Bleed, Patch, And Keep Moving - An Apex Legends Story

Chapter 51 -Take A Break

Ajay hurried back to her room in her clothes from the night before, well just her dress. She carried her shoes so that she could run faster. She felt a little naked because she was; she left her panties in Octavio's room. She quietly closed her door after she entered her room. She wasn't sure if Natalie had returned from wherever she went last night. Ajay wanted to get changed and packed before the fall out of everything from Apex. She showered, happily scrubbing all the makeup and dirt from her body. She got out of the shower and got dressed. She put on a bra and panties, skinny black jeans and a black shirt that hung off of her shoulders. She left her hair down and slipped into her favorite of boots and started packing up her belongings.

She heard a light tapping on her door and yelled up from her suitcase, "It's unlocked." She continued to pack but she didn't hear the door open or anyone come in. After a moment she stopped packing and turned around. She planned to go open the door but she almost fell straight on her ass again as she ran into Bloodhound. She was surprised to see them in her room. Bloodhound grabbed her right arm, just above her elbow, to prevent her from falling. Ajay stood there for a moment as she regained balance.

"Whatcha need?" Bloodhound clutched Ajay's arm. "I spoke with some of my contacts." She felt their grip getting tighter on her; it made her arm throb a bit. "It wasn't Apex." Ajay just stood there until she could think of what to say, "Then who was it?" Bloodhound just stood there and looked at her. Or at least she thought they were looking at her through their mask. "Bloodhound. Who was it?" Their grip was even tighter on Ajay's arm, so much so that she couldn't feel parts of her arm anymore. Bloodhound leaned down and whispered to her in a voice that echoed throughout her entire body. "The Syndicate."

Ajay felt a little weak as she heard their words, "Who else knows about this?" She waited for Bloodhound to answer but the room fell silent around the two of them. "Bloodhound." She waited again. "Who knows that they were behind the attack?" Bloodhound was still holding her arm. "Bloodhound?" She raised her other arm up but they stopped her mid motion and pushed it back down, holding it tight. She tried to move but she couldn't force her way out of their grasp. "What the hell was the deal?" Bloodhound just stood there silently. "Bloodhound. Let go of me."

"Hey amigos. What's going?" Octavio walked in. Bloodhound dropped Ajay's arms and whispered to her in their haunting tone, "The Legends." Bloodhound turned and walked out without another word. She sighed in relief as the blood started rushing back to her upper extremities. "You okay Che?" She nodded. "What was that all about?" He looked at the hand prints on her arms. "The attack last night." Octavio sat down on the bed as Ajay packed the rest of her stuff into her suitcase. "Si. Did Bloodhound figure out who did it?" Ajay sat down on the floor in front of him. "The Syndicate." Octavio didn't even bat an emerald eye when she told him. "That gang is bad juju. I wonder why they would target Apex?"

Ajay put a hand over her face as she closed her eyes. "I just want to go home Silva." He smiled down to her as Natalie walked in. "Ajay?" She stopped as she saw Octavio. "Hello! We have not met!" She skipped over and offered Octavio her hand. "I am Natalie Paquette." Octavio shook her hand. "Octavio Silva." Natalie smiled as she tapped her chin, "Oh, you must be the daredevil." Ajay shook her head. "Great. What has Elliot been fillin this poor girl's head with." Natalie sat down next to Ajay, "I have seen you on the television before! How do you two know each other? From the games?" Natalie saw the engagement ring of Ajay's finger, "Old lovers perhaps?" Ajay blushed as she thought about their past together, "Somethin like that." Octavio smiled, "Nah, she got bored of my antics a time long ago, so she left. I straightened up and begged for her forgiveness, so now I have to be on my best behavior."

Ajay shook her head, "Silva! We grew up together. We were inseparable but a lot of shit happened. Somehow we both ended up here. We recently worked things out." Natalie smiled. "So you guys have a spark? You are in love?" Ajay nodded, "We always have been." Octavio smiled as he heard Ajay's words. Natalie could hardly contain her excitement, "When is the wedding? Can I be in the wedding? Can I help you with the wedding planning? What kind of cake do you like? What will be your wedding colors?" Ajay gently interrupted, "Whoa, slow down. We just got engaged." Natalie smiled and took Ajay's hand to look at her ring as Ajay spoke, "Hours ago." Natalie beamed, "I am so excited for you both. Félicitations! We must celebrate when we get back to the city."

Ajay gripped Natalie's hand, "We?" Natalie smiled, "I told you I would be a Legend someday!" Ajay and Natalie hugged. When Ajay returned from her first trip from Talos she put in a request, more of a demand, for Natalie to be in the arena. She was very impressed with the little electrical engineer and thought that she would make a bigger impact in the game. After what Ajay witnessed last night she knew she had made the right request. Natalie was beyond talented. "I am so happy for ya Natalie. I knew ya could do it."

Natalie stood up and looked at both of them. "I came in to tell you that we would be leaving sooner than scheduled. With the events of last night, HQ felt it be safer if everyone took a leave earlier than originally planned." Ajay stood up and started grabbing her things. Natalie giggled at her. "Not for another two hours Ajay." Octavio burst out laughing as Ajay threw herself back down onto the floor, "Awww Che!" Natalie smiled, "Just kidding. It really is time to get going." Octavio laughed even harder as Ajay's face went blank, "She got you good Che." By the time Octavio could regain his composure Ajay was out the door with her stuff. "Come on Che, don't be like that." Octavio and Natalie followed her out.

It was a long flight home and everyone was quiet and maybe tired. Octavio sat on one side of Ajay and Natalie sat on the other side. Ajay rested her head on Octavio's shoulder as they held hands. She didn't care if people knew about their relationship or not. She had waited too long to be with him. Natalie, for some reason, wanted to hold Ajay's hand; so Ajay held her hand. Natalie's other arm was occupied with a decent sized Nessie stuffed animal. Ajay didn't ask her where she got it, she figured if Natalie wanted to share that information she would. Ajay fell asleep against Octavio as the ship hummed her a soft lullaby.

As they stepped out of the ship and into the hanger Ajay could see the excitement in Natalie's eyes. Octavio and Ajay walked hand in hand as they followed the excited little electrical engineer. When they entered the loading area Ajay was stopped by one of the office staff who wanted her to attend an impromptu meeting. Octavio reassured Ajay that he would meet her at her apartment. He gathered their belongings and left. Ajay assumed that she would be entertaining the debriefing team but as the office personnel led her down the hallway to an office that she had never been in, she began to get a little worried.

Ajay found herself in an office that wasn't a debriefing room. She was a little anxious and tired. She eyed a name plate on the desk in front of her that said Blisk. She stood and waited for what seemed like a very long time. She couldn't fathom sitting down at this point. When the door finally opened a tall, well-built man entered. He was adorned in a black suit and his hair was silver and slicked back. He offered Ajay his hand and she took it with a firm shake, "Ajay Che. Kuban Blisk. Most just call me Blisk. Have a seat." He motioned to the chair in front of his desk as he took a seat in the chair behind his desk. She sat down as he did. He eyed her up for a moment, "Now normally I do my own scouting. It should have been me that formally invited me to the games but when you popped up on my radar I was out on business." Ajay nodded, she felt like his was all small talk and it really wouldn't matter what she said to him.

"You have an impressive resume. Your medical experience. The Frontier Corporation. The work that you have done with the scrapped titans." He paused and watched her blank face. "We need to have a discussion about your little stunt back at the benefactor party." Ajay was stunned but she didn't let her face show it. "What stunt?" Blisk leaned on his arms facing her. His voice was low and a matter-of-fact, "The guns. There were no guns permitted there last night but you somehow managed to get them onto the premises. I don't know how you did it and I don't really care." Ajay leaned back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest, "Didn't think there were prowlers permitted there either but they showed up ta the party. Or did they show up when the party was over? Maybe they brought the guns?"

Blisk laughed but it was not a funny laugh, he was mocking her. He moved himself closer to her from across the desk, "Little girl. You do not want to mess with The Syndicate. This is your first and last warning." He motioned with his hand for her to leave his office. She got up, her face was still a blank slate. As she reached for the handle of the door he spoke again, "Go ahead and take a break from your next match. You have a lot to think about." He paused for just a moment, "That's not a request." Ajay grasped the handle tightly as she pulled it down to open the door. She shut the door behind her as she walked out. She resisted the urge to kick the shit out of the door. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. She headed off to the store before meeting Octavio at her apartment.