[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/pkeSHOb.jpeg[/img] [sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][color=796e9c][b]#796e9c[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]alloy[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/Keu4D2D][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [color=bdddff][b]#bdddff[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]polar[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/MjVLTV3][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]new york highway[/b][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]The sound of shattering glass, the scream that echoed through her childhood home, and dread that had filled her dad’s face, it all played on repeat in her head. He’d shoved his bag into her arms, told her to pack what she could and to run, to go out her bedroom window and not look back. [color=d6d6d6][i]"There’s an old pager in the bag."[/i][/color] Bobby’s voice had been strained, fingers digging into her shoulder painfully as he shoved her toward her bedroom. [color=d6d6d6][i]"You’ll be safe there, I’m sorry. I love you."[/i][/color] Everything after felt like a blur. Her bedroom door had slammed shut in her face, and a chill permeated the air as her dad froze it over. She could hear him taking the stairs two at a time, hear the sound of raised voices, of ice cracking, and all she could do was…listen to his instructions. She opened the bag with shaking hands, pulling out most of his clothes and shoving her own in, leaving everything else behind as she slipped open her bedroom window. This was a practiced move, when she was younger her parents had gone over evacuation drills with her. She threw the bag out first, could hear feet thumping up the stairs toward her room, and rolled out of the window when the first thump shook her door. Bella landed in a tuck and roll that was only a little clumsy, her ankle twinging painfully, but her hands found the straps of the bag and she threw it onto her shoulders, glancing through the kitchen window out of reflex and a sick sense of curiosity. She wished, desperately, that she hadn’t. If she’d just run, if she hadn’t looked back, she wouldn’t have seen the crumpled body of her mom in the kitchen, blood seeping into the hardwood. She froze, feeling like an ice statue, unable to look away as life drained from her mother. A movement in the kitchen drew her attention though, gaze raising in slow motion to connect with her dad’s. His nose was broken, ice crawling up his arms, and when he saw her he shook his head. The moment of distraction cost him, and Bellamy watched as a bullet cut into his shoulder. He yelled at her again, told her to run, and this time she didn’t look back. It all felt like a blur, and yet she couldn’t stop replaying it over and over in her head. She’d spent hours crashing through the woods behind her house, skirting along highways, crossing only once, until she’d remembered herself and grown a little more tactful with her retreat, looping an obvious path onto a highway before slinking back into the woods more discreetly. The sky was dark, sun setting, storm clouds rolling in from the north, and she’d only just found a hollowed out tree big enough for her to squeeze into before the rain started. It was for the best, the small part of her brain that wasn’t revolting in panic and horror knew that the rain would help cover her trail, and she’d be relatively safe for the night. Bell fell asleep replaying the day's events over in her head until she’d grown numb. She woke up with a damp patch curled up in the center of her chest, something small and wet was purring loudly against one of her collarbones. It was still raining, the temperature had dropped while she was sleeping, and now there was a little maine coon kitten nestled with her in her hiding hole. [color=bdddff]"Where did you come from?"[/color] she’d whispered, holding the little animal with one hand as it blinked at her in the darkness, eyes a beautiful mix of blue and green. Bella had melted at the sight, tucking the kitten closer to herself when it let out a truly pathetic sound and shivered. She stroked through its damp fur with stiff fingers, helping it warm up just as she struggled to. They stayed there for a few hours, Bellamy whispering to the little kitten. When it made no move to leave her, she decided…she had a companion now. [color=bdddff]"What should I call you?"[/color] She mused to herself, watching the kitten sink its claws into the fabric of her shirt happily, it had puffed up to an unreasonable degree now that its pitch black fur had dried. [color=bdddff]"How about…Binx?"[/color] The kitten dug its claws a little too deep into her shirt, and she let out a small and quiet yelp of pain. [color=bdddff]"Not Binx, fine, fine…I ought to name you Mister Fluff."[/color] She watched the cat's tail flick back and forth, and it pulled its claws from her shirt, raising the paw as if to threaten her. It was so cute… [color=bdddff]"You’re pretty mischievous, how about Loki?"[/color] It purred loudly, and she grinned, almost missing the sound of a branch snapping in the distance. Loki stopped purring instantly, the small creature's body growing stiff atop her chest and Bell froze too, holding her breath as she tried to listen over the sound of rain hitting the wood around her. A few tense minutes passed, and then her pulse jumped as a man’s voice cut through the moment of reprieve she’d found. [color=d6d6d6]"Clear over here,"[/color] a gruff, unfamiliar voice, the kitten shrunk back against the base of her throat, and Bella held her breath. [color=d6d6d6]"Let’s do another sweep and circle back, we know the general area she’ll be headed to."[/color] His voice faded as he walked away, steps loud enough that she ought to have heard his approach the first time, but the fact that she hadn’t set her on edge. She waited fifteen minutes until all sound but that of the nature around her had disappeared, eyes set on the faint glow of her watch, before she shifted Loki up onto her shoulder and dragged the bag from between her legs closer to her face. She dug through the bag blindly, getting elbow deep before she felt the cool metal of something beneath her fingers. She dragged it to the top of the bag, reading over the message once, twice, three times, before she zipped the bag shut and let out a slow breath. 41.158558, -73.166693 September 23, 18 00 hours Her dad was cutting it close, he’d never been the most punctual, but maybe if he’d left earlier… she swallowed around the urge to cry, and instead clambered out of her hiding spot. Rain soaked through the fabric of her sweater and jeans almost instantly, the downpour was relentless, a chill that may have been uncomfortable for anyone else sinking into her bones, but it just made Bellamy feel more awake. Loki made a rumbling hiss of discontent from her shoulder, but he stayed put as she started glancing at her Google Map’s app and began to follow the direction of the coordinates. The rain fell like a monsoon, windshield wipers furiously swiping back and forth but did little to nothing to increase his visibility. Tobias drove nearly double the speed limit as he weaved through traffic, white knuckling as he held the steering wheel with a death grip. It was a miracle he didn’t hydroplane into the highway divider with how recklessly he had been driving since he left the tower. His phone rested on his shoulder, pinned in place by his cheek while Imogen’s voice rang out from the other end. [color=a8f9ff]"You’re three miles out."[/color] [color=796e9c]"Imogen, I can’t see anything,"[/color] Tobias replied as he skimmed the treeline frantically for any sign of life. [color=a8f9ff]"I know. [i]I know,[/i]"[/color] she replied with a panicked weight to her words. The line was silent for half a minute as the highway curved onto a long straightaway. [color=a8f9ff]"Due west,"[/color] Imogen’s voice abruptly cut through the silence. Tobias’s head snapped to the right. [color=796e9c]"There’s nothing there—"[/color] [color=a8f9ff]"Stop! You’ve gone too far!"[/color] [color=796e9c]"[i]Fuck.[/i]"[/color] The phone slipped from beneath Tobias’s cheek and fell to the floorboard as he cut the wheel to the right, doing a 180 onto the shoulder of the highway. The Jeep fought to heed his control, threatening to tip to the left from the force of the turn. With the steering wheel held tight in his left hand, he extended his right hand, willing the axles to lower and get all four tires on the ground before he flipped the car and went rolling into the ditch. The second he came to a stop, Tobias threw the gears into park and jumped out of the driver’s seat into the rain. He kept his hand pointed at the running car, guiding the lug nuts to unscrew themselves from the two closest wheels and float after him as he sprinted off into the woods. Thirty minutes had changed everything about her little jaunt in the woods, Bellamy wasn’t dressed to be hiking through New York’s wilderness, nor was she prepared for the relentless rain, but more than anything she wasn’t ready for the men that had been following her for close to fifteen hours. She’d thought she’d have time, that she’d be safer once she got further away from her hiding spot, but apparently doing another sweep included further than she’d first traveled because she ran into two men not long after she started walking again. There was a moment of stunned surprise between the three of them, and then panic lanced through Bella’s chest as one man reached for his gun, and the other for his radio. Everything narrowed down to a single point, panic overriding all of her senses. Her vision dimmed, breathing heavily, anxiety rising up in her chest. She watched as one of the men’s fingers curled around the grip of his gun, the other one lifting his radio, everything moved so slowly. [i]I’m going to die.[/i] Bella realized this dimly, her hands trembling, and— Something sharp cut into the delicate skin of her throat, blood welling up from the scratch, but the sudden and sharp pain focused her all at once. Loki puffed up around the back of her neck, hissing, and Bellamy’s hand jerked up on instinct. A wave of cold lashed out, a little too late. The man with the radio had already started to share their location, but the ice cut the other man off before he could shoot. She stared in mute horror at the trail of jagged ice spikes she’d left in her wake toward the two men, who were now frozen over like some sick intimation of ice sculptures. A drop of rain hit her wrist, sliding down and dripping against the bracelet that was used to stifle and augment her powers. It was a jarring and horrifying thought, to realize what she’d just done could have been so much worse without it. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]Bellamy Drake?[/i]"[/color] Her train of thought was halted as an unfamiliar woman’s voice punctured the usual peace of her [i]mind.[/i] Bella choked on her shriek of surprise, both hands slapping around her temples as she doubled over. Loki yowled in protest around her shoulders, scrambling to peer around behind them, as if looking for more attackers. [i]Oh my God, I’m having a psychotic break.[/i] It was the most coherent thought she could form, a decently logical one in her opinion all things considered. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]Please don’t panic. My name is Imogen Frost.[/i]"[/color] Frost? Why did that sound familiar? Bell made an incoherent sound in the back of her mind, because she wasn’t sure if imagining voices in her head was better than a telepath in her brain, but she could hear bodies crashing through the undergrowth not far away and something primal in her took over. Nothing else mattered, Bellamy was being hunted and she needed to [i]move now.[/i] She’d wasted enough time standing there, realizing she was losing her damn mind, and the logic of trying to place the woman’s name fell to the wayside in favor of her sudden, all consuming desire to run. A shout sounded not far behind her, and she had the foresight to jerk to the left just as the sound of a gun firing filled the air, and a tree at her shoulder height exploded into a spray of splinters. So yeah, she ran. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]There is someone close by on his way to help you.[/i]"[/color] The voice, Imogen, cut through the steady and repetitive stream of [i]fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck[/i] that was bouncing around in her head, and while she appreciated the sentiment any relief the statement ought to have brought her was lost as she focused on running in a slobby zigzag pattern, shooting a haphazard spike of ice behind her anytime someone got a little too close. Loki ducked down between the backpack and the back of her neck, clinging to her sweater with his claws, blending into the trail of her hair. Having the kitten added a secondary sense of panic for Bella, knowing if the cat got hurt because of her she’d never forgive herself. Her ankle twinged in escalating pain with every step, she was breathing heavily, and she’d only been running for ten minutes when she stepped on a rock with her bad foot and it rolled out from under her. Bellamy instinctively twisted, so she didn’t fall on Loki as she tumbled down. A bullet whizzed by her ear, shattered bark raining down on her head from the impact. As she looked up, a figure clad head to toe in an orange and black combat suit was racking another bullet on a large rifle 50 yards from her flank. They were settled in on one knee, lifting the scope up to a large white lens in the mask before their head snapped off somewhere behind Bell. The barrel was swung around in that direction, the mercenary clearly lining up a shot somewhere behind her. They took the shot. The sound of a gunshot made Tobias freeze in his tracks and his blood run cold. His head turned in the direction of the sound, taking off as fast as his feet would carry him. In the dark of the night and thicket of the forest, he could barely see more than a few feet in front of his face. The rain that fell on his head ran through his hair and dripped into his eyes. More focused on speed and weaving through the trees, Tobias narrowly tripped over her. With too much momentum he had no choice but to jump over her. As he landed, his feet slipped in the mud and lost traction. He braced himself with a hand on the ground, saving himself before he ended up helpless on his back beside the girl. As he stood up, he ran his hand back through his hair, a mix of rain and mud running down his face as he quickly took a head count of the group of mercenaries that surrounded them. [i]Twelve. There were twelve.[/i] Tobias stood at the ready as ten steel lug nuts hovered in the air beneath his outstretched right hand. There was a brief glint of light reflected back at him from his left, then another gunshot quickly followed. He barely managed to catch the bullet, curving it away mere inches from his chest and redirecting it through the throat of the nearest soldier. His left hand extended in the direction of the shooter. Mental tendrils reached out, wrapping around anything metal in its path, guns, bullets, buckles. His fist closed and jerked his arm backwards, yanking the sniper from their perch, pulling them toward him. Tobias continued to drag the metal closer as lightning struck overhead, illuminating his surroundings. He clocked where the remaining eleven attackers stood in the brief light, but also noticed that the sniper wasn’t pulled closer with their rifle and a few bullets. His eyes narrowed realizing whomever that was had been prepared in case he showed up. While his goal had shifted to catching the shooter before they got away, he first had to make quick work of the men that quickly closed in on him. His fingers wiggled slightly before he whipped his right hand like he was flicking a card. The lug nuts shot through the air, diverting in different directions until they passed through ten of the eleven mercenaries’ skulls like a hot knife through butter. The remaining one barely had a chance to aim at Tobias before he flicked two fingers in his direction, tilting the gun backwards and pulling the trigger. Bone and brain matter splattered on the tree behind him before his body crumpled to the ground. He held out his right hand, recalling the blood and rain soaked lug nuts to him as he ran in the direction of the sniper. The sniper slowly stood up, cocking their head slightly at the man’s approach. Their next movements were swift. They removed a palm sized canister from the back of their nylon belt, quickly twisting off the top. They ducked between trees, obscuring direct line of sight as they zigged and zagged while still approaching. The mercenary’s arm cocked back, and the canister was launched through the air in Tobias’ direction. Ice instinctively covered her arms and legs as she’d fallen, twisting up from her hips to coil around her waist, hardening her body for the impact of the ground. There was a distinct part of Bellamy that knew she couldn’t allow it to spread across her entire body, if only for her fluffy tag along. Splinters of a fractured tree rained down on her, the bullet had been so close she could hear it, but the sight of a mercenary dressed differently from the rest of the men sent a chill down her spine. The arrival of another person almost didn’t break her from the spiral of her thoughts, they weren’t trying to detain they were trying to kill her like they’d killed her mom, and the realization sent her on a spiral. Ice swirled around her palm, and the man who landed in front of her almost was greeted with a spike of ice to the chest, but she realized that he was [i]helping her[/i] in time. Bella sat in the mud, a mix of horror and surprise as she watched each man meet an efficient and brutal end before they could get too close. She was out of her depth, this wasn’t a fight Bell was ever expecting to win, but the ice in her palm burned with the desire to be utilized, and her eyes flickered around them, trying to spot [i]something.[/i] How was he even killing them? He was already gone, tearing off into the forest, Bella saw the glint of something careening through the air toward the running man and the ice was shooting from her extended hand before she’d even processed what she was doing. It connected with the object, knocking it off course and—it [i]exploded.[/i] She scrambled to her feet, her heart in her throat, Loki was hissing against her neck low and discontent. There was a moment where her brain stalled with everything she didn’t want to do, with the desire to be very far away from this moment, but Bell had spent summers at the X-Mansion before its inevitable close, her dad had been an X-Man, and there was something in him that was fundamental to the concept of [i]hero.[/i] She caught the glance of orange and black moving ahead of where the man had run off too, recognizing the fact that this person had tried to kill her, and Bellamy was on her feet, more ice shooting out at the mercenary. The bracelet around her wrist burned some, but she ignored it in favor of pushing her powers further than usual. A particularly large spike of ice toppled a tree behind the figure, and Bell hesitated, looking toward the mud soaked man before she did anything else. Instinctually, Tobias raised his hand to try and stop the projectile that was thrown at him but it didn’t bend to his will. He quickly sidestepped, trying his best to dodge behind a tree when he noticed a shard of ice collided with it, sending it careening off course. The explosion rang in his ears as he barely ducked behind a tree. Plastic shrapnel sliced his cheek and peppered his left arm in small cuts. His gaze darted toward the retreating sniper, catching faint glimpses of orange vanishing deeper into the woods. He continued his pursuit, flicking his hands toward the attacker and sending the lug nuts flying through the air after them. Most of them smacked into trees or just barely missed. He immediately recalled the small pieces of metal and sent them back out toward them. Again, most of them missed, but one lug nut threaded the needle, slipping between two trees just as the sniper weaved and cut through their left calf. Tobias hurdled over the recently toppled ice covered tree and continued hot on their trail. The figure reached for their belt, pulling out a small plastic ball with their left hand while reaching for a pistol strapped to their thigh with their right. They looked away for a moment, a modulated gasp of pain from the calf injury. They tossed the plastic ball at their feet, and a bright flash of disorienting light and smoke erupted from it. All signs of the figure were lost for a moment, until another rip of lightning and thunder across the sky revealed a flash of orange in the trees above. A bullet ripped in Tobias’ direction, and a modulated voice called out above the din of thunder. [color=d6d6d6]"You can’t save them all. You couldn’t even save Helena."[/color] Several more gunshots rang out as the sniper emptied the magazine of carbon fiber ammunition, some bullets intercepting the lug nuts Tobias was using as projectiles. The bright light blinded Tobias. He faltered, stumbling into a nearby tree, frantically trying to blink the sunspots out of his eyes. Their words cut through the loud rumbles of the storm like a piercing scream in a silent hall. The blood drained from his face and a chill ran down his spine. He barely had a chance to take in the sniper’s words and there was another gunshot. Out of instinct, he tried to curve the bullet away but like with Helena, they didn’t bend to his will. The shot narrowly missed him, grazing his tricep. He had a split second to act, and while hearing Helena’s name spat back at him triggered something feral inside of him, if he ignored the woman he was trying to protect then he’d be playing right into their hands. [color=796e9c]"[i]Damn it,[/i]"[/color] he hissed as he quickly spun around to face Bellamy. Tobias was to her in a second, tackling her to the ground. Bullets whistled overhead as he hovered a few inches above her, hands braced in the mud on either side of her. His face contorted and grimaced as two of the shots sliced across his back making one of his arms buckle and his weight shift down to his elbow, but he didn’t move. She had maybe ten milliseconds to process the fact that her supposed hero was rapidly approaching where she was, and it wasn’t nearly enough time to do anything more than stand there with a dumbfounded expression as he tackled her to the ground. The sound of a bullet impacting the tree behind them was warning enough, but she hadn’t been able to brace herself for the impact properly this time. Her choked wheeze was drowned out by a howl of anger from around her neck, Loki scrambling around in her hair and swiping at the man in anger. Bella squeezed her eyes shut, using one hand to catch the angry kitten behind the neck and jerking her other arm up. She twisted her wrist, ice spreading around them in a small, bitingly cold dome. It wouldn’t do much against a bullet, but it gave them the illusion of safety for just a second, and that was all she needed. Bellamy fumbled with her free hand, struggling to hold back Loki, but she followed the warm trail of blood up his arm, fingers brushing clumsily along his bicep. [color=bdddff]"I’m sorry,"[/color] her voice was little more than a hoarse whisper, and then she froze over his injury, stopping any more blood loss for the time being. The dome cracked around them, and Bella let go of his arm, twisting beneath him to wrap both hands around the kitten that was, evidently, not fond of mud. Tobias looked down at the woman beneath him with a confused expression as her fingers climbed up his arm. He looked over just in time to see ice grow across the cut and seal it. He cleared his throat as he looked back down at her. [color=796e9c]"Thanks,"[/color] he whispered. When there was nothing but the sound of thunder and rain he pushed his right hand up against the ice dome, pressing against one of the cracks and breaking it open. Tobias pushed off the ground and rolled back to rest on knees half sunken in the muck beneath him. He already knew what he was going to see, or what he [i]wasn’t[/i] going to see, but his gaze slowly drifted over in the direction of where the sniper was but there was nothing. There was no way he’d be able to track them… They were gone. His chest heaved to take in ragged breaths as his head fell. It wasn’t a loss. He had to remind himself of that, but it was hard to think that way when the one person who could have given him answers was out of grasp. Beyond the point of drenched, he took a minute or two to catch his breath before climbing to his feet. Tobias took a step toward Bellamy, then reached down to her, taking one hand in his while the other gently took hold of her shoulder. Slowly and carefully he helped her to her feet. [color=796e9c]"Are you hurt?"[/color] he asked as his eyes scanned her for any visible injuries, especially bullet holes. The few moments of reprieve of distance between them allowed her time to soothe Loki, cooing at the angry cat and using her sleeve to try and wipe away the mud from behind his ears. He didn’t seem to enjoy that very much, but he wasn’t hissing or growling when she settled him back around her shoulder so she counted it as a win. She’d been so distracted with the damned cat that she’d barely registered the man coming back until his hand curled around her own. Bellamy reflexively flinched back, but she didn’t pull away from him, he was gentle in a way that thawed her ice almost instantly. [color=bdddff]"No…"[/color] her eyes glanced at his arm, her ice there was still holding strong, and then she looked away. Her gaze caught on a crumpled body in the distance, she couldn’t make out his distinguishable features, but she could see that his chest was not moving. Her eyes stayed there, breath hitching in her throat, and she realized how utterly out of her depth she was. [color=bdddff]"Are they all dead?"[/color] Bellamy’s voice trembled, and her horror stricken whisper was almost washed away by the sound of the rain. Lightning cracked open the sky and her gaze jumped back toward him, catching a glimpse of his face clearly for the first time, even if it was fleeting. The first thought, louder than all the rest, was that her hero was actually quite handsome. The second thought that battered away the first like an angry ram, was that he looked strangely familiar. Bella’s mind kicked into overdrive as she tried to place how she knew him, the briefest of memories of her dad showing her pictures of well-known mutants she should steer clear of, at all costs he’d said, flashed across her mind as thunder rumbled above them. [i]Magneto.[/i] Dread slid into her chest like the rain drops that dripped between her collar, cold and cruel, and she shrunk in on herself some, logic fighting with fear. This man was too young to be him, there were differences in his appearance, she was sure of it, but the lighting was too dim to differentiate at the moment. He’d saved her, tried to protect her, so…not Brotherhood, right? The woman, Imogen, had said he’d come to help her, but the voice had gone silent. [color=bdddff]"What’s your name? What happened to the…"[/color] she trailed off, looking down at her mud soaked shoes. It was only then that Bella realized she was trembling so hard it looked like she was shivering, it was almost comical. She didn’t want to finish her sentence, because asking a stranger [i]what happened to the voice in my head?[/i] sounded like an awful idea. Noticing the way she shook and how she struggled to look at the bodies, Tobias took a slight step into her line of sight. [color=796e9c]"Don’t look,"[/color] he spoke quietly, calmly, knowing that not everyone had grown so numb to death and murder like he had. He glanced over his shoulder slightly, quickly clocking the various dead mercenaries scattered around them. [color=796e9c]"Yes,"[/color] he replied while holding out his right hand, pulling the lug nuts from wherever they rested on the forest floor and guiding them into his pocket. [color=796e9c]"I killed them. Your conscience is clean."[/color] While there were no sounds of approaching soldiers or gunshots, Tobias’s gaze continued to scan the treeline around them rather than looking at her. He was on edge and was going to remain on edge until they were back in his car. When she asked his name, Tobias’s gaze snapped back to her, noting the way she trembled and the fear that hung on her words. It had been awhile since he encountered someone who knew of his father. He had almost forgotten what the initial reactions were like. With a defeated sigh, he took a step back from her and held his hands up slightly, trying to make himself appear as harmless as possible… considering the bodies that littered the ground around them, dead by his hands. [color=796e9c]"My name is Tobias Lehnsherr,"[/color] he answered, hesitantly meeting her gaze. He was trying to reassure her, trying to protect her even though there weren’t any more enemies around, and what was left of the ice that clung to the tips of her fingers thawed completely. Bellamy’s shoulders slumped some, but she looked back up at him, meeting his gaze with less fear. [color=bdddff]"I’d be dead without you,"[/color] her voice still shook, but this [i]wasn’t[/i] Magneto and, given the fact that Tobias wasn’t trying to put a little bit of metal through [i]her[/i] head, she figured she could afford him more than a little bit of grace. [color=bdddff]"Thank you."[/color] Bella shifted her weight some, favoring her left leg, before she looked back down. Her gaze settled in the center of his chest, finding it easier to find her words looking there than keeping eye contact. [color=bdddff]"This is going to sound insane, but um…a voice in my head told me you were…coming?"[/color] She winced at the words, feeling ridiculous and a little bit like she ought to be in a psychward. [color=bdddff]"Is-Is that normal, like, for…you, or am I actually going crazy?"[/color] Tobias slowly lowered his hands. He wasn’t good at receiving gratitude, never knowing what to say. He swallowed and nodded his head in acknowledgement. Before answering her question, he took a cautious step toward her, not wanting to alarm her or make her frightened of him. [color=796e9c]"We can’t stay here, but I promise I’ll answer any questions I can."[/color] He hesitated a moment beside her, noticing the way she favored her leg and knowing that the highway wasn’t exactly [i]close.[/i] [color=796e9c]"I’m sorry,"[/color] he whispered. Tobias guided her right arm across his shoulders as his left arm wrapped around her waist. There was an almost imperceivable wince that tensed across his face as his right arm swept beneath the bend in her legs and he lifted her up off the ground. The stitches in his shoulder tugged against his skin, fresh wounds stung from rain and sweat, and his legs threatened to buckle after a day full of working out, training, and sprinting through the muddy woods, but he pushed all the discomfort the back of his mind and focused on reaching his car. Her brows had furrowed in confusion, a drop of rain sliding down between them and off the tip of her nose, but she hadn’t moved away even as Tobias closed the distance between them further. She ought to have, but Bella was [i]tired[/i] and they’d established the fact that he wasn’t planning to hurt her, but she really should have. She’d gasped as he lifted her up, instinctively raising her free hand to catch Loki before he could sink his claws into the back of her neck, dragging the kitten to the front of her chest, and feeling a wave of guilt as the man tensed and flattered for a moment. Was he hurt somewhere other than his arm? [color=bdddff]"I can walk!"[/color] Her words were lost to more thunder, and she had a feeling he’d protest regardless, so she gave up on arguing and simply held on. It took them several minutes to reach his car at a far slower and more cautious pace. Tobias didn’t risk talking, focusing his attention on being hyper aware of their surroundings in the off chance the sniper came back. Once they stepped out onto the shoulder of the highway, he let out a sigh, reveling in the false security of being out in the open and no longer obscured in the forest. His Jeep was still running, driver’s side door open, windshield wipers beating quickly, and headlights pointed the wrong way down the interstate. He waited until the coast was clear then walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. Carefully, he set her into the seat. As he helped Bellamy with her seatbelt, he looked down and properly noticed the tiny drenched ball of fur that tried to swipe at him earlier. [color=796e9c]"Cute cat,"[/color] he commented, looking over at her with a weak smile. Loki wasn’t in the same charitable mood he’d been in when he’d first found Bellamy, if his answering and subsequent hiss was anything to go off of, but considering the fact that he was just sort of drenched and pathetic looking it wasn’t the threat the kitten likely thought it was. [color=bdddff]"He found me,"[/color] Bella glanced down at the cat, face soft and open as she stroked at one of his ears, a small smile curling her lips as he stopped hissing to preen under her affection. [color=bdddff]"I named him Loki, it felt fitting."[/color] She glanced back toward Tobias, eyes adjusting to the light, even as dim as it was, it still felt jarring after so long in the darkness. A tired chuckle escaped his lips. [color=796e9c]"Yeah, I think so,"[/color] he agreed. Beneath the dim overhead light, not feeling like he was two seconds from being shot at, Tobias finally got a good look at her. Even drenched in rain and covered in mud he couldn’t deny how attractive she was. The brightness of her blue eyes was jarring, catching him off guard. He froze, for just a second before clearing his throat, withdrawing back out into the rain and closing the door for her. As he made his way back around the car, he willed the lug nuts out of his pocket and mentally screwed them back onto his wheels. The driver’s seat was drenched, but he hardly paid it any mind as he sat down, soaked from head to toe himself. After closing the door, he immediately cranked up the heater. He reached into the backseat, grabbing a discarded hoodie and held it out to her. [color=796e9c]"Here. You’ll get a cold."[/color] Not that it would do much, but paranoid that they could be attacked again, Tobias hit the button to lock the doors. He took a second to catch his breath, letting his head fall back to rest against the seat. [color=796e9c]"The voice,"[/color] he spoke up between heavy breaths, chest heaving as the adrenalin started wearing off. [color=796e9c]"Was it Imogen?"[/color] he asked, slowly rolling his head to the right to meet her gaze. Her bag rested between her feet on the floorboard of the jeep, warmth rolling over her chilled and cold flushed cheeks as the heaters kicked into overdrive, and Tobias’s hoodie was soft between her fingers as she pulled it toward herself. Despite the sudden warmth that flooded the cabin of the vehicle, Bella was still shaking. She felt, for perhaps the first time in her entire life, truly cold. Her mind had begun to wander toward the memory of how it all started when his voice pulled her back to the present, and she hastily pulled the hoodie over her head, pretending she didn’t want to hide her face and the tears that burned her eyes inside of the fabric. Loki stayed nestled against the hollow of her throat, half beneath the warmer and dryer fabric of the hoodie, and for once the kitten looked at Tobias with something closer to approval. [color=bdddff]"Yeah,"[/color] Bella ran a hand through her drenched hair, trying to pull it away from where it was sticking at the back of her neck. [color=bdddff]"Imogen Frost…so, I’m not crazy? That’s good."[/color] Despite the effort to pull humor from the situation, her voice sounded flat and dull, eyes stuck on the dashboard. As the rush faded and the cold of the rain seeped into his bones, Tobias began to shiver. He went to rub his arms and boost his circulation, but his hand nicked something in his left arm and he winced. Looking down he noticed small pieces of plastic shrapnel sticking out of his bicep. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth before attempting to pull the pieces out with his trembling right hand. [color=796e9c]"She’s a friend."[/color] His nostrils flared as he plucked out another piece. Then nearly deafened by the loud beating of the windshield wipers and the continuous thunder, he heard a muffled voice. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]Tobias!?[/i]"[/color] [color=796e9c]"[i]Shit![/i]"[/color] His right hand dropped to the floorboard between his legs, feeling around until he found his phone. How it was still on and not damaged by the rain, he didn’t know. [color=796e9c]"Imogen. [i]Imogen,[/i]"[/color] he began before he had the phone fully pressed to his ear. [color=796e9c]"It’s ok. I’m fine—"[/color] his gaze drifted over to Bellamy, [color=796e9c]"—[i]we’re[/i] fine."[/color] [color=a8f9ff]"Thank [i]god[/i],"[/color] she sighed out of relief. [color=a8f9ff]"Magni was two seconds away from going to find you."[/color] [color=796e9c]"No. Don’t leave the tower,"[/color] Tobias tried to reassure her [i]and[/i] Magni, who was most likely listening. [color=796e9c]"I’ll be back soon and get off that machine before you give yourself a stroke, Imogen."[/color] [color=a8f9ff]"Yeah, ok. Be careful. Call me if anything changes. If you’re not back in two hours we’re coming to get you."[/color] [color=796e9c]"Got it."[/color] He hung up the call and sighed. Tobias slid his phone into one of the cup holders. [color=796e9c]"Imogen helped me find you,"[/color] he admitted, looking back over at Bellamy. [color=796e9c]"Imogen, me… A handful of others like us… We have somewhere safe. I can take you there, but if there’s somewhere else you’d rather go I can take you there too. I won’t force you. The choice is yours."[/color] She’d flinched when Tobias dived down, searching for something beneath his seat, but relaxed at the sight of his phone. She’d zoned out for a moment, physically she was in the jeep with him, but mentally she was several miles away, standing at the window to her kitchen, watching her dad get shot while her mom lay bloodied and broken only three feet away. The shock she hadn’t allowed to form earlier was taking root in her chest, and Bellamy just wanted to make herself as small as possible so she could find a way to hide from it all. The sound of Tobias’s voice directed at her, rather than the phone, pulled her back from the edge. Bella turned her head slowly to look at him, [i]actually[/i] seeing him clearly for the first time since they’d met. Her eyes slid from the tattoo’s along his throat, up to the line of his jaw, hesitating on the cupid's bow of his upper lip, before their gazes met fully. She felt like she was in a fog, coherent thoughts slipping between her fingers. [color=bdddff]"I don’t have anywhere to go,[/color] Bellamy’s voice was still monotone, but it was fracturing like glass. A touch of despair slipped in, and she felt like she was drowning in it. [color=bdddff]"They killed my mom…she wasn’t even a mutant."[/color] Her voice caught in her throat, and the temperature in the jeep plummeted for a moment, the heaters trying uselessly to keep up. Her whole body shuddered, and just as quickly as the chill came, it was sucked back out. She twisted the bracelet around her wrist twice, using it to get a smidge of control back. [color=bdddff]"I’m sorry,"[/color] Bellamy whispered, glancing at Tobias and then looking away again. He really was more handsome than anyone that was covered in mud and drenched in rain ought to be. [color=bdddff]"I’ll go with you."[/color] Tobias studied her face as she spoke, noting the way she struggled to hold on and keep it together. The cracking in her voice triggered a pang in his heart and a desire to ease the pain without the knowledge of what to do. He nodded his head, silently acknowledging everything she said. [color=796e9c]"Don’t apologize,"[/color] he kept his voice calm, trying his best to reassure her in what ways he could without overstepping or making it worse. His gaze shifted forward while his face remained partially turned toward her. Tobias quickly pulled any remaining plastic from his arm, rubbing his hand aggressively to knock out any last pieces without a care if he made the cuts worse. He couldn’t be bothered to waste the time. After buckling his seatbelt, he went to put the car into drive and paused. [color=796e9c]"I can’t fully relate to what you’re going through. They took my niece two weeks ago, but they never killed anyone I care about,"[/color] he admitted while watching the rain pelt the windshield. [color=796e9c]"I’ve been trying to help for over a year and you’re the only person I’ve been able to save."[/color] Tobias slowly met her gaze. His voice was calm, but deep and carrying a heavy weight of seriousness. [color=796e9c]"Don’t blame yourself for any of it."[/color] His left hand rested on the steering wheel, thumb tapping lightly. [color=796e9c]"I can’t offer much,"[/color] Tobias continued, filling the silence. [color=796e9c]"I don’t know if the others at the tower can either, but…"[/color] his voice trailed off for a second as he tried to find the words. He was never the best at emotional support, often expected to be the strong and silent body guard, not the therapist. But he tried his best to find the words that he’d want to hear if he was in her shoes. [color=796e9c]"If you need a shoulder to cry on, I won’t judge you and I won’t ask questions."[/color] Her walls crumpled like the ice dome had earlier, cracking and falling apart by the time Tobias was finished speaking. A sob caught in her throat, and Bellamy twisted her face away from him in shame. She wasn’t a trained hero, wasn’t accustomed to trying to contain her emotions when faced with something as overwhelming as all of this had been. Her dad trained her with her powers, making sure she knew what to do in the event of an emergency, that she knew how to survive if push came to shove, but all things considered Bella had led the most normal life a mutant of her caliber was allowed to live. This was more than anything she’d ever thought she’d have to deal with, and she was still scared, reliving those first few moments over and over again. Tobais’s presence was like a balm to her soul, despite the fact that she felt so ashamed with breaking down in front of him, she felt safer in that stupid jeep than she had the whole time she was alone. Loki mewed at her, struggling to pull himself from the hoodie, paws that were a little too big for his little kitten body smacking at her cheeks as tears fell. Those big green eyes turned onto Tobias, ears flattening back some, giving the man the impression that the cat wanted him to do [i]something[/i] about this because he’d started it. [color=bdddff]"I’m fine,"[/color] Bellamy’s voice was soft, steady in its false bravado despite how her breath hitched between sobs. It was a lie, but she was an emotionally private person and being so vulnerable with someone who was still a stranger was, as bizarre as it sounded, just as scary as being shot at had felt. [color=bdddff]"Sorry, I’m—I’m [i]fine.[/i]"[/color] He swallowed and clenched his jaw, watching her fight the tears and sobs he could hear fighting for control in her voice. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much he could do. There were no reassurances that words could give, he was already painfully aware of that. He contemplated, if only for a moment, to offer her a hug or… [i]something[/i] but again it felt out of place for two strangers. Tobias just nodded his head and tapped his hand on the armrest, choosing to respect her privacy and not ask questions, as he promised. [color=796e9c]"Ok,"[/color] he replied quietly while pushing on the clutch and shifting into first gear. Tobias spared the small kitten a sideways glance before turning the car around and pulling out onto the highway. [color=796e9c]"I don’t think your cat likes me,"[/color] he commented, trying to fill the silence with easier conversation. Anything was better than dwelling on what happened or how they were both probably on the edge of hypothermia. She appreciated the space, the fact that he didn’t address it, that he gave her some space to try and get her emotions under control, it meant more than she could put into words. It took a few minutes of Bella focusing on her breathing, trying to steady the roll of her turbulent emotions, but soon she’d managed to slow the tears and stop the sobs all together. There would be a time later, she was sure, where she could break down properly. Now wasn’t that time, not when her emotions were tied so closely to her powers, if she let it go right now it would be like a scene out of that stupid kids movie, and she wasn’t trying to reenact Elsa at this point in time, not when Tobias was still shivering beside her. [color=bdddff]"He’s just cold,"[/color] she finally said, tugging the kitten from the hoodie and holding him closer to one of the vents. It was a little funny how, as his fur dried more and more, he began to puff up like a little ball of lint. Her lips pulled up into a weak smile at the sight, but Loki looked back at her steadily, not amused. [color=bdddff]"I…I ran for a few hours, and then I found this hollowed out tree, it was just big enough for me to slip into. I dozed off, and woke up with him on my chest."[/color] She brushed the fingers of her free hand across his head, crumbling away some of the dried mud that was sticking to the back of his neck with careful and steady fingers. [color=bdddff]"You could pet him, he likes it right under his chin…but uh, driving, right, maybe later."[/color] Bellamy glanced at Tobias out of the corner of her eye, before she looked back down at Loki, trying to work through everything she wanted to say, all the questions she had, all while keeping a careful seal on her emotions. [color=bdddff]"I’m sorry, about your niece."[/color] She bit the inside of her cheek when those words slipped out, because that hadn’t been what she’d planned to say but it had bubbled out before she could stop herself. Bell blinked a few times, trying to keep her own tears at bay. [color=bdddff]"Thank you for…saving me."[/color] She shrugged one shoulder. [color=bdddff]"I thought I was on my own."[/color] [color=796e9c]"Sounds like he was lucky you showed up,"[/color] Tobias commented, sparing a quick glance at the puff ball with eyes. His driving was far less erratic and death defying than it had been on his way there. Tobias drove under the speed limit given the heavy rain and was far more cautious with two more passengers’ lives in his hands. When he came to one of those little gravel lanes that connect both directions of traffic where cops usually scanned for speeding, he pulled into it and turned them back in the opposite direction. It wasn’t [i]technically[/i] street legal, but he cared more about getting back to the tower than breaking a stupid traffic law. His knuckles were tight around the steering wheel trying to steady the tremors in his arms. The heater helped but the cold felt like it had burrowed itself into the marrow of his bones and laced its way into his blood. He blinked and nodded his head, struggling to know how to respond to her gratitude. [color=796e9c]"I uh…"[/color] Tobias cleared his throat, trying to organize his thoughts. [color=796e9c]"We were told about your family last night. Everyone else had just [i]accepted[/i] it but… Hearing you were unaccounted for [i]bothered[/i] me,"[/color] he admitted, keeping his gaze ahead and focused on the road. [color=796e9c]"I couldn’t sleep. Something in my gut told me we needed to try something. I asked Imogen to try Cerebro. It uh… doesn’t work on people who’ve been taken but you’re a mutant so… I figured…"[/color] His voice trailed off for a second as he looked over at her briefly. [color=796e9c]"When she found you I got in my car and got here as fast as I could. Sorry I didn’t come sooner."[/color] Leave it to Tobias to find failure even in his successes. Bellamy was the first person he had [i]actually[/i] saved and while he should have been happy about that, all his mind could focus on was the countless other ways he failed. How he didn’t go to Imogen last night. How he didn’t pull over the second Imogen told him too which cost him another minute. How he let the sniper get away… He lost sleep because his gut told him that she needed help. Now he was going to lose sleep replaying every mistake he made like a broken record. [color=bdddff]"Don’t apologize,"[/color] her voice was firm, and louder than it had been since they’d met. Bella flinched at the tone, and ducked her head some, embarrassed by how adamant she felt about that. She cleared her throat, and tried again, voice softer and a little shaky. [color=bdddff]"It sounds like you, and Imogen, did more than anyone else. I don’t think they were going to kill me, not until I ran."[/color] The memory of the bullet whizzing by her ear still set her on edge, if she hadn’t tripped at that exact moment she would have been dead before Tobias even got there. [color=796e9c]"They usually don’t,"[/color] he stated plainly, having studied anything and everything he could on the disappearances since they started. Tobia’s thoughts started drifting towards his missing sister, brother… niece. He cleared his throat, pushing them away and focusing on what he [i]did[/i] know. [color=796e9c]"From everything I’ve learned they don’t leave behind bodies."[/color] He spared a quick glance over at her in a silent apology, realizing how insensitive he probably sounded. [color=796e9c]"Sorry,"[/color] he muttered before continuing. [color=796e9c]"I haven’t heard of anyone else being caught in the middle. Any of their own that gets killed is retrieved… [i]quickly[/i]. It’s good we left when we did. I wouldn’t be surprised if more arrived to clean up after us."[/color] There was a moment where he paused, considering if he should say his final thought or keep it to himself. Considering she seemed to have a decent enough idea who he was, Tobias might as well get it out in the open. [color=796e9c]"I uh… I’m the only one, that I know of, who’s been intentionally left behind and not killed,"[/color] he confessed barely above a whisper. [color=796e9c]"I [i]think[/i]... they’re scared of my father,"[/color] he added, this time intentionally not letting himself look over at her out of fear of what her expression could reveal. She let out a slow breath, digesting his words and turning them over in her head before responding. It made sense, anyone with two brain cells would be absolutely terrified of angering Magneto, though she wasn’t quite sure if it made sense for Tobias to be [i]here[/i] but…she couldn’t judge him based on who his father was, especially after he’d saved her. [color=bdddff]"That makes sense,"[/color] Bella chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, not sure if she should bring it up but feeling like he at least deserved to hear it. [color=bdddff]"I’m sorry, for being scared at first. I wasn't thinking clearly, and I just… my dad has shown me pictures of your dad before, told me to stay away from [i]him.[/i] I didn’t know he had a son."[/color] She stared down at Loki, and her mouth kept moving before she could stop it. [color=bdddff]"I was a little more caught off guard by how handso—"[/color] Bellamy coughed, privately mortified, and cleared her throat loudly. [color=bdddff]"I mean, I was just surprised."[/color] Tobias’s brow raised as he turned slightly to look over at her. There was a second or two where his brain struggled to catch up, trying to determine if she was saying what he [i]thought[/i]... [i]No,[/i] no. He looked back toward the road, adjusting how he sat and secretly thankful he was cold enough that there wasn’t enough warmth in his body to make him blush. [color=796e9c]"It’s ok,"[/color] he reassured her. [color=796e9c]"I’m used to that type of reaction. You didn’t try to kill me, so that’s a bonus,"[/color] he added with a tight lipped smile. He sighed and brushed his wet hair back out of his face to keep the water from dripping into his eyes. [color=796e9c]"What would you like me to call you,"[/color] he asked quietly. [color=796e9c]"I mean, I know your name but…"[/color] Finally, Bella looked at him again. She watched his arms trembling and a keen sense of uselessness bubbled up inside of her, she hadn’t helped in the fight, and there was absolutely nothing she could do to help him warm up now. She naturally ran a little colder than the average person, if he was overheating she could help, but even treating hyperthermia was something that was currently beyond her capabilities. Her dad could have, but it was too delicate for her to fuck around with and potentially give Tobias organ failure. [color=bdddff]"Bellamy is fine, but um, I mean, my friends call me Bella, or Bell… So, either of those is fine."[/color] Loki was relatively dry now, it was the luxury of being so small and fluffy she supposed, and rather warm too. She sat the kitten down in her lap, freeing both her hands to twist anxiously as she glanced back toward Tobias every few seconds. The kitten stood up, shaking himself out and stretching, before carefully and timidly stepping off of her lap, and onto the middle console. Bella’s eyebrows rose some as the kitten sniffed at Tobias’s arm, sneezed once, and then flopped over into the man’s lap, curling up into a little warm ball against his lower stomach. She stared for a second, genuinely surprised, and then glanced away blushing. [color=bdddff]"Guess he does like you,"[/color] she whispered, not having the energy to smile but feeling just a little lighter than she had before. [color=bdddff]"Do you prefer Tobias?"[/color] Tobias’s gaze flicked between the road and the small kitten that climbed into his lap. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as his right hand slowly fell to gently hold the kitten securely in place. It was strange how such a tiny little creature could bring a foreign comfort, given everything that happened. The small act of kindness from an oblivious animal was nearly enough to undo him and make the cacophony of emotions that stirred in his mind pour out. His thumb idly stroked the cat’s fur as he steeled himself, pushing down his own feelings. [color=796e9c]"I’ve never been asked."[/color] He paused for a moment to ponder the question before continuing. [color=796e9c]"My mom calls me Toby, but that also kind of sounds like a dog’s name."[/color] He laughed weakly. She’d reflexively glanced back at him, catching the faintest hint of a smile, and her shoulders relaxed a fraction of an inch. Bella glanced down at her hands, one of her palms was scrapped raw from falling, and a few slivers of wood were embedded in the soft skin at the base of her wrist. She grimaced, not even having registered the injury earlier but now that the adrenaline was wearing off she could feel every ache and twinge across her body, her ankle actually hurt a lot worse than she’d initially thought, and she shifted a little in discomfort. [color=bdddff]"I like Toby,"[/color] she murmured, trying to distract herself. [color=bdddff]"At least your nickname wasn’t used in a bad vampire romance novel."[/color] It was a poor attempt at a joke, but Bella managed a small and weak smile of her own. Her dad had always joked about that, teasing her occasionally about it. [color=bdddff]"Does your arm hurt?"[/color] She glanced toward him, gaze lingering on the cut there. The cab of the jeep was steadily growing warmer, and even though her clothes were wet and uncomfortable it was better than hiking through the woods in converse. A tired snort of a laugh rumbled in his chest. [color=796e9c]"Well, Bell’s better anyway,"[/color] he replied, the faintest bit of a smile still lingering across his face. [color=796e9c]"Easily the best Princess and my favorite Disney movie. So, it’s like a double bonus there."[/color] The shift to lighter conversation helped release some of the tension across his back. As he let his shoulders fall slightly to try and rest, he felt his stitches tug in a way that almost certainly meant he popped a couple of them. He sighed knowing that there was no way he’d be able to disappear into his room without Alfred sneak attacking him and forcing him back into the infirmary. Something in her chest tugged and softened at his words, a genuine but small smile pulled at her lips, the slightest tinge of pink coloring her still cold flushed cheeks, but the jeep was too dark for him to notice and she appreciated that. Something about the fact that he’d watched enough Disney movies to have a favorite Princess warmed her to him more than she’d expected it to. [color=bdddff]"Mine is Mulan, though I don’t know if she counts."[/color] He nodded his head, looking over at her for a second. [color=796e9c]"It definitely counts. You don’t get to save all of China and [i]not[/i] be classified as a Princess while a whiny mermaid gets legs and becomes one."[/color] Her smile, still small and timid, widened just a fraction. [color=bdddff]"Twice,"[/color] she added, playing with the sleeves of his hoodie absentmindedly, they were a little too long for her and only the tips of her fingers poked out, but it was comfortable and, weirdly enough, made her feel safer. [color=bdddff]"She saved China in the second movie too."[/color] Tobias noticed he nearly glossed over her question and his gaze reflexively fell to the cut on his right arm that was still tightly sealed with ice. [color=796e9c]"I actually don’t feel it much right now. Everything else, on the other hand."[/color] He shrugged his shoulders and winced slightly. [color=796e9c]"I think I popped a couple stitches and my back is definitely bleeding all over the upholstery,"[/color] he added with a laugh that was exhausted but more humorous than concerned. [color=796e9c]"I’ll be fine. I’ve had worse."[/color] He nodded his head toward her feet. [color=796e9c]"How’s the ankle? We’ll go to the infirmary first thing when we get back."[/color] [color=bdddff]"Did you pop your stitches carrying me?"[/color] Panic laced her tone, and Bellamy turned her whole body toward him, eyes wide and a little frantic. Her hand slid forward, curving around his shoulder blade tentatively until she felt something warm and slick. Her breath hitched as she pulled back, catching the dim sight of red smeared across her hand, and leaned even closer to Tobias. [color=bdddff]"How far is the drive? You’ll bleed out if it takes us two hours to get there, I–I could…freeze it over too, my ice will hold, but you’re already so cold."[/color] She was panicking more, hand trembling against his shoulder. He was actively bleeding over there, but worried about getting [i]her[/i] to the infirmary for her ankle? [i]Christ.[/i] [color=bdddff]"I have medical training, but we don’t have any equipment for me to stitch you up."[/color] Bella was babbling softly, a nervous trait she’d always had since she was a child, too anxious to shut up. Her inadequacy was crushing, she couldn’t do [i]anything[/i] to help him, not really. The ice on his arm wouldn’t cause frostbite, as long as they got it off within the next two hours he’d hardly have ice burn, but it was [i]all[/i] she could do to help, and it didn’t feel like enough. [color=796e9c]"I don’t think—"[/color] Tobias’s words got caught in his throat like a dry pill as Bell’s hand frantically ran across his chest and searched his shoulder. He swallowed, forcing himself to focus on driving and not how quickly she filled the space between them. While he had about five whole minutes of being calm, his pulse was racing for entirely different reasons. His hand subconsciously pulled the sleeping kitten in closer, concerned it would slip from his lap with all the fuss. [color=796e9c]"It’s old… I’ll be ok."[/color] He looked over into her blue eyes that almost seemed to glow in the darkness of the night. He blinked, then looked straight ahead. [color=796e9c]"We’re 45 minutes out. It’ll take more than an old bullet would to kill me,"[/color] he tried to reassure her with a faint smile. Two seconds ago he thought nothing of it, but for whatever reason Bell’s concern made him concerned, if only because he didn’t want to weigh down her conscience with his own obstinacy. She hesitated for a moment, studying his face, and then she pulled back a little, wiping his blood on her jeans until her hand was as clean as it would get, she didn’t want to get any on his hoodie. [color=bdddff]"Keep your eyes on the road, please, and don’t crash."[/color] She murmured, unbuckling her seatbelt and tugging his hoodie off. She trusted Tobias to not look, which was a little ridiculous considering how long they’ve known each other for, but he seemed the respectable type, so Bellamy wasn’t too horribly flustered as she tugged her ruined sweater off, throwing it into the backseat haphazardly, and then stripped off the long sleeved black shirt she’d worn under it. There was a fraction of a second where Tobias ignored her warning and looked over at her confused. But the moment the seatbelt unfastened and the light dinged on his dashboard his eyes widened. He turned his attention back toward the rain covered windshield with determined concentration. [color=796e9c]"Yes ma’am,"[/color] he muttered under his breath with a small nod. The fabric peeled off her skin uncomfortably, and one of her shoulders twinged with a shock of pain as she lifted her arms above her head to tug the fabric free from her chest, likely bruised from one of her tumbles. Goosebumps rose across her exposed upper body, her bra was thin and just as drenched as the rest of her clothes, so it offered little to no warmth, but Bell quickly pulled back on his hoodie, shoving up the sleeves some and trying to remain respectable. She twisted back toward him, not bothering with her seatbelt as she leaned closer with the shirt. [color=bdddff]"Lean forward some, please."[/color] Bellamy’s voice was soft and tight as she stretched out the shirt by the sleeves, focusing for a moment so ice curled around her biceps, augmenting her strength so she could pull and twist the wet fabric further than she’d have been able to otherwise. [color=bdddff]"Brace yourself, it’ll hurt."[/color] She breathed, ignoring how close they were so she could focus on what she was doing, instead of becoming flustered. Despite how wet the shirt was, it was notably warm as she wrapped it diagonally around Tobias’s shoulder, making sure the twisted fabric was pressed flush to where the injury was before tying it tightly across his chest. It was the best she could do to put some pressure on it until they got to wherever they were going. Tobias’s hand curled under the kitten, lifting it so he didn’t accidentally squish or pin it. He heeded her commands without argument, leaning forward so there was roughly an equal amount of space in front and behind him. When he was told to brace himself, he quickly looked over at her front corner of his eyes then down at Loki. It took a surprising amount of coordination to brace his left side, while leaving his right hand relaxed and focusing on driving. His knuckles went white as his grip tightened around the steering wheel. He sucked in a sharp breath, gritting his teeth at the tight pressure against his shoulder. The muscles in his neck tensed but he remained frozen in place, not moving an inch. Once Bell was done, he slowly leaned back in his seat with a grimace. Tobias wanted to argue and say he would have been fine, but when his lips parted other words slipped out. [color=796e9c]"Thanks."[/color] It wasn’t until his warm breath fanned across the cool and damp skin of her throat that Bella realized how close she was to him, eyes set on the makeshift bandage, but her gaze snapped up to the side of his face, a few strands of her wet hair brushed along his lower cheek, Loki perked up from between Tobas’s fingers in interest at their proximity, purring loudly, and she could see how his lashes fluttered across his skin when he blinked. [i]He’s sort of…pretty.[/i] The thought was fleeting before she realized she was staring, and clumsily rearranged herself back into her own seat, fumbling with her seatbelt twice before she got it to buckle. [color=bdddff]"It was my fault, so it’s the least I could do."[/color] Bell managed after a moment, tucking her hands back into the sleeves of his hoodie resolutely, eyes on the dash instead of looking back toward him. [color=bdddff]"My conscience isn’t clear,"[/color] Bellamay blurted the words before she could stop them, half of her trying desperately to distract herself, and the other part knowing if she didn’t tell him it would keep her up tonight... if she slept at all. [color=bdddff]"You said earlier that you—"[/color] she stumbled over the word, it caught in her throat for a second but she squeezed her eyes shut and pushed on. [color=bdddff]"That you killed them all, but before you got to me I… There were two others, I froze them solid. So, it doesn’t all fall on you and your conscience."[/color] For some reason, it felt important that he knew that. Tobias did his best to remain still and concentrate on driving. When her wet hair brushed his cheek, temporarily clinging to his skin, his body tensed and fingers tightened their hold on the wheel. He looked over at her from the corner of his eyes then back at the road. Bell fumbling with her seatbelt masked the sound of him letting out a shaky breath that he hadn’t noticed he was holding in. [color=796e9c]"It’s not your fault,"[/color] he corrected her. [color=796e9c]"I was shot two weeks ago so… Unless you’re a really good liar, this isn’t your doing."[/color] He remained quiet as Bell nervously confessed whatever had been weighing on her. He nodded his head silently, showing he was listening but didn’t want to interrupt. When she was finished, Tobias spared her a glance as he spoke. [color=796e9c]"I don’t regret it. Killing people like [i]that[/i] doesn’t keep me up at night,"[/color] he confessed resolutely. There was a seriousness to his tone as the dark shadows from his brows masked his eyes. [color=796e9c]"Do you… regret it?"[/color] The silence stretched for a few minutes as Bella contemplated her own twisted mix of feelings on it all, and how to reply. [color=bdddff]"I don’t know,"[/color] she finally admitted, voice breaking on the last syllable. She cleared her voice, trying to sound stronger if only because her fragility was embarrassing in the face of his own strength. [color=bdddff]"Part of me doesn’t, but then there’s this other part that wonders if… If they had families too, if I stole someone else's dad away from them."[/color] She swiped away a tear before it could roll down her cheek, voice soft and uncertain. [color=bdddff]"I’ve never… that was my first time, and I didn’t even [i]think[/i] about it, I just did it. Isn’t that wrong? Shouldn’t I have paused, even just for a second? I [i]killed[/i] them, and I don’t even remember what their faces look like."[/color] Bellamy had curled in on herself by the time she was finished speaking, knees tucked up to her chest, pressing her face into the fabric of his hoodie to hide the fear and shame that felt like it was suffocating her. The faintest smell of cinnamon, cedar, and something that was a mix between floral and earthy that she couldn’t quite place, filled her lungs with every shaky breath. She realized distantly that this was a smell that was likely unique to Tobias, and yet it calmed her more than it had any right to. Bella lifted her face some, cheeks flushed and her whole face felt hot. [color=bdddff]"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to dump all of that on you."[/color] She whispered. [color=796e9c]"I said no judgement, and I meant it. You don’t have to apologize,"[/color] he reassured her with a calm and soft tone. Tobias tapped his thumb against the wheel trying to recall the first time he took a life, but his mind drew a blank. He knew there was a lot of blood on his hands, but it wasn’t until that moment that he realized how soaked they really were. [color=796e9c]"Maybe I’m cynical, but a dad for a dad seems like a fair trade to me. I’ve done worse for less,"[/color] he confessed, keeping his gaze forward. [color=796e9c]"I… don’t know if you should look to me as a moral compass."[/color] She…hadn’t thought of it like that, but [i]a dad for a dad[/i] rang in her ears, and Bella felt relieved that he said it. It was wrong to feel that way, she was sure, but something about having her darkest, innermost thoughts vocalized on his lips reassured her that maybe she wasn’t as bad as she’d feared, though she also wasn’t sure if using Tobias as a meter for moral ambiguity was the best choice, he was right. His mind drifted back to the night he was shot. Tobias couldn’t remember how many men there were or how many he killed, but he remembered the damp crimson rug in the Italian hostel. He remembered the sounds of Helena’s screams as they dragged her away, breathing in the pools of blood they pressed his face into. Nine men stayed behind to subdue him, eight died quickly. The last one lived for 53 more hours. 53 hours where Tobias pulled the iron from his blood, watching as his body grew blue with oxygen loss, where he meticulously broke every bone in his body… Where he found out [i]exactly[/i] how many cuts a person could withstand before dying. It wasn’t a thousand. All of that and worse, yet the guilt that weighed on him wasn’t for the lives he took or the pain he caused, but for the person he could have been and how there wasn’t a shred of remorse in him. All of that murder and pain… and he was numb. [color=796e9c]"I don’t remember my first kill,"[/color] Tobias admitted when the silence grew too heavy. [color=796e9c]"I don’t feel [i]anything[/i] when I kill anymore."[/color] His brows furrowed at the realization he had never admitted that outloud, not even to himself. [color=796e9c]"Don’t let yourself become like me,"[/color] he warned her while his thumb lightly stroked the purring kitten. [color=796e9c]"There’s nothing wrong with killing out of self defense… but,"[/color] he sighed, [color=796e9c]"You should leave the rest to me."[/color] The silence had stretched as she turned over his words, but his admission made her finally twist back toward him, eyes widening ever so slightly. A rush of conflicting emotions swept through her, unease, fear, curiosity, but more than anything else… Bella felt an inexplicable sense of safety. The muscles in her stomach tensed, her heart feeling as if it was doing a weird flip in her chest as a rush of cold slid down her spine. There was no reason for her to feel anything but fear at a confession like that, and yet he had saved her. [color=bdddff]"I don’t think it’s wrong of you to feel that way…or to not feel, I guess."[/color] She couldn’t bring herself to look away from him as she said this, searching the bit of his face she could see in the dark Jeep. [color=bdddff]"It’s not like you’re… I mean, they weren’t innocent, they chose their path,"[/color] Bella did realize it was extremely silly to try and reassure him of his sins whilst condemning herself for her own, but the way he spoke about it gave the impression that no one had in awhile, and that didn’t feel… fair. [color=bdddff]"There’s nothing wrong with how you feel about it,"[/color] she unintentionally parroted his words back to him. [color=bdddff]"You’re just… stronger than me."[/color] Her voice grew softer toward the end, trailing off as she looked at the shirt wrapped around his chest. If she’d been shot… Bella looked away, feeling a little queasy. The way Bell turned to face him directly rather than cower from his truth caught him off guard. Maybe it was just because he saved her and it clouded her judgement. That'd make sense. She'd eventually come to her senses and change her mind, but the reassurances made a small bit of weight lift from the nearly unbearable burden he carried on his shoulders. There was a faint smile that grew in the darkness of the car as a strange warmth grew within his chest. [color=796e9c]"We’re all strong in our own ways. You shouldn't sell yourself short."[/color] He might not know in what ways she was strong, not yet, but she had to be strong to survive what she did and not be shattered into a million pieces. Tobias's gaze fell to the clock after they passed under a highway sign. [color=796e9c]"It’ll be another half an hour before we're there. You should get some rest. I'm sure you're exhausted."[/color] He turned his head toward her slightly, meeting her gaze for a second while giving her a tired but reassuring smile. She wanted to tell him that he was wrong, she wasn’t strong, especially not like he was. Stubborn, maybe, but not strong. She was barely keeping it together, and the fear of the unknown, where they were going and what exactly it all had in store for her, made her chest feel tight with anxiety. [color=bdddff]"Okay,"[/color] Bella sighed instead, accepting that whatever came next, it was out of her control. She shifted in her seat, resting her injured ankle back on the floor of the Jeep in an effort to ease the twinge of pain that pulled from it every few seconds. She turned some, arms curling beneath where she rested her head on the middle console, half tucked in on herself. [color=bdddff]"Thank you."[/color] Her voice was so soft it would have been easy to miss, muffled by the sleeves of his hoodie, Bell dropped off into a restless sleep almost instantly, the warmth of his side radiating against where her arms just barely touched him, the faint smell of his cologne filling her head. 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