Warning: Gore. We've been dancing around this for a long time but here it is in the flesh.


Black Hat was adhering to the traffic laws for once. Maybe it was because they had such...precious cargo at the moment. Oh God what if a cop pulled them over right now-

No, no, not going to think about that. Flug was going to drive himself insane (although he may already be there) if he kept this up. He took a deep breath in, and tried to let it out slowly and evenly. It was going to be fine, it was going to be ok, no matter what happened it was going to be okay. Flug supposed he really couldn't ask for more than that. Who would he even ask, God? Oh father in heaven, please protect me as I go to murder this probably innocent soul and repeatedly have intimate relations with this strange man I still barely know anything about.

Admittedly, he did feel closer to Black Hat now. He felt he had a better understanding of what sort of man he was. He was evil, but that wasn't all there was to him. They'd gotten more personal since their first date, in a casual kind of way. They'd both shared more about themselves, and Flug figured he'd rather confide in Black Hat than Demetra again. At least Black Hat understood the concept of confidentiality. If nothing else, he could keep a secret. He probably kept a lot of secrets.

The radio was on again, low as it had been before. Flug couldn't focus on it, honestly he just couldn't find it in himself to try. Distracting himself wouldn't help him prepare at all, nor would getting lost in his thoughts of failure. Even if Black Hat wouldn't fire him or anything, he did want to be able to go through with it. Just because it was alright if he chickened out, didn't mean he wasn't chickening out. As always, he couldn't stand the thought of failure. As if being bad at killing people was worse than actually killing people.

They were coming up on vaguely familiar territory. Everything looked different in the dark, but there were certain signs and graffiti he sort of recognized. Meaning they were getting close.

"Um, Black Hat?"

"Yes?"

"How are we getting in?"

"I'll open the gate. Do you have your license?"

"Yeah." It had been a while since he'd driven, but he did have his license. It had been close to the only way to show his parents that he was ready to try and take on the world again. From the safety of a classroom this time. Of course when it came down to it, it had been between his own car or his own place and as much as they wanted him to pick the car...he needed his own space. Somewhere to hide away and be himself in peace.

"Do you mind driving though while I shut it behind us?"

"Nah, I can do that." This wasn't a stick shift was it? No, automatic. Good. "How are you opening the gate?"

"Picking the lock."

"Couldn't swipe a key?" Flug muttered, more to himself.

"Nope, sorry. I'm afraid I haven't had the opportunity."

And what would an opportunity be? Just when was a good time to swipe someone's key and make your own copy? How exactly is it done? How long does it take? Just how much time did Black Hat need to be able to get a copy of someone's key and have access to whatever was locked away?

Flug really didn't want to ask this, because he was sure he really didn't want to know the how's and the why's of Black Hat invading his privacy and personal space, but...he had to know. He couldn't pretend that wasn't what Black Hat did.

"When did you have the op-p-opportunity with me?"

"What?"

"My apartment key."

"Oh. Oh, that...it was around the start of the school year." So a few months before they officially met. Ok, Flug could live with that. "Do you remember rushing to class and bumping into me?"

"Vaguely..." It had been very early in the year, maybe the second week of classes, he wasn't fully sure. Flug thought that might've been the first time he'd actually seen Black Hat, some seemingly chance encounter that he only barely recalled. No names or words had been exchanged, besides a quick Oh excuse me, sorry about that. And the half-formed wonderings of Wait, was that guy wearing a top hat? before he was long gone. That had been when he'd got to Flug's keys? Motherfucker, HOW?! It had been half a second at most! "But...I didn't even notice my keys were missing?"

"Hey, I grew up poor you know. I have a very light touch."

Then why am I covered in bruises? Flug thought. What he actually said was, "Ok so, you pickpocketed me like an English street vagrant-"

"Vagrant?!"

"-yeah, you did that, and...made a copy of my keys? While I was in class? When did I get them back?" Had he seen Black Hat again that day? Had he just passed him by without even realizing it? Flug's pants weren't skin tight or anything but you'd think he'd feel someone taking his keys out of his pocket. Or putting the keys back.

"I am no vagrant Flug!"

"Ok, I'm sorry." He actually did sound offended by that. Oh what, is stalker more dignified than vagrant? Or robber? Murderer? Tax evader? Supervillain?

Alright to be fair, he called himself a supervillain. He took pride in his criminality. And "vagrant" was not the most distinguished title, Flug supposed. Is there a male term for a prima donna? Because that term was perfect.

"I am sorry I compared you to a vagrant, sir," Flug said, really laying it on thick. "Please tell me when I got my keys back after you stole them."

"I did not-" Black Hat let out an annoyed groan. "I slipped them back into your pocket at the bus stop."

"I didn't even notice you."

"Yes I know, I'm very good at what I do."

"You do that a lot?"

"Years of practice."

"How many?" Flug asked, seeing yet another familiar landmark and remembering they were that much closer to their destination. "How long have you been at this whole supervillain, world domination, thing?"

"Almost...my whole life, I think. It wasn't always about ruling the world, it used to be just what I did to survive. It was in my best interests to become as skilled as possible. I started off just trying to feed myself, and then I needed to feed my workers. Worthless-" Black Hat broke off into some other language, one Flug couldn't make heads or tails of. What that his native tongue? "Nothing but parasites, the lot of them."

A self-made criminal mastermind? Didn't see many of those these days. "And how did ruling the world come to be the grand plan?"

"I guess it was because...I didn't like the world I was born into. I didn't like where my place in it was, and I didn't like how that had been decided for me. I was unhappy being at the bottom, so I resolved to do something about it. I wanted nothing more than to destroy everything around me. Destroy it, and rule the ruins. Use them to build my new world. Something...better."

"So you want to build a better world?"

"No, just one that's better for me. I don't plan on setting right any of the things I find wrong, just using them to my own advantage."

"Well at least you're honest about it." Flug could certainly appreciate that he didn't try for the moral high ground to justify his goal of world tyranny. He didn't even deny that was what he wanted. Flug might even say he respected him for that. He knew he was a bad person, and he knew he was doing terrible things, but that didn't stop him. He was never held back by guilt or shame, he didn't even regret any of the things he'd done. He simply accepted what he was, and found the best way to utilize it to get what he wanted. And he never hesitated when the time came to act. Undoubtedly he wouldn't be losing any sleep tonight, this was probably pretty minor in the grand scheme of things.

This was a man who might actually end up ruling the world some day.

And Rocinante Flugslys was going to help him.

"I'm always honest with you. I told you I wanted to rule the world the night we met. Well, properly met."

"Yeah, about that, is that your usual opening line?"

"It stopped Dr. Morte from taking my soul." He grinned.

"You'll have to tell me that story sometime."

They came to the gate at last. For some reason, Black Hat took his keys out of the ignition and removed one of them from the keyring. He held it out silently. Flug just kind of stared at it, and at him.

Black Hat sighed, seeing that an explanation seemed to be in order. And refusing to provide one. "Take it."

"Is that-"

"Yep. Go ahead and take it."

Flug picked it out of Black Hat's fingers and before he could say anything Black Hat got out of the car. "Come on over, I won't be long."

Flug promptly got out as well and climbed into the driver's seat. Black Hat had the gate open in less than a minute and Flug drove in and parked in front of their unit. Black Hat followed behind.

Flug took the chance to open the trunk and peek at their victim before the testing began. Late 20's early 30's, maybe? It was dark, he had a beard, he was wearing black. It was kind of difficult to make out features. He was kind of chubby, but not really full on obese.

Black Hat approached. "Ready, Flug?"

He took a deep breath in and out. "Yes."

Black Hat stood there, expectantly. "Well?"

"Well?"

"Open the door, Flug."

"Wait, this..." He felt around for the key Black Hat had given him. "This is the storage unit key?"

Black Hat scowled. "Flug, you have my keyring."

"Oh!" Oh shit. He did. "Oh, yes, of c-course! Sorry, a-about that. Um..." Ok now which was the right key? This one? This one? No, that was for the car. This one's kind of small, maybe this was it? Or maybe-

"The small one, Flug. You've seen me do this how many times now?"

"Sorry, sorry," He mumbled, trying to figure out which way the key went into the padlock. It felt like an eternity when he finally got the door open.

"Get the lights." Black Hat said, getting their victim out surprisingly quick for someone who could only touch him though rubber gloves.

Yes sir, jefecito. Flug thought sarcastically. Though only half-sarcastically. The other half was fear. He was trying to put on a brave face as the reality hit him hard and now Black Hat was getting testy with him. Why could he not do something as simple as open a door without being prompted? How had he forgot he had the keys? And...was this Black Hat's copy of his apartment key? Flug wouldn't say he knew his key by sight alone. Not when it wasn't on his keyring, alongside the keys to his childhood home and his plane charm.

He felt around for the cord and pulled, illuminating the scene.

Ah yes, just what his addled mind needed: the Early 2000's Horror Movie Lighting. Complete with tarps for no damn reason Flug could figure out. He certainly wasn't going to ask now.

"Flug, the door." Black Hat dragged their victim backwards inside their storage unit. Flug silently pulled the door down behind them, shutting them in.

Yep. They were completely shut in now. In their sound-proofed murder-dungeon where they would commit murder. Like, right now. Well, technically they still had some torture to do. Had to show off aaaallllllll the nice and painful features Flug had designed. Because they had little to no other function but to cause pain. And Flug would be demonstrating that little fact himself.

Oh Jesús, esto iba a ser un desastre.

"Here you are, Flug." He turned and saw Black Hat reach into his coat and pull out the Stun Gun. He held it out, with a more neutral expression on his face. Flug took it and Black Hat closed his hands around Flug's, making his hold on the thing tight. "Your time to shine, my mad scientist."

Flug had almost been expecting Black Hat to call him his Pet right there. He stared down at their hands, and the weapon in them. "Right."

Black Hat stepped out of the way so there was nothing in between Flug and the guy they just abducted. Flug took another deep breath in and did his best to let it out slow. He was determined to at least attempt this on his own. He turned his gaze to the man who would serve as his test subject. He was still completely paralyzed, and no doubt terrified out of his mind. In this light, he seemed closer to mid-to-late 20's age-wise. He was otherwise unremarkable, no overtly distinct features like tattoos or piercings that Flug could see. Ok, no more stalling. Time to get to it. He was doing this. Now.

Now, where exactly to begin? Pulses? Increasing the voltage? Maybe-

"Are you having second thoughts, Flug? Do you need me to do this one?"

"No." Flug steeled himself. "No, I'm ok. Just, ah, just trying to decide what to do first."

Black Hat sighed impatiently. "I told you to plan ahead."

That was true, he had. And Flug had tried, but the best he had accomplished was an elaborate fantasy sequence of torturing Aurelio. Did that count?

Well, it was a start. Call it his "motivation".

"Ok, so, Black Hat. You remember what the Stun Gun can do?"

"Remind me." God he sounded almost bored. "I never did see anything but its ability to paralyze people in action. And I've done that."

"Well then, let me show you what happens when I turn this knob." Their guy began twitching and jerking slightly as the electricity began wracking his body on the rubber mats lining the floor. They struck Flug as a tad unnecessary, similar to the tarps, but he supposed he really shouldn't complain about Black Hat taking every precaution. It could only be from years of experience that he was so careful, and therefore not without some reasoning.

Speaking of Black Hat, Flug seemed to have recaptured his attention.

"This knob controls how many pulses of electricity flow through the victim. At default, it's one continuous pulse that keeps the victim paralyzed. Right now we're at, uhhhh, let's call it Level 1 in terms of scale." Flug tried to be scientific with it, he spoke and acted as professional as he could. Like this was normal, no pressure, no anything. He was just an employee presenting his boss with the newest product. "It's painful, but not unbearably so, and won't kill someone unless it goes on for an extended period of time. At this voltage, it will be slow going."

"And how does one change the voltage, again?" Black Hat wasn't smiling, but he looked far more invested with this sudden change in Flug's attitude.

"These buttons up here," Flug tilted the Stun Gun in Black Hat's direction and pointed to the little arrows. He was getting more into his own flow, not really bothered by the pain he was putting this stranger through. "Now, if we increase the voltage," Flug pushed the up arrow three times, each time the victim spasmed harder and harder. "This is Level 2. Far more painful, and far more deadly. And if we turn the knob even further..." Their victim kept jerking until he looked like someone having a very intense seizure. The two of them stepped back a bit, he was getting to be mobile. Even a little vocal.

"Would this be...Level 3?" Black Hat was now very obviously trying to resist the urge to smile. Flug could tell his lips were just dying to curl up into an evil grin.

It gave Flug an idea.

"Mmmm, I think it needs a little more." Flug upped the voltage again, and their victim locked in place with his back arching painfully through the coursing electricity. His eyes bulged and his jaw was clamped so tight he was damn near guaranteed to crack if not break some teeth. "I say...this, is Level 3." Black Hat couldn't hide how...ecstatic he was now. You could say there was a certain...spark in his eye. Black Hat's maniacally delighted expression coupled with Flug's own lame jokes gave him the confidence to get a little more creative with things. "And hey, no need to stick to levels. You can play around with the settings to your heart's delight." Flug demonstrated this by lessing the pulses and increasing the voltage just slightly. Making them less frequent but nearly strong enough to be fatal. It made him jerk up in waves. Kind of like that old dance move, the worm or whatever. Flug didn't dance. Then he lowered the voltage again, and turned the knob so far it shocked their man stiff all over again. So many pulses it was just a more painful version of the Stun Gun's default setting.

Black Hat had a wide, toothy smile on. His breaths were heavy like a predator that had finally cornered it's prey after a long chase. He'd given up completely on trying to act like he wasn't loving every second of Flug's demonstration. Flug only grew more bold seeing him like that.

"Well, that only leaves one last feature to show you." Flug deactivated the Stun Gun, leaving his victim a trembling, panting, horrified mess of a person who was struggling to move his body. Whether he was trying to get to his feet or just curl up into a fetal position, Flug wasn't sure, he wasn't making much progress.

"Ohhhh, already?" Black Hat pouted, still looking overjoyed with the results of their test run.

"Don't worry sir, you'll love this." Flug said with more conviction than he even knew he had. "In case I forgot to mention, you don't need to wait until you have a victim to start familiarizing yourself with the Stun Gun. You can set the voltage to whatever you'd like before you shoot." He upped the voltage so far there was no way it wouldn't be fatal instantly. The knob was turned as far as it could go. "So, if you're pressed for time, or just need someone out of the way as quickly as possible..." He aimed. Time to go all the way.

"P-Please," The victim choked out, managing to prop himself up on one elbow and face Flug. He sounded like he was crying. "Please, I-I have-"

Flug shot him. His victim seized instantly, so violently that his eyes rolled back in his head completely. Flug hit him in the shoulder, making the right arm flail a bit wilder than the left. He continued convulsing, but there was a certain lack of...Flug wasn't entirely sure. It reminded him of a ragdoll, something limp being made to move by an outside force it had no power to resist.

Flug didn't let it go on for long. He deactivated the Stun Gun again and knew just from a cursory glance, the man was dead. He was dead and Rocinante Flugslys had killed him.

Wait, was the body smoking? Wow, he thought that only happened in cartoons. Had he shocked him so much he'd charred flesh?

"There now," Black Hat approached him with open arms. "Was that so bad?"

"Ha, no. That was..." Flug let all the air out of his lungs in slightly shaky laughter. He noticed his arms had broken out in goosebumps. His heart was pounding in his chest but he didn't feel scared or afraid or anything at all like that. He felt...he felt great!

Black Hat wrapped his arms around Flug's waist, holding him tightly. "What did I tell you? Pure villainy if I ever saw it." Flug chuckled a bit more to himself, and returned Black Hat's hug. "And here you were freaking out."

Flug shook his head, and maybe nuzzled into Black Hat a little. Maybe. Just a little. "I thought...I don't know. I thought that, since this guy didn't even do anything to me, I thought it'd be harder."

"I know, I know." Black Hat kissed his temple. For some reason it felt very wet. "Everyone always tells you it's so hard to do, it takes so much out of you, but then it just...doesn't."

R.I.P. to those guys but I'm different, Flug thought. And laughed again. Because that phrase could be taken completely literally and it would still work.

"And you were just wonderful, my dear Pet. I knew you could do it." Black Hat beamed at him, his sharp teeth gleaming in the fluorescent lighting.

"Thank you." Flug almost felt like he should get Black Hat a "Thanks for believing in me," card or something. He'd really been Flug's rock through all this emotional turmoil and self-doubt. Flug wasn't sure he would've been able to do anything like this without Black Hat helping him along.

"But of course, it's why I went after you in the first place after all." He sighed dreamily, eyeing the corpse. "You're a natural. Exactly what I was looking for. And it'll only get easier from here, next time will be even better."

Oooh, a natural. Exactly what he was looking for. And next time will be even better. "What will next time be? When will next time be? What should I-"

"You should focus on the Hat-Botler. Once you've got a working prototype, we'll see how it handles as your little mechanical lab assistant."

"Oh, right, the Hat-Botler. Yeah." Yeah, he still had that little project on his workbench.

"In the meantime, perhaps we could practice a bit more." Black Hat could hardly take his eye off the body. "Now that you've proven you're capable, I can't think of a single reason you couldn't handle these outings more regularly."

"You mean it?"

"Of course I do," Black Hat kissed his forehead. It make a wet, smacking sound. "You said you were interested in expanding your criminal skill set, did you not? I can help you do exactly that. I can show you many ways of inflicting pain and suffering. Would you like that?"

"Yes sir," Flug said. Oh wow he felt like he was standing on a cloud. He was just in absolute serenity. "I think I'd like that very much."

"There you are," Black Hat held him closer. Trailing his mouth down slowly to Flug's. Leaving soft, sloppy kisses along the way. "There's my mad scientist, there's the evil I knew was in you. I knew you could do it. I knew you wouldn't let me down. I never doubted you for a second. My darling Pet." Their lips brushed against each other. "My good boy."

"...What? What did you just call me?"

"My good boy?" He backed off a bit. "Because, you know, I'm always calling you my Pet and...yeah, now that I say it out loud, it does sound a bit weird. Especially with the age difference." Black Hat stopped holding him. "Would you rather I not call you that again?"

"No no, it's...I'll get used to it."

"If you don't like it you should just tell me."

"No, I-I like it, I do." Flug put his hands on Black Hat's chest. "You just, kind of caught me off guard, is all. I do like it, really." Even WITH the weirdness of the age difference. Which is...how much, exactly?

"As long as you're sure it's alright...my good boy."

Flug smiled nervously. He did like it, in the same sort of way he liked being called his Pet. Similarly, it felt a little weird, but not bad. Weird like...like he should feel bad about enjoying it. It belonged in the "guilty pleasures" box. He got used to being called his Pet so he could surely get used to being called his good boy as well. If it ever got too weird, he'd just tell Black Hat to stop. He trusted that he'd stop.

Then Flug realized where his hands were and jumped back sheepishly. He was so frazzled the Stun Gun fell right out of his hands, landing on the floor with a thud.

"Ah! S-Sorry. I, I didn't mean to, um...I'm sorry..."

"It's alright, Flug." Black Hat closed the distance between them and caught Flug's hand, giving it a soft kiss. "Quite alright."

"Oh...ok..." He was starting to feel a little warm again.

"Now, I'm going to call a friend of mine to come take care of this-" He gestured to the body with a wide grin. Actually, he might've been drooling, might explain why all his kisses were so slobbery just now. "-and to lock this place back up as if no one was here tonight. Do you mind waiting for me in the car? I shouldn't be too long."

"No, I don't mind."

"Thank you my Pet." Flug went and picked up the Stun Gun on his way out. Black Hat called out after him, "Please shut the door behind you as well."

"Sure, no problem."

Flug shut the door as Black Hat had asked, catching a glimpse of Black Hat kneeling down before the corpse. Must want to get a good, up-close and personal look at it. Flug kind of regretted that he hadn't checked out his handiwork like that. He didn't want to go back in right after he shut the door and disturb Black Hat. Maybe next time he'd remember to stick around for a closer look.

Ha, next time. He'd been making himself sick worrying about this for days and he was already thinking about next time. He had to shake his head and smile, how silly he felt. Getting so worked up over nothing.

Flug got back into the passenger seat of Black Hat's car. It was cold, so he turned the keys in the ignition and turned up the heater. He turned up the radio while he was at it, and...was that Queen?

Mama, just killed a man

Put a gun against his head

Pulled my trigger, now he's dead

Well, either God had a sense of humor after all, or just a good sense of irony. Either way Flug was feeling the happiest he had in...he wasn't sure he'd ever felt like this before. He was happy, and proud of himself, and excited to continue his chosen career path. When was the last time he'd looked towards the future and genuinely felt like he had something to look forward to? When was the last time he felt so confident? Or so self-assured?

He did it. He really did it. He could hardly believe he actually did it! I mean, he stumbled a bit at first but then he just went and did it and...and it was fine. He was fine. He was completely, perfectly fine. Which, morally, was about as far from fine as could be, but that didn't really bother Flug right now. He was going to be a villain. No, he was a villain. This was his first murder as an official villain! He could do this!

He was going to do this. Black Hat would teach him how to do better. Flug wondered if next time he'd get to do the abducting. He hoped he wouldn't freak himself out over that like he did this. Maybe he was getting ahead of himself. Black Hat was going to teach him other torture methods as well, and there was still the Hat-Botler. And the Hat-Bot. Ooh, he hadn't made a lethal version of the Elec-Trap yet! That could be fun to test out! There was so much to do, and so much he still had to learn. He was so excited!

His sleeplessness was really feeling like a gift right about now. Just imagine how long all these things would take if he wasted six-to-eight hours a night sleeping. He was grateful that his biggest issue was just where to start.

Oh, he just remembered he'd promised Demetra he'd tell her how their "date night" went. Might as well make good on that, if he didn't want her asking how things went the next time he saw her in person. He already knew she wouldn't keep her voice down.

Oh wow it was almost two in the morning. Would she even be awake at this hour? What was she going to think of him being awake this late? Early.

And how should he phrase this? What exactly should he say? She thought they'd been doing things tonight. Like...each other. With dragon dildos, apparently. Plural. What the fuck was wrong with her? Had she never heard of this thing called too much information? Flug didn't want to fan the flames of her imagination any more than he already had. He texted,

Sooo guess who was freaking out over nothing after all

How was that?

It felt warm in here. But not warm enough to turn down the heater. Flug pulled his hoodie off and tossed it in the backseat. There, much better. His t-shirt was starting to stick to his skin anyway. He pulled at his shirt collar, fanning himself a bit. Ah, so much better.

jesus ur man keeps u up LATE my guy

u 2 had a gud time?

Yeah, it was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be

wat did i tell u

wit enough lube anyting is possible!

Ok getting a little too graphic there, Dem. And when did she say that?! Flug did not remember that and he would definitely remember that!

sooooooo gimme teh deets!

was it gud 4 u?

howd u do?

u need any tips?

She ended her text with smirking emojis. Seven of them. If it wasn't for the fact that he and Black Hat weren't actually sleeping together, he might take her up on that. She seemed...well-versed in these things. She was so casual about it all; sexuality, sex, sex toys, oral, probably some other things Flug couldn't so much as think about with turning red.

But since they weren't doing that, and Flug had done a pretty good job at what he actually did, he didn't think he'd need any help from her. He had it under control and he would only improve.

That won't be necessary

Let's just say Black Hat was drooling when I was done with him

W

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT

ASDFGHJKLWQEIJB HDFVHBIHNFPA OE

BROOOOOOOO

U GO PLANE BOI

FUCK IT UPPP

Flug continued chuckling to himself. He couldn't believe he just said that! He had to close his eyes for a few seconds just to let it sink in. He just knew he had the dumbest smile on his face. He'd just murdered a man, and was now pretending he'd ended a steamy date night with his boyfriend. Life was crazy and he was starting to have fun with it. But...

His boyfriend...

He knew that Black Hat wasn't really his boyfriend. He knew that, but...Black Hat kind of acted like he was. He talked to him, like he wasn't really good at being "nice" but he was trying. He apologized when Flug was hurt or scared, and did try to help him. It felt like he was genuinely trying to get to know him, and wanted Flug to feel like he could talk to him. Black Hat really did put in a lot of effort to try and have a good relationship with him. Whether it be in a romantic sense or a professional one...he treated it as one and the same.

Flug wondered why he hesitated so much to just ask him about putting a clear label on...them. Black Hat was honest with him, most if not all the time. He was upfront about his alignment and goals, and had answered every question he'd asked so far. Sure, Flug couldn't fact-check all of them, but certain things he'd admitted to made Flug want to trust him. He'd never lied about having made a copy of his apartment key, or about having used it. He'd gone over the soul contract with Flug when he'd worked up the courage to ask about any side effects of selling one's soul. He'd only really clammed up when it came to whatever a "premium" soul contract was. Maybe one or two other things Flug couldn't recall at the moment. But that was it.

Flug felt Black Hat had been honest and straightforward and maybe was having a bit of trouble navigating whatever was going on between them as well. Flug would admit, he kind of sort of did maybe conceivable possibly perhaps have some feelings for Black Hat that were not quite exactly strictly platonic. And Black Hat up and said he liked him, which Flug of course could overanalyze for days. What did that mean? What did he like?

Well, he liked watching him torture and kill people. And totally wanted to do it again sometime. For no other reason than he enjoyed it. Was it like when they kissed, and things beyond? He enjoyed it, so he did it? Was that his motivation for everything he did? His own personal pleasure? And he wanted Flug to enjoy it too? He always said he wouldn't push Flug into something he wasn't comfortable with or didn't want. And...he hadn't.

He said he wanted to do better, if Flug would give him the chance. He apologized and said he shouldn't be so inconsiderate of his feelings. He said he was here if Flug wanted to talk. He'd talked to him, and tried to comfort him. He even offered to do this one himself if Flug couldn't bring himself to just yet. He said it was ok if he couldn't. Black Hat made him feel ok.

Oh, you know what he should check right now? The key.

He pulled the key Black Hat gave him out of his pocket, and compared it with his apartment key. It was the same size, the teeth felt the same. He held them side by side and confirmed it.

Yep. Same exact key.

This felt like it meant something. He wasn't fully sure what, but there was some sort of meaning behind it.


This was an interesting flavor.

Now, Black Hat had eaten people who'd died of electrocution before, this wasn't especially new territory for him. The electric chair, bare wires in water, a toaster in the bathtub (look, sometimes you just have to make do with what you have). None of them tasted quite like this. Maybe it was because the chair was a one-and-done deal, just one big jolt until the guy fries. Wires also are one continuous stream of electricity. Same principle all around. A shock, a jolt, boom, you got yourself a dead body.

But this...this one hadn't taken just one hit. This one had been dragged out, shown off, it had been a performance. Like dinner and a show!

"Mmmmm," Black Hat savored the taste of it. Still warm, even more so from the heat of the electric current. Charred, you could almost say cooked in the two spots where he'd been shot with the Stun Gun. Oh how Flug had made him writhe in agony, so easily. It had been everything Black Hat had been hoping for and more. Just had to get over the hurdle of actually doing it and everything had gone perfectly. He'd looked so excited for his big finish! And it was a big finish. The grande finale. The perfect ending to the evening. Black Hat was pleased, he'd gotten exactly what he wanted.

So Flug had some cold feet. Fine. It's his first time where killing is business, not personal at all. Black Hat tried to be understanding. In a way, he did understand. He'd been flighty his first time going out with intent to kill. He'd been alone, he'd had to be alone, and all he could think of was what could go wrong. The consequences he would face should anything go awry. Ultimately, he'd done it, flawlessly of course. And after he confirmed what he felt (or rather didn't feel), it became easy. He'd learned to collect himself, to not worry about what might happen, just see what happens and act accordingly. Some things you can't plan for, the human condition was one of those things. Creatures of routine and habit, but every once in awhile you get thrown a curveball.

Target goes out, but not consistently or following any clear pattern? Well that puts a significant amount of time up to chance now doesn't it? Just have to wait and see when opportunity will come.

It really hadn't been so bad having Flug with him. They'd gotten that much closer. And now that Flug had proven Black Hat right, he couldn't wait to get even closer. Maybe now he'd finally have some confidence and Black Hat could see the real Rocinante Flugslys again. The one who had killed more than twenty people, most of which weren't even on his hit list, and faced no legal ramifications. The one who attacked a man in a public area in broad daylight like a moron and got off with a slap on the wrist. The one who mere minutes ago tortured a man with full commentary and instructions like he was on an infomercial, all with the poise and presence of a good sales rep. He was so good. Black Hat tells him to make it lethal, he does that AND allows for everyone's inner sadist to come out and play. He does it without even thinking. Black Hat knew he got a good one!

The tongue from the gullet on his palm lolled out to get a few drops of blood that had splattered off while he'd been chewing. The rows of teeth he'd created down his forearm ground the meat into paste almost mechanically. Like an assembly line straight to his stomach. Another mouth, spawned from below his elbow, nipped at whatever it could find. Dozens of nostrils and eyes hunted the surrounding area till they found something edible. Which the mouth would then lunge after in a snapping motion, biting off bits of flesh and chewing ferociously. He sucked the eyeballs from their sockets, sighing in delight when they popped between his teeth. He let his tongue bathe in the substance, enjoying the texture. Firm, chewy, visceral goo coating his taste buds, a bit of vitreous fluid dribbled out from his lips. Not to worry, he sucked it from the skin it had landed on. May as well take another bite, while he was here. He slurped the optic nerves out like noodles.

The brain had a gelatin-like texture, it could almost be slurped in with the rest of the cerebrospinal fluid. Black Hat couldn't really compare the taste to anything else, besides maybe to the brains of different species. It tasted like a brain, which you can't describe any better than you can describe the taste of actual gelatin. There was variety, but it was all basically the same. This was similar.

He tore through skin and bone easily, ripping off meat and severing limbs with his brute strength and his sharp claws. Joints snapped and burst, bones broke into pieces, flesh went everywhere in splattering explosions of gore. Bone splinters fell to the floor, floating in pools of blood. Chunks of fat were chomped through until Black Hat made it to the organs. Delicious, fatty organs.

The heart was the meatiest of them. So thick, a muscle that fit right in his hand and he could eat like it was a fucking apple. It even made a kind of crunching sound as his teeth ripped through the aorta. It was heavenly. He'd been needing this. It had been months, and it hadn't been on his own terms in even longer. He wouldn't have that resigned sense of shame that came with doing it for someone else, no uncomfortable feelings of paying a debt tonight. This had been his doing. Black Hat had picked this one out. He may not have done it himself, but it had been done by his subordinate which technically counted as an extension of him, so he was still responsible for the deceased.

It was always a little awkward eating the parts covered in body hair. No matter how many times he did it, how many years it had been, he still had the lingering fear that it would make him cough up hairballs. Which, to him, just sounded so unpleasant. It made him wince in physical disgust.

And no, human meat does not taste like chicken. It was closer to red meat in both taste and consistency. Especially when actually cooked.

He needed to get rid of the body, did he not? He needed to destroy absolutely all of the evidence. He hadn't exactly lied to Flug, he would be calling a "friend" of his to take care of things here and make it as sterile as an operating table. It was just that instead of disposing of the body, they'd be cleaning up whatever Black Hat left of it. Which wouldn't be more than bloodstains, bone shards, and the rare piece of skin or tissue. Oh, and his clothes. They would need to be gotten rid of. Nothing that couldn't be handled in a quick and easy manner.

When the bones were sucked free from meat and blood and other bodily fluids, Black Hat crushed them between his teeth as well. Just a few minutes after Flug had left him to it and there was nothing of the body but a stain and ruined clothing.

Black Hat went about making himself decent again, wiping away any blood that remained on him and leaving the rags with the rest of the bloody fabric. He retrieved his clothes from under one of the tarps, along with his shoes and hat. He couldn't go ruining his fine clothing like this now, could he? He had an image to maintain. He couldn't falter so much as once. Reaching into one of his coats inner pockets, he pulled out mouthwash and cologne. Small, travel sized bottles. Things he could have on hand. He gargled nearly the entire bottle of mouthwash and spat directly on the floor. Uncouth, yes but this place was going to be very deeply cleaned soon enough. He spritzed the cologne all over himself. It was a subtle scent, but enough to cover whatever smells may linger.

No matter how often he tried, he just couldn't help but to make a mess. He ripped too hard, sliced too fast, dug in with too much enthusiasm. Blood got everywhere. That's why these tarps were here. To make sure as little of it as possible left a very specific area. And why he stripped down. Even when wearing red, the wetness of fresh blood splatter would still be noticeable. He'd been at this too long to make such novice mistakes as leaving with blood on him. One last check to make sure his personage was spotless, and he was just about done here.

Black Hat leaned on the door, and made the call.

"Raul? It's me again. I have a job for you."

"Your usual clean up?"

"If you would be so kind." He couldn't help the contented smile that spread across his face.

The man on the other end of the call sighed wearily. "Yeah alright, where do I send my guys?"

Black Hat gave the address and unit number. "It will all be open, I would appreciate your men locking up when they're done."

"Sure, you got it."

"Pleasure doing business with you."

He hung up and wondered, not for the first time, if this counted as cannibalism.

Some part of him figured it did, but only if he was actually human as cannibalism is the consumption of your own species. If he was not human then eating humans was not cannibalism. If he was, then he was a cannibal and had been one for years and it was a little late to be growing a conscience now.

So what if he enjoyed the taste? No one else needed to know that. It was his personal business, no one else's. Like what he was. No one's business but his own.

Now if only he knew exactly what he was. Or what it was he could do. Or how he could do it. People have been cutting up the Cursed for centuries, they could explain how they worked. There was science and physiology and a part of it had to be genetics but-

But that was a dead end. Even if it wasn't, the trail had gone cold a long time ago and he swore he would never look back. There was nothing for him there. He refused to so much as entertain the idea of going back.

He would go nowhere but forward. Straight to the top.


Black Hat came back out. His first words when he got into the car were, "Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. Did you change?"

"Huh? Oh, no, just took off my hoodie."

"Ah." Black Hat squinted at the black t-shirt. "Is there a design?"

"They're constellations."

"Ohhh. I like it."

"Thanks." Oh, yeah, he likes stargazing, doesn't he? He must not do it often though, seeing as his nights were spent stalking and murdering and such. There was something Flug knew about him, it just hadn't come up again. Not much of an opportunity for a conversation or anything. Black Hat turned the radio down and drove off, leaving their kill-room unlocked and the gate open. Whoever came to take care of the body would probably handle everything else. Like cleaning and putting things back to how they should be. Flug didn't feel much like asking about the specifics right now.

They drove in silence for most of the way. Black Hat spoke up once they'd been on the freeway after a while. "You're awfully quiet. Something on your mind?"

Flug figured this was his best chance to ask. "Why did you give me the copy you made of my key?"

"Well, I can't exactly undo it. I figured this was the next best thing."

"Ok but...why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you give it to me now? Why are you giving it to me at all? I've known you had it for a while now. And I already know you've been in my apartment without me knowing. I mean, I only found out you made a copy of my key because you told me you had. And you told me you'd been in my place before. And you did it again on Christmas."

"I was just leaving you a present!"

"Yeah I know. So...why are you even bothering after everything?"

"As I said, I can't undo what I've done." Black Hat sounded kind of annoyed that he had to explain this. "I can't go back in time and not take your keys. I did it, it's done. I can't do any more than this."

"But-"

"Flug, were you really alright with me being able to enter your home whenever I wished?" Flug kept silent, long enough for Black Hat to keep talking. "If so, give me back my key and nothing will change. I'll knock when I know you're home and let myself in when I know you're not."

Flug gulped. He did knock when Flug was home and expecting him. "Did you r-really do that?"

"You know I did it before. And you know I did it on Christmas." Black Hat glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "It's in your hands now. So what's it going to be?"

Flug mulled it over. He wasn't alright with Black Hat being able to get in on his own. He wasn't alright with Black Hat breaking in so casually. Or repeatedly. He wasn't ok with that. He wasn't going to be handing Black Hat easy access to his living space whenever he wanted. Was this Black Hat's way of trying to make it up for it? Like he said, it wasn't like he could undo it. He couldn't take it back. He couldn't change what he'd done. This was really the only thing he could do.

It wasn't exactly an apology but, it made Flug feel like Black Hat...cared...about his feelings, his comfort, his peace of mind.

Like he cared about him.

"Pull over."

"What?"

"P-Please pull over." Flug's breath turned shallow, and he could hardly sit still. He was shaking like a leaf. In a tornado.

Black Hat reluctantly pulled off to the side, where it was empty. "Flug, what-"

Flug grabbed Black Hat by the sides of his head and crashed their mouths together before he even had his seatbelt off. He kissed him messily and sloppily and long. He tasted like...mint, oddly enough. Did he eat a fistful of breath mints while Flug sat in the car? He was wearing the same cologne as before, and whatever it was Flug might have to start buying it because he really liked it. He wanted to just smell it forever.

Flug pulled away. Black Hat looked absolutely stupefied. Oh. Oh God maybe he shouldn't have done that. Oh why had he done that!? It had been this big thing about taking things slow and consent and boundaries and he made Black Hat constantly ask if it was alright for him to do stuff and then Flug goes and kisses him without any kind of warning! What was wrong with him!? "I-I'm-"

Black Hat leaned over and kissed him back. They kept kissing. They couldn't stop. They couldn't keep their hands off each other for more than a moment. They both furiously took their seatbelts off. Black Hat parked the car. Flug climbed over the gearshift the second his hand was gone. Black Hat madly attempted to adjust the seat and still keep a hold on Flug while he was desperately trying not to accidentally honk the horn or otherwise mess with the steering wheel. He heard the jangling of keys but wasn't sure what ended up happening with them. Somehow in the whirlwind of limbs and saliva they wound up locked in each others arms, cramped and zealous. Flug was barely able to breath but he didn't want to stop. Not for anything. Black Hat seemed only too happy to follow his lead.

"Th-This, this is ok?" Flug wheezed out, all his air stolen.

"Much better than just ok."

No more time for words, there was just them.


Translations:

Oh Jesús, esto iba a ser un desastre = Oh Jesus this was going to be a disaster (Spanish)


Notes:

So, did anyone expect that little P.O.V. switch? Or what we ended this chapter on? I tried getting this up before the new year, but oh well. Happy 2020 everybody! This batch of chapters is almost at an end, but I wouldn't dare leave you unsatisfied.