Raiders were usually nothing, but there had been a lot. Charon had seen them way before Kate or James had, but the raiders had still gotten the jump on them. Kate had been the most taken back, and she froze right as several of the raiders shot gun shells were hurling towards her. Charon saw and didn't even think twice, he lunged out in front of her. The bullet hit him on the right side, below his rib cage. Another tears through his calve on the same side. He feels the last bullet hit him again below the rib cage. It hurt like hell, but he couldn't let it hit her. He wouldn't lose the one thing he cared about. Especially not over some fucking raider. Charon took the shots and turned to shoot the raider they had came from in the head. He scanned the area to make sure every other raider was dead. Then he heard Kate, "Charon!" She shrieked, "You're bleeding!" Charon turned to face her, tears rolling down her cheeks. Its hard to look at her, but he forces himself to check her over for injuries. He was happy to find none of the bullets hit her. He sighed in relief. Charon looked down at the wounds and winced. It did look pretty bad, three holes all bleeding. But Charon was pretty tough, it didn't hurt as much as it would have hurt her. Charon looked back behind him to see James running up to them. "What's wrong?" He said frantically. Kate pointed at Charon, she looked both sad and angry now, "Charon…Charon's been shot!" And in the same moment she speaks, Charon sees that she's realized exactly what happened. James hurries over to Charon and begins examining the wounds as best as he can. He watches as the distress in her eyes is replaced by anger. "Don't be mad. "He says, keeping his voice sweet. Her brow furrows and it too late, "You got hurt because of me! That bullet was supposed to hit me, not you!" Charon swears she sounds like she wanted to get shot. Even though he knows she just being protective and emotional. "Its…actually several bullets." James corrects, and Charon wished he hadn't. Her eyes grow extremely wide and she looks as if she'll pass out. James looks up at Charon, "You stepped out in front of her?" He asks, his voice kinder than Kate's at the moment. Charon simply nods, and James smiles slightly. At least someone is happy with him. James turns to Kate, "Honey, Charon probably saved-" She's blind with rage and sobbing, "Don't you dare encourage him! Charon could die!" Her face goes white, "Oh god…we have to get out of here. We have to get the bullets out!" James sighs, "The bullets seems to still be completely intact, so that's good. But we do need to find some place where I can remove them." Charon shakes his head and tries to ignore the pain as it worsens. He looks over at Kate, but it only makes it worse. She looks like she hates him, and she's crying. Charon has always detested each time she's cried, it hurts him as much as having 100 bullets in him would. But she's never looked at him with this much anger. Sure, when they fight, her face will get red and she will give him the worst look of disappointment, but she's never looked at him this strongly. It makes Charon want to be sick.
Underworld Is surprisingly the closest and friendliest option for them. So that's where they head. With every step the pain increases, but Charon is now chugging down a bottle of Whisky. He knows he'll need it like hell when James takes the bullets out. Charon also needs something to distract him from Kate's anger. Even though it hurts, he knows what have happened if he hadn't done what he did. The bullets hit him low, but Kate is much shorter than him. At least one of those shots would have probably hit her heart. The thought makes him wince, and he drinks more. Shes still pouting, arms crossing as she trudges ahead of Charon. Despite that he knows she's worried, because she keeps glancing back at him. Except every time their eyes meet she turns away again. Charon sighs and decides to try to catch up with her. Even though hes now right beside her, she still wont look at him. Charon sighs, "You know I couldn't let you get hurt." He whispers. Why can't she understand that? She's always known that he would do anything to protect her, she is his life. Charon would walk out in front of a hundred firing raiders if it meant she'd be safe. He reaches down and tries to put his hand on her shoulder, but she shakes him off, tears welling up in her eyes. Kate knows hes right, he can see that. This wasn't the first time Charon had put himself in danger in order to keep her safe, but it had never been so out-right. He had never pushed his body in front of hers in order to take a bullet meant for her, let alone three. Charon bites his lip and focuses on James walking ahead of them. He hopes they get to Underworld soon.
Kate feels completely sick. Like she's been out drinking all night and needs to throw up. But instead its because the person she cares for most is limping his way to Underworld. All because of her. She should have been the one to take those bullets, not him. And while she didn't have a death wish, she would have preferred Charon didn't get hurt. Kate knows he's tough, but the sight of him makes her want to cry. She knows she's hurting his feelings, but she can't help but be angry. He's not supposed to try to get himself killed over her. Kate quickens her pace; they need to get to Underworld faster.
AN: Thanks for reading :) I just love writing FLW/Charon/James as a family unit. Its so cute, so inaccurate but cute.