“Baikal.” He held his gaze. “Make a deal with me.”
“I will not have you trading something of yours for that scum,” he stated.
“Then don’t. Just listen to me and what I want. Let’s take him to Void Hospital and get him checked in. He needs help. We’re in a position where we can help him. It’s an option.”
“Not one I agree with.”
“It’s a choice,” Rabbit reiterated, “and you promised you would let me make those from now on.”
Baikal searched his face and then asked a bit quieter, “This isn’t because you have feelings for him, is it?”
Rabbit scowled. “What, no. Never. Seriously, it was never like that for me.”
Void seemed like he needed more convincing, so Rabbit eased in closer and rested a hand on his left hip.
“You’re my first,” he told him.
“And I’ll be your last,” Baikal practically growled.
“Yeah,” Rabbit nodded. “Yeah, you will.”
Later, when they weren’t in the middle of an actual crisis, Rabbit wanted to tell him that he’d already come to that conclusion on his own earlier. He wanted to tell him how he’d realized he’d missed him and was worried. How he’d wanted to speak with him about nothing and everything all at once.
How he’d already decided to choose Baikal Void, freely, and of his own volition.
But since doing so in front of an audience would be way too embarrassing, Rabbit held it in. For now.
“All right.” Baikal slowly lowered his arm. “Have it your way, little bunny.”
He sighed and smiled. “Thank—”
“Shit!” Flix cursed and by the time Rabbit turned to see what was up, the Brumal member was already flat on his back on the ground.
Somehow, Oli had gotten the jump on him and he was now holding the blaster. He lifted his arm and the weapon their way, but he wasn’t aiming at Rabbit this time.
He was targeting Baikal instead.
Oli let out a scream and pulled the trigger.
The whole thing happened in a flash, including Rabbit’s reaction to it.
One second he was watching in horror and the next he’d thrown himself in front of Baikal. The bullet meant for Void grazed Rabbit’s shoulder, the searing pain instantaneous, though he hardly noticed. Before anyone else could react, he snatched the blaster out of Baikal’s hand, raised the weapon, and fired off three consecutive shots.
Oli’s body jerked as his chest was hit by all three, his body thrown backward until he was lying on the stage yet again. Only this time, he didn’t move.
Rabbit was heaving, his breaths uneven, his mind racing, and blood was dripping from his right arm, but the left still held the gun up as though a part of him expected Oli to stand after all. The guy had risen from the grave once, what was to say he couldn’t do it again?
“Rabbit,” Baikal called to him, but he wasn’t listening.
“Check him,” he ordered Flix, only barely processing how the Brumal member was staring at him like he’d grown a third head or something. “Do it!”
Flix leaped into action and followed the order, kneeling, careful to avoid the pool of blood. He pressed two fingers against Oli’s pulse point, waited a beat, and then shook his head. “He’s dead.”
“You’re positive?” Rabbit asked.
Instead of insisting he was or being affronted, Flix lowered his ear down to Oli’s chest and listened. “Yeah. He’s for sure dead.”
Rabbit dropped the weapon and swayed on his feet. The only reason he didn’t stumble and fall was the fact Baikal caught him. “I get it now.”
