25 | truce or consequence

Tony

When you're in a battle, you'd think that there are only two possible outcomes. You either win or you lose. You live or you die. However, it's not that simple. The world is not black and white.

A single wave of a white flag in a battle indicates a surrender. While that technically defines a forfeited loss for the party who waved the said flag, it's not precisely a total loss. At least, not yet.

With a wave of a white flag comes two options. Two ways this could go.

Truce or Consequence.

The two parties could decide for a truce, one that is likely to end very well. The other, consequence; where the winning party gets to choose the appropriate—or inappropriate, it's their choice, really—punishment for the other.

You choose the first one when you're sick of the chaos; when you want to just live peacefully among the others. But you choose the other one when you feel like they deserve to be punished for what they have done.

If it was up to me, what would I choose?

Truce?

Or Consequence?

"You ready?" Andrea asked while we stood right outside of the building of Triad Industries, where they once held me hostage and dug through my brain as if it was a pile of hay.

"I just hope I'll live to tell this awesome story." I said, an exhilarated smile tugging on my lips while I flexed my fingers beneath the repulsor gloves. When I was adding the finishing touches of the gloves, I decided to change the metal plating from gold-titanium alloy into chromium and titanium-steel to test out which one works best,

I slipped on my shades to communicate with J.A.R.VI.S. and while I did that, Andrea sprung the gates open with only a simple incantation. That's good, because J.A.R.V.I.S. and I had already sensed the high voltage of electricity enveloping the entire gate.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., scan the building for Ryan Clarke." I commanded.

When the X-ray vision of the glasses were activated, the first thought that came to my mind was 'Be a decent human being and don't look at Andrea'.

I managed to do just that as I scanned the building, the identities—those who are identifiable—and the vitals of each and every one of the people in it also being taken note of as I searched.

"Fourth floor. Control panel room." J.A.R.V.I.S. answered.

"He's on the fourth floor in the control room. Are we going straight to him?" I told Andrea as soon as the x-ray was deactivated.

I watched and waited as she contemplated our next move. Finally, after a couple of seconds of what I thought was doubt, she answered.

"Let's go where the pit is first." she said.

The pit? As in the Malivore Pit? Why would she want to go there first. Wouldn't it be smart to just kill Ryan first so that everything would quickly follow the downfall?

"Why?" I asked.

She looked at me straight in the eyes, her gaze not faltering and for a moment there, it scared me how serious she was. "I need to try something."

She trusts me. It took her a long time for her to completely trust me but she's finally there. Me? I've already trusted her since day one. I've already trusted her with my life even though there was a big chance that she'd take it from me.

I trust her, because I should...right?

"J.A.R.V.I.S., where's the nearest entry point to the pit?" I asked, the glasses once again switching to x-ray mode as I scanned the building.

"Southwest of the building." He answered.

I trusted her.

But I guess, I shouldn't have. Because the moment I've completely given my life in her hands, she fucking threw it away.

"Okay, whatever you need to try, do it quickly. It's only a matter of time before they figure out another way in." I said, aiming my repulsor gloves at the door.

I've got to say, these repulsors work so perfectly, I want to kiss myself for inventing them.

I was out of breath as I stared at the door in front of me, adrenaline rushing through my veins, sweat running down my face, and my heart beating fast inside my heart, I'm almost convinced it can break my rib cage.

Then when I heard no response whatsoever from the auburn-haired woman that I fell in love with standing behind me, I turned around.

The moment I saw the rather familiar expression on her face, I feared for my life, and hers. Because the guilt that flashed across her face can only mean one thing.

She was going to hurt me again.

And I must say, even after all the punches, the chokes, the throws that she put me through, this one, no matter how not physical the pain was, hurts the most.

"Andrea?" I called. The worry, the confusion, the fear that I sensed in my own voice caused her to sigh deeply and shakily.

"I'm sorry." She just said.

That was all she said to me before she climbed up the railing and jumped straight to the Malivore Pit.

Some people described too shocking or too crazy situations as being played in slow motion. They said, that they would hear their own heart beating, that I air would be knocked out of their lungs, that you'd notice things you normally wouldn't, because everything was in slow motion.

I wish that's what I felt. But it was far from it.

The moment Andrea jumped, I felt my heart sink deep in my chest before I watch her fall fast.

I wasn't able to react properly, or come up with a more appropriate solution. All I thought about was that the woman I fell in love with, was falling into the pit with my heart in her hands.

With my life in her fucking hands.

"No!" I yelled.

All I could do was aim my repulsors at her and blasted her out of the pit's way. She landed on the cemented ground beside the pit and lost consciousness.

My head and whole body were aching at this point. And with Andrea knocked out, I don't believe I stand a chance against the entirety of Triad industries.

I need to get out of here.

"J.A.R.V.I.S. get us out of here, now!" I said as I ran down the stairs, making my way towards Andrea.

When I got to her, I saw that the blast had given her a large wound on her torso. She was bleeding and blistering. If she wasn't what she is, she would've died.

I only got a few seconds to stare at her before the car J.A.R.V.I.S. was operating came to the rescue. I knew she was heavy, but the adrenaline allowed me to carry her to the car with no struggle at all.

My chest was heaving up and down and I was practically gasping at this point as I sat on the driver's seat with Andrea at the back.

A series of curses rolled out of my tongue while I drove us out of here. The sound of gunshots banging against the car startled me, making me jump the first time before I floored the gas and sped the hell out of there.

By the time, we were at a safe distance from the Triad, I heard and felt Andrea shift slightly at the back. She was awake already. But the desire to look at her had gone down so much. I used to like looking at her. But right now, I just couldn't.

Now that the adrenaline was gone in my system, the pain—physical and emotional—crashed over me like a tsunami.

Andrea was going to leave me. She was going to jump in the pit while I was still in the building. She made the decision to leave me and even let me forget her in the process.

If everything had gone differently, would I even still be alive right now?

The fact that she knew my life was going to be in more danger than it already is the moment she decided to do that, shattered me.

I wanted to hit something. Throw something. Scream at something. The pain started to grow into anger the more seconds passed by that she remained quiet behind me.

I actually don't know if I want her to say something, to explain. Because no matter how important she thinks her reason is for doing that, it doesn't change the fact that she tried to leave me in that place, as good as dead.

When we finally got back to the house, my hands were balled into fists, my jaw remained clench, and even if I have rested during the ride home, I seem to still have problems in breathing.

I was fucking thirsty when I got to the kitchen and poured myself a glass. I saw Andrea at the corner of my eye slowly approaching me and stopping before the counter as I drank.

"Tony-"

The moment she said my name, I snapped. I loved it when she said my name. I used to hint it was an honor to have my name fall off her lips. But right now, I just want her to not say it.

I slammed the glass on the kitchen counter. I felt the glass crack under my grip before I let go of it and placed my hands on top of the counter, leaning against it as I lowered my head. I drew deep breaths before I pushed my lip into a thin line and faced her again.

"What the hell were you thinking? Hm? Jumping into the pit like that when you know what it does?" I said, as calm as possible. The need to just explode in anger right now was unbelievably strong.

"I had to." she replied.

She had to? She had to leave me? She had to make me forget her? She had to go and leave me for dead?

"What do you mean you had to? See, this is why I don't like secrets." I could already see the regret in her eyes. But it didn't make me feel an ounce better. "You told me we were going there to take down Triad. But then I found out you have a hidden agenda. Why did you do that, Andrea?!"

I saw her gulp as clear as day.

"I told you that I was spat out by Malivore. That was only part of the story." She said.

Of course, there's more to her story. Of course, she hid it from me. Of course, she meant to let me stay as fucking clueless and foolish as possible for her own fucking benefit.

What did I expect from the world's dangerous creature? That we would be friends or even be more than that and ride off into sunset?

"I'm from Mystic Falls. There was this sociopath named Kai Parker who pushed me into the pit as punishment for going against him. But being in the Malivore pit wasn't the punishment, it was coming out of it in a completely different timeline." She explained.

Mystic Falls. Kai Parker. Different timeline.

Different timeline. What the hell does she mean by a different timeline?

"I was sent back in 1994. I'm not from this timeline, Tony. I'm from 2033." she finished.

This was the part where everything went in slow motion.

How memories flashed before my eyes.

"Ha ha, very funny."

"What's so funny?"

"That's not the real price of this burger."

"Yes, it is."

"Right, when did you buy this, the 90s?"

"It's 1994, what are you talking about?"

How everything started to make sense.

"Still no ID?" I asked J.A.R.V.I.S.

"Still none, sir. I'm starting to think that the girl is unidentifiable."

How I've realized how much of a bigger fool I am.

"We can be friends, you know. Not just allies."

"You want to be my friend?"

"Yeah, why not? You can make me the most powerful man in the world and I can...fetch you blood bags."

"Wow, what a start to a beautiful friendship."

The ache in my chest began to grow so much that it started to feel physical.

"What?" I muttered. It was all I could say. My mind was still hazy from recalling all those memories I had of her, how everything was starting to fall into place.

"I jumped towards the pit because I wanted to go home so bad. Even though I didn't know how I'm supposed to come out in the right year, I was willing to take that risk." She reasoned out.

She wanted to go home so bad. Who was I kidding? She has friends back home. What does she need me for, if not a sacrificial lamb to Triad?

"Yeah, and risk my life as well! You were going to leave me behind to fight for myself, in a building filled with armed men." It was too hard to contain my anger. I just want to explode. I just want to lessen the weight on my chest because I'm afraid I'll be suffocated by it.

"You didn't think about what will happen to me after you get swallowed up by that pit! You apologized right before jumping, but did you think I would remember that?" I said while I moved away from the counter, my eyes squinting at her while I asked her. "No. Because you would be erased from my fucking brain and I can't be mad at you if I don't know you exist."

My hands are still clenched into fists as snapped at her. "I would be standing there, with no idea why I was in that building in the first place. No idea."

Just the thought of not having any memory of her again scared me. But maybe that's how it's always supposed to be.

"Tony, I'm—" she stopped halfway through her sentence when she looked at the stairs, her eyebrows scrunching together before I saw horror flash in her eyes.

She used her vampire speed to make her way upstairs. My forehead creased and confusion was once again added to the series of mixed emotions I was feeling right now before I followed her to the room where Klaus Mikaelson is trapped.

Or rather, where he was supposed to be trapped.

"How did he escape?" I asked as I stepped into the room, looking around for any evidence of how he got out.

"The spell must've worn off when my heart stopped temporarily." Andrea answered.

To be honest, I couldn't care less. Perhaps it's because I'm more focused on Andrea's betrayal than that of Klaus's escape.

"Well then, maybe he has finally reunited with the other British Draculas. Good riddance." I said.

"No. He's Klaus Mikaelson. He never leaves someone who wronged him alive!" She panicked before turning around.

But the moment she did, I felt the whoosh of the wind beside me and the next thing I know, a masculine figure was pinning Andrea against the wall.

Klaus Mikaelson.

I didn't hear what he muttered to Andrea but after that, my whole being shook with fear when I saw his hand pierce through her chest. Her scream sent chills down my spine, in a very, very bad way.

"Andrea!" I exclaimed.

"No, stay back!" She told me before looking back at Klaus. "You...wanted to know who I am, right?"

I saw Klaus's hand shift inside Andrea's chest making her scream out once again. The sight of his hand bloodied and buried, probably gripping her heart as I stood here was making me want to puke again.

But despite that, I have to help her. I can't just stand here and watch her die. I'm not like her who would just let someone I care about die.

I turned around and was about to make my way down the stairs to get my repulsor gloves when I heard her speak again.

"I'm your daughter!" She screamed out.

And then I froze. I thought that the anger, the pain that I was feeling from Andrea's betrayal was already the extent of it. But just like her lies, there seems to be much more to my pain.

"Are you really that desperate to stay alive?" Klaus taunted.

"My name is Hope Andrea Mikaelson." She responded, her eyes glossing over.

At that, I just tuned out everything else.

Hope Andrea Mikaelson.

I wanted to cry. I want to just break things and shout and cry. Because of all her lies finally moving to light, I've realized how everything she told me, how almost all our memories, are all fake. How my feelings towards her actually stemmed from lies.

That alone was enough to make me go insane.

I went downstairs and grabbed my gloves before making my way back to them again. Andrea now has Klaus's head in her hands, doing some sort of spell.

I stood firm in my position and aimed each repulsor at Andrea and Klaus. I wanted to hurt them. I wanted to hurt them so badly that I whimpered when I was fighting myself from going through with it. My hands were shaking, my chest was rising and falling, my eyes were glistening.

I just want everything to stop.

But I couldn't find the strength to hurt her.

When they finally let go of each other, my hands dropped to my sides. I felt lost and exhausted. I've never felt this broken. Because it's not just my heart that broke, my mind as well. It's like something in my mind snapped and I could barely think straight.

When Klaus left, I saw Andrea sitting on the ground, looking as broken as I am, maybe even more. I wanted to hurt her. I still want to. But seeing her like that, despite what she did to me, still pains me.

I clenched my jaw and swallowed hard before taking the gloves off and approached her. I took her in my arms and carried her to her room. I could feel her gaze on me as I brought her to bed, but not once did I look at her.

I went down to get her some blood to give her time to change into clean clothes. And when I got back, she was already sitting on the bed, still pale.

"Thanks." She said before taking the glass and drank from it.

I watched her and memorized her features. Her shiny blue diamonds for eyes. Her soft auburn waves. Her flawless, fair skin. Her plump, reddish lips.

"All healed?" I asked.

"Yeah." She answered.

Because it's going to be the last time I see them.

"Good. Now get out." I told her, as cold as I possibly can.

With that, I stood up and stepped out of the room, hoping that she would just accept it and leave. But who would she be if not the person who always makes everything difficult for me?

"What? Tony!" She used her vampire speed to make her way in front of me. "Tony, wait."

"Just go, Andrea. Or is it Hope? Which one do you prefer to be called?" I said, narrowing my glare at her as I asked before walking around her.

"Tony, please. Just let me explain." She said, still following.

Explain...Explain what? Because no explanation can justify what she put me through and what she almost put me through. I could've died today. And not only that, I found out that the person that I trusted the most in this world after a long time, turns out to be a fucking liar.

"Was it fun?" I said when I stopped and whipped around to face her again. I did not need to see my reflection in her glistening eyes to know how angry I looked. I feel it. That was enough to know. "Was it fun playing me? Watching me fall in love with you only for me to realize that I actually fell in love with a fake?"

I watched as a tear rolled down her cheek.

She's crying? Not to be rude—and I mean that as insincerely as possible—but she doesn't have the right to cry on me right now. Everything that is happening right now is her fault. She doesn't get to cry because of this. I don't fucking care if I sound like a dipshit right now. This is not her pain to own. It's mine.

"You didn't know that?" I asked when I saw how surprise was plastered across her face. "You didn't realize I'm already falling for you when I kept teasing you? When I made you breakfast every morning? When I always looked forward to us training together? When I kept a folder with your name? When I kissed you?"

I already felt the tears slip from my eyes as she cried in front of me. As much as it pains me to see her like this, it hurts me more to realize the one woman I fell in love betrayed me in the most fucked up way possible.

"Well then, I guess you're just as stupid as I am." I turned around and walked towards the door, opening it and waiting for her to leave.

I can't stand being in the same house as her. In fact, I can't stand her being in my life. I've already had enough shits in my life. I don't need hers as well.

"Get out. I don't wanna be around you anymore. I can't trust you." I said, refusing to look at her because I don't trust myself enough to be this stern if I look right into her eyes again.

"Yes, you can. I'm your friend, Tony." She said, approaching me to meet my gaze.

I thought that looking straight in the eyes would make me take all that I said back. But when I did, there was something different.

I don't look at her the same way anymore. She's different to me now. She's not the woman who magically chained me to the couch. She's not the woman who saved me. She's not the woman I trained with, ate with, played with, teased...fell for.

She's not my Andrea anymore. She's a stranger.

Perhaps she always has been.

"No, you're not. You're a stranger. It took me a while to finally realize that. Now get out."

Truce or Consequence?

I choose Consequence.

I won the argument. She left.

But...why do I feel like I'm the one being punished?

—

Next chapter will feature how Klaus teamed up with Tony. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. <3