A/N: I've just started my third Playthrough of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. I'm doing this for the sole reason that I miss my second favorite Waifu. The first is Tali. But let's move on to the topic of this Chapter.

Just like the last one I'm not following the main 2033 Missions. I wanted to do one more original Chapter before our friends finally get to meet Miller. That and I wanted to write about more Nazis getting killed. Even though none get killed in this Chapter.

I'll be focusing on my most recent Story 'Outer Effect' more from now on. I'm still going to get more Chapters out as soon as possible, but I'm going to devote more of my time to that Story. Just for awhile though.

Also I have an important question for you guys. Do you want me to actually ship Artyom and Velvet? I was just planning on having them stay friends with the occasional Romantic moment occurring. If you'd like to see them together either leave a Review or PM me and I'll respond.

This is the last piece of information I promise. I'm going back to the older Chapters and editing and in someways improving them. If you want to see the differences for yourselves go and check them out.

Now as always, please leave an honest Review, consider Following the Story so you're alerted when I release a new Chapter, and if you really like the Story so far you could Favorite it to let me know. Have yourself a nice day.

Safe At Last:

Entry: Our most recent encounter with the Nazis proved to come with an ending that was more than sorrow. After I killed all of those men in the horrific way that I did I felt in many ways disgusted with myself. Maybe it was because I practically brutalized a few of them. Or maybe it was the look on Velvet's face.

That look of absolute horror. I'm afraid that she thinks I'm some type of monster now. Someone who kills another without a second thought. I can't lie to myself, I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. This Metro eventually turns everyone into a killer. But I can't let it do the same to me.

Using his canteen filled with clean water, Artyom washed what little blood was left on his clothing off of him. None of it was his own blood of course, he hadn't been injured at all during the fight with the Nazis. Neither had Velvet or Ruby so they were all able to move out quickly.

There was an uncomfortable amount of silence between the two Stalkers and Ruby Rose. None of them were really looking for a conversation after what had just happened. Artyom wanted to ask Velvet if she was mad at him but his gut told him not to.

Meanwhile Velvet was still trying to forget the faces of the dying men, and the sound of some of them choking to death on their own blood. She desperately wanted the mission to be over with. For them to reach Miller as soon as possible. She just wanted to go home and forget about all of this.

The lack of talking was beginning to bother Ruby. Despite knowing that it would be better not to do so, she struck up a conversation. She said to Artyom, ''I'm glad you're here with us. I don't think me and Velvet could've taken those guys on our own. Well I could, if I actually had my weapon. But you know, thanks.''

Artyom nodded and tried to thank her back. ''At least we wouldn't have butchered them like Grimm.'' But he stopped when he heard Velvet. She continued to scold his actions as they walked through the Metro. ''You could've easily knocked him out from that position. Why did you have to kill him?''

All of a sudden Ruby wished she hadn't said a word. ''Because they would've gladly done the same to all of us.'' Artyom said in his defense. ''They're Nazis remember, they are without a doubt the worst people to ever walk the Metro. And if I were just to have knocked them out, they would have just found someone else to kill. I did the World a favor killing all of those Bastards.''

Ruby sighed, knowing that the argument had only just begun. ''Killing them was bad enough. But it was the way you killed them. It was completely unnecessary. Stabbing both of his eyes out, who does something like that?''

''Alright, alright. I admit, I went a little too far when I did that. Not even a Nazi deserves a death as painful and awful as that. But it wasn't my fault that things got out of control. I was just filled with so much anger.''

Velvet stopped dead in her tracks. She looked at Artyom dead in the eyes. ''You were angry, that's the best excuse you can come up with? What exactly could have made you so angry that you wanted to stab a man's eyes out?''

Frowning, Artyom replied, ''Because I was upset from how badly he injured you.'' Velvet's and even Ruby's eyes widened. ''Did it not occur to you that I actually care about you as a person? That I think of you as a friend and not just a bullet-sponge. Did I not make it fucking clear when I was about to shoot a guy who grabbed your ears and called you a Mutant?! Because if not, I'm sorry. Guess it was just me.''

That was certainly enough yelling for Artyom. He walked away from his two Companions, leaving them with their own thoughts, and continued down the path of the dark Metro tunnel. Neither of them knew how to feel, so they hurried up and just chased after him.

''Wait, Artyom.'' Velvet called out to who she was now absolutely certain was her friend. However Artyom didn't wait for them to catch up, not wanting to start another argument. It didn't really matter since they were running and he was walking.

Going around so that she was in front of him Velvet continued to speak. ''I admit that there were times when I thought you hated me. I mean when we first met you'd only answer my questions by saying yes. But the whole time I really wanted us to be friends. I still think that what you did was wrong. But if you really did that because you just wanted to protect me, I guess I can try to look past that.''

All of a sudden Artyom stopped walking. Velvet and Ruby did the same, wanting to know what he had to say. Turns out he had nothing to say. Instead he brought Velvet in for a nice warm hug. It took her surprise but she still accepted it.

''Aw, you guys are so cute together.'' Ruby said, observing the hug. ''The next step is to kiss.'' And that ruined the moment for one of the two Stalkers. They let go of each other and both smiled. Which was something Artyom rarely found a chance to do.

Velvet reminded Ruby that, ''We're not dating, I already told you that.'' She looked back to Artyom. ''Thanks for that, Artyom. I haven't had a hug since, well since I came to the Metro. But there will be time for more of those later. Come on, let's get you to Miller so you can save your home.''

Artyom felt compelled to make some sort of joke. Not that he was good at making people laugh. ''Yeah, that sounds like the perfect plan. Hopefully wherever we end up next has some type of Store. I'm running low on ammo and they're certainly-''

Feeling a sharp pain run through her head, Velvet grabbed and covered both of her ears. She dropped to her knees and began to groan loudly from all of the pain. She inferred that something shot past one of her ears at a fast velocity. Possibly a bullet.

Wanting to know about her friend's conditions Velvet called out to them. ''Are you guys alright? God, this ringing is unbearable!'' Her only reply was from Ruby, a loud gasp leaving her mouth. That granted Velvet enough strength to stand up.

However it was an action that she immediately regretted. Ruby was fine, just a look of shock and terror upon her face. Artyom on the other hand, was in a very not fine state. The bullet that flew past Velvet's ear landed right next to his heart. In seconds blood was spurting out of his mouth. He landed headfirst on the ground, struggling to even breathe as he did.

Turning around Velvet saw just how much of a bad situation they just found themselves in. The amount of Soldiers in front of them were overwhelming to say the least. Due to their armour it was obvious that they weren't Nazis. They were now dealing with Reds.

''They... broke through... the Frontline.'' Artyom muttered, only being able to taste the blood in his mouth. A few of the Soldiers approached the small group. The weapons they carried frightened both of the girls, looking as though they could blow them to pieces.

One of the Reds, most likely the leader of the group, looked down at Artyom. ''Sorry about that. I was hoping to hit the Mutant. That's not to say I wouldn't have shot you anyway.'' He then looked over to the two young girls. ''Your friend isn't going to get up from that. Don't worry, I won't let him bleed to death. If it wasn't for you guys causing so much noise we would have never made it past the Nazis. Just for that I'll make this quick.''

Running was definitely not an option. Ruby knew that there was no way they could dodge all of the gunfire, and Velvet wasn't about to leave Artyom behind. It became clear that there was no way to get out of the situation.

The man aimed his weapon at the girls and began to press the trigger. But Artyom, using what little strength he had left, prevented him from doing so by plunging his Knife deep into the man's foot, causing him to fall back and onto the ground.

As he did his gun began to fire his gun into the ceiling, causing the other Reds to panic. With an opening now clear the two girls made a move. Using the helmet that fell off of Artyom's head when he was shot, Velvet threw it at one of the Soldier's nose.

Ruby took the leader's gun and used it to crack the skulls of the other Soldiers. She couldn't actually fire it since all of the ammo had been exhausted. There weren't that many Reds that they had to deal with, only ten of them.

So the girls were able to guess that this was just a small scouting group, and that the rest would be coming pretty soon. So when all of the men were just as unconscious as Artyom, they picked him up and began to escape as fast they could.

Hoping that he could hear her, Velvet tried to reassure Artyom that he would make it, ''Don't you worry Artyom. You can't die, you haven't even met Miller yet. You don't want to let Hunter down, do you?'' When she didn't get a response, or even hear Artyom breathing she actually began to sob. ''Please, say something! I promised Khan I'd watch your back. Please, I don't wanta...''

It didn't matter what she even said. Footsteps could be overheard from their position. From how massive they were it was clear they were heading towards their position. Before the group that the girls expected to be Reds reached them one of them was heard saying, ''Ulman, wait up. That was a lot of bullets we heard go off.''