Hey all! Macx here. First of all, thank you for your feedback! It's always very much appreciated.
Second: FFNet has been screwing with some of the formatting. Normally mind-speech between host and symbiote is in 'slashes', but FFNet removes them automatically. I tried double - : and only : stayed. But now the ? and ! within the : boundaries are gone. Sorry about that. In case someone wondered...
Satoshi had been the first to wake, as usual. Even after the stress and exhaustion of the last hours, the fight and the pain, his mind seemed to insist on waking first before everyone else in the house. So he dressed, bound back his hair and quietly made his way downstairs into the kitchen after checking that Daisuke was still sleeping comfortably. There he made himself a coffee. Settling down in the living room, looking out into the dawn light, he thoughtfully sipped at the hot liquid.
Part of him was still shell-shocked as to what Daisuke had done. Another part was furious. Satoshi gazed at the innocent little ring he was still carrying with him. It was a work of art, powerful and old, and he was looking at the real thing, the original. It had been in his stepfather's possession, as well as a fake, and while the original was supposedly the most powerful of all, even the copies held that magic.
Daisuke had known. Of course he had. They had fought with the rings before, back when they had been forced to be opponents, enemies. Rutile drew out the power within. In Satoshi's case it had meant Krad, who had used the ring to gain the upper hand for a while. The boy Satoshi had fought him back in the end, without knowing how he had overpowered this strong magic, and Dark had stolen the real Rutile.
But the ring also had another power. It deflected harm from the bearers. Kosuke had worn a copy, taking the beating and the pain Dark had received, transferring it to his own body. Now Daisuke had copied his father's move and done the same for Satoshi.
"You fool," Satoshi whispered, clenching his hand around the silvery ring.
The scars of the abuse were visible on the small piece of jewelry, testament to the vicious forces at work.
"Love turns us into fools," a quiet voice startled him.
Satoshi turned his head and discovered Kosuke, carrying a mug of coffee, dressed in sweats. He smiled slightly and settled down in the couch chair next to Satoshi.
"I did the same for my son, Satoshi. I love him dearly. He's my only child. I'm not a Niwa, I only took my wife's name to uphold the line. Imagining my beloved child going through such pain was too much to bear, so I decided to be of assistance in the only way I could. My blood ties into the Niwa line, but it's not enough to help Daisuke, except when I use magic. So I did."
Satoshi frowned. "He didn't have to do this!" he insisted.
"He loves you, Satoshi. It's that simple. Daisuke would do anything for you."
But I don't want that! he thought desperately. He got hurt enough as a child because I couldn't control the demon inside me. How many injuries did I inflict aside from the obvious? I know I hurt him more than he would ever tell me.
A shiver raced through Satoshi and old fears and forgotten horrors came back. They were lovers, partners, but their shared past was full of pain. Children shouldn't go through that!
A warm hand settled on his shoulder and the chocolate brown eyes of Kosuke, so very much like Daisuke's, drew Satoshi in.
"You were children, Satoshi," Niwa said as if reading his thoughts. "You were thrown into a world that demanded so much and gave you so little. You had to grow up too fast. You more than Daisuke. What happened back then shaped the future and I daresay your future."
He cupped Satoshi's pale face, smiling gently.
"Daisuke is a very strong personality. He loves with that strength, he lives with that strength, and you can rely on it. He loves you and he wants to protect you, Satoshi. Rutile was his way of expressing that love. I know how it feels, I know how helplessness feels when there is nothing you can do but sit and wait. Accept his love, Satoshi."
"I do," he managed, feeling emotions well up inside him. "But I don't want him to get hurt because of me..." he blurted. "Not again..."
Kosuke nodded. "No one wants that. But you can't prevent it. Don't blame yourself. What you and Daisuke have is beautiful, born out of a horror and pain that shouldn't have been your burden as childrenor ever. Both of you were forced to live a life that was dictated by your blood. You broke free of that."
Satoshi closed his eyes, feeling the lump rise in his throat. Kosuke's touch was reassuring, gentle... fatherly. He let the older man comfort him, his hands clenched around the scarred ring as he tried to fight the old memories. Everything was blurring together, the past and the present. He didn't know why he felt as he did right now any more. Because of what had occurred just a mere day ago? Because of the old fear and guilt?
"Talk to Daisuke," Kosuke whispered, his arms now firmly around the slender young man. "You love him just as he loves you. You would do the same for him, hm?"
The last was delivered with a little smile.
Satoshi sighed deeply. Of course he would. "Yes," he whispered.
Kosuke smiled more, not saying a word.
Satoshi sat back and inhaled deeply, trying to center himself. He felt Krad within him, holding back, watching without interfering. The demon had been drawn to his host's distress, but he didn't come closer. Satoshi shot Kosuke a brief, grateful look and Niwa nodded, rising fluidly. He took his mug of now cold coffee and as quietly as he had come he left again.
That man, Satoshi thought, was really something. He again saw where Daisuke had a lot of his traits from. Niwa Kosuke wasn't someone to be underestimated. He might not be a Niwa by birth and blood, but he had the strength and inner power this family harbored.
After a while, Satoshi rose as well and walked back upstairs into Daisuke's room, the room that had been turned from a child's room into a guest room meant for Daisuke and his partner when they visited and stayed over night. His lover was still sleeping and Satoshi found himself smiling tenderly. Whizz was curled up on the pillow next to him, large red eyes looking at Hikari as he now came in.
"Kyu," he said softly.
Satoshi gave the little familiar a smile. He sat down at the edge of the mattress and touched the unruly, dark hair.
Daisuke made a sleepy sound, wincing as he moved because of his injuries, and Satoshi drew back his hand. Brown eyes cracked open.
"Don't," Daisuke murmured.
Satoshi sighed and couldn't but follow the plea. He had always been a sucker for the puppy eyes. His lover had great power with that look, especially over him.
"I didn't mean to wake you."
"Didn't. The ribs and bruises did that." Daisuke smiled a little, leaning into Satoshi's continued touches.
"Medication is right here."
Two pills and some water later, Daisuke lay on the mattress, trying to find a comfortable spot without achieving it. Satoshi knew how broken ribs felt. Dark had broken Krad's, well, Satoshi's, in a fight a long time ago. Well, Krad had stabbed him in return.
"Take it easy," he murmured soothingly, interlacing their fingers.
Daisuke's still so exhausted eyes held a smile. He was slipping off into sleep again and Satoshi just waited until the expressive eyes slid closed. He stayed with his lover for a while longer, then went downstairs again. Whizz remained with his friend, nuzzling close, dozing, guarding him.
The usual morning noise was coming from the kitchen. The rest of the Niwa household was waking up. Satoshi got himself a fresh coffee and smiled at Emiko as she bustled around the kitchen. Her face was slightly drawn and she had apparently slept as little as everyone, but there was life in her eyes. Her son was alive, as was Dark.
Satoshi repeated that over and over again. They were alive.
° ° °
Satoshi sat down on the bed, looking into the warm brown eyes, took in the slightly pain-etched smile on Daisuke's lips. He opened his fist and held out the scarred ring to his lover, who gazed at it with a guarded expression. Shaky fingers took the Rutile, running over the scars.
"You didn't have to do that," Satoshi said softly.
Daisuke sank back against the pillow, wincing a little as broken ribs protested. "It was all I could do, Sato. I felt so helpless."
He took the hand holding the ring and closed it over the ancient artifact. Interlacing their fingers, he held on, feeling the metal spikes dig into his skin.
"I love you, Niwa Daisuke."
Daisuke's eyes seemed to light up, as always when Satoshi said those words out loud, and Satoshi wondered about the effect. He was actually amazed.
"Thank you," he added and rested his forehead against the injured man's.
Daisuke's free hand came up and cupped his neck, rubbing soothing fingers over it. Lips met in almost chaste kisses, warm contact, loving and tender.
° ° °
It took Daisuke some time to get back to the U, wearing supporting bandages and with a very limited mobility. Dark was with him the whole time, refusing to separate. He was back to his old self, his wounds healed, though his psyche needed some more help. The fear of Hel was still palpable, even more than after the first abduction. This time she had gone all the way, had torn him apart literally and that needed mending. Being with his host was the best way to overcome most of the obstacles, and while Krad supported him, too, Daisuke was the primary factor.
When Dark did finally leave his host's mending body, it had been over a week since the abduction. He was himself, he looked like himself, and he behaved like himself. Daisuke kept a very close eye on him, but things were calming.
They needed calm. They needed a break. And they needed peace.
° ° °
Krad carefully wrapped his arms around the slender body of his lover. Dark had touched him since they had freed him from Hel, had allowed him to touch him in return, they had snuggled together and Krad had held him, stroking him until the kaitou had fallen asleep. They hadn't really been together, and Krad knew he would have to wait for Dark to call the shot. But something was off and Krad hadn't much more than a faint idea what it could be. The way he had found his lover, tormented and brokenliterallyit had been a traumatic event, and it was eating at his lover.
The kaitou had been silent and withdrawn since he had come back from the art's realm and Krad knew better than to push his lover. Dark's injuries had been serious and he had been in a lot of pain afterwards, and since Daisuke hadn't been much better, both host and demon needed time. Dark wasn't talking about it, and Krad respected his lover's wish, although there were two souls warring in himone that of a man who fully understood the need to keep silent and the wish to simply forget, the other the one of the lover who couldn't stand to see his loved one suffer, who would do anything to make the pain go away.
So he just waited, and when Dark had started to spend his time outside his host again, Krad had been glad. He had missed his energetic, laughing, joyful lover dearly, even if he couldn't really admit it, even to himself.
Dark snuggled back against him, into his arms, sighing softy, and the demon grew bolder. He knew what that sigh meant, had heard in often enough in the past. Stroking slowly over the flat abdomen he placed a gentle kiss on his lover's neck, feeling Dark tilt his head to grant him further access. Krad took the silent invitation, tasting his lover's skin all over again, as careful as if it were his first time. Dark made a soft sound and turned in his arms, bringing their lips together, and Krad could have jumped in joy. Slipping his hand under the shirt he let it rest on his lover's chest, just wanting to feel Dark's skin, his warmth, but Dark made a soft little sound again, shifting, deepening the kiss. Fingers were ghosting over his own skin, and Krad barely suppressed a moan.
Clothes were shed slowly, sensually revealing skin that was kissed, stroked, worshipped. Krad took in the flushed features of his lover, the heavier breathing, and he carded his hands into the long, black hair, watching it slide between his fingers.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered as he nuzzled the slender throat.
Dark whimpered.
Sliding his fingers between his lover's legs Krad increased his attention toward the peaking nipples, enjoying to hear Dark moan and arch. Carefully teasing Krad slid his fingers deeperand Dark froze.
From one moment to the next the mood was broken, shattering like expensive China on the floor. The demon heard Dark sharply suck in a lungful of air, and the slender body beside him had gone totally rigid.
"Dark? You okay?"
There was a tremor running through the lithe form. "Y-yes, just... I don't want to tonight, okay? Could you... maybe just..."
The words tapered off and Krad's golden eyes tried to catch their violet counterpart, but Dark didn't look at him.
"Sure," he finally whispered.
Krad just used his fingers and tongue, stroking his lover until he felt Dark relax against him again, heard him moan again and finally cry out with the force of his completion, taking him with him.
Afterwards Dark lay in his arms, snuggled close, dozing off and finally completely asleep. Trusting into Krad to keep them safe. Trusting him so much... until that moment he had touched him intimately... deeply...
Krad gazed at the smooth features.
Something had happened between the moment of the abduction and Dark's rescue. Something... something Hel had done. Something bad. Something that had changed Dark.
Something he hadn't talked about yet.
His worry grew.
tbc...
