TWs: Hostages, violence towards a wall, impending danger. Stay safe :)
When Tord gave the signal, Jon was halfway up in the air, making his way around the palace. He saw soldiers positioned at their usual spots and Hellucard watching from his makeshift throne of leftover drone parts. The ghost looped around to the back, counting how many soldiers there were before making his way to a particular window to see if their friends were safe.
His eyes widened at seeing an empty room. He went through the wall to get a closer look, noticing that the door had been charred to pieces.
'But where's Arthur and Larry?' He asked himself as he flew back to the courtyard. He spotted the doomsday device, a giant rocket with a ballpoint end where a laser was to shoot out.
"Less than 18 hours to go, men!" He heard Hellucard shout, "Pick up the pace!"
Jon was about to give up searching for the hostages until he saw a glint of light near the doomsday machine. Squinting his eyes, he saw Larry and Arthur chained on one side of the device. However, the reflection didn't come off from them.
'Is that... Edd!?' Jon faltered as he saw the brunette tied to the other side of the device, his lucky cola can hanging off his neck, catching the sun's rays.
The ghost wanted to go down there and ask questions about how Edd ended up in that situation, but he knew they would end up getting caught easily.
'This is just great...' Jon thought, letting out a frustrated breath as he flew back to the group. When he landed, he found Tord drawing in the dirt with a stick, going over the plan again as everyone huddled around him.
"And then, while Matt, Tom, and Bing sneak into the palace to find the room, Pau and I will be the distraction slash lookout slash... trying to delay doomsday as much as we can," Tord explained, drawing sloppily in the mud.
"Which circle am I again-?" Matt uttered.
"It doesn't matter as long as you get to the room, Matt." Tord rolled his eyes, tossing the stick away.
"About that," Jon spoke up, prompting everyone to avert their gazes toward him, "There's been a change of plan..."
"I sure hope it's a good change of plan." Tord's eye twitched, already tired of explaining the plan multiple times.
"Uh..." Jon scratched the back of his neck, "They've obtained a new... hostage."
The group was silent momentarily as they stared at the apparition.
"What?" Pau was the first to break the silence.
"Do we even know someone else they would want?" Matt questioned.
Jon silently nodded, more at Tord than anyone else, and gave him a pitiful expression. Tord's expression turned from confusion to surprise, and it turned to anger as his eyebrows furrowed and his fists clenched. He bared his teeth as he whipped around and threw his right fist at a nearby wall, punching a hole straight through the frail concrete.
"Tord." Pau grabbed his shoulders, yanking him close to him, "Calm down."
"I am calm," Tord spoke through his teeth, "Those assholes are-"
"I know how much you want to kill them, but right now, we have to focus on rescuing them."
Tord stopped, glancing into Pau's eyes and remembering why they were there in the first place, "Right..."
The Norsk looked around before spotting a building with a fire escape nearby. He hummed before averting his gaze, "New plan; listen up..."
The group discussed their new plan. Tord went into the finer details and ensured everything would go as smoothly as possible. Turning his gaze towards the setting sun, Tord took a deep breath.
'Less than 17 hours to go...'
"This place is a dump..." Clay muttered as he looked around the main entrance.
"Tell me about it." Mark cringed at all the paper and trash around the desk and security computer.
"And... that should do it." Pat spoke as he finished typing, "We should have a few hours before the cameras turn back on. Let's make the most of it."
Everyone nodded, continuing to explore the hallways. Mark caught up to Pat, glancing at him.
"Did you bring that thing with you?" The blonde asked.
"That thing...? You mean the drive you gave me?" Pat quirked an eyebrow.
"Yeah, yeah, the thing!" Mark nodded.
"I did," Pat got it out, handing it over, "Here you go."
"Thank you." Mark placed it into his coat pocket.
"By the way, what does it do?" Pat asked.
"Oh, uh, nothing. It's just a virus." Mark waved it off.
"And you keep it... why?"
"Emergencies." Mark averted his gaze, "Oh, would you look at that- a fork in the road, er tunnel? Drain."
"This is where we split up into groups of two." Pat turned to the others, "You and Yan, Eduardo and Mark, and Clay and I. Do not wander too far from your partner; look out for the other." His gaze fixed on Eduardo and Mark as he said that.
Everyone gave a nod as they split up, exploring the three sections of the sewer.
"Is everyone gone?" Kim asked.
"I don't think so. At least not yet." Katya shrugged, "The Doctor is still here, just in the Division Room. Diwi is still here. I think Laurel left."
The ponytailed blonde halted in her steps, her eyes cast upon the camera in the corner. She raised an eyebrow as she noticed the red light wasn't on.
"It's so boring walking around doing nothing... why can't we cuddle already?" Kim whined.
"Because," Katya turned her gaze, "That would also be doing nothing."
With a tap on her partner's nose, Katya laughed and ran further down the hallway.
"Wha- hey! Come back here!" Kim couldn't help but smile at her wife's demeanor as she followed along.
"Well, this can't be right." Eduardo spoke, seeing the same rust pattern he saw moments earlier, "We're going in circles."
"Maybe we should..." Mark trailed off, his eyes wandering to a gaping hole in the wall.
"Looks like we'll have to turn around." Eduardo cursed under his breath as he kicked the wall, "So much for exploring, right, Mark?"
Mark didn't respond, prompting Eduardo to turn around.
"Mark?" The dark brunette looked around, not seeing his blonde friend anywhere, "Mark!?"
Mark heard Eduardo calling for him from the other side, yet he didn't say anything.
On the other side of the hole, there was a hallway. It was cast in a red light. Large pipes and wires adorned the sides, making creaking and rumbling noises. It was all eerily familiar to Mark as he tip-toed along the floor, his heart beating heavy within his chest.
"Come on, come on, come on..." A voice spoke. Mark whipped his head towards the nearest door. It was the only one open.
'Division Room...?' The blonde quirked an eyebrow. He peered inside, his eyes widening.
"Go faster, you piece of..."
"Dad?"
"Hm, this might be a problem." You spoke as he and Yan encountered a split-off.
"How so? We could just choose one of them." Yan shrugged.
"Or... we could split up?" You smirked, leaning into his partner.
"Didn't Pat tell us not to do that?" Yan deadpanned.
"Yan, when have I ever listened to Pat?" You crossed his arms, huffing.
Yan averted his gaze, "Fair point."
"See?" You strolled past him, "Now, I go left, you go right?"
"Uh-" Yan felt his throat dry and the words dying on his tongue as he stared at You. His stomach dropped, forming a pit of uneasiness.
You stared back at him, his diamond gaze playful and mischievous and his blonde hair messy and unkempt. No matter how many times he brushed it, it always appeared chaotic.
It felt like this was going to be the last time Yan saw him.
'But why?' Yan thought, furrowing his eyebrows.
"...Earth to Yan! Are you even listening to me?" You spoke, waving his hand in the ravenette's field of vision.
"Yeah. Yeah, I heard you, You." Yan swatted at his hand, "Sounds good."
"Good! The last one to meet back here pays for the alcohol!" You took a few steps into the hallway.
"Wait-!" Yan called after him.
You looked at him, raising an eyebrow, "What is it?"
Yan swallowed, the pit in his stomach only growing deeper, "Я тебя люблю."
The blonde faltered for a second, becoming surprised before he smiled, "私もあなたを愛してます."
"Be careful," Yan spoke, uttering weakly.
"You know I will." You winked before turning his back to him, "See ya in a bit!"
Yan watched as his partner walked away, his figure disappearing down the dimly lit hallway. The Russian forced himself to turn away, pushing himself forward in the other direction.
You would be fine.
They both would.
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧Translations✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
Russian =
Я тебя люблю/YA tebya lyublyu - I love you
Japanese =
私もあなたを愛してます/Watashi mo anata o aishitemasu - I love you too
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧NOTE✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
Mmm... ever wonder why I tagged this story on Ao3 with Character Death?
You're about to find out... ;)
I also haven't been feeling well for a few days, so please comment to make my day better 3