Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 188 – How do I say it?
Zeta's POV.
Pepper's eyes widened as we now just stared at each other in complete silence. Raptor was remaining dormant with himself as Cody just watched from behind him. After a few moments Pepper asked in a loss for how to really react.
"What are you talking about? He's a god? Are you still drunk?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"No but I wish I was."
Now she looked back to Raptor to ask.
"What is she talking about?"
Not waiting for him to answer I replied while grabbing her by the wrist to get her attention back.
"I'm not expecting you to believe me. I wouldn't believe me if I were you. But I'm telling the truth. He's told me and he's shown me. He's shown me what he can do and you don't know this but I almost was killed too. I got shot back in Afghanistan protecting Raze from a G.U.N attack on the capital there."
Pepper again widened her eyes as I went on to say.
"I took a round to my neck. I should have bled out on that floor. But Raptor was there and he got to me in time. He saved my life."
"How?" She asked in confusion as I simply put it.
"He has powers. Amazing and unbelievable powers. He can save lives and that's how I'm still alive. He saved my life."
Now the girl looked back to Raptor to question.
"So my arm was cut off and you did what exactly?"
"I used all I had to save you're life. Much like you did for Molly."
"You expect me to believe you put my arm back on? Saved me from broken ribs and punctured lungs? Are you all fucking insane?" She asked around as I replied.
"Can we prove it to you?"
Now Pepper looked back to her to questioned.
"Prove what?"
"That he's a god." Cody said back as her head now was going between the three of us rapidly. Pepper however was getting a little mad and questioned.
"Is this a joke?"
"No." I replied back as Raptor urged.
"Can I try to show you?"
Pepper let out this sigh to look back at him. Once their eyes lock she replied.
"Fine. Show me."
With a small nod Raptor reached back to grab Cody's belt. The fox widened his eyes all the sudden as he took out a knife Cody had holstered. Once out he brought it up to his arm to urge her.
"Just watch for a second."
Pepper was silent as I awaited it to happen. Cody came a step up to watch as Raptor began to drag the knife across his wrist. Pepper slightly widened her eyes as he did it so casually. After the first drop of blood came out Raptor handed back the knife to Cody and placed his hand back on top of the wound. After a few second he took it off and the wound was gone. Pepper however instantly asked.
"What the fuck? You're a user. Not a fucking god."
I let out this sigh and replied as Raptor just began to take his next course of actions.
"He's not Pep. Just watch. Do it Raptor."
The hedgehog nodded and without even thinking he walked forward and into my sister. Pepper immediately jumped out of her skin as he went right through her and stopped behind her maybe a foot to wonder.
"Is that enough proof?"
My eyes were directly on hers as I knew she had to be scared now. The fur on her arms were spiked up from chills as Raptor mumbled with some struggle to his throat.
"I'm not really a god. More like a demi. Using my powers hurt after a while. Or in this case...auuughkk! One big use. Fuck." He then spit up some more blood as I came to my sister's aid to say.
"It's like Cody said. You can't be expected to believe it from just being told about it. Raptor saved your life and now you know about what is really going on. This doesn't have to change anything now that you know. I was going to tell you at some point when things got a bit more comfortable between the two of you. Wait till you had a more open mind."
With her eyes still on Raptor she questioned.
"Open mind? To what? The fact that this guy is...? He's a demigod? Zeta do you understand what the fuck your trying to get me to see?"
Smiling I replied.
"You just saw it. I'm not trying anything. Nether is he. He...he just fucking saved your life."
Pepper then proceeded to go silent and place her right hand up to her face. She covered her mouth to breathe and after a moment I looked to Raptor who was very slowly looking to the ground to urge.
"Raptor can you...?"
My eyes stopped as I saw blood leaving his right eye. It ran down his face as he was very slow to reacting to it. Pepper looked over slowly as well to see it and with Cody coming up behind him I asked carefully.
"Raptor?"
With that eye still closed Raptor looked back up to me to reply.
"Yeah?"
The focus was now on him. My sister could wait as it was clear to me by his voice alone that he wasn't about to start smiling. He was in pain and in confusion for what to do I urged while reaching for his arm.
"You need to sit down. Come on. Please."
I got nothing back but when I pulled his arm he moved with it. Guiding him to the table I sat him down and knelt down with him as he tucked his head into his chest. I could hear him breathing and in concern I begged.
"Take a few minutes and relax. Is there anything I can do? What's wrong Raptor?"
Even with my sister owing him some sort of thank you for saving her life she was still just as stubborn and stated to herself out loud.
"Demigod and he's the one crying blood?"
"Be quiet Pepper!" I screamed at her as she widened her eyes at my sudden tone change to question back.
"Why!? You all must think I'm crazy! He can't be a god! Look at him!"
Standing up to face her I replied while grabbing her by the arm.
"He saved your fucking life!"
Pushing her back my sister screamed as Cody came to Raptor's side.
"Did he!? Cause as far as I know this is all a fucking dream! There isn't a god damn chance in hell he's anything more then a user! I'm not crazy and I'm sure as shit not about to believe that!"
"For once in your fucking life can you just be something more then an ungrateful bitch!? Regardless if you believe me or not he still saved your fucking life and all your doing is kicking him for it! Can't you see he's in pain because of you!?"
"Oh poor baby! My bad! I didn't know a thirty eight year old military commander needed a soft shoulder to cry on! If I did I would have put on something nice for his tears!"
Growling at my sister Cody shouted.
"Can you two just shut the fuck up!?"
I kept myself focused on Pepper as she shouted back at the fox.
"Who the fuck are you telling to shut up Irish!?"
With a commanding tone he replied.
"I'm telling the one person in the room who clearly doesn't know shit about what is happening to mind her own damn business for a second and focus on the one person that is really important here! And that's Raptor!"
"He's nothing more then a washed up user! He's not a fucking god!"
"Your so fucking stupid and ignorant Pepper! How else are you alive right now!?" I screamed as she reached out to push me back and reply.
"And your a fucking idiot! Guess that makes us even!"
"I can't believe this shit." Cody muttered next as I looked back at Raptor to see him completely still in his seat. His eyes were both shut and with my angry face washing off my face from a sudden jolt of panic I mumbled in absolute concern now for his condition.
"Raptor? Are you okay?"
Cody widened his eyes as he suddenly looked down to see what I saw. Pepper even lost her angry face as she asked with a more controlled tone.
"You there old man? Hey? That's not funny."
Turning around and getting back down on my knees, I reached up to touch his motionless left cheek. The second I touched him he jumped in his seat to question.
"What? What's happening?"
His voice was completely gone from what it once was. He sounded lost and spiking my concern I looked to Cody to order.
"Help me get him to his room. He needs to lay down."
"I gotcha." He replied as he helped me get his other side. As we lifted him up I urged my sister who was at least now somewhat concerned for what was really happening in front of her.
"You need to open your eyes. I know it's hard but the truth is right in front of you. I know it sounds crazy but for once in your fucking life I need you to trust me and accept what we just tried to tell you. You won't get anywhere being stubborn anymore. So wake up."
With her eyes just staring into mine I ordered Cody who helped me get Raptor on his feet.
"Let's go. Carefully."
"I know." He replied as we got him moving.
Even after all I said to her Pepper decided to follow. I grew annoyed and questioned.
"What are you doing?"
Giving me this mad look she replied.
"It's still my job to watch over him. Regardless of how I feel about it."
I just growled as Pepper ordered.
"Mind your business for once and just focus on getting him to his room Zeta."
"Shut up." I ordered her as we proceeded down the main hall and towards his room. Once there Cody got the door and we managed to get Raptor down on his bed and under the covers. Taking off the long sleeve shirt I was wearing, I wrapped it under his head and made sure none of his blood got on anything other then the outfit. With my face close to his as I got him comfortable I whispered into his ear.
"Just rest Raptor. You've done enough for today. Okay?"
Even though he was out of it he replied.
"Zeta?"
I smiled as he didn't say anything else after that. Remaining on my knees next to the bed I listened as Cody urged.
"You two get going. I'll watch him from here."
"You sure?" I asked as he smiled and replied.
"Positive. Go try to relax a little. Especially you Pepper."
"Fuck off." She replied as I stood up and ordered.
"If anything happens you come get us. Okay?"
"I got it." He replied as I turned to grab my sister by the arm. Squeezing her good she ordered with a painful voice.
"Owww! Oww! Let go!"
Dragging her out of the room I replied.
"Not a fucking chance. Let's go."
Once out in the hallway I threw her a foot ahead of me to ask in confusion.
"Are you really that dense?!"
"A god Zeta?! Have you lost your mind!?"
"How else do you explain what he is!? You weren't there when he told me everything!"
"I don't know!" She replied back as I growled a little to hear her add on.
"And your right I wasn't there! I wasn't there for any of the shit that went on between you two! For all I know you're just his bitch! Judging by the way you act and protect him I wouldn't be surprised if you were!"
Losing my growl and just staring at her I watched as her face changed from anger to understanding. Nodding her head she asked with a careful tone.
"What did he tell you?"
"You really want to know?"
Nodding she replied.
"I won't believe you regardless but you can be damn certain I'm interested. So get talking."
As the words left her mouth Blitz entered the hallway to ask.
"What's all the racket?"
"Nothing!" Pepper and I both replied as he widened his eyes at the sudden in sync response. Even Pepper and I looked at each other as he turned around to say.
"Okay then. Geez."
Once the wolf left the hallway I grabbed her by the arm and guided her back to our room. Shutting the door behind us I urged her.
"Take a seat."
"Fuck you. You ain't dad. Talk and walk."
I just let out a sigh as she got off her shirt and began to head for the bathroom. Once she was inside she looked to the mirror to start playing with her hair. Between her first few strokes I started by replying.
"And you're not mom. So quit being a bitch and listen to me."
"I am listening. Your just not saying much." She replied as I did my best to keep calm with her now.
Pulling out a few pieces of her fur, I said with concern as she was just watching herself in the mirror.
"That old man is the most important person in my life now. On more then one level that you will never understand. He's done more for me then anyone in my life. And I've grown to accept him for what he is. All his faults and his problems. All the trouble I could get in? I accepted that too. I earned trust and once he was ready he told me right to my face what I just tried to tell you back in that dining room. He's something more then just a man. He's a man who can change lives and he's doing it his way. He's trying to save his home and at the same time he's trying to make the world a better place. And on top of that!? He's trying to save two stupid Russian girls who are in over their heads! And so far he's provided! My contract is gone! Yours is next and I can see it in your eyes that you want to believe that too. Why is it so hard for you to show some gratitude once in a while? Especially when he clearly saved your life? You know if he wasn't there you'd be dead? You know that don't you?"
By this point Pepper was done playing with her hair. She had her fists balled up along the sink she was standing in front of and she had her eyes closed and her head face down to the ground. I knew I was getting to her so I asked.
"Why is it so hard for you to trust me? I'm your own fucking sister and you can't even take me for my word."
"Do you understand Zeta what you want me to trust?"
Nodding once I replied.
"Yeah...I do."
Slowly she opened her eyes and looked back at the mirror. Using it to look back at me she asked.
"Are you fucking serious?"
Approaching her side I replied as her head turned to face me.
"I am."
She had this look in her eyes of confusion still. Placing my hand on hers as she kept it on the sink. I whispered to her.
"I need you to trust me. Please Pepper."
With her eyes looking to my hand she replied.
"Him though? A god?"
I smiled as she went on to ask.
"There has never been a god in the flesh Zeta. Never. They are only myths that people cling to. They are people beyond us. They are legends. Just tales. Right?"
"Raptor isn't a tale." I told her back directly as she let out a small sigh to look back down into the sink. My eyes looked with her as all I saw was her hair in the sink. Lots of it actually as she then wondered.
"If he really is a god Zeta...why him? Why now? What did he tell you?"
With her eyes coming back up to look into mine I replied.
"That's a long story."
"I have time." She then said back as I released her hand to question.
"You said you wouldn't believe me?"
"I might still not. But...but I'm getting tired of this." She said as she looked back to the sink in reference to her hair. Going under the sink she pulled out a hair trimmer and with a surprised look coming to my face she looked over to me to say with a smile of her own.
"Irish brought up a good idea when we were out there. Might as well do this now. Seeing as we have this moment to talk. And...well I'll need your help. I can't see everything."
Letting out a small laugh I took the trimmer from her hand to reply.
"Will you listen to me then?"
With our heights matched she replied back.
"Maybe."
Giving her a small push to her shoulder I then ordered.
"Fuck you. Sit down so I can do this already you bitch."
Letting out a chuckle Pepper made her way over to the toilet to sit down. Taking off her hat she put it in her lap and urged.
"You need me to remind you how to do it?"
Getting in front of her with the trimmer I replied.
"Nah. I know how you like it. Just keep still and those ears of yours open as we talk through this. Sound good?" I asked as she quickly replied.
"Sounds good. But please don't expect me to be quiet the whole time. I'm gonna ask questions."
"Be my guest. I'll tell you as much as I know. But do me a favor."
With her eyes looking up at me she listened as I begged.
"Next time you want to get crushed by a rock please don't expect him to always be around."
Pepper just chuckled to herself and after I got the trimmer on she replied.
"No promises."
mT Shadow.