"Contrasting Previous"

Part 3

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WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS: Still the same.

NOTES: At which point I officially deviate from the original story line and step into Flik's HELL.

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Flik came awake all at once; groggy and unsure as to what had awoken him. Beside him, or rather, on top of him, Viktor slept on heedlessly. Flik glanced at the clock; it was 5:00 am. He settled back down on the bed, making sure to tuck himself back under the larger man. In the years that they'd been together, Flik had grown accustomed to the... erratic way Viktor slept, and nowadays had trouble sleeping without the weight of the man's arm, leg, or whatever on top of him. It was a silly situation.

Although it had not crested the horizon, the sun's light bleached the sky a dull, faded gray. During this time of day Flik thought that everything seemed monochrome, like the world had become washed-out and dingy. Even Viktor, whose heart beat strong under his cheek, seemed to fade. The olive-toned flesh under Flik's hands should have appeared bronzed and tan, yet under the spectral light it seemed almost blue. His own hands appeared indistinct and vaporous as they meandered over Viktor's chest.

Flik looked away from his hands and up to Viktor. The planes and hollows of his face stood out in sharp relief, exaggerated by shadow. Ghosting along one of Viktor's prominent cheekbones, Flik's fingers traced the outlines of his face. He was handsome, in his way; Flik could now admit that to himself unashamedly. Years ago he couldn't look at the other man without feeling uncomfortable -- as if even admitting an interest in Viktor was a sign of personal weakness. Before that he couldn't even be in the same room with him for any period of time.

When had it changed? Flik asked himself. When had Viktor gone from being the bane of his existence to the most important person in his life? Things had gone from bad to worse after Flik had arrived to stay in the castle, when even the smallest glance from Viktor would throw Flik into a rage. After awhile, neither of the men would have anything to do with the other. Flik would leave when Viktor arrived, and vice versa. Once upon a time Viktor might have carried some interest in Flik, but whatever it was it was gone now. Or at least it seemed to Flik that it was.

It was then that Flik finally started to notice the other man. For so long he'd had Viktor's admiration and desire -- and then suddenly it was gone. He may never have wanted the attention, but that fact that he had it... Seven years later Flik knew he had taken Viktor's attempted friendship for granted. Seven years later he was still ashamed of himself and his horrible behavior. Had he really been such a fool? It was hard to believe that he was the same man. Maybe he wasn't.

Of course, he hadn't been mature enough to admit any of this to himself at the time. He was deluding himself -- to him, it was still all Viktor's fault. Flik closed his eyes, wishing the painful memories away. It hurt to remember. But what choice did he have, here in the dark? Viktor couldn't chase Flik's demons away while he was sleeping... especially when the demon was himself.

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Lightning exploded over the vast surface of Toran Lake and with it seemed to unleash another heavy torrent of rain. High winds buffeted the castle walls -- if the structure had been any less solid it would have swayed with the sheer power in it. The storm had come upon them suddenly from the west, heavy black clouds heralding the arrival of spring in Toran. Sitting in an empty corridor, gazing out the window, Flik wondered if there was a season in the north that didn't announce itself with nasty weather.

Flik couldn't sleep. It was long past midnight, but he was still as restless as he had been after training today. Perhaps it was the storm and the strange electrical stir in the air, or just something as simple as his dinner, but the second Flik laid down, he'd immediately think of a reason why he should be up instead.

Lightning struck again, closer this time. Flik felt the rune in his right hand hum in response and its power course through his body. That also could be the reason... the rune always did this in electrical storms; it grew stronger when near its elemental force. Flik had worn the lightning rune for so long he could feel it in his bones: a stretching sensation, as his body was flooded with muted energy. It was hell to ignore, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He took a moment to calm himself. Flik couldn't remember what it was that pulled him from his bed this time. He'd been distracted and overtaken in the seething mass of rain, wind, and thunder outside. It was drafty, so near the window and the chilly air caused a rash of goose bumps to arise on his skin. Flik was dressed only in his sleeping bottoms, but that was fine. He wasn't expecting to run into anyone this late.

Flik's bare feet slapped on the cold stone floor as he made his way down the corridor. It was odd that a castle that was so alive and bustling during the day could be so dead at night. On his way back to his room he passed several doors, all of them shut up for the night. All except one, that is. The door to Viktor's room stood slightly ajar, allowing a small peek at what lied within. The man was such an idiot, Flik thought. How could he trust everyone in the castle that much? Why, anyone could just walk in and steal whatever they pleased, or worse...

Not thinking much of it, Flik traversed the hall to close the door, but was surprised to see his hand reach out and swing it open instead. The hinges let loose an ungodly wail, but luckily for Flik, Viktor remained sprawled out on the tiny bed, snoring. Light spilled into the room through the room's single window for a split second, but it was long enough for Flik to catch his bearings. He crossed the room and looked down at the man as he slept. What was he doing here? His mind screamed. Quit wasting your time! Yet, Flik felt compelled to stay.

Viktor slept naked, his mind dully noted. The larger man tossed in his sleep, throwing an arm out and narrowly missing Flik. Flik took a tentative step back. Where was the hatred he was supposed to feel towards this man? The loathing and disgust? Did they only exist during the day, when the man was awake? His body was thrumming but, he realized with a shock, it wasn't because of the weather outside anymore. A myriad of emotions played over Flik's face before settling on horror. He wanted to run, get away from Viktor, now. Flik wasn't thinking as he bolted -- he couldn't even see. It was no small wonder when the ever graceful Blue Lightning collided with a chair, sending him crashing to the floor.

The man on the bed awoke with a snort, jarred awake by Flik's tumble to the ground. It took him a second to realize the source of the sound had come from the half-naked man lying spread eagle on his floor. His voice still roughened with sleep, Viktor groused, "Flik? What are you doing there?"

Flik slowly sat up, cradling his pounding head. He didn't answer Viktor's question, just stared. The other man's blankets had slipped. Flik could see more of Viktor than he'd ever wanted to see...

...right? Right?

Viktor laughed; it was an ugly, humorless sound. "Get out," he muttered. "I'm not interested. Find some other chump to assuage your pain."

The words hit Flik like a punch in the gut. He hadn't been trying to... regardless, the flat-out rejection hurt. It didn't matter, it doesn't matter! You don't like him, anyway, remember? He killed Odessa...! "Damn you, Viktor," he said, his voice a fierce whisper. There was the hatred and loathing, Flik thought. It's only when he opens his mouth! "That's not what I'm here for!"

"Oh? Why are you here?" Viktor turned and sat at the edge of the small bed. He made to run a hand through his sleep-tousled hair, but stopped mid-gesture, resting the hand on his knee instead.

"I --" Flik began, but stopped. He had no idea why he was here. Because the door was open? That was a lame excuse. He looked away from Viktor. Damn it, damn it! How was it that he got himself into these situations?

Viktor laughed again. "Exactly," he replied, "now leave before I throw you out."

"Why don't you look at me anymore?" Flik blurted, surprising even himself. He slapped a hand over his mouth and cursed himself as twenty kinds of fool.

Viktor looked taken aback as well for a moment, but he quickly recovered and smiled widely. "Because I've given up on you. What's the point of looking if you hate everything about me?" Viktor paused, waiting to see if Flik would deny it. When he did not, Viktor pushed on. "And, well, I suppose the fact that you're selfish and immature has something to do with it, too."

"I'm not!" Flik cried, getting to his feet. He staggered, the pain behind his eyes flaring. He must have hit his head harder that he thought.

"Yes, you are!" Viktor responded. "Even now you're blaming me for that fall you took. Let me guess, if I hadn't left my door open and lured you in here, you wouldn't have fallen, right?"

"That's right!" The younger man snapped, not even realizing that Viktor had just admitted to leaving his door open on purpose.

Viktor made a disgusted sound deep in his throat. "Get out, or I really will slap the hell out of you."

"I'm go --" Flik broke off, the pounding in his head becoming too much. He doubled over as his vision flashed red and then slowly became dim. Falling back on his rear to the hard stone floor, Flik collapsed next to the toppled chair. "...Ow," he croaked.

"You're an idiot," Viktor said, getting up from his bed. "You cracked your head open on my floor while sneaking into my room at night."

"I know," Flik bit out, all of his anger suddenly gone. Once again he tried to stand and once again he ended up flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Viktor watched him with a blank look on his face, wondering when Flik would just give up and pass out or ask for help. He figured the other man would probably die before he asked for anything from him. So be it, then. Viktor settled in to wait.

Flik fainted the next time he struggled upright. Viktor would have been content just to leave him there on the floor -- it was his own stupid fault he was there anyway -- until he saw the pained look on Flik's face. It was so pathetic to see him lying there that it even made Viktor, who had been ready to beat Flik within an inch of his life a few moments before, feel compassionate. He scooped the younger man up and dumped him into the bed unceremoniously.

Not too compassionate, apparently.

Sighing, Viktor stepped into a pair of pants, but that was the most he was going to do for Flik. Viktor shoved the smaller man to the far side of the bed and climbed in after him. He'd be damned if he was going to lug him all the way back to his room or give up his own bed. He wasn't keeping Flik here just because he wanted to see the look on the other's face when he woke up in the morning, nor was he doing it to exact his own form of sick revenge.

Of course he wasn't. He just found this bed extremely comfortable, is all. A self-satisfied grin settled on Viktor's lips.

Before committing himself to sleep, Viktor's eyes once again scanned the room and he realized that the door was still open. His smile widened. He wasn't going to close it -- he had left it open for a reason. It got stuffy in his room, and since he couldn't open his window with a storm raging on outside, Viktor had left his door open to keep the air circulating. Boy, he sure didn't hope people would rush in and wake him up like they did the last time he'd left his door open.

Viktor snickered into the dark.

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end part 3

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A/N: I know, I know, it's really short. But I couldn't make this chapter any longer, I'm sorry! Please don't be mad!!