Warning: Warnings for physical and mental torture in this story abound, as well as for implied and highly disturbing situations. Trigger warnings may apply for some chapters. There will not, however, be gruesome details. Some things are best left up to the imagination.
A/N: Sorry, things were busy for a few days there with real-life and doing some heavy editing of the next several chapters of 'Sekai no Owari' and then I needed a break. A break in which I wrote a bit for 'AOtGO' chapter 33. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish that chapter soon. And since there are only two or three chapters left of the first main arc, I will probably concentrate on that before continuing 'Aftermath' and working on plotting the next story arc.
Long chapter is long (due to the different way I've been writing this story - which was never in chapters but as one big story). Also, fair warning, things get worse from here. Don't kill me or Mikey'll never get out of this.
Enjoy!
How Much is that Turtle in the Window
ch 6
Mikey awoke the next morning to the delectable smell of bacon and eggs and his eyes snapped open in surprise. Mai stood there, smirking down at him, the bowl in hand once more.
"Good morning, Spot," she greeted cheerfully.
"Morning," Mikey mouthed back silently. His heart clenched in horror at the fresh reminder he couldn't speak anymore.
"I brought you breakfast," she stated unnecessarily. "I'll give it to you after I take your temperature and another blood sample."
Mikey's gaze narrowed unhappily. He could understand why she needed to but why did he have to be subjected to such indignity in the process when there was a much better, more humane way to do it?
Mai placed the bowl on her desk and picked up her tools before coming closer. "Now, what I need is for you to lay still like a good boy and not fight, wriggle or fidget. Each time you do so, I will wait for you to stop and the more I have to stop, the longer you will wait for your breakfast. I'm sure you'd prefer it while it's still hot, right?"
"Come on, seriously?" Mikey moaned silently. "Why can't you just stick the thermometer in my mouth like a normal person?" he begged.
"And that's another thing, Spot. You need to stop responding to me as if you were human and I could understand you."
"What?" his eyes widened in hurt and not a little helpless fear.
"I know I told you that you were safe in here and that there would be no repercussions until you left and that still holds true. However, if you don't start practising at pretending to be a dumb animal now, you won't last a day once you do leave," she explained as she slipped a blood pressure cuff onto his right arm and started pumping. "Now, to help you out and give you a sporting chance, I will no longer respond to you if you try to communicate with me in any other way than an animal would."
Mikey began to shake. Despite everything she'd done, the indignities she kept putting him through, Mai was a comfort in this otherwise bleak place simply because she did talk to him and treat him (almost) like a person. He turned beseeching eyes on her. How could he cope with living like this if he had no one to talk to?
"Please," he mouthed, begging, "don't do this to me."
But Mai had already turned her gaze away, to stare at the readings on the monitor. Finally, satisfied, she removed the pressure cuff and picked up the syringe to draw another sample before shifting to his rump.
Mikey tensed up at the contact again and she paused.
"Keep still," she commanded firmly as she waited and Mikey forced himself to relax, all the while quivering in shame and discomfort. He felt his tail grabbed and lifted again and the thermometer touch before he tensed up again with a gasp.
"Please don't," he begged miserably, knowing she was behind him and wouldn't see him trying to speak.
"Your breakfast is getting cold," she reminded him harshly and he hunkered down, forcing himself to still. Closing his eyes, he desperately tried thinking of his brothers instead, remembering the last time he hit Raph with a water balloon and forcing himself to smile weakly at the happier memory.
"Good boy, Spot," Mai said warmly as she finally withdrew the offending object a couple of minutes later, stood and walked past him.
Despairing, Mikey's eyes followed her as she placed the thermometer in the sink ready to wash and disinfect and paused to record the readings into her computer. Then smiling, Mai picked up the bowl and placed it down in front of him. Before walking away, she patted him gently on the head and Mikey glowered after her.
He couldn't keep it up for long though, he was starving and the smell of actual, real food pulled at him. To his surprise, the meal wasn't scraps this time but instead, there were a couple of slices of bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and toast. They'd been cut or broken into smaller pieces and were still mixed together but he didn't care about that. Hungrily, he ploughed into it, relishing every bite. It had been so long since he last ate well that he could scarcely remember the last time - it felt like a lifetime ago, yet he knew it was only about a month ago.
"Consider breakfast a reward for good behaviour," Mai suddenly stated and Mikey's head shot up in alarm. She was freaking training him! He felt sick as the woman smiled coldly and then turned away.
-:-
Later that day, the door flew open and Mikey looked up to see Dogpound enter the surgery. The large mutant looked over at him and smirked as Mikey drew back, making himself as small a target as possible. Bradford's eyes suddenly narrowed and he turned to Mai angrily. "Where is the mongrel's collar?"
"On the bench," Mai replied coolly as she turned to face the huge dog mutant.
"Why is it still off?" Bradford growled angrily. "And why the hell are his braces off?"
"To give him a chance to heal, of course," Mai snorted. "I made sure Spot knows the consequences if he tries to stand so don't worry, he won't."
"Not good enough!" Dogpound snarled as he stormed over to the braces and picked them up. Mikey cowered back further, knowing just how rough the vengeful martial artist would be but Mai stepped in between them.
"You will not put those back on Spot until I am good and ready to let him out of my care!" she snapped. "They are poorly made and were only injuring him! Whichever incompetent buffoon made them did not even smooth out the edges! You're lucky Spot didn't get tetanus from the way they cut into him!"
Bradford growled angrily. "I don't care! This is not a holiday for the damn mongrel! It's payback for everything he and his pathetic family have done to me!"
"I understand that, Chris but I am the one in charge of animal welfare in this place and I will not allow you to subject Spot to gross negligence while he is in my surgery." Her expression softened. "I've ordered a new pair of braces made, ones that are designed better. They will be a little heavier but will have a far more secure fit than those. I noticed that the old ones were a little loose on Spot. I assume due to the fact he lost muscle mass from lack of exercise on the journey here. Unlike the old pair, the new ones will be fully adjustable. The blacksmith has assured that they will be ready and delivered in a few days. In time for Spot's relocation to his kennel."
Mikey shook in dismay. Of course she noticed! He'd been hoping to use that fact to his advantage if it became necessary. Once again though, he was running out of time! He glanced down surreptitiously at his mitt and the tape securing it tightly to his wrist. He'd barely even managed to get the corner of the tape loose after hours of work last night. At this rate, he wouldn't make it before he was moved.
"I was told you'd also ordered new manacles for Spot as well."
Dogpound nodded and a harsh chuckle sounded. "Yes, ones the mutt won't be able to chip away at over time."
"Good. I saw the work order and requested a couple of small design changes to them," Mai stated, folding her arms as she challenged the tall, furry mutant in front of her.
Dogpound bared his teeth in warning. "What kind of changes?" he asked, scowling in annoyance.
"Airholes so Spot's skin can breathe, for one. If they are to remain on permanently, that is a must."
Mikey clenched his eyes tightly closed. He didn't want to hear this! Why were they taunting him like this? He gasped softly, trying desperately not to be noticed.
"What else?" Bradford demanded, his gaze narrowed in fury over Mai's interference.
"Bendable wrist joints with smoothed edges so he doesn't get cut by them and to allow for natural movement," she replied matter-of-factly. "I don't need him brought back here because they have rubbed his skin raw and it's become infected. You have no idea how angry I am over the fact that collar you put on him has that issue! That is something I am going to need to check on at regular intervals! Especially once he starts training and therefore moving more!" She shook her head in disgust. "At least until he develops tough enough calluses to protect him from it. Also, for the manacles to be made of a metal that will not rust."
"I respect you very much, Hideki Mai and that is the only reason I don't deal with you for your presumption in this matter," Bradford growled angrily. "However, I do not appreciate the interference over the care of my dog."
"You mean Master Shredder's dog," Mai responded coolly. She whirled around and snatched up a pile of papers, thrusting them into Bradford's hands. "These are recommendations for changes in his accommodation. Make sure they are implemented before winter. Preferably before he moves in."
Bradford leafed through them, staring in disgust and disbelief. "You expect me to coddle the damn mongrel?" he roared.
"Whatever you are trying to turn him into is beside the point! In body, he is still a reptile and if he is not kept in a warm enough environment, he could go into hibernation or worse die and how do you think Master Shredder will look upon that, especially since he has ordered Spot to be kept alive and trained?"
"Fine," Bradford acquiesced with a glower.
"Also, by the time you take him off my hands, I will have a specific diet written up for Spot. You will make sure you abide by it at least five days a week and I will be checking up on him to make sure of it."
Bradford growled and turned to go. Then a thought occurred to him and he turned to glare at Mikey spitefully. "Mai, has Spot been chipped yet?"
"Not yet," she responded with a shake of her head.
Mikey's eyes widened in fright again. Chipped? What did they mean by that?
Dogpound smiled coldly and it was a malicious thing. "All pets need to be chipped. It's the law," he purred.
'I'm not a pet though!' Mikey gaped, staring in horror at his tormentor.
"I'll do it right now," Mai promised. "I assume you would also like for Spot to have a tracking chip embedded, for the off chance he somehow gets lost?"
"Of course," Bradford's dark smile widened.
Mai turned and strode across the room, coming back quickly with a hypodermic needle. "Could you hold Spot down for a moment, Chris?"
"With pleasure," Dogpound grinned, striding immediately over to Mikey.
"Just hold his arm still for now," Mai instructed, seeing Bradford about to step on his shell to hold him in place. "I'm going to give him a relaxant first. The ID chipping is simple and can easily and quickly be done, however, the tracking chip is not of the same design and I cannot use the same device so I will have to perform a small operation for that one."
"Please don't do this, Mai!" Mikey begged silently, his eyes prickling with heat. Unfortunately, Bradford saw him attempting to speak and cuffed him heavily across the head, leaving Mikey stunned and his head spinning.
"Do not hit my patient!" Mai snapped angrily, glaring at the tall mutant.
"He's a bad dog and needs to be punished," Bradford sneered unapologetically.
Knowing she wouldn't win, Mai sighed in annoyance and inserted the needle into Mikey's inner elbow, pumping him full of the drug within. Almost immediately, he felt his body become sluggish and his mind slowly become hazy like the other day, when he was originally brought in here.
"I thought you wanted him released as soon as possible?" Mikey heard Mai question after the deed, her voice starting to sound a little distant and strangely wobbly to his hearing.
"I do." Dogpound snorted derisively. As if there could be any other option.
"Well, if you injure him further, I'll only have to keep him here for observation longer," she pointed out. "Especially if he winds up with a concussion."
Bradford was quiet and Mikey distantly thought that maybe it would be a good thing if Dogpound hurt him, if it would mean he'd stay safer for longer. He blinked blearily in disbelief over his drifting thoughts. Safer? Ha! He wasn't safe here. Hell, he'd never be safe again! Still, being in the surgery was at least preferable to whatever Bradford had in store for him. He whimpered silently, shaking with fear as Bradford leant down and whispered in his ear.
"I catch you attempting to speak again and Mai will have her test subject within a day of you being released. Understand?"
Mikey blinked once, slowly and deliberately.
"Good!" Bradford growled, digging his fingers into Mikey's good arm hard enough to leave instant bruises.
"You can release him and leave now, Chris," Mai instructed coolly as she returned with another needle, this one with a large hollow point. Mikey swallowed painfully, his eyes bulging at the terrifying sight.
She stood there watching Dogpound as he turned and stalked out, giving Mikey a pointed look as he did. Then she turned back to Mikey. "Don't worry Spot, this won't hurt. I'll just be injecting a small chip about the size of a grain of rice into you where it will sit under your flesh. Once it's in and your flesh settles around it, you won't even notice it."
"Yes, I will!" Mikey cried muzzily. "I'll know it's there."
"Honestly," Mai chuckled, "with your scales, I doubt anyone would be able to feel the lump, even if they knew exactly where to look."
Mikey tried to reach out to stop her, giving her a pleading look but his arm barely moved. He tried again, concentrating with all his might but to no avail. Noticing his struggle, Mai smiled gently and patted his head briefly before moving behind him. Then he felt her hands on the side of his thigh and the needle suddenly poked into his flesh. A moment later, the needle was withdrawn and he felt a small lump left behind and he blinked back tears of helplessness.
Mai set the chipping needle aside and picked up a small scalpel. He felt her hands shift to his other leg and roam up close to his shell. There was a fast, sharp but otherwise painless cut and he felt something pinch his flesh and peel it away. Then something alien was inserted and the flesh released. Mai turned away again to pick up a needle and suturing thread. Next thing he knew, he vaguely felt the needle pierce his skin as she deftly sewed the wound up.
"There you go, Spot. That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Mikey whimpered silently in disagreement.
"It's up near your carapace and should barely even scar, not that you'd ever see it there anyway," Mai stated soothingly. She patted his shell reassuringly and went to go pack away her equipment. Soon after, she returned, thermometer in hand. "I'll just take your temperature again and then leave you to rest and sleep off the relaxant."
Physically unable to resist, Mikey felt the device enter him again where it was left for two long, excruciating minutes before being removed and cleaned. Then Mai left the room, turning out the lights as she went, leaving Mikey reeling in shame and self-loathing, branded, ID chipped and tagged with a tracking implant.
Just like an animal.
-:-
Mikey stiffened as he woke. There was a hand on his head. A huge, furry hand that sent chills of terror down his spine.
"Guess who gets to come home tomorrow?" a rumbling voice laughed sadistically.
Mikey opened his eyes to see Bradford directly in front of him, grinning evilly. He swallowed, trying and failing to hide his fear. Mai had removed the bandages on his legs, right wrist and neck just an hour or two ago and pronounced them healed enough to leave them off. The news had shattered him, knowing that meant he would be surrendered to Dogpound's care again sooner rather than later.
"Don't worry though, Spot, I'll let you settle in and get used to your new home for a couple of days before training starts."
'Oh god! Oh god! Oh god!' Mikey's breath all but heaved in his chest.
"We are going to have such fun! I'm really looking forward to it, aren't you, boy?"
'No! No, I'm not!' he screamed desperately to himself.
"There is a lot of interest in you throughout the clan," Dogpound offered, "so first, I think I'll take you on a nice, long walk around the compound, show you off like the champion mongrel you are." Bradford threw his head back and laughed raucously.
'Help me! Someone, please help me!' Mikey begged internally, keeping his terrified gaze fixed on Dogpound. How the hell did he ever, even for a single minute, think that this man could have been his friend? God, he was so naïve back then! If only he could go back in time and warn his younger self to stay the hell away from him!
"What are you doing here, Chris?" a voice called wearily. "I said you could take him in the morning, not tonight."
Bradford rose and turned to face Mai, smiling like a furry shark. "Just thought I'd come visit my beloved pet, let him know how much I've missed him."
"Of course you did," Mai sighed in resignation. "Did you get those changes made to his run yet?"
Bradford's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Yes."
"Should I come inspect them now?"
"If you like. You'll find it all in order."
"Good. Now, I need to feed Spot and then lock up for the night. I suggest you go back to your quarters or whatever it is you do," Mai commanded, holding Mikey's food bowl in front of her.
Bradford turned back to smile menacingly at Mikey, then turned and left with a mocking wave, "I'll see you bright and early in the morning, Spot!"
Mai sighed and walked over, plunking the bowl in front of Mikey. "You really were foolish aggravating him the way you did in your past life. Chris won't make things easy for you, Spot, he's a very vindictive man. Probably a lot to do with the influence from Master Shredder."
Mikey looked away, wishing she would stop rubbing it in already.
"Here, eat up. You're going to need your strength tomorrow. Goodnight, Spot."
Mikey watched her leave, then looked down mournfully at his food. It wasn't awful, by any means but it wasn't nice either. It always had the look and consistency of either stew or mousse style dog food from a can but it smelt and tasted better at least. The food always contained a mixture of some kind of meat and vegetables and occasionally rice, cheese or egg and was mixed together into a sloppy puree. He closed his eyes in resignation. What he wouldn't give for a pizza right now or perhaps even the table scraps he'd had the first night here. Minus the pre-chewed parts, of course. He stared over into the corner of the room. He'd worked out a few nights ago that was where the camera recorded from, with someone constantly watching him at the other end. He'd found out the hard way after Mai expressed delight over the confirmation he was male and considering he never went while anyone was around, a recording was the only way she could have seen. After that, he was very careful to make sure his shell was turned to the camera before doing his business.
Reluctantly, Mikey leant over and ate, before hobbling slowly back to his bed. There, he curled up facing away from the camera and pulled his right hand to his mouth and started working at the tape again. Unfortunately, he had to start over from scratch as a couple of days ago Mai had discovered the corner beginning to lift and replaced the tape, cutting it off and taping around again for several layers, so that even if he managed to get one layer off, he'd have to find the edge of the next and start over again. Tonight though, he had to succeed. His life depended on it. He knew where the tracking chip was along with where the scalpels were kept and he was more than willing to cut into himself to get it out if he could just free his hand and then get the chain off his collar.
He'd been worrying at the tape for a good few hours when the door suddenly opened and the light switched on. Mikey rolled his head back to face the entrance in fright to see a Foot Soldier there, watching him. The man slowly walked toward him in a predatory manner and drew a tanto which he held firmly to Mikey's throat.
[Foolish turtle-dog,] the soldier hissed menacingly. [You think us so unaware of your pathetic escape attempts?]
Mikey swallowed, carefully avoiding letting it show that he understood every word. No one knew he was fluent in Japanese and he had no intention of letting anyone find out otherwise.
The man lifted his mask to sneer at Mikey, to let him see the disgust filling his face as if Mikey couldn't hear it in his voice or anything.
[Now you must pay the price,] the menacing figure said, reaching into a pocket as he spoke. Then suddenly he moved, stabbing something sharp into Mikey's arm.
His eyes flew wide open as a hot agony spread from the puncture point and through his arm before sweeping through the rest of his body, leaving him screaming soundlessly in wordless pain.
The soldier smirked and pulled his mask back down before leaving Mikey alone to his torment.
-:-
Mikey was panting yet wide awake when Mai entered the surgery early the next morning. The pain had been intense for hours, so strong it wouldn't let him sleep, yet not quite strong enough to knock him out.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Spot," Mai chided in disapproval as she gazed down at him, arms crossed.
Still in too much pain to try to move, all Mikey could do was lower his gaze. 'You'd try too if you were in my place,' he thought sullenly. 'So you really can't blame me for trying.'
Mai's expression softened, "Well, I guess I can't blame you for trying but I do wish you hadn't. You needed a restful night to be able to deal with what's to come. Well, it's time to get you ready for Chris. He'll be here to fetch you in a little under two hours." The woman picked up something, the shock collar, Mikey realised in fear, and knelt down beside him where she slid it under his unresisting neck and fastened it securely in place.
Then, as he was reeling from the return of Bradford's favourite torture device, Mai dragged over a large package that he eyed suspiciously. Upon opening it, she pulled out the first of the new braces. Mikey gulped and shot Mai a pleading look which she outright ignored. "They may be a little heavier," she explained softly as she fixed first the thigh section in place before fitting the shin section and connecting them with a short, thin cable to prevent him from straightening his legs, "but at least they won't cut into your flesh like the old ones, no matter how much you struggle or fight back. Also, they can be tightened or loosened as necessary to snugly fit your legs, should you lose or gain any muscle mass." Once done, the veterinarian released his leg and took the other, repeating the process gently.
Finally, Mai placed down bowls of food and fresh water. "Eat, while you still can and take the chance to get used to moving with your new braces," the woman commanded.
Struggling, Mikey tried to do as she suggested, all the while still feeling sick and in pain from whatever he'd been poisoned with in the night. Before long, however, he gave up and laid back down, trying to get some sleep before Dogpound arrived.
Then, before he knew it, Dogpound threw the vet surgery door open, grinning widely at him. "Time to go, Spot! Are you excited boy?" he laughed raucously.
Mikey refused to respond, hoping he'd simply go away or that Mai would take pity on him and say he was too sick but she just looked up at Bradford.
"Don't kill him, Chris. A dead specimen is a useless specimen and I have a lot of plans for Spot once I get the opportunity to go ahead with them."
"I'll try not to," he laughed, coming over and snatching up the muzzle from where it sat on a nearby table, "but no promises. This disgusting creature could try an angel's patience."
"Yes, I got that impression," Mai replied tiredly. "Don't put that muzzle on too tightly."
Bradford just gave her a look as he lifted Mikey's tired, unresisting head and fixed the muzzle in place, pulling tightly at the straps.
"Goodbye, Spot," Mai called, "I'll see you in a week to check on how your foreleg is healing."
Dogpound detached Mikey's chain from the ring in the ground. "Let's go, mutt!" he growled, tugging at the chain and pulling on Mikey's neck.
Mikey reluctantly pushed himself to all fours and limped after Bradford, trying to avoid placing any weight on his still broken left arm.
Before long, Dogpound led him out of the building and into the grassy yard and despite himself, Mikey looked around curiously; he'd never been outside in the daylight before. Thick forest grew close to the building, though some space was cleared around it. The trees towered over the building, giving it an almost claustrophobic feel, yet sheltered paths had been cleared immediately surrounding it. As he stared, fascinated, Bradford yanked harshly at his leash and choking, he hastened to follow, much to the laughter and jeers of dozens of Foot clustered around the edges of the paths and in the trees. Mikey glanced nervously at the humans. He couldn't see any faces thanks to the masks they wore but he could feel their disgust and curiosity, their hatred and amusement and he couldn't help but hang his head in shame. Bradford walked him too close to a pair of the dishonourable ninja and one of them kicked him as he passed, yelling out, [Pathetic, ugly mutt!] and that set the rest off, yelling slurs and hitting or kicking him as he was dragged by.
Mikey whimpered at the pain and humiliation, glad for the first time that he had no voice any more so they couldn't hear his distress and be further delighted by it.
He struggled with the walk, having not walked so far on all fours before and in fact barely moving more than a few feet in the last almost five weeks now. The new braces hurt, as unused to them as he was. His broken arm, practically dragging on the ground behind him caned and he kept almost tripping over the focus mitts still taped to his hands like oversized paws. He found himself missing the plaster paws, as at least they were less ungainly and easier to move about with, despite the fact they'd kept his hands so tightly cramped.
As the walk continued and his strength began to flag, Mikey's head hung lower. He dimly noticed the building was no longer in view and that they were now traversing a waterlogged path. He bit his lip in disgust as water and mud soaked the focus pads, leaving them feeling wet, clammy and somewhat slimy against his hands.
Finally, Bradford turned, leading him along another path, this time rough and loose stoned and Mikey winced as the sharp stones dug painfully into his knees and the small part of his shin that was still exposed. Huffing in pain, he tried to move off the path and walk beside it but Dogpound yanked him back into the path and onto his face, to the loud laughter of the Foot following them like a sick parade.
Too soon and yet what seemed like hours later, Bradford stopped before an old shed hidden in the trees that smelled of hot metal and grease, reminding him vaguely of the garage back home and making him more homesick than ever. "Ready for your latest gifts, Spot?" he asked in a mocking tone that had Mikey shuddering in fear.
Mikey whimpered silently and sat in an approximation of seiza to say, 'No, I'm not going in there and you can't make me'. However, Dogpound simply dragged him and Mikey was forced to crawl after him into the deeply foreboding, dilapidated old building or choke from the metal collar digging deeply into his neck.
A short, portly unwashed human with sweat soaking his obviously, even under a shirt, hairy back, stood facing away from them, hammering something glowing dull red from heat. Mikey wrinkled his nostrils in disgust at the smell and looked away. Unfortunately, that caused him to catch sight of the Foot brand of ownership showing just above the top of his cast and he felt the terror rise within. Surely once was enough, right? They couldn't be planning on branding him a second time, right?
He risked a fearful glance up at Dogpound to see him standing there smirking at him in dark amusement and Mikey couldn't look away again fast enough. Dogpound chuckled and tugged Mikey further in, leading him to a table near the other man.
"Get up on the table, Spot," Bradford demanded, yanking at the leash harshly enough that Mikey saw stars.
He blinked hurriedly to clear his vision and looked up at the table and then at Bradford. 'How?' Mikey thought desperately, looking pointedly to his cast arm and braced legs and hoping like hell that the evil mutant would understand how impossible his demand was. He had always been the nimblest of his brothers when it came to running and jumping but not when his movement was so severely hampered as it had been for the past month.
"Don't know, don't care, just do it," Bradford growled menacingly, twisting the chain in his hand just above Mikey's collar and making him gasp for breath as the edge of the rough metal band bit painfully into his throat. The former human chuckled above him at his distress and Mikey clenched his teeth behind the muzzle in hatred before looking around the workshop again.
Getting up on that table was bad, he knew that but then again, so was disobeying and Dogpound had shown no compunctions in holding back on the punishments whenever he tried. He let out a slow breath, trying to calm himself and think. Too bad there wasn't anything nearby he could use to help him, he thought in despair, feeling Bradford pulling impatiently at the chain again. Instead, steeling himself, he reluctantly crawled closer to the table, raising himself up onto his knees and placing his mitt covered hand on the table, hoping to push himself up like a swimmer getting out of a pool. It may even have worked, his ninjutsu training gave him the upper body strength necessary, even one-handed - his broken arm useless for the job given its inability to bend thanks to the cast - but the table was solid metal and he had no grip. The focus mitt on his hand slipped and he fell, whacking his chin hard on the table as he did.
Stunned and breathless, Mikey lay in a crumpled heap on the ground, blinking and seeing stars for the second time that day as Dogpound laughed raucously in delight above him. He was just beginning to sit up again when a sudden obsequious voice rang out.
[Bradford-sama! I am so very sorry to keep you waiting, sir!]
Dogpound wiped a tear of mirth from the corner of his terrible fur-lined eye as he turned to face the blacksmith. [It's fine, Haruto,] he laughed [I've been enjoying the entertainment while waiting.]
Mikey glared up at Bradford hatefully as the former human yanked at the chain attached to his collar again, choking him as he pulled him until he was on hands and knees once more.
[I'm ready whenever you are, Bradford-sama, I was just getting some other work done while waiting for you to arrive with the animal.]
[Let's do this then. You need Spot on the table, right?]
[Better for my back if it is,] the blacksmith agreed dismissively, arching his back, [but I can also work with the creature,] he tossed Mikey a disdainful look, [on the ground if necessary.]
Mikey fought to school his reaction. Dogpound made him try to get up there when he didn't even need to?
Dogpound's lips slowly spread into a disturbing smile and he leant down and picked Mikey bodily up by the shell, before dropping him unceremoniously onto the table. Mikey winced as a jolt of agony shot its way up his left arm. Suddenly, while still reeling from the drop, he felt cold metal clamp around his right wrist and he immediately tried to pull away. Before he could move more than a couple of inches, the short chain jerked him to a stop.
"There, that'll keep you from trying to fight back or escape," Bradford purred evilly as he cupped a hand under Mikey's jaw and tilted it up to look directly into his eyes, "not that you'd be very effective wearing those soft focus mitts," he laughed.
Mikey tried to growl but all that came out was a harsh sound of air from the back of his throat. Still, it was enough for Bradford to realise what he was trying to do and the martial arts celebrity laughed all the harder. Finally, he reached down and cut through the tape securing the mitt to Mikey's left hand as the blacksmith carefully placed a huge black metal paw with the foot clan symbol etched into the top of it on the table. He lifted the top section off, revealing a recess large enough for his curled up hand within. Mikey stared in horror before looking up at Dogpound, wide-eyed in realisation.
"Put your hand inside," the evil mutant growled as the metal-worker turned away.
Swallowing, Mikey hesitantly began to do as he was told when Haruto came back, wearing a flip-top visor and carrying a clamp holding a sparking electrode. His jaw dropped as much as the muzzle would allow and he backed away, shaking his head frantically. They had to be kidding, right? Right? He whimpered silently, even as Bradford grabbed at his chain, tugging him forward again.
"Don't make me repeat myself, Spot," Bradford snarled. "You won't like the consequences if you do."
'No! Nononononono!' Mikey chanted frantically in denial. They were not welding his hands inside those things! They couldn't! It was inhumane!
Haruto looked up at Bradford as the dog mutant growled, snatching at Mikey's hand and slamming it to the tabletop. He continued holding it firmly in place as he held out his other hand. [Hammer!] he demanded. He snatched at the proffered tool, a soft-headed mallet the blacksmith held out, then smashed it into Mikey's hand. Once, twice, thrice.
Mikey threw back his head and howled silently in agony as the bones in his fingers and hand shattered beneath the repeated blows. Distantly, he felt his hand roughly picked up, threaded through something and then shoved into the blessedly cool metal paw. With tears rolling uncontrollably down his face, he was helpless as the blacksmith folded his broken fingers into the recess and placed the top back down, all while Bradford still held tightly onto his arm, only shifting the grip higher to make way for the metal sleeve around his wrist. He shook his head violently, trying desperately to pull away but the monster's grip was too strong and his hand hurt far too much. Then Haruto lowered the welding rod and began working to seal the two pieces together as heat quickly spread through the metal, burning the flesh beneath it.
"Stop! Please," Mikey gasped frantically, the breath harsh in his throat, "it hurts! It hurts!"
[The dog seems to think it's human or something,] Haruto observed as he slowly worked the electrode along, creating a solid seam between the two heavy pieces of metal.
[Or something,] Bradford agreed with a cruel twist of the chain above his collar. "If Spot keeps up this inappropriate behaviour as if he was an actual person rather than the dog he is, he'll be handed over to Mai for research sooner than he expects."
The words somehow reached Mikey through the haze of pain and he tried desperately to stop speaking. Not that it was a problem much longer as the heat against his flesh reached new heights and he found himself screaming soundlessly once more.
Finally, Haruto stepped back and flipped his visor up, releasing the trigger on the clamp. He leant down with a gloved hand and inspected his work, grunting in satisfaction. [Will let it cool down before cleaning it off. In the meantime, I'll do the other paw while we're waiting.] He turned away to bring the matching metal paw, placing it on the table by Mikey's right hand and all Mikey could do was stare numbly down at it and gasping as Dogpound cut free the mitt on his other hand before releasing the manacle, confident the combined pain and weight on his other hand would keep Mikey in place.
Lightly flexing his hand, Mikey swallowed as he shakily brought it up to place in the other paw of his own volition but Bradford stopped him, snatching the appendage and slamming it to the table. Mikey stared up at Dogpound in betrayal as the monster once again picked up the mallet and gave his right hand the same treatment as his left. He smiled sinisterly as he did.
"I warned you that you wouldn't like the consequences of fighting back, Spot," he purred in delight.
Mikey shuddered in agony, trying to clamp his mouth shut to avoid wailing and giving his tormentor the satisfaction but to no avail. It was impossible.
Squeezing his eyes tightly closed, Mikey tried desperately to shut everything else out, to simply breathe through the incredible pain but within seconds, he was screaming in silence but for the sound of raw, harsh breaths as Haruto worked to seal the right paw also, intense heat seeping through the metal to his broken and swelling hand trapped tightly within.
Finally, all Mikey could do was lay bonelessly slumped and heaving in agony as the metalworker finished and began cleaning up.
That was when, through the haze of pain, he became aware of hot, rancid breath blasting into the side of his face. He struggled to open his eyes, only to recoil at the sight of Dogpound's furry features mere inches from his face.
"Vacation time is over," Bradford sneered sadistically, "I'm going to destroy you, Spot. Piece by piece until nothing remains of you but Spot, a pathetic creature that thinks it's a dog and will do anything to please its masters to avoid further pain, no matter how impossible it is."
-:-
Comments, thoughts and concrit are always welcome.
* If you ever see my stories posted anywhere other than under the name Zelgadis55 at Deviant Art, FFNet, AO3 or Live Journal, then they have been stolen. Please report them.
