#cgle

"..." 

He heard the slap before he felt it. The pain seemed to skip a step, the receptors forgot to fire until the sound had hit his ears, the heat on his cheek, as his head slammed back against the ground. 

Then pain hit. And it hit. 

His vision was blurred, spinning as he watched the ceiling. 

Fiyero wasn't lying. He was fragile. It wasn't that hard to get him down at the right moment. Usually adreneline here would kick in, he would be fine, but now. 

Well. Everyone loves a good sob story. This is for you Starlight. 

"Ow." His eyes closed, focusing and focusing. He probably could have stopped it from hitting but this was going to work. 

This had to work.

At least it wasn't really lying. Because since he let himself hit the ground, everything hurt. His brain shut off, but not for trying, for lack of ability, as everything just was red, red, everything red. He had already cast his vote, he was fine, he wasn't getting punished. 

Well, yes he was, but not by that creep, at least he wouldn't give Boss the satisfaction. 

"Guys...I don't...this doesn't..." He couldn't see, not straight anyway. All the lights around had halos around them. 

Fiyero was fragile. Light. People joked a wind could knock him over, and they weren't wrong; sure it was by his own design, people liked weakness, people paid way more attention to weakness than strength. So without bracing himself, the slam, right on the wound from earlier, well.

Maybe he should worry a little.

"Is...Jiro...I think..." Was he faking? Like this didn't feel like faking.

Oh god he went too far this time didn't he he went too far-

No he didn't. Because for once this was for someone other than himself. For once this wasn't for fame or anything Maria wanted-

He had been returning to his podium again following the shock of Mordecai collapsing (although he had arrived on scene after the Cupids did, unfortunately) when his affairs had been called into question. For good reason, frankly, although... there wasn’t much he could have said on the matter.

“Nothing is foolproof, Remus-san. Boss-san is human, and human beings are prone to mistakes.”

“As am I. Unfortunately, what I had intended... it is something that would require complete unity. Obtaining such seems unlikely at this point.”

Poor Kon-san... Although he likely should have expected as much when he chose to approach the matter covertly. Ah well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, yes?

The moment Fy's lips touched Mordecai's, something snapped in Akki. Things went blank for a second, but when he came to, his palm was hurting... probably for slapping Fy across the face.

"NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR DUMB SHIT!"

Words left Akkis's mouth like they weren't his own. He blinked in surprise then pulled away, allowing Dai to take Morde as he was now stunned by his own actions. 

When he heard Tegan and felt his hand on his shoulder, Akki trembled softly. Although he couldn't understand, he knew his friend was reassuring him. Akki placed his small hand on top of the others, giving it a little squeeze to say thank you. 

When Ai joined in, another handon the other shoulder, Akki whimpered and covered his face just before hot tears fell from his face. 

"I-I'm ss-sorry... "

He mumbled and sniffled, shaking his head. He dried the few tears before looking up at his friends.

"Thh.. thank you.. he.. he will be-"

The boss spoke. Akki immediately tensed up.

"M-mordecai can't vote! H-hhee.. he ww-won't get p-punished, right? I-it's nnnot by choice! L-let me vote ff-for him!"

Ai had taken a respectful step back when Jiro approached. He was the doctor, he would know what to do. And Sayuri, Yoshii had also offered words to help Katsurou. They were calmer now, they were...

...something would happen. Something would happen.

And then Mordecai collapsed.

She'd been ready to run over to him, to try and help -- he wasn't breathing what -- but Dai had it under control.

Thank goodness...Thank goodness, but it would surely be okay, he hadn't had anything in his mouth, he couldn't be choking, he surely--

Ai quickly voted, then (defying Boss) she made her way to Akki, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"He'll be all right," she whispered. "He...he couldn't be choking, there could be nothing in his throat. If he has a medical condition, the Cupids will know of it. He'll be all right - we'll finish this up and go see him. It will be okay."

Her hand squeezed lightly as she waited for the verdict, looking up at the screen....

“...I am sorry everyone. But I can not vote for Mei or myself when there is a chance everyone could be hurt. When people could be punished just like how Fiyero was. You all were there were you not? You all saw what they did.” 

Bland said with a bit of fear and sadness in his voice. 

“I don’t want everyone going through that. I’m sorry. We can help  Katsurou after their punishment can we not? Work together to help them heal.  But if we are all broken from a punishment...nothing good can come from that can it? I can only hope you all forgive me.”

He looked down. 

“Lord in heaven forgive me for this.” 

When Jiro speaks, Tegan's eyes narrow. What he proposes sounds much too vauge and experimental for his tastes. "Explain now." Tegan says flatly, addressing Jiro. "If the 'Boss' was able to plan this situation, I highly doubt that they'd allow any loopholes to exist-!"

Oh my god these people are delusional. 

They lost. That's the end of it, they. Lost. There was nothing they could do about it but play along until they could find a way to take away power, when they actually had a shot, not when they were in a room where machine guns were probably hidden in the tile- and if not, well, just locking the door would be enough to kill them after enough time. Even cannibalism would last so far. 

"Like, yeah! Oh my gosh that plan is so like perfect!"

Clapping his hands, he giggled. "Yeah, stick it to the boss! Like we can so beat them right!"

Everyone who votes wrong is going to be punished. Not killed. But probably wishing they were. And you're going to make it worse.

Well, he may not be able to shut off his brain but he could ignore it. "I'll like vote for Mei right now! See like isn't that perfect. Oh my gosh, Jiro, you're like the smarticlest. Like super duper smart." 

Standing again, he pecked Bland's cheek. "Love you, Starlight. Like, remember what I said, okay." His voice dipped lower a moment, cautious, before it went back to his normal pitch, even if his eyes were still sharp. 

Then he heard the bang. 

"Uh..Raven? You, like, okay?" Walking over, he leaned and tilted his head. "Like...he's not like looking great. Like this wasn't my fault, kay. Hm..."

Tapping his lips again, his eyes lit up as he knelled next to him. "I know just what to do! Like, Disney to the rescue." 

Oh, so Akki got there and- why was he freaking out? "Come on, this is easy. Here, just, let me." 

Tilting Morde's head towards him, he closed his eyes, leaning forward, and gently pressing their lips together with a grin. This should, like, work, right?

Akki had suspected Katsurou from the very start and when Fy brought up the stiff fabric, Akki had been almost completely certain. The request to describe clothes was a decoy, he had wanted information from Katsurou to make sure it alligned with the evidence he had found, but Akki didn't want to point fingers. He was going to introduce the accusation slowly, calmly... he had it all planned out, a speech typed out and ready, but then Fyiero jad to go and make such a show, didn't he? 

Things were moving so fast, he barely managed to open his mouth and so much commotion, panic and yelling... so much for his plan to take this calmly and professionally.

His eyes moved over to Mordecai who... he looked unwell. Whatever Akki had been thinking or ready to say was dropped just as his lover hit the floor. 

With swift movements Akki rushed to him, tuning out anything that was being said at the time. Mordecai was his priority.

Akki got to his knees and lifted Morde's head up. His eyes widened then as he quickly looked up at Jiro who was thankfully nearby.

"HE'S NOT BREATHING!! HELP!!"