Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 281 - Correcting my course.
Zeta's POV, the next day.
Pepper stood right behind me as I was sulking over Raptor who still wasn't awake. Marx assured me he was okay, but I couldn't help but be worried. Pepper sensed all my concern and told me from behind.
"He's gonna be okay."
"I don't know." I replied back as I had my fingers curled around his right hand. With Pepper placing an arm over my shoulder she asked me calmly.
"Do you want something to eat? I'm gonna head out and get dinner."
Nodding I replied.
"Yeah…..just get me whatever you're having. I'll be here."
"Okay." She then said softly as she patted my side and turned to exit the room. Once she was gone, I looked down to my lap to sigh. When I looked back up, I looked at Molly who was still at his side. Her neck was healing nicely and despite whatever pain she was in she was more focused on him then anything else. When I looked back to Raptor's face I said to him.
"I wish you could hear me. I hope you're okay. Wherever you are in there. I'm not leaving your side. I promise you. We'll get through this. As long as it takes."
Despite my intention I knew nothing was changing. I just squeezed his hand harder and went back to staring at my own crotch. I had no idea what else to do. I was at the very least curious where Marcus was during all this. He had to know Raptor was in this state. I just didn't know why he wasn't at the very least paying him a visit. I feel like right now is the most important time to do it. The most important time to have Raptor on his feet. So many people need him right now.
Now that I thought about it I recalled the public's reaction when Hoffer told everyone what had happened that night. So many cheers went out when they heard Archer was no more. Yet what amazed me more than that was the amount of concern the middle east had for Raptor himself. Just today alone there were lines of people begging to see him in this condition. Offering words and gifts and some just wanted to pray. There were churches full of people this morning doing that exact thing. Every news station on TV was covering his condition now. Providing updates to his state that Marx was busy handing out every few hours and no one cared if it was the same update. It was just the sheer fact of the coverage. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, the entirety of the US and parts of China and Russia were demanding updates. Everyone was worried about him. Everyone.
Marx was going to wait another day or two before allowing more visitors. God knows he has a million lined up. I could turn on the TV right now and see someone on there discussing Raptor and the future if things play out good or bad.
Alongside the rush of construction being done now and Hecan keeping his word, there was still so much left to do before anyone can think about forming a proper government here. Hecan wasn't ready to start. He said to me personally he'd wait as long as he could. Our goal was to take care of everything else before that. Our faith was laying in the hope that Raptor would wake up soon or at the very least a few weeks. Yet I don't want to imagine going that long without him. I wanted him to see this. To be a part of it as we rebuild his home. He deserves that more than anyone.
A tear began to roll down my face and I managed to catch it before it could drop further. Once I had it on my palm, I let out another sigh and tried to think about something else. I wanted to have a plan ready for the day he does wake up. I wanted to be the first thing he saw. God please protect him through this and please….let him come back soon.
Raptor's POV.
"I was there baby. Do you remember? I sat behind a desk doing paperwork. I filled out requisition forms. Got you coffee whenever you needed it?"
"Real funny." I told my wife as she quickly followed it up by telling me back.
"I'm just saying. We're not part of that anymore. We're trying to focus on us. Not the rebellion."
She finished wiping my face and right after she got done I had the urge to yell at her. To tell her it was my duty to do something like this. Shadow didn't die to have all his hard work squandered. Yet for some reason a part of me held all that back. I just kept my mouth shut and listened as she said to me softly.
"Listen to me for once. The rebellion? It's not who we are anymore. We got through all that. What matters now is that we both focus on our children. Ghost and Midnight need you. I know it's hard with the way things are right now, but you can't let the rebellion be all you are. You have obligations. To me and to our kids. To Shadow even. He wanted you to move on once the war ended. He wanted you to stop fighting and just live life. We can still do that. G.U.N isn't our problem and right now there isn't anyone who can fill in the gap Shadow left. Let the treaty rest. Things have changed since then. G.U.N won't go back to the way things were. We have more than enough support to guarantee that Raptor. No one wants another war. Not even you. Give it time. Trust Archer and Hannon and even Mason. Things will be okay. I promise. Okay?"
I was stuck in deep thought as she got done hitting me with all that. I had no idea how to feel or how to respond. I was bruised and beat up after what happened with Archer and that General Monroe. Yet I knew deep down I wanted to act, but right next to that urge stood what Alicia was telling me. I wanted to be a father. I knew she was right. My choice was simple. Looking back at my wife's eyes, I nodded and wiped my lips as she muttered to me with some laughter to her voice.
"And let's be real Raptor. You're not what you used to be. You're getting old."
"I'm thirty seven!" I replied as she chuckled and went on to say.
"Back then you were only twenty five. You're not as capable now as you were then."
"Do you wana bet on that?" I asked her as she avoided the answer by giving me a gentle kiss. Once she did she changed the subject by saying to me.
"Maybe another day, but till then can I at least ask what you plan to do now that you don't look like shit?"
Again that question had me thinking. I wanted to go talk to Hannon about all this, but I was still listening more to her then myself for once. It took a lot of myself to come up with this choice, but in the end I replied to her curiosity.
"I'm not too sure yet. I might just lay down and rest."
"Why not go to the movies with your son? Like we talk about." Alicia suggested as I remembered she had said that to me at some point. I couldn't clearly remember when but all the same it felt real so I replied back almost as fast as she let me leave the sink.
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that. I'm sorry. There's just a lot on my mind now."
"Mhmm." She hummed as I opened up the bathroom door to find Ghost no more than a few feet away making his way down the hall and towards the stairs. He stopped the second he saw my face and asked me in confusion.
"What happened to your face dad?"
Standing right in front of him I replied.
"Just a dumb accident at work today. Don't worry about it. What are you doing?"
"Going downstairs to watch TV. Why?"
Ghost was a straight kid. He spoke like an asshole when he wanted to but that's all my fault. All my balls and all my stubbornness got put into one kid. Yet he still had a young mind which gave me some hope he wouldn't turn out like me one day. With Alicia walking and stopping right behind me, she listened as I replied to him.
"I was thinking about getting out. You want to go see a movie? Your mom tells me there's one out you were looking forward to seeing."
"Is she coming?" He then asked as I looked back at Alicia to see her staring at me with a smile. Once I looked back at Ghost I replied.
"She's got some things she needs to take care of. So no she ain't coming. But we can bring Midnight? Maybe Janey? What do you think?"
Ghost was clearly confused by my suggestion. Hell even my wife was a little unsure as to why I was trying extra hard to talk him into this. I just had my fingers crossed he'd say yes. I know he likes Janey and for some reason yet again I felt like I had to try to be different here. Something in the back of my head told me if I just asked him to come he'd say no.
Still a little unsure of how to respond, Ghost decided to ask.
"Do I have to sit next to you or can I sit with Janey?"
Alicia instantly let out a laugh as she proceeded to go down the stairs leaving me chuckling at his concerns. Fuck if he really wasn't my kid. With a smile sticking to me after I got done laughing, I replied to him happily.
"Yeah of course you can. Go grab your shoes. I'll go find your sister. She's already with Janey right?"
Ghost turned around to start heading back to his room, but nodding his head as I asked him the question, he replied before leaving my sight.
"Yeah! They should be at her house!"
"Well wait by the car if you get out there before I do!"
"I gotcha!" I heard him respond as I made it down the stairs to see my wife standing by the door waiting. With her arms crossed, she lowered them as I came up to her to wonder.
"Am I crazy or did he actually say yes to this?"
Giving me a gentle kiss on my lips she replied.
"I'm impressed with you. To be honest that was a really smart thing you did right there. Offering to bring his little crush on the trip. Where did that come from?"
"To be honest? I felt like he'd say no if he knew it would just be him and I."
"He would have, but that's progress right there. Keep it up and maybe he'll let you hug him."
Letting out another laugh as I opened the front door, I replied to my wife.
"Again…...real funny babe."
She giggled and shortly after urged me.
"Well if you're gonna be at the movies you should make sure you buy the kids some dinner. Seeing as I won't be home till late."
"Right…..?" I mumbled as I watched her walk off to the kitchen. By the time she left my sight I was out the door as well and starting my walk down my street. Passing Jenny's house and soon reaching the next house down where I could see Midnight and her friend Janey playing outside.
My daughter was a sweetheart. She didn't have a bad bone in her body. She reminded me so much of her mother. God I miss Dove. What things would be like if they were both still here now. I thought to myself as my daughter soon stopped what she was doing to start running at me. I began to chuckle as she came right up to my legs to ask me in concern.
"What happened to your face daddy!?"
Janey was her best friend. A sweet and equally as innocent ferret. Always showed respect to me and my family and I don't believe there was a single time her and Midnight had an argument. They did everything together. About the same height; Janey was a mix of three colors. Brown, white, and a yellowish gold. Had two blue eyes and to be honest dressed like a tomboy. She wore clothes that were comfy. She didn't care if she looked good. At least that's what she told me when I asked about it.
Doing my best to keep my daughter at bay I replied.
"Silly accident at work today baby. I'm okay, I promise."
"Are you sure Mr. Voltz? You look like you got socked."
I shot the girl a small smiling glare and quickly followed up by questioning her.
"You think me of all people would lose a fight?"
Crossing her small arms and giving me a quick smile back she replied.
"I never said you lost the fight. Maybe you just let the other guy get a few in on ya. Or girl. I'm not judging who you decide to throw hands with Mr. Voltz."
Midnight wasn't nearly as smart witted as her friend. Janey was a fireball of comedy. Never afraid to try and land a few shots of her own. Letting out a quick laugh and standing back up, I then said back with still some giggles here and there.
"Well good. Cause I don't lose. Ever. Just ask Midnight."
Looking back at Janey, Midnight went right out with it adding onto the fables.
"I did see him beat up this big bear one time at my school. You would think since he weighs like two hundred pounds more than him he'd be squished, but no. My dad hit him with a good one two punch and boom! His lights were out!"
With Ghost walking out of the house and stopping by the car to look at us, I quickly asked the girls.
"And I don't approve of fighting. Ever. Just cause I did it doesn't mean I want either of you to do the same. Now Midnight, I'm taking Ghost to the movies to go see the new Ninja Turtles. Do you and Janey want to come along? We'll get dinner too while we're out."
Almost immediately Midnight got super excited. Jumping up and down, her friend Janey quickly replied.
"I wanted to see that! Yeah let's go!"
"Awesome. Then let's go to my car. If we get there soon we won't have to wait through all the commercials and previews."
With Midnight running right for her brother, I was left with a short walk with Janey who whispered to me as we were approaching the car.
"You're a big lair, Mr. Voltz. I know you like fighting. My parents told me about you being in the war and stuff. How you were friends with Shadow Robotnik. I know you like fighting."
Looking her directly in the eyes, I replied back seriously.
"That's where you're wrong Janey. Just because I fought for my country, doesn't mean I enjoyed what I did. The fighting is the least of reasons to love what I did."
"But the guns." She laughed back as I again chuckled to her strong sense of reality.
"Yeah…...the guns are pretty cool."
With my kids now in the conversation as we loaded up into my car, Midnight just had to ask me.
"What guns did you use dad?"
Thank god Alicia wasn't here for this. She's smack me by now for even talking about that part of my life. Especially the guns. I gave the answer a serious thinking. Along the way my son asked a question of his own.
"Do you have guns in the house?"
Keeping my eyes on the road as I backed out of the driveway, I carefully replied.
"I do yes, but they're under a strict lock and key. I made sure of that for safety. And no Ghost, you won't find them. But Midnight, I used a lot of guns back in my day baby. Let's leave it at that. If it helps ease us out of the subject I will also say that I used almost every type of weapon. From big to small. I trained people to use those kinds of things. It was my job."
"Wow. Cool Mr. Voltz. Guess you're not a one trick pony." Janey stated.
Midnight began to laugh along with my son. In utter confusion I asked her.
"What does that even mean? Who said I was a one trick pony?"
"Mrs. Voltz." She laughed as I immediately began to nod my head with a sense of needing to strangle that woman. With them all still laughing, I mumbled to myself.
"Of course Alicia said that to you. She's lucky I love her."
mT Shadow.