Victory or Defeat? [D'hys] [M]

It seemed like a long time had passed. A'liran didn't dare open his eyes. He reached out quietly for Astoreth, who'd waited patiently but anxiously for any coherent contact from him. The worried dragon quickly enveloped him in her caring presence. He hurt you Astoreth hissed, her voice like acid in the back of A'liran's dazed mind.

The greenrider wasn't sure what to say. The last few hours had been a terrible blur. His ears still rang with the best and word kind of screaming, all torn from his own throat. His body, bruised and seemingly discarded, ached with each breath. Were D'hys and Z'ia gone? Had they simply tossed him aside when they were finished?

A'liran grunted. He wanted to scream. He wanted to spring to his feet and scream his heart out, to look those bastards in the eye and hold them accountable for what they'd done. What could he do, though? This was the ultimate defeat, humiliating and painful beyond any of the fiery greenrider's usual games. A'liran didn't open his eyes just yet. He was afraid of what he might see.

He'd met with Z'ia plenty of times. The vicious little bluerider always seemed to be out to get him. A'liran knew that Z'ia was the worst kind of bluerider; egotistical, cruel, indifferent towards those of lower standing...but today, A'liran had seen something far worse. He'd watched as D'hys, for some unknown reason, tried to get Z'ia to tone down his aggression. The younger bluerider had complied, but always with a resentful glare and a darkening of the eyes. A'liran had seen his jaw set and his fists clench.

D'hys hadn't been a saint, but he'd showed A'liran enough kindness that he found himself fearing what would have happened had the older bluerider not been present. Z'ia had pushed it, though. He'd been as cruel and vicious as his friend would allow, right up to the breaking point. A'liran didn't know if anything had come of it, though. He had passed out before they were done. 

Shards, he wondered how long it went on once he was out.

His throat tightened. He tried to focus his thoughts, to figure out if he was really awake. Was he? Was he safe?

The greenrider was filled with uncharacteristic fear and dread. His body was shattered and his heart was heavy, but what could he do? Just lay there and cower, frightened even to open his own eyes? The greenrider bit his tongue in anxiety and slowly stirred, dazed but determined to at least sit up.

"I'm fine, baby girl...don't worry about me.." he lied out loud, voice shaking, filled with hatred and misery. Then, he opened his eyes.

As the room swirled into proper view, he realized he wasn't alone. The bruised greenrider immediately shot backwards, his back hitting the wall. He realized now that he was in a spare bedchamber in what was probably the weyrfolk hall. He had no idea how long he'd been there, but he'd hoped it would be long enough to be alone...but he wouldn't be given that luxury. There, beside him, was the bluerider. D'hys.

Astoreth hissed in the bluerider's mind. Look a him! she accused lowly. She didn't have to specify what she meant; the greenrider's bruised body spoke for her.

A'liran straightened his posture, in spite of his dizziness. His heart skipped a beat. He couldn't look weak in front of this bastard!

But what to say? A'liran's resolve withered momentarily. This bluerider had tried, in some way, to protect him...but he was still just as guilty as Z'ia, wasn't he? So what did he say?

Thanks for not raping me quite so intensely?

The greenrider frowned. "What the fuck are you looking at?" he demanded, still dazed and not sure what else to say.

ooc:

I asked you about Dee's behavior during the blackout last night, then asked Honey as well and used what both of you told me to come up with this. Honey basically said that Z'ia would be as nasty and vicious as D'hys would let him be, since Zee is still trying to hide his worst side from D'hya a bit. A'liran saw glimmers of it and is royally freaked out, though. Your call on whether D'hys would have noticed, of course.

So basically, Z'ia toed the line the whole time, and Ali was, of course, vicious. Hope this works!

It was about time A’liran stirred! D’hys wasn’t sure how long the greenrider had been unconscious either but it seemed far too long. Of course there really wasn’t a reason for him to stay behind, watching over the guy like he somewhat did. It would have been far easier to cut out like Z’ia had once A’liran passed out, taking away the fun, though ‘fun’ was a subjective term. For the most part their time together had been exactly that but it bordered on going a bit too far given the actions and reactions that happened between the other two men. It was something he had thought about briefly but in the end didn’t quite care enough to deeply analyse and fell into an easy yet silent conversation with Zeianth as D’hys sat back and made himself comfortable fairly close to the greenrider.

So he didn’t need Astoreth hissing at him to look at her rider when A’liran stirred, his attention having already shifted from where he lounged, still naked, and staring at the wall while chatting with his own dragon. However, when A’liran’s demand came, D’hys gave a partial smirk and let his gaze trail over the other man from toes to head where he finally gave a reply, “a pissed off greenrider.” Nothing else was said as D’hys reached beside him and was soon giving a lazy toss of a shirt to its owner. He may have been rough and have questionable morals but the bluerider did know the value of clothing at Katila and how hard it could be to get new articles if they were constantly being torn by anxious or vicious hands so A’liran’s clothing fared better than the man himself.

“Z’ia left when you passed out,” he answered before the question was asked or the frantic search around the room for the shorter bluerider took place. It was pretty obvious A’liran hated Z’ia and possibly even feared his friend which D’hys had always assumed was a natural reaction though he liked the younger rider, enjoying his company and getting a kick out of his personality. “The fun was lost with your consciousness.” Why yes, perhaps that was a tip for A’liran to remember the next time he collided with Z’ia and didn’t have someone to help control the encounter somewhat.

A'liran narrowed his eyes mistrustfully at the bluerider. Shards. Why had this uncaring asshole even bothered to stay? Why hadn't he pranced off with his demonic little curly-haired sidekick? The greenrider snorted angrily and snatched the shirt, carefully slipping it on, as if covering his upper body would somehow hide his shame at the whole miserable event.

He turned away callously, nodding in subtle recognition of the news he'd received. He couldn't comprehend how anyone thought it was okay to abuse anyone to the point of unconsciousness, or how they could speak so sharding casually about it! The greenrider puffed up in indignant anger, but he didn't say anything about it. He could argue with the damn bluerider until he passed out again from lack of breath, but it wouldn't do him any good.

Astoreth gave him a mental prod. It was rare for her rider to feel so thoroughly defeated. A'liran.... she crooned, utterly heartbroken. A similarly distraught expression washed over his face as he heard that pitiful voice. His poor baby! She normally endured his troubles well enough, always concerned and supportive but rarely so hurt that it held him down as well. Now, in the wake of this unexpected disaster, even she was disheartened.

Astoreth didn't understand why being flown was such a big deal. It must have been because the other males hurt her poor rider so. Astoreth hissed and gently wrapped her presence around A'liran, trying to comfort him. He accepted it readily, but on the same token, he felt his anger returning. These bastards! They'd upset Astoreth, on top of everything else they'd done!

He shot an accusing glare at D'hys. "So are you the one who taught Z'ia to be a monster?" he snapped. "That it's okay to rape and beat people unfortunate enough to have a smaller sharding dragon?" It sounded like he was building up to a big rant, but as he stared at the handsome bluerider, he realized he didn't have the strength. Not right now. He wilted.

"Asshole..."

The window behind A'liran darkened suddenly as a slight man with curious eyes peeked in. He was humming softly to himself, his voice gentle and sweet, but the humming came to a sudden stop as he looked through the dingy glass to see what was inside.

Oh, wow! I'd heard rumors that D'hys was ripped, but shards! I'shan thought, eyes widening. He licked his lip unconsciously, wondering what an unclothed bluerider weas doing loinging in an unused bedroom in the Weyrfolk Hall. Of course, the fact that it was inappropriate for him to be peeking in didn't seem to occur.

Ilveriath issued forth the slightest warning. Love? You appear to be somehow offending Astoreth Ilveriath said softy. I'shan quirked a brow. Astoreth? The bitchy green?

She is coming

Who sharding cares? What are you, scared of her?

At that exact moment, the agitated greenrider on the other side of the glass leaned up and slapped at the window with an open palm, shaking the entire thing and causing I'shan to leap and squeal in surprise. A'liran, who I'shan had previously failed to notice, scowled. I'shan gasped and recoiled.

"I didn't even DO anything to you!" he shouted through the glass.

"Piss off!" came the reply.

I'shan scowled as well, but after such an embarrassment, he was keen on scurrying away. Stupid greenrider, ruining his sharding fun!

“I taught Z’ia how to have fun,” D’hys said with a shrug, unconcerned about the accusation being spat at him. Z’ia was rougher than he often was but he doubted the short bluerider was a monster. Sometimes greenriders exaggerated when they got a bruise, everyone knew that. That being said, D’hys had noticed the way Z’ia seemed to push a little harder against acceptable limits with A’liran and pulled back when he was given a questioning look. It was likely just something that went on between the two men but the fact that Z’ia only pulled back once his friend started to think it was too much made D’hys wonder, but only in the slightest. They had different levels of comfort and Z’ia respected him as a friend, that was likely all it was. “So there really isn’t any need for the name-calling, babe. Unless, of course, you were making a suggestion about what you would like played with again.”

D’hys barely managed to raise an eyebrow to go with his grin before A’liran was spinning around on the window and yelling at someone outside. A soft laugh escaped when he barely made out the shocked figure as I’shan and he blew the man a kiss before he scampered off and A’liran turned back to face him. He schooled his features back into that of mild amusement but held off on commenting about their spectator and whether or not the greenrider liked being watched. That could be a conversation later, just like he was sure to find I’shan for one as well. “So, are we going to move on from the insults now?”

A'liran bristled defensively. "'Fun', huh? I forgot that blueriders define 'fun' differently than the rest of us," he snapped venomously. He bunched up against the wall, unconscious of his own submissive body language, and scowled at the bedspread. His head pounded and his muscled ached from the encounter, but nothing was so badly wounded as his fragile sense of security. A'liran made a big show of his own independence, but events like this reminded him of how powerless he truly was.

The greenrider turned his accusing eyes back on D'hys. "Why did you stay?" he asked. "I'm used to people like you leaving when they're done. I...." What could he say? A'liran was still dreadfully torn. He was fascinated by D'hys, but after what had just transpired, he found it hard to see much good in the man.

The greenrider narrowed his eyes pointedly after a moment of weakness. "Why didn't you? Why don't you? Are you hanging around hoping for seconds or something?" he snapped. The greenrider had almost managed a more level-headed response, but he snatched it off the tip of his tongue at the last second.

"You're blind, if you think any of that was okay. Z'ia is a lunatic, couldn't you see it in his eyes!? And besides..." He bit his lip in self-hatred. "..All you would have had to do was ask..."

You, singular. Not 'both of you'. Z'ia could go to hell.

D'hys let A'liran grumble and spit words at him without interrupting. It was part of the greenrider's appeal. He had spunk and energy, much like Z'ia did and D'hys adored his little bluerider friend for more than just that but it had definitely kept him interested after the intitial meeting at Z'ia's graduation. It still amused D'hys when he thought back to that day and the reaction Z'ia gave when he was told his honorific was clearly to honour Zeianth with the names sounding similar. But that was something to smirk about later when he didn't have a feral greenrider glaring daggers at him.

He let the differing definitions of 'fun' go since they weren't likely to agree on it ever and simply shrugged when the questions about staying and going hit. Why had he stayed? Why hadn't he slipped out with Z'ia when the entertainment passed out? Both were easy enough to answer, just like the statement thrown at him -- which actually managed to startle him -- a moment before he had a chance to could be given an answer. The true question was, did A'liran deserve any of those answers? He supposed he did, especially since the answers all linked together in one way or another.

"I wouldn't call Z'ia a lunatic but he does get a bit enthusiastic. That's actually why I went along with his idea, though thr thought of both of you at once was giving me a massive hard on as well. But if I didn't come along to balance him out, would you be better off than you are now?" He wasn't entirely blind; he knew Z'ia was holding back to some degree but D'hys still didn't know what was the norm for his young friend when he wasn't around, still believing Z'ia just liked to get more physical with A'liran because the greenrider's mouth never stopped running and provoking people. "You never truly told me 'no' and I did sort of ask for the record. But I will keep in mind that you're likely to say 'yes' when we meet again and I ask for a few hours of your time."

There was still one last question that hadn't been addressed and D'hys held off on answering it as his fingers toyed with the material of clothing beside him. It wasn't like A'liran would believe him even if he gave the explanation for staying but at least if he gave it, he couldn't be blamed for being ellusive or whatever else A'liran would try to pin on him. With a slight shrug over his thoughts, D'hys tossed the clothing towards A'liran, giving the man his pants so he could finish dressing, further adding to the truth of what was about to be said. "I didn't stick around for seconds, though from what you just said, if I asked you to crawl into my lap right now, would you want to?" A wicked grin was given with an arching brow but D'hys didn't expect it to happen and made no move to ensure it would but continued speaking instead, "I stayed because I wanted to make sure you weren't hurt with more than the bruises I assumed you would have, to make sure you weren't violated by anyone else while you slept, and so we could have this lovely chat with you blaming me for everything. That last part is usually the best way for me to count a day as complete."

A'liran scowled again. Of course the bluerider wouldn't understand. A'liran had been watching them not care for decades, wondering if he would ever come across one who truly understood the damage they caused. Of course, A'liran was largely blind to his own aggression, the way he frightened off any decent partners he had a shot with long before anything could come of it. He was a defensive main, trained by years of paranoia and dismissive abuse. That wasn't going to change now, maybe ever.

He looked away again, grinding his teeth impatiently at D'hys' response. A'liran hated people he couldn't judge outright. He preferred to label someone as an ally or an asshole and move along, not having to worry about confusing situations like this. The fact was, A'liran rather wanted to like the bluerider. He'd rescued him from Z'ia in a flight. He seemed...somewhat good intentioned?He was good in bed, and most importantly, he had a calming influence. For some reason, A'liran felt safe around the bastard.

He could only imagine how terrified he would have been during the last ordeal if he'd been alone with Z'ia.

There was no way, he decided. D'hys must have been preying on his insecurities! It was a act, for anyone who actually cared would have stopped it from happening, right? A'liran's black and white morality wouldn't accept any other explanation. He bitterly snatched his pants and slowly worked them on before glowering at D'hys again, confusion lingering behind anger in his eyes.

"I didn't 'truly' say no and you 'sort of' asked? Only an idiot would think that's permission, and I don't think you're an idiot!" he growled, nostrils flaring in anger. "I fucking tried to bite you, don't you think that's proof enough? And don't make some smarmy comment about how biting is always sexual, you asshole! You're just making up excuses to justify your actions, just like fucking Z'ia!"

He crawled closer. "And you can think that all you want! You don't see the way Z'ia treats people when you aren't around! I can't sharding tell you how many times he's left me black and blue!" The greenrider found himself unexpectedly inches away form D'hys.

He was enraged. Initially, he'd wanted very badly to accept D'hys' invitation to crawl into his lap, but he'd denied himself. Now, he'd done it unconsciously.

The greenrider sighed. "What's the point," he mumbled, slumping and leaning back with apprehension. "...Thanks for trying to help, I guess." It was a begrudging thanks, but wholly sincere. At least he'd escaped the incident with no broken bones.

“You seem surprised that I would do something just like Z’ia. You did say minutes before that I taught him how to be a monster, did you not?” Were they going to have to write down all of the accusations so A’liran didn’t end up confusing himself or covering the same ground twice?

It would have been so easy to grab A’liran and feel him up, kiss him, or start removing the barrier of clothing he had given the man to put back on but D’hys refrained. It wasn’t done to prove he was better than the picture he had been painted as since he didn’t care how people viewed him. It was done because A’liran wasn’t really in shape for another round and it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable for either of them. D’hys did, after all, like his lovers awake and not complaining with every move and breath. That was such a mood-killer.

“Then I guess you’re welcome.” D’hys replied as he slid off the bed to stretch – both because it was needed and he was bastard enough to show off his body to the grumpy greenrider once more in full – before grabbing his pants to work them up long legs. Once finished with that task, boots were found with A’liran’s pair being nudged closer to their owner before D’hys sat on the edge of the bed to put his own on.

"I never said I was surprised," A'liran pointed out, just as quick to point out the small meanings in D'hys' speech as the bluerider was to do to him. A'liran eyed the man mistrustfully, accusingly, and yet hopefully, daring the man to defend himself or accept responsibility. A'liran continued to feel trapped in his opinion of this man, so tron between extremes.  He would have loved dearly for D'hys to tip the scales in one direction or another with some sort of damning action, but that seemed unlikely at this point.

No. D'hys was sharding impossible to read. That made A'liran furious.

He snatched his boots and sighed. It didn't take him long to finish dressing and stand up, but he found himself in such disrepair that he quickly hissed and sank back onto the bed. He knew the pair, Z'ia in particular, had thrashed him. He hadn't expected simply standing to be so painful. He cast a scornful look at D'hys, blaming it on the only person he could at the moment. It was easy to blame D'hys, who seemed so unwilling to truly defend himself, and yet still manage to softly refute everything that A'liran threw at him.

The greenrider curled up instinctively. He had no intention of leaving with D'hys, and he hurt too badly to get up and drag himself out with any speed. He wanted to rest a while, then maybe go to a healer. He didn't think anything was broken, but a quick peek under his shirt revealed that his bruises and welts were already darkening far beyond even flight levels. It was possibly the worst beating A'liran had ever received at the hands of a bluerider, and that was no small feat.

He sighed and rested his head, his energy finally leaving him in one ragged breath. A'liran, feisty thought he was, was currently defeated. He lost a lot of battles throughout his life, however, and wasn't going to let Z'ia defeat him in the war. That bastard would get what was coming to him one day.

For now, though, A'liran was the loser. He realized how fragile he felt in a sudden rush of emotion and rolled over fitfully, trying to hide the stubborn tears welling up in his eyes. The last thing he needed was to look weak in front of the confusing bluerider right next to him.

A'liran wanted to say something else, but he wasn't sure what. He couldn't say anything he actually wanted to say, of course. If he told D'hys 'I want you flying my green' or 'I like you better than Z'ia, even if you are a manipulating self-righteous asshole', it might come off as a compliment.

"I'm a sharding idiot for hoping you were any better," he finally grumbled.

“Probably,” D’hys replied simply, not feeling the need to elaborate or even question the greenrider on how he had been viewed. Their encounters had been random and always ended in rough sex so to be viewed as anything other than a bluerider that played hard and enjoyed what he did seemed strange. He supposed it was just in the nature of those that rode female dragons to believe there was someone out there that would take their side and defend them and treat them kindly. D’hys was sure there was, like R’nd seemed to always be running for Person of the Year with how nice he was to everyone he met, but D’hys just wasn’t one of those guys. Well, unless he was playing someone and pretending to be sweet in order to get laid.

A’liran was a spitfire though and while he liked to call for equality, he also didn’t seem to be the type that wanted to be treated as if he was fragile and have someone there to always lean on. But when he curled back up on the bed and gave off the distinct impression that he was going to pussy out and whine and cry, D’hys was left confused. Maybe he should just leave and send a healer over to check on the damage left behind. That would be the easier option, the safer option in fact, even if it showed he might care on some level though it was easy enough to say he just didn’t like playing with broken toys if questioned.

It really was supposed to be easy, so much so that he got to his feet and was ready to leave but his feet wouldn’t budge. There was something unique about the greenrider, perhaps not the same uniqueness he had seen in Z’ia, but there was something that attracted D’hys and wouldn’t let him simply shove it aside and move on. He had a feeling that going too cold with this one would result in A’liran not biting at any bait given him later on and that just would not do.

Shaking his head in disbelief that he had found a scenario he couldn’t play through first, D’hys sank back down on the bed and swung his feet around so he could recline next to the curled up form of a defeated greenrider. “Let’s pretend I’m in a giving mood. What is it that you want out of me?”

A'liran managed to keep his tears to himself. Had D'hys gone through with his first inclination and simply left, the greenrider undoubtedly wouldn't have kept them in for long. He'd have given in the moment the other man's footsteps faded in the hallway. D'hys didn't leave, though. He stayed. For some reason - a reason A'liran wouldn't profess to understand - the man stayed.

The greenrider opened his eyes and looked lifelessly at the bluerider. There were no tears, or even any signs of them aside from a small bit of redness and puffiness, but there was no energy either. A'liran's brows briefly narrowed into a miniature scowl, but he lacked the fortitude to maintain it.

"I don't pretend," he grumbled lightly. 'Are you in a good mood or not? Fuck, I don't want to think what an asshole you'd be if you were in a bad mood," he continued, making a point of rolling to face the other direction. He groaned in discomfort as he did so, drawing up in frustration and ultimately, humiliation.

"Are you trying to mock me or something?" he asked miserably. He knew he was being hot and cold, but in his confused and weary state, it was the best he could do. He didn't have the strength to keep up his usual act. "I don't want anything from you, at least not that any bluerider is ever going to give."

“I’m always in a good mood. It’s whether or not I’m in a giving mood that we’re concerned with right now.” D’hys let A’liran scowl and sulk and do whatever else he wanted. It didn’t really bother him, not entirely. It was clearly enough to make him stay and find out more about the man that evening but in general, he was left unaffected by such reactions. He smiled at A’liran’s back when he realised he actually was in a giving mood since he was letting the man have his way with emotions and accusations. Z’ia would have a laugh at him about that if D’hys thought sharing what happened after the young bluerider left would be entertaining or cared about.

“If I was mocking you, you would know it. And I wouldn’t be ‘trying’ but succeeding.” The comment about not wanting anything, especially not from a bluerider, had D’hys giving a shrug and swinging his feet off the bed once more. “Then I guess we’re done here. Enjoy your time with your thoughts and I hope you have them figured out by the next time we meet, A’liran.” With that said, D’hys rose from the bed and made for the exit. He loved head games and A’liran was an interesting little puzzle of anger and desire but the bluerider had been sitting around for a bit waiting for the man to wake and then they weren’t getting anywhere now. Even he had a limit on how much he could take in one meeting.

Besides, this would leave A’liran confused and thinking about him far more than he normally would and that thought sat well with D’hys.

A'liran laid there in silence as D'hys finished his comments and stood. The greenrider lifted his head curiously, not sure if he was glad to see the bluerider leave or not, or if he even believed he would leave. Moments later, that question was answered. A'liran watched with mixed feelings as the bluerider left, his sudden departure having exactly the intended effect.

Would he have listened, had Ali given him a chance? Would he have stayed if he'd been asked? What would have come of it?

It took A'liran a while to get up and pull his boots on. He just couldn't make up his mind regarding the whole situation. Was D'hys teasing him? Leading him on in hopes of another encounter? Or was there a human being in there somewhere?

Shard it, A'liran was going to have to find out now. He just wasn't sure when, or how.

He'd have to think about it.