Whumptober 2024 Forced Choice – Killian/Ledo
Public Display | "I'm doing this for you."
My longest whump, a day after October is officially over. This is the only one that I originally planned on doing in the first place, before I got the handful of request ones. I still have one more request whump I'm probably gonna do, but I wanted to post this one first since it was a doozy to write. And fair warning, it is a long one.
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The ship’s map room was Killian’s safe haven and his prison. In here he was safe from listening to Ullrich’s shouts and watching as he strutted around the quarterdeck like a damned king. But Killian also knew the moment he left, he would be watched. Every move he made was scrutinized by the pirates and mutineers who were now in control of the ship. He certainly couldn’t visit Ledo in the brig without one of them practically breathing down his neck the entire time. Ledo was still furious about the situation, at least from what he could tell the last time he tried to talk with her. She would barely even look at him. He just wanted one moment of peace and quiet to explain, to plan how they could escape. But he was watched so intensely that he could not even manage that. So for now, he had to be patient, staying in the map room where he could be alone with his thoughts, his planning safe from prying eyes.
Or at least, he was safe most of the time. The door to the cabin was forced open behind him, and even without looking Killian could recognize the heavy stomps of their new “captain” coming to grace the navigator with his presence. Killian briefly scowled at one of the maps he was pretending to be pouring over, then took a deep breath and turned to see a familiar, bull-horned tiefling standing in the doorway. Xanthas Ullrich.
“Ullrich,” Killian acknowledged him flatly, forcing his expression to remain neutral.
Anger flashed behind the ex-marine’s eyes. “Captain. We’ve been through this, Doresh. Do not make me remind you again.”
“Captain Ullrich,” Killian corrected himself in the most sickly-sweet tone he could muster, smirking and giving a small bow in the process. Ullrich's frown deepened while Killian's smile only grew wider. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“You need to talk some sense into your little house brat,” Ullrich began, slamming the door behind him. He moved to stand beside Killian at the table, fist pressing into the closest map.
It was Killian’s turn to frown. There was a lot wrong with that sentence, but no time to dwell on any of it. He could tell that Ullrich was genuinely pissed now. Worry nagged at the back of his mind. What in the hells did you say to him this time, Ledo? He crossed his arms, raising a brow as Ullrich loomed over him. “Still not getting anywhere? Maybe you should start by not insulting her.”
“You said she would fix the cannons!” Ullrich growled. “We're out here in the middle of the sea, unable to defend ourselves while half of our guns sit fuckin’ useless!”
“No. I said she would be your best bet to keep this ship floating,” Killian replied, holding his ground against the outburst. “Sergeant Veltarai knows just about every inch of the Zephryn, including the weapons, and you let your men kill the rest of the engineering team, remember?”
Ullrich jabbed a finger at Killian’s chest. “And I only let her live because you begged for her life.”
“If you want to call it that.” At this point, Killian assumed Ullrich got some kind of sick satisfaction from treating the rest of the crew this way. It disgusted him, but he went along with it for now. The last thing he needed was to earn the captain’s ire. Ledo was intelligent, but not particularly gifted in acting. And despite his threats, Ullrich could at least acknowledge good logic, at least when his temper was in check. Hopefully, that would be enough to keep them both alive. “But you still needed someone on the crew who knew how the systems work. You won't find a navy-trained engineer kicking around in the ocean.”
The comment was met with the same scowl as before. “You need to convince her to cooperate, Doresh.”
“And you need to stop treating her like a prisoner. Let her out, give her belongings back, let her have some real food... Hells, she won’t be any use to you if she’s on the verge of starvation! She'll be dead in a month at this rate!”
“Good. Once she’s gone I won’t have to listen to you lecture me.”
Killian pinched the bridge of his nose. “What do you expect me to do? You know where Veltarai’s loyalties lie, and it’s not with pirates that murdered the rest of her crew. The harder you try to push her, the more she's going to resist. Sending someone else instead is not going to help, it might just piss her off more.” Especially if it’s me.
“Oh, I know about her loyalties.” Ullrich's tone changed suddenly, his lips turning upward in a smirk. “Which is exactly why you’re going to be the one to do it. Everyone knows she has a soft spot for you. What were you getting out of it, anyway? Money? Rank? The satisfaction of saying you slept with someone from a house?”
That hit a nerve, and not just because of the insults directed at Ledo this time. Killian’s hands balled into fists at his side while he fought the urge to bite back too much. “Neither. Piss off. Don’t talk about what you don’t know a damned thing about.”
“Watch. Your. Tongue!” the captain growled, suddenly stepping forward. Killian had to take a few steps away from the table to stay out of range, just in case a fist came swinging towards him. “You will not talk to me like that, are we clear?”
Killian simply remained quiet, nodding ever so slightly to appease him. Ullrich sneered but appeared to accept it, though begrudgingly. However, he continued to step forward, as if trying to close the distance, which Killian was not keen on allowing to happen. He stepped away from the map table and Ullrich followed, until Killian was all but pressed against the hull wall.
Ullrich gave another venomous smile. “Now let’s try this again. You will go down there and convince her to do whatever I need her to do. Understood?”
Before Killian could consider his next words, he felt something. A heavy weight on his chest, trying to grip his heart as the captain came closer. It was a sudden, sinking feeling threatening to overwhelm. Something was telling him to get away, and he found his eyes searching for where he knew a set of cutlasses were stashed under the table. It was fear, but something about it felt… wrong. Unnatural, maybe? Yet it was familiar, too. He had felt it before, hadn’t he? The day he witnessed Ullrich shouting at several younger sailors who were all but cowering in front of him. It was shortly after the mutiny, while Ullrich was working with that Red Fleet captain… At the time, it was just a minor feeling, something at the edge of his consciousness. Killian had brushed it off as feeling sympathetic for the victims of the captain’s tirade. Now he wasn’t so sure.
He fought against the feeling, and it faded away, replaced briefly by surprise. Surely that wasn’t magic. Ullrich was a fighter, not a mage… right?
A similar look flashed across Ullrich's face, mirroring Killian’s confusion, but the anger quickly returned. “Hm. We're doing this the hard way then.”
His large fist swung forward, catching Killian in the jaw and sending him to the deck. Killian managed to catch himself somewhat, though the rough wood caused his forearms to burn where he landed. He tried to get to his feet but was instead yanked up by the collar of his shirt and thrown back toward the map table. Killian stared at the ceiling, wincing before trying to sit up and quickly turning towards the table, mind focused on retrieving his weapons. A heavy boot came down on his shoulder, and he grunted as he was pinned against the floorboards. How in the hells did he get this strong?
“Maybe I should have killed both of you from the start. You've been nothing but a thorn in my side,” Ullrich growled above him, his bared teeth and unkempt hair making him something more feral now. Black eyes bore down on Killian, regarding him with… was it disgust? Or hunger?
Killian couldn’t reach his blades from here, but his hands were still free, and he had a few tricks of his own. He struggled under the captain’s boot, which only pressed down harder in response. But it was a long enough distraction for Killian to move his hand to where he hid a set of lockpicks and let one slip out into his palm. Then he rolled sharply, causing Ullrich's foot to slip from where it was and slam into the floor, where it was in perfect position for Killian to stab the lockpick directly below the knee. His opponent roared in pain and anger, while the sailor managed to get back to his feet, scrambling toward his real weapons—
“HALT!”
Ullrich's voice boomed with thaumaturgy… and something else. Killian felt his limbs suddenly go stiff, refusing to move even as he stared at the spot he needed to reach. What was happening? He turned back to see Ullrich still standing, pulling out the lockpick with a growl. And Killian could swear he saw a low, arcane glow coming from that hand before he stood straight again, moving as if it didn’t even happen.
Xanthas Ullrich did have magic. But how?
The brute reached out and grabbed Killian by the throat this time, just as he was being released from the spell. Ullrich held up the bloodied lockpick in his other hand. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Doresh. One that you’re not going to win.”
“So are you,” Killian coughed out through strained breaths, both hands pulling at Ullrich's to keep himself from being choked. “You think making a deal with the Red Fleet is a wise move? You don’t think they’re going to stab you in the back the moment they have the chance to take this ship for themselves? Threatening to kill members of your crew who disagree isn’t going to help your chances when that—.”
That hungry grin returned to the captain’s face, and his grip tightened, silencing the other tiefling. “I think you underestimate what fear can do. Isn’t that why you were so loyal to the empire? Fearing punishment? Fear is even why you and Veltarai kept your little dalliance a secret, right?” He gave a low, rumbling chuckle. “She must have been afraid to be seen with a commoner. What a shame.”
Killian struggled again, anger burning like a fire now, but without breath to say anything in rebuttal.
Ullrich regarded his prey for a moment, almost thoughtful, then appeared to have a new idea. With a laugh, he smiled and threw his crew member to the floor again. Killian hit hard enough for the rest of the wind to be knocked from his lungs, leaving him desperately gasping for air. But before he could gather himself, a broad cutlass was pointed directly at his chest, forcing him to stay where he was.
“Ralmir! Menon!” Ullrich roared, his thaumaturgy shout directed at the door to the cabin. After a moment, two faces appeared as it opened. Killian did not recognize the first, a heavy-set pirate that had been one of the prisoners they caught before the mutiny. But he did recognize the second, Menon, a younger marine who had managed to reach junior officer status before siding with Ullrich during the mutiny. Killian was on somewhat decent terms with him, given the circumstances, as Menon had shown at least some guilt after what they did. The two of them locked eyes for a split second before Menon turned to look at the captain questioningly. The pirate, who Killian assumed was Ralmir, looked almost bored, casually glancing between the two.
Ullrich turned toward them, though the cutlass remained pointed at Killian. “Menon, when was the last time someone was flogged on this ship?”
Menon blinked. “I… Never, as far as I can recall. It has not been long since her maiden voyage, and I don’t think Captain Zoreil cared for it.”
It was because the lieutenants kept him in check, Killian thought, recalling what he had overheard before from the previous sailing master and other senior officers, but kept his mouth shut. The crew would have mutinied even earlier if he had been keen on flogging.
“Oh, what luck.” Ullrich's grin widened. “Then Doresh here can be our first.”
Ralmir laughed. Menon at least had the decency to look shocked. “But why, captain?”
“Insubordination and threats of violence. We need to make sure the crew sees what happens when someone thinks they’re above the rest of us.” Ullrich motioned with his head towards Killian. “Ralmir, take our friend here and let your men get him ready for his punishment. I can let you do the honors. Menon, you put out the call for all hands. I want everyone who can to come up and witness this. I think it would be good for them.”
“Aye, captain…” Menon said quietly, looking over at Killian again with an apology in his eyes before turning away from the door and heading back to the quarterdeck. Ralmir crossed the room, pulling Killian roughly to his feet before forcing his hands behind his back. As he started to drag Killian out, however, Ullrich held up a hand to stop him.
“Keep him alive at least, Ralmir. I have more plans for him afterward.” Ralmir grunted in disappointment but nodded as he took Killian away. But even as he was being turned out the door, Killian kept his own gaze locked on Ullrich, fury simmering in his chest.
The sea will swallow you whole, Ullrich. Like all other traitors and cowards. And I will live to see it.
—
After the first two weeks following the mutiny, the days started to blend together. Has she been in these chains for a month now? Two? More? Did it matter? Ledo’s wrist burned where the metal dug into the skin of her good arm. How long until it might hit bone at this rate? Her stomach ached for food, and her head felt heavy on one side as she was now missing the majority of a horn. The arcane shackles made her mechanical arm sit limply, almost useless. She wished more than anything that she could at least have Drache with her, even if it was just for company.
Some days she was almost numb, tempted to give in to the weakness she felt, but the anger in her chest kept her going. Resisting.
Yet the worst part was the sadness that lingered in the solitude. Between Ullrich’s visits, which only refueled her fire every time he tried to demand her to do anything, Ledo only had her thoughts to keep her company. Thoughts of how easily so many of their crew had turned on their officers, ready to kill them in cold blood. How could they live with that guilt? What lies had been fed to them? And Killian… He had come down a couple of times, trying to talk to her, trying to get her to eat something that he had snuck down there, but she was angry with him as well. She couldn’t bear to look at him, in case it broke her. He knew what was happening but decided that hiding her was a better move than alerting the lieutenants. Was her life really worth more than the others? No, it probably wasn’t. Hadn’t she cheated death enough?
The lower deck was eerily quiet now. Something had brought the usual guard that was on duty to the upper decks, and she had been alone for a while. At first, she wondered if it had been a call to quarters, but the ship was still moving calmly, and there were no signs of a fight. The only sounds were the creaks of the hull and the sea sloshing against them. If Ledo could have cast a spell, or called on Drache, she might have attempted to do so, but as it was she barely had the energy to attempt it, even if she could get around the magic-blocking elements of her cell. The navy’s preparedness was currently working against her. So she remained where she was, trying to think about anything else…
Until another sound broke the silence. Ledo turned her head up tiredly, expecting to see the guard coming back or someone else coming to take his place, but she quickly became aware that there were multiple footsteps and… something being dragged? A pair of pirates came down the stairway not a moment later, with another held between them, barely on their feet. As they walked closer, however, Ledo’s breath caught as she saw who it was they were carrying.
Killian…
He looked terrible. His face was bruised, particularly around the jaw, and he looked as though he could barely keep his head up as well. As they passed in front of her cell, she briefly caught his eyes before he was dragged past her, and she had to stop herself from crying out when she also saw what had happened to his back. His shirt was torn in numerous places, the scraps barely hanging on, and the tan linen was stained a deep red from where she could see numerous fresh cuts across his back.
Flogging was not a common punishment in the navy. In fact, while not a hard rule, most considered it barbaric, outdated, or only justified if the crime matched its severity. This was the first time she had ever seen it, especially one that seemed this intense, and the sight made her hunger pains seem like nothing more than a mild irritation in comparison. The fact that this was done to Killian of all people certainly did not help in the slightest.
The two pirates dropped their victim, letting him crumple to the floor with a painful groan. One of them started pulling out the keys to the cells, in no rush while Killian tried to sit up, despite his injuries. Another set of footsteps came from the entrance to the brig, and Ledo was able to pull her gaze away from Killian’s back to spot their captain following them into the room, beaming as he came to stand beside the door to her cell. Ledo’s anger immediately flared again, this time even stronger.
“Well, well… Ullrich began, leaning against the metal bars, watching as his men opened the other cell to drag Killian in. “Looks like you’re going to have company, Veltarai.”
“Bastard…” she hissed, pulling on her shackles. “You pathetic, vile bastard!”
Ullrich tutted, then held out a hand toward the other two pirates. The one with the keys handed them to him after he finished locking Killian in his own set of shackles, arms lifted in the air while he faced the hull. Ullrich reached over to Ledo’s cell door, unlocking it and striding in. She leaned away as he crouched in front of her, her expression a scowl while he simply smiled at her.
“Don’t you want to know why he ended up like this?” Ullrich asked, pointing over his shoulder. “It’s because of you. Your poor, poor lover is trying to defend your honor and your life. And what do you do to thank him? You continue to be stubborn, too proud to help him and your crew. Do all of those months we shared at sea mean nothing to you? Or do you just see us all as beneath you because we don’t all belong to nobility? Hm?”
“Lies. And you are no better than Zoreil was.” Ledo held her head a little higher. “Nobility or not, at least he was not a murderer.”
The captain shook his head, then reached out in a flash, grabbing her by the chin and forcing her to look across the room at Killian again. The other cell’s door was now closed, but she could see through the bars that he was trying desperately to look over his shoulder, shaking from the exertion. Guilt twisted her heart, and it took all of her will to keep it from showing. She was not going to give a backstabbing traitor the satisfaction of knowing his words were working.
“I want you to take a good, long look at him,” Ullrich started again, leaning in, his voice low and tone dark. “I want you to remember what this looks like because next time I won’t be as kind. I can always find another navigator. But can you replace him as easily?”
He let her go, head dropping again as she pulled away from him. Ullrich stood, stepped out of the cell with a relaxed pace, and locked the door behind him. He regarded Killian’s state for a brief second, then chuckled. “You know what? I will be nice, not that either of you deserves it. You can have a few minutes of privacy. Enjoy.”
No further words were exchanged, and Ullrich left the brig with his men. The silence returned, with only the same, familiar creak of the ship once again filling the air. Ledo stared, holding what she could of Killian’s gaze as she tried to find something to say in the precious moments that they had. Anything.
“I’m… I’m so sorry,” she said weakly. It was all she could think of to say. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t remember the last time she truly cried, it might have been the day she found out about her parents’ deaths.
“Ledoras,” Killian started, trying hard to turn and see her better. He winced as the muscles of his back stretched and strained, and her heart twisted. “Don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault, it’s mine.”
“What happened?” The first tear rolled down her cheek, and she had to take in a sharp breath to keep herself steady, holding back the rest. She was glad he could not see it.
“He was trying to get me to be the one to force you to do what he wants.” Another grimace, and the chains clinked against the hull. Ledo could hear that he was angry, too. A lot angrier than he seemed the last time he had come to talk to her. “He thought you would just agree if I told you to. I may have pushed my luck. Managed to stab him with a lockpick.”
“You… What?”
Killian actually chuckled at that, though it was quickly cut off as he took a strained breath. “Aye. In the leg. Self-defense, mind you, he’s lying if he says otherwise. But it just made him angry, that was why he had me flogged. And now he must think using my life as a threat will work instead.”
“I… It will.”
“Ledo…”
She let her head hang, eyes downcast. “I’ll do it. I’ll cooperate with him. I’ll fix his damn guns and engine.” The shame burned her throat, but her pride was already too wounded to care anymore. Ledo may have questioned Killian’s decision to keep her alive over the officers, but this was their reality now. So long as she lived, so would Killian if she had any say in it. And Ullrich was right, he could replace Killian far before he could replace her. If Ullrich had any kind of inclination to think Killian wasn’t worth keeping around, he would get rid of him in an instant. “It will be on my terms if I can manage it, but I… I can’t lose you. I need you. I love you.”
Ledo heard his chains moving again, and she looked up to see him trying to turn around as much as he could, leaning towards the cell bars while the chains twisted above him. He seemed… frightened. “I love you too, but Ledo, please… There’s more. He has some kind of magic now. I saw him heal himself, and he had some sort of spell to make you feel or do things. We still need to find a way out as soon as we can, but I fear this is more complicated than I thought it would be.”
Her brows furrowed. “Dammit,” she murmured. But at least they knew now. “We really need to find a better, safer way to plan than by having you brought down here with flog-”
She quickly fell silent when the sound of the brig’s hatch opening echoed down to where they were. Both of them cursed, nearly in unison before Killian leaned a bit further towards the bars, hissing at the pain it caused. “Ledo, promise me something,” he whispered quickly.
“Anything.”
“If we make it through this, I’m going to be too tired to keep up appearances anymore. No more pretending, and no more hiding. I don't care what the other houses think of us anymore.”
The second tear finally fell down Ledo’s cheek. “I promise. No more games. For better or worse.”