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Gideon wasn’t unfamiliar with starvation. He had been starved for a good half of his life by the Hobgoblins, and struggled for food the other half of his life. Ever since he was a young lad he had remembered giving up meals for his father, on bad weeks he would go a day or two without food, sometimes more depending on what him and his pa could afford to sell that week or keep.
He had always been skinny, despite his muscle bulk that kept trying to build up from all his field work he did day in and day out, he still remained on the skinnier side due to the lack of nutrition. He would have meals once a day most times, sometimes twice if he could steal an apple from the field without notice.
On some days he had been lucky to be able to sneak an apple or two from their tree for him to eat for lunch, others a simple plum was all he could grab. He could always feel the rumbling of his stomach, yet he hadn’t known any feeling other than that all his life.
His father would eat every meal, every day. He never would miss even one, always making sure he had his meal and his cigar to follow it. Gideon would sometimes get more then scraps of the food if he was even luckier.
Then some days his father would look at him. See the lack of muscle mass and general pathetic physique he held due to the lack of nutrition. Those days he would get his fathers meal, he could have some corn and meat sometimes. Those days he always felt guilty for taking from his father.
Going to the train, being starved wasn’t new, but it felt worse. He started the train injured, a large scar running down his back from where he had been struck by the hobgoblins, taking him down from his attempted defense against the creatures. He knew it didn’t warrant the level of hostility they had, the amount of strength he had was limited that day.
He stared down at the chains upon his wrists, recalling how ill fitting they had been for a while, his lack of muscle mass was obvious, only for the lack of food he had been getting was he not muscular and well built.
Everyday the drugged food would be fed to him, everyday he would need to take it whether he liked it or not, it was the scraps of food or death.
Which some nights he thought of death as the best option.
He didn’t sleep, it wasn’t really an option by that point. It was more of him passing out on the floor of the train car the had called his home for however long then. Using his ratty shirt and whatever other items the hobgoblins would throw at him as pillows. Usually it was their clothes after they were done with him for the night .
Gideon had long since forgot his last name, only knowing his first due to the shouts of his name once ina while, it wasn’t as often as the name pet. But he couldn’t do much about anything in this situation. He was no more then a plaything and a tool for the creature that had him captured for years at that point.
The time he finally broke out was of his limited magic rather then his strength, after months of practicing reversing the flow of the magic, he finally snapped the chains, shutting down the train with a loud screech of the rails against the wheels.
He had to brute force through the ranks of hobgoblins, snapping the neck of one, shoving them away from him as he attempted to use the only thing at his disposal, being hai chains. He took down few and far between, yet managed to escape nonetheless. He took his scraps of clothes he wore, all old and torn from years of wear.
He couldn’t tell how long he had been starved in there, the shirt once form fitting even to his starved body was now hanging loosely over his broken form, ribs sticking far out from his sunken in form. His chest hurt from each breath, it had been more more exercise then he had done in years, yet was somehow less painful then the intake of magic that had been going nonstop for ten years before that.
He stumbled into the forest, tripping over what he assumed to be roots as he slammed into the mud around him. Gods it’s been long since he last touched the ground. The mud and decaying leaves was a comfort to him, a strange sensation that he wasn’t used to anymore, once a daily feeling as he tilled and picked through the farm.
He crashed into trees, his legs barely worked from years of misuse and abuse. The scars lining his legs, lava burns from when he had misbehaved a bit too much for the hobgoblins taste. His arms felt lighter, no longer tied to the wall and stuck in place, he finally could let his arms rest at his sides, not holding them up for seemingly all eternity.
His legs finally gave out after nearly an hour of running, he was scraped up and covered in scratches all the like. Blood from open wounds due to the run and the fight— but also the abuse was all streaming down his body, bruises forming from the falls, ones he was sure broke at least one of his ribs. He collapsed against the closest tree, startling at the smallest noise around him.
The sound of the wind— gods he hadn’t heard it quite like this in forever. Crickets sounded around him, soft footsteps from little animals he couldn’t name as the scurried around in the trees. He relished in the cool air, a startling difference to the boiling heat he had been in for far to long. Curling in on himself, he ignored his pangs of hunger (that’s right- he hadn’t been fed yet that day—) and fell asleep.
—
It had been two weeks since he escaped, a full two weeks since he ate last. He was near useless at hunting, nothing besides berries that he prayed weren’t poisoned were to be found, ones he didn’t take a risk with in the end after seeing how little were eaten by the wildlife.
He couldn’t hunt animals, his chains were too loud and his uncoordinated movements were less then desirable when it came to hunting for food, all animals scurrying away when he tried to get close enough.
The only up was that he wouldn’t freeze, despite some terrible run ins with the cold (due to a magic muzzle he tried to forget as on him with all his might.) he knew eating was difficult with the item on, the metal surrounding his face was something to adapt to for sure. Yet he could eat if he moved the thing just in the right way—
He was grateful that the controlling magic was dead, the crystal broken and no longer a threat to his well being. He couldnt– wouldnt be harmed by the ice again. His hand ran along the muzzle as he let out a pained groan, If he didnt eat even a little bit soon, he would most certainly die. He hadn't known a wealth of food in his life, hell he was starved for most of it. Yet this was a new level of torment. He had been freed from one prison only to be shoved into a new dire prison of the world around him.
Gideon stumbled through the trees, nearly crashing into one as he smelt it– fire. He could smell the familiar smoke that once filled his lungs daily. His mind raced as he contemplated the possible reasons for the smoke, either the train was ahead, or someone or something was awaiting him ahead. He sniffed the air, noting the lack of the metallic sting that the air had choked him with during his imprisonment. This was another person.
He pushed more quietly through the trees, creeping to the edge of the small clearing he had found himself in. in the middle sat a small pot over a fire, a smell of food wafting over him as he crept closer, where was the owner of the camp? He scanned the area, glancing form side to side as he made his way into the camp, checking in the fabric tent that had been pitched beside the fire. No one was there.
Gideon pushed his way into the tent, his exhaustion taking hold of any rational thought his brain could even hold. A short nap would be fine right? The… owner wouldn't mind… and if they were evil, he always could fight them the best he could… right? He laid his head down upon the pillow, eyes closing before he could battle with his mind any further, as he fell into unconsciousness.
–
Kremy wasn't dumb. He would like to claim he was a rather smart fella– which was immediately called into play as he entered his camp. Someone had been there. He pushed into the clearing, putting down his supplies he had just gathered, grasping his cane tightly in his clawed hand. He could feel the shadows around him twisting with his magic as he made his way to his firepit, nothing was touched there, thank the baron.
He noted the soft noise coming from inside his tent, feeling a crushing annoyance as he crept forward, pushing back the tent's door to reveal the intruder. Said intruder had pale red skin, bordering on pink with how lacking the color was. His hair was a matted long black color, greasy and rough from mistreatment. His clothes (if you could call them that) was a tattered shred of fabric, barely covering the man. His head sprouted a tangled beard, and supported a glinting metal around his mouth, unable to fully make it out from the way the man was positioned.
The next thing he noticed was the large chains that laid around the man, manacles circled his wrists tightly, glowing with a dull thrum of magic that resided inside them. Scars lined the arms around his manacles, burns marked around the metal, and even further down upon his legs sat large burns from who knew what.
Kremy narrowed his eyes at the intruder, clearing his throat loudly in attempts to wake the sleeping man, which it did very quickly. The man shot upright in the tent, smashing his head against the wooden stilts holding it up. He grasped his head with a pained groan, looking to face Kremy with a newfound terror.
The man obviously was malnourished as he got a clear look at him, dull spluttering flames erupted from his hair and beard, a pathetic and sad sight yet welcome none the less. His eyes were sunken in, face gaunt and starved. His ribs poked through his chest, showing a severe lack of food for at least a few weeks by then. His muscles were near missing with how skinny his body was, looking less like an adult and more a malnourished child.
Encircling his face was what Kremy had feared it was, a large muzzle made of some sort of iron of silver in a sort. A scar ran atop his nose, running all along the edge of the muzzle. Kremy tightened his grip upon the skull on his cane, pressing it into the chest of the newcomer.
“Whatado, my name is Kremy LeCroux, and you my friend are in my camp, so would ya kindly explain what the hell you are doing here?”
–
Gideon froze upon seeing the lizardfolk man, feeling the strong push against his chest as the man pushed into his chest harshly, his eyes glowed a yellow color, small purple runes floating around him as he gazed down upon gideon. Upon hearing the words escape from Kremy’s lips, he felt his own attempt to move, before choking on the metal that inhabited his mouth.
“Aw shit its one of those. Awlrigh’ give me a minute. Would ya kindly stay right there?” Gideon had no intention of moving, his legs feeling numb and weak, far too weak to try and outrun the lithe lizardfolk. He felt his legs lock up, as if he was trapped in place, which was no change to his current situation in any way.
Kremy left the tent, allowing his mind to race, shit he was so dead, he most certainly knew magic. He watched as Kremy returned, pulling a knife close to Gideons face. He flinched back, panic running through him as he attempted to move away from kremy, finding he was unable to accomplish said task.
“Baron help ya, Im tryin’ ta get that stupid muzzle off ya– so hold still and I wont cut ya.” Gideon froze, feeling the mans hand grab his face, tilting it to the side as he cut off the strong leather binding it to his face, muttering a few words he didn't recognize as eh did such, “see? There ya go. Now, Why don't ya come outta my tent, and explain yerself?” He offered his hand out to Gideon, who felt the magic slip away as he stood weakly, ducking out of the tent and following the stranger.
“Well? Go on, Why in the barons good name are ya at my camp?” Kremy sat down beside the fire, crossing one leg over top the other, still pointing his cane at Gideon.
“I–” He coughed loudly, his voice scratchy and painful from disuse, “Train– escaped, need food.” He managed out, holding his throat as he spoke, the pain from the simply five words was far to great to continue in his state.
“Mh. That Hobgoblin train no?” He nodded, “ shit– tha’s wha’ they meant when they said their engine was gone, Ya fueled that there train?” He grimaced, backing away from Kremy slightly, he knew of the train– oh gods he was workin with them. “I aint workin with ‘em if thats what yer worried ‘bout. Tried to rip ‘em off four weeks or so ago, met up with ‘em again two days ago and found tha’ their train was full stopped. Said they lost their engine or somethin’. Though’ tha’ was strange, but I guess tha’ was you?”
Gideon nodded again, feeling relief as Kremy dropped his cane from Gideons chest, resting it against the log he sat atop. He raised one of his hands into the air as he reached down inot his pack, before offering Gideon a small canteen of water.
“Drink up my friend, ya obviously need it.” Gideon eyed the canteen, glancing from Kremy down the canteen and back to Kremy, “It ain't poisoned if tha’s what yer worried ‘bout. Here, ill prove it.” He took a swig from it, wiping his mouth before handing it to Gideon, who drank it quickly, feeing relief as the cold water rushed down his throat for the first time in however many years it had been since he was taken.
“Betta?”
“Shit– yeah thank ya.” He handed it back to kremy, feeling his jaw ache as it moved for the first time in months, “So ya aint with ‘em?”
“Naw, tried ta scam the lot but ended up failin’. Do ya have a name mr…”
“Gideon.”
“And a last name?” Kremys eyes narrowed at him.
“I don't got one.” He rubbed at his face, feeling the scarring along his hand, “I don’ remember it at least.”
“Then we will go with coal, ya smell like it, and ya look like ya took a bath in it.” Kremy nods, Gideon looked to his clothes, suddenly feeling a sort of embarrassment, looking to the formal and nice clothes Kremy had on in comparison to his ratty rags he had on, “We can worry bout those clothes later, Here, take some of that stew I was makin.” He ladeled up some of the soup into a bowl, offering it to Gideon.
“An’ ‘ow do I know it ain't got poison in tha’?”
“Ya think I would waste some good gumbo?” He looked at Gideon with annoyance, but his expression softened as he saw gideons face, “here,” he took a sip, “see? Not poisoned.”
“Ya swear?”
“I only jus’ figured out ya were here, what– Two minutes ago? When would I even have the chance ta poison it?” He took the bowl from kremys hands, lifting it with trembling hands to his mouth, taking a sip of the boiling hot liquid. His eyes widened upon tasting the meal, it was teh best thing he ever had. He quickly ate the whole of it, gulping it down as quickly as he could, feeling the warmth he hadn't felt in years reach his stomach.
“Woah– careful there my friend, If ya eat to much at once yer gonna throw up. Take it slowly, alrigh’? How long ‘as it been since ya had a full meal?” Kremy took a second bowl, sipping at it slowly in comparison to Gideons quick eating.
“Ah– shit tha’s good. Wha year is it?”
Kremy tilted his head to the side, “xxxx, Why?”
“Shit, uh–” he counted along his hands, biting his lip in confusion as he started over and over again, “Ten… years? I think at least. I lost track after four.”
“ Ten?! Baron help me, ya were trapped in that hell hole for ten years?”
“Maybe more? I dont… I don’ remember tha’ well.” He shrunk in on himself, hearing the chains rattle sending a wave of panic through his body, “I was taken in xxxx, if tha’ helps.”
“Yep, thats a ten year gap, and ya fueled tha’ train for those years?” Kremy leaned forward with a horrified interest.
“Among other things.” he grimaced, placing his bowl down, rubbing at his wrists with a pained moan, “Got any more food I could ‘ave?”
“I do, but ya cant eat to much yet my friend.” Kremy spooned another helping into his bowl, “I think I know a guy who could get those chains off ya if you want. May need ta cash in a few favors–”
“ No! ” Kremy looked shocked at him, glancing back and forth between his chains and Gideons face, “sorry– no, I jus– they… I–”
“Ill stop ya there, Ya don't ‘ave to explain yerself if ya dont wanna. I believe ya, Its yer chains so ya can decide on wha to to with em.” He took off his coat, draping it over the log beside him, “now, I think I got some healin items in my bag, maybe a potion or such, How hurt are ya there Gideon?”
“I dunno, got alot of these cuts on me, and all them scars, don't happen to be able ta make old pain go away?” Gideon rubbed his legs, Kremy offering a sympathetic shake of his head, “couldn't hurt ta try.”
“Mhm.” Kremy looked him once over, taking his arm in his scaled cold hands, “Yer a Genasi no?”
“Tha’s correct yeah.”
“Hmm. Ya seem like ya could be real strong, couldn't ya.” Gideon shrugged, “Did alota labor as a kid?”
“I ran a farm with my pa if that means much.” Kremy nodded thoughtfully.
“Why dont ya sleep in the tent tonight, alrigh? Then tomorrow, we can get ya into town to get more clothes, after that… I think I may have a proposition for ya my friend.”
“A… prop… promit… promptision?” Gideon tried to repeat, his tongue feeling heavy in his mouth, “what the hale is tha’?”
“An agreement, But I could wait till tomorrow, ya obviously need some rest there Mr. Coal.” Kremy waved him off, “If ya want we could go to the water now to wash ya off, Yer all dirty my friend.”
“Well I haven't showered in ten years so tha’ makes sense.” Kremy wrinkled his nose, pulling some things from his bag, “wha’s tha’?”
“Soap.”
“Wha do ya do with it?”
“Ya gotta be kiddin me there.” Gideon shook his head, “well damn, Alrigh, follow me, were gonna go clean ya my friend.”
–
Kremy noticed a lot about Gideon the first night they were together, First off that the man was unaware of how horribly he had been treated throughout his life. As the two conversated, he would occasionally mention a small aspect of his life the past ten years, mainly through the mention of the scars running down his body, from small cuts to large whipping marks along his back. The way he talked about it felt almost unreal, sure he was aware of the fact that he was abused, yet he didn't seem to realize the gravity of it.
“Ya cant jus say ya had lava poured on ya and expect me not to react Gideon.” Kremy scrubbed at gideons back, the soot slowly coming off to reveal more pale skin along his body.
“I mean it ‘appened a lot, I didn't do wha’ they asked and they did that, simple as.” Gideon grumbled, an anger to his tone that was fully justified in Kremy’s eyes.
He watched how Gidoen flinched at each touch, how his eyes widened as Kremy started to wash his lower back, insisting he didn't need anymore help. After watching him fail at trying to wash himself, he finally gave in, obviously suppressing panic each time Kremy would slightly get close to his legs. Kremy allowed him to wash his legs himself, giving him privacy as he stumbled around in the river, confused as to what he was doing.
“Careful there Gideon.”
“I am bein’ careful.”
“No you aint.”
Gideon had to get scolded by him upon scratching at his scars, he had been respecting his privacy before he noticed how he had started to scratch at his legs, quickly wacking away Gideons hand from them. The man looked like a kicked puppy after he did, obviously worried that he had messed up around his new friend.
“Yer gonna damage them more if ya keep doin tha’.”
“They itch.”
“I dont care.”
He gave gideon a large shirt he had spare, the shirt fitting over his broken form, Kremy tried not to stare as he struggled to put on the large shirt, trying to focus more on Gideons pants he had been washing at the time. The pants were so soaked and burned with soot and ash it was near impossible to have known they were once a tan color. He hung the pants near the fire, looking up at the genasi and ignoring the fact that he had no pants on, which didn't seem to be a concern to the man at the time.
“Ya can sleep in my tent tonight.” kremy opened the fabric for him, earning a grunt of confusion from Gideon. “What now?”
“That prop…”
“Proposition.”
“Yeah, that. Didn't ya want to tell me it?”
“Naw, Tha’s for tomorrow. Get some rest, were gonna walk a while to the closest town if tha’s all good with ya.” Kremy sat against the logs closest to the fire, covering himself with one of his blankets. Gideon did not move from his spot, staring at the alligator with confusion. “What.”
“Yer gonna get cold.”
“And?”
“Ya should be in the tent.” he glanced to the trees behind him, a nervous look in his eyes.
“Naw, I want ya to be comfortable tonigh’. Seems ya haven't had a good rest in a long while.”
“But what if they find me?” Kremy raised his brow at Gideon, before sighing, “I cant go back Kremy– I jus… I cant.”
“Then ill make sure they don't come ‘ere whatsoever. Ill take a watch all nigh’. Better?” Kremy sighed, Gideon shook his head, “wha’ do ya want me to do then?”
“How do I know ya won’t lead ‘em ta me in the middle of the nigh’?” Gideon crossed his arms best he could with the chains hanging off of them, “No doubt they have a good bounty out for me, ya seem like the money hungry type, why wouldnt ya do that?”
“Because ya have more use to me like this then ya do with ‘em.” Kremy explained simply, “Ill explain it all tomorrow, so would ya kindly go to sleep?” His words imbued with magic caused gideon to nod sleepily, going inside the tent without further question, and quickly falling asleep.
Baron help that man.
–
“So, a proposition.” Gideon said from behind Kremy, his chains rattled loudly as they walked along the forest path, his pants were clean(ish) and hung loosely around his legs as the two made their way to the city closest to them.
“Mhm.” Kremy nodded, looking closely at the map that he had been following, “Ill tell ya tonigh’ If ya want to work out the specifics over durin’ dinner.”
“Nah, I wanna know now.” Kremy stopped dead in his tracks, turning to look at him, “I mean if its important to us now, why don’ we just talk now?”
“Cause I jus’ met ya, and I don’ think ya would love all the terms in it.” Kremy planted his cane in the dirt below them, “Its simply tha–” He was cut off by an arrow rushing past his face, making a loud thunk! In the tree behind him. He turned to look at the direction it had come from, looking upon a Goblin, whose face contorted into a grotesque smile.
“Why don’ we test my theory now, Gid, do ya know how ta fight?” Gideon nodded enthusiastically, glaring over at the attackers with a malice kremy hadn't seen in a person before, well besides Garou that was. “Then go figh’ them.”
Gideon rushed forward, swinging his chains at the first attacker, colliding with the creature square in the chest as it went flying back. Kremy watched with approval as gideon swung his fists at another one, punching it square in the jaw. The third attempted to swing at him,which he blocked clumsily with his manacles, shoving the creature backwards after. Kremy hummed in approval of the man, not moving to help him whatsoever as he judged the mans form.
It wasn't until a loud whistle sounded out that Gideon first got injured. His chains seemed to billow steam as the loud whistle echoed through the area, freezing the man in place out of what he could only assume to be fear of the sound. The ends of the chains both grew to be red hot, burning the grass where they laid. In his moment of obvious panic, he watched as one of the Goblins slashed along his back, causing him to stumble forward. Kremy readied his cane to fire an eldritch blast, only to watch as Gideon righted himself, swinging the chains at the creature, burning straight through their clothes and into its flesh. He swung the other around wildly, hitting into whatever was closest to him at the time.
He was on autopilot, at least that's what Kremy deemed it. His eyes focused on each creature, hitting and swinging at it with a vigor that Kremy admired. He watched as gideon worked his magic, deciding right then and there that the contract was the first thing he needed to get done. He needed his bodyguard afterall.
The fight came to a close with gideon surrounded with the dead bodies of goblins, panting out of the adrenaline of fighting the Goblins. Kremy approached him carefully, stepping around each of the goblin corpses as he did such, reaching Gideons side and bumping into him ina friendly manor. The man flinched away from him, before seemingly realizing who it was.
“Mr. Coal I do believe my proposition cannot wait any longer.”
“And…. what… would that be?” He panted.
“I need ya to be my bodyguard, and in exchange, ya will get food, and half the gold we make, Deal?”
“And what of them Hobgoblins?”
“What of them?”
“Do ya promise to never let me go… go back to… back ta the train?” Gideon mumbles, shrinking in on himself slightly, “Promise me ya wont let it happen and Ill do anythin for more of yer food.”
“I swear on the good Barons name that I will never let the Hobgoblins take ya again.” the contract he had been writing up appeared in the air, a quill appearing next to it with no ink to sign with.
“Then god damn i guess im your bodyguard.” gideon signed the contract without a second thought, not noticing the blood it took to sign it whatsoever. Kremy shrugged off that Gideon never read through the contract, letting it dissolve into the souls and shadows that surrounded him.
“Well Gid, I can see this as the start of a beautiful partnership.”
“Ya got it boss.”