Shell Shock
Writers: Denny and Leila
Rating: PG-RG
Warnings: Ratchet/Azimuth. Violence.
Disclaimer: We value our lives too much to even dare think about claiming Ratchet and Alister as our own. We borrow them for an RP, so don't worry. [Put the Wargroks back into your cage!]
Summary: Everyone's nightmare is to wake up in a cold, dark place without a clue where one is. Sadly, that's what's happened to us. What's even better, we have monsters and weird encounters to endure as well. And then there's them…
Lucky, right? If I ever get out of here, I will need some therapy sessions.
Chapter 32
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Fingers circled on the entity's cheek as arms held it close to the Superior's chest. Warm pulses of energy were exchanged wherever they touched; the leader's coat was partially covering the other as well. A low hum was sung, and the moment, as peculiar as it was, had only silence as its witness.
The Shapeshifter marveled at the softness of the curl it was playing with. Only Shapeshifters of the highest rank wore 'hair' on their head, its aesthetics appealing in its own way to them. The entity's other hand was playing with the Superior's waist, now and then dipping fingers around the hip.
"Careful my dear," was whispered into its mind, "Go on and you might incite me to commence our play all over again." A chuckle as the Superior kissed the entity on its forehead. "Not that I would mind… After all, your being is so very pleasant in my eyes." Fingers trailed along its jaw line. "And you certainly feel so as well," it hushed lowly under an endearing smirk.
"Thank you." The lesser entity felt heat rush through its body at the endearment and praise.
"You are welcome." A giggle as the Superior gazed into the guard's eyes. It sighed lowly. How much it wanted to stay like this! Just lying there, holding this entity close, not caring about anything else; but it knew it had to take measurements for the game they had suggested to the doctor. After all, this was something they had planned for some time now, and a plan the entity in its arms had helped to finalize.
The leader smiled faintly. It would have never thought that it would feel such a sense of endearment for this entity. Too special it was, too different to be assigned to the same missions the other Shapeshifters were. Its actions, its choices – they were so wonderfully unique among them, and so was the way the Superior perceived it.
"Is something wrong?" The entity tilted its head, confused by the sudden regret mixing into the energy around him.
"Nothing," the Superior answered lowly. "Nothing at all." It gently pushed the guard onto its back, only to press itself against its chest. "I just wish we could remain as such for a little longer, plans or not. It is far too pleasant to break it off."
"I'd like to stay here too."
A giggle left the leader at this. It nuzzled slightly against the Shapeshifter and closed its eyes under a blissful smile. "You are really fascinating, my dear. I like that." A finger trailed along the entity's jaw line. "Just as I simply love your face. I have almost forgotten how pretty your face was under that helmet."
"You are too good to me." It nuzzled into the touch and was pleased as the Superior cupped his cheek.
"Not at all, not at all." Lips were placed on each other briefly. "For that I sense I am a little too… possessive." A pause as it trailed along the fine contours of the other Shapeshifter's face. "I do not wish anyone aside from me to see what is hidden by the protection I have put around you," it whispered gently as it leant down to where it suspected the audio sensors to be and linked to them once more. "Nobody but me shall know what lies beneath."
The entity blinked, uncomprehending. "Why shall nobody else see my face? Is it something secret?"
"No, silly." The Superior giggled as it leant in with an amused smirk. One arm pulled the entity closer so that their foreheads met. "I just want you to be mine."
"But I'm already yours." Because every Shapeshifter was. The entity couldn't understand the concept behind the implications of the Superior claiming it as its own.
"… Then let me rephrase it." Fingers gently trailed along the entity's contours. Warmth pulsed into its body, just as a slight hint of excitement. "I still have not given you a title yet, and I think I have found the very one suitable for you. From now on, I shall call you…" A pause as it lowered its thoughts.
"My Precious."
Both of the Shapeshifter's hands flew to its mouth, stuttering with a gasp even in thought. "You-your P-Precious?! But... But-!" Hadn't it been lying flat, the sudden trembling in confusion and excitement –and also some strange sort of pressure- would have sent it to its knees.
"Hush."
There was something in the Superior's gestures. Warmth, calmness – but also a sense of nervousness. "This was a decision that was not easy for me either. How could I give anyone but that Lombax this title? It is preposterous to think that even, and even more so that I don't regret my decision. I am uncertain and unsure if I am doing the right thing. It is a choice that I would have deemed irrational had I not found myself in the very position I am in now, and even so I still question myself. Nobody but that Lombax should be called Precious. My mind screams at me for all the foolishness and rashness of my decision, and just as much as it shocked you it still drives me mad that I am thinking this. It has only been a few days since you came into my perception, and only a few hours since I realized that you are more precious than anything else to me." A pause. "More precious than anyone."
Slowly sitting up, it gently took one of the other Shapeshifter's hands and brought it to its lips, placing a faint kiss on it. As the guard rose as well, eyes locked each other. Sincerity tried to overwhelm disbelief just as it suppressed all the nervousness that had held both captive. "But I cannot help it. This is what my core deems right, and if I have to break my word to the other Shapeshifters, then so be it. This is the way it is, and the way I wish it to be. I know it comes sudden, and it must seem ludicrous to hear this from me as I have to be the one to lead the others, but these few days with you, those hours we have passed together, they have made me realize that I long for something beyond this Lombax. And because of this, because I want to know more about what I am longing for, I want you to stay by my side. I sense you are imperative for me to understand this sentiment, and that is why I will call you my Precious.
I cannot think of a more fitting title for you anymore. Nothing would express my desire to keep you close as much as this title. I want to protect you, your uniqueness, your essence. I don't want anyone or anything to spoil you, and don't want any harm to reach you. And for all this, my dear Shapeshifter, my dearest Precious,
"All I ask of you in return is to never betray me. To never leave me unless absolutely necessary, to never share with another person what you have shared with me. But above everything else, my Precious," it continued lowly. "I ask of you one thing:
"To never break my core.
"Promise me this, and I shall treat you the same way I wish you to treat me. I will devote myself to you, your well-being, your core. My words shall always be true, and my desires only be shared with you. This, my Precious, is all my mind, my essence can offer." Four fingers clasped the entity's hand gently; honesty and sincerity in the Superior's eyes held it captive. "Will you offer the same to me?"
Although it didn't need to speak with its mouth – the entity's jaw dropped the same time as it did so down to the floor. That- THAT- impossible! The Superior's feeling and emotions to it were so strong it would forsake the Shapeshifter's previous plan to integrate the younger Lombax into their group as the 'Precious'?
No, there was no doubt the Superior meant it. It would never, not even in jest, offer someone its Core, for that it was too magnificent, too strong, too worthy to share it with anyone that wasn't good enough.
But what of the consequences? What would the rest of the Shapeshifters think? Just a short time ago the Superior had killed those low-level Shapeshifters who had wanted to go after the two Lombaxes because they dared to assume they were worthy enough. It had shown it had no mercy for those who weren't worthy of hunting for the 'Precious' and his special energy and all of the others had cheered for their demise – so much the Lombaxes meant to the Shapeshifters. And yet…
And yet the Superior treasured it and wanted it more and protect it and-
Trembling, the entity just pushed up on one leg before it stumbled anyway to the other. It fell into the Superior's chest, clutching at its arms under the onslaught of emotion, a mix of anxiety, awe, adoration and gratitude.
"Yes," it replied shakily with quickening thought, "Yes, yes, by my core, yes…"
The sudden embrace had the Superior fall back onto the bed, an almost undignified yelp leaving it. Then a smile appeared on its lips and closed its eyes, blissful as it could be. Arms were slung around its Precious as it kissed the other on its forehead. "I am glad," it whispered, fingers stroking over the Shapeshifter's head.
"… I see you are having some… quality time?"
Immediately the Superior's eyes snapped open. Pulling the Shapeshifter in its arms closer as it jolted up, a double-edged blade sliced the air apart and pierced the wall beside the entity that had entered. "How dare you come in like this?!", it yelled in mined as its face was turned into an infuriated grimace which was luckily not seen by its Precious.
"I beg for your forgiveness, your Excellency, but I have heard some unsettling noises." The Shifter bowed down, unfazed by the weapon that had almost cut it. "I was simply worried that this entity might have had… a relapse."
"Watch your thoughts, Shifter." Lips curled in anger. "Do not upset me any further."
Oh no, it was that superior guard. The entity curled more tightly against the Superior. The Shifter always regarded it so strangely and when they brushed thoughts, it always withdrew its part of them.
A brow was slightly raised at that reaction. Folding its hands behind its back, the standing guard straightened up again and looked at its leader. "My apologies, your Excellency. I forgot that you and this…" Shoulders tensed up as its gaze fell onto the Precious, "… guard have probably shared quite the fine time with each other."
"So we did. Is there something that bothers you about it?" The Superior's gaze became heavy-lidded as it stroked over its Precious' head.
"Nothing at all, your Highness. However," the Shifter remarked, "If I may remind you, it has been two days now without us preparing a maneuver against the good doctor. I am certain this is all part of your plan?"
The Superior rolled its eyes. "Obligations," it whispered into the mind of the entity in its arms. "How I cannot stand them."
Had they really been that long here? Its eyes were bulging out unseen against the Superior, and it felt distinctively embarrassed.
"Your Excellency, perhaps we should resume our preparations?" The Shifter stepped closer slowly, eyes never turning away from its leader.
"Yes… yes, we should." The Superior stroked over its Precious' head and reformed the protection around it, whispering words of endearment into its mind. Then it stood up and turned to the inferior entity. "Let us go."
The Shifter nodded and bowed lightly as the Superior walked by; but that did not hide the glare in its eyes as soon as it was sure its leader would not see them. Fingers curling lightly into its coat, it then did not even do as much as to look at the Precious and followed the Superior, letting the door fall shut behind it.
The entity feared for a moment the Shifter would attack the other. That hateful gaze, its energy rippling aggressively… It wished it could have come with the Superior even if the Shifter had still been close by.
Quick steps led the two Shapeshifters away from the room. Straightening its outer shell, the Superior did not notice at first that the Shifter's step was slower than its own; neither did it notice the piercing glare in the other's eyes.
"I heard your entire conversation."
The leader's eyes widened. Fingers curled, shoulders tensed up. Only slowly it looked over its shoulder, brow raised. "So?"
"You are abandoning us."
"I am not."
"Yes you are." Steps revealed that the Shifter came closer. "You gave that entity the title none of us was deemed worthy of. You have offered that entity something none of us could ever dream or think of. But what is worse, you put that creature's life over our collective goal." Lips curled, it stopped one step away from its leader. "You are turning away from our goal, from our essence. All of our desires, wishes – do they no longer matter? Do we really mean nothing to you?" Anxiety, anger – both burned in its eyes as it looked at the other, seeking eye contact; but it was denied. It bit its lip; fingers curled into its coat as it lowered its gaze. "Do I really mean nothing to you?"
"You are stepping out of line." The Superior turned away. "I choose my path, and I choose whoever is worthy of this title. It is my decision, and my privilege, to do so – and if you do not agree with my ways, I welcome you to change my mind."
"It is not my opinion. It is the direction you are leading us into that worries me." The Shifter's face turned into a pained grimace."You are abandoning us and you are abandoning me, but the worst is:
"You are abandoning yourself."
A loud scream filled the corridor when the Shifter was hauled and rammed against the wall. Eyes gleamed in fury, face contorted to an ugly grimace. The four claws around its neck burned terribly and left deep cuts it could not simply mend. "I said you are stepping out of line," the Superior hissed into its mind, "Do not make me repeat myself."
The claws finally let go of the entity who fell onto its knees, holding its neck as it concentrated its whole being on regenerating those wounds. Its leader watched it in contempt, not even remotely considering lending a hand. If its subordinate had the audacity to question its leadership, the Superior had no interest in showing goodwill to it. "If you have an issue with the path I am on, Shifter, then I welcome you to bring them forth now."
The other guard stayed silent at first. Then, as soon as it had recollected itself again, it replied, "Nothing, your Excellency. I have no issues to bring forth."
"Good." The Superior smirked in a slightly forced manner before it walked down the corridor. "Well then, since there is nothing to discuss, we should be on our way. After all, we have important matters to tend to."
The entity on the ground did not reply. It followed the Superior with its eyes, body tensing up and fingers clawing the freshly mended wounds. Scratches marked the ground, fangs were bared as it watched on, feeling so miserably torn between desires and necessities. Wishes, longings – it buried them all as it had done all along. And as another moment passed, as it had given itself enough time to collect its thoughts, the Shifter finally made up its mind and rose to its feet.
No, it would not persuade the Superior that this was the wrong path to pursue. Neither would it try to open its eyes to all the obstructions ahead.
No. It would take care of this matter personally.