Chapter Text
Life was a fickle thing; that’s one thing the “captain” knew.
One moment, you’re on the top, head of their detective agency, and next? Bleeding out in an alley, shot by the main suspect of one of their cases.
It was late, and the sun had set; the crowding of the busy city had long dissipated, leaving them alone. To die.
They pushed themselves into a phone booth, leaving against the wall.
Captain grasped onto the bullet wound, inhaling sharply.
“Fuck… Fuck!” they weren’t going to make it, even if the medics arrived on time. “Goddamn it…” thick tears threatened to spill from their eyes.
Mark was waiting for them to return. Their hands trembled, sliding one into their coat, grabbing a few quarters.
They needed to hear his voice just one last time.
Trying to regulate their breathing, they dialed their agency's number,
“Goodevening, I2 Agency—”
“Connect me to the lead of the investigation dept., Iplier.”
“I’m sorry I am unable to connect with an unauthorized line,”
They spit their full name out, wincing when the pain from their wound spikes, "This is extremely important!"
“Can I have your code?”
They grit their teeth, “Seriously, goddamn it,” they slowly take their hand off their wound, grabbing their wallet. They hold it, squinting to read the card they left in their wallet, “Time-Mass-Mother then two-seven-zero-two, Make it fast. I don’t have time for this.”
“Your code was verified. Please hold while I connect you,”
Staggering forward, they slam their arm on the machine to keep balance, dropping their wallet, “Fuck” they whimper out, clutching the wound again.
Just a little longer, that’s all they need.
“Hello?” Mark answered, the exhaustion seeping through his voice.
“Hey, Mark,” They whispered into the phone, doing their best to sound happy. It works. He immediately perks up,
“Cap’n! It’s late! I mean, I’ll gladly talk to you anytime, but you never call this late. Are you okay?”
Captain. What a silly nickname. Mark called them that when they were just children, and the name stuck ever since.
“I’m…” They laugh nervously, blinking tears from their eyes, “Well… I…”
Mark called their name.
“Yeah… I’m okay; I just wanted to see how you were doing.” they closed their eyes, feeling dizzy,
“Oh, your too kind, cap’n! I’m great! I was just looking through the new case we got sent earlier.” He paused, humming, “I heard you were on rounds tonight, must be slow, huh?”
Their eyes open, staring down at the blood staining their hand and clothing, their vision blurry.
“Cap’n?”
They blink, unclenching their teeth, “Yeah, yeah, it’s been slow…” they gasp, “You said you wanted to take me out on that date, no?”
“What!! Where— where did you hear that from?!”
They chuckle, “Don’t rely on Mack to keep secrets, Iplier.” he cursed softly,
“Listen, Captain—”
“I… really like you too,” deciding just to rip the bandage off, they confess. He gasps through the phone, a large crash in the background paired with another curse,
“Really? I—” Mark stammered, cutting himself off, “you do?”
They hummed in response; the adrenaline blocking the pain was wearing off. There wasn’t much time left, “I love you, and I just really wanted to tell you,”
The other line was silent for a few seconds; Captain tilted their head back, resting it against one of the glass panes of the booth. “I need to hang up now,” they muttered,
“What?! You can’t! Not after confessing you love me!” He immediately tried to keep them, “Actually, I’ll head over to you — Where are you?”
“Breaks over, Mark. I can’t stay on the line,”
“Let's talk in person! I— you cant just confess and leave me! I’m coming over!” They inhale sharply. They were doing exactly that.
“No.” they sharply decline, using their authoritative voice, “Not now.”
He shuffles on the other side of the line, “later?”
There was no later.
The captain forces out a huff, “Yeah,” later stuck to their tongue, unable to speak it, they couldn’t lie to him.
“I care for you. Mark, I truly do,” Their voice rasped, everything fading slightly,
“I… Of course. I care for you too. Talk to you later, Captain.”
Their vision doubled, dropping the phone onto the receiver. It was much too heavy.
Hearing faint sirens and yelling, They close their eyes.
It hurt so much.
They slumped against the wall, their breathing shallow.
Hopefully Mark could forgive them for dying.