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Fangs felt the shock flood over it like it had been thrown into the Arctic ocean. Its jaw went slack as it watched the shimmery midnight blue melt away, revealing a hidden secret underneath like a pearl in an oyster.
Only there was nothing of value to be gained by this uncovered secret.
There was only value lost.
Blood trickled from Vertigo’s nose, his lip busted. One shoulder looked dislocated, an unnatural bend to the joint. His chest heaved with ragged inhales, a wince indicating a broken or cracked rib.
The ex-marine fell to its knees next to him. Tears traced silent paths down its cheeks as it processed what it had just done.
It had killed its friend.
Shuffling forwards, Fangs wrapped shaking hands around Vertigo’s broken form. Blood spattered across its chest when its friend coughed, a wet hacking sound from damaged lungs.
“Vert… Vertigo…” It stammered, blue eyes full of horror. “No- What? What happened?”
Vertigo laughed weakly.
“You- wouldn’t believe me.” A rattle-like gasping inhale came from Vertigo, before he went limp in Fangs’s arms. It clutched Vertigo’s body tight in a hug, as if maybe, just maybe, the hug was strong enough, he would take another breath. His heart would beat.
Instead, he just slipped away like sand in an hourglass, leaving Fangs alone in an unforgiving desert.