Chapter Sixteen: Twisted
Shion's chest heaved, adrenaline pumping through her system. On the Durandal, Gaignun called on his power reserves, reaching into the younger woman's mind to determine how badly she was hurt.
Are you alright?
I can't use my right foot very well, and he broke my wrist… Shion thought back. Gaignun paused, he did not want to trespass into her thoughts without permission, not what after she'd just been put through…
I can heal your wrist, if you want me to. However it requires that I be in your mind... What meager defenses Shion left had dropped instantly, surprising him. You want me to?
I trust you. Was the reply. Gaignun bit his lip as a wave of emotion coursed through him…how could she say that? How could she say that to him, the most untrustworthy person of all…? Clamping down on the unruly feelings, he sent some of his power coursing through the brunette's battered body, sensing when the pain of her fast-healing wrist was approaching and drawing it into himself.
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The headache was incredible, pain searing through his skull. Hissing in agony, Jr. gripped the side of the computer console.
What the hell? Urgh… Biting back a snarl of pain, he reached for his link to Gaignun. Gaignun?
No answer.
Gaignun? Eyes now tightly closed against the migraine, Jr. forced what little power he had out onto the mental plane. Gaignun? As he fumbled about, blind, another connection flared into life, chills running throughout his body, and the feeling that he'd never be warm again.
Albedo! And on the heels of that…
"Little Master! KOS-MOS…she's up and gone!" Jr. snapped out of the mental trance.
"Say what?!"
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Claws scraped along his mental barriers, the sound was ear-splitting, like nails on a chalkboard…Gaignun bit back a scream of pain as something stabbed into one of them, but he didn't waver. He had to stay strong, had to keep them up…it wasn't only himself he had to protect, Shion was helpless and defenseless, and he now was the only thing between her and his older brother's twisted desires…
What the hell do you want with Shion? She's got nothing to do with what you want, nothing!
Hahaha…please don't insult my intelligence, Nigredo. I know you're not that stupid. The green-eyed U.R.T.V. gritted his teeth. So Albedo had picked up on Shion's hidden powers. Clever of that old bastard, don't you think, otouto?
Which one? Laughter.
Touché. Gaignun diverted his attention to Shion.
Is there any way you can get out of here?
Before he caught me again I was jury-rigging a homing signal from one of the computer panels. I remember the floor number, if I can get down there I can finish it. Gaignun nodded.
I'll distract him; you make a run for it. Gaignun winced once more as Albedo assaulted his mental barriers. Ready…GO! He felt Shion pull away, throwing herself to her feet and tearing towards the door, Albedo's fiendish glee at seeing her rise…the green-eyed man pounced, summoning his own anger and rage at what his older brother had dared to do, using it as a weapon, a sword, stabbing deep into Albedo's brain. However, this had its own repercussions… Another signal came onto the mental plane, fire writhing as if it were in pain…
Rubedo! Terror speared through Gaignun. He had completely forgotten about the connection between Rubedo and Albedo! Whatever damage he did to one was reflected on the other...Albedo's mocking laughter echoed in his head.
Give it up, Nigredo. You're good yes, but this is too much of a strain…you'll get her back, don't worry!
NO!
You snooze, you lose. Such treasures like her should be claimed as quickly as possible, lest predators get to them…
You're no saint!
And look at the pot calling the kettle black. Exhaustion washed over Gaignun, the mental focus wavering. Give it up. You're stretched too thin. I'll take good care of her, I promise.
Don't you…dare…His namesake darkness was washing over him; his fingers were loosening on the jacket, his only connection to Shion… touch…her… The claws returned, now trailing up his spinal cord, he felt Albedo shift his attention away from him, finding Shion easily…the fabric was slipping through his fingers, pooling on his lap…
And then two hands wrapped around his, bringing the jacket back underneath his fingertips, a surge of red power flooding through his veins, revitalizing him…
Rubedo!
Jeez, what is it with you and not asking for help? Where's Shion? KOS-MOS woke up and just left in Dinah!
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The panel hummed beneath her fingers, the homing signal activated. Sobbing in relief, she sank down, slumping against the metal plate. Her head throbbed with pain, but she didn't care, she had gotten away from him…weariness was cascading over her like a waterfall, the adrenaline crash setting in.
No…don't. You can't hang around here. A little voice whispered inside her head.
"But I'm so tired…" Shion slurred. Her eyelids drooped. "I just want to rest for a bit." Her body crumpled on the floor, her eyes fluttering shut. "Just a bit..."
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Gaignun felt Shion's mind waver, the body demanding that she attend to its needs now. But if she fell asleep, she would be a sitting duck for Albedo's rage, her mind open and vulnerable.
She's been through too much, Gaignun. We can't push her any further.
We have to. The raven-haired U.R.T.V. snapped back. Shion, get up.
Leave me, please…
Get. Up. Gaignun snarled. If only he could use his power to force Shion to obey him…but he had enough to explain to Rubedo as it was. Shion, move! KOS-MOS has your signal, she's coming to you, but you have to keep going.
I can't, Gaignun…I'm just too tired. I…
Shion! Maniacal laughter. Oh no!
Heh heh…Come to me, all you who are tired, and I will give you rest. With those words, Albedo aimed an attack at Shion's mind…Gaignun heard Jr. roar in rage and fling himself at his twin, he himself tried to reach out to Shion, but came up short…with triumphant glee the white-haired U.R.T.V. reached out, poised to tear Shion apart…who could only lay there, looking up helplessly, a lamb on a sacrificial altar…
And then they saw it. As the tainted paleness that was their brother hurled towards his prey, something silver shimmered around Shion…it moved over her, forming a mirror…as Albedo's attack hit it was reflected off the surface…and rebounded towards him! Gaignun heard Jr. scream as his twin's pain hit him, and everything disappeared in a flash of light…
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Gaignun! The green-eyed man opened his eyes. He was on his knees, floating in mid-air inside the blackness he was named for, around him flickers of light, like stars, along with shattered pieces of glass…and among them, a familiar red-headed figure…
Rubedo!
Gaignun, what the hell's going on?
I don't know. That thing that covered Shion…
That was her power, right? I…arrggghhh!
Rubedo! Around them, the world warped and twisted…they were in a hallway, watching as KOS-MOS suddenly appeared out of nowhere, sprinting towards a door, her right arm morphing into the R-CANNON…Albedo roaring with rage…Gaignun's body finally caught up to his brain, and he fell into darkness, his last image that of Rubedo reaching down to him, screaming his name.
AN: Alright. Remember when I asked you way back when to vote for your favorite pairing? As I was writing this story, with the way things turned out...I couldn't just notselect one pairing and reject the other, it wouldn't be fair. So I decided to leave the ending open, and then have two alternate endings. The vote was to see which ending I would write first...majority rules! The Gaignun/Shion AE will be posted first, with the Albedo/Shion AE being posted second.
Thank you ever so much for reading, your reviews have meant so much to me.