Work Text:
i can move mountains
i can work a miracle
i'll keep you like an oath
may nothing but death do us apart
— fall out boy, “uma thurman”
“Let’s dance … ‘till we burn up.”
Blood spat on the ground followed his words. Around them, the overwhelming roaring of a crowd shadowed the sun itself; everyone’s heart was beating to the rhythm of the drums. But to Shiva, no greater music could be heard other than the one this fight let him play.
Shiva’s own dance brought fire in his veins. But the sublime tempo of Raiden Tameemon’s knowing movements sent him into real ecstasy. He marvelled at every punch; even the arcs that blood drew into the air left him speechless, spectator to true and raw art in the making. Shiva could not predict what the final verdict would be; this human who could make even the God of Destruction wonder in awe was truly the most astonishing opponent he had ever faced.
“You truly are a marvel, you know that?” he said, blocking a punch that would have obliterated any other contender. Raiden’s smile was ferocious, showing his teeth with a beautiful gleam in his eyes. Shiva wanted to see more. He wanted to know more. The rush in his own blood could not be stopped: this was a fight worth dying for.
They kept fighting. Fist against fist and soul against soul they fought, giving life to a spectacle even the stars could not stop gazing upon, and of which memory no one, be it man or god, could ever hope to overwrite.
Slowly but inevitably, in the end came a point where Shiva could have stopped it, had he wished to. Raiden Tameemon was a human of unstoppable force, but Shiva was not human. He was the God of Destruction, and there was a line Raiden had not crushed through yet.
But the naked thought of it was enough to sadden Shiva greatly. Why should he give up on such life? He wanted nothing more than continue fighting him like this, forever. Through time and space their force had to meet, and he would not have it any other way.
Perhaps it was against the rules, but Shiva had never been one to acknowledge them anyway.
And so, when Raiden Tameemon showed the first sign of losing breath, Shiva stopped his fist midway.
“Come with me, and let us dance forever.”
Raiden Tameemon looked at him. There was hope and doubt and wonder in his eyes. But most importantly, there was a fire only death could quench.
And so he said yes, and their fists lowered at the same time. The crowd roared, louder that it had ever done before. Were it for happiness or rage, Shiva had little care.
“The human is my equal”, he proclaimed. His voice thundered, and the silence that fell amongst the crowd was one stones had never witnessed before. Everyone was listening to the God of Destruction.
“The human is my equal”, he said once more. “The claim to victory will be shared, and we will depart.”
And could anyone stop him, had they wished to? Shiva doubted. The other immortals did not move a finger, and neither did humans try to fight the will of such god.
And so, they were allowed to leave the arena. Never had anyone witness an outcome such as this; Shiva enjoyed the thrill of it, knowing that his name would be remembered once more. Their wounds were treated, and their stomachs filled. Then, left alone at last, a curious silence filled the air.
“What is going to await me?”, Raiden asked at some point. It was a proper concern. Shiva mulled it over for a little while.
“Fights and honour, that is for sure. You will join me in my home, and you will live amongst gods.”
Raiden’s smile showed his teeth. “Bring it on.”
***
Raiden Tameemon was, at least for now, the strongest hero the world had ever seen. No other contender had ever achieved a tier with a god, and one of Destruction even more. But as he stood, looking at the path ahead of him, he found himself stalling.
His life had never been sure, but what could await him was simply beyond the unknown. He unlocked his shoulders and took a deep breath. This could not be worse than his life had been, could it now?
The walk towards the Svarga was not easy. Nobody had come to welcome him, and the ground was steep. This gave a thrill to his bones. He had been born in challenges, and he had been afraid a spoiled life would await him now. He was glad to see Shiva thought better of him.
It was high noon when he changed his wish, and hoped to see some warm food soon.
By night, he wanted nothing more than to be a God’s wife, and enjoy the pleasures of having to do nothing at all.
And in the end, were the first lights of the morning to accompany Raiden Tameemon to the peak of the Svarga. And there, nothing he had wished for or expected at all up until that moment awaited.
Music rose. Raiden could not tell where from, or who were the artists behind it. He did not recognize the women dressed in colourful silks, as he did not fully comprehend the language surrounding him. But at the centre of the world stood Shiva, a grin brighter than flames, and when his eyes locked into Raiden’s, he began to dance.
His movements were something Raiden had never seen before. Where the Dance of Destruction had been rough, this was soft; there was a delicacy in his steps that clashed with what Raiden knew to be true. The music too; nothing like the beat of the drums of battle, but enthralling nonetheless. He could not avert his eyes. He could only look and look again as Shiva raised his arms and moved his feet across the floor to the rhythm surrounding him.
When everything stopped, Raiden put his hands together and clapped, and it was as if thunder had struck. Shiva’s dance deserved nothing less.
“This was truly the most beautiful dance I’ve ever witnessed!” he roared. His voice echoed, for everyone had fallen still. They all seemed to hold their breaths; only Shiva looked relaxed. He walked towards Raiden with open palms, and when he got close enough he put one hand on his shoulder, never leaving his eyes.
“This was for you. I am glad you found it to your taste”, he said, voice kept low between just the two of them. He then turned, and it was with much more boisterous tone that he exclaimed: “Let us all welcome my dear friend to our humble abode! May our fists strike the sky, and may our drinks fill the clouds!”
There was partying next. Raiden enjoyed every single moment of it, from the food to the women, although for all they were beautiful, they seemed little approachable. The only one who kept him warm was Shiva, with his arms around him and his laughter in his ear. It was, if unexpected, certainly not unpleasant. And with laughter, music and wine, this first step into his new life came close to an end.
“Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we fight”, Shiva almost purred into his ear, and Raiden did not miss the look one of the wives sent him. It was not antagonizing, but it was unreadable indeed. He ignored it, in favour of turning his whole head to face Shiva.
“That’s what I’m here for, isn’t it? Bring it on, and you shall see I won’t be your equal forever! I will soon teach you the meaning of defeat.”
Many around the table gasped as if insulted; only Shiva smiled, hunger glimmering in his eyes. Neither of them looked away.
“I could wish nothing more but to see you try.”
***
And so tomorrow they fought. Sweat drenched the earth, and thunder accompanied their fists. They fought again and again, until time could barely be felt in passing. It seemed that there was nothing else in both their minds; only the craving of blood rushing through their veins. Raiden had yet to teach Shiva the meaning of defeat, but every fight took him one step closer to making the other taste the sand.
One day, after their thirst had quenched, they rested beneath the shade of a tree. From there, they could see the whole world stretching ahead, light and darkness alike. And as wind gently caressed their tousled clothes and hair, their breaths evened.
“Man, I’m so glad I left Japan for this”, Raiden said at one point as he laid on the grass, eyes lost amongst the clouds above.
Shiva laughed next to him. He had his head propped on his hand, and was lying sideways. Instead of the sky, he was looking straight at Raiden.
“So am I, for never had I met such a wonderful opponent. My life would be barely half the fun, were you to miss from it.”
Raiden laughed with his whole body, as he so often did. The man never did anything half-heartedly.
Shiva could not take his eyes off from his face. Let the sun shine out there above the mountain peak; he was content with simply laying on glimmering grass next to the human who stole his mind.
He had never felt such a warmth ever since his friend had left him. Never had he experienced such heights. And so it was perhaps due to these thoughts in his head, as well as the feelings dwelling in his heart, that he leaned in and gently placed a kiss on the corner of the other’s open mouth.
Raiden’s whole body tensed up as his eyes darted from the sky, locking into Shiva’s. But shock lasted no more than a heartbeat; he shot up, but his legs took him no further. Instead he threw his body over the other’s, chasing Shiva’s mouth with his own while laughter once again resonated within his bones.
They fought some more that day, with their clothes tinted of green. More than punches were traded this time. It was words, and looks that held a whole new meaning now. It was open taunting, and crass responses. It was gently helping the other dry off his hair once they had calmed down. Raiden could not really tell how much time had passed from his arrival at the peak of the Svarga Mountain, but never had their brawls felt so intimate and so full of life. There was no stopping the thrills in his spine; his life held the promise of pleasure and excitement even more than before.
There was no stopping at his own room once they retired from dinner; they both kept walking, reaching the splendid grandeur of the Lord of the Svarga with their arms intertwined and their mouths tight together.
It was both long awaited and surprising, something unknown to both of them that felt as familiar as the hearth of a home. There never had been two bodies so in unison upon as well as outside the battlefield, never had their hearts been so open. Never had they felt so beloved, so equal to another.
“Would you ever had expected something like this to happen?” Raiden asked as the first lights of day gently caressed their naked bodies.
“I am surprised you are surprised. Especially after the dance I showed you.”
Raiden’s expression was one of pure confusion, and so Shiva let out a sigh. “When you reached my home, I danced for you. Did you not wonder what name it bore?”
“I,” Raiden said as he scratched his head, whether because of confusion or embarrassment Shiva could not tell, “Did not. I assumed you made that up as you went.”
Shiva’s laughter filled the room.
“I did not. But as punishment for never asking, I will not tell you now.”
Offended by his words, Raiden swore to wrestle the answer out of him, but this time too it was to no avail.
And so their morning was spent like that, with laughter and banter and twisted covers of silk, as the light rays passed through with the wind.