Abstruseness

Rather begrudgingly you resolve to endeavor towards a slightly more agreeable demeanor for the remainder of the day. Thankfully it is relatively easy as the leader leaves shortly after informing you of the new danger. Following his instructions, you keep the vault door locked, with the intent of leaving it this way until his return. Initially, you remain steadfast in your new ways, intending to remain passive. However, after the first few hours pass, you find yourself growing increasingly apprehensive. Having had little to do since your arrival in the settlement, you're eventually unable to resist the temptation to poke around. As you had suspected the sparse furnishings contain nothing of interest. There had been little chance the leader would be so careless as to leave of weapon or anything else of use behind. Finding nothing more than clothes and inconsequential odds and ends in the effects, you turn your attention to the many drawers lining the walls.

As you had previously observed, many of them are missing or partially pried open. After a lengthy search of the area you're disappointed to find they too hold nothing of immediate value. Most of them being completely empty or containing more than now pointless paperwork, passports, currency, and jewels. Feeling your hope waning, you move to take a seat on the bed. Wearily running a hand across your face, you happen to glance upwards at some of the drawers that have remained out of reach. By some chance you notice one that seems to be slightly askew. You're unsure whether it is due to it being partially open or simply warped, however, it is enough to peak your interest. The only issue is the matter of how you'll access it. Looking around the room your eyes quickly land on the medium sized end table and surmise it will be the easiest to move. Bracing yourself on one of its sides, it takes a considerable amount of effort for your small frame to slide the heavy fixture over the necessary few inches.

Once it's in place you quickly scramble on top and reach for the drawer, finding it to be just barely in reach. Your fingers struggle to wrap around the handle before tentatively pulling it forward. To your surprise and relief the metal bin groans slightly before sliding half way open. Though the deposit boxes were made to be completely removed, this one must be warped as you're unable to pry it completely free. Standing on your toes, you reach your hand in and feel around. The first half of the drawer appears empty, however, you're unable to feel beyond the wall's lip. Turning your attention back to the room, your eyes hurriedly seek out anything that might boost your height. Just as you're about to give up, you remember it is only this drawer that cannot be fully removed. Rushing down, you swiftly grab a couple of drawers and precariously stack them on top of each other on the table.

Carefully climbing back up, you tentatively step on the boxes before reaching back inside the drawer. To your dismay you find your hand is having trouble sliding past the drawers narrow confines. Pressing your frame closer against the wall, you painfully **** your hand deeper inside. The bottom of the drawer is lined with felt that gently slides beneath your finger tips before they come into contact with something hard and cold. Just as you begin reaching for the unknown item, there's a sudden knock at the door. Eyes widening, you quickly rush to pull your hand away. Wincing, you twist it before it wrenches free. You're hardly aware of the pain spreading through your hand as you use it to shove the drawer back into place. The knocking sounds again, hastening your scramble to reorganize the room. The drawers nearly slip from your now sweaty hands as you struggle to put them back into place. The knocking increases, as does the rapid beat of your heart. You start to turn to the door before remembering the now out of place night stand.

Rushing over, you slam your shoulder into its side, the pure adrenaline rushing through you bolstering your actions. With the last item now into place you all but fly back to the door before hastily moving to unlock it. As the large door swings open, you struggle trying to regain your composure. As the large man is revealed, you see his expression quickly change from one of annoyance to that of confusion on seeing your flushed, breathless face.

"What took so long?" He questions lightly, seeming more fascinated by your unexpected appearance than agitated.

"I was asleep." You reply lamely, knowing the words will not fool him as soon as they leave your lips.

"Asleep?" He repeats, arching a brow skeptically.

"You don't believe me?" You inexplicably blurt out, the blush on your face only deepening.

"I only wish you looked like this... _excited_ when we share a bed." He can't help smirking slightly before turning to secure the door.

Swallowing nervously you take the opportunity to move away. Small beads of sweat have begun trickling down the back of your neck, a result of your exertion and nerves. You're facing the bed when you hear the doors' large bolts click into place. The unmistakable presence of the man's large form is felt behind you moments later. Not daring to turn, you absentmindedly fiddle with your hair.

"So," You hear Kessler's deep, almost husky voice speak. "Are you going to tell me what you were really doing?"

The room seems to grow increasingly small as you feel his imposing figure looming over you. Racking your brain for another lie, you're frustrated to find yourself coming up short. With the prolonged silence becoming increasingly suffocating, you know you have to come up with some answer.

"I was looking through the drawers." You finally admit, realizing that partial honesty might be the best course of action.

After all, he obviously would have expected you to nose through those within reach or he wouldn't have left you unsupervised. The man exhales lightly before you feel his hand on your shoulder. Somewhat reluctantly you're left with **** but to turn and face the man. Though his face remains relatively neutral, you're acutely aware he hasn't fully accepted your explanation.

"Is that all?" He questions in a low tone, his hazel eyes boring into yours deeply.

Quickly averting your gaze, your eyes absentmindedly flit around the room as you try avoiding his eyes. You seem to have painted yourself into a corner as your answer only accounts for so much. With the pressure building your mind grasps for any reasonable answer before your eyes land on it. Stifling your reaction, you momentarily return your gaze towards the man before casting in towards the floor.

"I got stuck..." You mumble under your breath, the natural flush on your cheeks adding to your ruse of embarrassment.

You can sense the man's confusion before you gesture over to one of the half pried open drawers. The man glances over towards it before looking back at you, still somewhat dubious. Feigning a sheepish look, you raise your hand revealing the red marks you sustained from an entirely different drawer. Instantly the man's expression relaxes before he shakes his head.

"Why didn't you just say so?" He chuckles lightly, gently taking your injured hand in his. "I could have let you know there's nothing of real value left in here."

"How do you know?" You mentally curse your tongue for reflexively retorting. "Not all the drawers have been opened."

"And what is it you're looking to find?" The man questions softly, his imposing figure suddenly seeming even larger than before.

"I-" Your words fumble as you struggle to regain your composure. "Anything at this point. The only mildly interesting things I've found are the passports but even those are just mostly stamps. I'm so bored I'd read a take-out menu at this point."

Kessler's brow furrows as he seems somewhat surprised by this admission. You're equally surprised to see this expression quickly dissolve back into one of frustration. Suddenly appearing annoyed, the man nods inattentively before taking a seat on the bed. You watch as he irately begins to strip off the outer layers of his clothes. The loud clang of his boots and then belt hitting the tiled floor cause you to wince visibly.

"Are you really this upset that I'm... I'm..." You're so offended by his reaction you hardly think clearly. "That I'm not happy to just exist in suspension until you see fit to call on me? That I'm not content to be treated like some subservient animal?"

You manage to **** yourself to stop before going any further. You're so angry you're certain you'll push things too far should you continue. Breathing out slowly, you grapple to regain your composure while waiting for the man's reply. There's a long silence in which you observe the leader visibly react to your words. His own anger and resentment only seem to have increased as he seems to equally struggle to retain composure.

"Do you really think that little of me?" He manages to **** out through gritted teeth. "That I'm nothing more than a merciless, unthoughtless jailer?"

"I suppose that's not entirely true." You begrudgingly admit, thinking back to the previous day. "But you cannot deny your part in keeping withholding me my freedom, if not at the very least some form of dignity. These rooms are no better than a prison and my only offense is making the sorry mistake of ever crossing your land."

"You regret ending up here." You hear the leader mumble, his words sounding more like a statement than a question.

"Yes."

The words sound amplified despite the fact that they were whispered. You can feel the atmosphere of the room shift as the man takes in your admission. Though you can't even say for certain that the answer is entirely true, you only know it's the best course of action. Unable to look at the man, you quickly look back at the floor, the tiles now slightly blurred as your vision wavers. An uncomfortable mix of feelings comes over as your exhausted body contends with the onslaught of thoughts and emotions coming over you. Breathing in deeply, you eventually steady yourself and recover the majority of your fortitude. The feeling of composure remains until the man rises from his seat. Taking a few steps over, he leans down to speak in your ear.

"I can't accept that."