Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In one of the oldest towns in the country of Rondon, there was a dark gothic building that loomed above the rest. Surrounded by cottages stood the ominous Funger Behavioural Rehabilitation School and Housing Facility. Everyone just called it Funger Asylum. It was a legend among kids and a threat from strict parents across the country. It was a place few actually saw despite its large size, but still it was too many. These hallowed walls used to serve as an asylum for the criminally insane; though the name and laws changed over the years the purpose hadn’t. It was one of the most controversial facilities funded by the lowest scum of the government. It served as a mental hospital, a prison, a juvie, and definitely not a school.

Somehow the Asylum got away with housing both extreme Juvenile Offenders, as well as adults. All “residents” were separated by minors and adults, as well as by sex. This place was a dark deal between politicians and the wealthy sick fucks in Rondon. Regulations weren’t enforced, and the place seemed immune to justice. This is where the unwanted psychos of society went when someone decided to give them a personal hell. Most people got in here by crossing someone in a violent way. 

The children’s ward was one of the more sickening places, ripe with abuse and moral depravity. The air here was metallic from blood, and thick with fear. Every prisoner here had a hungry look in their eyes, and a gaunt expression. 

The ones who’d been in the boy’s ward the longest were Ronn Chambara, Crow Mauler, and Enki Ankarian. Ronn was a silent and intimidating older teen, with scars covering every inch of his skin. The boy had no hair and looked closer to a demon than a child. His irises were a dark black, his original skin tone was unclear from how many scars had obscured it. 

Crow Mauler was just as mysterious, and stranger than his name. The boy appeared to be white, possibly part eastern. He was tall and muscular like Chambara, but with sickly beige-green skin. His eyes were a bright yellow and his hair was black with almost burgundy undertones. Maybe it would be beautiful if not unkempt and dusty, tousled into spikes every which way. Maybe his most notable feature was his prominent lack of his lower left arm. He had a vacant look in his eyes like the lights were on but no one was home. If anyone tried to talk to him he would either attack or scream out “Caw caw caw!!”. 

Crow and Chambara seemed to linger near each other, though with their limited speaking skills, it was unclear if they were friends . 

 Enki was thin and though not particularly short, was towered over by the other two beasts of boys. Enki had long silver hair and silver eyes, as well as fair, sickly, almost gray skin. Despite being a patient he wore doctor’s gloves whenever he could. He tried to sit alone and keep to himself, though Chambara and Crow tried to linger near. He would often shoo them off to mixed success. It seemed all Enki was interested in was reading.

Ragnvaldr had recently been brought to the ward, with great resistance. A northern redhead with a scar over one of his green eyes. Enki and the others couldn’t help but watch as the strong tall teen took down several security guards and doctors. He had to be sedated several times before he actually fell, and once he was he didn’t emerge from solitary confinement for a while. Enki envied him, and longed for solidarity. Unfortunately the staff here had discovered Enki would start fights to intentionally go into solitary confinement. It seemed isolation had no visible ill effect on Enki, and thus the sadistic staff refused to separate him. 

Once Ragnvaldr was allowed to socialize, Enki was infuriated to discover he'd been assigned his bunk mate. Enki’s one place of peace had been invaded, and he was very prickly towards the meat-head trying to get information out of him 24/7. Ragnvaldr had no choice as the only other boys in their ward weren’t very verbal. Enki began to wish he’d just faked being unable to speak. The two bunk mates fought frequently, bordering on being enemies. Still there would be moments of mutual benefit between them. One of the first instances of this was when Enki offered Ragnvaldr part of his food. 

Ragnvaldr was always ravenous and Enki telling him the food was drugged did nothing to ease his appetite. Ever since Enki showed that small kindness, Ragnvaldr had taken more care to provide books and trinkets for information instead of trying to brute force it.  Enki was surprised what the powerful redhead was capable of getting, and how willing he was to take on staff in a fight. 

One day more teens were introduced to the ward, in more than the form of unidentified screams from distant corridors. A lean medium-build boy from the eastern sanctuaries, with black-blue hair and eyes. His name was Cahara. He seemed extraordinarily friendly compared to the other patients, and let the staff man handle him with ease if it meant less confrontation. Immediately the idiot tried to seduce every person there starting with the most visibly powerful yet scary. Once Cahara was scared off by Ronn and Crow, he came sauntering over to Ragnvaldr.

Cahara tried hard to flirt, but it was ineffective with his face swelling from the bruises he’d just received. He started off bold: “Hheeyy big boy~ As you just saw I’m not the best fighter. I have my own useful skills though…” Cahara tried to lift his shirt up seductively, and Enki was speechless with disgust at how direct Cahara was.. Ragnvaldr seemed somewhere between pity and curiosity “I…might consider your offer. I’m more interested in your subordination.”. Cahara was beaming with joy and surprise. 

Enki’s head whipped to look at Ragnvaldr in disgust “You can’t be serious. If you want STDs, you better keep it far away from my sight. Keep it far from our room as well, or I’ll castrate you both before the nurses get a chance.”. Enki could feel his chest twist with discomfort at the idea of the two going at it, even if out of sight and range of hearing. He disliked the feeling, but couldn’t identify it as more than anger.

Ragnvaldr chuckled dryly with amusement “Who knows when we’ll get out again, I’ll have to take what I can get. Besides, a minion is good, right?”. Enki scoffed and shoved his red face back in his book. 

Cahara laughed before crossing the line : “Aw, jealous? Sorry pal I didn’t mean to steal your man, maybe he’ll be okay sharing?”. Enki looked up to scold Cahara for being so lewd and rude . Before Enki got out a word, he was left choking on his tongue at the realization Cahara had come close. The eastern boy was leaning over Enki’s chair to make their faces uncomfortably close. When Enki tried to instinctively lean back into his chair, Cahara only came closer, trapping him in his chair in the process.

Enki panicked and began striking and kicking Cahara, who quickly stepped back. Ragnvaldr no longer seemed friendly, and had stood up to loom over Cahara. Enki stood up as well, unwilling to have a battle fought on his behalf without him. Though Enki thought: Yes! Kill him for his behaviour! Obliterate that twink, Ragnvaldr. One less pest.

Cahara held his hands up in front of himself, stammering out gibberish for a second, before he found how to speak again. “I’m sorry! I’ll cut it out just- let’s stop fighting before the guards come back.”

Enki scoffed, “The nurses? Yeah, leave me alone before they come and drag you to solitary confinement, prick. They can take you both for all I care.”. Enki fumed with disappointment that they weren’t going to beat this guy to a pulp, but he didn’t want to tempt the staff to take Ragnvaldr and leave Enki with Cahara. Enki sat back down with a huff.

Ragnvaldr looked offended, but sat back down: “What did I do?”. Enki and Cahara had a seat as well, and everyone spoke a bit quieter. Cahara looked pleadingly to the two boys who seemed less welcoming now. 

Cahara reached into his pocket and produced a keycard like one of the guards carries. Enki and Ragnvaldr suddenly returned their attention ten fold, but as quickly as they’d seen it, Cahara had it up his sleeve hidden away again. Ragnvaldr and Enki gave each other a look of acknowledgement that the other had seen it, before they looked back to Cahara. Fortunately everyone else seemed to be preoccupied. Enki gulped as some staff passed by the open doors in the hall. The negligent staff were gossiping about other coworkers.

Once the staff had passed and Enki was sure the oldies playing on the old shitty radio would tune them out again. Enki questioned Cahara, “You can get something like that and you lead with seducing?”. Ragnvaldr chuckled, earning him another glare from Enki.. 

Cahara looked a bit red, but smirked through his embarrassment, “Well, you save the best for last, right? Not that my other skills are bad at all.”. Cahara winked, but dropped the prideful look when Enki glared daggers into his soul. 

Ragnvaldr spoke up, “You can stick with us, but you must not cross us. I despise thieves, but desperate times call for desperate measures. You cross me, I will break you, understand?”. Cahara audibly gulped, before nodding profusely. 

Enki seemed pissed with Ragnvaldr again, “ We? There is no we. I make my own decisions, you don’t speak for me, brute.” . Cahara bit his tongue as he realized the two reminded him of an old married couple bickering. Ragnvaldr just nodded and rolled his eyes as Enki chewed him out. 

Enki finally wavered, “I suppose you have some use to us, but keep your dirty mitts to yourself.”. 

Cahara slowly went to point at Ragnvaldr, looking at Enki. Cahara asked: “Well I’m sure your handsome friend can speak for himself, right?”. 

Enki spat with venom, “No.”.

Ragnvaldr looked annoyed, albeit confused. All Enki ever did was say he hated company so the possessive streak out of nowhere was strange. Ragnvaldr assumed maybe Enki was just worried he’d hear it no matter when or where something happened. Cahara huffed with disappointment, before slumping back in his chair. He rescanned the room hoping someone attractive might appear. 

Ragnvaldr spoke up, “Not everyone has to live in celibacy, just because you do, Enki.”. 

Enki’s flushed face was twisted into disdain. That comment cut deep, since Enki was a virgin. Even he couldn’t help but dream about getting with someone someday. Too bad he was a walking self sabotage, too cowardly to take a risk on someone. No, obviously it was safer to just wall himself off from every advance. Cahara was probably the best he could get, Enki thought about himself. Still, he refused to let this smug pervert sully either of them. The silver haired bookworm sighed, “Why do I always get stuck with idiots? I don’t want to overhear or see you, buffoon.”. He looked defeated, like he was pouting he was missing out, despite actively avoiding the activity mentioned.

Cahara couldn’t help but snicker, “I’m good at being sneaky, ya know.”. Enki still seemed irritated, causing Cahara to speak up again: “Don’t be shy, if you feel left out I’m sure we could all have some chemistry together.”. 

Enki audibly gagged from nerves,“I’d rather die.”. Ragnvaldr laughed, patting Cahara’s shoulder with aggressive strength as a sign for him not to push it. Cahara tensed a bit, taking the silent warning to heart.

Ragnvaldr chimed in, “I’m not so desperate right now, but who knows what time here will cause. Still, Enki, Cahara is realistically the only option here. You’re scrawnier than some women I’ve met, I imagine a light wind could break you.”. Ragnvaldr had a pity to his voice, like he was rejecting an advance never offered.

Enki picked back up a book and tried to ignore the other two boys, but quickly failed to bite his own tongue. “I don’t even have anything to say to you freaks anymore. Even if you considered me an option, I don’t consider you.” Enki’s breath shook a bit as he tried to compose himself, but it was obvious he was hurt no matter how he tried to hide it. “The girls have no idea how fortunate they are, being separated from you two.”.

Suddenly staff began to grow near the open doors in the hall, along with screams from what sounded like a girl. The screaming settled down after she was likely drugged. Crow was cawing relentlessly at the noise, before Ronn gave him a whack to silence him. Everyone’s attention was focused on the door as some beefy nurses brought in another teen. It was a light-ginger haired boy, with a bowl cut. His eyes were gray-blue like the color of rain. 

Cahara was ogling the boy as one of the male nurses dragged the girly boy over to a nearby chair at the group’s table. They barked orders that the boys keep him in line, but it was clear the poor kid was too tranquilized to be doing anything. The staff took off, leaving the boys alone with the 2nd new kid of the day. 

Before anyone could get a word out, the dazed bowl cut boy spoke up: “Have you seen… guard… lee-laaa-g- ugh”. 

Cahara spoke up, “Hey take it easy, they just injected you with a bunch of drugs, right? Don’t bite off your tongue.”. Cahara and Ragnvaldr steadied the boy as he sat more upright. The two supporting gave each other an unsure look as their hands came in contact with what felt like a sports bra and duct tape beneath patient scrubs. 

Enki squinted at the new be, coming to a similar conclusion from looks alone, and being the first to voice it, “How did you get in here if you’re a-“? 

The girl raised a finger to her lips and Enki hushed. She tried to speak again: “Have you seen a boy with long blonde hair? His name is…Le’garde.”. Enki got up, after recognizing the name, to put a hand on Ragnvaldr’s shoulder. Ragnvaldr gripped the girl’s shirt collar threateningly, before Enki’s hand brought him back to the reality of consequence. Ragnvaldr let go of the girl, before slamming his fist against the table. Everyone besides Enki flinched.

Ragnvaldr questioned the girl, “You know Le’garde…you were there weren’t you? I know what you’ve done, snake. Tell me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you now while the nurses are gone.”. 

The girl tensed up “I’m sorry- Please, let’s be civil. I don’t want a fight, there’s enough of that here already, right? I might not look it, but I can be a good fighter… when I’m not outnumbered.”.

Cahara jumped in, “I don’t know what’s going on, but take it easy big guy, don’t hurt a chick.”. The girl grimaced at her cover being so blatantly blown right off the bat. After all the effort of getting into the boy’s ward she might be caught by staff and moved so soon. Ragnvaldr groaned as he tried to calm himself. 

The girl spoke up, “I’m D’arce, and I’m looking for Le’garde. I’m sorry for what I might have done, but please, let us be on the same side for now. If you want to hurt me please at least wait until I know his whereabouts. I refuse to have come here for nothing.”. 

Ragnvaldr held up a hand to silence the girl, before putting it back down “So be it, but watch yourself. I’m also counting on Le’garde being here, and when we find him, you’ll both pay.”.

Cahara tried to ease the tension by cutting in: “I’m Cahara. I'm here for stealing from-“.

“Nobody asked.” The other three said in unison, before noticing the rest had said it. The room became tense and silent…

“CAWCAW!!!” Crow screamed out, in the midst of a board game with Ronn. The pieces were broken and they weren’t playing it right. D’arce (seemingly just now noticing them) looked mortified. Cahara patted her shoulder, earning him a suspicious stare from Ragnvaldr and Enki. 

D’arce mumbled, trembling slightly, “Please tell me I’m not the only one seeing those two? What happened to them…”. Enki rolled his eyes as Cahara reassured D’arce. Somehow he’d gotten stuck with 2 new problems on top of his 1 redheaded problem he already had.. Enki secretly hoped the nurses would go on a killing spree soon. 

Just as Enki decided it was getting too chummy, he pointed to Cahara. “Stay away from this guy, he’s a pervert.”. D’arce looked alarmed. Enki should’ve let the two get closer, to keep Cahara away from Ragnvaldr, but right now he was just determined to ruin everything for Cahara. Enki was definitely bitter.

Cahara pouted dramatically, before teasing Enki, “What are you possessive of me too now? You can’t hoard all the men to yourself.”. 

Enki scoffed, before moving away from Ragnvaldr and sitting back down. “Maybe you’re projecting, because I don’t want any of you.”

D’arce nodded hesitantly, “I see what you mean, he is a pervert.”. Cahara winced at the painful blow to his ego, and Ragnvaldr only silently shook his head at Cahara in disappointment. Cahara removed his hands from the girl now that she seemed steady enough.D’arce tried to change the topic again, “So what are you two here for?”. 

Cahara looked offended that his introduction was being dismissed, yet she cared about the other 2 guys. EVEN ENKI, who was terrifying. “I guess I’m chopped liver then.”. No one answered him.

The broad shouldered redhead started, with a soul piercing stare: “I’m Ragnvaldr. I killed and devoured my enemies, after my family was mercilessly murdered by Le’garde . I slept in their homes, waiting to get put in the same hell hole as Le’garde. I’m going to find him, and make him suffer like he made me suffer.”. 

D’arce swallowed a lump in her throat. She assumed she wouldn’t have to explain what crime she committed when Ragnvaldr made it clear to everyone she was complicit in murder at the least .

Next everyone looked to Enki. He looked annoyed, “My name is Enki, is that enough to satisfy your curiosity?”. D’arce and Cahara stared inquisitively, waiting for more and receiving none.

Cahara spoke up, “Yeah but what are you in for, Enki? Come on, we don’t judge.”. Enki seemed unconvinced, and unwavering. 

D’arce interjected again, “Surely it can’t be that bad, after everything we said?”. 

Enki grew more agitated, “I don’t owe anyone my story. Besides, we could easily lie to each other, so what’s it even matter? You’re all just nosy chatterboxes.”. Enki glared at the other two tools, trying to tell them through the power of telepathy to go away and leave him alone with his most useful tool, Ragnvaldr. Enki knew numbers could mean power, but just one beefy minion should be enough. He didn’t want these two chumps here to distract them.

Cahara sighed “I kind of get it, you don’t have to spill everything. If it’s giving out your whole life story, I don’t want to either.”. Everyone seemed a bit surprised by that, since Cahara seemed the most friendly of the bunch. They went quiet for a moment, and stayed quiet as footsteps returned into the room. Crow cowered behind Ronn. Enki and Ragnvaldr seemed to tense up, making Cahara and D’arce alarmed. 

The man who’d just entered was a strange looking doctor, who’s entire outfit was purple. He had a purple cat mask and hair to boot. His light skin was mostly covered, but his yellow eyes peeked out of his mask. It almost seemed like they were glowing, despite certainly being a glimpse of his real eyes. The man had a very intimidating presence, putting everyone on guard.

The man pointed to his phony name tag that said Dr. Pocketcat. “I’m Dr. Pocketcat, I’ve come to greet our new guests. I assume you’re all happy to be settling into our cheery home.”. The man’s eyes lingered on D’arce with suspicion for a moment. She quivered with fear, visibly sweating. Enki and Ragnvaldr were both grumbling profanities under their breath. Cahara was looking to the other teens for guidance and only finding fear, making him increasingly uneasy.

Some nurses and security staff came in, wheeling in a cart of medical supplies. The security guards shut the doors and they locked in place the moment they shut. The cat doctor spoke up again, “It’s the special time of day when we all take our medicine.”. The doctor’s eyes scanned the room “eenie meenie miney- You.”.

Pocketcat had his finger pointed at Enki, and two strong nurses stepped over to hold Enki’s shoulders in case he needed to be restrained. D’arce and Cahara were freaking out as silently as possible, begging Ragnvaldr for an explanation with their eyes. Ragnvaldr was gripping onto the arms of his chair with enough force to dent the wood slightly. The northerner looked consumed with rage, barely holding himself back from attacking the doctor. 

Pocketcat laughed to himself as he picked out a vial and syringe from the cart that was brought in. He had a sick glee emanating off of him that contrasted the tense atmosphere of the room.  The doctor spoke through a smile, “You always were the most cooperative one Eddie- no wait was it… Enki? Hard to keep up when you things drop like flies.” 

Cahara and D’arce audibly gulped at the casual remark suggesting they wouldn’t live long here.

The purple cat-masked man spurted a small amount of red mystery liquid out of his syringe before going up to Enki. Ragnvaldr looked ready to jump up any moment, and nurses creeped closer with caution. Enki hardly reacted as the purple doctor gingerly patted his neck with alcohol, before aggressively stabbing the syringe into his neck to inject it. D’arce and Cahara went to get up out of their seats, shaking with fear at the unethical behavior being so blatantly displayed. They could tell this was just the beginning. 

D’arce shouted “You can’t do that! What kind of quack are you!? You’re going to kill him, putting a big needle like that there and-“. A nurse covered D’arce’s mouth with a cloth, and as she gasped, whatever was on it immediately knocked her out. She was put back in her seat.

Cahara sat back down quickly, before he could be forced “I’ll take what you want just don’t hurt me!”. Enki’s eye twitched as the needle left his neck. The moody teen was trying to stay composed but obviously wasn’t doing well, especially with all the noise.

Pocket cat patted Enki’s head, before declaring: “Yes, obeying is the easiest way, or I’ll only make it more painful for you, understand? I don’t want to hurt you but if you get difficult I have to. Be good little boys like Enki.”. It was obvious that this man was deriving some sort of sick enjoyment from this power abuse.

Suddenly Enki’s eyes went wide with horror, and he grabbed into his throat with both hands. He began to scream in a way the others didn’t know he could. The nurses let go of him and let him writhe in agony, clawing at his neck. Pocketcat even seemed alarmed, and went and looked at the vial he’d used, before laughing “Oh silly me, that was the wrong one. Well, guess he’s going to die.”. 

Cahara cried out “NO!”. Ragnvaldr stood up and screamed “I’m going to fucking kill you!”. The nurses rushed and grabbed onto Ragnvaldr, and he knocked a few of them over in an attempt to break loose.

Dr. Pocketcat cleared his throat, “UNLESS I give him this antidote, calm down. Always cutting me off I swear.”. The Dr took his time watching everyone panic as he readied a syringe of the supposed antidote. He stabbed Enki next to where he had before, and injected it quickly. Enki’s screaming slowly stopped, eventually leaving him to grip his own head. He was cackling maniacally, smiling ear to ear. Ragnvaldr had never seen him smile before, and it was somehow terrifying. Everyone was frozen at the sight, until, well-

Cahara spoke up “Damn, that stuff must be pretty good after the pain, to make a downer like him laugh.”.

Ragnvaldr groaned “Shut up, idiot!”. Ragnvaldr was forced back into his seat by a crowd of nurses and guards begrudgingly.

The doctor only responded to Cahara “Well if you want the same, be my guest.”. Enki looked up from his laughter fit, tears streaming down his pained grin. Cahara waved his hands in front of himself “Please no, I’ll be good, so nothing painful! I was just kidding!”. 

Cahara shrunk in fear as another red syringe was readied for him. As the doctor neared him with it Cahara kicked and screamed and sobbed. No matter what he did everyone just watched as the doctor eventually got the syringe into his upper arm.  Cahara tensed, expecting intense pain to follow. “Oh I feel fine.”. He relaxed, then quickly began to struggle and flail again, screaming like he was about to fall into hell. Cahara faded in and out of consciousness rapidly, only pain bringing him back again and again.

By the time the cure was administered and Cahara realized it began to work, he was barely better. Cahara was a sobbing mess, not smiling or laughing at all like Enki had. Now Enki had his normal cold expression. He wiped the foamed up saliva from his mouth.

The doctor exclaimed with joy, “Did I not mention that Enki here is quite the masochist? He’s crazier than me, and I’m not even a real doctor!”. No one, staff included, was surprised to hear this. Cahara sobbed out “Why would anyone like this?!”. 

Ragnvaldr groaned, knowing his turn was coming. He was injected with something that weakened him significantly. D’arce was injected with something too, though fortunately not the red liquid. Ragnvaldr wondered why the doctor didn’t torture him more, but he thought maybe being powerless was meant to be it’s own torture. This wasn’t the first time he’d been weakened, or forced to watch Enki be hurt. This was the most Enki had ever reacted to the pain though, usually he was smug towards it. If anything, Ragnvaldr seemed more bothered by Enki’s pain than Enki ever was. Though he felt bad for Cahara, he wasn’t as sympathetic towards him right now, with how idiotic Cahara had been.

Cahara was in a state of shock still, only able to cry. Pocket cat went through some pills on his cart, grabbing a few. He came and distributed them to Cahara, and Ragnvaldr. The nurses gave them paper cups of water and made sure they took their pills. Cahara only received pain medicine. Ragnvaldr received a strange mixture of unrecognizable colorful pills. They both took their medicine, and received uncomfortable head pats from nurses as reward. 

The doctor laughed at Ragnvaldr as he spoke, “We’ve decided you weigh too much, we’ve put you on diet pills.”. 

Ragnvaldr practically growled in anger “My weight is pure muscle, you son of a bitch.”. 

Pocket cat rolled his eyes beneath his mask, “And for misbehaving, your dinner will be revoked. I’m sure it’ll all be worth it when you see your new trim waist.”. 

Ragnvaldr felt his guts twisting and writhing, hunger already taking full hold on him. Those were no diet pills, it was some ridiculous drug this quack cooked up and wanted to experiment with again. It felt like it was burning a hole in his stomach, like it was eating itself. He couldn’t help but hold onto his gut in discomfort as it growled. 

Ragnvaldr was distracted from his pain by Enki gagging as a nurse licked some blood from his neck. It was quickly cleaned with alcohol and being patched up, but the lick had Enki trying to squirm away from the treatment. Cahara was more receptive to being patched up and D’arce only laid unconscious for it all. 

Dr Pocketcat pinched Ragnvaldr’s cheek and walked away just in time to avoid a smack from the boy. The doctor yawned before speaking “Well that’s all the fun I’m allowed tonight, I’ll take my leave so you scrumptious little angels can eat.”.

Once he left, the staff followed behind him with the med cart. Another cart rolled closer from somewhere in the hall, but for a moment they were spared from most of the adults. 

Enki sighed towards Ragnvaldr, “Stop getting worked up over what he does to me, it doesn’t affect you. They know I don’t care about the pain, but if you do he’s just going to make it worse to get a reaction out of you.” Cahara wiped his face, but was still crying. He shook D’arce gently, who would only make a faint groan in reaction.

Ragnvaldr growled through his teeth “I will destroy this place, after I’ve destroyed Le’garde.”. His eyes burned with conviction. He knew Enki was right, but something about the codependency this place had forced upon them made Ragnvaldr unable to not react emotionally. He’d rather be tortured directly than watch it happen to someone else he cared about, which unfortunately, seemed to apply to Enki.

Cahara whined, “Take me with you, I hate it here.”. Enki gave him a judgmental look for stating the obvious, no one would like it here. Enki scanned the room to find that Crow was now alone, and Ronn was nowhere to be found. He wondered when they took him from the room, and what they wanted with him. Crow Mauler only watched the other teens now, with curious eyes. 

The nurses returned with a cart full of food trays, and began to hand them out. There were two left over, labeled for Ragnvaldr and Ronn, but not given out. Ragnvaldr immediately made a charge for the cart, shoving nurses out of the way to frantically grab the food. Just as he had the plate in his grasp, he was restrained successfully. The drugs he’d been given weakened him significantly. Only Enki noticed as Cahara somehow snuck over to steal an extra roll in the commotion. These nurses weren’t very smart, Enki noted. The cart was taken away as soon as everyone else had a plate. Then the nurses all at once released Ragnvaldr and left. The doors were slammed shut as Ragnvaldr went to run after the food cart. They automatically locked, but could be unlocked by staff only. Ragnvaldr found it strange that they shut the doors, since they rarely did so in this room without staff present. 

Enki noticed the camera in the corner of the room move a bit, indicating it was being actively monitored, not just recording. Enki motioned Ragnvaldr back over, before speaking to him quietly. “They’re monitoring us. He’s testing us, I’m sure they don’t care if we hurt each other a little before they come to split it up.”. Ragnvaldr raised an eyebrow, unsure if that was just an observation, or an invitation for violence; He assumed the first, with slight disappointment.

Cahara seemed to be less pained now, trying to ensure D’arce got her food. She woke up to the smell, and though confused, took it and began to eat. Ragnvaldr groaned as he took a seat, tapping his foot impatiently. Enki took a large bite of vegetables, and a bite of bread, before sliding his tray over to Ragnvaldr. The redhead dug in with less restraint than usual, making everyone at the table a bit uncomfortable. 

D’arce cleared her throat, “What did I miss?”. 

Cahara began to catch her up eagerly: “Well they knocked you out and drugged us all- and Enki was dying then he got an antidote. Then they did the same thing to me. I don’t know what they gave you or Ra- Rag- Rah-“.

D’arce didn’t know how to react to that, or what to believe.

“Ragnvaldr.” The tall redhead had interjected. 

Cahara smiled, afraid he’d offended him, before continuing: “Right, thank you, Ragnvaldr .”. Cahara said the name with slow caution, before returning his attention to D’arce. “So, feeling alright, Dollface?”.

D’arce blushed at the nickname, not looking too happy about it. She said “I think I’m fine, just dizzy I think. Try and act normal. I’m just one of the guys.”. 

Cahara laughed nervously “I’m like that with everyone, right uh, sweet cheeks?”. 

Ragnvaldr looked over with growing concern as he realized he was sweet cheeks. He was rewarded with a bread roll and piece of meat, which he took quickly. He only let out a “mhm” between bites. D’arce looked at Enki for further verification.

Enki looked very annoyed, and had been in the process of trying to read again, instead of eating. Nonetheless he obliged if it meant getting to be bitter about it: “He literally just got here we don’t even know him. He did flirt with every guy here off the bat though, so obviously he’s eager to be a prison bitch.”.

D’arce only blushed a bit and said “Oh.”.

Cahara choked up “h-Hey! Don’t make me sound so desperate. I’m just trying to get by…Make some friends maybe.”. He looked back to D’arce, who looked far from charmed. 

Enki spoke back up “In case you idiots couldn’t tell we’re all the furthest thing from friends. Even if you become buddy buddy with one another, leave me out of it. By the way, normal friends don’t fuck each other, Cahara. ”. 

Cahara and D’arce’s eyes both slowly wandered over towards Enki’s empty food tray he’d sacrificed to Ragnvaldr. Cahara said “Right…”. Enki’s stomach growled at the worst time. Everyone only looked at him apologetically, unwilling to sacrifice their own food. Clearly they didn’t want friends that bad, Enki thought.

Ragnvaldr slowed in his eating, shaking a bit as he forced himself to slow his consumption. He ripped off a small piece of the meat he was about to finish, handing it to Enki. Ragnvaldr was using his hands like silverware didn’t even exist. Enki sighed, then took and ate it. Ragnvaldr quickly ate the last of it after that. The brute looked over at Cahara and D’arce, who only ate faster in fear, finishing their own meals quickly. Ragnvaldr sneered at them. 

———

The lot didn’t get to discuss anything useful before curfew rolled around, and all were escorted to their rooms. Cahara was delighted to discover D’arce was his bunk buddy. D’arce was decidedly not thrilled. She knew it would be better than being with one of the more unhinged candidates, but she’d hoped she’d somehow end up alone.

She spent a long time deliberating that she wanted the top bunk. These bed frames were metal and solid, and it seemed impossible to stab her in the back through the bottom, she thought.

Cahara tried his hardest not to make the bunk beds into a sex joke. 

D’arce sensed he was tense, and she was too, albeit for non-innuendo related reasons. She scratched at the duct tape poking her ribs with discomfort. “So, Cahara. I’m sorry I interrupted your introduction earlier. There was a lot going on, but that was rude of me. If you wanted to share more about yourself- and why you’re here- I’m all ears.”. 

Cahara smiled up at D’arce who’d already taken the high ground of the top bunk. He stood below leaning against a brick wall “Well, I appreciate that. I don’t know if I want to get too into it, but, well… I’ve been a thief for a while now, just out of necessity. It’s not like I didn’t try to get a job, but well, by the time I was old enough everyone already knew I was a thief.”. D’arce nodded, thinking to herself that he was definitely about to spill his whole life story.

Cahara seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if debating how personal to get, before a loud shriek and thuds came from the room across the wall. Cahara had been interrupted from sharing again, but wasn’t annoyed this time, as much as terrified. D’arce was confused about who was screaming (and thought it sounded a bit feminine for the boy’s ward), but Cahara recognized the voice. “Enki… that’s Enki screaming. Is that his room? ENKI IS THAT YOU?!”. D’arce winced a bit at Cahara screaming towards the wall.

D’arce got down from the bunk bed to stand beside Cahara, who’d begun to inspect the door. She questioned “What? You’re sure that’s him? What are you doing?!”. 

Cahara groaned “I was hoping I could get us out of here, but there’s no lock or keycard reader on this side.”. 

D’arce looked unimpressed with this assessment. “What would we do if we even got out there and into his room? For all we know it’s a staff member in there doing something-.”.

A scream erupted from the wall: “Ragnvaldr! UNHAND ME YOU BARBARIAN!! Get off!! Fuck! STOP BITING!”. Loud thuds could be heard between screams, muffled animalistic growls, body parts hitting stone.

Cahara’s face went red “Maybe he isn’t in trouble.”. 

D’arce looked baffled “Are you deaf?! He’s being attacked!”

Cahara sighed “Look, I’ll try and wiggle one of these bricks loose if it eases your conscious, but I’m pretty sure they’re just…being butt buddies.”. 

D’arce smacked Cahara on the back of the head “I don’t even want to know what you think sex is like. Even if they are, he’s obviously in trouble!”. The both of them began to eye and feel the wall. Cahara found one loose, and with a good push it was through to the other side. It seemed like it may have been removed and placed back by someone in the past. The screams were louder now, and it’d been going on long enough it was clear the guards were far away, or ignoring it. Neither Enki or Ragnvaldr seemed to hear or notice the brick hitting the floor.

Enki could be seen on the floor, trying to fight Ragnvaldr off of him. Ragnvaldr was practically foaming at the mouth with bloodlust. Cahara felt his blood run cold at the way Ragnvaldr bit onto the arm Enki was trying to push him away with. Ragnvaldr was drawing blood with his teeth like a dog. He wasn’t being kinky, he was shaking his head trying to get a chunk of flesh loose. Enki screamed “You fucking Barbarian! Get a hold of yourself, it’s the drugs! Don’t let them control you- GOD DAMN IT!”.

With a terrible rip Ragnvaldr had gotten a small bite off of Enki, not even enough to chew. With a loud gulp, Ragnvaldr had swallowed it whole. D’arce was scrambling to look through the hole herself, shoving Cahara out of the way for answers. Cahara ran back to the door, frantically looking for an out, before noticing a small keyhole that’d been painted over to the point of being filled. He frantically chipped the paint out with his lockpicking tools, before he managed to eventually get it open. D’arce looked over in bewilderment before following him out of the room. They shut it behind them quietly, and quickly Cahara used his stolen keycard to invade the next room. Once in they gently shut the door again, and tried to pry Ragnvaldr off of a surprised Enki.

Not even people entering the room, nor the pleading of the other teens seemed to shake Ragnvaldr from his animalistic hunger. Enki screamed again as Ragnvaldr got his teeth sunk in, but it…honestly sounded more like a moan. D’arce and Cahara tried to ignore that, and focus on the danger at hand. D’arce and Cahara finally pulled the redhead off the other boy, and restrained him with great effort. Enki gave one last kick, right to Ragnvaldr’s nuts. He sat up and tried to catch his breath, while Ragnvaldr groaned in pain.

Cahara called out “My pocket! I’ve got some bread I stole earlier, while Ragnvaldr was distracting the nurses at dinner!”. Ragnvaldr broke free as soon as he heard, frantically feeling Cahara’s pockets to find and eat the half roll. Cahara was trembling in fear at the sight of the Ragnvaldr’s bloody mouth and hands, and the feeling of him patting him down. Great, now he had blood on him too, Cahara thought . Hell, the blood even covered the front of Ragnvaldr’s shirt like a red drippy bib. What a mess he’d made..

After eating the roll Ragnvaldr had begun licking the blood from his hands, until D’arce began checking on Enki. Suddenly he snapped out of it, and looked as horrified as the rest of them. “What have I done?” Tears began to stream silently down Ragnvaldr’s cheeks, and he looked over at Enki. Enki was definitely mad, and wasn’t buying the kicked puppy look from the man who just tried to eat him. Still, Enki couldn’t help but huff with relief seeing Ragnvaldr a little closer to being back in his right mind. 

Ragnvaldr went to move towards Enki, and Cahara blocked him off. Cahara had his arms spread to the side to try and seem bigger, but he was shaking in the knees. “Maybe you should stay back for now?”. A whimper left Cahara’s throat when Ragnvaldr looked angry with him. Cahara threw in a “please?”.

Ragnvaldr argued with a raspy deep voice, “I want to apologize. Let me speak to him.”. 

D’arce hugged an irritated Enki close to her chest, protectively curling herself over him like a shield “Back off! You just tried to eat him, and you probably would’ve finished the job if we didn’t come stop you! I’m not letting you get seconds, he’s barely got any meat on his bones, fight us instead!”.

Enki’s voice creaked with dryness as he spoke up, “Why the hell are you trying to defend me? Also could have left out the part calling me boney!”. He wiped blood from a bite mark on his cheek, sounding less like a grateful victim who was just saved, and more like someone who’d had their night interrupted.

Cahara looked nervous at D’arce using the word us, and interjected “ Hold up now, Maybe we can just settle this peacefully- ”.  

Cahara, D’arce, and Ragnvaldr all erupted into unintelligible bickering, until Enki pushed himself away from D’arce and spoke up again. “Let him be, you said yourself, there’s no seconds to take. I’m sure he’d much rather try to eat one of you. Maybe if you’re so eager to play heroes you should offer yourselves up as a sacrifice. ”

Everyone watched with disappointment as Ragnvaldr eyed D’arce and Cahara up and down with consideration, before walking back to Enki. Ragnvaldr sniffled as he went to speak again “I’m ashamed of myself, I don’t know what got into me.”.

Enki was unmoved by the emotional display. “Well you said you were too hungry to sleep, insisted we stay up to plan. Then you told me I looked like a plucked chicken, tackled me onto the floor, and tried ACTUALLY EATING ME. Does that jog your memory ?”. Sass was dripping off Enki’s words.

Cahara struggled not to laugh at the chicken comparison, D’arce’s mouth only hung open in shock. Ragnvaldr looked embarrassed more than anything. The only words he could muster were “I’m sorry.”

Enki scoffed “I can’t believe you, at least try and blame the drug instead of looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.. You ate more than I did for dinner, you know. Guess you were saving me for dessert?”.

Ragnvaldr looked away at the wall, like a child refusing to acknowledge a scolding “I’m sorry. It was the drug.”. He did seem remorseful, but he was still covered in blood, trying not to drool at the taste lingering in his mouth. His apology was less convincing than an owner claiming their untrained dog would never bite again. Enki briefly wondered if there was a muzzle somewhere in this place.

D’arce looked queasy “I feel like I believed that more when you were eating him than when you’re saying it.”.

Cahara let out a nervous laugh, gaining him a glare from everyone, who then went back to glaring at Ragnvaldr. Ragnvaldr’s stomach rumbled with dissatisfaction, and suddenly D’arce and Cahara lost their bravery and took a step back. Enki looked like he didn’t even have the energy to be disappointed anymore. He always expected the worst, and still he was always disappointed

Cahara tried to atone, or maybe, more-so, keep himself from being eaten: “Let’s see if we can get into the kitchen or something? I have a keycard, and don’t know about you guys, but I’m more scared of Ragnvaldr eating me than whatever Dr. Furry is going to do to us.”. D’arce looked contemplative.

Enki spoke up, “Why do I have to go? Less the better if you’re trying to sneak around.”.

Cahara responded “Strength in numbers, plus we can carry more food that way.”.

Enki facepalmed, “Do I look like I should fight or carry anything right now?”

D’arce sighed “I’m going back to our room, I can’t afford to get caught out here over this. I only came to make sure you guys didn’t get yourselves eaten by Ragnvaldr.”. 

Ragnvaldr wanted to roll his eyes, being talked about like a vicious animal, but even he could acknowledge he’d brought that on himself. If he were them, he’d be scared too. He couldn’t even trust himself, he felt like a monster.

Enki looked annoyed, and casually ripped a shoddy shiv out of Ragnvaldr’s shoulder. Cahara and D’arce had barely even noticed it jutting out of Ragnvaldr, with all the blood already on him. Enki remarked “Well, I suppose I’m going to need medical supplies, or I’m going to get an infection, or maybe rabies.”. 

Ragnvaldr huffed “I don’t have rabies… I think . I will carry you to the infirmary. Then we raid the kitchen and come back here.”. 

Enki gripped the bridge of his nose “I just said I’m staying here.”.

“Yes, but you’ll be treated sooner if I bring you.” Ragnvaldr retorted. 

Cahara took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nerves “Yeah, time for an adventure.”.

D’arce sighed “Well, I’m probably already going to be in trouble anyway, I might as well go, to discover the layout more.”. She told herself she was doing this to get closer to finding Le’garde. deep down she had a feeling if she didn’t go she was going to see these idiots all lobotomized tomorrow. Even if they had different goals, or even opposing goals, she was never going to get close to rescuing Le’garde and escaping on her own. She supposed it would also…be deeply upsetting if they got hurt after all this trouble .

Ragnvaldr went and reached for a book off of the small desk in the room, opening it to a specific page and showing everyone. Enki said “Don’t touch my things.”. Ragnvaldr ignored him and began to point to the pages.

Ragnvaldr pointed to a crude pen map drawl in a book. “This black box is us. That red cross is the infirmary, and the orange dot over there is the kitchen.”. 

Enki got up and snatched the book, “You’re going to drool on the map, let a human carry it, you bear.”.

Cahara chimed in “Bear? He’s got some hair on him, but I’d say he’s more of a muscle daddy or stud.”. Everyone looked at Cahara in disgust and confusion.

Enki sighed “Ragnvaldr, how about you kill and eat this pervert, then we can skip the trip to the kitchen.”.

D’arce looked horrified with Cahara and said “How are you going to try and make bears sexual? You’re more depraved than I thought.”.

Ragnvaldr merely groaned. He might be amused with the girl’s innocence, if he wasn’t so drained from hunger. Cahara had begun trying to describe what he meant by bear, but Ragnvaldr’s gut grumbled loud enough to alarm everyone.

Cahara swallowed a lump in his throat “I’ll just, shut up and get us back out of here.”. He began to fetch his lock picking tools, only for D’arce to open the door with ease.

She spoke with a smug grin “You thought I’d shut it all the way and lock us in with a cannibal?”. Cahara looked embarrassed, because he probably would have done just that.

Ragnvaldr seemed annoyed being talked about like this. “I don’t enjoy eating people, I only did what I had to.”.

Enki hit the meathead a few times, to no effect, but it was satisfying. “No one wants to hear your excuses after you just tried to make me a midnight snack!”.

Ragnvaldr only gave a solemn nod, like he wanted to defend himself more, but not even he could argue with facts.

D’arce and Cahara tried not to seem absolutely terrified. Finally D’arce spoke up “Let’s get going, and try to be quiet. ”. Cahara went to brag about his stealth skills, but instead only nodded in affirmation. 

Once they were in the hall it was even more tense. Every sound echoed in the silence of the dim brick hallways. Enki went to lead the way, map in hand. He faltered and Ragnvaldr quickly swept him off his feet bridal style. Enki silently fumed at being carried like this, but pointed the way as Ragnvaldr took over leading. Enki would argue to be carried another way, but this was admittedly the most physically comfortable way with open wounds on him. He quickly changed his mind from embarrassment, deciding he wouldn’t mind the pain in comparison. Enki whispered: “Maybe you should let me walk, or carry me a different way. Then you’ll have your arms available for defense.”. 

Ragnvaldr shook his head, “No, I think this is the most practical way, unless I throw you over my shoulder.”.

Enki’s face flushed with shame at the mental visual of Ragnvaldr carrying him over one shoulder. “Don’t.” He briefly wondered if Cahara could carry him instead, but he didn’t want to hear the snarky comments, or be dropped on the floor. He was just going to have to tolerate being carried by the man who comically dwarfed him, Enki realized with increasing irritation.

D’arce noticed Cahara giving her a look and mouthing the word ‘aw’ as he pointed sneakily to the other boys. She looked confused, and walked a bit quicker, leaving Cahara to catch up in the back.

The group slowed as they neared a closed door. There was the sound akin to a whip or belt cracking repeatedly. Cahara grabbed the back of D’arce’s shirt, then she grabbed the back of Ragnvaldr’s. Ragnvaldr halted for a moment only to look back annoyed and free his shirt. He proceeded with as quiet steps as he could muster. Fortunately the grippy socks were better than shoes for silence at least. Pocket cat could be heard speaking behind the closed door “You really never make a sound, hm? I know your vocal chords are intact. I’ve hurt you in countless ways, and still you don’t make a peep? You’re fascinating, but I’ll find other ways to make you talk.”.Enki made a mental note that it was likely Ronn in there, and the Dr. had stolen him away before dinner to experiment on him again.

They slowly passed the door, and were nearly to the infirmary down the hall. Suddenly Pocketcat’s steps could be heard nearing the door, and the lot hurried their steps, inevitably being louder as a result. As the teens got towards the infirmary they were pulled in by someone else with haste. The nurse, or maybe doctor, who pulled them in had shut the door. The infirmary was dim with only a desk lamp lighting the way, and various blood stained gurneys. Not a patient in sight.

The doctor spoke up, “What are you doing out of your rooms? It’s very dangerous, do you have a death wish?”. The doctor’s appearance and voice were androgynous. They had long white hair, and pale grey eyes. The teens previously thought Enki looked like a ghost, but after seeing this ghostly person, Enki seemed more like a ghoul or goblin. Hell, maybe he even looked like a zombie on a bad day. Despite the unclear sex of the doctor, each of the teens were a bit flush in the cheeks and in awe of their beauty.

Ragnvaldr stepped forward to silently present Enki, who looked exhausted mentally and physically. Bite marks were dripping and soaking into his scrubs, and had possibly even left drips in the hall. A door could be heard creaking open in the hall, and shutting a moment later. No steps could be heard . Enki was absolutely covered in bites on his upper body, and if they weren’t identifiably human, it’d be more believable that a dog attacked him. He had one on his neck, several on his arms. Even one that’d barely broken skin on his cheek. Nonetheless, it was dripping blood. Nosramus wasn’t sure this was a murder attempt as much as a strange attack.

The doctor eyed over the injured boy with hyperfocus, and went to ask what happened, but Ragnvaldr’s bloodied mouth made it somewhat clear. Judgment registered across the doctor’s face, and Ragnvaldr began to go flush with shame. It seemed like the doctor was examining the two, trying to gather whether or not this was a fight or some sick activity they’d agreed to. The doctor motioned to a gurney and Ragnvaldr laid Enki down, who immediately sat up on the edge. Enki seemed a bit more familiar with the doctor than the rest of them. The two didn’t even speak to each other as Enki was patched up. Everyone else awkwardly shuffled and tried to think of what to say to not get in trouble. 

D’arce spoke up first “Me and Cahara only got involved because we heard an attack, we’re not going to face punishment are we?”. Enki and Ragnvaldr looked irritated, but the doctor weakly chuckled. 

The doctor said “If I can, I’ll see you back to your rooms. If you’re lucky you’ll be spared, but I’m really sticking my neck out for you here. Please no more trouble after this. Though it seems like Enki here is quite the trouble magnet.”. Enki rolled his eyes, though it was true.

Cahara said “You seem much nicer than the other staff I’ve met so far. Prettier too.”. The doctor looked uncomfortable at the last bit. The other teens looked horrified with Cahara, like he’d said something unforgivable.

The doctor spoke up again “Let’s keep it professional, please. I’m Dr. Nosramus.”.

Cahara nervously scratched the back of his neck “Sorry, erm, what are your pronouns?”. 

Dr Nosramus laughed a bit “Don’t worry about that, They/Them will work, but I don’t mind others.”. All the teens aside from Enki looked a bit surprised with the answer, but Enki glared at them in a way that told them to drop the topic.

Nosramus turned their attention back to Enki, and pointed at one of his worn down medical gloves. The doctor said “I’ve told you to stop wearing those, it’s not good for it.”. Enki hid his hands behind his back defensively. The doctor sighed “Enki, gloves off. I need to retreat the wound since you refuse to let it heal.”.

D’arce and Cahara were staring with curiosity, as they’d been wondering what the nasty gloves were about. Not like they’d gotten very close with Enki though, and he didn’t seem keen on sharing. Enki spoke up “Don’t gawk at me.”. 

Ragnvaldr went to shut the curtain, but Nosramus spoke up, “Don’t bother, they’ll see it eventually. If you’re all capable of making friends in a place like this, I don’t think there’s any use in judging one another, right?”.

Enki snapped back, “I’m not worried about being judged, shut up. I don’t need friends, and if I did I could do better than these fools.”.

Cahara whimpered dramatically, before leaning against D’arce for reassurance. She shoved him off of her arm and onto Ragnvaldr’s. Cahara tensed up and backed away a few steps, mumbling an apology to the intimidating brute. Seemed he was more hesitant to flirt with Ragnvaldr, after seeing him actually try and eat someone.

Ragnvaldr mentioned “We also… were going to steal from the kitchen.”. Everyone glared at him for exposing the truth, but Nosramus pointed to a nearby cabinet.

The doctor said “There’s snacks in there, go nuts. But don’t touch anything else, got it? In return I expect you to not snack on my patients anymore.”. Ragnvaldr greedily went to raid the cabinet and begin eating whatever he could. Cahara would normally grab something to pocket, but he was worried Ragnvaldr might bite his hand if he tried touching the food.

D’arce and Cahara tried hard to seem like they weren’t watching with interest while Enki’s gloves were removed. The obscured palms were now visible, and inflamed unhealed scars were visible in the middle of each. It looked like it went so deep it might have even been holes at one point. The next glance the two nosy teens caught of the wounds was met with a soul piercing glare from Enki. D’arce looked away and covered her mouth like she might vomit.

Cahara only stared more obviously now “What happened?-Ow!”. D’arce had elbowed his ribs and he gave Enki an apologetic look. 

Enki didn’t even flinch as his wounds were cleaned with alcohol and dressed. He waited a long moment, before deciding to answer “It’s none of your business, but I was crucified.”.

The room fell quiet for a long moment, and Ragnvaldr even took a break from eating briefly. He looked a bit surprised Enki was sharing, but not as surprised as the other two teens. Ragnvaldr had clearly heard this before, but he kept eating more slowly now, allowing for silence. He seemed to listen with interest in case Enki said something he didn’t know.

Enki continued before Cahara and D’arce could decide to ask anything else. “You wanted to know why I'm here, right? I was in a cult. Ronn and Crow were in it too, but don’t consider us friends.”.

Nosramus even looked surprised as well at the sharing mood Enki was in. The four must be more of friends than Enki was willing to admit, Nosramus thought.

D’arce assumed that was the name of the only two patients in the boys ward she hadn’t met, and spoke up. “Did they get you to join?”.

“ No.” Enki said, with a hiss to his voice like the question was an insult. “I met them there, my family was a part of it. We did terrible things, things that’d make your blood run cold, before it was even time for breakfast. Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to. Anyway, don’t bother pitying me, or those other two freaks. They were among the ones that helped nail me in place, you know. It’s not like I was made to either, I agreed to it… for All-mer. ”.

Everyone shut up, and Ragnvaldr had stopped eating. He shoved the few remaining bags of cookies and chips into his pockets, ignoring the way Nosramus glared at him for doing so. 

Enki thought this was the perfect time to say “By the way you should treat the brute too, he may or may not have been stabbed.”. This prompted Ragnvaldr to try and look at his shoulder wound where he’d been stabbed, marveling how deep Enki managed to get him. He didn’t seem in pain however, and nearly dipped his finger into the hole left in his shoulder. 

Nosramus simply shook their head with disappointment and made Ragnvaldr take a seat to be patched up. Ragnvaldr gratefully complied to the treatment.

They were all given a spare change of scrubs, and new socks. D’arce insisted on changing behind a curtain. When Enki went to change his, D’arce and Cahara winced at the sight of foot wounds to match the ones on his hands. It looked like they’d been impaled clean through, and D’arce wondered how he could still walk and move his hands like that. It was a miracle there wasn’t still a hole all the way through, as there almost certainly used to be. Nosramus cleaned and wrapped the boy’s feet, giving him another scolding to take better care of them. Enki only stared in disbelief, as they were basically in silent hill, and he couldn’t trust these nurses as far as he could throw them (he can’t throw them).

Nosramus yanked Ragnvaldr closer by his arm, with a shocking amount of strength for their size. Ragnvaldr’s eyes were wide with disbelief at how he’d just been manhandled by someone smaller than him. Nosramus glared at Ragnvaldr and Enki both, with thinly veiled malice, and whispered: “If you two sick fucks hurt each other again after all I just did for you I’ll stop being so generous. Enki, you didn’t agree to this did you?”.

Enki looked in disbelief at the (in his opinion) unjustified call out, Nosramus was looking down on him with concern. Enki mumbled “Why does everyone in this place think I’m some masochistic deviant?”. 

The other teens muffled quiet chuckles at Enki’s question. Nosramus’s had an expression that said really? . Nosramus retorted,“I could give you an incident report list that would tell you exactly why, but I’ll spare you, because I don’t even want to remember it.”. Everyone aside from the two with long hair looked both curious and horrified as they eavesdropped in.

Enki only looked away in denial “I get it, shut up.”. 

D’arce interjected, “I have a question, if I may.”. 

Nosramus looked the girl up and down, wondering to themself how she’d got into the boy’s ward. “What is it? You’ve got balls talking to me directly on top of sneaking out, you know. I can’t imagine things will go over well for you if it gets out you somehow snuck into the boy’s ward. I’ll keep my mouth shut, but if this place was any better regulated I’d report you for your own safety.”

D’arce shivered a bit, crushed a bit from being called out on her crossdressing antics by someone she couldn’t even identify the sex of. She tried to compose herself enough to stay on topic “Is there someone named Le’garde staying here?”.

Ragnvaldr laughed a bit, as he’d tried asking a few staff members the same question before, only to be ignored or told no. He knew it was a lie though, he could sense the bastard souring the building with his presence. 

Nosramus raised an eyebrow, before answering “Even if there were, I’m not allowed to share information.”.

D’arce pouted “I just thought, since you seemed friendly enough to help us…Please, I’ll do anything if you can just tell me he’s here.” she gripped onto Nosramus’s doctor’s coat sleeve, pleading with increasing intensity. 

The doctor shook her off their arm “Hey! No touching. God, you’re a lot of brats, you know that? Unfortunately, you don’t have anything I want. I’m not a prisoner here like you, I can clock out.”

Enki groaned, before speaking up “How about as a favor then? I don’t care about him, but these fools are obsessed with the guy. Maybe if they know they’ll finally shut up.”. He couldn’t care less about saving or killing Le’garde, but he had his motives. 

Both D’arce and Ragnvaldr looked moved that Enki asked. Then they glared at each other, as they silently argued with their eyes which one of them he was asking for. In reality, Enki just wanted to leave this place and live in the walls of a library or something. He could use the rest of them as tools though, and only Cahara seemed interested in leaving without finding Le’garde first. Enki didn’t think he’d get very far with just Cahara.

Nosramus raised an eyebrow at Enki, before looking a bit annoyed. Enki seemed fairly aware Nosramus had a peculiar soft spot for him, probably having to do with just how frequently he’d been treated by the doctor. It kind of pissed them off that the kid was cashing in the favoritism in infront of others, but they were intrigued that it was seemingly for someone else’s benefit.  

Nosramus debated whether to warn Enki of backstabbing, or accept the strange new welcoming of friends the boy had suddenly achieved. Surely it’s not like the paranoid boy hadn’t considered the risks. Nosramus decided despite their own hardships with others, they wanted Enki to have at least some semblance of normality. Company was the closest you’d get to that here. Nosramus sighed, “Fine. Don’t say it was from me. There is a patient by that name, but I won’t tell you where. Maybe we can talk further on the matter, another night.”.

Enki nearly grinned, fully aware that there was only one boy’s ward, and the only other places Le’garde could be were in solitary confinement, or being played with by a psycho doctor “Helpful as always, Dr. Nosramus.”. The other teens seemed bewildered that Enki just casually got the info out of the doctor, for nothing in return. Still, D’arce and Ragnvaldr seemed to be smiling gratefully at Enki. He only answered the two with an irritated look, trying to express this didn’t mean he liked them.

After that, Nosramus told them they had to return to their rooms, and they all made a stealthy trip back with the adult as their lead now. They returned to their bunks, with maybe more questions than they had when they first went to bed. Everyone laid silently, unsleeping, for quite a while. It’d taken a long time and several bickering fights before Cahara would even shut up, but now that he had, it was too quiet. Eventually Cahara got fed up with the silence, and decided after about an hour of trying to sleep, that he needed help. He sat up on the edge of his bed and began pulling items out of his pockets.

D’arce rolled over and looked down at him on the edge, and whispered “What are you doing?”. 

Cahara looked up, startled, before returning to his task. He finished and presented a small pipe for D’arce’s viewing pleasure. 

She squinted at it, trying to see, and made a face after inhaling, smelling a dank smell that even she could recognize as weed “Gross.”.

Cahara looked a bit hurt, hoping she’d be excited. None the less he offered, “Well, if you want you can have some…it helps me sleep.”. 

A voice came from the missing brick in the wall, belonging to Enki. “Give me that shit.”. D’arce and Cahara jumped a bit once they spotted Enki’s eye peeking out from the dark hole.

They hadn’t heard him come to the hole in the wall, but clearly he’d smelt or heard them. Ragnvaldr could be heard moving around as well, before talking “Is there a skunk in here?”. Cahara could be heard lighting the pipe and Ragnvaldr realized his error as he woke up more,“Oh, that type of skunk.”.

Cahara came and handed the pipe through the missing brick hole to Enki. Enki paused after he’d taken a hit and handed it to Ragnvaldr. Enki questioned, “So, do I want to know how you got this in here?”?

Cahara laughed, “Nope.”. D’arce looked concerned at the implications, but Ragnvaldr could be heard quietly chuckling before taking a hit.

A large hand handed the pipe back, and Cahara took it, taking another hit and sighing with content. 

D’arce began to climb down and Cahara looked over. She seemed ashamed as she asked, “Can I still join?”. Cahara looked surprised, but handed her the pipe. He wasn’t sure if peer pressure made her change her mind, or if she was just that distressed, maybe both. She sat down against the wall with him and seemed to have trouble figuring out how to even light it. He helped, showing her there was a hole she had to hold on the side, then lighting it for her. She coughed so hard they all tensed for a moment. They all listened for a guard, but no one was coming. Once she’d recovered and caught her breath she went over to the sink and began to drink from the faucet. 

Cahara giggled a bit “You good, Dollface?”. 

D’arce groaned at the nickname, but couldn’t bring herself to scold him again. She was too tired. Instead she complained about something else “It’s ridiculous, they pump us full of drugs to make us tired all day, then we lay down and I can’t get a wink.”. She came back to the wall in time to see Cahara pass the pipe back, and begin blowing O’s. They crashed into her face and dissipated around her. She coughed a bit more and sat back against the wall.

More muffled coughs came from the other side of the wall before the pipe was offered back. D’arce made fun of people for smoking weed in the past, but it actually felt pretty relaxing, it made her feel a bit silly for thinking it was such a serious substance. Still, she didn’t think she could focus on serious tasks like this. The smell was a small price to pay if it meant easing her mind. 

Ragnvaldr spoke up “I’m sure Cahara hasn’t helped with all the noise he makes, or Enki.”.

Enki scoffed with offense “What noise could I possibly be making?”

Ragnvaldr elaborated “Page turning.”

D’arce and Cahara couldn’t help but giggle and give each other a smile at the ridiculous conversation. The wall must muffle more than they thought if Enki was turning pages loud enough to wake that giant.

Enki groaned “You’re ridiculous.”.

Ragnvaldr chuckled a bit under his breath, “It keeps me up knowing you’re up. Plus the bunk beds…I can feel every movement you know.”.

Cahara spoke with a nervous tone “ Every movement? Maybe I should have been put in a room alone after all.”

D’arce looked unamused “If you try and jerk off in here I’ll shank you.”

Suddenly a sound of a light object could be heard falling through the hole in the wall. Cahara had his pipe in his hand, and looked down in concern. It was Enki’s bloodstained shiv, which appeared to be made from a piece of a broken lunch tray sharpened to a point somehow. 

D’arce and Ragnvaldr laughed, but Cahara quickly took the shiv.

D’arce gasped “Hey! Return that this instant.”. 

Enki made a tsk noise, “D’arce, I trusted you to shank him, now look what you’ve done.”

Cahara laughed evilly, or as evil as he could pretend to be “Don’t worry D’arce, I’ll use MY shiv for good.”

Ragnvaldr reached through the hole in the wall and grabbed Cahara’s arm, shaking him until he heard the shiv drop again, then he grabbed it and pulled it back through.

Cahara slammed a hand against the wall and rested his head on it “No! Rag, baby, give me back the shiv. Come on, Enki is just going to hurt you with it again.”.

Enki scoffed “Oh please. He was going to eat me, the shiv didn’t even slow him down. I don’t think he even noticed I stabbed him.”. Ragnvaldr gave the tool back to Enki without hesitation. Cahara wanted to peek through to see if he had, but it was too dark, and he was scared he’d get shivved in the eye. 

Ragnvaldr said “I think it’s best Enki has the shiv, it’s his, and, you know .”.

Cahara and D’arce nodded in agreement “ Yeah, true ” the two said in sync. 

Enki stammered, in disbelief “wh- What ??? What do they know? You all know nothing about me, and I don’t like what’s being implied.”.

Ragnvaldr hummed in contemplation of how to put it lightly “Well, you are the weakest. You’re definitely the smartest though.”. Ragnvaldr could objectively admit he wasn’t quite as brainy as Enki, and needed to deflect with some sort of compliment. Enki constantly said he was going to ditch Ragnvaldr after all, which was actually impossible , but he could stop complying. Ragnvaldr felt like he could probably drag him back into it, but ideally, he wanted Enki to cooperate.

Enki’s eye twitched “Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve been here the longest, and you’re going to disrespect me like this?! There’s an actual girl here, and you still think I’m the weakest?!”. He might have been flattered at the smartest comment, if it wasn’t just stating the obvious.

D’arce tried to resist the urge to laugh at the fact she was being ranked above Enki in strength. It was absolutely true, but many wouldn’t acknowledge her being stronger so easily just because she’s a girl. The change was refreshing, even if Enki was still in denial.

Enki could hear Cahara and D’arce barely stifling laughter “Enough of this nonsense. You haven’t even seen me in a real fight.”.

Everyone went quiet until Ragnvaldr spoke up “Was that not a real fight earlier?”.

Enki scoffed “Don’t act like I was the only one holding back. I could have aimed for a vital point, just like you could have broken my bones. I could see you struggling with yourself.”

Ragnvaldr countered “Why not aim to kill? No matter what damage wasn’t done I was attacking you. Eating you. ”. There was a long pause as Cahara and D’arce only listened in. 

Enki’s voice cracked a bit “Well- I knew it was just the drug, and, I don’t need you, but your strength is going to be important for breaking out of here. It was a strategic move. I was going to talk you out of it, until they came in.”.

Cahara fist pumped the air “Fuck yeah. I knew we were going to escape!”. 

“Shut up loud mouth.” D’arce scolded. Cahara smiled apologetically.

Ragnvaldr couldn’t help but smirk at being called important by Enki, even if it was drowned in all his degrading technicalities. This was progress compared to all the times Enki had told him he was useless to him.

Enki spoke up again “ I’m breaking out. We can work together, but I’m not interested in finding this Le’garde . If you guys get caught you’re on you’re on, if you get me caught or jeopardize the plan, you’re out. I’m not above killing if it means getting out of here. Maybe I’ll help you get to Le’garde IF you help me get out.”.

Cahara laughed nervously “I feel like you’re not above killing in general.”.

D’arce questioned, genuinely, “and you are, Cahara?”. She’d be surprised to hear anyone in this place was.

Cahara paused, before getting a bummed look on his face. He hit the pipe and passed it back to D’arce. She mouthed the word sorry. She slowly took it and took another drag before passing it through the hole again.. Enki grabbed it with his bandaged hand. Without gloves it was more visible that his nails were strangely sharp and long. His hand looked like it belonged to a vampire, D’arce thought . 

Cahara finally answered the question “No, I’m not above killing. I prefer not to, though.”.

D’arce tried to lighten the mood “It’s funny, this place is making us work together, but if we were in the same normal school, I bet we’d never even talk to each other…”.

Cahara said “You guys go to school?”. Everyone laughed at Cahara playing into his perceived dumbness, even Enki, just a bit. Cahara grinned pridefully and laughed a bit as everyone failed to not giggle at him. He didn’t mind being the butt of the joke sometimes, as long as people were laughing. This place desperately needed laughter.

Enki spoke up “I was homeschooled, fortunately .”.

D’arce nodded to herself “Yeah, I can imagine that.”.

Before Enki had a chance to get offended, Cahara was asking another question as the pipe was passed back through by Ragnvaldr. It was fully cached now. Cahara said “Enki, can I ask some  more questions about your past?”.

“No.” Enki replied without hesitation.

Cahara looked a bit defeated “Fair enough.”.

D’arce hummed to herself “Maybe talk of the past is best left in the past.”.

Ragnvaldr spoke up, sounding more irritable than before “Like you aren’t here just to chase your past.”.

D’arce couldn’t help but bite back “Well so are you.” She immediately realized the cruelty of what she said, and spoke again “I- I’m sorry, that’s unfair of me to say.”. She didn’t remember their faces, but she knew she probably helped in some part of what Le’garde did to Ragnvaldr’s family. To other families, and people. She felt disgusted with herself, even though she’d felt so righteous when she’d been doing it. It was all because Le’garde said those people were standing in his way of gaining power. This whole country felt like one big battle for control, and somehow, wanting to stop it, she’d ended up contributing to it herself. She felt a sick confliction that felt like it might split her head apart, a confliction about herself, as well as about Le’garde. She felt like she couldn’t blindly claim what she’d done was right, just because Le’garde told her to, not when it was to someone she’d directly hurt. She tried to ease herself by reminding herself that Ragnvaldr was a cannibal murderer, no better than her, maybe even worse.

Ragnvaldr growled in his throat, making everyone’s hair stand on end as it reverberated through the wall. “Yes, it is unfair.”.

Enki sighed “Let’s all just shut up and sleep I’m not dealing with another fight tonight.”. He grabbed the brick and slid it back into place in the wall. It could easily be removed later if needed. 

D’arce seemed rather moody now, and Cahara put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly “Hey, don’t worry too much, it’s hard to not be tense here. Besides you said yourself, we’d all never be friends outside of here…if we even are in here. It doesn’t matter what he thinks.”.

She looked at him and offered a weak smile. “Yeah, maybe it doesn’t…”. Cahara might have been talking about Ragnvaldr, but D’arce wasn’t sure if she was. Despite all the pervy comments Cahara would make, his touch on the shoulder didn’t feel creepy right now. If anything it was truly comforting. He had a caring energy to him, under all that mischief and innuendos. D’arce got up and got back into her bunk. She always fled from comfort, if it wasn’t from Le’garde. 

Cahara watched her, before getting up and going to his own. It was so dark in here, but their eyes had adjusted by now. D’arce spoke up from her bunk, quietly, hoping not to disturb Ragnvaldr and Enki: “I should feel bad. I’ve done a lot to get here. I played a part in a lot of things.” She said.

Cahara hesitated, a bit surprised D’arce was still talking to him. He thought her laying down was her way of cutting the conversation short, but it seemed like she was just troubled. He finally replied after contemplating what to say, “Yeah, but, weren’t you made to? It was for him , right? The guard guy?”.

“Le’garde?… I- he never made me do anything. I did it for him, but, it’s because I just wanted to please him. I thought I was doing the right thing, he told me I was, but, well… Everything will be fine when I find Le’garde. Then we can leave together and be happy. His will is all that matters, I need to get back to his side.”.

Cahara’s heart sank as he could tell D’arce was head over heels for the guy, but the guy sounded like a dirtbag. He hated that dynamic, and he’d seen enough users in his life to make him sick. D’arce didn’t deserve that, even if she did seem like a crazy yandere, Cahara thought . 

Cahara swallowed a lump in his throat “I know how that feels, being willing to do anything for someone… I guess I should tell you, just because you’re coerced into doing something, doesn’t mean you wanted to. I’m in here because I did something, for someone I love… but it was all my idea. If she knew where I was now…She’d probably be sorry for me, even though it’s my fault. She never would have asked me to do that.”

D’arce spoke up in surprise “ What? Are you dating her? You’re way too flirty towards everyone to be in a relationship…”.

Cahara laughed weakly, trying to pretend that didn’t hurt to hear “Well, she’s a sex worker…so I don’t know, I guess we view it differently…or something. Not that I don’t like sex, but I guess, it’s just a tool to us sometimes. She wouldn’t mind, and…I can only dream I’ll see her again.”

D’arce replied “What? Really? How did you even fall for someone like that?”.

Cahara teared up a bit in his bunk, silently wiping up the tears. He began to regret bringing this up, but D’arce had been vulnerable herself. He kept his voice steady as he talked, trying to hide his crying. “I’ve just been caught up in that world for a while I guess. Gangs, drugs, prostitutes. Maybe that sounds like a rap song, but it’s not fun like one. I was going to buy her freedom, but I got in too deep trying to get the money.”. 

Cahara decided to leave out the part where he’d been told to carry out a hit on Le’garde by another gang member for money (everyone knew he’d get caught but him). He wasn’t sure if he was going to do that or if he’d even get paid if he did. If he could prove Le’garde had been killed, he could just let Ragnvaldr do the dirty work and claim it was him. “I’d even trade places with her if that’s what it took, but I’m not as valuable…Which, like, fair enough, but I think I’d make a pretty wicked prostitute.”

D’arce winced at the sadness in his voice, unhidden by his humor. She rolled over “I’m sorry. We’re all deep in problems here. I’ll just be surprised if we get out alive.”.

Cahara took deep steady breaths “Yeah. Let’s just try and help each other get out, and back with the people we care about.”.

D’arce thought about Le’garde, and how empty and directionless she felt without him around to tell her what to do. She thought about what Cahara said, how Cahara talked about his girlfriend so passionately. An ache in her heart she always ignored burned more now, like a scab had been picked off a wound. Part of her knew Le’garde didn’t care about her, that he’d made her do terrible things. She refused to acknowledge it though. She’d given up too much for him, how could she ever go back? If she left this place it would be with him. 

In the emptiness of silence, Cahara spoke again, with hushed urgency, “D’arce, never sell yourself. No matter what it’s for, if you’re giving your will up for it…Being used… It’ll just make you feel disgusting. ”. Cahara let out a shaky sob on the last word, and it was clear his example came from…personal experience. He hugged his pillow, using it to wipe his tears. He remembered hugging Celeste, crying together. The night an irresponsible purchase turned into a two sided therapy session, he’d never forget that bond.

D’arce’s eyes widened at the dark ceiling, taken aback by how unabashedly Cahara was being serious. She felt bad she’d dismissed him so quickly as a perverted dimwit before. He was a person just like her, and she wasn’t any smarter than him. They’d both sold their soul. Her wide eyes narrowed as she tried not to give in to the tears that snuck their way out. She didn’t hide her shaky breath very well “What if it’s for love?”.

Cahara made a sound into his pillow somewhere between laughter and sobbing, before he answered “True love would never use you. Do you love something by throwing it at your problems? Throwing it away?”.

D’arce felt a fire of anger light in her chest. She thought about yelling at Cahara, even though it would wake everyone up. She soon realized she was only angry because he was right. Her voice was cold as she responded “Then maybe obsession. I’ll think about what you said, Cahara, goodnight…. Oh, and…um, you’re not disgusting.”.

Cahara smiled at his pillow “Thank you, D’arce, goodnight.”.

The two slowly composed themselves, and finally let their tiredness take hold of them. 

————-

Meanwhile during D’arce and Cahara’s conversation, on the other side of the wall: Enki and Ragnvaldr lay awake, hearing muffled talking on the other side. 

After a while of trying to sleep again, Enki sighed. “Those two are still talking… obnoxious.”. With the brick back in the wall and the low volume, it wasn’t clear what was being said. Enki wasn’t interested in eavesdropping right now anyway.

Ragnvaldr hummed in agreement “Sleep will never come, ay? Still not as loud as your reading. You make noises when you read something that interests you. Makes me want to ask, but then I’ll see you’re reading a textbook...”.

“Psychology is very interesting, so excuse me.” It was clear this wasn’t a legitimate apology from Enki’s defensive tone. Ragnvaldr chuckled a bit to himself, and Enki despised the way it comforted him. He hated this attachment that he was forming, likely out of worry Ragnvaldr would ditch him for the others. He could imagine them all leaving this place without him, and he’d probably deserve it. The thought pissed him off to no end though. Enki decided he needed to confront part of what was making him uncomfortable, but at his own expense. He needed a conversation with a painful end to sever this attachment he was being plagued with.

Enki spoke again, knowing sleep wasn’t going to be possible with so much on his mind, regardless of noise level. “So, since you’re so eager to have a prison bitch, are you going to go for Le’garde’s girl instead of Cahara? Pretty thing, isn’t she? Under the tape and the hideous bowl cut…”.

Ragnvaldr scoffed quietly “I’m vengeful, but I don’t think she would accept that, she seems loyal to that bastard. I’m not going to…force someone like that. That’s low even by my standards.”.

Enki rolled his eyes “Oh please, I’m sure you’re better eye candy than that Le’garde anyway. Might as well go for D’arce over Cahara the pervert, couldn’t take that much to change her mind.”.

Ragnvaldr cleared his throat “Even you’re a dog deep down, huh? If you’re so interested, go for her yourself.”. Ragnvaldr had a good feeling Enki had no interest in D’arce, but it was fun to tease someone who made it so easy.

Enki scoffed “What a joke. I have no interest in her or anyone, just like you all have no interest in me. ”.

Ragnvaldr couldn’t help but laugh again, earning him a groan from Enki of annoyance. Ragnvaldr replied “Cahara was ready to take you, you’re the one with high standards. Or maybe you’re just afraid of intimacy?”.

Enki felt his face grow hot with anger. He started this conversation knowing it would upset him, but he didn’t like the personal attack. “I’m not afraid of anything, I just don’t need anyone. This is an Asylum, not a dating sim. Besides, Cahara is obviously desperate for anyone. He’d have to be to-“. Enki stopped talking, realizing he was about to say something self degrading and shut up.

Ragnvaldr raised an eyebrow to the darkness “To what?”.

Enki was going to say to hit on someone like him . Enki was keenly aware he was far from anyone’s idea of attractive. Enki tried to think of an alternative, a lie, so he didn’t have to be vulnerable. His mind was locked on to the thought. His mouth hurried to produce an answer, and he became too honest in the process. “You said yourself, I’m not even an option. He’s obviously demented. Besides, who’s to say I’m as willing to be with a man as you apparently are?”.

Ragnvaldr’s eyes widened and he sat up slightly in his bunk, careful not to hit his head on the bottom of Enki’s bunk. It would be a joke for Ragnvaldr to sleep on top bunk, it would break. He leaned on his side and elbow, talking upward “I wasn't implying you’re unattractive, I’m sorry if I offended you. Like I said… you’re small, compared to me. It’s not an insult, it's just the truth.”. 

Enki felt a mixture of relief, and embarrassment. He also felt angry, and like he was being lied to. Ragnvaldr just pitied him for being hideous, inside and out. “Stop talking to me like I’m coming on to you.”.

Ragnvaldr groaned in irritation “I’m just trying to apologize, maybe you don’t know what an apology is? Come down here if we’re going to talk about this, it’ll be quieter.”.

Enki felt his heartbeat increase tenfold, and he subconsciously gripped into his sheets. “Yeah, that’s not happening. Last time I came down there you attacked me. I’m going to sleep.”.

Ragnvaldr felt a mixture of irritation and guilt, and they butted heads inside him. Enki was always difficult though. “I am truly sorry. I’m in my right mind right now, I have chips.”. Ragnvaldr knew going to sleep probably wasn’t in the cards yet, cause they could steal hear muffled talking from the other room. Ragnvaldr was surprised Enki hadn’t just yelled at them to shut up by now.

Enki huffed “Yeah and I bet you wish you had some meat to go with it.”.

Ragnvaldr took a deep breath. It felt like they were at a stand still. “I’m not going to bite you. We can keep talking like this, but I might say something embarrassing to you, you’d prefer I said quieter.”

Enki snapped back “I said I’m going to sleep, are you deaf?”.

Ragnvaldr replied “With all this noise? How about I come up there to talk, we can see how well this bed frame is built.”.

Enki finally reached a point where he was 100% certain Ragnvaldr was teasing him. “You’re talking like Cahara, stay down there.”.

Ragnvaldr chuckled “Get your head out of the gutter.I’m just talking about if it can hold my weight…I really just want to talk.”.

Enki felt like he was talking to a beast in the darkness, who was trying to lure him to his doom. It was getting to the point he decided Ragnvaldr wasn’t going to drop this. Enki was also just annoyed enough that he didn’t care if it was a deadly attack anymore. 

Enki hesitantly climbed down the ladder, sitting on the edge of the bottom bunk. He looked at Ragnvaldr inquisitively in the dark, his eyes only able to make out some of his form. Ragnvaldr’s eyes seemed to shine faintly through the dark. 

Enki asked “Okay I’m here, since you won’t shut up. What do you want to say?”. He felt a growing sense of anxiety with every moment of silence.

 Ragnvaldr was surprised Enki actually came down, and finally spoke, but more hushed than before. “Since you can’t seem to wrap your head around what I’ve been trying to tell you, I’m going to spell it out more directly.” Ragnvaldr scooted closer “I don’t consider you an option, because if I fucked someone like you, it would be gorey . You’d break right in half, like a twig.”.

Enki’s eyes went wide, and his face became increasingly warmer with every word. Cahara was definitely a bad impression on Ragnvaldr. Enki fled back up the ladder swiftly, like he thought he might be chased, or grabbed. He only replied when he got back to the safety of his own bunk. “I already knew what you meant, dumbass. Get your head out of the gutter, and start thinking about a plan, if you have anything in your brain besides food, sex, and drugs.”.

Enki thought he’d feel calmer after hearing Ragnvaldr lay back down. Instead, he only felt the same heart racing fear. The kind of fear that scared him more than pain, or any other fear. Intimacy. The last thing he needed was a mental image like that spelled out more thoroughly to his hormonal brain. He couldn’t even be in Ragnvaldr’s vicinity now without envisioning that . He didn’t need this bullying.

Ragnvaldr watched some long silver strands of hair that had slipped over the side of the bed after Enki’s ascent. They slipped out of view as Enki rolled over. Ragnvaldr was trying to think of what to say for a while, but he decided to just go with whatever he could think of in the moment. “Sorry. Wasn’t sure how clear I was being, is all.”.

Ragnvaldr’s sincerity was questionable. After sorry, all Enki heard was blah blah blah you’re stupid and gay. Enki retorted “Don’t spell shit out to me like that again, I’m not a dumbass like you fools. On top of that I’m not as fragile as you seem to think either.”.

Ragnvaldr chuckled a bit in his throat, without opening his mouth. He was exhausted, but it was fun to test people like this. Especially someone so shy. He couldn’t help but think it sounded like Enki was trying to tell him he was wrong that Ragnvaldr would break him. Why did everything they say to each other have to sound like a challenge? 

When Ragnvaldr didn’t respond, Enki kept talking, unable to drop it. “Funny you’re above sleeping with me, when I didn’t ask you , but not above trying to cannibalize me.”

Ragnvaldr sighed “I wasn’t myself when I did that… It’s not an excuse, though.”

Enki scoffed “You’re just another animal, being a slave to your instincts. Pathetic.”.

Ragnvaldr laughed. He couldn’t even bother to be mad at Enki calling him that, if anything it slightly eased his guilt. “I guess so. You’re awfully mad I won’t sleep with you for someone who says they don’t want to.”.

Enki internally screamed at the accusations “You’re just full of yourself.” Enki tried hard to think of how to change the topic. “I bet I tasted disgusting.”.

Ragnvaldr was going to answer, but hesitated. He didn’t think it would be comforting no matter what answer he gave. He gave in quickly however and told the truth. “It was surprisingly good, but I didn’t get much.”. Ragnvaldr had terrible taste.

Enki smirked toward the wall in the dark, in some sort of sick amusement. Ragnvaldr was so blatantly fucked up, it was just funny at this point “You just reviewed me like a restaurant.”.

Ragnvaldr decided silence would’ve been the best route in hindsight, but Enki did sound weirdly humored. Ragnvaldr decided to cut his losses and just avoid talking anymore for now, lest he cause more damage.

Enki began wondering if the drug Ragnvaldr received made him more aggressive, or if it was hunger alone. It seemed like a test maybe, to see what Ragnvaldr would do, and Enki was likely the bait. Enki didn’t know if he was really hurt or not emotionally . He could tell Ragnvaldr was trying to hold himself back when he was attacking….he just failed at it tremendously. He knew the effects hunger could have on someone, but that drug must have been powerful for Ragnvaldr to reach a breaking point so easily. A sick part in the back of Enki’s mind almost felt grateful to be wanted genuinely for anything, even if it was consumption. He tried to ignore that thought. 

There was also a part of Enki that wondered how mad he should get about the scars . Would these bites fade? The one where he took a piece definitely wouldn’t, but the one on his face…maybe? Enki knew there was no hiding the bandaged bites all over him when the morning came. The doctor would have his answers, no matter what they told him. There was likely camera footage of them too. That was a problem for future them.

It sounded like the talking in the other room had finally silenced, and both of them felt exhausted. The silence was enough to make their eyes droop m, and all the intensity of the previous conversation became fuzzy in their minds. Ragnvaldr finally responded, unsure of how long he’d been dozing off and waking back up in rapid succession “Goodnight…”.

Enki was awake enough to hear, but waited in a sleepy haze, until he heard Ragnvaldr start to snore. Loud enough to wake the dead, as always. Enki was at his limit as well, and whispered to no one who could hear “goodnight”.

Enki tried to ignore the brief pause in snoring, that he wasn’t sure if he actually heard. As soon as the words were out he let himself finally pass out. 

Chapter Text

The next morning the doors to the patient rooms were opened and an annoying alarm sounded on blast through intercom speakers.  The first nurse to check on D’arce and Cahara winced at the stink in the air. One of the female nurses with a low voice stated “Damn, someone took a nasty shit.”. 

Cahara fully came to upon hearing that, and thanked the gods that idiot didn’t know what weed smells like.  

The alarm turned into an announcement to get cleaned up and gather in the commons room. 

The first nurse to check in on Enki and Ragnvaldr looked alarmed, before whispering something to another nurse. The second nurse exclaimed “He’s still alive?! Well I’ll be.”. They continued to gossip, something about the bandages Enki had. They confirmed with one another they weren’t there the night before and left to report back to Pocketcat. 

Enki groaned, and started to beat his head a few times while the nurses weren’t looking. He’d had dreams he wasn’t going to share with anyone. Enki supposed he should call them nightmares, but he wasn’t as scared as he should be. He was being cooked in buffalo sauce and cleaned to the bone by Ragnvaldr. He wasn’t sure, but there might have been some wet dreams as well. The combination was deeply unsettling.

Enki got down the ladder and gently smacked Ragnvaldr’s face a few times.(Similar to a cat batting at someone’s face.) When Ragnvaldr turned his face to look at him, Enki more clearly remembered the cause of those strange dreams. The conversation from the night before came flooding back to his tired brain, and he gave Ragnvaldr a more solid slap, before leaving to the bathroom.

They kept track of how often they showered here, and you couldn’t seem to get away with more than 2 days without taking one. Enki wasn’t going to do that today, with all these bandages he wasn’t certain he could replace. Still, he could use the toilet. Everyone would have to brush their teeth daily or face the consequences. The sinks were outside of the bathrooms to make them easier to monitor. Usually they weren’t monitored at all, and if a nurse became suspicious they’d just sniff your breath. It felt so ridiculous this place made them adhere to these standards just to torture them. Enki wasn’t sure how D’arce was going to survive the open showers here, but he knew she might vanish after today. She was lucky to last one night.

Ragnvaldr got out of bed, rubbing his sore cheek with confusion. He could assume it had to do with last night. He really had pushed Enki too far, first attacking him, then picking on him later. He felt terrible in hindsight. Still, he had to focus on getting ready. He brushed his teeth, and felt his stab wound sting beneath his bandage. Nosramus had stitched it up last night before bandaging it. Ragnvaldr decided he’d just wash his face instead of showering today. 

When Enki finally came out of the bathroom to wash his hands, Ragnvaldr finished up quickly and stepped aside to dry his face. Enki brushed his teeth, but hesitated to wash his face. He decided he’d just rinse it off with a wet paper towel, avoiding the bandage on his cheek. 

Enki finally caved in and acknowledged Ragnvaldr, who was lurking behind him, blatantly watching him. Enki looked at him in the mirror. Enki spoke quietly while no nurses were watching. “They’re probably going to punish us, they were surprised I was alive when they opened the door.”.

Ragnvaldr nodded in acknowledgement “Ja? That… doesn’t surprise me.”. 

Enki glared at him, once again irritated at his strength being insulted. He kept whispering. “Well anyway, I just wanted to say, if they try to split us into solitary confinement… I may say something untrue, so if it comes to that, don’t act weird about it.”.

Ragnvaldr heard a nurse coming their way in the hall, and knew he wouldn’t have time to ask questions. He had many questions to ask. He only whispered “Okay?”.

As new residents, D’arce and Cahara weren’t allowed to skip showering today. They were directed to the shower room by two guards. D’arce looked absolutely mortified, looking to Cahara for guidance. Cahara only smiled at her apologetically. She felt like she was being led to slaughter.

Once they were to the showers, they were told they had to be strip searched. Immediately Cahara and D’arce were sweating bullets. It was not only obvious that they were caught for the night before, but D’arce would be found out soon. She prayed in her head for an out, a savior, something, anything.

Cahara was debating if there was a way he could seduce them out of this. If he had money he’d just bribe them, but he might have to just hope these guards were perverts. 

Cahara cleared his throat, and D’arce immediately got a bad feeling. “So, D’arce here might have a secret…he’s…a she. What would I have to do for you two handsome gentlemen , to get this to stay between us? Lie about what you saw?”.

D’arce felt her heart twist with anxiety and guilt “Cahara- Don’t do that. I don’t want you to do that for me.” She looked horrified.

One of the guards seemed to be considering, but the other guard slapped the first guard on the head. The second guard spoke up “We’re not doing that, kid. Split up and we’ll search you separately.”. The creepier guard grabbed onto Cahara’s arm like he was eager for that idea. The second guard pulled them apart, before yelling “Gerald! Go! Leave and send someone else, I’ll wait.”.

The creepy guard, who was apparently Gerald, turned and left with his head down. The guard left behind shook his head “These people, I’m sorry guys, this place is super unprofessional.”.

Cahara made an embarrassed smile. “No, no, it’s fine. Thank you.” He should be happy for his own sake, that one of the guards was a little friendly. He was only disappointed, however, that he couldn’t help D’arce. It was only a matter of time before they were separated anyway.

Cahara turned to D’arce. He rushed the words out “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. That was my only idea. I’ll miss you.”. Cahara was taking shaky breaths, like he was trying not to cry. 

D’arce hesitantly patted Cahara’s shoulder. The guard allowed it. Cahara turned it into a hug, but broke it quickly before the guard could pull them apart. D’arce looked panicked. She was shaking, tearing up. All she could say was “I’ll miss you too, Cahara. Tell the others I said goodbye.”. 

The guard tried to avoid making eye contact, feeling a bit guilty. (He expected messed up stuff here, but this was admittedly not on his list of expectations.)

Cahara did something he rarely did, and prayed. Full concentration, eyes closed, hands pressed together. D’arce and the guard both looked surprised, but stayed quiet.

Cahara prayed to the only god that might have any inkling of a care for him, Sylvian. He repeated that name in his mind until he was sure it was right. Cahara focused his mental message: Please don’t let them take D’arce away so soon, protect her from punishment however you can. We just met. It's too soon to lose her, I need her to survive this place…k luv u bye.  

D’arce felt moved at the sight, Cahara didn’t seem very religious before this. She guessed it was just another sign that first impressions were deceitful. Whoever he prayed to, she could feel his affinity with the god in the air. It comforted her to see someone here care about the divine. The longer he prayed however, the more uneasy she grew. D’arce shuffled a bit, seeming uncomfortable. She felt like her body was changing, and she wasn’t okay with it. Specifically in her pants, and she didn’t have the chance to check either. All she could do was wonder what was happening to her, terrified.

A new, female guard entered the room, looking a bit confused “Hey, I was told to take over…and that there was a girl in the boy’s ward? Are you serious?”. 

The two guards briefly discussed the situation, but the teens couldn’t pay attention. Cahara was done praying, and had noticed D’arce seemed spacey “D’arce, you okay?”. She didn’t respond.

The guards told the kids they'd have to split up, and Cahara watched as D’arce was lead off to a bathroom stall nearby, before the showers. There was an open locker room before the showers. No actual lockers however, only benches and cubbies. At least they got privacy to shit though. 

Cahara was searched, but didn’t have anything on him. He was pretty sure whatever was in his room was gonna be gone, however. Cahara was relieved to find out they weren’t checking his cavities. The guard that was with D’arce came back, alarmed. D’arce stayed back in the stall.

The female guard spoke up with an unsure tone, “ She… has a penis sir.”.

The male guard looked full of disbelief, “Wow, thanks kids. Crazy brats just wasted our time lying that a boy was a girl then?”. Cahara was dumbfounded with what he was hearing. He wished D’arce would’ve told him about that before he tried to seduce their way out of it. 

No one was surprised as D’arce though. Her world view and body was changed in an instant. This has to be some crazy nightmare, she thought. She looked back at her newly gained appendage, and gulped. This was, somehow, actually happening. Part of her was relieved she wouldn’t be dragged to the women’s ward, but it didn’t help the anxiety and horror she felt at her body suddenly being different. Felt like it wasn’t hers anymore.

The female guard shook her head “Well, she seems to be female in every other way. We can make a report, and find out what to do from the doctor.”. 

D’arce emerged once she’d composed herself, holding a towel she located over her chest and crotch. With a red face, her and Cahara were told to go shower now. The two guards fortunately talked to one another instead of leering at the teens. Cahara glanced over to D’arce, but quickly looked away when he saw her glaring, and he took a shower on the opposite side of the room.

Cahara couldn’t help but speak his mind “Why didn’t you just say you had a dick? I’d still respect your pronouns. Normally I’d get being secretive, but I was about to sacrifice myself, when I could have stayed quiet. This is a boy's ward, why hide it?”

D’arce felt her face burning hot with confusion and fear of the sexual. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have naked. “I didn’t have one. You probably won’t believe me, but it’s true… It just appeared a minute ago out of nowhere, I swear. ”. She instinctively looked over her shoulder to Cahara, but immediately looked back to the wall in front of her. 

She just saw more of Cahara than she ever wanted to. She tried to wash up as quickly as possible so she could run . She felt like she couldn’t fully wash between her legs without feeling lewd, with 3 other people in the room. On top of that she was afraid to fully look at herself.

Cahara’s eyes went wide with disbelief. He began to wonder if this had to do with his prayer, and made a mental note to start trying to transition trans people with prayer when he got out of here. When he got out of here, that was funny. He had a feeling they were never getting out of here, but he’d never sit around and just let himself stay locked up. 

He turned to talk in D’arce’s direction, certain she wouldn’t turn his way. Except when he did turn, she’d already been turned sideways, looking at him . He looked respectfully back to the wall. Cahara said “s-Sorry, not trying to look...”. Cahara was certain she was going to kill him later. She looked so alarmed, like she’d been caught committing a crime. He also had just unintentionally confirmed she did in fact have a penis now.

Cahara laughed nervously as D’arce grumbled profanities at the wall in anger. Cahara voiced his mind “So, I know I’m going to sound crazy, but, I think maybe my prayer did it?”.

D’arce didn’t even know how to respond to that, she only looked down at her new feature with horror. She even had balls. Le’garde will never love me now, she thought. “You’re right, Cahara, that does sound crazy. I don’t have any other ideas though, so I’m going to blame you.” .

Cahara tensed a bit while washing up “Don’t you mean thank me? Look, if it bothers you maybe it can be undone- Do you still have a pus- uh erm- your original parts ?”.

D’arce winced at her genitals being referred to as parts . She wasn’t a fucking car. Still that was better than what he WAS going to call it. Embarrassingly, she had checked to make sure in the bathroom, and had an answer. “Yeah…I can’t just chop this off though.”.

Cahara made a hiss through his teeth at the idea of chopping it off . “I meant praying it away…If it would work twice. Man this is what I get for praying to Sylvian.”.

“Sylvian!?” D’arce shouted, before the guards shushed her. She spoke quieter once they were talking again “You should have prayed to All-mer, idiot. Now I’m stuck looking like this…”. It sounded like she was on the verge of crying. 

Cahara felt his heart sinking with guilt “I’m sorry, but, at least we can stay together longer now, right?”

The guards began to laugh and the female guard said: “No way pal, femboy is going into solitary confinement. Don’t pout too hard, maybe it’ll one back in one piece.”. 

D’arce began to actually cry once she was called it . Femboy was rude enough, but it implied she wasn’t even human.

Cahara threw a bar of soap, and it didn’t land anywhere near the now unamused guards. He huffed in frustration and kept rinsing off. “Don’t listen to them, D’arce, they’re just jealous they don’t have as many genitals.”

D’arce threw her bar of soap at the back of Cahara’s head. “When I get out of solitary I’m going to kill you.”.

Cahara whimpered and rubbed the back of his head. The guards thought they should scold them, but they couldn’t be bothered. Both of them finished rinsing off at the same time, dried off, and dressed looking away from each other. D’arce might hate exposing herself, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to make the shower count. Besides, she didn’t know if she’d be receiving any showers in solitary confinement. Maybe she could find Le’garde there though, in one of the other cells. At first that brought her joy, but then she remembered he’d probably never touch her if she was like this. She could only pray that this was undone, but admittedly, it would be much harder to find Le’garde from the girl’s ward.

D’arce had composed herself, but Cahara still seemed wracked with guilt. Once she was dressed, he ran over and gave her a hug “I’ll miss you, D’arce, I’ll never forget you!”.

She shoved him off, and the guards held him back for her as she shouted “I’m not dying!”.

——

Despite the promise of solitary confinement, both D’arce and Cahara were brought back to the commons, and reunited with their group. They sat at the same table, as silent and distressed as Ragnvaldr. The three of them were back in their same spots from the previous night. Cahara went to ask where Enki was, but he came in a bit later. It looked like some of his bandages had been changed, but also like there were some new ones .

As soon as Enki took his seat, Ragnvaldr rushed to ask questions first “Did they hurt you? Are you alright?”.

Enki looked at Ragnvaldr with dead eyes, as always “Why do you give a shit? I’m fine, they just did a few tests. Probably checking if I caught your rabies.”.

Ragnvaldr grimaced. D’arce seemed confused to be here, and soon everyone else seemed confused about it too, because they all began to stare at her. Ragnvaldr was the first to speak up about it, “Oh, you’re still here? Didn’t they make you shower?”.

D’arce looked extremely uncomfortable to now be the focus of attention, so uncomfortable she couldn’t even be offended that Ragnvaldr seemed disappointed with her presence. “I don't want to talk about it.”.

Enki raised an eyebrow at the girl, assuming something dark took place with the guards, maybe as bribery. “You really needed to stay that badly?”.

Cahara shook his head “Nah, it’s not what you’re thinking… Let’s just drop it.”.

Ragnvaldr hummed thoughtfully. Enki’s curiosity was tugging at his mind, and he caved in to asking, despite having no interest in these two. “Okay, enough with the ominous behavior. What the hell happened?”.

Cahara groaned, whiny as always. “She said she didn’t wanna talk about it, man. Besides, why do you want to know if we’re supposedly not friends?.”. Cahara said that with heavy sass, like he didn’t believe it.

Enki looked extremely tired, and unamused. His dark circles may have been darker than normal “You’re not my friends, but I want information. You’re being vague, hiding things. If you want to cooperate with each other, I want all the information. That’s the deal, that’s been the deal.”.

They all glared at Enki for the double standard. He was the most vague and antisocial of them all . D’arce however, only continued staring at the floor with distress. She finally spoke up with a traumatized tremble in her voice “...Boy. I got made into a boy...”.

Suddenly Ragnvaldr looked horrified. Enki looked a bit surprised and troubled, but not quite as phased. The mental image that gave them was not even close to what happened . In fact the sentence made them imagine a doctor doing a very unclean and experimental surgery.

Enki mumbled “I see…my condolences. You look like you’re handling it well physically, considering everything...”. He avoided looking at D’arce to avoid feeling too much pesky empathy.

Cahara was more horrified to see Enki apologizing/comforting anyone. He could tell the two other boys were assuming something grotesque. 

Before Cahara could explain, Ragnvaldr also spoke up. “That’s fucked up, even for here. Sick… Was it that cat? He’ll pay for this.”.

Enki seemed confused “I was just with Pocketcat, it couldn’t have been-“.

“It’s not what you’re thinking…” Cahara interrupted. 

The others waited for elaboration. As Cahara tried to think of how to explain, D’arce spoke up first, with monotone horror in her voice:“Cahara prayed to Sylvian and made me grow a dick.”.

Ragnvaldr began to laugh. 

Enki looked even more confused. “You can’t be serious. That’s impossible, even if it was possible, you’d need a ritual circle… Even with a ritual circle, your affinity with the goddess would have to be through the roof- Oh.... Actually, that makes sense. Hmm…”. Enki seemed deep in contemplation, looking at Cahara.

Cahara and D’arce looked a bit concerned when Enki said the words ritual circle . Reminded them too much of Enki’s activities from before getting here that he’d alluded to. The silver haired boy groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose “Write down everything that happened, later, and hand it to me. Both of you. Specifically related to the transformation, and Sylvian, not whatever else you did in the shower. ”.

The judgment in Enki’s voice seemed to bring D’arce back out of her head, and back to her usual self “Hey! Don’t suggest we did anything. My heart is pure, and it belongs to Le’garde! He’s the only one who deserves me.”. All the others visibly cringed at the mention of that guy’s name. The only good things they’ve heard about him were from D’arce, and she seemed…unreliable on the matter.

Ragnvaldr growled in his throa,t through a shut mouth. D’arce cowered back into her seat as she met eyes with Ragnvaldr’s glare. She spoke up again “Anyway, I can’t do that, and there’s not much to share about it. They’re taking me to solitary confinement at some point… They said so after searching me…Any idea if they searched our rooms?”.

Ragnvaldr nodded, but Enki was the one to speak “They sure tried. Never seen such a sorry search in my life. I wouldn’t expect anything of interest to be lost, unless you left it lying somewhere obvious.”.

Cahara put his face in his hands, groaning. Ragnvaldr raised an eyebrow and questioned him “Leave something out?”.

Cahara looked at Ragnvaldr with teary eyes, and they all expected to hear the keycard was lost, or at least drugs. The teens braced for the worst. Cahara spoke up “My porno mag was just sitting under my pillow. I bet they took it when they changed the sheets!”.

They all sighed in a mix of disappointment and relief. Ragnvaldr tried to remind Cahara of what actually mattered: “What about your other supplies? You know the ones we actually care about?”.

Cahara waved a hand dismissively and whispered “Don’t worry about that, they won’t find it.”

Enki grumbled to himself, “It’s cute you think they change the sheets that often.”.

Everyone went quiet as a familiar face, or rather mask, entered the room. Pocketcat. He talked to the room, directing his gaze towards Crow, alone in the corner “Hello my children, welcome to another wonderful morning . Tell me good morning.”

Crow mauler cawed loudly. Pocketcat looked over to the rest of them, with anger in his voice, he repeated: “ Say it. ”

“ …Goodmorning. ” They all answered hesitantly in unison, with caws ringing in the background. 

Pocketcat held up a hand, and Crow shut up. The hand went back down, and slowly Pocketcat made his way over to Enki, pinching his cheek.

Ragnvaldr seemed to clench his jaw, you could nearly hear his teeth grinding with anxiety. Enki’s eye twitched as he leaned away from the touch, only to have Pocket cat defiantly grab his face by the jaw and cheeks. Even being a remarkably average height and build for an adult male, Pocket cat could easily grab half of Enki’s skinny face in one hand.

Enki was forced to look at Pocketcat, eyes widened with discomfort at the position he was in. He didn’t bother trying to resist, it’d only encourage the phony doctor more.

Pocketcat spoke again, talking to everyone, but only looking at Enki. “I found out about what you all got up to last night. I can’t find your little escape tool, but I assure you you won’t get the chance again. To the dungeon for D’arce. Dungeon for Ragnvaldr. Cahara, you can be Enki’s new roommate.”. 

Everyone was anxious from this news, and Enki shouted “No! There’s a misunderstanding. Just listen to me…Besides, don’t you mean solitary confinement, not a dungeon? Try and have some formality, would you?”. Pocketcat giggled at Enki, squeezing his mouth open and shut with amusement. When the doctor stopped to actually think, he kept Enki’s face in a vice grip.

Pocketcat seemed intrigued, the rest seemed nervous at whatever Enki was going to say. Certainly he could only make this worse for them. “Yes… confinement, not a dungeon. Go on then, explain.”. Pocket cat said. D’arce and Cahara were now imagining solitary confinement to actually be a torture dungeon. It was probably more accurate, anyway.

Enki felt his cheeks sting as his face was gripped even tighter. Pocketcat let go once he realized Enki couldn’t speak like that, and Enki rubbed his cheek. “I…I forced them all into it.”.

Everyone was in disbelief at what they were hearing. Enki, trying to defend them? It wasn’t even for the truth either, he was LYING for them. It was for them, right? They all individually thought.

Enki continued talking, trying to ignore the touched looks he was receiving from his team. “Ragnvaldr said he was hungry one night, so I told him he could try and take a bite of me..”. 

Ragnvaldr felt gross hearing that, but quickly began to wonder…Did Enki actually say that last night? It felt so fuzzy in his memory, and his ears had been ringing when he’d done it. No, Ragnvaldr decided. even if Enki had actually told him that, that didn’t make what he did okay. Ragnvaldr then remembered Enki warned him this morning that he was going to lie like this. That made a lump form in the brute’s throat. He debated giving himself up to stop this, but he had a mission to uphold. If Enki wanted to be the fall-guy so badly, why should Ragnvaldr stop him? Besides, Enki did seem to have a strange immunity to being put in solitary confinement.

Pocketcat laughed at what he was hearing “Oh, really? So his medicine just didn’t work then?”.

Enki looked away towards the wall, but then his gaze quickly went back to Pocketcat. He had to maintain eye contact and sell the lie no matter how embarrassing. Enki had a feeling Pocketcat just revealed that medicine to be about increasing aggression more than hunger. “Didn’t you say it was diet medicine? I just told you he was hungry. He tried to resist, but I told him I wanted to be eaten.”.

Everyone else tried desperately to stay composed, but their faces were bright red. Only Ragnvaldr realized that was actually a lie. D’arce and Cahara were fully believing Enki’s cold serious confession. (despite literally hearing him lie a minute ago, and literally saving him last night.)

Enki kept going when he wasn’t interrupted, despite his humiliation, “I… started to regret my decision when I felt like I was losing too much blood, so me and Ragnvaldr called out for help. Those two said they’d help us, if I could get them out of their rooms. I used a hairpin to pick the locks, and they took me to the infirmary. I’m sure you have a report of the rest…”. Enki was so ashamed, he debated actually just killing himself after this, if Pocketcat or Ragnvaldr wouldn’t do it for him. Lying like this for other people he didn’t call friends, right in front of them. Right in front of everyone he had to deal with every day in this miserable hell hole. Was it too late to change his mind? No, he couldn’t, he’d never make it out of here if he didn’t give a little for once in his life.

Pocketcat chuckled, contemplating what he’d just been told. “Even if I believe you, what’s the fun in punishing someone so eager for it?”.

Enki glanced over at Ragnvaldr. Ragnvaldr felt something click in his mind and he stood up. He didn’t know if what he was about to do was part of Enki’s plan, but it was about to be. He felt like Enki was giving him a look of expectancy “Gods no! Don’t hurt Enki anymore, I can’t stand it!”. His acting was abysmal, and his dramatization was obvious to anyone who knew him personally. Still, D’arce and Cahara were reminded of the discussion the previous day. Enki had scolded Ragnvaldr for showing concern when he was abused by the doctors and nurses, because it only made them do more. There was an undeniable nugget of truth in the lie, and it was one Pocketcat was familiar with.

Quickly D’arce and Cahara caught on, and began to fake cry the hardest they could, which quickly turned into real crying. They were, normally, terrible actors, BUT , they were also very emotional teens. Crying wasn’t hard to do right now for the emotional pair.

Pocketcat looked at the others with pure confusion as Cahara came running over and latched onto Enki in a hug. Enki tried to shove him away despite the scheme they were pulling, but Cahara wasn’t having it as he wailed “Don’t take Enki, take me instead! He’s the weakest, please, you can’t hurt him! I wuv him!”. Enki’s eye twitched at Cahara’s phony declaration of love.

D’arce sobbed hard into her hands, forcing words out through ragged breaths. “Please no, he’s the only one who knows how to stay safe in this place! With him gone I’ll be the weak link, they’ll all attack me! I’ll die!”.

Ragnvaldr wasn’t capable of acting that hard, but was genuinely distraught at the performance, so maybe that was close enough to looking sad? Enki glared at all of them, trying to telepathically tell them to tone it down, but Ragnvaldr only took it as a que to up the drama. 

The barbarian came over to try and pry Cahara off of Enki “You scoundrel! You know Enki is mine!”.

Enki winced at the turn this took, before mumbling with irritation:“All-mer, why me?”.

Pocketcat finally had it and spoke up “Okay that’s enough, stop this insolence and return to your seats!”.

The three teens were too invested in the ruse, and carried on bickering until nurses came and dragged Cahara and Ragnvaldr back to their seats. Ragnvaldr knocked a few out cold, for authenticity. Crow shrieked in the corner through the chaos, until some nurses teamed up to make him shut up.

Pocketcat huffed once they were back in place, and Ragnvaldr was tied to his chair by nurses. 

Ragnvaldr shouted “I’ll kill you for what you’ve done! Take me instead you coward!”. He’d got a bit lost in the sauce, and had now genuinely pissed himself off.

Pocketcat shouted “ENOUGH!”. Everyone shut up quickly, realizing they took it too far. Enki only glared at them all in disappointment. He didn’t expect them to be good liars, but that was way too much. There’s no way they weren’t fucked after that, Enki thought.

Pocketcat spoke again once he’d taken a moment of silence “Since you pathetic fools have gotten so, buddy buddy. I’ll show you a lesson about attachment.”.

There was a collective moment of hope among the teens, that their plan would somehow work against the odds. The moment was short lived as the consequences of succeeding came crashing in, like a brick through glass. Enki was suddenly grabbed by the hair and yanked to stand from his seat, on his very tippy toes. He winced, but didn’t make a sound.

Ragnvaldr struggled in his restraints, more genuinely worried now. He decided going with this was a bad idea, vengeance plans be damned. “Wait! We were lying! It was a plan! We’re fooling you, this is just what we want! Take me instead! I’m the dangerous one!”.

Cahara and D’arce glared at Ragnvaldr for selling them out, but couldn’t avert their eyes too long from Enki. Pocketcat had produced a scalpel and was holding it at Enki’s throat. Ragnvaldr froze in silence. He felt like any more resistance would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Ragnvaldr still couldn’t bring himself to do nothing, so he spoke quietly, breathlessly. “Please don’t…”

Pocketcat chuckled joyfully, content with the genuine passion finally on display. The doctor was following orders, but he did love a good show. Every good show needed a villain, and he was happy to play the role if it was assigned to him.. “Mhm, sure. I had my suspicions, but you’re not lying. You all obviously care about this freak right?”. Pocketcat jostled Enki slightly by his hair, threatening to let the scalpel do its work.

Enki’s breathing became uneven as he struggled to stay still on his tippy toes. He tried to calm himself, not hyperventilate. Not lean into the blade . He’d just been thinking about suicide a moment ago, but something about the verge of death made him actually want to live.

Enki’s comrades looked like they were shaking in their boots, horrified. Enki remembers this look of awe, the look before witnessing great violence. It had never come with so much personal concern before, however. Enki couldn’t decide if the distress from his peers made it more bitter, or more sweet.

Pocketcat gently tapped the scalpel against the soft surface of Enki’s throat, threatening again to slice through the medical tape and skin. It even produced just a tiny cut, beginning to drip blood. He spoke again “Relax, I won’t kill him yet. I’ll take Enki with me, for tests. You may never see him again though, so I’ll let you say goodbye.”

Enki began wondering why he sold himself out like this. It was true he was suicidal . Why else would he have agreed to be crucified before, right? That must be why, Enki thought. This was a strategic move from the beginning, his life was always going to be on the line. Enki convinced himself he was the one in control. He wasn’t doing this for them, Enki told himself. This was just another calculated risk, he’d either gain something, or lose everything. 

Cahara was still sobbing, and D’arce only silently cried, still in shock. Cahara cried out slurred words “God-goodbye Enki, I’m sorryy I’ll miss you, even if you were cre-e-epy and m-meaaaan.”.

D’arce looked at Cahara and Enki with eyes full of pity “Goodbye Enki…”.

Ragnvaldr shook his head as Pocketcat looked at him, waiting. “Don’t do this.” He said quietly, half to Pocketcat, half to Enki.. Enki glared at Ragnvaldr, as if begging him not to ruin this for them. Ragnvaldr took a shaky breath, looking into Enki’s eyes with deep concern. The redheaded brute tried desperately to dismiss his weak emotions, to stay silent and still.

Pocketcat raised his voice “What was that!?”.

Ragnvaldr grimaced, his eyes gleaming with moisture, threatening to spill over. He held it back as he spoke again “Goodbye, Enki. Thank you for everything.”. His voice cracked slightly on the last word.

Enki felt his heart sting with a storm of conflicting emotions, but he didn’t speak his mind. He had to dedicate to the plan. Still, it pissed him off to see them all looking at him like he was family about to be ripped away. They barely knew him, they had to be lying, they had to be making fun of him, there was no way anyone could actually care about him, Enki thought. He was trying to convince himself of that, but couldn’t right now. Enki smiled with just his eyes, but his lips remained frowning. “I can't wait to meet you all in hell.”.

Pocketcat seemed amused “Well look who needs friends after all. What happened to being the loner who doesn’t need or want friends ? Maybe I’ll do you a mercy, and send them close behind you.”.

Enki scoffed. That actually pissed him off, being threatened with his sacrifice meaning nothing. His sacrifice meant everything, this was his life on the line for these bastards. He lied again, in a bitter attempt to better the doctor.(and save his friends.) “I just did it because I want you to hurt me. If they want to think it’s for them it’s not like I’d be able to stop them.”. D’arce and Cahara seemed to wince a bit at that, but were still distraught. Ragnvaldr didn’t waver in his intense, pleading stare to Enki and Pocketcat for mercy.

Pocketcat rolled his eyes, and removed the scalpel from Enki’s neck. Before anyone had a chance to be relieved however, He raked the scalpel across Enki’s cheek that didn’t have a bandage blocking it. Everyone besides Enki seemed to flinch from it. “Oops, I slipped. Guess you’ll die a little more hideous, oh well.”. Pocketcat laughed alone at his joke.

Enki debated if he should act more. He didn’t really need to, though, and, in fact, debated ditching the whole plan. The reason? He actually did quite like the pain and humiliation in some sick way. Everyone’s concern mixed with disgust as Enki tried hard not to look and feel excited . He absolutely refused to continue putting his dignity on the line, but then another part of him just hoped Pocketcat would actually finish him off now. Enki snapped back, his shaky voice betraying him. “If you want to kill me just do it already, coward!”. It unfortunately wasn’t fear making Enki so nervous. At the center of every good lie was a nugget of truth, and his truth was masochism.

D’arce and Cahara wanted to look away, but we’re stuck watching like a train wreck, eyes glued. Ragnvaldr only looked angrier by the second, but he was trying to hold it in.

Pocketcat scoffed “Why would anyone care for such a self sabotaging creep? Ugly-to-boot, too. Well, if you really care about him, then you should be happy for him. He said he wanted me to hurt him, he got what he wanted. Everyone say, CONGRATULATIONS ENKI!”.

They all seemed increasingly uncomfortable, but as nurses drew closer with syringes in hand, D’arce and Cahara complied “ Congratulations, Enki… ” . 

Ragnvaldr only stared at Pocketcat with hatred, hoping with enough focus maybe the doctor’s head would explode. Ragnvaldr didn’t react as he was injected with sedative, only sighing with irritation. Pocketcat motioned the nurses to get more, and Ragnvaldr groaned, giving in. He mumbled “ Congratulations, Enki. ”.

Enki felt sick in the head hearing their pained congratulations, while his body was still telling him to be excited from adrenaline. Pocketcat pulled his hair tighter, causing Enki to make a stifled groan. He bit his inner-bottom lip to silence himself, and his feet were barely touching the ground now. 

Pocketcat shook his head in disappointment “See? He likes it so much he’s got a stiffy. Maybe he’d stop liking the pain if I just cut the pesky thing off .”.

Now Enki felt more embarrassed than when he’d just been lying, his masochistic qualities no longer being a question. Everyone in the room could see what a disgusting person he was, as Pocketcat openly mocked him. Everyone’s eyes glanced downward to see the small bulge, before looking away quickly. Ragnvaldr just kept watching. Enki finally decided to speak up again, strained by the tension in his neck from his body weight being held up by his hair “Can you please just go ahead and kill me now? I’m never living this down…”. Enki was teary eyed. He’d normally never admit he cared what anyone thought, but in the moment, it was undeniable this was humiliating. The pity and disgust in the air was palpable.

Pocketcat hummed, considering it. “Let’s take a vote, what do you kids say?”. Everyone shook their heads no rapidly, aside from Crow, who only cawed with enthusiasm from the corner. Pocketcat chuckled again “Aw, they still care about you, Enki. Even when you obviously don’t. You all still wanna be his buddies? Even though he’s got a boner from being hurt? Disgusting.”.

The other teens stayed silent, not knowing what to say. Ragnvaldr looked like he had murder on his mind, but he was speechless too. Anything they said would only be used against them, and maybe piss Enki off more. Pocket cat lifted Enki’s hair high enough that his feet were completely off the ground, before letting go, dropping him onto it. Enki fell to the floor like a brick, not even bothering to sit up. Pocketcat kicked him in the gut, sending him sliding over to Ragnvaldr’s feet. Enki made a strained gasp from the impact knocking the wind out of him. That was going to bruise. Ragnvaldr began struggling violently against his restraints again, beginning to wear down the rope. 

Pocketcat seemed satisfied now, and sighed with content like he’d just taken a drag from a cigarette. “Well, this was nice.Thank you, really. I’d love to continue playing, but I don’t want to cross too many lines, do I? I’m a doctor after all, but maybe when you get to the adult ward~ Maybe it’d be more fun to just leave him to face you all, hm? You can keep the scum for now, I have to go clean up after touching such filth.”

Pocketcat went to leave, his nurses hurrying behind him, leaving Ragnvaldr tied up. Just before he exited the room, he looked back “Oh, and, take this as a warning. Next time, I won’t be so lenient towards disobedience.”. He left, with all the staff in tow. 

Only 5 remained, with all 3 of Enki’s team looking down on him with pity. Cahara and D’arce hurried to untie Ragnvaldr, even though the ropes were half-worn-through at this point. As soon as he was free, Ragnvaldr offered Enki a hand up. When Enki didn’t take it, Ragnvaldr bent down, and started to lift Enki from the floor to a standing position. .

Enki spat out defensively “Don’t touch me!”. Ragnvaldr didn’t listen, causing Enki to struggle as Ragnvaldr lifted him and brushed some dust off him. Enki got free quickly and turned away from everyone, steadying himself on his feet.

Ragnvaldr grumbled “Did I ruin the plan?”.

D’arce and Cahara seemed a bit more sheepish about the situation. Cahara scratched the back of his head “Sorry we kind of went overboard. We should just be glad he didn’t take or kill anyone though, right?”.

D’arce jumped in, none of them giving Enki time to answer anyone “Thank you, Enki, you…didn’t have to do that for us…I’m sorry.”. She was thanking him, but she sounded revolted. 

Ragnvaldr butted back in “I’m sorry as well, I took the acting too far. It turned into a soap-opera for a minute there.”

Enki refused to look back at them. These apologies were just to try and distract from the elephant in the room. They’d all just seen a vulnerable part of Enki’s personality, and would no doubt bring it up later. “Shut up. It wasn’t for you, it was for my escape plan. I should’ve let them take you idiots. I just didn’t want to end up having to share a room with Cahara, I’d rather die. I should have died.”.

They were all silent for a moment, not knowing what to say, which was long enough for Enki to start walking away to an empty corner of the room. Ragnvaldr took a few steps after him “Where are you going?”.

“To the other side of the god damn room! Give me some space, fuck!” Enki felt anxiety making his head pound, giving him an overwhelming sense of Vertigo. He felt like he couldn’t breathe, and his own skin was suffocating him.

Ragnvaldr began debating what he did wrong “Was it something I said? I wasn’t clear on the plan, so I wasn’t ready-”.

“No, Ragnvaldr. I’m just done pretending we all work together. I’ve gotten less figured out since you all began bothering me, I’m done. Besides, won’t it be better to try and leave without me? I’m sure you’re all eager for freedom, the thought probably crossed your mind to drop me already. Forget anything I said to that fake ass doctor too, that might make you think for even a second that I want anything to do with you. I don’t need your pity.I don’t need you. I don’t care what any of you think.”.

Cahara tried to comfort Enki, in his own way “Hey, I’m not judging your kinks man. You just did what you had to, we’re grateful, seriously. Would you feel better if someone helped you out with your-OW”. D’arce had slapped Cahara on the back of the head to ensure he didn’t finish that sentence. Ragnvaldr glared back at both of them.

Enki hissed “Leave me alone.”. He went off to his own corner, curling up in a chair so he couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes, only facing the wall. He hadn’t even grabbed a book, only stewed in his angst. After a very brief moment of silence, Ragnvaldr had turned Enki’s chair to make him look at him.

Enki mumbled incoherent words quietly to himself, only shooting Ragnvaldr a glare, before looking back at the wall. Ragnvaldr seemed annoyed with this, and resisted the urge to grab Enki’s face and make him look, like Pocketcat had done. Instead, Ragnvaldr spoke, even if he was being ignored “I don’t believe a word you say. I don’t believe you want to be left alone, and you can’t change my mind. Even if you claim you don’t need friends, I see right through you, Enki.”.

Enki growled in defiance, finally meeting eyes with Ragnvaldr. “ Leave. You’re wrong. You just want my knowledge, because I’ve been here the longest. I’m done, I’m done with those twerps, I’m done with you.”.

The two of them maintained an intense two sided glare, neither willing to give in. Cahara and D’arce only stayed back at their table, feeling it wasn’t their place. Ragnvaldr said “You need me. I’m your meatshield, am I not? How exactly is a frail thing like you going to make it alone? You’re the brains, I’m the brawn, we work together. ”

Enki retorted “I’ll stay then. I’ll stay here and get tortured until I die, or I’m the last one left with a brain. Then I have no use for you. I have no use for anyone, anything. I belong to this place. That should be abundantly clear to you now, if it wasn’t already.”.

Ragnvaldr groaned, clenching his fist at his side. “Don’t be an idiot. You’re just in your own head. You don’t want to face us, because you think we’ve seen your darkness? I could see it on your face, the moment I met you. I was under the impression that darkness was what gave you drive. You think I don’t want that on my side?”

Enki’s glare softened to his usual dead-eyed stare. “...Fine. Have it your way…You obviously aren’t going to leave me be.”

Ragnvaldr smirked, victorious. “You’re right, I won’t leave you.”. It was annoying how Enki tried to constantly scare him off, but when Ragnvaldr got his way, the fight only made it more rewarding for him.

Enki felt his cheeks burn a bit, and tried to push the feeling away. He’d just got his boner to go away a moment ago, and he wasn’t eager to feel anything right now, lest it come back. “...I hope you’re all traumatized.”

Ragnvaldr laughed, boisterously. Ragnvaldr offered out a hand to help the other young man out of the chair. “Come back to the table, the others might piss themselves if we don’t return quick enough.”

Enki looked over, seeing D’arce and Cahara in a fearful staring contest with Crow from across the room. Crow stood up, like he was going to approach them. “Yeah, you’re right.”. Enki got up without taking Ragnvaldr’s hand, and they both neared the table again. Crow slowly sat back down, not seeming scared, just more like he was worried about getting caught by the nurses doing something. 

Cahara immediately exclaimed “Oh thank god you’re back, that Crow guy was looking at us, I was about to piss myself.”.

Enki covered his mouth with his hand, struggling not to laugh, while Ragnvaldr chuckled knowingly. D’arce looked over at Enki with sad eyes “Are you alright? I know, if I’d been treated like that, I’d be pretty upset…” 

Enki sighed, annoyed with the questioning he’d wanted to escape from. “I can take at least that much, if you’re going to feel sorry for someone, be sorry for yourself.”.

D’arce’s worry left her face, and was replaced with annoyance “Glad to see you’re bad to yourself…”.

Cahara patted D’arce’s shoulder reassuringly. She shooed him like a fly. Everyone begrudgingly returned to their seats. Cahara pouted “No one ever lets me touch them.”.

Ragnvaldr groaned “That’s because you’re always trying to.”. D’arce laughed, and Cahara crossed his arms.

Cahara replied “Maybe I’d stop trying if someone let me~”

Ragnvaldr looked unamused now “I’ve been banned from it.”. 

He glanced at Enki, who immediately got defensive. “Not like I’m your father, since when do you care what I say?”.

D’arce sighed wistfully “Seeing a lover’s spat like this makes me miss Le’garde…”.

Enki and Ragnvaldr both snapped back “ We’re not lovers!” . Both looked at the other, alarmed they’d said the same thing at the same time. It wasn’t the first time it’d happened, obviously, but it didn’t help their case. 

Cahara smiled at the two boys with a smugness in his eyes. Enki glared back “What the hell do you look so happy about?!”. 

Cahara waved a hand dismissively “Oh, nothing. I was just thinking last night I might’ve heard a few lewd words through the wall when I was dozing off, but I guess I was wrong. Only lovers would say stuff like that to each other, right?”. 

D’arce perked up with surprise “Really? Cahara! It’s rude to eavesdrop when two people are trying to embrace each other.”.

Cahara looked confused, “You mean sex?”.

Everyone besides Cahara now looked embarrassed. Something about D’arce and Cahara’s dramatically different dispositions towards the sexual was embarrassing to witness in action sometimes. Ragnvaldr spoke up, before Enki got the chance to yell again. “We didn’t say anything like you’re suggesting.. Stop spreading rumors if you value your life, Cahara.”.

Cahara laughed nervously “Right, my bad…”. He didn’t really get how it was spreading rumors when it was true , and there were only two people in the room who weren’t fully aware. One of those two people only spoke bird.

Enki seemed a bit satisfied at seeing how fast Ragnvaldr could shut Cahara down sometimes.

They all silenced, as footsteps grew closer in the hall. Soon a cart was brought in by nurses with breakfast. Everyone was given a tray but Ragnvaldr, making him growl with hostility. A nurse told him to take it easy, bringing his tray last, but giving him a cup of water and a cup of pills first. Ragnvaldr quickly downed the pills for his reward, and took his breakfast. He ate at a more mild pace than yesterday, but still like a hungry barbarian. If the rest of them didn’t know better, they’d think he hadn’t eaten anything last night. 

Enki was relieved to see Ragnvaldr actually got food today, meaning he could actually keep his own. Enki wondered if the little hunger experiment was over or not. He would’ve appreciated it if the brute didn’t down those pills without even looking to check what they were. Now they’d just have to wait around and find out. 

The rest of them began to eat, likely receiving medication later in the day like they had the day before. (At least that’s what Enki assumed) Another nurse came in, interrupting Enki’s meal to hand him a cup of pills. He looked annoyed, slowly taking the small paper cup to look into it. This was viagra. Enki couldn’t keep himself from snapping “Are you crazy?! I’m not taking that shit!”. Everyone looked over with concern. 

The male nurse insisted “Take your medicine. If you don’t, we’re going to have to inject it.”.

Enki looked horrified, and glanced over to Ragnvaldr, wondering again what the brute had been given. Ragnvaldr was looking back, concerned with what they could possibly be offering Enki that he refused to take. Enki grabbed the cup, and the water cup that went with it. He nervously put the pill in his mouth, trying to pocket it in his cheek as he drank water. He made an audible gulp, but the pill remained tucked in his cheek. 

The nurse squinted with suspicion, before instructing “Open your mouth and lift your tongue.”.

Enki hesitated, trying to to think of where to hide the pill where it wouldn’t fall. He could feel it dissolving and didn’t like the taste. “Fuck, fine. I’ll take it.”. He drank the rest of his water, swallowing the pill for real now. He then complied and showed it was gone. The nurse left, satisfied they’d carried out their task successfully.

Once all the nurses were gone, Enki grumbled to himself in between bites, too quiet to be heard, but obviously pissed off. Ragnvaldr finally stopped eating long enough to ask “What did they give you? I haven’t seen you refuse medication very often.”.

“Viagra.”. Enki stated.

Everyone stopped eating for a minute, and looked up, horrified. It was obviously immoral for anyone to be forcefully given that, but a teen, that was just pure evil. It seemed like everyone lost their appetite for a minute, but Enki took another bite of his. It had a familiar gross taste that he was beginning to notice. Enki’s chewing slowed quickly, before he spit it back out onto the tray. “I think they put it in my fucking food too. Gods damn it! Why?!”.

Ragnvaldr shook his head in disbelief “That’s messed up…”

Cahara tasted his own food more carefully, but assumed it was only Enki being drugged. “What does Viagra taste like?”.Everyone ignored the question, more distracted trying to figure out a motive. 

D’arce added “I don’t get what the point is…Pocketcat must have just added it, after your confrontation, right? Why do they even have that here- Actually nevermind, I don’t want to know.”.

Enki sighed “It can be used as a medication for high blood pressure, but I have a feeling that’s not why I’m receiving it. Damn cat just wants to mock me. Ragnvaldr, do you still have any chips?”.

Ragnvaldr looked apologetic “I hid them in the room, we’ll have to see if they’re still there.”.

Enki sighed “Great…”. Enki picked up his toast, assuming it would at least be safe. He ate it, relieved he couldn’t taste any medication in it. Next, he picked out his ham, trying to make sure it didn’t have any of the drugged porridge on it. He ate it as well, before picking up a book from the table and going back to reading. 

Ragnvaldr didn’t take long to finish eating once they all resumed alongside Enki. Ragnvaldr cleared his own tray, before eyeing Enki’s. Enki noticed after a while and glanced over with suspicion.

Ragnvaldr asked “Are you going to eat that?”. Everyone immediately tensed at the question, knowing how this was about to go.

Enki put the book down. “I’m not. It’s drugged, I just told you this. If I ate all that I’d probably die.”.

Ragnvaldr’s eyebrows furrowed with frustration “It’s still a waste, just to not eat it…Can I?”.

Everyone was looking at Ragnvaldr in disappointment. Enki spoke up “No. If you do you’re going to- You know what I shouldn’t have to explain this for you, put two and two together. You don’t eat things that are poisoned, right? This is basically poisoned . On top of that, I spit on it a minute ago. You’ll really eat anything, you mutt.”.

Ragnvaldr seemed unconvinced, and Enki grabbed the tray just as the brute went to reach for it. Enki replied “You know what, I’m going to eat it. Might as well figure out what it’s like to die from Viagra overdose.”. 

Ragnvaldr got up and stole the tray, holding it above Enki’s reach. Enki looked horrified, and Ragnvaldr tried to justify his view of things: “Look, you’re a lot smaller. Maybe this won’t even affect me, if it’s dosed for you.”.

Enki snapped back “The one I took was a full dose. That food is seriously dangerous, listen to me. I don’t even know how much they-”.

Ragnvaldr didn’t listen, shoveling the food into his mouth with the spoon. Everyone watched, mortified.

Ragnvaldr set the tray down, and smirked in stupid victory. He could see no repercussions to this, absolutely none.

Enki facepalmed “Well, let’s hope that doesn’t interact with whatever else you were given.”.

Ragnvaldr sat back down “Don’t worry, I’ll give you my lunch to make up for it.”.

Enki replied “That’s the least of my problems right now. You probably just made yourself sick eating that shit, and now all of us are going to have to deal with a horny giant in about 30 minutes. Also- you just ate pre-chewed food, that’s disgusting.”. 

D’arce gagged a little. Cahara only tried to focus on not saying something dumb.

As Ragnvaldr opened his mouth to argue back, he was interrupted by Enki’s stomach gurgling loudly. Enki suddenly stood up to his feet, and ran off to go to the bathroom. He had to run all the way back to his room, a few guards and nurses in the hall laughing as Enki ran past with urgency. 

Ragnvaldr looked like he was about to follow, but Cahara grabbed the bottom seam of his shirt, getting the giant’s attention. “Rag, give him some space, he was probably about to barf.”. 

Ragnvaldr groaned, and swatted Cahara’s hand off of him “More reason to follow, he might need help.”

Cahara laughed nervously “He could also be going to take a shit. Give him some privacy for now, check on him later.”

Ragnvaldr nodded thoughtfully, before sitting back down. If Cahara of all people was telling Ragnvaldr to have some boundaries, he was obviously overstepping somehow.

———

Enki refused to leave his room for the rest of the day, much to everyone’s understanding. Even the nurses had given up trying to bring him back to the commons, despite Pocketcat’s wishes. It seemed the doctor had better things to do right now, fortunately. By the time lunch time rolled around, Enki was curled up in his bunk, trying to sleep. It was no use though, the medication had taken full effect. Sleep was the last thing on his mind, even if he was exhausted from how little he’d gotten. 

Enki tensed as he heard the door open, and quickly sat up to look at the door “Go away! I told you I’m not going-...back…Ragnvaldr, Why are you here?”.

The giant held the lunch tray up to the top bunk, having no issue reaching. Enki hesitantly took it, noticing the bread and a few bites had been taken at least. He was surprised Ragnvaldr managed to resist his glutton enough to bring him any. Enki asked a new question “Are you feeling sick?”. 

Ragnvaldr shook his head, but looked flush enough he might be lying. Enki stared over at his face in the dim room. Enki left the light off, hoping he’d sleep off the meds. Enki was also just feeling incredibly photosensitive right now, like any light was going to make his aching brain explode. Maybe his brain didn’t have enough blood, because it was all in his dick, Enki thought. He began to eat, but slowly stopped when Ragnvaldr wasn’t leaving. “What?”.

Ragnvaldr had a look on his face Enki didn’t recognize on the brute. Spacey eyed, red, needy. “I’m just making sure you eat…”. Ragnvaldr wouldn’t stop leering.

Enki groaned “I will, so you can go back to the others…I found and ate your chips too.”.

Ragnvaldr took a heavy breath, somewhere between a sigh and huff. “I’m staying in here for a while.”.

Enki seemed increasingly annoyed “Why? If you’re sick just admit it.”.

Ragnvaldr shook his head “Not sick.”.

Enki raised an eyebrow slightly, suspicious. The look Ragnvaldr was giving him reminded Enki of the previous night, right before he’d attacked him. Enki scooted further away from the edge of the bed, feeling a bit anxious. “Don’t just watch me eat with those hungry eyes, you’re creeping me out. Do you want the food back? I probably can’t even finish all this.”.

Ragnvaldr nodded, silently. Enki handed back the tray, and Ragnvaldr ate more of it, before handing it back to Enki. Enki finished the amount left, finding it was just the right amount for him to be full. Ragnvaldr just kept staring at him though, like he was expecting something. Enki began wondering if they’d given Ragnvaldr more of that terrible medicine that’d turned him into a beast before. Enki was regretting eating the chips knowing he could have used them to hold off Ragnvaldr if it came down to it. Enki could feel his body turning his anxiety into excitement despite himself. 

Enki made sure he was curled up in enough blanket, with his legs against his chest, blocking view of his hard-on. It’d been there long before Ragnvaldr came into the room. “If you’re staying in here, sit on your bunk, don’t just stare at me…”.

“Right, sorry…” Ragnvaldr sounded genuine. He sat down on his bunk, and Enki was finally freed from his stare. The peace was short lived however, as Enki soon felt blood dripping from his nose. Familiar with the feeling, he caught the blood in his hand in time.

“Shit.” Enki said to himself, struggling to move to leave his bed. In a moment of realization he spoke up “Can you grab me some tissue?”.

Ragnvaldr hurried up to his feet, grabbing a box of tissues, and coming to hand them to Enki. Enki clumsily grabbed the box with one hand, and dropped it on his bunk. He grabbed several out to hold under his nose. When Ragnvaldr saw the blood, he looked concerned. Or maybe, he just looked more hungry. “Your nose is bleeding? Are you alright?”.

Enki sighed with annoyance “Yeah, it’s just the drugs I think. It’ll probably stop soon..”. 

Ragnvaldr peeked up, noticing some dried blood on the collar of Enki’s shirt. The small cuts he’d sustained earlier had closed, but it seemed like there were some drips from a previous nosebleed as well. Ragnvaldr asked “Do you need help getting down?”. 

Enki was taken a bit off guard by the question. He hadn’t gone to the bathroom in hours. Not only was it sometimes hard to go with an erection, but he had a terrible feeling of vertigo. The last time he tried to get out of bed he nearly fell right off the top bunk. He agreed, begrudgingly. “Maybe…Just, don’t judge me. I can’t balance right now, and I have a-”. Enki couldn’t bring himself to say the word.

Ragnvaldr smirked a bit “Boner?”. 

Enki wanted to hit the smug look off Ragnvaldr’s face. “Yes, that. It’s just the drug, so don’t mock me, or I’ll make you regret it.”.

Ragnvaldr laughed a bit “Why do you think I don’t want to leave the room? I keep getting hard randomly, and Cahara won’t stop making jokes about it.”.

Enki’s face went deep red, as realization swept over him “Oh…Yeah, that sounds irritating…”. Enki zoned out, trying to debate if it was really worth getting down. Nonetheless, Ragnvaldr was waiting at the ladder.

Enki accepted he was just going to have to take the help. He scooted over to the edge of the bed by the ladder. “Back up, you’re too close.”. Ragnvaldr complied, and Enki anxiously tried to steady himself. He fell before even getting fully on the ladder. He held his eyes shut instinctively as he expected impact with the floor. He opened his eyes once he realized he’d made an impact with Ragnvaldr’s arms instead. He was being held bridal style like the night before. “Put me down!”. Enki immediately began to flail.

Ragnvaldr obliged, making Enki have to lean on him when he inevitably lost his balance. “You’re welcome?” Ragnvaldr said, half joking. 

Somehow this was worse, as Enki didn’t have to look too far down to see a giant tent in the other’s pants. Enki couldn’t help but stare for a second, feeling absolutely dwarfed by the sight. He looked away quickly, but it was obvious Ragnvalr had already caught him sneaking a peek. The redhead looked pretty smug about it. This had to be a lot more embarrassing for him than it was for Ragnvaldr, Enki thought. How could someone even be embarrassed of an accidental erection when they were that large? No wonder Cahara was making fun of Ragnvaldr, he could take someone’s eye out with that thing if he wasn’t careful, Enki thought. He was just glad Ragnvadlr wasn’t verbally calling him out on taking a look, or their drastically different sizes.

Enki gulped, before trying to rush off to the bathroom. Ragnvaldr watched as Enki nearly wiped out 3 different times while stumbling there. 

When Enki came out of the bathroom, he was alarmed to find Ragnvaldr waiting directly outside the door. Ragnvaldr stepped aside so Enki could get to the sink and wash his hands. Ragnvaldr watched the silver-haired man all the while. Enki spoke up “I don’t think I need more help. I can get back in bed on my own.”.

This didn’t make Ragnvaldr backup at all, and Enki felt like Ragnvaldr was trying to get a look to see if the silver haired boy still had an erection. Enki turned around, prepared to go try and climb the ladder when he could barely walk straight. Everything had a bit of a blue tinge to it, and it made everything feel colder. Enki shivered when he turned around, and Ragnvaldr moved to block his path.

Enki looked up at the redhead, half for explanation, half so he wouldn’t look down at his obvious erection. 

Ragnvaldr gave an apologetic smile that was only intimidating on his red face. “ Do you really think I wouldn’t break you?”. 

Enki backed up against the sink, startled by the words before he could even process them. “ Excuse me?”.

Ragnvaldr took a half step closer, leaving space between them, but not much. Enki was cornered like prey. “Last night you were pretty adamant that you weren’t as fragile as I thought. It kind of sounded like a challenge to me.”.

Enki felt warmer than ever before, as it was becoming clear they were talking about exactly what he thought they were “I-...It wasn’t…I was just saying- you act like I’m weak but I’m not. In general, not just about this…”. Enki could barely get the words out, his throat was tightening, and he couldn’t think clearly. A lot of things went through his mind, like admitting it was a bit of a challenge. Or begging to be allowed back to the perceived safety of his bunk.

Ragnvaldr had a hungry look in his eyes, like he could pounce any second. That had to be all this was, Enki thought. Maybe Ragnvaldr was just hungry from the medication again. He was just picking on Enki before he’d try and kill him. Ragnvaldr licked his lips subconsciously, only putting Enki more on edge. 

Ragnvaldr kept teasing Enki, in a low voice “ So, you think you could take me without getting ripped in half? Or maybe you want to get broken? ”.

Enki was incredibly conflicted by the line of questioning “You’re…being inappropriate.” Enki sounded more surprised than displeased; He glanced towards the door to the room nervously, but it was shut. He couldn’t tell if this was a precursor to Ragnvaldr trying to eat him, or fuck him. Despite all reason, Enki’s hormonal brain started to think either sounded appealing. He just couldn’t help himself, he refused to back down, even if he was just being mocked. Enki stumbled over his tongue “To answer you though, no- I mean- yes- Fuck... I could take you, if I wanted.”.

Ragnvaldr laughed at the slip, before Enki tried to correct himself “L-like I said I’m more resilient than I look, I wouldn’t be killed so easily. Are you done making fun of me now?”.

Ragnvaldr shook his head no. He looked particularly manic. “ In fact, I think you should run. ”. His tone was low, and threatening. Still something about his demeanor was smug and playful.

Enki felt a rush of adrenaline wash over him, but he didn't listen. He liked the thrill. “Why?”.

Ragnvaldr leaned closer and whispered “I don’t think they weakened me as much today. I think they also gave me that strange drug. The one that made me want to eat you.”.

Enki just stood there, glancing between Ragnvaldr and the door a few times. This felt like a deliberately manipulated scenario, and Enki was beginning to wonder if he’d been given that Viagra so he might be less resistant to getting murdered. “So, are you going to try and fuck me or kill me?”.

Ragnvaldr had begun to tremble a bit. He no longer sounded playful. “I said run. I’m not kidding.”. Ragnvaldr looked like he getting increasingly more malicious, but Enki’s drugged mind seemed to care more about fucking around and finding out than self defense. 

Enki bit his lip, before saying something questionable “ I don’t like running from a fight.”. He definitely could slip past Ragnvaldr, but he didn’t even try.

Ragnvaldr wanted to argue that this wasn’t going to be a fight, as much as a slaughter. He didn’t though, instead, his body acted for him, taking the defiance as an invitation. Ragnvaldr grabbed Enki, lifting him up on the sink counter. Once he was there, Ragnvaldr stood up against him, keeping him prisoner on the counter, as well as making his large erection press up against Enki’s body. 

Enki didn’t have time for another quip, or to marvel at the contact. “What are you-“ Instead Ragnvaldr was ripping off the bandages from his neck, like he was ripping open a candy bar. As soon as he had them removed, the redhead bit down onto Enki’s neck wounds like he intended to rip a chunk free. Enki couldn’t help but make a stifled moan of delight at the pain. He could feel hot blood beginning to leak out of his neck.

Ragnvaldr was growling as he sank his teeth as deep as they could go, seemingly disappointed he couldn’t devour the boy with the same speed he did his meals. Ragnvaldr lapped up the blood dripping out, before biting again nearby. 

Enki’s arms automatically reached up to try and shove at his attacker, only for Enki to marvel at how easily his hands were pushed down against the counter. He wasn’t really putting his all into the shoving anyway, he was letting Ragnvaldr overpower him. It was just a physical reflex to the fear he should be feeling. Enki voiced the only trace of logic left in his brain, before it could flee “ You’re gonna get in trouble, you know.~”.

Ragnvaldr only snarled with anger at that, not letting anything stop him from tearing up Enki’s flesh. Especially not Pocketcat’s rules. Ragnvaldr had started sucking hard on the third bitemark, teeth still deep in the skin. 

Enki’s head was reeling at the sensation, it was more than his touch starved body could handle. Enki briefly wondered if he’d have any chance of taking Ragnvaldr down, but he didn’t think he could bring himself to do so anyway, not yet at least. Talking Ragnvaldr out of violence was probably also going to be difficult. The first time Ragnvaldr had attacked him, Enki had already been struggling to find the will to fight back. Now that they were both horned up on pills, Enki didn’t think there was anything that could make him run away.

Ragnvaldr began pulling at Enki’s other bandages, getting them all at least half off, before he grabbed his shirt. With a quick rip the papery fabric of the disposable scrubs was defeated. Enki shivered at the cold air on his chest. The silver haired boy wondered if his pants were next, only for Ragnvaldr to move on to biting Enki’s chest. Enki yelped a bit in surprise, causing Ragnvaldr to bite harder.

“Not there-” Was all Enki could get out. His chest was far too sensitive to be getting abused like this, when it’d hardly ever been touched. Enki eased a bit however, when the biting turned to kissing. At first he thought Ragnvaldr must’ve been lapping up the blood again, but there was no mistake. He wasn’t just 

licking Enki clean of blood, he was kissing his skin feverishly, starting a trail up towards Enki’s face. 

Enki’s leg kicked in the air with giddy delight, and he unabashedly pressed his hips up against the large cock that’d been pressing against him. He wasn’t sure if Ragnvaldr was actually going to do anything sexual for a minute there, so it was a relief. He couldn’t believe this was happening, and maybe that’s why the danger and pain felt so distant. Enki slowly became convinced this was only a dream, and by the time Ragnvalr reached his face, Enki was mentally gone. Enki was the first to steal a kiss on the lips. When Ragnvaldr let go of his hands, Enki pulled Ragnvaldr closer, like he was afraid Ragnvaldr would run from the kiss.

When instead Enki’s kiss was returned, and he felt Ragnvaldr’s tongue trying to sneak into his mouth, Enki was in bliss. Enki didn’t care if he was in danger now, or being perceived as gay, needy, lonely. He didn’t even care that he could taste his own blood in Ragnvalr’s mouth. All he could think of was getting more delicious attention, more touch . Ragnvaldr was the only one Enki wanted it from right now.

Ragnvaldr gave Enki a playful push to the chest, just hard enough to make Enki break the kiss. Ragnvaldr wrapped a hand around Enki’s bloody throat to pull him back close again. Ragnvaldr seemed satisfied in the way Enki didn’t resist the grip. It was just strong enough to give some pressure. Instead Enki reveled in it, in being controlled, in the way they could feel each other’s heartbeats.

Ragnvaldr whispered into Enki’s ear:“ Seeing Pocketcat degrade you earlier made me jealous for some reason. I want to be the only one to pick on you like this. I want him to know you’re mine, even if I have to tear you apart. You want that, don’t you? To just give up and let me ruin you? This is what you get for testing me when I tell you to run. ”

Enki didn’t respond verbally, only leaning forward to steal more strained kisses on Ragnvaldr’s lips. The strain for him to do so made Enki choke himself further, and Ragnvaldr gave his neck a squeeze. Once he felt Enki’s breaths fully stop, only then did he let go. He let Enki gasp for breath, before the red head started to kiss him again. Enki draped his arms over Ragnvaldr’s broad shoulders, feeling his back muscles, and raking his long nails against the skin gently. Ragnvaldr made a little hum each time he did, until Enki dug his claws in to give Rag’ a taste of his own medicine. Ragnvaldr shivered at the sensation and produced a long deep groan.

Enki hummed in approval when he felt Ragnvaldr nibble his bottom lip, and when the kiss broke, so did Enki’s filter. “ Fuck me. I don’t even care if you kill me, eat me, just fuck me first, please.”. Enki brought one of his hands up to his mouth, licking some of Ragnvaldr’s blood from his fingers. Enki felt content knowing he’d also left a mark on the other.

Ragnvaldr was nearly sobered for a second hearing Enki say something so unrestrained and lewd. Soon however, it only filled him with more lust and hunger. He’d never had someone offer their entire being up to him before, and so blatantly at that. When Enki finished tasting the blood on his fingers, Ragnvaldr went back in for more kisses, this time more ravenous, unsatisfied. He broke the wet kiss so abruptly that a string of saliva strung between their mouths before breaking. When it did, Ragnavaldr began running his hands over Enki’s body, gripping onto his waist, and taking satisfaction in clawing into the flesh there. Ragnvaldr admired how small Enki looked in his big hands. Ragnvaldr couldn’t believe he was about to do this to Enki, whatever this ended up being. He didn’t want to hurt Enki, but he did. He could only hope the sick desire for violence might go away if he had his way with him. If not, Ragnvaldr was worried it might have a dark end. That was if having his way with Enki didn’t already kill the scrawny dweeb, Ragnvaldr thought.

Enki was panting, savoring how Ragnvaldr could nearly touch his fingers together with his hands around his waist. Enki never liked being so skinny before, but something about the difference in size between them, how helpless he felt, It made him incredibly turned on. They locked eyes, after a long moment of ogling each other’s bodies. The eye contact made it feel more intimate as Ragnvaldr rutted his hard shaft up against Enki through their clothes. Ragnvaldr finally responded “ I wasn’t kidding, this is going to hurt.”.

Enki felt like he was looking at a blue tinged incubus, and under that power, he didn’t care if Ragnvaldr wanted to slurp his intestines like spaghetti. “ Maybe I want it to.”. Enki wiggled his hips up against Ragnvaldr, trying to keep the brute’s focus on the lewd aspect, and not the cannibalism murder aspect.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, making Enki freeze up. Ragnvaldr only kept thrusting against him, reaching to try and rip off Enki’s bottoms. Enki stopped him, grabbing Ragnvaldr’s hands. Ragnvaldr tried to ignore it and rip the pants anyway, making Enki have to dig his claws into Ragnvaldr’s hands as the fabric began to tear. “H-hey! Hold on-”. 

A second, louder knock sounded on the door, and Ragnvaldr finally stopped in his tracks. He glared towards the door in the mirror, before shouting with irritation. “We’re trying to sleep! We’re sick in here!”. This prompted a third, quieter knock, which prompted Ragnvaldr to shout louder “GO. AWAY.”. Enki felt fear welling up in his chest at the idea it might be a staff member, there to separate or hurt them for what they’d done.

The person on the other side of the door talked back, hesitantly. “Is everything okay in there? We just came to check on you, because it’s been a while…”. It was D’arce. 

Enki looked more anxious than when he was expecting to be eaten. Someone interrupting them made Enki realize, with growing terror, that this wasn’t a wet dream. He’d actually said those lewd things, and Ragnvaldr was actually trying to fuck/eat him. He wasn’t sure what part was scarier to him at this point, but both options would probably kill him, realistically.

Ragnvaldr tried to ignore the conversation, and bit back into Enki’s neck, this time on the other side. Enki made a small sound of surprise, and tried to push Ragnvaldr back. It felt like he was trying to get a bite loose to eat, and Enki’s blood ran cold. Yet the blood that came pouring down his neck still felt hot. Ragnvaldr was once again rutting his hips against Enki, not bothering to keep removing clothes. Enki could only try desperately to stay silent through it, clawing at Ragnvaldr’s back to try and bare the torture in silence. Enki could only assume Ragnvaldr was trying to get the most out of him before they could be stopped. That thought alone made Enki feel high, or maybe it was the blood loss.

Cahara called out next. “I told D’arce I heard some concerning conversation through the door~ come on, don’t make me look like an idiot…”. 

D’arce could be heard quietly mumbling “You don’t need anyone’s help looking like an idiot, Cahara.”.

Enki’s mind was racing between trying to enjoy the delicious pain he was receiving, and trying to come to his senses. He didn’t know whether to not care anymore, or have a full blown panic attack. Enki considered just trying to get his prize even if the others could hear. Let them hear, he thought. It didn’t matter if it was embarrassing, maybe then they’d know Ragnvaldr was his. He had to be his, Enki thought. Who else would sacrifice themself completely for Ragnvaldr? Then reality came sinking in, that Enki would probably only be a meal, and lucky to just be one of Ragnvaldr’s temporary lovers. 

Ragnvaldr suddenly seemed alarmed at how still Enki was all of a sudden, and stopped. He stopped biting, grinding, he seemed to have a moment of sobriety flicker across his eyes. Then next, horror. Enki watched the change, with a mixture of relief and disappointment.

Ragnvaldr and Enki could faintly see their reflection in each other’s eyes, and realized they were giving each other the same horrified, disgusted look. Ragnvaldr let go of Enki, and slowly backed away. Both of the two boys were only disgusted with themselves, but almost certain the other was disgusted with them.

Enki pulled his knees up to his chest on the counter, burying his face against them. Anything to not be looked at by Ragnvaldr like that. Enki’s mind began to race: The drugs probably wore off and he remembered Enki was an ugly hideous freak who wasn’t even good enough to use. Really they both used each other, they were both not in their right minds. Enki was probably going to die in this place, a virgin. Maybe he’d be lucky to get defiled first. He should just be happy he got that close. Yeah, this was the best someone like him would ever get, he told himself. It didn’t matter if it was only almost, or all the danger in it, because it was with one of the most attractive men he’d ever seen. People far less attractive than Ragnvaldr have laughed at him, gagged at him.

Then there was another knock at the door. Cahara spoke with a shaky voice “Hey, I’m actually getting really worried, are you guys okay? I’m sorry for eavesdropping, I didn’t really hear that much- just a little bit when we were walking up to the door and-”.

D’arce put a hand on Cahara’s shoulder, “Cahara, I think maybe you should shut up.”.

Cahara sounded unoffended, but defeated “Oh… Okay.”. He was kind of glad she cut him off, it was getting bad there.

Ragnvaldr opened his mouth for a moment, like he was going to speak, but he didn’t know what to say. He wanted to tell them to get a nurse, get a guard, something. The only staff he trusted somewhat was Nosramus, but he had a strong feeling Enki would be pissed if they brought Nosramus. If Nosramus was even trustworthy. Then Nosramus would probably kill Ragnvaldr for doing this again. Doing this again, but worse…

D’arce spoke up again “Hello? Please answer, I think Cahara is going to cry. He-We’re worried. Please don’t make us…try and come in during the day.” You could hear her struggling to get the words out from anxiety, just like Cahara. The keycard was hidden in her room, but if they got it during the day after being caught the night before, she was certain it would be taken away. Ragnvaldr couldn’t believe this chick took part in killing his family. She was just a pathetic coward, looking for someone to follow.

When Enki realized Ragnaldr wasn’t going to respond, he looked up from his knees to respond. “We’re fine, just…”. Enki trailed off in thought. Ragnvaldr couldn’t even look at his face, Enki looked broken inside(more than usual). Enki was desperately searching his mind for an excuse, but the useless thing was only full of dicks right now. “We’re fine.” he reasserted.

Ragnvaldr whispered “Are you okay? We should get your bandages changed-”

“I’m fine.” Enki whispered back, fighting back tears, and somehow winning. He was mad in a sick way, that the moment had been ripped away, and Ragnvaldr seemed sane again.

Ragnvaldr sighed, finally braving a look at Enki again. Pale, covered in blood, surrounded by discarded bandages. Each bite mark had dark hickies to go with it. His bruise to the gut from Pocketcat also looked pretty bad. Definitely not okay. Ragnvaldr took a deep, long breath. One that tested the full limit of his lungs. Like he was bracing himself for something intense. He whispered one more time “I’m sorry.”.

Before Enki got any chance to question or stop Ragnvaldr, Ragnvaldr called out “See if you can get Nosramus! I did it again.”.

With just those words alone, Enki was glaring daggers at Ragnvaldr like never before. The two teens in the hall could be heard running off in a hurry. Enki raised his voice “ WHY!? I said I’m fine! Now you’re sending them on a suicide mission. Even if they succeed then…then-You’re an idiot! You just ruined- ”. Enki went to take a deep breath in, but it got caught in his throat. Ragnvaldr watched with concern, quickly realizing Enki was choking. Ragnvaldr came over, but soon Enki began to cough. Enki held up a hand, and Ragnvaldr stopped. Enki just needed a moment to catch his breath. Once he had caught it, he was hyperventilating. 

Ragnvaldr tried to sound calming “Remember to breathe. Slow, steady breaths.”.

Enki snapped back “I know how to fucking breathe, okay!?”.

Ragnvaldr looked a bit hurt, though he knew he was in no position to be the one hurting. 

Enki was tempted to apologize for snapping, but couldn’t even consider bringing himself to. Enki knew if he ever genuinely said sorry for something, it would pull his heart just the wrong way, and a lifetime of shame would come pouring out of him. He never wanted anyone to see him in that sorry state.

Ragnvaldr tried to remain calm and ask “Should we rinse some of the blood off in the sink?”.

Enki ran his hands through his hair, taking a deep long breath. “Yeah. You should wash off your mouth and hands first.”. Enki got down from the sink and out of the way. He happened to notice neither of them seemed to be hard anymore. Getting caught must have sobered the medication out of them since it’d been long enough (and ruined their moods). Enki remembered the drug that’d made Ragnvaldr act crazy violent before seemed to last longer than that. He wondered if Ragnvaldr was handling it better because he’d had food. Then Enki wondered if maybe Ragnvaldr would’ve handled it fine with food, if he hadn’t eaten food laced with Viagra.

Meanwhile Ragnvaldr was in a silent battle with his own mind to not go feral and paint the walls with blood. He liked Enki, considered him a team-mate, friend even. Partners in crime. Ragnvaldr reasoned with himself, to calm his violent urges. Ragnvaldr had just started washing the blood off, when footsteps came running back, and suddenly the door swung open. Enki and Ragnvaldr both looked horrified. It was Nosramus. That was quick, both teens thought.

Nosramus came in, visibly fuming, red in the face with anger. D’arce and Cahara were nowhere in sight, and Nosramus slammed the door behind them. “ What the FUCK did you do?!”

Ragnvaldr nervously turned off the sink, with blood still dripping from his maw. “…I’m sorry.”. Sometimes Ragnvaldr was terrible with words.

Nosramus started walking up to the redhead, and Enki called out “Nosramus wait-”. It was too late, and Nosramus slapped Ragnvaldr across the face, with a clean smack reverberating off the walls. 

Ragnvaldr didn’t sound pained, but he looked surprised. He felt his cheek where he’d been hit. “...Ow.” Ragnvaldr said late, and more out of surprise than actual reaction. He was still surprised how much strength this skinny person packed. He would start fighting Nosramus just to see who would win, but he resisted out of respect. He felt his sense of self returning steadily.

Nosramus went to rear back for another slap, but Enki grabbed their hand. Nosramus stopped, and Enki got the chance to talk again. “Stop. You’re a healthcare professional.”. Nosramus lowered their hand.

Nosramus pinched their nose with their bloodied fingers, and took a breather “You’re right. I am a healthcare professional, a really pissed off one. It’s my fault honestly, I should have known this barbarian wasn’t capable of viewing another person as more than food.”.

Enki let go of Nosramus, looking unamused. Ragnvaldr only looked away with guilt, and mumbled “I’m sorry.”. The doctor shot one last glare, before turning their attention to Enki, pulling the rickety desk chair over to the sink. Once Nosramus motioned to it with their hand, Enki sat. 

Enki seemed to be bracing himself to say something, but didn’t get a chance. Nosramus had put a medical bag up on the sink and started cleaning all of Enki’s wounds. Nosramus started with the neck, and immediately noticed one of the bites lower down, right around one of Enki’s nipples. Nosramus’s voice sounded low and disgusted as he commented on it: “Ragnvaldr…You’re a sick fuck.”.

Enki finally got the courage to speak up “It was the drugs they gave him. I don’t know what the hell he is, but he isn’t himself with it. Hell I don’t even know if he remembers what he did afterwards. Hear me out.”. The light-haired individuals looked over at Ragnvaldr, who seemed unable to confirm or deny this. He only looked ashamed of himself.

Nosramus said “I don’t trust him. I don’t know what the hell they’re giving him, but it’s no excuse for this. This is…I don’t even have words- Some of these are going to be lasting scars.”. Enki tried not to seem happy about the last sentence.

“I participated”, Enki cut in, red faced. Nosramus silently looked at him, somewhere between surprise and confusion. Enki specified further “He told me to run, I didn’t. It wasn’t right before he attacked either, there was a good two minutes at least. I stuck around for the show, I guess.”.

Nosramus kept cleaning Enki’s wounds, but asked with a shaky voice “Why? Why didn’t you run? Why are you like this?”.

Ragnvaldr interjected, “Don’t talk to him like that, it’s not his fault.”. Enki and Nosramus both looked to Ragnvaldr with surprise. 

Enki shook his head at Ragnvaldr “I’m fine.”.

Now Nosramus looked a bit embarrassed “I’m not trying to make you feel bad I just…can’t understand. I’m worried.”.

Ragnvaldr butt into the conversation, noticing Enki seemed more hesitant to be blunt around Nosramus. “They made him take Viagra, put it in his food too. I, uh, also ate some.”.

“Thief. Glutton.” Nosramus hissed. That seemed to cut Ragnvaldr particularly deep, much to Nosramus’s satisfaction. Nosramus spoke again, more sorrowful this time. “This cat is pissing me off. I can’t stand this place, how he treats children . He won’t listen to a damn thing I say.”.

Enki snapped back, with cold calculation “ Why didn’t you run ?”. He decided not to mention that Ragnvaldr was warned the food was drugged, and always ate some of his meals.

Ragnvaldr might laugh at that, if he wasn’t so full of dread.

Nosramus seemed to take the quip to heart. They tossed a bloody rag into the sink, before starting to clean with alcohol. Enki shut his eyes for a moment, trying to right his mind as he felt the sting. 

Nosramus finally responded now “I don’t run, because I can’t. Reporting this place is a joke, it’s a known hell hole. This is all I can do, and I refuse to run.”

Enki briefly thought to ask Nosramus to leave with them, but he couldn’t. Not even for his usual anti-social reasons, he just knew that was too big of an ask. If they were caught, Nosramus would take all the blame by default as the adult. While that would be an excellent plan for Enki’s benefit, he wasn’t going to backstab like that… not this time anyway.

Ragnvaldr had been silent for a bit, looking on with a grim, blood covered expression. When he finally spoke up, he said “I think you should have them take me to solitary confinement.”.

Nosramus immediately nodded, but Enki spoke up “Absolutely not. What’s wrong with you? We have plans to discuss, and if you go to solitary confinement they’re going to put Cahara in here. Don’t you dare do this to me.”.

Ragnvaldr seemed very hesitant to respond, something seemed different about him. 

Nosramus interjected, trying to get Enki to calm down while they started bandaging him. “Easy. Maybe he’s got the right idea? I brought up separate bunking or medication changes when I was confronted by Pocketcat. He turned it down, he’s obviously pinning you against each other, isn’t it better to just be split up? Then you’ll be safe.”.

Ragnvaldr only nodded along, looking like a shell of himself. Enki wanted to scream, berate them both, and throw a tantrum. He felt betrayed. This was Enki’s big guard dog Nosramus was trying to get rid of. Before Ragnvaldr was here, it was harder to keep Chambara and Crow in line. Enki didn’t think he could stomach trying to lead his other two idiots alone. 

Enki spat out words like venom “I refuse to let that happen. You’ve both obviously gone brain dead. Pocketcat just wants to put him in that cell so he doesn’t have to blow through so many damn tranquilizers keeping down Hercules.”.

Nosramus went a bit flush for a moment, as they vaguely remembered Pocketcat saying something about how many tranquilizers the nurses were having to use on Ragnvaldr. They also remembered Pocketcat telling them Ragnvaldr was extremely violent before any medication. “Well-Enki, listen to me. He’s asking to go into solitary confinement. He clearly doesn’t trust himself, he’s dangerous.”.

Ragnvaldr didn’t say a word to suggest otherwise, and Enki glared at him. This was all Ragnvaldr’s fault, for dragging authority figures into this, Enki thought. It was Cahara and D’arce’s fault too, for interrupting. Enki scoffed in Ragnvaldr’s direction “Hm. Here I thought you were a big northern beast of a man, too strong to be controlled by anything… Pathetic. Did you not say earlier that you weren’t leaving me behind? I guess that was just a lie, I shouldn’t be surprised.”. 

Nosramus looked at Enki with concern, they could tell he was hurting. They were surprised he even wanted Ragnvaldr around, with how anti-social he was. Nosramus had a bad feeling that this huffy tantrum was Enki’s version of obsession. (It absolutely was.) Before now it was hard to imagine him fighting to keep anyone around, let alone tolerating someone around. 

Ragnvaldr hesitated a moment, before speaking up again “...Maybe I should stay, if you’ll allow it, Nosramus. I fear what others might do to him for having a serpent’s tongue.”.

Nosramus looked annoyed by this turn of events. These wishy washy hormonal brats, Nosramus thought. “ Don’t make me be the bad guy on this, I can’t trust you two alone.”.

Enki grabbed onto Nosramus’s sleeve in defiance “If you smuggle us snacks occasionally, his hunger for violence will be quelled. He’s…an important tool.”. Enki wasn’t quite sure that was true, in fact he was pretty sure Viagra was enough to make Ragnvaldr more violent on top of the other drug. In the end what Enki was really saying was: Can we keep the rabid dog? Pretty pretty please? When Nosramus looked unconvinced still, Enki whispered: “ He’s important to me. ”. When the other two looked surprised at that statement, Enki tried to backpedal rapidly “For protection! He’s a good fighter, that is, to have on my side…If he was actually trying to kill me he could have done it by now, he’s too chicken.”. 

Nosramus looked annoyed at the idea of giving Ragnvaldr a treat for attacking Enki for the second time. Still, they didn’t want to send anyone to solitary confinement if they could help it. “He’s probably just playing with his food.” Nosramus shot a mean look towards Ragnvaldr, who grimaced at the call out. Nosramus sighed “Whatever. Fine. This is the last chance you’re getting to prove you can do better, okay? Don’t blame me when you screw yourselves over.”.

Ragnvaldr and Enki both sighed in relief, prompting Enki to glare at Ragnvaldr, trying to remind Ragnvaldr it was his idea to be taken away to begin with. Ragnvaldr seemed to receive the message.

Nosramus looked at the two, wondering if they could have been normal if they lived easier lives. Maybe they wouldn’t have ended up somewhere like this. Now that Enki was all bandaged, Nosramus spoke quietly “You’re planning to try and find your friend and leave, aren’t you?”.

Ragnvaldr and Enki both looked guilty as charged. Enki eventually nodded, causing Ragnvaldr to look at him with doubt about whether Enki was making the right decision. Ragnvaldr definitely wasn’t about to correct Nosramus that he actually wanted to find and kill someone, then escape. 

Nosramus looked contemplative “I’ll keep this between us. Don’t go do anything crazy on your own, I’ll get back to you about this. For now, I’ll let you two be. I’m going to look into something to help Ragnvaldr contain his outbursts. Go back to the commons after you’ve cleaned up.”

Enki raised his eyebrows in surprise. He wondered what the doctor had in plan. Ragnvaldr chuckled in amusement at the idea of staff helping them break out. Enki nodded “We’ll try and behave til you get back to us, if possible.”.

Nosramus stretched, and gathered their things. “One more thing. If you’re going to try and hook up in this place again, despite my disapproval , please make it not bloody. ”.

Enki felt his face go flush with shame. “It was just drugs, shut up.”. Enki finally stood up, crossing his arms over his cold chest.

Nosramus gave a weak apologetic smile. Then they were gone. The two teens were alone again with the door shut, the air felt suffocatingly stale. 

Ragnvaldr questioned “Do you really trust them?”.

Enki countered “You’re the one who called them here, you tell me.”.

Ragnvaldr slowly went back to the sink, washing his face and hands. They’d been left new scrubs once again, on the bed. 

Ragnvaldr felt like just giving Enki an apology, or being non-violent right now wasn’t enough to justify him not being in solitary confinement. He’d done something terrible, and he was worried it was only going to get worse. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, surely any diet medication shouldn’t be enough to turn anyone into a sadistic monster. Even now he was replaying the damage he’d done to the shorter boy in his mind, remembering the sick joy it’d given him. What the fuck is wrong with me? Ragnvaldr asked in his mind, both to himself, and to any god willing to answer. None did.

Maybe it’s not turning him into a monster, maybe he always was one. Ragnvaldr thought. He could remember doing terrible things to people he only knew by vague connection to Le’garde. He didn’t do it just to be cruel, he was starving. He was cruel to them nonetheless though, in fact he’d gone out of his way to consume his victims. He’d been filled with an insatiable urge to destroy and consume, with the might of Gro-goroth. He felt like destroying everything was the only chance something beautiful could ever grow in it’s place. Ever since Ragnvaldr’s grief had sent him over the edge, he hardly recognized himself anymore. He was a version of himself he’d only seen in his nightmares. If Ragnvaldr’s family was still around he doubted he’d have been able to look them in the eye after all the sins he’s commited.

Enki went to the bathroom to change scrubs, and was surprised to find Ragnvaldr still in front of the sink. Ragnvaldr had finished washing his face, but had left the water running. His hands sat idly under the running water, and his eyes were locked with his own in the mirror. When Enki came into Ragnvaldr’s view it seemed to snap him out of it. Enki noticed Ragnvaldr looked uncomfortable. Something about Ragnvaldr’s demeanor made him seem smaller than his large frame. Enki could recognize some disgust still on Ragnvaldr’s face, it’d been there faintly ever since they’d been interrupted and sobered up.

Enki grimaced and groaned “Don’t look so revolted, I’m not going to try anything else. It was just the drugs, after all.”. He was only lying to himself, and not even he could buy it.

Ragnvaldr finally turned off the water. “I’m not revolted by you . You should be worried I’m going to try something . I’m…angry with myself. I did it again, but worse. I don’t know how you can face me so easily.”.

Enki looked surprised, but visibly softened a bit. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, though he rarely could. He didn’t believe that Ragnvaldr wouldn’t be disgusted by him. “Don’t be ridiculous, like I said. It was just the drugs. There’s no time to waste feeling sorry for yourself for something you can’t control-“

“It’s me.” Ragnvaldr interrupted, then elaborated: “It’s just bringing out my worst self, but it’s still me, Enki. I’m just as bad as they say. I meant those terrible things I said and did, at least some part of me meant it…”.

Enki wanted to ease the barbarian by reminding him Enki was an eager participant this time. He practically told Ragnvaldr to just do it. The thought of acknowledging that now was humiliating though. Ragnvaldr ( and possibly Cahara and D’arce depending how much they heard ) would never believe his loner-by-choice spiel again. Enki was certain they’d know he was just trying to keep people from getting close and being disappointed in his disgusting characteristics. Not that they seemed to care if he wanted to be their friend. They all just wanted his skill set and his lackey. 

Enki finally spoke up “You know I’m a serial killer right? I told you I was in a cult, it’s not like we just braided each other's hair and talked about our favorite old gods. I was under the impression you’re a vengeance killer, and I’m someone put here to be punished. People have done worse to me when they were sober. ” .

Ragnvaldr couldn’t help but scoff, “You’re also my friend. We are friends, right? Or were , before I did all this…”. 

Enki was frozen, a mental timer ticking on him of how long he could stay silent before he had to respond. Eventually he decided his time was up, and he was no more sure of his answer, until the words left his mouth. “We’ve been co-dependent. It’s unhealthy. We constantly ridicule each other, we share meals, we share a room. I don’t know what a friend is even like, but…this is probably the closest I’ve ever had.”.

Ragnvaldr looked touched by the vulnerability Enki was showing. This was probably the closest he’d ever get to Enki saying they were friends. He smiled to show Enki his gratitude. “I think most people consider cannibalism to not be the friendliest activity. Or…anything else I did.”.

Enki scoffed “I think Cahara would consider that a friend activity. Well, not cannibalism though.”.

Ragnvaldr didn’t laugh, and began changing scrubs while zoned out. Enki spun around on his heels “I can give you some privacy, you know.”. Even if Enki definitely wanted to watch Ragnvaldr changing, he didn’t want to be so blatantly thirsty now that the mood was gone. Even if Ragnvaldr knew he was undeniably queer, Enki felt ashamed of it. He couldn’t imagine Ragnvaldr would want to be ogled at by him.

Ragnvaldr stopped before removing his pants, only shirtless so far. “My mistake, I wasn’t thinking…I’ll change in the bathroom.”.

Enki was going to say he could just meet him in the commons . Before he got a chance to say anything, Ragnvaldr had slipped past to get to the bathroom. Enki’s skin burned where their shoulders brushed. He shouted to the bathroom door after it shut, “I’ll go ahead on my own.”.

Ragnvaldr shouted back through, “Please wait here, it could be dangerous.”.

The response made Enki feel a conflicting mix of gratitude and annoyance. He didn’t want to be perceived as weak, he could handle himself. It was admittedly…nice to have someone to care. Infact the thought made him warm enough he thought maybe the viagra kicked back in, but to his relief, and horror, it was only the warm glow of emotion. Gross, Enki thought, as he rubbed nervously where his racing heart was inside his chest. “You know, I just said all those things to Nosramus to keep you around. I’ve put in too much effort to lose your assistance now, that’s all.”.

Enki winced at his own words, sharp like a knife. He didn’t wanna say that, but he was so defensive when it came to emotions. On top of that he’d also basically just admitted he was too dumb to not fall for the old sunk cost fallacy.

Ragnvaldr was silent for a long moment, in contemplation, before he answered “…Right…I’m sorry. Please let me come with you.”.

Ragnvaldr sounded bummed out again. Enki felt terrible, he didn’t know if it was self sabotage to reject Ragnvaldr or to accept Ragnvaldr. Actually no, either way was self sabotage. Rejecting Ragnvaldr was probably the more safe thing, maybe? Enki didn’t really care either way. “You can stop apologizing.”.

Enki looked at the sink, idly thinking about how difficult it would be to hop up there on his own. Not that he had any reason to…He looked to the mirror instead, and softly touched some of his bandages. He hated looking so pitiful, but when it reminded him of how it happened, he couldn’t help but smirk a bit to himself. 

Ragnvaldr came out of the bathroom in his new scrubs, and startled Enki, who quickly looked away from the mirror. Ragnvaldr had definitely seen the look on his face, and seemed deeply confused. They both stayed quiet in denial that Enki had been seen like that, but it was useless.

Enki mumbled, trying to distract, “Well, we should get back. Maybe those two will be dead when we do.”.

Ragnvaldr grumbled “That would be unfortunate.(he didn’t sound like he really cared that much) …Enki, do you actually like pain?”.

Enki tensed at the question. He wasn’t looking at Ragnvaldr, but he sounded like he was grinning . “Do you really have to ask at this point, dumbass?”.

Ragnvaldr took a deep breath of contemplation “…We’re a terrible duo, huh? Let’s get back to the others.”.

Enki watched Ragnvaldr walk past him and out the door. Enki followed, and they left it open. Fortunately the doors remain unlocked from the inside during the day, generally. They lock from outside though, to protect from other patients. Enki followed Ragnvaldr, feeling increasingly bothered by the terrible duo comment. It wasn’t like he didn’t deserve that though, Enki thought. It was true they were a dangerous combination, with dangerous personalities. Still, they went together like fire and gasoline.

When they reached the commons again, they could hear Cahara talking “I’m just saying, Enki’s hair on your body would be the hottest. That’s my type. Not uh, that there’s anything wrong with your hair, if you like it like that that’s what’s important…”.

Even weirder, was D’arce’s response: “Really? I think the cut is awful. It gets the job done though, right? I didn’t want to commit to a full buzz…I’d look like a doll with the hair ripped out. I guess you and Ragnvaldr would probably be the best build…”. Cahara could be heard laughing. It was official, those two had spent too much time together. Surprisingly Crow was just dissociating hardcore in the corner. Maybe even he couldn’t believe the dumb-assery of these two.

The room went silent just before Enki and Ragnvaldr came back in. D’arce and Cahara looked like they got caught red handed. Cahara stammered “Oh-hey guys- I’m so glad to see you’re…okay…ish.”. 

D’arce and Cahara both eyed Enki up and down, noticing he had even more bandages, and his scrubs puffed out a bit like he might have more bandages under his shirt. Cahara and D’arce both gave each other a look.

Enki deliberately ignored it, and made it clear he’d heard them before “Cahara and Ragnvaldr would make a terrible frankenstein.”.

D’arce looked concerned “We were thinking more like fusions… Not abominations.”

Enki scoffed “If you didn’t want an abomination I shouldn’t have been included at all.”.

Cahara jumped back in, now unguarded “Aw, don’t be like that, babe. You wouldn’t make an abomination. It’d be kinda like marriage~”.

D’arce said what the others were thinking “...Cahara, I don’t think you know how marriage works.”

Enki looked at Cahara with murderous intent. Cahara hid behind Ragnvaldr, provoking Enki to try and actually grab Cahara.

Cahara cried out “Eep!” Before Ragnvaldr grabbed the two boys by the back of their shirt collars and held them arms length apart. Enki begrudgingly crossed his arms, they were both getting red faced from being manhandled. That only pissed Enki off more.

Ragnvaldr contributed “Well, I think D’arce would look lovely with Enki’s hair.”

Enki griped “You all need to learn some respect, no wonder you’re so desperate for friends. You don’t even care about your missions do you?”. Everyone looked a little bummed by that comment, and Enki huffed with satisfaction at taking them down a peg. Ragnvaldr sighed at him, and Enki’s satisfaction quickly turned into discontent. Enki didn’t understand what they even liked about his hair, it was thin, and his hairline was too high for his own taste. It wasn’t as noticeable with his slight bangs however.

Ragnvaldr patted Enki’s head and let the two boys go. Cahara pouted at Enki and said “Come on, it’s just a game, who do you think would make the hottest fusion, Enki?”. 

Enki stepped forward and flicked Cahara’s forehead. “Forget who’s hottest, think about capabilities. If me and Ragnvaldr were frankensteined then we’d have brains and power.”.

Everyone chuckled a bit, making Enki get embarrassed. “Why do I bother trying to amuse you idiots, I think this place finally made me go crazy.”.

Cahara shook his head “No, sorry, I’m glad you’re participating. I kind of want to ask how Ragnvaldr isn’t locked up though, I thought for sure he was going to be locked up for- ya know.”.

Enki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms again “Don’t worry about it. I was just feeling sick is all. He overreacted.”.

Cahara and D’arce seemed more than skeptical. It was obviously a lie, Enki was visibly more injured than earlier. Enki avoided eye contact. Ragnvaldr was the next one to be stared down, and he also avoided eye contact.

Cahara squinted “Ragnvaldr, you should be more careful with him, I'm here if he needs a break.”.

Ragnvaldr (concerningly) said “I don’t think you’d taste that good, sorry.”. He was aware that’s probably not what Cahara was actually offering himself up for, but his mind had just made him say the first thing he’d thought about. 

Enki’s expression filled with disdain, and he suddenly grabbed Cahara by the throat, shaking him. “I’m going to kill you! I’m fed up with your stupid slutty-“ D’arce yanked Enki off Cahara, then tossed Enki towards Ragnvaldr, who caught him before he could bounce off Ragnvaldr and fall. Enki tried to come charging back, and Ragnvaldr held him back by one arm. 

D’arce snapped “Oh my god you two need to stop. Men are so irritating. You’re all incompatible, so just stop the drama. Enki, stop degrading Cahara. Cahara, stop provoking him. Ragnvaldr, learn to pick one partner and put your foot down.”

Suddenly they all seemed equally mad at D’arce, making her get nervous. D’arce was just trying to be honest and helpful, but she must have misread the situation.(Well kind of) Ragnvaldr grumbled “Don’t talk about me like I’m a player…”. Now everyone was glaring at Ragnvaldr. He didn’t understand why anyone was mad, besides Enki. In fact, Ragnvaldr thought he was finally starting to realize why Enki was so possessive of him since these two showed up. No wonder the teasing made him so mad all this time, it wasn’t a joke to Enki, it seemed. It took what happened at lunch to make him actually aware of that, but now that he knew, he felt pretty mean.

Ragnvaldr now looked suspicious of D’arce and Cahara. He worried all three of these goblins might want him. What if they fought each other to the death, and he had to hold them all back. Would he have to sacrifice himself to make them come to their senses? Ragnvaldr’s ego was running wild. He pointed at Cahara, accusingly “Just stop hitting on me, okay? Enki’s probably going to sacrifice you to Gro-goroth or something.”.

Cahara looked terrified for a moment “Anything but that, please…I don’t think I can talk to someone very long without hitting on them.” The other party members looked at him with disappointment when they realized being sacrificed wasn’t what Cahara was scared of.

Enki scoffed “Stop acting like I’ve got a crush on the literal Neanderthal. It's not like I like him, enough with the mocking. It’s not. funny. ”. 

Cahara chuckled and pinched Enki’s cheek, nearly gaining him a slap, if Enki hadn’t barely missed. Cahara said in a baby-voice “Aww, you’re just a tsundere. You’re just a big softy under all that prickliness.” Cahara then booped Enki’s nose, even rubbing their foreheads together. Enki looked like he might vomit from the overwhelming affection-attack. D’arce and Ragnvaldr were almost certain Cahara die for that once Enki recovered from sensory overload..

Ragnvaldr was getting fed up with Cahara’s lack of boundaries, and maybe a bit at how flush Enki was from the interaction. Ragnvaldr shoved Cahara off of Enki with one hand, making him stumble off balance backwards, and bump into D’arce. She grabbed him by the ear before he could do more damage.

Enki looked humiliated to the point of speechlessness, and overwhelmed by physical contact. Enki walked over to a chair and sat down, seeming exhausted. Cahara was so gentle it made Enki nauseated. (Only someone fucked up as Enki was more bothered by soft touches than by violence.). 

D’arce casually put Cahara into a headlock when he tried to flee. He visibly had more muscle than D’arce, but he didn’t seem to know how to get out of the lock, or stop from getting in it. Actually, he might have even been letting her manhandle him. (He was). It’s not like she was incapable of overpowering him though, she was deceptively strong. D’arce said “Apologize, Cahara. Enki has dealt with enough today, without you calling him a-…a- what did you call him?”. She looked at Ragnvaldr for confirmation, he only shrugged.

Cahara interjected “Oh, uh, A tsundere.”.

D’arce and Ragnvaldr gave each other confused looks, and then they looked to Enki, who refused to elaborate, despite seeming to recognize the word. Cahara didn’t bother explaining, not when he was in a headlock and Enki was threatening him by glaring daggers. 

Cahara decided to try and de-escalate “I’m sorry, I’ll stop picking on Enki, okay? I promise, pinky swear even!”. Cahara weakly reached out his pinky, still in a headlock. Ragnvaldr grabbed it with his whole hand, threatening to break it in his grasp. Cahara cried out “UNCLE! Uncle! I give uppp!!”. Ragnvaldr let go, and then D’arce did as well. They both laughed at Cahara, as he fell onto his butt.

Enki seemed to be smiling, but with only his eyes. His mouth remained neutral, making the look even more unnerving. Cahara began tearing up, and the laughter stopped. D’arce sighed before patting Cahara’s head “Did that barbarian break your finger, completely on his own?! I’m so sorry Cahara, let me protect you.” 

Ragnvaldr looked shocked and betrayed.

Cahara cowered, and watched D’arce suddenly hold out her arms. Cahara wasted no time rushing to his feet to steal a hug. He didn’t care what was happening before, this was a rare opportunity! D’arce was alarmed by the urgency, even though she really shouldn’t be. She grabbed Cahara’s arms to make sure they wouldn’t wander, but begrudgingly let him rest his head on her shoulder. Cahara seemed content, and was now silent as can be, eyes closed and smiling genuinely. 

Enki decided to join in on the mocking now “Your violence knows no ends, Ragnvaldr. How could you hurt someone so defenseless and pathetic?”. Cahara didn’t even notice he’d been insulted, he might as well be in nirvana.

Ragnvaldr looked down at the floor sadly, before taking a seat. A group of footsteps approached the doors and Enki looked at the clock. It was Tuesday, and Tuesday was when they were supposed to have group therapy. The problem was the previous therapist was long gone, and they’d been unable to find another. Usually they would just skip it, or pocket cat would ask a few stupid generic questions, and pretend to care for 30 mins. 

Suddenly everyone had a bad feeling, a lump in the throat, a droning in their ears. 

Ragnvaldr raised an eyebrow, glancing at the clock to confirm it wasn’t time for pills. He’d never seen anything happen at this time, which put him more on edge. D’arce and Cahara seemed to pick up on this and hurried to sit down as well. Enki and Ragnvaldr seemed particularly unnerved when a doctor they’d never seen before entered the room. It was an eastern man, with a stern look on his face. He had an unruly dark brown beard, hair, and eyes. Maybe his most notable feature was the prominent reeking stank that surrounded the man. It smelled sickeningly sweet, putrid, wrong. 

Something about his presence made every hair stand on end with primal terror. The room was colder than before. The teens could all hear their heartbeat drumming in their ears.

Enki thought the doctor looked strangely familiar. No, he was certain he knew his face. Enki’s family had a book written by the man, some of the most controversial and groundbreaking work in the occult. It was easily from decades ago, however, and the man before them seemed accurately aged compared to the author's picture. Enki tried to tell himself to not be a fanboy, or upset the man. Just as he’d decided that, Cahara whispered “What is that smell?”. 

Fortunately the Doctor was busy bickering with the nurses over something in the doorway for a moment. Enki replied quietly “You’re not familiar with the smell of rot? It’s emanating from him. Follow my lead, stay as quiet and respectful as possible if you don’t want to die..”. The other three in the group exchanged horrified looks.

The doctor radiated more intimidating energy than Pocketcat, his lab coat was more blatantly blood stained than any other staff. The man motioned over Crow Mauler, who came and sat closer. Ronn was still absent. The intimidating Doctor pulled over a chair and took a seat in front of the teens. He looked over them all, with judgment evident on his face. “What a pitiful group. I’m Dr. Nas’hrah. No nicknames…or else. Do you poor, mentally challenged souls, who the gods have forgotten, know why I’m here?”.

Ragnvaldr’s jaw was clenched shut, trying to avoid saying anything to this prick. He already despised the man, and it wasn’t hard when he reeked of death. No one said a word, making the Dr grow impatient already. Ragnvaldr wasn’t going to let himself say something to ruin two of Enki’s plans in one day.

Enki spoke up “Are you here for group therapy?”. 

Nas’hrah’s eyes looked Enki up and down, more thoroughly taking in the ghastly teen’s appearance. He seemed amused. “Well, a patient that still has a memory, incredible. Guess that purple freak hasn’t finished sinking his claws into you… That guy seems like a pedophile, right?”.

Everyone looked too horrified to answer, even Enki was visibly sweating. This felt like a prank, like Pocketcat was waiting around the corner. Enki was used to respecting the cause of his fears, however. He responded, honestly “Almost certainly. He accused me of hitting on him before, then told me the Doctor patient relationship was a sacred one he couldn’t break. You don’t even want to know what he did earlier, in front of everyone. ”. Everyone looked deeply troubled by that.

“I fucking knew it.” Nas’hrah said, before tossing his clipboard off to a nearby table. He took a cigarette out, and lit it, despite being right under a sprinkler. Enki watched the smoke rise, and nothing happened. Well, good thing this place was built of bricks, and not wood, Enki thought.

“What’s with those? The cat do that? I guess you’re his second favorite toy now.” Nas’hrah pointed to all the bandages on Enki, and as he did, a thick clump of goo came dripping out between Nas’hrah’s gloves and sleeve. It hit the floor with a horrible wet noise, and Nas’hrah didn’t even acknowledge it. Everyone besides Enki stared at the clump, taking as long as they needed to process that it was a rotten clump of flesh. Enki could see beneath those sleeves were arms rotten to the point of exposed bone. Nas’hrah had a black turtleneck on, but even with it you could see the top of stitches around his neck like Frankenstein’s monster.

Enki didn’t even bother trying to make a polite smile, since he knew he wasn’t capable of looking polite. Ragnvaldr seemed to be trembling slightly, both from fear, as well as the urge to fight. Enki replied “…Well, my roommate has strange tastes, and keeps getting put on medication that makes him endlessly hungry.”. 

Nas’hrah chuckled, before looking at Ragnvaldr, who looked particularly guilty. “Let’s introduce ourselves, go in a circle. Prove to me you’re not all lobotomized already.” Nas’hrah ashed his cigarette on the floor, and a nurse came and swept it from beneath him, now on standby with a broom.

Ragnvaldr had his eyes locked with Nas’hrah’s now, most likely being asked to start because he was furthest left. Ragnvaldr spoke up “I’m Ragnv-”. 

“That was a joke, I don’t care who you are, Cannibal.”, Nas’hrah interrupted. Ragnvaldr’s eye was twitching. Next Nas’hrah looked over to Cahara, who flinched in reaction. Nas’hrah laughed “What a little piss baby, Afraid I’ll yell at you? Cahara nodded. Nas’hrah laughed loud “What moldable little lot, have they actually been lobotomized?”.

Enki realized this was a question directed at him, and he replied coldly “Not yet, they’re just trying not to shit themselves.”

D’arce tried her hardest to remain silent, still and listening, hoping not to get targeted. She was frozen with fear. Nas’hrah walked up to the girl and snapped in front her face, and still she didn’t react. He scoffed “Well, what a joke. Compared to the adult wards, this is kindergarten recess. People like you will mope around here until they die, which shouldn’t be long now. Trying to help you improve would be a waste of time..”.  Seemed like Nas’hrah was trying to provoke them.

Enki hesitantly lifted his hand like he had a question for a teacher, making Nas’hrah raise an eyebrow. He noticed the boy’s hand bandages were particularly bloodied. “What do you want, maggot?” Nas’hrah said, defensively. 

Enki looked the man in the eyes “I just wanted to say you look very familiar. Almost like an author I know of, even.”. 

Suddenly Nas’hrah looked genuinely alarmed, eyeing the boy up and down. He knew what Enki was getting at, but was surprised he had the balls to do it infront of a crowd. He was more surprised to be recognized for a niche book on the occult, his only book. Nas’hrah answered “What a library you must have…I would’ve thought every copy was burned, not to mention the different pen name…You must have quite the photographic memory.”

“I do.” Enki answered. He memorized plenty of books, this was nothing. What was more odd was the coincidence of encountering the man. 

Nas’hrah seemed increasingly distracted by what he’d been told, and was glaring at Enki with blatant anger. “Don’t expect any special treatment for being a nerd. Books won’t teach you everything.”.

Enki felt self doubt welling up within him, but Nas’hrah was quite obviously antsy about something all of a sudden. He scratched under his sleeve, before dropping his burnt cigarette to be swept up. 

When Enki didn’t react, Nas’hrah suddenly grabbed his clipboard back up from the table, and pulled a pen from his pocket, clicking it. “Tell me your name, chicken legs.”.  

Enki’s eye twitched at the word chicken, and he couldn’t help but glance Ragnvaldr’s way. Ragnvaldr tried to stay focused on Nas’hrah. Enki regained concentration quickly, but in his brief glance he’d noticed everyone else, even Crow, even the nurses, looked like they might vomit. The anxiety and nausea were palpable in the air. “I’m Enki Ankarian, sir.” 

Many were holding onto their chest or head. Enki assumed they were experiencing the same head throbbing chest pounding sensation he was. Enki seemed the most composed however. This adrenaline pumping aura was more than the stench of death, it was something few people knew the presence of, the undead . 

Nas’hrah looked contemplative “Ankarian, huh?”. The name sounded familiar, and when Nas’hrah looked through his papers, he skimmed. He began to laugh after a while “What an interesting file you have, sacrifice . Fancy yourself a martyr?”.

Enki’s comrades looked to Enki with concern for his well being, only to get more terrified from his calm demeanor. If anything he looked fascinated. Ragnvaldr looked at Enki with skepticism; He didn’t like how happy Enki seemed to be to meet this terrifying disgusting man, or how familiar he seemed with him.

Enki felt like screaming, but not from the fear. He was ultimately failing at not fanboying. He was almost certain Nas’hrah was undead, part undead at least. There was something supernatural to him beyond a standard cultist, something beyond being on the verge of death. Enki was struggling not to smile again. 

Nas’hrah was even starting to almost get creeped out by Enki’s exhilarated look in his eyes. Still, Nas’hrah could sense that Enki had great dark potential, potential that would have been wasted as a sacrifice. Thunder could be heard as lightning shined through the dark outside. There were shrieks in the room from many of the nurses as well as the teens, and the lights inside flickered. Once the power seemed to steady again Nas’hrah spoke again “I may see what I can do for you in a one on one session, if Pocketcat doesn’t bitch too hard about it. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind it, opposed to letting it all spill during the group?”.

If Enki didn’t know better, he’d think he recognized a recruiting time for that. 

Suddenly there was a loud crunching sound, and Ragnvaldr slowly let go of a fist full of splintered wood, causing it to spill out of his hand. He’d crushed the armrest of his chair. “Sorry…”. Ragnvaldr’s soul nearly left his body as Nas’hrah looked at him again, but this time with more anger. A nurse rushed over to grab the splintered wood from Ragnvaldr, and sweep under his feet. 

Enki was surprised to see Ragnvaldr so fearful, but he noticed the redhead also seemed like he was holding in some rage. Maybe that’s just how Ragnvaldr always was, Enki thought.  

Nas’hrah looked like he was inconvenienced when he asked “Okay, what’s your name, scar?”?

Ragnvaldr just said “Ragnvaldr.”. Nas’hrah looked annoyed but looked at his page next, nodding like he was surprised with a solid resume. He flipped to the next one, figuring the three dumber looking patients might be too skittish to share their names even. Nas’hrah skimmed over everyone’s files with interest, until he got to Crow. He laughed at first, before reading further, then he began to gag. Nas’hrah looked the boy up and down with disgust. “...What’s your name, dark one?”

Crow Mauler only cawed and made strange bird noises.

“I thought that’s what you’d say, you dumb fucking bird.”. Crow Mauler seemed to pout at that. Suddenly a male nurse dressed in yellow came in the door, and motioned Nas’hrah over. Nas’hrah just stared for a moment like he didn’t want to acknowledge the nurse. “Well, I’ll see you pests later, if you live. I have better things to do.”. Nas’hrah hurried off with the yellow nurse. A trail of dark, almost black blood dripped behind him. 

Nurses slowly cleared out, all seeming eager to get the hell out of there. The room did still stink, after all. The final one to leave closed the door behind them, locking it in.

Finally D’arce spoke, scream-whispering: “ What the hell is that guy??? What the fuck?!”. 

Cahara had started rocking back and forth in his chair “It’s fine, this is fine, this is a nightmare, a terrible terrible nightmare. I’m fine, good, great, coool. Cool beans.”.

Ragnvaldr slapped his fist against his already broken arm rest “Who the hell does that abomination think he is? Why do we have to shut up while he talks to us like that? Nothing pisses me off like disrespect.”.

“Yeah, that’s why I told you to be quiet.”. Enki stated.

Ragnvaldr gritted his teeth. He had an anger burning hot in him “Enki, I don’t trust that thing.”.

Enki rolled his eyes “It doesn’t matter if you trust him or not, he's a staff member.”. 

Ragnvaldr’s voice rattled as he spoke “I mean don’t lower your guard like that. Don’t think I couldn’t notice you look awfully pleased about the situation.”.

Enki raised an eyebrow at Ragnvaldr. He spoke hushed “Don’t be weird. He’s not quite human, couldn’t you tell?”.

D’arce looked to Enki “What do you mean? If he’s not human what would he be?”

Enki got up and walked over to where the piece of flesh had been on the floor, looking at the thick dark stain it left “Fascinating…”. He ignored D’arce completely.

Everyone, even Crow Mauler, seemed to find Enki strange. Crow swung his stump arm at Enki, not even getting close to contact, before running off back to his corner. Enki looked pissed off, knowing there used to be an extension to that arm. Everyone else just viewed it as a strange action from the crazy guy. “You bitch ass bird, don’t wanna bring in a whole crowd of nurses back, do you?”.

D’arce mumbled “Was that an attack?”?

Enki rolled his eyes “It was if you think your arm is 5 feet long.”.

Cahara opened his mouth “So what’s your plan, Enki? You’re so collected, what’s up with that, huh? I can see why Ragnvaldr is giving you the bombastic side eye, you’re never that nice to us.”

Enki glared at Cahara “Respect is earned, or demanded. You idiots wouldn’t kill me even if you could, why would I kiss your ass? I’d never fear you morons.”.

Ragnvaldr squinted, and you could practically hear the gears turning in his head. “What about me? You’re not scared of me?”.

Enki scoffed, almost chuckled even. Then he seemed to realize Ragnvaldr was serious. “You’re different, be serious.”.

Ragnvaldr tried to get focus back to Cahara and D’arce’’s questions, “What are you planning? What is that man?”.

Enki sat back down and rested his head against his head, leaning against his elbow. “Is it about what I’m planning? Or is it about what he’s planning? He’s not the only one who will be getting answers whenever I’m pulled aside. I believe he’s an undead, but he’s too smart for that. I can’t quite pin what he is, but there’s no doubt he’s not quite human.”.

Cahara gulped “What? Like a zombie? Oh god it’s the apocalypse, we’re doomed.”

D’arce scoffed loudly “Don’t tell me you guys actually think he’s a zombie? I know we’re in the looney bin , but last time I checked, zombies weren’t real!”.

Enki snapped, and the sound made D’arce go tense. Everyone looked back to Enki as he said “Don’t be so sure you’re the one who knows what is and isn’t real here. You’re the most delusional of us all.”.

D’arce furrowed her brows and felt a sting in her chest and eyes. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was deeply hurt. “Oh please. I’m the most normal one here. I wouldn’t even be in this place if I wasn’t here to rescue Le’Gar-”. 

“ Quiet. ” Ragnvaldr commanded, and D’arce listened despite herself. Even if they were enemies he was undeniably the leader of the group, and he had the presence to command. Ragnvaldr continued “You’re the only one who’s goals don’t align with ours, watch your tongue. I’ll ignore your disrespect towards the thief, but I expect you not to talk to Enki like that.”.

D’arce’s eyes shined with tears and she bared her teeth as she spoke “Where’s my respect? You’re lucky I’m willing to respect our different goals, I thought I could expect the same. I guess it’s only a matter of time before we clash though, isn’t it?”.

Ragnvaldr spat on the ground near D’arce’s foot, making her flinch. Her face and ears went red with anger. She snapped at him again, “You’re disgusting! How dare you! If I get your spit on me I might get rabies too! I hope All-mer helps you, you sick man.”.

“That’s it.”. Ragnvaldr stood up, about to make his way towards D’arce.

Enki spoke up, in an uncaring monotone voice “Stop. Don’t. Come back…”. He yawned.

Cahara stood up and got infront of D’arce, holding a hand up towards Ragnvaldr to signal him to hold on. He definitely stepped in Ragnvaldr’s spit. D’arce stood up too, and Cahara held a hand up toward her as well.

Cahara spoke up “Guys, please. This isn’t the time or place to be fighting.”.

Ragnvaldr scoffed “This is THE time and place to fight.”

D’arce laughed “Oh really? I couldn’t tell, by the way you treat your cellmate I thought you preferred to cage fight.”.

Ragnvaldr snarled through his teeth, and Cahara stepped more fully between the two to block their confrontation. Both Ragnvaldr and D’arce were shoving and jabbing him to get him out of the way, making him ground his footing and guard his head. Cahara begged “Please! Have mercy! If we fight amongst ourselves it’s only going to make it worse!”.

Enki groaned “I agree with Cahara, for once. It’s almost medicine time, and frankly I’m sick of all this drama. Get a hold of yourselves.”.

D’arce and Ragnvaldr begrudgingly stopped using Cahara as their punching bag. There was a petty hmphf from both attackers, before they decided to sit. Cahara sighed with relief as he plopped back into his own seat. 

Ragnvaldr coughed before speaking “I’m sorry, Enki, Cahara.”. 

D’arce glared at the barbarian, before gripping the bridge of her nose “I’m also sorry, to Cahara and Enki. Only Cahara and Enki.” .

Enki groaned “God, you petty bitches make me look like a saint sometimes. Silence is a virtue, you know?”.

With that, everyone listened to Enki properly for once. They all took time to be quiet, and self reflect. Enki was willing to ignore the bratty sighs and huffs every 5 minutes from at least one of the 3. He took the time to read, and it felt like no time at all for him. Everyone else was stewing.

Enki barely let his eyes leave the pages when the nurses came in to medicate them. He couldn’t help but notice Pocketcat still wasn’t around, which was always a welcome break. They were all given various pills and water. Enki set his book down to take his, and looked down to see what he was given. There was the usual cocktail of psyche meds he needed, and another viagra. Enki glared at the nurse that’d given it to him. He didn’t even bother saying anything this time, only rolling his eyes and taking the pills. Even if Pocketcat wasn’t around, Enki assumed he was being monitored. Maybe this was how they were going to keep him from focusing on escape?

D’arce and Cahara were given injections, and they cooperated reluctantly when told they were vaccinations, though they didn’t fully believe it. They were right to be skeptical, because it was the same injection Ragnvaldr received to make him more weak and tranquil. Once they’d all complied, they were rewarded with food. The group didn’t bother getting chatty this time, the mood was soured. Enki kind of preferred this, at least it was quiet. He didn’t even bother talking to mention he wasn’t certain if his food had viagra this time. If it was drugged it was a lot less noticeable in the taste. 

After Enki ate half his food, he went back to reading. He just wasn’t going to think about the way they were using medications to play with them. He wasn’t going to think about the drama, or how short lived this group would be. He just wanted to read. Ragnvaldr asked for the rest of Enki’s food, and he just agreed without thinking. He couldn’t be bothered to warn Ragnvaldr every single time he decided to eat something suspicious. Guilt began to weigh on him though when he saw the tray had been eaten clean. He’d tell him later, Enki decided.

No one seemed to have anything to say during or after dinner, and when it was just before bed time, Enki got up and began to walk to the doors, which had been left open since dinner. 

Ragnvaldr said “Where are you going?”

Enki had to clear his throat before he could speak “I’m just tired is all.”.

Cahara and D’arce seemed increasingly tired, struggling to even keep their eyes open. They stubbornly sat there and pretended they weren’t on the verge of passing out. D’arce finally said something after a long delay “Yeah, it’s been a long day…Goodnight.”. 

Enki just said “Uh huh.” as he glanced back at her over his shoulder. Then he was gone.

Ragnvaldr didn’t enjoy the idea of spending more time without Enki, after the troubles he’d had with D’arce and Cahara through the day. He tried hard to look on the bright side as he got up to leave the room. “Thank you two, for helping earlier. I’ll try to be nicer , as long as she can.”. 

D’arce seemed more mellow about the topic now that she had her meds and food “Yeah yeah, we can both improve. I doubt we’ll ever find a compromise, but until then…we’ll play nice.”.

Ragnvaldr nodded, before being stopped by Cahara grabbing his sleeve. Cahara pulled a roll from his pocket and put it into Ragnvaldr’s, then let go of him. “Goodnight, don’t bite.”.

The tall redhead groaned, “Yeah, thanks…” Then continued back to his room. The door was shut when he got there, but it was still just early enough it’d be unlocked from inside. Ragnvaldr knocked on the door, and suddenly there was a small thud behind the door. 

“Enki? Are you alright in there?”.

“Uhh, yeah?” Enki replied, sounding unsure.

“...Let me in, I’m tired too.”. Ragnvaldr requested, but he got no reply. There was shuffling and the sound of Enki moving things. Maybe even the sound of him climbing his ladder, but twice for some reason. Finally after a long wait, right as Ragnvaldr was about to say something again, the door creaked open slightly. Enki ran to climb up to his bunk, making it there before Ragnvaldr had the door open completely. 

“Nosramus stashed chips under your bed while we were gone.” Enki said, without looking over.

Enki was lying down, facing the wall. Ragnvaldr’s bed looked tampered with, more than putting chips under the bed would justify. It wasn’t tidy either. Ragnvaldr’s pillow was crooked and on top of the blanket. 

“Okay, Cahara also gave me a roll.”.

Ragnvaldr took the roll and ate it quickly, before getting into bed. Whenever he finally did, Ragnvaldr could swear he heard Enki breathe a quiet sigh of relief. Ragnvaldr put his pillow back in place and got comfortable. As soon as he laid down, his eyes caught a glimpse of something shining near his face. He grabbed at it, and recognized it was a few strands of hair from the feeling. He stared at it as he was feeling it in his hands. It was much too long to belong to Ragnvaldr. Ragnvaldr turned over to drop the hairs off the side of his bed, then took a deep sniff of his pillow. It smelled like Enki, as much as anyone could smell different from each other when they all used the same soap. Ragnvaldr was certain Enki hadn’t just been in his bed before him, leaving it a bit warm, and also switched their pillows.

Ragnvaldr tried not to make a peep, not a chuckle, not a yawn. He waited a long while in silence, patiently. Cahara and D’arce could eventually be heard making their way to their room, and passing out as soon as they laid down. Once it was fully silent again for another few minutes, Ragnvaldr asked a question “Are you awake?”.

Enki answered after a few seconds “Yes?”

Ragnvaldr replied “I bet. My pillow is much flatter than yours.”. 

There was silence again as the implications sank in, and Enki tried to put off answering as long as possible. Eventually he said “I have no idea what you’re talking about…”. 

Ragnvaldr squeezed the fluffy pillow beneath his head with one of his hands. “If you say so. Thanks for the trade.”.

There was another long silence, filled with Enki wondering what he was supposed to say. Sorry felt like a fitting word, but he refused. After enough time he felt he’d been excused from answering all together. Enki felt stupid trying to pull a stunt like that, laying in Ragnvaldr’s bunk, then switching their pillows. He really couldn’t think right when he was like this. Enki decided he had to figure out a way to pretend to take his pills before they urged him to do more weird things.

After the long wait, Enki asked a question, knowing Ragnvaldr was awake due to the lack of snoring. “By the way, was my food drugged? As in, you know, with Viagra?”. 

Ragnvaldr could be heard shuffling in his bed to face upwards instead of laying on his side “I don’t think so, did they make you take that again?”.

Enki didn’t respond, not wanting to admit they had, and that sex was the only thing on his mind right now. “...No…Maybe. It’s fine, I’m just going to sleep it off.”. 

Ragnvaldr sighed “That can’t be good for you.”.

Enki scoffed “Of course not, they’re probably going to give me erectile dysfunction.”

Ragnvaldr replied “Well, that too. Wouldn’t you rather go take care of that, though? You’d probably sleep better.”

Enki’s face grew hotter “Don’t be ridiculous, what the hell am I going to do go jerk off in the bathroom? We’re in the same room for fucksake.”.

Ragnvaldr chuckled a bit, “Afraid I’ll hear you? You must not be very quiet.”.

Enki was speechless for a second, until he snapped back “No. It’s the principle of the thing, in civilized society we call that rude .”.

“This isn’t civilized society, is it? Relax, it was just a suggestion. Your health is important.”.

Enki rolled his eyes at the cannibal who’d attacked him twice trying to lecture him about his health. “...Ragnvaldr, can I ask…how much do you remember from after lunch?”. With just that one question the atmosphere was more tense.

Ragnvaldr went over the fuzzy memories in his head, but some key moments he remembered a little too well. “Most of it, I think.”.

Enki buried his face in his pillow, hoping if he stayed there long enough he’d suffocate and die. Eventually Ragnvaldr spoke up “I’m sorry if it’s troubling you, it won’t happen again.”.

Enki couldn’t help but chuckle into his pillow at that, before turning over to speak again “I don’t doubt that, you’d never do that sober.”.

There was another long silence, and Enki began to grow more and more anxious that he'd said the wrong thing. He eventually spoke again, but this time his anxiety was evident in his shaky voice “Should I… apologize ?”. The last word made Enki’s voice crack.

Ragnvaldr finally answered “No, no. You didn’t do anything wrong. I mean, it was irresponsible, but…”. 

There was more silence until Enki got annoyed and asked “But?”.

“It’s fortunate we were interrupted…”.

Enki felt his whole body burning with shame “Right, of course…”. He thought it was anything but fortunate, he would have rather been found afterwards dead or dying if it meant continuing where they’d been. He curled up in his bunk, hugging onto the stolen pillow he’d obtained. Enki kept talking again “I’m sure you’d be rather traumatized, if you aren’t already, hm?”.

Ragnvaldr gulped “Well, yes. It would be rather difficult, knowing I’d done that…I feel bad enough already.”.

Enki sighed  “Anyone would be traumatized after kissing me. I bet it was like kissing a bloody skeleton…” He sounded disgusted.

Ragnvaldr’s face was warm from the topic. “That was not the upsetting part.”.

Enki grimaced “It was what I said then, wasn’t it? I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I was hoping you’d somehow blacked that out. It’s not too late to pretend you did.”.

Ragnvaldr raised a leg up, effortlessly giving a kick to the bottom of Enki’s bunk. Enki jumped and gasped, before cursing under his breath, “You’re an asshole, you know that? What was that for?”.

Ragnvaldr replied “I’m disturbed I attacked you, nerd. Nothing you did bothered me at all, if anything it encouraged me…I guess I shouldn’t feel so bad, since you seemed to enjoy yourself, but I do. Part of me wishes you’d be more angry, like last time…Make me feel bad about it.”

Enki clawed into his pillow, “That makes you even worse, you’d rather I hated it?”. He felt like his heart was going to jump out of his mouth trying to reprimand. Enki wished he could still argue he didn’t like it to save his fragile pride, but it was way too late for that.

“ No, definitely not. If anything, you liking it makes me want to do it more.”.

Enki swallowed a lump in his throat, and when he tried to talk the words wouldn’t come out at first. When they did his voice was a bit higher than normal, “Are you talking about cannibalism, or-”

“Both.”

“Oh...”

Enki’s head was reeling now, with ideas of what to say next. He even thought about telling Ragnvaldr he had a few ideas to reprimand him, and get out some frustration. Before he could say anything else though he felt overcome with dizziness. The excitement was too much for Enki’s heart and he’d fainted.

After enough time had passed of Ragnvaldr also wondering what to say, he began to feel uneasy. “Are you still awake?” no answer from Enki. Ragnvaldr gently kicked the bottom of Enki’s bunk again, also to no response. Ragnvaldr rushed out of bed and climbed the ladder, feeling the bed frame creak threateningly under his weight. He grabbed Enki’s ankle in one last hope it would startle him awake. It seemed to provoke some reaction at least, as Enki groaned. 

Ragnvaldr continued to nag, anxious at Enki passing out so suddenly. Even if they’d been talking about nothing Enki would lay awake until far past midnight. He shook Enki’s ankle gently “Enki. Are you alright?”. 

Enki finally peeled his eyes barely open, and gathered the will to turn over to his other side. Enki felt like he could barely speak right now “‘Mm fine.”.

 Now that Ragnvaldr could see Enki’s face, he could make out blood dripping from his nose, and that some of it got on Enki’s blanket and stolen pillow. Ragnvaldr motioned Enki over “Come here.”.

Enki just kept staring for a second, debating on asking why. He wiped his mouth, suddenly perceiving that it was wet, and then looked at his bloodied arm. Enki mumbled “Damnit.”.

Ragnvaldr looked increasingly concerned from the ladder “Should I try and get medical help-”

“Don’t you dare. I’m fine, I just need to clean up.” Enki mumbled to the best of his ability. He slowly sat up, and scooted to the side of the bed, threatening to give Ragnvaldr a little kick to the face. Enki yelped with surprised when instead of climbing back down, Ragnvaldr managed to wrangle Enki over and grab him one armed, holding him over his shoulder for stability. “Ragnvaldr!” Enki’s face dangled over Ragnvaldr’s back, getting a view of the floor as he began to descend. 

Enki felt faint again, but soon Ragnvaldr had somehow managed to safely get them to the floor. When Enki was set down, he was eased to be seated on the bed. Ragnvaldr went over to the sink and grabbed a paper cup he’d brought in earlier in the day. Ragnvaldr came back after a minute to Enki resting his head in his hands. Enki didn’t see what all Ragnvaldr had brought, until he looked up to him and felt a cold paper towel wiping off his face. 

Enki stayed still, watching Ragnvaldr’s eyes in the dark as they spotted every drop of blood that needed to be cleaned. When Ragnvaldr went to clean Enki’s hands and arm up, he hesitated for a second, audibly gulping as he looked at the blood. Enki chuckled weakly, before taking the paper towel to clean his own hands and arm. 

Ragnvaldr handed over a dry paper towel, and took the wet one, getting up to toss it in the trash. Enki dried off his face and hands, then quickly held the paper towel beneath his nose. Ragnvaldr came back and offered a paper cup of water, which Enki gratefully drank. 

While Enki waited for his nosebleed to stop, Ragnvaldr grabbed a bag of chips from under the bed, chowing down urgently. Enki looked at him with suspicion if that was in reaction to the blood, but he decided to dismiss it. Enki knew if he didn’t behave himself he’d end up doing something stupid like telling Ragnvaldr to snack on him instead. 

Enki took a deep breath to try and clear his head of filth. When he checked it seemed the bleeding had stopped. Enki went to get up to throw it away, but fell back where he’d been sitting from trying to stand too fast. Ragnvaldr took the paper towel and back of chips and took them to the trash.

When the brute came back Enki expected him to offer to help him back on his bunk. Instead Ragnvaldr said “Scoot over.”. 

Enki raised a brow “Do what?”.

Ragnvaldr repeated, casually, “Scoot over. We can both fit, you’re small. You got some blood on your bed, and it’s safer down here if you’re dizzy. Want the wall or the edge?”.

Enki didn’t bother arguing, only processing what he heard with rosy cheeks. Internally he was screaming. “Okay, you win. Wall, I guess.”. Enki scooted back, before laying down against the wall. When Ragnvaldr got in bed after him, Enki felt like he might faint again, if he wasn’t crushed under the giant first. 

Ragnvaldr adjusted the blanket over them. After their legs brushed Ragnvaldr trapped one of Enki’s beneath his own, and grabbed onto one of the thin boy’s hands. “You’re so cold.”.

Enki looked between Ragnvaldr’s hand wrapped fully around his own, and back to the redhead’s face a few times. He’d definitely made a mistake, agreeing to lay down here. Any shred of purity was gone from Enki’s brain were gone, emboldened by being in Ragnvaldr’s bed with him. “I’d be warmer if you fucked me.”.

Ragnvaldr only stared in bewilderment for a minute, as his face got progressively redder. “You’re letting the drugs talk for you. I’m not going to take advantage of you.”.

Enki groaned in annoyance, before shoving his face against Ragnvaldr’s broad chest. The Oldegardian let Enki rest his head there like a pillow. Enki complained, “That’s not fair, you’re just teasing me. Fine, enjoy getting jabbed all night.”. Enki relaxed his body, letting his confined erection get pressed against Ragnvaldr’s leg. It was pathetic, but Enki was pretty sure just this might make him cum. 

Enki inhaled a sharp breath when Ragnvaldr pressed up against his bulge, offering a little friction. Enki looked at him with pleading eyes in the dark. Ragnvaldr kept doing it, despite his own words, leering at the lewd faces Enki was making in reaction. Enki definitely wasn’t going to point out the double standard when he was finally getting what he wanted. Enki bucked his hips a few times against the contact, covering his mouth to stifle the little high pitched breaths he was making. 

Suddenly Enki stopped, grabbing onto Ragnvaldr’s scrubs with urgency “Wait- stop!”. Ragnvaldr looked alarmed, and remorseful. Enki avoided eye contact as he elaborated “I was worried I might cum...”.

Ragnvaldr laughed a little and Enki hit him a few times on the chest, doing no damage. Enki groaned. “Don’t laugh at me, I’ve been pent up.”.

Ragnvaldr rolled onto his side, to gently grab Enki’s face and bring it closer. He thought about asking Enki if he could kiss him, but he could tell by the sick grin on Enki’s face that was just what Enki wanted. Ragnvaldr closed the gap between them, starting chaste, but quickly escalating into a viscerally needy makeout. When they needed to break for air, Ragnvaldr grabbed onto Enki’s shoulders, preparing to bite at his neck. Once he was reminded it was covered in bandages, he halted himself, taking a moment to breathe, and get control of his mind. This wasn’t going to end like last time, Ragnvaldr refused to let that happen.

Enki rolled on top of Ragnvaldr, pinning him down with all the force he could muster. The two smirked at each other, before devolving into giddy hushed laughter. Ragnvaldr remarked “So you have been holding back.”

Enki looked more smug than ever, and frankly, a smile didn’t look right on him. Something about that perverse manic grin just made Ragnvaldr more excited, thinking of whatever Enki was plotting. Ragnvaldr tried to relax, and let Enki start kissing his neck. Ragnvaldr didn’t expect the sensation to be so pleasant, he wasn’t a stranger to sex, but he’d never been kissed there. He’d never been with a guy for that matter either. Only when Enki bit down hard there did Ragnvaldr let out a soft groan. 

Ragnvaldr couldn’t help but chuckle at the feeling of teeth struggling to break skin and failing. Enki groaned with dissatisfaction, before deciding to start leaving revenge hickies. Ragnvaldr seemed more pleased with that, and let his hands wander. One hand caressed Enki’s back, while the other grabbed and fondled his ass. Just that was enough to make Enki start to quietly moan and whine against Ragnvaldr’s neck.

—————————

Not long after that, D’arce woke up feeling heavy. It was still night, but she could hear commotion in the next room. There was muffled moaning and screaming, like someone was being gagged and tortured. D’arce forced herself upright in her bed, listening with intense anxiety. She could faintly hear Enki pleading Ragnvaldr’s name like a mantra, and images of the attack she’d stopped the previous night came to her mind. “Cahara! Wake up! I think Enki is being attacked again!”.

“Ssshhhh.” Cahara replied, shocking D’arce into silence. Cahara spoke again “I think they’re actually fucking this time.”.

D’arce looked over to motion in the room, spotting Cahara about to remove the brick. “Cahara, stop.”. He froze, laughing anxiously before going back to his bed. D’arce became increasingly aware of a repetitive slapping sound from the other side of the wall. D’arce realized with growing horror that Cahara was actually right this time. 

D’arce sounded like she might vomit when she spoke “Are you sure Enki’s alright though? It sounds pretty aggressive…”. 

Before Cahara could reply they could hear Enki crying out “Harder! Break me!”. Ragnvaldr could be heard grunting and snarling like a wild animal. D’arce and Cahara were red head to toe from the lewd sounds, they were shocked not even this could summon the nurses, and they began to wonder if anything would. 

There was an extra loud slap on the other side of the wall, followed by Ragnvaldr starting to talk dirty, and D’arce covered her ears. Cahara gulped as he made out occasional gravelly words like “bitch” and “take it”. Cahara couldn’t help but feel envious of the passion, even if it did sound rather violent. 

Soon Cahara was brought out of his lewd envy by the sound of crying from above him. That was enough to ruin Cahara’s eavesdropping mood, and he quickly went to climb up to D’arce’s bunk. She seemed alarmed to see him, and backed into a corner. She must not have been too intimidated, because she wouldn’t stop covering her ears to guard herself.

Cahara’s eyebrows curled upwards with empathy, but he continued to crawl over. Once he was in front of her he sat, and put his hands over hers on her ears. D’arce seemed to calm down after a second, as Cahara smiled patiently at her. They stayed like that for a few minutes, until Cahara suddenly removed his hands. In a panic D’arce tried to bring his hands back to hold them over her ears, but she quickly realized it was quiet now. 

Cahara got his hands free, and gently wiped her tears off her cheeks. She glared at him with embarrassment, but it soon turned into a look of appreciation. She sighed “Sorry, I don’t know what got into me, you probably think I’m weird.”.

Cahara shook his head, looking sleepy. “No, don’t worry, it’s okay to be scared. Plus, not like you agreed to be their audience.” Cahara chuckled nervously. 

D’arce looked away towards the wall, seeming to have more on her mind, Cahara waited as she decided what to say. Her voice was mousy as she spoke “It’s strange, hearing someone so strong willed make noises like that. He sounded like an injured animal.”.

Cahara nodded understandingly “Want me to lecture them about being safe tomorrow?”.

D’arce laughed weakly “No, not like they’d listen, they’ll just get mad. I just need to calm back down, I think.”.

Cahara scratched the back of his neck. “Would…you want a hug?”.

D’arce looked in Cahara’s eyes, hesitating. He seemed more worried than excited by the whole experience, despite how eager he was to spy on the sex scene a minute ago. D’arce felt like maybe he wasn’t that much of a pervert. She had a moment of weakness, “Okay, but don’t try to get handsy with me.”.

Cahara blushed at that “That’s the impression I give, huh? Yikes…” Cahara opened his arms and pulled D’arce into a hug. She was tense at first, but quickly relaxed, hugging back. She curled her fingers into his back, and maybe it would have hurt if her nails weren’t filed clean and short. Cahara patted her back, starting to give it soft rubs. She didn’t seem to mind as his hand slid over the taped up sports bra beneath. He was surprised they let her keep it.

Ragnvaldr’s snoring could be heard now.

Cahara moved the hand from her back to her head, gently touching the back of her hair, caressing her head. She seemed to melt into it sleepily. Cahara said “Hey, I can’t imagine binding like that all the time is comfortable. If you ever need to take it off while I’m on the bottom bunk you can just tell me not look up here.”

She laughed quietly in his ear, then whispered “That’d probably just make you look.”. 

Cahara shivered, before suddenly releasing the hug. D’arce seemed confused as Cahara backed off a bit. Then he said “Well, if you feel better, I should probably go lay down.”.

D’arce had a moment of conflict as she debated asking Cahara to stay here a little longer, but he seemed to be getting antsy. She couldn’t help but think he looked a bit girlish, all flustered like he had a crush. She couldn’t decide if it was cute or gross, considering they both had someone. She’d let him go before things turned more awkward “Goodnight, Cahara. Tomorrow let’s try and get more answers about a plan, maybe those two will have their heads out of the gutter by then.”

Cahara smiled “Goodnight, D’arce.”. Then he hurried back down to his bunk. He yawned loud before saying “Oh, and thank you for the hug. I really needed it. Hope I didn’t scare you.”.

D’arce laid down. She could feel her heart pounding away in her chest, but she wasn’t anxious like she was before. She didn’t feel like she could be scared of Cahara after how nice he’d been. Him hurting her now seemed like an impossible hypothetical, it was laughable. Something about it gave her a warm fuzzy feeling in her heart. “Thank you. You’re a good friend Cahara.”.

Cahara fell asleep smiling after hearing that. D’arce’s melodic voice repeated in his mind. He tried to imagine the sound of Celeste’s voice and wondered if he’d ever hear it again. He also wondered if they’d ever find Le’garde.

Chapter Text

Sunlight came in like a flood light, leaving sobered migraines in their wake. The same alarm blared, and there was an announcement from Pocketcat to meet in the commons. D’arce and Cahara just got here, and they already missed the most annoying of alarm clocks compared to this . Pocketcat’s voice was like claws on a chalkboard first thing in the morning.

When the doors opened for the day, and nurses peered into the rooms, there was a shout. “Hey!” A male nurse shouted “I don’t know where he went- or what happened but- a patient is gone! There’s barely any blood…he couldn’t have been-”.

“I’m right here, shut the fuck up. God, it’s too early to be this loud.”. Enki yawned. He sat up, from beside Ragnvaldr and the wall. They both were in different states of half-dress. They’d obviously gotten re-dressed in the dark, to little success . Enki, surprisingly, didn’t have more bite marks. That didn’t mean he didn’t sustain damage in…other ways. He’d definitely over done it. 

Enki hissed through his teeth at the body aches as he laid back down. Ragnvaldr sat up, ignoring the nurses, to question Enki quietly about how he was doing. The nurse cut back in, “Don’t ignore me! Get dressed, and stay here until we give the word to do otherwise. We need to decide what to do with you.”.

Ragnvaldr looked over, full of disdain. “What do you mean? Is this even against the rules? I didn’t attack him, he’s just in my bed, because we-”

“Yeah, I know, spare me the details.” the nurse remarked, looking pretty judgmental. He sighed, and lingered half in the doorway, motioning over some guards, and whispering to other staff. Every now and then another one of them would peek their head in, making the two prisoners more and more uncomfortable.

Ragnvaldr got up, pulling his pants up as he did. Enki stayed covered under the sheets, watching with concern about what he might do. The male nurse looked increasingly worried as the younger, albeit stronger man came closer to him. Ragnvaldr gently pushed the man out of the doorway and said “I’m closing this to get dressed.”. Then he slammed the door in the nurse’s face. Immediately Ragnvaldr went to the desk in the room, grabbing it like he was about to lift it.

Enki called out “Don’t bother! If you’re thinking of barricading the door, you’re just going to piss them all off more. We had our fun, let’s just not make the punishment worse.”. Enki rolled the blanket off himself, preparing for the daunting task of getting out of bed. He was only wearing a very oversized scrub shirt. It was Ragnvaldr’s shirt. Enki sat up again slowly, locating his briefs and putting them on. Enki spoke with a hesitant fondness to his voice, “I suppose I should thank you, you helped me learn some wonderful things...I think I’d like to learn more from you sometime.”. Enki was smirking again. That rotten grin could curdle milk.

Ragnvaldr had let go of the desk, and was watching Enki get up. He sighed, and grabbed Enki’s pants up off the floor, before tossing them over. Enki grabbed them from where they landed on the bed, and began putting them on as Ragnvaldr replied: “I could say the same to you… Too bad it happened in a place like this, but if you're happy…”. Ragnvaldr gave Enki another look up and down, trying not to grow uncomfortable with Enki’s smile. Ragnvaldr continued, “and still in one piece…You, uh, don’t have any ruptured organs, right?”.

Enki laughed quietly as he made his way to sit on the edge of the bed, leaning back on his arms for support. “I don’t think so, but if I do, take the thank-you anyways. I wonder what they’re going to do with us, I honestly wasn’t sure they’d care at this point. I should have got up early to get in my bunk, that was stupid of me.”.

Ragnvaldr laughed, weak and forced. “Like you could have even climbed over me anyways, we were careless. I’m just relieved you’re alright, for now… I wonder if they’ll take me to solitary confinement again? Whatever happens, if they split us up, I just wanted to tell you…”. Enki looked uncomfortable as Ragnvaldr came closer and took his hand. Ragnvaldr seemed to freeze up for a moment, before he continued, “You’re wearing my shirt, that’s yours on the bed over there.” .

Enki’s eye twitched, and he yanked his hand away. He forced himself off the bed, despite the way it worsened his pain and vertigo. Enki made a snide comeback “Gee, I thought you might get sentimental for a second. Make them give you another shirt, they’re probably going to make us change anyway.”. Enki didn’t want to admit outright that he wanted to wear Ragnvaldr’s dirty shirt for as long as possible.

Ragnvaldr seemed a bit flustered. “Well, I also wanted to say-” They were interrupted by a guard opening the door without knocking. They shouldn’t be surprised at this point.

The male guard easily matched Ragnvaldr in size, and with his thick soled boots and security uniform, he stood slightly taller than Ragnvaldr currently did. The guard said “Go to the showers, no time to waste getting covered up like sissies, this is the boy’s ward! Get moving!”.

Enki sighed with relief “Thank god, I feel disgusting.”. Ragnvaldr looked over, visibly distraught. Enki noticed, and shrugged: “No offense, you would too. You might have looks that put All-mer to shame, but that doesn’t mean I want to sit around filled with your half-dried-”

“GET MOVING!” the guard shouted, before coming over to start pulling the boys out the door. They began walking, chuckling evilly, amused with their own immature antics. The guard spoke up again “Quietly!”. Enki and Ragnvaldr gave each other a smug look of victory over upsetting the guard. They could both be petty, and combined, it was a match made in hell.

Unbeknownst to the two boys, Cahara and D’arce were trying desperately to get a look at them through the many staff blocking the view.

Once the two had finally reached the shower room, they were disappointed to see some familiar faces. Crow and Ronn were here, also being forced to shower. Crow was flapping his arms (arm and stub) like a bird in a fountain. Ragnvaldr really wanted to know what was up with that guy. 

Ronn Chambara’s skin looked more scarred than before, if it was possible. He seemed to give Enki a look of interest, eyeing Enki’s own increase in injuries. Enki ignored him completely. Ragnvaldr glared at Ronn for a moment, as if telling him to look away. Enki and Ragnvaldr stripped down as they were told to, and picked shower heads far from the other two boys. When Enki got under the water it ran red like Ronn’s shower did, but Enki’s water slowly turned pink as the blood let up.

Enki grumbled, speaking to Ragnvaldr from two faucets down. “I was hoping it wouldn’t be so busy, guess it’s good it’s not everyone at least.”.

Ragnvaldr laughed a bit, eyeing Enki up and down. Enki had definitely become more comfortable with nudity and proximity since they’d met. Never before would Enki willingly shower this close to someone else. “Not like we won’t be watched by guards anyways. There’s safety in numbers, you know.”.

They silently focused on washing for a moment, until Ragnvaldr started humming. It was a lullaby from Oldëgarde that Ragnvaldr tended to hum to calm himself sometimes. Enki glanced back to Ragnvaldr, trying not to get mesmerized by the man’s beauty, and the tune. It wasn’t a hard guess as to what was bothering Rag’. Enki would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous to find out what the consequences they’d be facing were.

Enki sighed, “Don't worry so much. They might play rough with us here, but we’re their favorite toys. Trust me, if Pocketcat didn’t like us we’d have been gone as soon as we got here. Strange man.”. A guard told Enki to stop talking in the shower, but he ignored it. “Besides, I’m sure you’ll accomplish your goals, even if it has to be alone.”.

Ragnvaldr had to resist the urge to whimper at the thought. He’d become far too attached to peers who could be ripped away in an instance. Under all the ultra-violence and scary looks, Ragnvaldr was just a softy. He understood why Enki was so distant when they met now. Ragnvaldr could feel the threat of loss looming over him now, and it was something he didn’t want to feel again. “Still, even if I did, my life isn’t waiting for me out there. No one is waiting for me out there. I’m sure you can relate. That’s why, I need to tell you I-“.

One of the guards shouted “Shut up in there! Save it for the commons, queers!”.

Ragnvaldr and Enki seemed to both get flustered at that. Ragnvaldr was growling under his breath, causing Enki to whisper “ Leave it , it’s not worth the fight. Welcome to the world of homophobia, I suppose.”. 

Ragnvaldr stopped growling, and came to the startling conclusion he’d just been ordered like a dog. He thought about fighting the guard just to show Enki his disobedience, but in the end, they had enough trouble on their hands. It wasn’t worth it(and he kind of wanted to listen to Enki).

Enki decided that was just as good a time as any to awkwardly try and hide from the guards’ view behind Ragnvaldr to wash his ass. It made Enki feel like a degenerate, but not in an exciting way, just in a gross way. Ragnvaldr seemed to catch on, and intentionally tried to block Enki from view. When Enki was done, he washed his hands again, and mumbled “Well, that was humiliating.” 

Ragnvaldr whispered “I don’t think anyone noticed.”. When Enki looked around, it was clear everyone noticed, or at least suspected. He felt ashamed, but the homophobic guard deserved the trauma at this point, at least.

Fortunately no one looked the pair’s way for long. Just as the showers had been quiet for a while, Crow cawed loudly, reverberating off the tiles and giving everyone a headache. Ragnvaldr asked Enki, hushed, “What’s with that guy?”.

Enki hummed thoughtfully before whispering back “I never told you? Back in the cult, we tried summoning a deity into him, but a crow interfered with the ritual. The crow and him switched bodies, but his consciousness flew away in the crow body. Very strange.”.

Ragnvaldr looked over at Crow Mauler, observing the distant look in his eyes. Yeah, he could kind of believe that story, even if it was ridiculous. Ragnvaldr also knew from Enki’s tone he was being serious. “Huh.” Ragnvaldr said to himself, surprised.

Enki continued, “Bastard made a Edgar Allan Poe reference on the way out, wrong bird though.”.

Ragnvaldr seemed to have to search deep in his mind for a response, but when he found it, it was short. “...Never more?”.

Enki offered Ragnvaldr a small curl in the corner of his lips, only for a split-second. “That’s the one. Good times. Actually, probably the only cool thing he ever said, good for him. I’d rather be a bird too, fuck this place.”.

“ Uh huh ...”. Ragnvaldr verbally agreed, but definitely didn’t think it sounded like good times, and definitely would not rather be a bird.

Suddenly Cahara had been brought into the locker room, and waved over to Ragnvaldr and Enki in the showers. They looked unamused, and did not wave back. Cahara frantically stripped on his way to the showers, causing guards to scold him on his path of destruction. A trail of clothes lay in his wake. Once Cahara got over there he took the shower directly between Enki and Ragnvaldr. Both Ragnvaldr and Enki seemed deeply displeased with this. Enki wished he’d just taken the one directly beside Ragnvaldr, but thought it’d be strange to switch showers now.

Before either of them could voice a complaint, Cahara was running his mouth: “Hey guys, what a crazy coincidence that we all had to shower, hahaha..ha…Okay, I’ll get to the point. Your loud sex last night scared D’arce. Please try to be more quiet in the future, or y’know…Do it somewhere she isn’t nearby if you can, like here. Cahara touched both Enki and Ragnvaldr’s arms. They both instantly shoved him away, sending him onto the floor. This is why they were cold toward him in the locker room, no boundaries.

A guard started to rush over, scolding them “No fighting! Don’t make me split you up!”.

Cahara laughed as he struggled to get up, slipping a few more times in the process. “Don’t worry, I just slipped is all! Floor is awfully wet in here, huh guys?”. The guard grumbled and went back to his post. Cahara sighed in relief.

Ragnvaldr spoke up “Well, good for D’arce, she won’t have to worry about us keeping her up anymore. We were told there would be punishment of some sort. We’re just waiting to find out what they want to do with us, Ja?”.

Cahara seemed sad, but it was hard to take him seriously for long. “If one of you ends up in solitary confinement, can I have the other one while you’re gone?”.

Enki didn’t even get a chance to start berating Cahara for his blatant disrespect. Ragnvaldr shoved Cahara away from them again, and Cahara barely caught his balance.  Cahara didn’t just make it clear he wanted to sleep with one of them, when they’d both obviously been with each other the night before; He also talked about them like they’d be possessions for him to steal. Enki wasn’t that surprised to hear that’s how Cahara thought of people. Infact, Enki wouldn’t be surprised if Cahara had been peeking through the wall last night, it could have gone unnoticed.  Fortunately the guards had been too distracted talking this time to defend Cahara. 

Enki scooted further away from Cahara. “You don’t know when to quit, do you?”.

“Nope.” Cahara said, without hesitation. He continued, “I just thought I’d shoot my shot.”.

Ragnvaldr groaned “Aren’t you always?”.

Cahara huffed “Well excuse me, stud. I just thought maybe it’d comfort you both to know the one left behind was getting a good loving.”.

Ragnvaldr held a hand up to tell Cahara to stop. The redhead’s nose was crinkled on the bridge, and flared at the nostrils. He looked really pissed off. “If you don’t drop this, I might actually kill you.”.

Cahara gulped, “Right, got it.”.

Enki glared at Cahara with a victorious glint in his eyes. Cahara could have swore he thought he saw Enki smirk for a second, but he must have imagined it. Enki quietly taunted Cahara, “Maybe I’ll kill you anyways. Then D’arce can have all the silence she wants, how about that?”.

Cahara faintly whined like a dog. “Don’t get me wrong I’ll miss whoever gets taken away… It’ll probably be Ragnvaldr though, right?”.

Enki shrugged, but in reality, he was surprised Cahara was capable of noticing/remembering anything important. “They usually won’t take me to solitary, but that doesn’t mean they won’t come up with some way to punish me. Whatever, I don’t really care, I got mine.”. Enki’s face flushed after realizing he said that last bit out loud. It was one thing to say outwardly gay things to the guards, it was another to say it to a peer. Even if Cahara was a non-optional peer, he was still a peer.

Cahara looked pretty enthused about it and elbowed Enki gently. He wiggled his eyebrows up and down a few times, “Damn, Enki, get it. I don’t know what got into you, but I like it! Oh wait I do know, it was Ragnvaldr.”.

Ragnvaldr could be heard stifling laughter as he looked away.

Enki groaned between bared teeth, irritated Ragnvaldr was laughing instead of helping. “Maybe if I pretend to like you they’ll kill you to punish me, Cahara.”.

Cahara chuckled nervously, “At least you’d pretend to like me I guess? That’d be nice for a while.”.

Enki retorted, “Maybe I’d be nicer if you weren’t always trying to sexually harass people.”.

Cahara put his hand on his chin and hummed: “Hmm…Okay, deal.”.

Enki glanced to Cahara’s face again briefly. “It wasn’t a deal, it was a hypothetical. Also the end goal was you getting killed , did you forget that part?”. Enki didn’t believe Cahara was capable of not harassing them anyway.

“Rag, you good?” Cahara said, apparently not even listening to Enki anymore. 

Enki would be offended, but when he looked past Cahara to Ragnvaldr, the tall man looked especially distressed. He was staring at the wall like it was the bottom of a bottle. The northerner was pale in the face. Ragnvaldr still hadn’t answered. Enki added, “Ragnvaldr, Is something the matter? You look unwell.”. 

“Hm?” Ragnvaldr finally seemed to come back to the present. “Yes-No…I mean. Well, I admit, you said something about them killing Cahara, because you like him and-”.

“You care?!” Cahara cut in, looking to Ragnvaldr with big puppy eyes, only to receive a cold glare downwards in return.

Ragnvaldr looked back toward Enki and continued, “...Anyway, it made me think, what if they killed me or you, Enki?”. 

Enki grimaced as realized it was a genuine question, and he felt bad he’d brought up the topic so casually. Enki thought Ragnvaldr was smart enough to realize they were always in danger, then he’d go and say something like that. Ragnvaldr was so unpredictable sometimes.

Cahara pouted as he was once again dismissed. He silently went back to cleaning himself. Cahara would normally wanna complain about this treatment, but it was obviously a serious moment. 

Enki waved a hand dismissively, but he did look a bit anxious. “Let’s not discuss it further. It doesn’t matter anyway, right?” Enki winked over at Ragnvaldr, and Ragnvaldr struggled not to flinch from the strange sight. The guards were looking over, but they couldn’t see the wink. Cahara definitely saw the wink, and was trying hard not to comment on it. 

Enki continued, “We’re just a bunch of lowlife criminals stuck together, we wouldn’t talk to each other outside of here in a million years.”

Ragnvaldr laughed quietly, as the guards looking over seemed annoyed by Enki’s sudden monologue. The northerner grinned at Enki “Of course. I have nothing to lose…”. Ragnvaldr’s words sounded less convincing than Enki’s. Just like that Ragnvaldr was back in his head again, imagining if they actually killed Enki. Realistically Enki knew the most, so maybe he was more of a threat than Ragnvaldr when it came to them escaping. Ragnvaldr couldn’t stop imagining if Enki were killed in front of him, in various different ways. The redhead tried to imagine what he’d do, and what he’d do if he still succeeded with his plan after that somehow. 

Enki groaned at Ragnvaldr’s visible worry. It was practically radiating off the guy, he looked like he had PTSD. Well, all of them probably had PTSD from something, if they ended up here. Enki tried to bring Ragnvaldr back out of it. “So, you said you had no one waiting outside of here, right? I find that surprising, I’d think a guy like you would have some passionate admirers. I wouldn’t be surprised if some girl is out there right now talking about how you’re some misunderstood angel, and how she wants to pay your bail, and marry you.”.

Cahara nodded along in agreement. “Yeah, he’s got a point. What’s a stud muffin like you worried about? You could pee on a statue of All-mer and someone would probably pay to see it on OnlyFans.”.

Enki grimaced and said “I don’t like how specific that was.”. Cahara only shrugged.

Ragnvaldr scoffed, “I don’t plan on finding anyone from my old life. Many girls were afraid of me, actually, before I did anything. There was one girl I used to like, but I doubt she’d be happy to see me now. Even if she was, I’m not the same person. I might have missed what could have been, but we’re strangers now.”.

 Enki and Cahara seemed to be hanging onto Ragnvaldr’s every word. He noticed and smiled a bit, “She was also a brick house, I think she’d kick my ass and hand me in to the police.”.

Enki laughed quietly through his nose. He’d been blessed by the heavens that Ragnvaldr’s previous love happened to be a snitch. Cahara seemed disappointed in the lack of romantics, like he’d been expecting more from the story.

Slowly the shower room began to clear out, and Cahara showered quickly, so he could get out and get dressed alongside Enki and Ragnvaldr. It gave the two sour boys a chance to appreciate D’arce’s usual role in babying Cahara all the time, so he wasn’t constantly up their asses. As Enki got dressed, he was stopped before he had a shirt on, only in his pants so far. A guard grabbed him by the arm and said. “You’ll be coming with us.”.

Enki looked surprised, but was a bit relieved. He couldn’t help but hope this meant he’d be the only one punished. He wasn’t sure what they’d do with him though. “Well, I suppose I was waiting for that.”

Suddenly Ragnvaldr seemed to snap, and ripped the guard off of Enki. Enki, Cahara, and the two other guards nearby all watched with horror as Ragnvaldr head-butted the guard’s skull into his, causing the man to pass out. Blood was dripping from the unconscious guard’s forehead, and Enki seemed uncharacteristically disturbed. Another guard came charging at Ragnvaldr, and pulled out a taser. Ragnvaldr let them hit him with the taser, not even attempting to dodge. The guard watched in horror as Ragnvaldr stayed standing through the electrical convulsions. He grabbed the guard and spun them around, sending them flying into the next guard that came at them. The two guards fell against the wall cubbies, conscious but disoriented from the collision.

Enki screamed, “Stop it! What’s wrong with you?! You’re just making it worse, Ragnvaldr! Do you want to get killed!?”.

Ragnvaldr looked to the two other boys, his rage filled expression slowly becoming one of remorse. “But-...they were going to take you.”.

“Let them take me, Ragnvaldr! I don’t give a shit, I don’t get why you do.”.

Ragnvaldr glanced back at the guards, who were still struggling to gather themselves. Then he looked back to Enki. Cahara casually backed away from the two, afraid to be punished by association.

Ragnvaldr pulled Enki into a hug. Enki thought it was to defend him at first, but he quickly realized it was an embrace, with growing confusion. It was a lot different than the lustful entanglement from the night before, and it made Enki’s guts twist like they were filled with teddy bear stuffing. He felt like he might barf from nerves, and started shoving at Ragnvaldr’s chest. “Let go! This is serious, what are you doing?!”

Ragnvaldr released Enki, but touched his hair, letting it fall from his grasp slowly as he backed away. “You’re really thick headed, for someone so smart. I really like you, Enki.”.

Cahara whistled from across the room. “Damn.”. he whispered..

Enki looked increasingly horrified, and sounded like he might choke on his tongue when he spoke “Why? What’s wrong with you? You should be happy they’re not taking you... You don’t get to say that, that’s so cruel . Just say you used me! You had to have just used me. Say it!”.

Ragnvaldr looked hurt, but smiled weakly through it. He didn’t seem surprised by the reaction “I’ll miss you too.”.

Enki’s face was now red with anger as he stammered to find a response. When he did, it was harsh. “I won’t miss you. You mean nothing to me.”.

Cahara snapped “Enki! Now isn’t the time to be a damn tsundere, for fuck sake, just tell the man goodbye.”. With the threat of Enki being taken away looming overhead, Cahara could swallow his fear to be blunt to the moody boy.

Enki now looked like he was beginning to cry. He stubbornly bit his lip, refusing to say more. Ragnvaldr only looked at him, pleadingly. The guards had finally gotten up off the ground after a comic amount of fumbling and falling down again. They cautiously began to approach, and one of the guards called out: “Stop resisting now, and we’ll let your little tantrum slide, big boy! Don’t be a hero, you’re the ones who broke the rules to begin with.”.

Cahara raised his hands in the air just in case. Ragnvaldr sighed “Goodbye, Enki. See you soon, maybe.”.

Enki stifled cries as the guards took him by the arms, and started leading him away. They didn’t seem the least concerned for their comrade they left knocked out on the ground. Just before the door shut, Ragnvaldr went to go charging for it, but Cahara ran up to grab his wrist. Ragnvaldr easily slipped free of the hold, but it was enough to make him hesitate. The door shut.

Cahara took a shaky breath, clearly nervous the two of them were left essentially unguarded in here. “I’m sorry, I just- I didn’t want them to take you too.”.

“No, thank you. I’m not thinking clearly. I’d just have made it worse.” Ragnvaldr responded, before sitting down on a bench to rest his face in his hands. 

Cahara sighed with relief before sitting beside him. “Hey, don’t let what he said get to you. He obviously has it bad for you, and you were just being honest about your feelings. You didn’t do anything wrong.”.

Ragnvaldr only groaned in response, distorting his voice with vocal fry in a way that almost sounded demonic. He then sat upright, wiping his face off with his hands. “Thanks. I’m more worried about what’s going to happen to him now, regardless if he was telling the truth.”.

Cahara smiled sorrowfully at Ragnvaldr “You’re a good guy under all that scary muscle. I don’t know, Dr.Neko seemed pretty hesitant to actually take Enki away yesterday, right? Plus even he seemed weirded out by Enki’s uh… unique personality . He wouldn’t hurt him too bad, right? It would bother the Doctor more than Enki.”.

Ragnvaldr shook his head. “I’m not so sure about that, even if Enki said they won’t put him in solitary, something changed it seems. There’s also…other doctors.”. The two boys shivered as they remembered Dr. Nas’hrah from last night. 

Cahara covered his mouth and held onto his stomach, seeming a bit queasy. “Enki’s a big boy, he’ll be okay…”. They both looked to the door as two new guards entered to lead them to the commons, and recover the unconscious guard. They threw the dude on a gurney like he was a hacky sack. 

—

Once the teens were back in the commons, and reunited with D’arce, she was immediately concerned. The two boys were obviously acting weird, and Enki’s presence wasn’t something hard to miss. “What happened?”. She asked, searching with her eyes for the missing member of their team.

Cahara and Ragnvaldr immediately winced at the question. D’arce felt her blood run cold looking at their serious expressions. Cahara spoke up, “He uh, was taken by some guards. We don’t know when he’ll come back.”.

Ragnvaldr put his face in his hands again, groaning. The large man began talking to himself: “I shouldn’t have done it, why did I think it would be fine?”. Cahara was in Enki’s usual chair and patted Ragnvaldr’s shoulder to try and reassure him. Ragnvaldr looked at him with offense after the contact. “Can you move? You sitting there is really throwing me off.”.

Cahara quickly got up and moved to his usual seat, “Right, sorry.”.

D’arce looked a bit guilty. After hearing the ordeal last night, she’d admittedly wished the two boys would be punished. Now she wished she could take it back, even if she actually didn’t cause this. “I’m sorry to hear that… This place doesn’t feel the same without him here.”.

They all silently lingered on that sentence, looking over to Crow and Ronn leering over from the corner at the group. Even though Enki was limited about what he shared, without him by their side, the other three party-members felt like they’d essentially lost an escape manual. Ragnvaldr didn’t feel like it was the right time or place to mention Nosramus’s intent to help them out of here. He only hoped whatever would be done to Enki, Nosramus would be there to clean up the aftermath for all of them.

The three startled at the sound of a single pair of footsteps entering the room, and they seemed excited, hoping it was Enki. To everyone’s disappointment and lack of surprise, it was not Enki. It was fortunately, and surprisingly, not Pocketcat, however. Think of the devil, it was Nosramus. They had a bag of medical supplies with them, and looked around the room with their eyes. They seemed increasingly concerned. 

Nosramus came up to Ragnvaldr directly, asking “Where is Enki?! Did you actually eat him this time?”.

Ragnvaldr openly glared at Nosramus, not sugar coating his hostility now that Enki wasn’t around to influence him. “I didn’t fucking eat him. He was taken by the guards after we showered, I don’t know where he is.”.

Nosramus looked in shock, and they stumbled back, taking a seat in a chair usually unused. “Oh, fuck. This isn’t good.”. 

They all immediately tensed, especially Ragnvaldr. Usually this attitude would have at least earned him a slap from Nosramus, surely. This reaction only made Ragnvaldr more nervous. “What?! Do you not know what they’re doing? Staff isn’t all in the know?”. 

Nosramus waved their hand to tell Ragnvaldr to shut up. Nosramus answered with their own question, “Why did they take him? What did you do?”. Now Ragnvaldr seemed defensive, flustered even. Nosramus could tell just by the look on his face. The doctor stood up, and did what Ragnvaldr expected sooner, walking over and slapping the redhead in the face.

“Hey!” D'arce yelled on Ragnvaldr’s behalf. Her and Cahara got up to check on the redhead as Nosramus left without another word. 

Ragnvaldr insisted he’d be okay, and that they don’t dote on him. Despite that, it was evident to the other two that Ragnvaldr was wading deep in angst. They tried to distract him with conversation, but every topic seemed to not interest Ragnvaldr. At breakfast, there was an extra tray given where Enki would usually be, seemingly only to irritate the teens. Ragnvaldr left it untouched, and barely finished his own food. 

D’arce and Cahara insisted he should at least finish his meal, and it was unlike him to waste food. It was like talking to a brick wall though. He insisted he should go to his room to rest a while. When Ragnvaldr got there, however, he immediately regretted it. The room was untouched, messy blankets, bloodstains on the floor and top bunk.

Something about the change of scene Ragnvaldr thought would calm him, but it only infuriated him. He knocked over a chair, threw Enki’s pillow off his bed. He went back and grabbed it, holding it close, gripping it, clawing it. He ripped it in half in a crescendo of emotion, and began to laugh. First it was quiet, but it slowly became more deranged, louder. He began to cry as he was now laughing so hard he struggled to breathe through it. He threw the pillow back towards his bed, watching the stuffing fall out, and the pillow only make it half way before landing on the floor. 

Ragnvaldr caught a glimpse of the mirror in his peripheral view, and he looked at it. It made him remember what he’d done there, and the visual of Enki sitting on the counter. He made a B-line over and began hitting the mirror, smashing it more and more until it was only fragments. At some point he’d began to sob loud, like an animal crying out in agony. Guards came rushing in as Cahara and D’arce watched the commotion from a distance in the hall. Ragnvaldr was still beating the glass shards of the mirror into his fists as the guards came in to yank him away from it. Nurses followed with tranquilizer in hand. Once Ragnvaldr was restrained, he began fighting and flailing with ferocity. He was injected several times before he even took a proper breath. All he’d just done was a humiliating blur of anger as he spotted Cahara and D’arce peering in from the hall. Before regret could hit, Ragnvaldr passed out cold from how much he’d needed to be sedated.

The nurses insisted D’arce and Cahara let him rest alone, despite their insistence he not be left alone. A few nurses stayed in the room with Ragnvaldr, and the door remained open. When the two teens were back in the commons, D’arce said “I knew they were close, but I didn’t expect Ragnvaldr to get so emotional over Enki. I guess it’s just his temper, he seems beyond just worried.”. She was talking so quietly it seemed she was worried Ragnvaldr might hear her from rooms away in his sleep.

Cahara sighed “I mean, you heard them last night. They were very close. Now he doesn’t even know if he’s going to see him again, then Nos’ just made it sound like Enki was about to be killed or something. You can’t really blame Rag, I’d be upset too…”. Cahara sniffled, and D’arce looked alarmed with him. 

D’arce hesitantly patted his shoulder “Hey, not you too, come on. I’m sure it’s going to be fine, they’ve been here longer, they can handle themselves.” Cahara hid his face as he kept sniffling, and D’arce continued. “Seriously Cahara, if you keep that up I’m going to cry too.” D’arce felt the sting on her eyes after that, and her breath shook in her chest. She surprised Cahara by getting up to pull him into a hug. He decided to take it without saying anything. They soaked each other’s shoulders, as Crow and Ronn only looked over from the corner uncomfortably. 

Eventually D’arce interrupted the moment to say “Don’t blow your nose on my shirt, okay?”. Something about it made them both begin to laugh a little, and they wiped their faces. D’arce quickly returned to her seat, seeming sheepish suddenly. Cahara found it adorable how shy she could be sometimes.

When Cahara wouldn’t stop staring at her, D’arce asked “What? Is there something on my face?”. 

Cahara shook his head no. “You’re just pretty to look at.”.

D’arce tensed up at that, getting more red. “Hey, don’t get weird on me.”.

Cahara sighed “Yeah yeah, don’t get too lovey dovey, I get it.”. Cahara looked over at the wall longingly. He was worried about Celeste, and any hope he’d had of getting out was dissipating fast. Cahara pushed his luck a lot, but he was still trying to catch up with the consequences. With Enki trapped and Ragnvaldr unmotivated, it was feeling like they’d stay here forever.

D’arce quietly groaned “Don’t be so offended, we both know we’re just stuck together, wanting to get back to the people we care about. I don’t want to hear things like that from someone who’s already in love with someone else.”. Despite her words, D’arce was looking at Cahara like he was a tall glass of water, and she was incredibly parched.

Cahara looked hurt “I do care about you… It doesn’t have to be weird, I just wanted to tell you. Look, I don’t really have a lot of friends, ones I did have were gang members. Most of what we talked about was just a bunch of locker room talk, or violence. I’m not really big on violence, I’m a lover not a fighter. I’m not just trying to sleep with you, I just want to be close, but I don’t know how.”.

D’arce looked frustrated, but more with the situation than with Cahara. “I…don’t handle compliments well. If Le’garde were here he’d have yelled at you.”.

Cahara raised an eyebrow “For complimenting you? Oh right, cause you’re his girl.” He looked a bit embarrassed, but not as embarrassed as D’arce.

D’arce sighed “I’m his…something.”.

Cahara looked remorseful “Hey, I’ll try and pray you back to normal whenever you want, by the way… I just haven’t, since you seemed like you wanted to stay in the boy’s ward so badly. Still, please don’t feel like you’re any less of a girl, if it’s bothering you. I really didn’t mean to do that to you, I’m sorry.”.

D’arce snapped “I wasn’t talking about that. Ugh… I just meant Le’garde isn’t my boyfriend. I mean I’d consider him one, but it’s not mutual.”.

“Right…” Cahara said, audibly confused. “Then why does he care if someone else compliments you?”.

D’arce’s eyes flickered with uncertainty as she thought it over. “Maybe he does care?”. She didn’t sound like she believed herself, she seemed like she was just avoiding saying the truth.

Cahara looked at D’arce with pleading eyes “You know, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to go back to him.”.

D’arce looked over, shocked by the suggestion. “Of course I want to find Le’garde! That’s the whole reason I’m here, don’t be ridiculous. He means everything to me, my cause, my ambition, my savior, my love. Nobody understands it, he’s like a god among men.”.

Cahara tried not to respond to that with a sassy amount of doubt. “I mean, does he really care about your well being though? I know you’re enamored with him, but you get this look when you talk about him…Like you’re talking about someone really scary.”.

D’arce froze, face vacant of any expression. Her mind looked vacant for that moment, until her gaze slowly went toward the floor. “Please don’t talk about him like that… I’m sure he cares, but I’m his right hand man. It’s only natural that I’d put myself on the line for him. I was lost before I met Le’garde, just doing whatever I was told, then I had a rebellious phase. I even thought about leaving home to join the army. I was obsessed with independence, but then I realized I’d always be following someone’s orders even if I left home. That’s when I heard about Lagarde's cause. At first I thought it was ridiculous, he wanted to rule the whole country from the shadows. Then I challenged him to a fight, though, and he showed me I was wrong. He acknowledged me as an opponent, and showed me the light, Cahara, and it was beautiful. He showed me order, discipline. He made me who I am today, he’s the only one I have to thank for that, Cahara.”. When she looked back at him, Cahara only looked back with horror. She smiled, and sadly said “You don’t get it.”.

Cahara swallowed a dry breath of air, realizing his mouth had been hanging open. “Can I say something harsh, as a friend who cares?”.

D’arce glared at him, before visibly softening a bit. Reluctantly she answered “What is it?”.

“It kind of just sounds like he beat the shit out of you until you’d listen to him. Even if you were a guy, that’s fucked up.”.

There was a long deafening silence. D’arce took a shaky breath, grateful she’d already cried. That alone probably gave her the calmness to not lash out or break down. D’arce eyed the craft supplies as she finally spoke, “...Can we color something together?”. She couldn’t handle more talk about Le’garde, for once.

Cahara dropped the topic, and they both spent their time coloring the same coloring book. They took childish delight in making animals colors they wouldn’t normally be, something simple, but sweet, that they’d maybe been denied of as kids. As they’d begun to tire of the hobby, Cahara spotted a real book nearby, one Enki had been reading recently. He grabbed it, and carefully looked through. It was just a bunch of boring history mumbo jumbo, but the both of them began looking at it, not fully reading any of it. Cahara grabbed a blue crayon, and wrote down a note at the top of one of the pages. It said ‘We miss you, Enki.’. Cahara shut it and put it back where it had been. He never expected the message to reach Enki, but the thought was nice.

When Ragnvaldr finally returned to the room, D’arce and Cahara were relieved to see him, even if he looked rough. His hands had been bandaged up. When he took a seat, he looked at the coloring book open on the table “Well, looks like you two have been having fun.”.

Cahara scratched the back of his neck nervously. “We were worried about you, been trying to clear our heads.”.

Ragnvaldr nodded “Don’t let me stop you… I’m sorry you had to see me like that. I thought laying down would calm me, but it just made me angrier. They’re cleaning the room now, apparently. Maybe it’ll help…”.

Everyone seemed tense at that. Enki was surely just somewhere else in this building, likely still alive, but it felt like he was dead already. It was a strange feeling, grieving someone you didn’t know was dead, after only seeing them earlier that day. 

Now, at surely the worst time, Pocketcat finally showed himself, along with his standard slurry of staff. Apparently it was already time for lunch, as they brought in the cart. Pocketcat’s clothes were dirtier than usual, covered in blood in various states of freshness. Ragnvaldr gripped his chair’s armrest hard enough to make the wood splinter apart, threatening to crumble entirely off the chair. Pocketcat shook his head at the boy “I don’t even have a chance to greet you all, before you cause more property damage. Shouldn’t you be thanking me, big boy? I warned you to behave, and after you acted out last night, I sent away your bitch instead of you-.”.

“Where is he?!” Ragnvaldr shouted, on the borderline between curiosity and rage. Ragnvaldr knew he needed to behave somewhat if he wanted answers, or even a chance to find Enki. He needed answers before he caved into violence again.

Pocketcat chuckled “How adorable, you’re angry. You want to know where he is, hm? Does it really matter, if I’m never bringing him back? How about six feet under in the yard? Like that answer?”. 

Ragnvaldr rushed to get up and charge at Pocketcat, but the nurses were ready to stop him. It was only a matter of time before he’d been tranquilized again and tied to his chair. Ragnvaldr’s head was spinning from the dose, but his body was quickly burning through the medication, insistent on resisting. Ragnvaldr felt like his tolerance for the medication was slowly getting stronger over time. “Liar! You wouldn’t! Not him, you didn’t, you couldn't!”.

Cahara was whimpering from anxiety, and D’arce hesitantly called out “Ragnvaldr, calm yourself. He just wants a reaction out of you.”.

Ragnvaldr stopped yelling, taking his time to catch his breath. 

Pocketcat was laughing more, harder than before. “You’re so easy to provoke, you know that? I’m guessing you’re easy in other ways too, to get with a ghoul like Enki.”. 

Ragnvaldr was glaring daggers at Pocketcat. He retorted “You’re one to talk, creeping on him, and hiding your ugly mug under that mask.”.

Cahara tried to back Ragnvaldr up, but his voice was shaky with fear “Yeah, what are you, an amateur furry?”.

Pocketcat only chuckled at the insults “Uh-huh, good one. I’m very hurt. Anyway, like I said, whatever happens to Enki is none of your concern. I care deeply for my patients, and I determined you were impeding each other’s progress.”.

Ragnvaldr’s nose scrunched like a snarling dog’s. “You’re wrong. I’ll believe you care when pigs can fly.”. 

Pocketcat huffed “Well, I only popped in to say hello, I have a dissection to get back to. Enjoy your lunches.”. Pocketcat turned to leave, casual in demeanor. 

Ragnvaldr thrashed against his restraints at the word dissection . He was tearing the ropes bit by bit, jerking around like a feral dog. Each of the teens were given their lunch, including again, a tray for Enki, where he notably was not at. Ragnvaldr broke free just as the nurses were in the process of slamming the door shut, locking them all in as the staff went free. Ragnvaldr groaned as he yanked the remaining ropes off him, and threw them to the floor. He had rope burns from his rushed escape.

“Are you okay?” Cahara asked. Him and D’arce were looking at Ragnvaldr with fearful eyes. When Ragnvaldr looked at them he assumed he looked like a beast to them.

Ragnvaldr groaned again, “Physically? Yes.”. Cahara didn’t bother asking about mentally, it was evident just from looking at Ragnvaldr, that he was mentally degrading fast. 

D’arce suddenly seemed to perk up a little, and added to the conversation. “Oh, when they clean your room, do you think they’ll leave the books?”. The other two seemed confused at the question, but it seemed to prompt Cahara to look over to the book he’d written in with crayon before. His mouth hung open.

Ragnvaldr recalled the map in one of the books and hummed thoughtfully “They always leave them, I don’t think anyone besides Enki gives a damn about a single book in this hell hole.”.

Cahara sounded excited as he interjected, “Ragnvaldr! There’s a book missing in here, it was just here! I wrote in it a while ago, but it’s gone. Are you sure no one would’ve taken it besides Enki?”.

At first D’arce and Ragnvaldr were looking at Cahara like he was dumb. Then hope seemed to creep its way into Ragnvaldr’s tense expression. The tall boy mumbled, seemingly to himself “They might have taken it to him…Maybe.”. 

D’arce’s face lit up with realization, she looked where the book had been, then around the room. “That must be it. I’m sure he must be okay, and they’re bringing him books. They never clean those up in here, right?”.

Ragnvaldr nodded, putting his hand on his chin in contemplation. Cahara began to eat, and in the silence, D’arce didn’t hesitate to do the same.

After a while, D’arce cautiously remarked “Your food is going to get cold, Ragnvaldr..”. 

Cahara nodded in agreement and talked through a full mouth “Yueh oo gwotta eawt.”

D’arce looked grossed out, “Cahara, don’t talk while you have food in your mouth.”.

Cahara swallowed his food. “Sorry, mom .”. 

D’arce’s eye twitched at the snide mocking nickname. “Like I would ever raise a brat like you.”.Cahara winced, before seeming genuinely hurt. D’arce’s face flushed with anxiety. She immediately regretted saying that. “I’m sorry. Just don’t call me that, please.”.

Cahara nodded in defeat, taking a bite of his food. Ragnvaldr had finally started eating, albeit slow and unmotivated. His stomach audibly grumbled, but he didn’t rush at all. The other two glanced at him, and then each other with concern. They were just relieved he was still trying to eat. That was, until the next thing Ragnvaldr decided to say.

“If he was alright, why would they be bringing his meals here?”.

Cahara went pale, and he was reeling to try and come up with a reason. “Um- er…”

D’arce interjected. “They’re intimidating us. Pocketcat just tried to imply he was dead, but if he was dead there’s no logical reason they’d be making a plate for him at all.”.

Ragnvaldr’s eyebrows tensed, as he scowled over at Enki’s tray. “It’s a mockery. I always stole his food, they’re trying to make me feel guilty. They want to make me feel like I’m the one who killed him.”.

D’arce’s features strained into an unsure, distraught expression. “You didn’t. They’re just using psychological war tactics.”.

Cahara cut in “Yeah, it takes two to tango, dude. These walls aren’t exactly soundproof, and you did not act alone. They just took him because they like fucking with us.”.

Ragnvaldr grunted with irritation.

D’arce sighed, “Cahara… I should probably scold you, but I’m just surprised you said all that with only one curse word.”.

Cahara rubbed the back of his neck nervously “My bad…”. He didn’t fully understand what he did wrong, though. He was just being honest.

Ragnvaldr motioned to the extra tray. “Anyone want that? I feel like it’s probably poisoned.”. The other two shook their heads no, and everyone went back to their silent meal. 

—————

After lunch, D’arce and Cahara had gone back to coloring. They’d tried begging Ragnvaldr to join them, but he insisted he wasn’t in the mood. He could tell they were trying to cheer him up, in their own way, but he wasn’t about to waste time playing around. Ragnvaldr found himself getting distracted watching Crow and Ronn have their own version of a conversation. Crow was making more quiet bird noises than he did when he tried to confront the others. He was hitting a board game box with his face, like a bird pecking. Ragnvaldr remembered what Enki said earlier, about only a bird being in there. He couldn’t help but wonder whether having a human brain gave the crow any additional intelligence. 

Ronn took the board game from beneath Crow, causing his face to hit the table just once. Ronn moved a few other games and items, before beginning to set up the game. Crow was excitedly watching, with intent. Ragnvaldr almost found himself getting invested, as Crow gently moved a checker with his hand. A remaining shred of humanity maybe? Ronn moved his own piece, to which Crow immediately responded to, by slamming his face on the board. Ragnvaldr wasn’t sure, but he thought Ronn Chambara might be smiling slightly, laughing quietly through his nose. Then he was spotted, and he casually looked away.

Ragnvaldr thought the two were an odd pair before, but knowing they were cultists together, and one of them was now a husk being puppeteered by a bird… Ragnvaldr didn’t ever want to mess with Ronn Chambara if he could avoid it. Something about seeing Ronn Chambara show his first sign of enjoyment for anything, over a bird abusing his peer’s body didn’t sit right with Ragnvaldr.

By the time medication and dinner rolled around, it was all like going through the motions for D’arce, Cahara, and especially Ragnvaldr. Pocketcat was absent again. There was an uneaten tray for Enki again. When it was all taken away, and it was approaching bed time, Ragnvaldr dismissed himself early. He claimed he was tired, but really, he intended to see what was left in the room. When he walked in, it was not only clean, but it had a new mirror. He was surprised they bothered, but assumed it was only because it was something he’d hated enough to destroy. 

 Ragnvaldr looked at the bunk bed, and sighed bitterly. The sheets were changed, and everything was cleaned, but the blood remained in the crevices of the floor. The aura of every memory Ragnvaldr had gotten here remained as well. He took a deep breath, before going to look through the books in the room. He noticed some of them were definitely gone. With nervousness he searched them, locating the one with the map and breathing a sigh of relief. He wasn’t sure why Enki wouldn’t ask the staff for this one. Then again, Enki probably had this map memorized. Despite that though, it being here meant they weren’t taking the books away because of what was written in them. Enki might actually be receiving books. 

In a moment of isolation, Ragnvaldr took the book, and opened it, ensuring the map was still there. It was, and he could only thank Enki in his mind for sparing it. Ragnvaldr traced the lines with his fingers, before closing it and hugging it against his chest. He remembered seeing Enki carry a stack of heavy books like this once, when he was refusing much needed help carrying them. Ragnvaldr remembered how it made him think Enki looked like he was hugging the books, like they were the only thing dear to him, not caring how the jagged corners pressed into his arms. Ragnvaldr couldn’t help but wish he could be held that passionately now.

Cahara and D’arce could be heard entering their rooms, and the doors all locking both ways for the night. Ragnvaldr put down the book, anxiously. He considered if he should sleep, but he looked the map over again. He could see solitary confinement on the map, and he debated asking Cahara to give him that keycard to make it there. As soon as the thought crossed his mind however, there was a quiet knock at the door. He tensed, wondering if it was Cahara and D’arce, but he could still faintly hear them talking in the next room. He felt increasingly unnerved and readied himself with a chair as a weapon, in case he didn’t like whoever was on the other side of the door. There was another quiet knock, this time followed by the beep of a keycard, and the handle slowly turning.

Nosramus could be heard talking quietly as they opened the door, “Ragnvaldr? Are you still awake?”. Nosramus went silent and tense as they saw Ragnvaldr with a chair raised up ready to swing if approached.

Ragnvaldr hesitantly put down the chair, keeping his hand near it. “...What are you here for? Going to slap me again? Tell me I’m a monster?”.

Nosramus stopped anxiously lingering in the doorway, and came in, shutting the door softly behind themself. “No. I’m…sorry, I may or may not have overreacted . I came to apologize, after hearing a bit more about, erm, what happened. I also wanted you to know that Enki is alright-”

“Oh thank fuck.”. Ragnvaldr rotated the chair before sitting on it, letting his guard down completely. He rubbed his face with his hands, before taking a deep sigh of relief. Ragnvaldr then looked back to Nosramus “You should have said that first.”. Ragnvaldr noticed the other room was particularly quiet, and he glanced towards the brick in the wall. It was in place, but he felt like they were being listened to. That was, unless D’arce and Cahara were so tired they passed out that fast.

Nosramus looked away, visibly riddled with guilt. “Have patience, I was trying to be nice, damn it”, that line reminded Ragnvaldr of Enki’s usual backhanded kindness. Nosramus continued, “Anyway, more importantly…I’ve heard you’re not doing well. Enki doesn’t seem to be doing much better, following orders like a zombie. He’s not getting out of there right away, but…you want to see him, right?”.

“Of course, are you insane?” Ragnvaldr responded, seemingly offended that it was even a question.

Nosramus was beginning to feel like they misjudged the situation, and perhaps, it was Ragnvaldr who had Stockholm Syndrome, not Enki. Nosramus had heard about Ragnvaldr’s breakdown, afterall, it’s half of why he was here(;The other half was for Enki to stop being distracted by angsty teenage bullshit.) “Uh-huh. Well, that’s good I suppose, because I was going to ask you to come with me.”. Nosramus tapped their finger on the edge of their keycard anxiously. “You’ll have to keep quiet, though. No fighting either…” They added.

Immediately Ragnvaldr stood up, eager to follow. “Let’s go.”.

Nosramus held a hand up to stop Ragnvaldr from walking just yet. “Also, I uh, haven’t cleared this with Enki, so I can’t guarantee he’s going to be happy to see you.”.

Ragnvaldr looked a bit solemn at that. He’d hoped that maybe Enki had asked for him, “Alright.”.

—

Ragnvaldr and Nosramus had a quiet trip through the dim halls of the asylum, taking Ragnvaldr a different direction than the path to solitary confinement. He began to wonder where they were going, if this might be a trap, and where they were keeping Enki. Despite the doubt, Ragnvaldr followed silently. There were one or two staff members in the hall in the distance, but none looked directly their way.

Soon Nosramus had taken Ragnvaldr to a door that radiated a terrifying aura. The air smelled like blood and rot here, and Ragnvaldr already had a feeling that meant Nas’hrah was near. Ragnvaldr could hear screams coming from the adult’s wards. Noramus whispered before he moved to grab his keycard out, “You’ve met Nas’hrah, right? This isn’t where Enki is staying, but it’s where he is now, Nas’hrah’s lab. It’s grotesque, so brace yourself.”.

Ragnvaldr did brace himself, but nothing could prepare him for the sight of the door opening. There were jars of various specimens, some looking from concerningly human origin. More verifiably human, was the several adult male corpses lying on surgical tables in various states of decomposition, and dissection. Ragnvaldr’s eye twitched and he had to resist the urge to vomit from the smell. At a strange sort of mechanical pod in the room, there was Nas’hrah, shirtless oddly. Now that he was shirtless it was much more noticeable that he was literally rotting alive. No…he couldn’t even be alive. Ragnvaldr could hardly even focus on Enki being beside the man. The red head was too busy staring at a gaping wound clean through part of Nas’hrah’s torso. Enki was in the process of mixing glass vials that were various shades of red, but all appeared to be blood. The silver-haired teen didn’t seem very happy as he worked. Ragnvaldr hyper-focused on Enki now, despite the terrifying presence of Nas’hrah in the room. Nas’hrah looked over toward the intruders, but Enki seemed fully dedicated to his task.

Nas’hrah groaned “Stay quiet. You have terrible timing, Nosramus. He’s trying to focus.”. Nas’hrah was uncharacteristically quiet himself, not talking like he was giving a dictator’s speech for once. Nosramus rolled their eyes, but remained quiet. 

Ragnvaldr would normally be infuriated at being forced to be quiet by this asshole, but it did give him a chance to observe. Ragnvaldr stared openly at Enki, taking in the view before Enki could notice him. Enki was fully bandaged, but more notably, was in surgical dress. Not to be receiving surgery, thank god, but dressed as a surgeon. Ragnvaldr had struggled to realize it was Enki at first glance. Enki’s hair was in a tight bun, with a teal cap of some sort over it all to keep it out of the way. He had a surgical mask tied on tight, and had blood on various parts of his clothes. Ragnvaldr and Nosramus were both grimacing at the sight, worried the blood might somehow make it onto Enki’s bandaged wounds. This room was riddled with ways to get infected, and even all the equipment Enki had on didn’t change the fact he was extremely at risk with fresh wounds. Not to mention the weight being put on the gloves Enki wore, covering his bandaged healing palms.

Once Enki had seemed to finish mixing the various bloods with a dropper, he dropped in a single drop of a mysterious clear liquid. Enki reached out, prompting Nas’hrah to wordlessly hand him a teal surgical towel. Enki wiped his hands clean of blood, before tossing it into a bin. Enki took a glass rod and gently stirred the blood concoction. He set the rod aside, and then walked in a hurried, but steady path to a nearby incubator. It made Ragnvaldr feel very uneasy seeing Enki seemingly at home in this…environment. Enki put a lid on the vial, before putting it into the incubator and gingerly shutting the door. Only then did Nas’hrah clear his throat. “Well, get on with it then.”.

Enki looked from Nas’hrah, over towards Nosramus, and then inevitably, Ragnvaldr. When the two teens made eye contact, they both looked like they’d seen a ghost. Ragnvaldr immediately noticed Enki looked more gaunt than usual, tired. Ragnvaldr wondered if Enki had been eating alright, but surely Nosramus would have made sure he ate something. Enki’s scleras were red from irritation, and his eyes were swollen, like he’d been crying. Ragnvaldr had the same tell-tale signs of sobbing earlier. The two of them were wordless for a moment, until Ragnvaldr walked up and hugged Enki, tight and possessively. Nas’hrah and Nosramus both audibly and visibly cringed at it, as if it was extreme PDA. Enki was definitely bloodied and not all of it was blood from the living. Ragnvaldr couldn’t be bothered to worry about his own wound that was covered beneath his clothes, he healed fast anyway.

Enki struggled a bit out of surprise, before reluctantly reaching his arms around Ragnvaldr, and returning the embrace with the same intensity. Ragnvaldr took a shaky breath, before whispering beside Enki’s ear, “I thought you’d been killed, I was told so.”. 

Enki patted at Ragnvaldr’s arm, trying to signal him to break the hug. Enki had become hyper aware of the two doctors watching them, and it embarrassed him. Enki sighed when the hug wasn’t broken, prompting Ragnvaldr to finally release him. Enki took a deep breath, now that he wasn’t being crushed in the arms of a giant. 

Enki glanced to Nosramus, before looking Ragnvaldr in the eyes again. “Why aren’t you angry? Don’t you remember everything I said earlier? Doesn’t it piss you off?”.

Ragnvaldr smiled, maybe one of the most wholesome, loving smiles he’d ever made. Then he spoke, with the patient tone of an angel, “I’m extremely pissed. I’m also relieved to see you okay, though. Can’t I be both?”.

Enki swallowed a lump in his throat. Nosramus went to take a step forward, until Enki shot them a glare as a sign to refrain. Enki grimaced as he spoke “I...I need to tell you that- Well I’m-...I didn’t know where they were taking me, what was going to happen. I thought I might never see you again, much less today…and I got emotional, and made a bad choice. I didn’t want you to miss me, and well-”. Enki had gone from darting his eyes around the room, to looking back at Ragnvaldr. Ragnvaldr was patiently waiting with his arms crossed, and something about the sight made Enki go tense. Enki seemed off somehow, it was obvious he was really nervous about the topic.

Enki’s mouth hung open for a second, as he tried to speak, but nothing came out. When the words finally did come out, Enki’s voice sounded frail, raspy, and fried. “... I’m sorry. ”. Enki’s breath hitched, and a gleam of moisture flickered across his eyes, quickly becoming tears flooding out. Before Ragnvaldr even had a chance to react, Enki had dropped to the floor, on his hands and knees, with his head laid at Ragnvaldr’s feet. The other three were frozen in shock as Enki began to sob out the words “I’m so sorry, I was lying, I lied! I won’t do it again, i’ll do better! I’m sorry-I should just die, I’m scum, I’m so sorry I’m sorry I-”. Enki had lifted his hands from the floor and began beating himself in the head, loud enough to produce a sound with each hit, still apologizing profusely.

Ragnvaldr broke himself out of his horrified daze, to pull Enki up off the floor, holding him upright by the shoulders. He forced Enki’s arms to his sides, “Stop it! I forgive you, alright?! It’s fine, I know you were lying just- stop crying, okay?! Don’t hurt yourself over it!”. Something was clearly wrong, as Enki hardly reacted to the words, only gripping onto Ragnvaldr and desperately apologizing again and again, more and more incoherent. Enki was trembling, and had an expression so utterly hopeless, that it sent shivers down everyone’s spines. It was like a cold wave washed over the room, suddenly making it clear to everyone there why Enki was normally so…unapologetic normally. Even as Enki was being actively soothed by Ragnvaldr quietly repeating “It’s alright, you don’t have to apologize.”, he seemed stuck in a fear response. It didn’t seem particularly aimed at Ragnvaldr either, it was aimless, like it was programmed into him a long time ago.

Nas’hrah turned to Nosramus with his mouth open in shock before he spoke. “What the fuck did this kid do to make my student turn into a blabbering pussy?!”. 

Nosramus snapped, “Nas’hrah! Watch your mouth!.” Then Nosramus charged over to the two, grabbing Enki from Ragnvaldr to shake him slightly, hoping it’d make him stop sobbing long enough to catch his breath. When it wasn’t working, Nosramus slapped Enki’s face, with a loud smack. Suddenly Enki had gone silent, seemingly in shock.

Ragnvaldr grunted with rage at the action, and grabbed Nosramus by the shirt-collar, raising a fist, ready to deck them. Enki shouted out “Stop! I’m fine! I just needed to be knocked out of it...”. Ragnvaldr only stopped a moment before impact, leaving him, and Nosramus staring at each other with alarm. Ragnvaldr slowly lowered his shaky fist, and released Nosramus, who began brushing themself off. 

Ragnvaldr took a look at Enki’s cheek, eyeing it to ensure it didn’t have a lasting handprint, “Are you alright?”. 

Enki groaned and took a half step back from Ragnvaldr “Yes, I…a-apologize. I don’t know…what came over me.”. Enki looked down at the floor, disgusted with himself; He knew exactly what came over him, it was a trauma response. He’d hoped once he was away from his parents the reaction would fade, but it didn’t seem it had.

Nosramus cut in, pulling Enki into their own hug. “Oh, Enki, I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t hurt you. I didn’t know how to get you to just take a breath.” Nosramus pet Enki on the surgical cap, and Enki squirmed away from the contact, looking embarrassed.

Enki groaned, “I’m fine, let go.” Nosramus begrudgingly agreed, sighing through their nose. 

Nas’hrah was still looking on at the scene with disbelief, amazed Nosramus loved that brat enough to get potentially bio-contaminated. “Are you morons done screaming your heads off now? We were kind of in the middle of something, something you walked out on, woman.” . 

Nosramus turned on their heels to look at Nas’hrah, eye twitching. They responded “You’re a pig. Well excuse me for thinking about your prisoner’s well being. Just because you bribed Pocketcat to spend some time 101 doesn’t mean you own the kid.”.

Nas’hrah scoffed, “Why is it, you tell me to call you anything, then everything I call you pisses you off?”.

Nosramus snapped back, “I said you could call me any pronoun, not any derogatory term!”.

Nas’hrah raised his hands in disbelief for a moment “Since when is it derogatory to be a woman?!”.

Nosramus groaned loudly. “It’s your tone, okay?! God, asshole. All I ask for is some respect as equals.”.

Nas’hrah scoffed, then laughed, then laughed again differently, and well, he just kept going. He seemed like he just wanted to see how many cadences he could put into laughing at Nosramus, “Equals?! HA! Hilarious! Comedy gold!”.

Enki groaned, and leaned back against a wall for support. Ragnvaldr joined Enki in watching the two adults continue bickering.

Ragnvaldr whispered “So this is what you’ve been dealing with…this is true torture.” Ragnvaldr hummed, and then Enki, and then Ragnvaldr. Despite the chaos, they were just enjoying each others’ presence.

Then Enki mumbled, “Not to sound like Cahara, but they’re like an old married couple. It’s been driving me insane.”. Fortunately the two adults arguing didn’t seem to hear that remark, or Ragnvaldr quietly chuckling through his nose.

Nosramus was giving Nas’hrah a long lecture about manners, before Nas’hrah decided to retaliate by holding up a finger, a few inches away from Nosramus. Nosramus scoffed and leaned away from the touch, crying “Stop it! Keep your nasty corpse hand away from me!”. Nas’hrah only laughed, leaving the hand where it was, making sure the distance was maintained as Nosramus leaned away. Nosramus dramatically gagged, before continuing “Don’t touch me, I’ll actually vomit!”.

Nas’hrah inched his finger closer, still not making contact, and said “I’m not touching you, though. I could kill you if I wanted, easily, and yet this is what scares you?”. 

Nosramus rolled their eyes at that, “Believe whatever you want, at least I’m alive.”. Nas’hrah visibly winced at that, before crossing his arms.

Ragnvaldr still felt a foreboding sense of dread around Nas’hrah, but he’d been able to set it aside to focus on reuniting. Now, however, watching Nosramus clearly unafraid of the man, even arguing with him, made the fear reside some, more permanently. Ragnvaldr questioned Enki, “So, why are you here…and what are you doing?”. His eyes glanced back around the room, begging for their surroundings to be addressed more thoroughly.

Enki didn’t get a chance to answer, as the other two seemed to hear the question and were looking over now. Nas’hrah’s voice dripped with disdain, “It’s none of your business. I didn’t even allow you to come in here, Nosramus just decided to disrespect my authority. There will be punishment for your insubordination, woman .”. Nas’hrah looked at Nosramus when he said the last bit. Nosramus groaned, and put a hand on their hip, obviously not intimidated by the threat. Ragnvaldr definitely got a flirty vibe from the bickering, especially because, if he’d have to guess, Nosramus seemed to physically be an androgynous male. Not that Nas’hrah seemed the most politically correct.

Nosramus waved his hand dismissively, and Nas’hrah took a lighter from his pocket, pretending he would light Nosramus’s hand on fire. Nosramus blew out the flame nonchalantly, and spoke anyway. “I brought Ragnvaldr here because our student needed moral support. Plus I heard Ragnvaldr had a melt down after some things I said, so I felt bad.”. Enki winced when he heard that.

Nas’hrah groaned “Whatever, don’t expect more tolerance on these matters. I suppose we could use another set of hands anyway, but you two should get dressed for the procedure.”.

Ragnvaldr visibly tensed, and looked to Enki and Nosramus with concern “Procedure?”.

Nosramus sighed, “It’s going to get gross, but I’m sure you have a strong stomach, ay Ragnvaldr? Just don’t eat any of the bodies…”.

Nas’hrah scoffed, “Cannibal or not, these vessels are far too rotten to consider. Don’t be ridiculous.”. 

Ragnvaldr’s eyes wandered to one of the rotten bodies on a table. He was now very aware these were all copies of Nas’hrah, but dead. He grimaced at it, contemplating something, before he declared: “I’ve eaten worse.”. The room came to an uncomfortable silence. That had been intended to be an internal thought, but he’d said it out loud due to nerves. Ragnvaldr quickly tried to recover, poorly: “I wouldn’t eat any of this though- that’s…gross.”

Enki and Nosramus both sighed with disappointment, while Nas’hrah laughed. “You’re a disgusting vermin, we may get along yet. You must commit yourself to following me, however. I don’t want incompetent help.”. Nosramus and Enki looked at each other with a bit of surprise before shrugging. 

Ragnvaldr felt degraded more by Nas’hrah deciding he liked him, than he did by the insult. Ragnvaldr asked “So, why are you having untrained teens help with a surgery?”.

Nas’hrah glared at Ragnvaldr, but Nosramus decided to answer before Nas’hrah could: “Calling it a surgery is honestly a mercy. It’s more like a ritual, or some crude mockery of modern medicine. Nas’hrah here is basically immortal, as far as I can tell. His body is rotten though, because the dumbass lost his, tried to make a new one, and it well-” Nosramus gestured around the room “keeps rotting.”. 

Nas’hrah huffed “Watch your tongue when speaking about me, twink. They might hand out Doctorates to any cute little thing in a lab coat these days, but I don’t hand out respect so easily.”.

Nosramus shot Nas’hrah a look of irritation, “Uh-huh. That much is obvious. Anyway, Enki here is smarter than Nas’hrah, I guess, because Nas’hrah needed his help.”. Nosramus crossed their arms, waiting for Nas’hrah to blow up.

Nas’hrah immediately blew up: “NONSENSE! I know full and well what I’m doing, I just decided it would be easier with assistance from someone half competent!”. 

Nosramus snapped back “Oh please, I’m more competent than you are! I wouldn’t sew myself onto a rotten husk! You’re lucky I’m willing to help an abomination like you.”.

Nas’hrah scoffed, several times, testing out which infliction sounded the most flabbergasted. “Like you’re any better! You’ll come undone eventually, and we’ll see who’s all high and mighty then.”. Nas’hrah crossed his arms, and the two bickering men looked away from one another.

Enki sighed dramatically, and looked deadpan to Ragnvaldr, before saying: “Mom and dad are fighting again.”. Both Nosramus and Nas’hrah gasped at that, before erupting into a variety of complaints about how they would never in a million years. Enki just looked at them with dead fish eyes full of doubt. Enki was suspicious about what the two would be up to once Nas’hrah’s body was switched, after all the tension in the air he’s had to witness. Ragnvaldr was covering his mouth and looking away as he struggled to stop laughing.

Nas’hrah shouted, “ENOUGH! Back to the task at hand! Go get cleaned up and dressed for surgery!”.

Nosramus raised an eyebrow, “Maybe you should get cleaned too? Or should we just soak you in alcohol and formaldehyde?”.

Nas’hrah was cursing under his breath “FINE. Have it your way, let’s get what we need and go.”.

Ragnvaldr looked increasingly concerned as he came to a realization, “Wait…are we showering again?”.

Enki sighed, “Unfortunately, yes.”.

Everyone but Nas’hrah looked deeply upset by this information, but Nas’hrah griped at them to hurry along. Despite the rushing, Nosramus and Nas’hrah still had to take time to dispose of the old bodies in the lab, and sterilize the area. They instructed and made Enki and Ragnvaldr help to speed up the process, but two older men took the bodies away alone, to who knows where.

—

When they finally got to the showers, it somehow felt…creepier at night. Like they were more aware of the flickering light and dim corners of the room. Nothing could be as creepy as having to shower in the same room as Nas’hrah, however. Nas’hrah showered off in his own corner, while everyone avoided even catching the faintest glance of him. Who needed that trauma burned into their eyes? Ragnvaldr was showering on his own, as he desperately tried to ignore both Nas’hrah, and the chummy way Nosramus and Enki helped wash each other’s hair. Ragnvaldr felt jealous, but at the same time, the two light long haired individuals seemed extremely platonic in how they interacted, or almost familial. When the shower was over they all got dressed, and went back to the room.

The place felt completely different, all clean and sterile, but it was very large. They all got suited up with surgical gear, aside from Nas’hrah, who only tied covered his hair. Nosramus twisted and tied their own hair in a familiar bun before covering it, before doing the same to Enki’s, revealing Nosramus was the one to do Enki’s hair earlier as well. Ragnvaldr hadn’t completely thought through the process, but when Nas’hrah got onto a surgical table, the ideas of what might happen next began to run through Ragnvaldr’s head with terror. 

To Ragnvaldr’s surprise, Nosramus asked Nas’hrah rather casually, “You drugged enough for this?”. 

Nas’hrah laughed boisterously “I’m always shitfaced, let’s get this on with.”.

Ragnvaldr expected them to begin tearing Nas’hrah’s stitches, surgically separating the head from the body in a lengthy amputation. That was, until he was handed an axe. Ragnvaldr looked at the axe, trying to remember the last time he’d held one. Then he looked to the other three with uncertainty, before his fears were confirmed.

Nosramus tried to give Ragnvaldr a reassuring smile, but it didn’t look right on the doctor’s face. Enki only sighed, finding it extremely relatable. Nosramus said “Think you can chop off his head for us, big guy? I’d love to do it myself, but…well, you’re the bulkiest, right?”.

Enki nodded. He found Nas’hrah obnoxious, and would love to attack him with an axe, but he didn't want to get his rotten blood on him. 

Ragnvaldr looked down at the axe again, before gripping it tight with responsibility. “Gladly.”.

Nas’hrah griped, “Don’t sound so smug, traitors. Mess this up and there will be consequences.”.

Ragnvaldr groaned with uncertainty, “Are you sure you want me to just chop it off? I kind of thought this would be more…precise.”.

Nosramus patted Ragnvaldr on the back with intimidating strength, and said “Don’t worry about that, he’s resilient. Just try to cut just above the stitches, alright? Nosramus could do this himself, he just didn’t want to, Ragnvaldr thought.  

Ragnvaldr shrugged and stepped up, giving Nas’hrah a smug grin, only visible in his eyes. The redhead said, “Don’t move, I might miss.”.

Nas’hrah was about to begin complaining, before Enki and Nosramus quickly scattered away from the soon-to-be splash zone. Ragnvaldr raised up the axe, making Nas’hrah stay frozen silent. The axe swung down with conviction, making it clear through in one cut, just above the stitches. With it, a large splash of blood came over Ragnvaldr’s face and body, as more began to pour out of Nas’hrah, seemingly never ending. It dipped and flowed away to a grate in the floor. Ragnvaldr half expected this to all be some sick shared delusion, and for Nas’hrah to die at his hand. Ragnvaldr laughed, with a manic look of joy in his eyes. In a way this was a dream come true.

Enki was staring at Ragnvaldr, swooning beneath his surgical mask at the shameless joy in violence. Nosramus only seemed deeply unnerved by both of them, and their sick enjoyment of probably the worst pass-time imaginable. 

Nas’hrah began to gripe now, making it very clear he wasn’t dead. “Don’t just stand around laughing, you fumbling nitwits! Get me a new body before I float off!”. Ragnvaldr looked down at the talking disembodied head, and grimaced. Nashrah spit at Ragnvaldr, who quickly dodged it.

Nosramus said, “Good job, though I suppose you could have acted a little less enthusiastic about it. Can’t blame you, though. Enki, do you mind moving the head?”.

Nas’hrah snapped, “Don’t call me the head , you sissy.”. Nosramus waved their hand dismissively, making Nas’hrah groan in irritation. Nas’hrah continued, “If my power was fully realized, and the gods were still listening, I would smite you for your insolence.”.

Enki came over and grabbed Nas’hrah’s head, casually pouring rubbing alcohol over his bloody neck-stump. Nas’hrah hissed through gritted teeth, before somehow managing to wiggle his way free. Everyone stared with horror and awe as the head made a shaky flight over to another prepped table. It was almost as if an invisible body was piloting it over. It fell into place with a quiet thunk.

Enki was snickering with delight beneath his mask “Incredible.”.

Nas’hrah reminded them to hurry, “Let’s get on with it, then!”. 

Quickly Enki got back on task, going to the incubator from before. He picked up the blood, and gave it a few swishes to swirl and mix the liquid, before opening it. Once he’d done so, he poured it into the mysterious metal tank with a pool of dark liquid in it. Smoke erupted into the air, and they all began to cough, aside from Nas’hrah, who was laughing. The disembodied head laughed, “Yes! This is it! I can smell that this is the one!”.

As the smoke eventually cleared, Enki was fanning it away from himself, and pulling out an unscathed copy of Nas’hrah. Nosramus came over to help, and they brought the body onto the table. Nosramus motioned Ragnvaldr over, and instructed him to set down the axe, and wash his hands.

Ragnvaldr listened, and then changed into new gloves, before being handed a new, nearly identical axe. He did another double take, before questioning, “Just a little off the top?”.

Enki let out an amused breath through his nose, and Nosramus laughed weakly. Ragnvaldr got into position, but Nosramus held up a hand, before marking the neck with a surgical marker. Nosramus said “Try to keep it even if you can, we’d hate it if he was a little crooked.”. Ragnvaldr and Nosramus laughed at that, and Nas’hrah growled. 

Ragnvaldr repeated the striking motion, perfectly identical.  It was almost concerning how good he was at beheading. He obviously had experience chopping wood from how he handled the axe. There was another terrible splash of blood, but this time no one fled. They stayed and let themselves be covered in crimson with Ragnvaldr. Enki examined the neck like a cut of butchered meat, and mumbled “Perfect…”. Nosramus nodded calmly in agreement, and Ragnvaldr looked at the two, feeling a bit bashful for some reason.

Ragnvaldr asked timidly, “You really think so? I’m flattered.”.

Nosramus nodded, examining the cut further. “Yes, it’s incredibly clean for an axe, no need to be shy, you did wonderful.”.

Nas’hrah chimed in, “I’m waiting, you can make your fairy friendship bracelets later.”. With a collective groan, Enki and Nosramus dragged the body over; Ragnvaldr wanted to assist them, but his clothes were covered in rotten blood.

Enki lined up the head against the body, and the three marveled at how the head began to fuse into the body immediately. It healed together, leaving no need for the thread and needle they’d prepared. Enki looked at Nas’hrah, before removing his mask and announcing, “Did you feel that?”.

“Oh yeah”, Nas’hrah looked ecstatic, and sat up, moving his arms and opening and closing his hands, fist pumping the air. Then he got up off the table and stretched. Nas’hrah rejoiced “I’m born again! I feel new again, fantastic! You may prove useful yet, Enki! Put her there!” Nas’hrah tried to reach out a hand to shake Enki’s. Enki looked incredibly uncomfortable.

They all looked away, suddenly hyper aware of the fact Nas’hrah was still naked. Nosramus rushed to grab some clothes nearby in a cabinet, before handing them over “Get dressed!”. 

Nas’hrah put his hand down, and looked down at himself, “Ah, right, I forget how shy you fools are.”. He took the clothes and began to get dressed in front of them.  

Everyone began to clean up as Nas’hrah stretched and paced, and then they all ditched their surgical protection wear, and washed up their arms and face. They changed clothes, and just like that, Nas’hrah chimed in with, “Okay, I got what I needed, off to bed with you two.”.

Nosramus groaned, and Enki chimed in, “I thought we had a deal? If we’re leaving this place we need to start working on a plan as soon as-”.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, we have a lot of work to do, twig. Rest for now.”, Nas’hrah snapped.

Enki’s eye twitched, before he sighed and grabbed the bridge of his nose. “I thought you called me a twink for a second. Maybe I have been awake too long…”.

Ragnvaldr looked Enki up and down, before stating, “Well…”. 

Nas’hrah cackled, and Nosramus swatted at his arm. Nas’hrah grabbed the hand, and twisted it by the wrist, ensuing a half assed fight between the two men.

Enki sighed “Okay, we’ll go, don’t subject us to this PDA.”

Nosramus gasped, “Enki! Stop suggesting something so revolting.”.

There was suddenly a loud smack, and everyone slowly looked to Nas’hrah, with the realization that he’d just slapped Nosramus hard on the ass. Nosramus decked the doctor across the face, nearly sending him toppling over as he grabbed at his cheek, and exclaimed: “That hurt, you bitch!”. 

Nas’hrah was laughing, unbothered he’d received a hit in return. He only responded with “NosramASS”.

Nosramus scoffed, and spoke again, to the teens now, “Ugh, let’s get you two to your rooms.”.

Ragnvaldr groaned, “Why are we still sleeping separately? Where is Enki sleeping?”.

Enki answered before Nosramus could, “Don’t worry, it’s not solitary… They have me in a special room where they-... they-”. Enki covered his mouth and gagged slightly. 

Ragnvaldr looked deeply concerned, angry even. “What?! What did they do to you?!”.

Enki continued, “They treat me extremely well, and won’t leave me alone…It’s horrible. All morning they were trying to spoon feed me, read me my books, and offer me massages. I think I might actually die.”.

Ragnvaldr looked annoyed now. Enki tensed a bit and Nosramus laughed. Nosramus said, “That’s not nice, putting him on edge, after you spent all day worried-sick about each other. Let’s try to be quiet in the hall, alright?”.

Enki quietly griped, “I wasn’t that worried.”. As they made their way through the hall, Enki glanced over to see if what he’d instinctively said had upset Ragnvaldr. When their eyes unexpectedly met, Enki quickly looked away, flustered. Soon Ragnvaldr was smiling over at him, reaching out to hold onto Enki’s hand. For a moment, Enki just limply let it happen, but the closer they got to Enki’s room, the tighter Enki began to hold on. He felt pathetic, wishing they could remain together even if it meant much worse conditions for himself. When they were almost there, Enki quietly whispered, “It’ll be lonely.”.

Ragnvaldr whispered back, confused, “I thought you said they won’t leave you alone?”. 

Enki’s thumb nervously rubbed against the side of Ragnvaldr’s large, rough hand. Enki whispered “They do at night…and they aren’t you.”. Ragnvaldr could only grin ear to ear at that, trying to think of what to say, while Enki glanced away, and back to him every second. Nosramus pretended they couldn’t hear every word of it, and that they weren’t walking slow on purpose. Regardless, they reached the door and stopped.

Ragnvaldr gave Enki’s hand one last squeeze, before letting go. Then he said “Goodnight, I’ll miss you too.”. 

Enki blushed and turned away to his door, prompting Nosramus to unlock it. Enki grumbled, “Whatever. I’m sure we’ll be stuck together again in no time.”.

Ragnvaldr rolled his eyes, “Of course. Oh, also, I think Cahara said he wrote something in one of your books.”

“What?”. Enki questioned, but only received a shrug, before entering his room hesitantly. They all three said together “Goodnight.” . Then the door was shut, and Enki was alone.

The room was nice, with a proper bed, a dim table lamp to keep it from being dark at night. There was even a much nicer desk, and a small bookshelf. Enki was worried it was done up like this to keep him here permanently, in fact, the layout was a little too close to his old room at home for comfort. Somehow, Pocketcat had finally found a way to successfully isolate him. Enki found himself missing the chill of his usual cell, compared to the dry warmed air of his new one. He couldn’t help but think of how much he preferred to just steal Ragnvaldr’s body heat, or even roll up in his blankets. Enki went over to the new books that’d been brought in and left on the shelf while he was gone, all the ones he requested they grab. He was surprised they were actually catering to him this much, when they’d usually try and deprive him of positive stimulation in solitary. Enki flipped through his books one at a time, until on the third one, he stopped at the sight of bright blue. Enki read it, a simple ‘We miss you, Enki.’ with a heart next to it. It was definitely Cahara’s writing, but it was just a bit neater than Enki would have expected him to write, especially with a crayon.

Enki took the book with him to his bed, and flopped on top of his covers. This room was practically sound proof, with not a single sound from another living being. Enki didn’t ever think he’d miss the sound of talking in the next room, or thunderous snoring beneath him. Enki closed the book, gently hugging it to his chest. He intended to only do so for a moment, but in his exhaust, fell asleep immediately. His embrace around the book remained tight throughout the night.