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#lob 4
pesterloglog · 5 months
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Karkat Vantas, Meenah Peixes, Sollux Captor, Lob 4, Ter 2
Page 621-625
KARKAT: ALRIGHT, COMPANIES 1 THROUGH 3 ARE IN PLACE.
KARKAT: 4 THROUGH 6 ARE EN ROUTE.
KARKAT: ... DRONE FLEET IS FINALLY LOOKING READY TO DEPLOY, THANK FUCK.
MEENAH: hey karkat
KARKAT: INFOSEC MANAGED TO FEND OFF ANOTHER CROCKERCORP HACK BUT THEY PROBABLY GOT ACCESS TO SOME LIMITED INTEL, WE SHOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND.
MEENAH: karkat
KARKAT: SECURITY BACK AT THE COMPOUND IS GIVING THE ALL-CLEAR; DOESN'T LOOK LIKE JANE HAS DESIGNS ON HQ. SINGLE-MINDED AS ALWAYS.
MEENAH: KARKAT
KARKAT: WHAT.
MEENAH: krillax
KARKAT: NOT REALLY AN IDEAL TIME FOR THAT, ON ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE PROBABLY HOURS AWAY FROM THE MOST CRITICAL ARMED ENGAGEMENT THE REBELLION IS LIKELY TO SEE.
MEENAH: it hasnt been an ideel time for like 6 sweeps
MEENAH: you need to take a breatht-stroke
KARKAT: ... HAHAHA, WHAT?
MEENAH: you know what i mean
MEENAH: youve been runnin yourshellf into the fuckin dirt for ages
MEENAH: take a you moment
KARKAT: MEENAH, THIS IS THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME TO TAKE A ME MOMENT.
MEENAH: actually in like a day or so were either gonna be tridentumphant and busy as fuck or dead in the water so its like the best possible time all fins considered
MEENAH: youve been out on field ops for like a week
MEENAH: maybe i wanna chat with my buoy toy for a lil bit
KARKAT: YEAH, ALRIGHT.
KARKAT: I DUNNO, FUCK. UH... HOW ARE YOU DOING?
MEENAH: how are *you* doin
KARKAT: PRETTY FUCKING STRESSED!
KARKAT: TRYING TO LINE UP THE DOWNFALL OF A NIGH-IMMORTAL TYRANT AND CAPITALIZE ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE ONE SHOT WE'VE GOT AT DEFINITIVELY STICKING IT TO HER WHILE SHE'S GREEDILY OVEREXTENDED, WRANGLE THE REST OF THOSE SIDELINING DO-NOTHING FUCKING IDIOTS INTO ACTION, AND PLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT ON LIKE THREE HOURS OF SLEEP.
KARKAT: ALSO THIS COVERT-OPS SUIT IS TIGHT AS ALL FUCK.
MEENAH: well if its any consolation that may be rough for you but its a pretty great time to be your rear admire-all 38)
KARKAT: MUCH OBLIGED.
KARKAT: ...
KARKAT: SERIOUSLY, MEENAH, I APPRECIATE IT.
KARKAT: IT'S BEEN KIND OF A ROUGH...
KARKAT: DECADE AND A HALF?
KARKAT: BUT THROUGH ALL THE SLOG AND THE SHITTY TIMES AND THE UNCERTAINTY YOU'VE REMAINED REMARKABLY COMMITTED TO THIS.
KARKAT: HELPED ME TURN THIS ABSTRACT, FRUSTRATED DREAM INTO A FUNCTIONING FUCKING REALITY.
KARKAT: YOU NEVER WAVERED.
KARKAT: YOU NEVER FLAKED.
KARKAT: YOU STUCK BY ME.
MEENAH: not like dave huh
KARKAT: WOW, STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.
MEENAH: i mean hey i figured youd wanna glub about it
MEENAH: conchsiderin
KARKAT: SO YOU HEARD THE NEWS?
MEENAH: yeah i mighta been listenin in on your converseation myshellf
MEENAH: along with like half the comms team
MEENAH: you left your mic on
KARKAT: UN
KARKAT: FUCKING
KARKAT: BELIEVABLE.
MEENAH: its all good
MEENAH: actually pretty much everyone ate it up there was like gasps and cheers and occasional applause and shit
MEENAH: not shore if youre aware of this but it turns out people fuckin love you
KARKAT: WELL COLOR ME GLAD MY OPERATIVES FOUND IT INSPIRING THAT I TOOK CRITICAL TIME OUT OF MY MISSION TO PREVENT THE ENTIRE PLANET FROM BACKSLIDING INTO STAGNANT CONFECTIONARY FASCISM TO YELL AT A HAPLESS DIVORCEE.
KARKAT: ANYWAY.
KARKAT: YES.
KARKAT: NOT LIKE DAVE.
MEENAH: how you feelin about that
KARKAT: I DON'T KNOW.
KARKAT: I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, JUST FUCKING...
KARKAT: DISAPPOINTED.
KARKAT: EXHAUSTINGLY, FRUITLESSLY DISAPPOINTED.
KARKAT: WE USED TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER TALKING ABOUT HOW TO FIX SHIT, YOU KNOW?
KARKAT: SPITBALLING ALL THIS FRIVOLOUS AND/OR GRAVELY SERIOUS CONJECTURE ABOUT WHAT TO FUCKING *DO* WITH OURSELVES AND THE WORLD.
KARKAT: AND THEN AS SOON AS IT STARTS REALLY MATTERING, AS SOON AS IT BECOMES CLEAR IT'S TIME TO DO *SOMETHING*, HE JUST WILTS.
KARKAT: THEN HE SPENDS YEARS MILLING FECKLESSLY AROUND IN THAT DOMESTIC TORTURE LABYRINTH OF A RELATIONSHIP
KARKAT: *MARRIES INTO IT*
KARKAT: AND SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDES THAT NOW'S THE BEST TIME TO PLAY SPIES, PRESUMABLY SO HE CAN CONTINUE TO AVOID HAVING MISERABLE MATRIMONIAL PROCREATIVE SEX.
KARKAT: ONLY FOR JADE TO FOLLOW HIM INTO THE CAUSE!
KARKAT: WHICH, YOU KNOW, WAS OBJECTIVELY A PRETTY BIG BOON TO THE REBELLION.
KARKAT: GOOD FOR MORALE, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE INCREDIBLE FIELD AGENTS.
KARKAT: BUT FUCK WAS IT A SAVAGE PAIN IN THE CHUTE.
KARKAT: DO YOU REMEMBER THE PERIOD EARLY ON WHERE I HAD TO ASSIGN ANOTHER CLERK TO MISSION CONTROL WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO MANAGE THE TWO OF THEM SO THEY KEPT THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY UNTIL THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO BE EVEN THE SCANTEST APPROXIMATION OF NORMAL AROUND ME?
KARKAT: THE FACT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY AT ALL IS STILL FUCKING APPALLING.
KARKAT: AND THEN FINALLY, *FINALLY*, WE GET HIM SITUATED, HE'S ACTUALLY MANAGING TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WHO EVEN KNOWS HOW LONG.
KARKAT: AND HE JUST FUCKS OFF AND
KARKAT: AND DIES.
KARKAT: HE JUST CALLS IT THERE.
KARKAT: SO
KARKAT: DISAPPOINTED.
KARKAT: DISAPPOINTED IS HOW I'M FEELING ABOUT THAT.
KARKAT: BUT-
KARKAT: FUCKING- HOLD ON, I NEED TO TAKE THIS.
KARKAT: *WHAT*.
SOLLUX: finally he picks up.
SOLLUX: hey man.
KARKAT: DON'T FUCKING "HEY MAN" ME.
KARKAT: I'M KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF POURING MY PUSHER OUT HERE.
KARKAT: TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FACT THAT I'M ALSO WAGING A WAR FOR THE FATE OF OUR PLANET.
SOLLUX: yeah i can tell.
SOLLUX: there's like a bazillion m0oks swarming ar0und my crib and none 0f the grubereats dudes are accepting orders right n0w.
SOLLUX: probably 0n account 0f your inc0nvenient ass war.
SOLLUX: could y0u pick me something up?
SOLLUX: i'm assuming you're 0n your way.
KARKAT: YOU'RE SUCH A CHUTEHEAD, MAN.
KARKAT: JUST POSTED UP IN YOUR GAMER HOLE DOING WHO THE FUCK KNOWS WHAT WHILE THE REST OF US ARE OUT HERE GRINDING OUR GLOBES TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING.
KARKAT: MAYBE YOU'D GIVE MORE OF A FUCK ABOUT THE REPRODUCTIVE FUTURE OF OUR SPECIES IF ARADIA WAS EVER ACTUALLY THERE LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO GET SOME.
MEENAH: ohhh snapper
KARKAT: ANYWAY YEAH I CAN PROBABLY SWING THAT.
KARKAT: ...
KARKAT: ...
KARKAT: FUCKING HELLO?
SOLLUX: sorry i was gaming.
KARKAT: SHOCKER!
KARKAT: BETTER GET BACK TO IT, THEN, DON'T LET ME KEEP YOU.
KARKAT: I'LL JUST BE OUT HERE FREEDOM FIGHTING AND DEPLETING JANE'S GROUND FORCES SO SHE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER TO STORM THE METEOR AND PUT A SPOON THROUGH YOUR SPINE, OH AND ALSO FERRYING YOU YOUR FUCKING FAST FOOD, I GUESS!
KARKAT: GOOD LUCK!
KARKAT: HOPE YOU GET A HIGH SCORE!
SOLLUX: yeah im kinda in the z0ne right now.
KARKAT: AWESOME.
SOLLUX: hey kk
KARKAT: WHAT.
SOLLUX: are we still friends?
KARKAT: OBVIOUSLY, DIPSHIT!
KARKAT: STAY SAFE, ALRIGHT?
KARKAT: ...
KARKAT: ...
KARKAT: DUDE!
SOLLUX: s0rry im still gaming.
KARKAT: BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOLLUX: alrighty bro g0od talk.
KARKAT: SORRY ABOUT THAT.
KARKAT: AS I WAS SAYING.
KARKAT: YEAH, I'M DISAPPOINTED ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING WITH DAVE WENT DOWN.
KARKAT: BUT TODAY NEEDS TO BE BIGGER THAN THAT.
KARKAT: IT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND WALLOW ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AND WHAT MORE I COULD HAVE DONE FOR ONE PERSON WHEN NOW, MORE THAN EVER, I NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT COULD BE AND WHO'S WITH ME NOW.
KARKAT: WHO I'M DOING ALL OF THIS FOR.
KARKAT: WE'VE BUILT SOMETHING AMAZING TOGETHER, AND IF WE CAN HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER IT'LL HAVE BEEN INCALCULABLY WORTH EVERY OUNCE OF STRUGGLE.
KARKAT: LET'S MAKE IT THROUGH TODAY.
KARKAT: WE MAKE IT THROUGH TODAY, AND WE TAKE TOMORROW INTO OUR OWN HANDS.
KARKAT: AND WE NEVER LET IT GO.
LOB 4: Well said, sir!
KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK.
KARKAT: HOW LONG HAVE YOU ALL BEEN LISTENING?
TER 2: Pretty much since the beginning, sir!
MEENAH: lmao
KARKAT: OKAY.
KARKAT: THEN I HOPE YOU'RE ALL FEELING SUFFICIENTLY FUCKING MOTIVATED, BECAUSE IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO UNTIL TOMORROW!
KARKAT: COMMANDERS HARLEY, MARYAM, AND LALONDE ARE INBOUND, AND NOT LONG AFTER THEY GET HERE THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BATSHIT STUPID!
KARKAT: BUT THINGS HAVE BEEN BATSHIT STUPID FOR A LONG, LONG FUCKING TIME,
KARKAT: SO LET'S DRAG THAT IMPERIOUS CORPORATE BITCH DOWN FROM HER AIRSHIP AND REINTRODUCE A LITTLE NORMALCY!
LOBsTERs: SIR, YES SIR!
KARKAT: MEENAH! ANYTHING TO ADD?
MEENAH: lets get this bread
LOBsTERs: MA'AM, YES MA'AM!
MEENAH: alrighty maggots you heard the boss
MEENAH: target fuckin acquired
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murchellie · 4 months
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✨​Dragon Age: The Veilguard Dragon Age: Veilguard Dragon Age: Veilguard Dragon Age: Veilguard Dragon Age: Veilguard Dragon ageVeilguardDragn aGE VeiLgRIL ✨​
also guys new watermark!!! can't change the @ so I'll sign everything with the new watermark instead ;)
Commissions : Open
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anglespin · 4 months
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DI: You looked like you needed a lift, little guy 💙
6: 🥺
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lobslobslobs · 17 days
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* i thought i had more fun unposted dwtd doodles but these r the only ones worth sharing that i didnt post yet lol
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crossbowtrades · 19 days
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Worldbuilding Q!
Why are Ghast so magic-savvy in this setting? Nothing in-game ties them to magic really. Not even soul shenanigans. They float and spit fireballs and that's what they do mostly.
I know your ghasts are like ghosts. Where does the magic come into play? How?
So in my lore, they're spirits that devour other spirits! A spirit is a soul given more... form? if that makes sense? Kind of like how Allay are Helper spirits, and Vexes are corrupted versions of that. Still helping but its evil. So for Ghasts, they're player/builder spirits! I know in game they don't do much, but i thought it'd be interesting to somewhat explore how 'big' they are, compared to the player :D So When I made Karliah, I made her with that idea in mind- Why are Ghasts big (and can i make a big pretty lady out of one), and how do they get big?
In short, the magic in the other spirits they devour (even brines, which are their 'unevolved forms'), provide the magic that fills them. They devour their kin with a fervor that helps fuel their desire to survive- to come back from the edge of death.
Karliah devoured a LOT of brines and other ghasts.
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adore-gregor · 3 months
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ugh there it goes
#our promotion 😢😢#1st place is gone#today was tough our opponents were all way better than us#we only won 1 match out of 6#now they're leading our league well we should at least win our last matchday and get 2nd place#the no1 seed was in another league from ours 6:0 6:0 altough she's quite a good player at our club#we only won one doubles match altough they were not as good by far as their other players#and all the matches were quite one sided they were also way higher rated than us#i also lost my match 😫 altough it was quite close actually but that is even worse sometimes idk#i certainly could have won idk why i didn't i mean there were not many chances but they were there#i lost 5:7 4:6 ugh 😭#maybe with a better serve i would have won#but i was 5:4 up and i didn't win that point like that's when you have to be there and make it#i think this might just be one of my weaknesses i'm really good at conebacks and believing in that i'll win but i have to be more effective#and 'cold' when it matters sometimes i'm quite wasteful with my chances#i often make the craziest most difficult shots which are 'impossible' to get back but then fail at the easiest one's#especially in the crucial moments maybe i should play it safe more and be more patient#nah but winning that first set would have changed everything because 3rd sets are more likely to be my advantage with my speed and fitness#and in the 2nd i was just always one behind i always caught up but never went ahead#my serve also wasn't really there today and my 2nd serve is still too weak opponents take advantage and if i have a bad 1st serve percentage#like today it makes it difficult to win my own serve and i also made many double faults (4) 😕#i aced her once tho 🤪#but my serves are sometimes great but very inconsistent dependent on the day (the 2nd one always bad)#my backhand also wasn't as good as usualy i hit a lot of them out but it got better altough then i took many with my forehand which worked#and my opponent had riddiculous stops they wouldn't go up the ground again 🫠#and she was so good at net and also whenever i went there she'd pass me or lob me 😅#i gave up doing that very soon my best shot at this was just hitting winners and hitting balls deep to her forehand#i succeeded at that a couple of times but it was not enough#i mean i didn't play badly but what a shame#she was very nice though and very fair it was a pleasant match and she told me she was the best opponent she encountered in the league
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nolliver-sims · 1 year
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dietrich just looks good in every tattoo ever to exist... and i love that for him. so here are some previews of upcoming content!! yay :)
first two are coming out tomorrow and the next one is coming out when i finish editing it... so probably this weekend.
i have some other smaller tattoos planned but right now i am mostly doing a lot of sleeve/torso stuff. the bigger the better <3
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lys-jeorge · 10 months
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killupops · 2 years
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Posting my favorite boy
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ind3cisive-cl0wn · 16 days
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Mavin-- any pronouns
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suboficialflores · 10 months
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Once upon a time I was a Spanish lecturer at a university. They trusted me with 100-300 level classes (lol wild)
Then I was pulled into a Title IX investigation that really had nothing to do with me, and like an idiot I did what I thought was the right thing
If a professor rapes a student and another professor asks you to testify on behalf of the student, you may get fired as retaliation (even though that’s illegal)
Last I knew, the accused professor is still tenured
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jadeneppy · 2 years
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what do yall think of my gay old men
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spark-circuit · 2 years
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girl help i misread the attack :( i thought she was going to shoot the forward laser
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lobslobslobs · 4 months
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* is there a specific name (like how theres a name for fairykin and alienkin and stuff) for like . Youre just . The light (in an ever so slightly divine way) . or is there no name ?. This is me (????)
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darklordofthesimp · 1 year
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Anything VI (König x Reader)
The 6th instalment in the Anything-Verse
Main Masterlist
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 7
Like the characters? Read their fics below!
Sunshine Masterlist || Saint Masterlist
Series Summary:  A lack of information from the chain of command results in König mistaking you for an enemy sniper.
A/N: It’s been a while
Category: Angst || Hurt/Comfort || Unrequited Pining || Tension
Warning: Graphic Language
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The sunrise had become a welcomed sight, it was always something that you craved after a night of fitful sleep. You were never well rested when you opened your eyes but, by God, were you relieved.
However, unlike the hundreds of mornings before, this time you woke up with a pit in your stomach. There was no relief and only a sense of dread as you lay staring at the ceiling. You took in a deep breath. 
The sun crept through the window, reminding you that it was the weekend and that you should be out and about. You'd done plenty of contemplation, wondering about your circumstances every day and every night for over a year. 
You weren't going to solve the mystery in one day. 
Wrong place, wrong time. 
König's words resonated in your ears like nails on a chalkboard. A shiver stroked the length of your spine and the heaviness in your stomach deepened. Since when has that monster been the point of clarity? How is it that he was the one to begin unravelling the string of tragedies you’d been subjected to? 
You sat up sharply, lobbing the blanket away from your body. 
You needed answers and you weren’t going to find them in your bedroom. 
It pained you to leave the safety of your room and it didn’t help that the hallways were colder than usual. The thin hoodie that you’d swaddled yourself in wasn’t doing much against the chill. You grimaced, pulling the fabric closer against your body. Somehow, it always felt like you were making the wrong choices, even with just clothes. 
As you approached the common room you could hear low murmuring. The voices sounded like a buzz, both familiar but one of them entirely unmistakable. His accent gripped you by the throat and you felt your stomach flutter. 
The physical effects of König lingered long after your injuries had healed. 
You stepped into the doorway with a dry throat and shaking hands. Warm light illuminated the room, a singular globe perched above the cheap dining table where two figures sat. 
The low talking came to a halt and your eyes were instantly on König. You took in the way his spine straightened, the way his fingers clenched- it was as if his body was electrified by your presence. You knew too well how it felt, bumps raised along the lengths of your arms and a chill stroked your spine. 
“Birdy,” König’s voice was barely a whisper. You said nothing, only offering a small nod of acknowledgement. 
There’d been a shift between the both of you, tangible and tense. Since your late-night escapade, things had changed- everything was different. There was something different lingering between the two of you, maybe a craving for closure or maybe misguided resentment. You were drawn to him. You needed something from König, something that would fix everything. 
You just couldn't figure out what. 
Perhaps, untangling the web of coincidences and conspiracies would tell you. 
The man took a deep breath and you watched as he forcefully relaxed his body. Those swift and deadly hands unfurled as he leaned back gently into his seat. The picture of nonchalance. 
Liar. 
“Speak of the devil.” 
You dragged your sights to König’s companion and immediately rolled your eyes. 
“Sunshine,” you ground out through clenched teeth. “Never a pleasure.” 
The sniper in question only offered you a wolfish grin, leaning back into their chair arrogantly. They were dressed in sweatpants and a hoodie that clung to their wide shoulders- accenting every inch of mass that they’d carefully built. 
You wished you could say that they were all brawn and no brain, but the irritating creature was as cunning as they were strong. 
“Oh,” Sunshine pouted mockingly, “I haven’t even begun to give you shit yet, you can’t be mad already.”
You glared at them, raising a shaking finger to point. “It’s not even 8 in the morning. Are you capable of shutting up long enough for me to get a coffee?” 
“Uh,” Sunshine pretended to think, “no. But I appreciate the gentle diplomacy. Your character development is astounding.” 
You growled harshly, storming past the snickering cretin and making your way towards the coffee machine. 
“Better buckle up, bitchy buttercup,” Sunshine tossed over their shoulder as they got up from their seat. “Apparently we got company today.” 
You didn’t get a chance to reply before they sauntered out of the room. Unfortunately, the lingering stench of their arrogance didn’t disappear with them. You huffed, smacking the button frustratedly. 
“Company?” You asked. 
“Rank from some elite company. Not sure.” Was the cautious reply. 
You angled yourself so that you had eyes on König, leaning against the bench warily. The sniper remained in his chair, he’d made no move to leave with Sunshine. It seemed he didn’t want to run from you this time and you weren’t planning your great escape just yet. The machine whirred as it dispensed your coffee and you tried to calm your heart rate. The balaclava was still on, leaving only his eyes to decipher his thoughts. 
You hated it.
“We have training this afternoon,” König murmured, dipping his gaze to his hands. 
Take it off. 
You hated when you couldn’t see his face.
“I know,” you rasped. 
Get it off. 
“Do you think you’re up to do some groundwork?” The question was tentative but you couldn’t hear it from the blood rushing in your ears. 
You hated that you were forced to look at nothing but his eyes. 
“I- Uh���” 
Just like that night. 
Get it off.
“I’m not…”
Get off.
The foam cup in your hand crunched as it fell to pieces. The sharp pain of the boiling coffee ripped you from your spiralling thoughts and had you gasping for air instead.
“Birdy!” 
König was on his feet before your name had finished leaving his mouth. Your hand pulsed from the burn, your skin red and raw. He loomed over you, his gaze running up and down your body. A horrid sound pulled from your throat. The man’s fingers were around your wrist, gentle but firm. Unyielding. 
You tugged against him lightly, your chest heaving. The bench pushed into your spine reminding you of your position, trapped between König and a dead end. 
“I’m okay,” you rasped. 
“No,” he said hoarsely, “no, I shouldn’t have pushed it-” 
You couldn’t breathe. His presence was overwhelming, it was staggering- it was all-consuming. 
“Please,” you whispered, lowering your head. Your forehead brushed the hard contour of his chest lightly and you tried to ignore the way he took in a sharp breath. You didn’t mean to touch him, you just didn’t want to look at him- not with that mask. 
You were so sick of being afraid. 
“Please, what?” König murmured, his hands hovering by your shoulders but never touching.  “What do you need, Birdy?” 
“Let me see you,” the words fell from your lips shakily, almost desperate. “The mask, take it off. Please.” 
There was a moment of silence as he processed your request then he swore under his breath. 
“I forgot,” he shook his head, “I’m so sorry. We had an agreement-” 
The words died on his tongue when you tilted your head up to look at him. You were inches apart, the staggering height difference acted like a thin barrier between the two of you. You could taste his stuttered words, you could see the blue flecks within the jade of his eyes. 
Your heart squeezed when they widened. You could hear his breathing pick up and your heart thrummed between your ribs.
You reached upward with shaky hands, the bench pressing harder than ever into your back. 
“Can I-...” Your tongue was heavy and dry like sandpaper. You swallowed thickly. 
“Of course,” König said, voice steady and eyes fixed on yours. 
Your fingers brushed the skin of his neck as you felt for the fabric. He was hot, as though his blood simmered just beneath your touch. You prayed he wouldn’t notice how you shook- you tried to pretend you couldn’t feel him trembling either. 
He was holding his breath, suspended in time like an intricate statue, carved from marble and timeless throughout the ages. A picture of sorrow and angst and stories you weren’t sure you wanted to hear. 
Your journey together had played out like a Greek tragedy. 
But, as the herculean man let you unveil him, you wondered if there could be redemption. 
You wondered if you could both be saved. 
“Well, isn’t this adorable.” 
You jumped back, stabbing pain shooting up the length of your spine like a rocket. You corked yourself against the bench, a jilted gasp ripping from your chest. König’s hand gripped your bicep, holding you upright as the other readjusted his mask.
Your body throbbed as you peered at the entrance through squinted eyes. 
Phillip Graves. 
The man offered a smarmy grin, arms crossed and leaning on the doorframe like he owned the place. 
Bile rose from your stomach to your throat, leaving your fingers scrambling for purchase on the countertop. You steadied yourself as best you could. Nothing was going to prepare you for Phillip Graves but if you could stay upright you’d have a fighting chance of getting through unscathed. 
“It’s been a while.” The Shadow Company commander raised a brow. “Heard you been havin’ a tough time, Birdy.” 
You forced yourself to stay still. König shifted beside you, his body angled in front of yours. Your mouth dried at the protectiveness in his stance, though, it also didn’t go unnoticed by the unwelcome guest. 
Graves raised a brow as he examined you both, pushing off from the door. 
“Now, who’d have thought that you’d both be so…” he pretended to deliberate on a word, “close.” 
Your eyes widened. “We’re not!” 
The urge to slap your hand over your mouth was overwhelming and red-hot shame licked your cheeks. A slow smile spread across his mouth at your desperation. You felt cornered, you felt vulnerable- Graves was the fox making his way through the coop and you were the stupid chicken standing still.
“Oh,” he chuckled, taking slow strides towards the table. “I’m sure, sweetheart.” 
You grit your teeth. 
“And you are?” König growled, his back straightening as he glared down at the smaller man. “I’m afraid I don’t recognise you.” 
You’d almost forgotten he was there. 
For the first time ever, König wasn’t the biggest threat in the room. 
Phillip sighed, unfazed by the clear hostility souring his tone. “I’m here on a task, just thought I’d check in on our injured soldiers.” He paused, deliberating. “Well, that really just leaves us with you.” 
Anger flooded your system as Graves turned on his heel, stretching his arms over his head. He sauntered towards the exit, snickering beneath his breath. “How lovely to see you’re on the mend. Adios.” 
“Yeah, not so broken anymore,” you snapped, unable to stop the words from spilling out. You didn’t want to antagonize him but you also were fully aware that you sounded like an angry high schooler.
“No!” Phillip laughed, offering you a sidelong glance as he paused. “Big boy really did a number on you though. I gotta be honest, I’m surprised you pulled through.” 
You wanted to throw the coffee machine at his head and, judging by the way König’s fists clenched, he did too. 
“It’ll take more than that to kill me,” you ground out through your teeth.
The smile wavered on Grave’s lips and he watched you closely for a long moment. “Noted.” 
Your stomach dropped. 
When he turned around again, you planned to let him leave with the last word. He could take the small win and you’d leave with nothing but churning nausea and anxiety. Graves wasn’t worth the stress, in the grand scheme of things he was insignificant.
Though, the parting words thrown over his shoulder made you question that statement. 
“On that note, General Shephard sends his regards.” 
Graves disappeared into the corridor, taking the last tether to your sanity with him. 
____
“I think something is wrong,” you huffed as you smacked the door open. 
Saint raised a brow, throwing their hands up flippantly. “Oh no,” they rolled their eyes, “please just barge into my office unannounced with vaguely ominous statements.” 
They chucked their phone onto their notebook, crossing their arms when you closed the door behind you. They were irritated and unsettled, it was an unusual mood for the Doctor but you couldn’t find it in you to care.
“This is literally your job,” you sniped, dropping into your designated chair. 
Saint’s jaw dropped. “No, it fucking isn’t!” 
“Listen!” You exclaimed with pleading eyes.  The doctor's mouth closed, resigning to form a displeased scowl instead of words. You knew that Saint hated surprises, that’s where appointments and bookings kept them in control and prepared for the incoming onslaught of issues. 
But this was too urgent to wait for your next meeting. 
“I’m spiralling,” you gasped, running your hand over your face.
“Birdy, I’m sure-“ 
“I think the accident was a set-up.” 
Any words that Saint conjured had guttered out and died. Your hands shook on your face, palms pressed into your cheeks. 
Their eyes flit around the room as if scanning for spyware. You held your breath as the Doctor took a deep one in. 
“Birdy,” they said slowly, leaning their elbows onto their knees. “Are you sure?” 
“Something is wrong, Saint,” you whispered. 
“But,” they raised a brow, “are you sure?”
Your lips trembled and your eyes burned. 
“Yes,” you shuddered. Saint leaned back with a rush of air slipping from their lips. You could see the cogs and gears in their head working to make sense of it, you could see their hesitance to believe you. 
You wouldn’t believe you either, you supposed. Not with your… history. The scars on your face burned at the thought. But, for the first time in a long time, you were confident that you were right.
If you were right it meant that König and yourself were pawns in somebody else’s games. 
It meant that your own people had done this to you. 
It meant that somebody wanted you dead. 
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