Partners in Crime (Merry Whump of May: day 21)
Charismatic : âsitâ// vial // balcony
Tw: forced swallowing of suspicious substance, handcuffs, small spaces
Completely unedited :) so read at your peril
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Casper let out a groan as the car finally came to a stop. With his hands cuffed behind his back and his legs bunched up in the tight space, there was no way to stop himself from hitting his head off a corner at the sudden stop. It only aggravated his headache from the beating Monroeâs goons had given him before they stuffed him in here.
Casper heard two car doors open and close followed by footsteps that got closer and closer to the boot. Casper knew this was inevitable, if you stuff someone in a boot and park the car, usually youâre going to have to remove them from the boot, but still⌠his heart pounded all the same.
It was Gavin who opened the boot and stared down at Casper with a wicked grin. âEnjoy the ride, Casper?â
âIâd enjoy it more if I didnât have to see your face, ugly,â Casper replied, already moving to sit up in the boot which turned out to be more of an effort than he initially thought.
As soon as he sat up Gavin had a fist wrapped into Heroâs shirt and yanked him forward. Casperâs eyes went wide but he could do nothing to stop himself as his body went with gravity and he fell face first onto the concrete. At the last-minute Casper jutted his shoulder forward, taking the brunt of the impact there instead his face but it still hurt.
âYouâre such a dick,â Casper spat, rolling onto his back and wanting to kick his legs at Gavin. He would have too, except for his legs being dead. His blood fizzed as feeling slowly returned to him. Gavin let out a stupid laugh that grated on Casperâs ears, hurting more than the fall.
God⌠Casper really wanted Monroe to just kill the fucker already. Give Casper some peace, hire better goons.
âOi,â the other goon called, voice drawl and monotone. âWhatâs the holdup?â
âHeâs being difficult,â Gavin said in reply. Casper heard a sigh and then the other guy walked around the car to see Casper lying on the ground. Casper instantly scurried backwards as best he could on his cuffed hands and pins-and-needle-riddled legs that was just becoming awake.
Monroeâs other favourite goon, who Casper only knew as Dante, was far scarier than Gavin thought he was. He was lethal, efficient and humourless. His pale eyed stare pinned Casper in place after Casperâs back hit the wall. Casper watched as Dante reached behind his back and retrieved his gleaming pistol, drawing back the hammer and loading a round into the chamber with the simple flick of his thumb.
Dante inclined his head, voice monotone as he said: âwould you like to walk up to Monroeâs suite, Casper? Or crawl?â
Casper set his mouth into a resolute, thin line, trying to maintain any of his dignity that vanished when Dante was involved. âI think Iâll walk,â Casper replied, already pushing himself up by leveraging his back against the wall.
Danteâs expression didnât change. He didnât holster his pistol; he just walked over to Casper and grabbed the crook of his elbow before pushing him towards the lift that led to the hotel above. Casper knew exactly where he was. Dante had brought him here multiple times before. The handcuffs and the boot treatment was new, but Casper didnât have to think twice about why he was cuffed. Why Dante was being especially impatientâŚ
Gavin followed him into the lift and pressed the button for the penthouse suite. This was when the nerves usually kicked in, but today Casper was more scared of Dante than Monroe. Monroe, he could sweet talk. Dante was like talking to a wall. An imposing, emotionless brick of a wall. The only advantage Casper had for assurances that Dante wouldnât kill him was Monroeâs⌠fondness for Casper.
On good days, Casper liked to think on his relationship like more of a partnership. Where Casper and Monroe were equals. Thatâs the way it had always been, but lately⌠well, things have been tense to say the least.
He cast his eyes to the ascending numbers of the lift, watching every floor rise until he reached floor 63: Monroeâs home, the penthouse suite.
Dante punched in the six-digit passcode to enter the penthouse, while Gavin nudged Casper with his shoulder. âYou fucked up big this time Casper, I donât think Monroeâs gonna be so forgiving.â
Casper scoffed, glancing back over his shoulder to Gavin. âEven if he kills me, it would be a blessing. At least I wouldnât have to stand so close to you.â
âYou just think youâre so smart, donât ya?â Gavin cursed, shoving Casper forward. Casper didnât brace for a push and so he stumbled forward, just at the perfect timing that the lift doors opened. Casper lost his balance but recovered slightly and only dropped to one knee.
âI donât think Iâm smart, Gavin,â Casper replied easily, getting one foot under him. He shot a smirk over his shoulder to the bull in a China shop and said: âI just know Iâm smarter than you.â
Casper got his second foot under him and went to stand but froze when he felt Gavinâs meaty hand on the back of his neck.
âWhy you littleââ
Danteâs cool voice cut through Gavinâs no doubt colourful insults. âYouâve wasted enough time already.â
Gavinâs hand disappeared from Casperâs neck, instead Danteâs hand replaced it and yanked Casper up. Before Casper could protest, Dante shoved him forward, further into Monroeâs apartment, the threat clear. Keep walking or else.
âOkay, alright! Iâm going,â Casper grumbled, rolling his shoulders, thankful his legs had stopped prickling and was now fully functioning. Casper walked into the kitchen and froze.
Sitting at the kitchen island with a steaming cup of coffee beside him sat Monroe. He smiled when he saw Casper and stood to greet him. A hand pressed between Casperâs shoulder blades shoved him further into the kitchen, barely catching himself.
âCasper,â Monroe greeted, his voice soft and melodic like a warm tenor, pleasing on the ear. âIâm so happy to see you.â
Casper bit back his unhelpful reply and just beamed a smile at Monroe instead. He had to play this safe, otherwise heâd probably end up dead. Casper matched Monroeâs steps forward, shrugging as casually as he could with his hands cuffed behind his back.
âYeah, well. Not every day you get thrown into the boot of a car by two goons, is it?â
Monroeâs grin was sharper than a Stanley blade as he extended a hand to Casperâs forehead where Gavin had slammed his head against the ground to stop him from fleeing.
âYouâre bleeding,â Monroe said, tenderly touching the broken skin around the wound. Casper barely caught the greedy look in Monroeâs eyes before he pressed his thumb to Casperâs cut. Casper hissed and recoiled, but Monroe caught the back of Casperâs head with his other hand and kept him still. âDoes it hurt?â
âYes!â Casper hissed, trying to shoulder Monroe away from him.
The corner of Monroeâs lips twitched up. âGood,â he said, digging his thumb in harder before pulling away from Casper altogether. The pain was more of an annoying ache really, a loss of sensation but he wanted to relieve it somehow. He wanted to reach up and press a tender hand to it, but with his hands cuffed he couldnât really do much of anything.
He watched as Monroe strolled over to retrieve his coffee off the island, then shot a pleasant smile back and Casper.
âShall we enjoy the sunset on the balcony, Casper?â He asked, but he was walking before Casper could answer. Casper glanced back to Dante and Gavin before setting his jaw and reluctantly following Monroe out to the balcony.
âIâd enjoy the sunset if you took these cuffs off,â Casper told Monroe, voice sweet like honey. Monroe smiled at Casper as he sat in his favourite cushioned armchair and set his coffee on the glass table in front of him.
Monroe gestured for Casper to take his usual seat in front of Monroeâs, âplease, sit.â
âYou know what, Monroe? Iâd love a coffee, if youâre feeling generous,â Casper said with a sigh and a cheeky smile as he settled into his own cushioned chair.
Monroe laughed. âOh, Casper⌠I am feeling a lot of things towards you at the moment,â his brown eyes cutting into Casperâs. âNot one of him is generous.â
Casper reclined back into the chair, kissing his teeth and switched his gaze to the bustling city instead. The sunset was beautiful, casting the buildings with soft orange light as the sun sank low into the blue and pink sky. Casper wished he could enjoy it like he usually did. Instead, he was here, sitting across from Monroe and trying his best to ignore the claw of fear that had gripped his chest.
âI thought we had an understanding, Casper,â Monroe began with his soothing tone and sugar-coated words. âI thought we was partners.â
âYeah,â Casper said with a scoff, turning to look at Monroe. âI thought so too. Then, next thing I know Danteâs at my door, beating the shit out of me to drag me here to you! My phone didnât break by the way, it still works. Normal people call when he need something.â
Monroeâs eyes flashed with a drop of cruelty, a knowing smirk spreading across his face.
âAre you really trying to play coy with me, Casper?â Monroe asked with a laugh. âWe both know youâre smarter than that.â
Casper sat forward in his chair and tried for a charming smile. âHow about you take these cuffs off and we can have a lovely little chat, hmm? Thatâs what you want right? To smooth everything over.â
Monroe hummed, taking a sip of his coffee and glancing out across the cityâs skyline. Casper huffed out a scoff and rolled his eyes, glancing back to the door to track where the other two arseholes was.
âOf course, Casper. We can have a civil conversation.â
Casper cocked an eyebrow, waiting for the and, if or, but. Monroe in reply, took something out of his pocket and placed it on the table between him. Casper made a point of looking at it â it was like a scientistâs test tube but smaller with a cork in it, or a vial of some toxic substance. The liquid inside was a deep purple where the sun hit it, but otherwise it looked black. When Casper glanced back at Monroe he was smiling, looking very comfortable and pleased with himself.
The warning bells was already blaring in his mind, so Casper just remained silent. Even if he wanted to speak, he wouldnât know what to say.
âIâll take off your cuffs, as long as you drink this.â
âI canât drink it unless you take the cuffs off,â Casper shot back, agitated.
âNonsense, âMonroe waved away, grabbing his coffee from the table and nodding at someone behind Casper. âThatâs what I pay Dante for.â
A hand crossed in front of Casper, and he recoiled back, his heart racing. He jumped to his feet as Dante appeared in front of him, but a pair of hands on his shoulders dragged him back down to the chair and held him there.
There was a pop as the vial was uncorked.
âNo, no, no! Wait!â Casper cried, struggling under Gavinâs hold as Dante stepped too between Casperâs legs that ruled out the use of his legs. âMonroe! What is that?!â
âOpen up, Casper,â Dante said in the same monotone droll. âDonât make me force you.â
Casperâs chest rose and fell too fast as he continued to struggle, turning his head away as Dante reached forward. A hand in Casperâs hair had him crying out as Dante wrenched his head backwards.
âAagh! Get off of me!â Casper cried, twisting and turning, trying to stop Danteâs hand from getting closer or even better, spilling the fucking contents of the vial.
âAlways so difficult,â Dante sighed, yanking Casperâs head back until he was staring at the sky. Casper grit his teeth to keep from crying out or opening his mouth. Dante leaned over Casper, pressing his forearm across Heroâs forehead, keeping him down and with his freehand he grabbed Casperâs nose and plugged it between his fingers.
Casperâs eyes widened, his struggles renewing as he realised what Dante was doing. Those pale, uncaring eyes stared down at Casperâs, waiting for him to open his mouth.
âYou could have done it the easy way, you idiot,â Dante said, watching as Casper went purple from holding his breath. The struggling didnât help with his lack of oxygen and Casper was afraid heâd burst or pass out and so â
Casper gasped and then the cool liquid was running down his throat. Casper coughed and sputtered, trying to spit it out. Before he could, Dante slammed his palm under Casperâs chin and dug his fingers into Casperâs cheek. Those pale eyes stared down soulless and bored.
âSwallow it, you child.â
Casper tried to twist his head free, but Dante didnât let him. Dante slammed Casperâs head back again, so he was staring at the sky.
âOi,â Dante drawled. âDo I have to cut off your oxygen again or are ya gonna behave?â
Casper pulled every ounce of hatred from his body into the glare he shot at Dante, his nostrils flaring but he knew there was only one way that this ended.
Casper swallowed the now warm liquid. âIs it gone?â
âMmph,â Casper tried to affirm.
Dante tilted his head. âSwallow again.â
Casper obeyed. Satisfied, Dante let go of Casperâs cheeks and stepped away. Casper let his head fall forward, rolling his neck to try and get rid of the creak. Dante stepped to the side of Casperâs chair and snapped his fingers onto his palm in a âcome hereâ gesture that Casper understood to mean give Dante his hands.
Casper leaned forward, coughing slightly. Dante grabbed Casperâs cuffed hands none too gently and Casper heard the satisfying click that signalled his freedom.
Casper coughed again as he brought his hands in front of him, glaring at Monroe as he rubbed his wrists.
âWhatââ Casper said, cutting himself off with a cough. âWhat was that, Monroe?â
Monroeâs smile was cruel as he leaned forward in his seat, clasping his hands between his knees. Casperâs throat felt so dry, and swallowing wasnât doing anything to relieve the scratchiness.
âYou remember Colt,â Monroe said.
Casper raised his brows. âYeah? Vaguely?â
âHe works in science, in a lab more specifically. Remember he made those power dampeners that the police love.â
âYeah, theyâre not the only ones,â Casper spat pointedly. His wrists werenât the only things those stupid cuffs affected. It left Casperâs abilities disoriented afterward, something Monroe no doubt wanted Casper to experience. That off kilter, claustrophobicâ
Something lurched in Casperâs chest, as if someone had just hit him from inside with a hammer. Casperâs hand went to his chest, fingers digging into his ribcage.
âSomething wrong?â Monroe asked kindly.
âWhatâ?â Casper breathed before another pang hit him and Casper jerked forward, taking in two long, panicked lungfuls of air. Casper got to his feet, needing to get away because something was wrong. Something was so so⌠wrong.
His vision turned as if Casper was on a waltzers or something and he barely managed to brace himself with his hands before he hit the balcony floor, heaving.
âAGH! Moâ Monrââ Casper cried, screaming as his chest burned, spreading a current of pure pain from his heart around his body. Casperâs strength left him as his body convulsed and felt like it was burning. As if an army of fire ants was crawling under his skin, biting and cutting and burning.
Casper curled into a ball, grabbing his knees and digging his nails into his waist as his breath seemed to falter and stop and he was so hot, his mind blind with pain as stars burst behind his eyes and something was wrong!
Casper shivered, his clothes scratching and uncomfortable as he writhed in pain, loud whimpers and screams torn from his throat as the poison made its way through his veins. Thatâs all that little vial could be⌠poison. Monroe⌠Monroe was going to kill himâŚ
As if reading Casperâs thoughts Monroe stood, pressing his heel into Casperâs shoulder and kicking him onto his back. Casperâs glare was probably teary and ineffective, but he glared up all the same as his energy ebbed and flowed through his body, shivering and almost paralysed.
âYeah, nerdy Colt. Little genius really,â Monroe said with a casual shrug, crouching so he could get closer to Casper. Casper tried to lift his arm and push him away, but he could barely lift it off the ground. âWell, I asked Colt if he could somehow manufacture an ingestible version of the power dampeners.â
Casperâs eyeâs widened in horror, mumbling out incoherent protests as his body spasmed beneath him.
âOh hush, donât worry. I donât want your abilities gone, I just wanted to punish you for disobeying me, Casper,â Monroe said softly. His words anything but soothing. He reached out and brushed some of Casperâs sweat-soaked hair from his forehead and smiled down at him almost tenderly. âThe effects are temporary, Colt assured me, maybe two or three daysââ
âYouâre a bastard,â Casper spat, teeth chattering.
Monroe grinned.
âThe effects are temporary, Casper, but I hope the message wonât be,â he said as he moved his hand to Casperâs throat and squeezed. Casperâs body only responded weakly, his arm brushing Monroeâs trying to dislodge it, but Monroe leaned so his breath fanned Casperâs cheek. âAnd if the message gets lost along the way, well, I had back-ups made in case you need a little reminder every now and then.â
Dark spots crowded the edges of Casperâs vision and for a moment he thought Monroe was going to choke him out.
Dante said something to the side and Monroe raised his brows, intrigued. Then as lazily as he cut off Casperâs oxygen he stood to his full height and grabbed his empty mug off the table. Casper gasped in air, turning on his side as he guzzled in sweet, fresh air into his lungs.
His smile was the same, usual charismatic one he wore when he was trying to imitate a human being. âWonderful. Well Casper, get up. Duty calls. You canât just lie around on my balcony all day. Iâll put on the kettle.â
Casper rolled onto his back and stared at the colour-streaked sky, his body spent and his mind racing. All he wanted to do right now was sleep, or die, or kill Monroe and Danteâ or all three.
As soon as he got his breath back, heâd do one of him. Maybe. Probably, for now he just stared at the sky.
âCasper!â Monroe called from inside. âIf you donât move in the next ten seconds, Iâll get Dante to administer a second dose.â
Casper held up his middle finger through the window, not caring if Monroe even saw it. Reluctantly Casper sat up and got to his feet slowly, using the furniture to help him up.
He had made up his mind: he was going to kill MonroeâŚ
after coffee.
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