For Garrrr

[hybrid_prince]

They call it a gift when they bring it before the throne. Dorrek VIII, young emperor of the Skrull people, barely even bothered to pay any attention to the cloth covered box that was rolled up before the throne. These particular military leaders weren't much of ones that he cared for, and frankly while he was invested in the eventual journey to Earth and conquering it as was his lofty and prophesied fate from long since before he was born, that didn't mean he cared too much about the recon team he had sent. They annoyed him, and sending them to a planet protected by 'heroes' had been meant as a punishment.

The 'gift' to get back into his good graces didn't seem likely to amuse him in any way. There was nothing intriguing about Earth. So the Emperor had ignored their simpering and scrapping before him. It was unbecoming of a Skrull to be anything other than strong and dominating warriors. Still, he cut off their rambling dialog and waved to one of his royal guard. K'lrt, ever the devoted servant, stepped forward and whipped the cloth off.

And Dorrek considered what was presented to him with a raised eyebrow. This, of course, was not what he'd been expected. He hadn't expected a living being.

"Where did you find it?" he asked in Skrull, continuing the conversation in his native tongue.

"It attempted to attack us," one of the generals, who was kneeling out of reach of the cage spoke. "It is more than it seems. Like Skrull, but not."

Intriguing. Dorrek gestured for the clear tank on wheels (with air holes of course), to be rolled closer. Let him better see this prize.

Comments

[garrrr]

Gar had tried his best to escape in the initial attack but he'd been captured -- which is probably lucky. He knew some of his friends definitely hadn't been lucky at all. He'd tried to escape in the return to...wherever this was. No one would actually talk to him about it. He was beginning to think that no one knew how to talk to him at all and he was sure that he was a long way from home and he wasn't going back anytime soon. Dick, Bruce Wayne? They couldn't help him here.

He flinched when the cloth was whipped off and exposed him to... who was this? It looked like he was in the presence of powerful people which didn't really make sense. None of this made sense though. Why him?

Gar had pressed himself into the corner, he'd transformed back into a human but that just meant he was more exposed. He felt the urge to turn into a tiger rising. He was scared. There's a moment when he's being inspected that his eyes flash green his nails turn into claws but he resists. He doesn't know what he's dealing with.

"Where the hell am I?" he finally asks because Gar Logan can't keep his mouth shut for long, ever.

[hybrid_prince]

"And I'm supposed to be impressed by a human?" Dorrek asks, and he's definitely bored. He still looks at the young human with his green hair. "What do you mean like a Skrull?"

One of the Skrull leaders gestures to be allowed closer to the cage. And Dorrek nods his allowance. The Skrull produces a baton Gar would be familiar with by now. The ones they use to taze him. Clearly the intention is to provoke a response.

[garrrr]

Gar didn't expect to get an answer but he'd still hoped. All the same he should have expected what happens next as he catches sight of the baton. There's a low sound that comes from him, something a bit mournful.

He really hated that thing, the tiger hated more. He knew what they wanted though and maybe he could keep from getting hurt more than necessary.

So he gets up onto his haunches and it's awkward feeling to transform in front of others even in this situation.

But the tiger's angry and Gar roars, launching himself toward the stranger appraising him but of course he only throws himself against the container.

[hybrid_prince]

Oh. Oh that is very interesting. Dorrek chuckles and stands, and as he does the deep violet of his cape swirls around him. It flows like wind itself, light but somehow heavy with portent as he strides down the steps to tap on the clear barrier that is keeping the... oddity contained.

"Quite interesting," he says, using English. The same language he heard the boy speaking. "Skrull are not good at doing animals, of course. But you look like an overgrown, green Flerkin."

"Less dangerous," K'lrt immediately dismisses.

"Perhaps," the Emperor agrees, tilting his head as he considers the creature. "And it fought alongside the humans? Any chance it is...?"

"Biology implies it is an earth species."

Dorrek shrugs. There was always a slim chance that, when the Skrull had visited Earth millenia ago someone had bred with the natives. Apparently not in this case.

[garrrr]

Gar had intended to just stay in his tiger form to do his best to try another fruitless escape because that's what the tiger wanted to do and it's instinct was to do what it wanted regardless.

But hearing someone speak English, Gar pauses. There's a lower sound and then he's transforming back, pushed back into the corner staring at the being that's clearly in charge.

Please send me home, he wanted to say but he bit his tongue, quite literally to stop the words. They weren't going to send him home...would they be like Cadmus, though? Experimenting on him and making him do horrible things or would they just kill him?

"What do you want?" Because really he's tired of being talked about like he's an appliance being bought.

[hybrid_prince]

Not an appliance being bought. A gift being given. And one that Dorrek doesn't think he's going to turn away. For a moment he stands there, looking at Gar, clearly unbothered by his state of undress. Then the emperor crouches a bit before the container.

"What are you?" he asks, not bothering to answer Gar's own question.

[garrrr]

Gar sighs loudly when his question gets ignored again. He can't back away further than he already is but he'd tried to cover himself as best he can which isn't well.

"I'm just a human?" he answers, shrugging. He thinks that's what the other's trying to ask. "I got sick and a doctor helped me and it's basically a side effect..."

Look, he doesn't really understand how Dr. Caulder did it.

[hybrid_prince]

Side-effect. The Skrull men all look between each other and Dorrek tries not to laugh.

"You insult us," Dorrek shrugs as the young man explains. And then he's shifting, changing, skin flowing far smoother than anything Gar can manage. Because Skrull? This is what they do. A racial trait. And after a second, Gar is looking at himself, but dressed as the young emperor. "What we do isn't a 'side-effect'."

Gar's own voice, thrown back in his face, though with quite a bit of disdain.

[garrrr]

"That's just fucking weird," Gar can't help it. The words are out of his mouth before he filters them. He flushes right after, swallowing because the shock turned back into fear.

"I'm sorry... but... you asked about me... not you."

[hybrid_prince]

Fucking weird? Dorrek frowns as he stands, and still he looks like Gar. He waves a hand and K'lrt steps forward, his hand going to fire, which he reaches for the cage the implication is clear. No insults, or face the fire.

"Don't be crass," Dorrek dismisses. "After all, I hold your life in my hands."

[garrrr]

Gar hadn't really been meaning to be insulting but the fire makes it clear that the other definitely hadn't liked what he said. He bites down on his lip and god he hates this damned container and that he can't get away.

"Well maybe it's normal for you but kind of not normal for me to see you turn into me...I can just turn into animals...or like well two animals...."

He's rambling. He bites down on his lip to stop himself before he gets himself a face full of fire or...whatever.

[hybrid_prince]

"Inferior in every way," one of the two skrull who took Gar declares. And the emperor just glares until the man shuts up.

And Dorrek? He lets himself melt back into the form he had earlier.

"And what are you called, gift?"

[garrrr]

It was kind of a relief when it wasn't his own face looking back at him but still.

"Gar."

Gift? God are they back in like the 1st century?

[garrrr]

Theo had sent Gar home. Gar had fought him on it. For one, how could he try and change the other's mind from earth and two...something had grown between them and Gar didn't want to leave it be... and he knew it's fucked up that he probably is the poster boy for Stockholm syndrome but once on Earth all he could think about was getting back to Dorrek.

It'd taken a long time to convince Kory to help him but eventually he had and they'd set off into space to find the Emperor.

It felt like it had taken forever, it'd certainly taken a few months once they'd been in space to find the fleet.

Kory had hailed and requested an audience and so she brought Gar with her back to Theo.

Surprise?

[hybrid_prince]

Dorrek had been dealing with internal strife among his people when the messenger had come to his private chambers, interrupting a meeting he had been having with General Kl'rt. Everyone knew, after all, that the Emperor had come to miss his Earthling companion. So it had been deemed important enough to come bring him, especially when it was a Tamaranean royal bringing the message.

So Dorrek had allowed the docking to bring the Earthling over, and stormed right down to the docking bay to meet his little wayward lover.

"I returned you to your people for a reason."

[garrrr]

"Your reason was stupid," Gar retorts and he crosses his arms as he looks at Dorrek. He'd been angry about it. He still kind of is but mostly he'd missed the other that had held him captive.

"You took away from choice again. I didn't like it," Gar adds.

[hybrid_prince]

His reasons had been his own.

"First I am wrong to keep you safe among my court. Then I'm wrong to take you to see the empire with me. Now I'm wrong to send you home, which was what you desired in the first place? You are frustrating!"

Damn humans. So contrary!

[garrrr]

"You are wrong when you don't not give me a choice or you pretend to and then don't honor the choice I make because you think you know better than I do!" Gar retorts, not caring for formality or the fact he is arguing openly with a very powerful basically space king. Gar has his eyes narrowed at Dorrek, arms crossed.

"You pretend to respect me but your actions continually seem otherwise."

[hybrid_prince]

"I gave you a choice on the Empire!" Dorrek snaps angrily, fists clenched at his sides. But it's worse than that, isn't it? He's so, SO angry now.

"I sent you where you would be safe because your life had been threatened!"

[garrrr]

Gar glares at the other and his arms cross over his chest.

"I told you I was choosing to stay regardless!! Why couldn't you respect that?"

[hybrid_prince]

"Because your life was more important. Your safety!"

Dammit, he was PROTECTING Gar. Protecting Earth. What was so wrong with that?

[garrrr]

"No! It's not! It's not when I'm choosing to stay with you!" Gar counters, glaring at him. And what could he do for Earth from Earth when the danger wasn't there?

[hybrid_prince]

"Don't you get that I'm protecting you because I love you?!" Dorrek snaps. Why does this have to be so hard?

Things he loves have to stay away from him for their safety!

[garrrr]

Gar stops short at that declaration. They’d never said those words to each other before. He curls his hands into fists. “This isn’t the kind of protection I want!”

[hybrid_prince]

Of course they hadn't said it before. Dorrek had been scared that the words would steal the man from him.

"It's the only protect I can offer. On Earth you're among your own people. You're one of many. Here you're a target, a bit of leverage to be used against me."