bulletproof [riot×tank]

chapter 6 - stockholm syndrome

Tank:

A piercing pain swept through my shoulder as the officer surprised me from behind and knocked me to the ground.
My head hit the ground and I saw stars for a second.
I heard a quiet voice calling my name. I pressed my eyes together and hoped that at least this pain would ease. But it didn't help.
I saw everything double and blurry.
I raised my head slowly to see who was calling for me.
I barely noticed the cop above me. I didn't notice him pulling back to the punch.
I just saw him in the crowd standing a few feet in front of me.

"No..." I whispered.
What was he doing here?
He should get to safety.
"Riot..." My voice broke. I tried to stand up, but my arms didn't want to support me.
Riot came running towards me and I wanted to yell at him to get the hell out of here, but nothing came out of my mouth.
I didn't know how Riot could get to me so quickly, but he was at my side all of a sudden, protecting me from the cop. He had put one arm protective over me and raised the other to repel the punch.
I heard the stick rushing down on his arm and something giving off a disgusting crack.
God, please don't let it be his arm.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered dull.
"Saving your ass" Riot hissed between teeth bitten together. "Don't talk."
I heard the pain in his voice and it hurt way more than the gas in my eyes.

"Get up" He pulled me up and pushed the cop away at the same time.
He took my hand and we ran, two policemen right behind us.
Then it banged and Riot fell to the ground. His hand cramped and almost pulled me down with him.
For a terribly long second I thought a real bullet had been fired. But it was just a rubber bullet.
Riot moaned in pain and introduced an impressive collection of curses.
"Riot... hey, come on...Get up, please." I begged him because I didn't want to be hit by a bullet as well.
"Fuck" Riot muttered and slowly got up with my help. He twitched in pain when he stood.
"I... I can't run, Tank" He raised his head and looked at me.
"No... you don't fucking stay here" I shook my head.
The cops got closer and closer and suddenly a rubber bullet flew close to my face. Holy shit.
"Oh, you know what?" Riot started and took my hand again to pull me with him, "The adrenaline is already doing its job"
He was much slower than he was before and cursed regularly, but we ran.

The cops were extremely persistent but thanks to two women who blocked them more or less unintentionally we got a head start and could disappear behind the next corner into a smaller street. We run a little further until Riot had to stop and gasp for air. Luckily for us, it started to rain.
"Oh come on"

"That was close" I gasped. Riot nodded.
"Totally close"
He looked briefly at our entangled fingers and then pulled his hand away. I tried my best to ignore the stinging in my heart (not the stinging from the long race... That clearly couldn't be ignored)
Riot held his arm and moaned softly as he lowered his head.
"Shit" He whispered and slowly went to the ground.
I didn't know what to do or how to help him.
"Are you okay?" I asked carefully and immediately got the appropriate look for it.
"Do I look like I'm okay?"
"No" I admitted and bent down to be at its height.

"What the hell were you thinking?" If Riot hadn't squatted on the ground before, he'd do it now. Frightened, he shrugged and looked at me surprised as I nudged his shoulder away.
"I-"
"Run into the gas when the police arrest people? Are you okay up there?" I tapped his helmet.
"I didn't know where you were. I had to save your ass. Already forgotten?"
"Oh, yeah? Were you planning to include a broken arm and leg?"
"They're not broken" Riot shouted, almost sounding like a little kid.
"You could have been killed or worse. You've put yourself in danger for nothing"
"That's not true. What do you think would have happened to you if I didn't help you?"
Nothing worse than what happened to you now I thought.
I swallowed and felt guilt crawling up my stomach.
"You're crazy", I muttered, shaking my head. "You didn't have to do this"
"I know..."
I sat down and watched him for a second.
"So you were worried about me, huh?"
He sighed loudly and laughed.
"You're worried about me too, sunshine" he replied, sounding like he was smiling.
He was definitely not wrong.
"I have to worry. That's my job as the oldest", I explained and smiled a little.
He just shook his head slightly.

Riot took off his backpack and lay down on the street. I don't know what that was supposed to be, but I did it after him. The rain was running between my helmet and my clothes, but I just didn't care at the moment.

"My apartment is nearby..." I said to Riot when we got up again after a few minutes.
"Cool... And?"
"You could come with me and warm up or something", I offered. ( Warm up during these temperatures... Nevermind)
I was surprised by myself. I'd never invited anyone to my house before. I couldn't even remember the last time I wasn't alone in my apartment. (The Pizza delivery dude didn't count)
"Oh"
Riot quickly looked down.
"Very nice but absolutely no"
Ouch.
"Why?" It slipped out of my mouth. I immediately bit my lips and shook my head slightly in regrets.
"Nothing for bad, but we hardly know each other. Maybe you've hidden bodies in your closet."
He laughed, but he still meant it.
He went (or better limped) in the opposite direction and I followed him.
"I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I've already made them disappear." I was joking. Obviously.
"Nevertheless. You could be some kind of psycho, lock me up in your basement and wait for the Stockholm Syndrome to start."
I had to smile.
"Why should I hope that you suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, huh?" I asked in a challenging way.
Riot lowered his gaze to the ground and I could swear that he turned red under his helmet.
"Uhm... I dont know"
I laughed softly.
"And besides, I don't have a basement"
"A plus for you. But still no. Don't take it so hard, Tankie"
I sighed. I decided to ignore this stupid nickname.

"All right. May I at least bring you home?" He pondered briefly and then nodded.
"Oh, seriously? You don't want to come to me, but show me where you live?" I asked and grinned. "Beginner's mistake. Now I'm gonna stand in front of your window every day, take pictures of you and watch them in the evening."
He looked up at me.
"Why did you have to turn this weird now?"
You could tell from his voice that he had to force himself not to laugh.
"You started it" I defended myself.
"Yeah, yeah I know"
"Can you walk at all?" I looked him up and down.
"No. I'm actually flying right now. Don't you see?"
"Why do I even talk to you?"
"Because I'm a joy to be around. And to talk to"
Yes you are. I smiled at him.
"And what about you? Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm gonna survive it"

Riot lived in an old skyscraper.
I leaned my head back and stared up at the huge building.
"Fancy"
"I know. It's really classy here" he sarcastically explained.
"Especially great is that attention is paid to physical fitness. The broken elevator has been consistently ignored for years."
I smiled.
Riot then turned to me and seemed a little nervous.
"I'm sorry I was so late today", he muttered.
"Oh... um... it's okay. No, not really. You left me alone with Scorpion and Faceless. Two hours wasted that I can't get back"
He giggled.
"You're mean"
"I have every right to be. I still have a headache. Next time just come on time. I'm not gonna survive this alone again"
"Of course."
He turned back and wanted to say something when he froze.

A boy had appeared at the entrance of the house. He looked around before entering the building.
He was good looking and Riot seemed to be fascinated by him.
I suddenly felt terribly out of place. A feeling that I really hadn't missed.
I lowered my head and looked away.

"Who is that?" I asked quietly.
"Aiden"
"Your boyfriend?" In moments like these, I'd like to hit myself.
What was I thinking?
"What?" Riot turned to me in surprise.
"I'm sorry. That was too private", I said quickly.
"No... well, I mean, um... " he stuttered "He's not... I don't have a boyfriend. I'm single. Aiden is my roommate. He just shouldn't see me like this" He pointed at his gear.
"Oh..."
I almost said Thank God.
"Okay."
"Yeah... I'll go in."
"Sure."
"I'll see you at the next protest, right?"
"If you're on time..." I replied.
"Of course" He ran backwards and put his thumb in the air.
"See you then, sunshine"

I watched him enter the skyscraper. When he stood in the door he took off his helmet, but I couldn't see anything more than his dread locks.
I sighed disappointed and turned to go home and feel sorry for myself.
But after all: Riot was single.
I stopped abruptly.
He was single.
Where did the damn bruises come from?

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Is this too long for one chapter?
I'm sorry if it is...

Have a great day/night whatever <3

~anon

Who do you think is top/bottom?