Institution Of Monsters

Chapter 7

I know your smoking guns.
The tip of your tongue.
You take your aim to point the blame.
It's time we let it go, so save your lies behind those eyes.
You're a devil in disguise.
Life's too short to be dancing with the devil, life's too short to be dancing with the devil.
You best sleep with a blanket and a shovel, 'cause life's too short to be dancing with the devil

Now it's time to pay the price.

As the group moves to reach the officers who give out their chores, led by a stone-cold faced Lucifer, Archie speaks up.
"I wike de Sun! I wun to work in de yard twoday!" (I like the Sun, I want to work in the yard today) He says, in a higher pitched tone than average. His little prance and humming makes Brazen warm up a little, before realising that he's a homicidal maniac.

He can't get to close to me. I can't afford to risk harming him.

As they arrived to the long, snake-like queue, a bellowing echo bounces off of the hall's walls, "IT'S THE ROYALS!"
As soon as this phrase came out of the prisoner's mouth, everyone stopped their private conversations, whipped around and bowed before the group. Brazen was never exposed to being treated with such high respect, such as this gesture. He stood, dumbfounded - this whole experience is wildly new to him. Lucifer chuckled slightly, and his strides continued. Anywhere Lucifer King stepped, people would scurry out of his way like mice. It was if even the insects in his vicinity scurried away in fear.
"You know us. Brazens here to so put it in the database. Tags, for six," Lucifer said in a chilling, monotone voice.
" 'Kay, NEXT?" The officer was unfazed by Lucifer's display on the surface, but even she shivered underneath. Who knew exactly what he was capable of?
Lucifer spun around, flicking through the tasks silently before crouching down in front of Archie, "Hey Arch, I've got some good news for ya. We don't have one, but two gardening tasks, out in the yard!"
"WEALLY??? I WUN BWAZ'N TO COME WIT ME!" (Really? I want Brazen to come with me!) He was practically jumping with joy, tugging at Brazen's shirt while Brazen just glanced nervously up at Lucifer who gave him a glare back.
"Whatever you wish, buddy," Lucifer smiled gently towards Archie and put out the tag in front of him, only for Archie to greedily grab it and squeal with happiness. Lucifer also shoved the other tag against Brazen's torso in a rougher manner.

Before Brazen could say anything, Archie was pulling him out of the gates while Lucifer handed out the rest of the tasks to the gang.

Leon was on window cleaning, the unfortunate teen knows no one will target him there due to cameras in every area he needs to clean - but the windows are so tall, it takes so much effort. Plus, he has to do it all day. He groans about it under his breath, recieving empathetic glares off his lovers.

I'll shut up now.

Jaxon was on laundry duty....let's say he caused a scene trying to get a new tag. The poor worker that was stationed behind the counter, traumatised, stuttered out a pitiful 'N-Next' as Jaxon was pulled away from the area by Lucifer and Heidi, meanwhile Leon sighed at his antics and ran off to get to work. The duo dumped the sulking Jaxon at the corner on the room, saying something about 'time out' while snickering.

I'll show those smug pricks 'time out' when we're in the middle of one of our 'sessions'.

Heidi was put on dog care duty. He wasn't happy as he had to train, walk, treat and wash the 'filthy things' as he likes to call them. He not only had to do that, but he also had to wear one of those gloves and let them bite, drag and wrestle him.

Today sucks ass. Well... I literally do but that's besides the point.

Lucifer, however, was pretty content as he had a free day, however he has to do bin duty the rest of the week. All he had to do today was sunbathe in the communal yard with the other level seven inmates that had a free day. There were only supposed to be around ten to twenty of them ... They all avoid him at all costs.

This is what I call a good day. Actually, that would be the days I get my babes all to myself.... what should I do? Oh yeah, there's something going on between Brazen and that woefully feminine doctor, I'll have to dig up dirt on him.

While everyone else (except Lucifer) were complaining, Brazen and Archie were having fun in the yard. Archie was happily planting new flowers in some places and watering all of them while Brazen got to work on trimming the overgrown bushes that took up far too much space. He was content as he listened to Archie's happy giggles, but after a while they suddenly stopped, which causes Brazen to turn sharply. He sees a few others taking the piss out of Archie, they shove him to the floor and grab his hair as he cries out in pain. Brazen feels his whole body tense and doesn't hesitate to rush over to defend the little. He throws a punch at one and gets a satisfactory pop in return, he faces the other and headbutts him before delivering a hard kick to his kneecap. He didn't anticipate for his kneecap to bend all the way back with a soothing crunch. The last one tries to attack him but ended up sprawled out on the floor, panting and bleeding profoundly. Brazen keeps his focus on them as he backed up to Archie who seemed completely frightened and hyperventilating, "Hey, little one. Can you breathe for me?"
He sees the two get up and they work together to take their friend with the broken knee to the medical bay. Brazen makes sure there aren't any other threats and turns to Archie. The little seems to be deeper and deeper in headspace as he sobs, "B- Bwazwen, wan g' bwack k- kwell."
(Brazen, I want to go back to the cell).
Brazen picks him up and holds him tightly to his chest, the little's head in the crook of his neck while sucking on his thumb. Archie's sobs get quieter until his breathing is shallow, small snores leave his mouth and little hiccups are the only sounds that arise from him.

I was told no one fucks with the Royals, so why Archie? And why now?

As he walks back through the door, Jaxon and Leon are already there and rush over to take Archie. Quick questions such as 'what the fuck happened?', 'what did you do?' and 'how the fuck could you allow this?' are thrown at him.
He growls at them, "I didn't do shit. He was watering flowers and giggling but suddenly stopped. When I turned to see what happened, there were three others standing around him and picking on him. I beat them up a bit, they all went to the med bay. After they disappeared, I went straight to Archie to help him. He begged me to take him back here so I did, plus it was probably for the best, despite being comfortable around me, you guys know him better and know how to care for him."
Jaxon studies him carefully, seeing how Brazen watches the entrance, his muscles are still coiled up, like a spring or a cobra ready to strike, as if he is preparing to mindlessly attack anyone that dares to come near the cell. Leon quickly grabs a small stuffed animal that was allowed to be in here for them when they're little - the psychiatrist ordered that they have one- and quickly lies down with Archie as he lets him cling to it. After two hours, Lucifer arrives with Heidi following behind, almost getting taken out by a blur that is revealed to be Brazen. Lucifer grabs him and sits him in the corner, like he would a child, looking at him sternly before speaking, "Now, what the fuck was that for?"
Brazen looks at them both apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you guys. I- I.... It's just that I already failed at keeping Archie safe and I didn't want to risk any more harm coming to anyone else."
They nod in acceptance and let him off the hook, Lucifer doesn't miss the opportunity to snarl at him in anger as they focus their attention onto the now cheerful Archie and a happy Leon, Jaxon in the corner keeping an eye on everything.
"What happened to Archie?"
The question hangs in the air as the giggling teen looks up at them, still deep in headspace, "Mweanies hwurt ee bwut Bwazwen scwared em off an hewped ee." (Meanies hurt me, but Brazen scared them off and helped me.)
Lucifer's whole body shakes with the effort to hold back the pure hatred and urge to destroy everything in sight. Heidi manages to get descriptions of the three that are responsible, where they were last seen and he is quite sure that they're still at the med bay. He then nods as he mumbles a quick 'be back soon' before he's gone. He joins up with Lucifer (who now has bruised knuckles laced in blood) and whispers the information he collected. The Terror Duo is fired up and those responsible for their lover's pain will pay the consequences. Every single one of the inmates had heard what happened and quickly scrambled out of their way, not wanting to be caught in the deadly crossfire. They had it set in their minds that they won't let this slide, those three will not make it through the night. They have to pay the price.

Ashgate should be careful because its kings are once again on a war path.