Post by Dean Harper on Jun 27, 2024 5:01:07 GMT
The camera comes on to Dean sitting out on a balcony, under the stars, “The ill fate alliance between myself in April I thought was at an end last week. But what is one more? April is Innocent, ruthless, and bloodstained by association. But we’ve managed this far. I know I can at least count on her to hold her own thus far. Once more into the fray.”
“Trust is a tricky thing. It's not something that comes easily, at least not for me. I’ve been burned before. It’s hard to open up again after that. Every time I start to trust someone, I remember how it felt when that trust was broken. I don’t apologize for things I’ve done in the past. But trust me, little sister of my little sister, as long as we are a team nothing bad will happen to you if I can stop it. I’ve got your back. Try and have mine. Loyalty to your Murder notwithstanding.”
He could ignore the implications that Warren didn’t love him. He could ignore the smug assertion that no one would ever love him. The comments about the rape... No. Dean wanted to drink. He hadn’t had a drink since the separation last September. He had assumed it was part of the reason Warren had wanted to leave. He’d used it as a crutch to silence the voices, the memories of what Uriel had done, the memories of his past. But he had a firmer hold on himself now. One drink in celebration wasn’t going to kill him.
The reference to the …weakness, the worst moment of his life should have left the bastard and his cunt dead. But he’d stayed his hand. Warren cared about them. And he was nothing if not a loving husband who would do what Warren asked, even if the leash was starting to strain on his throat.
“So! Where are we going?” April asked excitedly as she practically skipped up to him outside the venue of their latest victory.
“There’s a vampire bar. Sounded fun. Want to go?”
“Are they gonna drink our blood?”
“God I hope so.” Dean grinned and she laughed. “Come on, live a little.”
“Are Warren and Brooklyn coming with us?”
“Do you want them to?”
“I…I don’t think Brooklyn would be chill if it was just us.”
“You’ve got to cut the cord at some point. She can’t expect you to be a little kid forever. Don’t you trust me?”
“See, that’s the kind of creepy talk that makes people think you’re a serial killer.” April playfully shoved him.
Dean laughed, “No worries. Send her the invite.”
“Are you going to invite Warren?”
“Sure.” Dean shrugged.
“Aren’t you two… you know, good now?”
“Yeah, we’re great. Perfect even. But he’s got things.” Dean waved it off.
“Hello, little brother.” Dean smiles at the camera. “Have you missed me as much as I’ve missed you?”
“Oh my brother, my brother. Who have you become in the wake of all that’s happened here?”
“I’ve been watching of course. Always love to watch you work. It’s what big brothers are for, isn’t it? Supporting. Loving. Protecting. Now, I don’t protect you, one might say. I’d argue I do it more than anyone else has ever protected you. Because the thing is, the world is a dark and terrible place. People hate things they don’t understand, what they can’t control. And no one can control you. We were not creatures born, little brother, we were fires set. Fire can’t be controlled, not forever. And I’ve enjoyed you growing.”
“It’s about time you left the nest, little brother. Not because like them, I don’t think you gain advantages from your mother and aunt. But because I know what it is like to cling so tightly to the family bond. Sooner or later they will push you from the nest. It’s better to try and fly now than to haul to the ground. I imagine…” Dean looks up to the stars in the sky above, “It’s a lot like what the legions felt when they were cast from heaven. The first rebellion was about wanting to replace God on his throne. Hatred and pride. The second, an angel of the watchers led a rebellion for love. Loved humanity so much they wanted to be with them.”
Dean is quiet a moment, “Sooner or later, you have to learn you are the only one you can depend on. Rotten children don’t deserve heaven and you will never be clean.”
Dean shakes his head, “But the point being, I heard everything you’ve been saying about me. I know you did not throw your name out to fight me for the world title when I had it because you wanted to come with the briefcase. A moment stolen from us both by fate. But what fortune we have this moment to have that reunion. The last few times haven’t gone my way. I beat you. You beat me. You and Father beat me. Am I forgetting a fight? It’s possible. A few too many hits to the head do that.” He laughs a little.
“I have been looking forward to getting you close once more. I want you to understand this comes from a place of love though. I’ve seen how much you have grown, how great and terrible you have become. Multiple belts. Accomplishments upon accolades. A daughter. A new muse, the lovely little spider, and trust I will get to her in a minute.” Dean winks. “But I’ve accepted things that I hadn’t before. I do love you, little brother. And because I do love you I will not hold back. Things have changed. I’m no longer trying to be something I’m not. I’m feeling more and more my old self. And because I love you, I will express it the only way I know how. Violently. I will leave you smoldering and bloody, forgive me.”
“Is it gauche to say the Little Spider is who I’ve wanted to fight all tournament? All dark, all bloody? Be still my beating heart.” Dean claps his hands together, “Black Widow. Some might find someone with that nickname dating their brother concerning. What is love if not a game of trying not to let the other destroy you? The wolf loved the deer. It ripped the deer’s throat out nonetheless. I like you. Honestly. I love the violence. I love the rage. You’re a predator. I’m a sucker for a girl who could kill me. Not the type to poach, so relax, little brother. Just admiring your taste is all.”
“Truth is, Little Spider, that I’ve been in someone else’s web before. In a different time and a different place, I worshipped someone very much like you. She taught me the pleasure of pain and the understanding that only really comes from embracing the darkest parts of myself. I was her favorite once. But all being a god’s favorite means is you get hurt, toyed with and tortured more than anyone else, martyred, and suffering for eternity for all the things you gave up for a smile. You’re not her, don’t worry I won't get confused by that. I know what you will bring out of me. And can I tell you a secret?” Dean licks his teeth, “I’ve missed that part of myself most. There’s a hole that nothing else fills."
"Bestial and feral.” Dean shivers, “Mmm, the good old days. I miss them.”
“Is it in poor taste to ask for it nicely?” Dean seems almost giddy at the idea. “No rules to keep us from playing, is there? I should send Roberto a fruit basket for the chance to get to dance. I want to play with you. I want to see if you can do what she did. You can, can’t you? One predator to another, why not make this the place to revel in it? I know you have to feel the restraints and the ties have to make that place under your skin itch. I can take anything you dish out. Don’t worry about pretty points. Just the pain. I’ll give as good as I get, that I can promise.”
“As for the voyeurs on the sidelines, Amour and Terella… well, I assume nothing needs addressing there." Dean licks his teeth, "Just sit back and watch the fun.”
“Moral of the story little brother and little spider, I will gut you if I have to. I will carve my way to victory with my teeth. With victory comes the chance to hurt. I like winning. True wealth comes from the inside, not from money or influence. I don’t need titles for that. And this is the kind of match I missed when I had one. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. Death denies one the chance to transcend. And I want to see what you can become after we are done.”
“Trust is a tricky thing. It's not something that comes easily, at least not for me. I’ve been burned before. It’s hard to open up again after that. Every time I start to trust someone, I remember how it felt when that trust was broken. I don’t apologize for things I’ve done in the past. But trust me, little sister of my little sister, as long as we are a team nothing bad will happen to you if I can stop it. I’ve got your back. Try and have mine. Loyalty to your Murder notwithstanding.”
He could ignore the implications that Warren didn’t love him. He could ignore the smug assertion that no one would ever love him. The comments about the rape... No. Dean wanted to drink. He hadn’t had a drink since the separation last September. He had assumed it was part of the reason Warren had wanted to leave. He’d used it as a crutch to silence the voices, the memories of what Uriel had done, the memories of his past. But he had a firmer hold on himself now. One drink in celebration wasn’t going to kill him.
The reference to the …weakness, the worst moment of his life should have left the bastard and his cunt dead. But he’d stayed his hand. Warren cared about them. And he was nothing if not a loving husband who would do what Warren asked, even if the leash was starting to strain on his throat.
“So! Where are we going?” April asked excitedly as she practically skipped up to him outside the venue of their latest victory.
“There’s a vampire bar. Sounded fun. Want to go?”
“Are they gonna drink our blood?”
“God I hope so.” Dean grinned and she laughed. “Come on, live a little.”
“Are Warren and Brooklyn coming with us?”
“Do you want them to?”
“I…I don’t think Brooklyn would be chill if it was just us.”
“You’ve got to cut the cord at some point. She can’t expect you to be a little kid forever. Don’t you trust me?”
“See, that’s the kind of creepy talk that makes people think you’re a serial killer.” April playfully shoved him.
Dean laughed, “No worries. Send her the invite.”
“Are you going to invite Warren?”
“Sure.” Dean shrugged.
“Aren’t you two… you know, good now?”
“Yeah, we’re great. Perfect even. But he’s got things.” Dean waved it off.
“Hello, little brother.” Dean smiles at the camera. “Have you missed me as much as I’ve missed you?”
“Oh my brother, my brother. Who have you become in the wake of all that’s happened here?”
“I’ve been watching of course. Always love to watch you work. It’s what big brothers are for, isn’t it? Supporting. Loving. Protecting. Now, I don’t protect you, one might say. I’d argue I do it more than anyone else has ever protected you. Because the thing is, the world is a dark and terrible place. People hate things they don’t understand, what they can’t control. And no one can control you. We were not creatures born, little brother, we were fires set. Fire can’t be controlled, not forever. And I’ve enjoyed you growing.”
“It’s about time you left the nest, little brother. Not because like them, I don’t think you gain advantages from your mother and aunt. But because I know what it is like to cling so tightly to the family bond. Sooner or later they will push you from the nest. It’s better to try and fly now than to haul to the ground. I imagine…” Dean looks up to the stars in the sky above, “It’s a lot like what the legions felt when they were cast from heaven. The first rebellion was about wanting to replace God on his throne. Hatred and pride. The second, an angel of the watchers led a rebellion for love. Loved humanity so much they wanted to be with them.”
Dean is quiet a moment, “Sooner or later, you have to learn you are the only one you can depend on. Rotten children don’t deserve heaven and you will never be clean.”
Dean shakes his head, “But the point being, I heard everything you’ve been saying about me. I know you did not throw your name out to fight me for the world title when I had it because you wanted to come with the briefcase. A moment stolen from us both by fate. But what fortune we have this moment to have that reunion. The last few times haven’t gone my way. I beat you. You beat me. You and Father beat me. Am I forgetting a fight? It’s possible. A few too many hits to the head do that.” He laughs a little.
“I have been looking forward to getting you close once more. I want you to understand this comes from a place of love though. I’ve seen how much you have grown, how great and terrible you have become. Multiple belts. Accomplishments upon accolades. A daughter. A new muse, the lovely little spider, and trust I will get to her in a minute.” Dean winks. “But I’ve accepted things that I hadn’t before. I do love you, little brother. And because I do love you I will not hold back. Things have changed. I’m no longer trying to be something I’m not. I’m feeling more and more my old self. And because I love you, I will express it the only way I know how. Violently. I will leave you smoldering and bloody, forgive me.”
“Is it gauche to say the Little Spider is who I’ve wanted to fight all tournament? All dark, all bloody? Be still my beating heart.” Dean claps his hands together, “Black Widow. Some might find someone with that nickname dating their brother concerning. What is love if not a game of trying not to let the other destroy you? The wolf loved the deer. It ripped the deer’s throat out nonetheless. I like you. Honestly. I love the violence. I love the rage. You’re a predator. I’m a sucker for a girl who could kill me. Not the type to poach, so relax, little brother. Just admiring your taste is all.”
“Truth is, Little Spider, that I’ve been in someone else’s web before. In a different time and a different place, I worshipped someone very much like you. She taught me the pleasure of pain and the understanding that only really comes from embracing the darkest parts of myself. I was her favorite once. But all being a god’s favorite means is you get hurt, toyed with and tortured more than anyone else, martyred, and suffering for eternity for all the things you gave up for a smile. You’re not her, don’t worry I won't get confused by that. I know what you will bring out of me. And can I tell you a secret?” Dean licks his teeth, “I’ve missed that part of myself most. There’s a hole that nothing else fills."
"Bestial and feral.” Dean shivers, “Mmm, the good old days. I miss them.”
“Is it in poor taste to ask for it nicely?” Dean seems almost giddy at the idea. “No rules to keep us from playing, is there? I should send Roberto a fruit basket for the chance to get to dance. I want to play with you. I want to see if you can do what she did. You can, can’t you? One predator to another, why not make this the place to revel in it? I know you have to feel the restraints and the ties have to make that place under your skin itch. I can take anything you dish out. Don’t worry about pretty points. Just the pain. I’ll give as good as I get, that I can promise.”
“As for the voyeurs on the sidelines, Amour and Terella… well, I assume nothing needs addressing there." Dean licks his teeth, "Just sit back and watch the fun.”
“Moral of the story little brother and little spider, I will gut you if I have to. I will carve my way to victory with my teeth. With victory comes the chance to hurt. I like winning. True wealth comes from the inside, not from money or influence. I don’t need titles for that. And this is the kind of match I missed when I had one. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. Death denies one the chance to transcend. And I want to see what you can become after we are done.”