adreamthatrots

[adreamthatrots]

“No.” Cathal’s iron-like grip finally released her. He got to his feet slowly, coughing and retching. He had no choice but to lift the bottom of his mask away from his face, spitting black ooze onto the snow. Pepper would see the white flash of exposed teeth, skull-like.

“You are. Not human,” he said in a sudden and unintentional mirror of her own thoughts. “I can smell it. You can’t tell anyone. That you saw me. Do you understand?” He turned, looming over her in an impenetrable wall, hand reaching out once more to grab a fistful of her coat. “It is not safe. If you do.”

adreamthatrots​:

Cathal let out a gasping groan as air flooded back into his lungs. His ribs lanced with white-hot pain. Cracked, maybe. Almost certainly. But nothing punctured. Lights were still boring into him. He felt that someone had drawn close to him, felt the shreds of their warmth. His ears were ringing. He couldn’t hear what they were saying

A massive, damaged hand lashed out, grabbing Pepper’s tiny wrist before she could touch him. The grip was like iron, and…sticky. 

“I’m fine,” he hissed, letting her go just as suddenly as he struggled to right himself. The headlights glared across the white expanse of his expressionless mask, flecked with someone else’s blood. A ragged cough tore out of him, hacking and wheezing on the freezing air as it bit into his bruised lungs. Black ichor mixed with blood on the snow. “Don’t touch me.”

Pepper froze. She couldn’t see them, with the way the headlights cast her shadow over the hand clenching her wrist, but she could feel it. The way the fibers of her gloves clung. She could feel the strength in his grip, see the mask on his face. The steel in his voice, however ruined his lungs sounded.

He’s not human. The realization came with no relief.

“I won’t, hon.” The Grey’s voice was a whispered chime in the thick snow. She glanced at the blood flecking his mask. Okay. “You need medical help. I—” She swallowed. “—I have medical supplies, in my car. You can use them. I won’t touch you.”

[adreamthatrots]

sclera69​:

Drake was safe (or, safe as her friend could be, all considered), supplies had been delivered to those who needed them, and the snow was unexpectedly… getting heavier. A shiver ran through Pepper’s limbs and she cranked up the heater until it rattled. (… Nuts. That had to get fixed.)

It was so damn cold, even with heat, gloves, layers, all that, and yeah, Greys—Pepper felt cold worse than most, but still. It felt wrong. Unnatural, in the way it seemed to frost over her very thoughts, sticking her on negative loop after loop, the second she seemed like she was free. That wasn’t how she—Pepper was good at avoiding the bad. The pit didn’t… grip her like that.

Shit. Worry about that later, right? For now, just, just keep her phone on the charger, and… and… 

… Get home safe.

The road ahead wasn’t quite whited out, but it was getting there. She squinted, flicked her brights on, and…

It happened fast. 

One moment, the road was empty. Next, a large figure was in the middle of the road.

A flash of a figure in her mirror. Large, both broad and tall, and dressed in crisp clothing.

Pepper blinked. Not again. Not here.

But that wasn’t Mercy, and she wasn’t a murderer. (She wasn’t.) The Grey slammed the horn, hit the brakes, and swerved. Not in time. Her gut clenched, and cold or no, Pepper was parked and flying towards the mountain of a figure in the snow. She was no sooner out her car, too, than the cold began to seep through her thick gloves.

Oh, fuck me, I am so, so sorry—are you okay?

“Hey! Hon—you okay?” No, they’d gone flying.God, were they even conscious? She fell to her knees beside them in the snow, cautiously extending a hand and trying to will her voice to be stronger than she felt and for both it and her heart to slow. “C’mon, love, please be okay. Lemme—”

The snow around them was streaked with red where they’d landed.

“Oh no.” The whisper escaped as a quiet, echoey sound in the snow-silenced street as she got her wish, heart plummeting in her chest.

Cathal let out a gasping groan as air flooded back into his lungs. His ribs lanced with white-hot pain. Cracked, maybe. Almost certainly. But nothing punctured. Lights were still boring into him. He felt that someone had drawn close to him, felt the shreds of their warmth. His ears were ringing. He couldn’t hear what they were saying

A massive, damaged hand lashed out, grabbing Pepper’s tiny wrist before she could touch him. The grip was like iron, and...sticky. 

“I’m fine,” he hissed, letting her go just as suddenly as he struggled to right himself. The headlights glared across the white expanse of his expressionless mask, flecked with someone else’s blood. A ragged cough tore out of him, hacking and wheezing on the freezing air as it bit into his bruised lungs. Black ichor mixed with blood on the snow. “Don’t touch me.”

[adreamthatrots]

Crosswalk

TW// BLOOD, VIOLENCE, EYE TRAUMA 

Cathal kept his head down against the wind as he walked. It whistled into the eye holes of his mask like icy nails. 

The man turns his head, as if some slumbering part of his hindbrain screams out that something is wrong. Cathal can just see the glimmer of eye-white as he closes the meager distance between them. 

Breath clouded out and was torn away from him in fogging gasps. He could still hear his heart pounding in his ears, even as his steps were measured and even. 

The alley is dark and wet with black ice. His target’s head cracks against the frozen brick wall as Cathal slams into him from behind. The man tries to scream before a hand is over his mouth, impervious to sharp vampiric fangs.

He had to move away from the site. Any direction would do. It didn’t really matter.

This is a high-risk target. It isn’t often that an Ocularis is selected for Removal. He has to be quick. He can’t let him see his mask, in case others are watching. Cathal slams his head into the wall again. The man groans. But there’s a flash of bright metal, a knife, as he struggles to turn towards his attacker. Cathal didn’t look up as he stepped into the street. He knew nobody would be driving now that the blizzard had deepened. Even the streetlights had gone dark.  He banks on the man being too stunned to aim, and he was right. The knife swipes into his coat and snags, missing his skin. Cathal puts one hand over the Ocularis’ eyes and shoves him back against the wall, a knee coming up to drive into the vampire’s gut. The man wheezes and slumps. Unexpected headlights lanced over him and Cathal’s head snapped up, too late.

Cathal rips the knife out of his target’s hands. He spreads the fingers of his hand over the vampire’s eyes just enough to allow the blade through.

A horn blared at him, tires skidding against ice and slush. Cathal tried to leap away, too slow, the van striking him broadside and sending him flying away and into the snow-covered asphalt. 

The vampire screams. Cathal silences him quickly with a jab to the throat. The alley falls eerily silent. The knife flashes and glitters as he stabs into his target, over and over, wherever he can reach. The Ocularis slides limply to the ground, face clotted with blood. Cathal realizes his arms are covered in it, sticky and cloying. He slips the knife into his pocket, steps back once, twice. Then runs.

A wheeze finally escapeed him. Snow eddied over him as the sound of a car door opening registered. He blinked. Nothing was broken. He was just winded. He could still walk...

[adreamthatrots]

He grunted again, and this one could, perhaps, be conceivably interpreted as a laugh.

The paper was held up to his face, examined, and then tucked away. Cathal gave her a curt nod. “Thank you.” He rasped—and then abruptly turned heel again, moving away from her as if they’d never met at all.

adreamthatrots​:

He ground his teeth together, but nodded slowly. “Yes. Why?”

He took another glance around, just in case. If he was caught talking to someone in public more than in passing, they would be looked into. It would be a shame if this girl, who seemed so genuine, even kind, became a target. Because if she did, he wouldn’t have any say in the matter.

She nodded back and set her bags to the ground. Speedily and a little clumsily, she tore off the bottom of her receipt and wrote a number on it.

“Text this and you can follow some steps to reach me. It’s an encrypted service. All the messages self-destruct.” Aletta smiled suddenly. “If anyone is watching right now, just tell them I was very persistent in getting your number.”

[adreamthatrots]

He ground his teeth together, but nodded slowly. “Yes. Why?”

He took another glance around, just in case. If he was caught talking to someone in public more than in passing, they would be looked into. It would be a shame if this girl, who seemed so genuine, even kind, became a target. Because if she did, he wouldn’t have any say in the matter.

adreamthatrots​:

As she tensed he withdrew his hand wordlessly.

“Don’t know,” he replied hoarsely. “Maybe. Probably. Not supposed to be. Out much. With humans.” He inclined his head towards her stiffly. “I get. Noticed.”

Straightening his back, unintentionally looming once more, he coughed and went on: “I hope they don’t. Know. That you can see. Like you can. They would want that.”

Aletta quickly shook her head. “No, they don’t.” Unless someone like Isfet mentioned it. She dashed her eyes to the ground before regaining the bravery to look Cathal in the face. “…You’re walking back home, right? Do you have a phone?”

[adreamthatrots]

As she tensed he withdrew his hand wordlessly.

“Don’t know,” he replied hoarsely. “Maybe. Probably. Not supposed to be. Out much. With humans.” He inclined his head towards her stiffly. “I get. Noticed.”

Straightening his back, unintentionally looming once more, he coughed and went on: “I hope they don’t. Know. That you can see. Like you can. They would want that.”

adreamthatrots​:

Cathal had to catch himself to keep from barreling into her. He stared down into her eyes, brow furrowing just slightly, perplexed.

“You look. Normal. Small.” He replied after a pause in which he clunked through some words in his head. “But that’s not the same as. Not much.” Unexpectedly, he reached out one of his formidable grey hands, just barely letting the hem of her sleeve flutter against it in the cold wind that smelled like snow. The gesture was inscrutable—was he thinking about grabbing her? Pushing her away? Offering to take her bag?

“It’s just not. Safe. For you to talk to me,” he whispered raggedly. “Especially not. Here. Public. I’m being…taken care of. Regulators.” His gaze sharpened, watching for her reaction closely.

Her eyes widened, the goldenrod shades catching the winter sunlight like a kaleidoscope. When he’d reached out, her arms tucked against her chest in reflex, and Aletta now stood gazing back at him like a wound up spring. The lines of her mouth hardened a little. She regained the mindfulness to loosen her shoulders and glanced over the parking lot.

“Are they watching you that closely that you can’t even… talk to someone?”

[adreamthatrots]

Cathal had to catch himself to keep from barreling into her. He stared down into her eyes, brow furrowing just slightly, perplexed.

“You look. Normal. Small.” He replied after a pause in which he clunked through some words in his head. “But that’s not the same as. Not much.” Unexpectedly, he reached out one of his formidable grey hands, just barely letting the hem of her sleeve flutter against it in the cold wind that smelled like snow. The gesture was inscrutable—was he thinking about grabbing her? Pushing her away? Offering to take her bag?

“It’s just not. Safe. For you to talk to me,” he whispered raggedly. “Especially not. Here. Public. I’m being…taken care of. Regulators.” His gaze sharpened, watching for her reaction closely.

adreamthatrots​:

He stopped dead in his tracks for a second, regardless of how close behind him she was, mulling this over.

“I do not remember which question,” he said, followed with a wheezing cough as he started up walking again. He was like a clockwork man in his movements, precisely navigating the crosswalk rather than jaywalk.

Aletta stopped, too. She grimaced at the cough; alright, that was enough.

Hoisting all her bags on her arms, she took a couple long strides to get ahead of him and cut him off. Looking up at his face now in the sunlight, seeing the sickly silver tone of his skin and the bags beneath his eyes, she hesitated. “…When I wanted to ask if you’re okay,” she said. Her brows pinched together. “I know I don’t look like much. But I can at least listen if you don’t want me to help.”

[adreamthatrots]

He stopped dead in his tracks for a second, regardless of how close behind him she was, mulling this over.

“I do not remember which question,” he said, followed with a wheezing cough as he started up walking again. He was like a clockwork man in his movements, precisely navigating the crosswalk rather than jaywalk.

adreamthatrots​:

Cathal just grunted, glancing at her over his shoulder now and then as she checked out her items. He didn’t speak to the cashier–only nodding or shaking his head, and holding out his cash wordlessly. The bag with the suet and cage in it was comically small in his fist as he headed for the door. Luckily, it didn’t take him any faster to be done than Aletta.

It no longer seemed to surprise him when he heard her footsteps behind him again. “You’re following me,” he rasped to the air in front of him as he walked. “That’s rude.” Even so, he slowed down, just ever so slightly.

“Well, we were sort of having a conversation,” Aletta countered. She braced against the cold wind as they exited to the parking lot. “You didn’t answer my question.”

[adreamthatrots]

angelsdream331​:

“Oh.” It was a genuine offer, but his response was more informative than he knew. He didn’t carry a wallet (let alone a card). He must be living a very certain and concerning way. She most certainly did not believe he had a car or a bus pass.

“That’s okay. I’m gonna use self check-out.” Aletta didn’t want him leaving before she did. She scanned as quickly as she could and waited at the door, watching Cathal expectantly.

Cathal just grunted, glancing at her over his shoulder now and then as she checked out her items. He didn’t speak to the cashier--only nodding or shaking his head, and holding out his cash wordlessly. The bag with the suet and cage in it was comically small in his fist as he headed for the door. Luckily, it didn’t take him any faster to be done than Aletta.

It no longer seemed to surprise him when he heard her footsteps behind him again. “You’re following me,” he rasped to the air in front of him as he walked. “That’s rude.” Even so, he slowed down, just ever so slightly.

[adreamthatrots]

He could hear her following along after him, like a curious little cat. He didn’t go any faster, but nor did he stop for her to catch up. Cathal had a feeling that until she found out what she wanted, she might just follow him all the way back to his home.

“…savings card?” He replied finally, stopping abruptly and turning to look down at her in confusion. In his hand was a crumpled wad of dirty bills—better she not know where he’d gotten them. “I use. Cash.”

adreamthatrots​:

“Aletta.”

He paused. Sheepishness was not on his emotional radar. So he stumped back down the aisle, stopping for a second as he drew level with her again.

“My name is Cathal,” he muttered hoarsely. “You were brave. To try to help me. I don’t think you would, if…hmn.”

That was too much to say. He rounded the other end of the aisle, striding towards the cash registers with head abuzz.

She kept an eye on him as he passed, making sure he didn’t do anything more threatening. Okay, dramatic…

Aletta wasn’t naïve. He could be trying to shut her down for a perfectly good reason. If it was good, then she’d let it be. That was why she wouldn’t say anything about her friends, or her laundry list of ‘projects’, like the Sybil literally possessed by a demon.

She trailed behind, pushing the cart with its rickety wheel. “Thank you for calling me brave,” she said. “I know there was more to that sentence, but maybe you can finish it in the parking lot? And, um…” They stopped at one of the registers. “Do you want to use my savings card?”

[adreamthatrots]

“Aletta.”

He paused. Sheepishness was not on his emotional radar. So he stumped back down the aisle, stopping for a second as he drew level with her again.

“My name is Cathal,” he muttered hoarsely. “You were brave. To try to help me. I don’t think you would, if…hmn.”

That was too much to say. He rounded the other end of the aisle, striding towards the cash registers with head abuzz.

adreamthatrots​:

A ripple of unease moved through his chest. More things that she should not know. If they found out, they would…

“It cant be. Fixed.” He said finally. “Should be careful. You don’t even know. Who I am.” If she did she certainly wouldn’t have been kind enough to help him with birdseed. His shoulders tensed.

Already Aletta was criticizing her approach. Less nervous ‘sorry to bother you’ energy, to begin with. Aware of her hand by now, she tucked it at her side.

“I am careful.” She straightened her back. “Tell me your name. I’m Aletta. And… the cash registers are that way.”

She pointed down the other end of the aisle.

[adreamthatrots]

A ripple of unease moved through his chest. More things that she should not know. If they found out, they would…

“It cant be. Fixed.” He said finally. “Should be careful. You don’t even know. Who I am.” If she did she certainly wouldn’t have been kind enough to help him with birdseed. His shoulders tensed.

adreamthatrots​:

His steps stuttered. Like a machine winding down he ground to a halt just before getting to the end of the aisle.

“Why,” he asked over his shoulder, half-turning to stare at her. The way he held himself was so stiff it was almost as if he were made out of clay. “Why would you ask that.” The way her eyes searched him made his neck prickle. 

He’d stopped… maybe that was a foot in the door. She tentatively took one step forward.

“It’s your aura,” she said, not exactly exuding confidence. “It doesn’t look like it should. This doesn’t happen a lot but I try to reach out to people if I notice something.” Her hand had wandered behind her ear and fiddled with her hair. Hearing it out loud, she realized how much this pitch seemed plucked from a new age convention. “People have been hurt when I stayed quiet, before. …That’s all.”

[adreamthatrots]

His steps stuttered. Like a machine winding down he ground to a halt just before getting to the end of the aisle.

“Why,” he asked over his shoulder, half-turning to stare at her. The way he held himself was so stiff it was almost as if he were made out of clay. “Why would you ask that.” The way her eyes searched him made his neck prickle. 

adreamthatrots​:

Trouble. The plastic handle creaked in his fist. She had no idea.

But then he let go, and let his arm fall back to his side. “Galatean. Vampire. Yes.” He offered no explanation for himself or his behavior. The fluorescent lights seemed suddenly harsh and menacing. He could hear them buzzing. Hear the flutter of her heartbeat.

Cathal took a deep breath, the sound rattling around in his chest, and then stepped away from her, moving back down the aisle with stiff strides. 

The smile faltered off and her shoulders tensed unconsciously upon hearing the tiny plastic creaking. As he spoke, breathed, she kept her wide eyes locked on his, no longer painful but searching. He wasn’t just angry; something made him afraid.

“Wait,” she said, before he got too far. “It’s more than that. I wanted to ask if you’re okay.”

[adreamthatrots]

angelsdream331​:

This, she had prepared for. Perhaps not being trapped and getting to see how exactly built the guy was (she could still duck under his arm if need be), but, she could diffuse the situation.

“Don’t worry! You’re not in trouble,” Aletta said, flashing a nervous smile. She lowered her voice to match his. “I can… see it. Everyone has an aura on them. And I meant it, my best friend is a vampire.”

Trouble. The plastic handle creaked in his fist. She had no idea.

But then he let go, and let his arm fall back to his side. “Galatean. Vampire. Yes.” He offered no explanation for himself or his behavior. The fluorescent lights seemed suddenly harsh and menacing. He could hear them buzzing. Hear the flutter of her heartbeat.

Cathal took a deep breath, the sound rattling around in his chest, and then stepped away from her, moving back down the aisle with stiff strides. 

[adreamthatrots]

Cathal stiffened visibly. His eyes darted to each end of the aisle before focusing on her, boring into her. It was bad for people to know. To see what he was. They weren’t supposed to know.

His free hand reached out and grabbed the handle of her cart, trapping her in the space between it, him, and the wall of birdseed. If he’d seemed tall before, it was nothing compared to how he now loomed over her, as tense as a cornered dog.

“How. Did you know,” he said softly, the sound like sandpaper.

adreamthatrots​:

“No.” He replied, and gave another cough. Combined with the mask, people usually assumed he was sick. They weren’t exactly wrong.

“…I put out seed. For them. But only that kind.” He pointed roughly to the economy bag he’d stuffed back on the shelf. Then he paused, pinning her with another intense stare. “Why did you talk to me. If you don’t work here.”

The question took her aback. So he was not just awkward, but a tad unfriendly; she could still work with that. Most pressingly, she now had to decide how quickly to break out the I know you’re an alien line.

“It was just small talk,” she said, fumbling out a half-lie. Aletta swallowed and motioned at the plastic boards and PVC pipes in her cart. “I’m also picking up some materials for my friend. He’s Galatean, he makes them into prosthetics for people.”

She looked up at him for a reaction.

[adreamthatrots]

“No.” He replied, and gave another cough. Combined with the mask, people usually assumed he was sick. They weren’t exactly wrong.

“…I put out seed. For them. But only that kind.” He pointed roughly to the economy bag he’d stuffed back on the shelf. Then he paused, pinning her with another intense stare. “Why did you talk to me. If you don’t work here.”

adreamthatrots​:

Cathal followed her hand with his eyes as she touched the different bags. It was easier than looking at her face.

For a moment he stood there in complete and inscrutable silence.

Then he hefted the giant bag in his arm and put it back on the shelf as if it weighed as much as a pillow. He waited until her hand was withdrawn to pick up the seed for songbirds. The pictures on the bag were familiar.

“…Thank you.” He finally said, and coughed a little. “Is. This good?” He held up the suet in his other hand, the block dwarfed.

Aletta nodded. “Mmhm. Do you have one of the bird feeder thingies? The, um…” She quickly looked around and spotted one of the green metal suet cages further down on the shelf. She retrieved it and brought it back to the stranger, offering it without a second thought. It was so easy to lapse into “introducing alien to Earth” mode.

“You can hang it so the squirrels don’t get it. But they probably will anyway.”

[adreamthatrots]

He stared at it for an uncomfortable length of time before reaching out and taking it gingerly. It seemed unnecessarily complicated.

“Squirrels. Hm.” He put the cage and the suet block on top of his new bag of seed, balancing them carefully. Cathal didn’t care if squirrels ate some too. But she seemed to know more than he did.

Another long moment of stony silence passed in which he did nothing but stare down at Aletta, head tilted to one side.

“Do you. Work here?” He rasped finally.

adreamthatrots​:

Cathal followed her hand with his eyes as she touched the different bags. It was easier than looking at her face.

For a moment he stood there in complete and inscrutable silence.

Then he hefted the giant bag in his arm and put it back on the shelf as if it weighed as much as a pillow. He waited until her hand was withdrawn to pick up the seed for songbirds. The pictures on the bag were familiar.

“…Thank you.” He finally said, and coughed a little. “Is. This good?” He held up the suet in his other hand, the block dwarfed.

Aletta nodded. “Mmhm. Do you have one of the bird feeder thingies? The, um…” She quickly looked around and spotted one of the green metal suet cages further down on the shelf. She retrieved it and brought it back to the stranger, offering it without a second thought. It was so easy to lapse into “introducing alien to Earth” mode.

“You can hang it so the squirrels don’t get it. But they probably will anyway.”