Chapter Nine- Kill the Punitive Measure
The Capital- Imperial Palace, Esdeath's Throne Room
Wave had been shaking with anxiety ever since Tatsumi had disappeared earlier that day. He had done his best to find him after facing off some Imperial Arms-wielding Night Raid member, but eventually had to call it as the sun set and the dangerous monsters had to crawl their way out of the woodwork.
He had been able to rendezvous with Kurome and the commander at their designated spot, and as he approached he instantly saw the general's blushing and ecstatic exterior fade into her usual cold analysis, only a bit more frustrated.
He had to admit Tatsumi had disappeared on him, and he had barely been able to stave off the Night Raider, whom Esdeath thought was the great Bulat, the ex-Imperial soldier known for slaughtering over a hundred men single-handedly. Esdeath registered this with a sort of subdued rage, barely opening her mouth the whole ride home, almost pursing her lips and gritting her teeth when she did speak. They had finally gotten back in, entering her throne room, where Run was waiting for them. He greeted them warmly, but instantly was able to detect her anger and decided it was best not to talk to her much. Esdeath quickly instructed the nearby Seryu to scout the outer areas of the capital.
Wave was about to approach to further apologize when she, without even turning around, said sharply. "Wave, I need to ask something of you. No, it's more of an order." She said, barely turning her head in his direction but still facing away, in a sort of disappointment.
"Of course, general, what is it?" he said, a little relieved she was finally speaking to him again, expecting her to ask him some menial chore or a punishment exercise.
"Remove your clothes." She said coldly. Wave froze, sweating in confusion and tried to laugh it off. "Commander, you can't be serious. I know you're upset about losing Tatsumi but I don't think-" Wave was immediately silenced by the cold embrace of a rapier bracing the hairs on his neck, close enough to touching him that it almost tickled, though he wasn't exactly feeling amused by this. Wave just hung his jaw slightly open in shock.
"I'm serious, now take off your clothes and go over to that post." She pointed out a sort of whipping-type post, with a ridged wood platform underneath.
Wave struggled to take off his clothes quickly enough and the general re-sheathed her blade. Run and Kurome just stood by in shock. "Kurome!" Esdeath suddenly commanded.
"Yes, ma'am?" Kurome immediately turned her attention to the general.
"Please go grab some stone plates and the candle from that table by my throne." She said curtly but without malice towards the raven-haired girl.
"Of course." She nodded and ascended the small staircase to the throne.
Wave went over to the post. Esdeath suddenly was right behind him as he hovered above, unsure of what she wanted from him- or maybe he did, and was too petrified to admit it to himself.
She grabbed his shoulders firmly from behind, her hands ice cold somehow, and shouted "Kneel!" she forced him down, his knees pressing painfully into the hardened, sharp ends of the wood. She swiftly, almost in a blink, bound his hands behind him on the post.
Kurome finally returned to stand beside the general with the materials she requested, and Esdeath calmly turned to her, almost smiling, to say she would be the one punishing Wave, and Esdeath would walk her through it, before returning to her throne.
So Esdeath went to her throne to brood, with Run nearby as her loyal servant, and had Kurome periodically drop the stone slabs on Wave's lap, further pressing his knees into the wood platform and causing him to scream and cry out, and made him apologize fervently. Kurome also would pour hot candle wax down his back so he'd lean forward, even further into the painfully sharp platform.
Esdeath recognized Wave as a strong and formidable pawn, but was disappointed in his inability to even hold off Night Raid until she could arrive, and for losing her one chance for love- Tatsumi.
Esdeath eventually relented, but not without flashing Wave a chilling, inhuman stare at him from between her palms, and warning him that the next time he slipped up that badly, he'd be seeing her personally.
Wave had never been so terrified. That eye—it was clearly the same shade of blue, but that icy blue color had suddenly become so intense it might as well have been fiery red. It just cut through him. He could barely muster a response, other than a shaky, unsure "Yes, ma'am."
Esdeath kind of enjoyed it. She enjoyed this session significantly more than the one she had with Numa Seika, but couldn't place why. It was possible because Wave was submitting, but not really enjoying the torment which is what made it so much more satisfying to her sensibilities. And she couldn't help but notice Wave was very fit, probably from swimming in the ocean all his life. She turned her cap down, scolding herself. After all, she promised Tatsumi she'd never even look at another man.
Though, she wondered if she could win Tatsumi over to her way of doing things- if he'd ever be okay with them using people like Wave or that dog Numa Seika as human playthings once in a while. She smiled to herself underneath her cap. She was certain she could. She could be very persuasive- and very forceful.
She felt afraid of Tatsumi's fate in the wilderness alone, but she was confident he would survive. That's what drew her to him in the first place. His impressive ability to fight under his circumstances, and his drive to succeed. Wave had a similar quality about him but didn't have the confidence that Tatsumi seemed to have honed. Where he found it was a mystery to her. Surely he'd have to have had some sort of formal training, but as a lowly blacksmith's apprentice she didn't see how he could have afforded it.
Back to the task of finding him, Seryu had arrived just then, drawing attention away from the groveling Wave, standing at attention with Koro following suit while being held in her metallic arms. Seryu reported that they had scouted the areas outside the city but Tatsumi was nowhere to be found. Esdeath wasn't surprised and was not upset, as Koro was always meant to be a combat Teigu, and it was more of a last-ditch effort.
"And what about Dr Stylish?" Esdeath inquired, thought Seryu responded that he hadn't made contact with her yet, and she seemed to worry about that fact. Esdeath wasn't exactly surprised, so didn't dwell on it.
But then Run, as usual, added something interesting to the conversation: if it was true that Tatsumi wanted to join the revolution as he had told Esdeath the previous night, and he had gone off to join it, were they permitted to kill him?
Esdeath had never considered this, and paused a moment to mull it over, but ultimately her principals were more important than her personal feelings: she said if it came down to it, her subordinates' lives were more important, and they could execute him.
But again, she thought to herself, there's no way Tatsumi would die. He was too resilient and strong.
Esdeath then permitted Kurome to untie Wave from the post, but said that later she might 'play with him more,' throwing in some light whipping and water-boarding to 'let him off easy', to his utter terror and disgust with her use of the term 'playing.'
Kurome helped Wave off, his knees bruised and bloodied from the stones and wood spikes. Aching and slowly pulling his shirt back on, he saw Kurome blush a bit and giggle, much to his embarrassment, and turned to see Seryu staring, now that her attention was off of her mission, before catching him and turning away quickly.
'Well, at least it's not that freak Stylish.' He thought to himself, relieved, but then thought, 'I haven't seen him since this morning. Not that I'm upset, but where the hell is he?"
The Capital-Imperial Palace, Outer Balcony Pathway
Wave had taken a stroll on the outer area of the palace, on outdoor hallways that overlooked the gardens and courtyards. The beauty of this place really masked the true, rotten nature of its inhabitants well. You'd never guess there were criminals and spies currently being tortured to death in the bowels of the palace.
The cool outer air refreshed Wave, still sore and bloodied under his clothing, his pants stinging the wounds on his shins and knees.
Suddenly, Wave, caught once again deep in thought about how little he knew of the terror in the capital and how perhaps he'd made a huge mistake, saw a figure approaching from the other end of the balcony.
In that crisp white uniform and cap with those long silky blue strands of hair, no mistake could be made- it was Esdeath, and she was headed for him!
Wave panicked, freezing up, thinking she'd come back to finish 'playing' with him as she'd said. But he figured he'd have to stay strong, and forced himself to sluggishly move forward.
She recognized him as well, and her demeanor softened, and she approached him quickly and casually, as she might a respected colleague or friend.
"Good evening, Wave, what brings you out here this late? I'm glad to see my torture didn't stop you from taking a nice evening stroll, your recovery was even better than I anticipated!" she said, smiling and having a generally nice demeanor about her, which caused Wave immeasurable confusion and a bit of frustration.
'What the hell was wrong with her? She just tied me down and tortured me and threatened to do it again only worse, and now she's chatting like we're just two friendly coworkers?' he thought, gritting his teeth, but he figured he had to say something. "Uh, yeah, I'm holding up alright, general. What were you doing up here anyways?" changing the subject was the way to go in his mind.
"Oh, I'm just up here studying and filling out my daily journal. Keeps my mind sound. Like a routine or meditation. But I noticed you seem a bit off-kilter. You seemed hesitant to approach me, as your commander, I think you should be comfortable around me. I'm your superior but still your colleague. Maybe you could use some relaxing activity? Perhaps that's why you take these strolls?" she seemed so genuine in his inquisitive nature, Wave was caught-off.
'Well, it's not like I can say I was walking off the physical and emotional trauma she caused.' Wave thought, "Yeah, that's why. I sometimes do this to clear my head as well. What were you studying?"
"Nothing too interesting, just some rare Danger Beasts and Imperial Arms. But don't try to deflect, Wave, I'm sure you're still a bit upset about my punishment. I can tell." she said, in her typically straightforward manner.
"Uh.." he wasn't sure how to respond, "I wasn't trying to deflect, commander, I didn't know how to bring it up. I understand why you did what you did."
"I hope it doesn't disrupt the work we have to do here. In this occupation I had to give you a harsh reminder that large missteps have equally large consequences. It was necessary and deserved, but it's nothing personal."
Wave looked up at her, now being as stern as she was, and said, cracking a cocky half-smile "I won't let it stand in the way of our success, commander. I promise."
Esdeath was taken aback at what a strong constitution he showed, and she was impressed at his ability to compose himself so quickly before her. But, she felt his half-smile may have been a bit forced.
"You don't have to smile, Wave. It's never polite to put up facades with your superiors. It only breeds mistrust." she said, not angry, but merely correcting him as she would a simple child.
"Of course, I apologize. I won't let it happen again."
"Well then, I'm glad we had this chat. Good night." Esdeath cut it off as quickly as she had initiated, brushing past him with a small smile, leaving a slight chill as she did.
'I seriously have to watch myself around her. I thought, through all my battles and hardships at home and at sea, that I knew what it was to be afraid and to face challenges. I had no idea how wrong I was.' Wave pondered.
But he couldn't shake a certain sense of relief and newfound confidence. 'She was so straightforward with me. She didn't manipulate me or elongate the suffering past a point she felt was necessary by further interrogating me. Hell, she seemed content to just converse until she noticed I was uncomfortable.' Wave couldn't help but admire her a bit for that, and be thankful.
The Capital, City Streets
The following evening Wave was paired with Seryu and Koro to patrol the city streets and alleyways, keeping order and watching out for Night Raid-related activity. However, it seemed to be an exceptionally quiet and uneventful night, so Wave seized the opportunity to just hang out.
This pairing was another thing he could be thankful to the commander for.
He insisted upon stopping into a local pub, and grabbing some drinks. Seryu, nervous about what the commander might do if they're not taking the mission seriously, reluctantly caved after Wave playfully got on his knees and begged, which she giggled at.
Once they were inside, some of the shadier patrons crept into dark corners or gathered their things and left hastily, recognizing Seryu from her patrolling of the streets with the Imperial Police, realizing they must be there on business.
Wave beckoned over to a server, who wasted no time making his way over, probably hoping they weren't the more impatient and violent members of the aristocracy, and maybe he could win favor with some powerful patrons.
"I think I'll have a pint, what about you Seryu?" Wave said confidently, turning to Seryu, who was preoccupied with playing with Koro.
"Huh?" she said, lifting her head with that caught-off-guard expression with her wide eyes that Wave thought was very cute. "Oh, I'll take a coffee or tea or whatever you have, I don't drink much anyways, but especially if I was on duty." She smiled.
Wave blushed, a bit embarrassed, and not wanting her to think he was a heavy drinker or anything, decided to change his order to a coffee as well. 'Though it's a bit late for that, oh well, we have more patrolling to do I guess.'
After finishing their drinks and making some pleasant chit-chat, Wave heard a band on the corner outside cue up and play an upbeat, jazzy tune.
"Do you dance?" Wave asked Seryu, who hung her a head a bit nervously and responded with a "No, not really."
"Though I'm always willing to learn a new skill!" she responded cheerfully, not wanting to seem boring.
"Here, I'm not so good myself, but I know a bit." He lent her his hand and led her outside, helping her maintain a consistent slow dancing pattern, before the rhythm suddenly picked up during an improvisation and they began spinning each other around, and laughing a bit at how ridiculous they felt after having been sent out on business.
Seryu then saw Koro get a scent of something, and chased him into the wooded fields right outside the capital, and Wave struggled to keep up with her surprising surge of energy, which allowed her to get a massive head start on him before he understood what was happening.
Eventually he caught up, finding Koro had got a scent for a wild jackrabbit, and had devoured it as a snack, and that there was no danger.
Relieved but also a bit disappointed, Seryu and Wave decided to take their time returning to the main area of the city. Seryu then decided to finally ask her most difficult question of Wave- "Hey Wave, I didn't want to bring it up, but are you alright after getting punished yesterday? It seemed very intense and painful."
"Huh?" Wave said, paling at the mention, which Seryu took note of.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"No, no, you're alright. I'm actually fine, just a little concerned about not slipping up again is all." He said, trying to reassure her but with a grimness to his final words.
"Oh, well, if it makes you feel any better, I think it was just the general's way of trying to improve you, but in her own strange way. I think it's the only method she's known her whole life." She said.
Wave never considered this, about how perhaps the commander really doesn't get how to properly deal with subordinates in normal and healthy ways, and in her mind what she did to Wave wasn't all that extreme.
It was twisted, but at least he could convince himself it wasn't anything personal.
Wave finished pondering, and noticed that now Seryu seemed a little lost in thought on another subject suddenly.
"Seryu, what's the matter? You've been a bit spacey today as well I've noticed."
"Oh! I'm sorry you noticed, I've been trying to mask it and put on a strong face for the general but, it's just," Seryu then suddenly began choking up, "Well, Dr. Stylish still hasn't come back yet today, and no one's seen or heard from him or his subordinates since he disappeared sometime yesterday afternoon. He won't even report in to me or the commander. I just hope the same fate hasn't befallen him as my parents or my mentor Ogre." She hung her head, clenching her metallic fists, now very chilled by the evening air, and held back her tears, her face obviously red.
Wave held back his own passion, to tell Seryu of what happened to her parents and to not mourn scum like Stylish and Ogre alongside them, but he knew he couldn't. She wouldn't believe him, especially not in her hysterical state.
Wave then knew he had to do something to ease her pain, so he threw his navy blue coat around her to stop her shivering, and then his arm around her shoulder and looked down to her, she now stopped shaking and gritting her teeth and looked up at him in shock.
"The doctor seems like a smart and capable man, Seryu, I wouldn't worry too much. He'll return to you soon, I'm sure of it." He said, smiling at her. She felt a sudden comfort and ease wash over her, and her arms didn't feel so inhuman and cold as he held onto one.
She smiled warmly at him, resting her head on him and closing her now dry eyes. "Thank you, Wave."
Wave, now a bit flustered, and not sure how to move forward, blurted out, "Well, I-I think we should get in soon. It is getting rather cold out here in the outskirts."
They slowly made their way towards the main areas of the capital, the streets remaining pretty quiet considering all the recent activity. Seryu thought to herself, no longer resting her head, but still remaining close enough to Wave to stay warm, of how now there was another person in her life who she could confide in. But there was something different about this, something more intimate than her interactions with Ogre and Stylish. She'd never felt this way before, and was nervous about how to confront it, especially with a professional acquaintance. But she felt that they landed on the same team for a reason, whether it be romantic or not, and there was something to be explored in this relationship later.
Of course, Koro nibbling at her leg so she would finally pick him up and show him some attention finally got to her so she put these thoughts to rest for the moment as she picked up the dog-like creature and looked at the clear night sky.