Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 96 – What's left to look forward to?
Raptor's POV.
The yard was full of my men. Including Black and his men. But alongside all that stood Char. Who I approached as he was in the hood of one of our trucks.
"Busy?" I asked as I got alongside the hood. Char immediately popped up his head to look at me in surprise.
"Ahhh...no not really. I was just checking the engine. What's up Commander? You feeling better?"
Nodding I replied.
"Wouldn't go that far yet."
"So what's up?" He then asked as I looked around to make sure it was just us around. With everyone else distracted I replied.
"You wana go out for a bit? Get a drink?"
Char was dressed in full combat gear and with a chuckle he checked his watch to question.
"Now? It's kinda early to start drinking don't you think?"
Offering him a smile back I replied.
"It's on me. And I kinda...hmmmm...?"
Char sensed my attitude change and I could tell he was latching on to the situation as I finished my sentence.
"I kinda need someone to vent to right now. Archer and Black are too busy and rightly so. Hunter on the other hand...we aren't talking. So...?"
"Yeah...of course. Come on hop in." Urged Char as he got the drivers seat and engine fired up.
Smiling to his response I proceeded to the passenger side and got in to button up.
"Where to?" He wondered as he got us moving.
"Ron's bar. Its quiet and at the least friendly."
"Gotcha." He replied as I now to just looked back at the capital as we got through the gate with ease.
Now as we drove the radio came on. To my surprise the news came through first.
"Morning Iraq. Wendi here with the news report for the beginning of the day."
My ears blanked everything out but as the report went on and on I soon caught something interesting.
"The sandstorm seems to be coming in pretty heavy this year. With winds expecting to reach well over the bearable amount. This means everyone should do their best to lock down their homes and stay inside till it's over. As for when, it looks like the storm is expecting to hit the city within another day. First reaching Pakistan and making its way well over Afghanistan and to us here in Iraq. We will have more accurate information later tonight so keep tuned in."
Char who drove soon asked.
"You think it'll be as bad as they say? Suppose to be able to flip cars and shit with the winds they are predicting. City might need a makeover if it's really bad."
Looking to his side to see his handgun in it's holster I replied.
"We just need to make sure everyone is secured and safe. The last thing we need is injuries from this."
"Archer has everyone keeping an eye out on the borders for any sign of it. Just in case it gets here early. We should be okay." Stated Char as we neared our stop after a few minutes.
With Ron's in sight, we pulled over and parked across the street. Undoing his seat belt I stopped to ask him.
"You plan on wearing all that to drink? You'll overheat after two."
Chuckling Char replied.
"You got a point. You get going, I'll get some of this off in the meantime."
Nodding I got out of the truck and made my way across the street. Ron who was behind the bar quickly took notice and waved as I came through the door.
"Raptor!" He shouted as I smiled and replied.
"How is it Ron?"
Smiling wide he replied.
"Just starting out. What brings you in this early?"
With no one else in the bar yet I got close to the counter. At which time Ron pointed to my head to shout.
"Holy shit! What the fuck happened to you!?"
"Personal issues."
Chuckling Ron replied back.
"Issues!? Hahaha it's always an issue Raptor. What is it this time? The boy get a gun and shoot you?"
With his smile still wide I lost mine and replied with a lowered head.
"No." Ron instantly knew the mood switched and asked.
"Whats wrong? He sick or something? You just got all cold on me buddy."
Closing my fists as I had them on the counter I replied while lifting back up my head.
"He's dead. Him and Alicia...and Midnight...?"
Ron instantly fell silent. Dropping one of his nearby glasses he panicked and replied out loud.
"What!?"
All I could do was nod my head once. After which I replied.
"Yeah. G.U.N."
Ron was in utter shock for words as Char came through the door. This time he had no armor or rifle. Just his sidearm and his vest. With a smile he shouted.
"Ron! What's up man?"
Ron just continued to stare at me as Char instantly knew what was going on.
"Oh...fuck."
"You can't be serious Raptor. Please tell me this is a joke right now." Begged Ron as I began to tear up. Keeping my head down I replied.
"No...!? I wish! I really do Ron! I really do!" I cried into my hands as he then asked.
"How?"
Char now kept silent as I tried my best to answer.
"I...I...?" Ron quickly stopped me.
"Stop Raptor. Please. Here." Offering me a nearby rag, I took it off the counter to try and wipe my eyes off. Ron just waited as Char took a seat next to me. Once I was ready I looked up to them to reply.
"I went to Afghanistan a few days ago to check in with Mason. That night I stayed over and the kids alongside Alicia were taken."
"Taken? By who?" Asked Ron as Char answered.
"G.U.N had people in the capital there. From what we know it was a small group. They took the kids and her at night while everyone was asleep. We had no idea."
"Jesus Christ." Replied Ron in shock still of the news.
"I tried to save them. But I couldn't. All I could do was watch it happen." I cried as Char gently placed his hand on my shoulder.
"All I could do was watch."
"What happened exactly?" Asked Ron as Char just tried to comfort me. After some time I replied.
"They wanted me alone. Unarmed. They used my family to get that. I got there in time to watch this fucking prick! Gorgon! That's his name. Got there just in time to have him shoot Alicia. I didn't even get to hear her last words!" I cried as Char looked to Ron to state.
"There wasn't anything you could have done Raptor. It wasn't your fault."
"It was!" I cried as I looked up to them to shout.
"It was my fault! None of this would have happened if I would have just listened to her and stopped this shit! Stopped trying to play the damn soldier! The fucking hero!" Char who now let me go replied back now in equal force.
"And what would have happened if you did listen!? Raptor we would be fucked! This whole place! We would have lost everything if you didn't stand up to them!"
"They would still be alive!" I cried as I looked back down to the rag in my lap.
With silence resting for a few moments, Ron soon asked carefully.
"Did this Gorgon...did he shoot Ghost and Midnight?"
Char looked right to me. He didn't even know the answer that was coming.
"He made me shoot them." The pair of them widened their eyes as I put my head now on the counter itself to cry.
"As punishment! He made me shoot both of them! Then he shot me...?"
I fell into a slump as Ron then asked.
"But your alive. How?"
I didn't answer. All I could do was cry. I needed to cry. I haven't since this all happened really. Not like this. Char placed his hand back on my back as Ron just did his best to comprehend all this. During which he got char a drink and sat down next to me on my other side to also place his hand on my back.
"Just let it out." He urged as I heard from my other side.
"We thought he was dead when we found them. Raptor somehow took a shot to the head. As you could tell by the scar."
"Holy shit. You should be dead." Stated Ron as I just chuckled and replied.
"I fucking wish I did!"
Ron bit his tongue and then asked Char.
"When did he come through?"
"Two days ago. I'm still shocked he's even moving at all after that."
"You shouldn't be Raptor. You should be resting. Fuck this war right now. Let Archer deal with that shit. You need time." Stated Ron in a sure tone as Char nodded his head to add.
"You should be. No one here can possibly know what your feeling after that. But we all care about you. Not just as a leader. Your our friend. And as a friend I just think you need time to yourself. Yeah venting like this is important too, but after this we should go back to the capital and get you in a bed. You can't have slept at all last night."
"How can I sleep when Gorgon is still out there?" I wondered as Char replied.
"You can sleep knowing we will get him back. We will kill him. He'll be out fighting this war same as all of us."
"I can't trust that." I stated as Char sighed to question.
"Trust what?"
Looking over to him I replied.
"Trust that some of these kids in our army will be able to kill a man like him. I need to do that myself."
"Archer and the others won't let you do that to yourself Raptor. I'm not saying you couldn't do it. Hell I ain't even saying I would stop you if given the chance. But this war needs you. Right now more then ever."
"Why?" I asked back as he went silent.
"Right now G.U.N thinks I am dead. I'm invisible. If I stay what's to stop Gorgon from killing more people I care about Char? What if he killed you?" I asked him as things went silent once more. With our eyes locked Char replied.
"I'd die. To protect you and this country. That's all that would happen Raptor. No matter the outcome. No matter the choice you make. Gorgon won't survive this war. Even if he killed everyone. It wouldn't matter one bit. Nobody can kill that many people. Nobody can kill kids...and stay sane. He'd ether die to himself or to you. It's doesn't matter. All that does is that you live and stay out of the line of fire long enough to make this country better again. To bring back peace. Our freedom. It doesn't matter who dies. All that matters is that you live." He stated with an almost unmovable voice. Ron with wide eyes looked to me as I just stared at Char directly. I didn't know what to say after that.
"Couldn't have said it any better." Stated Ron as Char relaxed and took a sip from his drink as I just looked away.
"Drinks are on the house for this one. You need anything you just ask. And Raptor?"
Looking over to Ron I looked right into his eyes as he said in a sad tone.
"I'm so sorry. Nobody should ever go through that. But everyone is here for you. Just know that. Okay?"
Walking back behind the bar Ron went to the back as I just refocused and looked back to Char who clearly looked like he was in a trance. One of which he said without looking at me.
"When you saved my life back at that chopper crash. You said it was because I had to live on. Well now it's your turn. No matter what you decide to do Commander. I'll be there."
Placing his arm this time around my whole body, I just lowered back down to the counter to think about what he said. The whole time we just sat in silence.
Hunter's POV, 1 hour later.
Raptor's room was dark. But cold for some reason. Shutting the door behind me I looked around slowly. I didn't know where he was or where he went and I wasn't scared, but I wanted to be ready. This time I wouldn't be so dumb. This time I would be ready. I had to be.
Placing my rifle down next to the edge of the bedside, I sat down to feel something under my thigh. Looking down I saw it was a coat. Or a cloak maybe.
"When did you get this Raptor?" I asked out loud as I looked to the front to see a weird symbol on the front. It was small but it was there.
"What the hell?" I asked as I widened my eyes to the sound of the door opening.
Looking up I panicked and stood up as Raptor came in to see me with cloak in hand.
"What are you doing in here?" He asked as I still held his cloak. Trying to keep calm I replied.
"You weren't outside or in your office. So I wanted to see if you were maybe sleeping."
"Why? So you can kill me?" He asked as I widened my eyes.
"No? Why would I...?" He approached quickly to urge.
"Cause I deserve it. I did hurt you after all. It would be only fair."
With him only a foot away I replied.
"If I wanted to hurt you I would just punch you right now and get it over with. Not kill you."
"Hmm." He mumbled as he looked down to my hand that held the cloak.
Taking it away he then asked.
"Well?"
"Well what?" I replied as he asked.
"Are you going to?"
Caught off guard I replied.
"No. Cause I'm not mad at you for hurting me. I said something out of line I didn't have any right saying. And I am sorry."
Raptor just took the cloak and walking right by me he made his way to his dresser. Placing it down on top of it he turned back to say.
"I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I was just angry."
"I know." I replied as I walked over to grab him by the shoulder.
Lowering us both down to his bed I whispered.
"You have every right to be angry. I shouldn't have assumed anything. I just wanted you to know I was here for you. I wanted to try and calm you down. Archer said you were angry when you first woke up."
"Archer wants me to stay safe and be here for the war."
"And? Isn't that what we all want? Isn't that what you want?" I questioned as he looked me right in the eyes to reply.
"No. I want to go after the men who did it. I want to go kill them all Hunter. I need this. I need the closure that my family's killers are dead."
"You can't be serious though Raptor. You just came back to us. You just came back...to me." I stated as I reached for his hand. Raptor kept his grip open and let me take his hand in mine. Looking back to his lap he then asked.
"Why wouldn't this be serious Hunter? I can't just let them get away with what they did to me."
"And they won't." I replied in a serious tone as he looked over into my eyes to wonder.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Cause those men will come to fight. When the war starts they will be there to try and get the better of us again. And when word gets around that your alive you can bet Gorgon will try again. But next time that happens everyone will be by your side. There won't be any dirty games being played. You'll have everyone with you. No matter how good they may think they are, they won't win."
Raptor squeezed my hand to then state.
"You know I care about you. Right?"
Looking back into my eyes I replied.
"Of course I do."
Smiling slightly Raptor then said.
"Then try to understand what I am about to say okay?"
I went silent as he brought my hand up to his chest.
"I want you to be safe. Okay? I don't want to lose anymore friends. Especially you. It's for that reason I want you and me to stop what we are doing. We can't have a relationship while Gorgon is around. Not while G.U.N is around. I don't want to take any more chances. Not after this."
Raptor gently squeezed my hand one more time before letting it go. As I pulled away I replied.
"I just want you to know I care. You can come to me about anything. I'll be here. You don't have to love me like you did Alicia. I just need you to understand that."
"I do." He replied as I then urged.
"Then I'll do what you say. But in return you need to rest and stay here. We need you."
Raptor now had his eyes shut.
"We will deal with Gorgon when the time comes. Please Raptor. Please just stay with me."
Leaning in to his face all I felt was a chill. But taking my hand and resting it on his cheek I got his attention. Soon pressing my lips to his I gave him a gentle kiss to pull back and whisper.
"Okay? Promise me."
Raptor still had a blank face. Hell he barely even tried to kiss back there. But with a small smile he replied.
"I promise."
Nodding my head I then asked.
"Do you wana talk at all?"
Shaking his head he replied.
"No. I talked enough already. I just need to rest."
Standing up I then reached for my rifle and said.
"You need anything before I go?"
"No." He replied again as I just stared at him. Raptor soon laid back down leaving me to wonder how he was really feeling. But before I could ask he said.
"I'll be okay. Just go and make sure everyone else is ready for this storm."
Nodding my head I listened and made my way to his door. Raptor looked away from me as he laid his head down so with little left to say I made my way out into the hall. Part of me was happy I got him to at least talk. Another part of me wondered if it was really that easy to convince him to stay.
mT Shadow.