(Untitled)

[_java_]

As the hours passed, Java began to lose her sense of time. Minutes dragged by in the darkness, hours, days, years, and it was all the same to her; it seemed a lifetime and yet only moments since her visitor had left her, and Java's mind was beginning to betray her. As much as she had disliked dealing with her guest, it had at least served to

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[_into_the_fray_]

Boss walked down the hallway with precise steps, he was hiding from no one, he wasn't sneaking around or up on anyone, he knew where he was headed and what he was going to do. He was holding a small black leather bag in his right hand, carrying a tray of food in his left, and one of his guards walked beside him, quickly unlocking the door to the closet for him and opening the door. Boss set the tray of food down, turned the light on, and studied Java. Having just been given a full report on things, he knew what had happened to her, where she was emotionally, where he hoped she was mentally, but he would not speak to her, he would just clean her up and console her as best he could without speaking a word.

He set the leather bag on the table next to the tray and pulled out a packet of hand wipes, Line had created them to remove the compounds he'd created, no side effect, they were essentially baby wipes with a cleanser in them that would take off even the thickest grease. He put on the disposable gloves and took a wipe, stooping down and gently taking her left leg in his hand, wiping away the stuff Line had left behind, using quite a few wipes for all of it, then moved to the next leg. When he was finished, he took the gloves off and moved behind her, wiping the goop around her wrists off. Java had strained against the ropes and it had cut her flesh, and this worried Boss. It would do no good to have Java get an infection and die from these wounds, but he couldn't untie her. As he finished tenderly wiping the gunk from her wrists he took a tube of cream from his pocket, something that help stave off infection, heal her wounds, it would have to applied a few times a day, but he'd make sure that happened. He gingerly applied it and then ran his fingers up her arm, he couldn't help himself, the cocoa brown of her skin even in this yellow light was beautiful to him, always had been. His mind wandered to his VR addicted girlfriend, thinking of another man as she lay in their bed, lost in VR with someone else, and he frowned. No matter, he was here with Java now, he could care for her and that would prove to make himself feel better.

[_java_]

At the sound of footsteps, Java's head jerked instinctively back up, Line's words echoing in her head. "Should you receive any visitors while I'm away..." Surely they didn't want to hurt her anymore for the time being, she thought; she was weak; what could they possibly hope to gain by wasting any more resources on her? Or perhaps they were finally sending in a negotiator, now that she was broken... That seemed a little more logical, Java thought, forcing herself to regulate her breathing a bit. And yet, what could anyone hope to get from -her-? She was worthless, an utter failure; Line's ministrations had had the desired effect upon her, and Java was now all too aware of how deeply she had failed those closest to her. Surely even her captors knew what she had done; what did they think she could do for them now?

There was the click of a lock turning, the sound of a footstep as the door opened, and then light on the other side of her blindfold. Java waited, pushing her shoulders back and weakly raising her chin. A lifetime full of pride had instilled certain mannerisms in her that were difficult to break, and a defiant posture was as much a part of Java as her fingerprint, even now that her strength had been drained. She listened as her guest set a few items down, then approached her, and Java braced herself for the worst. She was empty now, completely hollow, and it almost didn't seem to matter if the new guest hurt her; there was nothing left to take.

Java's breath caught a bit at the feeling of soft cloth being rubbed gently against her skin, wiping away the antidote she'd worked for and leaving her legs clean and painless again. Was.. someone -helping- her? It had to be another mind game, Java thought; no one would be here unless they were a part of the group that had orchestrated all of this. And yet, they were being so kind... She licked her lips, once, remembering Line's advice to mind her manners as her guest moved to her wrists, gently removing the painfully itchy substance Line had left there. A new, soothing creme followed, and Java instinctively looked back at her visitor over her shoulder, though she couldn't see through the blindfold. The hands on her skin felt warm, and strong; a man's hands, steady and gentle. His fingers ran up her arm with a lover's touch, despite her sins, and Java couldn't help but close her eyes behind the fabric. It had been so very long since a man had touched her like that...

But he was evil, he had to be, otherwise he couldn't be here, and Java pulled her arm away a fraction of an inch. "Who are you?" she asked, disappointed to hear her voice waiver.

[_into_the_fray_]

Boss took the used wipes and gloves and tucked them into a plastic bag, then took a cloth for himself and wiped his hands carefully, making sure to get everything off that had touched him, not bothered by the sensations the cream he'd removed from her wrists were leaving behind, they were quickly wiped away with the cloth. He dried his hands on a hand towel from the leather bag and pulled the table with the food tray closer to Java, kneeling next to her. He put his arm gently around her shoulders, ignoring her questions, he would not speak to her, could not. He picked up one half of the fried egg sandwich he'd had prepared for her and touched the corner of it to her lips, giving her shoulder a squeeze with his other hand, urging her to eat. She had to keep her strength up, she needed to eat so she didn't get sick, and he caressed her shoulder a bit to let her know he meant not to harm her, he was just going to feed her, comfort her, keep her strength up for she would do him no good if she got sick or died, he had plans for her, and he cared about her in some ways, though he'd never truly admit that to anyone but himself.

[_java_]

He was avoiding her question, and Java's brows furrowed slightly; she disliked avoidance even in the best of times, and given her current situation, the man's dodginess was particularly discomforting. He must be involved in all of this, she knew, and if he felt confident enough to undo some of Line's work, then he must be someone fairly important. Java felt some of her self-hatred begin to dissipate as she considered the situation. There really was nothing quite like a good puzzle to help push aside emotion, she knew, and Java focused on her guest with a renewed vigor as she forced herself to ignore, at least for a moment, the truths that Line had revealed to her.

The man's arm was around her now, and Java allowed herself to lean into his embrace a bit, bound though she was to the chair. There's more than one way to kill a cat, she thought, pushing the pain aside as he pressed a sandwich to her lips; if her guest was willing to feed her and caress her, he might be willing to show her mercy in other ways as well. She turned her face towards him slightly, taking a delicate bite of the offered food and giving him a small smile. She was starving, and the sandwich tasted good; while it was possible that the food was drugged or poisoned, Java almost didn't care. "Mmm," she purred, humoring her guest as she had once humored Ram, and taking another little bite. She knew she was worthless, but perhaps he didn't, and she was too hungry to ignore food, anyway. Java ate from the man's hand like a kitten, taking small, careful bites, and allowing her lips to brush against his fingers as she ate the last bite.

Putting on a fragile smile, Java pressed her shoulders gently into the man's arm, whispering "Thank you" as she prayed he'd enjoy the act.

[_into_the_fray_]

Boss didn't respond to her, but picked up the other half of the sandwich and held it for her as she ate. Java would not trick him, he knew her and her ways, he'd seen her with Ram just this way, he know how cunning she could be when she was trying to get her way, none of this registered for him. He had to have her, to control her, and he knew it would take time. When she'd finished the sandwich he carefully wiped her mouth with a linen napkin, he couldn't deny the weight of her body against his had made his heart pitter patter, but he wasn't about to do anything with Java, as much as he admired and maybe even lusted after her, he had his very own VR addicted girlfriend waiting for him. He sneered at that thought and picked up a sliced half of strawberry, holding it to Java's lips, waiting for her to take it before repeating the process, one after the other, slowly, at her pace, and his arm tightened around her a bit, indulging for a moment in the fact that he held Java in his embrace.

[_java_]

Java ate the strawberry half delicately, carefully hiding the pain that the juice caused as it hit the torn inside of her lower lip. There was something strangely familiar about the man's scent, she thought, carefully eating the second half of the strawberry and keeping her smile sweetly vulnerable. She could feel her blood sugar beginning to stabilize a bit now that she'd eaten something, and logic was slowly beginning to return to her; she was a failure, but perhaps there was still some hope... She had an animal's instinctive drive to live, even if her existence was worthless, and as her head began to clear, adrenaline began to offer her new strength. She -would- live, she decided, and she would see Ram again. Even if he hated her; she would at least see him once more to say good-bye. He deserved a real good-bye.

The man's arm was tightening around her, Java realized, and the smile broadened a bit. So like a man... She licked a bit of strawberry juice from her lips, and nestled a little deeper into his embrace. His scent reminded her of something from a long time ago, her father maybe, and Java closed her eyes and rested her head against the man's arm, the fabric of his shirt soft beneath her cheek. He was a monster, she was certain, but he had demonstrated a willingness to help her, and that meant that he was potentially useful. Java was silent for a moment, allowing him to think about how very nice her warmth felt against him, before murmuring, "Please don't leave."

[_into_the_fray_]

Boss picked up a small plastic cup of water and moved the straw to Java's lips, sighing inwardly. He had to leave, he couldn't stay here with her all day, but he could stay for a little while longer. He put the cup down and moved his left hand back up to her face, caressing her cheek gently with his thumb, he wanted to tell her it was ok, that she was going to be ok as long as she did whatever he asked of her, but he couldn't, not yet. His hand, open palmed, cradled her face, running the pad of his thumb now across her cheekbone, then moved down to touch her chin, the edge of her bottom lip before letting go. Pathetic, she was begging him to stay, he should leave, it almost pleased him to see her this way, begging and trying to be cunning for him, but it too almost pained him, to see Java in such a state. She was imperative to this organzation, they needed her on their side, willingly or not. He frowned, pressing his lips together and studying her face, wanting to make her more comfortable but knowing he couldn't.

[_java_]

Java flinched very slightly as the man's hand touched her face; he was gentle, but after what Line had done, it would probably be several days before she stopped being tender to the touch. Not wanting her guest to think that she was shying away from -him-, however, Java drew a small breath and pressed her face back into his hand, keeping the pain from her features. Pain was good, she reminded herself again, as his thumb caressed her cheek; if she could still suffer, then she wasn't quite dead.

As the man's hand explored her features, however, his touch began to twist her stomach; Java instinctively disliked physical contact in most situations, even as she craved affection, and the small shred of dignity she had left was beginning to rebel against what she was doing. The man was so strangely gentle, in spite of what he knew was being done to her, and the thought of it made her feel almost like his whore; she'd been beaten until she was willing to cooperate, and now here she was, playing along. She wasn't in charge of this, Java realized sickly, even as she leaned into the caresses, and yet it was all she had left to use... The man's thumb traced her cheekbone, and Java clenched her eyes tightly behind the blindfold; he was enjoying her, and that meant that he might be willing to show her more mercy if she could just keep going. Just pretend that it's Ram... But Ram hated her, and hated touching her with his bare hands, and everything felt strange and empty and wrong now... But who was she to complain, Java asked herself; she -was- a whore, worthless and foolish, and she should be grateful to someone touching her in the first place. And his touch was so nice, so gentle and reassuring... Yes, it was good just to feel wanted, even if it was in this sick way, and if it would help her to survive, then Java knew that she would do whatever was necessary. She had no shame left, anyway; there was nothing left to hold onto save the fact that she was still breathing.

The man's thumb moved down her face, gracing her chin for a moment and then brushing against her lower lip. Her lips parted slightly at his touch, instinctively, and Java permitted him a small, appreciate smile. Please, God, let it be enough... And then his hand was gone, and she knew he must be watching her, and Java lowered her head, her posture gentle and fragile. She allowed him a long pause in which to appreciate how very weak and vulnerable she must be, then turned her face towards him and spoke in a fragile whisper. "My wrists...? Please?"

[_into_the_fray_]

Boss pulled away from her, standing up, he couldn't undo her restraints, and he couldn't tell her why not. He only hoped the cream he'd applied would work for now, and later he'd come and reapply when he could. He pushed the table back to it's corner, picking up the breakfast tray as well and handing it out with the lunch tray to the guard outside of the door. He turned and surveyed her once more before grabbing his black bag and exiting the room, leaving the light lit, though it really did her no good as she was blindfolded, but maybe it would give her comfort to know she was no longer sitting in the dark. He paused to squish a couple of cockroaches as they scurried for the now open door, he had hoped Line wasn't really going to use them, and he had no way of knowing how many were in there, but at least he'd gotten a couple of them. Boss shook his head and closed and locked the door as quietly as possible before slipping off down the hallway, now needing to check on the City as well as on his girlfriend, again.

[_java_]

Java's heart sank as he pulled away from her; she'd pushed it too far, had asked for too much, and now she'd driven him away. There was a rustle of fabric as the man stood, then the sound of something heavy being pushed aside, and Java lowered her head a bit more, her lips a thin line. Even as a whore, she was a failure.

She listened as he walked away from her, her heart in her stomach as the door squeaked open. Tiny, quick scratching noises gave testimony to the roaches Line had left-- my faithful subjects-- and then a foot came down once, twice, a third time, and the scurrying stopped. Java drew a small, slow breath, and listened to the soft click of the lock being turned into place; it was over, she had failed, and now he was gone. Footsteps receded down the hallway, soft and even, and then she was alone.

He'd at least left the light on for her, she noticed, which was comforting; after the stimulants Line had injected into her, Java knew that she would not be sleeping this evening, and, blindfolded though she was, it was nice not to be in the dark. She was also fed now, and the itching on her wrists was gone; she was a bit more comfortable, and knew that she would live, at least for now, and that was enough for Java. Trying not to break down again, she ran the tip of her tongue across the torn inside of her lower lip, and fought to keep her thoughts at bay.