Chapter 11 She's a Man-Eater…

Few years ago…

Quiet finishes loading the bag inside the vehicle, as night approaches… she leans in the back and takes a good look at the ruins, crossing her arms, going into deep thought. Suddenly it starts to rain, she lifts her head up and as the water falls to her face, she reminisces about Africa which used to rain a lot. She remembers saving the African children, that day the stormy rain was fierce. Fondly remembering when Snake went out of his way to rescue the children when he didn't have to in the first place. When they had reached the extraction point, she was acting as point guard and shooting the incoming soldiers. When she saw Snake putting the children on the chopper, that rainy night she began to fall for him, staring at him when the chopper goes for take-off and he signals her to get on.

Another day that was raining was when they clashed with the skull soldiers. How the helicopter came crashing down. This was one of their most intense shared battles, she was using the Brennan for the first time, and she was amazed how it could pierce the soldier's hardened armor. From a memory to the next, she then sees him performing cqc on her when she went to kill the infected soldier with the parasite. She remembers when he ordered her to stop; her adrenaline got high and she lost it for a moment, wanting to kill the legendary soldier for robbing her words. After she was subdued and put down on the bed in her prison cell, she sees the back of Big Boss walking away, once again, defeated and left alive.

After the whole ordeal with the metal gear sahelanthropus, she remembers standing proud alongside him, taking in the fact that the man had saved the world from Skull Face's wrath and he made everyone feel like they did too. Even though she was a secret weapon, when she looked at Big Boss and what he accomplished. She finally gave up at that moment on being an agent for Cipher and really become a Diamond Dogs soldier. She swore never speak English again, she would never put anyone at risk, and this was her safe haven now, her new home.

When the wolbachia mutation occurred she ran away in fear of what would happen to her, she was already disappointed when being tortured by Miller. The Boss did not intervene for her. Most likely Miller would have her killed, not feeling safe anymore and not wanting to put the Boss at risk either, she fled away by sneaking in one of the intelligence team choppers. When she arrived, a squad swiftly captured her when they spotted her in the ruins asleep.

She was relieved that still after everything had happened the man went to rescue her. The last thing she remembers was when they were on the chopper, the first time they spoke, not uttering a word, but sharing silence. He made the first move, the first touch on the shoulder meant "I trust you". It was a sign she never had received before from anyone. She responded back with okay by nodding slightly, and decided to see what her life would turn out to be by following the legendary soldier's footsteps. However, she could not deny, a part of her still wanted revenge, a part of her still wanted to douse him in flames or put a bullet in his head.

As she looks to her hand and squeezes her fist, still feeling that burning sensation, she lets it go. Knowing it's pointless now, letting a deep sigh. She hops on the vehicle and heads back to the cabin. As the rain clears and the sky becomes bright, she stares at the moon. Smiling as she keeps fondly remembering the good times with the legend. The final battle they shared, fending off those tanks, when he extended his hands to give her a handshake as a congratulation for her actions. However, that got interrupted by the tank that almost killed them. Her wound was serious, but Big Boss strived to carry her on and bring her alive to Mother Base.

After being poisoned by the snakebite, Quiet gets up and decides to tend to the Boss's wound while waiting for the chopper to arrive. But because the sandstorm wouldn't let up, the chopper could not get an exact location on them, when the pilot called, she hesitated. First speaking in Navajo to see if she could still make it, the pilot Pequod would not respond to the language. Her heart feeling heavy, bombarded with many confusing thoughts, whether leave the Boss to die or save him. "But he's Big Boss…" she thinks, the man still has much to offer for the world. He still has the responsibility to run Mother Base and achieve the soldier's dreams. It wouldn't matter what would happen to her now, it was enough. The time they shared, even though they didn't spoke directly…. was enough.

Her only regret was she wasn't able to express her feelings for him, the admiration for his actions, the times he would carry her on his arms. She learned to appreciate the world more, that maybe this demon had something more to offer than just taking lives. The day she jumped into the chlorine-infested room to retreat a child's necklace, was proof of the admiration and gratitude she had grown for him. Her heart became fast when the Boss picked her up and carried her again. And lastly, the time she played in the rain with him. She had never felt so relaxed and weightless, also feeling the slight warmth of embrace with a man. Before that, she had spent a lifetime on the battlefield fueled by revenge. For a brief moment, she wanted more, she wanted to embrace him completely, but she could not, he was Big Boss, and she was just a prisoner. After that she decided, despite her vow would never speak English again, being alongside the legendary soldier was enough happiness for her. Snapping out of her confusion, she grips the idroid tightly "The Boss is with me….."

Tears begin to fall out again, letting out slight sobs as she feels that same pain she did at that moment all those years ago. She decides to hum her favorite song. Looking at the moon, with a faint hope that maybe, maybe she will see him again. Maybe she will be able to tell him..

"I'm here."

As Quiet approaches the cabin while driving, she lets out a sigh, not knowing what to expect when she arrives at her shared home with the legendary soldier but she had made her mind to let him know of her feelings, the feelings that hasn't changed over a decade. Arriving the house, she parks the vehicle and takes out the bag. As she goes to the front door, Snake is sitting on the ground, leaning his back to the wooden wall alongside the front door. When she had passed by, she didn't notice him. He turns to look at her; she looks at him back, sharing a moment of silence. He wanted to apologize, she wanted to express her feelings, but somehow, their silent gaze were enough words. Both smiling, Quiet begins to laugh and Snake laughs too. Quiet happily steps to the inside of the house, putting the bag on the table. She begins to cook while humming her favorite song again.

After finishing making dinner, she goes to the front door peeking outside; she looks at Snake sporting a smile. When he sits down to eat, she cleans the small kitchen. After she finishes she sits across the table from Snake, and watches him eat, playfully she tilts her head around humming. Finishing the food, Quiet takes his plate and quickly cleans it. She then sits again across him. The couple begin to pass the time by arming and disarming their guns while talking and smoking, their conversation last well into the night.

As Snake lays on the bed, he sees Quiet taking off her clothes; he keeps staring at her. She notices this, "Snake, stop staring at me so much when I'm undressing." "Can't help it, you are one hell of a woman." She laughs at the comment, and then gets on the bed, putting herself on top of him and proceeds to kiss him. After sharing themselves, as Quiet cuddles Snakes body, both trying to catch their breath. She hugs him, he caresses her shoulder, looking at their eyes, and they both feel relaxed and weightless.

"Thank you for this." Says Snake expressing his gratitude,

"I always admired you." Quiet expresses looking at him.

They both lay asleep in each other arms.

Epilogue

Later that night…

As Quiet enter her phase of deep sleep, she has a dream. She wanders in a desert, holding her rifle in hand, wearing her signature clothes. She walks towards the direction of the sun. Winds blowing over, she sees some palm trees around. As she continues on, she sees choppers passing by her heading to the same direction she is. Covering her eyes bit, she walks uphill, what was the destination, she wonders as she sees herself walking into the unknown. Arriving, taking that last heavy step, she sees the sun on top of a giant building, seemingly towering over it, the building's shadows reaches the sniper and she lowers her hand.

"I have arrived… Outer Heaven..."

Quiet wakes up from the dream feeling something tingling down her stomach, as she presses her hand

"No… it can't be…"

The sensation gets stronger, she turns to Snake as to check if he's awake. The soldier is still asleep. She gets up and feels the sensation now burning inside her. She winces in pain, pressing against her lower abdominal area.

"It is ready child… come…"

Quiet turns to the source of the voice while breathing heavily and sees a shadowy figure peeking through the front door, extending its hand waving at her to come.

"No…"

The shadowy figure extends its hand and points a Quiet, then it squeezes it. The gesture puts Quiet in great pain and discomfort.

"Come child, it is time…"

She resists again, despite wincing from the great pain. The shadowy figure turns invicible. As Quiet tries to look around the figure appears in front of her, pointing now to Snake.

"Do you want me to end his life? In his sleep? Or do you want him to watch me as I do it?"

Quiet shakes her head, still wincing and gritting her teeth. She signals him to go that she will catch up. Putting her clothes and heading outside, she looks back at the asleep Snake, and tears leak out. There was not much she could do now, it is already too late.

"Child, come…" She heads off while leaving the legendary soldier asleep.

End of Part 1