(Gotcha.) Poppy looked at him for a moment, her face so pale that Francis could count her freckles. Her eyes were unfocused and it took her a moment for his words to reach her brain. "We need to get out of here," she said. "I haven't seen this boss guy, but I don't want to be here when he gets back." The scout took the moment to try and take his arm and hit her, but Poppy dodged it and kicked him in the back of the knees and the man went weak."
Francis took his gun, slinging it around his back. Her looked at her seriously, before picking her up with ease, one arm under her knees and the other behind her back. "You're not well. Running will only make things worse." He began making his way back to the camp, occasionally glancing back just in case.
Poppy was light, but she stiffened when he first picked her up, her limbs taut and alert. After a couple minutes of walking though, she relaxed and rested her head on Francis' chest, just below his collarbone. "Thanks," she said tiredly, her voice quiet.
"You're welcome for saving your ass. I swear to God I'm never letting to leave alone again. I can't believe this whole thing happened. You could have died." He sounded angry, but you could only see worry and annoyance on his face. "Jesus."
Poppy tried to shift slightly in his arms, but that hurt, so she stopped. "I kind of had the situation under control," she said hesitantly. "Granted, I couldn't have ever shot the guy, but I could have figured something out. I'm sorry that you had to come out for that, though. I get that it was..." She paused, trying to find the right word in her hazy state. "an inconvenience."
"You had it under control? Alright. Sure. You owe me big time. I bet you wouldn't have even made it back." He looked down at her for a moment. "Are you uncomfortable?"
She frowned, but stayed where she was, her expression thoughtful. "I'm alright. Contrary to what you just saw, I can take care of myself. You don't need to worry so much about me."
He was quiet, his mouth drawn in a line as he pondered the events. "Alright. But you better delete any blackmail pictures you have. It's the least you can do."
"You must take me for an idiot. I know you. You're evil enough to somehow take secret blackmail pictures." He sighed and shook his head.
She laughed, and then stopped abruptly. Her ribs were fairly badly bruised, and it sent stabs of pain into her body when she chuckled. "Oh, so now I'm evil?" she asked, glancing up at him.
She paused, going over the logic of the statement. "Hm. Fine." She tapped her wristwatch as they neared their camp. "A.D.R.I.A.N, please delete the photo I took this morning." "Are you sure?" Poppy glared at Francis before answering. "Yes," she muttered. "Photo deleted."
She sighed as they got to the bottom of the ladder. "Well, you did carry me," she said, raising an eyebrow. "It's only fair. Plus, I'm sure I'll get another picture pretty easily." "I think I can get up the ladder, though," she said, glancing up towards the tent. "You go ahead and climb up first. It might take me a minute."
Poppy took a deep breath and started up the ladder, ignoring the aching in her bones. She didn't go up with her usual speed, but she made it up, and turned around to pull up the ladder. "They're probably going to be looking for us," she said. "The ladder would be a dead giveaway." She entered the tent and sat down. "Those bastards took my bag," she said, frowning.
"Oh damn. I should have grabbed it when I saw it. I would get it now, but that seems like a risk." He sat down and crossed his legs, propping his head up with his hand. His hair was not as tame as the day they first met, and it strayed in different directions.
