So this kind of ended up on the sci-side of the supernatural spectrum but I hope you enjoy it!
His lungs burned, the heat and dust in the air piercing the sensitive tissue but he wouldn’t stop running. He heard her fall, the crush of gravel against her knees making her cry out. Turning, he picked her up in one go, throwing her over his shoulder and took off once more; he’d no time for decency.
Ahead he could see their sanctuary, where even the bots couldn’t reach them and increased his pace.
“Iwaizumi, just go, leave me, I’m not worth it, I’ll just-”
“Shut the hell up idiot!” he snapped.
To his right, the ground exploded in a burst of red; they weren’t shooting stuns anymore. He shirked to the left, only to narrowly avoid another shot. “Hemming me in,” he considered, ducking behind a large boulder. He set her down, drawing out his own weapon and checked its charge; only two, maybe three shots at best.
He better make them count.
Taking a deep breath, he looked around their cover and took quick aim upon one of their pursuers. The press of his trigger brought about another explosion, this time from a direct hit to the bot’s power pack.
“Yes!” he hissed, fist clenched. Upon the same, he felt the warmth of her hand. Turning his head brought them face to face, her white eyes imploring.
“Iwaizumi,” she begged, voice soft, “please, just let me go. I…I’m just a replication, a program, a…a thing. You…you’re alive. There’s no…you’re irreplaceable.”
From around the corner he could hear they were running out of time. He frowned, shaking his head and her grip from his hand. Refocusing his attention, Iwaizumi fired off two more shots, missing one while the other clipped the shoulder of one of the other bots. “Damn, we don’t have time to wait anymore,” he grunted. He turned, ordering, “Get on my back!” When she didn’t move he added roughly, “Now! Or we’re both really gonna die!”
When he felt the pressure of her body, he stood. Inhaling another breath, he took off once more, feet slamming against the ground. His body ached, he was sure he’d lost too much blood and he was quite literally dying of thirst, but he was going to get them out of this desert!
Finally, by some miracle, he breached the fortress’s perimeter, calling out, “Iwaizumi and one, seeking sanctuary!” He didn’t stop running, placing all trust on the occupants inside to hear his plea for safety. A deep rumble indicated their answer; they were saved!
A door opened, laser blasts flying over his head to give them cover and protect the entrance. Iwaizumi wasn’t sure where he found the ability but he ran faster, legs positively on fire, into the cool dark of their new home. WIth a resounding crash the door fell closed once more, shrouding them in complete darkness.
Panting heavily, he fell to the ground, both he and his passenger rolling a few feet before stopping on their backs. Greedily he gulped in air, willing his pulse and heart to slow down so he wouldn’t pass out. Her presence next to him was comforting, her own breath soft but loud in the seemingly cavernous darkness. Suddenly, a light fell upon them and in the center stood a silhouette outlined in the beam of warmth, comforting instead of blistering like the outside.
“Welcome, Iwaizumi Hajime and guest,” the form, male in tone said.
Iwaizumi could laugh, he was so relieved to have finally made it here. All the pain, all the hardship, all the shit they’d gone through, it was worth it because now…now they were in Freedom.
“This is ______,” he offered to their host as he stood, extending his hand to take hers.
“A beauty for sure,” complimented the man, stepping towards them. He tilted her downcast head, eyes filled with admiration and welcome. “You’ve come a long way. Which factory were you made in?”
She blushed, averting her gaze. “Sector 8,” she answered simply.
“Ah, I can see why you would need to come here then,” he replied. Turning to Iwaizumi, he added, “Let’s get you both cleaned up and then I think some food and water are in order. I’m Kuroo, by the way.” He pivoted, walking back the way he came, beckoning them to follow.
As Iwaizumi took a step, he halted when her hand grabbed his and turned back to face her. “Iwaizumi, I…I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears evident in her tone even if she could not shed them. “I shouldn’t have doubted you. I shouldn’t have been so ungrateful. I-”
He cut her off with a firm kiss. “You can make it up to me later,” he said, hand on her cheek. Then he smiled. “However you wish, you’re free now. And I never want to hear you say you’re not worth anything. Just because they treated you like a disposable doesn’t mean it’s true. And I’ll never treat you as anything but what you are…the woman I love.”
She threw her arms around his neck, both of them stumbling slightly thanks to his fatigue but he held fast, face buried in her hair.
He’d never intended to fall in love with a clone, but now that he had, he’d been willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe. From her creators, from the law that called her “thing” and from those who sought to destroy what they didn’t understand.
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