Chapter Text
Rook’s had shitty days before, but this one takes the cake for sure. If she ever got out of this situation, this would be one hell of a story to tell her kids. That is if she didn’t bleed out all over the forest floor first.
It had all started when she had been marked John after blowing up his silos all over the valley. She then led a fun goose chase (at least it was fun for her) before she ran headlong into a very angry grizzly. She barely escaped and found herself staggering away into the woods clutching her torn shoulder and ruined foot as her pursuers dealt with the beast. After limping past trees and tracking blood, she found an abandoned home where she could...rest and get better. No way was she dying here when there was so much work to be done and people to help.
She tripped upon the entrance way and nearly fell face-first, only saving herself clumsily with the near-empty bookshelf. She heard a pained cry leave her as her ankle stung. She pulled herself up, wincing and groaning as she found her sight blurring at the edges from the pain. She also found her chest hurting, breathing labored.
Stop...being a baby...Head to...couch...She found herself flopping onto the couch, leaning back against it as she gazed at her shoulder, foot forgotten. God...don’t let...that be bone...
While she was able to use her meager medical supplies on her person to patch some of it up, Rook knew this wasn’t enough and she pulled out her radio to contact anyone out there.
Wished I...had brought someone along with me...no one knows... “H-Hello? An..yone out there? I...I need some help.”
After some silence, a voice she really didn’t want to hear came on. “Well, Deputy, it seems your in a bit of a situation. Ready to come to me and confess?”
“Fuck...me...’course it had to be...you,” she said, gritting out the words. “No, I’m...good, you can just...gahh, fuckin’ ribs...”
“You don’t sound good. Where are you?” It may have been because of the blood loss, but she could have sworn his tone had become a bit less smarmy. More strained.
“A bear...attacked me. Got my shoulder, every...thing hurts...went into a house, no people. There’s a...a cute piggy sign out front though...cute piggy...” She felt her eyes closing as she turned to look at the out-of-focus sign out front. “Fuck...guess I’ll die...good for you and your family, you...won...”
She thought she heard him calling her name and angry, tense shouting coming closer, but it was harder to focus when she wanted to just close her eyes and drift off.
It’s better this way...no more cult, no more Seed’s, no more responsibility or guilt or being everyone’s...hero...
Rook’s eyes eventually opened to an unfamiliar ceiling. She felt sore, but not in overwhelming pain. Her body was heavy, but comfortable and it took her cloudy mind to realize she was on a bed in a relatively dark, small room. As her senses were coming back to her, she realized her arms were tied together to the bed post and her ruined foot was bound in a cast.
God really is cruel, huh? As soon as she was putting two and two together, the door opened and she felt her stomach churn when she saw the familiar face strode in.
“Ah, Sleeping Beauty has finally awoken,” John said, approaching the bed with a smirk. He was way too cheery about all this. “Here I was worried the Bliss concentration given to you was too much, but God truly delivers.”
As Rook tried to pull herself up, wincing from the pain in her shoulder and chest, she felt him gently push her down.
“Don’t push yourself. You have at least three broken ribs, a damaged shoulder that needed several stitches, and a sprained foot. You’ll just end up hurting yourself even more.”
She tried to mumble out a “fuck you,” but her tongue felt like lead, so she simply opted for a raised, shaky middle finger, barely formed from her tied-up hands.
“Charming. You should be thanking me for saving your life, you know,” John said, letting out a wistful sigh. “That wrath of yours will be the death of you if you continue acting this way.” He then walked over to a table and pulled out a small box.
Shit, here it comes. Rook did her best to move away from John as he came closer. “D-Don’t...”
“Stop moving, I’m simply changing your bandages. Or do you want one of the followers whose family or friends you slaughtered to actually do the treatment?”
Rook looked to see that it was a medical kit and John was holding bandages. He helped her sit up and she reluctantly agreed. Upon realizing she was only in a white cotton bra and plain shorts (definitely not her ruined, ratty one), in front of one of her greatest enemies, she attempted to pull the sheets over her.
“Don’t tell me the great Deputy is too coy to let anyone see her like this?” John said, smirk returning as his eyes trailed a bit over her body. A sharp glare from Rook caused him to lift his hands, his manner softening. “I’m hurt you’d think I would do anything unseemly. I am just trying to help; may I proceed?”
She sighed, realizing she wouldn’t get better quicker and escape if she put up too much of a struggle. She nodded and allowed herself to relax, though her gaze was still wary. As John tended to her injuries, the only sound being his soft humming that Rook did find (reluctantly) soothing, she cleared her dry throat and asked, “Why?”
“Hmm? I do have some experience with patching injuries up and I don’t exactly trust others to do this job right...”
She shook her head. “No, I mean...why help me? You could’ve let me die. Get rid of a huge problem. When I get better, I’ll just go right back into stopping you and your family’s plans. So why...you in love with me or something?” she added the last part jokingly.
John scoffed indignantly as he finished up his task, but Rook could have sworn she saw his cheeks turn a bit pink. He’d almost be dashing and this would be sweet if not for the whole insane cultist gig.
“Don’t be absurd; falling for a hellcat like you? I have high standards, and Joseph would never allow it. But if you think you can escape your atonement for all that you’ve done through death, you have the wrong idea. And don’t think I’ll let you leave now that I have you. Once you get better, the confession will begin. I think you’ll be more...willing as we spend some quality time together as you heal. I believe you’ll be begging to embrace the Power of Yes in no time.”
It was Rook’s turn to scoff as John stood up, med kit in his hands and still smiling smarmy. She could feel her throat tightening once more as she cursed her current predicament. “And here I thought you actually had a shred of human compassion and decency. Too bad, and here I might have grown fond of you.”
A small snort of laughter came from John as he laid a hand on top of her head. While she tensed up from his touch, she didn’t shake it off as she held eye contact with him, trying to be tougher than she felt.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Deputy. You’re safe now. I’ve got you,” he said, an odd glint in his eyes that made Rook gulp.
Yeah, I feel safer already.