Wrath and Love

Wrath and Love: Chapter Nine


The next morning Pepito had insisted that Todd accompany him into town for a hair cut and a clothes fitting, claiming that it would be best to leave his mother out of the process unless Todd was going for the Brady Bunch look. He had known that the exaggeration was a paper-thin excuse that Todd would see through easily, hopefully concluding that Pepito just wanted more time with him before his plane left that night. That conclusion wouldn't be wrong exactly, but it itself was an unspoken excuse that stood firmly only because it wasn't admitted. The truth was that he did want more time with Todd, more long term time, and that was the real point of this outing, which was now reaching its climax.

Pepito looked back, feeling a little nervous though he didn't think it was discernible, as if making sure that Todd was still behind him even though the man couldn't get far with the device around his ankle if he tried. The mobile security device was currently strapped around his own wrist to insure that.

Wearily, Todd took in the surroundings as the world President lead the way through a local Guard Station. In the back, where they were headed, was a door marked “Firing Range”. His pulse quickened and he wondered if Pepito really had gone completely insane in the wake of the assassination attempt as some guessed. “Pepito, why are we here?”

The half-demon came to a stop in front of the door, turning back around to face the other. “Okay, don't freak out, but I think I know what you need.”

“What?” Todd's voice came out more flat and unimpressed than questioning, and then Pepito's hand was around his arm and they were going through the door. Seeing what the Antichrist had been referring to, he came to a dead stop. Feeling as though his heart had just jumped up into his neck, he pulled back against the other man's grip, longing desperately to be anywhere but in the same room with the guards that had assaulted him.

Instead of letting go, Pepito pulled him closer, placing both hands on his shoulders and looking into his eyes. “Todd, it's okay. They can't touch you.” He gestured to the men that were chained to the mental frame lining the shooting cage by their ankles. “You're fine, alright?”

Todd shook his head, attempted to shrug off the hands, though they only came right back.“W-why-”

“Because you need closure to get over what they did to you.” He took a gun from a guard who worked there, pulling Todd closer to the range before placing it in his hand. When the man only looked down at the gun and back to him in confusion, he took both of his hands, positioning them around the gun so that it wouldn't backfire before taking a few steps back. It looked like he really hadn't been exaggerating when he had said that his role with the Resistance people had been a nonviolent one. “Go ahead, Todd. Make them sorry.”

Todd's hands tightened around the gun, but he made sure that his finger wasn't on the trigger. He had always been a little afraid of guns, and his childhood neighbor, Johnny, had worked hard to make sure that he generally disliked them as well. But he guessed they were a more humane form of killing...if you knew what you where doing, which he definitely didn't. Besides that, those men hardly resembled the ones that had tortured him at the camp. Oh, they were the same men; there was no mistaking that, but they were currently bruised and begging, two of them actually on their knees, for mercy. Mercy that they sure as hell hadn't found it worth while to bestow on anyone else.

He let the gun rest completely in his right hand, as casually as he thought he was capable of, as he took a deep breath and a few more steps forward, facing the men down, fighting that part of himself that still wanted to run away. “Just...tell me why.”

“Why?” One of the men on his knees, a red-head, looked up. The other two merely continued to beg.

“Why you did what you did to him.” Pepito stepped closer then as well, rolling his eyes at how stupid some humans really were. It was almost surprising that the species hadn't wiped itself out long ago without any need for outside help. He knew that Edgar had told them, probably at great length, what they had done to be arrested.

The red-haired man kept his eyes on the ex-prisoner, even more afraid of facing his leader's anger that that man's revenge. He had heard about what had happened to the Commandant. “Hey, man, it-it wasn't my fault, okay? I had no choice! I was just doing my job, following orders! Y-you know how it is.”

“No. Not really.” Todd smiled bitterly. “I think that's why I was in the camp to begin with.” Plus, he had always found that excuse particularly damning. With people like that, it was never their fault.

“That's pathetic.” Pepito spat the words out in disgust before moving on to the next guard, the one that was standing. “You got a better one?”

“Uh, I...No, sir. I have the same excuse. Except...I-I had a choice. I made the wrong one. Benedict was always on my ass...pressuring me to be harder. I wanted a promotion.”

“Master!” the third man interrupted from his kneeling position on the floor, “I wish to apologize! I-I have realized the error of my ways! I am sorry, so sorry...uhmm...what's your name?” He looked up at the man that he had helped to rape, at the same time clawing into his palm, hoping it would supply him with a few tears. The President didn't generally seem like the type to accept apologies, but since everyone else was doing it...

“My name is Todd. And I'm a person. I have dreams and feelings and...and you” He looked down for a moment, realizing that this man was probably incapable of feeling any true remorse or any pain but his own. In a way that was sadder than what had happened to him.“You really can't understand that, can you?”

“I can! I can! I do! Just let me live, let me...let me prove it! I'll be better! I'll be good!”

Todd shook his head. “Pepito, I'm ready to go.”

Instead of taking the offered gun from the outstretched hand, Pepito took the hand itself, stepping close enough to speak in a near whisper. “Are you sure, Todd? This could be just what you need, to get rid of that empty feeling, that powerlessness, and it's your only chance...,” then he let his voice rise high enough for the condemned to hear, “because I'm going to have them killed either way.” He smiled a little when their pleas increased in volume and urgency.

Looking back down at the gun, Todd let himself actually consider it. It felt very...not him. It was true that it had been a little invigorating to have them at his mercy after what they had done to him, to tip the balance of power, but now...now he was done. He should be done. That should have been enough...

Pepito smirked a bit at the confused look. Walking behind him, he put his right hand over Todd's as his left arm slipped around his waist, pulling their bodies close and spreading Todd's legs some with one of his own so that they were both in a firing stance. “People like that aren't going to get better, Todd. They barely even register as human. Do whatever you have to do to feel better.”

Shuttering as Pepito's words ghosted past his ear, Todd hesitantly brought his other hand up to grip the gun, both of them trembling together until Pepito's tightened even more around his own, holding a steady aim.

“Finger on the trigger, Amigo.” Pepito let his left hand drift up Todd's chest to hold him tighter as his other hand moved both of their fingers into the trigger position. He smiled again at the appropriateness of what he was doing: practically hugging Todd to himself as he coaxed him into what was supposed to be one of the worst sins that a mortal could commit. It was like giving Jehovah of Armies the finger on a near cosmic scale. It wouldn't mean that he owned Todd's soul, but the Christ spirit wouldn't want him after this. “Hold your breath. Then just...whenever you're ready.”

Todd was once again thankful for the lack of pain when his eyes widened at the other's already breathless tone, a tone that he didn't think was due to Pepito already holding his own breath, which he guessed as supposed to help them make the shot or something. Actually, even before then his tone had been a little too...seductive almost...and his lips were so close to his ear that he half expect his next words to be followed by a kiss.

He shut his eyes tightly, glad that he was already blushing from an abundance of emotions that the situation had drug out of him. God...this whole situation was just so wrong! And Pepito was probably getting off on it! He almost laughed at the thought. This probably was the kind of thing that the Antichrist would find warm and cozy...if nothing else even more disturbing.

“Ready?”

This time the other's lips had just barely grazed his ear! He felt a flood of emotions: embarrassed, and then tingly and then ashamed of having felt tingly, all before that flood was consumed by a cold panic as he realized that their fingers were already pulling the trigger. It was too late to stop it, but without any thought, Todd pulled the gun down a few inches, filching when he still heard one of the men cry out in pain just after. He forced his eyes open and his body away from Pepito's. “Shit. Oh, G-I didn't mean-” He lifted his hands to his eyes before dropping them back down, remembering that one was still holding a gun that had just blown a hole in the last man's arm.

“Todd!” Pepito had to suppress a burst of laughter to get the words out. “Calm down! You don't have to get it right the first time. These guys are scum. They're target practice. No one said it had to be quick and painless. Miss as many times as you want.”

Fighting the urge to drop the gun, Todd stepped closer to Pepito again, hoping that maybe he would actually take it this time. “Pepito, I don't want to do it right. I...I don't think this is going to help anymore than it already has, okay?”

Pepito's laugh instantly died. Todd had faltered a bit, but to be sure he needed to finish the deal. He hadn't wanted it to come to this, but it was apparently necessary. “Alright, Todd. It's up to you. But...I think I might have a way that it could help you more.”

“I don't think-” Todd paused when he saw Pepito take a photo from inside his coat, reaching out tentatively to get a better look when it was offered to him.

“Recognize anyone?” The question was kind of redundant because, by the horrified look on Todd's face, it was clear that he did. “Particularly the three on the end? Of the seven we've managed to catch so far, some of the camp personnel reported that those were your...friends. So, three friends for three rapists; what do you say? I shouldn't have to tell you that this is an extremely good deal.”

Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring the image of two men and one woman, all three still dusty from the desert where they had been recaptured, that he did indeed consider friends. His hands were shaking again and he nearly did drop the gun. “W-why are you doing this to me?” When Pepito's hand landed on his shoulder, he stepped back until it fell off, though the other man simply stepped forward.

“Todd, what the Hell? This shouldn't even be something that you have to think about.” The half-demon tapped the side of his own head with a finger to indicate that it was a no-brainer.

“I'm not like you, Pepito! I can't just go around killing people...even if they are beyond horrible.”

“That's because you've internalized the ridiculous, hypocritical moral system that these type of people take for granted every day. They rely on people like you and your endless understanding to keep them on the street so that they can hurt other people, other people just-like-you.”

“Don't touch me!” Todd slapped the hand that went for his shoulder again away, wincing slightly because he knew the action would probably have negative and unpredictable consequences, but carrying on all the same. “If you kill them, Pepito, then you might as well kill me too because I'm not going to be your little pet anymore!” His hand tightened around the picture, crumpling it a bit.

“What? I wasn't going to kill them if you didn't kill the guards. I was going to let them go if you did. And you should know that I don't make that kind of offer to just anyone.”

“And I...Oh. That's...that's still...” Todd hung his head, feeling partly foolish, but still justified in his anger. That kind of “deal” still left him with no good choice. Either way he came out as a bad person with a guilty conscious.

Pepito took a few cautious steps forward, this time wrapping an arm around Todd successfully. He took the, now sweaty, gun easily from his hand as he pulled him into a small hug, hoping that this, at least, was the right move. The whole plan had already gone to...Heaven maybe. “And you're not my pet.”

Todd didn't break away, but he didn't return the hug either. “Then what am I, Pepito? A toy? Because I don't think that friends use each other like this. I mean, last night was all just part of this little game you're playing with me, right? I'm just...just another conquest to you, just like every other soul on this planet. Our whole friendship has been a game, and I'm just...not sure I want to play anymore.”

Cringing at the torn words, Pepito pulled Todd even closer, trying not to let himself convert the pain into anger as he usually did. And it was hard, because it really did hurt. “Is that really what you think? Because I assure you, Todd, it isn't true. You've never been...you're not like anyone else. And you're right. I shouldn't have taken advantage of what happened to you, but it wasn't what you think. I really did want to help you...now and last night. I just...it appears that I don't know how.” That was true enough, at least.

“Stop trying to force me into things!” Todd let out a horse laugh as he pulled back a little, adding a light shoulder punch that was supposed to be playful, but came out more pathetic. He sniffled, gesturing to the exguards. “Don't assume that you know what I need better than I do. And if you really want to help, ask me what I want.”

“I'm sorry, Todd. What do you want? Besides complete freedom, I mean.”

“I want...” Todd looked down again, realizing that he was a little lost now that he had actually been asked. And, of course, because the one sure thing that he did want had been excluded. And Pepito still had the nerve to claim that he wasn't a pet! “I want us to be real friends. I want you to not blow up at me every time I make a stupid assumption. I want to know you well enough not to make stupid assumptions. I want us to be able to talk about real issues without fighting, which I know is huge because we usually avoided that back in high school, which is probably what got us where we are now.” He took a deep breath. “I don't like where we are now.”

“That really is huge, Todd; it won't be easy, but...yes. I'll try my best if you will.” Pepito gave him a large smile, his voice becoming a little less serious. “So, is that all?”

“Probably not.”

“Hey, what about me! I said I'm sorry! I want to change!” The last exguard gestured at the bullet wound in his arm. “And you got me back! We're even now. Tell him you wanna set me free!”

“No way! No way does his ass go free and I die!” the first guard chimed in, “At least I told the fucking truth! It wasn't my fault!”

“Fuck you, Red!” the last one retorted, “You're dick was just as hard for the little pussy as mine! And you're turn was when he was passed out!”

Pepito's eye twitched, and he sent the men a look that shut them up immediately. “Do you want this back?” He held the gun out to Todd, though his grasp on it was probably so tight that the other couldn't have pried it away from him had he tried.

Backing up against the far wall, Todd shook his head 'no' even as the truth still slipped past his lips in a barely audible 'yes'. He pressed both hands together behind his back just as he hit the wall to make sure that there was no chance of him taking it back.

Giving him a curt nod, Pepito turned back to the men, taking aim. “You might not wanna watch this.”

Not being able to bring himself to interfere, Todd closed his eyes a few seconds before he heard muffled shots through the hands that he had brought to his ears at the same time. There were three shots, and then nothing. He blinked once, twice, still a little afraid to see carnage, even after having seen more than his fair share growing up next to Nny.

All three men now lay on the floor in respective pools of blood. The guy in the middle was already dead, having taken a bullet straight to the head, while the other two still groaned and cried pitifully as they held what was probably the remains of their genitals in their hands. From the looks of things, it wasn't doing them much good because the vital fluid was still leaking from that area in gushes, seeping through their fingers, running down their arms, dripping in a steady beat onto the tile floor.

“Sorry, Todd.”