Mark thought Arthur was bluffing.
He had said if Mark didn't tell him where he hid the Scarab, then he would force Steven to front and then would torture him.
Arthur had met Steven before, and Mark knew that the man was aware of Stevens' innocence and that had nothing to do with Moonknight or Khonshu or the Scarab.
Steven is an innocent man who loved his Mom dearly, took great care of his pet Goldfish, and loved studying about Egyption culture and history.
Mark wasn't a threat to Arthur, he couldn't even hurt a fly. Choosing to be vegan because he felt great empathy for the animals killed. Heck, He didn't even know how to properly use a gun, throwing it at the bad guys instead of actually shooting anyone.
Steven was kind, empathetic, and pure. If anyone deserved to be tortured, it wasnt him.
This is why Mark thought Arthur was bluffing. He has his one weird sense of Justice, killing anyone who had the high possibility of doing something bad, without proof that they would or could actually do it.
Steven wasn’t one of these people, and Arthur knew it.
This is why Mark was genuinely surprised when Arthur forced Steven to front after he had told the sick twisted man ‘No’.
—---
Steven was confused when he suddenly had control of the body, waking up in a dark cellar when he had last remembered being in Arthurs weird cult town.
Steven was sitting on his knees, and when his eyes adjusted, he saw Arthur and 2 other men he didn't recognize standing in front of him.
“Oh Steven.” Arthur suddenly said. Steven looked up at the man.
“I’m afraid Mark refused to tell me where the Scarab is, and now you will have to face the consequences of his poor decision.” Arthur explained.
Steven felt a wave of fear from hearing this, but relief as well.
Mark had told Steven what would happen if Arthur had the Scarab, and he knew bad things would happen, really really bad things.
“Mark made the right choice.” Steven said.
Arthur frowned at this.
“Yet he's letting you face the backlash of his choice.” Arthur stated.
One of the men who was standing next to him handed Arthur a whip.
“Take off his shirt.” Arthur commanded.
The man next to him walked up to Steven and took off his jacket before pulling off his shirt.
Steven didn't dare to fight back. He knew he probably couldn't even if he tried. And if he did try, it would probably make the torture worse.
Arthur made his way around Steven, facing his back, holding onto the whip tightly.
“Sorry Steven, but this is going to hurt.” Arthur said.
Steven shut his eyes closed tightly and braced himself the best that he could.
The first lash of the whip hurt worse than what was expected, and Steven expected really bad.
If this was Mark going through this, he probably would prevent himself from screaming, holding on to some sense of pride.
But Steven wasn’t Mark, and he screamed.
Another lash was brought down to his back, and then another, and then another.
Agonizing pain radiated throughout his body, his back was on fire. And every lash was much more painful than the last. It felt like the hits would never come to an end.
Steven couldn't help but start crying, and with this Arthur stopped. He Couldn't help but still cry, he was in a lot of pain.
Steven didn't know where Mark was, but he was very thankful that he didn't have to go through this. Mark suffered through enough pain already.
“I already gave Mark a choice, but now I want to give you a choice, Steven. You can tell me where the Scarab is hidden, and no more pain will come to you.” Arthur said.
Steven tried taking a deep breath, but it was hard to breathe.
“What do you say, Steven?” Arthur asked.
Steven, with shaky hands, wiped the tears from his eyes. Then he shook his head.
“Use your words Steven.” Arthur demanded.
“No.” Steven uttered.
Arthur sighed sadly.
“Then you leave me no choice.” Arthur said, sounding sad.
Arthur looked to the other man who was standing there.
“Do you still have those pliers?” Arthur asked.
“Yup.” Said the man.
“Give them to me.” Arthur stated. The man gave Arthur the pliers.
Arthur looked to the other man who was still there, the one who had given Arthur the whip. He looked the stronger of the two.
“Hold him down please.” Arthur told him.
“Yes sir.” He said.
The man walked up behind Steven, forcing him on his lap, and then restraining him with his arms.
“Keep his hand steady.” Arthur told the other man.
The man went to Steven, taking a hold of his hand and held it tightly, keeping it steady.
Arthur kneeled down in front of Steven, who was breathing heavily. Steven had a good idea on what was about to happen.
Arthur lifted the pliers, bringing it up to Steven’s finger nail on his pointer finger.
He clamped the pliers down on the end of the finger nail, and started pulling.
Steven knew the pain would be really bad, the fingers had the most nerves, and his nails were about to get ripped off.
Steven would have never been able to mentally prepare enough to be ready for the type of pain that would come from a finger nail getting ripped off.
Steven had never screamed this much, he had never felt this much pain before.
And Arthur never let up. After a nail was successfully ripped off, he would instantly start on the next one. And before Steven knew it, his right hand was missing all its finger nails.
“Should we start on the next hand, or will you tell me where the Scarab is?” Arthur asked.
Steven knew he couldn't tell Arthur where the Scarab is, no matter what. No matter how much pain he was in or how much pain he will go through. He couldn't let this mad man take millions of innocent lives just for a possibility that had no chance of actually happening.
If it meant saving innocent lives, Steven could deal with the pain a little bit longer.
“No.” Steven did his best to say, Arthur understood and he looked disappointed.
With this, he started ripping out the nails on his left hand. And after the second finger nail was ripped out, Steven passed out.
This moment of escape didn't last long, Steven was woken up by freezing cold water being splashed on his face.
“It’s not nap time Steven, your sweet self needs to stay awake.” Arthur said.
Before long, the last finger nail was ripped out of his hand.
Steven was freezing and in terrible pain, his body shook from both.
Another man that Steven hadn't seen before approached Arthur with a towel, and some bandages.
With this, Arthur dried Steven off with the towel, and bandaged up his back and his hand.
“There, isn't that much better?” Arthur asked.
Steven didn’t respond.
“Sadly, we are not done with you yet.” Arthur stated.
Steven was terrified to think about what they would do to him next. But despite the fear, Steven would still not give up the location of the Scarab.
“It seems like this physical type of pain isn't good enough to get what we want, we need to try a different solution. A different type of pain that will surely break out dear Steve.” Arthur explained.
“Like what?” One of the men asked.
Arthur kneeled down in front of Steven again.
“I know Mark is married, so he’s obviously been with someone. But what about you Steven, have you ever been with anybody?” Arthur asked.
Steven was confused by this question. He had tried going on a few dates which never led to a second date. He had his first kiss back in highschool, but that was about it.
“I see some confusion in your eyes Steven, so I will be clearer. Have you ever been with someone physically?” Arthur asked.
Steven's eyes widened. No he hasn't, but what did that have to do with this?
Arthur laughed a little bit.
“I guess that’s a no, but that’s ok. My friends here will be more than happy to show you how it’s done.” Arthur said.
The men there smiled.
Steven knew what was going to happen, and he didn't want it, not at all.
“Please don’t.” Steven said.
“They'll stop, only if you tell me where the Scarab is.” Arthur stated.
Steven really started freaking out now, he didn’t want to go through this, but he couldn't give up the location of the Scarab.
Steven was sure he was about to have a panic attack, which was quickly made worse when one of the men caressed his face, with a grin that only showed evil.
“We’re gonna have a lot of fun.” said the man.
Steven tried to pull away from him, but this only caused the man to get angry, grabbing his hair and shoving him down.
Steven couldn't fight back, especially now with all these injuries.
The man continued to touch him, but before he could get the chance to do anything, Steven blacked out.
It was only for a mere second, when Steven came to. The men who had been present for his torture we’re beaten to a bloody pulp. Even Arthur was downed and bloody. They all seemed to be breathing.
Except for one man, the man who had tried to touch him in ways Steven didn't want to be touched. The man looked like he had been stabbed many times over, with the pliers that had been used to tear out Stevens fingernails. He was dead.
During the duration of his torture, it was quiet in Steve’s head, and it continued to be quiet until he walked himself home.
Steven felt like it wasnt a good idea to go to the hospital. He entered his home to be greeted with the soft glow from his pet fish’s aquarium.
And upon standing in front of a mirror, seeing all the blood that covered his face, his body. That's when he finally heard him again.
“Oh my gosh Steven, I am so sorry this happened. I never wanted you to go through something like this, you were never meant to deal with this type of pain.” Mark said. Steven never heard this amount of emotion from Mark before, and he kept apologizing profusely.
“No, no, it’s alright. I’m glad it was me and not you.” Steven replied, trying his best to smile in the mirror, to show that it was ok.
“It will never be alright, you didn't deserve to go through that.” Mark said.
“At least the Scarab is safe, and many lives were saved. Steven said.
Mark frowned in the mirror, to him it wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth Steven’s screams and tears.
“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Steven asked.
“I don’t mind at all.” Mark said.
“Were you the one who beat those guys, who killed that man?” Steven asked.
Mark shook his head no.
“That wasn't me.” Mark said.
“Who do you think it was?” Steven asked.
Mark took a second to think.
“I think we have another brother we haven't met yet in here.” Mark said, pointing to his head.
“Do you think he can hear us talk right now?” Steven asked.
“Maybe.” Mark said.
“If you can hear me, I want to say thank you for protecting me.” Steven said.
Jake Lockly could hear him, despite how he refused to make his presence known.
He hated having Steven go through that, but something prevented from fronting, same with Mark.
But when that man had touched Steven, he couldn't just not do something, he had to protect his brother, no matter what.
Maybe someday he would make himself known to his two brothers, but right now he would remain quiet. But he was grateful to be thanked for once in his life for doing something that he was usually hated for.
Steven was grateful that he didn't have to go through any of this alone, and he was happy to know that others, even though they stemmed from DID, cared for him and would be there for him.
And Steven would be there for them too.
—-------------