Compelled

2

  It had been three days since his last meeting with Maxum, Kane was distraught after the whole ordeal, and then promptly being left alone to face the watching eyes of onlookers? He was angry. But even as he mumbled quietly to himself and cursed him into oblivion, Maxum's words rang loud in his ears, "Please just consider, i really would like to know."

Anger. Hatred. Fury. He was so upset at himself he started kicking things. He kicked and punched and ripped until he laid sobbing on the floor, he cried until his throat was raw and his eyes stung from his salty tears. Everything was falling apart on him, he had shut down and now everything was bubbling to the surface. All the people who had been killed, everyone whose lives were ruined, not a single bit of it was worth it. It wasn't worth the pain he was feeling now, and it wasn't worth the years of indoctrination he had experienced to be perfect in the public eye. He sat on the floor wailing for those whom he had hurt and whose lives he had ruined. He cried and moaned in a ball of pain on the floor for hours, allowing his pent up sorrow to be let out.

There was many things Kane hated about Maxum. Perhaps the most prompt was Maxum's ability to worm himself into the deepest corners of Kane's mind, even as Kane fought sourly with himself, Maxum's face appeared in his thoughts and kept bringing him back to the same single conclusion.

"I can't keep doing this." He whispered to himself, tear wrought face and sorrow bitten eyes staring into nothing. He knew Maxum was right, always had been, but how could he just admit that? How could he just.. leave? He needed help.

. . .

Hours passed and Alacia fumbled into Kane's apartment, she knew he would be Out Of It but this was still unexpected. He lay mindlessly on the floor of the living room, fireplace blazing brightly providing the only warmth and light throughout the whole living space. A further look revealed that Kane was holding in his hands the suit Maxum had sent weeks earlier, the collar up to his nose and knuckles clenched so tightly they appeared white. What's he gotten himself into now?

"Holy shit Kane! Are you sure you're okay-"

Kane cut her off, "Yes. ... No? I don't know anything anymore."

Alacia's eyes softened and she leaned down to him, pulling him into an awkward half hug while he whimpered out at the touch.

She took a deep breath and questioned, "What happened? What could've possibly made you like this, Kay?" and just like that, the fond nickname and sympathy that now reminded him of Maxum broke him.

He began to sob once more, shoulders shaking, throat fully raw, and now it was clear how bad Kane had been broken. Alacia's eyes glazed over as she pulled Kane in tighter, urging him to let go of the suit but he only held it tighter. She rubbed his back and whispered nothings to him while he brokenly spilled out what had happened in the ballroom just 3 days ago, slowly growing more agitated as Maxum's bold 'invasions' spilled over into Kanes life further.