Title: Metal Gear Solid: Elements of Destruction- Chapter 11: Before the Storm
Author: The Ice Goddess (FrozenBlueIce)
Fandom: Metal Gear Solid
Feedback: All feedback is welcome, whether it be negative or positive. I'm trying to improve on my writing so, please be honest: frozenblueice@yahoo.com
Pairing: The main pairing of this story is Snake/Otacon, which is obvious to anyone who knows of my fondness for Hal Emmerich, so therefore alright to disclose. There are others, but if I told you what they were, it'd ruin the story.
Series: No. There may be sequels in the future, but right now that is looking unlikely due to time constraints.
Rating: PG-13 for very mild sexual content (this chapter only)
Disclaimer: All characters appearing in previous Metal Gear Solid video games are the property of Konami Computer Entertainment of Japan, and of their creator, Mr. Hideo Kojima. All new characters are the property of The Ice Goddess. This is a work of fanfiction, and in no way, shape, or form will I receive any monetary compensation for it. It is for entertainment purposes only.
Type: Action/Shounen-ai
Summary: This story takes place one year after the events of "The Big Shell." New information found by Otacon sends Snake back into action. (That's all I'm revealing!)
Chapter 11: Before the Storm
"Oh yeah! Now that's the good stuff," Solid Snake said, looking over the bottle from which he had just drank. "Nobody does Vodka better than the Russians."
Otacon flopped down on the bed next to Snake. He sighed as the soft mattress began to release the knots in his back from the great amount of traveling he had just done. "This is a nice room," the engineer said thoughtfully.
Dave looked at his friend. "It's a good thing too, cuz we'll be here for the next four days." He took another good nip at the bottle. "You want some?"
Hal shook his head, "No thanks."
Snake smiled crookedly, "You ever even tried Vodka before?"
The skinny man glowed red with embarrassment. Here he was, in his mid-thirties, and never even tried Vodka. He was going to be teased about this for sure. Hal said nothing, hoping that his friend would infer his answer from his silence.
Snake laughed, "Come on, Otacon. Live a little," he said, offering the bottle again.
Hal hesitated, then realized that the mercenary would not leave him alone until he gave him the satisfaction of a sip. He reached out and took the bottle from Dave, stopping to sniff the contents. It stung his nostrils a bit. Hal made a face, wrinkling his nose.
"Come on!" Snake urged in his rough, masculine voice.
The engineer closed his eyes and took a swig. The clear, strong liquid almost burned as it made its way down his throat. He lowered the bottle, quickly passing it back to his friend with a gagging cough.
"Ugh! How do you drink that crap?"
Snake laughed again. "Good shit, huh?" The mercenary tipped the bottle towards Otacon. "More?"
Hal opened his mouth to say no, but stopped. He realized exactly what was going on. Snake was just trying to relax before their long, hard battle began, and he wanted to share this time with Hal. He smiled, happy for the time they were spending together. "What the Hell," he said, grabbing the Vodka back, and taking another good swig.
Dave smiled. "That's the spirit!" he stated, slapping his friend on the back.
The second drink was easier going down. Hal pulled the bottle from his lips, wiping small drops that missed his mouth on his lab coat sleeve. Shivers made their way up Otacon's spine as the effects of the alcohol were already starting to work their magic on him.
Snake took the bottle back and had himself another sip.
"Dave?" Otacon said, twiddling his thumbs nervously.
"Yeah?" the mercenary answered.
"What do you think is going to be waiting for us when we get to Antarctica?"
Pulling himself out a cigarette and lighting it, Snake leaned back against the headboard. He put up his bare feet, resting his hands casually behind his head. Dave took a long, draw on his cigarette, breathing the smoke in deep. "I honestly don't know," he replied frankly, "but I've got a gut feeling that it's something more than what it seems to be. This isn't going to be a simple reconnaissance mission. We're heading into some deep shit."
Otacon nodded his agreement. He slid up a bit, mimicking Snake's posture. The engineer took the Vodka from his friend again, throwing back a shot's worth.
Snake looked Hal over and smiled. "Better take it easy on the juice. I doubt your skinny ass can handle much."
Otacon let out a belch comparable to one he had heard Dave do the last time he had finished off a bottle of liquor. Surprised at himself, he covered his mouth. "Oh, excuse me."
Snake shook his head, "You see? There's your problem, right there," he said.
"Huh? What do you mean?" the engineer returned, confused.
"You're always so uptight. You need to learn to relax."
Hal adjusted his glasses. "It's a bit hard to relax when you're about ready to go into battle."
Snake shrugged, "You can still stay and take over for Mei Ling."
"Dave, we've been through this…"
The mercenary put up his hands. "Just reminding you of your options. That's all."
Hal drew his knees into his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He sat his chin on the natural groove between where his knees met. "How do you stay so cool before a mission?"
With another drag, and another billow of smoke to follow it, Snake sat for a moment, thinking of his answer.
"I guess I'm just used this sort of thing by now," he said with an inaudible snort. "Unfortunately, things like killing become easier."
Hal turned his head to lay his cheek on his knees where his chin had rested a moment ago. "Do you ever think about death and loss of friends?" The thoughts associated with that question caused a hard lump to build up in his throat.
"You mean like Meryl?" Snake asked, drawing on his cigarette.
"Yeah."
Snake shifted his bright green eyes to look into his friend's. "That's never easy. But, I have to remember this: If I don't complete my missions, many more people, those I care about, will die."
Hal sighed. "I suppose that's one way to look at it."
Snake patted Otacon on the back. "You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. After the terribly painful loss of Emma, you still managed to get those hostages to safety at the 'Big Shell'. What gave you the strength then?"
Pausing for a moment, Otacon thought back to that tragic day. A lot of things filled his mind then: all of his losses, all of the betrayals by those he loved. Through all of that, one thing stood out in his mind: David, Solid Snake, his friend. He was the strength behind everything he did from their meeting at Shadow Moses, forward. He always knew the right things to say, the right moment to slap him on the back, the right time to grab him in that reassuring hug he so often gave. Hal didn't answer, a bit embarrassed to tell Dave his feeling on the issue. Instead, he took the now half empty bottle of Vodka, drinking more of the astringent liquid.
Otacon's silence radiated his feelings of uncertainty and insecurity to Snake. "Sit up," he ordered the engineer.
"Hmm?" Hal said, returning from his own world of thoughts.
"Sit up straight, at the side of the bed," he repeated.
Otacon did as he was told. His back was tense and sore, and was partially the reason for his slouching posture a moment ago. That all began to change as he felt strong, warm hands beginning to knead the knots from his shoulders.
"God damn, Hal!" Dave remarked as he felt the tightness of the muscles under his fingertips, "You're more tense than I thought."
Closing his eyes, Otacon sighed. The combination of the Vodka and Snake's hands moving across his back was allowing him to relax. He was feeling so good.
"You know, you don't have to do this."
Snake smiled. "Yes I do. Now just shut up and let someone do something for you for a change."
Hal's body loosened up a bit as he felt Dave's hands work their way slowly yet firmly down to massage the flesh in his lower back. A wave of heat began to make its way up his spine and into his face as the slender man became suddenly aware of the closeness to his friend. He could smell the Vodka and smoke on the mercenary's breath, and the scent of his body, still emanating traces of the musk cologne he had put on this morning. Hal found himself drawn in, somehow, to Snake's essence. Eyes still closed, he inhaled deeply, then let the air out forcefully, relaxing himself further. He focused in on the rhythmic movements of those strong hands, now working into his neck.
"You feel better now?" Snake asked as he ironed the knots out of his friend's neck.
There was no response.
Dave turned his head to see Hal's slumped down, chin on his chest, fast asleep. He let out a quiet snore with each breath, and a small amount of drool was beginning to make its way down the corners of his mouth.
Snake chuckled to himself. "I told you that you couldn't hold your liquor, Otacon."
He leaned his friend gently back onto the bed, resting his head on the pillow. Carefully, so as not to wake him, Dave removed Hal's glasses, lab coat, shoes and socks, and draped them over the suitcases. He then pulled the blankets up and over him, keeping the slender man's body warm and cozy.
Extinguishing what was left of his cigarette, he got undressed. Snake slipped on a pair of navy blue sweatpants, then went to turn out the lights. The room had two double beds: one for Hal, one for Raiden, and Snake had intended to sleep on the floor. Instead, Dave crawled into bed with his friend, hoping he wouldn't mind. The floor was looking less inviting with every sip he had taken tonight.
As he leaned back in the bed, staring blankly into the dark, he wondered when the Hell Raiden was going to get his ass back from Mei Ling's room.
***
Raiden laughed as a handful of popcorn came flying at him.
"Oh, Jack. Stop! You're going to kill me!" Mei Ling said, giggling hysterically at her companion's impressions.
Jack got a good fistful from the bag of microwaved popcorn, and hurled it back at Mei.
The two were laying at the foot of Mei's bed, on their stomachs, watching a poorly dubbed broadcast of Star Wars: A New Hope. Raiden had been doing impressions of all of the characters, and rather badly too, all night long. Mei Ling just sat back and enjoyed the show.
"You're so funny, Jack," she said. "You make me laugh."
"I try my best, Princess," Raiden returned.
"I'll bet you were a regular class clown as a kid," Mei said.
Raiden's laughter ceased. He lowered his head, looking at the comforter beneath him. There was a long pause, and Mei Ling turned to regard the fair-haired man, a look of concern on her face.
With a heaving sigh, Jack finally said something. "I never had the chance to be."
"What do you mean?" the woman asked.
Raiden shook his head. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it," he said, his voice trailing off with distant thoughts of the past.
Mei nodded. "All of us here have pasts filled with dark things that we're not proud of. If you don't feel comfortable telling me, then that's okay. Just know that I…" she blushed, "we're here for you."
Jack caught Mei's Freudian slip, and turned to look back at her, a half smile on his face. "I know you are," he told her. "Thank you."
Blushing even deeper, Mei Ling looked down, avoiding contact with Jack's eyes. She didn't want him to see the infatuation that was plainly written across them.
Raiden reached out and lifted the woman's chin to face him. Then, without any more words spoken, he gently kissed her lips. She returned it, almost eagerly, but with a shy uncertainty behind it. Raiden pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Mei Ling emulated his movements, kissing him more urgently with each breath.
She found herself running her well-manicured nails up and down his back. The movement of her hands on Jack's body became more rhythmic, more desperate. As a result, his t-shirt began to untuck itself from his jeans, scrunching upwards. Mei Ling danced her fingers over the now exposed, porcelain skin on his back. He was soft, warm and inviting.
Chills and waves of heat, all at once, made their way up Raiden's spine, fueling his passion. He made the next move, parting Mei's lips with his tongue, gently stroking it against hers.
A small moan escaped Mei's mouth from where their lips met. She found herself pulling her body closer to his, grinding against him. Their hips moved in sync with each other, and by now, there was obvious physical evidence of her partner's desire as she felt Raiden's hardness pressing urgently into her.
Jack left Mei to gasp for air as he broke his kiss to softly nibble at her neck, right behind her ear. He felt her grip on him tighten as she tugged on his body. They shifted their position with a half roll with Mei Ling now flat on her back and Raiden at the dominant position on top of her.
Mei reached up, stroking her fingers through his mass of icy blond hair. Jack paused for a moment to gaze into her dark brown eyes, enjoying the sensation of her nails on his scalp. She looked back up at him, and the two joined again at the lips, deeply and passionately.
***
Snake still lay wide-awake in the dark, unable to sleep as usual. From beside him came soft snoring. From behind the wall of the adjacent room came cries of passion. He smiled, lighting up another cigarette. "Looks like Raiden's not coming back tonight."
Author's Notes:
Nothing that I can think of.