Requested by @daughter-of-the-stars11 : Would you ever consider doing a one shot or a short series where reader from Bionic Exile chooses Takeshi instead of both of them... can I also add jealous Rick
Warnings: 18+ only please, implied sex, alcohol use, language, Rick may be a little ooc
Author's Note: SO I think this would fit perfectly in chapter 5, so I kept half of chapter 5 and then just rewrote the other half!! I hope you enjoy!
----------
Ever since Rick moved in with you, it had become a tradition that every Saturday night was movie night. Tonight wasn’t any different, except for the fact that you chose to sit squished up next to Takeshi on the loveseat instead of next to Rick on the couch.
Takeshi. That dick. Who does he think he is stealing my girl like that, the thought makes Rick freeze. His own brain betrays him as he throws some popcorn in his mouth, his eyes training on the movie and trying to not look over to you cuddling up with the envoy, what does he have that I don’t? Rick grinds his teeth together as his jaw clenches, jealousy taking control of his body. It doesn’t take much to break Rick’s concentration. Just hearing you laugh at something that Takeshi has whispered into your ear is enough to make him squirm.
Quirking an eyebrow, Rick shakes his head and forces his attention back to the movie. Your favorite movie. Not that you seem to notice, too busy fucking with Takeshi’s stupid trench coat, Rick huffs before moving to stand up, who wears a damn trench coat around the house, anyways?
“I’m getting something to eat,” he declares, mostly to himself, excusing himself from the room and rushing to the kitchen. Setting the bowl down, Rick grips the edge of the sink and watches as your hands brush a stray strand of hair out of Takeshi’s face. Turning away, Rick opens the cabinet and pulls out a bottle of whiskey. He knows he probably shouldn’t be drinking, but there you were, the love of his life, sitting and flirting with another man. Twisting off the cap of the bottle, Rick takes 3 gulps of the brown liquor before you round the corner and enter the kitchen with eyebrows raised in speculation.
“Rick? Why are you drinking,” you ask softly, opening a bag of popcorn and placing it in the microwave while hardly taking your eyes off of him. Rick glances at you with discontent before taking another swig of the bottle, the liquid burning his throat and lighting up his stomach.
“Because I can? Not like it matters to you,” he responds with venom laced words while you purse your lips. You were absolutely sick and tired of this behavior. You knew he didn’t like Takeshi staying with you and him and you know that he doesn’t like Takeshi one bit, but you wanted to assume that despite it being well over a week at this point Rick would get over himself. Evidently not, you think as you watch the man you love take another big gulp of the shitty whiskey that he keeps solely for the purpose of getting drunk.
“God damn it, Rick. I am so fucking sick of your fucking pity party. Get over it,” you whisper harshly, not wanting Takeshi to know what is occurring twenty feet away from him, though he can probably hear everything. Rick stalks in front of you, his jugular vein popping out of his neck while his hand clasps the bottle of Jack Daniels. Nodding his head, he shoves the bottle in your hand before leaving the kitchen area and heading for his room.
Setting the bottle on the counter, your body shakes with anger while tears threaten to roll down your face. After taking a moment to collect your breath, you walk back into the living room and climb onto Takeshi’s lap, legs spread over onto each side of his lean hips. Looking up to you, Tak notes the way your eyes brim with unshed tears and your body shakes with anger. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what was wrong. So instead, Tak waits for you to talk while your hands clench this fabric of his jacket.
“Tak, fuck me hard until I can’t walk.”
Rick stumbles out of bed before looking at the clock on his drawer.
“2:43, fuckin’ perfect,” he mumbles in his gravely southern accent to himself as he rubs his temples. Maybe it wasn’t his brightest idea to chug down that much whiskey in that short of a time, but he wanted to forget just for a little while. Rolling his shoulders back, Rick nears the door but a repeating banging sound alerts him. Grabbing his gun, he prowls down the hall, the sound growing louder as he approaches your door. Pressing his ear up against the wooden door, his blood runs cold.
“Fuck, Tak. You feel so fucking good. Harder,” your unmistakable voice echoes through the door as grunts and moans follow.
“You’re doing so good, pretty girl. Feel so good around my cock. Cum for me, angel,” Rick backs into the opposite wall, the shock and hurt swallowing him up as he runs back to his room, locking the door and sinking to the floor. That’s it, he got her.
----------
The squad watches Rick throw punch after punch after punch to the bag, his muscles rippling with each swing as sweat gathers on his brow bone and his body, clinging his grey shirt to his body, unintentionally highlighting each and every toned muscle on Rick’s body.
“Damn, someone must have really pissed him off, I ain’t neva seen him like this,” Harley comments, exaggerating the word ‘really’ as she watches with lust. Nobody could really blame her though, he was a sight to see at the moment. His normally calm demeanor long gone and replaced with an animalistic urge.
“I wonder what happened,” DuBois watches with intent, noticing the way Rick’s anger seems to spike up ten-fold when you and your new pet project happen to walk by the window leading to the floor above, neither looking down as they pass. DuBois’s attention then shifts back to Rick who’s fists continue to pound into the sandbag without a moment of reprieve until the bag flies off the hook that was keeping it up.
Heaving, Rick feels the eyes of his squad watch him with anticipation at his next move. Not one of them daring to move or make a sound, unsure how to respond to the suddenly vicious nature of their normally collected superior coming out in such a controlled environment.
“The fuck you lookin’ at?” He questions, head whipping around to face his team who just stare back at him. Suddenly, Harley takes a step forward, ignoring the way DuBois shakes his head in an attempt to tell her not to provoke the colonel.
“Fuck’s wrong with ya, Flag? What’s got ya panties in a twist? You need to get laid or something,” Harley doesn’t notice the way Rick marches toward her til he’s standing right in front of her.
“Why don’t you shut your fucking mouth, Quinn. You don’t know what you’re talking ‘bout,” Harley’s eyes darken in anger as she purses her lips before shoving a finger into Flag’s chest.
“Where do you get off telling me to shut my mouth. It ain’t my fault you can’t get a girl. It most certainly ain’t my fault that you were too late to fuck (Y/N),” Rick’s eyes narrow at the woman, “yeah, don’t think we didn’t notice the way your mood progresses down the drain the closer (Y/N) and Tak get. So why don’t you take it out on somebody else, but not us,” Harley concludes before walking off, the rest of the squad following her out save for DuBois who clasps a hand on Rick’s shoulder.
“You really need to get laid, mate. It might help you,” Rick contemplates Robert’s words as the former assassin walks away, leaving Rick to his own thoughts.
----------
You laugh as you walk through the door with Tak following closely behind before shutting your door. Placing your bag down you move to pop open a bottle of wine when a high pitch voice giggling steers your concentration to the hall.
“Yeah, I’ll see you later, Ricky,” the culprit walks out of Rick’s room and allows you to get a better look at the woman. She has a nice body, you note to yourself, sun kissed skin with an ample bosom and an hourglass waist. But what you notice the most is the hickeys that were beginning to form on her neck and the fact that she is naked. Normally, you would be seeing red. After all, you’ve spent so much time on trying to win Rick and get with him, but for some reason, seeing the naked woman doesn’t really get a reaction out of you. Maybe it’s partially because of the talk that you and Tak just had.
Tak, on the other hand, has mixed thoughts about what’s in front of him. He was half expecting you to be throwing a fit by now but then he also can’t believe the audacity Rick has. From what Tak can tell about your relationship with Rick is that you have given your everything for Rick and Rick just continues to take advantage of it time after time.
“Hey Sav, you forgot your-” Rick rushes out of his room, hair disheveled and pants hanging low on his hips and in his hand, a bright pair of red underwear, however, upon seeing you in the doorway with Takeshi right behind you, Rick can’t help but feel a twang of guilt. Instead of making a scene like Rick thought you would, you simply grab Tak’s hand and maneuver away from the hooker and into your bedroom without sparing Rick another glance.
“Thanks, Rick. Same time next week?” Rick struggles to look between the crack of your door while Savannah plucks her underwear out of his hands.
“Actually, no. I don’t think I’ll be needing it.” Rick offers her a small smile as she shrugs, leaving the apartment and Rick alone. Shaking his head, Rick peers through the crack before pushing the door open, only to see you sitting on Tak’s lap while Tak mindlessly plays with your hair. “What the hell is going on here?”
You look up from your laptop to Rick in the doorway, shirt still off and various lipstick prints over his toned body. “What do you mean? I’m just trying to get some work done?” Rick resists the urge to roll his eyes at your obliviousness before he’s gesturing to you on Tak’s lap.
“That. Why are you on his lap?” You look back at Tak with a smile, his hand finding a place on your thigh and gently squeezing in support before you turn back to Rick.
“Well, actually, Tak and I were just talking and… I’m thinking about going back with him.” Rick’s heart drops and shatters into pieces but he would be damned if he let it show.
“What?” The question is quiet as he tries to wrap his brain around what you just said. “What did you say?” He looks between you and Tak in confusion. Just how could this happen?
“Once the portal is back up, she’s coming with me,” Tak comments emotionlessly. In one way, he is ecstatic that you would be willing to try a relationship out with him, but he doesn’t know just how much danger he would be putting you in by bringing you back and if something happened to you like something happened to Quell, he truly doesn’t know how he would live with himself. Of course, when he was discussing it with you about an hour ago, he could practically see the way your eyes lit up with excitement and the prospect, but Tak knows you. He knows that once you go with him, you’re going to immediately regret it and want to go back home. Back to Rick. And that part scares him.
“No,” Rick takes a step back, heart hammering against his chest, “no, you can’t go back.” Rick’s vision starts to blur as he leans on the frame, slowly sliding down the post and you’re quick to jump up from Tak’s lap and rush to Rick’s side, looking him over in confusion.
“Rick, are you okay? Do you need me to call an ambulance?” Rick shakes his head, pushing you away as he struggles to take deep breaths. He honestly can’t remember the last time he had a panic attack like this, and he hates it.
“No, just leave me alone.” He rushes out the door and to his room, confusion settling in. What did he do to drive you away? What does Takeshi Kovacs have that he doesn’t? With a rather dumb idea in mind, he pulls out his phone and dials the only number he knows will help, no matter the cost.
---------
The drive to Belle Reve is longer than it typically is. Maybe it’s because of the tight tension in the car or maybe it’s a sinking gut feeling, but whatever it was, you’re anxious to get back to your project.
As Rick pulls into the parking lot, your eyes widen at the plume of smoke rising from the scientific division. “No, no, no.” You jump out of the car and ignore the calls of Rick and Tak to come back only to run toward the fire and hope that it wasn’t your life’s work.
Looking back and forth between each other, both men rush after you and into the building where it only takes minutes to find you, collapsed on the ground and in tears.
Sinking to his knees, Tak fumes silently as he takes you into his strong arms. Despite the fire looking like an accident, Tak’s envoy intuition is telling him that it’s anything but, but he doesn’t really care about that right now. In any case he’s relieved. He’s relieved that the machine is broken and he’s relieved that you and him won’t be able to go back. Sure he’s now mortal, but he’d rather be mortal than have you die and not be able to resurrect you. “It’s alright (Y/N). We don’t have to go back.” Tak rocks you in his arms while you sob into his chest as he looks around to all the different personnel, and to the side, he can easily spot Rick talking to Waller, a devious grin plastered on the latter’s face. “That fucking bastard.”
“What?” You look up through tear soaked lashes as Tak looks down, shaking his head, trying to protect you from the truth.
“Nothing princess, how about we go and pack some bags and leave for a while.”
“It was Rick, wasn’t it.”
“I don’t think he started it, but he definitely had a part in it.” If you had any doubts about moving on from Rick, they just flew out the window. Standing up, you wearily make your way over to where Rick and Waller stand off to the side line, both watching you with curiosity.
“(Y/L/N), I am sorry to see this damage. As it is, however, we do not have the funds to rebuild it.” You scoff and turn to Rick, rage boiling beneath the surface and before you know it, you’re punching him straight across the face and Tak is quick to watch over the whole ordeal in case things go south.
“You’re a real fucking asshole, Flag. I do not want to EVER see you again.” It hurt to say, but any man who would destroy your life’s work does not need to be in your life.
“I had to do what I had to do. I love you. I didn’t want to see you prance off with that alien when you could have a whole life with me.” Despite your heart swelling at the proclamation, you can’t help but to feel that you’re making the right choice.
“You have more than enough chances, Rick. I’m sorry, but you lost me.” Turning to Waller, you hand in your badge for the prison with a look of disdain on your face. “I want a transfer out of this hell hole.” She nods before you turn back to Tak, tears threatening to spill again. “Come on Tak, let’s go home and pack.” Grabbing Tak’s wrist, you drag him out of the building and you drag yourself out of Rick’s life.
==========
General Tag List: @marvelousmermaid @himbovillain-anon @babblydrabbly @fairchildflag @infatuatedjanes @a-reader-and-a-writer
Joel Related Tag List: @aestheticallywinchester @loverhymeswith @xoxabs88xox @t-i-n-y-d-i-n-o @witchygagirl @the1redrose @ratcatcher2world @green-socks @weallhaveadestiny @yourjacketisnowdry @rachelh1992 @a-girl-who-loves-disney @knivesareout @bubblegloopswampwitch @waspswidows @burntghoost @mattymurdocksbitch @katjnordstrom96 @11thstreetvigilante @yespolkadotkitty @heresathreebee @madkovacs @wxr-zxne @wtfobiwan @alieninoklahoma @violetmuses
Requested by @fairchildflag: 14. "How do you feel about two at once?" with Rick Flag and Takeshi Kovacs 😏
Main Master List
Writing Prompt Master List
Smut Prompts
Bionic Exile Master List
Warnings: polyamorous relationship, LIME 18+, language, sexual innuendos, a lil hanky panky at the bar, drinking
===========
You can feel their eyes on you before you see them. It's a game they came up with. All three of you, go to a crowded bar, who ever finds one another first is in control for the night. And even though you can't see them, you know they can see you. "Shit."
A large hand wraps around your shoulders as another sets a drink down next to you. "You know what this means, right?" You turn around in your stool and peel off your fake wig before looking at Tak and Rick, both sporting identical shit eating grins.
"No, what does it mean?" You play along with the game, knowing that either way it's going to end in a night of ecstasy.
"It means, princess, we're going to do whatever the fuck we want to do," you feel Tak's hand slowly begin to trace the inside of your thighs and if it weren't for Rick's broad frame standing behind you, you probably would've fallen over.
"And what we want to do, we want you to scream our names," Rick's breath is hot against your ear as he lightly nips at the lobe before moving to lean against the bar top.
"How'd you guys find me?" You ask the pair through gritted teeth, trying to suppress a moan as Rick's hand joins Tak's beneath your skirt.
"Blonde don't look good on you, baby. Stuck out like a sore thumb."
"Shit, I knew I shouldn't have listened to Harley. She said you guys wouldn't be able to find me."
"You decided to listen to Harls? That's your own fault, darlin'." Rick chuckles taking a sip of his beer while his other hand continues messaging your inner thigh. Meanwhile, Tak's hand slowly creeps closer and closer to where you want it.
"We were wondering," he begins, stealing your concentration as Rick listens in on his partner. "How do you feel about two at once?"
Tak doesn't even try to lower his voice and his question has a couple of people turning their heads to look at you and your boys. "You know how I feel about it."
"Then why don't we get outta here, go somewhere more.... private."
"Where did you have in mind, Colonel?" Rick and Tak exchange a knowing glance before their attention turns back to you.
"Waller's office."
"You guys, that's suicide."
"Meh, that's what we're known for," Tak extends his hand for you to take as he helps you down from the stool. "Plus, risk of being caught could be fun."
"Ricky, was this your idea?"
"Nah, we've been wanting to do this for a while."
"Well then," you slam back your drink. "What are we waiting for?"
==========
General Tag List: @marvelousmermaid @himbovillain-anon @babblydrabbly @a-reader-and-a-writer @fairchildflag @infatuatedjanes @niki-xie
Requested by @a-reader-and-a-writer: Can I request “ you are so smart. the world is lucky to have you." with Tak please? Thanks!
Main Master List
Writing Prompt Master List
Reassurance Starters List
Bionic Exile Master List
Warnings: polyamorous relationship
Summary: You win the Noble Prize and your boys are there to congratulate you.
==========
The mirror in your dressing room casts a reflection of your appearance. Your silk grey dress hugs your figure and your hair is perfectly placed on the top of your head. Diamond earrings, a gift from Rick, drop from your ears and a small grey pendant, a gift from Tak, hangs from your neck. You smile at your reflection in anticipation as your note cards lay flat on the table.
It's 7 o'clock in Stockholm and your nerves are flying through the roof. In just a few hours, you will be awarded one of the top awards someone can be given for their contribution to humankind.
The door softly clicks open and two silhouettes enter your dressing room, a bundle of different flowers in both of their hands. "Rick. Tak. You're not supposed to be back here."
"We snuck in," Tak muses as they set down the flowers and make their way towards you. You snort.
"I highly doubt two 6'2 large men can sneak in." Your eyes rake over their appearance, causing your knees to go weak. You had told them it was a high class award ceremony, but you hadn't expected Rick to wear his fully decorated dress blues and Tak to wear a black velvet suit that hugs him in all the right places. "You guys look fantastic."
Rick is the first to go in, easily drawing you into his arms and placing a tender kiss to your forehead. "I knew you'd win, darlin'. I'm so proud of you." He dips his head and places a soft kiss to your lips as you cling to his uniform because if you hadn't, you would have probably collapsed to your knees. Rick pulls away and steps back while Tak takes his place. You offer him a small smile.
"This wouldn't have been possible if you never went through that portal." Tak lets out a rare smile that only you and Rick ever get to see as he wraps his large hands around your waist and pulls you into his solid frame.
"And I would've never gotten to meet you, princess. You're so smart. The world is- I-we," he motions between himself and Rick, "lucky to have you." He places a soft kiss on your lips before letting go and stepping back to Rick's side.
"We have to find our seats. We'll see you on the stage," they begin to head for the door until you stop them.
"Wait, guys." They stop and turn around. "Thank you for supporting me. I love you both so much."
"We love you too, sweetheart."
"We'll see you on the stage."
With that, your two men leave you to your thoughts and you think, none of this would have been possible without them.
==========
General Tag List: @marvelousmermaid @himbovillain-anon @babblydrabbly @a-reader-and-a-writer @fairchildflag @infatuatedjanes @niki-xie
Author's Note: Short but sweet conclusion! Thank you to everyone who has continued to stay with the series from the beginning through the hiatus to now! We really appreciate it!
==========
Takeshi’s thoughts run wild. What had the man done to him? Why wasn’t he prepared for it? Is that not the whole series of training modules he went through with Quell? If so, why was he not able to differentiate being under to the real world? The wind from the open cargo door blows his dirty hair wildly as his gaze pierces his feet. Do you really think he’s a monster? He knows it was just a hallucination, but if you know the truth about everything in his past, would that dream become a reality? Would you say the same thing?
Harley nudges Takeshi, causing Tak to look up and slowly come back to reality before looking at his teammate. “Yes?”
“Are ya okay sweetums? Still under the evil man’s spell?” Her works come out in a joking tone, but Takeshi does not have the emotional capacity to respond in kind.
“It’s none of your business,” it’s harsh and Harley quickly sinks back in her seat. Him and Rick have that in common, she thinks to herself as she turns to look away, well aware of Takeshi sighing next to her. “Look, I’m sorry. It’s just… It’s just this mission went very differently than how I pictured it would. I was not expecting any of that to happen.” Silence. “Thank you for getting me back.”
Harley’s eyes widen at his apology. It had taken Rick years to learn to apologize to his team and it’s taken Tak one day. Fidgeting in her seat, she waves him off. “It’s not a problem! Just doin’ my job!”
The tarmac is empty except for a handful of medics, you and Rick. Before Corto Maltese there would be security guards in place, ready to take the inmates back in restraints, but now, they’re free to do as they please once they finish a mission.
Rick watches the way your hands tug at each other, a sign of the nerves. You don’t know what kind of shape Tak is in. Not after what you'd seen of the mission before losing the camera feed. You don’t know if he’s hurt or if he’s ok. If he’s dead or alive. Smiling softly at your antics, Rick takes your hands in his and kisses your knuckles, distracting you from the carrier landing. “He’s okay, darlin’. He’s okay.”
You look up to Rick through your eyelashes as a smile starts to etch its way on your face. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
Rick chuckles, wrapping his arms around your shoulders and bringing you into his frame as he presses a kiss to the top of your head. “Once or twice,” he pulls away as one by one the members of the Suicide Squad leave the plane. His hazel eyes immediately find Takeshi’s tall frame, causing him to pull away from you. “Go greet him. I’ll make a call for some food for us.”
You tear your eyes away from your boyfriend to look at your other one as you squeeze Rick’s hand. “Chinese?”
“We’ll see about it. Now go before he drags you away.” You give his hand one last squeeze before rushing toward the Envoy.
----------
The light blinds Tak as he steps off the aircraft and not a second later a force knocks him back a step. “Oh Kesh!” Smelling the familiar scent of your perfume, Tak immediately wraps his arms around you as your legs wrap around his waist. The two of you stay wrapped in each other’s arms for a minute before he sets you down only to take your face in his hands and press his forehead against yours, emotions threatening to spill out. “Kesh? Everything okay?”
He’s quick to nod but you don’t miss the way his lip slightly quivers. “Oh sweetheart. What’s wrong?”
“I just missed you. Missed you so fucking much,” his lips crash to yours as the world around him stops and damn it feels good to be back in your arms.
Surprised by his action, your hands wind behind his neck and anchor him down as your lips dance in tandem with his; love pouring between the two of you.
“Awwww, aren’t you two just the cutest.”
“Quinn, leave them alone.”
“Oh come on Flag, look at them. Aren’t they cute?” Rick chuckles as he shoos her away, giving you and Tak some privacy as you finally break apart. Tak takes a moment to collect himself by staring in your eyes before he straightens up and faces Rick who remains a respectable distance from the two of you.
Rick is the first to make a move, extending his hand toward Takeshi with a knowing look on his face. “How was it?”
Your arm wraps around Tak’s waist as your other one wraps around Rick’s, making the handshake awkward for the two men. Takeshi still shakes his hand nonetheless. “Not going to lie, it was rough, really rough.” Rick nods in understanding as you look up at your two lovers.
“Well, I’m glad you made it back safely. Did you succeed?”
Takeshi makes a notion to where DuBois hands Waller the device. “That weapon needs to be destroyed.” Rick and you quickly look over and notice the glove still glowing a slight purple as it’s placed into a safe. “It’s powerful. Really powerful.”
“What did it do?” You ask as Tak shakes his head, clearly not wanting to talk about it. Dropping the subject, you squeeze both men causing them to look down at you. “Well, I’m hungry. Did you call that Chinese place, Rick?”
“Well, I wanted to wait to see what Tak wants.”
“Chinese sounds good to me.”
“Great, and then we can watch movies and cuddle and go to bed,” you start to ramble about all the things the three of you can do as Rick and Tak smile in unison.
“Whatever you want, darlin’.” “Sleep does sound amazing right now.”
You stop your movements as you look up at the two men, your heart fluttering like a love sick teenager. “I love you both, so much.” You take turns kissing each of their cheeks as they blush.
“I love you too, princess.” “I love you too, darlin’.”
Summary: Takeshi goes on his first mission with the squad and you just try to cope.
Coauthor: @lacontroller1991
Warnings: canon complicit violence, mind manipulation, lots of angst, cursing
Word Count: 2,561
The ride back to the apartment is silent aside from Rick’s fingers tap, tap, tapping against the steering wheel to the soft music.
“You know he’ll be fine, right?” You glance over to him at the sound of his voice.
“Yeah, I know he’ll be fine. Of course he will,” A shaky breath cuts you off, “But what if he’s not?” Rick takes your hand in his and brings it to his lips, lighting kissing your knuckles.
“Why don’t we watch a movie when we get home? One of those cheesy action flicks you like.”
“That sounds great.”
—-------
“So does she ever get confused on who’s who when it comes to sex,” Harley asks, completely unprompted, “Come on McSteamy, I’m talking to you.”
“Do you do this to Rick?”
“She does it to everyone,” DuBois replies, looking over to where Harley sits, now singing along to a song playing only in her head, rocking her body to the unheard beat causing Takeshi to raise his eyebrow at DuBois, silently asking for an explanation. Robert sighs. “She does that too.”
“Great,” he grumbles, mindlessly fidgeting with the rifle Rick had given him along with the armorer. He had wanted to use his own weapons that he brought from Bay City, but Waller and Rick had immediately vetoed that. “Have you guys been briefed yet?”
“Flag normally does that while we’re on our way!” Harley yells into the mic of her headset and Tak has to stop himself from cringing.
“There’s a threat. We’re going to take it out. Simple as that.”
“That’s not much of a plan, mate.”
“Form one. I could do this by myself but Waller sent you guys with me.” Tak looks away, deep in thought. Maybe he shouldn’t have said that. Maybe it’ll get back to Waller and she’ll pull him off the task force, but for some reason, Tak can’t bring himself to care. Until he pictures your disapproving face. “Look, we’ll form two teams, flank the combatant on either side and hold positions. Do whatever you gotta do but make sure it’s dead.”
—-------
Rick’s arm inches closer and closer around your shoulders, but he’s not really sure how to approach your still frame. He had thought that one on one time with you and only you would be fun, but the way you hug yourself as you stare mindlessly at the tv proves otherwise and he’s about had it.
“Are you like this when I’m gone?” The question stirs you out of your thoughts, pulling your attention towards the man next to you.
“What?”
“Are you like this when I’m gone,” he gestures to the way you perch yourself on the couch, your phone within a reaching distance. “Are you this cold with Tak?”
Your eye twitches. How dare he ask something like that? “You really don’t have a damn clue.”
Rick softens at your tone, a sudden reminder of how scared you’ve been each time he’s left in the past. “I’m trying to learn. Please, talk to me. Say something,” Rick begs, gripping onto your arm as you thaw with his touch, letting out a shaky breath.
“When you’re gone, I cry myself to sleep. Recently, yes. In Tak’s arms. But that doesn’t make it better. I’m afraid to fall asleep because all I see when I dream are memories of last year. Everytime I try to shut my eyes, I just see you on the stretcher in that damn hospital with those tubes and wires sticking out of you every which way and me in the background, watching helplessly as they saved your life. Not able to do a damned thing. I wake up each night you’re gone, screaming for you. Terrified. And I have only been able to just slightly calm down after Tak holds me and reminds me that you are still here. And even then, in the back of my mind, I know that can always change. Now I have to deal with that for both of you.” You pull a gasp of air into your lungs, only able to judge how long you’ve been ranting by your need for oxygen, “This, me just sitting here, not talking is nothing, Rick. So please, just try to be understanding,” you crawl onto Rick’s lap and wrap around him, burying your head in his neck as his arms wrap around you. “I just want you both to be safe.”
Rick presses a kiss to the top of your head as he strokes your back. “He’s going to be fine, baby. We’re both going to be fine.”
—-------
Tak is not fine. Far from it in fact. Never in all his years of training with Quell and CTAC had he seen such a disarray of chaotic fighting, but what he sees here in the streets of Havana has him questioning all sanity. “Quinn, get the fuck down!” Takeshi’s voice booms as he dives to his right, tumbling across the asphalt and just barely escaping a large truck being thrown towards them. Where the fuck did that even come from? Harley isn’t as lucky. She gets decked by the corner of the vehicle and crashes onto the hood of a nearby car. Tak watches then as one of the army rangers that had been sent along with the squad gets picked up by an unseen force and hurled against a nearby building. His body slumps to the ground limply though Tak is unable to tell whether he is dead or just unconscious.
“Fuck.” Managing to pull his bruised and sore body up from the ground, Takeshi moves quickly to position himself behind a flipped over van where he will have at least partial cover before angling his rifle towards the creator of all of this chaos. Standing in the middle of the destroyed street is a pale man dressed in completely drab clothing except for the black glove on his right hand, which glows with a bizarre purple light. Tak aims straight for the man's head, but once again can’t believe his eyes as he pulls the trigger. The bullets swerve around his adversary. Round after round somehow manages to miss their target, but they do get his attention. The man, tall and lanky, then turns to Tak and begins to take short, precise steps towards him. Tak throws the rifle down and grabs two knives from their holsters on his side. “Come on then, you motherfucker.”
With a swipe of his attacker's gloved hand as he nears, the car Tak stands behind is lifted and heaved towards his head, just high enough for the envoy to duck and avoid.
“Is that all you got?” He spits out and stands back up to his full height, before taking a step forward.
The person steps back with a chuckle, his eyes gleaming with anger as he raises his arm outwards and points a finger in Tak’s direction.
“Not in the slightest.”
—-------
Rick places his card over the scanner, granting him and you access to an unused room. After much convincing on your part, Rick finally caved and agreed to let you watch the mission. Normally, it’s classified unless you were on the comms team, but how could he say no to your pleading eyes.
“These computers should still be functional. We can’t stay here for long though, darlin’. We’re only here to see how he’s holding up. Right?”
You stand behind Rick, Takeshi’s coat wrapped around your body as you nod your head. Realistically, you know your Envoy is fine, but with any mission, there is always the nagging feeling that accompanies you. And this being his first with the team makes it all the worse. “Yeah, I just wanna see how he’s doing.”
Rick nods, typing in his own code and pulling up the surveillance in the area. Shock and confusion begin to set in at the scene playing out in front of you both. “What the fuck is he doing just standin’ there?”
You easily push Rick to the side and stare down at the screen, the hacked security cam footage showing you two small figures who appear to be Takeshi and the enemy standing across from each other, a purplish light surrounding the Envoy who stands completely still in his spot. Your brows furrow together as you bang the computer with your fist, hoping the signal is simply frozen. Rick is quick to pull your hands away from the screen as he calms you and points to the corner. “This is live feed, darlin’. See?” your eyes follow his movement and see some trash rolling in the breeze, but still, Tak and the person remain still.
“What’s going on? Why isn’t he moving?”
“I don’t know, maybe it has somethin’ to do with that thing on his hand?” A shiver runs down your spine and you wish you were there with him, helping him, instead of watching him fight on a screen from thousands of miles away. Placing your hand on the screen, you lean your head on the box as a tear slips out.
“Please come back to me.”
—-------
Tak feels foggy. Like he’s out of place. He knows he’s walking down a corridor in Belle Reve, but he can’t seem to remember why or how he got there. His hands are stuffed in his jacket pockets and his head hangs low. It all feels off. As he continues to walk down the hallway, he’s quick to spot you and Rick, walking side by side and holding hands. “Hey Flag, (Y/N)!” He jogs down the hall towards the pair of you, who he’s surprised make no move to greet him. Coming to a stop in front of the both of you, a frown falls on his face when he sees the way you stare at your shoes, refusing to look at him and then Rick’s clenching jaw. “What’s wrong?”
Rick is the first to face the Envoy, pushing you behind his large frame and grabbing a fistful of Tak’s jacket, hoisting the man into the air. What the hell? Tak thinks to himself as Rick scowls. “Who the fuck do you think you are showing your face around here? You’re lucky I don’t kill you.”
Tak quickly break’s Rick’s hold on him and shoves the special ops agent back, giving them space. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on,” his eyes tear away from Rick and fall onto you. “Baby? What’s going on?”
You step out from behind Rick, and push your hair back; dark sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, and a pale complexion adorn your face, way different than the one that usually greets Tak. “If I’d known it would always be her, I would’ve kicked you back through the portal myself. I don’t want you around me, Kovacs. Leave me alone, you’ve already done enough damage.” You start to walk away and Tak tries to reach out but is blocked by Rick’s solid frame.
“Look murderer, she told you to leave her alone. Now leave. Her. Alone.” Rick shoves Takeshi back as Tak’s thoughts race. What the fuck is going on? What did I do? Why does this feel wrong?
“(Y/N). Don’t leave. I love you!” Tak falls to his knees, a heavy weight crushing down on him and making it impossible to breathe. His hazel eyes fall to the floor and barely catch the top of your shoes.
“You ruined that, Kesh. I don’t love you anymore. Goodbye.” With that, you take Rick’s hands and walk away and out of Takeshi’s life.
—-------
Harley’s vision slowly starts to come back to her, though still hazy, as she coughs up dust, rubble laying all across her body and her javelin laying in the dirt next to her. Is everything over? Sliding off the hood of the car, she surveys the scene. It’s calm. Too calm. Grabbing the javelin, she starts to skip on the road, the metal weapon swinging back and forth in her hand and despite her joyous attitude, there was still a weird atmosphere. Rounding the corner, she easily spots the cause of the tension.
In the middle of the road their clearly not dead enemy stands over Tak who sits on his knees in a daze, a purple haze clouding him. “What the fuck?” Harley looks down in her hands to her javelin and shrugs. If she can save Flag, she can save Flag 2.0.
Sneaking around the pair, she crouches down beside a rock and peers over. “Why is he not fighting?” Her blue eyes scroll down the elongated weapon. “Should I save him? I think I should.” After a minute, she shrugs and starts creeping up to the person, keeping a low profile and clenching onto her javelin. “He betta like me after this.”
—-------
Tak stares down at his hands covered in blood. What has he done? A hand finds a place on his shoulder causing him to look up, a familiar face greeting him. “You did good, Kesh. I knew you could do it.”
“What did you do? What the fuck did you do?” He stands to his full height and looks down at his sister who smiles with a gleam in her eyes.
“What you’ve always wanted to do. You just finally did it,” she shrugs and gestures to the hall, bodies laying across the floor. Tak’s eyes go wide and he feels like he’s going to puke. He carefully steps over each and every body until a hand sticking up among the rest catches his eyes.
“No, no, no, no.” He crashes to his knees and shoves the bodies aside until he finds yours, eyes wide and dull as blood pours from your mouth. He quickly drags you out from under the bodies and cradles your head to his chest and looks up at Reileen. “What the fuck did you do?!”
Reileen laughs and crouches down, pulling up one of Tak’s hands and showing the bloody knuckles. “I think the question is, what did you do?”
—-------
Harley stands behind the man and taps him on the shoulder, causing him to turn around. “Hey, let go of him, he’s had enough.” She swings the javelin across the side of his face causing him to lose focus and let go of whatever hold he had Tak in. Harley races to Tak’s side and throws the javelin down. Grabbing a hold of either side of Tak’s face, she tried to shake him awake. “Come on hotstuff, wake up.”
The enemy beside them groans in pain but before he could sit up, DuBois has a foot on his gloved hand and a gun aimed at him. “Uh uh, I don’t think so.”
Harley ignores her teammates as she slaps Tak’s face a couple of times, but to no avail. “He won’t wake up! He betta not die! (Y/N) will kill us!” She continues to slap his face as DuBois pulls the glove off of the bloody faced man and places him into a pair of restraints.
“Relax, he’s probably just unconscious.”
—-------
“You’re a monster. You know that?” Wake up, Takeshi. You’re dreaming.
“We’re the monsters, Kesh. We were designed to kill and you did what you’re best at. You killed the enemy.” This isn’t real. Wake up.
“No, I killed my love. You made me kill her. You’re the enemy.” Tak scowls at Reileen as she shrugs, picking at her cuticles.
“When will you realize that we are killing machines? It’s what we do. She was just a bystander who got in the way. Now come, brother. We have work to do.” Reileen stands up and starts to walk down the hallway but stops when she realizes that her twin isn’t following her. “Come on, now.”
Tak shakes his head, his arms holding your dead body close to his. “No. I’m done following you around. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Keshi, please. Please come with me,” Reileen begs, holding out her hand for him to take but he shakes his head.
“No. I’m staying right here. You’ll have to leave without me.” That’s right. Now wake up.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Probably, but I’d rather stay here than go anywhere with you.” Reileen storms out in a blind rage as Tak continues to cradle your face to his chest. Looking down at you, he wipes some of the blood off your face. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
—-------
Tak jolts awake in a panic and shoots straight up. He looks around and sees the team standing around him with the target in cuffs. Without allowing himself a moment to clear his head, Takeshi marches over to where DuBois is holding the man. “Let me talk to him.” DuBois moves out of the way and hands Tak the instrument that put Tak under. Gripping onto the collar, he stares the person in the eyes. “What did you do to me?”
The man chuckles, spitting in Tak’s face but Tak doesn’t flinch.
“I know your deepest fear now. It will come to pa-” Tak doesn’t let the man finish before he places his own gun - that he had in fact snuck onto the plane - underneath his chin and pulls the trigger, blowing the man’s brains to bits. The squad merely watches in shock. Flag would never do that. But then again, Takeshi is not Rick Flag. He’s Takeshi Lev Kovacs. Which no one on the team would ever doubt again after this.
“Wow, that was bad ass!” Harley comments and this time Tak gives her a nod in acknowledgement. Still shaken up, he grabs his weapons and the tech and starts toward the carrier with only one thought on his mind, to get home to you.
