Ribbon!

I thought becoming an emotionless robot would be more... Painful. Sure, it hurt when they electrocuted me. Sure, I was scared at first. But I feel so much better now. It's cold, but not unpleasant. I'm not anxious anymore. I don't have a mouth to force into a smile. I don't crave the adrenaline of a fight anymore. I'm not scared anymore. I'm not hyper and jittery anymore. I'm calm. I'm relaxed. I feel good. So, so good. I don't really mind the new look. And of course, a hammer flying through the door has to interrupt my momentary bliss.

"EGGHEAD, WHERE'S-"

She stares at me. Why is she here? I told her I could handle this alone. Sure, I've been gone a while, but not too long. She shouldn't be staring at me. Why does she look so horrified? Am I that ugly? I can't find enough emotion in me to really care about what she thinks of me. Thank Gaia. Normal me would've been frantic.

"Sonic?"

---

Infinite slammed his fist into the old metal desk, screaming in rage. That little shit. How dare he? How dare Espio mock him? How dare Espio coo to the camera before shooting a kunai into its lens? It's a taunt, an intention to frustrate Infinite. It's working. He's two seconds from dragging the chameleon from his bed in the dark of the night. But, of course, he can't do that. Getting caught would ruin everything. He has to be careful.

He opens the view from a separate camera, watching his beloved prize eat dinner with those little detectives. Espio's eyes flick to the camera almost immediately, and he stops eating mid-bite. He stares, meeting Infinite's eyes through the camera as the bee and crocodile stand and walk into the living room. Espio stands, wandering to the camera.

"Again? So soon, too." The chameleon trills, reaching out to clean a speck of dust from the lens. Infinite growls in annoyance. "I'm sure you're having so much fun watching me like a creep. It's like cat and mouse. I'm sure it's equally fun for the both of us." He watches a kunai slip into Espio's hand.

"I'll see you soon, creep." And the kunai is through the lens. Again. Infinite groans, burying his face in his paws. For fucks sake. He just can't catch a break with this one. It's infuriating. It's frustrating. It's... Exhilarating.

He stands invisible, back against the wall as he silently creeps towards the exit. He can hear Infinite's footsteps and irritated voice, calling his name and demanding that he return. The exit is right there. He's so close. He's so close to going home.

He takes a deep breath and sprints for the open door, steps as light as possible. It's right there. He's going home. He's finally going home. He only lost focus for a second. He was only visible for a second. Infinite was across the building a second ago. He steps out of the threshold, basking in the sunlight for one blissful moment, before an arm wraps around his neck and drags him back against the warmth of a body.

"Going somewhere, darling?" The low hiss makes his heart race, and he gasps for air under the dark fur that crushes his windpipe. He kicks and squirms, but his vision grows dark spots nonetheless. So close. So, so close. He was almost free.

"Mmm... Don't cry, dear." Infinite coos snidely, wiping Espio's tears as the chameleon's struggles to pry his arm off grow sluggish. He can't believe he messed up at the last second. Again. Why does... Why does he always... Stop in the sun..? He feels his eyes grow heavy, black overtaking his vision.

He wakes up on cold concrete, metal heavy on his wrists and neck. The chains on his ankles are definitely new, and so are the metal sheathes around his hands. He groans, rubbing his pounding head as heavy footsteps arrive outside his cell. The barred door creaks open.

"I thought you knew better than this, little chameleon." Infinite hums, stepping closer as Espio tries to scramble into the corner, only to be grabbed by the neck chain and dragged across the floor to Infinite's feet. "So quick to disobey... Tsk, tsk, tsk. That won't do." He crouches down, looking into the watery eyes of his victim.

"Fuck. You." Espio seethed, a harsh chuckle escaping Infinite before the back of the jackal's hand flies across Espio's face. He gasps softly, reaching up to touch the red spot on his muzzle. He feels his scales turn a deep orange as he hisses instinctively, only to be met with Infinite's claws sinking into his face as he's thrown to the other side of the room. His head bangs against the wall.

"Don't give me attitude, pet. You're lucky I haven't muzzled you, so keep your mouth shut and let me talk." Infinite growls, standing up and glaring down at Espio's trembling form. "I've told you so many times to stay put, and you just don't listen. It's pathetic." Espio shudders, hands shaking and eyes burning.

"I've tried to be patient. Truly, I have. But you leave me with dwindling options. I suppose I'll just have to make you learn, won't I?" Infinite crouches in front of Espio again, cupping his cheek and trilling with a taunt. Espio feels a hand grab his leg and pull it to the side.

Vector sighs, hand twitching as he stares at the phone, as if expected it to make the thirteenth call itself. He picks up the phone, dials Espio's cell number, and lets it ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Hello, you've reached Espio. I'm sorry, but I must be busy at the moment. Please try again later, and leave a-" Vector slams the phone back down before the recording can finish. His foot taps on the floor as he picks it up and dials again. One more time. Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Hello, you've reached Espio. I'm sorry, but I must be bu-" Slam. Click. A few beeps. Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Hello, you've reached Espio. I'm so-" Slam. Click. A few beeps. Ring. Ring. Ring. Come on, kid. Pick up.

"Hello, you've reached-" Vector slams the phone down one last time, breathing hard. It's been three hours now. Running to the store and buying groceries doesn't take three hours. It takes thirty minutes. The store is right around the corner, and it isn't that big. It doesn't take this long. Why is it taking so long?

"Vector? Where's Espio at?" Charmy flies in from the basement stairs. Vector shouldn't make Charmy scared about this. Espio will be back soon. He's sure of it.

"He's just getting groceries, Charmy. He'll be back." He tries to steady his voice as his eyes move to the door, then the clock. 4:27 PM. Three hours and fourteen minutes since Espio left. Seventeen unanswered calls. Espio wouldn't just vanish into thin air like that.

"I can bathe myself." Espio mutters as hands trail down his sides, rubbing soap into his filthy scales. The bubbly water is freezing cold, a thick layer of white soap blocking his view of the tub floor.

"I know, dear." Infinite hums, gently scrubbing Espio's back. "But I don't trust you to behave. Maybe if you're good, I'll let you do this yourself next time." He pecks Espio's cheek, making the chameleon shudder.

"... It feels nice." Espio stares at the hands that have migrated to his chest, gingerly washing his underbelly. He hates this. He hates how soothing Infinite's soft hands are. He hates how he leans into the touch.

Infinite pulls him into a kiss. It should feel disgusting. It should feel violating. He kisses back, only briefly before Infinite pulls away and continues washing him.