Dark ROTTMNT AU
Chapter One: Bad Blood
(Warning!!! This fanfiction/AU will contain blood, gore, death, violence, abuse, nonconsensual drug use, hallucinations, and suicidal ideation... it will also contain forced agere, forced care, forced sedation, creepy fluff, and unsettling scenes. Viewer discretion is advised...)
Darkness weighs heavily around you as you struggle to wake up. Phantom pain cracks across your face, tears leaking from closed eyes as you shudder under the cover. Your mouth opens in a gasp.
"That's enough!"
The rattle of a blade being drawn.
Then pain, white hot and blinding, you can't see, you can't tell where to go, where to run - but there is nowhere you can run, not from them.
"This is what happens when you disobey us. Let's see how much bite you have left when you're done with time out, hmm~?" The echo of a blade being sheathed, the thud of feet as hands wrap around you, pulling, dragging, dragging you away as you scream -
Waking with a gasp, you clutch your shoulders, tremors wracking your frame as you try to ground yourself. Your skin is tacky with sweat, cold to the touch as you struggle out of bed, clutching yourself tightly. The rough carpet burns underfoot as you make your way to the bathroom, almost running into the dresser on your way over. Flicking on the lights, you start to tug your clothes off, turning the knobs until the shower comes to life. Slipping under the spray, you sink to the bottom, letting the freezing liquid wake you up.
Nightmares are almost a daily occurrence for you.
Even though it's been years...
Well...
It's not like you stopped fighting just because you left. Fighting is all you seem to do anymore. After all, it was part of your arrangement, and you won't go back on your word.
You know the consequences if you do.
***************************************************
Slipping out of your room, you adjust your mask before entering the halls of the hotel.
It's still early, hardly anyone awake save for the random bellhop on duty or drunk patron stumbling into their room. The warm glow of lights makes the air hazy with warmth, warmth that doesn't reach your skin.
Entering the elevator, you wait in silence as it goes down, the music crackling over the intercoms as you descend.
Fixing your posture, you grunt as the door slides open, and with a final sigh you step out and onto into the main lobby.
A brilliant chandelier dangles overhead, crystal and bright, dazzling the eyes of anyone who enters. At the receptionist desk is a tired bellhop, who straightens when he sees you enter.
"Well, if it isn't my wittle wovely warrior~! Look at you, all grumpy and gumptious~! Aren't you upna little early, darling~?" The clack of heels echoes across the pristine floor as your boss approached, smiling as she opens her arms to you. "Always so serious~"
Dipping your head, you let her wrap an arm around your shoulders as she leads you away, already talking about her plans for the week.
"Now, baby-boo, you know I have a whole host of scrumptious scuttly battles planned, yes? To celebrate the anniversaries of my lovely wubbly hotel, I am hosting the battle to end ALL battles~" As she punches in the button to bring you to the Nexus viewing rooms, you suppress a quiver. She smiles, all teeth as she ticks off her list.
"Now I must have all my favorite wittle warriors~ Don't worry, that includes you, darling~ But my dear Lou will be coming! Oh, what a sight to see! And I must have that funny bunny, he didn't stick around near long enough~ And I suppose the blue one... Oh, won't it be superbly swell, dearie-boo? Four Battle Nexus champions, all here for a week~!"
The elevator dings, and she smooths her clothes down as she steps off. She waves, her eyes narrowed in sheer delight.
"Oh, such bloody-wuddy battles await~!"
And with that she's gone...
Leaving you to punch the button in again to get to the main lobby.
***************************************************
When the elevator broke down on the second level, you had to claw your way out and take the stairs. Nothing was wrong with stairs; you just hated when your plans went awry.
Wiping your shoulders clean of any potential dust, you stalk over to the rails to overlook the lobby.
Several yokai are crowding below, each one signing in to be front and center for the battles this week. A few are already placing bets, and several patrons are watching past battles on the televisions, eyes alight as they cheer and holler.
When the doors click, you ignore it at first.
Right up until the room goes silent.
Craving your head to see what shut them up, you legs nearly give out.
"Woo! It's been too long since I've been here! Dad, I swear, this week is gonna be just what we need."
Tall, taller than those around him. Blood red marks around his eyes. Those damned swords strapped across his shell.
"Blue, I am sure this will be like any other week. Now, where are the refreshments? I am famished."
The crowds start to murmur, many in awe to see Master Leonardo and the old Master Splinter. No one is watching the rafters.
Something clinks.
A mighty groan is heard.
And the chandelier comes crashing down.
***************************************************
Screams erupt as pure pandemonium takes control.
Yokai are fleeing deeper into the hotel, while those still in the lobby tense, trying to make sense of what had just occurred.
"What was that?"
"Did anyone see what happened?"
"Someone call Big Mama."
Sharp eyes take in their surroundings, clutching their weapon tight as they try to find the source of the chaos.
No one is there.
Something gleams in the dark.
"WATCH OUT!"
Whacking the projectile out of the way, the masked figure defends its master, practice taking hold as it heaves with tension.
Something thunks into the far wall, sharp and pointed, glistening like a deadly flower.
"What the..."
The elevator opens, and out steps a giant yokai, bristling with anger.
"WHO DARES DISRUPT MY HOTEL?!"
***************************************************
Panting, you slink down the stairs and take your place besides Big Mama, who turns to face you, then back to the small group.
"What is the meaning of this kerfuffle-wuffle?" Her nose flares as her claws screech across the floor, leaving deep gouges. The moment she sees the old rat, she's cooing, squishing his cheeks. "My dear Lou-boo, they didn't hurt you, did they~?"
The rat peels her hands off before chuckling.
"No, we are unharmed. But it seems something did mean us harm."
Their masked guard comes back, something clutched between his gloved fingers as he holds it up to the giant turtle. The blue masked turtle takes it, gently inspecting it.
"It seems," he drawls, handing it over to Big Mama, "that someone tried to kill me." His voice is light, relaxed. But his eyes gleam, dark as the ocean.
Big Mama whirls to face you, hissing.
"Inspect this place top to bottom! We will find this little pest and squash them into gummy-goo~!"
Bowing your head, you stalk off, leaving the gathered group to their talk.
"So~ You didn't tell me you had a new champion~"
"They're quite the little-wittle doll~ A bit shy, but they're oh so clever with their bladey-wadeys!"
The masked figure watches them leave, before following.
***************************************************
Hissing through your teeth, you drag yourself through the halls, fists clenched in rage.
How dare they-
Did they know-
Danger, you were in danger-
Shrieking, you punch the wall, leaving a crater of cracked plaster and splintered wood.
Something flickers in your peripheral vision.
Whirling around, fingers clutching at your hidden stash of shuriken, you pause. The masked figure from earlier stands there, head tilted, watching you.
Your shoulders prickly uncomfortably.
"What do you want?" you grind out, glaring at them from behind your mask.
When it doesn't respond, you turn, ready to go to your room until the panic dies down.
A rough hand grips your shoulder, tight as a vice.
Wrenching free, you whirl, striking it in the chest and sending it away. It crouches, watching. Suddenly it springs forward, grappling you the ground, gripping your wrists as it bears its weight on you. Yelling, you kick your legs, not stopping until one connects, knee crashing into its back and sending it stumbling. As you shakily stand up, it tackles you from behind.
You roll, sending it scrambling as the two of you fight, trying to pin the other.
A blade flies off, clattering to the floor.
You both lock onto it.
Shoving it away, you reach for the fallen knife, hissing as it stomps on your hand. You bash your head against theirs, dazing them enough to reach-
Something sharp presses into your throat.
A soft wheeze rattles from your mouth as the masked figure settles on top of you, fingers grasping the edge of your mask as it pulls up.
Your vision blurs without it, leaving you exposed as you struggle to breathe.
A soft gasp is heard.
The hands loosen, one reaching out to touch...
A fist to the face sends the figure to the floor. Grabbing your mask and covering your face, you flee, leaving the figure groaning on the floor, clutching its head.
It gently peels its own mask off, sucking in a shivering breath.
"R... Reader?"
It looks down the hall where you disappeared, unaware and unfocused, until the sound of footsteps is heard.
A large three fingered hand falls on its shoulder.
Something is placed back over its face.
"Let's go, kid. Come on."
It lets itself be picked up.
It can only hope it wasn't dream.
(Tagged: @sugar-soda @pigyn @thewickedweiner @helpfandom @it-has-butt-canons @swe3tto0thr0tz @ainsellshadewalker @ratchetprime211 )
