Archive of Our Own ^beta

The war wasn't as simple as the word. People dying left and right from God knows what. Driving tanks and rolling over bones that crack more simply than twigs under a politician's shoe. Because that's what war is. Politics.

Alexis was a soldier, a damn good one at that. But no one knew him as Alexis, or even Alex.

"Ducky".

They knew him as Ducky. Some old jokes. But ironically, the small yellow wings that hide under his uniform forever remind him of his place in this war. Just a piece, one out of hundreds.

Yet..

Here he was, sitting in an integration room like a kicked puppy. Blood dripping from his nose and dozens of bruises slowly purpling under his skin. He's lost count of the hours. Most would assume that's from the concussion he probably had. The butt end of a gun will do that to someone.

A table of... Instruments lay next to the chair. A chair that has become increasingly uncomfortable for Alexis, metal chairs suck he's decided, even the old chairs in the mess hall were better than these.

A few small clicks and a door makes itself known as the shape of it emerges from the monochrome walls of this room, the walls and doors blending together.

"I hope you don't mind, I'm training on you solider."

A cold mellow voice, one that anyone with a small history interest would recognize.

The blade.

Someone that was famous for surviving an execution and prison escape.

"If anything I'm honoured."

Alexis decided to reply before he most likely wouldn't be able to speak. A small blond timid boy follows behind the blade, probably no older than 15? 16? The eyes that were focused on the floor finally look up at Alexis. He visibly cringes at the man, pity or fear. Who knows.

"Since you're not escaping without your tongue cut out we might as well get acquainted. What's your name, soldier?"

"Corporal Ducky."
He replies with a solidness like he had said it hundreds of times.

A small laugh escapes the boy, the blade shows no change.

"This is my brother Tommy, you'll be a good teaching lesson for him."

Alexis glances at Tommy again, small frame with eyes that haven't seen death.. or not enough for war at least. Still wide with curiosity and vitality which Tommy can't see back in Alexis.

Tommy takes a small step towards Alexis,

"Why ducky? That seems like a stupid name"

Followed by another giggle. Alexis shifted slightly and his wings came out from behind the chair. Small but obvious.

He lifts them and says one word;

"Quack."

And with this the boy is smiling, seeming to enjoy this. Anything to keep the light in his eyes a little longer.

Alexis can't figure out why someone's brother would do this to them.

The blade thinks his brother is too weak to handle this. That's why he needs it.

But in the end Alexis isn't coming out of this unscarred. The tall man steps towards Alexis.

"Let's get started shall we?"

With this he removes the large red and white iconic cape he always wears and tosses it on the ground. Ducky is able to see him clearer now that he's closer. Large tusks and almost floor length hair in a braid. Smart for that much hair and war.

Hand still gloved wraps around a slightly bloody scalpel that was laying on the table. Dried blood at least, not still dripping with the crimson of another victim to the blades of many many bodies.
A few light but stinging cuts and put along the exposed areas of his arms. A simple repetition of flicking the wrist. A blade sharp enough to do so.

Lines of red form after a few seconds of being made, dripping down and looking at the arms of the chair. Alexis sucked in air through his teeth. Nothing he wasn't prepared for but still annoying stinging.

"Light cuts wear down mental shields and physical tolerance without harming to irreparable limits."

With every flick Tommy jumped like it made a loud ticking sound. He obviously didn't want to be here, his face had fallen as soon as the scalpel was put to his skin.

"Tommy. You try."

His eyes widened. Tremors in his hands started.

"Techno...I can't do that to someone."

A small twitch in the taller man's eye.

“Thomas, I don't think I asked. Cut him.”

A small hand slowly reaches out and takes the scalpel, unwillingness apparent in the slow movements and just the look on the kids face. Just pure fear. A small amount of empathy washes over Alexis, he himself had been in a similar position of fear and powerlessness.

With a quick swift motion there was a new cut in his arm, but this one was much deeper. More desperate for this all to end. Startlingly close to an important vein he’d like to keep. But with a deeper cut came deeper pain. The stinging of the other small cuts were now overshadowed by a throb. This one made him wince more, closing his eyes briefly at the initial pressure.

“Well done Tommy, but you need to show more restraint in the cut, this one is too deep for just the start. Breaking someone down is an art and not one to be rushed. Now do it again. More focused this time.”

A deep breath, to steady the hands one would assume. Eyes trying to focus on a simple task, but a task like this one isn’t as simple as cutting meat. This one could feel it.

Tommy closes his eyes, and quickly just glides the blade over Alexis' skin. Small red lines blend in with the others created by the blade.

“There, that's more what you need.”

The blade looked down at his and his younger brothers work, red lines of pooling blood. Ones that matched the training scars. It was helpful but sad that they had to train torture into people.
“Well. how about we move things along.”

The taller man decided as he moved closer to Alexis. He could tell by the look in his eyes that things were about to ramp up quickly. Picking up a Pickaxe as he stepped right up to the small duck. Placing the middle of the metal part up to his chest.

“Tell me ‘Ducky’. Which hand are you dominant in?”

A scoff.

“Why would I tell you? So you can cripple me more? Take what I'm good at?”

A small… uncomfortable silence passes. The blade gets impatient.

“Fine then. Ill choose.”

He swings. It catches at the muscle right above his right eye and just drags everything down. Taking his eye and whatever skin with it. Tommy, still watching horrified, covers his eyes quickly, not wanting to see the blood but Alexis who can’t control the guttural scream of agony is able to quickly remind him.

The air escapes Alexis’s lungs, breathing is the last thing on his mind. He can't see. His.. his right eye is gone. His left eye is open just a crack and he can see his eye.

It's on the floor. Covered in blood. His blood.

The small pools of blood turn to a waterfall coming from his peripheral. But..only one.

Voices muffled but urgent. Vision blurry, colours swirling.

Alexis finds himself wondering if he’ll find himself dead when he wakes up. Something he's dreamed of. His head is throbbing but everything else is so blurry and dark now.

Just a small nap will help.

“Let's just hope I wake back up..”

~ end ~