Ask Into The Darkness

[Darth Arcanos]

“I do not understand,” Azar said loudly again, ruining the vibe, “Why would they split up? Clearly none of them are skilled in combat or survival. There is no reason for them to venture into that suspicious house in the woods. The logic and quality of this is unacceptable.”

Karys had attempted to introduce the Pureblood to some classic horror flicks after Azar mentioned he didn’t understand the genre. So far it was not going well at all. Karys, for the life of him, could not explain movie logic to Azar.

They were currently in hyperspace on a journey to Malachor that would continue Karys’ training. Azar was prone to ship sickness and the vortex of hyperspace outright made him vomit. As a result, he was effectively confined to the lounge areas or sleep quarters of the ship. Fortunately, a droid was piloting so he didn’t have to touch any controls.

The two were seated on a couch - at a respectable distance - watching a Holomovie to kill the time. Azar was thoroughly disappointed and outlined the flaw in every scene, “Look at her footwear,” He pointed, “What are they called again? Heels? Why is she wearing heels in a swamp? This was a conscious decision made by this woman..”

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys paused the Holo-movie, it was one of his favorites, Night of the Were-Maelibus 3: Darkness Over Dagobah. Despite the numerous interruptions, Karys only giggled at Azar and shook his head. He tossed a handful of popcorn at him in response to his series of questions.

<Azar, the monster is half-human, half-maelibus, and half-shiido.> He teased. <And your concern is the survival and combat skills of the victims?> He continued his smile widening. <Look, the point is they are illogical teenagers, they are filled with lust and bravado.> He explained. <You are supposed to enjoy their deaths.> He continued. <This is a comedy after all.>

Karys would press play again on their movie again. And laugh as one of the teenagers, an athlete of some sort tried to fight the monster. He didn’t make it. However, when the dead athlete’s woman ran out into the swamp to escape the monster, Azar spoke again. He complained about her footwear. Karys cackled at his overly cerebral analysis of their feel good movie.

<Her wealth and foolishness is why she will die Azar.> He explained. <Plus, she had sex. You never do that in these comedies.> He continued with a smirk. <She will not be the final girl.>

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar stared for a moment, trying to work out the math that Karys just mentioned. It sounded worse than the people that claimed they had 1/292839224th Pureblood in them. Azar was surprised to hear the other man giggle. Azar himself had done that a few times, but he hadn’t heard it from Karys before. He stared at Karys in silence, briefly forgetting about the movie, that familiar fondness briefly flicking in his eyes. As the popcorn was launched his way, they were suspended inches away from Azar as a display of strict control of the Force. Azar calmly plucked the snacks from the air to eat them instead.

“Hmm illogical teenagers,” He mused as he glanced back at the screen, “Sounds like someone I know..” Azar muttered under his breath. He tossed another popcorn into his mouth nonchalantly.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys had almost pushed play on the movie again when he heard Azar mutter under his breath. He put the remote down on the table, shifted his weight to face his lover, and cocked both an eyebrow ridge and his head to the side. He was no idiot, there was something wrong. Something had been festering and it needed to be addressed. He watched as Azar plucked some of the suspended popcorn from the air and popped them into his mouth.

<I assume you mean me.> He replied evenly, lightly tapping three fingers against his own chest. <What do you mean by it? Have I done something to offend you?>

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar chuckled to himself, “Offend me?” He asked with a quirked brow to match Karys’, “No, you acting your age does not offend me,” Azar responded dryly, tossing another popcorn into his mouth. He was not normally a passive aggressive man, but Karys had a unique way of drawing out unexpected sides of him.

“They ought to make a movie about you instead,” Azar said as he floated the Holoremote over and clicked the movie back on, “Galactic hero that valiantly saves everyone without a second thought. Even the Jedi would be proud of such an admirable display,” He scoffed before he turned his attention back to the Holomovie. The hints of genuine bitterness in his voice was subtle enough for anyone to miss. Except for Karys.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys listened to Azar's quips and passive aggressive comments. He rolled his eyes and sighed. Here we go. What he'd done to make Azar so upset was beyond him. He didn't have the fine tuned control over the Force like Azar did, so Karys reached out with the Force and unplugged the holo-projector from it's power source. He'd plugged it up for Azar, he would set it back up afterwards too. This conversation would require all his attention.

<What are yo-> Karys paused in the middle of his question.

His mind flickered back to the "party" that had gone on. He'd helped pull Param from a tree and carried her to the infirmary. Was Azar upset over that? Was he jealous over that? A smirk appeared on Karys face.

<Param?> He questioned. <You realize she was the one who called on Panatha, right?> He questioned. <She saved us a lot of trouble. I think she earned that kindness.> He replied evenly. <We shouldn't forget the freak that called you daddy.> Karys pointed out, his arms crossing his chest and his eyes squinting.

This had clearly been brewing for a while now, it was time to deal with it all.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar’s jaw tightened as Karys rudely turned off the movie he was watching. He turned to regard the larger Pureblood, a subtle pulse of the Force reverberating throughout the cabin. No. He controlled it. Karys had seen - no, he heard about how brutal Azar could be. He wasn’t there to witness it because..

“Yes and my student Dalon fetches essential herbs and plants for my garden every week. He also fetches me cakes,” Azar said breezily, genuinely having no clue about the ongoing feud between Dalon and Karys, “May as well bend over backwards to help him out in every crisis because kindness,” He said as he crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t miss the smirk on Karys’ face, “Wipe that shit-eating grin off your face and don’t flatter yourself,” Azar said icily, knowing Karys wanted him riled up over someone else, “You create liabilities for yourself and you become one yourself. I can’t afford liabilities.”

He glared at Karys, perplexed about the 'daddy' question mainly because Gemini wasn’t even on his radar, "You are upset because someone has me mistaken for their father?"

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys jaw tightened. Liability? Did he just fucking call him a liability? Karys let out an unsteady breath through his nostrils. His temper was flaring, he felt it. Rage would do him no good here, he was no longer the Acolyte on Zygerria, he had better control over himself than that. His red eyes, took golden flecks into them as he tried to find his center. He pinched the bridge of his nose when Azar mentioned Dalon. How didn't he know already?

<That's because every time I see him I ensure he spends a few hours in the infirmary, Azar.> Karys sighed. <The note you caught him passing meant he wanted to fuck you not eat your desserts.> Karys explained. <Just like daddy is a sexual term or term of endearment, like you calling me Lo-> Karys caught the word before it finished coming out of his mouth. <And what do you mean I'm a liability?> Karys asked.

He'd fall silent for a moment, processing what Azar had just said. His head would pull back at the realization. Pain would ripple across his face. <Azar, what are you saying?> There was fear in his voice now, uncertainty of what the man he loved was trying to communicate.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar stared calmly at Karys as he expressed his frustration. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding, “The planets rotate around the suns. The suns remains unyielding, do they not? Round and round the planets go and never do the suns pivot so easily,” He asked flatly, “Why would I be concerned by who wants to fuck me if I get free labor and assistance without doing anything in return?” He asked icily, “You are a liability because the moment someone shows you a kindness, you become their little pet. A doormat. Force forbid someone else calls you a term of endearment, you will jump in front of blasters for them.”

He didn’t miss the hints of jealousy from Karys, but he didn’t address that for now. Azar felt silly even having this discussion. He was above this, and yet once again this man managed to put him in the most bizarre circumstances. Azar hoped they could return to proper training once they landed on the infernal planet.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys seethed at the comment from Azar. <Do you really think that lowly of me Azar?> He questioned. <That I would sacrifice myself for anyone because of kindness?> He spat. <Outside of her usefulness, Param means nothing to me.> He hissed. <I am no one's doormat, not even yours Azar.> Karys leered at him.

He still didn't understand did he? He didn't get what Karys had decided to take on for him? How had he fallen in love with such a pompous and haughty ass?

<You are different than every one else beca-> Karys paused, halting himself once more. <We both already know why, Azar.> He continued, unable or unwilling to give voice to the emotion and bond between them. Karys would take several deep breaths, bringing his emotions back under control.

<I chose you.> Karys stated calmly. <You asked me to promise you to keep this part of me alive on that balcony, the night I chose you.> He continued, ice building in his voice. <But maybe you need to make a choice of your own.>

The words pained him even as he said them.

Karys wouldn't sit there and listen to Azar after that. Unless stopped, Karys would go to the kitchen and begin to cook them both dinner. Wordlessly.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar stayed silent at Karys’ response. A simple evening watching a Holomovie turned over its head. For the first time in years, he felt a pang in his chest, one of guilt. It was an emotion he wasn’t familiar with and it was almost foreign to him. As he saw the crestfallen look on Karys’ face, he wanted nothing more than to put aside whatever this mess was. He wanted nothing more than to pull him close and sink against him like he did only a few weeks back.

He didn’t move from where he was, knowing he was the one blurring lines he had set. Azar could chase after him and let him know everything was okay, but that would work against the Master and Apprentice dynamic between them. Each day was harder, and each day he wondered if he was failing in his role as a master. His feelings constantly bubbled to the surface even as he attempted to keep things professional.

“I’m paying for my choice every day, baby..” Azar whispered as he buried his face in his hand, clutching fistfuls of his own hair. But it was long after Karys was gone from the room.

Azar was reserved by the time Karys found him again, as if their earlier interaction didn’t happen at all. He would eat in silence, quietly thanking Karys for the meal and keeping a formal politeness between them.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

When Azar walked into the room, it was like nothing had ever happened. While Karys had outwardly adopted the same glacial attitude that Ziost was known for, internally he screamed. The agony was too great, the pain begged for release, it craved to flood onto his face as rage and hate. Karys didn't allow it.

Karys placed the bowl of stew in front of Azar, it was Ziosti Magma Stew. He had started steadily preparing it earlier in the day for them, it was authentic. He had made sure to smuggle everything he'd need to make it onboard, just to surprise Azar. He'd hoped a movie night and a reminder of their first night together would allow for a brief moment where they could just be themselves again. That hope was dying now.

Karys went to sit down and eat when Azar pulled out the ornate utensils that he had given him. He froze. A barely perceptible wave of fresh pain washed across him. Karys didn't finish sitting down, he simply took his bowl and retired to his room. Without bothering to look behind him he called out.

<I cooked, you clean Master.>

The kitchen was filthy. This was something they usually did together, even as Master and Apprentice. One of the very few small moments they still shared together. Karys wouldn't take part anymore.

Azar had crossed a line. He would have to find his way back across now. He would have to make his choice.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar was going to let it go and quietly have a meal with Karys. He was going to set this aside. And then Karys crossed a line. The Pureblood bristled as Karys rose and turned to leave. That wasn’t what took him over the edge, it was the audacity of the words and the behavior. Azar slowly rose to stand, his yellow gaze piercing.

Karys knew what he did. Karys knew he stoked the flames. He knew exactly what he did.

While Karys’ back was still turned, a wave of lightning unleashed from Azar to fully encompass Karys. It would make him drop and twitch in agony, the bowl of stew flying from his hands. He would feel the brunt of the lightning, his torso singing.

Azar stopped after the initial surge, stepping forth to glare down at Karys, “You do not command me, acolyte,” He said icily, “If you forget your place again, I will not hesitate to destroy you.”

Karys repeatedly disrespected his authority. They had agreed to put things on pause, but the other man simply didn't understand the boundaries. Perhaps it was Azar's own fault, but none of that mattered right then. He couldn't process what he was doing in the moment- he had to compartmentalize. He had to lock this deep inside him. He would break and fall apart otherwise.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys heard the crackle of lightning before it even struck him. A thundering boom of rage and malice made manifest. It struck him in his back. His nerves came alight, they overloaded. Karys body spasmed in the throes of pure agony. He didn't just scream, he howled in pain. His body writhed on the ground as the last arcs leapt across his torso.

Smoke rose from Karys where the lightning had struck him, the clothes had burnt away and the skin was blistered. His body shuddered in the grips of agony and betrayal. A whirlwind of emotions raged within Karys, he wanted to scream, he wanted to rip Azar apart, he wanted him to suffer. His golden eyes were hardened, his face twisted in a rictus snarl.

And then he remembered their dinner, that first night. He remembered his promises. Promises he was on the verge of shattering.

The gold faded from his eyes and his expression softened.

Karys laid still on the metal floor of the ship, his body still too racked to move. As much as he wanted to make Azar hurt, he couldn't bring himself to do it. His voice came out as weak and hoarse and tired.

<I can't do this Azar.> He whispered. <I can't keep this façade going.> He continued softly and weakly. <I can't act like you don't already know that I've fallen in love with you.>

He knew Azar wouldn't break. He knew Azar wouldn't comfort him. That wasn't the man he was. They had both crossed lines tonight. Karys could only hope things weren't beyond repair.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar almost would have preferred it if Karys had attacked him. He would have preferred a fight, for him to command that rage and unleash it on him. Azar would have welcomed it. Instead, Karys did something far worse. He stayed down. He accepted it. The Pureblood could smell the stench of burned skin. He saw the blisters, he saw everything that he caused.

And Karys drove the dagger deeper with his words. Azar’s knees felt weak and he wanted nothing more than to collapse. It took every ounce of his being not only to stay on his feet, but to keep his face impassive. His jaw tightened and there was a lump in his throat. Karys’ words resonated in his psyche over and over again.

Azar closed his eyes and slowly exhaled, “Clean yourself up,” He said curtly, floating over a medipack and tossing it to Karys. The injuries were bad, but the other man could tend to them. Azar couldn’t keep giving mixed signals. He had to stick to his choices.

He turned on his heel and strode from the kitchen. His stride was confident, cool, collected. A door hissed open and closed. Azar rushed into the nearest refresher, throwing the door open and vomiting into the toilet. His agony, his rage, his pain, all of it came out at once. It all expelled from him as he vomited pure bile, his entire body shaking and quivering. Tears flowed freely from his eyes. The stench of Karys’ burned skin, from his actions, burned in his nose. And he vomited some more. By the end of it, he didn’t bother getting up, dropping and curling into a fetal position on the cold ground hugging his knees with tears, mucus, vomit all over himself.

Hours later, if Karys made his way past a terminal in the shared space, he would see the working draft of a letter. Azar was horrible with technology and didn’t exactly know how to close out of things, and assumed switching off a screen meant it all went poof.

I regret to inform you that I am unfit and unsuitable to train acolyte Karys iv-Sadow. I understand this reflects on my failure as a Champion. The acolyte is brilliant and worthy of an outstanding Master, but that is not me. I will accept whatever judgment comes of my own inadequacy from you, Lady Tempest, and I hereby relinquish my teaching position and subsequent claims on Umbara Academy entirely.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

THEME​

With that heart wrenching confession, something changed. Azar floated a medipack to him and instructed him to clean himself up. He then turned and left the room. Karys struggled with propping himself in a sitting position against the wall, the pain from his bubbled and warped skin was mind numbing. He steadily dabbed bacta on the wounds, every time the cool gel would touched the burnt skin, he would hiss or scream in pain. Eventually the wounds were numb enough for him to try standing up.

Somewhere deeper in the ship, he heard Azar's retching. He followed the sounds, stumbling and catching himself on tables or counters as he made his way towards his lover. His exhausted mind pushed him forward, it forced him to find Azar. It would take time and Azar would hear the clatter of objects crashing to the floor and the groans of Karys with every step, but eventually Karys would make it to the refresher.

He was on his hands and knees at this point, his body so broken that he couldn't walk anymore, instead he crawled towards Azar's prone form. He crawled until his hand was just within reach of Azar's and he gripped it. <I'm right here.> He whispered, a shiver in his voice caused a slight warble.

Laying there on the floor, his hand gripping Azar's own. Exhaustion would claim him.

It would be several hours later that Karys would awaken, Azar was nowhere to be seen but there was a blanket draped over his body and several pillows surrounding him. The bacta had already started healing many of the wounds and the Karys found he was able to more easily push himself from the floor without screaming in pain. He would still have a slight stumble as he made his way towards Azar's bedroom but a terminal would click on as he passed. Karys would stop and read the letter that Azar had been working on.

He thought of Azar in his classroom and the passion he had as a teacher. He thought of their little nook and the importance it held to both of them. He thought of how much Azar loved his work. Azar was willing to give it all up for him. Azar had made his choice.

But it was one Karys couldn't allow.

Karys deleted everything that Azar had written and in it's place wrote his own letter for him in ur-Kittat.

Promise me you’ll never change this side of you, Karys. Promise me you’ll always embrace the galaxy as you do now. Promise me you’ll always keep this side of you alive no matter how many times the Sith Order breaks you and rebuilds you...Promise me...

Of course I will babe, just for you.

Karys silently wept as he wrote the letter for Azar to find. It was a promise that he had almost violated and one he couldn't allow to be broken. Karys had made Azar's utensils to cover his weakness from everyone. He would do the same here. He would cover his weaknesses. But there would have to be changes in this relationship.

With that Karys would crawl into bed beside the man he loved more than anyone in the Galaxy. He wrapped his arm around Azar's form and pulled himself closer. Karys would kiss his shoulder once and then fall asleep with Azar in his arms. This was the one person he would kill for. The one person he'd die for.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

He felt completely weak and drained. He didn’t know how many tears he had shed. He tasted like acid, but he didn’t care. He wanted to collapse and disappear within himself and lock himself away. His thoughts were his biggest enemy. He would never forget Karys’ cries as the lightning surged through him. And he would never forget the way the other man half crawled to find Azar still. He felt confident in that drafted letter by each passing moment. Azar had left Karys comfortable where he was, barely able to keep his defenses up.

His mind drifted to Umbara - the first thing that made him feel like he belonged since he left Korriban. He thought about life without any of that and he thought of Tempest’s swift judgment. He had seen what she had done to Cyutadakyr and other capable Sith - he doubted his past successes could ever make up for failing the basic, fundamental task of training an apprentice. But Azar had made his decision and he would follow his advice and stand with it.

His thoughts were interrupted when Karys found him again. The other man was unwavering and unyielding. He was unapologetic. He was better at following Azar’s principles than Azar himself. He felt Karys’ powerful arm wrap around him and tug him close. He fit like a puzzle piece against the larger man, his yellow eyes staring at the wall across him. He felt that kiss against his shoulder and he still didn’t react, his emotions surging powerfully.

Where Karys may have expected to fall asleep like that, instead Azar turned to face him. He reached over and grabbed Karys by a fistful of his hair. Azar gazed into those crimson eyes that were so broken, and yet had that undying fire that refused to get doused. He hadn’t seen what Karys had written on the terminal, but he knew what he had written.

“I chose you,” He whispered softly to Karys.

He didn’t say anything further, yanking Karys close by the hair to press their lips together. As Azar passionately kissed him, his free hand trailed down Karys’ torso, the Force channeling between them. Azar’s very life essence began to pour into Karys, weakening the former and empowering the latter. It was a twisted form of healing, one that took a sacrifice. It was agony beyond anything Azar could describe, but it would push away Karys’ pain and the immediate injuries would become manageable.

Azar felt weak, but he didn’t stop there. He rolled over atop Karys to straddle him, gazing down at him. Gazing down at his man. He loosened his robes, allowing them to slide down his shoulders to his elbows to reveal that familiar tattooed chest and pierced skin. Yellow, hawk-like eyes met crimson ones.

“Through passion I gain my strength.”

Theme​

 

[Karys]

Azar rolled over to face Karys. Their eyes met, and Karys’ world stopped. He barely felt Azar’s hand in his hair as they gazed ar each other. This wasn’t the man who compartmentalized everything anymore. This wasn’t his Master. This was Azar, the man he’d slept next to for weeks. The man who he laughed with and kissed and made love to. Karys felt hot tears roll from his eyes at Azar’s words. He nodded gently in response.

<I know.> He whispered a soft smile spreading across his face.

And then Azar kissed him. Not the rough one that they’d shared on Panatha. Not even the ones they’d shared on Umbara. This was filled to the brim with love and passion and a deep unadulterated care. Karys felt his body rejuvenating under Azar’s impassioned kisses. Azar’s hand snaked down Karys body. Instinctively, Karys pulled him into a deeper kiss.

He had longed for this.

When Azar rolled on top of him and loosened his robe, Karys would sit up to continue their embrace. He could tell Azar seemed different, drained almost. But Karys didn’t want his lips to leave Azar’s, he had missed his taste. Karys’ arms wrapped themselves around Azar’s waist as they kissed. He felt the top of his robes fall atop his arms, Karys didn’t care.

When Azar repeated Karys’ mantra but slightly altered, Karys giggled into his mouth. A light, playful, giddy sound that showed how delighted he was. That was their mantra now, in their passions they had found their strengths. They had found each other.

<Our strengths.> He breathed into Azar’s mouth. <Through passion, our strength.>

He was too lost in the love they shared. This was all that mattered to him. The problems of tomorrow could wait until then. Right now he simply needed Azar’s love, he needed his attentions, he needed to make love to him.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

----​

It was months of pent up desire. When they began, they had no intention of stopping anytime soon. Pain was all but forgotten, their actions enhanced by the Force and channeling it the way they knew with the Dark Side. The way they knew from their ancestry. Theirs was a dance of love, desire, passion all mixed into one. Azar surrendered himself to it, forgetting briefly about the Sith Order, about Tempest, about potential repercussions of their actions, about any of it. None of that mattered. He was done denying himself what he desired above all.

He was going to have his cake and eat it.

The passion continued for some time, and both forgot all about their arrival on a hellish planet. Azar was in a very compromising position, his hands gripping the pillow that his face pressed into. He could feel Karys digging his nails into his hips and he was in the throes of ecstasy when klaxons began to blare. The pilot droid’s voice resounded over intercoms.

Exiting hyperspace. Rough atmosphere and lots of debris. Extreme turbulence expected.

Azar barely had a moment to register anything before the ship lurched out of hyperspace, sending both men tumbling off the bed and into the floor. The Pureblood winced and grimaced, despising how things were interrupted. With a sense of panic, he remembered they were still on a mission and the planet itself was a force of nature.

He didn’t bother getting off the ground as the ship jostled around, rolling them both across the floor. At some point Karys fell on Azar and it almost knocked the wind out of him, “Get off! What are you eating these days?!” Azar’s muffled, annoyed voice quipped from below before he pushed the large, muscled man off.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Ecstasy exploded from desire and passion. It was a hat felt like both eons and mere seconds of sating his unfulfilled hungers. Karys had lost count of how many brief breaks they had taken that night, how many hours spent kissing and laughing to reignite lust within one another. An evening of intimacy and love was born from the ashes of heart break and suffering.

This was the way of the Dark Side.
This was the way of their people.

Karys didn’t know what time it was, nor did he care. Instead, he was focused entirely on the moment. One of his hands gripped the back of Azar’s neck, pushing his face into the pillow. The other buried its fingers into his hip, kneading his flesh in the throes of pleasure.

<Mmm fuck ba->

Klaxons went off, interrupting Karys’ moan of pleasure. The tinny voice of a droid reported atmospheric conditions, debris reports, and the expected turbulence departing Hyperspace. Karys barely reacted into time to end their union when the ship jerked back into real space. Both he and Azar were tossed from the bed. Karys felt his back slam into the holo-projector, pain arced through him and was expressed in a hiss of agitation.

<What the fuck?> He idly cursed, his brain still foggy. Then he remembered, Malachor. Ice ran through his veins. They were unrested, they were unprepared. Another series of violent jerks sent both Azar and Karys tumbling through the cabin. Karys ended this new series of tumbles atop Azar, he heard his partner’s muffled annoyance.

<Sorry, sorry.> He quickly replied. <High protein diet babe.> He groaned.

He’d push himself off of Azar and hunt for his bag. He felt the Kyber crystal he was attuned to calling to him through the Force. He tracked that faint lure until he found his bag, he chucked it into the refresher and started hurriedly getting dressed.

He could kiss Azar later, right now he had to be prepared.

<Fuck babe where is my breastplate?> He yelled as he dug through his bag.

@Sreeya