Al jolts holding tight to their hands as his wings tried to slow their fall.
It was too sudden, the weight too much and the air too still. He stopped the fall from being fatal, but they still hit with a whack. Iain landed first, catching Ro as best he could. Al landed on the ground next to him with a groan.
They took a moment to try and collect themselves as the hole above them closed them in. Al tensed. He hated being underground almost as much as cages.. Iain had tightened too, his nervousness ebbing through their link. He struggled being closed in...
The blonde glanced around. It was very dark down here... Wherever here was...
"Al, you alright?" Iain sat up stiffly.
"Yeah.."
"Ro's out cold..."
Al frowns feeling his way closer.
Iain reached over, pulling him to them. "She must have knocked her head on something..."
"She'll be ok right..?"
"Should be..."
Al sighs shuffling to his feet.
"See anything?"
"Barely.."
Iain cussed softly. Al sighs trying to see something, eyes changing in the strain. All that was around them was black... Black and damp and cold...
He shivers.
Iain sighed, trying to wake Ro instead. "Come on, open your eyes..."
The blonde walks back over petting Ro gently. She frowned softly, a bruise starting to develop on her forehead. A whine slipped from Al's throat.
/She's too cold.../ She was trembling in the Scot's arms.
*We need to get outa here..*
He nodded softly, pulling off his jacket to put on her.
"Going so soon?" Nate's voice crackled to life again, this time though, it wasn't just in Al's head.
Al cringes looking around frantically.
Iain stood, bringing Ro closet to his chest. /Shit.../
*Notgoodnotgoodnotgood...*
Harsh light filled their vision, blinding them. Al staggered back sensitive eyes burning. Iain hissed sharply too, tensing. Ro groaned. They struggled to adjust, trying to see.
When their eyes finally refocused, it was to the sight of metal bars enclosing them in a tight cage.
*No..Nonononono!*
/Fuck.../
Both men were panicking at their sudden confinement.
One lone figure just stood by the bars, smiling warmly. "Hello Alfred."
Al hissed slamming into the wall. It was cold and dank, pure rotting rock.
"Oh, and here I thought you wanted to find me?"
He rushed at the bars.
"Stop," Iain grabbed him by the collar quickly, just before he could make contact. This close, Al should hear the faint buzz running through the metal.
No he couldn't stay here!
Iain just pulled him back, making him take Ro. He collapsed on the ground. Dark cells, Matt's hurt, Nate, to many memories attacking at once.
/Alfred, breathe.../ Iain's voice cut through, then washed away in the tide of emotions, then broke back in; like a boat rising over big waves. /I know I'm not the first person you'd come to rely on, but I promise you, I'll get us out of here. You just need to trust me.../
But the Nazis had Matt and he's sitting with dead bodies and Nate was gonna tear him open and...
"Al...?" a soft groan came from his arms, voice entirely out of place in his horrible memories.
He blinks looking down. Ro looked up at him, eyes wide with confusion.
One glance up would show hungry brown eyes tracing her frame... Iain was already seething between them, almost daring the brunette to try anything.
Al hugs her protectively. She squeaked softly at the tight grip, but huddled in.
"You never did introduce me to your little friend there," Nate smiled, deceptively warm. "She is so pretty..."
"Touch her and I'll rip your cock off," Iain growled.
Al looked around rapidly, trying to gauge the room. They couldn't see much from their cage - the room was obscured by bright lights...
Lights, electric bars, what could he do? Nate was standing right there..
/There's something on the other side that he doesn't want us to see.../
...Iroh..?
Their eyes were slowly adjusting to the lights. Darks shapes were becoming visible on the other side. Al tried to make them out, at the same time weighing the odds on his plan. It was a good move in theory, but would it actually work or fry his insides..?
It looked to be machinery... Screens? Had Nate been watching them?!
How? He knew the whole time?! Al's fear was slowly being matched by rage. Had he watched as his family writhed in agony? Watched as he stood there helplessly? Sick, perverted bastard!
Al sets Ro aside standing up. *Get away from the bars..*
She shuffled back, getting in the corner. Al walks up to the metal wall till he's nearly touching it. It crackled threateningly.
"Al..." Ro took a step over worriedly.
He stood there a moment taking a few breaths. In, down, around, up, out. In, down, around, up, out.
"Have you frozen already?" Nate smirked mockingly. "Poor thing."
Al grips a bar in one hand while the other thrust two fingers toward the bastard. Lightning arcing towards him.
The sudden move forwards made Nate stumble back immediately. Luck struck for the brunette. He tripped on a cobblestone in the floor, tripping just as the lightning arched over his head. He cussed and scrambled to his feet, rushing to grab a lever of some sort.
Ok... That hurt a little more than he thought.. Al staggers a few seconds before trying again, this time gripping bars in both hands and forcing the surge back into itself.
Nate pulled the lever and darted behind a hidden corner, out of sight as big sheet of industrial strength glass shifted down in front of their cage.
Damn.. The bars sparked and grew in intensity before shorting out. Al collapsed back on his rear whole body tingling, especially his stomach.
Ro rushed over, white as a ghost with worry. Iain knelt beside him, keeping her flustering hands away for a moment. "You alright kiddo?"
"Never tell me you can't learn things off cartoons.. But I don't recommend doing that without more practice.."
The Scot just chuckled, ruffling his hair.
Ro whined and hugged him. "I thought you were gonna fry yourself!"
Al sighs hugging her back. As much as she knew how to fight now, she was still sweet innocent Ro, naive and loving.
"Ok.. Bug zapper's gone.. Now what?"
"I could have a shot at breaking the glass," Iain offered. His forte was destructive magic, so it should be easy.
"Be my guest."
He smirked, stepping up to the glass. It was a good seven inches thick, eight foot wide, ten feet tall... He simply lay his hand against it, humming to himself.
Al pulls Ro back to the rear wall. She watched the Scot in confusion.
Suddenly; the entire pane of glass just shattered into tiny shards and fragments, raining down around them. Ro yelped, huddling into Al. He blocked her from the damage. After it settled Al walks over to start popping the bars out of place.
/Very well built little dungeon, this.../ Iain helped Ro up, assuring her they were fine. She was getting very wound up... They shouldn't have taken this long to stop one man...
*I'd hate to see his guest room..* Al peeked out looking around.
/Probably chains you to the bed,/ he grimaced softly.
The room was empty, save a few suspicious old stains. Nate was long gone from here...
They crept toward the hallway. There was a door at the end, slightly ajar. Al stepped up to it trying to see inside. It looked like a little office, a desk and such stashed away in there. Nate was talking hurriedly on the phone.
Al snuck in quietly.
Someone kicked the door by accident though and Nate span around, gun in hand. He saw Alfred and fired quickly, aiming to kill.
Al ducked away. Iain grabbed Ro, yanking her out the way too. Nate wasn't dumb enough to waste bullets though. He was waiting for them to show up again.
Al sprung forward. Nate fired, a better shot than they gave him credit for. A bullet grazed Al's cheek. He flinched at that trying to get closer. Another lodged in his shoulder. It forced him back a step.
/Are you mad?!/
Iain grabbed him, dragging him down behind a table just as a bullet slipped through his hair.
*I was trying to knock it away..*
/He'd have filled you with holes!/
Al shrugs sheepishly, blood running down his face.
Iain sighed and shook his head, about to speak when his eyes widened. "Fuck, run!" he grabbed the blond, dragging him out of the path of Nate's next assault. Al drew back, scrambling to his feet.
Bullets lunged after them, some coming too close for comfort. The attack soon ended though, hurried footsteps rushing down the hall.
A woman's scream broke the near silence
Damn! Where'd he go now?!
They rushed out of the door, facing a smear of red across the wall, a bullet stuck in the center of it. He blinks at that. What the hell?!
Iain grimaced softly, turning to call for Ro but froze. She'd ducked below a table when shots starting being fired... But the room was empty...
Al turns to the hall. There was only one way either of them could have gone. Iain took off, running down the hall. Al follows after, worry climbing.
It soon became painfully clear though that the halls below the building were like a maze, twisting and turning in seemingly random patterns. Al was getting frustrated, he was about ready to just start busting down walls.
A yelp echoed from down one of the corridors. He turns running off.
He took random turns, winding this way and that. He lost Iain almost immediately, but he also ran straight into Nate, who had a very frightened Ro pinned to the wall by her neck.
Al growls swinging toward his head.
Nate saw and ducked just in time, dragging Ro with him. She had a nasty bruise developing on her jaw, a gunshot wound to her shoulder. She was too stunned to fight as Nate swept her into a headlock and pressed the gun to the side of her head.
"One step closer, Birdie, I dare you."
Al's fist made a lovely little crater in the wall as he turns to glare at him.
"Oh, I love when you look dirty at me," the brunette smirked, already starting to back away, Ro trapped as his personal shield.
He wouldn't let him! He just about gave up when Matt died, she didn't have the chance to come back.
"Y'know, it's almost a shame to waste something so lovely," Nate smirked, knowing how agitated this was making Alfred. "So pure and sweet."
Al hissed threateningly.
"Temper, Birdie," malicious glee shone in those disgusting brown eyes as his empty hand started adventuring down her petite frame. "I only want to ruin her a little."
Sharp fangs bit into Nate's leg. The copperhead from before had been hiding, wrapped around Al's lower leg under his pants. Nate yelped in pain but held fast to his hostage, slamming the snake against the wall to get it off. He was limping slightly now, cocking his gun in annoyance. Ro tried to fight her way out in the confusion, but Nate just gripped harder, pressing the gun under her chin now.
Al glares.
"Now, now," he sneered mockingly. "What if I'd caught the trigger? She can't come back like the others; can she?"
What to do..?
"Thought so," Nate just started backing up again, dragging her with him.
Al hissed, he couldn't let him!
"Oh, she is precious to you, isn't she," Nate smirked, kissing her cheek. "Precious little thing."
Ro closed her eyes, trying to turn away.
He takes a step.
"Oh, you don't like that," he grinned, dragging the poor girl into a strong, forceful kiss, ever present gun reminding Al to stay back.
Al lunged forward.
Nate's eyes widened in shock, not actually having expected Al to attack. He squeezed the trigger of his gun immediately. Al reached for the gun.
Nate fired, but the gun gave an empty click. No bullets!
He cussed, dropping the gun and yanking a knife out of his belt, quickly pressing the blade to her throat, trying to keep his shield.
Al stepped toward him menacingly. He pressed the blade in, blood welling over it. Ro whimpered fearfully. Al stopped.
"Better," Nate kept his arrogant air, but he was decidedly more shaken than he was a moment ago. "It'd be a shame to let all this go to waste." He swept his hand over Ro's body, touching while he still could. She looked close to tears.
"Let. Her. Go!"
"Why should I?" He went low, grabbing her roughly and making her yelp. He backed off all the while, clearly using her as his escape tactic.
Al follows after.
It was only when they hit the foot of a stone staircase that he stopped, watching Al carefully. All the while, he'd been using Ro to taunt him, poor girl crying silent tears of shame. The blonde was tense, ready to spring at any moment.
Nate just smirked, forcing one last kiss from Ro. "Alas, we must part... Its been a pleasure; Birdie~" he grabbed her chin, forcing it up before deftly dragging the knife across Ro's throat.
Her eyes widened as blood bubbled out of the cut. Nate turned and ran up the stairs, gone before she'd even hit the floor. Al rushed over terror in his eyes.
Ro just lay there in shock, breaths gasping and cutting off far too quickly. She was loosing too much blood... He'd lost Iain ages ago and Al couldn't fix her himself...
She looked up to him, scared and pained, light slowly dimming in her soft pink eyes.
"Ro no.. Come on stay with me please.."
"I-I..." Tears welled up in her eyes, tumbling down her blood splattered chin. She was trembling already.
He grips her hand. She couldn't grip back, dainty fingers cold in his sweaty hands. She was fading...
"Ro.."
"I-I'm sorry..." She whispered, eyes slowly closing as her body went limp.
Al trembles lightly eyes tearing up. He growls and practically flies up the stairs, tearing after Nate's scent.
Nate had run up the stairs, through a secret trapdoor that opened into the storm cellar. The cellar doors were open, the trail mixing with the stench of petrol. He must have gotten into a car and driven off.
Al took to the air trailing after it.
The truck hadn't gotten very far on this marshy land, struggling to pick up speed. Nate sat inside, adamant on getting away.
Al dove, landing ahead and stopping it cold with one hand. Bumper denting in his grip.
Nate's truck stopped dead, the man inside the picture of panic. The cold and calculated exterior was finally melting away. Al came over tearing off the door, ripping Nate from his seat and tossing him ten feet away.
He landed with a sickening crack, arm snapping on impact. He cried out in pain, more of a wheeze with the air knocked out of him.
"You hurt my family!" Al stomps over. "You killed her's!"
Nate scrambled back, no smart retort ready this time.
Al threw a punch. "You killed innocent civilians!"
Nate fell back with a grunt, spitting blood. "Told you... To behave..."
"I'm. Not. Yours!" Al forcefully rolls the man onto his stomach pressing a knee into his back. Nate cried out, helpless against the anger of a nation.
A single claw pushed through the muscle and skin on the back of his neck till it tapped his spine, the C5 vertebrae, the same spot he used to bring Molly's body back to life. The brunette screamed, pain rippling through his body.
With a pulse that lasted longer than it should have Al effectively shut down all outgoing neurons in the area. In going receptors still working fine. Nate screamed, panic setting in when he realised he couldn't move.
Al stood up, gripping the scumbag's collar and dragging him back toward the house. Nate couldn't even fight, true fear gripping his heart for the first time.
They arrive back, heading back downstairs. Al not even caring as Nate thumped down each step. He had to find Iain and get Ro's body..
When Al got back to the bottom of the stairs though, Ro's body was gone, a large puddle of half dried blood making the place he'd let her die...
He frowns softly, Iain must have found her.. Al makes his way back to the computer, on the way recovering his snake friend and making sure she was ok, intending to return her home before they left. He reached the computer making copies of everything. Contacts, allies, camera locations to be disabled later, control feeds. Once everything was safe he effectively fried and smashed, destroying all that remained.
Nate just sat silently, much meeker a man now he knew all the power was out of his hands. He had nothing to fight with, nothing to bargain for...
"...Did she look at you with disgust as she died...?" He was going to die anyway, so he might as well anger Alfred into killing him quickly. "Betrayal? Are you angry I took her innocence?"
Al continues smashing, letting out his frustration. Unlike Nate Al didn't kill out of spite. Even when hunting he always respected his prey for their fight. Iain on the other hand..
Iain would have no qualms about killing him slowly and in the most painful ways he could.
Al stepped back from the wreckage to rest a moment before gathering the files and Nate and heading off to find Iain.
"I hope you see her disappointment every time you close your eyes, see her dying because you couldn't save her."
Al's heart clenched heading back outside.
"She could have lived, if only you'd-"
"Al, there you are," Iain strode over and Nate shut up instantly. "You've got shit in your hand."
Al smiles half heartedly.
/She's over in those trees.../ "This shit has a lot to answer for," he reached over, taking Nate from Al's grasp, a twisted smirk pulling at his features. "I hear you like games?"
Nate's face twisted in horror.
Al glanced over to the trees walking off. There was a loud crack and a scream of agony as he did.