Gaining Strength [Part 18]
Aug. 9th, 2020 12:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Contains: Blood and gore
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,404
Total word count: 38,950
Status: Work in progress
It was as if Frankenstein had been stabbed with a burning poker, fire burning deeper into him as he screamed.
"Now you know what I felt," Maduke hissed, twisting the dagger, bringing on more burning waves of pain. "But only a part of it, since you're still human."
It was hard to think past the pain, even hear Maduke's words over the blood roaring in his ears, his heart hammering hard enough to hurt. He could feel the silver in his veins, reaching further and further with each beat.
"Maybe I should stab you a second time so can know how much pain you gave me." Maduke ripped the the dagger out and dropped him.
Frankenstein landed at a heap at Maduke's feet, curling up around the pain as he gasped, his blood seeping out as he pressed his hand to the wound.
"But you'll die soon anyway, so there's no point."
Frankenstein saw the dagger clatter down by his face before he was flying, smashing into another tree. He slid down, pain screaming everywhere.
He could see Maduke approach, and he could control his limbs more, but he could barely pull himself up.
"I have to thank you, even though you're a human," Maduke said. "Without you, I wouldn't have known there was another way for werewolves to strengthen ourselves." He frowned at Frankenstein. "Though I did think it was a human plot to decrease our numbers since it killed so many of us."
How could Maduke casually talk about his own people dying so he could be stronger? "How greedy," Frankenstein wheezed. "Or impatient? Can't fight Muzaka normally - you have to get stronger in a different way?"
Frankenstein slammed into another tree. Ringing in his ears. But Maduke seemed to have forgotten Langrol. Good.
"You've been here for months and we had to ask the humans for their research because yours was indecipherable."
They had been going into his lab while he'd been away. Frankenstein smiled, tasting blood. "I've already had my work stolen once before - the research that was given to you. Made...sure it wouldn't happen again..." He'd slowed their progress in the very least.
Maduke lifted him up by the throat again, and Frankenstein's eyes couldn't focus. He thought he could see something moving behind Maduke, but no, he was imagining that.
"Then you can die knowing you helped werewolves gain even more str-"
Maduke roared, letting go of Frankenstein.
He dropped, locking his legs to stay upright as he leaned back against the tree. What had-?
Maduke whirled around. The sound of flesh hitting flesh and - someone flew out of sight, crashing into a tree with a cry.
One chance. Dammit. His body had to move.
Frankenstein gritted his teeth and shoved himself away from the tree, drawing on what little energy he had left to transform. Ignore the pain, focus on what he had to do.
Maduke turned as he lunged and Frankenstein jabbed his claws into Maduke's chest, grabbing a hold of Maduke's ribs. Now he knew Maduke couldn't dodge. Frankenstein felt Maduke's hot blood against his fingers as he slashed Maduke's neck, his claws scraping Maduke's spine.
Frankenstein let go of Maduke's chest, hearing the hiss of escaped air as he fell to his knees, clutching his side again. He panted, the transformation disappearing. As monstrous as werewolf healing was, they still needed to breathe.
He heard Maduke try to draw in breath as it eventually turned to a wet gargle.
Maduke fell, his eyes staring sightlessly at him.
Good. Should be enough. Frankenstein grimaced as he tried to breathe though the pain. This wasn't...
He heard someone approach over his own ragged breathing and when he looked up, he could see a shape that vaguely resembled Langrol waver in his view.
She'd come back?
"Is... Is he dead?" she asked, crouching down next to him.
"Should be," Frankenstein muttered. Maduke hadn't taken another breath yet.
Hm. The blood from his abdomen was slowing down.
Or he was losing the feeling in his extremities.
He glanced down, but all he could see was a mass of red. All across his torso, over his leg and his hands were covered.
"Why didn't you..." It was hard to think. Hard to make his tongue do what he wanted.
"I heard your screams. I couldn't - I couldn't just leave you after you tried to save me. And then I heard what he'd said." She scrubbed at her eyes with her arm. "Those were my friends. We'd wanted to help and they're dead. And he didn't-"
Frankenstein closed his eyes, focusing on breathing. "I'm sure...they will be glad you avenged their deaths." Those...were the words a werewolf would want to hear? Maybe. "Thank you. If you hadn't returned..." It didn't make much difference for him, but Maduke had been stopped.
"No, it was your dagger that did it. I didn't have the strength to even transform."
Oh? Frankenstein managed a smile. Maduke surprised again by someone he considered beneath him, and stabbed once more by his dagger. "Mm, you still stabbed him."
"Then...we both did it."
Yes. There was strength in numbers, wasn't there.
Frankenstein saw something silver and something yellow waver into his view.
"Lord Muzaka!"
Aaah, he could relax now. "You're late," Frankenstein mumbled, feeling himself list to the side. Instead of thumping onto the ground, Muzaka must have caught him, because all he could see was red cloth and white fur. "'m..." Hard to breathe, hard to talk. "Cleanin' up...your mess again..."
Muzaka would be able to take care of the rest as Frankenstein's vision whited out.
* * *
Frankenstein sucked in a breath when he awoke. He was nauseous and sweating but... He was alive.
Somehow.
He looked blearily at the room he was in. A window over his bed was letting in sunlight, lighting up the wooden walls. "Thisss s'not my lab..." He grimaced. His voice was rough and scratchy, his mouth dry.
Everything about him ached and all he wanted to do was curl up and sleep more. But he should eat and drink something before that.
"Course not." Frankenstein blinked and then looked over, seeing Muzaka sitting beside his bed, leaning an elbow on the windowsill, his chin resting in his palm. "I needed ta keep an eye on you." A small smile twitched his lips. "An' you needed the fresh air."
Frankenstein snorted, and then winced. Urgh. Even moving made his skin feel like something scratchy was being dragged against it.
Frankenstein huffed, and even that was an effort. "Water would be appreciated."
"Ah, yeah, hold on." Muzaka disappeared and Frankenstein closed his eyes, trying to save his energy. His abdomen throbbed though and he looked down. There was an almost neat pink scar there. It wasn't flat, cutting a small valley through his skin.
But that was all there was. A scar through his skin, not going deeper. The skin around it was still hot to the touch and dry.
Werewolf healing was ridiculous. How long had it been, and the wound was almost already gone? Had the full transformation boosted his healing enough to save him? He didn't seem to have the same mottled scars Maduke had, and had that been because he hadn't reacted as much to the silver since he was human?
Muzaka returned quickly with a cup in hand.
Pulling himself upright could have been worse, but Frankenstein managed, taking the cup.
"You all right?" Muzaka asked as Frankenstein drank. "You've been recoverin' for a while already."
Frankenstein leaned back, resting the cup on his stomach. The water seemed to be settling in his stomach, rather than wanting to come up again. "Recovering from the silver reaction is bad enough," he said, "but...I suspect it's not being helped by the drain of achieving the full transformation."
Muzaka perked up, gaping at him. "You developed your claws?" He grinned. "We hafta test this out!"
Frankenstein glared at him. "Not now." Damn fight-happy werewolf.
Muzaka threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah, of course not. Once you've recovered completely."
Because otherwise it wouldn't be a good fight if they weren't both at their best. Frankenstein still smiled tiredly as he sipped the water again.
"How is Langrol doing?" He hadn't been able to check on her after the fight.
"She's doing as well as she can be." Muzaka's gaze drifted out the window, his smile fading. "She doesn't want to interact with a lot of the warriors right now."
"That's understandable." Maybe in time they would regain her trust again, but it would be hard to know.
"Mmn."
"And the ones that were involved with the tests?"
"Dead," Muzaka said, his lip curling. "We've got most of 'em, and Dorant's searchin' for the ones we haven't found yet."
Frankenstein smiled. Good. He exhaled, bracing himself as he tried to swing his legs over the bed.
"Oi, where're you going?" Muzaka said, putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"I've used up more than enough of your hospitality," Frankenstein said. "I should be-"
Muzaka snorted, raising an eyebrow. "Goin' back to your lab?"
"...Well." Right. It had been destroyed, hadn't it?
Muzaka chuckled, letting him go and sitting back down. "Yeah, Dorant tore it up pretty good with his fight."
And there was that as well. As strong as Dorant must be... There wouldn't be anything left, would there?
"So anyway," Muzaka said, shaking his head, "stay here."
Frankenstein stared at him. What?
"Your lab's busted up so you can't go there right now - you can stay here instead." He smiled, teasing. "Sorry this place ain't underground though."
Frankenstein sighed and then slowly leaned back onto the bed. He wasn't in the mood or health to rebuild right now. He'd done it so many times already, he was tired of it. "If it's no trouble for you."
Muzaka patted him on the shoulder. "I can handle a bit of trouble, heh."
A small smile curled Frankenstein's lips.
* * *
"Come in," Frankenstein said as he pulled himself up into a seating position. He still felt nauseous but it was fading by the day. The fever had left as well, and his heart rate seemed normal, so the chance of him having developed sepsis was minimal.
Werewolf healing really was ridiculous.
Garda poked her head in and smiled when she saw him. In her hands was a plate of food.
"Ah, thank you."
He'd regained a lot of strength over time as well, so he could keep holding it without it tiring him.
Dorant followed her in, closing the door. "I'm sorry," he said, ducking his head.
"Mm?" Frankenstein said. "What for?"
"I destroyed your home."
Oh, that. Frankenstein shrugged, feeling the ache in his muscles. "It already was before your fight; I can rebuild it." He paused, thinking it over. "Well. Once Muzaka lets me leave." Muzaka was insisting he continue resting here.
Dorant lifted his head as Garda grinned. "Oh?" she said. "Lord Muzaka told you something and you listened? Did your head get rattled during the fight as well?"
He snorted. "Hardly. I can acknowledge the fact I need to rest." Though he had taken a lot of knocks to the head during the fight. He could still agree with Muzaka though.
"You'll need it," Garda said, nodding. "You'll be busier once you're more active again."
He raised an eyebrow. What had happened?
She smiled back. "Word has gotten out you beat Maduke - more warriors are curious about battling you."
The joy of being popular and of gossip spreading. But it would mean more information. Though...
"The victory wasn't mine alone," Frankenstein said, frowning. It had been Langol's as much as his.
"A non-warrior and a human who only just got his claws worked together to take down a warrior from Muzaka's inner circle?" Garda looked at him incredulously. "Most would have thought that was impossible a year ago."
...Hm, that would have been considered impossible for humans as well.
Frankenstein exhaled, moving his food around his plate. He'd done many impossible things since arriving at, and even before, the werewolf territory.
He wouldn't have managed if he hadn't gained the strength or support to do it.
His work had been the cause for harming many people, but it was also the reason why he was able to stop it from continuing as well.
Then...he should continue with his research. He still had much to learn and perfect.
Frankenstein smiled at them. "Then I look forward to their fights."
* * *
"Heh, was wonderin' when you were gonna start setting up here," Muzaka said, grinning at Frankenstein while he leaned against the doorframe.
Frankenstein had been itching to test his blood as soon as he could sit upright for longer periods of time. He was still unsure about his decision to continue, but he knew his encryption worked, and...it was impossible to have a puzzle before him and not try to figure it out.
"I'd needed to secure some supplies first; Garda and Dorant were most helpful in that regard," he said as he organised his vials.
While he mourned the loss of his lab, it was nice making a fresh start again. And while he may have burned his previous results, he could remember what he'd last written. The windows would provide a problem of influencing his work, but maybe he could make some kind of box where he could store what he was currently testing...
"Hnn," Muzaka said as he came in. "I thought you might want this back too."
'Back'? He'd never lent or given Muzaka anyth...
Frankenstein stared at the leather sheathed dagger in Muzaka's grasp, held in both hands, palms up.
"You brought it back...?" Frankenstein murmured as he took it from Muzaka. He could feel the silver through the leather, warmer than it had ever been before.
Hmm. That was another way to measure how strong he'd become.
"Well, yeah," Muzaka said, shrugging. "I know how important is to ya."
Did he? Frankenstein had only ever used it to check the reaction a werewolf's blood in Muzaka's presence.
But he'd brought the blade wherever he went. Muzaka had noticed? "Thank you." It was one of the few things he had left of his previous life that was still in tact.
One more part because...I needed an epilogue to my epilogue. XDD
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Contains: Blood and gore
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,404
Total word count: 38,950
Status: Work in progress
It was as if Frankenstein had been stabbed with a burning poker, fire burning deeper into him as he screamed.
"Now you know what I felt," Maduke hissed, twisting the dagger, bringing on more burning waves of pain. "But only a part of it, since you're still human."
It was hard to think past the pain, even hear Maduke's words over the blood roaring in his ears, his heart hammering hard enough to hurt. He could feel the silver in his veins, reaching further and further with each beat.
"Maybe I should stab you a second time so can know how much pain you gave me." Maduke ripped the the dagger out and dropped him.
Frankenstein landed at a heap at Maduke's feet, curling up around the pain as he gasped, his blood seeping out as he pressed his hand to the wound.
"But you'll die soon anyway, so there's no point."
Frankenstein saw the dagger clatter down by his face before he was flying, smashing into another tree. He slid down, pain screaming everywhere.
He could see Maduke approach, and he could control his limbs more, but he could barely pull himself up.
"I have to thank you, even though you're a human," Maduke said. "Without you, I wouldn't have known there was another way for werewolves to strengthen ourselves." He frowned at Frankenstein. "Though I did think it was a human plot to decrease our numbers since it killed so many of us."
How could Maduke casually talk about his own people dying so he could be stronger? "How greedy," Frankenstein wheezed. "Or impatient? Can't fight Muzaka normally - you have to get stronger in a different way?"
Frankenstein slammed into another tree. Ringing in his ears. But Maduke seemed to have forgotten Langrol. Good.
"You've been here for months and we had to ask the humans for their research because yours was indecipherable."
They had been going into his lab while he'd been away. Frankenstein smiled, tasting blood. "I've already had my work stolen once before - the research that was given to you. Made...sure it wouldn't happen again..." He'd slowed their progress in the very least.
Maduke lifted him up by the throat again, and Frankenstein's eyes couldn't focus. He thought he could see something moving behind Maduke, but no, he was imagining that.
"Then you can die knowing you helped werewolves gain even more str-"
Maduke roared, letting go of Frankenstein.
He dropped, locking his legs to stay upright as he leaned back against the tree. What had-?
Maduke whirled around. The sound of flesh hitting flesh and - someone flew out of sight, crashing into a tree with a cry.
One chance. Dammit. His body had to move.
Frankenstein gritted his teeth and shoved himself away from the tree, drawing on what little energy he had left to transform. Ignore the pain, focus on what he had to do.
Maduke turned as he lunged and Frankenstein jabbed his claws into Maduke's chest, grabbing a hold of Maduke's ribs. Now he knew Maduke couldn't dodge. Frankenstein felt Maduke's hot blood against his fingers as he slashed Maduke's neck, his claws scraping Maduke's spine.
Frankenstein let go of Maduke's chest, hearing the hiss of escaped air as he fell to his knees, clutching his side again. He panted, the transformation disappearing. As monstrous as werewolf healing was, they still needed to breathe.
He heard Maduke try to draw in breath as it eventually turned to a wet gargle.
Maduke fell, his eyes staring sightlessly at him.
Good. Should be enough. Frankenstein grimaced as he tried to breathe though the pain. This wasn't...
He heard someone approach over his own ragged breathing and when he looked up, he could see a shape that vaguely resembled Langrol waver in his view.
She'd come back?
"Is... Is he dead?" she asked, crouching down next to him.
"Should be," Frankenstein muttered. Maduke hadn't taken another breath yet.
Hm. The blood from his abdomen was slowing down.
Or he was losing the feeling in his extremities.
He glanced down, but all he could see was a mass of red. All across his torso, over his leg and his hands were covered.
"Why didn't you..." It was hard to think. Hard to make his tongue do what he wanted.
"I heard your screams. I couldn't - I couldn't just leave you after you tried to save me. And then I heard what he'd said." She scrubbed at her eyes with her arm. "Those were my friends. We'd wanted to help and they're dead. And he didn't-"
Frankenstein closed his eyes, focusing on breathing. "I'm sure...they will be glad you avenged their deaths." Those...were the words a werewolf would want to hear? Maybe. "Thank you. If you hadn't returned..." It didn't make much difference for him, but Maduke had been stopped.
"No, it was your dagger that did it. I didn't have the strength to even transform."
Oh? Frankenstein managed a smile. Maduke surprised again by someone he considered beneath him, and stabbed once more by his dagger. "Mm, you still stabbed him."
"Then...we both did it."
Yes. There was strength in numbers, wasn't there.
Frankenstein saw something silver and something yellow waver into his view.
"Lord Muzaka!"
Aaah, he could relax now. "You're late," Frankenstein mumbled, feeling himself list to the side. Instead of thumping onto the ground, Muzaka must have caught him, because all he could see was red cloth and white fur. "'m..." Hard to breathe, hard to talk. "Cleanin' up...your mess again..."
Muzaka would be able to take care of the rest as Frankenstein's vision whited out.
Frankenstein sucked in a breath when he awoke. He was nauseous and sweating but... He was alive.
Somehow.
He looked blearily at the room he was in. A window over his bed was letting in sunlight, lighting up the wooden walls. "Thisss s'not my lab..." He grimaced. His voice was rough and scratchy, his mouth dry.
Everything about him ached and all he wanted to do was curl up and sleep more. But he should eat and drink something before that.
"Course not." Frankenstein blinked and then looked over, seeing Muzaka sitting beside his bed, leaning an elbow on the windowsill, his chin resting in his palm. "I needed ta keep an eye on you." A small smile twitched his lips. "An' you needed the fresh air."
Frankenstein snorted, and then winced. Urgh. Even moving made his skin feel like something scratchy was being dragged against it.
Frankenstein huffed, and even that was an effort. "Water would be appreciated."
"Ah, yeah, hold on." Muzaka disappeared and Frankenstein closed his eyes, trying to save his energy. His abdomen throbbed though and he looked down. There was an almost neat pink scar there. It wasn't flat, cutting a small valley through his skin.
But that was all there was. A scar through his skin, not going deeper. The skin around it was still hot to the touch and dry.
Werewolf healing was ridiculous. How long had it been, and the wound was almost already gone? Had the full transformation boosted his healing enough to save him? He didn't seem to have the same mottled scars Maduke had, and had that been because he hadn't reacted as much to the silver since he was human?
Muzaka returned quickly with a cup in hand.
Pulling himself upright could have been worse, but Frankenstein managed, taking the cup.
"You all right?" Muzaka asked as Frankenstein drank. "You've been recoverin' for a while already."
Frankenstein leaned back, resting the cup on his stomach. The water seemed to be settling in his stomach, rather than wanting to come up again. "Recovering from the silver reaction is bad enough," he said, "but...I suspect it's not being helped by the drain of achieving the full transformation."
Muzaka perked up, gaping at him. "You developed your claws?" He grinned. "We hafta test this out!"
Frankenstein glared at him. "Not now." Damn fight-happy werewolf.
Muzaka threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah, of course not. Once you've recovered completely."
Because otherwise it wouldn't be a good fight if they weren't both at their best. Frankenstein still smiled tiredly as he sipped the water again.
"How is Langrol doing?" He hadn't been able to check on her after the fight.
"She's doing as well as she can be." Muzaka's gaze drifted out the window, his smile fading. "She doesn't want to interact with a lot of the warriors right now."
"That's understandable." Maybe in time they would regain her trust again, but it would be hard to know.
"Mmn."
"And the ones that were involved with the tests?"
"Dead," Muzaka said, his lip curling. "We've got most of 'em, and Dorant's searchin' for the ones we haven't found yet."
Frankenstein smiled. Good. He exhaled, bracing himself as he tried to swing his legs over the bed.
"Oi, where're you going?" Muzaka said, putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"I've used up more than enough of your hospitality," Frankenstein said. "I should be-"
Muzaka snorted, raising an eyebrow. "Goin' back to your lab?"
"...Well." Right. It had been destroyed, hadn't it?
Muzaka chuckled, letting him go and sitting back down. "Yeah, Dorant tore it up pretty good with his fight."
And there was that as well. As strong as Dorant must be... There wouldn't be anything left, would there?
"So anyway," Muzaka said, shaking his head, "stay here."
Frankenstein stared at him. What?
"Your lab's busted up so you can't go there right now - you can stay here instead." He smiled, teasing. "Sorry this place ain't underground though."
Frankenstein sighed and then slowly leaned back onto the bed. He wasn't in the mood or health to rebuild right now. He'd done it so many times already, he was tired of it. "If it's no trouble for you."
Muzaka patted him on the shoulder. "I can handle a bit of trouble, heh."
A small smile curled Frankenstein's lips.
"Come in," Frankenstein said as he pulled himself up into a seating position. He still felt nauseous but it was fading by the day. The fever had left as well, and his heart rate seemed normal, so the chance of him having developed sepsis was minimal.
Werewolf healing really was ridiculous.
Garda poked her head in and smiled when she saw him. In her hands was a plate of food.
"Ah, thank you."
He'd regained a lot of strength over time as well, so he could keep holding it without it tiring him.
Dorant followed her in, closing the door. "I'm sorry," he said, ducking his head.
"Mm?" Frankenstein said. "What for?"
"I destroyed your home."
Oh, that. Frankenstein shrugged, feeling the ache in his muscles. "It already was before your fight; I can rebuild it." He paused, thinking it over. "Well. Once Muzaka lets me leave." Muzaka was insisting he continue resting here.
Dorant lifted his head as Garda grinned. "Oh?" she said. "Lord Muzaka told you something and you listened? Did your head get rattled during the fight as well?"
He snorted. "Hardly. I can acknowledge the fact I need to rest." Though he had taken a lot of knocks to the head during the fight. He could still agree with Muzaka though.
"You'll need it," Garda said, nodding. "You'll be busier once you're more active again."
He raised an eyebrow. What had happened?
She smiled back. "Word has gotten out you beat Maduke - more warriors are curious about battling you."
The joy of being popular and of gossip spreading. But it would mean more information. Though...
"The victory wasn't mine alone," Frankenstein said, frowning. It had been Langol's as much as his.
"A non-warrior and a human who only just got his claws worked together to take down a warrior from Muzaka's inner circle?" Garda looked at him incredulously. "Most would have thought that was impossible a year ago."
...Hm, that would have been considered impossible for humans as well.
Frankenstein exhaled, moving his food around his plate. He'd done many impossible things since arriving at, and even before, the werewolf territory.
He wouldn't have managed if he hadn't gained the strength or support to do it.
His work had been the cause for harming many people, but it was also the reason why he was able to stop it from continuing as well.
Then...he should continue with his research. He still had much to learn and perfect.
Frankenstein smiled at them. "Then I look forward to their fights."
"Heh, was wonderin' when you were gonna start setting up here," Muzaka said, grinning at Frankenstein while he leaned against the doorframe.
Frankenstein had been itching to test his blood as soon as he could sit upright for longer periods of time. He was still unsure about his decision to continue, but he knew his encryption worked, and...it was impossible to have a puzzle before him and not try to figure it out.
"I'd needed to secure some supplies first; Garda and Dorant were most helpful in that regard," he said as he organised his vials.
While he mourned the loss of his lab, it was nice making a fresh start again. And while he may have burned his previous results, he could remember what he'd last written. The windows would provide a problem of influencing his work, but maybe he could make some kind of box where he could store what he was currently testing...
"Hnn," Muzaka said as he came in. "I thought you might want this back too."
'Back'? He'd never lent or given Muzaka anyth...
Frankenstein stared at the leather sheathed dagger in Muzaka's grasp, held in both hands, palms up.
"You brought it back...?" Frankenstein murmured as he took it from Muzaka. He could feel the silver through the leather, warmer than it had ever been before.
Hmm. That was another way to measure how strong he'd become.
"Well, yeah," Muzaka said, shrugging. "I know how important is to ya."
Did he? Frankenstein had only ever used it to check the reaction a werewolf's blood in Muzaka's presence.
But he'd brought the blade wherever he went. Muzaka had noticed? "Thank you." It was one of the few things he had left of his previous life that was still in tact.
One more part because...I needed an epilogue to my epilogue. XDD