It is murder
The first thing X feels when she regains consciousness is the stretch and pull of adamantium bands on her wrists and ankles.
The next thing she feels is the weight of eyes on her, predatory and assessing.
She looks up a moment after that, face blank beneath the bloodstains.
No words are spoken. They do not need to be.
Kimura and X know each other very, very well.
And when Kimura smiles, X knows exactly what will come next.
The tools might change -- a saw and pliers instead of wires and bare hands --
But the results are the same.
The pain is the same.
And while it has been a very long time since X-23 was subjected to this --
Some things are never forgotten.
Including how much Kimura likes to hear her charge scream.
The next thing she feels is the weight of eyes on her, predatory and assessing.
She looks up a moment after that, face blank beneath the bloodstains.
No words are spoken. They do not need to be.
Kimura and X know each other very, very well.
And when Kimura smiles, X knows exactly what will come next.
The tools might change -- a saw and pliers instead of wires and bare hands --
But the results are the same.
The pain is the same.
And while it has been a very long time since X-23 was subjected to this --
Some things are never forgotten.
Including how much Kimura likes to hear her charge scream.