Death is Inevitable (Higgs Monaghan X F! Reader) [UNDER EDITING]

Chapter 14: From Sea to Shining Sea

A/N

Smut in this chapter; there's a warning.

[Name]'s POV

"You okay, Sam?" I whisper as I walk over to him.

He grunts in response while standing up, and our cuffs receive a call from Die-Hardman, who says, "Still with me, Sam, Slayer? Even now, our way forward - our way to save Amelie - is the same as always. Your first priority is to get the local distro center on the network. Until it's complete, and everybody's connected, Higgs won't find it easy to get to Amelie. She should be safe. So take your time and do it right."

Die-Hardman ends the call, and Sam and I run across the dirt ground to the Distribution Center North of Edge Knot City that sits outside the wall of the city. I look at the inverted rainbow and the black strands that come down from the sky in the city, a small frown coming to my face.

'It seems this place is going to be filled with BTs. We'll have to tread carefully once we're inside the city,' I sigh before we head down the ramp of the distro center.

Sam approaches the terminal and takes off his Q-pid, placing it in the terminal and connecting the distro center to the chiral network. A map of the United States appears with the new strand on it before disappearing as Die-Hardman's hologram shows up.

"Good work, Sam, Slayer. You two've made it as far as Bridges I ever did. We never pushed further west. Frankly, it's a miracle we kept that distro center running. Anyway, you're almost at Edge Knot City. Your final destination. Where Amelie should be waiting. Smile, you two, only one more knot to go. One last time to put that Q-pid to use, though you'll need another component to finish the job.

"Regardless, the nationwide network will serve as your ticket home. Just bear in mind that by bringing Edge Knot online, you'll likely be revealing Amelie's location to Higgs. You two will need to get to her before he does. Head to your private rooms, and get your gear sorted. When you're ready to go, we'll give you what you need. Make sure not to leave the distro center without taking the order," he tells us before disappearing.

"It's late anyway, so we might as well get some sleep," I tell Sam as we walk over to the elevator platform.

"[Name]... are you okay?" he suddenly asks, making my eyebrows furrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I know about you and Higgs."

I freeze up and close my eyes, letting out a deep exhale as the elevator lowers. "How'd you find out?" I whisper while opening my eyes again.

"Well, you just confirmed it, but I saw the look on your face when he kissed your neck a bit ago... that wasn't the first time he's done that, which is how I figured it out. [Name], what the hell are you thinking?"

"That's just it, Sam. I'm not thinking. I was warned not to let him get to me, but I did. You have every right to be upset with me over it, but can it wait until after this is over?"

"I'm more confused and a bit disgusted. What do you even see in that asshole?"

"It was pure curiosity and attraction to start with, but then... he saved me from when I fell off the mountain, and he helped me through a breakdown," I respond quietly while we keep standing on the platform despite having reached the bottom floor. "Who cares now? He's the bad guy, and it seems he has an interest in Amelie anyway."

"I'll kick his ass for hurting you," Sam states, and I wipe a few tears away and laugh quietly.

"Thanks, Sam. I think I'll join you when you do that," I say, and he hesitates before hugging me.