Fleetway's Torment

Haunted

(Nobody pov:) Zero seems himself in a void. In the void, he sees his squad and Rook.

'Rook?' Zero says as his eyes first drift to him before looking at his squad. 'Ix? Avi? Reno? Mag? Vi?' Zero's remains looking at his 5 squad members, hoping at least one would reply.  They only stood with an empty expression on their faces. A cold reminder for Zero of what he'd lost.

Zero looked down at his hands, trembling. Everything he'd lost was because of hedgehog's..yet there was a single hedgehog who honestly seemed to care...unless he lied.

'Why didn't you save us?' Zero's thoughts were cut off as he heard a familiar voice say.
'Ix, I tried-'
'You couldn't save anyone.' Zero saw Avi say. Soon enough...
'Weak!'
'Fool!'
'Worthless!'
'We needed you!'
'You couldn't beat a hedgehog!'
'Strongest Mercenary my ass!'

His squad kept shouting. "Why? Why was this happening? Why me?" These thoughts ran through the jackal's brain. He'd tried so hard..for nothing.

The phantom ruby began to glow brighter and brighter, getting louder and louder untill Zero screamed.

'I TRIED!' and a red effect falls over his squad as they disappear.

A single tear fell from his eyes as he looked down at the void to try to calm himself yet feeling no relief at all.

He looked up at Rook. Unlike the others, he only stood there. Not saying a single word. Zero would close his eyes yet  when opened, he would see Rook infront of him, closer than before.

'Rook?' The wolf infront of him was silent yet he was smiling. Why was he smiling? The "copy" of Rook hugged Zero tightly and soon enough, Zero began to cry. His tears falling on the "fake" wolf's fur.

'I'm weak..Rook...I'm nothing.' Rook shakes his head at Zero.

'You are someone to die for, Zero.'
The words shook Zero. Rook had finally spoke and he didn't seem mad at Zero.

'You shouldn't have to protect me. I protect you-' Zero was silenced when the wolf put a finger on his lips. 'I wanted to.'

Zero couldn't understand any of it. The wolf was dead yet felt alive. He didn't hate his guts. He...cared?

'This is going to be odd to say but... wake up.'
'Wake up?'
'Yea just...wake up.'

Zero found what Rook said very odd yet tried to wake up by pinching himself hard in the arm while he had his claws out.

While painful, it worked.

Infront of Zero, Rook stood.
'You...aren't a hallucination?'
'I promise.'
'You..Mephiles..he killed you?'
'Zero.. I'm here.' Rook hugged Zero tight and Zero soon did the same.

Unaware to Zero, red cubes circled the wolf and himself. The Phantom Ruby's doing.

Meanwhile, Fleetway and Exe were travelling around a bloody forest. A large beast had surrounded them both but for a moment, the creature's growls and roars sounded almost.. like talking untill Exe had plunged his arm into their chest and yanked their heart out which caused them to collapse.

Fleetway felt indifferent. This beast had attacked him yet they were the ones who went to its home. Was this just?

'We should head back to the Sanctum.'
'Okay...' Fleetway's tone was clear from how he spoke. Exe took note of it for a moment and turned to look at him. 'They deserved it Fleetway. The amount of innocent critters that beast had killed were more than regular-'
'Then why didn't you kill it before?'

For a moment there was a pause. Fleetway had managed to catch him off guard. Fleetway looked at Exe with an expectant look.

'I had thought of taming it... though it was too feral to listen so...I let it go.'

Fleetway sighed though was surprised when Exe had picked him up in an almost romantic way.

And as expected... Exe pressed his lips to Fleetway's. Fleetway's mood lightens from the action.

'Better dear?'
'Yeah...'

Fleetway was clearly embarrased though Exe enjoyed that so he continued to hold him. Creating a portal, he walks into it and the familiar walls are the first sight they have of the sanctum.

'You should rest Fleetway.'
'I don't want to-'
'Please.. it would comfort me to know you are safe and healthy.'

Exe began to walk towards the bedroom and he places Fleetway on the bed.

'Well alright... but.. be there when I wake up.'
'I promise.'

Exe patted Fleetway's head softly before smiling and walking out the room. Fleetway's mind was too awake to even sleep but he decided he'd act if it comforted Exe.

Exe left the sanctum by teleporting. He overlooked the hospital when he saw Mephiles and Scourge having an argument outside.

'Mephiles, Silver is in safe fucking hands man! Just because he was hurt doesn't mean you have to have a fucking mood!'
'I'm not having this right now... I can't..'
'Why? Cause you're feeling bad about Infinite? Good!'

Mephiles tried to walk off yet Scourge grabbed him and pulled him back.

'Why can't you try and understand?'
'I felt like I was getting somewhere with Infinite. He was listening to me and he could of been an ally for us... but you turned that idea to shit.'
'Scourge-'
'Try and act like you give a fuck Mephiles. Seriously fucking try.'
'I do care-'
'Bullshit-'
'I do! For fuck sake! I do' Tears swelled in Mephiles' eyes. Scourge's eyes widened once he realized.

'Why have you only ever let him explain himself? Not me. Not Silver. Only him?'
'Because...When I look at him, I see me...'

Scourge would let go of Mephiles.

'I'm sorry. I... I know you probably don't believe that right now but.. I am.' Mephiles was silent after hearing Scourge. This just made Scourge feel worse.

'I'm leaving..' Was the last thing Scourge heard before seeing Mephiles vanish.

Scourge sighed and as he was about to enter the hospital, he saw piercing red eyes in the reflection of the glass. Scourge turned around but found nothing.

'I'm losing it...' Scourge would then enter the hospital once again.

There was a grin on Exe's face after witnessing the argument. He had a plan.

End

(I apologize to Zero, Scourge and Mephiles.  Though I partially apologize to Fleet for being in love with Exe.)