Starfire

((Dear Readers: Please be advised that this chapter is one of the many reasons this story is NC-17! This chapter contains non-consensual sex. Hopefully it's... not too offensive. Erk!

And YES! More reviews! Oh you all are just so kind to us!

Truth be told.. we will update whenever we can, but yes... one review is more than enough to get another chapter.. (none too, just with less impetus, we move slower!) and I'll do my best to keep to that! It's busy here, so sometimes time doesn't allow. But it did tonight!

turtledonkey27: Oh you liked that kiss? You're in for more of that.. only it's a wait. Sorry! Eek! We're going to do the baiting carrot meanie head thing. (Don't mind the writer - she's sick)... but yes! Here we go! Into another chapter!

Kikvws: Thank you so much! It means a lot to us that you are enjoying the plot. It's funny, but I never thought that this story was more than just good fun until Earthgurl started talk about how they should make an anime like this! (We both would watch it in a heartbeat!) and that progressed to it being on here. And it's wonderful! She had to have been right about it being a wonderful story. Just goes to show you which one of us is the smart one. *w*))

Chapter Nine: Memory and Betrayal

"Fuckers.." hissing, Tex stares at the walls, pacing back and forth, his face a mass of bruises after the crew had finished with him. They'd taken on another prisoner, they told him that. And the way they said it made him fear for Tyrin's health, Tyrin's safety. He'd not been too happy when he'd gotten into the cell and found Tyrin, unconscious.

"Fuckers.. shitting fuckers.." he's furious, and the beating hasn't helped his mood any. Hank is safe, it's password fixed, in a way that only Owen knows of. It's a DNA coder and as not one of the men has been passed by Owen, they'll never move the thing. That's good, so long as they don't mess with it. And from how hard they've been beating him, they haven't decided yet to destroy it.

And he doesn't know what kinda fucking cargo they have now either. He's tried to find out in various ways, but it's not worked.

"Okay dirt bag.." a voice calls over the com. He's tucked Tyrin into one of the brig's beds, but it's not helping much.

"Fucker.." he snarls.

"Hand in the restraints," calmly. He hates them. And yet, willingly, because he fears for what they'll do to Tyrin if he doesn't comply, he goes to the place in the wall where the cuffs are deeply embedded into the steel. Here he puts his hands in, they close, and he's captured, and because they've not seen Tyrin as moving yet, they'll not expect him to have his hands in yet either. They musta hit him fucking hard, the guy's been out like a light. So they were sending a doc. That was nice of them.

The doctor is small, with a slender face and darkened eyes, he enters and lets the door close, then goes about his checkup. "Hmm... a concussion to be sure.." checking eyes and smiling as he looks down at Tyrin's inert form.

Tex rankles. He hisses softly, hatred having flared to life the minute the doctor had entered. That was a face he'd hoped he would never have to see again. But training keeps him silent, makes him hope - hope greatly, that the man won't take them any further into the past than he already has.

"He'll be okay. I'll give him a sedative and some anti-inflamtories, in case of brain injury.." the doctor murmurs to himself and stands smiling, leaving Tyrin on the bed, going to where Tex stands.

He's silent, they both are, because the mikes are here, it's how the guards know. His virus has ruined the visuals which is good. Thank heavens. He wishes he'd done more, it might still knock out the audio if he's lucky. But then they won't feed him and shit.

The doctor's hands on his side make him want to retch. The man's come once before to look at him and finding Tex something worth his while, has done some "exploring" as he called it. Tex calls it fucking groping from a fucking pervert, which he generally says after the doc is gone. Or will say.. later.

The doc smiles and then passes his card and the door opens. "I'll be back in an hour.. leave him shackled.." he smiles lovingly at Tex who snarls and pulls at the cuffs, hating how he's forced to stand, forced to not be there for Tyrin. "Fucking asshole! Fucking pervert!" he's screaming as the brig door closes behind him.

They got Tyrin pretty good. So good, that when he comes to he can barely move from the pain in his fucking skull. Tyrin groans softly.

"Fuck," he whispers, unable to fix his eyes on anything. Opening his eyes right now even hurts so, he closes them again. Damn. This can't be the end.

"Fuckin assholes tried to put a ... FUCK!" Tex snarls and goes mad against the shackles for a moment before leaning against the wall, his cheek on the cool as he sobs. "Dammit.. no... no.. calm down.. fuckers... fuck.. I.. I hate this .." he can breathe. It's not like they put him into a small holding cell. This one is fairly large, at least seven by ten feet. He's not too claustrophobic. But the fucking shackles are enough to bring up enough memory to make him near to nuts.

Tyrin lays there a while longer after the doctor is gone and then suddenly, as if he's in a very bad dream he screams for his partner. Like a child lost without his parents, he screams before his eyes flick open again, his breathing erratic. Almost fearful. But he still can't sit up. Can't move an inch.

"Oh god. Tex. Tex, are you... uuuuhn... Are you here?"

Tyrin hates to admit it. he really hates to, but he's scared. Of what's going on here. Of what's going to happen to them both. He shivers with that fear, and closes his eyes again, his head pounding.

"Tex. Please forgive me."

When his name is shouted out, Tex has to drag himself from the memories that roll over him in horrifying consistency. "No.. no Tyr.. hey.. no worries, kay babe? No.. easy man.. it's no big deal.. we'll get out of this." he laughs softly. Fuck.. fuck it.. he's fucking scared. And he is trying like hell to keep it out of his voice. "Easy Tyrin. They just gave you a fucking hard knock on the head, kay baby? So don't worry.. just don't worry bout it, huh? You'll be fine. Doc says you'll be just fine."

He's not sure what else to say. He's trying, but he is too fucking far away.

Tyrin could no nothing but lay there... And he hates it, he fucking hates this... he doesn't like this situation... It feels wrong...

Yet, all he could do is lay there and be quiet like Tex asked him... Trying to reassure him... Tex is so kind... Even now... Even in the midst of adversity... It made him feel even more horrible to hear those men talking to him like that... The fuckers... These fuckers that tried to destroy him when he was working for them... Who the -fuck- are these people?

Not knowing that he's getting through, Tex just rambles on, trying to fill silence, to find something to hold onto. "So just.. umm... just lie there. Stay awake though, kay? It's a concussion. You gotta stay awake hon.." he's talking like he might to one of the girls, or one of the kids... just.. just talking, sweetly talking.. like a mother, soothing him, wanting to soothe him. "Don't worry about it. We'll get out.. we'll get out.. we'll... "

"Shut the fuck up, Heeseman.." the snarl comes over the com and Tex growls back.

"Fuck you! Fucker.. lemme go, damn you!"

But he's caught and he only has his voice. "Don't worry, Tyr.. don't worry bud.. we're good.. we're in good.."

Tyrin shivers, his body stiff and sore, the pain in his head having traveled all the way down his spine, branching out to every nerve.

"Damn it. Tex. I... I have to... uhn... I have to help you some how." He whines it, barely audible at all as he tries to slowly sit up, blinking several times, but then falling back to the bed as he can't gain his balance.

"Cock sucking maggots. Uhn! I'm fucking going to kill them all." Whimpering, unable to see his friend shackled at the front of the brig like a damned animal.

He's calm then, because he has to be. "No! Easy. No Tyrin. Yer okay. Just take it easy. They'll be.. ba-"

The sound of a door opening and the doctor smiles as he enters. "I heard our patient is awake.."

"Fucker... cock sucking fucker!" Tex spits out at him. "Touch him and you'll be eating yer dick fer breakfast, you fucking perv!" his face livid red as the doctor lifts a brow toward him and with a soft chuckle, makes his silent way to the bed where Tyrin lies.

"Now then, young man, how are we feeling? Here.. let me take a look.." his voice soothing, his hands cool and certain as he looks over Tyrin, looking into eyes and feeling his spine, asking questions to find out where the injury is. Then he nods, content.

Tyrin cringed every time that man touched him. If not from the pain, then from simple disgust. He felt so helpless. He hated feeling that way. It gave him too much time to think of old times. Of how those men use to touch him. He opens the pools of his eyes and the look he gives anyone who comes near him is enough to stop a heart cold. He gathered as much strength as he could and spit at the guard, yanking violently at his chains.

"Fuck you doc. You could give two shits less. You better be fucking sure you have me tied up good enough. Next time you come in here may be the last time." Said weakly, but still there is a raging fire in him. Tyrin's a crafty fucker when he wants to be and like a wild lion, he'll fight to the very end. Oh yeah. They better hope these chains hold him.

"Now then.." the doctor's voice is calm. "I think he'll be fine, Mr. Heeseman. I know you were worried, but he'll be just fine. Here now lad, your hands.. let me see them.." and the door opens once more, a guard appearing with a blaster in his arms. The man grins at Tex and winks at him, then jerks his head toward the bedside. "Pretty..." his voice soft, too soft to be heard by the others.

"I'll fucking kill you all.." Tex hisses softly.

"You'll wish you had, anyway.." the guard grins and then watches as the doc puts cuffs upon Tyrin, chaining him to the bedside with one cuff upon his hand, a long enough chain to enable the man to sit, even stand should he wish, but with the bed bolted to the groudn, he won't be able to leave that specific area.

"Sleep.. and water.. lots of water... that would be my recommendation for you, boy.." he pats Tyrin's chest and smiles. He really is a kind enough doctor, very good, calm, steady bedside manner, if it weren't for the death stare given him by Tex behind, one might think he actually was a help to them.

Tyrin groans and closes his eyes again, saying nothing else. They really have no clue who they're fucking with. These people might know Tex. But they don't know Tyrin.

He tests the strength of the bonds, keeping eyes closed, realizing these are pretty strong, but nothing he's not use to. Long story there.

"Tex." He's really scared for his friend. If any of them touch him. If any of them do anything to him. Oh, there will be blood. Lots of it.

It's all about time.

The blaster is in Tyrin's face as the guard grins, spit running down his shirt and his eyes hard. "Hey Umnie.."

"Yeah?" the voice smacks over the reciever.

"We're gonna play a bit.. these shits're givin' us trouble.. right doc?" the guard grins at the doc and the doc shrugs.

"Just this one.." and the doctor smiles as well as he makes his way over to Tex. "Come my boy.. you and I both know.. where you've been.." his voice softening as he reaches down and roughly grabs Tex's privates.

Tex grunts and he writhes against the pain, but a quick punch to the back of his head pushes him forward where he falls against the wall, sucking in breath, his face a mask of rage. He doesn't give any reply.

"Just careful of the other one.. these guys're slipperier than snot and you know the boss wants them both alive."

"Yeah. yeah.. just keep an ear out," the guard quips and settles down near Tyrin, his blaster trained on the red head's face and his eyes smiling. "We're gonna have a treat, ya see.." his voice softening as well. Behind him, the doctor is sucking on Tex's ear, finding hte younger man's height to be perfect, just a few inches above his own. "Doc's been talkin' about it fer years.." he smirks.

Oh no! Oh gods, no, no, no! Tyrin didn't care about the blaster in his face. He didn't care about himself at all... But Tex! Oh god, they're going to humiliate him and Tyrin doesn't think he can handle seeing his friend like that.

He groans softly trying his best to get away from the nasty man in front of him, horrified to know exactly what these two men were after. "Stop... Fucking stop it!" he screams out to the doctor.

"Fucker.. Get off me, ya perv.." Tex hisses and then closes his eyes tightly. "Dammit. Not here.. not in front of him, ya fucker."

"Don't fucking touch him you bastard!" Yanking hard on his chains, Tyrin is still uncaring about the blaster. This can't happen. This fucking can't be happening right now! Tyrin is use to being used. He's been there. But Tex. That will be a horror for him. Tex is straight. He's straight and doing this. There is nothing worse than having your manhood taken from you. He doesn't want Tex to -ever- go through what Tyrin's gone through.

"Ahhh... maybe.. maybe we have lovers, Yuri?" the doctor grins at his guard and winks at Tyrin. "What think you? Many men dream of seeing their lover succumbing to another man before them.. and here, you on the bed, just as it should be. You can imagine it's you, can't you?"

"Get the fuck away from him! Fucking take me instead!! I don't give a fuck! Rape me all you fucking want!" Screaming, ravenous, angry and scared all mixed into one. This is turning into a fucking nightmare. It's true... he loves Tex. He's loved him from the beginning. He can't bare seeing his friend in anguish. Not like this. "Don't fucking do this! Damn it!"

"Yep.." Uri grins as he lifts a brow at Tyrin and stares at him. "I'd say they were..."

"Not here, damn you.." Tex snarls and then twists, trying to bite the doctor who with a grunt, slams his elbow into Tex's ribs and kidneys. Tex cries out, falling back into the wall with a gasp.

"You or him, honey," the doctor hisses. "We talked about this, remember? I told you - ten years ago, don't you remember?"

Tex stares at the old man in unabashed hatred. Then he moans softly and turns his eyes away from Tyrin, away from the guard, pressing his face into the wall and shuddering.

"Oh yeah... hell yeah," the guard laughs softly and then with a snarl points at Tyrin, "You sit back and shut the fuck up or I'll put a new hole in yer head. What good'll you be to him then, eh?" his eyes dancing. "A dead lover and himself in the state we'll leave him in..."

It was horrible and Tyrin wants to fucking knock that guard on his ass. But he's trapped... helpless. He covers his face, not wanting to see this. It's already bad enough he has to hear that fucking prick doctor raping his friend.

"Eat a dick you fucking bitch!" He snarls right back at that guard. He growls and raises his hand, pushing the gun away from his face defiantly.

Tex is silent from then on, his breath speeding at times, or a grunt as pain rips into him when the doctor shoves himself inside, but other than that, he's silent. Sometime soon after things have begun, the door swings open and three more men walk in, their eyes gleaming with the same desires, having been in space far too long, "Heard ya had some whores in here, doc..."

"You're a fucking pussy BITCH!" Tyrin screams as others enter the room. Screaming louder. Anything to get the heat off of Tex. Anything to help his friend.

"Only.. unh.. this.. unh.. one..." the doctor pants and grins as he points to the bed. "But that one.. if he.. does anything... is next"

"You don't fucking scare me you pussies..." Tyrin is lying his ass off because he's scared as all out and out hell, but he wasn't going to just sit by and let these skanks hurt Tex. He's not going to just lay there. He's not taking this shit. He gives an even harder yank on the bonds, almost pulling the fuckers out of the wall with his rage. This isn't going on a second longer!

Tex grits his teeth and with a gasp, "Tyrin.. just.. just shut up.. it'll be okay.. it's gonna be.."

"Fucking bitch! Shut the fuck up!" and a punch to Tex's cheek leaves him sagging against the wall, trying to find his bearings again.

"Oh, you cunts are going to pay dearly! Believe that." Tyrin's eyes cut over to the guard and he wraps his arms around his neck, pulling him down on top of him and then with a dark purr rolling over, the chain around the guard's neck and tight as well.

"Shit!" The guard squeals, terrified, his eyes wide as he gurgles and with a cry, brings everyone's attention to him.

"I could fucking snap your neck right here and right now. And I think I will. Tell them to get the fuck out. TELL them you fucking cunt!"

The doctor lifts a brow, still inside of Tex's body and he shrugs. "Kill him.."

The sound of blaster fire, Tex's scream and the doctor's as he orgasms at the sound, and in Tyrin's arms, the guard is suddenly and violently missing half of his skull..

"Now.." the doctor walks over in a state of completion; first snatching the blaster in the guard's convulsing hands, then pulling at the dead guard's shirt and wiping himself clean before tucking everything back in his pants. "are you going to shut up, or are we going to have to put a hole in his head too?" and with that said, another shot resounds in the small cell, and Tex screams again, this time in pain rather than horror; the doctor having turned and easily, as if he knew his marksmanship beyond what was customary, shooting into the pilot's calf, a flow of blood seeping into Tex's pants.

Tyrin cries out also as the doctor blatantly shoots Tex and he closes his eyes tight with the shame. Damn it! Tears well up in his eyes. Tears of utter anger. There' nothing he can do until he can break free, but then something bad might happen to his friend. He's made things bad enough.

How could men be so fucking evil? Tyrin has to shut up now... But he gives that doctor a knowing eye. Oh, The doctor is on his shit list and he's going to get him first. Even if he has to die to get him, Tyrin will find a way.

"I made a promise of sorts.. that I'd not touch you, young man. I will save that for later, when I know your name. I like to murmur things to my lovers and I like them to know I know their names. And as we have all the time in the world, I don't mind waiting to take you. After I'm done with Mr. Heeseman.." his eyes colder than ice, mad even. "But I'm not against killing him. You see..." he smiles, calmly. "I've already had him.. many times before this. So I can go without, knowing that I'll have you to take his place.."

This man... has had Tex before? -Many- times before? Oh gods! Tyrin couldn't say anything. He couldn't do anything at all. 'Oh dear God... Damn you, why are you doing this?'

"Why?" The doc sounds surprised and then laughs softly. "You don't know? Ahhh.. he hasn't told you then."

Near the door, Tex sags, his wrists bent at almost impossible angles, his head falling back as shock begins to set in. A guard grins and walks over to him, giving him a kick in the side that makes him cry out and then reaching down, picking him up by his hair. "Soft, this one.." smiling back at his fellows.

He's realizing things about Tex. That he's been in this same boat before. He's been treated like this before. Tyrin thought he had a bad life. All the things done to him were self inflicted. He wanted love so badly that he did anything. Everything. Believing all the lies. But... Tex. Gods, he can't even imagine the horrors he's been through. That's why he's so private. He just... he can't believe... Not Tex!

Tyrin begins to cry as softly as possible, curling in on himself on the bed after he's shoved the dead guard off of him.

No one can save them now. This will be their life from now on. Being raped by nasty men, just because... Just because they're there. Just because...

"I'm so sorry Tex. I'm so sorry."

And they all have turns with Tex... All of them... And Tyrin can do nothing but cry bitterly...

"Shall I let him go?" one of the men smirks as they clean up what seems like hours later. "I'd not mind carrying him to my room.."

Tex, covered in and filled with semen and spittle, and generally a bloody mess, leans against the wall and moans at the voice.

The doctor laughs coldly. "I'd dare you, if I weren't in here. But I'm afraid he's far more able than we think and he still might very well kill us if we give him the opportunity. No, this is why we put him here, because of his danger. His friend doesn't seem to be so bad. And I don't think he's a whore, strange.. just another pilot then?"

"Hunh. Could just be sick of the game?" the guard asks and tucks his shirt back in, speaking around the two men in the room. Tex lays half against the wall, his arms all but pulled out of the sockets. The burning pain in his calf is not half so bad as the rest of his body. He'd fought at first, in the only way he could. But even the little token of false desire had died, his body pounded into, had turned to pain and was still so, he could feel something warm and wet on his ass and he's afraid it's not just from them, but maybe blood from him as well. Four dry fucks - it gets to hurting like a bitch after a while.

A blaster is cocked and the doctor's voice is calm. "Now, Mr. Heeseman, I have my sights on the dear head of your companion. If you want him to have an opportunity to escape, then you'll stand and we'll unshackle you and fit you to the bed as well."

Tex cannot understand it for the most part, but he registers that Tyrin might be in danger. With a groan of deep physical and soul felt pain, he pushes his wrists against the wall and pulls himself up. Standing, he stares at his arms until at an order from the doctor, the shackles are undone. He sways and is caught, but he puts up no resistance, not even as the man lewdly plays with his front. Still, his body is exhausted from its ordeal. There is no response and the guard gives up on his actions a half moment after, turning and moving to the bed, where he dumps Tex in a heap.

"You see, I have often wondered how it would be to take him and not have to pay for it. He hasn't told you that. How he turned tricks with the best of them.." the doctor's voice is conversational as the shackles are fixed to the bed post and Tex is let go. "Ah... he didn't, I can tell. It's too bad, really. He's very deft as his job, if I remember. He started young. He was only... what.. eleven then? Twelve? No, you must have been nearer to fourteen, but you always were small for your age, Mr. Heeseman. And oh how tight. It makes me hot just to think of it.." he grins and shrugs. "But then, he can tell you the rest. He enjoyed that just as much, I should think."

A click of the door and they are left alone.

The horror. This whole ordeal makes Tyrin sick. The way they treat his friend. For every pound the hate in him festers. Boils. For every pound into Tex. For every disgusting word he hears, Tyrin is shoved back into his own past. How horrid it was. But his own fault. All of it. All of those men. Telling Tyrin pretty things and then turning into monsters. He was young too. Very young. Too young to know the difference between lust and love. Just a foolish boy. He shakes with the hatred of it. And he's sobbing in horror for his friend.

But then it's over and Tex is left like a dirty rag as the doctor speaks... speaking about Tex. About his past. The past he's been trying his best to keep away. A very young boy turning tricks? The doctor speaks of it as if were a fond memory. He can only cry as Tex is thrown on the bed like an empty shell and tied down as well. He moves closer and cuddling somewhat into his friend, trying to be someone warm. Someone gentle. Trying his best to hold Tex. After the fuckers are gone.

Tex, on the other hand, lays in a small ball, shuddering as he holds himself as close as he's able, unmindful of the deep wound in his leg nor the wounds within which pour blood. He simply lays, curled in a fetal position, his eyes glassy and staring and one hand, casually picking at the skin under the shackle because he knows you're not allowed to mess with them without being punished. He remembers this, some of it.

He blinks and draws in a shaky breath, but cannot move. "Stay... awake, Tyrin.." through the cracks and swelling of his lips both from being punched repeatedly in the face and being kissed rough. "Yer.. concussion. You have to stay awake.. tell me.. tell me something you remember. Something good.." his words are a slur for the most part, due to how his mouth is swollen from the previous eternity.

It's true, Tyrin is trying hard to fight himself falling out, passing out from the horrid pain in his head and he's not doing so good either. Mixed with all of this he feels like his soul could leave him at any time.

"I remember... The..."

He can't keep himself. He can't just pretend nothing happened here. He can't pretend his friend hadn't just been raped by several terrible men. Even as Tyrin tries to speak his sobs are choking painfully. "I... Tex... Oh god... Oh god oh dear god..."

He's nearly screaming it; he just want to apologize. He wants to tell Tex how sorry he is. He can't breathe now as his cries overcome him and he's hyperventilating, scared shitless, in total agony, but not from his wounds. From his friend's pain. Gods, why'd they leave him alone? Why didn't they just -

The screams are second nature, Tex has heard them before and they do little to him. He closes his eyes however and does his best not to touch Tyrin back, yet neither does he pull away from the tears and the warmth. He simply does not respond. It is not a matter of being unfeeling, but rather, a matter of the horrors on his friend. He's seen it, seen it happen before, because it has happened before. Suzanna had held him as well, last time. Six years before. And after...

Well, he'll just wait on after.

"I'm so sorry... I'm s, so sorry Tex... Please... Oh goooooood!" Screaming horror, screaming as if they'd taken Tyrin instead. The red head keeps repeating it. Keeps saying it as if those words could heal his friend. Could take back all this pain he was partly the cause of.

He's being hysterical and he tries to calm down, trying to come up with a good memory for his friend now.

"You... made that bath for me back home..." A whisper against Tex's face, pulling in closer and planting a light kiss to his forehead. "I'll... I'll always... remember that... You... were so kind... Oh god, Tex... Please, please forgive me..."

Tyrin is nigh on hyperventilating, apologizing and Tex almost tells him not to feel sorry, that it's a deal he's made long before. That this has nothing to do with Tyrin, but with Suzanna and her brother. But he doesn't say that either, because the guilt has to be passed through as well. If anyone knows that, it's Tex. So he's silent, and still, and allowing the tears and the screams and he doesn't add to it or take anything from it. Only lets it just be.

Until, with a whisper and a kiss, Tyrin opens from the abyss he was mired in. "Were?" Tex laughs softly, his one eye almost closed now, it's been a half hour and it'll be swelled shut in another half hour. Half an hour.. he had counted the seconds, it was what he did when he was a boy, trying to make a game of it, how accurate he could be at time keeping when under duress. Little did he know it would come in so handy later, in his new life, when he was reincarnated, when he became Tex and buried little Howard Heeseman. "Well shit Tyr.. if I'm dead already, this is one fucking sour heaven. I wanna reinstate.."

Even now - Even after all the chaos in this room, Tex finds the time to calm Tyrin. Hold him, offering up things to make Tyrin as comfortable as possible, not that he actually could. It was just too much for him. It might as well have been the red head instead of Tex.

But he can't rest; he can't. He'd close his eyes and see the horror of this day in the blackness of closed eyelids. They... they raped his friend. In front of him. They fucking -raped- Tex! How could he possibly sleep? He doesn't say anything, though. Not about that. Tex is just... just so kind to him. Tyrin couldn't possibly deserve this.

"There are worse things than death, Tex. Much worse things." He didn't say it loud; he couldn't, but he did say it. He knows there are more terrible things. death is the easiest way out. Death would be kind in a place like this.

Tex gives a half grin and turns his head, spitting out a bit of blood onto the sheet, no where else he can do it, then looking more closely at the face before his own. "Fuck, you stupid idiot... you're gonna hurt yerself... lie down, kay?" He winces, but he's more moveable than Tyrin. So with a groan, he unfurls himself, his body glistening. He realizes now that his pants are about his thighs and with a wince, he pulls them up, forgetting the blood and hurt there, then pulling his shirt off, he sits up, weaving a bit, but otherwise steady. "Lay down.. hang on.." his face cool, calm, "You need to worry about you. You're worse off than me... fuck, this isn't the worst I've ever had and I survived before... they're not gonna fuck me up, Tyr.." and as he speaks, he's ripping the tee shirt, then tying it around his calf, trying to stop the bleeding before he takes the rest and sighs. "It's gonna stink like shit.. but it's better'n nothing.." he murmurs as he folds his shirt and then smiles his swollen half grimace, half smile at Tyrin.

"Okay... now..." and just like that, he's nursing Tyrin, careful of where the binding chain of his shackles hit, and thankful that they'd been cuffed at the same end. This would be fucking harder had he been cuffed to the other side. He lifts up Tyrin's head and fits the shirt under, no matter that it's touched with blood and other rather uncertain substances, it will work as a pillow of some sort. "So.. lay down and close your eyes, Tyr. You need rest, just like the doc said. Rest and water, and they'll bring water cause he said you'd need it. And the boss doesn't want you or me dead. See? It's not so bad.. " Guiding his head bumped friend to lay down is easier than he'd expected it to be, because Tyrin has been fighting a rather severe concussion. Otherwise Tex is fairly certain they'd be having a far different conversation at this point.

He's thankful that they're not, right now. He's not sure he can manage that conversation yet.

Tyrin lays down on the make shift pillow and looks at his friend with eyes of total sorrow. Even now, through it all, Tex is so good to him. At the offer of being held, his heart nearly stops. Gods, he wants that so bad. He wants Tex wrapped around him and the words were a dream come true. But what if he were to say yes? What if he - He sighs softly, not wanting to doubt this, taking this as the only chance he'll ever have to be held by such a wonderful friend.

"Yes. Please. Please hold me before I fucking start crying again. Damn it. I just... I hate being so weak." And Tyrin curls into his friend, sighing softly to that warmth. Nearly melting, even now at the strength of those arms. The strength they had over him. He felt... He felt so safe here.

When Tyrin is fully situated, Tex closes his eyes, not sure he can look into the face of his friend, a face he's been studiously almost avoiding the entire encounter, and settles down next to him. "If you want.. I'll hold you.." he murmurs, his voice almost cold, but the intent is there, and who is to say how he'd be acting had the entire scene before never happened. "Then," he adds quickly, "if something happens, I'll be able to tell, even if I'm asleep. You know I don't sleep hard at all.."

Tex extends his arm, finding it has a few bruised, soft, mashy feeling places along it's length, but nothing that will make him wince or let Tyrin know how it hurts. Rather, he'll wait until the bruises show. For now, he can take the pain, as he's taken everything else. There are, in fact, areas on his body far more painful than his arms.

Laying upon his side, his swollen eye nearest the pillow, he grimaces and tucks his other arm about Tyrin's waist, drawing his partner close to his own body. He does his best, knowing that Tyrin has to be going through some pretty tough shit right now. Seeing that had to be one fucked up scene for anyone, and Tex hadn't had to see it. Sometimes he thinks it's better that he's never seen it. He's not sure he'd survive such an ordeal.

He sighs, still not looking at Tyrin for his own reasons. He's a man who can do only so much and while he's really fucking strong in some ways, he's far more a weakling than Tyrin is. It's just... well, he's got bigger walls, maybe. "Fuck, Tyr... " he finally sighs and returns to words spoken long moments before. "No.. nothing is worse than death. It's all yer head, buddy. You keep walking the road set before you and you make the best out of it all.. see, thing is, folks let life get them down. It's like a sleep on yer brain and a weight on yer heart.. fucking nonsense, really. No good if ya do that. So fuck, just let it go, bud. I mean, after ya scream and cry about it. That's not weak neither.. that's strong. Most asswipes ain't got no strength ta be crying when they should. Yer better at that than any man I know, huh?"

He groans softly and presses his brow to Tyrin's, listening to the softened breathing of them both and wondering if they'll sleep and if the doc will come or one of the guards of if they're just going to be taken to the captain in a bit. Fuckers have some real hospitality issues, if ya know what I mean. Still, a small walk produces endless possibilities and he was very serious. He's been through worse, and he's always gotten out. They'll get out of this one too.

"I..." Tyrin whimpers softly. He couldn't dispute Tex's words, because. Well... he was fucking right. As much as Tyrin didn't want to admit it, his friend was right. But then - But then this life had been nothing to him. So he's a fucking good pilot. That doesn't make him who he is. It doesn't make him happy. The road he wants to take is a road that doesn't exist anymore.

"But Tex, I can't let this go. My god! How? How could you be so... so fucking calm about this? They hurt you, Tex. Baby, they fucking hurt you so bad! How can you just... just..."

He whines, lifting his head and -looking- at his friend, Searching that face. The swollen eyes. Searching for somewhere to push so he can knock down those walls. Maybe not all of them. Maybe none of them at all. But to have a piece. To have a peek inside this tormented soul, wrapped up in stone.

"Tex. You know everything about me. I... I was so afraid to open myself up to you. To anyone. I... was afraid that I'd lose the only friend that ever mattered to me, by telling you the things I've done in my life. Telling you who I am. But, I found... I found that you really care about me." His own arms slipping around Tex in return, staring into that face, knowing that the pain is going to eat him up. There's only so much you can hide.

"You said - That you trusted me, Tex. Do you remember?"

A hand raising very gently, reaching to brush its fingertips across the swollen cheek as well, very careful and gentle with the movement. "Do you trust me enough to - Let me in? Do you trust me enough to tell me things you've told no one else? I feel like I can tell you my whole life. I trust you that much. I trust you with my life and my feelings. Do you really trust me the same way? Enough - To cry? To let the pain you're keeping away out? I... I'm right here for you. I can listen. I can hold you while you cry. I.. I just wish you wouldn't hold it in."

Tyrin wanted to say something else too. What his heart is pleading with him to say. What it's aching, burning, bleeding to say. But how could Tex feel the same? After all of this. All the pain. The humiliation. Could Tex really love anyone? Especially Tyrin?

"I don't know what's coming. I don't know where we'll end up. And I feel like... I feel like..."

He stopped himself, fear choking him once again. He feels defeated already and he doesn't know why. He wanted to say that he felt like this would be the only time he'll ever get so say just how much he loves Tex. With all he is and all he has, Tyrin is so deeply in love. The words won't come though. Too much fear. Too many broken hopes from long ago.

"I... I won't force you to tell me anything. Just know that... I'm here if you change your mind. Okay?"

Tex is staring at Tyrin, shaking his head, wincing, and then closing his eyes. Dammit.. this is gonna be fucking bad if they keep this up. Then with a grimace, he looks up and instead of answering, points upwards, at the small video/audio feed in the high corner. The video is out, but he's pretty damn sure someone is listening in on the audio. Then looking back at Tyrin, pulls him close and gently, almost a breath of air, into his ear, whispers, "Can't see us. Can hear us.. don't say anymore.." and then, a bit more quietly, so that his heat touches Tyrin's ear, "don't believe.."

At which time he pulls back and with a look of pure worry and concern, breaks out in words that don't fit his demeanor. While he holds Tyrin, rubs his back, smiles at him, his voice and words are venomous and disgusting even.

"Fuck... I can say that even now. I needed you, man. I needed a warm body to fly that fucking two seater and I needed a cute ass.. you know how it is. And you got both. So fuck me, eh? I mean, I can do this shit for so long, but I can't do it that long. Don't be going all googly-eyed on me. We gotta get out of here and I don't have anything to give you. Just accept that yer strong and get over it. Shit!"

His mind is racing. It's not closing up well. He'd made a mistake and he sighs. "Look.. I know I said all that shit before, but I mean, you were hysterical and shit, ya know? I don't have room for this cute little be nice to the fag shit that yer pulling." DON'T say anything to let them know you're gay, Tyr... listen to me.. he pleads inside. "Just cause these guys have a thing for fags doesn't mean I have to feel bad. Fuck, prolly liked it, didn't I? From the way they say it anyway.. so don't fucking feel bad for me and just fucking go to sleep, k?"

He is gentle, so gentle in his touch, trying to say things in the message, trying to tell Tyrin stuff they'll both need to know. They've left Tyrin alone because they're assuming he's possibly straight and that they're only partners, not lovers. But then, there are other reasons, that's only one of them. And they have to sleep, have to find the two seater, have to get the hell off of this place. Get back. They have to.. have to realize that they're being watched. And while he's fairly certain they won't get the video feed up, and when the audio is knocked out, they won't have that either, he's also fairly sure that for now, they're in danger and Tyrin even more so for that emotional outpouring.

Maybe set on by his own. He sighs, tucking Tyrin close and with a growl that has a hidden undertone of kindness, snarls out, "Just go to sleep. We'll talk about these this in the morning. And if it won't upset yer delicate sensibilities, I don't hate getting fucked in the ass... I had it happen for years, okay? Ever since I was nine... fuckers taught me to like the nice ones. It hurts like hell, but it's over soon enough. And if you think this is the first time I've been gang banged, you've got another thing coming. So just lay off.. If I wanna tell you shit, I'll tell you when we're out of this mess. But don't be expecting any favors." And there is the slightest sheen of tears, but they are swiftly blinked away. Now is not the time and place to break down. Even with the smallest amout of detail he was allowed to give Tyrin. This isn't the worst, just know that.. this wasn't the worst. He was fine. He was okay. He would be okay.

Fuck, he has always been okay. It was part of his personality. He was okay, even as fucked up as he is. He's still okay. And right now, he needs Tyrin to be okay too. Fingers curl into Tyrin's head and touch the injury on the back of his head gently. He closes his eyes, exhausted, not sure when they'd bring the water. Just hoping he can wake and pull away in time, because he'll not let go of Tyrin tonight. Not until he must.

Tex's words cut into Tyrin's heart and ripped it to shreds. A deadly blow to every ounce of hope in him. His jaw tightens and he's very close to crying all over again. But he bites his tongue and bites back his tears and just - Just takes the words. Locking his jaw tight and simply laying there next to his friend. Broken hearted. Those words hurt him like hell and he made sure not to let it show. He made sure he acted like a man though his insides were falling to pieces.

The eyes pull away and they close, Tyrin giving a very quiet sniffle, even as he did his best to choke it back. There was nothing more to say. Nothing else he could say. It's been made up in his mind that Tex doesn't trust him at all. That Tex lied about that. It was just a show to get him to calm down about his own stupid life. He's decided that he should have been stronger. Like Tex is... he shouldn't have broke down back there. He should have just... He doesn't even know anymore.

How long had they been there? How long would it be before they were either dead or saved? How long could Tyrin stand being close to a man he loves so much? Was this why Owen ran away? Maybe that's what he should do too. Maybe when they get back. If they get back. Maybe he should just pack his things, pay his part of the rent for the rest of the year and just go. He's lived his life alone before. He can do that again. Go back to the drifter colony he came from. All the thoughts were swirling in his aching head, but he lies still. Eyes wide open. He couldn't sleep now. Tex's words so unsettling. So painful. Fuck! Damn it, why did Tex have to say those things!? And why does he have to hold him like this, feeling the way he does?

This won't happen again; he won't let it. It's best for the both of them. There's no use in this if it means nothing. The gentleness. The kindness. It suddenly feels more like emptiness to the red head and at that, after Tex's last words he shifts, turning over until his back is to the other. He doesn't pull away though his mind is screaming at him to do so. Tex doesn't have to hold him anymore. Doesn't have to keep the game up anymore. Tex has made himself perfectly clear. Crystal clear.

"I'm sorry," Tyrin says in a very small voice before finally closing his eyes, curling in on himself and doing his best to sleep. Or at least pretend.

Tex stares at the man he calls friend and realizes in one fell swoop, that his words were heard wrong, each and every one of them. Tyrin has been injured far too many times to give him the benefit of the doubt, to hear the story under such words that he's feared would come to him eventually. Poor Tyrin trusts only so far, and Tex and he haven't managed to know one another long enough, long enough so that words like Tex has spoken would sound so uncharacteristic that Tyrin wouldn't even imagine in his heart of hearts they could be true. Instead, they fit the deepest fears of Tyrin's fancies.

"Fuck.." he grimaces and tucks his arms around his friend, tighter, wincing some but holding Tyrin because he won't do it any other way. He has to keep ACTING like he cares, even if his words say otherwise. Maybe it might prove to keep Tyrin confused enough that they'll have something to talk about when it's all over.

They sleep, fitfully, but they do sleep. And perhaps it is that Tyrin is so very tired that he does not waken at the soft click of the door, almost a sound of nothing, yet it's enough for Tex, who has had to know doors, for far different reasons than a simple attack by some ship bound danger. No - since he was young, he's known that sound. It's precluded so many a night of horror.

Thus, the touch on his ankle is expected and he carefully turns over, staring at the blonde head which is bent over him, a small pen light blinding him a moment.

"Just coming for my own taste.." comes the quiet murmur and Tex blinks in blurry recognition. "Here..."

Thus the blonde man smiles and with a wink, bends over and parting his mouth, closes his lips over Tex's who gasps and stiffens in shock, praying to himself that Tyrin remains asleep.

The kiss is brief and the slender, taller man stands, grinning down at him before eyeing Tyrin's body. "Hmmm.. two for one. I may have to ask the captain for a taste later.." his voice soft and mocking as he shrugs. "Anyway... here.. clean up. I don't want to have to wipe the decks clean of your blood.. " and he tosses a bundle on the bedding, before he slips back against the door and leans against it. "Go on.." and opening the door, slips out.

Tex stares after him and then carefully swallows the small sourness in the shape of a miniature tablet slipped into his mouth as he'd been kissed, then stares down at the package, bandages.. and antiseptic. "Fucker.." he murmurs softly to himself.

((next chapter: Meeting the captain of the Necros!!))