*Runs into the room and slips on a banana peel* I'm not late, you're late!
*Crashes into the wall* Okay, maybe I am late. But I'm here now, and that's what counts!
So, yesterday was a little busy for me; extensive chores and what have you, but I've got this finished, and here it is! Day 5's prompt: AU! And what's a proper Copperright Week AU day without a little... RHMG!
For those of you who don't know, RHMG is an AU where, after Reginald's arrest, Right Hand Man is taken in by the governement and turned into a cybernetic super soldier, made to take down the remaining Toppats without mercy. It's an angsty time, so keep that in mind if you decide to look for anything about it.
This particular fic was based on a particular version of the AU where General Galeforce, haunted by his complicit guilt in RHMG's (referred to as Green, since his cybernetic eye is green for the government) transformation, flees the government with Green in tow, hoping to find a way to free him from his metaphorical chains. I based the dialogue here on a panel of a comic I found on Twitter, which... I can't link to, because I don't have a Twitter account and therefore can no longer actually see the comic. So... yeah. I hear that those comics will eventually be posted to Tumblr, along with some updates, but until then, you can only see the comic if you have a Twitter account. Or "X" account, I guess now.
Whatever, whatever; let's get to the story! Warnings for angst, and a light mention of blood. See you at the bottom of the page!
Green watched General Hubert Galeforce drink deeply from his canteen, finally pulling away with a deep sigh and leaning his head back against the tree they were sitting under. Based on the size of the canteen and how long the general had been drinking, he was likely low on water. Green was capable of identifying safe sources of water, though the general hadn't asked him to do so. Considering how little the general seemed to know about Green's capabilities, it was entirely possible he wasn't aware of the ability.
It was approximately 07:23 hours, eastern time, with the temperature sitting neatly at sixty five degrees fahrenheit (just over 18 degrees celsius) and a humidity level of seventy percent. Condensation was already forming along Green's cybernetics and the general's canteen, and despite the early hour, the general was panting heavily. Green's breaths were controlled and even, as always, indicating that all of his systems were functioning normally.
The general's eyes slid slowly over to Green, flicking minutely along his body. Green stared back, able to observe the general entirely without such nearly imperceptible movements. The general stared at him for a few moments, before he exhaled a particularly deep sigh. "You know," the general said after a moment. "I have no doubt that you'd be laughing at me, if you could. Giving up my life's career for my worst enemy."
Green continued observing.
"But what they're doing- what they did to you- …it isn't right." The general waved his canteen around. "We're supposed to be the example of a free and just country. Protecting people from cruelty and unfairness and crap; including criminals. This," the general gestured at Green. "Turning you into a puppet, changing you like this… there's no honor… no dignity."
Something sparked inside him.
"Reg-!"
He gripped his head, electric currents and neuro links snapping into place in his brain only to disconnect again. Images appeared before him, sensations that couldn't be real, but had to be, at one point:
A ceremony where a man placed a top hat gently but firmly onto his head, in front of a crowd of hundreds
Shouting orders he couldn't remember at that same crowd, a gun in both hands as they ran into the fray of a battle he couldn't remember the purpose of.
Leaping in front of a man and enduring a blow, fresh, bright, warm, human blood flying into the air from the impact.
That same man, in a cool, dark room, tending to the wound with a tenderness he'd never known.
That man again, speaking with authority to a crowd of men and women and people. He couldn't hear what the man was saying, but those same words echoed in his head, over and over: honor. Dignity. Honor. Dignity.
Who was this man?
"Re-e-e-eg…"
It was there, he could see it, taste it, feel it, but the name wouldn't come.
More sensations: embracing a warm, delicate body. The thrill of a high speed car chase. The scent of a cup of tea. A touch that lingered longer than necessary. The sound of familiar laughter. A firm handshake. Sweat glistening on his brow. A butterfly kiss on his cheek. Who was this man?
"..."
And then it was gone. There were no electric currents, no neuro links, no synapses firing. Green could barely remember the sensations that sparked along his system just moments ago. It was still sixty five degrees fahrenheit (a little over eighteen degrees celsius), the humidity was seventy one percent, and the time was 07:25 hours, eastern time. Everything was just as it had been.
But something was wrong, now. The condensation forming along Green's cybernetics made something inside him shudder, not in a literal sense, but something just as impactful. His organic eye stung from an unknown irritant, and he blinked, only for a warm, wet sensation to trickle down his cheek.
The general was watching him, mouth half open and eyes wide, looking directly at the wetness on Green's face. Without thinking, without considering the logic behind such an action… Green brought his hand to his face and turned away from the general, in some vague, illogical attempt to hide what had clearly already been seen.
Something had happened, just then. But Green couldn't remember, no matter how much he tried. So he let the single tear fall, until it dripped off of his chin and dried away in the heat of the morning.
...I guess this also counts as a "hurt, no comfort" fic? Since nothing is really resolved here. Ah, well. It's par for the course with this AU.
Don't you love it when a character is under some type of control and the thing that snaps them out of it (even if only briefly) is the memory of a loved one? Good stuff. Reminds me of that one fail in Completing the Mission where the exact same thing happens when Henry rewires Right Hand Man and Sven reminds him that Henry got Reginald arrested. Good times.
Anyway, what did you think? I'll try and get Day 6's fic out today as well, though I can't make any guarentees (evidently). Let's hope for the best, though! Leave a review and tell me what you thought, and I'll see you again soon! Until then!