No more teɑrs...

"You're a BOW too," he muttered to himself. "Still doesn't make me trust you... I don't trust the government, either. You know how many folks have walked in front of me that were part of governments?"

Okay- it was one thing to call herself the BOW, it was another when someone else said it out loud. She looks shocked, upset, but rolls her head side to side a bit. Not the time to be getting explosively emotional.

"You don't have to trust the government- Hell I barely trust them as far as I can throw them. The DSO's a bit disconnected, we self-govern for the most part, even though we work directly for the president... That aside, I would never subject someone to treatment I wasnt also okay with. No ones gonna lay a finger on you long as I have anything to say about it."

If they did, she'd break it off. She doesn't play with that.

"So they were keeping you prisoner here?" She hums, turning idly in a circle while she noted possible entryways and escape routes. The area of the facility where they stood was open enough for effective combat, but they'd get overrun quick if a horde showed up. "Sounds like Umbrella" She sighs, sarcastic and exasperated.

cont from x

Steve couldn't help his pacing; irritated, volatile, and paranoid as ever. What he had endured for over a decade, and he was finally freed, only to see more outbreaks, this one more personal than previous. He could smell it in the bodies, sense the insectoid pheromones, but there was no harmony, no hive... That had been burned away in the instability of whatever hybrid concoction had been pumped into these unlucky people.

Freedom to walk around was a small comfort to him, at least, though he didn't quite trust his guard... No offense to her, or anyone really... His ability to trust had been severely hampered after all these long years.

"Sorry if I don't quite trust you, yet. You could be another wrangler," he replied honestly. "If you are, it's better to just come clean now..." He wanted to believe this stranger... That she wasn't with the people who had kept him for so many years, prodding him and drawing out the virus in his blood to make more freaks... But it was better safe than sorry.

His words all but confirm her suspicions. He’s infected with something- Veronica by the scent of it, lacking that usual bite of acetone that came coupled with G. So it wasn’t C, but there was a kinship immediately.

Or was it a hivemind after all?

“Opposite, actually. You’re in like company.”

Her words would mean nothing to him if he’s already this guarded, she needed proof. She reaches for her knife, holding her other palm out and cutting across it with the blade. The blood pouring out of it hisses and steams as it quickly coalesces back around the wound, rapidly stitching the small cut back together and leaving only a warped looking scar in its wake.

𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 -

01. avoids eye contact or looking at the floor. 02. wringing hands together in silence. 03. fidgeting with the hem of their shirt, unable to stay still. 04. looking at receiver in long silence before looking away. 05. silently leaves a folded note on the table in front of the other. 06. touches the others arm but pulls back out of guilt.

𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 -

01. slams fist onto a table without saying a word. 02. exhaling sharply through their nose and clenching their jaw. 03. throws an object across the room. 04. crossing their arms tightly, digging fingers into their own skin. 05. pacing the room with heavy steps. 06. glares at the other with a clenched fist.

𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 -

01. gently pushing stray hair behind the others ear. 02. resting their forehead against the others. 03. cups the others face with both hands. 04. pressing a kiss to the others forehead in silence. 05. lingering touches against the others face. 06. wraps their arms around the other from behind and rests their head on the others shoulder.

𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -

01. wiping their eyes before someone can notice. 02. pressing their face into a pillow to muffle sobs. 03. pulls the other into a desperate hug and wont let go. 04. silently reaching for the others hand, needing comfort. 05. walks into the room with red-rimmed eyes and no words.

𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -

01. spins the other around without warning in a hug. 02. links arms with the other and tugs them along happily. 03. provides the other with a handmade gift. 04. tackles the other in a sudden and joyful hug. 05. kisses the others cheek unexpectedly and grins.

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 -

01. backing away slowly and looking for exits. 02. hiding behind the other and peeking around. 03. flinches at sudden movement from the other. 04. presses their back against the wall with eyes darting around the room. 05. jumps at a noise and instinctively grabs the others hand.

𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

01. tucks a blanket gently around the other person's shoulders. 02. applies a bandage with slow and deliberate care. 03. brings them food and water and watches to ensure they eat. 04. runs fingers through their hair in efforts to soothe. 05. rubs soothing circles on the others back while they cry. 06. stays silently by the others side in support without saying a word.

𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 -

01. avoids eye contact or looking at the floor. 02. wringing hands together in silence. 03. fidgeting with the hem of their shirt, unable to stay still. 04. looking at receiver in long silence before looking away. 05. silently leaves a folded note on the table in front of the other. 06. touches the others arm but pulls back out of guilt.

𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 -

01. slams fist onto a table without saying a word. 02. exhaling sharply through their nose and clenching their jaw. 03. throws an object across the room. 04. crossing their arms tightly, digging fingers into their own skin. 05. pacing the room with heavy steps. 06. glares at the other with a clenched fist.

𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 -

01. gently pushing stray hair behind the others ear. 02. resting their forehead against the others. 03. cups the others face with both hands. 04. pressing a kiss to the others forehead in silence. 05. lingering touches against the others face. 06. wraps their arms around the other from behind and rests their head on the others shoulder.

𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -

01. wiping their eyes before someone can notice. 02. pressing their face into a pillow to muffle sobs. 03. pulls the other into a desperate hug and wont let go. 04. silently reaching for the others hand, needing comfort. 05. walks into the room with red-rimmed eyes and no words.

𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -

01. spins the other around without warning in a hug. 02. links arms with the other and tugs them along happily. 03. provides the other with a handmade gift. 04. tackles the other in a sudden and joyful hug. 05. kisses the others cheek unexpectedly and grins.

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 -

01. backing away slowly and looking for exits. 02. hiding behind the other and peeking around. 03. flinches at sudden movement from the other. 04. presses their back against the wall with eyes darting around the room. 05. jumps at a noise and instinctively grabs the others hand.

𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

01. tucks a blanket gently around the other person's shoulders. 02. applies a bandage with slow and deliberate care. 03. brings them food and water and watches to ensure they eat. 04. runs fingers through their hair in efforts to soothe. 05. rubs soothing circles on the others back while they cry. 06. stays silently by the others side in support without saying a word.

𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠