“It was an act of disobedience. My apologies,” Two offered in his usual graceful style.
“Disobedience is always punished,” F snapped. He grabbed Two’s arm, pushed him over the table, and brought his stick down on his back.
“Stop it,” Alex yelled desperately, trying to grab F’s arm and halt the beating.
He didn’t get a chance. Four jumped in, unexpectedly, and held him back with a tight grip. “It will do no good,” he hissed into Alex’s ear. “Let it happen and it’ll be over sooner. It’ll be worse for Two if you don’t.”
F held Two down and hit him repeatedly with his stick, and Alex had no choice but to watch, horrified. F’s eyes were aglow with twisted, sadistic pleasure, and Alex suspected he derived greater satisfaction from tormenting Two than any of the rest of them, even himself. Two’s head was angled sideways, and Alex could see the sad, resigned expression in his eyes. In his typical fashion, Two endured the beating with dignity, never once crying out.
At last, the sickening thud of stick on flesh stopped, and F took a step back, breathing heavily. A lock of his gelled black hair had broken free as a result of his exertion, and he smoothed it back into place. Two rested on the table for a couple of seconds, and then slowly, with great poise, levered himself back onto his feet and stood up shakily. Two and F stared at each other for a moment in the deathly silent room.
There was a sick, gloating look in F’s eyes, but Alex found Two’s expression the revelation. Two shot F a look of utter contempt, combined with a glimmer of wry amusement, as if he was entertained by the fact that F had so totally lost control. Then the moment passed, and in front of Alex’s eyes, Two’sexpression changed into one of blank submission. It was as if his mind had emptied of all thought and feeling, and a serene mask had slipped over his face, obscuring his true self completely.
Two bowed his head. “Thank you, F,” he murmured gracefully. “I’m sorry I disobeyed you.”
F grunted. “Good. Now clear this mess up,” he ordered, before turning and striding out.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked, running over to Two the second Four released him.
“I’m fine, my dear boy,” Two replied with a tight smile. He ran a shaking hand through his short white hair. “My, F does love his drama, doesn’t he?”
“He seemed to take particular pleasure in beating you,” Alex mused, leading Two to a nearby chair. “I wonder why? I mean, we all know he hates me, but there was a really sick expression in his eyes when he was beating you. What was that about?”
“I have no idea. Daddy issues, possibly?” Two suggested. “I’m much older than the rest of you. Maybe it gives him particular pleasure to beat me because of that?”
“Maybe. Or perhaps it’s because you’re so calm and reasonable all the time. Perhaps he wants to goad you out of it.”
“Who knows?” Two stretched cautiously and winced at the movement. “I could take this kind of treatment in my youth, but I rather fear it’s taking its toll now,” he murmured. He seemed suddenly frail and vulnerable, and Alex was afraid he might faint.
“I’ll get C,” Five said, disappearing out of the door.
Three and Four busied themselves with setting the room to rights, while Alex brought Two a glass of water. The doctor arrived a few seconds later, looking worried.
“I hear you’ve been hurt,” he said gently, crouching in front of Two and placing a hand on his knee. “Are you okay?”
“Just a little shaken,” Two murmured. “I’ll be fine.”
“He won’t be fine. F just beat the crap out of him. Look at his back,” Alex ordered. “I warned you about this. I told you it might happen. You said you’d speak to A about it. You said you’d get something done.”
“Shh, my dear boy,” Two murmured. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I suspect, as always, that you over-estimate the power of others to do as you wish.” He shot Alex an affectionate glance.
C helped Two out of his shirt and then surveyed his bruised back in dismay. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “This is terrible. I really am very sorry.” He opened up his bag and found some gel. “This will take the sting out.” He rubbed the gel carefully into Two’s wounds, and Alex felt his anger towards the doctor fade. C might be ineffectual, but Alex didn’t doubt that he had a good heart; he was always so gentle with his patients.
“Take these.” C handed Two a couple of painkillers. “I’ll give you some more in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Two whispered, patting C’s arm gratefully. “You’re so kind.”
Alex slipped away, satisfied that Two was in good hands, and went in search of F. He found him sitting in the dining room drinking coffee with his legs up on the opposite chair. Alex fought down his anger and went over to him, doing his best to look meek.
“Please, don’t hurt Two again,” he requested as deferentially as he could. “He’s not a young man, and I’m worried he won’t be able to take it.”
“Then he should obey the rules.” F gave a disinterested shrug.
“Take it out on me instead,” Alex offered. “If Two screws up, then beat me for it, not him.”
“Now, that’s an interesting offer.” F swung his legs down and leaned across the table towards Alex. “But you know what you have to do if you want me to ease up on Two.” He grinned.
Alex felt an odd sense of resignation wash over him. Wasn’t this what people always wanted from him? Wasn’t this really all he was good for? Tyler had offered him a similar ultimatum, but Alex hadn’t been able to give him what he wanted, and Solange had paid the ultimate price. He couldn’t allow Two to suffer the same fate. Yet… the thought of giving F any kind of pleasure stuck in his craw. The idea of humiliating himself in front of the man… it made him feel sick.
