A/N- I am so sorry! I owe you a huge apology for this pathetic rate of updating! I get why I lost so many readers, because this is like watching an entire action movie in slow-mo. I know, it sucks and I'm so sorry for it.
RL is taking a great toll on me and I hardly find the time to write. I vowed that I'll never make the same mistake again, posting an unfinished story, I have two new fics which are about 2/3 done, but I won't post them until they are finished so I won't hurt anymore readers. (I hope to stay strong and keep this promise)
However, I do try to finish every story of mine, hell or high water, and I'll do anything I can to finish this one too. So… thank you so much for reading and here is an update, hurrah!
Hope you'd enjoy.
Silver and cold
"Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be the reason why I'm freeing my trapped soul
Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be a reason why I'm making examples of you"
King of My Castle-Wamdue Project
Tension testing
Kanou stepped down from the improvised podium satisfied that his message got through, the group had to work together in order to survive this, and he was going to make sure that they do, he was in charge of this operation and the lives of two hundred people were now his direct responsibility. The weight of it pressed down on his shoulders, adding some extra gravity force to ground him better, but it also felt lonely and isolating and he was already weary with concern.
As soon as he was down, his men approached him, almost pouncing on him, all looking for his guidance and instructions, and most were unable to hide the anxiety in their eyes, yes, downstairs was a bitch.
Seven men started talking to him at once- Zack, Misao, Homare and a few more, but he spotted Hall in the group and snatched him from the crowd, pulled the man aside, and gave the rest of them a cold glare to suggest they should take a step back and give them some breathing space.
"Is your team ready?" he asked in a low voice as soon as they were a bit away.
"Yes, sure." The young man smiled nervously. "What is it?"
"Suit up and take a look outside; check everything within the perimeter- life supporting systems, the storage tanks, the sensors array, the tracks, everything… it might take you a full shift so gear up accordingly."
"Why the rush, sir?" Hall asked, worried.
Kanou did not mind the question, he knew Hall well enough not to suspect him as a slacker, and he did deserved an answer, but before Kanou could supply it, he glanced around to make sure they were safe from eavesdropping, and even then he pulled Hall closer just in case.
"The tracks on our way down." Kanou reminded him with a whisper "Where we stopped for repairs? This was no ordinary malfunction, Hall; someone had worked really hard to create that kind of damage."
Hall went a little pale while hearing this. "What are you saying? Sabotage?" he asked in a low voice and looked around to make sure no one had heard him.
"Probably." Kanou agreed reluctantly.
"Sabotaging a facility is the best way to get into the white team. Why would anyone do such a thing?"
"It's only sabotage if you get caught." Kanou reminded him with a weary smirk.
"Who could have done this?" Hall murmured "The Greens and Browns where lasts ones here, when the ventilation system crushed; do you think they have anything to do with it?"
"Too soon to tell…" Kanou answered "Look, just do it, ok? Take your team and have a thorough peripheral check. We'll know better when you're done. And… keep it on the hush, alright? Until we learn some more."
"Sure." Hall nodded vigorously, spreading panic downstairs was the easiest thing to do.
"And Hall, get the team to eat something first, as I said, it could take you the whole shift."
"Yes, daddy." The younger man smiled.
Kanou glanced back at the crowd he had left, and the men were getting impatient, so he gave Hall a friendly pat on his shoulder. "Go, before Zack gets the wrong idea."
Hall blushed and smiled again then he left and Kanou returned to the awaiting men.
"The electric currant is fluctuating, sir." Said Zack who got to him first, and shoved a tablet into his hands, much to the disappointment of the Kuba brothers, which failed to beat him to it.
Kanou studied the data with a frown and return Zack the tablet. "Any idea why?"
"Might be the UPS system, but I have to check it on the outside."
"I've already sent Hall and his team out; let him know about this before he leaves. I want you to take your guys and run the perimeter from the inside, watch out for air leaks, it's a priority. Use the new smoke kits that we bought, and take only the Argon welding machine."
"Yes, sir." Zack nodded and off he went.
Now the Kuba brothers approached him again.
"We need to talk." One twin said.
"Plan B, you promised." The other continued and both looked at him with an urging gaze.
Kanou almost cursed under his breath, those two impatient imbeciles. "Have you finished assigning the men to their chores?"
The twins exchanged an unnerved glance with each other. "No, not yet, but…" Said one.
"No buts!" Kanou nearly screamed at them. "Get it done! Establish a contact with the tip; I want to know when the platforms arrive back up to make sure that our patch still holds. And get a team to cook some food and another team to check our gear to make sure it all arrived safely, and get another team to clean this place up, especially the air filters, smells like old socks around here! Understood?"
"Yes, sir." They answered in union, like children who just got scolded.
"Good! Don't come back until you're finished!" he growled and turned his angered gaze at his next victim. "No, not now, Tom!" he said before the man could open his mouth. "Where is Marcus?" he asked and another man pointed a finger to some direction.
Kanou nodded a thank you and strode fast in that direction; trying to lose the crowd but still he was followed by others who wanted his attention, so he just ignored them.
He reached an area of the dome, near a wall, where a strange view revealed itself.
There was a group of men, both from the blue and the black team, working there in quiet efficiency. Some were busy installing a row of shelves, others were assembling two medical cots, and others were carrying boxes into the area. At the center of the operation stood no other than Ayase, his beautiful, petit candy, he was managing the group, giving orders and directions in a soft voice.
"Hey, watch it!" he said as two men dropped a cart without a care. "There's morphine there! You'd be missing it if you get injured!" he berated the pair with a sweet pout.
"Sorry." One said, and sniffled while the other lowered his head.
"Put it down," He nodded, still pouting "And go get the rest of it, and be more careful!"
"Yes sir." One mumbled and they were on their way.
Ayase approached the cart and opened it to assess the damage, when Kanou got to him.
"Hey." He said to the boy, smiling softly.
"Hey." Ayase answered, blushing.
"Setting up the infirmary, I see?"
"Yes, sir." Ayase said, gazing at his feet.
"I thought it was Marcus job."
"He's unwell." Ayase mumbled, concern clouded his clear blue eyes, as they searched the area and then he pointed to the man, bundled against the cold wall, looking like a ball of utter misery.
Kanou frowned at the sight, and moved to talk to the old man; fortunately, his stalkers gave him some space and waited at a few feet's distance from the infirmary.
He hunched next to the old man, placing his hand on fondly on the man's bony knee.
"How are you feeling, Marcus?" he asked, tenderness filled his low voice.
"Like shit, sir." The man answered, and he was struggling with his breath. "I'm sorry."
"No worries." Kanou smiled and patted the knee underneath his hand, feeling how skinny it was. "It is probably just a panic attack, like before." He whispered to the man's ear. "It will pass."
"This ain't no panic attack." Marcus resented the accusation passionately. "It's my heart acting up again."
"Your heart? But you have your pills, right?"
"Sure, but it's a progressing condition, there's only so much they can do... I think this might be my last trip downstairs, youngster." Marcus tried a smile, but could not keep it for long; he had to concentrate on his breathing.
Kanou sighed and sent his hand to the unruly mop of white hair to brush it briefly. "Don't be so overdramatic."
"Why not? Twenty six times down this shit hole, more than enough, I'm allowed to be dramatic, don't you think? " Marcus smiled and then started coughing.
"I can't stay." Kanou said after a long pause, waiting for the man to recover. "But I'll talk to the Blue leaders; I think they have a paramedic in their team. I'll have him stop by and check up on you. Just rest now, don't you worry about a thing. I'll see you later."
Marcus nodded and sent his own hand to cover Kanou's broad bicep. "I'll be fine, you go; must have better things to do than hold my hand."
"I'll always find time to hold your hand." Kanou promised, smiling, but the old man was right, he had plenty to do. So he let go, straightened up and stretched, eyeing the men that were watching him and waiting for his attention.
"Ayase." He turned back to his beautiful candy.
"Kanou-san?"
"I see that you have everything under control, good job."
"Thank you." Ayase blushed again. "They all came to help Marcus actually, I just told them what to do."
"Good job, none the less. Did you get a chance to check on our dormitories?"
"I did, so far everything is alright."
"Good, keep an eye on things."
"I will, sir."
Among the others, Tom was awaiting too, lurking nearby like a dark shadow with a mocking smile on his face, and his tattooed arms folded across his chest.
"Is now a good time for you?" he asked Kanou as soon as he left Ayase's side.
Kanou gave him a reluctant glare and was about to say something when some new people arrived, searching for him.
"Kanou, sir!" it was someone from the blue team who interrupted them. "Please, come with me, there's something you need to see."
"Sure." Kanou nodded and threw a last worried glance over Marcus and Ayase, then let the man lead him away.
oOOo
Tom lingered next to Ayase even though Kanou and his entourage had left; his smile lingered too, revealing his silver teeth under his thin pale lips.
"Need any help, sweetie?" he asked as Ayase turned to removed a cracked bottle of morphine from the damaged cart and was looking for an empty bottle to transfer it to.
"I got all the help I need, thank you." The blonde answered, hoping the man will go away.
But Tom was like a shark smelling blood and he would not back down, he just stood there and glared as Ayase poured the liquid into an empty plastic bottle, trying his best not to cringe under his scrutiny.
After a few awkward moments, Tom decided to approach and knelt down next to him. "Have you told Kanou yet?" he asked in a whisper, like sharing a sweet secret.
"Told him what?" Ayase decided to play dumb.
"Our little secret?"
Ayase recoiled from him, the man smelled like too much cheap cologne. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Tom stopped glaring and just laughed now, like a hyena, with sharp, high pitched noises. "Oh god, you're killing me! I love it!"
"I'd like to get back to work now." Ayase insisted, hiding his fear behind a calm face and awaited Tom to stop laughing like a crazy person.
"You're amazing, sweet pea!" Tom concluded, with a lusty moan "I wish I could have you, like… really have you, but you belong to Elrick; it was part of the deal. You should get ready, though, you know, Elrick's bigger than Kanou, like- this big…" he gestured with his hands and Ayase could not help it but wince with disgust, which only made Tom chuckle a bit more as he got up and left.
Good riddance, Ayase huffed as the repulsive man left but he had too little time to celebrate as someone else approached, and he was that huge, dark skinned man from the blue team.
The man was as thick as he was tall, moving heavily like a brick wall, dragging his feet as if they belonged to someone else and then he stopped and gave him a hollow glare.
Ayase swallowed his fear and studied him carefully, trying to keep calm at this close proximity. Who was he? What did he want? Why did he have a dent in his skull like some part of his head was missing?
"Seat, Juju." Came a commanding voice, followed by the boy from the blue team, the blonde that Ayase had already seen before.
The huge man collapsed to the floor where he was standing like a sack of rocks, and the boy came forward to pet his shiny bald head, a bitter smile on his face.
Ayase could not hide his relief or his confusion over this strange situation, but he could not find anything to say.
"Sorry about it." The blonde said to Ayase "It takes some getting used to, but he can't help himself. He's harmless, really."
"What's wrong with him?" Ayase whispered, too embarrassed to glare at the man missing half of his left side head.
"A mining accident, here downstairs, almost four years ago, not much left of him since, isn't it so, Juju?"
The hulk named Juju just smiled softly at the mention of his name and gazed at the both of them without making a sound. The blonde boy from the blue team was also gazing at Ayase, to a point it became uncomfortable.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Ayase asked the boy "I really should get back to work."
"Iodine." The boy answered "And a plaster too. Juju hurt his hand moving heavy equipment, cut it on a jagged edge"
Juju nodded, lifting his hand and showing his bleeding wound.
Ayase nodded. "Come with me."
He led them both to the part of the infirmary that was already established where he had no trouble finding a first aid kit. He cleaned the wound with some alcohol and examined the cut, which was thankfully shallow and needed only bandaging.
The blonde boy watched him carefully while he worked and as he finished, Juju studied his bandaged hand, waved it around and offered Ayase a big smile.
"Thank you." The blonde said "This place is so dirty even a small wound could become a nasty problem if it's not taken care of, you cannot be too careful."
"You welcome, I didn't get your name." Ayase said and the blonde only shrugged. "My name is Ayase."
"I know, Kanou's candy."
"And you are?"
"Why?"
"Why not?" Ayase blushed but insisted.
"If you must call me something, you can call me Candy."
"Candy?" Ayase mumbled with confusion "Whose candy?"
"Everyone's." the blonde answered casually. "Come on, Juju, we have more work to do."
Juju threw one last glance at Ayase and then followed the blue candy and the pair left the infirmary's area.
Ayase watched them until they were out of his sight, wondering about them both, and even feeling a bit concerned, for some reason unknown.
"Hey, Ayase!" Someone spoke, removing him from his thoughts. "Where does this go?"
"Carful!" he yelped at the man who was juggling two bottles of chloroform with his bare hands. "This stuff is highly concentrated; do you want to get poisoned?"
oOOo
"Is now a good time, Kanou?" Tom asked as Kanou finished debriefing the last mining team and sent them to their dinner.
It was late into the second shift, he had no chance to stop the whole day, and wherever he went, Tom followed, like he had nothing better to do, persisting prick.
Kanou suppressed his wish to sigh, as Tom demanded his attention again, but then the airlock opened to let Hall's team back in, the young man and his mates looked weary and worried and Hall searched for Kanou and after finding his gaze, he started walking towards them.
"I'm sorry, but I have to finish things with Hall first, he just came back from outside and I want to get his report."
"No, sir, now is my turn!" Tom insisted "I think I've waited long enough to get your attention and I won't have another rejection, so we solve this now!"
"Tom, I understand that you're fed up, chasing me all day, and I promise you my full attention in a few more minutes but I really have to talk to Hall first."
"Fuck this shit!" Tom almost shouted "We settle this now, or we are going to have a problem! Do you want to have a problem on the first day down?"
Kanou caught Hall's gaze again from afar and gave him a subtle nod to make him pose for a moment, then he looked at Tom and realized that the man was furious, and so were his six friends that gathered nearby and glared daggers at him.
He was almost falling off his feet, he was starving and dying for a smoke, he still had million things to do and no, he was not having a problem on the first day down.
"O.k., fine, here I am, Tom, talk."
Tom smiled his silvery smile now, victorious. "I'm not happy with my assignment, sir."he stated with no shame.
Kanou needed all of his self control not to lash out immediately at this. What the fuck was this about? Did Tom just stall him to bitch about his placement? Where did he think he was? Kindergarten?
Kanou breathed, exercising his patience. "What is wrong with your assignment?"
"I got a fucking mining duty! Again!" Tom said with anger. "Three years in a row!"
"And so did eighty five percent of the crew, man."
"But not your candy boy, Ayase! It's his first time around and he got to be on the skeleton crew! Nicely tucked inside the pit! This is fifty ways of wrong!"
"Come on, Tom, you and I both know that Ayase cannot go mining. He'd get himself and his whole team killed if I send him out."
"But Zack won't, and he did not get the mining duty either!"
"That's correct." Kanou confirmed " Only he got a much more dangerous job; with me on the path- finding team."
"The Path fining team!" Tom snarled. "The team that gets to seat on its ass all day long where no one can see them, pretending to search for new routes? Nice one! Good for you, and for Zack!"
"Fuck you Tom, you know this ain't so."
"Yeah? Well… Prove it!"
"I have nothing to prove to you!"
"And why Hall is on the maintenance team? Huh? Because he sucks your deputy's dick?"
"He's on the maintenance team because I have a system that works! And I put him there! So suck it up, and get the hell out of my face!"
"You have a system alright! A System that works for you!" Tom shouted, pointing his finger and throwing glances around, eyeing the crowd and his friends that backed him up by nodding. "It works for you and your best buddies, and you don't give a fuck about the rest of us, do you?"
Kanou bit hard on his lips, noticing too, that many had gathered to witness this little showdown; and this useless display was really the last thing he or any of them needed.
"What do you want, Tom?" Kanou almost sighed again, he was sick and tired of this childish conversation, and he needed to talk to Hall, find the Kuba brothers and maybe grab something to eat, if there's anything left when he finishes up for today.
"I want my team on the maintenance duty, and Hall's team on the mining! I busted my leg last time downstairs, and everybody knows I'm the best electrician on the black team! It is only fair!"
"Maintenance duty is more than just handling the electric system."
"I get the maintenance duty with my pals here, or we are going to have a problem with the mining production, sir, will you risk it?" Tom hissed with a smug leer.
There was a surprise mumble through the crowd, they could not believe someone was brave or stupid enough to let those kinds of threats get tossed into the air.
Kanou could not believe his ears either, was the man suicidal? No one can fuck with the mining production or they'd all wind up dead.
"Can't help it, busted leg and everything…" Tom finished, smiling at Kanou's rage.
"You are walking a thin line here, Tom, carful now, you might fall."
"It would be your fault alone, sir, sending an injured man to a mining duty, risking production, who knows what kind of accidents might happen…" Tom answered and they both fell into a staring duel, which Kanou was the first to blink out of.
Fuck this shit, the man was crazy, but he'd have them all killed.
"Come on, Kanou." Tom taunted him, seeking approval from their audiences "Show me that your system works for everyone, not only for your favorites."
The crowed mumbled again, agreeing with Tom, it seemed, well, who would not back up the underdog? Even a one stricken with rabies.
Kanou knew he needed to back down; he didn't want to start the first day downstairs with bloodshed and the bastard knew it.
"You can have Hall's Maintenance duty." Kanou announced.
"Thank you, sir, for your time." Tom answered, bowing slightly towards the crowd with a jest, only to find himself seconds later, yanked by the collar, off his feet and slightly suffocated, to meet Kanou's burning gaze from a much closer distance.
"Listen, punk…" Kanou hissed at him as he wobbled in the air, searching for a footing. "You've been nothing but bad news ever since the day I met you! You only live today because I never bothered finishing such a small fry, my bad."
"K… Ka… Kanou, put me down, man…" Tom said, struggling for a breath.
"But you are right, we do have a problem." Kanou continued "I just prefer to solve it upstairs, and it will be solved, this I promise."
"We have no problem!" Tom squawked, wiggling like a worm on a hook.
"Fuck up the production, though, and we'll finish it here."
Kanou threw Tom down, slamming him into the dirty floor, and then watched as he struggled to breathe again and get back on his feet.
"I'll tell Hall about the switch." Kanou finished and shoved his way out through the circle of the crowd, without bothering to look back.
Tom dusted himself up, smiling, and while most of the people left, since the show was over, his mates have stayed and approached to congratulate him, giving him words of praise and pats on his shoulder.
"Way to go, Tom."
"You have balls of steel, man."
"Yeah, you showed that motherfucker!"
Tom smiled back at his men.
"Just digging the grave." He mumbled under his breath.
oOOo
Ayase could not sleep. Not for the lack of fatigue, if exhaustion alone could send him there, he'd be deep in dreamland by now, but he could not even close his eyes, just blink up to the ceiling and watch the few soft orange lights as they flickered and sent shadows dancing on the walls.
Downstairs was nothing like he had imagined it to be, even if he did not have a clear vision of it, he never thought it would be a much more cramped, uglier, dirtier version of the upstairs. And it was so quiet, too quiet, even though about two hounded men slept in bedrolls around him, snoring and mumbling, it was so very still.
No robots on their rails, no automated announcements, no people from other groups passing by the halls laughing, no noise from machines, nothing. They were on their own; in the belly of the asteroid, and it was so strange, maybe this was the thing disturbing his sleep.
Or the cold, maybe it was the cold.
It was so cold, even with the body heat of two hounded men huddled so closely together like sardines in a can. He was wearing his full thermal suit, and was under two blankets and Kanou was heavy on top of him, but still, every piece of skin that was not under some sort of protection felt like ice. His nose was numb, and his chin was freezing, his cheeks were so cold to a point they actually felt feverish.
But it wasn't the cold.
Maybe it was Tom, and the things he said, and the things he planned on doing, which were no good. Was there anything he could do to stop it? What could he do? He was just a candy; he was the lowest of the low. But if he does nothing, Kanou might be in danger, and he actually worried for the man. Whatever they had between them, they at least had a deal, and Kanou kept his end of it, he was a man true to his word, something rare, not only in 950-A, but also outside, in the real world.
The man was not all powerful, here in his arms, asleep, he was as vulnerable as they came, and he could get hurt, he could get killed if Tom and Elrick have their way, and Ayase cringed to the thought of it, and hugged Kanou with some more force, the poor man had worked so hard today, and when he joined Ayase in the bedroll he was asleep as soon as his head touched the mattress and Ayase wished that he could do something to ease that load, but he was just a useless, powerless candy, with no means to do anything.
Something.
He could check the dormitories again, if he's already up. Do something useful, do his duty. That was an idea, maybe if he do this, he'd be able to rest easier, and maybe his unrest would finally be driven away. Yes, that's a good idea.
He struggled to fish out his bag from above his head and under Homare's feet, and his hands trembled with cold as he searched for his tablet, fetched it and turned it on.
The familiar view of their dormitory greeted him, looking almost peaceful, making him miss his bed all over again. Upstairs they were sleeping too; they had synchronized the time to match the rest of 950-A so it would be easier when they come back up.
There was no one was in their sleeping halls, and no one was in their showers, and no one in… wait… someone was passing by a corridor, gliding slowly in the empty space near the bars, someone he saw before, all dressed in white.
What the hell?
Ayase chased him from one camera to the next, trying to keep up, find out more- who was he? What did he do? How come he was he dressed in white? why could he not get a clear view?
And then the figure noticed a move of a camera and turned around, , he smiled, looking straight into Ayase's eyes, then he placed a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture and the image on the screen turned into snow.
Ayase dropped the tablet on the blanket. He could hear the echo of a scream bouncing off the walls. It was his own.
oOOo
A/N- Please drop me a note so I'd know this story's not dead yet ^^'