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heloflor · 1 year

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A Life for a Life

AO3 link

Sammun-Mak had taken everything. Max’s body, his partner’s freedom, the whole city… But as the pharaoh heard of a group trying their best to put an end to his tyranny, it seemed there was one last thing for him to take. And all he needed was an effective way to make Max cooperate.

TW : Short mention of Max’s self-hatred with one line hinting at suicidal thoughts

Notes : Fun fact : this is based on something I had in mind BEFORE watching a playthrough of 303, back when I only knew a few spoilers of this case. This is why Sammun-Mak is a bit OOC in this. He still has that “holier than thou” attitude and his impatience but I also made him more cunning than in the game since this is a concept I found to have some potential (again, this is from before I saw his actual personality, hell at that time I didn’t even know he was supposed to be a child).

Tbh, between this and the idea of Max having the biggest crush on Hugh Bliss, with me considering how Hugh Bliss could’ve used it if he wanted, I think I just really like the concept of “smart villain has one of the heroes wrapped around their finger while the other tries to do the right thing despite this setback”.

Btw the one “Holy [long-ass line]” moment in this fic was taken from the fan wiki (more specifically from Sam's page), because I have NO idea how to come up with one of those and this specific one mentioned Sammun-Mak, so it was convenient enough. I tried to make one in another oneshot and I honestly wasn’t satisfied with what I came up with…

Finally, Sam and Max are a married couple here.

Enjoy !

Everything had happened so fast.

One second Max was watching Sam gamble their savings away to win some badge of honor or whatever, and the next he was being brought right to Sammun-Mak himself for a talk with the body-stealer.

Papierwaite had shown up at the beginning of their next bet, insisting that the pharaoh had requested an audience with Max. The human had even tried to grab the former lagomorph to get the deed done, Max being completely unable to protest in his current state.

Luckily, Sam stood up to him, refusing to let go of his partner. But once Papierwaite stated he was following Sammun-Mak’s orders, the wolfhound became infuriatingly obedient and immediately agreed with the man.

At the very least, Sam insisted on carrying Max to their leader, which the living brain was grateful for. As useless as the dog was in his brainwashed state, Max needed all the allies he could get. Plus, it gave him an excuse to watch over his husband. Who knew what Sammun-Mak could do to his partner when the wolfhound was completely incapable of fighting back…

“Finally ! What took you so long ?!” were the first words that echoed through the room when the trio entered the child’s sanctuary.

“My apologies, your magnificence,” Papierwaite was quick to say, “There was some…lack of cooperation, from one of our citizens,” he glared at the dog as he finished his sentence, and Max could feel Sam protectively grab the straps of his water tank, likely returning the glare.

“No matter. Just bring that brain to us and get out of our face,” Sammun-Mak waved dismissively.

“Of course, your Highness,” Sam and Papierwaite almost said at the same time, Max having to stop himself from scoffing at the gesture. Then, the wolfhound slowly took his partner off his back. “Be nice out there, Max,” he whispered with worried eyes before handing the tank to the pharaoh’s second-in-command, who proceeded to bring it to his leader.

“Perfect ~,” Sammun-Mak smiled in a way that infuriated Max. How dare that pesky child look him in the eyes with his body without feeling as much of an ounce of shame ?!

He however did his best to hold his tongue -outside of a frustrated grunt- while the pharaoh hopped off his throne to walk behind it, revealing a secret room. “Make sure nobody comes to bother us !” the child ordered his brainwashed slaves before letting the wall close, the last thing Max saw being the two men back there bow down respectfully.

---------------

“So what do you want with me ? Gloat about taking my body ?” the lagomorph immediately let out. Now that Sam’s comforting presence was missing, his prey instincts were starting to let themselves known, making him tense and snappy. His inability to move didn’t help either.

“Quite a tempting idea, but no. We simply wish to have a talk with you,” Sammun-Mak replied, putting the tank down in front of an elevated seat. Of course the pharaoh would have a throne behind his real throne. “We learned from one of our guards that you might be keeping very important information from us. Now…”

Sammun-Mak extended a hand towards Max, the stolen body glowing with electricity as the child used the Gift. And as his arm went up, the lagomorph felt his view…going up ? It was as if his senses were moved above his water tank.

“Much better. We’d rather have an actual face to talk to, instead of that gross brain of yours.”

Max blinked in confusion. Wait, blinked ?!

He looked down and immediately took notice of his current state. Those short legs and large feet, this fluffy belly and rabbity paws…He had a body ! HIS body !

With a huge grin on his face, he tried to hop off the tank, only for his legs to disappear the second his feet left the ground, making him fall head first with a “oomph”. Ignoring the snickering child above him, the rabbit turned around and was met with the sight of his lower body forming some spectral energy that connected him to the inside of his water tank.

So it wasn’t an actual body, hence why he could move without his brain inside it…Did that mean he was also transparent ? With sadly nothing aside from the ground to prove that theory, Max awkwardly crawled back to the tank, his legs reappearing as he climbed onto the lid.

“Alright, so what do you want ?” the lagomorph asked once settled, bringing both himself and Sammun-Mak back on topic.

“To put it as simply as possible for your inferior mind, we want you to tell us where the hideout of the mole people is,” the pharaoh replied, not wasting any time.

“The mole people ?” Why ? Did Sammun-Mak consider them a menace ? Max had a vague memory of what the mole people he met said about causing the pharaoh’s downfall. Did Sammun-Mak remember as well ? Was this what he feared ?

If so, this was going to make their mission much harder than it already was.

“What do you want with them ?” the lagomorph continued.

“Nothing that concerns you,” the child replied, “Tell us where we can find them now, or suffer the consequences of your silence !”

“How would I even know ?” Max pointed out to the ever-impatient pharaoh. Sure, he talked to three mole people who wanted the leader’s head, but that didn’t mean he knew where every single one of them was hiding !

“Skun’ka-pe reported to us that a mole man had mentioned a brain coming to their aid in dethroning and killing us. You’re the only one fitting this description. So speak ! Now !”

“You don’t have to scream like that, you know. I’m right here. And my ears are particularly sensitive, which you should know, what with you stealing my body and all,” the rabbit nonchalantly replied, feigning ignorance. It was probably a very stupid plan given how powerful Sammun-Mak was, but he wasn’t going to rat out on the only people capable of bringing the pharaoh down.

“So you refuse to tell, and believe we will let you leave if you do so.”

Max wasn’t sure if this was a question, but answered anyways, “I’m just saying, how am I supposed to know that many mole people ? Skunkape must’ve heard it wrong. Or that one mole man is crazy, thinking I’m the chosen one to some old prophecy. You’d be surprised how often this happens !”

“…You don’t quite realize the sort of power we have, do you ?” Sammun-Mak threatened.

“Heh, what are you going to do, torture me ? Trust me, being stuck in that jar in bad enough, you don’t need to do much else,” Max continued, acting unimpressed. Besides, if he had to choose between saving himself, a worthless burden of a brain who was equally as worthless as a rabbit, or saving the ones who can assure Sam and everyone else will be freed from this tyrant, well, such a choice was easy to make…

“Oh, you’re not the one we’re going to torture,” it was Sammun-Mak’s turn to laugh, “That would be too easy.”

“Huh ?” Max was shaken out of his thoughts, not liking the way the pharaoh flashed his teeth at him.

“You see, when we were first given your body, we took a little bit of time adjusting to this vessel,” Sammun-Mak explained, standing from his throne, “And we were especially quite interested in that pretty jewel of yours.”

“Jewel ?” since when did he have any jewelry ?

Sammun-Mak barely glanced at him before lifting his left hand, moving his fingers apart to display the large decorated ring he was wearing. And with a snap of psychic powers, the accessory turned into a wedding ring, what that ring originally was.

“Oh,” was all the lagomorph could say as his ears dropped, a pit forming in his stomach. He knew. Sammun-Mak knew. He wouldn’t be talking about his ring if he didn’t.

This was bad. This was very, very bad !

“Your companion was all-too-happy to tell us the significance of this ornament. A token of true love, of no value except sentimental. Quite the worthless trinket, we must say.” The pharaoh chuckled, “That dog was pretty disappointed to hear our opinion on that silly thing. Then again, is he not wearing a matching one ? And he was quite desperate to save you, too…”

Sammun-Mak turned back to Max who felt his blood run cold. He’d been dealing with enough bad guys to know exactly where this was going !

“Such a nice fellow, that Sam. And quite obedient too. It would be a shame if something were to happen to him.~”

“You wouldn’t,” Max protested, too taken aback to think of a better way to curse him.

“Why not ? That mutt is of no use for us,” the pharaoh shrugged.

“Isn’t he the one who got you this body, and then led you to the toybox ?” the lagomorph tried to bargain, “Don’t you think you owe him ?”

“Sammun-Mak doesn’t owe anything to anybody !” the child retorted with a murderous glare, “Especially not to some smelly annoying mutt !

“Sam is worthless to us, completely disposable !” he reminded the rabbit. His anger then quickly turned into a sinister smile, “But for you…I believe this ‘friend’ is quite important, isn’t he ?”

Max didn’t respond. What was he even supposed to say ?! Deny and laugh it off ? Sammun-Mak would only be more tempted to hurt Sam. Threaten the pharaoh ? What was a brain like him supposed to do against him ?! There was no way for him to protect his partner, he was completely useless !

“Sam won’t let himself be taken out,” he eventually replied with more confidence in his voice.

However, the only thing his words managed to do was making the tyrant bend over with uncontrollable laugher.

“You, you honestly believe that dog is going to hurt us ?” Sammun-Mak managed to let out after a few seconds. He took a few breaths to steady himself, “Sam is under our complete control, just like everybody else. All we have to do is say the word, and he will obey without any second thought !”

Well, at least he tried…

Max gritted his teeth as the pharaoh approached him, his smug smile never fading. Oh how much Max wanted to claw at his stupid face right now !

But he couldn’t, just like he couldn’t move, or do anything that could end Sammun-Mak’s tyranny and control over the world. And now, because he decided to play brave and provoke the pharaoh like an idiot instead of giving him what he wanted, Sam’s life was on the line as well, and there was nothing he could do to defend him !

“So, Max, what would it be ?” Sammun-Mak asked as he got into the desperate lagomorph’s face, “The life of those pathetic mole people, or the life of your most beloved ?~”

---------------

“General Skun’ka-pe, we have a mission for you !” Sammun-Mak was walking out of his “secret” room, carrying the dejected rabbit. When he came into view, the space gorilla quickly came to him and bowed down, waiting for the tyrant’s orders. Behind him, Max could see Sam approach as well, eyes on his partner.

“What is it, your magnificence ?”

“We want you and your army to go down the town’s…sewer system ?” he glanced at the lagomorph at those foreign words, who simply nodded before looking away. “Yes, Sewer system ! There you’ll find the underground hideout of those pesky mole people. Find them, arrest them, and bring them here so we can enjoy their screams of pain as we torture them.”

“Of course, my lord.” Skunkape’s reply made Max roll his eyes.

“Good. Don’t disappoint us.”

“I won’t,” and with that, the general was out gathering his men.

With that done, Sammun-Mak put the water tank down and went back to his throne, Papierwaite already waiting to praise the pharaoh. As if that child needed his ego to be stroked more...

“Max !”

Max’s attention was immediately turned to the familiar voice. Through the guilt of his actions, he felt a wave of comfort as his husband approached him. “Hey, Sam,” he greeted with a smile.

“Holy mother of Sammun-Mak dancing the Carioca with the Priests of Bast, look at yourself ! Looks like our wonderful and benevolent leader had given you a body of his own image. Isn’t it great ?”

Wait…that’s right ! His ghost form was still visible ! Did that mean he could try…

“It’s not Sammun-Mak’s body, Sam ! This is how I truly look !”

“Max I already told you all day y-“

“NO !” before he could stop himself, Max jumped onto his partner’s chest, somehow able to control his body to make it float right where he wanted it, and despite his half-transparent hands going through the dog’s suit.

“You have to remember Sam. This is me ! This is who I am !” the lagomorph begged, looking deep into his partner’s eyes for any hint of recognition behind the yellowish fog of Sammun-Mak’s mind control, “I’ve always looked like this, always ! I’ve always been able to walk around and hop and pounce and bite and hold a gun and so many other things ! And you were able to fight with me, hold me, pull my ears, throw me across the room. You have to remember me, Sam ! Remember us ! Can’t you see you’re being brainwashed ?!”

Sam looked at him for a what felt like eternity to Max, before finally, finally, the wolfhound blinked, the spell in his eyes reducing. “…Max ?” he mumbled.

“Yes ! It’s me, Sam ! This is who I truly am !”

“I’m…argh !” Sam suddenly took a step back, a hand holding his head.

“Sam ? Sam ?!” to Max’s horror, his partner’s body stilled completely. And when Sam opened his eyes again, they were completely engulfed in yellow. “Sam ?” the lagomorph tried to wave a hand in front of his face, to no avail.

“And here I thought we had a deal,” Max almost jumped when he heard Sammun-Mak speak. For a moment, he’d forgotten the pharaoh was still there !

“I-I-I wasn’t trying to-“

“It doesn’t matter,” Sammun-Mak cut, his annoyance with the lagomorph yet again turning into a smile, “Whatever you try, it will be completely useless. Your companion is completely under my control. Isn’t that right, mutt ?”

“Yes, your Magnificence,” Sam answered in a monotone voice, his free will completely gone.

“Sam…” Max let out in a quiet voice.

“You better remember it, rabbit !” the tyrant continued, “Or else they’ll be terrible consequences. This is my last warning !”

As he finished, the pharaoh snapped his fingers and Sam was back to himself…sorta.

“…Ugh, what just happened ?” the wolfhound asked, looking dizzy.

“We were simply telling your friend here how delighted we are that he so nicely accepted to tell us about all those traitor mole people, weren’t we Max ?” the child said with an all-too-sweet smile that made the lagomorph sick.

“…Right. What you said,” Max begrudgingly replied, fighting the urge to throw up.

“Good. Now get out of there and don’t come back unless prompted to,” Sammun-Mak ordered, “We have some preparations to do for the arrival of our next captors.~”

“Of course, your Highness,” Sam replied, picking up his partner’s brain. Max quickly floated back to sit on his tank, head in his hands, still dejected by all that just happened. If he thought the situation had been dire before, it was so much worse now.

“With all due respect your wonderfulness, are you really going to let this obvious traitor get away scot-free ?” he could hear Papierwaite interject. Somehow, the thought of the man being a witness to Sammun-Mak’s hypnotic powers and yet still praising the tyrant was making the lagomorph even madder than he already was. He truly was alone now, wasn’t he ?

“Actually, you’re right. There’s one little thing we forgot to do”

Wait, what ?! Max watched in fear as the pharaoh ordered Sam to stop before using his powers, extending an arm towards the duo and slowly lowering his hand. As he did, Max felt his vision change.

“Oh no no non NO ! DON’T PULL ME BACK !” the lagomorph screamed as he tried to fly away from the tank.

“You should’ve thought of that before trying to defy us,” Sammun-Mak simply replied.

Max was completely powerless as his ghostly body was fused back with his brain, taking away the very last shred of control he had.

“Max, are you alright ?” Sam asked his partner. No. No he wasn’t alright. He wanted to scream and cry, to lunge at the tyrant and strangle him. Instead he let out a “Let’s just go, Sam.”

“Alright, whatever you say little buddy. Gosh I hope we’ll soon be able to come back and bask in Sammun-Mak’s magni-“

“For god’s sake, Sam ! Just go !” Max didn’t want to hear any more word about this monster of a human-lagomorph being !

“Alright, alright !”

And with that, the duo left the sanctuary with hopes broken, all allies lost and no idea how to get to the pharaoh and end his reign of terror once and for all.

But at least Sam was alright. That was the thought that Max tried to have in mind in order to keep himself sane. Sammun-Mak wasn’t above committing murder to get what he wanted, and he made it clear that Sam was on his radar. For now, they had dodged the pharaoh’s wrath.

It was all worth it.

It had to be…

#Sam and Max #SamandMax #Freelance Husbands #Sammun-Mak #Papierwaite #Skun-ka'pe #Telltale Games #they stole max's brain #sam and max season 3 spoilers #my fanfics #another one I'm very happy with #tho the dialogue between Max and Sammun-Mak is probably a bit clunky due to both being a bit OOC #angst

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