This is just a concept I just kinda threw together based on this post with like 0 plan or context or really even much thought tbh just pure stream of consciousness, so it would probably be very different in any sort of context but I've had this worm in my brain the last few days so 👀
He held him in his hands, had him by the throat, gripping the deep purple fabric in his hand as he hoisted Chazz up from the ground. He dangled him in the air at arm's length and just stood there, observing. The boy in Atticus's grasp -though, it wasn’t exactly his right now- hung there limp, blood staining his delicate, ghostly skin as it ran down his forehead. His left eye cracked open and glaring back at him.
"You just don't know when to stay down, do you?"
It may have been the same, but the cold, threatening tone was foreign to that voice. Chazz had never met Nightshroud before, he'd only heard about him from the others who had been there that night, when Nightshroud first came to the island. Not even Atticus ever talked about it. And he'd only ever known Atticus.
"N-Not... exactly.." He spat back, his body ached and his head was pounding. That was more than just a duel, he'd played some rough matches before, and maybe technically a shadow game or at least something similar. But never like this. And Atticus was no slouch, but he should've won easily. But he knew it fully well. It might have been his body, but his thing, whatever Nightshroud was, it was not Atticus.
Nightshroud glowered at him, pulling him in closer yet still somehow his presence towered over him as the tip of the mask grazed his nose. This boy was just as irritating as his host.
"I could do it, you know. I won this duel, I could do anything with you that I'd like. And last time I checked, none of your little friends are here to save you." He threatened, snatching up Chazz's right arm with his other hand before he could use it to try anything. Practically crushing his forearm in a vice until Chazz was forced to gasp with pain, Nightshroud drank in the fearful desperation clawing inside his skull.
Nightshroud grinned, flipping around with all haste he slammed Chazz's back up against the wall, nearly dropping up when he released his grip, only to swiftly secure his hand around his neck, squeezing just enough to hold him there. If he wasn’t so drained from their duel he'd be squirming like a little bug, it almost frustrated him how limp and weak Chazz was in his hands. It was positively pathetic. Maybe ut was the head wound? Ugh. Whatever it was, it was ruining the fun of this.
"I could kill you right now." Nightshroud declared through gnashing teeth, satisfied when Chazz fliched away, pressing himself further into the wall like it could possibly protect him. He raised his other hand up, caressing Chazz's cheek, the boy flinching again at his touch. Gentle like Atticus, but he knew it wasn’t. Atticus would never intend him harm. "It would be so easy. But then again..."
His hand slithered into Chazz's hair, playing with his fringe for a moment until he felt the wetness of red on his fingers. He took his hand away, staring through the eyes of his mask at the stains on his hand, and smiled a sick, twisted smile at the sight.
"I think I like you better this way."
Suddenly, as Chazz began to struggle for air in Nightshroud's tightening grasp, gravity shifted and he was flung with great force onto the ground. Eyes wide from the shock, he would've cried out in pain had the force of the blow of his back against the floor hadn’t knocked the wind right from his lungs. All he could feel was the brand new, sharp, exploding pain in the back of his skull. He must have hit his head against the ground, yeah, that made sense. That would be the second head would, right? Why else would the world be spinning and why he felt a sudden nausea making him want to hurl his guts out. That... probably wasn't a good sign, was it?
Against his better judgement, Chazz tried to pull himself up, only to be shoved back down by Nightshroud's boot. He squirmed, but he knew in this state he was too weak to get out of this himself. He looked up at Nightshroud standing above him, crushing him quite literally under his boots. His vision was fading, he wasn't going to be able to stay conscious much longer, but he could almost swear he saw Atticus in there behind the mask. Nightshroud's eyes glimmered for just a second, that same familiar glimmer he'd come to know and love...
Atticus was still in there, he knew it. He'd come here hoping to save him, to pull him back from Nightshroud's control. The others told him not to, they said it was too dangerous, even Alexis was hesitant to face him this time. They could get hurt, or they could hurt Atticus in the process, or worse! But he couldn't just stand by. He ran off without anyone knowing, had they even noticed he'd gone..? If they had, they would've come. They'd have come and saved him by now, maybe even saved them both.
But Atticus was in there, he knew it, he saw it!
It was hard, but he raised a trembling, shaking hand to Nightshroud. Nightshroud tilted his head, confused, but as Chazz's eyes clouded, and his consciousness left him, he felt a comfort as Nightshroud's hand twitched towards his.