A/N: That man in the cells is a fucked up person. That is all. Enjoy!
The Sound of Fear: Chapter 5
After an afternoon spent with Kabuto in the labs, Sasuke has completely lost his good mood from the earlier fuck. Kabuto is frighteningly smart, he's devoted and he does not like the Uchiha. The medic-nin enjoys finding ways to make the Uchiha participate in the most disgusting of Orochimaru's experiments. Sasuke knows he has more reason to fear Kabuto than Orochimaru. Kabuto has no personal interest in his survival. He has Orochimaru's orders and that's it. It's enough to keep his body safe but his mind is another matter entirely.
Once in a while, Sasuke glimpses jealousy off the man. He thinks that everyone in Sound has Pain and Fear. Kabuto is no different so Sasuke tries not to mind him too much. But tolerating Kabuto is starting to be more and more challenging. The man positively reeks of lust everytime they meet. Sasuke has hardly ever seen anything more unsettling than Kabuto cutting open a corpse, his mind so focused on the task it always looks like he's having sex.
Sasuke knows how badly Kabuto wants Orochimaru. He thinks if Kabuto had the power to do so, he would kill the sannin just to rape the corpse.
Wiping that image from his brain, Sasuke straightens up in his seat and watches closely as Kabuto sends wires of chakra inside the veins of a blond-haired female. There's a wide array of bottles and syringes on the obscenely clean counter. The woman is strapped to a waist-high, white operation table with white bonds that cling to each of her limbs. She's unconscious and naked, but her eyes are covered by white cloth.
The stool on which Sasuke is sitting is also, surprisingly, white. And very uncomfortable. They've been testing poisons on this woman for the better part of the afternoon and judging by her muscle reaction the degree of pain, paralysis and hallucinatory potential in each of the mixes in those white bottles by the table. The wires of chakra that Kabuto sends up her system slowly clean her veins of poison. It's an extremely difficult art that Kabuto masters perfectly. Each tendril of thin, so thin chakra has to split and separate until it's gone by every vein, every hole of her body.
It wouldn't be too difficult to witness if Kabuto had chosen her mouth as the opening from which to send his tendrils in. As if, he's sitting between her spread legs, humming to himself.
Sasuke learns a lot from these encounters. He learns to heal injured people, some new techniques here and there. He learns most about cruelty.
"We're nearly done with this one, she can't take much more." Kabuto's voice echoes through the too-white room and Sasuke nods. It's true. The girl's body is showing the typical signs of strain, the twitch of the unconscious fingers, toes, the breathing erratic, then slow, then not really there, her lips mouthing some senseless words. Sasuke hopes it's a prayer. It's more suiting for a dying girl.
It's better if she dies here. Kabuto is cleaning her veins, hoping to save her body for another day of torture tomorrow. But Sasuke knows her mind is almost destroyed. She hasn't spoken at all during the last year. No begging, no cursing, just acceptance.
When Kabuto is about done cleaning her up and she's still breathing, Sasuke bites his lip to keep from cursing on her behalf. He wishes he could save her. Could heal her. But after what her body's been through, there's no way she could even function properly as anything but a vegetable.
"Here, Sasuke-san." Looking up at Kabuto, Sasuke sees the blanket held out to him, an obvious sign that she can be taken back to her container. They're not even cells anymore, just containers. He nods and takes hold of the white cloth, then unstraps the limp body from the table. Wrapping her up in the blanket, Sasuke is suddenly reminded of Tayuya this morning, how he did the exact same thing for her and the thought is so striking and so horrifying at once that he nearly drops the blond girl.
"Do you require help?" Kabuto's voice isn't mocking or reproachful, it's just kind, soft and helpful. Sasuke lifts the girl in his arms and takes her away from him as fast as possible without looking like he's running away. He doesn't miss the smirk on Kabuto's face when he leaves the room.
The containers are coffins, no more, no less. This girl will probably get a week's rest after tonight so she can give better reactions to the tests next time. Sasuke wants to take her out of Sound and into the lake. He wants to wash her with water that hasn't been disinfected. He wants to show her that there's more to life than waking up in a bottle to be tortured.
The first time he tried to save a boy, he was the one to spend a week in the container. Being fed without eating, being washed without moving, living without breathing. So in the end, he just removes the top of her container with a kick and lies her down there. He sits by her side, hesitating to cover her up again.
He traces the contours of her pale face. She could have been so beautiful. Her lips are shapely, her chin is softly rounded, her nose small and uplifted. Sasuke removes the white blindfold, unsurprised to meet two large brown eyes that aren't looking at anything. His forgotten and hardened heart gives a tug. He gives her a shaky corner smile, because with the fate she has in life, she should never be frowned upon. The girl mimicks him dumbly, like a two year old child, and Sasuke caresses her hair gently. "You're beautiful."
Her unseeing eyes seem to focus on him suddenly and Sasuke stares at her, frozen in shock at the spark of life. She smiles wider at him and repeats to herself, "Beautiful." The word is clumsy and half swallowed, but it's clear enough. She closes her eyes, that peaceful smile still present on her lips. When her eyes fall shut, Sasuke recovers from the shock and he blindfolds her again, then puts back the lid of the container. He's unable to make the nausea go away, his headache is back full-force. He can't rid his eyelids of the sight of her smile.
The test subjects are raised to be just that, taken from the streets of Sound and thrown into the containers from their youngest age. They've never known anything but the container, the table and Kabuto. It's not the first time Sasuke feels sick because of this, but it never loses any of its intensity overtime.
Taking a deep breath, Sasuke rises but doesn't walk away. He knows if he turns, he'll meet Kabuto's amused eyes.
When he's fairly sure there's no one waiting, he walks away, his mind entirely set on breathing steadily. He wanders around the village for a while, keeping a watch on every small thing and avoiding the conflicts with practiced ease.
Some of the younger children flock around him and he tries to ignore them. Getting attached to children around Sound is a bad idea. The stronger ones are taken to train around four years old. The others are taken in as slaves, sexual or otherwise, and in worse case senario, they're be taken to Kabuto.
The children generally hover around Sasuke despite the fact that he's no more gentle with them than most adults. He's just not a child-person. He does honor his mother and father's memory, however. He's known the kindness of a mother, the firm hand of a father. He lost them, but he's known them. So maybe he's not cruel with children. Maybe he wants to defend them, sometimes. Maybe he often gets in trouble because of that.
He likes to leave some food for them. He tries not to learn their names. Sasuke thinks there's something fundamentally wrong about him being the kindest presence those children can find.
As things are now, after the dungeons, Tayuya and the blond-girl, Sasuke is in no mood for them. Even as some clamor their accomplishments, yearning for approval, Sasuke grunts out an annoyed noise and disappears onto the rooftops.
Before he knows it, he's back at the entrance of the dungeons. Like before, he can't stop himself from holding his breath. He doesn't really know why he's here. Maybe the cruelty is suffocating him, maybe he's trying to redeem himself for yesterday evening... he has no idea what he's going to do here. But he nonetheless holds his breath and walks past the guards.
To the end of the corridor, then through, to the second cell on the left. Sasuke was expecting to see it empty, the man taken away for experiments or released or just killed. He's surprised to find two vibrantly green eyes looking straight back at him. The man's chakra isn't restrained anymore but he's tame as a kitten, his eyes hinting of a broken spirit and Sasuke knows he did that. The notion doesn't sit well with him.
Sasuke walks closer and pulls off the barrier seal, conscious that only the chains are holding back this huge and powerful man. He again sits on his stool, breathing as little as possible, because the man still reeks of piss and fear.
Speaking so little and being able to turn to his own thoughts is one of Sasuke's great advantages. He's more patient than ever before. He sits and waits, watching, waiting. His attention is fully focused on the man in front of him. How far is he broken? Will he try to escape?
He hopes the man still has some spirit left. He hopes the damage he did can be undone. Watching the man's brightly green eyes and seeing submission and pain and fear there, Sasuke wonders if it's an act. He thinks underneath it all, he can see the need to flee. With a little inner smirk, Sasuke just waits. It'll come soon enough.
He's not disappointed. Although it's hours later, well into the night, the man finally makes a move to escape. His wrists twist their restraints off as if he'd been free all along and the man leaps at Sasuke, killing intent all over him.
Sasuke doesn't move. His body remains perfectly still in front of the man's aggression.
The man stops, his fist inches away from Sasuke's unfeeling face. He's shaking, Sasuke can see the strain, the losing battle the man is warring with himself. So for the first time, Sasuke breaks the silence, "Follow, dog."
And the man lowers his head and his fist. His entire body reflects defeat. Broken indeed.
Sasuke stands and walks away. The man follows him.
Orochimaru is waiting for them outside the prison. Sasuke can't tell if the man is proud, annoyed or amused. Both of those options being positive, Sasuke decides to dare the deed. He holds his hand up, signaling for the dog to stop, which it unfailingly does, then he walks to Orochimaru and requests, "May I keep him, Orochimaru-sensei?"
"It would have been well-manered of you to request that before choosing a pet, Sasuke-kun." That's a threat and a yes all at once. Sasuke knows there'll be punishment, but he'll be allowed this whim like all others.
"When will you expect me tomorrow morning, Sensei?" Because Sasuke is in no mood to play around the fact that he's going to get pain for doing this. He doesn't think Orochimaru is either.
"Six." And the sannin turns on his heel, out of sight within seconds.
"Come, Dog." Sasuke is not looking forward to the next morning. It makes him harsher than he would usually be. He takes the man to his quarters, then pushes him in the bathroom with a stern order, "Clean yourself."
While the man is in the shower, Sasuke's jaw clenches. There's just something about him that makes his fists clench in anger, something about this man makes Sasuke want to hurt him, despite the fact that he brought him here to make amends of some sort.
It's like the man is challenging him, always, in every small thing. Challenging him with his submission. Sasuke can't slide under the bed, no matter how much he wants to. There will be no confusion as to who masters who around here. So for the first time since he came to Sound, Sasuke lies down on his bed.
The large man exits his bathroom five minutes later naked and thankfully clean. Sasuke gestures him closer. Until the so-tall man looms over him almost threateningly. "Kneel."
The man complies, finally brought down to Sasuke's level. He looks almost comfortable with the task. Looks comfortable kneeling like this for a master. Several things click in Sasuke's head at the sight and he orders, "Speak."
"I am... thankful..." The voice is rough from disuse and Sasuke doesn't even hear the words, just the tone. Slow, careful.
"Tell me why you wanted to kill Orochimaru."
The man looks down and Sasuke finds it ridiculous that such a strong, large person should look so vulnerable all of a sudden. It clicks suddenly, why this man inspires so much anger in him. "While you're at it, tell me why you think you love me."
And that brings a glint of spirit back into the man's eyes. Sasuke is glad to see it, somehow. He tries not to think of blue, because those eyes are so green.
"Do not take my feelings lightly!"
"How can I not? What could I possibly be to you apart from your tormentor?"
The wince in the man's kneeling form is unmistakable, "My tormentor is what you are. From the first you came into the Village, I watched you. You are strong, beautiful, spirited, perfect. You have honor. You deserve everything the world can offer... your eyes should never be shadowed with pain... When you kissed me the first time, I found my true master. You torment me with the pain, the longing for you. My master will not be defiled by a snake."
The entire speech is spoken softly, with intense conviction. Surprise momentarily takes over Sasuke's senses and the next he knows, the man is over him, breathing shallow and face scrunched up in desire, "I've watched you grow, adjust and evolve. I have wanted you, your taste, your love. I... need of you. So badly it's a constant ache."
Sasuke grows from surprised to shocked, because This Is a Lie. No one lies with so much need, do they?
He doesn't inspire love in people. He doesn't. People get infatuated with his looks and allure, they never love him because they don't know him. This is no different.
But the shaking of the man's frame over him, the delicate way his so-powerful fingers brush against Sasuke's skin, like he's the most precious thing in the world... that does something to Sasuke's sense of self which he had never thought possible. He's reminded so harshly of Itachi that he puts far more force into the blow than necessary, knocking the man off him brutally.
"You have no grounds to say those things. You don't know me." Sasuke's voice is furious, he's annoyed at his anger but can't seem to stop himself, his fists are clenched and his eyes narrow red on the man.
"Then let me learn you, Sasuke-sama, please. Let me stay near you. I will do anything."
At that, Sasuke sneers angrily, and growls out, "Fool. If Naruto couldn't, what makes you think you can?" And he so dearly wants those words back the second they're spoken. Sasuke's short nails dig crescents into his palms.
The man's reaction is completely different from what he expected. From where he landed on the floor, the man springs up and over him again. The fine shaking hasn't stopped, in fact, if anything, the man is outright trembling now. His hands are seeking Sasuke's, uncurling the fingers and stopping the nails from digging further into his palm. He whispers against Sasuke's lips, "Please... don't hurt yourself like this... Let me stay... let me care for you... please."
Red eyes narrowed, Sasuke pushes the man off him again, thankfully feeling his blanket of cool wrap his anger in ice. "There will be conditions, Dog. Are you willing to submit to them?"
"Anything, Sasuke, anything for you."
tbc...
To extasy: Tayuya was a big surprise for me too. I thought she was dead. I would rather a resurected character than an OC anyway !points up! one fucked up OC is enough. Hope you enjoyed.