Post by Dean Harper on Nov 2, 2024 4:03:21 GMT
The camera comes on to Dean Dean standing in the wreckage of a city with smoke rising from the cracks in the pavement from the mine fires that have been burning for decades.
“Little sister.” Dean smiles sharply at the camera. “I figured for this finale, this last little dance in your quest that we should return to the place where we started. Last time we did this I spoke of my love for you, of the heavy burden that made me plunge that knife into the heart of the family we once were. But back then when I offered to mend the rift between us you spit in my face. You didn’t want the olive branch, you wanted my blood. To take back my head to that vengeful bitch. And I put you down. I took no pleasure in it.”
Dean put his hands behind his back as he leaned forward with a feral gleam in his eye, “But I will this time. There will be no pleasure quite like it when I put you down to the mat under my boot heel.”
“I didn’t want this. I never wanted this. All of this? You are the architect of this design. And my, my what beautiful carnage I have unleashed within it.” Dean beams at the camera, almost seeing through it to see the watcher.
“I might be Brutus. I may be Judas. I might be the oathbreaker who destroyed everything that brought you happiness but I did not do it alone. You made the choices that got us to where we are now. Your girls abandoned you because of what you did. I may have whispered the words that got them to turn but you were the one whose actions caused it. I’m just a man. You were the leader that sent them into hell and did not even have the courage to stand next to them. You abandoned them to me.”
“You should remember…Rowan at least had the basic knowledge of empathy to be there after a defeat, to make every loss feel like a lesson to help us rise above. You thought all you had to do was sit on a throne in the back and they would carry your flag.”
“Poor little sister. You really never did learn, did you? You could have found some more eager lapdogs to be at your beck and call. Terrella would have been a better tool in your toolkit. But you rely on sycophants and fangirls who could be twisted just as easily away. Where Rowan had the ability to turn and twist an enemy to an ally with the right pressure you’ve never been that gifted.”
“Did I want to hurt any of them? Mostly no. But I do what I do for the love of bloodshed. You've never had that hunger. You’ve never had that desire. But it’s okay. I’ll teach you one last time.”
Dean was livid. The idea that Warren would give away something that had been Max’s? The fact he would be so heartless and so fucking thoughtless made Dean see red.
“Daddy, can we slow down?” Damien asked and Dean stopped walking. “My feet hurt.”
Dean closed his eyes and counted to three. It wasn’t Damien’s fault. None of this was Damien’s fault. He’d only wanted to see the stupid museum. “Yeah…yeah we can slow down.”
“I wanted to see the ships.” Damien pouted. “You promised it wouldn’t be like this. You promised.”
Dean got down on Damien’s level, “You’re right. I didn’t mean to ruin this trip. I’m sorry. I lost my temper with Warren again when I promised to behave. I was trying. I really was. Things just…”
“Is it because of the ring? Do you want it?” Damien held it up to Dean.
Dean smiled, kissing Damien’s forehead, “No buddy. It’s yours. It always should have been.”
Shea caught up with them, “Hey Dean, you okay?”
Dean looked up at Shea and stood up, “Yeah. Peachy with a side of keen…”
“Lying is bad.” Damien said with a stomp.
“Right. Lying is bad.” Dean’s shoulders slumped. “No. I’m pissed off. But it's stupid to be angry at him. It’s just what he does.”
“It is, like. I’m not denying that. I’m sorry.”
“I appreciate that. But it’s not you who should. Or the goth wonder twins.” Dean shrugged. “But we both know he’s never been great at saying it so I appreciate it. I really thought there was nothing else he could do to piss me off like that.”
“He promised,” Damien added.
“I did. Which means Damien gets to pick five things from the gift shop because I broke my promise.”
“Yup.” Damien smiled at Shea.
“Wow, five?” Shea smiled at Damien. “That’s a lot, Daddy must be really sorry.”
“Very very.” Dean grinned.
“Could be six if you don’t say sorry.” Damien looked up at Dean.
“I’m not apologizing to him.” Dean scuffed.
“I had to apologize to Patrick!”
“That’s because you bit him. Biting is not okay.”
“Yelling isn’t okay either. Or swearing, right Aunty Shea?”
“Right,” Shea confirmed. “At least we know Damien’s smarter and more level headed than either you or Warren. Must get it from Max, like.”
“Most of his good traits are,” Dean admitted with a sigh.
“So that’s two against one, Daddy. That’s a ma-jory-ity. Like poplar vote. So you have to.” Damien looked proud of himself then to Shea, “Daddy got me a book on elections.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Dean rolled his eyes.
“Yey! Trip is saved!” Damien cheered.
“Glad to have helped,” Shea smiled.
“Could apologize to Auntie Brooklyn too.”
“Don’t push your luck, kiddo.” Dean ruffled Damien’s hair.
“Let’s go apologize to Da—Warren,” Damien said walking back the way they came.
“Warren still where we left him?” Dean asked looking at Shea as they walked.
“I assume so.”
“Sorry, I lowkey ruined your day too,” Dean said as they made it back to the Faith 7 ship display, Shea didn't reply and Dean wasn't surprised she didn't.
Abigail and Eternity had perhaps unsurprisingly moved on, but Warren was still here, waiting more on his best friend, Shea, than his ex-husband Dean. Warren sighed as Dean approached.
“I thought we were done here? I mean really, what more is there to say?”
Dean took a breath, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It’s your life and if you want to throw away things that you don’t want anymore that’s your business.”
“Thank you,” Warren was smug in his satisfaction. “About time you learned some humility, mate. Better late than never, I guess.”
Dean’s smile was tight, Warren was needling him but he’d promised Damien and he was going to stick to it. “Sure.”
“Good job, Daddy.” Damien encouraged Dean with a hug. “Now can we keep looking at rockets?”
Warren closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Seeing Dean being embraced by a son that should have been his disturbed him more than he’d ever let on before. Damien could have been his if he hadn’t been so terrified of cursing his own children as all Kanes inevitably did. Warren knew back then Dean was the better, healthier choice, and had convinced Maxine of that - a little too well - given he knew she absolutely preferred Dean to him. He’d been the third wheel, tolerated at best and pitied at worst.
“Whatever you want, Damo,” Warren said softly, pushing down the awkward lump of regret and self-loathing he suddenly felt. He was fundamentally unloved and unlovable, and always would be.
Dean smiled ruffling Damien’s hair, “Pick a direction, kiddo.”
Warren sheepishly followed Damien.
Dean walks down the halls of an old abandoned compound backward with the practiced steps of someone who knew it well, hand tracing along the wall.
“I think you forgot what this was about in your obsession over all my betrayals. I was her most loyal. When someone took her from me, I burned the company to get my vengeance. I went for blood. I ripped and I tore the stone from the wall until the simple rules of this company stopped me from wrapping my hands around the woman responsible. Nothing could sway me from my rage and desire to rip and tear until she was returned.”
“But you? I was her most loyal. I was her good little attack dog. You were the one she loved most. You were her favorite. Her protected. Her precious thing. And you…” Dean tilts his head to the left. “Have abandoned her. If it had been me? I would have thrown myself at you first. If I still had someone I cared for, someone I loved above all others…hell, when Warren was that for me, I went for the blood. Spike hurt his son and I didn’t let up on my desire to make him pay until his heart gave out. You should have come for me first. You should have been the first. But you waited to be last, hoping the others would wear me down until you felt safe in taking me out.”
Dean smirks. “It’s the cowardice for me.”
“And that is your biggest weakness, Little Sister. You never learned to stand on your own. Like a baby deer still wobbling on weak legs. You don’t know how to handle not being part of a team. You don’t know how to not cling. But you also push away those you think are weak and beneath you, like your sister. Lashing out at the weak because you gave them no support. Because you assumed they’d handle the heavy work for you.” Dean laughs darkly. “You should have learned you can only depend on yourself. The lone wolf lives while The Pack dies.”
“I could go through the men I have personally beaten and caused to tuck their tail and run from this company. I could remind you of all of the beatings with baseball bats. I could bring up the licking of human skulls. I could point to the men who faced me and never darkened the door of this company again. I could point out the family and loved ones we have grabbed and taught the wonders of pain.” Dean shrugs. “But you know those well.”
“But the difference between you and me?”
“Hunger. Hunger is what keeps you alive. Hunger to destroy anyone who stands in your way. Some part of me does care for you, and likely always will. But I want to hurt you much much more. And winning this match? That only comes from not giving a single solitary fuck about holding back. Embracing the animal. You should consider it, Little Sister. It’s the only way to get out alive. Nothing protects you anymore.” Dean hums softly. “There is no better time for a purge of emotions, is there? You started this. I’m going to end it.”
“Little sister.” Dean smiles sharply at the camera. “I figured for this finale, this last little dance in your quest that we should return to the place where we started. Last time we did this I spoke of my love for you, of the heavy burden that made me plunge that knife into the heart of the family we once were. But back then when I offered to mend the rift between us you spit in my face. You didn’t want the olive branch, you wanted my blood. To take back my head to that vengeful bitch. And I put you down. I took no pleasure in it.”
Dean put his hands behind his back as he leaned forward with a feral gleam in his eye, “But I will this time. There will be no pleasure quite like it when I put you down to the mat under my boot heel.”
“I didn’t want this. I never wanted this. All of this? You are the architect of this design. And my, my what beautiful carnage I have unleashed within it.” Dean beams at the camera, almost seeing through it to see the watcher.
“I might be Brutus. I may be Judas. I might be the oathbreaker who destroyed everything that brought you happiness but I did not do it alone. You made the choices that got us to where we are now. Your girls abandoned you because of what you did. I may have whispered the words that got them to turn but you were the one whose actions caused it. I’m just a man. You were the leader that sent them into hell and did not even have the courage to stand next to them. You abandoned them to me.”
“You should remember…Rowan at least had the basic knowledge of empathy to be there after a defeat, to make every loss feel like a lesson to help us rise above. You thought all you had to do was sit on a throne in the back and they would carry your flag.”
“Poor little sister. You really never did learn, did you? You could have found some more eager lapdogs to be at your beck and call. Terrella would have been a better tool in your toolkit. But you rely on sycophants and fangirls who could be twisted just as easily away. Where Rowan had the ability to turn and twist an enemy to an ally with the right pressure you’ve never been that gifted.”
“Did I want to hurt any of them? Mostly no. But I do what I do for the love of bloodshed. You've never had that hunger. You’ve never had that desire. But it’s okay. I’ll teach you one last time.”
Dean was livid. The idea that Warren would give away something that had been Max’s? The fact he would be so heartless and so fucking thoughtless made Dean see red.
“Daddy, can we slow down?” Damien asked and Dean stopped walking. “My feet hurt.”
Dean closed his eyes and counted to three. It wasn’t Damien’s fault. None of this was Damien’s fault. He’d only wanted to see the stupid museum. “Yeah…yeah we can slow down.”
“I wanted to see the ships.” Damien pouted. “You promised it wouldn’t be like this. You promised.”
Dean got down on Damien’s level, “You’re right. I didn’t mean to ruin this trip. I’m sorry. I lost my temper with Warren again when I promised to behave. I was trying. I really was. Things just…”
“Is it because of the ring? Do you want it?” Damien held it up to Dean.
Dean smiled, kissing Damien’s forehead, “No buddy. It’s yours. It always should have been.”
Shea caught up with them, “Hey Dean, you okay?”
Dean looked up at Shea and stood up, “Yeah. Peachy with a side of keen…”
“Lying is bad.” Damien said with a stomp.
“Right. Lying is bad.” Dean’s shoulders slumped. “No. I’m pissed off. But it's stupid to be angry at him. It’s just what he does.”
“It is, like. I’m not denying that. I’m sorry.”
“I appreciate that. But it’s not you who should. Or the goth wonder twins.” Dean shrugged. “But we both know he’s never been great at saying it so I appreciate it. I really thought there was nothing else he could do to piss me off like that.”
“He promised,” Damien added.
“I did. Which means Damien gets to pick five things from the gift shop because I broke my promise.”
“Yup.” Damien smiled at Shea.
“Wow, five?” Shea smiled at Damien. “That’s a lot, Daddy must be really sorry.”
“Very very.” Dean grinned.
“Could be six if you don’t say sorry.” Damien looked up at Dean.
“I’m not apologizing to him.” Dean scuffed.
“I had to apologize to Patrick!”
“That’s because you bit him. Biting is not okay.”
“Yelling isn’t okay either. Or swearing, right Aunty Shea?”
“Right,” Shea confirmed. “At least we know Damien’s smarter and more level headed than either you or Warren. Must get it from Max, like.”
“Most of his good traits are,” Dean admitted with a sigh.
“So that’s two against one, Daddy. That’s a ma-jory-ity. Like poplar vote. So you have to.” Damien looked proud of himself then to Shea, “Daddy got me a book on elections.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Dean rolled his eyes.
“Yey! Trip is saved!” Damien cheered.
“Glad to have helped,” Shea smiled.
“Could apologize to Auntie Brooklyn too.”
“Don’t push your luck, kiddo.” Dean ruffled Damien’s hair.
“Let’s go apologize to Da—Warren,” Damien said walking back the way they came.
“Warren still where we left him?” Dean asked looking at Shea as they walked.
“I assume so.”
“Sorry, I lowkey ruined your day too,” Dean said as they made it back to the Faith 7 ship display, Shea didn't reply and Dean wasn't surprised she didn't.
Abigail and Eternity had perhaps unsurprisingly moved on, but Warren was still here, waiting more on his best friend, Shea, than his ex-husband Dean. Warren sighed as Dean approached.
“I thought we were done here? I mean really, what more is there to say?”
Dean took a breath, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It’s your life and if you want to throw away things that you don’t want anymore that’s your business.”
“Thank you,” Warren was smug in his satisfaction. “About time you learned some humility, mate. Better late than never, I guess.”
Dean’s smile was tight, Warren was needling him but he’d promised Damien and he was going to stick to it. “Sure.”
“Good job, Daddy.” Damien encouraged Dean with a hug. “Now can we keep looking at rockets?”
Warren closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Seeing Dean being embraced by a son that should have been his disturbed him more than he’d ever let on before. Damien could have been his if he hadn’t been so terrified of cursing his own children as all Kanes inevitably did. Warren knew back then Dean was the better, healthier choice, and had convinced Maxine of that - a little too well - given he knew she absolutely preferred Dean to him. He’d been the third wheel, tolerated at best and pitied at worst.
“Whatever you want, Damo,” Warren said softly, pushing down the awkward lump of regret and self-loathing he suddenly felt. He was fundamentally unloved and unlovable, and always would be.
Dean smiled ruffling Damien’s hair, “Pick a direction, kiddo.”
Warren sheepishly followed Damien.
Dean walks down the halls of an old abandoned compound backward with the practiced steps of someone who knew it well, hand tracing along the wall.
“I think you forgot what this was about in your obsession over all my betrayals. I was her most loyal. When someone took her from me, I burned the company to get my vengeance. I went for blood. I ripped and I tore the stone from the wall until the simple rules of this company stopped me from wrapping my hands around the woman responsible. Nothing could sway me from my rage and desire to rip and tear until she was returned.”
“But you? I was her most loyal. I was her good little attack dog. You were the one she loved most. You were her favorite. Her protected. Her precious thing. And you…” Dean tilts his head to the left. “Have abandoned her. If it had been me? I would have thrown myself at you first. If I still had someone I cared for, someone I loved above all others…hell, when Warren was that for me, I went for the blood. Spike hurt his son and I didn’t let up on my desire to make him pay until his heart gave out. You should have come for me first. You should have been the first. But you waited to be last, hoping the others would wear me down until you felt safe in taking me out.”
Dean smirks. “It’s the cowardice for me.”
“And that is your biggest weakness, Little Sister. You never learned to stand on your own. Like a baby deer still wobbling on weak legs. You don’t know how to handle not being part of a team. You don’t know how to not cling. But you also push away those you think are weak and beneath you, like your sister. Lashing out at the weak because you gave them no support. Because you assumed they’d handle the heavy work for you.” Dean laughs darkly. “You should have learned you can only depend on yourself. The lone wolf lives while The Pack dies.”
“I could go through the men I have personally beaten and caused to tuck their tail and run from this company. I could remind you of all of the beatings with baseball bats. I could bring up the licking of human skulls. I could point to the men who faced me and never darkened the door of this company again. I could point out the family and loved ones we have grabbed and taught the wonders of pain.” Dean shrugs. “But you know those well.”
“But the difference between you and me?”
“Hunger. Hunger is what keeps you alive. Hunger to destroy anyone who stands in your way. Some part of me does care for you, and likely always will. But I want to hurt you much much more. And winning this match? That only comes from not giving a single solitary fuck about holding back. Embracing the animal. You should consider it, Little Sister. It’s the only way to get out alive. Nothing protects you anymore.” Dean hums softly. “There is no better time for a purge of emotions, is there? You started this. I’m going to end it.”
Well howdy there pardner.