What's In It For You?

Chapter 2

He was getting worse every day.

Emerald could tell, far too easily, that he was cracking, breaking apart and doing his best to hide it.  He never said anything, never complained that his legs were providing a problem for moving, that they couldn't hold much of his weight anymore, that he was becoming weaker.

He was not born to be weak.

Mercury took shaking steps, his legs resisting to the pressure and the endless use, his body unstable.  Cinder walked further in front of them, Emerald would usually be right behind her, but she was drawn to the back where Mercury was drawing up the back.

He looked pitiful.  Emerald knew he was aware of how terrible he looked, it's why he never said anything.  Why he bit back groans and cries of pain, why he was built to be a machine, he wasn't born to be in pain.  He was born to dish it out.

Mercury let out a short breath through his nose, his face contorted in pain as he took another step forward, one foot in front of the other.  Emerald watched out of the corner of her eye, he was trying so hard to keep going.

Then he stumbled.

He didn't say anything, didn't even emit a noise other than a gasp of surprise, before reaching his hands out and bracing for the fall.

His hip collided with the ground, his legs screaming in a wretched pain that twisted Mercury's expression in a tight wince.  Emerald reached her hands forward, her attempt to catch him a bit late.  Mercury turned his back to her, refusing to let her see just how much pain he was in.

"Are you-"

"I'm fine."  Mercury growled, his voice strained and threatening to break.  Emerald brought her hands back to her chest, her expression losing it's usual hard edge, compassion etching it's way onto her face.

When did she care about anyone other than herself?  When did she feel pain for anyone?

Why does seeing him on the ground, clearly in pain hurt her?

Why has she become weak?

Mercury huffed out a breath, his hands were shaking on the ground and his legs were motionless.  He pushed himself further on his hands and began to try to stand upright.  His leg shook, unable to bear the weight any longer.

Mercury whispered quietly, forgotten words and unheard pleas, as he grabbed his leg and pushed it up in front of him.  The sound of clicking heels on dirt roamed the open area they were travelling through.

"What happened?"  Cinder asked, her tone bearing no worry or kindness.  Emerald looked down at Mercury for a moment, unsure of telling her what she'd been thinking since they picked him up.

"Nothing.  I just tripped."  Mercury said, a bite of frustration ripping at their throats, resisting the pity and burying the truth.

"Tripped?  You fell.  You've been looking worse for days now."  Emerald interrupted, her tone disbelieving as she looked over at Mercury, eyebrows bowed.  Mercury snapped his head towards her, his dark grey eyes tearing her apart for being honest.  Cinder rose an eyebrow, intrigued by the conversation.

"Since when do you care?  I'm fine."  Mercury snarled, his teeth baring dangerously, his eyes glinting with a threatening spark that Emerald resisted shrinking back from.

That expression was probably the last thing Marcus saw.

"You're fine?  Then get up.  Right now."  Emerald challenged as she gestured to Mercury's limp legs.  Mercury turned his head away and took a deep breath.