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He must be eradicated.
That is the order that Hyperlaser had been issued. Whether he agrees with the objective or not has never entered the equation—there is no room for morals in his line of work.
He had always been the quintessential soldier…adaptable, resilient, obedient. From the moment he spawned, the KORBLOX Administration has sculpted him into his role and steered him towards the military division.
Hyperlaser has never once questioned his superiors, and yet…
Tonight had been colder than most.
He is seldom affected by the weather. But on that fateful evening, it had been so frigid that the frost had even managed to bite through the thick material of his gloves.
The trees provided little refuge from the unrelenting wind…Hyperlaser makes a mental note to request for bulkier clothing come morning.
He was in the middle of patrolling when the distinctive crunch of snow underfoot interrupted his routine. At the foot of the mountain is a lone figure, staggering as if each step was agonizing.
His armored helmet grants him with advantages that other inpherials don’t have: not only is Hyperlaser equipped with night vision, but he also has incredibly enhanced hearing and visual acuity.
Lo and behold, Medkit is attempting to foolishly abscond the premises. Blackrock is heavily guarded and by no means an easy escape, especially in his severely injured state (and how he sticks out like a sore thumb against the white terrain with his obnoxiously teal horns).
Hyperlaser mechanically raises his gear and lines the barrel with the traitor’s head. Most, if not all, of his targets are unaware that they’re even being targeted by Hyperlaser in the first place.
He has no pride in that revelation—it is a mere fact that will be proven once again by Medkit.
The inpherial in question currently has his back turned to the mercenary. He is heavily favoring the left side of his body and his once well kept horns are jaggedly snapped.
It’s a wonder how he’s managed to survive this long; Hyperlaser can see that there is copious amounts of blood coating the left side of his face.
The physical damage Medkit has sustained are clear indicators of an altercation. Despite that his superiors withheld detailed information about the situation, Hyperlaser is able to surmise that Medkit failed to report job-related injuries and instead fled the scene.
Oh, well. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s time to put an end to his misery.
Hyperlaser readies to pull the trigger…and doesn’t. He watches as Medkit seems to understand that he’s at his wit’s end and slumps pathetically against a tree. The sight is enough to give Hyperlaser pause, for some reason.
The firm grip on Hyperlaser’s gear falters, and so does his resolve. He watches as Medkit struggles to breathe, chest rising and falling rapidly as he presses the palm of his hand to his wounded eye.
For the first time in his life, Hyperlaser doesn’t fulfill his duty and makes his presence known.
Initially, Medkit just sits there, blearily looking at Hyperlaser as if he doesn’t register that the mercenary is right in front of him. Then he jolts in realization and scrambles to point a revolver straight at Hyperlaser’s visor.
Somehow, Hyperlaser knows that he won’t shoot.
The world seems to come to a standstill. They stare at each other for a long while: Medkit with a terrified eye and a trembling hand on his gun, Hyperlaser with an unreadable expression (literally) and two steady hands on his gear.
Medkit is the first to break the uncomfortable silence. He swallows hard and tries to maintain a calm voice, but his body language betrays him. “Are you…are you here to kill me?”
Hyperlaser considers the question. Then he decides to answer honestly; he has no reason to lie to the medic.
“Yes. I’m ordered to eliminate all that leaves KORBLOX,” Hyperlaser says, and he quickly augments more to his statement when he sees Medkit tense up. “But I have no intention to.”
Medkit opens his mouth, works his jaw. After a beat or two, he closes his remaining eye and sighs affectedly. “I don’t understand why, but…I don’t have much time left anyway."
Hyperlaser tilts his head. Some individuals have too much time on their hands while Medkit is seemingly running out of it. He seeks to remedy that. “How can I help?”
Medkit hesitates, as if he were weighing the options (to either die with hubris or live with debt). Ultimately, he lowers his head in defeat and instructs Hyperlaser on how to use the bandages that he stashes in his gear.
It doesn’t take long with Medkit’s guidance. Hyperlaser rears back on his haunches to admire his handiwork…and blinks when he notices Medkit not-so-surreptitiously trying to quell his shuddering.
He watches as the medic curls in on himself and clutches at his abdomen in a rather sad attempt to keep himself warm. Although Hyperlaser is also cold, he feels compelled to help him.
Without hesitation, Hyperlaser shoulders off his overcoat and holds the article of clothing out for Medkit to take. At his puzzled look, he insists that Medkit needs it more than he does.
Medkit’s eye widens in shock, then softens considerably. He takes the offered coat and, as he draws the garment closed around himself, tells him he will never forget neither Hyperlaser nor his kind gesture.
The mercenary rises to his feet and simply tells Medkit to never speak of this day again.
—
He stops him whilst he is completing errands.
Hyperlaser would have paid him no mind if he were any other pedestrian. But alas, he is no ordinary inpherial; their paths have been intertwined ever since the day he decided to spare Medkit’s life.
Speaking of which, it’s been a lengthy period of time since he had last seen Medkit. He estimates it has been roughly three years, give or take.
Notably, Medkit looks quite healthy. Healed.
“It’s you,” Medkit breathes with awe, as if Hyperlaser were some mysterious, important figure that rarely appeared in public. Actually, that wasn’t too far from the truth.
Hyperlaser doesn’t verbally address him but acknowledges him with a curt nod. He bids him farewell and good luck on his future endeavors to signal that he can’t provide Medkit the time today.
At that, the corners of Medkit’s mouth tug downwards into a deep frown. The expression stops Hyperlaser in his tracks, and he finally pauses his brisk walk to properly face him. “Apologies. I’m currently on a mission.”
It’s not that Hyperlaser doesn’t wish to speak with him. His missions always have top priority…or at least he thought. He is the quintessential soldier, but not when it comes to Medkit apparently. He relents with, “However, I can afford a few minutes.”
“Thank you.” Medkit looks quite relieved. He fiddles with the handle of his gear in some semblance of a nervous habit while he ponders whether to say something or not. Then, he asks, “Could you lift your helmet? It won’t take long.”
Hyperlaser can’t begin to fathom Medkit’s odd request. No inpherial has ever seen beneath his helmet, save for his superiors. It was for his own safety and wellbeing to keep it on at all times (though, he is also aware that he is unsightly to his higher ups).
Like everything else, Hyperlaser indulges Medkit and obliges.
Medkit leans at a proximity close enough for the mercenary to count each individual eyelash. He waits for Hyperlaser to protest or push him away, but he doesn’t. With the unsaid permission, Medkit closes the distance between them and brushes his lips against his.
The contact is brief, fleeting. This feels quite sudden and admittedly out of the blue, but perhaps Medkit has thought about this ever since they departed. He did say that he’d never forget, after all.
Even if it’s been three years.
Hyperlaser thinks about his mission, what would happen after this, what that would make them…and he also thinks about how soft and sweet Medkit is. No longer cold, shivering, and full of adoration instead of fear.
There are so many questions and concerns flitting through the mercenary’s mind but…there’s no room for any of those questions in the space between their chests.
He slots a hand on the nape of Medkit’s neck and deepens the kiss, reveling in the gentle sound he receives.
Time and commands are the least of his worries when he has a more tempting medic in need of his attention.