Risk

Rumours had spread, questions resurfaced, and fear had rekindled. No means of twisted excitement could encourage your desire to investigate such an obvious imprint of a man drilling holes into a wall to match the shape an size of his body. The local police had cornered off the building, taping the scene to instruct onlookers away and prevent casualties from ensuing. But the strangest thing about this investigation was that it was all too obvious who had entered the scene, and who had left it at once.

None of what remained mattered, the destruction engraved in the wall was a message. One specifically for you.

Without any words stating candidates for a sender and recipient, the spitting image of Talon's Mauga had caused a sigh to brush past your lips. He was not making your workload any lighter than he had promised way back when. His intolerance for work had ironically given your position more weight to bear, more civilians to look after, as well as more damages to pay for. 

Tired of his shenanigans, you raised a palm to your face in defeat. He was calling for you in a way only he knew was best. 

Destruction was once an oddity to you both. Fighting side by side wasn't an experience you cherished as much as the monster did, but even you knew how strong the bond was before his accident. When you guiltily stared down at him on that hospital bed, observing the unconscious body of a man you deeply cared for, withdrawal quickly overwhelmed you every fibre of being. It was right there and then that you decided you wanted no more of this. No more wanting to see the precious people in your life wither away on the battlefield. No more wanting to see your own life flash before your eyes in the heat of battle. 

Now, one would argue that you stepped down from a decently earning position. Another could argue that you cowered away from a noble life. But Mauga would argue that you're simply experimenting in ways of having fun.

As you stare morbidly at the Mauga-sized wreckage in the wall, it dawned on you that he had given no indication of his whereabouts. Debris only just scattered as a result of people tumbling in and out to scout for the injured. Rubble was still crumbling from the walls and the ceiling very rarely rumbling from some form of vibration up above, indicating that the culprit is still in the building. 

"Commander, is something the matter?" One of the policemen's voice startled you out of your state of contemplation. You pinched the bridge of your nose as another shrewd thought branched from the first.
Almost ignoring the question, your thoughts seeped from your lips like a madman spilling nonsensical rantings. "I'll investigate this myself."

"It's good to see you. I knew you'd get my message."
"What would you have done if I walked away? They'd find you sooner or later."

Mauga sighed, shaking his head as a cruel smile widened across his lips. His tone deepened as he voiced the sinister truth hidden behind words of avoidance, "I don't think you'd wanna know the alternative."

Closing the distance between the two of you, you ducked your head under loose wiring, tip-toed over a missing floorboard and stood a couple meters from Mauga's position. His gruelling smile worked wonders on you. His intention was never to insight fear on you, or anyone for that matter, but instead toy with others as if it were a game - though it was contradictory to his mannerisms, as he often played with no rules. 

"You couldn't just send me a letter, like any normal person would?"
Mauga chuckled. "What? And have it sent to your team as incriminating evidence?" His cheery expression quickly returned to address your concerns. "You read this message, nobody got harmed in the process. So what's the fuss?" 

He stands to attention, resting down his signature guns and stepping closer to you. His body is overwhelmingly large compared to yours - or any humans', as a matter of fact. Seeing no further need to keep his guard up in case any uninvited guests took your place, Mauga's expression softened and he scooped in for a hug. "I came for you, sweetheart. I wanted to see you."