Chapter Text
You had been drifting through the endlessness of space for what could be months. You’d given up trying to keep track of the days a while ago. There was no way for you to tell time anymore. Isolation had become the new norm. Had it not been for you quietly talking to yourself, to keep yourself sane, you’d probably have forgotten what your own voice sounds like. There are no people, only the ominously mindless clones that patrol the vast corridors. By the end of week one, you had given up trying to get any information out of them, as any words offered in response made little sense to you.
They were primarily unthreatening. It was difficult to make out any expression on their faces, or to see a difference between them, as everything about them was crafted identically. You were allowed to wander the hallways to your own comfort, and were not confined like a prisoner. This eased little of your concerns. In fact, in such a place where you were always out in the open, the idea of privacy to yourself sounded better than anything.
The layout of his ship was nothing short of perplexing. Endless corridors that looped back to each other, every room looking the same. With every corner you turned, you hoped for something different, anything. The clones stood in pairs in the doorways of the places you were forbidden to go. With every pair you passed, you could almost feel their pupil-less eyes watching you. Their heads remained still, their posture at a casual attention. Still, you could feel the pin pricking sting of eyes surveying your every move. It was as though a piercing tension followed you everywhere you walked.
With your ability to keep track of time lost, your body had been doing its best to give you sleep when in need. You had been assigned a small room with very limited seclusion and a single mattress-like set up on the ground. It could barely be called a bed. It was rough, laying down was far from comfortable, and harshly cold, too. Yet, this was your new normal. It had been for a while.
Twice daily, the clones would bring food to you, in an attempt to keep you in good health. With each time they found you, they would say it is from Horde Prime. At least that's all you made out of their strange worshipping rambles. They would hand something to you that your brain could barely comprehend, not knowing how edible it truly is to humans, but each time the presentation of the plate and what was on it was undoubtedly aesthetically pleasing. Some clone, somewhere amongst the vastness of the ship, had to have plated it with such precision. It was thoughts like this that drew you away from loneliness.
Once every week or so, a pair of clones would order you to follow them. It’s not exactly like you could refuse. They would lead you down the corridors and to a far larger, more lavish dining area, where you would be seated a few chairs down from Horde Prime. The first time this happened you were petrified stiff. It was your first approximate week, you had refused anything given to you and challenged everything you heard. Yet, you were fatigued and caved to food under the words of Horde Prime, urging you he was not trying to strike you down with poison, or otherwise.
By now, you knew the routine. In a strange way, you were able to break your ever growing solitude with it. There was this fabricated warmth in the way Prime spoke to you, as though he was speaking a false kindness through his teeth. It was unsettling, particularly due to his ability to perfect such mannerisms, yet you couldn’t help but return the politeness; despite your hesitance. The clones did not speak to you, at least not with the same uneasy friendliness as Horde Prime. To have even the most minimal amount of returned conversation could be half way to pleasant, despite being in such circumstances.
With each passing occasion of this strange dinner ritual, you found yourself being seated closer to him at the table every time. It wasn’t until recently that you had noticed. He never ate, yet the clones served him with that same mindless devotion without fail. Each time, he would just watch you. If you broke focus and happened to glance up at him, you were met with his calculating gaze. When this happened, you found yourself pausing to allow the sharp sensation that rushed down your spine to pass. It was a harsh sting of cold sent through you each time you met his eyes.
Slowly, the clones became less a part of this weekly event. Aside from leading you to the dining room, they no longer escorted you out afterwards. Upon finishing whatever otherworldly meal prepared for you, Horde Prime would escort you from the room himself. Doing so, he would place his hand atop of your shoulder as he walked you out. The palm of his hand would brush carefully between the back of your shirt collar and the bare skin at the back of your neck. It almost seemed intentional. Without fail, it made you jump each time. You could feel the hair upon the back of your neck rise at his metallic, sharp index finger grazing the edge of your skin. It had to be intentional. He would speak the egotistical ramblings you had gotten used to, but it was all muted in your head due to the sound of your pulse in your ears. It was a cold, manipulating touch that sat with you as he guided you out of the room, walking just behind you, as you sunk into the shadow that his stature cast. When you stepped out of the room his hand broke contact. Before you could turn to reveal your puzzled look, or dare ask any questions, the clones were escorting you away once again.
Long, desolate days dragged into cold, paranoia filled nights. Each time you awoke from sleep you were unsure how much time had passed, but what you did know is that in some outlandish way, you were beginning to anticipate your dinner sessions with Prime; your only slight escape to the ever consuming solitude that plagues you.
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This night was particularly bitter cold. You lay with your knees tucked against your chest on one side, listening to the faint electrical hum of the corridors. Bright white lights illuminated the hallways at all times preventing you from sleeping properly. This, and the back and forth foot work of the clones patrolling the corridors. Every so often you would hear a set of footsteps come to a halt through the blurred hologram that confined you to your room during the night hours. Not that you were able to tell what those hours were, anymore. You stirred against the chill that crept through your bones, head pounding with an ache that seemed to hang constantly.
Slowly, you sat yourself up, allowing yourself to breathe. When you exhaled, you could see the cold on your breath, feeling your teeth subtly grind together under the temperature. You brought your hands together and interlocked your fingers in an attempt to warm yourself. Looking up, you were greeted with a view to the corridors outside the room. The hologram that acted as a door, had been turned off. Strange.
You could feel the numbness in your fingertips spreading to your knuckles. You attempted to swallow, but your throat felt as though it were lined with thousands of glass shards. You were unsure how much longer of living like this you could take.
Unable to sleep, freezing, and slowly watching your sanity drain, you lifted yourself up. The ground was no less frigid, causing your feet to tense the moment you took a short step forward. A harsh, defeated sigh escaped you. With every breath you took, you were able to watch as the cold reached for your lungs at every exhale. Wandering Prime’s corridors was nothing new to you, but when stepping out of your sleeping quarters, you were greeted with an eerie silence. The pairs of clones that usually scattered the hallways were gone, the echoes of their footsteps too, had ceased. The silence in the air felt menacing, as though you were not supposed to be here at this time. Yet, you let yourself walk. Slowly tracking your way around the corridors alone leads you nowhere. You knew there was no escape.
Then, you heard something. A faint click noise, as though a pin had dropped against still water. Had it not been for the silence, your ears would not have caught it. Your eyes began to search for the source of the sound, scanning over every identical corner and angle you could see. Before you could hesitate you were already walking in the direction it had come from. Passing a corner, you stopped in your tracks.
You were greeted with the sight of something bizarre. A tall room, walls stacked to the ceiling with various different items, artifacts, plants, and technology far beyond your comprehension. There was this moment where you stood almost awe-struck, eyes trailing the heights of the room to inspect the unknown. There were multiple framed heads of distinctly alien creatures, scaled, feathered, and some you couldn’t even make out. Displays of bright gemstones, weapons on shelves, and pillars that climbed to the ceiling. Unconsciously, you wandered in, eyes glued to the displays of triumph surrounding you. At the far end of the room sat a large framed window shrouded in a dimmer light than the rest of the glory. You became uninterested in the room of trophies when you caught a glimpse of the dark void that peered back at you. The astonishment of your surroundings was pulled away upon seeing the vast space before you. While the stars brought quiet comfort in their beauty, the empty sensation of solitude could not be consoled simply by wondrous gazing. It had been far too long since you had seen another human, or had a conversation that wasn’t held unnervingly.
The sound of an abrupt electrical clicking noise burned your ears. Turning your attention, you felt your chest stiffen immediately. A shooting sense of dread rushed through you as you watched Horde Prime proceed into the room. Within half a moment, the quiet peace you had found was broken. Now, you felt like a frantic bird in a cage, desperate to pry yourself from your own terror. He was unaccompanied, it was like he knew you were there. As his stature approached you, your mind caved inwards and ran with all possible ways you could face your demise. There was an undoubted certainty that you were about to face your doom.
Prime came to a halt before you. Feeling your own heartbeat against your ears, your entire body tensed with anticipation. The hairs upon the back of your neck stood, as a cold sweat began to form against your skin. You stared down, to focus on any point on the ground, anything other than what towered over you. A deep, heavy stillness sat amongst the room. All you could hear is your own heavy breathing and heart.
“Look at me.” Horde Prime broke the silence. His voice was low and polished, a poised manner that leered over you as a shadow. You did not wish to listen to his command.
With an immense pull of reluctance, you shifted your gaze from the floor, upwards. He stood a significant height above you, his wide shoulders blocking any light from behind him, casting you in darkness. At your stature, you met eye level with his abdomen. The very second your eyes met his own, you became consumed in this overwhelming dread.
This was not enough for him. Without shifting an expression, or even averting his four eyed glare, a sharp finger found its way to your chin and locked against your face. Placing one harsh metal guarded finger under your jaw, he used his thumb to angle your entire face upwards towards him. Promptly, your heart began to claw its way into your throat. Your skin began to burn.
“Your isolation causes you grief, does it not?” His words sunk against you, piercing your skin bitterly. His look did not falter, grip did not loosen. His fingers remained locked in place with intention, yet his touch was cautiously gentle. Craning your neck back to look up at him had your throat entirely exposed. In a deliberate pacing, Prime’s metallic pointed index snaked from under your chin, slowly, carefully grazing downwards against the skin of your neck. A strained breath escaped through your teeth. Your jaw tensed.
The little space between you and him became significantly smaller as Horde Prime tilted his head towards you. Now, the stinging cold that plagued your body had been replaced by a feverish, seething warmth. From you, there was silence, yet you stared wide eyed with your mouth agape, trembling subtly under Horde Prime’s hand. Tracing your neck once more, Prime’s fingers trailed their way to your face again, yet this time he locked his grip against your skin with strength, urging your face closer to his own.
“You humans are so very disappointing,” he lulled, mouth curling into a malevolent smile. He was tormenting you, playing with your fear like you were amusing him. Prime did not break eye contact, he held you in his gaze torturously, watching as your chest heaved with adrenaline. Feeling your skin boil against his fingers caused you to screw your face up in protest. It was more resistance against your own paralyzed stiffness, and he knew it, too.
With his face merely moments between yours, your pupils had widened at the intense sensation of turmoil that swarmed inside of you. Instinctually, there was an attempt to retract your head back, but he did not let you. It was very evident he enjoyed watching you squirm. You took a swift glance between his eyes, and his smile for barely half a second. Still, your heart scrambled against your chest, staring wide, eyes darting against his face. It was here, now, you were able to bear witness to every detail of him you could see. For the first time properly.
There was an agitated moment where you frantically scanned his face to find anything to focus on, unable to craft any form of response to his taunting. From eyes, to pointed ears, to sharp canines, you were surveying him cautiously. You caught his primary set of eyes narrow ever so subtly, and for a second his assured smile faltered. The very minute his expression shifted, your eyes flicked back to him in a distraught attempt to distract from your panic.
Prime saw your distress, feeling the burn of your skin against the grip of his fingers there was a tense silence in the air. It seemed the longer he kept you in his grasp, locked against his eyes the more flushed you became. Your mouth felt like sand, upon attempting to speak there were no words to escape you, only a feeble sound of strain that vanquished from your lungs. The grip against your chin seized, only for his index finger to trail its way up your jawline and to your ear, following your hairline to the back of your neck. You didn’t even realize, but your head remained angled back, despite Horde Prime no longer pinching at your chin. At such a movement, you couldn’t help but shudder visibly, remaining still as Prime’s fingers made contact with the base of your neck at the shoulders.
Now, you could feel your face begin to prickle, a sharp intense jolt running through your body. You were all too aware that he was intimidating you with ease, yet.. Your eyes began to trail once more. Face, neck, shoulders, chest. He was close enough to feel your frantic breathing against him, to see the tiniest glint of shame in your eyes. The terrorizing chill that you had previously been consumed in had been melted by a warmth, still discomposed.
Horde Prime’s head tilted to one side slightly, moving his touch against the back of your neck to your face once again. Delicately, his palm graced your skin, immediately being warmed by the redness of your face. His hands were large, easily engulfing almost the entirety of the side of your head, fingers snaking their way against your hair.
For the briefest moment, in such a predicament, you found warmth. It was nearly impossible not to find yourself melting against such a tender feeling. Horde Prime knew your weakness, yet it seemed to claw at him begging to be amused. His thumb began to move against the heat of your skin, grazing the edge of your bottom lip.
Oh.
Your heart hitched against your ribcage, halting for a moment as a broken exhale trembled from your lips. Horde Prime looked down at you, a narrow eyed glare of knowing exactly what storm was raging inside your head. As your lips parted, his thumb edged its way into your mouth.
Oh.
“Look at you, pathetic human.” His voice had collapsed into almost a whisper, breathing against you, lulling your skin as the tip of his thumb began to probe at your mouth, causing your head to push back once again.
You did not protest, quietly allowing such an action as you attempted carefully to move with his touch, instead of against it. Your view squinted gently, feeling your jaw relax as his thumb urged further into your mouth. Now, you were burning red, trembling with a seething demand. Quickly, however, there was a brief gag that escaped your throat, causing Horde Prime’s ears to twitch. A deep, plotting snicker slithered its way from Prime, his eyes peering down upon your struggle with a sense of greed.
“Hm,” he hummed in thought, pausing, his lips twisting into a knowing smirk. “Perhaps I should keep you around.” His intensely green eyes penetrated your pupils, gaze fixed on you without fail. As his thumb removed itself from your mouth, you leered forward towards him.
Horde Prime broke the tension by stepping back a foot, allowing you barely enough space to breathe on your own. Your heels made contact with the floor again after being stretched to the tallest you could stand against Prime. Your face and neck was left burning with the hanging sensation of Horde Prime’s knowing hands.
“I–”, for the first time since entering the room you persuaded yourself to speak. Rather, attempt it. Nothing escaped you, aside from perplexed stammers, unable to even question anything.
Suddenly, Horde Prime’s hand brought its way against your shoulder, yet it did not remain there. It began to crawl lower, spiraling his touch carefully to reach the small of your back. With your tremouring legs, Prime’s arm brought you back to face the entrance of the room. His movements were swift, like he never expected to be ignored. He began to track behind you, slowly, one hand against you, escorting you towards the entrance.
His long, claw-like fingers delicately guided you forwards, yet upon proceeding you were met with the sensation of a clutch against your side. His hand had latched onto your waist, grabbing at you with a profound sense of possession. Prime did not stop you from walking, in fact he urged you onwards. A muted grunt pushed its way through your teeth.
“In exchange for your devoted loyalty, I will reward you greatly, human,” Horde Prime declared. From behind, his voice rattled your spine, driving a harsh needle of necessity through your body. As he spoke, his grip against you squeezed faintly, causing you to inhale sharply through clenched teeth. Your mind spiraled into a life of devotion to Horde Prime. A routine amongst the clones as a human. Prime leaned down closer, allowing his breath to fan against the back of your neck intentionally. Your head twisted with a shudder, feeling the rumble of his words vibrate your skin.
“Greater than your world could ever bring,” he hushed. His voice made your skin arise with warmth, touch causing you to melt against it. The stature he towered brought the shadows against you, wrapping around you, leaving you shrouded in the darkness he brought once again. You did not dare look behind you, for you knew your eyes would meet fate again, and would end up drowning in your own desperation.
After all of this time, perhaps you’d have found a reason for your capture. After asking why me, the sleepless nights of terrorized wondering and now you stood with Horde Prime at your back, with the promise of companionship. Your stomach twisted into a knot of uncertainty, mind hurtling against the storm of convictions you had created.
Your heart continued palpitating through your chest, throbbing in your ears like a drum. After all this time, what possibly could you have left to lose? Months of endless solitude broken by one decision?
“..Okay,” You breathed out. You were able to feel the crushing sense of the unknown strike you like an arrow through a beating heart.
God, you just agreed to such a proposition.
Holy shit, you just agreed.
You felt Horde Prime stop his march, your feet halted with him. You stood still, with him remaining close behind you. Your clothes were drenched with your own sweat, face red from being so ruffled.
“Perfect,” Horde Prime cooed. You could hear the smile against his voice.
“Every creature, no matter how insignificant, has a place in my empire.”
“You will be of great use to me, my human.”
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