Fleetway's Torment

Understanding

(Fleetway Pov:) I look at Scourge as he looks back at me.

'Are you okay?' He asks me.
'Yea. Why do you ask?'
'Well...after you found out that Exe was...the cause for most of our problems' I look away from Scourge and instead look at the floor as he continues. 'You passed out and I ..just wanna help you out if you need it.'

Help?

'Scourge, he lied okay? That person I loved was just an act so he could use me. Manipulate me. Maybe he just saw me as a tool or some mindless thing he could just control with love...'

Scourge is watching me and the more I talk, the closer I feel like i'll cry. Damnit emotions. Why do I still care for Exe?

'And yet... my heart still feels anything but hate towards him. I'm so fucking stupid.'
'Fleet, just because you loved him doesn't mean that your an idiot. After being hurt and with him for 6 months, I assume you clung to the truth that..he loved you.' 

This time I have to cry though I don't make any sobbing noises, I only cry. Scourge moves closer and pulls me into a hug which I return.

'What's wrong with me? I listened to him, stayed with him, accepted him when I should've just ran to everyone....and to you...'
'Love? It can be a strong drug.'
'What do you mean?'
'Lets say there was something you normally wouldn't do, love would push you to do it.
'So..I stayed away from you and everyone...because love? Then fuck love-'
'Ah no no no. Just because there are a few people with screws loose doesn't mean you give up on it.'

I'm so confused. Love is bad isn't it? Sure I felt good when I was with Exe but... that wasn't the real him. He'd manipulated me into making me more angry, exactly why Tails is dead right now. As much as I don't like Amy, Exe has ruined her life now too. Shadow? I don't even know if he is alive but he already had his life ended once.

But why would he hurt Silver? To torment us into attacking Infinite? He...he was always planning to kill. Always. He'd turned Infinite's friend into a slave and tried to get them killed. He tried to kill everyone at the hospital but we lived.

I look back at Scourge who has still kept looking at me.
'Sorry...I was in deep thought.'
'Its all good.' He gives me a pat on the back.
'Scourge..when you were at the hospital and saw Exe, what did you do?'
'I hit him as fast as I could in the jaw, he was going to hurt Manic and Sunky so I had to. Then he chased after us and caught up. I told Manic to run and Exe then tried to kill me. I...was at peace, ready to die with the knowledge I at least did most of the shit I wanted to do.'

My heart stops for a minute when I consider that Scourge was happy to die. He didn't seem like the type to just give up and do it but was Exe that bad?

'I closed my eyes but when I opened them, Shadow was there and he protected me for long enough that I saw him rip out Exe's jaw before I ran away.'

Briefly imagining Exe without a jaw, disturbs me and I try to avoid thinking of what he currently looks.

'So Shadow saved you?'
'Yea..but he's probably dead now... if not for Exe then the building we dropped on him.'
'Shadow...'

I sigh and look up and for a moment, my brain imagines that Mephiles is Shadow. Moving my eyes away from Mephiles and back to Scourge.

'I have to face him.' I'm surprised by how easily I can say that.
'A-are you mad? Surely not alone?'
'Alone-'
'Fleet don't fuck up like Shadow and I did. We were fighting alone and I almost died whereas he died twice.'
'I.. No offense but i'm stronger than you-'
'I don't doubt that but just don't fight alone! At least bring Mephiles and Infinite... Maybe X-'

X! I need to see him.

'X can you come here.' The two of us go silent for a few seconds, then a minute passes.

'X? X are you safe? X?' Once again, we go silent and wait for anything but get nothing. My mind is already going through multiple possibilities.

'What if Exe took him? What if he's dead?'
'Fleet don't think like that-'
'But what if i'm right?! What if something has happened!?'

Scourge tries to comfort me by hugging me but it has no affect. I walk  over to Mephiles.

'I need you to make a portal to Exe's dimension.'
'I can't.'
'Ugh!'

I go over to Infinite.
'Infinite, can you make a portal to Exe's dimension?'
'Maybe...but i've never been there so it'd be more dangerous-'
'Then gimme the fucking ruby!'

I reach for the ruby but finally see X appear.

'There you are!' He's covered in bruises.
'I'm sorry I- oof!' I hug him tight and he pats my back.
'Were you attacked?'
'Yes, by wraiths.' X looks around at everyone then down at me.
'Exe attacked the hospital, we managed to get out before anything worse happened.'
'But..' Scourge begins. 'I'm pretty sure Shadow's gone. He saved me...'

X goes silent and likely thinks of Shadow. The last time the both of us had seen him was when he was hypnotized...if i'd listened to his advice about the wolf..then maybe he'd be alive..

I hear crying and turn to see Mephiles hugging Silver. Silver was crying.

'He's gone...I should of been there.' Silver starts.
'There was nothing you could of done Silver-'
'No I should of done something...anything. He'd be alive.'
'Its my fault..' They turn to look at me.

'If I didn't trust Exe...If I listened to Shadow then he'd be alive...I-its my fault. Thats why i'm facing Exe, I have to make this right.'

X gives me a considering look. 'Fleetway, I can tell that your heart is still aching-'
'Fuck my heart. I shouldn't love that.. husk. Hurting my friends. Manipulating me into killing. I need to end him.'

X pauses again before looking into my eyes.
'Very well but not alone.'
'But he-' He interrupts me.
'Ah. No, not alone. Alone, he has a chance to manipulate you..or corrupt you into a slave...' his words disturb me. 'At the very least, bring Mephiles. He is the one who you had seen defeat Exe anyway.'
'I..okay..Mephiles you can-'
'Wait wait wait!'

Scourge's exclamation makes me turn to him.
'Yea?'
'You're bringing all of us....cept Manic and Sunky-'
'Wha hey!' I hear Manic say as they look at each other. 'I'm not sitting out this time!'
'Manic, I love ya but I won't let him hurt you-'
'Then don't!'
'Jeez...Manic fine. Your combat training is awful. Your weaker than me, slower than most of us and Exe can exploit that and I won't let him.'

(There's tough love and then there's that. The kindest way of saying "You're shit")

'Then teach me now.'
'That won't be possible.' Mephiles says quietly. 'The longer we spend here, the more dangerous the demon gets.'
'Yeah...no offense Manic but..they're right. We'll help you train when we're back. Promise!' Silver says innocently.
'...Okay...'

Part of me wishes I could be like Silver. In a relationship that is or at least looks stable, really optimistic personality and the ability to be happy even after having so much awful shit happen. Watching what I did to Manic, being harmed by Exe, the hospital and yet he's still...Silver.

'Fleetway?' X's voice brings me back to reality.
'Oh r-right.'

Mephiles, Silver, Scourge, Infinite and I move closer to X. I take a deep breath and prepare for the end, knowing soon that our fates will be decided.

End