Kindness *

Gaius was awoken by the sound of a fire crackling close by his ear.  It was such a nice sound.  He didn’t think anything at all. He just lay there and listened to it. He had an affinity with fire. To him it never burned. It was warm and it always healed.  Healing, he needed healing. It was starting to come back to him. He groaned.

To look at his body, if you had a soul, you would be violently ill.  His body was battered and even broken in some spots. Most of the areas were easily hidden by clothes.  Except for his black eye.  He could hide that with his hair. His eye was swollen shut. Dried blood was crusted on it.  Below that were the markings on his neck. That was usually covered by a scarf or high collared shirt.  There were two different ones. The first had been self inflicted, a line going from one side of his neck to another where he’d slit his own throat. The scar was fresh, the skin still pink and new.  The other marks were bruises where someone had tried to strangle him.  There were more, of course. Broken ribs, bruises in all the usual places.  Torture from someone that claimed to love him.

He’d laugh but it would hurt far too much. Which was when he noticed he didn’t hurt at all. He felt oddly numb. That shouldn’t be. His body should be aching. He should feel like he was on fire in a very bad way.  He opened the one eye that he could.  The room was dim, lit mostly by the burning fire. He found that he appreciated that a lot give how sensitive his good eye was now. Movement out of the corner of his eye startled him and he jumped before he could stop himself, flinching immediately after.

“I am not going to hurt you,” a familiar voice said.

“Master Lucian?” Gaius asked, turning his head so that he could be sure. It was him. He was boss was not too far away.  “What time is it?”

“Near three in the morning,” Lucian replied. For humans that would be a ridiculous time to be awake but for nocturnal fiends it was quite all right.

“Oh, I have so much to be doing,” Gaius said, realizing he was running behind by a lot. He tried to sit up only to be pushed back down.

“You have nothing to be doing right now,” Lucian disagreed.  He had a bowl of hot water and a washcloth.  He started to use it to clean up Gaius’s wounds.

“You do not have to do this, Sir. I am quite capable,” Gaius protested weakly.

“You are no such thing,” Lucian disagreed. “You will allow me to do this.” An order. Gaius could not fight it even if he had the strength left to do so. So he quieted and let Lucian continue to care for him.  Once his eye was cleaned, Lucian applied something that was cold to the touch and smelled of herbs. Then he moved down to his neck. His ribs were bandaged neck. Lucian helped him to sit up for that one. Quietly and carefully, Lucian took care of every wound.

“Was this in retaliation for your neck?” Lucian asked, referring to how Gaius had slit his own throat in a desperate attempt to escape Yveltal.

“I cannot recall…” Giaus admitted. “I can’t remember much. My head fuzzy. And I can’t feel anything…”

“That’s likely from the drugs,” Lucian said. “I gave you pain killers while you were unconscious.”

Gaius didn’t answer. He stared past Lucian to the crackling fire. “You should have just left me dead.”

“That is not how your story is meant to end,” Lucian replied.

Gaius’s face crumpled, tears leaking from his one good eye. “He’s never going to let me go.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. I can see it in his eyes. I’ll never be free of him.”

“We’ll see about that,” Lucian said. “Until then I will find somewhere safe for you to go. Now rest.”

Nox had an appointment with Lucian, one booked in earlier in the week. It was only to give the man an update on all the things that had happened with his daughter this week. Not much had happened this time, only one attack had been made. It had obviously failed. He always collected the soul's to give over at this meeting.

"Your assistant wasn't at his desk so I assume..." Nox started as he walked into Lucian's office, he paused as he looked at his half-brother on the floor, badly beaten and bloody. It may have been easily hidden to others, but he smelled the blood, he could see the bandages. "My apologies..."

Both men looked towards the door when Nox entered. Gaius looked at his estranged brother in surprise. Then he looked down and away from them. They were not close but he still did not wish to be seen like that.

Lucian stood up, wiping the blood off of his hands. "We can talk in the next room," he said and gestured towards another door. He made no comment on what Nox had walked in on.

Nox followed silently. He didn't comment or make any jokes or anything to that affect. To see someone like that was harsh, in any degree. Let alone family. Even if he wasnt wanted in that family.

"So before I give you my report, I've decided what I want as my prize." He said suddenly, it was a very snap decision.

"Have you?" Lucian asked in surprise. He had thought that Nox was letting that go as he didn't want a thing for himself. He was very humble.

"Yeah," Nox said and awkwardly put his hand in his hair and then sighed. "I'm sorry. I know I said I didn't want anything for me and that was true, you know? I just..."

He paused and then looked back at the room they'd just left. "even though that family abandoned me long ago, I can't see him like that. I want you to save him."

Lucian thought on that. "You don't know what you're asking there, Nox. Saving him will be near impossible. You may be wasting your favor from me."

"It's not a waste. Find a way. You have contacts, people. I know you can do it. He doesn't deserve that. He doesn't." Nox said, shaking his head. He was such a quiet person, who never stuck his nose in people's business. But this... He couldn't ignore it. "Please," he pleaded.

"As you wish then," Lucian said. "Do you want updates on this?" Nox didn't ever call his brother by name. Your assistant. They were not close and he knew it

"I do." Nox said, because he wanted to know it had worked, at least. "It's not his fault you know..." He said, as if talking to himself more than Lucian. "That she didn't want me."

Then why do you not speak with him?" Lucian asked. He did not always get involved in personal matters of his people but he would if he found it necessary. Gaius needed support as much as he needed help.

"Because if he had felt badly for what was done to me, he would have approached first." Nox said, with a small shrug. But obviously he wasn't wanted in Gaius' life any more than the guys mother had wanted of him. "Anyway, very little happened this week. The night of the attack had been peaceful until an aridos popped in, but I dispatched it." He put a box in Lucian's hands. "Few small minor fiends attacked, I feel like they're leading to something bigger. Each of their souls are in there. Perhaps this time you could investigate before killing them now you have a clearer head?"

"A wise idea," Lucian said and took the box. He did not open it. Nox might have changed the subject of conversation but he was not sure if he should be done with it yet or not. "Nox, I do not know if you ever entertained the idea of having any sort of relationship with your brother or not. It is not my place to interfere in your personal life. But do know that Gaius committed suicide successfully a few days ago. If you ever thought of having him in your life, consider this your second chance." He held up the box full of souls. "I will let you know my findings here and keep you abreast of the outcome of your favor."

"You what?" Nox asked, looking at Lucian like he was a fucking mad man, his temper flaring. It really didn't happen often really. He was too withdrawn for that, but that...that took the piss in his eyes. "You can have whatever nepotism you like for him, seriously. I don't care, but as far as I'm concerned, if he wants me in his life he would have made the effort when he realised I worked here. I was thrown out by them, I was cast aside like I was nothing but trash. By them. It wasn't me who walked away, it was me who burned the fucking bridge, that I've just asked you to do what you can for him, to get him out of this relationship is the most I am willing to do. He's not the only victim of abuse at this party, Sir. I'm really sorry that he's going through this, I am and I hate that he's like this, that he tried to kill himself, but that isn't on me. It's not my fault and I'm not going to just let people shit on me because they're suddenly depressed now." He said and then turned on his heel and stormed out of the office. How dare Lucian use someone's sob story as an excuse as to why he didn't have to make the effort, it made Nox so mad.

Lucian really hadn't been going for that at all. He'd meant to inform, not guilt or lay blame. He often remained neutral but in this case he had felt the need to at least let the boy know. Perhaps he shouldn't have after all. Oh well. He would not fox their relationship for them. But he waited until Nox was gone from the room truly before he summoned someone he really didn't want to. Zekrom.

His assistant remained zoning out in front of the fire. He jumped when the door was slammed but did not turn. It had to have been his brother. He couldn't talk to him before and he wouldn't now. The shame was too strong.

Taeyang was a little bit...well, dubious at the summoning, but he went anyway. "Lucian! Bro! What's happening?" He said as he appeared in the room he was summoned too. He looked at the box. He was tempted to look in it, but right now he was on his best behaviour. He hoped that he wasn't in a lot of trouble. "So uh, about last time we saw each other. I'm really sorry that you felt I went too far...you know, I only prank you because I like you," he said and slapped the guys arm in that way that men had.

Nox almost left the room entirely, without saying a word to Gaius. But then he stopped came back and put a hand on his arm. "I'm really sorry your life turned out this way. But I tried to make it better, I just hope it works." He said and squeezed his arm before heading back to the door. "It's going to be okay now, I think...You're going to be okay." He said and then left entirely before Gaius could even respond.

Lucian took the slap on the arm but showed no sign of affection or comradary in return. "Yes, well. You have an annoying way of showing your favor," he replied. He put the box on a shelf away from the two of them. He didn't want it interfered with and he knew the temptation was there. "In any case, I accept your apology. But I did not summon you to speak on personal matters. I have need of you."

Gaius was shocked to feel his brothers touch and hear his voice. Shocked so that his own voice did not work until it was too late. "Nox," he said, turning his head though his neck pained him terribly. Too late. His brother had gone. Guilt mixed with the shame that he was already feeling. He started to cry.

"Oh you do?" Taeyang said, he was curious now. It wasn't often that Lucian needed him. No, it didn't work that way. He never asked for help, not once. It was always Jiyong he went too. "Why me?" He inquired. Oooh. He bounced a little in a hyper fashion. "Oooh! Brother. You're going to owe me. I feel it. It's something big isn't it? No! Something HUGE! Oh my god, tell me I can't wait."

"I will owe you 'huge' as you say," Lucian said and looked quite pained to admit that. "But I have no other recourse. You are the only one who can undertake what I am to ask of you. Still, it is quite dangerous and you would be in good reason to tell me no." He was quiet then for a moment as he thought about how to approach the matter. "Before I tell you what I need, I should like to show you why I need it, so that you might not immediately turn me down." He gestured to the other room where Gaius sat in front of the fire.

"Well, what are brothers for if not favours?" Taeyang said, he looked way too pleased with himself. Because he was the only one who could handle such a situation. "I won't turn you down," he said before moving over to the door, he looked back at Lucian, "am I meant to go in?"

"Yes, and you might when you learn what I need of you," Lucian disagreed. "Please." He gestured towards the door again. Taeyang was so hyper. He didn't seem to ever take anything with any amount of seriousness. Fine enough personality to have but with this situation, Lucian wanted him grounded. He wanted him to understand what was at risk and that joking around would simply not do here.

Taeyang nodded, he got that his hyper might be too much at the moment. He was just so fucking excited that Lucian was asking him for help. Which wasn't something he'd ever done before. He went into the room and all he saw was a boy by the fire. He didn't see why his brother cared for him, not really. He was just a normal boy, he could see his wounds but he didn't know where they came from. He went over and knelt beside him. "My name is Zekrom, but everyone calls me Tae now. My brother says you're the reason he needs help, Who hurt you?"

Gaius glanced over at the man named Taeyang. Zekrom. He was slow to process where he knew it. He'd never met him. The name was familiar though. And it finally came to him. Jiyong's brother. The annoying one that Lucian had a particular dislike for. He knew who he was then. He'd had to handle the messes from his pranks. He couldn't imagine why Lucian had called upon him for help. "My boyfriend," he said quietly.

Lucian said nothing. The vulpix meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. His father had even told him that he would not interfere nor was Lucian allowed to. That was how insignificant the boy was. But this was his assistant and his brother wished him saved. He would not deny the favor.

"And who is your boyfriend?" Taeyang asked, he wasn't being hyper or silly now. He was being serious and reserved. He was always kind, even if he was silly and hyper. So he was kind now. "Someone too strong for you to defend yourself from? Someone too strong for even Lucian to deal with?"

Gaius didn't answer at first. He only nodded. But as Lucian was clearly not going to speak for him or explain the situation, he had no choice but to tell Tae who it was. "His name is Yveltal," he replied quietly. He wasn't aware if Tae would know who that was. Maybe he would. He couldn't tell for sure.