Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Two
...
Connor headed through the apartment building with Victor by his side. He wasn't entirely sure why Honey needed both of them to go to this meeting she'd set up, but didn't mind the extra time spent with Victor. He'd been working hard and overtime, despite the timetable he and Ethan had created. These were special circumstances with the number of cases that Hyacinth had organised to repeal, and Connor only felt proud when he thought of how many people Victor was helping free from their wrongful imprisonment.
Stopping at room 638, Connor kissed Victor firmly, and smiled as he pulled away to see Victor blinking in surprise.
"What was that for?" Victor asked.
"Because I love you and I'm proud of what you're doing. Also, I haven't kissed you in at least three minutes," he said with a grin.
Victor grinned broadly. "All very good reasons," he said, leaning to kiss him firmly.
Connor wondered just how important their presence at the meeting would be. The room he'd fucked Victor in just last week was down the hall and they could reminisce and re-enact their favourite parts. Every part was his favourite part, honestly.
The door opened wide and derailed Connor's train of thought. He kept an arm curled around Victor's waist to ensure he wouldn't fall over and glared at the offending person. His eyes widened and his grip loosened around Victor.
"Connor? What's wrong?" Victor asked, his grip tightening on his walking cane before turning around. He didn't recognise the man in the doorway, but it was obvious that Connor and the man knew each other.
It wasn't Sport, the man Connor had introduced him to earlier in the week, but he had the same tattoo and colour composition to Sport, Connor, and Andy.
"Killer, what the fuck are you doing here?" Connor blurted out.
"Hey, Gramps. C'mon in. Hourglass is on her way up."
"Up from where?" Connor asked, guiding Victor into the room and stopping short when he saw Champ, Kid, and Buddy in the room as well. "You're all here?"
"Us? What about you, Gramps? Where the fuck've you been?" Buddy asked incredulously.
"Where's Ryuu?" Kid asked.
"Who's the guy with the stick?" Champ asked, looking to Victor.
Coral curiosity wafted off the four men and they all looked to him, his breath catching in his throat. Connor's arm slid around his waist and he exhaled again.
"Victor, my boyfriend. Victor, darling, this is a few of my team: Killer, Champ, Buddy, and Kid. We were together in the Special Forces. They rescued me, along with Andy. And Ex and Baby."
"You think they're coming, too?" Buddy asked, looking between Connor and Kid.
"Sorry I'm late, boys. I hope you've all had proper introductions?" Honey asked, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. "I see not. Honestly, it wasn't meant to be this haphazard, but when the Admiral calls, you answer," she said, shaking her head.
"Which Admiral?" Killer asked curiously.
"Never mind that. Introduce yourselves to Victor properly, please. Victor, you too. When they're done," Honey added, grabbing a chair and setting it down for him.
Victor sat down gratefully and looked around the table to the other four men.
"Oh, wait. Andy's just arrived. Give it a minute. Both Alice and Lottie are settling in their apartments with their sons. I'll give you their apartment numbers when we're done here," Honey said, the four Special Forces men sitting up straighter at the women's names.
"Why can't you tell us now?" Buddy asked, frowning.
"If I do, you'll leave early and I've spent a long time and a lot of money to get you all here. Connor, can you see if there's any of Ammie's cupcakes left in the fridge, please? Sport will be here soon with cookies."
"Sport's here, too? What the hell?" Champ said, frowning as he looked to the others in confusion.
"You're getting the band back together," Buddy said with a laugh.
Kid groaned. "Quote Blues Brothers one more time and I swear I'm leaving you."
"You love me."
"Fuck, I do, though sometimes I wonder why," Kid groaned into his hands.
Buddy snickered. "We're watching the movies later, Kid."
"We know you like it kinky, but damn, that's just cruel," Champ said with a smirk.
"Ah, go fuck yourself, Champ," Buddy said with a laugh, delighted in the way Kid's ears had turned pink.
"Killer's got that covered, Bud."
Buddy's laughter and easy nature faded in a split second, standing and towering. "What the fuck did you call me?"
"Buddy, sit down. He's just teasing, weren't you, Champ?" Kid said, putting a hand on Buddy's arm.
Champ rolled his eyes and held his hands up. "Sure, just teasing. I know Kid's the only one who can call you Bud, Buddy. Take your seat."
"Super Jesus. I can't leave you four in a room without someone trying to kill each other in five minutes, can I?" Andy groused as he walked into the room.
"It's been fifteen."
"I'm very impressed," Andy said, rolling his eyes. "You couldn't keep them under control, Gramps?"
"They're not my responsibility anymore, Boss. They've matured, apparently," Connor said, rolling his eyes.
Sport snorted as he came in, a box of cookies in his hands, and closed the door behind him. "Honey, Ammie gave me these for you."
"They're for everyone. If you're old enough to share, y'know, like kindergarteners are taught to?" Honey added.
Sport laughed outright this time. "Right, so I'll keep them for myself, then."
"Fuck that. Give me a damn cookie, Sport, or I'll tear your arm off and use it to feed myself."
Victor listened to the banter and watched the colours. If he'd only listened to the words, he might have thought they were serious and actually would have hurt each other, but the colours made him realise this was their way of teasing and greeting. Sort of like a fucked up family, but it seemed to work for them. Buddy's threat made him tilt his head as he tried to work out how that would work. "Would you use his hand like chopsticks or a fork? I don't see it working, either way. You'd have to hold his hand or use tendons at the end of his bloodied arm to manipulate it. It's just messy all around."
Silence reigned for a few seconds as everyone turned to him, staring in shock or amusement.
"You know what? You deserve the cookies for that, Victor. Here, you get first pick. Then Gramps, 'cause we don't want him dying of old age before the others choose," Sport said, grinning and holding the box out to Victor.
Victor chose his cookie, handed the box to Connor, who took his own and passed it to Honey with a grin. She gave the box to Andy, who spent so long choosing his cookie that the four seated men shifted on their seats in annoyance and anticipation. When he'd finally chosen, Andy looked directly at the four men and then purposely handed the box to Sport.
"You suck, Boss," Buddy groused.
"You're acting like children. I don't even expect that from Kid anymore, so you can wait your damn turn," Andy said, taking a deliberate bite of his cookie.
Sport chose his cookie, then handed the box to Killer, who passed it to Kid, Champ, and finally Buddy.
"Can't believe you gave the box to Champ before me."
"You were acting like a child, like Boss said," Kid said. "Shut up and eat your cookie, Bud."
Buddy muttered, but bit into his cookie. It was gone in three bites and he looked for the box, only to see it had disappeared from the table. Damn it.
"Right, introductions. Include your power, if you have one," Honey added.
"What?" Sport asked, almost choking on his mouthful.
"You heard me, Sport. You can go first," she said with a smile.
Sport clenched his jaw. He didn't tell people about his power, since they all looked at him differently, and he'd lost count of how many relationships and friendships he'd lost over the years as soon as someone knew his power. The rest of his team knew, but Victor was a stranger, and he'd only just met him a week ago. Not to mention: the wrong word to the wrong person could end up with Sport losing his job or being questioned by police or worse. Again. "Ah, fuck it. Sport, sniper as a weapons sergeant, radiation. I have full control of it," he added, glaring briefly at Honey.
"I know that. They already knew, it's for Victor's benefit," Honey said, glaring right back at him.
"Can you control radiation or are you radioactive?" Victor asked curiously.
"Both, I guess," Sport asked, surprised by Victor's question.
"So... What happens if you bite someone?"
The table erupted in laughter and Sport rolled his eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sakes. I'm not answering that," he muttered, moving to sit between Champ and Buddy.
"Andy, as you know. I'm the commander for seven unexpected children and Connor. I don't have any powers."
"Killer, medic, no power."
"Champ, communications. I can fix broken machines. It's not even enough to register as a technopath, don't get excited," he added with a wry grin.
"Buddy, intelligence."
"Rarely," Champ snickered.
"Fuck off. I don't have a power. Unless Sport wants to bite me?" Buddy offered with a grin.
"Oh, I'll bite you, you little - "
"Kid, communications. I have a super high survival instinct."
"He's saved our collective asses at least five times each, so that's why we let him keep Buddy," Killer deadpanned.
Buddy sneered and gave him the finger, then wrapped an arm around Kid's shoulders. "See, told you they like me."
Connor rolled his eyes, but decided to continue the introductions anyway. "Connor, operations sergeant." He paused for a moment, glancing to Honey and Andy briefly. "I fight."
"You have a power? Since when, Gramps?" Champ asked in surprise.
Connor swallowed hard. "Since I was five years old."
Silence fell across the room. Victor winced at the colours of betrayal and hurt that swirled around them. Andy didn't seem surprised, but he was the only one.
Figuring he could help before an argument started, Victor cleared his throat. "Victor, lawyer and father, and... I can see feelings."
"What?" Connor asked, his attention finally drawn away from the other men.
Victor sighed and scratched his head. "I see people's feelings as colours. It... well, I guess it started before Cara tortured me, but I guess almost dying made it more clear? I could always guess what people were going to do on the jury with a high accuracy, I didn't think it was a power, and now... " he breathed out shakily, looking at his hands, void of colour. "I thought I was going insane. I didn't... I didn't want to tell you, I didn't want you to think of me differently," Victor admitted, glancing to Connor.
Surprise, hurt, a tendril of betrayal, and a colour that could have been a confirmation of suspicions, but maybe that was Victor's own hope projecting a colour.
"When were you tortured?" Buddy asked suddenly, frowning.
Victor looked away from Connor's face and colours, turning his attention to Buddy. "Um, about a month ago. My ex-wife and her friend tortured me with electricity. That's why I've got the cane and scars," he said, rubbing the alligator clip impression on his bicep.
"Why'd they torture you?" Kid asked.
"She wanted custody of our children and I didn't want to give it to her."
"Fucking hell."
"You didn't tell me?" Connor asked, trying not to sound - or feel - too betrayed. Victor flinched back, so he'd obviously failed.
"You didn't tell us about your power and we've been together for ten years, Gramps. You don't get to look all shitty for a few months of dating," Killer said firmly.
"And you didn't want to talk to anyone, not even Boss, for three months after you were tortured. Daredevil there was tortured a month ago? It's any fucking wonder he's walking and working, for fuck's sakes," Buddy added.
"This will be the one and only time someone is impressed you're a workaholic, Victor," Honey said lightly, Victor breaking out into a laugh despite the tension and ache in his chest. "You two can come in now," she added, looking over to the doorway.
"Aww, you spoiled my dramatic entrance," Ex said with an exaggerated pout. "I was still deciding whether to go on about Gramps' betrayal or ask if Daredevil's ex-wife and her friend were six feet under yet," he admitted.
"Four. It's a shallow grave."
Connor laughed at Victor's joke despite himself and Victor felt relief wash through him as the hurt broke into pieces. It was still there, of course, but he'd found that smaller pieces were easier to handle than large colours.
"Why're you two here, anyway? I thought you'd gone private security?" Buddy asked, looking to Ex and Baby.
"We did. Then Hourglass gave us a better offer."
"Better than private? Fuck, it must be good," Andy said, looking at all of them curiously.
"You can't, Andy. They'll find you," Honey said. "When it's all over, you'll have a job. If you want one, of course."
"All right. I'll trust you, Honey. Again," he said, another piece of trust given to the seer.
"I know. Now, Ex, Baby, sit and introduce yourselves, please."
"Sure thing. I'm Ex, explosives, and my power is my - "
"Ex, shut up. He was going to be crass and no one would appreciate it right now. No, not even Buddy," Honey added. "He doesn't have a power."
"Aww, Buddy always appreciates me, don't you?"
"Not today, Ex."
"Rude," Ex said, sitting next to Kid and nudging the chair beside him so Baby could sit down.
"You're putting me in the corner, Ex, really?" Baby asked, rolling his eyes.
Ex grinned. "Intro, Baby."
Baby sighed and sat down. "Baby, I'm the pilot and driver, meaning these idiots can't get anywhere without me. My power is a fuckton of patience, especially dealing with Ex every day."
"At least we're not dating like those guys. Imagine dealing with me every day and night? Poor Baby," Ex crooned, Baby rolling his eyes.
"Ex, read the room, and shut up," Champ snapped.
Ex rolled his eyes. "Geez, you're all acting like it's a surprise. You knew there was a pattern to Gramps' wins and losses when we practiced, why else did you think he purposely lost against us every third game?"
Buddy folded his arms over his chest. "Whenever Ryuu called, he threw off a game. It threw off the statistics, shut up."
"It took you a year to work that out. Intelligence, my tanned ass," Ex snorted.
"Hey, Honey, how strong are these windows if I throw one meathead at it?" Buddy asked, glaring at Ex.
"Aw, don't tease, Buddy. You know I like it rough."
It was that teasing colour again, not quite tan like Connor's sexual teasing was, thankfully, but there was something in the centre of Ex that was pure hurt. Victor couldn't help but stare and he wondered what would happen if he reached out and touched it. Clenching his cane so he wouldn't do something stupid with a stranger's emotional colours, Victor forced himself to look away. Honey patted his free hand gently and put the cookie box on the table, sliding it down to Ex and Baby.
"Have a cookie each, then we'll start discussing the security plans for the building."
Baby opened the box before Ex could take it, taking one cookie and offering him the last one.
"Can I just ask: why are you called Ex? The others all fit the theme of kid's names from a divorced parent - " Victor said, Baby almost choking as he laughed at the description, " - but 'Ex' really doesn't fit in. Is it because you do explosives?"
"Yeah, also 'cause he does anything human that breathes and they all call him their ex. The name stuck around longer than he's ever stuck with them."
That small hurt pulsed and almost filled Ex completely for a split second, like a negative flash turned him inside out, and Victor swallowed hard at the sight. He had no idea how someone could survive with that sort of pain constantly. Rubbing at his bicep he wondered, yet again, what his own colours looked like.
"Ex isn't allowed back in California because he's slept with half the West Coast, and no one in Customs will let him go through without a very thorough cavity search."
"We're usually stuck waiting for him, which makes anything time-critical a pain in the ass."
"I'm the one with the literal pain in the ass," Ex groused, then grinned broadly. "I didn't mind staying on the plane last time. The pilot was hot as fuck."
"She almost threw you off the plane at 30,000 feet, Ex."
"I had a parachute."
"You shouldn't have a goddamn parachute on a commercial flight," Killer muttered.
"It's a precaution, especially when flying into or out of Cali. There's usually a minimum of three people I've slept with and six angry people. More, if you're all pissed at me," Ex added with a shrug, chewing on his cookie.
"So, you sleep with anyone human? What about shifters?" Victor asked, tilting his head.
Ex swallowed the rest of his cookie and grinned broadly. "They're a fun night, depending on the claws. Know any?"
Victor shook his head. "No. Craig is a shifter, technically, but he shifts into other people rather than animals. Besides, he's a teenager and is already in a relationship with three people."
"Daredevil and Lucky, hey?" Ex snickered.
"C'mon, Honey, we've done the intro's, time for business."
"I'm here for business and cookies, and we're all out of cookies," Buddy said, Ex laughing.
"There's my man. All right, enough going down Memory Lane. What do I get to blow up?" Ex asked, settling down in an instant.
Even the hurt in the middle of his chest decreased as silver seriousness started to fill his body, the other men around the table falling into line as Honey pressed a button on the table and started to discuss the security plans and potential security scenarios for all of the new stores opening in the building.
...
"You really did it? Really?"
Layla smiled at Zach, her everything tired and aching. "Yes, really. You have Ethan to thank. He's the one who wanted Mr. Brighton dead sooner rather than later."
"Oh, I'll be thanking him later," Zach said, his voice full of promise as he squeezed Ethan's hand tightly.
Adam stopped in the doorway, his eye twitching. "He was announced DOA, and since the Commander was involved, the coroner's already determined he died of a heart attack. Insurance claims are in your email. I'm going to get Donny to bleach my brain," he muttered, shuddering as he left without waiting for a response.
Zach just laughed and pulled Ethan in for a hug. "Thank you so much. I don't... I don't know what else to say, but thank you. And thank you both. I don't know if you both did it or not, but you both look like hell, so I'll assume it was both of you," he said, looking between Layla and Warren.
"They were my earlier vines, so Warren didn't have control over them, but he helped with his presence."
"Basically, I just lay here uselessly and watched," Warren snorted.
Layla couldn't gather enough energy to glare at him. "Don't say that."
Zach pulled away from Ethan, a small hysterical and happy laugh escaping. "Holy fuck, I can't believe it... I need... Oh, fuck, I need to tell Heidi. She'll want to have a party," he snickered. "Thank you, love you, you're amazing," he said to Layla, hugging her firmly and trying not to hurt her further.
Warren was surprised to receive the same words and hug as well, even though he hadn't done anything, and patted Zach's back gently. "I'm just glad that that bastard's gone for good."
"Believe me, so am I. I'm going to design you so many awesome outfits. Oh, and cookies! You guys can eat cookies while you're in here, right? I can make you a shit-ton of cookies."
"I wouldn't advise they eat that many," Ida said from the doorway, an eyebrow raised.
"Aww. Okay, how about a giant cookie instead?"
"The sugar isn't good in a normal-sized cookie, I hate to imagine what the sugar would do from a giant-sized one. And that goes for anyone, not just people under my care. Wait, what happened?" Ida asked when she looked from Zach over to Layla and saw her pale complexion.
"I powered up."
"You... you powered up?!" Ida echoed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Zach reached over to grab Ethan's hand, squeezing in a certain sequence. Ethan nodded and melted them both down, sliding towards the door and to their escape.
"The plants and get-well flowers in here are practically dead, Layla. How much power did you use? Did you even think of the consequences of using your power while you have these drugs in your system? What was so important that it couldn't wait another week?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Brighton."
Ida stopped, frowned, and tilted her head. "What?"
"Adam found out that Mrs. Brighton has legally contested Zach and Heidi's cut of Mr. Brighton's life insurance since they're legally no longer his children. She would have gotten all of it, rather than the 20 percent she's getting now, with Zach and Heidi getting 40 percent each."
"I thought they got divorced?"
"They did; Mrs. Brighton didn't list it as part of the marital property. She ensured that she's still listed as his beneficiary, but so are Zach and Heidi. She purposely misspelled her maiden name on the divorce papers so they're not technically legal."
Ida knew about red tape from the excessive paperwork and hospital forms she had to fill out any time there was a medical insurance claim from a patient or their family. "Wait. How does all of this relate to you powering up?"
"I had vines in him."
"You had vines in him. Like the ones in you?" Ida asked, trying to remember the last time she'd seen Mr. Brighton.
The barbecue with the food fight, perhaps? She vaguely remembered him being stoic and not exactly responsive. Until the Commander and Jetstream had arrived, that is. Ida had been standing near Mr. Brighton when those two had arrived and he'd almost come to life then as he'd moved closer, as though to attack. She remembered it so clearly because there had been emotion on his face and it had jarred her from the stoic face she'd been accustomed to.
Ida looked at Layla - her patient pale and clammy, each inhale and exhale far too obvious as Layla obviously tried to get herself under control - and wondered how long she had had the vines in Mr. Brighton. More importantly, what did the vines do?
"Yours are protection, from what I can tell when I was healing you. What did the ones in him do?"
Layla looked up at Ida, her face set in determination and defiance. "They controlled him so he couldn't hurt Zach and Heidi anymore. I made sure he wouldn't hurt anyone ever again."
Ida exhaled loudly and knew there was no point in arguing. Not when she was glad for what Layla had done. "How did he die? Do I need to provide an alibi for you?"
Layla's face softened into a smile. "Heart attack. Natural, and a response to the Commander and car crash he was in, apparently. Adam's made sure the coroner report is in our favour."
Ida nodded. "All right. I know people at the morgue, if you need access."
"Thanks, Ida."
Wondering if she should try to argue or say anything else, Ida looked from Layla to the dead flowers in the room to Warren, and decided it wasn't worth her time or effort. She could make sure they healed and were safe in her care, and that would have to be enough.
...
"Our report shows that the subject has bonded with the creature. In the experiment described within subsection B, we reduced the amount of food for a week and the subject always fed the creature first. The subject has not removed the glasses since they were provided, presumably to keep the creature safe," Scientist Eleven reported.
"And have you completed any tests outside of his cell yet? The whole reason you were provided with extra funding was to ensure you got results. We can't keep our army in cells with pets!"
Scientist Eleven nodded. "Of course. We can conduct that straight away. Do you want a demonstration?"
"I want results."
"Yes, sir."
Deimos glared as the slot on his door opened, light streaming in for the first time that day, though his glare wasn't as effective as he would have liked with the reflective glasses he wore. He held the kitten close, the stone cat still in its corner, and murmured a few soft words to appease the trembling kitten.
"You are right about the bonding. Bring them out, already."
"Subject 368, stand up and follow us. You can bring the creature," Scientist Eleven said.
Deimos didn't like the sound of that at all. He knew they would try to do something to the kitten - finally bigger than a dust mite - in order to get him to comply. If he left the kitten behind, it could be worse, or one of the scientists could try to drag the kitten away and hurt it. Swallowing hard, he kept the kitten cradled against his chest, and stood up to follow them out of his cell.
Scientist Twelve had ambitions in life and they didn't involve being told what to do by people in black suits. He waited until Subject 368 put his wrists out, the kitten still cupped in his hands, and cuffed him. Scientist Eleven led the way to the testing area, the people in black suits following, with the subject following, then Scientist Twelve. He grit his teeth at being pushed to the background, just because Subject One had thought of the stupid cat idea.
Deimos glanced over his shoulder, and Scientist Twelve zapped him with the cattle prod, electricity making his body twitch and jerk.
"Don't even think about escaping."
"Wasn't," Deimos rasped. "Was going to tell you... you have cream cheese on your face."
Scientist Twelve's eyes widened and he swiped at his face quickly, a smear of cream on his hands.
"Don't use electricity! Now we have to wait five minutes for the charge to disperse before attempting this," Scientist Eleven snapped.
Scientist Twelve clenched his jaw, tempted to zap his colleague instead. Scientist Eleven ignored everyone, including the people in black suits, while he set Subject 368 in the contraption. Straps went across his torso, wrapped around his thighs and ankles, and one around his forehead to keep his head in place.
"Close your eyes," Scientist Eleven said, scooping the kitten out of Subject 368's cuffed hands.
"Where's the kitten?"
"Safe, unless you close your eyes."
"They're closed," Deimos said, a tremble to his voice.
"If you're lying, you'll regret it," Scientist Eleven warned.
A soft breath on his nose made Deimos realise they'd put the kitten right in front of him, and he closed his eyes just as the glasses were yanked off.
Deimos was forced to wait for eight minutes with his eyes tightly closed, the kitten held in front of his face.
"We're ready. Take the creature," Scientist Eleven said.
"No! Let me hold her. Please. I'll... I'll do whatever you want," Deimos said, his voice hoarse as he imagined what they might do to the kitten to make him comply. He was already complying, so the kitten didn't need to be hurt.
The room was silent as they all considered Subject 368's request, Scientist Twelve pausing and looking to Scientist Eleven, who was considering their response.
"Would you turn another human being to stone, just to hold the creature?"
Deimos almost opened his eyes in surprise. "Wh-what?"
The person in black repeated their question, tone void of curiosity, and the room fell silent once more.
"I... It depends on whether they were a good person or not."
"And you determine whether someone is a good person? Based on a small interaction, such as this, do you deem me or my associate to be good?"
"You lock people up and experiment on them for a living!"
"It's a job, nothing personal."
"That's the worst fucking excuse I've ever heard."
There was a beat of silence, then Scientist Eleven nodded to his colleague. "Take the creature."
Scientist Twelve made sure he wasn't facing his colleague or the people in black when he pulled a face and mimicked 'take the creature' under his breath. Taking hold of the kitten, he tugged it off the small platform that it was held in. As he did, he glanced at Subject 368, who had his eyes open. Fuck, was his final thought, his body turning to stone.
The people in black instantly moved away, Scientist Eleven reached for the spare set of glasses he had created, putting them on confidently and walking forward. Deimos glared, Scientist Twelve's head still stuck in his field of vision, and forced himself to be patient.
"Close your eyes," Scientist Eleven demanded.
"Give me the kitten."
"The creature is lodged in my former colleague's grasp. I'd prefer to keep him intact to see what experiments work to reverse your power," Scientist Eleven replied.
Deimos clenched his jaw. He knew this contraption he was strapped into far too well, but he also knew that he could move it with enough strength. The kitten mewled, and Deimos let out a roar as he jerked his shoulders and legs, pushing the contraption forward. It wasn't much, but it was just enough movement to knock into Scientist Twelve.
The stone statue fell backward in slow motion, crashing to the ground and breaking into millions of pieces. Scientist Eleven sighed at the mess, then looked over to Subject 368. "Now I have to wait for you to turn someone else to stone."
"Take those glasses off, you won't be waiting long," Deimos snarled.
His heart was pounding in his chest, but the kitten had escaped the mess of stone and was curled at his feet, licking his toes and mewling. She was safe.
Scientist Eleven had to do everything himself. His colleagues were so-called scientists, but weren't smart enough to protect themselves. Stepping forward, he ducked low to pick up the creature, setting it in Subject 368's hands. "There. Now, you will do as I say."
Deimos waited until Scientist Eleven looked away from the kitten and up to his eyes. "You really think some reflective glass can stop my power?"
Scientist Eleven's eyes widened as he turned to stone, his brilliant mind desperately trying to think of a way to save himself, even as he was turned to stone.
"One of you can get me the fuck out of this thing," Deimos snarled.
"We don't have to go near you to get out of here," one of the people in black replied.
"You have to walk past the reflective glass; do you really want to risk it? You do know how my power works, don't you?" Deimos sneered.
The two people looked to each other, then to Deimos and the glass surrounding them on nearly all sides.
"These guys have tortured me for long enough that I can keep my eyes open for two days straight," Deimos added.
There was a beat of silence, then one of the people said, "Close your eyes and I'll take the straps off."
"Yeah, like I'm going to fall for that. You start walking, I'll close my eyes when you're close enough."
The one who'd asked a question started to walk closer, their colleague standing still. When they were sure the subject's attention was on their colleague, they slipped away.
Deimos didn't care that they'd left their colleague to die, only that he was stuck in this goddamn contraption and needed to get out. The kitten needed to be fed soon, and he knew he could escape out the kitchen once he'd collected the stone cat in his cell.
"What's so bad about being in here, anyway? Three meals a day, someone cleans and cooks for you. That's not a bad thing, surely," they said.
"You're shitting me, right? Do you even know what goes on here? Who fed you that bullshit, and why are you still eating it? You literally were going to stand here and watch me be tortured and think that's not a bad thing?" he mocked incredulously.
They shrugged in response. "We were told you're all volunteers or were on the streets, and this was to improve your control."
Deimos bit his tongue so he wouldn't say something or lose control of his power. The second he closed his eyes, he'd be alone and stuck in here.
"Has it helped with your control?" they asked, almost curious if not for the lack of emotion in their voice.
"Sure," Deimos sneered. "Do you have a superpower? Imagine being forced to use it every second of every day for three weeks. Imagine being electrocuted every time you try to close your eyes. Imagine - "
Pain exploded on the back of his head and his world went dark.
"You took your time, L. Honestly, I couldn't stall any more than I already had. You're lucky he started monologuing," they said, almost emotional enough to glare at their colleague.
"Be quiet, K, and help me put him in his cell. The next scientists will get the same warning as these two; let's hope they listen more closely."
"We're going to run out of scientists at this rate," K muttered, unstrapping Subject 368 from the contraption.
It looked like the kitten had bolted as soon as the subject was knocked unconscious, so that just proved that creatures didn't care about their masters. Without an ounce of compassion or care, L and K dragged Subject 368 back to his cell and dumped him next to the stone cat.
They closed and bolted the door shut behind them, neither one noticing the small ball of fur darting through the closing door. The kitten mewled softly and licked at Deimos, curling up next to him in the cold and dark cell.
...
End of the hundred and sixty-second chapter.
Thanks for reading; I hope you liked it!