#collapsed lung

The warehouse smelled of rust and mold. Walls were slick with condensation as if they were sweating and Gavin? Gavin hated places like these, the echoing chambers that amplified every step he took and somehow made his pulse sound louder than his thoughts.

Beside him, the Rk900 walked almost like a predator as if in its natural environment; noiseless, precise, his head turning just enough so it was able to scan every corner and potential blind spot. He hated to admit and would rather choke on his own blood than say it out loud but, Nines was good at this. Too good.

“Stay sharp.” Gavin muttered, his gun raised.

“I am incapable of being anything else,” Nines replied in his usual smooth and unbothered voice.

Before Gavin could even start rolling his eyes, a shot cracked from the catwalk above them. Sparks burst from the steel support next to his head. Swearing he dove behind a stack of crated, heart nearly hammering out of his chest. “Sniper!” he barked.

“Two.” Nines corrected, already firing upward. His bullets punched clean holes through the rusted metal guardrail, and one of the snipers toppled screaming into the shadows. The second one was faster, slipping away into the shadows. Another emerged from the far side of the warehouse his weapon raised. The air filled with gunfire, the blasts echoing, all that was heard was the clang of rochochets and the dry snap of bullets biting into steel.

Nines moved like flowing water, dodge, shoot, disarm, kill. Gavin was a solid shooter but slower, his breath sounded ragged in the acrid haze. Damn androids and their perfect endurance and what not. When the shooting finally stopped, he could see the bodies sprawled across the floor. He allowed himself one shaky exhale, maybe a bit too soon. Before he knew it…

Movement in the shadows. A muzzle flash bloomed.

The impact tore Gavin off his feet. The world before his eyes suddenly detonated in white pain. He hit the floor hard, ears ringing and vision swimming between black and red. His chest screamed, like someone had swung a bat full force into his ribs and then wanted to be fun and set it on fire.

But then the real horror settled in.

He couldn’t breathe. His lungs seized trying to drag air where there wasn’t any. The pain radiated sharp and deep, tearing through his chest and ribs. He could feel warmth spread across his chest, sticky, hot… blood. He coughed and crimson coated his lips nearly frotting trailing down his chin. Panic clawed in. He knew the signs. Collapsed lung. He was drowning on the inside, in his own blood. This couldn’t be it, not now…

“Reed!” Nine’s voice cut through the ringing and deafening silence. It sounded weird, like it had an edge of panic and was that worry? No, he was an android it couldn’t be. He blamed it on the blood loss, yeah that was it. His vision started to swim worse. He shakingly pressed a hand to the hole in his chest, it came back slick and dark. “F.. fuck”

Nines dropped beside him, his knees making a loud clank against the ground. If he was human his knees would definitely be bruised. His LED was flashing a rapid yellow, specks of red now and then. He immediately stripped Gavin’s vest with one brutal tug, tearing the fabric open ignoring the mutter of something along the lines ‘that was my favorite jacket prick’ plus the slurring words. He pressed his hands against the wounds, blood pouring between his fingers. “Trough and trough” Nines said, voice level but fast, there was still an edge to it. “Your right lung is collapsing. Chest cavity is compromised. Air is filling where blood should not be. If I don’t intervene, you will suffocate.”

“Well..” Gavin coughed, more blood spilling. “That… shouldn’t have happened.” He tried to grin but his lips were turning pale already, trembling.

Nines didn’t waste any time. He yanked a folding blade from his belt. “I need to perform a decompression.”

“What?” Gavin raped, panic doubling. His voice broke into a wet rattle. The android didn’t answer him with words, instead he jammed the blade between his ribs, sharp and merciless. The scream that tore from Gavin was raw and ragged. His back arched, eyed wide as he scratched weakly at Nine’s arms to try and make him stop. Blood kept bubbling up in his throat in a horrible gurgle.

Then came the hiss. A wet sucking rush of air escaping the cavity, carrying flecks of blood with it. The crushing weight on his chest eased, just slightly but the agony remained. Nines pressed his palm flat over the wound almost hard enough to bruise. “Do not move. You might drown if you do.” Gavin tried to gasp but it came in short rattling stabs of breath. Each inhale he took dragged fire across the torn tissue and made the blood bubble even more. He could feel it inside him, warm thick and flooding where air belonged.

“You’re.. Fucking… insane.” he spar, couging more crimson.

“I’m keeping you alive.”

From his jacket Nines tore the hem free, balling it up into a crude dressing. He shoved it against Gavin’s wound with brutal pressure. Blood started to soak the fabric instantly, squelching warm between synthetic fingers. Gavin choked on the copper stench of his own inside, all he wanted right now was to take a good ass nap and hope this would all be over soon. “Stay awake.” Nines ordered. His voice was sharp through the haze that had started to consume him. “You’re already hypoxic. If you lose consciousness I cannot guarantee…”

“Shut… up…” Gavin rasped, his teeth stained with blood. His head lolled, fighting the gravity. The darkness felt so heavy, warm and welcoming. Before he could even think of welcoming it with open arms, gunfire had erupted again, closer this time. Nines’s head snapped up. LED spinning red. “Additional hostels inbound.”

“Go” he whispered, voice shredded. If he wouldn’t make it, he would at least let Nines finish the mission. “Finish it-”

“No.” Nines his gaze was fixed on him, unyielding. It made something warm spread in his chest again, this time he was sure it wasn’t blood. It surprised him. He didn’t like it… or did he? Before he could think about it even more he felt himself being scooped up by Nines, his blood staining the pristine white uniform. One hand pressed against the makeshift bandage, the other pulled out his firearm. Nines carried Gavin like he was deadweight, firing one handed with brutal accuracy. If it was any other situation he would’ve found it so hot.

Each step jolted Gavin’s broken body, sending waves of agony through his ribs. He coughed and gagged, more blood dribbling down his chin. He felt like he was drowning, sputtering and choking on every gasp. The world smeared together into flashes, gunfire, a blurry mess. Nines’s arm around him felt like a vice, grounding.

By the time they broke through the warehouse doors, Gavin was barely hanging on. Flashing lights cut through the dark, police backup, finally. All he could make out was Hank’s worrying scowl and Connor’s horrified shout.

Then the blackness surged and Gavin, Gavin welcomed it with open arms.

----

He woke up in a sterile white room, monitors beeping a steady rhythm at his side. His chest was bound in layers of bandages, tubes feeding into him. Each breath he took still hurt, but at least he could breathe now. Turning his head was agony, but he managed. Nines stood in the corner like a sentinel, arms folded and eyes locked onto him. His uniform was clean now, but Gavin remembered the blood coating it, his blood.

“Welcome back” Nines said simply. But there was a glint of relief in his eyes.

Gavin groaned. “I feel like I swallowed glass.

“You nearly drowned in your own blood. That is… not inaccurate..”

Despite the ache Gavin couldn’t help but bark out a laugh. “You’re got the bedside manner of a buzzsaw.” Nines tilted his head, something flashing across his face, it was too fast for Gavin to pinpoint the emotion but the next words hit him close to the heart. “You are alive. That is all that matters.”

Tyler pushed Chris to the side.  Something slammed into his chest, throwing him back.  His vision went dark for a moment.  He couldn't breath for a moment.  

Somewhere through the ringing in his ears, gasping breaths and pain, he could hear Chris' voice.  

His eyes wouldn't focus when he finally managed to open his eyes.  All he could make out was strange colors and shapes moving around.  Sounds bombarded his senses.  

Fighting sounded around him.  It sounded like fight, but he couldn't be sure about it.  Everything was just so confusing.  

A voice laughed within his mind.  

He could feel something in him shift.  

The Demon.

For a second his vision clear.  He could see Chris struggling against someone, trying to get away.  Blood ran down the other guy's face.  

Clenching his jaw, he lifted one hand reaching for his power.  The demon laughed at him as he struggled.  He was not going to let Chris die, even if he did not like him that much.

Pain flooded his vision, covering everything in a haze of red.

The blast from his threw the attackers away, giving Chris a chance to fight back.  

Tyler could feel himself starting to fade.  

Somewhere through the darkness, Chris’ voice called out, but he couldn’t make out what the other guy was saying.  

“Well now....” the demon’s distorted voice whispered “You’ve gone and done it...  Do you want me to take over?  I’ll quickly take care of them....”

Tyler clenched his jaw.  “Stay in your bloody corner” he snapped at the demon.

“you’re going to die if this keeps going...” the demon chuckled “And then I get to go to the next best candidate”

“Shut the hell up!”  Tyler scream at the demon.

“Don’t get upset now....” the demon started.

Tyler felt his control slip out of his grasp.   Somewhere in his mind he could hear the demon screaming at him.  It sounded frustrated and in pain.  Tyler just ignored it, struggling to keep himself from passing out.

The world around him started fading.  All he could see was Chris getting back onto his feet, turning to him with a shocked expression.  

Then the world disappeared.  

***

Chris jumped back as an attack threw all of the attackers away.  For a moment he just stood there, gasping for breath.  Pain throbbed through his body and he could barely put any weight on his leg.  

Clenching his jaw, he turned back to where he left Tyler.  

The other guy sat slumped again the tree.  It almost looked like the ground around had been ripped up by giant claws.  

“Crap...” Chris cussed as he limped over to where Tyler was “Hey....  wake up man”

He crouched down next to Tyler.  The other guy did not move.  Blood dripped down the side of Tyler’s face.  He’d gone about three shades paler than before.  If they didn’t do anything, Tyler’s wasn’t going to last much longer. 

“Come on, Night...” Chris whispered “Just hold on a bit longer...”

Tyler coughed weakly, cause more blood to drip down his lips.  A bare whisper of a breath moved through his throat.   

“Dammit.... dammit, Tyler....” he snapped, slapping Tyler’s face slightly “Don’t do this to me...”

With a soft groan, Tyler’s eyes flickered open and focused on Chris.

“....What.... happened?” he managed to asked.

Chris breathed out with relieve.  “You scared the living crap out of me” he said, putting a hand on Tyler’s shoulder “Why do you have to be so damn thick headed?”

Tyler just rested his head against the tree.  

“....hurts...” he muttered, chest wheezing “...can’t.... breath....”

Chris cussed.  “Let me see the tube” he said as he gently moved Tyler’s shirt and jacket.  

Tyler gasped, hissing softly.  

Carefully, Chris adjusted the tube, causing Tyler flinch before letting out a whimper.  

“Are you alright...?” he asked softly, keeping an eye on Tyler’s pale face.

Tyler just stayed still.  “...sorry...” he mumbled.

“We need to get you out of here” Chris said.  

“....just go...” Tyler wheezed, barely able to keep his eyes open.  

“I’m not going to leave you here” Chris snapped.  

Tyler groaned.  “....  Why....  do you... care?” he asked, feeling himself starting to slip again.

“because you’re not that bad a guy” Chris said “and Vic will never forgive me if something happens to you”

A frown formed on Tyler’s face.  Confusion flashed over his face.  “....sorry....” he whispered, before he started coughing again.  It hurt so badly that he almost passed out right there.  

Chris sighed.  “Do you think you can get up?” he asked “I can’t really move without help”

Tyler clenched his jaw before nodding slowly.  “.... just not... fast....” he managed, sitting up slightly.

Immediately Chris had to catch him, as he tilted to the side.

“Shit... shit... shit....” he said “Don’t pass out”

Tyler allowed Chris to hold him up.  He did not have the strength to fight anymore or argue with the other guy.  His chest hurt to badly, every breath felt like a chore.  

“Alright... come on, Ty... just hold on....” he said as they moved “Talk to me, Night.... you need to talk”

“.... hurts... to... talk....” Tyler muttered.  

“I know, man” Chris said.

Tyler muttered something that Chris couldn’t make out.   

“You need to heal....” Chris said “We can’t fight like this.... we can’t protect ourselves like this...”

“... said who...” Tyler mumbled.  

Chris chuckled.  “Seriously....  You have a twisted sense of humour” he said.

Tyler grunted softly, before he slowly lifted his head.  His eyes flickered around, before pulled away from Chris.  

“...go....” he whispered “.... they’re... coming...”

“No” Chris snapped.  

Tyler stumbled away Chris, before lifting his hand towards the other guy.  “Go....” he whispered.  

Chris stood frozen.  “What... are you doing?” he asked.

“...not going to...  let you...  stay....” Tyler gasped, before aiming a blast at Chris, throwing the guy back away from him.  Immediately he turned and stumbled to where he noticed the movement before.  

He was not going pull Chris down, because he couldn’t move.

***

Chris groaned as he got to his feet.  “DAMMIT TYLER!” he yelled as he struggled to his feet “You fucking idiot!”

He clenched his jaw as he leaned against one of the trees.  By the time he got to his free, he couldn’t see Tyler anymore.  Fury rushed through him.  Why would the hell would Tyler do this? 

Tyler did not like them.  Vic not included.  No one could not, not like her.  She was to kind.

He barely started moving, when Danielle and Vic landed not so far away from him.  

“Danny....” Chris said slowly, eyes widening “Vic....”

“We found you....” Danielle said as she quickly went over to him, pulling him into a hug “You’re alright....”

“A bit banged up....” Chris said, pulling away “We need to find Tyler....  Immediately...”

Vic bit her lip as she looked over at Chris.  “What happened?” she asked gently.

“He’s badly hurt” Chris said “I’m pretty sure that he’s got a collapsed lung, concussion and broken ribs...  I don’t know what else”

Danielle frowned.  “Where is he then?” she asked.

Chris shook his head.  “I don’t know...  We were moving, until Tyler just threw me back and disappeared” he said.  

“Then we better start looking” Danielle said.

“He’s probably fighting...” Vic said softly.  

“He’s badly injured” Chris snapped, before wincing.  

Vic nodded.  “I’ll... go look for him” she said before looking over at Danielle “Take... care of Chris”

Danielle nodded.  “Call if you need any help” she said as she started checking Chris’ injuries.  

“I will” Vic said as she started walking.  

It did not take her long before she found a path of destruction.  It looked like everything have been pulled apart with holes ripped through some of the trees.  

“Oh... Tyler...” Vic whispered as she kept on moving.  

As she pushed some more branches out of her way, she stopped.  In front of her it looked like everything had been destroyed.

What caught her eye, was the figure slumped against the tree.  There was blood all over the ground.  Around him was bodies of the people that attacked them.  It looked like they were basically ripped apart.  

Biting her lip, she quickly made her way over to the figure against the tree.  

Tyler sat slumped again the tree.  There was blood running down his face, even dripping from his ears and nose.  His face was so pale that she was worried he might not alive any more.  

“Night...” Vic said softly before she quickly knelt next to him.  Gently she placed her hand on his shoulder.  

“Hey....  Night...  can you hear me?” 

Tyler groaned, his eyes flickering open for a moment.  

“....vic...” he barely managed to say.  

Vic smiled slightly.  “That’s right” she said “I’m going to give you some energy...  Then we’ll get you out of here...”

“...I’ll... be fine....” Tyler whispered, before his eyes rolled back.

Vic gasped softly as she caught his shoulder.  “Oh no....”