Lentium watched as Crepitus rummaged through the old tack room, pulling out objects seemingly indiscriminately, discarding some, and placing others into a pile. In the middle of the barn, the Niff boy let out a high pitched whimper and rattled his chains as something inside the heavy bag covering his head did something undoubtedly unpleasant.
Truthfully, he was almost feeling sorry for the boy. Almost. It was hard to feel anything but hate for the people slowly taking over the world.
"What are you looking for?"
Crepitus grunted as he threw an old grooming brush into the pile of other decidedly phallic shaped objects. Lentium swallowed thickly. "Crep, you don't plan on—"
The swarthy man whirled around, lightning in his eyes. "You saw what hedidto me! He deserves to be punished. And when he gets here, I will make the prince watch. Niffs are the enemy and should never have been offered refuge in Lucis, least of all Insomnia! But, every day, more and more arrive to clog our cities; steal our resources."
Crepitus strode forward, and Lentium took an involuntary step back, shrinking before his partner. "Your father fought the Niffs and came home a changed man. You said yourself; he'd never struck you or your mother before he left for war. But they did something to him, didn't they?"
Lentium was having trouble meeting the taller man's eyes, so he cast his gaze to the floor. "Yes."
"And I've told you what they did to my family and I; most of it no different than what I have wrought on the boy. And might I remind you, I was far younger than he at the time. And you want me to what? Go easy on him?"
From outside the room, the boy let out half a terrified wail before it dissolved into a fit of choked coughing.
"No, Crepitus, that's not what I'm saying. Just…"
The swarthy man lifted an eyebrow, rearing his head back in mock surprise. "What? Are you feelingneglected? You know I prefer to keep these particular energies for the scum they are intended for. I can't give you the proper attention you need when we have a job to do."
Lentium swallowed, still refusing to meet Crepitus' eyes. "No..that's not it, either—"
"Then what?!" The darker man nearly roared. "What, do you want to take a turn with the boy? You've never expressed an interest in those particular aggressions before; I assumed your particular needs were only in abusing the flesh, not the soul."
Neither of them were kind men; Lentium had no illusions of that. But Crepitus had never spoken to him that way. In fact, before this job, he could not remember a time in which the older man had ever lost his temper. He was thorough and controlled in his ministrations, and rarely showed anything but detached disinterest in the subject of their tortures, personally.
But this boy seemed to have gotten under his skin.
It's not that Lentium was jealous. He wasn't. It's just that….
Hereallywished they had not taken on this job.
Crepitus stared him down a moment longer, before turning to scoop up his new implements. "You might as get ready. The prince will be here, soon. He should be calling any moment, now."
Lentium gave his partner a brief nod, and headed out to do what he was told.
Just. Like. Always.
XVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXV
Cor was going to kill them all. He was pretty sure of it.
Ignis, Gladiolus, Iris, and Crowe stood before him, matching him glower for glower.
He paced back and forth in front of them, stopping in front of Ignis after three crossings. "Haven't you done enough damage?" Ignis visibly paled in response, but straightened his posture nonetheless.
Cor turned his gaze on the rest of them. "Absolutely not. None of you are going anywhere; least of all you, Lady Amicitia. No offense."
Gladiolus stopped any comeback she might have had by clapping his hand over her mouth. "Sir, with all due respect, I am the Prince's sworn shield. I should be out there, protecting him."
Cor smiled humorlessly. "Yeah, but instead you decided to go out and get yourself hit by a car by rushing into thegodsdamnedroad after a man you shouldn't have been following in the first fucking place!"
Gladiolus gently pushed Iris aside and took a step towards Cor; his face ruddying in his anger. But before he could get anything out Ignis interrupted, coming to stand slightly in between the two men, facing the marshal. "Sir, arguing now is not going to help Prompto or Noctis at this point. And, I think I've come up with a plan."
Cor wiped a hand down his face and turned his stern countenance to the adviser. "Fine. You have three minutes to convince me to let you lot come with us. Starting now."
Ignis fumbled for only a moment before revealing his plan to the marshal. He had the man rolling his eyes and waiving them on to the vehicles gearing up to speed to the other side of Insomnia with forty seven seconds to spare.
XVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXV
Noctis was winded after his frantic combination of running and warping to the designated location, which turned out to be a pizza place near the industrial district. He caught his breath on the roof, trying to compose himself before placing the call. Just as he got the air back in his chest, Nyx landed on the roof, looking decidedly pissed. Despite his best efforts, he'd been unable to catch the angry teen.
"What…kid…c'mon. We gotta call someone, you cannot possibly…" the older man trailed off, trying to catch his own breath.
"Nyx, do me a favor, will you?" Noctis' eyes had never gone back to their normal blue; they cast an ethereal glow across his pale cheeks and made his blue-black fringe luminous in the gathered shadows. "Shut the fuck up and get out of sight."
Nyx Ulric absolutely would not take that under normal circumstances, but he knew he was beat, here. With a sigh, he strode over to the fire escape that crawled its way up the north side of the building and hopped down onto the first landing below, finally—quietly—answering Crowe's repeated hails.
Pulling in a deep breath and forcing himself to calm, Noctis connected a video chat with the number Crepitus provided.
It took long moments, but soon the screen was filled with the smug face of his current enemy number one. He took in the man's features, memorizing each crease and wrinkle; he would watch them twist in agony.
"Hello, Prince Noctis, how kind of you to call. Please do give us a little spin, won't you. I would like to be sure you have followed directions."
Wordlessly, Noctis did as asked, making a full slow turn so the man could see he was alone on the roof. "Satisfied?" He grumbled at the screen.
One half of the man's mouth lifted in a cruel smile. "Oh, I've been satisfiedmanytimes over the last few days."
The muscles in Noctis' neck twitched as he snarled wordlessly at the screen; around him, energy crackled in the still night air.
"Let me talk to Prompto." Noctis demanded, eyes burning brighter in his rage.
Crepitus glanced behind him, though Noctis could still see only him on the screen. "Well," he started soft and slow, side eyeing back to the camera. "I'm not so sure he can talk to you at the moment; he hasn't been truly coherent in hours." He moved to the side to let the freckled boy into frame.
Noctis' stomach dropped painfully, but he kept his face composed. Prompto looked…bad. Really bad. And he couldn't even see his friend's face, what with the black canvas bag locked over it.
"Let's fix that, shall we?" Crepitus nodded to someone behind the camera, who picked it up and followed the swarthy man closer to Prompto, and at his bidding, made a full circuit of the boy so Noctis could take in all the damage.
The camera panned back to show Crepitus sporting a superior expression standing behind Prompto who was on his knees, trembling. Occasionally he jerked his head to the side as if he'd been hit, and emitted an almost endless deluge of excruciating whimpers below the hood.
"I think I have a potion here, somewhere…." Crepitus made a show of glancing around. "It won't heal most of the damage, probably won't touch the fever….but it may get him to start making sense again." He looked into the camera again, eyes twinkling. "He was quite annoying with all his smart mouth remarks, but I found a clever way to shut him up. Would you like to see?"
"Just tell me where you are so we can make the trade." Noctis bit out, hands trembling slightly as he held the device.
"Don't you dare give me orders, boy prince. In fact—" the man bent down and grabbed a half gallon jug of water that was on the floor along with several other objects; most of which Noctis couldn't begin to fathom what they'd be used for. "Let me show you what happens when you anger me."
Before he'd made another move, Noctis was spilling apologies, trying to keep the man from hurting his friend further. But it was too late.
Crepitus opened a zippered section at the top of the bag and shook it a little, peering down inside. Satisfied with whatever he saw in there, he began to slowly pour the water in the hole.
The canvas was heavy, but not water proof. The liquid pooled in the bottom, coming up to what Noctis estimated to be Prompto's chin, leaking out in small slow rivulets through the fabric and beneath the leather strap keeping it attached to the boy's neck.
Prompto began to scream. Long blood curdling peals of horror sounded through the phone, muffled by the wet cloth, but no less gut wrenching for the volume. He jerked violently, the rusted chains ripping at his already torn flesh.
Crepitus upended the container when it was about half empty, washing out the screams in horrified gurgles and coughs until finally his voice was silenced.
Noctis sat down hard on the rooftop, one hand covering his mouth as tears pressed at his burning eyes. It was several long moments before the water level inside the bag went down again, and Prompto heaved out harsh wet breaths.
When it was drained, Crepitus did pull out a vial of potion and unstoppered it, pouring it in as well. A visible shudder wracked Prompto's body, but he quickly stilled when the man leaned down next to his left ear and said asked him to nod if Prompto heard him.
After a brief pause, Prompto complied.
"Good. Now, do you want me to do that again? With the water?"
This time, the head shook emphatically, indicating a no.
"Do you want me to take off the hood?"
This time he spoke, rasping out a 'yes'.
Crepitus smiled into the camera and made a gesture. Lentium followed his cue and circled around to be behind them now, while the darker man moved to stand in front of Prompto.
Noctis' eyes were immediately drawn to the whip-wheels that covered his friend's back. There were too many to count; in differing thicknesses and stages of healing. He refocused his attention on the man he intended to kill when he spoke again.
"And if I take it off, you will behave? You will be my good boy?"
This time, the yes was whispered, but Noctis still heard it.
"You will do anything I ask, without question or retaliation?"
Prompto whimpered his affirmative.
"Will you answer any questions I have? Will you give me your secrets? The prince's secrets?"
Prompto's chest heaved. "B..but I don'tknowanything!! I've told you I don't know…jus…just kill me, please!" His words were cut off abruptly by another fit of wet coughs.
Crepitus grinned and pulled a string with a key on the end from around his neck, gently shushing the boy. "Now now, calm yourself. I will take it off." He undid the padlock of the leather strap and loosened it, slowly pulling the hood from Prompto's head.
To Noctis' horror, an avalanche of water logged insects fell out of the bottom, hitting the ground and scattering quickly. Crepitus took a moment to gently brush the remainders from Prompto's wet hair, and then gripped his chin tightly, turning his head this way and that to inspect his ears and nostrils.
The prince could not see Prompto's expression, but he was sure it was horrified.
Crepitus kept the grip on Promtpo's chin, and tilted his head back to look down in his eyes. "Thank me for helping you."
"Th-thank you for h-helping me." Prompto stuttered out, voice weak with relief and tinged with fear.
Noctis screamed at the screen, but it was no use—they'd obviously muted him.
"Sir." Crepitus said; and admonishment.
"Thank you f-for helping me, sss…sir."
"Your earlier rebellion proved quite effective for the time being; but I will get even with you for it soon enough. For now, I will settle for a kiss." He flickered his sliver eyes to stare back at Noctis.
Lentium had a tablet, using it as the video chat device; so Crepitus was able to take in the horror and disgust in the prince's eyes as his mouth twisted with undoubtedly angry—yet silent—words.
"If you will show me you can be a good boy, I will let you down from here. I may even give you another potion."
His words echoed back to that first offer and Prompto knew not to trust it; he knew better, but he found himself nodding in the man's grasp.
Crepitus leaned down and took Prompto's lips almost tenderly, sliding his free hand back to grip the short blond hair at the back of his head. When the boy did not respond, he became more insistent, darting his tongue forward and increasing the grip on Prompto's chin until the boy let him in with a soft moan of displeasure.
It was several long tense moments before they parted, and Crepitus gave Prompto an almost fond smile before straightening back up to begin working on the chain on the boy's left arm. When he started on the right hand side, he gestured for Lentium to come back around to the front, and Noctis tensed.
Even with the potion, Prompto's face was a mess. It was mottled with bruises and swelling, and his blue violet eyes glittered with fever and terror in tandem. His hazy gaze slowly rose to meet that of Noctis' on the screen, and confusion joined the emotional fray playing across his features. He reached out a trembling blood spattered hand, running a finger down the screen.
"N..Noct? Wha… what's hapn'n?" He furrowed his brows, concern now registering. He swung his head back towards Crepitus and repeated his broken question.
The swarthy man ran his hand through Prompto's hair. "Well, it turns out that a stray little Niff is worth something after all. Your friend has valiantly volunteered to take your place."
"No." Prompto said the word with more strength than he'd had in the last day. He whipped his head back towards the video chat, studying Noctis' face as best he could. "Noct, y-you can't. Please stay away. Please. I..I'm not worth it; you know I'm not!!"
The devastation of those knocked all the air from Noctis' lungs, deflating him. He curled his knees up to his chest, gripping his phone in both hands.
"It's too late, boy. The deal is struck. He'll come here in all his royal glory; and we'll release what is left of you into the gutter where you belong." Crepitus finished unwrapping the chain and reacted quickly to catch Prompto as he slumped forward, unable to keep himself up under his own power.
"No nonono. Please, no! You can't!" Prompto beat his fists feebly against his captor, struggling as best he could to make Noctis understand; make him see he's got to stay away.
Crepitus humored him for a few moments, but after a particularly hard blow a little too close to his manhood, he shoved the boy to the ground with a snarl. Prompto drug himself closer to Lentium, who stepped back a few paces. "Stay away! Noct, he's a liar! He'll n..never let me go! Please, Noct, go home! Let him h-have me."
Crepitus tutted behind him, pulling a mock disappointed face. He strode forward, easily overtaking Prompto's progress. The swarthy man planted his feet on either side of the boy's legs and reached down, yanking him back up by the armpits, pulling his raw back up against his chest and holding him there. An echo to what he did that first day.
Prompto's face twisted, never breaking eye contact with his friend inside the screen. As his feet left the floor, he kicked out, but there was no strength behind it, and Crepitus simply held him as he squirmed.
"Now that isn't being good, is it, boy?" He asked, his lips near Prompto's ear, brushing against it. "You promised me."
"Yeah?" Prompto's voice was high and pained. "You're afffuckingliarrrr. I don't h-have to keep my promise to you. Kill me. Fuckingkillme." The abused boy bucked again, trying with all his might to get free.
Noctis watched, not bothering to say anything now; it was pointless, Prompto couldn't hear him. But heknew; he knew what his friend was doing, and it broke his heart.
"Hmm, I think you need a time out, boy!" Crepitus laughed and easily carried the struggling blond over to the wooden crate, Lentium following to document every moment.
By the time Prompto's fevered brain caught up to what was happening, he was half way in the crate, and he renewed his struggles as ragged terrified screams ripped from his throat. "No, no! Not the box, please!Please, Crepitus!"
The devastating slap delivered to Prompto's face silenced all other noise in the barn. "Do not ever use my name, you piece ofNiffgarbage." He spat in the blond's face, his saliva mixing with the fresh blood running from the corner of the boy's mouth. Stunned, Prompto's face fell in utter resignation.
Crepitus folded him the rest of the way into the tiny box and slammed the lid shut, locking it with gusto.
He spun and brandished the key to the camera, smiling at the prince before tucking it back under his shirt. "Now, Prince Noctis. I will advise you on where to come. You will be here in one half hour, or we will throw the crate containing your little Niff boy into the creek." Crepitus' hand filled the screen as he tapped on it, turning the sound back on.
Noctis tried hard but failed in keeping his voice steady. "I understand."
Crepitus' face folded into a darkly superior grin. "Well then…."
XVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXV
In…in a way….in a way, he was lucky.
Even though his skin was hot and his insides were cold and nothing felt real anymore, he understood that.
He was so proud…so content inside knowing that…at least for a short time, Prompto had been able to call Noctis 'friend'.
Friend.
He had lived his whole life without one, and though their time together had been short, it was a lifetime of happiness in comparison to his earlier existence.
And with Noctis came Ign..Ig…Iggy…and uhm Gla..uhm…Gladio. Oh, gods, poor Gladio...
...but yeah.. anyway they had always treated him nicely.
Yes, he was lucky.
But; there was also despair. It twisted the hollow pit that was his stomach and threw shadows over his heart. He didn't want Noc..uhm..N…
Noctis! Noctisnoctisnoctisnoctis. He didn't want Noctis to come. Hadn't wanted the prince to see him at all.
He…he wanted Noct's las…last memories to be of him laughing…telling a stu…stupid pun. He didn't wa…wa…nt…..
All his thoughts were drowned out by the rumble of thunder and scent of rain.
XVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXV
The storm was raging outside.
Crepitus had perched himself on top of the crate that had his prize all locked inside. He felt almost at peace as he watched Lentium shift his weight from one foot to the other against the backdrop of the angry squall.
Lentium was not as beautiful as the Niff boy, but Crepitus supposed he had something akin to feelings for the man. It wasn't often, after all, that one found someone who accepted you for yourself. But, he didn't enjoy certain :aspects: of Crepitus' taste, and not for the first time in the last few days, he found himself wondering if Lentium could be persuaded to let him keep the boy. Their benefactor had already given him permission.
After they handed the prince over to their benefactor, they could smuggle the Niff out of Insomnia. Given the proper time and resources, Crepitus was sure he'd be able to not only break the boy, buttrainhim. Just the thought of having a personal Niff servant did wonderful things to his cock, though the pain from the still raw bite quickly reminded him the boy would need copious amounts of discipline.
He'd collar the boy for sure. And likely employ a ring gag to give him access to his mouth without another incident. He really should have thought of that in the—
"I think he's here, Crep!" Lentium backed away from the door as a seemingly stray lightning bolt materialized at the base of the hill the barn was sat upon. The figure was little more than a shadow with glowing eyes, but it moved with purpose, climbing straight up towards the open doors.
Crepitus got to his feet and strode to the center of the barn. "Are you ready?"
Lentium scrambled back, not ashamed of the abject fear he showed in the face of the boy prince's wrath. He was back behind Crepitus before the shadow crossed the threshold, resolving itself into the regally infuriated features of the crown prince.
It was only once he was inside the doors that Noctis broke eye contact with Lentium, and that was the first moment in several that the man took a breath. The prince's glowing gaze found the box, and the wordlessly strode towards it, stopping in front of Crepitus.
"Give me the key, and I will cooperate."
Crepitus smiled down at him. "You're much smarter than your friend, Highness." He bowed mockingly, withdrawing the key from his neck and holding presenting it to the prince.
Noctis snatched the key and hurried over to the box, quickly unlocking it and throwing open the lid. He let out a choked cry of relief, and held a shaking hand out to his friend, brushing his fingers down a lightly freckled/darkly bruised cheek.
He bit his lip when there was no response from the blond, and he sat up on his knees, reaching in and pulling Prompto out of his confinement. Noctis gently laid Prompto up against his chest, leaning his head over his friend, whispering desperate words of encouragement.
But still, nothing. Prompto lay limply, his chest rising and falling in stages, small wet sounds occasionally escaping…but otherwise there was nothing.
Something broke inside of Noctis, and he suddenly felt drained…weak. Wait, that wasn't right.
Why did he feel so weak? He'd just powered himself up before he landed on the farm. He'd downed a cocktail of boosters and ethers, but he could barely feel them now.
Prompto whimpered, and Noctis was dragged out of his dazed thoughts. He had potions...an elixer. He reached into his armiger to retrieve one for his friend.
Or, rather, he tried to. Again and again he attempted to access that pocket of subspace that held everything he needed, but it was gone.
He gripped Prompto tighter, and dragged him back towards the wall. Slowly, Crepitus and Lentium advanced, wolfish grins playing out across their features.
"Well," Crepitus reasoned as he got closer, pulling out a small metal box with an antennae and switch. "At least we know it works."
Noctis swallowed hard; this was definitely not part of the plan.