#if the names in this section seem a bit overwhelming dw!! theyre not all important it’s meant to feel intentionally chaotic

[paingoes]

Rubies

First Night

welcome back everyone

(Content: fainting, reference to past captivity, blood)

=================

He collapsed onto the deck. Apollo caught him just before he could crash to the ground. The silver chains clattered loudly on the metal surface. Delta was freezing, soaked, and now fully unconscious. The ramp slammed back up just as the ship was pulling up.

“Destroy them!” Kitty cheered at the console.

“I’m working on it,” Rene looped the ship back around, letting out another volley. The airship was mostly on fire, but it still hadn’t fallen out of the sky. The last round finished it off. It went into freefall. The airship was briefly a normal ship and then just as quickly it turned into a shipwreck. The resulting column of water reached their windshield from several stories below.

“Get the collar off,” Apollo said, bending down to feel Delta’s pulse. Cass slid the bolt cutters up against his skin.

“Oh fuck, I think I nicked him,” Cass gasped. A massive psychic wave ripped off of Delta’s body as the collar was removed. All of them got electrocuted. 

“Oh my god, you people can’t do anything,” Iza put her hands on her head. 

“Throw the collar out,” Lun whispered, “Into the sea.”

Willow cracked the window open, tossing it out. It beeped miserably on its descent.

“Put the dampers on. He’s going to show up on every radar in a five-mile radius otherwise.” Iza gave the order, but she started to fulfill it herself. She slid Delta’s sleeve up, wrapping the insulating band around his upper arm. Immediately, the pressure in the ship went down. The light returned to normal. 

“The cuffs,” Apollo said impatiently. Cass cut through the chain binding Delta’s wrists. They bent down to cut off the manacles, this time just missing the skin. They tossed the cutters aside and pulled out a small ammeter from their pocket. They touched it to Delta’s clavicle. It burnt up immediately. Cass dropped it in pain.

“That can’t be right.” Willow said, a look of horror crossing her face.

“I knew it,” Apollo shook his head, “We’re so fired.”

=======================

Iza bridal carried Delta into the house. Rene held the door open for her. He walked ahead to turn on all the lights. It was an older safehouse; they’d only got it running again earlier that morning. There were still cobwebs in the corners and outlets that didn’t work, but at least it was heated. 

“I’m not getting fired,” Rene said peevishly, “I didn’t do anything. Lun should get fired.” “Lun carried,” Kitty’s sharp teeth flashed when she smiled. She wrapped her arms around Lun’s neck, “They should be promoted.”

“Don’t send the report yet,” Iza called out to Kitty, “I need a minute.”

“Just put him on the floor for right now,” Apollo said. The two of them moved into the guest bedroom. Iza placed Delta down gingerly. Apollo dug through the dresser, pulling out a towel and a clean set of clothes. He nudged the door shut with his foot, keeping the others from seeing in.

They stripped the wet clothes from Delta’s unconscious body. Apollo redressed him in an oversized shirt; it was the easiest thing they could do without having to maneuver him too much. Iza raised him up onto the bed. 

“Alright, I’ve got it from here. Thank you,” Apollo said. He looked up. A sudden urgency entered his voice. “I mean it. Thank you.”

“Happy to help,” Iza said unhappily. 

“Tell them it’s my fault,” Apollo said.

“You know that’s not how it works. I’m a big girl, sunny. Don’t worry.” 

Iza shut the door before he could argue.

Apollo sighed as he looked over the dormant form in front of him. He reached out to touch Delta’s wrist, checking the pulse in an almost self-conscious manner. Still alive. You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Apollo examined the wrist; he noted its odd angle. It was fractured, if not broken. He winced as he looked closer at Delta’s face. Inflamed claw marks raked one side of his cheek. There were matching ones along his forearm. He knew the salt water had probably helped to stave off infection, but he doubted that was a painless process. Some of them were still bleeding minutely. 

He was most concerned about hypothermia. The safe temperature ranges varied across species. He suspected Delta was better prepared for it than most. Still, the plan had not been for him to fall into the ocean on a freezing night. His skin was clammy. Apollo wrapped the blanket around him. He sat next to him on the bed, taking a moment to check over vitals and jot them down in his journal. He patched up the deeper cuts along Delta’s forearms and cheek, as well as the new one on his neck. He saw the ring of bruises around where the collar had been. They were layered one on top of the other. After a moment’s consideration, he went about making a wrist splint. It was surprisingly difficult when the patient was still unconscious, but he managed to tie it up tightly. It wasn’t pretty — none of it was — but it would hold him over until they could get back to base. 

==================

“He still out?” Kitty looked up from the laptop. Her fingers still danced along it automatically. It was like they operated completely apart from her. She could carry a whole conversation while typing out a completely different one with someone else. 

“Yes.” Apollo turned the microwave off before it could beep. He removed the compress. 

“I’m gonna send it now!” Kitty’s voice rose up, carrying throughout the house. There were a few sounds of assent, some of protest. She giggled at the reaction. But as she turned back to the screen, Apollo caught the subtle way in which her smile faltered. Her tail flicked beneath her. It was all bristles. She looked up at Apollo, searching for something. Permission? Approval? Reassurance? 

He nodded, squeezing her shoulder gently. It was too late to go back now. She hit send.

Apollo felt a bit like he was cheating by hiding out in the room with Delta. It was a good excuse. When Galatea did review the report, nobody would ask to speak to him first. And if they did, well, he was obviously pretty busy at the moment.

The only thing was that he wasn’t actually that busy. Delta was low maintenance. He had not stirred at all since they’d found him. His heartbeat and breathing were steady, if a bit too slow for Apollo’s comfort. He was just cold. Apollo pressed the compress against Delta’s chest. He brushed the still damp hair out of the boy’s face. Delta made a soft, pained noise. Apollo winced.

“It’s okay,” Apollo shushed him, “You’re okay.”

He didn’t know if he’d heard him, but Delta nuzzled deeper into the pillows, pulling the blankets up around himself.

==================

Delta only woke once that night. He wouldn’t remember it. At the time, he didn’t think it was real.

He slowly sat upright, his movement hindered by the pain in his ribs. He did not know where he was. But it was dark. He was freezing, despite the warmth of the room. Everything hurt.

His eyes gradually adjusted to the dark around him. He just made out the shape of the door. It was ajar. On the other side, a single unblinking olive-green eye peeked through. 

Delta squinted at it. There was nothing he could do to make sense of the situation. He didn’t care. He immediately fell back asleep.

===============

(Masterlist)

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