There's a cage and someone sitting inside it. Hart is alone, of course he is. He is alone, the only light in the room comes from the cracks in the door. Same as always. He pulls on the chain around his neck, pulling out the ring he hides under his shirt. There it sits on his palm, still looking the same. As if there aren't stains of Paco's blood on the shirt he wears over it. They have made the rings themselves, naturally. He wonders what has happened to Paco's. Maybe he's been buried with it. Maybe Dante would have kept it? It seems like something he would do. Sentimental and not letting anyone know.
He traces a finger along the inside of the ring, feeling the inscription. The light isn't good enough for him to read it, but it isn't as if he doesn't have it memorised.
Before meeting Paco, he hadn't believed he'd ever find someone to love. He'd believed it even less after meeting him, given how much more difficult being stalked by Reverb made going on dates.
He thinks back to the first time he had just stepped close and taken off Paco's glasses. The vulnerability he found in his eyes that day had cut through him. Paco looked at him as if he had the power to shatter him, not the other way round.
There had been a time when he had tried to keep count of the days that passed. It was easier back when Zoom would still take him out every now and then to show him to Paco. At the time, that had been the worst. Now it is the fondest memory that still feels real. He remembers the last time Paco has touched him. He remembers tasting his tears and hearing him promise that he'd save him.
Surely there had been a time when he hadn't been terrified of Zoom, when he hadn't been his captive, but those memories don't feel real.
Of course, Zoom doesn't take him out anymore. Not since he'd faked his death. Zoom had liked telling him how evil Paco was after that. What horrible things he'd do, just because he'd been ordered or even just to make people suffer.
It was better to remember the taste of tears when he'd last kissed him.
But then there was the day when Zoom came with blood on his hand. Hartley remembers that very well. Lifted up by his throat, that bloody hand forced into his mouth so he was gagging on it and then he told him what he'd done to Paco.
He doesn't really recall what the kisses had been like now. He just remembers the taste of blood and he has no idea how much time had passed since then. He suspects that the only reason he is still alive is that he wishes he could be dead. Zoom thinks this is fun.
Hart closes his eyes and wishes that he had a fraction of Paco's powers, only enough to at least see him once more. It doesn't matter that he is crying. He is alone.
no subject
The scene that plays out is clearly in Paco's past. But the vibe doesn't end here. The scene shifts, changes and when it focuses again, it's dark.
There's a cage and someone sitting inside it. Hart is alone, of course he is. He is alone, the only light in the room comes from the cracks in the door. Same as always. He pulls on the chain around his neck, pulling out the ring he hides under his shirt. There it sits on his palm, still looking the same. As if there aren't stains of Paco's blood on the shirt he wears over it. They have made the rings themselves, naturally. He wonders what has happened to Paco's. Maybe he's been buried with it. Maybe Dante would have kept it? It seems like something he would do. Sentimental and not letting anyone know.
He traces a finger along the inside of the ring, feeling the inscription. The light isn't good enough for him to read it, but it isn't as if he doesn't have it memorised.
Before meeting Paco, he hadn't believed he'd ever find someone to love. He'd believed it even less after meeting him, given how much more difficult being stalked by Reverb made going on dates.
He thinks back to the first time he had just stepped close and taken off Paco's glasses. The vulnerability he found in his eyes that day had cut through him. Paco looked at him as if he had the power to shatter him, not the other way round.
There had been a time when he had tried to keep count of the days that passed. It was easier back when Zoom would still take him out every now and then to show him to Paco. At the time, that had been the worst. Now it is the fondest memory that still feels real. He remembers the last time Paco has touched him. He remembers tasting his tears and hearing him promise that he'd save him.
Surely there had been a time when he hadn't been terrified of Zoom, when he hadn't been his captive, but those memories don't feel real.
Of course, Zoom doesn't take him out anymore. Not since he'd faked his death. Zoom had liked telling him how evil Paco was after that. What horrible things he'd do, just because he'd been ordered or even just to make people suffer.
It was better to remember the taste of tears when he'd last kissed him.
But then there was the day when Zoom came with blood on his hand. Hartley remembers that very well. Lifted up by his throat, that bloody hand forced into his mouth so he was gagging on it and then he told him what he'd done to Paco.
He doesn't really recall what the kisses had been like now. He just remembers the taste of blood and he has no idea how much time had passed since then. He suspects that the only reason he is still alive is that he wishes he could be dead. Zoom thinks this is fun.
Hart closes his eyes and wishes that he had a fraction of Paco's powers, only enough to at least see him once more. It doesn't matter that he is crying. He is alone.