We’re gonna continue FebuWhump out of order cause I wrote this about a few days ago. This was really fun to write and I have not edited it at all. Feel free to send me prompts from the FebuWhump prompts list. I have some ideas, but I’m always interested in a new challege.
This is of course yet another AU, this one with a fae!Alex and not everything as it seems.
TW for mention of blood and wing gore.
FebuWhump Day 3: Imprisonment
...
The creature no longer screams day and night at least, a sound ear piercing and unbearable to listen to. Washington finds this morning quiet, peaceful as he crosses camp with a small tray and steps into the little hut that’s been fashioned into a holding cell. As usual the room is dark, sunlight barely peeking through the boarded windows. The floor creaks. This morning Washington finds the creature curled into a ball in the corner, covered with a thin blanket.
His footsteps often stir the creature from sleep, and today is no different. Washington hasn’t been sent here in some time. There’s no need, he’s told. It doesn’t need to eat every day. It’s not human. It’s different.
Dangerous.
Washington though sees a boy beyond the red eyes and too-sharp teeth. A boy that seems familiar somehow.
When the creature spots Washington he throws himself against the bars that separate them.
“Please- sir! Please let me out! I can fix this. I can… I can, but not from here! They- you don’t understand what they-”
“I am merely here to deliver your food, and harvest more of your magic.” Washington has been told not to listen to the creature prattle on. Even behind iron bars that diminish his magic it may still try to bewitch him.
The creature reaches out, fingers curling tight around the cuff of Washington’s red coat. “No, please listen! I know you don’t remember but please, please let me out and I can fix it. I’ll fix everything! Just let me out!”
Washington pulls his hand away and the creature falls to his knees with a pathetic wail. He sets the food aside and picks up a silver knife from a nearby work table. When he turns back, the creature has shrunk back.
“You’re imprisoned too,” It says, sniffling once. “You don’t remember what they’ve done. I’m Alex! Alexander. You just don’t remember.”
“This will only take a moment,” Washington says without giving the creature a glance. He expertly, lightly carves the symbol into his own hand to draw blood.
The creature lets out another small cry and tries to shift away. It can’t move far enough though. “The British are using you! Trying to make you think you’re one of them. They used my magic to imprison your mind!”
“I am one of them,” Washington responds firmly. He reaches through the bars and grasps the creature’s wrist.
It lets out a piercing shriek as familiar power surges in and around the both of them. Typically the creature struggles, though this time it remains kneeling, limp.
But then it stands abruptly and fingers press lightly against Washington’s temple. He barely has time to shout before the brightness encompasses everything.
Washington stands in a room, frozen. One hand grips the boy’s wrists, the other an iridescent, shimmering wing. Wings. Alexander has wings? These redcoats have done something to Alex. To him. He can’t move. Why can’t he move?
“You’ll come with us, General. We have a place for you.”
No. He wants to refuse, to demand he and Alexander be released immediately. But he cannot speak.
“It’s powerful. More than what we could have hoped for. It will sustain our cause for a century.”
A wicked grin fixes on Washington. Alexander whimpers.
“Tear his wings off.”
And then Alexander screams. He screams, and screams, and screams. Washington has never heard a sound like this.
It’s pure pain, anguish that burrows its way even into Washington’s soul. Blood coats his hands. Screaming, screaming. Alexander is in agony and he’s the cause of it.
Something snaps and Washington abruptly breaks his hold and stumbles backward. He ends up on his knees, gasping and dizzy and he remembers that pain.
Across from him Alexander collapses against the bars. “S-sir?”
He remembers. Oh God, he remembers everything. Washington was forced, manipulated. Alexander was right- imprisoned in his own mind. He maimed this child, a boy who trusted him. He remembers the torn wings and the blood entwined with magical essence and he feels so sick.
“Alexander? I… My boy I’m so… so sorry.”
“We don’t have much time,” Alexander says, motioning to the lock keeping him trapped. “Let me out before more of them come. We have to get out of here.”
Washington stumbles forward again, dizzy, unsteady. Alexander almost gives off his own light in the dim room. The boy is right- free him and they can escape. They’ll be safe. He reaches for the lock and it falls away with ease.
“Let’s go,” Alexander smiles so brightly as he steps through the open door and takes Washington’s hand.
“Of course, my boy,” Washington holds tight. He doesn’t want to let go, he’ll never let this happen again. Alexander pulls his red coat away and lets it drop to the floor. They’ll leave that behind forever. Red… it was never right, was it?
The door abruptly bursts open and there stand two more redcoats with weapons trained on them. Washington reaches for his own pistol, determined to defend the boy.
“It’s all right, sir,” Alexander places a hand on his arm and flashes a smile filled with sharp teeth. The magic is everywhere, enveloping every inch of the room, and the two soldiers in front of them. “Laurens and Lafayette belong with us too, don’t you remember?”
Does he? Yes… yes, of course.
Two more red coats are left on the floor, abandoned. They make their way out of the building, out of camp, together.
Alex is safe, protected.
Life as it should be.
And Alexander… he will make every last Redcoat pay for imprisoning him, for trying to steal his magic.
Even if he has to imprison every mind in the country to do it.
OC-Tober 5! back to old characters, Mayanna and her post apocalypse world use to be my life lol... I don’t remember when I stopped drawing stuff for it. Hmmm
Mayanna the Fallen and her companion Ryuuma the Halfbreed
