[ Unfortunately, he's right. From the moment they were brought to this strange new world, the Patho-Gen no doubt saw them as nothing but lab rats to conduct experiments on. It's frustrating, makes her want to scream and shout until her voice turns hoarse, but that's not going to do either one of them any good right now.
The sigh that follows his declaration manages to calm the raging fire burning in her heart. ]
Hey... no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side. I also trust you to have my back in turn.
[ She scoots closer to him, placing her small hand on top of his. It's not much, but she feels as though she should at least offer him some reassurance. ]
We'll get through this together, okay? Even if we have to give the Patho-Gen a beating they will never forget.
[The calming effect Yoimiya's presence has on him helps him think a little clearer, and Tartaglia offers a small smile back in return. The hand on his is nice, and just her touch alone helps him recenter.]
Right. We'll make them regret ever toying with us. I swear it.
[Almost as if fate had heard him, there's a sudden shock to his collar that makes his entire body seize up for a moment before he feels a sudden calm wash over him. Tartaglia goes rigid and then slouches, his body and mind suddenly pliant as two Patho-Gen employees enter the room. One glances at Yoimiya as they both go to pick him up onto his feet. They won't say anything to her, but Childe seems to be complying with their unsaid commands.
If Yoimiya tries to stop them, she'll find she'll be shocked into submission too, but otherwise, they escort him out of the room.]
[ Since he's swearing to it, Yoimiya knows there will come a day when they get to unleash all their pent-up emotions on their captors. The Patho-Gen better pick a god and pray because she's sure Tartaglia is going to make them wish they were never born. She almost feels sorry them.
Almost. Because truthfully, she won't feel the slightest bit bad for them after today.
Before she's even able to smile and intertwine her fingers with his, she notices Tartaglia's eyes growing wide and his whole body seizing up. Suddenly, he slumps over into a heap, and she quickly goes from confused to concerned. She doesn't even get a chance to check up on him when two Patho-Gen suddenly enter the room and begin taking him away. ]
DON'T YOU DARE LAY A FINGER ON HIM!
[ Yoimiya screams at the top of her lungs as she lunges at the scientists. But before she can get a single punch in, the same fate befalls her. The zap from her collar causes her body to freeze up. ]
Tar...taglia... A....jax.
[ His name is the last thing she says before passing out. ]
[He feels like he's in a daze, as they take him and drug him up more for the coming experiment that they fetched him for. He hears Yoimiya scream for him, calling his name as he leaves, but he feels resigned to this fate, whatever comes next. As the door closes behind him, he idly wonders what's in store for him, and he'll find it's far more cruel than he even imagined...]
---
[It's several, several hours later when Tartaglia is returned to the cell with Yoimiya. The condition he returns in is awful, horrific even. The left hand side of his face is burned away from acid, and luckily his eye was spared- there's a stab wound in his shoulder, and dried blood all over his head from blunt force trauma. They throw him into the room with a malice that wasn't present in the Patho-Gen employees from before, and he lands hard against the floor, eyes closed and breathing heavily.]
Nnnnghhhh...
[It's like he can barely move, let alone speak. Whatever happened to him, he's in bad shape.]
[ About an hour later, Yoimiya finally stirs after passing out. She was hoping to wake up to Tartaglia returning from who knows where with good news that he beat the daylights out of them. Unfortunately for her, she wakes up on the cold, hard floor, all alone inside this cell.
Never before has she felt so helpless. All she can do is sit, wait, and hope that Tartaglia comes back soon. And that's how it's like for another several hours until...
Suddenly, the door slams open. Yoimiya's heart nearly leaps out of her chest, but after all the waiting, she's ready to finally reunite with Ajax. But it's then, her hopes are soon dashed when she finally gets to see him.
He... looks half dead. ]
Oh my...
[ Yoimiya's heart sinks into the pits of her stomach at his state. If she had to guess, he probably tried to fight the scientists... only to end up like this. Half of his face looks like it was burned by a horrible substance; there's a notable wound on his shoulder, and the blood... there's so much dried blood. Hot tears begin to spill down the side of her face as she stares at him. ]
A-Ajax...?
[ She scoots closer to him, placing her hand on top of him to check if he's even still breathing. ]
[Tartaglia feels so out of it, like they had to do double the injections to get him safely back to this cell. The world feels like a foggy dream around him, and he barely registers that Yoimiya is next to him, nor that her hand is on his back. The only indication he gets is the sudden soothing feeling from her touch as the result of their deep imprint, and with that he's finally able to open his eyes and look up at her.]
H-Hey.
[Offering a smile, he tries to push himself up into a sitting position, only to find that his limbs were a lot weaker than he thought. He's guessing they practically dragged him back to this cell, but at least he's starting to feel better because of Yoimiya.]
Haha, don't look at me like that. I'm still alive, aren't I?
[He knows it's bad. He can't hide it, he's on the floor barely able to move. He's only sorry that she's got to see it.]
IT'S TOO LATE NOW AND I HOPE EVERYONE SEES THAT YOU ARE SWEET MWAHAHAHAHAHA
[ The lack of any sort of movement from him makes her wonder if he's even still alive. For a moment, she starts to prepare herself for the worst, but then, the bond of their deep imprint assures her that he's hanging in there. Somehow, somehow, he manages to look up at her with a smile. As much as she'd like to smile back at him, she's unable to get past his appearance. ]
I'm thankful you're alive, but you look... horrible.
[ There's a notable quiver in her voice as she leans in to inspect his wounds. She's careful about touching the acid burns on the side of his face, not wanting to add to the excrutiating mount of pain he's in. ]
[He doesn't want to burden her with the details. His face may be burned, but what burns him more is the idea that eventually they'll come for her, too. They'll come and drag her off and there won't be anything he can do about it. Then she'll be the one getting her skull cracked open for the sake of their experiments.
The anger that rises inside of him is like a volcano exploding, but he has to try to tamp it down so it doesn't needlessly worry her. There's nothing they can do, and he's failed once at escaping already.]
Yoimiya...just please, be prepared for the worst. They truly have no regard for our well-being.
[He's already got to begin to mentally prepare himself for what might happen to her. One thing is for certain, after this, he'll kill more than just a few npc scientists if he can help it.]
[ Be prepared for the worst... those words shake her to her core. She's already upset and ready to drag someone through the mud for putting him in this condition; she doesn't wish to think about what they'll do to her.
Almost as if they heard him, the door swings open to another set of Patho-Gen employees entering the room, no doubt here for her. She immediately backs away, feeling like a scared animal trapped in the corner by a vicious predator. But naturally, she's not about to go down with some kind of fight. As soon as one of them grabs her, she begins to thrash around. ]
Let go, let go of me!
[ But even she knows there's not much she can do with the shock collars kicking in. Soon enough, the collar zaps her, causing her to faint right on the spot. The two scientists don't even pay any mind to her cellmate, because there's nothing he can do in his current condition, they only spare a passing glance at Tartaglia before taking her away. ]
[It's not the same pair that threw him in here, he knows that. Tartaglia's head snaps around the second the door opens, and he instantly knows what's about to happen. They're here for Yoimiya now, to take her off and do unspeakable things to her, and to leave him to rot alone in this cell.
As if they were prepared for him to retaliate, his collar shocks him first, sending his body into a full seize before the calmness of acceptance floods him. Childe never gets the chance to even get off the floor, looking up helplessly as they grab her, shocking her into unconsciousness.]
No...Yoimiya...please don't...
[His words are weak as she gets dragged away, and soon the door closes, leaving him alone. Tartaglia lies on the ground, feeling hopeless and weak, with the control of the collar manipulating him into no longer wanting to fight. He already feels sick to his stomach thinking about how she'll return to him, guilt instantly creeping in because he was powerless to stop them.
His mouth hangs open as he blankly stares at the floor, with the mind-manipulating drugs and power Patho-Gen has on him the only thing from keeping a choked sob from coming out of this throat.]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH REAL LIFE MONSTERS
[ Likewise, Yoimiya doesn't return for a good, several hours. Fortunately, it doesn't seem like she's sustained any major external injuries outside from some bruising but the expression on her face paints a different story. From the glazed look on her face, and the dark bags forming underneath her eyes, it's clear she's been the subject of experiments that targeted her psyche.
When Patho-Gen bring her into the cell, the blonde is far from her usual chipper self, quite the opposite. She looks catatonic, like she's seen horrors horrors beyond her own comprehension. Even as the scientists discard her onto the floor like a piece of a garbage, she doesn't move from her spot, barely managing to curl up into a ball and hug her legs.
The only indication he'll get that she's even still coherent is a choked sob. ]
[Tartaglia has had to endure many terrible situations in the past before, between the Abyss and missions with the Fatui. He's even been closer to death than right now, but this is easily in his top-ranked most terrible times he's ever had in his life, right up there with Falling Into the Abyss and Getting Lost With No Hope, and Sustained An Injury That Left Him Hanging Between Life and Death.
But the several hours he's left alone in that cell, unable to sleep well and left to deal with the pain of his injuries was torture. His heart aches knowing that Yoimiya was gone, being tested and tortured all the same. All he can do is prepare for what she'll look like when she gets back, hoping that they don't hurt her too badly, swearing that he'll redouble his efforts to keep her safe. But the fact that she's gone now is like a knife getting twisted into his heart every second she's away.
When she finally returns, Tartaglia's barely moved from his own spot on the floor, and when he sees her he can feel rage grip him. She may not be injured physically, but he can tell instantly that they've done terrible things to her. Throwing her to the ground unceremoniously, he watches on helplessly as they leave the room, scrambling over to her with anguish washing over him.]
Yoimiya...!
[She looks awful, as if they'd broken her completely. No longer is she the happy, upbeat girl he knows, and he shudders in both fear and anger.]
I'm here. It's okay now, I promise. I'm right here.
[On his knees, he scoops her into his arms from the floor, to hold her even as she hugs her knees to her chest.]
[ At first, Yoimiya doesn't even know where she's been taken to. For all she knows, they could have moved her to another area for testing. Her whole body trembles with fear, too scared to open her eyes until a familiar voice calls out her name. It's... Ajax. A small part of her wonders if maybe she's hallucinating, but then she feels the familiar warmth of his arms enveloping her.
Slowly, she manages to uncurl herself, opening her teary eyes at him. Everything around her appears distorted; it's hard for her to see through her pounding head, but as she soaks in the warmth of their bond, her vision starts to become a bit clearer. Her gaze traces over every inch of him, over every strand of his ginger hair, his face, his deep blue eyes, all those terrible injuries he sustained, almost as if she's studying every detail of him to make sure the man holding her in his arms really is Ajax. ]
A...Ajax...?
[ There's a prominent quiver in her voice as she calls out his name. The sight of him becomes less blurry and her heart breaks for a second time as she's reminded of his condition and all the horrible experiments they've been forced into. ]
They... they exposed me to katalyth. My head hurts and I saw so many awful things... oh, Ajax. I'm so.. re-relived to see you.
[ She says as tears spill down the sides of her face. Using the little strength she has left, Yoimiya maneuvers her body to huddle closer to him as if she needs him to shield her from the horrors of this world. ]
[Little by little, he can see and feel how that familiar light between them helps her open her eyes. At first, a smile unfolds on his expression as he watches her come out of the shell she'd been forced to hide inside, happy to hear that she realizes she's safe in his arms now and no longer in danger.
But it all changes when she tells him what happened. Ajax's eyes dart between her face to down her body and up again, looking for any possible physical damage, but finding nothing. He knows all too well what Katalyth poisoning does to a person, having suffered it on his journey up north with Eli several months back. It hurts to watch her cry, to see her so shaken and abused by those monsters in human skin. It doesn't escape him how it seems more like those unable to shift are more monstrous than the ones who can.]
It's over, now. You don't have to go through that anymore.
[He holds her close, lets her bury her head so she doesn't have to look at the cold walls of their cell. The claw marks and indents are a stark reminder of their unfortunate position, and the last thing he wants her to think about is the futility of their struggle.]
I'm so sorry Yoimiya, [he whispers.] I'll make them pay for this, I promise you...
[ It's over, now. That's the first bit of solace that she's had over the course of those several, torturous hours. She takes the invitation to bury her head into his chest to let out more choked sobs. For the first time since they've arrived, she finally feels somewhat safe. It still feels like they're trapped like helpless rats awaiting slaughter, Tartaglia's arms shielding her from the world helps put her at ease.
Especially when he makes that threat. She knows that when this man makes a promise, he'll go above and beyond to ensure he keeps it and that includes getting revenge on those terrible monsters. ]
Thank you... [ She stops to catch her breath, another choked sob follows in the aftermath. ] Thank you, Ajax.
[ It's not like her to advocate for revenge but after everything Patho-Gen has done, they don't deserve to be treated with kindness. ]
L-Let me help you. [ hic ] I want to make them pay for what they did to you too. I'll never forgive them for all the pain they inflicted onto you.
[Tartaglia breathes a heavy sigh out of his nose, anger welling inside of him to see her cry like this, to see her suffer like this. No doubt there are others he doesn't know about that are here too, going through the same hardships. He closes his eyes, keeping her close to him, so that the relaxing feel of their imprint can help soothe her mind. It helps him just as much in return as well, but nothing can quell the rage he feels from the injustices committed against them.]
Of course. Once we escape from here, the two of us will rend their organization asunder.
[They'll pay, that's for sure. Breathing out another labored sigh, Ajax opts to sit with her for now, for as long as she needs before she can sit on her own. Not that there is much else they can do, being locked in this room for who knows how long. There's been no sign of food or water either, urging Tartaglia to begin to make plans to escape from this room before it's too late.
He doesn't know if they'll be let go- they might be sentenced to die here.]
I want you to rest for now, okay? You can relax right here against me. We'll begin our plans after you've had some time.
[ She swears that venom practically drips from his declaration, Yoimiya senses the weight behind his words; this man means business. Once Tartaglia has his mind set, there's no changing it, and even so, she couldn't be any happier to stand by his side when the day of their vengeance finally comes. She's not in the business of hurting people, but there's no way she can relax while Patho-Gen is treating people like experiments; they must be stopped at all costs. ]
Thank you, Ajax. Please rest too. One day, we'll teach them a lesson... together.
[ At this point, she's cried so much that it feels like her eyes have dried up. As much as she would like to run out and show Patho-Gen what-for, there's really not much either one of them can do in their current predictament. All she can do is huddle up and soak in his warmth until she ultimately passes out from exhaustion. ]
---
[ It's been several days since the incident. Despite the past few days being nothing but a blur, she's well aware of the nightmares plaguing her dreams and keeping her awake at night. Trying to get sleep feels almost agonizing. Every night, she's hit with the same, horrifying scene of being thrown into a cell and dragged out to be used as a lab rat. It's getting harder to sleep, and at this point, all she can do is seek comfort and she knows the perfect person to go to.
Ajax.
Unsure if he's even home, the first few knocks on the door are soft. ]
[As he's gotten older, it's rare for his dreams to be plagued with nightmares after he left the Abyss, but from the tossing and turning he'd been doing since their return from having their Augmenters adjusted, he's suspected something's happened to them that he can't quite remember. It hasn't been long but his instincts are telling him there's more to the story to their visit to Patho-Gen than what they told them, but he has no evidence save for the faint remains of a scar around his left eye. Thankfully it's not that noticeable, and he wonders if he walked into something or the like.
But, those things aren't on his mind right now, purposely filling his time with other distractions, in this case a book he'd gotten from the library several weeks back. The knocks at his door break his concentration, putting the book down and getting up to answer, and to his delight it opens to Yoimiya.]
Yoimiya! What a surprise, why don't you come in?
[Not that coming in is anything new to the two of them, as there's a place right on Tartaglia's couch with her name on it. He moves to let her inside, but he senses something is off right away, and he's got a feeling he knows exactly what it is.]
I think I know why you're here. Let me get the two of us some water, and I'll join you on the couch, okay?
[ Click! Her bunny ears stand straight up in delight at the sounds of the door creaking. As the door opens, her mood considerably lifts when Tartaglia makes his appearance, happy to see that he seems relatively okay. But upon further inspection, her eyes widen at something peculiar about him. It's not prominent, but she's still able to make out what appears to be a scar around his left eye. By this point, she's seen his face plenty of times to know that scar was definitely not there before. A momentary look of concern flashes her features, but there's a warm air surrounding her. She's just... overjoyed that he's here in the flesh.
So, for his sake, her lips curve into a bright smile. Really, there's no need for her to try since his presence has the power to lift her spirits. ]
I'd like that a lot, thank you very much.
[ Judging from his greeting, it sounds like he's in the same boat as her. She already hates that he might also be getting hit with those awful nightmares. Yoimiya bows her head in appreciation as she steps into his humble abode. ]
You sure know how to show a girl some good ol' hospitality.
[ A gentleman through and through. She shoots him a cute wink before making her way to the couch. ]
[Even despite the fact that there is something definitely wrong, he takes heart in that lovely smile and cute wink of hers. Ajax doesn't know why, but there's something about that demeanor of his that makes his heart hurt in ways unknown, like he knows deep down that someone did something to her. Like there's a rage inside of him that he can't explain why or where it comes from, but it burns to protect her, and punish those who seek to tear her down.
He returns to the couch with a smile on his face despite that, setting down the cups and snuggling up next to his cute bunny. The warm feeling of her presence next to him, in addition to being able to be physically close sends a soothing wave of serenity through him that only she can provide- a result of a deep imprint that feels like it has only grown in the last week.]
Have you been sleeping alright?
[With no intentions of beating around the bush, he'll just ask, while he wraps one of his arms around her waist.]
Because if I'm being honest, I haven't gotten a wink of sleep since we returned home.
[ Oh! He's being an awfully cuddly mantis today. It's cute, he's cute, and she certainly appreciates his warm, comforting body in trying times like these. A heavenly sigh spills out of her lips as she returns the sweet gesture by snuggling up close to drown in his heat. Truly, being with Ajax is the best medicine she could ask for, he's the only one with the power to soothe her heart. His strong arms are a reminder that she's safe under his watchful eye. ]
No, I haven't been sleeping either.
[ An affirmation that he probably didn't want to hear but figured out already. She reaches for the cup of water, taking a small sip from it as she rests her head on top of his shoulder. ]
I take it you're experiencing the same phenomena as me. Are you... having nightmares as well?
[Ajax couldn't be more thankful for her presence while they talk about this. It's as if he can feel wounds he wasn't even aware of healing as they soak in each other's warmth, a steady reminder to him that Yoimiya is so much more than just a love interest, so close that he swears one day they're going to be able to read each other's thoughts. He relaxes completely, sinking into the couch as she lies her head on his shoulder, wishing that this was something they could have all the time, and perhaps they could...]
I am, [he says softly, saddened by the fact that she really was suffering.] I've woken up shaking a few mornings, but no matter how hard I try, I can't remember what my nightmare was about. The silence in the air after I wake is deafening, and all I can do is lie there and slowly let the terror I experienced settle. It makes me wonder what exactly happened while we were having our Augmenters adjusted. Admittedly, I don't have much recollection of our stay during that time.
[He reflexively holds her a little closer, letting his head fall to lie on top of hers. As if he needed the link between them to bolster his senses, like he needs her to lean against, and in turn offers himself as a cornerstone for her own needs, too.]
If you can remember something from your dreams, please, share it if you're able. I'm really bothered by this whole thing.
[ Those were the words she was afraid of hearing. Looks like her assumption was, unfortunately, spot-on. Just like her, he's been unable to sleep thanks to those awful nightmares rearing its ugly head. It hurts to learn that he's also been suffering in silence, and for some inexplicable reason, she knows that something horrible happened to him. The thought of him going through a horrific ordeal leaves her with a pain in her chest that feels like her heart is being torn into pieces.
And it's infuriating. Deep down inside, she knows he was the victim, and it makes her want to get revenge. She's so angry, so offened that someone would dare to hurt her someone important to her. But for their sakes, she takes a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but it's hard to ignore the simmering rage that threatens to spill over. At least there's Ajax's strong arms to keep her anchored and for that, she's able to relax in his hold. After taking one last sip of water, she sets the cup down, placing her hand on top of his. Through his touch, she senses that he needs her just like she needs him to lean on. ]
Oh, Ajax... I wish there was something I could do to help you sleep. Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as you. I wake up in a cold sweat, shaking and unable to recall the nightmare that scared me awake. All I can say for sure is that it started happening after our Augmenters were adjusted.
[ There's no way it isn't connected. Patho-Gen had to have done something to them.
Her mind is too much of a hazy mess to make sense of the nightmares but she'll try her hardest, for him. She closes her eyes for a brief moment as she leans against him. ]
I... hm. It's still really fuzzy, but I think I remember being held up in a cell?
[There it is, there's definitely no way that Patho-Gen's involvement could be denied. He and Yoimiya had both gone for that little staycation, and they both returned with horrific nightmares that have plagued them every night since they returned. Maybe it's only the effect of their physical touch that's keeping him from leaping up and tearing through their HQ in anger. Though, he wouldn't do it alone- it's as if he'd made a promise to someone about that very urge.
The memory she does have doesn't surprise him. He looks exhausted and almost bored at it, as if he were expecting it.]
I wouldn't be surprised at all if we were to learn they'd locked us up. A lot of us are at the end of our corruption phases, and that makes a good number of Augmented incredibly dangerous. Still, that doesn't mean I appreciate it. Hmmmmm....
[He'd like to think he got better in touch with his Natural Soul, considering he hasn't lost himself to it in months.]
...Perhaps we should do an experiment, Yoimiya. If we're having such terrible nightmares, I'd like it if you stayed the night tonight. Maybe we can glean something from each other, if we talk in our sleep, or something like that. What do you say?
Yeah! I'm super game. I'm worried that we'll continue to be haunted by these nightmares if we don't get to the bottom of them.
[ At this point, she's down to try anything to find the root cause of the nightmares. She's so sick of them and just wants to finally get some much-needed rest after being exhausted for gosh knows how long.
There's another reason why she's happy to go along with his plan. ]
And... having you by my side might help me get some sleep. The nightmares have been so bad that I've actually been kind of scared to fall asleep.
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WDYM WDYIM???? BEAN IS SWEETER
The sigh that follows his declaration manages to calm the raging fire burning in her heart. ]
Hey... no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side. I also trust you to have my back in turn.
[ She scoots closer to him, placing her small hand on top of his. It's not much, but she feels as though she should at least offer him some reassurance. ]
We'll get through this together, okay? Even if we have to give the Patho-Gen a beating they will never forget.
NO?????????/ SINCE WHEN?
Right. We'll make them regret ever toying with us. I swear it.
[Almost as if fate had heard him, there's a sudden shock to his collar that makes his entire body seize up for a moment before he feels a sudden calm wash over him. Tartaglia goes rigid and then slouches, his body and mind suddenly pliant as two Patho-Gen employees enter the room. One glances at Yoimiya as they both go to pick him up onto his feet. They won't say anything to her, but Childe seems to be complying with their unsaid commands.
If Yoimiya tries to stop them, she'll find she'll be shocked into submission too, but otherwise, they escort him out of the room.]
SINCE ALWAYS, YOU ARE A SWEET BEAN
Almost. Because truthfully, she won't feel the slightest bit bad for them after today.
Before she's even able to smile and intertwine her fingers with his, she notices Tartaglia's eyes growing wide and his whole body seizing up. Suddenly, he slumps over into a heap, and she quickly goes from confused to concerned. She doesn't even get a chance to check up on him when two Patho-Gen suddenly enter the room and begin taking him away. ]
DON'T YOU DARE LAY A FINGER ON HIM!
[ Yoimiya screams at the top of her lungs as she lunges at the scientists. But before she can get a single punch in, the same fate befalls her. The zap from her collar causes her body to freeze up. ]
Tar...taglia... A....jax.
[ His name is the last thing she says before passing out. ]
LIES, I AM A MENACE
---
[It's several, several hours later when Tartaglia is returned to the cell with Yoimiya. The condition he returns in is awful, horrific even. The left hand side of his face is burned away from acid, and luckily his eye was spared- there's a stab wound in his shoulder, and dried blood all over his head from blunt force trauma. They throw him into the room with a malice that wasn't present in the Patho-Gen employees from before, and he lands hard against the floor, eyes closed and breathing heavily.]
Nnnnghhhh...
[It's like he can barely move, let alone speak. Whatever happened to him, he's in bad shape.]
YOU AREN'T WRONG.... YOU ARE A SWEET MENACE
Never before has she felt so helpless. All she can do is sit, wait, and hope that Tartaglia comes back soon. And that's how it's like for another several hours until...
Suddenly, the door slams open. Yoimiya's heart nearly leaps out of her chest, but after all the waiting, she's ready to finally reunite with Ajax. But it's then, her hopes are soon dashed when she finally gets to see him.
He... looks half dead. ]
Oh my...
[ Yoimiya's heart sinks into the pits of her stomach at his state. If she had to guess, he probably tried to fight the scientists... only to end up like this. Half of his face looks like it was burned by a horrible substance; there's a notable wound on his shoulder, and the blood... there's so much dried blood. Hot tears begin to spill down the side of her face as she stares at him. ]
A-Ajax...?
[ She scoots closer to him, placing her hand on top of him to check if he's even still breathing. ]
OMG NO I HAVE TO DELETE THE SWEET PART
H-Hey.
[Offering a smile, he tries to push himself up into a sitting position, only to find that his limbs were a lot weaker than he thought. He's guessing they practically dragged him back to this cell, but at least he's starting to feel better because of Yoimiya.]
Haha, don't look at me like that. I'm still alive, aren't I?
[He knows it's bad. He can't hide it, he's on the floor barely able to move. He's only sorry that she's got to see it.]
IT'S TOO LATE NOW AND I HOPE EVERYONE SEES THAT YOU ARE SWEET MWAHAHAHAHAHA
I'm thankful you're alive, but you look... horrible.
[ There's a notable quiver in her voice as she leans in to inspect his wounds. She's careful about touching the acid burns on the side of his face, not wanting to add to the excrutiating mount of pain he's in. ]
What did they do to you?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
[He doesn't want to burden her with the details. His face may be burned, but what burns him more is the idea that eventually they'll come for her, too. They'll come and drag her off and there won't be anything he can do about it. Then she'll be the one getting her skull cracked open for the sake of their experiments.
The anger that rises inside of him is like a volcano exploding, but he has to try to tamp it down so it doesn't needlessly worry her. There's nothing they can do, and he's failed once at escaping already.]
Yoimiya...just please, be prepared for the worst. They truly have no regard for our well-being.
[He's already got to begin to mentally prepare himself for what might happen to her. One thing is for certain, after this, he'll kill more than just a few npc scientists if he can help it.]
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
Almost as if they heard him, the door swings open to another set of Patho-Gen employees entering the room, no doubt here for her. She immediately backs away, feeling like a scared animal trapped in the corner by a vicious predator. But naturally, she's not about to go down with some kind of fight. As soon as one of them grabs her, she begins to thrash around. ]
Let go, let go of me!
[ But even she knows there's not much she can do with the shock collars kicking in. Soon enough, the collar zaps her, causing her to faint right on the spot. The two scientists don't even pay any mind to her cellmate, because there's nothing he can do in his current condition, they only spare a passing glance at Tartaglia before taking her away. ]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
As if they were prepared for him to retaliate, his collar shocks him first, sending his body into a full seize before the calmness of acceptance floods him. Childe never gets the chance to even get off the floor, looking up helplessly as they grab her, shocking her into unconsciousness.]
No...Yoimiya...please don't...
[His words are weak as she gets dragged away, and soon the door closes, leaving him alone. Tartaglia lies on the ground, feeling hopeless and weak, with the control of the collar manipulating him into no longer wanting to fight. He already feels sick to his stomach thinking about how she'll return to him, guilt instantly creeping in because he was powerless to stop them.
His mouth hangs open as he blankly stares at the floor, with the mind-manipulating drugs and power Patho-Gen has on him the only thing from keeping a choked sob from coming out of this throat.]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH REAL LIFE MONSTERS
When Patho-Gen bring her into the cell, the blonde is far from her usual chipper self, quite the opposite. She looks catatonic, like she's seen horrors horrors beyond her own comprehension. Even as the scientists discard her onto the floor like a piece of a garbage, she doesn't move from her spot, barely managing to curl up into a ball and hug her legs.
The only indication he'll get that she's even still coherent is a choked sob. ]
I LOVE THAT SHOW
But the several hours he's left alone in that cell, unable to sleep well and left to deal with the pain of his injuries was torture. His heart aches knowing that Yoimiya was gone, being tested and tortured all the same. All he can do is prepare for what she'll look like when she gets back, hoping that they don't hurt her too badly, swearing that he'll redouble his efforts to keep her safe. But the fact that she's gone now is like a knife getting twisted into his heart every second she's away.
When she finally returns, Tartaglia's barely moved from his own spot on the floor, and when he sees her he can feel rage grip him. She may not be injured physically, but he can tell instantly that they've done terrible things to her. Throwing her to the ground unceremoniously, he watches on helplessly as they leave the room, scrambling over to her with anguish washing over him.]
Yoimiya...!
[She looks awful, as if they'd broken her completely. No longer is she the happy, upbeat girl he knows, and he shudders in both fear and anger.]
I'm here. It's okay now, I promise. I'm right here.
[On his knees, he scoops her into his arms from the floor, to hold her even as she hugs her knees to her chest.]
ME TOO ickis was my favorite sobs
Slowly, she manages to uncurl herself, opening her teary eyes at him. Everything around her appears distorted; it's hard for her to see through her pounding head, but as she soaks in the warmth of their bond, her vision starts to become a bit clearer. Her gaze traces over every inch of him, over every strand of his ginger hair, his face, his deep blue eyes, all those terrible injuries he sustained, almost as if she's studying every detail of him to make sure the man holding her in his arms really is Ajax. ]
A...Ajax...?
[ There's a prominent quiver in her voice as she calls out his name. The sight of him becomes less blurry and her heart breaks for a second time as she's reminded of his condition and all the horrible experiments they've been forced into. ]
They... they exposed me to katalyth. My head hurts and I saw so many awful things... oh, Ajax. I'm so.. re-relived to see you.
[ She says as tears spill down the sides of her face. Using the little strength she has left, Yoimiya maneuvers her body to huddle closer to him as if she needs him to shield her from the horrors of this world. ]
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But it all changes when she tells him what happened. Ajax's eyes dart between her face to down her body and up again, looking for any possible physical damage, but finding nothing. He knows all too well what Katalyth poisoning does to a person, having suffered it on his journey up north with Eli several months back. It hurts to watch her cry, to see her so shaken and abused by those monsters in human skin. It doesn't escape him how it seems more like those unable to shift are more monstrous than the ones who can.]
It's over, now. You don't have to go through that anymore.
[He holds her close, lets her bury her head so she doesn't have to look at the cold walls of their cell. The claw marks and indents are a stark reminder of their unfortunate position, and the last thing he wants her to think about is the futility of their struggle.]
I'm so sorry Yoimiya, [he whispers.] I'll make them pay for this, I promise you...
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Especially when he makes that threat. She knows that when this man makes a promise, he'll go above and beyond to ensure he keeps it and that includes getting revenge on those terrible monsters. ]
Thank you... [ She stops to catch her breath, another choked sob follows in the aftermath. ] Thank you, Ajax.
[ It's not like her to advocate for revenge but after everything Patho-Gen has done, they don't deserve to be treated with kindness. ]
L-Let me help you. [ hic ] I want to make them pay for what they did to you too. I'll never forgive them for all the pain they inflicted onto you.
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Of course. Once we escape from here, the two of us will rend their organization asunder.
[They'll pay, that's for sure. Breathing out another labored sigh, Ajax opts to sit with her for now, for as long as she needs before she can sit on her own. Not that there is much else they can do, being locked in this room for who knows how long. There's been no sign of food or water either, urging Tartaglia to begin to make plans to escape from this room before it's too late.
He doesn't know if they'll be let go- they might be sentenced to die here.]
I want you to rest for now, okay? You can relax right here against me. We'll begin our plans after you've had some time.
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Thank you, Ajax. Please rest too. One day, we'll teach them a lesson... together.
[ At this point, she's cried so much that it feels like her eyes have dried up. As much as she would like to run out and show Patho-Gen what-for, there's really not much either one of them can do in their current predictament. All she can do is huddle up and soak in his warmth until she ultimately passes out from exhaustion. ]
---
[ It's been several days since the incident. Despite the past few days being nothing but a blur, she's well aware of the nightmares plaguing her dreams and keeping her awake at night. Trying to get sleep feels almost agonizing. Every night, she's hit with the same, horrifying scene of being thrown into a cell and dragged out to be used as a lab rat. It's getting harder to sleep, and at this point, all she can do is seek comfort and she knows the perfect person to go to.
Ajax.
Unsure if he's even home, the first few knocks on the door are soft. ]
Ajax...? [ She calls out to him. ] Are you home?
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But, those things aren't on his mind right now, purposely filling his time with other distractions, in this case a book he'd gotten from the library several weeks back. The knocks at his door break his concentration, putting the book down and getting up to answer, and to his delight it opens to Yoimiya.]
Yoimiya! What a surprise, why don't you come in?
[Not that coming in is anything new to the two of them, as there's a place right on Tartaglia's couch with her name on it. He moves to let her inside, but he senses something is off right away, and he's got a feeling he knows exactly what it is.]
I think I know why you're here. Let me get the two of us some water, and I'll join you on the couch, okay?
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So, for his sake, her lips curve into a bright smile. Really, there's no need for her to try since his presence has the power to lift her spirits. ]
I'd like that a lot, thank you very much.
[ Judging from his greeting, it sounds like he's in the same boat as her. She already hates that he might also be getting hit with those awful nightmares. Yoimiya bows her head in appreciation as she steps into his humble abode. ]
You sure know how to show a girl some good ol' hospitality.
[ A gentleman through and through. She shoots him a cute wink before making her way to the couch. ]
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He returns to the couch with a smile on his face despite that, setting down the cups and snuggling up next to his cute bunny. The warm feeling of her presence next to him, in addition to being able to be physically close sends a soothing wave of serenity through him that only she can provide- a result of a deep imprint that feels like it has only grown in the last week.]
Have you been sleeping alright?
[With no intentions of beating around the bush, he'll just ask, while he wraps one of his arms around her waist.]
Because if I'm being honest, I haven't gotten a wink of sleep since we returned home.
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No, I haven't been sleeping either.
[ An affirmation that he probably didn't want to hear but figured out already. She reaches for the cup of water, taking a small sip from it as she rests her head on top of his shoulder. ]
I take it you're experiencing the same phenomena as me. Are you... having nightmares as well?
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I am, [he says softly, saddened by the fact that she really was suffering.] I've woken up shaking a few mornings, but no matter how hard I try, I can't remember what my nightmare was about. The silence in the air after I wake is deafening, and all I can do is lie there and slowly let the terror I experienced settle. It makes me wonder what exactly happened while we were having our Augmenters adjusted. Admittedly, I don't have much recollection of our stay during that time.
[He reflexively holds her a little closer, letting his head fall to lie on top of hers. As if he needed the link between them to bolster his senses, like he needs her to lean against, and in turn offers himself as a cornerstone for her own needs, too.]
If you can remember something from your dreams, please, share it if you're able. I'm really bothered by this whole thing.
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And it's infuriating. Deep down inside, she knows he was the victim, and it makes her want to get revenge. She's so angry, so offened that someone would dare to hurt her someone important to her. But for their sakes, she takes a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but it's hard to ignore the simmering rage that threatens to spill over. At least there's Ajax's strong arms to keep her anchored and for that, she's able to relax in his hold. After taking one last sip of water, she sets the cup down, placing her hand on top of his. Through his touch, she senses that he needs her just like she needs him to lean on. ]
Oh, Ajax... I wish there was something I could do to help you sleep. Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as you. I wake up in a cold sweat, shaking and unable to recall the nightmare that scared me awake. All I can say for sure is that it started happening after our Augmenters were adjusted.
[ There's no way it isn't connected. Patho-Gen had to have done something to them.
Her mind is too much of a hazy mess to make sense of the nightmares but she'll try her hardest, for him. She closes her eyes for a brief moment as she leans against him. ]
I... hm. It's still really fuzzy, but I think I remember being held up in a cell?
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The memory she does have doesn't surprise him. He looks exhausted and almost bored at it, as if he were expecting it.]
I wouldn't be surprised at all if we were to learn they'd locked us up. A lot of us are at the end of our corruption phases, and that makes a good number of Augmented incredibly dangerous. Still, that doesn't mean I appreciate it. Hmmmmm....
[He'd like to think he got better in touch with his Natural Soul, considering he hasn't lost himself to it in months.]
...Perhaps we should do an experiment, Yoimiya. If we're having such terrible nightmares, I'd like it if you stayed the night tonight. Maybe we can glean something from each other, if we talk in our sleep, or something like that. What do you say?
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[ At this point, she's down to try anything to find the root cause of the nightmares. She's so sick of them and just wants to finally get some much-needed rest after being exhausted for gosh knows how long.
There's another reason why she's happy to go along with his plan. ]
And... having you by my side might help me get some sleep. The nightmares have been so bad that I've actually been kind of scared to fall asleep.
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wrap it up here?
🎀