Prince AU AU (so meta O_O )

[notyourrookie]

The Charon base is a maze of rooms, designed to be confusing for those who didn't know the layout. Where the main training centres for the young assassins were rigidly ordered, this place was designed to confuse, to keep people off-balance. It was smaller than the main compound, with corridors that twisted and branched and filled with cells; the place where Charon kept prisoners, and, more importantly, those trainees and assets too defiant to obey, but too skilled and useful to simply be disposed of.

He doesn't know how long he's been there. Could be days. Could be months. The days have long since blended into each other, an unending foggy blur. They have him strapped down again. They usually do, not given any chance to escape even at night, even though... why... why would he escape? He belongs with Charon. He belongs to Charon and...

The chair is metal and hard and cold, wrists strapped down to the arms, straps holding him down, even around his neck. There's a needle in his arm, and some liquid slowly running through him that glows with the tinge of magic. Doesn't know what it is. It isn't his place to ask. Just to obey.

They keep asking him things, the masked figures who run things. Never sees their faces. They ask questions, they tell him what he needs to know, what he needs to think, and it's becoming easier day by day, to believe it. They're correcting him, fixing him. Making him how he should be.

Comments

[depthlesslock]

'No, no not like that.' He can't help the words. 'You're already amazing, we're going to... we're... it's going to be okay.' Gods, he's so stupid, but no one, least of all Wash, should be thinking like that.

[notyourrookie]

Wash doesn't look at him, keeps his gaze steadfastly down on the ground. "What do you need me to do?" he asks. There must be some instruction, some order for him to carry out. There has to be a reason for him to be here.

[depthlesslock]

'Rest.' There's no use asking what he needs or wants. At least not yet. They'll break this control, this influence. But Wash looks exhausted, he needs to sleep. York wonders if Charon let him have any.

[notyourrookie]

That isn't an instruction that he's used to. He's exhausted thought. Maybe they want him in good condition. Yeah, that much be it. "Yes sir. Where should I sleep?"

[depthlesslock]

York looks around and the assassin points to a bed up against the tent wall. It's nothing luxurious, but it's warm and comfortable enough.

'There.'

[notyourrookie]

Wash glances over, following York's gaze. He gives a short nod and then drags himself to his feet. Exhaustion floods him, but he can rest now. He stumbled over to the cot and all but falls onto it, and curls up tightly into a defensive ball.

[depthlesslock]

York watches him carefully, wincing for him at the uneven way he moves. It's relief when Wash gets settled, though his position speaks volumes. Hopefully sleep will do him some good and they can figure out how to start getting round this in the morning.

[notyourrookie]

He can feel them watching him even now. He swallows hard and closes his eyes tightly as though not seeing will somehow protect him. He's stood there watching him and he can't sleep. Not like this. What if they come for him?

[depthlesslock]

A hand on his shoulder and York reluctantly turns from Wash to the assassin.

'Your companions have returned,' she says quietly.

York's shoulders slump with relief. They got out, they're all back. He murmurs thanks and asks her to keep an eye on Wash while he hurries out to meet them.

[notyourrookie]

Delta, North and Sigma have returned, a little worse for wear, but with no serious injuries between them. All of them look torn between worry and fury.

"They won't be rebuilding this base," Delta says and his voice is ice.

[depthlesslock]

York nods, his expression hardening. 'Good.' He wants nothing more of that evil place, nor for it to be able to continue its work.

Then his expression softens. 'I'm glad you all made it back.'

[notyourrookie]

Sigma presses up against his side protectively. North still looks on guard, unwilling to stop being protective even now.

"What else were we going to do?" Sigma asks.