Minutes dragged like hours in the quiet of the office building, nothing but twin breathing and the sound of passing traffic now and then filling the air. Somewhere inside the building a clock ticked away with each second, barely heard as Reaper waited a bit longer, chest barely moving with each intake of air as she hovered skin to a gargoyle over Scarlett, waiting for any sign of being followed.
Yet no one came. That was both a relief and rather worrisome. It could mean untold amount of things, the worst being that Talky and the Cat Bandits had succeeded in taking down her teammates and were now surrounding the building, the best being that the others had dispatched them handily and were now waiting for her. However, the former didn’t seem quite as likely – not because she believed in her teammates, but Reaper couldn’t sense any unusual beacons around the building.
So what to do? Returning to the battlefield risked putting everything in jeopardy once more if the fight wasn’t already done in their favor, but taking Scarlett to the auditorium would be showing her exactly where they were located. Not to mention the fact that Reaper wasn’t quite sure her patch job was working as well as she hoped. Following that logic, it all lead to one conclusion, even if it made Reaper’s chest twist painfully at the thought of leaving the others even longer, but Reaper wouldn’t be returning to the fight. They had, after all, primarily wanted Scarlet Shifter out of Umbra’s clutches.
“Hope you know what you’re doing…” The vigilante muttered to herself even as she retrieved her phone, hitting the only favorited contact and settling by Scarlet. The call was answered immediately, Reaper launching right in.
“Call Dr. Stagelson and have him set up the regular room for me. … No, not actually for me, I’m bringing someone. Yes, calm down. No I don’t – actually that’d be nice, yeah. Thank you, I’ll call again when I’m done.” Phone call done and device pocketed the hooded vigilante turned to the source of her conversation, sighing seeing that Scarlet Shifter was still out of it. Looks like Reaper was still going to have to carry her, which wasn’t necessarily bad; at least Scarlett wouldn’t be able to see where they were going. At least that’s what Reaper told herself as she once more carefully hefted the shapeshifter up and practically across her back with a low grunt.
Edging to the window Reaper gave one last sweep across the street below, and only when she determined there was no one nearby did she pick out a shadow across the street – on the roof – to shadow step to. It was slower this way, less of a smooth gait from shadow to shadow but rather a stumbling tourist stopping for directions. Roofs weren’t nearly quite as accommodating as shadows, though the late time and setting sun did help. Preserving her energy with short steps it took Reaper a decent amount of time to reach her destination, but soon she was standing on the roof opposite a rather large, swanky clinic. She almost groaned in relief seeing that one specific window near the top floor was open, the lights inside dimmed to cast shadows against the wall and floor.
One more quick shadowstep had Reaper inside, staggering in the darkened room to the nearby bed of the private room. It spoke of the quality of the bed that it didn’t so much as creak under the weight of Scarlett. With some maneuvering the other redhead was soon on the bed, Reaper leaning heavily against the railing as she caught her breath. One person normally wasn’t so much trouble, but between having to carry them and the usual strain of taking another person? She deserved at least a small break.
Whatever time she had to relax was interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and out of reflex Reaper already had one ankle in the shadows before recognizing the man that came in. An average looking man, balding with a pencil thin frame barely glanced at Reaper before calmly shutting the door behind him and flicking one of the switches to fill the room with a dim light. All business he briskly walked over, his roaming gaze immediately picking out the injury, not to mention who his patient was.
“Well, you’re certainly full of surprises, Miss…?” He trailed off to look to the vigilante expectantly, waiting for whatever name she used in front of his new patient, be it real or alias.
“Reaper.”
“How morbid. You should pick a new one for when you visit.”
“Not creative enough for that, Dr. Stagelson.”
“Nonsense, you young people are full of imagination,” Dr. Stagelson soon lost interest in the conversation to fix his spectacles, leaning in and examining the deep wound in Scarlett’s shoulder. His fingers soon were at the wound, messing with Reaper’s handiwork. “Well, I could definitely help – though if she’ll regain full use of her arm is hard to say. I’d have to start poking around, considering what she’s probably been subjected to… Unless you want her to, ah, be a little more distracted next time you speak?” The doctor looked to Reaper pointedly, immediately raising her hackles.
“I don’t need to – to torture her! Just patch her up, maybe keep her out of it for the night – for everyone’s safety.”
“Of course, of course. Merely a suggestion, considering who she is.”
“I’m aware. Just… keep her calm and fix her up, I’ll figure out what to do with her by tomorrow morning.”
“Oh? Was bringing her here the extent of your plan, Reaper?” When the vigilante didn’t respond Dr. Stagelson chuckled. “Not to step on the toes of my most prestigious client, of course. Go on then, she’s in safe hands, and no one will know she’s here.” Reaper huffed, but finally bowed her head.
“Thank you, Doctor Stagelson. I’ll have someone call in later,” When the doctor merely waved her off and began to call for a nurse Reaper took her cue to step back, finding the one corner still darkened and disappearing into it.
It was almost refreshing to only be shadow stepping by herself again, no weight slowing her down or the extra tug of her powers from moving with another. Once more it was like an average stroll through the park, if the park was dark and clung to her ankles with every step. Though, the weariness and ache in her bones was settling as well without the adrenaline to keep it back. It didn’t take much longer to get to the headquarters in old run down Racket Avenue, though it was tempting to double back to the site of Scarlett’s hideout. Enough time had passed however that Reaper would think it was either do or die, and so it was with a tight feeling in her chest that Reaper stepped out of the shadows opposite the auditorium to open the great doors.
“Oh thank god,” The vigilante muttered to herself, almost slumping seeing the three men she was most interested in. Levi was off resting, while Turn Back and Tank were farther in with some of the others. Everyone had made it out alright. Feeling a surge of energy Reaper stepped inside and closed the large doors behind her, trudging over to the others and hopping onto the stage to sit on the edge heavily. Unfortunately with the renovations there was barely any shadows to get up to her favorite place, the platform above the stage.
“Scarlett’s being taken care of,” Reaper muttered to the others, giving a thumbs up to them. “Looks like none of you lost a limb without me either,” The vigilante added on, flopping back onto the stage. She turned her hooded head to the side, peering at the ‘Wall Walker Team’ with her blackened eyes. Really, she was talking too much in her relief – companionship was turning her soft after just a few days.
“… I’m guessing things didn’t go well on the other side?”
Midna-Phobia