Behind the Glass (Komahina AU)

Chapter Four: Nowhere to Run

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I was stumped for a bit on how to write this chapter, but thanks to some helpful tips, I pulled through. Fair warning, though. It will contain torture and violence. So, anyone who doesn't feel comfortable, look away. 😬
————————————————————————A few days later, Hajime was waiting for Nagito impatiently. Ever since their talk that night, he was all he could think about. So much kindness from one person in a mess of despair...

The door opened and Nagito appeared, making Hajime smile. His tail and fins began to move a lot and his ears perked up.

"Good morning." He greeted with a warm smile, making Hajime's heart jump. "I brought you some breakfast."

Hajime leaned over the glass box and grabbed a handful of coral. Nagito sat down on a nearby chair and watched. That's when something caught his eye: an old scar down Hajime's back. Not wanting to scare the merman, he quietly walked over. As he got closer, Hajime's happiness disappeared and a low growl emitted.

"Easy...I am not going to hurt you..."
Nagito reassured him, before looking at the food. "I am not going to take your food either..."

Hajime remained defensive as he resumed eating. He could see Nagito in the corner of his eye, peering at his side. That scar...almost killed him as it almost cut off his tail.

"I could've died a long time ago..." Hajime said in a low voice. "That scar was from a fishing hook. Some poachers were killing us for scales. If I hadn't fought back, I would've..."

"You don't have to explain yourself." Nagito reassured. "I know that feeling myself. I have one just like it...from when my parents died."

Hajime looked at him, seeing the sadness in his eyes. Bringing up such a painful memory ached like a stab in the back. Both of them shared it all too well.
As their hands clasped together, they could feel their pain disappear and a new warm feeling replaced it.

All of a sudden, Mukuro slammed the door open with a dissatisfied look on her face. Immediately releasing the intimate touch, Nagito stood up. His once sad face turned concerned and it scared Hajime.

"What's wrong?" Nagito asked as Hajime tilted his head in confusion.

Mukuro looked up at the merman and sighed. "Junko...wants to 'play' with you."

Hajime felt his heart stop and his blood felt cold. Remembering her devilish grin made him shiver. He backed away from Nagito and into the corner.

"No...please don't do this..." He begged, putting his hands onto his head.

Nagito took his hands and grasped them softly. "Listen, I know you're scared...I am too. I'll keep you safe."

"But...how can you?" He asked, watching Nagito grabbed the lock and chain. Realizing he didn't have a choice, he opened his mouth and felt the cold metal grazed his lips as he was gagged.

"Trust me, okay?" Nagito said as he locked the chain shut. Grabbing a long rope, he wrapped it gently around his body before pulling it tightly.

"Jesus...I am going to puke." Mukuro commented as she left the room.
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Junko sat with her boot lying on the desk as she waited for her 'toys' to show. Ever since Nagito's stunt, she had began to suspect him of treason...but easily got bored of it.

Nagito came in, carrying a bound and gagged merman, with a grim look on his face. Junko snorted, finding it amusing.

"You are so scary. Too bad I am the scariest thing here." She said, removing her feet off the desk and standing up. "Place him on the table, if you please."

Nagito obliged without saying a word. Hajime tried to object, but it came out in mumbles and landed on dead ears. He could already feel his skin drying up immediately as his gills began to flop in and out for air.

"Now then, my little pet. You and your kind killed most of my crew." Junko teased, pulling out a sharp knife and grazing it on the merman's face. "For that, you need to be punished."

Her once calm demeanour immediately turned to murderous as she slashed deep into his arm, causing him to scream. Nagito could only watch from the corner of the room as she cut him several more times in various places on his body. Hajime could only scream and gasp while clenching his fists. She kept at it for minutes at a time, starting with small scrapes to big bleeders. When she stopped, he looked up to the sky, forcing himself not to cry.

"Aww, you're no fun." Junko pouted, before slowly cut down his stomach, making the pain unbearable. Hajime's tail flailed around in agony, trying to escape, but she kept a tight grip on him. She stopped cutting and plunged her knife into her desk. Jumping on top of him, she wrapped her hands around Hajime's neck and began to choke him.

"Come on...just one little tear, little fishy." She cooed. "Just one and I let you go home."

Hajime just stared at her with dead eyes, not a single tear to be seen. Nagito began to shake with anger, balling up his fists. This wasn't the first time Junko tried to force the tears out, but it was so much more horrifying.

"Ugh." Junko sighed, sliding off him. Her pants were covered in the merman's blood, but she could care less. "What do I have to do to get something out of you?!" She looked at her first mate and jerked her head towards the door. Nagito ran and picked him up before exiting the door. Kokichi came in soon after, not so surprised.

"I guess the slow torture method didn't work?" He asked, scratching his head. "You know, a few minutes isn't going to cut it."

"Yeah, well...I get bored easily. Besides, nothing I did made him drop a tear. He's tough, I'll give him that." Junko explained, until a few seconds later, her face lit up. "Perhaps, I am doing it wrong..."

"Hmm?"

"I am torturing the wrong person..." She smirked. "Kokichi, I have an idea..."
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To Be Continued...