UNEXPECTED
The sound was what touched his senses first.
Today was supposed to be a normal patrol like any other. While others found their patrols repetitive and dull, he found them almost relaxing. Their job wasn’t always very stimulating. Finding other ways to pass the time was sometimes necessary to make the job bearable. Over the years, he had learned to occupy his thoughts with other things; how he might go about the rest of his day, starting plans for his days off, perhaps even things he could do with his children while he was home. People-watching was something he also became fond of. Seeing the people of Thalos go about their days, guessing what they might have been doing. What might have put a goofy smile on their face, or what might have soured their mood to put them in a huffy state.
He wasn’t sure why this individual had been so troubled. Their patrol of five had been fairly normal up until then. Three of them had broken off to go down a nearby street, while he and another footman continued down their route. Sounds of metal clanging turned their attention to a nearby alleyway, where a mutant was frantically rummaging through trash cans. When the officers called out to them, their eyes snapped up to look at them. It was unnerving. He sensed immediately that this person was up to something. He contemplated telling his partner to pull back and wait for backup, but before he could do anything of the sort, the other officer approached.
The mutant straightened themselves, backing away from the spot they had been rummaging through. They insisted that they were fine, that they were simply looking for something as they brushed past the other officer towards the entrance to the alley. Before they could leave, he stuck his own arm out to stop them in their tracks. Letting them go wasn’t exactly an option at this point.
Then, it was the impact.
Typically, when they encountered an unruly civilian, they were able to take control of the situation. The individual they had encountered today was different. The more he tried to reason with them, the more restless they became. He should have realized the moment he saw their shaking hands and dilated eyes that they were not in the right state of mind. Sapped, most likely.
They continued to try and push past him, but he remained firm. He should have known they were going to make a run for it. Bolting wasn’t exactly something he hadn’t experienced before. In fact, he had handled it before. His tall stature let him easily catch up to whomever it was, and once he did, they were usually fairly easy to detain. Luck was even on their side. While some passersby had stopped to gawk at the mutant’s increasingly loud spectacle, the sidewalks were fairly empty. Crowds would have made it difficult for them to catch up. If he did run, he thought, then they’d be able to seize them fairly quickly. They even had the rest of their team right around the corner.
To his surprise, the mutant went quiet. They began to slowly withdraw back into the alley walking back towards the back. Perhaps they could resolve this peacefully. He hadn’t noticed them slipping a hand into their pockets. His mind didn’t have time to process what was in the mutant’s hand when he turned back around and fired.
Finally, it was the sensation of falling.
He felt himself collapse from the impact, his own body giving out against his will. The world had become fuzzy. He heard shouts, screams, and several more loud cracks of guns. Hands were suddenly on him as he felt himself being dragged, he assumed out of the line of fire.
The strange sense of calm he felt as he sat leaned up against a wall surprised him. He had thought before that he would be scared. That he might go into hysterics if something like this had ever occurred. Yet, there was none of that. He almost couldn’t feel the pain anymore. What he did begin to feel was guilt.
Thoughts of his daughter surfaced. Bubbly laughter and soft coos. He wouldn’t be able to make it to her first birthday. First birthdays weren’t exactly memorable for the babies themselves, but he had been looking forward to celebrating it with his family. There weren’t many times where he could simply spend the entire day with them. He was sad he wouldn’t end up being able to spend the time he wanted with them.
His son was the next person on his mind. A spitting image of his mother, yet she insisted that he reminded her more of himself than of her. He knew he wouldn’t have to worry about him. He was a strong boy, one that he knew would pull through whatever the world threw at him. A smile came to his face as memories of him surfaced. Despite all the preparations they had made for him, he had always managed to find a hole in their carefully weaved plans. Their first hadn’t been easy, but it had certainly taught them how to expect the unexpected.
His children meant the world to him; they were his world. They were often the reason he got out of bed, the reason he put on a smile despite the aching he felt from working the days prior. Though, They weren’t the last ones he thought about in his dying moments.
Beautiful lilac eyes and sharp, defined features that had entranced him the very first time he’d laid eyes on them. He felt a bit silly. Out of all the people dear to him, he worried about her the most. They had grown to depend on one another. She had insisted he leave behind his job, to come and simply work as her business partner. Out of the line of duty. Safe.
“You’re going to get your dumbass killed, and I won’t feel sorry for you.”
Her words were echos in his head as his vision started going dark. He wanted to laugh. She was right after all.
He wanted to apologize. Tell her he was sorry for leaving without warning. Leaving her with two young children to care for. Leaving her… alone. Martin wanted nothing more than to tell her one last time that he loved her.
The world around him faded. Sounds, smells, feelings, all fading. Until there was nothing at all.