Chapter Text
It’s been three days since the announcer visited him. Or at least Owen thinks it’s been three days, he’s not entirely sure though.
He hasn’t slept well since then. Every time he closes his eyes he just sees his father, trainer, the announcer, he’s not sure, it changes sometimes he thinks. But he sees them, either all three or one at a time he doesn’t know. But the message is always clear. Always the same.
He is not his own person. Owen Keldor serves no purpose but to be used and thrown away by others. Only to be passed onto the next person that has a use for him.
The worst part is, he’s not even sure if they’re wrong.
He’s once again trying desperately to fall, and stay asleep when he hears someone stop in front of his cell. It can’t be a meal he was given one… an hour or so ago? Maybe?
Either way he opens his eyes to see a demon. Standing right outside of the cell.
Anger tries to flare within him, because a demon? here? So close to being within his reach but he can’t take it out? It should be frustrating, unacceptable. As things are though Owen registers the Starr employee badge and decides that it’s really not worth it.
“Get up and put your hands clearly in front of you.” He wants to protest, to demand to know what’s going on. He doesn’t, he just complies quietly while watching the demon closely.
She unlocks the door quickly, closing it behind her as she enters. Owen wants to run, fight, do anything but before he really fully registers what’s happened the demon grabs his arms and shackles them behind his back. And he desperately wants to fight back, to make it so that she’s not touching him anymore. But even now, Owen can tell that the demon’s stronger than him. She likely would be even if he wasn’t still recovering from a multitude of injuries.
“What’s going on?” He tries to hold at least some anger or indignation in his tone, but even to himself it just feels resigned. He’s disappointed in himself for that, really.
“Fuck, he told me you were about as down to earth as a ballon at the moment but does anything actually stick in that head of yours. Or are you too busy planning atrocities? I’m taking you to the room where we conduct the survivor’s interviews.” This is enough to make Owen forget himself for a minute in anger, not enough to try something suicidal like escape of course but enough to make him speak out.
“Tch, leave it to one of you to be so vulgar about a simple question. Which by the way is actually quite valid! I was told by that announcer of yours that he’d see me in a few days for whatever this Interview is, and in case you somehow haven’t noticed there is not a single way to tell the time down here! No clocks, no windows, you don’t even turn the lights off! So you’ll have to excuse me if-“
the demon slams him into the closest wall.
“If you know what’s good for you Keldor, you’ll shut the fuck up, right now. Understood?” She’s pinning him enough that he can hardly breathe, but Owen doesn’t care.
“Oh come off it. What are you going to do tiefling , kill me? Oh but then your audiences will be so dissatisfied with this outcome. And then what will happen to you? Prison? Death? The Maze maybe? No you won’t do anything, not now. Not until they’re done with me.” The demon looks like she actually might kill him for a second, consequences be damned. Though she elects to slam him against the wall once more before silently leading him back onwards.
And that’s all that’s said until they reach a door at the end of one of the seemingly endless amount of hallways they’ve turned down.
He’d tried to keep his bearings throughout the walk, but between the bandages still covering most of his face and how completely tired he is, there was little chance of that from the start.
As he’s led through the door Owen sees Graecie, Acho, Kyle and Spidey. All talk stops as each of them sees him, their expressions turn to surprise and relief in different amounts. Graecie, being the first to spot him, also speaks up first.
“Owen? You really are alive.” She sounds disbelieving but also relieved. Which is slightly frustrating, because why? He knows that Graecie hates him. She left him down there to die.
“Are- are you alright Owen?” Graecie’s concern isn’t too much of a surprise despite Owen knowing how she must feel about him. Because that’s just how Graecie is. Always asking after others, seeing if they’re okay.
“I’m fine Graecie.” It’s a lie and he’s sure that everyone can see that. But it’s not their problem, and there’s nothing to be done, so admitting anything would be useless.
Graecie looks like she’s about to call him out when he’s pushed further into the room by his escort.
“Get a fucking move on Keldor, I don’t want to be held up by you .” He can’t help but bristle at the words, she’s acting as though it’s his fault she’s here!
He doesn’t say anything about it. That doesn’t stop Kyle though, who seems quite a bit more peeved by the situation than anyone else. Though considering what he heard from the announcer he knows that Kyle is certainly unhappy with the whole thing.
“Oh come on he’s injured and you have him in chains! It’s hardly his fault if it takes him a moment to move asshole.” While he can see Kyle’s just trying to help, Owen can’t help but hate how the other makes him sound like an invalid.
“Oh right, because I have to be oh so respectful to a genocidal monster like him .” Owen really doesn’t want to deal with this becoming a fight.
“Kyle, just stop. I don’t need you trying to pick fights for me. I’m perfectly capable.” The younger man backs off, and after an awkward amount of silence Spidey changes the subject.
“So uh Owen! You’re the only person we haven’t figured out the exact age of yet. So how old are you? Cause I mean In the Maze you said roughly 30ish but nothing concrete.” How old is he? When he entered the Maze he was 35 so, how long has it been since then?
“I, how long has it been since we left the Maze?” He thinks his birthday hasn’t quite been since then but he also just doesn’t know how long it’s been.
Spidey answers after a second.
“About two and a half, three weeks,” she looks around, likely seeking confirmation from the others, which she receives. “Yeah, about three weeks.”
Three weeks.
How?
No because the announcer had said, and it can’t have been that long since the visit. Could it?
Acho, who’s been mostly silent till now, seems to note Owen’s steadily increasing panic and gives an explanation.
“Uh, after we were herded off the stage you collapsed almost immediately. As far as we know you were taken to a medical bay and treated for a while, or well when we asked where you were, the answer given was that you were being treated.” That, that’s actually quite relieving.
“Thank you Acho,” he barely whispers the thanks but everyone hears anyway.
Though that does clear up his age and well, he’s realising that he’s a bit older than he originally thought. “37 by the way, I- I suppose I’m 37 now.”
“Holy fuck, wait. Does this mean Owen’s the oldest by like what, five, ten years?” Well Kyle certainly seems excited by that.
“Kyle, language.” It’s an old warning done once again basically on instinct. Well at least the younger man has the decency to look admonished.
“Sorry Owen.” It’s short but good enough he supposes.
“Er Owen do you have any plans for what you’re going to do after all this is over?” Acho starts hesitantly but keeps going nonetheless “because we were all planning on sort of, sticking together and- and getting a house once we’re done with all this.” He gestures around. “And I wondered if you’d want to join us? It’s alright if you don’t though!” He tacks the last part quickly onto the end.
And this, this one silly little question. Almost breaks him completely. Because after? He’s already been told that he’s not leaving this place alive, that he doesn’t get to have a life, there is no after for him.
And home? When was the last time he called anywhere home? Excluding the Maze, he- he joined the military when he was barely eligible after finding his way out of that damn forest. And nothing during that time was ever home, only a means to an end. When did he ever call somewhere home?
Also because why, why would they want him? Why would they offer him anything? What use is there in that? He wouldn’t serve a purpose there! So why would Acho ask him? After everything he's done why would-
“Why in the world would you even want this one? ” Not Owen, not him, not even Keldor, just, this one. As though referring to him properly would be too great of a respect. It’s grating, but there’s nothing he can do about it.
Kyle seems to have had enough though.
“Alright, what the hell is wrong with you Owen! You’re just letting this woman shove you around and talk down to you! You’ve done nothing to try and stop her, and you haven’t even snapped at her when she’s sworn! That’s like your entire thing!” Graecie and Acho both make attempts to calm the man down, to no avail though. “No! Even when he’s been at his lowest Owen has never been this, this- he’s never been a complete pushover like this! Not even when he stepped down as leader was he ever this pathetic!” Kyle moved closer to Owen as he spoke, getting close enough that Owen can see the fury in his eyes, that he can see how the younger is poised to shove him back at any wrong move.
Owen scoffs and straightens up to look the younger man directly in the eye.
Because; what’s wrong with him? Really?
“What’s wrong with me.” His voice is completely flat as he says it.
“Kyle, You’re the one throwing a damn tantrum over something that happened weeks ago.” Owen pauses for a moment, thinking for just a second.
“Though on the topic of me stepping down, I can’t help but think your logic flawed.
“You hate my actions, hate me. Which, fine. I know that there’ll always be those that refuse to see the truth, that look down upon we who do what must be done. I was fully aware of that before I became a soldier.
“You think of me as this terrible villain to protect others from.
“And yet, yet you’re still disappointed that I stepped down as leader, that I ‘gave up’ on exploring the Maze. Why is that Kyle? Because it seems rather hypocritical to me. If you despise me so much, then why would you still lament over my stepping down?” Owen waits for a beat, curious as to whether the younger man will give an answer, but when all he gets is indignant squawking he speaks again.
“And here you call me pathetic. You’ve been, I assume, living up here somewhere in relative comfort for the past three weeks. While I’ve been down in a forsaken cell where the only time I’ve actually talked to anyone since leaving the Maze was when that announcer decided to visit me days ago. So you’ll have to excuse me if there’s ‘something wrong’ with me at the moment Kyle.”
Owen’s words are rough, unfocused and messy in a way that he’d never usually tolerate from himself. Though he can’t muster up the energy to care. His thoughts are sluggish and roll into each other in a way that he can’t quite piece together. Not to mention how his head is still swimming with memories that he’s had for weeks now. Everything blending together until he doesn’t know who he wants to be.
He’s just so tired.
He doesn’t even want to be fighting with Kyle. So why did he?
Everyone’s looking at him again. God he’s so stupid! When has having an outburst ever helped anyone? Why can’t he just.
Just what? He doesn’t even know anymore, it’s frustrating.
Owen’s pulled out of his thoughts by Graecie.
“You haven’t talked to anyone? In days? Owen, that’s not-“ Graecie’s voice is soft even for her standards, highlighting the care and concern that shouldn’t be there, shouldn’t exist.
Because he hurt people she cared about. Ayngel, Ori, Ap- no, he doesn’t regret that, can’t regret that.
Owen shakes his head, mostly to clear his train of thought, but also because.
“Not really, no. I certainly tried to talk to any of the employees that came by, but they weren’t all that talkative.” Owen keeps his voice carefully level, it wouldn’t do to betray the uneasiness he felt during those first few days within the cell after all.
Graecie and Acho both go to speak, though Owen doesn’t pay attention. As at that moment the door opens, and he sees Magic for the first time since she got separated from them.
She looks at him with wide, yet cautious eyes.
And suddenly he’s back in the Maze.
Finding Magic passed out in a corner, taking her back to the clearing and panic yelling at her the whole time. Because he cares about Magic, because he doesn’t want to- he can’t lose her.
He’s looking at her leg the morning after, surveying the damage done to it, because he wants her to be okay, to be safe.
Though he also remembers his own dismissiveness of Magic and everyone else in the clearing during those final few weeks. Remembers how he lied to Magic about why she couldn’t enter his home. Remembers how he avoided her unless he wanted to know something about Krow. Remembers his own thoughts about her down in Guts’ prison.
And Owen regrets everything he’s done to cause that expression.
Because it’s the most closed off he’s ever seen her, because he knows that it’s all his fault, because he betrayed her. Betrayed everyone.
Why? Why would he?
No. Owen knows why he did those things.
Because despite what Ap- What Apo and Ori, and everyone else seems to think, he only ever acted as his own logic dictated.
Even if he’s now second guessing those actions.
“Magic I- I’m sorry. I don’t have any explanations or excuses. I, You didn’t- don’t deserve to be treated like that. I raised my voice at you, I was rude and dismissive and, and I’m sorry for that. I stopped coming after you. I stopped.”
Owen gets cut off by the demon.
“What, so you'll apologise to the girl for being slightly dismissive but you feel nothing over the murder of countless demons? Fucking hell you’re twisted.” And Owen Keldor remembers where he is, why he’s here, and the company he’s in.
So he takes a breath, and directs his attention towards the demon.
“You say that as though the two things are comparable. I suppose to you, they might be, but nevertheless, I assure you they are not. Same as what I said to Kyle, you believe me to be a villain. This terrible irredeemable person. And you’re right, at least partially.”
Magic steps further away from him seeing the obvious change in his demeanour, and bizarrely it’s almost enough to make him stop. To falter. But he doesn’t, instead Owen straightens back up properly and faces the demon.
“I manipulate foes' emotions to hinder them. I mock, and taunt them in order to destroy their spirit and rationality.
“And you’re right again, I feel nothing ” He almost stumbles over the word but manages to keep his voice steady, “Over the deaths of ‘countless demons’. You know why?” Owen pauses for a moment but continues when all he gets back is a growled “Fuck you.”
“I don’t feel anything over it because for as vile and depraved you believe me to be. I can assure you that your breed is just as vicious and cruel and irredeemable as I am!” Owen has to fight to keep his tone level, to stop himself from laughing at the Tiefling in front of him. But he’s had enough practice, so he manages.
“You demons burn towns as you pass, you raze fields to starve out innocent civilians, and then, then as the battle is done you place the innocent’s heads on pikes as a warning to others. So tell me tiefling , tell me how utterly deplorable I am in comparison to your lot.” The silence that comes after is tense, as the Outsiders wait for the demon’s answer.
None comes, not directly at least.
“You’re up next Keldor. Get in the room.” Whilst the words are dismissive, the non-answer speaks volumes.
Still. Owen complies without fuss. There’s no real need to point out the obvious after all.
The interview room itself is simple. Surprisingly so, with just a table and two chairs placed in the centre.
The announcer stands by a door opposite where Owen is and tenses up as he sees the Outsider enter. Interesting.
“I’ve brought him in one piece, Scott. Just as you asked.” His escort’s voice is less harsh when addressing the announcer, or Scott apparently. Though that’s unsurprising really.
“Thanks for that! sorry for making you deal with him! but you’re the only person available I could really trust to actually get him here.” Only person he could trust? This demon? Really?
Owen doesn’t get to think on it further as Scott turns towards him. .
“Right! So, how’ve you been Owen!” The cheer from when Scott visited him is still there, if slightly lessened.
Owen just gives the announcer a flat look.
“Oh come on, it can’t be that bad! You’re still alive aren’t you?”
This time Owen does answer.
“If it were up to your friend here I wouldn’t be.” Scott just lifts an eyebrow at this, questioning the demon still behind Owen.
“He’s an irritating bastard.” The demon’s matter-of-fact tone makes Scott laugh before he gives agreement.
So Owen’s not going to get any sort of leeway there, fine.
“Right, grab a seat Owen, get comfortable! Tea? Coffee?” The pleasantries are grating but Owen figures it might be less painful if he plays along.
“No, I’m fine, thanks.” Owen sits but declines a drink. He can’t trust that it’ll just be tea or coffee, call him paranoid but it’s the only way for someone like him to survive.
Stilted conversation continues while they wait. For what Owen’s not entirely sure. though it does allow Owen to notice something off about the other man. Scott seems to hold himself strangely, like there’s a weight or something that he’s trying to hide. It seems familiar but Owen can’t quite tell why.
“Alrighty then! We’re about to get started, Owen if you try anything you will be shot! Understand?” The announcer’s cheer is still unnerving but Owen still answers affirmatively.
With that the other man leaves the room.
And the cameras turn on.