the plunge is a long way down [closed]

[fateality]

CHARACTERS: Twisted Fate, Koltira Deathweaver, & Ana Ramir
DATE: Forward dated to 1/18
WARNINGS: N/A
SUMMARY: Somebody gets canon updated, and that definitely means T.F. almost dies from drowning.



It feels like hours.

For an instant, Twisted Fate had found himself back in Bilgewater without any recollection about ALASTAIR or Audentes, trapped by pirates, an angry ex-partner, and one incredibly pissed off Gangplank demanding retribution for trying to rob him in the first place.

There are a lot of ways to die, and he's seen his fair share. Of all the methods, Twisted Fate had always hoped he'd avoid his worst fear, but sometimes a man's luck runs out. The moment Graves had gone overboard, it was in that moment he committed to the fact that he probably wasn't going to resurface by going after him. The last few moments he'd been conscious, he can remember forcing open the chains keeping Graves at the bottom of the ocean, and accepting his position.

It feels like hours, but the reality is that Twisted Fate is not gone for any longer than a few seconds, having just left the room he'd been sharing with Koltira. Abruptly, he's a heap on the ground, soaking wet from saltwater, head to toe. One hand has a clean cut, and the opposing shoulder has a clear bullet wound to it.

And he is definitely not moving or breathing.

Comments

[heavyhitter]

[ She'd probably been headed down this way to visit Koltira, or maybe TF, or maybe just headed past their door — it doesn't really matter anymore. All thoughts of any plans are straight out of her mind as soon as she sees a crumpled form on the ground, and they show no signs of returning any time soon when she realizes the form in question is a one Twisted Fate.

That's when she breaks into a run, closing the distance between them in seconds and skidding the last couple steps on her knees. ]

Holy shit, TF! Hey!

[ Shaking a shoulder never really does any good, you'd think she'd learn better. She darts a desperate glance at the door they've stopped in front of — Koltira's, right? She thinks so. She leans to pound a fist on it, then drops her full attention back down to the guy in front of her. ]

TF, you fucking...

[ Whatever name she's got in mind is lost in a mumble. He's damp. Soaked, actually. Like Ban had been when he'd dipped home for a few seconds, come to think of it... but a whole lot less lively. An ear to his chest for a few seconds says he's definitely not breathing. With a sick feeling starting to churn in the pit of her stomach she takes a breath and does as she'd seen Jason do months before: body straightened, head tipped carefully back to clear the airway, hands hovering carefully at the center of his chest, and... compressions. It's tricky, not knowing exactly how much of her impressive strength she should be using, but even worse is not trying at all. She takes a breath and presses down in a quick succession, counting low under her breath. ]

[respired]

[ Koltira hears a wet, heavy thump outside his door, followed shortly by a sudden commotion--Ramir's voice, shouting. Not the usual friendly 'hey how the fuck are you' sort of shout, either. This was the danger shout.

He throws open the door, and his bright eyes go wide at the sight before him. ]

Tobias!

[ He looks half-drowned. Possibly entirely drowned. Koltira kneels down, uselessly, because of course there's not a goddamn thing he can do. TF isn't dead (yet), and Koltira has no powers that preserve the living.

He looks to Ramir, feeling powerless--a discomfiting, unpleasant sensation. ]

Thank the Light for you.

[fateality]

[For a few passing minutes, Twisted Fate doesn't respond, his eyes closed and still. Eventually, Ramir's efforts are not in vain, and chokes out salt water, blinking his eyes clean and stinging. His ribs ache from the compression and everything else he's tolerated, and his glowing eyes are searching, confused for a moment.]

Mal--? [The name is slurred out before he completely realizes where he is, because Ramir is definitely not who he was expecting to see, if he was expecting anyone at all. He coughs, still working out the water. He raises a hand, wiping his tangled, wet hair back, but he isn't moving to sit up. It hurts too much and he's definitely way too tired to move just yet.]

Well. [He clears his throat, smiling awkwardly.] This ain't my most dapper. Hey, you two.

[heavyhitter]

[ Ramir had barely acknowledged Koltira's timely arrival, pausing only just long enough at his thanks to shoot him a look. It says the words she doesn't, don't thank me yet, I have no fucking idea what I'm doing. It doesn't seem like they'll help.

When Twisted Fate finally gasps a breath on his own, a rush of relief washes over Ramir. She did know what she was doing, apparently. Thanks, Jason. She sits back to give him some space and buries her face in her hands for a second, trying to stop them from shaking now that they've got no chest to pound on or chin to tip back for the mouth-to-mouth part she hadn't even had time to consider awkward.

And that name, that Tobias, hadn't escaped her notice. Good to know she really hadn't just dreamed that part up. ]

Oh my god, Fate. You're fucking killing me. [ She drops her hands again, watching him with concern twisting up her brows and a bitten lip. ] What the fuck happened? Are you alright — shit, I didn't even see your shoulder!

[respired]

[ Koltira's already pulling bandages out of the packs at his belt. He scowls at Fate, irritated by his jocular tone--albeit not surprised, either. Fate was a man who would go to his grave laughing, or so he'd like everyone else to believe.

Koltira's not buying it, though. ]

Keep still, you bloody fool.

[ He starts to wrap the wound immediately, his expression hard. ]

You're not out of danger yet.

[fateality]

[For a moment, all he can think is how relieved he is that he isn't dead, although he'd anticipated it was very, very likely when he took the chance. He clears his throat and hell if it doesn't hurt to breathe at the moment.

Shoulder-- right, the musket shot. Lucky shot. It didn't help his situation when he'd gone underwater. As if confused, Twisted Fate looks over his shoulder and gingerly touches at the outside of it, scowling.]

That all happened.

[He keeps still, because who the hell is going to tell Koltira no. He can't even fathom using any healing spells at the moment and stares at the cut on his hand.]

I was back home-- Runeterra. Pretty damned sure.

[Pretty sure he's dead.

Twisted Fate goes quiet a moment, looking thoughtful, then rubs his face with his good hand with an uneasy sigh. There's a lot to swallow right at the moment.]

Thanks for the save, punchout.

[heavyhitter]

[ She sits back, watching Koltira work with concern knitted widely across her brow. He knows what he's doing with that, right? Probably. He's a soldier, they know that kind of thing. ]

One of those — glitches or something, I guess. [ She scoots in a little closer, eyes shifting from his shoulder and up to his eyes again. Not really listening to herself: ] Why the fuck does everyone come back from one of those wet?

[ Two people doesn't mean everyone — but to be fair, it's everyone she's run into direcly afterward. ]

[respired]

[ Koltira mutters. ]

I wasn't wet.

[ Just half-naked and insane. Obviously more manageable.

He finishes with the binding, though he still doesn't look satisfied. Fate looks like he's been through the wringer. But there's something else digging at him, too, a question he wants to ask. He glances from Ramir to TF, frowning slightly. ]

I suppose the pirates caught you.

[fateality]

Sure, I suppose. Glitch sounds right.

[Well, he's going to assume this has happened more than once to Ramir. He offers a crooked smile to Ramir, committing to no real explanation.

But he cringes a little when Koltira says that. Ah, right. He did mention something about that before.]

You're not wrong.

[Fate looks uncomfortable, then lets out a sigh.]

They caught us both. [Ramir won't know what that means, Koltira should.] They threw him overboard tied to a cannon, an' I went after him. Managed to stay alive long enough to force his locks open.

An' now I'm here again.

[He doesn't have many high expectations that he'll be seeing Runeterra again anytime soon.]

[heavyhitter]

[ God, has everyone done this home-glitch? That feels distinctly unfair. She watches Twisted Fate closely, clearly missing a bit of this explanation, then tries a glance at Koltira. And. Oh. This is probably A Moment, like she'd have with Sigma if he pulled something like this. ]

If you guys wanna go be romantic and sappy, just let me know. [ But first: she leans in to wrap a hug around TF's neck — careful, of course of the newly wrapped bit. ] I'm glad you're back on this side with us, though.