That blood on Logan's arm was real. Not the simulation nor the feeling. His skin scraped into the dirt just to drag Vanessa into a fox hole. The nerve agent was already in effect. She couldn't function properly.
Pulling her forward, "Don't worry Vanessa. Papa's got you".
Never for a second could Vanessa believe that Logan would really go so far out of the way for another. His breath weighed in over her face before grabbing her legs. He pulled them into a little fox hole, allowing her body to slip right in.
Noticing his wounds, Vanessa pressed her hand against him, "You're shot".
That familiar chuckle warmed her skin as he flipped out his revolver, "It's okay... it's okay".
Logan checked for potential threats before looking down at her, "You hear me? It's going to be okay".
Blood splatted as air jumped out of his lungs, "I'm going to take care of you, Vanessa. I really am. I know you think I'm some A-hole who doesn't care".
He pulled her onto her side for a moment, "But that's okay. Because we are on the same team. And we are going to make it to the pro leagues. You hear me"?
A sting shot through her butt cheek right when he punched it, "Aahngh-".
Her screamed led his hand to cover her mouth. His energy was depleted, causing Logan to lean his chest on top until he felt her breathing calm down.
Logan stared into her eyes, breathing over her, "Ya' know, I never knew your eyes were brown".
She nodded for him to release his hand, "Thanks".
Logan was coughing in every direction, "Don't worry about Carter. He won't do anything to you".
Her body was numbed from a laugh, "You always think about the game don't you"?
He stretched his neck, "Well... No game No life... Right"?
He laughed through his coughs. Even the ends of Vanessa's mouth twitched up. She knew he was passionate about The Isekai Game. It was because of his weird charismatic otaku nature why she loved him so much. But it was what he was willing to do for that passion that turned her off.
Her fingers twiddled at her side, "Is oki... Buuut, not always".
His head turned down on her for a brief moment, "What do you mean"?
Vanessa stared up at the smoke drifting into the sky, "You... are... very passionate. And I like that. But sometimes you do bad things. And I don't like that".
Logan's eyes were twitching. He felt some morality lesson coming, "Well in order to beat the game we have to do some not-so-nice things. Wouldn't you agree"?
Smart man he was. His tone remained sincere for her well-being. His quivering face remained oblivious to the truth Vanessa knew of him. This entire time, it was Logan who was trying to get Jeff murdered.
She watched him look about for the enemy, "Is true... Buut... not to each other".
There it is. That smile on his face. She'd seen it so many times now. The twitch in the bottom lip. The way his mouth ends wrinkled into his cheeks. That fox was up to something.
"Well you know Vanessa sometimes the arguments around here gets a little heated," he threw his hands a little, "And some nasty things get said. Now if you, me, and the rest of us who is serious about beating this game doesn't work together...".
She stared deep into his eyes, "We will fail. And you can kiss your dreams goodbye".
Though their eyes were locked, Vanessa could see his nostrils flail. The way he continuously looked stroked a gland of anxiety within. It left his actions more unpredictable than usual.
He stretched his neck to spit blood across from her, "Now we can keep our heads in the game and win this month and more importantly next month. But to do that we need to silence some of the chatter".
Her breathing relaxed, wondering if he would take advantage to ban her now.
Likewise, he trembled with the gun in his hand, "You know where we're headed. Go South to avoid fire and link up with Carter. If you ever get lost-".
She twitched her neck to the side, "You'll find me".
Logan licked his bloody bottom lip before reaching into his back pocket. He pressed his head against her chest thinking of how careless he's been to allow his ticket Vanessa to catch on to his mischief.
His breath pounded her chin, tucking the map in her shirt, "Take the map. Use it. You'll need it to catch up".
A tear fell from Vanessa's eye. The lies she saw staring into Logan were ridiculous. How can he allow a game to tear away the bonds he built over so many years?
Her vision faded as her fingers itched towards him, "No I won't".
Logan's breath shot from his mouth in rapid succession. His white hair dangled in her sleeping face. For that moment he wanted nothing more than to slam a knife into her neck. Beat her face in until it was buried into the dirt. Perhaps if he disassembled the gun he can press a sharp part into her to prevent her from playing.
He panicked to figure out a way to win. Not this crazy Nazi theme that he enjoyed fighting in. This game of war he held Vanessa in this entire time. The one that kept her wrapped under his fingers. The confidence he gave her to believe she was to never be harmed.
What could possibly clue her into his plans to get rid of Jeff. A further moment of feeling his body go cold reminded him of Angelica.
It was settled. He may be gone from this theme. But it wasn't over. He knew he could still win this. The familiars Gilgamesh gave him was to be used for the team. And that was all Logan needed.
He rested on Vanessa's chest. Nobody was attacking them. It was actually a bit calmer now. The battle had pressed on. Every drop of blood in Logan's body was either numbed by the game or drained from battling.
It's okay. He had his plans. And not a damn soul in the world was going to hold him back from his dreams.