[fic] exsanguinate (B5LR, 1/1)
This is ... experimental. In more ways than one. But some frightening issues have come up that make it difficult for me to work on ... well, anything, really, but this in particular. So I figured I'd post it rather than let it languish on my hard drive. Even if there's probably only one person who'll even think about reading it.
Title: exsanguinate
Author: duskwings
Fandom: Babylon 5: Legend of the Rangers
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Feel free to tell me if you think it sucks. A why would be nice, but I'm not picky.
-15-
"i had a nice time tonight." shy. hesitant. hands pressed together in front of her summer sundress. there are scars on her knuckles and one of her teeth is fake, but in this she is all innocence.
"me, too."
the traditional first kiss dance -- move in slowly, jerking back every couple of seconds to check that it's all right, pretend to aim for the cheek just in case the parents are watching from the front window.
the police arrive in a flurry of sound and light.
-16-
"that's the girl." a whisper, hardly more than a breath into the darkness. "the one whose parents were killed in the food riots."
"i heard she never cried. not even at the funeral."
"i heard that none of the foster families wanted her."
-18-
cool blue eyes look at her over half-moon glasses. "it says here that you're trained in three types of unarmed combat. very impressive."
she watches the slide of his eyes down the page. the red ink has almost bled through the paper. "you lost your parents in the mars riots."
she nods; her collar scratches at her neck. "yes, sir."
he sets the paper on the table, and sets his glasses on top of it. her eyes are drawn to the bright red "ych" that the lenses have magnified. "i'm sorry, miss cantrell, but earthforce cannot offer you --"
"of course not."
-19-
in between rounds, she spits blood into the bucket.
"remember, he's a takajarian. weak points are under the neck, behind the leg joints, and just under the third eye. also, watch your right side, you --"
the bell rings.
-21-
the mirror is foggy with steam; the gym towel is rough against her scalp. there are footsteps behind her, then a gasp -- "sorry!" -- and finally a sudden stillness. "my god."
wrapping the towel around herself, she turns. "what?"
"n -- nothing."
the other girl walks away; sarah turns towards the mirror and begins rubbing it, slowly, carefully. then she lets the towel drop. she does not flinch when her fingers press into the purpling bruises on her ribs.
-23-
josiah hands her a gun. "you know how to use this?"
a raised eyebrow. "are you kidding me?" her practiced fingers fly over the metal; soon the pieces lie across the table. when they've been polished to a shine, she puts them back together, and with a zipping sound the power cell flicks on.
with a smile, he says, "i'll take that as a yes. welcome to the mars resistance."
-24-
the blood is already thick and sticky when she reaches him; his eyes are open and glassy. she kisses him once, for what could have been, then strips the flak jacket from his cold corpse.
-26-
a ship -- alone, small, defenseless. inside, broken wires shower sparks, and underneath the sprays of blood the metal is jagged and twisted.
motion. light. a man's voice, cutting through the fog. "we need a healer down here, stat!"
barely more than a whisper: "it hurts so much. please. i don't want it to hurt anymore."
"you're going to be okay. just hang in there. you're going to be okay." a hand touches her cheek, the other presses against her wound. her tears drip into the pools of blood.
-28-
"david?!"
first a frown, then recognition. "do i -- oh, you're the pilot who nearly died, aren't you? sarah, was it?" a nod. "i didn't know that you were serving on the enfalli. i must say that you're looking a lot better than the last time i saw you."
she freezes. "i was delirious. i don't remember any of it."
a brief pause. "of course." a light smile; an extended hand. "my name is david martel. nice to meet you."
hesitant, but warm: "sarah cantrell. likewise."
-infinity-
Title: exsanguinate
Author: duskwings
Fandom: Babylon 5: Legend of the Rangers
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Feel free to tell me if you think it sucks. A why would be nice, but I'm not picky.
-15-
"i had a nice time tonight." shy. hesitant. hands pressed together in front of her summer sundress. there are scars on her knuckles and one of her teeth is fake, but in this she is all innocence.
"me, too."
the traditional first kiss dance -- move in slowly, jerking back every couple of seconds to check that it's all right, pretend to aim for the cheek just in case the parents are watching from the front window.
the police arrive in a flurry of sound and light.
-16-
"that's the girl." a whisper, hardly more than a breath into the darkness. "the one whose parents were killed in the food riots."
"i heard she never cried. not even at the funeral."
"i heard that none of the foster families wanted her."
-18-
cool blue eyes look at her over half-moon glasses. "it says here that you're trained in three types of unarmed combat. very impressive."
she watches the slide of his eyes down the page. the red ink has almost bled through the paper. "you lost your parents in the mars riots."
she nods; her collar scratches at her neck. "yes, sir."
he sets the paper on the table, and sets his glasses on top of it. her eyes are drawn to the bright red "ych" that the lenses have magnified. "i'm sorry, miss cantrell, but earthforce cannot offer you --"
"of course not."
-19-
in between rounds, she spits blood into the bucket.
"remember, he's a takajarian. weak points are under the neck, behind the leg joints, and just under the third eye. also, watch your right side, you --"
the bell rings.
-21-
the mirror is foggy with steam; the gym towel is rough against her scalp. there are footsteps behind her, then a gasp -- "sorry!" -- and finally a sudden stillness. "my god."
wrapping the towel around herself, she turns. "what?"
"n -- nothing."
the other girl walks away; sarah turns towards the mirror and begins rubbing it, slowly, carefully. then she lets the towel drop. she does not flinch when her fingers press into the purpling bruises on her ribs.
-23-
josiah hands her a gun. "you know how to use this?"
a raised eyebrow. "are you kidding me?" her practiced fingers fly over the metal; soon the pieces lie across the table. when they've been polished to a shine, she puts them back together, and with a zipping sound the power cell flicks on.
with a smile, he says, "i'll take that as a yes. welcome to the mars resistance."
-24-
the blood is already thick and sticky when she reaches him; his eyes are open and glassy. she kisses him once, for what could have been, then strips the flak jacket from his cold corpse.
-26-
a ship -- alone, small, defenseless. inside, broken wires shower sparks, and underneath the sprays of blood the metal is jagged and twisted.
motion. light. a man's voice, cutting through the fog. "we need a healer down here, stat!"
barely more than a whisper: "it hurts so much. please. i don't want it to hurt anymore."
"you're going to be okay. just hang in there. you're going to be okay." a hand touches her cheek, the other presses against her wound. her tears drip into the pools of blood.
-28-
"david?!"
first a frown, then recognition. "do i -- oh, you're the pilot who nearly died, aren't you? sarah, was it?" a nod. "i didn't know that you were serving on the enfalli. i must say that you're looking a lot better than the last time i saw you."
she freezes. "i was delirious. i don't remember any of it."
a brief pause. "of course." a light smile; an extended hand. "my name is david martel. nice to meet you."
hesitant, but warm: "sarah cantrell. likewise."
-infinity-