It has been days, no, weeks since he hadn’t seen Revenge. Threat was starting to really get upset, not knowing what happened to his friend. But Silva assured him he would find his friend on a mission in this AU where she had the kindness to teleport him in. And she was right, he thought, as he saw the familiar silhouette of his beloved friend. His soul leapt within his rib cage and pounded, he was so relieved his friend was fine and in good shape. But his non-existent stomach knotted quickly as he noticed something was off.
Carefully, he emerged from his hiding place and approached Revenge, and was hurt to see that the latter took a step back upon seeing him and immediately became defensive. What was wrong ? They knew each other for a long time now, they were close friends until now, what happened ? Did Nightmare turn his mind inside out and manipulate him into being suspicious of anyone and anything ? No, this couldn’t be, because even if Nightmare tried, Revenge wasn’t that easy to manipulate. It had to be something else - but what ?
- Revenge … Revenge, I don’t know what he did to you, but you don’t have to fear me. I swear that I’m trustworthy, and I would do anything for you to believe me on this. I’m being serious.
Revenge frowned, and seemed to be destabilized, disturbed, even. There was a sort of... panic? in his eye sockets. He conjured a bone in his right hand and brandished it threateningly, and this gesture had the effect of a knife in Threat's soul. Why ?? This question was going round and round in his head.
- how… how do you know my name ?
What ? What did he mean ? Of course he knew his name, since the time they knew each other ! A bad feeling crept into his mind. He had a hunch that he knew the sinister reason for this behavior. Even if manipulated, Revenge would never have forgotten his name, who Threat was. There was only one possibility, and it froze the magic in Threat's nonexistent veins.
- Revenge, it’s me ! Threat ! C-C’mon, buddy, this isn’t funny anymore.
Confusion and a moment of genuine hesitation relaxed Revenge's features for an instant, but it didn't last. He attacked Threat who didn't dare to really defend himself - only doing the minimum to protect himself and Revenge from being hurt - and held him on the ground. Jaw clenched, anger flashing in his pupils, he growled his words softly like a dog about to attack - which froze Threat and gave him shivers of both horror and a certain kind of unknown and unacknowledged fascination at the sound.
- i know no one called such a name. i don’t know you. how. do. you. know. my. NAME. my patience is running thin, stranger.
“Stranger”. It was the final blow to Threat's soul and the terrible realization that the Revenge he had known until then was dead. Literally dead.
