Fate's Crucible

"Zankoku," Amir frowned slightly. "That was three hundred years ago." Yami didn't say anything, silently watching them, but her stance was tense and her talons were digging into her arms.It's just a phase, she thought to herself. "Father hasn't left the clan's territory in years. And you... have been gone from home for quite a while. The war's been over for centuries."

Zankoku coughed again, his head turning to the side as Yami watched. "Tell me this is a phase, Amir," she said softly. "Please."

He frowned slightly. "I would assume so. After being in that drawer for so many years, he's probably having to shift memories."

Their conversation was interrupted by a plaintive request. "...water?"

Yami turned to him immediately, touching his shoulder lightly. "Zankoku?" Amir nodded, glancing over at her and she nodded in return, retrieving a cool glass of water. She stuck a straw in it, then offered it to the prone male. He sucked the water down thirstily, his eyes finally beginning to drift open. She watched as he drank it down, one arm under her chest. His usually vibrant crimson eyes were dark and dull, almost black and she blinked, struck by how odd it was.

He looked up at her and she smiled slightly, pulling the glass away. "Hey," she said, white hair spilling over her shoulder. He gazed at her blankly, showing no sign of recognition at all. Her talons clutched her side, though she showed no outward agitation. This was what she had been dreading. He then shifted his eyes to Amir, and there was a notable reaction, the surprise plain.

"What...?"

Amir arched one eyebrow, wondering at his brother's reaction. "Yes?"

"What...happened?" Zankoku asked, honestly startled.

"That's a long story," Amir replied, his tone dry.

"You're...older," came the dazed observation.

"Mm-hm." Amir said, looking down at him. "I told you, it's been three hundred years. You've been gone from home since the end of the wars. Once you got off planet, you pretty much just wandered around the galaxy." Yami watched silently, her jaw set. She was surprised by her unusual calm, it was unlike her to be this cool. Her earlier good mood was leaking away bit by bit, like liquid through an IV drop. "You'd have to ask Yami about the bulk of your goings-on."

Zankoku frowned slightly, listening to his brother's words. "Who...?"

"The young woman beside you," he said, tilting his head toward her.

"Me," she replied, her tone quiet. He looked over at her, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. Her head tilted slightly as she debated on telling him the not so pretty truth. "Essentially, you're a sociopathic megalomaniac. I don't know what caused it, or how it happened. But I do know that for a while you indulged yourself with whatever came your way. You never exactly spilled a lot to me."

He looked at her blankly. "A wha...?"

"Sociopathic megalomaniac," she repeated wryly. "A more or less selfish bastard that killed for his own pleasure."

He chuckled softly. "Sure y'haven't been talking t'our father?"

"I've never met your father," she replied. "I've never been to your planet, for that matter."

"Sounds like somethin' he'd call me," he said, eyes closing again.

"We met elsewhere," she continued. "In some little podunk port about twenty-five years ago." She closed her eyes briefly. "And I pretty much followed you around after that." She opened her eyes, glancing over at his younger brother.Amir, this isn't working, she told him mentally.

I know, Yami. Give it time, he replied in the same manner.He just got out of hibernation.

Right...she said, falling silent.

"You really ought to be thankful," he said aloud, looking down at his older brother. "Everyone else considered you dead. We were the only two that actually decided to go search for you."

"Mm... M'sure they did," Zankoku muttered, slightly disgusted. "Carrion birds."

"I didn't mean our family, Zankoku," Amir retorted, a bit of bite in his voice. "They could care less." He shook his head. "I meant the authorities."

"Why?"

"Your name's been associated with twenty-six known homicides. And I'm sure that there are countless others you've hidden from the authorities," he smirked wryly. "I'm your lawyer, I would know. It's been my job to make sure that you were never even brought up on suspicion in any of the cases." Zankoku chuckled softly, eyes closing.

"I think I'm going to lie down, Amir," Yami told him softly. "I feel sick." She turned on her heel, padding out of the room silently.

"As you wish, Yami," he replied, watching her go.

"Interesting girl," came the comment from the bed. "Where'd y'find her...?

He looked down at his older brother. "She's not mine, she's yours. I didn't find her, so much as we teamed up to find you."

"Don' remember..." was the mumbled reply. He shifted restlessly, shaking his head, confusion flitting across his face.

"Yes, we know," Amir said softly, hiding his own concern.

They both fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Amir was just about to leave and turn off the lights when his brother spoke again, voice a confused murmur. "He... did make it back to the stables... didn't he, Amir...?"

He sighed, pulling the thermal blanket back up. "Yes, he did." The response to that was a soft sigh, then silence. Amir checked his brother, finding that he was unconscious again. He watched him for a moment longer, lips pressed together tightly, leaning back against the counter with his arms crossed. "I'm beginning to wonder if we should have just left you in there," he said quietly. Then he shook his head and sighed again, turning the lights down low before easing out of the room.

She wasn't crying, nor was she throwing a fit. She sat on the edge of the wide bed with her hands in her lap, staring blankly at the wall. Snow white banks fell over her eyes, obscuring her expression. She felt so empty. Twenty years of searching and waiting, and he doesn't even remember her. A twisted little grin curled her lips up as she laughed softly. It figured, especially with her luck. The only upside to the whole situation was that he didn't remember that emerald haired bitch either. She had to admit, it'd be nice to NOT hear about that every five minutes.

Though, and she hated to admit it, she rather missed his snide tone and his cutting sense of humor. She sighed softly, shaking her head as she rubbed a finger over the fading designs on her ebony skin. Maybe things would be brighter in the morning. She sure as hell doesn't want to deal with it right now. She slipped out of her robe and slid beneath the crimson silk sheets, burying her face into the softness of the pillow, even though she knew that sleep would be a long time coming. The lights obediently dimmed until the room was completely dark, the only illumination coming from her slitted crimson eyes as she stared into the darkness.

He didn't have any idea what time it was when he woke. All that he was aware of was the excruciatingly painful sense of hunger that twisted in his abdomen like some sort of razor clawed creature. A low pained moan escaped as he curled, an arm pressed to his stomach. His fangs pressed against his bottom lip as he bit down, his other hand groping for the edge of the bed.

The moan made two doors open immediately. Yami and Amir both peered out, blinking blearily. She reached for her red robe, flinging it around herself and tying the sash as she exited her room. Amir stepped out as well, dressed in the clothing that he had worn earlier. She yawned widely as they padded quickly down the hall, wondering what was going on. A dull thump came from the med bay, the sound of something heavy striking the metal flooring. "Zankoku?" Amir said, puzzled, breaking into a run. Yami was right beside him, both of them racing into the medic bay to check on him.

He was curled on the floor when they entered, disheveled ebony hair falling into his face and down his back. His head lifted as they entered and he growled softly, his eyes once again their normal crimson, but there was an eerie glow to them. Yami paused, blinking, one hand outstretched to hold Amir back. "Zankoku?" His head turned in her direction.

Amir moved her arm aside, watching his brother quietly. "Zankoku... It's us."

Yami eyed the crouching male warily as his head came up slightly, nostrils flaring.He's scenting the air, she thought. "What the hell is going on, Amir?" she asked, her eyes slitting. Zankoku rumbled softly, his attention turning fully to her.

"Fuck." The mildly spoken, yet uncharacteristic, epithet came from Amir as his nose wrinkled in annoyance. "He's turned feral." At the sound of the male voice, Zankoku's lips pulled back, baring his fangs.

"How the hell can he turn feral??" she demanded, still warily watching the male on the floor.

"Well," Amir said slowly, "remember those experiments I told you about?"

"Ye-es," was her slightly drawled reply, keeping her eyes trained on the thing before her. He shifted into a low crouch, muscles rippling beneath the silver skin.

"Along with the increased strength and agility," Amir explained, "comes increased metabolism. Which means the fastest source of energy and nutrition is..."

"Blood." She shook her head as she finished his sentence. "And meat. Damn, seems like the two of us have more in common than you ever let on, buddy-boy." She smiled faintly as she addressed her former mentor. "So, what do we do?"

"We lock him in," was the facetious reply. "And toss in a bloody steak." A faint growl interrupted him, as Zankoku prowled closer.

"Sounds like a plan to me," she said, beginning to back away along with Amir. Crimson eyes narrowed when they moved and he began to stalk them, the growl growing louder.

"Is he fragile?" Yami asked, taking another step back.

Amir snorted derisively. "Has he ever been fragile?"

"Good point." She glanced over at him. "I do plan on defending myself if necessary."

"That makes two of us," he replied. Then he looked down at his brother, snapping out in their native language, trying to bring him out of his current mental state.

"I don't think he's listening," Yami said wryly, eyes fixated on the crimson ones regarding her. And he wasn't in the least, all of his attention on the female before him. She bared her own teeth in response and he growled, the sound low and dangerous.

"That's just going to encourage him," Amir warned her. He grabbed her arm, yanking her out into the hallway as he slammed the door shut. Zankoku snarled viciously, slamming into the door just as his brother locked it. He winced at the sound of flesh impacting on metal. "Ow..."

Zankoku's talons actually scored thin furrows in the metal of the door, an enraged howl echoing in the small room as Yami watched dispassionately from the outside.Seems you kept a lot of secrets from, Zankoku-koi. She glanced over at Amir, face cool. "What do we do now?"

"We wait," he said quietly, watching as his brother snarled, doubling over as the hunger pangs intensified.

"I heal faster than you do, Amir," she said. "Is it just blood, or both blood and meat?"

"Blood, I think." Then his eyes narrowed. "Ah, shit..." He winced as his brother began digging his talons into his own arms in a futile effort to assuage the gnawing hunger. His eyes widen in surprise as Yami pushed him aside, opening the door and darting in, locking it from the other side. "Yami, what the FUCK are you doing?!"

Zankoku looked up as she entered and she met his eyes. There was nothing remotely sane there, but she didn't let it stop her. "If he bloody doesn't remember me, that's fine. I'm still his fucking partner, and partners don't ditch out." She used a talon to cut a thin line across the meaty part of her forearm, blood immediately welling up. She let it, a drop falling to the floor. "C'mere, you bastard." His head came up at that, nostrils flaring at the scent of blood.

"C'mon," she repeated. "S'alright." He was on her in a heartbeat and she brought her arm up as fast as she could, wrist out to keep him from her throat. They both slammed into the wall and she huffed softly, losing her breath for a moment. Her fangs bared as his talons dug into her arm, holding it as he lowered his head to run his tongue over the cut.

Amir cursed under his breath as he watched through the small window in the door. "Godsdamn stupid insolent bitch." But, he was forced to admit that this was all they could do. There were no stores of blood aboard the ship, and it was true that he couldn't heal as fast as she or his brother could.

She watched dispassionately as he drank from her arm, not even flinching as his talons curled into her flesh, drawing more blood. "S'alright, baby, go on," she murmured softly. "Just don't tear too big a hole, hm? I have no inclination to die in a ship's medic wing." He didn't seem to hear her as he bit down and opened the wound further, eyes half lidding in satisfaction as the blood flowed into his mouth, actually curling against her. She watched him quietly, wincing as they began to slide down the wall, but she opened her legs slightly, letting him settle in between as she curled an arm over his shoulders.

He purred louder at that, an arm winding around her waist, talons lightly kneading. "You know," she continued in that low warm voice, "It's damnably scary to see you like this." She ran her free hand up his arm, then threaded it through the back of his hair.

Watching this, Amir was suddenly struck with the explanation.Ah, damn, he thought wryly,no wonder. She's bloody well in love with him. He shook his head, looking exasperated. "When you get finished, unlock the door, hm?"

"I will," she said softly, still threading her fingers through his silky jet hair. As he fed, the hunger began to fade, satiated, and he began to grow more conscious of the warm body against his. "Feel a bit better?" she asked, noticing that he wasn't drinking as deeply now. His talons ceased to knead and began to caress and her eyebrow raised. "Mm, apparently." Then she chuckled softly. "Don't take too much, hm? I've still got to have some too."

He took a few more swallows, then began to lick the wound closed, his tongue slightly rough against her skin. Her eyes lidded at the feel and she relaxed a bit, her head tilting to the side as her hand continued to stroke the back of his neck. He rumbled softly, mouth beginning to move up her arm. She blinked at that, turning her head toward him, then shifted a bit in an attempt to curl her legs toward herself.

His other hand began to slide up her back as he released her wrist, hand lowering to rest on her knee. She blinked at that, but rumbled faintly, idly watching as the wound on her wrist quickly healed to nothing but a very light scar. "Well, at least you're fed now," she said, reaching up to brush the air out of his face. She felt a bit lightheaded from the blood loss; he must have swallowed at least a pint, maybe two. He leaned into her hand, half lidded eyes focusing on her face and she watched him as well, her own eyes softly glowing, as was normal for her. He wasn't himself, so she didn't feel the need to guard her thoughts as closely as she usually did, and she brushed his face again. "You really should get some rest, you know. As should I." She smiled wryly. "S'just a pity you don't remember me." Her fingertips brushed the curve of his ear. "Ah, well..." He rumbled softly at that, his hand starting to travel up her leg.

Meanwhile, Amir had been silently watching all this from the hallway, a speculative look on his face. He turned finally, walking back down the hall to his room. She wasn't going to die, so he wasn't overly worried. Anything past that was their business. He was many things, but he was no voyeur. If they were going to have sex, he didn't want to see it. The door to his bedroom closed behind him with a soft click, leaving the two of them to themselves.

Yami put a hand over his, actually stopping it. "Not here," she said softly. He blinked at that, leaning forward to nuzzle her neck. She closed her eyes briefly, sighing as his tongue flicked over her pulse line. He seemed intent on what he was doing, so she figured she might as well make it comfortable for the both of them. "Come on, Zankoku," she said softly, curling her knees under and tugging on his arm. "The floor is cold." He pulled back slightly, looking over at her. "We'll get you a warmer bed, okay?" She smiled slightly and brushed her hand over his arm.

She couldn't help glancing down as she started to rise. He was DEFINITELY interested, and since he wasn't wearing anything, it was pretty obvious. She reached down, curling the sheet over his shoulders, then put one hand on the counter to tug herself up. She wobbled slightly as she stood, noticing that he had risen with her and that he was tracking her every movement.

She wasn't willow-weak, but she was unsteady enough to use the counter as a brace while her head settled. She closed her eyes for a moment as she caught her balance, then opened them. Once she had her bearings, she began walking toward the door with a hand on his arm to guide him. Her robe had fallen down one shoulder, baring the curve of ebony flesh and it seemed to draw his attention as he followed her. He slid an arm around her waist, still rumbling softly.

She'd never seen him like this at all, and it was a bit disconcerting. But, by the same token, he hadn't hurt her; he had just needed to feed. She unlocked the door, walking out into the hallway and he followed her down the corridor and into her room. They had once shared the room, but she had taken it over when he disappeared. The decorations were unchanged, the furnishings as he had left them. All his weapons were still on the wall, untouched save for the occasional cleaning. The sheets on the bed were even fresh, done in black and red, her two favorite colors.

He didn't even notice the room, attention fixated on the warm willing female beside him. She sat down on the edge of the bed, a soft sigh of relief escaping. He purred again, hand sliding up her side as he sat next to her, lips finding the length of her neck. "You don't take no for an answer, do you" she asked rhetorically, somewhat bemused. His only answer was a lick against the side of her throat. It wasn't the same, honestly, but she couldn't help but to wonder... He was quite willing, but would it be using him, since he didn't exactly know who she was?

Zankoku wasn't have the same ethical dilemma, as he pushed the robe down off of her shoulders and leaned over to nip at her collar bone, drawing blood here and there. She regarded him with evident bemusement then a hand went to the sash of her robe, making her decision as she untied it deftly. For some reason a snippet of an old song, something she'd heard in a port long before she met him, ran through her head and her lips curved up in a wry smile.But will you still love me, tomorrow...

He pushed her back down onto the bed as his lips moved lower and all extraneous thoughts disappeared from her mind, pulling her to the present. She leaned her head back, glad that she had shut the door and let her hands begin to travel up his arms. He purred softly at that, crimson eyes sweeping over her with an almost palpable force. His hands cupped her breasts, thumbs brushing slowly over the tightly drawn nipples and she arched upward. He pressed the full globes together, then his mouth closed over the right nipple, suckling slowly.

Her eyes half closed at the contact, her talons scraping over his skin and he shuddered, shifting to straddle her hips. One of her hands drifted down, fingertips brushing over the plains of his stomach. He rumbled again at that, muscles rippling, then began to feast on her breasts like a man starving, alternating little nips and nibbles with deeper sucking. She smiled slightly even as she arched her back, pressing her breasts up to his willing ministrations.