"My name is Paz, and I'll do anything to protect my namesake." –Paz Ortega Andrade (1974)
Location: Camp Omega/Cuba
Time/Day: Unknown
Part 2: Help Our Souls...
Paz's P.O.V.
I felt numb, hollow even. Shrouded in nothing but darkness. Was this what death felt like? Free from all the pain and abuse suffered by my captors? If this was death then so be it, it was better than being alive with nothing but war, pain, sadness. 'Pain is an illusion'... lies. Pain wasn't the 'illusion' Peace is an illusion. Etched in people minds giving off false hopes and dreams that the world will change. Pathetic... I continued to float in the infinite space content, until...
"Paz..." a voice resounded. It was so far away, yet I felt unknowingly drawn to it. The voice sounded worried, shocked even. I then watched as an all too familiar scene began play out before me... it was me...and Chico
"Paz?" he asked, hurt in his voice. I didn't care. I watched as I slowly reached for the gun holstered at my side ready to get rid of this nuisance before me. As I watched the scene unfold even though I knew the aforementioned outcome, I couldn't help but hate myself in that particular moment in time. Chico... who at the time in my eyes was without a doubt a kid, he wasn't ready to deal with the horrors of this hate and cold filled world. From what his sister had told me he had been in some close calls, and yes he'd lost his father to war so he knew a little about loss...but he was lucky, he still had his sister, his comrades; I... Cipher saw me as nothing but a pawn for his goals.
At the time though I didn't see it as that, he had blinded me with false love and promises; given me a sense of purpose. I wanted him to know that I was willing to do whatever it took to let him know I was thankful for everything he'd do for me. I was prepared for any confrontation... and yet... Chico, it all came back to him. This kid who I wanted nothing to do with, yet he gravitated toward me anyway. Kid, I knew had a crush on me, whose feelings I refused to acknowledge...this kid who was still in some ways oblivious to the war filled hell he lived in had become...
I continued to watch as I pointed the gun in his face, his body language changed drastically, he was beyond frightened; he looked downright mortified. "P-Paz what are you—" I didn't respond, gun still aimed at Chico... "Paz, Please," he pleaded. A moment of silence filled the room before Chico ultimately ran out of the room and revealed my plan, setting off the chain of events that would lead me to where I was now. Maybe...letting Chico go that day—was in my own way a form of redemption for the pain I would inevitably cause... Or deep down, I'd come to respect Chico...not just as a fellow soldier, but as a friend. He'd always treated me with kindness and here I was treating him like shit. I still don't deserve his kindness, but yet again he shows it to me anyway, even though I've doomed him to a fate worse than death...
he still... no hate, anger, just...
I watched as light began to illuminate the darkness around me, shattering the scene before me. It was then replaced with a different image...
A black and white ball flew in my direction going right through me. "Run Paz! Come on you can do it!" I heard Chico cheerily shout. I looked and saw me running as well as sweating profusely as I ran toward the goal, other members of MSF who'd participated nipping closely at my heels trying to nab the ball. It was that game of Soccer we played at the base. I chuckled slightly at the sight. God, I remember how I thought the game was stupid and how I didn't want to bother getting all dirty and sweaty. Yet, once again I'd been persuaded by Chico to come and play and I once again found it hard to say 'no'. To be honest though, I was happy I didn't say 'no' because I ultimately ending up enjoying myself, all because of Chico...
My eyes fluttered open slightly as I felt light hit my eyes. Dust particles slowly floating in front of me as I stared at a concrete slab, from what I could guess it must have been early morning. I heard the jingle of chains as I tried to move my now numb wrists meaning I was still chained up. Excruciating pain ricocheted throughout my body causing me to flinch in pain at any slight movement I made.
I once again, refused to talk and Skull Face decided that physical abuse was being too lenient and that "breaking me" would require more extreme measures... by the end I'd become numb, it was the best way to block out not only the pain, but to keep my sanity intact as they continued to penetrate me over and over and over to the point where I could barely keep up right and remain conscious. I was pretty sure that my insides were completely shredded. The last thing I remembered thinking clearly though, was being grateful that Chico wasn't there to see, before I ended up drifting off into unconsciousness.
I then heard footsteps shuffling across the floor coming in my direction. I saw a guard with a gun strapped to his back holding a pair of keys meaning they were going to release me. I knew this break from the pain was only temporary, but god did I want to relish it for as long as I could. The guard unlocked the gate and silently make his way over to me and unlocked the chains.
I dropped to the concrete floor with a sickening 'thud' my ribs still sore from my last round of 'tell or torcher' I felt cold and clammy hands wrap around my waist and roughly slung me over their shoulder. In doing so, my ribs collided with his shoulder blade causing me to release a small cry of pain. "Quiet, you little shit!" the guard spat as her carried me through the cold building and into the piercing bright sunlight. I had to squint my eyes just so I could bare it. I listened intently as the sound of the guard's footsteps shifted from solid concrete to gravel and dirt, signaling I was get closer to my "home" if I could call it that.
I heard to sound of a rusty gate being pried open and knew what would happen next, so I sucked up as much air into my lungs as possible without trying to cause too much pain as well as trying to cushion the blow from the pain that was about to come. As I was roughly tossed into the cage, the air in my lungs escaped too quickly, so as I hit the cold metal of the cage, the pain I had tried to ease, instead came full force, ricocheting through my body without mercy.
I let out a loud cry of pain. Sadly waking the young sleep boy beside me. I really didn't need—no, I didn't want him to see me in pain, but it seem I wouldn't get my wish this go around.
Chico's P.O.V.
I heard a somewhat loud cry of pain waking me from my sleep. As I opened my eyes, I felt sheer anger swell up inside me. Paz was curled up into a ball, doubled over in pain. "P-Paz, what did they—"
"Don't. I-I'm alright," she said, her voice barely audible. "But, Paz..."
"I-I just..." Paz's half lidded cerulean eyes focused on me. "C-Chico, will you hold my hand, please? I-it'll make me feel better."
I felt my cheeks heat up slightly at the request. I saw Paz weakly make her way over to me, hand out stretched toward me. In that moment the bars of our cages that separated us seemed nonexistent. "P-please," she pleaded. I felt my heart breaking. As I my fingers grazed Pazs' fingers, I flinched withdrawing them slightly. Her skin felt cold, colder than a normal human's should be. Now that I looked at her, she wasn't the Paz I met a year ago. She was breaking. Fuck them, every last one. I clasped her hand hoping, praying with every fiber of my being I could provide her with any warmth I could accumulate from my hands. "C-Chico," her tired voice called out my name. "Yes?"
"I-I don't understand. W-why do... care for me so much. I've done nothing but hurt you, and I'll do nothing but continuously hurt you—and yet you..."
I let Paz's words linger before I replied. "Y-you just don't get it do you."
"I-I..."
"No!" The pitch in my voice rose causing Paz to flinch. Seeing her flinch I lowered my voice. "P-Paz, like I told you before, what you did hurt, but I don't care what you done. What matters to me is what happens to you now. I-I can't take seeing you like this, all broken and beaten. I would gladly change places, if I meant I'd be the one to bare your pain." Whether Paz believed my words was up her, but from the bottom of my heart I meant every word. "No, Chico. E-everyone in life has their own crosses to bare, a-and no matter how painful mine maybe, I will bare it. Not you, so please, for me don't ever feel the need to shelter my burden." 'T-those...fuckers. I hope they all rot in the deepest pits of hell.' I looked down at Paz, her eyes were closed and chest was slowly rising and falling. I couldn't tell if she was sleeping or not, but she once again had this look of contentment on her face.
I watched Pazs' chest rise and fall, my hand still softly clasping hers, letting her know I was still and no matter what I'd always would be. I felt my eyes slowly drooping. I was about to let sleep take hold, when Paz's voice startled me.
She must have thought I was asleep, because her voice was quite soft and hard to hear.
"Y-you may not think it, but what happens to you Chico, I-is very important to me, too. So if I don't make it... you have to, please," she pleaded. I felt her give my hand a soft squeeze. As I listened to Pazs' plea, I realized that she was wrong. I wasn't the only one going to make it alive, I may just be a kid to her, but I refused to let her die here, in this shithole of place knowing only pain and suffering. Paz may have played us like fools, but even still... People weren't made perfect, we all have moments in our lives that we wish we could take back; moments we regret. And even if Snake or Commander Miller refused to find the good in her or refused to believe she has any.
I would try my damn near hardest to make them see it. Everything Paz had said, I knew she meant from the deepest part of her heart. A small smile grazed my lips as I my eye lids got heavy and sleep engulfed me.
I'd make them!
Paz's P.O.V.
I was engulfed in nothing but cold...
Warmth...
Oh, how I needed it...
Craved it...
And yet, it never seemed to come.
I tried to curl up as much as I could to retain heat, but to no avail. The cold snaking it way through my body, chilling both my skin and bones. The only part of me that seemed unaffected by the unrelenting and endless cold was my mind, leaving me in the company of my memories and thoughts which was both calming and frightening at the same time.
All the good moments... teaching Cecile how to make Gallo Pinto with Amanda, learning to fish with Chico and the other MSF members, playing Soccer, Naming Nuke... All the bad moments... ZEKE, lying, Cipher, Coldman, KGB, Mommy and Papa... All rushing through my head like a freight train.
I couldn't take it, the pain and suffering. I just wanted to be free of it all... So much for 'crosses to bare' Chico was right, I was breaking. My will to live dwindling with each passing day, minute, hour and second.
Stop! Please, anything, anyone. Let it stop!
As if my prayers were answered, I felt a warmness envelop my body. The cold now nonexistent.
It's alright, Paz
I heard a soothing voice say, the pain slowly ebbing away.
All the suffering and pain you've had to endure, the betrayal and lies. You feel as if you're alone and have no one to rely on and this scares you doesn't it. You asked to die, but you really don't want to...do you?
...I...
You can try to lie to yourself, but whenever you feel like giving you're always giving hope by someone that cares for you very much. More than anyone's ever care for you am I right?
...
And you care for them just as much don't you? You mind may be able to make up excuses, but your heart can't.
I...I don't.
Lying to me does nothing, I am just an extension of your mind helping keep out the pain. I already know how you feel.
C-Chico...
The warmth that once enveloped me slowly began to dissipate, cold rushing and encasing my body waking me from my slumber. My eyes were half lidded, I was met with a site that melted my heart as well as made me realize how unfair I was being relying on him like this.
He was still holding onto my hand, his fingers now entwined in mine 'he really dose...'
He looked so calm and peaceful. As happy that made me feel know I was that caused someone to feel this way...I also hated myself for this. This needed to stop, I couldn't have him cling onto false hope like this, I knew all too well what that was like, creating more hope to only have it crushed, I'd break him in more ways than one, I couldn't deal with seeing him hurt. In a situation like this what I was going to do may be heartless and wrong, and he may hate me, but I'd rather him hate and despise me than love someone as cold and broken as I was.
As I was about to go back to sleep, I heard a 'clicking' noise I looked down and saw it was Chico's tape recorder, if I going to try an cut all ties with Chico, this would probably be my only chance for the truth to come to light. I slowly untwined my fingers from Chico's and reached my way through the bars and grabbed the tape recorder. From what I could tell it didn't seemed to be recording or playing anything, so... I took a deep breath before pressing the 'record' button.
Chico's P.O.V.
The extremely bright sunlight hit my eyes waking me up from my sleep. The first thing I noticed was that Paz wasn't anywhere to be seen, meaning they were helplessly torturing her once again. 'Fuck!' I told her I'd cared about what happened to her and here I was absolute powerless to do anything. All I could do now hope and pray that her bruises weren't as bad as they were last time.
As I sat there in my cage day after day like a wounded animal I constantly kept asking myself "What would snake do?" like I was trying to delude myself that everything I'd being going through had been just a dream; a fabrication. Yet—every time Paz comes back with more bruises and scars that seem worse than the last, reality seems to come crashing down on me faster than I can handle. The reality I tried to ignore time and time again with positive words, but is continuously staring me in the face every minute of every hour of every day I wake up in this hellhole.
Snake isn't coming, no is coming to save us.
Paz finally came back after what felt like hours with her right eye swollen shut, a busted lip and what looked like purplish bruises on her left arm. She also seemed to be in extreme pain and shaking. "Paz what—"
"I don't want to talk about it, in fact I want you just leave me alone, no more talking to me alright?" She said, her voice hoarse, but serious.
"But, Paz why? I don't—"
"Enough! I-I'm in a lot of – pain right now, and I really just want to sleep now, so if you don't mind..."
"...Oh, alright. I-I'll leave you alone Paz, I just thought—"
"Well you thought wrong!" she snapped.
I watched with worried and pained eyes as Paz struggled to sit down, her face scrunched up in extreme pain. Part me wanted to comfort her, but part of me also knew that I should just leave her be like she asked me to. I wasn't sure as to why Paz was acting cold towards me, but whatever it was, whatever I did I was sorry.
That night as I laid down on the cold metal floor of my cage with my earbuds in my ear listening to "Here's to you" trying to lull myself to sleep I swore I could hear the faint sounds of crying.
Day after day Paz's cold attitude toward me remained, it even intensified whenever I tried to asked if she was alright or if there was anything I could to comfort her, she either didn't reply or when she did she snapped at me. It got to the point where she just stopped acknowledging me all together.
It was as if all those moments we had spent here had amounted to nothing more than...lies. Had I been wrong about Paz? Or maybe I had deluded myself into what I wanted to hear from her. I looked over at Paz' sleeping body her swelling from her eye seemed to be going down and her busted lip didn't seem as bad as before. I just wish – no! Enough was enough. If she wanted to be cold and not give a shit anymore, then fine. See if I care, whatever happens is all on her, fuck it.
Paz's P.O.V.
It hurt, oh god how it hurt being this cruel and cold to someone cared so much for me. And yet that was why I being this way, because I cared just as much. Everyday he'd ask me if I was alright or try and comfort me, but I continued to push him away, it got to a point where I couldn't even look him in the eyes because I knew how much I was hurting him.
As I laid down that night, my eye still slightly swollen and my lip still hurt from the beatings, my conversation with Skull Face earlier was festering in my mind like a tumor.
"Paz, my dear – or would you rather be called Pacifica Ocean?" he said in a mocking tone. He lifted my chin ever so gently forcing me to stare into cold and ruthless burned yellow eyes before I roughly pulled away from his grasp.
"Go fuck yourself, you bastard!" I felt a chill go up my spine as I saw his eyes fill up with slight lust. "As tempting as that might me, I have a feeling you taste a lot better."
"You're sick!"
I watched intently as Skull Face slowly paced back and forth. "Now as much as it pains me to see you in this predicament Paz, I'm sure you realize you've brought this on yourself. We've been going at this for a while now, yet you still refuse to tell us about Cipher whereabouts nor of any information you may have required while on Mother Base. This—" Skull Face stopped pacing and stood in front of me face to face. "Is unacceptable!" I felt two strong blows to my face, one to lips and one to the right side of my face.
I felt blood dripping down my lip and my right eye hurt like shit, I think it was swollen because I could barely keep it open. "If you must know I'm not one for violence nor am I one to condone violence toward women, but you my dear seem to want to do things the hard way." I heard another set of footsteps making their way toward us, as well as the sound of a whip being cracked. If you'd like to make this difficult on yourself be my guest..."
A solider carrying a whip walked inside my confinement. "Sir?" the solider asked. Skull Face just nodded in confirmation. I watched with scared eyes as the solider pulled out the whip from the side of his pocket and with all his might swing the whip on my left arm with on hesitation, causing me to jerk roughly in pain, the chains keeping me chained down rubbing against my still sore wrists.
"Talk, that's all you have to do."
I just gave Skull Face a look of defiance.
"Again." He commanded the solider. Another strong sting rippled through my body, but I still refused to speak.
"Look, all I want to know is... where. Is. Cipher. That's all I need to know."
"Bite me, you piece of shit!"
"No, not the right answer. Again."
Another sting.
Skull Face sighed, annoyance oozing from his voice. "Why do you continue to protect Cipher, hm? What do you gain from keeping him safe? He clearly doesn't seem to give a rats-ass about you enough come and save his precious spy and I think you realized too am I right?" he ran a cold finger down my cheek.
"..."
"And yet, you still want to protect him?"
"..."
Skull Face's eyes were now intently focused on mine. He then bent down to my level his stale and cold breathe on my skin made me squirm. "You know what I think? This isn't just about Cipher anymore is it? Something else also has you not wanting to tell me what I want. You feel that by doing this you're protect them is that it?"
I refused to meet his eyes, pretty much answering his question. "Alright then, I'll make you a deal. I don't need you tell me about Cipher, I have other ways of gathering Intel. Just tell me about any information you may have gathered while on Mother Base, that should be easy enough, right?"
"...I'll tell you. I just need to tell you something every important, lean in close I don't want the solider to hear."
Skull Face did as I asked and leaned in. I took a moment before I spoke, "Fuck. Off. Asshole!" I spat pronouncing every syllable clear as day, making sure he got the hint I wasn't going to squeal anytime soon.
This seemed get Skull face riled up, but he surprisingly didn't retaliate, nor did he have the solider whip me. Instead he was silent for a long moment before getting up. This silence honestly sent chills through my spine like I had never experienced in my life before, it was absolutely terrifying.
"Release her," he commanded the guard. The guard pulled out a pair of keys and begun to unlock the cuffs. I fell on the ground with hard 'thud' causing some air to escape my lungs and cough. "It's the boy isn't?" he asked unexpectedly. I felt my blood run cold all throughout my body. 'No, this is what I didn't want to happen! Please not Chico, anyone but Chico, he's innocent in all this!'
"Don't you DARE go near him!" I threated. This caused Skull Face to smirk. I swore I saw a gleam in his eye as well. "Judging by your reaction I've hit the nail on the head."
"I SWEAR you do anything to him and I won't say shit. Understand?"
This threat seemed to stir a laugh from Skull Face. "Well my dear, you're already not saying anything to begin with. Besides I've read up on him, he was one members of the Resistance as well as a member of MSF, so I'm sure his information on MSF maybe even greater than yours."
"Don't please, he's innocent in all this," I begged. "Poor, poor little Pacifica Ocean now that something she cares for is being involved she suddenly wants to cooperate, hm?" Skull Face once again began to slowly pace back and forth. "Do you remember when I told you that day I'd break you and you laughed it off and called me pathetic?"
"..."
"Pathetic, I've never heard someone use that word to describe someone like myself. The words you seemed to use today seem to fit the bill much more – perfectly don't you think? And yet, "Pathetic" is the word that seems to irk me the most. Why it does I'm not sure, maybe it was the way you said it – or maybe it has to do with the fact that you of all people said it. Either way, it doesn't matter because I'll show you just how pathetic I can be... Take her back to her cell." That was the last thing he said before leaving to god knows where.
"Skull Face!" I screamed hoping to gain his attention, but it was already too late, I sadly made my fate worse, but I had now sealed Chico's as well... Damn it!
I looked over at the sleeping boy across from me. 'Chico, I'm so, so sorry!'
Chico's P.O.V.
The next day I awoke she was once again gone. And yet this time I didn't feel a shred of worry or sadness. I no longer cared.
As the sun went down I realized that she hadn't returned yet, which in all honesty was a bit weird, but again I didn't care. As I sat there staring at nothing, I heard the sound of footsteps making their way toward me. A solider stood in front of me and pulled out a key and begun unlock the door. "Get up, move."
I got up and did what I was told. What was the point of fighting back, it's not like it would change the situation. "Well aren't you luckily, kid. It seems Skull Face has decided to give you a little treat as long as you cooperate with him."
I was kind of surprised that the guard had actually spoke to me, usually they just order me around then when that's done they lead me back to my cage and then that's it. 'A treat? Maybe I'd be able to go home and be with Amanda and forget this ever happened. And I do mean all of it.'
As I followed to solider I noticed that we were heading to that building. As we neared closer to it I could hear blood curdling scream; her screams as well as the sound of a whip. In that moment whatever treat I was being offered, I sure as hell no longer wanted it. I remained still refusing to move causing the solider to turn around and wonder why.
"What's the matter kid? Don't you want your treat?" the solider asked in a mocking tone. I shook my head. "N-No I'm fine. Just take me back to my cage." I tried running back, but the solider grabbed me by the collar of my shirt before I could even take a step. "Sorry Kid, but that's not how this works." I tried squirming out of his grip, but he just too strong.
"L-let go of me you, you bastard!"
"You've got quite mouth on you." He snickered.
"Fuck you!"
As I was dragged through the cold building I was met with a sight that terrified and mortified me. She looked so worn and tired as I watched the guy continually whip her. Why? Why did I have be here to see this? To watch her suffer? I didn't need to care, I didn't want to care...I didn't...I did...I-I—"
"P-Paz!" I cried out her name hoping she could hear me. I saw her head slowly rise a look of pure sadness and regret in her tear filled eyes. "S-Skull Face y-you—!" I watched as a man with what looked like a disfigured face give Paz a hard slap across the face. In that moment I felt so conflicted, I hated her, oh how I hated her after everything... I tried to put her happiness before mine. And how did she repay me? She treated me like shit and didn't care, everything I told her amount to nothing because in the end she didn't care.
So why do I still...? I looked at her, face lacking the light it once held, body looked as though it'd break any moment and yet I...
Everything seemed to move in slow motion at this point as I watched Skull Face raise his hand to once again hit Paz, I felt my body move on its own accord as I stepped in front of Paz forcing Skull Face to have no other option, but to strike me.
"Stop! Can't you see she's had enough! Hit me if you need to, I'll trade places with her if you want, just—"
I felt a strong strike to my face knocking me to the floor. But I refused to stay down and got back up moved right back in front of Paz to only get slapped again. This slap feeling harder than the last. In the end I still moved right in front Paz waiting for another slap, but when it didn't come I was confused.
I looked at him he was staring at me a look of confusion as well as something else I couldn't place. Whatever it was though I didn't like it.
"This is quite pitiful isn't it... having use all this violence just to get information. I've tried so many alternatives, but seems that your "girlfriend" here isn't being so cooperative. Surprisingly enough though during one of our 'causal' conversations I just so happened to mention you and this seemed to cause a change in her."
"P-Please, s-stop! H-he doesn't need to—" was all I could hear Paz muster as she seemed to tired and worn to finish the sentence. This didn't seem to faze Skull Face as he continued on with the conversation as if Paz wasn't even there.
"So I've got a question for you. Do you want her suffering to end?"
"W-what?" I replied taken back by the question.
"Do you want her suffering to end? Answer the question."
"Yes!" I said with no hesitation. "Please, just let her go."
"Alright, I'll let her go... hand him the whip."
A guard came over and handed me the whip he was using on Paz moments ago. I watched as Skull Face began to slowly make his way toward and placed a hand on my shoulder, looking me intently in the eyes. "I'm sure you know that certain things come with a price. If you want her suffering to end, you'll have to make her suffer."
"I-I..."
"Fine then." Skull Face motioned for the guy to take the whip back, but I shook my in defiance. "N-No, I'll...I'll do it." I choked out. "Good. Get her to talk and her pain ends and get your treat. But fail..." I slowly walked over to Paz's seemingly limp body. 'I may hate her for treating me like she is, but that didn't mean I wanted to hurt her, I just wanted answers from her. She may not realize it, but I needed her, I needed her more than she knew. Without her I would've gave in from the start. But being in her presence, knowing she was there no matter how broken she looked or how many scars covered her pale skin—She was there and to me that all mattered.
"I-I can't do it Paz, I'm sorry I—"
"Then you're nothing but a coward!" I couldn't see her face, whether she meant these words I wasn't sure, but they hurt nonetheless. "Running away when it suited you most, never following through! That isn't the mark of solider, you're just a little child pretending to be one so that way you can hide from your problems!"
'A coward?! I was anything but a coward! I care for her and she still...' I could feel the anger building up inside me as I subconsciously raised the whip and struck, a blood curdling scream waking me to my senses. I had stuck Paz in a fit anger. I looked down and saw Paz's back and saw blood staining her shirt. I felt like I was going to be sick.
"Hit her again!" Skull Face commanded, his voice stern. I did as I was told, another scream escaped her lips. "Please Paz, just talk so this can end!" I tried pleading with her, but she refused to. I was told to do it again, so I did. "Paz, why are you doing this to yourself? Just tell him what he wants!" I tried again, but she still remained silent. This went on for what felt like minutes at a time, to the point where Skull Face was fed up.
"Enough!" he called, I looked over at him with scared eyes. I'd failed meaning Paz's suffering would continue because I fucked up. He walked up to me with an unreadable expression on his face. "It seems you didn't get the results you hoped, but you know what I've decided after seeing you struggle so hard to give you that treat I've been so helplessly teasing you with."
"Have you ever been curious as to what a women tastes like? It's said that each women has a different taste." Skull Face walked up to me slowly and whispered into my ear. "So the question is...what will she'll taste like— will she taste sweet or sour?"
In that moment, the world seemed to stop and I felt bile building up in my throat, h-he was asking me to... "N-No! I-I won't. I've had enough, so don't ask me to, please," I pleaded. "You don't seem to understand I won't take..." I let out a loud cry of pain as I felt a sharp needle pierce my skin. He let it linger there for a moment or two, before slowly pulling it out twisting it has he did so, causing another pain cry to escape my lips has he did so. "No, for an answer. Do it or..." I watched with scared eyes as he slowly twirled bloody needle in between his fingers. "N-No!" I declared, still refusing. I began to slowly back hoping at least put a little distance between us. "I-I can't, I won't..."
"N-No! Stop!" I heard Paz yell, stopping both Skull Face and I in our tracks. "C-Chico, l-look at me." I heard her ask in a hoarse voice, but I refused to listen. But she also refused to given until she got my attention. "Chico, I need you to look at me, p-please!" She sounded on the verge of tears. In the end, I gave in and looked at her, tears pouring down her cheeks, a small reassuring smile on her face. Seeing her smile like that made me feel sick. 'S-she...N-no. Please, Paz. D-don't...'
"I'll be alright Chico, it's ok..."
Paz's P.O.V.
"OK" that word meant nothing, it never did. We were instruments and victims of war, so things like "Hope" would've foreign concepts, to me in the past at least. But now... I feel as though no matter what happens, no matter how bad, it helps to hold on to a little bit of hope. I slowly looked at the cage next me, the roles seemed to reverse. He hadn't said anything for three day, hell he wouldn't even look at me, ironic, if not also sad. I hadn't wanted any of this to happen and yet... apparently during the second day, he had finally broken down and told everything he knew about MSF and as a gift Skull Face let me stay here until I was "Needed" an It's been silent since then... being surrounded by nothing but silence, it hurt.
I want—no, I need to hear his voice. I needed to know if he was there, the one who had kept me sane and gave me hope was still "there" even after everything that's happened. "C-Chico?" I called, but he didn't respond, instead he just hugged his knees further into his chest. I refused to give up though, he hadn't given up on me so I wouldn't on him. "Listen...Chico. I know—I know you don't want to speak or look at me, but please..."
"O-Oh, so now you want to talk to me? W-Why?"
"B-because I—"
"You care? After you shut me out. You think that after everything will just go back to the way it was? I tried, oh how I tried so hard to hate you. After everything that had happened i-it was as if none of that mattered to you, does it still?"
'More than you know' I wanted to respond, Oh how I did, but the words just wouldn't come. I watched with silence as Chico clenched his fist and continued. "I thought maybe, by hating you, just maybe... e-everything—" he paused. "Maybe these...feelings would I-I don't know... would go away and it would hurt less. But instead they just, seeing you like that... it made me realize how much you mattered and how much I wanted your suffering to end. You'd become my light in his never ending hellhole and if nothing else Paz, I want to 'Thank You', because without you I—"
I hadn't realized it, but tears we're slowly falling down my cheeks. "C-Chico, I—could you come here for a moment?" I asked in a soft voice. He looked at me hesitantly before he made his way over. "OK, now close your eyes..." he did as he was told and as I leaned into kiss him, he ultimately pushed me away. "No! I—I don't want this!" he said, tears now falling down his cheeks. "I-I can't do this, please—" he may be talking to me and venting, but ultimately he was still broken, just as I was. So no amount of that type intimacy could fix what we've been through, both mentally and physically. It would take time and honestly that was alright. "I-I'm sorry Chico, I just thought..." Chico didn't respond, he just turned away and once again clutched his knees to his chest, refusing to look at me again.
After a moment I decided to try something different. I slowly, but hesitantly wrapped my arms around him and tried to the best of my ability to pull him into a hug. "Is this alright? It said hugs help in even the worst of situations," I said trying to lighten the mood. I saw and small smile make its way on to his face. I felt him relax in my arms.
"If only things could've been different... You were right I am a coward. If I'd stopped you that day at the base myself, even you'd shot me I'd at least would've done something instead of running away."
"... You're not a coward, you're strong more than you realize. The things you've done 'for me' I'm sure not even the strongest of soldiers could deal with, but no matter how tough things seemed, you're still here and alive."
I then felt tears wetting my hands.
"I-I just want to go home... back to my sister, but—"
"Snake, will come, if not for me, than for you I know that. 'So don't give up hope, that's something that you taught me.' No matter, what happens I need you to believe that for me alright?"
"Ok, Paz. I will, I promise."
A moment like this, no matter how small it was what I wouldn't give to stay just like this. But even I knew this would only be short lived, but I would treasure it for as long as I lived.
Chico's P.O.V.
"Paz!" I cried out through cold tears. "S-Stop, you're going to kill her!" I yelled trying to fight the hold of one of the soldiers that was currently holding me back. After hours of horrid screaming Paz's screams became nonexistent, she longer even jerked at the pain. Her body seemed as still as ice. There was no way she was dead, right? I know she'd done things that not even she was proud of, but not even she deserved to die.
"P-Paz, can you hear me?" I asked desperately, hoping to receive a respond. But nothing came, not even a stir. 'Please, Paz, you can't leave me!' Everything around me had stopped, I collapsed onto the ground in a fit of tears not even realizing that I was being dragged back to my cage until I felt the cold metal beneath my feet.
She was dead...
Paz was dead...
Dead...
I slowly looked over in the now empty cage more tears made their way down cheeks as I continued to cry until I fell asleep. Sadly I wasn't allowed to grieve long, because when I awoke I was strapped down to a metal table. 'W-what the hell is—?!' I thrashed around trying to get loose of my restraints, but I was tied down tight. I looked over and saw a cart with a on it tray that seemed to have a set of tools and what looked like little screws. Something deep inside me told me that this would be my last stand, Paz had been dealt with and now it was my turn.
A few minutes later I heard a pair of footstep heading my way. A guy with a lab coat walked into the room, his face seemed unreadable. He however seemed surprised that I was awake. "Ah, this is quite unexpected, it seems we'll have to rectify that." He pulled the cart closer to him and grabbed what looked like a syringe. I felt my blood run cold as he moved it closer toward my skin.
"W-what are you doing?" I asked, fear clear in my voice. "Don't worry, it's just a contingency plan to make sure you'd don't get any idea about leaving. However, seeing as you're friend had a very uneventful end, it's unlikely that you'll think of trying anything, but you can never be too careful. Don't worry I promise you won't feel a thing."
"P-Please you don't have—" I felt the needle pierce my skin. "I'm sorry, kid, but it's just a job... sweet dreams..." were the last words I heard as the contents of the syringe entered my blood stream and everything around me went dark...
I was sure how long I was out, but when I woke I felt a searing pain in the lower part of my feet. I slowly looked down at my feet and saw metal screws bolted into my skin. I tried to stand, but my legs refused to obey me. "C'mon Damnit, move!" I tried, but it was just too painful. He'd won, we were forced to play his sick and fucked up game and we ultimately loss.
"If...only things had been different... right Paz?"
Paz's P.O.V.
'If only things had been different... right Chico?'
Part 2: End
A/N: Well here's part 2 of my Here's to you three-shot, only one part to go! I really want to thank everyone who has fav'd or followed or even reviewed. I never expected in a million years to get all this positive feedback on this considering when I made this story I was a bit hesitant to post this knowing how people can get kind of pissy when it a fandom they enjoy! But ultimately I'm pretty happy at how this turned out and even when this story is done, I'll be making more Chico x Paz stories., so watch out for those and once again thanks for all the amazing support and catch you all next time :D