Chapter 106

Chapter 106
"Bastard!"

​The word was a growl of pure animal rage, and Ren's fist, hardened by the Beast's power, connected squarely with Axton's jaw. The sound was a sickening crack that sent Axton sprawling back to the floor, his vision momentarily darkening.

​He lay there for a beat, stunned, before the pain kicked in. His jaw was a symphony of agony. He pushed himself onto his elbows, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth.

​Ren stood over him, breathing heavily, his chest heaving with exertion and fury. The act of violence hadn't calmed the Beast; it had only stoked its fire.

​"That's for my heart," Ren hissed, looking down at him. "Now, you really have to get up and fight or you're going to make my first kill so easy," Ren snarled.

​Axton slowly rose, the silver energy flaring in his own eyes as his Beast fought to surface in response to the attack. He knew he couldn't fight Ren, not with the lie still poisoning the air between them. He had to stop the violence with the truth.

​"If you can just listen, " Axton spat out, ignoring the pain in his jaw. "I was never going to turn you in, baby," his voice was soft, almost a plea.

"Then what did you do?" Ren grabbed Axton's collar, glaring at him with his golden eyes.

Axton didn't resist. Rather, he placed a cautious hand on Ren's waist, "I was planning to hide you away, Renault. I'd really be a bastard if you think I'll give you up so easily, Renault. It really hurts to see you doubt my love like this." He tightened his hand on Ren's waist, carefully raising his other hand to Ren's face but Ren pulled away.

"If you think for a second that I'll believe a word from your mouth, then you're mistaken. The Ren you knew is gone. This one, just wants revenge. When I'm done with you, I'll deal with that bastard father of yours," 

"Then, hurry up," Axton walked over to Ren, his eyes burning with determination, "Or can't you really hurt me? Your love for me is stopping you from actually hurting me?" He whispered, his eyes falling to Ren's lips.

"I must say, you're sexy when you're angry –"

"Is this a joke to you?!" Ren snapped, shutting his eyes to avoid staring into Axton's silver eyes, "I loved you like a fool! But you betrayed me, and you think it's a joke?!" He snapped his eyes open, breathing hard.

Axton clenched his jaw, "I didn't betray you-ugh!" He choked as Ren suddenly pushed him to the wall, his hands circling his neck as he heaved.

Axton simply stared down at Ren, still small, but now formidable. 

"I hate you," Ren snarled, his hands tightening around Axton's neck.

"I don't believe that," Axton murmured, choking slightly, "You love me, just as much as I love you. You know that." He whispered. 

Ren didn't respond, his eyes lowered to the blood by the side of Axton's lips and his heart thudded painfully. 

This was never supposed to happen; he was never meant to hurt Axton. If it was telling the truth, hurting Axton was just as good as hurting himself, or even more.

Axton saw Ren's distance and risked holding him again. 

He gently pulled Ren close and lowered his mouth to his ear, "It's going to be fine, baby. I'm sorry you had to experience what you did. Yes, I did agree to my father's request-calm down..." he tightened his hands on Ren's waist as he tried to move away.

"I sent Corvin to look for you, but, it seemed like they got you before I did. I was devastated, Ren. Why would I give you up? What's my life going to be like without you? You're my life, Renault. I love you," Axton gently kissed the sensitive skin under Ren's ear, his chin, is cheek, and then he passed and gazed into Ren's eyes.

"Can I kiss you? I hate fighting, well, mostly it's you beating me up, but it still sucks," His hand cupped the back of Ren's head, his face leaning in.

Ren inhaled deeply, and turned his face away, "Just... stop." He murmured and stepped away from Axton, his eyes returning to their normal colour. 

Axton felt like a piece of him fell off as Ren stepped out of his arms. He hated his father a double fold forever coming between him and the most important person in his life.

"Get out," Ren said, going over to sit on his bunk, staring at the floor.

Axton stood there for a while, looking at Ren with longing and anger.

"So, what's this?" Axton asked, baling his fists, "You're really not going to believe me? You don't trust me? You're letting us drift apart because of my father's acts?" He frowned, pinning Ren with a shocked look.

"Yes. Now, leave, I want to be alone," Ren answered without lifting his head.

Axton wanted to step forward but he held himself back, shutting his eyes to gain control over his emotions.

Without a word, he left the chamber. 

Ren looked up at the closed door and gritted his teeth. He wished General Conan was standing right in front of him, he'd tear his head off his shoulders without batting an eye.

Ren was hurting, deeply.

He wanted to believe Axton, desperately wanted to believe Axton.

But, thinking back to the kind of man Axton is, he couldn't risk it. 

At the end of the day, Axton was always going to be a captain rather than a lover. His driving force was his duty not his heart. And, if giving out one unimportant human would please his father, then Ren was sure he would do it without a thought.

Yes, he had confessed to not actually doing his father's bidding. Still,  it could be a means to lure him right back into their trap.

He should focus on the mission, not on Axton. At least now, he had nothing to lose. He could sacrifice himself in the signal without feeling like he was leaving anyone behind.

His sister would be just fine, she was part of the reason he was doing it. To free her and every other Beast-bound person.
​
​Outside the chamber, Kael and Corvin had heard the sickening thud followed by Axton's choked grunt. They flinched, but knew they couldn't interfere.

They suddenly stopped hearing the sound and wondered if Axton was still okay. 

"Shall we go check?" Corvin asked.

"Yes... No," Kael pointed to the side where Axton stormed out of his chamber, his face livid.

"From your bleeding lips, I can say it wasn't caused by a passionate kiss. He did a number on you –"

"Stop talking," Corvin nudged Kael's side, shaking his head.

Corvin cleared his throat, "Captain, I'm sorry for –" he was cut off by a compound-wide alarm, blaring and cutting through the high-pitched, painful whine of the Sonic Deterrents.

​Rhys bolted from his post by Axton's door and ran to the main console in the Arcturus vehicle, monitoring the external sensors. "It's the perimeter! The Beast-bound are attacking the main defence line!"

​The holographic map above the console flashed red, showing a dense cluster of contacts slamming into the East Wall.

​"They're ignoring the sound!" Rhys yelled in disbelief. "The Sonic Deterrents should be incapacitating them, but they're pushing right through the field!"

​Corvin, his scientific curiosity overriding his fear for Axton, realised why. "Ren is their king! Their loyalty to him is overriding the pain response! They're taking the compound apart to get to him!"

​Rhys watched in horror as the energy signature of the perimeter shield fluctuated wildly. "The wall won't hold! They're targeting the primary power conduit. They'll be inside in minutes!"

"Fuck this," Axton muttered and strode back to the chamber.

Ren smirked as he saw Acton barge into the chamber with an urgent look in his eyes.

"I see you've seen my army," He said calmly. 

Axton balled his fists, "Renault, I understand you're angry at me, at my father. But, I'm right here in front of you, take it out on me, I won't complain one bit." He stepped closer.

"Please, Renault, ask them to back off. Think of the innocent people they're going to hurt –"

"I was innocent, too!" Ren sprang up, breathing hard.

Axton gritted his teeth.

He walked over to his bunk and grabbed a gun from under his pillow, walked over to Ren, then pushed it into his hand.

"Then grow a fucking ball and shoot me!" Axton barked, "Or, are you a coward like my father who depends on others to do his dirty-Fuck!" Axton staggered back, clutching a bleeding shoulder and staring at Ren in utter shock. 

"You... you shot me..." Axton murmured in disbelief. 

Ren threw the gun to the ground, "You asked me to." He pushed Axton aside and walked out of the room.

"You might want to bandage his sorry ass," Ren said to Corvin as he walked past them and out of the vehicle. 

"I was right, he shot him. Shit!" Corvin cursed and hurried into the chamber.