(Hey guys! Back with another chapter! I'm glad that the last chapter actually got reads! I, thought I messed up a bit in the last chapter. I might've, but eh..! Let's get right into this chapter!)
John was completely lost in thought. Where would they go from here..? After Vikkie leaves, what's next? Do they find a way to the surface? That's about the only option left, all things considered.
Serana noticed him lost in thought, tempted to grab his hand. She wanted the Warmth, but. The look on his face... She wanted to cheer him up more than the Warmth. "...You alright, John?"
He snapped clean out of his thoughts, looking over at her. "Huh? O-Oh, yeah just. Thinking, is all... I'm fine." Serana stared at him, feeling both the tension and the vibe he was giving off. She figured. No, she knew, that something was wrong... "Is it the fact I, said I love you..? Was it too soon?"
He raised an eyebrow, shaking his head. "Wha-no, no! Not even close, I'm flattered if anything..! And somewhat relieved, but it's not that. It's, something else just. Please stop guessing. Don't worry."
Serana tilted her head a bit. "Is it not what people do in relationships..? I thought they worried about each other."
He choked on air. "R-Relationship..?! U-Uhm, I. I-I Wouldn't. I. Uhm." He was completely at a loss for words. Relationship..?! He still didn't know how he felt about her..! Or what he felt..!
Serana noticed him at a loss for words, tilting her head more. She did not understand why he was so choked up... Was that too soon? "...Don't, you like me?"
He blinked a couple times. "Uh, can. I answer it later?" Serana straightened her head, shaking her head slowly. "Please, don't lie to me... I want to know. Truthfully."
He sighed heavily, noticing Victoria a lot less. Giddy, than she was... He wanted to help her, but. He didn't want to ignore Serana either, despite his nerves screaming at him to. "U-Uh, yeah. I, suppose I do in a way. But I, wouldn't put a label on us, I'm still unsure how-"
Serana stopped, hugging him tightly, but not too tightly so he stops breathing. She knew that limit. "Thank you..! Thank you so much!"
He blinked a couple times, unsure what to do. "Uh, I. O-Okay..? Anytime, I suppose. Can, we focus on walking?" Serana hesitantly let go, somewhat disappointed he didn't hug her back. Did she do something wrong..? Maybe it had to be private... She'd hug him after danger.
But she did feel the Warmth again. That was worth something... She thoroughly enjoyed the warmth. She was addicted, almost. "Right... Good call."
He nodded slightly, starting walking again while Serana followed alongside him, staring at his arm. She wanted to hold onto his arm. Or at least do something people in relationships usually do... She tried to remember what they did. She barely had any experience besides watching.
She never even kissed before in her life. He was her first relationship. Her protector. Her Warmth. Her Charge... She wouldn't lose him. Not if she could help it.
"...Wait. Uh, slight problem. Found a Vent, but also found. Something worse." John pointed to a vent, that was currently occupied by a Big Daddy. Bouncer Big Daddy, to be precise. Must be an old-ish model. It had a permanently-fixed drill.
John made a green ball appear in his hand, his hypnotize plasmid. He called it the Big Daddy Calming Plasmid, personally. "Serana, watch Vikkie. I'll handle Bubbles."
Victoria got excited, whipping her head towards the Bouncer. "...That's not my Mister Bubbles! That's my sisters Mister Bubbles!" She giggled.
The Big Daddy whipped around, seeing Victoria. He turned to John, letting out a roar and charging at John, drill ready.
Serana screeched, about to leap at the Big Daddy before John stopped her, grabbing her hand. "Hold it. I don't want to accidentally hit you. I dunno what it would do to you..."
Serana knew perfectly well that it would only enrage her more, causing her to lash out at anyone near her. Including John... She didn't want him to come to harm. She intertwined her fingers with his hand. "O-Okay..."
John flinched at her gesture, confused by it but ignored it, throwing the ball as hard as he can.
The ball smacked right into the Big Daddy's helmet, causing him to skid to a halt, the drill inches away from John. The Big Daddy's helmet glowed a calm green color as it relaxed, lowering the drill, awaiting instructions.
John let out an internal breath of relief, resisting the urge to pass out as he straightened himself. "Now, Big Boy... Walk past us, the way we came. Do not stop walking until I tell you to, or you grow tired. Do not return until asked to by me. Do you understand?"
The Big Daddy groaned in reply, thudding off, following the directions he was given. Victoria was hiding behind Serana as she poked her head out. "Did I, do a bad..?"
John shook his head, ruffling her hair, putting his plasmid away. "No, no, no..! You could never do a bad!" He laughed quietly. "It wasn't your fault..! It was just." He stopped, his smile fading. "...Come on. Let's get you back."
Serana smiled at his laugh. She liked hearing him happy. Until he stopped. Did, he know something? She was curious, but didn't want to ask, so she kept her mouth shut, nodding a bit. "Yes. Let's..." She said somewhat sullenly.
He glanced over at Serana, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "It's fine, I'll explain la-" A bullet whizzed past him as he instinctively fired electricity from his hand at the assailant.
The lady dropped the revolver, falling onto the ground from the shock. (Ha! Get it, it's. Sorry...)
He realized his mistake, doing a Poker-Face. "Oh, fuck..! Apologies miss! You alright?!" Serana's helmet glowed a somewhat-reddish green, ready for anything.
The lady's head shot up. She, didn't look half-bad. Ish. Then again, John only ever saw Little Sisters and Serana for about thirteen years, so he had barely any comparison. Nothing could compare to Serana, tho-
The Lady narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll live... I, suppose I should congratulate you on your instincts, though. Apologies for shooting at you, I thought you were another Splicer after the Little One there." She had a thick German Accent.
John spoke German himself, as well as many other languages from reading books he found, but didn't want to seem like he was flirting. He had a feeling that was a terrible idea... She did nearly blow his brains out, after all.
The Lady noticed Serana's helmet color, somewhat surprised. "...How is your helmet color changed?"
John looked over at Serana, noticing the color was a green-ish... He, never noticed that. Well, at least before... Has she always been able to do that?
Serana's helmet went back to red, glaring daggers at the Lady under her helmet, wanting to extend her harpoon on her right hand, but that would impale John's hand, which she was still holding. She suddenly felt rage flow through her. She didn't know why, but. The Lady was, familiar... In a way.
"Wouldn't you like to know." She said bluntly, almost. Mechanical... Devoid of emotion. Not the Serana John knew. Not by a long-shot...
(Aand that ends this chapter here..! This might be my longest chapter yet! Not in general, just a new record in this story for me to accidentally beat aga-They're still holding hands..?! Anyways, I'll! See you guys in the next one!)