Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or anything associated with the Inheritance Series.
Claimer: I, SussieKitten, own this plot and the story. Borrow or steal my plot, my original characters (Axel) or story and I will report you. I also own my version of Saphira/Thorn's human appearances.
Warnings: Slash/Shōnen-ai – meaning mild guy x guy action. Swearing or strong language. Hurt/Injuries – a character or two will get hurt. Femslash/Shōjo-ai hints – meaning mild girl x girl hints. If any of this disturbs you, click on the "back" button. I won't tolerate any flames.
A/N Alright, it's official. Red Haze will hereby have 8 chapters! And I wasn't quite sure if Durza needed to be in the warnings, but I'll add him here. Watch out for some serious Durza creepiness! :sweatdrop: And thanks to everyone who reviewed and added this story on their alert or favourite list.
Also, a huge thanks to my beta dragonrider713! You are the best. ;D
RED HAZE
Part Three; Disturbed
(11.45 PM - Wednesday 7th of May. Inside the Police Department in Carvahall, Alagaësia)
Rider,
The police can only hide you for so long. You shall be mine. That is a promise.
Consider this as an early welcoming gift. We will meet soon my pet.
G.K.
Eragon had never been more afraid in his entire life. It had taken him several minutes to even be able to call for Saphira. The note had been left for him in his room! In his bedroom!! They knew where he lived, and that he was under police protection. He didn't dare to think what more they could know about him.
The first thing Axel had done once he had seen it was call his sister. Arya had sworn so loudly that Eragon could hear it from the other room. Then she had told them to get their butts down to the Police Station. They had left not a minute later. But Eragon had gotten spooked again when Axel had told them very calmly to go after hearing a metallic noise. The blond had come back five minutes later telling them that it was just another cop. Eragon was sceptical however. Why would another officer, or detective or whatever, be in the area?
They arrived at the station in record time. A tired but worried looking female had greeted them and ushered them inside a private room. There were no windows there, only a portable blackboard that had been turned around, a circular desk and a few chairs. She had asked them all to sit down and had left.
That had been fifteen minutes ago.
"What are they doing out there?" Axel asked and wrinkled his brow. "Usually they include me. How rude."
Saphira just sighed. Eragon continued to pick at the worn ends of his sleeves. Another five minutes passed. Axel was just about to stand up when the door almost flew open and five people entered.
"Oh, grow up Therr. Just because I was the agent doesn't give you the right to bitch at me." Arya said and rolled her eyes.
Eragon frowned at the male she was talking to. They resembled one another in a strange way, though he knew that Arya only had one brother. The man's eyes were narrowed in a dark glare. He didn't respond.
"Detective Therr, I suggest you sit down with the rest of us so that we can move on."
Eragon looked around and suddenly saw that the other seats around the table were occupied. Right beside the blackboard sat a tall and dark skinned man. Eragon didn't doubt for one second that he was the Captain. Beside him sat a young woman that looked like his daughter. Arya had sat down in-between her and Eragon. A very tall and bulky man had taken the seat beside Axel. The blond eagerly greeted him with a slap on the back. The man didn't even flinch. Finally the last member of the team sat down. Eragon focused his attention on the man he had first spotted.
"Where is Morann?" He asked as he took a quick look around the room.
"He's nagging at the forensic team." Therr drawled unenthusiastically.
"We'll just have to start without him." The man said and his gaze met Eragon's. "Mr Rider, I am sorry that we didn't act earlier. We couldn't be sure that Galbatorix was truly after you. Being moved is traumatising enough, and being moved without a reason can be even worse."
Eragon just nodded slowly.
"I'm Captain Ajihad Black, but please call me Ajihad." The man said before nodding to the other members of the team as he said their names. "This is my daughter, Nasuada Black. You already know Arya and Axel Elve. The man across from you is Thorn Marron. The man beside him is Vanir Therr. There is one more member on our team, but he seems to be rather busy at the moment."
Arya smirked slightly. Eragon wrinkled his nose but didn't comment.
"Back to the matter at hand." Ajihad spoke sombrely. "Mr Rider, we will move you and Ms Drake to a safe-house immediately. We will seal off your apartment, and I'm afraid I can't allow you to go back for any clothes or personal effects. Detectives Black and Marron will buy whatever you need later."
Eragon nodded. Beside him Saphira did the same.
"Detective Elve and her brother will stay in the house with you." The dark eyed man continued. "There will be no less than one agent looking after you at all times. I hope you understand that we won't allow you any contact with the outside world or to step outside as long as Galbatorix is out there."
Eragon just hung his head. He understood, but that didn't mean he was going to like it.
"We understand, sir." Saphira replied in a soft and firm voice.
Ajihad nodded.
"Good. Then we will proceed to move you. We have no more time to lose."
Ajihad stood up and directed his gaze at the only man that stood taller than him.
"Marron, I will need you to locate Morann and get him up to speed." He said in a low voice.
Thorn nodded and swiftly left the room. Vanir stood as well, closing a phone Eragon hadn't noticed him using.
"They will have the cars ready for us in ten minutes." Vanir said professionally.
Ajihad nodded his thanks. Then he motioned for the other four to follow him. Eragon kept close to Saphira and stepped out of the room. He didn't manage to see much of the station before he was led into a hallway with two different changing rooms. A bag was thrown into his arms and he was pushed towards the door marked with a stick-figure resembling a man.
"Change into that and meet us outside." Arya said and threw a similar bag at Saphira.
The two teens nodded and went into separate rooms. Eragon felt like he was drowning in the sweatshirt they had given him. Thankfully the pants had a string around the waist or they would have fallen down ages ago. Eragon and Saphira stepped out of their respective rooms almost at the same time. Saphira had been given a soft sweater than hung a little loosely on her and a pair of sweatpants. They linked arms and followed a newly changed Arya and Axel outside.
"There will be several cars leaving the station at the same time so that Galbatorix won't know which one you two are in." Arya explained as they stepped towards the car-park. "The four of us will be driving in the same car. It will be a long ride, so I hope you're tired enough to sleep."
Saphira forced a smile, but Eragon could see how worried she was. And it just worried him even more.
They entered the large garage outside of the station. Axel and Arya almost immediately halted. Saphira and Eragon nearly ran into their backs. Eragon was about to ask what was going on when he saw them reach for their guns. He gulped.
"Eragon, Saphira... get out of here." Arya whispered.
And not before she had finished speaking did someone start to fire at them. Axel and Arya pushed the two others back and started to fire in the direction they thought the attackers were.
"Eragon, we need to get out of here!" Saphira said hysterically and started to drag her friend after her.
Eragon shook his head and turned around to run away. But then a large and looming figure blocked their only exit.
"You aren't going anywhere." His snarling voice snapped.
Saphira screamed. Eragon dragged her away from the man in front of them. But behind them he could still hear gun shots being fired. He cursed.
"Tsk, tsk Eragon. You've been quite hard to find."
Eragon knew that voice. He felt his entire body stiffen. From behind the looming male came the same man he had seen the day Arya had revealed her real occupation. He felt his breath start to come in quick pants. He was never getting away from there now!
"Ah, you remember me. Good boy." Durza grinned creepily. "Come peacefully and we won't hurt your... friends."
Eragon just shook his head. He didn't want to go anywhere with that man!! But he didn't want his friends to be hurt either. He was fucked.
"That's too bad. Then we will have to do this the hard way. I won't be leaving empty-handed this time." Durza sneered and pulled out the same gun Eragon could remember from their last meeting.
What scared him was that he saw that it was a dart gun. They were planning to subdue him. He didn't know what was worse; to be taken somewhere wounded or in a drugged state. Eragon continued to step even further away from the duo, making sure that Saphira stayed behind him as he did so.
"You have nothing to be afraid of. My boss just wants to talk to you."
"He can go and fuck himself!" Eragon hissed.
Durza's lifeless eyes widened almost comically.
"That wasn't nice, Eragon." He scolded.
"I don't give a damn!" Eragon screamed. "And stop calling me by my first name! You have no right to do so."
Durza sighed tiredly. He fingered the gun in his hands almost fondly before pointing it straight at Eragon's heart. The brunet stopped in his tracks. It was then the man behind Durza moved.
Suddenly a bullet was lodged into the large man's shoulder. He grunted in pain, but continued to move forward.
"ERAGON!" Saphira screamed, trying and failing to make her friend move away.
Eragon was frozen in his place.
"THE TWO OF YOU, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!" An unknown man's voice yelled sharply.
Suddenly Eragon seemed to wake up. He looked up just as the large man was thrown down to the floor by another man. Saphira fanatically continued to pull on his shirt to get them away.
"MOVE ALREADY!" The man screamed again.
Durza growled loudly. He took aim and pulled the trigger at their saviour. Eragon felt his heart jump into his throat, but thankfully the man was able to move out of the way. Durza was starting to look really pissed. Eragon gasped and began to tug Saphira towards the other exit.
They could hear someone running after them but Eragon didn't dare to look over his shoulder. Shots were being fired at a rapid speed. Suddenly he could almost feel a shot being fired their way. Eragon pushed Saphira fiercely out of the door and prepared himself to feel a bullet enter his body. Nothing came. Eragon opened his eyes and turned around.
A pair of startling hazel eyes was staring into his own. They were alight with pain and fear.
"Eragon, run." The man grunted.
The brunet opened his mouth to speak, but the man had thrown him out of the door and was looking at him with a hand clasped firmly around his bicep before he could say one word.
"There's a car ready for you at the front of the station. Move!"
Then the door was slammed shut. Eragon opened his mouth to say something, anything, but was dragged away by Saphira before he could do so. He barely registered that he was pushed into a car by a bleeding Arya and Axel driving away at top speed. Saphira held onto his arm the entire time. And all he could see was a pair of hazel eyes.
--RED.HAZE--
(01.29 AM - Thursday 8th of May. Unknown location)
"I bring some interesting news, boss."
"They better be, or you'll be joining him."
Tortured yells echoed around them. A barely noticeable flinch.
"It seems that someone's back in town. Our little... friend."
A cruel smirk.
"Is he now? Why don't you pay him a little visit?"
"It'll be my pleasure, boss."
--RED.HAZE--
(06.32 AM - Thursday 8th of May. Inside Elva's Memorial Hospital in Carvahall, Alagaësia)
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"
There were few that had heard Ajihad Black yell, and even fewer that had been yelled at by him. Murtagh however was getting quite used to the feeling. But at that moment he was more focused on the sharp pain in his bicep as a very rumpled nurse quickly made sure his bandage was in place and was tight enough. She left in a hurry not ten seconds later. Murtagh couldn't blame her. Had he been able to leave the room he would have done so long ago. But unfortunately, he was a patient at the hospital and wasn't going to be let out until the drugs from his operation were fully out of his system.
"I was thinking that the others could use some help to make sure Rider and his friend weren't taken."
Ajihad's nostrils seemed to expand as he became even angrier.
"You weren't thinking, you mean." The man almost growled. "Do you realise what you have gotten yourself into?"
Murtagh looked away from his boss. He knew very well what he had done. But that didn't matter. He had made sure Rider wasn't taken, and that was all that mattered.
"I do, sir. But with all due respect, the targets are safe now because I stepped in." Murtagh said as he slowly buttoned up his bloodied shirt.
"At the expense of your own safety." Ajihad said and his voice thickened to a deep rumble. "You were never supposed to be linked to this case."
Murtagh tested out his arm, wincing as he tried to bend it at the elbow. He was going to have to keep it in a sling for a while according to the doctor. He hated having a handicap.
"Too late for that now, sir." The hazel eyed man replied finally.
Ajihad let out a tired sigh.
"I have no choice but to have you take Axel's place in the safe-house." The Captain muttered.
Murtagh stood up.
"No." He stressed. "I refuse."
"Then you will stay there as an additional agent." Ajihad said firmly. "The more protection the better."
"Sir, you cannot place me in a safe-house!" Murtagh protested. "The team is outnumbered enough already."
"The team can manage. My decision is nonnegotiable." The dark skinned man said and put his phone to his ear. "This is Captain Black. Put me through to Detective Marron."
"Sir, you know how I become when I'm not allowed to work." Murtagh stressed even further.
"You will be able to work at the house." Ajihad replied before focusing his attention to the phone again. "Yes, I'll hold."
"Ajihad."
The man paused. Murtagh squared his jaw and prayed that he could somehow talk his boss out of placing him in the safe-house.
"Now that Galbatorix knows I'm still in town he'll have someone look for me, I'm sure of it. That's why you shouldn't put me with his original target. I'll only lead him straight to Rider." The dark haired brunet said gravely. "We cannot allow Rider to be taken. You have no idea what Galbatorix can do to live hostages. The ways the boys were murdered will look like child's play in comparison."
Ajihad's face didn't change, but Murtagh could see it in his eyes that his remark had hit home.
"If Galbatorix makes a move to take you as well, I'm moving you."
Murtagh nodded.
"Thank you, sir." He said humbly and sat back down on his bed.
Two hours later he was able to leave the hospital. Thorn had arrived to drive him home, much to Murtagh's displeasure. But what bothered him the most was the sling that his right arm was now in. Thankfully he was left-handed, or he would have been put on sick-leave. Ajihad had been very generous and had let Murtagh have a desk-job until his arm was well again.
"You'll be alright by yourself?" Thorn asked as he dropped his friend off at his apartment.
Murtagh sighed and leaned down to look Thorn directly in the eyes through the open car-window.
"Yes. I'm not defenceless just because I look like it." Murtagh said with a smirk.
"You know the boss actually wants me to stay here with you..."
Murtagh rolled his eyes.
"I know, Thorn. Just tell him I sent you away. I'll take the blame."
Thorn still didn't look convinced. Murtagh was starting to feel a bit panicked. He was not letting Thorn enter his apartment under any circumstances, not until he fixed some things.
"Thorn, I'll be fine. I just need to be alone for a while." He murmured. "I'll come in during the afternoon some time."
The redhead nodded reluctantly.
"If anything happens when you're alone, I'll kick your ass to hell and back." Thorn said and drove off.
Murtagh smiled wryly. He wondered if Thorn would keep his promise.
The dark haired man walked into the apartment complex and down the hall. He unlocked the door and pushed it open. Then he took the gun out of the belt strapped around his waist and let it rest against his leg. Murtagh walked inside and slammed the door shut behind him with his foot.
"What do you want?" He growled into the dim lit apartment.
"Ah, the mighty hero finally returns."
Murtagh sneered as the other man finally stepped into the light that came from his windows.
"I was quite surprised to see you again Murtagh, especially here in Carvahall." Durza smirked. "We were sure we had made you flee the city."
Murtagh's grip around the gun tightened.
"Bastard."
"Is that the way to greet an old friend?" Durza asked with another one of his creepy smiles.
"It's the way to greet pests like you." Murtagh growled.
Durza chuckled. Murtagh wasn't surprised that the sound still sent cold shivers up his spine.
"I must say, your father would be very disappointed in you had he still been alive." The oily haired man said in an almost sad tone. "His own son, a police detective."
"All the more reason for me to become one." The hazel eyed man hissed. "I hated that man and I always will."
"The gang misses you, Murtagh. Galbatorix misses you. Are you sure you don't want to come back?" Durza asked sweetly.
"Fuck you. I'm never coming back." Murtagh spat. "Galbatorix can find someone else to jerk off to."
The older man chuckled again.
"Oh, but we are, Murtagh. But since you're in the force, I'm sure you already knew that."
The dark haired male sneered.
"You are all monsters." He spat icily.
"Thank you." Durza said and mock-bowed.
"Why Rider, why him? I'm sure there are thousands of better looking kids out there."
Durza seemed to think over the question before he crossed his arms over his chest. Murtagh steadied his footing and changed his pose just slightly. He was ready to fire if the other made any sudden movements. Hell, any excuse was good enough for Murtagh to put a bullet through his chest.
"Well, let's just say Eragon is of sentimental value to Galbatorix. Just like you were." Durza said oily and grinned again.
"Galbatorix will never have him." Murtagh growled warningly.
"Oh, but you see Murtagh, he will. Galbatorix always gets what he wants." Durza said and laughed.
Murtagh's arm shot out and the end of his gun pointed directly in-between Durza's eyes. The red haired man stiffened for a second. The grin was all too soon back on his face.
"I should arrest you right here and now." Murtagh hissed angrily.
"But you can't." Durza said and laughed again. "And you won't. You are welcome back into the gang anytime you'd like, Murtagh. Maybe as a real member this time."
Red hot anger shot up his spine.
"I'd rather kill myself." Murtagh said darkly.
"That would be such a waste." Durza said mock-sadly.
"Get out." The hazel eyed man snarled. "Get out before I kill you."
Durza grinned widely.
"You will never be able to kill me, Murtagh. You never have been. And, if you did kill me, someone would only take my place." He snickered. "The beauty of our world."
"Your world. It was never mine, never!" Murtagh sneered. "Now get out!!"
Durza walked up to the window and jumped down onto the ground below it. Murtagh made sure the gun stayed pointed at the smirking man even as he did so.
"We will meet again, Murtagh."
The man licked his lips before he turned around and started to walk away.
"The next time we do I'll blow your head off, Shade." Murtagh snarled after the man's back.
Durza only laughed.
--RED.HAZE--
(10.34 AM - Thursday 8th of May. Inside the safe-house in the outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
"Welcome to Casa de CPD!"
Everyone shot Axel a tired glare.
"Don't kill me for trying to lighten the mood." He said and pouted.
Arya rolled her eyes and shut the door behind them, locking it as she did so. One of her hands was absently brushing away the blood that kept running down her face from a cut on her forehead.
"Where's the first-aid kit?" Saphira asked.
"Somewhere in the bathroom I'd reckon." Axel said and shrugged.
Before he had even finished the sentence Saphira had stalked down the hall and seemed to almost instinctively know where the bathroom was. She came back almost instantly and started to fuss over Arya, making her sit down so that she could take better care of her injury.
Eragon plopped down on the couch beside the one Arya and Saphira were occupying. He took a look around the house, trying to get his mind off the things that had happened just a few hours before. The house had just one story, and he could see the kitchen from the room he was currently in. The hallway he had seen earlier upon arrival had five rooms, three which he guessed to be bedrooms and the other two bathrooms. That meant that two of them had to share. But that didn't bother Eragon the slightest. In fact, he wasn't even thinking about that. His mind kept going back to the hazel eyed man, to what had happened back in Carvahall, what his life had come to. But most of all he couldn't forget his saviour. The man wouldn't leave his mind.
"He saved my life." The brunet muttered to himself.
"Who?" Saphira asked and accidentally dabbed the anti-septic soaked cotton-ball a little too harshly against Arya's cut.
"Ouch." Arya winced.
"Sorry!" Saphira exclaimed. "Who saved you, Eragon?"
"I don't know." He murmured in answer.
Axel flopped down beside Eragon and let out a theatrical sigh.
"Tell us about your hero." He said and grinned. "We've gotta make sure he wasn't a bad guy."
"He couldn't have been. That D-whatever guy looked really surprised to see him there. Shocked surprised, not angry surprised."
Arya frowned in thought.
"Don't! I have to bandage it first." The blonde female protested.
Arya sighed and surrendered to her fate.
Eragon looked away and conjured up the memory of the guy in his mind. He closed his eyes for good measure.
"He was about... a head taller than Axel. Dark hair, I can't remember the length of it though. But he had these really soulful eyes. Hazel eyes." He recited slowly.
"... Hazel? Are you sure?" Arya asked lowly.
Beside her Saphira continued to pack away the first-aid kit. She looked up occasionally to see what was going on.
"Yeah." Eragon answered.
Axel suddenly started to snicker like mad.
"Someone's going to get yelled at later." He said with a smirk.
"Oy! That guy got hurt." Eragon exclaimed with a small glare.
Arya slapped her forehead, ignoring the protesting sounds Saphira came with as she did so.
"Morann, you idiot." She mumbled quietly.
"The other guy on your team?" The blue eyed girl asked in a surprised tone.
Axel just nodded through his snickers.
"I fail to see what's so funny." Arya said and ran a hand through her messy hair. "And I know who we're talking about, unlike these guys."
"It's just that -" Axel snorted loudly as he tried to kill his snickers. "I saw Morann just yesterday. He was conveniently in the area when we were rushing downtown."
"He was what?" The green eyed woman asked in a surprised whisper.
"Yeah, it shocked me too! I nearly put a bullet in him." Axel shook his head. "He didn't say why he was there, now that I think about it."
Arya just shook her head.
"He seriously needs to get laid." She murmured.
The blond male's eyebrows shot up. He snuck a quick look at Eragon before wagging his eyebrows.
"I'm sure we can fix that."
Eragon reacted in the flash of a second, slapping Axel's head so harshly it snapped forward. The blond whined pathetically and massaged his head gingerly.
"Jerk." The brunet muttered under his breath.
"You didn't have to hit so hard." Axel pouted.
"You deserved it." Eragon replied.
Saphira rolled her eyes.
"If you're quite finished, maybe we should find out what we're missing and put up a list. When will someone come to check on us?" She asked the woman beside her.
"I'd guess sometime tonight. If we're lucky, we'll be getting another roommate as well." Arya said and stood up. "I'll take the bathroom, you take the kitchen."
Saphira nodded and stalked towards the fridge and started to look around.
"Another roommate?" Eragon asked confusedly.
"You'll see soon enough who we mean." Axel said and smirked. "In the mean time, you didn't tell me you were gay."
"Oh, please. He's a guy that lives with his best friend, who happens to be a girl he's not dating." Saphira snorted. "It's already written on his forehead."
"Thanks, Saph." Eragon drawled.
"You're welcome, honey!" The blue eyed girl piped up happily.
"So, why did ya turn down the Lex-Machine? Got someone in mind already?" The green eyed male asked eagerly.
"No. I'm not desperate, that's all."
Saphira failed to hold in her giggles at the shocked look Axel sprouted. Eragon stood up and walked over to his friend.
"Anything I can do?" He asked softly.
"You just go and get some rest. You've been through enough for one day. I'll wake you when there's food on the table."
Eragon nodded his thanks.
"You know, you're a really mean guy when you want to be." Axel said with a large pout on his lips.
Eragon just snorted.
"You just realised?" The brunet asked and left the room.
He just shook his head as he passed Arya. The woman would have to find out what happened from the others. He was too tired to care about anything else other than sleeping.
--RED.HAZE--
(04.18 PM - Thursday 8th of May. On a road in outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
"Did you really think you could keep the Captain from finding out?" Thorn asked as they exited the main road and started to drive down a smaller one.
"Not really." Murtagh sighed. "But a man can hope, can't he?"
Thorn just snorted.
A few hours earlier Murtagh had been called by the Captain himself. He had been not only yelled at, but been told to pack some stuff up, because he was leaving in no less than ten minutes, no buts allowed! Murtagh hadn't even protested, just hung up calmly and started to pack. He wasn't going to fight with Ajihad. The man did after all have a point. But what he disliked was that he was being put in the same house as the target. As the hazel eyed man had tried to explain to Ajihad before, he was positive that by him being there they would find the kid much easier. And he truly hated the thought of being the cause of someone's capture and torture.
"Stop with the self-torture already." Thorn sighed heavily. "We're nearly there. You know how much Axel will tease if he sees you like this."
The dark haired male rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. Let him. I'll just show him how short my temper is right now." He mumbled darkly.
"Don't scare him again. You know he still has mental scars from the last time." The red haired man said and snuck a quick look at his friend before going back to driving.
"That is what I aimed at. He would do well to remember that scarring. Then I don't have to scare him as badly this time."
Thorn just shook his head in a defeated manner.
"You're truly evil, I hope you know that."
Murtagh just smirked.
The car pulled up in front of the one-story house not a minute later. Murtagh sighed dejectedly before getting out of the car. He refused Thorn's tries to carry his bag for him. He was already wounding his pride by letting Thorn carry the equipment that Arya had requested earlier that day.
The door flew open before he could even knock.
"I thought I heard a car!" Axel exclaimed happily.
"Just how much of a rookie are you?" Murtagh commented deadpanned.
"I checked the license plates first." Axel said and rolled his eyes. "Do you think there's just air in this scull?"
Murtagh just crocked an eyebrow. It was then that Axel suddenly realised the sling that was supporting Murtagh's right arm. He let out a low whistle.
"He wasn't kidding when he said you got hurt." The blond male murmured.
"What?"
"Never mind." Axel said and threw the door wide open. "Come on in! It's really cosy inside."
Murtagh winced at the word. If there was one word he truly hated, it was that one.
He and Thorn, who had arrived at the front steps just then, stepped inside and put down what they had been carrying.
"Murtagh!" Arya exclaimed when she saw him. "You absolute idiot!!"
The hazel eyed man rolled his eyes.
"You're Saphira Drake I take it?" Murtagh asked instead of acknowledging the dark haired woman's exclaim.
The blonde girl seated beside Arya smiled.
"That's me." She said. "You're Morann then?"
"Indeed. Murtagh Morann. I'd shake your hand, but..." He lifted his right shoulder to empathize his condition.
"Murtagh, you will stop ignoring me this second, or you will live to regret it."
Murtagh sighed and sat down, his eyes locked with the woman's. Thorn was talking quietly with Axel in the hallway still. Murtagh guessed they were deciding where to put all the stuff.
"What's up, Arya?" Murtagh asked with a half-smirk.
The green eyed woman was not amused. Her glare darkened even further.
"You got shot?" She hissed.
"It was either me or Rider. Better me than him." Murtagh answered simply.
Arya's eyes softened slightly.
"Still, haven't you learned a thing from last time? You're supposed to make the target duck with you, not get in front of them! Stuff like that will get you killed someday." She scolded in a quiet voice.
"At least I'll go down fighting." Murtagh answered nonchalantly.
Saphira, as if sensing an upcoming argument, got up and said something about checking on Eragon. For a second Murtagh wondered if he was alright. He hoped he had gotten away unscratched.
"I've never met anyone who's more of a fool than you." She whispered.
Murtagh just shrugged.
"Should you be moving that?" Arya asked worriedly.
"I've been stuffed to the rim with pain-killers." Murtagh said and snorted. "I can't feel shit."
"The clothes and personal items have been put in the bedrooms. The only thing that's left is to put away the food." Thorn said, breaking up the tense atmosphere.
"Thanks." Arya said and sighed. "Finally we can get something real to eat."
"What did you do to your head?" Thorn asked when she titled her head just so.
Arya bit her lip.
"Something. I can't quite remember. I was more concerned with getting the hell out of that garage." She replied quietly.
"Hypocrite." Murtagh snorted.
Arya shot him another glare, though this one was much softer than her previous ones.
"I'll get going. The longer I'm here, the easier it is for someone to track us down." Thorn murmured quietly and patted Murtagh's shoulder before he started to walk away.
"You tell the Captain to call me later, yeah? I need to yell at his ass a little."
Thorn stopped and looked at him over his shoulder.
"This is for your best, man." He said simply.
"I'd be safer locked in a padded cell than here." Murtagh hissed quietly. "And they'd be safer too."
"Murtagh, nothing will happen this time, okay? I won't let it." Thorn said and walked out of the room and soon out of the house.
Murtagh unclenched his fist and turned to stare at the floor.
"What is it that you refuse to tell us?" Axel said and he jumped over the back of the couch and sat down. "I can understand not telling Therr, and hell, I can understand you won't tell me... but my sis and Nas, they deserve to know."
Murtagh stood up, glad that his hair was falling into his eyes and shielding away the pain in them.
"The Captain is my boss, he would have found out anyway. Thorn was there for me during most of it. I never really had to tell them a lot, but what I had to was painful enough." He paused. "If you really want to know, ask them instead."
Arya lifted her hand and kept Axel from commenting further. She nodded her head in understanding. Murtagh returned the gesture. Then he walked into the kitchen and started to make himself busy.
"It's going to get pretty cramped up in here." Axel said a small while later.
"We need to decide sleeping arrangements." Arya said as she came back from her search after the last two of their group. "I'll share a room with Saphira."
"I can bunk with Eragon. You shouldn't share a bed when you're hurt." Axel piped up.
The blond dove behind his sister when a dark glare was shot in his direction.
"I'm fine, damnit." Murtagh growled.
"Right, 'cause getting shot is the new meaning of 'fine'." Axel commented.
The next growl he came with was a hint louder. Axel meeped loudly. Inside Murtagh allowed himself to be pleased at the outcome.
"Just take the last room, Murtagh." Arya said deadpanned. "You like your privacy anyway, right?"
Murtagh looked away. Absentmindedly he nodded. He'd rather not think about why he treasured his privacy so.
"I'll go and get myself settled." Murtagh said and walked out of the room.
He passed Saphira on his way. He nodded when she smiled in greeting. He absently noted that he hadn't heard or seen Eragon after arriving, but didn't think anymore of it. He slipped into the room that had been given to him and closed the door behind him. He took of the sling and placed it on the bedside table. Murtagh gingerly shouldered off his shirt before lying down on the closest bed. He was asleep a few seconds later.
--RED.HAZE--
(07.57 PM - Thursday 8th of May. Inside the safe-house in the outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
Eragon was beyond happy to finally get into clothes that actually fit him. He hadn't even been aware that he had fallen asleep until Saphira had woken him a few hours earlier. And from what he had been told, he had missed the arrival of their new roommate.
The group had just finished eating dinner, though Saphira had protested a bit on them eating without the fifth member. Arya had just shaken her head and told them that she'd wake him up later.
"He looks like he's been through a lot." Saphira commented softly as she helped Arya wash the dishes.
Eragon looked up from the book he had been trying to read. Axel just continued to stare at the TV in front of him.
"You could say that." Arya said and snorted. "Now that you mention him, I should go and wake his lazy ass."
"Not needed. Said lazy ass is up already."
Eragon nearly lost his grip on the book. He turned his head. He did lose his grip on the book when he saw just who was standing in the doorway.
Ragged dark brown hair, intense hazel eyes. Sharp and handsome features he hadn't quite noticed the first time. Eragon felt himself blush slightly.
"Did you have a nice nap?" Arya asked.
The newcomer sighed and massaged his neck. It was then Eragon noticed the sling supporting his right arm. He looked away.
"How long was I out?" The hazel eyed man asked.
"Three and a half hours or so." Axel piped up. "Someone must have been tired."
"Shut it, Axel." He said tiredly.
"And since your brain seems to still be asleep, I'll inform you there's someone you have yet to introduce yourself to." Arya said mock-innocently and turned back to her chore.
Eragon met Saphira's amused gaze. She nodded in the other direction. Eragon steered himself and looked back in the newcomer's direction. He was shocked when he found himself nearly face to face with him.
"You got away alright?"
Eragon just nodded dumbly. The newcomer grinned.
"Good. I'd hate to have taken a bullet for nothing." He smirked. "I'm Murtagh Morann."
"Hey." Eragon mumbled.
"Now, don't think that this is your fault." Murtagh said and pointed at his bandaged arm. "This is hardly the first time. If you want to blame anyone, blame me, ok?"
"Better yet, blame the bad guys!" The blond male said before going back to whatever he was watching.
"For once blondie actually has a point." Arya commented and snorted.
Axel flipped his sister off without looking away from the TV. Murtagh chuckled.
"Is there any food left for me?" He asked and wandered in the direction of the kitchen.
"Depends." Arya said teasingly.
"On what?" Murtagh asked suspiciously.
"What's your new motto, Mr I-Jump-In-Front-Of-Bullets-For-Fun?" The black haired woman asked with a small smirk.
Murtagh rolled his eyes.
"How about; duck first, get shot later?" He replied.
Arya didn't look amused. Eragon opened his book again and got back to reading. He felt the little guilt he had had in him slowly fade away.
"Fine. I swear to duck and take down the target with me. No more jumping in front of bullets, I promise."
Eragon could practically feel the smugness radiate from Arya's form.
"Good boy." She purred. "You may now have your dinner." She said and chuckled slightly.
"Thank you, oh Goddess of the holy food in the kitchen." Murtagh said sarcastically.
"You better get used to them bantering." Axel whispered to Eragon as the two dark haired officers continued to taunt each other. "They never stop."
"Are they dating?" Eragon whispered back.
Axel looked to force himself not to fall to the floor and laugh until he laughed himself hoarse.
"Never in a million years." He replied. "They're strictly friends. Besides, Arya's batting for the other team."
"Yeah?" Eragon asked surprised.
Axel winked.
"Hell yeah. I've yet to prove that she and Nas have something going on, but I will! You just wait and see." The blond said and rubbed his hands together eagerly.
"And what are we talking about?" Saphira asked and stuck her head in-between the two males. "If you sit any closer, you would have been kissing."
Eragon instantly leaned back. He scooted backwards a bit to be sure. Axel mock pouted.
"Thanks for ruining my chances, Saph. I nearly had him where I wanted him too!" He whined.
"No chance in hell, you pervert. I'd rather kiss an octopus than you." The brunet said and wrinkled his nose.
Saphira started to giggle and sat down.
"What's going on over there?" Arya called across the room.
"Axel got turned down again!" Saphira called back amusedly.
"Don't ask." Arya told a confused looking Murtagh. "You'll only get more confused."
Saphira's giggles doubled. Eragon lifted the book up to cover his face. He didn't want anyone else to see the red-hot blush that was straining his cheeks.
A/N See, I can end a chapter without a cliff-hanger! Lol.
And finally it happened, the meeting of Eragon and Murtagh. And what a meeting it was! XD But enough about that. After the news I came with in the last chapter, you'd think I was dry, right? Nope. I am proud to say that I've finally finished this story! 8 chapters as promised. And while I'm on that subject, I have something else to announce. More news about this will be added in the final chapter. Well, anyway, here's the news: there's a possibility of a sequel to this! Why not make more chapters, I'm sure you're asking. Because it wouldn't be right, and I felt like the story was done where I finished it. But, as I said above, more about this will be said with the last chapter.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! The next one should be out within a week, Thursday at the earliest. Don't forget to review guys! It really makes my day.
I know you may already know some of the words, but I'm adding them all just in case.
Police Speak:
Safe-house – what the name implies; a house where people who are suspected to be a target is taken for protection. Very few knows the location of these houses and who's in them
Stake-out – where the police/bureaus get some of their bad reputation. An operation where they spy on a target or suspect to see what they're doing
Piece – a slang word used for guns
Forensic team – they have the same tasks as the team in the TV-show CSI. They gather evidence from a crime scene and analyse them
CPD – short for Carvahall Police Department
Downtown – a slang term used for Police Stations