(A/N) This is a gift for the lovely Roggvers on tumblr! Check out their blog its amaaaazing! Heavy yonvers feel there. This story is inspired by a prompt they gave me, though the story has run away a bit from it but the prompt is in there within a few chapters.
For anyone thinking Fairy, you have lots of other stories you should be working on why start another? I... have no excuse and am still working on them but I got really excited about this. I'm weak and have no self-control.
Tags: Identity Issues, Mystery, Memory Loss, Star-Crossed Romance, Lies, Manipulation, Arranged Marriages, Childhood Friends
Trigger Warnings: Mentions of torture
"What do you remember?"
"Not much."
Vers stood before the Supremor, hands behind her back, shoulders slumped, eyes cast downwards. She was tired of being asked questions that she had no answers for. Tired of being reminded of what she had lost. What was the point in this?
"Tell me the earliest thing that you recall."
"A blood transfusion. Red blood coursing through my veins."
It was a vague and foggy memory. Her body lying on something cold. An unseen force pinning her down. A bright light shining down on her. Green blurs fussing around her. And tubes with red liquids pumping into her system. Skrull experimentation was the conclusion that the Supreme Intelligence had come too, backed up by evidence from an investigation unit that had collected intel on Skrull activities. The purpose of the experimentation was still unknown, as was the full extent of the consquences for her. Until she fully recovered from her injuries - five broken ribs, a fractured arm bone and severe bruises on various parts of her body - they wouldn't be able to tell what the effects were and what was merely a response of her body to her wounds.
"The Commander will find those responsible for this, Vers. Once we discover what has been done we will undo it."
"What if you can't?"
"You doubt us?"
"I barely know who or what you are."
Her memories were missing, gone like dust in the wind and just as uncatchable. She hadn't known her name, let alone what species she was, what planet she came from or the culture that she had been raised with. It was a blank slate that ached and hurt to think about.
"You will," the Supremor promised.
Was she imagining it or was there was something dark in their viridian eyes? Everything in this once familiar world was now strange and unsettling. She didn't know who or what to trust and found little comfort in anything. This woman standing before her was meant to be the person she respected and admired the most, yet she didn't know who she was, she drew no ease from her.
"The Commander wishes to speak with you."
"Why?" Vers asks, frowning.
She has heard of the Commander - Yon-Rogg, she believes his name was - and how he is in charge of the investigation into the Skull experimentations. It was him who found her, locked away in a cell in a secret Skrull laboratory on a planet called S-26 (Volta). It is an uninhibited world owned by Xander, an enemy of the Kree - or so she has heard. It has led to speculation that the Xanderians are housing the Skrull, having built an alliance to challenge the Kree Empire. Why they are conducting such twisted experiments on Kree citizens is unknown, but the Commander and his team plan to find out and put a stop to it.
"Routine questioning to see if there's any useful information you can provide in his investigation," the Supremor says. "He will return to Hala in a fortnight."
"I don't think there's anything I could help him with," Vers says, her voice pitching a little with despair. So many people have questioned her, so many times she has been forced to confront the emptiness of her memories. "You can't even find anything."
The Supremor straightens their shoulders, their eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She has offended them again. Spoken out of line. She feels guilty but what is to be expected? She doesn't remember any of the social etiquettes to properly and respectful conduct herself.
"I imagined you would also like to meet the man who rescued you. Does that not hold any appeal to you? He deserves your thanks."
Vers nodded sheepishly.
"I just don't want to waste his time."
The second time she meets the Commander, feel like the first. Her memory of when he rescued her is non-existant.
Her savour is not what she imagined him to be. He isn't much taller than her but like her, his skin is pale, not blue like most of the higher military ranks that she has seen striding through the Starforce Headquarters when she snoops about late at night. He is handsome, with sandy brown hair cut short, no facial hair and striking golden eyes. It is the first time she has seen eyes like that, or at least, that's what she thinks. They are pleasant to look at and gives him a softer feel, despite his stoic face and rigid posture. There is something comforting about him, something that makes her feel safe - it is the first time she has felt that way since waking up on Hala three weeks ago. Her injuries have mostly healed bar some bruising which is taking far longer to heal than it should have.
"Vers, it's a pleasure to meet you again," Yon-Rogg says. He stretches both of his hands out, palm facing upwards. Vers looks at them unsurely. Was this some kind of a greeting? No one else has done anything like this, but then again, she has been restricted to the Starforce medical bay with no interactions outside of medical personal.
Yon-Rogg retracts his hand, looking a little disappointed. "Forgive me. I was told of your condition but I wasn't quite aware of the extent."
"It's alright," Vers shrugs, giving him a timid smile. "Do forgive me for any rudeness or lack of manners. I've forgotten them."
She wonders if the person she once was would cringe in shame at her ignorance in politeness or if she had been someone who disregarded them.
"Do you remember me?" he asks.
"No."
Yon-Rogg nods then gestures to the white cushioned seats by the viewscreen. "Please, have a seat."
They are not far from the medical wing, only a few corridors away in a private meeting room. The wall they sit beside is glass from floor to ceiling and gazes over the Upper Levels of Hala. It is a breath-taking city, with soaring skyscrapers and radiant skies, spacecrafts zipping between the two. Although she is not supposed to, Vers has snuck out of the medical bay to sit here and watch it at dawn and dusk, enjoying the way the city seems to sparkle in the light of the two suns.
"Is there anything you can tell me about your time in the Skrull laboratory?"
Vers feels frustration building inside her. She keeps her voice calm and even. He knows she remembers nothing. Asking her a thousand times will not change that. "No. Only the blood transfusion."
"How do you know that it was blood?"
"I... I don't know," Vers frowns, trying to recall how she knew that. "I just did. That is what it was, wasn't it?"
Yon-Rogg nods. She thinks that she sees unease - or is it disgust? - flicker across his face. It is hard to tell. He is not an easy man to read.
"Our analysis of your blood confirms that it has been intermingled with another species. We're not sure why."
Vers feels a shiver run down her spine. It can be nothing good.
"Does this mean anything to you?" Yon-Rogg takes something out of his pocket, his fingers clutching it delicately as though it is precious. It is a silver bracelet embedded with a golden star. The star bears an uncanny resemblance to the one on Yon-Rogg's armoured chest.
Vers reaches for it. It is heavier than it looks. It sparks something inside of her but what it is she cannot grasp. A fleeting feeling. A hint of familiarity. It is gone as fast as it comes.
"Nope," Vers says, popping the p.
Yon-Rogg breathes in deeply, he seems irritated or off-put. She doesn't want to upset him but he knew what he was dealing with when he asked to see her. It is not her fault she cannot remember anything. If she did she would have told them.
Yon-Rogg looks as though he is ready to leave. Vers straightens in her chair, a determined glint in her eyes. If she cannot answer questions then she will ask them. There is too much she doesn't know, too much she needs to know. No one is giving her answers, not the important ones at least. Yon-Rogg is the leader of the investigation, he is the one who found her, if anyone can give her answers it is him.
"What have you found out about the Skrull experiments?"
"I'm afraid that's classified," Yon-Rogg says regretfully.
"Classified?" Vers scoffs, a harsh laugh escaping her. "They experimented on me. They have done Gods know what to me. I deserve to know. I need to know what they did to me."
"I know you want answers but there's only so much I'm at liberty to say."
Vers shook her head angrily. "This isn't fair. Has anyone traced where I come from? Do I have family out there looking for me? Surely, there is something that you can tell me?"
"Vers, I won't stop until I find out who did this to you."
Vers stands up, furious about how little they are explaining to her. "Thank you for saving me but I'm done with this conversation."
She leaves. Yon-Rogg chases after her, catching her by the wrist.
"Vers, wait!" He sighs, his free hand rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry. I know its frustrating not receiving the answers that you want. But it has to be this way for now. When I'm able to, I will explain everything to you."
Yon-Rogg looks at her softly, his eyes pleading with her to believe him."
Vers nods, appeased for now.
He walks her back to the medical bay. They part without another word.
The next day she receives a gift. It comes wrapped in expensive blue fabrics, fastened with a blue ribbon. It is a silver clamshell containing a gooey lavender substance which smells minty and fresh and is cool to the touch. Vers isn't sure what to make of it. She has been told it was a gift from Commander Yon-Rogg.
"What is this?" Vers asks.
Nurse Re-Vah, a tall woman with blue skin and short dark hair, is looking over her vitals. She clicks her tongue - probably fed up answering all of Vers's curiosities - and glances up from her datapad. Vers doesn't like her. For a nurse, she is rather cold and uncaring. Vers feels more like a bother than a patient when it comes to her - when it comes to a lot of them really.
"It is a grooming product commonly gifted to those that are ill or recovering. The cream inside is applied liberally to the forehead and relieves headaches. It is also effective at soothing the aches of bruises and minor bumps and accelerates their healing," The nurse gives her a stern look. "That is from the Commander, yes? Be sure to thank him. That is not an inexpensive gift."
Vers nods and touches the substance, rubbing it between her fingers. She wonders if this is the Commander's subtle way of trying to help her get out of the medical bay faster or an appeasement for his lack of answers.
The weeks that follow the Commander visits her in the medical bay often. He never stays for long, just long enough for idle chat and assurance that she is well. As if an afterthought, before he leaves, he asks if she remembers anything else about her time in Skrull captivity. Each time she gives him the same answer. Nothing.
She doesn't know why he keeps visiting her. He can easily have her status reported to him via transmission. It seems a hassle to travel to the medical bay as often as he does.
Over the next few weeks, Vers has started her own investigation. She had inquired many of the doctors, nurses and even fellow patients in neighbours rooms about the Commander. He is well known and considered a hero of the Kree. He has rescued countless people from Skrull attacks, thwarted many evil schemes and run Starforce more effectively than anyone before him. He is favoured by the Supreme Intelligence. Adored by the people. Loathed by the enemy.
She finds herself insatiably curious about him, wanting to learn as much as she can. The way people speak of him makes him seem more legend than man.
Vers puts her mild fixation on him down to boredom. There is nothing else very exciting going on here.
At least, that's what she keeps telling herself.
A few days later she sneaks out of the medical wing to explore. She has cautiously been exploring outside of the medical wing every few days, learning the weave of the corridors and locations and functions of the rooms with ease. She has only just found the one place she has been searching for for ages.
The ship docks.
She hides behind a pillar on a balcony area over-looking the vast space. There are ships of all size and shape, several dozen people flittering around them conducting various tasks. There is a cool breeze in this room, one that ruffles her hair and soothes her skin. She can see the city skyline outside and wishes she could go out and see it more closely.
Down below there is a some kind of commotion. Workers and Starforce operatives were nervously watching something. Vers follows their gazes. Her heart jolts when she spies Yon-Rogg standing before an impressive black vessel. There is another beside him, an imposing man who is frightfully tall with blue skin, draped in antiqued looking black robes, his face smeared with black paint. There is something menacing about him. Whoever he is, he is the stark opposite of Yon-Rogg who stands in his highly sophisticated Starforce uniform. Modern versus the anicent.
"You mean to tell me that you have not located her yet?" the man's voice is thunderous and loud. She can tell with the way that he speaks that he holds himself in high regard - perhaps a fair bit higher than he deserves. His posture is straight and proud and he sneers down at Yon-Rogg as though he are a stain on his shoes. Vers decides in that moment she does not like this man at all.
"No, Ronan, we haven't," Yon-Rogg says calmly, seemingly the only person in the room not wary of the man. "If we do you will be the first to know."
"Make sure that you do."
It sounds more of a threat than a friendly suggestion.
"Do we have an issue?" Yon-Rogg challenged, glaring up at the taller man.
"My fiance is missing, yes there is an issue. She was lost on your watch, Commander," Ronan says darkly. "I find it highly convenient given the circumstances."
"You think I had something to do with it?" Yon-Rogg sounded deeply offended, a dangerous edge to his voice. "In case you forgotten unlike you, I have genuine affection for her. She was my childhood friend and my work partner. I will do what I must to find and bring her back."
"I'm sure that you will."
"Though I can hardly be blamed for her disappearance. For all we know, she ran away to get away from you."
The jab hits its mark fast and hard. Ronan's composure shatters. With a snarl his hand darts around the Commander's throat, fingers threatening to crush. There are startled gasps from the workers, everyone stopping what they are doing to watch. A heavy silence hangs in the air, the tension thick. "She did not run away."
Yon-Rogg looked unfazed for a man with a hand wrapped around his throat. If anything, he looked bored, like he was humouring a child's tantrum.
"And how do you know that?" Yon-Rogg asked evenly. "If you know that for a certainty then perhaps you know more about her disappearance than you let on? If that is case Ronan then I should conduct a search of your family estate and interrogate the people under your command."
Ronan released the Commander's throat, nostrils still flaring. Vers was impressed by how cool-headed Yon-Rogg was dealing with the situation, she would have knocked anyone to the ground for laying a finger on her.
"I am merely offering my own assumptions," Ronan grit out.
"Speculation is all fine and well, but here in Starforce, we base it on facts and evidence. But we can't hold everyone to our high standards now, can we? If you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to."
Yon-Rogg strode away from Ronan, looking perfectly at ease and unruffled. Ronan, by contrast, was clearly furious, his hands clenched at his side, chest heaving and his eyes bright with barely contained rage. He stormed off, heading back to a large vessel stationed in the bay.
Vers watches him go, biting her lip.
She wonders what that was all about.
(A/N) Please let me know what you think!