Danny’s face twisted in a grimace, what did he mean indeed. Scenes from his time with the GIW flashed behind his eyelids.
He remembered begging and pleading for the first several days.
Pleading with his parents that he was still their son, that Phantom was still him even as they were the first to slice into his skin with a sharp blade, relishing the screams he made with manic glints in their eyes.
Begged the scientist they handed him over to;
Please stop, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, ȉ̗͔̭͈̯̊ͦ̈̾ͣ̀t͆̊̓ͩ͏͈͍͖̲̻̻͕̳͟ ͍̒ͅh̲̊̽͝u̸͙͉͉̯͍̦͋ͩ́͌̂ͭ͢ͅr̪̱͔̺ͪṫ̸̟̗̜̞̄́s̡̪̺̀̆́.
Hands grabbed his arms and voices he couldn’t make out called to him, panic flooded his system and he struck at his attackers and attempted to crawl backwards, but it felt like he was moving through sludge.
All he could see was people in white hazmat suits and cold analytical eyes that watched him scream without sympathy.
No. No he was supposed to be safe now, they couldn’t be here, he wasn’t ready.
A sob ripped from his lips; he curled in on himself even though he knew it wouldn’t stop them from touching him.
“Please,” he cried, “please stop, stop, no more, please.”
It went quiet, no one touched him again and he breathed deep, ragged breaths, time passed and still none of the pain he was accustomed to came.
That’s right, he isn’t there, he couldn’t be; they never listened, always grabbing and cutting and injecting Ancient’s know what into his body.
Words floated around him as awareness slowly came back, something brushed his core;
Safe-Protect-Help-Safe-Safe-Safe
Through teary vision he saw Jason was hovering close, but not touching. Not touching, like what he wanted might matter.
Turquoise eyes watched him but there was no pity, only understanding and maybe that was why Danny couldn’t stop himself from lurching forward.
Arms hesitantly wrapped around him in a way he couldn’t remember, first softly and then more firmly and finally he felt safe. So, he cried quietly, words of apology falling from him as Jason rubbed circles between his shoulders.
He doesn’t know how long they sat like that, seeking and giving comfort but eventually he was all cried out and a bone deep exhaustion took panic’s place.
