[img]https://i.imgur.com/4uuThLm.jpg[/img] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/909715047918497815/1037211200871731300/Umbri_banner6.png[/img] The distortion washed away, revealing the black, pink, and sienna of their huddled forms. Temujin groaned, with a voice more human than his body suggested. His grip on Umbri relaxed, directed instead to clutch the bridge of his 'nose'. There was a throb, throb, [b]throb[/b] within his head, as if his brain was trying, desperately, to bloat out of its casing. [color=DC091C][b]"That was too close,"[/b][/color] the ninja remarked, his false voice breathy with weariness. A second passed as he rotated his gaze towards Umbri. The rage carved into that mask glared right through her. [color=DC091C][b]"Didn't I tell you to hide?!"[/b][/color] He snapped as he got up on one knee and snatched her shoulder with one hand, all too ready to manhandle her again. She flinched. [color=#A4303F][b]"Stop it!"[/b][/color] She yelped, hitting his hand off her. Temujin exhaled. [color=DC091C][b]"I'm just trying to help, you slattern!"[/b][/color] The ninja moved closer, narrowing the glare of his brows. His hand snatched her wrist before she could blink. [color=DC091C][b]"The only place you're walking into with that ankle is a casket." [/b][/color] Umbri almost cried out again as she was pulled. Her hand wrung in his grip, and her head jerked up, eyes furious and glossy. [color=#A4303F][b]"Your. Help. Hurts,"[/b][/color] she almost growled. She was shivering, lips turning dry and white under chapped lipstick. Her sweat took on a sickly viscous quality. She tugged her wrist against him and flicked her eyes down. [color=#A4303F][b]"... Please,"[/b][/color] she mustered, with a controlled softness. Temujin's grip loosened. He stared at her in silence, and the shadow of pity surfaced within his pitch black eyes. Words and numbers and graphs flickered over his vision. Spiking heart rate. Plunging blood pressure. Erratic breathing. [color=DC091C][b]"Were you bitten?"[/b][/color] He asked, looking Umbri over as he released his hold. [color=DC091C][b]"You have to tell me. Now." [/b][/color] She shook her head as she hauled herself up, biting back the stab of pain in her ankle. [color=#A4303F][b]"No. I'm fine. You've done enough,"[/b][/color] she rasped and leaned against the shipping crate to start hobbling away. She waved a hand in the air, brushing him off. [color=#A4303F][b]"Tell me the name of your manufacturer and I'll - [i]mmgh, ow[/i] - leave a customer review."[/b][/color] [color=DC091C][b]"My [i]what?"[/i][/b][/color] He asked, his head tilted. There was a pause, a scoff, as Temujin caught up to her thoughts. [color=DC091C][b]"I'm not a product. I'm my own man, with my own soul, my own [i]face!" [/i][/b][/color]He claimed, gesturing at his mask. [color=DC091C][b]"You think the corpos above give enough of a shit to save dregs like you? No…"[/b][/color] The ninja shook his head, then slammed a hand against the wall to halt her escape. [color=DC091C][b][i]"I[/i] do." [/b][/color] [color=#A4303F][b]"Man?"[/b][/color] Umbri uttered. Her gaze traveled down over the body of smoking synthetic muscles in her path. [i]It's all Chrome.[/i] The realization trickled in like an icicle dripping down her back. [i]Much more than eight implants.[/i] Her foot shifted away from him. [color=#A4303F][b]"Then I… I should thank you,"[/b] [/color]she forced, mustered up a grateful nod, then turned around. [color=#A4303F][b]"Now get the hell away from me -"[/b] [/color] Light spots blinded her. She staggered and fell against the shipping crate with a cry, a sudden flare of heat pulsing from the back of her neck. She brought a hand up, pushing under the wig to touch it, and Temujin saw it. A wound, tinging the flesh neon green, with unnatural glowing veins spreading from the source. [color=DC091C][b]"...! Stop!"[/b][/color] Temujin yelped, then coaxed her hand out of the way. Words and numbers flashed over his vision, most of which he barely understood. He didn't need them to see the danger. [color=DC091C][b]"This is bad. This is really bad,"[/b][/color] he murmured, cradling around her neck with the gentlest touch he could muster. [color=DC091C][b]"I have to go after it. Cut off the stinger. Synthesize an anti-venom."[/b][/color] Umbri replied with a barely lucid, [color=#A4303F][b]"Huh?"[/b][/color] and limply batted at his hand, fighting him off. Temujin sighed. In her current condition, she was no more than dead weight. Yet he felt uneasy leaving her unattended. The ninja glanced at the shipping crate, then back at Umbri. [color=DC091C][b]"Hey. Hey!"[/b][/color] He barked, turning her attention to him with a hand on the cheek. [color=DC091C][b]"You need to stay here. Stay and hide. [i]Are you listening?"[/i][/b][/color] Her eyes slid to the hand the cyberpsycho couldn’t keep off her. She thought of something to say - [i]spit at him[/i] - that, she assumed, would only invite violence. She nodded. [color=DC091C][b]“Good…,”[/b][/color] he replied. [color=DC091C][b]“Good.” [/b][/color]The ninja drew his hand back and stood. He looked to where the Thresher had gone off to, and paused with uncharacteristic hesitation. He was loath to take on such a dangerous creature by himself… but calling for help from the other Rogues seemed an even more distasteful proposition. No… its death can come later. He just needed one good cut. He was good at that. The ninja looked back to Umbri one last time, with eyes that lingered to her pallid, weary body. [color=DC091C][b]“I’ll be quick.”[/b][/color] And just like that, Temujin was gone, spraying Umbri with a burst of cold water as he zipped in the blink of an eye.