Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 125 – An animal thing.
Raze's POV.
Mason was perfectly alright with Raptor getting the day off. I told him his wounds were safe and he was going to be fine. Everything was working out. But I still couldn't believe it. I felt like he was some sort of god or something now. For a while I had admired him. Now I just can't help but worship. He was nothing short of a god. At the least a demigod. But there was no way to tell. Now that I knew for a fact just how much it strains him to do it, I can understand why at least he doesn't want to go overboard. But if he could heal anything, he could change lives. I know that might not be his point of view on it, but I'm sure deep down he would love to help people in need. Maybe after this war is over I can convince him to try. Just maybe.
Walking back to Zeta's room, I opened the door to shout.
"Zeta?!"
"In the bathroom!" She replied as I walked my way over. Letting out a deep breath and shutting my eyes as I entered, I ran my right hand up across my face to say.
"It's all done. No one is going to bother him. How's...?!" Opening my eyes mid sentence, I stopped in absolute shock at what I was seeing in front of me. The tub was full and Zeta was just sitting there in it. The water covered her body but throwing her hair back she looked up at me with that brown splotched face to ask.
"You okay Raze?"
"Ahhhhh...hmmmmm...Zeta I thought the bath was for Molly."
Giving me a confused look she replied.
"She's here too. Molly?"
Looking to the other end of the tub, I let out a gasp as the small pup emerged from under the water. She rose out right onto Zeta's left leg to bark.
"Braf!"
Every bone in my body was blushing. I couldn't decide what to think of this. Part of me was shocked Zeta was naked and just laying there openly, but another part wanted to laugh at just how cute it was. With my face completely red, I watched on as Zeta sat up. My eyes again opened wide as she exposed her top half. Bringing Molly in front of her she looked back to me to say.
"It's been ages since I had the chance to enjoy a nice bath. Figured since Raptor wanted us to clean Molly here, it was a good enough excuse to get one myself. God knows I needed it."
My hands were shaking as she looked back to me to ask.
"What's wrong?"
Gulping I replied with a question of my own.
"How are you okay with this?"
Looking back to Molly then back to me she replied.
"I use to take baths with my pet ferret back when I was a kid in Russia. It's basically the same thing with her."
Now knowing something new about her, I said in disbelief.
"That's not what I meant Zeta. I meant how are you okay with just being naked openly in front of people?"
Letting out a chuckle she replied.
"It's not like I get off on it Raze. I'm only okay right now cause I know you enough not to be worried. Since when did you care if I was naked or not?" She wondered with a smirk as I quickly replied.
"I don't care! I'm just...ahhhhhhh!"
Both her and Molly widened their eyes at my sudden outburst. Letting my arms come to rest around my body, I looked to the wolf to state.
"You know I love you right?"
Smiling she replied.
"Of course. But you love Raptor too."
"That's different!" I stated as she just laughed and ran some water from her hands down on top of Molly's head.
"I've known you for how many years?" I asked as she then replied.
"Enough that you shouldn't be weirded out by my tits."
Blushing harder, I shouted back.
"You are such a...ummmmmmm!" Zeta just continued to laugh as I struggled in these situations. Knowing that she urged.
"Come here Raze."
Opening my eyes in confusion I questioned.
"What?"
"Come. Here." She said again. This time with a point of her hand as I slowly forced my body to move. Soon approaching the tub, I widened my eyes as she stood up. My whole body began to shake now as she leaned in to whisper.
"I love you too. Okay? Now stop being such a timid girl and relax."
I was at a loss for myself as she leaned in to kiss me softly on the lips. After a second she pulled back to smile. Struggling to breathe I asked.
"You think...Raptor would...care if he knew?"
"He already does silly. Not like we hide it much."
Bringing a smile to my face, Zeta then said.
"I'll have you know though that no matter what happens; I'll always be here for you. Cause you've been there for me. Whether Raptor likes it or not."
Dragging my eyes down her slim chest, Zeta gave me a playful glare to state.
"It's rude to stare now foxy."
Gulping I replied.
"To be honest Raptor might like this more. Us being this close."
Running her finger under my chin she replied.
"I'm sure he does. Now...?" Lowering herself back down to the water, I remained where I was to look to Molly, then back to her.
"Give us a few more minutes and she'll be all yours to look at. Okay?"
Smiling wider and wider now, I replied while taking a step back from the tub.
"I can do that."
"I don't care if you stay Raze." She informed me as I backed out into the room.
"It's okay! Really! I can wait! Really!"
Letting out another chuckle as I made my way back into the room. I reached for the door to start shutting it slowly. As it was closing Zeta replied.
"See you soon then."
With the door shut, I let out a huge gasp of air to fall back onto the bed. This woman knew just what she was doing. She knew how to push my buttons and she did it perfectly. Part of me really was convinced she did get off on it. Seeing me like this. But the question I soon asked myself was, did I even care? Probably not, cause she was worth it.
Mintues later.
Zeta came out after some time with nothing but her underwear. Again I began to blush as she made her way over to her bags. Bending over, she began to pull out some fresh clothes. I couldn't help but watch as she soon slid back into her normal gear. Skin tight however this time around. Her pants alone gave me images. Skin tight brown jeans and a slim white tank top. Once dressed to looked back to me to ask.
"Do I look better?"
I just stared on with an open mouth as she smiled and replied.
"Okay good. Cause it's the last of my clothes. I wasn't expecting to stay this long. Might have to go shop around at some point for new things."
Shutting her bags, Zeta refocused and looked back to the bathroom.
"Molly!" She shouted as the dog came out with a small towel on top of her body. She couldn't even see. She just ran head first into the room to stop as we both started to laugh. Approaching the pup, Zeta got the towel off her to say.
"Your too damn adorable baby. How on earth does a sweet thing like you get stuck in a place like this?"
I nodded my head as she picked her up to approach me on the bed.
"Raze is going to look you over, okay Molly? She needs to see if you have any problems. Plus we need to check and make sure that mean man who hurt you didn't cause any more damage. Okay?"
"Braf!" She replied as she handed me the dog.
Molly was indeed a wild dog. But she was more then just that. She was a coyote more or less. Training her would be hard. But seeing her these past few times gives me hope she will turn out all right. She's clearly a people person if placed in the right hands.
With Zeta laying back to let out a deep sigh, I started my examination. Hopefully everything will be alright.
Archer's POV, Iraq capital.
Everyone was safe thank god. My men were out cleaning up from the battle last night. God knows we have a lot to bury. But I gave everyone the news that Afghanistan was ours. Celebrations were being mounted and I already had news teams trying to talk to me for details. I'm sure Mason will be swamped in time. Cause I was turning them all away. I didn't know the details. Only thing I knew was that Raptor was the reason it happened. But keeping his name out of the headlines is our job right now. If anyone leaks that he is alive to the press, it'll be on the news in no time at all and Linnen will find out he survived that night. And even though I was still mad at him, I understood well enough the power behind keeping him dead to Linnen. I was going to do everything to make sure no one found out.
Walking around the courtyards just to get an idea of just how many men I lost, I soon stopped in my tracks to see Hunter leaving from the main gate. In confusion, I followed and watched as she made her way east towards the road that lead to the main border. Something wasn't right.
Looking around to find Black walking out from the main building, I shouted.
"Captain!"
His eyes came right over to me and in time he approach to ask.
"What's up Archer?"
Matching his height, I said with respect.
"I wanted to first of all say thank you. You lead my men like a true leader out there. For that I want you to know I'm sorry for not believing in you up till now. You earned my trust. Probably earned everyone's." Smiling Black replied.
"It's okay. I get it. At this point Archer I'm here for the cause. It's my pleasure to help all I can. Me and my men all feel that way. And to be honest everyone is kinda looking at me like I'm Raptor. Or even yourself. It's weird."
"That's cause they trust you. You earned that by putting your life on the line. Especially if you put your life before theirs. Which you did. Even my officers who have been here since this all began years back all see you as an equal now. Even as you describe it, as myself or Raptor. Your a leader. A born one at that. And whether you like it or not, your stuck here for the long run. So get use to it. That's an order." I stated as he chuckled.
Looking back to my eyes, I took my chance to ask.
"Can you do me a favor if your free?"
Nodding he replied.
"Name it."
"Hunter just left. I'm worried about her. She's not been the same since he left. I don't want her being in the wrong frame of mind. She may be hurting and I think your just the person to talk with her about it. Can you go after her and see if you can at least make things better? She needs this." I stated as Black questioned.
"You think she's going to be a problem in the future if we don't do something?"
Lowering my head I replied.
"I don't know to be honest. She's no traitor Black. She's here for the same reason we all are. But if and when Raptor comes back, I don't need her causing him trouble. He's been through a lot."
"Well so has she." He stated back as I let out a sigh to reply.
"Just please Black. Do this for me. I'm no fool that they had something going on while they were together. Him leaving like he did broke her heart. I'm sure your no fool to it ether. She needs someone to talk this out with. Please." With a nod of his head and a step passed me, he replied while heading for the gate.
"I'll get after her then. I'll let you know what happens when I get back."
"Thank you!" I replied as he left the perimeter.
Letting out a deep sigh, I refocused and continued my walk around. My men needed to know I cared. Hiding behind my desk won't show that. That's at least one thing Raptor and I can agree on.
Hunter's POV, an hour later.
I sat here by myself. Just toying with my knife as I had not even a single thought in my mind. I was just at peace. Twirling it along my thigh as I looked around.
This was the old rebellion hideout Raptor had before this all happened. The same place I sat now was the same place he gave me that knife of his. The same place he said he cared about me. Now as I sat here I questioned if that was even true.
"You know you are a bitch to catch!" I heard out of the corner of my left ear. Turning my head in a panic, I widened my eyes as Black made his way into the old yard. I kept silent as he approached.
"You had me guessing. I honestly had no clue where you were going."
"What are you doing here?" I asked him as he was now under me a good ten feet just looking up.
"I got orders from the big guy asking me to check up on you. He saw you leave and he was worried. And to be honest Hunter we all are kinda worried. You've been all to yourself these last few days."
"So?" I questioned as he just shook his head once to reply.
"So it's clear your troubled. Hell if Archer can see it, we all can. Listen I'm not saying you gotta talk to me about anything that's bothering you, but at least be straight with me when I ask. Are you pissed off about Raptor leaving?"
Lowering my knife down to the surface of the garage, I replied with a calm tone.
"He said he wouldn't go. He promise me!" My calm tone turned into anger as Black just stared at me from below.
"He fucking promised!"
Lowering my head I began to cry. With my eyes shut, I muttered in anger.
"He said he would wait! Said he would stay if I promised to drop our relationship and just remain friends!"
"So you two were a thing then." Stated Black as I reopened my eyes to scream at him.
"I thought I fucking loved him Black! I thought he loved me...?" I slipped into a deep train of thought as Black found a way up to me in the meantime. Sitting down right alongside me he asked.
"Are you so sure he doesn't now that he's gone?"
His question honestly made me think. After a few seconds I replied.
"I...I don't know. He never said he didn't."
"Then stop questioning that first of all Hunter. Let's focus on the real problem." He said as I looked over to him to wonder.
"Real problem?"
Nodding he replied.
Your just pissed he broke a promise. Your mad he had to choose between you and the family he vowed to protect. Your mad he's not here. Not here to help you through this war. He left you alone to fend for yourself; while he went after the men who ruined everything good in the world he had left to fight for. And I'm sorry but someone has to say this to you." He said with seriousness as I now just stared into his eyes.
"You need to look at it from his point of view. If someone killed the person you gave everything for to protect. If someone killed the kids you brought into the world. If someone just ripped that all away and laughed in your face. You couldn't possibly sit there and take it while they go on unpunished. It's impossible Hunter. No matter how much you think he can endure; the man has lost everything. He woke up in a body bag next to his kids and wife. He's acting for himself yes. But in the end it's not about him. It's about them." Stated Black as I had my eyes wide open in utter confusion for how to feel or even respond.
"Sometimes in life you need to know when to bite the bullet and persevere through hardship. Raptor bit that bullet a million times over. He's gone through it all. And it's a personal hell for him every time he closes his eyes and remembers all he's lost."
Placing his hand on my leg, Black added.
"Raptor may have left you. But the reason is clear. It's not something anyone can hate him for. Be mad? Sure. But hold it on him? No. But I will say this. If Raptor truly loves you he'll be back. He'll come to you expecting you to hate him. He'll probably say he understands why. That's because before he even decided to leave us, he knew just what he was letting go. He knows the affects of it all. There is nothing he can say that makes it right, but there is nothing you can say that makes it right to hate him ether. Your both wrong for doing what your doing. That's why nether of you can be right. You'll both just have to suck it up and work through some extra hardship." Stated Black as I had to ask.
"And what if he doesn't love me?"
Black frowned to reply.
"Then I don't know what to tell you. But I do know he cares for us all like family. Regardless of how he feels, he'll always protect and be there for you. For all of us. For every single person in this country. Raptor is a leader. One of the best. That's why no matter what happens, I know you'll work something out."
Looking down to his hand, I placed mine on top to reply.
"I don't know."
Smiling Black then said.
"You have time. The answers aren't always right there for you to see. Just think about it. When the time comes you'll know just what to say. Even if you just curse him out for being a prick."
Letting out a chuckle, I slowly began to laugh. Black then reached for my shoulder to drag me in for a hug.
"You'll work it out Hunter. Trust me." He urged with a caring tone as I hugged back.
Black was right. I just needed time. Time to think about this all. Time to think clearly. Maybe when Raptor gets back I'll know what to say.
Pulling away with a smile Black asked.
"Why this place?"
Wiping my eyes I replied.
"It's where he first said he cared about me. Coming here helps me think. That's all."
Black just nodded as I went silent.
"It's going to work out Hunter. You just need to believe that. Raptor is a good guy."
"I know." I replied as we both looked up at the sun.
mT Shadow.