Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 254 - Not in my size.

Ryker's POV.

I never felt so safe with this man in my hands. As I got him to the front door I urged him.

"Hang back a second. I wana really get my dad with this."

"With what?" He questioned in confusion as I got out my keys and opened the front door up. Almost immediately upon looking inside, I saw my dad sitting in the living room watching TV with my brother Ash. Both of which were english lops like me. Ash was a few inches smaller but he had my dad's fur. All gray and straight. My dad was around my size and it was giving me some pleasure to scare him straight for once. The amount of pranks he pulls. He's gonna lose his mind, but it'll be harmless in the end. My brother though? I can't wait to see the look on his face.

As I walked a step through the door, I got both of them to look away from the TV as I announced.

"I'm back! And I hope you don't mind dad, but I brought home a special guest!"

My father was never expecting a prank to come from me of all people. So as I said that he slowly got up off the couch and asked me.

"A guest? Who?"

"My new boyfriend! Come here so you guys can meet him!"

My father in all his life never got up faster. Ash was more confused than anything. I never showed much interest in boys let alone have a boyfriend to bring home for them to meet. As my dad power walked on over he asked me.

"Boyfriend? I didn't know you were dating Ryker." Ash told me as my dad got to my side to grab my shoulders. I stood there like a post as he leaned around me to look out the front door. I felt his grip tighten up as his eyes never opened so wide. Ash slowly hopped off the couch as my dad began to shake. I looked back at Raptor who chuckled and said to him.

"Nice to meet you. I'm….?" My father cut him off my gasping.

"Raptor Voltz?"

Raptor nodded and by then my brother reached us. I saw his eyes widen just like dad's. Expect he muttered in shock.

"What the hell is going on? Ryker?"

He was even starting to shake now. With my dad gently moving me aside, he asked Raptor.

"This can't be serious. Is she serious?"

I began to laugh as Raptor replied.

"Afraid not sir. I'm just escorting her back to you at Ron's request. She's had a few."

My dad couldn't take his eyes off Raptor as I could hear thumping coming from the living room. Looking back inside, I saw my mother coming out of the kitchen. She widened her eyes as she saw us all standing there. Apart from Raptor who my father began to gasp to.

"Ron? I can't thank that man enough for looking out for her. But my god was I never in all my days expecting to actually meet you. Oh my god I'm so happy!"

"Hun?" My mom questioned as my dad made his move. Taking Raptor's hand he shook it and asked.

"Can I hug you?"

Raptor was completely out of his element it seemed. He wasn't sure what to make of it yet replied.

"Of…...course sir. If you….?!"

"Who is….?" My mom reached the door just in time to see what was all going on. Almost as fast as she recognized the hedgehog she screamed.

"Aghhhhh! Oh my god!"

Raptor lowered his ears to the high pitch as he was now bending down to hug my father who gave it all he had. Ash on the other hand urged my mother.

"Calm down! You two are so embarrassing."

I couldn't help but keep laughing as my mother asked me in shock.

"What is going on here Ryker!"

"Nothing! I just got home thanks to….?" Stepping forward about as fast as she cut me off, my mother snickered.

"I know who he is Ryker, but how dare you not call ahead and tell me you planned to bring him to my god damn house!" Raptor was a bit confused since I told him before that my mother was nothing but sweet. With my dad still attached to him; he tried to tell her after the outburst.

"I'm sorry miss. If you want I can go? I was just making sure your daughter got home….?"

"Go? That's the last thing I want you to do Mr. Voltz. My home is your home. Please come inside and take a seat on the couch. We were just about to have dinner. I can make you a plate."

Jumping in I told my mother truthfully.

"I already offered him to stay for supper mom. Ron asked him to take me back home after I had a little too much to drink. It's the least I can do to repay him for his trouble."

With my mom's ears coming around to her front side, she quickly pushed them back and asked Raptor.

"What do you say Mr. Voltz? Do you have the time?"

Nodding Raptor replied.

"I have an open schedule at the moment and I've already heard such great things about all of you. So if it's no trouble, I'd like to stay for a little."

"It's no trouble at all. Let him go hun. The man needs his space."

My father went back to shaking his hand and quickly explained sensing he was making a fool of himself.

"I'm so sorry sir. I let my emotions get the better of me. Like my wife said. Please come in and join us for supper. I made an absolutely marvelous vegetable stew. I'd be honored if you tried some."

"And I made us all some salads and homemade dressings. There is more than enough to go around. You'll have to forgive me for being an herbivore, otherwise I'd have something a bit more to your taste."

Raptor looked to me for a second as I giggled and watched as he took his first step into my home. From there my dad took over, starting a tour of the house as my mother dashed back into the kitchen like her life now depended on it. Left with my brother, Ash asked me.

"Is he really your boyfriend?"

Chuckling I replied.

"No silly."

Ash thankfully had a sense of humor and began to chuckle alongside me. After a few laughs he muttered to himself.

"I guess I should have figured you were lying. Not like you know anything about getting a decent man. Especially one so above yourself like him."

I was always ready to fire back so I replied.

"I could say the same about you Ash. Last time I checked you're considered snack size to every female taller than five feet."

"Oh you're funny." He laughed as I got the door.

Now left to witness the embarrassment of my family unfold slowly around the middle east's most famous and important individual, I got a spot in the kitchen and followed the lead of my mother, who was busy setting everything up for dinner. It smelled amazing and so far I was left with only one concern. Making sure he left this house happy and not thinking we're a bunch of psycho fans.

Raptor's POV, Two hours later.

Arriving back to my own home gave me a sense of peace for a moment before I remembered who I had waiting for me back inside. Yet I was ready to deal with it depending on the mood they were all in. Regardless of what the mood turned out to be however stood no chance of messing up my good mood. Despite barely knowing Ryker beforehand, I really got a chance to see what a proper family was like to have by watching her and her loved ones today. She wasn't wrong. They were big fans and her mother was the sweetest woman I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. She reminded me of my own mother, and that wasn't a bad thing.

As I got to the front door, I readied myself and phased through. Inside was quite the scene. The lights all out and four trained killers all eating what smelled like popcorn and watching movies. Peek was laid back in my loveseat with Cody laying on the floor just alongside him. Zeta and Pepper were both on the couch and Zeta had herself laying with her head against her sister's legs. Supporting her weight and very focused on whatever it was they were watching. Keeping myself quiet, I began to walk my way to the stairs. The second my foot hit the first step, I got everyone's attention and Zeta shot up to question.

"Raptor? When did you get back?"

Cody paused the movie as I climbed my way upstairs. Halfway to the top I replied.

"Just now."

Pepper's POV.

Raptor made that entrance very brisk. All the way up the stairs and out of our sight, Zeta got up and urged Cody who had the remote.

"Pause it for a few minutes. We need to go talk to him."

Nodding as I got up, Cody kept the movie paused and together Zeta and I chased after the hedgehog. Once upstairs we caught him in his room gathering clothes. In confusion Zeta asked him.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting a shower. Why? What's wrong? Just go back downstairs and enjoy the night. I'll be down to join you in a bit."

Zeta made her presence known as to be expected. Getting right alongside the man as I remained by the door. Almost instantly Zeta began to sniff him. Raptor did his best to accept that as he got a new pair of pants out from one of his dressers. With my sister still taking her time, I asked him between the sniffs.

"Where'd you go to eat?"

Raptor managed to get Zeta to stop by nudging her a foot back with his right hand. During which he replied to me.

"It's a long story."

"We got time." Zeta stated as Raptor chuckled and explained.

"I went to Ron's and hung out with a few friends of mine for an hour or so. I met a girl named Ryker who is basically Ron's grandchild. She had a little too much to drink and he wanted to see her get home safe. So I drove her back to where she lived and had the pleasure of meeting her family. They offered to let me stay for dinner and I did. It was a good time."

I nodded my head. I was surprised Zeta didn't question him right away when he said he met a girl. However she was quick to ask him.

"Was she okay?"

Nodding as he got the rest of his clothes together, Raptor replied.

"She was fine. Very sweet girl. You would have liked her. And no nothing happened."

"I wasn't asking that?" Zeta tried to defend herself, but Raptor was quick to remind her of before by stating back.

"But I know that's something you're thinking about. It's fine. I get it. I'm sorry for before, but you need to understand that right now I need to go over every option. The shit that happened between Hunter and I is between us. If it gets out of hand again I'll let you step in, but for now I need you to back off Zeta."

"I will." She replied as I widened my eyes to her answer. Raptor was just smiling at her. I could read that look he was giving her. He was trying to figure out if that was bullshit she just said. After a few moments he leaned in and planted her with a kiss to the lips. Then he came my way.

"I'll be down in a few minutes. Go relax. Both of you."

As he came to me, I extended my arm across the gap between me and the door blocking his path. Raptor stopped to look at me with a small smile of disappointment as I asked him.

"What did you eat?"

This was my idea of being funny. I'm sure he expected me to ask him something a lot more serious. Zeta came behind him slowly as he replied.

"Started off by having a nice big helping of salad with some of her mother's homemade italian dressing. Then I had myself two helpings of a stew her father made and ended with a piece of carrot cake."

"Good?" I asked next as he chuckled and reached up to pull my arm down. As he did he replied.

"Very. Probably the best stew I had my whole life, but anything homemade beats rebellion mess hall grub."

I began to laugh as he was finally allowed to leave. Zeta and I waited till he was in the bathroom, then looked at one another. Nuding her side I said to her.

"That was better. I expected a fight. You did good."

Giving me a small snicker she replied.

"It was the heat of the moment. I still want to kill her."

"Which one? Hunter? Or the girl who he drove home?"

Looking me right in the eyes she replied.

"Hunter. I smelled him enough to believe him when he said nothing happened. I'll be honest though Pep. Whatever stew he mentioned must have been amazing. It's soaked into his arua."

Now I laughed as she walked by me and towards the stairs.

It seems she was back to being in a good mood. My only concern now was when she planned to whip out those drugs. I hope she waits till later. I really want to get back to the movies before I lose my shit.

Archer's POV, Afghanistan capital.

"What choices do you have left?" Carver asked me as he and John had just come back from their long trip in Pakistan. Both men were doing recon before any of this and now they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Neither of which seemed intent on fighting our fellow comrades to begin with. They were clearly more concerned with the future of their own lives rather than the rebellion's. Looking right back at Carver I replied.

"Well let's see. As far as things are looking for our little stronghold; we're not in a good place. In fact Carter when Ying turned and ran with his men he managed to kill a pretty good number of ours. Most who survived are not in fighting shape and if G.U.N decided to attack us now we'd be easily overrun. I'm not convinced that half our remaining numbers would even stay if an attack showed. We're pretty fucked."

"I know you probably don't wana think about this Archer, but surrendering might be the best thing. Dying isn't worth it man. Raptor and you are best friends. He can pull strings." John tried to tell me as I shook my head at the idea of it.

"It's an option, yes, but I'm not doing it. This is still about the real rebellion. Not that shit Raptor is pushing over in Iraq."

"He's trying to make the rebellion into a legit military Archer. That's not a bad thing." Carver stated as I quickly shouted back.

"He's working with the people who have been holding us back for years! G.U.N is our enemy and Raptor sold out! He left our cause and he left me with this! This is his fault and I don't care what anyone says! I'm not betraying what I believe in! I'll die holding this capital alone if it means I'll have died for what I believe!"

Everyone went silent. Deep inside I knew I was fucked. Taking a few moments to breathe, I looked back at Carver to say to him.

"Those are the options. We fight or surrender, but it won't be me surrendering if that's what you choose. You can all leave if you want. I'm not forcing anyone else to stand by me. If you believe in what Raptor wants, then go. But I would have expected more from you two. Especially now."

The two of them were confused on what to do. Both of these men were Raptor's comrades. Part of his old team. A team I was part of. I knew they had their reasons and for their service I'm giving them the choice.

"Go sell out with him. Or die for what you believe in. One way or the other….I'm seeing this through till the end."

mT Shadow.