bulletproof [riot×tank]

chapter 16 - you broke me

Riot:

My head hurt.
I’ve been sitting in this little interrogation room for hours, staring at my own mirror reflection.
I looked like shit.
My eyes were reddened and a bruise had formed across my left cheek.
I couldn’t remember how I got here. At some point, I just realized that I was sitting in this room.

I stared at my hands and tried to keep them calm. Handcuffs had been placed around my wrists, which in turn were attached to the armrests of the chair (pretty cliché).
I pulled back on the shackles with the same – obvious – result that I still couldn’t bend them. I took a shivering breath and closed my eyes.
I saw him again in front of me immediately.
As he shrugged briefly together as the shot sounded and the bullet drilled through his flesh.
How he looked completely surprised and dizzy for a second. And then he collapsed and hit his head on the ground.
I couldn’t see if his eyes were opened or closed.
I didn’t know if he was dead or maybe he just passed out.
Maybe he hit his head too hard.
Maybe it wasn’t that bad.
Maybe I would wake up in his arms and we've never left the apartment.

I lowered my head frustrated and tried to calm down.
My heartbeat had risen at an unpleasant rate and a panic attack was not necessarily what I needed.
Suddenly I heard footsteps. I immediately raised my head and waited anxiously.
Someone unlocked the door and then slowly opened it.
Two figures stood in the door. One quite large with upright posture, the other rather small and with curved back. I heard them speak quietly, but I understood – although they were actually only a few steps away – not a word. Then the larger figure (probably a man from the stature) came in and closed the door behind him.

I looked around for a moment and swallowed slightly. If something happened I wouldn't be able to fight back. Nervousness spread in my body like a tingling poison.
I tried to recognize the man more closely.
As he slowly stepped closer, the naked light bulb above my head plunged the face of him into an unimaginably bright light.
I got sick when I saw Tank's smile.
"Hello, darling"

My mouth was open and it took me at least half a minute before I could force myself to close it again.
Maybe I halucinated.
I hadn't drunk or eaten in a long time. Or there was just a logical explanation. I took a trembling breath and leaned back a little.
"What are you doing here?" was the first thing that came over my lips, which was kind of stupid under the circumstances.
Tank still smiled and stood calmly in front of me. He didn't answer me.
I frowned and retreated as much as I could before him. He didn't seem to have just been shot and collapsed on the ground.

He slanted his head and bent closer to me. He stretched out a hand and gently stroked over my cheekbone where the bruise was. I flinched.
"Huh" He straightened up when I turned my head away from him.
"I told them not to hurt you that bad"
First I got hot and then cold.
"W-what?" My voice trembled.
He smiled.
He had such a beautiful smile.
But now it seemed... different.
"What the fuck are you talking about? Where are we? Is this a joke? I thought you were dead... Goddammit."
"You're really easy to manipulate"
I raised my eyebrows.
"Oh, I'm very sorry I misinterpreted the bullet in your body!"
A mocking grin stole on his face.
"Are you getting angry?"
"Stop the shit, Tank. Was that you?"
I looked him in the eye.
His stupid smile finally disappeared.
"Did you... were you-mhmm-"

He pressed one hand on my mouth and put the other around my wrist and pressed it uncomfortably closer to the chair. I stared at him with big eyes. My heart was pounding against my ribs.
"Yes and yes", he answered my unspoken question.
I turned my head and tried to free myself from his grip, but he held me by the neck. I moaned silently in pain and briefly squeezed my eyes together. Tank smiled again.
"Stop fighting back, darling. You have such a pretty face... I'd hate to disfigure it... more."
I breathed heavily and looked at him.
"Will you stop doing stupid things, pretty boy?" he asked and sounded like he was talking to a child.
I nodded slowly and he took his hand off my mouth.

"Son of a bitch!"
"Ouch" He looked at me unimpressed.
"You knew Caven was under attack, right?" His mouth slowly turned into a smile.
"You put a child at risk, a child! He almost died, I..."
I looked around.
"What’s this all about?"
"You don’t have to be interested"
"But I am. Fuck..." I closed my eyes. I just wanted to scream.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why were you at the protests? You put yourself in danger, too. Why... y-you and I... I mean..."
I shook my head slightly and turned my gaze away.
"That wasn't necessary..."
He laughed.
He laughed at me.

"First of all" , he came closer and bowed down to me. He looked me right in the eye.
"I needed a cover to get to the source. We already thought that Anonymous would come between us"
I blinked confused.
"Secondly: I was never really in danger"
I remembered the one time I followed him into the tear gas because I was worried about him. Anger rose in me.
"And thirdly, no, it wasn't necessary but it was a much more fun. And besides, the sex was awesome"
He tapped my shoulder as if he didn't just say something that disgusting.
I turned red with shame and pressed my thighs together. I felt incredibly dirty.

He remained silent for a while before he continued to speak.
"You’re going to answer a few questions"
"Definitely not" I pressed out between my teeth.
Tank grabbed my jaw incredibly fast and dragged me closer to him. Panic spread in me.
His hot breath touched my neck and goose bumps chased over my back.
I hated myself for how much I still liked his closeness despite everything. How a part of me still couldn't or didn't want to believe what just happened.
"You're all alone, Riot", he whispered against my lips and his grip around my chin strengthened. He pressed my head uncomfortably in the neck with it.
"You're mine. All mine, understand?
No one will be able to help you.
No one will want to help you."

He smiled and kissed my cheek very gently. I shuddered again and tried to free myself from his grip.
"Don't do that. Why so shy, Riot?" His fingertips wandered over my neck and collarbone, and I would have loved to die.
I closed my eyes and tried to stop shaking.
"Fuck you"
A single angry tear ran down my cheek.
Tank let me go and looked down at me.
He wiped the tear away before he hit my face so hard with his flat hand that my head flew to the side. My heart stopped for two seconds.
"Say that again, I dare you." He said with a cold voice. I've never heard him talking like that.

I looked at him provocatively.
"Fuck. You."
"Brave"
"I'm not afraid of you"
He laughed out loud.
"We both know you're lying. I don't know you for long, but I know you well." He knelt in front of me and smiled.
"You are an open book for me. You're weak. And not even a bit strong-willed"
He slanted his head as if he remembered something.
"How was that again..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but I also knew that he was talking about my father.

I took a deep breath.
Something inside me broke at this moment. I couldn't look him in the eyes and turned my head away.
"I knew you'd agree"
I was silent.
"We won't give you anything if you don't answer our questions"
I was silent.
"I don't have to lie to you in the first place and say you're gonna get out of here alive if you do what we tell you..."
I was silent.
"But it would be a little more pleasant for you"
I was silent.

He straightened up again, only to then support himself left and right on the chair and bend down to me.
He put a finger under my chin and lifted it up. Reluctantly, I looked him in the eyes and hoped that he would notice the contempt I felt for him.
He looked at me briefly intensive and before I could do anything to prevent it, he kissed me.
I froze.
For a moment, it seemed like it was two days ago. My stomach tingled and I even enjoyed it for less than a second. But then the moment was over and his lips weren't on mine anymore.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him.
His green eyes shimmered as usual.
His dark hair hung in front of his forehead as usual.
His beautiful smile was the same as usual.
That was the worst.
Everything was the same, but he wasn't.

When the door behind him fell into the lock, I began to cry.

_______________________________
I promise, it'll make sense...

Hope you liked it <3
Have a nice day

~anon