𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐧𝐡𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬

[49.5]

Two of hearts

49.5

___

The hallways of Scorchrend Tower were filled with tension the moment Matteo, known to the world as Scorchrend, burst through the doors. His usually cold, composed demeanour had shattered, revealing a panic that nobody in his organization had ever witnessed. Clad in his dark, charred battle suit, he cradled Y/n's unconscious form tightly in his arms. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, and the faintest hint of blood stained her lips. He was moving faster than anyone thought possible, and behind him, Phoenix and Eclipse struggled to keep up.

"Move! Clear the halls!" Scorchrend's voice boomed through the corridors, cold and authoritative. The few staff members that had been present scattered instantly, leaving him and his sidekicks alone in their haste.

Phoenix, normally carefree and confident, was wide-eyed with concern, casting anxious glances between Y/n and Scorchrend. Eclipse followed with her usual ethereal grace, her tall, ghostly figure gliding silently behind them. But even her collected demeanour couldn't hide the curiosity flickering in her dark eyes as she observed her employer in this state.

"Sir—Scorchrend—what happened?" Phoenix asked, her voice faltering as she tried to keep pace, her usually confident tone betraying the unease Scorchrend instilled in her. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Shut up, Phoenix," he snapped without even looking at her, his voice sharp as a knife. His grip on Y/n tightened, and for a brief moment, Phoenix caught a glimpse of something almost human behind his mask of fury—a flicker of real fear.

Eclipse tilted her head slightly, her long black hair cascading over one shoulder. Her icy gaze followed them, calculating. "Shall I inform the medical team of your arrival?" she asked, her voice smooth, measured, and unnervingly calm. There was something about her that made even silence feel oppressive.

"Get them ready. I'm not losing her," Scorchrend growled, his voice heavy with an emotion neither sidekick had heard from him before. Without sparing another glance at either of them, he pushed open the doors to the infirmary.

The medical staff, who had been awaiting his arrival, rushed forward to take Y/n from his arms, but he hesitated, holding onto her for just a fraction longer before finally relinquishing her. It was the slightest moment of vulnerability, but for those who caught it, it was a chilling sight.

As Y/n was whisked away into the operating room, Phoenix and Eclipse watched him from the entrance, unsure of what to say. Scorchrend stood frozen for a moment, staring at the doors as if he could force them to stay open, to allow him to follow.

"She'll be fine, sir," Phoenix said softly, trying to comfort him, but as she opened her mouth to continue, Scorchrend whipped around, his eyes glowing with a fury that made her shrink back.

"Fuck off," he spat, his voice a low snarl. "Both of you."

Phoenix blinked, taken aback, while Eclipse simply nodded, her expression as unreadable as ever. Without another word, the two women retreated from the room, leaving Scorchrend alone with his thoughts and the unsettling beeping of medical monitors behind the closed doors.

Hours later, in the dimly lit confines of Scorchrend's office, Eclipse and Phoenix found themselves summoned for a meeting. Phoenix had barely been able to sit still, her leg bouncing nervously beneath the table. Eclipse sat perfectly still, her long, slender fingers resting on the arms of her chair. The only sound in the room was the steady ticking of the clock.