How childish." Viktor turned away, but not before he saw Flik almost come at him, death in his eyes.

"Don't you talk to me about Odessa," Flik growled. One of his hands rested on the hilt of his sword, so that he would be ready when he really did want to hack Viktor into pieces. He took a step forward. Viktor didn't miss the threats laden in his movements. He only hoped he would be able to fend Flik off without hurting him too much... right now the other man looked like he really wouldn't have any problems killing him.

"I'm sorry she's dead, Flik. Truly, I am, but..." Viktor started, not quite sure how to end the thought. For several seconds he floundered for words. Before he could come up with anything, Flik cut him off.

"Just shut up! I'm tired of hearing you talk!" The man's eyes were squeezed shut, his face a mask of torment. Viktor realized just how hard this must be for Flik and felt a little ashamed of himself for putting him through it. But it had to be done... if Flik didn't realize how much the Liberation Army needed him... Viktor took a step towards the other man.

"Don't come near me!" Flik screamed. "This... everything! It's your fault! I should never have left her with you! It's your fault Odessa is dead!" Viktor was taken aback by the man's ferocity, could only stare at Flik in stunned silence.

"Odessa made her own decision. In the end, she chose not to be a leader. There was nothing anybody could do." He said quietly, trying to placate Flik, but he was having none of it.

"I don't believe you," Flik whispered fiercely. "You let her die just because you wanted --"

Viktor was as surprised as Flik was when he struck him hard across the face. "Don't you dare...!" Viktor warned, lowering his hand and narrowing his eyes against Flik's shocked disbelief. "Don't you dare accuse me of that! It's disgusting! Do you think that you're the only one that is sorry she's gone or that is hurting from her death? I may not have been as close to Odessa as you were, but she was my friend too. I don't live only for you."

For a long time Flik was silent, moving only to spit the blood that Viktor had spilled at the larger man's feet. Oddly enough, Viktor could not make himself feel sorry for having hit Flik, and so made no move to comfort or apologize to the man. That he could be so selfish...! It made Viktor's already stinging hand itch to hit him again. He looked down at Flik and didn't bother to conceal his anger. The other man, however, kept his eyes trained on some point just beyond Viktor, his expression blank.

"...Get out." He whispered, so quietly that Viktor didn't hear him. Flik seemed to shake himself; he looked up and met Viktor's eyes once again. "Get out, I said! If I have to spend one more second with --" Flik seemed to get choked up in his anger. "With you, I'll kill you."

"You're coming back to the castle. I didn't come here for nothing," Viktor said, getting a hold of his temper. Flik closed his eyes in response.

"I'll go if I don't have to go with you," he muttered.

"That's fine. You go first." Viktor countered. Flik's opened and widened, acknowledging the insult. Viktor thought he would run away. Flik stood at his full height and pushed Viktor out of his way. The larger man hit his knees against a stray piece of furniture and barely managed to stay upright. Flik was out of the door before he completely righted himself. With a sigh Viktor fell into a nearby chair. He rested his head in his hands.

He still wasn't sorry about what he'd done. Flik had deserved it... and yet, there was still something there... Guilt, Viktor decided it was. Guilt for making Flik act like this and for ruining their chances of a relationship so completely. It didn't help that somewhere deep inside of him a voice was asking if maybe there had been something they could have done for Odessa, after all.

Viktor wasted no time in squashing the voice. Flik was not going to make him doubt himself.

Briskly, Viktor rubbed his face in an attempt to refresh himself. He vaguely wondered when last he had shaved. Everyone had been so busy the past few weeks; it was hard to keep track of even mundane things like shaving, anymore. He'd spent the whole day chasing Flik and ignoring his other duties. It would be hell when he finally got back to the castle. It was all Flik's fault, that bastard.

But then, Viktor couldn't really blame him. Flik's behavior was justified up to a point. After all, the woman he'd loved just died and was replaced by some kid Flik didn't even know... before that he'd had some perhaps treacherous foreigner coming on to him... He just wasn't having a good year. In an odd way Viktor was furious and sorry for him at the same time. Viktor hoped the man would be, for the lack of better word, better soon.

He'd seen it... Flik was immature and idealistic, but Viktor knew that he wasn't always like that. Most of the time, yes, but every now and then...

That was the Flik that Viktor was attracted to. That was the one that Viktor had felt sorry for when Flik's face had twisted in pain. The other made him want to hit things, and sometimes Viktor couldn't control his baser urges. He curled his hand into a loose fist. His palm was still red and burning with the blow he had dealt earlier. Viktor hated loosing control.

A soft tap at the door jerked Viktor out of his thoughts. "Yeah?" He called out. A face appeared, one of Flik's men who looked so skittish he would bolt with one loud noise. The young man cleared his throat.

"Sir Flik told me to tell you that he left on the last boat of the day... It won't come back until morning."

Viktor shot out of his chair. "What?! Damn it!!" He slammed his fists down on the table and, as he predicted, the young man shot from the door like some perturbed bird. Viktor threw himself back down in the chair, his rage impotent. He saw Flik smirking triumphantly in his mind's eye and his hands curled into fists again. He wished they were curled around Flik's finely arched, pale column of a beautiful neck instead.

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end part 2

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author: looks like its official...this'll probably be an epic. which is bad for me!! I have to get this done before August 20!! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the sickening display of UST above, and of course, I'm always happy to receive your comments, praise, and criticism. So, just send it all in. Oh, yes, you'll have to trust that I'm going somewhere with this, because I am. It's just taking more time than I thought, is all.

Yay! I love you guys!! Go Flik and Viktor.