Chapter Text
It must've happened in just a split second, but to Jonathan it felt as time itself was thick as molasses.
A gun fired, but it wasn't Roper's.
Instead, Roper went down. Jonathan saw the minute slip of his finger, saw how it released the trigger. Another shot rang out.
The world held its breath, just like Jonathan. The dense blanket of leaves on the wet jungle floor dampened everything, except for the wild beating of his heart, as he watched with horror how Teddy fell to the ground.
Then, like a flame struck by a match, everything imploded. Making use of the chaos, Jonathan broke free of his binds. He stumbled forward blindly, crawling those last few feet to reach Teddy. He stretched out his hand, grasping for anything solid.
"Teddy," he spluttered, spitting out the blood that crawled up his throat. "Please. Teddy."
A blurry face blocked his vision. "Get up! Come!"
Jonathan knew that voice. Martín. When did he get here? Martín grabbed him by the arm, hauling him upright. He fired a shot over his shoulder. "We have to go!" he yelled.
He started dragging Jonathan away. "No! No!" The words were growled with raw desperation.
"It's okay," Martín shushed him frantically. "We'll get him." They ducked for an explosion.
"I'm not leaving without him," Jonathan tried to say, almost delirious with fear. Because this couldn't be happening. Please, please, let it all be one big joke. Although at this point, Jonathan is sure he will never smile again.
Martín had succeeded in manhandling him to a truck, concealed by a bush at the edge of the clearing. Jonathan struggled, but it wasn't enough. Martín dumped him in the back. "I'll be back," he said. And just like that, he was gone.
The only thing Jonathan could do was stare at the night sky above, his labored breathing echoing loudly in his ears. His eyes stung. He squeezed them shut. It didn't do anything, the tears slipped out anyway, dragging paths down the grime and blood on his face. Before he could stop it, his broken body convulsed with sobs. In another life, he would've worried he was too loud, but in this one, he didn't care. He could die for all he cared, actually.
The rustling of plants cut through the cacophony of noises. It was close, Jonathan realized faintly. Closer than the guns, closer than the all the destruction. He lifted his head.
Martín, together with Tavo, dragged Teddy's limp body to the truck. With one big heave they lifted him to the trunk, letting his limbs spill out next to Jonathan.
The truck began to move. Jonathan had to hold onto the railing as to not fall off. He still had his gaze fixed on the stars. He couldn't bear to look, not now, when Teddy's eyes would be wide and unseeing.
It's a shame. If Jonathan had been brave enough, he would've seen that Teddy's eyes were closed, and that his chest moved in a halting, unsteady rhythm.