Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 250 - State reform.

Raptor's POV, A half hour later.

We finished eating and were on our way out. We waved goodbye to the echidnas Kayla and Richard who were excellent hosts and the food was perfect. Hunter was happy to say the least now. Surprisingly she wasn't pushing for any answers. She was giving me this time to pace it out right. Which I planned to do, but now the question became how? As we got back outside into the sun I asked her.

"How about we go a little deeper? The city has a lot to offer."

GIving me a soft chuckle, she replied as we both began to head off towards the directions of downtown on foot.

"Another walk? You trying to work off that food?"

I knew she was joking so I replied back.

"Sure. Let's go with that."

Hunter seemed to be okay with that now. We walked side by side and after what felt like five minutes of awkward silence between us; I took my first leap and said to her as I had my focus on the people we were seeing as we ventured deeper into the city landscape.

"I had help locating Gorgon. I knew alone I wouldn't be able to find him in Pakistan. So I reached out and got some help."

"From who?" Hunter asked as she was looking over at my face. I kept my eyes ahead as I replied.

"A few friends I had in Pakistan. One of which was a tracker and probably one of the best. She helped me bring Gorgon in."

Hunter didn't really react, but I knew why when she questioned.

"The wolf right? Zeta?"

"You know her?" I asked in confusion as she calmly replied.

"Right after Archer took down the country he talked to me and Black about you in private. Told us a few things. Like how you left the country right after you gave that speech. He claims the wolf you were with back then had some sort of problem going on. A problem you decided was more important to handle than the war. He said he heard from Mason that you protected this girl. In return, you did something. What that was exactly he wasn't sure of. But he thinks it had a lot to do with money."

I went silent and nodded to myself as Hunter and I kept on moving down the street. Traffic around us was picking up as she asked me.

"I don't care about anything Archer said. I know a man like him is more than capable of lying so long as it keeps the people around him together and on his side. So just tell me Raptor. What happened?"

I kept to myself as we were nearing one of the local high schools. You could tell simply from the foot traffic that we were getting caught up in the middle of the kids arriving for class. Hunter ignored my silence and just focused on the large number of people around all the sudden. However as we approached my popularity was catching on again as some of the kids instantly recognized me by my face and by my gear. Groups were stopping to stare in awe and in seconds I was approached by a small group of girls who got in our way to ask with starstruck eyes.

"Commander Voltz! Commander Voltz! Can we get a picture!?"

Hunter sighed and chuckled as I smiled and again started to take selfies with the youth. By the time it was done we had half of the school's administration outside yelling for them all to come inside. Only after teachers began to get involved; did they listen and we were left alone to continue our course further down the main roads.

Not a moment after did I say to Hunter who was fixing her shirt.

"The wolf's name is Zeta. I went to her the night I left. She helped me track down Gorgon and his men, and in return I had helped her with some personal business Hunter. I'm sorry but I can't say more about that. I promised her I wouldn't. All that stuff about money Archer mentioned? That's nothing but bullshit. Zeta was one of the main reasons I'm able to stand here and be where I am now. Without her help I don't know where I'd be."

"What was so important that made you choose her over the people you vowed to protect?" Hunter replied with; as I displayed some of my annoyance by stating back.

"Nothing. I had faith in all of you. I thought Archer of all people could handle taking over in my place while I was gone. I was wrong clearly to think that; and that's why I'm back now."

"But you wouldn't be if he didn't lose his mind?" Hunter questioned as I had to stop walking to fully focus my effort on answering these questions.

"This was never about my promise to the middle east. This was about my fucking family and making sure they could rest easy with Gorgon dead."

Hunter stopped with me and together we were staring at one another deeply. She was just trying to understand me as I told her next.

"I made a mistake. Lots of mistakes. But doing what I did Hunter was worth it. I'm sorry if that hurts you, but it's the truth and you can't begin to understand what I'm going through now to recover what I lost. Zeta helped me do something none of you were willing to do. So I paid her back in full and now I'm here after the fact. Things have changed between us, yes. But I'm still here to finish what I started. You don't know what I've had to deal with. It took every ounce of my being to beg for G.U.N intervention after everything I've done to them. And that is a whole other problem."

"How does that happen Raptor? How can you just change so easily after fighting them for so long?" Hunter asked next as I calmly replied.

"Because for once in my life I looked at the facts. I tried to understand just what the fuck was happening. You want to know what I found out? It's that I trust Hecan Moore with what he says. The man wants to help. He tried to help with what he did with Shadow. After looking at that and now, I've come to terms. I can do the same thing and probably more if I can convince the world to join hands. Rather than fight each other. Hecan can offer me a treaty. And I don't plan to die anytime after so I know I can make things better with their help. I can do what Shadow couldn't. I just need everyone to trust me. Archer is a plague to our way of life and if we want to go forward we need to work together and see the bigger picture. It shouldn't have ever been about fighting G.U.N. We as a people were fucking lost without leadership. That's the reason they even were here to begin with. We never had a Shadow. We never had a me. We had people who just saw red and wanted them gone. Now that there is a leader? G.U.N is willing to give us a chance at leading ourselves and like it or not Hunter, but we need to work with them if we want to rebuild. We don't have the money. We don't have the resources. We need a treaty. We need to do this to have a chance. Can't you see that?"

The hedgehog lost her eye contact with me shortly after being asked that question. Then she let out a sigh as I urged her.

"I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes. Don't judge who I am off of my past, but judge me based on what I plan to do with my future. This war will end and we will move on. We have too. Believe me…...we must."

I proceeded to let out a disgruntled sigh as Hunter muttered through a confused tone of voice.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know what to believe ever since this all started. Shit is just crazy."

"I'm completely aware of that Hunter." I replied as she then asked me.

"What happened with Black? Were you able to help him with Gabe?"

People were all around us now. It was just part of being this deep in the city. I was in no place able to tell her the truth without having her make a scene. But she was staring at me now as I didn't proceed to answer her back in ample time. In concern she mumbled.

"Raptor?"

I glanced over at her to reply.

"What?"

GIving me this lost look she asked again.

"Did you help them?"

Now looking her in the eyes as we walked on I replied.

"It's best not to ask. They got what they got. That's the short of it."

Hunter slowed down her movement and together we came to a small halt. I saw the look in her eyes as she questioned.

"What happened?"

I kept silent and despite the situation she shouted at me.

"Raptor!"

Some people took notice and with our eyes locked I told her bluntly.

"I said it's best not to ask Hunter. Some things are best left alone and in this case we need to keep moving. This isn't the place to make a scene of yourself. Now come on."

I proceeded to take a step forward and it took her more than a few seconds to follow. In time she was back at my side and I could sense every fiber of her emotions conflicting with her normal sense of peace. She wanted to scream at me. She wanted a direct answer, but I was not going to say the truth here. Not now.

Two hours later.

We walked around the city for a few hours. By the time we were done I had taken more photos then I could ever hope to take in my life and Hunter's legs were clearly aching from all the miles we walked. Yet this was good for me. I needed to see the public in a more formal setting. So far there have been no problems besides our conversation before.

Our path back led to her place. Once there we came to a stop outside a large apartment complex. It looked nice for the most part, but that was the issue. Hunter stopped me just outside the front door to ask me calmly.

"Do you want to come inside and rest for a few minutes? I can make us something to eat for lunch?"

Giving her a small smile, I replied while cracking my fingers.

"I think I should get heading back Hunter. Thank you though."

Losing her smile and giving me this disappointed look back she questioned.

"What's wrong? You got other things to do today?"

"Not really but I kinda have people waiting for me." I replied as she got close to nudge my stomach with her right hand.

"Who? Those two heavily armed freaks you have watching your back? You told them you'd be fine. Ease up and just join me inside for something to eat. We can watch a movie or something?"

Shaking my head I responded back with.

"I can't Hunter. It's nothing personal trust me on that. But I need to get heading back. Thank you for coming along with me today. It was nice catching up a bit with you."

I tried to step back, but Hunter grabbed my arm. Instantly I looked back at her to question.

"What?"

"What's wrong with you? Why are you trying to blow me off? I still have questions that I need answers to."

Keeping myself calm I replied back.

"There are a lot of things I can't discuss with you Hunter and that has nothing to do with how I feel about you. It's for your safety and for mine. All I need you to understand is that there is a boundary between us now. I appreciate everything you've done and will do. But I'm sorry, this needs to be where we draw our line."

Keeping her hand around my arm she questioned.

"What did you do to Black?"

Staring her right in the eyes I replied.

"That's none of your concern Hunter."

She began to squeeze me really hard. The whole time her face grew with anger. After a few seconds of silence she let me go suddenly. I took my chance to back a foot away as she asked me again.

"What happened?"

I knew she wasn't going to stop asking that question and even if I lied or said nothing right now; she would keep coming back. That was made clear to me after her clear display of anger towards me. So taking a breath I told her bluntly.

"Black was never one of my men. He brought this upon himself and I did all I could to help him out of his situation with G.U.N. I can only do so much for a man who betrayed his country. A man who killed god knows how many of his own during the first battle between our nations. His fate was sealed by Linnen, and his government, and his choices, Hunter."

"Is he dead?" She asked me back directly with a scary voice. Keeping my ground solid I replied.

"Yeah. He's dead. Him and his friends."

Hunter had me questioning everything I knew about her when my eyes caught her hands shaking up towards her waist. For a split second I saw them going up towards her gun and had to ask myself what her next move would be, but I can't afford to lie anymore then I already had. So taking a chance I said to her.

"They got what they got. I told you. Some things are better not knowing."

"Did you do it?" She asked me next as I was ready to do whatever I must to protect myself at this point if her next action would lead her down that road. But lying was not going to be one of those things.

"I killed Tap. Linnen killed Leo. Black? I did all I could. I said all I could say. I watched him die….but Linnen killed him too. Not me."

Her hands were still shaking but they began to lower all the sudden back to her sides. With tears entering her eyes she asked me.

"What kind of friend are you? He trusted you. He defended you. What gives you the right to turn your back on a person that had yours!?" Her tone grew as I replied with equal anger in my system.

"It was never about being his friend! It was about his sister! He dug his own grave! I did everything I could to help him, but this is the road we're on now! Things have changed! People have changed! He knew the risks and he got what he deserved!"

Hunter was red in the face and with everything coming to a boil she punched me right in the face. I didn't budge an inch as she cracked my lip and screamed at me.

"You were supposed to help him! To help Gabe! How could you just kill him!? You…..you…..you fucking asshole!"

I wanted to hit her back so bad and it didn't help when she punched me again right in the nose. That time I took a step back and covered up as she went to grab me by my arms.

"He trusted you! I trusted you!"

I kept my mouth shut, but my eyes on her as she soon came to a halt just to stare at me. With blood running down from my nose and lip I growled at her.

"I know."

Hunter stopped and let me go and she took a step back to cry.

"Your a fucking asshole Raptor Voltz."

"More than you'll ever know." I replied as I took my chance to turn around and begin walking off. Hunter didn't follow or say anything more as my focus now was getting home.

Pepper's POV, a half hour later.

Cody was taking hours to find a good movie and Peek wasn't helping by questioning every pick he made, but thankfully Zeta and I were both refocused on the project at hand. Also thank god, but she finally managed to chill the fuck out. I knew she was still mad about it, but at least now she wasn't biting anyone. However all that changed when we heard the front door open. Everyone took a look to the door to see Raptor walking in with his right hand covering his face and holding his nose.

In utter confusion, Zeta and I stopped working and slowly got up from our seats. As I rose I asked.

"What the fuck?"

Zeta kept herself where she was just above her chair and as Raptor entered the living room Cody questioned.

"You good man?"

Raptor shook his head but proceeded to walk towards us to the kitchen. That's when I got a good enough look to spot blood on the very base of his hand. Then I whispered to myself.

"Oh no."

My eyes shifted to Zeta who was shaking uncontrollably. Raptor managed to get to the sink before being asked by myself.

"What happened?"

Turning on the hot water, he replied.

"A little argument. It's nothing to worry about. I handled it."

Zeta was visibly ready to go feral and getting in front of her; I took her left hand and urged her calmly.

"Relax. Relax."

"Raptor?" She was ignoring me. She was focused on him and my eyes turned around to face him as he looked back at us with his hand now off his face. I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw the dry blood under his nose and a swollen bottom lip. Without saying a word, Raptor listened as my sister growled at him.

"Did she hit you?"

Raptor wasn't showing us any emotion as he stared back at Zeta. I kept my grip on her hand as he replied.

"Yeah."

I saw her eyes go red and instantly I took her other hand and held her in place as hard as I could. She had all her anger on Raptor who very slowly reached over with his right hand to run it under the water. After which he brought it back over to begin rubbing his face. During said time, Zeta was shaking and I begged her quietly.

"Take a breath and relax. You need to focus and stay calm. He's okay. Everything is cool, right Raptor?"

Raptor didn't speak. He turned to start washing his face. Then I looked back at Zeta who stripped my hands away to order me viciously.

"Don't tell me to stay calm. I know what the fuck I'm doing."

I was lost on what to do as Cody and Peek came into the kitchen to watch. Zeta on the other hand approached Raptor and once there she came around his left side to get a good look at the damage he was tending. I held my words back from this point on as she told him bluntly.

mT Shadow.