Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Thunderbirds Are Go - they belong to the late Gerry and Silvia Anderson.
Author's Note: Sorry it's been such a long time since posting a fic! I've had to deal with a combination of writer's block, increased workload at work, and now also antenatal appointments outside my own shifts, and all my other hospital appointments ^^;
This fic is part of the "Only Human" AU which I originally came up with for a Halloween fic, but seems to have a continued interest with people - so I thought I would add to it! If you haven't read Only Human, you can find it here
The theme of "Restrained" was originally inspired by a Febuwhump prompt, but it's now March, so... ^^;
I hope you enjoy the read! There will be more coming soon!
Metal.
Cold.
Hard.
Unrelenting.
Chains pulled taut as he struggled - holding fast against their anchoring point and restricting not just his movements, but also his airway as the sturdy metal collar tightened against his throat.
Ahead of him - beyond the bars of his confinement - two pairs of eyes stared back in amusement: One pair a cold blue and the other a dark brown.
"I can't wait to see the look on the Boss' face when we return with you," Fuse taunted before turning his attention back to piloting the Chaos Cruiser. "How cocky of you to assume you were too fast for us to catch up with you."
In her own seat adjacent to him, Havoc let out a sinister snicker at her brother's words.
Crystalline blue eyes narrowed threateningly at the pair - a low snarl reverberating from deep within.
Undeterred, Havoc simply responded with another snort of amusement. Casually flicking her highlighted fringe back, she swivelled her chair and leaned forward; closer to their captive secured in the holding cage, and her gaze locked with his.
"You and your brute of a brother might scare most of the Boss' men away when you're like this, but I know what you really are…" she jeered.
Chains rattled furiously within the cage - accompanied by another primal snarl of rage.
Havoc delighted in the futile attempts to reach her; a wicked smile growing on her face. "I wonder what everyone would think if they found out International Rescue's fearless Field Commander is actually nothing more than an overgrown, feral pussycat."
At her words, the animalistic sounds from within the large cage ceased - and for just the briefest of moments, Havoc was so sure that she saw an almost human-like emotion flash across those icy-blue eyes.
One of recognition.
And fear.
It only took a fraction of a second before the captive beast was back on the defensive; hissing and attempting to struggle free from the restraints in a frenzied attempt to break free and slash the smirk from Havoc's face.
It only served to fuel her entertainment.
"Don't waste your energy. You and I both know you won't be getting free anytime soon," Havoc reclined back in her chair, swivelling to her left to rest her booted feet on the closest control panel of the Chaos Cruiser. "Just be a good kitty and enjoy the rest of the trip."
Further, towards the front of the cockpit, Fuse let out a thoughtful grunt. "You really think he can understand you?"
His sister simply shrugged; reclining further back in her seat and crossing her arms behind her head. "Probably? Who knows?"
Fuse seemed to mull on her words for a moment - contemplating his own question and his sister's nonchalant response - as he continued to pilot their craft back to The Hood's current base. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up again.
"What do you think the boss is gonna do with him?"
"Who cares?" Havoc gave another shrug of indifference. "Maybe the boss wants a pet? Or a new rug?"
Fuse tensed at her words.
This reaction did not go unnoticed.
Havoc turned to face him with an unreadable expression. "Why do you care so much anyway? It's not like they've done anything favourable for us."
Fuse felt like he could not look his sister in the eye; instead choosing to fiddle with one of the flight control panels.
Havoc's steel-blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Don't tell me you're still feeling a little conflicted after that whole screw-up at the Shackleton power plant facility…"
"It's not like that!" Fuse protested. "I just… I just think that killing him might be taking things a bit too far, y'know?"
"What do you mean 'too far'?" Havoc sneered. She gestured furiously at their restrained captive. "Don't forget how many times he's been a part of ruining the Boss' plans, or wrecking our plans and getting us in trouble with the Boss!"
Her words were met with an uncomfortable silence.
Rolling her eyes, the chestnut-haired woman reclined back in her chair with a huff. "I really hope you're not going soft…"
There was another sound from the direction of their captive, and for a moment, Havoc was certain it almost came across as a deep, rumbling chuckle. She snarled in response, slamming her fist down on the metal control panel before jumping to her feet and pointing an accusatory finger towards the holding cage. "Shut it, you! Before I bloody come over there and muzzle you myself!"
Her outburst was met with silence, however, Havoc did not miss the glint of satisfaction in those crystalline-blue eyes, nor the way that long, feline tail flicked almost playfully as one side of that whiskered muzzle twitched upwards in an expression of toothy amusement; sharp canines glinting almost menacingly.
That. Was. It.
Snarling in anger and frustration, Havoc stormed over to a storage locker on the other side of the cockpit and threw open the door with more than enough force. Without hesitation, she pulled out a taser, spun on her heel and fired in the direction of the creature captive within the holding cage.
Despite the apparent point-blank aim, the almost ear-splitting yowl of pain, rattling of chains and thrashing against the bars of the cage were clear signs that she had hit her intended target.
"Not so funny now, right?" Havoc's lips curled upwards in a sinister smirk. She was sure that she heard her brother utter a startled sound, shifting in his seat, but there was no attempt to get up or stop her.
Good.
Another feline yowl rang out, accompanied by the scrabbling of claws against metal.
Havoc revelled in those feral sounds of agony.
"I hope that hurts like hell, you arrogant prick."
A clawed paw swiped shakily through the bars of the cage in a futile attempt to reach her before their captive succumbed to the pain; dulled crystalline blue eyes locking almost defiantly with Havoc's steely glare before closing in defeat as he slumped to the floor of his cell with a thud.
The cockpit of the Chaos Cruiser fell into silence.
"That's only a taster of what you've got coming, Scott Tracy." Havoc spat before she returned to her seat with a sigh, reclining and kicking her booted feet up to rest on the control panel before her. "I swear, he's less annoying when he's human."