Pandora Hearts - Reim/Break Oneshots

Madness

Darkness enshrouded his vision. He could faintly feel an ache in his head but more prominent was the bile rising in his throat. This isn't what should be happening. Everything had been fine earlier. Now he was alone in the dark in a place he did not know. Then he was gone again.
~
Reim heard the all too familiar creak of his wardrobe doors and knew who was approaching his bed. Without his glasses and in the dark, all he could see was a blurred white shape slipping into the bed next to him. He smiled lightly, reaching out to run his fingers through the other mans fluffy white hair to which he replied by a small hum of contentment. Satisfied that he was not dying Reim relaxed and shut his eyes.
"Ne Reim-kun, do you think that taller plants are happier than the smaller plants because they can get more sunlight?" Xerxes mumbled, sleepily. Reim pulled the smaller man closer and replied quietly.
"In the end, plants get the sunlight needed so height isn't a problem. Even though the smaller plants might be blocked the taller plants also have problems, so it all evens out,". Xerxes's random questions weren't uncommon, he used them to help distract himself from ever present nightmares. Therefore, Reim was used to having to make up answers to these wacky questions.
With Xerx finally resting peacefully against his chest, Reim felt himself drift off.
~
A loud crash awoke him. Reim's eyes flew open and he was shocked to see his desk was overturned. Next to him Xerxes was writhing about clutching his hands to his missing left eye. Reim still felt lethargic and the room hadn't stopped spinning.
"Xerx, wake up Xerx," he shook his friend but he couldn't wake him. His screams filled the room, causing Reim to attempt to get up and get him water. As soon as Reim's bare feet hit the floor it seemed to crumble away beneath. him. He gave a final cry as Xerxes's screams and his vision faded to nothing.
~
Darkness enshrouded his vision. He could faintly feel an ache in his head but more prominent was the bile rising in his throat. This isn't what should be happening. Everything had been fine earlier. Now he was alone in the dark in a place he did not know. Xerxes pushed himself up slightly. The fact he couldn't see anything wasn't completely shocking after all he was losing his remaining sight pretty quickly. Last he could remember, he was in bed with Reim. Now that warmth was long gone along with his friend.
Slowly getting to his feet, Xerxes felt for a wall or something to follow. Nothing. He felt a light sheen of sweat forming on his brow. He began to walk forward with small, deliberate steps which would have looked ridiculous to any onlookers but Xerxes knew he was alone (or so he thought. Not being able to see he didn't really know). He walked at least 20 paces without being able to feel anything.
"Bloody boring room," he muttered to himself to try and lighten his mood. Suddenly there was nothing under his foot and he found himself falling forward. With a cry he splashed into water. He couldn't feel a bottom and felt himself being pulled under. It only took him to slightly open his mouth to realise what he was drowning in wasn't water. The metallic taste could be nothing but blood. He reached wildly above the surface to try and find the floor he had fallen from. His fingers, slick with blood, scrabbled at the stone floor looking for purchase. It was no good. He was going to drown. Barely managing to keep himself above the surface, he lunged again. This time he dug his nails into the floor as best he could. He pulled until he could hear his nails snapping. Thankfully it was enough and he made it back to where he started. Coughing and gasping he decided it was best to stay still and wait for something to happen.
~
Reim awoke sprawled out on a cold stone floor. His head felt like it was splitting. He sat up and strained his eyes to examine the room he was in. Unfortunately he didn't have his glasses and it was dark so there wasn't much to see. He began to crawl on all fours. He searched without luck for anything, an item on the ground or even a wall. Slowly his sight became slightly clearer.
He remembered a weird nightmare he had had which seemed so real but couldn't be. This was just another of Xerx's crazy jokes. Sure enough, footsteps sounded.
"Looks like Reim-kun is in a spot of bother," Xerx laughed at Reim on all fours. Reim smiled fondly at the laugh of his friend. But it wasn't Xerxes. Towering over him was a large man. His eyes seemed to be bleeding horribly. Reim felt nerves blossom in the pit of his stomach.
"H-Hello, I'm slightly lost," he said his voice coming out much higher pitched than he expected. The man just grunted and raised a large bat. Reim's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to scream but it did nothing to impede the swinging of the bat.
~
Xerxes was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of slightly uneven footsteps. There was something else, accompanying the footsteps. Something was being dragged! Xerxes carefully got to his feet and moved towards the source of the sounds. The coppery taste of blood heavily lingered in his mouth and a strong scent of blood surrounded him. He could only imagine what he looked like, staggering about covered in blood. The footsteps got closer and he knew that whoever it was could probably see him now. He sent his best grin in that direction.
"Hello! I appear to be lost and unfortunately I don't know where I am. Could you help me find an exit?" He asked. He heard a grunt and whatever was being dragged was dropped. He approached whoever it was slowly, smiling all the while. Unfortunately the scent of blood covered even the most foul stench of decomposing leaving Xerxes unaware of the nature of the person he was approaching.
"Xerx! Stop!" Came a strangled cry from nearby. Xerxes faltered, that voice.
"Reim-kun?" He asked wearily. Was it real? Hearing a slightly pained huff confirmed that it was his friend.
"Yes it me. But Xerx please run, the man will hurt you," Reim stuttered. Xerxes suddenly became aware of 'the man' coming towards him. He hastily retreated a few steps but he didn't run. He didn't wish to abandon his friend, especially after they had just met. He tried to sidestep around and reach where Reim was. Unfortunately his feet managed to get tangled as they usually managed to do in the worst moments. He fell, swearing. Aware of the presence towering above him, he flinched away.
~
"- lost and unfortunately I don't know where I am. Could you help me find an exit?".
The familiar voice brought Reim to his senses. His vision returned slowly and he felt his head aching for the second time in however long he had been here. That voice though, it anchored him in the reality. Xerxes was alive and he was walking towards the big man that had knocked him out. Reim's eyes widened as he realised the situation. He mentally cursed himself for taking so long. He pushed himself into a sitting position and took a deep breath.
"Xerx! Stop!" He cried as loud as he could manage with such a dry throat that felt like someone had rubbed it with a cheese grater. He saw his friend falter at the sound of his voice. He tried to stand but dizziness meant he wasn't moving anywhere.
"Reim-kun?" Xerxes asked, tilting his head slightly in Reim's direction. Reim huffed mostly in pain but also because Xerx was an idiot. Did he not trust him?
"Yes it's me. But Xerx please run, the man will hurt you," Reim said through gritted teeth. Now that he was getting a slightly better view of the man, he could easily see that his skin was horribly discoloured and that it was oozing out various fluids in places. He was still brandishing a cricket bat which was already splattered with blood. Probably his. Xerxes seemed to be trying to take heed of his advice but Reim could only watch in horror as Xerxes fell to the side. Reim desperately pushed himself up and ran blindly at the tall man. He could see the bat being raised. He had to stop it. He had to.

He didn't make it.

It only took one look for Reim to realise Xerxes was dead. The pool of stark red blood spreading around his head like a halo. His one wine red eye staring up, the cheeky glint was gone. The bat was brought down more but Reim had stopped dead, he no longer cared. With every hit Xerxes's face became more and more unrecognisable and the amount of blood increased. Reim wanted to run and push that man away and have Xerxes smile up at him. He wanted to stop the bat being swung down relentlessly. He wanted to scold Xerxes for not getting out of the way quick enough. But instead he just stood and watched his best friend become a slab of meat.
Slowly, he sunk to his knees and wept. Loud sobs wracked his body but failed to mask the sound of the bat's swings. All he wanted was the man to come and finish him off as well. Why hadn't he killed him earlier? And Reim was angry. So, so angry with the fact that he was still alive. That his friend had been killed by something other than his own stupidity, like Reim always imagined he would. Angry that he didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly. And he screamed. Screamed until he could no longer breathe. Until his throat was numb. Until everything went black.
~
Upon waking, Reim couldn't understand or even begin to face what had happened. Lying next to him was Xerxes, dyed red. The man was nowhere. Groaning, Reim sat up and realised he was holding something. He looked down and felt sick. The bloody cricket bat was clutched in his right hand. His head spun. The man wasn't real, he had never existed. Seeing his blood splattered clothes, Reim understood. And he remembered. He remembered taking the bat and smashing it against Xerx's head, smash until there was nothing left. He smiled down at his best friend.

"You'll feel better now Xerx. I promise,".