Chapter Text
Sannoshin was not accustomed to taking prisoners. The resistance didn’t exactly have the proper facilities for doing so, and most people they could take from All for One’s organization would be know-nothing fanatics with nothing useful to offer, anyway. Even if they wanted, say, a hostage, he doubted that even a fellow goon would risk life or limb for a goon, much less their “friend” and leader.
This one, though. This one was special.
It was widely known that All for One’s circle was microscopic. The number of people that monster trusted with anything beyond the platitudes that satisfied his followers was smart but frustratingly low, and anybody in that group had his full backing, making any attempt to get at them a death sentence. Yet, when the opportunity to capture one presented itself, even though the target was the highest risk of all, Sannoshin himself was the one to head the charge.
All for One’s right hand man, someone who apparently doubled as an enforcer, did not come quietly or without injury. Even Sannoshin, something of an authority on the subject, was shocked by the level of ability displayed. Frankly, it was his opinion that if there hadn't been multiple people on the operation, the bloodshed would have been disastrous. He also thought, perhaps, the reason there weren't any casualties could be owed to something else.
What that thing was was the reason they were there.
The prisoner was sharply dressed, though the suit he wore was tattered from the conflict. He sat perfectly still, back straight, head down, which obscured his eyes but not the patient, subtle smile he wore. An interesting expression for someone bound to a chair with his hands behind his back.
Sannoshin made no attempt to mask his entrance, partially hoping that a reaction would give him some headway for the impending interrogation.
The prisoner did not move, nor did he change his expression. "Hm. You're finally here. I was beginning to worry you'd forgotten about me."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Sannoshin sneered. "Then you wouldn't have to face me."
" Threats , already? While I'm hardly an expert, I can't say that I was expecting that so soon. Was having it out once not enough for you?"
"That's not a threat, just a statement." He walked toward the prisoner and crouched slightly to get closer to eye level. "There's a reason we're both here, isn't there?"
"Well, again, hardly an expert, but I believe the reason would be that you trapped me in this room and then entered it yourself." He chuckled at the distinct sound of an aggravated grunt.
"I mean it." Sannoshin took hold of emerald tie around the prisoner's neck. "We came at you and you didn't kill a single one of us. And now you're here, in the middle of enemy territory." He craned his neck get into his field of view. "You let that happen, didn't you?"
"Oh come now. " He said in a smotheringly sweet tone. "I'm not a barbarian. I'm more than capable of mercy, even for people as wretched as you. Besides," he lifted his head slightly, sharply meeting Sannoshin's gaze with one slightly-revealed green eye, and a sinister curl at one corner of his mouth. "Certainly you're aware that we're on a bit of a time limit."
Sannoshin scoffed. Of course he knew All for One was going to find out this one was gone, and it would not take him long. It would take him even less time to discover who was responsible for the disappearance. Sannoshin knew that this was the case, but found the opportunity to interrogate the prisoner worth the risk. What he hadn’t anticipated was that he would be annoying about it. He pushed the prisoner back and stood.
The prisoner grinned fully as he was shoved, the force enough to throw his head back. "I know that that's why you didn't kill me. Even if you could, the wrath you'd incur is more than even the most stubborn of holdouts could possibly survive." He righted himself and leaned forward. "Do you want to know why I'm here? Because I'm curious, and I know that nothing will happen to me if I choose to remain here and listen to whatever plan you're fulfilling by doing something so foolish."
"Do you seriously think that's why we didn't try to kill you?" Sannoshin cocked his head to the side, a look of incredulous frustration on his face. "You can't be serious. You're playing dumb."
" Children play. I'm simply asking questions. Why does that make you so angry?" He laughed. "Is it because you're the one asking the questions here?"
"...You're trying to get a rise out of me. It won't work."
"Oh, I really don't think I need to do much in the way of trying."
Sannoshin studied the prisoner for a moment. "...No, I don't believe it. You're not here because you're curious, or whatever you're trying to say."
He scoffed. "Oh no?"
"No. There's something else going on entirely, and one way or another, I'll be finding out." He stared directly into the prisoner's eyes. "Yoichi."
“Oh what? I’m supposed to be intimidated because you used my real name?” He rolled his eyes, a twitch at the corner of his mouth briefly disrupting his smirk.
“I called you that because it’s your name.” Sannoshin narrowed his eyes. “Does that bother you?”
“Does the alias bother you that much?”
“That’s not your alias.”
“Just saying things doesn’t make them true.” Yoichi tutted.
"I could say the same for you…if you were the one saying it."
"Is that supposed to offend me somehow?"
"No. It's just…an observation."
"Astute." Yoichi chuckled. "I didn't expect someone your age would need a life lesson, but sometimes people will say things you don't like. It doesn't mean that they're being puppeted by someone else."
"But you are. " Sannoshin said, fists clenched at his sides. He looked down and turned away slightly, getting much quieter.
"...You have to be."
/*|*\
“I should have expected that you couldn’t live without me.”
He was broad, imposing, smug as he had ever been. He dwarfed his visitor in power, strength, and presence, which was obvious to anyone who saw them together.
His head was cocked to the side, fingertips on his cheek in a gesture of exaggerated interest. "Dirty. Haggard. Hair as unkempt as ever. Goodness knows the last time you've changed that shirt, and you've hardly put on weight." He sighed and crossed his arms, though his smirk did not waver. Despite their similarity in height, he had no trouble looking down on his caller. "Oh, Little Brother. You couldn't have made this decision at a better time. Who knows how far you could have regressed if you'd waited much longer?"
Yoichi, in a plain white shirt and dark pants that contrasted sharply with the suit and tie on the man before him, stared apathetically at him. A twitch at the corner of his mouth was the only indication that he'd heard anything at all.
His smile became less amused. "Hmph. It matters little. What's important is that you're home. You've no idea what that means to me." He crossed his hands and placed them over his heart. "What is it that changed your mind?"
"My reasons are my own." Yoichi said flatly.
"Strange. I recall a time in which you wore your heart on your sleeve." He dropped his arms to his sides. "But I'll…respect your privacy. Consider it a sign of gratitude."
“You’re too kind.”
“Oh, I’m well aware. A crueler man would punish you for being so insolent.” He advanced toward his brother. “But I don’t see the use in harboring a grudge.”
Yoichi expected something painful in response to his return. Mistreatment by followers, torment, maybe even another stint in the vault. Yet, somehow, he found he’d still underestimated the depths of this man’s sadism.
Every single muscle in Yoichi’s body tensed as his brother hugged him.
The embrace lasted seconds, but felt like an eternity.
He pulled away, but left an arm around Yoichi and gestured broadly with his free hand. “Now I know that my new order will be perfect. I- we - will be unstoppable. Just as things should have been from the beginning. It’s incredibly fortunate that you’ve wisened...” Suddenly, he tightened his arm, craning his head to hiss in his little brother’s ear. “I will kill every single person who tried to take you away from me. Personally. ”
Yoichi’s blood ran cold. He knew that this man didn’t make promises he couldn’t keep, but he couldn’t allow himself to be afraid.
“Then start with the one who ran away.” He said.
“Hmph, stubborn as always. Living a rebel’s life seems to have exacerbated that. How asinine. Although…” He released Yoichi and crossed behind him, head up in thought. “You do make a rather poetic observation.”
Yoichi remained motionless, refusing to give his brother the satisfaction of asking what he meant.
Hearing nothing, he continued. “I think I will start there. In time, perhaps in less time than you expect, the man who ran away from me will die. He’ll choke to death on the tired ideals that led him astray, leaving behind one who embraces this new world and the power he’ll be privileged to wield.”
“And you told me I lived in a fantasy.” Yoichi said bitingly, snapping his head to look over his shoulder.
“Oh, my dear little brother,” there was a menacing edge to his voice as he met Yoichi’s gaze, "you return to me with such an odd perspective on your position. Your continued resistance is impressive, almost affable, but for your own good you shouldn't delude yourself." He narrowed his eyes. "You are not above influence. One way or another, this is the path you will walk."
There was a heavy pause.
“...If you’re waiting for me to be like you just because I came here, you’re going to wait forever.”
“From where I stand, you’ve already made the first step.” Yoichi’s brother straightened his tie and his stance, then walked toward the exit. “At any rate, there are people I should inform of your return. Heaven forbid anyone should associate you with those who’d work against me. The loyalty of my friends has only grown stronger since we last spoke, you see.”
“And you’d just hate for anything to happen to me?” Yoichi replied, rolling his eyes.
“Always.” He chuckled, pushing open the door. “Now please, by all means, make yourself comfortable.”
He left.
The second the door closed Yoichi exhaled, realizing just then that he hadn’t been taking full breaths since he’d arrived. The sudden release caused bright colors to briefly swim through his vision. He rubbed his arms, muscles sore from being tensed for so long. Not long ago he may have had to sit to keep from sinking to his knees, but the way things were then, he could endure the process with relative ease.
He assumed that the reason he was left alone was because his brother had some contingency in place to keep him there. Or perhaps it was a way of manipulating him, maybe even testing him. Whatever the reason, he wasn't going to give anybody much to report.
At least…not yet.