bulletproof [riot×tank]

chapter 7 - don't expect a happy ending

Riot:

U little shit

Wow this is the type of text message I like to read.
I raised an eyebrow and decided to ignore Scorpion's message.
"Okay again from the beginning..." Aiden started standing in the kitchen and tried to make something to eat, which was much harder than it might sound because we had literally nothing in the house.
"You met a guy"
I nodded.
"Exactly"
"And you like him"
I nodded again.
"You want to get to know him better and you have his number"
"Yep"
"Okay so my suggestion... I know it may sound crazy but... ask him on a date?" he explained sarcastically.
I sighed.
"You're no help"
"Why? I don't know what the problem is. That's how everyone does it"
"Yes... but... it's complicated"
Aiden rolled his eyes and I think he had officially given up on me.
"You can't be helped anymore"
"Excuse me?" I threw a napkin at him, which had been lying innocently in front of me on the counter and was now misused as a weapon of war.
"Hey" He looked at me shocked. "So you know what, I actually wanted to share the rest of the chocolate with you but not anymore"
He took the only food we had left and walked past me out of the kitchen.
"You monster" I shouted after him.

At that moment, my phone rang.
Full of expectation I took it but it wasn't Tank.
My mum.
I sighed and got up to go into my room so Aiden couldn't hear me.

"Hey Mama", I greeted her and smiled slightly.
"Is everything okay? Is there something wrong with Nio?"
"No, it's all good. Nio is doing great... Well she's having a hard time with school but otherwise"
I sat on my bed and pulled my knees to my chest.
"Math again?"
"Yes... she misses you. And especially your math skills" I laughed.
I missed my little sister pretty much, too. However, I couldn't leave Washington and go back to Maine because Anonymous needed me here (and I wanted to stay with a certain other person who doesn't need to be mentioned here) so we had to sort of manage it.
"How's it going in the hairdresser?" I asked further. I felt bad because I couldn't be there for her for almost five months. And with the virus, it was all pretty messed up.
"It's going... Okay. Well, according to the circumstances. A hairdresser is needed during a pandemic too I guess"
I laughed and agreed with her.

"Are you... are you okay, baby?" my mother asked after a short break. She sounded worried. I swallowed and was surprised by the sudden change of subject.
"Y-Yeah... of course. Why not?"
"We both know you're lying"
"He told you?" I asked quietly and nervously cracked my wrists.
"I thought so. You told him?"
I nodded until I realized she couldn't see it.
"Yes... I... he told me he was nearby and I thought... I don't know"
"Baby, what have I always told you? Never go-"
"Never go to him alone, I know Mama"
"Don't interrupt me"
"I-I'm sorry"
"Why don't you listen to me?"
"I always listen to you, Mama. I just wanted to have it done. And... it wasn't that bad either."
Another lie. But in my defense, I really thought it wouldn't be that bad.
"Does Nio know about this?"
I didn't want my sister to worry any more than she already did.
"No..." I closed my eyes relieved.
"Good"
"Please take care of yourself, okay?"
"Always"
"Promise?"
"Yeah... Promise. I'm fine"
She sighed.
"When are you coming home? I don't feel well when you're so far away"
"Mama, I'm twenty-five" I said smiling slightly.
"And I'm and will always be your mother. So I'm and will always be worried."
I rolled my eyes lovingly.
"I don't know when I'll be back. I'm still needed here."

"You're not going to these protests, are you?"
"Uhm..." I hated lying to my mom (and I couldn't do it very well either) but she didn't know anything about Anonymous so I had to make up a story why I had to move to Washington for a few months.
Anonymous actually wanted to perform an operation that dealt with conspiracy theorists (since Corona these theories escalated extremely) and needed me here.
When that happened with George Floyd, we changed our plans and Anonymous sent us to the front line against racism.
"No... Well just once"
"Thank God... they arrest people faster than anything else and I don't want to see you behind a thick pane of glass"
"You're not going to see me like that Mama. I promise."
"I'll hope so... For you...okay baby I have to go now. Mrs. Brown needs a new haircut"
"Greetings"
"I'll tell her. See you then, darling."
"See you, Mama. Hug Nio for me."
"I will."
"Love you"
She'd already hung up.

I bit my lip and got up. My leg bent away and I almost fell.
"Damn it", I muttered. This Rubber bullet had really fucking hurt. I grabbed my backpack with my equipment. I'd change in the stairwell or on the street. I didn't want to be late this time.

"You little shit" Scorpion appeared out of nowhere next to me.
"Young man watch your language"
"You didn't text me. You don't come back after the tear gas thing. Tank didn't text me for like ages. But he did at least. But you-" He pointed at me.
"If I wouldn't be scared I'd hit you now"
I looked at him and didn't say anything.
"It wouldn't be hard just a gentle..." He nudged my shoulder to show me what he meant.
"You know? I'm leaving now. But don't do it again"
I smiled.
"I won't. I'm sorry Scorp"
He was grumbling.
"You can be glad that there was so much going on today. Otherwise, I would have almost gently nudged you much earlier and apologized afterwards."
I laughed.
"I'm very grateful" I admitted.
"Great" He turned around and decided to annoy Faceless with some stuff.
The two had become pretty good friends. Maybe they were before. I didn't know exactly. I felt a bit guilty because I hadn't told him that I was doing fine, but honestly I didn't know exactly what he meant by 'U little shit'

"Is he trying to threaten you?" Tank asked, who suddenly stood behind me.
"Holy sh-" I took a deep breath.
"Stop scaring me"
He laughed and I turned around. He stood so close in front of me that I had to lean my head back to gaze at the spot of his helmet where I suspected his eyes.
"Don't act like that, Drama Queen"
"I-I" I was too distracted when he stood so close in front of me.
I stepped back. Tank seemed surprised for a moment and then brought a bit more distance between us.
"He tried" I answered his question.
"What?"
"Scorp. He tried. And then regret it at the same time."
"Yes, that sounds like him"
He looked at Scorpion and Faceless who were just intrigued to see a dog trying to kiss a butterfly across the street.
"They're so weird but I like them", Tank explained and shook his head as the two freaked out with joy because the butterfly had sat down on the little snout of the dog.
"Absolutely your opinion"

After a while Faceless got up.
"Guys, I have to go" he shouted at us and raised his hand to wave at us. He stood on his skateboard, which he had dragged around all day and disappeared behind the next corner. Scorpion watched him sadly and looked like an abandoned puppy.
"We should go to him" I began and wanted to go to him, but tank held me back.
"Wait..." I looked at his hand around my wrist and then at him.
"Yes?"
"I... thought... " Tank began and seemed to be extremely nervous, which otherwise didn’t fit him at all.
"So if you feel like it, we might-"

Suddenly we heard a loud voice.
I turned around and saw a man coming towards us. Scorpion stood between him and us.
"Hey you!" The man screamed and pointed at us. "You're these assholes who show up all over the protests and mess with us" A cop.
"Sir we're not in action", Scorpion began, raising his hands to calm him down.
"Shut up, you fucking Ni-"
"Hey!" I called before the (white) man could finish. "Watch what you say"

Tank walked past me and seemed like he'd like to tear this guy to pieces.
Scorpion was so surprised by all this that he just stood there.
"We are not in action. Just get out of here" I repeated slowly.
"I'm not in action either."
Rather any of us could react the man had reached Scorp and hit him right in the face. He immediately went to the ground and the man jumped on him. He tried to rip the mask off his face.
Scorpion tried to fight back, but the man was stronger than him.
Tank ran towards them. I was standing there in shock and couldn't believe what was happening.
I was startled by Scorpion's scream of pain.
Tank was already with him and ripped the guy off the boy. He landed on the ground and Tank bent over him and talked something to him that I couldn't understand but judging from the look on the man's face it definitely weren't compliments.
Finally, I started to move and kneeled next to Scorpion.

"Hey... hey, kid... are you okay? Can you hear me?"
I only got a weak murmur in response.
He held his side. Carefully, I took his hand from the spot and gasped up frightened.
"Oh fuck no no no no...Fuck! Tank!"

______________________________
I love cliffhanger ^^

Hope you guys are doing well and everything <3

Thx for reading this. Makes me smile everyday

~anon