Everything Changes.

[chellemrys]

Cassidy suppressed childish giggles at Adrian's outrage over his new name. It wasn't like he was going to call him that... On a regular basis.


He went along with the collar offer, needing to look authentic. He agreed hungrily, watching the guard force the leather strap on Adrian. Watching his drahy be pushed down made his amusement evaporate, but he couldn't interrupt. He stood there, arms behind his back and lips pressed together until they were done. He mouthed in English a sort of warning: 'Stop. Struggling.' Adrian was so stubborn.


Cas decided to clue Ade in just a bit, finally getting a chance to. He announced loudly, "Time to take you home!" In Kershnaille, grabbing his cuffs and dragging him out of the door.


By the time they were outside, Adrian was spitting at Cas, needing an explanation. The safety of the street made him bark up, using English to throw off their translator.


"Adrian, I need to sound in charge." He barked, "I have to talk like this. Just go along with me, I am taking you home. Behave, please. I will explain very soon."


A can pulled up, and he rushed inside, dragging his drahy. Clutching to the cuffs as though someone might take him. Inside he immediately handed the translator a tiny was of cash. One hundred. He only had two hundred left, and he needed to buy food... "Hush money." He whispered, winking at the translator. "And tell them this address. Then you can go." He handed him a piece of paper, leaning back in the seat. More relaxed than before.

 

[Laine]

“Hush money…for what, I wonder, sir...?” The translator hissed, taking the money nonetheless. Obviously he was bound to keep everything he did during his work confidential, but it didn’t mean he didn’t disapprove of what had been done. Abusing their legal system, for his own gain, it seemed. The red-haired one definitely knew him, although how was still a mystery. He watched the Lieutenant shove Adrian into the car, who didn’t seemed any more calmed by the English words he barked at him. The translator gave a sympathetic look, before leaning over to the cab driver, muttering the address to him, pocketing the money and the piece of paper, and walking away.


----


After less than a minute in the car, Ade’s hands were bright red and numb from being sat on, and he shuffled, grumbling uncomfortably at the cuffs. “…What home? We’re refugees, Cassidy.” He said with narrowed eyes, not giving Cas the satisfaction of looking at him. Less than half an hour ago he had been trembling with fear, terrified that any moment, the guard would roll up to his cell and drag him out to his death. Now, he had gone in the completely opposite direction – he was extremely confused, practically frothing in anger at the degrading way his lover was treating him. Any gratefulness he held for the other saving him was lost as the tough leather rubbed at his throat. “Oh, this slave isn't supposed to talk, right?” He glowered.


The driver cocked a brow at the two, smirking and shaking his head. “Eh, you government official?” He said to Cassidy, having no idea the other couldn’t understand him. “Not that I’m prying or ‘nethin. It’s just – I see all you guys with slaves these days. What’s the deal with that – don’t you got enough power?” He laughed, taking a sharp right as they drifted into a desolate-looking street. “You here on business?” He asked immediately after, paying no attention to Adrian’s shocked expression, or the fact that the Lieutenant wasn’t answering him. The place looked like Vos, with boarded up windows and ugly-looking, high-rise apartments.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas grew more and more impatient with Adrian, who failed to realize that Cas had just rescued him from certain death. The Lieutenant cross his arms, eyeing his drahy, and new slave, glowering. His dark eyes flashed up to the front view mirror, acknowledging the taxi driver but unable to answer. He had kicked out the translator, and now he suddenly had to deal with this guy. Cas huffed, he didn't pay him to talk.


Adrian's complaining made Cas snap, after the stress of the day. "Adrian - why don't you shut up and thank me for saving you, you whiny bitch." Cas had been smirking when he said the name earlier, but now he was pressing a sharp finger into Adrian's chest, eyes on fire. "You could at least wait until we are in private to make a scene, so you don't arouse suspicion." Cas kept the harsh tone up, eyes warning Adrian that this was not the time to act impudent. Ade was supposed to be a slave. Not his equal! All they needed was the wrong person to get suspicious.


The car slowed to a halt in front of one of these horrendous structures, old brakes squealing. Cas held up fingers, getting the correct amount counted out, before hopping out, tugging a bewildered Ade with him. The cab disappeared in a haze of dust, speeding off through the narrow streets and shabby, soot covered buildings. The scent of rotting trash rose from the drainage pipes below their feet, old fashioned concrete soaked with polluted rain and animal shit. Before them an unpainted building lay, on a sharp slant - leaning to the right. Cas looked down at the address, crumbling it in his hand. His was written in Kersh, thankfully, and he was able to direct Ade towards their new home.


"Second floor... Apartment 1." The ascended the stairs, hollow wood below them clunking and creaking with every step. A few steps were actually rotting, and cracked in the middle, bending under their weight. Cas, being used to worse, payed no attention. Adrian was hesitant to follow, but Cas dragged him anyway. They reached the open-air porch, and found three doors, several tiny stair cases leading up to them. He squinted at the numbers, and tugged a rusty key from his pocket. "I think this is the number one..." Through the screen doors of the neighbors, aliens began peering out with beady eyes at the new arrivals, as Cas jiggled the loose doorknob, forcing the sticky plywood door open. "Home sweet home~" He purred, rushing in with his drahy at his back, eager to get out of the public eye.

 

[Laine]

Adrian’s bare feet made faint footprints in the dusty, unused apartment as he picked his way through, grimacing at the place that surrounded him. Being a refugee hadn’t changed his fussiness very much, and he scoffed at the barely-furnished room, adorned with two tiny windows streaked with old, greasy handprints. On the other side of a curtain towards the back of the room was a basic-looking stained toilet, and through a door there was another room of about the same size, housing nothing more than a mattress perched on a very unstable-looking wooden frame. A home, indeed.


The doctor slumped on the couch uncomfortably, sending a cloud of dust radiating out from it. He flicked a glance towards Cassidy as he shut the door, to utter some kind of sarcastic or angry comment. But he bit his lip, an uneasy feeling settling in his stomach as he saw the others looking uneasy on his legs, his dark eyes straining as he barely gave the room any notice, slumping exhaustedly on the couch beside him. The Lieutenant kept his distance, and Ade saw his expression slowly darken into anger, or even disappointment at his lover.


Adrian shuffled around to look at him, face warped with guilt. In his mind, he had slowly pieced together Cas’ plan – Cassidy had posed as a slave trader or something, buying Ade out of the government building before he got executed. But it merely posed more questions that filled him with anxiety. What happens when they find out you saved me? He figured they would just take him back, to finish the job, and the Lieutenant, too. Even worse so, he still doubted that they were completely safe from the U.G.G., despite what Cas had said to him. He sighed, the familiar feeling of safety he felt with Cas failing to materialise, “…Cassidy. Why are we here?” He huffed, face looking solemn.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy's eyes fell shut, truly exhausted after the trying day. A literal trial, and the trial of getting Adrian freed ran him down. His arm was throbbing, just from continual usage, and his stomach area hurt from walking. He sucked in air, wincing and sliding his good hand up to press again his lower arm, the arm portion pressed into his stomach.


The Lieutenant let himself droop to the side, expecting Adrian's shoulder to catch his head. He almost fell over, but stopped with a sigh, moving away like Ade apparently had. Fine, he could be mad. It didn't matter, as long as he was safe.


The Lieutenant'a dark eyes slid open at the question, turning his head with a slightly lifted black brow. "...You want to give up?" A heat rose in Cas' chest, "Adrian, we can't give up-" Cassidy's rage was summoned at his love r's sullen attitude; just this experience was enough to dishearten Adrian? He snatched up one of his drahy's crossed arms, clinging to it and crushing it, "You're not allowed to give the fuck up. Helmi, there is nothing but now. Do you get that? Nothing else but life exists. That's it. There is endless cold, eternal void waiting for us all." Fire in his eyes and words, Cas squeezed the hand harder, "I've been there - you don't want to go there! And plus... I'm not going anywhere, and you made a vow to stay with me until you don't have a choice anymore." Cas was bewildered by Adrian's notion of giving up. After the experiment that changed society's idea about death, no one gave up anymore. Out of fear.

 

[Laine]

Adrian’s heart sank as the other started angrily ranting, and he sighed, meekly tugging the arm back. The other’s hand stayed clung to him – yes, it was the new one, alien-looking and paler than the rest of his body, as if they had accidentally mixed the wrong paint. “No – Cas,” He mumbled, trying to get a word in edgeways or argue his point, as weak argument as it was. “I didn’t mean – you don’t understand –“ His voice had miserable tone to it, and he sighed heavily. His eyes travelled around the dismal apartment as the Lieutenant’s words gnawed at him.


“- I-I’m sorry. But I made a vow to you,” He sighed, turning slightly more around to Cassidy. “I didn’t make a vow to…this situation. Running away, getting caught, panicking, being… useless. I got bound to you because I wanted to spend the rest of my life – with you. In our clean, furnished apartment on Earth – or even in the future. But not…this.” His cheeks were burning as he sensed the Lieutenant only get more irritated. All Cassidy’s hard work hadn’t been in vain – Ade was alive, after all – but where they were sat and the apartment they were in deviated from this ideal life he had imagined for them both. A safe life, above all.


He tugged a hand through his hair. “I mean – how long can we even stay here? Before the U.G.G. find us? Or the authorities work out I’m not really a slave, and you just plucked me out to get me out of here - ” The tension grew in Ade’s voice as he anticipated the worse, and he made eye contact with the Lieutenant, subconsciously shifting closer to him. As if any moment people were going to crash through their disrepaired door and separate them both, again. A fear he had never felt before, at least when Cassidy was around.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas chest puffed in a growing fury, Adrian's complaints filled the air, thoughts betrayed his vows. "-but you didn't make a promise to your damn apartment, that doesn't matter. You made a promise to follow me anywhere!" The Lieutenant retaliated, tugging Adrian's hand back towards him, trying to keep his grip on his lover's hand.


Disbelief filled every word as it rung into the room, shooting from Cas' lips to Adrian's ears. "You would just give up because you don't have a cushy bed? Or a carpet?" He still held his hand, afraid to let get. As though if he did, Adrian could do what he wished, and give up. Cas eyed the collar on the pasty throat, swallowing at his new thoughts: Adrian was his slave. And he wasn't allowed to give up. He would do whatever it took to keep the love of his life here with him. "You are my legal property now. I guess they can't do a thing."


Cas shook his head once more, dark bangs floating around in messy wisps with the movement, head hanging. "The U.G.G. know where we are. But they cannot come here. They really can't, it would start an intergalactic war. These galaxies have been on the edge of one anyway."

 

[Laine]

Adrian’s face sunk guiltily as the other got more and more irritated, the sweaty palm tugging back on his own hand. “So that’s why you called me Whiny Bitch, hm? Because wanting to live without running away constantly or having basic household comforts is too needy for you?” His voice was bitter, and but his top lip wobbled, as if he knew the answer to his own question. His eyes travelled down, glowering as the slave reference came back. So I’m your prisoner, again?


The doctor shrugged, leaving the arm Cas was holding to rest between them. “What, so…the U.G.G. can’t…get to us at all, here?” He shook his head in dejected disbelief, sighing heavily through his nostrils. For their lifetime threat to suddenly be gone seemed absurd. “-I don't believe that. And even it it were true, what the hell would we do next? I don't think anyone would hire a filthy ex-Time Agent and his slave. How are we gonna eat?" He risked a look at Cassidy, scoffing. Not knowing that by taking the oath, Cas had actually been promised a reduced-wage job as a government Agent.

 

[chellemrys]

The more Cas spoke, the more Cas' face began to darken. "No, actually, because if the U.G.G. ever came here, a universe-wide war would break out. Besides, it would be highly unlikely they'd make that move. If they were caught, what they were doing here could become public knowledge. But when we aren't in this star system, or any allied planet, we're open season still." Cas sniffed, "Besides- they probably think we're dead, coming here."


The Lieutenant slid his hand away from Adrian's cradling his bad arm with a scowl, flinching in anger. He stood, stalking away to examine the rest of the home, massaging the limb. "It's not too needy in normal circumstances. But right now?" A serious nod, as he rocked back and forth on his feet, testing to sturdiness of the thin floor, that had a noticeable sideways tilt downwards, leading towards the a very tiny room with some ancient kitchen appliances. Cas resumed, "Right now that is too needy."


The agent was fuming, each word being spat out at his drahy. "I have a job. If you haven't noticed, I had a lot of money. I traded in the luxury government apartment with a beaaaautiful bed, and a white kitchen, and aaall the food I could ever eat." He paused, "And I traded it in, to buy you back, because-" The agent turned on his heels, stamping a foot between words, yelling, "They- were going- to kill you! And I risked my asylum, buying my drahy off an illegal prison slave market."

 

[Laine]

The unsteady wooden floor creaked in protest at each stomp the Lieutenant laid down. Adrian recoiled against the sofa, wincing at the other’s anger and justification. It suddenly seemed to make sense, worlds away from the hastily-put-together plans he was used to from his partner. They had a job, a place to live, safety from both governments they were at risk from. His mouth hung agape guiltily, struggling for a moment to think what to say. “I just meant – I mean I was just saying-“He mumbled, face burning. Their broken-down and dusty home was still meagre and uncomfortable for him, but when compared with the alternatives…


“Look, Cas, I’m - ” He began, before a loud thudding emerged from beneath them. Adrian froze, clutching the sofa in anxiety. Moments later a screeching emerged through the cracks, someone shouting in high-pitched Shialan. ‘Keep it down, Assholes!’ They continued tapping on the floor with their broom a few more times, before yelling something more. Ade whispered a meagre “Sorry,” to both Cassidy and their new neighbour, head sinking between his hands.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy's stomping stopped, but his glowering did not. He fell silent, eyes falling to the floor, lashes brushing the crowns of his cheeks. Staring at the spot below him where the neighbor banged a broom. The only thing rescuing the neighbor from his wrath was a desire to remain unnoticed.


Eyes rose back to meet Adrian's gaze, before the other sunk down, head between his knees. Inside Cas' chest a tiny fire remained kindled, his rage still burning strong despite the guilt flooded apology. The agent's face was hot, forehead and nose tingling and burning. His lips shriveled up, pressed into a firm line.


He turned in a circle, "We need food." Cas was out the door, grumbling the words as he slammed the thin, wiry door behind him. Gone as a flash of wispy black hair.


***


Cas took nearly an hour to return, leaving Adrian there alone to soak in his misery. Rightfully so, he thought this time. He appreciated Adrian's ignorance to his lifestyle, it always provided a mini escape. But when it came down to practicality, and sense, Ade could really piss Cas off, who was hardened to lacking comforts and luxury. The Lieutenant took his time shopping, finding a tiny convenience shop, filled with the ever popular reptilian aliens that were native Shialans. He watched them watch him, gazes slinking behind them as he slithered through aisles, quiet and trying to be discreet. After a long process at the cash register, attempting to communicate, and drawing all eyes in the packed place to him, he managed to escape with most of his money left, some purple sandwich and a loaf of bread. Food for a few days.


Cas re-entered the apartment with just as much force as before, not even glancing at his drahy as he delivered the only food they had had in days, dropping it in a heap on rickety and triangular table near the worn kitchen ware.

 

[Laine]

“Helmi, you’re back,” The relieved words fell from Ade’s mouth as soon as the other came brack through the door, making the old wood rattled around the frame as he pushed it shut with some force. The doctor had come to his senses, somewhat, his guilt obvious by the way his hands were anxiously wrapped around one another. “You shouldn’t just randomly...leave like that.” He huffed, dust sticking to his feet as he tracked new ground. There were distinct lines in the living room where it was obvious he had been pacing, beside himself with fear that the other had actually left him. He nervously watched the other as he completely blanked him, stalking past and dumping the food on the table.


Of course, by food, he subconsciously expected human-looking food, since they were now in a house and not scrambling in the bush. The doctor suppressed a grimace at the purple sandwich, reluctantly pacing over to the table, breaking off a wedge and turning it in his fingers. He sniffed it cautiously, before lifting it to his lips. At the last moment, he looked up to see Cas' eyes suddenly flick away from his, scoffing and shaking his head at his drahy’s fussiness. “I'm allowed some, aren't I...?” Ade mumbled unsurely, biting his lip.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy rolled his eyes, "Of course you are. Why are you asking permission?" The agent himself took a hunk of the bread alone, shoving a slice of the thin, reddish-purple meat in between the folded chunk, padding off to the bedroom.


Once inside the bedroom, he looked around to realize there were no blankets at all. In fact, he hasn't realized before because he was so distracted, but there was simply nothing. He himself wasn't even wearing a jacket anymore, it had gotten ruined. Only wearing a t-shirt issued by the hospital as a gift, and some shabby loose black pants, he shivered. The apartment seemed to lack heating.!


Cas flung himself onto the bed, shoving the entire tiny sandwich into his mouth, chewing as he spread his arms and legs wide, as if he was hugging the mattress, swallowing with a thick gulp as his lids fell shut, back after a minute beginning to steadily rise, drifted off after a long day. Soon the Lieutenant was unconsciously curled up, knees drawn up in an attempt to find some warmth as the Shialan night fell outside the thin walls.

 

[Laine]

“Well…you were looking at me…like…” He tapered off as the Lieutenant stomped away. Adrian reluctantly pushed the bread between his lips, sighing heavily and chewing hungrily. The bread was not unlike Earth bread, really, although it was surprisingly sweet and chewy. His stomach growled and he unwillingly tore off another chunk, and another, shovelling the bready stuff into his mouth. He hadn’t really eaten since they’d been captured, after all, barely fed while awaiting trial. Moments later he heard Cassidy’s body crash heavily onto the bed, and he sighed.


When he was done, there was a little less than half the loaf left, and the doctor dusted off his fingers, smacking his lips together in empty satisfaction. It wasn’t really enough, but he knew Cassidy had had even less, and so he picked up the rest and slid it in the grimy-looking refrigerator, toes curling in disgust at the mould growing at the back. Padding back into the living room, he shivered unconsciously at the cold that had swept through the bare apartment. Wrapping his arms around his sides, he considered for a moment sleeping on the sofa, but caught sight of the dark figure curled up on their unfurnished bed. The person he undoubtedly was going to spend the rest of his life with. So he slid into the bedroom, trying to be as subtle as possible with his clunky 21st century stealth techniques.


Adrian bit his lip, as he watched the Lieutenant’s body slowly rise and fall with his breath. He had almost instantaneously fallen asleep, back facing towards the door. The doctor slowly lowered himself onto the bed beside him, grimacing as the other seemed to stir. Ade awkwardly wrapped his arms around his own body, sighing deeply again as his face furrowed in frustration. Cassidy clearly wasn’t in a talking mood, but he opened his mouth nonetheless, unable to bare the tension between them. “…I…I should really be thanking you…” He murmured in a sheepish voice. The bed creaked as the other scoffed, shuffling away slightly as Ade reached out to touch his shoulder. The doctor retracted the hand, wilting as he carried on, “F-for the food, the apartment…saving my…stupid ass…” The Lieutenant still didn’t respond, and Adrian sighed in frustration, turning over onto his back. The floorboards creaked above them as their neighbour paced anxiously.


“I’ve just been so…confused and…scared, these past few weeks.” He continued. With one hand he massaged the skin around the leather strap, which was becoming dry and irritated. “…And…you know me…I’m – I’m just a spectator, in all this. I’m lucky if I can put one foot in front of the other most days, being dragged along, by you. I wouldn’t even have made it out of the TA, if it weren’t for you.” He continued starting blankly above him, eyes stinging as he rapidly tried to blink back the memories of the past few weeks, although the TA getting shut down seemed to be years and years ago, clouded by all the events since. “And you know…this place…I just wanted something to be in control of. Something to have a say in…It’s not that I don’t appreciate what you’ve done for me, really.” He hesitated a glance at the Lieutenant, eyes watering, not even sure if the other was listening.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' body shifted as Adrian's body was lowered onto the tiny bed, making the frame bend a little beneath the weight of two people. He lifted his head slightly, catching a blurry glance at the wall, before letting it drop back onto the mattress, it sinking into the mattress that lacked any support. The Lieutenant's eyes were shut, but he was awake, listening to Adrian, unresponsive to the gentle touches and words.


Cas' face pressed into the ripped bed, remaining silent as he let Adrian rattle on. Letting him feel guilty, regretting his behavior. He didn't care for apologies, he just wanted Adrian to think before he spoke. He had been terrified all day, the thought they had killed his drahy had weighed on him all day, the idea that he was too late to save his friend, family, and lover from their end ate him alive. And when he succeeded, he was met with the prospect of giving up. He was used to Adrian's whining, and he just met it with retorts and explanations. But he did not want to tolerate Adrian talking about giving up.


The agent huffed when the other finished, "Adrian- I don't care." He heard Adrian's breath catch, and he rolled over, a sour expression curdling his face, "And I mean I don't care for your dumb apologies. I don't care if you thank me." Behind his eyes, memories of the day and what he had done, and even the past few weeks flicked through his mind. A shaky breath was sucked in, Cas blinking several times, "I- I can't stand it when you say you want to give up. I've done some dreadful things to make sure you-" His eyes were wide now, an arm unconsciously sliding to grip at his stomach as pain welled up over where a gaping hole had been mere days before, "-so that you don't have to die." Cas wheezed, searching for a blanket to grip, but instead grabbing Adrian's shirt, clutching it in his white knuckles. A terror in his chest rose, recalling the emptiness of death, the cold tundra of the afterlife that he never wished to feel again.


With profound effort, Cas finished his point, slightly rambling now, "You want- y-yo- you want to l-l-leave me, and d-d-ieee. I t-t-t-tell you every ssssingle day it's b-b-eyond awful. I-I'd r-rather live a-as a warm- I me-mean a warm. I mean a wa- no- a ve-getable, if I h-had warm." Becoming incomprehensible quickly, the agent stuttered out his meaning fitfully, tugging at the front of Adrian's shirt like it was going to recuse him from his memories.

 

[Laine]

“What, so you’re not even -“ Ade said, recoiling slightly at the other reached towards him, grabbing fistful of his shirt and tugging at it brutally. The other’s eyes were wide and wild, a look that Ade knew well. A sense of panic began to fill the doctors own mind as he felt the other shudder violently, on the cusp of another attack. There was no money to buy voffs, no knowledge of where to buy them from anyway – and barely even a bed to lie in. Cassidy’s stuttering voice began to fill the room, his point lost as he spat his words furiously.


“I’m sorry - I’m not – I haven’t given up, Cas, honestly,” He half-begged, the scared look in his eyes betraying the meaning of his own words. Cassidy’s chest was tightly frozen in time, struggling for air as if he was being strangled. “Please, Cassidy, I didn’t mean it. Shh. Calm down.” Adrian gripped the other’s hand, tugging it away from his stomach – the fingers were dug into the flesh beneath the shirt, as if he was trying to put pressure on an open wound. He gripped it tight, pressing it against his chest with the balled fist of cloth that was already there. Ade shuffled closer to the other, although that wasn’t probably a good idea, as he only seemed to tense up more.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy was stiff for moments after Adrian scuttled closer, but softened and let his head collide with Adrian's chest with a thud, withering into the other. He clung to Adrian's shirt, face buried and clutching the cloth, struggling to breathe. Almost like he was having an asthma attack, wheezing and unable to speak. His dark eyes flew open, met with a pure blackness from having his forehead pressed into Adrian's chest. He recoiled, flailing and clawing at his chest, wailing.


Cas flew backwards, eyes squeezed shut, unknowingly. Causing the blackness that terrified him. He was screaming, "N-N-No- Helmi- N-n-n-not- not, not- again." As his back moved towards the wall, he felt like he was falling through the emptiness, losing the grip on Adrian's shirt, causing him to collide with the hollow wall. When his head heavily thudded into the wall, his eyes flew open, light filling the huge pupils, and causing them to shrink. He stayed there frozen, looking around in terror as the nightmarish blackness disappeared, and the light of life returned.

 

[Laine]

“Stop – Cas – you’re gonna hurt yourself – !” Wary of their new neighbours as well as his husbands’ mental state, Adrian hauled himself up, scooting over to the Lieutenant’s side as his head made a huge thud against the wall, echoing through the hollow space. Ade’s heart sank as the other opened his eyes, expecting the worst as he scanned the room with a frightened expression. After a few minutes the doctor cautiously moved forward, gently resting a hand on Cassidy’s shoulder and hushing him to calm down. Cassidy’s breaths remained shaky and unsure, swallowing thickly in the silence that descended between them.


Ade bit his lip, “…you alright?” he murmured softly. He squeezed the other’s shoulder beneath his shirt, pressing in concern against the tense muscle. “You’re exhausted, Cas. You need some rest.” He urged, speaking as if the attack was brought on by the tiredness alone. His hand moved to the other's hair, stroking it gently in comfort. At the same time, he looked down at the other’s right arm, which was twitching and shaking, the neurones unused to the rapid firing of adrenaline.

 

[chellemrys]

Adrian's words bounced off his ears, the doctor trying to soothe him. He had sharply hit his head on the wall, now the back of his cranium ached. Cas' eyes fell onto Adrian's and he seemed to register where he was again.


A pause, complete silence, before Cas' mouth flew open, sucking in air like it was water, and was dehydrated. "A-A-A-Adrian-" He desperately began tugging at his own hair, pushing both hands through it rapidly, over and over again. A gentle touch on his shoulder made him stop, eyes falling shut as he was pleaded with to sleep. His hands still were twisted up in his dark tufts of hair, eyes twisting shut just as much. Tears spring from the closed lids, falling off his cheeks as he shuddered and bent over, reliving every bloody injury he had ever had, at the sharp pains in his stomach and arm. He began sputtering about an injury that Adrian had never heard of, as those it had just happened.


"M-My- head- ow oh my head-" Really it was a migraine, but felt like, and was hallucinating about, a time he had been hit in the head with the butt of a rifle, right between the eyes. He dragged his hands down over his eyes, pressing with a sob. "Adri- V-Voff- C-Cig-" he begged, unable to open his eyes against the pain splitting his mind. "S-S-Something-!" Breath catching, he shoved his hands into his hair again.

 

[Laine]

Ade leaned forward, peering at the side of the other’s head to check for any bleeding after he clutched his head. Trying to calm him down with gentle Shh sounds, unsure as to whether the Lieutenant was really in pain or was hallucinating it. He twisted his face in guilt at Cassidy begged him for drugs to relieve him from the horrible memories. “Y-yeah, Cas, I’ll get you some s-soon, just hold on-“ He lied, wishing that the attack would slowly pass. Or that his drahy had had some foresight to buy some while he was out.


He raised his head at the sound of loud coughing from next door, and Adrian cocked an eyebrow. Every planet must have it’s drug…? He patted the other’s shoulder, nodding vigorously, as he himself tried to stay calm, “I’ll go now, hm? Give me the money, and I’ll – I’ll see if I can find you some.”


------


Minutes later, he rapped his knuckles against the door nervously, clutching what little bills they had left and folding his arms across his chest. It must’ve been 11, 12pm at night, and the neighbour that answered the door did not look happy to be receiving him.


“H-hi,” Ade mumbled in rough Kerschnaille, not knowing that nobody spoke it outside of the U.G.G., let alone in one of the poorest streets of Shiala. “Listen, I need a favour – I need some voffs for my part-“ He said, shaking his head as he swallowed thickly against the collar. Wary of throwing what Cassidy had tried so hard to set up, he reluctantly rephrased himself, “My Master. Please, I can pay – just anything you have.” He held up the money, smiling weakly.

 

[chellemrys]

The feathered humanoid blinked at Adrian, big black eyes narrowing with a tilt of his head. He chirped and yelled something over his shoulder, sounding like a question. The cash was raised, and the creature lifted his brows, a pleased chirp ringing out, finished off with a grin. He grabbed Adrian and the cash, whispering and ushering the doctor in, quietly shutting the door behind him. They stood in a tiny room, a coat room. With makeshift walls put up, so the rest of the room couldn't be seen.


He gently urged Adrian to walk through the set of curtains ahead, and they entered into a room similar to Ade and Cas' apartment's. A couch and kitchen set. A large dining room seat five older bird women, who were sucking at voff-like drugs, excitedly gossiping and filling the room with their booming voices. Children scuttled across the floor, pushing toys into walls and monstrously tackling one another with screeches. All around bags of garbage lay, with toys. A litter of dog-like pets lay in the corner, in a box, barking as a woman screamed at them to shut up. He twirled Adrian through the haze and the steam and fumes, hastily bringing him into the next room.


There a myriad of people sat on the floor, rolling all sorts of neon colored press plants and powders into rolls and packages, black curtains pulled over all the windows, and fluorescent bulbs the only source of light. A slimy woman resembling a gold fish wriggled up to Adrian from behind, wrapping and squeezing her arms around the much taller human's waist, sliding her wet hands up under his shirt, up and down his waist. Asking the man who brought him a question, sounding like a seductress from a cheesy film.

 

[Laine]

Ade resisted slightly as he was brought towards the dark room – the only thing stopping from from running away screaming was his drahy sitting next door, on the verge of a breakdown without anything to tide him over. He nodded and pointed desperately to the metal tubes sticking out of the old-bird-women’s faces, but it was too late, and before he knew it there was a woman behind him, giggling obnoxiously as he tried to wriggle away.


She leaned in seductively, smirking as her scaly lips whispered millimetres away from his ear, “Mhmm, what’s your poison, dear?” She repeated the question to Ade in Shialan, her hands running further down his waist, to his hips. “I think I know-“


Adrian recoiled and pulled away, stammering in panicked Kerschnaille and English as he nearly tripped over an addict lying on the floor. He shook his head in exaggerated motions, grabbing towards the man that had taken his money. “No – n-no, listen – I wanted – This is a mistake - ” The goldfish only advanced, sticking her bottom lip out in disappointment. The owner of the house pointed at Ade’s collar, and she cocked an eyebrow, before rolling her eyes and nodding in response. She leaned down, meticulously wriggling her barely-clothed body as she scooped some of the neon blue powder from the table. Ade swallowed thickly, not really wanting Cas to try something so…dangerous looking. “Look, just – just a voff will do, really…”

 

[chellemrys]

Most of the people were watching now, stopping from making the products. The only people paying no notice were passed out on the floor, or playing with their hands in front of their faces, goggly eyed. The man who had opened the door out his hands in his pockets, looking Adrian up and down. "Hey uh- you're the new neighbor." He recognized the redhead finally, realizing maybe Adrian was not a client after all.


The goldfish woman smirked at Adrian's stuttering, and began mocking him, making almost every one in the room collectively laugh. She stopped, playing with a bag of the powder, "Oh, shush~" The goldfish cooed, lifting a hand of the bright cyan powder up in front of his face and blowing up a cloud of it between them as Adrian continued to speak.


Flecks of blue green dotted Adrian's skin, most of the puff going right into his mouth. A ton of the heavy pile landing on his shirt, neck, and jaw- contrasting against the pasty white skin.

 

[Laine]

“I – I have to go –“ Ade sputtered, smiling weakly at the goldfish as he backed away towards the door. She blew the powder into his half-open mouth, and he blinked in confusion, smacking his lips together and tasting bitter crystals on his tongue. It instantly tingled and went numb, and he let out a frightened yelp, resulting in another bout of amused laughter from the rest of the aliens in the room. “R-Really – really have to go,” He gasped as a rush of blood shot to his face. He stumbled backwards, pushing past the owner of the apartment.


Adrian got halfway to the door of the dark room – before the dimly-lit figures started wobbling violently like jell-o. One alien, another scaled fish-like one, lifted their head as he stood over them. The doctor covered his mouth with a hand, his eyes widening as he made eye contact with the creature, a thick line of drool dribbling from its lips. “Oh – my god,” He practically shouted in English, the words from his mouth suddenly seeming very distant away. He blinked at the humanoid, looking again at the fish-lady that followed him, “You’re – you’re a fish! A fish person!” He stifled a loud snort, before breaking into a bout of excited laughter.


He staggered on his own shaky legs after a few minutes, face red from giggling so much. Cassidy would love this. He explained to the passed-out fish man, patting him on the shoulder,“I have – I have to see – my husband.” A further snigger caught in his throat, and he took a few more steps. The auburn-haired doctor leaned against the wall, rubbing his head in an attempt to find the door. But of course, it was too late, and he sank against the wall, chortling loudly as the wallpaper pattern suddenly did backflips over his head.

 

[chellemrys]

After about a half hour of sitting alone, having what felt like an asthma attack combined with a migraine, Cas fainted. His attacks had never progressed that far before, and he curled up in a lonely ball, releasing his sore scalp and falling into a heap of tears on the bare mattress. The Lieutenant sobbed into his arms until he finally calmed, in the form of blacking out.


**


Cas woke nearly an hour later, head stuffy and vision blurry. He wiped at crusted drool on his jaw, and then his black eyes, peering around the room. "Mhm... Adrian?" He whispered, the bed creaking as he shifted towards it's edge. Furrowing his brow to remember what had happened, he vaguely remembered having one of those... again. In shame, he hung his head, his eyes drooping shut. But- Ade left. To get me something.





Cassidy looked back up at the wall, listening for any sounds of movement in the other rooms. Besides the occasional quiet thump from other apartments, his own home was encased in a dead silence. I must have fell asleep before he could get anything. A bout of fear gripped his chest, realizing he had let Adrian leave. What was he thinking? Letting his drahy, who could barely navigate a dangerous part of a city in his own time. And when he knew the language. This was the 51st century, the most dangerous part of the city undoubtedly, and on top of it all, Adrian could not speak Shialan. Just going to the store had been a heap of trouble for Cassidy, let alone his partner.


The Lieutenant hopped to his feet, rushing into the other rooms, looking around with huge eyes for Adrian. He pulled back the curtain to the bathroom, holding his breath, and found an empty shower and toilet. He wasn't at the kitchen set. And upon tugging the thin door open, he found no one on the porch. "Adrian?" He called out, warily. They had revoked his gun at the government offices, so after gripping at it instinctively he sighed, wincing at his foolishness. He bet everyone of his neighbors had guns illegally. It was that type of neighborhood.


Cas searched the neighborhood, wandering around his house, and getting unpleasant, scrutiny filled stares from the inhabitants of the area. Eventually he returned, panicky and at a loss of what to do. He couldn't call the cops, saying he lost his illegally purchased slave. Or that his drahy was missed. Or even involve his name in a report without arousing suspicion. He used to be law enforcement, but now he had to sit around idle, worried and trying not to make a wrong move.


Eventually he began knocking on neighbor's doors. If anybody had seen Adrian, or the government officials, it would be them. A colorful bird-man opened the door, smoothing back his feathers. "H-Hello." Cas waved, knowing the man couldn't understand a word of his native language. "Have you seen... A tall, red-headed human? I'm missing him." Getting blank stares, he made motions depicting something tall, and pointing to his hair, and then the man's red shirt. Hoping he could have some luck.