Author's notes: Hey guys, I'm back! And I've started season three. This is the sixth chapter (but you guys knew that already :)
And also, I completely agree with my reviewer on their statement, SK is "totally", getting that "world's greatest dad mug."
The boy opened his cerulean eyes, stared at the intricate and interwoven chandelier, full of sparkling, little pieces of glass, before groaning.
'Can't believe it wasn't a stupid nightmare! Skeleton King really caught me...' Chiro thought.
He turned on his side and started embracing himself, longing for security and imagining Antauri was the one actually hugging him. Then he remembered his previous dream, with the Alchemist, and his advice 'Do not lose hope.'
With that goal in mind, he began rising up, a determined look on the young boy's face. There was a small bathroom attached to his room, so he decided to enter. He took a small glance at his face in the bathroom mirror. His eyes were baggy, and the lack of food almost made him sway on his feet. He saw a toothbrush and some toothpaste, only they were encased in some kind of impenetrable bubble, inside the bathroom drawer.
The toothbrush was red, the same color and design he had at home. Even the toothpaste was eerily the same.
"Creep," Chiro muttered.
He tried reaching for them but every time he touched the bubble, his hand was pushed back by a small electrical current.
"Is Skeleton King planning to take me down by giving me cavities?" Chiro said aloud before he saw a comm device on the inside of the drawer. Then he remembered Skeleton King's mad prattling the other day. No doubt this was another one of his little power displays, expecting absolute obedience. Chiro was sick of them.
He sighed then touched the commlink, and said snarkily "Hey 'pops', deactivate your bubble thingie, before I do something you'll regret!"
"Now, Chiro, is that any way to ask something of me? Try again, boy!" Skeleton King's amused drawl was heard from the commlink.
"You evil, loathsome-"
"Flattery will get you nowhere, boy!"
"Wha do you want?" Chiro grumbled.
"For now, simply beg me, Chiro. Say 'please'." Skeleton King told him, amused.
"Begging my arch-nemesis for anything? Oh please!" Chiro said while grinning.
"Clever come back, I'll give you that," Skeleton King affirmed.
"I did say the word..." Chiro told him, a touch desperate.
"Yet you used it in a context that expressed incredulity and irritation, rather than actually pleading with me to get your toiletries. I'm impressed by your shrewdness boy. You may get what you desired."
The electric bubble dissolved.
'Is this how it's going to be every day?' Chiro wondered, feeling glum. He sat there, brushing his teeth mindlessly, for longer than necessary, just wanting to stall meeting Skeleton King.
Eventually, he stopped and, after using the bathroom and returning to his room, he found Mandarin inside. Chiro didn't have time to say anything before the robot simian threw some plain black clothes at him.
"Get dressed, my hairless monkey. You have a busy day ahead of you..." he stated mysteriously.
"Of course I do," Chiro grumbled.
They walked in relative silence, the boy almost berating himself for following Mandarin around like a lost puppy. Despite the fact that he was lost, as he did not know where skeleton king was, or where his room had been before. He was too tired to memorize anything now, no to mention starved. Will he ever eat again?
'Okay, Chiro, do not freak out. Remember Antauri's relaxation techniques. Count backward from one hundred.'
ninety-nine, ninety-eight...
"...ignoring me, my hairless monkey?" Mandarin asked, his lips curling.
'What? Just ignore him,' Chiro thought, continuing to count, ninety-seven.
He was suddenly shaken by the orange robot monkey, his claws digging painfully into Chiro's arms. Mandarin narrowed his eyes at the teen.
"Look at me when I am talking to you," he whispered in a deadly voice.
"What do you want?" Chiro spat.
"Skeleton king may own you," Mandarin said ignoring Chiro's protests "But you will always be mine first, Chiro. My reserved mirror, now that you are away from my brothers' influence, it behooves you to listen to me, the only robot monkey relative you have left."
"You are not my family!" Chiro screamed, clenching his fists, and shaking uncontrollably.
He wanted Antauri.
"We shall see, nephew," Mandarin answered smugly, well aware of Antauri's paternal love for Chiro.
As soon as the last word left Mandarin's mouth, Chiro frowned and gave up counting. He walked behind the orange monkey, feeling irritated and confused. What could Mandarin possibly want with him? He doubted he wanted to spend some uncle-nephew free time with him, unless his definition of free time included conquering planets and killing innocents. Nor was he giving Chiro any avuncular advice about watching his back, so he did not plan to murder him. Yet?
If anything the fact that he told him that he belonged to him first, like a damn possession, indicated, besides insanity, that he was willing to disobey Skeleton King's authority, at least when it came to who his true 'owner' was. Chiro doubted Skeleton King wanted to share his arch-nemesis/child, for no doubt whatever insidious plan he had cooked up to break Chiro's spirit would be more enjoyable if Skeleton King himself had accomplished it. What fun would it be if somebody else broke the fearless Chiro? And as much as the child told himself that he was unbreakable, he did not know if he will bend again, to keep others safe.
The teen and Mandarin stopped near a luxurious kitchen decorated in royal violet and red colors. The table was filled with all sorts of food. There was fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, delicious, baked fish seasoned with salt and pepper, soups of all kinds, even gelatinous dessert.
Chiro's mouth watered.
"Ah, Mandarin, Chiro. It took you a while. Sit!" Skeleton King ordered them.
He obliged, then started piling up food on his plate, mindlessly. His stomach growled. Before he could take a bite of a tasty fish, Skeleton King told him "Remember what I said yesterday, Chiro. You eat when I so allow it. I allowed it today, but make no mistake, it is a kindness that can be revoked at any time should you throw insufferable tantrums."
"I thought you did not know the meaning of kindness," Chiro said before he could stop himself.
"Were that true you would be dead now," Skeleton King told him after rolling his eyes. Mandarin observed the scene quietly before smirking and telling Chiro "You should listen to the master, my hairless monkey. I believe he deserves a thank you."
"T-thanks," Chiro said hallowly while thinking 'Yeah, thanks for basic human decency, jerk. Didn't expect it from you.'
And truthfully, he didn't. He expected to be starved or beaten up black and blue. Why was Skeleton King being...not as horrible as he could have been.
Author's notes: end of chapter six.