for Dorian (makingmyway)

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Dark Orym AU




[The world has changed significantly in the months since the Apogee Solstice. The ceremony, the plans of Ludinus Da'leth had not gone exactly as expected. But they had, in the end, been successful enough. Predathos itself had not been fully released, not physically, but the very essence of it had been called down from Ruidus, broken out of its chains and left with only one choice of where to go.

Orym had been in the wrong place at the wrong time -- or perhaps the right -- an attempt at dislodging the obsidian-like orb that had been the Raven Queen's Champion, the Tempest's Lover. The machine had fired anyway, and for the halfling who had been caught straight in that beam, everything was pain and red.

When he woke, he hadn't been himself. Not entirely. He remembered everything, knew who he was, but he was something more now, something that hungered for so much more than Orym had ever desired. His own desires remained, though they'd been turned to near desperate obsessions. He would not lose anyone else that he loved in this absurd struggle; he would not allow it. It was that reflexive need brought on the bright and blinding flash of light that sent Bell's Hells and their allies scattering to the winds, teleported far enough away to be safe in a very broad sense of the word.

As the lights faded and the smoke cleared, as Ludinus and the rest realized what had happened, Orym had felt this new power course through him. And soon everyone came to know it. He'd killed Da'leth and Thull with little more than a glance. A swift death was more than they deserved for what they had been responsible for, what they'd done to Will and Derrig, what they'd tried to do to Laudna. From there, well, Paragon's Call and the Ruby Vanguard answered to him now. Orym, formerly of the Air Ashari, now of the Red Moon. Soon the world would answer to him, and this ridiculous play of gods and monsters would be over.

At his command, his forces have been trying to locate and bring back the rest of his friends. If he can keep them close, he can keep them safe. By now though, he knows that his friends have banded together to fight him. It stings, of course it stings, but he knows that they just don't understand. It doesn't change that he cares for them, and his people have been given strict instructions that while Bell's Hells and the Crown Keepers are to be fended off, they are not be irreparably harmed. They are dear and precious to Orym, and his anger while still quiet and subdued is lethal these days.

He misses his friends. Most nights he holds the sending stone and calls out to Dorian, just wanting to hear his voice, to know that he is safe. But there never seems to be an answer. It doesn't stop him, and most nights the words are simple. 'I hope you're okay, Dorian. I just want to hear your voice again. I miss it. I miss you.'

Today the skirmish that has broken out has been a violent one. Sometime during the fighting, Dorian seems to have been separated off, and the bard has taken a significant amount of damage. Maybe that's what has brought Orym actually out to the battlefield. He so seldom joins the fight these days, but this.

This requires his presence.

Dorian is here. Of everyone that he's wanted to see, the Air Genasi is the one who has had his heart aching the most, the feelings that he'd done so much to try to hide for Dorian's sake, no longer feeling that need to be hidden. Who else could protect him better than Orym? No one. He can give Dorian the world if he wants it, anything.

So when Orym slips in on the edges of the fray, when he sees one of his mages level a spell that sends Dorian sprawling to the ground, the halfling's voice rings out, stern and unyielding.]

Enough.

[He punctuates the words with a gesture towards the Paragon's Call member who had made the attack. A crimson hand appears and wraps itself around their throat, squeezing the life out of the solider slowly.]

You will not hurt him.

Comments

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[The base was empty. Very very empty, except for one... well. Person wasn't really the word, was it? Not anymore.

What shreds of Orym still existed had been subsumed, for the moment at least, when he realized that Dorian was gone. No, that wasn't right. Dorian had been taken away from him by people who were supposed to be his friends.

Dorian had left.

The bard would find himself aware, bit by bit, of a shadow following him in the darkness. And then a voice, still Orym's voice, but strange somehow. Wrong. And seemingly coming from all directions, or perhaps speaking directly into Dorian's mind.]

Dorian... you came back?

[makingmyway]

[ The longer he wandered the empty corridors, the tighter the coil of anxiety in his stomach twisted. He was about to call out for someone, anyone, when he feels the presence behind him, and hears the voice echoed in his mind. He freezes mid-step, his heart sinking a little when he hears the strangeness in the otherwise familiar voice. ]

O-Of course I came back, Orym. I told you, didn’t I? I’m not leaving you.

[ And he means that. No matter what happens, he isn’t leaving Orym alone in this. ]

Where are you, Orym?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

But you did leave...

[Orym sighs, and is that a trembling in his voice? Surely not.

The shadows in front of Dorian coalesce into something darker, utterly lightless, tinged red, and then Orym steps out from the darkest part.]

You left me. You left me all alone with him.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian’s breath catches in his throat as Orym seems to materialize from the shadows, and hesitantly he steps forward, slowly approaching the halfling. ]

I’m… I’m sorry, Orym. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know they would try to rescue me. But I came back as soon as I could.

I won’t go anywhere again, I promise.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym laughs, but there's no humor in it, no lightness or joy. It is an empty echo, and he moves closer to Dorian.]

I'm afraid it might be too late. He was alone and despairing, and he's been trying so... so hard to hold on. For you. He lost his grip, nothing left to hold onto.

[A sigh as he moved closer and rose up slowly, levitating as if it were completely normal.]

I'm not even sure he can hear you anymore. Sad little light flickering out. Will you mourn him?

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian’s eyes widen, his breath catching in his throat.

Then he isn’t talking to Orym. He’s talking to… ]

…please, let him go. There… There has to be something I can do to save him. Don’t… Don’t take him away from me.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

No?

[His eyes glow a dull, rusty red, so different than the clear green that they ought to be. He watches Dorian through the halfling's face.]

What would you give to keep him with you? What price would you pay?

[makingmyway]

Anything.

[ The answer is immediate, the edge in his tone from the force of his sincerity. ]

If I can save him, I’ll do anything.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Mm...

[The thing that had been Orym, the thing that was almost entirely Predathos now, reached the halfling's hand out to brush the back of his knuckles along Dorian's cheek.]

Will you give yourself to me? All of you?

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian stiffens slightly at the touch, one that would normally have his heart racing when it was Orym, but knowing who it was now made something twist uncomfortably in his chest.

Especially with what Predathos was asking him. He doesn’t think the god eater was asking for his heart, or even his loyalty. So then… ]

…if you promise that you’ll leave a piece of Orym untouched, free from your influence… then yes. [ He holds his hands out at his sides, leaving himself open. Vulnerable. ] Whatever you want of me… it’s yours.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

I want you. You'll be my consort, a pretty thing by my side. In my bed. I will use your body when and how I wish. And I will draw enough energy from you to allow Orym to continue his existence.

[A tilt of his head, his touch lingering against Dorian's cheek, watching him with that cold, red gaze.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian draws a shaky breath. That had been his assumption, but to be put so bluntly like that…

He doesn’t move away from the touch, keeping still despite the cold fire that almost seems to pierce through him. ]

…Will I be able to… to talk to him sometimes? Have some time with him, just the two of us?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Yes, pet. I will grant you that, if you are good for me.

[Predathos purrs the words, pleased.

In the next moment those red eyes lose their glow, clearing to familiar green. Orym's eyes widen at seeing the bard in front of him.]

Dorian? You're... you have to get out of here. It isn't safe. Please.

[makingmyway]

[ Seeing the change, hearing Orym back to himself, Dorian covers the hand at his face, pressing it to his cheek. ]

No… I won’t just leave you, Orym.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

You have to. You have to go.

[The halfling sounds a little desperate, tears welling in his eyes.]

I love you, Dorian. I can't...

[makingmyway]

Shhh… [ Dorian shushes him gently, then presses a sweet, tender kiss to his lips, holding there for a moment before drawing back just enough to rest his forehead against Orym’s. ]

I love you too. That’s why I need you to trust me, all right? We’ll be okay, I promise. [ Opening his eyes, he manages a small smile. ] I’ll take care of everything. Just be strong for me, okay?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[The kiss is what has the tears flowing over, running down his cheeks. But he leans into that kiss, melting against those lips.]

I trust you. I trust you more than anyone, but I don't want you hurt. I...

[He falls silent, eyes shutting. When he opens them again it's clear that Orym has been pulled back down into the depths.]

See? Safe and sound, so long as you do your part.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian reaches up to brush the tears away with his thumbs. ] I’ll be all right, Orym.

[ He wants to say more, but he’s watching the other man closely, and he immediately sees the change. He doesn’t move away though, taking a breath to try to calm himself. ]

You have my word. Whatever you want from me, it’s yours to have.

[ Then he pauses for a moment as a thought comes to him. ]

And he won’t… see what happens? He won’t know about… this?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Oh? Are you being shy, pet?

[That's adorable is what it is. His eyes are fixed on Dorian's face.]

No, I can keep him in the dark if that's what you prefer. For now.

[He lets that last bit linger.]

You're wearing too much. Strip.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian feels his heart sink a bit at the veiled threat. More than anything, he’s worried about Orym finding out, because he’s scared Orym will never look at him the same way again if he knows what happened. Whether because Orym would never forgive himself or if…

Either way, he doesn’t know what he would do if Orym acted differently around him because of this. The only way he could make it through is knowing he still had him, could still be with him.

But there’s no time to think about that for now, as the creature in Orym’s body gives the order. He can’t help flushing a bit at it, but he obeys all the same and begins to unbutton his shirt. ]

…I have to say, I am a bit surprised that this is what you’re asking for. I didn’t realize a god-eater would be interested in… connecting with a mortal.

[ Was he stalling? Maybe just a bit. But he can’t help being curious too. Predathos had said something about drawing energy from him, but is this really how he’s going to do it? ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Maybe I've been won over by your beauty.

[And some part of it is very much that Predathos is not immune to his current vessel's heart. Orym loves Dorian, and it's hard to escape that entirely, even for the god-eater. But there is a very practical piece of this as well.]

You'll be a source of energy for me as well. And I intend to enjoy it.

[He floats backwards a bit so he can have a better vantage point.] Stop stalling.

[makingmyway]

[ His cheeks flush a darker violet, but he does consider the words. So Predathos can take energy from this as well? Was that a result of sharing a body with Orym?

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he shrugs out of his shirt and drapes it over his arm, intending to put it away later. Then he undoes the ties of his pants and slowly lowers them down his legs, stepping out of them and his boots, standing naked before the god-eater completely naked. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Not-Orym hums to himself, taking a long moment of taking Dorian in, the sight of him. The hunger in him is carnal as well as that need for energy.]

My good little whore, so ready to sell yourself for what you want.

[He lifts his chin.]

Touch yourself for me.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian bristles a bit at the words, but bites his tongue, knowing he has to play nice. If he steps out of line, it could spell disaster for Orym.

Still, the command has his heart thumping in his chest, and swallowing the lump in his throat he nods, and his fingers slowly wrap around his cock. He shudders, and the soft length quickly begins to harden as he strokes himself, feeling the heat of the other man(?)’s gaze on him. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Those dully glowing red eyes were laser focused on the genasi, like a predator watching their prey. Which really, close enough.]

Good boy... that's it...

[He lingers, hovering a few feet away from Dorian.]

What are you thinking of right now, pet?