Soon enough the man, Vlad, had came in. He acted happy, excited to begin working. "Didn't eat much? Your lost. Now, let's go." He said, all while freeing Kuroko of his chain on his ankle. Kuroko didn't even stand, looking over at Akashi worriedly.
Akashi attacked the man as soon as he came close enough for him to do so. He punched and kicked him as hard as he could while he searched for a key. He found the key to the chain but the man didn't have the key to the collars.
Even Kuroko was surprised when the man was suddenly attacked, and just watched. He then shook his head, standing up quick, and began running towards the door. When he felt a sudden electrifying pain in his throat, he cried out in pain and fell down in front of the door.
Vlad quickly moved away from Akashi after reaching over and snatching the key for the chains away, holding the button for both of their collars.
"You need Tetsuya in top shape!" Akashi snarled, trying to stop the man from hurting Kuroko even when pain filled his entire body.
Vlad thought about it, before stopping both their collars. "You still need to learn. Both of you." He said, his voice full of irritation. After making sure Akashi still couldn't escape, he walked over to Kuroko who was curled up on the floor.
He hooked his fingers under Kuroko's collar, and began dragging him a bit, encouraging him to walk. Kuroko's hands immediately went to the collar, trying to get it to stop choking him, and soon stood and followed Vlad who shut the door after them.
Akashi slammed a fist on the floor before he began to struggled with the chains. He struggled hard until his ankle bled but he kept going, trying to use his blood as lubricant but it was no use.
For a proud man like Akashi, this was pure torture. He snarled and fought until he laid down in exhaustion. Blood pooled under his ankle but he didn't care he just blankly stared at the window.
Kuroko was out the whole morning, mostly being told by Vlad how he would approach each situation. He had rules, expectations, but he didn't listen. Whenever he didn't listen or refused to do this for him, he was shocked for at least a whole minute.
He had gotten Vlad priceless jewelry during a 'practice run' but he felt so guilty. He didn't want this. When he was taken home, he was already tired, mainly because of being shocked so many times.
As soon as he got in, he was locked onto his chain and was told the real thievery would begin at night. He tiredly looked around, and noticed Akashi, then the blood.
Akashi turned to Kuroko, looking him up and down carefully before sighing in relief that Kuroko seemed fine.
"Were you able to see where he keeps the keys to our collars?" Akashi asked softly.
Kuroko couldn't even frown, as he shook his head. His throat hurt too much to speak, but he was worried about Akashi. He slowly crawled over, gently touching Akashi's chain, silently questioning the blood.
"It's fine." Akashi said shortly, uncaring if his throat hurt. He moved his ankle under his leg, hiding it from view.
Kuroko didn't question it, at least in the way he was currently using body language, and just moved up beside Akashi. He slowly sat down, and moved his collar just slightly, wincing a bit. The part where the collar was is a dark red, and just slightly black on the edges. He was showing what Vlad had done to him, thinking this shouldn't be hidden.
"Just do as he says and I will too. It was foolish of me to attack him." Akashi said dully, taking note of the wound with a small sigh.
Kuroko just nodded, and moved closer to Akashi. He laid his head on his lap, sighing softly. He was tired, and he still had to steal later tonight. How he hated stealing.
"Just sleep, you need your energy." Akashi said softly.
Kuroko didn't need to be told twice, as he shut his eyes and fell asleep quickly. His breathing sounded heavier because of his throat, but he was fine, for now. He just hoped Akashi was okay.
Akashi just stared at him before he looked back at the window, a small defeated look in his eyes. He sighed just a little bit and laid down to nap.
Kuroko slept mainly the whole time, only waking up an hour before Vlad had come back. He didn't fight, remembering what Akashi said. He had to listen, and not risk any wounds on himself or Akashi.
Akashi woke up soon after but he didn't say anything just numbly began jerking his leg again, hoping he could get free. Truthfully, he was honestly considering breaking his ankle but that didn't solve the collars.
Kuroko managed to give Akashi a quick kiss on the cheek, of reassurance, before Vlad had freed him. Kuroko didn't fight, which Vlad was obviously happy for, and lead him out the room again.
All night Kuroko stole. It was constant, only taking about a one minute break, and that was only the time when he had to run to the next house. He was exhausted every time he entered a new home, but he didn't want Akashi or himself hurt.
Akashi kept at the tugging, making his ankle continuously bleed. At one point, the guard who was at the door when Vlad was away, came in. Annoyed at the noise, he punched Akashi warningly, before he left one more. Akashi snarled but he couldn't summon the will to fight back. So he just crawled as close to the window as he could and curled up into a ball.
It was a miracle that he wasn't shocked once during the whole night, Kuroko had thought as he returned home with Vlad. He was ready to collapse, to sleep. He was really tired. When he got inside, he immediately went over and laid down quickly by his chain, already closing his eyes.
He didn't move as he felt the chain be placed onto his ankle, and he waited for Vlad to leave. Once he did, he slowly opened his eyes, spotting Akashi. "Akashi-kun.." He said, his voice soft but a bit better.
Akashi opened his eyes and turned to Kuroko, his eyes that held a dullness it never had before scanning Kuroko carefully. He nodded when he saw that he had no injuries, glad that he hadn't been hurt.
Kuroko got onto his hands and knees slowly, crawling his way over to Akashi. Once he was beside him, he slowly laid down, snuggling close. "Your ankle... it's still bleeding.."
"Ignore it." Akashi said, wincing when Kuroko pressed on the bruise that the guard had left. "Just continue what you're doing and try getting the keys to our collars."
Kuroko sighed a bit, shaking his head. "Alright... Soon. We'll escape soon..." Kuroko reassured, yawning just slightly.
"Yeah..." Akashi said softly before he closed his eyes. "Get some rest, there will be another long day tomorrow."
Kuroko nodded, getting comfortable. He closed his eyes again, beginning to relax. He slowly fell asleep, enjoying Akashi's warmth and comfort.
As Akashi looked down at Kuroko, he began to ponder if everything would be alright. Being forced to steal, to reawaken the struggling habit, would everything really be okay? Akashi sighed to himself. He supposed he had no choice but to trust Kuroko.
It's been like that for a few days. Kuroko mainly stealing during the night, every night, always returning exhausted. Though he always tried his best so he didn't get either of them hurt. He would get the occasional shock if he didn't get up quick enough, or if he was taking too long to get from house to house.
Soon enough, Vlad had came in, bringing in some food himself for them. "I have a offer for you guys." He started off immediately.
Akashi didn't answer. He had been eating less and less lately and he continued to try to yank the chain off his ankle which was always bleeding with the movements. He barely had much energy anymore but still, he put on a brave front, glaring at the man.
"Don't be like that. I'm actually letting you have a chance to go outside." Vlad said, setting the food down. Kuroko hesitated, before he slowly crawled over. When he got a bit of food, he only returned to Akashi, and tried to get him go eat.
"As long as you obey, both of you can take a little walk with me. No trickery." He said, mainly looking at Akashi.
Akashi refused the food instead he looked at Vlad. His dull eyes flashed for a moment and he cocked his head when he sensed no danger. Then again, it wasn't like he had uttered something that could be a lie.
"Fine." He said as he yanked at the chain again.
Kuroko then began to try and get him to stop yanking the chain, but Vlad solved that. When he moved closer, Kuroko backed away a bit, as if he was afraid or wary. Vlad had glanced at Akashi, making sure he wouldn't attack, before slowly taking the chain off. "There. No fighting either."
Akashi watched as the shackle was taken off, revealing a very bloody ankle. He immediately pulled the ankle towards him, his eyes glaring at the man. He would have attacked but he knew that the keys for the collars wouldn't be on him.
He also knew that most like the guard was around so fighting in his weakened state would be impossible. He had no choice but to do what the man told him to.
Vlad had examined the ankle, humming a bit. "We should get this cleaned up, it'll cause attention." He said, before standing up straight. "Come on, we'll get that clean, then we'll come back for you." He said, talking to Kuroko.
Akashi snarled a little but he did as he was told. He forced himself to stand and walk. He forced himself to not limp, too proud to show that weakness. He was led to a room and someone began to tend to his ankle. He would have tried escaping, but they still had Kuroko. Soon enough, there was a white bandage around his ankle and he was brought back to the basement.
Kuroko waited as patiently as he could, actually taking little nibbled from the food. He was afraid that if he didn't eat, that if he was too weak to steal, he or Akashi would be punished.
He looked up as he saw Akashi, and soon he was freed too by Vlad. He slowly walked to Akashi, making sure he was okay. "Okay, let's go. Stay close, and no tricks as I said." Vlad said, watching them closely.
Akashi just nodded sharply, his weary eyes watched Vlad. He followed him out of the room and house in which they stayed. He didn't know where they were being taken but he didn't trust him, not a bit.
Vlad had taken them a small distance, maybe a few blocks, being careful of where they walked. Kuroko stayed close to Akashi, but made no move to run or anything.
Finally, after what seemed like an hour, Vlad stopped at a house. It was a lone, big house, not many houses around it. And it looked like no one was inside. "Alright. Kuroko, follow Akashi into the house, and see how he steals. He needs to be able to steal too."
"No." Akashi said bluntly, his eyes dull. "You already have Tetsuya, you don't need another person. Besides I don't have a lack of presence, I will be caught easily and you will as well by extension."
Vlad just looked at him, keeping his calm. "It seems you forgot of what I can do. But no one's home, and no one will be home until late afternoon. You have hours to steal, and it only takes a few minutes. Kuroko is not enough sometimes."
Akashi stared at him for a long moment, wondering how bad it would be to just let him do as he wished. He wouldn't kill him after all, and he could take the pain. However, perhaps there was a way to escape.
"Fine." Akashi said as he stalked towards the house, sliding in through an open window. He didn't try to steal, he went about trying to find something to break the collar.
Kuroko immediately followed Akashi, wondering what he would do. He walked behind him, tilting his head a bit. "What are you looking for?"
"Anything to cut the collars off." Akashi said bluntly as he walked into different rooms. He supposed he could try with a kitchen knife but he would prefer scissors.
Kuroko looked surprised, before slightly biting his lip. "It'll be hard... and imagine the punishment if he finds out.." Kuroko said worriedly, but didn't stop him. He wanted to escape, but the pain to either of then was frightening.
Akashi paused at that. He didn't mind the punishment, he really didn't, but he didn't want Kuroko to be dragged with him. So after punching the wall really hard, hard enough to bruise his knuckles, he began to steal.
It killed him to do it. Everything in him screamed at him doing such a degrading act such as stealing, but he had no choice.
Kuroko just watched him, a bit relieved that he wouldn't get hurt for trying to remove the collars, but he felt guilty that he had to steal. Though he just watched, not stealing or talking, no matter how tempting it was.
Akashi stole as much as he could, although he did pretend he didn't see some things that were probably of value. Soon he shrugged and turned to Kuroko.
"This should be enough." Akashi said.
Kuroko looked at what he was holding, before slowly nodding. "It will probably satisfy him. I'm sorry you had to do this." He said, before he began walking towards the window they crawled through to get inside.
Akashi didn't reply just looked around last time before sighing softly and leaving with Kuroko. He walked back to Vlad and shoved the stuff he had stolen against them man's chest.
Vlad had happily taken the stuff, not minding how Akashi gave him the stolen goods. "It's good enough. We can walk home now." He said, putting most of the things in a small bag he brought.
Kuroko stayed close to Akashi, standing beside him with slightly dull eyes.
Akashi just simply followed Vlad back home, anger and resignation in his eyes. They needed to find a way out somehow. He couldn't keep doing that he couldn't stay trapped.
Kuroko followed Akashi and Vlad, staying close. Once they got home, and Vlad led them down to their room again, Kuroko just slowly sat down by his chain, staring at Akashi's bloody chain.
Akashi gritted his teeth and his foot twitched with the need to yank the chain off, or try to but he didn't, not with Kuroko nearby. So he just stared at the window once more. He didn't even plan anymore, he knew there was no way to escape unless they got keys.
Kuroko laid down, watching Akashi. He looked so dull, so weak and small. It was his fault. He closed his eyes, not even bothering to snuggle up to Akashi like he did every night when he slept. He was tired, even though it wasn't night yet, and slowly took a nap.
Akashi noticed that Kuroko had fallen asleep and he just sighed and stared at the shackle around his ankle. There had to be a way to break it although he supposed the same problem with the collars arose.
As Kuroko slept, he had the same dream. Well, if you could call it a dream. He was facing himself again, the side that always wore the black clothing that showed it was his thief side. It always scared him whenever he saw this side of him in his dreams.
Usually they would just stare at each other, a word never shared, but this time was different. The other side had smirked, and said "I'm coming back." Something about it had caused Kuroko to jolt awake, his heart pounding. 'I'm coming back'? Did he mean... the thief side?
He couldn't. He couldn't go back. All those months, all the effort Akashi put in, he couldn't be a thief again.
Akashi didn't realize Kuroko's struggles, instead he fell asleep himself. He was still weak from not eating and having to steal.
Kuroko saw Akashi was asleep, and wanted to snuggle up to him. He was scared, he was so scared, but Akashi already dealt with so much. He needed to face this problem alone. He leaned against the wall, hugging his knees to his chest.
Akashi eventually woke up and sighed before he went and sat beside Kuroko in the same position.
"We'll get out." Akashi said although there was no real bite in his voice.
Kuroko didn't reply, just staying quiet for a moment. He was debating, should he tell Akashi?
"...He's coming back... He didn't leave." Kuroko said suddenly, not looking at Akashi.
"What?" Akashi asked with a frown, automatically looking at the basement door before realizing that it wasn't what Kuroko meant. "Well you have to fight it for the both of us Tetsuya. If he comes out, then we won't ever escape."
"I know. I know I know, but what if I can't? What if I'm too weak? I don't want to steal, but I'm being forced again, and I... I don't know what to do!" Kuroko said, closing his eyes as he covered his face. "He just won't leave..."
Akashi wrapped an arm around Kuroko and sighed, having already predicted it. "You just have to keep fighting, that's all there is to do."
Kuroko slightly looked up at Akashi, before slowly clinging to Akashi, nodding his head. "...If he escapes... Please... Just knock some sense into him. I don't care if it hurts, if you hurt him. Please do it.."
"Alright." Akashi said quietly although he didn't know if that would work. If that side of Kuroko came out, all hope would be lost.
