“I… don’t want to leave..”

MINORS DNI. Wolf - He/They/Xe/Wolf - Survivor [RP/Character Account - Main: kaigemysoul] Blog Owner is 21

[cried-out-wolf]

Intro post:

“Hello, I’m Wolf. Uh…we gotta be quick about this. I uh, got curious I guess, came down to see who ended up here. I’m a maned wolf beastkin who’s kinda just, here. Anyway. If you can keep secrets and stay kind, maybe I’ll try to help. Just, survive and don’t piss him off. I gotta go now..”

Extra Extra facts: Wolf also draws a lot, he believes that this is one of the best ways to appease Strade in order to live another day in limbo. Wolf also would rather sleep in the basement, as they still find the upstairs foreign and uncomfortable, at least to sleep in. Strade also lets them cook sometimes, but it’s usually when he needs the extra hands. Wolf also still has all their fingers, having somehow convinced Strade to not use the tablesaw on them.

AN: Heya, I’m Kaige, a 21 year old artist who recently rediscovered BTD and recently fell down the YKMET pipeline! This is, kind of a self insert? I’m not sure. But regardless I hope you enjoy these lil intro cards to this fella. This account will be not only an ask blog, but also a roleplay account, so if you’re 18+, feel free to interact! All posts written in GREEN is Wolf speaking. BLUE, as you see here is Out Of Character, and WHITE is Detailing in posts! You can flirt, be aggressive, be shy, whatever fits you the most, just understand it’s all roleplay, and there IS a real person behind the account.

BASIC DNI APPLIES: NO MINORS! NO PROSHIP (This is just for like. Underage and stuff. Yknow, shit thats actually illegal and really bad. Deaddove/dark content enjoyers you are fine)! Don’t be overly nsfw in the ask box. Suggestive is welcome, but don’t overdo it. If you’re not sure, send anyway and I’ll be sure to let you know! If you want to be Hardcore NSFW I’m 100% down to roleplay on a different platform like Discord. Don’t be afraid to ask about it!! If we become good friends, I’m 100% willing to draw our characters together!! I plan on offering commissions and requests here as well! Especially in character!!

Hope you all enjoy!!

[cried-out-wolf]

: )

“What are you smiling at? This isn’t very entertaining..”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh it is for me...

[cried-out-wolf]

“Right, because watching me struggle with orders gets your tiny heart racing. Let me focus and get out of my head if you want this to be clean and effective.”

[xchloroformedheartx]

awwwww, am i in your head hm? You must think of me alot.

Pervert.

[cried-out-wolf]

“You wish, now silence so I can make my mark and not fuck this up. You want him alive, right?”

Each word nearly made it harder to focus, but he still zeroes in, getting his calculations right.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Did I want your little bf alive?

Tch....You know I could just tell you to end it. End their life, your life....It's not like you need it. Your worthless after all. You are nothing without me.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I would rather him alive! God, you really don’t make this fucking mission easy. Why are we talking like this is some kind of negotiation?! Its NOT!”

He snarls silently, clutching his own head, taking the moment to regain focus and prepare his strike.

[xchloroformedheartx]

You are right. It's not.

What I say goes and if I want them gone? All I have to do is say the words.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Enough—!”

Wolf nearly trembled, hiding his Verosian insignia as his tendrils sprout from his back. He grips at his own body like he’s losing himself, and in a sense, he is. But its all true…

He has no control here.

This was his mission.

“Я готов ответить..”

And just like that, the soldier takes back over…

[xchloroformedheartx]

This is what you wanted, isn't it? To have a purpose, a guidance and me? I was made for guiding people. You are lost. You are a lost little lamb but I can make you a wolf again.

Now....Why don't we see what lambs we can tare apart?

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf put all his gear he stripped away in anger back on, and even shielded his eyes with some goggles. He swings his left arm in a circular motion, as if he were resetting it. His joints pop and prepare for the flood of adrenaline, his body stilling as he awaits his commands. He was ready to comply.

“First mission?” He questions flatly, asking for the first lamb to bring him one step closer to the wolf within.

This was it, no going back now, he was fully controlled by the other.

[cried-out-wolf]

: )

“What are you smiling at? This isn’t very entertaining..”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh it is for me...

[cried-out-wolf]

“Right, because watching me struggle with orders gets your tiny heart racing. Let me focus and get out of my head if you want this to be clean and effective.”

[xchloroformedheartx]

awwwww, am i in your head hm? You must think of me alot.

Pervert.

[cried-out-wolf]

“You wish, now silence so I can make my mark and not fuck this up. You want him alive, right?”

Each word nearly made it harder to focus, but he still zeroes in, getting his calculations right.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Did I want your little bf alive?

Tch....You know I could just tell you to end it. End their life, your life....It's not like you need it. Your worthless after all. You are nothing without me.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I would rather him alive! God, you really don’t make this fucking mission easy. Why are we talking like this is some kind of negotiation?! Its NOT!”

He snarls silently, clutching his own head, taking the moment to regain focus and prepare his strike.

[xchloroformedheartx]

You are right. It's not.

What I say goes and if I want them gone? All I have to do is say the words.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Enough—!”

Wolf nearly trembled, hiding his Verosian insignia as his tendrils sprout from his back. He grips at his own body like he’s losing himself, and in a sense, he is. But its all true…

He has no control here.

This was his mission.

“Я готов ответить..”

And just like that, the soldier takes back over…

[cried-out-wolf]

Волк? Это ты, любимый?

@nikita-baklanov87

“Wolf, is that you, my love?”

That voice, that specific soft Russian accent flooded his head immediately and overwhelmed his system, it couldn’t be… there was no way… unless..

“Nikita…? Is it really you?”

[nikita-baklanov87]

It made Nikita's chest ache to see Wolf so confused, so lost. It was like his eyes couldn't focus on anything for longer than a few seconds, mumbling things under his breath Nikita couldn't understand. The vampire swallowed the lump in his throat, allowing himself to be leaned on with open arms. Cool hands smoothed through Wolf's sweaty mane; he had to be strong for his mate. He had to keep himself together while Wolf came back down, back to reality. Whatever brainwashing Verosia had done to him... It certainly seemed to make him feel like a stranger in his own mind and body. The wide, dilating eyes, the twitches of pain, the heavy breathing... Wolf was desperately trying to find his way back.

How does he help? What could he do to show Wolf the path forward? The beastkin's head slumped into Nikita's shoulder, heaving a weary sigh. The poor thing was exhausted. It was more than the physical ache of his muscles, his bones; it was the dull throbbing of his head as the world tried to piece itself back together for him in a way he could make sense of. It was the emotional stone around his neck weighing him nearly to the ground.

Nikita had to be strong. He had to carry Wolf, and he would. He could not carry such burdens for him, but he would carry his lover with only his own meager strength through hell if Wolf asked him to. He wasn't too heavy. Never too heavy.

"I know it does... just relax. I will watch over you, моя звезда. Everything will come back to you in due time. Do not force it." He kept his voice low and soft, same as it always was. It was one of the things Wolf seemed to like most about him; Nikita hardly ever yelled or raised his voice. It was always a smooth, soothing tone; inoffensive, polite, gentle.

Nikita's brow furrowed when Wolf asked where they were. Did... Did he truly not remember? Were all of his past missions blurring together? He glanced over at the book, wondering if it may hold any answers for Wolf's mental state, or if there was a way to help hidden somewhere in those pages. Probably not. Nikita's breath caught in his throat, a small watery noise escaping him.

"The basement, my love. Strade's basement. Where we met for the first time, yes? Surely you could not forget that." Smooth fingertips gently traced the lines of Wolf's face, remembering their first night vividly...

The cold metal pole at his back, the zipties digging into his wrists, and a beautiful, looming man with sharp claws, dark patches of fur, and twitching dog ears staring down at him. His eyes were curious but wary, nosing around the top of Nikita's head. Sometimes he wondered what Wolf made of his scent when they first met...

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf pondered heavily for a moment, taking in everything Nikita has been telling him, trying once again to piece together his missing bits of memory. Slowly, the pieces clicked together, the gears in his head whirring, his blank expression slowly cracking into a smile, followed by a broken laugh. He was remembering, it was working, ‘Nikita, just keep going..’ he thought.

Wolf gripped onto him, the memories beginning to flood like a dam had opened its floodgates. His body allowed him to remember. It was nearly a miracle. But of course, it came with a pounding headache, and his jaw trembled. It didn’t stop him from laughing about it.

“You looked so embarrassed on that pole…I cut you free and you fed off of me and swore it was the best thing you had in your entire lifetime..”

Wolf giggled softly, his smile refusing to fade unlike any other time.

“Yeah.. I couldn’t forget that no matter what..”

Wolf never let go, but the exhaustion was pooling on him now, his eyes heavy, what blood remained was nearly dry on his skin. He survived being the soldier without anything going wrong…maybe… just maybe there was hope to repurpose it..

[cried-out-wolf]

: )

“What are you smiling at? This isn’t very entertaining..”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh it is for me...

[cried-out-wolf]

“Right, because watching me struggle with orders gets your tiny heart racing. Let me focus and get out of my head if you want this to be clean and effective.”

[xchloroformedheartx]

awwwww, am i in your head hm? You must think of me alot.

Pervert.

[cried-out-wolf]

“You wish, now silence so I can make my mark and not fuck this up. You want him alive, right?”

Each word nearly made it harder to focus, but he still zeroes in, getting his calculations right.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Did I want your little bf alive?

Tch....You know I could just tell you to end it. End their life, your life....It's not like you need it. Your worthless after all. You are nothing without me.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I would rather him alive! God, you really don’t make this fucking mission easy. Why are we talking like this is some kind of negotiation?! Its NOT!”

He snarls silently, clutching his own head, taking the moment to regain focus and prepare his strike.

[cried-out-wolf]

can i pet u pls

“PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEICANBETRUSTED—”

He looks very excited about it.

[cried-out-wolf]

: )

“What are you smiling at? This isn’t very entertaining..”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh it is for me...

[cried-out-wolf]

“Right, because watching me struggle with orders gets your tiny heart racing. Let me focus and get out of my head if you want this to be clean and effective.”

[xchloroformedheartx]

awwwww, am i in your head hm? You must think of me alot.

Pervert.

[cried-out-wolf]

“You wish, now silence so I can make my mark and not fuck this up. You want him alive, right?”

Each word nearly made it harder to focus, but he still zeroes in, getting his calculations right.

[cried-out-wolf]

: )

“What are you smiling at? This isn’t very entertaining..”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh it is for me...

[cried-out-wolf]

“Right, because watching me struggle with orders gets your tiny heart racing. Let me focus and get out of my head if you want this to be clean and effective.”

[cried-out-wolf]

Волк? Это ты, любимый?

@nikita-baklanov87

“Wolf, is that you, my love?”

That voice, that specific soft Russian accent flooded his head immediately and overwhelmed his system, it couldn’t be… there was no way… unless..

“Nikita…? Is it really you?”

[nikita-baklanov87]

"Wolf!!!!"

The vampire stumbles before collapsing into the beastkin's arms. It was clear his bad leg was giving him trouble again. Nikita buried his face into Wolf's hoodie, taking in the warm, familiar smell. It felt like home again, even here.

"I missed you so m-much... I could not stand the thought of leaving you here anymore."

[cried-out-wolf]

“I-I missed you too-!!”

Wolf choked out in between sobs, his body trembling violently, nerves overloaded. Despite his visible distress, his tail still wagged.

“You came back for me… don’t leave ever again please-!”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita felt the warm tears staining his shirt as he pulled Wolf impossibly close. One soft hand cradled the back of the beastkin's head, burying his fingers into his dark hair. The vampire wasn't sure if or when he would ever have this again, but it only took putting himself in his line of sight and... well, here he was.

"Of course I did. Never again, sweetheart. Never. I had to come back, I will not leave without you again." He murmured into Wolf's ear. Tears were starting to fall down his own cheeks now, the heavy weight of reunion, the emotions of finally holding his mate again, beginning to sink in.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf tried his best to stop sobbing, but he couldn’t bear to hold back anymore, he whines and leans into Nikita as if his body had just given out.

“Please… stay… stay stay stay stay… forever… never leave me again please… missed you..”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's lower lip trembled as he did his best to hold Wolf up and himself together. Poor thing was barely able to speak through heaving breaths and his voice cracking with emotion.

"Мой милый Волк, I will never leave you alone again. I came back for a reason, for you. I was so lost without you... I know what you did for me was risky but I-I could not sleep another night without you." He mouthed kisses on top of Wolf's head and across his temple, which quickly became any patch of skin he could get too along his damp face. Soft mutterings in English and Russian could be heard between kisses.

"How... How badly did he hurt you, Wolf?"

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf shudders, remembering how all his old wounds never healed and ended up reopened and messed with.

"Not too bad.. just...just a reminder...he strayed off to new kills... I'm just...glad it wasn't me..."

[blacklodgesocialclub]

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Nikita starts to slowly give Wolf a once-over. He knew Wolf would try and hide his pain just so he wouldn't worry too much but...

"You should have seen the look on his face when he found out it was me who set up that bar date with him. I... I do not think he expected to see me again. I am afraid of what he will do to me now that he has me back. He seemed too... excited. I thought he would be furious." His yellow eyes are practically glowing in the dark of the basement, full of dread for what's going to come next.

"We should run, Wolf. While we still can..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Run...? But... where... where would we go? I... I don't want to leave... this is the only home I have..."

Wolf looked up at Nikita, fear in his eyes.

"I... I trust you, but....are you sure..?"

[nikita-baklanov87]

"We can make our own home, together. All my life I... I never belonged anywhere but with you? A-anything is possible, I do not feel so afraid of everything. You and me, yes? We will find our own corner of the world together, my love."

Nikita's voice was gentle, so gentle, and his hands were so soft as he cupped Wolf's face, rubbing his tears away with gentle thumbs. There was a bit of fear in his own eyes, but there was still some hope that maybe... just maybe, there was a place for them. There had to be, right?

[cried-out-wolf]

"Promise me... promise me this... that if I get us out of here.. you won't turn on me..."

Wolf leaned into the vampire's touch his trembling body finally settling down as comfort found its way in his veins. He just needed to hear the promise.

"I....I know of a way that guarantees an outing where we both survive.... You speak the language, I can tell you the words, but I will no longer be me until I'm told to report... Is that a risk you're willing to take..?"

He gripped onto Nikita like he was a lifeline, knowing that what he was offering was dangerous. But sometimes, danger is they key to survival.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita shook his head, soft black locks whipping side to side.

"Never, I could never, Wolf. You have my word." Every word was measured; he wanted Wolf to know he meant it. Nothing his boyfriend could do would make Nikita afraid. He listened carefully, rubbing Wolf's cheekbone as he took in the idea. The weaponization process. He'd heard Wolf speak about it before, Nikita recalled the pain in his voice, in his eyes.

But it might be the only way.

"Only if you are sure, love. I... hate that this must be the plan, but I could never fear you. Any part of you. I will do it." His voice shook, stumbling on his words, but he stood firm in his resolve.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I….I’m sure. I haven’t been under in years, I hope the programming hasn’t left me. I can only harness the strength of it, the forms. If we want out entirely, we have to use the full thing..”

Wolf pulled away to grab his notebook of mission reports, the history under Verosian control. He was ordered to write in it when away for longer missions, especially in no-contact zones. He stepped back to Nikita, nervous as hell, but raised the book to him, handing it off.

“Tie me to the pole and gag me. I will swing, I will get violent. I will yell. Every word is in Russian. After the first round, address me as Soldier in Russian, if I respond back in Russian, I’m under your control. If I don’t, repeat until I do.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita stared at the book for a moment before taking it in his trembling hands, holding it like a bomb that could go off at any moment. His thumb traced over the Verosian symbol across the front. This felt so wrong but... what other choice did they have? Nikita certainly couldn't take him on, not in such a weakened condition. This notebook, this tool, he hated it. It wasn't right, there was already a pit forming in his stomach at the idea that he would have to be the one to do it.

Freedom for them both was just a few choice words away.

Tucking the book under one arm, Nikita surged forward and locked Wolf into a desperate kiss. He poured his heart into it, hoping Wolf could feel his dedication, his love, his care. Pulling away, he pressed their foreheads together.

"Я верну тебя, клянусь."

Nikita stayed there for a moment, relishing Wolf's natural body heat against his ice cold skin before reluctantly pulling away. He listened in silence to Wolf's instructions, trying to quietly open cabinets and drawers to not draw any attention from upstairs.

It wasn't hard to find where the ropes were in the basement, but it took a momemt for him to locate a muzzle. He glared down at the inhumane tool, cursing Strade under his breath for a moment before turning back to his love.

"Okay... Okay, I think I am ready. Are you?" He held his hand out to Wolf, ready to guide him to the pole.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf relished the deep kiss, knowing it would be one of the last he’d have before being shut out of his own head for a mission. He missed the feeling of Nikita’s natural cold, giving a nod to his spoken Russian. He trusted him, he trusted Nikita with his own life that he would be brought back.

Once Wolf took his hand in a silent nod, he made his way over to the pole and sat down. His body already began to react to the position, a mix of Strade’s doing, and Vera’s. He lurched at the feeling of being bound, but he knew it was for the better, biting back at the sounds and urges clawing in his body to thrash and break away. He had to do this.

Wolf looks up at Nikita, shakily sighing before speaking. His body already felt like it was on fire, adrenaline surging in his veins from past trauma beginning to be be relived once again, even through it had been years since such actions were performed upon him. Muffled, he still made his point clear.

“I’m ready, send me.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's undead heart broke and crumpled at the position Wolf was in. He looked so small, and so afraid, like a frightened pup. And his eyes, they made his chest clench just to even look at them for a moment. His eyelids fluttered shut as he took a deep breath; he had to focus, it had to be done. Wolf trusted him, Wolf was allowing this to happen for the greater good of them both. He had to see it through, the vampire had to follow the plan. Nikita had to be strong and steel his heart. He would not lose Wolf like his past lovers, he couldn't. He may as well walk into the daylight and let the sun take him if he were to lose his Wolf after coming this far.

Opening his eyes, Nikita flipped to the right page. How did a few short, simple words worm their way into Wolf's brain and completely change him? Hypnosis? Literal machine programming? Some kind of injection regimen? He had so many questions with no time for answers. Clutching the book with sweaty palms, Nikita began. No going back.

"Here we go, love. Be strong for me, yes?"

His voice trembled with each word, watching in growing horror as Wolf twitched and huffed, his breath steaming through the muzzle. Every jerk of his muscles, every growl, the strain on the ropes, it felt like a knife to the vampire's gut. Wolf was changing before his eyes...

"Заказ. Девяносто семь. Сапоги. Левый. Кузница. Якорь. Пятьдесят два. Волк. Танк."

[cried-out-wolf]

Every atom within Wolf’s body strained, it burned as the words rang in his ears like close range gunfire. He would yank and pull at the restraints upon him, his yelling muffled behind the muzzle upon his face. It hurt, the programming was still there, convenient for the situation, unfortunate for his life. He swung and thrashed upon the pole, his eyes fixated on the ground as his body tremors and hyperventilates.

The beastkin whipped and shifted uncomfortably until… SNAP. The rope had broke free and he lunged forward…

Eventually his breathing slows, his screaming fades out with a growl, and his body stands still in a crouch on the floor. The soldier was looking down as the Verosian emblem warped and fizzled to life upon his forehead, his eyes then glowing as he looked upward. His posture was full of tension, brows furrowed and gaze cold and dark. It had worked.

“Отчетность.”

Wolf spoke coldly in response, despite Nikita never having questioned him. Nothing about Wolf in this state looked right, his posture, his gaze, even the way he spoke, something so monotone that even his own voice didn’t sound like it belonged to him.

He soon rose to his feet, standing eerily still, awaiting his first order.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Every word spoken looked like someone was delivering blow after blow to Wolf. He was twisting in ways that weren't natural, his breathing labored like he'd run a marathon. Nikita didn't even realize his eyes were watering until a few teardrops fell on the notebook in his hands. What Verosia had done to him, it was unspeakable. It was inhumane. Who does this to another living creature, strip them of their will, their spark, their very spirit? They could have just as easily built machines to do their dirty work. Instead, Nikita had to watch as the programmed commands pushed Wolf, his Wolf, down... and something else slip into his skin.

"Исполнять!" Nikita cried through gritted teeth, the meager muscle in his neck straining. He wanted this to be over, he wanted Wolf back to the way he was. He didn't want to watch Wolf's agonizing screams. He never wanted to hear him in so much anguish ever again. He didn't want to have to say the words anymore; the second time he would falter, he knew he would. The vampire felt his stomach churn, adrenaline roaring in his ears and making him lightheaded. Wolf howled in pain behind the muzzle, spitting and growling like a feral beast, a deep rumbling Nikita could feel in his chest. Quick, heavy footsteps could be heard above their heads.

Strade was moving.

"Исполнять!" Nikita's voice was a pitched scream this time, yellow eyes almost as wild as his partner's; he was desperate for this plan to work, so Wolf's sacrifice was not in vain until-

Nikita yelped and fell back into Strade's workbench, the notebook clattering to the floor as Wolf snapped the ropes like twigs, the red symbol on the front of the book now glowing on his forehead. He was... calming, coming down from the conditioning. Those eyes, those glowing red eyes moved from the floor to the vampire, fixing him to the spot. If Nikita needed to breath, he would have forgotten how in that moment as Wolf moved like an,apex predator, crouching in front of him.

And then he spoke.

It held no warmth, no trace of Wolf. Nikita's lower lip trembled, tensing as he heard the basement door open. Reaching forward, he smoothed a hand through Wolf's dark hair, paying no mind to the fact that Wolf's skin was scorching to the touch. There was a soft click and the muzzle fell to the floor. There was only one thing left to do: give the order.

"Убей Страда. Освободи нас."

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf turned around and made his way into the door near the staircase, shutting it with a crack to where he could see outside. He watched as Strade descended down the staircase, questioning what was going on. Wolf swung the door open without warning, hooking his arm around the other's neck and pulling him downwards. He effectively had him locked in a chokehold, but Strade's stumble knocked them off balance.

Wolf only let go to gain his own balance back, and he heard the click of the strapped knife unbuttoning. He didn't let it stop him, blocking moves with precision. It's not the fact he was overpowered, to be truthful he is, however it was Strade’s lack of hand-to-hand combat stamina and knowledge on his level that had the German at a major disadvantage. Wolf unsheathes his own blade, fighting equal and landing a few blows as a warning. He wasn't giving up.

"Wolf, what a surprise this is! Why are you so worked up? Had I failed to give you attention?" Strade shot out in exasperated breaths. He was intrigued more than scared.

"Who the fuck is Wolf?"

Wolf shot back before going back to swinging, growling and snarling as his eyes kept an eye on the captors every move. Before Strade could get another word out, he was met with a blow that sent him to the floor, gasping for air. Wolf knelt down and pulled his hair up, forcing him to meet his gaze.

Wolf kicked him back, resulting In the German to be immobilized momentarily belly up. He marched over, whole body moving like a machine, coldly and inhumane as he continued his brutal attack. Blood had already splattered on his body, but he didn't care. He had his mission on lock.

The moment seemed to go on forever, but he wasn't giving in. Not one bit. Time stood still, and Wolf hovered over him, not hesitation, but creating a suffocating tension between them all in the basement.

"What- the hell- is with- you-?!" Strade wheezed.. His gaze glassy as tears from the overwhelming pain filled his eyes involuntarily...

[nikita-baklanov87]

Everything moved so fast and not fast enough. Wolf nearly knocked the door of its hinges as he dragged Strade down the rest of the stairs, causing them both the stumble backwards. A cry caught in Nikita's throat as he watched them both draw steel, blood splattering onto concrete. It certainly wasn't the first time blood had been shed down there... but it would be the last. Strade didn't even notice him crouching against the table, the vampire trying to make himself smaller as the showdown unfolded before him.

The voice that come from his love made him shudder. Wolf really was gone; it didn't even sound like him anymore. If Nikita never heard it again, it would be too soon.

Wolf fought with precise strikes. There was nothing messy or half-assed about the way he moved. The training he went through in Verosia had to have been extensive and rigorous. He was a missile locked right onto their captor with one single mission: Search and destroy. Any of Strade's offense seemed to glance off of Wolf; his usual careful hands when it came to torture now looking clumsy and uncoordinated as he tried to fight a trained supersoldier.

Nikita watched in equal parts fear and awe as Wolf kicked Strade nearly across the room, wincing. There were definitely a few broken ribs as Wolf's powerful kick threatened to cave in his chest cavity. Every sound of flesh striking flesh made him flinch; a horrible sound he was all too familiar with. He should be happier his captor, the man who violated and tortured them both, is reaping what he sowed but... all Nikita could feel was hollow. A hole.

He should have done it himself. When Wolf wakes up he'd...

The air was heavy, the moment of truth teetering on the edge of a knife. The small droplets of blood were already starting to make the starving vampire's mouth water. No, no, he had to keep his composure, let Wolf work. He couldn't ruin the plan, not like this. His empty stomach growled, and he bit the back of his own hand. It wouldn't take much to finish Strade like this; it would finally, mercifully be over. The nightmare could end...

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re my mission.”

Wolf replied with a dark tone, his gaze never faltering as his captor rose to his feet, refusing to give up the fight, he found it amusing, truly. Wolf only swung his blade even more,sclera flooding pure red with white irises replacing the red orbs that were his eyes originally. The beastkin continued to dodge, to attack, gaining a new scrapes and injuries of his own from not blocking everything in time, but he had a method here. He was wasting Strade’s endurance, a valuable asset to a larger built man unlike him, definitely that of the unfit type, but he saw a brutal end blind his vision. Something wicked and twisted, a memorable end, this made Wolf purposefully drop some of his guard just for it to execute perfectly. He would have to hold off. Strade took the opportunity to land a few hits of his own, not knowing he was taking intentional bait.

Wolf kicked him down once again, an audible crack this time sounding off, another bone having been broken, and he straddled his captor as he held him by the collar of his shirt, fist raised as blood and sweat started dripping off the both of them.

“This is such a wonderful surprise Haustier… You…You were always so quiet and obedient.. now you’re misbehaving..”

“Should’ve collared me then.”

Wolf hissed in retaliation, but he didn’t back down, slapping at his face as he continued taking his anger out. Strade was groaning in pain, unable to hit back, but Strade only sniffled a broken laugh. Wolf stopped and looked at him, disgust upon his face.

“You’d be so lost without me, and look at who came back…He missed you.”

“SHUT UP!!”

Wolf lifts him back to his feet and off the ground with a snarl, throwing punches at his gut over and over, to his stomach, his liver, kidneys, anything that could do lasting damage. He wanted him immobilized, and he was going to get that.

“I bring him home alive.. he worked so hard to see you again…and this is how I get repaid..? You should be ashamed.. Wolf. I know you’re in there..” Strade coughs, blood spattering from his mouth.

Wolf hesitated, a light pull in his head, Strade was trying to counter the programming. He dropped him to his feet and feigned sympathy, faking his snap back to reality, going as far as changing his eyes and making the emblem fuzzy. He could play one more of his games.

“You know who you are, Wolf, that’s your name, when you told me at the bar..”

Wolf only stayed silent, looking down and to the right. He only gripped Strade tighter…and then in one swift motion he began to throw punches again.

“THAT’S NOT MY NAME!! YOU’RE!!! MY!!! MISSION!!!!!!”

Punch after punch, Strade endured until his body gave out from the shock of pain. And the moment he fell silent, he was dangling in the air by Wolf’s hand, and he dropped him, the beastkin breathing heavy, only to drag his body to the drain, popping the lid off removing the stashed painkillers, and replacing the cover. He placed Strade’s body over the drain, and made it over to the workbench, opening a cabinet and pulling out a stashed handgun, one he brought from Verosia, twisting on his silencer, he unloaded four shells into Strade’s body, two in his knees, and two in his arms.

Strade awoke from the shock, the pain, but it was shortlived, Wolf having pulled his body up into a hug after ditching the gun and driving his hand straight through his chest, his captor’s heart in his hand, beating frantically. Wolf felt as the body went limp, and his emotion remained stoic, dropping the beating muscle the moment the last pulse faded. He stood up, opening the office and swinging the chair out from the corner where the computer desk was, going back to the main area and sitting down.

He now awaited his next order, the mission was complete, even if he was nearly hyperventilating.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita could only watch on as Wolf swung his blade with such power; no emotion, no fear, just pure drive to finish the mission he had been given. It was like nothing else mattered, complete tunnel vision. Could he ever really truly come back from such a state? Would he even remember this? When he was done, would he look upon Strade's body and howl?

It was like Strade's offense meant nothing, not even as the knife cut into Wolf's flesh. Nikita's stomach turned and he clapped a hand over his mouth, was Wolf... was he slowing down? Was he tired already? No... no, no, he couldn't be, this was only just beginning... Was it on purpose? Perhaps it was to make Strade too confident, to find the fatal misstep that would kill him for good. The smell of Wolf's blood made his brain buzz; he couldn't help but lurch forward on his hands and knees. He had to hold back his own inner beast, but he was hungry, oh so hungry. He wanted blood, his mate's blood, it had been so long...

The empty nausea only worsened at the sound of breaking bones and Strade... those gold eyes flicking over to him. He was trying to use guilt, a potent weapon in his arsenal against Wolf. It had worked time and time again, but... Wolf wasn't here right now. It wouldn't work the same way, right? Still, his skin crawled as his former captor looked at him, and Wolf... dropped him. That gaze him feel naked, exposed, oh God, why was Wolf stopping? He hardly realized he was screaming to Wolf until he felt his voice turn raw in his throat.

"Прикончи его! Покончи с этим!"

He couldn't allow Strade to get in Wolf's head, he couldn't allow him to worm his way inside and twist him up. Nikita spoke with more authority than he realized he could muster.

"You leave him alone! You lose, Strade!"

And he was losing. The multiple blows to his vital organs were making him cough up blood, his deep voice turning husky from strain. He was trying to find any in he could get but there was none. Not anymore. Wolf was bellowing in his face now, resuming blow after blow after blow. The German was unrecognizable now, his face rearranged into a bloody pulp, his body more bruise than bare skin. It was almost blessedly over, Strade could bleed out on the floor, they could burn this hellhole to the ground with him in it, they could-

The vampire's stomach dropped when Wolf moved away and produced a gun from one of the cabinets. That... certainly wasn't Strade's, guns were never his style. It wasn't creative enough, too much margin for error. The familiarity, the silencer, the way Wolf's hand wrapped around the handle with practiced ease, it had to be his. Nikita gasped and jumped with every shot, wincing as blood splattered from Strade's unconscious body. Exposed bone from the shots to his knees made Nikita nearly double over. Such violence, such... brutality, he had no idea Wolf was capable of this.

And then Wolf went even further, further than Nikita thought possible as he took his clawed hand and skewered his way through Strade chest, grabbing his heart. He was already dead, surely he didn't have to do this! The man lurched forward, collapsing on Wolf and covering him in blood and viscera. Nikita couldn't help but scream as Strade's life bled out on the floor, Wolf's face unchanging. It was hard not to feel afraid, to feel sick. This is just a taste of what Strade deserved, so why did it feel more like a predator playing with its food than vengeance?

Leaning over, Nikita dry heaved, unable to get the image of Wolf holding a grown man's heart in his clawed hand, blood matting the fur, still beating. As calm as could be, Wolf retrieved the office chair and sat down, eyes fixed on Nikita, his new handler, once again. The exposed heart laid on the floor, calling Nikita's name to come get a taste. Not now... please not now. If he went into a blood frenzy, Wolf might not recognize him and treat him like a threat. Still feeling sick, he finally sat up, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he tried not to look at Strade's mutilated corpse.

In a soft, hoarse voice, the vampire mustered one word:

"Отчет..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Отчет о выполнении задания: проект «Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два», одна подтвержденная ликвидация, угроза нейтрализована."

Wolf replies flatly, delivering his mission report to his handler as if he were a commanding officer. His expression never changed, his body still and tension still very clearly visible. His clothes stained in blood, Wolf looked...lost. Out of it. Not present at all. As if he were just some killing machine or a tool awaiting for it's next use. The image was powerful yet heartbreaking.

Blood splattered on the floor as his hands dripped away the crimson substance, thick and heavy as other fluids mixed with it. He sat there, silently awaiting to comply with whatever order was given next. He waited, the minutes feeling like hours, but he was complicit. He didn’t move, but his gaze followed Nikita, nearly like a predator stalking prey.

Wolf knew eventually he would have to break the news to both Ulric and Ren eventually, about how he became weaponized, but he would explain it as a means of survival. He would forge a story, the evidence, a report, everything. It’s what he was trained for, it was his job, a future mission. For now, the cleanup and other factors were the biggest concern.

Now to put the Verosian Soldier to sleep, and to reawaken Wolf, deep within his subconscious, if he was even reachable. Being blocked out this far and this long for a simple combat assassination mission has the clock running like Doomsday.

[nikita-baklanov87]

The words swam in Nikita's head: Project Ninety-Seven-Fifty-Two, elimination, neutralize. It was over. Wolf's muscles were tight, ready to come to life like a livewire at any moment and start the carnage all over again if Nikita commanded it so. This is how he lived, day in and day out for years until he came here. No one bothered to ask what Wolf wanted, if he was... afraid, or uncertain, or unwilling. The thought of Wolf having to go to sleep every night with so much blood on his hands, untold horrors just behind his eyelids when he closed them playing on a loop, and there was no one to comfort him, to tell him he was still a good man, that it wasn't his fault...

Nikkta choked on a ragged sob as he crawled forward, shaking limbs as he latched onto him. He didn't care that blood was smearing all over his clothes and skin, that Wolf reeked of sweat and death, Nikita was still safe here as he buried his face into the hair sticking to Wolf's neck. Tears fell freely now as he clung to his protector, finally feeling the weight of it all.

"Я больше не могу этого выносить! Отключись, отключись, пожалуйста!"

He could only hope he was speaking the right words, he wanted this part to be over. He wanted to clean this horrible mess up and sleep, and maybe... maybe they could both move on. Forget this whole nightmare ever happened. They could be happy, so happy, they could live freely. Nikita was finally in an era, a country where he could claim Wolf in public if he wanted, Wolf was free of Verosia's clutches here, there was nothing to stop them anymore. No more bloodshed, no more torture, no more humiliation and shame.

Nikita pressed his mouth to Wolf's feverish skin along his jaw, tasting some of the blood that splattered there. The flavor set his tongue on fire, his fangs aching to grow and bite and take. Just a little longer, not yet...!

"Вернись ко мне, посмотри на меня, пожалуйста?" He was begging as he reached up his hand and turned Wolf's unflinching gaze to him. He was begging Wolf to remember, to put away the soldier, to lay down his arms, and let the fight be over. It would never have to happen again.

"Я стану сильнее, чтобы тебе больше никогда не пришлось через это проходить — обещаю, любимая. Я буду тебя защищать..."

Just outside, it was beginning to rain.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf stared empty into Nikita's gaze, unresponsive to the whole interaction, the only time he moved was when he was told to shut down. His ears craned, eyes flicking down and to the right, then locking back upon Nikita. An emotional response. It was a sign. He's awake, in there, he can hear. Wolf remained tense...until his shoulders slumped.

"«Проект 9752», запрашиваю разрешение выйти из боя."

A request, he heard it, he heard to shut down, and now he was confirming it, wanting to avoid punishment or far worse, a full wipe and reprogramming. It was instinct, like muscle memory. He just needed to hear that permission was granted.

His voice was still flat, but yet, it wasn't cold like before, it was soft, nearly polite. Wolf was resurfacing, slowly, surely, he just needed permission.

"Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два, разоружить. Миссия выполнена."

The words echo in his head as his brows furrow, looking down and to the right again, his emotions beginning to flow through as his brain register memories from Verosia's past missions. He began to relive them all, but still awaited the command.

He was so close, so so close, just one last order. That's all he needed to be free, to allow the Verosian Soldier to sleep once again. Perhaps eventually, with enough harnessing and training, it could be repurposed into something better for Nikita, an aid rather than the tool it was now.

[nikita-baklanov87]

The eyes were the worst part. There was no recognition, no familiarity, no warmth. Nikita could have been anyone in that moment and it would have made no difference to Wolf as he was now. But...

Then there was a slight twitch in his cheek muscle, his ears craning, Nikita's arms faltering as the tension finally bled out of Wolf's posture. He was there, he could hear Nikita! 'Yes Wolf, listen to my voice, just follow my voice,' he thought, using his sleeves to pat the blood off from Wolf's face. The vampire let out a sigh of relief, nearly laughing with delirium. He nodded, holding Wolf's face in his clammy palms.

"Разрешение дано. Возвращайся ко мне, моя звезда."

He kept his hands on Wolf's face, trying to make sure his eyes stayed locked on him. If he looked too hard at Strade while he was coming down from the weaponization, it might break Wolf, and then what? All that hard work, all that sacrifice...

"Да, миссия выполнена. Теперь вы можете отдохнуть. Больше ничего не нужно." Nikita's voice stayed soft, loving, his heart full of hope at hearing the change in Wolf's tone. He was starting to break the surface of the conditioning, just a little bit more. It suddenly occured to Nikita just how tired he was; he hadn't slept in so long, it had to have been going on almost a week now. The raw anxiety of putting the plan into motion, of seeing Strade again, finally getting to Wolf, and now this. He felt the exhaustion in his bones.

Perhaps they could burn that horrible book when all this was over. Perhaps they could burn this evil house. It wouldn't burn the memories away, but it could clean the slate, perhaps. Fire was cleansing, after all.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Disengaged.”

Wolf closed his eyes, letting his head dip and tension expel from his body. The time passing through his dissociation was so long it was nearly its own torture, but the beastkin eventually came to, breathing heavy and shaking from the conditioning. He looked up and around, then slumped his head once more with a groan, sweat dripping off of his face as he rolls his shoulders. His ears pin flat to his head and he grunts.

“Fucking hell…” The headache that came with was certainly no joke, his body swaying as he got thrashed by vertigo. Wolf looks back up at his lover, right in the eyes as he tried to stabilize himself without falling into a panic attack. Usually he wouldn’t be awake after this, only in cryo or in a comatose state. But he wasn’t near any of that, he had to face the effects head on.

“How bad’s the damage?”

Wolf pants, his body hyperventilating before he could calm it down, but soon enough he made it stop, or at least tried to…

He was out of it, he pulled through, he did it, thats what mattered, he made it through. He survived being weaponized for good. This was good, this was a good thing, he should be happy… but why doesn’t he feel it…and why can’t he remember..?

“That man… he… spoke to me.. I recognized it… was it the same guy?? Did I know him?? There were two… I heard someone else…” Wolf tries to place down his scattered memories, trying to make some sense of everything he had just done while being under, he needed help..the guidance.. He could only hope…

He couldn’t help the tears that started welling up..

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita pushed off his knees in order to allow Wolf to rest his head on his shoulder as he came back down. His eyes were swimming in his head, no doubt dizzy from adrenaline and confusion.

"Hush, it's alright, Wolf... it's going to be alright. It's over, no more. You're safe with me." He pressed his cool cheek against Wolf, the poor thing was burning up, dripping with sweat and blood. His breath came in a hot, staccato rhythm against Nikita's neck, making him shiver. Both hands smoothed his hair back, gently running across the fur on his ears. Even like this, he felt so... soft. So small. Nikita felt his own racing mind begin to slow down as the danger was finally eradicated. Still, with a dead body in the room and his distressed and exhausted lover in front of him, this was hardly the time to relax.

"Can you stand?" He asked, wanting to shower all of this off of them as soon as possible. He would offer to dispose of the body on his own. He couldn't ask Wolf to do it after killing him, it would be far too much on his psyche for one night. Wincing, Nikita looked past Wolf's shoulder to Strade's exposed heart, now a fleshy mass on the floor.

"I... to yourself, damage is minimal. To him..." He chewed the inside of his cheek and shook his head.

"Do not look at him. That would be torture to yourself." Watching Wolf's eyes well up, Nikita couldn't help but try and lead him towards the computer room. They had spent so many nights there on that couch, bonding in the nest Wolf made. It would comfort him, at least he hoped. Surely something familiar would soothe him more than words could.

Taking hold of Wolf's hands, Nikita paused, his brow furrowing.

"What man? Two voices? Darling, what are you saying?" Oh no... was he still under? He said the words right, he told Wolf to disengage and he repeated it back, his voice was normal so... why was he making no sense?

"You are... here, with me. Nikita, remember? Just you and me down here. Look at me..." His heart sunk at the look on Wolf's face. He looked so lost, trapped in his own memories of past missions. What could he do? Killing someone, much less in such a state... What words could be said, what actions could Nikita take to help his lover? Strade was a monster, to be sure, but he had such a strange way of making Wolf attached to him, dependent on the scraps of affection in between the blood and violence.

"Your mind is such a mess right now... It should have been me, I should have done. It should have been me, not you!" Nikita's voice cracked, feeling the heavy weight of guilt. It was his plan, it was his idea to free them, he should have been the one to kill Strade but no. He was still so weak and softhearted after all these years. And now Wolf, his beloved mate, had to carry the burden. All Nikita could do was tighten his grip on Wolf's hands as his chest constricted, trying not to cry.

"Простите, мне так жаль!"

[cried-out-wolf]

The gears were turning inside Wolf’s head, trying to make sense of everything. It was over? What was over? Wolf didn’t understand anything, until blood settled in his nose. He sniffed, and his eyes widened, he remembered now. Partially… that is. He looked up at Nikita, his hands finding Nikita’s forearms for leverage. He looked around, everything finally coming to. Dipping his head, he groans softly, the mild headache finally settling in.

“It’s over… jobs done… I can… I can stand I just…” He trailed off, trying to remain grounded. He didn’t realize he was into the office until minutes later, the scent of his nest flooding his senses. He finally felt safe, he finally could look at Nikita properly. “Need to get cleaned up..” He muttered, feeling the blood drying upon his skin and fur.

“i took care of it, its okay now. We are free, the soldier… its asleep. You couldn’t have done what I did..” Wolf sighs, looking down at the floor before around in the room.. It didn’t take long for his ears to find the sound of Nikita’s stomach growling, both facing forward in alert. He dried any tears that leaked from his eyes, his worry now upon Nikita.

“You’re hungry…”

Wolf nuzzled into Nikitas touch, taking in the cold to his burning hot skin, it was a relief for sure. The ice cold regulated the after-effects of being triggered, and nearly felt like cryo, in which he felt even safer and stable with.

“I’m okay.. I promise.. just.. let me hold you… please… I’m sorry you had to see me like that..”

Wolf nearly whined, the reality crushing him slowly, but he had his mate, and that’s all that mattered.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita allowed Wolf to squeeze his arms and hang on, staying as still as he possibly could. The warm smell of the nesrby nest was comforting to him as well, having recovered many a night there from Strade's torture. Nikita remembered Wolf swiping a shirt for him before he set the vampire free; he slept with it every night, mourning heavily when the smell of Wolf faded from it. It was the only thing aside from the mating bite he'd been able to keep, the only thing that barely got him through those few months they'd be seperated.

"Still I... I could have helped, I could have done something but sit there frozen like a- like a- " The right words escaped him, his mind clouded by intense shame.

Leading Wolf to the couch, he helped him take a seat. Clean... yes, he needed to be cleaned up, the blood crusting his palms to Wolf's skin. The blood was on his hands, too. It made Nikita swallow a lump in his throat.

"The burden should not have been yours alone to hold. Let me... let me find a bucket or something to hold water. I can clean some blood off while rest a moment, and then we can shower, yes?" At least Nikita could help in the aftermath, for whatever that was worth. He was already searching around for something that might be able to be used. Surely Strade kept things like that around.

Placing a hand on his stomach, he paused. Yes, Wolf was right, Nikita was hungry. The vampire wasn't sure if it was the anxiety, stress, guilt, or the feeling of being simply undeserving made him not want a single drop. He had taken enough, he neeed to give first. Do something.

"You should not worry for that right now, Wolf. Let me fix you first, get you clean. Let me-" He cut himself off, making for the door once he had Wolf safely parked on the couch. Autopilot was kicking in until...

He wanted Nikita to stay, to hold. Oh... Oh...

"Please, do not apologize to me. As I said, nothing you do could make me change my opinion of you, or fear you. You are my life, моя звезда, nothing changes this. I love you, every piece of who you are." His voice was gentle, daring a glance over his shoulder at Wolf as he hovered by the office door, hand moving for the doorknob but stopping midair. Stay... Wolf was begging him to stay. Just for a moment.

Of course he would. The answer was automatic, instinctual. He moved away from the door and back towards the couch, allowing Wolf to pull him into his strong, safe arms.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf’s mind scattered as he tried to recall everything he did as the soldier, his head hurt trying to piece everything together. He leaned further into Nikita, not caring that the blood soaked in his shirt would cause Nikita’s to stain eventually. His eyes were wide, nearly bloodshot as he tried once again, wincing silently at shock of pain that struck his head.

He mumbled and murmured to himself, something about the two voices he heard earlier, and a possible hallucination or flashback, he couldn’t make any sense of it. Nikita’s voice didn’t sound like his own when he was under, it blended too much to be clear, in fact it sounded like a commanding officer, back in Verosia. He groans, dipping his head as he gives up for the time being.

“My head hurts..” He mumbles, all of his social battery sounded drained, even he sounded exhausted. But that was a part of the cost, just skipping the steps of cryosleep and wiping his memory. He looks around, trying to make sense of where he was.

Oh, so the dissociation was that bad, okay. He lifted his head, trying to piece that together instead. At least this made more sense. “Where….are we… why’s it so hard to remember…? Like I know it’s familiar but yet it’s…. foreign..”

Time… he just needed time to come down from all of this, thats all.

[cried-out-wolf]

: )

“What are you smiling at? This isn’t very entertaining..”

[cried-out-wolf]

Let me guess...still stuck in the basement hm? Freedom tastes so good. I doubt you would ever get a taste though.

I have been scanning strade for a long time now. I know almost everything about him...what he does to you.

It's entertaining no?

- @xchloroformedheartx

"I get my own amount of freedom on my own time, Hell will freeze over before I even think about that damned collar choking my neck. And let me guess, you enjoy what he does to me, huh? You want to watch? Why not show yourself since you're watching me, lets see how much he entertains you.."

The beastkin did everything not to falter, to give away the fact the sudden eyes upon his life was vaguely startling, though, it was no different from life in Verosia. Sure, he was used to being surveillenced within Verosia's walls, but there was something...different about this new intrusion.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh I don't enjjoy watching. Infact I enjoy being the one to give that amount of pain. He doesn't entertain me...But you? You do. Perhaps you want me to show myself, hm? You want a real god to put you in your place. To utilize you more than anything.

Freedom is just an illusion.

Specially your's.

They seemed to be met with a cold demeanour on the camera on the computer.

Tell me, what are you doing on his computer?

[cried-out-wolf]

The beastkin was far beyond his edge now, heart pounding hard in his chest he swore he heard it alongside the ringing in his ears. He was panicking, something.. no… someone got in somehow, and now he was vulnerable all over again, just as he thought he had escaped all trouble. So much for his usb VPN, though that didn’t matter when something playing GOD was near.

“When I said we needed a new God.. an angel or something that..looks like it… you decided to take that literally huh?! It doesn’t matter what I’m doing!! How the hell did you find me?!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

The other was always vulnerable as long as the stalker roamed the streets. As long as he was free? No one was safe. The news always reported break ins, certain things going missing. People going missing a week after those continuous break-ins.

The VPN is useless if one can pick it apart bit by bit. It took time and alot of effort but if you are stubborn enough? you can do anything. He didn't even have to use his abilities to track this one down.

An angel...? Oh I used to be one, you are quite easy to find. Don't worry about locking the doors, the windows.

I am already inside.

[cried-out-wolf]

"Already inside..?"

Wolf's heart dropped, he swore he died just for a split second. Already...? How was that even possible? Wolf didn't like this, he didn't like being toyed with. His ears crane and his lip quivers, fur bristling as his skin erupts into goosebumps. He had to find a way out, or better yet, a safehouse. He wasn't armed here.

"Get out of here. Go... Go away-"

Now would be a great time for that tracker to connect to Verosia.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Already inside.

He repeated that heart drop was sudden and yet warranted. The creeping and groaning of the floor in the shadow's, the way things seemed to shuffle and move. It was certain tat someone was there. This game of cat and mouse, wolf and bunny just begun.

Soon he felt a breath linger almost on his neck.

Whatever, whoever it was? Wasn't going to go away anytime soon, the small laughs of a deep raspy voice confirmed it.

[cried-out-wolf]

The beastkin's heart only sank further, his eyes wide as he stared at the screen, ears pinned flat to his head. It was clear the nerves were getting to him.

But he wasn't about to give up so easily.

Wolf wasn't going to let his fear show so easily either, getting up from the chair and making his way to the door, he stood by it, silent with his ear pressed to the thin wood. He was listening, waiting, the hunter turning hunted.

He refused to go down without a fight, let alone be caught with his guard down. So he sat, and waited, the noise outside already giving him some idea of where the other could be.

"Hunting like a human in prehistoric times..."

[xchloroformedheartx]

the way those ears showed true fear, submission almost...It was tugging him. There was a small creak but where it came from was unknown. Hard to pinpoint where it was even with heightened senses from the beastkin.

Out of nowhere there was a knock but it wasn't coming from the door, it was coming from behind him. Like something was already in the room with the wolf.

Hunting....Is that what it's called hm? My games? That deep raspy voice glitched, coming from everywhere at the same time, whatever this was it wasn't human.

[cried-out-wolf]

"Y-Yeah, you're literally cornering me... Go away..-"

Wolf nearly falls into his panic, looking around anxiously as if he would even find whoever is stalking him so easily. He groans, tail twitching when he goes to sit down on the couch. His body is tremoring.

"What do you want from me..?"

His hands grip at his hair, his heart pounding in his chest, this had to be worse than Verosia.. no.. it was.

[xchloroformedheartx]

I won't be going away. I'll always be here. Watching and waiting. I'll always be in your life, like a spider in the corner of your room, watching and waiting to strike.

What I want from you? You. To simply take you. To turn you into something you didn't think you were capable of ever being.

A small laugh, the glitching and distorting unpleasantly chilling.

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re a fool if you think I’ll give into that so easily. I’m not going anywhere. This is where I belong. You’re not gonna get what you want, the moment I reconnect I’ll be back on my way home!!”

Wolf was cornered, nowhere to go. Connections to Verosia are completely off the table here. He isn’t going to go down willingly.. but maybe… just maybe.. there are a few words that could make him comply…

“You can’t get me to obey you!! Just give up!!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

You think i need you to give in? you already gave in the moment i stepped into your personal space. I'm your new god.

A hand snatched his throat right up from the darkness that swallowed the rest of their body, fortunately he stepped out of the darkness revealing himself, his golden hues fixated, something was wrong with their stomach though, something was moving underneath the skin.

It was disgusting whatever it was.

He tightened his grip cutting off any oxygen...

[cried-out-wolf]

“As.. if I’d ever… give in-”

Wolf choked out in-between gasping breaths, clawing desperately at the arm that was choking him. He refused to break eye contact, determined to fight his way through, even if he was in a losing battle. His body instinctively flailed around, kicking and trying to land any blow that would free him just so he could breathe.

“Letmego-!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Blink blink...

Wry Smile.

You don't have a choice whether you give in or not. It's already too late for that. The sooner you realise the easier this will be to dismantle you over and over. Pull back the layers, let me creep in.

With that he used that hand around the beastkins throat to pin him right down against the floor, straddling him. The guy felt like a whole stone wall, not able to quite get him off despite his size.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Never-!”

Wolf struggled against the floor, face scrunched in a fanged snarl as he writhed underneath the other, clawing at both the floor and their arm. He refused to be weaponized again, Verosia hadn’t invoked the words in years to even send him into such a state. He stared down the other being straddling him, beads of sweat dripping down his face as he slowly began to panic, realizing this fight might not topple in his favor.

“You won’t weaponize me-! Won’t allow it—!”

He rasped, nearly choking as he felt lightheaded. His body began to bulk in emergency, muscles burning as they became more defined and prominent.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Whoever said I want you as a weapon? Maybe I want you as a trophy to sit on my shelf and look pretty all bruised and bloodied. Hurting and crying. Those whimpers escaping your maw. That clawed hand stayed grabbing his face holding him against the ground.

You think i need a weapon? I have archangel. I don't need a weapon. I just simply want to hurt you. See what's inside, how much you can tolerate before you beg to stop.

His wing gave a flutter behind his back, those glitches getting a little more vicious from him keeping up his fake form.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf could only whimper, fear starting to take over as he buried a fang into the hand pushing him down. His breathing was frantic, and tears were beginning to fall from his face.

He wasn’t going to win. Deep down he knew it. Without Vera’s words being uttered into trigger, he simply wasn’t strong enough.

All he could do was shake his head in protest, his body finally submitting slowly…

“No-…”

ALSO THANK U OP IM GLAD U LIKE THE ART!!!!

[xchloroformedheartx]

They both knew he wasn't going to win but here they were. Still fighting. His body giving up slowly. Those eyes full of tears, something he loved. The way those teeth rested on his hand.

He tilt his head unaturally.

You are already giving in, good. You may not see it now but it's what is best for you, no? You need someone to take control.

[cried-out-wolf]

Control… it’s all he ever knew. Someone was always above him, and with that factor missing, he was lost. Very, very lost.

His hand drops, his body finally giving in all the way, no urgency to fight back anymore.

“Ready…to comply..”

Wolf sniffles brokenly, looking downwards in defeat. The battle was over, it had been over..

He needed control more than ever now..

[xchloroformedheartx]

Drazzic hummed, a mused little sound as he slowly let go of that neck.

I always knew you were a good mutt, huh? Always allowing people to step right on you. You never bite, you never fight. Or maybe it's because you know you would lose, hm? Either way. I am sure you will enjoy everything delivered to you.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf's nose began to bleed, the symbol of Verosia warping above his head as tears kept falling down his face. He knew this cycle all too well, from both Strade and Verosia, all he can do now is obey. Comply. Take whatever hits he gets.

"I follow orders.."

Wolf's voice waivered, a thin line between weapon and prisoner. This is all he was, and all he needed were the words...

[xchloroformedheartx]

Such a good boy, aren't you?

Maybe i should get you to hunt all your friends hm? One by one. Drag them to my streaming room, torture them one by one...Maybe I'll even get you to eat them, hm?

Ah...its such a wonderful idea. Don't you think?

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf wipes away his tears and his bloody nose, his ears flattening at the corrupt praise he was given. There it was, the threat of weaponizing him to a degree, he knew it all too well.

“If that’s what you believe is best… if… that is what you want. Ready to comply.”

The serum was already activating itself in his body, preparing to take on the first order barked at him. He was slipping. He was slipping into that weapon of destruction and he couldn’t fight it..

Wolf would do anything just to be praised like he was now.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Ah...such a good boy hm? What about that vampire you love oh so much? Maybe we should get you to hunt them as your first little mission. I do love a lovers quarrel...and then maybe I'll get you to pay a visit to my fox.

Yes he was cruel at times, he knew where to strike. He would make Wolf believe that he was his knew god, the only thing he could ever believe in...

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf fought himself internally, to deactivate the control of the serum, but it was simply too powerful, his body knew if it refused to comply, if it showed defiance in any way, he would be met with agonizing pain, all he could do was painfully stare down the being in the eye while trembling.

Not him, anyone but him… Anyone but his beloved Nikita… that was his mate… he would NEVER hurt him…

“Отчетность…”

Wolf replies brokenly, his voice strained and laced with a deep pain. This wasn’t just his usual compliant reply, the “Ready to Comply” that he had been saying over and over to appease the other, this was the soldier speaking now. He sat there, eerily still, awaiting for this being before him to give the order.. He hated this deep down, but he was too weak against his programming on his own, he needed someone else, someone familiar to break him out of this.

For now, he could only hope he wouldn’t go that far, while he still had a sliver of his consciousness..

[xchloroformedheartx]

You have a order no? To hunt down your little love. After all that will make this whole ordeal very interesting, won't it? Im sure they will be happy to see you.

Go.

You can come back once your hunt is over.

A dismissive wave.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf could only nod, his body beginning to move like a machine, out of the office, up and out of the basement, and sneakily leaving the house. He quickly made a side bar to hit up the Verosian bunker, just to suit up in black leather tactical gear and put on a muzzle. He was loaded with weapons. A gun, a grenade, a smoke bomb, and a few knives. He marched back out and began his hunt.

It was an order, an order that brought a tear to his eye, he wanted to break free of the Verosian Soldier, but he had to comply. So he started going off to all the hiding places Nikita had been through that he kept note of.

'Oh Nikita...forgive me..'

It's all he could think about. The mission that would bring him guilt. He needed to be stopped while he still could be, while it was still possible. But not everything would fall into his hands.

He heads out, beginning his search for Nikita as the Verosian Soldier, hunting down his very love that he set free from the wretched basement. That was his mission.

[xchloroformedheartx]

He snorted...Amused by the situation. Maybe next time he see's wolf? They will be covered in the blood from a loved one.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf could only focus on his mission at hand, finding Nikita. He had to complete this mission, his brain wouldn’t let him rest until he had done so. He had orders, and as a soldier, orders are meant to be obeyed. And thats when he began to check off buildings. Every safehouse Nikita and him had made, every bunker he snuck off to to train and prepare Ulric for being basement-bound like him, he checked off each empty turn.

Nikita was smart, he knew this, but the Verosian Soldier was smarter. It had been just 20 minutes, only 20, and nearly every option had turned up empty and untouched, and it only meant one thing. Hiding away in a safehouse where he was told where it would be the least obvious yet the safest was all he was left with. Smart, but not smart enough.

Like a machine does, Wolf pulverizes his way through, going through the floors and clearing the levels until he winds to the basement of this specific location. Quietly, he makes his way down the stairs, stalking, waiting, hoping for something. The minutes felt like hours on sniper-stance, but eventually he caught sight. He leans up, watching Nikita carefully.

He made note, now it was time to capture his target.

He stands, he waits, the tension in the air thick, he just needed the right moment to pounce.

[cried-out-wolf]

Волк? Это ты, любимый?

@nikita-baklanov87

“Wolf, is that you, my love?”

That voice, that specific soft Russian accent flooded his head immediately and overwhelmed his system, it couldn’t be… there was no way… unless..

“Nikita…? Is it really you?”

[nikita-baklanov87]

"Wolf!!!!"

The vampire stumbles before collapsing into the beastkin's arms. It was clear his bad leg was giving him trouble again. Nikita buried his face into Wolf's hoodie, taking in the warm, familiar smell. It felt like home again, even here.

"I missed you so m-much... I could not stand the thought of leaving you here anymore."

[cried-out-wolf]

“I-I missed you too-!!”

Wolf choked out in between sobs, his body trembling violently, nerves overloaded. Despite his visible distress, his tail still wagged.

“You came back for me… don’t leave ever again please-!”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita felt the warm tears staining his shirt as he pulled Wolf impossibly close. One soft hand cradled the back of the beastkin's head, burying his fingers into his dark hair. The vampire wasn't sure if or when he would ever have this again, but it only took putting himself in his line of sight and... well, here he was.

"Of course I did. Never again, sweetheart. Never. I had to come back, I will not leave without you again." He murmured into Wolf's ear. Tears were starting to fall down his own cheeks now, the heavy weight of reunion, the emotions of finally holding his mate again, beginning to sink in.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf tried his best to stop sobbing, but he couldn’t bear to hold back anymore, he whines and leans into Nikita as if his body had just given out.

“Please… stay… stay stay stay stay… forever… never leave me again please… missed you..”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's lower lip trembled as he did his best to hold Wolf up and himself together. Poor thing was barely able to speak through heaving breaths and his voice cracking with emotion.

"Мой милый Волк, I will never leave you alone again. I came back for a reason, for you. I was so lost without you... I know what you did for me was risky but I-I could not sleep another night without you." He mouthed kisses on top of Wolf's head and across his temple, which quickly became any patch of skin he could get too along his damp face. Soft mutterings in English and Russian could be heard between kisses.

"How... How badly did he hurt you, Wolf?"

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf shudders, remembering how all his old wounds never healed and ended up reopened and messed with.

"Not too bad.. just...just a reminder...he strayed off to new kills... I'm just...glad it wasn't me..."

[blacklodgesocialclub]

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Nikita starts to slowly give Wolf a once-over. He knew Wolf would try and hide his pain just so he wouldn't worry too much but...

"You should have seen the look on his face when he found out it was me who set up that bar date with him. I... I do not think he expected to see me again. I am afraid of what he will do to me now that he has me back. He seemed too... excited. I thought he would be furious." His yellow eyes are practically glowing in the dark of the basement, full of dread for what's going to come next.

"We should run, Wolf. While we still can..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Run...? But... where... where would we go? I... I don't want to leave... this is the only home I have..."

Wolf looked up at Nikita, fear in his eyes.

"I... I trust you, but....are you sure..?"

[nikita-baklanov87]

"We can make our own home, together. All my life I... I never belonged anywhere but with you? A-anything is possible, I do not feel so afraid of everything. You and me, yes? We will find our own corner of the world together, my love."

Nikita's voice was gentle, so gentle, and his hands were so soft as he cupped Wolf's face, rubbing his tears away with gentle thumbs. There was a bit of fear in his own eyes, but there was still some hope that maybe... just maybe, there was a place for them. There had to be, right?

[cried-out-wolf]

"Promise me... promise me this... that if I get us out of here.. you won't turn on me..."

Wolf leaned into the vampire's touch his trembling body finally settling down as comfort found its way in his veins. He just needed to hear the promise.

"I....I know of a way that guarantees an outing where we both survive.... You speak the language, I can tell you the words, but I will no longer be me until I'm told to report... Is that a risk you're willing to take..?"

He gripped onto Nikita like he was a lifeline, knowing that what he was offering was dangerous. But sometimes, danger is they key to survival.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita shook his head, soft black locks whipping side to side.

"Never, I could never, Wolf. You have my word." Every word was measured; he wanted Wolf to know he meant it. Nothing his boyfriend could do would make Nikita afraid. He listened carefully, rubbing Wolf's cheekbone as he took in the idea. The weaponization process. He'd heard Wolf speak about it before, Nikita recalled the pain in his voice, in his eyes.

But it might be the only way.

"Only if you are sure, love. I... hate that this must be the plan, but I could never fear you. Any part of you. I will do it." His voice shook, stumbling on his words, but he stood firm in his resolve.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I….I’m sure. I haven’t been under in years, I hope the programming hasn’t left me. I can only harness the strength of it, the forms. If we want out entirely, we have to use the full thing..”

Wolf pulled away to grab his notebook of mission reports, the history under Verosian control. He was ordered to write in it when away for longer missions, especially in no-contact zones. He stepped back to Nikita, nervous as hell, but raised the book to him, handing it off.

“Tie me to the pole and gag me. I will swing, I will get violent. I will yell. Every word is in Russian. After the first round, address me as Soldier in Russian, if I respond back in Russian, I’m under your control. If I don’t, repeat until I do.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita stared at the book for a moment before taking it in his trembling hands, holding it like a bomb that could go off at any moment. His thumb traced over the Verosian symbol across the front. This felt so wrong but... what other choice did they have? Nikita certainly couldn't take him on, not in such a weakened condition. This notebook, this tool, he hated it. It wasn't right, there was already a pit forming in his stomach at the idea that he would have to be the one to do it.

Freedom for them both was just a few choice words away.

Tucking the book under one arm, Nikita surged forward and locked Wolf into a desperate kiss. He poured his heart into it, hoping Wolf could feel his dedication, his love, his care. Pulling away, he pressed their foreheads together.

"Я верну тебя, клянусь."

Nikita stayed there for a moment, relishing Wolf's natural body heat against his ice cold skin before reluctantly pulling away. He listened in silence to Wolf's instructions, trying to quietly open cabinets and drawers to not draw any attention from upstairs.

It wasn't hard to find where the ropes were in the basement, but it took a momemt for him to locate a muzzle. He glared down at the inhumane tool, cursing Strade under his breath for a moment before turning back to his love.

"Okay... Okay, I think I am ready. Are you?" He held his hand out to Wolf, ready to guide him to the pole.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf relished the deep kiss, knowing it would be one of the last he’d have before being shut out of his own head for a mission. He missed the feeling of Nikita’s natural cold, giving a nod to his spoken Russian. He trusted him, he trusted Nikita with his own life that he would be brought back.

Once Wolf took his hand in a silent nod, he made his way over to the pole and sat down. His body already began to react to the position, a mix of Strade’s doing, and Vera’s. He lurched at the feeling of being bound, but he knew it was for the better, biting back at the sounds and urges clawing in his body to thrash and break away. He had to do this.

Wolf looks up at Nikita, shakily sighing before speaking. His body already felt like it was on fire, adrenaline surging in his veins from past trauma beginning to be be relived once again, even through it had been years since such actions were performed upon him. Muffled, he still made his point clear.

“I’m ready, send me.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's undead heart broke and crumpled at the position Wolf was in. He looked so small, and so afraid, like a frightened pup. And his eyes, they made his chest clench just to even look at them for a moment. His eyelids fluttered shut as he took a deep breath; he had to focus, it had to be done. Wolf trusted him, Wolf was allowing this to happen for the greater good of them both. He had to see it through, the vampire had to follow the plan. Nikita had to be strong and steel his heart. He would not lose Wolf like his past lovers, he couldn't. He may as well walk into the daylight and let the sun take him if he were to lose his Wolf after coming this far.

Opening his eyes, Nikita flipped to the right page. How did a few short, simple words worm their way into Wolf's brain and completely change him? Hypnosis? Literal machine programming? Some kind of injection regimen? He had so many questions with no time for answers. Clutching the book with sweaty palms, Nikita began. No going back.

"Here we go, love. Be strong for me, yes?"

His voice trembled with each word, watching in growing horror as Wolf twitched and huffed, his breath steaming through the muzzle. Every jerk of his muscles, every growl, the strain on the ropes, it felt like a knife to the vampire's gut. Wolf was changing before his eyes...

"Заказ. Девяносто семь. Сапоги. Левый. Кузница. Якорь. Пятьдесят два. Волк. Танк."

[cried-out-wolf]

Every atom within Wolf’s body strained, it burned as the words rang in his ears like close range gunfire. He would yank and pull at the restraints upon him, his yelling muffled behind the muzzle upon his face. It hurt, the programming was still there, convenient for the situation, unfortunate for his life. He swung and thrashed upon the pole, his eyes fixated on the ground as his body tremors and hyperventilates.

The beastkin whipped and shifted uncomfortably until… SNAP. The rope had broke free and he lunged forward…

Eventually his breathing slows, his screaming fades out with a growl, and his body stands still in a crouch on the floor. The soldier was looking down as the Verosian emblem warped and fizzled to life upon his forehead, his eyes then glowing as he looked upward. His posture was full of tension, brows furrowed and gaze cold and dark. It had worked.

“Отчетность.”

Wolf spoke coldly in response, despite Nikita never having questioned him. Nothing about Wolf in this state looked right, his posture, his gaze, even the way he spoke, something so monotone that even his own voice didn’t sound like it belonged to him.

He soon rose to his feet, standing eerily still, awaiting his first order.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Every word spoken looked like someone was delivering blow after blow to Wolf. He was twisting in ways that weren't natural, his breathing labored like he'd run a marathon. Nikita didn't even realize his eyes were watering until a few teardrops fell on the notebook in his hands. What Verosia had done to him, it was unspeakable. It was inhumane. Who does this to another living creature, strip them of their will, their spark, their very spirit? They could have just as easily built machines to do their dirty work. Instead, Nikita had to watch as the programmed commands pushed Wolf, his Wolf, down... and something else slip into his skin.

"Исполнять!" Nikita cried through gritted teeth, the meager muscle in his neck straining. He wanted this to be over, he wanted Wolf back to the way he was. He didn't want to watch Wolf's agonizing screams. He never wanted to hear him in so much anguish ever again. He didn't want to have to say the words anymore; the second time he would falter, he knew he would. The vampire felt his stomach churn, adrenaline roaring in his ears and making him lightheaded. Wolf howled in pain behind the muzzle, spitting and growling like a feral beast, a deep rumbling Nikita could feel in his chest. Quick, heavy footsteps could be heard above their heads.

Strade was moving.

"Исполнять!" Nikita's voice was a pitched scream this time, yellow eyes almost as wild as his partner's; he was desperate for this plan to work, so Wolf's sacrifice was not in vain until-

Nikita yelped and fell back into Strade's workbench, the notebook clattering to the floor as Wolf snapped the ropes like twigs, the red symbol on the front of the book now glowing on his forehead. He was... calming, coming down from the conditioning. Those eyes, those glowing red eyes moved from the floor to the vampire, fixing him to the spot. If Nikita needed to breath, he would have forgotten how in that moment as Wolf moved like an,apex predator, crouching in front of him.

And then he spoke.

It held no warmth, no trace of Wolf. Nikita's lower lip trembled, tensing as he heard the basement door open. Reaching forward, he smoothed a hand through Wolf's dark hair, paying no mind to the fact that Wolf's skin was scorching to the touch. There was a soft click and the muzzle fell to the floor. There was only one thing left to do: give the order.

"Убей Страда. Освободи нас."

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf turned around and made his way into the door near the staircase, shutting it with a crack to where he could see outside. He watched as Strade descended down the staircase, questioning what was going on. Wolf swung the door open without warning, hooking his arm around the other's neck and pulling him downwards. He effectively had him locked in a chokehold, but Strade's stumble knocked them off balance.

Wolf only let go to gain his own balance back, and he heard the click of the strapped knife unbuttoning. He didn't let it stop him, blocking moves with precision. It's not the fact he was overpowered, to be truthful he is, however it was Strade’s lack of hand-to-hand combat stamina and knowledge on his level that had the German at a major disadvantage. Wolf unsheathes his own blade, fighting equal and landing a few blows as a warning. He wasn't giving up.

"Wolf, what a surprise this is! Why are you so worked up? Had I failed to give you attention?" Strade shot out in exasperated breaths. He was intrigued more than scared.

"Who the fuck is Wolf?"

Wolf shot back before going back to swinging, growling and snarling as his eyes kept an eye on the captors every move. Before Strade could get another word out, he was met with a blow that sent him to the floor, gasping for air. Wolf knelt down and pulled his hair up, forcing him to meet his gaze.

Wolf kicked him back, resulting In the German to be immobilized momentarily belly up. He marched over, whole body moving like a machine, coldly and inhumane as he continued his brutal attack. Blood had already splattered on his body, but he didn't care. He had his mission on lock.

The moment seemed to go on forever, but he wasn't giving in. Not one bit. Time stood still, and Wolf hovered over him, not hesitation, but creating a suffocating tension between them all in the basement.

"What- the hell- is with- you-?!" Strade wheezed.. His gaze glassy as tears from the overwhelming pain filled his eyes involuntarily...

[nikita-baklanov87]

Everything moved so fast and not fast enough. Wolf nearly knocked the door of its hinges as he dragged Strade down the rest of the stairs, causing them both the stumble backwards. A cry caught in Nikita's throat as he watched them both draw steel, blood splattering onto concrete. It certainly wasn't the first time blood had been shed down there... but it would be the last. Strade didn't even notice him crouching against the table, the vampire trying to make himself smaller as the showdown unfolded before him.

The voice that come from his love made him shudder. Wolf really was gone; it didn't even sound like him anymore. If Nikita never heard it again, it would be too soon.

Wolf fought with precise strikes. There was nothing messy or half-assed about the way he moved. The training he went through in Verosia had to have been extensive and rigorous. He was a missile locked right onto their captor with one single mission: Search and destroy. Any of Strade's offense seemed to glance off of Wolf; his usual careful hands when it came to torture now looking clumsy and uncoordinated as he tried to fight a trained supersoldier.

Nikita watched in equal parts fear and awe as Wolf kicked Strade nearly across the room, wincing. There were definitely a few broken ribs as Wolf's powerful kick threatened to cave in his chest cavity. Every sound of flesh striking flesh made him flinch; a horrible sound he was all too familiar with. He should be happier his captor, the man who violated and tortured them both, is reaping what he sowed but... all Nikita could feel was hollow. A hole.

He should have done it himself. When Wolf wakes up he'd...

The air was heavy, the moment of truth teetering on the edge of a knife. The small droplets of blood were already starting to make the starving vampire's mouth water. No, no, he had to keep his composure, let Wolf work. He couldn't ruin the plan, not like this. His empty stomach growled, and he bit the back of his own hand. It wouldn't take much to finish Strade like this; it would finally, mercifully be over. The nightmare could end...

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re my mission.”

Wolf replied with a dark tone, his gaze never faltering as his captor rose to his feet, refusing to give up the fight, he found it amusing, truly. Wolf only swung his blade even more,sclera flooding pure red with white irises replacing the red orbs that were his eyes originally. The beastkin continued to dodge, to attack, gaining a new scrapes and injuries of his own from not blocking everything in time, but he had a method here. He was wasting Strade’s endurance, a valuable asset to a larger built man unlike him, definitely that of the unfit type, but he saw a brutal end blind his vision. Something wicked and twisted, a memorable end, this made Wolf purposefully drop some of his guard just for it to execute perfectly. He would have to hold off. Strade took the opportunity to land a few hits of his own, not knowing he was taking intentional bait.

Wolf kicked him down once again, an audible crack this time sounding off, another bone having been broken, and he straddled his captor as he held him by the collar of his shirt, fist raised as blood and sweat started dripping off the both of them.

“This is such a wonderful surprise Haustier… You…You were always so quiet and obedient.. now you’re misbehaving..”

“Should’ve collared me then.”

Wolf hissed in retaliation, but he didn’t back down, slapping at his face as he continued taking his anger out. Strade was groaning in pain, unable to hit back, but Strade only sniffled a broken laugh. Wolf stopped and looked at him, disgust upon his face.

“You’d be so lost without me, and look at who came back…He missed you.”

“SHUT UP!!”

Wolf lifts him back to his feet and off the ground with a snarl, throwing punches at his gut over and over, to his stomach, his liver, kidneys, anything that could do lasting damage. He wanted him immobilized, and he was going to get that.

“I bring him home alive.. he worked so hard to see you again…and this is how I get repaid..? You should be ashamed.. Wolf. I know you’re in there..” Strade coughs, blood spattering from his mouth.

Wolf hesitated, a light pull in his head, Strade was trying to counter the programming. He dropped him to his feet and feigned sympathy, faking his snap back to reality, going as far as changing his eyes and making the emblem fuzzy. He could play one more of his games.

“You know who you are, Wolf, that’s your name, when you told me at the bar..”

Wolf only stayed silent, looking down and to the right. He only gripped Strade tighter…and then in one swift motion he began to throw punches again.

“THAT’S NOT MY NAME!! YOU’RE!!! MY!!! MISSION!!!!!!”

Punch after punch, Strade endured until his body gave out from the shock of pain. And the moment he fell silent, he was dangling in the air by Wolf’s hand, and he dropped him, the beastkin breathing heavy, only to drag his body to the drain, popping the lid off removing the stashed painkillers, and replacing the cover. He placed Strade’s body over the drain, and made it over to the workbench, opening a cabinet and pulling out a stashed handgun, one he brought from Verosia, twisting on his silencer, he unloaded four shells into Strade’s body, two in his knees, and two in his arms.

Strade awoke from the shock, the pain, but it was shortlived, Wolf having pulled his body up into a hug after ditching the gun and driving his hand straight through his chest, his captor’s heart in his hand, beating frantically. Wolf felt as the body went limp, and his emotion remained stoic, dropping the beating muscle the moment the last pulse faded. He stood up, opening the office and swinging the chair out from the corner where the computer desk was, going back to the main area and sitting down.

He now awaited his next order, the mission was complete, even if he was nearly hyperventilating.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita could only watch on as Wolf swung his blade with such power; no emotion, no fear, just pure drive to finish the mission he had been given. It was like nothing else mattered, complete tunnel vision. Could he ever really truly come back from such a state? Would he even remember this? When he was done, would he look upon Strade's body and howl?

It was like Strade's offense meant nothing, not even as the knife cut into Wolf's flesh. Nikita's stomach turned and he clapped a hand over his mouth, was Wolf... was he slowing down? Was he tired already? No... no, no, he couldn't be, this was only just beginning... Was it on purpose? Perhaps it was to make Strade too confident, to find the fatal misstep that would kill him for good. The smell of Wolf's blood made his brain buzz; he couldn't help but lurch forward on his hands and knees. He had to hold back his own inner beast, but he was hungry, oh so hungry. He wanted blood, his mate's blood, it had been so long...

The empty nausea only worsened at the sound of breaking bones and Strade... those gold eyes flicking over to him. He was trying to use guilt, a potent weapon in his arsenal against Wolf. It had worked time and time again, but... Wolf wasn't here right now. It wouldn't work the same way, right? Still, his skin crawled as his former captor looked at him, and Wolf... dropped him. That gaze him feel naked, exposed, oh God, why was Wolf stopping? He hardly realized he was screaming to Wolf until he felt his voice turn raw in his throat.

"Прикончи его! Покончи с этим!"

He couldn't allow Strade to get in Wolf's head, he couldn't allow him to worm his way inside and twist him up. Nikita spoke with more authority than he realized he could muster.

"You leave him alone! You lose, Strade!"

And he was losing. The multiple blows to his vital organs were making him cough up blood, his deep voice turning husky from strain. He was trying to find any in he could get but there was none. Not anymore. Wolf was bellowing in his face now, resuming blow after blow after blow. The German was unrecognizable now, his face rearranged into a bloody pulp, his body more bruise than bare skin. It was almost blessedly over, Strade could bleed out on the floor, they could burn this hellhole to the ground with him in it, they could-

The vampire's stomach dropped when Wolf moved away and produced a gun from one of the cabinets. That... certainly wasn't Strade's, guns were never his style. It wasn't creative enough, too much margin for error. The familiarity, the silencer, the way Wolf's hand wrapped around the handle with practiced ease, it had to be his. Nikita gasped and jumped with every shot, wincing as blood splattered from Strade's unconscious body. Exposed bone from the shots to his knees made Nikita nearly double over. Such violence, such... brutality, he had no idea Wolf was capable of this.

And then Wolf went even further, further than Nikita thought possible as he took his clawed hand and skewered his way through Strade chest, grabbing his heart. He was already dead, surely he didn't have to do this! The man lurched forward, collapsing on Wolf and covering him in blood and viscera. Nikita couldn't help but scream as Strade's life bled out on the floor, Wolf's face unchanging. It was hard not to feel afraid, to feel sick. This is just a taste of what Strade deserved, so why did it feel more like a predator playing with its food than vengeance?

Leaning over, Nikita dry heaved, unable to get the image of Wolf holding a grown man's heart in his clawed hand, blood matting the fur, still beating. As calm as could be, Wolf retrieved the office chair and sat down, eyes fixed on Nikita, his new handler, once again. The exposed heart laid on the floor, calling Nikita's name to come get a taste. Not now... please not now. If he went into a blood frenzy, Wolf might not recognize him and treat him like a threat. Still feeling sick, he finally sat up, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he tried not to look at Strade's mutilated corpse.

In a soft, hoarse voice, the vampire mustered one word:

"Отчет..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Отчет о выполнении задания: проект «Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два», одна подтвержденная ликвидация, угроза нейтрализована."

Wolf replies flatly, delivering his mission report to his handler as if he were a commanding officer. His expression never changed, his body still and tension still very clearly visible. His clothes stained in blood, Wolf looked...lost. Out of it. Not present at all. As if he were just some killing machine or a tool awaiting for it's next use. The image was powerful yet heartbreaking.

Blood splattered on the floor as his hands dripped away the crimson substance, thick and heavy as other fluids mixed with it. He sat there, silently awaiting to comply with whatever order was given next. He waited, the minutes feeling like hours, but he was complicit. He didn’t move, but his gaze followed Nikita, nearly like a predator stalking prey.

Wolf knew eventually he would have to break the news to both Ulric and Ren eventually, about how he became weaponized, but he would explain it as a means of survival. He would forge a story, the evidence, a report, everything. It’s what he was trained for, it was his job, a future mission. For now, the cleanup and other factors were the biggest concern.

Now to put the Verosian Soldier to sleep, and to reawaken Wolf, deep within his subconscious, if he was even reachable. Being blocked out this far and this long for a simple combat assassination mission has the clock running like Doomsday.

[nikita-baklanov87]

The words swam in Nikita's head: Project Ninety-Seven-Fifty-Two, elimination, neutralize. It was over. Wolf's muscles were tight, ready to come to life like a livewire at any moment and start the carnage all over again if Nikita commanded it so. This is how he lived, day in and day out for years until he came here. No one bothered to ask what Wolf wanted, if he was... afraid, or uncertain, or unwilling. The thought of Wolf having to go to sleep every night with so much blood on his hands, untold horrors just behind his eyelids when he closed them playing on a loop, and there was no one to comfort him, to tell him he was still a good man, that it wasn't his fault...

Nikkta choked on a ragged sob as he crawled forward, shaking limbs as he latched onto him. He didn't care that blood was smearing all over his clothes and skin, that Wolf reeked of sweat and death, Nikita was still safe here as he buried his face into the hair sticking to Wolf's neck. Tears fell freely now as he clung to his protector, finally feeling the weight of it all.

"Я больше не могу этого выносить! Отключись, отключись, пожалуйста!"

He could only hope he was speaking the right words, he wanted this part to be over. He wanted to clean this horrible mess up and sleep, and maybe... maybe they could both move on. Forget this whole nightmare ever happened. They could be happy, so happy, they could live freely. Nikita was finally in an era, a country where he could claim Wolf in public if he wanted, Wolf was free of Verosia's clutches here, there was nothing to stop them anymore. No more bloodshed, no more torture, no more humiliation and shame.

Nikita pressed his mouth to Wolf's feverish skin along his jaw, tasting some of the blood that splattered there. The flavor set his tongue on fire, his fangs aching to grow and bite and take. Just a little longer, not yet...!

"Вернись ко мне, посмотри на меня, пожалуйста?" He was begging as he reached up his hand and turned Wolf's unflinching gaze to him. He was begging Wolf to remember, to put away the soldier, to lay down his arms, and let the fight be over. It would never have to happen again.

"Я стану сильнее, чтобы тебе больше никогда не пришлось через это проходить — обещаю, любимая. Я буду тебя защищать..."

Just outside, it was beginning to rain.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf stared empty into Nikita's gaze, unresponsive to the whole interaction, the only time he moved was when he was told to shut down. His ears craned, eyes flicking down and to the right, then locking back upon Nikita. An emotional response. It was a sign. He's awake, in there, he can hear. Wolf remained tense...until his shoulders slumped.

"«Проект 9752», запрашиваю разрешение выйти из боя."

A request, he heard it, he heard to shut down, and now he was confirming it, wanting to avoid punishment or far worse, a full wipe and reprogramming. It was instinct, like muscle memory. He just needed to hear that permission was granted.

His voice was still flat, but yet, it wasn't cold like before, it was soft, nearly polite. Wolf was resurfacing, slowly, surely, he just needed permission.

"Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два, разоружить. Миссия выполнена."

The words echo in his head as his brows furrow, looking down and to the right again, his emotions beginning to flow through as his brain register memories from Verosia's past missions. He began to relive them all, but still awaited the command.

He was so close, so so close, just one last order. That's all he needed to be free, to allow the Verosian Soldier to sleep once again. Perhaps eventually, with enough harnessing and training, it could be repurposed into something better for Nikita, an aid rather than the tool it was now.

[nikita-baklanov87]

The eyes were the worst part. There was no recognition, no familiarity, no warmth. Nikita could have been anyone in that moment and it would have made no difference to Wolf as he was now. But...

Then there was a slight twitch in his cheek muscle, his ears craning, Nikita's arms faltering as the tension finally bled out of Wolf's posture. He was there, he could hear Nikita! 'Yes Wolf, listen to my voice, just follow my voice,' he thought, using his sleeves to pat the blood off from Wolf's face. The vampire let out a sigh of relief, nearly laughing with delirium. He nodded, holding Wolf's face in his clammy palms.

"Разрешение дано. Возвращайся ко мне, моя звезда."

He kept his hands on Wolf's face, trying to make sure his eyes stayed locked on him. If he looked too hard at Strade while he was coming down from the weaponization, it might break Wolf, and then what? All that hard work, all that sacrifice...

"Да, миссия выполнена. Теперь вы можете отдохнуть. Больше ничего не нужно." Nikita's voice stayed soft, loving, his heart full of hope at hearing the change in Wolf's tone. He was starting to break the surface of the conditioning, just a little bit more. It suddenly occured to Nikita just how tired he was; he hadn't slept in so long, it had to have been going on almost a week now. The raw anxiety of putting the plan into motion, of seeing Strade again, finally getting to Wolf, and now this. He felt the exhaustion in his bones.

Perhaps they could burn that horrible book when all this was over. Perhaps they could burn this evil house. It wouldn't burn the memories away, but it could clean the slate, perhaps. Fire was cleansing, after all.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Disengaged.”

Wolf closed his eyes, letting his head dip and tension expel from his body. The time passing through his dissociation was so long it was nearly its own torture, but the beastkin eventually came to, breathing heavy and shaking from the conditioning. He looked up and around, then slumped his head once more with a groan, sweat dripping off of his face as he rolls his shoulders. His ears pin flat to his head and he grunts.

“Fucking hell…” The headache that came with was certainly no joke, his body swaying as he got thrashed by vertigo. Wolf looks back up at his lover, right in the eyes as he tried to stabilize himself without falling into a panic attack. Usually he wouldn’t be awake after this, only in cryo or in a comatose state. But he wasn’t near any of that, he had to face the effects head on.

“How bad’s the damage?”

Wolf pants, his body hyperventilating before he could calm it down, but soon enough he made it stop, or at least tried to…

He was out of it, he pulled through, he did it, thats what mattered, he made it through. He survived being weaponized for good. This was good, this was a good thing, he should be happy… but why doesn’t he feel it…and why can’t he remember..?

“That man… he… spoke to me.. I recognized it… was it the same guy?? Did I know him?? There were two… I heard someone else…” Wolf tries to place down his scattered memories, trying to make some sense of everything he had just done while being under, he needed help..the guidance.. He could only hope…

He couldn’t help the tears that started welling up..

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita pushed off his knees in order to allow Wolf to rest his head on his shoulder as he came back down. His eyes were swimming in his head, no doubt dizzy from adrenaline and confusion.

"Hush, it's alright, Wolf... it's going to be alright. It's over, no more. You're safe with me." He pressed his cool cheek against Wolf, the poor thing was burning up, dripping with sweat and blood. His breath came in a hot, staccato rhythm against Nikita's neck, making him shiver. Both hands smoothed his hair back, gently running across the fur on his ears. Even like this, he felt so... soft. So small. Nikita felt his own racing mind begin to slow down as the danger was finally eradicated. Still, with a dead body in the room and his distressed and exhausted lover in front of him, this was hardly the time to relax.

"Can you stand?" He asked, wanting to shower all of this off of them as soon as possible. He would offer to dispose of the body on his own. He couldn't ask Wolf to do it after killing him, it would be far too much on his psyche for one night. Wincing, Nikita looked past Wolf's shoulder to Strade's exposed heart, now a fleshy mass on the floor.

"I... to yourself, damage is minimal. To him..." He chewed the inside of his cheek and shook his head.

"Do not look at him. That would be torture to yourself." Watching Wolf's eyes well up, Nikita couldn't help but try and lead him towards the computer room. They had spent so many nights there on that couch, bonding in the nest Wolf made. It would comfort him, at least he hoped. Surely something familiar would soothe him more than words could.

Taking hold of Wolf's hands, Nikita paused, his brow furrowing.

"What man? Two voices? Darling, what are you saying?" Oh no... was he still under? He said the words right, he told Wolf to disengage and he repeated it back, his voice was normal so... why was he making no sense?

"You are... here, with me. Nikita, remember? Just you and me down here. Look at me..." His heart sunk at the look on Wolf's face. He looked so lost, trapped in his own memories of past missions. What could he do? Killing someone, much less in such a state... What words could be said, what actions could Nikita take to help his lover? Strade was a monster, to be sure, but he had such a strange way of making Wolf attached to him, dependent on the scraps of affection in between the blood and violence.

"Your mind is such a mess right now... It should have been me, I should have done. It should have been me, not you!" Nikita's voice cracked, feeling the heavy weight of guilt. It was his plan, it was his idea to free them, he should have been the one to kill Strade but no. He was still so weak and softhearted after all these years. And now Wolf, his beloved mate, had to carry the burden. All Nikita could do was tighten his grip on Wolf's hands as his chest constricted, trying not to cry.

"Простите, мне так жаль!"

[cried-out-wolf]

The gears were turning inside Wolf’s head, trying to make sense of everything. It was over? What was over? Wolf didn’t understand anything, until blood settled in his nose. He sniffed, and his eyes widened, he remembered now. Partially… that is. He looked up at Nikita, his hands finding Nikita’s forearms for leverage. He looked around, everything finally coming to. Dipping his head, he groans softly, the mild headache finally settling in.

“It’s over… jobs done… I can… I can stand I just…” He trailed off, trying to remain grounded. He didn’t realize he was into the office until minutes later, the scent of his nest flooding his senses. He finally felt safe, he finally could look at Nikita properly. “Need to get cleaned up..” He muttered, feeling the blood drying upon his skin and fur.

“i took care of it, its okay now. We are free, the soldier… its asleep. You couldn’t have done what I did..” Wolf sighs, looking down at the floor before around in the room.. It didn’t take long for his ears to find the sound of Nikita’s stomach growling, both facing forward in alert. He dried any tears that leaked from his eyes, his worry now upon Nikita.

“You’re hungry…”

Wolf nuzzled into Nikitas touch, taking in the cold to his burning hot skin, it was a relief for sure. The ice cold regulated the after-effects of being triggered, and nearly felt like cryo, in which he felt even safer and stable with.

“I’m okay.. I promise.. just.. let me hold you… please… I’m sorry you had to see me like that..”

Wolf nearly whined, the reality crushing him slowly, but he had his mate, and that’s all that mattered.

[cried-out-wolf]

Волк? Это ты, любимый?

@nikita-baklanov87

“Wolf, is that you, my love?”

That voice, that specific soft Russian accent flooded his head immediately and overwhelmed his system, it couldn’t be… there was no way… unless..

“Nikita…? Is it really you?”

[nikita-baklanov87]

"Wolf!!!!"

The vampire stumbles before collapsing into the beastkin's arms. It was clear his bad leg was giving him trouble again. Nikita buried his face into Wolf's hoodie, taking in the warm, familiar smell. It felt like home again, even here.

"I missed you so m-much... I could not stand the thought of leaving you here anymore."

[cried-out-wolf]

“I-I missed you too-!!”

Wolf choked out in between sobs, his body trembling violently, nerves overloaded. Despite his visible distress, his tail still wagged.

“You came back for me… don’t leave ever again please-!”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita felt the warm tears staining his shirt as he pulled Wolf impossibly close. One soft hand cradled the back of the beastkin's head, burying his fingers into his dark hair. The vampire wasn't sure if or when he would ever have this again, but it only took putting himself in his line of sight and... well, here he was.

"Of course I did. Never again, sweetheart. Never. I had to come back, I will not leave without you again." He murmured into Wolf's ear. Tears were starting to fall down his own cheeks now, the heavy weight of reunion, the emotions of finally holding his mate again, beginning to sink in.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf tried his best to stop sobbing, but he couldn’t bear to hold back anymore, he whines and leans into Nikita as if his body had just given out.

“Please… stay… stay stay stay stay… forever… never leave me again please… missed you..”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's lower lip trembled as he did his best to hold Wolf up and himself together. Poor thing was barely able to speak through heaving breaths and his voice cracking with emotion.

"Мой милый Волк, I will never leave you alone again. I came back for a reason, for you. I was so lost without you... I know what you did for me was risky but I-I could not sleep another night without you." He mouthed kisses on top of Wolf's head and across his temple, which quickly became any patch of skin he could get too along his damp face. Soft mutterings in English and Russian could be heard between kisses.

"How... How badly did he hurt you, Wolf?"

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf shudders, remembering how all his old wounds never healed and ended up reopened and messed with.

"Not too bad.. just...just a reminder...he strayed off to new kills... I'm just...glad it wasn't me..."

[blacklodgesocialclub]

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Nikita starts to slowly give Wolf a once-over. He knew Wolf would try and hide his pain just so he wouldn't worry too much but...

"You should have seen the look on his face when he found out it was me who set up that bar date with him. I... I do not think he expected to see me again. I am afraid of what he will do to me now that he has me back. He seemed too... excited. I thought he would be furious." His yellow eyes are practically glowing in the dark of the basement, full of dread for what's going to come next.

"We should run, Wolf. While we still can..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Run...? But... where... where would we go? I... I don't want to leave... this is the only home I have..."

Wolf looked up at Nikita, fear in his eyes.

"I... I trust you, but....are you sure..?"

[nikita-baklanov87]

"We can make our own home, together. All my life I... I never belonged anywhere but with you? A-anything is possible, I do not feel so afraid of everything. You and me, yes? We will find our own corner of the world together, my love."

Nikita's voice was gentle, so gentle, and his hands were so soft as he cupped Wolf's face, rubbing his tears away with gentle thumbs. There was a bit of fear in his own eyes, but there was still some hope that maybe... just maybe, there was a place for them. There had to be, right?

[cried-out-wolf]

"Promise me... promise me this... that if I get us out of here.. you won't turn on me..."

Wolf leaned into the vampire's touch his trembling body finally settling down as comfort found its way in his veins. He just needed to hear the promise.

"I....I know of a way that guarantees an outing where we both survive.... You speak the language, I can tell you the words, but I will no longer be me until I'm told to report... Is that a risk you're willing to take..?"

He gripped onto Nikita like he was a lifeline, knowing that what he was offering was dangerous. But sometimes, danger is they key to survival.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita shook his head, soft black locks whipping side to side.

"Never, I could never, Wolf. You have my word." Every word was measured; he wanted Wolf to know he meant it. Nothing his boyfriend could do would make Nikita afraid. He listened carefully, rubbing Wolf's cheekbone as he took in the idea. The weaponization process. He'd heard Wolf speak about it before, Nikita recalled the pain in his voice, in his eyes.

But it might be the only way.

"Only if you are sure, love. I... hate that this must be the plan, but I could never fear you. Any part of you. I will do it." His voice shook, stumbling on his words, but he stood firm in his resolve.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I….I’m sure. I haven’t been under in years, I hope the programming hasn’t left me. I can only harness the strength of it, the forms. If we want out entirely, we have to use the full thing..”

Wolf pulled away to grab his notebook of mission reports, the history under Verosian control. He was ordered to write in it when away for longer missions, especially in no-contact zones. He stepped back to Nikita, nervous as hell, but raised the book to him, handing it off.

“Tie me to the pole and gag me. I will swing, I will get violent. I will yell. Every word is in Russian. After the first round, address me as Soldier in Russian, if I respond back in Russian, I’m under your control. If I don’t, repeat until I do.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita stared at the book for a moment before taking it in his trembling hands, holding it like a bomb that could go off at any moment. His thumb traced over the Verosian symbol across the front. This felt so wrong but... what other choice did they have? Nikita certainly couldn't take him on, not in such a weakened condition. This notebook, this tool, he hated it. It wasn't right, there was already a pit forming in his stomach at the idea that he would have to be the one to do it.

Freedom for them both was just a few choice words away.

Tucking the book under one arm, Nikita surged forward and locked Wolf into a desperate kiss. He poured his heart into it, hoping Wolf could feel his dedication, his love, his care. Pulling away, he pressed their foreheads together.

"Я верну тебя, клянусь."

Nikita stayed there for a moment, relishing Wolf's natural body heat against his ice cold skin before reluctantly pulling away. He listened in silence to Wolf's instructions, trying to quietly open cabinets and drawers to not draw any attention from upstairs.

It wasn't hard to find where the ropes were in the basement, but it took a momemt for him to locate a muzzle. He glared down at the inhumane tool, cursing Strade under his breath for a moment before turning back to his love.

"Okay... Okay, I think I am ready. Are you?" He held his hand out to Wolf, ready to guide him to the pole.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf relished the deep kiss, knowing it would be one of the last he’d have before being shut out of his own head for a mission. He missed the feeling of Nikita’s natural cold, giving a nod to his spoken Russian. He trusted him, he trusted Nikita with his own life that he would be brought back.

Once Wolf took his hand in a silent nod, he made his way over to the pole and sat down. His body already began to react to the position, a mix of Strade’s doing, and Vera’s. He lurched at the feeling of being bound, but he knew it was for the better, biting back at the sounds and urges clawing in his body to thrash and break away. He had to do this.

Wolf looks up at Nikita, shakily sighing before speaking. His body already felt like it was on fire, adrenaline surging in his veins from past trauma beginning to be be relived once again, even through it had been years since such actions were performed upon him. Muffled, he still made his point clear.

“I’m ready, send me.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's undead heart broke and crumpled at the position Wolf was in. He looked so small, and so afraid, like a frightened pup. And his eyes, they made his chest clench just to even look at them for a moment. His eyelids fluttered shut as he took a deep breath; he had to focus, it had to be done. Wolf trusted him, Wolf was allowing this to happen for the greater good of them both. He had to see it through, the vampire had to follow the plan. Nikita had to be strong and steel his heart. He would not lose Wolf like his past lovers, he couldn't. He may as well walk into the daylight and let the sun take him if he were to lose his Wolf after coming this far.

Opening his eyes, Nikita flipped to the right page. How did a few short, simple words worm their way into Wolf's brain and completely change him? Hypnosis? Literal machine programming? Some kind of injection regimen? He had so many questions with no time for answers. Clutching the book with sweaty palms, Nikita began. No going back.

"Here we go, love. Be strong for me, yes?"

His voice trembled with each word, watching in growing horror as Wolf twitched and huffed, his breath steaming through the muzzle. Every jerk of his muscles, every growl, the strain on the ropes, it felt like a knife to the vampire's gut. Wolf was changing before his eyes...

"Заказ. Девяносто семь. Сапоги. Левый. Кузница. Якорь. Пятьдесят два. Волк. Танк."

[cried-out-wolf]

Every atom within Wolf’s body strained, it burned as the words rang in his ears like close range gunfire. He would yank and pull at the restraints upon him, his yelling muffled behind the muzzle upon his face. It hurt, the programming was still there, convenient for the situation, unfortunate for his life. He swung and thrashed upon the pole, his eyes fixated on the ground as his body tremors and hyperventilates.

The beastkin whipped and shifted uncomfortably until… SNAP. The rope had broke free and he lunged forward…

Eventually his breathing slows, his screaming fades out with a growl, and his body stands still in a crouch on the floor. The soldier was looking down as the Verosian emblem warped and fizzled to life upon his forehead, his eyes then glowing as he looked upward. His posture was full of tension, brows furrowed and gaze cold and dark. It had worked.

“Отчетность.”

Wolf spoke coldly in response, despite Nikita never having questioned him. Nothing about Wolf in this state looked right, his posture, his gaze, even the way he spoke, something so monotone that even his own voice didn’t sound like it belonged to him.

He soon rose to his feet, standing eerily still, awaiting his first order.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Every word spoken looked like someone was delivering blow after blow to Wolf. He was twisting in ways that weren't natural, his breathing labored like he'd run a marathon. Nikita didn't even realize his eyes were watering until a few teardrops fell on the notebook in his hands. What Verosia had done to him, it was unspeakable. It was inhumane. Who does this to another living creature, strip them of their will, their spark, their very spirit? They could have just as easily built machines to do their dirty work. Instead, Nikita had to watch as the programmed commands pushed Wolf, his Wolf, down... and something else slip into his skin.

"Исполнять!" Nikita cried through gritted teeth, the meager muscle in his neck straining. He wanted this to be over, he wanted Wolf back to the way he was. He didn't want to watch Wolf's agonizing screams. He never wanted to hear him in so much anguish ever again. He didn't want to have to say the words anymore; the second time he would falter, he knew he would. The vampire felt his stomach churn, adrenaline roaring in his ears and making him lightheaded. Wolf howled in pain behind the muzzle, spitting and growling like a feral beast, a deep rumbling Nikita could feel in his chest. Quick, heavy footsteps could be heard above their heads.

Strade was moving.

"Исполнять!" Nikita's voice was a pitched scream this time, yellow eyes almost as wild as his partner's; he was desperate for this plan to work, so Wolf's sacrifice was not in vain until-

Nikita yelped and fell back into Strade's workbench, the notebook clattering to the floor as Wolf snapped the ropes like twigs, the red symbol on the front of the book now glowing on his forehead. He was... calming, coming down from the conditioning. Those eyes, those glowing red eyes moved from the floor to the vampire, fixing him to the spot. If Nikita needed to breath, he would have forgotten how in that moment as Wolf moved like an,apex predator, crouching in front of him.

And then he spoke.

It held no warmth, no trace of Wolf. Nikita's lower lip trembled, tensing as he heard the basement door open. Reaching forward, he smoothed a hand through Wolf's dark hair, paying no mind to the fact that Wolf's skin was scorching to the touch. There was a soft click and the muzzle fell to the floor. There was only one thing left to do: give the order.

"Убей Страда. Освободи нас."

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf turned around and made his way into the door near the staircase, shutting it with a crack to where he could see outside. He watched as Strade descended down the staircase, questioning what was going on. Wolf swung the door open without warning, hooking his arm around the other's neck and pulling him downwards. He effectively had him locked in a chokehold, but Strade's stumble knocked them off balance.

Wolf only let go to gain his own balance back, and he heard the click of the strapped knife unbuttoning. He didn't let it stop him, blocking moves with precision. It's not the fact he was overpowered, to be truthful he is, however it was Strade’s lack of hand-to-hand combat stamina and knowledge on his level that had the German at a major disadvantage. Wolf unsheathes his own blade, fighting equal and landing a few blows as a warning. He wasn't giving up.

"Wolf, what a surprise this is! Why are you so worked up? Had I failed to give you attention?" Strade shot out in exasperated breaths. He was intrigued more than scared.

"Who the fuck is Wolf?"

Wolf shot back before going back to swinging, growling and snarling as his eyes kept an eye on the captors every move. Before Strade could get another word out, he was met with a blow that sent him to the floor, gasping for air. Wolf knelt down and pulled his hair up, forcing him to meet his gaze.

Wolf kicked him back, resulting In the German to be immobilized momentarily belly up. He marched over, whole body moving like a machine, coldly and inhumane as he continued his brutal attack. Blood had already splattered on his body, but he didn't care. He had his mission on lock.

The moment seemed to go on forever, but he wasn't giving in. Not one bit. Time stood still, and Wolf hovered over him, not hesitation, but creating a suffocating tension between them all in the basement.

"What- the hell- is with- you-?!" Strade wheezed.. His gaze glassy as tears from the overwhelming pain filled his eyes involuntarily...

[nikita-baklanov87]

Everything moved so fast and not fast enough. Wolf nearly knocked the door of its hinges as he dragged Strade down the rest of the stairs, causing them both the stumble backwards. A cry caught in Nikita's throat as he watched them both draw steel, blood splattering onto concrete. It certainly wasn't the first time blood had been shed down there... but it would be the last. Strade didn't even notice him crouching against the table, the vampire trying to make himself smaller as the showdown unfolded before him.

The voice that come from his love made him shudder. Wolf really was gone; it didn't even sound like him anymore. If Nikita never heard it again, it would be too soon.

Wolf fought with precise strikes. There was nothing messy or half-assed about the way he moved. The training he went through in Verosia had to have been extensive and rigorous. He was a missile locked right onto their captor with one single mission: Search and destroy. Any of Strade's offense seemed to glance off of Wolf; his usual careful hands when it came to torture now looking clumsy and uncoordinated as he tried to fight a trained supersoldier.

Nikita watched in equal parts fear and awe as Wolf kicked Strade nearly across the room, wincing. There were definitely a few broken ribs as Wolf's powerful kick threatened to cave in his chest cavity. Every sound of flesh striking flesh made him flinch; a horrible sound he was all too familiar with. He should be happier his captor, the man who violated and tortured them both, is reaping what he sowed but... all Nikita could feel was hollow. A hole.

He should have done it himself. When Wolf wakes up he'd...

The air was heavy, the moment of truth teetering on the edge of a knife. The small droplets of blood were already starting to make the starving vampire's mouth water. No, no, he had to keep his composure, let Wolf work. He couldn't ruin the plan, not like this. His empty stomach growled, and he bit the back of his own hand. It wouldn't take much to finish Strade like this; it would finally, mercifully be over. The nightmare could end...

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re my mission.”

Wolf replied with a dark tone, his gaze never faltering as his captor rose to his feet, refusing to give up the fight, he found it amusing, truly. Wolf only swung his blade even more,sclera flooding pure red with white irises replacing the red orbs that were his eyes originally. The beastkin continued to dodge, to attack, gaining a new scrapes and injuries of his own from not blocking everything in time, but he had a method here. He was wasting Strade’s endurance, a valuable asset to a larger built man unlike him, definitely that of the unfit type, but he saw a brutal end blind his vision. Something wicked and twisted, a memorable end, this made Wolf purposefully drop some of his guard just for it to execute perfectly. He would have to hold off. Strade took the opportunity to land a few hits of his own, not knowing he was taking intentional bait.

Wolf kicked him down once again, an audible crack this time sounding off, another bone having been broken, and he straddled his captor as he held him by the collar of his shirt, fist raised as blood and sweat started dripping off the both of them.

“This is such a wonderful surprise Haustier… You…You were always so quiet and obedient.. now you’re misbehaving..”

“Should’ve collared me then.”

Wolf hissed in retaliation, but he didn’t back down, slapping at his face as he continued taking his anger out. Strade was groaning in pain, unable to hit back, but Strade only sniffled a broken laugh. Wolf stopped and looked at him, disgust upon his face.

“You’d be so lost without me, and look at who came back…He missed you.”

“SHUT UP!!”

Wolf lifts him back to his feet and off the ground with a snarl, throwing punches at his gut over and over, to his stomach, his liver, kidneys, anything that could do lasting damage. He wanted him immobilized, and he was going to get that.

“I bring him home alive.. he worked so hard to see you again…and this is how I get repaid..? You should be ashamed.. Wolf. I know you’re in there..” Strade coughs, blood spattering from his mouth.

Wolf hesitated, a light pull in his head, Strade was trying to counter the programming. He dropped him to his feet and feigned sympathy, faking his snap back to reality, going as far as changing his eyes and making the emblem fuzzy. He could play one more of his games.

“You know who you are, Wolf, that’s your name, when you told me at the bar..”

Wolf only stayed silent, looking down and to the right. He only gripped Strade tighter…and then in one swift motion he began to throw punches again.

“THAT’S NOT MY NAME!! YOU’RE!!! MY!!! MISSION!!!!!!”

Punch after punch, Strade endured until his body gave out from the shock of pain. And the moment he fell silent, he was dangling in the air by Wolf’s hand, and he dropped him, the beastkin breathing heavy, only to drag his body to the drain, popping the lid off removing the stashed painkillers, and replacing the cover. He placed Strade’s body over the drain, and made it over to the workbench, opening a cabinet and pulling out a stashed handgun, one he brought from Verosia, twisting on his silencer, he unloaded four shells into Strade’s body, two in his knees, and two in his arms.

Strade awoke from the shock, the pain, but it was shortlived, Wolf having pulled his body up into a hug after ditching the gun and driving his hand straight through his chest, his captor’s heart in his hand, beating frantically. Wolf felt as the body went limp, and his emotion remained stoic, dropping the beating muscle the moment the last pulse faded. He stood up, opening the office and swinging the chair out from the corner where the computer desk was, going back to the main area and sitting down.

He now awaited his next order, the mission was complete, even if he was nearly hyperventilating.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita could only watch on as Wolf swung his blade with such power; no emotion, no fear, just pure drive to finish the mission he had been given. It was like nothing else mattered, complete tunnel vision. Could he ever really truly come back from such a state? Would he even remember this? When he was done, would he look upon Strade's body and howl?

It was like Strade's offense meant nothing, not even as the knife cut into Wolf's flesh. Nikita's stomach turned and he clapped a hand over his mouth, was Wolf... was he slowing down? Was he tired already? No... no, no, he couldn't be, this was only just beginning... Was it on purpose? Perhaps it was to make Strade too confident, to find the fatal misstep that would kill him for good. The smell of Wolf's blood made his brain buzz; he couldn't help but lurch forward on his hands and knees. He had to hold back his own inner beast, but he was hungry, oh so hungry. He wanted blood, his mate's blood, it had been so long...

The empty nausea only worsened at the sound of breaking bones and Strade... those gold eyes flicking over to him. He was trying to use guilt, a potent weapon in his arsenal against Wolf. It had worked time and time again, but... Wolf wasn't here right now. It wouldn't work the same way, right? Still, his skin crawled as his former captor looked at him, and Wolf... dropped him. That gaze him feel naked, exposed, oh God, why was Wolf stopping? He hardly realized he was screaming to Wolf until he felt his voice turn raw in his throat.

"Прикончи его! Покончи с этим!"

He couldn't allow Strade to get in Wolf's head, he couldn't allow him to worm his way inside and twist him up. Nikita spoke with more authority than he realized he could muster.

"You leave him alone! You lose, Strade!"

And he was losing. The multiple blows to his vital organs were making him cough up blood, his deep voice turning husky from strain. He was trying to find any in he could get but there was none. Not anymore. Wolf was bellowing in his face now, resuming blow after blow after blow. The German was unrecognizable now, his face rearranged into a bloody pulp, his body more bruise than bare skin. It was almost blessedly over, Strade could bleed out on the floor, they could burn this hellhole to the ground with him in it, they could-

The vampire's stomach dropped when Wolf moved away and produced a gun from one of the cabinets. That... certainly wasn't Strade's, guns were never his style. It wasn't creative enough, too much margin for error. The familiarity, the silencer, the way Wolf's hand wrapped around the handle with practiced ease, it had to be his. Nikita gasped and jumped with every shot, wincing as blood splattered from Strade's unconscious body. Exposed bone from the shots to his knees made Nikita nearly double over. Such violence, such... brutality, he had no idea Wolf was capable of this.

And then Wolf went even further, further than Nikita thought possible as he took his clawed hand and skewered his way through Strade chest, grabbing his heart. He was already dead, surely he didn't have to do this! The man lurched forward, collapsing on Wolf and covering him in blood and viscera. Nikita couldn't help but scream as Strade's life bled out on the floor, Wolf's face unchanging. It was hard not to feel afraid, to feel sick. This is just a taste of what Strade deserved, so why did it feel more like a predator playing with its food than vengeance?

Leaning over, Nikita dry heaved, unable to get the image of Wolf holding a grown man's heart in his clawed hand, blood matting the fur, still beating. As calm as could be, Wolf retrieved the office chair and sat down, eyes fixed on Nikita, his new handler, once again. The exposed heart laid on the floor, calling Nikita's name to come get a taste. Not now... please not now. If he went into a blood frenzy, Wolf might not recognize him and treat him like a threat. Still feeling sick, he finally sat up, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he tried not to look at Strade's mutilated corpse.

In a soft, hoarse voice, the vampire mustered one word:

"Отчет..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Отчет о выполнении задания: проект «Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два», одна подтвержденная ликвидация, угроза нейтрализована."

Wolf replies flatly, delivering his mission report to his handler as if he were a commanding officer. His expression never changed, his body still and tension still very clearly visible. His clothes stained in blood, Wolf looked...lost. Out of it. Not present at all. As if he were just some killing machine or a tool awaiting for it's next use. The image was powerful yet heartbreaking.

Blood splattered on the floor as his hands dripped away the crimson substance, thick and heavy as other fluids mixed with it. He sat there, silently awaiting to comply with whatever order was given next. He waited, the minutes feeling like hours, but he was complicit. He didn’t move, but his gaze followed Nikita, nearly like a predator stalking prey.

Wolf knew eventually he would have to break the news to both Ulric and Ren eventually, about how he became weaponized, but he would explain it as a means of survival. He would forge a story, the evidence, a report, everything. It’s what he was trained for, it was his job, a future mission. For now, the cleanup and other factors were the biggest concern.

Now to put the Verosian Soldier to sleep, and to reawaken Wolf, deep within his subconscious, if he was even reachable. Being blocked out this far and this long for a simple combat assassination mission has the clock running like Doomsday.

[nikita-baklanov87]

The words swam in Nikita's head: Project Ninety-Seven-Fifty-Two, elimination, neutralize. It was over. Wolf's muscles were tight, ready to come to life like a livewire at any moment and start the carnage all over again if Nikita commanded it so. This is how he lived, day in and day out for years until he came here. No one bothered to ask what Wolf wanted, if he was... afraid, or uncertain, or unwilling. The thought of Wolf having to go to sleep every night with so much blood on his hands, untold horrors just behind his eyelids when he closed them playing on a loop, and there was no one to comfort him, to tell him he was still a good man, that it wasn't his fault...

Nikkta choked on a ragged sob as he crawled forward, shaking limbs as he latched onto him. He didn't care that blood was smearing all over his clothes and skin, that Wolf reeked of sweat and death, Nikita was still safe here as he buried his face into the hair sticking to Wolf's neck. Tears fell freely now as he clung to his protector, finally feeling the weight of it all.

"Я больше не могу этого выносить! Отключись, отключись, пожалуйста!"

He could only hope he was speaking the right words, he wanted this part to be over. He wanted to clean this horrible mess up and sleep, and maybe... maybe they could both move on. Forget this whole nightmare ever happened. They could be happy, so happy, they could live freely. Nikita was finally in an era, a country where he could claim Wolf in public if he wanted, Wolf was free of Verosia's clutches here, there was nothing to stop them anymore. No more bloodshed, no more torture, no more humiliation and shame.

Nikita pressed his mouth to Wolf's feverish skin along his jaw, tasting some of the blood that splattered there. The flavor set his tongue on fire, his fangs aching to grow and bite and take. Just a little longer, not yet...!

"Вернись ко мне, посмотри на меня, пожалуйста?" He was begging as he reached up his hand and turned Wolf's unflinching gaze to him. He was begging Wolf to remember, to put away the soldier, to lay down his arms, and let the fight be over. It would never have to happen again.

"Я стану сильнее, чтобы тебе больше никогда не пришлось через это проходить — обещаю, любимая. Я буду тебя защищать..."

Just outside, it was beginning to rain.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf stared empty into Nikita's gaze, unresponsive to the whole interaction, the only time he moved was when he was told to shut down. His ears craned, eyes flicking down and to the right, then locking back upon Nikita. An emotional response. It was a sign. He's awake, in there, he can hear. Wolf remained tense...until his shoulders slumped.

"«Проект 9752», запрашиваю разрешение выйти из боя."

A request, he heard it, he heard to shut down, and now he was confirming it, wanting to avoid punishment or far worse, a full wipe and reprogramming. It was instinct, like muscle memory. He just needed to hear that permission was granted.

His voice was still flat, but yet, it wasn't cold like before, it was soft, nearly polite. Wolf was resurfacing, slowly, surely, he just needed permission.

"Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два, разоружить. Миссия выполнена."

The words echo in his head as his brows furrow, looking down and to the right again, his emotions beginning to flow through as his brain register memories from Verosia's past missions. He began to relive them all, but still awaited the command.

He was so close, so so close, just one last order. That's all he needed to be free, to allow the Verosian Soldier to sleep once again. Perhaps eventually, with enough harnessing and training, it could be repurposed into something better for Nikita, an aid rather than the tool it was now.

[nikita-baklanov87]

The eyes were the worst part. There was no recognition, no familiarity, no warmth. Nikita could have been anyone in that moment and it would have made no difference to Wolf as he was now. But...

Then there was a slight twitch in his cheek muscle, his ears craning, Nikita's arms faltering as the tension finally bled out of Wolf's posture. He was there, he could hear Nikita! 'Yes Wolf, listen to my voice, just follow my voice,' he thought, using his sleeves to pat the blood off from Wolf's face. The vampire let out a sigh of relief, nearly laughing with delirium. He nodded, holding Wolf's face in his clammy palms.

"Разрешение дано. Возвращайся ко мне, моя звезда."

He kept his hands on Wolf's face, trying to make sure his eyes stayed locked on him. If he looked too hard at Strade while he was coming down from the weaponization, it might break Wolf, and then what? All that hard work, all that sacrifice...

"Да, миссия выполнена. Теперь вы можете отдохнуть. Больше ничего не нужно." Nikita's voice stayed soft, loving, his heart full of hope at hearing the change in Wolf's tone. He was starting to break the surface of the conditioning, just a little bit more. It suddenly occured to Nikita just how tired he was; he hadn't slept in so long, it had to have been going on almost a week now. The raw anxiety of putting the plan into motion, of seeing Strade again, finally getting to Wolf, and now this. He felt the exhaustion in his bones.

Perhaps they could burn that horrible book when all this was over. Perhaps they could burn this evil house. It wouldn't burn the memories away, but it could clean the slate, perhaps. Fire was cleansing, after all.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Disengaged.”

Wolf closed his eyes, letting his head dip and tension expel from his body. The time passing through his dissociation was so long it was nearly its own torture, but the beastkin eventually came to, breathing heavy and shaking from the conditioning. He looked up and around, then slumped his head once more with a groan, sweat dripping off of his face as he rolls his shoulders. His ears pin flat to his head and he grunts.

“Fucking hell…” The headache that came with was certainly no joke, his body swaying as he got thrashed by vertigo. Wolf looks back up at his lover, right in the eyes as he tried to stabilize himself without falling into a panic attack. Usually he wouldn’t be awake after this, only in cryo or in a comatose state. But he wasn’t near any of that, he had to face the effects head on.

“How bad’s the damage?”

Wolf pants, his body hyperventilating before he could calm it down, but soon enough he made it stop, or at least tried to…

He was out of it, he pulled through, he did it, thats what mattered, he made it through. He survived being weaponized for good. This was good, this was a good thing, he should be happy… but why doesn’t he feel it…and why can’t he remember..?

“That man… he… spoke to me.. I recognized it… was it the same guy?? Did I know him?? There were two… I heard someone else…” Wolf tries to place down his scattered memories, trying to make some sense of everything he had just done while being under, he needed help..the guidance.. He could only hope…

He couldn’t help the tears that started welling up..

[cried-out-wolf]

Let me guess...still stuck in the basement hm? Freedom tastes so good. I doubt you would ever get a taste though.

I have been scanning strade for a long time now. I know almost everything about him...what he does to you.

It's entertaining no?

- @xchloroformedheartx

"I get my own amount of freedom on my own time, Hell will freeze over before I even think about that damned collar choking my neck. And let me guess, you enjoy what he does to me, huh? You want to watch? Why not show yourself since you're watching me, lets see how much he entertains you.."

The beastkin did everything not to falter, to give away the fact the sudden eyes upon his life was vaguely startling, though, it was no different from life in Verosia. Sure, he was used to being surveillenced within Verosia's walls, but there was something...different about this new intrusion.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh I don't enjjoy watching. Infact I enjoy being the one to give that amount of pain. He doesn't entertain me...But you? You do. Perhaps you want me to show myself, hm? You want a real god to put you in your place. To utilize you more than anything.

Freedom is just an illusion.

Specially your's.

They seemed to be met with a cold demeanour on the camera on the computer.

Tell me, what are you doing on his computer?

[cried-out-wolf]

The beastkin was far beyond his edge now, heart pounding hard in his chest he swore he heard it alongside the ringing in his ears. He was panicking, something.. no… someone got in somehow, and now he was vulnerable all over again, just as he thought he had escaped all trouble. So much for his usb VPN, though that didn’t matter when something playing GOD was near.

“When I said we needed a new God.. an angel or something that..looks like it… you decided to take that literally huh?! It doesn’t matter what I’m doing!! How the hell did you find me?!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

The other was always vulnerable as long as the stalker roamed the streets. As long as he was free? No one was safe. The news always reported break ins, certain things going missing. People going missing a week after those continuous break-ins.

The VPN is useless if one can pick it apart bit by bit. It took time and alot of effort but if you are stubborn enough? you can do anything. He didn't even have to use his abilities to track this one down.

An angel...? Oh I used to be one, you are quite easy to find. Don't worry about locking the doors, the windows.

I am already inside.

[cried-out-wolf]

"Already inside..?"

Wolf's heart dropped, he swore he died just for a split second. Already...? How was that even possible? Wolf didn't like this, he didn't like being toyed with. His ears crane and his lip quivers, fur bristling as his skin erupts into goosebumps. He had to find a way out, or better yet, a safehouse. He wasn't armed here.

"Get out of here. Go... Go away-"

Now would be a great time for that tracker to connect to Verosia.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Already inside.

He repeated that heart drop was sudden and yet warranted. The creeping and groaning of the floor in the shadow's, the way things seemed to shuffle and move. It was certain tat someone was there. This game of cat and mouse, wolf and bunny just begun.

Soon he felt a breath linger almost on his neck.

Whatever, whoever it was? Wasn't going to go away anytime soon, the small laughs of a deep raspy voice confirmed it.

[cried-out-wolf]

The beastkin's heart only sank further, his eyes wide as he stared at the screen, ears pinned flat to his head. It was clear the nerves were getting to him.

But he wasn't about to give up so easily.

Wolf wasn't going to let his fear show so easily either, getting up from the chair and making his way to the door, he stood by it, silent with his ear pressed to the thin wood. He was listening, waiting, the hunter turning hunted.

He refused to go down without a fight, let alone be caught with his guard down. So he sat, and waited, the noise outside already giving him some idea of where the other could be.

"Hunting like a human in prehistoric times..."

[xchloroformedheartx]

the way those ears showed true fear, submission almost...It was tugging him. There was a small creak but where it came from was unknown. Hard to pinpoint where it was even with heightened senses from the beastkin.

Out of nowhere there was a knock but it wasn't coming from the door, it was coming from behind him. Like something was already in the room with the wolf.

Hunting....Is that what it's called hm? My games? That deep raspy voice glitched, coming from everywhere at the same time, whatever this was it wasn't human.

[cried-out-wolf]

"Y-Yeah, you're literally cornering me... Go away..-"

Wolf nearly falls into his panic, looking around anxiously as if he would even find whoever is stalking him so easily. He groans, tail twitching when he goes to sit down on the couch. His body is tremoring.

"What do you want from me..?"

His hands grip at his hair, his heart pounding in his chest, this had to be worse than Verosia.. no.. it was.

[xchloroformedheartx]

I won't be going away. I'll always be here. Watching and waiting. I'll always be in your life, like a spider in the corner of your room, watching and waiting to strike.

What I want from you? You. To simply take you. To turn you into something you didn't think you were capable of ever being.

A small laugh, the glitching and distorting unpleasantly chilling.

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re a fool if you think I’ll give into that so easily. I’m not going anywhere. This is where I belong. You’re not gonna get what you want, the moment I reconnect I’ll be back on my way home!!”

Wolf was cornered, nowhere to go. Connections to Verosia are completely off the table here. He isn’t going to go down willingly.. but maybe… just maybe.. there are a few words that could make him comply…

“You can’t get me to obey you!! Just give up!!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

You think i need you to give in? you already gave in the moment i stepped into your personal space. I'm your new god.

A hand snatched his throat right up from the darkness that swallowed the rest of their body, fortunately he stepped out of the darkness revealing himself, his golden hues fixated, something was wrong with their stomach though, something was moving underneath the skin.

It was disgusting whatever it was.

He tightened his grip cutting off any oxygen...

[cried-out-wolf]

“As.. if I’d ever… give in-”

Wolf choked out in-between gasping breaths, clawing desperately at the arm that was choking him. He refused to break eye contact, determined to fight his way through, even if he was in a losing battle. His body instinctively flailed around, kicking and trying to land any blow that would free him just so he could breathe.

“Letmego-!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Blink blink...

Wry Smile.

You don't have a choice whether you give in or not. It's already too late for that. The sooner you realise the easier this will be to dismantle you over and over. Pull back the layers, let me creep in.

With that he used that hand around the beastkins throat to pin him right down against the floor, straddling him. The guy felt like a whole stone wall, not able to quite get him off despite his size.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Never-!”

Wolf struggled against the floor, face scrunched in a fanged snarl as he writhed underneath the other, clawing at both the floor and their arm. He refused to be weaponized again, Verosia hadn’t invoked the words in years to even send him into such a state. He stared down the other being straddling him, beads of sweat dripping down his face as he slowly began to panic, realizing this fight might not topple in his favor.

“You won’t weaponize me-! Won’t allow it—!”

He rasped, nearly choking as he felt lightheaded. His body began to bulk in emergency, muscles burning as they became more defined and prominent.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Whoever said I want you as a weapon? Maybe I want you as a trophy to sit on my shelf and look pretty all bruised and bloodied. Hurting and crying. Those whimpers escaping your maw. That clawed hand stayed grabbing his face holding him against the ground.

You think i need a weapon? I have archangel. I don't need a weapon. I just simply want to hurt you. See what's inside, how much you can tolerate before you beg to stop.

His wing gave a flutter behind his back, those glitches getting a little more vicious from him keeping up his fake form.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf could only whimper, fear starting to take over as he buried a fang into the hand pushing him down. His breathing was frantic, and tears were beginning to fall from his face.

He wasn’t going to win. Deep down he knew it. Without Vera’s words being uttered into trigger, he simply wasn’t strong enough.

All he could do was shake his head in protest, his body finally submitting slowly…

“No-…”

ALSO THANK U OP IM GLAD U LIKE THE ART!!!!

[xchloroformedheartx]

They both knew he wasn't going to win but here they were. Still fighting. His body giving up slowly. Those eyes full of tears, something he loved. The way those teeth rested on his hand.

He tilt his head unaturally.

You are already giving in, good. You may not see it now but it's what is best for you, no? You need someone to take control.

[cried-out-wolf]

Control… it’s all he ever knew. Someone was always above him, and with that factor missing, he was lost. Very, very lost.

His hand drops, his body finally giving in all the way, no urgency to fight back anymore.

“Ready…to comply..”

Wolf sniffles brokenly, looking downwards in defeat. The battle was over, it had been over..

He needed control more than ever now..

[xchloroformedheartx]

Drazzic hummed, a mused little sound as he slowly let go of that neck.

I always knew you were a good mutt, huh? Always allowing people to step right on you. You never bite, you never fight. Or maybe it's because you know you would lose, hm? Either way. I am sure you will enjoy everything delivered to you.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf's nose began to bleed, the symbol of Verosia warping above his head as tears kept falling down his face. He knew this cycle all too well, from both Strade and Verosia, all he can do now is obey. Comply. Take whatever hits he gets.

"I follow orders.."

Wolf's voice waivered, a thin line between weapon and prisoner. This is all he was, and all he needed were the words...

[xchloroformedheartx]

Such a good boy, aren't you?

Maybe i should get you to hunt all your friends hm? One by one. Drag them to my streaming room, torture them one by one...Maybe I'll even get you to eat them, hm?

Ah...its such a wonderful idea. Don't you think?

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf wipes away his tears and his bloody nose, his ears flattening at the corrupt praise he was given. There it was, the threat of weaponizing him to a degree, he knew it all too well.

“If that’s what you believe is best… if… that is what you want. Ready to comply.”

The serum was already activating itself in his body, preparing to take on the first order barked at him. He was slipping. He was slipping into that weapon of destruction and he couldn’t fight it..

Wolf would do anything just to be praised like he was now.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Ah...such a good boy hm? What about that vampire you love oh so much? Maybe we should get you to hunt them as your first little mission. I do love a lovers quarrel...and then maybe I'll get you to pay a visit to my fox.

Yes he was cruel at times, he knew where to strike. He would make Wolf believe that he was his knew god, the only thing he could ever believe in...

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf fought himself internally, to deactivate the control of the serum, but it was simply too powerful, his body knew if it refused to comply, if it showed defiance in any way, he would be met with agonizing pain, all he could do was painfully stare down the being in the eye while trembling.

Not him, anyone but him… Anyone but his beloved Nikita… that was his mate… he would NEVER hurt him…

“Отчетность…”

Wolf replies brokenly, his voice strained and laced with a deep pain. This wasn’t just his usual compliant reply, the “Ready to Comply” that he had been saying over and over to appease the other, this was the soldier speaking now. He sat there, eerily still, awaiting for this being before him to give the order.. He hated this deep down, but he was too weak against his programming on his own, he needed someone else, someone familiar to break him out of this.

For now, he could only hope he wouldn’t go that far, while he still had a sliver of his consciousness..

[xchloroformedheartx]

You have a order no? To hunt down your little love. After all that will make this whole ordeal very interesting, won't it? Im sure they will be happy to see you.

Go.

You can come back once your hunt is over.

A dismissive wave.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf could only nod, his body beginning to move like a machine, out of the office, up and out of the basement, and sneakily leaving the house. He quickly made a side bar to hit up the Verosian bunker, just to suit up in black leather tactical gear and put on a muzzle. He was loaded with weapons. A gun, a grenade, a smoke bomb, and a few knives. He marched back out and began his hunt.

It was an order, an order that brought a tear to his eye, he wanted to break free of the Verosian Soldier, but he had to comply. So he started going off to all the hiding places Nikita had been through that he kept note of.

'Oh Nikita...forgive me..'

It's all he could think about. The mission that would bring him guilt. He needed to be stopped while he still could be, while it was still possible. But not everything would fall into his hands.

He heads out, beginning his search for Nikita as the Verosian Soldier, hunting down his very love that he set free from the wretched basement. That was his mission.

[cried-out-wolf]

Волк? Это ты, любимый?

@nikita-baklanov87

“Wolf, is that you, my love?”

That voice, that specific soft Russian accent flooded his head immediately and overwhelmed his system, it couldn’t be… there was no way… unless..

“Nikita…? Is it really you?”

[nikita-baklanov87]

"Wolf!!!!"

The vampire stumbles before collapsing into the beastkin's arms. It was clear his bad leg was giving him trouble again. Nikita buried his face into Wolf's hoodie, taking in the warm, familiar smell. It felt like home again, even here.

"I missed you so m-much... I could not stand the thought of leaving you here anymore."

[cried-out-wolf]

“I-I missed you too-!!”

Wolf choked out in between sobs, his body trembling violently, nerves overloaded. Despite his visible distress, his tail still wagged.

“You came back for me… don’t leave ever again please-!”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita felt the warm tears staining his shirt as he pulled Wolf impossibly close. One soft hand cradled the back of the beastkin's head, burying his fingers into his dark hair. The vampire wasn't sure if or when he would ever have this again, but it only took putting himself in his line of sight and... well, here he was.

"Of course I did. Never again, sweetheart. Never. I had to come back, I will not leave without you again." He murmured into Wolf's ear. Tears were starting to fall down his own cheeks now, the heavy weight of reunion, the emotions of finally holding his mate again, beginning to sink in.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf tried his best to stop sobbing, but he couldn’t bear to hold back anymore, he whines and leans into Nikita as if his body had just given out.

“Please… stay… stay stay stay stay… forever… never leave me again please… missed you..”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's lower lip trembled as he did his best to hold Wolf up and himself together. Poor thing was barely able to speak through heaving breaths and his voice cracking with emotion.

"Мой милый Волк, I will never leave you alone again. I came back for a reason, for you. I was so lost without you... I know what you did for me was risky but I-I could not sleep another night without you." He mouthed kisses on top of Wolf's head and across his temple, which quickly became any patch of skin he could get too along his damp face. Soft mutterings in English and Russian could be heard between kisses.

"How... How badly did he hurt you, Wolf?"

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf shudders, remembering how all his old wounds never healed and ended up reopened and messed with.

"Not too bad.. just...just a reminder...he strayed off to new kills... I'm just...glad it wasn't me..."

[blacklodgesocialclub]

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Nikita starts to slowly give Wolf a once-over. He knew Wolf would try and hide his pain just so he wouldn't worry too much but...

"You should have seen the look on his face when he found out it was me who set up that bar date with him. I... I do not think he expected to see me again. I am afraid of what he will do to me now that he has me back. He seemed too... excited. I thought he would be furious." His yellow eyes are practically glowing in the dark of the basement, full of dread for what's going to come next.

"We should run, Wolf. While we still can..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Run...? But... where... where would we go? I... I don't want to leave... this is the only home I have..."

Wolf looked up at Nikita, fear in his eyes.

"I... I trust you, but....are you sure..?"

[nikita-baklanov87]

"We can make our own home, together. All my life I... I never belonged anywhere but with you? A-anything is possible, I do not feel so afraid of everything. You and me, yes? We will find our own corner of the world together, my love."

Nikita's voice was gentle, so gentle, and his hands were so soft as he cupped Wolf's face, rubbing his tears away with gentle thumbs. There was a bit of fear in his own eyes, but there was still some hope that maybe... just maybe, there was a place for them. There had to be, right?

[cried-out-wolf]

"Promise me... promise me this... that if I get us out of here.. you won't turn on me..."

Wolf leaned into the vampire's touch his trembling body finally settling down as comfort found its way in his veins. He just needed to hear the promise.

"I....I know of a way that guarantees an outing where we both survive.... You speak the language, I can tell you the words, but I will no longer be me until I'm told to report... Is that a risk you're willing to take..?"

He gripped onto Nikita like he was a lifeline, knowing that what he was offering was dangerous. But sometimes, danger is they key to survival.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita shook his head, soft black locks whipping side to side.

"Never, I could never, Wolf. You have my word." Every word was measured; he wanted Wolf to know he meant it. Nothing his boyfriend could do would make Nikita afraid. He listened carefully, rubbing Wolf's cheekbone as he took in the idea. The weaponization process. He'd heard Wolf speak about it before, Nikita recalled the pain in his voice, in his eyes.

But it might be the only way.

"Only if you are sure, love. I... hate that this must be the plan, but I could never fear you. Any part of you. I will do it." His voice shook, stumbling on his words, but he stood firm in his resolve.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I….I’m sure. I haven’t been under in years, I hope the programming hasn’t left me. I can only harness the strength of it, the forms. If we want out entirely, we have to use the full thing..”

Wolf pulled away to grab his notebook of mission reports, the history under Verosian control. He was ordered to write in it when away for longer missions, especially in no-contact zones. He stepped back to Nikita, nervous as hell, but raised the book to him, handing it off.

“Tie me to the pole and gag me. I will swing, I will get violent. I will yell. Every word is in Russian. After the first round, address me as Soldier in Russian, if I respond back in Russian, I’m under your control. If I don’t, repeat until I do.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita stared at the book for a moment before taking it in his trembling hands, holding it like a bomb that could go off at any moment. His thumb traced over the Verosian symbol across the front. This felt so wrong but... what other choice did they have? Nikita certainly couldn't take him on, not in such a weakened condition. This notebook, this tool, he hated it. It wasn't right, there was already a pit forming in his stomach at the idea that he would have to be the one to do it.

Freedom for them both was just a few choice words away.

Tucking the book under one arm, Nikita surged forward and locked Wolf into a desperate kiss. He poured his heart into it, hoping Wolf could feel his dedication, his love, his care. Pulling away, he pressed their foreheads together.

"Я верну тебя, клянусь."

Nikita stayed there for a moment, relishing Wolf's natural body heat against his ice cold skin before reluctantly pulling away. He listened in silence to Wolf's instructions, trying to quietly open cabinets and drawers to not draw any attention from upstairs.

It wasn't hard to find where the ropes were in the basement, but it took a momemt for him to locate a muzzle. He glared down at the inhumane tool, cursing Strade under his breath for a moment before turning back to his love.

"Okay... Okay, I think I am ready. Are you?" He held his hand out to Wolf, ready to guide him to the pole.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf relished the deep kiss, knowing it would be one of the last he’d have before being shut out of his own head for a mission. He missed the feeling of Nikita’s natural cold, giving a nod to his spoken Russian. He trusted him, he trusted Nikita with his own life that he would be brought back.

Once Wolf took his hand in a silent nod, he made his way over to the pole and sat down. His body already began to react to the position, a mix of Strade’s doing, and Vera’s. He lurched at the feeling of being bound, but he knew it was for the better, biting back at the sounds and urges clawing in his body to thrash and break away. He had to do this.

Wolf looks up at Nikita, shakily sighing before speaking. His body already felt like it was on fire, adrenaline surging in his veins from past trauma beginning to be be relived once again, even through it had been years since such actions were performed upon him. Muffled, he still made his point clear.

“I’m ready, send me.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's undead heart broke and crumpled at the position Wolf was in. He looked so small, and so afraid, like a frightened pup. And his eyes, they made his chest clench just to even look at them for a moment. His eyelids fluttered shut as he took a deep breath; he had to focus, it had to be done. Wolf trusted him, Wolf was allowing this to happen for the greater good of them both. He had to see it through, the vampire had to follow the plan. Nikita had to be strong and steel his heart. He would not lose Wolf like his past lovers, he couldn't. He may as well walk into the daylight and let the sun take him if he were to lose his Wolf after coming this far.

Opening his eyes, Nikita flipped to the right page. How did a few short, simple words worm their way into Wolf's brain and completely change him? Hypnosis? Literal machine programming? Some kind of injection regimen? He had so many questions with no time for answers. Clutching the book with sweaty palms, Nikita began. No going back.

"Here we go, love. Be strong for me, yes?"

His voice trembled with each word, watching in growing horror as Wolf twitched and huffed, his breath steaming through the muzzle. Every jerk of his muscles, every growl, the strain on the ropes, it felt like a knife to the vampire's gut. Wolf was changing before his eyes...

"Заказ. Девяносто семь. Сапоги. Левый. Кузница. Якорь. Пятьдесят два. Волк. Танк."

[cried-out-wolf]

Every atom within Wolf’s body strained, it burned as the words rang in his ears like close range gunfire. He would yank and pull at the restraints upon him, his yelling muffled behind the muzzle upon his face. It hurt, the programming was still there, convenient for the situation, unfortunate for his life. He swung and thrashed upon the pole, his eyes fixated on the ground as his body tremors and hyperventilates.

The beastkin whipped and shifted uncomfortably until… SNAP. The rope had broke free and he lunged forward…

Eventually his breathing slows, his screaming fades out with a growl, and his body stands still in a crouch on the floor. The soldier was looking down as the Verosian emblem warped and fizzled to life upon his forehead, his eyes then glowing as he looked upward. His posture was full of tension, brows furrowed and gaze cold and dark. It had worked.

“Отчетность.”

Wolf spoke coldly in response, despite Nikita never having questioned him. Nothing about Wolf in this state looked right, his posture, his gaze, even the way he spoke, something so monotone that even his own voice didn’t sound like it belonged to him.

He soon rose to his feet, standing eerily still, awaiting his first order.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Every word spoken looked like someone was delivering blow after blow to Wolf. He was twisting in ways that weren't natural, his breathing labored like he'd run a marathon. Nikita didn't even realize his eyes were watering until a few teardrops fell on the notebook in his hands. What Verosia had done to him, it was unspeakable. It was inhumane. Who does this to another living creature, strip them of their will, their spark, their very spirit? They could have just as easily built machines to do their dirty work. Instead, Nikita had to watch as the programmed commands pushed Wolf, his Wolf, down... and something else slip into his skin.

"Исполнять!" Nikita cried through gritted teeth, the meager muscle in his neck straining. He wanted this to be over, he wanted Wolf back to the way he was. He didn't want to watch Wolf's agonizing screams. He never wanted to hear him in so much anguish ever again. He didn't want to have to say the words anymore; the second time he would falter, he knew he would. The vampire felt his stomach churn, adrenaline roaring in his ears and making him lightheaded. Wolf howled in pain behind the muzzle, spitting and growling like a feral beast, a deep rumbling Nikita could feel in his chest. Quick, heavy footsteps could be heard above their heads.

Strade was moving.

"Исполнять!" Nikita's voice was a pitched scream this time, yellow eyes almost as wild as his partner's; he was desperate for this plan to work, so Wolf's sacrifice was not in vain until-

Nikita yelped and fell back into Strade's workbench, the notebook clattering to the floor as Wolf snapped the ropes like twigs, the red symbol on the front of the book now glowing on his forehead. He was... calming, coming down from the conditioning. Those eyes, those glowing red eyes moved from the floor to the vampire, fixing him to the spot. If Nikita needed to breath, he would have forgotten how in that moment as Wolf moved like an,apex predator, crouching in front of him.

And then he spoke.

It held no warmth, no trace of Wolf. Nikita's lower lip trembled, tensing as he heard the basement door open. Reaching forward, he smoothed a hand through Wolf's dark hair, paying no mind to the fact that Wolf's skin was scorching to the touch. There was a soft click and the muzzle fell to the floor. There was only one thing left to do: give the order.

"Убей Страда. Освободи нас."

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf turned around and made his way into the door near the staircase, shutting it with a crack to where he could see outside. He watched as Strade descended down the staircase, questioning what was going on. Wolf swung the door open without warning, hooking his arm around the other's neck and pulling him downwards. He effectively had him locked in a chokehold, but Strade's stumble knocked them off balance.

Wolf only let go to gain his own balance back, and he heard the click of the strapped knife unbuttoning. He didn't let it stop him, blocking moves with precision. It's not the fact he was overpowered, to be truthful he is, however it was Strade’s lack of hand-to-hand combat stamina and knowledge on his level that had the German at a major disadvantage. Wolf unsheathes his own blade, fighting equal and landing a few blows as a warning. He wasn't giving up.

"Wolf, what a surprise this is! Why are you so worked up? Had I failed to give you attention?" Strade shot out in exasperated breaths. He was intrigued more than scared.

"Who the fuck is Wolf?"

Wolf shot back before going back to swinging, growling and snarling as his eyes kept an eye on the captors every move. Before Strade could get another word out, he was met with a blow that sent him to the floor, gasping for air. Wolf knelt down and pulled his hair up, forcing him to meet his gaze.

Wolf kicked him back, resulting In the German to be immobilized momentarily belly up. He marched over, whole body moving like a machine, coldly and inhumane as he continued his brutal attack. Blood had already splattered on his body, but he didn't care. He had his mission on lock.

The moment seemed to go on forever, but he wasn't giving in. Not one bit. Time stood still, and Wolf hovered over him, not hesitation, but creating a suffocating tension between them all in the basement.

"What- the hell- is with- you-?!" Strade wheezed.. His gaze glassy as tears from the overwhelming pain filled his eyes involuntarily...

[nikita-baklanov87]

Everything moved so fast and not fast enough. Wolf nearly knocked the door of its hinges as he dragged Strade down the rest of the stairs, causing them both the stumble backwards. A cry caught in Nikita's throat as he watched them both draw steel, blood splattering onto concrete. It certainly wasn't the first time blood had been shed down there... but it would be the last. Strade didn't even notice him crouching against the table, the vampire trying to make himself smaller as the showdown unfolded before him.

The voice that come from his love made him shudder. Wolf really was gone; it didn't even sound like him anymore. If Nikita never heard it again, it would be too soon.

Wolf fought with precise strikes. There was nothing messy or half-assed about the way he moved. The training he went through in Verosia had to have been extensive and rigorous. He was a missile locked right onto their captor with one single mission: Search and destroy. Any of Strade's offense seemed to glance off of Wolf; his usual careful hands when it came to torture now looking clumsy and uncoordinated as he tried to fight a trained supersoldier.

Nikita watched in equal parts fear and awe as Wolf kicked Strade nearly across the room, wincing. There were definitely a few broken ribs as Wolf's powerful kick threatened to cave in his chest cavity. Every sound of flesh striking flesh made him flinch; a horrible sound he was all too familiar with. He should be happier his captor, the man who violated and tortured them both, is reaping what he sowed but... all Nikita could feel was hollow. A hole.

He should have done it himself. When Wolf wakes up he'd...

The air was heavy, the moment of truth teetering on the edge of a knife. The small droplets of blood were already starting to make the starving vampire's mouth water. No, no, he had to keep his composure, let Wolf work. He couldn't ruin the plan, not like this. His empty stomach growled, and he bit the back of his own hand. It wouldn't take much to finish Strade like this; it would finally, mercifully be over. The nightmare could end...

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re my mission.”

Wolf replied with a dark tone, his gaze never faltering as his captor rose to his feet, refusing to give up the fight, he found it amusing, truly. Wolf only swung his blade even more,sclera flooding pure red with white irises replacing the red orbs that were his eyes originally. The beastkin continued to dodge, to attack, gaining a new scrapes and injuries of his own from not blocking everything in time, but he had a method here. He was wasting Strade’s endurance, a valuable asset to a larger built man unlike him, definitely that of the unfit type, but he saw a brutal end blind his vision. Something wicked and twisted, a memorable end, this made Wolf purposefully drop some of his guard just for it to execute perfectly. He would have to hold off. Strade took the opportunity to land a few hits of his own, not knowing he was taking intentional bait.

Wolf kicked him down once again, an audible crack this time sounding off, another bone having been broken, and he straddled his captor as he held him by the collar of his shirt, fist raised as blood and sweat started dripping off the both of them.

“This is such a wonderful surprise Haustier… You…You were always so quiet and obedient.. now you’re misbehaving..”

“Should’ve collared me then.”

Wolf hissed in retaliation, but he didn’t back down, slapping at his face as he continued taking his anger out. Strade was groaning in pain, unable to hit back, but Strade only sniffled a broken laugh. Wolf stopped and looked at him, disgust upon his face.

“You’d be so lost without me, and look at who came back…He missed you.”

“SHUT UP!!”

Wolf lifts him back to his feet and off the ground with a snarl, throwing punches at his gut over and over, to his stomach, his liver, kidneys, anything that could do lasting damage. He wanted him immobilized, and he was going to get that.

“I bring him home alive.. he worked so hard to see you again…and this is how I get repaid..? You should be ashamed.. Wolf. I know you’re in there..” Strade coughs, blood spattering from his mouth.

Wolf hesitated, a light pull in his head, Strade was trying to counter the programming. He dropped him to his feet and feigned sympathy, faking his snap back to reality, going as far as changing his eyes and making the emblem fuzzy. He could play one more of his games.

“You know who you are, Wolf, that’s your name, when you told me at the bar..”

Wolf only stayed silent, looking down and to the right. He only gripped Strade tighter…and then in one swift motion he began to throw punches again.

“THAT’S NOT MY NAME!! YOU’RE!!! MY!!! MISSION!!!!!!”

Punch after punch, Strade endured until his body gave out from the shock of pain. And the moment he fell silent, he was dangling in the air by Wolf’s hand, and he dropped him, the beastkin breathing heavy, only to drag his body to the drain, popping the lid off removing the stashed painkillers, and replacing the cover. He placed Strade’s body over the drain, and made it over to the workbench, opening a cabinet and pulling out a stashed handgun, one he brought from Verosia, twisting on his silencer, he unloaded four shells into Strade’s body, two in his knees, and two in his arms.

Strade awoke from the shock, the pain, but it was shortlived, Wolf having pulled his body up into a hug after ditching the gun and driving his hand straight through his chest, his captor’s heart in his hand, beating frantically. Wolf felt as the body went limp, and his emotion remained stoic, dropping the beating muscle the moment the last pulse faded. He stood up, opening the office and swinging the chair out from the corner where the computer desk was, going back to the main area and sitting down.

He now awaited his next order, the mission was complete, even if he was nearly hyperventilating.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita could only watch on as Wolf swung his blade with such power; no emotion, no fear, just pure drive to finish the mission he had been given. It was like nothing else mattered, complete tunnel vision. Could he ever really truly come back from such a state? Would he even remember this? When he was done, would he look upon Strade's body and howl?

It was like Strade's offense meant nothing, not even as the knife cut into Wolf's flesh. Nikita's stomach turned and he clapped a hand over his mouth, was Wolf... was he slowing down? Was he tired already? No... no, no, he couldn't be, this was only just beginning... Was it on purpose? Perhaps it was to make Strade too confident, to find the fatal misstep that would kill him for good. The smell of Wolf's blood made his brain buzz; he couldn't help but lurch forward on his hands and knees. He had to hold back his own inner beast, but he was hungry, oh so hungry. He wanted blood, his mate's blood, it had been so long...

The empty nausea only worsened at the sound of breaking bones and Strade... those gold eyes flicking over to him. He was trying to use guilt, a potent weapon in his arsenal against Wolf. It had worked time and time again, but... Wolf wasn't here right now. It wouldn't work the same way, right? Still, his skin crawled as his former captor looked at him, and Wolf... dropped him. That gaze him feel naked, exposed, oh God, why was Wolf stopping? He hardly realized he was screaming to Wolf until he felt his voice turn raw in his throat.

"Прикончи его! Покончи с этим!"

He couldn't allow Strade to get in Wolf's head, he couldn't allow him to worm his way inside and twist him up. Nikita spoke with more authority than he realized he could muster.

"You leave him alone! You lose, Strade!"

And he was losing. The multiple blows to his vital organs were making him cough up blood, his deep voice turning husky from strain. He was trying to find any in he could get but there was none. Not anymore. Wolf was bellowing in his face now, resuming blow after blow after blow. The German was unrecognizable now, his face rearranged into a bloody pulp, his body more bruise than bare skin. It was almost blessedly over, Strade could bleed out on the floor, they could burn this hellhole to the ground with him in it, they could-

The vampire's stomach dropped when Wolf moved away and produced a gun from one of the cabinets. That... certainly wasn't Strade's, guns were never his style. It wasn't creative enough, too much margin for error. The familiarity, the silencer, the way Wolf's hand wrapped around the handle with practiced ease, it had to be his. Nikita gasped and jumped with every shot, wincing as blood splattered from Strade's unconscious body. Exposed bone from the shots to his knees made Nikita nearly double over. Such violence, such... brutality, he had no idea Wolf was capable of this.

And then Wolf went even further, further than Nikita thought possible as he took his clawed hand and skewered his way through Strade chest, grabbing his heart. He was already dead, surely he didn't have to do this! The man lurched forward, collapsing on Wolf and covering him in blood and viscera. Nikita couldn't help but scream as Strade's life bled out on the floor, Wolf's face unchanging. It was hard not to feel afraid, to feel sick. This is just a taste of what Strade deserved, so why did it feel more like a predator playing with its food than vengeance?

Leaning over, Nikita dry heaved, unable to get the image of Wolf holding a grown man's heart in his clawed hand, blood matting the fur, still beating. As calm as could be, Wolf retrieved the office chair and sat down, eyes fixed on Nikita, his new handler, once again. The exposed heart laid on the floor, calling Nikita's name to come get a taste. Not now... please not now. If he went into a blood frenzy, Wolf might not recognize him and treat him like a threat. Still feeling sick, he finally sat up, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he tried not to look at Strade's mutilated corpse.

In a soft, hoarse voice, the vampire mustered one word:

"Отчет..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Отчет о выполнении задания: проект «Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два», одна подтвержденная ликвидация, угроза нейтрализована."

Wolf replies flatly, delivering his mission report to his handler as if he were a commanding officer. His expression never changed, his body still and tension still very clearly visible. His clothes stained in blood, Wolf looked...lost. Out of it. Not present at all. As if he were just some killing machine or a tool awaiting for it's next use. The image was powerful yet heartbreaking.

Blood splattered on the floor as his hands dripped away the crimson substance, thick and heavy as other fluids mixed with it. He sat there, silently awaiting to comply with whatever order was given next. He waited, the minutes feeling like hours, but he was complicit. He didn’t move, but his gaze followed Nikita, nearly like a predator stalking prey.

Wolf knew eventually he would have to break the news to both Ulric and Ren eventually, about how he became weaponized, but he would explain it as a means of survival. He would forge a story, the evidence, a report, everything. It’s what he was trained for, it was his job, a future mission. For now, the cleanup and other factors were the biggest concern.

Now to put the Verosian Soldier to sleep, and to reawaken Wolf, deep within his subconscious, if he was even reachable. Being blocked out this far and this long for a simple combat assassination mission has the clock running like Doomsday.

[nikita-baklanov87]

The words swam in Nikita's head: Project Ninety-Seven-Fifty-Two, elimination, neutralize. It was over. Wolf's muscles were tight, ready to come to life like a livewire at any moment and start the carnage all over again if Nikita commanded it so. This is how he lived, day in and day out for years until he came here. No one bothered to ask what Wolf wanted, if he was... afraid, or uncertain, or unwilling. The thought of Wolf having to go to sleep every night with so much blood on his hands, untold horrors just behind his eyelids when he closed them playing on a loop, and there was no one to comfort him, to tell him he was still a good man, that it wasn't his fault...

Nikkta choked on a ragged sob as he crawled forward, shaking limbs as he latched onto him. He didn't care that blood was smearing all over his clothes and skin, that Wolf reeked of sweat and death, Nikita was still safe here as he buried his face into the hair sticking to Wolf's neck. Tears fell freely now as he clung to his protector, finally feeling the weight of it all.

"Я больше не могу этого выносить! Отключись, отключись, пожалуйста!"

He could only hope he was speaking the right words, he wanted this part to be over. He wanted to clean this horrible mess up and sleep, and maybe... maybe they could both move on. Forget this whole nightmare ever happened. They could be happy, so happy, they could live freely. Nikita was finally in an era, a country where he could claim Wolf in public if he wanted, Wolf was free of Verosia's clutches here, there was nothing to stop them anymore. No more bloodshed, no more torture, no more humiliation and shame.

Nikita pressed his mouth to Wolf's feverish skin along his jaw, tasting some of the blood that splattered there. The flavor set his tongue on fire, his fangs aching to grow and bite and take. Just a little longer, not yet...!

"Вернись ко мне, посмотри на меня, пожалуйста?" He was begging as he reached up his hand and turned Wolf's unflinching gaze to him. He was begging Wolf to remember, to put away the soldier, to lay down his arms, and let the fight be over. It would never have to happen again.

"Я стану сильнее, чтобы тебе больше никогда не пришлось через это проходить — обещаю, любимая. Я буду тебя защищать..."

Just outside, it was beginning to rain.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf stared empty into Nikita's gaze, unresponsive to the whole interaction, the only time he moved was when he was told to shut down. His ears craned, eyes flicking down and to the right, then locking back upon Nikita. An emotional response. It was a sign. He's awake, in there, he can hear. Wolf remained tense...until his shoulders slumped.

"«Проект 9752», запрашиваю разрешение выйти из боя."

A request, he heard it, he heard to shut down, and now he was confirming it, wanting to avoid punishment or far worse, a full wipe and reprogramming. It was instinct, like muscle memory. He just needed to hear that permission was granted.

His voice was still flat, but yet, it wasn't cold like before, it was soft, nearly polite. Wolf was resurfacing, slowly, surely, he just needed permission.

"Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два, разоружить. Миссия выполнена."

The words echo in his head as his brows furrow, looking down and to the right again, his emotions beginning to flow through as his brain register memories from Verosia's past missions. He began to relive them all, but still awaited the command.

He was so close, so so close, just one last order. That's all he needed to be free, to allow the Verosian Soldier to sleep once again. Perhaps eventually, with enough harnessing and training, it could be repurposed into something better for Nikita, an aid rather than the tool it was now.

[cried-out-wolf]

Волк? Это ты, любимый?

@nikita-baklanov87

“Wolf, is that you, my love?”

That voice, that specific soft Russian accent flooded his head immediately and overwhelmed his system, it couldn’t be… there was no way… unless..

“Nikita…? Is it really you?”

[nikita-baklanov87]

"Wolf!!!!"

The vampire stumbles before collapsing into the beastkin's arms. It was clear his bad leg was giving him trouble again. Nikita buried his face into Wolf's hoodie, taking in the warm, familiar smell. It felt like home again, even here.

"I missed you so m-much... I could not stand the thought of leaving you here anymore."

[cried-out-wolf]

“I-I missed you too-!!”

Wolf choked out in between sobs, his body trembling violently, nerves overloaded. Despite his visible distress, his tail still wagged.

“You came back for me… don’t leave ever again please-!”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita felt the warm tears staining his shirt as he pulled Wolf impossibly close. One soft hand cradled the back of the beastkin's head, burying his fingers into his dark hair. The vampire wasn't sure if or when he would ever have this again, but it only took putting himself in his line of sight and... well, here he was.

"Of course I did. Never again, sweetheart. Never. I had to come back, I will not leave without you again." He murmured into Wolf's ear. Tears were starting to fall down his own cheeks now, the heavy weight of reunion, the emotions of finally holding his mate again, beginning to sink in.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf tried his best to stop sobbing, but he couldn’t bear to hold back anymore, he whines and leans into Nikita as if his body had just given out.

“Please… stay… stay stay stay stay… forever… never leave me again please… missed you..”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's lower lip trembled as he did his best to hold Wolf up and himself together. Poor thing was barely able to speak through heaving breaths and his voice cracking with emotion.

"Мой милый Волк, I will never leave you alone again. I came back for a reason, for you. I was so lost without you... I know what you did for me was risky but I-I could not sleep another night without you." He mouthed kisses on top of Wolf's head and across his temple, which quickly became any patch of skin he could get too along his damp face. Soft mutterings in English and Russian could be heard between kisses.

"How... How badly did he hurt you, Wolf?"

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf shudders, remembering how all his old wounds never healed and ended up reopened and messed with.

"Not too bad.. just...just a reminder...he strayed off to new kills... I'm just...glad it wasn't me..."

[blacklodgesocialclub]

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Nikita starts to slowly give Wolf a once-over. He knew Wolf would try and hide his pain just so he wouldn't worry too much but...

"You should have seen the look on his face when he found out it was me who set up that bar date with him. I... I do not think he expected to see me again. I am afraid of what he will do to me now that he has me back. He seemed too... excited. I thought he would be furious." His yellow eyes are practically glowing in the dark of the basement, full of dread for what's going to come next.

"We should run, Wolf. While we still can..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Run...? But... where... where would we go? I... I don't want to leave... this is the only home I have..."

Wolf looked up at Nikita, fear in his eyes.

"I... I trust you, but....are you sure..?"

[nikita-baklanov87]

"We can make our own home, together. All my life I... I never belonged anywhere but with you? A-anything is possible, I do not feel so afraid of everything. You and me, yes? We will find our own corner of the world together, my love."

Nikita's voice was gentle, so gentle, and his hands were so soft as he cupped Wolf's face, rubbing his tears away with gentle thumbs. There was a bit of fear in his own eyes, but there was still some hope that maybe... just maybe, there was a place for them. There had to be, right?

[cried-out-wolf]

"Promise me... promise me this... that if I get us out of here.. you won't turn on me..."

Wolf leaned into the vampire's touch his trembling body finally settling down as comfort found its way in his veins. He just needed to hear the promise.

"I....I know of a way that guarantees an outing where we both survive.... You speak the language, I can tell you the words, but I will no longer be me until I'm told to report... Is that a risk you're willing to take..?"

He gripped onto Nikita like he was a lifeline, knowing that what he was offering was dangerous. But sometimes, danger is they key to survival.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita shook his head, soft black locks whipping side to side.

"Never, I could never, Wolf. You have my word." Every word was measured; he wanted Wolf to know he meant it. Nothing his boyfriend could do would make Nikita afraid. He listened carefully, rubbing Wolf's cheekbone as he took in the idea. The weaponization process. He'd heard Wolf speak about it before, Nikita recalled the pain in his voice, in his eyes.

But it might be the only way.

"Only if you are sure, love. I... hate that this must be the plan, but I could never fear you. Any part of you. I will do it." His voice shook, stumbling on his words, but he stood firm in his resolve.

[cried-out-wolf]

“I….I’m sure. I haven’t been under in years, I hope the programming hasn’t left me. I can only harness the strength of it, the forms. If we want out entirely, we have to use the full thing..”

Wolf pulled away to grab his notebook of mission reports, the history under Verosian control. He was ordered to write in it when away for longer missions, especially in no-contact zones. He stepped back to Nikita, nervous as hell, but raised the book to him, handing it off.

“Tie me to the pole and gag me. I will swing, I will get violent. I will yell. Every word is in Russian. After the first round, address me as Soldier in Russian, if I respond back in Russian, I’m under your control. If I don’t, repeat until I do.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita stared at the book for a moment before taking it in his trembling hands, holding it like a bomb that could go off at any moment. His thumb traced over the Verosian symbol across the front. This felt so wrong but... what other choice did they have? Nikita certainly couldn't take him on, not in such a weakened condition. This notebook, this tool, he hated it. It wasn't right, there was already a pit forming in his stomach at the idea that he would have to be the one to do it.

Freedom for them both was just a few choice words away.

Tucking the book under one arm, Nikita surged forward and locked Wolf into a desperate kiss. He poured his heart into it, hoping Wolf could feel his dedication, his love, his care. Pulling away, he pressed their foreheads together.

"Я верну тебя, клянусь."

Nikita stayed there for a moment, relishing Wolf's natural body heat against his ice cold skin before reluctantly pulling away. He listened in silence to Wolf's instructions, trying to quietly open cabinets and drawers to not draw any attention from upstairs.

It wasn't hard to find where the ropes were in the basement, but it took a momemt for him to locate a muzzle. He glared down at the inhumane tool, cursing Strade under his breath for a moment before turning back to his love.

"Okay... Okay, I think I am ready. Are you?" He held his hand out to Wolf, ready to guide him to the pole.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf relished the deep kiss, knowing it would be one of the last he’d have before being shut out of his own head for a mission. He missed the feeling of Nikita’s natural cold, giving a nod to his spoken Russian. He trusted him, he trusted Nikita with his own life that he would be brought back.

Once Wolf took his hand in a silent nod, he made his way over to the pole and sat down. His body already began to react to the position, a mix of Strade’s doing, and Vera’s. He lurched at the feeling of being bound, but he knew it was for the better, biting back at the sounds and urges clawing in his body to thrash and break away. He had to do this.

Wolf looks up at Nikita, shakily sighing before speaking. His body already felt like it was on fire, adrenaline surging in his veins from past trauma beginning to be be relived once again, even through it had been years since such actions were performed upon him. Muffled, he still made his point clear.

“I’m ready, send me.”

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita's undead heart broke and crumpled at the position Wolf was in. He looked so small, and so afraid, like a frightened pup. And his eyes, they made his chest clench just to even look at them for a moment. His eyelids fluttered shut as he took a deep breath; he had to focus, it had to be done. Wolf trusted him, Wolf was allowing this to happen for the greater good of them both. He had to see it through, the vampire had to follow the plan. Nikita had to be strong and steel his heart. He would not lose Wolf like his past lovers, he couldn't. He may as well walk into the daylight and let the sun take him if he were to lose his Wolf after coming this far.

Opening his eyes, Nikita flipped to the right page. How did a few short, simple words worm their way into Wolf's brain and completely change him? Hypnosis? Literal machine programming? Some kind of injection regimen? He had so many questions with no time for answers. Clutching the book with sweaty palms, Nikita began. No going back.

"Here we go, love. Be strong for me, yes?"

His voice trembled with each word, watching in growing horror as Wolf twitched and huffed, his breath steaming through the muzzle. Every jerk of his muscles, every growl, the strain on the ropes, it felt like a knife to the vampire's gut. Wolf was changing before his eyes...

"Заказ. Девяносто семь. Сапоги. Левый. Кузница. Якорь. Пятьдесят два. Волк. Танк."

[cried-out-wolf]

Every atom within Wolf’s body strained, it burned as the words rang in his ears like close range gunfire. He would yank and pull at the restraints upon him, his yelling muffled behind the muzzle upon his face. It hurt, the programming was still there, convenient for the situation, unfortunate for his life. He swung and thrashed upon the pole, his eyes fixated on the ground as his body tremors and hyperventilates.

The beastkin whipped and shifted uncomfortably until… SNAP. The rope had broke free and he lunged forward…

Eventually his breathing slows, his screaming fades out with a growl, and his body stands still in a crouch on the floor. The soldier was looking down as the Verosian emblem warped and fizzled to life upon his forehead, his eyes then glowing as he looked upward. His posture was full of tension, brows furrowed and gaze cold and dark. It had worked.

“Отчетность.”

Wolf spoke coldly in response, despite Nikita never having questioned him. Nothing about Wolf in this state looked right, his posture, his gaze, even the way he spoke, something so monotone that even his own voice didn’t sound like it belonged to him.

He soon rose to his feet, standing eerily still, awaiting his first order.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Every word spoken looked like someone was delivering blow after blow to Wolf. He was twisting in ways that weren't natural, his breathing labored like he'd run a marathon. Nikita didn't even realize his eyes were watering until a few teardrops fell on the notebook in his hands. What Verosia had done to him, it was unspeakable. It was inhumane. Who does this to another living creature, strip them of their will, their spark, their very spirit? They could have just as easily built machines to do their dirty work. Instead, Nikita had to watch as the programmed commands pushed Wolf, his Wolf, down... and something else slip into his skin.

"Исполнять!" Nikita cried through gritted teeth, the meager muscle in his neck straining. He wanted this to be over, he wanted Wolf back to the way he was. He didn't want to watch Wolf's agonizing screams. He never wanted to hear him in so much anguish ever again. He didn't want to have to say the words anymore; the second time he would falter, he knew he would. The vampire felt his stomach churn, adrenaline roaring in his ears and making him lightheaded. Wolf howled in pain behind the muzzle, spitting and growling like a feral beast, a deep rumbling Nikita could feel in his chest. Quick, heavy footsteps could be heard above their heads.

Strade was moving.

"Исполнять!" Nikita's voice was a pitched scream this time, yellow eyes almost as wild as his partner's; he was desperate for this plan to work, so Wolf's sacrifice was not in vain until-

Nikita yelped and fell back into Strade's workbench, the notebook clattering to the floor as Wolf snapped the ropes like twigs, the red symbol on the front of the book now glowing on his forehead. He was... calming, coming down from the conditioning. Those eyes, those glowing red eyes moved from the floor to the vampire, fixing him to the spot. If Nikita needed to breath, he would have forgotten how in that moment as Wolf moved like an,apex predator, crouching in front of him.

And then he spoke.

It held no warmth, no trace of Wolf. Nikita's lower lip trembled, tensing as he heard the basement door open. Reaching forward, he smoothed a hand through Wolf's dark hair, paying no mind to the fact that Wolf's skin was scorching to the touch. There was a soft click and the muzzle fell to the floor. There was only one thing left to do: give the order.

"Убей Страда. Освободи нас."

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf turned around and made his way into the door near the staircase, shutting it with a crack to where he could see outside. He watched as Strade descended down the staircase, questioning what was going on. Wolf swung the door open without warning, hooking his arm around the other's neck and pulling him downwards. He effectively had him locked in a chokehold, but Strade's stumble knocked them off balance.

Wolf only let go to gain his own balance back, and he heard the click of the strapped knife unbuttoning. He didn't let it stop him, blocking moves with precision. It's not the fact he was overpowered, to be truthful he is, however it was Strade’s lack of hand-to-hand combat stamina and knowledge on his level that had the German at a major disadvantage. Wolf unsheathes his own blade, fighting equal and landing a few blows as a warning. He wasn't giving up.

"Wolf, what a surprise this is! Why are you so worked up? Had I failed to give you attention?" Strade shot out in exasperated breaths. He was intrigued more than scared.

"Who the fuck is Wolf?"

Wolf shot back before going back to swinging, growling and snarling as his eyes kept an eye on the captors every move. Before Strade could get another word out, he was met with a blow that sent him to the floor, gasping for air. Wolf knelt down and pulled his hair up, forcing him to meet his gaze.

Wolf kicked him back, resulting In the German to be immobilized momentarily belly up. He marched over, whole body moving like a machine, coldly and inhumane as he continued his brutal attack. Blood had already splattered on his body, but he didn't care. He had his mission on lock.

The moment seemed to go on forever, but he wasn't giving in. Not one bit. Time stood still, and Wolf hovered over him, not hesitation, but creating a suffocating tension between them all in the basement.

"What- the hell- is with- you-?!" Strade wheezed.. His gaze glassy as tears from the overwhelming pain filled his eyes involuntarily...

[nikita-baklanov87]

Everything moved so fast and not fast enough. Wolf nearly knocked the door of its hinges as he dragged Strade down the rest of the stairs, causing them both the stumble backwards. A cry caught in Nikita's throat as he watched them both draw steel, blood splattering onto concrete. It certainly wasn't the first time blood had been shed down there... but it would be the last. Strade didn't even notice him crouching against the table, the vampire trying to make himself smaller as the showdown unfolded before him.

The voice that come from his love made him shudder. Wolf really was gone; it didn't even sound like him anymore. If Nikita never heard it again, it would be too soon.

Wolf fought with precise strikes. There was nothing messy or half-assed about the way he moved. The training he went through in Verosia had to have been extensive and rigorous. He was a missile locked right onto their captor with one single mission: Search and destroy. Any of Strade's offense seemed to glance off of Wolf; his usual careful hands when it came to torture now looking clumsy and uncoordinated as he tried to fight a trained supersoldier.

Nikita watched in equal parts fear and awe as Wolf kicked Strade nearly across the room, wincing. There were definitely a few broken ribs as Wolf's powerful kick threatened to cave in his chest cavity. Every sound of flesh striking flesh made him flinch; a horrible sound he was all too familiar with. He should be happier his captor, the man who violated and tortured them both, is reaping what he sowed but... all Nikita could feel was hollow. A hole.

He should have done it himself. When Wolf wakes up he'd...

The air was heavy, the moment of truth teetering on the edge of a knife. The small droplets of blood were already starting to make the starving vampire's mouth water. No, no, he had to keep his composure, let Wolf work. He couldn't ruin the plan, not like this. His empty stomach growled, and he bit the back of his own hand. It wouldn't take much to finish Strade like this; it would finally, mercifully be over. The nightmare could end...

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re my mission.”

Wolf replied with a dark tone, his gaze never faltering as his captor rose to his feet, refusing to give up the fight, he found it amusing, truly. Wolf only swung his blade even more,sclera flooding pure red with white irises replacing the red orbs that were his eyes originally. The beastkin continued to dodge, to attack, gaining a new scrapes and injuries of his own from not blocking everything in time, but he had a method here. He was wasting Strade’s endurance, a valuable asset to a larger built man unlike him, definitely that of the unfit type, but he saw a brutal end blind his vision. Something wicked and twisted, a memorable end, this made Wolf purposefully drop some of his guard just for it to execute perfectly. He would have to hold off. Strade took the opportunity to land a few hits of his own, not knowing he was taking intentional bait.

Wolf kicked him down once again, an audible crack this time sounding off, another bone having been broken, and he straddled his captor as he held him by the collar of his shirt, fist raised as blood and sweat started dripping off the both of them.

“This is such a wonderful surprise Haustier… You…You were always so quiet and obedient.. now you’re misbehaving..”

“Should’ve collared me then.”

Wolf hissed in retaliation, but he didn’t back down, slapping at his face as he continued taking his anger out. Strade was groaning in pain, unable to hit back, but Strade only sniffled a broken laugh. Wolf stopped and looked at him, disgust upon his face.

“You’d be so lost without me, and look at who came back…He missed you.”

“SHUT UP!!”

Wolf lifts him back to his feet and off the ground with a snarl, throwing punches at his gut over and over, to his stomach, his liver, kidneys, anything that could do lasting damage. He wanted him immobilized, and he was going to get that.

“I bring him home alive.. he worked so hard to see you again…and this is how I get repaid..? You should be ashamed.. Wolf. I know you’re in there..” Strade coughs, blood spattering from his mouth.

Wolf hesitated, a light pull in his head, Strade was trying to counter the programming. He dropped him to his feet and feigned sympathy, faking his snap back to reality, going as far as changing his eyes and making the emblem fuzzy. He could play one more of his games.

“You know who you are, Wolf, that’s your name, when you told me at the bar..”

Wolf only stayed silent, looking down and to the right. He only gripped Strade tighter…and then in one swift motion he began to throw punches again.

“THAT’S NOT MY NAME!! YOU’RE!!! MY!!! MISSION!!!!!!”

Punch after punch, Strade endured until his body gave out from the shock of pain. And the moment he fell silent, he was dangling in the air by Wolf’s hand, and he dropped him, the beastkin breathing heavy, only to drag his body to the drain, popping the lid off removing the stashed painkillers, and replacing the cover. He placed Strade’s body over the drain, and made it over to the workbench, opening a cabinet and pulling out a stashed handgun, one he brought from Verosia, twisting on his silencer, he unloaded four shells into Strade’s body, two in his knees, and two in his arms.

Strade awoke from the shock, the pain, but it was shortlived, Wolf having pulled his body up into a hug after ditching the gun and driving his hand straight through his chest, his captor’s heart in his hand, beating frantically. Wolf felt as the body went limp, and his emotion remained stoic, dropping the beating muscle the moment the last pulse faded. He stood up, opening the office and swinging the chair out from the corner where the computer desk was, going back to the main area and sitting down.

He now awaited his next order, the mission was complete, even if he was nearly hyperventilating.

[nikita-baklanov87]

Nikita could only watch on as Wolf swung his blade with such power; no emotion, no fear, just pure drive to finish the mission he had been given. It was like nothing else mattered, complete tunnel vision. Could he ever really truly come back from such a state? Would he even remember this? When he was done, would he look upon Strade's body and howl?

It was like Strade's offense meant nothing, not even as the knife cut into Wolf's flesh. Nikita's stomach turned and he clapped a hand over his mouth, was Wolf... was he slowing down? Was he tired already? No... no, no, he couldn't be, this was only just beginning... Was it on purpose? Perhaps it was to make Strade too confident, to find the fatal misstep that would kill him for good. The smell of Wolf's blood made his brain buzz; he couldn't help but lurch forward on his hands and knees. He had to hold back his own inner beast, but he was hungry, oh so hungry. He wanted blood, his mate's blood, it had been so long...

The empty nausea only worsened at the sound of breaking bones and Strade... those gold eyes flicking over to him. He was trying to use guilt, a potent weapon in his arsenal against Wolf. It had worked time and time again, but... Wolf wasn't here right now. It wouldn't work the same way, right? Still, his skin crawled as his former captor looked at him, and Wolf... dropped him. That gaze him feel naked, exposed, oh God, why was Wolf stopping? He hardly realized he was screaming to Wolf until he felt his voice turn raw in his throat.

"Прикончи его! Покончи с этим!"

He couldn't allow Strade to get in Wolf's head, he couldn't allow him to worm his way inside and twist him up. Nikita spoke with more authority than he realized he could muster.

"You leave him alone! You lose, Strade!"

And he was losing. The multiple blows to his vital organs were making him cough up blood, his deep voice turning husky from strain. He was trying to find any in he could get but there was none. Not anymore. Wolf was bellowing in his face now, resuming blow after blow after blow. The German was unrecognizable now, his face rearranged into a bloody pulp, his body more bruise than bare skin. It was almost blessedly over, Strade could bleed out on the floor, they could burn this hellhole to the ground with him in it, they could-

The vampire's stomach dropped when Wolf moved away and produced a gun from one of the cabinets. That... certainly wasn't Strade's, guns were never his style. It wasn't creative enough, too much margin for error. The familiarity, the silencer, the way Wolf's hand wrapped around the handle with practiced ease, it had to be his. Nikita gasped and jumped with every shot, wincing as blood splattered from Strade's unconscious body. Exposed bone from the shots to his knees made Nikita nearly double over. Such violence, such... brutality, he had no idea Wolf was capable of this.

And then Wolf went even further, further than Nikita thought possible as he took his clawed hand and skewered his way through Strade chest, grabbing his heart. He was already dead, surely he didn't have to do this! The man lurched forward, collapsing on Wolf and covering him in blood and viscera. Nikita couldn't help but scream as Strade's life bled out on the floor, Wolf's face unchanging. It was hard not to feel afraid, to feel sick. This is just a taste of what Strade deserved, so why did it feel more like a predator playing with its food than vengeance?

Leaning over, Nikita dry heaved, unable to get the image of Wolf holding a grown man's heart in his clawed hand, blood matting the fur, still beating. As calm as could be, Wolf retrieved the office chair and sat down, eyes fixed on Nikita, his new handler, once again. The exposed heart laid on the floor, calling Nikita's name to come get a taste. Not now... please not now. If he went into a blood frenzy, Wolf might not recognize him and treat him like a threat. Still feeling sick, he finally sat up, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he tried not to look at Strade's mutilated corpse.

In a soft, hoarse voice, the vampire mustered one word:

"Отчет..."

[cried-out-wolf]

"Отчет о выполнении задания: проект «Девяносто семь — пятьдесят два», одна подтвержденная ликвидация, угроза нейтрализована."

Wolf replies flatly, delivering his mission report to his handler as if he were a commanding officer. His expression never changed, his body still and tension still very clearly visible. His clothes stained in blood, Wolf looked...lost. Out of it. Not present at all. As if he were just some killing machine or a tool awaiting for it's next use. The image was powerful yet heartbreaking.

Blood splattered on the floor as his hands dripped away the crimson substance, thick and heavy as other fluids mixed with it. He sat there, silently awaiting to comply with whatever order was given next. He waited, the minutes feeling like hours, but he was complicit. He didn’t move, but his gaze followed Nikita, nearly like a predator stalking prey.

Wolf knew eventually he would have to break the news to both Ulric and Ren eventually, about how he became weaponized, but he would explain it as a means of survival. He would forge a story, the evidence, a report, everything. It’s what he was trained for, it was his job, a future mission. For now, the cleanup and other factors were the biggest concern.

Now to put the Verosian Soldier to sleep, and to reawaken Wolf, deep within his subconscious, if he was even reachable. Being blocked out this far and this long for a simple combat assassination mission has the clock running like Doomsday.

[cried-out-wolf]

Let me guess...still stuck in the basement hm? Freedom tastes so good. I doubt you would ever get a taste though.

I have been scanning strade for a long time now. I know almost everything about him...what he does to you.

It's entertaining no?

- @xchloroformedheartx

"I get my own amount of freedom on my own time, Hell will freeze over before I even think about that damned collar choking my neck. And let me guess, you enjoy what he does to me, huh? You want to watch? Why not show yourself since you're watching me, lets see how much he entertains you.."

The beastkin did everything not to falter, to give away the fact the sudden eyes upon his life was vaguely startling, though, it was no different from life in Verosia. Sure, he was used to being surveillenced within Verosia's walls, but there was something...different about this new intrusion.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Oh I don't enjjoy watching. Infact I enjoy being the one to give that amount of pain. He doesn't entertain me...But you? You do. Perhaps you want me to show myself, hm? You want a real god to put you in your place. To utilize you more than anything.

Freedom is just an illusion.

Specially your's.

They seemed to be met with a cold demeanour on the camera on the computer.

Tell me, what are you doing on his computer?

[cried-out-wolf]

The beastkin was far beyond his edge now, heart pounding hard in his chest he swore he heard it alongside the ringing in his ears. He was panicking, something.. no… someone got in somehow, and now he was vulnerable all over again, just as he thought he had escaped all trouble. So much for his usb VPN, though that didn’t matter when something playing GOD was near.

“When I said we needed a new God.. an angel or something that..looks like it… you decided to take that literally huh?! It doesn’t matter what I’m doing!! How the hell did you find me?!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

The other was always vulnerable as long as the stalker roamed the streets. As long as he was free? No one was safe. The news always reported break ins, certain things going missing. People going missing a week after those continuous break-ins.

The VPN is useless if one can pick it apart bit by bit. It took time and alot of effort but if you are stubborn enough? you can do anything. He didn't even have to use his abilities to track this one down.

An angel...? Oh I used to be one, you are quite easy to find. Don't worry about locking the doors, the windows.

I am already inside.

[cried-out-wolf]

"Already inside..?"

Wolf's heart dropped, he swore he died just for a split second. Already...? How was that even possible? Wolf didn't like this, he didn't like being toyed with. His ears crane and his lip quivers, fur bristling as his skin erupts into goosebumps. He had to find a way out, or better yet, a safehouse. He wasn't armed here.

"Get out of here. Go... Go away-"

Now would be a great time for that tracker to connect to Verosia.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Already inside.

He repeated that heart drop was sudden and yet warranted. The creeping and groaning of the floor in the shadow's, the way things seemed to shuffle and move. It was certain tat someone was there. This game of cat and mouse, wolf and bunny just begun.

Soon he felt a breath linger almost on his neck.

Whatever, whoever it was? Wasn't going to go away anytime soon, the small laughs of a deep raspy voice confirmed it.

[cried-out-wolf]

The beastkin's heart only sank further, his eyes wide as he stared at the screen, ears pinned flat to his head. It was clear the nerves were getting to him.

But he wasn't about to give up so easily.

Wolf wasn't going to let his fear show so easily either, getting up from the chair and making his way to the door, he stood by it, silent with his ear pressed to the thin wood. He was listening, waiting, the hunter turning hunted.

He refused to go down without a fight, let alone be caught with his guard down. So he sat, and waited, the noise outside already giving him some idea of where the other could be.

"Hunting like a human in prehistoric times..."

[xchloroformedheartx]

the way those ears showed true fear, submission almost...It was tugging him. There was a small creak but where it came from was unknown. Hard to pinpoint where it was even with heightened senses from the beastkin.

Out of nowhere there was a knock but it wasn't coming from the door, it was coming from behind him. Like something was already in the room with the wolf.

Hunting....Is that what it's called hm? My games? That deep raspy voice glitched, coming from everywhere at the same time, whatever this was it wasn't human.

[cried-out-wolf]

"Y-Yeah, you're literally cornering me... Go away..-"

Wolf nearly falls into his panic, looking around anxiously as if he would even find whoever is stalking him so easily. He groans, tail twitching when he goes to sit down on the couch. His body is tremoring.

"What do you want from me..?"

His hands grip at his hair, his heart pounding in his chest, this had to be worse than Verosia.. no.. it was.

[xchloroformedheartx]

I won't be going away. I'll always be here. Watching and waiting. I'll always be in your life, like a spider in the corner of your room, watching and waiting to strike.

What I want from you? You. To simply take you. To turn you into something you didn't think you were capable of ever being.

A small laugh, the glitching and distorting unpleasantly chilling.

[cried-out-wolf]

“You’re a fool if you think I’ll give into that so easily. I’m not going anywhere. This is where I belong. You’re not gonna get what you want, the moment I reconnect I’ll be back on my way home!!”

Wolf was cornered, nowhere to go. Connections to Verosia are completely off the table here. He isn’t going to go down willingly.. but maybe… just maybe.. there are a few words that could make him comply…

“You can’t get me to obey you!! Just give up!!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

You think i need you to give in? you already gave in the moment i stepped into your personal space. I'm your new god.

A hand snatched his throat right up from the darkness that swallowed the rest of their body, fortunately he stepped out of the darkness revealing himself, his golden hues fixated, something was wrong with their stomach though, something was moving underneath the skin.

It was disgusting whatever it was.

He tightened his grip cutting off any oxygen...

[cried-out-wolf]

“As.. if I’d ever… give in-”

Wolf choked out in-between gasping breaths, clawing desperately at the arm that was choking him. He refused to break eye contact, determined to fight his way through, even if he was in a losing battle. His body instinctively flailed around, kicking and trying to land any blow that would free him just so he could breathe.

“Letmego-!”

[xchloroformedheartx]

Blink blink...

Wry Smile.

You don't have a choice whether you give in or not. It's already too late for that. The sooner you realise the easier this will be to dismantle you over and over. Pull back the layers, let me creep in.

With that he used that hand around the beastkins throat to pin him right down against the floor, straddling him. The guy felt like a whole stone wall, not able to quite get him off despite his size.

[cried-out-wolf]

“Never-!”

Wolf struggled against the floor, face scrunched in a fanged snarl as he writhed underneath the other, clawing at both the floor and their arm. He refused to be weaponized again, Verosia hadn’t invoked the words in years to even send him into such a state. He stared down the other being straddling him, beads of sweat dripping down his face as he slowly began to panic, realizing this fight might not topple in his favor.

“You won’t weaponize me-! Won’t allow it—!”

He rasped, nearly choking as he felt lightheaded. His body began to bulk in emergency, muscles burning as they became more defined and prominent.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Whoever said I want you as a weapon? Maybe I want you as a trophy to sit on my shelf and look pretty all bruised and bloodied. Hurting and crying. Those whimpers escaping your maw. That clawed hand stayed grabbing his face holding him against the ground.

You think i need a weapon? I have archangel. I don't need a weapon. I just simply want to hurt you. See what's inside, how much you can tolerate before you beg to stop.

His wing gave a flutter behind his back, those glitches getting a little more vicious from him keeping up his fake form.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf could only whimper, fear starting to take over as he buried a fang into the hand pushing him down. His breathing was frantic, and tears were beginning to fall from his face.

He wasn’t going to win. Deep down he knew it. Without Vera’s words being uttered into trigger, he simply wasn’t strong enough.

All he could do was shake his head in protest, his body finally submitting slowly…

“No-…”

ALSO THANK U OP IM GLAD U LIKE THE ART!!!!

[xchloroformedheartx]

They both knew he wasn't going to win but here they were. Still fighting. His body giving up slowly. Those eyes full of tears, something he loved. The way those teeth rested on his hand.

He tilt his head unaturally.

You are already giving in, good. You may not see it now but it's what is best for you, no? You need someone to take control.

[cried-out-wolf]

Control… it’s all he ever knew. Someone was always above him, and with that factor missing, he was lost. Very, very lost.

His hand drops, his body finally giving in all the way, no urgency to fight back anymore.

“Ready…to comply..”

Wolf sniffles brokenly, looking downwards in defeat. The battle was over, it had been over..

He needed control more than ever now..

[xchloroformedheartx]

Drazzic hummed, a mused little sound as he slowly let go of that neck.

I always knew you were a good mutt, huh? Always allowing people to step right on you. You never bite, you never fight. Or maybe it's because you know you would lose, hm? Either way. I am sure you will enjoy everything delivered to you.

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf's nose began to bleed, the symbol of Verosia warping above his head as tears kept falling down his face. He knew this cycle all too well, from both Strade and Verosia, all he can do now is obey. Comply. Take whatever hits he gets.

"I follow orders.."

Wolf's voice waivered, a thin line between weapon and prisoner. This is all he was, and all he needed were the words...

[xchloroformedheartx]

Such a good boy, aren't you?

Maybe i should get you to hunt all your friends hm? One by one. Drag them to my streaming room, torture them one by one...Maybe I'll even get you to eat them, hm?

Ah...its such a wonderful idea. Don't you think?

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf wipes away his tears and his bloody nose, his ears flattening at the corrupt praise he was given. There it was, the threat of weaponizing him to a degree, he knew it all too well.

“If that’s what you believe is best… if… that is what you want. Ready to comply.”

The serum was already activating itself in his body, preparing to take on the first order barked at him. He was slipping. He was slipping into that weapon of destruction and he couldn’t fight it..

Wolf would do anything just to be praised like he was now.

[xchloroformedheartx]

Ah...such a good boy hm? What about that vampire you love oh so much? Maybe we should get you to hunt them as your first little mission. I do love a lovers quarrel...and then maybe I'll get you to pay a visit to my fox.

Yes he was cruel at times, he knew where to strike. He would make Wolf believe that he was his knew god, the only thing he could ever believe in...

[cried-out-wolf]

Wolf fought himself internally, to deactivate the control of the serum, but it was simply too powerful, his body knew if it refused to comply, if it showed defiance in any way, he would be met with agonizing pain, all he could do was painfully stare down the being in the eye while trembling.

Not him, anyone but him… Anyone but his beloved Nikita… that was his mate… he would NEVER hurt him…

“Отчетность…”

Wolf replies brokenly, his voice strained and laced with a deep pain. This wasn’t just his usual compliant reply, the “Ready to Comply” that he had been saying over and over to appease the other, this was the soldier speaking now. He sat there, eerily still, awaiting for this being before him to give the order.. He hated this deep down, but he was too weak against his programming on his own, he needed someone else, someone familiar to break him out of this.

For now, he could only hope he wouldn’t go that far, while he still had a sliver of his consciousness..