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 17: Rage

One second Zeno was right in front of him; the next, Zeno had Runi on the floor, lunging at Runi's neck with his sharp fangs bared. It took Sani only a second to realize that if Runi hadn't been wearing the type of suit he had, Zeno would have already ripped his throat out. As it stood, the thicker bodysuit material was preventing Zeno's fangs from penetrating the softer flesh of Runi's throat, but Sani knew that if given enough time, the raging Zeno would eventually rip through it.

It took a few seconds, but Runi seemed to finally register what had just happened and started trying to kick and punch Zeno off. Finally, he was able to plant his feet on Zeno's midriff and push him off, sending Zeno tumbling. Sani scrambled out of the way as Zeno nearly landed on top of him, Zeno springing back to his feet almost immediately. However, even in that short of time, Runi had disappeared.

Did he flee? Sani wondered as both he and Zeno scanned the room. He got his answer quickly enough when something struck Zeno in the face. Zeno growled and swung, but missed his target. More blows came, though they seemed to barely affect Zeno in his raged induced stage: the only real effect was knocking his helmet off and pissing Zeno off even more.

"What's the matter Zeno?" Runi's voice taunted. "Can't hit what you can't see?"

He's toying with him, Sani thought with a frown, hearing Runi laughing as Zeno kept missing him. The bastard is toying with him. It would be only a matter of time before Runi got serious and while Zeno seemed to have trouble pinpointing a moving target in active camo in his enraged state, Sani did not. Sani felt the desire to remove Runi's advantage, but wasn't sure how.

Wait, the plasma pistol! he thought, scanning the floor for the weapon. Sani finally spotted it by the wall, where it must have been kicked over due to the fight. He quickly walked over and picked it up, looking it over to see if it was damaged. Only enough battery for one overcharged shot, Sani thought with a frown. Better make this count.

Looking up, it seemed Runi had stopped using Zeno as a punching bag. This was a problem, as without Runi moving around quickly, it was harder to spot him. Zeno himself was just standing there, nothing moving save for the occasional flick of his eyes. Then, with a snarl, Zeno backed up toward the wall, angling himself so that a piece of furniture and the wall covered his back and flank. It was tactical move Sani wasn't expecting from someone in an enraged state: Runi wasn't expecting it either.

"Aww am I intimidating you?" Runi's voice mocked, clearly misinterpreting Zeno's actions. At least Sani had a general location on where Runi was now and he aimed the plasma pistol there, waiting. He was aware that if Runi saw him, it would become that much harder to do this: Runi might even force Zeno into the line of fire at the last second. It was a chance he had to take though.

There was silence for several tense seconds and Runi was not moving as far as Sani could tell. Then Sani heard the faint tssh of an energy blade activating and his hearts went cold. So it turned out that suit did have an energy dagger, meaning making this shot was even more important. Adjusting his aim to where he heard the sound, Sani took a deep breath to steady himself and held down the trigger, starting the charging process. Zeno, meanwhile, still hadn't moved beyond the narrowing of his eyes and his fists clenching.

"Time to die!" Runi cried suddenly. Sani readjusted his aim quickly and let the shot fly. He didn't have a chance to charge it as long as he wanted, but he was out of time. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Sani could see Runi now due to his sudden movement and the bright, neon-green ball of plasma streaking toward him….

At first it seemed the shot was going to miss, but it just caught him on the back. The EMP effect knocked out Runi's active camo, forcing him into full visibility. It also stunned him, having not expected interference like this. It bought Zeno plenty of time to act and act he did.

With a roar, Zeno took a step forward and threw an uppercut. The blow hit Runi squarely under the 'chin' of the helmet, snapping his head back and breaking the seal on his helmet. Runi staggered back a few paces, shaking his head, the helmet slipping off and landing with a thud on the floor. Without the helmet, Runi could no longer use active camo. He knew this and he reached down for the helmet….

Zeno wasn't about to allow that however. He rushed forward and grabbed Runi, one hand on the crotch and the other seizing the chest plate, and threw him. Due to Runi's size, the distance wasn't great, but Zeno did manage to bounce him off a dresser and out the window, shards of glass flying everywhere. With unprecedented agility, Zeno leaped out the window himself.

Sani rushed out the door, the plasma pistol left behind as it was no longer useful, to see a bit of a face-off. Zeno was crouched in a decorative planter that was in the middle of the corridor, while Runi was still by the shattered remains of the window, looking less sure of himself. Runi still had the energy dagger activated, which he brought to bear when Zeno charged him.

Zeno ducked under the swing and grabbed hold of Runi again. This time he flipped him over and slammed him into a nearby bench, the metal frame bending and wood snapping. He made a lunge at Runi's neck again, but Runi was able to fend him off with the energy dagger, managing to score a small cut on Zeno's upper right mandible. In response, Zeno tossed him over the planter.

At this point, Zeno briefly focused his attention on the ruined bench. With a strong pull, he yanked out a steel rod that was once part of the frame and stalked toward Run with it in hand. Runi, by now had risen to his feet once more and was glancing between the rod in Zeno's hand and his energy dagger. When Zeno started swinging his improvised weapon, he attempted to parry, or perhaps even sever the rod. However, Runi was not adept at using a dagger, so most of Zeno's attacks got through. Most of the blows seemed to hit Runi's armor, but the few blows that did hit something more vulnerable must have hurt a lot from the cries of pain from Runi: Sani thought he heard a few bones crack.

It was at this point, Runi finally seemed to get it in his head that he was outmatched here and started to run. Zeno was having none of that though and gave chase, catching up to him in a single burst of speed and knocking him to the ground. He then raised the steel rod and struck Runi in the back of the leg, Runi crying out in pain. Zeno raised the rod and then attempted to stab Runi through the back, but Runi was able to roll out of the way in time, the impact sending up a brief shower of sparks.

There were several more attempts at stabbing him before Runi finally managed to knock the rod out of Zeno's hands, sending it skittering away. Sani followed its path, noting it nearly hit one of the security detail that Zeno must have called in before the fight started. When they arrived he did not know, but it was evident that they were unsure at how to deal with this current situation. Behind them, Sani believed he saw a medical team, though who they were intended for…could go either way by this point.

"What, by the Gods, is going on here?" a new voice boomed. Sani recognized the voice immediately.

"Shipmaster," Sani said as he approached Rtas. Rtas looked at him and his eyes widened: Sani blushing when he realized he was still nude. Regardless, Rtas looked at him, then at the two combatants and nodded, seemingly understanding completely at what happened.

By now, Zeno had Runi pinned on the ground, one hand pinning the arm that had the activated energy dagger, while the other hand was on Runi's throat. Runi was trying his hardest to keep Zeno from biting his face off, his eyes wide in outright fear and a few cuts where Zeno's fangs did get him here and there. It also looked like Runi had a broken lower mandible now, from how it hung loosely from his jaw.

"This needs to be stopped." Sani heard Rtas mutter, a tone of regret in his voice. He watched the shipmaster as he took a couple of steps forward, pulling out a plasma rifle.

"Shipmaster!" Sani cried in alarm.

"As much as Runi likely deserves this," Rtas explained. "I cannot allow Zeno to kill him, for his sake as Ambassador. If he does not heed me…." The shipmaster left the statement unfinished, the meaning clear. If Zeno did not snap out of it and regain control of himself, Rtas would be forced to shoot him. "Zeno 'Ribal!" Rtas called out. "Cease and desist at once!"

Zeno, whom now had both of Runi's arms pinned and his mandibles firmly around Runi's throat, glanced up at Rtas. Fortunately, the thick bodysuit Runi was wearing was still holding. Unfortunately, Zeno did not seem to even recognize Rtas as a superior: he appeared to be regarding Rtas as a competitor for his 'prey', if his loud growl was any indication. "Zeno," Rtas said more softly as he stepped closer, aiming his weapon at Zeno. "Snap out of it. Do not make me shoot you…please…."

That didn't seem to work either. In fact, Rtas coming closer seemed to just agitate Zeno even more. Zeno's growls got louder and Sani could see the muscles in his legs start to tense…

Oh gods, he's going to attack the shipmaster! Sani thought, realize he had to do something before things got even worse. There was no time to think things through: he just acted. He ran at Zeno and slammed into him, knocking him off Runi, whom he tripped over. They tumbled together in a mass of limbs, before coming to rest by a wall.

The moment he was able, Sani wrapped his arms around Zeno, pinning his arms to his side. For a brief, terrifying moment, it looked like Zeno was going to bite him, those sharp fangs heading right for his neck, only for him to stop at the last moment. My scent, Sani realized. He recognizes my scent, even now. "Zeno," he said softly in his ear hole, hoping Zeno recognized his voice as well. "Come back to us…you have done enough. Please come back to us…come back to me."

Sani was aware of Rtas standing close by, but ignored him at the moment. He focused solely on Zeno, listening as his hearts slowed down and the growling stopped, felt how Zeno's breathing returned to normal, and watched as his mandibles returned to a non-threatening position. "Sa-Sani?" Zeno's unmistakable voice said after a few moments more, his voice low and uncertain.

Only now did Sani release him and pull away, only to wrapping his arms around him again, this time in an embrace. "Zeno…welcome back…," Sani said, sighing with relief. Around him, he heard other sighs of relief, Rtas' being the heaviest."

"What the hell just happened?" Zeno asked as they got to their feet. "Last thing I remember clearly was finding you in the room…after that, things are rather fuzzy…."

"Un-hand me!" They heard Runi growl as a couple of soldiers forced him to his feet and try to cuff him. "I am the victim here!"

"Victim?" Rtas growled, rounding on him. "I seem to remember explicitly forbidding you from leaving the ship. Not to mention at suit of stealth ranked armor you stole. And that is just a start from the looks of things."

"Whatever, I proved a point." Runi grinned coyly at Sani. "You do have feelings for me! Why else would you…." His statement was cut short when Sani clocked him one, knocking him out cold.

"I did it to save Zeno's ass, not yours," Sani muttered, shaking his hand.

"Have his injuries treated than take him to the brig," Rtas growled at the security team. "I will see to him later. Zeno…." Rtas' tone was now of regret. In response, Sani felt Zeno wrap his arms around him in a protective embrace. He could not see his expression fully, but Sani thought he saw a pleading look in Zeno's eyes. This seemed to change whatever Rtas was about to say. "I would suggest getting Sani to the infirm and have him checked over, yourself as well. We will talk later."

"Yes, commander," Zeno responded softly.

Sani could not miss the sorrow in Zeno's voice.

The journey to the infirm was quiet, both Sani and Zeno having a lot on their minds and neither were willing to voice those thoughts. In Zeno's case, he was still piecing together what exactly happened and what he was starting to recall bothered him. I was acting worse than a Brute, he realized. Zeno also realized that the High Council would no doubt use this against him. Later, he told himself. Worry about that late. Focus on Sani right now.

Sani seemed to be a conflicting mix of emotions during the whole situation. He flipped between a shamed, frightened man to a confident warrior and back again during the encounter. Now though, it seemed the shamed, frightened version was starting to win over completely. Sani was pressed against him, shivering occasionally, as they walked, while Zeno had one supportive arm around his shoulders. It was all he could do at this time, for Sani refused a gurney, or Zeno to carry him: at least he allowed Zeno to find him something to wrap himself in, to protect what dignity he had left.

How much progress has been undone? Zeno wondered as they arrived at the infirmary. Other questions similar to that raced through Zeno's mind, such as how intimate would Sani be willing be after this? Would he ever want to have sex again? One thing was for certain, Sani would be needing a lot of support for the time being, support Zeno hoped he would be able to give him.

Initial signs didn't look good at all, in fact. When the medics started to do a rape kit, Sani freaked at the touch of the sample swab. Zeno had to hold him, telling him reassuring words and rubbing his back while they examined his posterior: he really did not like the probe. Fortunately, that was the only sticky point: the rest, such a taking photos of injuries and removing the handcuff remains, Sani took like a champ.

Only after all the physical evidence was collected did they allow him to take a shower. While Sani was doing that, Zeno allowed himself to be assessed for his own injuries: the only thing he needed was a bit of bio-glue for the cut on his mandible. When Sani was done, the medics started actually treating his injuries. All his injuries were relatively minor, but the medics wanted to keep him overnight for observation.

After being shown his hospital room, Sani went straight to bed, exhaustion overtaking him. Zeno knew he really out to eat something first, they both should, but he didn't blame Sani for not being hungry after all this. In truth, Zeno wasn't hungry either for similar reasons, so Zeno just settled down in the visitor chair by Sani's bed, holding his hand as Sani tried to fall asleep: it understandably took a little longer than normal for him to do so.

Zeno, unfortunately, could not fall asleep at all: partly because of the chair and partly due to the worries on his mind. What will become of us, he thought. When the council learns of this? The worse thing he could think of was the council forcibly separating them: the very thought pained his hearts.

"Zeno?" a quiet, but familiar voice called out. Zeno looked up to see Rtas in the threshold.

"Commander," Zeno said as he rose from the chair and joined Rtas in the hallway.

"How is he?" Rtas asked.

"His physical injuries are minor and will heal quickly," Zeno replied, keeping his voice down for Sani's sake. "Mentally though…I do not know."

Rtas nodded, getting the message. "Here," he said, holding out Zeno's ambassador helmet. "You forgot this back at the scene."

Zeno sighed heavily as he accepted it. "Thanks, Commander. Though, to be honest, I am not sure how much longer I will be allowed to wear this."

"Mmm…so you recognize the gravity of what you have done…."

"How could I not?" Zeno turned and looked into Sani's room. "I was no Sangheili then…I was an animal." With another sigh he added. "Though, I admit I do not regret the damage I dealt to that bastard, for we both know the council is not likely to do anything to him for his crimes."

"Perhaps not for the assault on Sani," Rtas agreed, regret in his tone. "However, he is still in trouble for disobeying my orders and stealing that stealth armor."

"Not to mention forging a letter to lure Sani into his trap," Zeno grumbled. "But how much time would that get him? Not nearly as much as he deserves I fear…."

"I am more worried about you right now, Zeno," Rtas said. "And Sani."

"Yeah…the council will have a field day when they find out about this: I know they have been itching for a chance to get rid of me."

"Technically they could have replaced you at any time," Rtas muttered.

"I know, which means they want to humiliate and shame me before they cut me loose. Bastards."

"You are a strong Sangheili, Zeno: I know you can take whatever the council throws at you. Sani on the other hand…."

Zeno was silent as he watched Sani sleep peacefully for a few moments. "What do you think they will do with him, commander?" he asked softly. "A Sangheili from any other keep would likely be culled for weakness due to things like this. He needs me, now more than ever…but if the council forces us apart…." The statement did not need to be finished, for the meaning was obvious.

He looked back at Rtas, whom looked to be in deep thought. "There is a possibility…," Rtas said guardedly. "That he may be eligible for separation due to this trauma. I can look into this, though I am not sure who would have jurisdiction over him to process such documentation."

Zeno mulled this over. "I can find that out. Sani did tell me that he never wanted to be in the military in the first place, so I doubt he would be against it. Worse case…if they do force us apart, we can least send him back to his keep, where his family and friends can support him." Zeno clenched a fist over his chest, where he felt that ache in his hearts again. "Though I worry how well we would be able to handle the separation…."

"One thing at a time," Rtas told him. "Let us find out all our options first. Who knows, the council may surprise us by siding with us."

"Humph," Zeno snorted. "The human's have a phrase for such a thing."

"And that would be?"

"When hell freezes over."