#sharkshipping

They say the Arclights were once humans themselves; originally there were three brothers, orphaned children clinging to each other wanting nothing more than to be reunited with their father. Desperate to help his brothers, the eldest called for help into the dark abyss of the night. He pleaded with anything that could hear to help him save his brothers from more pain; that he would give anything to have his family back.

And the darkness answered his pleas.

"Good morning, Ryoga."

Ryoga groaned and his eyes cracked open. His body was stiff and sore and his head was pounding. He lifted his gaze slowly, trying to remember what the hell was going on when he saw him. He stiffened up as it all came back to him. The boy offered a smirk. Was he… IV or… whatever the other side of him was? Shark Drake? That was what the boy had called it, right? Shark Drake.

"Which one are you?" he groaned. He laughed and crouched, reaching behind him and undoing the tether holding his cuffs to the floor. And Ryoga saw it. His eyes were that stunning amber. "Shark Drake."

"He told you my real name then?" Drake said, pulling him up and sitting him up on a stool by the counter. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

"If you fight when I take your cuffs off, I'll just leave you hungry for today." Ryoga nodded and the cuffs around his wrists were undone. "What else did he tell you?"

"That he's blind," Ryoga replied. "And you want me as a companion for him. To keep him safe."

"Good." He groaned and stretched his arms above his head, his black tank top riding up a little to reveal just a teasing glimpse his stunning body. "Urgh, I do wish he'd pull out the bed rather than just sleeping on the couch. I hate waking up to a stiff body. Anyway, that makes it easier to start with. It's always good to introduce the idea early you. You lot tend to be more sympathetic towards him. Although, be aware that you're not the first. If you don't do a good job, it'll be easy to get rid of you and find a replacement."

"Drag someone else off the street?" he hissed.

"You're learning fast." He purred and nuzzled into his neck, making Ryoga's stomach churn. What exactly was he expected to do when caring for IV? "And before you get any ideas about me being some sort of evil spirit possessing him or a monster you can protect him from, you're not the first to say it and not the first to try, but dear sweet IV is mine. I love him, I protect him, I give him strength. You won't ever be able to tear us apart. Trying will cost you your life."

"Alright, I get it," Ryoga snapped. "I'm your prisoner and trying anything will get me killed."

"I'm glad you understand. Let's get you fed then."

Ryoga nodded slightly. This creature had killed his sister, it had abducted him and locked him up and doubtlessly killed many more people. He would sit tight until he could get his revenge and escape but until then, he supposed he had to put up with this. At least the food was rather good. Whatever Shark Drake was, he could cook.

"So, he's blind but you can see?" Ryoga muttered as he ate.

"I see differently to you humans," Shark Drake replied with a shrug. "I see heat and energy signatures. I don't see in the same way. It's how I can see in the dark."

"And you can't fix his sight?"

"Why would I want to? As long as he's blind, he relies on me completely. I look after him and care for him. I have control constantly because he can't look after himself. I'm not the only one who thinks so. They gave me to him because I'm strong enough to have complete control. If they thought he could look after himself they would have given him something like me?"

"What are you?" Ryoga breathed.

"My true form is a great, powerful sea dragon," Drake replied, playing absently with Ryoga's soft curls. Ryoga's eyes widened slightly and Drake smiled. "I was sealed in crystals in the other world along with the others who rebelled against the Astral World. And now we have no bodies of our own. Now my entire power, my spirit and soul, is compressed and trapped inside this pathetic boy."

"He said he went blind when you took him."

"He could never look after himself. He was always the weakest." He tipped Ryoga's chin up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Ryoga jerked back and Shark Drake smirked, patting his head. "You'll get used to it. You can wander, you won't be able to get back up to the city so do as you please." He slipped his daggers into his belt and picked up his gun. "Everyone should be friendly enough. Make yourself at home."

"Where are you going?"

"Did you think we do nothing but hunt children and lounge around all day? I have things to do."

He slipped out the door, leaving Ryoga alone in his new home. He frowned and glanced around before slowly getting off the stool and washing up. Well, if he had to stay a while he might as well attempt to endear himself to his captor. It might make his life somewhat easier. Once tidy again, he investigated the apartment. It was only one main room, a bathroom off to one side and a storage area. The red couch pulled out into a fairly decent bed, and he understood what Shark Drake meant about pulling it out. It looked far more comfortable. He'd take Drake's advice and make sure IV pulled it out. He didn't want to sleep on that uncomfortable looking couch or the floor again.

There was little of interest in the room. Most of it was rather empty. Except for the pictures on a shelf and a pair of blonde dolls- one in pink, covered in bandages, the other in a beautiful blue dress- next to them. He frowned and looked over the pictures. One in particular caught his eye. A young IV sat with a white fluffy dog nearly as big as he was, a youngster with pink hair on the other side. Both were laughing and smiling. Sitting behind them was a taller, elegant child with flowing blue hair. He remembered the stories about the Arclights. The originals were three brothers. Shark Drake and IV were an original Arclight. Did that mean he was one of the three brothers? Were the other two in the picture his brothers? The other original Arclights?

"Hurry up, we're going to be late!" called a voice outside. Ryoga frowned and stepped out slowly. He supposed he could investigate. Shark Drake said he could go outside. "Alit! Guys!"

"I'm coming!"

He stepped out the building only to nearly bump into the pink haired boy from the picture. He stumbled slightly, bright green eyes widening a little. A brunette boy came barrelling into him and they both went tumbling to the ground in a heap. The pair were in the local school uniform, the school Ryoga had stopped attending a long time ago.

The brunette lifted his head. "Uh, hi!"

He struggled up and brushed himself off, pulling the pink haired boy up with him. They laughed warmly together before turning to Ryoga, who smiled awkwardly. He hadn't interacted with people his own age for a long time.

"Hey, you're the one 32 brought in for IV, right?" the pink haired boy said. Ryoga nodded a little and the boy stuck out his hand. "I'm III, this is Alit. IV's my big brother."

"Then you're-"

"An original, yes."

"But you're not possessed like him?"

"Neither of us are," Alit said, shaking his head. "But we have spirits." He pulled open his collar to reveal his perfectly smooth, tanned chest and the tattoo of 105 there. He smiled and III lifted his hand pulling down his bracelet and showing off 06 on his wrist. "You might get one too."

"I don't think I want one after seeing what Shark Drake does with IV," Ryoga replied. "You guys hunt too?"

"One sec," III said, turning away slightly. "Hurry up! One minute and I'm going!" He turned back to him and smiled. "We hunt. We have too."

"We're coming!" A blonde boy ran over, a smaller boy with blue hair on his heels. He grinned and grabbed Alit's arm, grinning up at Ryoga. "Hey, who are you?"

"Ryoga," he murmured.

"What's your number?" the blue haired boy whispered.

"He doesn't have one," Alit replied. "He's IV's new companion. This is Leo. He's 54. And Fuya. He's not got a number but his mother's one of us, so he's here."

"And we're late for school," III snapped. "Goodbye, Ryoga. I hope you settle soon."

The others waved as they hurried after III, typing in a code at the door and hurrying up the stairs back to the surface. Ryoga frowned and glanced around. It was like a tiny village. There were several residential buildings from the looks of them, with numbers over the doors just as there had been over IV's. There was a small fountain in the centre of the square, surrounded by benches and on the opposite side to IV's home was what looked like a shop, a little café and restaurant and a bar. He walked over slowly, ignoring the ginger haired boy from the day before watching him with a grin.

"How was your first night with 32?" he called. Ryoga paused and glanced back. The boy ran over and linked his arm with Ryoga's. "Got no idea what to do, do you? Come on, let me look after you. I'm Vector, by the way. I'm 104."

"Ryoga."

"Ryoga," he purred. "Pretty."

"You're my age, right? Why don't you go to school?"

"Got myself expelled, didn't I? What sort of games do you like to play?"

"Games?" Ryoga said slowly.

Vector grinned and held up a box. Ryoga frowned and Vector sighed. "Video games, moron. Haven't you ever played?"

"No."

"Oh, my poor, sheltered child," Vector laughed. "Come back to mine and I will teach you. This one's brand new. Had to go to a midnight release last night. Don't tell V that, I was supposed to be hunting."

"Ok…"

They say there are monsters in the mist of Heartland City. Creatures that move through the mist and darkness, blending in with the dazzling lights. They move as shadows in the middle of the night, unseen and unnoticed, leaving no witnesses as they snatch orphan children from off the streets. The lucky ones are found dead.

Arclights were a myth. An urban legend. A creature to scare badly behaved orphans.

And yet…

The shadow in the mist raised a gun, eyes blazing red. Ryoga tore forwards through the crowds but everything was sluggish. Rio stepped back, the sharp gasp and click of her heels echoing around him, loud and drawn out, every vibration in the ear pounding at Ryoga's body. He felt it all. And he wasn't fast enough.

The gunshot tore through the air, the shockwave in the heavy air slamming into his body, Rio's scream cut short as Ryoga's knees hit the wet ground with a deafening thud.

"Rio!"

Ryoga's eyes snapped wide open and he sat up slowly from his bed, panting softly. Rio… He shut his eyes tightly, brushing away his tears. It was a year ago that Rio had been murdered. He heard whispers about Arclights. But they were a myth. It was just some terrible, evil person. It was someone who would one day be caught and punished for their crimes and not some supernatural being.

He sighed and slipped out of bed, slowly dressing himself and wrapping up in a coat, heading down and out into the cold night air. He should be afraid. A year ago, on a night like this, Rio had been killed. But instead, he just walked in the darkness. It was a night for Arclights. The mist had rolled in from the docks, the moon was full, sending a silver light through the mist, while the lights of the city glittered and sparkled like gemstones.

He turned into a smaller alley and his breath was torn from his lungs as he was slammed into a wall.

"Don't make a sound. Not a peep, understand?" Ryoga nodded slightly, raising his hands in surrender. "Get on your knees." He did so, dropping slowly to his knees in the grubby, filthy alley. "Ah, you're a well behaved one." Something pressed against the back of his head and Ryoga got the horrible feeling it was a gun. "Don't move."

He took his wrists slowly and his hands were cuffed behind him. He was dragged up and glanced up at his captor as he was pulled through the night. There was little of him on show. His face was in shadows but his eyes blazed a fiery yellow and he looked taller and older. A door was thrown open and he was dragged down a flight of stairs to what seemed to be a little group of buildings under the city.

"If you were that desperate we have a supply," came a cold sneer. Ryoga turned as much as he could. A boy with bright ginger hair stood there, hands on hips, watching them with a twisted grin as he approached. "C'mon, 32, don't you remember all the fun we used to have?"

"I acknowledge your previous relationship with my host," he replied coldly. "Come on, child. I need rest."

"I'll come on check on you later then," the other boy purred, earning a glare.

32- and Ryoga could only assume that was some kind of code or nickname- dragged him on and he stumbled slightly to keep up, trying not to panic as he was led into a building with several numbers over the door. One was thirty two. He opened the door to what seemed to be something of a studio apartment and shoved Ryoga down on the couch. The door was locked and Ryoga cold only stare as the older boy set down a gun on the kitchen counter and a pair of rather impressive daggers. He pulled down his hood and Ryoga's breath caught.

The boy was certainly older, more mature looking. His face was soft and handsome, with intense golden eyes and a rather nasty- although still attractive- scar over one eye. He slipped off the black coat and revealed his lean figure. He shouldn't find the boy who'd abducted him so attractive but he was. 32 moved over to him, cupping his face and gazing down into his eyes.

"What's your name?"

"Ryoga." He bit his lip, twisted his wrists against the cuffs.  "What's going on? Who are you? Why am I here?"

"Do you know what Arclights are?"

"A myth," Ryoga hissed. "Arclights are a story to scare orphans into behaving."

"Then what am I?" 32 said softly. Ryoga's eyes widened slightly as 32 narrowed his eyes. "Your face is familiar. Do you have family?"

"I had a sister, she died last year," he replied. "A year ago today. Everyone else died a long…" He paused as 32 grinned. "What?"

"Long blue hair, nice bright pink eyes," he chuckled. "Only thirteen." Ryoga's eyes widened in horror and 32 stroked his cheek. "She put up more of a fight than you."

"You… you bastard!" He lunged at him, tugging at the cuffs. "You killed her?!"

"Yes," he chuckled, moving away. Suddenly his breath caught and his hand went to his chest, his eyes flickering to red for a moment as he hissed out curse under his breath. "You're not strong enough, stop trying."

He hissed softly and staggering back, his eyes flashing once more before straightening up again, shaking himself off and turning to glare at Ryoga. He pulled him off the couch, shoving him down against the kitchen counter, attaching something to the cuffs as his eyes flashed again. He gripped the counter hard and took a few deep breaths, Ryoga staring up at him. What the hell had he gotten himself into now?

And then his eyes stayed red. 32 dropped to his knees, panting softly as he struggled to get up to his feet once more. He was wobbly and clumsy, reminding Ryoga more of a new born lamb than a murderer. He staggered slightly and Ryoga watched as he fumbled with the counter, taking cautious steps.

"Hey, hey!" Ryoga cried. "Don't step on me." 32 stiffened and crouched, slowly reaching out, his hand falling on his hair. "What's going on?"

"Who are you?" he murmured, moving his hand over his face. "What's your name?"

"We've been here, you bastard!" he snarled. "Ryoga. My name is Ryoga! And the sister you killed was Rio!"

"Killed…" He frowned slightly and stood again, taking careful steps back towards the couch and sprawling out on, pulling a blanket from the side and curling up. "I'm sorry. I suppose he hasn't explained."

"He?" Ryoga said quietly. "Oi, explain this to me. What's going on?"

"My name is IV," he murmured. "I'm an Arclight. An original Arclight. The thing inside me, the thing that I guess killed your sister, it's called Shark Drake." He pulled down his sleeve and showed off a tattoo. 32. "It controls me but it burns up my body and his energy so he has to rest. It’s the only time I get any control anymore."

Ryoga laughed and shook his head. "This is ridiculous. You can't-"

"I am serious," IV breathed. "How did he leave you?"

"Like you can't-"

"I can't," he said quietly. He let out a bitter laugh and closed his eyes. "I'm blind. There was a struggle when Shark Drake took my body. How I got this scar. I can't see. That's why you're here. He likes giving me a companion. After all, if I injure myself, it's his body injured too. No matter how many times I tell him I'm fine, he insists I need a companion. I'm sorry but he'll break you and tame you and you'll be looking after me."

"And if I refuse?"

"You said he killed your sister."

Ryoga scowled and fell silent, lowering his head and leaning back against the counter. How had he ended up in this mess? This was ridiculous. But he'd seen IV's eyes change. He didn't seem to be faking the blindness as far as Ryoga could tell. This was insane. He'd been abducted off the street by a person claiming to be an Arclight- the monster who had killed his sister- with some kind of split personality or possessed or something. And there was nothing he could do but sit there against the counter and try to remain calm and wait for an opportunity to escape and have his revenge for Rio.

"Don't I even get to sleep on a bed?"