From the Abyss
by Moonstone 04
***
Author's Notes: This is a chaos x Tony yaoi fic, so if you don't like the idea of them loving on each other, flee now. ^_^ Also, I originally started this fic before any ep2 information was announced, so I consider it to be dated in many ways. However, I expected this when I began. ^^; Like all my fics, this is heavily based on my personal theories on the series (tho I should point out that the yaoi is just in my fics, not my serious theories). For more information on the bizarre way my mind works, look to my site, chaos theory [chaostheory.50g.com].
This is the Fanfiction.net edition of this fic. Originally NC-17, it has been edited to fit an R rating. The original, un-cut version of this fic is only being posted at Xenoyaoi on yahoogroups.
***
Chapter Five
It didn't help Tony's peace of mind that the colony looked like a warzone. Of course, this only helped to remind him that not long ago, it had been. The strife of Miltia had other explosive pockets, and this colony had been one of them. He was aware that there had once been many realians there, but he had yet to see one since arriving.
The streets were burned black. Most people were working and living out of make-shifts slapped together out of scraps. The side of one small shop was a studded, steel sheet that had once been a large road sign. Just about everything was held together with duct tape. Dark stains trailed everywhere, which could have been either blood or oil. The air was choked with the mingling of metallic, fuel, and human waste. Deeper in, Tony almost gagged as the air became tastable. But he continued past the empty stares into the dark depths of the colony.
"chaos!" His calls echoed through the narrow streets. "chaos!"
A lone woman shook her head as she passed him with her head down. No doubt she thought he was just another madman screaming in the streets. There was another woman wailing not too far away. Tony swore under his breath.
"CHAOS!"
He couldn't understand why chaos wasn't answering. He couldn't believe chaos had run away. After everything... Why was this happening?
Then he saw something from the corner of his eye. Something out of place in the gloom. Down a half-obstructed alleyway, a patch of bright orange moved. Hope quickened his pulse as he came closer. There were distressed mutterings coming from the alleyway, and though he couldn't yet make out what was being said, he immediately recognized the voice. Tony hurried over the collasped wall, sending more of it crumbling to the ground.
"chaos! Are you okay!?"
"Leave me alone... Leave me alone..." chaos whimpered.
Winding his way through the shadows, Tony knelt by his small shaking form. chaos was sitting on the ground, curled up with his arms over his head, hiding his face in his knees. He was sobbing in ragged breaths, as if he had been running.
"What's wrong?" Tony asked quietly, putting a comforting arm around his shoulders. "C'mon, you know you can talk to me. chaos..."
At Tony's touch, chaos twitched, and raised his head. "T-Tony..." His eyes were wide and nervous, staring all around before resting on Tony's face. "Are you really here? Are you alone?" He swallowed loudly.
"Yeah man..." Tony nodded. "So are you okay?"
chaos wrapped his arms around his legs and pulled them closer to his chest. "I'm not hurt, if that's what you mean. What are you doing here?"
"What am I...!?" Tony spluttered. "I came looking for you! What do you think yer doing running around out here? It's dangerous!"
There was a stretch of silence. chaos lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry, Tony. But I know the plan won't work. You know the captain better than I do, you know what he'll say. And I know what you'll do... So I had to run away." He shuddered. "But she followed me... Wouldn't leave me alone..."
"Who wouldn't leave you alone?" Tony frowned.
chaos shook his head. "Go back to the Elsa. That's your home, that's where you belong. If you make me go back with you, I'll just run away again."
"Alright, then I won't make you go back."
"Uh?" chaos looked up in surprise. He obviously hadn't expected Tony to agree so readily. There was a hint of hurt in his eyes.
"I'm just going to have to stay out here with you. And if you try to run away, I'll just come after you again. Because I'm not abandoning you, and I'm not letting you abandon me." Tony took in the filthy graffiti-covered wall before them. "By the way, nice place you have here."
***
The small hotel room was stuffy. Dreary grey light barely filtered through cracks in the grimy windowpanes. It was a miserable little place, a far cry from where he had once fantasized taking chaos, but it was the best Tony could find in the area.
In the gloom, chaos was merely a black shadow sitting on the only bed in the room. Only the silver gleam of his hair seemed impervious to the darkness. However, Tony's familiar compulsion to touch it was squashed by the weight of worry in his chest.
"You've done so much for me." chaos said quietly. "But how do you know the captain isn't right? Even I can't..." His voice wavered. "You don't know anything."
Tony had never heard chaos sound so bitter. He almost didn't sound like himself.
"Maybe I don't." Tony moved away from the wall. "But I know how I feel. I admit I'm impulsive, but I'm willing to accept any consequences of that. chaos, just have some faith in me."
"I do." chaos lifted his head, and two blue eyes opened, shining with their unnatural light. "It's myself I don't trust."
"I trust you."
chaos said nothing. His eyes glimmered with emotion, then shut tightly. Tony only stood and watched while the other boy's hands clenched the blankets beneath him.
"And not just me." Tony spoke again after a few moments of silence. "Hammer trusts you too. That's why he's been working with you so hard. Even if you really didn't need the help. We're going to make this work, no matter what the captain says."
When chaos still said nothing, Tony moved to sit beside him. "This really isn't like you, y'know. Are you sure this is just about the captain's decision? You said someone was following you... They didn't hurt you, did they?"
chaos shook his head gently.
"Can you at least tell me who was following you?"
"A little girl."
Tony blinked in surprise. "You were all freaked out because a little girl was following you!? Why?"
"She was talking. She never talked before."
"Before?" Tony frowned. "What do you mean? What was she saying?"
"I don't know."
"Then what was the big deal?"
"Tony, I don't want to talk about it." chaos turned away and laid across the bed. "Please, I just... I'm tired."
chaos was shutting him out again. It was something that had always been there as long as he had known him, a thin, almost imperceivable barrier. No matter how close they were, chaos never let his defenses down, whether he was aware he was doing it or not. But now more than ever, Tony could feel the distance between them.
With a sigh, he stood and peeled his clothes away. He could feel chaos' eyes on him, taking in every detail. But when he turned around, the sapphire eyes were closed. The bed creaked as he moved behind him, lying on his side. Slowly he undressed chaos, trying to disturb him as little as possible.
With no more physical barriers between them, Tony held him close. Sighing, chaos nestled back into his embrace. Lovingly caressing his lover's firm, velvety stomach, Tony realized that at last he could sleep with him in his arms, the way he had longed to. But now he didn't dare. He was afraid if he did, he might wake up to find chaos gone forever. For as long as he could, he would keep his angel in his arms.
Before too long, chaos fell asleep. Tony kissed his shoulder, then rested his face against silken, silvery hair. "I love you." He whispered.
***
When Tony woke up, panic flooded him. He hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep. But finding chaos' warm body still cradled against him, he gave a sigh of relief. Yet, something had woken him, he was sure of it.
Had there been a noise...? It felt like someone had called out, but chaos was fast asleep, and everything was silent. Just when he decided it must have been his imagination, a loud crashing came from downstairs.
Tony sat up. Someone started to scream, then there was nothing. More loud noises came, like something huge was stomping through the building. Whatever it was, it sounded like it was demolishing the place... Tony could feel the entire room shuddering. Something was very wrong.
Now people outside were shouting and screaming. Tony shook chaos. "Hey... Get up, I think we're gonna have to leave early."
chaos' bleary eyes focused quickly at the sound of a gunshot. "Tony...? What's...?"
"Hurry up and get dressed." Tony was already pulling his clothes back on. "I think the fighting might've started up again. We've got to get out of here while we can."
Rather than face whatever the hell was gradually thumping its way upstairs, Tony forced the windows open. Outside was a rickety, old fire escape. It didn't look very inviting, but he couldn't see any other option.
"Wait, that doesn't look very safe." chaos had finished dressing and peered outside.
"I don't think it's any safer beyond that door." Tony said, and climbed out.
With a squeal, the fire escape buckled and collapsed under his weight. Barely turning back in time, Tony snagged the windowsil. chaos grabbed him by the arms and helped pull him back in. Once back inside, they looked down at the dark twisted mass of metal that had been the fire escape. Tony smiled weakly at chaos' reproving frown.
"It was worth a try."
There was no other choice but to make their way downstairs. The noise had faded a little, but that didn't ease Tony's nerves any. With chaos squeezing close behind, he slowly opened the door to have a peek into the hallway.
The long narrow hallway was thick with dust and darkness. Only one lone light remained towards the end of the hall, its meager light barely giving shape to the shadows. There was a glittering strewn throughout the hallway, and Tony realized much of it was shattered glass.
As they stepped out, the glass crunched beneath their feet. Beside him, he heard chaos draw a sharp breath. As his eyes adjusted, he could see why.
At the far end of the hall, something big was emerging from a doorway. It had a vague human shape, but it was just too massive, and it didn't seem to have any hands or feet. The head was just a tiny round thing between its shoulders. Whatever it was, Tony knew he didn't want to get a better look. But it was standing between them and the exit.
With a loud bang, another door opened into the hallway, and someone stepped out. "What the-" Whoever it was didn't get a chance to finish whatever he was saying. The big thing had seen him, and with an inhuman bellow, charged towards him, sending him flying back into his room. The thing crashed in after him, breaking part of the doorframe as he went. Then the man was screaming.
Seeing their chance, Tony grabbed chaos' hand, and bolted for the end of the hall.
"T-Tony, he's-!" chaos protested, but Tony pulled him along. There was no time to argue. If that monster was what he suspected it was, they had to get out of there.
Making their way down to the first floor of the hotel, they were lucky enough not to run into anything else. Strangely, there was a powdery white substance covering the floor in several places. It crunched and swirled into the air as they fled past.
The front doors of the hotel were splinters on ground. Outside, it was dark and still. But the random gunfire and shouting that echoed down the streets warned of the danger lurking unseen.
After running a block, Tony ducked them into a dark alcove of a half collapsed building. He held chaos close as he tried to calm down and get his bearings. He couldn't afford to take a wrong turn. Not now...
"Tony, what was that thing... That man was in trouble, why didn't we help him!?" chaos panted. He was trembling violently.
"I think it was...gnosis." Tony answered in-between breaths. "The ghosts of Miltia." He frowned out into the street, fearing one might pop up at any moment. "We couldn't have helped that guy in the hotel, chaos, there's no way of fighting these things. We have to get back to the Elsa and get the hell out of here."
"G-gnosis..." chaos said in a whisper.
"C'mon..." Tony pulled him up and started running again.
Gnosis. The word summoned every creepy story Hammer had told him in the dark, lying alone in their bunks. And chaos knew them as well as he did. The ghostly monsters that had been born from the horrors of Miltia. They could appear anywhere and float through any surface, making it impossible to escape them. And there was no way to fight back against the transparent phantoms. Anyone who tried, was turned to salt. Tony remembered the white powder scattered throughout the hotel, and felt his stomach clench.
From shadow to shadow, they hurried through the streets. And they weren't alone. Panicking people were running everywhere, trying to find a place to hide. Strange and inhuman bellows and roars tore through the air, but Tony was yet to see another gnosis. He was beginning to wonder if gnosis were invisible. Maybe he wouldn't be able to see them until they were right on top of them. These paranoid thoughts eating at his nerves, his blood was jumping at every odd shape and sudden movement.
chaos was threatening to break his hand. It almost made him stop a few times, but Tony knew broken bones could be fixed. If a gnosis caught them, there wouldn't be the chance to complain about it later. There wasn't any time to think about it, but chaos' hand was also getting uncomfortably warm. And aside from the pain of his hand being crushed, for some reason it felt like it was being stung over and over by a swarm of insects. After a while, the stinging made his hand go numb.
As they neared the docks, Tony was beginning to think they'd be lucky enough to make it without running into any gnosis. Of course, he should have known his luck couldn't hold out that long. Reaching the docks, they came to a dead halt.
Directly in their path, was a blood-red gnosis with long, clawed arms. They were just in time to see it grab an unfortunate dockworker by the head. The man's horrific cries rose with Tony's as he felt the bones in his hand crack.
chaos let go as the gnosis turned around, lifting the hysterical man into the air. The thing took a step towards them, into one of the dockside floodlights. They could see the man turning white, as if all the color in his body were being sucked into the gnosis' hand. With a gruesome click of its cruel claws, the whitened body shattered into powder. There was nothing left of the man but a pile of salt.
Tony thought he was paralyzed as the thing moved closer. It didn't seem to have skin. The surface of the gnosis was constantly in motion, the bright, rich red flowing, then congealing, then flowing again, like blood. But it wasn't blood, it was light...
It really *was* a ghost.
"Tony..." chaos moaned. He was gripping his tanktop now.
As the cold reality of the situation began to stir him to life, Tony backed into a bunch of empty trashcans. Feeling the cold steel under his hands, he picked one up and heaved it at the monster. It passed right through the transparent creature, rolling away towards the shipyard.
Beginning to panic, Tony threw another one. This time, the creature hit it away with one sweep of its massive arm. The heavily damaged trashcan fell to the ground and skidded away. Nothing touched it, but it could touch them.
And if it touched them, they would die.
Running back into the colony was out of the question. The Elsa was their only escape from this nightmare. The only way out. What was he gonna do!?
"Tony!"
Before he knew what was happening, chaos was shoving him aside. Tony landed on the pavement so hard, he had the wind knocked out of him. Gasping for breath, he couldn't give voice to the cry that tore soundlessly from him as he saw the gnosis swing its arm towards his small lover. No!
His eyes wild with fear, chaos fell backwards, striking back blindly in his panic. Tony saw his arm arc into the air, and then there was a flash of light so intense that he had to wince away. An enraged roar shook the air.
Tony opened his eyes again to see the gnosis backing away uncertainly. Its arm was...bleeding? No, more like it was melting. What the hell had happened to it? On the ground, chaos had landed hard. From the dazed look, Tony feared he might have cracked his head open. He pushed himself up and hurried to his side.
"chaos? Are you okay?"
"U-Uh...?" chaos tried to focus on his face.
It wasn't the most encouraging sign, but there was no time to be gentle. Putting his arm around him, he forced chaos to his feet. The silver-haired boy whimpered and swayed against him. At the sound, the gnosis made a low growling noise.
Something had spooked the gnosis, and Tony wasn't going to waste the short moments it bought them. Pulling chaos along, he ran down the newly cleared path towards the Elsa. He could see it, the soft hull-lights beckoning them home.
"Tony! chaos!"
Ahead, Captain Matthews and Hammer were running towards them.
"Captain!" Tony shouted back. "We've gotta get outta here!"
"Yeah, we've heard!" Hammer looked terrified out of his mind.
"At least you two are alright." The Captain looked between them. "What's wrong with chaos? He doesn't look so hot."
"We ran into a gnosis on the way up here." Tony explained. "He took a bit of a fall, but I think he'll be okay. We've gotta take off while we still can."
"A gnosis!?" Hammer squeaked. "How'd you guys get away from a gnosis!?"
"Never mind that!" The Captain snapped. "Talk later, let's get back to the ship."
***
In the hurry to leave, there was no time to take chaos into the cabin. The crew headed straight for the bridge. Tony carefully placed chaos in the engineer's seat. He looked sick, and didn't seem to be focusing well.
"chaos? Just try to keep yourself together here, okay?" He said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
chaos turned towards his voice, and focused. The blank look on his face was odd and unsettling. It was as if chaos were seeing him for the first time.
"chaos?" Tony said worriedly.
Looking down at his hands on the console, something like panic came into chaos' eyes. Leaning over them, he began to tremble. "Why..."
"Tony!" The Captain barked. "Get going! You may wanna die here, but I don't! See to him after we've gotten clear of this hellhole."
"Aye." Tony gritted his response reluctantly.
Taking his place at the pilot's seat, Tony quickly began the process of disengaging the Elsa from the dock. Soon they were free to fly.
"Captain, we don't have clearance," Hammer said. "I can't contact-"
"Never mind that." Captain Matthews waved a hand impatiently. "Can't you see it's a warzone out there? Tony, just floor it!"
"Right!" Oh yeah. An excitement that had nothing to do with fear rushed through him. The colony airspace was in complete chaos. They weren't the only ones trying to get out, and there were too many ships flying around.
Not too far in front of them, a small ship crashed into another, followed by both ships exploding into a massive fireball. They were bathed in a firey glow as it went careening into the colony.
Time to go.
The Elsa roared to life. Other ships were streaks flying past as they sped into the reckless confusion. Darting to and fro, Tony guided the Elsa through. Never had he manuevered through anything like this. The combined intensity of fear and excitement was incredible, driving him faster. The ship was beginning to shake.
"We're going too fast, you maniac!" Hammer shouted behind him. "We're gonna die!"
"I know what I'm doing!" Tony yelled back.
"Both of you shut up or we'll be scrapped!" Matthews could barely be heard above the rising noise as the Elsa was pushed as hard as Tony could take it.
"Oh yeah, let's show these chickens what we've got!" Tony could see an airlock ahead. Rolling to the right to avoid another ship, a shocking impact came from the back.
Matthews was muttering something, but the engine noise was too loud to hear him.
Whizzing past the remaining ships and into the airlock, Tony gave a triumphant shout. The worst was over. He pulled the Elsa into a slow turn, easing them towards the outer airlocks. Putting a hand through his ruffled hair, he ventured a look back at his crewmates. "Everyone still back there?"
"You're completely insane, but we're still alive." Hammer said from somewhere behind his console. It sounded like he was ready to be sick.
"We made it, that's the important thing." Captain Matthews wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Good work Tony, now let's get out of here."
"Aye, captain." Before turning back around, he glanced back at chaos. The silver-haired boy had his head down on the console, resting on his arms. He was still shaking slightly, but seemed to be holding up otherwise.
Whatever was wrong still had to wait. Tony turned back around in his seat.
A big, ugly gnosis was leering at him through the glass. With a terrified shriek, Tony leapt back from the controls, scrambling back over the top of his seat. The Elsa pitched and collided with the airlock wall. The impact sent him sprawling out onto the left aisle. He wasted no time getting back to his feet.
"Tony! What in the-!?" Matthews stopped, seeing the red demon-like creature floating through the glass and onto the bridge. "Oh shit."
"Is that- Is that-!?" Hammer jumped from his seat and cowered behind Matthews.
"Damned gnosis!" Matthews growled. "On my ship!"
Tony had gone to chaos' side, and was shaking his shoulder. "chaos, get up!" He didn't know where they could go now, but he couldn't leave chaos behind.
Instead of responding, chaos only shook his head and retreated deeper into his folded arms. "No... No..." He cried softly.
"chaos..."
"What do we do?" Hammer whimpered.
"Get back!" Matthews opened a compartment at the back of his chair, and pulled out a small cube-like object. "I'm gonna try driving it out."
Tony couldn't see exactly what it was or what the Captain was doing. Before he could get a better look, the object was flung through the air. It landed with a clatter below the floating gnosis. Then it sparked to life.
A shock of light from the object made Tony flinch. Streamers of electrical energy whipped around the gnosis. The gnosis' screech was a chilling, unholy sound. It seemed to be trapped by the energy, held there by the flickering fingers of light.
"You did it!" Hammer cheered. "Way to go, Captain!"
"Thought that might come in handy." Matthews said. "But now how do we get rid of it? If we stick around too long, more of 'em will show up."
"If we could move it a little, we could blow it out the Elsa's side airlock." Tony suggested. Hammer nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! I know-"
The gnosis roared. The energy surrounding it crackled about wildly, causing a stray thread of electricity to hit the navigation console. The power surge danced over the controls, then raced up the side of the bridge bulkhead. They all cringed at the sound of a dull explosion. With a thunk noise, the bridge lights went out.
The only light came from the faint reddish emergency lights. And Tony realized that the gnosis trap was no longer working. A low, eerie growl cut through the silence.
Glowing a deathly red, the gnosis floated closer, its bone-thin, clawed arms raised in the air. Tony gripped chaos' vest. "Get up! Get up!" He couldn't budge him.
"The door won't open!" Hammer cried.
Matthews kicked it hard. "The power to the door must've been cut off with the lights! Damn it! Help me pry it open! Tony! chaos!"
The gnosis pointed a long boney talon towards Tony. Suddenly a burst of white blasted him off his feet, slamming him all the way back against the bridge door. The impact jarred him to his bones. Cold...it was so cold.
"Tony!" Hammer yelped.
Shivering, Tony was stuck to the door. His whole body ached with an icy chill. He could feel Matthews and Hammer trying to help him, but his ears were ringing, muffling their voices. With much effort, he opened his frosted eyelashes.
chaos was standing with his back to them. Facing the gnosis.
"ch...ch..." Tony struggled to move. What was chaos doing!?
The Captain and Hammer shouted as the monster swung a clawed arm down on chaos. Without moving, chaos raised his own arm and simply knocked it aside. A visible trail of blue lightning flared in the wake of chaos' arm, then faded.
Even though the ringing in his ears was subsiding, the earlier commotion had gone dead silent. Tony wondered if he was losing his senses.
"What in the..." Matthews gasped under his breath.
In the cold darkness, it was easy to see the light coming from chaos. Tiny, glowing, gold sparks floated from his hands. Was this... Was this real?
Again, the gnosis lashed out at chaos, with a hollow growling noise.
Static crackled fiercely like a tear in space as chaos knocked the gnosis aside once again. Faint threads of static crawled up and down chaos' arm, then faded back into the gentle gold sparks.
Tony stared in helpless wonder. Was this what he had felt coming from chaos all along? The feathery aura...the whispers in his skin? Was this what it truly looked like? This strange power...? What was chaos...what could stand against a gnosis?
The gnosis paused. Both of its arms had been dissolved away. How this had happened, Tony couldn't see. Whatever the cause, the gnosis was enraged, gnashing its nasty teeth repeatedly with a loud clacking. Then, it charged headlong at chaos.
"NO!" Tony forced his throat to work.
An odd tone reverberated through the air. Not so much a sound as a sensation. It felt like an wave of energy washing over them, expanding like a bubble. chaos had his hands crossed in front of his face, as if he were trying to defend himself. But the gnosis was no longer moving. It had frozen in mid-lunge.
Had time stopped? Tony wasn't sure what else it could be. Except that it made no sense. But what did anymore? chaos slowly lowered his hands. As he did, the strange wave of energy fell away, drawing back into the silver-haired boy.
Only the gnosis remained still. chaos' head tilted slightly in a sympathetic way. He reached out and placed his hand on what looked like the gnosis' shoulder. Bizarrely enough, it seemed like he was trying to comfort the monster.
"chaos..." Tony croaked, trying to pull him back from whatever was happening.
Hearing him, chaos lifted his head, but did not turn around. Suddenly, a green light began to spread from beneath his hand. The light rippled away from chaos' touch, slowly dissolving the gnosis. When the light disappeared, the gnosis was gone, and chaos stood alone with his hand in the air.
"It... What did he..." Hammer whispered.
Lowering his arm, chaos stood silent for a moment.
"More will come. We'd better get away from here before that happens." chaos returned to the engineer's seat. His fingers flew across the console.
Suddenly, the lights came to life.
"Y-yeah." Matthews nodded numbly. "Tony, you okay?"
"Sure." He was beat up, but he'd experienced worse.
"Well you heard chaos, let's move out!"
***
No one questioned what had happened while the Elsa escaped the colony and fled into deep space once more. Everyone, including chaos himself, seem to be too deep in shock to question how they were still alive. And perhaps just a touch afraid.
By the time the Elsa was far enough away to be safe, allowing Tony to leave his post, chaos had left the bridge. The pilot felt like hell chilled over, but he needed to talk to chaos. As he trudged towards the bridge doors, Matthews stopped him.
"Hold on, where do ya think you're going?" The Captain stood between him and the door.
"I'm going to check on chaos."
"Did you see what he did!?" Hammer turned around in his seat. "He fried a gnosis! What... What if he decides to do the same to us!?"
Tony shook his head. "chaos wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't. I'll be okay."
"Just be careful." Matthews sighed and tugged at his hat brim. "I knew there was something funny about him, but...man." His eyes turned fierce as he looked between them. "Neither of you tell anyone about this, you got it!?"
"S-Sure..." Hammer stuttered in surprise.
Tony just nodded.
"Right." Matthews said. "If this gets out, we could find ourselves with even more trouble than we already have." He shook his head. "Not that we're ever able to avoid trouble..." He shot a look to Hammer, then Tony.
"What do you think he is, anyway?" Hammer asked.
"Whatever he is, we're probably better off not knowing." Matthews said, sitting back down in his chair. "And probably safer not asking. I sure as hell don't want to get on his bad side. Don't bother him about it. If he feels like tellin' us, he'll tell us. Prying into things just stirs up problems... You shoulda learned that by now." He directed this last part towards Hammer, who made a face.
"I'm gonna make sure he's alright." Tony told them, and left the bridge.
Tony had known the captain long enough to recognize when the wheels in his head were turning. Usually ending them stuck in some crazy scheme. But this time, he knew the captain was seeing the obvious advantage of having a crew member that could dispatch gnosis. It seemed the problem of keeping chaos onboard was solved. Only a day before, this would have been a cause for celebration.
Now he wondered if chaos still wanted anything to do with him. He remembered the blank look chaos had given him, and wondered if chaos was even his chaos anymore. It had felt like another person, a stranger staring back at him. Was victory worth that price? With a slight feeling of dread, Tony entered their cabin.
Sitting on the unclaimed bunk beneath Hammer's, was chaos. He didn't look up as Tony walked over, his eyes on the gloves he was pulling on. With sharp tugs, he was fitting them tightly. They were the matching gloves to Tony's old outfit. Originally, chaos hadn't been very interested in wearing them. Later, he had said he didn't like them because he liked the feel of things beneath his fingers. Why was he putting them on now?
"Are you okay?" chaos asked softly.
"I'll be fine. How about you?"
chaos gave a noncommittal head movement.
Tony paused, then, "chaos, what happened?"
Finally lifting his head, chaos turned to look at him. The cold feeling came back into Tony's gut. The eyes were still like before. Studying him with a clinical expression. However, strange as they were, they were not unkind. After a moment, chaos smiled gently, a deeply sad smile.
by Moonstone 04
***
Author's Notes: This is a chaos x Tony yaoi fic, so if you don't like the idea of them loving on each other, flee now. ^_^ Also, I originally started this fic before any ep2 information was announced, so I consider it to be dated in many ways. However, I expected this when I began. ^^; Like all my fics, this is heavily based on my personal theories on the series (tho I should point out that the yaoi is just in my fics, not my serious theories). For more information on the bizarre way my mind works, look to my site, chaos theory [chaostheory.50g.com].
This is the Fanfiction.net edition of this fic. Originally NC-17, it has been edited to fit an R rating. The original, un-cut version of this fic is only being posted at Xenoyaoi on yahoogroups.
***
Chapter Five
It didn't help Tony's peace of mind that the colony looked like a warzone. Of course, this only helped to remind him that not long ago, it had been. The strife of Miltia had other explosive pockets, and this colony had been one of them. He was aware that there had once been many realians there, but he had yet to see one since arriving.
The streets were burned black. Most people were working and living out of make-shifts slapped together out of scraps. The side of one small shop was a studded, steel sheet that had once been a large road sign. Just about everything was held together with duct tape. Dark stains trailed everywhere, which could have been either blood or oil. The air was choked with the mingling of metallic, fuel, and human waste. Deeper in, Tony almost gagged as the air became tastable. But he continued past the empty stares into the dark depths of the colony.
"chaos!" His calls echoed through the narrow streets. "chaos!"
A lone woman shook her head as she passed him with her head down. No doubt she thought he was just another madman screaming in the streets. There was another woman wailing not too far away. Tony swore under his breath.
"CHAOS!"
He couldn't understand why chaos wasn't answering. He couldn't believe chaos had run away. After everything... Why was this happening?
Then he saw something from the corner of his eye. Something out of place in the gloom. Down a half-obstructed alleyway, a patch of bright orange moved. Hope quickened his pulse as he came closer. There were distressed mutterings coming from the alleyway, and though he couldn't yet make out what was being said, he immediately recognized the voice. Tony hurried over the collasped wall, sending more of it crumbling to the ground.
"chaos! Are you okay!?"
"Leave me alone... Leave me alone..." chaos whimpered.
Winding his way through the shadows, Tony knelt by his small shaking form. chaos was sitting on the ground, curled up with his arms over his head, hiding his face in his knees. He was sobbing in ragged breaths, as if he had been running.
"What's wrong?" Tony asked quietly, putting a comforting arm around his shoulders. "C'mon, you know you can talk to me. chaos..."
At Tony's touch, chaos twitched, and raised his head. "T-Tony..." His eyes were wide and nervous, staring all around before resting on Tony's face. "Are you really here? Are you alone?" He swallowed loudly.
"Yeah man..." Tony nodded. "So are you okay?"
chaos wrapped his arms around his legs and pulled them closer to his chest. "I'm not hurt, if that's what you mean. What are you doing here?"
"What am I...!?" Tony spluttered. "I came looking for you! What do you think yer doing running around out here? It's dangerous!"
There was a stretch of silence. chaos lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry, Tony. But I know the plan won't work. You know the captain better than I do, you know what he'll say. And I know what you'll do... So I had to run away." He shuddered. "But she followed me... Wouldn't leave me alone..."
"Who wouldn't leave you alone?" Tony frowned.
chaos shook his head. "Go back to the Elsa. That's your home, that's where you belong. If you make me go back with you, I'll just run away again."
"Alright, then I won't make you go back."
"Uh?" chaos looked up in surprise. He obviously hadn't expected Tony to agree so readily. There was a hint of hurt in his eyes.
"I'm just going to have to stay out here with you. And if you try to run away, I'll just come after you again. Because I'm not abandoning you, and I'm not letting you abandon me." Tony took in the filthy graffiti-covered wall before them. "By the way, nice place you have here."
***
The small hotel room was stuffy. Dreary grey light barely filtered through cracks in the grimy windowpanes. It was a miserable little place, a far cry from where he had once fantasized taking chaos, but it was the best Tony could find in the area.
In the gloom, chaos was merely a black shadow sitting on the only bed in the room. Only the silver gleam of his hair seemed impervious to the darkness. However, Tony's familiar compulsion to touch it was squashed by the weight of worry in his chest.
"You've done so much for me." chaos said quietly. "But how do you know the captain isn't right? Even I can't..." His voice wavered. "You don't know anything."
Tony had never heard chaos sound so bitter. He almost didn't sound like himself.
"Maybe I don't." Tony moved away from the wall. "But I know how I feel. I admit I'm impulsive, but I'm willing to accept any consequences of that. chaos, just have some faith in me."
"I do." chaos lifted his head, and two blue eyes opened, shining with their unnatural light. "It's myself I don't trust."
"I trust you."
chaos said nothing. His eyes glimmered with emotion, then shut tightly. Tony only stood and watched while the other boy's hands clenched the blankets beneath him.
"And not just me." Tony spoke again after a few moments of silence. "Hammer trusts you too. That's why he's been working with you so hard. Even if you really didn't need the help. We're going to make this work, no matter what the captain says."
When chaos still said nothing, Tony moved to sit beside him. "This really isn't like you, y'know. Are you sure this is just about the captain's decision? You said someone was following you... They didn't hurt you, did they?"
chaos shook his head gently.
"Can you at least tell me who was following you?"
"A little girl."
Tony blinked in surprise. "You were all freaked out because a little girl was following you!? Why?"
"She was talking. She never talked before."
"Before?" Tony frowned. "What do you mean? What was she saying?"
"I don't know."
"Then what was the big deal?"
"Tony, I don't want to talk about it." chaos turned away and laid across the bed. "Please, I just... I'm tired."
chaos was shutting him out again. It was something that had always been there as long as he had known him, a thin, almost imperceivable barrier. No matter how close they were, chaos never let his defenses down, whether he was aware he was doing it or not. But now more than ever, Tony could feel the distance between them.
With a sigh, he stood and peeled his clothes away. He could feel chaos' eyes on him, taking in every detail. But when he turned around, the sapphire eyes were closed. The bed creaked as he moved behind him, lying on his side. Slowly he undressed chaos, trying to disturb him as little as possible.
With no more physical barriers between them, Tony held him close. Sighing, chaos nestled back into his embrace. Lovingly caressing his lover's firm, velvety stomach, Tony realized that at last he could sleep with him in his arms, the way he had longed to. But now he didn't dare. He was afraid if he did, he might wake up to find chaos gone forever. For as long as he could, he would keep his angel in his arms.
Before too long, chaos fell asleep. Tony kissed his shoulder, then rested his face against silken, silvery hair. "I love you." He whispered.
***
When Tony woke up, panic flooded him. He hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep. But finding chaos' warm body still cradled against him, he gave a sigh of relief. Yet, something had woken him, he was sure of it.
Had there been a noise...? It felt like someone had called out, but chaos was fast asleep, and everything was silent. Just when he decided it must have been his imagination, a loud crashing came from downstairs.
Tony sat up. Someone started to scream, then there was nothing. More loud noises came, like something huge was stomping through the building. Whatever it was, it sounded like it was demolishing the place... Tony could feel the entire room shuddering. Something was very wrong.
Now people outside were shouting and screaming. Tony shook chaos. "Hey... Get up, I think we're gonna have to leave early."
chaos' bleary eyes focused quickly at the sound of a gunshot. "Tony...? What's...?"
"Hurry up and get dressed." Tony was already pulling his clothes back on. "I think the fighting might've started up again. We've got to get out of here while we can."
Rather than face whatever the hell was gradually thumping its way upstairs, Tony forced the windows open. Outside was a rickety, old fire escape. It didn't look very inviting, but he couldn't see any other option.
"Wait, that doesn't look very safe." chaos had finished dressing and peered outside.
"I don't think it's any safer beyond that door." Tony said, and climbed out.
With a squeal, the fire escape buckled and collapsed under his weight. Barely turning back in time, Tony snagged the windowsil. chaos grabbed him by the arms and helped pull him back in. Once back inside, they looked down at the dark twisted mass of metal that had been the fire escape. Tony smiled weakly at chaos' reproving frown.
"It was worth a try."
There was no other choice but to make their way downstairs. The noise had faded a little, but that didn't ease Tony's nerves any. With chaos squeezing close behind, he slowly opened the door to have a peek into the hallway.
The long narrow hallway was thick with dust and darkness. Only one lone light remained towards the end of the hall, its meager light barely giving shape to the shadows. There was a glittering strewn throughout the hallway, and Tony realized much of it was shattered glass.
As they stepped out, the glass crunched beneath their feet. Beside him, he heard chaos draw a sharp breath. As his eyes adjusted, he could see why.
At the far end of the hall, something big was emerging from a doorway. It had a vague human shape, but it was just too massive, and it didn't seem to have any hands or feet. The head was just a tiny round thing between its shoulders. Whatever it was, Tony knew he didn't want to get a better look. But it was standing between them and the exit.
With a loud bang, another door opened into the hallway, and someone stepped out. "What the-" Whoever it was didn't get a chance to finish whatever he was saying. The big thing had seen him, and with an inhuman bellow, charged towards him, sending him flying back into his room. The thing crashed in after him, breaking part of the doorframe as he went. Then the man was screaming.
Seeing their chance, Tony grabbed chaos' hand, and bolted for the end of the hall.
"T-Tony, he's-!" chaos protested, but Tony pulled him along. There was no time to argue. If that monster was what he suspected it was, they had to get out of there.
Making their way down to the first floor of the hotel, they were lucky enough not to run into anything else. Strangely, there was a powdery white substance covering the floor in several places. It crunched and swirled into the air as they fled past.
The front doors of the hotel were splinters on ground. Outside, it was dark and still. But the random gunfire and shouting that echoed down the streets warned of the danger lurking unseen.
After running a block, Tony ducked them into a dark alcove of a half collapsed building. He held chaos close as he tried to calm down and get his bearings. He couldn't afford to take a wrong turn. Not now...
"Tony, what was that thing... That man was in trouble, why didn't we help him!?" chaos panted. He was trembling violently.
"I think it was...gnosis." Tony answered in-between breaths. "The ghosts of Miltia." He frowned out into the street, fearing one might pop up at any moment. "We couldn't have helped that guy in the hotel, chaos, there's no way of fighting these things. We have to get back to the Elsa and get the hell out of here."
"G-gnosis..." chaos said in a whisper.
"C'mon..." Tony pulled him up and started running again.
Gnosis. The word summoned every creepy story Hammer had told him in the dark, lying alone in their bunks. And chaos knew them as well as he did. The ghostly monsters that had been born from the horrors of Miltia. They could appear anywhere and float through any surface, making it impossible to escape them. And there was no way to fight back against the transparent phantoms. Anyone who tried, was turned to salt. Tony remembered the white powder scattered throughout the hotel, and felt his stomach clench.
From shadow to shadow, they hurried through the streets. And they weren't alone. Panicking people were running everywhere, trying to find a place to hide. Strange and inhuman bellows and roars tore through the air, but Tony was yet to see another gnosis. He was beginning to wonder if gnosis were invisible. Maybe he wouldn't be able to see them until they were right on top of them. These paranoid thoughts eating at his nerves, his blood was jumping at every odd shape and sudden movement.
chaos was threatening to break his hand. It almost made him stop a few times, but Tony knew broken bones could be fixed. If a gnosis caught them, there wouldn't be the chance to complain about it later. There wasn't any time to think about it, but chaos' hand was also getting uncomfortably warm. And aside from the pain of his hand being crushed, for some reason it felt like it was being stung over and over by a swarm of insects. After a while, the stinging made his hand go numb.
As they neared the docks, Tony was beginning to think they'd be lucky enough to make it without running into any gnosis. Of course, he should have known his luck couldn't hold out that long. Reaching the docks, they came to a dead halt.
Directly in their path, was a blood-red gnosis with long, clawed arms. They were just in time to see it grab an unfortunate dockworker by the head. The man's horrific cries rose with Tony's as he felt the bones in his hand crack.
chaos let go as the gnosis turned around, lifting the hysterical man into the air. The thing took a step towards them, into one of the dockside floodlights. They could see the man turning white, as if all the color in his body were being sucked into the gnosis' hand. With a gruesome click of its cruel claws, the whitened body shattered into powder. There was nothing left of the man but a pile of salt.
Tony thought he was paralyzed as the thing moved closer. It didn't seem to have skin. The surface of the gnosis was constantly in motion, the bright, rich red flowing, then congealing, then flowing again, like blood. But it wasn't blood, it was light...
It really *was* a ghost.
"Tony..." chaos moaned. He was gripping his tanktop now.
As the cold reality of the situation began to stir him to life, Tony backed into a bunch of empty trashcans. Feeling the cold steel under his hands, he picked one up and heaved it at the monster. It passed right through the transparent creature, rolling away towards the shipyard.
Beginning to panic, Tony threw another one. This time, the creature hit it away with one sweep of its massive arm. The heavily damaged trashcan fell to the ground and skidded away. Nothing touched it, but it could touch them.
And if it touched them, they would die.
Running back into the colony was out of the question. The Elsa was their only escape from this nightmare. The only way out. What was he gonna do!?
"Tony!"
Before he knew what was happening, chaos was shoving him aside. Tony landed on the pavement so hard, he had the wind knocked out of him. Gasping for breath, he couldn't give voice to the cry that tore soundlessly from him as he saw the gnosis swing its arm towards his small lover. No!
His eyes wild with fear, chaos fell backwards, striking back blindly in his panic. Tony saw his arm arc into the air, and then there was a flash of light so intense that he had to wince away. An enraged roar shook the air.
Tony opened his eyes again to see the gnosis backing away uncertainly. Its arm was...bleeding? No, more like it was melting. What the hell had happened to it? On the ground, chaos had landed hard. From the dazed look, Tony feared he might have cracked his head open. He pushed himself up and hurried to his side.
"chaos? Are you okay?"
"U-Uh...?" chaos tried to focus on his face.
It wasn't the most encouraging sign, but there was no time to be gentle. Putting his arm around him, he forced chaos to his feet. The silver-haired boy whimpered and swayed against him. At the sound, the gnosis made a low growling noise.
Something had spooked the gnosis, and Tony wasn't going to waste the short moments it bought them. Pulling chaos along, he ran down the newly cleared path towards the Elsa. He could see it, the soft hull-lights beckoning them home.
"Tony! chaos!"
Ahead, Captain Matthews and Hammer were running towards them.
"Captain!" Tony shouted back. "We've gotta get outta here!"
"Yeah, we've heard!" Hammer looked terrified out of his mind.
"At least you two are alright." The Captain looked between them. "What's wrong with chaos? He doesn't look so hot."
"We ran into a gnosis on the way up here." Tony explained. "He took a bit of a fall, but I think he'll be okay. We've gotta take off while we still can."
"A gnosis!?" Hammer squeaked. "How'd you guys get away from a gnosis!?"
"Never mind that!" The Captain snapped. "Talk later, let's get back to the ship."
***
In the hurry to leave, there was no time to take chaos into the cabin. The crew headed straight for the bridge. Tony carefully placed chaos in the engineer's seat. He looked sick, and didn't seem to be focusing well.
"chaos? Just try to keep yourself together here, okay?" He said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
chaos turned towards his voice, and focused. The blank look on his face was odd and unsettling. It was as if chaos were seeing him for the first time.
"chaos?" Tony said worriedly.
Looking down at his hands on the console, something like panic came into chaos' eyes. Leaning over them, he began to tremble. "Why..."
"Tony!" The Captain barked. "Get going! You may wanna die here, but I don't! See to him after we've gotten clear of this hellhole."
"Aye." Tony gritted his response reluctantly.
Taking his place at the pilot's seat, Tony quickly began the process of disengaging the Elsa from the dock. Soon they were free to fly.
"Captain, we don't have clearance," Hammer said. "I can't contact-"
"Never mind that." Captain Matthews waved a hand impatiently. "Can't you see it's a warzone out there? Tony, just floor it!"
"Right!" Oh yeah. An excitement that had nothing to do with fear rushed through him. The colony airspace was in complete chaos. They weren't the only ones trying to get out, and there were too many ships flying around.
Not too far in front of them, a small ship crashed into another, followed by both ships exploding into a massive fireball. They were bathed in a firey glow as it went careening into the colony.
Time to go.
The Elsa roared to life. Other ships were streaks flying past as they sped into the reckless confusion. Darting to and fro, Tony guided the Elsa through. Never had he manuevered through anything like this. The combined intensity of fear and excitement was incredible, driving him faster. The ship was beginning to shake.
"We're going too fast, you maniac!" Hammer shouted behind him. "We're gonna die!"
"I know what I'm doing!" Tony yelled back.
"Both of you shut up or we'll be scrapped!" Matthews could barely be heard above the rising noise as the Elsa was pushed as hard as Tony could take it.
"Oh yeah, let's show these chickens what we've got!" Tony could see an airlock ahead. Rolling to the right to avoid another ship, a shocking impact came from the back.
Matthews was muttering something, but the engine noise was too loud to hear him.
Whizzing past the remaining ships and into the airlock, Tony gave a triumphant shout. The worst was over. He pulled the Elsa into a slow turn, easing them towards the outer airlocks. Putting a hand through his ruffled hair, he ventured a look back at his crewmates. "Everyone still back there?"
"You're completely insane, but we're still alive." Hammer said from somewhere behind his console. It sounded like he was ready to be sick.
"We made it, that's the important thing." Captain Matthews wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Good work Tony, now let's get out of here."
"Aye, captain." Before turning back around, he glanced back at chaos. The silver-haired boy had his head down on the console, resting on his arms. He was still shaking slightly, but seemed to be holding up otherwise.
Whatever was wrong still had to wait. Tony turned back around in his seat.
A big, ugly gnosis was leering at him through the glass. With a terrified shriek, Tony leapt back from the controls, scrambling back over the top of his seat. The Elsa pitched and collided with the airlock wall. The impact sent him sprawling out onto the left aisle. He wasted no time getting back to his feet.
"Tony! What in the-!?" Matthews stopped, seeing the red demon-like creature floating through the glass and onto the bridge. "Oh shit."
"Is that- Is that-!?" Hammer jumped from his seat and cowered behind Matthews.
"Damned gnosis!" Matthews growled. "On my ship!"
Tony had gone to chaos' side, and was shaking his shoulder. "chaos, get up!" He didn't know where they could go now, but he couldn't leave chaos behind.
Instead of responding, chaos only shook his head and retreated deeper into his folded arms. "No... No..." He cried softly.
"chaos..."
"What do we do?" Hammer whimpered.
"Get back!" Matthews opened a compartment at the back of his chair, and pulled out a small cube-like object. "I'm gonna try driving it out."
Tony couldn't see exactly what it was or what the Captain was doing. Before he could get a better look, the object was flung through the air. It landed with a clatter below the floating gnosis. Then it sparked to life.
A shock of light from the object made Tony flinch. Streamers of electrical energy whipped around the gnosis. The gnosis' screech was a chilling, unholy sound. It seemed to be trapped by the energy, held there by the flickering fingers of light.
"You did it!" Hammer cheered. "Way to go, Captain!"
"Thought that might come in handy." Matthews said. "But now how do we get rid of it? If we stick around too long, more of 'em will show up."
"If we could move it a little, we could blow it out the Elsa's side airlock." Tony suggested. Hammer nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! I know-"
The gnosis roared. The energy surrounding it crackled about wildly, causing a stray thread of electricity to hit the navigation console. The power surge danced over the controls, then raced up the side of the bridge bulkhead. They all cringed at the sound of a dull explosion. With a thunk noise, the bridge lights went out.
The only light came from the faint reddish emergency lights. And Tony realized that the gnosis trap was no longer working. A low, eerie growl cut through the silence.
Glowing a deathly red, the gnosis floated closer, its bone-thin, clawed arms raised in the air. Tony gripped chaos' vest. "Get up! Get up!" He couldn't budge him.
"The door won't open!" Hammer cried.
Matthews kicked it hard. "The power to the door must've been cut off with the lights! Damn it! Help me pry it open! Tony! chaos!"
The gnosis pointed a long boney talon towards Tony. Suddenly a burst of white blasted him off his feet, slamming him all the way back against the bridge door. The impact jarred him to his bones. Cold...it was so cold.
"Tony!" Hammer yelped.
Shivering, Tony was stuck to the door. His whole body ached with an icy chill. He could feel Matthews and Hammer trying to help him, but his ears were ringing, muffling their voices. With much effort, he opened his frosted eyelashes.
chaos was standing with his back to them. Facing the gnosis.
"ch...ch..." Tony struggled to move. What was chaos doing!?
The Captain and Hammer shouted as the monster swung a clawed arm down on chaos. Without moving, chaos raised his own arm and simply knocked it aside. A visible trail of blue lightning flared in the wake of chaos' arm, then faded.
Even though the ringing in his ears was subsiding, the earlier commotion had gone dead silent. Tony wondered if he was losing his senses.
"What in the..." Matthews gasped under his breath.
In the cold darkness, it was easy to see the light coming from chaos. Tiny, glowing, gold sparks floated from his hands. Was this... Was this real?
Again, the gnosis lashed out at chaos, with a hollow growling noise.
Static crackled fiercely like a tear in space as chaos knocked the gnosis aside once again. Faint threads of static crawled up and down chaos' arm, then faded back into the gentle gold sparks.
Tony stared in helpless wonder. Was this what he had felt coming from chaos all along? The feathery aura...the whispers in his skin? Was this what it truly looked like? This strange power...? What was chaos...what could stand against a gnosis?
The gnosis paused. Both of its arms had been dissolved away. How this had happened, Tony couldn't see. Whatever the cause, the gnosis was enraged, gnashing its nasty teeth repeatedly with a loud clacking. Then, it charged headlong at chaos.
"NO!" Tony forced his throat to work.
An odd tone reverberated through the air. Not so much a sound as a sensation. It felt like an wave of energy washing over them, expanding like a bubble. chaos had his hands crossed in front of his face, as if he were trying to defend himself. But the gnosis was no longer moving. It had frozen in mid-lunge.
Had time stopped? Tony wasn't sure what else it could be. Except that it made no sense. But what did anymore? chaos slowly lowered his hands. As he did, the strange wave of energy fell away, drawing back into the silver-haired boy.
Only the gnosis remained still. chaos' head tilted slightly in a sympathetic way. He reached out and placed his hand on what looked like the gnosis' shoulder. Bizarrely enough, it seemed like he was trying to comfort the monster.
"chaos..." Tony croaked, trying to pull him back from whatever was happening.
Hearing him, chaos lifted his head, but did not turn around. Suddenly, a green light began to spread from beneath his hand. The light rippled away from chaos' touch, slowly dissolving the gnosis. When the light disappeared, the gnosis was gone, and chaos stood alone with his hand in the air.
"It... What did he..." Hammer whispered.
Lowering his arm, chaos stood silent for a moment.
"More will come. We'd better get away from here before that happens." chaos returned to the engineer's seat. His fingers flew across the console.
Suddenly, the lights came to life.
"Y-yeah." Matthews nodded numbly. "Tony, you okay?"
"Sure." He was beat up, but he'd experienced worse.
"Well you heard chaos, let's move out!"
***
No one questioned what had happened while the Elsa escaped the colony and fled into deep space once more. Everyone, including chaos himself, seem to be too deep in shock to question how they were still alive. And perhaps just a touch afraid.
By the time the Elsa was far enough away to be safe, allowing Tony to leave his post, chaos had left the bridge. The pilot felt like hell chilled over, but he needed to talk to chaos. As he trudged towards the bridge doors, Matthews stopped him.
"Hold on, where do ya think you're going?" The Captain stood between him and the door.
"I'm going to check on chaos."
"Did you see what he did!?" Hammer turned around in his seat. "He fried a gnosis! What... What if he decides to do the same to us!?"
Tony shook his head. "chaos wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't. I'll be okay."
"Just be careful." Matthews sighed and tugged at his hat brim. "I knew there was something funny about him, but...man." His eyes turned fierce as he looked between them. "Neither of you tell anyone about this, you got it!?"
"S-Sure..." Hammer stuttered in surprise.
Tony just nodded.
"Right." Matthews said. "If this gets out, we could find ourselves with even more trouble than we already have." He shook his head. "Not that we're ever able to avoid trouble..." He shot a look to Hammer, then Tony.
"What do you think he is, anyway?" Hammer asked.
"Whatever he is, we're probably better off not knowing." Matthews said, sitting back down in his chair. "And probably safer not asking. I sure as hell don't want to get on his bad side. Don't bother him about it. If he feels like tellin' us, he'll tell us. Prying into things just stirs up problems... You shoulda learned that by now." He directed this last part towards Hammer, who made a face.
"I'm gonna make sure he's alright." Tony told them, and left the bridge.
Tony had known the captain long enough to recognize when the wheels in his head were turning. Usually ending them stuck in some crazy scheme. But this time, he knew the captain was seeing the obvious advantage of having a crew member that could dispatch gnosis. It seemed the problem of keeping chaos onboard was solved. Only a day before, this would have been a cause for celebration.
Now he wondered if chaos still wanted anything to do with him. He remembered the blank look chaos had given him, and wondered if chaos was even his chaos anymore. It had felt like another person, a stranger staring back at him. Was victory worth that price? With a slight feeling of dread, Tony entered their cabin.
Sitting on the unclaimed bunk beneath Hammer's, was chaos. He didn't look up as Tony walked over, his eyes on the gloves he was pulling on. With sharp tugs, he was fitting them tightly. They were the matching gloves to Tony's old outfit. Originally, chaos hadn't been very interested in wearing them. Later, he had said he didn't like them because he liked the feel of things beneath his fingers. Why was he putting them on now?
"Are you okay?" chaos asked softly.
"I'll be fine. How about you?"
chaos gave a noncommittal head movement.
Tony paused, then, "chaos, what happened?"
Finally lifting his head, chaos turned to look at him. The cold feeling came back into Tony's gut. The eyes were still like before. Studying him with a clinical expression. However, strange as they were, they were not unkind. After a moment, chaos smiled gently, a deeply sad smile.