Hi all! Here some of the tension comes to a head...but it's far from over! Enjoy, and please review!

Disclaimer: Don't own it.


Chapter 5: Ice

Kiku and Sadik have been filling Hera's bathtub with ice for the last fifteen minutes, using everything in his freezer and filling the rest with freezing water. When it is full, they return to the bedroom and carefully lift Hera between them. He is so much lighter than he should be, and that does nothing to ease Kiku's worry.

"What's wrong with him?! That medicine should've worked!" he sighs, frustrated. They make their way to the bathroom, even as a dozen cats follow, annoyed with them for stealing their master.

Turkey shakes his head, trying not to let on just how worried he is. Even though Greece is naked he can feel him burning. His body is shaking, and Greece is moaning in his sleep, sounding...frightened. He growls; that better be a dream about him, only he's allowed to frighten the brat. "How should I know? I told you I don't do this, I don't take care of people!"

Japan glares, but doesn't say anything more. They move him quickly to the bath, both of them bumping into things, stubbing toes, cursing and growling, but finally sighing as they reach the tub. They lower him to the frigid water. Hera yelps the minute the ice touches his skin, suddenly clawing and kicking as he tries to get away.

XXX

Hera turns to reach for Kiku, to take him and run, but the face that he meets is a woman's. Pretty, dark haired and dark-eyed, but so sad. Burning; her robes are burning, and he doesn't know how to help her. "M-mother?!"

Her arms open for her son, and she stares at him, not feeling pain at all, but joy with the sight of him, his strength and beauty. "Heracles, you are so very handsome!"

Hera steps forward, intent on embracing her. Then he sees that there is blood on her clothes. Her throat is open; her arms, too, from wrist to elbow. The fire curls around her feet and slides up her body like a snake. He recoils, almost tripping over the stage. What is he doing? Hera shakes himself; he has to help her!

"Mother! Mother hold on, I'll save you!" He tries to move forward, wanting to hold those terrible wounds together and smother the flame. But the fire leaps at him, wrapping around his own body. He screams and tries to escape it, to go to his mother or fall to his knees, something, but Turkey's bony fingers grab at him and force him to stay where the flames can devour his flesh.

"MOTHER!" He reaches desperately for her, but the hands are too strong and he is on fire, fire everywhere, stabbing into him through skin, blood, and bone.

She does not reach back. There are things that he needs to do in this world, before he can move on to the next. Two of those things are waiting for him to become well. "You must become strong again, my Heracles. You are just about to begin. Life is going to be beautiful for you very soon." She vanishes in the flames.

"MOTHER!" he shrieks, but the hands pull him back. There are more now - it's Turkey and Japan and others, all skeletons, all burning, all pulling him down, down, down to be consumed in the fire.

XXX

"Shit!" Hera fights hard, body jerking away from the ice. Sadik reacts too slowly and receives a flailing punch to the face, along with a kick that knocks him back into Kiku. He apologizes quickly before rushing back, now prepared for battle. He throws his upper body around Hera, locking his arms to his sides and keeping out of kicking range as he forces him into the ice. The poor brat shrieks, a lot of it incomprehensible nonsense, but one word stands out. Oh fuck; he's calling for his mother. Sadik grits his teeth and holds on. "Get his feet!" he calls.

Japan runs to them both, falling to his knees and ducking to avoid the kicking that seems to be Greece's only weapon at this point. He grabs first one flailing ankle, then the other, grappling with them and finally slamming them down into the ice, trying to keep them from moving again.

"MOTHER!" Greece shrieks.

Fuck, it's like the brat is trying to guilt Turkey, forcing him to recall another time when Greece was screaming like that, and Turkey was...carrying him away. He'll never know why he didn't kill the boy too. It wasn't pity. It was...ownership. Something pretty to have and come home to.

He shakes his head; now is not the time to think about that, or all their bitter feuds. Hera is certainly putting up a hell of a fight this time, even unconscious and weakened. Sadik's own hands are starting to hurt, submerged in the ice under Hera's back. "What do we do now? This seems a great deal worse than before!"

Japan holds the ankles beneath the ice, his eyes sliding to Turkey's face. He looks... different. Flushed, but not embarrassed in the way a lover might be. Breathing in, Japan slides his fingers out of the ice to flex them, holding Greece down with his wrists. "Wait for him to calm." He half-glares at him, annoyed. "Try to keep him calm."

Sadik refuses to look at Kiku. He can hear him getting...flustered. He's only seen Hera's pictures of Kiku angry, but he has a feeling it is a fearsome thing to behold when it is directed at you. He shifts; the front of his sweatshirt is wet, and he is certainly feeling colder. He can barely feel his hands; his fingers almost cling to Hera for the warmth. At least the brat seems calmer now. The fight is leaving him, and as he begins to settle Sadik tentatively releases his hold. It's a slow process, easing Hera back into the tub whenever he groans and tries to fight them again, but eventually he can sit up, one hand pressed to Hera's chest, just in case.

As Hera calms, Kiku spends his time watching Sadik carefully- every move. He seems uncomfortable, and that annoys him, because of all people, Sadik should be the one fine with holding Hera down anywhere. Those who fight and fuck crave that kind of control. Still, the thought simmers through him, rankling him to the bone. "What's wrong?" he asks, flexing his fingers again, trying to keep them moving.

Turkey rubs his hands and arms together, not really looking at either of them. "Nothing I can't handle."

Japan raises his eyebrows, somewhat sarcastic. "And what's that supposed to mean? Frozen hands?"

Finally, Turkey rounds on him, confused and a little angry. "What is wrong with you today? You never pry like this. I always liked you for that."

Kiku scoffs, letting his hands leave Hera and move to his lap, where he dries them and rubs them together. "I just find it strange. You can fight with him all day long, you can fuck him all night long, but when it comes to actually caring about whether he lives or dies, you get uncomfortable. And now you have this look on your face - this nauseous look - and I'm starting to wonder if you've ever cared about anyone before."

Sadik starts at that. Cared? Of course he's cared. He's cared about their lands and their money, and keeping them just strong enough to make him stronger. That it hurt him more than physically when his...conquests left, especially this one, is a thing he does not think very hard on. But in this modern world beyond empires, filled with alliances that are built on something more than fear or funds, something like friendship...he cares for them. He cares what they think of him, cares what they think is best, and doesn't like it when their hurting. He might even be worrying for the brat. What a concept! Sadik is sure it's going to be the death of him. He needs to smother it. "Why should I care?"

Japan's mouth falls open for a moment, but he composes himself quickly, sliding his hands to his knees and gripping the edge of his robe. "Because caring for someone is the human thing to do. Particularly when you're screwing them." He spits the word, getting up and moving to the sink to turn on hot water. His hands can't stop shaking, but it's not due to cold. Still. Better to make it look that way.

Turkey snorts. "Hate to remind you, but we are not human." He casts a (worried) glance at Greece before coming to stand behind Japan. He sorts through the words carefully, trying to find the reason for this…strangest of conversations. His eyes go wide when he realizes just how often Japan has mentioned the sex. "Wait...That's what this is about, isn't it? You're upset because we fuck!"

The words, the way Kiku coos at Hera, the way he leapt as soon as he heard the brat was ill, defended him against all Sadik's teasing...it all comes together, and he almost laughs. Instead he confronts Kiku, determined that it is his turn for an interrogation. "You're in love with him."

Japan whips around, the words jolting his heart hard, because yes - yes, he's been in love with Hera for a long time. It's something he's accepted, and something he keeps to himself, if only for the sake of his own heart. But other people knowing? Sadik knowing? He's scared to death. As much as he's loved Hera for a very long time, he's lusted after the mysterious and deadly Sadik just as long. As much as he'd like to choose one over the other, he can't bring himself to do so; not when he doesn't have to. Now... Now he has to. He's not sure what to say or do or think, so he lashes out, snarling at Turkey. "I don't see how what I feel is any of your business, since you seem so intent on not feeling anything at all!"

Sadik almost, almost backhands him. If it were anyone else talking to him like that, he would do it. But it's Kiku. Quiet, usually gentle Kiku, and he - fuck – he cares for him. He clenches his fists, digging his nails into his palms in order to keep his temper under control. "It is my business if it gets in the way of everything we have to say to each other! I'm not going to stop fucking him; trust me, I've tried. But I don't want to stop being with you, either, and Hera...he needs you or some shit. Look at 'im! Don't...don't walk out on us because of this. Hell, join us for all I care!" Oh shit. That last part wasn't supposed to slip out.

Kiku freezes, the offer hanging in the air like the scent of incense, burning his throat and making him want to cry. Because it's...it's the perfect solution, really. To everything in his heart. But the way it was said, like Sadik couldn't care less... Still. He's right. They both need Kiku, and he needs to get his shit together. Slowly, he breathes it in, closing his eyes and turning back to the hot water. "You are right. I was out of line. I apologize." He bows his head a little. "It was just... a shock."

Good God, that little bow, and the way he backs off so easily - that's more frustrating than anything else. He can't take it anymore—the coldness, the stiffness, the way he shuts down his heart with that little bow. Not when he's seen the fire there, the way his eyes can flash with passion. With a grunt, Sadik pushes Kiku against the wall next to the sink and kisses him hard. It was either that or slap him; he's trying to get better at the not-slapping.

Japan gasps, his eyes widening as Turkey nearly throws him into the wall, pinning him there and kissing his mouth like he'd rather punch his teeth out. Thankfully, this option is much better. He doesn't know quite how to react at first, but then his body reacts for him, pushing his thigh between Turkey's legs and winding his arms around his neck, kissing back with a little moan of heat. His tongue coaxes Turkey's into a battle that is half frustration and half pure desire.

Sadik groans and practically grinds against him. He had no idea how badly he wanted this until now; he'd known there was something about this man, and now...well, he certainly cares. He's tempted to pull apart that robe and find out what's underneath it, and starts running his hands down Kiku's sides. There's heat to this, fever to rival Hera's. Oh, shit...Hera...