Love Struck Delusion

Chapter 294 - A better life.

Zeta's POV, A few days later.

If you were to ask me where I saw my life going a few months ago, I would have told you something far different from this reality. Yet it was all good. I had safety. I had a home. I had my sister and I had someone new to love. Someone I never would have seen myself with if it wasn't for all the shit I went through in my life. But was I upset about any of it? No.

Ever since the night Raptor returned from dealing with Linnen, he's been focused on the military G.U.N was helping him set up. Everything was almost in place for it to start running itself, the only issue they had was finding someone to lead it. Raptor didn't want the job. He didn't want to fight anymore. He just wanted to advise others. He's pushing for someone better to be at the helm, but that was the issue. There wasn't anyone better.

The middle east and everyone living in it was looking for him to take charge. But Raptor went on TV and told the world that it can't be that way any longer. He wanted someone like Hecan. He wanted a system like Hecan's. He wanted a president. He wanted a congress. Or just a panel of trusted individuals that could come together and make those kinds of decisions as a group of united opinions.

One man shouldn't have all that power. Yet there were still a lot of people unsure if that could even work to begin with in this part of the world. All in all, there was still a lot of work to do.

Zandro was also doing his best to fit in. Surprisingly he's been nothing but a help to Raptor and the middle east. He's moved his business fully over to Pakistan. Raptor and G.U.N made sure he had what he needed to set up a home for his operations and the public was never going to know about it. Legally and openly, Zandro was now part of the middle east's military. Fort Drake and it's name was kept strictly to those in it and those people were working around the clock from what I knew. Zandro's main focus was on production and helping Raptor rebuild his home. A task that earned him the respect of those who doubted his intentions. The only concern I had was a question. One I hadn't brought up to Raptor yet and that was about Vetra. I had no idea what happened to her. No idea if she killed Hunter. No clue at all. There wasn't anyone left that wanted Raptor dead other than Hunter and I couldn't sleep right wondering if she was still out there somewhere. Plotting some kind of way to get back at him.

Regardless I couldn't really bring the issue up right now anyway. Raptor was already under enough stress. He was hard at work setting up a way for everyone living in the middle east to vote for what they wanted the government to be.

Did they want a system like G.U.N's? Did they want just one man to run the country like it has been for the last decade or more? Did they want a congress? Did they want a president? It was the first step. The first real step. The votes would be casted over the next three days. Whatever the majority decides will be the future for the middle east. I just had to wonder what would happen if they decided they wanted a president like Hecan to run the country. I'm sure there were other people suited for the job. Political people with ideas and with the experience. But it was hard to convince myself that there wouldn't be a majority of people begging Raptor to take the first term. Would he be able to say no like he has been? I don't know. I just figured Char had to be too young for that kind of power to rest on his lap. We'd see what would happen in the next few days. My focus now was on making him happy.

Pepper and I were still watching out for him as his guards, but like I said there wasn't much of a threat to be worried about now that the war was over and done with. My job was making that man smile. Making sure he knew that I loved him. Making sure that he knew he had a person to come too every night for support. His mental condition is a top priority and thankfully I wasn't the only one thinking about it. Raptor was stubborn and very good at hiding his emotions when he wanted too. I couldn't tell what the problem was because he wouldn't talk about anything other than the future. He wouldn't talk about the coma, the war, even Marcus. He was bottling a lot up and I was worried one day it would become too much.

Dr. Clamer was doing his best at keeping up to date. He's come over to the house a few times to see him and from what I knew he was having a hard time getting Raptor to talk. Probably worse than me. Yet I was just happy he was trying at all. We just had to keep pushing him. One day when he's ready he'll talk. He'll talk and we can help. I just want him to be happy now that we have a chance to start over together. That's all.

Right now however I was just relaxing back at the house. Pepper was out with him and from what I knew they should be back here soon. I was left with Molly who I personally began to train alongside my sister. She was probably one of the smartest dogs I've ever seen. Nothing but heart and no matter how big she got she was still a cuddlebug. I was excited to see how she would develop as an adult.

We were watching the news together. I was interested in seeing how the world was going now that I wasn't running from it. But it was getting late. The sun was going down and I was starting to get a bit tired. So with my whole body curled up on the couch, I turned off the TV and tried to sleep.

Thirty minutes later.

"Hey? Zeta?"

Opening my eyes to see Pepper watching over me, I replied.

"Hey…...what's up? How'd you get on?"

"Good." She said with a soft voice as I sat up in time to see Raptor heading for the basement. Before he could touch the door I asked him.

"Do you want me to make you something for dinner?"

"No thanks. I'm just gonna head down here for a bit and rest my legs."

"And catch a drink?" My sister asked him with a sassy hint to it. Raptor opened the door to smile and reply.

"Probably."

Molly got up once she saw him and followed him downstairs leaving me with Pepper who I had to ask.

"So what happened?"

Sitting down next to me, she replied.

"Nothing bad for once. Raptor had a few meetings that were dotted around the city he had to be present for. Just a whole lot of work. From what I understood just listening, it's a lot of renovation work."

"Any news yet about the votes?"

"Nah, not yet. Have you talked to him about it? I don't think people will rebel if he says no to the position, but he has to know almost everyone wants him to be the first." Pepper said back to me as I quickly stood up from the couch to reply.

"We've talked. Right now he's still convinced he won't if it comes to that. But who really knows yet Pep?"

My counterpart took her care to take up the now missing space on the couch. Putting her arms back she smiled at me and then asked.

"Can you imagine? Oh Mr. President!? What are you…!?"

My reaction to her jokes was a swift knee to the leg. She yelped almost instantly as I growled.

"Don't play with me. You're so dumb sometimes."

Gently kicking me back, she replied.

"Just cause I'm dumb doesn't mean I'm wrong. Now come on and answer me. Could you imagine that this ever would have happened? We're alive and together again. Our contracts are gone and we're personal bodyguards to the fucking president of the middle east and your his girlfriend!"

I was now blushing a bit thanks to her. Yet she was right so I replied calmly back.

"No, you're right. I never would have believed this was in our future."

Tapping me on the leg to get my attention again to be directly on her. I listened close as she whispered a series of questions that instantly got my heart to stop.

"So when are you getting knocked up? And you're gonna get married right? When's that happening?"

She knew what she was doing by asking such things. She just wanted to enjoy me in a flustered state. But unknown to her, I at the least had an answer.

"I'm twenty five and Raptor has been through two wives. Each of them died and I doubt he wants the same thing to become of me if we tie a knot too soon. And what the fuck would you do if we did, huh? You gonna be one of my bridesmaids?"

"I fucking better be!" She barked back as I quickly smiled and snapped back.

"At the rate that we're going, I'm gonna be picking Molly over you!"

Sitting back up she responded.

"I'd kick your ass. Wedding day or not."

I shot her a small smile signaling that I was calmed back down after all the shit she just threw my way. A few moments later, I had an idea and had to ask.

"Well what about the first question you asked? What would you do if I got pregnant?"

Giving me a straight face, she replied with some confusion to her tone.

"I don't really know yet. I think I'd be shocked it happened this early. You know how hard it is genetically for him to knock you up? That kind of thing can take time. I knew a few people who went years before getting that kind of blessing bestowed upon them."

I began to come up with my next move as she continued her last statement.

"But if you were pregnant? I'd want your ass to stay the hell home and consider the pregnancy a temporary vacation till you were due. Because I know you and I don't want to have to worry about your safety. Ain't nothing gonna happen to that kid so long as I'm around. You hear me?"

Cocking her a crooked smile, I lowered my voice to a whisper and replied.

"Why do you think I've been taking it easy these last few days?"

I never saw her body jot faster from hearing something important. But this time it was different. Her eyes were opened so wide I thought they would pop out of her head. And her hands reached out to grab onto my waist. Staring up at me as she began to shake, she questioned.

"Are you serious Zeta?"

I stared at her for a few moments before deciding to smile again. She watched my every move as I replied with a short giggle.

"Of course not. I'm just lazy."

About as fast as she reacted in the beginning; she jumped out of her skin and tackled me down across the living room floor. The whole time I couldn't help but laugh and beg.

"I'm sorry! It's just a fucking joke! You can't be serious Pep!"

Thank god I was out of combat ready clothing, because this fight was all about the ability to move one's body. Wearing only some leggings and a tight tank top, I rolled with her a good number of times before being the one on top. We were both growling and snapping at each other as I attempted to also pin her hands back. At least my growling and snapping was playful. Her's was with the intent to harm. When she nearly bit me, I screamed.

"Agghhhhh! Jesus Christ! Stop it Pep!"

Raptor's POV.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

I was enjoying a small drink. Just sitting on the couch and thinking. Then all I began to hear were sounds that resembled someone stomping around upstairs. Molly stood up off the couch and ran right up. I knew the door was shut so I had to get up and go see what was going on.

When I reached the top and opened the door, Molly ran out and left me by my lonesome to watch from a safe distance as Zeta and Pepper were rolling around in front of the couch.

I had no idea what to say or do. I doubt they even noticed that I was there at all. So I just leaned up at the base of the doorway and sipped my drink some more. Molly on the other hand ran right up to them as they were growling and continuing to roll. Pepper was trying to bite Zeta; and Zeta was struggling to keep her sister away from accomplishing that goal. Molly however decided enough was enough and began to bark at them from only a few feet away. The second her voice was heard, Zeta looked over to see her standing there. Pepper could care less it seemed as Zeta shouted in confusion.

"Molly?! What are you….!?"

I was enjoying the view and was mid sip as Pepper managed to clamp down on her sister's left arm. Instantly Zeta let out a small scream which got Molly to decide the next best move was to try and get between them. She pushed herself right where Pepper was biting Zeta and thanks to that; Pepper let go and put her effort into pushing Zeta over instead. Once she was on top, I noticed them both catch me from the corner of their eyes. All I could do was smile slightly as they both stopped in their tracks to stare at me. Molly went back to barking as I let out a sigh and turned back around to begin heading back downstairs. As I took the first step, I heard them shout.

"She started it!"

I left Molly to handle them from there and shut the door. When I got back down, I went back to the bar to pour myself another glass and that's when I heard from behind me.

"Raptor?"

The voice caught me off guard and almost instantly I turned to find Marcus standing by my safe. He was leaning up against it and just staring at me with a small smirk. Putting down my glass very slowly, I questioned in confusion.

"What are you doing here?"

Marcus sensed my tone was a bit hostile and approached to reply.

"To see how you've been getting along. I know you have questions."

"Questions? Do you have any fucking idea what I went through these last few weeks?"

"I do." He replied as I felt myself getting really angry. The fox took his care to walk by me and stop at the bar. Leaning over the counter, he urged me calmly.

"Just come over here and listen. I promise this will make sense."

I was all for finding out what the hell was going on. So I got right next to him and watched with burning eyes as he reached over to take my glass from off the counter. As he took a sip, I asked him.

"Where the hell have you been? What happened to my powers?"

The fox surprisingly drank more than half of my drink before he decided to put it back down. Once he was ready, he replied.

"I've been letting you finish what you've started. Archer's dead. Linnen's dead. The war is over and you've been given the chance to start again with the wolf upstairs. I figured you'd be happy."

Looking him dead in the eyes, I growled back viciously.

"I almost died. The only reason I'm alive is because of those wolves upstairs. What the fuck is going on with you?"

Marcus took his time to respond, but calmly did so despite my clear rage right now.

"We're at the point now Raptor where I have to really consider our past together. You're not fully aware of this, but I took a pretty big risk making you into what you were. Only reason I did is because I believe you can replace what I am in this realm."

I already knew all of this and I knew that he knew that as well. Which is why he went on to say.

"But you already know this. So I'm not going to beat around the bush for any longer than I have too."

Reaching out and placing a hand on my arm, he lowered his voice a tad and stated.

"I don't know what you want to do now that our deal is officially over. I don't know Raptor. Originally I gave you a choice. That choice is still here to make. But after going over everything and thinking over my options, I have added a third option for you to consider."

I felt the importance of this all the sudden. It hit me like a brick. My heart was racing and it was clear as day that I was now in the middle of the most serious decision of my entire life. One that I wasn't sure if I was ready to make, but Marcus proceeded on by saying what those choices were.

"I'm still willing to pass you the torch. If you want it. But if you don't; then I'm at least willing to let you live out your life now that things are finished. You can live and try again, but my gifts are remaining like they are now. They won't come back to you. You'll continue aging and given enough time you'll pass away. Hopefully happy with what you've done. Or? Or you can still tell me now that you want to move on from this world. You can tell me right now that you would rather rest in the afterlife. I know Julie misses you. I know there is a place for you there and I can promise you from deep down that you'll be happy and you won't regret a thing."

"What about Alicia?" I questioned as he quickly replied.

"She's there too. They all are Raptor. You need to understand that there really is an afterlife. Those who you lost are there and waiting. Waiting for you to join them again."

My mind shifted back to what happened to me in that cave. Marcus must have sensed my thoughts and assured me carefully.

"What you saw was just a figment of your imagination Raptor. The only one who was real was Julie. I swear to you I'm not lying. Alicia and the kids? That was all you."

"Why?" I had to ask as he calmly replied.

"Why? You know why. Your mind is shattered. Your sanity? Raptor that's been gone a long time. We both know that. You were dying. That's what you said to me just now. You were dying and losing a lot of blood. Fading into and out of what was real and what was just a dream. The mind does things that even we gods can't begin to understand."

I was completely at a loss for words. Marcus took a moment to take another sip. As he drank, I questioned that loss.

"But why did you take my powers away?"

Looking me right in the eyes, he replied.

"Because I needed you to experience true pain. Not just the physical trauma Raptor. I needed you there mentally. The coma? The life you thought you were living? Raptor that was all me."

"What?" I asked in shock as he nodded his head slowly and began to look away. My eyes were glued to him as he didn't say a word more. I almost couldn't form words, but somehow found the courage to ask.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean it was you?"

"I wanted you to understand what you've done. I wanted you to see the other outcome. The other option. I wanted you to experience what would have happened if you would have just said no."

I was just stuck on how to react as he went on to say.

"What you may consider a dream, was in all sense of the word….real. If you wouldn't have started the war with G.U.N your life and all those around you, would have changed. Your life in particular. I needed you to see that. I need to know how you feel now that you see the error of your ways."

"You want to know how I feel?" I asked him as he nodded and replied.

"Yeah…..I do."

Using all I had I reached out and placed my hand on his left shoulder. When I felt that he was really there in front of me physically, I sent my right hand forward punching him square in the gut. Marcus instantly coughed on his own spit and bent over into me slightly from the force and the pain. I pulled a foot back to watch as he went on his knees to try and breathe. With his hands covering where I had hit him, I shouted.

"You fucking son of a bitch! You want to know how I feel!? You wanted to know how I would react!?"

Marcus very slowly was able to catch his breath, but he remained down as I went on to scream at him.

"What I lived through in that coma was something I know for a fact I never wanted to witness! I never needed to know what would have happened if I would have just stopped myself that day! I didn't need to fucking know Marcus!"

I was about to snap. My fist was ready to deck him with one good punch, but I held myself back as he raised a hand to gag out.

"No! You needed to know!"

I couldn't take this. Reaching down with my left hand, I grabbed him by the left shoulder and loaded back with my right hand balled up. Marcus widened his eyes as I sent everything forward for him to see.

But when my fist came within inches from his face, I felt someone reach between us and grab me by my wrist. Almost instantly my attack missed Marcus and I was left to stare into the eyes of another man. One I've never seen before today. Looking me calmly in the eyes, he ordered me with a deep voice.

"Stop."

mT Shadow.