smapfic day 31! - we become light, chapter forty
Almost done!
Title: We Become Light
Pairings: Nakai/Tsuyoshi, Kimura/Shingo/Goro
Rating: R for violence and swearing
Notes: Five men meet in a dystopian cyberpunk future to free their city from the Tower, with the help of motorcycle rebels, mysterious memories, and love.
On Goro's map, the final floor of the Tower had been a blank circle.
It was, in fact, accurate.
The room was darkened, illuminated only by a thin grey light choked by cloud and rain. There was no furniture, nothing but a warped hardwood floor stretching from wall to wall; rain seeped in through the ceiling, dripping steadily into pools that stained the wood dark. The decor spoke of a government with delusions of grandeur, now torn and tattered, fallen into darkness and disrepair. It seemed impossible that the Tower could have been commanded from here.
Yet, from the darkness came footsteps, five sets approaching around them as if emerging from the walls of the Tower itself.
You have come.
The wind began to rise, clouds twisting restlessly. The Leaders-- the Five Stars-- stood in silhouette against the bleak light.
You will kill us.
"No." Shingo looked from silhouette to silhouette, his voice steady. "We've come to defeat you."
You want to kill us. The rain beat down harder, lashed by the wind. You fear forgetting, do you not? You fear we will take away that which is most precious to you--
"Nothing will take that away," Goro cut in, more expression in his eyes than perhaps ever in his life. "Those you commanded tried to and could not. Neither will you."
The wind began to howl, circling the Tower. There is no other way to defeat us. We will consume this city, we will consume you, and you will forget, forget, forget--
"You're the ones who've forgotten." Kimura raised his chin defiantly at the darkness. "Do you even remember why you hunted us down in first place?"
We know what you carry. The voices grew contemptuous, the clouds seeming to sneer. Such things cannot hurt us.
"Of course they won't," Tsuyoshi replied, soft smile on his lips. "They're going to save you instead."
Do you really think we can be saved? One of the figures stepped closer, wood creaking underfoot. You know what we have done. You know what we have become. The floor was streaked dark at her feet, not the mark of rain but older. Who would choose to become us?
"They will," Nakai told them. He faced the figure of his other self, no doubt left in his heart. "They want to return. They know where the real battle lies."
Above, a crack of thunder sounded, sharp and rolling, like derisive laughter. As though you can fight me.
Lightning flashed, and for a split-second the room was brilliantly bathed in cold white light. The faces of the Five Stars lingered in afterimage; they were the same as the day they'd stepped into that room, unchanged despite the passing of so many years.
Do you think you have come here for the Five Stars? The wind grew louder, roaring around the Tower as though searching for a way in. Do you know what you are really facing?
It, the plain-faced man had said, gazing up as though through the ceiling. Nakai reached back, catching Shingo's hand. Shingo slipped his other hand into Kimura's, Goro following suit between Kimura and Tsuyoshi, until they faced outward in a circle. "We'll fight you no matter what you are. You can't have our city."
The darkened figures slowly stepped forward, closing in around them. I will consume you. Thunder shook the tower, rain clawed at the windows-- a monster, beating its way in. I will consume everything.
They stood their ground, shoulder to shoulder, as the Five Stars approached-- this was it, this was what had brought them here-- hands reached out to pull, tear, strangle--
And the room filled with blinding white light, not the cold brilliance of lightning but warmer, from within. They opened their eyes to see the Five Stars, no longer shrouded in darkness. The Five stared at their hands, at each other, and then-- finally, with smiles that spoke of a long journey at its end-- grasped each other's hands tightly.
You saved us, the youngest said, her smile bright with hope once more. Thank you.
You gave us what we needed to fight, the one next to her said, glancing at those she stood between warmly.
We wish we could fight the last battle with you, the third added, returning the glance with a smile of his own.
But I'm afraid we can't stay any longer, the other man said, with a gentle expression.
It is your hearts the city will listen to, now. The oldest, holding her companions' hands tightly. This fight is yours.
The windows shattered, wind and rain whipping through the room in wild anger-- but it did not reach the five who stood in the middle. The Five Stars guarded them, with the last of their lives.
The fight was theirs, now. They looked at each other, a wordless exchange of hope, determination, love-- and then turned to face the storm. They knew, now, how to fight it, not with fear or anger or hatred-- they held on tightly to each other, and let go.
They became light.
Title: We Become Light
Pairings: Nakai/Tsuyoshi, Kimura/Shingo/Goro
Rating: R for violence and swearing
Notes: Five men meet in a dystopian cyberpunk future to free their city from the Tower, with the help of motorcycle rebels, mysterious memories, and love.
On Goro's map, the final floor of the Tower had been a blank circle.
It was, in fact, accurate.
The room was darkened, illuminated only by a thin grey light choked by cloud and rain. There was no furniture, nothing but a warped hardwood floor stretching from wall to wall; rain seeped in through the ceiling, dripping steadily into pools that stained the wood dark. The decor spoke of a government with delusions of grandeur, now torn and tattered, fallen into darkness and disrepair. It seemed impossible that the Tower could have been commanded from here.
Yet, from the darkness came footsteps, five sets approaching around them as if emerging from the walls of the Tower itself.
You have come.
The wind began to rise, clouds twisting restlessly. The Leaders-- the Five Stars-- stood in silhouette against the bleak light.
You will kill us.
"No." Shingo looked from silhouette to silhouette, his voice steady. "We've come to defeat you."
You want to kill us. The rain beat down harder, lashed by the wind. You fear forgetting, do you not? You fear we will take away that which is most precious to you--
"Nothing will take that away," Goro cut in, more expression in his eyes than perhaps ever in his life. "Those you commanded tried to and could not. Neither will you."
The wind began to howl, circling the Tower. There is no other way to defeat us. We will consume this city, we will consume you, and you will forget, forget, forget--
"You're the ones who've forgotten." Kimura raised his chin defiantly at the darkness. "Do you even remember why you hunted us down in first place?"
We know what you carry. The voices grew contemptuous, the clouds seeming to sneer. Such things cannot hurt us.
"Of course they won't," Tsuyoshi replied, soft smile on his lips. "They're going to save you instead."
Do you really think we can be saved? One of the figures stepped closer, wood creaking underfoot. You know what we have done. You know what we have become. The floor was streaked dark at her feet, not the mark of rain but older. Who would choose to become us?
"They will," Nakai told them. He faced the figure of his other self, no doubt left in his heart. "They want to return. They know where the real battle lies."
Above, a crack of thunder sounded, sharp and rolling, like derisive laughter. As though you can fight me.
Lightning flashed, and for a split-second the room was brilliantly bathed in cold white light. The faces of the Five Stars lingered in afterimage; they were the same as the day they'd stepped into that room, unchanged despite the passing of so many years.
Do you think you have come here for the Five Stars? The wind grew louder, roaring around the Tower as though searching for a way in. Do you know what you are really facing?
It, the plain-faced man had said, gazing up as though through the ceiling. Nakai reached back, catching Shingo's hand. Shingo slipped his other hand into Kimura's, Goro following suit between Kimura and Tsuyoshi, until they faced outward in a circle. "We'll fight you no matter what you are. You can't have our city."
The darkened figures slowly stepped forward, closing in around them. I will consume you. Thunder shook the tower, rain clawed at the windows-- a monster, beating its way in. I will consume everything.
They stood their ground, shoulder to shoulder, as the Five Stars approached-- this was it, this was what had brought them here-- hands reached out to pull, tear, strangle--
And the room filled with blinding white light, not the cold brilliance of lightning but warmer, from within. They opened their eyes to see the Five Stars, no longer shrouded in darkness. The Five stared at their hands, at each other, and then-- finally, with smiles that spoke of a long journey at its end-- grasped each other's hands tightly.
You saved us, the youngest said, her smile bright with hope once more. Thank you.
You gave us what we needed to fight, the one next to her said, glancing at those she stood between warmly.
We wish we could fight the last battle with you, the third added, returning the glance with a smile of his own.
But I'm afraid we can't stay any longer, the other man said, with a gentle expression.
It is your hearts the city will listen to, now. The oldest, holding her companions' hands tightly. This fight is yours.
The windows shattered, wind and rain whipping through the room in wild anger-- but it did not reach the five who stood in the middle. The Five Stars guarded them, with the last of their lives.
The fight was theirs, now. They looked at each other, a wordless exchange of hope, determination, love-- and then turned to face the storm. They knew, now, how to fight it, not with fear or anger or hatred-- they held on tightly to each other, and let go.
They became light.