i s l a

I’m not used to someone still talking lucidly with a head wound like that. Are you okay? That’s a… really stupid question.

I was trained to be functional and mobile through injuries worse than this.

Half of your face is covered in blood– I can see if I can find something to at least stop the bleeding.

Oh.

I don’t doubt that, but here it could cause a domino effect and everyone at some point could be gunning for you. It’s like a game of chess and you can’t just kill any pawn.

The thing is about people you care about, you don’t want to make them do anything. He has a family, friends he cares about– until he’s ready, I can’t force him to leave or else I’m no better than the people that use him.

You’re scared I will die.

Because even though I know you can handle yourself, I won’t want anyone coming after you.

I was originally here for a job, then I stayed because it was chaotic and fun. Then I found Casey, and until I can get him to leave with me, I’m here.

It’s happened before, I just kill them.

No, I’m not. You didn’t do anything I couldn’t fix– I should have been around you at least for your first couple days in the city, so it’s on me.

Why do you bother fixing it? 

Bingo. When you live in a city that just wants to kill you, why would you care about staying alive?

This city... you’re all so pathetic. 

They say that curiosity kills the cat and I can’t help but be curious about things.

You want to die.

You kill them? Or was it like a ‘three strikes, you’re out’ kinda deal?

Tell me about it. The worst part was when it was the first day of school and the teacher asks everyone to say three facts about themselves like anyone fuckin’ cares.

You ask a lot of questions.

Would you have actually shot someone if they didn’t heed your warning?

It’s a way to get strangers better acquainted, in simple terms. Strangers are ‘icy’ with one another, so you’re breaking it. Sometimes it can be a game, other times it’s as simple as exchanging names. 

I already have.

judas​:

Judas had been running late for a meeting, driving breakneck speeds through the city in his car in order to make the appointment with Eleanor in his car. He was looking to make it in time before out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement; a scuffle between two people. It wasn’t abnormal in a city like St. Cascadia, the people however caused him to double take. “Shit,” he cursed aloud as he pulled the steering wheel hard to the side, not caring that his vehicle bottomed out on the curb in order to stop. Throwing out the door, he ran to the duo. “Isla,” Judas yelled out, coming to stop next to her, placing his fingertips on the top of the blade to pull away from Enzo’s throat, “let’s not hurt our friend here. I’m sure this whole thing is all a misunderstanding.” His eyes cast over to Enzo, “she didn’t hurt you too badly, I hope.”

It was a split second of hesitation on his part. The fist to the throat knocked the oxygen from his lungs and while he wasted time gasping for air, Enzo felt fingers wrap around his wrists, but that was the least of the man’s problems. The familiar loud pop he knew too well from getting into physical altercations sent a thunderstorm of striking pain emanating from his shoulder, traveling the length of his arm, and forcing a growling groan past his lips. It didn’t hurt as much as he remembered, but he did know it would cause worse of a fuss whenever the joint needed to eventually be readjusted. Enzo was forced to his knees within the blink of an eye before his head could stop spinning, one palm coming to instinctively wrap around the handle of the knife she pressed to his throat, fury and agitation blinding him. “You can go kindly fuck yourself, okay?” He should have lost his temper, could have, until a familiar voice sounded from a short distance, followed by the appearance of the man whose voice it belonged to. Judas. Of course they fucking know each other. “You call this,” Enzo spat out, lifting his chin slightly as the blade was removed, “a motherfucking misunderstanding?” He scoffed, “Yeah, tell that to my goddamn dislocated shoulder. Get her the fuck off me.”

She heard the squeal of a car’s wheels and breaks, noted the quiet yet hurried footsteps that rushed toward her. There were only three people in this city currently who could move so, and they knew better than to attack her with a weapon in her hand. She stayed relaxed, didn’t move when Judas Langley called her name; Isla only acknowledged him when his hand touched the blade. Her brow was furrowed as she looked between the two, her eyes reflecting her confusion. This wasn’t the kind of person she’d expect Judas Langley to keep company.  “This червь, is your friend?” She let go of the man and stepped away slowly, the knife dancing between her fingers as she played with it. She watched the man from the corner of her eye, mad men take risks and Isla wouldn’t leave her guard down – it never was. “He said I would bleed,” she said to the man who was her brother, ‘I proved him wrong’ went unspoken between them.

Well, that’s a real bummer. So, what was the point of pointing a gun at people? It’s not a very good icebreaker.

To warn them. 

I haven’t really seen you in action other than your gun in my face but I’ll take your word for it.

Is that… supposed to be surprising? So does pretty much half the people in this city. You’ll fit right in.

I’m better at it than they are.

“You’d enjoy that a little too much, wouldn’t you?”

Enzo took a slow casual step forward, looking the girl up and down with amusement dancing in his face, but fire sparking in his eyes. “Another piece of advice, watch your attitude around here. No matter how invincible you think you are, everyone bleeds.”

“You know, that’s totally not fair to say when you don’t even know-” The sound of a shot rang out through the air, sending a white hot pain Andromeda never actually experienced before in this city. “Ow!” She spun slightly to the side, a hand shooting up to cup the grazing wound. When she pulled it back, a scarlet liquid coated her fingers. “What in the actual fuck is wrong with you?”

Isla watched the dark haired girl, offering only an unimpressed look. “Gun aren’t toys. Weapons are for inflicting pain and death. Do you understand?”