i am xanatos

It was a pure white room.

Two figures stood in heated argument, both in tight, short trunks; also white. Though this place had no temperature – there wasn’t any air – the argument was feverish, irrational, personal.

“It’s not that simple,” said the tall one, his normally measured voice cracking under the strain of this unending struggle.

“No, it’s very simple, Legion,” the young one, his body marked by sinister tattoos, rounded on the one called Legion. “That’s my body out there, so it’s my rules. End of discussion.”

“You’re body is dead, Braeden,” Legion shouted as loudly as he could. “Lucifer burned it to a crisp and tossed it aside to make a new body, our new body.”

“You’re not taking over!” Braeden ran at Legion and shoved him hard, knocking him backward. “As long as I can fight, I’m never giving up!”

“Fool!” Legion shoved him back.

Braeden was far more equipped at fighting, he had lived and operated a body far longer than Legion; the idea is antithetical to being an ancient non-corporeal demon. So Braeden ended up on top, beating Legion’s face and drawing neither blood nor pain.

“Fucker!” Braeden rolled off of Legion, panting. “Let go of my body! I’m dying out there.”

“We’re dying,” Legion sat up as well. “Unless we can figure this out, even our new, demonic body will burn up. So quit being a child and listen.”

“Fine.” Braeden resisted sticking his tongue out but rolled his eyes and pouted for good measure. “And I’m eighteen or nineteen, so I’m not a fucking child.”

“Look,” Legion moved closer to Braeden, an intent look in his eye. “I don’t want to take over, I want to share. Split it up. You take living, the moment to moment stuff – the sex.”

“I’m listening.” Braeden unfolded his arms.

“You’ll still be there the whole time, but I’ll fight. I’ll kill and eat souls and do things that you can’t even understand; I’ll be the demon, you the man.”

“I can kill.” Braeden regretted his bravado, the weight of his sin upon him still. “I’m the sword master, not you.”

“It’s hard to explain it,” Legion took a calming breath. “You just need to trust me, it’s going to work.”

“There’s a lot more living than there is fighting.” Legion smiled because he had won, but Braeden didn’t see it yet. “How can you be sure we don’t end up back here in a week?”

“I won’t be gone when you’re in control,” Legion chose his words carefully. “The same goes for you when I’m doing things. It’s like a dream, a very real dream. You’re doing things but your not thinking about doing them.”

“Dreams don’t last.”

“Yes, but while your in the moment, being the human, I’m looking at all the things you can’t. I’m swimming in the space between things, keeping us safe and prepared.”

“That mist stuff makes my head hurt.” Braeden was accepting it, slowly. “And it would be nice to know things before we’re being burned or shot at.”

“Exactly.” Legion backed off now, giving the boy space. “And when the time comes I will use all that is you and all that is me to become powerful.”

“Promise to keep them safe.” Braeden’s eyes were insistent now, hiding the pleading tone inside his demanding voice. “That you’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe.”

“I can’t promise that,” Braeden started to respond, but Legion held up his hand. “And neither could you. But, the ones you love are also useful to me. I will protect them as much as I am able.”

“We’re not going to be like totally evil now are we?”

“No.” Legion was firm, even if the question was not so easily answered.