For an Anon on Tumblr.
"I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me!" Shalnark covered his head with his arms, curling into a tight ball on the ground.
Phinks looked over at Feitan, searching for an explanation. He hadn't done anything weird, had he? Feitan kneeled down carefully next to the pastel blonde.
"Shalnark?" No response. "Hey, Shal?" The transmuter touched him lightly on the arm, causing the blonde to flinch. He peeked out from under an arm, his eyes wide with fear.
"Is… that my name?"
Phinks sucked in his breath. This couldn't be happening.
"Yes, your name is Shalnark, and you're a member of the Phantom Troupe." Feitan's voice choked out. "Do you…" he paused, unsure if he wanted to know the answer to the next question, "remember who we are?"
Shalnark shook his head, still tense but beginning to relax.
"I see," the shortest said, standing up stiffly. "What do you remember then?"
The manipulator looked away, sorrow clouding his features. "Blood. Lots of blood. A lot of angry eyes, the same colour as the blood. I-" Phinks interrupted him, scooping the other into his arms.
"It's okay, you're safe with us." While Shalnark seemed unsure, he didn't protest. The enhancer looked up at his other companion, who looked a lot paler than usual. Upon finding him locked up in this far back cell, they had initially hoped that he had been left unharmed, physically. But this…
In Feitan's face, all Phinks could see was unrelenting fury for the owners of the facility. No one would be leaving here alive.
He picked up the other blonde, cradling his head against his chest, the smaller of the two having been lured into sleep.
"They will pay for this." The transmuter announced aloud, Nen flowing from his body.
"What do you propose we do?" Phinks inquired, well aware of the answer his friend would give. He didn't want to, but it was worth it if it was for his friend (he could never consider him anything else).
Feitan grinned, venom seeping into his voice.
"Go wild."