Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 131 – A Night to us.
Zeta's POV. Later that night.
Raptor was busy getting ready. Left me with time to finish up myself. Waiting in my room for him to come get me, I debated about bringing anything. Besides my phone I was waging I should bring a weapon just in case. I'm sure if I did however Raptor would be beside himself if I brought a gun and I kept his. Regardless I don't really care what he thinks. I got some new clothes, but nothing fancy. Not like I need a dress or anything so girly. As far as I know we are just going for drinks. Plus I can't imagine Raptor being a romantic at this point in his life. But for some reason I wanted to see him try. Might be fun. I told myself as I inspected my sidearm.
"Knock! Knock!"
Looking up as my door opened, I widened my eyes as Raze was there. Instantly she asked.
"What you doing?"
Smiling I replied.
"Raptor and I are going out for drinks. I'm just waiting on him."
Approaching the bed where I sat Raze questioned.
"Is it a date?"
Shrugging my head I replied.
"I guess. Why? You jealous?"
Immediately she replied with a defensive tone.
"The only thing I'm jealous of is that you get to relax. Raptor has me babysitting Tusk till tomorrow."
"Someone has to. Just in case." I said confidently as she turned her tone into a whisper to ask.
"Are you going to ask him about how he can heal?"
Now I was confused. Up till now I honestly wasn't all too concerned. I planned on keeping it a secret anyway. But looking up at the fox I replied.
"I don't know. This is suppose to be a sit down for us. I doubt he will tell me anyway."
"Someone has to ask Zeta." She stated back as I nodded.
"What he can do is something only gods are thought capable of. I need to know how."
"He's not a god Raze." I replied as she gave me a straight face to question.
"Then what is he then? Cause there isn't another reason. Nobody can learn that kind of magic."
She was right. I knew she was. I just really didn't want to think about. Sensing my concern Raze urged.
"Just get him drinking. Clearly he gets drunk so maybe he'll slip up and tell you something."
"Yeah maybe." I replied as she instantly shouted.
"It'll work!"
"So what if he is a god or something Raze? Who will believe that? Up till now we knew gods as just tales. No one has ever existed with those kind of abilities."
"There is always a time for that to change Zeta." She replied back as I went silent again.
"Still makes it sound crazy." I said as I looked up to see Raptor entering the room with Molly on his shoulder like some sort of bird. Instantly Raze and I smiled and got up to approach. Looking to me Raptor asked.
"What?"
Raze quickly got close to look at Molly.
"She's too god damn cute Raptor."
Chuckling he replied.
"She sure is. Doesn't even cause trouble being here. Plus she makes me feel better. So I won't argue with having her cling to me like this."
Placing my M9 behind my back and tucking it in my belt, I covered it up with my shirt and asked.
"We good to go?"
Nodding he then replied.
"Yeah. Mason has a truck waiting outside."
"Is she coming along?" I then asked as I referred to Molly. Raptor then looked to Molly to reply.
"Only if she wants to. You want to join us Molly?" He asked as she looked back to him to lick his face and reply.
"Braf!"
"Guess that's a yes then." He said with a smile as he wiped his face off with his other hand. Once refocused Raptor asked.
"You ready then?" Smiling I replied.
"Yeah let's get going."
Walking passed Raze to get to him, Raptor then looked to Raze to say firmly.
"Ask Juper if he's okay watching Tusk tonight. I'm sure you're tired."
Raze nodded back so fast, and replied.
"I should be okay. But if I do find myself drained in another hour or two I'll let him know. Thank you Raptor."
Smiling Raptor then turned around to head my way by the door. As he reached me he said back to the fox.
"No problem. We'll be back in a few hours."
"Understood." She then replied as Raptor looked back to me to urge.
"Follow me then."
"Yes sir." I replied with a bit of sass as he just smiled and led us to the main stairs. As we walked I kept my eyes on Raptor from behind. Even though he was older then me he still had a body that matched even the youngest guys I knew back home. Maybe it's cause he's been in a war his whole life, but regardless he was honestly attractive. But I was noticing his coat of quills coming in. They looked almost black. It was still too soon to tell but something wasn't right.
As we got outside Raptor urged as we neared the truck.
"I'll drive. You just relax."
"Don't have to tell me twice." I replied as I got around the other side to get in. With Raptor stepping up to take the driver's side, I waited till he was in and the door was shut to ask.
"Where to?"
With a smile he replied.
"To be honest I don't really know. I haven't been in the city for years. Not sure what's around."
Chuckling I questioned.
"You're taking me out on a date and you don't know where to even go? Smooth Raptor."
Placing Molly down on my lap he replied.
"I like to think this is an opportunity to look around. Like I said just relax. Let me worry about driving. The night's just started anyway so cut me some slack at least."
Keeping a smile I replied.
"Okay. But you better make sure it's a some place that will be okay with you just bringing in a dog like Molly here."
Nodding as he started the engine, Raptor then said as he got us moving.
"I can't imagine anyone turning her down. But I'll try."
With Molly curled up on my lap, I refocused on the road ahead.
Raptor's POV.
Zeta was already starting to remind me of Alicia. Already giving me a hard time. I knew she was joking but it still did nothing for my confidence.
Driving around the city proved really easy at least. For the most part people were out and about at this hour. Guess we weren't the only ones looking to celebrate. Even though the rebellion hasn't even come forth to say we won back the city yet. Guess people were just happy we survived the first battle.
Part of me wanted to go to a bar. But I was hungry. I knew she had to be too. Only issue I had was that I didn't know if Zeta was the type of chick to like a nice dinner date. Russian as she is, I guess I had a stereotype going. But I wasn't going to let that stop me from finding out. Seeing a pretty nice place nearby as we now found ourselves within the heart of the city, I began to pull us over. Zeta quickly picked up on what was going on in my head and questioned.
"An actual restaurant?"
Smiling as I found a parking space, I replied.
"I'm hungry."
"They got whiskey?" She then asked as I calmly replied after pulling us in.
"Doubt it. But how about this?" Zeta looked right to me as I turned my body to face her in my seat.
"Let's get some food that's not made in a mess hall for once. Then after we can go and pick you up a nice bottle of...?!"
My words were cut in half as I suddenly was hit with a huge spike of pain. It came from the back of my head it felt like; and stopping mid sentence I reached back to grab my skull. Zeta immediately asked.
"What's wrong?"
Slowly the pain went away, but god damn did it feel like I was hit with bat. Reopening my eyes to look at the confused wolf, I replied.
"I don't know. I just got a headache I think. Wow that hurt." I told her as she asked again.
"Are you okay?"
Getting back to normal in time I replied.
"Yeah. You ready?"
"Braf!" Replied Molly as I broke a smile to look back at Zeta who was clearly worried about what just happened. Truth be told I didn't know what to say. It just happened.
"Come on then." I urged her as I opened my door to step out. Zeta slowly picked up Molly and got out on her side to see me coming already around the truck.
"As I was saying. After we eat we can go pick you out a bottle. Sound good?"
Smiling Zeta replied.
"Sounds perfect."
With Molly in her arms, I looked to the restaurant to say.
"Let's hope it's not too busy. And that they are okay with Molly coming in."
Zeta and myself then began to head for the entrance. There wasn't a whole lot of people inside, but enough to draw some attention. One of the waiters who manned the front desk immediately stopped what he was doing to stare at us as we entered. With a smile he came out from behind the desk to ask.
"What have we here? Table for three?"
Slightly surprised I questioned.
"I'm sorry if it's not custom to bring a pet in. Is it okay if she joins us for dinner? I promise she'll be on her best behavior."
Stopping maybe three feet away the man replied.
"I'm the manager here actually. I have no issue letting you guys bring her in. But just make sure to keep an eye on her."
"Yes sir." I replied as he then asked.
"Well good. Are you two ready then?"
With smiles I replied.
"Yes."
"Then follow me. A booth just freed up." He stated as I looked to see Zeta watching his move. The second he turned around she began to follow after. I had no choice but to do the same as Molly was very interested in the smells around us. I'm sure she can smell all the food. To be honest it smelled really good. Got my stomach going as we soon found ourselves at a booth and ordering drinks. Zeta got a water as I decided to do the same. No point in drinking yet. Plus I'm sure she was holding back just to get a special kind of liquor she knew she would actually like.
Settling in to our booth, Zeta and I waited in silence as the waiter soon came back with our drinks.
"Thank you." I told him as he wondered.
"You know what you want to order sir?"
Looking to the menu I replied.
"Give us a few minutes?"
Smiling he backed up and said with a calm tone.
"Take your time. I'll be back in a few."
"Thank you again." I replied as Molly was standing right in the seat next to me. Looking to the pup, I urged.
"Just lay down for now baby. I'll see if we can get you something."
"Braf!" She replied with a small tone as I looked back to the other dog in the room. Zeta had her eyes on the menu as I wondered.
"You know what you want?"
Keeping her head on the menu she replied.
"Maybe. Not to sure. It's been a long time since I had an actual dinner. Kinda hope that guy doesn't come back for at least ten minutes."
"When's the last time you sat down like this?"
Now looking up at me Zeta replied.
"Hmmmm. God it's been a while now that you got me thinking on it. Let's see. I've been in the middle east for going on four months now. Before that I was in Syria for maybe two. Then further back I was in Turkey for maybe another three."
This girl was something else. Kinda struck me as shocking to now understanding just how far she's come.
"You've been running that long?"
With a very thin frown Zeta nodded.
"I'll put it to you this way Raptor. I joined the army back in Russia when I turned eighteen. Did one tour which was four years. Making me twenty two. After that I joined Spetsnaz for two more and by the time I was twenty four I got pulled for that program G.U.N was operating."
"How long was the operation?" I asked in awe as she put down her menu to think to herself for a minute. I could tell I was making her think back. She had that look on her face. But in time she replied.
"Three or four months I think."
Nodding my head, I now had my hand on Molly. She laid down right next to me making it easy to pet her. Zeta who looked back to her menu went on to finish answering my first question.
"After the program I was sent to China with Tusk and my sister Pepper and that guy Zeak and a few others. Working together it took us only two months to make that bomb. After it went off was when people caught on to us. China was in disarray but they still had easily double our numbers. Tusk got out with what was left of the G.U.N extraction force that was sent to retrieve us after the detonation. But like I said we got ambushed. Tusk was the only one I saw go with them."
"What happened to you then?" I asked as she was now clearly getting a sadder tone the more she talked about it.
"I tried to save my sister. But when we managed to escape the area on foot it wasn't long till we were followed."
"What about Zeak?"
Looking right at me again Zeta replied.
"I never saw him leave in the first place. I figured he was killed. Up till Tusk told me he lived. I don't know. He ether gave up or managed to find another way out. But regardless my sister and I were being hunted across the city. Soldiers everywhere trying to contain the site where the bomb went off. Mixed with G.U.N starting their assault on the country. Everyone was out looking for a fight."
"So what happened to you two then? Did you get separated?"
Placing her arms on the table to support herself. Zeta leaned in to reply.
"Everything was happening so fast Raptor. The only way I knew out of that city was by air. So Pepper and I tried our luck getting a ride out at the airport. There are so many planes there and with the war raging I figured we could jack a small plane out of country. Even if it was two seater."
"So what happened?" I asked again as she replied.
"We got to the airport and by the time we managed to locate a plane Chinese special forces had full control over the airstrip. We got caught fueling up a small cargo plane. Small enough to slip out and not draw attention. But before we could finish we amassed quite the gathering of hostile troops. I did all I could to hold them back. I tried everything to get us on that plane in time. But when I managed to clear a gap just large enough to pull out; my sister was shot. She took a sniper round from three hundred meters out to her shoulder. Fucking thing nearly took her right arm off."
With my eyes locked right on her, I could start to see a tear forming in her eyes. But not showing emotion Zeta went on to say.
"I dragged her on the plane and got us airborne. By the time we reached Russian borders we got flagged down near the border and they took us in. From there I never saw her again."
"Was she alive?" I asked as she nodded and wiped her eyes.
"Pepper was a soldier same as me. User and all. We were like twins. Expect she was better looking and she was a fucking god tier close combat operator. She could toss every guy on the team on their backs in a few strikes."
"So what happened after?" I wondered taking a small note to her sister as she went on to reply.
"Pepper I assume was transported somewhere to treat her wounds. I was okay so I got first seat with Hecan. Times were rough back then and he only wanted my safety after what I did to save me and her. So he cleared my name with the Russian government and from there I went back home. Pepper I never heard anything about till recently."
"Hecan didn't know back then where she went?" I questioned as she shook her head.
"We were on Russian borders. Both of us went separate ways. I assume she went to the hospital while I got flown over to the states. After a month apart I went back home and found out I was alone. No one knew where she went or what happened. Hecan had no hand in her release after we landed that plane. He assured me of that much."
"But he didn't try to contact her?"
"No one knew Raptor. She just went off the grid. All numbers cut. All ties cut. All names and locations cut. She went ghost. I thought she died and just no one wanted to tell me. I guess that part of me took over from there and I just tried to ignore it. Pretend like she wasn't dead and just move on with my life."
With things slowing down from there, Zeta refocused and looked back at the menu. Sniffing up some of her emotion I looked to her still as she knew I was still waiting for the ending. Looking back to me she said.
"I tried settle down after. But after a month I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted answers. So I went out and starting hunting. China wasn't an option so I steered clear and kept going south. Made a lot of friends but at the same time I realized I was being tracked. Those guys back in Iraq? They weren't the first. First time was little over a year ago when I was in Georgia. I got attacked by an Algerian PMC when I tried to cross into Turkey. There were only a few but enough I guess when they figured I was just some girl alone on the road. But I managed and I found out from a good friend of mine in Turkey that my name was up for contract. It wasn't local. It's a global contract Raptor."
"What?" I questioned as she nodded.
"Everyone who is anyone can see the contract. Not just China or Algeria. The same friend who told me showed me. I can even show you if you wanted. Government contracts are posted publicly. You see those guys over there?" She asked me as she looked to our right. Maybe three tables over was a couple of young men enjoying some dinner. All laughing together as Zeta went on to say.
"Those kids can go on their phones and look up who I am. They can see the contract. They can see what I did. What I'm wanted for. How much. My last known locations. They even have pictures of me up there from when I was in Russia. Back when I was eighteen joining up. Raptor it's scary." She whispered to me now as I was slowly seeing the tears form again.
"I haven't checked since I met you. It's how I managed to keep alive this long. The second they update my location to the board I tend to run. For all I know after killing those guys back on that airfield they might have someone looking into where I've gone. That's why I'm scared. That's why I want to tell no one but you and Raze about what kind of fucking monster I am!"
Her tone went slightly up, but no one thankfully heard her as her tears began to roll down her cheeks. I kept motionless as she pulled back to put her hands over her eyes.
"God knows when someone else will leak where I am and you'll be in more danger! I don't want that to happen! I can't watch another person die for me Raptor!" She cried as I reached over to grab her napkin. Placing it under her hands, Zeta slowly grabbed it from me to start patting her face.
"I don't want you to die." She told me as I now felt my heart ache. Looking down to Molly who was watching me, I gave her a nod of my head and instantly she jumped down to jump back up, but this time onto Zeta's lap. She immediately stopped sniffling as Molly put her head right on the rim to her shirt. Putting her hands down to grab her, I watched as she soon cracked a smile through her tears. Using her spare hand to finish wiping her eyes, I looked up as the waiter came back to our table to ask with a smile.
"You guys ready to order?"
Zeta looked up at me as I just gave her a smile to reply.
"Yeah."
mT Shadow.