ALONE.

Main muses:

Lisa Garland - Silent Hill Frank Spicer - DEATHLOOP Luis Sera - Resident Evil 4

By request :

Daniil Dankovsky - Pathologic 2 Wattson - Apex Legends Bloodhound - Apex Legends Jeff Johansen - Dead by Daylight

      [ … ]             @iisolated​        incoming        message        ::         𝑪𝑶𝑳𝑻

SOMETHING   WAS   OFF .   to   state   such   would   only   point   out   the   obvious   ,   and   yet   ,   the   temptation   lingers .   their   work   was   vile   and   often   straining   for   outsiders   to   comprehend .   it   was   ROTTEN   ,   down   to   it’s   very   core   ,   but   both   parties   understood   what   needed   -   NO   -   what   𝐇𝐀𝐃   to   be   done   in   order   to   preserve   the   island .   not   all   who   ventured   to   blackreef   sought   paradise   –   their   presence   seeking   to   𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇   the   very   idea   it   was   built   upon .   the   visionaries   were   all   tasked   with   protecting   the   land   they’ve   made   into   a   home   ,   but   these   two   took   more   responsibility   than   what   was   known   to   the   general   public   in   that   matter .   𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑   𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒   𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄   𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘   𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃   𝐈𝐍   𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐒𝐎𝐍 .   at   times   it   was   daunting   ,   but   that’s   why   they   faced   the   burden   together .   held   onto   a   sense   of   humanity   through   one   another .   it   wasn’t   UNCOMMON   that   they   would   go   through   the   actions   without   need   to   speak   a   word   to   one   another   ,   𝐁𝐔𝐓   𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆   𝐖𝐀𝐒   𝐎𝐅𝐅 .   the   atmosphere   in   the   room   they   shared   swayed   between   MELANCHOLY   and   an   unspoken   FRUSTRATION   that   colt   couldn’t   put   his   finger   on .   there   was   a   sense   that   warned   him   not   to   speak   on   it   ,   and   another   that   said   if   he   didn’t   ,   HE’D   REGRET   MISSING   THE   CHANCE .   that   was   not   a   risk   he   was   willing   to   take .

he   did   not   fear   patience   ;   able   to   wait   until   they   were   the   only   signs   of   life   still   dwelling   in   the   boathouse   (   AWAY   FROM   LINGERING   EARS   )   before   filling   the   silence   that   consumed   the   room .   “   𝐇𝐄𝐘   𝐌𝐀𝐍   –   𝐘𝐎𝐔   𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃   ?   you   haven’t   said   much   since   we   got   here   which   isn’t   like   you .   “   his   voice   almost   seems   encouraging   as   if   hoping   to   convince   the   other   that   he   meant   no   harm   with   his   question .   𝐈𝐓   𝐖𝐀𝐒   𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐄   ,   telling   by   the   concern   etching   across   stone   features .   

“   talk   to   me   ,   what’s   goin’   on ?   “

He knew the room was sealed tight, knew that they were safe from the poison they so often used to flood the room and drown out the lungs of those who ran their mouths too much. Yet he still felt like he was choking, drowning just the same as them. A cough rattled his lungs, the roughness of his tone filling the silence as the next inhale was followed by a slow drag of a cigarette. Smoke to drown out the taste of secondhand copper that lingered on his tongue- knowing the taste so well, he chose to ignore it as smoke blinded his vision with each exhale. His knuckles on display through soiled bandages, the sound of knuckles on teeth leaving a sound that rang out through the room as he’d taken personal pleasure in torturing the spy they’d gotten their hands on that night. Usually it was Colt that did the heavy lifting, the burdening work of getting his hands dirty- but he needed it tonight, finding comfort in the mind numbing feeling of taking the life out of something and knowing he had some power in the world.

Power over them- but not himself, nor his life, nor his fate. Strange how just when he thought he got his life figured out, set in immortal stone, karma came to rear its ugly head and remind him who was really in charge. A life’s worth of partying catching up to him so quickly, still so young, yet his insides were that of a man three times his age. Rotting from the inside out- his vocal cords dying, taking from him the one thing he was ever good at, ever cared to do for an eternity. He knew well there was no way to turn back time, the news broken to him in the best way possible that day- knowing the island could stop his decline, but never reverse the damage that had been done. So there he was, not well enough to sing, but not bad enough to die- and how anger grew because of that. Regret and rage, for whatever god may have been out there knew he was meant to die off a long time ago. Too stubborn to lay down and decay- he sure as hell had no intention of going back to that life before. Still, he felt a fraud, knowing well there was good chance he’d never perform again. A rock star past his prime- and who would ever love or want that?

Maybe that was why he couldn’t bring himself to look at him. Colt, the man he loved, how could he ever stand being with him knowing that truth? Never could he sing another love song so sweetly like he use to-so why would Colt ever choose to stick around? The thought left him chewing at his lip as he flicked the ashes from his cigarette, clearing his throat as if it would fix the eternal rasp it kept. What was the easiest way to say he was past his prime? More importantly, the odds that if he were to leave the island, he’d decay away so quickly? The thought of death scared him more than he’d ever confess.

❝ there’ll be plenty more before this is over. ❞

  ↪  @iisolated​​ ( luis sera )  —  💬

“You say that as if you’re not having a good time, amigo. Thought you enjoyed all this good cop saving the day bullshit?” 

It would be lie to say he wasn’t breathless, having narrowly escaped death once again as they managed to survive when they’d work as a team. Good chemistry, or perhaps dumb luck- he didn’t want to think too hard on it, and just felt thankful to be alive at all. One hand loading his gun, while eyes flickered over to the man who seemed so eager to tap away on a typewriter within the confines of safehouse walls. 

She was paralyzed, resembling something close to a deer in the headlights- frightened, with bright doe eyes, shimmering from the verge of tears that threatened to streak down her pallid face. She’d seen them all go, watched them all fall one by one, until there was nothing left but that eerie, familiar silence and the cold feeling of isolation that crept up on her like the mist that lay thick around them. She was not a stranger to being left alone, left to mourn and weep in the darkness, but it was memories so faded in her mind she convinced herself they were hardly more than dreams.

How she’d tried to help, watching each of her friends bleed out one after another, and failing her duties as a nurse- a guardian- to stop the pain of death. It left her own hands stained with the same blood that reflected on his own blade, yet the difference between them was that his hands did not shake like her own. Unwavering, blackened eyes staring her down as he stood between her and freedom. Knowing well he could take her out like he did the rest with ease- she was the smallest of the group- and though she’d try to fight she knew she hardly stood a chance. But it seemed The Shape had other ideas, a route so merciful it took her by surprise. 

Having braced herself for the blunt force of a blade, she was met with nothing but breathing, a bump to her shoulder that made her take a step back, eyes opened to the sight of him simply walking away from it all. Was she even deserving of this life? What made her so special to see another day? The thoughts spun in her mind, while she stood, staring in awe as he faded into the fog. 

The act was unexpected, one that left her eyes wide and a soft breath escaping her lips in a sound of gentle surprise. It was only in such quiet times alone that she ever managed to see him so tender, his touch somehow so sweet despite what he truly was. A monster- that's what most would call him at least, but in her eyes she saw nothing but kindness in that moment. A guardian, her protector, a beast of a man if he could even be called such a thing as he loomed over her in height.

Yet she smiled, even feigned a laugh as she found herself in his arms. Up off the floor in one easy sweep, as if she hardly weighed a thing compared to the blade he was so often carrying around. A hand gently pressed to the side of his helmet, fingers riding along the metal as she leaned in to place a gentle kiss, hoping he could somehow feel it.

               desperation  for  the  end  was  something  that  came  to  those  who  wanted  nothing  but  to  end  their  suffering.  the  large  being  that  lurked  the  darkened  halls  &  streets  to  keep  a  form  of  protection  over  those  who  deserved  such  had  ended  up  in  the  fog  filled  world  away  from  his  own.  there  had  been  two  that  followed  him  in  there  &  he  had  an  odd  sense  of  needing  to  protect  them  both,  but  one  held  more  power  over  the  other.  a  nurse  who  had  made  it  her  life  to  make  sure  that  she  could  ease  the  pain  of  others  fell  to  the  clutches  of  silent  hill  as  the  town  itself  tore  her  up. 

          the  monster  that  held  such  a  large  pyramid  as  their  head  had  been  created  first  as  a  protector  to  the  poor  girl  who’d  been  harmed  by  the  cult  within  the  town,  but  he’d  gained  his  power  once  a  man  who  was  full  of  torment  made  his  way  into  the  town’s  grasp.  it  made  the  monster  become  more… monstrous,  one  being  that  aimed  for  the  torment  more  so  than  protection.

          This  had  happened  after  the  beginning  of  the  realization  of  Silent  Hill  not  being  an  ordinary  old  town,  but  his  interaction  with  the  nurse  had  changed  everything  about  his  stance.  she’d  been  unknowing  about  her  condition  till  it  was  too  late,  she  even  had  been  afraid  of  him  as  well.  in  the  end  it  didn’t  really  matter  though,  the  town  had  caused  her  demise  but  he  wouldn’t  let  her  continue  to  experience  it  alone.  

            now  they  were  pulled  into  a  whole  new  world  &  it  was  quite  obvious  that  they  needed  to  stay  together  or  they  were  going  to  end  up  suffering  far  more  pain  than  the  abandoned  town  did  to  the  both  of  them.  there  were  others  stuck  within  this  reality  &  it  proved  to  them  that  suffering  wasn’t  going  to  continue  no  matter  what  they  were  to  attempt.

he  slowly  reaches  out  his  hand  to  her  once  again.

@iisolated​ - <3

How it all felt like that of a bad dream. Distant, hazy, as if a fog lay over her memories in a thick blanket, unable to tell what what was once reality in a past life, and what was nothing more than nightmares that would wake her from a sleep. Visions of vacant, clinical spaces, monsters shuffling in blood soaked gowns, moaning for help or a chance to be free, and how it felt all too familiar in a way she couldn’t describe. As if it were home, however hellish, as if she could look in a mirror and see them reflected in herself. Yet in all of the suffering, just before she would stir from her sleep, she would see him- a towering beast, most would fear- yet she felt... safe. 

An executioner to most, but a protector to her. Bonded to him with ties that ran thicker than the blood of those so often sacrificed by his hand. Yet there was no bloodshed, not between them outside of these trials. A moment of peace between chaos, private, intimate moments no other survivor would believe if she even spoke of what happened between them. A bond, where no words were needed, as if touch and sight alone were enough for them to understand one another.

It was why she did not attempt to run, nor cower, nor even expect death, though it could so easily be done. It was a notion, the sense of trust that pulled at her heart, left her trembling hand outstretched, allowing delicate fingers to trace along his palm, before resting her hand in his own. The world itself seeming so warm, so familiar then, being close to him. As if those hazy memories were tugging at the back of her mind to help her remember- remember the one that helped her when she was left in the dark. 

HE’S SLOW WITH HIS MOVEMENTS UPON ENTERING THE ROOM, gun lowering to his side before it’s promptly returned to its holster ( not wanting to startle her more so than she must already be with all that’s happened ); leon coming down to a crouch before her, hand hovering close with the intent to settle her SHAKEN NERVES ( and as an offering should she decide to take it as one ). ❝ hey .. you’re gonna be OK. i’m gonna get you out of here, alright ? ❞ 

         ↪  @iisolated​​ ( lisa garland ) gets a plotted starter.

For so long, all she could hear was screams. A part of her wasn’t even sure how it started, what went wrong in the midst of chaos to cause everything they’d been working on to go downhill so quickly. A test gone wrong, causing massive panic and an outbreak like wildfire that consumed the town within hours. Or at least, that’s what she could only assume, when time felt as though it came to a stop, even ceased to exist as she was locked away. 

Darkness kept her blind, security doors snapping shut so quickly having left her in what felt like the void- the sounds of those outside the doors banging, screaming for help while she could do nothing more than hide. Curled up beneath a table, fearing the very worst would happen- a slow, painful, isolated death where no one would find her, nor even remember her.

How the thought left silent tears rolling down her pallid face, a gentle sob occasionally filling the silence as the screams outside died down to silence- painful, lonely silence. A part of her was ready to give up, to throw herself to whatever hell lay beyond those doors- before the sound of gunshots rang out, followed by a pair of footsteps as the door was swung open.

A survivor- a cop? It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, blurred with tears and blinded as the lights kicked on in the room from his motion. Pupils dilated, before focusing on the figure before her. Blonde hair, light eyes, how her breath hitched in her throat before she crawled out from beneath the space she hid, arms around his neck as she sat up on her knees to meet him that way instead. A tight embrace, where a soft sob was let out against the crook of his neck, hands trembling as they gripped to his vest, afraid that if she let go she may lose him entirely.

    𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐅 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒. it was nice, in a way, to have someone who could relate [  even if it were in her 𝑂𝑊𝑁 𝑊𝐴𝑌  —  their experiences always going to be different from one another’s  ]. being alone. 𝑆𝑈𝑅𝐸𝐿𝑌 𝑆𝐻𝐸 𝑊𝐴𝑆𝑁'𝑇 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐿𝑌 𝐴𝐿𝑂𝑁𝐸, 𝑅𝐼𝐺𝐻𝑇? she had friends here  —  people who cared for her.  [  he cared for her  ]. he couldn’t quite say the same for himself, but .. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐒. though it’s her suggestion to spend more time together, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌, that brings forth a temporary smile ; lips pulling upwards at the corners only to fall once more  —  though appreciation for her offer still remains despite looks claiming otherwise.

    ❛  i was just headed home .. but if you’d like the company, i don’t mind.  ❜

    𝐻𝐴𝑁𝐷 𝐼𝑆 𝑃𝑈𝐿𝐿𝐸𝐷 𝐹𝑅𝐸𝐸 𝐹𝑅𝑂𝑀 𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐾𝐸𝑇'𝑆 𝐶𝑂𝑁𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑆, and he offers it out to her ; palm up in quiet offering for her to take if she so wished [  anxiety already flaring at the mere idea that she would reject it and he’d be forced to return it to it’s prior place in embarrassment  ]. 

    ❛  𝑌𝑂𝑈'𝐿𝐿 𝑁𝐸𝐸𝐷 𝑇𝑂 𝐿𝐸𝐴𝐷 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑊𝐴𝑌 𝑇𝐻𝑂𝑈𝐺𝐻.  ❜

𝐀   𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭   𝐨𝐟   𝐡𝐞𝐫   𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭   𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝   𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞   𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭   𝐨𝐟   𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥,   what   with   his   aloof   and   mysterious   ways.   To   think   he   was   too   busy   for   her,   had   other   things   to   attend   to-   imagining   some   sort   of   dramatic   scenario   with   him   always   on   the   run.   Realizing   that   he   too   was   like   her,   had   a   place   to   call   home,   could   unwind   after   a   match   and   allow   himself   to   be   Tae   Joon-   not   just   Crypto.   Which   she   couldn’t   help   but   wonder   then,   would   she   get   to   see   that   side   of   him?   When   walls   would   come   down   at   the   end   of   the   day,   was   it   something   she’d   be   able   to   cherish   more   often?   Her   heart   began   to   race   at   the   thought   alone.

That,   and   the   offering   of   his   hand-   a   sight   that   left   her   eyes   wide,   quickly   trying   to   hide   it   with   a   smile   as   she   reached   for   him.   Fingers   brushed   his   palm-   a   quick   shock   leaving   her   fingers   recoiling   instinctively.   “Sorry-”   Yet   it   didn’t   stop   her   from   trying   again,   fingers   running   along   his   palm,   before   fitting   so   perfectly   between   his   own.   How   she   felt   like   such   a   child,   her   cheeks   burning   from   such   a   simple   gesture-   but   to   have   such   a   connection   was   something   she’d   not   dreamt   of   finding   within   her   solitary   life   within   the   games.   He   made   her   happy-   butterflies   making   her   stomach   restless-   something   papa   would   say:   when   you   feel   such   a   way,   it   means   you're   in   love.

Carefully   then   she   led   him   along,   down   well   lit   streets   as   she   admired   the   lights   of   the   city   around   them.   “I   don’t   mind   a   stroll   after   a   long   day,   well,   depending   on   how   the   match   went.   Sometimes   its   nice   to   just   feel...   normal.”   Thinking   aloud   really,   her   mind   would   jump   from   one   thought   to   the   next.   “Niko   will   be   happy   to   finally   meet   you.   If   you   are   a   cat   person-   he   can   be   a   bit   mischievous   at   times-   but   I   think   you   two   will   get   along.”   

    𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 : 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄. from 𝐻𝐼𝑆, to wraith’s [  though he would sooner find skirmisher’s own more comforting than caustic’s were  ]. 𝑇𝐻𝐸𝑌'𝑅𝐸 𝑆𝐼𝑀𝑃𝐿𝑌 𝐿𝑂𝑂𝐾𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝑂𝑈𝑇 𝐹𝑂𝑅 𝐻𝐸𝑅  —  he can hear the words being told to him now by another, and he’d half the mind to believe that when it came to one out of the two that were caught passing glances. not that it mattered ; there wasn’t a chance that he’d speak about what had happened inside the arena with anyone but her listening in [  good people or not, the lot of them here, 𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌  ]. all save for𝑁𝐴𝑇𝐴𝐿𝐼𝐸. with a nod received in response to prior words, he’s put at ease. 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓 𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑.

    𝑇𝐻𝐸𝑅𝐸'𝑆 𝑁𝑂 𝑇𝐼𝑀𝐸 𝑊𝐴𝑆𝑇𝐸𝐷 𝑊𝐻𝐸𝑁 𝐻𝐸 𝐿𝐸𝐴𝑉𝐸𝑆 ; hands shoved deep into the pockets of his coat as he escorts himself out and away from the crowd without a single word [  finding no need in saying goodbyes to anyone there, unlike she  ]. footfalls are made with 𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄, though attention is quick to perk up as name is called ; footsteps trailing after. he’s enough mind to stop and wait for her to catch up, hands remaining in the depths of his pockets as he turns to meet her. 𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇, and it initially causes for brows to furrow in confusion before he’s shaking his head ; shoulders shrugging. 

    ❛  —  don’t mention it.  ❜

    ❛  i’m not mad. 𝑆𝑈𝑅𝑃𝑅𝐼𝑆𝐸𝐷, yes, but ..  ❜𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐈𝐃, 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘, ❛  i know you didn’t mean it.  ❜ a pause, and his fingers curl into fists within fabric confines ; brows knitting together once again. ❛  i don’t expect you to get it right, or be in the habit of it right away. it’s okay.  ❜ 

“I    see...”    

There    was    a    part    of    her    who    couldn’t    quite    shake    the    feeling    she’d    struck    a    nerve.    Though    his    voice    was    gentle,    and    his    words    of    forgiveness,    she    knew    down    inside    there    would    always    be    a    guarded    part    of    him    now,    surely.    Internally    she’d    kick    and    scold    herself,    her    brows    coming    together    as    her    gaze    dropped    towards    the    floor    as    they    walked.    His    entire    life,    his    identity    was    on    the    line.    If    he    were    to    get    caught?    Something    terrible    would    happen-    and    if    she    were    at    fault?    It    would    be    another    person    she    loved-    taken    from    her.    She’d    have    no    one    to    blame    but    herself-    and    wouldn’t    ever    forgive    herself    for    such    a    thing.    

“Merci,    Crypto.”

Tae--    Crypto    wasn’t    a    bad    man.    She    knew    that-    knew    that    whatever    bad    deeds    they    framed    him    for    could    never    be    true.    It    was    why    it    pained    her,    to    think    he    had    to    live    alone,    on    the    run,    and    why    she    wanted    so    dearly    to    be    someone    he    could    trust    and    turn    to.    The    world    could    be    so    dark    when    it    was    one    you    traveled    alone-    maybe    he    would    let    her    help    light    his    way    through    the    darkness.    After    all,    there    already    was    a    spark    between    them,    all    he    needed    was    to    ignite    it    and    start    the    flame.

▹〢 @sinkllr​​  :  ❛  you’re a mess. you need to talk to somebody?  ❜

    𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄. 𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓. 𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐎, 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓'𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐃. That’s what he would tell 𝐻𝐸𝑅. Hands are trembling, even as fingers curl up to form fists. 𝐀𝐍𝐗𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 deep within Crypto’s being [  over everything that’d been going on with 𝐇𝐈𝐌, to what he’d told 𝐻𝐸𝑅, over every near slip up she’d had with his name in the middle of the arena  —  broadcasted out to 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐒 of viewers ; not that he would ever blame her ] coupled over 𝑆𝐿𝐸𝐸𝑃 𝐷𝐸𝑃𝑅𝐼𝑉𝐴𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 & left over adrenaline as he sits at desk in dropship’s personal quarters. He had almost missed what she’d said, her voice soft spoken ( never one to shout ), but his attention is captured as 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 beside him ; a barely-there smile tugging at his lips. 

     ❛  I’m alright. Really.  ❜ 𝐼𝑇'𝑆 𝐴 𝐿𝐼𝐸. 𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓, 𝐓𝐎𝐎.

❛  —  When the ship lands, walk with me. We can talk someplace more private.  ❜ 

    ↪  𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐷𝐸𝑃𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐷 ( 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟼 ).

𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦, simply put, knowing well the nervous ticks he had after so long of admiring watching him from afar. Twitchy fingers, always playing with his puzzle, tuning hack, the quick darting glances, as if someone were always behind him, watching over his shoulder. He’d seen Mirage try his pranks before, sneaking up on him for the element of what he believed to be surprised, only to end up on the floor begging for mercy with a twisted arm.

Thankfully he’d never tried that before with her, not that she tried such pranks at all. Yet she could remember the first time she’d seen such a sight, how she feared maybe he would try the same for self defense. Wondering what always kept him on edge, what he feared so much- and it was only through the ups and downs of their relationships did she begin to learn why. A secret she’d sworn to keep- not ever wanting to lose him, like she has lost so many others she held dear. She wouldn’t mess it up, wouldn’t ever want to see him be taken away- the thought was too scary, to lose someone she loved.

Why she stood a distance from his desk, feeling static between her gloves as fingers brushed together. They had won- that was good- but she’d almost messed up- and she knew he was probably mad about that. She wanted to apologize, but knew it would have to be safe from prying eyes and curious ears- the sight of Caustic, Wraith, all just within earshot was never a good thing. 

Nothing more than a nod given, and she’d waited, time ticking by until they were released from the ship to go their separate ways. Saying her goodbyes, wishing everyone a good night, she could already see him cut through the crowd, hands buried deep in his pockets to flee the scene of the crime. 

Though she couldn’t help but tease him from time to time, just to see him smile when she could. A part of her had feeling they’d be on opposing teams, which is why she savored the calm before the storm. Carefully she leaned against the desk where he worked, taking a glimpse at Hack, watching the way he worked over the little bot with bright, curious eyes. 

Hands were gentle as they wound bandage round his arm, slow yet firm, watching the gauze bleed red with a graze from a bullet. The world was quiet for now- her ultimate leaving a gentle hum of electricity in the room they bunked in, flower petals blowing by outside the window as their shields and health recharged.