#29

Eli wished he could say getting shot at was something he was unused to.

He also wished he had a normal boyfriend, but it was a bit late for that. He'd kind of gotten used to Matthew now and really, it wasn't like he could do better. Not when he was about as weird as Matthew. After all, he was in what could definitely be called a life and death situation and yet here he was, contemplating his dating choices.

"You know, it would be real nice if you could have a plan next time," Eli said as he ducked behind some machinery.

"Next time? You're already thinking of a next time?" Matthew looked at Eli with an incredulous look.

"I'm just being realistic!" Eli figured he might as well accept the fact that this was his life now. "And how did you even get here so fast with your stupid costume and all?" Maybe it was just that he'd had a moment to actually think about it, or maybe it was just that questioning these things at least distracted him from the danger they were in.

"Adria's people. They drove me here and had my suit ready."

"Well, at least they didn't kill you on the way," Eli said, with only a dash of sarcasm.

"You realize I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Adria and her guys?"

"Oh what a coincidence, neither would I," Eli didn't appreciate the look Matthew gave him. He also didn't appreciate getting interrupted just as he was about to say something about it.

A bullet hit dangerously close to him and he watched Matthew's eyes narrow as he glared in the direction it had come from.

"Stay here," he said in a voice that made it clear someone was getting their teeth knocked in. He was gone a moment later, fading into the smoke still lingering and casting a thick haze over the room.

Eli had to resist peering around the corner, curious about what Matthew was up to. Apart from kicking some poor idiot's ass. He figured Matthew would be pissed if he got back to find Eli shot because he was feeling nosy. Eli should have figured there was still a chance he'd get shot thanks to his awful luck alone.

He heard someone approaching—their steps clear thanks to the metal flooring. Eli turned, squinting as he tried to see through the haze around them. His ears strained to pick up anything other than Matthew beating the absolute shit out of the bad guys. When he saw a blurry shape past the smoke, Eli felt his heartbeat speed up because he was not prepared to fight. Honestly, he could barely keep up even with Matthew dragging him along. Turned out, getting repeatedly punched in the face made it just a tad harder to focus.

I can't believe I miss my taser, Eli thought.

Eli still managed to tackle the guy. Although, that might have just been thanks to dumb luck and an impressive disregard for his own safety. He wondered if maybe his friends had a point, if maybe he really was that stupid. Either way, he was still very much alive, so he figured it was okay if he was a little bit stupid.

Of course, that still left him with the issue of the surprised looking guy sprawled out under him. Eli stared. The guy stared back. Neither seemed too sure about what to do. Fortunately, Eli was quick to react. Probably because of all the times he'd found himself in a similar situation.

Before the guy could fully snap out of it, Eli punched him. It probably hurt his fist more than the guy's face, considering he didn't look all that bothered, but at least it kept him from getting up and murdering Eli. At least, for a second, it did. He shook the hit off quickly enough and suddenly, Eli was getting tossed to the side. He scrambled to get up, but his leg was caught by the other guy. Eli was yanked back, his arms slipping out from under him making him faceplant rather painfully. Now more pissed off than before, Eli twisted until he was on his back and kicked out with his free leg, managing to catch the guy right in the face.

"Let. Go. You. Dipshit," Eli said, accentuating each word with another kick.

Honestly, either he was weaker than he'd thought or the guy's face was made of bricks—though more likely, Eli's legs were too short to land a good enough hit. Either way, his grip around Eli's leg didn't waver. Which is why when Matthew finally made it to Eli, he was met by the sight of Eli sprawled on the ground, foot poised mid-kick, and a bulky goon clinging to the redhead's ankle. Both of them paused in their struggle to look at Vigilante.

If not for the circumstances they were under, it might have been comical. Instead, Eli saw Matthew's eyes narrow dangerously and focus on the guy still holding onto Eli.

Seeing his chance, Eli gave the guy one last kick while he was distracted. It startled him enough to finally release Eli, who quickly scrambled to his feet. Matthew lost no time as he practically lunged at the guy. The poor goon barely managed to stand up before Matthew grabbed him and, in a move Eli would never be able to replicate, threw him. Sometimes, Eli really forgot just how good Matthew was at beating the shit out of people.

It was no surprise when the guy didn't get up. Eli would bet he'd be down for a while, but he supposed that was for the best for the goon. There was less of a chance of him having his ass kicked any further.

"Are you alright?" Matthew said, hovering in a way that was oddly reminiscent of Eli's mother. Honestly, it was impressive how quickly Matthew could go from violent vigilante to mother hen.

"I guess so? Given people are trying to murder us and all," Eli said, probably very unhelpfully. At least Matthew seemed to accept that answer. He just huffed in what Eli couldn't tell if it was amusement or sheer exasperation. Probably both.

"Come on then," he said after a moment.

He led the way, through the dissipating smoke and to a set of short metal steps that led to the exit. Eli hoped they would get out soon, but was sorely mistaken.

"I knew it! We're in a fucking warehouse!"

"It's not a warehouse," Matthew said. Eli just threw an incredulous look his way before looking at the large space before them filled with metal shipping containers, then back at Matthew. "Priorities, Eli," Matthew said, as if he was any good at those either.

Eli would have told him as much, if Matthew hadn't chosen that moment to yank him forward. Not that Eli would complain about that. Especially when something flew past him and hit the wall behind Eli with a loud THUNK.

"The fuck was that?!" Eli asked even as Matthew dragged him behind one of the many shipping containers around them.

"You finally made it! And here I was worrying you'd decline my invitation."

Both Eli and Matthew scowled at the voice. Although Eli wasn't even sure where it was coming from. Not at first, at least. Eventually, he was able to spot the mercenary watching them from atop a stack of shipping containers. He couldn't tell from looking, but Eli was fairly certain Jack was grinning down at them. He just struck Eli as that particular sort of asshole.

"Sorry I wasn't able to welcome you. I was a bit busy with the preparations, but you managed to find your way here anyway," Jack said, sounding absolutely gleeful. Eli could think of a couple reasons why as several men appeared around the room. "Unfortunately, we only have room for one guest. I'm sure you understand."

Eli was about to snap back at the guy with a reminder that he was there very much against his will. Unfortunately, he didn't get to. There was a flash of silver and Eli was suddenly yanked back just as something flew past him. He blinked in surprise. Finally, things registered in his mind.

"Was that a fucking knife?" he asked, not liking the panic that seeped into his voice. Though, to be fair, he'd just had a knife thrown at his face. Eli figured it was a fair reaction. He also figured it was fair that it took him a moment to notice the other men pulling out their weapons and taking aim.

"Run!" Matthew said, pushing him towards some cover.

Eli supposed saying he'd sprung to action would be a lie. He was too busy realizing he was about to get murdered and hoping at least Matthew survived long enough to face his mother's fury. It was probably for the best that Matthew was there to shove Eli to safety. Unfortunately, there wasn't much in the way of safe spots when you were in a room full of people who wanted to kill you. Figures.

Their only real thing they could do was keep moving while doing their best to not get shot. Not the best plan, but Eli didn't have time to complain.

Matthew led the way. Probably a good idea, since he was the least likely to get killed. Eli was definitely glad he was there when a guy popped out from around a corner with a gun pointed at them. In an instant, Matthew had disarmed the guy, twisting his hand until the gun fell to the floor. He swept his legs out from under him and slammed him to the ground. The guy was out cold before Eli could really process what happened.

Which, as it turned out, was about to become a recurring issue. Matthew had just barely knocked out the guy when a shot ricochet off one of the metal containers around them. It was too close for comfort and had Eli ducking despite not knowing where the shot was coming from.

He saw Matthew move past him and heard a grunt of pain. Eli looked back at Matthew just in time to watch him throw a guy against another shipping container. He winced as he heard the guy hit the hard metal and then drop to the ground in a heap.

"Well, that wasn't fun," Eli heard himself say. Honestly, at that point his brain was just working on autopilot. That much was probably obvious enough to Matthew, because he didn't bother to say anything about Eli's very inadequate response.

Then again, he might have just been used to it.

"Come on," Matthew said, helping Eli up. To be honest, Eli didn't like how nervous he looked. It was doing nothing for their morale.

Also doing nothing for their morale was Matthew practically throwing Eli aside. Sure, Eli realized a moment later that he'd just been saved from getting stabbed, but still. Rude.

Matthew threw a smoke bomb for some cover and desperately dragged Eli up to his feet. It was all a bit much for the redhead, whose mind was struggling to keep up with everything going on. He still felt his heart falter out of sheer panic as he watched a figure approaching through the haze of smoke.

"Found you," Eli heard in what was unmistakable Jack's voice before Matthew was dragging him away.

He felt something fly past him and strike something up ahead. Eli didn't stop to wonder if it was another knife. He figured whatever the mercenary after them was throwing at them couldn't be a good thing. Instead, he focused on keeping up with Matthew, which wasn't particularly easy.

Eli had never really been in great shape. Being beaten, tied up, and then having to run for his life hadn't really helped. Then, there was his leg, which still gave him trouble after getting shot. Already there was a throbbing pain that spiked with every step Eli took. He was starting to wonder how much longer he'd be able to keep going.

And then, he wondered if Matthew would be able to make it out without him.

Before he could follow that particular train of thought much further, Matthew stopped and pushed him aside. Eli stumbled, nearly falling, but managing to catch himself against one of the shipping containers. He still saw the moment Jack burst out from the smoke and was met with Matthew.

The flash of silver told Eli the mercenary was holding a weapon, but Matthew managed to block his attack and shove him back. He followed with a kick that was easily dodged by the mercenary as his gaze landed on Eli. For a second, Eli felt like time dragged on. With a sort of clarity that shouldn't have been possible, he saw the mercenary grin, teeth almost seemed to glint viciously. His arm moved even as he avoided Matthew, his wrist flicking forward as the knife in his hand was sent flying.

Eli wasn't sure how he managed to move so quickly, but something in him—some survival instinct that had so far been very inactive—had him ducking. He heard the knife hit metal, but didn't bother to check, too busy scrambling up even as Jack moved towards him. Matthew blocked him, throwing a punch that was deflected. Jack slashed at him with a small blade he'd pulled from his belt and Matthew just barely managed to dodge, twisting away while taking a hold of the mercenary's arm and throwing him over his shoulder. Somehow, Jack managed to maneuver in a way that allowed him to land safely, but Matthew had succeeded in putting some distance between Eli and the enemy.

He backed up as Eli stood, wide-eyed and wondering how he'd managed to survive. Not that he wasn't glad he had.

"Are you alright?" Matthew asked, not taking his eyes away from the mercenary standing dangerously close to them.

"Yeah," Eli managed to say past the shock he was still under. Looking at the enemy grinning over at them though, Eli wasn't sure how much longer that would last.

# # #

Hey everyone! So, this took a lot longer to post than I'd hoped. Sorry for that, but a lot of things happened and kept me busy, but I think I also needed a break. I'm feeling tired and burned out which feels awful because I really do love writing and I want to keep going, but yeah, I'm tired. Feeling better now though, so hopefully that'll last, lol. I'll do my best to update on a more regular schedule now, but yeah, things happen.

Anyway, than you all for your patience and for reading. As much as I like to torture you all--and I love to torture you all--I do appreciate you all very much. So yeah, hope you all liked this chapter and I'll be posting the next one hopefully in two weeks!

As always, please stay safe everyone!