Chapter Text
⚠️PLEASE READ NOTES BEFORE CONTINUING⚠️
Lando would rather be going anywhere else in the world.
He hated the hero charity events. He had to stay by Daniel the entire time as the man entertained the rich. It was an event where the rich would donate money, yet, in his opinion, it was an event to be one of the hero’s favorites.
The rich would send millions to attend the lavish event. The hero’s of the town were forced to come and entertain guests. Lando tried to reason with Daniel that he was his sidekick, so he technically didn’t have to go.
Daniel still made him go. He had sulked for the better part of an hour before putting on the sleek, all black suit that the man had laid onto his bed. Another reason the people were so eager to go to the event, most of the hero’s didn’t wear their masks. The newer ones did, by choice. Those were the ones who had more to protect, more to hide. The older ones had their past laid bare by the media, or even the villains. The ones who didn’t have anything to hide and nothing to lose.
Lando was wearing a black mask that covered the area around his eyes and the bridge of his nose. He still felt uncomfortable. All these people were here to look at them, to pry into their lives. Lando hated the questions, they made his skin itch.
He had only been Daniels sidekick for the better part of a year. Daniel had warned him how hard it would be in the public’s eye. Lando didn’t listen, he wanted to be someone, something, not just another orphan in the streets. Daniel promised him safety as his sidekick, or as his friend.
Lando wished he had never become a sidekick, he wished the public had never pried into his life. It wouldn’t matter, either way they found nothing, which made them mad. Lando wasn’t legally a citizen. He wasn’t even a person.
He didn’t exist.
The only thing the media would find would be a picture of him. It was one he hated. He was five years old, bruises littering his face along with tear tracks. It was after his parents were killed. He was taken to an underground fighting ring. The next picture they would find he was ten. Stitches went through his left eyebrow and he had a frown on his face.
The last picture they would find was when he was sixteen. He was scowling up at the camera, eyes cold. He was being restrained by two men.
If anyone ever found those pictures, then they found the ring. No one ever found the ring. It was impossible.
Lando had escaped with an inch of his life. He had survived on the streets until Daniel had caught him stealing from a woman. He had run then. Daniel tried to find him after that. It took him a year to trust Daniel. He had tried to kill the man. Daniel didn’t fight back he only told him he wanted to help him.
“Hey,” There was a light knock on his door. “You ready, kid?”
Lando took a deep breath, clenching his shaking fists. The past was the fucking past.
“Yeah.” His voice had a quiver in it. He cleared his throat. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“I’ll be in the living room. We have to leave in five minutes.”
Lando put on his dress shoes, adjusting his mask one last time. He looked good, like a proper hero. He couldn’t help but feel like a liar. He didn’t deserve this kind of life. He deserved a dirt filled cell and bloodied knuckles.
He crackled his wrist and took a deep breath, he could do this.
“You look good.” Daniel remarked as he reached the living room. Lando nodded, tight smile on his lips.
Daniel checked his watch. “Let’s go before we’re late. Don’t forget, no phones allowed in the building.”
-
He couldn’t do this.
It was suffocating.
Daniel had an arm tight around his shoulder and laughed loudly as he chatted with another guest.
“Yes. Yes. You are such good company Marcia.” He smiled brightly, bare face on display. Lando gritted his teeth, taking a labored breath.
“Thank you, Sentinel.” The woman turned to him. Her dress had to cost over ten grand. It had diamonds on it for God’s sake. “Invictus, I am glad to see you here tonight, I have wanted to talk to you for so long.”
He smiled, shaking her hand, gently. “The pleasure is mine. You are such a lovely lady.”
She smiled, eyes widening at the sound of his voice. No one had heard him speak other than Daniel. No one had ever seen him without his full face mask, except Daniel. He had been the prize of the night. Everyone wanted to see him, to speak with him. He hated it.
“So handsome, and such good manners, I am saddened you came in a mask, the ladies would be swooning even more.” Lando laughed, sending a pleading look towards Daniel, who’s hand squeezed his shoulder in reassurance. Marcia’s hand raised, to then rest on his arm. “I am saddened I have not more time to talk, but the other ladies are dying to meet you. I am always free at the end of the night if you would like.”
Lando nearly choked on his spit. Daniel noticed how he froze and stepped in. “I am sorry Madam, but I can’t let anything get in the way of his training.”
Marcia laughed. “Of course. It was nice to talk to you both.”
The woman walked elegantly to the dance floor, and to a group of women. They all looked at him, making him blush under the attention. He could feel eyes on him everywhere. It was driving him crazy. It was no different from the pit.
“Do you need a break?” Daniel whispered in his ear. He nodded quickly. Daniel led him out the ballroom door and to a secluded hallway in the mansion they were in.
“Fuck.” He hissed, sinking to his knees.
Daniel sat on the floor next to him. “Im sorry, kid. I know these suck. The heads wanted you here though.”
“I know. It’s not your fault. Why is everyone looking at me! Why can’t they look at Oscar or Alex?” Daniels hand rested on the back of his neck, rubbing reassuring circles. Lando took slow breathes, feeling himself start to calm.
“Its cause you’re a mystery, no one know who you are. It doesn’t help you’re a looker. Everyone is obsessed with finding out who you are. Even the heroes.” Lando’s heart skipped at the comment and he looked at Daniel through hooded eyes. The man’s gaze was intense. He leaned forward slightly. Daniel cupped his jaw, rubbing slow circles.
“We can’t, not here. You know that.” Daniel reprimanded him. Lando bit his lip, eyes flickering to the man’s lips. Daniels hold was steady, safe. He was a rock for Lando and Lando owed him everything, and anything he wanted, anything.
“Please.” Lando whispered.
Daniel swallowed harshly, then looked away. “There are too many eyes here. You know better than that, Lan.”
Lando turned away, not watching as Daniel stood up. “I’m going back. Find me when you are ready.”
Lando didn’t answer, he stared at the floor. Daniel sighed, walking away. When he couldn’t hear the man’s footsteps anymore he leaned his head against the wall behind him. He wanted to leave.
Daniel didn’t want him as much as he used to. The man used to take whatever he wanted from him, Lando let him. It made him feel dirty in a way.
He was Daniel’s to use and hell, did the man take, take, take. He used to leave Lando in a blissed out mess in his bed, leaving for days at a time after, only to come back and do it again. It was always. Now, it was never. It made him feel as he did something wrong. Daniel had told him it was wrong what he did, that they couldn’t do it again. It only made Lando want him more.
Yet, everyone here wanted him, except Daniel, and he could tell that made the man jealous.
“You look lonely.” A voice said. He jolted slightly, jumping to his feet. He deep in thought and hadn’t heard anything. It was a man. He had no mask on his face and was pushing a drink cart. He was quite handsome for a waiter. Blonde hair, blue eyes, light skin.
“I’m not.”
“Would you like a drink?” The man asked. Lando could feel the man’s eyes trailing his body.
“No. Thank you though.” The man paused.
“I insist. This is the best of the best. It’s like nothing you have ever drank before.”
“No thank you.” Lando said, firmer.
“Alright then, have a good night, sir.” At the same time screams erupted in the ball room. Before he could think he was pinned to the wall.
“Stay quiet and I’ll spare your life, Invictus.” The person hissed. Lando shoved the person backwards, instantly getting into a fighting pose.
“You ruined my plan darling. I think that deserves a punishment.” Chills filled his body. Something bad was happening. He needed to get to Daniel. “Everyone should be drugged but you. They should be dropping like flies by now.”
Like it was on cue, something shattered and more people screamed.
“What the hell do you want?” He asked, watching the man’s every move. The villains eyes were dark.
“To meet you. You caused a big commotion to the people. Everyone wants to know who you are.”
“The better question is, who are you?” Lando needed Daniel. Where was Daniel?
The man laughed, stalking forward. Lando was staring to feel dizzy. He stumbled backwards. “I assume you drank the first round of the drug.”
Shit. A woman had fed him shot after shot when he had gone to the bar. He wanted something to push him through the night.
“Who are you?” Lando croaked. Fists raised. He wasn’t going down without a fight. He never did.
“Your worst nightmare.” The man came closer and Lando sent a fist to his face. It landed and the man’s eyes widened in shock as he paused.
“I am my own worst nightmare, bitch. You are going to have to come up with something better than that.” Lando could feel bile rising in his throat.
“Hm, you are an interesting little thing. I want you.”
“Too fucking bad.” Lando spit, shaking his head to get rid of the black spots. The villain used that to his advantage to come closer, grabbing him by the waist and shoving him into an empty room. Lando fell, hitting soft carpet. The sound of the lock clicking made his stomach churn. Lando stood up, sending another punch to the man’s face. The crack that filled the air made him feel good. Red spots stained the white carpet and the villain hissed.
“I’m not something you can ‘have’. I won’t ever be.” Lando was struggling to stand. Daniel, was he okay? A vision of the man’s mangled body filled his head, and his heart quickened in his chest.
“You are dead!” The man yelled, grabbing him by the hair and pulling. Lando collapsed, head hitting the ground, sending pain to his skull.
He wouldn’t give up. That’s not what he did. Even as he laid there with the man’s fist smashing his face, he stayed conscious, not letting himself sink into the darkness that surrounded him. He had to obey to the moral code of the heroes, he couldn’t kill this man, even though he wanted to.
He took the man by surprise, head butting him, then rushing to the door. He unlocked it after a moment, mask still on his face, and ran.
The villain chased after him, yelling. Lando didn’t know where he was going, he ran down the lavish halls, only able to see out of one eye.
His sides were protesting in pain and he was struggling to stay standing. The world was blurring, and something tackled him. He felt to the ground, groaning.
“I got you now.” The villains voice filled his ear. The man chuckled lowly. “You are dead.”
Lando squirmed against the man, managing to roll around to his back. The man pinned him down, breathing heavily.
“You don’t realize how bad everyone wants you, huh. You’re my prize now.” The man’s hands wrapped around his neck and squeezed. Lando struggled to breathe, shoving at the man. No matter what he did the man’s grip wouldn’t budge. The villain was shaking with rage, veins popped, and eyes filled with pure hatred.
The world faded from his eyes, and Lando knew he couldn’t play by the heroes rules anymore. He grabbed the knife he kept in his pocket and slashed at the villains throat, the same time a gunshot filled the air. Lando gasped as the villain slumped to the ground next to him. Warm blood squirted on his face and mask.
He struggled to get up, he needed to find Daniel. A warm weight wrapped around his waist and pulled him up. He collapsed into it, knife still in hand.
“Danny?” He mumbled. Squinting at the blurry figure.
A hand cupped his jaw. “No love. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”
Daniel sounded different. “Dan, what happened?”
“A villain didn’t listen to my orders and decided to try and take you away. I told him I wasn’t pushing you when you weren’t ready to talk.” Daniel really didn’t sound like himself. He must have taken too many hits.
“Oh.” He replied slowly. “He didn’t take me. I wouldn’t have let him.”
Daniel chuckled, “No you wouldn’t have. You're stronger than most. I wish you didn't have that mask on.”
Lando felt the world start to spin again. “I would have killed him if he’d taken me. You know I would have.”
“You did. I wanted to make sure he stayed down. I wanted to talk to you, to ask you why.” Daniel sounded, proud, yet sad? The man never wanted him to kill anyone. He taught him violence was the last resort. It went against everything Lando had learned when he was in the ring.
Lando’s eyes furrowed and he slurred out. “You never want me to kill. You hated when I told you about them.”
“Told me about what, love?” Daniel asked.
Just as Lando was about to answer another voice filled the air.
“Let him go.”
Lando was confused. Why was there two Daniels?
The weight around him tightened. “He’s mine. Remember that. I’m giving him back because Insight stepped out of line.”
“You can’t take him. He will kill you. He’s not a possession.” The other Daniel was closer now. Lando whined quietly. He couldn’t pick between two Daniels.
A hand ran through his hair. “Shh,” the Daniel holding him whispered. “I hope I'll see you soon, love.”
Lando was handed to the other Daniel, who clutched him tight enough to make him cry out in pain.
“I’ll be back for him. My advice is to not get in my way. You don’t want anymore deaths.”
"He cut contact for a reason!" The Daniel holding him hissed.
"I believe that. Yet I believe it was for your own reason. Not his."
Lando tried to fight against the darkness, but ultimately it was the one fight he couldn’t win.
-
“You’re up next, rat.” The old man hissed, hitting him towards the fighting ring with the back of his cane. Lando glared, walking to the bars, watching.
He would be fighting the champion of this round. To the death.
The loud speaker crackled to life as the blond kid fighting snapped the other kids neck. 016’s neck. Lando didn’t flinch as the sound filled the air. He took a deep breath and waited. The air was hot from the fire in the corner of the room, he wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Ladies and gentlemen place your bets for the best, most awaited fight of the night!” Cheers filled the air as the kids dead body was dragged to the pit of fire and thrown in.
“We have the unbeatable, untouchable 004 against the new victor 007!”
More cheers erupted in the air and 004’s eyes met 007’s. The boy was older than him. 004 was only fourteen and he had made a spectacle in the ring. No one had beaten him. He was facing the best of the best. If he won this, he moved on to the oldest category. Fighting against the adults. Most of the kids were killed in a week, that was not going to happen to him. 004 would live and he would fight, or he would escape.
007 wiped the blood from his nose, eyes widening as he realized who he was up against. His look morphed into hatred. 004 braced himself. The bars unlocked, swinging open, 004 took steady steps into the ring.
“The two contestants shake hands, and say your final words.” 004 reached 007 who clasped his hand tightly before yanking him forward.
“Make it fucking quick!” 007’s voice was harsh, then he spoke again, softer, more pleading. “Please. I’ll give them a show, but don’t make me an exhibit.”
Exhibit’s. It was a new thing the man in charge created where 004’s best kills were placed in a glass box to be view by guests.
004 nodded slightly, he would be quick.
The loudspeaker came on again. “Sorry for the delay, ladies and gentlemen, but Ace wants to speak to our contestants. 004 froze, no, not him, not Ace, not the leader. Ace appeared from behind the bars, motioning 004 to come to him. Lando did, like an obedient dog.
“You better make this a fucking spectacle.”
“Or what?” 004 snapped. Suddenly the man fingernails were digging into his cheek. He gritted his teeth to avoid whining out in pain.
“You don’t want to go back to the room, do you?” Lando went rigid. Anything but the room, he would do anything then go there again. Ace chuckled, “That’s what I thought.”
The man walked back into the main room and locked the bars. “Be a good boy baby, and you won’t get punished tonight. Maybe you’ll get rewarded.”
Nausea filled his body and he took a few shaky steps before getting a grip on himself. 007 must have noticed the detached look in his eyes, the carelessness, the pure survival instant, because his face showed only acceptance.
“Fighters. You may begin.”
007 ran forward, 004 sent a swift kick to his leg, knocking him to the ground. 004 pinned the boy, squeezing his neck tightly. 007 retaliated, throwing sand in his eyes, making him shout. 007 flipped him, sending a fist to his face, before clawing at his eye.
004 turned just in time, bucking the boy off of him. 004 kicked him again, hearing a crack filled the air along with 007’s gasp of pain.
004 had broken his leg.
Chanting started in the pit as 004 circled the limping 007.
“BREAK THE OTHER! BREAK THE OTHER!”
007 shook his head in a last attempt for 004’s mercy. 004 snapped his other leg without an inch of remorse. When his screams filled the air he didn’t stop. He twisted and pulled until the boys leg looked more like a disconnected finger, then a leg.
007 couldn’t move. He laid on the ground, screaming in agony. He was pleading with 004, begging him to end his life. 004 looked to the crowd, who chanted to continue.
004 broke 007’s arm next. Than his back. Finally, after the boys screams turned to gurgles, and the crowd got bored, did 004 end his life.
Lando was taken to the showers where cold water pelted him and his blood stained clothes for a minute. Ace retrieved him from there, leading him somewhere.
“That was one of your most paid fights 004.” The silence was thick. Lando looked up at the man. He had no words. “That means. Do it again. Kill them slowly. The crowds love it.”
Lando nodded. He would. To live. He would do anything to live.
Ace led him to a room. It was lavish and looked more comfortable than his dirt cell.
“Lay down.” Ace murmured, pushing him towards the bed. “Take your clothes off before you do, I don’t want them dirtying my bed.”
Lando froze. Whatever Ace wanted it wasn’t good. He stayed standing until Ace looked at him again.
“Take then off. I don’t want your bloodied rags in my bed.”
“I’ll stay here then.” Lando said, voice cold. Ace seemed taken aback. The man stalked towards him.
“I said. Take them off.” The man grabbed his shirt, Lando gripped his wrist in a sudden rebellion.
“I said. No.”
Ace’s face filled with rage. “You want to go to the room 004? I’m trying to give you a reward and this is how you are acting, you spoiled brat!”
Lando pushed him back. “I don’t want a reward. I want to go back to my cell.”
Ace stared at him for a moment before slapping him. It was unexpected and Lando nearly cried out from the force of it. The man pressed a button his watch and two guards entered the room, grabbing him harshly.
“You’re lucky this time.” Ace muttered. “Next time mutt, you’re doing what I say.”
Lando was thrown back into his cell without dinner. He didn’t care. It beat laying in Ace’s bed like a lamb waiting for slaughter.
-
Lando gasped, lurching up. Where was he? He scanned the room, relaxing when he realized he was back home. It was dark out. Lando stood up and went to his door, noticing how the hallway light shined through the cracks.
He could hear Daniel walking around, and the tv on low volume. He opened his door and walked to the living room.
“Daniel?” He croaked, wincing at the dryness and pain in his throat.
Daniel looked up, eyes widening. “I didn’t think you would be awake.”
Lando smiled, wincing at the pain in his face. He looked into the hallway mirror flinching backwards as he saw the damage on his face. “Holy fuck.”
“Do you need ice? Medicine? Anything?”
“Water.” Daniel rushed to the kitchen and Lando stood, examining his face. It only ever got this bad once before. He shuddered, locking the memory away. Purple dotted his skin, along with various shades of blue. His left eye was swollen so badly he couldn’t see. The worst was this throat. Visible hand marks were etched into the skin.
A cup was placed in his hand. Lando took steady sips, relishing the cold liquid down his parched throat.
“The city deems you a hero of the night.” Daniels voice broke the silence. “You are off for three weeks. To heal.”
“I didn’t save anyone.” Lando whispered, throat burning from the effort. “Only myself.”
“You stopped Insight. You saved the banquet. You saved the heroes.” Daniel looked at him like he had lost his mind. Lando found himself nodding, agreeing, even though he knew Daniel was wrong.
“Insight told me everyone wants me. Why? I am not special in anyway.” Lando tried to ignore the panic those words made him feel. He wouldn’t be locked away ever again. He was no ones, except Daniels.
“You took a lot of hits Lan, I’m sure your brain is trying to rationalize everything that happened.” Daniel was leading him back to his room. “You need to rest.”
Lando furrowed his eyebrows. Daniel was lying. Why wasn’t he telling him the truth?
“Dan-“
“Insight couldn’t have said anything to you, his tongue was gone.”
Lando froze, and Daniel pushed him gently back into his bed. Daniel was wrong. Insight spoke, he told him he was going to kill him.
“Get some rest. You need it to heal.”
Daniel shut his door and Lando couldn’t mistake the sound of the lock. He was tired, really suddenly exhausted. Daniel was right. He needed to rest. His eyes were heavy and Lando could barely keep them open. He went weightless into his bed and closed his eyes, trying to pretend everything wasn’t wrong.