Love Me Dead

AN: I fully intend to finish this story if people are still reading after all this time. I'm going to try and get things set up to escalate and end the story. There will be some more trigger warnings coming up.

TRIGGER WARNING: Just a general trigger warning for violence. Just all around violence, hints of sexual violence. Manipulation. Descriptions of physical violence. Red flags everywhere. Character PTSD. Revenge. Please don't read if you think it'll fuck with your head.

Chapter 9

Lore sighed as he watched her, his brows creased; Frea was talking in her sleep again, tossing and turning, her hand twitching as sweat beaded her forehead. From what I could tell, someone was hurting her, all her nightmares were like this. But he never asked Frea the details when she woke wanting to keep her waking time with him a safe time. Although Frea had spoke with him at length the trigger of said dreams. Stroking her sweat soaked brow and pushing the hair from her face.

"Shh, it's ok." Kissing her forehead, then tapping her arm and giving her gentle shakes to slowly rouse her. Lore had learned not to do it too quickly, after he'd startled her from a night terror the first time when they'd first started sharing a bed together. She'd panicked and started hitting him in her semi-conscious terror. Frea wasn't able to hurt him, but when she'd woken her fear was palpable and she was apologetic. A more gentle manner to lull her from her dreams was a better approach.

Lore felt her begin to calm and rouse slowly "Lore?" her soft voice whispered in the dark, scared and small.

"You just had another nightmare." He smiled hoping to reassure her and comfort her, but he didn't feel happy; his heart hurt for her, and he was furious at the people that caused her to lose sleep.

"Where am I?" Frea seemed confused, she often was upon waking.

"You're at home, we're in bed, and everything ok, everything is safe." He spoke softly, and evenly to keep her calm. Frea's nightmares always seemed to increase whenever something in real life set off her unconscious mind. He tried his hardest to keep her protected, but he never knew quite what was going to set off the dark creatures lurking in her mind. It was not her fault, he'd never blame her for her nightmares, but a white hot feeling of rage built up in him every time he saw her struggling for sleep, or heard her talk about her past sufferings.

Frea gave a heavy sigh and he felt her muscles relax beneath his hands. Rubbing the tears from her eyes she gave a harsh chuckle "Ugh, sorry about that." But Lore didn't return the smile and instead stared down at her. "You don't need to apologize for your nightmares." Stroking her hair gently, anything to help her feel safe.

"You'd think I'd be over them by now." Frea smiled and laughed dryly, but she couldn't fool him, he knew her too well. He saw the sadness in her eyes. In the past with others, he wouldn't have cared, but Frea was the only person he actually cared about.

"Do you want to try the sedatives again" Lore motioned to leave the bed

"No!" Frea grabbed his arm to keep him close. "I don't like them, they make it harder for me to wake up. I feel trapped. J-just stay here, please. I don't want to be alone in the dark." Her grip was tight on his arm- desperate.

Searching Frea's face and taking in her distress, Lore nodded and settled next to her, kissing her gently before, wrapping her up in his arms, stroking soft finger tip against her back as he felt her quiet down.

Frea was content to leave the situation be, decades of nightmares had made her comfortable with the terror of her own mind, and seeing no other options settled for the status quo of sleepless nights, and panic attacks. He however was not content, he was a problem solver, and he would not have the woman he cared about terrorized in her sleep nightly by past creatures.

He would remedy this situation.


They were eating dinner, or rather she was eating and he was watching. They sat at an outdoor noodle shop. Luckily for the both of the awning kept the pouring rain off of them. Frea was shoving noodles quickly into her mouth, the only light the warm glow from the inner kitchen, and the neon lights giving little illumination onto the dark pouring street.

"How can you eat that, who knows the sort of sanitation back there?" Lore commented roughly as she stuffed more noodles into her mouth. He was right, the kitchen wasn't the cleanest to put it lightly, and the alien behind the counter made no move during his entire service with customers to cleanse his tentacles.

"I'f eait'd worss- thur guud" Frea mumbled, her mouth stuffed beyond capacity, wiping sauce from the side of her cheek. Lore glanced at her and smirked, but kept his attention largely on the street, awaiting their 'mark'.

"I don't think he's gonna come out. The rain is awful." Frea said between breaths as she drank quickly from her glass, washing the noodles down. Lore seemed disgruntled by this, and his cheek twitched a bit. He grumbled a bit, taking his eyes off the street and pulling out a black noodle from the bowl, tilting his head back and slurping it quickly, a fleck of sauce landing on his chin. Frea smiled at him in amusement, using her sleeve to wipe the fleck from his chin.

"We could try later. Desert species don't like the rain like this. He's probably in his room waiting" Frea offered, shoving the rest of her noodles into her face, and setting the bowl aside on the bar table behind her. Lore signed heavily at this, folding his hands and leaning back in his seat against the bar. He never took his golden eyes from the dark wet street. Many varieties of creatures shuffled by, some considering the rain normal and strolling casually. Others running by, despising the rain. Lore looked over at Frea, her face turned towards the darken street with him—she had sauce on her cheek again. This time taking a napkin from behind him, and wiping her face.

"Did you get any of it in your mouth?" He teased roughly and she rolled her eyes, and he gave her a gentle peck on the lips. "You told me to hurry" she accused in amusement. Pulling out a few coins of the local currently and setting it next to her dish for the cook.

Lore suspected she was correct, they'd been sitting here awhile. The rain beating down, the glow of the interior and awning the only comfort from the deplorable weather. He'd really wanted to have this work out, or at the very least for Frea. He'd kept her in the dark about this surprise and hope they this wasn't all for naught.

Lore gave a sigh in disappointment before his eyes caught a large figure moving through the streets, their face obscured Frea could barely tell them apart for the many other people fumbling through the rainy streets. But his golden eyes saw clearer than hers and his eyes narrowed, and he grinned "That's our man." Lore pointed excitedly, and his cheek twitched anxiously.
Dropping off the stool, and grabbing Frea's hand as he pulled her into the rain, she pulled the hood on her coat to block out the rain, and jogged along, her hand in Lore's warm steely grasp as they followed the large tall figure, heavy muscled as it walked quickly in the distance.

As the figure dodged through the crowd, a glimpse of green skin made Frea squint at a slight passing of memory flitted through her mind, one she'd repressed from long ago.

Her eyes passed up at Lore, unbothered by the rain, a look of excitement and predatory satisfaction on his face. That wasn't unusual, they'd done this several times, but this was the first time Lore had been so dodgy about the subject. He was usually very open with his information, and thoroughly kept her in the loop. On this occasion he'd been very cloak and dagger about the whole affair.

"Why are you so determined to catch up with him?" Frea scoffed a little, grasping around his tightly muscled arm, hoping to convince him that they could find something better. They'd been chasing after this figure for 10 mins, and there was no way by the way he was dressed that he could possibly have anything worthwhile for them. Lore seemed to barely be listening, and grinned as the tall form disappeared into a tavern or club of sort.

"Ha! Yes, perfect" Lore stopped suddenly and glanced at her, and smiled, water dripping from his face. "I've got a surprise for you—a gift!" He grinned, his cheek twitched harshly and Frea's eyes squinted at him as he pulled her into the bar.

"A surprise doesn't usually involve a trek through the rain" Frea huffed grumpily, and wiped the rain off her face as they walked into the filthy club of sorts. Lore wrapped an arm around her as they made their way through the very sad looking crowd, the electronic music blaring loudly and lights flashing. Perhaps to deter from the terrible conditions and depression that clung to the air.

Pulling Frea to a corner, holding her close as Lore pointed at the figure as it slowed to the bar, and pulled its hood off. It was a gut punch when she saw the figure, Frea's breath caught in her throat, and she momentarily couldn't breathe. She remember the horrendous torture he'd enacted on her when she was young. His sneering face, his tattoos, his-

"Why- why would you do this?!" Immediately feeling betrayed, her voice a cry, trying to pull away from the android, and he looked at her in confusion.

"I found him for you, so you can set things right" Lore assured

"Setting things right would be for me to never see that monster again? Or lit on fire and pushed into a pit" Frea shoved Lore angrily, but it he was unmoving, the look on his face showing no appearance that he understood her and her panic.

"Whatever you want to do with him. Light him on fire, cut him to pieces, I don't care. I found him for you. You can bring your revenge on him. I will help you. I happen to understand from experience, the weight lifted off your shoulders when you can finally set your tormenters in their place." Lore smiled gently, not understanding that her panic was real, but his face twitched again.

"Please just—please can we go" Frea pulled away but he wouldn't release her hand.

Lore pulled her close, attempting to be reassuring, but Frea just wanted to flee, tears brimming in her eyes.

"A being like that doesn't deserve to keep on living. You know he's harmed others the way he's harmed you. He is a wretch, and I found him. Now you can make him suffer, and I will be there every step of the way to help you. It will make you feel so much better" Lore attempted to appear reassuring, but the menace in his gaze at the idea of exacting revenge. She doubted this little expedition was all for her good graces.

"I don't want revenge, I want to go!" the music drowned her out, her breathing ragged. Lore was steadfast, and Frea was seriously considering ripping her own hand off to get free as panic overtook her completely. It was times like this the strength the android possessed crashed back to her and she realized just how much Lore held back physically.

Lore sighed and cocked his head in a kindly way, "I want to help you. Your nightmares they keep you up, and you know that he never loses a night of sleep. He just lives, and continues, and takes up space in the universe where you and I, and better people could be. I would never lead you astray, I don't want to cause you pain, I want to help you feel better. I promised I'd take care of you. Let me help you" Frea was shaking her head, but Lore was focused.

"I'm going to take him into the alley, and you can join us in 15 mins—that is, if you want too. If not, I'll take care of it myself- ok" the last bit wasn't really a question, and he gently released her hands. Frea's eyes blinked the wetness away, and he reached a slender hand up to brush the dampness from her cheek, looking her in the eyes lovingly "I'm here for you, and this is going to be perfect, I believe in you" Lore smiled, but didn't wait for her answer as she saw him stride off quickly into the crowd. Frea pulled the hood of her coat up, feeling suddenly exposed- she preferred the rain to this. Lore glanced at her briefly from the crowd, a look of pure enjoyment on his features as he smiled at her, and suddenly he was gone. Gasping to herself she looked through the crowd, and noticed the bar was vacant one barnacle.

Frea took a deep breath in, and out slowly, trying to control her breathing; 1-2-3-4 and in, 1-2-3-4 and out. Her eyes closed as attempted to quell the tide of horror within her. She wasn't sure how long she'd been standing there, breathing, trying desperately to forget past terror flooding her mind. The music had changed, how long had that been for her; time seemed to mean nothing at that moment. She could turn, run off, wait for him to 'finish' and meet him back at the ship.

All she knew, is that her body was directing her towards the bar, and in the direction of the door leading to the alley. Stepping from the warmth of the establishment and into the cold rain once more. Gold eyes met hers, a smile of elation on his features, as he extended his hand out for her to take it and join him in the darkness.

Frea wasn't sure what he'd handed her, it felt like a phaser of some sort as she stared down at the broken and bloodied monster before her. "Kill him with his own weapon my dear" she heard briefly.

Her whole body shook, she wasn't sure if it was fear, anxiety, or was this enjoyment? Frea's breathing was ragged as she looked at beast before her; she knew who he was, but he didn't seem to have any reckoning as to who she was, This THING had been just one of her many torturers, the one who had taken so much from her at so young, a beast in a long line of many that had preyed on her- but it had been the first. He was not a being of worthiness or consideration of life, by any means, but her actions scared her. Frea enacted her own forms of violence in defense of herself, she was no wilting flower of passivity. But becoming the predator was a different questions- was capable of being the wolf?

Lore seemed to catch her gaze "Oh sweetheart" he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, stepping forward, and pressing a kiss to her head. "You shouldn't pity a creature like this. I promised I'd be there for you, to help you- always. I would never do to you what he and his kind are capable of. This will be cathartic, I promise. He won't harm you, or anyone else..now take your shot when you're ready" Lore prompted softly, smiling at her gently, but it was a smile that lingered with pure malice for the being at their feet.

"I don't know if I can do this?" Frea's breath straggled, she was feeling dizzy, lowering the gun and the alien at their feet gave a sneering grin in triumph, or as well of a smile he could give with his face beaten in and jaw broken. It spit blood at her feet as that's all he seemed to be able to manage. Lore's violence on him had been thorough and effective, Lore was impressively strong, she knew that although he hid it well.

Lore sighed gently, rubbing her back as he laid his forehead affectionately against hers to comfort her, touching her ever so gently and supportively. "That's ok" and Frea blinked and looked at him. His face looked disappointed in her, but kind. Feeling his arm hand lace over her right hand where she held the weapon.

"Don't worry my darling, I'll help you" Lore moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her and lacing his fingers with her hands. Frea gasp as he forced her arms to steady the weapon and aim, setting his face cheek to cheek with her. She was confused, what was happening, is this what she wanted? This being before them was scum, for sure, but she didn't know if she could kill someone in cold blood like this? Did she want revenge?

"We'll do this together, it will bond us. You'll sleep a little better knowing he's gone" The androids embrace was warm, supportive, and steely. Frea could push him away and end this if she wanted too. But looking at the being before her on the ground, bloodied, defiant, his smile was as she remembered it long ago, sneering, hateful, without a soul.

"Like a lion, I have brought you your first prey, and now it's your turn to finish it." Lore's whispers in her ear and made her shiver. She felt strong, he made her feel strong, had she ever felt strong?

It only took a second for her arms to be the ones aiming, and Lore was merely supporting. Her prey before her gulped in fear, attempting to raise a hand, and it made her deeply satisfied that it was him terrified for once. "Wai-" He never got a word out before the trigger was pulled and the creatures head exploded, followed by silence- and the rain. Time stopped, how long had she been standing there, and why did she feel good? –exhilarated even. Releasing a ragged breath, Lore allowed her to drop the weapon and it gave a sharp click on the ground. Gripping her shoulders reassuringly "I'm so proud of you" he said warmly, cradling her face in his hands, he kissing her gently on the cheek. Frea felt her knees give out and Lore quickly snatched her up before she fell. She couldn't process, and only a shocked wail escaped...but that wail slowly turned into a nervous laugh. Her face felt wet, reaching up to find tears pouring from her eyes. Another desperate wail escaped her mouth.

Lore leaned down, and lovingly cradled her into his arms, and she began to cry. "Shhh, it's ok" he assured her walking away from the massacre of blood, but she couldn't focus. The rain soaking into her skin, and her heart feeling cold. "Next time, you'll be be strong enough to do it on your own" he assure her, Lore's golden eyes glancing down and he smiled, carrying her home to safety.

The blood washed easily from his pale shaking hands, leaving no trace of wicked deeds done. Frea however sat quietly, she was soaking wet, her poor body shook. He tutted softly to himself, bringing a towel and kneeling down before her, she didn't move or look at him as he gently began to dry her face. Admiring her fair beauty, the now fuller cheeks and lively complexion compared to when they'd first met. Her hair was beautiful as it dripped water onto the floor and trickled down her cheeks. It was because of him she had bloomed into the beautiful rose he knew she was, he'd tended to her, loved her, devoted himself to her, and now he would nurture her strength. They were the perfect team.

Lore smile as he pulled her sweatshirt off, laying the garment aside, as he delicately tended to her, drying her so she wouldn't freeze. Pulling over each layer to soon reveal damp, fair flesh beneath. Frea didn't move, didn't acknowledge him as he stripped and dried her with the upmost care. He took the towel, wrapping it around her semi nude form, taking her cold slender hands into his much larger ones.

"You're shaking, love." Kissing her gently then standing "Lets get you warmed up before you catch your death. You've done so well tonight, you deserve your rest." Frea didn't move, nor recognized when he picked her up into his arms, carrying her as if she were a feather toward their bedroom. Laying her into the comforts of their nest, he pulled the blankets up to surround her. "You're not fragile, unlike the rest of them out there, like the ones that failed you. I'm here to keep you safe, and I'll always support you." She heard his voice assure her as he wrapped himself around her, pulling her tight to his strong warm body, nuzzling his face into her neck.

"Why?" Frea whispered, filled with the chill that now lingered in her body and her heart. He felt him smile into her neck.

"Because I love you, I want you to be happy" He replied simply

"I-I don't know what I did" Frea stammered, half from chill, half from terror of her own actions.

"You did what should have been done a long time ago. You got your revenge, and rid-"

"I told you those things because I trusted you!" Frea interrupted, but still lost

Taking one of her hands in his own, her fingers were like ice, a stark contrast to his own which never got cold. "You can always trust me. Why feel bad about what happened? Didn't you feel strong?" Lore whispered softly- but it felt like temptation to her. Frea blinked suddenly as she felt her brain clear and looked at him, intently.

Frea really wasn't sure if she wanted to fight it. She had felt strong, incredibly powerful in fact. She'd been at the receiving end of the violence for a long time. She felt safe with Lore- safe, powerful, and loved. Unlike everyone else, he actually cared about her, so why should she shed tears for anyone.

"If more people did what you did, I venture to believe the universe would be a better and safer place." Lore kissed her forehead, the energy beginning to leave her body as she felt her body collapse into the mattress.

"Just relax, I'll be here when you wake up. When you're ready, I'll take you for another outing" He whispered as she fell unconscious

That night, she never stirred once.


AN: I didn't write for awhile as the pandemic was tough on me. I lost a couple people and then my rabbit and service dog passed away suddenly. I'm hoping to be more diligent. All my best to the readers I appreciate your reviews and encouragement. If I made any major mistakes please let me know.