The soft pat-pat of her footsteps were the only sounds to be heard as the blonde girl made her way through the lower levels of Syntech. Deep below the corporate offices, medical suites, and even the research labs, this was where Karl kept only the most dangerous of his… acquisitions. It was a prison of sorts, sequestered deep within the Comet. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all solid stone, several meters thick. The dark gray basalt, though sanded and polished, still felt crude and barbaric. Spaced evenly along the hallway she walked down, massive steel shutters broke up the monotony of the scenery, but didn’t do much to liven it up. Industrial lights, embedded in the ceiling and reinforced with metal bracings, provided the only light. A few of them had burnt out, leaving wide gaps of dark shadow where someone’s imagination could come up with the most dreadful of things.
Not that any of that bothered Toga. Even if she hadn’t made this trip before, more times than she could count, it wouldn’t have bothered her anyway. Because she knew who waited for her at the end of the long, grim walk. And today… Well, today was special. She hummed a lively tune to herself, and would have skipped along, but she was carrying precious cargo today. It was almost laughably stereotypical in appearance; a large silver plate covered with a matching dome. A savory scent snuck out from beneath the covering as each step she made jostled it a bit. Maybe a bit cliche, sure, but it still made her smile. Sometimes it was alright to be a little cliche.
Soon enough, she had made it to the end of the hallway. A large dark door of carbon steel barred her path, flanked by those nasty little automatons that Papa had made to mock her dear husband. His tame Jasons. She battled down her revulsion and anger at seeing them, just like she did every time she came down here. It’s not like they could help what they were… and they didn’t even care when she was carving them up anyway. They just stood there and took it. Arbiters… why did Papa think this was a good idea? They were so damn boring! Half-assed mockeries of perfection that didn’t even have a half-assed amount of the original’s charm and personality.
It took a few moments before anything happened, and Toga was really starting to get pissed off by the time she heard the low, deep grumble of the door grating against its steel frame as it began to rise. Looking over her shoulder, she shot an angry glare at the small security camera bolted to the ceiling behind her. She knew that the camera was watched twenty-four seven, and it always pissed her off that it took them so long to let her in to see her husband. It was probably Charlie holding things up. That bitch had always hated her. She even called Toga’s time down her ‘visitations’, like she wasn’t married to Jason at all! Taking in a deep breath to calm herself, Toga ducked down and slipped into the room before the door was even fully raised. She wouldn’t let anyone ruin this day for her.
“Happy Anniversary!” she called out as soon as she was able to stand back up straight. The door was pretty thick, and it had taken her a few steps in that crouch before she had made it all the way into Jason’s cell. Like the hallway outside, it was fairly bare. A single table and chair rested in the center of the room, an accommodation for her that Papa only narrowly approved with her promise not to try to let Jason out again. She had never figured out how to get those nasty metal bands open, of course, but Karl had still been irritated with her for trying. And, directly opposite the door from the table, stood her wonderful husband. Those piercing eyes of his… they bored holes in her soul, touching the deep parts of her heart where only he could reach. She smiled then, a wide beaming display of her utter contentment and love and moved further into the room.
“That’s right!” she said, her words warmed by her smile. “It’s been one year since we got married! Did you know that a lot of couples don’t even make it that long before they get divorced! But we did it, baby!”
Setting the platter upon the table, Toga quickly crossed the room and, pushing herself up onto the tips of her toes, took Jason’s face in her hands and gave him a smooch. Right on the mask. Just how he liked it.
“I’m just so happy,” she continued, lowering herself back to the floor and walking back to the table. “And I know Papa is happy too! He had the chefs make us a special meal, just for today!”
With a dramatic flourish, she reached out, grabbed the handle to the lid, and swept it from the platter beneath. A cloud of warm air and steam nearly exploded out into the cool dungeon air, momentarily masking the prize beneath. When it finally faded, it revealed a modest meal of shellfish pasta and a glass of red wine, still dewed with perspiration.
“I know, I know,” Toga began with a smile as she seated herself in the aluminum chair. “You’re not much of an eater. It goes right through you, right?”
She laughed softly, pointing at the gap in Jason’s abdomen.
“Don’t worry. I only got enough for me,” she continued, picking up the polished silver fork that lay beside the plate. “I’ll just have to tell you all about it, and you can imagine how delicious it is!”
And so she did. Each bite would bring a new exclamation from the girl, and she would describe the flavors and textures to her stoic husband as he watched on silently. In between bites, she would tell him about her day. About how much of a bitch Charlie was and about how those X-units still piss her off and how she saw a cute new employee she wanted to carve open. But, as the meal wound to a close, Toga began to become less animated in her gestures. Less enthusiastic with her words. Something began to weigh down on her mind. And, eventually, she just had to come out and say it.
“You know…” Toga said quietly, staring at her plate and pushing the food around with her fork. “Papa says he’s shutting down Dante’s Abyss next year…”
Her husband never was much of a talker, but she could tell that got his attention. She could feel the intensity of his gaze grow even stronger at those words. She lifted her own eyes to look at him, tears glinting in their corners. The masked killer simply stared back at her. In the containment unit he stayed in most of the year, it’s practically all he can do. Thick adamantine bands wrapped around his limbs and torso like chrome belts, softly reflecting the pale yellow light of the ceiling lamp. Not for the first time did Toga wish she knew the combination that would unlock those restraints. Though, this time, maybe she wanted it a little more than usual.
“What…” she began, then stopped as her throat tightened with emotion. Swallowing the knot of sadness, she continued. “What do you think he’s going to do with us? Where will we go? What… what will we do without the Abyss?”
Memories flooded into Toga’s mind, each bringing a new upwelling of emotion. She remembered that first Abyss, when she met Ellie and her husband. He had been so handsome then. He still was, of course, but she would always remember the sight of him in that moment, when she knew she had found her soul-mate. She thought about Azula, the only girl she had ever related to. Maybe even the only real friend she’d ever had. They hadn’t gotten to spend much time together, but Toga had felt an immediate connection with her. Maybe, when Karl kicked them out, she’d go and visit Zoola-Bear.
That last thought had been her breaking point and, with a ringing crash as table and platter were knocked to the stone floor by her sudden movement, Toga leapt to her feet and rushed over to her husband. Wrapping her arms around his cold flesh, she buried her face into his chest and cried. Not softly, but loudly. Ugly. The sort of sobbing that made her nose run and her throat hurt. She wished, desperately, that he could hold her. She cursed the metal bands that kept her from the comfort she so desperately needed. She wasn’t ready for it to be over yet. Neither she nor Jason were suited to life outside these walls. They were killers. It was all they knew, and all they were. And the worlds of the Crossroads hated people like them. They’d be persecuted and hunted. And, maybe, even killed by the very people who called them killers. Wouldn’t that be ironic?
Toga could feel Jason tense up in her arms, his muscles bulging and straining as he struggled against his restraints. Maybe he felt as she did and wanted to hold her too. Or maybe he just wanted to kill her. A sad smile crossed her lips at that thought. That would be just like him. Their relationship was complicated… and marvelous. And, really, would it even be that bad? Wouldn’t it be better to be killed by the one she loved more dearly than anyone else than to be tossed aside by someone else that she loved nearly as much? She was distracting herself, she knew, and she was alright with that. Her throat loosened, and the tears flowed more slowly now, though they were still hot with emotion. But she didn’t move away. She held on tight to her husband. Just like how she wasn’t ready for Dante’s Abyss to be done, she wasn’t ready to let him go either.
“I’m sorry,” Toga choked out, her words muffled in the tattered cloth and stiff flesh of her beloved. “I ruined our anniversary. This was supposed to be a happy day…”
Not that any of that bothered Toga. Even if she hadn’t made this trip before, more times than she could count, it wouldn’t have bothered her anyway. Because she knew who waited for her at the end of the long, grim walk. And today… Well, today was special. She hummed a lively tune to herself, and would have skipped along, but she was carrying precious cargo today. It was almost laughably stereotypical in appearance; a large silver plate covered with a matching dome. A savory scent snuck out from beneath the covering as each step she made jostled it a bit. Maybe a bit cliche, sure, but it still made her smile. Sometimes it was alright to be a little cliche.
Soon enough, she had made it to the end of the hallway. A large dark door of carbon steel barred her path, flanked by those nasty little automatons that Papa had made to mock her dear husband. His tame Jasons. She battled down her revulsion and anger at seeing them, just like she did every time she came down here. It’s not like they could help what they were… and they didn’t even care when she was carving them up anyway. They just stood there and took it. Arbiters… why did Papa think this was a good idea? They were so damn boring! Half-assed mockeries of perfection that didn’t even have a half-assed amount of the original’s charm and personality.
It took a few moments before anything happened, and Toga was really starting to get pissed off by the time she heard the low, deep grumble of the door grating against its steel frame as it began to rise. Looking over her shoulder, she shot an angry glare at the small security camera bolted to the ceiling behind her. She knew that the camera was watched twenty-four seven, and it always pissed her off that it took them so long to let her in to see her husband. It was probably Charlie holding things up. That bitch had always hated her. She even called Toga’s time down her ‘visitations’, like she wasn’t married to Jason at all! Taking in a deep breath to calm herself, Toga ducked down and slipped into the room before the door was even fully raised. She wouldn’t let anyone ruin this day for her.
“Happy Anniversary!” she called out as soon as she was able to stand back up straight. The door was pretty thick, and it had taken her a few steps in that crouch before she had made it all the way into Jason’s cell. Like the hallway outside, it was fairly bare. A single table and chair rested in the center of the room, an accommodation for her that Papa only narrowly approved with her promise not to try to let Jason out again. She had never figured out how to get those nasty metal bands open, of course, but Karl had still been irritated with her for trying. And, directly opposite the door from the table, stood her wonderful husband. Those piercing eyes of his… they bored holes in her soul, touching the deep parts of her heart where only he could reach. She smiled then, a wide beaming display of her utter contentment and love and moved further into the room.
“That’s right!” she said, her words warmed by her smile. “It’s been one year since we got married! Did you know that a lot of couples don’t even make it that long before they get divorced! But we did it, baby!”
Setting the platter upon the table, Toga quickly crossed the room and, pushing herself up onto the tips of her toes, took Jason’s face in her hands and gave him a smooch. Right on the mask. Just how he liked it.
“I’m just so happy,” she continued, lowering herself back to the floor and walking back to the table. “And I know Papa is happy too! He had the chefs make us a special meal, just for today!”
With a dramatic flourish, she reached out, grabbed the handle to the lid, and swept it from the platter beneath. A cloud of warm air and steam nearly exploded out into the cool dungeon air, momentarily masking the prize beneath. When it finally faded, it revealed a modest meal of shellfish pasta and a glass of red wine, still dewed with perspiration.
“I know, I know,” Toga began with a smile as she seated herself in the aluminum chair. “You’re not much of an eater. It goes right through you, right?”
She laughed softly, pointing at the gap in Jason’s abdomen.
“Don’t worry. I only got enough for me,” she continued, picking up the polished silver fork that lay beside the plate. “I’ll just have to tell you all about it, and you can imagine how delicious it is!”
And so she did. Each bite would bring a new exclamation from the girl, and she would describe the flavors and textures to her stoic husband as he watched on silently. In between bites, she would tell him about her day. About how much of a bitch Charlie was and about how those X-units still piss her off and how she saw a cute new employee she wanted to carve open. But, as the meal wound to a close, Toga began to become less animated in her gestures. Less enthusiastic with her words. Something began to weigh down on her mind. And, eventually, she just had to come out and say it.
“You know…” Toga said quietly, staring at her plate and pushing the food around with her fork. “Papa says he’s shutting down Dante’s Abyss next year…”
Her husband never was much of a talker, but she could tell that got his attention. She could feel the intensity of his gaze grow even stronger at those words. She lifted her own eyes to look at him, tears glinting in their corners. The masked killer simply stared back at her. In the containment unit he stayed in most of the year, it’s practically all he can do. Thick adamantine bands wrapped around his limbs and torso like chrome belts, softly reflecting the pale yellow light of the ceiling lamp. Not for the first time did Toga wish she knew the combination that would unlock those restraints. Though, this time, maybe she wanted it a little more than usual.
“What…” she began, then stopped as her throat tightened with emotion. Swallowing the knot of sadness, she continued. “What do you think he’s going to do with us? Where will we go? What… what will we do without the Abyss?”
Memories flooded into Toga’s mind, each bringing a new upwelling of emotion. She remembered that first Abyss, when she met Ellie and her husband. He had been so handsome then. He still was, of course, but she would always remember the sight of him in that moment, when she knew she had found her soul-mate. She thought about Azula, the only girl she had ever related to. Maybe even the only real friend she’d ever had. They hadn’t gotten to spend much time together, but Toga had felt an immediate connection with her. Maybe, when Karl kicked them out, she’d go and visit Zoola-Bear.
That last thought had been her breaking point and, with a ringing crash as table and platter were knocked to the stone floor by her sudden movement, Toga leapt to her feet and rushed over to her husband. Wrapping her arms around his cold flesh, she buried her face into his chest and cried. Not softly, but loudly. Ugly. The sort of sobbing that made her nose run and her throat hurt. She wished, desperately, that he could hold her. She cursed the metal bands that kept her from the comfort she so desperately needed. She wasn’t ready for it to be over yet. Neither she nor Jason were suited to life outside these walls. They were killers. It was all they knew, and all they were. And the worlds of the Crossroads hated people like them. They’d be persecuted and hunted. And, maybe, even killed by the very people who called them killers. Wouldn’t that be ironic?
Toga could feel Jason tense up in her arms, his muscles bulging and straining as he struggled against his restraints. Maybe he felt as she did and wanted to hold her too. Or maybe he just wanted to kill her. A sad smile crossed her lips at that thought. That would be just like him. Their relationship was complicated… and marvelous. And, really, would it even be that bad? Wouldn’t it be better to be killed by the one she loved more dearly than anyone else than to be tossed aside by someone else that she loved nearly as much? She was distracting herself, she knew, and she was alright with that. Her throat loosened, and the tears flowed more slowly now, though they were still hot with emotion. But she didn’t move away. She held on tight to her husband. Just like how she wasn’t ready for Dante’s Abyss to be done, she wasn’t ready to let him go either.
“I’m sorry,” Toga choked out, her words muffled in the tattered cloth and stiff flesh of her beloved. “I ruined our anniversary. This was supposed to be a happy day…”