He'd spent nearly the entire day yesterday perfecting his design. He put in his hours at Radioshack, and he got back to his real work. Everything he could possibly fathom putting into the Stun Gun to make it lethal with a single charge. He practically crammed in every little idea he had; electroshock, pulses, using the brain's own electrical wiring against it, oh he looked forward to what it was going to do. It was almost enough to get a smile out of him. The ghost of a simper playing on his lips as he lounged in the familiar leather seat of Black Hat's car. He had to give it to him, he had a real talent of showing up right when he said he would. Flug was well past questioning how or why, he just accepted that this was happening and this was life now and he was going to use it to his advantage. It was another thing he found himself appreciating about the man, his punctuality.

"You seem to be in better spirits,"

"Oh, do I?"

"You aren't sulking quite as much,"

"I did a lot of thinking yesterday." Flug kept his gaze out the window. "And I know what I want to do to the one who did this."

"And what's that?"

"I want to make them suffer." He said calmly. "With my own two hands."

Black Hat chuckled evilly. "That's the spirit. Do you know specifically what you want to do?"

"OOOOOOh I have so many things I want to do." Flug breathed out in a voice that sounded far too relaxed to belong to the usually jittery and troubled young man. "And I'm going to need your help."

"Just tell me what you need," Flug felt the man lean over towards him. "I told you, I'd pour as much as I can into you." They'd been talking about money when he'd said that, back when they first got acquainted. Now, with the way his deep voice rumbled the words at him, Flug couldn't help but feel they took on a more...provocative meaning.

"I'm glad you feel that way, because I've put together a list of everything I need." Flug pulled out a loose piece of paper filled with all the necessary materials to upgrade his machine to its full potential. Black Hat took it and gave it a proper read once they came to a red light.

"What is this, your Christmas list?" He raised his eyebrow and grinned lopsidedly at him.

"You could say that." Flug grinned right back. "It's everything I need to make a real deadly weapon for you, Master."

Things were going perfectly, the subtle little changes in Black Hat's face were extremely telling. While the man might be an enigma on the deeper levels, his surface thoughts were easy enough to dissect. That, and Flug was starting to really get a firm grasp on what drove him. While Flug was driven by ingenuity, Black Hat was driven by desire. Flug wanted to make things, Black Hat wanted to have them. Flug could see things working out that they both got what they wanted, plus the sweetness of revenge.

"It'll take me some time to get some of these things."

"That's fine, I'm not in any particular hurry." No, he wanted to savor everything he would do. If that meant he had to wait a little bit, so be it. He wanted to take his time, go about things at his leisure. He didn't want to rush a thing.

They exited swifty upon arrival and Flug found himself freely taking Black Hat's arm. He might've been smiling faintly, and he chose not to pay any mind to a single other person lest this little joy be stolen from him again.

Black Hat had two exams himself today, so Flug would be on his own for a bit. That was fine. He had some things he wanted to do today anyway, and being alone would make them go much smoother. Flug would meet him outside the classroom once he was done and they could leave together.

As he walked in, still willfully blissful, people stared at him. He took notice of it, but nothing more. No thought to it, no worry, so strife. It was happening no matter his views on it, and he couldn't change that at the moment. So, he'd just go about his day as he would regularly.

"Hey, uh, Flug?" asked the girl who sat next to him.

"Hello,"

"Yeah, hi, um, it is okay if I-"

"If it's anything having to do with my sexuality, the answer is no."

The girl was caught off guard by such a blunt rejection, so Flug continued.

"It most certainly is not okay for you to just ask me about something like that. Or try and get the juicy details of my relationship with my boyfriend. I don't know you like that. I don't know any of you like that." He glanced around at the room, all very interested in this sudden turn of events. "Even if all you want to do is let me know you support me, it's not okay to just come up to me and act like we have some close bond or like I've ever shared anything about my personal life with you before. It's none of your business and it's going to stay that way. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to be left alone." He said that entire speil with a confident little smile and a concerningly ominous look it his eyes. It made the girl turn around in her seat and everyone else look away.

Perhaps they'd finally get the message. Flug pulled out his notes and skimmed them quickly before the exam began. He finished first this time, even after double checking the multiple choice section. He walked up to the professor's desk and smoothly stapled his short answer papers together. He was about to collect his bag and leave when the professor spoke up, "Um, Rocinante?"

He turned and saw her pointing downward. He followed her eyes and saw that his papers were currently stapled to his hand, the little metal thing embedded into his thumb. He didn't even feel it.

Rather than being scared or concerned, Flug just laughed a little. With a roll of his head and some crap about not having enough coffee this morning. He pulled the staple out, hardly bleeding at all, and correctly stapled his work together.

He left that room, with everyone staring at his back and wondering what the hell was wrong with him. Spoiler alert; it was them. They'd done this to him. Bitter though he was for it, he refused to give them any more satisfaction. He wouldn't let them see anything more than what he chose to be for them. Currently, he chose to be happy. He chose not to allow anything to bring him down today. Even the little errands he laid out for himself today; he was going to do them, do them efficiently, and get on with his day.

Number one: get his Stun Gun.

It would be much simpler to modify and upgrade his existing model rather than build another from scratch. He just had to act as he usually did and no one would be wiser to his deeds. He walked in, no one gave him odd stares here. It was normal for him to hang around here, even when he didn't have a project to work on. He never had anyone else to talk to and nowhere else to be (until maybe this year) so there was nothing out of the ordinary. Most of the students were too busy rushing to finish their own work to pay attention to him. He'd been that way his first year, when he'd messed up picking his class schedule and half his finals revolved around assembling machinery. He wasn't making that overworked mistake again.

Although...now that he was soulless...maybe he could handle it...

He got his Stun Gun out of his locker with ease and was out of the door with it tucked securely in his backpack within maybe two minutes. If no one had cared the first time, it was unlikely they would care now.

Number two: find Aurelio.

Almost as easy as the first one had been. Partially because he'd already had a clue.

He had been following this man's every move for years, it is really so unthinkable that he'd noticed a pattern? Aurelio liked open spaces, where he could have a wide field of vision and where the little parasites he kept as his posse could all be together. And be watched easily. So where else would one find him other than a courtyard, a pavilion, a terrace, a quad, places that were empty save for benches and chairs to hang out on and some greenery surrounding it to give off that regal aesthetic that just made his already picturesque image even more magnificent. It's where his spot had been in middle school, where it had been in high school, and it was where it was now. Funny, humans truly were creatures of habit. Aurelio was drawn to the place, and Flug was drawn to Aurelio. In this way, neither of them could help where they ended up. With Flug watching from afar as he always had and Aurelio never knowing.

There he was, there they were, Aurelio Cruz and all his airheaded little lackies who were either too scared to refuse him or too dumb to know any better. Flug noticed Bianca and the girl with the Rapunzel hair among them. Only more proof, they'd probably been in on it. If they hadn't been, why not tell him outright that they'd heard from Aurelio? Or tell someone after Flug had goddamn fainted and been taken to the nurse's office?

Aurelio would mostly likely be here regularly. A creature of habit on a pedestal too high to notice what went on below his almighty gaze. Easy prey, under the right circumstances. Flug wasn't sure how long he watched him, feeling the familiar rush of endorphins with a new twist of malice before he (also familiarly) forced himself to look away. There'd be time to gaze at him when he helped Flug test out a few things. He shivered with glee at the thought.

With that taken care of, Flug went to where Black Hat's class should be and waited outside the door. Wouldn't be too long, another hour at most. He passed the time scrolling through his phone and daydreaming about his revenge. There were still so many little details to work out. Where would they do it? How would they get him? Would they be able to do all that Flug wanted? Would he have to sacrifice a few of his fantasies for time, or just plain practicality?

Black Hat walked out eventually, and the two sauntered back to his car, holding hands. He still hadn't told Black Hat about Aurelio, because he couldn't have him jumping the gun and beating the man to death himself. Not before Flug could have his own fun. Even at his most coy, he didn't want to risk his revenge on not being flirty enough to get Black Hat to calm down and not murder Aurelio on sight.

And, you know, he might've accomplished that, had they not caught sight of what had become of Black Hat's vehicle in their absence.

All over Black Hat's car, phrases like "Maricón, Marica, arder en el infierno, morir, matense," the taillights were broken for sure. Along with at least one window. Probably more.

Flug felt Black Hat's grip on him tighten, to what should be painfully so. He was almost sure he heard something in his hand actually crack from the force of it. He felt nothing. No pain. No terror at his top hatted companions temper flaring. Only rage, shooting through him. Perhaps equal to Black Hat's. Rage that he had allowed this to happen.

Ok guess what motherfucker, new idea.

"Flug," Black Hat spoke through clenched teeth. "I swear I will make the ones who did this suffer dez vezes."

"Not if I beat you too it." Flug declared as he wrenched his hand free and stormed off.

"Wait, what? Flug? Flug!" Black Hat followed, confusion lacing his words.

Flug didn't stop or even acknowledge his Master, he only picked up that pace, fighting the urge to sprint back to where he'd last seen Aurelio. There was no telling whether or not he'd still be there, he'd only intended to confirm the location today, but it was the only thing he could do. If he wasn't there, he'd just go to his house and wait for him. He'd tell Black Hat everything and have the man show him firsthand how a real villain deals with disrespect. He didn't care if they had to steal someone else's car to get there, they'd get to him one way or the other and the man. Would. Suffer.

He was in luck, he was still there. They were all still there. Maybe they'd been waiting for this. Hoping for a final confrontation. Oh ho ho ho if that was what they wanted, he'd give them one they'd never forget for as long as they lived. They'd have nightmares about it for weeks!

He slung his backpack around to his front, unzipped it quickly, and pulled out his Stun Gun. It was a small thing, honestly. Barely bigger than his hand. He'd have to bulk it up for the higher more powerful currents he wanted it to generate, but for what it was, it was enough. He could make it work.

"Flug! Flug what are you-" Black Hat caught on quick enough. "Him?!"

"Yep." Flug said calmly over his shoulder. "But, just for the hell of it, let's confirm."

"Flug wait-"

"No," He held back a scream. "I'm sick of waiting!"

He walked right up to him and his little squad, Aurelio immediately noticing him (for once) and giving him such a blatantly false surprised look Flug almost wanted to throw up.

"You did this, didn't you?" Flug asked.

"Why, whatever do you mean Rocinan-"

"Don't give me that crap Aurelio." Flug cut him off without even raising his voice. "You're the one who spread it around about me and Black Hat, aren't you?"

Aurelio shrugged, seemingly bored with the fact he had been found out. "I told a few people, fine. Are you really going to hold me responsible for what they did? I can't control what other people do. Not like that. Or maybe I can, who really knows?" Aurelio gave him a look filled with such contempt and annoyance, it almost left Flug confused.

Until he understood what this was all really about.

Oh, oh no. Was it really that? It fit the timing, sure, but...really? Aurelio got the entire student body talking about Flug and Black Hat being gay, all because Flug didn't help him with his Gift? It was so asinine that Flug actually had to laugh out loud about it. Making a few among the entourage jump in surprise.

"Ar-Are you serious?" He asked, fighting the chuckles back. "That's why you did this? You're butthurt that I didn't drop everything and cater to you? That's...that's actually kind of pathetic, to be honest. It's not very attractive to throw a fit when someone tells you 'no.'" Black Hat was snickering from behind. Oh shit Aurelio looked so goddamn mad. Flug felt great. "There was so much more I wanted to do, you know? I wanted to drag it out for hours. But, after the car, I just couldn't wait. Looks like we have to do this here and now."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Aurelio scowled at him.

"Yeah Flug, what exactly are you talking about?"

Flug turned partially, so he could only see Aurelio out of the corner of his eye. Black Hat was trying in vain not to let on how goddamn elated he was to witness this. This was the most sinister Flug had acted or spoken since they'd met, and he seemed over the moon to finally see him act on his darker thoughts. Flug smiled at him, mouthed the words "Mira esto", and shot Aurelio before he could lay a hand on him. He turned to look down on his shocked (pun very intended) face as he lay paralyzed on the concrete. One arm still outstretched to touch him.

Did he look away just to bait Aurelio into approaching him and trying to use his Gift? Knowing full well that at point-blank there was pretty much no chance of him missing? Knowing exactly what angle his arm had to be at to be aimed right at Aurelio's upper torso, the largest area on the human body and the easiest target? Knowing that Aurelio liked getting his way, and had a bit of a tendency to "act out", let's say, when he didn't (As demonstrated by this past week's events)? Knowing from countless firsthand observations that without fail, Aurelio's strategy was always to initiate skin contact and dominate his opponents? Why wouldn't it be, when it essentially guaranteed victory for him? Once he touched a person, they were mere dolls for him to puppeteer. Whether it be holding them still so they couldn't fight back, or even collapse from their injuries; or forcing them to injure themselves. They were under his control until he decided to let them go.

And Rocinante felt immense satisfaction at knocking that man to the ground with one hit.

But, oh, oh that wasn't enough. No no no, not nearly enough. Flug swiftly punched him in the face and felt his hand spasm and twitch. He flexed his fingers and found them to be a bit stiff. "Ah, electric current." He said, mostly to himself. "Amazing I didn't think of this before. Probably shouldn't touch him for too long without maybe some rubber gloves? Something that doesn't conduct electricity? Yeah?" It didn't hurt, but it might be able to do some harm if he kept at it. Same with his other hand, he felt no pain but Black Hat might've used a bit too much strength there. It wasn't handling too well. He'd have to watch that. "Well, that wasn't my plan anyway. Might as well get on with it." He aimed the Stun Gun back at Aurelio; right at his broad, well defined chest.

"Stop it!" screamed a female voice. Flug glanced up and saw that it was Bianca, her nails growing long and talon-like. "Yeah, he did a shitty thing, we all did, but you're taking this too far you maniac!" The rest of Aurelio's brainless followers seemed to rally behind her, gaining confidence and rising.

"You're right," Flug said, halting them temporarily. Then he turned his weapon to them. "You did all do this." Ooooh the fear that flashed through all of their eyes, even though he was only one man with nothing but a gun in the face of all their superhuman abilities.

"Fuck this shit I'm getting an adult!" Yelled one, who seemed to be one of the younger of the group. He took off sprinting in the direction of the administration building.

"Ooh, we have a volunteer," Flug remarked, tracking him calmly.

"No!" Flug turned just in time to see Bianca rush at him, but before she could reach him or he could adjust his aim Black Hat came in and delivered a punch to her stomach that knocked her down. Black Hat then kicked her in the face, laying her flat on her back with her talons retracting instinctively.

He addressed the rest of the crowd, tone light but threatening. "Don't try that again."

Flug sighed, he'd let that one guy get away. He was too far to stop. Meaning they were really on a time crunch now. But there was still so much he wanted to do, so much he wanted to say! Cliché as it was, he had a lot to say to Aurelio right now and his often-neglected ego demanded some good stroking.

He looked down at Aurelio again. This man who he'd devoted so much time and thought and effort to. So much of his life he'd spent hyper focused on him. Was it just his looks? No, but that had certainly been a part of it. He was tall, and built well, tan and dark and handsome. Chiseled and sculpted features like he was a piece of art come to life. Coupled with his abilities, both superhuman and natural masculine charm, it was like looking at everything a real man should be. Big, intimidating, dominant, in control, seductive, everything he wasn't. Everything he wanted. Not quite for himself, but for someone else. Everything he wanted in someone else. Someone who could do what he couldn't, complete him in a manner of speaking.

It seemed foolishly naive, now that he was looking down on his terrified face. Still stuck in a scowl, but his eyes revealing layers upon layers of horror. And rage, but Flug was transfixed by the horror. Something he'd never imagined he'd see in those beautiful orbs.

Flug stared down, maintaining eye contact with him. His heart was racing but he couldn't stop. "This has never happened to you before, has it? You've always been the one to steal away a person's autonomy, to bend them to your whims. You've never felt what it's like to have your own choice ripped away. You've never been the one to be held down so hard. Can you breathe? Is it hard? Can you even think straight? Do you think this is anything like what it feels to be touched by you? Do you think this is what you've been doing to everyone around you nearly every day of your life? It doesn't end when you go away, you know. It stays with you, even after it's done. You stay afraid, doing everything you can to make sure you never have to feel this again. It will stay with you, like it's stayed with all of us. That's how you've kept order, isn't it? How you've kept everyone around you in line. You had to know on some level that it was a horrible thing you were doing. Of course you knew. Did you enjoy it? Did you enjoy seeing how desperate everyone was to placate you? Having everyone around you always so eager to please? Always hoping you'll keep your hands to yourself this time? But I know you don't. You didn't. Does anyone else here know? About what happened at your party? About what you tried to do to Demetra? About what you tried to do to me?"

"Flug, you may want to stop...shit, what's the word? Oh God, now is not the time. It's right on the tip of my tongue. Is there a translation for monologuing in Spanish?"

"Monólogo."

"Yes, that." Black Hat kicked Bianca towards the crowd, who rushed to her aid. "Stop doing that."

"And why should I? I have a captive audience."

"Number one, never monologue. We are not caricatures. Two, we have company." Flug looked to where Black Hat pointed and saw the boy from before, with another man in tow. Funny, no campus security. Though they were surely on the way.

Well, might as well go for it. Flug tightened his grip and-

Oh. Well that was interesting. Very interesting. Though it complicated things a bit. Looks like things would be dragged on a little longer. And people would be wanting an explanation sooner rather than later. To think, Flug had wanted to go about this slowly and carefully. To prevent that exact thing. What a drag. This might get complicated.

Flug sighed. "Well, this day hasn't gone like I planned. What now?"

"Now, we do what we must." Black Hat got right up next to him and draped an arm over his shoulders. He really seemed to like doing that. "Tell me," he whispered. "How good are you at...uhhhh...screw it, improv?"

Flug stared at him. He really thought they could lie their way out of this?

"Hey, all the best lies have a bit of the truth in them. All that matters is which truths you tell."

Fair enough, he supposed. It wasn't as if he hadn't lied his way out of compromising situations before. The boy came back to find Aurelio still stuck on the floor with no way up, Bianca crumpled over in defeat, Flug pointing a gun at a man already on the ground while Black Hat just casually hung out, and half a dozen other people frozen in their own confusion and fear. With him, that American professor, what had his name been again? Flug recognized him immediately from the pale skin and dark hair, but his name escaped him at the moment. Huh. That guy was still around? Had he just been in the area and decided to come try and diffuse the situation? Buy some time for authorities, perhaps?

Well, that might be manageable.

"H-Hola," The professor said. His Spanish sounded odd, maybe it was the American accent. What was it, California? "You're, uh, um, Rocinante, right? We met once before, do you remember? My name is David. David Evermore."

"Yes, I remember."

"Yes, and...I'm sorry, I don't believe we've been introduced."

Black Hat introduced himself, leaving everyone to wonder what exact language that was and how one goes about replicating it. "But 'Black Hat' is fine."

"Alright, alright. Nice to meet you...Black Hat. Rocinante, I see you've got your, uh, what did you call it again? You presented it before, very impressive by the way, but I can't remember what you called it."

"My Stun Gun."

"Ah, right. Fitting. So, Rocinante-"

"Hold on- Ah ah ah! Nobody move or I pull the trigger!" Flug had noticed a few of the group slowly inching their way towards him. They halted again. Scanning the crowd, he vaguely remembered a few faces and abilities. The inner circle (the ones who were present) were comprised of mostly close range or nonviolent Gifted types. Ones whose Gifts weren't well suited to these types of confrontations. They had other uses, but certainly weren't much help like this; disoriented, afraid, directionless. Their strings had been cut and they were but limp marionettes, inert without outside input. They looked to each other for a sign of what to do, but no one knew. They'd spent so much time under the influence of another's will, they didn't know what to do with their newfound autonomy.

Should they stop him? And rescue Aurelio? Did they really want that? Did they really want to just keep bending over backwards for this guy, who just gotten taken out by some dorky twink and "Like a Sir" over here? Would there be consequences if they didn't at least try to save their assoholic puppet master? Because Aurelio was getting up eventually, right? It wasn't as if Flug was actually going to kill him, right?

"Rocinante, Black Hat, please. Listen to me. Just for a minute." David Evermore pleaded. "Just put the Stun Gun down, and let's talk, huh?"

"Sorry, but the gun stays. For now."

"Ok, ok, the gun stays. The gun stays, but let's talk. Please?"

"Sure, why not?" Flug said. It would give them something to do until the cops arrived, now that what passed as his plan was ruined. God damn him.

"Ok, thank you. You want to tell me why you're doing this?"

Flug switched from checking up on the peanut gallery to David and what's-his-face. Only moving his head, his arm remaining fixed in place. "Well, you brought him here. Would like to get him up to speed?" He saw the guy turn away, incredibly guiltily. "Well, since everybody already knows, guess I'll just come out and say it. I'm gay. This is my boyfriend. I told Aurelio this in confidence and asked him very politely to keep it between us. Needless to say, he did not keep it between us. Not only did he tell everyone you see here-" who cringed heavily in their shared shame. "-He had them spread the word to as many people as possible. My boyfriend and I have been getting harrassed nearly everyday this week, culminating in the vandalism and wreckage of his car today. Was there anything I missed?"

Black Hat was the only one to speak up. "No, that's about it."

"For the record," Flug continued, "I did not intend for things to come to this. It was just, seeing those messages, 'Die, burn in hell, kill yourselves,' I had enough, you know? That's where I draw the line and honestly I think that's reasonable."

David took a second to process that, looking around for someone, anyone, to deny it. They didn't. Didn't even try. They just hung their heads woefully, knowing that they were guilty. "Ok, ok, I get it. That's awful. I can't even imagine how that must feel. But, please, this isn't the answer. Hurting the ones that hurt you never makes the pain go away."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Black Hat mumbled in his ear. "Revenge is a hell of a painkiller." Flug had to agree. It didn't make the pain go away, but it certainly helped to dull it.

Security finally showed up. About time, seriously. Imagine if they'd been after more people. It was also about time that Flug started acting a bit more like the Flug everyone knew him as. That was the only one who could get out of this cleanly. The weak one, who was oh so delicate and meek and nervous. Such a fragile little man. One who was pushed too far, but who can really blame him? He couldn't handle something like this. It wasn't that he was a bad person, he was just pushed past him limits. Poor guy.

And Black Hat...was Black Hat. Flug had to trust that he knew how to present himself in this situation. Because it wasn't as if they could have much of a strategy meeting here.

"It's time we stop this." He said lowly. Flug's shoulders slumped as he got more into his usual feeble stance. His arm was still fixed straight at Aurelio's heart.

"Yes, I suppose it is. Remember, do what you must."

"Naturally." Flug allowed himself to smile down at his victim. The smile vanished smoothly as Black Hat separated himself, right as security encircled them. They didn't have firearms themselves, but they had tasers. More painful than the Stun Gun, more harmful. Flug wondered offhand if he could get tased and just...take it. Like, would he still twitch and jerk from the voltage, but be relatively fine? Regardless, he shouldn't get himself tased just to see what happens. Thinking like that was hazardous to his health, something he needed to take even more precaution with since he might not feel the warning signs of a serious injury. David Evermore was talking with the security team, trying to get them to put the tasers down, telling them that the situation was under control, Flug wasn't paying full attention. Aurelio's "friends" snuck off with the "help" of some cops when he wasn't directly looking at them. That was fine, that actually helped. What he wanted was everyone's full attention with nothing to distract from what he had to tell everyone.

Black Hat had his hands up and approached them slowly, they pulled him off and might've cuffed him, Flug wasn't fully sure. But now that they were seperated, the real hard part began. They wouldn't be able to consult with each other past this point, so it was up to a lot of chance and a lot of trust that they'd both walk free by the end of the day.

"Rocinante, please let Aurelio go and just come with us." David pleaded again. "We'll go to the dean, explain everything, it'll all be okay. I promise, you can come back from this. Please, don't let one mistake ruin your whole life. Just put the gun down."

He sighed, looking so tired and exhausted and overwhelmed and ready to give in. Except his eyes. They held all his murderous intent. And were fixated right at Aurelio's. "Ok. Ok."

"Just let him go, put the gun down, and come with us."

"As soon as I'm able to move my hand, I will."

"What? What do you mean?" There were confused looked had by all. Aurelio had not touched him, so how could he not move his arm?

"I believe I've asked you this before, Aurelio. Once you touch a person, they're under your control. Unless there is more than 5 meters between you, which is the limit of your range. Once they've passed that threshold, they regain control. I asked you once if you need to touch a person again to control them after they went out of range, and now you've finally answered me."

"Wait, wait, Flu- I mean, Rocinante, what are you talking about?" One of the lackies spoke up from the sidelines. Much to the surprise of the cops trying to get them all far away.

"The answer is that he doesn't. He can still control you if you get within range, without having to touch you again. But it's not permanent. It fades, the more time passes the less power he has over you. Right now, he's able to make sure I can't pull this trigger and shock him into unconsciousness." Or death, but let's not bring that up. "What he can't do is move my arm. See? I'm stuck from the forearm down." He demonstrated by moving as much of his arm as he could, his hand only just barely staying in place. "From what I remember, the last time you were able to touch me was at your party, about two weeks ago. Shortly after I walked in on you and my friend Demetra, when you were forcing her into a rather...intimate position."

Both the cops and David Evermore looked to each other in shock. All wondering if Flug was really implying what the word "intimate" entailed. Even Black Hat making a small but believable gasp of surprise.

"Oh, and while I've got you here, Aurelio, I might as well ask you, did you put anything into my drink that night? Because, I've got an eyewitness that says you did, and multiple that can prove you also followed me and my friends back to my apartment. Why'd you do that Lio? Hmm?"

Aurelio was silent. Probably because he couldn't physically talk. But the police had heard, and everyone here was going to be questioned. Someone was going to give Aurelio up, because from the looks of his cronies, they had known. Not all, only a few guys here and there looking so obviously called out. It was enough. One of them was giving him up. It was too good of an opportunity.

And Aurelio seemed to think he had one as well, if the way Flug's hand began turning experimentally to and fro. Seeing where it was possible to change the trajectory. Anything not to let Flug win, even if was the littlest act of defiance. It meant the world if it showed that he wasn't beaten completely.

Flug sighed. "Aurelio, I'm the only one who can put a stop to this right now. Even if you made me shoot someone else or even myself, I'm the only one here who can set you free. I know how the Stun Gun works. I built it. I know what will release you and what will increase the voltage." There wasn't anything that could increase the voltage, but he didn't need to know that. It made Aurelio think twice, and that was all that mattered. "It's been nearly two weeks, all you can control is this one limb. Not even the entire limb at that. And you're probably losing more and more power the longer you go without touching me. Or does it only fade when I'm out of range? Will I stay at this level of affectedness so long as I'm near you?" Again, no response. Why was he interrogating someone who couldn't even answer him? Just to put these questions in other people's minds?

Was it to show Aurelio that he was the powerless one now? His only option was to submit to another, and he had no choice but to comply or risk further harm.

"Either you let me go, or we stay like this until the electricity fries your nervous system. I don't know how long it would take, but I estimate it to be quite a while. Your choice."

Flug felt the stiffness in his hand leave him, and he briefly flexed his fingers. As he said he would, he deactivated the Stun Gun and allowed Aurelio to lie limply on the ground catching his breath. Before he left him, he stooped down and whispered, "Now, you stay away from my boyfriend, you stay away from my friends, and you stay away from me. Otherwise next time, there won't be anyone to save you. I told you there were so many more things I wanted to do to you, and if I ever catch you within arms reach I'm going to make sure I do every single one." He rose and relinquished the gun to a member of security as they led him away. "Goodbye, titiritero."

Flug was escorted to the administrative building with everyone else. He noticed that he and Black Hat were being kept apart not-so-subtly. As was Aurelio, way in the back and being handled carefully. Everyone was making sure they were completely covered with no chance of any accidental skin contact with him.

The next few hours were a blur. Everyone had been rounded up for questioning by campus security, the dean, the counselor, David Evermore was going around the halls talking to people. Making himself useful, or something. Flug caught hints of private conversations, confessions of things people had done for Aurelio, things Aurelio had done to them. Things they'd never told anyone else. Cops were taking statements, secretaries and miscellaneous staff were handing out cups of water, it was very dull. Flug slouched low in his seat, hanging his head.

When it was finally Flug's turn, he found himself led to the dean's office by David, who asked them both if he could possibly stay and hear him out. Flug and a Sr. Huertez faced each other with David and one of the cops staying off to the side and observing. He explained the situation much the same way as he had before, only now detailing the types of harassment he had been going through, what he'd overheard at Aurelio's party, a bit of what Black Hat had told him, citing again the vandalism done to Black Hat's car. Perhaps exaggerating a bit, to make himself all the more sympathetic. He stuck to facts where he needed to and took what liberties he could. Doing everything to making himself look and sound weak. Which really came in handy when he had to defend Black Hat up and assaulting a man earlier this week. Which apparently hadn't been an isolated incident.

"That was the third one, actually." Sr. Huertez said. "I've also got numerous reports of him giving other students aggressive glares, and threatening to-" he read directly off one of the papers on his desk. "-'invert their ribcage'."

"Uhhh," Dude, what the fuck? "M-Maybe something got lost in translation?" Ok, no. He had to come up with something better than that. "This is the first I'm hearing of that one, I'm sorry."

"But you saw him repeatedly strike a man's head against a wall. And just walked off with him."

"Well, y-yes, I did, but-"

"Were you scared, Rocinante?" David asked all of a sudden. "Was that why you didn't do anything? Were you scared of him, at that moment?"

Oh God. Should he say he was? That he was scared of what Black Hat might do to him if he resisted? If he so much as spoke out against him? It was a tempting card to play, but it didn't feel right. He didn't want them thinking he was trapped in some sort of abusive relationship. Were that the case, they'd do everything to seperate them, and look at Black Hat with even more scrutiny. That certainly wouldn't make either of their lives any easier. No, he needed to keep them both framed as the victims here.

"N-No, I wasn't scared of him." Flug said. "I know that, that he can be a little...prickly, sometimes, but that's not what he's like all the time. He's never that way with me."

"That a very lenient way of putting it."

"Look, this week hasn't b-been the greatest for either of us. We just wanted to be left alone, and then all of a sudden the en-entire school starts coming up to us like our relationship is any of their business."

"Was that really what he wanted? Or was it what you wanted?"

"David, please." Sr. Huertez gave him a mean frown. "You're only here to observe."

"I'm sorry," He backed off. "I just wanted clarification."

"It's fine...it was what I wanted." Flug admitted. Time for some truth. "I asked Black Hat to keep our relationship private. He respected that. And finding out that someone else hadn't...was a heavy hit for both of us. I have my way of dealing with it..." He trailed off, very aware that it was kind of a poor excuse.

"So he threatens random people with violence, and you shoot the guy who outs you both with a fancy taser?"

The Stun Gun was much more than just a fancy taser. "The car was the last straw."

"Rocinante," Sr. Huertez said. "I can't believe that you would do something like this. You've always been such a diligent, promising student. You've had no history of anything like this before. Was it really so important that no one find out about your, erm, relationship?"

The way you said that is answer enough. Flug thought, though he knew he had to come up with something better than that. "Well you see, the thing about that is, I-I'm a very pri-private person, especially about my personal life, a-and I really hadn't told a-a-a-anyone else, and..." He broke off and remembered what Black Hat had said. All the best lies have a bit of the truth in them. All that matters is which truths you tell. He was already stuttering, he'd been doing it on and off throughout the interrogation. It would be easy to confirm that it was a result of nervousness, anxiety, fear. What was the number one thing Rocinante Flugslys was afraid of? Aside from getting caught in his lies?

"Oh God I ha-haven't even told my parents yet." He said. Tears welled up instantly and he began sobbing loudly. It was like Monday night all over again, but with an audience. He just had to keep thinking about that, that he was crying and lamenting all his misfortune in front of actual people. People who had some sway in his future. Law enforcement. He could be expelled. Hell, he could be arrested! There was so much on the line right now, because he couldn't just fucking wait and deal with the situation cleanly. He had to go and jump the gun and do things publicly! What a fucking failure of a villain he was! So long as he kept tearing himself down inside, he could keep it coming. "I haven't even told my p-p-p-parents! An-An-And now everyon-one knows! I on-only told Aure-e-lio because he g-got me drunk! And he, he said he wo-w-wouldn't tell anyone! I asked h-him, and he s-s-said he wo-wouldn't tell! A-And it's-it's-it's been everyday this w-week, strangers, coming u-u-u-up to me and knowing! P-P-People I don't even know! But they know about m-me! And they ta-ta-talk like it's no big d-deal! Well it was a big deal to me!" He was literally screaming by this point, the sobs racking his body and making his face a mess of tears and snot. He rubbed at his eyes, messing his glasses up. But he was pretty sure he had this in the bag. "Bl-Black Hat, he's b-b-been trying to cheer me up. He said it wasn't so bad, that it was just other people's op-p-pinions, and I shouldn't c-care so much. I thought, y-yeah, it's not so bad when you get right down to it. L-L-Lots of people have it much worse. It's n-n-not s-so bad. Th-Then, we were going to leave, g-g-going to his c-car, and..." He broke down, too torn up to speak clearly. "People th-think we should d-d-die." He sniveled. "People think I should die."

David Evermore put a hand on his shoulder and tried consoling him a bit. He asked Sr. Huertez and the officer if there was anything else they needed, because in his opinion all they had here was a delicate young man who was bent by others until he broke. They all agreed that Flug was certainly no crazed lunatic, and under normal circumstances was an exemplary student who would never hurt a fly. No way would he ever attack another person without being pushed to it.

Of course, he wouldn't be getting off with just a slap on the wrist. He wasn't going to be expelled or even so much as suspended, given his academic record and what it meant for this university, as well as the semester being over already. He would however be suspended from his club and not allowed back into the Robotics Lab for an undetermined amount of time. He would also not be allowed to take any courses giving him access to any materials he might foreseeably be able to craft a weapon out of. Sr. Huertez recommended he start seeing a therapist, or make regular appointments with any of the universities counselors. Flug nodded at all of it, falling into silent streams of tears and small sniffles as he agreed. He was the picture of remorse, eager to make up for his little slip.

The only thing left for him to explain away was why exactly he'd had his Stun Gun on him in the first place.

"I was, uh, I was going to see if I c-couldn't make it even better. I wanted to t-t-take it home, to brainstorm. I work better if I have things right in front of m-me."

"Rocinante, you know you're not allowed to remove materials or projects from school grounds."

He froze like a deer in headlights. "I-I can't? Oh God I'm s-s-s-so sorry! I completely forgot! I did-didn't mean to! Y-You got it back, r-r-right?"

"Yeah yeah, son, you can relax. We got it." Said the cop, holding up the small thing in an evidence bag. "You just count yourself lucky that this place has got so much invested in you, otherwise we'd have to put this on your permanent record." Wow, he wasn't even getting this on his record. Damn did it pay to play the part of the model student. "You've got your whole life ahead of you kid, don't go wrecking your future just to get back at some asshole you'll never see again."

Flug used to think that way. That he just had to endure whatever came because it was only for a short time. Easier to just take it rather than fight back. What would it matter, when he'd never see them again after?

He didn't think that anymore. The names may change, as well as the rationale, but there was always something he was forced to suffer through. He nodded and sniffled again and they let him go with the promise that he would begin seeing someone to talk about his issues with. David Evermore offered to walk him out, leading him through the still packed halls and out into the night. How long had it been since this whole ordeal started? How many hours had it taken just to weasel his way out of any serious consequences?

Had Black Hat left already?

"So, do you live very far?" He asked.

"Not r-really." He said, still keeping up the image of the tender young man driven to violence by an imposing, manipulative antagonist. "I can take the b-b-bus, or walk. Doesn't take too long. U-Usually Black Hat drives me home, though."

"That's...nice, of him." David said a bit uneasily. Which struck Flug as being rather odd. Had this man also sat in when they'd been talking to Black Hat? "Would you like me to give you a ride?"

"No th-thank you, señor. I can get home on my own."

"Yes, of course. Mind if I ask why you don't live on campus? Seems like it'd be much easier than being on your own."

"I like my p-privacy."

"Right, right." It seemed like this man really wanted to talk. They were almost to the bus stop, so his time was running out. Unless he insisted on waiting for the bus with him. Or perhaps walking with him. Please, would this man just leave him be? He was tired of playing the weakling to the maximum and just wanted to be home. Alone. "Hey, uh, you don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but, I was just wondering, how long exactly have you and Black Hat known each other?"

"A few months."

"And how long have you two been an official couple?"

Oooh, no uncomfortable hesitance or skirting around their relationship. That was a welcome change. "A few weeks."

"Is he your first, or have you had secret boyfriends before?"

"I'd rather not say." He ducked his head down, feigning shyness. In reality, he was more irritated. What was with this guy? He didn't like how nosy he was being right now. He wanted him gone.

"That's fine, that's fine. You don't have to say anything you don't want to." Flug thought this guy was a professor, not a shrink. What was with the overbearing repetition that Flug was under no obligation to speak? Although now that he thought about it, he didn't know what exactly Mr. David Evermore was a professor of.

"Well, this is my stop." He said, plopping himself down on the cold bench. "Thank you for walking with me, but I'd really prefer to be left alone now."

"Right, sure." He said. Though it was obvious there was more he wanted to question him about. He stood, awkwardly staring at him until he worked up the nerve to ask it. "Just, one more thing, please?"

"Yes?"

"I, uh...again, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, but I was just curious, how exactly did you and Black Hat get together? You two don't seem particularly compatible."

"D-Did you hear his statement like you did mine?"

He was taken aback by the question. "Well, I'm not really allowed to disclose things like that. Officially, I don't know anything either of you said."

"But...?"

David sat down next to him. "Ok, I can't repeat anything that either of you said, and I understand that the both of you were angry and upset by what happened, but I can say that he seems to be a much more...uh, how do you say, volatile person. I'm actually a little surprised that he wasn't the one who went after Aurelio. Or...was he? Did he find out and try to go after him? Were you worried about what would happen if he tried to fight Aurelio?"

Flug stared at him. What, did he think that perhaps Flug was worried about what Black Hat would do to Aurelio? Or what Aurelio might do to Black Hat? Now that would be a match up for the ages. Aurelio had his Gift, and had a good amount of weight behind him, but his fights tended to be a bit one-sided. He didn't actually physically fight himself all that much except as a last resort. Black Hat on the other hand seemed quick to violence when provoked and had actually murdered people before. Many of his scars were obviously from fights, which had mostly likely been to the death. And he was covered nearly head to toe. The most skin revealed was that on his face, so all he had to do was protect his head and he was pretty good. Actually might be rather interesting to see, who would be victorious in a fist fight.

"I told you, he's not like that. Not when you get to know him." Though Flug still barely knew him.

"What is he really like then? How is he with you?"

Flug went red in the face, intentionally thinking of that in the wrong way. He mumbled a few words, so that David would think of it in the wrong way as well and drop the subject. "Slow. Patient. G-Gentle."

Yep, he was thinking of it. He looked so uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, I think that might've came out wrong."

"It's okay." He said softly. He sounded a bit like he might start crying again. He rubbed his hands together and winced a bit when his hand moved a certain way. It was the hand Black Hat had been holding. It was beginning to bruise a bit.

"I, uh, I better get going." David got up and walked away backwards. "I hope things get better for you."

"Me too. Goodbye."

As soon as he was out of sight Flug got up and walked home. He was not in the mood to sit still and wait, even if it would be faster by bus. He wanted to move, to be active, to fucking do something. Something that wasn't just stuffing down who he really was. So, half an hour later, he walked through his front door and went about his usual routine of stripping to his underclothes and checking himself out.

Hmm, you know what? He didn't like what he had on. He took off the white panties and small socks and slipped on a skimpy black pair and some knee high stockings with skull and crossbone patterns. He ran a hand threw his tangled mess of curls and let out a deep breath as he gazed at himself. Much better. Didn't even need the corset or garter, he was feeling more like his inner self already. A relief, he felt he'd been keeping this part of himself buried down longer than usual. It was so nice to let go and be like this in the privacy of his own home, where no one else could lay eyes on him.

A call. Black Hat. "Are you home yet?"

"Yes, I am. And I'm going to need a few more things, since they took the Stun Gun prototype."

"I'll get you what you need."

It really wasn't much, just increased quantities of the metal alloys and a few parts that Flug had planned to reuse from his original model. Easy enough to get, just took time. And it wasn't as if Flug was on any sort of time limit. He was still building an improved version of his Stun Gun. He didn't care that he'd already publicly humiliated Aurelio and pretty much gotten him arrested, he wanted more. Even if Aurelio did leave him, Black Hat, and Demetra alone, he wanted more.

Oh...Demetra. He supposed he owed her a bit of an apology for the way he acted. He'd pop in sometime and tell her it hadn't been her fault. It had all been that damn Aurelio. Though if the cops had gone to get her side of things, she might already know.

"Well, now that we've put most of the worst consequences behind us, can I just say you fucked up today?"

"What?"

"Today. You fucked up. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing, and I enjoyed it, and it was a real treat to see you punch that motherfuck in his smug face when he couldn't fight back in front of everyone. Seriously I wish I could've recorded that, but you still fucked up. Everything after that was a fucking mess that could've and should've been avoided."

What...the actual fuck...

"Tell me, how long had you known that it was Aurelio?" Black Hat asked.

"Uh, m-maybe a day or-"

"A fucking day. And you didn't think to let me know? The one with years of experience, both with getting revenge and breaking the law? The one who has, oh my bad, had a car and knew where the guy lived? Like we couldn't have gone to his house last night and dealt with him at our leisure? Without witnesses? Without getting the goddamn cops involved? You don't think to tell your Master these things?!" He hissed out the words. And then sighed deeply. "If you had told me, this whole thing would've happened so very differently. It would've been handled cleanly, efficiently, with no evidence of either of our involvement. Law enforcement would've been none the wiser, I guarantee you that. It could've all been nice and neatly dealt with. But no. It had to be public. It had to be sloppy. The man's not even missing a limb! And then you started fucking monologuing! Like you're in a fucking movie or something! Never do that again, ever!"

"If...If that's how you feel, then wh-why didn't you stop m-me?"

"Like I said, that was kind of amazing. You took control of the situation and kept your composure throughout everything. I especially liked how you baited Aurelio into approaching you and then shot him without even looking. That was fantastic! Too bad it wasn't under better circumstances. I have to say, though, it makes me wonder just how much you knew about him to be able to predict what he would do."

"With a G-Gift like his, it's pretty obvious once you think about it logically."

"Is that really all it took? I'm not convinced that even you would be able to play him so well without seeing him get into altercations beforehand."

"Fine. You really want to know how I pulled that off? I stalked him. All f-four years of high school." Flug admitted, though it had actually been longer. "I knew exactly what he'd do because he's been doing the same damn thing his whole life, and I was always right there in the shadows, watching it all. Are you happy now?"

Black Hat was silent for a few seconds. "No."

"Yeah, well, didn't see you doing much to make things any less 'sloppy.'"

"Don't take that tone with me, you're the one who had to make a scene because you couldn't wait to take revenge properly. And, if you remember, I protected you. It's what I've been doing for the past five fucking hours. Damage control, trying to tie up all of your loose ends. Hoping you'll have enough sense to do the same. Thank whatever god you want that everyone sees you as being such a feeble individual, it made lying simple. No one questions the notion that you are oh so delicate and fragile." The way Black Hat said those worlds made Flug want to throw things. "But I forgot, that is your protection, isn't it? No one could possibly fathom you to be a ruthless murderer, so long as you keep up the appearance of the eternal victim."

Flug tried to come up with a rebuttal, but the words kept getting caught in his throat. Black Hat wasn't wrong, that was how he had framed things, but it was kind of insulting to have it phrased this way. Like he was disregarding all of Flug's work, all he'd done to keep both of them out of hot water.

"I'm trying to be patient with you, Flug. I really am. I know this hurt you deeply. You wanted to kill him even more than I did. But that's no excuse for such poor form. Under no circumstances are you to ever act without consulting me again. You clearly cannot be trusted on your own yet."

Ok now this condescending bullshit was really getting to be insufferable.

"I'll get you what you need, you will build me a fully realized Stun Gun, and you will do nothing with it until I give the order. Are we clear?"

Flug voice was harsh. "We're clear."

"Good. I'll let you know when to expect me."

He hung up. Leaving Flug wishing he had something more than the walls to take his frustration out on. He couldn't even bury his emotions in his work, not until he got all the parts he needed.

He turned on his computer and got comfortable in bed. Just a little something to relax.


Translations:

Maricón = faggot (Spanish)

Marica = sissy (Spanish)

arder en el infierno = burn in hell (Spanish)

morir = die (Spanish)

matense = kill yourself (Spanish)

dez vezes = tenfold (Portuguese)

Mira esto = Watch this (Spanish)

Monólogo = Monologue (Spanish)

Hola = Hello (Spanish)

titiritero = Puppeteer (Spanish)

señor = sir/mister (Spanish)


Notes:

Well, that sure was a ride, wasn't it? I hope you all enjoyed, I've just got one more part to wrap everything up with a nice big bow on top ;).

And, I'd like to mention that a good deal of events in this chapter were inspired by Aviators song "Paralyzed". watch?v=-6fcs8uE5Q4

And...you guys...it has a spanish cover. watch?v=wZMnespIaZ8