#i drew the sniper rifle too small. i know it. i know it you see it im sorry. but i desperately do not want to change it

[thatwildwolfart]

🎃Happy Halloween!🎃

Shepard chose the costumes. Garrus doesn't know what he's dressed us, he's just happy he gets to carry a sniper rifle.

[burgersnacksformax]

Gun cleaning with Sniper

Sniper + an age regressed reader ! DNI if kink

Inspired by a fic. The link isnt for kids, though !

This fic is sfw tho :]

Ive never cleaned a bolt action myself, i just referred to vids online. One by eHowFitness and another by ozziereviews

Reader calls sniper Mickey. Like mick but cuter. Because i like to call him Mickey when im tiny hehe

AND i drew a picture for this ! You'll find it later in the story :]

Sniper's camper was silent aside from the small thud-thud-thud sounds as your heels kicked the side of his bed impatiently, as well as the tick-tock-tick of his watch he left with you. He said he would be back by now. You held his watch, pouting at it as if that would put time on fast forward to when he gets back.

"Where's Mickey," you grumbled to yourself, looking around the van in boredom. You stood up and walked over to the curtains to peek outside. There wasn't much to see apart from desert, maybe a few cacti and tumbleweed. And tons of sand. Sniper told you to keep the curtains closed, or else the sun would make the van really hot. There was one time you didn't listen, and you felt like a cookie in the oven. But the sun seemed like it was almost ready to greet the horizon, and the touch of the window seemed much cooler than in the daytime.

You turned to a crate behind the passenger's seat. You always wondered what was in it. Maybe Sniper had secret board games, or secret stuffies. Knowing him, you wouldn't he surprised if it was more guns either. Maybe you'd take a peek and find out, he won't have to know..

The shake-shake noise of metal from the doorknob made you jump. You lit up in excitement, deciding to save the crate theories for later as you ran to the door to undo the chain lock. "Mickey's home!" But before you fully undid it, you paused. You remembered that Sniper told you to always be careful when opening the door. "Who is it?"

The familiar low voice of your beloved Sniper chimed in from behind the door. "It's me, 'roo." From his delivery, it sounded like he was smiling.

You smiled back as if he could see you, fully undoing the lock as you swung the door open to let him in. "Mickey!!"

He chuckled as he walked in, closing the door behind him. "I'm home, mate. Long day." He turned to redo the locks with one hand, his other occupied with his rifle. "Sorry to make you wait, 'roo."

"It's ok," you blurted, ready to reach your arms around him in a hug, before he held a hand to you as if to tell you to stop. You pouted.

"Remember what I said?" He gave you his trademark sympathetic look. The one he gave when he felt bad that he couldn't let you do something.

You held his free hand and fiddled with his fingers. "No huggies when Mickeys holding the gun.."

"Right." He pet your hair, before unfolding a table from the wall beside the crate, and setting his rifle down on it carefully. He sat on the crate, patting the spot beside him as if to welcome you.

Right away, you sat beside him and gave him a side hug. The crate was small, so it was a tight to fit for both of you, but you appreciated the proximity. "M missed Mickey.."

He hugged your shoulders with both arms, planting a kiss on your forehead. "I missed you too." He pulled back to look at you, taking his yellow sunglasses off and setting them on the table. "Anything happen while I was gone?"

You paused for a moment to think, before shaking your head and humming an "mm-mm".

"That's good."

You reached for his sunglasses, putting them on your face. The world was significantly yellower.

Sniper chuckled. "Looks good on you, mate. Maybe a bit big."

You gave him a toothy grin, taking the glasses off and putting them back on the table.

A comfortable silence washed over you two as he reached for the rifle. The first thing he did was pull the bolt back, exposing some bullets. He carefully took the bullets out and stood them on the table.

"Shiny," you commented, your side pressed against his as you watched curiously.

He let out a low hum in response. He often did that when he didn't have anything to say, but still enjoyed your comments anyways. He then pulled the bolt out, and set it on the table.

You watched the bolt, leaning forward to get a better look at it, before looking up at Sniper. "Can I touchy?"

He smiled to himself, passing the bolt to you. "Sure, mate."

You grabbed it and looked at it up close, observing how neat and polished it was. It was super clean, as if it hadn't seen a day of wear in its life. "What's it for?"

"The bolt?" He undid a latch on the crate, your eyes eagerly trained on his hand. Perhaps today was the day you'd learn the crate secrets. "It's to push the bullets into place." He leaned forward to open it, the lid opening at your legs. "Then once it's in place, I can shoot." He reached in to pull out a rod, a small pouch, another small pouch, and two aerosol cans.

You pointed at the equipment. "Whas that?"

He carefully placed the rod on the table. "This is to reach down the barrel so I can clean it." He put one pouch on the table, and it made a jingly sound. "This goes on the end of the rod-" the next pouch, "this has the cleaning patches to wipe the inside of the barrel."

He handed you one of the cans, taking the bolt which you forgot you were holding, and let you observe the can. On it said "bore cleaner".

"Issit for cleaning bores?" You weren't entirely sure what a bore was.

He nodded, showing you the other can. "This one is to do the finishing touches."

"Whats bores?"

"A bore is the inside of the barrel."

"Whas the barrel?"

He traced a finger along the barrel of his rifle. "The part of the gun that the bullet flies through. Then it leaves through the muzzle."

You watched his finger. "Whassa muzzle?"

He tapped the end of the barrel. "The part the bullet leaves from."

You giggled. "Mickey knows too much!" You rested your head against his arm.

He chuckled, smiling at his gun sheepishly. "Never too much gun knowledge in my profession, 'roo."

"Mickey is the mister smarty pants."

"I could argue you're a smart cookie yourself." He paused, giving you a small smile. "Thanks, love."

You nuzzled your cheek against his shoulder. "Love you."

"Love you too." He went back to his work, grabbing an aerosol can and spraying bore cleaner into the barrel. It let out a soft fwshhh sound. "This is to remove any residue inside of the barrel."

You tilted your head up at him. "Residue?"

"Yeah. Metals like copper and lead - they tend to build up after lots of shooting." After a few moments, he set the gun down. "We're gonna let it sit for a while, alright?" He reached for the bolt next. "You wanna help me clean this?"

You grinned and nodded eagerly. "I get to help Mickey!" You reached out to grab it, and Sniper passed you one of the cans.

"You just spray it a bit, and brush it." He took out a small brush from the tool kit, putting it on the table so you could see it. "Make sure you get all the tight spots too."

"Okay," was all you said before you did as told, giving it a good spray and brushing it. Sniper put an arm around you and held you close. He hardly ever said it upfront, but you could tell he was always happy to talk with you. He really enjoyed telling you about guns especially, even if you didn't always quite get it. "This guns Mickey's favourite?"

He leaned against you a little. "Yeah, I use this one most often." He watched you closely, and you were determined not to miss a spot. "I've experimented with other rifles, but none of them came close to the accuracy a bolt action gives." He paused. "Or, perhaps I'm just used to it."

Once you were done, you passed the bolt back to him, to which he began to use a small cloth from the pouch to wipe it off. "Mickey pew pew."

He chuckled. "It's more than just that, 'roo." He continued to clean, the cloth getting a little dirty. "Bolt actions are quite reliable. One of my favourite gun actions."

"Why?"

"The accuracy, and the overall feel of it." He held the bolt up and twisted it around a little to observe in the light, before setting it back down on the table. He turned to look at you eagerly. "You ever wanna give it a shot?"

You mumbled, "issit loud?"

He hummed in thought. "Well, could be louder. I got a noise suppressor. But if you can't handle the noise, you can borrow my earplugs."

You fiddled with his sleeve. "Mickey want me to try it?"

"It would be nice." He avoided looking at you, but you've known him long enough to know he was just shy. "I think I'd like that. Seeing one of my favourite people with one of my favourite things. Y'know?"

You grinned and hugged him from the side. "Pew pew."

"Nah mate, that sounds like a pistol. Bolt actions are more like-" he mimicked cocking an invisible gun, "click, click click, bang."

You echoed him, making clicking sounds with your tongue and making a bwoom sound.

"Yeah, like that!" He kissed the top of your head before picking up the rod. "Mate, by the way, this really your first time scrubbing down a bolt?" He gestured to it vaguely. "I reckon you made it as clean as a baby's leg."

You giggled, swinging your legs a little. "Baby leg?"

"What I mean is, you did a good job." He flashed you a goofy smile, then took a tiny metal stick-looking thing from the tool kit, mumbling, "patch holder" as he attached it to the end of the rod.

"Patch holder," you echoed.

He then put a cleaning patch on the end, the name "patch holder" making a lot more sense now. He picked up the rifle. "Hold the barrel for me?"

You held it, surprised by how heavy it was, but proud you could carry it nonetheless. "This?"

"Yeah." He fitted the rod carefully inside the rifle, before pushing it down the barrel until it reached the other end.

Your cheek was pressed against his shoulder as you watched the end of the rod peek out the muzzle.

Sniper took the patch off, showing it to you with a smile. "See how dirty this thing got?"

"Woah." You perked up excitedly. "I wanna try!"

He put the patch aside and pulled the rod out, before putting a clean patch on the end. He passed you the rod. "It might be a little tight."

"Ok!" You copied what he did earlier, and he was right about it being tight. You had to push a little, until the dirty patch came out the other end. "Is dirty again!"

"Yup." He took the patch off. "Pull that out for me, will you? We're gonna keep going 'till the patch comes out clean."

"You just do that over and over?" You pulled the rod out and gave it to him. "Sounds boring."

He shrugged. "It's repetitive, but I like it." He once again did the routine.

You tapped your feet on the ground, rocking back and forth. "Mickey still want me to hold long part? Uh, the barrel?"

He shook his head. "It's fine, 'roo. Ya can do somethin' else if you're bored."

"Issokay, m wanna be wit Mickey."

The corners of his lips curled into the slightest smile, before he nuzzled his cheek in your hair. "Alright. You can just watch."

So you did. He went through another patch.

And another.

And another.

Gosh, he was still going?

Just how dirty was his gun?

"Aaand done."

Sniper's voice snapped you out of a daydream that you didn't realise you were having.

He took the cleaning patch off the end of the rod and held it to you. "See? Much cleaner." Finally, as if it could never happen, he pulled the rod out and set it on the table. He picked up the cloth and gave the muzzle and chamber a wipe down.

You yawned, leaning against him. "Mickey day was ok?"

He hummed in thought. "Coulda used a lot more you."

You giggled. "M here!"

"I know, love. I'm glad you're here." He held up the rifle and looked down the bore, giving a satisfied sigh. "Spotless." He put it down, grabbing the other can and giving the gun a little spray, and then a wipe. It seemed a lot shinier after that.

"Shiny gun." You turned to him again. "What did Mickey do today?"

He picked up the bolt and slowly slid it back into place. "The usual. Was nice and quiet up in my nest." He opened the latch of the crate, and started putting his tools away. "What did you do?"

"Games!"

"Sounds fun."

You watched as he started putting stuff away. "Mickey done already?"

He let out a low laugh. "If you wanna help me clean more equipment, you can."

"Noo!"

He patted your back. "Kidding, 'roo." He got up and carefully put the rifle in a safe spot, putting the bullets away too. "Say, you hungry?"

You nodded eagerly.

"Then let's get something to eat, yeah?"

"Ok!"

He walked over to the front of the van. The key, which had been waiting in the keyhole, was twisted until the engine made a vrrrr sound. You followed him to the front seats of the van, your stomach grumbling as you sat in the passenger's seat.

Hopefully some tasty food awaited you both back at at Teufort!

[plaid-shirtsandvibranium-arms]

Nemesis: Retribution (5)

Summary: 10 years after the Avengers had left you for dead during a mission gone wrong, you unexpectedly re-enter their lives. Wholly unrecognizable from the person they used to know and now with a new team behind you, they ask for your help to stop a chain of syndicates who were manufacturing and peddling the super soldier serum. You were determined to say no until the chance at the vengeance you had been chasing for years was added to the offer.

Fandoms: Avengers, Marvel, MCU, The Punisher, Daredevil

Pairings: Female Reader x (Frank Castle, Billy Russo, Matt Murdock, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Pietro Maximoff)

Warnings: EXPLICIT SMUT. SHAMELESS SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR (18+ ONLY. I WILL BLOCK YOU), human rights violations, polyamorous relationships, reverse harem, blatant disregard for canon timelines and events, angst, Punisher canon level of violence and gore, strong language, mentions of trauma, mentions of character death, fluff if you squint,

A/N: Okay okay. I’m finally happy with how this turned out. Goddamn that’s a lot of words. I’ll see you all in the party in the comments and reblogs! I love reading what you think. Don’t be shy. Jump in!

No permission is granted to repost, steal, or translate my work. Not even a credit makes it okay. Tumblr is the only place I post my writing. If you see it anywhere else please report it.

[gif not mine. credit to: this glorious gif post.]

Series Masterlist | Full Masterlist

1:5 Lemons

2 missions.

A 50/50 chance of getting Salvacion.

Your heart was pounding in your chest and you were on the verge of getting lightheaded from the anticipation. A decade of chasing this bastard and this was the closest you had ever gotten to him. The man was not only deadly in skill, but always seemed to manage to give you the slip every single time. Forcing yourself to face the life you left was worth it if it meant finally avenging Lily.

The briefings the past week had been long, but they were important to make sure everyone was prepared to end this. You were minutes away now from shipping off to the mission and your whole body was buzzing.

This was it.

There were two locations that you had to hit at the same time. Two locations with large shipments that you had to stop from reaching its destination. The teams needed to be split.

"Let's go over this one more time," Steve started, fully suited up in black that was truly a far cry from his old blue and red ensemble. "I'll be leading a team into the shipment yards with Bucky and Nem at the front. Sam will be on air support. Billy will manage a team of snipers in the surrounding area."

This was the smaller of locations, but with the larger shipment. The location itself entailed a more strategic approach. You weren't happy that there was a chance that Salvacion would be at the other location, but having Frank on that team put you somewhat at ease. He understood more than anyone how important this was to you and he promised he would take Salvacion alive. He was yours to kill.

Frank always kept his promises.

"I'll be leading the other team into the industrial district," Frank continued, his signature vest strapped tight across his chest. "Pietro and Matt will cover the perimeter and I'll be charging in with Nat and Wanda."

Their location was more complicated. It was too close to the residential district and the warehouses there ran 24/7. There was a high risk of civilian casualty if they weren't careful which was why almost everyone who was powered was assigned to that group. They needed every capability they could pull to make sure no innocent blood was spilled.

"Good," Steve nodded. "We'll both have a group of agents with us too. They've been briefed and are prepping transport as we speak. We leave in 20 minutes."

Everyone nodded their understanding, grabbing their gear and heading down to the transport docks. There was a fleet of cars standing by that would be used, gassed up and ready to go. Your hands were drumming repeatedly on your vest, itching to just get on the road. Frank and Matt lingered with you before they joined the rest of their group.

The towering marine stepped up close to you and tightened the buckles of your bulletproof vest, wishing you would have accepted the offer of better gear from the Avengers but also knowing it was hypocritical of him when he declined as well.

It just wasn't your style.

It was his own damn fault for training you in his own combat style. He had no doubt of your capability, but still he worried about you. He always worried about you and he felt a sense of responsibility toward you after finding you tortured within an inch of your life.

"Stay close to Steve, sweetheart."

You snorted, but a glance back at Steve who was already looking at you with a raised eyebrow made you grumble and relent. "Fine."

"Good girl," Frank chuckled, before leaning in to press a firm kiss on your lips as he held you by the buckles of your vest. You smiled into the kiss, feeling the steady protection and reassurance that he always brings.

He stepped away for Matt to get his turn. This was a tradition that just developed naturally between the four of you. A kiss before danger. A promise to keep safe. A promise to come home.

Matt took your face in both hands and kissed the breath out of you as if he was trying to outdo Frank. It wasn't uncommon. He was always more aggressive with his affections, always as if he was scared you might suddenly slip away from his life and you were happy to reassure him every time that you weren't going anywhere. He chuckled when you bit his lip, beating him to it. He gave you one more peck before stepping aside.

Billy came closer to your side and slung his arm around your shoulders, chuckling as he nuzzled his nose against the side of your face. It was amusing him to no end at how easily you were folding for Steve. It was a nice change of pace from the three of them never being able to deny you anything.

Most especially Billy.

"We're definitely keeping Steve around. I think I like you compliant," he snickered, turning your head toward him with a finger under your chin. He planted a quick chaste peck on your lips. Your eyebrows quirked at the unusual behavior.

"What you're not gonna try to outdo me too?" Frank teased.

"Nem knows I do my best kissing elsewhere. Don't you, pretty girl?" Billy winked at you and you rolled your eyes. You smacked him in the chest but didn’t comment further. He wasn't wrong, but he was smug enough as it is.

You were about to turn toward the cars when you were knocked back slightly to the side by a sudden peck to your cheek. You couldn't stop the laugh when you caught Pietro's grin before he vanished again, a subtle warmth spreading in your chest. You were still smiling when you took your seat beside Steve who intertwined your hand with his and raised it to his lips, smiling that soft boyish smile against your skin that now made your stomach flip. He didn't let go of your hand throughout the ride, even as he caught Bucky's yearning gaze in the rearview mirror.

You were greeted by an ambush.

Somehow the syndicates knew that you would be coming, setting up a small army as your welcome party. A quick distress call through the comms from Frank confirmed that they were facing the same in their location.

But you couldn't focus on that.

You were too busy tearing through the goons that kept coming at you. Having two super soldiers and Sam in the thick of it with you was a blessing, but even with the other agents and Billy's sniper support you were severely overrun. You would just have to trust that the other team can handle their own.

You emptied the clips of your pistols as you trudged your way deeper into the fray, not bothering to duck or take cover from the onslaught of angry men. You tossed your empty guns to the side and drew out another, catching a few bullets in your vest.

No time to reload.

"I got you, Hedwig. Give 'em hell," Billy said in your ear.

The deadly smirk on your lips was the only warning the men in front of you got. You charged again as the adrenaline coursed through your body, bullets flying precisely into their skulls.

One. Two. Three. Four men down.

When your bullets ran out, you dropped the gun and pulled out two daggers. Your eyes narrowed as you took off into a sprint toward the closest target, weaving effortlessly through the oncoming fire.

A slice to the forearm to disarm.

A dagger up the chin.

Dead.

He dropped to the ground spluttering on his blood as you took the other dagger and sent it flying toward another's chest.

Dead.

Rough muscular arms caught you by surprise and gripped you from behind, caging you as you struggled. You saw the gun in his hand and reacted.

Break the wrist to disarm.

You smirked at the loud pop of his bones. You grabbed the gun before it dropped to the ground as you slipped a knife from your vest. The pain in his wrist caused him to loosen his hold on you, allowing you to turn to face him.

Blade to the gut.

Bullet to the face. Point blank.

Dead.

You didn't even flinch when his blood splattered across your face, joining the explosion of red already painting your figure. You could make out two more in your peripheral who dropped to the ground before they could advance on you, care of your guardian angel with a sniper rifle.

"Thank you, Blackbird," you said sweetly.

"Goddamn, doll," Bucky said, Steve stood beside him mirroring the same look of equal awe and fear.

This was the first time they had seen you in action. Hearsay and that little demo with Kim did nothing to prepare them for the sheer brutality you had when given the clear purpose to kill. You didn't hesitate. You didn't waste time. You didn't care that you were drenched in blood. You had a goal and you were going to meet it every time with ruthless violence.

This was who you were now.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Steve came up to you looking worried after seeing you charging headlong at open gunfire.

He didn't like it. At least he had a shield. Skilled as you were, he didn't like that you were running every mission like you had a death wish. There was so much blood on you that it was difficult for him to tell if any of it was yours.

"None of the blood is mine," you dismissed, wiping your face with what was the only clean part of your sleeve. "Let's go. I hear more up ahead and Sam said that's where the shipment is."

Rounding the corner, you were faced with another cluster of goons with weapons aimed at your small group. They stood a good distance away in front of two shipping containers that were being readied for transport. Sam landed beside you along with a group of agents. Bucky pushed you behind him and Steve raised his shield to cover you both. Billy chirped in the comms that the snipers had repositioned and were ready. All of that barely registered with you, white noise against the rage that was brewing, because behind enemy lines was the goal you've been chasing for a decade.

Salvacion.

"I have to say," he drawled. His voice, the first you're hearing of now, sending a chill down your spine. "I expected more from the Avengers. You didn't even bring Iron Man. I'm disappointed."

"Give up the serum," Steve growled.

"No. I don't think I will," he answered. "Kill them all."

All hell broke loose once more; fists, bullets, knives, and a shield flying in every direction. Bucky and Steve kept close to you, shielding you from most of the shots as you advanced. You gunned down every bastard you saw but your eyes never strayed from Salvacion who was just standing there watching the clash.

Taunting you.

Something nagged at the back of your head as you fought. It was unusual for the syndicates to be deploying this many people to a single location even if it was for the serum. While you were thanking every god you knew for luckily drawing Salvacion on this mission, his presence was also peculiar. Something else was going on.

Something else was here.

The syndicates were pushing back on your team hard, but you were making a dent in their numbers. When you saw Salvacion start walking away, that was when you felt the panic stir in your mind.

"I can't let him get away, Steve!"

You ignored his and Bucky's calls for you as you made a mad dash straight through the fight, efficiently shooting and stabbing anyone who dared get in your path. You were consumed with the purpose of reaching him, of finally being able to end it all.

You left the larger fight behind you in favor of this more personal one, the noise receding as you chased him farther. You caught a glimpse of him making his way up stacked containers and you sped up your run. You didn't even think twice about climbing the height. Nevermind potential broken bones. Nevermind getting cornered. Nevermind that you had no backup.

Salvacion would die today.

When you reached the top, you were surprised to see him standing there waiting for you but also that he wasn't alone. You raised your gun to match the one he was aiming at you, but he merely tutted and smirked. His other hand also had a gun, this one aimed up the chin of the person he was holding captive in front of him.

Kim.

The amount of irritation this woman was bringing into your life was starting to get on your nerves. She was delegated on your team for this mission and you stifled the aggravated groan as you noticed that she was bleeding heavily from both shoulders causing her to not be able to fight back.

Top agent my ass.

"Hello, Nemesis," Salvacion grinned at you. "Or should I call you Y/N? Much more personal given our history, don't you think?"

Your name on his lips caused a wave of nausea and a sneer to grace your lips. You raised your gun higher, narrowing your eyes as his own pressed harder against Kim's skin. It wasn't an idle threat.

"Nice of you to show up for once. Was beginning to think you were avoiding me."

"Come now. Don't you enjoy our little game of cat and mouse?"

A game.

This was all a game to him and the malevolent smile on his face confirmed that. The fury in you burned, almost making you physically shake. Killing Lily was nothing to him while it had completely consumed your life. It had become your driving force while to him you were merely entertainment.

"You're going to let me go," he declared, fully confident.

"Is that so?"

"Yes," he dragged out. "Or else your teammate here will die."

"What makes you think I give a shit?" you scoffed. "Go ahead."

The way Kim's eyes widened in terror brought a sick sense of pleasure in you that you shouldn't be proud of. Salvacion let out a low laugh, amusement clear in his tone.

"Oh, dear child. No matter how much spite you wrap yourself with, you are the same naive hero wannabe you always were," he snickered. "Self-sacrificing. Even at the expense of your sister."

"You don't talk about Lily, you bastard!" you screamed, your grip shaking slightly on your weapon.

All of a sudden it was hard to breathe and your heartbeat was hammering in your ears. You didn't expect that finally facing him, hearing him talk about Lily like she was inconsequential, would shake you to your core. This was what you have been waiting for. This was what you have been building up to for the past decade. This was your purpose for living.

What were you waiting for?

"I am feeling generous today. Consider it my gift to commemorate our first official meeting," he said.

"What the fuck are you on?" you growled.

"Open the containers," he smiled. "See you soon, Y/N."

He abruptly tossed Kim to the side, pushing her off the ledge of the containers you were on and bolted away with a mad cackle. You shot at his retreating figure, desperately trying to aim through the turbulent emotions he inspired in you. You were going to chase after him when a yelp of pain caught your attention.

Kim was hanging by one hand off the edge, obviously struggling to hold herself up with her busted shoulders. You were too high up for her to survive the fall and she was too injured to help herself. Her grip was slipping.

"Y/N! Help me please!"

A dark shadow passed through your features. Saving her would mean Salvacion would definitely escape. Again. You didn't know if you would ever get another chance at him or when that would be.

You didn't like this woman. You never did. She tormented your youth, took joy in it even and as you reunited nothing changed. She was the same egotistic bully she always was. This was a dangerous mission. People die in the line of fire.

It happens. No one would blame you.

"Please!"

"Fuck!"

You dropped your weapon and clasped both hands on hers to pull her up. You strained with the effort, Kim being a deadweight adding to the struggle. You let go when half her body was safely on top, her legs swinging up to roll herself flat onto the surface. She was crying and whimpering from the fear and pain. You couldn't help the anger that bubbled to the surface.

You slapped her face.

"Get your goddamn shit together," you roared at her. "I don't have time for this. Call for evac, princess."

You ran toward the sound of helicopter blades, jumping onto crates and jolting your bones at the impact. You didn't care. The renewed rage had steadied you, calmed you almost to the point that the only thing you could see in your mind was taking him out. You had faltered and you would beat yourself up about that later, but you couldn't let him slip away again.

The helicopter was already starting to take off, Salvacion clearly visible through the open door. You cocked your gun and fired away. Empty. You slipped another gun out and fired. Empty. You kept running toward him, drawing and firing every last bullet you had as you screamed your frustration with every shot that missed.

You noticed that you managed to get a few through him by the way his body jerked. You were feeling optimistic until he reached around and pulled out a rocket launcher. You saw the sinister grin before he fired.

"Nem!" You heard your name being called, but you were too stunned by the horrible realization that you had failed today. You watched the helicopter slowly make it's way farther and farther behind the rocket that was hurtling toward you.

Even if you ran, the area of impact would still tear right through you. You were frozen in place, unable to process that this was how it would end. That it would end in you dying by his hand as well. That it would end without you making it up to Lily.

Your internal struggle was interrupted by a large body completely engulfing yours. The impact of the rocket threw you both to the ground and the loud explosion accompanied by ripping metal deafened your ears.

You struggled with your vision, the ringing in your head was painful and your body sore from crashing down. Oddly, your skull itself didn't feel injured. All of the pain seemed to be concentrated on your torso. You blinked a few times to focus the blur of your eyes as the repeated chanting of your name became louder.

"Are you okay, doll? Answer me, Nem! Come on."

"Bucky?"

Your sight finally focused to find that it was the brunette super soldier on top of you, covering you from what would have certainly been your death. The dread on his face gave way to a tired relief at you finally responding.

He pressed his forehead to yours and closed his eyes, taking deep steadying breaths. You noticed now that he was wincing and that his flesh arm was underneath you, supporting your back and cradling your head. His metal arm was detached, a mangled mess of forcibly severed wires and metal plates sticking out from his shoulder. Your eyes widened in realization.

"Bucky, your arm," you started to struggle underneath him, knowing he must be in a world of pain.

He shushed you by rubbing the tip of his nose against yours. Your eyes met icy blue ones and you saw him smile weakly, as if telling you it was worth it. He wouldn't hesitate to catch a missile with his arm again if it meant protecting you.

The rest of the boys reached you shortly after, Sam took Bucky and informed you that evac and medics were here. You were still in shock from what just happened. Billy took you gingerly in his arms, endlessly fussing at you and apologizing for not being able to do more even if you understood it was impossible for him to have tracked you through the chaos. Steve stood to the side, obviously furious at himself for not going to you even if you understood it was only right that he led the main fight.

Your body felt like it had gone through a war and you were too emotionally distressed to address anything else. You felt defeated. You felt at a loss. You failed Lily again today. Suddenly, you remembered what he told you.

His gift.

"Steve, Salvacion told me to open the shipments. He said it was a gift from him."

You didn't wait for them to respond, dragging your battered body limping across the yard to the crates. Billy recovered first, quickly jogging up to support your battered body straight with his. Steve followed closely behind, the uneasiness clouding the three of you. The locks were easily broken by Steve's shield and soon your gift was revealed.

What you saw drained the blood from all of you and caused your skin to immediately chill. It was the most sickening thing any of you have ever seen in your lives and that was saying something. How anyone could do this was beyond comprehension.

People. Dozens of people.

Crammed inside the steel box were dozens of people in various states of distress. All of them had barely any life left in them, barely sustained by the various IV bags hooked on their bodies. They hardly reacted when the doors were opened, too spent by what they had been made to go through to even blink. You suspected that a good portion of those who were not moving at all were dead. The smell was horrendous and this was coming from people who were about to be shipped to god knows where.

The horror you felt heightened to epic levels when you noticed that some of the drip bags held a different colored fluid, the distinct color of the super soldier serum. Then it clicked and the nausea finally overcame you. You poured your guts out onto the pavement, your stomach heaving violently as the truth made your vision spin.

Human testing.

Human experimentation.

And you had let the bastard escape.

Steve was going to approach you, clueless as he was on how to help you at that moment, but you had scrambled out of reach and ran out of the shipment yard. He called after you readying himself to go to you, but Billy's grip on his forearm stilled him.

"We're not who she needs right now, Cap," Billy shook his head. "Right now these people need us more."

"Where's she going?" Steve asked, swallowing hard on the lump in his throat and reluctantly agreeing.

"She'll be fine. Matt will find her."

Matt found you hours later. He had returned badly beaten and bruised from their own mission, but upon receiving word from Billy he pushed aside every painful injury he felt and rushed to where he knew he would find you. His chest tightened when he was told what you had seen. It was bad enough that you were carrying the guilt of your sister's death, but now you had the weight of all the lives that were victimized by these sick people too. It was too much for one person to bear.

He found you in the confession booth of the church on the corner of a quiet street and he couldn't see the broken look on your face when he opened the door, but he could feel it. He heard it in your unusually slow heartbeat, as if your organs were trying to give up. He heard it in the shallow breaths you took, as if the act of living was a betrayal in itself. He heard it in the cry that was begging to break through you throat. He could almost taste your despair.

He slowly knelt in front of you and pulled you urgently into his arms, squeezing himself into the tight space. He held you against him, clutching you tight and rocking you gently back and forth. This was an open secret shared between the two of you. When the darkness was overwhelming, you turned to each other and confessed. He pulled away after a long moment, cradling your face firmly in his palms. His thumbs brushed against your dry cheeks. Of course you hadn't been crying.

There were no more left to shed.

"Talk to me," he muttered, pressing his lips softly against yours.

"He experimented on a lot of people," you muttered. "And I let him go, Matty. I've been letting him carry on for ten years."

Your tone was almost a hoarse whisper, devoid of much emotion apart from a cold defeat. This worried him, but at least you were talking. You had known when you were being tortured that they Hydra hadn't perfected the serum. They kept torturing you in the hopes that they could get you to reveal anything about the formula, Steve and Bucky's abilities, or where samples of their blood were stored. You didn't talk.

Maybe you should have talked.

When the syndicates got their hands on the incomplete formula, they were faced with the same problem. A problem they apparently decided to solve by trial and error on actual people. You knew this. At the back of your mind you knew this, but it didn't register until you saw it for yourself tonight. Somehow you had ignored that fact because you had only been focused on your own grief.

"I let him go. I did this, Matty," you breathed, the guilt clear in your voice.

"No! You did not let him go. The bastard got away," he insisted. "And this is not your fault. I won’t let you think that this is your fault."

"No," you argued weakly. "I let him go. I had a shot at stopping him tonight and I didn't take it."

"Steve told me. You stopped to save Kim." The movement of his thumbs on your cheeks changed to soothing circles. "You stopped to save a teammate. That was a good thing."

You scoffed. "I wanted her to die."

"What?"

"For a solid moment as she was hanging on for her life, I wanted to let her die."

"She's alive now because of you, Nem. You fought it. You're strong. You didn't give into it."

"But what if that's what I need to do? If I did I could have ended Salvacion tonight."

You could have ended it all tonight.

Salvacion's words tonight plagued you. if you didn't try to play the hero then this whole twisted operation could have been stopped. If you didn't try to play the hero then you would have gotten your revenge for Lily. If you didn't play the hero then Lily wouldn't even be dead. You had wanted to save people so much, make a difference in the world, that you didn't stop and think about how that would impact the people you held most dear.

"You don't honestly believe that, do you?" Matt asked cautiously, he knew more than anyone the struggle you faced. All of you were just a bad day away from completely snapping.

"I don't know," you admitted in defeat. You sounded so tired and confused that it broke his heart.

He held you for a moment more, waiting for your heart and breathing to return to normal. He didn't know what else to do or what else to tell you. He didn't know how to help you this time. Just then, he sensed the arrival of a Maximoff twin.

"Pietro's outside. I'll ask him to take you away for a while," he shook his head when he felt you were about to protest. "You need a break and you need some peace."

He led you outside, his pace slower than normal as your shoulders slumped lower to the ground in resignation. He exchanged a few words with Pietro before he pressed a kiss to your temple and pushed you toward the other man.

"Come with me, little star. I'll take care of you."

The next thing you knew, Pietro had lifted you into his arms and asked you to close your eyes. You buried your face into his neck as you felt the world around you dissolve in a blur, your hair whipped around but you weren't scared. The steady grip he had on you assured you that you would be safe. When he told you to open your eyes, you had no idea where you were or how long you had been traveling.

"Where are we?"

He gently set you on your feet as you looked around the area. It was beautiful. A dense lush forest that opened up to a lake with a small cabin. Isolated. Quiet.

Peaceful.

Immediately you felt your body relax in the new environment. It was so far removed from anything and everything that it allowed you to let go of the tight hold you had on your life. It allowed you to let go of the rage for a moment.

"Sokovia," he answered. "This is mine. When Wanda and I were little, even before the enhancements, our connection was strong and can be overwhelming. I needed a place that was only my own."

"Wanda doesn't know about this?"

"No, it is the only secret I have ever kept from her. I've never brought anyone else here."

Turning to him, you could see the shy smile on his face. There was a reluctance there, as if he was nervous that his little hideaway would not be good enough for you. You were quick to shoot that thought down.

"It's beautiful, Pietro. Thank you for sharing this with me."

His smile brightened as he approached you and held both your hands in his. "We can stay for as long as you want to. I can go into town and get us more supplies. We can swim in the lake if you like and I can cook you paprikash. You'll love it."

He was so excited. So happy to be able to spend time with you. Elated to be able to share this sentimental place with someone else, but he saw the sadness in your eyes and it made him force himself to slow down. The smile on his face dimmed.

"Do you want to go somewhere else? I can take you anywhere you like."

The heartbreak and disappointment in his voice alerted you. You hurriedly wound your arms around his shoulders and forced his eyes to meet yours. You recognized the way he looked at you, but it was only now that you really noticed that he has always looked at you that way. He was so pure. So honest. So good.

He was too good for you.

"No, Pietro. This is perfect. You're perfect." You tried to smile up at him. "I don't deserve you."

Just like that he understood you. He drew you closer by the waist and pressed a soft kiss at the corner of your mouth. When he drew back, his smile lit up his face again.

"Why do you need to deserve me, little star?" he chuckled at the puzzled look on your face, finding it adorable. "Can I not just choose to love you?"

You frowned and he just laughed more. He shushed your protests by pulling you flush against his body, lowering his head to hover his lips mere inches from yours. He left this small distance as your choice to make just as he has made his.

"Let me choose to love you."

You could feel his breath on your face at this distance, see the sparkle of anticipation in his eyes, and his tongue darting out to wet his lips.

You made your choice.

Kissing Pietro has to be the most comforting experience that you had ever felt. He tasted like hot chocolate on a rainy day and you felt your body melt when he returned the gesture. You were sighing against his lips when the now familiar feeling of him dashing turned it into a surprised squeal. You blinked and you were lying down on a soft mattress with Pietro grinning down at you.

You laughed as you shared more kisses, hands giddily exploring each other and tearing away pieces of clothing until nothing lay between you. For the first time in a long time, you felt insecure about your scars. For the first time, you were reluctant for someone to see them. Again, just like that he understood you.

"You're beautiful, little star. You have always been beautiful to me."

He kissed you again, deeply and full of emotion that you melted into the bed. His lips traveled down your neck, your chest, your stomach. He stopped to nip and suck at the inside of your thighs causing you to involuntarily moan his name. Lower he went until his mouth was working gentle swirls on your sensitive bud. Your hips grinded against his tongue, desperately seeking more.

He pressed his mouth fully on you then, adding a finger much to your delight. He ate you like he worshipped you. Like he was blessed with the opportunity to bring you pleasure. Your body sang his praises, reacting with equal enthusiasm by soon reaching your orgasm. You shook beneath him as he allowed you to ride out your high, soothing you with gentle hands rubbing circles on your hips. He was smirking at you when he crawled up, satisfied that he had made you cum but clearly aiming for more.

He kissed you again as he lined himself up against your core, sliding it against your slit to coat it with your slick. He wasn't even inside you yet and you already felt like you were ready to cum. He held your gaze, silently asking for permission that this was still what you wanted. Instead of answering, you moved your hips to slip his length inside causing him to drag out a hiss and capture your mouth again. The groan you both let out when he bottomed out vibrated through your fused lips.

"You feel incredible," he whispered. "You feel so good wrapped around me. Just like I always thought you would."

"Pietro, please."

His strokes were slow and deep, hitting that special spot inside you that had you panting with want. The smooth roll of his hips was quickly driving you higher and higher toward another orgasm. It was so gentle. So sensual. So personal.

"Tell me what you want, little star."

Everything about Pietro's life had been one big event after another. Rushed decisions. Angry fighting. Missions. Even his very enhancement relied on speed.

He didn't want that with you.

With you he wanted to slow everything down. He wanted to savor every moment. He wanted to stop time if he could, keep you in his arms for as long as possible. Freeze you in this exact moment when all you felt was pleasure.

"More," you pleaded.

Maybe he could speed up just a little bit.

His strokes gradually hastened and he glowed with satisfaction at seeing you delirious with desire because of him. He palmed at your breasts, nipped at your neck, and bucked his hips just a bit harder.

"More."

He smiled. How could he deny you? He lifted you up until you were seated on him, holding you firmly with an arm up your back with his hand fisting in your hair. The other hand he slipped between the two of you to rub against your clit. You saw the wicked glint in his eyes before he dipped his head to lave at your breasts.

You felt like you were going to explode from the different sensations. That was until he decided to move your body to bounce on his cock, his own hips thrusting up to meet you and his hand on your back guiding you to wind your hips as you came down. Your clit hit his pelvis each time and another wave was added onto your building climax. You whined, moaned, and pleaded his name. Begging him to grant you release.

“Let go for me. I have you. Let go.“

He growled against your breast and pounded up into you until you screamed and shook above him, clenching him so hard you pulled his own orgasm out of him. He spilled into you, crushing you against him as you continued to flutter around him.

You fought to catch your breath and when you caught each other's eyes, still hazy from lust, you laughed. You felt free. You felt renewed. You kissed him then.

"I love you too, Pietro."

He looked at you with unrestrained adoration. He had been chasing after you for so long that he could hardly believe that he had finally caught you. That he was finally yours.

"What? You didn't see that coming?" you teased.

He chuckled and pulled you in for another lingering kiss. You felt so good in his arms that he has completely forgotten how it felt to not have you in them.

"I meant what I said earlier," he murmured against the skin of your shoulder. "If you want to we can runaway. I can take you away from all of this. We can stay here or we can go anywhere else."

He smiled warmly at you and pecked your lips when he saw the internal conflict flash through your features. Again, without a word he understood you.

"But I know that is not what you want," he reassured you. "I just wanted you to know that you have that choice if you should want it."

Tempting as his offer was, you knew you couldn't let go of Lily's memory. You would never truly be at peace until Salvacion was rotting six feet under and his whole operation was blown to bits. You couldn't leave your mission unfinished. And you couldn't bear to leave four other men behind. Looking back at the events of the past night, it felt more accurate to say five. Still, there was a sense of security from knowing you had that option.

"Let's go home."

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

A/N: Okay let’s take a vote. Should we forgive Bucky now?

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[lovelikedestiny]

~ Nicky & Copley friendship

the first time Nicky learns about the date of death of Copley’s wife he all but invades his house in a polite and kind manner

by the time Copley has recovered from the shock of having four warriors in his home, the table is already set and Nicky is serving homemade pasta

Copley manages three bites before bursting into tears and Nicky gives him tissues and a hot chocolate with a smiley on the milk foam

they talk for hours about all kinds of topics like philosophy, ethics, religions and morals until a sleep deprived Joe - because his favorite pillow is missing - reminds Nicky to sleep and drags him into their bedroom

Copley is stunned when he discovers that Nicky keeps all of the information he told him about his wife in mind and gets his first hug after he thanked Nicky for cooking his wife’s favorite dish

he gets Nicky a tablet only for recipe-apps and shows him patiently how to use it, later however he sees how Nicky carefully writes down all recipes he wants to try on paper, tongue tucked between his teeth

Copley is the one who introduces Nicky to “Hay Day” because it helps him to focus on something simple to relax and although Joe is suspicious at first he can’t be mad at Copley when Nicky is showing him excitedly that he named his two rabbits Yusuf and Joe

after every mission Nicky takes his time to feed all his animals and to harvest, he names his farm “The Old Guard” and befriends Copley’s farm

even Andy and Nile can’t roll their eyes anymore after watching Nicky smiling softly at his tablet - “Look Andromache, I named the horses after you and Quynh” - “Nile, do you want to name my elephant?”

the first thing Nicky sends Booker is a screenshot of one of his dogs, called “Sebastien”, later he asks Joe why Booker sent back a 🥺 “sad smiley with a serious eye infection, his eyes are badly watering, Yusuf”

Copley is more than surprised when he gets a package for his birthday the date of which he never told one of the others

inside are exotic types of tea, raspberry-chocolate cookies with an unused, small candle, pens from a hotel from Andy, a piece of soap and a painted picture of his wife Joe drew based on a description of Nicky

on the attached birthday card Nile has written short and sweet how Nicky forced Andy and Joe to prepare a present for Copley

because Copley is an intelligent man he gets that he has to befriend Nicky to be tolerated by Joe and Andy

through the impression Copley left on Nicky with his waving and smiling through the scope of his sniper rifle Nicky knows not to underestimate Copley

after Nicky and Copley discussed for four hours if pineapple on pizza would be a violation of human rights, they’re not allowed to get drunk together anymore

although Nicky is the first one to adopt Copley officially into their team, he is the hardest to read and Copley keeps a small notebook in his drawer where he records all clues regarding Nicky’s facial expressions and gestures, based on Joe’s and Andy’s behavior

when Nicky calls him “James” Copley is frightened to death because he thinks he did something to rouse Nicky’s anger and can’t sleep for three days until Nile tells him that Nicky only called him James because he is now a member of the team

as Copley saves them on a mission, getting Joe’s and Andy’s respect and an impressed thumbs-up from Nile because “Hot damn, Copley, you got some moves”, Nicky just smiles knowingly at him like he did as Nile saved them in the lab

that Nicky’s middle name can be “little shit” Copley discovers when he and Nicky get kidnapped and one of their enemies gets frustrated with Nicky’s too honest answers to their questions without answering anything, in fact “What did you want to do?” - “My husband.” - “Jesus fucking Christ, just answer the question!” - “Wait, hold on a second. I thought Jesus Christ was one person. Are you telling me they were lovers? How else could Jesus fuck Christ? My whole life has been a lie!”

Copley nearly chokes on his own spit, especially when he sees the bulging eyes of their enemy

every time Nicky picks up a stray, he gives them Copley so he wouldn’t be too lonely and even though Copley can’t keep all of them he now has two kittens, a pup and a chicken with vertigo

he, Joe and Nicky get passionate about gardening and whenever they visit Copley for missions, Nicky gives him offsets from some of their plants

as Copley realizes that Nicky is a big fan of musicals they visit one together and talk about the meaning of the songs and their interpretation afterwards, humming the songs in the car on the way back and Copley nearly crashes when Nicky nails every note perfectly

Nicky is happy to talk to someone who has found proof for what he said all along “We can do some good. We were meant to find each other. It’s like destiny” because they have a purpose, he answers every of Copley’s curious questions good-naturedly

they solve crossword puzzles together: Nicky always gives small hints when Copley doesn’t know an answer right away to help him without revealing the whole thing and Copley is able to impress Nicky with the range of his knowledge

both of them are the only ones that watch nature documentaries with true interest

at negotiations no one has a chance against Copley’s polite, controlled pokerface and Nicky’s blank expression or his death stare

when Copley nearly dies on a mission because he is buried under a collapsed building and is afraid to die, it is Nicky who holds his hand through a gap and talks calmingly to him

Nicky asks Copley to show him his research and expresses great interest and recognition for his data and persistence in searching

soon Copley has developed a soft spot for Nicky and can’t refuse him anything because honestly, everyone of the team has a soft spot for Nicky

Copley experiences first hand that a disappointed Nicky is a worst nightmare and even Andy tries her hardest to avoid it

Nicky is excited when Copley shows him his library and spends hours reading in there

in every safe house Copley makes sure to get them a usable kitchen and stocks up their groceries based on analyzing Nicky’s ingredients preferences before

[neverquitelogistical]

Lobalore headcanons because I am tired of waiting for more lobalore content from my fellow shippers and decided to contribute to the ship.

This could be idea for a new fanfic if I am motivated to write. Or I might break it into snippets of a multi chapter fanfic.

1. After the Legacy Antigen Bangalore can't help but notice Loba's absence in her life. Bangs only noticed how inseparable they used to be before the incident

2. Bangalore kinda guessed Loba heard her when she noticed the bouquet in the trash can, but this useless lesbian is too hard-headed (and afraid) to admit her feelings or talk to Loba, because that would mean she had to *talk* about her feelings and it is the one thing that Bangs is bad at.

3. But she kept the bouquet in her dorm. Placed them in a vase and took care of them to maintain the freshness of the flowers, as fresh as the wounds she had unintentionally inflicted on them both

4. Bangs ran into Loba sometimes, and she could only watch from afar as she flirted with Kairi. She was green with jealousy, but not enough to prompt her to walk up to Loba and talk about what happened.

5. It went on like that for a couple of weeks. Sometimes she felt Loba's eyes on her, and when she finally turned to look at her, the thief would pretend to look away. She couldn't tell if Loba was really staring at her or it was just a wishful thinking.

6. And then the simulacrum made his move. Being Loba's shadow, Revenant understood many things, including her closeness with Kairi and also her sudden distance fro Bangalore. But they all know who is the real thief of Loba's heart.

7. Nonetheless, Revenant decided to hit where it hurts the most. He started with attacking Loba while she slept, knocked her unconscious (but not before Loba got a few hits on him) and dragged her to what used to be Tenmei, at the top of Bonsai Plaza.

8. Revenant then released a message to both Kairi and Anita that he would torture Loba at the "place where her worst nightmares resided", then leave her to bleed to death if they don't get to her in time.

9. Of course, Revenant had no intention to kill Loba, that would be too easy. It was a bait to lure them to the restaurant, in which he would be ready with a Sentinel and shoot whoever reached the top floor by the zip line, meanwhile Loba would be restrained and watch helplessly as they die at her feet. The simulacrum had it planned to the tee.

10. Bangalore received the message while she was tending to the flowers, and nearly dropped the vase from anger and horror. She was taunted with his grating voice, and Loba's screams of anger and pain. She easily guessed where Loba was kept.

11. Anita immediately geared up, but decided to call Kairi first. She did not know if they were really dating at the moment, and thought she deserved to know. Valkyrie was silent on the other end of the line, then curtly replied "I'll see you at Bonsai. Bring your deadliest arsenal, Sarge" and hung up.

12. Anita may prefer to suffer alone regarding her feelings, but she knows a pack has a higher chance of winning compared to a lone wolf. So she formed a small team, Lifeline as the medic, Bloodhound and Wraith for tracking and checking out for traps.

13. They reached Bonsai discreetly to avoid alerting the simulacrum, but all caution was thrown to the wind when they heard a blood curdling scream from the top. Ignoring Hound and Blasey's warning Anita rode the zip line to the top where the scream originated from.

14. Just as she reached the top time seemed to slow down. She saw, too late, of Loba's restrained form and wide eyes in warning, with Revenant's dead gleaming eyes watching her and the glint of the Sentinel's barrel. He fired a shot.

15. But Loba used her remaining strength to push her weight towards Revenant, knocking the sniper to the side and the shot went wide. Bangalore did not flinch, drew her G7 but could not get a clear shot as Loba struggled with Revenant who was underneath her. Loba managed to free her legs from her restraints and tried to subdue the simulacrum with her acrobatic skills.

16. The struggle went on a while until a second shot was heard. But it was not from Anita. Both Revenant and Loba stopped dead in their struggle. Anita's heart dropped when she noticed blood pooling beneath Revenant. Simulacrums don't bleed.

17. Anita howled in anguish and unleashed her fury on Revenant when he broke free. Cavalry came in from the skies, when Valkyrie flew in and let loose a hail of arrows from above with pinpoint accuracy. Bloodhound and Wraith soo joined the fight.

18. Revenant may be deadly, but he was no match against a group of highly trained legends of the Apex Games. Anita dealt the final blow when she crushed his head with the butt of her rifle. But they knew it wouldn't kill him. He would just be rebooted again in another metal body somewhere.

19. What happened after was a fight for Loba's life. The bullet went directly through her in between the ribs. Lifeline was there to keep her heart beating, but if they don't hurry she would bleed to death. Anita held her hand on their journey to the nearest medical facility on the planet. Kairi only watched from the side - even when she was with Loba she knew the thief yearned for another person.

20. The surgery was long but at least it was successful. Loba remained unconscious for the next 24 hours but Anita stayed at her side. Hardly slept. She kept her eyes peeled for Revenant, until Kairi and the rest dragged her to a nearby bed and forced her to take a nap. The remaining legends took turns keeping watch.

22. When Loba woke there were tears and confessions exchanged. Anita was afraid to love someone only to watch them get hurt or die, but she realized it was just as likely to happen whether she was with her or not. So she swore she would be with her, and die fighting at her side and defending each other.

23. When she was discharged, they agreed Loba should stay at Bangalore's place until she made a full recovery. And that was when she recognised the bouquet of flowers.

[nagisasstunningpersonality]

Korosuu Translation - Chapter Three

Sorry, I know it's been a while. Actually, this chapter was super long so I took a very extended break from this entire thing. But I'm back now. If you're new here, this is OFFICIAL content! It's an untranslated (so far) short story, you can find chapters one and two here. I do also need to put out a trigger warning for this one as it involves some voyeurism.

Mirror Time

“Oh right… it seems like there’s a possibility.” Chiba returned to his own desk, and took out his notebook, writing utensils, and a triangle ruler. Chiba started to explain to Hayami, who was stood in front of his desk looking down at his notebook, whilst looking at the diagram. “When you hit the wall with a bullet, it flies out at the same angle as it flies in. Like this.”

[Illustration] A diagram of a sphere bullet ricocheting off a wall. The angle between the bullet and the wall before hitting the wall (incident angle) is the same as the angle between the bullet and the wall when it flies out (reflection angle).

“If you aim without Korosensei noticing, it seems like you can’t do it with a single ricochet.”

At Hayami’s words, Chiba nods whilst writing another line in his notebook. “That’s right. At least twice, but preferably three times or more, but if it ricochets too much the error will increase, and the momentum will drop. We might have to experiment with how many times it’s practical.”

“So, how do you aim for that? I get how to do it once, but I can’t really imagine twice or more.”

[rest will be under the cut, this chapter's long]

Whilst holding his mechanical pencil, Chiba leaned back in the chair and folded his arms. “That’s the problem. For example, in order to hit the target I’ve written here twice, you have to calculate the points that satisfy this diagram.”

[Illustration] An experiment conducted by Chiba to see if it is possible to snipe the target as inferred by the article. By solving the graphic problem as shown in this diagram, it is possible to deduce the point of the wall to aim at in order to hit the target with a bullet.

Whilst he was speaking, Chiba drew a number of right angled triangles on the diagram.

Hayami looked at the diagram and frowned a little. “What’s this? I have to solve this every time?”

“Solving it is necessary,” Chiba replied, and then began to calculate the first position to hit the bullet.

With a sideways glance, Hayami turned to the back of the classroom, where the black metal box usually stood.

“This kind of problem, we could figure it out right away with Ritsu.”

The Autonomous Thinking Fixed Gun Unit AI (classmate) – which is called Ritsu by Class 3E, has been removed since the beginning of the week for maintenance. It’s only for two or three days, but it’s the first time the whole body has been taken out and maintained.

“Even so, I don’t want to rely on her.” Chiba checked the problem he had solved many times, took out the airsoft pistol from his bag, and then stood up. “This is an assassination to see how much I can do as a sniper. I feel like I have to think for myself.”

“Huh? Well, I don’t know.”

“So, Hayami, I want you to place the target in the exact location shown in this diagram.”

Chiba said it simply, but actually aiming was quite troublesome. After accurately measuring the distance with a measuring tape brought from the store room and positioning it, a desk is placed there and a yellow balloon that looks like Koro Sensei is attached.

[Illustration] How to ricochet to a Korosensei balloon…

Chiba had to determine his own standing position and the point at which the bullet would hit first.

“This is bad, can you call move to the window?” After all the work was done, Chiba called out to his friends in the classroom.

With faces full of interest, everyone moves towards the window as they were told, and Chiba squeezes the pistol’s trigger in the direction of the X mark that’s written in chalk on the blackboard. The bullet that was fired hit the blackboard and ricocheted off with a dry sound, then rebounded off the wall on the corridor side, before it headed for the target in the back of the classroom.

The first shot was more than a meter off. The second one was about 30cm. The third and forth shots also missed but not as badly as the first one, and the fifth one hit.

“You did it!”

The classmates who were watching cheered as the balloon broke with a banging sound. But, Chiba’s facial expression didn’t match the mood.

“What’s wrong? Is it that you can get more accuracy if you aim a rifle from a vantage sniping position?”

In response to Hayami’s words, Chiba shook his head. “No, that’s not the case. I knew I could do it this way, but… the problem is that,” Chiba pointed to the blackboard, “it takes too much time to figure out the point with the current method. Actually, there’s also height differences, so we have to do the same calculation in the vertical direction.”

[Illustration] In reality it’s necessary for the sniper to consider height differences. In the case that the sniper and the target are different heights, the ricochet snipe will follow such a trajectory.

[Plain view] A view of the room looking down from above.

[Elevated view] A sideways view. A three dimensional route that seems complicated can be simplified in this way by breaking it down into a plain view and an elevated view.

Takebayashi, who was listening, sighed. “Isn’t it double the work? Isn’t that even more unrealistic?”

“What if you do the calculation first, then everyone can guide Korosensei?” Nakamura said.

Chiba shook his head. “There are two problems with that. One is that you can’t guide the target the way you want. Especially when it comes to such a sever shooting like this, even the slightest misalignment isn’t good.”

Hayami nodded. “It’s not easy for Chiba to make such fine adjustments at this range. What’s the other thing?”

“I want to try and do this assassination without anyone’s help. I also said it before but, it’s kind of a stubbornness thing.”

“Is that right?”

Chiba looked down at the notebook on the desk. “The legendary sniper actually serves a number of moving targets. In other words, they’re aiming in the shortest amount of time they can. That’s something like a method we’re unaware of, or I wonder if there’s a special calculation trick.”

When he said that, Chiba was hit on the shoulder, and raised his head.

Okajima is standing there with a grin. “When you said that, I felt like I realised something!” Okajima gave a big thumbs up and a fearless smile as he said so, looking suspicious in front of Chiba and Hayami.

“Come on boys, get out!”

The fifth class of the day was a PE Class. The classroom is occupied by the girls, and the boys are kicked out into the corridor to change clothes.

“Sometimes I want the boys to do it before. B-because I’ll always only just make it.” Shiota Nagisa complains, stood with a rolled up PE uniform under his arm.

“What are you talking about, Nagisa? It’s fine, this our time to face our fated challenge.”

“Okajima kun, don’t you think it’s irresponsible to do this method by trial and error?”

Ignoring Nagisa’s strained smile, Okajima took a small mirror out of his pocket with a strangely calm expression. Additionally, he also took out a selfie stick.

“Hey you, isn’t that what the girls beat the hell out of us for using the other day??”

Whilst Terasaka Ryouma was gazing at him dumbfoundedly, Okajima tore up some adhesive tape into small pieces and started to attach the mirror to the tip of the selfie stick.

“Well, look. It was a mistake to hold it in a position the girls could see. This time, it’ll be perfect.”

“Isn’t this only adding more flaws to a plan full of holes…?” Said Kimura Justice.

“Hehe, look at it,” Okajima extended the selfie stick smoothly, and started to explain with a calm facial expression. “Well, while the girls are changing clothes, the windows on the corridor side are covered with dark curtains. Therefore, you can’t see what’s inside as it is but-“

“No, it seems that the curtains are there to stop us seeing.”

Ignoring whoever’s voice pointed that out, Okajima continues. “By some blessing, there’s just one small gap in the top window due to a slack in the curtain. The other day I was found by holding a mirror directly here, but today I won’t repeat the same mistake.”

“Then what will you do?”

After turning a fearless smile to Terasaka, who was tired of his face, Okajima held his selfie stick over his head.

“A while ago, when Chiba and the others were trying to shoot, I was secretly setting up the mirror in the classroom. I was pinpointed by the story of the ricochet. One mirror will soon be exposed, but many more mirrors are placed so subtly that no matter how vigilant the girls are, they won’t notice they’re being peeped through.”

[Illustration] Okajima’s new voyeur method, which improves on the experience found using mirrors for voyeurism and relays it with multiple mirrors so it will not be noticed. In principle, no matter how many mirrors you use, what you see from here can be seen by the other party.

“Ah-….. I thought that was the case,” Kimura showed a forced smile.

“Maybe this was in the calculation – huh?”

Okajima looked up at the mirror, frowned at him, and moved his selfie stick slightly. “Okay, I saw it!”

Okajima smiled in gratification, did a small triumphant pose, and deliberately took a compact digital camera out of his pocket with his free hand.

“What’s that?” Nagisa pointed a finger with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Okajima answered with a grin. “As you’d expect, I couldn’t bring out a camera. That would be just like talking loudly in the corridor about taking voyeur photos. That’s why I always carry a point-and-shoot with me in case of these situations. Please pay attention to the point that I don’t compromise with a smart phone.”

No one was listening to that, but Okajima completely disregarded the air in the room and released the shutter.

FLASH!

The camera’s strobe flashed and emitted a small sound.

“Oops, I wouldn’t usually make this kind of mistake,” Okajima said as he turned off the strobe and released the shutter again.

“O-KA-JI-MA!”

The door of the classroom opened forcefully, and the girls in their PE uniforms jumped out at once.

“Agh!”

With a well-coordinated move, the girls cut off any way for Okajima to escape. Okajima shouted with a half cracked voice whilst he was being pulled down on the spot and kicked with terrifying dexterity.

“W-why did I get exposed? The plan should have been perfect!”

“We could see the light from your strobe!” Kataoka looked down at Okajima with a dangerous expression on her face.

“That’s forbidden, Okajima kun.”

At the voice, the girls turn around and look over their shoulders. Standing in front of the open door was Koro Sensei holding a steaming paper bag from his open mouth.

“The idea isn’t bad. It’s not bad, but don’t forget that what you can see through the mirror, you can see from the other side as well. Additionally, if you use a camera’s flash, you may as well be saying ‘please notice me!’.”

After putting up with that speech, the girls shouted all at once. “Why do you look so self-important, you shameless teacher!”

“What kind of motive is there for suddenly coming in through the window when we’re changing!” Kataoka glares at Koro Sensei whilst pulling out a knife for the enemy teacher.

“Niyu, nyuya?! It’s a misunderstanding! I’m trying to inform distorted people like Okajima kun!”

“There’s no use in arguing!”

Moving with all their practised skills, the girls simultaneously held their weapons at the ready for their enemy teacher. They attacked a cowering Koro Sensei by firing BB bullets and using their special anti-sensei material knives.

“That’s why it’s a misunderstanding – hya, my shopping bag tore, and the bao buns I bought with great trouble are-“

Koro Sensei broke out into Mach speed and escaped.

Nagisa muttered. “Bao buns… ah, Koro Sensei was in Shanghai today.”

“Gee, what is this?”

In the background, Okajima, who had footprints all over his body, looked at the compact camera monitor and frowned. When Terasaka, who was standing close, looked into it, the photograph was the figure of Koros Sensei with an armful of the bao buns in a paper bag, pulling a peace sign in the direction of the camera.

-End-

The locker room talk really spoke for itself, huh?

[masterjedilenawrites]

The Sniper and The Medic: Chapter 7

Starring: Crosshair, OC Joan Vo, Tech, Hunter, Wrecker

Chapter Warnings: Mention of injury, mentions of bullying

Taglist: @proadhog @skippyhopperwisdom

AO3 Link (In case you like it better over there, it’s okay, no judgement)

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Chapter 7: On the Mend

It was a full week before Crosshair saw Joan again. She canceled his check-ups, so he could use the time to rest instead, and Tech served as the messenger to report on his healing progress. And he was progressing, thankfully. The pain eventually subsided and by the end of the week, he didn't have to actively think about breathing anymore. As long as he was careful with his stretching and other movements, he was almost good as new.

In addition, their ship had finally arrived, and much to everyone's relief, Hunter stopped the simulation runs in favor of working on the craft instead. They outfitted it with all the tools and weapons they could get their hands on, and each took turns piloting through the storms of Kamino. They weren't allowed to break the atmosphere, but it would only be a couple short weeks before they were officially deployed anyway.

Crosshair found himself at a mental crossroad. They were getting ever closer to the moment he'd been waiting for his whole life, the day he finally got to leave this forsaken place. To say he'd hated his time here would be an understatement. The experimenting and the bullying and even the way it smelled.... He couldn't wait to finally be free of it. To be on real missions, not simulations. To see real trees and feel real dirt. To use his marksman skills, the only thing he was good for, to do something important.

But then there was Joan. There was hardly a moment he didn't think about her. He couldn't help it. She was unlike anyone he'd ever known and he couldn't get enough. Her voice, her smile, her gentleness, her confidence. Going a week without seeing her had been hard; he wasn't sure what he'd do the day he'd have to leave, and probably never see her again....

A sudden snapping noise came by his ear, forcing him to shake away his confused thoughts and turn with a scowl. Tech was scowling back.

"You didn't hear anything I just said, did you?"

Crosshair hadn't even noticed him approach. They were in the hangar, Hunter and Wrecker arguing nearby about what to name their ship. Hunter wanted The Marauder because it sounded "slick." Wrecker wanted The Havoc because it sounded "badass." Crosshair was staying out of it. And Tech had been gone for most of the day.

"Where've you been?" he asked.

Tech readjusted the pack he had slung over his shoulder with a huff. "If you'd been listening... I was doing some research on Felucian Gelagrubs in the library."

Crosshair almost started tuning him out again, until his brother looked up with a playful smirk.

"And then I ran into Doctor Joan. She was wondering if you were well enough to take her up on that deal yet?"

"What deal?" came Wrecker's voice, muffled by some food he was chewing on. Apparently he and Hunter had finished their argument and were more interested in this new conversation.

"Cross promised to teach Joan how to shoot once he felt better. I told her you were feeling much better, and she said she'll have a few free hours tonight if you're interested."

Crosshair wished he could smack the smug grin off Tech's face. And shove that turkey leg down Wrecker's throat to stop his howling laughter. Only Hunter wasn't making fun. If anything, he looked confused.

"But she knows how to shoot," he said with a frown. "She's told me...."

Tech shrugged, starting to walk toward the ship's ramp. "Maybe she wants a refresher?"

"Or she wants to cozy up to Crosshaaaair," teased Wrecker.

Crosshair felt his face growing flushed. He was about to snap at them for being idiots, but Hunter intervened.

"Okay, that's enough. I'm sure Joan didn't mean anything by it..." Hunter paused with another frown. He didn't sound convinced; in fact, he sounded concerned. But then he shook himself and gave Crosshair a nod. "If you want to help her practice, fine by me. Just make sure you help us with the paint job before you go."

Hunter gave the ship a fond tap on its hull.

"What name are we going with?" asked Tech.

"The Havoc Marauder."

* * *

Crosshair made it to the simulation room before Joan. He programmed it to Felucia, inspired by Tech's mention of it earlier. It was another green planet, but with stranger-looking flora and a mist that hung low in the air.

"This your favorite?" came her low voice. It was a little raspier than usual; maybe she'd been talking a lot that day.

Crosshair swallowed down a wave of nerves that threatened to overcome him. It was so nice to see her again after so long apart.

"It's a good challenge," he shrugged. "Decreased visibility. Uneven terrain. Hostile flora and fauna."

Joan stood beside him, looking around. She was wearing the same outfit as last time and had her hair braided back. A standard-issue DC-15A blaster rifle was strapped across her back.

"Did you steal that from a reg?"

She didn't laugh like he'd hoped, but she did have a faint smile. She swung the rifle around and held it firmly, confidently. "It's mine. Most medics were only given pistols, but my troop let me have this one."

"So you do know how to shoot," he said.

Joan lifted the rifle to her shoulder and aimed up at one of the simulation targets on a tree. She fired and made the hit.

"A straight shot with no stress or pressure, I'm not bad..." She then grimaced. "But I was never good in an actual firefight. They only gave me a gun for self-protection. The rest of the time I just focused on tending wounds, let my brothers take care of the cover fire."

Her use of the term "brothers" did not go unnoticed to Crosshair, but he didn't comment on it. He nodded his head and brought out his own gun. It was a much superior model than hers, but he wouldn't show off. Not too much, anyway.

He led her to some higher ground and got to work, teaching her what he knew, just like she had taught him the week before. He went over posture and breathing. He threw in some facts about angles and trajectories. He had her find an "anchor" for herself, a way that she would always hold the gun and her body, so no matter the situation, she could fall into that comfortable position. And he took any opportunity he could find to place his hand or his arm around her.

This was his life, things he'd engaged with for years and years. And even though he only had mere hours with her, he wanted to share as much as he could.

Joan was a good student. She wasn't the best shooter, but by the end of the night, she had made some improvement. She was no longer hesitating with the trigger and managed to take down a simulated Acklay despite being scared of it. That was a win in Crosshair's eyes.

When she finally showed signs of fatigue, he turned off the sim and sat with her on one of the benches along the walls. They sat in silence for a brief time, and Crosshair was grateful she didn't seem uncomfortable by it. He let his head rest against the wall and closed his eyes.

"Is Tech okay?" she eventually asked.

His eyes reopened, only so he could furrow them in confusion. "Yeah, why?"

She shrugged and stifled a yawn. "There were some... uh, clones bothering him in the library earlier. Wasn't sure if it upset him."

"He didn't mention it," Crosshair said with a clenched jaw. He really hated when the regs messed with his brothers, especially Tech.

Joan shifted to better face him. "He's a hard one to read. Most of his visits, I'm answering his millions of questions about human anatomy. He only puts stats on his chart. Like that assignment I had, to write things about yourselves? He drew a diagram of his body with arrows pointing out his height, eye color, body fat percentage...."

She chuckled softly and Crosshair found himself joining in. That sounded like Tech, alright.

"I don't know. I just want to make sure he's not really hurting inside. You were the one I thought I had to worry about. Wrecker wears his emotions on his sleeve. Hunter's guided by duty, so it's easy to predict what he feels."

"And me?"

"You put up walls. Which I get. It's hard to be... you." She cocked her head with a knowing look. "But when you respect someone, you let them in. And from there you're an open book."

He frowned. "I am not."

"You kinda are though," she laughed. "I can always tell by your tone when you like certain things or not. Scowling is your default, but when you're really upset your jaw clenches. And..." she looked down in her lap with a small smile, "you blush sometimes when I talk."

Crosshair's eyes widened in horror, which only made her laugh more.

"It's okay. It's... flattering."

He gulped. Her cheeks were pinker than usual as well, but that must have been from the training they just did. Surely....

"I'll, uh... I'll keep an eye on Tech," he stuttered. "He'll be fine."

"Good." She clapped her legs and stood up. "Well anyway, I won't keep you up much later. Thank you for the lesson. It was fun."

He stood, too, and decided to say, with a shake in his breath, "I hope it won't be another week before I see you again?"

"Well, I guess I should take another look at that little wound of yours soon."

"Tomorrow?"

Her smile faltered, ever so briefly, and Crosshair panicked. Was he sounding too eager? 

"Sure. I should have some time... three o'clock?"

He nodded with an internal sigh of relief. She let her gaze linger on his for just a moment more, and he started to think maybe, just maybe, she had been blushing after all. Maybe there was a chance she liked him back.

He hoped she did. But at the same time, he knew it would only make it that much harder to leave....

[diana-3]

Crow’s Nest.

Diana sighed as she climbed the last few stairs to Devrim’s perch. The Gentlemen Sniper pulled his rifle back inside the windowsill and turned, having earlier waved to Diana he smiled at her approach. “Ah,” His warm tone brought a smile to her face, “Di, hello dear, how are you?”

“I’m alright I guess..s’been a while...huh?” There was guilt layering her tone, like a child who was admitting to a wrong--ready for a scolding.  

“Works kept you busy,” Devrim settled against the wall and his smile held, but his eyes turned downward and with it the mood lowered. “Seems as if the whole world is trying to burn around us.” He nodded to the radio on the shabby table with the teaset near by. “I’ve been keeping up on the radio chatter, you’ve been busy out toward the Tangled Shore lately?”

“Oh yeah,” Dianna removed her helmet and went to settle on the floor next to Devrim who glanced out the window. “There’s this new baddie, Xivu Arath? A hive celebrant...whatever that means...trying to corrupt Fal---Eliskni and Cabal into being Hive mind slaves. Causing a lot of trouble on the Shore and in the Dreaming City. Been working with Spider’s crew to get it cleaned up but its been weeks now.”

“A month yesterday,” Joel corrected as he appeared by Diana’s side. “I overheard Glint and Crow talking about it as we were walking away yesterday.”

“A month…” Diana repeated with weight behind her long sigh that followed. “Has it been that long already?”

“Between the constant crucible matches and vanguard operations to charge the lure, not to mention the individual hunts themselves, I’m not surprised we hadn’t realized.” Even Joel sounded exhausted, flying low until he settled in Diana’s hands as she crossed her legs and closed her eyes. “It’s been...hectic to say the least.”

“When was the last time you had any time off?” Devrim asked, raising a dark brow as he removed himself from the window completely now. Hanging his rifle on carefully placed hooks in the collapsing church to avoid accidental misfires. “You both look absolutely ragged.”

Diana hummed in thought. Her head slowly lulling from side to side before she spoke. “The Festival of the Lost?”

“Can’t really count that as time off when we were fixing the infinite forest…” Joel reminded her and she nodded.

“Soooo, before then?”

“My word,” Devrim’s shocked outburst made the tired guardian and her ghost both open their eyes and look at him. He was standing with his teapot in hand, “You’re going to need something a bit more strong than tea then to unwind.”

“You know what I want?” Diana chuckled softly, the fatigue showing through her defeated tone. “A nap. A nice, warm nap.”

“You’re more than welcome to come back to the farm,” Devrim offered, putting down his teapot and reaching for clean cups and saucers. “You could rant about anything bothering you until you can rest, or you’re free to do so after over a nice hot cup of tea.”

Diana smiled, watching the older man go through his motions to prepare his staple drink. The care he put into making it and the glance he gave her when he felt her stare. “Thanks,” She smiled back, “But,” She tapped Joel’s shell and woke the little Ghost from his quiet rest, his eye blinking open and his shell twitching in a stretch. “I think seeing Mythrax would just wind me back up again...remind me of everything going on on Europa.”

“Ah,” Devrim’s smile fell as he watched Joel take a lazy flight, hovering just above Diana’s shoulder as she climbed to her feet wearily. “Do you have somewhere else to stay then? I have no bed or blanket here, but I can offer great conversation and drink, a little light on snacks I’m afraid.”

“Actually…” Diana rubbed her head before her face and sighed, “I think there’s somewhere I want to...revisit. It’s not the Tower, but right now I’d rather avoid the tower if possible too…”

“Just seems like there's nowhere for us to go to get a rest away from everyone.” Joel admitted, his eye downcast as his shell shook side from side. “There's always someone looking for the next report, the next ship out, the next bounty to be taken…” He glanced at Diana who was lost in thought, her cyan eyes following the floorboard toward the window. When she slowly walked away to peer out Devrim’s window, Joel flew near Devrim and whispered. “She’s had a lot thrust onto her shoulders lately Devrim, I don’t know...I don’t know how to help her right now…”

“Is she alright?” Devrim asked, pretending to busy himself with cleaning his table as he waited for the water to boil.

“Physically she’s fine, she’s just so mentally worn out...A lot of old emotional wounds opened up…” Joel twitched in the air, flying a few degrees lower, “You’ve heard about Io, Mercury and Titan?”

“I had.” Devrim nodded, his face stern with thought. “She had friends on those planets didn’t she?”

“Yes, Asher Mir for one,” Joel shook his shell, “She’s still holding out hope that he’s in the Pyramidian, holding out. But no one’s heard from him...or Sloane and Vance...Then...we heard about Sagria…”

“Sagria?” Devrim whispered back, glancing over his shoulder to Diana, who was watching something out the window. “A guardian?”

“

A Ghost,” Joel corrected, “She was Osiris’ ghost...she sacrificed herself to save Osris from Xivu Arath’s influence...he’s Ghostless now...without the light...he’s taken refuge in the tower and asks Diana about how she and Crow--”

“Crow?” Devrim asked, raising a dark brow as he picked up the teapot and began pouring the tea into two cups. “Is that a guardian?”

“S-something like that…” Joel hesitated a tad too long and it drew a long and measured look from the marksman. “He’s a new guardian but...it’s part of the old emotional wounds opening up...that’s all I can say…”

“Mmhmm..” Devrim kept his stare on the little ghost who twitched and flew a few inches away.

“The less you know, the better.” Joel sighed.

“Wouldn’t happen to wear red pants...would this...Crow?” Devrim asked softly, glancing back at Diana who was still preoccupied with scanning the distance.

“You’ve seen him?!” Joel flew close to Devrim’s face, making the older man chuckle and straighten his back a bit.

“I’ve seen someone bustling around in the distance,” Devrim nodded with his head toward the direction of the dam, “He’s never come close though, and always seems to keep a hood up or a helmet on..I’ve never seen his face. Causing our girl some trouble is he?”

“He doesn’t mean to,” Joel said, “He’s new to everything and Di….she doesn’t know how to handle her feelings. He really reminds her of someone she’d rather forget, but at the same time she’s grown closer to him, and is having trouble letting go of that….resemblance.”

“Sounds messy,” Devrim picked up the cup and took a small sip to taste before nodding. “She needs a good rest, and time to herself away from everyone to let herself work through things. Is there a Hunter hideout where she might be able to take cover?”

“None that wouldn’t turn her over to Zavala to keep themselves from being called to the tower..” Joel had a hint of irritation in his voice, “We tried a few of the old spots, but some people have a sore spot for Di. Shaw hasn’t exactly warmed up to her and he’s made a name for himself in the cosmodrome. People think, that she thinks she’s too important, that she abandoned them in their greatest hour of need…And with the Hunters still without a leader...”

“Did they forget the part where the entire universe was at stake?” Devrim asked too loudly, drawing Diana’s tired attention finally from the window.

“Who knew the Cosmodrome was separate from our universe.” She had no mirth to her voice now, she seemed to shake slightly from side to side as she pushed away from the window and walked over to take the cup offered to her gingerly from Devrim. “Thanks…”

“I’m sorry that you’re dealing with so much,” Devrim put a gentle hand on Diana’s shoulder and squeezed it. A flicker in her eyes caught him off guard, was she going to cry? “I hope that the vanguard has at least given you some hefty time off to recoup after running you so ragged?”

“Hawthorne helped,” Joel said with a hint of pride, “When Diana was ready to just drop off the tower to get away from Zavala and Shaw, she spoke up and advocated for Diana to have a relief mission.”

“Tore into them did she?” Devrim chuckled warmly, “Ah, I can hear her now.”

“It was quite a sight,” Joel laughed, his shell squinting as he bobbed up, like a smile. “She wasn’t about to let Zavala just walk all over Diana.”

“M’ just too tired to fight anymore.” Diana admitted as she took a drink from the cup, taking a moment to shiver at the bitterness. “I wanna sleep for a week in a hole in the ground…” She paused…”Or...in a wall…” Her eyes widened slowly before she downed the rest of the cup, filled only half of the way before handing the cup back to Devrim. “If anyone asks,”

“I haven’t heard from you in months.” Devrim winked at her as he took her cup and replaced it on the table. “No idea where you could be. Haven't’ seen you in the EDZ in quite some time.” He turned and lifted his own teacup to her in salute, “I really should contact you via radio to come spend some time with this old man.” He could hear Diana and Joel speaking softly as he turned and sipped at his tea, trying not to listen to the quiet planning. He couldn’t help but hear.

“Are you sure you want to go there?” Joel was asking, concern filling his voice.

“Where else can we go right now? Unless you really wanna watch me dig a hole and bury ourselves.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this...but we could go to the Derlict?” Joel offered in a hushed tone, “Drifter would hide you for a while.”

“He’d also bug me to death for answers, or to get me into Gambit again…” Diana sighed heavily. Devrim kept himself turned around, studying the hand written notes from Marc laying on his desk, hidden out of direct sight behind the radio he used to listen to chatter, or talk to Suraya who was living in the Tower now. “No, I think it’ll be the one place no one, except one person would think to look…”

“Do you think he would?” Joel asked softly.

“No, his leash is too short right now. He might wonder to himself, maybe to Glint, but he won’t actually come looking. Which will give us all the time we need to rest.” Diana sounded sure of herself and her mind was made up. Wherever they were going, it was going to be a secret between them.

“It won’t be very comfortable,” Joel complained slightly.

“We can find a few ways to make it work.” Diana said a little more loudly, the time for private conversation over with. Devrim was refilling his cup, still pretending to be lost in his own little world when he felt two taps on his shoulder. He put down his cup and turned to receive the gentle hug Diana offered without thinking. “I’ll come by again soon Devrim, thank you for letting us rest and clear our head.”

“I don’t need to tell you that you are always welcome,” Devrim told her as he squeezed her, returning the hug. “But I will anyway, just so I’m sure you know. You can always come up here to hide out, and I won’t tell a soul if you don’t want me to.” He felt her start to pull away and he kept his hold until she leaned more heavily against him, allowing him to share her weight. “You be careful out there, hm?”

“Yes sir,” Diana’s chest vibrated with her voice, chuckling into his ear as she squeezed him back. “I’ll make sure to stop by for the dawning.” When Devrim pulled away she nodded, “I’ll remember the Shortbread cookies you love so much.”

“It pairs so well with my favorite festive tea,” Devrim sighed at the thought of such a comfort item. “It is getting around that time...isn’t it?”

“A few more weeks…” Diana nodded, “Hopefully I’ll get to feeling better before then. I’d like to go to the tower to see everyone…”

“Then you best get to it,” Devrim winked at her and grabbed a small bag from under his table, protected by a sheet that had hidden it from sight. “Here, take this, a self care package if you will.”

“Tea?” Diana laughed as she took the bag without looking at it.

“And a few biscuits and hot cocoa, some tripemines to set up a perimeter, clean water etcetera.” Devrim smiled as he poured a second cup for himself. “Little things that will help make the roughing it less...rough.”

“Thanks Devrim but shouldn’t you need this?” She asked, holding the bag up.

“Not for a while, I’m going on vacation too..of a sort. It’s Marc’s Rezzing day soon. We decided to go to Suraya in the city and spend time together. I’ll have all the comfort I need. And I can replenish my supplies.” Devrim watched as Diana nodded and looked toward the stairs. “Go on now, I won’t keep you any longer.” He turned his back and pretended to busy himself with the radio dial until a heavy baritone voice came over the waves.

“Thanks again…” Diana gave a small salute before disappearing over the ledge, not bothering with the stairs.

“It’s like they’re allergic to safety,” Devrim mused to himself, chuckling as he watched her go.

//

“Are you sure about this?” Joel asked as Diana picked her way over the rubble, careful to make sure that Devrim’s care package wouldn’t rip.

“Like I said, I’m out of ideas, unless you know of somewhere else we can go…’S not like we can go chill with Asher anymore…” She paused down the dimly lit corridor and sighed. “I miss him.”

“I know,” Joel touched his feckle to her cheek and accepted the loving caress she gave him that pinned him to her cheek gently. “I do too.”

“So this is the one place I can think of that...they won’t know to look and if they did think to look, I don’t think he’d tell.” Diana finished softly. She was outside the  little alcove now and started to go inside but hesitated.

“What's wrong?” Joel asked, blinking his yellow cat eye and watching how she hesitated. It wasn’t like her.

“I should ask permission…” She said firmly. “This is the one place that’s his and his alone...if I were just to barge in here and use it without asking? I’d be taking that away from him, I’d be just as bad as Spider. We’re not that close...in reality. He might think...I’m overstepping boundaries if I don’t ask…” The heavy silence in the air didn’t last long before she asked, “Can you patch me into a secure line to him?”

“Just a moment.” Joel busied himself with twitching, extending his shell and rotating back and forth until the sound of static washed away and a familiar voice asked.

“Who is this?”

“Glint, it’s us. It’s secure right?” Joel asked, replacing his shell to its rightful shape. Diana noticed one of his cat ears was coming untapped and tried to push it back down in place, only to knock it off and make her gasp in both shock and sadness.

“Of course!” Glint’s voice perked up, “It’s the Guardian and her Ghost!”

“You can call me Joel,” Ghost reminded him, “And Di.”

“New news on Xivu Arath or some wrathborn? A new cryptolith?” Crow’s voice came over the coms and Joel watched Diana pause in her fussing over his shell.

“No,” Diana admitted after a moment of silence. “I’ve...I’ve been given some...a reprieve…” She said slowly, remembering once what Glint had said over coms after a hunt. “But I…” She paused again and the lights inside her mouth dimmed with a sigh. “Could I...Would it bother you if I...used your...nest, for a while?”

“It’s most certainly not a nest.” Crow said a little too quickly. Diana could practically hear the flush to his blue-grey face. “But...why? I thought you would have a place in the tower in the last city?”

“I do, but not everyone understands the need for...alone time.” Diana admitted.

“About your report, could you do this run for me, we should go out tonight, could you sit in on this mission debriefing, we need someone on coms for this vanguard operation, could you help me adjust my sights,” Joel started listening off all the things that had been asked of them when they had returned to the tower the last time. “It’s like it never ends. We used to go hide out on Io when things got like this…”

“I see.” Crow interjected before silence could fall and swallow them up. “You...need a place to breathe for a while. Of course, feel free. I’m...honored that I could help you this way...Guar--”

“Di.” Diana reminded.

“Di…” Crow’s voice was soft, like he was afraid of breaking her name should he say it with too much force. “I’m sorry it’s such a mess, I haven’t been out there in a while and Glint’s a terrible maid.”

“It’s not my fault you keep everything you find that has a little shine to it.” Glint said playfully, hinting at his name.

“It’s not exactly comfortable either, but it works...in a pinch.” Crow continued, ignoring Glint’s jest. “Use it as long as you like.”

“Thanks,” Diana smiled and looked inside the alcove at the small collection of crow’s things. “I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” Crow chuckled softly, “You could have used it and I never would have known. It’s not as if I’m in and out of there a lot these days.”

“Boundaries and Respect are important.” Diana told him firmly. “Guardians and good people a like do not trample over either…” She put a hand to her head and realized how much like Quin she sounded. She shook her metal head and continued. “Want me to get you some time off?” Diana asked as she stepped through the crack that served as the door. “You deserve it as much as I do.”

“Spider wouldn’t allow--”

“Spider won’t know the difference if I tell him I need you in the EDZ to track down Hive movement. Maybe they’re trying to set up a cryptolith here? Savathun did find that piece of the Traveler where we found the new Hawkmoon.”

“Not to mention we could give you a run through on being a Lightbearer. Guardian school if you will. More tips and tricks to make you more effective for Spider.” Joel added, his shell contracting in the way that made Diana say it looked like a smile.

“Time away from Spider,” Diana said in a singsong voice, “Nice hot fires under the stars, good drinks. Stories swapped.” She flopped down on the sleeping bag Crow had left on the concrete slab and regretted it, there was still a bit of debris under it and it hurt. “R and R is just as important to Guardians as it is to non-lightbearers.” She added with a grunt.

“That’s true...I just don’t think Spider would allow it.” Crow sounded defeated, tired and annoyed.

“Well, I am not going back to work for a bit….you think about it and when you want me to, I’ll talk to Spider.” Diana stood and rolled the sleeping bag up, watching how the dust and concrete of the collapsing ceiling was leaving a layer of dust on everything.

“Spider called him.” Glint said in a hushed tone, “I think some time off and not so alone would be good for him. He’s been obsessing over these Cryptoliths. He’s so sad to see the Eliskni that was good to him turn into...wrathborn…”

“He needs time away just as much as we do,” Joel sighed.

“It would be good for him, all he does is talk about work, and when he asks about Guardian things, he feels like such a stranger to it all. I think a fellow Guardian talking to him would make it feel more real, for now its just...stories of something he thinks he doesn’t deserve..” During the pause, Joel and Diana gave a look to one another. Sadness. Fatigue. Guilt. “I’ve been called by Spider, cutting the link. You two have a good rest.”

“Glint--” Joel started to speak but then hesitated. “The line’s dead.” He rotated to see Diana removing rubble from the concrete slab and cleaning it off with her hand. “This place really is a mess...huh?”

“He’s tried to make it his own…” Diana said softly. “It reminds me...of that cave in the Cosmodrome we had when we first started out...Remember?”

“Heh.” Joel floated closer and bobbed before rolling his shell over. “You kept Hive bones until you heard about Dredgen Yor, then you dumped them all over the cliffside and wanted nothing more to do with them.”

“Got rid of the dice I whittled too.” She nodded and replaced the sleeping bag, stretching it out to find it wouldn’t fit, the slab was too short. She glanced around the tiny alcove, at all of Crow’s belongings. A sleeping bag that had holes in it. A pristine Dawning bowl. His death shroud. A hive knight sword from when he save Osiris. A table and chair. A tool chest as tall as her and tools to fill it with. 8 things. He only owned 8 things. Yet the room told so much about him.

He was a repairer. Using things left over and forgotten to serve a new purpose. “It’s almost...poetic...or.” She laughed, “Ironic, whichever you wanna look at it...I guess…”

“What is?” Joel had floated off on his own, inspecting the crack in the wall that filtered in some sunlight from a room beyond the rubble.

“He takes things that are broken or forgotten. Things people don’t think twice about because to them it's used up and gives it new life...new purpose…” She picked up the bowl and placed it on the sleeping bag. “Like a guardian...we were just empty shells until you guys came along.” She smiled at Joel who twitched in silent thought. “You found me, an empty shell. Having used up all my life and been lost to time and the elements and you gave me a purpose. You brought new life into me and told me what I could do to help those around me.” She picked up his death shroud and frowned. “Uldren was a cold hearted bastard of a person.” Her grip tightened on the cloth before she sighed heavily.

“He paid his price. Blood for blood. Eye for an Eye. The debt for Cayde was settled. I know his tapes said he’d be…” She started folding the shroud gently. “Crow was a shell that was tossed away. People were trying to forget...or avoid remembering for the time. Including myself...And Glint gave him new life and purpose. He’s a guardian now. He’s not who he was before. And now he takes things Spider tries to throw away or has forgotten about and makes them into new things.” When the shroud was folded into the shape of a flag, she placed it into the bowl and busied herself cleaning off the slab where it had been placed haphazardly. “He’s just like a Ghost that way. A repairman. An artist..” She recalled the art form he had mentioned before when she saw his nest the first time. “He mentioned an artform with precious metals...do you know what it's called?”

“I hadn’t when he first mentioned it, but I talked to Zavala’s ghost and he knew what it was called, apparently it's called Kintsugi, or kintsukuroi, it’s a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.  It treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.” He paused for a moment and flew a little lower, “Oh, I see what you mean.”

Diana straightened up the room in silence for a while. Dusting everything with her hands as best she could and being as gentle as possible. It didn’t take her long to clean up the room, tossing out the debris into the hall. She looked around and realized it wasn’t cleaning she wanted to do.

“I wanna do something nice for him.” She said out loud, throwing out a fist sized piece of concrete into the hall. “And I don’t mean dusting.” Joel was flying around the room and scanning the area, inspecting the walls and ceiling.

“He doesn’t have a lot does he?” he asked as he came down to her height. “We could get a few things for him.”

“Yeah..spruce the place up a bit...he deserves better than this but…” She glanced at the shroud sticking up from the bowl where she had placed it. “Baby steps.”

“What do you think he would like?” Joel asked.

“Anything is better than this…” she glanced at the mop bucket in the corner, and cringed. “We could get him a sturdy cot to sleep on. A better sleeping bag…” She looked back to his area and tilted her head, “Another table, a chair...we could clear these slabs out.” She kicked at the one he had been using for a bed. “Hang that sword up.” She pointed to the sword as it was propped up against the wall, waiting to topple over. “And a heater…”

“A heater?” Joel asked, spinning back to watch her as she nodded.

“It’ll be snowing soon. If he’s gonna get time off and come stay, then he’s gonna need heat...and some food that won’t spoil…” Her faceplates shifted to show irritation. “The boy doesn’t even have the basic necessities to live on his own. He won’t be under Spider’s four thumbs forever.”

“You think he’s going to let Crow go eventually?” Joel didn’t sound convinced, but when Diana settled her cyan eyes on him, he knew that look. He’d seen it before the battle against Crota...Oryx...Gaul and the darkness. It was what he called her ‘try me’ look.

“Oh he will. And we’re getting that bomb outta Glint too.” She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Glint doesn’t deserve that treatment, and neither does Crow. The boys are literally as pure as new fallen snow, and Crow’s as green as Venus.”

“I remember when Leland used to say the same about you,” Joel offered softly, flying close to her chest, his sign he wanted to be held in her hands. She obliged him, cradling him gently and stroking his feckle lovingly.

“I’m not gonna comment on that,” she chuckled and planted a kiss on her Ghost’s shell. Going to sit on the sleeping bag. “I guess this means we’re going back to the city after all.”

“What are we gonna tell people who ask what we’re doing?” Joel twitched his shell so he was looking up at Di from her hands she stared longingly at the Dawning bowl.

“That we’re helping out a kinderguardian. They’re new and scared to come to the city. Or that I’m literally burying myself in a hole and making a fuck off bunker so people will leave me alone for once.” She stopped and blinked, “By the light, I sound like Osris now.”

“I like the second one better,” Joel laughed, “It sounds more like you than Osiris.”

Both of them laughed, their voices bouncing off the three and a half walls until it sounded like it would drown all their sorrows. They hadn’t laughed like that in a while. It made Diana sad to realize this. She tried not to look at it, but it was like a living thing staring at her. The death shroud. One of the triangle corners was peeking up from the bowl and taunting her until she stared at it.

“I’m not...weird am I?” She asked Joel, still staring at the white cloth.

“Is that a question you want me to answer honestly, or be serious?” Joel asked with mirth still in his voice.

“No, I mean…” Diana’s tone made Joel twitch in her hands, bringing her attention to him. “I know I didn’t remember anything, not a thing when you brought me back. But you said I’d been dead a long time...I’ve never…” She trailed off and looked toward the floor. “I’ve never run into anyone who recognized me before. But Uldren...he…” She sighed. “He killed dad...I know I said Crow was different and he IS but…” she made a clicking noise. “Sometimes when it gets quiet, and I see him, I can still SEE Uldren there. Does that make me a bad person?” She looked to Joel sadly. “Am I a horrible person because I sometimes still see him inside someone who's new? If Crow didn’t have the same meatsuit...if he’d been changed into an Exo like me when he was first brought back...I woulda never known….I wouldn’t be...questioning myself like this.” She looked to the shroud again. “He’d just be a new guardian. A fellow exo. A nice guy...But I find myself wanting to reach out to him. Be...more than kind to him. To be someone for him and then that moment happens when I don’t see Crow, I see…and then I feel like I’m betraying Dad’s memory by being chummy with the meatsuit that killed my leader...”

“I could tell,” Joel admitted softly, speaking in barely a whisper, as if afraid the truth would cause the ground to swallow them up. “When you two are having a good talk and it gets quiet, I see the way you look at him. It’s kindness and then fear, mixed with guilt.” He twitched again and the eye blinked. The other ear was starting to come loose and Diana peeled it off with a gentle hand. “You’re trying so hard to not hold him accountable for a crime you know Crow didn’t commit. But it’s still the same face. It’s still the same hand.” he blinked again, “It’s a situation I don’t think any other guardian has ever had to face like this before.” Only a heartbeat passed before he added. “I don’t think it makes you a bad person, I think you’re struggling with a situation that no one else has ever had to be in before and you’re doing a lot better than others who have seen his face.” He flew up from her hands and hovered a little ways from her face.

“You loved Cayde like a father, and he was taken from you by someone you didn’t particularly care for when you knew him. Now that person is no more, but their body is still up walking around with someone new inside...sorta. It’s like that pottery thing, he has his scars. His past is part of him, but he has a new life and a new outlook.” he tilted his shell toward the ground. “Uldren hated Guardians, he tried to make our life hell when we had to deal with the awoken. But,” he titled his shell upward and squinched himself into a smile, “I’ve seen Crow absolutely light up when you walk in a room. He’s excited to see you, to work with you. If that’s not proof he’s totally different then I dunno what would be.”

When she didn’t respond he bonked her on the forehead with his feckle and made her blink at him in bewilderment. “Others have outright killed Crow when they saw his face. You didn’t.”

“I tried…” She put a hand on the spot where he hit her. “If Quin hadn’t stopped me...I would have put a bullet in him.”

“Are you glad she stopped you?” Joel asked firmly.

“Yes?” she sounded unsure, when Joel tightened his shell around him she felt like he was glaring at her so she repeated with conviction. “....Yes. I am.”

“Would you put a bullet in him now?” Joel’s voice was hard, he was trying to test her resolve. He already knew he answer, he just needed her to know it.

“No, absolutely not, I’d...” She paused and remembered her fight with Hunter-1, they still hadn’t spoken since they introduced Crow to him. When he tried to murder Crow, even after learning he was a guardian and Uldren no more. Quin had ushered Crow to safety while Diana wrestled with the fellow Exo. He hadn’t looked at her the same since. On Wrathborn hunts he wouldn’t watch her back anymore, and he would ignore her when she spoke to him. “I’d fight those who would try...”

“Then you’re already leaps and bounds ahead of others.” Joel told her with a flip. “And the fact you want to give him what he needs to survive on his own, until he can be accepted as Crow and not as Uldren, shows you have compassion for him.” He tilted his shell halfway, like he was being coy. “And do not think for one millisecond I haven’t seen you smile at him with that same look you used to give Drifter either missy.”

“I. Give. No. Looks.” Diana’s voice was low, gravely, she was willing to die on this hill.

“And I wasn’t born in the Light.” Joel gave a small hummpf sound before flying out of the crack, forcing Diana to follow along behind him if she wanted to argue.

[hopecountysfavhoe]

‘Cold’ Chapter Seventeen

Word count: 3,675

TW: Blood/gore aka 18+

     "Get away from her now, Jacob!"

     "She'll bleed out." Jacob grunted and didn't move. He turned back to the Deputy who's eyes were getting unfocused.

     "I said get away from her!" Jess's voice was as loud and demanding as she could make it but it was as if Jacob wasn't listening.

     Jacob didn't listen to Jess's demands, just kept his hands on the Deputy's bullet wound. The Deputy tried to say something but chocked on her own blood. "Say it, Deputy." Jacob edged her on.

     "Tal-talk peace...with Jo-Joseph." She stumbled out, her bloody hand gripped Jacob's army jacket sleeve, half out of pain but half out of trying to make him listen.

     "Well you're going to have to be there, cause otherwise I ain't doing shit." Jacob told her matter-of-factly, hoping to inspire her not to die.

     Jess saw the Deputy grab Jacob's sleeve but it wasn't like she was trying to fight him off, it looked more like a reassurance. She was confused by what she was seeing but she didn't let it distract her, Jess lowered her bow and rushed to the Deputy's side. She tried to get Jacob away from the Deputy but he didn't budge.

     Jacob didn't even acknowledge Jess kneeling next to the Deputy, he just reached for his radio with one hand. Jess scrambled to press her hand over the Deputy's wound when Jacob pulled his hand away, giving him a low growl as she did so.

     "Bring me a medikit!" He ordered into his radio and pulled his other hand away from her wound so that he could pull off his army jacket. He bunched it up in his hands and nodded Jess's hands away. He pressed the jacket into the Deputy's chest, hoping to help block some of the blood.

     Jess tried to stay focused as she shook herself out of the weird daze she was in while staring at Jacob. He still had on his usual tee shirt but seeing him without his army jacket was like seeing him naked; it was weird. She still wasn't sure she knew what was happening. She knew that the Deputy was talking to him about a peace treaty but how the hell did she manage to turn Jacob's whole 'sacrifice the weak' personality into 'help your enemy' in less than fifteen minutes?

     Jess tried her best to ignore Jacob and focused on the Deputy. She placed a hand on her shoulder and told her everything was going to be ok. She could hear Grace on the radio telling Adelaide to get there as fast as possible with an emergency helicopter, trying to explain what happened without making Adelaide want to murder Jacob on sight.

     A gun being cocked made Jess look up. One of Jacob's men had his rifle trained on Jess's chest. Jess bared her teeth at the hunter and her hand moved to grab her bow but Jacob glanced over his shoulder at the hunter. "Gun down, give me that medikit." He ordered and although confused looking the hunter immediately obliged. He opened the medikit and held it next to Jacob so that he could see inside it.

     Three more of Jacob's men came out of the trees all with their weapons ready. The hunter gave the other men the same order for them to put their guns away and they did so. Jacob grabbed a wipe out of the medikit and pulled away his army jacket. He wiped the swab over the Deputy's wound and grabbed gauze to stuff the wound with. The Deputy tried to grit her teeth and not be overwhelmed by the pain but it was so hard to even breathe.

Jess kept trying to help in some way, hoping that maybe she could cut Jacob out and tell him off but it was like she wasn't even there. Jacob refused to even edge away from the Deputy, he knew how severe her injuries were and he also knew that if he didn't act fast then she would have no chance at surviving.

After packing her wound with gauze, Jacob asked for a bandage. He ordered one of his men to keep pressure on the bandage while he sat the Deputy up to find the exit wound.

It was hard on the Deputy to sit up. Her vision was dancing and darkening by the second. Everything in her body was telling her to close her eyes but she knew she couldn't do that, she had to stay awake for as long as possible. When Jacob sat the Deputy up he let her head rest on his shoulder while he worked on cleaning her exit wound, it was helpful in stabilizing the Deputy but it wasn't a miracle worker. She was still in a lot of pain but it almost felt like it was getting farther away, almost as if it were drifting.

That is it was until Jacob poured a cleaner over her ragged and sensitive flesh. Then her back burned with white hot pain and it was definitely right there. She sucked in a strained breath at the sudden pain on her back and blinked hard to try and help it ease. She knew that the back wound was much worse than bullet hole in the front, exit wounds are always worse than the entrance wounds.

The cleaner irritated her sensitive open wound but it was nice when someone spread a cool ointment over her skin, helping to numb the pain even by a little bit. She was too out of it to even acknowledge who's hand was rubbing the ointment on, all she knew was that it felt good. In her small relief a little voice in her head tried to convince her to fall asleep but Jacob roused her by moving his shoulder. She'd almost forgotten that her head was resting on his shoulder until he moved to wrap a bandage around her chest to secure his work.

The Deputy could hear what sounded like a helicopter nearby but she couldn't say anything about it, she could only try to keep her eyes open. She heard the helicopter get really close and then she heard shouting. Jacob said something into her ear that she was still trying to figure out what it was. When the Deputy felt Jacob slide one arm under her legs and the other under her shoulder blades she realized he must have said he was going to take her to the helicopter.

She felt Jacob lift her from the ground, with an almost annoying ease by the way, and she felt the walk to the helicopter. Her head was resting on Jacob's chest the whole time while she tried to force her eyes to stay open. She could see his beard and the sky, then she could see the blades of the helicopter's propellers, then she felt Jacob and someone else lay her down on some sort of stretcher inside the helicopter. When Jacob pulled away from her, the Deputy's hand grabbed weakly at his wrist. He said something that she couldn't hear and placed her hand back to her side.

She felt someone kneeling down next to her (or was it two people?) keeping a firm hold on her as the helicopter took off. The helicopter definitely wasn't Tulip, it was too big, but the Deputy didn't really care all that much. After what felt like hours of trying to keep her eyes open, the Deputy was fighting a losing battle. Her chest burned and ached, it was hard to breathe or even think to be honest. The Deputy's head lulled to the side and she saw two people sitting next to her. The clearest face was the one closest to her which was Grace.

Grace placed a hand on the Deputy's shoulder and then on the side of her head while she shouted words that the Deputy couldn't hear over the sound of the helicopter's engine. Grace held something to the Deputy's mouth to try and wipe away some of the blood that had run down her face. The taste of metallic blood was bitter in her mouth and it seemed to coat her tongue.

She didn't even realize that her eyes were closed until Grace snapped her fingers by her ears to try and wake her up. The sound of the snap made the Deputy semi-open her eyes but the vibration of the helicopter tried to lull her right back to sleep. The darkness was too severe to fight against, the pull of sleep was dragging the Deputy down into the stretcher. Before she realized it, the Deputy's eyes wouldn't open again.

The helicopter made it to Hope County Jail and landed right in front of the gates. Jess and Grace, who had ridden in the helicopter with the Deputy, hopped out first and pulled the stretcher out. Someone opened the front gate and Jess and Grace rushed to get their friend to Dr. Charles Lindsay as quick as possible.

The Deputy had passed out in the helicopter on the flight over but was still breathing and had a pulse. She looked pretty bad. Her face was pale and her clothes had blood stains across them, even her pants had some blood on them. People ogled as Jess and Grace rushed past them, Virgil instantly followed them to the medical bay asking Grace a hundred questions.

Grace told him that it was a sniper and that they got to the jail as quick as they could but she left out the part about Jacob Seed. She knew that if she told him, or anyone for that matter, without the Deputy there to explain herself then the people would go on a rampage and that wouldn't be conducive for peace. Her blood boiled at what happened to the Deputy and she was still worried she wouldn't make it but she had to put that aside and think about her friends wishes.

Dr. Lindsay appreciated the bandage work but he knew he had to do some better work so he brought the Deputy into his 'surgery room', which was actually just the medical bay but he drew the curtains around the Deputy's cot. He made Grace and Jess wait outside the jail until he was finished, knowing that if they were hovering over him while he worked then he'd get nervous and probably make a mistake.

He was lucky that he was a universal blood donor, that was probably what helped keep the Deputy alive. He sutured and stitched up the front bullet wound and moved onto the back, that was the wound that took the longest to fix.

Jess paced in front of the chair Grace was sitting in, muttering sweet little revenge plans to herself. Grace could almost feel the heat coming off Jess as she fumed and part of her wanted to fume too but she knew she had to try and stay calm. "Why wouldn't you tell Virgil what really happened?" Jess asked in a demanding yet hushed voice, not wanting anyone else to listen in on their conversation.

Grace looked up from her rifle and saw Jess staring at her. "I wanted to but telling people is the Deputy's call." She told Jess who shook her head.

"The Deputy might be dead for all we know, Grace! I say that we go hit those fucking Peggies while their guard is down." Jess tried to rouse Grace but she stayed planted.

"Jess, no. The Deputy is actually trying to end this ok? What kind of friends would we be if we immediately turned our back on her and her wishes?"

"We'd be smart that's what we'd be! I knew the Deputy had lost her mind when she told me about this plan, I should have stopped her." Jess chided herself and went back to pacing.

"She didn't fail, she got You-Know-Who to agree. He even helped her, do you really think that would of happened if her plan had failed?" Grace asked but Jess was set on a war path.

"I'm not gonna just sit around and do nothing while the Deputy is in there fighting for her fucking life!"

"That is exactly what you're going to do, now sit down you're freaking people out." Grace ordered and pointed to a concrete beam next to her chair. Jess looked hesitant but knew she couldn't refuse an order from Grace so she sat herself down on the concrete.

Jess leaned over to Grace and whispered to her. "I can't believe you're not more upset about this."

"You think I'm not furious? You think I don't want to burn down that goddamn Centre with him in it? Well I do, but I'm a soldier Jess, and soldiers follow orders and the Deputy asked me to stand by her in this and that's what I'm going to do, right until the end." Grace looked back down to her rifle, indicating that she was done talking to Jess.

It was moving to hear Grace talk about her loyalty to the Deputy, but it was nowhere near convincing enough to make Jess want to join the military. It actually did the opposite, because having that sort of blind obedience sounded like Jess's nightmare. She studied Grace while she wiped dirt off of her rifle, trying to see through the whole 'strong soldier' facade but Grace didn't let any cracks show.

Grace knew that Jess was staring at her but instead of snapping at her like she wanted to do she reached her hand out and grabbed Jess's hand. "I know you're scared, I am too, but we can't let our fear overtake us. We have to let it move through us and let it fuel us later." She looked into Jess's eyes, she could see how confused Jess was about being touched and she watched it transform into anger. Jess yanked her hand away from Grace and stood up.

"I'm going to check on the Deputy." She scrambled out hurriedly.

"Dr. Lindsay isn't going to let you see her-"

"Well I'm still going to try." Jess ignored Grace and marched inside. Grace sighed and shook her head. She knew that Jess meant well but her feelings were too sporadic, she didn't have control over them and that would lead to bad things happening someday.

Dr. Lindsay of course made Virgil escort Jess outside again which wasn't so great for Virgil. Poor Virgil had to endure quite the shouting from Jess after he told her she couldn't come inside. Grace was the only one brave enough to grab Jess by the shoulders and lead her outside the jail. "Walk, now." Grace demanded and pointed towards the woods behind the jail.

Tracy stood next to Virgil after he went pale. Getting yelled at by Jess was not for the faint of heart, or stomach. Tracy tried to say something soothing to Virgil but it mostly came out as 'that wasn't the worst thing that's happened to you' so she just gave up and handed him his own handkerchief.

Jess locked her jaw but started walking as per Grace's request. Once they got out of earshot of the jail, Grace turned to Jess. "What the hell was that Jess? You know Virgil isn't the one that hurt the Deputy, you know I didn't hurt the Deputy, so why do you keep acting like we're the problem?" Grace demanded finally letting her anger manifest into words.

Jess had to actually take a step back. She'd never been yelled at by Grace before and she hated to admit it but she was scarier than Jess was. "I-I'm sorry. It's just how it comes out when I'm angry. Or-or sacred." Jess looked at her feet and bit her lip.

Grace took a breath and levelled out her tone. "Jess, you can be angry, you can be furious, but when you let your anger get the best of you and hurt the people around you then you are doing irreparable harm. Even if you're not angry anymore and even if you apologize you still can't take back the things you say or the things you do when you're angry.

"The Deputy is your friend, she's mine too, but you can't make that the reason you lash out. You need to get your anger under control, it will take time but you need too, not just for yourself but for your friends." As Grace spoke Jess didn't look up from the ground.

She made a fist with her hand and clenched it tightly as it shook. She took a shaky breath and wiped her cheeks furiously. She was crying.

Grace had never seen Jess cry before, not even the Deputy had seen Jess cry before. "I...I'm sorry. I just don't know how to make it stop." She pleaded and looked up at Grace.

Grace's face showed more shock than anger now. She edged closer to Jess but she backed away before she could get close enough to try and give her a hug or even a comforting hand squeeze.

"I forgive you, Jess, and you'll have to apologize to Virgil but first you have to forgive yourself."

"What are you talking about?" Jess asked and she wiped her face with her sleeve, trying to brush away the tears.

"You're not the reason your parents are dead ok? You can't carry around that anger and guilt with you anymore. You have to let yourself live and it will be the most difficult thing you've ever done but in the end you'll be all the better for it. So, are you ready to go apologize now?" Grace asked and Jess nodded, still wiping her cheeks for any trace of a tear.

"I guess if I have to." She grumbled and Grace nodded.

"Yes, yes you do." She gave her a small smile and looked back in the direction of the jail. "Let's go check on the Deputy."

Dr. Lindsay was a miracle worker. He managed to cauterize, suture, and bandage everything he needed to too keep the Deputy alive. She was still passed out cold and he knew that she would probably take a while to wake up but she was alive and that was what was important. He checked the IV hanging next to her bed and cleared his medical tools away. When he brought them out of the surgery 'room' he saw Grace standing by the wall with her arms folded.

"How's she doing, Doc?" She asked and looked over his shoulder. She could see the Deputy laying face up on the cot, her eyes were closed and she could see where she'd been patched and bandaged up.

     "She's stable and the bullet avoided her spine so I don't think there's any spinal damage, but I'll have to run some tests when she wakes up." Dr. Lindsay looked worn out from his surgery and set his tray of tools on a bench to be sanitized.

     He glanced out of the room into the next and saw Jess standing uncomfortably in front of Virgil. He couldn't hear what they were saying but he figured it must have been some sort of an apology because Jess kept looking away and hanging her head while Virgil listened.

     "But you are confident she'll wake up?" Grace pressed, more than a hint of worry crept into her voice.

     "I've tried not to be too confident recently but yes, I do think she'll wake up." Dr. Lindsay admitted and a wave of relief washed over Grace, hitting straight to her core.

     "Thank you, Dr. Seriously it means a lot, especially since the Deputy gets herself in so much trouble." Grace glanced back at the Deputy and focused back on Dr. Lindsay.

     "I'm just doing my job. You can sit with her if you'd like, I just have to go sanitize this stuff." Grace nodded and Dr. Lindsay left the room. Grace watched as Jess got done 'apologizing' to Virgil and walked away, she just hoped that Jess actually apologized. Grace walked into the mini room of curtain walls and sat down in the chair next to the Deputy's bed.

     "Hey Dep, how are you feeling?" Grace greeted her with a gentle tone, knowing that she couldn't hear her. She settled in her seat and just watched the Deputy sleep. She found herself in this situation a lot recently, watching the Deputy sleep in some sort of hospital bed. It was like when she got hurt that was the only time the Deputy got any sleep. Grace was about to confront the Deputy about how reckless she'd been when she proposed this plan to her.

     Grace didn't want to agree but she knew she would rather die than let the Deputy get that close to Jacob, or any other Seed for that matter, without having Grace watching her back. So she did that but again she was too slow and the Deputy literally took a bullet because of it. She could tell where the shot came from but when she scoured the area with her binoculars and her scope she couldn't see sign of anyone. It didn't seem like a very Jacob thing to do, shooting somebody during a peace talk? Years of being a soldier should have trained him better than that.

     Still, Grace couldn't find anyone else to blame. Who would want to stir the pot between the Peggies and the Resistance other than the Peggies themselves? She couldn't place a name or the blame so she just decided to blame the Peggies for now. She'd have to talk with the Deputy about it when she woke up but for now she was just trying to collect all the information she could.

[thebadbatch]

The Bad Batch: Soft Universe

Chapter 7 - Healer.

It had been a few hours since Hunter had revealed Omega's very important duty of being a medic for the mission, regardless it was a small and simple mission with a ninety-nine percent rate of nobody getting hurt Tech had mentioned.

That one percent was somebody falling over or catching their hands against the rocks and she had been preparing for it until they had landed, which was luckily just a moment ago. Omega beamed and grabbed her medikit and blaster, keeping both with her at all times as instructed by their leader, Hunter. As soon as the attack shuttle's door had opened, dust began pulling inward at a rapid pace causing everyone to put their helmets on and Echo putting a filtration mask against Omega's face with a soft smile as he activated it for her. 

"Sandstorm." Tech grumbled before Stepping forward and lighting up his datapad that gave out a hologram of the route they were to follow despite not being able to see a thing. "You're going to have to stick close to me until we reach the cave system." All of the boys agreed before making sure she was in the middle of their well-organised line.  "I suggest we're going to have to hold hands or pieces of your armour - do not get separated." All of the brothers nodded, only Crosshair grumbled a bit as Wrecker held onto his shoulder with him being at the back, And crosshair held onto Echos shoulder. Echo held Omega's hand and Hunter did so too being in front, holding onto Tech's shoulder and beginning to slowly walk through the storm. You truly couldn't see anything, only the faint outline of Tech in front of him. The walk was very painful within terms of using up energy, the powerful wind was pushing against them all making every step take all that long. 

"How much longer is this going to take?" Wrecker mumbled at the back, his voice being carried by the violent winds. Hunter just sighed a little beneath his helmet, stroking Omega's hand with his thumb to give her more reassurance. 

"Not for much longer, I believe we're outside of where to be but there's a rock blocking it." Tech hummed a little, gazing at the diagram before him highlighting the entrance. "I'm going to need this rock moved, Wrecker." He just grinned and moved up the line before managing to get a sight of the rock. 

"That I can do!" As soon as those words left his lips, he lifted the rock upward into his arms with a little effort behind it before throwing it elsewhere. "There we go, simple!" Wrecker grinned, brushing his hands together to get rid of the bits of rock against his gloves. A thank you was given to Wrecker by each of the members, especially the smaller one that was accompanied with a viable beaming smile. 

"Come on then." Hunter spoke, following Tech into the tunnel that finally cleared up all of the dark dust blocking their vision, Wrecker soon joining them too. Turning on the lights by their helmets, Omega grabbed a torch that she kept within her medkit, still visibly pleased about her important job. 

"Where is the dust bucket then?" Crosshair grumbled, brushing any dust from his weapon that he had a way too big attachment for. "Better not be too long." Tech just sighed as he stated at his map again, pointing toward the red blinker. 

"We need to go down a couple of levels before finding it, it shouldn't take us long." Echo smiled at this, really not enjoying the planet in the slightest. 

"Like she said, quick and simple in and out. Let's move out." Tech nodded as he continued to walk forward, mapping the way slowly but surely before coming up to a three way tunnel system, genuinely a little unsure on which path to take. Hunter growled a little, his senses getting jumbled and muffled - grabbing his head a little. 

"Something doesn't feel right." He spoke as Omega gently held his hand, worried. 

"Are you okay Hunter?" She asked, concerned tones lacing her Kamonian thick accent. "Do you need something from the Med kit?" Hunter couldn't help but smile at her soft words of concern, almost immediately relieving his senses for a moment. 

"It's alright kid, it's probably just the winds but I'm not sure. I think somethings down there?" Echo nodded, putting a hand against Hunter's shoulder. 

"Alright, keep your blasters close and that goes for you too, Omega." She smiled and nodded, holding her blaster against her securely before gazing toward the three tunnel paths. 

"What should we do? Do you know which way to go?" Her voice was filled with curiosity, tilting her head softly. "I feel like we should take the left."

Wrecker laughed a little before nodding. 

"Yeah I agree with the kid! Sounds like a good adventure." Tech soon hummed, staring at the map and hoping for it to reveal the correct path to take. The map was mumbled though, just an x to their correct destination that was blinking rather obnoxiously at him. 

"That would be correct." He stated, finally being able to type in a little code to reveal the map further, the left tunnel blinking. "Good call, Miss Omega." He smiled toward his little sister who beamed once again toward them. They didn't need their torches as long as Omega was this happy; they swear she could brighten up the darkest of planets with her presence alone. The group began to walk down the steeper entrance, annoyed at the planet this 'simple' mission had to be on. The ground beneath them didn't feel very secure which resulted in a few stumbles and a helpful Omega pulling them back up, keeping them from falling. 

"And why would a droid be all the way down here?" Echo grumbled, swiping some more dust from his arm and some from the mechanisms that stood in place of what once was. "It's a little ridiculous don't you think?" Hunter just nodded and sighed a little, 

"The things we do for credits." They all came to an abrupt stop once Hunter held up his arm signalling for them to halt before creeping behind the corner - Omega copying his every move with all  seriousness crossed upon her face. "There are droids." His voice came out more as a snarl, his senses kicking up as he heard their footsteps far within the distant dark tunnel that they had to unfortunately walk through. 

"Droids?" Echo exclaimed, "How the hell are there clankers here?" His voice was a little high, being coated with genuine surprise. 

"I don't know but I just- I know somethings there but I can't pinprick what kind." Tech soon interjected after typing more into his data pad, humming gently. 

"This planet used to be a factory for the creation of droids, but since the Clone Wars came to an abrupt end they used it for construction of the death star. There really shouldn't be any droids down here anymore, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were any rogue ones." Echo sighed a little, his mind returning to previous battles he had been a part of throughout the clone wars he was created for, now after credits just to get by with his current team. He loved this stage of life though, even if things weren't as relaxed as he hoped sometimes. 

"Right, there shouldn't be anything to worry about." Echo responded, sharing a light smile with his brothers and little sister before Hunter signalled an all clear even if they knew a slight amount of chaos could ensue. The torches continued to light up their path, exposing loose rocks, abandoned droid pieces and various materials. It was pretty messy for a cave then again they weren't supposed to ask questions. They just had to get what they came for and be off to get their payment. A quick in and out. 

Before turning what Tech said was the final corner, Hunter pushed them all back and shushed them before peeking over. A small room was situated there, the target droid they had to save sat in the centre of the room switched off but it had droids surrounding it which were working unfortunately. 

"We've got company." His voice whispered, gently signalling Crosshair to look through his scope, activating thermal reading. 

"I see 6 targets, they're typical clankers though." He drew in a sharp breath as he examined, "Nothing too difficult." Hunter nodded before he crouched against the wall. 

"Think you can take them out?" Hunter smirked toward his brother who held his Sniper Rifle delicately, knowing his answer before he even spoke. 

"Of course I can." Crosshair grinned as he once again scanned the room before taking a blast at one of the droids - a headshot as expected. 

"What was that?" One of the droids spoke, turning around quickly. 

"Well I don't know, that's what I was going to ask you!" Another responded before being swiftly taken out. 

"Uh oh." The final replied, also being terminated along with the rest of them. Their cold bodies hit the floor with a loud thud against what appeared to be metal flooring in the cave room, the brothers moving in quickly to examine the mess. 

"Good work, cross." Wrecker beamed, slapping his brother on the back - a habit he really couldn't stop. He just got too excited but it was definitely an aspect of him they all loved, especially Omega. 

"Right, this droid is the one we're looking for." Tech hummed gazing at his data pad. "Wrecker, I'm going to need you to carry it back out with us." He began to run his scanner onto the droid before a beep of affirmation made him nod. 

"That I can do." He smiled, lifting the bigger droid above his head with ease - almost like he was picking up a light bag of feathers or something as such. 

"Right, let's move back out." Hunter informed, beginning to gather everybody back into the cramped tunnels that were getting pretty tiring at this point. "Let's get out of here so we can get our pay, I wouldn't mind another supply run because somebody keeps hogging all of our ration bars." His eyes practically threw daggers toward Wrecker who sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. 

"It's not my fault I get hungrier than you!" Omega couldn't help but laugh at their bickering, holding onto her flashlight a little tighter as they walked through the same way thanks to Tech remembering, speaking about anything and everything they could think about. That was Techs talent and he loved it, filling people's minds with anything and giving them the facts which mostly became useful in one way or another. 

"There are more droids out front." Hunter spoke as they neared the entrance, "But it can't be that many again, a few strays." He mumbled, sighing and getting the blaster prepared all whilst keeping their little medic behind him just in case. 

"Ready boys?" Echo teased, knowing they could take them down within seconds. "This is gonna be underwhelming." They all shared a light laugh before reaching the surface, Cross examining through his thermal scope to spot any droids. 

"Uh, there's more than we anticipated." He spoke out, staring down at something he didn't expect. "I mean thousands more than we anticipated." 

"Thousands?" Hunter near-shouted, making it echo through the caves. "How the hell are we supposed to clear all of them out? Cross can't shoot down thousands within five minutes." Crosshair just scoffed at that, feeling like he could but just not in enough time. 

"We're gonna have to blast our way through and make a path toward the Havoc, we won't be long leaving." He mumbled, staring at his brothers as they gave him a soft nod. 

"Are you going to come out yet?" A voice groaned from outside the cave entrance before moving closer into their view. "I'm getting tired of waiting for my credits." The person who came into view held a blaster pointing it toward them whilst being accompanied by droids surrounding her, clearly on her side. 

"Who are you?" Hunter growled, pissed off their mission had been interrupted by what he could only assume to be another bounty hunter. 

"I go by Blaira, it's lovely to meet you. Now cough up the kid." It was Echos turn to intervene, anger lacing his body. 

"You don't need the kid, you don't understand what they're going to do to an innocent child." She sighed at him, keeping her blaster pointed at Hunter whilst the droids cornered the others. 

"Oh but I do. An entire Empire army depends on her, your little force sensitive clone there." She shimmied her blaster a bit to grin at the blonde hair peeking from behind Hunter's back. "And I'm thrilled to see the outcome. I'm sick of chatting - move." She shot her blaster out which caused the brothers to begin shooting too, easily dodging the droid's bullets on instinct but Hunter not being so lucky to miss Blaira's shot - swiftly shooting him into the chest. Omega pulled her brother back hiding his body behind a bigger rock down into the cave and whipping open the Med kit - shoving pressure onto his chest. 

"Hunter!" Omega shouted out toward him, "Stay with me!" Her voice was pleading and desperate, her brother's grunts of pain becoming more and more worrying. He grabbed his blaster despite the agony he was currently in, shooting a few shots toward Blaira walking toward them both. She easily kicked the blaster out of his weak grip as Omega fussed over his wound terrified at the blood. 

"It won't stop!" She cried out toward her brothers who were way too occupied at the amount of droids coming toward them all. Tech turned, shooting at Blaira who in turn shot back both missing one another. Blaira laughed as she calmly walked away 

"I'll let him die with her first. It's the least I could do." She laughed as the others continued to fend the droid's bullets off, beginning to panic and unable to think of a plan. Tech turned momentarily toward Hunter gazing at the Sight of the blood covering his chest - life beginning to leave his eyes. He rushed over, ordering the other two to continue to attempt to keep them away whilst he helped Omega tend to the wound. 

"It won't stop!" She cried, pushing more pressure against him, gazing at his face. "Stay awake!" Hunter mustered a pain filled smile, 

"Kid, it's okay." His breaths began to get shallow "I'm alright it's gonna be alright…" Tech pulled out his datapad, scanning his wound before cursing under his breath. 

"You're most certainly not fine! It's hit your heart. We can't do anything here, we need to  get you on the shuttle now!" His voice was panicked, beginning to lose his cool as he helped apply pressure searching the Med kit for anything that would help. Multiple bacta patches were scattered through it, wound cleansers, bacta sprays but nothing that could heal a bullet wound in a heart, only infirmaries could do that.  Omega's eyes were filled with panicked tears, that hopeless feeling returning but so much stronger than before. 

"Hunter." She breathed, choking back sobs. "What do I do?"  He took a shallow breath in, holding her hands with the remaining strength he had knowing he was facing certain death among his brothers. 

"Leave. Get out of here, all of you - and keep our name alive." He coughed a little, battling for his next few breaths. "I love you, brothers." He muttered, eyes starting to shut as he turned toward Omega. "I love you, Ad'ika." Once those desperate words left his mouth, his hand grew weaker and limp against Omega's causing her to scream out in inconsolable tears. He was gone and she couldn't do anything about it nor could her brothers. Tech did the only thing he could think about doing which was following his brothers final order - get them all to safety and that was something he was going to do. 

"Come, miss omega." He choked out, holding back his own tears - his brothers still defending them all from the droid's that crowded over. 

"No! We can't leave him!" Her eyes were bloodshot, clinging to Hunter and hiding against him even though he was no longer here. 

"Times up." Blaira spoke, returning to the cave entrance. "Bring me the girl and I won't have to kill anymore 'brothers'. Walking over, despite Tech's shooting, she masterfully dodged each bullet and grabbed him by his neck, throwing him aside like an eaten apple. 

"Come with me if you don't want any more brothers to die. It's Simple." She spat, moving toward her and going to grab her wrist. 

"NO!" Omega screamed, her hands moving across in a swift motion and without touching the bounty hunter and throwing her harshly against the wall. Her eyes were white once again, just as Tech had seen once before back on the unknown planet she loved. Was this the force? Her powers that were genetically coded into her giving her access to the power jedi and sith held? "Leave my family alone." The bounty hunter stood, brushing herself off. 

"Don't think I haven't taken down a Jedi before." She chuckled, removing her blasters. "I can take down a kid with the force." She smirked, pulling her blasters toward her. "Your final warning, don't make me shoot you kid. They don't care if you're dead or alive but I'd prefer you to live to see what you can be capable of." Omega stood up, the white glow from her eyes not once leaving like before - she was conscious and felt the power awaken within her. 

"No, this is your last warning." Omega spoke, protecting Hunter and Tech who had finally stood - blasters pointing toward Blaira. "Leave me and my family alone." The woman laughed, 

"I sincerely admire your confidence, kid." She began to shoot her blasters causing Tech to shoot his own at her, panicking for his little sister. 

"Omega!" He called, turning in her direction who had deflected every single bullet just by standing there and holding her hand up. Before they knew it, waves of the force wracked throughout the cave - every single battle droid turning off and exploding and knocking her back into the wall. Wrecker and Echo rushed over, 

"What was that?!" Wrecker asked, his eyes instantly catching Omega standing there with the same white eyes as before. "Omega?" 

"Hunter!" Echo called out, rushing toward the body with Tech, Wrecker and Crosshair. 

"There's nothing we could do, it hit his heart." Tech spoke, tears clouding his vision. Omega still stood, everything going blank for her once again. 

"Omega." A gentle voice spoke as she turned her focus toward the same voice from before, a jedi Knight stood before her. "I see you've tapped into your force abilities." The man smiled softly before guiding her toward Hunter who was still laying across the floor. "I understand the sorrow you must be feeling, but know you can save him." She nodded gently, holding the Jedi's hand. 

"But how? Tech said it hit his heart and there's just… There's just so much blood." He nodded before bringing them both to crouch over his body. 

"Do you trust the Force, Child?" His voice was gentle, echoing around like it was the only voice she could hear. 

"I… I do." This was all the man needed to hear before another two figures appeared, one being a woman and the others being a species she didn't recognise. 

"Then trust us and use the force with us." Softly, he guided her hands over Hunter's wound and shut his eyes with the other two Force users doing the same. "Feel the force, breathe and focus on healing him. Remember all of the times you have shared, the memories created and the passion in which you feel." She nodded softly, doing as the man told her - a beautiful white light surrounding Hunter's body, life finally returning into him. 

"It is done." The woman spoke with a light smile, "Your brother lives and so shall you." With that, they vanished before her leaving Omega with her hand over where his wound once was surrounded by her brothers who had since stopped crying. 

"What, what did you do?" Crosshair asked, staring at his brother's face who had colour returning to it. 

"I used the force. He's alive." She spoke calmly, smiling at her brother who finally opened his eyes. 

"Omega, guys!" He smiled, yawning like he just awoke from a light nap. "What happened I don't-oh yeah." His eyes were a little big as he sat up groggily, "How am I alive?" Omega began to smile before throwing herself against him. 

"She used the force." Echo responded, smiling before the others joined the hug, even crosshair did so. 

"The force? You used it, Kid?" Hunter grinned holding them all against him. "I'm glad you're all alright." He grinned softly. 

"I'm your medic! Was I a good medic?" She asked, smiling at him and her brothers who genuinely just didn't want to let go. 

"I can affirm that you were the best." Tech reassured, patting her head. "Come, we should head back. Let's get out of here." The others nodded as they helped Hunter stand feeling a little wobbly after his death experience which he was guaranteed going to use to get what he wanted for at least the foreseeable future. 

Heading back toward the ship, they all finally arrived safe and sound - knowing the bounty hunter was knocked unconscious and unable to track them any further. In fact, Hunter had shot one of his bullets at her in her unconscious state knowing she wouldn't get his family now. They were safe and together. 

All clones with advanced skills, and one little force user medic who they wouldn't give up for the world. It was them against the world, and that's how it would stay. 

[echo-three-one]

Whatever It Takes

Sequel to A Forgotten Memory

Comms are down and 141 had no way of determining when extraction will arrive. While the team is defending the base, Alex is tasked to protect our HVIs. Can he handle the responsibility from pure initiative alone?

Previous Chapter : Uninvited Guests

Alex and Augustus

Alex

Task Force 141

Task Force 141 - Secret Bunker

The ground shook as the three of them looked up at the ceiling, Samantha gripped her hand tightly against his, signaling her fear towards the situation. Maxine hugged Samantha while they both whimpered.

"We'll make it out of here. Trust their abilities." he told them and they nodded. Samantha's face looked hopeful and the feeling was nostalgic when their hands met once again. Even the urgency of the situation was familiar.

They had a small talk earlier, saying she wanted to know what happened to them. Alex felt excited, but debated whether it's okay for him to do so, but her eagerness was too powerful to resist. And it's going to be a win for him anyway. 

He smiled at her for being so brave about all this, but their moment was cut off as soon as static rang on his ears.

"Shit. Our comms are down. We'll have to wait for the plane by sight." he muttered and commanded the two girls to follow behind him as they cross a hidden tunnel which led straight to the forest near the secondary LZ

The tunnel was dim and cold. Alex told the two that this tunnel ran below the river to the forest. His words effortlessly echoed across the dark cylindrical passageway as the three made their way across, ears popping as they descended to extraction.

Alex gave Samantha a pistol and told her to watch their back as he climbed the ladder to the exit. Alex's fists pushed the heavy metal door open and repeatedly slammed his hands until it opened. Samantha on the other hand held the pistol forward, pointing it at the dimly lit abyss hoping no one was actually out to get them.

A small ray of sunshine peeked through the opening Alex's slams made and with one final grunt, the metallic door flew up, opening their access to the exit. Alex reached for his hand and grabbed Maxine's, wincing in pain as she held it tight. Next came Samantha and he endured the pain of his now bleeding knuckles as they ran through the LZ.

Alex reached out his hand and Samantha gave her his gun, smiling at her gesture and she smiled back. These were trying times but the reunited couple's hearts were already yearning for each other. It almost felt like she didn't forget about him, even if they still had a lot of memories to recall.

Dark smoke trailed from beyond the valley, from what it looked like, a huge aircraft must've crashed. That means Augustus may be one step ahead of them.

The open plain by the river felt peaceful, until enemies popped up from the trees and encircled the trio as Augustus pointed the gun at them.

"Drop the gun, put your hands up and give us the girl." He ordered, his thumbs clicked the pistol, threatening Alex that he's not going to let this opportunity slip away. Alex backed up a little but they were already encircled by Augustus' men.

"You're not obeying?" he switched his target toward Maxine, grinning as Alex immediately followed.

"Oh… There we go… Willing to risk your life but also willing to give it up for others… How heroic." He mused, circling around them while Alex spread his arms wide, hiding the two behind his arms.

Augustus' grin made Alex's teeth clench. His square shaped face matched the way his blonde flat top haircut and his left eye was purely white, like it got itself in a blinding accident.

"Push her over or I'll shoot this small one!" he roared, he was getting impatient. Their helicopter started to descend and Samantha had to slowly walk towards it. Alex nodded and frowned, they just met and they're going to be separated all over again. But this time, he's determined that it won't happen again.

Maxine's head had a pistol pointed at it while eight armed soldiers targeted their rifles to Alex. Samantha was already sobbing as she slowly stepped to the whirring helicopter.

Alex's eyes met hers and felt a sudden jolt of emotion as tears started to fall out to her cheeks. It felt sad but Alex gave her a hopeful look. She's going to be fine. We won't be separated. I won't allow it.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a flaming missile head straight toward the helicopter causing it to explode. Everyone dropped to the ground on impact while Alex, who saw it coming, quickly got up and pulled the two girls to safety, using his metal legs to effortlessly support their staggered movement.

It didn't take too long for the adversaries to recover. Half of Augustus' me  fired at the base as snipers assisted Alex. They could freely fire now that Augustus no longer pointed their weapon towards the HVIs. 

Alex turned back to see Augustus and two men started to fire bullets toward them. They had to go to the forest, and take advantage of the natural covers known as trees.

Alex didn't know where they were headed but as long as they can't hear something behind them, it was cool. After running aimlessly for a long time, he felt his energy fall and they quickly set camp behind a huge rock, which almost looked like a cave.

"You two okay?" he asked. Samantha whimpered and showed him their burn marks, she was the closest one to the plane and so that explains the redness on her arms.

Alex quickly took off his shirt and ripped it off to create a makeshift bandage while Maxine assisted him as he tied it tight.

"There. It shouldn't hurt as long as you don't bump it onto something." he gently pulled the ends, securing the bandage.

"Thanks, Alex." She breathed, she looked very afraid but was holding on quite well. She had Alex by her side and he's always ready to protect her. Something she assumed that happened back in California.

Maxine held Samantha's hand and smiled while Alex took a quick peek of their location and Augustus' whereabouts.

"Stay here. Don't make any noise." he hushed and left their cave, looking at the two huddled together fighting through the trauma.

Alex was right, he was already nearby. Good thing he decided to leave them as he attempted to stray Augustus away from the girls' location.

His metal leg thumped on the ground loud enough that he realized he's already being chased by gunfire. A single gunfire, he noted. It's only Augustus inside the forest.

His bare back sticked against the rough bark of the tree as he heightened his senses and waited for Augustus. His heavy footsteps drew closer and Alex inhaled deeply as he kicked the tough guy with his metal leg. The pistol flew into the unknown and it suddenly became a fair fight. Fist to fist, just like the old times.

Augustus was quick to recover, heaving as his breathing slowly recovered. Posing his body like a boxer.

"Where is the code?" he grunted, creeping closer toward him.

"Fuck off." Alex spat as Augustus charged full force. He was notably bigger and taller, so charging back would be stupid, so he instead used his quick reaction time to dodge last minute and stomp him as soon as he passes through. 

He stepped on him as soon as he fell, pressing the ground deeper to deal him damage. Augustus still had the strength to use his arms and toss his metal leg back, sending Alex flying a few meters back. He felt the cold soil rub against his back as he struggled to get back up.

They clashed once again, this time fists were flying over their heads and the both of them neither gave up, punches were evaded and they exchanged a lot. When Alex started using his feet, he got the upper hand but a slight error made Augustus catch his foot and flip him to the ground.

Augustus sat on Alex and blew heavy punches on his face. Alex felt the pain and his hand gripped Augustus'  when he tried to choke him for information.

"Where are they?!" he asked, Alex thought it was stupid. How could he say words when he's restricting his airflow. His actions didn't make sense.

"Woo…" Alex wheezed. He couldn't say a word and his vision almost dimmed as he gasped for air. The adversary was convinced Alex would talk so he loosens his grip making the 141 agent cough out and breath heavily.

"They're…" 

"Out…."

"There…" Alex pointed at a random direction as he looked at Augustus, who followed where his fingers pointed, then he quickly poked his eye causing him to fall flat on the ground. He was finally free from his heavy body.

Augustus rolled as his hands held his eyes, cursing while enduring the pain. He took this opportunity to disarm Augustus before he could recover.

"A burner phone." he muttered, tasting iron as he spoke.

"Give me that!" he slowly got up, his eyes still closed. Alex couldn't afford losing a clue, so he did what he had to do. Using his reinforced leg, he kicked the bad guy back and stomped on him, he stomped him enough that he would take long to recover. 

He sighed. He wished that the phone contained a step closer to Nero as he limped back to Samantha's direction. His face ached like hell and his injuries affected how much he could see. But despite all this, Alex focused his mind. He promised he won't let them get Samantha. He won against Augustus but he wasn't satisfied until he saw Samantha's face. Her face that made him admire her the moment they met.

"Alex!" Samantha hushed as they both slowly walked to his direction, assisting him.

"Samantha, Maxine." he coughed, his voice still hoarse from all the choking.

"What happened?!" Maxine asked, carefully placing an arm over her shoulder while Samantha held on the other one. 

"You're saved. That's all that matters." he coughed as his vision blurred. He felt the two pick up their pace and heard the 141s hurried footsteps and Price's orders. They made it out and Alex was happy they did.

Alex slept through the aftermath of the invasion, recovering from his bruises and injuries but he knew full well what's going to happen. For starters, Augustus will be interrogated, about Nero, about Germany and about the EMP. He's the key to ending this war. Second, 141 would have to relocate, and that meant a long discussion with the General and the higher ups who created the force. This would take time for Nero to fully recover his forces and if ever Soap is still alive, he's going to be in grave danger.

Next Chapter : Meet me halfway

Notification Squad my beloved

@smokeywhalee @beemybee @whimsywispsblog @enderio @samatedeansbroccoli @ricinbach

[nothisis-ridiculous]

Take Me Home Now: Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven: Dark and Dusty

Set after the events of ME3.

A rewrite. Ao3.

FemShepxKaidan

"Damnit, did Reynolds forget he took my watch again?" Jane heaved her stiff body away from the person desperately shaking her awake. Gods, she felt like hell. Take a hangover and add being run over by three buses filled with elcor.

"Jane, I wouldn't-," Roy's usually calm voice laced with fear, pleading with the stubborn woman to get up, "there's an emergency. I need you."

The building reverberated, dust wafting into the air in the aftermath of the sudden tremor. The woman sprung from her cot, scrambling through the hallways at breakneck speed. Her footing proved not to be so cooperative, but she held her pace. The rumble had come from the western parking lot, and the rest was slowly forming into a clearer picture, the hushed building, and the distant discharge of guns faint but persistent. Footsteps kept pace behind her, but his words faded into the pounding of her head and the blur of her singular purpose. Arriving in the parking lot out of breath finally drew the situation in a complete picture: they were under siege.

Jane slid into the concrete barrier where Silva rested the barrel of her sniper rifle, her silver eyes flicking over the human a minute later, "you look like shit."

"I've had worse days," she quipped, "what's going on?"

The Turian pulled in a long breath, "I don't know exactly, we got a report of armed assailants. I'm only here to stop them from getting in- Korvac wants you upstairs," the tilt of her head motioned both of them up the ramp.

"Jane, wait!' Roy called as they set up the ramp. The blue-eyed woman giving him a steely gaze, "your weapon?"

"Thank you," she mumbled, forgetting to grab a weapon was not her usual move.

"If you're too hurt-"

"I've had worse," Jane hissed coldly.

The LT gave up, but she felt his gaze on her back. He had more to say. Thankfully, it wasn't coming. The short but brisk trek to the top level of the parking structure drew out in silence. Both comfortable with focusing on the task at hand, the Turian leader waved them over. Directing Jane to look down the scope of the Sniper rifle he handed over to her. The alien was silent, gaze pinned in a westward direction.

She looked down the scope, finding the problem in short order. The familiar krogan, but now flanked in a small force of vorcha. The dull click of the safety-on weapon a very disappointing turn.

"I take it that is only the forward assault?"

"Yes," the Turian hummed, "we're getting reports of at least three other groups. One in each direction."

"Looks like old members of the Blood Pack."

Korvac nodded.

"Where are the varren?"

The structure shook again, "rigged to explode."

Jane handed the weapon to her silent superior, "we need to get all the civilians out, now."

"How? The bastard knows all the routes in and out."

A stand was the obvious answer. They knew they couldn't lose the building; several months' worth of food, clean water, and medical supplies couldn't be moved in time. The gardens and restored generators meant a sustainable future until ships could start rolling off the planet and out of the system. A restart meant a very uncertain future.

They all knew this time was coming. It was just too soon. All preparations, perhaps foolishly, were spent on improving their ease of life. Or more considerately, on the influx of refugees that sought out aid or shelter.

"Alright, Princesses, we can start fighting back now that the Krogan are here," Wrex taunted with misplaced enthusiasm, somethings never changed.

"Wrex," Korvac greeted with unexpected civility, giving a brief overview of the entire situation.

"I volunteer to head off Greenie," the two alien leaders looked at her curiously, "he has the biggest beef with me. If I keep him distracted, or better yet kill him, he can't use whatever knowledge he has of the building. The rest of you can focus on the fodder."

"That's supposing he hasn't given away all our secrets, and it's more than just vorcha; it's every opportunist he could round up," Korvac cautioned.

"Well, we lack time to make a better plan," but he made a good point, but at this time fucked was fucked.

"We can only hope those opportunists are too greedy to share information," Wrex chimed in, "plus this one knows how to make his blood boil."

"Has anyone started to round up the civilians?" Jane asked in Roy's direction.

"I-," the human stuttered.

"Reynolds, this is Recruit- yes." Jane radioed the first soldier she thought could handle the responsibility of gathering the noncombatants. Luckily he was already on the task, but Jane made sure to drill all relevant issues to assure success. Her short conversation and the two alien leaders discussing joint strategy coincided.

"Can you handle the western edge?" the Turian questioned after a long moment, "that could buy us some time. The other groups are still a bit further out."

"You aren't going alone," Roy broke from his stupor, "I'll join you."

"LT-"

"He's right, you need help. Take Silva and the squad at the ramp exit. We need you to slow them."

"How come she gets all the fun," the krogan mused, "fight hard."

"Aim for the head," Jane returned gently.

She picked at the shoddy chest piece that was several inches too big. At a time like this, she shouldn't be picky about such a thing, it was lucky to have a functioning piece of armour, but when one got used to custom and tailored armour, it was hard to go back. But how it already dug into her uncomfortably, it might be better not to have the thing at all. But it was the draw of having a working shield that made the risk worth it.

The most concerning issue was Roy's silence.

"LT," she cooed, "everything alright?"

He toyed with his assault rifle, cheeks puffing out, "this is serious, isn't it?"

Right, Roy hadn't experienced much in terms of combat; before the Reaper War he had seen none in his military days. This up-close, high-risk mission with a small squad was out of his foray, especially with the consequences of failing. Manning the perimeter and firing shots at assailants behind windows was a different ballgame from the full-fire combat.

"It's not too late to join the others," Jane was already miffed that a squad followed behind her; the hair-brained suicide mission felt like a better option. To see Silva and Roy tied up in it was a lead weight in her heart.

The man huffed again, and she reflexively looked down, braced for his angry retort. Instead, his arms pulled her in, wrapping around her tightly, a hand cradling the back of her head, "not now. We both know how important this is."

"No need to get all emotional, LT," she teased gently, working herself from his grip slowly the attention it brought both of them stopping the moment from lasting, "keep your head down and stay undercover. Adrenaline takes over the rest."

"I'm glad you know what you are doing," but he managed to smile, "I'll stop moping."

Jane tenderly nudged him, "I've seen lifelong soldiers piss themselves before their first battles, I think you're doing fine."

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Varren were easy.

Not in the familiar way of sending the lot of them flying with a biotic blast of energy that tore through the pack in a single flick of her arm easy- but one headshot seemed to do the trick. Silva caught a few from behind her shoulder, sticking to her vantage point further downwind. Roy's assault rifle hit the explosive packs, wiping out several in one burst.

It was the vorcha crawling over the rubble and concrete barriers that had her worried. They took far more time and attention to deal with. Their innate regeneration meant missed shots becoming more costly, and the extra time needed to line up an accurate headshot took attention away from the swarming varren. And wherever that damned Krogan went.

The first turian went down, a missed varren sending shale and dust rocketing across the entrenched ramp.

Vorcha swarmed through the haze, the real heat of battle ensuing in the panic. Some resorted to hand-to-hand combat, while others fired into the fog. Screams echoed in the concrete chamber, and they were getting overrun quickly. Several more detonations followed, rocking the building and dust from where it rested.

"Hold fire!" Jane screamed.

Attempting something she had only ever seen but not done.

A pulsing blue shield of biotic energy enveloped the entrance to the parking structure. It wavered, shrinking a meter before it swelled back into its original size. Jane stood in the middle, the swirling energy coating her body.

The defenders didn't need to hear Shepard's strained command to return fire. Varren and Vorcha alike collided against the barrier, if they were not gunned down. The biotic force a shield against further explosions and, more importantly, the rubble from the blasts.

"Jane, Greenie just ahead," Silva radioed- the rest of her statement ignored in the blur of her focus shift and the human's collapsing against the concrete barrier.

Roy slid against his recruit once he needed to reload, "we could have used that firepower long ago, Recruit!"

"Heh," half of Jane smirked, blood streaking from her nostrils. Peering over the concrete sloppily to get a look at the green crested Krogan that approached. Her smile widened as Roy looked at her with growing horror.

Roy grabbed her face, his thumb tracing down the unreactive side of her cheek. The odd scars glimmered beneath the touch, her eyelid reacted slowly to his thumb hovering over it. His worry intensified as the woman snapped forward, her head colliding with his chest plate. Unconscious for only the moment her forehead met armour.

"We're the only ones left," the voice over the radio stated in a panic, a shot careening over their position.

"Don't do this," he murmured, grabbing the stubborn female's chin. Purple washed over her skin despite the tear leaving his eye.

After all his fuss, he was powerless against the otherwise harmless force of energy that sent him toppling into another barricade; Jane looked down at him from a shakey height, "I won't be the last again."

In a splitting snap, Jane was gone, transforming into a hurtling meteor of blue energy racing at the oncoming krogan. The mass of energy collided full force with the krogan, bashing him into the wall a resounding crack of bone and sinew followed but still, the alien managed to shove the woman to the ground. Jane rolled to avoid the shotgun blast, using the momentum to charge again. This time with only the force of anger and spite.

The shimmering purple and blue gathered into her palms, exploding nanoseconds later in a pulse of bright light that filled the structure. Rocking it aside more than any of the rigged varren could manage. Once the light settled, the recruit's form lay lifeless on the ground. The Krogan's teetering foot lifted, on course for her exposed skull slamming with the last of his might.

[lolathepeacocklord]

Chapter 2 – Run Rabbit Run     God… It was such an awful day. He was given the day off from work for feeling sick, and on his way to his dorm right around the corner to his hallway he stepped on something… Red. Blood. It looked fresh too. He just thought alright- maybe some girl was having a messy day, but there was more. Droplets were now little puddles of red. All the way to his room where it looked like some ketchup monster fell over against the door. And started… Crawling. All the way to the bathroom. Smith gently opened the door.    He could remember it in so much detail. Most of it just being blood. Lots and lots of blood everywhere- all coming from his roommate who was bleeding to death in the bathtub. He literally looked like he was tossed into a cage full of angry tigers. And that’s only slightly exaggerating. It looked like something just out of a horror movie. After his friend got sent to the hospital for several days, he got asked a lot about what happened- always giving them the strangest response. He kept saying that a man did this to him. All these gashes and tears were caused by a… Human male. They weren’t sure if it was just the anesthetics when they first asked him, but he stuck to the story.    He thought he saw this woman getting attacked, and he ran over to try and help. But when he got closer, then man who pinned her to the ground was… Eating her. Tearing her apart with his hands and teeth. And then he went for Hunter.   Smith was really worried about his friend after he returned home. Almost immediately when he thought he was okay he returned and then they were both sick as hell. Then the emergency broadcast came on TV, and Smith was just suddenly in- immense amounts of pain. He couldn’t see right, and it literally felt like his insides were moving around in him. He tried to go get his friend. Tell him they were a lot sicker then they thought. Right in front of the door he collapsed on the ground, and everything went black from there. That was his last memory. The last moments in a normal world.

   Common infected littered the streets- dead and alive. Most of them just wandering around aimlessly, sleeping in any place they found fit, and some just starting random baby fights over who would get to eat this person’s body. Being infected was at least handy in the aspect the commons didn’t pay much attention to you. Sometimes they’d try and attack you just because they’re brainless morons now. But a full on horde was never really a problem to him. Just crowded. He was one of them, they were one of him. He hated to think about that, but it was true.    The rain let up on him finally, which was the first convenient thing that happened to him today. He wasn’t gonna get absolutely drenched anymore. But he still kept an eye out for anything that could be… Following him. From the few things he’s seen, he knew that special infected could be very efficient hunters. And they may not hesitate to attack their own kind- so he moved along swiftly down the street.    Smith wandered out to a giant intersection in town, and took a moment to look around at the buildings surrounding him. He’s gone quite a distance from home. A thing or two here was ever so slightly familiar. But whatever it was It was now in shambles, and either on fire or it looked like it was about to collapse at any moment. He continued along, trying to stay concealed under the shadows of buildings. He already drew enough attention to himself with the occasional coughing and wheezing. At least from what he’s seen most smoker’s have a green mist around them. He was gifted enough to not have that, unless a tumor got popped open or punctured. Then there will be stink mist and weird goo dripping out of him. It was… Really gross. He hated it. There was still a lot to get used to with this mutation. But he felt like he was never going to get used to it. Who can just suddenly get used to a new body like this after living with a normal human one for 27 years?    This session of moping was suddenly cut off when he heard something. Something small was flashing red in the distance, and… Beeping? It definitely got the attention of several common infected, and they all ran over to start hitting and attacking it. Then just like that the thing exploded- sending zombie part flying everywhere    “WHOO! That was a BIG one!” Some dude ran over to the gorey aftermath and laughed about it. Four other people followed behind him- three girls and another guy it looked like. The boy who just threw that bomb looked pretty young- maybe in his last years of high school. He had messy brown hair and wore a torn up leather jacket. He seemed… A little too happy about there being zombie guts everywhere. One of the girls started scolding him for running over and laughing about the bomb explosion. “This isn’t a game you know!” She was a short blonde woman, looking like she may have been Asian. Her hair was in a bob cut and oddly neat for it being the end of the world. The other three people was a girl with light brown hair up in a ponytail, and seemed a lot sharper then the rest of the team. Seemed like she was maybe the leader?    The other woman had shoulder length hair that was pitch black, with a little bit of purple faded into it. She looked like she could have been your junior high bully, or the biggest mcr fan you’ve ever met. She was a little gruff, but in more of a charismatic way. She also seemed to get along with the leader girl.    The last man was taller then everyone else, had neat brown hair and glasses, and had a neat turtleneck sweater that was now covered with blood and other stains. He was trying to help lead around the rowdy boy, who was very disobedient and kept trying to screw around with the infected before he chopped their head off with an axe. “Look Ed- I know we’ve been in the safehouse for a few days, and you’re excited to be out! But you can’t just run off and be a reckless idi-” “Cram it, Goodman.” Ed shoved a pistol into a sleeping zombies mouth and fired. He snapped his head to the right real fast and stared blankly into the alleyway. “You coming?” The queen of emo asked him. Goodman had a map with them and they were trying to figure out where they were, and where they were gonna be heading. “Yeah sorry, I thought I saw something.” The boy shrugged and went back to the rest of the group.    ‘Shit.’ Smith thought frantically- hiding behind a dumpster. If it wasn’t so damn dark here they may have saw him. Shit- He seemed to have… Misjudged how far away the survivors actually were. Good god- how could he get out of here. Should he just wait it out? They might go in the direction he wanted to go. But he also wasn’t going anywhere specifically. Just away from this place. He put his hand over his lumpy neck for a moment, feeling… Odd? And quickly he slapped both his hands over his mouth. God damn it- another coughing fit. At the worst possible time too. He tries to hard to make these stop, but he just… Can’t. It’s too difficult, and not to say painful as well.    Ed looked down that same alley again, squinting a bit and only half listening to what the group was discussing. Sounded like something was… Wheezing? Crying? Coughing? He couldn’t really tell. “Where are you goi-” “Chill out pipsqueak, I just think I head something.” He readied a sniper rifle and cautiously approached the area. “Uh… Hello? Any zombies making love back here?” He asked, peeking around the corner. Smith’s heart almost stopped right there and then when he heard how close he was getting. He proceeded to press himself against the dumpster and think of what to do. He was gonna need to act fast if he wanted to live. He looked to the side very slowly and saw the tip of the gun… “Hey! What are you doing back there!?” The emo girl yelled over. Ed turned around and responded “Something back here smells like shit, I wanted to see wh-”    Before he could finish that sentence he got socked in the face and someone’s knees slammed directly into the crotch. He fell on the ground writhing in pain, and Smith took the chance to grab his gun and start running off. “Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck-” Everyone was on him now, and there was a dead end. Wonderful. It was mostly covered by wooden planks, but more to the side he could see the fence was made of chains. He was probably gonna die right now anyways, but he may as well go down trying to save himself. The survivors ran over to see their injured friend, who had a bloody nose and probably no more balls. “What was that!? Did you see??” Goodman helped him up and watched the leader chase the attacker. “Megan’s going after it. I think it was a… Zombie? Pen, did you see him?” “Yeah, he looked like a zombie I’m pretty sure.” The short girl said. “Looks like he came to avenge his fallen comrades.” She looked at Ed with a small sneer.    Megan chased the smoker down all the way to a dead end, where he just dropped the sniper rifle and started climbing the fence. Right as he got to the top she ran to snatch the gun, quickly took aim, and fired. With a shriek he fell off the fence on the other side, writing and pain. She got him in his left arm, and he was bleeding out fast. He was on the other side though, so he pushed himself back up and started booking it out of there. Megan sighed softly and returned to her friends. “I drove him off. Don’t worry, I don’t think he’ll be coming back.”

   Smith had been running for a good long while- grasping his arm tightly and breathing heavily. The troubling thing now is that he was bleeding a lot, and things started to get… Blurry. He leaned against a wall real quick, trying to catch his breathe. Problem was it didn’t feel like he was catching his breathe. Ever. He wheezed loudly with each inhale and exhale, but it felt like almost no oxygen got into him. His legs were shaky, he felt weak… God, he was so tired. He glanced at his shoulder for a second and-

”SHIT!” He screamed and saw someone reaching over to him. Once more he socked them in the face- sending them onto the ground. They scrambled away for a moment, and then Smith pulled out his shotgun. ”DON’T FUCKING MOVE!” He screamed, wheezing loudly afterwards. ”Waitwaitwait don’t shoot don’t shoot!” The man shouted back, sounding terrified. He was holding his hands up, and neither of them moved for several moments. The guy was in a spot Smith couldn’t really see him. Damn it, the sun was about to set soon. Everything was dark.    “Okay… I want you to stand on up, and walk over here slowly.” Smith sighed. He felt like he was gonna faint any moment now.   “Okay-! Alright. Just… Don’t freak out, okay?” The man was a lot calmer now, and proceeded to stand up. He took each step forward with caution, and didn’t take his eye off Smith or the shotgun for even a second. And the smoker right there and then almost fainted from what he saw.    “I’m sorry, you just looked… Wait, you’re injured.” Was what the man had to say. The guy had his brown hair in a small ponytail, he was terribly obese, he wore a blue coat with a white shirt underneath it, and he looked at Smith not with fear anymore. But with concern. “I heard gunshots not too far away. Were people trying to hurt you.” Still frozen in place, Smith just continued staring at the man. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The guy seemed completely normal, yeah. Except for the bulging tumor covering his right eye, and the two smaller ones visible on his neck.

[notchesandbullets]

World Upside Down (Bullied!Shy!Reader x Big Brother!Dragons+Hak) Modern AU

Words: 2.3k

"Yona!!" You cried, bursting into her room with tears streaming down your face.

"Y/N?!" She hurried over to you. "What's wrong?!"

You tossed your phone to her in mortification. Her eyes widened in shock as they landed on the post. Someone had taken a picture of you doing something quirky, and posted it to social media. The comments were extremely toxic, and hundreds of people had already viewed it.

"Oh no..." Yona let your phone fall back down to the mattress, engulfing you in a hug.

You were sobbing into her shoulder, completely overwhelmed with humiliation and embarrassment. It might not seem like a very big deal to some, but to you, this felt you were exposed. Your privacy, invaded.

Yona heard the rapid footfalls of her housemates and a second later, her bedroom door was flung open again. In came five very worried, very ready to beat up anyone who made you cry, older brothers.

You couldn't calm down enough to answer their frantic questions. Zeno immediately went over to you, hugging you tightly and whispering reassuring words in your ear. Shin-ah was right behind him, placing his pet squirrel, Ao, on your shoulder. The furry creature rubbed her cheek against yours, making you let out a tearful laugh. Shin-ah and Zeno smiled softly at the sound.

Kija was wailing and crying with you, unsure of how to help, but certainly ready to be of assistance however he could. Jae-ha was braced against the wall, the farthest away from you and you reached out your arms. Silently begging for a hug.

He walked over without hesitation, dropping down beside you and embracing you closely, planting a small kiss on your hair. Hak's gaze was murderous as Yona handed him your phone. Jae-ha looked up questioningly at the younger and his body tensed in fury as Hak showed him the screen. Kija's mouth dropped open in shock that someone would say something so mean about you, then he stormed out of the room.

Jae-ha broke apart from you. Your cries had reduced to sniffles by now, and you were trying desperately to wipe away the tears that had rolled down your face. Shin-ah's lips drew back in a snarl as Hak passed your phone to him, and the only indication that Zeno was bothered was the slight darkening of his eyes.

"Oh hell no." Hak stormed past Jae-ha who didn't try to stop him, the elder even turning on his heel to follow him out. "They're going to pay."

There was a maniacal glint in Kija's eye. "No one messes with our sister." He declared.

"They better stay out of our way." Shin-ah's normally soft voice was hard with rage. Then he shrugged noncommittally. "Or not. I'll kill them either way."

Hak ordered, "Kija, bring the guns."

"Got it." The white-haired man ran to the room where they stored all of their weapons. They had a surprising surplus of them that would be alarming if you had never seen them fight before.

Hak owned a gun range, the military regularly using it for practice. You had no idea how that all came to be. There were rumors floating around that he was secretly a government operative, and in all honesty, you wouldn't be too surprised if he was.

Kija, strangely, was rather good with extendable metal claws that he had made in high school. They were crafted from steel and made to imitate the claws of a dragon. He rarely parted with them and they were his go-to weapon in a fight.

Jae-ha specialized in Capoeira, a fluid style of martial arts that used acrobatics to evade attacks while offensively utilizing kicks and punches. He was also quite skilled with knives. Scarily so. It was a good thing you weren't on his bad side, not that he would have the heart to hurt you even if you did.

Shin-ah knew swordsmanship from his adoptive father, who was also named Ao, who taught him at a young age. Zeno tended to prefer defensive tactics, but you've seen him fight offensively before and it was quite a force to be reckoned with.

Then, Hak's announcement shocked you back into reality.

"What?!"

"Yeah, Shin-ah, that sword's a good idea." The seriousness in Jae-ha's voice alarmed you.

"Now, wait a second!" You protested.

Zeno's normally cheerful personally shifted to something ferocious."We got their names right? They won't live to see another day."

Protective Zeno was surprisingly dark.

"Hang on a second!" You spread your arms in the doorway, preventing them from leaving. They could've easily all pushed past you, but they didn't. They looked down at you curiously, the blood-thirst heavy in the air. "You shouldn't kill them!!"

"Why not?" Zeno asked innocently. "They hurt our baby sister. They have to pay."

Shin-ah nodded silently, tapping the hilt of his sword against the palm of his hand threateningly. He was more than ready for them.

You sighed exasperatedly, sending a pleading look to Yona. "Can you at least convince Hak for me?" You begged.

The Thunder Beast peered closely at you. "Convince me of what?"

You threw up your hands. "This is not a good idea! What happens afterwards! They're going to come again-"

"Actually," Jae-ha stated flatly, raising a hand to interrupt you. "They won't be alive so you don't need to worry about that."

"What about how much trouble you'll get in?!" You were grasping at straws here. They really didn't seem eager to let go of their vengeance.

Kija shrugged nonchalantly. "Seems like a small price to pay for protecting you."

He had metal claws in his grip, and handed Hak several firearms.

Shin-ah nodded in agreement with his older brother. Zeno reached over, patting you on the head lightly. "If you really don't want us to, Zeno will listen! But Zeno cannot speak for the others."

You gave him a weak smile, biting your lip.

You really had no idea what to do.

Yona came over, placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder, then turned her burning violet gaze onto your brothers.

"Let's go."

You sputtered in surprise as they all left, and you made no motion to stop them. You sunk to the floor, with your face in your hands.

This wasn't going to end well.

It wasn't until hours later that they returned. Your worried gaze scanned them automatically for injuries, but there was no blood in sight. You breathed a sigh of relief. They were okay.

"Y/N!!" You looked up as you saw Yoon speeding towards you. He crashed into you, wrapping his arms around your shoulders. "Are you alright?!"

You nodded against his neck, eyes closing. It had been a while since you last saw him, he was so busy with medical school. Even though he was young, he was nothing short of a genius, and after he had run into Hak and Yona one day, your little group had taken him under your wing.

You pulled back from the hug, addressing the apprehensive group before you. "Where did you all go?"

Yona beamed brightly at you, and even Hak cracked a genuine smile, handing you back your phone. You hadn't even noticed that it was missing, too distracted by the turmoil of events that had all happened so fast.

You looked down hesitantly, but what your eyes landed on made them water with overwhelming joy.

They had gone into the city, and taken a series of pictures. Each had one word in it, with the gang all pointing to it excitedly.

They made up the sentences: Y/N's the best! We love Y/N!! There's no one like her!!

The caption made fresh tears fall down your face. You were guessing Yona had written it, but you could spot the elements of your brothers' influence in it.

"There's no one like her. She's the goofiest, most crazy, lovable, most caring, kind and faithful person anyone could ever hope to have. We're so lucky to be in her circle of friends, and we're proud of who she is!! If anyone's got a problem with that, you don't know what you're missing out on."

The comments were largely positive this time around. More people had liked the post than had seen the other video of you, and you felt like you were going to cry again. There were still some ones who didn't have anything nice to say, but you were so touched and moved by your friends that it didn't seem to matter anymore.

"Ah, damn it!" Hak tugged at his hair roughly. Kija frowned at your tears. "I knew we should've killed them instead!"

"No!" You cried out, yanking your phone back to your chest as Hak moved to grab it. "This is perfect." Your heart felt warm all over.

"Thank you." You said softly, looking down at your feet.

They all smiled fondly at you, happy that you liked their gift. Yona had to talk them all down, despite wanting to do less than ethical things to the bullies too. She was proficient in archery, and Hak was teaching you how to handle a sniper rifle.

"Come here, you rare beasts." Yoon announced, holding up several bags of groceries that you didn't notice before. "And Y/N and Yona. It's time for dinner."

Hak complained about how he wasn't a dragon, so it didn't apply to him, and Yoon promptly whacked him over the head. You giggled, and Shin-ah looked at you happily, glad to hear that sound again.

He couldn't stand the sound of you crying, he hated it more than anything else in the world. It also made Jae-ha's heart break when you were sad, especially if he couldn't do anything about it.

Whenever Hak saw you were upset, he wanted to do something immediately to fix the problem, but sometimes you just needed him to stay with you and hear you out. Zeno's presence always cheered you up and made you smile, and Kija's antics usually had the same result.

You seemed to put the negativity from this morning behind you. Smiling brightly, you followed Yoon into the kitchen as he continued to berate the self-proclaimed Thunder Beast.  The rest of them filed in eventually, Zeno ducked into his room.

"No, don't put that there!" Yoon smacked Hak's hand which was dangling a piece of carrot above the boiling water away from the pot. "Yona, wait-"

Sauce flew clear across the room, painting the wall the same shade of red as her hair. You were sitting on the counter, watching the craziness unfold with your mouth dropped open.

"Argh!" The pretty boy was starting to get fed up. "Okay, I need to cook the meat first. Jae-ha... cut that so I can season it."

The green-haired man nodded obediently but tripped over Shin-ah who was lying in the middle of the floor, causing the food in his hand to go tumbling down to the ground. Shin-ah reflexively brought his hand up to catch the falling meat, but that set off another chain reaction as Yona also dived for it. She crashed into Shin-ah and Jae-ha landed on top of her heavily.

In a second, Hak heaved Jae-ha to his feet, getting in close to his face.

"Yah!" Yoon yelled, straining to be heard above the noise. "If you're going to fight, go outside!"

Jae-ha was holding up his hands innocently, protesting against Hak's grip on the front of his shirt. He broke free, only to back away into Yoon, who was stirring the soup. The spoon he was holding clattered loudly to the tile floor.

Your eyes widened as he whipped around and everyone cringed at the anger in his eyes.

"GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN!!!"

They all scurried out, thoroughly chastised by mother. You hesitantly dropped down from the counter, making your way over the boy who was jerkily preparing the food.

"Yoon?" Your soft voice was timid and he turned around abruptly, tension easing as he saw the uncertainty swimming in your eyes.

He sighed, the sound echoing around the nearly empty kitchen. "Do you want to help?"

You nodded eagerly, lighting up at the idea. Yoon gave you a lopsided smile. "Cut the vegetables. I'll rescue the meat."

You two worked in tandem seamlessly. In no time at all, dinner was ready and Yoon was gathering the adults on the couch in the living room.

Once they were all lined up, you stifled a giggle as you noticed the varying degrees of guilt on their faces. Only Zeno was the one who looked confused as the why the boy in front of him had smoke blowing out of his ears.

"Now look here." Yoon reprimanded, jabbing a finger at the gang. "We're supposed to be cheering up Y/N because of what happened earlier today."

You stiffened, the reality of this morning's events flooding back to you and overtaking your mind. However, you could still hear Yoon as he continued his speech.

"Behave yourselves, or else," His bright blue eyes flashed in warning. "No dinner for a week."

They all bowed, "Yes, mother."

"I DON'T REMEMBER GIVING BIRTH TO ANY OF YOU!!" He shouted in annoyance.

You laughed, the dynamic would forever be something consistent for you. The bullies faded into the background as you focused on the way your brothers roughly bantered with each other, pulling Yona into the chaotic mix.

They had shown you that people will do and say whatever they wanted to, but you had people who loved you no matter what. They loved you for you, and that'll forever stay with you.

[kriffingunlucky]

Hi um I was wondering if you could do a oneshot or a headcannon with the bad batch or one of the clones with their so/reader taking a shot for them in the middle of a battle(it being a very bad injury but they survive) If you do a oneshot (for the bad batch?) could it be for Crosshair? If one of the clones could it be either Dogma, Kix, or Echo?

Oh shoot (all puns intended). Yes.

And since your bio refers to you as a guy,, I’mma try to do that or just keep it gender neutral. [cue eye emoji’s]

___________________

You, being their personal medic, and The Bad Batch were walking through somewhat of a thicket in the woods you’d set out to explore. The crunching of leaves and swaying branches is all that was heard, until Wrecker shouted.

“Look! Look, Cross!!” Pointing at an animal with large, fluffy ears, that was now retreating. “Awe, man. You missed it! I know you love those things too.”

“I don’t.” Was the smooth reply of the sniper.

You laughed hardily, “I saw it Wrecker. It was cute.”

“Ain’t it?” He grinned back, you being able to see his expression due to him wearing his helmet as some sort of hat. You had learned not to ask about many things that happen around here. Because some can’t be explained, and others, you just don’t want to be explained really.

“And you like those cute ‘lil things, huh, Crosshair?” You teased, smiling at him with this shit eating grin.

The man only grunted. “They’re animals. I have no prefer-”

“Actually, I remember one time you tried to adopt one.“ Tech cuts in as you walk towards the edge of a rather steep slope.

“Really??” You snorted. “That’s adorable.”

Crosshair begins to reply with something nasty, as usual, but Hunter holds his hand up, signalling you all to stop. So you do.

Right ahead of you was the seemingly abandoned Separatist tower.

“Tech, the door. Wrecker with me. Cross and (Y/n) keep watch.”

Everyone moves, taking to their respected roles. The three of them sliding down the hill while you moved with Crosshair behind some cover. The sniper set up his stand, laying on his stomach and messing with gauges on his rifle.

You watched, squatted down beside him, eyes squinted and trained on the other bathers breaching the door. You heard Tech’s familiar “Ah” before the large doors slid open. He drew his double blasters and proceeded in with Hunter following, Wrecker coming in the rear.

It seemed okay.

Until something in the top floor blew, no, nothing in the floor blew. It was shot from behind. But as fast as that thought could process in your head you heard the clanking of thousands of metal feet.

“Shit, Crossha-”

“I got them in my sights.”

“But the others-”

“They’re aware.”

Clamping your mouth shut, you plant your knees in the ground and lay the pistol on the rock. Looking through the sights you line up a couple shots when the enemy finally comes out of the treeline. You take down two in the time that Crosshair had taken down six. And he kept his streak up by picking off the main ones that were firing on the building.

They hadn’t located your position, not yet at least.

Until a small object was thrown towards your position, and while Crosshair noticed it, he noticed it too late. He was too focused on the droids firing on his brothers down low.

The grenade flashed with a bright light, scrambling all sorts of technology.

Including his helmet.

It crackled with electricity as he let out a string of curses, ripping it off of his head, he hissed. Running a hand over his face quickly, he then switches multiple things around on his rifle, turning off anything but the mechanics themselves. Since they were fried. He relied on his eyesight and the notch on the top of his rifle.

He didn’t lack the skill, and continued picking them off.

But now you could see his face. How one eye was closed tightly, the other leveling with his gun, his lips pressed together and nose scrunched up. His brows furrowed together as well. You could now see his lips twitch in a smile and him whisper out the count of his kill streak every time he took a droid down.

It was oddly attractive, how serious he looked.

But your awkward staring was cut short when a couple shots come too close to your position, grazing Crosshair’s shoulder plate. Making it smoke. He clicked his tongue. “Dare I say they’ve locked onto us.”

“Oh, well how did you deduce that?” You rolled your eyes and begun firing on them again, since they were now advancing to your position.

“Just a lucky guess-” He started, but then howled, head jerking to the side. He grasped the side of his face, blood trickling down his jaw and soaking into his blacks already. His hand was covered and it hadn’t been there but for a minuet.

Leaping forward, you kneel down, turning him towards you and shoving him down. Keeping both of your heads out of the line of fire The shot didn’t hit him directly but it did nick him pretty good. It was deep and too close to his eye for your liking. “Hey, we have to get out of here.”

He groaned and kept his right eye shut, voice tight. “Have they moved out of the building? I need to cover them.”

You popped your head up and scanned over the area, not seeing them, then ducking back down and clicking on your wrist commlink. Bringing it to your lips while you hold the side of his head with your other hand.

“Are you boys out of there yet? Cross got nicked pretty good and I need to move him to the Marauder to fix him up.”

The link crackled but there was no answer, you cursed, hating that your comms were down.

Taking the incentive you go ahead and lift Crosshair, who’s eyes were dilated due to the amount of blood loss he’s suffered, and support him with one arm while you took out the advancing droids with the other.

Walking as fast as you could with him hanging off of you, you bunker down behind a hill, letting him sit against the moist soil as you popped up and shot down five in a row. Panting as you jerked to the side, your eyes wide.

“Well there almost went my head.“ You grumble as you shoot down a couple more, enough to move more without being too overrun, so you do so.

Helping the now complaining Crosshair up again and moving quickly. You see the ship up ahead and then look back, shooting a couple more times, but missing them. You think you can make it.

So you pick up your pace, shooting at the enemy still, nearing your goal.

“Come on, Cross! You can do it! Keep awake and walking with me, okay?” You shout over the blaster fire and your hard gasping, trying not to panic.

He groans and closes his eyes, obviously in pain. But he opens them again and nods. “Almost there.” He replied.

You smiled and continued to heave, a now more aware, Crosshair. Nearing the ship you see the other batch members approaching from the other side. So you stop shooting and just run with all of the energy you had left. The enemy forces were closing too fast, you had to get him inside.

You set him down on the ramp, or that’s what you played it off as, but really your legs just gave out completely. Wrecker and Tech approaching you first, Tech though ran inside of the ship to start up the engines. Evacuating as soon as possible with the plans was first priority. Wrecker covered you as best he could, but there were too many.

“Where the hell is Hunter?” You pant, knees shaking as you push yourself back up from all fours, sweat and blood running down your face. Holding your blaster with shaking hands you help him cover, your aim was utter shit because of your shaking, but you managed to hit some of your targets.

“Right here.” His deep, very recognizable voice answers your question. “Move back into the ship.”

Hunter steps in first and disappears inside of the cockpit. With Wrecker following second, you bend down to pick the sniper up, bridal style. Standing and then snapping your head over when you hear a whining sound, you see a heavy weapons droid. Your legs felt like jello and you couldn’t move fast enough to get you both inside fast enough, so you turned your back to the enemy, protecting Crosshair with your life.

Very literally.

The Havoc Marauder started taking off, the ramp puling in slowly, which made the droids shot inaccurate but it still hit you. And hard.

All you could remember past that was hitting something metal, cold liquid on your lip and ringing in your ears.

--

Opening your eyes with a lot of blinking, you squint, bright white light filling your vision. Pain raced through your head and shoulders, especially your neck. But you couldn’t feel your back at all. Hoping that was more of a good sign then bad, you slowly regained your senses. Grasping the end of a conversation.

“Lovers do everything together, huh?” You could distinguish Wreckers laugh.

“Not die together. Those idiots.” That was Tech, definitely.

You didn’t understand what he meant but your head hurt too much to try and understand, your eyes finally focused, and you caught sight of what was in front of you.

Actually who was.

Crosshair was sleeping soundly beside you, the side of his face patched up and hand over yours. Face to face, noses almost touching, breath hitting each others faces. You were slightly shocked, to say the least. But took advantage of his closeness.

Cuddling into his chest, you rested your face in the crook of his neck, taking his hand in yours and tucking them between the both of you. Closing your eyes.

But he yawned and shifted, wrapping both arms around your form. Pulling you as close to him as he could. His body was tense for a moment, but when you let a breath out, he relaxed. Dozing back off.

You’d have to ask Tech what meds he put him on to make him this cuddly.

But right now you couldn’t keep yourself from falling back asleep.

[houseisekai]

House Isekai: A Realm Reborn - Part 1, Old Places and New Faces (2 of 2)

House Isekai ARR Masterlist Here

—

Upon their return to Fodlan, Kazuma, Rean, Towa, and Aigis have found that it has changed drastically. Whether it was for better or worse, was unknown.

After reuniting Sitri and meeting the second generation of Garreg Mach students, the four make their way once more into the Zanado Tower...

Class VII pressed onwards as they looked at the environment constantly shifting around them.

Colossal platforms flew past them with lights flickering to life.

Altina struggled to process it all, so much information was flowing in at once.

Kurt tried his best to ignore the fantastical sights around him and tried to find an exit.

All he found were several crates with notes scattered on them and massive doorways.

Many of the platforms moved higher up into the room, but he had no idea where that would lead, so he avoided them.

(Juna) "K-Kurt? Do we know where we're going?"

(Kurt) "N-...No."

(Ash) "It'll probably be fine. Rean went through here right?"

(Musse) "Maybe? Where is everyone?"

(Altina) "...I seem to detect life forms?"

(Kurt) "Friendly?"

(Altina) "Unknown. None match Instru-...Hold on a moment."

(Everyone) ?

(Altina) "I am sensing Instructor Rean's presence. It is near the very top of this...building?"

(Musse) "Hm...I'm worried about the other ones."

(Juna) "Same here. We all got our weapons right?"

Class VII nodded and drew their weapons, keeping it at the ready.

(Juna) "Whew, least we're not totally unprepared."

"ALERT! ALERT!"

The five of them quickly moved closer together, looking around the area and trying to find the voice.

"THREAT DETECTED, UNKNOWN SIGNATURES DETECTED, ENGAGING SECURITY MEASURES."

(Kurt) "Is...it talking about us?"

(Ash) "If it is, then we better shut up and get out of here."

[A Long Fall - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

Sitri and the others stepped into Tower and heard the alert blare throughout the area.

(Kazuma) "The hell?"

Aigis turned back and looked at the Garreg Mach students and frowning.

(Aigis) "Is it detecting us?"

(Helena) "Considering this is our first time here, probably."

(Kairos) "W-WHAT IN THE WORLD?!"

(Elizabeth) "What is this place?!"

(Astrid) "It's so...bright!"

(Stefan) "Yeah, the glowing crystals are kinda hurting my eyes..."

(Sitri) "This is the Zanado Tower. It's where House Isekai came from, what I can understand anyway."

(Helena) "That the truth?"

Helena turned to the four.

(Towa) "We think so?"

(Rean) "Honestly, the details are a bit lost on us as well."

(Kazuma) "The only person that knew that much was Sothis and Byleth and..."

Their faces showed a hint of sadness before Elizabeth brought up another question, not noticing their shift when mentioning Byleth.

(Elizabeth) "S-So, this is where that creature was sighted? How do we even begin covering this large of an area with our small number?"

(Sitri) "W-Well...Um..."

KABOOM!

(Everyone) !?

(Rean) "Think that's our culprit?"

(Towa) "I can't think of anyone else that could be here!"

(Sitri) "Everyone, move out!"

...

(Buck) "Ach, damn it!"

Buck waved away the smoke that was covering the area.

(Mickey) "H-Hey, at least we got the door open, right? Even if it was a little too much."

(Dutch) "Doubt using 7 explosive charges is considered "a little"."

The massive door in front of them was completely blown into pieces, the debris scattering everywhere, and some falling into the cavern beneath them.

Romeo checked the scope of his sniper and put one finger on the trigger.

(Mickey) "If that alert was about us, then it's going to get even more pissed off."

(Dutch) "Every security system must know where we're at now."

(Buck) "All the more reason to get our asses moving, now-"

Buck turned back to the hole in the door before noticing something on his visor.

The motion tracker was detecting several things coming to them, and he quickly motioned backwards to the cover they were using from the door breach.

Everyone got their weapons pointed at the door waiting for them.

(Buck) "On my mark..."

From the smoke, several figures emerged wielding all sorts of weapons ranging from swords to bows.

And it was then the squad's visors picked up the outline of them, they were human.

(Buck) "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"

...

Amber kept her bow trained on the four hiding behind cover, waiting for instruction.

(Duvalie) "They're human...I think?"

(Kaeya) "Never seen that armor before."

(Lisa) "Jean, dear?"

(Jean) "Who are you all?"

Her eyes drifted to the massive hole behind them. How could they have caused an explosion that big?

If she said the wrong thing, they could be killed.

(Buck) "Sergeant Gunnery Buck, and this is my squad! UNSC, Helljumpers! How 'bout you miss, we on the same side?"

(Jean) "My name is Jean, of the Knights of Favonius!"

Buck looked at his other squadmates and they shrugged.

(Buck) "You folks happen to know where we are?"

(Jean) "I'm afraid we do not. But we are allies, not enemies if that is what you're wondering."

Romeo examined every one of them as Buck was speaking to them. They didn't seem to be dressed for battle. In fact, the green one that looked like a girl had a damn instrument, not a weapon.

And the purple woman with the witch hat only had a book.

(Mickey) "Frankly, I say we don't take the chance."

(Dutch) "Yeah, great idea, kill the only things that HASN'T tried to kill us."

(Buck) "Alright. We believe ya. Stand down."

The squad nodded and stood up, the Knights of Favonius stepping forward.

(Jean) "I think it's plain to see we're...both out of our element."

(Buck) "Seems like it. As I said, call me Buck, and these are my men."

(Mickey) "Mickey."

(Dutch) "Name's Dutch. Pleasure."

(Romeo) "..."

Buck's visor became see-through, his face being visible as he turned to face Romeo.

(Buck) "What's the matter? Helmet turned off?"

Romeo shrugged.

(Venti) "Um, is he okay?"

(Buck) "Oh, I get it. Permission to speak. Smartass."

(Romeo) "Name's Romeo, ladies."

He turned to face Jean, Lisa, Duvalie and Amber.

Rolling her eyes, Duvalie butted into the conversation.

(Duvalie) "Ugh, keep it to yourself. Anyways, I'm Duvalie, head knight of the Stahlritter."

(Mickey) "Thought you were with the...whatever you guys were called."

(Kaeya) "Favonius. Actually, she's from another world, as I'm assuming you all are. Kaeya, by the way."

Buck examined their clothing again and when he started to think on it, no human from their world, no matter the planet, would wear something so outlandish as that, especially in the middle of a war.

(Diluc) "...Diluc."

(Venti) "I'm Venti!"

(Amber) "Amber, hope we get along!"

(Lisa) "And I'm Lisa. All of us except Duvalie are together."

(Romeo) "Before we get caught in a never ending cycle of introductions, can we get the hell out of here before anymore of those things show up?"

(Jean) "You've seen them too?"

(Buck) "Weird glowy blue gnome looking things?"

(Duvalie) "The hell is a gnome?"

(Lisa) "Let's put it this way to make sure we're on the same page, were they carrying a staff and rather short?"

(Dutch) "Those are the ones, ma'am."

(Diluc) "Abyss mages are attacking them too..."

(Kaeya) "Think Romeo had a point, we'll discuss this once we're in relative safety, we were nearing the exit I believe, before you all blew a hole through that door."

(Mickey) "Hey, we had to get in somehow!"

(Buck) "Hold up, we weren't going to leave just yet. There was a group of kids that was making their way upwards."

(Amber) "Kids? We didn't see anyone else on the way."

(Romeo) "Oh, right. They just got here. I'm all for saving them, but we barely managed to get away from those mage things. Our bullets didn't seem to do anything."

Jean held her rapier and nodded.

(Jean) "Allow us to take care of it with you. Change of plans, we're headed back in."

She stood next to Buck as he darkened his visor and checked his assault rifle.

(Buck) "After you, miss Jean."

...

Rean was the first one through the hole in the door and looked around, no one appeared to be there.

Everyone else stepped forward weapons drawn, and it was now Rean noticed what everyone was carrying.

Sitri had the Sword of the Creator, Kairos and Elizabeth had spellbooks, Helena had a knife, Astrid held a lance, and Stefan wielded an axe.

The students appeared to have no hesitation about their weapon of choice, but Sitri was slightly trembling.

It was clear she had done some training with a sword, and yet...

He shook his head, now wasn't the time to be focusing on that.

(Aigis) "I am detecting several lifeforms down below."

Aigis turned to her right and looked at the glowing circle-like shape at the end of the walkway.

(Towa) "Anyone familiar?"

(Aigis) "...Negative."

(Kazuma) "Then let's get down there, maybe the little shits that caused this are close by, considering how recent that explosion was."

(Sitri) "Right, let's try to find a way down."

Sitri and the Garreg Mach students stepped near the circular platform while the former House Isekai members examined the explosion hole.

(Aigis) "These explosions appear to be made from devices similar to C4..."

(Kazuma) "What, these guys packing modern day weapons too?"

(Rean) "What's C4?"

(Aigis) "Small explosive charges that you can put on virtually any surface."

(Towa) "Something that small can cause that much damage?!"

Meanwhile, Elizabeth was examining the glowing circular platform with the other students and Sitri close to her.

(Helena) "What is it?

(Elizabeth) "I'm not sure...Maybe it's some kind of-"

Elizabeth put her hand on the platform, which made it glow an even brighter orange as it catapulted the group forward to the other walkway, causing them to scream.

Rean and the others turned their direction and saw them land on a platform which began to move away.

(Kazuma) "AW SHIT, SITRI!"

(Towa) "THE STUDENTS!"

(Rean) "After them!"

Before they could move any further, they heard strange noises behind them, which made them draw their weapons...

...

When Kairos got up and saw the moving platform, he immediately turned to Elizabeth.

(Kairos) "GREAT JOB, YOU IDIOT!"

(Elizabeth) "D-Don't you yell at me with that tone! How was I supposed to know that-"

(Helena) "Both of you shut up. Focus."

She held onto her knife tighter as she realized the platform was heading downwards.

(Sitri) "Is everyone alright?"

(Astrid) "Just fine, Lady Sitri. Can't say we'll be that way for long.

(Stefan) "We're going deeper into the tower, is that a bad thing?"

(Sitri) "This is my first time in the Tower when it wasn't being controlled by memories, so I'm not sure..."

(Kairos) "Fantastic..."

Elizabeth had a mind to slap Kairos but kept it to herself, instead examining just how far down they were going...

...

Class VII moved even quicker after hearing the explosion, trying to find anything resembling stairs since they were unsure about the elevators.

(Musse) "I don't think we have any other way up."

(Juna) "Maybe we can-"

BOOM! BOOM!

Two gunshots roared through the area, with a thud echoing and signaling that someone or something was brutally killed.

Kurt motioned forward and Class VII turned the corner to see a massive man clad in yellow armor, towering over some strange creature.

It was short, fat, and blue. It was uttering some language they didn't understand before the soldier stomped on its head, crushing it.

Class VII drew their weapons and the yellow soldier turned to face them.

(Yellow Soldier) "...Children?"

The soldier eyed them up and down, trying to identify them as Class VII did the same.

The armor he was wearing looked heavy and durable, being wide as some of the doorways they passed through. He stood at around 8 feet, holding a rifle as big as his chest.

(Kurt) "...What was that thing you killed?"

The soldier turned to the creature and shrugged, the shoulder pauldrons moving up and down was the only indication he did so since his armor was so massive.

(Yellow Soldier) "Most likely some form of xenos. It opened fire as soon as it saw me, so I purged it. Better I have done so since children are in the area."

He turned to face them.

(Yellow Soldier) "Though you are far from defenseless it seems."

Kurt didn't put away his weapons, and neither did anyone else.

(Yellow Soldier) "...I am Raelyn. Raelyn Amuto, Adeptus Astartes."

(Juna) "You're a...what now?"

(Altina) "Does not match any known organization in Erebonia."

(Musse) "Not ringing a bell for me either..."

(Raelyn) "...You are?"

(Kurt) "We are Class VII, part of Thor's Military Academy, Branch Campus."

Raelyn lowered his rifle, the helmet's unblinking lenses seemingly staring straight into them.

(Raelyn) "We are Space Marines, mankind's greatest warriors."

(Ash) "Evidently."

(Raelyn) "Do you know the area I am in?"

(Kurt) "Not a clue. We were following our Instructor to find out where he went, and we ended up here."

(Raelyn) "Hmph. Stay behind me. I do not know what awaits us-"

He stuck a hand outwards as he noticed a platform moving downwards. Everyone readied their weapons again, and keeping it on them seeing another group land in front of them.

(Buck) "Hey, those are the kids! And...!"

(Kaeya) "Looks like they already met one of the Abyss mages."

(Mickey) "Goddamn, that is some armor!"

(Raelyn) "Guardsmen? And..."

He lowered his weapon, though Class VII didn't.

(Jean) "Before you ask, we are not enemies, and we are just as lost as you all."

Dutch turned to the knights and noticed Duvalie had her sword still up.

(Dutch) "What's the deal with her?"

(Venti) "Huh? Duvalie what's wrong-"

(Duvalie) "THOSE BRATS, THAT'S WHATS WRONG!"

(Altina) "Threat detected."

Class VII and Duvalie stood off against each other.

(Raelyn) "...It's safe to assume you are acquainted then."

(Kurt) "She tried to kill our class, our instructor and HIS class."

Jean frowned and turned to her.

(Jean) "You told me you were a knight of justice."

(Duvalie) "I-I am!"

(Buck) "Everyone, stand down! This pissing match is only going to slow us down!"

Buck saw the corpse of the Abyss Mage and sighed.

(Buck) "And it's clear you've already met the things trying to kill all of us. I don't know your histories, but that doesn't matter for right now! Let's get out of here and THEN you all can-"

Another platform landed behind Buck, making everyone turn around.

(Sitri) "U-Um...!"

(Helena) "Oh crap."

(Kairos) "I swear to the Goddess, Elizabeth-"

(Elizabeth) "WILL YOU SHUT UP?!"

Stefan gulped and adjusted his helmet.

(Astrid) "Uh...hi?"

(Everyone) ...

(Amber) "Hello!"

(Romeo) "For god's sake-."

(Juna) "Just how many of us are lost down here?!"

(Sitri) "Um..."

Sitri took a deep breath and tried her best to look confident.

(Sitri) "My name is Sitri, leader of Garreg Mach, and you're in our world. If you want answers, please come with us."

The students stared at her as if she were crazy.

(Kairos) "What?!"

(Elizabeth) "Look how many of them are here, I don't like these offworlders any more than you do, but we need to NOT piss them off, as you are very much pissing me off!"

(Helena) "You're not doing much better yourself-"

(Stefan) "H-Helena please that is NOT helping!"

(Astrid) "ANYWAYS! You want answers, we got it! Please let's just get out of here!"

Everyone looked at each other.

There was an awkward silence before Raelyn stepped forward first.

(Raelyn) "Very well, Sitri. Lead the way."

(Sitri) "Well um... we don't know the way up."

Jean motioned everyone to her, and they all stood together as the platform's lights pulsated quietly.

They sheathed their weapons and quietly looked out in front of them, staring at the massive crystal in the middle of the room.

Just where was this, and why were they brought here?

What were those creatures attacking everyone?

And what is Garreg Mach?

Hopefully soon, they would have answers to all these questions, and find a way back home...

...

...

...

(Altina) "...We are not moving."

(Duvalie) "Gee, I couldn't tell."

(Lisa) "Dears, what's the holdup?"

(Stefan) "D-Don't look at us!"

(Raelyn) "Are there too many on top of this?"

(Buck) "Dutch, the button?"

(Dutch) "Oh, sorry."

Beep!

...

Aigis blocked an ice spike that was aimed at Towa with her Persona, Athena easily blocking it with her shield.

Towa took another potshot with her pistol, but it was stopped by some icy aura surrounding the Abyss Mage as it danced along, taunting them.

Rean and Kazuma swung their weapons at it, but were deflected and sent flying back.

(Aigis) "None of our attacks are working!"

(Towa) "W-What do we do?!"

(Kazuma) "Do we hit it harder?"

(Rean) "Heed my call...!-"

Whirrrrrrr...!

(Everyone) !

Everyone, including the Abyss Mage, looked back to the walkway and saw a platform that carried a large amount of people unload, everyone drawing their weapons.

(Altina) "Instructor!"

(Rean) "What in the-What are you all-"

(Buck) "There's those sons of bitches!"

(Raelyn) "PURGE IT IN THE EMPEROR'S NAME!"

The Abyss Mage screamed in terror as those with guns opened fire, it quickly teleporting away from the massive group.

(Diluc) "Damn it, it got away!"

(Aigis) "...No other presence detected besides us. It appears we are safe for now."

(Kazuma) "Tch, wanted to show that asshole a thing or two, now...'

The four looked at the group and to Sitri. Towa and Reans' eyes were glued to Duvalie, her taking notice as well.

(Aigis) "...Are these friends?"

(Jean) "I hope we can be."

(Kairos) "They better."

(Rean) "Uh..."

(Duvalie) "NOT. A WORD."

Sitri took a step back as everyone scattered to their respective group.

Duvalie stood with the ODST's and Raelyn while the Knights of Favonius stood by themselves.

Class VII followed Rean and Towa, as the students of Garreg Mach got near Sitri and each other.

(Kaeya) "Quite the odd group we have lined up."

(Buck) "I can't help but feel like we're out of place."

(Raelyn) "Agreed..."

(Duvalie) "Of all the people, it had to be YOU."

(Rean) "G-Great to see you too, Duvalie."

Sitri trembled slightly before feeling a hand on her shoulder. Turning behind her, she saw Sothis smiling.

(Sothis) "Don't worry. I've seen this happen before, and I know what can get them together real quick."

Kazuma noticed Sothis talking to Sitri, but considering how on edge everyone was, he decided not to say anything.

(Kazuma) Please have a good idea, Sothis...

(Sitri) "I-If I could have everyone's attention!"

Everyone turned to face her, which made Sitri silent for a moment, but after putting her hand on her chest, she looked more determined than ever.

(Sitri) "I know everyone is terribly confused on where they are and what's happening. I do not have the answers myself, but I assure you, we will."

(Astrid) "We?"

(Sitri) "Yes. With the arrival of so many newcomers from other worlds, and with veterans of this situation being here..."

She nodded again and looked at everyone.

(Sitri) "As leader of Garreg Mach Monastery, I hereby reestablish, House Isekai!"

(Aigis) "Oh?"

(Rean and Towa) "HUH?!"

(Kazuma) "THE FUCK?"

(Buck) "...The hell's an Isekai?"

His squad, Duvalie, and Raelyn shrugged.

(Kurt) "Has...Instructor Rean and Towa done this before?"

Class VII looked at Rean, then back to Sitri.

Jean nodded.

(Jean) "It seems this is not their first time being visited by people from other worlds."

(Diluc) "Hmph, I blame the Traveler for this."

All things considered, the Knights of Favonius looked relatively calm about the situation.

The students of Garreg Mach all had mixed opinions. They didn't view House Isekai in a very good light, but now they HAD to be a part of it.

(Kairos) "This is not going to end well..."

(Elizabeth) "Oh dear."

(Helena) "This oughtta be interesting."

(Stefan) "Hah, that's one way to put it..."

(Astrid) "Goddess help us..."

...

(Sitri's voice) "...I hereby reestablish, House Isekai!"

Mercedes smiled as she heard Sitri's voice through her crystal and put it into her pocket and stretched.

Through the door, a small girl and a fairy came into the room.

(Recette) "Hey Mercie! We got the reports from this month in!"

(Tear) "Yes, it appears to be within...why are you smiling?"

(Mercedes) "I've just been listening into Sitri's progress."

(Recette) "What's going on?"

Mercedes didn't say anything as she motioned them to follow her.

(Sitri) "We have a welcome back party to work on!"

(Tear) "For...who?"

(Mercedes) "Just some old friends..."

PART 1: ENDED

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Lost in Paradise - ALI]

Gotta get it homie gotta move it If you gonna do it then, push everything to the side Everybody just talk nobody really do it You should keep a secret until you actually do it No need to double check with someone Use your judgement only, break the walls Let's do flashy fake More Cool, keep it low, prove them wrong I won't give up the fight in my life 'Cause my life is living for love I won't give up the fight in my life Stand off and groove on time Tokyo prison Going to relight your feelings When times get too rough Night and day are fading Going to relight your feelings There's no time to explain Gimme your love Access to your love Oh yeah Lost in paradise Night and day are fading out When times getting rough Access to your love Lost in paradise Night and day are fading out Keep on dancing now Hеy hey hеy hey heyeah