Work Text:
ClickClickClick.
“Shit!”
ClickClickClick.
“I got him, stay back!” Rebecca commanded. Billy dipped to the side in time for her to unload a round right into the corpse's rotten head.
The wall behind it splashed with a thin layer of dark red and chunks of gray. Remnants of brain matter flew as the creature fell limp to the ground. The sight was grotesque, yet, one she's unfortunately gotten used to. Instead of the violent crime scene, her focus went to Billy with a concern that teetered on alarm. Billy shook his head as he examined the beretta and pulled the slide back. The bullets were nestled tight in the chamber and he slid it closed.
“We need to fall back. Goddamn gun ‘s jammed.” He said finally. “I gotta fuck with it a bit otherwise it’s useless. And I don’t plan on being a sitting duck while I do it.”
“Talk about bad timing.” Rebecca relented.
“Story of my life.” He sighed then gestured her to the door a few feet away. “Ladies first.”
They took the short trip back to the main hall where it was safer, at least for now. Billy beelined for the table that had a typewriter and turned the desk lamp, Rebecca not far behind. Within seconds he was picking the bullets out of the chamber. The brass casings rolled back and forth on the desk as he dismantled the firearm with practiced ease. It was a task that she still struggled with during training and yet here was Billy doing it record time.
“Goddamn MPs were shit at maintaining these things.” Billy huffed.
“What do you need to do?"
He looked up at her as the corner of his lip tugged into what could be mistaken as an awkward half-smile. “I’ll need to give it a good cleaning. Something tells me it’s been a minute since this girl's had any kind of TLC, and she’s mighty frustrated."
“You sure know how to treat a lady. Wish you gave real women that kind of respect.”
“Plenty of women get that respect.” He scoffed. “You’re just not my type.”
“You’re an ass.” She crossed her arms with a huff. “Anyways, how can I help?"
“Nah, I think I’ll be okay. Some cloth should be fine. It won’t take long to get her back up and running.” Billy examined the empty chamber as he spoke.
“Alrighty. Then I guess I'll do some backtracking and see if there's anything we missed.”
Billy’s eyes narrowed as he cocked his head to the side. “You sure that’s a good idea, Doc?”
With a shrug she made her way to the other side of the hall. “I won’t be long. Figure I could cover some ground while I give you two some alone time.” She nodded toward the weapon in his hand. “And who knows, maybe I’ll find the key that gets us the hell out of here."
“Or a bazooka to blast these fuckers along the way.” He chuckled. “Alright, but don’t go far okay, kid? Call me if you need me.”
“Roger that.” She threw a thumbs up and made her way to the only other door on that floor. She’d been meaning to walk through this hall again since they were in a rush the first time around. Now might be as good a time as any to do a second lap. “I’ll be in here.” she called out and went through the door.
The hall was eerie and quiet and she drew her weapon with caution. They had cleared it not long ago, but if there was one thing she’s learned it was that she couldn’t be too careful around here. Whenever they shot one creature down, two showed up in its place. There was a sharp turn down the hall, and she took note of the slick sheen that coated the floors and walls. Leeches gathered on the doorknob to what might have been the bathroom. That was enough of a sign for her to not open that door, at least for now. Another step past the door and the floor creaked, before she put her full weight down. Which meant it was from someone–or something-else's footsteps.
Frozen in place and finger on the trigger, she could hear the sound of soggy, wet boots slide across the carpet. There was a sick twist in her gut with each slow step. Either Billy was fucking with her or–
She spun around with her weapon drawn as one of the Marcus clones appeared. It stretched back its elastic arm, ready for release until it was smacked by one. Two blasts from her handgun. It stumbled back, creating distance. She took aim once more but it was fast. Faster than she as it shed its human-like shell and revealed its slithering, leech covered insides. In a blink it lunged and a gasp ripped from her throat. The barrel aimed square at its chest as another shot rang out. If the creature was in pain, it sure didn't show.
Cold, jelly-like arms wrapped her in as the sting of tiny teeth spread across her skin. Sharp sparks trickled over her back and neck like licks of flame. Rebecca's arms were tucked at her sides, unable to raise her weapon or fight it off in any way. She screamed and kicked at the creature and struggled against it to no avail. The Marcus clone opened its gaping maw as hot air expelled from its rubber throat like gas from an exhaust pipe. Tears in her eyes and lungs on fire, she screamed as toxic fumes engulfed her. Tiny bites of teeth sunk into her skin, attaching to her as the fumes seeped into every open orifice. Mouth, nose, wounds, it was everywhere at once and pushed her to-
Two loud blasts and an exasperated “ Rebecca! ” was what pulled her from her daze. Two more blasts and a heavy pain blossomed as she fell against the wall. Leeches scurried away and across the hall as a green haze hovered. When she looked up Billy’s mouth opened and closed, but the words were muffled as though buried in layers of sheets. She shook her head as the world tipped and she faced the ornate white ceiling, covered in slick. The blood in her veins ran cold as though doused in ice water.
When she blinked she was on her feet as a strong arm wrapped around her side then guided down the blue-hued hall. Another blink and her cheek smacked against the wall and the pain in her head grew. Her feet were no longer on the ground. Instead they dangled in the air as her head rested against a warm but hard surface, almost human-like. Contact that usually brought safety and comfort now burned against her freezing skin. The world continued to move around her, like the changing projector set in a play.
The world finally stopped its tilt-a-whirl and all she could see was the dark, ornate ceiling. Each breath was tight against her chest and it fanned the embers of heat that scattered across her arms. For a moment, she couldn’t tell where she was or how she’d gotten there. All she knew was the pain that twisted itself into her gut. Like the gas entered her, set on tearing her apart from the inside as it infected her. Instinctively, she rolled to her side and it sent an electric current through her nerves. She didn't know she was crying until Billy was in view, her first aid kit in hand.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I got you.” Billy’s words had the confidence his tone couldn't match, which created alarm. A strong hand gripped at her chin then turned her head left then right. “You hit your head pretty good there, how you feelin’?”
“N-not—” It trailed into a groan as her insides pulsed and tightened until she curled into herself again. Each breath was more ragged than the last as wave after wave crashed through her. A current of heat generated from the deepest parts of her belly and spread to her veins, boiling her blood.
“You’re burning up. Shit.” Billy cursed and his hands went from her cheek to her waist as he unclipped her vest. “Where does it hurt, Becca? Is it your stomach? Talk to me, baby.”
The bass in his voice, coupled with the pressure of his iron hot hands sent tremors down her spine. It grew into a knot and made home in the pit of her gut. Exacerbated when his thumb slid beneath the hem of her shirt and traced gasoline across her skin.
“There’s a few bruises, but I don’t see anything serious—” He slid the shirt down and she whimpered when he pulled away. What was happening to her? “Still, you ain’t lookin’ too good, Doc.”
“No shit.” She rasped then cried when another lurch sent her writhing on the couch. “Everything burns—”
“Dammit!” Billy turned his back on her and she wanted to scream. Sweat beaded her brow as she sat up and looked around. They were in a room they'd been in briefly before. Billy leaned over the coffee table, which moved to the side near the large windows. She watched the grooves of Billy’s back muscles ripple as he rummaged through her first aid kit. "There’s gotta be something here we can use. What exactly did that thing do? Were you bitten?”
“Not–bitten—” It hurt to talk, to breathe. “Fumes—it spit gas–”
“Gas? Shit. What did it smell like? Was it that green shit I saw there?” He continued the onslaught of questions as her veins burned something fierce. In it brewed a type of hunger she never felt before; one that grew the longer she watched Billy move to and fro in a worried fit. The ache in her gut grew more and more as her eyes slid down his shoulder, to his large bicep down to his fingers–
“Billy.” his name oozed from her lips as she inched toward him.
“Becca, what are you doing? You shouldn’t be—”
But any sound he made was white noise to her, equal to the buzz of a fly or the hum of the dying bulb above. All ignored as Billy stumbled back the closer she got. All until he fell to the floor, back against the base of the couch, his narrowed and concerned eyes glued to hers.
“I–I need you Billy.” She gasped and climbed over him on instinct, one leg on each side. It cased him between her and the cushion. Eager hands trailed up his chest then his shoulders. They slid down until her hands met his and brought them to her sides. “Please touch me.”
'I ncredulous ' wasn’t enough of a word to describe the look on Billy’s face. At first he chuckled, as though in disbelief, but stopped when she cried out as another surge of pain shot through her. “Billy if you don’t touch me now I'll fucking lose it! ”
“Becca what the hell is wrong with you?” Rebecca’s palms were tight on Billy’s, desperate to keep his hands on her as she urged him to keep touching. “ I’m not one to reject a woman’s plea, but I’m not gonna fuck you in a rotten building infested with zombies.”
Any sense he was making fell on deaf ears as Rebecca ground her hips down on Billy’s. The hands tight on his brought them up to her breasts as she moaned. “I-I can’t stop Billy– It hurts too much—”
“That’s enough.” And just like that he lifted her in a swift movement and plopped her back on the couch as Billy stood. “I don't know what the hells going on with you, but you’re starting to freak me out, Doc.”
It felt like her body was screaming from the rejection and she quieted it down. Instead she hissed in pain and snatched Billy’s hand. “Please, I can’t explain it but—I need this more than anything—”
“Rebecca—I can’t—”
In a flash, a quick click echoed in the room as the hand Rebecca held was now cuffed to the hand that the cuff dangled from. Billy did a double take as his eyes widened.
"What the fuck , Rebecca?!" The hurt buried beneath the anger wasn't enough to quell the hunger Rebecca felt, which made it easy to continue her mission.
"I'll make it up to you, just let me–" Tense and shaking hands were at his hips. Deft fingers traced the leather of his belt as she loosened the buckle. She unzipped his jeans and pressed her mouth over his hard-on. Strong hands gripped and pushed at her collar as cool metal from the cuffs pressed against her throat. She continued to lick him over his boxers and felt him twitch from the touch. Billy called her name again and she continued to pull him out of his confines until–
Oh--!
He sprung out of his boxers and was far bigger than she could have imagined. It must've been exactly what the poison inside her wanted because she descended on him in an instant. She mouthed the head of his cock with kitten licks then took him down further.
“Rebecca!” Billy gasped and his fingers threaded through her hair with a desperation reserved for only the most dire of situations. “You can’t just–” Though he protested, she could feel the thrust of his hips as his cockhead poked the back of her throat. Intrigued, she tested the waters by taking him in deeper before pulling back up with a gasp and continued to stroke him.
“I’m so sorry, Billy.” She cried. “But I feel like I'm burning. Whatever that creature did–”
Billy’s head fell back as he withheld a moan. “Must’ve been a hell of a drug if it’s got ya like—” he shook his head. “W-we really shouldn’t be doing this—”
She took him into her mouth again and he took a sharp breath. The fat of her tongue slid across his shaft as she took the taste of sweat and musk and inhaled like it was the antidote to her illness. With the sudden relief that eased the flames, it may as well been. The hand not busy with stroking Billy slipped down her cargos, passed her soaking wet panties, and pressed where she ached most. A muffled moan made Billy twitch in her hand and he twisted his hips.
"B-Becca–" Billy breathed and she could feel the last of his self-control slip beneath her palm. "--if ya keep at it I won't last–"
“Been awhile?” She mumbled as her tongue lapped at the slit.
“More or less—”
It'd probably been ages since Billy was last touched this way; and here she was already bringing him over the edge for the first time in God knows how long. The thought alone was enough to make her burst as she buried her fingers deep inside; imagined them as Billy’s as he'd finger fuck her senseless until she was a hoarse. Billy twitched in her throat and quickened the pace, choking on his girth as her tongue ran circles up and down the shaft until a bittersweet warmth coated her tongue, her fractured name echoed in her ears.
It was thick and hot as it dribbled down her chin and the ache between her legs throbbed . With Billy’s wrists bound to each other on his lap and his eyes half-lidded with lust and exhaustion, it made that aching want become a desperate need . One flick and the buttons of her cargos were undone and at her ankles as she climbed into his lap, careful to move his cuffs over his head so as to not sit on them and allow him some freedom. With another quick apology, she ground her hips over his now flaccid cock in hopes to revive it. Billy shook his head with a groan.
"Bad idea, sweetheart." Another thrust and she was breathless. "Wouldn't want ya to regret it."
But how could she possibly think about regretting this when his dick was hot and twitching against her seam, pulsed with the heat of anticipation. Billy didn't move his hands this time. Instead he kept them behind his head as he watched Rebecca with the eyes of a hawk that surveyed the land for prey. The dark storm that swirled in his irises invigorated her and she pressed her mouth against shoulder, his neck, all the way until her lips were at his clavicle. Emboldened hands pulled at the hem of his shirt as the rhythm of his rapid heartbeat placed her in a dizzying spell and she wanted to hear, no, feel it against her own. It excited and terrified her in a twisted way and she couldn't get enough.
Billy writhed and gasped as Rebecca bit down where his heart was, his shirt pulled to his chin and allowing her full access. That bite narrowed into a pucker as her lips wrapped around his nipple, suckling on pink tinted skin. It elicited a sharp breath from the man.
Quick rapid licks at the peak rippled over him as Billy’s hip jolted and the base of his cock twitched against her. Flush of red deepened across his cheeks, eyes glued to his slack-jawed features as her tongue swirled. Never before did she see a man, let alone one like Billy, weak to the knees from this small action and it stoked at the coals that burned inside her. It lit up a dangerously strong hunger and she craved to see this side of the marine more. A side that was forced to reveal his weakest parts and she couldn't help but wonder if another woman ever had the honor to pry it from him as she did.
Billy was left a heaving, hot and bothered mess. His wild mane became wilder and mussed and his cheeks puffed from exertion. It was the most beautiful and erotic sight she’d ever seen, and it dug into a deeper part of Rebecca that grew ravenous for his flesh. It burned through her skin and made the cogs in her head pick up and spark, spiraling out of control with lust. Every touch of Billy’s skin on hers ignited the virus and heightened her senses until she was practically clawing at the sofa with need. Any protests that came had died on chapped, shuddering lips as Billy resigned himself to his fate and allowed Rebecca to do as she pleased. Instead, his cock stood at attention, like the good marine he was, ready for her to descend on it in equal ferocity. In a flash, all concern and softness in Billy had shifted, his eyes darkened with a hunger that rivaled the creatures outside. It no longer pleaded for mercy but instead acted as caution, a warning to be heeded. Part of her was afraid of the sudden change in demeanor, yet a deeper part reveled in the thought of what he could be capable of if he wasn't bound.
There was another wave of heat and she gasped, lowering her hips until the firm pressure at her seam grew; it was like an electric current thrummed through her nerves all the way from her toes to her legs and up to her brain. In one swoop the pressure shot through her with a shudder as Billy sheathed himself inside her. The force of his cockhead against her cervix was enough to send her over the edge with a cry that would surely call attention to their location from the undead that roamed the halls. Billy’s forehead pressed against Rebecca’s shoulder, her name a strangled prayer. She lifted her hips some then dropped, sparks burst from her ears and white stars scattered behind her eyes. Billy felt hotter and thicker than she could have ever expected and he hit all the right spots inside her. Spots that she’d never explored herself even on the loneliest of nights in her old college dorm.
“Fuck–Feels so good baby—” Billy mumbled and the pace quickened at the encouragement. “Shame those guys decided to create monsters—they’d make bank on sex gas if those fumes got ya this hot and bothered–”
HIs voice was low and rough like gravel, it made her brain feel dizzy with something beyond lust, something that lodged deep in her chest. It raised goosebumps across her skin and tightened a noose around her heart. It was a strange and sudden feeling with no time nor brainpower to analyze it further as his cock struck her sweet spot.
“Billy!” It was a confession of sin as she threw her head back, her body stilled as Billy continued to thrust into her.
“Talk to me, dollface, how's it feel? What am I doing to you?”
She cried in response, hands falling away from the couch and onto his shoulders.
“C’mon, you wanted this, right? Answer me.” He commanded and it was like a match was lit over the gasoline trail in her spine, sending her aflame.
“You’re—inside me—” She gasped as the reality of it struck: Here was death row inmate Billy fucking Coen, convicted for the murder of 23 people, cuffed up and burying his fat cock so far and fast inside her he was practically destroying her. “O-Oh fuck you’re inside—” On the list of things she’d never imagined she’d be doing on her first field mission, this wasn’t even close to the realm of possibility.
“But you wanted it, yea? Dyin’ for it?” He repeated, desperation underlined the aggressive words.
“Yes!” She cried and felt him strike something deep yet wonderful. “Yesyesyes!”
Through the haze of lust and the fire that burned on the back of her neck she imagined how disappointed, if not disgusted, Enrico would be if he ever knew. While the rest of her team were out there fighting for their lives, she was busy getting dicked down by the very criminal they were on the hunt for.
But Billy was no killer.
It wasn’t possible. The same man in front of her, who was afraid to touch her even as she begged and still held back as she rode him, couldn’t have murdered all those innocent people. And as she threw her arms around his neck and watched the dark cast of lust deepen in his hardened blue eyes, that same tremble in her chest resurfaced and it was as though all the answers to her questions were right there in front of her. To understand and accept those answers, she dipped her head down and pressed her lips against his. A shiver of something stronger suddenly wafted over her feverishly high body heat and reawakened into something more dizzying than before.
Billy swallowed her kiss like a man starved for touch as their tongues melded together in a fast and clumsy dance. There was a moment where she pulled away for air and saw the sweat bead down Billy’s brow and a loud groan slipped from him, but this one erred on the side of pain rather than pleasure. Though fog still circled around and entrapped her thoughts to one track, she slowed to a halt and watched him carefully. “What’s wrong—”
“Fuck, Becca–” His head rolled back and his face contorted, his hips thrusted with a jolt and he trembled beneath her palms. “Shit—I feel hot —fuck! ”
His mouth hung open as ragged breaths puffed out and she could feel his heart race–only then did she realize exactly what was happening. But before she could say or do anything, strong hands reached for her face then around the curve of her neck. The pressure and the act behind it thrilled yet terrified her.
Then the thrusts began harder than before and she nearly screamed from the sudden ferocity of them. The head of his cock dragged over her sweet spot and pulsed against her cervix in a way that made her squirm while the pressure of his palms and heavy chain at her neck sent a burst of adrenaline through her. The layered stir-fry of emotions mixed with the sensations had become too much to handle and she was practically a dam bursting around him.
“Gonna come already, baby girl?” He teased and she began to wonder when the tables had turned, or why she cared about such menial things. “For someone eager to start shit you sure got no problem throwin' in the towel."
It was too much. The force in his thrusts combined with the threat on her neck pressed all the buttons that got her going, pulverized by the different feelings that took over at once. In a snap she was writhing over him, a broken cry punched out of her chest and into the stiff air.
Though she trembled through the pleasure, Billy didn't stop his ministrations and instead pumped out every bit of her orgasm until she coated his shaft in her juices. The ice cold water of common sense splashed over her and she was off Billy in an instant and fell beside him. Rebecca’s thighs shook from both exertion and the remnants of pleasure and she pleaded for her heart rate to slow. It was as though whatever came over her had faded just as quick as it came and left her with a void in her soul and the urge to cover her bare skin.
Before the thought could overstay, a deep and tired sound rumbled from the man next to her. Billy's cock stood as tall as ever as the flush of red over his cheeks and ears told her they weren't done yet. The thought alone made her want to cower, but Billy was already on his feet as his hands balled into fists and yanked at the cuffs until an audible rattle of metal against metal rang through the air. In a swift moment the cuff dangled from the wrist it'd been latched to the entire night while the other stood free.
A shiver ran across her spine as Billy’s eyes bore into hers, and all she could see was the same dangerous hunger that matched the very creatures that lurked outside the room. In a matter of seconds she'd become prey to the man she'd forced herself on; the same poison that tainted and sewn through her veins had spread to him and forced him to continue the cycle. A tragic circle of unfiltered pain and desire that they'd both been unwilling participants of. Billy hovered over her and, before she could think, there was a hot pain that stung across her neck as sharp teeth pierced the base where her neck and shoulder met. It sent her nerves into a frenzy as an arrow of heat shot down to her core and prodded at the dying embers that flickered.
A cry tore out from her throat only to be muffled by the meat of Billy's palm which was shoved roughly between cracked lips. Meanwhile, the fat velvet of Billy's tongue slid across the bite and soothed the sting. It introduced a new sensation that mingled perfectly with the pain in a beautiful mix.
"Gonna need ya to be quiet, ya got that?" The words hot against her ear like whiskey and her thighs squeezed instinctively. "Or I'll have t'keep your mouth busy."
It was a threat made true when he pressed his palm harder into her mouth until a hint of nickel spread to the tip of her tongue. Then did she realize just how much danger she was in.
–
It was a mystery how he'd managed to stay sane as long as he did. Between the tickle of flame against his skin and the dizzying scent of Rebecca’s sopping wet arousal, it was truly a miracle he hadn't lost all sense of self to whatever the hell this illness was. But it was a tight rope he was balancing on as Rebecca’s teeth sunk into his palm and sent a tremor to his cock.
Through the clouds of lust over casted in his brain, he still registered the reality of their situation. There was young, naïve, rookie cop Chambers trembling beneath his experienced and, as far as she knew, dangerous and bloodied hands. Yet she pleaded and begged for his touch all the same; all logic and sensibility from earlier tossed out the window and into the humid night.
"Be a good girl for me, yea?" He forced her to turn around and kneel on the cushion, pulled her round ass up and exposed the pale stretch of skin against the light. A soft protest was muffled by his palm and he gripped at one of her ass cheeks. Warmth slid against his brow and he knew if he didn't fuck her soon it would spell trouble for him and whatever this fucking thing was that roared through him like boiling lava.
The strong scent of her womanhood engulfed him, adding to the intoxicating fog that surrounded his cerebral cortex and made the desire that burned in his gut deepen. Soon he'd lined himself up against her throbbing warmth and buried himself into her. The force pushed her flat over the couch and the sound of her muffled cries against his hand was like fuel to the fire. He withdrew, then thrusted until he saw stars.
There was a moment where everything blurred in a watercolor mess, unable to tell where he began and Rebecca ended or what happened in between. When the paint dried and the picture cleared, his mouth was buried into the crook of Rebecca’s neck with bites and sweet nothings in between as she threw her hips against him. The sound of his name chanted to the heavens as he brought her closer to the edge of the same salvation he'd sought after, was a thrill beyond comprehension.
The room which was once dead silent was now loud and full of life as soft pants and moans from the pair echoed through every dark corner. Skin slapped against skin and the crescendo of Rebecca’s cries reached a new octave and it was music to Billy’s ringing and hot ears. When her movements stuttered and her walls tightened around him, it all only made the inferno inside him rage harder and faster. Desperate fingers curled through her short tendrils until he pulled her head back, eyes locked with her baby blues as he fucked her hard and fast. That same dark cloud that swirled in her irises continued its dance and her plush, pink lips hung open as euphoria took over.
Never did he get so turned on by the sound of his name until he heard it pour out of her soul when she reached her peak, and tumbled down just as fast as the dam inside her burst all over him. It swept over her just as quickly and left her slack against the couch, her thighs trembling while he continued to dive deep and strike that spot that made her crumble. But when electric shocks sparked from his fingers down to his joints and groin, he knew it wasn't long until he was crashing along with her.
And like the Ecliptic Express, he did. Arms wrapped tight around Rebecca’s chest as he held her close, his hips snapped until he was doubled over her. A low groan hissed from his throat as he spilled his seed deep inside Rebecca’s twitching warmth. Then it was like he was smacked across the face with a frozen rubber glove. He threw himself off her just as fast as he'd mounted as fear and regret sunk deep into the bone from what they'd–no–from what he'd just done.
The frightened and beet red flush on her face told him she felt the same as she scrambled to get her clothes back on, refusing to make eye contact. Dead silence returned to the space in full force and them in it as prisoners. Prisoners forced to confront their sins instead of allowing it to slide. Even if they wanted to ignore it, it was impossible. Not after everything that just happened, how could they?
But Rebecca made it clear she wasn't interested in any kind of pillow talk or anything akin to it. Instead her eyes searched frantically around the room as though he wasn't standing there equally dumbfounded and flustered as her. A small part of him felt angered by the sudden change in demeanor from his partner, but the logical side of his brain decided to chime in finally and remind him the circumstances that led them to this point.
As though on cue, Rebecca spoke. "So about–you know– I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump you like that or anything. Something just came over me and—" Those beautiful blue eyes he'd gotten lost in finally met his. "--it felt like I was going to die."
Whatever anger he had dissipated and he raised an assuring hand. "I get it. I honestly don't think either of us were thinking straight."
"Right."
"How do you feel now, though?"
"Besides embarrassed?" She laughed nervously. "I feel okay now I guess. Less like dying. Physically at least, emotionally is still up in the air."
"Good. At least on the physical part." He nodded and if this wasn't the most awkward post-sex talk in existence he wasn't sure what else could top it. "Not dying is always a good thing."
The thick silence settled in once more and it was as though the room was set on suffocating them in it.
"Hey." Rebecca’s voice cut through. "I do have a question about something–if that's okay."
"I guess I'm an open book now, huh.” He forced a laugh. “ What is it?"
The red tint on the apples of her cheeks deepened and she pointed at the cuff that dangled at his wrist. "Did you really break that cuff so easily? How?"
The question was as abrupt as it was strange and it took Billy a moment to realize what she was referring to. "I--I'm not sure actually." He pulled the dangling cuff up to eyeline and examined the piece of steel. "It wasn’t hard, really."
"If that's the case then couldn't you just break the other one off? I'm sure it's annoying lugging it around."
Billy pulled at the metal bracelet with the same strength as earlier and only managed to marr his skin and left a sting. It certainly seemed easier to pull off earlier when he had the poison pumping through him. Rebecca was at his side and he felt the hairs on his arm stand as her small, soft hands were suddenly on him. A soft jangle rang through his bones as she lifted the other end with a careful and skeptic eye.
"Got somethin' to say, Doc?"
Her flush deepened and she avoided his eyes once more. "It–it looks broken to me. Like it's been broken."
"Yea? Your point?"
A sigh. "Which means even when I–cuffed you—you weren't ever actually restrained."
Oh.
shit.
Rebecca dropped his hand then. "Billy, did you even check if it was secured at all?"
He thought about it for a moment. So much had happened at that time it was hard to keep track. "Well—no."
"And why not??" She was incredulous now.
"I just figured it was secured, I didn’t have a reason to think otherwise. Not while I was getting distracted at least." He meant it to be humorous but came out far more accusatory than intended.
"Oh my God." Rebecca gasped and turned away as the weight of guilt hovered over him like a heavy cape. He tried to think of something, anything, to alleviate his ally of any shame or disgust, but the words wouldn't come.
"How about this–" She began again. "We just forget any of this happened, ‘kay? It was a fucked up virus that caused–" and waved at themselves. "All of this."
As smart as that might have been, Billy couldn't quite feel solace in that decision. It was no small thing that happened between them and he worried about the rift it could cause in their dynamic. Even so, he still nodded his head in agreement and followed her out of the room with his weapon drawn once they were put back together. The energy from earlier shifted back, but there was now electricity that underlined their every movement. One he wasn't sure was remnants of the poison or if it had always existed dormant between them. He hoped it was the former, as an idea of the latter could only spell trouble once it was all said and done.