記‧憶

Summary

Korse continued on his torture on Kobra in order to gain information from Party.

'Still nothing from our Killjoys leader? Oh, it seems like your brother doesn't really care about you, does he?' Korse stopped the beating, smiled at Kobra, who was trying hard to back away from Korse but scarcely had any strength left to support his movement.

Korse stamped one foot on Kobra's chest, hearing a satisfying crack and a howl that Kobra had been holding back for too long. Party could hear the labouring breath of Kobra's. He saw Korse turned his face fully towards him, wearing a triumphant, evil grin.
'This will do for now,' Korse spoke through his microphone, 'and I'll come back at noon. You'd better be ready. Both of you.'

Korse gave Kobra's side one last kick before marching out the cell, leaving the younger Killjoy writhing on the blood-stained floor.
Party felt his throat raw from shouting Kobra's name. He hoped his brother could simply black out and get away from all the pain he'd suffered.

_____________

Party didn't sleep at all. He couldn't. He just sat against the far side of the cell with his knees pulled up to his chest, staring at Kobra's limp figure all night till the sunlight shone through the glass. It had been a long, long night.

One Drac passed a tray with two slices of toast and a can of water through a small hole on the door, which Party didn't even bother to look at. Kobra got the same tray from his door, only without water. Party knew what it meant.

Kobra was still asleep, unaware of the sound of the tray dropping to the floor.

'Kobra, you need to eat.'
Korse stepped in with the typical grin.
Party banged the wall and yelled, 'Korse, get away from Kobra! Come here and take me instead!'
Korse turned to Party and gave him a sorry-I-couldn't-hear-you face.

He kneeled beside Kobra and poked him a few times on his arm wound with a finger before Kobra opened his eyes with a groan.
'You are such a screamer, aren't you?'
Kobra didn't move, he didn't want to. And in fact, he couldn't move much, either.
'Well, here's the deal. You eat, and I keep the food for both of you. If you don't, you still have yours until it rottens, but you brother gets to keep none. How's that sound to you, good?'

Kobra looked at Party and saw he staring back at him, eyes wide. Kobra sighed and tried to sit up and eat. Korse reached out to him with satisfaction. Kobra jumped as Korse's fingers touched his bare arm. He steadied himself and let Korse help him. Without Korse's grip, he would eventually fall back to the ground and his big brother was probably going to miss a meal.

'What the fuck, Kobra?' Party mouthed.
'Sorry, Party.' Kobra mouthed back before sticking the toast into his mouth and chewed hard, without water.
'Good,' Korse leaned back to the wall, 'That's my boy.'
Kobra gave him a disgust look and got back to his toast.
'I'll see ya boys again.' Korse said in an easy tone and left.

Party started to eat as well. If he were to fight Korse, he would need the energy from the food. He reached for the water can and instantly thought of Kobra. He tilted his head and for that tiny moment, Party doubted if he saw Kobra's hungry stare at the water can in his hands.

'That's it. Your information for your baby brother's water.' Korse said as he watched through the monitor and smirked.

_____________

Korse returned at exactly twelve.
'Let's make it clear, shall we?' Korse stood outside Party's cell and spoke into the microphone.
'Are you telling me anything or not, considering your baby brother's current state?'
Party stole a quick look at Kobra and saw Kobra watching both of them with doubt. He looked fine, though. Or at least he pretended to look fine.

'No.'
Party shook his head furiously.
'Then I guess I won't ever have to step in your cell, Party.'
Korse turned to his right and entered the cell in front of him.
Party could see Kobra's body stiffened but remained still. He could only assume that Kobra was trying to be as calm as he could.

'Let's see. Glad to see you finishing all your meal, Kobra.'
Kobra remained seated on the plain white floor, didn't bother to look at Korse.
'Since your brother refused to give out anything,' Korse continued, 'You are going to pay for his misbehavior. You willing to do it? For him?'
Korse said it loud and clear, making sure that Party heard it, too.

'Not just him, but all the others in the desert.'
Kobra replied, still gazing at the floor.
Korse grabbed a handful of Kobra's hair, yanking it backwards, forcing the blonde to look at him.
'I'd be very sorry if you say that again.'
'Not just him, but all the others in the desert.'
Kobra repeated in the same determined tone, face expressionless.

Korse slammed Kobra's head towards the ground, flipped him over, and pinned him down on his back.
'You want to be a fucking hero, don't you? I can make you one, but only if you can take it.' Korse offered.