Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

SPOILER WARNING // 3,104 words (total, not only this chapter)

alright, you've been warned, may we begin!

Looking at the previous intel from the before missions, he is now aware more embroidery will soon join. Another mission coordinated by the Director “carefully”, Having sat up from the creaky bed, he settles to the debrief room with his freshly put on boots thumping against the ground. Australia. An island in Australia, the countries outlined by a deep red line that flashed at him.

The sapphire of crushing hostiles was something unforgettable, blood - stained gloves flaunt their colors. Muddy maroon nested within a deep black. His hands graze the map, and the screen darkens momentarily.

The sun peeks through the bolted windows, or well - cracks of the cavern base. Being made through a cave tends to not allow for much homely lives it seems, nonetheless, the sun shines and reaches seemingly the darkest part of the room. Old sticky notes present themselves openly now. A soft yellow contrasts against the harsh cave, piquing 106’s interest.

Walking forward every sound echos, no mind is paid, pure focus on the task, one step after another. Facing the sticky notes -

“106,”

Ah. The director.

“Horizon has been sending supplies down to this island, and I want you to figure out why.”

The director’s voice buzzes into his ears, cold and informative, familiar.

Following, he hums in response to a new motive in mind.

….

“Copy that, 106. “Helo is ready to go,” Raven adds, raspy and smooth, cutting through the otherwise silent comms as 106 began to walk,relative silence other than his own boots and the footsteps of other areas in base. The silence was not a hinderance; 106’s hands were already twitchy. Grasping grenades, loading his gun, checking gear and quickly prepping. A buzzing head, a buzzing brain, following on autopilot for his main objective.

The training room was static. Connecting hallway down was static. The base was silent until stepping towards the front end, grunts were bickering, and men were overseeing cameras or walking about.

“Man, I don’t understand how we’ve been assigned to base cleaning duty again.. I just wanna go out and see the action.” He sighed, leaning further into the wall.

“You and me both..” the other soldier responds as he leans against the wall. “At some point, we’ll get called out on some mission. We both know that... But for now, we’re stuck sweeping the floors.. Again.”

Two soldiers were chatting in the hallway, one of them standing whilst the other leaned against the wall.

Moving to the Quartermaster’s window, he tilts his head expectantly.

“Sorry, Sir. Not much for this one, “ He gruffly spoke before he sighed, looking down at dull documents before looking up at the masked face in front again, “There are some reports going through the area. Strange lights from the watchtower, knowin’ Horzion, those freaks have a show downstairs goin’ on, but… , nothing you can’t handle, eh?” He chuckled, before nodding insinuating he had nothing more to say.

Taking in the words, 106 gives a slight nod of acknowledgement with little to say. Even if he held an intrigue in talking, the bulletproof glass in front of him always threw him off.

He slid into the heli, closing it behind him.

“Director, 106 is onboard. Moving to Rally site.” Raven confirms,

Helicopter blades were slicing through the air, loud whirring, lifting off the ground. The gray sky mirrored the path, the gentle drizzle of the sky padding against the helicopter. Weightless, infinite, in the air with Raven. Gazing out the helicopter window, he saw the island base shrink below, a green smudge fading into the endless blue expanse of the ocean, the rhythmic chop of the helicopter blades a constant hum in his ears. Slowly moving away as he moves on to his next location.

“Cozy up, ‘it’s gonna’ be a long flight,” his pilot speaks, stating the obvious. Long flights, again. Sometimes the heli was accompanied by other squads on point to the same rally, but this time it was him and Raven. Just him and Raven.

[ CH1 END ]

Chapter Text

As a pilot, he has been training to fly for a long time. A rookie is what he was called nonetheless, and he could not say it was not an accurate name. He was the newest pilot on the TF27. Younger than the rest, but that hindered absolutely nothing with skill. 106 was well, an interesting aspect of his life. Ever since he joined the Task Force under the Syndicate he has been seeing some,,, uh - unique things. The Director told him not to ask questions , and damn did he listen. But, of all the things , all the weird specimen, conversations ,intel, sights, 106 seemed to be the weirdest.

The mute slipped into his helicopter, and after alerting the comms he let his eyes linger for a moment. He was wearing a black uniform, his usual mask, and the red goggles as usual. Flipping the switches and moving the helicopter swiftly now, his eyes were on the sky. Not the cloudy man in the backseat. With his easygoing manner, he’d talk to anyone, a testament to his genuinely friendly nature. He minded his own affairs, but the vast expanse of the sky, and the mysteries it held, always captivated him. Getting to know what made people tick, what made them move like the clouds, made them relocate as birds migrate in the spring, made them happy, made them survive was a loving pursuit for him. He would be lying if he said the mystery of 106 did not absolutely encapsulate him.

The sky was moving, it was raining. Dark, unhappy skies that have changed into a quiet sad drip - drop. Nothing heavy or dangerous, just dewy sky. A strangely serene day it was, it would be comforting if 106 was not on the way to whatever hellhole Horizon has created.

“.. Six ” Raven addresses, eyes still on the sky.

106 was snapped out of the haze he was in now, as he was zoned out and absolutely somewhere else. His head turns to Raven, but he knows Raven could not see as his eyes were on the mourning sky. He let out a hum of question, slightly bothered by the random calling.

“The sky is pretty like this, huh?. “

The mute never really took the time to look out, he realized. He peers out, letting his eyes observe the raindrops. Being so high up, above the sky, and everything so below. Fish were likely swimming below, in schools, together. Moving to their purpose, some being hunted. Others the hunted. Sharks chasing the lower animals at the very same moment the helicopter chases the rally point. His eyes stay on the muddy clouds, and he finds himself agreeing silently.

He opens his mouth to say something, “I- “

“Raven,” The director greets passively,

“Watch out for the ANTIAIR when reaching the point. Scans are detecting some heavy machinery that way,” she smoothly informs. Interrupting 106 abruptly. Tough luck, he supposed.

“Yes ma’am, keeping watch.”

“The island is just off of your current location, give them a message with this one.”

“They sure wont be expecting this one,” Sparrow spoke with a southern drawl, Raven chuckled. The comms cut out soon after, reverting to idle static. Nothing but static, shssssssssssh buzzing in their ears.

“Comms out,’ Raven sighed, focus now fully back on the sky.

Smooth flying. The island coming into view, it was far - but the shadow was now presenting itself. Ocean under them, sky above them, and island ahead of them. Steady winds whirring, blades slicing through the air, smooth movements.

Until it wasn’t. Shaking. Turbulence, something was wrong that was not anti air. The helicopter shook, loosing stability, 106 clutched what he could. Raven was struggling,

,”Shit! Engines busted! We’ are going down, brace!A sharp cry from Raven sliced through the air, a warning to 106, who immediately prepared for the violent collision. Raven gripped the wheel, his knuckles white, as he guided the boat away from the menacing, dark water, the smell of brine filling the air. Drowned animals in the water before even seeing their meal. The helicopter teetered, smashed violently to the right, its rotors screeching, before somehow landing in one piece on the rugged, rocky mountainside. Scratches marred the aircraft’s body, testament to its brush with the trees, yet it remained intact. They were fine; 106 unfurled himself in a daze, confused by his lack of injury, while Raven stared in stunned silence.

106, deployed moments after the crash, scrambled away from the wreckage, leaving Raven to fend for himself amidst the chaos and debris. Well, the comms system was unusable. He had to fix this himself, that was definitively not very fun.

Either way, he realized the Horizon line, water sprinkling and glittering below, birds chirping, and set it the scene set. He sighed and took to maintenance, but took the mind to enjoy the surrounding land.

—

Sliding out of the massacred base was a tough task when there was a fiery inferno behind him. Speeding out, grasping a door and jolting his body through a smaller vent completely discarding anything preventing him from going straight through - 106 was making his escape. Ignoring all the scrapes building on his body, well not ignoring, he did not even notice that. His hands were shaky with adrenaline as he was discarded into the bushes from the slide. Leaves scratched at him, but he did not care. Walking slower now, he glances around for the area of the helicopter. He would have to scavenge around as he was opposite the mountain of landing now.

That was not a bother whatsoever. The smoke got heavier as he climbs rocks, fingers grasping into small nooks and crannies as his body made its way up. Pulling himself over the top he got a view of both the helicopter and Raven, Raven was sitting looking at the sunset. He was taking a break.

He loved the sky, such a beautiful anomaly. Like another universe except it was reachable. He felt if he flew high enough, he could run his fingers through the clouds and they would welcome him. Pure wonder is what settled him here, and it still was pushing. Glancing up at the sky he questions how anyone could not love it. After enough time, he turns around and continuous his work. The engine was almost fixed, he just needed to fix up some wires. They were jumbled and knotted.

Moving across the lush forest was easy. Sliding under branches, crouching around bushes, climbing trees, all movement he was accustomed to somehow. As if it was some prime instinct inside of him, he slid under a rock, feeling the patchy ground under him, and made it to an area that would allow him to the helicopter’s area. His Scarlett stained gloves found the leaves and they opened their arms to him. The ground crunched as he stepped through.

Raven tilts his head toward him, leaning to the side a tad, and offering a friendly smile. His mask was off, it was far too hot and therefore he discarded it. The smile makes 106 pause a minute, but he strides toward the man, nonetheless.

“Six, can you hold this? For a splliiiit second, just need to set these two up..” Raven questions , referring to the wires. Six follows without a thought, finding himself brushing what grime he could off his gloves and holding the wires for him.

Raven’s brow was scrunched in thought, little crow feet by his eyes, his eyes looking down at the engine. Hands gently brushing through wires and reconnecting what was meant to be, disconnecting what wasn’t.

“So beautiful, the sky. The rain makes it all dewy, like a little pattern.” He spoke as his hands worked, continuing almost gracefully, practised ease. Damn, how much did this guy wreck.?

106 humms in response, letting him know he was listening. No objective in mind now, so listening was second up.

…

“aaaand, got it!” Raven speaks with a pleased voice. Almost like he was surprised, but 106 knew he wasn’t. Looking at him waiting for him to go on until - footsteps.

North. Near them, scrunching of leaves. Something was there, 106 instantly was on alert. Ready to discard whatever was threatening them, and he took to slow movements. He cloaked, slipping into the trees. He slowly crept to the area where the broken branch was held.

The small brown twig, crushed on the ground. Couldn’t say it was crushed in two, it was relatively intact. Whoever stepped on this did not do it fully, then he heard it behind him.

He swung around, hand on his firearm, to be met with a squirrel.

The small creature looked at him utterly confused before scurrying away. He mentally facepalmed.

He quickly strode back to Raven and nodded no confirming it was nothing of importance. Raven snickered, god , a damn squirrel. He was leaning against the front of the heli, looking up at the sky. Six could tell because instead of looking at him, his eyes were up.

... a fuckin' squirrel. really?

“Your back in time for the sunset, come ‘ere.”

106 hesitated, sightseeing? That wasn’t, that wasn’t mission material, was it? He followed anyway, finding no other things to do. He stood by Raven and followed his eyes to the setting sun.
It was weirdly calming in a way. Watching the big glowing orb slowly lower, as if it was patient, it knew it had time. it knew things would wait for it, and seems comfortable in it's duties. Raven crouched down to a sit, and he followed suit settling into the mushy green blades below him.

“Look at that one, looks like a bird,” Raven spoke and pointed to a cloud.

He looked up.
It did look like a bird.

Five shots fired through the cloud. Blaring through his ears, ringing.

[ CH2 END ]

Chapter Text

His eyes had immediately darted around, searching for the sight, but Raven had no reaction. The leaves had no rustle, and nothing was moved. It did not happen, and for some reason, he was now acutely aware he was so used to the loud the silence was suffocating until he looked up once again.

He looked at the leaving point of the sun, the numbers in his mind calculating silently. The colors reaching out to his eyes. Completion, the mission is over. The day is over. Ending in the same orange hues as the fire, he pursued in the base just behind them.
The smoke was mingling with the beauty, highlighting the colors and clouds. Making its own shape as the sky melts into dewy colors.

Momentarily pausing, everything came to a stop. His gaze drifted towards Raven, who was looking at him in an almost admiring sense, but 106 quickly avererted his eyes back to the sky, focusing on the calm above. For a leaving moment, the syndicate didn’t matter. No other objectives, just him, Raven, and the vastness of the sky.

Him, Raven and the sky. Birds flew by, their arrow-shaped formation piercing the air, and he silently captured the image to his memory, sealing it in place. A snapshot of his own.

“You know, it’s why I started flying,”
Six looked absolutely puzzled, prompting Raven to explain further as he tilted his head slightly,

“Professors thought it was silly to want to fly just to see sunsets,” Raven chuckles lightly before going on, “So I joined the task force. Helping people and being up in the air makes me pretty happy.”

He smiled at the sky.
“.. I don’t think I can ask for anything more than that.”
Silence returned after that. They both were watching the sun disappear into the night together, nothing more.

The crickets were the only other sound excluded from their breathing. Steady in and out. A gentle breeze was settling for Raven, pushing his wavy hair back. Soft sunlight illuminated his face, allowing 106 to notice his eyes glancing at a patchy area concealed by trees. 106 follows his gaze and sees nothing, but clearly the other man sees something worthy of his attention, Raven seems to brighten up even more somehow, an idea grazing his calm mind.

Raven suddenly stood up, and of course 106 began to follow. He was stopped by a shake of the head, “Wait," his pilot spoke, and he found himself listening.

Soon after, he returns with a small delicate flower in his hand. Confusion sparks the mutes face once again, and he almost recoils back when the wavy-haired man crouches down by him. He held back despite his instincts screaming to get away from the proximity, and felt as gentle hands placed a deep maroon flower in his own rugged hands masked by gloves,

He held up the delicate thing, right where the sun would be during the day. Deep greens mixed with dark red, and he found himself wanting to keep the small thing forever. Maroon not encased by organs, maroon created naturally , maroon where it should be, and not splattered on a wall or on the ground.

He slipped off his mask and smiled at Raven.

Chapter Text

Fire, everything was on fire. The base was in bits, his hand was gone. No, not his hand. The entirety of his lower right arm was gone, sliced off clean. He had crawled out of the blown base, almost crushed under its walls. He was slowly coming back to consciousness, and the black in his sight slowly faded into simple dizziness. Moving around made it blurry, and with a jolt of pain, he sat up.

Fragments of stone walls hung in the water, floating idly. The scent of smoke hung heavy in the air, a biting fragrance. He inhaled deeply, the scent of burning wood thick in the air, a final, self-made offering before what he would assume to be a long stretch without fire.

The destruction was everywhere, the base was hiding, and he knew he was on the edge of the coast. Infernos were around him, deep orange, both in the fire and in the air. Sparks fluttered around him, mirroring fireflies. The smoke was heavy and hot against his face, but his sight finally cleared enough to fully see.

The sun was rising.

Over all the destruction, the bright beams of light reflected off of metal floating about. Bounced off of what it could light up the area, and seemed to dull the fire. Flowers now in eyeshot.

Deep red flowers. Everywhere, all around him. They were still alive. The scarlet seems to be thriving somehow, the vines of the flowers thick and green. The stems stood tall, and the redbuds faced the sun completely. He was in a flower patch of red and the sun was on him. Glowing heat, petaled flowers, and the yellow orb in the sky...

He slipped off his torn mask with his remaining hand and felt the breeze on his face as it all turned black.