Chapter Text
This has been a terrible idea.
Shiro rolled his shoulder slightly, the butt of the gun settling back into the permanent bruise it left.
But it was the best idea he had right now.
Everyone knew the resort was a scav heaven. There was plenty to find for everyone so no one even fought over supplies. Even so, Shiro was worried about being recognized during the day. USEC didn’t take kindly to finding traitors. Though Shiro had turned raider months ago he was sure people were still looking for him. Despite them having been on the same team at one point, everyone was eager to climb the ranks by turning in the fallen golden boy himself. He heard rumor of rewards more than once.
So here he was, in the dead of night at the resort.
Every noise Shiro heard made him swivel quickly. The snapping of twigs, the sound of gravel crunching made his heart beat that much faster. But as he approached the fence and stood in front of the resort he let out a breath he didn’t even realize he had been holding.
Scav heaven.
There were a fair bit of scavs roaming around the dark buildings. A couple turned and aimed at him only to recognize the clashing gear he had strapped to him and return to what they were doing. Shiro also lowered his weapon slightly and nodded to others who met his eye. Slightly more relaxed, he made his way inside.
Shiro had been here a fair amount of times, but he didn’t want to get cocky. Each time he opened a door he aimed inside, heart racing, hoping no PMC would be hiding inside. Luck was on his side tonight and every room was empty.
Well, almost every room.
He had found some old gym bags, dug into the pockets of discarded jackets and sifted thru items left on one of the many bodies littering the place. It never felt great to take from a fallen scav but Shiro knew one day he would be the body, and he would be picked over just the same.
“Everything here is only borrowed,” was a common saying here. Whether by accident or death, you would end up surrendering all your gear one day.
As Shiro stood and looked at his watch, he heard a shuffle. It didn’t worry him too much given the amount of scavs around. If there was a PMC, there would be a lot more noise. Even so he continued carefully, heading to the second floor of the east side. As he walked up the stairs he kept the muzzle of his gun aiming up in case of campers. After successfully making his way up he went to open another door when he heard the distinct sound of someone breathing.
Or rather, someone trying not to breathe.
Shiro knew the struggle of trying to be quiet when you got hurt. He spent many hours in the corner of some abandoned building, quickly sewing a new wound closed before someone found him.
He listened carefully and took slow, deliberate steps toward the door. Normally the sound of his own boots was a danger. Sometimes it felt like a PMC could hear you walking a mile away. But if this was another scav who needed help, Shiro couldn’t just leave them. Maybe he was naïve. Everyone was only out for themselves when it really came down to it. But he wasn’t the kind of person to pass by someone in need.
Knocking on the door garnered no response. Maybe Shiro had been hearing things? But when he began to slowly turn the doorknob he heard the sound of someone gasping. Hands fumbling with a weapon. Panicked breathing. Immediately Shiro froze, door slightly ajar. He made sure not to make any sudden moves.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” Shiro said calmly. “Are you okay?”
The only answer was ragged breathing. Shiro took another couple of beats before taking a deep breath. “I’m going to open the door. I’m alone. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Still no answer. He didn’t hear the sound of a gun being cocked so that was a plus. Thankfully his gear was good enough he wouldn’t get hurt if the person had a knife either. His grip on the knob tightened before he continued to slowly push the door open.
It was hard to see at first, but as Shiro’s eyes adjusted his gaze was pulled down to the lump on the floor.
This…this was just a kid.
The kid’s molten glare did little more than amuse Shiro. He may be a kid but he had fire.
“Stay back.” The kid snapped, raising a shaking hand and aiming a pistol at Shiro’s face. “I’ll fucking shoot.”
Shiro’s eyes crinkled in the corners and he stepped into the room slowly. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He repeated gently, closing the door behind himself. When the boy didn’t relax, Shiro did something that was probably really stupid. Making sure every move was big and obvious, Shiro put the gun in his hands down, and then the one strapped to his back joined it on the floor.
This extremely risky move made the kid’s eyebrows shoot up until they were hidden behind his unruly black hair. Shiro stood there, hands up in surrender.
The silence stretched between them, and eventually the kid slowly lowered his gun. Shiro smiled gently at him, shoulders sagging slightly.
“My name’s Shiro. Well, Takashi Shirogane, but friends call me Shiro.”
The kid’s stunned expression didn’t falter. Seeing as how he wasn’t being actively aggressive, Shiro knelt down so they were on the same level.
“What’s your name?”
“Uh…Keith.” He murmured. “Kogane.”
Shiro absolutely beamed. “It’s nice to meet you, Keith. It sounded like you were in some pain. You need any meds?”
All at once the pain came back to Keith and he winced. Instead of answering verbally he touched his side tenderly and raised his now blood-stained hand.
Shiro hummed. “Looks like quite a wound. You mind if I take a look?”
Keith’s eyes darted back and forth between Shiro and his wound. After a few silent moments he nodded. Shiro made sure to move towards him slowly and deliberately so as not to spook him. Keith shifted to let Shiro see the wound better, gritting his teeth.
It was hard to see much in the dark but Shiro could see the dark wet spot slowly spreading underneath the kid. The blood soaking the carpet glistened in the moonlight filtering in from the window.
Shit.
Not wanting to panic him, Shiro looked back into his eyes and smiled. “I have some bandages and pain pills in my pockets. Is it okay with you if I grab them real quick?”
Keith nodded faster this time, his body sagging a bit more onto the floor. Shiro wasn’t surprised, he had lost a good amount of blood. Digging into his pockets he pulled out a blister pack of pills and handed them to Keith, quickly handing him a half full water bottle to wash it down. If it was even possible Keith’s eyes got wider at the sight of clean water. He took both and sipped delicately at the bottle while Shiro peeled his blood-soaked shirt from his side.
Shiro’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the wound. It didn’t look like a gunshot wound.
“Hatchet.” Keith mumbled.
That made Shiro look at him again. “What?”
Keith screwed the top of the water bottle back on before offering it back to Shiro. “He got me with a hatchet.”
Shiro swallowed hard. Tarkov really brought out the sadistic side of people. But it was all in the name of survival, he supposed. He did some things he wasn’t proud of to survive, too after all.
“Finish it off.” Shiro said, nodding to the bottle as he busied his hands with opening a bandage. Keith blinked slowly. “But-“
“I have more. Don’t worry about it.”
He wasn’t sure if it was the meds or blood loss but Shiro swore he felt Keith’s eyes soften. As soon as the wound was covered Shiro adjusted Keith’s shirt back before he realized.
“Why aren’t you wearing any armor?”
Keith cringed and looked away. “Can’t afford any.”
God, this place truly was hell.
Shiro hummed before sitting back on his heels and inspecting Keith. Before, it looked like Keith was feral, hair on end and teeth bared as he brandished his weapon. Now he just looked sleepy. It did something inside of Shiro’s chest.
“You have anywhere to go?”
Keith tilted his head and considered his answer.
“Um…”
“C’mon.” Shiro said without hesitation.
Keith startled as Shiro stood, before Shiro offered him a hand up. One hand gripping his side, Keith accepted the help and stood up slowly. His legs were full of static and he stumbled slightly only for Shiro to catch him. Leaning against him, Keith could feel how solid Shiro was. It was comforting, somehow.
As Shiro gathered his weapons, he glanced back. “Don’t forget your pistol.”
Keith turned his head in embarrassment and mumbled something.
“What was that?” Shiro asked.
“It’s not loaded.” Keith said a bit louder.
Shiro was silent for a beat before he let out a soft chuckle. “You’re a good bluffer.” He said. He grabbed the gun that had been strapped to his back and tossed it to Keith, who caught it easily.
Keith huffed out a laugh. “Thanks.”
Before they headed back out into the hallway, Shiro removed some of his own armor and carefully strapped it over Keith’s chest. Keith startled and Shiro swore in his head. The kid was jumpy. He needed to be more careful.
“Don’t you need-“
“My vest has some armor built in.” Shiro answered with a gentle smile. He took off the helmet strapped to his head and slowly put it on Keith’s. It was a little big on him, even tightened as far as it could be. It made him look even more like a kid. But it was better than nothing.
“Way better.” Shiro said happily. How was this man so cheery in the middle of hell?
Putting his gun back against his shoulder, Shiro touched the doorknob.
“Stay close. If anyone fires, hit the ground. If it’s safe, take cover.”
Adrenaline started to pump thru Keith again, and he nodded. Shiro opened the door slightly and listened. The wind whistles thru some broken windows, but there was no movement.
After waiting a couple seconds, Shiro opened the door fully and led Keith out. He stayed swiveling constantly, more alert than he had been. Before, it was only Shiro. Now he had Keith to worry about.
They walked down the stairs cautiously, making it to the first floor before a large explosion made them freeze in their tracks. Shiro backed up, gently pushing Keith into the corner of a wall. If anyone shot at them, Keith would be safe.
Shiro raised his gun to eye level and waited, steadying his breath. After a few moments there was another explosion. This one was followed by laughter that made Shiro deflate in relief. “Just some scavs messing around.” He murmured. He started walking again, heading towards one of the holes blown into the side of the building. Keith followed close behind.
They passed a few more scavs, who nodded at them in greeting before going on their own way. Shiro listened carefully for the sound of Keith’s breathing behind him as they walked off of the resort, back into the forest.
Guiding him past bushes, Shiro kept looking back every so often to check on Keith. His breathing was slowly getting heavier. They needed to extract quickly.
Thankfully Shiro knew this place like the back of his hand. He used the dome perched in the mountains as his guide, and soon enough he could hear the blessed sound of the water lapping at the shore.
“Almost there.” He said lowly. Keith grunted in response.
They stuck close to the tree line, until the pier had come into view. Shiro stopped before they walked into the road and turned to Keith.
“Can you run?”
Keith was already panting and out of breath. That wasn’t good. There might be someone camping the extract. They needed to be fast. But Shiro wasn’t going to leave Keith behind if he couldn’t keep up.
Shiro tossed him another pain pill that Keith swallowed dry.
“Okay.” Shiro breathed. “We’re going to move as fast as possible. Our extract is at the pier. Once we get there we’re home free. Got it?”
Keith looked nervous, but he nodded all the same. Shiro gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to the road. They would have to avoid the streetlights. That would make them an easy target, but it also meant taking a slightly longer way.
The risk wasn’t worth it.
Shit led Keith along the trees before taking slow steps toward the road. With the trees a yard behind them, Shiro took a deep breath.
“Go.”
Both of them darted out to the road, and as expected shots rang thru the air. Shiro swore and glanced to Keith. He was starting to flag already, exhausted from blood loss. His stamina wasn’t going to hold out much longer.
“Behind the car!”
Keith skidded behind an abandoned car and Shiro followed before turning and shooting in the direction of the PMC. He stayed crouched, slowly swiveling, finger on the trigger. It was silent for a few moments, but Shiro knew better.
When it felt safe, it still wasn’t safe. Not here.
He narrowed his eyes and looked down his scope, looking for any movement at all. Long moments passed before he saw it. Someone moved near the tree line. In one fluid motion Shiro stood and shot. The PMC prone on the ground cried out, then was still.
Shiro held his stance in case there were more. But nothing else moved. “Start moving to the pier.” He murmured to Keith.
But there was no response, and no answering movement. Shiro chanced a glance down and saw Keith sitting against the car with his legs splayed out in front of him, doubled over.
Shit.
Shiro swept over the tree line one more time before slinging his gun back and kneeling down next to Keith.
“Hey, you with me?”
No response. Shiro pressed fingertips to Keith’s neck. There was still a pulse.
“Hey.” He said a little louder, shaking Keith’s shoulder gently. “Stay with me, Keith. We’re almost out.”
Keith let out a small whimper, and Shiro felt something in his gut twist. He glanced behind them once more before sliding his arms under Keith and lifting him. Even with the armor on the kid was light. That made this easier.
Shiro hustled to the pier. It felt like his feet were barely tapping the asphalt as he ran. He heard shots ring out behind them but there was no time to look back. Nothing hit him. That was the only answer he needed.
“Shiro!”
A familiar car idled on the pier, and a friendly face greeted him.
“Matt, let’s go.”
Matt’s smile faltered slightly as he saw Shiro carrying someone. “Aw fuck, Shiro. Really? Another stray?”
Shiro opened the back door and laid Keith across the seats, ignoring Matt.
The other man groaned but got into the driver’s seat as Shiro got into the passenger seat. Matt slammed his foot onto the gas pedal and they shot forward into the night.