Bone Breaker

               there really is no need for him to try as hard as he does to wake her up, she would have given up her scheme with ease. then again, maybe he’s seen through her facade   ?   that would explain why he was trying so desperately to wake her   &&   resorting to such rough means to accomplish his goal. turquoise hues snap open, annoyance flashing in their depths as a frown curls at her lips.

               ❛   i’m   AWAKE,   you jerk   !   ❜   nora hisses, pushing his hand off of one of her shoulders. she’s almost tempted to reveal her joke, but there’s no point as far as she’s concerned. he’s just as much of a pain as ever.   ❛   you don’t have to yell at me   !   ❜

At long last the buzzing had stopped, yet his ears continued to ring. His face continued to reflect his annoyance at the snoozing redhead, especially after her scolds. “If you’re that tired, then maybe you should go to bed. I’m still way behind and can’t focus when you snore like that.”

When was it easy? Perhaps when they first started, when she figured it was only the three of them. When they did their duties and attended Beacon, even taking down those students during the Vytal tournament was something. But after Beacon fell and everything turned to chaos, it all started to make Emerald feel uneasy. She hadn’t thought it all to be this serious, how drastic things have become. So many hidden secrets.

She immediately came back from her thoughts as soon as he was sure enough to leave even without her. “Wait!” She called out, this feeling she hated was coming back. She hoped she wouldn’t have to feel it again. “I…I guess you’re right. What would Salem need us for anyway…? If Cinder’s gone then it’s not necessary.” 

There were plenty of reasons to keep Emerald around, her semblance being a great asset to Salem. But what good is a lowly assassin who clearly isn’t even the best fighter in her ranks. Mercury knew his place and it wasn’t here.

Of course it would be her. Who else could Mercury possibly get stuck with but his good ole pal Elizabeth. He couldn’t help but appear unamused being stuck in the same room as the blonde, but it’s not like they had much of a choice being stranded by the grimm in the middle of a hurricane. They were fortunate enough to have been able to block off the cave’s entrance. But with a busted right leg, Merc wasn’t feeling up to a challenge in these nasty conditions.

       Em was hesitant, she felt…trapped. It all sounded much better being alone, back when she was scavenging for anything to help keep herself going. Before this she felt…like she at least has someone else (she couldn’t dare say family). Cinder and even Mercury were the only two people she felt she had a place with. Either them or back to being on her own. But now that she was gone, and the two are under Salem’s supervision, it was even scary to think about leaving. She was horrifying. 

        “I just…” She tried starting and paused. Her hands were shaking again though she clenched her fists. “How do you think we can leave all of this? I know…we did what we were supposed to and it led to this. Just getting up and walking away isn’t going to be that easy.”

His eyes glared at the natural born thief, dismayed with her indecision. “Since when was it ever easy?” It didn’t matter if Emerald stayed or not. That much was her choice, though he would be quick to admit that escaping these ruins would be easier with her help. Either way Mercury didn’t see much of a future for himself if he stayed. Sure it was all fun and games until the fall of Beacon, but it was only a matter of time before they were both discarded by Salem. 

He took a moment to get his thoughts aligned. Not a lot of information was given by his former employers, so he has had to piece it together from their previous battles and some of Hazel’s rambles. “So let me get this straight...” 

He made his decision. Being in this shithole was far too overwhelming, even for the emotionally closed assassin. The nights alone with his father seemed like a merry time compared to watching the abominations this witch was brewing. Even the psychopath’s warnings weren’t enough to deter Merc from leaving, but his partner in crime was the only one he would confide his secret in.

               his outburst makes it   difficult   for the sly ginger to avoid breaking her cover,  teeth biting quickly into her lip to stop any laughter she may have let escape.   her nap ended some time ago,  yet by a mysterious force it would seem she’d awaken before mercury had even finished his work.   knowing him,  he’d been at it nonstop.   it couldn’t be healthy to work this long without at least taking a short break.

               after a few seconds of regaining her composure,  nora begins her facade again.   inhaling audibly then releasing.   not loud enough to make it obvious that she was faking,  but just enough to be obnoxious   &&   slightly out of character.

At this rate Mercury wasn’t going to get anything done. It was near impossible for him to focus on his papers with the buzz saw in the background. He stood up with a forceful palm strike to the table.

“Nora.”

(ffart noise)