Not a Puppy
Oct. 28th, 2010 02:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dorksidefikerTitle: Not a Puppy
Fandom: Young Avengers
Table/Prompt: Table 8/1. Empire
Rating: PG-13
Word Count:
Summary: In which things go wrong for Dorrek before they start to go right.
Prince Dorrek liked to think of himself as a realist. He knew exactly how precarious his position within the Empire actually was, and that his continued existence had been heavily dependent on a successful invasion of Earth. And he'd been so sure he could pull it off. He'd actually been succeeding in spite of everything his grandfather had done to slip him up... and then the House of Magnus had decided to put it's foot down, sending one of the younger princes along with a small army to deal with Dorrek.
That was when Dorrek learned that the intelligence the Empire had gathered was woefully inadequate; everything they'd known about the young Earthling had said that at the most, he had some minor electrical powers and some flight. Instead, what Dorrek found himself facing was a person who, with the slightest twitch of his hand, decimated his forces, either killing the Skrulls outright or locking them into shapes that were small and harmless. It was a total route, an utter humiliation for the prince as he was forced to his knees, hands bound behind his back and a collar placed around his neck; he could feel it draining his prodigious strength and locking him into his natural shape.
All he could see of the human as he approached were his boots. They were black and shiny with little gold buttons running up the side, and he could see his reflection in them.
Dorrek closed his eyes. If he could not succeed, then he would face death with dignity. "Do it."
A cool hand cupped Dorrek's chin, forcing his head up. Dorrek opened his eyes, studying face in front of him. His face was thin, with thick black eyebrows that were drawn together over a sharp nose and wide, dark eyes. "Now why would I kill you, when you could be so useful to me?" he asked sweetly. There was something in the human's tone that made his hair stand on end. The human stood up, gesturing to the two guards at Dorrek's side to bring him along.
***
"What do you mean, they don't want him back?!" William demanded, looking up sharply from the book he had been reading. His aunt was twirling a lock of her vibrant green hair around one finger, a look of amusement on her face. "He's a prince, he's the heir, it's not like they've got a bunch more waiting in the wings!" He paused. "Do they?"
"Not that we know of," Lorna admitted, "but that's what they said. They don't want him back."
"Well, what are we supposed to do with him?"
Lorna was grinning, and that had William worried. "Father says that's up to you."
The book hit the floor with a thud. "me?" he asked in a small voice.
"You caught him, he's your responsibility," Lorna said blithely. "His Majesties orders," she added before he could protest. "He just told me to remind you of one thing: The Skrull is not a puppy."
"No. Really. I never would have guessed."
***
The humans were up to something; Dorrek hadn't survived as long has he had without developing an excellent instinct for spotting plots. The question was, could he use those plots to get what he wanted?
Of course, that brought up the question of What did he want?
Well, to not end up with his head on a stick put up somewhere as a warning to all others, for a start. Beyond that...
To be honest, he'd never much cared for the idea of becoming Emperor. Seemed more like painting a giant target on his back and inviting everyone from the Skrull purists to the entire Kree army to come shoot at him. Anyway, he doubted Grandfather would have ever allowed it. If Grandfather had had his way, Dorrek would have been dead within hours of his hatching, but Grandmother and Mother and Kl'rt had both stepped in, and the old one had been forced to be far more subtle in his attempts.
It looked like this one might actually work, if the humans ever decided what, exactly, to do with him.
He saw the one who'd captured him most often (not counting the guards, which Dorrek didn't), though it was usually only for moments at a time. He would appear outside of Dorrek's cell, stare at him with an expression that seemed to be equal parts confusion, frustration, and curiosity, and then he would be gone again. The green haired woman put in an occasional appearance; she seemed to find him amusing.
He'd seen the King of Genosha only once; he'd been expecting someone more... imposing looking. Instead, he seemed oddly small and old. But Dorrek could see both the strength and power lurking behind the facade of fragile flesh. He had asked Dorrek a few cursory questions, then left again.
The visit had actually given Dorrek more information than he had given out. Grandfather had decided that he didn't wand Dorrek back (no great surprise), and the Empire and Earth were entering into negotiations over other matters.
Dorrek was giving some serious thoughts to escape plans when Prince William appeared at his cell door, flanked by several guards, his expression set in something unreadable. Nobody talked as Dorrek was escorted out of the windowless cell that had been the Skrull Prince's home for the last several weeks. They lead him outside, and it took a few moments for Dorrek's eyes to adjust to the sudden re-exposure to sunlight. He was still shifting his eyes to better see when they hustled him into a surprisingly plush air car.
Prisoners generally weren't put into transports that had comfortable seats. This was... unexpected.
The guards sat on either side of Dorrek as William took the seat across from him. The human's leg jiggled, and he drummed his fingers on his thigh. "You're being installed in the Palace as our honored guest," William said, finally breaking the silence. "As long as you choose to co-operate, you will remain there."
Dorrek nodded slowly. "Honored guest" was a polite term either for a hostage or an informant.
It was time to see if he could make this work for him.
Fandom: Young Avengers
Table/Prompt: Table 8/1. Empire
Rating: PG-13
Word Count:
Summary: In which things go wrong for Dorrek before they start to go right.
Prince Dorrek liked to think of himself as a realist. He knew exactly how precarious his position within the Empire actually was, and that his continued existence had been heavily dependent on a successful invasion of Earth. And he'd been so sure he could pull it off. He'd actually been succeeding in spite of everything his grandfather had done to slip him up... and then the House of Magnus had decided to put it's foot down, sending one of the younger princes along with a small army to deal with Dorrek.
That was when Dorrek learned that the intelligence the Empire had gathered was woefully inadequate; everything they'd known about the young Earthling had said that at the most, he had some minor electrical powers and some flight. Instead, what Dorrek found himself facing was a person who, with the slightest twitch of his hand, decimated his forces, either killing the Skrulls outright or locking them into shapes that were small and harmless. It was a total route, an utter humiliation for the prince as he was forced to his knees, hands bound behind his back and a collar placed around his neck; he could feel it draining his prodigious strength and locking him into his natural shape.
All he could see of the human as he approached were his boots. They were black and shiny with little gold buttons running up the side, and he could see his reflection in them.
Dorrek closed his eyes. If he could not succeed, then he would face death with dignity. "Do it."
A cool hand cupped Dorrek's chin, forcing his head up. Dorrek opened his eyes, studying face in front of him. His face was thin, with thick black eyebrows that were drawn together over a sharp nose and wide, dark eyes. "Now why would I kill you, when you could be so useful to me?" he asked sweetly. There was something in the human's tone that made his hair stand on end. The human stood up, gesturing to the two guards at Dorrek's side to bring him along.
***
"What do you mean, they don't want him back?!" William demanded, looking up sharply from the book he had been reading. His aunt was twirling a lock of her vibrant green hair around one finger, a look of amusement on her face. "He's a prince, he's the heir, it's not like they've got a bunch more waiting in the wings!" He paused. "Do they?"
"Not that we know of," Lorna admitted, "but that's what they said. They don't want him back."
"Well, what are we supposed to do with him?"
Lorna was grinning, and that had William worried. "Father says that's up to you."
The book hit the floor with a thud. "me?" he asked in a small voice.
"You caught him, he's your responsibility," Lorna said blithely. "His Majesties orders," she added before he could protest. "He just told me to remind you of one thing: The Skrull is not a puppy."
"No. Really. I never would have guessed."
***
The humans were up to something; Dorrek hadn't survived as long has he had without developing an excellent instinct for spotting plots. The question was, could he use those plots to get what he wanted?
Of course, that brought up the question of What did he want?
Well, to not end up with his head on a stick put up somewhere as a warning to all others, for a start. Beyond that...
To be honest, he'd never much cared for the idea of becoming Emperor. Seemed more like painting a giant target on his back and inviting everyone from the Skrull purists to the entire Kree army to come shoot at him. Anyway, he doubted Grandfather would have ever allowed it. If Grandfather had had his way, Dorrek would have been dead within hours of his hatching, but Grandmother and Mother and Kl'rt had both stepped in, and the old one had been forced to be far more subtle in his attempts.
It looked like this one might actually work, if the humans ever decided what, exactly, to do with him.
He saw the one who'd captured him most often (not counting the guards, which Dorrek didn't), though it was usually only for moments at a time. He would appear outside of Dorrek's cell, stare at him with an expression that seemed to be equal parts confusion, frustration, and curiosity, and then he would be gone again. The green haired woman put in an occasional appearance; she seemed to find him amusing.
He'd seen the King of Genosha only once; he'd been expecting someone more... imposing looking. Instead, he seemed oddly small and old. But Dorrek could see both the strength and power lurking behind the facade of fragile flesh. He had asked Dorrek a few cursory questions, then left again.
The visit had actually given Dorrek more information than he had given out. Grandfather had decided that he didn't wand Dorrek back (no great surprise), and the Empire and Earth were entering into negotiations over other matters.
Dorrek was giving some serious thoughts to escape plans when Prince William appeared at his cell door, flanked by several guards, his expression set in something unreadable. Nobody talked as Dorrek was escorted out of the windowless cell that had been the Skrull Prince's home for the last several weeks. They lead him outside, and it took a few moments for Dorrek's eyes to adjust to the sudden re-exposure to sunlight. He was still shifting his eyes to better see when they hustled him into a surprisingly plush air car.
Prisoners generally weren't put into transports that had comfortable seats. This was... unexpected.
The guards sat on either side of Dorrek as William took the seat across from him. The human's leg jiggled, and he drummed his fingers on his thigh. "You're being installed in the Palace as our honored guest," William said, finally breaking the silence. "As long as you choose to co-operate, you will remain there."
Dorrek nodded slowly. "Honored guest" was a polite term either for a hostage or an informant.
It was time to see if he could make this work for him.