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They had been traveling together for a while, Nym walking what looked to be aimlessly in a direction and Darren followed reluctantly. It wasn't like he had a choice in the matter and even if he did there was no one else who lived that needed him, and he'd rather bide his time for an opportunity to kill the monster then die before it.
Darren came to realize, to finally admit to himself the one thought he'd repeatedly pushed away and ignored time and time again. He was broken. Broken so far beyond repair, he would never be the semblance of who he once was. There would always be 2 pieces of himself missing; One that died with his family and another that lived with their killer. At first he thought it was revenge but the God's words turned in his head. Understanding. Was that really what he needed, what he wanted. Understanding?
He was taken from his thoughts as Nym abruptly stopped, nodded his head and whistled in delight. “Perfect.” There wasn't anything here, what did he mean ‘perfect’? He didn't ask as he could tell that's what he wanted him to do. He waited for him to explain instead and he never did. He watched as Nym set up a makeshift camp if you could call it that. He had torn off the wood he needed, Darren sucked in his teeth as he heard the plants scream. When Nym noticed his reaction he kept doing it, taking way more firewood than he needed. “Fucks sake.” He mumbled it before he realized his mouth was moving. “Something wrong?” He sounded too delighted to hear that Darren was upset.
When Darren didn't respond to nyms comment he shrugged his shoulders and went back to doing what he was before peeling the pine, it was deliberate and so agonizingly loud. The screams were too much he wasn't going to let it continue because of him. “Why are we here? Matter of fact, why am I here? Why have you even kept me around? I want the real answer. You've taken everything from me. My family, my dignity, haven't got my pride or fight yet but I'm sure you'll try taking that too. What do you want?”
Nym tsked then stopped tearing up the trees. After lighting the fire properly he just stared into it. Darren replayed back every conversation, every fight, every interaction to overlay and find the possibility for how he's still here. Why he's still here. Obviously the god was sadistic, if the provocation from tearing up the woods wasn't a hint, his constant engagement and antagonization to fight him was. To smell his blood after every scuffle, watch the hatred carried in Darren's eyes intense, he was sure he thrived off it. Or maybe the hatred he really loved was the one Darren held towards himself. The god did state he was also studying Daren when he wasn't looking. That would be the easy answer but the possibilities that crossed his mind hadn't sat right with him. Until one did.
Darren's eyes twitched. “No fucking way.” He let out a laugh that slowly riled up into being uncontrollably loud. He could see Nym's face filled with irritation at the sound in his peripherals. “You, want understanding. That's why I'm really here.” Darrens laugh dried out as he threw his head back running his hands through his hair. “Of course that's why. All that criticism and bullshit you spout about my placement of spite, you were projecting.”
Darren felt a hand around his throat quicker than he could blink. Darrens face turned into a wide smile as his eyes locked with Nyms. “What was it you said, fighting won't make the truth any less so.” Darren watched Nym raise his other fist and saw where this was going. And so once again they were locked into conflict. Nym swung his fist into Darren's jaw and stomach and in turn Darren swung his fists into Nym's teeth and throat. The smell of blood filled the air as they hit one another over and over Again. For every red drop that fell black would follow suit. He noticed Nyms hits were heavier this time around.
The fight continued for a while until Darren eventually went down and held his hand to his jaw spitting out blood. He had a black eye, his mouth was bloodied, his throat was still aching from being squeezed earlier before their fight. He felt horrible but in a way it was nice. His thoughts zoned in once more as Nym leaned down in front of him with a smile full of bitterness. “You didn't think I was serious about us being the same, did you Sisko? You're nothing better than a failure. A reminder trophy to me, but I can always find another, better company to keep, to use. Your life could end and no one would know or care.” “you'd know.” “and I wouldn't care.” “Really?” They held a dangerous game of eye contact. “Really.” Nym walked back to where he was sitting before by the fire.
His face had a prominent scowl now. His looks of agitation made Darren want to push. Even if he may get hit, how he'd kill to see the look on his face darken. “Aw, what no declaration of the sixth date concluded?” He could see Nym's tail twitch at the comment but his expression didn't change. “I do gotta say, I know I'm all looks but your desperation to touch me , that's low, even for you.” “And remind me again who's getting enjoyment from who's touch?” Nym spat back at him.
Darren walked into that one. He didn't have a retort to say. He let out a sigh and reluctantly asked the question that was on his mind he was sure Nym was waiting for. “Why do you want it so badly?” He kept his eyes on the floor not wanting to see the expression on Nyms face when he endorsed him in conversation once again. “What?” “My understanding, why do you want mine? What use would it be?” Once again the god was silent. When he thought he wouldn't respond he finally did. “I don't know.”
He was shocked-. He knew the god lied about everything and anything but that response hadn't been dripping in a lie. It wasn't sweet or aggressive, it just was. And as Nym didn't have an answer neither did Darren. He laid back on the ground and looked at the sky contemplating what to do with the unsettling answer.