#tab fic

[silentauroriamthereal]

I think that this story may be the most sensual one I’ve ever written. And I don’t say that lightly. :))))) 

[talesofzero]

Senses

Cyborg 009-verse; Tab requested a Joe torture fic, and I was happy to comply.

Torture warning, OC warning, character death warning

At first, the worst thing was the cold. They had taken most of my clothes, allowing the metal table free range to freeze my back. The restraints crushed my wrists, ankles and neck. If I thought about it too much, air became hard to grasp and I would begin to swim in lightheadedness. I distracted myself with taking in the faces of the men around me.

Despite the light above me, it was so hard to see, probably because the light buzzed with harsh, white fluorescents. I could still make out their figures though, and the white lab coats adorning each of their shoulders. This wasn’t good. I had to get out or they would take me apart like a busted remote.

Again, my breathing picked up at the thought, but I forced it steady. They wouldn’t see my fear. I would fight as long as I had blood pumping through my unsteady heart.

One of the men moved forward, and I glared daggers at him, twisting my neck as much as I could. “What do you think you’re going to do?” I hissed, trying to sound mad or feral or the least bit frightening.

He only paused for a moment. “We’re going to examine you. And we need for you to be awake, so do try not to pass out from the pain.” His voice was slow and precise like a spider creeping toward its catch.

I bit my tongue for a moment to keep my limbs from shaking. “You won’t get anything from me that you don’t already have!” I finally managed in a rage.

“Well,” another voice purred. My spine shot stiff as I felt the words so close at my side. “Actually, quite a few of our files on you seemed to have disappeared.”

My head whipped to the side so fast that the metal caught at my skin and burned it, but I barely noticed through the freezing ice-blue eyes mere inches from mine. It only took an instant to tell – he was mad. He could have been the hatter in another life.

He smiled curiously at me, his chin in his hand, his elbow atop the metal beside my head as his eyes danced every which way. It made my skin crawl to feel his gaze. His hair was platinum blond, cropped into a short and neat yet spiky style and practically shining in the light. Every other inch of him was the palest white. From his skin to his gloves to the suit he wore – everything was a blinding white. He hadn’t been standing around me before. He’d simply appeared.

I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t afraid.

“Now,” he grinned, sounding like the Cheshire cat. “Let’s start with optics, shall we? Oh, those are my favorites.”

No, I was terrified.

The instrument that appeared in his hand was nothing I’d ever seen before. All I recognized was the metal that made it. It looked like some sort of metal insect and it was headed for my eye. I jerked violently, no longer caring about the pain. I had to get out right now.

“Shh, pup,” he smiled as though calming a frightened child. He brushed the hair back from where it always fell over my eye. His glove was made of silk. “I would love to hear you scream, but if you move around too much, the cut won’t be clean, and unfortunately for my collection, the Ghost wants me to keep you all in one piece. But you do have the most lovely eyes. Like garnets. I don’t have any of those.”

He began to hum lightly, curling my bangs around his finger while placing the metal piece over my eye. I tried to move again, but I couldn’t. Something was holding my head into place. What was it? I-I couldn’t breathe. The metal forced my eyelids open as I gasped uselessly for breath.

“Calm down, pup,” he smiled. “Why don’t we play a game? I know one.”

I want to blink. Let me blink! If I hadn’t been a cyborg, my eye would have been burning from the air, but I still just ached to feel that natural movement. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t have the breath.

“It’s more of a poem really. The game comes at the end. But focus on the rhythm. It will keep your breathing steady you see.”

What? No, just let me out. Let me go! Get this thing off me!

The room began to swim from my dizziness, but I could still hear his poem.

“Tingle, Tingle, Tangle Toes; She's a good fisherman.”

I caught sight of one of the other scientists as he spoke.

 “Catches hens, puts'em inna pens.”

She looked scared, refused to look my way.

“Wier blier, limber lock; Three geese inna flock.”

I wanted to ask her for help even if I knew it wouldn’t make a difference.

“One flew east, One flew west.”

He was again over me with his chin in his hand, his eyes warm and his smile calm.

“One flew over the cuckoo's nest.”

I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry.

 “O-U-T spells out.”

But I really wanted to go home. And I really wanted to blink.

“Goose swoops down and plucks you out.”

I heard a metallic click, and then with all the breath that I didn’t have, I heard myself scream.

I couldn’t remember what had happened for a moment. My world had tilted on its axis. My head felt empty and weightless. Something was wrong with the way I blinked on one side.

And then I could see it. A madman holding something round and white and red with wires streaming from it.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” he purred, examining it like a gem. “Such fine craftsmanship. Would you mind if I kept it for a while? I promise I’ll give it back.”

That was… That was my eye.

I thought after that I threw up, but I couldn’t be sure, because I collapsed into a freezing darkness.

As I began to stir back into consciousness, I could hear his voice, lightly scolding me for so rudely passing out.

“Here I was so ready to play with you, and you decide to go to sleep? Well, that’s very cruel, pup. I specifically instructed you to stay awake. Now then, dogs that don’t listen to their masters must be punished. So let’s begin your training.”

I winced against a prick in my neck, my eyes fluttering back open. My hands were chained above me, holding me dangling in place in the center of a small room. There was nothing remarkable about it. The walls were all gray and blank except for the door on the one to my right. There wasn’t a window or a vent to be seen, just a drain beneath my feet. I was in a torture room, and I was too weak to move.

He was standing in front of me, a soft grin on his face. “Good morning, pup. Are you ready for your training? The drug should kick in soon.”

Drug? What?

I realized that I could only see out of one eye, not even able to peer through my bangs with the other, and a large portion of my face felt covered in something soft and papery. What was the point of medical treatment if I was just going to be tortured some more?

 Something small and silver was being twirled around the insane man’s gloved fingers like a baton. I stared at it, curious and mesmerized. It didn’t seem particularly threatening.

I slowly began to notice something off. My heart trilled to a fortissimo, pounding in my ears hard enough to make me flinch, and my breathing was like a sharp stab to my hearing as well. I adjusted my breath, trying to make it as quiet as possible, but at the same time, the madman in front of me grinned.

When he spoke, my internal receiver went wild, a high wail tearing through my ears along with his smooth but booming voice. “Now that you’re going to listen, allow me to introduce myself. This way, you won’t forget. My name is Icarus, but you’ll know me as Master. It’s a pleasure, pup.”

I cut off a scream with a harsh choke. Screaming would only make it hurt worse. I panted weakly, holding back a whimper as he moved the silver cylinder up to his lips like a cigarette.

“Now then,” he purred. “Let’s begin.”

It was somewhat like a whistle, the noise. But it was also like knives, stabbing into my ears, clawing and tearing mercilessly at them. I fought and thrashed against the pain that seemed to be splitting my head open. I wanted to curl into a ball, to place my hands over my ears. I heard myself screaming somewhere beneath the deafening noise.

Something warm was trailing from my ears, following the curve of my jaw. I couldn’t take this anymore. No more. Stop it. Stop! Then, like a bullet to the head, everything shot to black. My body had listened to me and given out.

I welcomed the darkness.

I begged it to stay as I faded back into reality.

“Ah, pup, you’re back!”

I flinched in anticipation for pain, but my ears didn’t bring me any. In fact, everything came through a bit muffled. It sounded and felt as though cotton had been shoved into them. I praised God for it.

But Icarus remained, happy as ever. I now sat in a chair, my wrists and legs strapped down. It didn’t matter. I didn’t have the strength to move. I didn’t have anywhere to go. I was trapped in this hell.

This room was much the same as the one before, gray and suffocating.  Icarus was crouched at my side, his chin resting on my arm, his icy eyes bright with excitement. “Are you ready for another game?”

“No more games,” I growled weakly.

He clicked his tongue at me. “Now-now, I thought I’d trained you better than that. You should be excited, pup. Games are fun.”

“Not your games,” I spat. “Your games are sick.”

“Hmm,” he frowned. He stood, stepping around in front of me before giving an exaggerated twirl. “You’re all the same,” he snarled, his back to me. “You all think Master’s games are ‘sick’ or ‘insane’ or ‘disgusting,’ but you just don’t understand. I thought you’d like my games. I could have turned you into art instead, pup.” He stared at me over his shoulder, his eyes dangerous. “I wanted to make you art, but the Ghost said no.”

“A-art?” I swallowed thickly.

He turned on the balls of his feet and leaned down, tracing my jaw with a silk glove. “I would cut you up so beautifully. Oh and you’d scream so nicely. It’s my favorite game, making people into art. Death is so lovely. There’s nothing more beautiful.”

If there had been any doubt in my mind before that this guy was insane, it was gone now. Dear God, what could make someone so demented?

“But,” he sighed dramatically, straightening his back. “I only get to play games with you. I haven’t been confirmed on my request to kill you yet. So let’s play another game. This one is usually everyone’s favorite.”

He picked up a surgical mask from the small table at his side and slipped it over his face. It was almost laughable to see that it was white. Then he grabbed a small vial and a syringe, making me squirm uncomfortably. I sure hoped he was going to inject himself with the strange liquid – opaque and light blue like an opal as it filled the syringe.

“Now, hold still,” he purred. “You wouldn’t want for me to make this messy. After testing the needle, he turned to me. I could see his grin widen under his mask. “What’s the matter? You aren’t aichmophobic, are you?”

I didn’t even know what that word meant, and I really didn’t care. I pulled back as far as my restraints would allow me from the shimmering needle headed for my neck.

“Bad, pup. I told you to hold still.” He grabbed my hair painfully, forcing my head to the side. I whimpered as the needle stabbed me ruthlessly, its contents warm and prickling as it entered my veins.

Once I was free from the cold touch of the needle, I relaxed with a sigh. Whatever that serum did, it would begin in a moment, but for now I was safe. I was free of pain.

Icarus hummed brightly, grabbing another corked vial from his table. It appeared to be filled with a variety of herbs. I didn’t understand the point of this test.

“Ready?” He moved the vial suddenly beneath my nose.

Huh?

I’d been in the middle of a breath, but inhaling the concoction had stopped it short. My sinuses lit up with fire, tears spilling instantly from my eye. It burned. It was a fire that I couldn’t put out. I screamed, shaking my head violently. What sort of torture was this? The pain was eating at me beneath the skin of my face, but it wasn’t enough to knock me out this time.

I could taste the blood that had spilled between my lips from my nose. I forgot what it was like to know any pleasant scent. I only knew agony, and I would have broken my nose by punching myself in the face if I could have.

Icarus cackled gleefully as I fell to choking and whimpers, shuddering in pain. It probably hadn’t lasted more than a few minutes, but it had been ages for me.

“Ready for another round?” he asked, bouncing on his toes.

I whimpered and cowered back against my chair. “N-no. No more.”

“Aw, come on. Just one more.”

I yelped at the sight of another vial, this one’s contents a violent red. I barely registered the sound of a door being thrown open on its hinges. “Icarus!” a voice boomed. “You were specially instructed not to damage him drastically! That’s enough!”

Icarus sighed, his eyes rolling toward the intrusion. “It’s not my fault you can’t fix him properly afterward. But fine, wolf, fix his nose and return him to me for the next game once you’re done.” He stood and strode out as though he were walking on air.

Another man a few years older stepped into his place. This one looked human. His skin held life and color, his hair a neat, curly auburn. His nose was a bit too big, his jaw long, his legs lanky. But his eyes – no, his eye – his eye was a warm russet, concerned as it took me in. The left was covered with a black patch. I barely had the strength to keep my own eye open to take him in.

“Well,” he sighed. “At least you’re awake this round, though I’m not so certain that’s a good thing. Here, close your eye.” I did as I was told, too tired and scared to refuse. Another needle pierced my neck, causing me to whine.

“Sorry,” he whispered. “It’s just a sedative. No need to worry. I swear I’m not going to hurt you, kid.”

The restraints on my wrists and ankles clicked open, and the man carefully scooped me up and carried me out. Now I realized why I’d been so weak. It was that drug. Whatever he’d been giving me was causing that drowsiness to my limbs.

My cheek lolled against his shoulder as he held me in a fireman’s carry, muttering to himself. “That bastard thinks he can do whatever he wants, and I’ll just be able to fix it. I can’t fix everything, damnit. And I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.”

A doctor? Maybe I should have guessed that sooner, but thinking clearly wasn’t coming easy. It did explain the lab coat he wore though.

He carried me into a room of white and sat me down on an examination table of sorts. It was cushioned beneath the layer of rustling parchment paper. It was practically heaven, except he wouldn’t let me lie down.

“Alright,” the doctor said. “Let’s take a look at your nose. I’ve dealt with this before, but not with a cyborg, so you’ll have to excuse me.” I was pretty sure his proper medical equipment of choice was a wet rag as he gently wiped the blood from where it had covered my face. “There’s not much I can do actually. Your sense of smell is still heightened, and I wouldn’t want to cause you any further pain with any medicines. Besides, like all nosebleeds, the best medicine is just sitting upright and applying pressure. I’ll help you out.” A light clamp was placed on my nose, shutting it.

I huffed against it, making him smile wearily. “Sorry about that. Now I just need to take a quick look at your eye.” As he tore the papery substance and pulled it away, I confirmed them to be bandages. Had my eye socket been bleeding too?

“Well, it looks good,” he frowned, studying the inside of my skull curiously. “At least, I think so. Most of my patients don’t have wires…” He grabbed my wrist to stop me from exploring the hole in my head. “Ah-ah, you don’t want to do that. Trust me. It’s not pleasant.”

“Does it look creepy?” I asked for some reason.

“Hm? Your eye socket? Nah, it’s pretty clean, and I’m used to seeing them. Icarus and I have known each other for a while.” He brushed his thumb over his eye patch. “By the way, I’m Warrius, and you’re Joe if I’m not mistaken.”

I nodded.

“Sorry you had to meet me,” he sighed with a smile, ruffling my hair.

“It’s not your fault,” I said. “Do you think…his request will be accepted?”

“Hard to say,” Warrius breathed sadly. “But if it is, I’ll make sure it’s as painless as possible for you. Unfortunately, if I take too long, he’ll storm up here and take you, but here. Close your eyes.”

I tensed as the needle stuck me, but was too weak to fight it. Besides, it was better that I didn’t.

“There,” the doctor smiled weakly. “That’s going to reduce your pain. It’s not much, but it’s all I can give you. I’m not sure what his next torture will be, but act like it hurts more than it does. I’m not saying that it won’t be hell, but it won’t be as bad as it could be. That’s also a slow-acting tranquilizer, so you’ll fall asleep in about half an hour and stay asleep for a good while.” He reached both hands behind his head and messed with something as he spoke. “Stay strong, kid. Don’t give into what he wants. It won’t make him go any easier on you.”

The wide-banded eye patch fell from place, revealing nothing but his flat eyelid. After pulling the clamp from my nose, he brushed the black fabric off a bit before moving it to my face and tying it into place with practiced hands. “There,” he smiled. “Now I wouldn’t dare anyone to go against you. You’re looking pretty cool. Do kids still say that these days?”

He mused over it as he picked me back up and carried me out toward what I imagined to be my last stand.

I was placed on my back on a metal slab, much as I had been before. Warrius didn’t buckle the restraints as tightly, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t move. After giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, he left the room. I closed my eye and waited.

He was coming. I could hear his footsteps, light and quick. I swallowed and sighed, trying to hold back from shaking, trying to hold back my fear. It was just a little pain. That was all. Maybe if I kept thinking that I could convince myself of it.

“Hello, pup!” he called excitedly as the door opened. “Did you miss me?”

I couldn’t answer him. My mind wandered to people who could, to those who were strong and grinned against pain and danger. I wished that one of them could be here to snarl at him, to make him take a step back in surprise. Someone to frighten the monsters away for me.

“Now-now, don’t be shy,” he laughed. “It’s alright to admit it if you did. But why don’t we go on to the game?” He pulled something from the canvas bag in his hand. I wasn’t sure exactly what to make of it. The object was small and round, flat except for the raised electronic piece in the center on one side. He placed the flat side to my neck, where it stuck. He placed another to my chest and another on my stomach, one on each arm and one on each bare foot.

“There we are,” he nodded in approval. “I think that will do. Now then.” He pulled some sort of palm-sized electronic device from his pocket and began to fiddle with it. “Ready?” he grinned.

He seemed to be waiting for a response, so I sighed, furrowed my brow, and whispered, “Go ahead.”

“Then let’s hear you howl, pup.”

Despite the restraints, I was still able to arch my back. I screamed as the electricity coursed through me, sending my circuits on overdrive. My muscles tensed and spasmed agonizingly. Some of the ones in my arms tore from the strain. As I ran out of air, my scream became a breathless whine. I fought and sobbed, tears streaming down my cheeks. He stopped as I began to cough up blood.

The silk of his glove pressed to my neck, seeking out a pulse. Through the blur of my eyes, I could see him frowning. “That’s not right,” he muttered. “That’s not right. They said I could kill you. Your heart should have blown to pieces.”

His voice trilled in rage. “You’re supposed to die, cyborg! I picked this treatment just for you! Your death was going to be special, but at this rate, you’re just going to choke on your own blood. I will not stand for such a simple, filthy death. This is-!” He cut himself off, his anger fading to a dark, dangerous expression.

“Hm,” he purred, a horrifying violence hidden in his voice. He gripped my chin lightly and forced me to look at him. “Pup, did that wolf give you something? Besides the eye patch – that’s quite adorable by the way. But I mean a drug of some sort - something clear and green like an emerald?”

I weakly shook my head. I wasn’t even sure what the colors of the injections Warrius had given me were. I’d even doubted that his painkiller had done a thing. I couldn’t have acted like I was in anymore pain if I’d wanted to.

Icarus smirked wickedly. “You don’t need to lie for him, pup. I was just given a go on my request to kill him as well.” He playfully ruffled my hair and headed for the door, bouncing on his toes. “I’ll be back in just a bit so we can finish our last game, pup. I’ll make sure to get something special for you. Just you wait.”

I spat the remainder of the blood from my mouth and bit back more sobs. I’d just brought someone his death, and I was next. There was no escape from this hell. I longed for my restraints to be broken so I could put my arms around myself and curl onto my side. I thought I at least deserved that much in death.

I was allowed one comfort. My limbs began to feel heavier, and my eyelid drooped. The tranquilizer was kicking in. Sleep came to claim me once more, and the weight in my chest eased for it. Unconscious was my only friend here.

When my eye opened, I felt rather calm. At least with death I would return to sleep. I wouldn’t have to wake up again. Icarus was sitting in a chair beside me. A whip like an endless snake rested in his hands as he cleaned away the deep red stains from the white leather.

“He didn’t scream,” the madman noted simply without even raising his head. “He never was much fun. You’ll be more fun for me, right pup?” He smiled at me in an almost normal, kind way. “Are you going to beg for your life?”

“I know you wouldn’t listen,” I whispered, smiling through tears.

“It’s not that I wouldn’t listen. It’s that I wouldn’t do as you said. It’s more fun when you beg, though whether you beg for life or death is up to you.” He pulled a vial from his pocket and twirled it around his fingers. The acrid liquid inside swirled and churned. “This,” he purred, “is a specialty acid made to melt organic and inorganic material. It can only be kept in specialty glass. Once it starts eating, there is no stopping it. It moves slowly and burns like hell fire. You’re going to drink it for me.” He waited for a response as the horror settled into my face. “This is where you beg for a quick death, pup.”

“I don’t want to die,” I managed shakily. “I want to go back.”

“Homesick?” he laughed. “Well, don’t fret, pup. I’m certain you’ll see all your friends again soon enough. You’ll just have to wait in death for a bit.” He screwed the lid off of the vial and grabbed my jaw roughly.

I fought. Pointlessly, I jerked what few muscles I could move against him. I fought back my fears and the sobs rising in my chest. I just wanted to live.

“Hush, pup,” he called soothingly. “It’s easiest if you drink it all quickly.”

The cool glass pressed to my lips. The harsh scent of acid burned my nose. Death was millimeters away. I wouldn’t get to live. I should just open my mouth and accept the bitter, painful end. I closed my eye and breathed in and out for what would surely be the last time.

An inhuman yowl of rage startled me out of my resign. “I am going to kill you.”

Was I imagining things? I almost hoped I was because that was terrifying.

Icarus sighed and stepped back. “Oh, must you interrupt? We were playing a game.”

I watched in shock as Tab moved into my vision, lunging for his throat. He lazily sidestepped, his whip appearing in his hand. She turned on a dime, clawing at the air.

Her eyes were wild with a murderous rage. Her hair was slightly messy, and deep purple lines stood out beneath her eyes against frightfully pale skin. “Don’t you dare touch him!” she screamed.

Now Icarus frowned, jumping back and sending his whip out with a flick of his wrist. Tab allowed the leather to bite through the skin of her forearm so she could grab the tail and yank hard. Icarus snarled as he was dragged forward. His foot slammed down as he clicked something on the handle of his whip.

Tab winced, releasing her violent grip on the weapon to reveal the spikes now covering it. I started to say something, worried about her bloodied hand, but she roared and jumped toward him again.

She easily dodged a few more blows from the whip, and really, it wasn’t a fair fight. Icarus didn’t stand a chance against a cyborg, but I wasn’t really going to complain. His eyes widened in momentary surprise as her hand found his neck, but then he broke out into a devilish grin.

“Go ahead then, wolf,” he laughed through a wheeze as she held him off the ground. “Go ahead and finish the game. You win.”

She released him only to spin and slam a kick into the center of his chest. The sound of ribs cracking was punctuated by his crash into the wall. He just sat there, bent over like a puppet with cut strings. Blood dripped in a steady stream from the faded grin on his lips. His chest had caved in. I was alive, but he wasn’t. It seemed strange.

Tab tore me from my stupor, shattering each of the metal bindings holding me down. Before I could even attempt to sit up, she had me in her arms, trembling slightly as she held me. “Thank God,” she choked. “I was so worried, Joe. I’m so sorry. I should have gotten here sooner, but it’s alright. I’ve got you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

My arms were heavy and shook from strain as I placed them around her. She was warm and protective and everything I needed. I was safe as long as she was close. “Tab,” I murmured as though I needed to hear myself say it, burying my face against the crook of her neck.

“Yeah, I’ve got you, Joe. Come on, let’s go home. We’ll get you all patched up.”

“I was afraid,” I whispered, “I’d never get to see you again.”

“Don’t be afraid, Joe. I’d never let that happen.”