April had set up her earlier shots so the male could not act or evade. April made sure the male wouldn't be able to bear the pain. Two arrows to the shoulder, another to the chest near the heart, then another in the collarbone near the neck. She purposely missed the head since she didn't want the male deflecting her arrows, but it seemed there was no need.
Still, she had sent two more. One for the arm, specifically the wrist, that the male had the blade in. This caused him to drop the blade and the last one for the knee so the male would not react in time. All that was left was the kill shot. There was a glint of anger in her eyes. Not your normal anger either.
She was full-on pissed.
"Anyone who hurts Don will pay." April knocked back her arrow while glaring at the male. She wasn't pissed simply because Don was injured. She was pissed because this person tried to kill Don. She was pissed because this person tried to take away what was precious to her. She had already lost her father and was able to move on from that with Don's help.
So, she sure as hell was not going to lose Don either. She refused to lose him. April drawback on the string. Her sight honed in on the male's head as she prepared the kill shot. A soft green was within the bright yellow flare of her eyes. The arrow slowly became invisible, and she would release the string once she was ready.
"Goodbye." April released the arrow. She was fully prepared to kill the person who tried to kill Don; however, she was surprised.
A hand had reached out to catch the arrow in mid-flight just as it left the bow. A shimmering effect would disperse from the arrow to reveal the arrow. The person who caught the arrow stepped past April.
"D-Don?" April inquired as she saw he was up.
"There is no need for you to dirty your hands. As long as I breathe... as long as I stand... I will shoulder the weight of those who dare to harm you. I will kill anyone and everyone tries to take what is precious to me." Don's voice was firm and full of conviction.
April could feel his love for her. Sure, she always knew he cared. She always knew he would protect her, but the depths of his voice caused her heart to skip several beats. "Don..." April murmur.
She was delighted with what Don said. So much so that she felt like she was falling in love with him all over again. However, she didn't like the fact that Don felt far away. Staring at his back, she felt like she would never be able to stand beside him. She was always being protected. She was always standing behind him, but now... she wanted to stand beside him. The fact that Don opened up to her showed how much he trusted her. Sure she didn't have the combat ability he did... Even so! She wanted to stand by his side no matter what.
"Why should you shoulder all of the burdens?" April whispered to herself.
She shook her head and took her arrow from Don. "No. Remember, we promised to protect one another. So let me help you carry that weight!" Don shifted his glance towards April when she stepped beside him, knocking the arrow against the bow. Don could see the resolve in her eyes. He had seen it earlier, but it still amazed him how firm her resolve was.
"I see..." Don closed his eyes and drew his 1911 Ruger. "Even if that means bathing yourself in blood?" Don wasn't literal. He was more so expressing that he had taken many lives during his life span—so many that he could have been bathed from head to toe in blood and so much more.
"If I am with you, then I'll even travel to Hell. Nothing will separate me from you." April replied firmly. Don paused to stare at her with a glint of admiration.
"Very well. If that is what you wish." A smirk curved across his lips as he aimed at the male. "Then... shall we execute him?" Don inquired as he steadied his aim while holding the gun with one arm. His body faced April, who was already ready to release the arrow.
"Of course~" April replied cutely. Which was creepy, considering she was about to murder someone.
Don pulled the trigger of his 1911 Ruger, and April released her arrow. Both projectiles flew straight toward the male, who was gritting his teeth behind his mask. His limbs had gone numb from the pain, and all he could do was sit there and watch. There wasn't time to react or move; however, to everyone's surprise, the arrow was deflected toward the left and the bullet towards the right.
"Like hell..." A distorted voice came from the mask as the male's body started to lift off the ground. A surge of wind surrounded the male and lifted him off the ground. It almost looked like he had wings with the wind currents roaring.
"I won't fail again!" The male shouted, and the winds raged outward in response—arcs of wind shot from the male toward Don and April. Don's eyes narrowed; he could feel his blood rushing and his heart racing. He could hear the flow of his blood and the beating of his heart. Everything seemed to slow down around him. His eyes relaxed when he noticed this.
'Did I active my seed?' Don inquired internally. 'But how?' Don added with another internal thought.
It wasn't like everything had stopped and was still in color, so this wasn't like before. This was more like when he fought against the Spider and took out those guards when he wanted to save Noah and Rebecca.
It then occurred to him.
The activation of his seed.
It was simple.
His will to protect those around him. His will to save those in need. It was so simple that he felt rather stupid once he figured it out. His lips curved into a fearless smirk, and he stepped forward. "I will keep her safe." Don brought out his combat knife. Interestingly enough, he could also see the Arcs of wind; well, it was more like an outline. A distortion or play of the wind, sort of like when one could see the hot seams on a blazing summer day. Don cut down the arc of wind, then another and another.
April could feel the wind blowing past her, but nothing collided with her. "Don?" April inquired as she held her skirt down since the current of the wind was decently strong.
"Stay close, and when I give the signal, fire another arrow." Don stated.
Instead of Don telling her to stand behind him, he told her to stay close. He was even letting her take part in the battle. This was new and different. It was a wonderful feeling. She actually left like she was able to stand beside Don. She nodded and knocked another arrow. She was amazed at how Don was able to defend against the blades of wind but figured he was using his power.
The male was growing agitated and increased the output of the arcs of wind. Don further increased his Seed. The arcs slowed down even more, which he cut down. Don was beginning to leave after-images with his movements with how fast he was moving. This continued for some time until the arcs of wind started to lessen. Don took note of the few that were coming in intervals. The intervals were also widening, so the opportunity would soon present itself.
Then it came.
"NOW!" Don shouted, and April drew back on her bow. Then, she would steady her aim and release the arrow.
TWACK!
The arrow pierced through the weakened barrier of wind, and the male was shot out of the air. The arrow missed its mark, though.
It hit the other collarbone.
April was aiming for the head, but the wind adjusted the arrow well. At least it didn't brush it aside like before. The male groaned as he lay on the pavement. Don released a hefty breath and placed a hand on his forehead with a groan. April seemed to rest against Don's side with a weak smile and beads of sweat here and there along her body.
"We did it..." April murmured with a slight tire in her voice, and Don nodded in return. "We did."
He put away the 1911 Ruger and combat knife, then took April into his arms to help her stand. "Just rest for a moment." Don stated, and April nodded while closing her eyes and letting her face rest in Don's chest.
"You two good!?" Don called out to Ion and Jessica.
He wasn't asking for their safety, but for another reason entirely. Since the male pretty much ignored both of them, Jessica made her way toward Ion. Ion sat up with a groan and gave Don a thumbs-up. "Feel like shit, but it could be worse." Ion would call back. "We are good." Jessica added, and Don nodded with a smirk. "Good. Can you check up on our little friend?" Don motioned toward the male who was on the ground.
"Sure... I don't mind dealing the killing blow." Ion remarked as he moved onto his feet.
"Hell no! He's mine!" Jessica exclaimed.
Clearly, she wanted to burn the male to a crisp for what he did to Ion.
"Cool it. I want to ask the male some questions. Since he isn't dead, I want some information. After all, you said he was the General's pet or whatever." Don stated to keep them from doing anything stupid.
Ion and Jessica looked towards Don in disbelief. After all, Don was about to kill the male. "You can do whatever you want with him afterward." Don added since he saw the look on their faces. "Fine." Jessica pouted, and Ion sighed lightly and shook his head.
"You ready?" Don asked as he looked down at April, who looked up at him. "I over-exerted myself, but I'll be fine. Let's go." April replied. Don helped her walk with a nod while they made their way toward the male. Ion and Jessica were already there. "You good?" Jessica asked, seeing April's condition, and April nodded with a smile. "Doing great." April replied.
Jessica smirked, "Tough girl." She remarked, and April giggled lightly. "Yup." April stood on her own two feet when Don ensured she could stand. Don then squatted beside the male, who was still alive. "Still alive?" Don asked bluntly.
"Kill me..." The male's distorted voice came from the mask.
"After you tell me about your group and the man you work for." Don remarked, and the voice snickered. "As if! I'll bleed to death then!" The male exclaimed.
Don sighed heavily and shifted his glance towards Ion. "Can you heal him?" Ion gave Don a confused look. "What!?" Ion exclaimed, and Don repeated, "Can you heal him?"
A brief moment of silence went by before Ion sighed heavily. "You are a sadistic bastard, aren't ya?" Ion could see what was on Don's mind.
"Whatever, just do it." Don remarked, and Ion sighed heavily.
"I'll need to inject my saliva into him. I ain't kissing a man, so... You gonna have to hold his mouth open or something." Ion remarked, and Don nodded. "Of course, but first..." Don placed his hands on the visor and mask.
"No... wait!" The voice came out, but Don refused to wait and removed both the visor and helmet.
His eyes went wide at what he saw. The male was actually a woman. Her hair was dyed jet black, and she had black eyes. Her face looked soft and ghostly pale, like some kind of porcelain doll; however, her eyes had this deadpan look to them.
"A woman?" Ion inquired.
"So... she really is the General's little bitch." Jessica added.
"Wow... she's... beautiful..." April commented once she saw the woman.
Don sighed heavily, "That doesn't matter. I need information." Don began prying open the woman's mouth. "Ion." Don called out while the woman struggled to shut her mouth. Her legs and arms wouldn't respond, so she couldn't fight back. "I mean... I guess." Ion scratched the back of his head before moving to squat beside the woman.
"Hey, you aren't going to kiss her, right!?" Jessica inquired, and Ion raised a brow while looking at her. "Hell no. I was just gonna lube up my fingers then put them in her mouth." Ion replied, and Jessica sighed lightly. "Good, because if you did, I would have to hurt you." She responded with a grin, and Ion shook his head before lubing his fingers by sticking them inside his mouth.
Once he got them nice and wet, he ran them inside the woman's mouth and over her tongue, which caused her to wince in disgust. Ion used his other hand to pull out all of the arrows, and her wounds slowly started to close. Ion stepped back since his job was done. He delivered April her arrows, and she thanked him.
Don straddled the woman and sat on her legs so she couldn't move them. He had his knees on her arms so that she couldn't use them. He pulled out his combat knife and placed the edge against her cheek.
"Now then... You will answer my questions." Don's eyes had this semi-deadpan look to them. The woman could see it clear as day. She could tell simply from that look that Don was just like her. A trained killer, a Hitman.
"W-Wait... I'll answer your questions, but can I ask you a question first." The woman inquired. Ion and Jessica looked confused. April wanted to stop Don from interrogating the woman, but... she felt like if she did, it would go against what she said earlier about carrying his burdens with him. So she bit back her words and decided to keep watch.
"A question?" Don inquired, and the woman nodded carefully so as not to cut her cheek with the knife against it. "Yes." The woman would respond. Don closed his eyes and thought for a moment. When he came to a conclusion, he would release a soft sigh. "I guess. What is it?" Don would ask in return after giving his approval.
"You are a Hitman, just like me. Right?" The woman asked, which caused Don's eyes to widen. He was taken aback by this.
Ion and Jessica shifted their glances toward Don, and even April quickly turned around to look at Don. Everyone seemed to await an answer, but maybe they didn't need the verification since it seemed the woman might have hit the nail on the head. "If so, then why are you here? Why are you with people? You should know better than anyone that--" The woman was interrupted by Don.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Don would shout at the top of his lungs. Everyone was stunned. No one made a move or said a word.
"If you say another word, I will make you will beg for death. Do you understand?" The look in Don's eyes was nothing an average human could pull off. It was like he was looking directly into the woman's soul, which caused her to shiver with fear. The knife's edge had broken past the skin, and a tiny sliver of blood began to trickle down the woman's face.
"Don..." April called softly, which caused Don to release a soft breath.
The look faded over time, and Don pushed off the woman and put away his combat knife. "Do what you want with her." Then, Don turned away from them. Don was about to continue toward their original destination, but April stood in his path. "Don, are you okay?" April asked while looking up at him with a concerned expression.
Seeing April's concerned expression caused his heart to sting a bit. He wondered why it was that question. He wondered why she wasn't asking if he was a hitman or a heartless murderer. He wondered how she could still hold that look of affection and care, even after he was called a hitman by another person—the same person who was most likely a Hitman themselves.
A flood of memories overtook him when that woman asked if he was a hitman. The ease he felt when April accepted him felt shallow to him now. He started to doubt everything, and even now, he doubted that he was enough for her. He doubted she should even be with someone like him. The things he did, the people he killed, and the sins he carries. Why should she have to carry them? Why should she have to be a part of them? She was worth soo much more...
"I am fine..." Don remarked softly.
April could see that he wasn't. She stepped in and embraced him lovely, which caused him to step back for a moment out of surprise. "Don... I can probably tell what is going through your head. I want you to know that you will always be my Don. My knight in shining armor. My protector. My lover... My husband. You will always have a special place in my heart. I don't care what you did in the past. I don't care if you are a hitman. Why? Because you are not a heartless monster. So... I want you to know something." April released Don after a moment and took his face into her hands so she could stare deeply into his eyes.
"No matter how lost you become, I will always find you."
That day, April's smile had been the brightest Don had ever seen. So much so that he felt like all of his doubts were blown away. He felt a wave of relief rush over him like a gentle breeze. The darkness that had slowly begun to cloud his vision once again was blown away by April's light.
'You are... my light...' Don muttered internally.
He felt a single tear run down his cheek, then another down the other, and another. Eventually, tears ran down his face without him even knowing. April softened her smile as she saw this. "I love you." She stated firmly while embracing him once again. Don embraced her as tightly as possible. "I love you too, my April." Don said through his sobs.
On this day, April's light had fully illuminated Don's darkness. Don would never again find himself doubting if he was worthy of April. Instead, he made a silent vow to become someone worthy of April.