Trio Maxwell-Chang (trio) wrote in worldsapart, @ 2007-08-29 01:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | .50episodes, .logs, .writing challenge, dáire kerr, jordan casca, tobias kendall, vincent donnelly |
An Echoed Torment
Title: An Echoed Torment
Author: oneforsorrow and trio
Fandom: Worlds Apart (Original - worldsapart)
Pairing: Dáire/Tobias, Vincent, Jordan
Prompt: 019. Family
Word Count: 1304
Disclaimer: Worlds Apart, Dáire, Tobias, Vincent, and Jordan belong to the authors.
Rating: R
Warnings and Notes: references to and hints of sexual activity
"Hey Tobi?" Dáire said, a couple of mornings later as he sat at the kitchen table, reading the paper and sipping coffee. "When do you go back to work?" He was still sleep-mussed, hair standing out in disarray and bare but for the sweatpants he wore in the early mornings, before his showers.
Tobi didn't even lift his head up from the table, his hair in a messy braid. He was in a long t-shirt, and was slowly getting used to not having his bra on underneath of it, leaving him flat-chested. "T'morrow," he mumbled sleepily. "Boss gave me a few days off t' get better."
"You sound like you're getting worse," Dáire looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you need to sleep some more today? I keep you up too late?"
"No, I'll be okay," Tobi decided after a moment, then yawned and sat up a bit. "It's just a bit of burn-up. I get really tired after a bad fight like that."
At the mention of the fight, Dáire looked away again, using his coffee as an excuse to remain silent for a few minutes before finally offering, "I could hold you...?"
Tobi smiled softly. "You know I'll take any excuse to curl up on you," he pointed out. "I'm greedy when it comes to you."
Dáire smiled faintly at that, beckoning him over. "I may have a few leads on some good spells for what we're up against," he said, even as he shifted his chair back to make room for his smaller lover.
"Yeah?" Tobi crawled onto Dáire's lap, pressing close against his lover eagerly. "What'd you find out?"
"A few older spells that have been noted to penetrate blood magic," Dáire said, sliding one hand up under Tobi's shirt under the pretense of shifting the boy to a more comfortable position. Once shifted, he let his hand linger, fingertips stroking over the lace Tobi wore under the shirt.
Tobi purred softly at the touch, hungry as always for the feel of Dair's skin against his, even when they weren't in the middle of sex. "Good. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you with research, okay? I wonder if Vincent's come up with anything..."
"Why don't you check with him?" Dáire suggested quietly. "Now that you're connected and all."
Curling up closer against Dáire, Tobi closed his eyes and 'knocked' gently at Vincent's mind, trying to gain his attention.
Dáire gathered Tobi against his chest, leaning back even as he finished his coffee. It felt good, holding the rumpled boy and knowing that there was nothing but his own research to keep them from spending the day stretched out together. He was looking forward to the days after all this mess, when they could just curl up and be together.
Yes, came the distracted response from Vincent, sounding tired and worn. The word was overlaid with discomfort. Talking mentally still came hard for the mage.
Just checking in, Tobi said. Dáire thinks he may have found something that can help -- some old spells that penetrate blood magic. Do you have anything so far?
Not much, came the bleary response, and Vincent shifted, stretching and rolling to his back on the floor, books spread all around him and at least one under him when he moved. But we're finding some decent defensive magics against blood magic.
Tobi winced sympathetically. You seem exhausted. Get some rest, yeah? I'll tell Dáire that you've found some defensive magics.
Almost done with this book, Vincent countered. Then I'll get some coffee and start on the next. The sooner Aurèle's people get found, the safer everyone will be.
Well, rest before you guys make the attack, at least. You can't fight properly if you're falling down from exhaustion, Tobi pointed out, worriedly.
Don't worry so much, Vincent said, trying hard to pour warmth into the answer. I'll be smart.
Tobi started giggling at that, giving Vincent the mental equivalent of a hug. You don't have to project so hard. I can feel you. I'll leave you to it, okay?
Vincent blinked at that, dropping the book for a long minute to just stare up at the ceiling in bemusement at the hug as their connection faded.
As Tobi pulled back from the connection from Vincent, he felt a spike of pain and agony, one so strong that he went rigid with an echo of the pain, nearly falling out of Dáire's lap. JORDAN!
What? What?! Jordan sent back, instantly on the alert.
It's Akuchi, he's in trouble, he's hurting, get to him now! Tobi sent Jordan the location where he'd felt that spike, and felt Jordan take off. At the sudden lack of contact from Jordan, Tobi was left shaking violently, his teeth chattering as a panic attack nailed him.
All Dáire knew was that Tobi stiffened, then began shaking violently, looking terrified and unable to speak. And not knowing what else to do, Dáire let the last of his coffee tumble to the floor, the brown liquid splashing out over linoleum and the mug shattering as he rose, Tobi's body gathered close and hauled him to the bedroom, where he could lay him down in the bed and not risk losing hold of him. "Tobi!" he all-but-yelled in Tobi's face, trying to get the empath's attention. "Tobi, c'mon!"
"Akuchi," Tobi stammered, clinging to Dáire as best he could as he shook on the bed. "It's Akuchi. He's hurting. He's so scared, he needs help, sent Jordan after him, he's so scared -- !" He couldn't stop shaking, and he was starting to hyperventilate, his breath coming far too fast and shallow.
Dáire stared for a long moment, torn between Tobi and Akuchi before finally tensing and dragging Tobi against him. "Stay with me," he said tightly. "Stay here."
Tobi hid his face against Dáire's chest, trying desperately to block out Akuchi's terror now that he'd stumbled across it. "Not going anywhere," he said quickly. He didn't think he could get up at that point even if he tried.
"That isn't what I meant," Dáire countered, trying and failing to tamp down his own fear.
"Just hold me," Tobi begged. Struggling with words, he instead presented Dáire with the mental image of a paper bag, one he could use to breathe into and calm down with.
"Plastic?" Dáire asked softly, knowing he had no paper bags and afraid to let go of Tobi to get something that wouldn't work.
Tobi shook his head quickly. Plastic wouldn't help at all, it had to be paper. But there was his emergency stash... "Bathroom, pill bottle," he gasped out. One valium, that was all he needed --
Dáire nodded, hesitating a moment before pressing a quick kiss to Tobi's forehead and launching himself from the bed to the bathroom. He grabbed water, then opened the mirror, digging through and sending his razor blades and dental floss scattered across the bathroom floor as he found the bottle and carried both to the bedroom. "Here," he said, kneeling on the bed beside his lover.
"No water," Tobi managed, and reached for the bottle with shaking hands. Popping the top off, he pulled out one tiny pill and shoved it under his tongue, then shoved the bottle aside and pressed close to Dáire. As the pill dissolved under his tongue, he immediately started to relax, the horrible shaking easing away slowly.
Dáire watched, anxious and helpless and more scared than he'd been in a long, long time.
As the valium dampened down his empathy and his body's responses, Tobi sank against Dáire, feeling heavy and slow. "...Hate my empathy sometimes," he slurred.
"Just rest," Dáire said quietly, not sure what else to say. "You're safe, and Akuchi will be fine." He had to believe that. The alternative...