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The mission had been going well. A simple anomaly elimination at a remnant Horizon facility. Something biological that interacted with computers; DNA as code and vice versa. Pretty standard for Horizon’s experimental tech, but it had grown out of control since the facility fell into remnant hands; presumably, the people who actually understood and knew how to cull it had left when Horizon fell apart.
The goal was simple: Locate and destroy. Eliminate the anomaly and any hostiles within the premises. Don’t bomb it because apparently some people wanted to sweep it for technological research.
(No, Raven isn’t salty about it. No, he isn’t worried someone will try to use the biology and make a repeat. Yes, he understands they need any advantage they can get right now. No, he isn’t half tempted to burn it all himself. Of course not.)
It was 106’s first mission since being rearmed and only Raven’s second since bringing him into the fold. Of course, Raven was mostly just air support on the first one, but today was different.
They wanted Raven on the ground. More specifically, they wanted him on the ground, as Six’s handler.
(As if that was ever going to work. Though, they didn’t seem to have a great amount of faith in the idea, either. Appearances, probably.)
Still, it was a rush of fresh air just stepping out of the helo. Not one of relief—the skies, as the movies say, were his first love—but of anticipation. Seven players on the field, and Raven was one of them. It's new, but he knows his way around guns. Had to.
0-1 pinged for an acknowledgement of mission objective. With a tap to the comm-unit on the helmet, Raven signaled back, alongside the other 5. Six (officially, now 0-6) took a few more moments, fidgeting with his weapon before tapping the device clipped to a pocket on his vest. Not quite a comm-unit, as it couldn’t take in vocals, but it would translate then transmit code.
(Raven remembers helping teach Six morse code and what bits of ASL he knew, to and after missions. It isn’t quite odd to think that’s now Six’s main form of communication, but it… rings something in him.)
Of course, then it was time for the mission proper:
Where Raven got his leg shot out from beneath him near the tail-end of a firefight.
There was a brief moment he cursed the stray gunfire as the pain kicked in before hitting the ground, hard on his forearms. Through his gritted teeth and deliberate breaths, he heard a cut-off scream and a wet crashing sound, closely followed by two shotgun blasts and the start of another scream.
There’s a few moments between Six appearing at Raven’s side with the firefight over and the screams being silenced by gunshots from a pistol distinctly not being used by Six at the moment.
(Really didn’t go for the finishing shot himself?)
The thought fades with gloved hands hovering over his shoulder, a familiar presence lowered to the ground. Six still doesn’t try to touch him, despite the clear worry.
(Right. Leg injury.)
“I’m- I’ll be alright,” Raven grits out, trying and failing to get up, even with Six offering to support his weight. His leg gives out under him again, and suddenly Raven isn’t on his feet anymore. The abrupt movement swoops in his stomach. It takes him a moment to process that Six now has him in a bridal carry.
“Uh.” He blinks a few times (How articulate.) before getting his wits back. “Six, you don’t have to-”
The Subject gives a light, barely audible growl. Maybe more of a grunt. He’s not really moving, mostly just staring at Raven. Only the slight head tilts show that he’s looking for any other injuries.
The other five stand there, watching, in what Raven can only assume is stunned silence. He sighs through the pain in his leg and waves them off, as if they need permission. They really just look between each other before returning to sweeping the room. Except for 0-2, who warily approaches, though Six shifts Raven away in a distinct fuck off motion.
It takes a moment more to recover from the shock of being swept up, but Raven settles into the idea. Especially since it meant he didn’t have to put weight on his injury. “Six, it’s fine,” he sighs, tapping on its shoulder. “Two has the bandages.”
Six visibly slumps somewhat at that, turning its head back to him a bit dissatisfied. It shifts from foot to foot some, a motion that just barely doesn’t grate on his injury. Maybe Raven shouldn’t find it adorable, but it seems a bit late for that.
0-2 approaches again. Six doesn’t move away this time, allowing the motion, and 0-2 relaxes some. Through the headgear, Raven can’t see his expression, but 0-2’s body language speaks plenty as he pulls the medical supplies from where it's clipped to his side. Tense and uncomfortable.
(Whatever.)
Six holds still as Raven half-heartedly lifts his injured leg. 0-2 has to cut away some fabric to apply a cleaning agent to the wound and Raven hisses as it's poured on, grip tightening on the back of Six’s collar. There’s a brief moment Six tenses, in response to his hiss, and 0-2 freezes.
It would be funny how their reactions bounce off one another, if Raven weren’t stuck between the two.