Archer (Klein x Reader)

Chapter 17 - Metal Pipe

For three weeks, you had been watching Klein in the town from the rooftops, trying to decipher why he hasn't moved on from this level yet.

He sulked through the town center everyday, looking across the various market stalls. You noticed that Klein would look up at different rooftops every once in a while, with his eyes occasionally landing on the rooftop that you were perched on. You were once more thankful for your stealth skill.

Playing with your cloak's strings, you began to think. Maybe he was thinking about how you were the only person to ever utilize the rooftops. Maybe he was looking for you. You pushed the thought out your of mind as you shifted your weight.

Now, some people might consider this to be stalking. It's not like you were watching his every move or anything- you were just checking up on him, and trying to see if Issin would come through the town. If you were being honest with yourself though, you knew Klein would eventually leave the town and move on through the levels. Because of this, you wanted to see him as much as possible.

"Maybe I should explain the whole thing to Klein- it's been three weeks and he still hasn't moved on," you thought. "He may be upset with me for it, but he deserves to know. Then again, his safety..."

You watched as Klein walked into the town diner with a couple other members from the guild.

Sighing, you stood up from your crouched position- only to be grabbed around the waist from behind.

On impulse, you slammed your elbow back into the face of your captor. They released you, and you immediately ran forward and turned around- only to see Issin.

"How and why are you here?" you yelled, infuriated with him. "How did you find me?"

"I've been increasing my detecting skill- so I could see you."

Picking up a random pipe off the roof, you held it in your fist as you approached him.

"I'm going to give you five seconds to leave. Otherwise, you're a goner," you darkly spat at him in rage.

"This is a town- a safe zone," he replied with a smirk. "You can't hurt me."

"No, but I can sure as heck try," you said. "Time's up."

And with that, you swung the pipe at full force like a bat, hitting him across the head and then kicking him in the stomach, knocking him clear off the roof. Hearing him hit the pavement, you jumped off the roof and landed on top of him.

You ignored the yelling from various players around you. Pinning his arms to the ground with your feet, you began to repeatedly bash his head with the metal pipe with every ounce of strength in your body.

It wasn't hurting him, and you knew that, but you could see the utter terror in his face. You were going to give him a taste of his own medicine so he would know what you've had to go through.

"(Y/N)!"

A part of you recognized it as Klein's voice- but you were too upset to react to it. You just had to keep Issin away from Klein.

Issin then mustered up some strength and threw you off of him. You were knocked backwards into a market stall.

Bouncing back up, you ran at him again, dodging his punch.

"This is pointless!" you heard Klein yell as you hit Issin across the back of his head.

"Listen to your boyfriend, (Y/N)," Issin said, ragged breaths coming from his mouth.

You stopped and glanced at Klein, who looked worried and wearier than ever.

Dropping the pipe on the ground, you walked over to Issin- anger still burning within you.

"You will leave here, now. Got it?"

Issin looked down at you and then nodded, fear still in his eyes.

You watched until he completely was out of the town. Finally noticing the crowd that accumulated around you, you became very embarrassed that other people had witnessed your outburst of anger.

You briefly looked at Klein, then quickly walked to the cargo boxes to climb back up onto the roof once more.

"(Y/N)! Wait!"

Climbing the boxes quickly to avoid Klein, you turned on your stealth skill as soon as you reached the rooftop. Sitting down in a corner of the roof, you pulled your knees tightly into your chest as you saw Klein pull himself onto the rooftop.

"(Y/N)! Please! I know you're up here," he slightly yelled. "I want to talk to you!"

You cried as quietly as possible at the fact that he was still attempting to chase you- even after all of that.

He ran a hand through his hair, then sat down on the roof a few feet away from you unknowingly.

"That was incredible, what you did."

You looked at him, unsure of how to react. You felt as though you lost your sanity in that moment and scared Klein away even more. He continued to talk since you didn't reply.

"At first, it scared me- I've never seen you like that before," he said, before adding a slight laugh. "Issin's probably thanking his lucky stars that happened in a safe-zone. But, there must have been a good reason for you to act the way that you did. I don't know you as a person to act unreasonably."

You slightly sniffled, moving to hug your folded legs. You found that every time you cried was shorter than the last.

"I can hear you crying, (Y/N). Please don't."

You looked at him, wide-eyed and slightly blushing.

"Why have we ended up like this?" he questioned to nowhere in particular, rubbing his eyes. "I've been mulling it over in my mind for weeks on end, and the only conclusion I can come to is that you're somehow doing this for my sake."

He knew that you had created a plan that you thought would work.

"But see, then I can't protect you- and I want to. I know you can probably take care of yourself well, and I respect that; but I want to be there for you."

You cautiously moved to sit in front of him, both his eyes and your own still sparking with tears. To him, you were still hiding.

You debated telling him everything or not. Klein knew that you had created a plan, which ultimately failed- and every ounce of your being wanted to be with him.

He wiped his eyes.

"If you're okay, then that's all I need. Please, (Y/N)," he weakly spoke to the air, desperation hinting his voice.

You sat quietly for a moment. Then, quickly leaning forward, you hugged him and buried your face into his neck, causing your stealth to turn off by default. Tears flooded out of your eyes, and Klein slowly pulled you closer as he began shaking, indicating that he himself was weeping.

You both sat on the roof like that, quietly weeping. Your hands then began messing with the bits of hair at the top of the nape of his neck as his body would jolt from time to time with a sob.

This was quite the mess you were both in.

"Klein," you quietly said after a while, lifting your head, "I'm so, so sorry- I thought it was for the best. It clearly wasn't though."

He smiled at you with puffy eyes, shook his head, and then pulled you into a kiss.