FIC: Hostile Takeover 5/18
“Dios, 'Star! Are you okay?”
Silver eyes moved to gaze at Rictor, and he had to blink again; there were chunks of skin stuck to his eyelashes. “My face is itchy.”
“It’s half gone,” Terry said, looking a little pale at the fact.
“Oh,” 'Star sighed and lifted his hand to rub at his cheek. His fingers slipped across the flesh, and he felt a few mangled and dangling pieces there. Frowning, he attempted to sit up. “Was I unconscious?”
“A little bit,” Rictor answered, still looking concerned.
“For how long?”
“Uh,” Roberto shrugged and helped him sit up. “Maybe a minute. Thirty seconds, even?”
“Fekt,” 'Star muttered, and coughed when he felt a strange scratching sensation in his throat. He snorted and collected as much fluid in his mouth as possible before spitting it onto the concrete between his knees. A bunch of blood and a tooth or two came out.
“Lovely,” Terry scrunched up her face and got up to walk away.
Shatty just ignored her; that scratchy feeling still remained. He lifted his hand to his mouth and shoved a finger down his throat in a sweeping motion. The tip grazed against a sharp edge, so he swept again, and that time he was able to remove the object. He held it out in front of him and eyed it suspiciously. “I think it is a bullet fragment.”
“Did you just stick your finger down your throat?” Rictor asked.
“Yes,” 'Star replied, and shrugged as he tossed the fragment away.
“Do you not even have gag reflexes!? At all? That 's…” Ric trailed off, wide eyed and grinning.
“Don’t say another word, Freddy Mercury,” Roberto scrunched up his face. “I don’t even want to hear it!”
Rictor snorted. “I wasn’t going to.”
'Star rubbed at his face again, ignoring the boys and their banter. His skin was coming back together nicely, and the few teeth he had lost in the scuffle were beginning to come back in too. He shook the remaining cob webs from his head before he stood on shaky feet and looked around at the carnage before him.
“Fekt, we got ambushed didn’t we?”
“Yeah,” Ric nodded, and slowly got to his feet as well. He looked horrible, 'Star noted, but he did not say anything about it. The Mexican just worked on limping toward him, and he glared. “We got ambushed and you threw a pile of junk on my head before you got shot in the face!”
“Sorry,” the warrior shrugged. The memories were a bit sketchy, but they would slowly come back as he healed, that he knew. Whatever reason he would have for doing such a thing to Julio in his condition was probably a good one, so he would not dwell on it. More than likely he was just trying to protect him. Shaking his head, Shatterstar stepped over a body at his feet and approached the one belonging to a man dressed in black. He stood out amongst the other soldiers.
“Hey! Don’t walk away from me!” Rictor snapped. “You don’t just get shot in the face and pretend everything is okay!”
“I heal,” Shatty murmured, and tilted his head to the side. “This man is wearing extensive communication devices and technology.”
Rictor seethed, but folded his arms. “Yeah, that's why you went after him. I think he radioed our location in.”
“We need tah get outta here,” Terry announced. “If he radioed us in then there’s more comin’ without a doubt, boys.”
“Fuck,” Rictor pinched the bridge of his nose. “Where the hell are we gonna go, huh? It’s not like there are five star hotels around this dump.”
“No, but she’s right,” Roberto echoed. “We can’t stay here. We should’ve known they’d still be in the area after the amount of shit we pulled the last fight.” He looked over to 'Star. “Are you in any condition to run right now?”
The warrior rolled his eyes irritably. “Of course I am! Do not doubt my abilities; I am healed.”
“Well you’re still full of blood, amigo,” Bobby pointed out.
“Only because I haven’t washed it off,” 'Star muttered and began picking up weapons. “We should take some of their things.”
“Agreed,” Terry said, as she slowly approached the bodies. “We should also take a radio or something of theirs. Maybe that way ye can figure out how tah track their movements, 'Star.”
“I can try,” he replied.
Roberto stopped and held up a wallet. “Man, it’s kinda hard to believe that this guy here has a wife and kids.” They all stopped for a second and looked at the photograph in Bobby’s hand. “Guy’s comin’ after us and we’re not even twenty yet.”
'Star sniffed. “Greed strongly overpowers most human emotions.”
“Ain’t it the truth,” Rictor mumbled and sat on the ground as he waited for the others.
Shatty just frowned and filled up the pockets of his cargo pants with an assortment of items; he also collected a few grenades, knives, and a gun. The men were carrying a lot of stuff on them, some even had armour to protect them from mutant energy attacks. It made him wonder how advanced HYDRA technology actually was. If they were sending field agents out with such devices, what did they have in store for them at their bases? The prospect was threatening -- very threatening -- and the thought made the Cadre warrior livid.
“What are you doing with a gun?” Rictor muttered miserably. “Can’t we just leave the guns--”
“No,” Shatty told him. “I know you don't like them, Julio, but you will have to deal with it. Our fears and morals hold no place now when it comes to survival. Making it out of this alive is top priority, and if we have to do morally questionable things then so be it.”
“I know that, but at the same time that makes us just as bad they are. I like a good fight as much as the next guy, but I ain't one for blowin' people's heads off, amigo.”
The warrior glanced over his shoulder at Roberto and Terry; they were a safe distance away as they went through the uniforms of the agents. He sighed and took a seat on the ground next to Rictor, and started to go through the weapons he collected. “It's defense on our part. They played that hand the moment they killed our comrades and invaded our home.”
“I know that,” the Mexican muttered and dropped his gaze to the floor where he was drawing circles in the dirt with his fingers.
“It may not make things better, but it’s better than dying,” 'Star pointed out. “They are evil monsters with no right to take the lives of innocents. Their deaths would be in the best interest of every remaining citizen of North America.”
“But would it be? That's just gonna piss them off more. Knowin' our luck they'll just send even more of those cabrones after us, and then what? We'll be on the fuckin' run for the rest of our lives,” Rictor finally looked back up at Shatterstar and scowled. “And they may be assholes, but you saw that guy -- he’s got a family, you know?”
“I think you know that just because someone has a family-- it doesn’t make them a good person,” Shatterstar replied slowly. “And we have a sense of responsibility for protecting innocent people. That was the point of our forming this strike force in the first place, was it not? To take a more practical approach than protests and press conferences?”
Ric sighed and nodded. “Yeah it was.”
“So we're doing nothing wrong by defending ourselves and other mutants and humans if we are ending their reign of horror.” 'Star filled the gun with ammo before putting it safely into his belt. “It may be ugly and questionable to you humans, but it gets the job done.”
Rictor narrowed his eyes. “I hate when you group ‘us’ humans together. Stop saying that; we’re not all the same.”
“My apologies,” 'Star muttered with an eye roll before shifting closer to him. “If it makes you feel any better, Julio, survival tactics such as these were necessary even on my home world. When I escaped the pens and lived off the land for two of my years it was a lot like this.”
“You did this for two years?” Ric shook his head, and pinched the bridge of his nose as he fought off another headache. “Madre de Dios, I don’t think I’d be able to last that long.”
“You get adjusted,” 'Star told him. He frowned at the obvious physical pain his friend was still feeling, and leaned closer to his ear. “But we'll try not to let that happen. If we bring on a full frontal assault, I have faith that our abilities will destroy them. We will come out on top.”
He looked up and gave him a tiny smile. “I hope so.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
It was only ten minutes later when Roberto heard the sound of engines in the distance. He turned to the others. “Time to go now, amigos!”
“Take him,” 'Star stood and grabbed Rictor under the arms to hoist him to his feet. “Go as far as you can.”
“'Star and I will grab our bags and we’ll be right behind ye,” Terry instructed.
“I’m on it,” Roberto nodded and scooped Rictor up into his arms. The Mexican looked absolutely annoyed. “Damn, you lost weight, Ric?”
“Shut up,” he muttered as they took off into the sky. When they were high enough in the air, Roberto was able to see the vehicles a couple hundred meters out. He looked back down at Rictor.
“How you holding up?”
He practically shivered in his arms. “How do you think?”
“You look like you’re turning white,” Roberto told him. “You’re so pale I wouldn’t even think you Latino, amigo.”
“Ugh, don’t tell me that,” Ric coughed, and wrapped his arms around his chest. Roberto was not a doctor, but he knew when someone was not doing well. The Mexican had dark circles around his eyes, and the cuts and bruises marking his face had barely faded at all. In fact, they had grown darker if Bobby knew any better -- and those were just the uncovered ones. The whole side of Ric’s neck was still tightly wrapped up to protect that nasty burn there. It was almost like a scene from ER.
“You’ll be fine,” Bobby told him as he increased his speed and zipped between trees. “You’re too tough not to be.”
“Yeah well the only thing I’m concentrating on right now is not puking or passing out, so--” he trailed off and coughed violently again. “Ugh, I hate flying.”
Bobby smirked. “You fly the PACRAT all the time.”
“Doesn’t mean I particularly love it,” he snapped without looking at him. “I just hate not being on the ground.”
“Ah, makes sense,” Bobby nodded, and swooped lower beneath the branches of the trees so they were only a few feet off of the forest bed. When he looked down, Ric’s head was rolling to the side. “Hey! Stay awake!” he shook him gently. “You can’t sleep yet.”
“I’m not trying to,” he groaned.
“Okay…uh…we’ll talk then to keep you awake,” Bobby told him, and picked his brain for something to talk about. “Wanna know the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me?”
“Can I laugh at you?”
“Of course.”
“All right,” Ric smirked a little.
“You know when you go swimming and it’s really cold?” Bobby asked him. “And then your pecker gets all shriveled up and your balls jump up into your stomach?” he chuckled at the thought and shook his head. “One time I was swimming at the Institute when I was younger. I was trying to look all cool and hot in front of Amara, and I was kinda acting like an asshole to the others--”
“What else is new?”
Roberto rolled his eyes. “Well they wouldn’t have it, so Doug pulled my trunks down right in front of her. The water was fucking freezing so I wasn’t even half the size as I am normally.”
Rictor laughed, loud that time, and it made him cough a little. “That sucks.”
“It did.”
“This one time,” Rictor eased off on the laughing. “I wanted to be like all those big guys in the pornos. So I shaved my balls.”
“Aw man!” Roberto scrunched up his face, but could not stop the laugh that came with it.
“I had razor burn for a week after that!” Ric told him. “Every time I walked and my ‘nads brushed against my leg I had to stop because it itched so badly! I think Domino caught me with my hands down my pants like twenty times that week. She actually brought me aside to tell me it wasn’t appropriate -- especially during training.”
Bobby laughed loudly, which was probably the first time in days, if not weeks. “Oh man I can just imagine her using that one serious face and the stern voice, but you know damn well she’s just laughing at you on the inside.”
“She does that,” Rictor agreed, and fought to keep his eyes open. “Almost makes me wish she was here to call me a fucking moron or something just so things can be normal again.”
Bobby frowned. “Hey, she will again. Just like that one time I accidentally walked in on her in the shower, remember that?”
“Oh Dios, amigo! I thought she was gonna kill you!”
Bobby shook his head, and carefully turned to make sure 'Star and Terry were still in sight, which they were. “I got beat up for like a month straight.”
“I didn’t see you complaining,” Rictor smirked.
“I wasn’t,” Bobby confessed. “I never told anyone this, but she’s got the nicest tits I ever saw on a chick. Even if they are chalk white.”
Ric laughed loudly at that. “Man if we ever get outta this--”
“We will,” Bobby cut him off.
“Well if I ever get outta this,” Ric corrected himself. “I’m gonna make sure we live it up good. That way we get some crazy shit in before the next time we almost die.”
“Do you have any regrets?” Bobby asked him, while they were on the topic of sharing.
Rictor looked down at the ground finally, for the first time since they had been flying, and back at their teammates behind them. A strange look fell over his face, before he shook it off. “Of course not. Maybe only that I didn’t get laid before I died.”
“You’ve never!?” Bobby asked, wide eyed.
Ric glared at him. “Between the one girlfriend I ever had and figuring out I was gay I didn’t have much time for that.”
“Right,” Bobby laughed, as he took a sharp turn and dipped beneath another tree. He was getting a little frantic at the fact there was absolutely no where for them to stop in sight. “So you never even…you know, with a dude?”
Ric looked away, slightly annoyed -- or embarrassed. “No!”
“Well I only ever had sex with one person,” Roberto told him. “And it was only a couple months ago. I probably won’t even have it ever again now.”
“I’m free, if you want,” Rictor joked.
“I hardly think you’re my type,” Roberto managed a laugh, even though he felt a sense of sadness thinking about past occurrences. “Besides, I always thought you were more into Shatty.”
“Shut up,” Rictor snapped; his cheeks burned and he looked away. “He’s my best friend.”
“Well he’s…” Roberto shook his head, not quite believing what he was actually saying. “He’s…cute. For a guy who's pissy and spazzy all the time.”
Rictor did not say anything about that. Instead, he just started coughing again, and that time his entire body stiffened and jolted violently. Bobby had to tighten his hold around him and stop in mid-flight. When his feet hit the ground, he maneuvered the Mexican so that he was standing again -- albeit it was with help. Ric nodded in thanks, but had to grab Bobby with his free hand to keep himself from collapsing.
“Are you all right!?”
He nodded. “Just go, before they catch up and start freaking out.”
“Was it something I said?” Bobby smirked.
Ric shook his head. “I won’t tell anyone anything that was said if you don’t.”
Roberto shrugged arrogantly before lifting them up into the air again. “I was only telling you so that you wouldn’t die on me, you know.”
“Like I’d ever tell you anything any other time,” Rictor shook his head, and tightened his hold around Bobby’s neck. “You’re a dick.”
“At least I don’t shave mine.”
“It was one time,” Rictor snapped. “Dios, never again.”
“Can I tell you something?” Bobby asked him seriously.
“Sure,” Ric mumbled against his chest.
“What do you think about marriage?”
“What do I think about it?” Rictor scrunched up his face and looked back up at him. “I can’t ever do it legally, so I don’t really think about it to tell you the truth.”
“Do you think it’s a useless dream?” Roberto asked him, willing away that massive wave of sadness and guilt that overcame him then.
“No, I don’t think so,” Ric mumbled. “Mi Padre and my step mom were happy until he died, I guess. Scott and Jean were always happy too.”
“I was gonna ask her,” Bobby told him. “Amara -- I asked her to go out with me after we came back from our mission last week. Out for supper at La Fleur de Fleuve; I was gonna ask her to marry me.”
“Fuck--” Ric muttered. “I’m sorry, man.”
Roberto just shrugged and looked back down at Terry and 'Star again before making a wide right turn toward a less wooded area. There was a series of small mountains around the terrain, and he figured they may be able to find another cave there. Rictor was still fighting against his exhaustion, and the way his body was shaking was beginning to worry Roberto. They should have stolen some more clothes off of the agents for him.
“Fuck!” Bobby cursed as he circled the area. “I can’t find anywhere to stop!”
“Put me down,” Rictor instructed.
“What!? No!” the Brazilian scoffed. “I’ll just go further west…”
“Put me down now,” Ric repeated with a sigh.
Roberto pursed his lips, but did as he was told. The Mexican stood on shaky feet, but slowly lowered himself to the ground on his knees. It took him a few moments to compose himself, but eventually he began to trace his fingers across the rocky earth beneath him and his hand turned a dark shade of green.
“Rictor…what are you doing?”
The Mexican did not say anything. Instead, he scrunched up his face painfully and the ground began to shift and vibrate dangerously beneath them. A crack split between the fold in two rocks and the plates began to separate. Rictor ground his teeth together and looked up at Bobby; sweat poured down his face and his eyes were bloodshot. “There’s a dip down here…a cave or tavern thing beneath the ground. All I have to do is make the ground shift…just…a little…”
“Stop! You’ll hurt yourself!” Bobby yelled at him and grabbed his shoulder. “You’re in no condition--”
“Ric!” they heard Terry yell from behind them. 'Star was not too far behind her, and they both came at them full speed. But Rictor did not stop. He clenched his jaw and placed his other hand on the ground as well, sending another tremor through the ground as the rocks separated. Amazingly, Roberto could actually feel the Earth shifting beneath his feet and he wondered briefly if that was how Rictor felt all the time. The Mexican painfully grabbed at his sides when he was done.
“Dios--” he coughed.
“Julio!” 'Star yelled and ran to his side. But Rictor’s eyes rolled back in his head and he was unconscious once more.
“Shit!” Roberto yelled. “That fucking idiot!”
“Just get inside,” Terry shoved his shoulder. “It should definitely be stable.”
'Star just frowned angrily and pulled Rictor close to his chest as he lifted him. He cradled the smaller man easily, and looked around the new cave before glancing back at the others. “We shouldn’t stay here long.”
Terry nodded. “We sleep here and then we move again.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Go to chapter six