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Being chased by bounty hunters wasn't new to The Chosen One. Frankly, he's surprised it took as long as it did for them to find him. Now that he's trying to live a less violent life, it's a lot harder to get rid of them.
Something that did surprise him were the virabots. He'd been under the impression that they took time to make. Yet here they were, dozens of them, in various sizes. Some bigger than a car, some smaller than his hand. The small ones were the worst. They'd almost snuck up on him more than once.
A shudder runs down his spine at the memory.
They chase him whenever they find him, and surely they're reporting his every move back to their creator. He'd hoped that Dark would just let him go, but that had never been Dark's strong suit.
At least one upside is that they seem to hate anyone else hunting Chosen. They'd sooner maul a team of bounty hunters than suffer sharing their prey, as far as Chosen's seen.
He wishes they'd go away, but at the same time, he's scared that their absence would only mean their owner's arrival.
Chosen knew he should've fought against Dark, but he didn't have it in him to potentially kill his best friend. He'd hoped that maybe, if he left now, they could both go their separate ways and live happy lives, never seeing each other again. Well, hopefully Dark could, at least, without Chosen's presence constantly setting off his programming.
Plainly, Dark is not interested in living separate lives, so it's up to Chosen to do the mature thing and avoid him for both their sakes. He can't take a confrontation. The pain of leaving was terrible enough. It felt like he'd cried himself to sleep every night that first miserable year. It really would kill him, one way or another, if he had to fight Dark.
To the end of not dying of grief (or any other way), Chosen took the scenic route through a forest, hoping the dense foliage would encumber any hangers-on long enough for him to make it to the other side. He tried to fly over it, but a sniper shot him with one of those horrific darts the moment he got into the air. He'd ripped it out, but it was agonizing, and he wasn't eager to experience it again.
Well, the virabots would have certainly attacked the snipers for that, and it had been a few hours since. Maybe he could try again? He didn't want to be shot again when he was still suffering from the tremors of the last shock, but he'd be walking all night at this rate. He'd like to at least try to get some sleep tonight. He hadn't heard or seen any virabots since he entered the woods, so if he was lucky he could get a few hours of sleep in whatever town he ended up in. That was one of the few advantages of being hunted. Chosen was often so exhausted that he passed out as soon as he was horizontal.
Lost in his thoughts, Chosen didn't realize a virabot had, in fact, been following him. He didn't realize, that is, until it sunk its fangs into his neck. The chill of its venom flooded his body instantly. Chosen yanked it off, and it was small enough to crush in one hand, but the cold feeling continued, spreading from his neck to the rest of his body.
why didn't it stop?! Chosen wondered frantically. Few drugs had a lasting effect on him. Then he felt something slip out of his neck and fall to the ground.
The fangs had stayed inside him, venom glands and all.
Well, Chosen thought grimly, whatever Dark put in these things, I've got the full dose.
He hoped that he might be able to keep moving in spite of it, but already the biting cold had transformed into a soothing warmth, and he felt his eyes grow heavy and his body sway where it stood. He leaned against a tree, fighting to stay upright.
"Twice the lethal dose, and you're still standing," came a familiar voice from behind him. A fond sigh followed, then, "You can't make anything easy, can you, Cho?"
No, no, no. He can't be here! Chosen thought, squeezing his eyes shut. Dark wasn't really there. He was just a hallucination, caused by the venom. Chosen would've fled if he could, but all that left his hands were pitiful sparks.
"Chosen, open your eyes."
If I can't see you, you can't see me, Chosen thought frantically.
"I can definitely see you."
You can read my thoughts now?!
"No, you're just talking out loud. Maybe the venom is effecting you more than I thought."
Steps coming closer, then Dark's arms were around Chosen, pulling him close, forcing him to lean his weight on Dark. Chosen shuddered involuntarily. The world had felt so cold since Chosen left.
He'd lived without that warmth for years, and he thought he'd finally gotten used to the fact he'd be cold forever, when Dark comes and resets all his progress.
Chosen decided he'd face Dark with as much dignity as he could muster when he was barely more than dead weight. Dark wouldn't appreciate it, but Chosen felt better not acting like a coward in this confrontation, at least. He opened his eyes.
There Dark was, looking at Chosen the way he always did, like he was the most important- no, the only important person in the world. Even when they argued, Dark had that look in his eyes. It both warmed and alarmed Chosen.
"There you are," Dark said, smiling. Like smiling was a perfectly reasonable response to seeing the one who abandoned you years ago. "Finally caught you, Angel."
Chosen scowled, despite himself. Dark knew he hated the title the public had given him, and that made Dark like it even more. He made sure to use it often, saying Chosen just needed to 'acclimate' to it.
"Don't call me that." Chosen muttered, squirming in Dark's arms, trying weakly to push him away. All that gained him was Dark holding him tighter, and then Chosen was stuck with his hands on Dark's chest, like he wanted to be there. And maybe he did, but that didn't mean he should act like it!
"I missed you so much, Cho," Dark murmured, resting his forehead against Chosen's, "You don't even know how much."
And then Dark kissed him.
Chosen returned it without thinking, on instinct, and it was like no time had passed between them. He wrapped his arms around Dark's neck and pulled him closer, and gasped when he felt fangs nip at him. Those were new.
When they parted, Chosen was out of breath, tendrils of black smoke seeping from his mouth. Dark had already moved on to his neck, nuzzling and pressing kisses to his throat. Chosen sighed and tilted his chin up to make it easier for him.
"What're the fangs for?" Chosen asked, idly. Dark seemed to be focusing on one particular spot now. Dark chuckled softly.
"The same thing any spider's fangs are made for, Angel," Dark replied. Chosen heard the sickening sound of flesh rending for a moment, then a second pair of hands replaced the ones embracing him. He was frozen in shock as one of the free hands took hold of his wrists, trapping them. The other pressed Chosen's head into Dark's shoulder.
"Dark-" Chosen started, but his powers still didn't work, he was trapped-
Then Dark's fangs slipped into his neck, and Chosen collapsed.
Not all at once. First his fingers, clutching at Dark's shirt, went numb and then relaxed. His speeding heart steadied and his breathing deepened. His head rested on Dark's shoulder, not because it was held there, but because he didn't have the energy to hold it up anymore. Only then did Dark remove his fangs.
Chosen could barely open his eyes. Every time he pried them open was a struggle. So he felt, rather than saw his wrists being bound together. It felt soft, but weak as he was now, he doubted he could break out of a paper bag. Once Dark picked him up, and the effort of holding any of his own weight was relieved, Chosen focused all his energy on staying conscious.
"I really hope you missed me too, Chosen," Dark murmured, "Because I'm never letting you go again."
Chosen hums in disapproval, but that's all he can manage.
"Don't you hum at me, you're the one who ran off without a word in the middle of the night!" Dark shakes his head, then sighs and presses a kiss to Chosen's brow, "We'll figure it out Cho. Together."
At that, Chosen gives in to slumber. And admits to himself that this was only a matter of time.
And later, when he wakes with a familiar warmth beside him, curled up against Dark's chest, he knows that he won't be able to let go again. For better or worse.