The Burden of Proof (1/1)interrobamAugust 19 2012, 03:49:43 UTC
(A/N: I might have made this way darker than you expected... I hope you still like it. Warning for non-con.)
The Burden of Proof
She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no. She didn't resist, and if it were any other girl: Isabella or Gretchen, he would have known not to cross that line. But it was Vanessa, maddening Vanessa with that smirk on her face and those leather boots, in that OWCA cell. It was her that drove him out of his mind with guilt and anger, that had ruined everything.
When Major Monogram led him to her cell his first thought was that she looked just like he remembered her. From their first meeting in the mall, that day in Paris, the morning when she first appeared on their television set with an ultimatum for the whole of the tri-state area. At second glance she was a little older, her face a little thinner, than it had been on those balmy summer days. He imagined he looked like a stranger to her. Time will do that, war will do that. The Major left him alone with her: he knew, with a feeling like the itch of a phantom limb, that if Phineas were there he would have had the strength to walk away.
“Hey Ferb.” She still recognized him: through the years, through the bars. It was almost pleasant to think he had made such an impression on her. She was sitting on her cot, her black labcoat frayed and burned at the edges, when he unlocked the door and came in. He locked it behind him, sat on the chair opposite her, and stared into Vanessa's eyes until both of them were uncomfortable. “You want to know why, don't you?” He nodded, she pulled her hair away from her face.
“Someone had to take over when Dad retired. When Perry...” She sent a long, even stare to the hat perched atop Ferb's head. “You know, I'm surprised they let you and your brother into the OWCA. They don't normally hire human agents.” She smiled like oil spreading over water, laid back onto her pillow. “You boys were good though, very good.” He shifted his eyes pointedly to the lock on her cell, the chain from her ankle to the floor. “Fine. I'll admit it, you did catch me. Eventually. For now.” He stood up, he was taller than her now and it was almost disconcerting. He shrugged his dysphoria aside and bent over the bed. His hand was pressed into the thin sheets by her neck, his knee dug deep into the mattress, he could feel its springs. She did not move away. She did not say yes, did not say no. It was convenient enough that he could almost pretend this was a misunderstanding. Vanessa's thin smile remained on her face.
“I'll be gone in the morning. I'm not my father you know, I always have an escape plan.” She looked towards the hall outside of her cell, he could see the muscles in her neck tensing. “This isn't like you.” She whispered, sounding wounded. He put his hand over her mouth.
Afterward she laid on her pathetic cot, her shirt bunched around her armpits, her legs akimbo, and stared at the ceiling with bitter eyes. She didn't bother to cover herself up, instead spending her precious energy on forcing her body to relax itself. Ferb sat at the end of the bed and buried his head in his hands, laced thin fingers through green hair.
“You used to have a crush on me, remember?” There was the ghost of a laugh in her voice. He remembered.
“When we were children.” He replied, his voice hoarse from disuse. The ghost possessed her, her body shook with sobbing giggles.
Re: The Burden of Proof (1/1) - OP HereinterrobamAugust 20 2012, 03:25:56 UTC
That was FANTASTIC!!!! OMG!! I love this! When I posted this prompt originally, I envisioned something a bit more explicit...but MAN was I wrong!! Anything more explicit would have ruined the tone of the piece.
You captured Ferb's characteristic silence perfectly. And this line... he knew, with a feeling like the itch of a phantom limb, that if Phineas were there he would have had the strength to walk away...literally had me gasping aloud, interpreting it as Phineas being dead? And probably at Vanessa's hands? The possibilities here hinted at but left in shadows are just too delicious!
My god, but this is awesome! I am so putting this on my Kindle to read over and over! THANK YOU!!!!!!
Re: The Burden of Proof (1/1) - OP HereinterrobamAugust 20 2012, 04:19:54 UTC
I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! I did imagine Phineas as being dead by Vanessa's hands, but I decided to leave it ambiguous, like what happened to Perry. I'm glad you picked up on the hints I laid out: there's a whole dark AU at the edge of this fic. I am thrilled to know you will be reading this over and over!
Re: The Burden of Proof (1/1) - Still OP Here(decloaked)interrobamAugust 20 2012, 13:17:58 UTC
Eh, I might write other P&F darkfics within this universe, but I don't really have an interest in writing an expository story. It's less fun to just spell something out.
As for Ferb's motives, I spent some time trying to figure out what would have to happen to him before he would rape someone. I think he went into the situation thinking he would be making them "even" somehow, but afterwards realized he hadn't accomplished anything but making his life and Vanessa even more screwed up.
The Burden of Proof
She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no. She didn't resist, and if it were any other girl: Isabella or Gretchen, he would have known not to cross that line. But it was Vanessa, maddening Vanessa with that smirk on her face and those leather boots, in that OWCA cell. It was her that drove him out of his mind with guilt and anger, that had ruined everything.
When Major Monogram led him to her cell his first thought was that she looked just like he remembered her. From their first meeting in the mall, that day in Paris, the morning when she first appeared on their television set with an ultimatum for the whole of the tri-state area. At second glance she was a little older, her face a little thinner, than it had been on those balmy summer days. He imagined he looked like a stranger to her. Time will do that, war will do that. The Major left him alone with her: he knew, with a feeling like the itch of a phantom limb, that if Phineas were there he would have had the strength to walk away.
“Hey Ferb.” She still recognized him: through the years, through the bars. It was almost pleasant to think he had made such an impression on her. She was sitting on her cot, her black labcoat frayed and burned at the edges, when he unlocked the door and came in. He locked it behind him, sat on the chair opposite her, and stared into Vanessa's eyes until both of them were uncomfortable. “You want to know why, don't you?” He nodded, she pulled her hair away from her face.
“Someone had to take over when Dad retired. When Perry...” She sent a long, even stare to the hat perched atop Ferb's head. “You know, I'm surprised they let you and your brother into the OWCA. They don't normally hire human agents.” She smiled like oil spreading over water, laid back onto her pillow. “You boys were good though, very good.” He shifted his eyes pointedly to the lock on her cell, the chain from her ankle to the floor. “Fine. I'll admit it, you did catch me. Eventually. For now.” He stood up, he was taller than her now and it was almost disconcerting. He shrugged his dysphoria aside and bent over the bed. His hand was pressed into the thin sheets by her neck, his knee dug deep into the mattress, he could feel its springs. She did not move away. She did not say yes, did not say no. It was convenient enough that he could almost pretend this was a misunderstanding. Vanessa's thin smile remained on her face.
“I'll be gone in the morning. I'm not my father you know, I always have an escape plan.” She looked towards the hall outside of her cell, he could see the muscles in her neck tensing. “This isn't like you.” She whispered, sounding wounded. He put his hand over her mouth.
Afterward she laid on her pathetic cot, her shirt bunched around her armpits, her legs akimbo, and stared at the ceiling with bitter eyes. She didn't bother to cover herself up, instead spending her precious energy on forcing her body to relax itself. Ferb sat at the end of the bed and buried his head in his hands, laced thin fingers through green hair.
“You used to have a crush on me, remember?” There was the ghost of a laugh in her voice. He remembered.
“When we were children.” He replied, his voice hoarse from disuse. The ghost possessed her, her body shook with sobbing giggles.
“That was a long time ago, wasn't it?”
He didn't answer.
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You captured Ferb's characteristic silence perfectly. And this line... he knew, with a feeling like the itch of a phantom limb, that if Phineas were there he would have had the strength to walk away...literally had me gasping aloud, interpreting it as Phineas being dead? And probably at Vanessa's hands? The possibilities here hinted at but left in shadows are just too delicious!
My god, but this is awesome! I am so putting this on my Kindle to read over and over! THANK YOU!!!!!!
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(The comment has been removed)
As for Ferb's motives, I spent some time trying to figure out what would have to happen to him before he would rape someone. I think he went into the situation thinking he would be making them "even" somehow, but afterwards realized he hadn't accomplished anything but making his life and Vanessa even more screwed up.
I'm glad you were so happy with my fill!
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