Neotopia | The city | The S.D.G. | Characters Lacroa | The kingdom | Characters Ark | The land | Characters The Dark Axis | The army | Characters Anime | Episodes | Screenshots | Timeline GBA Game | PS2 Game Manga | Anime Adaptation | SDGF Gaiden | Musha Retsuden | Other	Scars of War by Melady101    Mel: Hello everyone ^^ Here it is. The last chapter. 9.9 I'm gonna try and get the next one typed up as fast as I can. ^^    Raptor: *looks around* Where is everyone?    Mel: Oh… well…    Raptor: v_v;;;; You tortured them last night during the sleepover didn't you?    Mel: ^^ And thi'smorning. Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 Scars of War Chapter 3 (Couple weeks later) The injuries Zapper had sustained were slow to heal, but the colonel eventually talked Gerbera into letting him go back to the Magna-Musai; back to a familiar environment. He wasn't allowed to do anything physical, however, until the professor gave his final okay. This suited Zapper just fine. He didn't plan on doing much anyway. Grappler was standing outside Zapper's door, nervous, as he listened to the voices that echoed out from inside. He hadn't had the courage to face the colonel, but Tank had threatened him with a butcher knife through his stomach if he didn't pay Zapper a visit. What's worse is that Gan said he'd go with Grappler, but the lieutenant colonel had instantly turned that offer down. The lieutenant colonel shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing down at the peace offering in his hands. Tank had given it to him, saying that it was imperative the colonel get it. Grappler hoped that whatever was inside would keep Zapper from skinning him on sight. Finally, Grappler sighed before knocking on the door and entering the room. As soon as the lieutenant colonel stepped inside everyone fell silent and stared at him. Most of the room's occupants, young zako soldiers, were around the futon where Zapper was currently sitting. One soldier was sitting in his lap, a strand of the colonel's long red hair clutched tightly in his small fist. Zapper took one look at Grappler's face before freeing his hair from the zako's grasp and setting him back down on the floor. Then he stood up and, with a limp in his right leg, the colonel disappeared into his bedroom. The slamming of the door made everyone flinch, but the zakos soon turned their attention on Grappler. “He's been hurt very badly zako. You should apologize senpai.” One of the soldiers said before leaving. The rest of the group muttered in agreement as they left too, leaving Grappler alone. The lieutenant colonel just stood there, staring at Zapper's bedroom door. “Why are you here?” came Zapper's voice through the door. “Look, we need to talk. Would you come out already?!” Grappler shouted back. There was a long pause before Zapper finally opened his bedroom door and stepped out. Grappler gasped; having not seen the extent of the damage done to Zapper's body without the blood covering it, it shocked him to see it for the first time. “It's not as bad as it looks.” Zapper limped around the lieutenant colonel and back over to the futon. “But I guess that still leaves me off pretty bad. The professor said I'd be able to go out in about in another month or so, depending on how fast I heal.” “So how's your head?” the colonel turned and glared at Grappler and the lieutenant colonel glared back. Then Grappler sighed and dropped his gaze. Zapper averted his eyes as well; he didn't want to start fighting or he might end up opening one of his wounds again. Plus it'd be going against Gerbera's one rule. The room seemed almost too quiet when neither of the soldiers spoke, but it's the silence that broke them. They both looked up at each other in sync, saying in unison, “I'm sorry!” The two blinked before proceeding to say the same thing every time they opened their mouths. This, of course, grew more annoying by the second. “Why are you- Hey! Stop that! Stop!!!” They both stopped talking, which didn't work either. So, when Zapper opened his mouth to speak, Grappler jumped forward and covered his mouth. “How about you be quiet for a second. Your mouth could use a rest anyway.” The lieutenant colonel said sternly, making Zapper fume. The colonel tried to push Grappler's hand away, but the lieutenant colonel's grip only tightened. So Zapper swore loudly, but the lieutenant colonel couldn't make out what he was saying; the words were muffled by his hand. The buzzing against his skin quickly became annoying though and Grappler pulled his hand away. “So why are you sorry?” the lieutenant colonel asked as Zapper massaged the sides of his jaw. He just stood there for a moment, before looking up at Grappler. “Well…for giving you that scar. I never-” But Grappler put a finger against Zapper's lips, silencing him. “It's okay. I understand.” Grappler removed his finger, but Zapper stayed quiet. “Besides, your situation is kinda like my own…you see when I fired my missile I-” But the colonel suddenly hit Grappler across the face, cutting him off. The lieutenant colonel stumbled and nearly fell over from shock alone, but when his cheek got hot and began to sting he glared at Zapper. “What the hell was that for?!” But Zapper just gave Grappler a bored look, waiting to see if the lieutenant colonel had anything else to say. When he said nothing Zapper spoke, “Listen to me. I didn't earn the reputation I have now without going through stuff more extreme then this.” The colonel turned away. “You can't kill me that easily.” “So why'd you hit me?” Without turning around Zapper rolled up his right sleeve, reveling an old wound that had yet to completely heal. Grappler's eyes widened when he realized it was the same cut from the first time he and Zapper had met in the infirmary. “Just some payback. Nice poison. Makes so the wound is slow to heal even after I extracted it all. Consider us even again.” Grappler cocked his head, but Zapper just fell backwards onto his futon, spreading out over it. That's when the lieutenant colonel remembered he was still holding the small box. He walked up behind the futon and blushed slightly. Zapper's position looked so inviting to the lieutenant colonel, but he shook his head. “Wait! Why would I even think that?!” Grappler shivered, trying to ignore the thoughts now running through his mind. “Can I help you?” Grappler jumped, realizing Zapper was giving him a questioning look. “Oh! Uh- yes.” Grappler held the box out to the colonel his face still slightly pink. “My sister told me to give this to you.” The colonel sat up and accepted the gift, carefully removing the lid. “Whoa!” Inside was a pair of brand new dog tags; the chain looked strong and the black rubber framing the new metal of the dog tag shone brightly in the light. Grappler too, was mesmerized by the tags, but also realized what Tank had done. When you join the Dark Axis a special tattoo is inked onto your left shoulder, but, even with the tattoo, you're not officially part of the Dark Axis. Not until you've earned your first pair of dog tags are you considered a member and to be able to present the tags to a soldier is a great honor. Zapper slipped the chain over his neck before pulling his long hair out of the way. “Well Grappler I guess this means I'm officially part of this organization and last I checked colonel was a higher rank then your own.” Grappler had chose to ignore the colonel as he headed for the door. “Hold up soldier. If you guys really do operate like my old militia then I believe you're forgetting something.” The lieutenant colonel stopped, his eyes narrowing to slits. Behind him Zapper was smirking as he lay back down. Slowly, Grappler turned, still glaring angrily. Then he brought his hand up, saluting to the colonel. “Alright man, dismissed.” Zapper said, waving his hand idly. Grappler growled before turning on his heels and stalking out of the room. The lieutenant colonel didn't care who Zapper was, he'd have his revenge; now that they were even he could do as he pleased with any revenge plans. Deep down, however, the lieutenant colonel felt differently. And, although he'd never admit it, he sort of liked the feeling. But then reality came crashing back down on his head and Grappler realized one of every man's worst fears. “What if I…no I couldn't…like him!” the lieutenant colonel sprinted the rest of the way back to his room, locking the door behind him. “I couldn't like him. He's a pain in the ass and he's a guy. I'm not gay!” There was a pause and Grappler began to accept what he was saying. In his mind he convinced himself he wasn't gay. As the worried expression disappeared from his face it was replace by an angry one. He must've looked so stupid thinking he liked another man; thinking he'd liked someone like Zapper. “And it's because of that bastard.” The lieutenant colonel growled, pushing himself away from his door and towards his room. “Someday, I don't care how long it takes; I will get him for this.” End    Mel: ^^ Done. YAY! Now, off to work on the next one *waves* Bye. *leaves*    Raptor: *calls after her* Don't push yourself too hard >< And make sure you eat something! Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Lost and Found	Media | Official Art | Music | Video | Other Toys | Model kits | CCG DVDs | Volumes | Voices | Staff Fan | Art | Fic | AMVs | Other | Fanlist Other Dimensions Links
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