NCIS Fic: Rotten Bastard, Kort/DiNozzo (Gibbs/DiNozzo)

[snowdarkred]

Title: Rotten Bastard
Series: set in the Dark Chocolate and Red Wine 'verse
Author: snowdarkred
Pairing(s): Trent Kort/Tony DiNozzo (Gibbs/DiNozzo)
Words: ~1,100 words
Rating: PG-13

Author's Note: This is a series of ten (sort of) drabbles forming a loose narrative thread. Each drabble is about 100 words, except for the last one, which is a double drabble. These are just some things that I've been jotting down over the last two weeks, since I've been wanting to do something from Kort's POV. I had a lot of fun with these. They tie closely to Tony's story. I hope you enjoy! x-posted wherever.

Summery: Trent Kort was a rotten bastard.

Rotten Bastard

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Rotten Bastard:

Trent Kort was a rotten bastard. He used people when it was opportune, he didn't stop until he got what he wanted, and he never hesitated to twist the knife in someone's back. It didn't matter to him who his opponents were, he lined them up before knocking them all down again.

Some people said that he had no soul, no heart. He laughed at those people, because he didn't see what was so great about possessing either of those things.

Tony DiNozzo had them and look at him: falling apart at the seams, trailing broken threads like bread crumbs.

---

Mere Shell:

Director Leon Vance didn't trust him. That was alright; Kort wouldn't trust himself either. He couldn't be counted on to “do the right thing,” or sacrifice “for the greater good”. They had an uneasy truce. Kort would further Vance's goals, and Vance would work to get Kort his old field position back. The arrangement meant that he got a look at Washington's favorite team, minus one.

DiNozzo looked like a zombie, a mere shell of the man he used to be. Rumors circulated as to why.

Kort almost missed DiNozzo's old spark, as annoying as it had been.

---

Opportunity:

He heard about what happened through a long, complicated network of ghosts, some friendly, some not. (Because that's how news traveled in the spy world, through the connecting dotted-lines that drew individuals together and apart.) It took a mere two hours for word to reach him.

When Kort confirmed it, he saw what an opportunity that the situation was. And he took it.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs had become too complacent with what was his, and to Kort it was the final piece that could either break the older man, or pull him back together.

It all lead to Anthony DiNozzo.

---

Power:

It never mattered who a person was, or what their background was, everyone broke when he pushed. Kort had discovered this at a young age, and the knowledge had shaped him from youth to adulthood. He thought that his power was absolute.

Well, until DiNozzo pushed back, shredding his plans.

After that, it felt like the entire world uncovered that they were capable of standing up for themselves. How annoying. And worse, DiNozzo seemed to have infected the rest of his office, because Kort couldn't manipulate any of them either.

How very annoying.

Then Gibbs gave him the opportunity.

---

Personality:

Anthony DiNozzo was predictable in his unpredictability. Kort could always count on him to react in the most ridiculous and somehow appropriate manor. It was frustrating at times, but now he would use it in his favor.

He sat outside of DiNozzo's apartment, reflecting about its possible personality. The complex was worn and rapidly weathering past its prime, but it had character in its lines. Strength in its bones.

When DiNozzo spotted him, his steps slowed and his eyes searched Kort's wearily. Kort didn't bother hiding; he just stared back at DiNozzo with the full force of his own personality.

---

Equal Bruises:

DiNozzo tasted like stale alcohol and Kort's coffee. Kort dominated the kiss like he dominated everything else, taking charge almost out of habit. DiNozzo fought him with tongue and hands, urging him on with a needy edge that cut through Kort's control.

Kort left bruises on DiNozzo's wrists, his hips, his thighs. Bite marks and hickeys were exchanged almost in equal measure. They were merciless, breathless, and shameless. It was perfect.

When they finished—when they couldn't go on—and DiNozzo started to snore softly, Kort stayed awake. He wondered what he was hoping to accomplish—and if he could even do it.

---

Confrontation:

He broke in.

“Gibbs.” Pause. “What the hell are you doing in my apartment?”

“Back off, Kort. Back off.” Threat.

“Back off what? DiNozzo? Please, Gibbs, he's a grown man. Tony can make his own decisions.” Truth.

“What do you want from him?” Demand.

“Nothing. I don't want a damn thing from him.” Half-truth.

“That's not like you, Kort. You use people. You twist them.” Truth. “And I want to know what you're doing to DiNozzo!” Demand.

“Now you're just projecting. Get out of my home, Gibbs, before I shoot you.” Demand.

DiNozzo chose to stay with Kort. Truth.

---

Art:

They had an easy relationship. Gibbs' negative reactions only drew Tony closer to him, and somewhere along the way, harshly grunted DiNozzos became softly whispered Tonys. Trent (and somehow, he became Trent) knew that Tony wasn't ready for it. He still carried his pain and loss with him, clutching them to his core and wreathing them around his skin like armor.

It would be so easy to break that armor, to shatter it and reform Tony with his own will. But Trent never destroyed a piece of art if there was another way.

Tony had to—would—come willingly.

---

Beach and Sun:

Trent never thought that he would enjoy a day spent without aim. He was a person who woke up with a goal in mind, with a plan already forming. Italy was beautiful, and watching the tension slide from Tony's shoulders was mew rewarding than getting his field position back.

The sex was fun, but Trent also enjoyed Tony's company and the easy banter between them. This contentment felt strange, like trying on a new pair of jeans.

But Gibbs' hold had strengthened in his absence. Trent could feel Tony slipping away.

It scared him.

---

Rotten Bastard, Revisited:

Trent Kort was still a rotten bastard.

Tony left him in Italy and returned to Washington; Trent knew that he most likely wasn't coming back. He packed his things into a single bag and began traveling. He felt like he was drifting apart. The sense of power he'd had evaporated entirely, leaving him bare and raw. He understood now.

He heard, latter, about what Ziva's return had triggered. Gibbs and Tony together at last, and Trent was the one left behind.

It was more painful than he'd expected. He felt emotions he hadn't before, emotions like anger. Envy. Resentment. He hated for the first time in his life. The sheer stress of feeling was exhausting. He wanted to turn back the clock somehow. Stop Tony from getting that phone call, stop himself from becoming involved, change the course of his life. He wanted to stop feeling; he didn't know what to do about it. This was foreign territory, and he had no one to turn to. The only person who would help him was the one causing this mess.

He wanted to stop feeling, but he couldn't imagine not. He had changed, and it was impossible to go back.

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Comments are welcome! Tell me what you think. ;)