[attr="class","beck"]words linger in the back of his throat, restrained by ghosts of his past, and though he tries to force them out, nothing escapes except trained indifference.

"don't be stupid, merlino."

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

That hurts more than if Theo had punched him.

The effect of the words is immediate; like a shutter closing over a window, the vulnerability he'd dared show in fleeting moments vanishes beneath something cold.

"I recruited her, so yes, she means something to me."

It was hard to identify what, but Gavin cares little and less in that moment.

"I don't want this for her."

[attr="class","beck"]"this?"

this feels more familiar, this is what works, and this is how it should always be. nothing more, nothing less.

"you're alive because of this. you should be grateful, merlino."

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Anger spikes adrenaline through his veins, and this time there is no fear to keep it at bay. It burns through him like fire, consuming hurt as fuel for the bitterness that rises in its place. Pettiness invokes the urge to leave the room, but this is his space.

Miasma flows in place of breath as he exhales, holding back the urge to grab Beckett by the throat. He glares as the fairy lock subsides.

"Get out of my office."

[attr="class","beck"]anger is met with familiar detachment that turns the brightest of flames into the smallest of embers. in this moment, he doesn't care about formalities, titles, duties, because all he see is the same angry kid.

and it's disappointing.

"no."

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Unfortunately for Theo, Gavin has come a long way from an angry subordinate.

No sooner has the refusal left his lips than Gavin throws a hard left hook for Theo's face. Anger had once made him sloppy, predictable — and as the man who'd trained him, Beckett knew all of Gavin's tricks. But Gavin breathes the same SHADOW MIASMA that he exudes, and it makes him quicker than he'd been before.

Pain explodes in his knuckles as the punch connects, and Gavin revels in it. He slams Beckett against the unforgiving metal wall and pins him with an arm against his throat.

"Do you think I've forgotten where I came from, Beckett?" He drives a fist into his gut, the same spot he'd targeted earlier — only now it's not just for show. "I haven't forgotten who I am, and you'd better remember."

[attr="class","beck"]he blinks and almost misses how quick the punch comes. there's no avoiding it but he tries to move all the same, attempts to slip out of the way. the punch connects, rocking him, and the next thing he feels is his back against the cool wall.

he struggles under the hold, throat slowly being crushed, but he continues to resist before all the wind's knocked out of him. his body wants to coil but he's held in place. he gasps for air, then reaches both hands up to grab at merlino's arm.

but he can do nothing. merlino's faster, stronger, and in control. all he can do is glare as he continues to writhe.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Beckett tries to fight back, and it only spurs Gavin's fire.

"You're testing my patience."

He continues to apply pressure on Theo's throat, forcing submission where it does not come willingly. Just as he had taught, Beckett would learn.

[attr="class","danny"]conditioned to submit, he almost does, almost releases his grip over merlino's arm. but something burns inside him, something unfamiliar and volatile, and his defiance refuses to extinguish.

no words escape him, only grunts of pain and resistance as he continues to fight. he won't submit — not today, even if it costs him everything.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Before Theo had shown him mercy, he had shown Gavin pain and punishment.

Such lessons would be returned in reverse. Where mercy has failed, the underboss relies on the very tools he'd wished not to use.

Pressure on Theo's throat does not relent until he grows weak from lack of oxygen. When Gavin feels dead weight against his grip, he shoves hard and steps back from the wall. The Klefki at his belt responds immediately to a sharp whistle.

SHADOW HOLD wraps its tendrils of void and miasma around Beckett's limbs, pulling tight. Gavin stares down his former mentor with cold fury.

"Orders are orders. You will follow mine."

But the command to leave has been rescinded, for Gavin has re-locked the door.

[attr="class","beck"]his vision starts to fade. his grip weakens, eventually releases, but it's the impact being being shoved back that keeps him conscious.

he gasps for air, coughing as he scrambles to recover only to have his limbs pulled back. he's weak enough that nothing comes from his resistance, but he does fight it.

clear eyes glare up. he breathes the next few words out.

"do what you must."

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Resentment rises with Theo's words. Tendrils of shadow wind around Beckett's neck, tight enough to cause discomfort without hindering his ability to breathe. What does hinder breath is the sudden PRESSURE in the room.

Gavin shakes his head, something like disappointment in his eyes.

"Submit, or this gets worse."

Fingers flex, knuckles smarting, before his hand curls into a fist.

[attr="class","beck"]the sudden PRESSURE is overwhelming — it's similar to what he's felt before, only this one's amplified by the power of a legendary. his eyes dart to the porthole, to the pair of red that creeps.

he doesn't answer nor does he stop resisting.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn