Scarred

Scarred
chapter one . midnight calling
- Yankee
Don't own copyrights to The Legend of Dragoon, its characters, etc. I only have a copy of the game. And a few names, like Kaia, Mitto, Orus, Quin, and Kalila.
Warnings: Semi non-consensual. Eventual voyeurism. Male/female action. Dominance. Masturbation. Scars. I think that's about it. You have issues with any of them... Bugger off.
Further Notice: "~~~" is beginning/end of story; "| |" signifies thought; "x-x-x" will be a change in time, as in day to night/night to day; "+ +" is a memory.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

* "You would have been proud, Zieg. He's...so much like you, it's a little surreal."

"I r fir figured on having a kid at all, Rose. You should remember how I felt about that."

Though the affirmation was unspoken, there was a tinge of hurt, in the first speaker's voice. "Yes, I do. You were lucky to have found Claire. Even if it only took 11,000 years."

"...You always had that knack for giving me a guilt trip. I've apologized for five years straight; can't you start to forgive me?"

"...No. But I suppose I'll have to."

"...You plan on leaving, don't you?"

"As soon as my body restores. Within the week."

"...It'll be different, without you here. Rose...?"

"What is it, Zieg?"

"...Watch out for my boy, will you? He's been through a lot, five years ago... And something tells me it isn't over. There's still need for the eternal Dark Dragoon of the Dark-Eyed Dragon."

There was a sigh, almost wistful. "I'm...getting tired. I'm the only one left."

"Only because you were the one with no reason to die. Kaia, Mitto, Orus, Quin, and Shirley all had taken mortal lovers. They had no reason to protect Endines, after their deaths. Even me, when Claire died at my side. That's why I left the Spirit, for Dart to find. So that Serdio had a chance."

"...This is the destiny I've chosen for myself..."

"Do you regret it? Would you have surrendered the Dragoon Spirit, just to join us in death?"

"...No."

"Goodbye, Rose. We'll be waiting, for the next time your body lies near death."

"Goodbye, Zieg. ...Don't worry; I'll take care of them. All of them."

And the infinite darkness got a little bit darker, as the second speaker - Zieg Feld - departed for the spirit world, leaving the immortal Dark Dragoon alone. *

x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x

...For the first time, in five years, there was movement...

x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x

"Are you sure you'll be all right here, Dart?" The anxious, still youthful voice of his childhood sweetheart, Shana, asked, looking towards her things, then back to the man.

Dart Feld nodded. "Shana, I'll be fine. I'm probably just going to head to Bale. Pay a visit to Albert, and to Lavitz's mother."

"If you're sure..."

"Shana... Go. They need you in Seles, and it's not like there's anything important going on around here. Say hello to Tasman, if he's there, for me. Everything will be fine."

With a grateful smile, she leaned over, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek, before leaving. "I haven't even left yet, and I miss you already."

"Goodbye, Shana." He called, listening to her ascend the ladder, and leave the home they shared, in the rebuild Neet. Then, he fell back against their bed, stretching leisurely.

A wail echoed in the cozy room a few minutes later.

Heaving a sigh, he got up, and moved towards the other private room in their home.

He strode over to the small, handcrafted cradle, lifting the infant occupant out. "Kalila, Kalila..." He murmured, trying to assuage the babe's cries.

After a few minutes, the baby hushed, and went back to sleep. Seemed she only needed the reassurance that her father, at least, was still there.

Yes, Dart was a father now.

Kalila was only a few months old. Shana never wanted to leave her child, but there was almost always a greater need for her, elsewhere.

At least now, he wagered, the baby would sleep through the night.

Which was a good thing, since the man had grown a bit lazy over the past five years. Serdio was in peace, and there was no need for a mercenary, at present.

Which would leave him free to dream, tonight.

About the only two things missing from his life.

His father, Zieg.

And Rose.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

She had been everywhere, but never any luck. Seles. Hoax. Lohan. Even risking her exposure in the capital of Bale.

He was nowhere to be found.

But, after a chat with a man in the sewers of Bale, the town drunkard, she was able to learn a few things.

The Dragoon Warriors were all heroes now, doubtless to be legends, as were their predecessors.

Dart was living in the recently rebuilt city of Neet. With Shana.

Those two had a child together. A little girl. Kalila.

She paid the man well, with a few bottles of dark wine. Then, she had set off for the distant city.

Flying, of course; the Dragoon form was much easier to use, during prolonged journeys.

She had reached Neet in a week.

She had remained quite for a few days, gleaning information about the town, and learning all there was to know about the city's unanimously elected leader, Dart.

Finally, it came to note that Shana was gone. Visiting Seles, it seemed.

That was, most likely, the only chance she would ever have, to see Dart, alone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was well past midnight, a couple days past her decision to go to Dart's home.

Now, she moved quietly through the grandiose home, studying the decorations, recognizing the silver-white influence of Shana, with a few hints of scarlet, as though affirming that two of the legendary Dragoons lived there.

A slight, almost sleepy cry set her nerves on edge. After a moment, though, since there was no movement from the room she had perceived as Dart's, she moved into the other room, to investigate.

The baby studied her, with the startled curiosity of an infant, realizing that neither of the two people in its life were there. Instead, there was this odd, cloaked figure, with a half-mask.

Gently, Rose picked the baby up, and righted herself. Speaking softly, in an undertone, she rocked the child in her arms.

+ "Come on in, Rose! You've heard, haven't you? Meet Claire, and more importantly, Dart!"

She couldn't do anything but take the infant that was thrust into her arms by the proud father. She looked down, at the child, and saw the innocent eyes of a baby, unafraid of the world, and rather determined to learn it all, one way or another.

She saw a terrible future in him, as well.

But, pasting a smile on her face, she exclaimed how darling the child was, before handing the little boy back to his proud mother. Claire.

It could have been her, standing beside Zieg, and mother of his children... +

"...yes, little Kalila. I once held your father like this..." She murmured, before settling the drowsing infant back into her cradle, where she yawned, kicked slightly, and fell into the rhythmic quality of sleep.

Turning, she left the room, rather confident that the child would be asleep for awhile. At least, long enough for her to see Dart.

With the stealthy grace of a cat, she moved down the hallway, pausing at the open doorway. There were sounds of breathing within.

Stepping into the room, she took utmost care to be quiet. She moved towards the large bed, staring down at him.

He was peaceful in sleep, losing the ancient wisdom she had seen in his eyes, taking on the innocence of a child.

Her hand moved forward, brushing a finger lightly down his cheek.

He stirred slightly, and she froze. However, he only moved his head towards the touch, and remained asleep.

He mumbled something in his sleep.

She leaned down, her head nearly against his cheek, trying to make out the slurred words.

"Ro...se..." He said, sadness clinging to the enunciation of her name. He moaned, and, without warning, shifted closer.

She started, at the sudden contact. But, as she made to bolt back into the dark night, his arm snaked out, gripping the bared arm, that had been caressing his cheek.

She looked down, racking her mind, trying to figure out how to make him release her, without waking him up.

With surprising force, he rolled back towards the middle of the bed, dragging her onto the bed. Now, she was in a more unfortunate position, sprawled across his chest. She tugged her arm, experimentally, but his grip tightened like a vise.

"Never....told you." He muttered, his grip loosening slightly.

She pulled her arm from his grasp.

Bad idea.

He moaned, and his eyes cracked open. "....Rose?" He asked dubiously, before he tried to wake up more fully. "It is you, isn't it?"

"...I'm sorry, Dart." She said, moving quickly from his chest, and off the bed, moving towards the door.

"...not again...!" He cried out, and fell back.

In the hallway, she stopped, leaning against the wall, trying to slow her heartbeat so she could flee.

But she heard the hitched sound of his breathing, heard the tears in his voice, as he made a last, rather hopeless-sounding entreaty, begging her to come back.

He had held her, as a lover would.

He wanted her to go back, to him.

She shouldn't.

It would be a bad idea.

Only lead to pain.

She sighed, before pulling off her cloak, and removing the half-mask from her face. A long, dark scar ran down the side of her face. It was one of the few things her body would never heal.

There was no self-control anymore.

Leaving her clothes in the hall, she entered once more, nude.

This was far too big a risk.

She couldn't help it.

Slowly, she shifted her weight onto the side of the bed, moving closer to Dart.

With surprising speed, he scooted towards her, pulling her atop him, crushing her to him, as though he had no intention of ever letting her go.

Even sitting on his side, she could feel him growing hard against her thigh.

| Zieg |, she thought, | he's more like you than before. Why'd you have to pass along the sadistic joy of sleeping naked to your son? |

For a moment, she could tangibly feel the first Dragoon of the Red-Eyed Dragon's amusement.

Then, she could think of nothing else, as Dart moved beneath her, and thrust himself forcefully within her.

A strangled cry caught in her throat, as he latched onto her, and manuvered her beneath him. He set a rapid pace, a rather animalistic quality to his frenzied thrusting. He kissed her with brusing force, his tongue prying her lips apart, exploring the unknown territory, and claiming it as his own. Almost as quickly as the entire thing had started, his mouth shifted its focus, laving attention on her neck.

His pace quickened, and with a final, lasting thrust, he embedded himself within her, shooting his seed deep inside her, and biting down on her neck, hard enough to break the skin.

Then, just as quickly as it had started, he fell back into a more lethargic sleep state.

He had just made love to her, and he would never realize it in the morning.

Carefully, to avoid waking him, or perhaps stirring his passion once more, she slid from beneath him, scooting to the edge of the bed. As she stood, she looked back. There was blood on the sheets, from when he had bit her neck, and the sheets were in an obviously tangled state. The entire room smelled of sex. There was a dull ache in her thighs, from the rough encounter, and she lifted a hand to her neck, where the blood was already stopping. She looked back upon her midnight lover, and left the room quietly. A few minutes later, she was gone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The sunlight shining on his face was enough to wake him.

He had had the most...wonderful dream...

It had been about Rose.

She had come to him, pleading for his forgiveness at her absense, and he had willingly given in. Then, the dream had gotten intense. They had made love. He had fully claimed her as his own.

A bleary eye slanted open, at the annoyingly cheery sunlight. He tried to move, but found himself stuck in the sheets of his bed. As he was disengaging himself from the blankets, he noticed that a few things seemed...off.

There were a few long, ebony hairs on the sheet.

He was sticky, in the manner that only physical intimacy brought on.

And the room smelled, pervadingly, of sex. Not just of his, or even of Shana's. Someone else, and his.

He shook his head, not believing it at all.

The first cries from Kalila shook him from the rather intent train of thought, and without thinking of it any longer, he got out of bed, and threw on a pair of pants. As an afterthought, he gathered the few strands of hair, grasping them tightly in his hands, dropping them in the basket, in Kalila's room.

Nothing had happened. He was sure of it. They had probably been sticking to him from the other day, when he had met, and been hugged, by one of the people of Neet.

Had to be it.

Just had to.

ifteifted Kalila from her cradle, offering the babe a bottle, which was gladly accepted. It was only then, with Kalila removed from the cradle, that he noticed it.

A calling card, of sorts.

A rose, with darkened petals.

Rose... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'm not exactly sure I want to continue this... Just leaving it the way it is certainly adds a bit of mystery to the ending, right? Then again... I have no desire to face angry reviewers... Any opinions? I'll be taking them into consideration.

Note of interest... Kalila, when translated, is little flower.

Perhaps a bit of unconscious insight, on behalf of Dart, and/or Shana? In memory of a friend, gone for five years, and seemingly forever...?