Chapter Text
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
The Wheel of Sacrifice clicks away, cycling through horrible option after horrible option. Taako watches it carefully, sees every click, every awful possibility. He’s already resigned himself to accepting whatever they offer, simply because he can’t stand to be in this place any longer.
The wheel slows to a stop, eventually landing on “Mind.” There’s a pause, a horrible moment of silence before Edward’s chuckles trickle down from the ceiling.
“My, my, Taako.” There’s honey dripping from his voice, like he’s turning over every precious word before saying it. “There’s a lot to take from you on this front.”
It makes it worse that they revel in it so much. He tries not to let his mind run wild with possibilities. After all, that’s exactly what they want. It doesn’t matter what they offer, he’s saying yes, and they’re moving on.
“But out of the kindness of my heart, I’d like to offer you a deal that benefits us both.”
He loves how they phrase it, like it’s something he’ll even remotely have a choice in the matter. What does it matter? He lost the will to fight back about three rounds ago. “Get on with it,” he grits out. He tries a scowl, but the right side of his face is throbbing too much for it to be worth it.
“We want your adult headspace.” Lydia responds simply.
Taako blinks once, twice. That’s it? Of course, it’s a little surprising they even know he regresses, but it isn’t that surprising. They’ve been getting into his head about everything else, what would make this any different?
Magnus and Merle have gone tense beside him, and only get more tense the more he thinks it over.
Knowing they’ve all but got him, Edward continues. “Well, of course, you’d be safe. After all, babies aren’t allowed to play in Wonderland.”
“Edward and I have always wanted a baby.” Lydia croons.
“You’re not seriously considering this, are you?” Merle asks. Merle, who can see right through him. Merle, who always knows when he’s scheming no matter how hard he tries to hide it.
With no choice but to be honest, he nods.
He’s been in headspace for longer periods of time. After all, there was that whole bullshit with the cursed cup. Compared to that, this should be easy street. …Right?
Then again, there’s the distinct possibility that he ends up stuck here forever. Even if Magnus and Merle manage to get the Animus Bell, they may not be able to save him. Still, the temptation rings strongly.
“Taako, no.” Magnus says sternly, cutting through his thoughts. With his kind gaze and the streaks of gray cutting through his auburn hair, he looks now more than ever like a kindly grandfather. “It’s okay. Merle and I will go again. It’s fine.”
Taako looks to Merle, who’s nodding fervently. They’re both so sure of themselves, so ready to make this sacrifice without once thinking of the consequences.
Magnus, who’s missing a finger and a decade of his life. Merle, who’s missing an eye and most of his weapons. Magnus, who can’t remember the man that killed his wife. Merle, who can’t remember his teacher and can’t see in the dark anymore.
Who knows what saying no would cost them? And for what? Another round of desperately trying to keep Taako alive? It feels like every round of combat has just involved him being hit harder and harder, until his team has to use up all their resources to keep him breathing.
Taako fixes them both with a hard stare. Unfortunately for them, his mind is already made up. “You guys don’t need any more disadvantages. I’m out of spell slots and I barely have a hit point to my name. It’s the best choice we’ve got.”
“Tick tock, Taako!” Edward trills.
He speaks before Magnus can stop him. “I’ll do it.”
In that instant, he feels any trace of being a big kid vanish in a puff of smoke. It hits him all at once how tired he is, how much he’s hurting, how he just wants Maggie to carry him home so he and Maggie and Emmy can all nap together.
Every bit of misery he hasn’t allowed himself to voice bubbles up to the surface, forming tears in his eyes. He’s so tired. He’s so tired. Without thinking about it, he gropes for Emmy’s hand.
Merle takes his hand and squeezes it tight, like if he holds on, he can stop the twins from taking Taako away. Clinging onto the same vain hope, Taako holds on just as tightly.
Giggles echo from all around them, the twins’ voices filling every space. “Aww, look at that adorable pouty face!” Lydia coos. “Say goodbye to your daddies, little one!”
And with that, the world falls out from under him.
He lands with a thump on a plush pillow.
The room is rather dark, but Taako can already tell what kind of pastel nightmare he’s been dropped into. All laces and frills and smiling cartoon characters. On the space over his head, his name is spelled out in pastel-colored cloth.
He takes stock of his possessions. All his weapons and potions are gone, but he still has his Umbra Staff and his hat, which is really all that matters. Besides, he doesn’t think he’s ever used that dagger once in the years he’s had it.
Clutching the Umbra Staff close, he stands up. Might as well get a feel for this room, especially if he’s going to be trapped in it for a while. As he does, he finally realizes his shoes are gone too. He can’t imagine why, but the carpet is surprisingly plush between his toes.
He carefully inspects the perimeter. One wall is a window, but it’s completely blacked out. The rest of the walls are solid and bare, aside from the childish decorations. There are no other doors or windows, making the room impenetrable. A perfect coffin.
Taako forces himself to breathe. It’s a shallow breath, which much more force behind it than necessary, but it’s what he needs to keep calm in his current headspace. So long as he doesn’t let himself get worked up, he should be fine.
The spanning window flickers to life, revealing Magnus and Merle down below.
“Maggie, Em!” He scrambles over to the window, pressing his palms flat against the glass. Magic buzzes under his palms, so he knows it’s no use to try and break it. There’s no way of telling if what he’s even seeing is real, but he prays it is.
They’re still frozen at the Wheel of Sacrifice, eyes wide and horrified. Maggie keeps looking around, as if Taako is about to Blink back into the room, announce it was all a joke, and laugh at them for being silly enough to fall for it.
Taako blinks back the tears welling in his eyes, trying to ignore just how badly he wants to be there with them, regardless of the danger. But he knows that’s just him being a big baby. He did this for a reason, after all. Because in one fell swoop, he just got rid of their biggest weakness—him. They’ll be better off without him. They always are.
Now they won’t have to worry about protecting him or healing him or just making sure he doesn’t die. He made the right decision. He must have. Right?
After some time, they give up and, finally convinced Taako isn’t coming back, make their way through the now open door. Taako watches them go, silently wishing them luck, hoping whoever is in charge of the button is going to be nice enough to trust them, because Maggie will do the same for them.
As they step through the door, his vantage point violently jerks. It’s as if the entire room is being swung into a new position, with such a force that he’s thrown off-balance. His insides twist, and if there was anything in his stomach, he probably would’ve vomited it right back up. He supposes the alternative, dry heaving into carpet, is a better alternative. When his vision clears and he feels well enough to sit up, he’s watching Magnus and Merle enter.
He leans back, gathering the Umbra Staff with shaky hands. If he doesn’t get a grip, it’s all over. He has his weapon, he’ll be fine. All he has to do is wait for an opening to attack, but hopefully, it won’t have to come to that. Hopefully, he can keep Lydia and Edward distracted long enough for Maggie and Em to win. And if not? Well, he’s just not going to think about that.
…That is, if they even show up. They wouldn’t just leave him alone like this, would they? They couldn’t. They’ll come eventually. After all, why would they go to all the trouble of striking up a bargain just to leave him alone in this tiny dark room? Never mind that it’s feeling more and more like a prison with every passing second.
He feels them before he sees them.
“Hello, baby.” Lydia coos.
Taako turns. They’re hovering on either side of him, like they’re trying to scare him, but their expressions are surprisingly soft.
He supposes he should at least greet them. “Hi…” His voice is soft, uncertain, and that only makes them coo harder.
“Do you like your new room? We made it special!” Lydia says.
Taako opens his mouth to respond, but his attention is violently jerked toward the arena as the telltale sounds of battle echo throughout the area. He leans in, flattening his palms against the glass, as if that’ll bring him closer to Maggie and Em.
“Now, this is going to be a fierce battle.” Edward tells him. “They chose ‘Trust’ again.”
Taako tries not to let the wobble of his lower lip show. “And the other group chose ‘Forsake.’”
Edward balks, as one does when pretending to be surprised at something a child says. “Nothing of the sort!”
“Such a cynical baby we have!” Lydia’s fingers go corporeal for just a second, just long enough to ghost over his cheek.
Taako can’t help violently jerking away. He’s never heard about a lich strong enough to give themselves a corporeal form, no matter how slight. He glances up, meeting Lydia’s eyes. Her face is twisted in fury, but she lets her hand fall back to her side without a word.
“No, no. They’ve both chosen ‘Trust.’” Edward continues, like the whole moment hadn’t happened. “It just seems your dear daddies are getting much worse for wear.”
Taako doesn’t bother correcting him. He gets the sneaking suspicion that anything he says goes in one ear and right out the other with these two.
Instead, he turns back to the window, watching Maggie and Em face down a new round of enemies. He can see just in Maggie’s movements that he’s tired; his strikes are hitting just a few centimeters off, and he’s holding his shoulders wrong.
It doesn’t matter for now, since it’s an easier fight, but how long will it be until that tiredness comes back to hurt him? And Merle? What’s going on with his magic? Sure, they have one less thing to worry about, but that still leaves them with so, so many things to worry about.
“Well, that’s not a very happy face.” Edward says, and only then does Taako realize he’s been making faces. That’s something he’s going to have to look out for. Being stuck in his teeny headspace is going to make it a lot harder to hide his feelings. He’ll have to scheme a lot more carefully.
“No need to worry, little one,” Lydia soothes. “You just leave the big scary thoughts to Uncle Edward and Auntie Lydia.”
“You’re not my auntie.” Taako scoffs. He wasn’t the closest with his auntie, but he still won’t stand for Lydia claiming the title like she’s earned it, like she’s just as good.
For better or worse, his auntie did his best, although she always seemed preoccupied with something else. There was always someone she loved a little better. Strange how he can’t remember who. Just when he thinks he can grab onto a memory, static buzzes, blocking every thought until he has no choice but to drop it.
That’s odd. He’s never had that happen before. Then again, he also doesn’t think of his auntie that often. Maybe he should call her. He considers it, but dismisses the thought almost immediately. Why is that?
“Give it time.” Lydia singsongs. Then her eyes light up. “Or maybe we could even be your big brother and sister!”
Something about those words fill him with dread, but he doesn’t get the chance to voice it before the Umbra Staff violently thrashes against his hold.
He grips the handle to the best of his ability, and miraculously he’s able to hold on, but that doesn’t stop the umbrella from raising itself. Power thrums through Taako’s hands, and before he can bark a warning, it fires.
A firebolt bucks out of the Staff’s tip, gunning straight for Lydia’s face. It passes harmlessly through her incorporeal form, instead striking the wall behind her, but the damage is much worse than that.
Lydia’s face twists in fury again. A full moment passes before she acts, leaving a terrible silence in the interim. Taako doesn’t even breathe. He doesn’t dare to.
With a shocking calmness, she leans forward, equal parts looming over and bending down so their faces are inches apart. “That wasn’t very nice,” she hisses.
“I-I didn’t—”
“No backtalk!” Her voice is a presence all its own, reverberating through ever molecule of air. Taako flinches back, a chill rattling his bones, which he belatedly realizes is his body falling on top of Edward’s lich body.
Edward watches him, obviously scared, obviously concerned, but doesn’t say a single word in his defense.
Taako tightens his hold on his umbrella. Magic hums under his palms, and he can’t risk it launching another attack. Why does it keep doing that?
“I think it’s high-time for a time out,” she snarls.
“Lydia—” But before Edward can say anything more, Taako’s perspective violently shifts once more, except this time, the darkness of that transitional period doesn’t fade.
He stays sprawled on the icy floor for a few minutes, rubbing his eyes and waiting for the lights to come back on, but they never do. No matter how many times he blinks, no matter how hard he tries. Even his night vision isn’t working here; he can’t even see his hand in front of his face.
Wherever he is, the darkness is very, very intentional.
“Hello?” he calls. The sound is swallowed in the darkness in seconds. No echo, not even the slightest sign that he’s anywhere. Is it possible to be nowhere?
He clambers to his feet, only to find that the floor beneath him feels no realer than the empty air around him. Are there walls here? How far could he walk without running into something solid?
“Lydia? Edward?”
No answer.
Maybe he can cast a spell to help him out, but as he instinctively reaches for his umbrella, strapped to his back, he realizes that it isn’t there.
Dread washing over him, he flexes his empty hands. That’s right. He’d been holding it when he was zapped away. They must’ve taken it somewhere along the way.
He’s alone.
Completely, utterly, and definitively alone.