The Blood Queen

Let Me Love You

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as you flew through the air, your abdomen slamming into the rounded edge of the platform with a force that knocked the wind from your lungs. You kicked your legs, trying to find purchase somewhere, anywhere, but they flailed in the open air beneath you. The pull of the artificial gravity beckoned you downwards, into the endless darkness of the chasm beneath. You felt yourself sliding, sharp pains cutting into your wrists as you pulled against the binders, trying to grab ahold of the platform.

Not like this, You thought, the tendons in your neck sticking out as you strained to keep yourself upright. Not after everything. Vicrul and Poe scrambled forward, reaching for you, but you felt only the soft tickle of the pads of Vicrul's fingers before you slipped off the edge. You squeezed your eyes shut, hoping your death would be instant. Being crushed by the weight of space seemed an unfortunate way to go.

Your entire body lurched, a crack as your shoulder popped out of its socket.

"I've got her!" Poe screeched, grunting as he struggled to keep you in his grip. You let out the breath that had your lungs burning, tears prickling at your eyes behind the mask. "I've got you." He whispered, pulling you up and over the edge. You landed on top of him, his arms wrapping around you so tightly you felt you were sucking your air in through a straw. "I've got you," He whispered into your hair, and then Vicrul pulled you up out of Poe's grasp, tossing you over his shoulder and jogging up the ramp. The prisoners had started attempting the jump, screams echoing as many plunged down into the dark. Few were successful, but one or two began pulling themselves up onto the platform. The ramp was very nearly breached, but Vicrul threw you down and sprinted into the cockpit, and before the it had even locked, you were shooting upward. You said Vicrul's name softly, and he looked up at you, golden eyes blazing, and you braced yourself as the ship made a sharp 180. With an infinitesimal twitch of his jaw, he fired a shot at the control tower. You were already flying forward before you heard the explosion, a small wave of turbulence rocking your smooth getaway.

You finally exhaled moment you exited the atmosphere, Vicrul turned to face you and Poe, standing silently at the back of the cockpit. Vicrul was fuming; his furious energy took up the entire space and made it hard to take a deep breath .

"What the fuck happened?" There was a lurch as you entered light speed. Vicrul came to you, flipping you around with one hand and grabbing the binders. He pried them apart with ease, freeing your hands. You turned back to face him, rubbing your raw wrists, trails of dried blood running down your forearms. You wanted to take off your mask, to look him in the eyes and touch his face, to tell him that everything was fine.

"Tell me what you found first." Poe demanded, earning him a look so feral from Vicrul that goosebumps peppered your arms. "Don't forget what this was all for in the first place." Narrowing his eyes, Vicrul stepped forward, centimeters from Poe, and the latter looked up with a cocky smirk.

"Vicrul," You warned, putting your hands on your hips and wincing when your shoulder twinged with pain.

"I'll tell you what I've found out when I damn well feel like it." Poe swallowed, though the discomfort was not entirely negative; you knew the feeling. "You don't get to order me around."

"There's no need to measure cocks. Tell the man if Lor San Tekka is on Jakku." You commanded, stepping forward and putting a hand on Vicrul's bicep. He exhaled, stepping back, out of your touch.

"He is." Poe's eyes sparkled. "I have coordinates on this drive." Vicrul dropped a small black rectangle into Poe's open palm.

"As soon as I get back to my ship, I'll have the second half of your payment sent to your accounts." He pocketed the drive, turning and shooting you a wink. You rolled your eyes under the mask, rubbing your dislocated shoulder with a soft moan.