“Hello Chosen.” The voice was familiar, but the silky tone was not. Zelos was more accustomed to an abrasive approach, a certain roughness in both voice and treatment. He didn’t turn to face the speaker, merely acknowledging him by name.
“Yuan.” There was no cordiality in the pseudo-greeting, only suspicion. He could see no reason for the renegade to appear in his quarters this late. Behind him, Yuan had moved uncomfortably close.
“You’re a liability, you know that?” Yuan commented. “Unpredictable and often stupid.” Zelos prickled at the insult, but remained silent. “It’s past time I did something about it.” Zelos’ hand moved for his sword, but Yuan’s was already there, keeping him from drawing it. “I suppose sometimes you are predictable,” Yuan commented. He flipped the catch that secured the scabbard to Zelos’ belt, removing the sword deftly from the Chosen’s grip and tossing it across the room. Zelos finally turned to face him, scowling.
“What do you want?” he demanded. Even if he had been able to draw the sword, Yuan was more than a match in both magic and swordsmanship, but he wouldn’t have gone down with out a fight. He still didn’t intend to, even if he had to go for it unarmed.
“I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse,” Yuan said smugly. Zelos rolled his eyes at the terrible cliche. “And give myself some...insurance. I have no need of an agent who might turn his back on me so easily.” Zelos snorted, knowing Yuan wasn’t exactly who he said he was either. “Hold still. This will only take a moment.”Â
“Screw you.” Zelos twisted out of Yuan’s grip, but not for long. The older man slammed him forcefully against the wall. He didn’t have much of a weight advantage, but he used what little he had well.
“I said be still Chosen,” Yuan warned, one arm pinning Zelos by the throat as a slight crackle of electricity formed at the fingertips of his other hand. “This will only hurt if you struggle.” Despite his words, he clearly had no intention of letting Zelos put up more of a fight, as he released a shock of electricity through the younger male, temporarily paralyzing him. He caught Zelos as the Chosen’s knees gave way, laughing at the dark glower in Zelos’ eyes.
“This will only take a moment,” Yuan repeated. He brushed aside the hair on Zelos’ shoulder, leaning down and pressing his lips to the exposed collarbone. Zelos flinched as a second, localized shock stung the spot, but Yuan was already pulling away, looking extremely satisfied. “Pity I have to kiss you to seal the deal,” he commented dryly. He released Zelos, who slid down the wall without Yuan’s support.
“What the hell?” Zelos demanded. The spot still burned, as if Yuan had pressed a brand to his skin instead of a kiss.
“I’ve tied your life energy to my own. If you had any intentions of betraying me, you can get them out of your silly little head. I die, you die, are we clear?” He didn’t wait for an answer, sweeping from the room before Zelos could regain full use of his limbs. “Have a good night Chosen.”Â
The street was shrouded in darkness, the single lamplight an island of illumination. It was later than anyone ought to be out, but a figure skirted the lamplight anyway, clearly not keen on being spotted. Before they made it further than a few paces however, a voice rang out from the alleyway behind them.
“So. Your life to mine, hm? I’m sure you think you’re very clever.” The figure froze, turning toward the speaker. The lamplight was too far away to make out details, but the voice was familiar.
“Zelos.” It wasn’t a question, or a greeting, merely a statement.Â
“You made one miscalculation though,” Zelos said. The figure didn’t reply. “You overestimated the value I place on my own life.” There was no time for the other man to even process the words before a cold blade bit into his skin, sliding smoothly between his ribs. “Goodnight Yuan. It was fun, hm?”
An explosion ripped through the street.
Elsewhere, Yuan coughed wetly and found blood on his hand when he pulled it away from his mouth. “...that idiot.”
Dawn came, and three less people came to the town meeting.
