solraised.

   Yuck.  Rey couldn’t believe it, it was supposed to be some simple lunch, not a chance for him to get some later on. Granted, Rey’s a grown girl, she shouldn’t be giving her father a hard time. Lord knows it’s already getting sparse with age. So she sighs, tries to ignore  it – despite the irritation growing in her features. The waitress seemed oblivious to this, however. She bats her eyes, smiles at him, wooed by his flirtations.  ‘ Fine. I’ll have the western burger then, with tots – not fries. ’  Scarred hands slap the menu back together, roughly  shoving it into her arms. ‘ I prefer Arby’s curly fries over here’s. Y’all cook it raw or something. ’ Okay, maybe she’s a bit bitter at this point. 

                IGNORANCE    OF    HIS    DAUGHTER    _{continues,    clueless   of   her   blatant   irritation,    of   her    sudden   attitude,    until   its   broken,   for   the   span   of   a   breath,    at   the   sound   of   her   closing   her   menu.    both   pair   of   guilty   heads   turn   to   face   rey    /    tint   of   rose   creeping   into   both   sets   of   cheeks.    wasn’t   the   first   time   he’d   gone   fishing    &    caught   a   dandy   in   front   of   rey,    but   with   where   their   conversation   was   headed      –––––––      it   might   be   the   last.     cleared   throat   sounds   with   a   swallow,    his   own   menu,    however   useless,    is   closed   softly   before   its   handed   to   the   blonde.}            ❝        _{–––––––     thanks,    darlin’.}        ❞          _{with   their   orders   in   hand,   the   waitress   leaves,    &    jack’s   gaze   returns,    at   last,    to   rey,    nothing   short   of   a   little   shameful.}           ❝        _{sorry   ‘bout   that,    kiddo.}        ❞

solraised.

   She thinks she’s lost him, as if she were witnessing her father’s very last  moments. It’s in the way his body limps, the weight of his lids fluttering shut, the lack of a dialogue spilling from his lips  —  its a far cry  from his usually bright self. The warmth he’d emit was now gone, melting away with the time that ticks on. She’s covered in his blood, hands stained and shaking. Tears spilling down her freckled cheeks  —  why him ?  Why her ?  Why did they have to be the ones to lose, to suffer. Had they suffered enough ?  Bitterness and rage fills her already aching soul. Rey thinks she’s run out of time, as if her blind attack on Charlie had wasted more time  if anything. But it’s the bang of the doors that bring her back, eyes shooting up quickly, meeting the familiar visage of Ginger and Eggsy. 

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                LOST    /    MET    WITH    THE    BLACK    OF    DEATH,     _{space    &    time   void   in   his   faint.    the   moment   before   he’d   unwillingly   slipped   into   such   a   starless   sky   sense   picked   up   two   things     (   two   things   he’d   ultimately   forget   )    :    the   trickling   of   tears   down   his   daughter’s   cheeks    &    the   echo   of   a   double   set   of   heavy   steps.    now,    mind   blanks     ––––––     vision   struggles   to   see   anything   at   all.    is   this   the   life   of   the   dead   ?    this   never - ending   spiral   of   nothingness,    the   torture   of   being   on   the   brink,    but   agonizingly   never - forming   thoughts,    not   quite   unconscious,    but   never   conscious   ?    the   looming    /    delayed   arrival   of   memories   is   near   unbearable.}

                SOON,    THEY    COME.     _{slowly     –––––     too   slowly     –––––     flashes   of   color,    of   light,    fill   the   empty    :    the   records   of   life,    the   evidence   he’d   been   there.    it’s   a   slideshow   with   a   slow   beginning,    pace   picking   up   as   the   images   continue   with   increased   fervor,    from   early   life   to   college   to     –––––     rey.   the   evening   paths   crossed    ;    the   evening   halls   went   up   in   flames,    the   evening   of   seeking   refuge,    of   banging   on   her   door.    poppy’s   diner   is   showcased   next,    after   an   intensity   of   images   shown   so   fast   he’s   sure   his   head’s   spinning   even   if   he   can’t   feel   it   there.    he   sees,   in   an   apparition   above   the   chaos,   himself   die.    he   feels   the   pain   like   molten   setting   ghostly   skin   ablaze     –––––     feels   the   light   within   himself   go   out.  .   .}

                 TIGHTENED    CHEST    RESTRICTS     _{harsh   inhalation   from   beneath   bandages   wound   ‘round   torso,    the   white   of   fluorescents   a   burn   to   newly - opened   eyes.    adjustment   to   exposure   takes   a   moment,    rushed   blinking   an   assistant   to   such   a   conquered   feat.    once   situated,    a   softer   groan   flits   up   from   a   dry   throat    &    from   between   dry   lips,    the   dulled   ache   coursing   through   veins   a   small   shock   that’s   registered   in   the   span   of   few   breaths   that   seem   unusually   hard   to   pull   in.    given   a   few   minutes,    gathered    &   collected   as   best   he   can,    the   presence   next   to   his   bedside   becomes   apparent    &    it   doesn’t   take   much   to   guess.}           ❝        _{––––    rey   ?}         ❞

solraised.

   She couldn’t hear him at first. Her mind too focused on the bionic man before her, desperately trying to put him down  before she returns to her father’s side. But oh, how little  did she know that time was ticking away quickly for the older man. Gunfire echos in the air, mixing with the putrid stench of blood  and smoke. She’s thrown, once or twice, dodging whatever fire or fists came at her. She was trained for it – ready  for it. Just like he taught her. It was almost bittersweet in a way, how well she’s done and yet, this could be the very last thing Jack sees. Her, fighting, clawing her way through Charlie’s attacks, all for him. 

    But there was no way  Rey was letting him die. Not on her watch, not in the middle of this tacky ass diner in God knows where. Jack Daniels would die an old retired man, she swore by it. He’d see her grow, she swore it. She promised  it. And her promises ultimately fueled her, pushing her until finally – finally, she gets him. A gunshot through the head, blood splattering unceremoniously across the floor. 

   The gun is now tossed aside, just like him – it’s trash  now. Empty, useless. Poppy is an afterthought now, her eyes bearing into her. She’d get her later. They’d all get her later. But for now she turns, facing her bleeding father, panic soon settling in her formerly harsh features. Rey rushes to him in an instant, her breath labored as her thoughts race trying to find a quick  remedy. The closest thing is her jacket, her hands easily ripping it apart, allowing the scraps to be some sort of bandage until help arrives – if  help arrives. ‘ Dad. Dad, just stay with me. You hear ?  ’ Pressure is applied, her hands over his, rubbing soft circles  into his stained flesh. Tears prick at her eyes, a level of vulnerability among her features as she presses her comm piece once more. She couldn’t lose him. ‘ Ginger !  Ginger, he’s down !  I need help – Dad stay with me okay ?  It’ll be fine. I swear it. ’

                  ABSENCE    OF    THE    ALPHA    GEL    _{stuck   securely   to   the   inside   of   his   hat,    whose   location   remains   unbeknownst   to   him     ––––     must’ve   fallen   off   sometime   in   the   scuffle   that   landed   him   in   this   mess,    is   felt   with   the   same   red - hot   agony   burning   ‘round   the   hole   in   him.    colors,    lights,    names,    &    faces   bleed   together,    the   black   of   ink   splotching   into   the   corners   of   fading   vision.    heruclean   effort   is   required   to   stay   conscious,    to   keep   dark   tendrils   from   snaking   around   legs,    to   drag   him   into   that   nothingness    he’d   been   so   willing   to   jump   into   only   moments   before.    but   now   she   was   here   with   him     ––––     alive    &    safe,    regardless   of   how   it  seemed   his   previous   sacrifice   seemed   to   be   catching   up   with   him   now.    karma   hurts   like   a   bitch.}

                  IT’S    ON    REY    THAT    FOCUS     _{attempts   to   center   itself   on,    no   matter   how   fuzzy   the   picture   may   be,   or   how   the   unconscious   bobbing   of   his   head   against   his   restraints   prevented   sight   from   being   aligned   with   her,    or   how   the   pungent   smell   of   nickel    &   gun   powder   made   everything   that   much   woozier.    eyelids   grow   heavier    &    heavier,    no   matter   how   hard   he   tries   to   fight   it,    fluttering   open    &    close   in   a   constant   battle   of   his   body’s   desire   to   quell   the   pain   while   keeping   his   heart   pumping.    he   can   hear   its   flittering   thrum   like   the   ringing   out   of   the   shots   rey   fired   up   against   his   ears    &    it’s   all   a   little   too   much   to   bear,    the   weight   overpowering     ––––}

solraised.

   She tries hard to play it off, despite the fact it eats her alive. Rey knows her father isn’t well, not after what – he did. Anger boils inside of her, like some insidious force. How long will she be able to cope with it ?  She doesn’t know. Rey hates seeing  him so miserable, truly. He doesn’t sleep, he barely eats. He suffers because of a single mistake, because of a false accusation. She cannot forgive that. ‘ Come on, dad. You trained me, didn’t you ? ’ Her voice is soft. It’s a softness reserved only for him, and him alone. Anyone else was met with the harsher, more demanding tone of Rey Daniels. But here, she’s his daughter. Bright eyed, and smiling. ‘ Please sleep. ’ A hand reaches, caressing  his cheek softly. ‘ We’re safe here, I promise. No one’s coming, we’re safe.’

                 TENSION    LEAVES    BODY    _{in   heat - ridden   waves,    white - knuckled   fists   only   clench   /   unclench   as   rey   serves   as   a   reminder,    a   force   of   gravity   grounding   him   to   the   plane   of   reality.    a   flicker   of   remembrance   casts   a   shadow   over   contorted   features,    easing   into   trust   for   but   a   moment   that   lasts   no   longer   than   the   span   of   his   elongated   breath,    not   quite   of   relief   just   yet.    calloused   palm   takes   up   a   feather - light   clasp   on   his   daughter’s   palm,    careful   to   gently   break   the   contact   she   created   before   turning   back   to   the   gloom,    grave   determination   carved   into   expression.}          ❝        _{i   can’t   sleep     ––––     i’m   telling   ‘ya,    rey,    i   was   followed.    ––––     will   y’grab   my   .45   ?}        ❞

solraised.

   He’s cursing. That’s never good – or rather, it indicates something more, something concerning. Hazel eyes trail, watching him move from the dining table to the fridge. It’s difficult seeing him like this, it’s hard watching him wither away. His comment only seems to cement her prior assumptions – fear had won over. At least, for him it has. ‘ Dad, don’t say that. ’ But, Rey knew there was little to argue at this point. She wants to push  him, to encourage him – just as he always did with her. ‘ You and I know better than that. You aren’t a quitter. ’  Her teeth grit at that last word, emphasizing it with a small bang on the table. Her fist clenched tight, nails digging  into her scarred palm. She’s tired, she knows he is too but – Rey’s exhausted. The last thing she wants is to lose her father like this.

   How selfish of her. 

   ‘ You gotta fight it, dad. You gotta. There’s no excusing  it, or allowing anything other than that You have to fight it. ’ Her head shook violently, as if to shake away any doubt. She is going to push him, she’s going to work  with him, and by God if she isn’t going to fight for him. If she’s gotta chew out Champ herself, then so be it. But she’s made up her mind, right then and there. ‘ I ain’t giving up on you. ’

               THE    BANG    ON    THE     TABLE     _{is   the   only   thing   that   turns   jack   around   to   face   rey,    but    expression    remains    unchanged.}          ❝        _{‘m   not   quitting   if   there’s   nothin’   left   to   fight   for.    you    &    i   both   know   i   ain’t   been   the   same   since     ––––}        ❞          _{he   pauses,    punctuated   with   a   wavering   breath    &    a   small   shake   of   his   head.}          ❝        _{i’m   making   mistakes     ––––     there’s   too   many   lives   m’riskin’.}         ❞

               A    DAMAGED    EGO    _{is   the   result   of   going   from   top   field   agent   to   the   bottom   of   the   bay   with   a   one  -  way   ticket     /     unbearable   guilt   the   consequence   of   what   he’d   done     (   his   fault   or   not   ).    the   remedy   won’t   be   found   on   the   other   side   of   a   monitor   in   a   chair   like   ginger’s,    &    it   won’t   be   found   at   the   head   of   that   ostentatious   boardroom   table   telling   people   what   to   do.    out   there,    kicking   ass    &    taking   names,    guns   blazing    :    that’s   where   his   life   was.    but   with   the   situation   at   hand,    to   return   was   foolish   for   both   him    &    everyone   involved    ;    if   he   didn’t   die,    somebody   else   would     ––––     all   at   the   cost   of   his   inevitable   fuck  -  up.    voice   never   raises   above   that   quiet   softness,    even   as   rey’s   does.}          ❝        _{there   ain’t   nothin’   you   or   anybody   else   can   do,    kiddo.    ‘m   done   for.}         ❞

solraised.

   She’s got her head stuck in the menu, hazel eyes quickly scanning  the pictures for whatever looked appetizing. So far, she’s stuck on the burgers, trying to decide on whether she wanted to build her own or not – she could have just gone home and done it, really. Why waste time on that ?  But she sighs, eyes lifting to meet her father’s, a frown tugging at her lips. Was he even looking ?  Sure, she noticed their waitress was kinda  cute, blonde, probably a little older than she was. Rey wasn’t going to comment on it, not now anyway. ‘ Have you decided yet ?  Their western burger looks alright. ’

               GAZE    REMAINS    DISTRACTED    ELSEWHERE,    _{menu   as   good   as   discarded   after   his   opening   line   on   their   waitress   lands    &    focus   lingers   on   her   instead   of   what   he’s   going   to   order.    he’s   got   enough   coquetry   under   his   belt   over   the   years   to   keep   the   blonde   at   least   amused    &    half - blushing.    ignorance   of   his   daughter   in   the   seat   across   from   him   is   not   purposeful   ;   jack’s   merely   too   wrapped   up   in   his   shameless   flirtation   to   multi - task.}          ❝       _{huh   ?     ––––     oh,    i   reckon   whatever   this   pretty   lady   recommends   is   my   best   bet,   yeah   ?}       ❞          _{(    simper   /   side - eye   is   directed   to   the   other   woman,    attention   once   again   stolen    )}

solraised.

   THERE’S A SURREAL calm that comes over her, as her ears listen close. His words are too soft, too loving. She knows what’s coming, she can feel the PAIN  crawling up her spine, paired with the growing weight in her stomach. She grows panicky from this, the feeling UNSETTLING. It sirs an in her heart as an immediate reaction to it all. It pushes her, pushes her to go faster, focus HARDER. Get to him– maybe he’ll have a chance. Either way, whoever was holding that gun, would die an slow and agonizing death, that she swore. But the hard part was making it in time. Her feet POUNDED  against the hard surface of the floor, her heart beating against her chest, as if it’d jump right out and splat in front of her. Even then, she doubted she’d stop. Her hands fumbled for her own pistol, filling it with whatever ammo she HAD. This was all she prepared, a pistol,  a few grenades, a knife strapped to her ankle. Maybe it’d be ENOUGH. So, Rey went, and went, until she finally makes it to the shut doors of the diner. The blurred glass making it difficult to see clear, but she could make out the hazed outline of her father,  and the man that HOVERED OVER.

    Rey kicks  it open within an instant, her thoughts blinded by the raw fear and ANGER  surging through her. There was no time to think, no time to PLAN. She followed her instincts, her urges. She’s met with a surprised Charlie, who’s reaction is far too slow in blocking Rey’s flurry of bullets. In the process, his own firearm goes off, sending a bullet straight  into Jack’s shoulder. But Rey is too honed in on him, almost to the point where she ignores Poppy’s barking orders, as well as the oncoming wave of her COHORTS. And so she goes, focusing on him, and only him. 

               TIME    EVER    FELT   :   MINUTES     _{melt   into   seconds,    each   beat   in   his   chest   a   heavy   drum   ringing   in   ears   otherwise   thrumming.    head   bows   against   the   pistol’s   barrel,    the   ever  -  leaden   presence   of   death   like   bricks   on   defeated   shoulders.    the   reaper,    that   white   light,    is   welcomed,    sacrifice   deemed   necessary   for   the   situation   at   hand     (    dying   having   done   all   possible,    dying   for   the   greater   good,    &    most   importantly,    dying   so   rey   could   live    ).    the   storm   within   veins   settles   to   a   breeze    :    fingers   losing   their   white  -  knuckle   clench,    posture   failing   to   keep   shoulders   squared.    there’s   the   nagging   recognition   each   breath   could   very   well   be   his   last.}

               UNTIL    LEAD    WHIZZES     _{past   his   ears    &    that   dread   of   i’m   going   to   die   turns   into   confusion    that   sends   the   swivel   joint   in   jack’s   neck   into   action,    seeing   rey   burst   in   with   guns    ablazing.     only,    bewilderment   melts   into   shock   ;   at   the   sound   of   another   gunshot,   features   corkscrew   into   a   taut   picture   of   pain     ––––     an   ugly   canvas   of   mortality,    splattered   with   subclavian   blood.    heat   sears   through   the   twisted   flesh   marked   with   the   black   of   gun   powder,    shirt   beneath   torn   from   the   .45′s   entrance.   had   jack   not   been   secured   to   the   chair,    the   linoleum   floor   would’ve   made   for   his   company   instead   of   the   cool   metal    &   rough   rope.    not   his   first   time   to   the   flesh   wound   rodeo,    but   this   time   felt   different     ––––     &    a   glance   to   the   excesses   of   red   running   down   his   exposed   arm   tells   him   all   he   needs   to   know   :   a   nicked   artery.    gruff    &    weak,    he   manages   to   call   out,}           ❝        _{rey   ––}        ❞