Rust - Fanfic Preview
SUMMARY: A "how they got together" and "where they are now" fic in which I detail how Damian and Tardif meet and consequently fall in love. No beta. Read at your own risk.
RATING: T (for violence just to be safe, but rating will eventually go up for sexual themes)
PAIRING: Bounty Hunter (Tardif) x Flagellant (Damian)
WORD COUNT: 1,758
A/N: I just couldn’t restrain myself any longer so, I gave in and started working on a fic. This is not quite the beginning of the story (close enough), but I figured I’d do a little preview to gauge people’s interest. Please keep in mind this is still a WIP so, things may change a bit. A big thank you to my precious darling lacertae-dreamscape for being my (willing?) guinea pig in all this. Love you! ❤️
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Junia giggles modestly at Damian’s insightful hobbies, the flagellant depicting the morose backstory behind each one of his many scars, relating them to the tales and verses found in the holy scriptures. While the subject matter may be off-putting to some, Junia doesn’t mind. Whatever grim fixations Damian has, he makes up for it with dedication and enthusiasm.
The vestal catches sight of Tardif, his lurching shadow mucking about along the tree line, keeping an eye on the perimeter no doubt, his attention set on the weald beyond.
Junia has traveled alongside the bounty hunter long enough to be made aware of his misanthropic tendencies. Most times she’s content to leave him to his own devices, but Light help her, she wants to extend an olive branch and at least offer him the opportunity to join in on their festivities. Perhaps with enough persuasion, she could goad him into being more social.
"Oh Tardif," she harks, beckoning him over with a gloved hand, "why don't you join us by the fire. You must be chilled to the bone! Come, you must hear Damian's tale of the Light. He tells it so well!"
Tardif bristles at the mention of his name. He can feel their eyes on him, waiting expectantly for an answer. He hesitates just a fraction, surprised that anyone would even desire his company, but chooses to ignore her pleas, sinking into the undulating fungus to escape.
Junia scowls, the smile falling from her lips. In a moment of weakness, she sighs, speaking her inner thoughts aloud, "What a pitiful man. He carries such a heavy burden of loneliness. I feel sorry for him."
At her words, a revelation appears before Damian's mind's eye. So that's what it was! The flagellant could easily cure such trifles. It was his duty after all.
"Wait here, I will retrieve him," Damian declares, already heading into the woods after the brooding figure, Junia attempting to call him back because she knows such demonstrations of force are bound to end very, very badly.
Just then, Reynauld returns from his own trek in the woods, peering across the flame-lit clearing, taking note of those who are absent, perplexed that even Damian would leave the gentle vestal's side unattended.
"Junia, where is everyone," the swordsman asks, a hint of concern slipping into his admonishing tone.
Junia explains the situation as best she can, albeit awkwardly, worriedly.
At this, the knight crusader kneels down beside his comrade, his armor making a resounding "clank" against the wooden stump she resides on.
"Fret not," he declares, trying to ease the girl's troubled mind with a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "I will go in after them.”
Junia’s uncertain expression worsens into a grimace. She’s seen just how persistent Damian could be in battle and how equally stubborn Tardif was, but that was when the two warriors were pitted against a common enemy. Who's to say what will happen when their skills are suddenly directed at each other? She fears Reynauld is already too late.
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Damian doesn't hide his approach as he cards through the knobby, naked branches, uninhibited by the splintering underbrush. His footfalls are loud and tenacious, giving no heed to the silent dangers lurking within the blight-infested wilderness.
Tardif notices the break in silence immediately, sensing someone stalking his rear, smelling the coppery tang of blood in the air.
The bounty hunter turns to confront his attacker, just barely missing Damian's throat thanks to that ridiculous iron collar of his. The Flagellant grins at him with glee, ecstatic that a faint streak of blood has begun to pour out from his skin.
"Such good reflexes," the flagellant praises, subconsciously leaning into the axe blade like the masochistic bastard he is. "Did you not hear Miss Junia? She requests your presence."
Tardif grunts distastefully, lowering his weapon.
"Come, she is waiting,” Damian reiterates with an urgency, as if the woman were in utter peril, “I cannot return empty handed."
The bounty hunter turns his back on the hooded man, treading deeper into the chartreuse jungle, opposite of where he's being told to go.
Damian makes the mistake of trying to stop him, crimson hands reaching out to drag the surly brigand back to camp.
Tardif responds by tackling the other male to the ground below.
"Bloody flagellant," the bounty hunter grumbles as he pins the other down, leveraging a forearm against his iron collar, and in turn, the fool's windpipe.
Damian laughs with unabashed merriment.
"You spoke, you spoke," says the sing-songy voice, "Perhaps the Light, in all it's infinite glory, will allow me to partake in such miracles again. What say you to joining us? Or shall I extract you by force," the flagellant asks with a flashy grin and a cocky tilt of his head.
Tardif has witnessed Damian's tactics first-hand and while the taller man had the potential to be fatal, the bounty hunter merely grunts indignantly, as if a pale, anemic ghost couldn't possibly hope to subdue him.
"I see, so that is your answer," Damian drawls, plotting something.
Maybe it was just Tardif’s sleep-deprived mind playing tricks, but even amongst the unbridled darkness, he swears he sees Damian’s eyes sparkle from under his hood. There's a gut feeling telling him that the holy man is permitting this victory, letting the rogue assume control over their interactions because it’s where the mercenary feels the most comfortable and the bounty hunter is not sure if he likes that or not.
Tardif feels a sharpened blade sneak under the scales of his chainmail, pressed dangerously close to the tendons in his axe-wielding arm.
Dammit to hell. The flagellant must’ve commandeered one of Tardif's knives during their tumble, turning it against him.
"If you come willingly, I will spare you this grievous injury. Even if you refuse, I promise to stay at your bedside until you recover, but I wonder if you could survive that long without the use of your arm, not to mention the leeches," he says between broken teeth.
"Fine," Tardif acquiesces, mumbling begrudgingly under his breath.
Tardif removes the bulk of his weight from Damian, letting the other man get to his feet.
Damian twirls the stolen knife in his hand with a flourish, a practiced maneuver that hinted at his proficiency with such blood-letting tools. Should Tardif go back on his word, he could certainly make him regret it. Done with his peacocking, the flagellant holds the blade’s handle outward, waiting for the other man to retrieve what was rightfully his in a humble peace offering.
Tardif yanks the knife back with more force than necessary, nicking the Holy man with the tip of the blade just as the flagellant had expected him to, a small satisfying cut gracing his palm.
Tardif snarls. He's getting tired of playing right into Damian's hands.
"Get on wit it, then, 'fore I go changin' my mind," Tardif growls, jerking his head in the direction of camp.
"As you wish," Damian says with a haughty bow, leading the way as a scoffing Tardif trails behind him.
They meet Reynaild midway there, both sides surprised to see the other, but for various reasons neither prefers to disclose. They exchange no words as they rendezvous with Junia.
Tardif finds that being huddled around the bonfire by a bunch of holier-than-thou churchgoers is not a wholly unpleasant experience. The bounty hunter remains aloof, arms crossed as he merely listens to them recount past religious achievements, deflects their attempts at small talk, refusing to participate in revelry.
He’s practically nodding off in his seat when Damain shoves him off completely, a gear-clad back colliding against the grass, sorely undignified. With a keen rage in his eye, the bounty hunter chases the giddy flagellant around the camp, trying to lop off his head much to Reynauld’s mirth and Junia’s distress.
Tardif has to stifle his humors with an ensuing grunt, lest he get caught laughing at Damian’s playfulness.
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Damian is visiting the tavern, a light-hearted game of cards strewn atop a large circular table filled shoulder to shoulder with his precious comrades. The flagellant is not participating in the swill of drink himself, nor the vice of gambling, but decides to keep the others company while they engage in their self-medicated stress relief.
Tardif is poised at the far corner of the bar, putting as much distance between them as he can get, flicking his gaze over to the rowdy, red-faced bunch as he brandishes his pint of beer. Was there no end to the holy man forcibly inserting himself into other people’s business?
Damian steals a glance his way and Tardif doesn't tarry, the scruffy man finishing his drink quickly and efficiently before taking his leave.
His comrades whistle provocatively, slurring their jeers as the watch Damian rise from his seat to follow close behind him.
There's a waning moon hanging in the night sky as the holy man steps outside into the wet cobblestone road, retracing Tardif's steps. Never one to stay out in the open, The bounty hunter turns down an alleyway, hoping to lose the troublesome tail dogging his heels.
Damain peruses him into the uninviting murk, heedless of the precariousness of being trapped alone in a narrow passageway with a professional killer.
Tardif all, but vanishes from sight, faded into the cluttered darkness of crates and barrels lining the nearby buildings. The flagellant twists his head about, looking for any signs of the brute's notorious helmet and hunting gear, but finds none.
He only has a moment to mourn the loss before a shadowy figure springs forth out of nowhere, the taller man now cornered, the scars on his back pressed against the strong outer wall of the sanitarium, a knife to his throat. Damian turns into the threat, grinning all the while.
Tardif is starting to get the impression that the flagellant is instigating these skirmishes on purpose.
"There you are! To where are you headed at such an ungodly hour," Damian asks as if this development between them was brought about by sheer coincidence.
"Piss off. ‘Tis no business of urs," Tardif grinds out with that deep, gravelly voice of his.
"But surely, I must accompany you," Damian retorts.
Tardifs anger flares. Did the fool not hear him?
"You got a death wish, mate,” Tardif quips, strictly a rhetorical question.
"My wish is to know more about you," Damian counters, admitting it much too easily, radiating that piquant interest he always seems to regard the bounty hunter with.
Even Tardif is not immune to the feelings that those words awaken in him, internally flinging spiteful words at himself for the warmth that currently spreads throughout his veins.
{End Preview}
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