Fallout: Fury Blood

Chapter 28: Bloody Mess

*WARNING*
Graphic violence and torture.

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Kelly could see nothing through the thick film of dark blood over her goggles, but strained her eardrums for every resonance in the small cave. Danse, you better kick this guy's ass or I'll kick yours.

"Want to save your woman?" Doom-Guy breathed above her, the reek of his breath almost as foul as the Dark Blood around her. "Then drop gun, stay back, like good slave."

"Not a chance in hell," Danse menaced in return, and Kelly could almost grin at his defiance, had her throat not been at risk. "What's your plan, raider, disarm us and then release your specimens to enslave us?"

"Yes," the Dark Blood raider conceded without a hint of delay. "Enslave fighters, and lose no cherubs. Good, yes?"

Danse was rock-steady. "I'm afraid I'm not willing to let that happen. In taking this course of action you would gain nothing, and lose not only a potential slave, but your life, by your own misjudgement. Just let her go, and we can continue with our original deal."

"Hmm. Hard. Cold. Gamble to refuse. Not even for her?" Kelly felt the blade split her skin tauntingly, and trapped her growl of pain behind her teeth. "Still refuse? Hmm?" Doom-Guy mocked. Danse was silent, but Kelly could hear him shift his weight upon the gravel, hesitant. Goddamnit.

"Danse just shoot the fu-" she was thrust down under the Dark Blood before she could even get the words out, feeling the gunk fill her mouth and choke her airways. She coughed out bubbles that curdled and felt she would drown right there and then, except she was pulled back up by the hair and spared a precious gulp of air. The blade was still at her throat, but she still hacked out the burning filth with desperate thrashing until the hand that held her yanked her head back so viciously she cried out and forced herself to still, chest heaving.

"Do that again, and you'll regret it," Danse threatened, but Kelly detected an unfamiliar chord to his usually stable voice. He was nervous.

"Not in place to make threats, slave." And Kelly was shoved under again, her cry of frustration drowned out, along with her composure as she struggled against the raider's wiry grip. This time, there was no quick reprieve. He kept her under for a harrowing length of time, the blade taking shallow samples of her flesh in her thrashings. Her lungs were ablaze but she screamed out regardless, scratching her broken nails at the raider's cruel hand in her hair.

And suddenly, there was air, and she was gasping raggedly, wheezing between angry grunts and coughs to clear her throat of the shit.

"-just stop, let her out!" she heard from Danse, amongst other words she hadn't caught over her loud panic. She swallowed, gagged, then coughed more as she comprehended. He had caved. Damn it, Danse.

The harsh hands hefted her up until she could blindly clamber out of the pool, relief washing over her before she was shoved and sent crashing to the ground, screaming her futile rage. More hands were on her, but soft and caring this time, lifting her upright.

"I got you," Danse's deep, soothing voice encompassed her as he helped tear off the goddamned grime-caked goggles. His face was a welcome sight as he crouched over her, brushing the sticky hair from her face with tender, sensitive fingers. But his face. It was so despairing, bruised by it.

"I'm sorry. I-" his words caught in his throat a moment, expression dissolving into shame, "I didn't mean for that to... I didn't mean for you to suffer like that."

All the fury was quenched from her blood, and it was only then that Kelly realized she was clinging desperately to his arms, entire body shaking from trauma. Making an effort to gather herself, she denied his shame with a small shake of her head. Her throat was raw and pulsating, so she whispered her words. "I know. It's okay. It's not your fault." He didn't nod, and his features were still arranged in shame. She felt she should say more, do more to console him, but how?