The brush glided across the canvas, only far more sluggishly than it ever had before. His fingers were still trembling, and his entire body felt heavy. He had definitely pushed himself too far. He should have simply stayed in bed after being shot.
But Levi had other ideas.
From Levi's perspective, it seemed perfectly sufficient to pump Isaac full of painkillers, make sure he ate something regularly, and then put him right back to work. As if he were not a human being, but merely a tool that got repaired whenever it stopped functioning.
At least he had been given clothes again by now.
The mere thought of still having to sit in front of the enormous canvas wearing nothing but his underwear made him shiver. Not that it mattered much—he was cold all the time anyway. The thin clothes did little to fight off the chill that had settled deep into his bones. At the same time, his body burned with a constant undercurrent of fever and exhaustion.
A disgusting combination.
Isaac struggled just to remain sitting upright. His shoulders ached, his back protested with every movement, and his head felt as though someone were hammering against it from the inside.
He wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed. Or at least work on something that would help Noctis find him.
Unfortunately, Levi prevented both his rest and his plans.
And Levi's stares were driving Isaac insane—just not in a good way.
"You're slowing down, Isaac." Levi's bored voice cut through the silence of the room. "I thought it would be more interesting to watch you create a portal, but this is... different from what I imagined."
Isaac let out a weary sigh. His sitting position was uncomfortable. He had been sitting in that chair for six hours, painting the mural without interruption. If a sore backside had been his only problem, he would have considered himself lucky. Unfortunately, there was also the gunshot wound that burned unpleasantly, along with his concussion.
It had improved, but he was still plagued by sudden bouts of dizziness and nausea. Sometimes his vision blurred for a few seconds before everything returned to normal.
It had gotten better, but that sickening nausea still hit him from time to time. Then again, only three days had passed since Levi had captured him. Three days during which he had been separated from Noctis and left completely at the mercy of his nemesis.
Ever since the last time Levi had hurt him, he had appeared calm and relaxed. However, Isaac had absolutely no way of predicting when Levi would decide to do something harmful to him again. He never wanted to experience a situation like that ever again. It was already difficult enough being in the same room as Levi; he certainly did not need another situation where Levi would touch or torture him.
Isaac simply could not figure him out.
It frightened him that he had no idea what was going on inside Levi's head. So he had no choice but to do exactly what Levi demanded of him.
If only I could be back with Noctis already...
"A canvas of this size can't be painted as quickly as you seem to think," he replied. "I'm working as fast as I can, but a good painting takes time. Besides, you surely know that I'm known for my detailed style."
Levi yawned demonstratively.
"You can't seriously tell me there isn't some other way for you to create a portal."
Isaac carefully shook his head and was punished with dizziness for even that small movement. He grimaced briefly and continued working. After all, Levi still hadn't allowed him a break.
"My magic only works if I created the object myself," he answered. "I can't create something out of nothing. So if you want to send your men wherever it is you're planning to infiltrate, then you need a large portal. Whether you intend to kill someone or steal something doesn't matter."
"When will you be finished?" Levi scoffed.
I'm never going to finish this damned painting, Isaac thought grimly. Noctis will be here to get me out of this place long before then.
"Probably in a week," he replied calmly. "If things go well, maybe a little sooner."
For a moment, his vision blurred. He blinked several times until the colors on the canvas regained their original outlines. This was, by far, the worst form of torture he had ever experienced.
At least if I don't collapse first.
"After that, I'll need to create an exact copy of the painting. There's no other way. Without those two images, I can't create a stable portal, and if we're unlucky, you and your men could be torn apart completely."
Levi let out an irritated sound.
"Finish both paintings within a week. It's not as if you're doing any real physical labor," he scoffed. "Besides, all you're doing is sitting there while your wounds heal."
Isaac almost laughed out loud.
If Levi understood how exhausting it was to focus on so many details, he probably wouldn't be talking so much nonsense. But Levi had absolutely no interest in how difficult it was. Or how Isaac was doing. The only thing that mattered to him was the result.
Whatever Levi was planning, it had to be important to him.
Isaac only wished Levi wouldn't come into his room early in the morning and force him to start working before he had even had a cup of coffee. Though that was putting it mildly. Levi had practically dragged him out of bed and hauled him in front of the canvas.
Since then, he had been sitting in that chair, doing exactly what that damned man demanded of him.
"A week isn't possible," Isaac sighed.
"A week is possible," Levi scoffed. "You'll sit in front of that canvas until I start seeing proper results."
His vision blurred again. For a moment, he froze, unable to move. The colors melted into one another, suddenly forming an abstract version of what he had actually been painting.
By now, his head was pounding so violently that it made him nauseous.
Damn it, this would all be so much easier if he hadn't gotten himself shot again!
"Whatever you say," Isaac muttered.
There was no point in arguing.
"Isaac, you've stopped painting," Levi warned.
Isaac wiped the sweat from his forehead. His hand was damp and trembling more than before. He exhaled slowly, trying to focus, and raised the brush once more. But before he could touch it to the canvas again, the door opened.
"Is he seriously still sitting in front of that canvas?!" Ashe asked in shock.
Isaac never would have thought he would one day feel relieved to hear her voice.
He slowly turned toward her. He hated being in the same room as her, but she was currently the only person capable of stopping Levi from keeping him chained to that chair all day.
"Oh? Did you cook something?" Levi asked. "Perfect. Lying around all day has made me pretty hungry."
Ashe shot him a murderous glare.
"That's not for you, Levi!" she snapped. "It's for Isaac. He needs to rest every now and then. Just look at him!"
She sounded so reproachful that Isaac couldn't help thinking back to the days when they had still been on the same team.
"He's fine," Levi replied coolly. "He has a task, and he's going to complete it."
"If he keeps this up, he won't be getting up at all," Ashe shot back. "He's going to eat something now, and then he's going to rest before he continues."
"You don't get to decide that," Levi hissed.
"Since you put me in charge of taking care of him, I believe I do," she replied coolly.
Levi got up from the bed and stretched leisurely. Then he walked over to Isaac.
Every muscle in Isaac's body tensed instinctively.
Levi grabbed his chin roughly and forced him to lift his head. Isaac suppressed a pained groan. The movement alone was enough to send a hammering wave of pain through his skull.
Levi's eyes examined him for several seconds. Then he let out a scornful snort.
"Pathetic weakling."
He released Isaac and wiped his hand off as though he had touched something disgusting.
"He can take a nap," Levi said. "I'll be back in three hours at the latest. By then, I want him fed and rested. Understood?"
"Wow, how generous of you," Ashe scoffed. "Now get out already. As far as I know, Jackson was looking for you."
Levi's expression immediately darkened.
"If you weren't so useful, I would have punished you for your disrespect a long time ago," Levi growled. "Don't play with fire too much. One day, you'll get burned."
His voice had become dangerously calm. Ashe didn't even blink.
"Lay a hand on me, and every last piece of your sensitive information will be sent to every damn criminal in the underworld," Ashe replied coolly.
Levi made an irritated sound and headed straight for the door, brushing past her. Before leaving the room, he turned back toward Isaac one last time. His gaze was contemptuous, his lips twisted into a sickening grin.
"I'll see you again in three hours, my dear."
His words sent a cold, unpleasant shiver down Isaac's spine.
Then Levi closed the door behind him, and only in that moment did Isaac feel the tension draining out of his body.
The brush slipped from his hand. His breathing turned uneven, and suddenly he felt as though the floor were exerting an irresistible pull on him.
Had the floor always looked this temptingly soft?
The world threatened to tilt, but then he caught the scent of a light floral perfume and felt someone holding him upright.
"Shit, Isaac, you're burning up," Ashe said in surprise.
"Don't touch me," Isaac replied hoarsely.
He pushed her away.
Gathering what little strength he had left, he forced himself to stand. The room swayed dangerously. The walls seemed to lean ever so slightly, as though the entire building were perched on a ship. A sharp pain throbbed behind his eyes.
For a moment, he had to grip the chair to keep from collapsing immediately. Staying upright was difficult, but he would rather fall than accept Ashe's help.
He staggered toward the bed, yanked the blanket aside, and let himself drop onto the mattress. He felt like he could throw up at any second. Everything smelled like Levi.
If only he could burn the bedding—and the entire bed along with it.
"You need to eat something, Isaac," Ashe said carefully.
Judging by the way his stomach felt, he would throw up anything he tried to put into it. Even lying down, he could already taste bile gathering in the back of his throat. He swallowed with effort.
At this rate, he probably wouldn't even make it to the end of the week.
He had felt miserable plenty of times before, and he had often forced himself to fulfill his responsibilities despite his injuries. So why was it so difficult this time?
Because Noctis wasn't here to take care of him?
Or because he was here with Levi?
Isaac shook his head.
"I can't keep anything down," he muttered at last.
Ashe brushed a hand across his sweaty forehead.
"And I even made you some dim sum and miso soup," she said quietly. "He's really taking things too far with you."
A few dim sum sounded heavenly, yet the thought of taking even a single bite filled him with a nausea he couldn't shake.
He just wanted to sleep.
After that, he would probably feel better, and he could always eat the dim sum cold later.
Isaac's eyes drifted shut.
"Just go. I want to sleep before he comes back."
If only I had a moment of peace to get a message to Noctis.
But what would he even write?
He had nothing useful to tell him, and right now he wanted nothing more than to rest.
Ashe sighed.
"At least let me check your wounds," she pleaded.
Reluctantly, Isaac lifted his shirt. Even that required concentration. His hand trembled uncontrollably. The fabric suddenly felt as heavy as a soaking wet sandbag.
"As long as you finally leave me alone afterward."
"You're a really difficult patient," she sighed.
A smile crept into her voice.
"But you've always been like that. You're the toughest guy I know. Maybe that's why I like you so much."
Isaac didn't respond.
Everything required far too much effort.
A moment later, he felt her wonderfully cool fingers against his skin, and then she peeled away the bandage.
"Shit," she cursed.
The tone of her voice told Isaac that something was definitely wrong.
He opened his eyes and looked directly into her worried face. She was staring at him with an expression he neither understood nor knew how to interpret.
"The wound is infected," she swore. "I think you need antibiotics, but the doctor isn't here…"
So that's why I feel so terrible.
Isaac closed his eyes.
If Noctis had been taking care of him, the wound almost certainly wouldn't have become infected. Or Vincent would have healed him long ago.
But it didn't matter.
He wouldn't remain in Levi's grasp much longer. His beloved would get him out of here faster than his tormentor could possibly like.
And then Vincent could simply heal him.
"Do you have anything for the fever?"
"Do I have any—? Oh! Yes! Of course, good idea!" Ashe said.
She jumped to her feet and hurried out of the room.
Isaac let out a relieved breath as he finally got a moment of peace.
Maybe he should ask Noctis to send him his tools. Then he could get out of here on his own, and Noctis would only have to pick him up from some random alleyway.
With considerable effort, he pushed himself upright and grabbed the notebook lying on the bedside table.
He glanced briefly toward the door and scribbled a short message to Noctis. Then he opened a small portal and tossed the note through it before closing the portal again and carefully returning everything to exactly the way it had been before.
His heart was racing as he lay back down and waited for Ashe to return with the medication.
Sure enough, the door opened again a short while later, and Ashe rushed back into the room.
Thankfully, he had managed to send the message so quickly.
When he woke up again, he would reopen the portal and receive the item he had just asked Noctis for.
He took the tablet Ashe handed him and sank back into the pillows with exhaustion.
Sleep tugged at him, and Isaac willingly let himself be carried away by it.
Once again, Ashe ran her fingers through his hair. The coolness of her hand was the only reason he tolerated it.
"You'll be feeling better soon," Ashe promised softly. "I'm here for you."
If only you would finally leave...
With that thought, he drifted off.