John didn't register it at first. He felt a jolt in his shoulder. A force so strong it almost toppled him from the roof he was standing on. After that, there was a sickening, seeping warmth spreading across his shoulder and chest. Something warm and wet trickled down his arm. His blue eyes widened. His heart seemed to stop at the shock. His breath shuddered as he breathed out, a small whimper following. He was about to look when the second shot hit. This one caught his side. He wasn't sure what it had ripped through, but it had definitely punched straight through. He doubled over, falling to his knees as he shivered. It was winter, but he somehow felt a lot colder than before. Across the lines, he heard a familiar voice once again ordering the men to hold their fire.

John blinked as his vision blurred slightly. His head felt hazy as he squinted down. He raised the hand that had clutched his side in reflex. It was red. He felt a little sick as he moved the bloodied hand to his soaked shoulder to clutch the wound there. He didn't need to be a doctor to know it was bad, but they didn't hurt. He wasn't sure why. He'd just been shot. Surely, it should hurt. He took a shaky breath and listened to the sudden silence. Everything felt like it had stopped. The chatter from across the lines, the androids behind him, the reporters standing behind the media lines. Everything was just silent. All he could hear was his own shallow breathing and the pulse pounding in his ears. He felt firm hands on his shoulders. They were gripping him tightly. There was someone with him on the car. Lin…Lin had climbed up. Of course, who else would jump right into the line of fire for him?

He looked horror-struck. His mismatched eyes were wide as he took in the heavily bleeding hole in his shoulder. His shoulder was still there at least, though he couldn't move that arm at all. He couldn't even feel it. Lin rested a hand on his cheek. He was saying something. John winced as he started to feel something in his waist. The hole there was smaller than the one on his shoulder, but possibly more serious. There were many organs in there the bullet could have torn through. He wasn't sure how much time he had. He was apologetic as he looked up at Lin's stricken face. Lin had been afraid of this above all else. He took in a breath. He couldn't let it end like this. There was still something he could do. Something he had to do. I have to stand…I have to speak…

"U-up…" John bit out as he gripped his shoulder, struggling to get his feet unsupported. He only managed to get up as Lin accepted his weight and guided him. Lin kept hold of him as he stepped to his side. He made no move to climb down. He stayed at his side, willingly making himself a target. John smiled softly as he released his bleeding shoulder to take Lin's hand. His body was starting to feel stiff and heavy as he forced their arms up. "Red or blue…it doesn't matter…we all bleed!" John choked out in a weak shout as he held Lin's blue stained hand with his own red one. Lin watched as the red and blue on their skin mingled, leaving purple smears across their palms and between their fingers. John reached up to pull the LED from his temple, making sure to pocket it. He could feel slick oily thirium mingling with sticky blood on his hand. Is Lin hurt? It's…hard to see…

Lin lowered their arms and gripped his hand tightly as he turned his weakened body to face him. John's vision was starting to blur further. It was getting darker, and he wasn't sure whether it was because it was getting late or if he was about to pass out. His skin prickled as the realisation swept through his chest. I'm dying…but it felt surprisingly alright. He'd gone for help. He'd joined the fight. He'd done all that he could. He knew his father wouldn't be proud, but he hoped that the GT300 would have been, that his uncle was, and Lin…

"John…That's enough, please…please-please-please!" Lin stammered as he wrapped an arm around his slowly slumping form and cupped his cheek. He was losing a lot of blood. The wound almost seemed arterial. It didn't stop flowing. It was like a river. He couldn't stop it. Lin was horrified as he took in the large hole in John's shoulder. It was almost the size of a golf ball. He felt like he would have been able to see clean through it if not for all the blood and John's loose sweater. He didn't know what bullets the SWAT team was using, but they weren't meant for an unarmoured human to withstand. "John…No-no-no!" Lin stammered as John sagged against him, looking up with a dazed expression.

His legs gave out. All of his weight was left suspended in Lin's strong arms. Lin felt his own lips trembling as he slowly sank to his knees with John in his arms. He cradled him against his chest like a child, rocking slowly as his stress levels climbed. He was already reaching the high eighties as he watched John's vitals slowly flatlining. The shot to his midsection wasn't as large as the one in his shoulder, but with two deep wounds bleeding out, there was little he could do. He wasn't a medic. John nuzzled closer, smiling softly as he looked up with hazy blue eyes.

"I-really…really-love-you…" he murmured as he tugged Lin closer with a weak hand. Lin leaned down, accepting the weak kiss John pressed to his lips. Lin closed his eyes tightly, a sob rising in his throat as he returned the kiss. He was unwilling to look at the reading of John's vitals telling him how little time he had. This isn't real…It can't be real…he thought desperately, opening his eyes to see John's slowly closing. He looked content, even peaceful, as his eyes fluttered shut. Lin felt his chest stutter as John's head fell forward to rest against his shoulder. His whole body froze as he knelt there with John's warm body in his arms. The silence was eerie, only broken by the thrum of the drones as they flew overhead. John?