For the Good of the Empire
Written By Twin Kats

"You had that look again, earlier."

There words were cold and almost caused the person they were spoken to, to flinch. Hesitant yet firm denials spilled from pale green lips.

"No, no! I wasn't given any look, and just what look is it anyway?"

"You know what look I'm talking about."

Calm, dark, dangerous was the tone of voice and this time the other couldn't restrain the flinch. That tone didn't spell an evening of pleasant things. This time the denials were less firm.

"I-I didn't have any l-look I swear!"

"You're lying to me."

These words were said almost offhand and matter-of-fact. It was as if the speaker had faced this problem a million times before, as if it were normal for them to be lied to by the other. A body shuffled back, hands were raised and waved quickly as denials spilled out fast and unrestrained and panicked.

"No, no, no! I-I had no l-look I-I would never ha-have a l-look against yo-you I swear, I really swear. I-I don't f-find your actions st-stupid or anything I-I mean it! Really e-everything about you i-is perfect I'm t-telling you—"

A loud smack sounded followed by a short crash. A grunt of pain and long fingers gently touched a swiftly bruising cheek in shock. Wide eyes turned up, fearful, towards the aggressor as lips parted to ask, hesitant.

"P—"

The words were cut off sharply; airways blocked and unable to breathe. A burning rose up as the aggressor bent down and hissed, angrily, two long fingers pinching an antenna between them.

"Don't lie to me."

The other howled as those pinching fingers twisted the antenna in their grip, eyes widening in pain. The airway was freed up almost directly before the action, allowing the sharp sucking of air and an almost sobbing sound to pass lips.

Sharp, sharp nails dug into the green flesh of the other's cheek and dragged down, drawing blood.

"We're not supposed to lie to each other, remember?" the aggressor crooned, gently, and twisted the antenna further.

"YES, YES!" the other shrieked, hands rising up to try and pull the aggressor off because gods it hurt so much!

One finger dug into the wounds one the others cheek as words were whispered, "You know that I have to punish you for lying, right?"

The other winced slightly and tried to pull away but that only hurt his antenna more causing him to cry out. The aggressor pulled his finger out of the wound and calmly licked at the green blood there, lips curled into a cruel smirk.

"Right?"

A whimper. Another twist. A shriek.

The door swished open and then closed although he couldn't quite hear it, not at the moment, laying in a rather bloodied mess. Fingers were bent at odd angles, one of the bones in his arm broken. Smashed by his head were bits of his armor, torn to shreds again. His antenna were bent every which way, one almost chewed off. Both of his eyes were leaking fluid and his breath was raspy, weak.

He was pretty sure one or five of his ribs were sticking into his Squiddly-Spooch, causing internal bleeding. His PAK was sparking, slightly, also damaged and ensuring that healing would take longer. From experience he wasn't worried about dying, like this, on the floor in a broken weak mess. It's not like his attacker would ever leave him dead. At least not now.

They were best friends, after all. They promised back in the Academy, back when they were Smeets, to always be together. Even when the other attacked, beat, and hurt him like this…he knew he wouldn't kill him. His attacker had restraint.

For now.

Green lids slowly slid down over his damaged eyes as he breathed out, trying hard not to whimper. He tried to focus on something, anything, else. He cast his mind back, far back, and he almost smiled when he saw a beautiful, Irken face.

Miyuki.

She was the one who saw how close he and his attacker had been, even then. Somehow she knew they'd be Tallest one day, and back then she had made him promise something. Something important.

Protect the Empire, she had said. Everything must be for the good of the Empire, she told him. Promise me, she begged. Promise me, she pleaded.

"I…promise…" he breathed, echoing the selfsame words way back then that he had said. "For…the good…of the…Empire…it's…for…the Empire…."

Because if Red didn't take the brunt of Purple's aggression then the Empire would.

Promise me, Red.

"I…promise…Miyuki…."

Yeah…that was random.