(Re-Write) The Soldier's Superhero

Chapter 32

Warning: trigger/panic attack, anxiety, violence, ref abuse/noncon/rape

Fliqpy's heart was racing.

They were walking through the hall to get to the labs underneath the White House. His legs were screaming for rest, but he refused to be carried or pushed in a wheelchair, his ego and self-respect would become nonexistent if he did. He head already fallen so low in front of Splendid, he couldn't in front of his friends and his old superiors.

"Just hold onto me if you need more support." Splendid whispered as they walked passed rooms of files and old, unused artifacts he didn't care for.

Fliqpy shook his head, "I'm fine."

He wanted to hold onto Splendid. He was terrified. Almost half a century of hiding and pretending he never existed had him shaking in his boots. They knew about him, what he had done in town, and how he was a coward who ran. He was a failure, a traitor, and someone who didn't deserve the title he "earned" from his time in service.

"Clumsy?"

Fliqpy stopped and looked up. Standing at a door stood, Elie White and Mary Tiger, two of the founding members of W.A.R. Fliqpy tensed at their astonished looks and he unconsciously grabbed onto Splendid.

"That's not my name." He said, but his voice came out strained and small.

Elie gave him a sad, soft smile, walking over slowly, "Ah, right. You changed your name."

Mary followed after him, a weary look on her face, "You still look so young."

Fliqpy stared at them, flinching slightly when Mary and Elie both cupped the sides of his face, smiling at him like he was a long-lost friend. His felt his heart clench as he looked down to his feet. Why weren't they mad at him? He had abandoned his duty to run away and hide. They should be furious with him.

"You did good, soldier." Elie said after a moment, making Fliqpy look back up at him.

Goddamn tears...

"I'm sorry." He whispered softly, clenching his fists. "I'm so sorry."

Mary frowned softly wiping his face, "We know, Cl— Fliqpy... Splendid has explained a lot to us and we've... we've combed through the Tiger General's files. We know what he was doing to you."

Fliqpy glanced away again, accepting her gentle touch, "Well, I'm a monster that he needed. And I stayed one after I escaped."

"Oh, Fliqpy..." Mary cradled his face, making him look at her. "It wasn't your fault. We'll get you the help you need."

Elie reached up, his previously strong and filled-out arm was wrinkly and soft now, and patted his head, "You did the best you could. And I'm proud of you, regardless."

Dammit. Dammit.

Fliqpy bit the inside of his cheek.

I really needed that...

He merely nodded and accepted their fussing. It was weird. They acted like Pops when he fussed over Cubs. It made him uncomfortable because it did remind him of his mother, back when she had still loved and cared about him. It was nice.

Elie patted his shoulder after a moment, "We'll discuss fixing up that medication for you once Ms. Eel finishes going through the documents Tiger had on you. For now, would you like to go in?"

Fliqpy blinked, looking over towards the door where his friends were in as Mary wiped his cheeks one last time, "We've caught them up on what happened these last few months. So they know what's happened."