Disclaimer- I do NOT own Zoids, Brad Hunter, Leena Toros, Jamie, Naomi, Bit
etc etc etc...
AN: Hey all! I'm back and since I received so many positive comments, I have decided to work on this story ASAP. Very pleased that all you readers and reviewers enjoyed the last chapter! I know some of you will hate me for that and even more for the pairing but I'm going to complete this story no matter how many flames I get! Thank you everyone so much for your support.
Dedication- To Kelsey, for always smiling when I felt like crying. For laughing when I was depressed. For being a friend when I felt alone.
Back to third person point of view!
Scarlet Tears
An empty mug was refilled with steaming hot coffee. The black liquid molded into its container; aroma of fresh coffee lifted from wisps of steam. The morning chill kept nearly all life in temporary hibernation. Only the constant hum of the heater and the flickering of the lights were a reminder of anything alive at this late hour. With its contents empty, the coffee maker began to work on another batch. As the hot water began to filter through, the kitchen turned dark again and the door closed shut. A longhaired fighter stood by his bedroom. As stolid and devoted as a guardian, he made no complaints as the hours passed by. With one boot propped up against the wall, and crossed arms holding a steaming mug, he stayed at the same position. The bitter cold was helpless in swaying the unmovable barrier from the door. His arm made the slightest movement as he raised the dark drink to his lips. It was bitter enough to bring out the most grotesque grimaces. If there was any sign of disgust, there was none shown. Sip after sip, he drank it without any reluctance. Without any sign of the swarm of confusion embedded in his mind.
After the last drop evaporated into thin air, he remained by the entrance of his own room. Not that he feared stepping inside, but respecting the privacy of the current occupier. She was asleep when he returned to the base. Carrying her fragile form with the compassion of a father with a child, he lay her gently onto his small bed; wrapping her weeping shoulders with blankets. She trembled with internal pain, but at least she was safe at the moment. Her blood dried hands no longer clutched to his hand for comfort, yet she clung onto the memories with fervor. Dreams of her childhood. Fragments of her mother. Bits and pieces of the past few days, crammed together for a scar of misery that would never leave her be. It would always be a reminder to that day she let him into her life. It was her curse. From that feeling of frailty when she set eyes upon him. The single moment of bliss she felt soar through her when he kissed her. That overwhelming pull toward him that she tried so hard to deny. Hugging someone who made her feel more alive than she ever did. Laughing so hard that her stomach would cringe over with pain. Smiling to the point her face threatened to split in two.
And now, a miserable thing left to die.
She had cried so much her own eyes were too exhausted to shed anymore tears. All her strength had been spent on her last few moments before she died all over again. There was nothing left. She continued to sleep. And he still waited. A soundless protector in the background. An ever watching shadow. He kept his distance but was close enough to make sure she wouldn't try to do anything reckless.
He shut his eyes for a brief moment, taking steady even breaths to sort things out. Battles he could handle. Money wasn't a problem. But Leena. And Naomi. He had gotten into this mess. Pulled into a conflict of turmoil. Jealousy, anger, contempt, fear, kindness, suffering, love. All of it. It did nothing but make matters worse. As soon as he gave into Leena's request, his relationship with Naomi was changed. He couldn't make sense of it yet. It was all jumbled together in a heap of empathy. But time would make everything clear. He wouldn't have made it this far in life with just being arrogant and impatient. He just had to wait. Patience was a virtue. Brad Hunter had plenty of it.
The hours dragged by.
The night grew colder.
He watched with unsaid words.
She slept with falling sorrow.
Her dreams, crushed with the weight of her heart, and poisoned with the burden of living, tormented her during the night. Her mother would appear. Young, beautiful and dazzling to the eye. Poised as an angelic creature, she would fade away. Disappearing into the fog of memories. Bit, grinning like an idiot and standing tall would cry out her name. And he too would shift into the void. Others appeared. Brad. Her father. Jamie. Naomi. Harry. Whispered words. Mocking laughs. Comforting smiles. Blunt truths. Distant lies. Adding to her shame. Building her pride. A tempest of emotions. Ripping apart every sense of reason she had left. They were the kind of nightmares someone would awaken from in cold sweat and broken screams. Flailing her arms wildly to bat away a hundred blows. Not all of them were like that though. Some fed off her misery, leaving her to awake with the cold, hard reality of it all. And she whimpered under thin blankets that could barely keep her warm. But she was not alone. Her sentry would always be nearby. Calming her fears. Coaxing her into rest. And the apparitions would wait till she slept again.
The authorities questioned every person in the base. They all answered with shaky responses and grim faces. Everyone. Except Leena. No one blamed her for returning to her former state. It was understandable. She was wounded horribly within. There was no panacea. All they could do was hope for the best. An officer insisted on meeting with Leena. His investigation demanded that he spoke with every witness. Brad wouldn't even budge from the door. There was nothing she knew that the others didn't already explain he said. Being barred with this unmovable obstacle, the officers left.
Silence claimed its rightful place once again.
The cheery face of her father was exchanged for gray hairs and wrinkles. Jamie stopped fretting about fixing meals and worked with stoic efficiency. Leon kept to himself more than anyone. Barely lifting his lips to mumble thanks or greet his father. Brad was for the most part unchanged. With the exception of fewer direct comments and forgetting the constant issue of money, he acted and looked like the mercenary he was. But eventually, it would fail him. Not even years of self-discipline could hold back the unsettling gloom of Leena's suffering. He would be brought down, just like the rest of them. Tired, miserable and above all, worried to death about her.
Visitors dropped by. Greeted with force smiles and curt nods, they came to pay their respects for the legendary Ultimate X pilot. They said their condolences and tried to offer any kind of help. Doc and Leon were as polite as they could be. It was clear they wished to be alone to grieve for the death of a friend and a dying girl. A few wanted to meet with Leena. Especially Harry. It was if she had died as well. And in a way, she already was. Few people could live through what she did. Without the will to live, life lost its meaning. But they were turned away with just a glance from Brad. They let the matter drop; leaving flowers that he assured with a stern tone would be given to her.
And surrounded with drying flowers, she shivered with a hidden frost.
Days went and left. Food was eaten mechanically, tasting flat and plain. Work continued as it always had. Battles were postponed for the Blitz Team. They were given two weeks until the next battle. No one looked forward to it with any enthusiasm. It was just something for them to prepare for. Something to get their mind off their problems. It was a distraction from reality.
The funeral passed.
Out of all the warriors, friends, fans and family members that stood there, she was not among them. She couldn't bring herself to stare at his still body. Too afraid to accept the fact that he was gone because of her. His death ensured her safety from the most dangerous weapon. Himself. Instead of the large mass of people, all grieving together, she did it alone. People were aware of her missing presence but she was content with huddling in a corner like a frightened animal, drowning in more unspeakable pain than anyone could imagine.
Miracles would've been worthless.
Heaven had forsaken her.
Hell cast her aside.
There was only one reason to even make an attempt of existence.
He told her to live.
He had died for her cause.
He begged of her to go on.
How could she refuse him?
Someone who had given so much of himself to her. Sharing his generosity and kindness. Pushing her away to take the hit. Emptying the bullets to prevent her using it. Selflessly died, in hopes that she would stay strong for him. He was asking too much. It wasn't like she could brush off her clothes, flip back her hair and smile. Not someone like her. Too familiar with the fact of losing someone she loved. Spending her life to keep the same feeling at bay. It was all too much.
Too much for one person to handle.
Escape was an option. How many times the thought of ending her life occurred to her were endless. Suicide, was a quick, simple solution. It didn't matter if it was painful or not. It would all end up the same. Her first attempt was anticipated, and the second, foiled. Her third try was already underway. It was longer, and more agonizing, but it would accomplish her goal. Wasting away in her room. Living through every woeful hour. Staring at the empty walls with horrid dread. It would be certainly slower. But she knew this. Better than anyone else. Her solitude, would be her demise. She would die. And there was only one regret. Not being capable of submitting to his last plea.
Cursing herself for her uncertainty, Leena fell into repose.
And with sleep followed the dreams.
But it wasn't like the others.
She was standing.
In the desert.
Her clothes clean and crisp as if brand new.
Wind delicately caressed her temples. Pleasantly warm heat radiating her body. Not a cloud in the sky. Infinite dunes of sand for as far as she could see.
It was nothing to who stood in front of her.
Bit.
Bit Cloud.
As if grace and might combined, he was exactly the way she remembered him.
If there was any flaw she could not detect them. Sculpted with meticulous detail and perfection, Bit beamed with such tenderness she wanted to turn away; too unworthy to meet his gaze. She opened her mouth to speak. To apologize for her faults. To beg for forgiveness. Anything to be with him. Anything at all.
But only air escaped.
And he handed a gun to her.
The same one that had failed her.
Yes.
She understood.
He was offering a second chance. The answer to everything was right in his hand. She now had a chance to die in peace.
And live for eternity with Bit Cloud.
Taking the black weapon in both hands, she raised it.
And to her horror, it wasn't her own body she focused on.
She screamed in her mind. Shouting at herself to stop. Wrenching away her own hand.
But her body was no longer her own. And she no longer controlled it.
Watching through her own betraying body, the gun stopped dead at his heart.
His lips moved so slightly she doubted he spoke at all.
"I love you."
The bullet roared in fury, striking his heart. He offered one final smile and fell soundlessly.
Air around her boiled and froze. Wind shrieked from all directions. Sand sliced open skin.
Blood seeped from tiny scars that covered her hands. Dripping beads of red. Drenching her bloodstained clothes.
Leena screamed. An unholy wail of misery.
And she cried. An upheaval of torture.
Crimson marks streaking down her face.
Then he appeared. Grasping her body tightly to bring her back. Fighting back the storm till it collapsed and diminished and the bedroom was all that was real.
Shaking uncontrollably in his arms, Leena wept.
Too terrified to open her eyes and be greeted with the sight of her own pain.
Crying scarlet tears.
I'm so sorry to make you all wait so much. School is getting in the way as usual and I apologize. Please please please review!!! I love feedback but no flames! If you don't like this story, then don't read it. I'm going to update when I get the chance! Thank you so much everyone!
AN: Hey all! I'm back and since I received so many positive comments, I have decided to work on this story ASAP. Very pleased that all you readers and reviewers enjoyed the last chapter! I know some of you will hate me for that and even more for the pairing but I'm going to complete this story no matter how many flames I get! Thank you everyone so much for your support.
Dedication- To Kelsey, for always smiling when I felt like crying. For laughing when I was depressed. For being a friend when I felt alone.
Back to third person point of view!
Scarlet Tears
An empty mug was refilled with steaming hot coffee. The black liquid molded into its container; aroma of fresh coffee lifted from wisps of steam. The morning chill kept nearly all life in temporary hibernation. Only the constant hum of the heater and the flickering of the lights were a reminder of anything alive at this late hour. With its contents empty, the coffee maker began to work on another batch. As the hot water began to filter through, the kitchen turned dark again and the door closed shut. A longhaired fighter stood by his bedroom. As stolid and devoted as a guardian, he made no complaints as the hours passed by. With one boot propped up against the wall, and crossed arms holding a steaming mug, he stayed at the same position. The bitter cold was helpless in swaying the unmovable barrier from the door. His arm made the slightest movement as he raised the dark drink to his lips. It was bitter enough to bring out the most grotesque grimaces. If there was any sign of disgust, there was none shown. Sip after sip, he drank it without any reluctance. Without any sign of the swarm of confusion embedded in his mind.
After the last drop evaporated into thin air, he remained by the entrance of his own room. Not that he feared stepping inside, but respecting the privacy of the current occupier. She was asleep when he returned to the base. Carrying her fragile form with the compassion of a father with a child, he lay her gently onto his small bed; wrapping her weeping shoulders with blankets. She trembled with internal pain, but at least she was safe at the moment. Her blood dried hands no longer clutched to his hand for comfort, yet she clung onto the memories with fervor. Dreams of her childhood. Fragments of her mother. Bits and pieces of the past few days, crammed together for a scar of misery that would never leave her be. It would always be a reminder to that day she let him into her life. It was her curse. From that feeling of frailty when she set eyes upon him. The single moment of bliss she felt soar through her when he kissed her. That overwhelming pull toward him that she tried so hard to deny. Hugging someone who made her feel more alive than she ever did. Laughing so hard that her stomach would cringe over with pain. Smiling to the point her face threatened to split in two.
And now, a miserable thing left to die.
She had cried so much her own eyes were too exhausted to shed anymore tears. All her strength had been spent on her last few moments before she died all over again. There was nothing left. She continued to sleep. And he still waited. A soundless protector in the background. An ever watching shadow. He kept his distance but was close enough to make sure she wouldn't try to do anything reckless.
He shut his eyes for a brief moment, taking steady even breaths to sort things out. Battles he could handle. Money wasn't a problem. But Leena. And Naomi. He had gotten into this mess. Pulled into a conflict of turmoil. Jealousy, anger, contempt, fear, kindness, suffering, love. All of it. It did nothing but make matters worse. As soon as he gave into Leena's request, his relationship with Naomi was changed. He couldn't make sense of it yet. It was all jumbled together in a heap of empathy. But time would make everything clear. He wouldn't have made it this far in life with just being arrogant and impatient. He just had to wait. Patience was a virtue. Brad Hunter had plenty of it.
The hours dragged by.
The night grew colder.
He watched with unsaid words.
She slept with falling sorrow.
Her dreams, crushed with the weight of her heart, and poisoned with the burden of living, tormented her during the night. Her mother would appear. Young, beautiful and dazzling to the eye. Poised as an angelic creature, she would fade away. Disappearing into the fog of memories. Bit, grinning like an idiot and standing tall would cry out her name. And he too would shift into the void. Others appeared. Brad. Her father. Jamie. Naomi. Harry. Whispered words. Mocking laughs. Comforting smiles. Blunt truths. Distant lies. Adding to her shame. Building her pride. A tempest of emotions. Ripping apart every sense of reason she had left. They were the kind of nightmares someone would awaken from in cold sweat and broken screams. Flailing her arms wildly to bat away a hundred blows. Not all of them were like that though. Some fed off her misery, leaving her to awake with the cold, hard reality of it all. And she whimpered under thin blankets that could barely keep her warm. But she was not alone. Her sentry would always be nearby. Calming her fears. Coaxing her into rest. And the apparitions would wait till she slept again.
The authorities questioned every person in the base. They all answered with shaky responses and grim faces. Everyone. Except Leena. No one blamed her for returning to her former state. It was understandable. She was wounded horribly within. There was no panacea. All they could do was hope for the best. An officer insisted on meeting with Leena. His investigation demanded that he spoke with every witness. Brad wouldn't even budge from the door. There was nothing she knew that the others didn't already explain he said. Being barred with this unmovable obstacle, the officers left.
Silence claimed its rightful place once again.
The cheery face of her father was exchanged for gray hairs and wrinkles. Jamie stopped fretting about fixing meals and worked with stoic efficiency. Leon kept to himself more than anyone. Barely lifting his lips to mumble thanks or greet his father. Brad was for the most part unchanged. With the exception of fewer direct comments and forgetting the constant issue of money, he acted and looked like the mercenary he was. But eventually, it would fail him. Not even years of self-discipline could hold back the unsettling gloom of Leena's suffering. He would be brought down, just like the rest of them. Tired, miserable and above all, worried to death about her.
Visitors dropped by. Greeted with force smiles and curt nods, they came to pay their respects for the legendary Ultimate X pilot. They said their condolences and tried to offer any kind of help. Doc and Leon were as polite as they could be. It was clear they wished to be alone to grieve for the death of a friend and a dying girl. A few wanted to meet with Leena. Especially Harry. It was if she had died as well. And in a way, she already was. Few people could live through what she did. Without the will to live, life lost its meaning. But they were turned away with just a glance from Brad. They let the matter drop; leaving flowers that he assured with a stern tone would be given to her.
And surrounded with drying flowers, she shivered with a hidden frost.
Days went and left. Food was eaten mechanically, tasting flat and plain. Work continued as it always had. Battles were postponed for the Blitz Team. They were given two weeks until the next battle. No one looked forward to it with any enthusiasm. It was just something for them to prepare for. Something to get their mind off their problems. It was a distraction from reality.
The funeral passed.
Out of all the warriors, friends, fans and family members that stood there, she was not among them. She couldn't bring herself to stare at his still body. Too afraid to accept the fact that he was gone because of her. His death ensured her safety from the most dangerous weapon. Himself. Instead of the large mass of people, all grieving together, she did it alone. People were aware of her missing presence but she was content with huddling in a corner like a frightened animal, drowning in more unspeakable pain than anyone could imagine.
Miracles would've been worthless.
Heaven had forsaken her.
Hell cast her aside.
There was only one reason to even make an attempt of existence.
He told her to live.
He had died for her cause.
He begged of her to go on.
How could she refuse him?
Someone who had given so much of himself to her. Sharing his generosity and kindness. Pushing her away to take the hit. Emptying the bullets to prevent her using it. Selflessly died, in hopes that she would stay strong for him. He was asking too much. It wasn't like she could brush off her clothes, flip back her hair and smile. Not someone like her. Too familiar with the fact of losing someone she loved. Spending her life to keep the same feeling at bay. It was all too much.
Too much for one person to handle.
Escape was an option. How many times the thought of ending her life occurred to her were endless. Suicide, was a quick, simple solution. It didn't matter if it was painful or not. It would all end up the same. Her first attempt was anticipated, and the second, foiled. Her third try was already underway. It was longer, and more agonizing, but it would accomplish her goal. Wasting away in her room. Living through every woeful hour. Staring at the empty walls with horrid dread. It would be certainly slower. But she knew this. Better than anyone else. Her solitude, would be her demise. She would die. And there was only one regret. Not being capable of submitting to his last plea.
Cursing herself for her uncertainty, Leena fell into repose.
And with sleep followed the dreams.
But it wasn't like the others.
She was standing.
In the desert.
Her clothes clean and crisp as if brand new.
Wind delicately caressed her temples. Pleasantly warm heat radiating her body. Not a cloud in the sky. Infinite dunes of sand for as far as she could see.
It was nothing to who stood in front of her.
Bit.
Bit Cloud.
As if grace and might combined, he was exactly the way she remembered him.
If there was any flaw she could not detect them. Sculpted with meticulous detail and perfection, Bit beamed with such tenderness she wanted to turn away; too unworthy to meet his gaze. She opened her mouth to speak. To apologize for her faults. To beg for forgiveness. Anything to be with him. Anything at all.
But only air escaped.
And he handed a gun to her.
The same one that had failed her.
Yes.
She understood.
He was offering a second chance. The answer to everything was right in his hand. She now had a chance to die in peace.
And live for eternity with Bit Cloud.
Taking the black weapon in both hands, she raised it.
And to her horror, it wasn't her own body she focused on.
She screamed in her mind. Shouting at herself to stop. Wrenching away her own hand.
But her body was no longer her own. And she no longer controlled it.
Watching through her own betraying body, the gun stopped dead at his heart.
His lips moved so slightly she doubted he spoke at all.
"I love you."
The bullet roared in fury, striking his heart. He offered one final smile and fell soundlessly.
Air around her boiled and froze. Wind shrieked from all directions. Sand sliced open skin.
Blood seeped from tiny scars that covered her hands. Dripping beads of red. Drenching her bloodstained clothes.
Leena screamed. An unholy wail of misery.
And she cried. An upheaval of torture.
Crimson marks streaking down her face.
Then he appeared. Grasping her body tightly to bring her back. Fighting back the storm till it collapsed and diminished and the bedroom was all that was real.
Shaking uncontrollably in his arms, Leena wept.
Too terrified to open her eyes and be greeted with the sight of her own pain.
Crying scarlet tears.
I'm so sorry to make you all wait so much. School is getting in the way as usual and I apologize. Please please please review!!! I love feedback but no flames! If you don't like this story, then don't read it. I'm going to update when I get the chance! Thank you so much everyone!