Gawd, It's been soooo long since I've last updated! I'm so so sorry. I've just been really preoccupied lately. This was also one of the hardest chapters I've ever written. Well, here it is (on the plus side at least it's long).

BTW: funny review quote: "Also angsty tortured shirtless!Allan? Always fangirltastic!" From SpicyBG (Yay, a new reviewer too!) Lol. Well, here's some more angsty shirtless Allan - Enjoy! :)

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Annie crouched in the closet fretfully, barely breathing. It was a pretty large closet - so she'd found a big box and thrown herself next to it. Cowering behind it - hopefully hidden; should Guy enter for any reason. She was quietly hyperventilating as fear gripped her purely by his footsteps outside the door. She prayed silently that Seth would be safe. She hadn't yet been able to get open his shackles and she'd left the pick in the lock. All Gisbourne had to do would be to look at the child's foot and their whole plan would be foiled again. She heard Seth whimper quietly through the door and her eyes turned wide with unrestrained fear. "Shut Up, you!" she heard Guy shout and something clanged as if he'd thrown something at the boy. As angry as this made her - her eyes went back to their normal size and breathing resumed as she realized that this meant he hadn't seen Seth's foot. Then her breathing stopped again as she heard his footsteps approaching her - then the closet door being thrown open roughly.

Light poured into the previously dark closet and Annie froze except for the shaking of her hands. Guy walked in - and she found herself looking at his black-shoed foot. She shuddered involuntarily, her eyes wide once again. She wanted to cover her mouth, but was too afraid to move her hand. Then he grabbed something and walked out, slamming the door behind him and she heard a another clang followed by the cry of her son. She waited in the closet a few minutes, trying hard to make air enter her lungs without the searing pain as panic wore off. Finally she sighed - rubbing her face and got up, carefully opening the door so it didn't squeak. After quickly scanning the room for Gisbourne she saw that it was empty and heard his muffled voice coming back out of the room that Allan was in. She rushed back over to her son, hugging him to quiet him (she found a candlestick on the floor and the metal pan it had been sitting on - along with a not too serious bruise on the young boy's arm). Then she resumed picking the lock. Although engrossed by her task - she realized that she could actually hear their conversation (if you could call it that) if she listened. Up until that point, blood had been pumping in her ears too loudly for her to make out their words - but now she sat and listened as she tried to free her son.

--

Guy took a swig from the waterskin he'd just fetched out of the closet before looking at it in his hands. He observed the pitiful excuse for a man laid out before him and felt both feelings of disgust and satisfaction when he threw the water over his wearied form. At one point he hadn't hated Allan. On the contrary - he'd liked Allan. He'd trusted him, despite his distrustful nature. The Sheriff had been right. The Sheriff was always right. He'd been right about Hood, he'd been right about Allan…and he'd been right about Marian. Guy threw the waterskin to the ground forcefully, out of anger.

Whenever Guy thought of Marian he became angry. Angry with her, angry at Hood, angry with himself. He was just filled with a white-hot rage. And seeing as he could never seem to take his thoughts off of Marian - this seemed to be his permanent mood. Why did everyone leave him?! The thought made him truly hate the world in a new light. That's why he stayed loyal to the Sheriff - he may be mad, but he was the only one who ever made sense.

Allan's eyes fluttered open and he was immediately disoriented. He'd only been out for a minute or so but the blood-loss had made him dizzy and confused. He went to wipe the blood out of his eyes only to remember that not only could he not see - he also couldn't move. He blinked, but it was no use. The red haze still lay over him - his own blood dripping and blotting out his vision.

"You know what, Allan." Guy started, an idea forming, "I'm going to give you a way out. Prove your loyalty to me and maybe, maybe, I'll let you live." Allan only blinked and spat some of the blood from his mouth. "Just say it. Disown your rowdy friends and swear loyalty to me." He wanted to see Allan say it. He wanted to make Allan his before he broke him - killed him. It suddenly became all about power, the accumulation of power. Guy wanted power over this man - just to have that high of knowing you have obtained it. Everyone may leave him in the end, but at least he could get them back to crush them himself.

That's why he became so infuriated by Allan's answer, a defiant, "Never." Inside Guy roared and grabbed one of the metal devices off of the table to use on this insolent wretch. But instead he decided to try to win this one rhetorically - mentally destroy this man as so many had destroyed him. "The torture will stop. Maybe I'll let you heal and work for me again. You've already done it before - why not do it again. After all, we both know you're only interested in saving your own skin."

"NO." Allan said, slightly stronger this time. "Not anymore, I've changed." Guy started yelling, "People never change!" Letting his anger get the better of him he hurled a metal block (a piece of one of the devices) at Allan and it hit him in the stomach, leaving him trying to hunch over despite his bonds and breathing heavily. How he wished he could see!

--

Annie turned wide-eyed toward the door. She shuddered and kept working on the lock. She had to get Seth out so that Robin could get a plan to get Allan out. Something within her told her that Allan wouldn't break. She heard him grunt in pain as something clattered to the floor - after his rigid defiance of Guy. She closed her eyes for a minute practically feeling his pain. Gawd, he was brave… With shaking hands she went fervently back to work.

--

Allan stood helplessly, his wrists screaming as he slumped against his bonds. His knees just couldn't hold him anymore. He was still catching his breathe after Guy had thrown that something at him. He was gasping, taking in large amounts of air.

However, Guy wasn't done yet. He was furious. He picked up another item and hurled it at the man, this time hitting him in the head. His head snapped back and he hissed in pain, so wanting to wipe his already bloody and sweat-drenched forehead.

"Why, is everyone around me so insolent!? Everyone I've ever tried to help, leaves me! I didn't have to take you in! Trust you! But I did and you let me down! You betrayed for my enemy! And yet, Guy of Gisbourne is always the bad guy! He tried to kill you! Hell, he probably still wants you dead, and you're loyal to him?! Is there no one on this green earth that will be loyal to me?! You're not! Lambert wasn't! Mari…" Suddenly the enraged yelling came to a halt. He couldn't form her name - couldn't speak it aloud. He snapped and slammed his hands on the table. Then threw something else at Allan, causing him to howl in pain as it struck his shin this time forming an instant bruise.

Guy's mind swirled in an incomprehensible black and red fog as anger flooded his veins. Everyone turned on him on the first chance. He could never pity himself - so the only other option was hate. Hate the world that wronged him so; and in this moment the world he hated seemed to be encased in this pathetic excuse of a traitor who seemed to flip flop daily about his side of this fight. He threw something else at Allan as unbridled hatred and loathing itched under his fingers. Allan's hands balled into fists as his arm throbbed. He was in so much pain.

Finally the pummeling seemed to stop. With Guy, it was hard to tell - but he seemed to be as emotionally spent as Allan felt. Both men seemed to sag down, wearily. Allan coughed a few times and he spat out some more blood.

"Damnit Allan." a voice said coldly, one that obviously didn't care for him - only for itself. "Why don't you just make this easier and give in. We both know that you're a turn-coat, and you're going to come back to me sooner or later. Why not make things easier and say sooner? You're locked in my basement with dozens of guards between you and your "friends" (he made air-quotes with his hands before realizing that the younger man couldn't see - then he dropped his arms frustrated and continued). Four words and the pain will stop, all you have to say is, "I hate Robin Hood."

He approached Allan and burned him with the poker again, drawing out a shriek Allan didn't know he had in him. When Guy pulled away again Allan heard crying. Seth… but then, quite abruptly, the crying stopped. Allan's eyes grew wide. Annie's here - with Seth! He blinked his eyes hurriedly and in doing so, cleared out a little bit of blood. He could just see the form of Gisbourne through his red shade. He was putting the poker back and thumbing his hand over some of the other instruments. So, Allan thought, his mind racing, Annie's here rescuing Seth (or one of the other outlaws) and Gisbourne doesn't know it. Why else would the baby have quieted, someone's there soothing him! He silently prayed that he was right. But he also became more awake and alert, weariness could wait. He was now on a mission. Distract Gisbourne - whatever it takes.

Allan took a deep breath, a new dose of adrenaline doing him good. He stood up, supporting himself again and he felt stronger, willing to do whatever it took for Annie, for Seth.

"You wanna know why?" He said quietly, his voice sore from screaming. In his minimal amount of vision he saw Gisbourne put down the item and tense. In his mind's eye he could see the scowl and fury in the leather clad man's eyes. "You wanna know why everybody leaves you?" he hissed.

He coughed, but Guy seemed too curious at the moment to inflict more pain. He vaguely and sarcastically wondered how long that would last? "It's all a matter of perspective. We didn't betray you - you betray us. Every time someone tries to reach out to you - you wind up ruining their lives!" Guy roared, "You insolent fool!"

"No! I'm not!" Allan yelled right back, portraying his momentary air of confidence. "Well, maybe I am - for ever trusting you in the first place! But you know I'm right! I found people who love me for who I am, despite the fact that I'm a fool, and if you were loyal to me, a friend - you'd be happy for me! And yet here we are, wif you torturing the hell outta me!"

"You turned on them, just like you turned on me - you're nothing but scum in their eyes!"

Gisbourne couldn't believe it, Allan was- smiling? The fire burned within him again as pure rage overwhelmed him. How was he supposed to break a man who was …laughing?! Sure enough Allan chuckled dryly, as much as he could manage, because finally he realized a truth he'd been denying himself for months. "You know… I should be, but I'm not. And it's because of that that I'll never betray them again. Because I know they love me." He laughed again, but the smile was replaced with a grimace as Gisbourne launched himself at the man before him.

White-hot rage filled him, and he wasn't sure entirely why. He had power and titles, and this man was worse than the mud on his boots - but for some reason to hear his laughter made Gisbourne want to beat the tar out of somebody - so he did just that. He didn't know why, but Allan did.

Once the torrent of blows stopped and both caught their breath Allan voiced his opinion, trying to goat Gisbourne more, "I…wheeze I think you're just jealous. After all, people like me - but no one likes you. You wonder why… but here we are. Just think; look back on all the people who've generally cared about you… you've been the downfall of every single one of them. There was Lambert - you tortured the poor bloke, it wasn't treacherous what he did - it was courageous. Then there was…" Allan's voice broke and he could feel his heart beat faster; he hoped Gisbourne wouldn't notice, "Annie. She genuinely cared for you. She had your baby! And you tried to kill him - your own son!"

Gisbourne paled. He was becoming more and more enraged by the second, but at the same time he couldn't stop listening to Allan's rambles. A mental war overtook him as he both saw sense in Allan's comments, and tried desperately to deny them. No, he's wrong! It's not my fault that the world hates me! It was Lambert who betrayed me! But another voice seemed to counter every argument the first voice - the only one he'd listened to for years - had to make and this new voice was getting stronger making him no longer want to strike Allan - but instead strike himself. He's right. It's all your fault. everyone hates you because you hate the world. You did torture Lambert before he had betrayed you, and you let him die when he was your friend.

Then Allan had mentioned Annie. Guy hadn't thought about Annie in a long, long time. He paled. Even then, he didn't like the idea of killing the child. But he'd been a mistake! He had no choice! Annie had been talking to him - had always been friendly. And then, one night he became frustrated with Marian. She never seemed to take him seriously. He'd been so angry that night. Then Annie had come to talk to him - she wore a smile and said pleasant things. In his anger Guy wanted to do something to spite Marian - and so he won over the peasant-girl. That's how it happened the first time - and the same scenario played out a few times after that. He only went to her to use her, when he was angry - and every time she believed the literal nothings he whispered to her, all the while imagining Marian in his mind's eye.

Then she'd gotten pregnant. He was trying to gain power - prestige. He couldn't become the illegitimate father of a peasant girl's baby. What would Marian think?! And so he had to get rid of it. For his "love" of Marian. In his twisted mind he had to do it, but not even he could be happy about it. He always secretly regretted that day, but not enough to save the boy's life should the need arise.

But Allan stopped coughing, bringing Guy back into the dungeon of his own basement. "And then there was Marian. Gawd Guy, she liked you - and you killed her! You said you loved her and yet you drove your sword through her belly!" Allan screamed the last sentence. He missed Marian. Marian had been the only one who stood by him, he never forgot that he wouldn't be standing here if it hadn't been for her. That had been the true point when he'd hated Gisbourne - the point of no return for Allan.

"NO!" Guy screamed. "SHUT UP!" He needed to make Allan stop. His mind couldn't handle the swirling thoughts banging around inside his skull. "YOU'RE WRONG!" and just like that Allan was being pelted with things again. Guy threw himself across the room and smashed his fist into Allan's jaw. A hit to his chest filled the room with a resonating crack and Guys felt satisfied with the cracking sensation he felt underneath his knuckles. The red hazy blur in his mind seemed to give way as a smirk formed on his lips and Allan screeched, gasping past his now broken rib. He walked back over to the table, Allan finally silenced. No, I won't let this traitor manipulate me. Ha! And so the old cruel, dark, Guy returned. The Guy that hated Allan, the one who'd left his own baby in the forest that day, the one who had killed Marian. There was a stretching silence as Guy gathered his thoughts and Allan struggled to breathe.

Seth was crying again. The ever-present flame filled Guy's chest at the annoyance. "I'll shut that damn thing up!" Guy muttered turning toward the door. Allan's chest seemed to constrict and he shouted hoarsely, "No! Don't touch him!" as panic gripped him.

Guy turned back to the tethered man, eyebrows raised. "Oh? And why not?" Allan just wheezed, but an idea seemed to occur to Guy. "Have I hit a sore spot? You gone soft? It's only a child. Besides I haven' really hurt him… yet." He grinned evilly seeing the pure terror on Allan's face as his brow grew sweaty (clearing away some of the still present blood). "Shall I bring him in here maybe? We could give you a little break. I know it's not his fault his mom couldn't pay - but it's a lesson I'm sure he'll have to learn soon anyway."

"You stay away from him!" Allan shouted fiercely. Pure anger racked his body as he shuddered. Seth, no, not Seth. Kept flashing through his mind and he closed his eyes as visions of what Gsbourne might do to the boy he'd grown attached to by association with Annie appeared before him.

Something seemed off to Gisbourne. Something didn't seem to make sense. Allan seemed almost too upset by his threat. Then something clicked and he smiled.

"He's your son, isn't he?" Guy asked smirking. Allan just remained silent.

--

She'd done it! She'd picked the lock! Seth was free! She went to pick him up and he cried loudly, the sudden movement after being immobile for so long, being uncomfortable. She tried to shush him but he didn't stop. Then she heard Guy's voice drift through the door quietly, "I'll shut that damn thing up!" She froze in fear, but then Allan came to her rescue. He always came to her rescue. She wanted to cry. For the last few minutes he seemed to be egging Gisbourne on - and it was helping her. She listened to the conversation and wanted desperately to hear how it ended but by the time Guy asked that final question she'd quieted Seth and was already ascending the stairs quietly. But she couldn't help but hear Allan's silence - as though he weren't going to deny it and she vowed that somehow she would get that poor, brave man out. She really wanted to cry, but instead she carefully opened the door and proceeded with her next step of her plan to get Seth out. As soon as the door shut behind her she couldn't hear the voices of the only two men she'd ever really cared about any longer.

--

He couldn't help but notice that the crying had stopped. He sighed with relief, praying that whoever had been in there had taken Seth to safety. He still couldn't see, so his hearing seemed to have gotten better, and it had already been good. He was able to here the very deliberately soft snap of a door quietly shutting in the next room. He wanted to smile, but being to trickster he was - kept his voice steely and his face serious.

Finally, he answered the question that had been hanging in the air for those few moments. He gave the truth - hoping that if nothing else could make this man see humanity, the truth of the situation might.

"No. He's not my son. I'm not risking my neck to save my own son. I'm risking my neck to save yours." Something clanged to the ground, and Allan could almost see the look of horror on Gisbourne's face.