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Story
+ Angel Hunt ~ Streifen +
Future Effects
Ten years into the future, the idea sparks...
A story collaboration between Angel Hunt and Streifen
Interlude
[04]
He’d been immobile for days while Aki remained unconscious in his arms, simply monitoring his vital signs as his body took completely to the shard now fused partially beneath his skin. How long it would take the Selestarri’s body to recover and for him to surface completely he did not know but it was beginning to concern him. He did not like the idea of forcing the Eclipsed into consciousness, but should he continue to remain as he is, he would be left with no other choice as Aki would need nutrition sooner than later.
The Demon would give him a few hours longer though as he wishes to contain the suffering this fusion will cause to the best of his abilities. While the procedure itself had gone with minimal incident, the difficulties Aki would soon be facing were only at a beginning…
Aki’s mind swims through a hazy fog as fragments of dreams and nightmares stream through his head. Everything is laced with physical pain and all of it radiates out from his back - the stronger the emotion, the more excruciating it is.
He can’t move. He tries with everything he has but nothing comes of it. Aki screams out in his mind, trying to find someone, something, but there is no reply.
Is he dead? Is this what happens when Eviternity is taken from you?
There is no one, it is dark, cold, black. Where is Jenova? Was the shard a mistake?
A small light suddenly catches him, quickly growing by every passing second. Crystalline tendrils wind through him, around him and Aki screams again as they begin to suffocate, holding him down while he fights for breath.
JENOVA!
The Eclipsed wakes with a start, gasping for air and fighting with everything that he has. A strong hold clamps down, stifling his movements and only causing him to struggle more. The world is a blur around him and there is so much pain. Wings flail and Aki cries out at the agony each movement causes.
Quiet words reach him as he continues to struggle, the Demon’s dialect seeping into his consciousness and wrapping around him like a soothing balm. The pain eases only in the slightest, Aki’s body and mind growing heavy enough calm him and still his movements.
“Shhh…” Jenova eases his grip as the Eclipsed settles against his chest once more, meeting slightly glazed cerulean blue with calm crimson. Glass-like nails slide away from silver wings to sweep sweat dampened ginger hair from his line of vision, slipping around to carefully shift it free of the fused area in between his shoulder blades, the graze of feather soft strands against sensitive skin ripping a low whimper from Aki’s mouth, “do not force yourself to move…”
“Jenova?” Aki tries to focus in on the one above him, only finding colors and vague shapes in return. “This hurts… so much… everything hurts.” He attempts to shift only to have the pain is renewed. Aki clenches his teeth and waits for the immediate agony to pass and return him back to a constant state of hurt. “Please tell me this gets better… Christ… even breathing is painful. I can feel it… the magic doesn’t want it there but the crystal won’t let me go… it’s everywhere, in everything… fighting it.”
“The pain will not last…” Jenova runs the very tips of his claws through Aki’s hair, stroking gently as he speaks. “Though if it continues to be more than you can bear, there are… ways for this One to alleviate this for you.” He sighs softly, leaning forward to touch his lips to the crown of Aki’s head before pulling back, “You need only ask. I will do what I can to make this transition easier. It will not be easy Aki… but you are not alone… nor shall you be.”
The Eclipsed nods, his body beginning to tremble from the pain. He closes his eyes and leans his head back against the Demon’s chest, doing all he can to move slowly enough that it’ll ease the ache streaming through every nerve. “If I can ever fall asleep, just don’t let me dream… it’s in my head and it’s suffocating me.”
“I will keep you from dreaming if this is what you wish.” Jenova slides his hand down to Aki’s waist while the other continues to linger in sweat dampened hair, “it has been days since the crystal was implanted. Despite the pain, you will need nutrition soon…”
Aki looks up in surprise. “Fuck. Days…? I’ve been out for days? This feels like it just happened… I wish I could say I was hungry but the thought of food… or anything… makes me nauseated…. I don’t think I can eat… I just want the pain to stop. Did Ikkairius go through this as well…? I can’t imagine anyone being able to survive this alone.”
“Yes days…” Jenova says simply, “How your guardian survived his own transition is something I cannot answer, this you will have to ask him…” The Demon slides his hand away from Aki’s hair, moving down his body to pull him suddenly up without warning. The Eclipse’s arms fly around Jenova’s neck and he barely manages to stifle a cry as the pain washes over him from the movement. Rising to his feet, he slides them free of the bed in one fluid twist, Aki’s grip around his neck only easing in the slightest once he’s settled back against the man carrying him. “Forgive me.” He says softly into Aki’s ear, taking careful strides towards the Bathe while he holds him close and adjusting the Eclipsed as he moves quickly to the marble sink resting beyond, flicking the water on with the tips of his claws a moment later. “If you cannot stomach food, then you will drink at least…” Crimson eyes turn to meet cerulean blue, “you will not recover properly without it…”
He nods slightly as he watches the Demon fill a glass before leaning forward and allowing it to be pressed to his lips. Aki takes in small sips of liquid until the nausea resurfaces and he’s forced to stop. “I can’t drink anymore right now… give me a little while and I’ll try again… Can you put me in cool water…? It might help… cold sounds good right about now…”
Without a word, Jenova puts down the glass and carries the Eclipsed over to the bathe, shifting him in the slightest to flick the switches on. Still holding the man in his arms, the Demon slowly lowers them both into the rising water. Aki pulls in a sharp intake of air as the cold hits him but quickly adjusts and attempts to relax in Jenova’s grip. The chilly water was distracting enough to let him focus in on something other than the pain in its entirety.
Glass like nails run though ginger locks to slick Aki’s hair away from his face. The Eclipsed shivers against him and he trails his fingers slowly down the sides of his body, pulling him closer towards himself. Aki’s grip around his neck tightens in the slightest as fingers trail carefully back up and over silver wings, moving carefully as he explores wet feathers before leaning down and tilting his head to the side to touch pale lips to the Selestarri’s ear, “Ask anything of me that is needed to alleviate the discomfort you feel… and I will provide it…”
The afternoon sun shines through the tall windows onto the pair resting the bed. The Eclipsed lay on his stomach with his wings stretched out to either side while Jenova remains close. It had been a week since Aki had woken and slowly, day by day, the pain had eased from the excruciating fire it had been that wouldn’t even allow him to move, down to a constant ache. Moving still hurt him, but at least it had grown tolerable to a point. He felt much better once he was able eat again, and while his meals were small, they were at least something. Sleeping on the other hand, was only made possible by the Demon removing his dreams and stealing him from consciousness as the shard wouldn’t allow him to do it on his own.
It seemed his body and the shard were starting to come to some form of an understanding of one another. His magic was no longer full out attacking the crystal and the crystal had stopped infiltrating him further. Beyond the pain it felt strange and foreign but he was slowly getting used to it. He still didn’t dare attempt and seal his wings out of fear that he may not be able to get them to release again. That and there was the overwhelming pain that came from doing it that he wasn’t quite ready to take on again.
Aki slowly lifts his head, cerulean blue eyes moving to the Demon’s form as he lays still, propped up against the headboard with his own eyes closed to the world. Jenova’s chest rises and falls slowly in what he assumes to be sleep, one strong leg up and a muscular arm draped casually over it while the other lay near his lap. Long white plaits frame his face, the kimono that covers his pale form hanging casually off his shoulders, slid halfway down his body.
The Selestarri grits his teeth and pushes himself up, carefully folding his wings behind him as he crawls forward and seats himself over the Demon’s lowered leg. Aki’s eyes move over Jenova’s features while he sleeps and he pulls his hand up to trace carefully over every contour of his structured face before sliding fingertips down over the other man’s cheek and continuing on towards his jaw line. Just as he reaches his chin, a loud gasp is pulled from his mouth when clawed fingers suddenly snap up to wrap around his wrist. Light blue eyes are met with clear crimson, the bright sun streaming in from behind illuminating the red to shine softly in the light. “…How long have I been sleeping?”
“I’m not sure, a few hours maybe… but you probably needed it, you’ve been up with me the whole time.” Aki smiles. “This means more to me than you know. I don’t think I could have gotten through this without you.” The Eclipsed moves in close to brush his lips against pale ones as he whispers into the Demon’s mouth. “Thank you…” They meet for the first real kiss they’ve had since the shard was implanted as glass like claws thread into ginger colored hair and hold the Selestarri near.
Aki’s fingers move over the built chest before him as the kiss deepens and Jenova slips his hand away from his knee, slowly tracing over every contour of the Selestarri’s spine. He flattens his palm just below the shard, fingers spreading and twisting over to slide into soft down. The very tip of the Demon’s thumbnail grazes the crystal in the movement and Aki rips his mouth away, arching hard into the man beneath him, the gentle touch igniting every nerve and shock waving through his slender frame. A loud rasping gasp escapes him as blue eyes roll up and his head is thrown back. The Eclipse’s fingers grip tight on pale flesh, his breath a little ragged while the sensations begin to die down, gold flecked eyes opening to stare up at the gauze coverings draped above them before he rolls his head down to meet the look of amused curiosity from below. “Struck a nerve did we…?”
He speaks between pants. “Umm... yes... I think so… I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it but… AH-!” Aki arches again as Jenova repeats the movement, the sensation so intense he cries out as his magic builds around him with the reaction his body involuntarily gives to the other man’s touch. “Fuck… I can’t take it… if you keep… doing that…” Slender fingers slide up into snow white plaits and the Eclipsed stares into clear crimson eyes with his own now burning gold. Between the pain and exhaustion, the Demon had ignited a deeper lust and Aki is unsure if it ’s being intensified by the Gioa shard or being caused by it but either way the agony had subsided to a dull ache for the moment through all this and that’s all he cares about in the end.
The Selestarri’s voice is laced with magic when he manages to speak again. “…claim me.”
A sly grin moves across pale lips as he stares up into burning gold, “I already have…” Claw tipped fingers move swiftly to Aki’s waist and rip him free of his body, long strands of white torn away as he twists the Eclipsed around in one fluid movement. Silver wings stretch up and a stifled cry leaves the smaller man’s lips as his knees hit the soft bedding below, his face sinks into red silk soon after. Aki shudders involuntarily when the Demon’s body slides against him from behind, claw tipped fingers wrapping around slender wrists to pull his chest free of the bed a moment later.
Long ginger bangs obstruct his vision as he tries to peer back into the fiery red eyes staring down from above, Aki’s breath leaving him in short, gasping pants and interrupted only by low whimpers every time velvet soft flesh teases against him. Every touch and graze of the Demon’s body causes the magic to build stronger within him in with each passing moment. Snow colored plaits brush bare skin as Jenova leans down to trace the line of the Gioa shard, keeping his mouth just above the area of fused flesh and careful never to touch skin. Aki whimpers loudly when heated breath washes over him, renewing the sensations that course hard through his slim frame and feeding the fire that only continues to grow. He attempts to push his hips back, desperate to close the gap between them and Jenova slides him forward, using the grip on his wrists to keep them separated. Aki cries out in frustration, dropping his head and breathing heavy as he’s forced to halt his attempts and give in to the Demon’s control.
Pulling Aki back, Jenova’s tongue slides out and he touches the line of fused flesh, ripping a loud cry from the Selestarri’s throat and causing him to arch back violently, silver wings splaying to their limits. The Demon slides him away once more, waiting a few short agonizing moments for Aki to calm before pulling him back and repeating his actions, pushing him away every time the Eclipsed tries to move and pulling him back towards himself when he gives in and obeys his silent commands. Soon Aki begins begging, pleading for relief, anything to alleviate the overwhelming sensations Jenova’s touch brings, the air near suffocating from the magic building from deep within. The Demon smiles at this, his lips touching the Selestarri’s ear to whisper, “I have claimed you from now until forever…” Aki cries out at his soft words, his voice soon joined by the low moan behind him when Jenova finally claims him physically with one hard thrust…
Aki smiles weakly as claw tipped fingers sweep ginger hair out of his face while he’s held in the cool water of the bathe. The intensity of their... activity had left him feeling pleasantly numb and he was grateful for it. All the pain had become distant during it but as the minutes continued, it was slowly starting to return and it was a little disappointing. The small remission before the reprise was nice though, he had to admit that much, and it was nice to know that apparently, the crystal wasn’t all discomfort.
Exhaustion was starting to take him, however and maybe this time he could allow himself to dream. “I know I’ve said it before… but thank you, for everything.” The Eclipsed turns his gaze up to meet Jenova’s. “For staying with me, for wanting me to be here, for taking care of me during the aftermath, all of it.”
The Demon smiles before lifting Aki free of the water to carry him back to the room, stopping his path only to grab a fresh towel on the way. He wraps the plush cotton around the Selestarri’s front before setting him down carefully in thick bedding. Pulling away and turning, Jenova leaves him briefly to pull a light kimono free of the wardrobe in order to wrap it around him self, slipping clawed fingers under the nape of his neck to pull wet plaits free. Grabbing another robe from Aki’s side, he returns to join the Eclipsed on the bed soon after.
Blue eyes look up to meet crimson while he takes the kimono from Jenova’s grip, the Selestarri’s words quiet and low. “I think… I want to try sealing my wings while the pain is still a bit numb.”
Jenova’s body sinks into silk covered down as he sits near, folding his legs before him before holding clawed fingers out for Aki to take. The Selestarri slides his palm against the Demon’s and he’s pulled into his lap a moment later. Glass-like nails slip into wet locks and he peers up into light blue eyes, his voice soft in the hush of the surrounding room, “I will not let go…”
Aki nods, leaning forward to wrap his arms around the Demon’s neck and allowing his face to sink against warm skin. Jenova’s fingers slide down to hold firmly onto narrow hips and the Eclipsed closes his eyes, taking in a deep breath, his grip tightening as he works to brace himself. Aki pulls the necessary magic needed to reseal his wings and focuses but nothing happens.
Nothing at all.
He begins to panic slightly before forcing himself to calm down and refocus, pushing more magic into the spell. The crystal reacts at this almost immediately, fighting against him and causing the pain to return. The Eclipsed stifles his cries, driving himself to continue while the spell slowly begins to work and his wings slowly begin to seal. It feels akin to razors being dragged down his back as the silver appendages finally start to fade from view.
Dull ones, with rust added for good measure.
The spell isn’t instant like it normally is, going agonizingly slow as the crystal steps up its resistance with every push of his own magic against it. Aki can feel his eyes change over to gold from the mix of emotions streamlining through him and the adrenalin pumping through his veins while he continues to work. He was already so tired and he’s not sure he can even complete it but he pushes on, the Eclipsed renewing his grip on Jenova as one last, desperate exertion, he finally completes the seal. His body drops with exhaustion but despite that, the intense pain had actually leveled out. It will probably be a while before he can even think about releasing them again… and he really hopes he can.
Somewhere in the background of all the static now buzzing through his head, Aki can vaguely feel the strong arms that hold his hips, move to bring a towel carefully up and wipe the sweat free of his skin. The Selestarri buries his face into the junction between Jenova’s neck and shoulder, unable to stop the sobs that leave him as they echo throughout the room.
Aki slowly makes his way to the first floor, walking carefully down each step while gripping harshly onto the railing as he goes, the loose kimono falling off his shoulders and down to meet his jeans. It took him a bit to convince Jenova he was all right enough to leave the room because he really wanted to talk with Ikkairius. He needed some form of reassurance that this would get easier over time and more importantly, he wanted to know if it’s the same for the Ancient Bright, and how he could have possibly coped with it alone.
He is only about half way down the hall when Ikkairius leaves his room and rushes to the Eclipsed, a slight trace of disappointment present in his stoic tone. “I had hoped you had changed your mind about this. Unfortunately, you did not.” The Ancient Bright helps Aki back to his chambers and sits him carefully at the foot of his bed.
“How could you have possibly done this alone? I can’t even begin to imagine…”
A sigh leaves the Bright’s lips. “It was not easy. There were many a time where I wished it had taken my life, but in the end, it would not. I told you there would be pain, but it is impossible for anyone to understand unless experienced. As I said before, I would not wish this fate upon you, Aki.”
Aki unties the kimono from his waist and sets it to the side, leaving him only in jeans to allow gentile fingers to touch at his shoulder while Ikkairius moves around him to study the Eclipse’s back. “Please tell me this gets better, just sealing my wings was horrible. I don’t want to go through that every time.”
“The pain will subside in time… mostly, but it will always remain to some point. I would imagine that your pain would be less considering you have a smaller portion of the artifact connected to your system.”
“Christ, you’re kidding me?” Aki looks back partially stunned. “You mean this was probably worse for you? How in the world did you deal with it?”
“I cannot tell. Your shard is lacking the casing that keeps much of the Gioa crystal contained. I am unaware of the effect removing it would cause, even on a much smaller piece.” Ikkairius moves back to the Eclipse’s front, sitting beside him on the bed. “It was hard… for myself in the beginning but the pain of betrayal had outweighed the physical pain. It was almost welcome for me at the time as it made for a good distraction. It was fully expected that by giving me the Gioa crystal, my life would be terminated but as much as the magics fight against one another, they do cancel each other out to a point it would seem.”
Aki fights to hold back his tears. “It was suffocating for the first few days I was conscious, I could feel it everywhere, leeching into everything of me. Now it’s just there but at least it isn’t continuing to infiltrate. Sealing my wings for the first time was so hard and excruciating. It took so much more magic than normal.”
Ikkairius nods in agreement. “Yes, this is why I rarely seal my own, aside from the fact that there was no need during my time. Humans were not something to be concerned over and living here has allowed me to refrain from sealing them as well… another small blessing I will never admit to your Demon.” He smirks. “Eventually your system will get used to this foreign magic and it will no longer fight it as hard when you attempt to use your own. It does get better, Aki, but it will take time. However, some form of pain will continue to haunt you for the rest of your existence.”
“If it fights my magic, then why didn’t it when Jenova and I…” Aki looks away in slight embarrassment. “You know what I’m talking about… It actually numbed the pain.”
“Sex is a different emotion, Aki, it causes our magic to react differently. Much like when one goes into bloodlust, it is a far different reaction than when using simple spell patterns. While I cannot fathom how you are able to survive such an act with that Demon, I will say that for myself, it has been similar in the past during such acts. However, the incidences for me to test that particular effect happened long after I had become used to the Gioa crystal, years into raising those half-breed siblings. You have a harsh learning curve ahead of you. I will provide as much assistance as I am able but your Demon is your ultimate lifeline now…”
Jenova stands barefoot in the center of the empty space within their room, muted black leather tightly covering muscular legs, his eyes closed and head tilted back. He takes a deep breath in, holding it for many long minutes before exhaling slowly, clear crimson opening soon after to stare at the high ceiling above.
Aki assured him he was “fine” - that he was well enough to move unaided and while he commends the Eclipse’s strength of will, he was less than pleased that he felt the need to push himself so soon after the acclimation of that shard. It is still too soon, ill effects remain possible and he does not wish to see him injured further out of sheer stubbornness.
The Demon slowly drops his head, rotating it once to crack his neck before moving towards the French patio doors at the far end of the room. Aki is more than simply stubborn… at times he wonders if the Eclipsed and his Angel have been comparing notes as this is the one trait they both seem to share in abundance, he smirks to himself. Glass like nails wrap around brass fixtures and he gently swings the doors open to step outside into the late afternoon sun. Long plaits blow behind him in the soft wind and he crosses his arms over his bare chest, red eyes narrowing as he stares out into the grounds far below.
He does not feel Aki is “fine” - the sealing of his wings proved this to him. But as much as that does not make him happy, he will not coddle the boy in this matter either just as he would not coddle him at any other time. Instead, he will simply keep watch as he always does and allow him to do as he will...
The door creaks open behind him as the Eclipsed returns to the room, discomfort clearly written across the Selestarri’s face. He slips the kimono wrapped so tightly around his waist off and drops it on the floor as he staggers back to the oversized four poster bed.
He’s thinking that maybe it had been too soon to leave the room, but talking with Ikkairius had made him feel slightly better about the whole ordeal so in the end it was worth it. Aki’s eyes close and he focuses on the sounds of Jenova walking back to the bed, feeling the Demon’s weight distributed on the down mattress next to him.
“Apparently, it will feel better if I’m either having sex or killing something, which is why the pain was dulled earlier. Intense training may do it too, since my adrenaline will be pumping. Everything else will hurt like hell, probably for the rest of my life. Every time I release or seal my wings, every spell pattern, everything that involves my magic. I wouldn’t doubt it when calling my weapon either, though he didn’t specifically mention that one.”
The smallest of gasps leaves Aki’s mouth when white plaits graze sensitive skin and pale lips touch at his ear, “Then we will simply have to perform these acts more often to prevent further discomfort in the future…” A quiet amused laugh leaves Jenova’s lips before he bites gently on the Eclipse’s ear and straightens a moment later. Glass-like nails trace over Aki’s neck, slowly sweeping medium length ginger hair away from the nape as clear crimson watch his own movements as well as the reaction of skin at his touch while he continues to speak, “As I have said… “ He traces down to narrow shoulder blades, smiling softly when slender fingers curl around the bedding and full lips part for a slow shuddering breath, “…the pain will not last forever…”
“I hope not…” The Eclipse’s hands clench tighter to the bedding while Jenova’s claws continue to move. “Either way I should get used to it. Ikkairius still has pain but he says it’s no where near what it was in the beginning…” A small whimper leaves Aki’s mouth as the feather soft touch travels closer to the shard it’s self and he can feel his magic getting thicker around them already.
“I also think it… affects the Dark triggers… mainly, but… Ikkairius wouldn’t have… that problem. That magic flows so much easier where… I never used it before except in certain… circumstances, serious fighting… If this is the case…, I fear losing control… to it… as I have in the past.” A low moan resonates from his throat and he can feel his eyes starting to turn. “Fucking or fighting… as the Dark say. I don’t like… the bloodlust. I don’t like… the destruction that part of me is… capable of.” Gold eyes shift up to meet clear crimson. “You’re enjoying… this… aren’t you?”
Jenova smirks slightly. “You would tell me that you are not?” The very tips of his claws graze over the shard causing Aki to arch up and take in a gasping breath.
“I don’t think I have… much of a choice.” The smaller man manages in between pants.
The Demon slides his fingers over to the Eclipse’s shoulder and turns him suddenly onto his side. Burning gold meet fiery crimson and the hand on his shoulder slides along Aki’s back before sinking into red silk covered down as he leans in close, “There are always choices Aki…”
Slender fingers travel swiftly up and thread roughly into white hair, pulling the larger man down, their mouths crashing together with enough force to bruise…