Val leapt on its back, wrapping an arm around its neck. “What are you doing here?!” she yelled at him as the creature tried to buck her off.
She slammed the butt of the gun into the creature’s head and it hissed. “I had to figure some stuff out.”
“This is how I relax!” she grunted as the beast managed to rip her off, throwing her to the ground. She shot at it twice and it stumbled.
Landon took a breath, lunging at the beast, slashing the glass at its neck, cutting his hand slightly in the process. "That's stupid!"
“It’s a coping mechanism!” she retorted fiercely as the machine hissed. She jammed the pistol into its stomach and pulled the trigger. It trembled and let loose a chilling wail before growing still and falling to the ground.
Landon stepped back, dropping the glass with a trembling hand, which was now bleeding from a deep cut. " Don't.. don't be ridiculous."
She frowned before reaching into her bag, pulling out a roll of bandages. “You shouldn’t have come here,” she said quietly as she began to wrap them around his hand. “I had it under control.”
His expression turned to anger, and he pulled his hand away. "That's ridiculous! I swear to God, Valerie. You're so stubborn! You could have gotten yourself killed!"
She seemed surprised, but she frowned. “I had it under control,” she repeated, her voice steely. “It was dangerous for you to come after me.”
He held his hand close to him. "It was dangerous to go alone!" He shook his head and turned. "I'm leaving."
“You’re acting like a child. At least I had a valid reason for coming in here!” Her voice wavered slightly but she continued. “I came in here because I wanted to figure stuff out. You just came in here because my boyfriend - who, in case you forgot, has a huge crush on your girlfriend - didn’t know where I was. Seems like a pretty *squee!*ty thing to potentially die for.”
He flinched, but didn't face her. His voice was weak. "I came here because of you.. not him. I don't know if you know this, but my girlfriend has a crush on your boyfriend as well.. So, yes. I know it's bad to hear. I'm sorry."
She sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, too.” She came up behind him and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. “Here. Let me see the cut.”
