After all that’d happened.. It’d taken months to rebuild, Oliver was a teen now, and routine was starting to fall back into place, even if the future was uncertain when it came to Viltrumites.. So far, Conquest was contained — without Mark’s knowledge of course — and everything was.. OK for the most part.

Routine monitoring was going decently, calm for the night.. It was late, and as Cecil stood there Donald gave him a nod of approval. He was okay to head to his quarters for the night.

Cecil didn’t need to be told twice, he’d walked across the GDA, walking into the lab of the GDA like he had a million times before, into his private room and shedding his clothes once the door was locked behind him.. the dark room faintly glowing with the light coming from the tank in front of him.

Chemical baths.. While they didn’t exactly help with regular bathing, they kept his skin from falling off the bone. It wasn’t just routine it was mandatory.

Cecil sunk into the water, gaze flat as he stared ahead.. slowly closing his eyes.. at least an hour he had to stay..

”…”