MCSM One Shots (2018-2019)

Fear

Rewrite of "Fear" from my July One Shot Challenge.

Credit for main idea goes to @X_EmLee_X (all the way back in July... yeah I promise I didn't forget about it, I was just lazy XD)

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"It was my fault."

Everybody's heads whipped around to Jesse. She looked down, rubbing her arm subconsciously. A sad, guilt-stricken look in her brown eyes.

"I'm the one who took Magnus's armour." She whispered.

"But you couldn't have known what would happen." Olivia pointed out.

"She's right. You can't blame yourself, Jesse." Ellegaard said, before adding with a half-hearted chuckle. "I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did."

Jesse smiled vaguely, although their words weren't making her feel any better. Not knowing, was no excuse. Magnus's death was still on her.

"Argh!" Soren threw his hands into the air. "Being emotional is getting us nowhere! What I want to know is, what happened out there today, why is that thing still alive?!"

His head snapped around in Jesse's direction, starting to march right up to her. "My instructions were simple!" He bellowed, pointing a finger right at her. "You were the one in the middle of everything, what went wrong?!"

Jesse took a shocked step back. Her mouth started opening, but she couldn't find her voice.

"Soren, none of this is Jesse's fault." Axel defended, crossing his arms.

Soren pulled his gaze away from Jesse for a second, scowling at Axel instead. His glare was quick to switch back to Jesse.

"Well, I'm still not hearing a logical explanation for what happened here!"

"I-I don't know!" Jesse said desperately, holding up her hands as she took a step back. "I did what you told me to!"

"Well, you had to have done something wrong!" Soren sneered at her. "Otherwise we wouldn't be here right now, the Storm would be dead and Magnus would be alive."

Jesse took another step back, gulping slightly as she felt a lump in her throat. She vaguely heard Olivia snap something at Soren, but couldn't make out the words.

Soren was right, this was all on her. She was the one who failed to set off the Formidi-bomb correctly, she was responsible for all this.

Jesse didn't wait to hear any more, she simply turned around on the spot and began walking out of the cave. She heard a few voices call out her name, but didn't stop to look back.

Reuben let out a soft squeal, jogging out after Jesse. She sunk down on the ground, right at the cliff's edge, pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her head on them.

Reuben snorted softly, nudging Jesse with his head. She didn't lift her head, instead burying her face deeper into her arms. Her back shaking slightly as she forced back sobs.

Reuben whimpered, squeezing underneath Jesse's arm and clambering onto her lap. Jesse wrapped her arms around him, hugging the small pig to her chest. Reuben gave her face an affectionate lick.

"Oh, Reuben..." Jesse sniffed, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand. "I don't even know what to do any more!"

Jesse was unaware of the figure who had came jogging out of the cave, anxiously glancing around for them. Lukas stopped dead however, hearing Jesse's words.

"I tried." Jesse whispered, stroking Reuben. "I tried so hard to do something right for once in my life, and I still failed." Reuben whimpered softly, nudging Jesse with his snout.