HAHA TWO FICLETS DOWN IN TWO DAYS!!! @mimeless here it is!!
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ACME agents had a reputation.
Uptight, workaholic, tired, as well as in serious need of medical insurance.
Rosalinda Cruz was no different. Between fighting VILE agents, high-speed motorcycle chases, and aggressively refusing help on missions, Rosa’s favorite dance was with death.
So it was not a surprise to anyone when she found herself injured yet again.
This time around were a “couple scratches,” according to Rosa. An encounter with VILE’s finest. She was so close to catching her too. If only...
This Wednesday night found her limping along ACME’s hallway, a staggering amount of blood trailing behind her. Agents walked by her, some in horror and some in concern.
She shot them all a deadly glare, daring them to help her. They knew better than to disobey her.
Her hand clutched her stomach where a pool of blood was gathering. Who knew paper cuts could be so deep? She could feel her breathing getting ragged and shallow.
Just a few more steps, Rosa. The infirmary is a hallway away, she hissed to herself.
She couldn’t help feeling a sense of disappointment in herself. Chief would certainly be unhappy. If only she were stronger, become the steel everyone saw in her eyes.
Harden herself. Then she would finally be able to catch any evidence of VILE.
Her sight began to fade. She coughed, and an iron taste escaped her mouth. The blood loss was getting to her, probably.
The hallway felt so much longer now, and she’d been walking forever, it seemed. Her heart throbbed wildly in her aching head. Her coworkers looked more anxious for her.
She dropped to her knees and scrambled to the nearest wall. Her back slammed into it, and she closed her eyes to shut out the pain.
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Rosa woke up in the infirmary.
She groaned, the entirety of the hurt finally registering in her brain.
“Good to see you awake, Agent Cruz. You’ve been here for two days.” The authoritative voice of Chief rang from her left side. Standing next to her was Agent Lee, who looked at her with an unreadable expression.
“W-what?” Rosa blinked hard, trying to recollect the past events.
“Agent Lee here was kind enough to take you to the infirmary when you were being too stubborn to do so yourself.”
Lee nodded at her. “The janitors say it was...quite an ordeal in the hallways Wednesday night.”
“I see,” said Rosa through gritted teeth. She made a small, unintentional cry of pain.
“Easy there,” Chief said, concerned, “you’ve been through quite a lot.”
Rosa stared blankly at her. “It...it was nothing,” she insisted.
Chief chuckled quietly. “Relax, gumshoe. You’ll be back on the field as soon as the stitches heal. You’re a good agent, Cruz.”
She excused herself and the hologram fizzled out of view. Rosa smiled despite herself.
Agent Lee grinned at her. “Good to know you’re okay, Agent Rosa. And sorry for helping.”
“‘S fine,” she said softly, “but I only forgive once.”
He nodded respectfully. “See you around, Rosa.” He turned away and left quietly.
