We were finishing our conversation when one of the men, the gunner, stands up, even though he is barely alive. "HAHA, YOU THINK THAT ABILITY OF YOURS IS SOMETHING SPECIAL, WELL SORRY TO DISAPPOINT GIRL, BUT I'M UNTOUCHABLE!" the gunner yelled at the top of his lungs. "OK bud, you've ticked my last nerve, time to die!" I said as I draw the swords from my back.
The swords are a purplish-black color, with blades forged entirely from obsidian. They're tougher than any other and can never be broken. "Abilities aren't something you get to judge, you hear me, all your talk of how you're untouchable, is all just a load of bull, I hate loud mouths like you, I'll run you through, right where you stand!" I shouted at him. "LISTEN GIRL, DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH, A PATHETIC WEASEL LIKE YOU COULDN'T HOPE TO STAND A CHANCE AGAINST ME!" the gunner yelled, this time louder than before, he laughed as if the notion of me taking him down was nothing more than that of a pipe dream, something a child would aspire to in their ignorant youth. I don't want to use my ability, he isn't worth that, I can't rely on my ability.
I charge at him and he blocks it with the palm of his hand, or so he thought, but even with that blow, it still only penetrated a small bit of his palm, this might prove to be harder than I thought. It'll be fine if I don't get cocky. I try again, this time striking from behind, by evading and jumping above his head and getting him in the nape of his neck. My landing wasn't graceful and I did turn up dust that blocked some of my vision. I look up at him, the same thing again, however blood flowed out more than his palm. He raised his hand up to the nape of his neck to wipe the blood. I took advantage of his distraction and slipped through his legs and jumped up to cut his throat, but his other hand was free, but not for long, because within seconds his hand was around my throat, and he was squeezing the air from me.
I thought that is was the end as my vision blurred and my body felt numb, I felt grip loosen on both my swords and my life. Then it all stopped, I fell to the ground as the pressure around my neck disappeared, I felt air returning to my lungs and my vision clearing up. Just before I hit the ground I was swept up and caught by someone. I looked up to see Harris, I felt his gun, still warm from the shot. Harris gently laid me one the ground and went over to the gunner's body, now laying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, I saw a hole in the center of his forehead, that's why I'm still here, why I'm still alive, because Harris came and shot him in the head. I felt a sick feeling take hold of me, why did I not feel comfortable being saved?
I jumped to my feet and placed the swords back in their scabbards. I turned and saw Ashe staring in shock and in awe at what she had witnessed. "Hey, Xayah, you okay?" Harris asked me while he pats his pockets for a cigarette. "Yeah, I'm fine, and give it up, you know you can't smoke on duty." I said lecturing him like he was a toddler. "Well I'm not on duty, I was saving your ass, so." he trailed off. "Hey, um, did you use your ability during that fight?" Ashe came up and asked. "No I didn't, my ability isn't one to be called safe, and since it takes such a toll on my body when I use it, I only use it in life or death situations." "But THAT was a life or death situation, so why didn't you use it?!" "Listen kid, you're clearly ignorant, so I'll dumb it down for you, Xayah doesn't use her ability because it literally tears her apart from the inside out." Harris jumps in. Ashe didn't interject anymore after that.
We walk back to the camp together, it was slow and tiresome, and Harris kept puffing out smoke in my general direction just because he knew it'd bother me. Once we made it back I went to the lodge the Commanders stayed at, including ones visiting, and crashed. I told Harris to take over my duties for me for the rest of the day and he agreed, he said I needed some rest, which I don't blame him.
After a few hours, the door opens up and Harris walks in. "Hey, wake up, the commanders from Platoon Eight are here." I promptly get up and walk outside to greet the commanders. "Hello, Commander Xayah, Commander Harris, we would like to have a talk with you two about your new recruit, Ashe." "What about her?" Harris said with a cigarette in his mouth as he fumbled with his lighter. "We had received a report stating that Ashe had attempted to hold an assault against you, Commander Xayah." "Yes well I took care of it, so there's no need to worry." I said trying to dismiss them so I could back to sleeping. "Sorry Commander Xayah, but I'm afraid that you don't quite understand." "What is to understand other than there's no problem here, so you can go now." I said while pushing them away, all the while Harris is just standing there watching like this was an everyday occurrence. "Welp, that went well." said Harris being sarcastic. I rolled my eyes and turn around to walk back inside when I was stopped by Ashe.
"What do you want now?" I said so with dread in my voice, I 'd rather to anything else than answer Ashe's stupid question all day. "I was wondering if I could leave."