Fic: Stained Glass I: Shattered (6/10)
Title: Stained Glass I: Shattered (6/10)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Steve/Diana
Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Rating (this chapter): R
Warnings (this chapter): Sexual violence (flashbacks/dreams)
Spoilers: References in various chapters to events in "Until The Yellow Sun Blesses You Again...".
General Summary: Diana and Steve’s love has always been strong, and they have always had each other’s back. Now they need that strength and teamwork when they are captured during a war on an alien planet.
Summary: Storm.
Date Of Completion: January 26, 2008
Date Of Posting: February 2, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1295
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Further Notes here.
All chapters can be found here.
I decided to use the aliens from "Until The Yellow Sun Blesses You Again...". Why waste good bad guys and their vicious winged pets? ;)
Yeah, I labelled this "One" as in first-in-a-series, because I think a sequel might be in order. If I don’t write one, I’ll just knock off the Roman numeral.
In an aside, I’m glad that we were taught Roman numerals in grade school, otherwise how could we know which Super Bowl it is? ;)
VI
JAGGED
Wash away
Thy sins,
Thy pain,
Let it rain.
Emily Adams Cutler
“Yellow Roses And Other Poems”
1859 C.E.
Fetid breath blew on the back of his neck and he twisted, trying to throw off the weight that crushed him, a groan torn out of him as pain sliced through his body, a rough hand pulling his head back by the hair as another hand ran down his spine and then sharp teeth pierced his shoulder…
“I’m going to taste all of you, Yellow Hair,” whispered the mocking voice, and the weight moved, pain exploding in his lower body and stars pinwheeled behind his eyes…
& & & & & &
He woke, choking, only vague images skittering around the edges of his mind as Diana touched his arm.
“Steve, what…?”
He quickly stood up. “It’s nothing, I need to go for a swim, please, go back to sleep…”
And he was in the water, cutting off his babbling and her concern, except the concern followed him as he swam away, deep into the moonlight dancing on the water, trying to calm his racing heart, compulsively clutching and unclutching his Medal.
His head pounded and he felt a burning inside him. His limbs were shaking and he felt hot, trying desperately to cool off, trying desperately not to remember the dream…
The skin on his back felt tight, like healing scars, and he felt nauseous. His legs ached as he swam still further out, feeling his Angel’s eyes on him, regretting how he was worrying her, wishing he could stop his jitters.
He dove beneath the water, letting it all wash over him. He couldn’t stand not being clean, not staying clean, every time he left the water he felt as if he was carrying around a film of grime and dirt and he had to get clean…
He broke the surface, water and hair in his eyes, and he moved to push the hair out of his eyes.
“Yellow Hair.”
He froze, hand trembling, then dove again, coming up as his lungs burned. He still felt hot, his nerves a jangled mess, and he turned to see Diana standing on the shore, a Goddess in the moonlight.
He swam toward her. He couldn’t worry her anymore.
He couldn’t add to her burden.
He came up out of the water, attempting to smile.
“Sorry, Angel.”
“It’s all right.” But her voice was thick with worry.
“I…I’ve got the jangles tonight. I’m sorry.”
She smiled a little, then removed the short cloth she wore to sleep at night. “I’m a little jangly, too. Swim?”
His nerves calmed a little. “Sure.”
They swam like paired dolphins through the silver water, twisting and turning like synchronized swimmers. They had always been in sync.
Steve realized that they weren’t quite in sync anymore.
Sadness washed over him.
& & & & & &
Steve’s eyes were very bright the next morning, and Diana was utterly charmed. Sapphire-blue eyes were always beautiful, but they seemed to glow like jewels this sunny morn.
They ate breakfast and packed up, Steve joking, “We’ll be in great shape when this is all over with all this walking, Angel.” He adjusted his Medal.
Diana had to smile. “You’re right.”
They walked all morning, Diana still enjoying those bright eyes.
Very bright.
Too bright.
She stopped and said, “Steve.”
“Yes?”
“I want to feel your forehead.”
“Why?”
“I want to check for fever.”
“Oh, I don’t have a fever, Angel...”
Her hand was on his brow and he stumbled back, panic fluttering in his chest.
“You’re burning up!”
He licked dry lips. “I…I feel a little hot, but I’m still able to walk.”
She bit her lip. “Steve, we have no medicines with us, not even a first aid kit. I…”
“It’s all right, Angel.” He smiled, albeit shakily. “It’s not really surprising that I’d get an infection, would it? We’ve been eating strange things and are on a strange planet. I don’t have immunity built up. Once we get to Tara I’ll be fine.” He scooped up a handful of dirt as they resumed walking. “See all this red soil? Just like Tara in Gone With The Wind.” He smiled. “We Irish, or in my case, Irish-Americans, have a love for the land. Rich soil means growing things and prosperity. We won’t have far to go.”
Diana nodded slowly.
When they stopped for lunch, Steve gratefully entered the water. He wanted to not just wash off the grime, but to cool off.
He swam and Diana joined him. It was his turn to make lunch and he would do so as soon as he made a few laps around the area.
He had a headache but didn’t mention it. They had no aspirin so he had to tough it out.
He just wished he wasn’t burning from the inside out.
“Hey, Angel, keep swimming. It won’t take me long to make lunch.”
She nodded and he swam back.
Neither noticed the thin trail of blood in the water.
& & & & & &
Diana wiped him down with a cloth, Steve trying not to tense at her touch. The reaction barely registered with him as he felt chills run through his body, then waves of heat as a thin sheen of sweat formed on his skin.
He wanted to wash it off.
“Try and rest, Steve,” Diana said softly. They had stopped for the night.
“I’ll try, Angel.” He felt sluggish, his head aching and his body hurting in so many places…
Fitfully, he fell asleep.
& & & & & &
He was being smothered, weight pressing on him as he coughed and gagged, bitterness trickling down his throat and nails raking down his back, his fingers clawing at the dirt, trying to breath, trying to block out the mocking laughter as the voice in his ear purred, “Ready for the next one, my pretty?”
He screamed at the final push of white-hot pain…
& & & & & &
Throat raw, he screamed and screamed again, strong hands grabbing his shoulders. In a blind panic he shoved the hands away and staggered to his feet, running toward the water…
& & & & & &
As they settled for the night, Diana tried to sleep, but Steve’s restlessness kept her awake. She heard moans escape his lips and felt sick.
His eyes had been cloudy with fever by the end of the day.
She could only imagine what must be going on in his fevered mind.
She turned and her body jolted as Steve screamed.
The screams tore out of him in a terrified tumble and he sat upright, eyes wide with terror as his body shook. Unthinkingly she grabbed his shoulders and he pushed her away, running toward the river, grabbing a cloth from the pile atop the saddlebag.
He splashed into the river, tearing off his nightwear, standing knee-deep, scrubbing hard, scrubbing harshly, scrubbing his arms and chest and shoulders and stomach and thighs until he nearly bled…
Diana rushed into the water, terror clutching her heart. He started to keen, sobbing, “I have to get clean, I’m dirty, they…they…I’m filthy, Angel, I can’t…no, don’t touch me!” He jerked away from her hand. “I’m tainted! My beautiful Angel, so good, so…you can’t want me, with this filth clinging to me…!”
His voice rose to hysterical pain, and he suddenly dropped to his knees, face contorted in pain, a howl of agony tearing away at Diana’s heart and tears running down both their faces as his head bowed, her arms gently going around him and he grabbed them, shaking but holding on this time for dear life as the storm swirled around them like the river’s endless current…
this counter installed 11/19/09
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Steve/Diana
Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Rating (this chapter): R
Warnings (this chapter): Sexual violence (flashbacks/dreams)
Spoilers: References in various chapters to events in "Until The Yellow Sun Blesses You Again...".
General Summary: Diana and Steve’s love has always been strong, and they have always had each other’s back. Now they need that strength and teamwork when they are captured during a war on an alien planet.
Summary: Storm.
Date Of Completion: January 26, 2008
Date Of Posting: February 2, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1295
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Further Notes here.
All chapters can be found here.
I decided to use the aliens from "Until The Yellow Sun Blesses You Again...". Why waste good bad guys and their vicious winged pets? ;)
Yeah, I labelled this "One" as in first-in-a-series, because I think a sequel might be in order. If I don’t write one, I’ll just knock off the Roman numeral.
In an aside, I’m glad that we were taught Roman numerals in grade school, otherwise how could we know which Super Bowl it is? ;)
VI
JAGGED
Wash away
Thy sins,
Thy pain,
Let it rain.
Emily Adams Cutler
“Yellow Roses And Other Poems”
1859 C.E.
Fetid breath blew on the back of his neck and he twisted, trying to throw off the weight that crushed him, a groan torn out of him as pain sliced through his body, a rough hand pulling his head back by the hair as another hand ran down his spine and then sharp teeth pierced his shoulder…
“I’m going to taste all of you, Yellow Hair,” whispered the mocking voice, and the weight moved, pain exploding in his lower body and stars pinwheeled behind his eyes…
& & & & & &
He woke, choking, only vague images skittering around the edges of his mind as Diana touched his arm.
“Steve, what…?”
He quickly stood up. “It’s nothing, I need to go for a swim, please, go back to sleep…”
And he was in the water, cutting off his babbling and her concern, except the concern followed him as he swam away, deep into the moonlight dancing on the water, trying to calm his racing heart, compulsively clutching and unclutching his Medal.
His head pounded and he felt a burning inside him. His limbs were shaking and he felt hot, trying desperately to cool off, trying desperately not to remember the dream…
The skin on his back felt tight, like healing scars, and he felt nauseous. His legs ached as he swam still further out, feeling his Angel’s eyes on him, regretting how he was worrying her, wishing he could stop his jitters.
He dove beneath the water, letting it all wash over him. He couldn’t stand not being clean, not staying clean, every time he left the water he felt as if he was carrying around a film of grime and dirt and he had to get clean…
He broke the surface, water and hair in his eyes, and he moved to push the hair out of his eyes.
“Yellow Hair.”
He froze, hand trembling, then dove again, coming up as his lungs burned. He still felt hot, his nerves a jangled mess, and he turned to see Diana standing on the shore, a Goddess in the moonlight.
He swam toward her. He couldn’t worry her anymore.
He couldn’t add to her burden.
He came up out of the water, attempting to smile.
“Sorry, Angel.”
“It’s all right.” But her voice was thick with worry.
“I…I’ve got the jangles tonight. I’m sorry.”
She smiled a little, then removed the short cloth she wore to sleep at night. “I’m a little jangly, too. Swim?”
His nerves calmed a little. “Sure.”
They swam like paired dolphins through the silver water, twisting and turning like synchronized swimmers. They had always been in sync.
Steve realized that they weren’t quite in sync anymore.
Sadness washed over him.
& & & & & &
Steve’s eyes were very bright the next morning, and Diana was utterly charmed. Sapphire-blue eyes were always beautiful, but they seemed to glow like jewels this sunny morn.
They ate breakfast and packed up, Steve joking, “We’ll be in great shape when this is all over with all this walking, Angel.” He adjusted his Medal.
Diana had to smile. “You’re right.”
They walked all morning, Diana still enjoying those bright eyes.
Very bright.
Too bright.
She stopped and said, “Steve.”
“Yes?”
“I want to feel your forehead.”
“Why?”
“I want to check for fever.”
“Oh, I don’t have a fever, Angel...”
Her hand was on his brow and he stumbled back, panic fluttering in his chest.
“You’re burning up!”
He licked dry lips. “I…I feel a little hot, but I’m still able to walk.”
She bit her lip. “Steve, we have no medicines with us, not even a first aid kit. I…”
“It’s all right, Angel.” He smiled, albeit shakily. “It’s not really surprising that I’d get an infection, would it? We’ve been eating strange things and are on a strange planet. I don’t have immunity built up. Once we get to Tara I’ll be fine.” He scooped up a handful of dirt as they resumed walking. “See all this red soil? Just like Tara in Gone With The Wind.” He smiled. “We Irish, or in my case, Irish-Americans, have a love for the land. Rich soil means growing things and prosperity. We won’t have far to go.”
Diana nodded slowly.
When they stopped for lunch, Steve gratefully entered the water. He wanted to not just wash off the grime, but to cool off.
He swam and Diana joined him. It was his turn to make lunch and he would do so as soon as he made a few laps around the area.
He had a headache but didn’t mention it. They had no aspirin so he had to tough it out.
He just wished he wasn’t burning from the inside out.
“Hey, Angel, keep swimming. It won’t take me long to make lunch.”
She nodded and he swam back.
Neither noticed the thin trail of blood in the water.
& & & & & &
Diana wiped him down with a cloth, Steve trying not to tense at her touch. The reaction barely registered with him as he felt chills run through his body, then waves of heat as a thin sheen of sweat formed on his skin.
He wanted to wash it off.
“Try and rest, Steve,” Diana said softly. They had stopped for the night.
“I’ll try, Angel.” He felt sluggish, his head aching and his body hurting in so many places…
Fitfully, he fell asleep.
& & & & & &
He was being smothered, weight pressing on him as he coughed and gagged, bitterness trickling down his throat and nails raking down his back, his fingers clawing at the dirt, trying to breath, trying to block out the mocking laughter as the voice in his ear purred, “Ready for the next one, my pretty?”
He screamed at the final push of white-hot pain…
& & & & & &
Throat raw, he screamed and screamed again, strong hands grabbing his shoulders. In a blind panic he shoved the hands away and staggered to his feet, running toward the water…
& & & & & &
As they settled for the night, Diana tried to sleep, but Steve’s restlessness kept her awake. She heard moans escape his lips and felt sick.
His eyes had been cloudy with fever by the end of the day.
She could only imagine what must be going on in his fevered mind.
She turned and her body jolted as Steve screamed.
The screams tore out of him in a terrified tumble and he sat upright, eyes wide with terror as his body shook. Unthinkingly she grabbed his shoulders and he pushed her away, running toward the river, grabbing a cloth from the pile atop the saddlebag.
He splashed into the river, tearing off his nightwear, standing knee-deep, scrubbing hard, scrubbing harshly, scrubbing his arms and chest and shoulders and stomach and thighs until he nearly bled…
Diana rushed into the water, terror clutching her heart. He started to keen, sobbing, “I have to get clean, I’m dirty, they…they…I’m filthy, Angel, I can’t…no, don’t touch me!” He jerked away from her hand. “I’m tainted! My beautiful Angel, so good, so…you can’t want me, with this filth clinging to me…!”
His voice rose to hysterical pain, and he suddenly dropped to his knees, face contorted in pain, a howl of agony tearing away at Diana’s heart and tears running down both their faces as his head bowed, her arms gently going around him and he grabbed them, shaking but holding on this time for dear life as the storm swirled around them like the river’s endless current…
this counter installed 11/19/09