#teaser.txt

Your worst enemy is yourself.

Just when things seemed to finally turn out for the better for Raiden, of course everything has to be ripped away from him again.

He’s forced to leave Maverick after a video of a terrorist attack in San Francisco is broadcasted on the news, framing Raiden as the attacker. As a result, all the major cities in the country are going into lockdown. Despite there being clear evidence that Raiden simply couldn’t have been the perpetrator — having been present at Maverick’s HQ at that exact time that the attack happened — he needs to prove to the rest of the world his innocence.

Again, only Sam stays by his side as they both hunt for answers — and whomever it is they have to chase across the United States — having little to no support aside from each other for the time being, as Raiden’s mental health starts to completely derail, and he falls apart.

Sam gathers the pieces of Raiden’s shattered soul, taking note of each of them and giving them a name.

However, Raiden’s actions of utter self-destruction are causing Sam to feel haunted by memories of the past that he once thought he could leave behind.

crimson and bluebell is coming soon! 

| summary | crimson and bluebell: masterlist | miraculous masterlist | 

edit: the fic is here! click on the crimson and bluebell masterlist link above, and you’ll see the first chapter!

It’s dawn when Marinette’s alarm rings.

The sun peaks through the attic window, frail rays treacherously passing through the glass as Marinette hits snooze for the third time.

She’s late, as usual, but that’s no surprise. 

By the time the sky swells with pink, and the silver stars littering the morning sky fade, Marinette’s alarm has gone off a fourth time, the shrill ringing and flashing salmon-red of the numbers cutting through the silence of the morning, as the girl in question finally wakes.

The pink sky changes into the warm undertones of peach and the rising sun peaks further out from the mountains when Marinette is ready. She ties back her midnight-blue locks of hair into twin tails on either side of her head, held by the two once-red bands she’d once found discarded in front of Lie-La Lila’s room. 

Lost, forgotten, discarded.

So I kick back, and I dissociate.

Around late 2019, Raiden is suddenly kicked out by Rose, handed his belongings and told to never return. Distraught, as he notices a gap in his memory to understand why she chose to end their relationship so suddenly, he returns to the US and Maverick's Headquarters in Nevada because he has nowhere else to go; running out of money because he's bad with that, and completely out of options, because he's also bad with that.

Raiden has been straight up ruining his life with the decisions he made in the past and now all these consequences are right thrown into his face. He has reached the edge of society with seemingly no way to return, having cut all ties with everyone  —  and now his family, the last people he seemed to have a connection to, is gone as well.

But he's not even sure of everything, considering that his memory keeps giving out, again and again and again, finding himself in situations he didn't remember how he got into them  —  covered in dirt and blood, or reeking of alcohol, or finding himself in the possession of things he should not even own in the first place.

At Maverick, he is not received with the same reception he has hoped for, but they don't kick him out either. Better than nothing when you got nothing in the first place.

He is presented with the fact, however, that Sam survived and has now taken his place at the PMC.

It confuses and irritates the hell out of him, especially that Sam seeks his company and wants to 'make up', that Raiden cannot even begin to fathom.

He rejects Sam, and Sam seems deeply hurt by that.

Not to mention that Sam seems like a different person. They gave him different armour that is completely white, no longer bearing Desperado's logo nor that same metal arm. The new one is of a similar design to his combat form, so it was clearly designed by Doktor. More punches in Raiden's gut.

Unlike his former teammates and his family, Sam receives him positively.

While everyone else seemingly rejects Raiden, Sam wants to be around him, what seems to be almost something like desperation. So Raiden gives him a chance to talk and make 'friends'.

Maverick asks him how “fighting his own war" is going, and Raiden cannot tell them much, other than that he makes sure to deal with what's left of Desperado that somehow still is active despite him ending its sponsor and leadership. Sam asks to go with him, but Raiden tells him he won't need his help since he does not trust him at all.

Dead men tell no tales.

「死人に口無し」

By returning to his home country, Sam will finally learn the bitter truth behind his Fate and why he was brought back from the Dead in the first place.

Despite reuniting with his family and friends that he once had left behind for vengeance, Sam is haunted by the ghosts of his past and it’s tearing his relationship with Raiden slowly apart.

Now it is Raiden’s turn to be Sam’s support, and this seems to be the most difficult task of his life.

What is the meaning of the blue butterflies that Sam seems to be so afraid of?

At the same time, conflict arises in the Northeastern states of Brazil, as a dark phoenix rises from the ashes, bringing terror and destruction with him and his Army of the Dead.

Raiden and Sam are called for help to fight alongside the PMCs ordered by the Brazilian government to prevent a full-on war from breaking out in the country.

But fighting those enemy cyborgs is tough — being equipped with highly acidic Black Blood, cutting them down is the worst approach to defeating them, a true challenge for two men who have perfected the art of killing.

"I was waiting for you… a man from a half-remembered dream…"

"I have dreams of total annihilation… this world tires me, I want to burn it all down and take every godforsaken soul on this planet with me."

"Give it time… the Gravity of their actions will come back at them soon enough."

"Oh… I know that feeling of loneliness all too well. It makes me wish that I could just throw myself into Hell too and be done with it, but eh… so is life for the Undying, I guess."

"You might be able to control time, but you will not control my future."

"I am nothing, do you understand?! I am nothing but a soulless machine with a faulty code, and what I was created for was doomed from the start because the entire project was flawed. My entire existence is meaningless…"

"Do not be afraid. We have come to this world to free it from its eternal suffering."

How long has it been? What month is it? What day? I counted for a while after taking on this form, but now I have long since forgotten.

"… and I wish that maybe in another life, I wouldn't have made the same mistakes… I will be waiting for you at Heaven's Gate, father."

"Death had been there before Life. Out of nothing, everything was created. And at the end of our lifetime, we will return back to Nothingness. To the Realm of the Dead."

"Pathetic humans trying to play God… Their fear amuses me when they have to face what they have created."

"Don't you want to take a leap of faith? Or become an old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone!"

"I made all the wrong choices my whole life. So please let me do one thing right in Death, Sam."

"I am sorry, but… without a soul, this body is just an empty shell."

"I won't leave you ever alone, Jack. That was the promise I gave you and I will keep my word. And when you decide that it is time to go, then I will be by your side and guide you."

„Remember, Sam… We all have been created with the ability to change the world. Every single choice you make… Every single action you take… matters. But remember, the converse is also true. Every choice you do not make… every action you do not take… matters just as much.”

„Remember, Sam… We all have been created with the ability to change the world. Every single choice you make — Every single action you take, matters. But remember, the converse is also true. Every choice you do not make, every action you do not take — matters just as much.”

His father's words echoed in Sam's mind as he readied his blade, heart beating painfully against his chest.

How much does it cost to take a life?

Sam held the blade against the man's throat.

And how many lives will it cost if the wrong person's life is spared? What then?

He couldn't see through the tears, dark hair falling into his face, pleading with him quietly to not make that choice — to not make a grave mistake.

I gnash my teeth, my soul filled with an unquenchable resentment. I must partake of my vengeance.

「二徹シ切歯憤怒二堪ヘズ必ズ復讐スベキ。」

Sometimes the person you love the most turns out to be a traitor. And sometimes your worst nemesis is the one who comes to protect you.

Sam used to be an ordinary Brazilian teenager, until the murder of his father turned his life completely upside down. Not knowing the reason as to why his family had to suffer such a tragic fate, he swore to avenge his father — no matter what it took to achieve that goal.

Let down by the Brazilian justice system, he tries to find the murderer who tore his family apart, having to abandon those he loves the most to become a feared killer himself to protect them.

He keeps telling himself what his sacrifice is for.

For Justice. For Revenge. For Peace.

👀👀