Unexpected

Chapter One: Don't You Worry Child

Max fought, of course he did, he kicked out sharply, dug his nails in, even used his teeth. Still, they broke his legs and continued on. For one split second it didn't hurt, and then the pain and violation hit him, and his brain caught up. He sobbed like a kid, and as the villain violated him, his eyes searched for the one person he trusted most in the world. Their eyes locked, and for a moment Max hoped, desperately, fervently hoped that he would save him. The hope died in his chest as the seconds passed, and the torture continued. Despair set in, and Max realized that this was how he was going to go, betrayed by the one person he thought he could trust. The worst part was that he couldn't even blame him, couldn't blame him, because he knew things would've been worse if he'd fought, Max might've been forced to watch his father figure be tortured in his stead. And even as his brain shut down, blocked out the pain and humiliation, he knew he wouldn't have been able to stand that.

His fingers dug into his palms as he clenched his fists, fury filling him so rapidly, he was surprised he hadn't given up the act. The moment he realized what they were going to do to Max, a kind of fury filled him that he hadn't felt since his supervillain days. A cold calculating rage swept over him, as his mind raced for a plan. It was the old revolver Lady Web liked to drag around that caught his attention like a moth to a flame. Supervillains hardly ever used guns, finding them unsophisticated and Lady Web was no different. Still she casually mentioned it was a gift from her mother, and everyone let it go. He knew she always kept it armed, so the moment she shifted closer, he snagged it off of her, turned the safety off and pointed the gun at Max's tormentor. With no hesitation he pulled the trigger, and without looking back he did the same to the other stunned villains.

For a moment all was silent, until the rage wore off, and Colosso noticed Max laying on the ground, staring up at the ceiling with blank eyes and his heart skipped a beat as he thought Max might've been dead. And then his chest moved shallowly, breath rattling in his lungs, and he felt himself almost slumping in relief.

"Max?" Colosso whispered, guilt filling him as crept closer. He regretted just standing by, despite knowing there was no other way to defeat them. Max shifted, eyes staring at him blankly, barely registering his surroundings. Colosso stifled his rage and guilt as he bent down in front of Max, moving slowly so as not to scare him, and he took off his cape and wrapped it around Max's exposed form. For a moment he just breathed, clutching Max desperately, and holding him like he was glass

"Dad?" the mumbled question almost made him stiff in shock. He swallowed, tears burning in his eyes as he clutched his son protectively to his chest.

Max felt the familiar smell of carrots, and something that felt like home surrounded him, and something in him recognized it, despite his situation. Tears unwillingly sprung to his eyes at the feeling of gentle arms wrapping around him. Someone was holding him, protectively, and Max felt completely safe for the first time in his life.

"Dad?" he choked out, relief filling him as he connected the dots, brain still sluggish and tense. It was silent for a moment and Max drifted for a while, when a voice reached his ears, soothing and protective, and all of his muscles untensed, relaxing fully in the arms of his father.

"You're okay, you're okay, Papa's here, he won't let anyone hurt you ever again," Colosso whispered.

The world went black.

Colosso stood, his son wrapped in his cape, clutched in his arms as he strode from the building, determined to get his son to safety. He slipped on his jet pack and flew home. The minute he landed outside the window to the Lair he slipped in and quietly lowered Max onto his bed, tucking him in, and settling by his side in protective vigilance.

For a moment, when Max woke up, he was still half asleep, some part of him not wanting to remember, then the memories flooded back and he stiffened, panic filling him as his breathing picked up speed. His eyes flickered around his lair, and latched on to Colosso, relief filling him as he calmed slightly at someone his brain considered safe.

"Colosso?" Max rasped out, making the man jolt out of his chair, staring at him in shock and relief.

"Max!" The older man's voice was filled with relief, and Max couldn't help, but frown at the sound of the guilt lacing his voice.

"It's not your fault," Max choked out. The tears that sprang to Colosso's eyes stunned Max briefly. Max was the son of a superhero, he may have been banged up and traumatized, but he knew how to suppress until he could deal with it.

"Shh," Colosso soothed, "You're going to be alright," he promised.

"Course, you're here," Max blurted out. A comfortable silence fell as Colosso and Max basked in the feeling of safety.

"Did you tell my parents?" Max questioned abruptly.

"No, do you want me to?" Colosso offered, standing as if to leave.

"NO!" Max shouted, heart lurching in panic.

"Then I won't," Colosso promised, sitting back down. Max breathed out in relief, knowing that despite how illogical it was, he thought his family might blame him.

"I don't want to be a supervillain anymore," Max whispered shamefully.

"Okay," Colosso accepted to Max's slight surprise.

"I don't want to be a hero either," Max admitted.

"That's alright," Colosso soothed, smiling at him reassuringly.

"I just want to be free to be me without putting a label on it," Max hurried to explain.

"You don't have to explain, I get it," Colosso assured.

"Chloe Thunderman," Colosso offered, changing the subject when Max began to look uncomfortable.

"It was a girl then?" Max smiled slightly, "Guess Phoebe got her wish," he muttered.

"Max, are you going to be okay?" Colosso asked hesitantly.

"Eventually, I think I will be," Max settled on, smiling tightly, as he shoved the memories back again.

Later he would cry and sob and scream. Later he would flinch away from anyone that wasn't Colosso, later he would panic and zone out, but right now he was safe with his dad, and nothing else mattered.