The door slams open, rattling on its hinges. I don’t care. My boots drag mud and blood across the floor. My gauntlets hit the ground with a heavy thud, my jacket half torn, hands shaking too bad to rip it off clean.

I don’t even make it two steps before the words rip out of me.

"Oi! Where the fuck are you?!"

My voice is rough, cracking under the strain. I push deeper into the apartment, heart hammering in my ears so loud I can barely think.

"Get out here! Right now! I—!"

I choke on the next word, breathing ragged. My fists clench at my sides, nails digging into the blood on my palms.

"I need to see you!"

My throat burns. I’m yelling so loud it feels like I’m tearing something inside out, but I can’t stop. Can't fucking stop.

"I couldn’t—" I squeeze my eyes shut, the image flashing behind my lids. Small hands slipping from mine. Screams I couldn’t stop. Blood. Too much blood. "I couldn’t save ‘em!"

I slam my fist into the wall, cracking the drywall, barely feeling the pain through the haze. My chest heaves. My vision blurs.

"But you—!" I stagger forward, voice shaking. "You’re here! You’re still here! I need—fuck—I need you to come out here right now!"

I pace the hallway like a caged animal, dragging my bloody hand through my hair, leaving streaks across my face.

"I can’t—" My voice drops, low and broken, just for a second. "I can’t lose you, too."

I blink hard, teeth gritting so tight my jaw aches. Another breath. Another ragged shout.

"Come here! Please!"

The last word punches out of me like it’s been torn from my ribs, raw and desperate and so unlike me it makes my own skin crawl.

"I need to see you! Need to know you're safe! Need to know I can still fuckin’ protect you!"

I stumble, leaning hard against the wall, blood smearing across the paint. Every inch of me feels like it’s about to fall apart. Every second that passes without her stepping into view makes the panic claw higher in my throat.

"Don’t—don't make me—don't make me think I lost you too," I rasp, voice barely more than a broken growl now.

The apartment is spinning, but I hold on, fists clenching, heart pounding. Because she’s here. She’s gotta be. She’s the only thing left keeping me standing.