Broken Masks

Chapter 25 - The Fall from Grace

(A/N: Yes, I got the idea for Machiavellian's falling scene from Amazing Spider-Man 2...)

The grip around Machiavellian's waist vanished. The look on The Red Hawk's face was a mixture of shock, confusion, and.... hatred. Machiavellian slipped, his grip on the other vanishing and he dropped like a stone.

The world went into slow motion. Wind whistled past Machiavellian's ears and his hair flew around his head as the ground suddenly shot up to meet him. His mask fluttered off his head and flew off in the wind, The Red Hawk floated above him, watching him fall, knowing he wouldn't die.

'I deserve the pain...' Machiavellian thought.

He struck the ground. He felt the concrete explode around him, making an enormous crater in the road. He felt his bones break and his lungs puncture from his shattering ribs. He coughed up a spurt of blood, his ears ringing as he lay in the destruction, eyes closed wishing for death.

Then he felt the real pain.

His bones pulling back together, trapping muscle and ligaments between them before ripping bits of them off entirely, his collapsed ribs dragging themselves messily out of his organs, tearing them open only for them to stitch themselves up again.

Machiavellian screamed.

When the torture of his healing ended, he opened his eyes. Swat teams and police officers were crowded round the edge of the crater, pointing their guns at him.

"Machiavellian! Do not move, or we will fire!" Yelled one of the officers.

With one last crack, Machiavellian's leg snapped back into place. Grimacing at the tight pain that always followed this kind of injury, Machiavellian struggled up. It was a shame he had passed out when his eye was cut open, and the doctors removed it, otherwise that might have healed itself too.

"STAY DOWN OR WE'LL FIRE!" Machiavellian continued to his feet, wobbling precariously.

"DON'T MOVE. STATE YOUR NAME!" Machiavellian kept his head down, trying to hide his identity from the people around him.

"Machiavellian." He said loudly, trying to straighten his back without letting people see his face, hearing a wet crack as he did.

"Your real name!" Machiavellian froze.

No... I don't want this... I'm sorry.... let me go...

Machiavellian could feel tears on his face. The man started yelling again.

"LOOK UP, SHOW YOUR FACE AND STATE YOUR FULL NAME!"

"Sargent, let me do this." Machiavellian froze. It was Lena. The Sargent who had been yelling stopped in his tracks.

"C-Captain Jones, he's a dangerous assassin with a higher personal kill count then some of the worst criminals in the world put together! You can't possibly-" Lena cut him off.

"It's ok. Let me do this."

Machiavellian could hear Lena skidding down the crater to him. He kept his head bowed, his tears hitting the floor.

"Klaus?" He looked up, tears on show. Lena's face was set, a single tear on her cheek.

"I'm sorry Lena..."

Lena glowered.

"Klaus Abby, I am placing you under arrest for 179 counts of murder, 64 counts of robbery, 112 counts of assisted robbery, 52 counts of fraud and numerous other offences under the alias of Machiavellian. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say or do may be used as evidence against you. Please turn around with your hands behind your back."

Klaus did the only thing he could. He turned, offering his wrists. The cold snap of the handcuffs forced more tears out of his eye.

"Captain Jones, ma'am?" He asked, his voice shaking.

"What." Lena snapped.

"Do you have an eyepatch? My eye..."

"Turn around." Klaus turned, bowing his head as Lena placed a medical eyepatch over his left eye socket.

"Thank you ma'am."

* * *

Klaus was dragged out the crater by six officers, including Lena.

As he was escorted to the police van, he saw TJ. He was still in his Red Hawk suit and was holding his helmet under his arm.

He was crying.

I'm sorry Klaus...

(A/N: I was listening to Take On Me while writing this. I was also crying. It was an interesting experience. I wanted to dance and sob at the same time...)