Concordia Hospital -Braxton, Melanie, Dante and Open

It was almost like a million things happened at once and suddenly the pain in his waist was nothing. His blue eyes were wide as he watched the shape he knew was Melanie's body take two arrows. Even more shocking still was that they were sent out by Dante. He forced himself to stand up, not even able to feel the deep slit in his side beyond the warm, wet sensation of blood running down his leg. His mind had gone blank as he watch Dante hurry toward Melanie who was now on the ground. He didn't even see the hooded figure's face, or notice him swooped over Mel protectively. He was too busy propelling himself forward and tackling Dante from behind.

He felt them both hit the ground hard before Braxton grabbed a shoulder and flipped Dante over, empowered by rage and a destructive force probably inherited from his mother. He didn't even feel his fist connect with Dante's face, but the blood that smeared his fist and spurted from the older man's nose told him he must have done some damage. Not that any of that matter. He didn't even have the sense to articulate words. Instead all the sounds that escaped Braxton were furious growls of malicious intent as his fist connected over and over to Dante. It was only when his arms got numb that started to weaken that he paused long enough to regain his composure.

Rolling off of Dante, Braxton was shaking so hard to teeth were clanking together violently. His fists were both slick and glistening red from blood and he realized, suddenly, that his face was smeared with tears. Not even bothering to look at Dante, Braxton pulled himself off the ground and started toward the stop where Melanie had fallen. His body moved without him meaning for it to. Like it had for the last few minutes, he couldn't feel any pain, although he knew the gash on his waist had torn open slightly after his assault on his own man. He stumbled forward and fell to his knees at Melanie's side, unable to react to the now revealed Alex standing above him. Braxton was shaking again as he reached forward and tried to shake Melanie awake, desperate for some kind of reaction. The tears were streaming down his face again as his bloodied hands took her face in them. He could tell, vaguely, that there were red smeared left behind where his hands touched her, but his body seemed out of his own control. Finally his voice returned to him and he choked out one word, "Melanie..."

As Braxton's fists connected with his face he knew in that moment that Braxton loved Mel and though the pain was horrible if he allowed Mel to find her true love he was fine with that, soon though the fists stopped and he moved to stand. Though before he was able to get any closer to Mel and Braxton he felt the burning pain of something penetrating his left leg and he barely was able to stand. As he looked down there was a spear that went cleanly through his thigh and he knew there was no chance he could remove it, he kept fighting to get to Mel he called out to to her, "Mel...you have to wake up...he's there, wake up for him." He then felt a sharp pain in his chest as he saw the hooded man for the first time and a single word slipped through his lips, "You're..." before he found himself on the floor again.

Almost as soon as the oblivion had claimed her, mel found herself struggling against it. She couldn't hear or feel anything for what felt like an eternity, but when she did, she wished she hadn't. The pain hit her first, the burning from the arrows and the throbbing of her head. Something else was there though, beckoning her toward the surface. Hands were on her shoulders, then her face. She couldn't quite tell whose, but someone was trying to wake her up. And then he spoke, and she knew Brax was there. Some part of her relaxed, knowing she was safe from whatever had landed her there, though she couldn't quite remember what that was.


Melanie's eyes refused to open, and her hands refused to move. Somehow though, she knew she needed to do something. If she stopped fighting now, she wouldn't make it. Finding her words, she finally managed to speak. "Brax. Brax." She whimpered, the few other words she had tried to say falling away to the roaring I'm her head.

Alex watched in vague confusion as the blonde man who he had assumed was with the stranger began to attack the other man. When he finally realized who it was, everything started to click in to place. Of course Braxton would beat the shit out of the guy who shot Melanie. It was like, his job or something. Sacred duty of the best friend, right? He didn't even bother to shield his sister from the son of Enyo. If anything, he was a little relieved to have Braxton there with her. Now he could focus on the battle, and the man who was attempting to walk towards him.

Then again, he may not be much of a problem at all. Taking a spear to the leg, the man fell down short of where Alex stood vigil over the two friends. When he did get close enough for Alex to consider him a threat, a well placed blow to the chest sent the man sprawling backwards. So what if he knew his sister's name, he still wasn't going to let him touch her. Not now, not ever. "You sit there like a good little dog, and maybe I'll let you live." He growled, leaving the staff squarely on the man's chest.

His heart was racing so quickly he thought he might collapse. Braxton couldn't hold back the tears, and the thought of crying made him feel sick to his stomach, but that didn't seem to matter right now. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers for a moment after hearing her voice. She was alive, "Melanie..." He continued, pulling back only to plant a kiss on her forehead, "Melanie..." Did he know any other words? Of course he did, but those words didn't matter, "Melanie..." Trying to avoid tweaking the arrows that were still buried in her body, he pulled her into an embrace, "You can't leave me." He whispered, trying to hide his tears, and terror, in her bloody, matted tresses, "Please..." His voice was a thick croak, heavy with regret that she was injured.

"I am not a dog, she wasn't supposed to get hit." It was then he heard her voice and Braxton tell her that she couldn't leave him, he smiled knowing if he were to die Mel would be safe. He tried to move and nearly screamed in pain, not only was hit leg buggered but he must have broken ribs. He grabbed the boys staff and pulled himself up. He looked so much like Mel but that was impossible, she had told him her brother was dead. Something in his gut told him though that there was no other explanation. As a titan or Egyptian attempted to get close to Braxton and Mel he threw one of the swords as hard as he could and watched as it hit its mark before he felt the sharp pain of an arrow hitting him, he stumbled forward and felt two more hit him in succession before he fell in front of Mel he could barely breath and he thought his time was at an end he reached out to touch Mel and as he found her hand he grasped it tightly, or as tightly as he could.

"Brax, I didn't mean to... Mel, I'm sorry... I never meant to... I think I can't keep my promise."

"Where am I going?" Melanie mumbled incoherently before trying to burrow her head against Braxton's chest. The sharp shooting pain in her shoulder let her know that it was a bad decision as the arrow caught between their bodies. Groaning in pain, she still refused to move. If it was that bad, and she was going to die, she'd do it with some semblance of security and happiness, both which she could find right there. "I'll stay. Brax. I'll stay." The more he spoke, the more he cried, the harder she fought against the tidal wave that was threatening to sweep her away. She couldn't leave him, not now.

Before she could try to stand or even move to help herself or Braxton, Dante was there, holding her hand. Her eyes still hadn't opened, but she could tell from the sound of his voice, from his words that it was bad. "Dam. Dam take care of him." She commanded as loudly as she could, hoping her brother could hear her. Her head lolled to the side slightly as the act of holding it up began to tax her strength, but she stil managed to stay awake.

Great. Now not only was his sister injured, but she had charged him with taking care of the idiot that did it. He wouldn't touch the man, but he would do what his sister commanded. Grabbing the nearest Titan that he could, Alex commanded the body to pick up the older man with as much care as he could. "Braxton. I'll take him inside and be back. Watch over her. Please." He asked in an even tone. No, Alex wouldn't plead with his sister's friend, but if he had to he would take her with him. There were more than enough bodies for him to do so without compromising her safety. Assuring himself that Brax had the situation under control temporarily, Alex escorted Dante back to the building, calling for a medic as soon as they reached the doors.

Braxton was still oblivious to Alex's appearance there. He was so focused on Melanie that Alex's request falling on deaf ears didn't really matter, though. He held her tightly, almost tempted to loosen his grip when she gasped from the pain of the arrows. But then, if he let her go he was terrified he would fall into that rage again. Slip away and probably kill Dante. Because logic and whether or not it was an accident didn't matter. Melanie did, though. She mattered.

Braxton didn't let go, even though the truth hit him like a ton of bricks tied to a wrecking ball. She mattered. After everything with Octavia, the 'one night stand' that turned into five or six times, the parties and the hatred and the awkward conversations, after everything, she mattered. More than anyone had ever mattered. Of course, he wasn't interested in exploring this vast, unexplored territory of his emotional self, so he buried her thoughts and shook his head, kissing her neck where his face had come to bury itself. Her skin was unnaturally cool under his lips making him shiver and worry all at the same time, "I'm so sorry." He choked, "I should have protected you."

"It's not your fault, Brax." She slurred, finally managing to open her eyes. "I had to...Damien. If he would've hit Damien...I couldn't live with it. I'm sorry Brax." In her heart, she knew she had done the right thing. Even if she didn't know why, her baby brother was there. She had to protect him this time. She had to. Braxton's lips were warm against her skin, almost uncomfortably so. Why was she so cold? Please don't let it be that bad, not now. She just got them back, all of them. Brax. Tavie. Damien. Espn. It couldn't go down like this. "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. Don't let me go. Please don't let me go." She whispered, leaning her head against his as she started trying to move her arms. They felt like lead, but at least one of them worked.

Braxton held her for a moment longer before pulling away. He didn't pull away far, just enough to scoop her in his arms and start carrying her towards the Hospital. There were Titans everywhere, but Braxton dodged around them like they didn't even exist. He walked through the doors of the emergency room and found one of the few empty rooms. Heading to the bed, he had had every intention of laying her down and letting the doctors help her, but he was afraid that stupid old man would tell him to back off like he had wit Octavia so instead, Braxton sat down on the bed himself, cradling Melanie in his arms until a doctor came to find them.

-- we can probably call the battle thread finished for brax and mel --