. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚇 𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚔. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
Requested by @bayfuzzball7050
The air was heavy with tension, already cold despite the bodies filling the room. Even Mark, under his heavy ceremonial cloak, felt the cold seeping in. He had never felt more unwelcome, more scrutinized. So many eyes on him, all sharp and observant. He stood there, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides while Kregg droned on about tactics and plans for the very uncertain future; nothing was promised now that Thragg was gone.
Mark let out a little breath, not that it did much in outer space. He glanced to his left, where Conquest stood. He hadn't said a word, hadn't even looked away from Mark. An air of uncertainty surrounded him, and Mark didn't know how to interpret his silence. Was it out of malice, just him waiting to end what they had started years ago? Mark couldn't decipher it - and maybe he didn't want to. He turned back to watching over the conference room, so many unwelcoming faces reflecting off of plain white tile.
The room stayed silent for a moment longer before Kregg glanced at you, narrowing his eyes. Mark glanced back, brow furrowing. ".. You must dismiss us." Kregg said finally, frowning slightly
"Right- right, uh-" Mark straightened up, clapping his hands. "uh- dismissed."
There was a soft, barely-there murmur of disapproval from the crowd of faces, all just as stone faced as the last. Except for Conquest. He never did hide his emotions well, not that time all those years ago when he was beating Marks face in, and not now, when he stared at him with eyes too savage for a too human face.
Their eyes stayed locked while shuffling came and passed around them. The room emptied out, leaving just the awkward silence between the two men. Everything felt too heavy, even on top of Viltrumite super strength. His ceremonial cloak weighed down his shoulders, and Conquests heavy gaze pinned him down. Nothing was said for a long moment until Conquests knees folded under him, creaking and snapping from age and injury. He fell to his knees in front of Mark, head bowed deeply.
Mark froze up, taking an instinctual step backwards. He knew Conquest was a good lapdog for Thragg, but he didn't expect the same loyalty extended to him. Conquest looked up, his scarred, mismatched eyes pleading. "Forgive me." he whispered, his good hand clutching the cold tile like it was the only thing keeping him alive. Mark didn't know what to say - if there was anything he could say. But he forced it out anyways, looking away from the old mans ruined, pleading face. ".. You are forgiven." he muttered, hands flexing at his sides.
Conquest let out a little noise that could've been a whine, dropping his head to the floor. "Thank you, Emperor..." He whispered. Mark just stared at him, face a mix of confusion and a bit of satisfaction. Not in making some old man lay at his feet, no - but he hadn't ever been given this much say when he worked at the GDA. Now, he was the emperor of an entire race. The power made him sick just as much as it pleased him.
And so, he said nothing, turning to leave the room and whatever mess Conquest had brewing inside of him.
The memory of what had happened clung to him while time passed, stuck to the back of his mind like gum on a shoe. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to think about it all, but he knew what he felt. It pleased him to have someone once so willing to bash his head in now groveling at his feet.
Conquest had never been forgiven by Thragg, not for anything. He was struck and degraded, but he had never been forgiven. And Mark had, even after Conquest had fought him under Thragg's rule, and every other monstrous thing he never deserved to be forgiven for. But this new emperor, uncertainty on his face but power in his heart, had forgiven him. Had looked him in the eye, and forgiven him...
It wasn't awkward on Conquests part, to bow too deeply whenever he saw Mark. To Mark, he felt it was over the top, a courtesy no other Viltrumite extended when it wasn't demanded. But that wasn't to say that he didn't enjoy the thrill it gave him. Having all this power at his fingertips, desperate to please him. So he did whatever any other power drunk young man would do and let him.
Whenever a mission needed doing, Conquest begged to be sent out and prove his worth. When conspirators needed punishing, he pleaded to prove his loyalty. And every time, Mark let him.
He felt a sort of sick thrill every time this monster of a man begged to do good by him, the kind that made him feel a certain way and uncovered things about himself he hadn't known before.
Mark sat on his throne, still getting used to the cold metal under him. The chill was blocked mostly blocked out from the heat pulsing through him. Conquest kneeled in front of him, head resting on his thigh. His eyes were big and pleading, and his flesh hand was wrapped tightly around Marks leg.
Who was to say how they ended up like this? After weeks of Conquest acting like a lap dog, he finally was one. He did his tasks well and aimed to please his Emperor... it was only right to reward him. And if the brute wanted touch so badly, he would get it. It was just a reward for Conquest - not in any way something Mark enjoyed... Not when hot breath fanned across his thighs, or when Conquest whispered of him like he was a deity... Maybe... maybe it was... Maybe this could be mutually beneficial... Like a king and his loyal knight, desperate to please...
