lepidope

Light of The Rebellion

Matias used Bane as a crutch up until he reached the closest wall to him in that room. He held himself up with one arm as the others scurried over.

"I fucking told you guys," he huffed, "she shouldn't have been running around like that... Why she's here of all places, I don't know. Turns out she was a government head the whole time..."

The small bit of energy that accumulated in him allowed him to stand a little straighter.

"I put a bandage, but it's just to hold off the bleeding. She needs something more intensive..."

Light of The Rebellion

Matias was in the middle of picking himself up from the ground. A sharp pain in his ribs threatened to shove him back down, but he fought it as much as he could. He was heavily and shakily breathing still, even as Bane approached him. An equally tremorous finger pointed towards the vast stairwell.

"They're upstairs," he panted, "Huge damn fiasco going on. Dante said he needed you..."

He swallowed the spit accumulating in his mouth and sucked in a bucketful of air.

"Follow me."

His body was practically begging him not to run, but he did anyway, right up that stairwell. His climb was staggered but determined. By the time he reached the office door, he was on the brink of collapsing. He got down on one knee and gripped his chest.

"Just go inside and help them," he wheezed, "I just need to sit down..."

Light of The Rebellion

"The goat man's right," Matias muttered, attempting to clean off the excess blood on his fingers with some spare gauze. "That bandage I put's only a temporary solution, and I don't know how long it's gonna take for Iris to get here."

He peered over at Dante's watch; between the phone call and now, they had been at it for a good ten minutes. Midnight was still alive, sure, but Matias dreaded what could potentially happen in the next ten.

"I'll tell them," he said, "Keep an eye on her."

If there were objections, he didn't get to hear them because he was already out the door. Running made the way to the front seat much shorter, although he was quickly out of breath. He practically collapsed at the counter, panting like a madman.

"If you see some silver haired chick," he wheezed, "let her in. Just let her in. God dammit..."

He slid onto the floor like slime.

Light of The Rebellion

Matias did not move. His hand stayed on the wound as he listened to Midnight speak. His breathing was steady albeit audible. After Midnight spoke Matias took a moment to process what he had heard. A coy smirk flashed on his face for a moment as his throat shot out a harsh chuckle.

"That makes no sense," he said, "We'd have been perfectly fine knowing about your double life, we'd just have to keep quiet about it. And look; now we all know. I don't get the secrecy, at all."

Once he decided that the bleeding had been stabilized, Matias took his hand off. His fingers were practically drenched red. He didn't bother with cleaning them just yet, however; he had a boss to chew out first.

Light of The Rebellion

Matias kept a tight pressure on the wound even as Midnight was laid down. The second layer of gauze was practically dyed red at this point. He grabbed yet another piece and slapped it on, maintaining the pressure. From here he grabbed a small roll of surgical tape and started taping all the layers onto Midnight in a rush.

"Can't be dumber than you knocking Iris out and leaving when you haven't fully healed," he snarled, pressing onto the makeshift bandage. "Seriously, why'd you do that? What'd you get out of lying to everyone?"

Light of The Rebellion

"It's not either of us, it's--"

Matias pulled the phone from his ear for a moment to listen to that stupid, annoying vampire talk again. Those two adjectives were justified in his mind, especially after what he just heard. He grit his teeth into a snarl.

"Sure, call her without saying her damn name. Real smart. Thank you."

He put the phone over his ear again.

"Anyway," he continued, "I can't really explain right now. Just get over here quick."

Once again, he pulled the phone away, noticing Midnight's condition getting critical.

"Put a cloth or something on that thing, damn it! She's bleeding out!"

He ran over to do just that, dropping his phone to grab a piece of gauze and stick it over the wound. He could feel a bit of the warm liquid running past his fingers and tinging them red. With his clean hand he grabbed another piece and stuck it over the same place.

"Mierda..."

Light of The Rebellion

Matias cursed under his breath when he heard Bane's voice. He prepared his breath for his next statement.

"Bane? Get Iris on the phone, or tell her to come to the capital. Whichever's faster."

He looked back at the fiasco behind him.

"... It's an emergency."

Light of The Rebellion

Matias didn't loosen his grip on Midnight for even a second, not even after the big reveal; it tightened it, if anything. His eyes met Midnight's, and he could feel his brow scrunching up anew.

"What are you doing all the way up here?! Do you have any idea–?!"

Oh, if this man didn't shut up...

"I don't even think I have her number," he huffed, "Is there even reception up here? Do I have my...?"

His hand dug into his pocket and retrieved his phone. He scrambled through his contacts, looking through his I names. While he didn't find an "Iris", he found an "Imbeciles", which seemed to catch his eye.

"Whatever," he huffed, tapping it in a hurry. If all went well, this should be the landline phone at the warehouse. As the phone rang and rang, Matias looked back at the pair.

"Do you have a kit anywhere?" His question was mostly directed at Midnight, but anyone would do at this point.

Light of The Rebellion

Matias looked back as he tried to keep Lady Midnight from hitting her head on the desk.

"Easy," he said, his arms pulling against her weight. "Mira, let's sit you down..."

Which he did. It didn't seem to improve Midnight's condition, though. He tried to get a good view of whatever the affliction was, but, yet again...

"Huh? Uh..."

He looked again.

"On her chest, just under the–"

He paused for a moment, at least five seconds. His head raised, and he turned towards Dante with a wide-eyed expression.

"Oh come on. Cut the crap. There's no way."

Light of The Rebellion

Matias was in the midst of stretching when Dante's voice once again interrupted the peace. He glanced over at the man, his gaze dull as it always was.

"What'd I get out of telling them?" he sneered. "I've had more than enough earfuls today."

The door behind him swung open, making him look back. Considering he had just seen a goat man, the impact the woman's appearance had on him was minute. That didn't mean he stopped looking; she was the whole point she was here, after all. What truly took him aback, however, was the manner in which Dante greeted this lady. It was as if the detective was in front of royalty.

Pretentious. All of them.

He didn't bother with the formality. In fact, he was mostly silent throughout her ramble save for a small nod when asked if he was a consult. He had to admit that he was a little thirsty, however...

The chance to say yes went away when Lady Midnight suddenly toppled over. He sprung out of his seat with a will to help, but, like always, that stupid vampire...

"Wait, what?"

He pondered.

"Uh... Like..." He prodded his finger around his chest until he could feel his heartbeat, then tapped on that part of his sternum. "... Here? It was under the breast... Why?"