“Human”

The seagulls cawed in the distance, their cries echoing through the thick morning fog. Mel shielded her eyes from its intense glare as the sun slowly emerged from behind the clouds. The soft white sand, still damp with dew, glimmered and sparkled under light rays. A gentle breeze blew across the shore, sending ripples through the misty water that danced over the glistening surface.

With a sudden yelp, Mel leapt to her feet and scrambled away from the shoreline. She stood panting, her heart racing as she turned to look back at where she had been lying just moments ago. Despite being out of reach of any crashing waves, she was soaked through and through. Wrinkling her nose in confusion, she wrung out her shirt before cautiously heading back towards the water's edge to check on the tide.

As she paused once again, standing tall and surveying the spot where she had rested just seconds before, Mel couldn't help but gasp in shock. Memories of the previous night came flooding back to her as she covered her mouth with a trembling hand and shook her head in disbelief.

“Was I cuddling him?” she muttered aloud.

She slinked behind the camper van, hiding behind it before peeking around it to see if he was watching. His skin shone in the sun's light; his body drowned in red scars crisscrossed all over: along his chest and neck, on his arms, and his forehead. She gingerly advanced towards him, kneeling by his side.

He was lying on the sand with a fleece blanket draped over him, revealing patches of bare skin. She moved her hands tenderly along the ridges of the scars on his chest and neck, whispering in a broken voice “I’m sorry these must have hurt you so much...”

The endless ocean roared with a ferocity that threatened to swallow them whole. Waves crashed violently against the shore, sending salty sprays of water dancing around their trembling bodies. The wind raged, whipping her hair into a frenzy as it caressed her skin with icy fingers. His dreadlocks were matted with seawater, clinging to every strand as it dripped onto her prone form below. The world seemed to be frozen in time until Shakk released his grip and rolled away from her in a frenzy of apologies, his voice hoarse and pained.

“Sorry," he gasped, his actions driven by an uncontrollable force within him.

He leaned forward into her ear.

“I don’t have to move if you don’t want me to” He spoke softly in her ear.

She pushed him off. She stumbled to her feet, huffing as she walked towards the van.

Shakk's gaze rested on the endless waves, their rhythmic movements soothing his frayed nerves. As he placed his battered armor on the camper's edge, he carefully inspected it for any signs of damage. His rough hands expertly traced over the thick plating and intricate black scale design, checking for even the smallest rip. In his line of work, thorough equipment checks were a matter of life or death, and they had saved him countless times before. "A true soldier always pays attention to the details," his drill instructor used to bark during training.

With a heavy sigh, Shakk holstered his Glock and leaned against the camper, letting his head fall to one side. He couldn't help but watch Mel as she gathered her belongings nearby. If only he could have someone like her in his life without all of the added baggage...if only he could be honest with her and tell her the truth about himself. What he was getting ready to do. The death he was going to cause, the madness he was going to drag others into.

"Hey, I know we just met, but I don't want to stop seeing you." The thought made him chuckle grimly as he slid his knife into his boot.

She threw a water bottle at him.

He ducked.

“We are a little past, we just met asshole, stop acting distant.” She said side eyeing him.

Internally the butterflies dug into her stomach, she couldn’t believe she was happy to hear him say he wanted to see her more, the emotions choked her, and she gripped her stomach.

"How far's the port?" Shakk asked, glancing up at Mel.

"About 10 miles," she replied, slamming her bag into the back of the camper.

"Are you willing to drive me there or am I jogging it?" he teased.

"Get in or I'll leave you here, jackass," she grinned, slamming the door shut and peering at him through the side mirror. Her face flushed red with embarrassment as she gripped the steering wheel tightly.

She was feisty and he liked it, he licked his lips as she shut the door.

The engine roared to life under them as they pulled away from the beach, leaving behind only fading footsteps in the sand. Mel remained silent, her mother's words echoing in her head. She thought of the warning she had been given; damaged men were like a drug addiction but how could that be? Helping people was helping people, right? But here she was, moments away from leaving with someone she barely knew. Shakk seemed sincere and the trinkets on her keychain clinked as she started the engine. Milly hopped onto her lap and Mel petted her reassuringly. The side door opened and Shakk climbed inside, sighing heavily. He gazed out of the window at the sand and waves as Mel looked over at him.

"Are you gonna offer me gas money?" Her voice was firm and steady.

A bittersweet laugh escaped his lips, the weight of losing everything he had with his pod settling into his bones. But then Mel pressed the accelerator and they shot forward, the wind whipping through their hair like a playful child. She reached over and flipped on her carefully curated playlist, filling the air with soft melodies that swirled around them like a comforting hug. As they cruised alongside the sparkling blue waters and pristine white sands of the beach, the sun beamed down from above, its warm rays embracing them in a gentle embrace. Even Milly, the resident furry companion seemed to sense the adventure and joy in the air as she wagged her tail happily and nuzzled against her human companions. And in that moment, all was right in the world. Peace washed over him like a wave, soothing his troubled heart. He couldn't help but smile as he gazed at Mel's profile, mesmerized by her determination and radiant happiness. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to believe that normal life wasn't so far out of reach after all - it was right here, in this little camper, with this amazing woman driving beside him. And when she looked back at him, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange filled with understanding and love, he knew without a doubt that this was what true happiness felt like.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, he saw a menacing vehicle barreling towards them, tossing up clouds of sand like a raging tornado. His smile vanished, replaced by a cold sweat that trickled down his back as the air vibrated with impending danger. Suddenly, a blinding flash erupted from the dust clouds and the sound of breaking glass filled the air.

Panicked, he spun around to see Mel's body contorted against the steering wheel, her chest ripped open in a gruesome display of violence. Her once-pristine shirt was now soaked in dark red, her lifeblood spilling out onto the seat. Wide-eyed and gasping for breath, she gazed up at him with fear and desperation. Reacting quickly, Shakk pulled her towards the passenger seat, taking over at the wheel yanking a rag from the center console to try and stem the flow of blood from her gaping wound. The scent of death hung heavy in the air, heat rose from her body, smoldering heat, it felt like it was burning his soul, this was his damnation, this was his karma, this was his penance.

Milly's barks were drowned out by Mel's gasps for air, her chest constricting under the suffocating grip of death. Shakk screamed at her to hold on, but she was slipping away in front of him. She felt herself being pulled into a familiar darkness - one that had swallowed her whole before when she was submerged in deep water. Desperate to save her, Shakk reached for his pistol and fired off a blind shot at their pursuers. The gunshot rang out with such force that it felt like an explosion inside the van. The bullet ripped through the driver, causing blood to spray onto the windshield in a violent splatter. The vehicle behind slammed into a ditch and With a sudden jerk of the wheel, he swerved away from danger, Mel's hand desperately clinging to his arm. Blood dripped from her wounded hands, staining his shirt in a permanent reminder of this life-or-death moment. As they sped away from their attackers, Shakk could feel Mel's life slipping away in his arms.

He shouted her name as he shook her body, racing against time to get her help. With no other options left, he abandoned the car and sprinted into the forest with adrenaline coursing through his veins. Reloading his gun as he ran, he prayed that it wouldn't be too late, However, he had to put a stop to the chasers immediately, and there could potentially be medical resources in the van.

Shakk's heart froze in his chest when he finally reached the wreckage; it was still smoldering and emitting wisps of dark smoke from the impact. His eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of life. And then, he saw it - a figure slowly crawling away from the twisted metal and debris. A surge of fear ran through him as he cautiously approached, his mind racing with possibilities.

Shakk's finger trembles on the trigger of his Glock as tears blur his vision. His former teacher, Sergeant Jameson, lay before him, his body sprawled on the ground looking up at him he stood over him with a gun pointed at his head. Betrayal and confusion consume Shakk's mind as he struggles to understand why everyone he trusted has turned against him. Memories of countless successful missions flood his mind, fueling his rage and disbelief. With a quivering voice, he pleads for an explanation, begging to know why they are doing this to him. Sergeant Jameson's hesitation is met with dread as Shakk braces himself for the crushing truth that will shatter his heart into a million pieces.

"There's nothing strange about it, kid. We were offered a deal by a powerful man - the sum was too great for us to turn down. It's enough money for us to end this endless fighting and retire for good. All you had to do was die for the rest of us, why the fuck couldn’t you just die, we all could’ve been happy if you just died.”

The sergeant coughed violently, splattering blood from his stomach injury.

"Why did you have to leave it incomplete, Boy?" Shakk's mentor said bitterly, his weak smile falling.

Shakk's hand trembled as he gripped the gun, and pointed at the gas tank. The toucans screeched and scattered at the sharp crack of gunfire when he finally pulled the trigger. As the car exploded in a fiery inferno, engulfing both the sergeant and any remnants of their relationship, tears streamed down Shakk's face, torn between loyalty and doubt.

Millie's howls echoed through the dense foliage, piercing Shakk's heart and fueling his desperation. He tore through the thick plants, his pulse racing as he reached the vehicle and flung open the door. Mel was slumped in the seat, her once vibrant skin now a sickly pale hue. With a primal roar, Shakk scooped her into his arms and sprinted towards their only hope - the Port.

"The Port isn't far!" He screamed, trying to muster confidence and hope for both of them.

"We can make it, Mel!" he shouted, feeling her weight becoming heavier with each step.

But she weakly protested, gasping for air and begging him to put her down. Her blood stained his clothes as he pressed harder on her wound, willing her to stay alive by sheer force of will. And in that moment, Mel looked into Shakk's eyes and saw his pain, mirroring her own.

But even as she felt death creeping closer, she couldn't help but take a small sense of satisfaction in knowing that her mother had been right - she was causing Shakk more pain than herself. She weakly raised her bloody hands to his face, gripping him tight as tears streamed down both of their faces and mingled with the sand beneath them.

“See? You're only human - that is why they fear you so much; not because you are superhuman but because you are simply a man. I am glad I get to witness this truth before I go- so never forget - be human Shakk.”

She drew him in closer and pressed her lips gently against his, leaving a faint hint of her tears and blood on his mouth.

She smiled softly as she closed her eyes and remarked, "The sky is a gorgeous shade of blue today." She lay there peacefully, the smile still etched onto her pale face, as Milly frantically licked around her in an attempt to revive her.

Shakk's body trembled as he watched Mel take her last breath. Her words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of his humanity, of the weakness that made him a target for their enemies. He held onto her lifeless form, feeling the weight of his failure crush him. The last kiss they shared was now tainted with sorrow and regret. Shakk's screams filled the room, each one a release of pent-up fear and pain. But deep down, he knew those screams were also a manifestation of the trauma he would carry with him forever – the trauma of losing someone he thought he could come to find out what love was through, because of who he was. A mere human in a world full of gods with riches and a disregard for exactly that.

Humanity.

Shakk held Mel’s, his sobs shaking his entire body. The once fearless and stoic soldier was now reduced to a weeping mess, his screams of grief piercing the silence of the deserted beach. With trembling hands, he gathered sand and gently covered her still body, almost as if trying to protect her from the cruel reality of death. The music from their playlist continued to play in the background, each lyric reminding Shakk of the memories they shared.

He threw the shovel aside, unable to focus on anything but the pain gnawing at his heart. As he knelt beside her makeshift grave, he could no longer hold back the flood of emotions that had been building inside him. Mel’s smile haunted him, a constant reminder of what he had lost in this cruel one-man war. And for the first time, Shakk couldn't bury his feelings and push through the mission - because this time, he had lost something he had never had before.

Hope.

“I hate you for making me feel what it’s like to be just a man, but thank you for showing me that I'm only human. Thank you for seeing me and thank you for being my light. Goodbye, we will always have the sand, campfire, and this song.”

His grip tightened on the shovel as he gruffly shoveled the sand onto her body, starting from her legs and finally throwing dirt onto her face until the mound of sand grew ever higher - until her grave was filled with nothing but sand and memories. Shakk's hands trembled as he released his grip on the shovel - it now had a small dent in its shaft. He slumped to the ground, his hand trembling as he brushed the top layer of soil. Taking out a pocket knife, he scraped into the tree trunk, chiseling her name in stone; “Here lies the sunshine and radiance of Mel Thorne.”

His legs wobbled as he shuffled back toward the camper, desperate to make it to the next port. Milly, her loyal companion followed him to the grave with mournful eyes before lying down on top of it with a whimper. Shakk picked her up carrying her back to the camper, she bit him sprinting back to the grave. He sighed in sorrow as he loaded into the camper once more. Shakk peered out of the driver's mirror with tears streaming down his face and started up the engine. Inch by inch, he drove away from the grave, until all that was left was a cloud of dust in the air and an image of Milly from the rearview mirror. Ahead, the port grew larger until it reached its full size in front of him. He took one final look back before driving in and mumbled under his breath.

“We'll always have the sun, Mel…