To the Darkest of Nights We Go
~Dystopian AU ~
Chapter 28
Written By: RinoaDestiny
King of Fighters, Chizuru Kagura, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Blue Mary, Rock Howard, and Joe Higashi all belong to SNK
Rock wanted to remove his ears. He didn't want to hear this. He didn't. He knew it was coming – had it told to him over the past few days – but seeing it and hearing it was…
How were Dad and Mai taking this? How could they…
Andy was in terrible pain now. The dark streaks, fully engorged and larger, edged closer to his heart. Rock knew with horrific certainty that it'd end when those tendrils reached there. Mary said possibly two or three more days. Andy's jaw was set; teeth clenched against screaming but there had been screaming before. It had torn through the silence, sharp jags of sound and it kept going and going for a while before it finally stopped. Rock had clamped his hands over his ears, then, standing outside and hearing that.
He couldn't do that now. Not standing in here with the rest of them.
Terry grabbed his brother's hand, gripping tight; Mai was on Andy's other side, clutching Andy's other hand with both of hers, fingers closed over his. From where he stood, he glimpsed the back of her head. Her hair was loose and messy, as if she'd just woken up alongside Andy. Maybe she had. The noise had started early – Andy never sounded like that before – and Dad had dashed out of the comms room like a bloodhound gaining whiff of scent. By the time he caught up, Dad was through the curtains and Rock couldn't take the sounds.
Had shuddered and remained outside.
Joe had seen him, clapped a hand on his shoulder in understanding and went into the sleeping quarters. Mary had given him a firm embrace and waited with him until the terrible sounds waned. Then, they'd entered together. He'd felt ashamed but Mary told him gently that even field agents and private detectives had seen and heard things, becoming away disturbed. It was always rough the first time, she'd said. She didn't expect him to fully comprehend just how awful it was going to be. Explaining it was one thing; experiencing it was another.
Rock understood that now.
Andy's face was slick with sweat – had been red earlier from exertion – with his eyes too bright and the muscles drawn tight with effort. Efforts not to cry out. It still didn't stop the occasional sound – whimpers (Rock didn't want to call them that) – from escaping him. Even those minor sounds he didn't want to hear. Andy and Mai had made it back. Should be safe. Should be laughing, teasing each other, making the others chuckle or crack jokes.
Not like this. Not with Andy dying this slow death.
Not with Andy whimpering, fighting back screams from the agony coursing through him. How could Dad and Mai sit there, holding onto him as if for dear life, and listen? It'd be torture. It'd be…
Because he's Andy and they love him. You know this, Rock. You wouldn't leave Dad, would you?
No. He wouldn't leave Dad. Could he pull through this way, keeping that thought in the back of his mind? He wanted to look away but he couldn't. It'd be disrespectful to Andy, who was fighting this fight. To everyone here, looking on. Joe was silent on his left, hands in his pockets, back straight. His countenance was somber. Even Mary, standing by his side – giving Terry the space he needed and the devoted time to his brother – looked on, expression grim. She gave the impression of having seen this before or something like it. Terry called it her "game face", which usually meant things had gotten serious. He'd never seen her while on recon – did she look like that while out in the field?
The only one who knew was Andy and Andy was…
"Brother," Terry said; Rock saw his grip tighten. "We're here. Don't worry."
"Terry…"
"Not going to leave you, Andy." Mai bowed her head over their clasped hands. "I'll stay here until…until…"
"Mai…"
Even as Andy said that – each breath and word seemed to hurt – Mary advanced, slipping down next to Mai and giving the kunoichi a sideways hug. "It's okay, Mai. It's okay. Cry if you need to."
Tears spilled down Mai's face, drawing lines that softly shone from the light overhead. Her mouth trembled. Her body quivered, almost imperceptible. She was actually holding back, Rock saw, astonished. It shouldn't have surprised him but it did. Was she doing it for Andy? For herself? For all of them? Was she afraid to break down and cry, because that might make them lose heart? Or was she afraid if she started, she wouldn't be able to stop?
"That's it, Mai. That's it."
Mary's voice was soft. Soothing. Comforting.
More tears followed in silence.
"Terry?"
"Yeah?"
"When I die…if you can…"
"Andy…"
The younger Bogard brother shook his head, long strands of blond hair damp against his sweaty forehead. "If you can…bury me with Dad."
"I…" Terry paused, faltering. "If I can...I'll do that. You have my word, Andy."
"I know. That's why…I asked."
Rock exchanged a wordless glance with Joe, who somehow had a similar reaction. Jeff Bogard had a grave in Second South. For Andy to request that meant…did he believe they'd win this somehow? Defeat O.R.O.C.H.I. and make it back home? Southtown was oceans away and with no end in sight of the ever-tightening noose cast over them, Rock wasn't sure they'd ever make it back to the States.
Yet, Dad had promised.
What was he to tell a dying man after all? His own brother, nonetheless? That he couldn't?
If Dad had asked the same of him, Rock wouldn't be able to refuse. Even knowing that…
They probably weren't going to survive this second phase. Not like this.
Yet, Terry had promised Andy.
He wanted to cry, seeing the display of camaraderie and brotherhood. He held back. Mai was sniffling against Mary's shoulder now; Dad's girlfriend had never let go, letting Mai take comfort in her being close by. Andy looked on – a different pain in his eyes – never seeming to begrudge the women their closeness. Dad continued sitting at Andy's side, also reluctant to leave. He could see them sitting like this for hours, ignoring their own discomfort just to be there for Andy's.
Andy grimaced. Terry's back straightened. Mai lifted her head from Mary's shoulder and shot an agonized gaze at the Bogard brothers.
Joe made a sound between his teeth.
Rock shoved his hands into his pockets. He wasn't going to…
Andy cried out. Even now, it made the hairs on the back of Rock's neck stand on end.
"Andy! Hold in there, brother!"
"Andy!"
It came and went in intervals. Mary had explained that outside earlier. Something about infection causing heat and with it coursing so close to Andy's heart and being in his bloodstream. The details were gruesome. He asked her if it was sepsis, since she'd mentioned it before. Then, Mary laid it out about swelling of the extremities and Rock wished he hadn't asked.
It sounded painful. Disfiguring.
He was only partially relieved that Andy wasn't swelling up. The noises he made or tried not to…he clenched his fists within his pockets and pushed them deeper into denim. Clenched his teeth, molars grinding together.
Beside him, Joe looked at the ceiling for a brief second before gazing back down.
At least it wasn't just him. It couldn't be just him.
Andy had finally gotten some rest – Rock didn't know if Dad or Mary had given him something to help him sleep – and they left Andy and Mai to themselves. Joe hung around long enough to talk, his voice mere murmurs, and then took off as well. Rock knew where the other man was headed. He didn't follow him. Everyone needed their own space after witnessing what happened in that room.
He went to the comms room. Flicked on the lights and closed the door. Considered locking it but decided not to. He needed solitude, not isolation. If Dad or Mary – even Joe – wanted to come in, he wasn't going to prevent them. And yet, he felt no one was up for conversation, except for perhaps Dad and Mary. If anyone needed extra support now, it was Terry. Mary had comforted Mai earlier. Now, it was probably Terry's turn.
He pulled the chair aside. Sat down. Stared at the black empty screens, at the faint reflection on the matte monitors. This was once the center of his day – the mainstay of his contribution here. But with Team KKY – he hadn't thought about them for days (it hurt too much) – dead and Andy suffering and dying, there wasn't any need for recon (not right now) or supply runs (not after what happened to Andy and Mai). So there wasn't any need for comms (he didn't feel much like it, anyway).
Still, he reached for the headset. Adjusted it and slid it on, the cushioning soft against his ears. Leaned deeper into the back of the seat. Closed his eyes.
Let the tears slide down.
