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“Wake up, prisoner!”
Mococo’s eyes snap open at the sound of her cell door opening, scrambling to her feet before the guard can pull her up. It was…well, there’s really no way to keep time in the Cell. It was after the meal she thinks is breakfast that she had taken a nap…but how long she had slept is a mystery.
It’s a certain type of torture, not knowing the time. The overhead lights stay on all of the time, and despite the guards (most of the time) giving them two meals a day, there’s no way to tell which is which. After long enough, one’s internal clock just gives up.
“Hands in front of you!”
Mococo flinches at the loud noise that’s not at all helping her growing headache. She obediently offers her wrists, chains clacking as cold metal shackles them together. So she’s going somewhere…that probably means it’s daytime, right?
“Walk!” The guard moves behind her, hand falling to the metal collar around her neck—
“Grrrrrrr” The first noise she’s made, leaning away from the touch and glaring at the guard. She wants to snarl, to snap and say that they don’t need to touch her.
It’s impossible to do with the muzzle forcing her mouth shut.
The guard ignores her growl, grabbing again at her collar and pushing her forward. They pass by blindingly white walls, an occasional cell placed throughout. Mococo spots Fuwawa’s cell, trying her best to glance inside and see her sister as they walk past.
Empty.
The guard guides them to the community areas of the prison. A small subsection with two rooms, one with tables and chairs and the other closer to a lounge. One of the older Wardens had built it for them for when they were ‘good’, letting them choose to roam between them instead of staying in their cells.
The next Warden had shut that down quick.
-
“Mococo!” Fuwawa! Her older sister shoots up from one of the couches, rushing over to stand before her, eyes flicking from the guard to Mococo’s muzzled face. The guard pays her no mind, unlocking the shackles before stepping back.
“One of your new Wardens will be in soon to talk to you.” The guard states monotonously, before turning on their heel and leaving.
“Oh, Mococo…” The two sisters fall into each other, arms wrapped tightly around each other as they meet again for the first time in…too long. “Why do you have this?” Fuwawa mourns as her hand brushes the cold steel of the muzzle. “Don’t tell me you tried to bite a guard again.”
Mococo shrugs, averting her eyes.
“Moco chan!”
Mococo grumbles, stepping back so she can lift her hands to properly sign.
‘The guard said something gross about you.’
Sign language is something all Demon Dogs were taught in training, something that the twins found very handy in their beginning years of the Cell before they were separated, back when one or both of them were constantly muzzled for attempts at attacking the guards to escape. It’s something they taught Advent as well, coming in handy when they wanted to have private conversations.
“Moco chan, I don’t need you to protect me.” Fuwawa scolds, sighing as Mococo’s eyebrows furrow. “I don’t want you doing anything that will get you in trouble with the guards!”
‘You would do the same.’ Mococo signs back before crossing her arms, huffing agitatedly as she looks away.
“You aren’t wrong.” Fuwawa admits what they both know. “I just hate seeing you in that thing…”
-
The twins decide to curl up on the couch as the rest of Advent are slowly brought into the room. Bijou is first, barely waiting for the guard to unlock her cuffs before throwing herself into the puppies embrace, crystalline tears dripping down her face as her cracked gem glows a happy yellow.
Nerissa is next, the raven giving them all quick hugs before curling up in an armchair, wings wrapped around her like a safety shield as she stares blankly at the wall. Mococo doesn’t blame her, a meeting with the Warden has never gone well for any of them.
Shiori is last, accompanied by five guards, all with hands on their weapons as the woman strides into the room, head held high and wrists freed of shackles, a peaceful smile on her face. The guards were probably too scared to directly touch her. Cowards.
Their leader takes her time as she greets all of them, golden eyes glowing just a little bit brighter at the cracks along Bijou’s arms and gem, and the reddened skin around Mococo’s muzzle. Having been placed in solitary confinement so long ago, she’s been unable to contact her girls, or use her ‘scary’ privilege to advocate for them.
It’s because of Shiori that the twins' chains were changed from an agitating steel that burned their skin. It’s because of Shiori that Bijou was placed into an actual standard cell instead of a dark room with only her gems to give light. It’s because of Shiori that Nerissa is free of her own muzzle, created so the Demon of Sound couldn’t so much as talk.
They don’t know what she does or how she does it, but Shiori always takes care of them, and for that Mococo will be forever loyal.
The archiver finishes her inspection of the diamond dogs before walking over to Nerissa, bending down to place a kiss to her forehead as messy black wings encircle her.
“Are you alright, my girl?” Shiori murmurs as she cups Nerissa’s cheeks, scattering kisses across her face.
“Mmn. Just…tired.” Nerissa sighs as she leans into the affections.
“There there.” Shiori soothes as she settles into the demon's lap, accepting her role of emotional support teddy bear. “I’m here now.”
“Does anyone know why the Warden wants to meet with us?” Bijou speaks up, squeaky voice full of nerves as she pauses her braiding of Mococo’s hair. “I mean…we haven’t done anything. We wouldn’t be punished, right?”
“They can try.” Shiori’s voice rings heavy throughout the room, her tone light but her words fatal. Unlike the other girls who are left with a few magic binding restrictions, Shiori has to be chained—full on chained to a throne, countless Gods writing etched into the links to dampen most of her powers. Mococo secretly thinks that Shiori could escape at any time by herself, but only stays for them.
‘Well whatever it is, it better be worth waking me up from my nap.’ Mococo signs, Fuwawa repeating it for the two sitting across the room.
“Make sure you’re extra polite Moco chan!” The older puppy fusses. “Maybe they’ll take the muzzle off then!”
The pink pup scoffs, rolling her eyes. ‘Fat chance.’
-
“Raora, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?”
A question that’s been asked just about everyday after she’s pitched the idea.
“Yes, Liz.” Raora replies firmly as she affixes her Warden badge onto her shirt. She makes sure to keep her voice free of her frustration at her leader, something that’s easily ruined by her tail swishing aggravatedly against the floor. “I can handle an hour by myself with the prisoners."
“It’s not that i’m worried about,” Elizabeth sighs as Raora sweeps past her, grabbing a large blue Chattini themed backpack and hoisting it onto her back. “It’s the ‘letting them out of their cells’ part.”
“They won’t hurt me.”
“They haven’t met you. If I-“
“They’re terrified of you.” Raora finally snaps, eyes bleeding an electric blue as she stares down her leader. “You walked in there to introduce yourself all Thorn and flames and now they hide when you come in. At least, those who can! The one locked in a chair—“
“Is bound there for a reason!” Elizabeth argues back. “A reason you know and yet are happy to release her anyway!”
“For an hour!”
The two stand across from each other, at a complete standstill.
“You are not the only Warden of these girls, Liz. All of my time in Justice I have trusted your ideas. Now it’s time for you to trust mine.”
Elizabeth sighs, tilting her head to the sky and dragging a hand down her face. “Just…just be careful. Please.” She drags Raora into a hug, nuzzling her face into fluffy hair.
“Always.” Raora rolls her eyes, annoyance fading as she hugs her best friend back. “I’ll be back before you know it!”
The Cell is a dreary place, all grey walls and the bleeding sense of hopelessness. Raora ignores the shudder that runs down her spine as she passes by rows of prisoners— some begging, some cursing, and some doing nothing at all.
“The prisoners are in the room you requested.” One of the guards tells her as they walk together. She’s flanked by five, which is more a show of power than anything needed because none of the prisoners here can do anything except aim a well placed spitball. “You will have one hour and thirty minutes alone with them, no background aid is to linger unless called for. Do I have the details correct?”
“Yes.” Raora nods curtly. “An hour thirty. Not a minute less, no matter what happens.”
“Understood.”
Advent’s section of the prison is lower, down countless steps and through a thick metal door, reinforced with the best spells from the strongest mages.
“This is it.” The guard nods as they continue down another long hallway, eventually stopping at a closed wooden door. “All of the prisoners are here as requested.”
And with a final nod Raora is left alone, standing before either her best or worst decision of her life.
“Well…here goes nothing.”
Knock
Knock
Knock
“I’m coming in!” Raora opens the door slowly, giving the prisoners inside plenty of time to adjust. The first thing she sees when she steps in is piercing yellow eyes, and she flinches a bit as she comes face to face with Shiori Novella. She’s read up on Shiori, on all of them. According to the files Shiori is dangerous, unstable and possessing forbidden knowledge that’s a danger to the world.
To Raora, she looks…tired.
A glance over the other woman’s shoulder shows a couple of couches shoved together, four other prisoners staring at her blank faced.
“What’s wrong, Warden? You come all this way to stare at us?” Shiori drawls, her voice light and teasing. Raora notes the way her thin legs tremor, ever so slightly. Likely from lack of use. Even still, she bravely puts herself close, demanding Raora’s attention so as to deflect it from the others. She’s selfless.
Raora likes her immediately.
“No, no. I was just taking it all in.” Raora smiles politely, tilting her head. “It’s my first time in this area after all. But please,” She interrupts Shiori as the woman opens her mouth. “Before we talk any more, I must do an introduction!”
“What makes you think we need one?” Shiori asks as she steps back, taking a seat at one of the empty armchairs. “You’re Raora Panthera, the Artist with the God eyes. And you’re our Warden.”
Raora ignores the vitriol, crossing her arms. “Those things are all true, but do you know why I called you here today?”
Silence. The prisoners all look among each other, confusion written across their faces. Except Shiori, who stares daggers into Raora’s soul. Truthfully, she expected that kind of treatment anyway from the documented ‘leader’ of all of them.
“You came to introduce yourself.” Finally someone speaks up. Koseki Bijou, the Gem of Emotions. She’s tiny, curled up on the couch between the twin demon dogs whose names Raora hasn’t quite memorized.
“Almost! I came for that, yes, but I also-“ She pauses, blinking as her smile fades away, tail beginning to whip behind her. “You.” She points to the twin with pink highlights. “What’s on your face?” Don’t say it’s a…
“A muzzle.” Shiori’s voice cuts through the sudden tension in the room, cold and aloof. “A muzzle that your guards put on her.”
Raora’s heart sinks to the pit of her stomach. “Come here please.” She gestures towards the demon dog, noticing immediately how the other tenses up, eyes sharpening as they look between the two. “I want to remove it. I told the guards no restraints.”
The demon dog looks at her sister with wide eyes before standing slowly, shuffling over to Raora with hunched shoulders and her tail tucked firmly between her legs.
“There you are, cucciolo.” Raora murmurs as she reaches out carefully, tracing the straps of the muzzle. She can feel the subdued tremors from the woman as she leans in, inspecting the locking mechanism at the side of the muzzle.
Crash!
Raora steps back quickly as the demon dog rears up…and pauses, pressing a hand to her face. A face now freed of the barbaric muzzle that had been there for too long, if the markings lined deep in her skin have anything to say.
“Don’t ever worry about wearing that again.” Raora growls as she glares down at the hideous thing, kicking it towards the door. “And that goes for all of you.”
-
The return to introductions goes smoothly this time, and Raora smiles as she places her Chattini backpack in front of her. “So! In here I have a few things. I have coloring books, and markers. I also brought colored pencils! I had to fight to bring them though. Liz— yknow the tall woman with the big sword, she told me it was ‘too much of a security risk’, can you believe it?! Sure, you can stab me but you could just as easily bash me over the head with a chair. If we’re going to talk weapons then what’s the point of having anything?”
“M-miss Raora?” The blue twin speaks up. Fuwawa, Raora had learned when she had thanked her for helping Mococo. “Are these…for us?”
“Mmhm!” Raora nods enthusiastically, clapping her hands. “They are! I thought it would be a fun activity because…well…jail is boring.” That got a snicker from Bijou, the gem nodding along. “And…” Raora sobers a bit, frowning. “I don’t like that you guys are just..trapped here and left to rot. You need something to do, but even I can’t change that so easily…so i’m starting small.” Raora taps a pack of markers. “Once a week you have one hour and thirty minutes where you’re allowed out of your Cell for ‘recreational activities’. I brought coloring stuff today, but you don’t even have to use it. You could spend this whole time asleep if you want,” She nods towards Nerissa, who had been dozing off this entire time. “or color, or…whatever. No rules, no restraints.”
“No rules?” Shiori perks up.
“…Two rules. No attacking me, and no leaving the room.”
“Why are you doing this for us?” Mococo speaks up, her voice quiet and raspy with misuse.
“You deserve it!”
-
The first session goes by slowly. After her explanation Raora pulls out her personal sketchpad and begins doodling. None of Advent make a move towards the coloring equipment, and when she looks up the group are huddled together, hands moving rapidly in a sign language she doesn’t know. She shrugs and returns to drawing.
By the third session Bijou is grabbing a coloring book and a pack of markers, sprawling across the floor as she draws.
By fifth, the twins join her on the floor, bickering over their own shared book.
On the seventh visit, Nerissa speaks for the first time to greet Raora as she enters the room.
The eighth is the first time Shiori dares to take her eyes off of Raora the entire time, closing her eyes for a quick power nap.
And the ninth…
“Moco chan! Give me the blue pencil already!”
“No, I’m still using it! Take Biboo’s!”
“I don’t want Biboo’s blue! It’s a different blue and I want that blue!”
Raora laughs softly as she hears the twins bickering over the colored pencils as all of Advent colors at the tables. She herself is drifting between them, handing out compliments and advice.
“There there Fuwawa.” Shiori soothes from across the table, where she’s carefully cutting paper to make an origami frog, the book of instructions open before her. It was a gift from Raora, and…well…the scissors may have been smuggled in. Their kid scissors! Their fiine. “Mococo is almost done, right?”
“…maybe.” The younger twin huffs.
“Can I have your blue, Mococo? I’ll trade you for a pink?” Nerissa asks, smiling sweetly at the puppy who pauses, looking between the colored pencil and her friend.
“…noeh. You’re just going to give it to Fuwawa.”
“Talk about greedy.” The blue twin grumbles, shooting a glare at her sister.
“I AM NYOHT GREEDY!”
Snap!
The room immediately goes quiet at the sound of broken wood, the colored pencil clutched in Mococo’s fist falling to the floor in two pieces.
For one second no one moves. And then…
"I'm sorry!" Mococo makes eye contact with Raora and recoils, curling into herself as she scrambles backwards out of her chair, tail firmly tucked between trembling legs as she falls to her knees. "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Raora glances around the room. Already Fuwawa is standing before her sister, pink eyes fiery as she stares down the panther, her hackles raised. "It's just a pencil, haeh?" The older pup growls, fists clenching.
The rest of Advent are quiet, but Raora can see the way they tense up. Can see the way Nerissa’s hand tightens around her own sharpened pencil as Bijou shrinks in her seat. Shiori stands too, the Archiver staring Raora down as her grip tightens on the safety scissors.
It's clear, they’re expecting her to lash out. To yell, to drag Mococo out of the room for punishment. Even after countless hours of getting along, their past with previous Wardens is not easily forgotten.
It's...not right. Criminals or not, no one should have to go through so much that they feel threatened over something as small as snapping a pencil.
"It's okay, guys." Raora holds her hands up, smiling softly. "It's no biggie! I can replace it!”
More silence. And then…
“Y-you aren’t mad?” Mococo glances up with tear filled blue eyes, her voice small.
“Of course not!” Raora says softly as she picks up the two halves, careful in her every move to not spook the prisoners. “I can always buy more if I need, after all.” She examines the two halves of the pencil, giving Advent time to relax back into their seats. Fuwawa helps her sister off the floor, wiping the tears from her eyes as Mococo huddles against her.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you…” The younger pup nuzzles against her sister, tail wagging slowly against their calves.
“That’s alright, Moco chan.” Fuwawa presses a kiss to her sister’s forehead before inspecting her hand. “Is your hand okay?”
“Uhn!”
And the next week, when Raora returned with a whole new pack of colored pencils, she was rewarded with messy marker drawing of her and Mococo, the pink puppy beaming as she hands it over.
-
“I’m home!”
“Welcome home!” Raora beams over her shoulder as Mococo bounds into the kitchen, enveloping her in a hug from behind. “How was shopping?”
“Boring.” The puppy huffs as she buries her face against a pale shoulder, scattering kisses against the sun freckles that scatter Raora’s neck. “I’m glad I'm here with you.”
Ten years will do a lot to change one's life. From meeting as Prisoner and Warden, to Escapee and Cop, and somehow landing on wives. It was Raora’s insistence on befriending Advent that later led to them all becoming friends, and now they all live close by as just a normal friend group. No more Organization, that was shut down after thorough investigation of corruption. No more Cell because…well…Advent may or may not have blown it up upon escaping.
Just normal.
“Hell below, is that my drawing from years ago?” Mococo scrunches up her nose as she sees the crude marker drawing from all those years ago.
“Yes! It was the first thing I hung up on the fridge!” Raora giggles as she turns in her wife’s arms, cupping gradually reddening cheeks as she presses a soft kiss to her wife’s lips. “It’s my favorite artwork afterall~”
“It’s embarrassing!” Mococo whines. “I’ve gotten so much better since then!” It’s true, years of art lessons from Raora has made her a pretty decent artist, although now she’s been getting more into woodworking alongside Elizabeth.
“Make me a new one then?” The lovestruck smile comes easy to Raora’s face as she watches Mococo straighten up at the challenge.
“I will!” The puppy pauses. “Later! I need my Raora time now.” And she sweeps Raora up into her arms, pressing kisses everywhere she could reach as she carries her wife towards their newly furnished bedroom.
Raora’s laughter echoes throughout the house.