Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 238 - Feels right.

Pepper's POV.

I shut the car door with my rifle in hand and looked up at the small building as Raptor came around my side to suggest.

"Leave that here. In fact, how about you just relax a little? Clamer is a safe guy. You shouldn't be aiming to scare him."

Looking at the hedgehog got me questioning that outcome. I thought that was the whole point, but maybe he was right. Looking back at the truck, I got off my mask and left both it and my rifle in the car. Raptor smiled as I turned back around to begin walking. I was still going to wear the majority of my outfit so at the least I had my sidearm with me. Just in case.

As we walked up to the door, Raptor got it open and inside was a hallway that led to another door. One which Raptor decided to knock on. I remained a foot behind him as in time an older looking fox with turtle shell glasses came to greet us. At first he was all smiles to see Raptor, but as our eyes crossed he questioned in confusion.

"Zeta? I like what you did with the hair. Nice color."

Raptor went on to chuckle as I was confused on if he even knew I was her sister. Clearly he didn't as Raptor stated.

"Doc this Pepper. Zeta's twin sister."

Almost instantly the man widened his eyes and questioned.

"Sister?"

Giving him a smile I added.

"Doesn't help that we sound identical too, but yeah. I'm her sister. Nice to meet you."

The fox took my hand as I soon offered it and almost instantly did he state back.

"You look spot on to her. However I can tell you're completely different people. Why are you dressed like you're about to go invade Pakistan?"

I chuckled along with Raptor and soon replied.

"First of all, it's because it's my job. I don't know what this guy here told you, but both Zeta and I are bodyguards to him. It comes with the title. That and I just like to be safe. My past leaves little room for time away from gear and regardless of what you think, dumb fuck here is getting older and loses some pep in his step. Zeta and I supplement that."

Clamer began to laugh as Raptor mumbled to his side.

"I haven't lost pep in any of my steps. Thank you very much."

"Sure." I chuckled back as Clamer finally urged us.

"Please come in then. My home is an open book and hopefully it will meet your standards for a place of tranquility. I try to keep the war and all the problems the middle east brings out of my home. So go ahead and take a seat over on the couch. I'll make us some tea and during which Raptor; you can tell me what's happened since we last spoke. I'm curious on how things are really going now that you got the rebellion to turn over a new leaf. Oh and Pepper? Don't feel like you don't have a voice here. I'd like to talk with you and if you're anything like Zeta then I assume we will get along just fine."

Raptor made his way forward as I was left with the fox. Giving him a smile I replied.

"Trust me. I'm not like her. Unlike her I don't sugarcoat things and I'm not nearly as much fun as she is. I'm just here because he wanted me to come."

"Well regardless, I hope we can get along." Clamer stated as he got the door shut and locked up. With Raptor already sitting down on the couch, I came in close to hear him urge.

"Sit."

It was clear things were pretty tame thus far and I wasn't about to cause trouble for Raptor's therapist. So obeying the hedgehog, I sat down and began to lay back. Raptor smiled as I asked him.

"How long are we gonna be?"

With Clamer in the kitchen getting us drinks, Raptor replied.

"An hour or so. Just relax. It'll be over before you know it. And hey who knows, you might enjoy this. God knows you need a shrink."

That got me to laugh and throw an elbow at the fuck. Raptor laughed back and sat back as Clamer was soon handing us glasses. I took a sip very slowly as he got a seat of his own to ask.

"Are we all ready?"

Raptor nodded along with me and from this point on things would get personal. Hopefully by the end of this I'd be awake to tell the tale.

Hunter's POV, An hour later.

Getting into the city was not much of an issue thanks to Black. Almost everyone here knew his face the second they saw it after what he did in the first battle to keep this city safe. However things weren't all rosey. We were being followed on our way to the capital and we were told to wait once we got there. As we entered through the main set of gates, it was clear things were better since Raptor took back over the area. People were happy for once and everything looked relatively calm and controlled. Raptor however wasn't anywhere to be found. The men at the border called us in but I swear he would have been waiting for us if he heard we were coming back. Yet the only person I saw around that I recalled was General Hoffer. In fact he was the only one coming to greet us as Black got out of the truck. I just listened as the two were at first just giving each other looks. No doubt bad ones. Hoffer however was the first to speak by directing to Black as he stretched out his legs.

"Fancy seeing you all back here. What's wrong? Did Archer not treat you well?"

I knew Hoffer was joking but at the same time it felt like he wasn't. Black quickly defended himself by replying.

"He treated us just fine. We're here now because of me. I pulled the plug. He doesn't even know we left. In fact General, he probably wanted to kill me after our last conversation together."

"Oh? What did you say?"

Looking to the back of the truck Black urged the man over and together they got their eyes on Gabe who at this point was more than past due for a proper send off. Hoffer let out a sigh as Black went on to say.

"He wanted me to burn the body. I don't care who it is that gives the order. I'm not doing that to one of my friends. I came because I knew Raptor would see to a proper burial."

Looking back to him Hoffer questioned.

"He's G.U.N. No offense Major, but he doesn't belong buried in our sands."

Black went silent as Hoffer took a breath and turned away from the body. Walking back over to my side of the truck Hoffer asked me.

"And how are you missy?"

"I'm okay. Are we in trouble?"

Hoffer looked at me. He was trying to think of the answer to that question. After some time he replied.

"That's not my call to make. Raptor will be deciding that."

"Where is he?" Tap asked as Black came back to our side.

"He went out for a bit. He said he wouldn't be back for an hour or two. It's already been one so he should be returning soon."

"Can we do something besides sit here?" Leo then questioned as I tried to tell Hoffer before he made any decision.

"We aren't traitors. We were just trying to survive."

"Maybe you. But last time I checked, Black and his friends were in charge of security. Making sure our people stayed in their homes and obeyed without any trouble. Otherwise they'd shoot."

Black took his chance to step in and shout.

"I didn't lay a fucking finger on anyone over there! Get that straight first!"

Hoffer stood up straight to face him now as Black did his best to defend himself and his friends.

"We turned our backs on everyone and everything we ever knew to help you guys. It's my fault these two are even here and it's my fault that another two of my friends died. I made the choice to stay here and that's all on me, but don't for a second think I went rogue and decided it was in our best interest to help Archer kill innocent people."

The two of them were eye to eye as Black finished.

"I'm doing my best to make sure the only two friends I have left don't wind up dead because of my orders. That meant working with that fucking prick. But I never touched anyone. Nor did they. Nor did she. We were just trying to stay alive and out of everyone you should know I'm in this for the same reason you are. I want to help your people. If I didn't then I wouldn't be standing here now begging for you to take us back."

Things went quiet. I stared right at Hoffer's eyes as Black was about ready to fight. Then everything changed. Hoffer moved his vision behind him and following his sightline I widened my eyes when another car came pulling in through the front gates. Black and his friends all looked back as it was clear who was pulling up. I got out of the car the second the door opened and out peeked a familiar hedgehog.

"Looks like you need not beg to me Major." Hoffer muttered as Black turned around completely to face the car.

The second my door shut I went to speak his name.

"Raptor?"

At first I don't think he noticed us. But the second my voice rang out, his head turned and his eyes locked up with mine. I felt my whole body go still and begin to shake as I saw those purple orbs beating back at mine.

"Hunter?" He replied in confusion as Black went on to beg.

"I need to talk with you commander. Please."

Raptor didn't move from his spot in between the car and the door. He had his arms up on both the side of the door and the top of the car and between the silence the passenger door opened up. My focus along with Black's shifted from Raptor to that as an unknown figure stepped out wearing a scary metal mask. At first I was scared and it was clear Black himself was unsure of what to think. This person was fully kitted out. A dark cloak wrapped all around his body and between the spots I could see on his chest, he had nothing but spare magazines and a full combat rig on. Along with what looked like a knife just under the breast plate and another ammo belt wrapped around his waist. As he stepped out to give us a full look, I came to the conclusion that whoever this was wasn't rebellion. There just wasn't any gear that screamed it at me. No patches and the mask was a dead giveaway into the species. Apart from the tail I could see just behind the cloak. In his right hand was an AK-47 and it too was fully kitted and custom. Black held his ground as the wolf came a step closer. Raptor held his spot by the car to ask.

"What's there to talk about?"

Black did his best to refocus as I tried to look more at the wolf just beyond who stared at me.

"Gabe's dead. Archer wanted me to burn him. You know I can't do that."

Raptor looked to the back of the truck from where he was to question.

"So you ditched him to come ask me to bury him? Black you know I can't do that."

"I just ask that you help me do something. I'm not burning him. No way in hell."

"Well he doesn't belong here." Hoffer added again as Black begged Raptor.

"Please. I just got done telling Hoffer; we aren't traitors. I didn't even kill anyone over there. You know I couldn't do that."

Raptor slowly shut the car door and once it happened he came around the car. Black took a breath as he got close. My focus left the wolf and looked to him. His body was much different then before when I last saw him. I knew his quills and eyes had changed but in person I could see what else had as well. He was intimidating to say the bare minimum. With their eyes locked onto one another Raptor replied.

"You are a traitor. Maybe not to me Black, but what would G.U.N call you if they had you coming back to them?"

Black gulped but held fast as Raptor stared right into his soul for a few moments before stating.

"Hoffer is right. He doesn't deserve to be buried here. He has a family in the states right? Call home."

"And tell them what? I need you for this. I know I've betrayed my country but you can maybe get someone to listen. Please Raptor."

Raptor's eyes looked from him and then to me. It was at that moment I knew he was still the same man I remembered him being. Looking back to Black he ordered.

"Go inside and get Marx. Have him bag up the body and I'll make a call."

Black let out this sigh of relief as Raptor then said.

"Come to my office in about ten minutes. We need to talk."

"Yes sir." Black replied as I then asked.

"What about me?"

Raptor looked at me and at first I was hoping to get something good from him, but that all went away when he replied.

"I'd make yourself useful. We aren't an army anymore. Take those patches off and go see what you can do to help out around here. Or just go home."

Black wasn't about to question him, but I was lost. I was expecting a hug or even to have him ask how I was doing. I had so much running through my mind right now I didn't know what to think. However Raptor proceeded to walk on by along with the wolf. My eyes went to the ground as Black carefully ordered Tap and Leo.

"Stay with the truck while I go find Marx."

Black took his leave and left me to wander. First thing I did was take off the patches Raptor said I should. Then all I had left was my bare vest and not a pot to piss in. What the hell was I going to do now that I was back? No rebellion and Raptor doesn't even seem to care that I'm here in the first place. Who the hell was that wolf and what the fuck was going on?

Unsure of what to do, I decided to take Raptor's advice for the time being. I just went home.

Raptor's POV.

Doubt this would go over well, but I told him I'd try. With Pepper following me back into my office, she asked as she shut the door.

"Who was all that?"

Taking my seat and pulling out my phone I replied.

"The guys were my old protection detail. Couldn't you tell by the armor?"

Pepper was silent as I went on to state.

"The girl was…..well we had a thing before everything went to shit. Before I met Zeta. I broke it off with her well before I left with your sister to chase after Gorgon, but that didn't contend too much now that I got a good look at her just then."

"Do you think it'll become a problem? The last thing you want is my sister catching wind your ex is now here."

"She wasn't a girlfriend to begin with Pep. We just…..we just fooled around and I made the mistake in telling her I felt a type of way before I really knew what I wanted. Trust me…..she won't be a problem. I just need the chance to talk to her."

"She's gonna be trying to figure out what happened since you left her. Can you afford to let her in on what really happened between you and G.U.N?" Pepper asked as I found Linnen's number. Waiting to make the call I replied after some thought.

"The problem isn't her knowing the truth. It's having her understand what I chanced to get here now. It's blind luck that it all played out okay. Hunter is a die hard rebel. How would you react if you were in her spot and I told her that the reason I left the rebellion was to set it up for failure just so I could return after shit went south? How would you react if the only person who mattered in your life just turned away to take a chance? To go hide with G.U.N until the time was right and enough people died for him to come back?"

Pepper was staring at me through that mask in silence as I hit the dial button.

"I set this up. I knew Archer would lose his place without me there to keep him in line. I knew he'd break the rebellion's good name and I knew that would get people killed. Enough people in fact that there was never going to be a better time to run for office. I did everything right and every single person out there believes in me and what I can do. Before this I had people fighting to see me outisted from the rebellion leadership. Now look at it all. I can make all that sacrifice worth it for once. I'm not perfect and doing what I did in Pakistan is a prime example of how evil I can be."

For once Pepper just let her mouth hang shut as I refocused on the call ahead. Hopefully by the end of this I'd have some good news for once.

mT Shadow.