AU: Catalyst of Power (Sabre has no abilities himself, but he's a living source of energy and power for any Steve. People can take power from him, whether it's given willingly or taken by force, however it being willingly given by Sabre tends to give the borrower more power. However, whenever he does give someone energy, it drains him, so he has to be careful about how much he gives and be more on-guard around enemies. Darkness touching him also drains him, even though it doesn't gain any power from him, it only taking his energy in an attempt to infect him.)

Context: When Reverse Steve takes Rainbow, Sabre gives him a different option in order to save his friend from having his power stolen.

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[Sabre's POV]

The catacombs were dark and unsettling, but I couldn't be scared now. Rainbow needs me.

Running through decrepit stone halls, I quickly glance down passages until I see a glow up ahead. That has to be them, I'm sure of it.

Sure enough, when I stop in front of the corridor with the glow radiating from it, I see Reverse holding Rainbow by his wrists, his arms behind his back. It seems I got here just in time, because as he notices I'm here, he lowers one hand that previously was charging something. I take out my sword and point it at him, it being the only defense I have.

"Let him go, Reverse." I say.

"Or what? That sword won't do much." Reverse replies, practically sneering at me.

"You wanna bet?"

"No thanks. Actually... I have a better idea."

Reverse's condescending look changes to an eerie grin, and he motions to Rainbow next to him. Rainbow looks so... scared. He's shaking like a leaf and looking at me with tears in his eyes, his expression begging for help.

"You want the 'Hero' back, correct?" Reverse asks. "How about a little trade?"

"You're not getting the Crystals again."

"Why use the Crystals when there's an even stronger power source right in front of me?"

I freeze. I know what he's talking about...

I lower my sword and put it away, staring at Reverse with a harsh glare. He's still smiling, knowing that I know.

The catacombs fall silent as we stay in a standstill.

"...Was Rainbow even what you wanted? Or was this all just part of the scheme you made?" I ask.

"Smarter than you look. Again, why have the power of the Crystals when there's another stronger, better, otherworldly power right there?" He says. "I'd surpass his strength easily, proving myself as the one that is truly worthy to have the title of Hero."

"When are you going to realize that you're just not the person that's supposed to be the Third Hero?"

Reverse scowls at me, then raises his free hand towards Rainbow again, a charge that's mostly red with bits of other colors surrounding it.

"Or, I could just take Rainbow Steve's power right now and leave you both here-"

"No! Don't hurt him!" I shout.

"Then make a choice." Reverse snaps at me. "Before I lose my patience and decide for you."

"S-Sabre don't-" Rainbow tries to speak, but Reverse yells at him.

"Quiet!"

"Don't. Talk to him like that." I mutter in a low tone. I didn't even notice when my hands had balled into fists.

"I believe you're not in any place to demand things, Sabre. Now choose."

The silence goes on for what feels like forever, Reverse staring into my soul while all I can see is Rainbow's terrified face. We stand there for a while, before I relax my hands, hanging my head, and take a deep breath.

"...Fine. Let him go, Reverse." I say. "You can take my power instead, but you leave Rainbow alone."

"Good. Glad we can be sensible." Reverse replies, his tone smug.

Before I know it, he's come up to me and grabbed my shoulder, already starting to take my energy. I scream as lightning strikes down on the two of us.

I'm forced to look up, and I see Reverse's face, contorted in frustration and struggling. More power is visibly flowing through him, his swapped colors beginning to glow and his veins filling with a white light. I can see Rainbow on the ground behind him, frozen in shock and fear.

As I start to struggle to stand, I realize that Reverse is starting to... change. His colors are mixing and merging together, becoming a constantly moving swirl of hues and circling his body. His eyes glow yellow, like how his unscarred eye did when he was still just Rainbow Red.

He's still going. He's just reaching for more and more, greedily absorbing as much power as he can take. Is he trying to kill me...?

Black starts to creep in at the edges of my vision as my ears begin to ring, the sound of lightning still striking around us just barely audible above it. I can't focus anymore. Am I even still standing up?

As I start feeling dizzy, just as suddenly as it started, it seemed to stop in a split second. I'm now barely being held above the floor, my limbs not doing anything to keep me up, as something pulls on the back of my shirt to stop me from faceplanting onto the stone brick. My vision is blurry. I can barely see my hands, just lying in front of my face.

I can hear two voices starting to talk, one panicked while the other is collected and confident.

"Sabre!"

"He'll be fine. He always is, based off how often you and your friends borrow power from him."

"Reverse, you got what you wanted, now let him go! He let you have your deal!"

"Not quite, Rainbow Steve. Didn't you hear him? He said I could take his power, and he is an infinite source. It's never completely taken, so he'll always owe me the power he regains. And with that, it seems like I have a new energy source to keep."

"You can't do this-!"

"Yes, I can. What would you do to stop me? Hit me with lightning? Clearly, that wouldn't be any use now."

I hear a laugh, low and mocking.

"His freedom for another's... what a noble sacrifice. Too bad it was wasted on you. Goodbye, Rainbow Steve."

Then, the sound of lightning resumes, as my vision fades to black.