Work Text:
NF 112.08.19
The first quarter moon shines over DisCity. Despite it being nearly midnight and the tense day ahead of her, Chief cannot seem to rest. She checks on Hecate and Hella for the fourth time that night (they both lie peacefully, tucked in bed). After all, there is nothing else to be done. The only thing she can do is wait.
As she makes her way outside, she finds a crumbling staircase that leads up to the dilapidated roof top. While the FAC insisted that she came back to the MBCC or at the very least an FAC shelter for the night, Chief declined those options. She knew what the top brass wants; they want her away from the Wolf of the Syndicate's influence.
Sitting down on some boxes left over from the Legion's success party over the Crypt, Chief can only stare at the night sky. The moon has gone from its full brightness to just about half. Exhaustion seeped into her muscles from the fighting and now her body needs rest despite her mind trying to hinder that very endeavor.
"Didn't think you would be still awake."
Chief nearly falls over at the sound of the voice behind her. In a quick stride, Zoya catches Chief's arm before she can fall off the box.
"Careful now, wouldn't want to be more in debt to the Legion."
While she hasn't known Zoya for a long time, she can hear the small smile on her face. Chief steadies herself and looks at the hand holding her up. After making sure she isn't going to pass out, Zoya lets her go.
"Can't seem to fall asleep, little Chief? Tell me what's on your mind?" the fury Sinner states as she pulls a box next to her own. She sits down and looks up at the sky. At first Chief isn't sure what to say in the moment. There is so many worries flowing through her brain that she can't pick out one of them.
Chief looks at the woman sitting next to her. The half moon still provides enough brightness so that she can see her features under the night sky. The bags under Zoya's own eyes are only partly hidden from the light.
"I could say the same to you too, shouldn't you be getting rest? The negotiations are tomorrow," Chief questions. A small chuckles comes from Zoya's lips.
"You don't need to worry about those, I have it all planned out," she replies, tone confident. Not in a cocky way, but a 'I know how this will play out' tone.
"And if it doesn't go according to plan," Chief says challenging Zoya, "just because the Crypt went well doesn't mean everything will."
Zoya sighs internally. Not at Chief's questioning, but her own bubbling worries that start to float to the surface. Worries she cannot afford. She scoots closer to Chief, closing the distance between them.
"If something does go wrong, then I'll push through like I have always done. Syndicate is counting on me to."
That sounded certain to her own ears at the very least. And there is truth to her words. Nothing has stopped Zoya in the past and a few bureaucrats are hardly the worst enemy she has fought. Still, the worry in Chief's eyes doesn't fully leave.
"With you backing the Legion, things are bound to go a lot smoother than me going alone"
Zoya turns to look down from the stars and at Chief. She meets Chief's gray eyes with her glowing blue ones. Chief hadn't realized how tightly she'd been sitting until her shoulders finally relaxed. The exhaustion catches up and she almost falls over again.
Luckily, Zoya is right next to her and Chief uses her shoulder as a pillow. Nothing but adoration fills Zoya's eyes as she lets out a small laugh.
"Get some sleep, I'll watch over the both of us."
The last thing Chief feels is a kiss pressed to her forehead before she slips into a peaceful oblivion.
NF 112.08.20
Pain. Chief can only feel pain. Her shackles cut jagged lines of flesh into her arm. Red light scarring every inch of her mind and her very soul. She can't think of anything else. Where is she again?
She hears one of her daughters voice first. Hecate calling her name out in concern. She sees Zoya's body fall onto the pavement. It no longer matters where she is, all that matters is that Zoya's body crumpled to the ground.
Chief reaches with all her strength; which is none. Her body won't move. It needs to move.
The sound of light foot steps and sword slashes clue her that someone or something else is coming. A gasp of concern comes from Hecate. It must be someone she knows then. Finally, the figure steps forward.
She thinks the person is wearing a…bikini? A purple string bra at the very least. Her brain can't put together the pieces right now. Who is this person? Why are they—? The stranger's words are muffled and muddled as pain shoots through her.
"Good work, Second-in-command…"
The stranger must be here for Zoya. There are a lot of people who know the Legion leader. There are even more who want to see her dead. Either way, they're here to take her Zoya away from her.
"Don't…go…"
Chief can't form any more words in her mouth. Her tongue feels heavy. The Corpseborne had taken everything from her during their last encounter. Still, she needs to see Zoya. To talk with her. To hear her laugh under the night sky again. To say something, anything at all.
Chief pushes up with her thin arms. Blood drips from where the shackles cut through her as well as the corrupters who stood in her way. She can't feel her legs push herself up, but the woman holding Zoya looks surprised.
Zoya is in rough shape. Cuts and bruises litter the Legion Sinner's body. She needs someone to help her. Chief takes one step forward, hears a crack in her knee and falls face forward, kissing the concrete.
NF 113.07.10
Chaos has descended DisCity. Chief is missing and her bound Sinners have been fighting mania corruption. The situation has only gotten worse as BR-002 looms over the Syndicate. The drifter camp has been overrun by corruptors and people are left to fend for themselves. This wasn't the future Zoya had in mind.
When she was with the Legion, she fought for a better future with relentless violence. That same violence that led her to mindlessly attacking Chief in Keylan Square. Violence is all that she is good for and isn't needed right now. Chief had taken the torch from her and was leading Syndicate to a brighter future.
Now, that light is dimming. Chief is still alive, she can feel her barely holding on. Zoya follows the tug and pull of shackles beneath the Drifter Camp to the Romanesque Monument. The Sinners who were supposed to be watching over her were easy to slip by. After all, it's hard to bear so much mania corruption and be fully functional. Zoya is used to it however.
If Chief saw her now, she would be shocked. Heavy mania corruption has taken over her left side, rendering her almost like a half Corpseborne. She can only imagine how she would fuss over her and how she would have to reassure her that she is fine. It pains Zoya to think that Chief would never see her again.
As she reaches the oak casket at the bottom, she finally sees Chief. The coma has made her already frail body painful thin. Pale skin is stretched over bones, but her expression is what makes her stop. The last time she saw Chief's sleeping form was back before everything went wrong. Chief had slept peacefully on her shoulder before she carefully carried her to her bed and tucked her in.
The Chief laying down before her has that same painfully peaceful expression. It hurts Zoya to see it. Not because she hates Chief (rather the opposite), but how that peacefulness will probably never grace her face again after she wakes up. She knows that there are plans for Chief, plans that she can't stop if she stands with her.
Violence hasn't been the best solution and that's all she believes she can do. Chief doesn't need that, it would only chase away those who come towards her light. The soft guiding moonlight doesn't need more of the night sky, it needs stars to dazzle next to it. And Zoya is no star.
While she can't fully stand next to Chief, she can still chase away those dark clouds that would block out the glow of the night sky. She can be the violent breeze that howls the clouds away, so that others can join her in the space above. Zoya crouches down next to Chief's sleeping figure. She wishes she could watch her all night, but she has things to do.
Zoya blows Chief a kiss. It's the only thing she can do to comfort her. The unconscious body before doesn't stir. She can only hope that deep down Chief knows she is here for her. Even at a distance. Standing up tall, she slowly makes her way out of the monument. She has a job to do after all, even if it hurts both of them.
NF 115.07.26
Chief stiffly moves in the middle of the dance floor. This is the fourth time she has stepped on Catherine's toes. Not that her dance partner has minded one bit, the ever so present smile hasn't faltered once. It's hard to tell what the General is plotting, or what anyone is thinking. The stress from the looming war and the mania connection is clouding Chief's mind.
She makes another misstep. Perishing star above, she can't think straight right now. She wishes for a simpler time. Back before all of these political theatrics, when her enemy was just a corruptor that could be punched. Maybe Zoya was on to something, she wishes to the stars that she could just violently tear her way through the Outlands and rescue her daughter.
Once again, the thoughts of the past Legion leader surface. The former Legion commander having occupied her thoughts more and more recently. At first, she thought it was due to Hella's letter mentioning her traveling with the current leader - Horo. Now though, these thoughts of violence have begun to resonate more and more with a certain fury Sinner's beliefs.
She misses Zoya. She misses the comforting warmth and confidence. How did Zoya make leading look so easy? She misses how she so easily reassured that everything would turn out alright, no matter how untrue it is.
She wishes she could go back in time. If only she had been more insistent to accompany her at the negotiations. If she didn't play the political games of FAC and trusted her heart. Maybe she could have stopped her from leaving her behind. She could have rescued Zoya earlier from all the pain of the Black Ring.
But now she's gone and in front of her is Catherine. Someone who has helped her like Zoya has. Except it feels different. Chief isn't sure what that different 'feeling' is. All that she knows is that she wants it to be Zoya dancing with her instead.
Another miscalculation with her footwork. Luckily for her, the music starts to slow. Despite all the noises in her head clamoring for attention, she is able to voice her own thoughts.
"But you seem like you want people to notice."
Chief is painfully aware of Catherine's desire to get closer to her. It is similar to why Zoya held her close. She knows she has a lot of leverage against those DisCity bureaucrats, now more than ever with her recent accomplishments. Not even just political strength reasons, but almost same back and forth banter.
Almost.
Despite the similarities in her relationship with Catherine she is acutely aware of the differences. Sure on the surface it looks the same, but she is certain that the DisCorps General has plans for her. Zoya did to, but she has a feeling that those were drastically different plans with other vested interests.
The first thing Chief realizes is the loosening grip around her hand.
The second thing puling Chief back to the present is the General's words, "…I don't need reluctant partners."
Fuck.
She fucked up.
She has to fix this. Quickly.
Hastily, Chief grabs Zoya's Catherine's hand and bring it to her lips. Catherine's eyes widen briefly. Oh how those blue eyes remind her of someone else she wants close to her.
She quickly takes the lead. She needs to salvage this. She needs Catherine's support.
As she leads Catherine through the song, her mind threatens to fog over again. And so she lets it.
Those blue eyes before her are so easily able to remind her of Zoya's. The way Catherine wraps a clawed hand around her waist; it feels all too similar to Zoya having guided her one last time to Keylan Square. It is so easy to imagine what could have been. If she had only asked on that rooftop beneath the moonlight— to ask Zoya to wrap her arms around her in comforting silence.
It is effortless to imagine dancing with Zoya.
The last time she truly felt close to her was when she was deeply asleep below the Drifter Camp. In her dreams, she had felt the tug of the shackles. She had felt Zoya close to her and yearning for her. Now on the other end is nothing but silence. She knows Zoya is still out there (she can feel it through the shackles she thinks). She hopes it isn't just her mind playing tricks on her.
The music begins to die down too quickly. Before it comes to a stop, she takes the moment to spin and dip Catherine below her. The sudden move left the woman before her breathless. As the song fades, she looks into Catherine's eyes, but feels nothing but longing for another woman.
Chief wants Zoya's help. However, right now she needs Catherine's assistance. She can play along a little longer if she has to. That way, her family can come home safely to be with her again.
NF 115.08.27
The shrill alarms blare through the MBCC. Chief is torn from her restless sleep. Bleary, she looks up from the desk in her office. Her eyes dart to the flashing comms device. Pressing the answer button, she hears the chatter of soldiers.
"Chief, the Sinner Rust has esca-"
The man on the other end doesn't even finish his sentence before she hangs up. She quickly flips through the cameras in hopes of finding him in the halls of the Bureau. Alas, the only record she can find is of him waving goodbye at the entrance.
Rage erupts through Chief. That was her lead. Her guide to understanding what is really going on with the Underground. And now that chance has slipped through her fingers.
She can't deal with this right now. Especially, Chief checks the clock on the wall, at 1:00am. Nightingale is going to chew her out later if she continues. Watching the information flood through the screen, she knows deep down there is nothing she can immediately do against a former 9th Agent spy. She'll have to gather clues in the morning.
Begrudgingly, Chief makes her way to her bedroom. As she flops down onto the bed, a crumpling noise hits her ears. Confused she finds a small piece of paper addressed to her. It's messy handwriting is foreign to her.
Chief of the MBCC,
I am sorry that I had to leave on such short notice. I can't let you have all the answers so easily. You were very fascinating to meet in person. No wonder you hold such a sway over the Legion leader.
P.S. You'll find a gift I left for you at Keylan Square.
— Rust
Was he mocking her? After their conversation in the interrogation room? Chief re-reads the note. At least she has a lead now. No time to waste searching for a hint, when one just wrote itself.
Taking one of the MBCC motorcycles, she speeds over to Keylan Square (she thanks Bai Yi and Angell for teaching her). She isn't sure what 'gift' Rust left her but then she feels it. That familiar tug from her dreams. Chief lets the shackles guide her hands.
Eventually she comes to a stop. The reconstruction has been progressing well, no longer is the ground torn to shreds or wrecked buildings the line the street. Instead, there is now paved roads and sidewalks. Construction has been slow due to the lingering mania, but progress is progress.
Chief hops of the bike and follows the pull of the shackles to one of the few remaining ruined buildings. She struggles a bit to make her way up to the roof top. As she pulls a near by box to prepare to hop through a hole in the ceiling, a familiar clawed hand reaches down to help.
"Been waiting for you, Chief of Minos," a hoarse, yet familiar voice greets her ears.
She grabs onto the hand, determined not to let go. Looking up, Chief sees what she hoped wasn't a dream. Zoya stared down back at her, smiling. The fury Sinner helped her up to the roof. She stumbled a bit but Zoya caught her, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her.
Her outfit wasn't the same as she last saw her, trading purples for reds and more skin being covered. Despite that, it is easy to see all of Zoya, the glow of a full moon highlighting ever trait she could remember three years ago. The same blue eyes, her silver claws, and most importantly that smile she has craved.
"This isn't a illusion," Chief questions out loud. A loud laugh emanates from the person in front of her.
"It would be a great illusion then, managing to get my tattoos correct," Zoya remarks. Chief's laughter causes warmth to bloom inside her chest.
Besides the tug in Chief's heart, she could feel the warmth radiating from Zoya. A cool night breeze causes her to shiver and lean into Zoya more. The wolf Sinner obliges and pulls her closer. Both are afraid that this reunion was just a trick of the light. They hold onto each other for awhile, staring at the moon above.
The taller woman looks down at the gray haired woman with nothing but adoration. The shorter woman has to blink a few times, her eyes adjusting from staring at the bright moon so long. Using both hands she pulls Zoya down, their faces almost touching. She pauses briefly, did Zoya miss her as bad as she did?
Sensing uncertainty from the shackle bearer, Zoya decides to take matters into her own hands. She closes the distance between them in one swift movement, kissing her Chief beneath the night sky. Their only witnesses tonight would be the moon and the glow of a thousands stars.