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mike has been mourning 𝓈omething for as long as he can remember. relationships 、opportunities 、missed moments — his own future and the ways in which it had been robbed of him. the bitter taste is familiar on his tongue 、a lifelong grief that has settled into his ..
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.. tugging him into an awkward hug. holding him there just long enough for warmth to bleed through the fabric of his jacket 、before releasing him with a firm pat on the back. impulsive 、more than a little stupid 、but he doesn’t give a shit.
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“ damn right i was 、” he agrees 、followed by a snicker as she flounders over her words. it eases the knot in his chest 、relieved to see not 𝑒verything has changed in the years following the incident. pride 、too 、makes an appearance — of everything she’s managed to ..
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.. vaguely conspiratorial. “ miss ashley 、are you suggesting i take you out on a joyride in a piece of highly regulated military equipment.ᐣ ” he lets that hang in the air for less than a fraction of a second 、before barking out a laugh. “ because the answer is 𝒽ell ..
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less name calling 、more shootin’.ᐟ ( warning is heard 、heeded 、and then promptly disregarded. it leaps at him 、latching onto his shoulder and snapping blooded maw inches from his face — he shoves the barrel of his pistol between jagged teeth 、staggering backward ..
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the hand in the air falters. for the first time tonight 、mike allows the confusion he feels to flicker across his face. brows pinched 、smile catching at the edges until it too falls flat. he’d prepared for a thousand eventualities 、ran through every conceivable ..
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.. blades 、and muddled voices. then nothing 、endless darkness. “ supposedly i sent up a flare 、but i’ll be damned if i remember it. woke up in the hospital a week or so later. ” he frowns 、blinking the memory away. grip tightening around his wrist until he’s certain ..
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