Sebastian groaned, wondering what happened, blurred eyes scanning what appeared to be an unfamiliar room.
The last thing he recalled was having drinks with Fuji, a few nights since they spoke and made the promise to bring Amber back.
But he couldn't remember what they did at the bar, or which bar, the two sometimes going to different ones to change things up.
Normally he would've chalked it up to Fuji talking him into drinking way more than either really should. It hasn't been the first time, and surely won't be the last, he's sure of that despite how many times he tells himself.
Whenever they get hammered, by morning and most of the day if not two days, they'd feel like crap. And when they do, they'll try sleeping it off at their hotel rooms or at their base in a spare room. It depends on where they go and which place is closer.
Whether this annoyed or downright pissed Giovanni off having two of his scientists act like college kids, he didn't care.
What he did care was figuring where the hell he was, where Fuji was, knowing he wouldn't dump him in some unknown room.
If either were too wasted, they would mostly end up crashing in the same room, one in bed, the other passed out on the sofa.
Slowly getting up, trying not to move to fast, the room spinning enough as is, he didn't need to make it worse.
However, just as he sat up, he winced as a sharp pain went through him, an unfamiliar pain that now had him more awake and feeling terrified.
He located the source when he tried moving again, making his heart race faster than it should, his breathing quickening.
His entire lower half ached and stung, as if repeatedly beaten, but it wasn't just the pain that was making him fearful. He also felt sticky, the smell of blood filling his senses, blood, and…and the smell of sex.
Somehow locating his cracked glasses hidden on the pillows, he threw them on as he ripped the sheets off, a hand slapping over his mouth.
He was covered in various bruises, mostly around his thighs and wrists, signs he had been bitten and scratched.
He hardly had to move to know there was semen and blood near where he had been violated, the knowledge alone making him sick.
Unable to hold it back, he hung his head over the side, vomiting hard, tears starting to flow down his face.
"Oh Arceus no…" he groaned, having emptied his stomach.
What happened to him? How did this happen? Where was Fuji?
"T-Tom," he cried softly, curling up into a tight ball.
He felt so weak and helpless; all he wanted was for it to be a nightmare, a horrible, horrible nightmare.
At some point, unsure if it was minutes or hours, he began to hear frantic rapping on the door, the man freezing up instantly.
He was terrified to move to see who was there, so many thoughts running through his head; he started to feel sick again.
What if it's his attacker or whoever owned this room?
But why knock than barge right in?
Unless its maintenance coming to clean the room, unware of what transpired, the poor scientist unsure what transpired himself.
Or worse, it is his attacker, but he's taunting him before coming in to do who knows what.
Before he could stop himself, tears began to fall, curling up into a tighter ball, everything he learned slipping from his mind.
All that was in his mind now was surviving, was for his friend to come save him, to wake him from this nightmare.
"Shi!"
He recognized that voice, bloodshot and bruising eyes widening as he heard the door get kicked down, turning to face him.
"Thomas?"
"Oh Arceus," he gasped, covering his mouth in absolute horror.
On the bed, slowly uncurling his battered form, was his best friend, seeing how horrible he looked.
The pale skin speckled with black and blue marks, cuts from what appeared to be nails and maybe teeth decorated some parts. This was no attack from a Pokémon, the sight, even the sickening smell enough to confirm what did this.
Despite being frozen at the door, the older man forced his legs to cooperate, hurrying to the other's side.
Ignoring the sticky sheets, he sat down, pulling him close, letting him lean into his body, feeling him trembling with choked sobs.
Fuji had never thought he could see his friend look so vulnerable, never wanted to see him like this to begin with.
"Oh Shi, I'm so sorry!" he cried, rubbing the other's back. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have let try going back to your hotel alone. I should've made you stay, made myself go with you. This is all my fault!"
Hearing him blaming himself, the younger man looked up, a few hiccups escaping as he struggled to compose himself.
"Y-you're here now," he sniffed, trying to give him a reassuring smile that he didn't hate him.
Resting his face against the other, he felt his pounding heart beginning to calm, the other's body heat providing comfortable warmth to his shivering form.
He didn't hate Fuji, he could never hate him. It wasn't like he planned for him to end up like this. Neither of them did.
"Come on, we need to get you to a hospital. We need to call the police…" he started before the other recoiled suddenly, face filled with absolute terror. "Shi?"
"No! No police! We can't risk being found out we're part of Team Rocket. We simply can't take the risk!"
"Dammit, Shi, you were raped! What are we supposed to do?"
"J-just forget about it," Sebastian half whimpered, wrapping his arms around his shivering form, a defeated look on his face. "They won't care I was raped. Giovanni won't care either. No one will care…"
"But I care about what happened! What if you get sick? I'll never forgive myself if you contracted something!"
Despite his words, whether they were convincing or not, the other had that familiar determined look. It was the same one he wore, that near begging, yet icy look he wore when asking him to drop the subject about his ex-wife.
It hurt him; it seriously hurt him to see how just how terrified his friend was.
It made sense why he made this face. He didn't do it because he was embarrassed or being stubborn. No, he was absolutely terrified without actually admitting it.
It reminded him of that day when Giovanni nearly accused them for stealing the research on the Mewtwo project.
Despite how calm Sebastian looked, when they finally got out, the other couldn't stop shaking. Anyone who noticed, any who wasn't a friend, he would shoot that same look, shutting them up.
Fuji then remembered that this was a crime organization…
If Giovanni found out, he may determine his dearest friend incompetent and throw him away.
That man, without showing it, he knew he was capable of killing someone, either by his own hands, a Pokémon, or hiring another.
The thought alone scared him, not wanting to imagine finding or read about his friend lying dead in a gutter.
And for what? To keep him quiet about what they're doing?
He nearly jumped when hearing his friend talk, hearing how cold, how numb he sounded, breaking his heart.
"I'll remember who did this to me. Once I do…once I do I'll have someone sent and make them pay. It'll be fixed, nothing to worry about anymore."
Despite how he sounded, he still looked so scared and vulnerable, shivering still, knees drawn up, chin resting on top.
"Shi…"
This is what the man is being reduced to, having to shove his emotions away, to avoid getting close, leaving himself open.
It made him wonder just how many others are like him, men and women alike who were abused in some manner.
How many are forced to deal with it like this? How many are unable to get proper help because of this organization?
How many are having to attempt to forget about it, ignore it, pretend that it never happened in the first place?
How many are wracked with nightmares, ones he's sure Sebastian will endure?
He needed to think of something to get him out of this line of work; he can't risk losing his friend to this place.
He can risk himself becoming lost, become cold and callous as so many others have become.
If he did, he may push his friend away when he needs it, or worse, stop loving his daughter, treating her revival as another project. The thought alone terrified him far worse than the possibility of death, being imprisoned even.
Tentatively, he continued to rub the other's back, swallowing a hard lump in his throat to speak.
"Let's get you cleaned up and dressed. We can't stay here. If whoever attacked you comes back and has a Pokémon, a gun even…"
"I know…"
Slowly, they got up, the smaller man leaning, almost carried into the adjacent bathroom, the older man turning on the shower.
Leaning against the tiled wall, Sebastian whimpered as the cold droplets pelted his battered frame, slowly heating up into a more comfortable temperature.
He could barely move, barely support his weak body, so washing himself was out of the question. He had to swallow his pride and let Fuji wash him, unable to suppress a few whimpers escaping whenever a particularly sore spot was rubbed.
The older man felt sick as he wiped the blood and semen off his friend's thighs, washing the evidence away like it's nothing.
But hearing him make those cries, obviously in pain, still petrified, it broke his heart into thousands of pieces.
With as much cleaned off as possible, Fuji grabbed a towel, wrapping it around the other, drying him off.
Looking into those frightened eyes, he couldn't help but lean his forehead against his, the other relaxing at the gentle ministrations.
"You're going to be okay. I'll make sure you never get hurt like this again," he silently promised.
He guided the other back to the room, letting him sit down on possibly the only dry part of the bed so he could dress.
Searching the room, he managed to find some of Sebastian's clothes, though his shirt had been torn almost to shreds. The others were in just as bad a shape, where he couldn't leave without someone asking or appearing like a drifter.
Thinking for a bit, he got an idea, taking his coat off, setting it down, knowing that if his friend wore it, not only would he stay warm, but it'd cover him up nicely.
No one would see the tears and stains. He would even loan his scarf so he could burrow in it, hiding his bruised face.
He would be cold, but his friend needed the warmth more, needed to feel secure, so it would be worth it.
Slowly, he helped him dress, knowing perfectly well that while he could walk, albeit sluggishly, he was in no condition to bend over.
Whoever kidnapped him, they did a number and by how fresh the stains looked, it happened more than once, leaving him sore and stiff.
In a strange and sad way, it reminded him of when he'd dress Amber, before she became too sick to even leave the bed.
Once done, after much begging, almost pleading from the younger man, he collected the soiled linen.
Maybe there's hope that his friend will get help?
Maybe they could find out themselves who did this and anonymously send it to the police to get justice.
Bearing that bit of hope, he took what he could to carry the linen, making sure the blood didn't show.
It made him sick, more so when he washed his hands, knowing he may never feel clean again after this.
No, touching those disgusting sheets would never compare to how Sebastian must be feeling. He had been violated repeatedly, beaten, whether he fought back or simply for kicks, so may never feel clean again.
The thought depressed the older man as they went out into the cool night air, grateful it was late. There were less chances of running into people, good and bad alike, allowing them plenty of time to locate a bus stop and wait.
As they sat down, Fuji felt the other unconsciously burrow his face into his shoulder; his body not once stopped shivering.
He couldn't blame him really, aside the air being cold, but he was physically assaulted, battered even. He was lucky to be alive after that, to have been found before the sick monster who did this could return.
Fuji wasn't sure how he'd react if the same thing happened to him instead, if he'd be like this or worse.
Something told him that if it had been him, he would be worse off than his friend is emotionally. He wouldn't have been able to think clearly, having not worked for this organization enough to know the risks.
"H-how did you find me?" Sebastian asked after a few minutes passed.
He had tried to sit up straighter, trying to carry more dignity, but it hurt so much that he couldn't help but squirm on the cold hard bench.
Before he knew it, he found himself wanting to burrow back into Fuji's arms, to get that warmth back. The coat and scarf just weren't enough to make him feel safe.
Just as he thought he would break again, an arm wrapped around him, settling him as he leaned his head into the other's shoulder.
He felt like such a child, knowing if anyone else saw him like this, he would be a laughing stock and likely a target for all to pick on. But with Fuji, he was safe, knowing he wouldn't hurt him for laughs, toss him aside like Meiya had done.
"I came back to see how you were doing, make sure you didn't pass out on the floor like last time. But you weren't there and it felt like a knife went into my stomach."
"So you searched for me?"
"Yeah, I don't know why, but I couldn't bring myself to get help. I guess in some ways, what you said, I knew it in the back of my head too. We're both part of Team Rocket, if we're found out, we're screwed. But…"
"But what?"
"I've been searching for you for two days. I was scared that the longer I took to find you, the less likely I'd ever find you. I didn't want to think like that, that I should've thought more logically about it, but I couldn't focus. I couldn't risk losing you, never seeing you again."
"Thomas…"
"When I got to the seedier hotels, I knew asking about where you might've been wouldn't have helped me. Anyone I asked, they could've lied to make a quick buck, or lure me somewhere to rob me or kill me if they're connected to your disappearance. I regretted never having a Pokémon that could've searched for you, following your scent."
"So you started shouting my name? Praying that I'd somehow respond?"
"Not the smartest thing now that I think about it."
"Yet in the end, you found me…"
"I did, and I'm glad I searched for you, regardless how foolish it was to do it on my own. You don't know how relieved I am to know you're still alive."
"Thank you…" Sebastian whispered softly, a small smile forming. "Thank you for searching for me. For not giving up, not abandoning me."
"I'd never abandon you," Fuji stated, hugging the other as tightly as he could without hurting him. "I just wish I found you sooner, before you were hurt."
Once the bus arrived and they were back at the hotel, the young man practically pleaded with him to let him change into something new.
Fuji couldn't blame him, wearing clothes that smelled like another, even letting him wash up a second time, this time able to sit down and soak in a tub.
He set aside spare clothes, seeing he was starting to move better, meaning he could dress himself, and if he couldn't would call for him.
What he didn't expect was later in the night finding him and all the soiled linen and clothes gone.
Fearing the worst, he rushed outside, finding him behind an abandoned store, a fire burning inside a trashcan.
Without having to look or ask, he knew what was in it, seeing the other shivering as he rubbed his arms, refusing to stand close to the trashcan.
"Hey," he called, wrapping an arm around the other, feeling him flinch, making him frown. "Let's get you inside where it's warm."
Giving the trashcan one last look, he nodded, the older man guiding him away, letting the flames burn what evidence they could've used into ash.
"Shi, if things get too much, just know you can tell me anything. I don't care if its nightmares, related to what happened or not. I can't stand to see you try and bury your emotions like this."
"You said that before."
"And I meant it; I'll always mean it, no matter what."
"Even if I do, we won't be together for long…"
"I'll get us a couple of Pokégears, those new X Transceivers even then so we can talk whenever we feel like it. I'm sure I can convince Giovanni to let us. They'll just be for us, no one else. We can use them for work and personal use."
Before he could stop himself, Sebastian hugged his friend, arms wrapped around his shoulder, softly crying into him.
"Thank you," he whispered, calming down after a few minutes. "Thank you so much. I don't know what I'd ever do without you, if I never met you."
Recalling saying a similar thing, he hugged back, gently patting his back as he continued to cry for a little longer.
"Of course," he smiled bitterly, helping his friend into the bed, taking the couch for himself.
It was going to be hell for Sebastian…
The nightmares, the insecurities, and of course, Fuji would damn himself if he didn't get him tested.
How they'd accomplish it he wasn't sure, but he'll find a way…
Just before they arrived back at base to take care of some paperwork and run some trials on a few things they worked on, Fuji made a pit stop.
He bought some cheap concealer, getting it as close to Sebastian's skin color, to help him cover the bruises.
The fewer questions asked, the safer they are, the safer the younger man is. They would use it until the bruises healed. It wasn't perfect, but it had to do.
When they arrived, the older man still wracking his brain to get his friend checked out, keeping the younger man close.
If anyone asks why they're together more than normal, they'll claim they're discussing something relating to the project. No one would think twice about it, and hopefully won't notice just how off the younger man is.
Both nearly jumped out their skins when a hand landed on the younger man's shoulder, having him cry out, swinging a fist into the other's face.
Fuji tried to stop him, stop the other when he caught the fist, making the other briefly flashback to the rape.
"No! Let go of me! Let go!" Sebastian screamed, struggling to break free, surprising the other as he did so.
"Shit, I didn't mean to scare you two," Tyson apologized quickly. He backed away a bit as the smaller man crumbled to his knees, shaking horribly. "What the hell happened to you, Shiranui?"
Several of the grunts walking by had paused, seeing the shaken scientist, the other fussing over him. Some were concerned over the sight, others amused, very few continuing on with their business.
Knowing that he may not get answers with an audience, higher ranked Rocket snarled at them to get a move on. That alone sent the skittish grunts running, leaving them alone in the hallway.
"Follow me."
He glanced back while taking them to a separate room to talk privately, taking note how the smaller male limped a little.
He had a bad feeling about what might be told, but held his tongue than calling them out, not wanting to jump to conclusions.
The three alone in the room together, he glanced between them while passing a couple of water bottles to them.
"What the hell happened out there?" he asked, seeing the two flinch, obviously not wanting to talk about it. "Don't try to pretend! Tell me what the fuck happened now!"
He mentally flinched when the smaller one jumped, his normally stoic face crumbling away.
It was so unlike him, usually keeping his cool, even when stressed or panicked, an icy mask worn to keep others from pestering.
Very few knew what he was really like, but to see it break so easily…
"I…I was raped," Sebastian answered, the brunette shocked.
Did he just say what he thinks he said?
He didn't want to believe it, but the evidence was there.
Already the makeup started smearing off, revealing bruised skin, noticing how one eye seemed a tad more swollen than the other.
"How did this happen?"
"I don't know…"
"What did I just…" he started before shot a look by the other man.
"He's telling the truth, he honestly doesn't remember. I found him last night, he was an absolute mess."
"Shit… What about his clothes? Where did it happen?"
"It was some seedy hotel downtown," Fuji answered, telling him how he came to find him, the other angry he didn't contact him.
At least until he was told why they said nothing, weren't doing anything.
He couldn't blame them; blame Sebastian wanting to forget it, not do anything to get himself help. He couldn't get help without it biting him in the ass.
Even if he got justice for the rape, he would only wind up in prison because of his involvement with Team Rocket.
And that's not counting what Giovanni would do if he found out about this.
He would likely consider him useless, more so if he doesn't get a hold of himself and shove the whole thing away. Their boss would simply hire someone to take the smaller male out, a precaution to avoid him spilling the beans.
But like Fuji, he wasn't going to let the other off the hook to easily…
"Alright, you're going to get examined though. I'll get it set up to avoid suspicion. We'll just claim you were working and one of the newbies caused something to break and you got cut. Don't know what it is, so to stay safe, you'll get looked at to avoid a risk of it being contagious or whatever. You'll just wear some bandages on your hand or arm."
"Who's going to take the blame for this?" Fuji asked, wondering whose life is going to end for this lie.
"No one, in the chaos, name wasn't gotten. It'd be labeled as a freak accident, everyone gets a scolding and that's that."
"And to keep whoever tests me from saying anything?"
"You leave that to me."
This wasn't easy to write, not just the whole scenario, but how it could be pulled off without going way off course.
So I had to think, "What would a member of an infamous crime organization do if forced into a situation like this?"
Any skittish or easy to panic like Jesse and James, or possible newbie to Team Rocket, likely would run to the police, but because they're somewhat "pathetic," they might escape imprisonment. No hate please, I love Jesse and James a ton, but even I have to admit they can get pretty pathetic at times.
But with someone like Professor Sebastian, he likely wouldn't get so lucky, despite being a victim, he's also a criminal. After charges are filed and if/when his attacker(s) are caught and tried, he'll find himself arrested.
Then there's Giovanni. He wants a strong organization, and while some could probably get away with leaving or being arrested with no worries of information being leaked, those of a higher rank likely wouldn't be so lucky. If there was a chance they could leak information, intentional or not, he wouldn't want to take it and have them either forced to continue working or have them taken out permanently.
Hopefully I made it make some sense.
Please read and review