Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 113 – Death follows you.

Raptor's POV.

Walking over to the destroyed building I struggled to get an exact location on where I heard the sound. Marcus stayed back as I investigated. Pushing aside some wood, I soon found a small set of ears under some rubble.

"Braf!"

The bark was filled with pain as I pushed aside the rubble to be greeted by a pair of barely open eyes. Marcus took a step to get closer as I realized what I found.

Just a puppy.

"What the hell?" I asked as Marcus took his care to get behind me.

Looking over the dog it was clear it was injured. That and malnourished.

"Broken leg." Stated Marcus as I looked to see he was right. The dogs back right leg was snapped in two from what appeared to be some of this rubble. It must have been recent that it happened too.

"Raptor?" Looking back to Marcus he pointed a few feet away to a bigger pile of rubble. Under it had to be the mother. She was long since dead however. Crushed by it all.

Knowing the situation I looked to Marcus to urge.

"Help."

His eyes widened in confusion as I looked back to the puppy.

"What?"

"Help the little guy."

"Are you serious? Raptor?" He questioned as I quickly replied.

"You can do it. I know you can."

"I know I can too but I kill people. I'm not suppose to be saving lives."

"Then let me do it then if you won't."

"What?" He asked again as I looked back to him to reply.

"Let me do it. I can heal myself. Let me help him."

At a loss for words Marcus then stated.

"Yeah you can heal yourself, but letting you heal others can kill you Raptor. It takes too much energy. It would cost me most of my power to let you do that."

"Do it." I ordered him as he now just glared at me.

"Raptor we aren't just talking about you here anymore."

"Marcus!" I shouted as he went quiet.

"I can handle it. Just do it."

"You owe me." He then said as he got down on his knees next to me. Placing his hand on my shoulder he ordered.

"Take a breath and place your hand on the injury."

Gently reaching out for the pup, his eyes watched as I softly placed my hand on its leg. After a few seconds Marcus took his hand off of me to urge.

"Just...focus now. The key...is to...keep...calm."

His voice was faltering and looking to my side I watched as he fell over. In a panic I asked.

"Marcus?! You good?!"

His eyes were closed but soon I heard.

"I'm fine. Just focus."

Taking a breath I looked back to the dog to do what I thought I had to. Just focusing my mind I thought only about the injury. I couldn't explain the feeling that soon came to me. My hand got warm and my head got light. But I could see it happening. The bones forming and the pain going away. As soon as it was done it was like my mind shut off for a second. I moved my hands to the side to make sure not to fall on the dog. Marcus on the other hand got back up to place his hands on my back to help me from falling over.

"Relax." He urged me as it felt like I lost most of my energy.

"What happened?" I asked as I placed my hand on my head.

"You just had a moment. I told you, it takes a lot of energy. To be honest your lucky your not out cold right now." He stated as I looked to the puppy who began to move the leg.

Watching in silence, the dog stood up from under the rubble and took a step. My heart felt warm for once as he managed to move around us. Marcus on the other hand looked back to me to say.

"You got me all fucked up out here. Saving a damn dog. What a joke."

Pushing the fox off me I replied.

"Thank you. Are you okay? You fell."

"I'm fine. Just tired now. I just gave you the key to life. Needless to say I haven't done that before to a mortal. It took a lot."

Slowly the fox stood back up as the dog came to my knees.

The little guy was nothing more then maybe a few weeks old. Barely had a coat of fur on him but it was dark brown. I wasn't the best with dogs but I had a feeling this wasn't a house breed.

"It's a coyote." Stated Marcus as the pup just rubbed it's head along my leg.

"Your stuck with her now."

Looking at the dog I soon realized Marcus was right. It was a girl.

Bringing my hand to its head I gently pet it. The little girl fell right back over into me. She was definitely underfeed.

"Yeah I guess I am." I went on to say as I gently went to pick it up. Without much of a fight I managed to get the dog up and into my arms. But in seconds I had to find a place to put her. The dog instantly brought its paw up to my chest and bringing her in closer she automatically went up to my shoulder and over into the hood of my duster. In confusion I asked.

"What are you doing?"

The dog just wanted to be kept warm. Thankfully my hood was large enough to carry her as Marcus went on to say.

"You should get back, we need to make sure you...?!" My eyes opened in confusion as his eyes locked right through me. In confusion I turned to see that man from the bar behind me. His three other men sat at the truck as he asked.

"What's going on here guys?"

My mind was at a loss as he was a good distance away still. Looking to Marcus I asked.

"Can they see you?"

He nodded and replied.

"It was an accident. I didn't know they were coming. I was still getting through all that shit back there with you."

Kurt looked to us, a little confused as we didn't answer his question.

"You know I figured something wasn't right when I saw you at the bar. Then it hit me." Stated the wolf as he now got closer.

Marcus stared at me from a foot away and whispered.

"They've seen too much. You know what that means. Right?"

I nodded my head once as Kurt now was within reaching distance. His men waited a few feet back at the truck as he said.

"GenSec pulled out of country earlier this morning. Meaning there are no mercs or PMC's still in country. Meaning first of all that you lied to me. Second of all you are rebellion. That or just some really strange guy who likes to have one on one meetings outside the Pakistan border during wartime."

My body turned to face him now as he asked.

"Just be honest with me and nothing has to happen that ether of us regret. Who are you?"

I kept silent now as Marcus said.

"Raptor?"

Kurt widened his eyes at the name as I calmly replied.

"Yeah I know."

A smile came to his face and in a loss he questioned.

"Raptor who?"

Instantly I reached behind my back to grab onto my old gun. Kurt widened his eyes as I got it out in such speed. It came out so fast it took me a second to realize I had it already aimed at his chest. But after understanding more about what Marcus had done to me, I pulled the trigger.

"Toof! Toof!"

The rounds came out so fast. Too fast for the wolf to react as I hit him twice in the chest.

The men who sat at the truck instantly widened their eyes as I snapped to the nearest man.

"Toof! Toof! Toof! Toof!"

Dropping the closest man to the wheel, I panicked as the last two raised rifles to open fire.

"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"

Marcus went prone on the ground next to Kurt as I was struck in the chest by the rounds. Each hit a little bit harder then the last as I was sent to the sand. Blood jumped out of my mouth as I did my best to roll for the nearby ruble of the building.

The last two soldiers however took that as their chance to move in. Grabbing onto my gun, I used what little energy I had left to switch the firing mode to auto and spray what I had left over the ruble.

"Agh!" One of my rounds managed to clip one of the men in the leg. Nearly falling down, I widened my eyes as his friend sent more rounds at me. This time the rubble blocked most of it but I let out a grunt of pain as a stray round came through hitting me in the stomach. The vest wasn't good enough to catch it after taking six others. I slumped out from the rubble as the two men aimed at me.

"BANG! BANG!"

In an instant both of the men fell. Both heads clipped with a round in the back of their skulls. My eyes shot over to see Marcus with Kurt's gun. Taking this moment to stand up, he aimed right down at Kurt to pull the trigger.

"BANG!"

After which he dropped the weapon and asked.

"You good?"

Looking to my hood I saw the dog still holding itself together inside. She was shaking but I smiled and replied.

"We're good! Fuck!"

Blood slowly came out from my stomach as he came over to look at me.

"We can talk about this later. You need to close that wound."

Nodding my head I replied.

"Okay."

Using all I had left, I placed my hand under the vest to feel the hole. I couldn't manage to apply as much effort as I did with the puppy. I felt the round come out after a few seconds but I couldn't seal it. I was going to pass out if I tried any harder. Marcus knew it too and instead of scolding me he placed his hand on it to do it himself with what little he had left. All I felt was a small warmth as he leaned in to say.

"I haven't had to kill anyone myself in a while."

"Thank you." I replied as he looked up at me to urge.

"You need to get back."

"What about you?" I asked in confusion as he chuckled.

"Next time I decide to tag along with you I'll be sure to understand just what I'm risking. I don't exist. Having that happen is a fuck up on my part."

"I'll handle the rest. Just go." I urged him as he finished with my stomach. Taking his hand off he replied.

"You owe me. Twice now. Remember that."

"I will. Thank you again." I told him as he took a second to look around.

Looking back to the puppy to make sure she was okay, I looked back to see he was gone. My chest felt like it was in half. I haven't been shot like that for a long time. I could only imagine what would have happened if I didn't take her vest. I'd probably be dead. I told myself as I tried to get to my feet.

Now I had to act. These bodies need to go. The whole fucking truck needs to go. G.U.N will be out here soon looking. Gunshots that close to home had to have drawn attention.

Getting to stand up, I knew only one way to handle this.

Ten minutes later.

The pup managed to fall asleep somehow. God knows how. But she kept herself hidden in my hood still. I was still coughing up blood from my wounds. This wasn't how I planned on my night going. Nor was I expecting to spend so much time with Marcus. Guess I can't question the fact whether he is real or not anymore. But that was the first time I saw him that weak. Was he really putting that much effort into helping me?

Wiping my mouth off of blood, I soon approached a very familiar spot. But the perfect place to ditch this ride.

Looking to my side, I reached into my duster to grab onto the bottle of whiskey I bought Zeta. She would certainly kill me for this, but I'll make it up to her.

Undoing the cap I slowly began to spread around the booze. After it was empty I stepped out of the truck and took one last look at the bodies in the back seat. Kurt was piled under his men as I let out a small grunt and proceeded to hit the emergency breaks. Slowly the truck itself rolled right off the cliff and into the pit below. No one would hear this thing go off from down there. God knows nobody heard me when I was.

Watching the truck slam at the bottom, I soon watched as it lit on fire from the impact. After a few seconds you could see it blow up. Now I was safe. Now I just had to get back home. Looking to my hood I saw the girl still out cold. This was going to be a bitch of a walk back.

Pierce's POV, Two hours later.

This was going well for the most part. Everything was set for tomorrow. All my men did their jobs and Juper got back safe and sound. The only issue was Raptor. I was told he left over three hours ago to go get a drink. I had faith he'd be back, but Zeta was clearly worried. Not what I expected from a woman like her. But sitting at the table she asked out loud as it was just me and Raze with her. All my men went to bed.

"I'm about to go out there. I knew I shouldn't have let him go alone."

"If he got into trouble we would have heard about it on the radio Zeta." I told her as she then asked.

"And if they somehow captured him and decided not to say a word? What then? How would I know?"

"He'll be back." I told her as Raze stepped in to say with a smile.

"You two went all out the night we drank together. I bet he's just overindulging."

Zeta let out a sigh as we all suddenly were surprised by the door opening. Zeta stood up immediately along with the rest of us as Raptor came in with his hand on his side and judging from what I could tell he was in pain. Zeta immediately asked.

"What the hell happened? Where were you? You know it's been over three hours since you left? I thought you were going to be back soon."

Raptor clearly was struggling to walk as Raze approached him to ask.

"Are you okay Raptor?"

Nodding he replied.

"I'm fine. Just...?" Cutting him off Raze pointed to his neck.

"Don't lie. That's blood on you. What happened?"

Zeta now just glared at him as I kept my spot by the table.

"Just went out for a drink for a while and I got sidetracked."

"How did you hurt yourself? She then asked as Raptor came to the table.

"I didn't. I'm fine Raze."

Zeta's POV.

Raptor clearly wasn't fine. He was a little wobbly as he came to me and I know that wasn't from drinking. Smiling as he approached I asked.

"What did you do?"

"Why do you think I did something?"

"Cause I don't trust you for a second out there on your own. Raptor if G.U.N. found you...?!"

"Shhhh." My eyes widened as he shushed me. In confusion I chuckled and asked.

"Excuse me? Oh you can't be serious."

"I am." He replied as he gently took off his duster. Everyone widened their eyes as my vest underneath was covered in some blood. Raptor on the other hand carefully placed his coat down on the table. In confusion I asked.

"What the hell happened? Raptor answer me." I ordered him as he looked back at me to reply.

"Nothing important."

"You got blood on you commander." Stated Pierce as Raptor looked down to the vest to reply.

"Shit."

"What happened?" I asked again as I grabbed onto his wrist.

Pulling his hand back he replied.

"I went to get a drink. Some dude from G.U.N got a little too curious. I left the bar and he followed me. That's all."

"Followed where?" I then asked as Pierce added.

"Did you kill him?"

Raptor kept his eyes on me now as he replied.

"I went outside the city to visit that place I told you about. The same spot I lost my father. Okay?"

I looked at this man with sadness as he clearly was upset slightly. Reaching behind his back he pulled out a really nice gun.

"I wanted to see if this was still there."

My eyes looked to the gun and replied.

"It's a nice gun."

"It's the same gun I shot my dad and my daughter with. Trust me. It's not nice." Stated Raptor as I fell utterly silent to the response.

Putting the gun down on the table, Raptor then looked to Pierce.

"This guy was a soldier. Four of them. Just a patrol I think. Ether way they followed me and I dealt with it. We won't have any issues with them."

"What did you do with the bodies?" Asked Pierce to be sure as Raptor looked back to the table.

"Dumped the truck and the bodies in the pit just east of here. Like I said. No issues."

Pierce nodded and sat back down as my eyes caught some blood leaving Raptor's mouth. He didn't notice as Raze instantly came over to shout.

"Raptor!"

Reaching for his mouth he chuckled and replied.

"God damn it."

Wiping his mouth, he urged.

"I'm fine. Relax."

Raze wasn't having it as I stepped in to ask.

"Did you get hurt?"

Raptor looked at me for a good five seconds, but he knew he couldn't hide it. With a small smile he replied.

"I may have taken a bullet or two."

"Jesus Raptor. Let me see." Ordered Raze as she came in close.

"Get this off." She then added as she requested the vest be taken off.

Raptor struggled to take it off in his condition, but with my help I pulled it off him. Raze immediately asked while putting her hands on his chest.

"Where?"

Raptor looked to me as I noticed the vest now that it was in my hands. He wasn't shot once or twice. Looking to the hedgehog I had wide eyes to ask.

"What the fuck are you made of? Raptor you got shot more then twice. Let me count for ya. One...two...three...four...five...?" Raze widened her eyes as Pierce also tried to get a view.

"Six...seven? You got shot seven times and your still walking?"

"I'm stubborn." He replied as I put the vest down on the table next to his duster.

"Take it off." Urged Raze as he took off his shirt. Everyone widened their eyes as it was clear my count was right. Raptor had six bumps placed from the top of his chest down about three inches to his stomach. Raze went to touch one as Raptor begged.

"Gentle. Please Raze."

Smiling she replied.

"Your lucky Zeta pushed you to wear that vest of hers. Bet you don't mind the smell now. Huh?"

Raptor smiled as I began to notice only six bumps. Looking back to the vest I found the missing hole. Raptor watched as I saw the kevlar was broken where it had hit. The round went through. Looking to his stomach I questioned.

"Where's the other hole?"

Raptor let out a grunt as Raze worked her magic, but replied.

"It deflected off. The round came at me through some rubble. It tore the vest but it missed me."

Looking back to the vest I saw the round went right through. It was a straight shot. It might have hit some ruble like he was saying, but it didn't deflect. He was bullshitting me. But why? I wondered as Raze stated.

"Guess that explains the blood. Internal damage. You need to lay down. I have something you can take before you do though."

Keeping my vest in my arms, I widened my eyes as Raptor reached out to grab my hand.

"Hey?" He said softly.

"Hmmm?" I wondered as he still kept smiling.

"If it makes you feel any better I did get you a bottle of whiskey when I was out. But I kinda used it to blow up the truck."

Giving him a small smile I replied.

"That doesn't make me feel better Raptor. Your lucky your already fucked up otherwise I would punch your lights out right now."

"Yeah you wolves are all the same." He then chuckled as Pierce even laughed to add.

"My wife can confirm that. Haha."

Still holding my hand however Raptor said.

"I wasn't trying to just shush you out of spite earlier. I had a reason."

"Yeah? What's that?" I asked as he looked to his cloak.

"I got sidetracked."

With his smile now wide, I grew confused as even Raze was concerned with what he meant. Gently he let my hand go and in confusion I reached for his cloak. Moving the hood aside I widened my eyes as what rested in there was something I never expected to see. Pierce even widened his eyes and went silent as Raze said in awe.

"Raptor?"

"She was trapped under some rubble. Her mom on the other hand...didn't make it. I...?!"

"Shut up." I ordered him as I reached to softly touch the poor baby. Raptor just smiled as Raze left his side to look for herself.

"She hasn't eaten in a few days judging by her sides. She could also do with a bath."

"I'll get her something." Stated Raptor as he stood up. Raze widened her eyes and instantly ordered.

"You are laying down. I'll bring you those pills then Zeta and I will find something for her. You need to relax. You've done more then enough already."

Raptor went silent and sat back down as it was clear I was lost in awe. I loved dogs. Even wild ones, but this was just a baby. Couldn't be more then three weeks old. Pulling my hand back, I looked to Raptor to ask.

"You can barely take care of yourself. Why save her?"

"You looked like you needed a friend other then Raze." He replied as I instantly laughed and said back.

"Keep being a smart ass."

"Figure since I screwed up so bad and lost the whiskey, she might make up for it."

Looking back to the sleeping pup I smiled. Raptor on the other hand tried to stand up again. This time however he came to my side to reach for the duster that held her.

"What are you doing?" I asked him as he looked right at me as he did it to reply.

"I'm going to lay down."

"So?" I questioned as he then replied.

"I would like some company. But seeing as your such a hard ass, I'll settle for her. Plus you got a job to do now. Better get finding her something to eat wolfy."

In utter loss for words as he began to walk away with her I shouted.

"Excuse me!? What did you call me!?"

Raptor ignored me as he left us at a loss. I had every intention on killing him for giving me such a dumb nickname. Raze began to search for those meds and in her own soft tone she asked.

"How much do I have to go through till I have his demeanor for life?"

I just chuckled as Pierce said.

"I haven't ever seen a guy like him. That's for sure."

Even as the mood was set I still had a question. Looking back to my vest said it all.

mT Shadow.