TARGET AQUIRED

tyler rake was not an easy man to work alongside, but boy, did he know how to get shit done. though he might have been quicker to act than she was, natasha had learned she could actually depend on him when it mattered. still, neither of them had walked away from the situation unscathed. she could already feel the bruises forming beneath her skin, the cuts and scrapes along her arms and cheek serving as reminders of the fight they had just somehow made it out of. she was far better off than he was, though.

natasha's brows furrowed, her gaze examining the wound as closely as she could while he made his protests and excuses. "just because you can talk through the pain doesn't mean it isn't bad," she pointed out, voice even but leaving little room for argument. "if you don't let me clean it up, we're going to have to turn back. i'm not dragging your dead body out of here when you inevitably get septic."

she crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a pointed look. her expression was all knowing regarding these circumstances. they were always fine until they weren't. "your choice," she added, letting the decision be his, though the look on her face made it clear she already knew which answer she expected.

𝐇𝐄  𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐒  𝐎𝐔𝐓  𝐀  𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘  𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇  that  expels  from  his  lungs.  Which  only  causes  the  pain  to  radiate  through  his  back,  and  he  bites  back  the  pain.  He  had  almost  caught  a  bullet,  thankfully  it  only  grazed  his  shoulder  leaving  a  nasty  gash  to  deal  with.  He  felt  the  warmth  of  his  own  blood  on  his  skin,  wet  and  sticking  to  the  fabric  of  his  shirt.  His  jaw  clenches  and  he  avoids  her  stare.  He’s  used  to  this  kind  of  pain.  It  ran  with  the  risks  of  the  job  that  he  took.  Tyler  waved  a  hand  dismissively  at  her  as  she  tried  to  examine  his  injury,  visibly  irritated  with  the  action.  If  he  had  it  his  way  he  would  have  done  this  alone. 

He  worked  better  alone,  less  distractions  and  he  could  get  the  job  done  a  lot  quicker.   He  has  done  this  countless  times.  He  knew  Nik  sent  Natasha  in  with  him  because  she  was  worried  about  him.  It  was  clear  that  he  was  being  closely  watched  so  that  he  didn’t  do  anything  reckless. Suicidal  mission,  is  what  she  called  it,  knowing  full  well  that  he  would  find  any  reason  to  get  himself  killed.   He’s  too  stubborn  to  admit  that  she’s  right.  He  finally  raises  his  gaze  to  meet  hers,  blue  hues  hardened  at  her  statement.  “If  you  want  to  turn  back  because  of  a  minor  injury,  be  my  guest  but  I’m  not  going  anywhere until  the  job  is  done.”   His  tone  was  firm  and  harsh.  She  was  stubborn, a  lot  like  him.  It’s  no  wonder  that  they  butted  heads.  She  was  only  looking  out  for  him,  but  he  couldn’t  shake  off  the  idea  that  she  was  only  sent  here  to  babysit  him.  He  respected  her.  He  wouldn’t  lie  about  that.  She  was  good  at  what  does,  damn  good.  He  had  to  remind  himself  that  if  they  were  both  getting  out  alive  he  had  to  let  her  stop  the  bleeding.  That  much  he  could  let  her  do.  He  sat  in  silence  for  what  seemed  to  stretch  for  too  long  before  he  spoke.  “Fine,  do  it  but  make  it  quick.”

❛  i don't believe you anymore.  ❜ ❛  i don't have anything left to give you.  ❜ ❛  i don't know how to forgive you.  ❜ ❛  i don't know how to stop loving you.  ❜ ❛  i don't know if i hate you or miss you.  ❜ ❛  i don't know how to act around you anymore.  ❜ ❛  i don't love you anymore.  ❜ ❛  i don't need your pity.  ❜ ❛  i don't need you to save me.  ❜ ❛  i don't recognize you anymore.  ❜ ❛  i don't think we can fix this.  ❜ ❛  i don't think i can survive losing you again.  ❜ ❛  i don't want to see you again.  ❜ ❛  i don't want your apology.  ❜ ❛  i don't want to be your second choice.  ❜ ❛  don't ask me to stay.  ❜ ❛  don't ask me to be okay with this.  ❜ ❛  don't come back to me just because you're lonely.  ❜ ❛  don't leave me here alone.  ❜ ❛  don't lie to me again.  ❜ ❛  don't love me only when it's convenient.  ❜ ❛  don't make me choose between you and myself.  ❜ ❛  don't make me hate you just so i can let you go.  ❜ ❛  don't pretend you're the only one who suffered.  ❜ ❛  don't say you love me unless you mean it.  ❜ ❛  don't tell me what to do.  ❜ ❛  don't tell me this was all for nothing.  ❜ ❛  don't touch me.  ❜ ❛  don't turn this around on me.  ❜ ❛  don't you dare hold my past against me.  ❜ ❛  you don't deserve me.  ❜ ❛  you don't get to decide when i'm done hurting.  ❜ ❛  you don't get to hurt me and call it love.  ❜ ❛  you don't get to mourn me after killing every part of me that loved you.  ❜ ❛  you don't get to rewrite what happened just because you regret it now.  ❜ ❛  you don't have to pretend you missed me.  ❜ ❛  you don't know how many times i waited for you.  ❜ ❛  you don't know what i gave up for you.  ❜ ❛  you don't understand what you did to me.  ❜ ❛  you don't understand how tired i am of being strong because of you.  ❜

𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 :

➔ you're gonna be okay , just keep your eyes on me. ➔ don't move - you're going to make it worse. ➔ it's not that bad. ➔ you saved me once before , now it's my turn. ➔ you fucking idiot , you weren't supposed to take the hit for me. ➔ i told you not to do that! now look! ➔ you're lucky that i know basic first aid , or you'd be dead! ➔ stay with me, okay? stay awake. ➔ i'll be as gentle as i can be , i promise. ➔ you're bleeding - oh my god , you're bleeding. ➔ you told me it was a scratch , this is not a fucking scratch! ➔ there's so much blood. ➔ next time you want to play here , just don't. ➔ stop fighting me and let me help! ➔ you're banned from doing anything remotely dangerous. ➔ you could have died , what were you thinking? ➔ if you die on me , i'm going to be pissed off. ➔ you didn't have to be so reckless just to prove a fucking point. ➔ the wound will heal but you'll have a scar.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 :

for the "i don't need your help" one

you can get lost.

i thought i told you i had this under control.

you never listen to me.

i was taking care of it.

leave me alone.

are you happy now?

you just stepped in and ruined it for me.

that was completely unnecessary and you know it.

i had it under control.

you didn't need to show up.

can't you let me handle my own shit?

i would have appreciated it if you asked first.

i had it handled!

you didn't need to do all that!

what part of "i don't need help" do you not understand?

they were about to give it to me before you showed up!

i had something going and you ruined it!

what, you mean you don't trust me to handle it myself?

you trained me better than this.

you can't just show up every time and save me.

what's the point in putting me out here if you're not going to let me do it on my own?

i thought you trusted me to take care of this by myself.

you taught me this.

i'm never going to forgive you for this.

that was uncalled for.

what happens when you're not here one day and i have to take care of things on my own?

how am i ever going to learn if you keep stepping in?

i'm not you.

for the "i'm just trying to help you" one

i heard you struggling.

i was just trying to help you.

and this is the thanks i get for trying to help?

things were getting out of hand. i had to step in.

you never would have done that by yourself.

it's okay to ask for help.

it's not that i don't trust you. i don't trust [them].

a minute longer and you'd be dead in there.

i had to make sure you were okay.

of course i trust you. this was never about trust.

i'm not going to risk your life like that!

i should have been there sooner.

if i'd only reached you faster.

a simple "thank you" would suffice.

you could thank me for saving your ass back there.

sure didn't seem like you had it under control.

things were getting out of hand, and i stepped in.

i'm in charge here, not you.

i'm not going to put your life at risk like that again.

we're done here.

i'm not arguing with you.

i saved your life, and this is how you repay me?

i just wanted to make sure you were okay.

maybe i crossed a line back there, sure, but i did it for you.

it's because i care about you.

of course you're capable. that was never up for debate.

you're not ready.

next time, let me handle it.

clearly you need more time before i let you do that alone.

“I’d keep you safe.”

“You’re nothing to me.”

“I wouldn’t advise that…”

“I wish I had your courage.”

“Anger makes you careless.”

“You can do it. Just don’t die.”

“A hero’s work is never done.”

“Do I really mean so little to you?”

“I’m not going to make a deal with you.”

“Everything is an illusion. Trust nothing.”

“You’re not as bad as they say you are.”

“You aren’t the person you think you are.”

“Do you learn nothing from your mistakes?”

“Don’t go rushing in. You’ll end up like them.”

“You have a lot of bite for someone so small.”

“Nothing I do will ever be good enough, will it?”

“Do you think redemption can really be earned?”

“I don’t need your forgiveness. I did nothing wrong.”

“I don’t need you to apologize. I need you to do better.”

“You think you have to prove yourself to me. You don’t.”

“If you don’t come back, I’m going to be very, very upset.”

“How can you possibly sleep with all this on your conscience?”

“You’re not a lost cause. Not enough people have told you that.”

“Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me? Don’t answer that.”

“There’s nothing to be said. Everything I could say, I already have.”

“I’ve been nothing but truthful with you… so, why won’t you trust me?”

“Considering the stories I’ve heard, I was expecting someone scarier.”

“Haven’t I given enough? Haven’t I lost enough? Haven’t I fought enough?”

“You never seem scared. You’re never caught off-guard. How do you do it?”

“I’m not the one for you. I’d only make your life worse, and we both know it.”

“I’m making us tea/coffee/hot cocoa, and then you’re telling me what’s wrong.”

“Can you just… just stop! Stop for a second and think about what you’re doing!”

“Something’s clearly going on. Keeping me in the dark about it won’t help anything.”

“I don’t need to justify myself to them/you. I know what I have to do. And I’m going to do it.”