Chapter Text
Of course the mission went wrong. Why wouldn't your first official mission in the N109 zone go wrong? You growl under your breath as you return fire over the half-assed barricade full of tables and counter tops that Xavier and you managed to erect before the shooting began.
This was the first time you got actual permission to go into the N109 zone. Sure, you might have been s little cocky. It isn't like you haven't been here plenty before although you are normally with Sylus when you're here. But you're pretty damn sure your disguise and acting was spot on.
And Xavier was amazing, looking every part the bodyguard while you tried to arrange for purchase of the proto-cores. He had made of glaring at everyone who got too close, arms crossed in the classic 'bodyguard' pose. It was also hilarious and it took a herculean effort not to burst into giggles at times.
Apparently some especially weird batches of proto-cores were being sold lately in the black market and the Hunter Association suspects it came out of this buyer in the N109 Zone. You got to play some kind of heiress, a role that you have become weirdly familiar with over the last few months.
That's why it should have been easy! This mission should have been a walk in the park. You weren't even supposed to capture anyone. Setting up the details of a purchase was it.
Rather than the simple mission it was supposed to be though, you are now exchanging bullets with a group of thugs, destroying the previously luxurious decorations. A shattered chandelier sits on the floor in the center of the room on top of a carpet that probably costs more than your yearly salary. Thankfully the lamps from the side walls provide enough illumination to see your targets.
You feel a bit bad. This really was a nice dining room before it got shot up. You should apologize to the establishment owner. No wait, your eyes narrow as you shoot another volley of bullets back. That's the owner behind the couch on the other side shooting at you. Ok...no apologies, you are going to kick his ass too.
You glance over at Xavier, blanching a bit as you notice that he's kind of just hiding there, not returning fire. "Xavier! Why aren't you shooting back?!?"
He slow blinks up at you, looking a bit sheepish. "I didn't bring a gun." You swear profusely as you glare at him.
"You didn't...why the hell not?!?" What kind of bodyguard doesn't have a gun hidden? Xavier peeks up over the rapidly deteriorating counter before ducking his head back down.
"I normally just summon my sword." Xavier *would* be the one person who likes to bring a sword to a shootout. Admittedly, having seen how he uses the sword, you can't question its effectiveness.
"Then why aren't you manifesting your sword?" You probably sound like you are talking to a small child right now, esch word slowly gritted out but you really want to smack Xavier on the head sometimes.
"Well...it would break cover." Xavier seems surprised at my question. Break cover...you let out an indignant sound and point emphatically at the enemy.
"I think our cover *is* blown!" As you manage to take down at least one of our numerous shooters and reload my gun, Xavier sits up a bit taller, realization hitting him.
"Oh. Good point." Before you can berate him further, a bright light appears in his hand. He glances out again quickly from the side of the barrier. "I think I see eight left." Mentally bracing himself, he moves into a low crouch, as if readying himself. "I'll be right back."
Even knowing his skills, the idea of Xavier wading into the hail of bullets terrifies you and you reach out to stop him. But he is already gone. Damn the man moves fast. Glancing carefully over the barricade, you see a series of light dance behind the enemy's barricade and a series of cut off shouts and thud of bodies drift into your ears before everything goes silent.
Your ears ring faintly from the sudden cessation of sound. Did he really just take them all down? With a sword? You edge out a little further, seeing a silhouette behind the enemies, a bright sword in his hand. "Is that all of them?"
Xavier walks towards you, eyeing the damage as he nods. "I think so." He side-steps a pool of blood that's started to gather under one man. You grimace. Fighting Wanderers the majority of the time, you are more used to your enemies neatly disappearing rather than the much more gruesome scene in front of you. Being around Sylus had inoculated you somewhat but you doubt you can ever be as uncaring about it as the crime boss.
You are actually more surprised that Xavier doesn't seem at all bothered by the carnage as he steps neatly over a pile of debris. He doesn't even look like he has any blood on him! How the hell does someone chop a bunch of people up like that without getting blood on them?
You stand up as well and make your way towards him, mental gymnastics in full force as you imagine how you plan to write all this into an acceptable report. This was definitely not the anticipated outcome
The ridiculous high heels you had to wear as part of your disguise catches on the edge of the carpet and you tumble forward. The floor rushes toward you and you can see Xavier step forward to catch you.
Just then, a loud bang resounds in the room and you can see a look of horror pass onto Xavier's face right before he catches you. Falling into his arms with an 'oof', you glance back and see that one of the men wasn't fully dead yet although that changes a second later as a bullet enters him. Looking around in alarm, you notice that Xavier has taken your gun and used it, face both stricken and furious.
"Xavier, what's wrong?" You look at his face in concern before you follow his gaze down towards his chest, which is starting to look covered in blood. "You're shot!" Oh no. You don't have any Hunter Association back-up nearby and you don't even have a first aid kit!
Adrenaline still pumping, it takes you a moment to realize that Xavier is shaking his head. "That's not my blood." What does that mean? There's so much blood and Xavier had nothing on him a second ago. "You're hurt." It is only then that parts of the last few moments untangle themselves in your brain. What you thought was the jolt from Xavier catching you was actually from the bullet that pierced into your back. You have indeed been shot. It must have been the adrenaline of combat though because you only noticed a warm feeling in the area.
Although now that you realize you've been shot, the pain starts to kick in. Oh...oh ow. "I've been shot." The blood is coming out freely and you start to feel a little woozy. "That's bad."
Xavier looks on the verge of panic as he carries you toward the exit, mumbling about the nearest hospital. But he knows as well as you that a place like the N109 zone doesn't just have hospitals in the neighborhood. And your closest Hunter contact is not nearly close enough to help you. You gaze up at his worried expression, brain fuzzy and lids becoming heavier every second. He's really pretty from this angle too.
As the two of you exit the building, the darkness seems to embrace you. Wasn't it only the afternoon? You wonder where the sun went. The world around you continues to fade as you hear the sharp caw of a crow.