#rtb au: bad ending

[norbezjones]

Whumptober Day 4: Hallucinations (Romance The Backrooms)

(Posting this a day late!)

Look, in case you couldn’t figure it out from June Of Doom & Whumptember, I like whump.  So I’ll be participating in Whumptober when I have the time/energy to.  I may use all of the day’s prompts, or I may use some of them.  We’ll see what happens.

Like usual, I will be doing these for the characters of my story Romance The Backrooms, a liminal space otome with 5 main love interests.  This is an original work, not fanfiction.

Enjoy!

(I also included the fictober-event prompt today!)

Today’s Prompts: Hallucinations, “you’re still alive in my head”, “no, we’re not doing that”

Characters: Glarence & Adiel

Other Info: This is a Bad Ending AU where Adiel (somehow) died when he & Glarence were travelling together by themselves (before they met the others).  Glarence has basically gone mad, chasing after the hints of Adiel that are still alive in his head.  CW for injury & death.

_________

“Come on, Adiel,” Glarence muttered, clutching his wounded arm as he limped around Level 190, searching for a place to rest.

He could see the image of his friend up ahead, leading him through the school halls.  Glarence followed him into an empty classroom, where he closed the door and slouched against the wall, sinking to the floor.

“No, we’re not doing that,” Glarence muttered.  “I have to rest, Adiel.  I have to rest. . .”

His vision was getting hazy & unclear.  Glarence looked down at his arm and moved his hand.  He was bleeding more than he thought. . . Was this the end?

He looked across the room, at Adiel.  He sighed.  “I know you’re not real,” he said, closing his eyes.  “But you’re still alive in my head.

“At least now, I’ll get to join you where you are.  See you soon. . .”

[aboyandhisstarship]

Delta AU 2

4 heads emerged from under the water, the 4 suppressed rifle barrels dripping with water as the team advanced to shore with rain coming down.

The swamp hat clad team waded out of the water. David said into his ear piece “Dog patch we have passed Boston.”

Miller responded “roger Sand man.”

Jasper cut a hole in the fence surrounding the small hut as the rain pelted down.  David and the team slowly advanced on the house before David and Tabii raised there gun barrels in a “ready” motion.

Nurf kicked open the door and David and Tabii rushed in with Jasper and Nurf covering the rear the man stood up reaching for a weapon but David was faster 3 shots later the guy fell over dead.

David walked over pulling up his sleeve and picking up his sleeve confirming “Dogpatch we have passed Cleveland.”

Miller nodded “roger Sand Man, you are RTB.”

Los Angles California:

Gwen adjusted her suit jacket as she groaned loudly. One of her camera man said “it’s not that bad.”

Gwen groaned “she sued us for airing the transcript…on the other side of the country.”

Her camera man chuckled “yea…but at least the company is paying us to pretty much take a vacation!”

Gwen laughed “well I’m glad you’re having fun.”

Gwen’s phone rang and she looked down and saw it was Sarah; she shook her head “I have to take this.”

The camera man waved his hand as Gwen answered saying “Sarah…thank you for getting back to me.”

Sarah laughed “you’re kidding! You asked for a man’s number you really think I would rush head first into that!”

Gwen blushed “look…you may be over reacting…”

Sarah countered “he asked for your number you know, I didn’t have time to give it to him, but he is interested.”

Gwen blinked “didn’t have time?”

Sarah sighed “he and Jasper work so much, he was over for dinner and asked…then the dreaded phone rang…I swear those two work almost as much as you do.”

Gwen asked carefully “what exactly do they do?”

Sarah sighed “I don’t know much…something for the army…they don’t talk about it.”

Gwen thought to herself “something like rescuing pop stars?” before saying “sweet…listen Sarah… can I have his number?”

Sarah laughed “consider it done!”

 Fort Bragg North Carolina:

David walked off the plane as Tabii said “Boss…unless the world is ending I better not get another call!”

Nurf eat a power bar asking “how is Erin doing?”

Tabii softened “busy for her as well…you know how hard they work teachers these days.”

Jasper chuckled “at least she hasn’t asked you to talk to the kids yet.”

Tabii grinned “that would go over well…what do you do Miss Tabii?” she said in a little kid voice, before saying “I could tell you…but then I would have to kill you.”

Nurf shrugged “sounds pretty badass to me.

Tabii shook her head “doubt the school board will go for it,”

Nurf countered “don’t know till you try….just don’t try too hard.”

Tabii waved a hand “yeah yeah.” Before freezing as David’s phone rang.

She slowly turned around as David lifted it to his ear saying “go for Greenwood.”

Tabii almost sighed in defeat before David smiled “of course I remember you Gwen.”

Tabii resisted the urge to whoop in joy before saying quietly to Nurf “ohhh she called him.”

David rolled his eyes as he walked away from the team.

Gwen smiled “is everything ok David?” hearing the sound of snickering in the background.

David answered “oh it’s fine Gwen…what can I do for you?”

Gwen took a deep breath asking “listen…I uhhh got a company party…I have to go, it’s going to be miserable…and I liked talking to you, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me.”

David chuckled “are you asking me on a date?”

Gwen gasped “yes…or no! we can go as friends if you want!?”

David grinned “sounds like fun…text me the details.”

Gwen nodded “it’s in two days…thinks David…for accepting an invitation to a party from a girl you barely know.”

David filtered “what can I say…I like mystic.”

David ended the call as Jasper yelled “DAVIE HAS A DATE.”

David shook his head as Nurf and Tabii whooped.

David’s apartment:

David walked to his apartment as Gwen fired him a text “hey David…it’s Gwen…I hope you know that, I hope that this is ok…contacting you out of the blue like this?”

David texted “it was good timing actually I just got back.”

Gwen responded “yea me too, had to go to court.”

David asked “court?”

Gwen sent a frowny face “yea, you hear about that country pop singer that was rescued by the army about a month ago, well she is suing my bosses for airing the transcript the army sent us.”

David muttered aloud “well that’s the least surprising thing I have heard in a while.” Before typing out an “I’m sorry, that sucks.”

Gwen added “I mean those Soldiers saved her life and she acted like that! Insane, I guess some people just want attention.”

David typed “I would not know.”

Gwen returned a bit too quickly “oh no of course you wouldn’t! Sorry I’m just venting.”

David responded “that’s fine, so the company party…anything I should know?”

Gwen answered “keep it casual but professional…thanks for agreeing to come.”

David grinned “it will be a nice change.”

Gwen said “well I should go…”

David said “of course…one more thing, are we meeting/ car-pooling?”

Gwen asked “I can pick you up?”

David “I will meet you outside the gate…see you then.”

2 nights later:

David was wearing a nice Dress shirt and a cardigan, his phone in one pocket, his wallet and keys in the other as he waited Gwen pulled up in a VW bug, she was wearing a lavender dress and said quickly “David thanks again!”

David got into the car smiling “it’s my pleasure plus it should be fun.”

Gwen drove to a high rise where the News agency was located and swiped to allow herself and David in when they entered the party was in full swing.

45 minutes later:

David shared a drink with Gwen’s main camera guy, a student named Preston who got the job to “experience life behind the camera!”

David thought the kid was vaguely ridiculous but he was fun to talk to, after slipping away he plucked down next to Gwen saying “why do I think you invited me here so you would be left alone?”

Gwen chuckled “guilty as charged…sorry?”

David smiled “Why are you apologizing, if I wasn’t here…I would be binge watching national geographic and waiting for the phone to ring.”

Gwen laughed “Sarah was not kidding when she said you work a lot.”

David laughed “it is a busy world, and from what she tells me, you could give me a run for my money.”

Before Gwen could agree Gwen’s boss rushed in saying “party is over! A story just landed in my lap!”

Gwen at forward as David felt his phone go off Gwen’s boss said “Big Up hovel in New York over so some…hey who is this guy!?”  

Gwen saw David’s phone for a just a second the flash of the word “redacted,” On his caller ID as he said “oh he is my plus one…”

Her bosses grunted “then get him outta here, while you’re at it…you and the intern…what his name bad show or something?”

Preston said “Goodplay…sir?”

The boss grunted “whatever just get on it.”

David sat in the car as Gwen back toward Bragg saying “sorry to cut the party short.”

David waved his arm “I got called into work as well.”

Gwen nodded “of course, but thinks for coming David it was a good time.”

David got out of the car “yes it was.”

Preston who had up until now been quiet yelped saying “I ship it!”

Gwen punched him as she said “I will call you when I get back.”

David entered the gate firing back a “sounds good.”

Fort Bragg, Briefing room:

Jasper teased “well Davie, you are now 2 for 2.”

David asked “what are you talking about Jasp?”

Nurf answered after sipping from his water “Gwen, first it was the bar you were dragged to and now your date.”

David countered “it was not a date!”

Tabii looked at him saying “and my shoes are made of gold.”

David blushed “I don’t have to put up with this…”

Tabii grinned “you don’t have to boss…but you love us to much to lecture us!”

David groaned “you got me.”

An agent entered saying “Sargent Major….the rest of you, good to see you again.”

Nurf muttered “here we go again.”

Miller glared at him quietly saying “welcome back to our humble aboad Agent Milton.”  

Agent Milton nodded coldly “just keep your people on mission this time Captain.”

David sighed “ma’am as you recall, our previous outing with you had to be aborted due to bad Intel…I hope that is not concern with this mission?”

Milton smiled “let me worry about that Sargent Major, now then to business.” She showed a picture of a building saying “we have reason to believe that a rogue group is producing Weapons of mass destruction in Turkmenistan.”

Jasper groaned “I have heard this one before.”

Milton answered Jasper saying “I am aware of the…dubious results such intel has produced in the past.”

Tabii grinned “under statement of the century.”

Milton rolled her eyes as David said “what makes this place stand out?”

Milton answered “our satellites have determined that the activity is unusual, and they made a number of strange orders leading to this conclusion.”

David silenced his team likely Glib response as he said “we kind of hostile presence can we expect?”

Milton sighed “depends usually ranging from heavy to medium.”

Nurf asked “mission objectives?”

Milton answered “get samples of what they are making, Kill any scientific personal, render the facility in operable.”

Miller asked “questions?” who no one answered he nodded “wheels up in one hour.”

    New York:

Gwen grabbed her bag glancing at her watch saying “so this press conference is in 2 hours.”

Preston grinned broadly “I’m getting so many air miles working with you!”

Gwen groaned “how are you this happy?”

Preston laughed “I love new York! Come on Gwen I will show you the sights!...after the conference of course.”

Gwen shook her head as she was dragged towards baggage claim.

Turkmenistan:

The team patrolled in the arid air towards the target building, they scanned the hills but had yet to encounter anyone, hostile or otherwise.

Jasper said aloud “I don’t like this…”

Nurf nodded “this feels wrong…”

Tabii added “it doesn’t help the agent at the helm, does not exactly inspire confidence.”

David said simply “keep your head in the mission.”

The team nodded as they crested a hill and he said “Dogpatch, we have passed Human torch.”

Miller responded “roger that Sandman we read Human torch.”

The team lay down as David pulled out binoculars saying “I got 3 guards, AK’s…no sign of any kind of chemical protection gear on their person.”

Tabii groaned “does not mean that it does not exist….”

David rolled over onto his back “Dogpatch, Sandman we are preparing to engage, any changes?”

Miller responded “no changes Sandman, you are free to engage god speed.”

The team quickly advanced, waiting for the right moment before shooting the guards dead, Nurf put on a Gas mask as Nurf complaining “ I hate wearing these.”

Tabii voice was muffled by the gas mask as she said “stop whining.”

David lowered the mask over his face saying “focus up, Cool Breeze kick it.”

Jasper kicked open the door as the team advanced into the building sweeping the sparcly populated building,  Tabii rounded a corner opening the door to a small room and stared saying “ you have got to be kidding me…”

New York:

Gwen bit her lip as she sat in her hotel room; the Press conference had been rather anti climatic. And now she sat in front of her laptop, a google tab open and the name “David Greenwood” typed in she leaned back in her chair saying “this is probably creepy isn’t it?”

Gwen exhaled “I need to know who I am dealing with…I don’t like surprises.” She justified hitting enter

After a second the results kicked back, the entire first page was filled with social media accounts, of other David Greenwood’s. Nothing on the David she knew she considered giving up before on a hunch added “Army.” To the end of her search

A second later an article popped as the top result, it was from the San Francisco Chronicler and was titled “Single Mother and Young Son killed in hit and run”

Gwen blinked not sure what that had to do with David, so she clicked.

Turkmenistan:

Tabii took off her gas mask As David said “coming in.”

Tabii groaned “come on in.”

Jasper asked “Redcap…why did you take off your…no fucking way.”

Inside the small room was a box full of Poppies, next to that was a pallet of Heroine.

David asked still wearing his mask “we finish checking the building?”

Tabii replied “yep.” Popping the P

Nurf entered saying “I took out the scientists as per mission sir….uhhh where are the WMD’s?”

David took his gas mask saying “looks like it was never here.”

Jasper poked the drugs saying “we risked our lives and invaded sovereign soil, for what exactly?!”

David ran his hand through his hair “Dirt diver on watch, Dogpatch Sandman, we have passed Doctor doom over.”

Miller responded “we read Doctor Doom, do you have a jackpot?” 

David answered “negative Dog patch, dry hole.” 

Miller asked “no chemicals Sandman?”

David pursed his lips before asking “is Heroine a chemical?”

There was a long beat before what sounded like shouting the background as Miller came back on the radio saying “Sandmen are you sure there are no WMD’s present on Target?”

David grunted out “we have swept the entire building; there are no mission objectives on site.”

The shouting grew louder as a woman said “I’m telling you it’s there! I don’t care how long they have to stay, tell them to find it!”

David said simply “Sir, are we aborting the mission?”

Agent Milton came on “Sargent Major I am ordering you to search the target Area again!”

David paused before saying “Wilco, sweeping again.”

He lowered the mask back over his face as the team looked at him with the same look he had before pulling their masks back down to recheck the entire building.

 New York:

Gwen read the article, her mouth slightly a gape as it talked about a young Mother named Amaita Chabra was taking her son Max to School, when  a drunk driver ran a red light. A police spokesman said they didn’t even feel it. Gwen scrolled down to see that the boy’s father, A Staff Sargent David Greenwood was unavailable for comment. Gwen felt a wave of sadness when the recommend article screen popped up showing two headlines about 2 months from the original publication date “stock broker found not guilty of drunken driving charge.”  About a week after a simple headline that chilled her to the bone “Stock broker Missing, police ask public for help.”

Gwen scanned the articles finding out the way guy walked…and was not exactly feeling guilty for the alleged crimes…he then disappeared, Gwen thought to herself “or someone disappeared him.”

Fort Bragg:

David threw the drugs on the table “here are your drugs Agent Milton…you mind telling us what this was all about.”

Milton sighed “I know you’re angry, you risked your life’s…for…”

David said simply “we risked our lives because that’s what are asked to do, but don’t look me in the eye and tell me you thought this op was legit, it took one close look to see that’s BS, so talk…it’s just us here.” He softened

Milton sat down gingerly “I’m sorry for lying…but I can’t let this keep going.”

David sat across from her “what, let what keep going.”

Milton produced a photo sliding it to him saying “this man, he killed my family…and I want him dead…he was supposed to be there.”

David looked down “so what, we are personal hitman?”

Milton deflated “I never thought of it that way…”

David stood up “we did…we have killed a great many people some deserving some not, but we always knew what we were walking into…if you are ever allowed to task a team again…I would be very careful about your targets.”

And with that David left with a groan.  before perking up thinking “I wonder if Gwen is Back from New York?”