# GREED AND CHARITY

Author: LiveIron
Tags: Anger, Angst, Anthrostate, Blood and Injury, Car Chases, Dark past, Gun, Horror, Human, Interspecies, Interspecies Awkwardness, Large Breasts, Magic, Old Friends, Pain, Paranormal, Possession, Resurrection, Size Difference, Spies & Secret Agents, Tiger, Tigress, Transformation, butt slapping, driving, fights, firearm, healing, monsters

'On'

\>You pull around back, hiding from the road.

 

\>You're not sure it'll help, but at least passerbys won't get curious about the car full of bulletholes and clawmarks.

 

\>Something bumps and knocks as the engine spins down. The electronics still work, thankfully.

 

\>You tune the radio to Steele's frequency, but hesitate.

 

\>"Rebecca?"

 

\>You slide open the cab window and look back. The weak interior lights reveal red, orange, white, and black.

 

\>"Rebecca, you awake?"

 

\>The tigress doesn't respond. She's curled up in the bed and filling most of it. Her legs almost brush the ceiling.

 

\>Her chest moves slowly.

 

\>You grunt and turn back to the radio.

 

\>"Steele, this is Hummingbird. Put some distance between me and the threat. Can report, now."

 

\>Her voice is strained over the airwaves.

 

\>"Receiving, Hummingbird. What exactly happened?"

 

\>"Radio cut out the further I went into the AO. After I got attacked, I needed to secure the place to run scans."

 

\>"I caught that," she says.

 

\>"Went inside and found a --"

 

\>You pause, choosing your words.

 

\>"--A civilian engaged with a paranormal threat. She's still with me, condition unstable."

 

\>"Unstable how?"

 

\>"Some form of catatonic state. Breathing, heart's beating, but consciousness seems in and out."

 

\>"I'll add a medical attachment to your extraction," the white tigress sighs. "Now, the manor."

 

\>"She gave me a lot of intel, that's why I brought her up. The paranormal threat she was fighting when I got there was her husband. Died a year ago, supposedly. Apparently not all the way."

 

\>"He have a name?"

 

\>"Patrick Madlovich."

 

\>Steele grunts on the other end, and orders someone to search it up while you relay the spelling.

 

\>"He was in charge of the corrupted civvies I came across. Turns and controls them with his staff, guessing that's what was causing the anomalies."

 

\>"What's his goal?"

 

\>"It -- civilian says it's from his past life. He saw anthros as monsters, and now he's got the means to prove it."

 

\>Steele manages a chuckle.

 

\>You know what she's asking next.

 

\>"What's her name? And what's her connection?"

 

\>"Rebecca," you say after a moment. "She -- I met her before everything happened. Briefly."

 

\>Her hum comes through mostly as static.

 

\>"And how did she engage the primary threat and survive?"

 

\>"Alright, alright," you growl. "She's extrahuman too. But tell the medical team to use agent procedures."

 

\>"You don't get to make that call, Hummingbird."

 

\>Fuck.

 

\>You hammer the door.

 

\>You knew she'd be like this.

 

\>"Steele, you're not bringing her back as a specimen. She's -- she was cognizant. No mind drift, no possession, she was clean!"

 

\>"You weren't issued bioscanning equipment. You don't know that."

 

\>"I _talked_ with her. She gave me that intel."

 

\>"Hummingbird... assuming no psychic interference, you're influenced by --"

 

\>"Yes, I'm influenced by my past!"

 

\>You take a breath. Your throat hurts.

 

\>"But that doesn't matter, Steele. She saved my life. She disabled the threat."

 

\>"And I lugged her ass through a burning building to save her."

 

\>Your heart beats in your ear.

 

\>"You're not wiping her fucking mind."

 

\>It’s a few moments before you hear a sigh over the radio.

 

\>"I will consider it," is all she says.

 

\>It means she's coming out herself.

 

\>Good.

 

\>"Now stay where you are and don't cause any more damage."

 

\>"Understood."

 

\>You set the radio down and collapse back into the seat with a sigh.

 

\>The debate isn't over. You'll have convincing to do when she arrives.

 

\>But between the amount you’ve done and the escape from the mansion, you've earned a little --

 

\>"Thank you."

 

\>You jump and look to the rear window; Rebecca is pressed halfway against it, eyes glinting in the weak cabin light.

 

\>How the hell she moved so quiet, you're not sure.

 

\>"You're awake," you manage.

 

\>"Yeah," she says.

 

\>Her voice is light. You can't tell if it's from nerves, weakness, or both.

 

\>"What's going to happen to me?" she asks.

 

\>She can't hide the fear in her eyes.

 

\>"You're going to 'disappear' like me," you say.

 

\>"Are they going to --"

 

\>"No."

 

\>You grab onto the window ledge, then offer your hand to her.

 

\>"No. I promise, Rebecca. I promise they won't do that. You'll get to decide."

 

\>She hesitates, but takes your hand.

 

\>Her grip is firm and warm.

 

\>You turn away when she lets go, whispering "just like I did."

 

\>"What do you mean?"

 

\>Damn those feline ears.

 

\>"What happened, Anon?"

 

\>You groan, then turn back to her.

 

\>"You want to do this inside?"

 

\>Her eyes narrow.

 

\>But she says yes.

 

\>You hop out of the truck, gingerly testing your ankle as you walk around to the back.

 

\>The morning air is brisk.

 

\>Just like it was that morning.

 

\>You grunt.

 

\>Your whole body tenses.

 

\>Footsteps like funeral bells.

 

\>Knocking like gunshots.

 

\>"Anon?"

 

\>Rebecca's voice is muffled.

 

\>"Anon, are you out there?"

 

\>"Yes -- sorry."

 

\>You open the trunk and step aside.

 

\>You notice new holes in her clothes -- bullet shaped ones.

 

\>There's blood, but the fur around them is clean.

 

\>You sigh. Bioscanners _would_ be nice.

 

\>"Sorry about, uh..."

 

\>Rebecca's voice trails off as she wrenches the sword from the cab.

 

\>You grunt.

 

\>"I'm already in trouble. Drop in the bucket."

 

\>You motion for her to follow you to the back door.

 

\>The exposure suit's zipper is quiet, but the slight jingling of the keys isn't.

 

\>Your hands shake.

 

\>"This is some kind of safehouse, right?" Rebecca asks.

 

\>"Yeah," you breathe.

 

\>The inside is just as you remember.

 

\>Just like last time.

 

\>Just as you'd like to remember it.

 

\>You've got the forethought to step aside and let Rebecca in while you push things down in your mind.

 

\>She's not talking to you.

 

\>Rebecca looks idly at the mild mess on the coffee table, blowing off the layer of dust.

 

\>Is she pissed? Or just resting?

 

\>Rebecca gingerly places her huge blade on the table and sits down on the couch.

 

\>Her tail flicks as it creaks, but the worn sofa holds.

 

\>You knew it would.

 

\>Her ears stand straight when she notices you standing there, and closes herself up.

 

\>Offers you a spot.

 

\>You stare at the empty, old cushion.

 

\>_Say something._

 

\>_Please._

 

\>"Anon?"

 

\>You look up.

 

\>"Are you alright?" Rebecca asks.

 

\>"Y-yeah," you say.

 

\>You don't bother with an excuse. You just get onto the couch.

 

\>"So..." the tigress asks after a minute. "What... happened, Anon?"

 

\>"What will happen?"

 

\>"With luck, you'll end up like me," you say. "The agency usually spares civilians that get caught up in paranormal events.”

 

\>”But your case is different. You're not technically a civilian anymore, Rebecca. You're a new... ‘paranormal actor.’ An unknown actor."

 

\>"And despite F.E.R.A.L.'s specialty being the unknown, they can't stand it."

 

\>The tigress stays quiet, clasping her hands to her stomach.

 

\>The burns are mostly gone. Her fur is pristine in the half-light of the moon.

 

\>"What does that mean, Anon?"

 

\>"It means they're going to be cautious," you sigh. "Even though I'll fight for you, there'll still be bullshit to go through."

 

\>Rebecca chuckles.

 

\>"You just can't escape the bureaucracy, huh?"

 

\>You laugh; you're surprised.

 

\>It’s been a while.

 

\>"No,” you chuckle. “Add that to death and taxes."

 

\>Her smile is warm.

 

\>Like when you first met her in the sunshine on the range.

 

\>When she'd first gotten everything on target, when you told her she was getting the hang of it.

 

\>"Why are they calling you 'Hummingbird?'"

 

\>You blink, and you're back in the house.

 

\>"Codenames," you say quickly. "You take one on when you become an agent."

 

\>The tigress hums.

 

\>"You don't see it that way," she says.

 

\>You look up, finding her gaze firm. An ear flicks.

 

\>It was a statement, not a question.

 

\>"What happened, Anon?"

 

\>You take an internal breath.

 

\>"Why did you fight for me?"

 

\>She doesn't know. She wouldn't.

 

\>"Why did you disappear?"

 

\>"Because I fucked up!"

 

\>It comes out more explosive than you intend.

 

\>"I... I was targeted by an entity. A ghost. Used one of my guns as a host."

 

\>Silver moonlight. The scent of black powder.

 

\>"I listened to it. Used it to do what I wanted."

 

\>Moaning. Shattering glass.

 

\>Old metal and wood.

 

\>You gasp. You didn't know you were holding your breath.

 

\>A weight lands on your shoulder and you tense.

 

\>Rebecca's green eyes catch yours when you look up.

 

\>"Anon?"

 

\>She catches you.

 

\>You nod, taking a breath.

 

\>You're not what matters here.

 

\>"I wanted revenge, Rebecca," you say. "I wanted Patricia."

 

\>Her eyes widen.

 

\>"I wanted wrath."

 

\>"And I got it," you say, clenching your fists. After a moment, you sigh.

 

\>"It didn't do anything good. She -- the entity had taken control of me. Taken advantage of those desires."

 

\>You chuckle.

 

\>"And when I figured it out, she showed me she'd always had the leash."

 

\>"That's why I said that stuff when I was patching you up, Rebecca. That's why I tried to get you to stop."

 

\>Her snout wrinkles.

 

\>"If you let it control you, it will consume you. And there'll be nothing left."

 

\>You brave her harsh expression.

 

\>"Why do you think you collapsed after you got your revenge?"

 

\>She blinks. She huffs and turns away, her expression still snarly.

 

\>Her tail flicks between the two of you.

 

\>"That's not everything," she says. "How did it end, Anon?"

 

\>Your heart races.

 

\>Words catch in your throat.

 

\>"Anon?"

 

\>Your hands burn on polymer.

 

\>Spectral claws dig into your bones.

 

\>"Anon."

 

\>You gasp when she grabs you again. It takes a second for it to be comforting.

 

\>Rebecca's ears are flat, her green eyes mournful.

 

\>"I -- I'm sorry," she says, turning away. "I shouldn't have --"

 

\>"This."

 

\>You hold up your hand and summon Talia.

 

\>"This is how it ended, Rebecca."

 

\>The soft glow of the Kolibri illuminates her features.

 

\>Talia is still silent.

 

\>"I fucked up," you sigh, closing your hand around the tiny gun. "I came here, and shot Talia."

 

\>Rebecca gasps quietly; you grit your teeth.

 

\>"Virina toyed with me. Pretended like I'd have a chance to slip from her control. But it was happening either way."

 

\>"Then I... tried to end it. Make sure she couldn't use me to hurt anyone else.”

 

\>"I shot myself."

 

\>Rebecca's grunt is soft.

 

\>You open your palm and let the moment stand.

 

\>You stroke the gilded grips of the gun, wishing she'd answer you.

 

\>"Still don't know how, but Talia ended up in here," you say, gesturing to the Kolibri. "Gave me a headache instead of a one-way ticket to the Styx."

 

\>"Virina -- the entity from before -- she was trapped."

 

\>You sigh. Talia disappears in a small flash.

 

\>"That's how it ended."

 

\>"That's why I did what I did. Said what I said."

 

\>"Because I don't want you to end up like me."

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/Vm2P6EN1
Part of the series Negligent Discharge: Repent
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