And the last will be kings

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𝕋ℍ𝔼 ship rocked gently against the waves, a rhythmic lull that had sent everyone into much-needed sleep. The long, gruelling night had taken its toll, but Rosita remained awake, her body exhausted yet her heart unwilling to rest. She stayed beside Blue, watching over him like a silent guardian, her gaze never straying from his slumbering form.

The dim light cast a golden hue over his scales, accentuating the rise and fall of his breathing. His chest moved steadily, no longer laboured with pain, no longer trembling from the agony he had endured. Relief settled in Rosita's chest, warm and soothing.

Then, as if sensing her presence, Blue stirred.

His golden eyes fluttered open, first hazy with exhaustion before sharpening into something else—something deeper. Happiness. Love.

Rosita's heart ached at the sight.

She smiled tiredly, her hand reaching out instinctively, fingertips tracing the side of his face, rubbing his cheek in soft, slow circles. "I'm sorry this happened to you," she whispered, voice barely above a breath, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile peace between them. "Even before all of this... What happened at the park, everything they did to you—you didn't ask for any of it. You never deserved any of it." She swallowed, her voice trembling with unspoken grief. "But I'm happy to see you, Blue."

A small, breathless chuckle escaped her lips as she added, "I love you."

Blue's pupils dilated at her words, and something shifted in the air—something unspoken yet undeniable. A deep yearning, a pull between them that neither time nor circumstance could ever sever.

The moment held them in its grasp, lingering like the hush of the ocean beyond the steel walls.

Then, Blue moved.

His form began to shift, muscles tensing as the transformation threatened to take hold. Rosita's hands flew to him, pressing gently against his shoulders, her touch both urgent and tender. "Stop," she whispered. "Don't change. You'll hurt yourself."

But it was too late.

In a breath, he was no longer the wounded raptor lying on the table. He was him—his human form, warm and solid beneath her fingertips.

Rosita barely had time to catch her breath before Blue reached for her, his calloused hand cupping her cheek with a tenderness that sent a shiver down her spine. His thumb brushed over her skin, tracing delicate patterns like he was memorizing her, like he wanted to carve this moment into eternity.

"Then how do I tell you that I love you too?"

His voice was soft, a mere murmur against the hush of the room, but it struck Rosita like a bolt of lightning, igniting something deep within her soul.

She let out a quiet, breathless laugh, her hand lifting to rest over his, feeling the warmth of his palm against her skin. Words were unnecessary—he could see everything in her eyes, just as she saw everything in his. Blue's fingers curled slightly, gently pulling her forward, and Rosita let herself fall into him, her lips meeting his in a kiss that was slow and full of longing. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate.

It was pure.

It was love, woven into every touch, every breath, every lingering second between them.

𓆌

Rosita stirred awake to the muffled sound of voices outside, her senses slowly adjusting to the dim light filtering through the cracks of the cargo hold. The heavy hum of machinery rumbled beneath them, and the ship swayed gently as it moved through the waters.

"Put it online!" someone barked outside, the voice sharp and commanding.

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Rosita shifted slightly and felt warmth pressed against her. She glanced down to see Blue, still in his human form, fast asleep. His arm was draped protectively over her, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. A soft smile touched her lips as she watched him, peaceful for the first time in what felt like forever. Carefully, she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, lingering for a second, memorizing the warmth of his skin. "We'll get through this," she whispered, as much a promise to herself as to him.

The speakers crackled above, and a static-laced voice filled the air.

"All crew prepare for docking. All crew prepare for docking."

The moment of peace shattered urgency flooding through Rosita's veins. She stretched and sat up, pushing away the exhaustion still clinging to her body. Outside, voices rose in activity.

"Let's go, let's go! Let's move it, boys!" Wheatley's grating voice rang out, his presence as repulsive as ever.

"We're here," Claire's voice followed, softer but tense with realization. A groggy Franklin lifted his head from where he had been slumped against the floor, stirring awake alongside Owen, Claire, and Zia. "Get in your truck and let's go!" Wheatley ordered again, and instantly, everyone became alert.

Rosita turned to Blue just as he exhaled, shifting back into his raptor form. His golden eyes met hers for the briefest moment before he closed them again, settling into place. Zia hurried forward, seamlessly swapping places with Rosita at Blue's side as the rest of them ducked into the shadows. Just as they pressed themselves against the edges of the entrance, the view window slid open with a loud clank.

Wheatley's beady eyes peered in.

"You got a heartbeat?" he asked, scrutinizing Zia and Blue, who both remained as still as possible. "Yeah," Zia replied flatly before her lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Do you?" Wheatley narrowed his eyes at her but ignored the jab. "I need blood samples."

Zia's jaw tightened. "I'm not here to help you reset the food chain, so... take your own damn samples." A tense moment passed before Wheatley scowled and slammed the view window shut. The second he was gone, Zia turned to them with urgency. "Go, go, now, now. Go."

Without hesitation, Owen, Claire, and Rosita slipped out of the truck, moving fast but quiet. The cold night air wrapped around them as they ducked into the shadows.

But then—

"Hey! What the hell's going on?"

A soldier shone his flashlight directly at Franklin, the beam illuminating his wide-eyed panic. Franklin froze like a deer in headlights. "I was, um..." he stuttered. Before he could dig his own grave, Zia stepped up, her voice sharp and confident. "I need an extra pair of hands. He volunteered."

The soldier eyed Franklin suspiciously. "You deck crew?"

Franklin hesitated for a beat before awkwardly raising a hand in a half-hearted salute. "Aye, aye." The soldier narrowed his eyes but seemed satisfied. "We're loading out. Follow me." As he turned to walk away, Franklin blurted out, "Uh, does that mean we're leaving the ship right now?" The soldier scoffed. "That is what 'loading out' means. Now get moving. Follow me, kid."

Franklin shot a pleading look toward the others as he was led away.

Under the truck, Claire, Owen, and Rosita watched in silent horror. "Shit," Owen muttered. "Oh, no," Claire whispered, heart pounding. Claire spoke. "He's not gonna make it. We have to help him." Owen nodded. "Stay here. I'll get him."

But before Owen could move, the truck roared to life.

"There's no time," Rosita said, her mind already set. Without waiting for an argument, she crawled out from under the truck and darted toward the driver's seat. Owen and Claire hesitated for only a second before following her lead, slipping inside just as Rosita pulled the door shut.

The moment she did, a crew member smacked his hand against the window, making Rosita jump.

"Good to go! Roll out." Rosita exhaled sharply, steadying herself before spotting a cap on the dashboard. Without a second thought, she grabbed it and pulled it over her head to obscure her face. Claire, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to Owen, her expression tight with worry. "Where are they taking them?"

Rosita's hands gripped the wheel as she glanced at the trucks ahead, their taillights glowing like sinister eyes in the dark.

"Don't know," she muttered, shifting into gear, "but we're about to find out."

With that, she pressed down on the gas, seamlessly blending in with the convoy as they rolled toward whatever lay ahead.

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By: SilverMist707

<3 <3