stormkeeper_lovedoris

I bring you one ficlet (404 words) and one drabble (58 words)

Titles and word counts: Recruitment (ficlet - 404 words) and Never (drabble - 58 words)

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Azazel/Riptide

Summaries: “Recruitment” takes place during the scene in First Class where Shaw attempts to recruit the young X-men; Azazel watches and speculates on his own mistakes. “Never” is about the unexpected hold that Riptide has on Azazel.

Disclaimer: I don’t own X-men.

Recruitment

The raid on the CIA base is a success. They’ve won. Sebastian Shaw, his helmet deposited with Riptide, is approaching the scared and curious young mutants, starting to explain to them why they should join his team.

Azazel breathes a small sigh of relief at the fact that Janos has survived the battle. He didn’t doubt that he would, but given their line of work, the possibility of someday losing Janos is omnipresent.

Azazel glances at the shattered glass at his feet, feeling the last remnants of the adrenaline pump through his warm body. The night air cools the sweat on his forehead, and his blood surges with pride at his success during the battle, his obvious power displayed so well.

Azazel picks up on the smell of fear from the teenagers. They haven’t seen action like this before; they haven’t been in battle. Azazel listens to Shaw’s promises to them, at first listening only half-heartedly but then following his pledges closely enough that a few mixed emotions seep in. Shaw says he will make them kings and queens. They will rule the world at his side.

Azazel glances at Riptide, and is pleased to see that his face mirrors his own – expressionless, out of necessity. The two of them have seen things that these young mutants have not. They have seen how Shaw controls his followers, manipulates them, exploits their fears and weaknesses, lies to them.

Don’t fall in love, Azazel silently cautions the young mutants; Shaw and Emma Frost will find out about your feelings before you do, and will use them to punish you any time you do something they deem wrong. Don’t ever experience a day where you’re begging Shaw to prod you with the electrodes instead of your lover. Don’t contemplate strangling your lover and then shooting yourself as the only way to escape. Don’t let the knowledge that you are both bound for hell be the only thing preventing you from doing this.

Azazel could almost pity the young mutants.

But he's happy too. Riptide will no longer be the low man on the totem pole in the Hellfire Club. Azazel’s status will become even more elevated. The young recruits are sure to make mistakes, which will make Azazel and Riptide look better in Shaw’s eyes. It's just too bad for whichever of these young fools makes the mistake of their lives and decides to join them.

The End

Thank you to

denisia for beta testing “Recruitment”!

Never

“You ever see anything more gorgeous in your bed?” Riptide asks Azazel, boasting.

Riptide confidently displays himself, his limbs tanned and tantalizing. His clothes are a heap on the floor.

Azazel feels his bravado slip away; all plans he had of staying in control have vanished.

His mouth is surprisingly dry as he croaks out a reply.

“Never.”

The End

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