If the armor is uncomfortable Kib is not particularly reacting to that. Or anything. He's just... being carried.

He is looking forward to piecing together all the bits of this particular variant on 'failed to actually rescue my boyfriend' later once the operation has concluded.

The operation concludes. They've got ten human prisoners who aren't Kib, gagged. They've got a couple dozen Elven prisoners. The war servants charged Melkor's throne and melted as they did but they are pretty sure they injured Thauron because when they hit him fast enough from a great enough distance the illusions faltered and by the end of the fighting there weren't any illusions and all things considered they're inclined to call this one a victory. Casualties on their side can be counted in the dozens. Lovely, having machines do your fighting.

And he can carry Kib home.

No comment from Kib.

If Kib is broken they will probably have to kill him and hope that resurrection works twice. Not that they'll learn the answer. Kib at least isn't Aydanci and will be fine without them.

They take him back to one of the most-defensible fortresses. Aydanci, can you come order a golem to restrain him if he attacks anyone suddenly? And we'd better assume the Enemy's looking through his eyes, but with that in mind you can come see him. He hasn't said anything yet.

If the Enemy looks through Kib's eyes, he will see the inside of Kib's eyelids. No response to the request.

Aydanci turns up with a rootkitted carefully-ordered Charp. When the door opens Kib opens one eye to glance briefly at his husband - sigh with what could easily be mistaken for contentment - close his eyes again.

"Kib?" says Aydanci.

Kib doesn't react to that either.

"I am going to have healers in to check him over."

He does this.

Kib does not have anything to say about the healers, or about Aydanci tentatively touching him when he's no longer so thoroughly battered and it doesn't look like he'll fall apart if handled. He does lean in to the hand on his shoulder. Different problems from Maitimo's, whatever the details, apparently.

He has some ideas. He's not going to voice them; Enemy's still plausibly hijacking Kib's senses. He reminds Aydanci of this and goes out to see if he's needed more urgently anywhere else.

Aydanci gradually escalates to holding his husband in his arms. This does not provoke a sudden attack or any greater lucidity or - anything, really. Kib is silent, and passive, and snuggly.

He has Lari order the golems for the rest of the prisoners. He has his brothers talk to the Elven prisoners so the 'escapees of Angband don't believe they're really out' thing doesn't become widely known. They sing for the dead. They figure out what opposed the Enemy best and refine evacuation plans for if he leaves Angband to come after them. He periodically asks Findekano for status updates. The answer is always the same.

Aydanci is extremely patient about not haranguing the King for advice on how to handle an Angband rescuee right when he is presumably deluged in other things to do.

And eventually he'll come to visit. "Hi, Aydanci."

(Kib cracks an eye open, closes it.)

"Hello," murmurs Aydanci. He hasn't said anything. Or done anything.

I assume Kib told you parts of this?

The Enemy has prisoners in Angband hallucinate being rescued over and over and over. Sometimes the hallucination of being rescued drags out for years. He can meddle with subjective time so not much of it need have passed. He can also tamper with memories. I don't know what's going on with Kib but he probably does not believe he's safe and he may not have complete or accurate memories of any of us.

Parts, yes - is there a good way to find out what's the matter, he isn't - reacting like you did -

He probably has fewer memories of us doing him violence, then, which is good. I can try to talk with him but his intent is presumably to be not useful, and so getting him useful will be hard...

Aydanci's hand clenches. Right now I'd be grateful for lucid.

"Hey, Kib, what's my name?"

Blink. "You don't like it," he says.

"...yeah. Do you love your husband?"

"Mmhm."

"Do you want to be able to leave this room?"

No answer.

(Aydanci sighs, adjusts his hold. Kib relaxes right into his arms.)

"Do you want people to stay here with you?"

No answer.