(Re-Write) The Soldier's Superhero

Chapter 31

Warning: PTSD, reference to noncon/rape, anxiety, depression, self-deprecating thoughts

In a week, Fliqpy had finally come out of the shell he was trapped in. He actively forced himself to move, to eat, to do things on his own. He still flinched when sudden movements or noises popped up, he called out for Splendid when they worked on putting a bit of space between them, and he still had a hard time sleeping.

They actually talked.

And it was only then that Fliqpy opened up to Splendid about the truth.

"... it was Clumsy."

Splendid stared at him from where they sat in the living room, eating on the coffee table. Fliqpy was picking at his food, forcing a spoonful at a time into his mouth. Splendid didn't say anything, his heart racing uncomfortably.

"I was... Tiger's soldier for about four decades..." he said softly. "I escaped in two-thousand and seven because his drugs weren't working on me anymore. He said I had mutating blood, which he needed for his drugs... I wandered around for a few years before I settled in Happy Tree Friends Town in two-thousand-twelve..."

Fliqpy glanced up, checking to see if Splendid was listening. He was.

"Flippy took over when we went to town for the first time... I... I couldn't handle being around normal people again. It— it doesn't excuse the fact I enjoyed what I did when we found out about the curse."

"... why'd you do it?"

"... if I hurt, they had to hurt..." Fliqpy set the fork down and rubbed at his chest, making a pained face. "He said he had extra drugs that kept me... more susceptible to being commanded to violence. I was out of control without them... and all I remember is wanting violence. I'm the part that encompasses everything wrong with humans. Impulses, inate cruelty, the capacity for violence."

Splendid frowned. When Fliqpy looked up, he could see pity and sadness in his expression. He had to look away.

"I told you. Clumsy was split in two. Me and Flippy. One meant for good, the other meant for evil. Except Flippy wasn't supposed to stay. He was supposed to die. Any morals and humanity that Clumsy had, was supposed to go away with Flippy and leave me behind. The "perfect killing machine." So much for that..." Fliqpy mocked, trying to be humorous. "Turned out pretty pathetic the second time around."

"Don't say that." Splendid said quickly, frowning when Fliqpy flinched. "You're not pathetic. Just a little hurt."

Fliqpy shoved some more food in his mouth and glanced at him, "... do you know what he did to me?"

Splendid swallowed at that, but didn't break eye contact, "I... have a pretty good idea of what he did."

Fliqpy clenched his jaw and looked away, a dry chuckle escaping him, "Guess you must find me disgusting then."

"No!"

Fliqpy flinched back, looking at him in surprise. The hurt expression on Splendid's face had him faltering.

"Fliqpy, please, stop talking about yourself like that. You didn't deserve any of that." Splendid said gently, clenching his fists. "As far as I can tell, it's not your fault you're the way you are. You didn't ask to have parts of yourself ripped and forced apart. You couldn't help any of this."

Fliqpy looked away, his heart racing, "I can help it now. I could have helped it before."

Splendid moved over, touching his shoulder to make him look back over, "You said it was different this time around. You said Tiger wanted a soldier the first time. This next time he just... wanted to subjugate you. You were forced to submit. You were drugged and experimented on."