Caomhnóir - 41

“Fuck this,” Thom growled, realizing that he was, to a certain extent, free at the moment even though his hands were still shackled. As the man approached him, Thom took hold of the chain attached to his collar and swung it hard. It did little damage as it hit the man’s hip, but it did make him pause. Remembering how Keegan used his flail, Thom whipped the chain around again, staggering but managing to wrap it around the man’s hand. Then he pulled hard, smiling tightly when the man’s gun hit the pavement of the bridge. At least now they were on equal footing, or would be once he stood up.

Ignoring the sound of blade meeting blade behind him, Thom struggled to his feet, moving sideways just enough to avoid the man when he lunged towards him. Sending a silent prayer up to whoever might be in charge, Rialóir Deiridh or otherwise, Thom lashed the chain out one more time, relief flooding him when it did what he’d hoped and wrapped around the man’s throat. Even though the man topped him by a good three inches and at least fifty pounds, Thom moved in to grab the free end of the chain, ignoring the man’s pummeling fists as he pulled it tight. The man struggled to free himself as his face began to turn dark from lack of oxygen. Finally he dropped down on all fours, passing out seconds later.

“Yes!” Thom whispered before turning to see how Keegan was faring.

Thom hadn’t realized that during his fight with the man, Darius had moved past them towards the far end of the bridge, forcing Keegan to follow him as they battled. Both men were blood-covered, panting for breath as they tried to best each other.

Thom’s first thought was that he had to stop them somehow, before Darius drew Keegan off the bridge, trapping him forever in the place of his death. Then he paused as he realized something he was quite certain neither of the combatants was aware of, Keegan’s Geis did not seem to be affecting him in the least at the moment. That meant one of two things, either Keegan was already too far across the bridge and would never be able to come back, or the Geis had been negated for some reason. And there was only one reason Thom could think of that would cause that. Keegan had somehow been freed from his servitude to the rialóir deiridh.

But if that’s so, and he dies anyway, what good would that be he thought, his heart beating fast with fear for the man he loved. “Please, please,” he whispered as he moved closer, unsure what he could do to help rather than hinder Keegan in his battle.

The question became moot seconds later when Keegan raised the broadsword in both hands and brought it down with such force that Darius skull was cleaved in two. As his body fell to the pavement at the end of the bridge, Keegan knelt down beside him taking the dagger from its sheath at his waist. Plunging it into Darius heart, he murmured the ritual words that would set Darius free.  

Standing again, Keegan turned to look back at Thom. “I’ll— never forget that I love you,” he said quietly.

“Then come to me,” Thom replied just as quietly, backing away slowly to the center of the bridge.

“How can I, now? I’m trapped here forever,” Keegan whispered, his voice filled with pain.

Thom just shook his head, beckoning to Keegan. “You can come to me,” he said, his words full of conviction.

Needing to show Thom that that was not possible, Keegan took at step forward. And then another, and another. His eyes widened in shock, and then joy, as he slowly walked, and then broke into a run, racing to where Thom stood. He swept him into his arms, holding him so tightly Thom finally asked with a wide grin, “Are you trying to smother me to death?”

“Now that would be a bit counter-productive,” Keegan responded with a laugh before he cupped Thom’s face in his hands. “I don’t know how, or why, but I think—”  

“That we found the out-clause.”

“Yes.” Keegan gazed at Thom, slowly tracing a thumb over his lips, and then kissed him, pouring all of his love and hope for their future into it.