VIDEO-ish (cw: torture and murder)

[bloomingdespite]

[Before the ICP flickers on, every passenger hears a resounding, deep voice thunder through every car in the train, carrying with it a deathly—if odd—proclamation:]

PENALTY GAME: HELL REVERSE!

[Moments later, every ICP turns on to reveal a figure shrouded in shadows, holding the unconscious body of Xue Yang with one hand as the Eye of Wdjat blazes on both of their foreheads. It's clear they're in the gaming car, but if anybody tries to enter from either end, they'll find the doors are impossibly locked.]

Passengers of the Voidtrecker Express, I hold in my hands an unrepentant murderer who slaughtered one of your very own: the victim being A-Qing, and the criminal being Xue Yang. While she has returned, this crime cannot go unpunished, and I have taken it upon myself to try and burn out the stain on his soul—or, at the very least, provide adequate agony for all of his victims, both on the train and off.

If you need to see proof of my justice...

Avert your eyes if you do not wish to see memories of the brutal death of a young woman in her prime.

[The screen flickers once again, this time showing A-Qing's murder, although it doesn't have any audio. ((OOC: Additional CW for graphic depictions of murder.))

When it returns to the interior of the Games Car, the shadowy figure is gone, but their voice and Xue Yang remain.]

I leave it to the council to dispense their own punishment, as meager as it may be.

Remember, passengers:

I am watching.

[The ICP clicks off, and the train is deadly quiet.]

Comments

[sonoflucis]

[Noct shook his head again.]

Not yet. Let me... I made potions. I've got one. Let me get it...

[He grabbed his bag and took the potion out, opening it before handing it to Gladio.]

Take that and I won't even ask questions.

[callmegladio]

[Gladio felt bad. He hated hiding anything from Noct, from anyone, but what he'd seen...

He took the 'potion' with a quirk of a smile. It didn't look like any potion he remembered. But he took it, drinking it down before setting the empty bottle aside.

After a moments hesitation, he went and sat down beside Noct, keeping his healing hand away from him.]

I'm sorry I woke you.

[sonoflucis]

[Noct knew that Gladio wouldn't keep something from him unless it was important. Perhaps something that would hurt Noct emotionally. When Gladio sat next to him, he leaned against him.]

It's okay. I'm glad I could help.

[callmegladio]

[A deep breath and then he slipped his other arm around Noct's back, wrapping it around him to tuck him in close to his side.]

You're a big help.

[Already he was feeling calmer... and a bit stupid for what he'd done to the ICP.]

[sonoflucis]

[Noct pressed close, taking a moment to look at Gladio's face. He looked shaken.]

I do what I can. Can't fix tech, though.

[callmegladio]

No... [The smile he gave was sheepish, but a shadow of what it would be normally. He couldn't quite get the images out of his mind. It made him feel a little sick. But at least the pain in his hand was mostly gone now.

He looked over his shoulder to where Prompto still lay fast asleep.]

He's gonna be pissed I broke our computer.

[sonoflucis]

[Noct smiled gently, reaching a hand up to stroke Gladio's face.]

He'll get over it. You must have had a good reason. I can see it in your eyes.

[callmegladio]

Really, really good reason.

[He admitted to that much at least, how could he not?

The touch was gentle, Gladio's eyes closed as he leaned into it some.

He had no doubt Noct would find out about it. Prompto as well. But at least they wouldn't have to see it. He'd spared them that at least.]

[sonoflucis]

I promised no questions and I will keep to that, except for one. Are we in danger?

[He figured that was fair enough to ask, although he was most certain they were, otherwise, Gladio wouldn't be trying to get him to go back to sleep.]

[callmegladio]

[Gladio wasn't too sure how to answer though... Slowly he shook his head.]

I don't think so... I seriously hope not.

[It really depended on what this shadowy asshole did next. Just what did he think was a crime? Who was he going to punish next? And, more importantly, could he be stopped?

He sighed.]

I'll be honest, I don't know what the hell is going on. But I think we're as safe as we ever were.

[sonoflucis]

[That bad, huh? Gladio usually knew if they were safe or not. Still, he trusted his boyfriend.]

Then I'll treat everything as normal for now. I should lay back down with Prompto before he wakes up. He'll ask more questions and you don't look up for that.

[callmegladio]

[Gladio honestly hated not knowing if things were actually safe for them or not. He wanted to go and check. Felt that was the only way he'd know for sure. So when Noct says he will lay back down the relief is hard to hide.]

Thanks, love.

[He leaned in and softly kissed Noct upon the lips.]

Ask more questions when I get answers, alright? But try and get some sleep. I'm... just gonna get the blood washed off my hand. But I'll be back soon.

[sonoflucis]

[Noct returned the kiss before moving to cuddle with Prompto.]

It's a deal. Go do what you need to do. You know where to find us.

[callmegladio]

I know...

[He didn't want to go. He wanted to wrap himself around the two men he loved and forget what he had seen. But he knew he needed answers, if there were some to have, to ensure that those two men were safe from whatever was lurking on the train.

Gladio reached out and stroked fingers through Nocts hair and smiled softly.]

I'll be back before you wake.

[Before he could change his mind, he stood and left the cabin. First to wash his hand, then to get what he needed.]

A little later

[bethereprompto]

[Prompto had slept through the whole thing. It might seem impossible but he'd managed it. Unfortunately it had still slipped through to reach his sub-conscience mind. Memories of a booming voice, revealing things he didn't know, showing him horror..

He whimpered in his sleep and his fist curled around a clump of sheets, tightening until his knuckles turned white.]

No... stop.

[He feels the moment he was falling from the train and watching in heartbreak and confusion at Noct's vanishing form. He jerked and cried out, but still didn't wake. Not on his own, at least.]

[sonoflucis]

[Noct had nodded off a little, but once he heard Prompto's distressed voice, he woke up. He soother a hand over Prompto's hair, shushing him softly.]

Hey, Prom... It's okay... You're okay...

[bethereprompto]

[He was quiet for a few moments after the reassurance but then his face scrunched up in distress again and he let out another sound, a cross between a sob and a gasp. He saw himself in one of those tubes, mindless and one among hundreds.

A flash of himself as a Magitek appeared in front of him, lashing out and- Prompto screamed. His eyes flew open, wide and terrified. Jerking back from Noct, not registering who he was or where they were. Scooting back though wasn't the best idea since this bed wasn't very big. He yelled again as he started to fall again- not really knowing it was literally only a foot maybe from the floor. The ICP pieces though wouldn't be fun to land on, but it wasn't like falling off a train.]

[sonoflucis]

[Noct immediately grabbed Prompto and pulled him to his chest, holding him tight. He couldn't let Prompto get hurt, after all.]

It's me, Prom. It's Noct. You're okay. It's safe.

[bethereprompto]

Noct?

[His voice thick with emotion could only make out that one word before he was wrapping his arms around Noct and holding him as tight as he could. A shudder went through him and try as he might to fight it, the sobs that followed were inevitable.]

[sonoflucis]

[Noct rubbed Prompto's back and rocked him gently.]

Yeah, it's me. You were having a nightmare.

[bethereprompto]

[It was a nightmare? Really? Just a nightmare. Nightmares couldn't hurt him. He wasn't in danger. Slowly, he started to calm down but he felt himself shaky and weak.]

Nightmares are stupid.

[He pouted and buried his face against Noct's neck.]

[sonoflucis]

Yeah... Glad I was here, though. You could have gotten hurt.

[Noct just continued to pet Prompto, touches to let him know he was safe.]

Wanna talk about it?

[bethereprompto]

[He drew back a little so he could see Noct's face. He was confused.]

Aren't we on the bottom bunk?

[He shook his head. But after maybe thirty seconds, he started talking anyway.]

I kept hearing this loud voice and screaming a- and um.. what if I'd been one of them? One of those soldiers? The Magitek..

[sonoflucis]

[Noct nodded.]

Yeah, we are, but um... Well, look in the ground for yourself.

[He frowned, shaking his head. He hugged Prompto again.]

You aren't. You're Prompto. You're not a Magitek.

[bethereprompto]

[Prompto's eyes widened and he slowly peered over his shoulder. He didn't know what he was about to see but his grip on Noct got tighter. He didn't get even half way before he was rolling back and burying his face against Noct again.]

I don't wanna look!

[Yes, he was being a big chicken and he was okay with that. Just make him a sign and he'll wear it. And being reminded he wasn't one of those guys, he found himself getting choked up again. He whimpered again.]

Where's Gladdy?