notes: abusive relationship, re:zero season 3 spoilers, dehumanization, near death experience, choking, public omorashi/wetting
regulus always needs to keep one of his wives by his side, at least... one needs to be within distance for him to feel their love, for his authority to constantly be active.* you're a good pick because you're well-trained and don't stand out within a crowd. not the chatty type, either, at least not with most people. you can stand still and hardly even seem to be breathing at all. it's perfect!
when you slip up, he doesn't care where the two of you are to punish you. it's his right, as your husband, to treat you however he wishes-- and none of these insects can do anything to stop him, regardless. regulus told you to follow him and you'd gotten momentarily distracted. perhaps by a cute animal, perhaps something pretty in a storefront window. a flicker of a smile crossing over your face and a few people passing you by is enough to win his ire.
regulus knows how to pull a leash tight, and you've caught him in a bad mood. when you rush up towards him again, you're unsure whether to stay as blank as usual or to show remorse and apologise. maybe both answers would've been wrong.
his face is scrunched up with disgust, deep lines creasing his forehead as the tip of his nose twitches. "i have so many prettier wives. in my kindness, i keep allowing you to accompany me, and this is how i am repaid? delaying me. making me look for you." it wasn't even half a minute that you were separated from him.
"husband..." you start slowly, the tremor in your voice already spelling your doom. you keep your gaze fixed on the floor, head lowered. "i was in the wrong. i'm sorry, and i humbly hope that you will accept-"
"no," regulus simply says and his words nail you to the floor. "no, i will not." your eyes flicker up and find absolutely nothing in his gaze. no scrap of humanity for you to cling on or appeal to.
you inhale, but it does nothing. your eyes widen. your hands start to shake. opening your mouth, you try to breathe and it just doesn't work! nothing's happening!! it's like the very air is frozen around you, none of it coming close to entering your lungs. what is going on?! you're quickly running out of oxygen, the pressure on your skull increasing and heart thudding in your ears.
regulus simply stares. you still cannot breathe.
you must look like you're going crazy, standing in the middle of the street, trembling all over and clawing at your throat on instinct, at the pain, the crushing pressure starting at your lungs and spreading all throughout your body. until your legs buckle. until your vision dances with dark spots and your bladder empties itself, soaking through your clothes in hot spurts. it leaves a puddle on the cobbled street around you.
you don't have the energy to think of shame. you're going to die. you're going to die. you're goingtototo
then, it's over. you're hacking and coughing and wheezing for air, eyes bulging out of your skull as you claw the tips of your fingers raw on the ground. your vision is blurry, both with tears and from the experience.
"get up," regulus spits out. "you're still alive. be glad that i was so merciful." he turns around, and expects you to follow.
i watched the newest re:zero episode and GOD BLESS . i absolutely adore the way in which they animated all of regulus' expressions. the bulging veins, tensing muscles, visible nostrils and bloodshot eyes- art, truly. he's got such a pretty face but such a horrible personality, and i adore how they are showing that off stylistically. hat's off to the artists.
