Drop of a Bag // [Paperhat]

Part Nine: Meeting

Flug knew fear, and he knew it well. His life had been threatened countless times, in countless ways; there wasn't a torture he wasn't familiar with. He knew how it felt to be all different kinds of afraid and in pain, and honestly thought nothing could be new to him in this department anymore.

Until now.

The trembling scientist stood in front of the large, elegant doors to Black Hat's office. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't will himself to grab the handle, or even knock. No, he knew the moment he walked into the office, a new kind of pain would be awaiting him.

After all, he'd disrespected his boss to the highest degree in his other form. The monster inside of him had done its worst, not only admitting Flug's crush but also trying to perform an intimate action such as kissing without the boss' consent. He was terrified, in every sense of the word.

Unfortunately, he didn't have much time to consider his terror as the doors to the office swung open on their own. Black Hat sat regally in his professional throne, behind his ebony desk and many scattered papers. His hands were folded together, and his one working eye pierced right through Flug's soul, making him shudder in horror.

"Come in, doctor," BH instructed, curling one sharp talon to instruct him to come closer.

Flug, with a valiant effort, managed to get one foot to follow the other as he approached the desk. He could swear his legs were made of paper as he wobbled towards his looming boss, and he fought every urge to run the other direction. The doors slammed behind him, and he let out a yelp of disapproval.

"Sit down," his boss commanded, and he immediately did as he was told. His back was straighter than he was, and the poor man's hands trembled in rhythm with his chattering teeth. He hoped he didn't look as terrified as he felt, though it was unlikely his wish would come true.

"Why do you think I've called you in here, doctor?" he tried, voice slow and menacing.

"B-because my other side d-d-disrespected you, sir," he answered meekly, sound barely able to escape through his lips. "I-It tried to f-force affection on you, which is int-t-tolerable."

"Why?"

"S-sorry, sir?"

"Why did it wish to force affection unto me?"

There went the last of his fleeting, already meek confidence. Flug couldn't speak at all now, and he thanked the bag for hiding the heavy blush tinting his cheeks as he leaned back in his chair. His thumbs waged war on each other as he kicked his legs back and forth, looking like a little kid about to get scolded by his parents.

"Answer me," Black Hat demanded with a low growl, voice splitting into two tones. Flug yelped, and he tried his best to collect himself.

"BecauseIlikeyousir," he mumbled, looking down at his gloved hands.

"What?"

"BecauseIlikeyousir," he repeated, slightlylouder but still indecipherable.

"Speak up, Doc—"

"BECAUSE I LIKE YOU SIR," he yelled in frustration, making BH's working eye widen in surprise. "Every time I'm alone with you I get some weird parody of butterflies, and my heart beats faster, and my brain produces strange thoughts about us being close together in various ways. I can't help but wonder what your anatomy is like, and I keep wanting to find out for myself. Even when you're giving me orders or yelling at me, all I can think of is how lucky I am to have your trust and attention and have your expectations for me high enough to expect good work out of my inventions. And I know I shouldn't feel this way because it defies everything I've learned about being a villain but you're so amazing and truly evil and I've never met anyone or anything who can make me feel as whole as you do!"

Flug stood there, huffing to catch his breath, in the stunned silence. The coal eldritch stared at him blankly, the only readable expression coming from him being utter shock.

A painfully silent minute passed, seeming to stretch endlessly. The terrified scientist could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears, almost blocking out the sound of a painful swallowing in his throat. He wanted to curl up and die. This, watching his boss analyze him with not a single clue as to what he was thinking, was a torture he'd never experienced before.

"I-I'm sorry sir—EEK!"

He squealed as Black Hat slammed a hand through his desk, shattering it to splinters as he stood up. Using the newly made path, his boss walked straight towards him, eye narrowed like a predator focusing on its next meal. Flug backed up, babbling incoherently about making it up to him and working nonstop. He even resorted to promising to torture himself, though he stopped quickly when Black Hat began to growl lowly.

This is it, he thought hopelessly. This is the place where I die.

Suddenly, his back hit the wall. He had nowhere else to go, and he realized his life would be gone in mere seconds. All of his regrets cycled through his head, and he began to tear up as he wondered who'd take care of 505. He squeezed his eyes shut in fear, bracing himself for impact as his hands sent his racing pulse into the wall.

Flug's soul threatened to leave his body as two sets of claws wrapped around his wrists and pinned his arms over his head. The demon's hot, acidic breath stung his neck, unable to reach his face through the bag.

"Show me."

Silence.

"I-I'm sorry sir?" he asked, voice weak and hoarse as confusion took over his mind.

"You claim to feel affection for me. I want you to show me what you mean."

The confusion only increased. Did his boss not know what love is? It wouldn't surprise him, honestly. Or maybe he wanted to tease the doctor before disembowling him. Yeah, the second one was more likely. But, even though his logic told him he'd be dying in a few moments, he saw no real malice behind his boss' eye. Only curiosity.

"S-sir, I don't think you'd enjoy—ACK!"

He winced as the grip on his wrists tightened, and his boss leaned in closer. "You do not tell me what I want," he hissed, forked tongue slithering in and out of his mouth. "Now. Do whatever you have to, Doctor. I want it on full display, so I can grasp what I'm dealing with."

Flug felt his breathing quicken, and his terror dared to fade into excitement. "A-are you sure, s-sir?" he asked tentatively, everything in his bones telling him this was a trick, a ploy to make him vulnerable before killing him. And yet, he so desperately wanted this to be true.

"Very sure, doctor."

Flug nodded, thinking of a way to verbalize or show exactly how he felt, before Black Hat casually pulled his bag off and tossed it to the side.

"W-Wait!!" he exclaimed, before euphoria enveloped him, and Slys was free.

A/N:
okay so. i think you can guess what's about to happen, but i'm gonna let you guys decide: do you want a chapter about the nasty stuff happenin, or do you want me to skip ahead and continue with the plot while making hints to it? i'm gonna leave it up to y'all, so please comment and tell me what you think!!