Nightmare Game

Nightmare Game


A D.Gray-Man Fanfiction


By SisterWicked


Chapter 3 - Insomniac Dawn

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Tyki stirred, blinking in the room's still-darkened silence. Lifting his hand, he rubbed at his eyes, pausing when his arm nudged lightly against the bed's other occupant. He turned carefully onto his side, gesturing toward the nearest lamp. It glowed dimly, casting just a hint of light in the windowless room. He looked down at the sleeping Exorcist, his expression mildly perturbed when his stomach gave a sudden lurch.

'Now that I have him, I don't know what to do,' He mused, watching the boy's chest rise and fall steadily. 'I made him do as I wished, but there's no meaning.. My victory is hollow.'

He raised himself to an elbow, leaning his head into his hand as he thought. 'I have what I sought.. With his admission of it, I need not touch him again.' The notion caused his stomach to twist again, his eyes narrowing at the odd sensation. 'Perhaps that is the reason for my discontent, I had imagined it would take far longer to force the confession from him..'

His brow creased in confusion, remembering the boy's attempt to anger him. 'His will seems weak, to cease his resistance so easily, but he hides his determination under such lies,' He studied the Exorcist's face intently, lifting his free hand to push aside the hair that concealed his uncovered eye. 'I wanted so badly to break this one.. To resist Rhode's manipulation, he must have made an immensely strong effort, his will should have been unbelievably satisfying to crush.'

As he stared at the boy's relaxed features, he could feel the faint stirring of the dark inside him, it's sibilant whisper urging him to hurt/tear/rend the sleeping form in the bed, to take/have/keep as he would. He forced it down, ignoring the sharp pang of want that answered, the shadow twisting his gut with a flare of utter lust/take/have/NOW for this boy, this fool who slept on so soundly.

He reached forward, his shaking hand hanging over the boy's bare shoulder for an instant before catching hold of the blanket, tugging it up to cover him. Tyki shuddered at the dark's angry snarl, leaving the bed carefully. He turned his back, keeping his face averted as he retrieved a set of clothes for himself, dressing quietly to avoid waking the other. The urging in his head died out, settling into a scornful murmur as he walked to his bath chamber.

He splashed his face with cold water, glancing up to see the ever-present sign of his duality. The color of his eyes had never concerned him before, but now he wondered if the Exorcist noticed their odd hue. Several times, he'd thought that the boy feared their changes, his expression showing that he certainly saw them do so. Tyki knew that his moods allowed the change to happen, it was almost as if the other used the slightest weakness to manifest itself. Shaking off his musings, he remembered the redhead's pained expression of the previous night with a frown.

Digging through a cabinet, he found a small jar of healing salve, carrying it back into the bedroom with him as he prepared to leave. Setting it on the night table, he looked for a pen and paper, writing a short note that the salve should help with any soreness the boy might have on waking. Foregoing a signature, he sat the jar on top of the paper and stepped away with a final look at the resting Exorcist. He concentrated briefly, ignoring the bright flash of light and pain that accompanied the use of his remaining power of teleportation.

Opening his eyes, he looked around the deserted backstreet he'd chosen, assuring himself that no one had witnessed his sudden appearance. Seeing no people, he strode out into the main roadways, determined to walk off the hunger that still chased at his mind. He wandered aimlessly for several hours, taking only the slightest interest in the flood of humanity that passed him on his trek.

Pausing outside a deserted building, he took a cigarette from his pocket, striking a match to light the end with a sigh. His mind had cleared somewhat, the darkness receding enough to allow him a small measure of peace. He drew the poisonous smoke into his lungs, mentally scoffing at it's seeming inability to infect him with it's deadly disease. Though he'd lost much of the abilities he'd held as a servant of the Earl, some parts of that influence remained, the ability to summon things that were his, the use of his touch to cause pain or pleasure.. Even a limited use of phasing matter and teleportation lingered in him, but the nearly omnipotent drive, the wellspring that supplied it was gone.

He knew that his strength and endurance were beyond normal, as a result of the Noah's changes in his body, and he could easily move at speeds that astonished the average person, but each use of the things given by Noah brought him varying degrees of pain, from mild discomfort to agony so sharp as to make him lose his footing. In the time since his cleansing, he'd often sat in thought of his waking moment, the fading form of the Millenium Earl leaning close to murmur in his ear with an ever-present smile that spoke of torture and lies.

'The last is yours, Tyki-pon.. When the rest were done, I saved you this bit to show the way to your vengeance. Use it to make the world your toy, and when you die, your family will come for you and then you'll wait for more life together. Happy Birthday, final child!'

He shuddered, thinking of the intense agony of that moment, when his Father had given him the broken pieces of his siblings, the edges of them sharper than any knives ever forged. When he'd come back to himself, he was alone, his skin torn and ravaged from his own hands as he'd struggled to quench the shadowed fire in his veins.

The other had made itself known all too soon, driving him to lookthere/seehim/thatone decide on a victim for his revenge, it's influence allowing him only the choice of who and when to strike. He'd seen the boy for only a moment, the familiar jacket and sunset-bright hair catching his eye and holding him rigid.

He'd remembered the intensity in that single eye, the determination to hold him off although their power was nowhere near evenly matched. The Exorcist had taken an incredible beating at his hands, yet he rose again and again to fight until the fledgling samurai had appeared to take his place. When he'd seen him again, the same determination had faced him, but through the buffer of the Walker boy's insidious power of cleansing. The strike that had rent his dark Brother from his body had taken his mind as well, leaving him with no memory save the whiteness of the boy's living garment and the last impression of fatigued but triumphant green.

When he'd seen the source of that last memory, he'd acted almost without thinking, following him into a semi-deserted street with the other demanding that he take/bring/DEFEAT use this opportunity to his advantage. In retrospect, the boy had made it almost too easy. He'd never even so much as glanced behind himself , his manner careless and unhurried. The man had simply waited until he was close enough to touch, his feet soundless on the rough pavement as he reached out a hand. Catching the redhead's black-clad shoulder, the older man had pulled him sharply back against his chest, his free hand covering the Exorcist's startled gasp as other dug forcefully into a point just beyond the base of his neck.

The boy had stiffened, then slumped bonelessly into the man's arms without even a sigh to announce his unconsciousness. Transporting them both at once had been difficult, not to mention painful, but the former Noah had managed, his strength boosted by sheer adrenaline and the triumphant Yours/Mine/Ours clamor of his 'companion'.

Remembering to bind his sleeping captive tightly, the man had taken a watching position, waiting for him to awaken as the pain in his body faded to a negligible ache. By the time the Exorcist began to stir, there was almost nothing to remind the older man of the once-raw feeling of his nerves.

The memory of what had transpired brought the man swiftly back to the present, the insidious voice awakening in frustration. Tyki forced himself to be calm, clenching his fists hard enough to break the skin of his palms with his nails as he fought the urge to simply return to the unsuspecting boy. After several minutes, the need faded, allowing him to slump tiredly against the wall.

As his breathing slowed, he became aware of a quiet sound, not unlike that of a cat, but distinctly not. Moving further toward the end of the building, the sound increased in volume until he stood listening at the mouth of a shadowed alley.

People passing by seemed ignorant to the urgent mewling, though some slowed or turned in it's direction without stopping. The man waited for an inquiry, or perhaps a sign of interest, but none seemed forthcoming, much to his disgust.

Tyki shook his head ruefully, unsurprised by the lack of response. He strode into the alleyway, mindful of the debris in his path. After walking perhaps a dozen yards, he spied a small shape on the ground, it's oddly gleaming flesh half-obscured by a thin layer of newspaper. He approached warily, stooping down to take a closer look at the source of the noise he'd heard.

Picking disgustedly at the crumpled paper, his eyes widened at the now-visible object before him. No more than an hour old, he surmised by it's wet skin, but robust and aware. The cord that had allowed it to share it's absent mother's life remained attached to it's tiny navel, the end suspiciously ragged.

He paused, looking closely at the newborn child. His eyes narrowed in confusion, searching for some malformation that would have warranted such treatment, but found nothing save a deep red birthmark on the sole of one tiny foot. As if sensing his scrutiny, the child's eyes blinked up at him passively, it's calm expression seeming to say 'Do with me what you will'.

Tyki had no illusions about his own status in life, he'd never been one for lingering over the past. His own parents hadn't seen fit to claim him, leaving him in the care of a convenient monastery without even the benefit of a note to explain their reasons. He'd made himself into what he wished, a good and reliable person, a man that anyone should have been proud to call their son. Then, the Noah within him had awakened, and with it, the calm and refined illusion of the gentleman killer had emerged to become the cover for the darkness in his heart.

Shaking his head, he focussed on the matter at hand, namely the dirty and disheveled infant at his feet. Sighing in resignation, he slid his hands carefully behind the child's bottom and neck, cradling it's head as he lifted it to his chest with a grimace of distaste. Turning on his heel, he left the alley, ignoring the quiet gasps from the passing citizens. He looked for any sign of a policeman, or anyone who may be inclined to relieve him of his tiny burden.

Seeing nothing of the sort, he glared sharply at a small group of women who seemed to have nothing better to do than gawk. "You. Is there some place that I could take this child? The mother seems to have strayed." One of the women, somewhat older than her peers, stepped forward with a frown.

"Strayed? You mean, just left it...there? In that nasty place?" He nodded patiently, reminding himself that civilized women tended to talk for much longer than was strictly needed. She looked closely at the uncovered babe, her expression as confused as his own had been. "But there's nothing wrong with..her. Goodness, what am I saying? You should take her to the hospital. Do you know where the Eaning's Station is?" She seemed relieved at his curt nod.

"The hospital is only a street or so beyond that, to your left. The doctor's assistant should be able to help you."

He smiled thinly, thanking her for her help. Setting out in the direction of the Station she'd mentioned, he noticed that the child was shaking in the slightly damp air of the afternoon. He shook his head, amused at his situation as he brought the babe closer to his body, his formerly white shirt now hopelessly stained with blood and things he'd rather not examine too closely.

His mouth quirked slightly as the child sighed in response, settling itself as close to the offered warmth as it could. 'Strange that you feel so safe, Little One, in arms that would have crushed out a hundred like you not so long ago..' He spied the long walkway of the rail station ahead, his soiled appearance drawing several surprised glances and at least one questioning stare as he passed by, bearing left as instructed.

He could see the grey stone facade of the hospital drawing near, the steps neatly swept and relatively clear of traffic as he ascended them carefully. Pushing open the heavy front door, he moved toward a young lady in a starched cap and apron, clearing his throat to catch her attention. "Excuse me, miss. I found this child abandoned in an alley several streets back, and a passerby advised me to bring her to you. Can you take her?"

The girl took in his gore-stained apparel, her eyes fixing on the sleeping child he held with a smile. "The poor thing! Of course we can take her in, anyone would love to have such a beautiful child, Mr..?" He forced a smile in return, nodding.

"Michaels. Tyrone Michaels, pleased to make your acquaintance, despite the circumstances." He shifted the baby carefully, wondering if the girl intended to collect it or not. Sensing his discomfort, the nurse shook her head quickly.

"I'm sorry, wait just a moment and I'll find something to wrap her in until we can bathe her properly." He smiled in genuine relief as the girl hurried away, no doubt wondering what had caused the child's mother to treat it so harshly. Feeling the infant stir, he looked down. Wide blue eyes stared back at him, the girl-child's small fingers closed tightly on a button as she blinked owlishly in the room's bright lights. He could see her features more clearly now, noting the already caucasian tone of her dimpled skin, and the shock of deep auburn hair that clung to her sticky head.

He frowned, using a finger to nudge at her clenched fist. She released the plastic abruptly, her tiny digits gripping his finger with surprising force. He tugged gently, raising his eyebrow at her stubborn hold. "Just like a woman," He murmured, pulling harder. "They never do know what's good for them."

He scowled at the child, now contenting herself with jamming his unsuspecting finger clumsily into her mouth. "Enjoying yourself?" She gurgled benevolently, seemingly pleased with her acquisition. Hearing the nurse's rapid approach, he looked up in relief.

"Now, let's see what we can do, hm?" She wrapped the squirming child quickly, holding her against her chest with a smile. "That's better. Thank you for your patience, Mr. Michaels, and thank you for bringing her, she's made quite a mess of you." Tyki felt strangely off-balance, but nodded.

"It was no problem, I'm happy to have found a place for her. I'll leave you ladies to it, then." He smiled politely, turning to leave. The child keened suddenly, her squirming more pronounced as she struggled against the tightly wound cloth. He winced, forcing himself to continue walking as the soft wails became indignant shrieks. "Good day, miss. And you as well, Little One."

He sighed quietly as the door swung closed behind him, his eyes narrowing in the sunlight. Even though he'd intended to make a day of it, he found himself suddenly wishing for peace. He descended the steps wearily, taking care that no one was watching as he moved to stand behind a nearby wall. He concentrated, hissing at the sharp flare of pain that met his efforts.

Opening his eyes, he relaxed at the familiar trappings of the place he now called home, the dark colors and low light aiding in his attempt to relieve the distant clamor in his temples. He turned, hearing the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. Though he preferred to stay far from his unwilling guest, he forced himself to straighten his shoulders for the boy's inevitable entry.

As expected, the redhead pushed open the door, not bothering to knock as he strode in. "Ah, Lavi. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" He smiled narrowly, noticing the other's obvious displeasure by the irritated set of his jaw and the dangerous glint in his eye.

"Where the fuck did you go? I've looked all over, there's no way out of here." He frowned up at the taller man, his hands clenched in frustration. "You could have said something, you didn't have to let me sleep, I thought..." He trailed off, his eye widening as he looked at the man in horror.

"Why are you covered in blood? Where are you hurt?" He ignored the man's surprised face, stepping forward and yanking open his shirt, heedless of the buttons that shot in all directions at his haste to reveal the man's skin. "Where is it? Did it heal already?"

Tyki shook his head, laughing quietly at the boy's obvious puzzlement. "It isn't mine, Lovely. Don't concern yourself, there was a small matter that needed handling." The Exorcist jerked abruptly back, his face paling.

"What did you do? If it isn't yours.. Oh my God." He glared up at the former Noah, his cheeks regaining their normal coloring and more as he advanced. "You bastard." He seethed, his nails digging into his palms. "You murdering son of a Bitch!" He grabbed the taller man's open shirt, shouting directly into his astonished face. "You can't stop fucking up people's lives, can you? What, you didn't get enough blood from me? Did you just need to blow off some steam, get back to your usual rape and pillage of humanity?"

He shoved the man viciously away, his eye narrowed with malice. "I wish you had a heart, because I suddenly feel like stabbing a lunatic may not be such a bad thing. Do you still want to die, Noah?" The man bolted upright, leaning down to face him directly.

"Do not call me that, Lavi. I won't tell you again." The Exorcist snorted at his warning.

"I'll call you whatever the fuck I please. If I want to call you Noah all day long, I will. What will you do, hurt me?" He waved his hand negligently. "Oh, sorry. You won't do that because you keep your word. I must have forgotten because of all the other bullshit you said. Why don't you do me a favor and find me something sharp? Then we can discuss what I can and can't do, Asshole."

Tyki straightened, his eyes hidden behind his loose hair. He stretched out a hand, ignoring the boy's jump at the motion. "As you wish, Lovely." His eyes flared a deep gold, his fingers closing on the handle of the hooked blade he'd summoned. "Do you remember what I told you about this one? You can see for yourself if I have a heart, or any number of things, with it." He turned the blade toward himself, holding the shining handle out to the shaking Exorcist. "Help yourself."

Lavi reached forward, jerking the knife out of his hand. The curved tip sliced into the man's palm, the cut welling with crimson blood that dripped quickly through his fingers and fell to the floor in pattering drops. "That's a good start," He mocked the other's earlier statement, smiling humorlessly. "But at least I know that you bleed. If you bleed, you can die." He lifted his head, meeting the man's wide eyes.

"Who was it? Someone that looked at you wrong? It isn't as if you need a reason, though." He spat, pinning the other with his stare. "Did you at least wait for them to turn around, or did you get them from behind like you got me?"

He took a step forward, ignoring the man's suddenly tense shoulders. "I'm amazed that you even recognize me, since I didn't walk in here backwards. Was there anything else you'd like to say, since we were supposed to talk today? I don't really care about the whole story, because it's probably the same tired old shit that you.. things..were spouting for the last decade or so, but it would be a shame to miss hearing it again for my records."

The older man collected himself with visible effort, his eyes closed tightly as he shook with urgent restraint. "The blood is from a child I found in an alley. The mother decided that it wasn't worth her time to nurture it."

He made to continue, but the boy's hoarse yell of rage silenced him. "A baby? You just decided to handle it your Goddamned self, since nobody else wanted it?!" He swiped violently at the man's lifted hand, narrowly missing his fingers. "You could have just left it there! I know you've lost your fucking mind, but even a common killer would have known better! You really are the most pathetic excuse for a human I've ever heard of, and that takes doing!"

Tyki stepped forward, his bleeding hand clenched. "Your mouth is going to bring you trouble very soon, Lavi. I suggest you either shut it or find a more suitable use for it." The Exorcist refused to back away, tightening his grip on the slightly wet knife.

"The only use I can think of would have been to bite off your lying tongue, you fucking coward. Keep right on using it though. A few more steps and I won't even have to stretch." He smiled, the expression filled with purpose. "Maybe I should have tried a little harder to fool you, last time. I felt so bad when I saw how much it seemed to hurt you, but now I wish I'd never stopped. It would have been absolutely perfect if you'd really thought I wanted you."

He nodded at the man's indrawn breath, curling his empty hand invitingly. "Why don't you come here, sweetheart? Maybe I'll be nice and give you a little kiss goodbye, since you did do a pretty good job of getting me off before I had to kill you."

Tyki took one last step, his voice almost too low to catch. "Lavi, I truly wish you knew when to be silent. Every word you say brings me that much closer to losing this part of myself." He looked up, the tiny slivers of his pupils bringing the boy's imminent tirade to a sudden halt. "Do you remember what I told you, about the things you say? The little piece of other inside of me doesn't feel like dying today, Lovely. It feels like maybe I should give living a little more time."

The Exorcist took an unwilling step back, some inner sense warning him that his best option would be to keep silent and listen. The older man made as if to step to the side, a subtle shift of weight the only outward sign of his intent. Lavi flinched, drawing himself up in readiness to fight the forward attack that never came.

Instead, there was a slight flicker and the man was gone. Before he had time to wonder exactly what had happened, Lavi found himself pressed firmly against something alive, an arm wrapped tightly around his throat even as it's mate took hold of his wrist with deliberate force. He gasped, releasing his grip on the knife as the hand flexed warningly against his skin.

"Liar," He whispered, turning as far as the man's grip allowed. "Before the hurting starts, you're a liar."

The older man laughed softly, his breath tickling the boy's neck. "Hurting, Lovely? Not likely." He caught the small silver hoop in the other's ear with his teeth, licking the skin behind it. "I don't think there's going to be any of that, because you don't want me to hurt you, do you? You offered me a kiss goodbye, could I have it before this me is gone?"

Lavi shuddered, his voice shaky but firm. "Is there a difference? Either way, I'm going to be stuck with you." He swallowed, blinking quickly. "I can't believe that I was actually afraid when I thought you were bleeding. After the shit you've done, I should have been happy and hoped for it to be slow and fatal."

The man's arm tightened marginally, his hand leaving the boy's wrist in favor of holding his waist. "You should have? What else were you to do, Lavi? If you weren't thinking that, what were you thinking?"

The Exorcist laughed, shaking his head weakly. "Stupid things. I was thinking that I didn't..." He stopped, biting his lip. "I didn't want you to die."

Tyki stiffened. "Don't lie to me, Lovely. I know better than to take what you say to heart, because you already fooled me once." He leaned closer, pulling the boy's head up to meet his gaze. "You don't know anything about me. You don't even know why your deception caused me grief."

Lavi frowned, shifting carefully in the man's still-tight hold. "I know enough. I know that you want to hurt me so bad that it makes you hurt." He shifted again, pressing back against the man's chest to escape the pressure on his arched throat. "And I know that even if you're mad enough to kill me right now, you still want me." He laughed at the older man's quiet gasp. "It's sad, really. If you hadn't have gone out for your little side trip, I may have actually let you do me."

He closed his eye, shaking his head. "I really don't know why it hurt you like that, though. You keep saying that you want me to be like that, but when you had it, you didn't know what to do with it." Tyki loosened his grip, allowing the boy to move away from his body somewhat.

"That doesn't matter anymore, Lavi. What does matter is that you've misunderstood me. I did not kill that child. I found her alone, and I took her to the hospital. Her mother left without even trying to clean her, that's where all of this came from." He sighed quietly, resting his face against the back of the boy's shirt. "I can't keep you here anymore, Lovely. Eventually, I'll lose myself, and the other will kill you."

Lavi froze at his admission, his eye wide with horrified disbelief. "You.. You saved her? Then why did you let me..!" He jerked forward, half-turning before the man's arms caught him. "You were going to just let me try to kill you? Let go, Dammit!" He struggled to throw off the other's hold, turning completely around. "I cut you! You just gave me a fucking knife and let me cut you! Can't you do anything without somebody hurting?"

Tyki stared down at him in surprise at his renewed anger. "I..I don't know," He looked away, shaking his head. "The part of me that wants to hurt you is going to win, Lavi. I thought I wanted to break you, to make you hate yourself and suffer until you had to do something to save yourself.. But you.. I can't! I can't just keep trying! It isn't working, because I'm not satisfied! I can't just leave it like this, it won't let me do that, it wants to see you bleed!"

He released the boy, stepping back. "You have to get away from me, Lavi. If it can't make me hurt you, it will make me want you. Leave. Now."

Lavi shook his head. "What good will that do? Is there even a lock on the door?" The man took another step back, widening the distance between himself and the younger boy.

"That doesn't matter. I won't follow you, that much I can promise." He closed his eyes, turning away from the redhead's slightly alarmed look. "Get out, Lavi. I don't want you here right now. Just leave, and stay gone until I come for you myself."

Lavi frowned at him suspiciously. "How can you promise that? If you could stop yourself, I wouldn't need to leave in the first place! What are you going to do, Tyki?" He stepped forward, his voice rising. "Explain it to me, because that sounds suspiciously like bullshit!"

The older man retreated, keeping pace with the Exorcist's steady advance until he bumped awkwardly against the wall. "Don't!" He snapped, his eyes a frightening mix of gold and black. "Don't come near me, I can't..!" He shook his head furiously. "Do you not understand me, Lovely? If you value your safety, get out of here. I can't make it any plainer, so stop pushing and get out!"

Lavi ignored him, stopping within an easy arm's reach of the other. "What are you going to do? How can you make it stop, if it's that strong?" He leaned forward, his eye narrowing. "You said it wants to make you hurt me. If you don't let it do that, it makes you want to.. What happens if you don't do that either?" He glared up at the shaking man, his hands tightening into fists. "Answer me!"

Tyki sat down heavily, leaning his head on his raised knees. "It will stop once it gets what it wants, Lavi. If I stay away from you, I can distract myself until the need passes." The Exorcist knelt, waiting for him to look up.

"How do you do that, Tyki? If you don't..let it have me, what else is there? You aren't going to hurt yourself, are you?" The man's expression hardened, his eyes still flooded with flecks of gold.

"I will heal, Lovely. You, on the other hand, will not."

Lavi growled in annoyance, grabbing the older man's arms. "Is that why you keep doing it? Because that thing makes you want one or the other?" Tyki shook his head, shrugging off the boy's hands.

"It makes me want to harm you, Lavi. The rest is just my own wants made stronger." He shivered, pressing closer to the wall. "Leave," He hissed, closing his eyes. "You're too close, Lovely. I can smell myself on you, get out of here before..!"

The redhead cut him off, taking hold of his shoulders and giving him a shake. "Don't let it!" He said, studying the man's face intently. "Even if I leave, it won't help! If you let it make you hurt yourself, what's the point?" Tyki clenched his hands, ignoring the flare of pain from the cut one.

"The point is to keep from killing you, imbecile! All I wanted was to make you admit to wanting me! After that, there's only this, and what it wants! I don't need to touch you anymore, so all that's left is killing!" He visibly collected himself, taking a breath. "Lavi, don't make me break my word. If you don't get the hell away from me, I'll have to do something to keep myself from taking your life. Is that what you want, to have me force myself on you to keep you breathing?"

Lavi shook his head, inching closer. "Don't let it do that." He said, nudging the other's knees apart. Leaning forward, he pulled the surprised man into a tight embrace, resting his head in the crook of his neck. "If you're afraid that it's going to make you hurt me, don't let it make that decision."

Tyki pushed him back, his expression urgent. "There isn't anything to decide! I'm not going to hurt you, and I'm not going to touch you because it wants me to!"

Lavi regarded him calmly, his slight shivers the only indication of his anxiety. "Then..do it because you want to." The older man stared back at him in rising horror.

"No! I told you, I don't need that anymore! I have what I wanted, there isn't any reason to force you!" He pushed against the Exorcist's chest, struggling to control the answering surge of lust brought on by his words. He could feel the darkness twisting against his will, his tenuous hold on it's urges diminishing with frightening quickness. "Let go," He ground out, pushing harder. "Damn you, do as I say!"

Lavi shook his head, refusing to be moved. "Nobody said anything about force. You don't have to be like that, I'll prove it!" He released the man's shoulders, shoving his hands away from their place on his chest. He leaned in, catching the older man's pale face in his hands. "You never got your kiss," He said, pressing his lips hesitantly to the other's. Feeling him stiffen in alarm, he slid one hand into the back of his hair, keeping him in place as he waited for a response.

Tyki held his breath, clutching the boy's shirt tightly in his hands. The feeling of his mouth was torturous, leaving the older man shaking when he carefully nibbled on his lip with a questioning hum. His breath caught sharply at the sensation of the Exorcist's tongue on his skin, his hands flexing painfully before releasing their grip on the crumpled material. Moving slowly, he draped his arms around the boy's waist, accepting his silent offer with a soft moan.

Lavi sighed in agreement, tracing his lower lip before deepening the kiss, his movements almost fearful as he sought out the man's tongue with his own. He whimpered quietly at the eager response, his hands shaking as he felt the arms around him tighten convulsively. He pulled back, catching his breath in quick pants before leaning in a second time, his heart beating almost painfully hard in his chest. "I mean it," He whispered, ignoring the tightness in his throat. "This time, I really do mean it. Don't hurt yourself."

Tyki shook his head, his own breathing rushed. "You don't. You can't. You hate that I've made you want me, you hate yourself and you hate me. You lie."

The boy's eye narrowed. "The baby. Would you have saved her, before this? Before you brought me here, would you have even thought about it?" The older man blinked at him in surprise.

"No.. I would have left her. I wouldn't have killed her, but I certainly wouldn't have helped. The Noah wouldn't have let me help her." He leaned back, resting his head on the wall behind him. "What's left of it is too busy with you to have stopped me now. All that concerns it is bringing you harm, Lovely. Surely you can see that this isn't going to stop it.. Even though I don't need you, it hasn't finished."

Lavi nodded, taking a breath. "I know there's something wrong with you. Besides that, you're the one that's lying." He pressed closer, watching the man's eyes widen. "You keep saying need, need.. You don't need to touch me, you don't need anything else..But you want it. If you didn't, you wouldn't have kept me here. What do you want, Tyki? Not that thing, not the shit you say about 'revenge', but you. What do you want?"

The man shivered, avoiding his stare. "I want nothing. Nothing."

Lavi snorted, pulling his face back around. "Liar. Even when you were sleeping before, you wanted to die. I heard you say it, so don't look at me like that." He sighed, pushing one of the man's knees down. "You still want me, too. That's why you're letting me do this, isn't it? When I tried to trick you, you said that you wanted it for real." He moved the man's opposite leg, holding his gaze steadily despite his nervous shaking.

"Do you still want that? Before that thing makes you fuck me, do you want it for yourself?" He bit his lip, swinging his leg across the man's straightened one. "If you really meant what you said, I'll let you. Do you want it?"

The older man stared at him stupidly, shock and disbelief playing across his features. "No!" He said, pulling on the back of the boy's shirt. "You can't do this!" His eyes widened in panic as the boy moved his other leg, straddling his lap. "You're supposed to hate me, idiot! Nothing I've done to you means anything! I took you like a whore, Lavi, to take back what I lost! That was all!"

Lavi winced at his volume, but ignored the words. "What did you lose,Tyki? What was it that you wanted to get back?"

Tyki stilled, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. You can't give me that, anymore than I can give you back what I took from you. It was all for nothing." He closed his eyes, releasing the boy's shirt. "It used me just as much as it used you, Lavi. I let it convince me that there was nothing but breaking you, taking you in place of them."

Lavi nodded, resting his hands carefully on the man's tense shoulders. "I get that. But if that's the case, what are you going to do?" He bent his head, his nearness prompting a surprised look from the other. "You said you weren't going to let it control you, so don't. Do what you want to do." The man's muscles jumped under his hands, his mouth opening to protest. Lavi cut him off with a kiss, this one far less hesitant than the first. He dug his fingers tightly into the older man's hair, demanding a response.

Tyki grabbed his hips, a muffled noise going unnoticed as the boy continued to explore his mouth. He gasped when the Exorcist moved purposefully against him, his hands tightening as he pulled him closer. He felt the boy's answering shiver, his slow rocking becoming more insistent as he moaned approvingly. He broke away for air, his voice quiet and strained.

"God that's good.. Don't even try to say you don't want it, Tyki. Even you're not that good of a liar." The man shook his head, sliding a hand up his back to push him closer.

"I do, Lovely. I want you so much that it hurts, but I don't think I should let you do this." He pushed aside the material of his shirt, licking at the skin beneath. "If you do this, neither part of me is going to want to let you leave, do you understand that? Doing this will make you mine, Lavi."

His free hand left it's place on the boy's hip, slipping under the hem of his shirt to stroke his bare skin. "If you don't want that, you need to say so right now. You won't be able to take it back, if you offer yourself to us. Are you really sure that your freedom is worth a few moments of pleasure?"

Lavi shook his head, leaning into his touch. "You'd be just as much mine. I'm not that selfless, Tyki. And it isn't for a few minutes, either." He untangled his fingers, wrapping his arms around the man's shoulders. "It's for as long as you can stand it."

The older man pulled him forward in response, biting down on the beat of his pulse. "Your mouth is getting you into trouble, Lovely. Unless you want this right now, I suggest finding less..Tempting things to say."

Lavi hissed at the feeling of his teeth, the sound catching with a whine as the hand on his hip moved steadily lower. "That's fact. Tempting is completely different.. If I were trying to tempt you, I would have said that you're right about the thing you do with your fingers.. It really does make me want to come, but I'd rather do that while you fuck me."

The teeth on his throat bore down nearly to the point of drawing blood. He laughed shakily at the controlled violence, his heart beating too quickly to be anything but a low hum in his ears. "Are you trying to scare me, Tyki?" He asked, holding the man's head against his skin. "If you are, it isn't working. I actually think I like it."

Tyki gasped, pulling his mouth away. "You really must stop that, Lavi." He said, his expression serious despite his still-roaming hands. "I don't think I'll be able to be careful with you, if you keep saying things like that." The boy laughed again, arching into the other's hands.

"From what you said about that thing, you wouldn't be able to anyway, would you? Will it let you be slow and gentle, this time?" He let go of the man's neck and shoulder, taking hold of the bottom of his borrowed shirt. "Move your hand," He said, tugging the garment over his head and tossing it away. "That's better. You should get rid of yours, it's pretty gross."

Tyki laughed, shaking his head in amused arousal. "God, Lovely.. You're closer to being insane than I am. You do have a point, however." He leaned forward, shrugging off the ruined shirt with a frown of distaste. "Ugh, I hadn't realized the extent of it.. Little wonder that the people between the alley and the hospital looked at me as they did."

Lavi nodded, running his fingers over the man's exposed skin experimentally. "I really did think you might be dying when I saw it.. I..I think that's why I was so damned mad.." He shook his head, snorting at himself. "I was scared, and then you said it wasn't yours, and I thought.. I was angrier with myself than I was with you, I felt so stupid.." He stopped, biting his lip in awkward embarrassment. "I'm sorry," He whispered, averting his eye. "For what I said, I should have let you finish."

Tyki caught his head, turning him back. "You had no reason to think otherwise, Lavi. Don't be upset for coming to a logical conclusion, even if it was the wrong one." He used his hold to pull the boy down, pressing their lips together as he resumed his ardent strokes on the skin of his back and hip. Taking advantage of the Exorcist's quick gasp, he deepened the kiss, toeing off his shoes as best he could without breaking the contact.

After a long moment, he pulled back, breathing quickly. "You have to get off of me, Lovely." He murmured, nudging him gently. The boy frowned mutinously, shaking his head.

"Tyki..." He growled warningly. The older man laughed at his stubborn expression, shifting his weight.

"Oh, I'd much rather have you right here, but it's terribly difficult to take off one's pants with a lap full of pouting lover." Lavi blinked at him, coloring slightly.

"Oh. Right. I thought you meant something else, sorry." He slid back reluctantly, fidgeting in a way that made the man's hands itch to touch his bare skin. Rising to his knees, Tyki jerked impatiently at his remaining clothing, mentally cursing whoever had seen fit to invent the evil that was pants. Tugging down the zipper, he pushed the offending garment to his knees, sitting down to kick them off. Tossing them away with a final glare, he turned his attention back to the still-seated Exorcist.

"Now, as I was saying.." He reached for the boy, pulling him back to his perch with smirk. "I really would have rather kept you here, Lovely.. You're very warm, are you feeling unwell?" He rubbed small circles on the skin of the redhead's thighs, smiling wickedly at his sharp whimper.

"Is something wrong, Lavi? You have the strangest look on your face.." He leaned in, licking across the boy's collarbone. "Gods, but you are delicious.. I wonder why you taste so good." His hands moved higher, settling firmly against the other's naked hips. "Are you still sure of your choice, Lovely? You're shaking like this frightens you."

Lavi shook his head, sliding closer to the man's chest. "I'm sure," He said, closing his eye with a shivering breath. "It's just.." He paused, tracing the line of the older man's nape with his fingers. "I want you so bad," He blurted, wincing. "It wasn't like that, before. Even when you were trying to make me want it, it didn't feel like this does."

Tyki blinked, startled at his admission. "Of course, Lovely. Even if you knew it would feel good, you didn't want it, did you? It's not nearly the same as this, when you decide to have me on your own terms. Everything will be like that.. Better, because you want it." He paused, realizing that the younger boy had honestly chosen to allow his touch. "Oh, God." He whispered, pulling the confused Exorcist tightly to himself. "You didn't know that.. You really.. You didn't lie."

He stopped the boy's impending question with his mouth, ignoring the useless stinging behind his closed eyelids. As if he could sense the man's distress, Lavi decided to forego the momentarily unnecessary inquiry, concentrating on the near-desperate touches from the other male. Recalling the urgency he'd shown when he'd mistaken the boy's intentions before, Lavi returned his attentions eagerly, shaking with the force of his own need.

Pulling back to speak, he kept his arms tight around the man's body, silently giving proof to his sincerity. "Please, Tyki. I want you, don't make me wait.." He gasped at the older man's quiet shudder, the hands on his back sliding down to pull him firmly against the other's obvious arousal.

Looking around hurriedly, Lavi caught sight of the small jar still present on the nearby table. Nudging the man's face up, he indicated the object with a jerk of his head. "I have to move, a little.. We're going to need something, and that should be just fine."

The older man blinked at him for a moment, then nodded. Lavi took note of his wide eyes, mildly surprised at their deep grey hue. Before, they'd been a tawny brown, or an eerie copper-gold, but now they were nearly black, the innermost shade a rich pewter encircled by a darker ring that blended almost completely with his dilated pupils.

Shaking off his bemusement, the Exorcist rose to his knees, leaning awkwardly over to retrieve the jar. Returning to his seat, he faced the shaken man squarely, holding the ointment in his palm. "Tyki..? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you all right?"

Tyki nodded, taking the proffered jar with one hand while catching the boy's jaw with the other, pulling him down for a demanding kiss. He released his hold, opening the container and setting it aside as he continued to tease the Exorcist's mouth, ignoring the slight tremor of his hands. Leaning back, he urged the boy to his knees, steadying him with a hand on his hip while he coated his fingers with the jar's contents. "Hold onto me, Lovely," He murmured, easing his hand between them carefully. "This may be uncomfortable, for a moment." He waited for the redhead's arms to find a place on his shoulders, his slickened fingers pressing gently into his body as he tightened the hold on the other's skin.

Feeling the boy's quick gasp, he stroked his side reassuringly, urging him to lean against his chest. "Relax, Lavi.. I promise not to hurt you, not if I can help it. All I want to do right now is make you feel good, please?" Lavi nodded slightly, resting his face on the older man's shoulder with a soft whimper. Though initially painful, the feeling of the man's fingers within him was hopelessly arousing, the discomfort far overshadowed by the sharp burn of pleasure that came from his movements. He moaned quietly, turning his face into the older man's neck.

"Oh, God.." He whispered, pushing back against the man's hand. "It's..It feels so good, I don't think.." He broke off, crying out as the brunette curled his fingers, his eye widening in surprise at the unfamiliar intensity of the sensation. "Why is it like that?! It wasn't.. Tyki!" He felt the man's quiet laugh against his chest, raising his head to catch his amused smile. "Don't laugh, it's your fault!" He glared unconvincingly at the man's falsely innocent expression. "You did that on purpose!"

Tyki smiled, repeating the motion gently. "Indeed," He heard the boy's breathless moan, watching avidly as his face twisted in pleasure. "And I think you liked it. Does it feel good, Lovely? You said that it makes you want to come..Do you?" Lavi nodded rapidly, shifting his hips.

"Yes! I want it, please stop teasing!"

The man's arm wrapped around his waist, holding him tightly in place as he continued his slow movements. "Oh, I'm not teasing at all, Lavi. If you like it so much, I can't see any reason to deny you. Are you really in such a hurry?"

He nodded again, growling impatiently. "Yes, dammit! You know I am, so either do me or move your hand and I'll do it myself!"

Tyki laughed, licking at the side of his throat. "Really? Well, as interesting as that sounds, I think I'd much rather do as you say.. Do you want it like this? It's very different than what we've done before, you may not like it.." He smiled at the boy's terse nod, carefully withdrawing his fingers. Reaching into the small container, he scooped a generous amount of the salve into his palm, sliding his hand back into the space between their bodies. He covered himself quickly, spreading the remainder on the boy's skin.

Suddenly nervous, he used his free hand to push the boy away slightly, reaching up to cup the back of his neck. "Please tell me that you want this, Lovely. Just once more?"

Seeing his inexplicable anxiety, Lavi nodded. "I want you. Even if you won't let me leave, I still want you." The man's fingers tightened, his grip still careful on the Exorcist's lightly kiss-marked skin.

"You have no idea how much I hope you mean that, Lavi.. But I'll explain it to you when it makes sense to me." He pulled his head down, catching his mouth as he moved his hands to his hips, pressing him back against the hardness that awaited him. Feeling the boy gasp against his lips, he held him tightly as he urged him to relax.

Guiding him down, he forced himself to be patient, moaning quietly as the boy shifted his weight. "Please, Lovely," He whispered, rocking upward shakily. "Take your time, but please move.." Lavi nodded, clinging to the man's shoulders.

"I'm all right..It's just..!" He froze, gasping quickly when the older man sucked gently on the skin of his neck, his tongue soothing the sting of his previous bites as he lifted his hips. "God, Tyki!" The man nodded against his throat, interspacing his words with heated kisses that only fueled the Exorcist's desperation.

"I told you, didn't I? It's not the same, especially if it's something you want, Lavi. This is close to what I would have done, that first time.." He trailed off, feeling the boy shiver. "I..I'm sorry," He murmured, internally horrified at himself. "I shouldn't have.. I didn't mean to say that." Looking up, he caught the redhead's eye. "You should hate me, Lovely."

Lavi shook his head, tightening his arms. "It's the same," He said, biting his lip to contain a moan. "You have as much right to..hate.. oh, yes.." His eye closed as he leaned into the man's chest, his legs suddenly weak when the other's hand's stroked the skin of his back. "Please don't make me stop, you feel so good.. " He arched into the touch, his movements wringing a stifled cry from the man beneath him.

Blinking in surprise, he repeated the motion, gasping when the older man's hands caught his waist with barely-contained urgency. Feeling the shiver that wracked the man's body, he smiled. "Is that right, Tyki?" He turned his face slightly, his words muffled by the other's skin as he licked him. "Mm.. You don't taste so bad yourself."

Tyki nodded, still holding the Exorcist's waist carefully. "It's wonderful, Lavi.. But I don't know if it's such a good idea." He rocked upward to meet the boy's slow descent. "It makes me want more, and I don't want to hurt you." Lavi moaned quietly, tightening his arms around the man's back.

"Whatever you want is fine, Tyki! Don't worry about it, just tell me what you need, please?" He changed his pace, moving against the older man purposefully. "If it isn't good enough, tell me what's..!" He broke off, his voice sticking in his throat as the brunette's hands moved, one leaving his waist to push firmly against his back.

"Stay close, Lovely," He hissed, relishing the boy's pleading whine. "I want as much of you as I can get, right now." His arm wrapped around the Exorcist's hips, pulling him down roughly. "Tell me if I hurt you, Lavi. I wanted to let you do this, but you're driving me mad." He held the startled boy tightly against him, shifting his legs beneath himself. Rising to his knees, he laughed when the redhead's legs clenched eagerly around his waist. "I won't drop you, Lovely. But still, hold tight."

He moved his arm away from the boy's back, supporting himself as he leaned forward. Letting gravity pull him down, he laid the other on the carpet, thankful for it's plushness. "Look at me," He said, nudging the boy's face up. "Let me see how I make you feel, Lovely." He lifted the Exorcist's hips, watching him closely as he moved. "If you're going to be staying here, I want to learn everything that pleases you."

Lavi nodded wordlessly, allowing the man to lean close. He kept his grip on the other's waist despite his renewed shivers, moaning brokenly when he moved just enough to press against his most sensitive place. "Please..! You've got plenty of time for that, don't worry about it now!" He arched upward beseechingly, catching the man's shoulders and yanking him down. "Don't play with me! I want you now, dammit!"

Tyki laughed, letting himself be moved. "Goodness, Lovely.. So impatient, but that suits you." He increased his pace, panting quietly at the younger boy's impassioned cries. "Yes, it most definitely suits you. Are you close, Lavi? It feels like you are.." The Exorcist's grip tightened, urging him on with a shaky nod.

"God yes. Please don't stop, I think..!" He gasped, his fingers digging into the man's skin almost painfully. "Right there! Harder! Please let me come!" The older man growled against his throat, nodding rapidly.

"Oh, I intend to, Lavi. I absolutely love how it feels when you do, you wouldn't believe me if I told you how good it is." He slid a hand beneath the boy's lifted hips, raising him higher as he drove into him urgently. "I want it," He said, sucking hard on the mark he'd left on the redhead's skin. "I want that, right now. Give it to me, Lovely."

Lavi moaned sharply, his movements near desperate as he struggled to comply. "Take it, then! Please, just.. Aah.! Tyki!" He bucked, unable to continue over the shaking tension in his muscles. The older man gasped into his neck, holding him close as he bit down on the boy's shoulder with enough force to break the skin, his howl of release muffled by the flesh and blood against his lips. Lavi arched up with a ragged scream, his arms and legs locked around the man's body as his own climax left him stunned with it's intensity.

Panting with exertion, Tyki pulled away from the Exorcist's throat, wiping his mouth in horrified dismay. "Gods, Lavi! Are you all right? I didn't.. Oh, God, I'm sorry!" He shoved himself up to one arm, pressing his other hand to the bleeding wound he'd made. "I didn't mean to! I wasn't.. Oh, no."

He stared down at the boy's shaking form, ignoring the other's quiet murmur of contentment in his mind, it's voice sated and fading. "Lavi? Please, I didn't mean to, I swear I didn't.." He urged the redhead to turn, moving away from him with a hiss. "I'm so sorry, Lovely. I should never have let you.. Are you laughing?" He shook his head in disbelief, his mouth closing with an audible snap as he stared at the Exorcist's growing hilarity.

Lavi nodded faintly, wincing at the sharp sting. "It's fine," He said, his laughter tapering off to stilted chuckles. "I told you I didn't care, I know you didn't mean to." He leaned up, rubbing at a faint smear on the other's lip with his thumb. "It's funny, because it hurt, and it should have scared the shit out of me, but it didn't.. Just knowing that you felt that good was enough to make it worth it, Tyki."

He snorted at the man's bewildered expression, clearing his throat to hide the noise. "Really, it's fine. Don't worry about it, I've had a lot worse than that. Hell, you knocked me through a roof. Wadded me up like a piece of paper, too. That was about a hundred times worse than this."

Ignoring the dull throb in his neck, he lifted his head, catching the older man's mouth. Licking the corner of his lip, he shivered at the faint taste of copper. "I just came so hard that I thought I was going to pass out, Tyki. Do you really think I give an honest fuck about a little bite?"

Tyki blinked at him, raising an eyebrow. "You liked it? Lovely, you are truly a strange person.. But I'll have to remember that, if you enjoy it so much." He rose to his knees, bringing the still-grinning Exorcist with him. "As pleasant as this is, I believe you should let me see to that, and perhaps you should bathe? I'm going to need something for you to wear, also. Scampering around in nothing but one of my shirts is a good way to have yourself ravaged, Lovely."

The boy snorted at him, shaking his head. "I don't scamper. And besides that, I severely doubt I could get into your pants, Tyki." He waved off the older man's speculative look. "You know what I mean! You're taller than me, asshole!" He scowled at the quiet amusement on the other's face. "If you're done sniggering at me, do you think I could take a look at my oh-so-terrible hickey? I think it's best if I'm not getting blood on everything, you might go crazy and try to eat me."

He brushed past the laughing man, shaking his head in mock annoyance. "Just great," He muttered, entering the room's bathing chamber. "Now there's two people to make bad jokes. It must be my Karma.." He leaned close to the mirror, taking stock of the shallow wound on his shoulder. Turning on the water, he cupped his hand to catch the cool liquid, splashing his face with a soft hiss. "I must be losing my mind," He whispered to himself. "I should be disgusted with myself, but.." He glanced toward the doorway, watching the older man busy himself with taking clothes from the armoire. 'Why don't I hate this? Hate Him? Why was I so afraid when he came back?'

He shook his head, forcing away the thought. Looking closely at himself, he wrinkled his nose faintly. "Yeah, definitely taking a bath.." Closing his eye, he sighed. 'What the hell happened to him, back there? He's never looked like that, did I do something to him?' He shivered, remembering the man's nearly frightening reaction to what he'd done. 'Was that really what he needed? Just to have me want him? Why would it matter, when he could have anybody..?'

He frowned, looking again at the confusing man in the bedroom. As if sensing his stare, Tyki turned to face him, his expression still faintly amused. "Something wrong, Lavi? It's a bit late for second thoughts, after all.." He walked to the doorway, unconcerned by his nudity. "Do you want to take your bath here? I won't touch you, if that's what you're afraid of." His voice was light, but something about the way he spoke the words alarmed the younger boy.

"No, I was just.." He trailed off, at a loss. 'I was just what? Wondering why I still don't want to leave, when I should be kicking and screaming like a two year old?' He forced a laugh, shaking his head. "I didn't know if you wanted me to go to my own room. I'd be fine here, if you don't mind." He glanced behind himself, walking over to start the water in the spacious bathtub. "Shouldn't you take one too? You've got a little.. Er.." He gestured vaguely at the other's stomach, wincing.

Tyki nodded solemnly, looking down at himself. "Indeed. Perhaps I should join you, Lovely?" He smiled at the boy's sudden flush. "I wonder why that flusters you so.. You certainly didn't mind before.." He shook his head, waving a hand at the Exorcist's indignant huff. "I can wait, Lavi. See to yourself, you should be able to find everything that you need." He turned to leave, pausing at the redhead's quick grip on his wrist. "Was there something else?"

Lavi glared up at him, his face still tinged with embarrassment. "Don't you move." He said, jerking the astonished man back. "I'm not sure what you're thinking, but I meant what I said. Now stop looking at me like that and get in that tub."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Hmm, third time's the charm, maybe.. As always, let me know if there should be more, I hope someone likes it well enough to comment XD