Archive of Our Own

    Victor looked surprisingly calm as he stopped in front of his locker but as he reached for the lock it was immediately evident something was different. His metallic fingers slid into the metal as if it were tissue paper as he wrenched the door open and tossed it aside with little thought. He picked up his gun and quickly loaded the chambers with the loose bullets scattered about the shelf of the locker. He slammed the cylinder in place and laid the cool metal of the barrel against his head for a moment trying to calm his frazzled nerves. This wasn’t a time for emotion… this was a time for action. He could fall apart later but for right now he just had to get to Myers.

    He had to get revenge for Vincent.

    He turned toward the door and stopped sharply, his eyes narrowing. Victor hadn’t even heard the other man approach. He had earned his reputation as a man of shadows well.

    "Chaser." Claude leaned against the doorway with his arms folded. The only indicator that he was feeling anything more than his usual nonchalant indifference was his tail lashing uneasily side to side behind him.

    "Get out of my way." Victor’s voice was cold and barely above a whisper.

    "You know I can't." Claude casually pushed himself off the door frame and turned to fill the entryway completely.

    "Like hell you can't. You know what I have to do." Victor’s balled his fist up so hard Claude heard the metal joints straining.

    "...and take a wild guess who sent me to keep an eye on you." Claude’s voice matched Victor’s in its icy delivery.

    "You're playing right into that bastard’s hands, don't you get it?"

    "That was my line, Chaser. He knows I have no love for him and he also knows yours just died completely. It would be awfully convenient if we took each other out, wouldn't it?"

    Victor stood sidelong to Claude and held the gun up but his head remained down. He was unable to look at him. Claude heard him grinding his teeth and could see the intense strain in his neck muscles as he clenched his jaw. He could see how the tips of his ears matched his hair as the inferno of his anger threatened to consume him.

    "I won't. Ask. Again… … Move." Victor’s voice was emotionless but he continued looking down, thankful his hair was covering his eyes.

    "No."

    The shot echoed horrifically in the silent room and yet neither man flinched. Claude felt the sting where the bullet had grazed his cheek but hadn't actually struck him but still he didn’t move. Victor let go of a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding.

    "Getting sloppy, Chaser." Claude’s eye narrowed on him.

    "Would you prefer I hadn't missed?"

    "Would have proven your conviction."

    Victor's head snapped up at that and finally Claude saw the real man hiding behind that cool and confident bravado Victor constantly wore as armor. Even within his black cybernetic eyes Claude could see the wild, haunted depths of a man who had just lost everything. He gave a heavy sigh.

    "You're nothing more than a wounded animal looking to strike out. You're just going to run into an early grave like that." Claude still refused to budge despite the burning desperation he saw in Victor’s eyes.

    Victor's jaw set hard again as he composed himself.

    "As long as I take that bastard with me then so be it." He steeled himself with his words and started marching towards Claude but he looked beyond him instead of at him.

    “That’s just it though. You won’t. We both know what you’re up against.”

    “It doesn’t matter. Just move.” A hint of that desperation crept into his voice.

    “Chaser-”

    “You really want me to shoot you, don’t you?” His eyes finally snapped to Claude’s as he raised the gun again and gave Claude an unhinged grin. He held his gaze as he tried so hard to look and feel as tough as he needed to be… yet to Claude he looked like he was about to cry.

    Claude slowly reached out his hand and curled his fingers around the barrel of the gun. Victor thought he would try and jerk it out of his hands but his eyes widened as Claude closed the gap between them and looked down at him with that brutally cold expression as he rested the muzzle of the gun against his forehead.

    “To make sure you don’t miss this time.” Claude’s voice was a low growl as he stared dead pan into Victor’s eyes.

    He saw Victor’s lip twitching as it raised in a silent snarl. Claude watched Victor’s finger curl tighter around the trigger and heard the soft clicking of the metal trigger against the metal of his finger as his body shook.

    “You really have what it takes to throw your life away for nothing?” Claude’s voice rose, “You really think that’s what Vincent would want? Throwing your life into the fire to honor a man who’s soul obsession was winning?”

    “I just need one clean shot.” Victor sounded breathless despite his chest heaving.

    “Then why am I still standing here if you really believe that?”

    “Will you just shut up !?” Victor took a deep breath, running his free hand over his face and tugging hard at his goatee, “I knew you were a fatalistic son of a bitch but this–”

    “Focus, Chaser. Your job isn’t done.” Claude hissed between clenched teeth.

    “Stop it!” Victor’s eyes flashed with pure hatred as he spit the words.

    “Then stop me.” Claude's eye flashed just as dangerously and his hand tightened around the barrel.

    “G-God dammit, just move!” Victor’s voice broke slightly.

    “Shoot Chaser.”

    “Claude!”

    “I said shoot me!” Claude yelled and laid his free hand over Victor’s on the handle of the gun.

    “CLAUDE!”

   

    “I SAID SHOOT VICTOR!” Claude snarled

    With a desperate scream Victor pulled himself free from Claude’s hands and stumbled back. He stared at Claude then down at his hands as they trembled and the gun tumbled to the ground. He covered his face with his hands and stumbled back again until his back hit the lockers.

                  I can’t do it.

                Why can’t I do it?

               Because it won’t bring you back.

              Because throwing my life away means that bastard won’t pay.

             I can’t join you in hell right now, Vincent…


    … I’m sorry.

   

    “FUCK!” His voice was raw as the word exploded from his throat.

    “ FUCK !” He yelled again and whipped around to punch the lockers as hard as he could. Once, then again… a third and fourth time… each time his anguish was accentuated with that word tearing from his lips until he was choking on it. He gave one final punch before he sank to his knees and tried to believe the sharp taste of blood in his throat from screaming himself raw was a good enough substitute for bitter tears that couldn’t fall.

    He flinched when he saw Claude kneel down next to him but his eyes widened when he felt the man’s hand rest on his back.When he turned his head to look at him he was surprised to see a look of deep heartache and sorrow lining his normally stony face. He could also see the immense inner strength he carried himself with. Almost as if Claude were silently trying to share it with him.

    “I… didn’t even know… You knew my name.” Victor swallowed hard as he joked and tried to regain some of his bravado.

    “I’m not your enemy, Victor.” Claude stood and offered his hand down to Victor. Victor grinned for a moment as he reached up and took his hand. Then for a moment his expression went solemn and he sighed heavily.

    “You might be the only one that isn’t now.”