Half Moon

  I could still feel the arms around my body, holding me close.

  My wings had shrunk on their own, conserving whatever strength was in me.

  I could barely hear the sounds of my Nightshade.

  It was muffled and echo-y, as if far away.

  Or it was just me drifting from reality.

  All I could feel were the arms carrying me. I was oblivious to everything else.

  They carried me for what felt like hours.

  I couldnt open my eyes. I barely had enough strength to keep breathing.

  The footsteps beneath me were slow and precise, gently cradling me close to their chest.

  I could smell mild cologne.  I was too exhausted to decipher who's it was. All I knew was that it was familiar.

  I could hear the sounds around me become more defined.  As if sharpened like a blade.

  I could hear the click of my Nightshade's hooves and his breathing.

  I could feel his breath brush through my hair, sweeping across my face.

  I barely opened my eyes, and all I could see was black fabric.

  I felt my body being lifted and the feet beneath me step up.

  We were going up stairs.  I counted three.

  I heard the click of a door, and I heard Nightshade follow after.

  The door shut, and I was placed on something soft.

  The footsteps faded away for a second, and came back a few moments later.

  A fuzzy blanket was placed over me.

  I could manage a miniscule smirk, but I hoped it was enough to thank whoever carried me here.

  I felt long, cold fingers across my forehead.

  I heard a sigh.  "Please be okay."

  I knew that voice.  S.

  S carried me here.

  I felt a large head on my feet.  Nightshade.

  "You'll watch her for the night?"

  I heard an agreeing snort.

  His fingers wrapped around my hand and sqeezed.

  He let go and walked away.

  I passed out again.

Morning

  From my shins down I was numb.  Nightshade didn't move all night.

  I move my legs little, and he instantly got up, sniffing my hair.

  I could open my eyes now.

  I was covered in a fuzzy grey blanket, my body laying on the black leather couch.

  Definitely S's house.

  I had a bad headache, making me dizzy.

  Nightshade shimmied his head behind my back, slowly helping me sit up.

  Everything was sore.  All my muscles were tight and tense.

  I look at the granite island, and S is there, his hair unbrushed, in his black silk pajamas, tapping the counter with his fingernail.

  I let out a small sqeak when the tendon in my right leg felt like snapping in half.

  He looked at me, immediately standing up and coming to my front.

  "You alright?  You nearly killed yourself last night." He said, his blue eyes worried.

  "Slow down. I did what?  And how did you get me here without anyone noticing?"

  He took a breath, taking my hand.

  He suddenly wrapped his long arms around me, and I tried returning it, but my sore muscles refused it.

  I still did it anyway, if it did hurt.

  "You...  You exhausted yourself to the point where you couldn't breath. I had to make a rune to do the breathing for you. If I hadn't noticed that signal...." He faltered.

  "What signal?" I ask, trying to stroke Nightshade behind my back without hurting myself.

  "You were expelling shadows. I never authorized it, so it just came up as a signal."

  I nod.

  "How did you get me off the roof without being noticed?"

  "I did get noticed." He says, showing me a memory.

I lean into it, my forehead coming into contact with the orb.

  I saw myself on the roof, my eyes staring into the sky, the tinted glass semi-spehere still around me.

  He shattered the glass with one blow of his fist, making it crumble around me.

  He lifted me up carefully, and I could feel the worry creeping into his throat.

  I heard the sound of a blaster coming out.

  He turned around, and Smokescreen was there, blaster pointed for him.

  "Let her go." He said, eyes narrowed, inching closer.

  "I will not harm her."  He replied cooly.

Smokescreen narrowed his eyes more. "And how do I know you're not lying?"

  "Do you think Nightshade would let me come near her if he suspected I was a threat?" S replied again, holding me tight.

  Smokescreen's stance eased a little.

  "But if you still don't believe me, go get Optimus. He met me at Renew."  S said, looking down at me.

  My neck was hanging backwards, arms limp and all color drained from my body.  The only color was on my face. Black circles around my eyes.

  I wasnt breathing.

  The edges of his vision turned grey. He was putting a breathing rune on me.

My chest was moving slowly, almost robotic.

  Smokescreen put his blaster away.

  "You hurt her, we all come after you." He warned, arms crossed.

  "I am well aware how close you are all to her. But the last thing I want is to see her hurt."

  "She'll be alright?"

  S shakes his head a little. "She overworked herself. I don't know how long it will take her to recover."

  Smokescreen nods, going back to the elevator.

  I was back in S's house.

  "I looked terrible." I say, remembering the black circles beneath my eyes.

  S nods worridly.  "You look a lot better now.  Still a little pale, but much better than what it was."

  "Can I see?" I ask, referring to look in a mirror.

  He nods.  "Let me help you. I don't think you're strong enough to stand on your own yet."

  I nod. He was always looking out for me.

  Kind of like how I looked out for Anti.

  I overstepped the line. It's Cosmic's job to be a parent, not mine.

  I drop it and put my hand in S's.

  He put his other hand underneath my arm and helped me off the couch.

  I didn't have all the strength that I thought I had.

  I faltered and tripped over my own feet.  If it weren't for S, I would have landed flat on my face several times.

  Nightshade wasn't far behind us, either. He was supporting my spine, preventing it from bending backwards.

  We turned into one of the first rooms down the hall, and we walked in.

  It was a small room, with vanity mirror and cushioned stool, about 10 makeup brushes and a pallet with eyeshadow, powdered concealer, and blush.

  S sat me down on the stool, letting me look at my face.

  My skin was pasty white, the circles beneath my eyes lightened to grey.

  I still looked exhausted.

  I forgot I still had my ring on the whole time.

  I try sliding it off my finger, but it doesn't budge.

  I start panicking. This should have come off very easily.

  S noticed my panic, and I told him what was wrong.

  He smiled wickedly.

  Nightshade got nervous.  But with one flick of a glance in his direction, and he collapsed, unconscious.

  "I know all about it." He grinned, gripping both my shoulders tightly and bending down so his face was next to mine.

  I tried getting up, but he pressed down on my shoulders. I was too weak to move.

  "Tsk, tsk." He whispered, patting my cheek.

  Something bound my wrist and ankles, and S kept smiling as he forced me look in the mirror.

  Behind me I saw Anti. He looked about 20 something.

  Blood was coming from his shoulderblades. A cut stretching from one side of his neck to the other.

  "Go to sleep, dearie."

  All went dark.