Prompt: Taking a Bullet

Focus Agent: Brimstone
Featured Agent: Killjoy

Timeline: N/A

Summary: Brimstone thinks of Killjoy as a daughter. He'll do anything for her, even taking a bullet in her stead.

For Her

  "I can stick it, Brimstone! We need to defuse the spike now!"

  "Killjoy, it's too risky. We have an Omega-Chamber with his sniper unaccounted for and that thing's about to blow."

  "All the more reason to defuse it now. We can't have another Venice on our hands. I won't let it happen."

  "KJ!"

Brimstone's fingers brushed the young agent's yellow jacket. He watched helplessly as she dashed out into the open. She planted her turret before defusing the spike to keep watch and give her some cover fire.

Brimstone used the scope of his Bulldog to survey the high places for their missing sniper.

Even if there was only one man, Brim wished he had a full team here. Skye was on the other side of the map taking care of the injured. It would take some time for them to heal up before jumping through the portal to their side, so that left just him and Killjoy.

When he first met Klara Böhringer, he saw a young, brilliant prodigy trapped under Kingdom's thumb, even if she didn't realize it. She was energetic, optimistic, and blissfully unaware how her inventions were being used to harm the Radiant race. When he recruited her into his new Protocol, Brim thought he was saving her life. Now here she was, defusing a ticking bomb with a hidden sniper training his sights on her head.

Brimstone nearly jumped when Killjoy's turret sprang into action, firing a couple shots above them. There was a loud boom and the little robot vanished.

  "Turret down!" Killjoy said to herself in frustration that masked a fear only Brimstone could detect.

He aimed his Bulldog where the shot had come, but found nothing. With his location exposed, mirror-Chamber would have to find a new vantage point.

His ability recharged, Brimstone created a smoke cloud around his agent, hoping to throw off Chamber's aim at least a little. He knew it was a futile action. The VP leader focused on scanning the perimeter.

  "It's almost done, Brim!" reported Killjoy with relief in her voice.

Brimstone's eyes flicked to her direction, the girl still hidden in the thinning smoke screen, and a glint caught his eye.

Above the portal, Chamber lay on his stomach with the golden sniper he invented trained on where he had planted the spike. Where Killjoy was currently stuck with her back turned towards her potential killer.

In slow motion, Brimstone saw the finger press the trigger and moved. With a speed he didn't know he was capable of, he ran across the opening and skidded to a stop in front of the smoke screen, betting everything he had that he was effectively covering his agent.

He raised his weapon and another boom shattered the quiet. A terrible pain tore through Brimstone's side. The force of it slammed him onto the ground and stole the breath from his lungs.

He heard Killjoy scream and the rapid spray of her Phantom. A grunt and a body hit the ground. Then there was silence. Peaceful silence.

Small, cold hands pressed against his side and Brimstone groaned at the flare of pain it caused.

  "Brim. Brim, can you hear me?" A pale face, dark hair, and round-rimmed glasses hovered over him, drenched in worry. "You're going to be okay. Skye's coming."

With his jaw clenched tightly, Brimstone could only nod in acknowledgement. He shut his eyes against the harsh sun.

  "Oh, there's so much blood. Why did you jump in front of me, you dummkopf?!"

  The trembling causing some difficulty, the leader gripped her hand in his own. "I'll always take a bullet for you." His voice came out soft and wispy. Killjoy had to lean in to hear him better. "Killjoy, I–I care about you. Ever since I met you, you've been like a daughter to me." At those words, Killjoy gasped and tears slipped down her face. "Whatever it takes to protect you, I will. I promise."

Never would he regret taking a bullet for her. He would do it again. And again. And again.

  "Liam, I–" the girl paused, biting her lip to help dam the flow of near sobs. With one hand still pressed against the wound, Killjoy threw herself around him. He felt her murmuring into his chest, "I love you. Please don't leave me."

He carded a hand through her long brown hair. He could hear faint footsteps and shouts in an Australian accent.

  "Don't worry, kid. I'm not going anywhere."

Translations:
Dummkopf – Idiot (German)