Piper collapsed onto a knee, gasping desperately as she tried to fit as much air into her overworked lungs as she could possibly get.
The traveling pair had been on the move since their last "safehouse" was torn to shreds by bandits. Ajax was clearly shaken by whatever remnants of a name the previous bandit gave, given how she was determined to reach Diamond City by tonight even if she had to drag Piper by her throat.
The sun was just overhead when they first left; now it had just set, casting the sky into a sea of orange and yellow.
Ajax turned around upon hearing Piper's winded gasps and groaned, taking cover behind a nearby wall. "Jesus, how fucked are your lungs?" Ajax said nervously, glancing between Piper and the open street beyond the alleyway.
"I think... my lungs... are great... fuck you..." Piper wheezed out between gasps of air. This level of exercise shouldn't be allowed for anyone, much less an infamous journalist.
Ajax bounced her knee, impatient as she watched Piper manage to breathe somewhat comfortably, as she looked to be contemplating some moral dilemma. Piper debated asking what Ajax was thinking about before she was abruptly heaved over Ajax's shoulder and raced out of the alley.
"What the—augh, fuck!" Piper exclaimed, wincing as Ajax's shoulder rammed into her gut.
Ajax didn't bother to glance back as she ran through the streets in a frenzy. She likely wouldn't have stopped if Piper didn't smack her upside the head with her pistol.
She reeled in pain, grabbing the back of her head as she dropped Piper onto the crumbled sidewalk. "The fuck is your problem, bitch?!" Ajax shouted.
"My problem? MY problem?!" Piper groaned, rubbing away the bruise on her stomach as she stood up. "What in the fuck is YOUR problem? You've acted like a paranoid dog for the past six hours and haven't so much as said a word to me! What the fuck is going on?!"
Ajax contorted her face in anger, staring daggers at Piper, but couldn't find the words to retort with and instead paced nervously.
Realizing her place in the food chain, Piper sighed and leaned against a ruined car. "Look, let's just camp for the night. It's dark, I'm absolutely exhausted, and... you have a fair amount to explain."
Glancing at the setting sun, Ajax started at Piper with brows so furrowed you'd think they were stuck. She stared for long enough that Piper debated backtracking and accepting that her legs would be flimsy forever. Eventually, however, Ajax let out a lengthy groan into the sky and muttered a nearly inaudible "fuck" before scanning the area.
"Fine, we'll stay over there," she said through gritted teeth, pointing at a nearby bridge with her thumb. "But this is the last stop before I drop your sorry ass off."
She marched off before Piper could give thanks, spewing hushed swears. Piper let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in, yet again realizing how closely she walked the line between demanding and suicidal. Ajax was intimidating beyond measure, especially with how chilling her silver eyes were. Although to be fair, Piper thought they were kinda...
Heat rose across Piper's face as she waved away her thoughts, jogging after Ajax towards the bridge. Ajax must've set up camp here before as they walked underneath the bridge and into a defunct pipeline where she found a room hidden beyond an overgrown patch of moss. Much too tired for conversation, Piper settled into an uncomfortable rest against the hard concrete walls while Ajax kept watch. Piper wondered if Ajax needed to sleep, but that was a question for tomorrow.
As Piper faded into the darkness of sleep, she wondered about all the sorts of information she'd learn about Ajax tomorrow. What she didn't know was that inside the damp and rough shelter, she would discover the greatest story she couldn't publish.
YOU ARE READING
Memory of Black Mold, Heart of Broken Glass
Action"How pitiful, a bandit who thinks they can run," they utter, their voice scratchy like sandpaper. or An unfortunate encounter between a mercenary and a journalist and their journey together.
