Authors Note: Thanks to Gex-1539 for proofing this.
Disclaimer: Halo, Sangheili, Rtas, Thel/Arbiter and other canon characters belong to Bungie Studios/343 Industries. However, Original Characters, like Zeno, belong to me.
Chapter 14: Runi
Zeno yawned and stretched, feeling reluctant to get up today. Beside him Sani also began to stir and with a faint chuckle, Zeno wrapped his arms around him and licked his neck. Sani giggled and managed to twist around enough to nip him playfully on a mandible. A brief spout of playful roughhousing ensued before both finally sat up in the bed and Zeno was finding it hard not to watch Sani as they dressed.
It had been nearly four months since Zeno coaxed a slightly thin, timid and depressed Sani from a supply room. Now, Sani was a lean but well built young male whose skin glistened with health and nearly glowed with self-confidence. Zeno sometimes could not keep his hands off this handsome male and it seemed Sani felt the same way, for they both often spent long moments just holding each other.
He knew, however, that Sani likely still had some side-effects from the abuse he suffered: one doesn't typically get over something like that in just four months. One sign was that Sani was still reluctant to have actual intercourse, though Zeno personally did not want to rush that step anyway: things had advanced rather quickly as is.
"You going to get dressed as well, Zeno?" Sani's voice said, breaking his train of thought. "Or are you going to continue to stare at my ass?"
"Well it is a very nice ass," Zeno replied with a coy grin, the grin growing wider when Sani blushed.
"Oh you!" Sani said, pushing him playfully.
"You are not innocent yourself, Sani," Zeno said with a laugh. "I have caught you staring at my rear a few times."
"Who me?" Sani put on an innocent look, which Zeno saw through instantly.
"Yes you," Zeno said as he pulled Sani into an embrace.
"Well, you do have a very nice ass," Sani said, echoing Zeno's earlier comment.
"Yes, yes I do," Zeno said as he kissed Sani, Sani returning the gesture. "You know…it is going to be a light day today, I do not think they would mind if we show up a little late."
"You are so naughty, Zeno," Sani giggled. "Have we not done just that a couple times this week already?"
"Which means they should be used to it by now." Zeno's grin was very broad.
Sani laughed and leaned in to kiss him once more when Sesai popped up on the console.
"Good morning, Ambassador," the AI said cheerfully.
"Aw, Sesai, could you have waited about thirty minutes?" Zeno groaned.
"I apologize, Ambassador, but I needed to inform you that the Shadow of Intent has arrived in system and will have guests arriving by phantom within a couple of hours."
Both Zeno and Sani groaned with a mix of disappointment and apprehension. Zeno knew Second Master Ruro would likely want to have a chat with him and for Sani, he knew Runi would be looking for him. It looked like the time had finally arrived to see if the training Sani undertook would pay off and Sani now looked nervous. "You have been training for this moment for nearly four months, love," Zeno said to him reassuringly. "You can handle him."
"Physically, perhaps, but mentally?" Sani countered, a telling quiver in his voice.
"You can do it, I believe in you." Zeno nuzzled him affectionately, which immediately lightened Sani's mood. "Come, we best finish getting dressed and get something to eat before our visitors arrive."
"I do not know if I can eat anything: I seem to have suddenly lost my appetite," Sani muttered. "This day feels like it arrived too soon…."
Zeno found himself agreeing with him there.
A couple of hours later…
Three phantoms had arrived from the Shadow of Intent and Zeno and Sani stood in the hanger bay, greeting the new arrivals. So far he hadn't see any sign of Second Master Ruro or Runi, though in Runi's case Zeno wasn't entirely sure what he looked like, despite the description Sani gave him. All he knew was that he was nearly tall as himself and heavily built: which seemed to match a number of minors that arrived here. I really should have asked Sani for a better description, Zeno thought.
As it turned out, he knew when Runi had finally shown himself by a sudden change in Sani's demeanor. Despite the nervousness and anxiety he had when he first heard the news of the ship's arrival, Sani had been acting fairly calm and confident as he greeted the guests. Now, however, his gaze was affixed in one direction, a slight tremor of anxiety in his mandibles and hint of fear in his yellow-green eyes. Looking where he was staring, Zeno spotted Runi himself.
Sani certainly hadn't exaggerated Runi's size: the man really was nearly as tall as Zeno and more heavily built. Runi's red-brown skin seemed to match the fiery aggression in his golden eyes and overall posture reflected the arrogance that plagued their people. He watched as Runi slowly walked away from the Phantom's grav lift, not acting like he was in any hurry. That changed once he spotted them, his stride quickening as his expression turned darker and more aggressive.
"Zeno…," Sani said, his voice having a noticeable quiver in it. "Promise me you will let me do this on my own?"
Zeno looked down at him, then at the approaching Runi for a moment before looking back at Sani. Despite his obvious nervousness, Sani seemed willing to try to handle this alone: Zeno couldn't help but allow himself a small smile of pride at that knowledge. "I promise not to interfere," Zeno said. "So long as things do not get out of hand."
"Thank you."
By the time Runi was twenty feet away from them, his expression had softened and Sani knew immediately that he was going to try to sweet talk him. Do not fall for it, he told himself. It is a lie, all of it. Sani could feel the anxiety and fear building the closer Runi got, but he was able to keep it off his face, displaying an expression of indifference instead. Runi finally stopped his approach about five feet away, a bit close to Sani's liking, and Runi made an obvious show of looking both him and Zeno up and down, as if judging them.
"What is this armor get up?" Runi asked, his tone sounding genuinely curious. "Never seen it before in all the times I have come here."
"This," Sani gestured toward Zeno, whom was watching Runi with a cold, measured gaze. "Is Zeno 'Ribal, the current Ambassador of…"
"I do not care about him," Runi interrupted with a snarl. "I am talking about you."
Out of the corner of his eye, Sani saw Zeno bristle but remain silent: such blatant disrespect. "You would do well to treat the Ambassador with respect, Runi," Sani retorted with a faint growl of his own.
"Whatever. What is that armor you are wearing, Sani?" Runi persisted. "It is no minor armor I have ever seen before."
"This," Sani pointed to his blue and off-white armor. "Is the armor of the Ambassador's Aide."
"So you went and got another job when you already have one on the Shadow of Intent."
"This job is the only one I have," Sani corrected. "I was transferred here."
"Brute dung!" Runi snapped. "Shipmaster Ruro said those documents were forged!"
"I assure you they were not," Zeno countered. "And Ruro is only Second Master. Rtas 'Vadum is still Shipmaster of the Shadow of Intent."
"Shut up, I am not talking to you."
At that, Zeno lowered his head and growled deeply, his hands clenching and unclenching. Sani put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. "Zeno…remember," he said to him softly. It took a moment, but Zeno did relax his posture, though he was still glaring daggers at Runi. "It is clear you do not have any respect for your superiors, Runi," Sani said, turning his gaze back to Runi. "I would suggest you return to your ship, for your attitude is not wanted here."
"I am not leaving," Runi said defiantly. "Not until you return to me, where you belong."
"I belong by Zeno's side, not yours. I never belonged to you."
"So you deny all the times we had?"
"All you have given me, Runi, is pain and humiliation. That is why I left."
"And do you know why I put you through that?"
"To control everything I did," Sani growled.
"To keep you safe!"
"Safe…safe! Beating me so badly that I was in the infirm for two days is keeping me safe?"
"You know there are people out there that would use you and throw you away afterward. You remember what happened to me: I was trying to keep you from suffering the same fate at the hands of those monsters!"
"And in the process became a monster yourself. No, Runi, I will not go back, I will never go back. I will stay with Zeno."
"And what has he done that I have not?"
At this Sani laughed. "Zeno has treated me with kindness and understanding. He took me in and helped me when no one else could, or would. He gave me the opportunity to find myself again, to be happy again and for that I am not only forever grateful, but I love him."
Runi's eyes widened as he looked between them. "You…are in bed with this man?" he asked
"I am," Sani confirmed without hesitation. "And I am happy with him." After a pause he added. "Leave, Runi. I do not want you. I never did."
Sani watched as Runi's eyes flicked through a number of emotions, from shock, to betrayal, to finally anger. Knowing what was about to happen, Sani felt his muscles tense, one foot starting to slide back into the start of a fighting stance. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zeno take a few steps back to give him room. Around them he was faintly aware that the few guests that were still in the hanger bay had paused to watch the scene. Sani didn't care if they watched or not: if anything, this happening in public was more likely to help him than Runi. I am ready for you, Runi, Sani thought. Come at me.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Why you ungrateful, betraying little slut!" Runi roared as he charged the short distance between them, one fist raised high to strike. "If you will not come back willingly I will take you back by force!"
Sani immediately dropped into a full fighting stance as Runi's fist bared down at him. He caught Runi's fist in mid-punch and twisted as he was taught, sending the rest of Runi's body twisting in the air before finally landing flat on his back. The look of shock on Runi's face was priceless, as Sani released his hand and stepped away. "What the…h-how did you…." Runi stammered, clearly confused, as he struggled to his feet.
"You cannot control me," Sani replied confidently. "You do not own me and I do not fear you anymore."
Runi gaped at him for a moment, before anger over took him and he again charged at him, only to be given the same treatment. "How can this be!" Runi growled as he got to his feet once more. "I am bigger and stronger than you!"
"Size and strength do not always determine the battle," Zeno told him from the sidelines.
"We will see about that!"
Runi attacked again, only this time Sani did not use a throw on him. This time, he simply dodged and deflected his blows as he was taught, countering once with a quick precise blow to the gut. Runi staggered back a few paces, holding his belly, before recollecting himself and coming at him again.
It continued like this for several minutes, Sani rolling with the few blows Runi managed to connect with to minimize injury. In fact, Sani was starting to enjoy this. He was enjoying the power he had over Runi now and he couldn't help but start to comment about it. "How does it feel to not be in control, Runi?" he said as he landed a punch on Runi's face. "Does not feel good does it?"
Runi staggered backwards, dazed by the blow and Sani went on the offensive. He hit him several times in the gut, before following up with another blow to the head. This time Runi fell to the ground, not unconscious but clearly knocked out of his senses.
A part of him knew the fight was over and that the point had already been made, but Sani could not stop there. He walked over to Runi and stepped one leg over him so he was straddling him and glared down at him. Runi looked up at him, his eyes unfocused and appearing to not know where he was, but Sani did not care.
"I am going to make you feel every ounce of pain you gave me!" Sani growled and started wailing on him with his fists. This only continued for a moment before someone caught one of his fists. Looking up, he saw Zeno standing there with a calm and slightly disappointed expression on his face. He felt hurt and betrayed that Zeno would break his promise.
"Zeno, you promised you would not interfere!" Sani hissed.
"Yes," Zeno said calmly. "I said I would not interfere so long as things did not get out of hand. And things have gone out of hand."
"But…"
"Sani, think about what you are doing," Zeno said softly. "To continue like this would be to sink to his level. "You do not want that do you?"
Sani stared at him, then looked down at Runi. Runi's face was already starting to swell up and turn colors from bruising and there was a slight trickle of blood seeping from a mandible that had a tooth knocked out. What got him the most though was Runi's expression: his eyes were begging, pleading for him to stop: how often had Sani given Runi that same expression, only for the pain to keep coming? How often did he beg for mercy but received none?
Shocked by this revelation, he stood up and staggered back, ashamed of himself. "Oh gods…oh spirits…what am I doing?" he whimpered, feeling Zeno immediately pull him into an embrace. "I do not want to become the same monster as he is…."
"It is alright, Sani," Zeno said softly.
"No it is not!" Sani protested as he buried his head in Zeno's chest plate. "I lost control!"
"Sani, you have been through more than many people go through, it is understandable that you would have a lot of pent of emotions. Not many can learn to control their emotions in battle, especially within four months!"
"Zeno…I…"
"What is important right now is that you accomplished what you set out to do," Zeno continued. "You confronted Runi and won. He has no control over your life anymore. You are truly free now."
Sani took a deep breath and sighed heavily. Zeno was right. He had won and that was the important thing. "Thank you…Zeno."
"And as for you…." Zeno glared at Runi, whom was only just getting to his feet again. "Leave," Zeno growled. "Before I call security and have them arrest you for trespassing."
Runi stared at Sani with a longing look before turning and headed back to the phantom he arrived on, muttering a faint 'this is not over' as he went. They both watched him intently until Runi disappeared up the grav lift and the phantom itself left the hanger bay. "It is over," Zeno said with a relieved sigh. "Let us go back home for a bit, hmm? We can do some 'things' to calm your nerves."
Sani smiled at the thought and allowed Zeno to start to lead him out of the hanger bay. Just before they reached the exit, he felt Zeno remove his arm from around his shoulders: they were, after all, on-duty, so PDA was not allowed. He thought he saw something odd by the door as well, but shook it off as trick of the light and the adrenaline still running through his blood.
Just after they had stepped through the door, something grabbed him by the back of his chest plate and yank him back into the hanger. Sani cried out in alarm and he heard Zeno call out to him just as the door slammed shut between them.
"We have a lot to discuss…my little runaway…," a cold voice said, accompanied by the sound of an energy sword igniting. Sani's blood froze: he knew that voice…
It was Second Master Ruro Comew….
"What the hell!" Zeno growled as he tried to get the door open, only it seemed to be locked. "Sesai!"
Sesai's draconic form appeared on a nearby console. "I am trying, Ambassador, but the door appears to be malfunctioning," she said.
"Are the other doors into this hanger bay still functional?"
"Yes, Ambassador."
"Good, I am heading for the nearest one. Get security in there as well."
"Acknowledged, Ambassador."
As Sesai disappeared, Zeno ran full tilt toward the other door. It would only take about a minute at full sprint for him to reach it, but he knew a lot can happen in that timeframe. If Sani is harmed, heads will roll, he growled.
Meanwhile…
Sani watched helplessly as Second Master Ruro pulled his energy sword out of the wall. He knew the zealot had just severed the mechanism that opened the door, which would delay Zeno coming back in here. Which meant Ruro had plenty of time to do whatever he wanted to him.
He scanned the hanger bay with hopeful eyes, looking for someone, anyone that may still be in here that may be able to help him. However he only saw maintenance crew left in the bay, civilians that would not have the skill to take on any Sangheili, let alone a zealot armed with an energy sword. Worse, Ruro obviously knew this.
"Let me go!" Sani protested as Ruro started to half drag him toward one of the phantoms. "You no longer have any authority over me!"
"That is what you think," Ruro hissed. "As far as I am concerned those 'transfer' documents were forged, which means you still belong on my ship."
"Rtas' ship you mean," Sani growled, fighting the best he could against Ruro's grip around his neck, which was like iron. "And he personally authorized the transfer!"
"Rtas?" Ruro chuckled darkly. "That soft fool has been gone for so long he may as well never return. You forget, Sani, when he is not there, I am in charge!"
The grav lift of the phantom was getting closer and Sani knew that the moment he took him up into the phantom it would be that much harder to escape. He was running out of time. Where was Zeno? Did Ruro somehow sabotage the other doors too? Then, on the far side of the hanger, a door opened and Sani saw the white armored form of Zeno charging toward them. Ruro saw him as well and he twisted around so that Sani was between him and Zeno.
"Back off, Ambassador," Ruro spat, his sword dangerously close to Sani's face. "He belongs to me!"
Zeno stopped about ten feet away from them, his gaze ice cold. "That is incorrect, Second Master," Zeno growled. "Sani's transfer paper work is official and I can prove every one of the signatures upon it was signed by the actual person. Now, let Sani go."
"Like I am going to believe someone like you," Ruro hissed. "And what are you going to do about anyway? I see no weapons on your person and I doubt you would want to risk hurting your precious Sani anyway." Out of the corner of his eye, Sani saw Ruro grin. "Looks like I hold all the cards, as they say…so I suggest you back off before someone gets hurt."
It was brief, but for a second Zeno seemed to look past them before focusing on Ruro again. "You are in trouble as is, Ruro," Zeno said, sounding a lot calmer now. "Do you really want to add kidnapping to your list of offenses?"
Ruro laughed. "Do you think the High Council cares what I do to this punk? You know as well I do that they are sick of your antics. I have nothing to worry about from them."
"It is not the High Council you need to worry about," a new voice said, behind him.
Startled, whirled around, his sword leading. Another sword appeared out of thin air and with a skillful parry, knocked the sword right out of Ruro's hand. Sani felt Ruro's grip loosen during this and he took the chance to wrest himself free. He immediately ran for Zeno, whom had a smirk on his face, and stood beside him. Only then did Sani's mind process that he knew the owner of the new voice and as he turned back around just in time to see the owner of the voice decloak.
Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum.