Summary: AU. Angier angst/abuse (don't kill me). After Root has a drink with Borden but before Angier breaks his leg. Root is blackmailing Angier. (sorry I really couldn't leave this alone)

Pairing : Angier/Root, Angier/Bordentwins (kind of, if you look hard enough and in a twisted kind of way.....)

Warning: Angst. Unwanted kisses and such. Rated R. Pretty short.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Prestige!



Untitled



"you know.......there is something you can give me." And damn that slur and that wide grin. And damn those dark eyes too.

"I told Cutter to give you whatever amount of money you want. If there's something you've forgotten you'll have to take it up with him." Angier tried hard not to wince as Root took from his stool and casually leered at him. Angier knashed his teeth, if that drunk was trying to intimidate him.........

"I told you. Cutter handles these things. You want more money then you go to him." Angier felt absolutely indignant. That bafoon was raising his eyebrow as if expecting something more. Angier didn't bother to disguise his expression of disgust as Root let out a drunken hiccup and then stumbled forward laughing.

Angier tried to step back as Root gripped his arm and dragged him forward. He growled when Root's mouth came to his ear, then he winced feeling the hot breathe weave it's way across his skin.

"You know..." Root was whispering, "you're not so much better then me..." Root's grip had tightened painfully.


"G-get off me!" Angier was livid and pushed at him, red faced. It didn't do much, there wasn't enough leverage. Root stumbled back a step or two but was back almost an instant later. Angier gasped as he collided with the wall behind him and lost his breathe. Root was whispering in his ear again.

"Let me do this. Come on....you want you're act and you know.." here Root paused with that infuriating dark grin, "Even I can tell you deserve it."

Angier stopped struggling.

"I-I......." He tried to answer, really, he did. But he couldn't and then Root was pushing against him and lips were crushing his.

Maybe....maybe he did deserve this. Angier could feel tears welling in his eyes. No, he needed- he needed this act, whatever the cost. Because Borden - because.....and...

Root pulled away from nibbling his neck.

" so tense." Root sneered hatefully at him and Angier could feel his hands trembling. "so pathetic!"

Then Root spit at him. Angier was still, he didn't even try to wipe off the spit sliding down his cheek.

"You're not so bloody much better then me." Laughing, he left.

"Why do you always hide?"

"What?"

"Is it because you're afraid Anton?"

There was a moments hesitation before an answer was voiced.

"You're drunk. You should go home."

"No drunker than you are Neighbour."

Anton scoffed. Then quietly,

"No I suppose not Kostya."

"You are afraid, aren't you?"

Anton didn't answer although his fingers fidgeted nervously around his vodka. He was careful to avoid looking at Kostya.

"It could be better you know."

Anton hunched closer to his drink. It would never be better.

"If you were Dark you wouldn't have these problems."

Please Kostya, drop it.

"You could be with your son. You wouldn't have to hide behind all this... stuff."

The bitterness and disgust in Kostya's voice surprised Anton. Anton stiffened and remained silent, refusing to look at Kostya.

Suddenly Anton was pulled roughly around to face Kostya, who was practically snarling. Grabbing Anton's shoulders Kostya shook him roughly.

"You always hide! I'm sick of it. You hide behind your sunglasses, you hide behind your vodka, you hide behind Nightwatch!"

Anton was stunned silent and Kostya was seething.

"It's pathetic Anton!" Then a barely audible, "...you shouldn't have to hide."

Anton flinched as Kostya's eyes flickered red, Kostya's gaze decidedly on his throat.

"I could make it easy for you Anton." Kostya wet his lips. The grip on Anton's shoulders tightened.

"Y-you're drunk Kostya...you should go." Kostya's gaze lingered a moment more before he turned, releasing Anton.

"It's not over Anton. One day..." Kostya didn't finish, instead grabbing his jacket.

Kostya was already out the door when Anton spoke again.

"No, Kostya...never over."

Then Anton gave a bitter chuckle that turned into a sob.

Sometimes Anton feels like everyone is waiting for him to turn. To turn Dark. He doesn't really like thinking about it, but on the rare occasions he does, he can understand why. It feels like he was born tainted.

It feels like everything he so much as touches becomes incased in shadow.

Maybe it was just always meant to be that way. People can see it in him, he knows. Others can see it in him. Maybe that's why they are all so sure he'll turn. He may not be the most ambitious man but that doesn't mean he doesn't notice when Light Others politely - politically - keep their distance. Anton's not stupid, he doesn't miss the way Geser watches him either.

It's like being in a cage.

All staring eyes and judgement.

Sometimes it's too much. All the eyes watching him. Hating him. Somehow everything always turns out wrong. Anton used to try. Not anymore, by now he's learned it's useless. No matter how hard he tries he can never get anyone to love him. He can never apologize enough, he can never make it right...it's useless to try but most of the time he ends up trying anyway. His mother always said he was too needy. He knows it's shameful, he doesn't need anyone to tell him.

Anton doesn't mean to pity himself like some depressed soap-opera housewife. It just seems to come out that way. But it's okay because no one but Anton will ever hear his secret shame and fear.

Anton doesn't like thinking about it. The things you want are never the things you get.

It doesn't matter, and he's repeated that to himself so many times it's become a mantra. It doesn't matter that Yegor's mother left him for someone better, handsomer, stronger. It doesn't matter that he never meant - didn't want - to kill the vampire Andrei because no one believes him, he hears their whispers (bloodthirsty). It doesn't matter that his best - only - friend Kostya hates him because he's nightwatch, because he's Anton. It doesn't matter when Olga and Geser and even Zavulon look at him like they know and they're waiting. And it doesn't matter that he lost Yegor, and it's reallyAnton's own fault and he knows it and it kills him.

Anton never meant to ruin Yegor's life, to force him into a decision.

He can see why people are waiting for him to turn. The one thing they don't realize is that it will never happen. Not really. Anton knows this because he knows himself better than they do. Anton knows what he is, even if it is something worse than both Nightwatch and Daywatch together. Something as undesirable as Anton himself because Anton and it are so intertwined they are one.

Night and Day. Light and Dark. Black and White. Anton is grey.