Ben wakes up to find his body bound by a glowing blue rope to a post, Luther being tied too in front of him, already awake. Their masks are off, exposing their faces. Shit.

"Luisa and Benjamin Hargreeves," Nicky gave one solid clap, between their fingers is a lit-up cigarette. Luther sighed and closed his eyes, that bitch had to fucking misgender him. When will people stop using transphobia to taunt their opponents?! His mission name is literally Spaceboy and NOT Spacegirl, surely Nicky can figure out that he's a damn BOY?!

"What the hell do you want?!"

"Why were you listening on us?" Luther scoffed. Surely, this apparently useless-and-dumb criminal wannabe can at least know that no heroes actually spill their secrets?

"For reasons your tiny pea-brain couldn't possibly understand," Luther spat. "Let us go."

"Now now, Luisa, the party is only starting," Nicky lets out a 'ck', placing their still-burning cigarette butt on Luther's hand, causing him to whimper in pain. "What kind of boy whimpers?"

"Hey, Nicky-"

"Shut up-" Nicky quickly sent a glare towards Jack, who quickly shuts his mouth. "Now, where were we?"

"I won't talk to you."

"Weren't you the one who wanted to compromise with us?" Nicky asked, checking out their polished nails. "Such a shame."

"A shame wha-" Nicky gave Luther a hard slap in his face.

"We know who your leader is, don't worry," Nicky chuckled. "It's Reginald Hargreeves, your 'dad', isn't it?"

Luther made eye contact with Ben, who shook his head very lightly, fear in his eyes. Nicky slapped him again. "Isn't it?!"

"No," Luther lied. "It's someone else."

"Is it Grace Hargreeves, then?" Nicky asked again. "Keeping it in the family, eh?"

"No, it's not-" Luther glared at Nicky. "Maybe if you actually think of something else other than doughnuts, you'd know."

"Getting smart with me, huh?" Nicky snarled and stood up, taking their knife out. They cut Ben's face, who immediately screamed in pain. "WHO?"

"BEN!" Luther yelled, trying to pull himself off the tie that ties him to the pole. Why don't the rope break off?! His powers should've destroyed the rope! "BEN! ARE YOU OK?"

"DON'T!" Ben yelled back, groaning as fresh warm liquid trailed down his cheek. "Don't tell."

"Maybe after THIS-" Nicky stabbed Ben's leg, causing Ben to groan in pain again and Luther to cry out again. "You'll cooperate with me."

"BEN-"

"DON'T," Ben yelled again, causing Nicky to bash his head on the pole.

"What is this rope?" Luther asked, changing the subject. "Is it mining rope?"

"A special rope built by special friends of mine," Nicky lets out a maniacal smile at him. "For so long we've wanted to be your friends-"

"Charming."

"And today, we finally are!" Nicky clasped their hands together. "Finally!"

"Such joy-" Ben rolled his eyes. Nicky hissed at him, why are the Academy kids so damn annoying? Nicky pushed Ben's right hand to rest on his abdomen, still tied to the pole. Ben tried to resist but no avail, stupid power-sucking ropes.

"What's your next plan?" Nicky asked, their knife on Ben's wrist. "What's your next attack?"

"You think I know?" Luther asked. "I'm not the leader, dumbarse."

In one swift move, Nicky ran the knife through Ben's wrist. Ben cried out in pain as Luther yelled, trying to rip off the rope binding him to the pole again. Ben's blood squirts out of him more and more, some blood finding its way to wet Luther's socks.

"I just wanted to be your friend, Luisa-" Nicky pushed Luther's head to lean the wall, even as Luther tried to fight them off. Eventually, Nicky wins. "See your brother there? He's going to bleed out to the point of death. We can give him help, Luisa. Just for the price of answering our questions."

"Luther, don't!"

"I'll tell you!" Luther sobbed. "I'll tell you, just help my brother first!"

"Answers first." Ben leaned back the pole, closing his eyes. Is he going to really die? "Look at him, he's dying. He's losing blood, and you can help him. Don't you want that?"

"The leader is Reginald Hargreeves!" Luther exclaimed. "It's me on the field, but he's the mastermind!"

"Good, good." Nicky nods. "What about Grace Hargreeves?"

"She's a robot," Luther answered, his eyes not moving from Ben's weakening body. "Designed to play the role of our mother."

"So pathetic-" Nicky sneered. "What's your next plan?"

"To put a stop to the illegal business," Nicky laughed as Luther said that. "Now, save my brother! Please!

"Nicky, he answered the questions," LT interrupted. "Come on, save the brunet."

"Shut the hell up, Lousy Turd," Nicky hissed. LT didn't say anything more. "How many of you are there?"

"Wh-what?"

"HOW-" Nicky stabbed Ben's body a few times, causing Luther to scream in horror again. The sight of Ben not reacting in pain at all caused the dam to freely break in Luther's eyes. "-MANY ARE YOU?"

"FIVE!" Luther answered quickly. "Five of us."

"Their names," Nicky held up Ben's face again. "NOW!"

"Diego, Allison, and Klaus!" Luther answered, already a sobbing mess. "Save him! Please! Please!"

"I don't think there's anything of him to save," Nicky sneered at Ben's dying body.

"His pulse-"

"It's still there, alright," Nicky answered. "But very, very, faintly."

"Hurry, then!" Luther yelled again, his voice already cracking from the emotions and the screaming. "Save him!"

"You're such a daft girl."

At this point, Luther is no longer hiding his face as he freely sobbed. He knew there's no chance, but a part of him prays that Ben is still alive. He's still alive.

The door was kicked down and three separate knives embedded themselves in Nicky's, Jack's, and LT's heads, respectively. Nicky fell dead on Luther's lap, their warm blood wetting his trousers. Not that Luther cares, now.

"We'll save Ben," Allison said, kneeling in front of Luther, untying his ropes. "I promise."

Not that it's possible, now.