Another week another Wednesday. Here is your latest installment of Rune and Luke. The prompt I used this weeks was... Without you I would be...
“Don’t be ridiculous, Rune. You were never afraid of me. You
were too rebellious to have been afraid of me.”
“Really? You truly think I’d have done those things, been
with you all these years if I hadn’t been too scared to walk away?”
“You did those things because you loved them and you stayed
with me because you’d be nothing without me.”
“Nothing? Nothing without you? Without you I would be
dancing right now. Without you I’d be happy. Well, I’ve got news for you. I am happy and I am dancing. I’m going to dance with the band again and we’re going
to make it this time because I won’t have you like a stone around my neck. I’m
going to make it with Luke, too. He cares for me, Rio, truly cares for me, something
you never did.”
“I care for you.” Rio started to pace. It was something he
did when he wasn’t sure what else to do. Rune smiled. He had him rattled, but
that was dangerous. He’d have to be careful. Still standing with his back to
the wall his arms folded Rune watched him. “I’ve always cared for you. Haven’t
I always given you everything you wanted?”
“No, Rio. No you haven’t. All you’ve given me is pain. Don’t
you understand? I hated every moment I was with you. I was scared and disgusted
and horrified but I had nowhere else to go. Now I have somewhere to go. I have
Luke. He loves me. He truly loves me and I’m not going to let him down by going
back with you.”
Rune was shaking now. It was partly because of the look in
Rio’s eyes but partly, too because he was angry. “Get back in the car, Rio. Get
back in the car and drive out of my life because I don’t want you in it
anymore.”
Rio moved like lightening and, before he knew what was
happening, Rune doubled over, gasping from a blow to his solar plexus. Already
battered and bruised from Rio’s previous abuse, it felt as if every bone in his
body was screaming at him and he couldn’t catch a breath. Rio hauled him
upright by the hair and pressed him against the wall, holding him there with his
body.
“Ungrateful little bitch,” Rio hissed. “How dare you, after
everything I’ve done for you. Well. Let me tell you this. I will never leave
you alone never. You’re mine, do you
understand? Mine.”
“Fuck you,” Rune gasped, pushing ineffectively at Rio’s
chest. “Get away from me. Get out of my head and out of my life.”
“Never,” Rio hissed.
“Oh really?” Suddenly, a wave of anger washed over Rune, so
strong it forced him into action. “Get your hands off me, you bastard,” he
yelled and spat in Rio’s face. When Rio pulled back with shock, Rune took his
advantage and twisted away from him. Rune was no fighter, but he was a dancer
and it wasn’t hard to dodge when Rio lunged at him.
Rune felt as if he was in a bubble that isolated him from
the rest of the world, from help. But he didn’t need help, not this time.
Rio lunged again and this time Rune didn’t try to stop him.
Instead, he brought up his knee, catching Rio squarely in the groin and dropped
him like a stone. Rune kicked him over onto his back and put a foot on his
chest, pushing him back every time he tried to get up.
“Like I was saying, Rio I’m not afraid of you and I’m not
going to be a victim anymore. You hurt me, Rio, hurt me in so many ways and if
you come anywhere near me again I’m going to pay you back for every bruise, every
lash and, especially every bone you’ve broken. I swear to God, Rio, if I have
to I’ll kill you.”
“But… but you love me. You’ve always loved me.”
“Maybe in the very beginning I did, but for as long as I can
remember I’ve hated you but been too afraid to do anything about it. You had me
mesmerised, hooked on you like a drug addict but I’m over it now. I feel clean
and the touch of your hand dirties me. I’m not going to have it anymore. So
just get up, get in the car and get out of my life.”
“But, Rune…”
“Get out of my life Rio.”
Rune took away his foot and backed up, allowing Rio to get
to his feet.
“You’re nothing without me,” Rio spat. “You’ll never make it
on your own and Luke won’t be around forever. Once he knows how sick you are he’ll
be out the door and where will you be then? You’ll come crawling back to me.
You always do.”
“No, Rio, you’re the one who keeps coming back. I’m
perfectly fine without you. And as for Luke… maybe he’ll stay with me, maybe
not, but if I have to I’ll do okay alone. I’ve been alone, Rio. You keep
leaving me alone, coming back when you want someone to abuse. No more. You’re
out of my life for good. Live with it.”
Before Rio could say or do a thing, Rune turned, walked back
into the house and closed the door. As soon as he did so he turned and slowly
slid down to sit on the floor, his back to the door. His ribs hurt, his lungs
burned and his head ached. He felt he should be crying but there were no tears
left, not for Rio. In fact he didn’t want to cry at all, he wanted to laugh. He’d
been so scared and now…
He jumped when Rio started to hammer on the door, but that
was just because he was startled. He wasn’t scared anymore. Rio was out of his
life and he’d do just fine without him.
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I really loved this chapter. It's so affirming and I truly believe Rune has conquered his demons, or at least those that come in the shape of Rio. Rio's confusion comes through loud and clear, too. Abusers get so stunned when the doormats they once abused actually fight back. This is good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThank you :) Yes, that's what I thought. Rio just can't understand a) that Rune hated what he was doing to him and was scared of him and b that he actually wants him out of his life. He he. Serve him right. Better not come back now Rune's on the warpath.
DeleteYay Rune! It gave me such a thrill to see Rune stand up for himself!
ReplyDelete~M
Yes, it gave me a real thrill to write it too.
Delete