Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 252 - We're even.

Raptor's POV.

"We're even now sir." Roz told me as I spent my last few hours hanging out with him and Char at Ron's. Surprisingly I didn't even invite them. They just showed up. It's been pretty good so far. Nothing but some old laughs and a few drinks; and the more I sat here and listened; the more I realized just how mature and smart Char was for his age. He reminded me of me back when I was his age and I knew from experience he had a career ahead of him if he remained in the military after the war. Which led me on to ask the question myself as he was busy drinking his beer.

"You plan to stay in the military once this is all over Char? Make a life of it? You're already in a great place to start."

The wolf was a bit buzzed after this being his fifth beer, but he kept himself sober enough to at least reply to me honestly.

"I plan to. I see no reason why I should leave now. My mom and dad are happy for me and thankfully they're both alive to see this all happen. Once things are over and the rebellion dissolves, I think I'll have even more drive knowing that we're an actual fighting force. Not just some smacked together sense of government. No offense sir."

I chuckled and shook my head as Roz was the one to talk next.

"M.E.A.F? That the best you can do Commander?"

Looking at a man just under my age bracket, I replied.

"You think you can do better Roz? Please be my guest. What would you call it?"

Laughing he replied.

"I have no fucking clue. It's just a funny acronym."

Again I began to chuckle under my breath. At which point Char informed me.

"You're doing the best you can Raptor. It's been rough and I know shit isn't played fair. It's just been a ride getting here and clearly friendships are going to clash sooner or later. How's Hunter? Did you guys have a chance to talk since she came back?"

Nodding as I sipped some of my whiskey, I replied while looking to the front door of the bar to see a few more people walk in. All with happy smiles and warm greetings to Ron who manned the bar.

"Yeah we talked. She's more or less the same. Still knows what she wants from this war when it's over and still unsure what to think about me."

"You guys had a thing?" Roz asked in confusion as I nodded and replied.

"A small thing. Nothing major."

"Before or after Alicia?" Roz asked next as I looked right back to him to reply sadly.

"Before."

Roz and Char widened their eyes at the problem I had and shortly after Char asked.

"Did you guys break it off?"

Nodding I replied.

"Yeah I broke it off before I left to chase Gorgon down. She was okay at first, but earlier this morning she said she still had feelings for me. I don't hate her. I don't even not like her. She's a friend. A good comrade. What happened was a mistake between us. I wasn't thinking and at the very least she probably has some anger towards me since I told her the truth."

"About what?" Roz questioned as I kept my voice down to reply.

"Black and his friends were G.U.N. You both know that. Well they asked me to help get them back into good terms with G.U.N. See if they could get a pardon or at the least a decent sentence that wouldn't cost them their whole lives."

"Well how did that play out? I can't imagine them just being allowed to walk off like nothing happened." Roz admitted as I nodded once to say the hard truth.

"That wasn't an option. I talked it over with Linnen. Bottom line was that those men belonged to him and their punishment would follow G.U.N law. Which would see them all rotting. Linnen decided to…...skip the trail if that makes sense."

Both the guys quickly caught on as I finished.

"They were executed. Saw to it personally and Hunter knows. She had to know. They were friends and she's rightfully pissed. Really expressed that to me when I told her."

Roz let out this deep sigh as Char replied.

"That's crazy. You worried about her?"

Looking up to him I said softly.

"I have to be."

"You think she'll try to hurt you?" Roz's question came like a bolt of lightning. Char again widened his eyes and looked to the man as I took a moment to think of the answer. However it was soon there for them to hear.

"I think she's capable and I think she has more than enough of a reason to hate me for who I am now. For the things I've done. I can't blame her because I feel the same way about myself or even Archer. Mason shouldn't be dead."

"That was probably the roughest loss to the rebellion since Shadow." Roz told me as I agreed and listened as Char questioned.

"You really think Hunter would try something like that though? She's not a traitor. She's got rebel blood all in her."

"You don't have to be a traitor to betray someone. She's not against our cause. She's just against me. So yeah I think she can Char. I'm at a point however that I can't take chances. I gotta consider it an option. At least till I know more. For now I'm just letting her be alone. When she's ready she'll make that choice."

The boys were now both silent as I took another shot of my drink. After a few moments they too went back to drinking. With attention divided, my eyes looked back to the front door for some reason. Where I rested them on something interesting. Coming through the front door was this rabbit. Couldn't be any taller than the one I dealt with at the news station. However this one was built. Had to be only twenty five, maybe twenty six. But she was different. I think she was an english lop and I was basing that off of her ears. They had to be as long as her arms. Same color as her body. A warm reddish brown. She came in with a huge smile and looking to Ron she shouted from the front door.

"Hey Ron!"

I looked as the bear looked around for a second before realizing she was standing almost head level with the bar in front of him. Char slowly caught onto my eyes watching the small exchange and he smiled and watched as Ron replied.

"Hey Ryker! It's been a few days! How've you been?!"

She jumped from where she was and up onto the bar stool during Ron's greeting back. She was so small compared to him it was comical. However my focus left the area as Roz asked us.

"You guys into the little ladies?"

Char broke out into laughter as I too began to laugh a little.

"I mean I knew a few of those sized girls back in school Roz. Hell the rebellion has a few of them fighting right now and trust me…..they may be small but they're deadly. I can't handle that shit. I like my women like I like my beer. Low carb."

Immediately Roz laughed and in confusion I questioned.

"Low carb?"

Char could only crack up as I looked back at Ron seeing that my drink was nearing its end.

Ryker's POV.

"I've been busy. Had to take a trip downtown recently to see my brother. How's life down here going now that things are under some control? You seem super happy which is weird. I'm used to you being so calm and rugged."

Ron was a sweetheart of a man. Always had my back and thanks to my mother I had the pleasure of growing up with him. He was like an uncle. A big scary uncle I could use to scare the shit out of anyone who would make fun of me back in school. I loved him.

"Hahaha…..well that hasn't changed squirt. I'm just happy to be back at work without any fear running down my back. I had enough of that during the first war. How's your mother?" He asked me as he got me a glass from under the counter. Flipping my ears around to my back I replied with a smile.

"She's good. Staying out of trouble and helping out where she can at the daycare. You know her. Always looking to make a difference."

Pouring me a small shot of gin which he knew I loved, I caught his eyes as he then asked.

"Well how about you? I heard rumors from your pops that you and your brother were working with the rebellion. Did you guys ever do the training?"

Nodding my head I replied.

"Yeah we both did actually. It was fun. Well…..about as fun as things could have been before everything went to shit with the leadership. No one really knew what was going on. One second Commander Voltz was rumored to be hurt and in serious condition, the next thing we knew he was over in Afghanistan repelling the first real attack on the city. Then I heard he went in solo and killed the big wig in charge and liberated the city. I don't know how much of that is true, but everyone saw the speech he gave when he retired."

For some reason Ron was looking away from me with a small smile. I just ignored it and took my shot and looked back at him just in time to see his eyes reconnect with mine. At which point I went on to say.

"That's where everything went south for the rebellion. That manic Archer took over where Raptor left; and look at what happened Ron. It was crazy."

"Well how do you feel about Raptor now that he's back?" Ron asked me as he gave me another round. I took the second shot before replying.

"I think it's awesome. We need him. I can understand how hard things must be for him. All that weight. All that pressure. He was bound to slip up like he did. Yet I can't bring myself to believe even someone like him expected what happened to happen. It was massive and by that point Raptor probably just wanted to be alone. To just zone everything out. But he cares sooooooooo much. How can anyone do that when the world is falling apart around them? He probably felt he had to come back. Had to fix things. What happened with Archer happened because he left. He trusted him and Archer turned that all around to save his own ass. I'm glad he's back Ron. There isn't anyone to replace him. No one alive can replace Raptor Voltz."

The bear gave me this very thin smile after hearing my answer. I was gonna ask him something next, but before any of that could happen he asked me instead.

"You ever met the guy?"

Shaking my head as he slowly poured my third shot, I replied feeling hot all the sudden.

"No. I never had the chance. I mean I saw him walking around from time to time, but I never actually met him met him. How about you?"

Now the bear smiled fully. Topping off my glass he replied.

"A few times. We're friends actually."

"Bullshit." I chuckled as he went on to laugh.

"Oh yeah? Calling my bluff huh?"

Nodding my head as I picked up my glass, I urged him.

"Prove it then. You got a picture or something?"

Shaking his head and standing up straight, Ron replied

"I got something better than that for you. Hey Raptor!"

I felt my heart sink as Ron shouted out that name. My shot glass actually left my fingers and spilled over the counter during the time it took my brain to register temperature again. My whole body went cold as ice as I never in all my life flicked my head around faster. In no less than a second, I saw him get out from the furthest booth in the back of the bar. A glass of his own in his right hand as he turned to begin walking our way. Looking back to Ron I shouted.

"What the fuck are you trying to do to me Ron!?"

Chuckling he replied.

"You told me to prove it! Relax! I promise he won't bite ya!"

"That was the least of my concerns." I thought to myself as I turned once more to widen my eyes. Raptor was actually here. Coming right up alongside me at the bar as Ron said to him in excitement.

"Raptor, I want you to meet Ryker. She's a good friend of my family. I knew her since she was a kit."

Never in all my life was I ready for this. This dude was easily three times my size and holy fucking crap was he ripped for his speices. Let alone he looked like he was in his twenties. Not to mention he was a fucking hero and a striaght up scary force to be face to face with. Yet through all my fear the hedgehog smiled and offered his hand as he replied.

"Nice to meet you."

Laughing still as I was speechless. Ron said to him as I struggled to take his hand.

"She's like a daughter to me Raptor. Pardon her though. She's a little shy at first, sooner or later she'll say hi for herself."

Shaking my head to try and regain some focus over myself. I took Raptor's hand and replied.

"I'm so sorry. I had no idea you were here sir. I…..I…..I…..I'm not ready for this. I wasn't actually thinking you knew Ron."

His grip was soft. I was expecting to be tugged or have my arm ripped off. But Raptor just continued to smile and his purple eyes had me in a trance as he urged me.

"It's okay. Ron and I go way back. Don't be sorry though. There is no reason to feel uncomfortable. I'm just here with a few friends of mine and having a few drinks."

Once we let go of each other, Raptor looked back to Ron to ask.

"So what's going on Ron?"

Grabbing onto a whiskey bottle, Ron poured Raptor a full glass with ice and replied.

"Nothing much. Just having a good time man. She just didn't believe we were friends. Had to prove her wrong. You know how it is. Hahahaha."

Raptor had the sweetest looking smile as he took a sip of his drink. After he was done he looked back to me to reply.

"Yeah I know how it can be. Well hey, it was nice meeting you Ryker. I'm sorry if I bothered you at all."

Shaking my head I shouted.

"No of course not! I just…..I never…...fuck."

Ron again laughed at me as Raptor again urged me before leaving.

"Don't be sorry. Just enjoy that you got this big dude watching out for you and have a good rest of the day."

"You too." I replied as I watched him head back to his table where he had two other mean looking dudes waiting for him. I knew the one guy though. Well I saw him around once or twice before this. With Ron cleaning up my mess and making me another shot, I looked back at the bear and whispered.

"I should fucking punch you. You could have told me he was here."

"Nah that ruins the fun." He replied as he again laughed it up.

From time to time I looked at that table. The three of them were talking, but I couldn't understand a word of it from here. I was just glad that went well. I raised my voice but dear god was I about to pass out. I'm not good under pressure. I prefer being alone.

mT Shadow.