Dedicated to Elphaba-Rose. If you haven't read her stuff, check it out now. You will not regret it! I had planned to write a one-shot but a plot bunny jumped into my brain and started thumping away until I got this out. This is just a short prologue to what's to come. Please enjoy, and as always, don't own anything (apart from the candy floss I got today from the sea-side. Score).
A sigh escaped parched lips as he let his head drop back against the cold, stone wall with a slight thud. A shiver ran down his spine, his weak body no longer able to suppress them as it had been for hours. Letting his tired and strained eyes fall shut, he winced against the pain that continued to throb throughout his aching limbs mercilessly, even after what had now become hours, though it felt more like days. Tugging his arms forward sharply, he was once more met by the biting of metal into his bruised skin, further irritating the cuts that had been left by the cuffs chained tightly to his arms. Suddenly, he coughed harshly as the movement jarred his stiff and battered body.
Fighting to get his breathing under control, he released another sigh, opened his eyes and gazed at the sight around him for the thousandth time, searching desperately for some kind of way out. The door on the opposite side of the small, cold room was locked tight – he had heard at least three different locking mechanisms closing earlier when he had been left in there again. No windows meant that his vision was limited at best and as far as he could tell there was nothing else to help him.
Huffing once more in resigned irritation, he screwed his eyes shut once more.
Think Leo, think. Concentrate.
Relaxing all the muscles in his body, he breathed in deeply and began to shut off all senses, focusing only on the steady thrum of his heart beat. Wading through all the mugginess in his mind, his brow wrinkled tightly.
Sensei? Waiting for a sign that his call had been answered, he pushed himself even further through the cloud that had invaded his mind. Anybody?
A steady silence met him and he groaned lightly, dry throat scratching with the effort. Lifting his head off the wall behind him he looked down at his chained arms and clenched his fists. A spike of anger coursed through his body, temporarily filling him with adrenaline and he snapped his arms forward again, shaking and struggling to break the chains. A few seconds later his energy slipped away and he slumped back against the cold wall.
To keep a man chained is without honour he mused angrily. Shaking his head lightly to try and rid himself of the furious train of thought shooting through his mind he instead concentrated on ignoring the pain that flared up unforgivingly all over his tender body with the slightest of movements. Glancing down at his swollen and discoloured ankle in particular he flinched as the memory of the blunt object snapping down against his foot surfaced. He was helpless to stop the tears that spiked up in his eyes as a sudden feeling of remorse overtook him.
I've failed you. I'm so sorry.
Shutting his eyes again, he felt the hot liquid tickle down his dirt and bloody smeared cheek and fall gently onto his equally effected plastron.
I'm sorry.
TBC