His body felt heavy, and he couldn't move.
Blearily, Acronix blinked awake, then quickly closed his eyes again. It was too bright in here.
"How are you feeling?"
Wu's voice. Acronix stiffened.
"wasn't I gunna die?"
His voice came out hoarse and slurred, and he heard Wu sigh, "I found an alternative, you served well, and you were- you were a great friend, I couldn't let you be put down like a rabid dog"
The master of past cracked an eye open, peering at him. With the anesthetic still in his system, he could barely process what was being said to him.
Acromix laughed, "m'not a dog" he tried to lift his arm but couldn't, something was pinning him to the bed.
"Don't try to move, Acronix, you're just out of surgery"
"wha" the elemental master-turned-fangpyre started struggling, trying to stand, contrary to the other man's instructions. With a sigh, Wu pressed a button on the side of the bed and a group of nurses swarmed in, soon enough, Acronix had been put back under.
When he woke up next, he was back in his cell, laying in bed, and with Krux sitting next to him.
There was... Something wrong with that. Fangpyre bite victims were dangerous, especially if they'd become fangpyre themselves.
Family or no, there's no way his brother should be allowed in here alone, as much as the thought pained him.
"brother?" he muttered, eyebrows(or, what passed for them now) furrowing.
Krux looked over at him, gently taking his hand, "I'm here, Acronix"
"Why're you in here? I could bite you" He wouldn't, not his brother, not his own worst enemy, no one should have to suffer like this.
Krux frowned, pulling away, "He didn't tell you?" He seemed puzzled.
Acronix sat up, putting a hand to his head as his vision swam, "didn't tell me what?"
"About the surgery!" he said, like it was obvious, Acronix just stared at him, only more confused, and Krux continued, "Wu said... that there was a surgery to make you safe, venomless. If I agreed to it, he said he'd let you live- let you out, even, but I assumed he'd tell you"
The master of the past just sat there for a moment, blinking at his brother. With the drugs where still in his system, it was hard for him to process what he was saying, but after a moment, he got it.
He reached up to his bandaged face, beginning to hyperventilate as the reality of what happened hit him.
He should've died. Everyone knew the turned couldn't be trusted, so long as they were allowed to roam free, there'd always be a risk of them gaining enough power to reignite the war- that was what the alliance had feared, at least, and fangpyre were the most dangerous of all, able to turn even more to their side.
Thus, they were sentenced to death in the most humane way the Alliance had been able to think of- first, they'd drop the temperature of the cell low enough to induce brumation, then low enough to kill.
Acronix knew all about it- he'd helped approve it.
And it was what he'd thought was about to happen when his cell grew cold, but apparently, they'd just wanted to knock him out.
Laughing weakly, he through his arms around his brother, pulling him into a hug, "I never thought I'd see you again"
Krux stiffened, as he so often did in response to sudden affection, and Acronix let go, grinning as tears leaked from his eyes.
At that moment, the cell door creaked open, and Ray peered in, "Krux?" he said.
"Yes?" Krux responded without looking, focused on his brother.
Ray waved a hand, gesturing for him to leave, "Wu wants to speak to you"
Krux nodded, standing, "I'm on my way" he said, Acronix followed close behind- but Ray blocked him when he tried to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Uh- with my brother?" said Acronix, "I'm venomless, Krux said I'm free to go"
"That remains to be seen" said Ray, tersely.
Acronix sneered, "No, I can't hurt anyone, you've got no reason to keep me locked up!"
Looking awkward, Krux coughed, "I'm sorry, brother, I think you where mistaken- but I"ll take it up with Wu, I'm sure he'll see reason" he reassured.
"Yeah" said Ray, almost bitterly, "I'm sure" before grabbing Krux's arm and pulling him out the door, locking it behind him.
