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It was... cold. Abnormally cold.
The swordsman lay on the floor, eyes shut sharply, heart beating weakly, an undying headache throbbing and tearing at his conscience. He did not know where he was right now - this place was very unfamiliar to him. He had a deep urge to get up and establish where he was and what had happened, but his body and mind did not let him. He could not even open his eyes.
He was in too much pain.
Sword retraced in an effort to recall what had happened and why he was here. Why was he alone? Alright. He remembers... looking for his brother. He remembers Rocket, Darkheart, Shotgun, and... a couple weird demons who looked an awful lot like Med. After that, it was all a blur. Maybe they fought. Maybe they immediately kidnapped him. Maybe somebody else entirely took him in.
No need to jump to conclusions.
Uncomfortably, his wrists were tethered by bitter handcuffs that connected together and then to a longer chain that led to God knows where. Everything stung. Everything ached. Something bad had happened. Something horrible, and he could not remember. He shivered. The chain rattled.
His eyelids creeped open slowly; there was not much. There was practically no light, though he could discern that he had been hastily thrown on hardwood floor. There was more. Huge windows. Church pews. Candles. Sword held his breath and tried to steady himself and stand up, his gaze tracing everything.
He might have skipped over it because of his weariness, but there was a figure. Someone was here. Someone was standing and watching him from a short distance away. His eyes lit up.
It was none other than the one he had been chasing after this whole time.
"MEDKIT!" Sword stared up at him in awe and relief. It was finally over. He had found his brother. Medkit was not dead. Sword was not dead. The boy desperately attempted to stand up, but the weakness of his state made it so he barely even moved - he did not have the strength to get up. "Finally... I can't believe I get to see you again.. I... I thought that I'd never get to see you again.." Sword exclaimed, tears clouding his vision.
No response.
"I.. I am really sorry.. I was just really worried.... that you would get hurt, that they would hurt you... that you were in danger." Sword added, trying to lighten up the mood. "Umm.. did.... they h-hurt you, Med..?" That question hurt to ask. Sword knew Medkit did not like to be vulnerable or be hurt, he liked to be the one in control of the situation, he liked to be the one that provided help for others, not needing help.
Nothing.
"Please. We.. need to go. I don't know where I am."
Not a single word.
"I'm sorry... I am always asking so much of you, you must think I am using you at this point, but please, help me up. Then we can go together."
Together.
Not a sound.
"Remember...?" His voice quivering. He was crumbling. He peered up at the figure above him. He was like a whole new person. He glared down on the swordsman with the same unfaltering, sickened, yet disconnected expression. It was like he was not listening to anything the boy was saying. He did not even move a muscle or blink, his gaze fixed on the pleading boy on the floor.
"Sword.. and Medkit against the world..?" Sword offered, trying to lift both of them out of their despair and desolation.
A twitch.
Medkit opened his mouth then closed it, appearing more sad and sorrowful than he did before.
"You and 'Kit against the world, huh?" Those words were uttered from the darkness, by a voice that Sword recognised. The demon appeared behind Medkit, putting a hand on his shoulder. Sword attempted to make out who it was - teal, white, cowboy hat, gold.... "Quit your blabberin' little sword boy, it's gettin' quite annoyin'."
"What did you do to my brother, you freak?!" Sword shouted out, still bound to ground, his anger and distress exploding.
"Oh God, 'ya don't know how to follow orders, do ya'?" The demon stepped aside Medkit, and began to trot towards the swordsman with a slight malicious grimace - Medkit's façade faltered again, now showing concern and unease. "What, did the stupid deity that raised 'ya not teach ya' to obey and submit to 'yer superiors?"
"I am not going to listen to you or do anything you say! Shut up!" Sword breathed in sharply. "I know you did something to my brother, I know-"
He was suddenly cut off by the demon's boot being thrusted down on the side of his head, stamping down on him as if he were a cigarette. "Don't 'ya dare tell me what to do, kid. 'Ya have no power or authority here. 'Yer on our territory now." Sword winced in agony. She chuckled, relishing greatly in his suffering.
Medkit looked at him.
"Med..! I-" Sword tried to speak but was silenced by the demon pressing her foot down harder, inflicting more pain on the disheartened swordsman.
"Oh, 'yer a stubborn one, aren'tcha? 'Ya just don't know when to keep quiet." They cackled again. "What's that about 'Kit being 'yer brother, huh~?"
"What about it..?" Sword said, his voice almost diminshing into a whisper, though he still resisted against the boot of this mysterious demon.
"What about it?!" They spoke loudly, repeating what he had said in a manner that made Sword sound as if he was stupid. They laughed, viciously. They found this amusing.
Medkit donned a new expression - one of desperation, one that longed for solace and escape, one that desired safety, one that felt pity. Medkit took a step forward, looking down on the frail, pathetic boy at his feet. Sword wriggled in his chains and tried to slowly move the foot off his head, but received a swift, sharp and ruthless kick to the stomach.
Sword shrieked. Before another moment could pass, the demon bent down and grasped his chin with an iron grip and thrusted him into the air, the chains jingling. Medkit's mouth opened and his eyes widened briefly, before he reverted back to his emotionless, unmoving self. Sword pushed his wrists apart firmly, so he could break his bindings, but to no avail.
"What do 'ya think 'yer doing, kid?!" The inphernal shouted, tightening the hold on his neck. Sword's breathing quickened as his gaze darted between the surrounding, this strange demon and.... Medkit. He was peering at Sword like he had seen a ghost. It was almost as if he was looking right through him, directly through his soul.
The demon walked backwards, inching closing to Medkit's position which made the doctor worry.
They grinned maliciously and sadistically, basking in this boy's distressed cries and squirms. "'Ya really think 'yer gonna get away with acting like this? Oh, ya' poor, naïve soul. I almost feel bad for 'ya~!" They shook him violently, forcing Sword to make direct eye contact. Sword was hyperventilating, and his vision was growing more blurry by the second. Oxygen was struggling to manoeuvre through his lungs.
Medkit.
Medkit.
Please save me.
One last time.
I'm really sorry.
Suddenly, he was dropped to the floor. Due to his lack of energy, he fell and could not get back up and run away. He coughed and coughed, sputtering on the floor like a dying animal. Sword was torn. Sword did not know what to do. Sword was lost. Sword was alone. No one. No one was coming to save him.
"Get up."
Those words were the only thing Sword could hear in that moment. Everything was blocked out. Nothing. No one.
You are alone.
Sword had zoned out. His mind was empty. He was drowsy. He had not slept in days because Medkit going missing made it impossible for him to sleep soundly. He was tired. He wanted to leave.
"What did I just say~? Get up and kneel or I will make 'ya do it." They uttered, their patience running thin. Sword did not budge. Sword did not move an inch. He did not want to. He wanted it all to be over. He had tried so hard to get Med back, and he was so close to succeeding.
He gave Medkit a glance that asked for help, that asked for it all to be over, that asked for this to have never happened at all. A silent plea for safety and escape. For them to finally be at peace. For Medkit to stop having to suffer all the time, for Medkit to stop having to be so closed off from everyone.
He listened. He considered.
But, he did not answer.
"Hmm. Now 'ya stop tryna' fight back." They made eye contact with Medkit. "Hey, 'Kit, be a dear and make this disobedient demon submit~?" Medkit comprehended. He did not want to. He did not want to do it. But he had to. What choice did he have? The Church would skin him alive if he didn't.
Medkit wandered over, absentmindedly, pushing down that what he was doing was actually happening - no, this was all just a really bad dream, his mind was playing tricks on him. He picked the boy up ruthlessly by the shoulders and placed Sword's legs so that they were in a kneeling position.
"Splendid~!" The maniacal teal demon responded. They grabbed ahold of Sword's chin firmly, tilting it upwards, forcing him to stare at both of them. "Now. What is 'Kit to 'ya, hmm? Friend? Acquittance?" Sword was trapped. He was shaking. He was supposed to lie.
"My.... brother." But, he would not lie. He would never lie about something like this. Medkit looked at him for a second like he had gone crazy. Why would he not just lie. It was a simple solution. Why?! In return, the inphernal strengthened their grip on Sword's jaw.
"Really now~? See, I don't think Med here quite agrees with 'ya." They said, amused.
"What, no?!" The swordsman struggled to choke out. His eyes shot to Medkit, who was gaping at him like he had done something horrible. Like he needed punishment. Like he had never met him before.
"'Ya didn't know? Oh, how naïve. He's already found a lovin', welcomin' family. 'Ya mean nothing to him and never have." The demon exclaimed, as if it was obvious and he was utterly silly for not knowing already. "Right, 'Kit?" Sword was hoping, praying, yearning that he would decline - their time spent together wasn't all for nothing. It wasn't. He refused to believe so.
The word that left Medkit's mouth was blocked out by Sword's brain. It was not true. But he said so, just now, didn't he?
You don't matter.
The evil demon chortled in contentment at Med's response and Sword's dead look in his eyes. "'Ya nothing but a burden. Doc never wanted 'ya, but 'ya just never seemed to leave. What a pest." They squeezed his jaw harder. "'Yer not even worth killin'." The swordsman felt tears threaten to prick his eyes.
"He-" Sword tried his best to silence his sobs, but he still choked on them like he was a child. "He cares... you're just... influencing him. The real Med would care about me.."
"The real Med? Oh, that's rich!" The demon got in close to his face, forcing uncomfortable eye contact. "'Ya think we are manipulatin' 'Kit? How self-centred. 'Ya want the doc all to 'yerself, don'tcha?" The boy struggled to respond due his ceaseless weeping.
"No...-" He murmured.
"How pathetic. 'Yer nothing like the rumours." They spat those words like poison that terrorised the swordsman. They stepped away, still gripping his chin. He was weak. He was fragile. He was nothing. He could do nothing. He was better off dead. "Now, tell me. What is 'Kit to 'ya?" The inphernal repeated, reiterating the question from before. Medkit didn't know what to do. He couldn't do anything. He stared down at the sword boy, as if he was someone he had never met before - he had never met this boy before. This boy was an enemy of the Church that he was assigned to partake in the removal of.
That was always the plan, right? From the very beginning, ever since they first met. Yes.
He had been lying through his teeth for eight straight years, and finally it was going to be wrapped up.
But why did his heart ache? Why did his skin crawl at the sight of this boy in pain? Why did he long for those days? Why did he long for those times he spent with the boy?
Maybe he went off task. Maybe he got too attached to the boy he was supposed to kill in the end. That was something that would stay with him to the grave. No one can know.
"B- broth-er. My.. brother." Sword muttered, as if he had a death wish. Medkit wanted to hit and and tell him to cut it out. This kind of behaviour will get you nowhere in this cruel, unforgiving world. The demon's grin faded, and they looked down on him like he was rubbish. Trash. Good-for-nothing. Useless.
"'Kit come over here and beat some sense into him, will 'ya? Whateva' gets him to shut his trap, I really don't care." Those words sent a shiver down his spine - Med would never do that, the real Med would never ever dream of doing that, he thought, but his preconceived notions had already been disintegrated, what was stopping Medkit from beating him to death mercilessly? They let go of his jaw. He tried to pull his hands toward it so he could rub it but he had forgotten his hands were still tied. Great.
The evil one stood to the side and looked on, mildly amused, waiting for the action to happen. The doctor walked over.
Was he really going to do this? Sword thought.
No. He would never. Sword believes in him. Sword believes that he would never.
But he would not stop getting closer. He would not stop peering at him with those cold, calculated, emotionless eyes. Oh, those eyes. He would not stop moving his hands as if he was about to clock him around the head. In an effort to spare himself, Sword responded to Medkit's death stare with a kind, vulnerable one. One Sword gave Med the moment they first met.
Back then, Sword thought the doctor was going to kill him. But he didn't. He, instead, was healed. He was helped, despite the fact they had never met before.
Things like that won't get you anywhere in the world, stupid swordsman.
Before Sword could dodge, Medkit swung around his gear and delivered a quick, agonising blow to side of the boy's head. The pain seemed to circulate throughout his entire body, and it took him a while to realise what even happened.
No. Med would never. He was kind.
He was given no time to react as another hit was directed at his neck on the opposite side. This time he fell over, backwards.
He was loving. He cared for people.
The doctor thrusted his boot onto Sword's stomach ruthlessly and harshly, brandishing his revolver, aiming it at his face, dangling the possibility of his organs being spilt if he did not comply. Now, he had no energy to sob and make noise, all that poured were tears. Lots of tears.
"I-, Medk-" Sword tried to get out but was interrupted.
"Quiet." Medkit hissed, cocking his gun. Sweat dripped down Sword's brow like a waterfall as he took in what was happening in front of him.
Medkit was a good, caring person, even under his cold demeanour. He cared for people. He cared for others. He cared for Sword. Medkit was nice. Medkit was his brother. Medkit was...
Gone.
But... no. It couldn't be true. He wouldn't do this. He wouldn't. Or would... No.
Sword opened his mouth to utter something, eyes locked on the barrel of the gun and Medkit's unforgiving, bitter glare. He breathed in. His arms were being squashed under his weight. It hurt a lot, the metal dug into his skin. Sword made eye contact. For a moment, he could swear he saw the doctor's gaze soften, but maybe he was just seeing things.
"Medki-" The swordsman was halted. Luckily, he was being attentive. Luckily, he noticed the doctor's finger tighten on the trigger. Luckily, he was able to just barely dodge.
A gunshot rang out, deafeningly. A moment later, Sword looked at the hole it had made in the floor. His eyes were red. His heartrate began to quicken, pulse rushing in his ears. Suddenly, it was like he could feel every nerve, every bone in his body, and feel every wound that ever marred his skin.
His skin was crawling. His breathing picked up, now deep and erratic. His whole entire being was shaking in the presence of the one he once called his brother. His best friend.
Sword, all of a sudden, was terrified. He couldn't do anything. If he did not move out the way, he would most likely be dead. He would have died by Medkit's hands. His tears fell like a river. His body was tingling. Itching. Screaming. He could not stop sniffling.
He moved from side to side, trying to shake the demon's foot off, and begged.
"Ple-ase...e, no.... pl-ease no.... Medkit, I'm sorry....." He shrieked out, desperate, his arms quivering, as the demon on the sidelines basked sadistically in his suffering and despair. It sounded like he was choking. He wanted to leave. He wanted to go. He wanted to go. He wished the bullet hit. He wished the bullet pierced his face and painted the grounds with his blood. He wished Medkit never met him.
"I'm sorry im sorry im sorry im sorry im sorry im sorry imsorry-" the boy gagged out.
"Oh, wow, I didn't think 'ya had it in 'ya. Didn't know it would be this easy to break this kid. Heh~!" The inphernal sung.
Medkit observed the boy at his feet. The one crying. The one he spent all his days with. The one he always looked forward to seeing after a long, hard day of work at the Church. The one who smiled at him. The one who gleamed so brightly, despite how dark the world is. He's the sun. He's like an angel.
Reduced to this.
He never mattered.
He's stupid to think he ever mattered.
Gosh, he always was too trusting. Too naïve. Too ignorant.
He deserved to die.
A long chain of only breaths could only be heard. Sword breathed in. His heart was practically pleading to escape from his chest. Pleading for this needless torment to be over.
"I'm sorryimsorryimsorry.... I'm..." He gulped.
"I'm sorry that you ever had the displeasure of calling me brother-" the boy stifled. "I'm... a b-burden.. I-" The demon on the side giggled like a little child. Sword looked up at Medkit like he was a monster. Like he was a beast. Like he deserved to be locked up forever.
Disgusting. Disgraceful. Revolting.
Medkit had really done this, hadn't he? The doctor pulled his foot off, and the swordsman immediately attempted to scuffle back in fear.
Fear.
Sword feared Medkit. Sword did not want to be around him. Sword hated to be in his presence. "please don't hurt me" was all Sword could mutter, his body quaking violently, skin coated in a thick layer of sweat and face drowned with tears.
"'Kit. Father's demanding our presence, we need to go," The demon said, quite downcast that they had to leave and couldn't torture the boy even further. For some reason, when Sword heard this something inside him was struck. He glared up at Med like a dog. He didn't want to be alone. He wanted his brother. He wanted his brother to comfort him.
Medkit didn't mean all that.
The doctor walked away without a second thought.
Into the darkness, Sword whispered "Please don't leave me again..."
But nobody came.