genialterminator:
Fuck.
Jake cursed himself out as the unholy chorus of ghoulish screaming and snarling echoed around them, intensity magnified as bounced from wall to metro wall in a fashion that made it seem like there were thousands everywhere. Though there may not have been thousands, there were still more than he had anticipated. That dawning horror hit him hard, anxiousness hyping him up.
They were everywhere; he just didn’t realize because he neglected to properly check the bodies strewn around them.
Hands flying to the gun at his side, Jake drew his sidearm and quickly began his work. Ghoul after ghoul was dispatched loudly, gunshots ringing painfully in his ears. Of all the fucking times to forget to wear his stupid earplugs…Gritting his teeth and baring the pain, he continued to down the irradiated monsters one after another with surprisingly well-aimed shots for a blind man. Call it luck, or call it cheating via magical abilities. Whatever you call it, he and the two lovebirds were doing a pretty bang up job of dispatching the horrors. He had to admit, they made a pretty alright team, like him and-
FUCKING HELL.
LARA!
Jane had been towards the tail end of the group! Jake had completely lost track of her! This was going completely fucking sideways, god damn it!
Removing the tether he held on Max’s emotions, Jake quickly tore back the way they came, plowing through ghouls in a mad dash to try and find his sister. Reaching out with his abilities, ones so clearly empathetic, he searched desperately for Jane to confirm that she was alive. The tether kept finding nothing as he combed the tunnels, pausing at a fork in the path to focus. He stood for a few moments, and then a few moments more, but still his search was fruitless. The sounds from behind him made it hard to tell if there were any ahead of him, and with no luck in finding the traces of her heart…No, don’t go there. Don’t go there, she’s going to be alright! I just have to find her, it’ll be fine!
The tether latched onto a familiar soul.
Jake lit up, racing down the rightmost turn as he could clearly hear a commotion up ahead. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, practically flying over rubble as the morbid sounds of a blade sinking into flesh became all too clear.
JANE!
A pause, followed by a thump and uneasy silence. God, he hated being blind…What was happening?!
Jake, would you shut up!! You’re most definitely going to attract more of these accursed creatures if you continue, so please! Just shut-
Her words were cut off by Jake tackling into her, pulling Jane into a suffocating hug.
Oh my GOD i was so afraid you had died! Im so sorry for not checking the bodies that was my duty as lead of the party im so SORRY jane!
It’s alright! It’s a mistake, they happen! Now please, I would really rather have this be the way I die, thank you! Glad to see you, too, brother dearest, but please, I implore you, to realize the fact that I - like yourself - need to breathe!
He didn’t see breathing as necessary, clearly, as Jake continued to hold Jane in a very protective and concerned hug. Having been frightened by the attack, he honestly needed it.
Caught up in the adrenaline and familiar gunfire, Dirk faltered when the tether was removed, tripping up momentarily as the eyeing weight was lifted from his soul. He recovered quickly enough, enough to catch that Jake was running back and away from them. His mind replayed the shout he gave just before the link was broken. Lara. ... FUCK.
Retreating from the fray for a moment, his hand sparked and glowed magenta, familiar threads wrapping around his fingers and shooting out towards their owners. Pink led to the hand Roxy was using to steady her rifle as she gave the ferals the same treatment one would a shooting gallery. Emerald and cyan.... were thankfully equally intact, and in nearly the same direction. Okay, Jake has this handled, she’ll be fine, it’s fine.
Fuckin’ hell, Crocker...!
The expletive was through grit teeth, concern heavy in his voice and on his face, the strings being dismissed before the swordsman reentered the fight, not noticing his slip up.
The other blonde gave a pause of her own, spotting Jake barrel through the ferals with a force worthy of a Charger, and couldn’t help wondering where the fucking fire was. The yelling before had been drowned out by her bullets and trained concentration, but it didn’t take being a genius for her to guess.
Awww fuck, Janey--!!
Roxy’s cursing was a hissed whisper, one she caught the tail-end of and bit her tongue for, panic spiking at it possibly being overheard by Dirk. Thankfully he didn’t notice-- too wrapped up in his own exclamation...
He said her name, he remembers her, he knows, has known, he-- No, she had to calm down, she already found out earlier from the call, and this wasn’t the time to bring it us-- when would it ever be? --so she should just let it slide, he didn’t even notice so it’s fine! Why would she bring it--
“JANE!” echoed through the tunnels straight to them, cutting through the growls and screeches and bloodshed, unmistakably heard by the both of them as they froze in worry and fear.
Dirk ripped his katana from a ghoul’s shoulder, kicking away the irradiated corpse before turning to dash down the metro, towards the scream, instinctively set on ensuring their friend was okay--
Gunfire began anew behind him, sounding as though it was coming from every direction, as orderly and as deadly as a firing squad when the bullet-to-squelch ratio came out a solid 1-1. He turned just in time to see the horde of ghouls drop like dominoes, small wispy portals floating at eye level where they just stood that were fading away. A larger portal floated in front of Roxy, rifle barrel still smoking and aimed ahead, her expression obscured by her bangs.
Her magic faded as the gun was lowered, a tense silence falling between them, the only sound being the echoes of both Jake and Jane further away, hushed and muffled more than just the distance could cause. It set the Strider’s nerves alight, knowing the secret was out in the open now, his actions-- reactions --speaking for him, outing him with no way to argue or back-peddle. He had ran for them, hadn’t questioned the change in name-- fuck, now he realizes what he had said, how is he a genius again? Shit.
Roxy--?
Dirk!
--!!!
His name came out as a commanding bark, loud and sharp, bouncing off the rounded walls. Turning just a sharply, Roxy fixed him with a chilled stare-- almost a glare, if not for the hesitation on her face and hurt behind her eyes. She bit at her lip and looked away after only a moment, not able to keep it up, instead busying herself with getting her rifle set on her back again.
...We’re talking about this, all of this, later.
Roxy, c’mon, I can explain--!
Explain later! ... Let’s go check on Jake and Jane.
Dirk couldn’t get any argument out, too struck by how quietly-- sadly --she said their names after so long, the tone foreign on her voice, on those words. She brushed past him on her way towards their friends, head lowered and footsteps uncharacteristically heavy, a blatant show of her frustration with him.
He couldn’t help his own anger flaring to life, remembering that he was not the only one at fault here, that she was the one who kept them from him first. With a clenched jaw and sheathed sword, he followed behind her, already hating the shift in mood surrounding them.
