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Clancy could hear the soft pittering of rain against the metal roof of the barn as he pushed up from the old and worn-out mattress, and he wondered just how long it had been raining for. There weren’t any windows in his room, nor had he seen any in the rest of the barn when he’d been able to explore. How long had it even been since he’d seen the rain? Felt it on his skin and let it run down his body? Too long.
The ex-cameraman’s eyes darted around the room to look for his roommate. Partner maybe? Used to be captor. It was complicated. Everything about this hellhole he was stuck in was unnecessarily complicated and frustrating. As he sat up, he ran a hand through his mess of hair that hadn’t been trimmed in at least a couple weeks and let it tangle around his fingers as he thought. At least he had come to some kind of understanding with his partner, soulmate. That fucking red string around both of their fingers didn’t leave much room for anything besides an understanding at the very least. He’d eventually come to terms with the fact that he was stuck here.
At first it was Lucas that kept him trapped here, he knew why but he was still pissed that he was a prisoner, but now it was the mold. Eveline, he had heard her called, whatever mold was running through his bloodstream was keeping him from leaving the property and he wasn’t stupid enough to go looking for a fight with whatever else lived on these grounds, so he stuck to the barn. Kept to Lucas’ side like a fucking lap dog most days. It would have been humiliating to stay so close to someone so insane and depraved if Clancy’s life didn’t depend on it some days, he also hated to admit that the company was nice. When Lucas wasn’t ranting or raving about his terrible father or how stupid it was that he couldn’t get a trap to work, he was surprisingly gentle. Weirdly gentle, actually. Clancy had been surprised the first time Lucas let him out of the room and showed him around, arms flailing wildly and motioning to doors or stairs or hallways and explaining which places were safe to go to and which weren’t. When Clancy had made a comment about the unsafe places just being a way to keep him trapped Lucas had huffed like an annoyed child and looked at him, a pout tugging his lips down. He explained that they were to keep trespassers from getting in and his victims from getting out, and assured Clancy that he wasn’t a victim.
He’d even ruffled his hair before they started walking again, leaving Clancy confused as he trailed after Lucas.
He’d talk Clancy through his inventions, leaving out the more gruesome details in favor of making up some elaborate scenario in his head, explaining what would happen to anyone unfortunate enough to make it to the barn and get involved in Lucas’ traps. Complete with sound effects!
It would have been cuter if he wasn’t explaining people’s deaths at his own hands, but Clancy wasn’t in a place to be picky. It was still a bit cute how excited he got over things, how much he put into building those death traps of his. He was cute when he came to the bedroom sometimes, either exhausted or upset, and went straight to the bed to cuddle with Clancy. He was boney and awkward; it had taken a few tries to find a comfortable position but eventually they were able to work it out. Clancy was a fan of laying on the bed together, leaning against the wall hurt his back if they rested too long and sitting in the same spot without leaning against the wall also started hurting after a bit. Lucas didn’t have enough hair to pet, usually Clancy would find his arms around the man’s thin waist and Lucas’ back against his chest.
On the flip side Lucas seemed to like sitting against the wall, he had complained a few times that laying in bed for too long made him antsy and felt like he was wasting time, but somehow sitting up made him feel less useless. He liked to have Clancy laying next to him, head in his lap so he could play with his hair. Clancy didn’t understand exactly why but Lucas seemed to love his hair, love running his fingers through it and untangle the curls. Sometimes it made Clancy remember when he’d woken up in the barn after the hellish card game, soaking in a tub of what he now knew as a mixture of water and that weird healing liquid Lucas had, scared and not knowing where he was. He remembered how Lucas had talked to him, ran his fingers through his hair as he washed it for him. It was a weird moment looking back, how gentle Lucas had been with him after putting him through hell. Back then it had just been terrifying.
He kind of understood why now, the longer he was stuck here the more he learned about his situation, but he still couldn’t quite get a grasp on Lucas no matter how much the man talked and talked and talked some more. He talked enough for the both of them and while it had been annoying at first it was almost calming now. Clancy had never been much of a talker anyway, He was happy to let Lucas rant about whatever he wanted. He was… cute when he got excited.
Clancy dragged himself out of the thoughts as he got out of bed, shaking his head. He didn’t know when he’d gotten so comfortable in this life, when he’d gotten used to Lucas. When he’d started actually liking the guy back. He’d been stuck here for months at this point, how many he didn’t know, but apparently it had been long enough to let everything around him just, fade into existence.
Besides, Clancy thought as he headed for the bathroom to take a shower and alleviate the itch he had to be outside in the rain, they’d be out of here soon. Lucas had a plan. Clancy wasn’t familiar with the specifics, but Lucas had blabbered on about a plan to get rid of Eveline and get them both out of this shithole. Clancy trusted him.
Hell after everything, he might even stay with Lucas. He knew he should leave but at the same time, the string on their fingers would remind him. Lucas wasn’t so bad when he wasn’t manic, it wouldn’t be too bad. He’d just have to make do. It was the least he could do if Lucas was going to get him out of here.
The shower water was cold, Clancy waited a few good minutes after turning it on and undressing to step in but it still stung at his skin. He was used to it, he knew the water would eventually get sort of warm, never hot enough to where Clancy was satisfied but good enough. He let the biting water drip down his body, washing out his hair and whatever dirt he might have on him as he stood in silence. This was his life now, he supposed. If he had to think about it, it really wasn’t much worse than his life outside. At least Lucas didn’t hurt him, not by his own accord anyway. Clancy could forgive the times Eveline managed to slip in and whisper terrible things to him. Clancy knew how it felt, fuck he knew too well. Eveline was something evil, something rotten.
Something… misunderstood. She was a child without love. Clancy hated what she had done and what she was doing but no matter how many evil and vile things Lucas told Clancy about her, he couldn’t bring himself to hate the girl, the little girl behind it all. She’d become a monster, but it wasn’t her own choosing.
Clancy yelped loudly as he heard the bathroom door open, he should be used to Lucas barging in by now but he wasn’t. At least he still wasn’t throwing things at the thin man. Lucas, with his bright eyes and face-splitting smile, seemed happier than he had in a long time. He bounded over and threw himself into the tub with Clancy, uncaring that he was fully dressed and covered in grime, and pulled the other man into a hug. Clancy could do nothing but stand there, completely naked, and hesitantly wrap his arms around Lucas. “Darlin’,” Clancy relaxed just a bit as the other man spoke, his once irritating accent now familiar and calming, “we’s gettin’ the hell outta this dump.”
Not words Clancy thought he’d be hearing. He leaned away slightly to look at the man, eyes wide and confused. Lucas had said plenty of times how Clancy looked like a startled doe, wide brown eyes and all. “What…?”
Lucas giggled excitedly and his grin seemed to get impossibly bigger. “The plan! It’s workin’! The brat fuckin’ did it, she’s callin’ for that bitch’s husband just like I done wanted her to! She’s bringin’ him here, Clance, that’s our way out!” Clancy was right, he’d never seen Lucas this excited for anything and after those words finally registered in his mind, Clancy was matching his enthusiasm. His mouth fell open slightly, brows knotting together.
“It’s, it worked?”
“It worked.” He breathed out the words slowly and dove in to kiss at the cameraman. Clancy kissed back, hands moving up to hold the sides of Lucas’ head.
He could have sworn he felt tears forming in his own eyes, maybe they were from Lucas, he didn’t care either way. They were leaving, Lucas was telling the truth. Lucas was going to get them both out of here. Months of planning, if someone had told Clancy three months ago that he’d be kissing Lucas, that he’d trust Lucas, that he’d be escaping with Lucas, he would have probably punched them in the face. But he… understood. He understood why he was here. Lucas might have been fucking insane, but he was trying to be as good as possible, for Clancy. To prove he could be a soulmate.
Clancy forgave him. He didn’t fully understand why but with everything going on, Lucas had been playing along. Lucas had been keeping his head low and his body count high to appease a corporation and their mistake. Lucas didn’t want to hurt him; at least not like he had already done. Lucas wasn’t a redeemable man by any means.
But fuck, neither was Clancy at this point.
And Clancy loved the sick fuck.