MADDOX IZUMI
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After all the tears shed, Maddox' eyes seemed to have none left. He felt the sting of Cyrus’ words as he said he wasn’t the one to blame for what happened. It’s all he’d been hearing all night, from countless people, yet the more he heard it the more he felt it be false. It took everything in him to not disagree with Cyrus and simply nod. Because as much as he blamed himself for this, he also knew it was irrational to take all the blame when Michael Izumi had most of it. It was this thought that had slowly pushed away his guilt, if only for the moment, and made way for rage. Every ounce of Maddox’ blood burned with the need to see Michael Izumi destroyed and nothing would be more satisfying than doing it himself.
The remainder of the phone call he’d been forced to make, the lies he’d had to tell, the way he’d broken the heart of the only person that truly ever loved him only fueled the flames. His eyes were dried from tears, deeper and darker than ever the moment they met Cyrus’, but the second he heard those words from the blonde again, he could feel his boiling need for revenge simmer down into a dull sting tucked away in the back of his mind. His eyes, still lined with every dark thought he felt towards his father, made sure to hold Cyrus’ gaze as his free hand came up to meet the other. The phrase quickly took form in his head, and much to his surprise, it left his lips with a certain ease. ”I love you too…”
Maybe to people like Cyrus, who wore their heart on their sleeve and never seemed to be afraid to love, it was no big deal. To Maddox, it was the very first he’d ever said those words and meant it. And contrary to what he thought, saying it felt...incredible. It filled his dark and loveless soul with comfort rather than fear. Both his hands held onto Cyrus’ as tightly as they could without harming him while his racing thoughts paused long enough to focus solely on the man in front of him. ”I’m sorry...for not saying it before. I just never really…” his sentence trailed off as he lowered his head slightly. There were so many sides of Maddox that the outside world never got to see, so many things he’d purposely hide from those around him, even those he referred to as friends. With Cyrus, there wasn’t much left to hide. ”I’m not as brave and confident as I seem, believe it or not.” for the first time that day, Maddox’ lips eased into a small smile, a genuine one, unlike the ones he’d been feeding the meeting attendees all day.
There was no need to tell Cyrus that the confident and cold Beta Prince most knew was only a very small fraction of who Maddox Izumi really was. His words had been more for himself. A reminder that regardless of how strong he tried to be, he wasn’t superhuman. He was allowed to hurt, and fear and love just like anyone else. He was also allowed to feel anger towards the person that had made it a point to make his life a living hell. ”But I’m also not as forgiving as you…” his eyes lifted to meet Cyrus’ again, giving a glimpse of the only side of Maddox he’d yet to witness. A very dark and sinister side that wanted nothing more than to see Michael Izumi slowly rot in pain and misery.
”I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from him and I know what you’re going to say…but I’ve had enough, Cyrus.” his voice was deeper than ever, heavy with every feeling of hatred towards his father that had accumulated over the years. Maybe Cyrus wouldn’t approve, but there was no possible way for Maddox to make him understand just how much this man had ruined him. Even if Cyrus didn’t agree, even if it made him angry, Maddox was going to give Michael Izumi what he rightfully deserved. ”I swear to you, on everything that man has ever taken from me...I will make him wish he was dead.”