Strenght 10 : Trauma and a stubborn ass
No real comments from me just enjoy and review please.
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Ban's eyes burned with wrath, then just as suddenly the wrath died. Unnamed emotions flooded the sapphire eyes.
The fear, the shame, the horror, the helplessness, the hate and the unfathomable self disgust; that had almost crushed a 4-year old; that in the name of survival had been ruthlessly suppressed by a will of steel, burst form their confinement and flooded the Jagan Master. Ban clenched his fists, raised his head and roared. The scream that tore from the depths of his being conveyed a level of self condemnation that was chilling.
Ginji was moving even before the scream died, Ban's eyes went blank, his eyes rolled back. The emotional trauma and effort to dispel the blood magic from the area and seal the Honky Tonk, has been equivalent to towing an ocean liner with a row boat., Ban was literally drained of the energy it took to stay conscious. Even as he fell, he struggled to stay consciousness, then he was engulfed in warmth, in safety, and Ban let go, and sank into unconsciousness. It was alright, he was safe.
Ginji caught Ban close to him, his tears spilling again. Its was not fair!!! Why? Why? Did his Ban-chan have to suffer so. That lady had dared - she would pay- and Ban-chan.. how dare Ban-chan let her get to him. Why couldn't his stubborn partner ask for help. Ginji held Ban tight and buried his head in Ban's now limp hair. Ginji would keep Ban safe, whether Ban liked it or not.
Akabane was beside the GetBackers, once again he and Ginji called a truce as the focus turned to Ban's safety. The not-so-good doctor checked Ban's pulse and breathing. “Its ok Ginji-kun, Ban-kun has lost consciousness, but his vitals are strong, he should be awake in a few minutes. However he is soaked in cold sweat, that is not good for him.” Akabane said rather professionally.
Ginji nodded, they expected Ginji to walk out with his partner, instead to their surprise, Ginji slid into a booth, and firmly tucked his sleeping partner on to his lap. “I have Ban-chan, you guys clean up please.” Ginji said cheerfully, as he slowly began unbuttoning the sweat soaked shirt.
“Err. Ginji what are you doing?” Paul asked, his eyebrow raised high over his glasses.
“Taking Ban-chan's shirt off, Akabane-san said it was bad for Ban-chan to wear a wet shirt.” Ginji said in a ridiculously reasonable voice.
Paul shook his head, deciding that some days it just did not pay to get out of bed.
In an amazingly short time, the blood witch henchmen were expelled from the Cafe, and given directions to Maria's place. They blood taint removed from them, they were zombie like, obedient and scared. They went off to Maria's without protest. None of the others transporters, retrievers and spies had any plans of leaving the Cafe, not until they saw the drama through anyway.
All of them tried their best but they couldn't help it, their eyes kept being drawn to the GetBackers. Ginji had easily removed Ban's shirt and singlet, both lay in a crumpled mess. He cuddled the dark haired retriever, stroking his bare back while waiting for him to awaken. Shido had approached to offer his vest, but on receiving irritated glance from Ginji, decided it was best to keep his distance.
“What is that idiot up to. Ban nii-chan is going kick his ass for removing his shirt and cuddling him like that.” Himiko grumbled with a disgusted look at the blond retriever.
“I have seen that look on Ginji before, but the intensity of the look was a hundred time less than it is now.” Kazuki said softly, while Shido nodded.
Akabane's appreciative eyes never left the unconscious brunette, “Care to explain Kazuki-kun.”
Kazuki winched he had not an iota of liking for the Jackal, and avoided speaking to him as much as possible. Recent events had put them together much more often then he preferred, but Kazuki was a professional as well, and could put his personal dislikes aside. “Ginji-san is very protective of what he considers his, the only time I have seen this look was when we were in the original Volts, at the beginning. A district under our control almost fell into the hands of a rival gang, who had taken people of the district as theirs. They hurt people, hurt children under out protection. The look on Ginji's face when he went after them was a much milder version to the look in his eyes now. It was the only time I believe, that when the Raitei tore a gang apart, Ginji actually seemed to approve - well not approve - but he did not protest too much. It truly seemed that he had little mercy for those who sought to take and hurt what he considered HIS. After that no gang dared try to lay claim on property claimed by the Volts. ”
“Ban is not property, Kazuki.” Paul snapped at the ex King.
“No Paul san, of course Ban-chan is not property.” Ginji answered instead of Kazuki.
“Then stop doing that to my brother when he is unconscious. Ban's been through enough Ginji, I wont let you embarrass him.” Himiko reached for devolution scent as she stared down the ex Emperor.
“I would never, never do anything to hurt Ban-chan. You don't understand Himiko, that woman she had Ban-chan's blood inside her. Did you not feel it? It was faint and old, but she must have been the leader of the kidnappers. That lady drank Ban-chan's blood and she drank a lot of it.” Ginji's voice sounded like that of the Raitei's in the last few words, such was the extent of his anger, as he remembered the scared and battered 4-year old, with desperate blue eyes.
“That woman” Ginji spat out the words, “She thinks she can own Ban-chan again, she is wrong.”
“Yes of course,” Paul said with a sigh of relief. “Ban belongs to Ban and no one else.”
“Yes Paul -san” Ginji's smile was gentle and smug. “Ban-chan is Ban-chan's, but you see Paul san as the GetBackers number 1, Ban-chan belongs to the GetBackers, and that means Ban-chan belongs to me.” Ginji conclude with dubious logic. The look on Ginji's face as he gazed at Ban though was beautiful, soft and loving. “You see Himiko, Ban-chan will probably try to do something stupid when he wakes up. He is going to blame himself and he just cannot ask for help.” Ginji smiled and rubbed his nose gently against Ban's. He looked at the group, his smile was placid, but the glint in his eyes booked no interference.
“So I am just going to remind Ban-chan that he did nothing wrong, that he was a child. And that Ban-chan belongs only to the GetBackers, to me. So please don't interfere.” Ginji whispered, he rested his head against Ban's and continuously stroked him.
Akabane sat back and smiled, “Hehehe, really there is never a dull moment around the GetBackers is there. Yes I am definitely going to enjoy the show.”
**
He was 4, he was small, he was cold and he was scared. He was locked in a basement, in a cage, the only light was what they brought. At first he had cried silent tears, he had hoped, he had prayed. For someone to come, some one to save, to take him away from the dark, the bone chilling cold and into the sunlight again. Then the pain began, they cut this throat, took his blood, and he had watched them drink it. He tried to fight, but they were bigger, they tied him up, hit him, cut him and hurt him.
And then she came. She had tried to make him think she was a friend, but even at 4, his instincts were screaming, he had not trusted her but he had not been able to hide that knowledge. She saw the awareness in the sapphire eyes. Since guile had failed to control the pure blood child, she feel back on cruder tools.
Horror, pain, intimidation and humiliation.
The others drank his blood from a cup. She took the most blood, and she took it from his neck. She had promised to stop the pain if he said it - that she deserved the blood, the power. The boy bit his lips, made them bleed and refused to say a word. And the pain grew.
His tears dried as no one came, his faith faded as the darkness around him absorbed into himself. He began to understand no one was coming, no one would save him, he was a devil's spawn - he did not deserve to be saved. He deserved nothing but the pain, the lady said he was dirty, that he deserved the abuse, to him this was nothing new. He knew it was true, his mother had told him he was evil, that he deserved to be punished and he believed her. In his heart he knew they were right, he was dirty, he was evil, he was a monster who was suited to the dark. The 4 year old knew, his hope died as he finally accepted the truth. No one was coming, no one was searching for him, no one wanted to get him back. No one would save him.
Then one day she took more then blood, she had touched him. Touched him in ways that made him sick, made him hate himself, she had claimed him as her toy, and he had not been able to stop her. He hated her, hated himself. She laughed in triumph as she left him, promising to return.
He lay in fetal position, unmoving. He was bleeding, silent tears burned in his eyes, but refused to fall. His eyes burned and burned, he lay silent, he was dying. He refused to die. He didn't move, the others came, they laughed. One freed his shackles, he did not move. The person turned him over, it was a middle aged woman, his burning eyes were wide open. They made contact with the woman's; he saw the hate and the desire she had to see him defeated and dead.
In that second he made the choice, he may be worthless, and dirty but he would NOT give them the satisfaction, HE would NOT BE DEFEATED, he would NOT DIE, he would fight, he would survive and he would NEVER, NEVER LOSE. The Jagan awakened it burned his eyes, burned his soul, it roared out of him and he visited the nightmares of hell on to his captors.
**
Sapphire eyes snapped open in the Honky Tonk. Ban awoke from his nightmare, his past. He choked back the bile in his throat, Ginji was touching him. Ginji! His sun, his warmth. Ban froze, he tried to pull back - Ginji shouldn't touch him, he was dirty, tainted.
Blue eyes met chocolate brown, and Ginji saw the scarred soul of the Jagan Master, he met the self loathing with love, and before Ban could say a word, Ginji's lips closed over his. Ginji's hands roamed around Ban's body, possessively, claiming every inch they touched. He sank his tongue deep into Ban's mouth, claiming and being claimed in return.
Slowly Ginji felt Ban beginning to relax. He reluctantly released Ban''s lips, looking deep into the most dangerous pairs of eyes on the planet Ginji said softly, “Its enough Ban-chan, you have been though enough. You are home now, here in my arms.” Ginji tilted Ban's neck to one side and pressed his lips to Ban's jugular. “We are the GetBackers, and we belong to each other, Ban-chan.” The audience watched entranced as Ginji sent a wave of current right into Ban's jugular, Ban arched in surprise and pleasure, his body shuddering. “You belong to me, Ban-chan and I will never, never let you got, we are never alone remember? She will not hurt you Ban-chan, I wont let her” Ginji said earnestly.
The sound of a god-all mighty smack broke the sensuality of the moment. Ginji looked up with Chibi tears, holding the bump on his head “Ouch!! Whatcha hit me for Ban-chan?”
“You,” Ban Miduo said his eyes glittered dangerously at his partner. “You will protect me? How arrogant. Ginji. And what the fuck did you do with my clothes?” Ban demanded.
“They were wet from sweat Ban-chan.” Ginji said quickly, he removed his vest and handed it to Ban. With out a word Ban slipped it on, his back to the audience, only Ginji saw the small smile that ghosted across the Jagan Masters face, and a soft glint in his eyes as his eyes met Ginji's. The audience did catch the slight pink that rose in Ginji's face and the satisfied smile that crossed the lighting emperors face assured them that the situation was under control.
“Now that we have settled your sex life, as amusing as it is, I am looking forward to a bloody fight. So pray tell how are we going to be fighting the blood witches.” The was a slight emphasis on Akabane's use of blood that had people shuddering.
Ban turned around, and even Akabane was taken aback, at the sight of large loose green vest on Ban, it made him look years younger.
Shido and Himiko burst out laughing, while the rest tried their best too control their mirth. “You look soooo cute. Onii-san.” Himiko choked out.
“Shut up,” Ban growled, he would have started ranting, if not for, Ginji suddenly draping himself around Ban's shoulders and whispering. “If you start a fight it will delay going back home.”
Ban hesitated, then he nodded curtly and said, answering Akabane's original question. “I am going to tear them apart.” Ban said his voice flat. “They.. they, SHE, she used my blood to make her group influential, powerful. God knows the things they have done using MY Blood. For that honor, I am going to show my gratitude by tearing their little cult apart and stomping it into itsy bitsy pieces.”
“First we have to find their base, I should be able to track that Witch now, give me two days, little cub.” Shido said, unable to resist teasing.
“And in that two days, Ban-kun would have gone.. He is ill-mannered enough to start the fight without us.” Akabane shot Ban a reproachful look.
“Whatca mean Akabane-san?” Ginji asked when Ban didn't answer, he just glared at the transporter.
“That woman has Ban-kuns blood inside her. Now that Ban-kun knows his prey do you really believe he could not track her with ease. Hihihi were you really considering leaving us behind, Ban-kun?” Akabane's eyes hardened and they glittered challengingly at Ban. “That would be a bloody mistake, and do keep in mind that you are not the only person who can track your blood.”
Every one stared at Ban, the stubborn assed mule really would have gone off alone.
“No way Ban” Shido said his voice determined, “We are going - all of us. Little cub, this is a war, is too big for any individual to do alone.”
“Who the fuck are you calling a cub, monkey tamer. I am NOT hiring you guys!! I AM NOT PAYING YOU A CENT!! So STAY HOME!!” Ban shouted, fumes rising from his ears.
Paul slapped the table, “Free coffee for a week for all those who help the GetBackers on the case.” He glared at Ban. “I'm hiring them, but free coffee is all you free loaders are worth.” Somehow no body believed Paul and the coffee was just a formality, the group would have quested for free.
“All right, that's perfect.” Ginji said with satisfaction, short circuiting anything Ban might have said. He tugged Ban out of the Cafe. “We leave in the morning. Don't be late” Ginji sang out as the 2 young men left the cafe arms firmly around each other,