Here Without You

By: ChocolateEclar

Full Summary: (Companion one-shot/songfic to Raven of Passage, takes place during chapters 7-9 of ROP.) Vir is now officially in the Wolf Force and is ready to fight, but between dealing with his separation from Raven and getting nearly killed he's learning this isn't as fun as he thought.

Disclaimer: I don’t own the song “Here Without You” sung by 3 Doors Down nor am I making any money from featuring the song in this story.

A/N: Instead of in Raven’s POV like in “Raven of Passage” this story is under Vir’s POV.

A/N 2: This is quite a bit darker than ROP. Vir gets into some tight situations out on the field and longs for Raven. So this’ll include a bit ‘angsty.’

A/N 3: This one-shot features the song “Here Without You” sung by 3 Doors Down! Enjoy!

A/N 4: Btw, the idea for this story came from Danielle, a friend of mine, whose been encouraging me to write for a while now. ^_^ This story is dedicated to her.

The snow beneath us was melting in the afternoon sun and her hazel eyes were looking into mine deeply. Rex Regis, her father by blood, was barking something my mind couldn’t quite comprehend in our situation. I was leaving in only a few minutes and then I wouldn’t see her again for atleast several months. My stomach churned just thinking about the long period apart. Raven. We heart quickened as I made up my mind.

She was pulling away from where our foreheads were resting against each other’s and, before she could move to far, I kissed her. She let out a small gasp but soon draped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer to her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and savored the moment. My head was spinning when we released our hold on each other’s lips and gasped for breath.

I bolted then, too afraid to face her in a more normal way. “Gotta go, Raven!” I called, jumping into my car, waving, and speeding off.

Before I was out of hearing I head her yell, “Wha?! Wait, you ass! What was-oh well.”

‘Well,’ I thought, grinning as I zoomed down the busy street. ‘I’ll pay for that, but it was worth it.’

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“Come on, soldiers!” screamed Colonel Profundus, “Git out there and stop that thing!”

Easy for him to say, it was a fifty-foot fire troll! Let’s see him out on the front line going head on against the monster. He was at the back of the regiment barking orders through a microphone. My flaxen bangs were singed and my clothes were smoking even though we all were two miles away from the beast.

I was on top of a tall tank-like machine, aiming carefully at the troll like all the other soldiers in the fifty-ninth regiment. I swiveled my heavy cannon higher up so that I was aiming right for the fire troll’s flaming chest. The creature was made of pure lava and fire, a mass of a red-hot liquid-like substance. Needless to say, we all were frying in the heat. It was a bloody inferno and Profundus was going to get us killed if we didn’t succeed or retreat very soon.

“Ice bombs, ready?” yelled Profundus. “Three…Two…ONE! FIRE!!!”

Every member of the regiment except Profundus pulled hard on the trigger of his or her freeze ray guns. The beams of frosty blue energy struck the fire troll head on and it snarled in fury. It was because Profundus had forced us to move in closer than was safe in handling fire trolls, when the enraged fire troll’s lava splattered in all directions, many were hit with the molten rock.

Many of us, including myself had told him we should’ve be so close but he had screamed, “Anyone who disobeys me will be discharged and stripped of their place in the Wolf Force!!!” So we all had backed down. Cowards. My fellow soldiers had dragged me onto the field; they didn’t want me to throw away my career so I gave in. Even I had eventually been sure we would be fine after all.

Oh how I was wrong.

***

Hundred days had made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
 

***

The screams of soldiers being bombarded with lava, being basically eaten alive, filled my ears and I tried to fire my ray gun at the lava. I blocked only a few alone but soon others were helping me.

We could tell Profundus had abandoned us out there to die for we could see his car pulling away out of the corner of our eyes.

I became colder that day. I just couldn’t rely on others. Only myself.

***

A thousand lights had made me colder
And I don’t think I can look at this the same

***

We were running out of ammunition and more soldiers were being murdered. “Everyone!” I screamed over the yells of the panicked. “Get back to the buses! We have to retreat NOW!!!”

Many did as I said and ran. Others were too involved in terror to do much of anything and were pretty much dragged back. I was gnashing my teeth together in rage by then.

A cold animalistic rage.

I would make sure Colonel Profundus was court marshaled for what he had done to us! (Or should I say what he hadn’t done? Either way he had deserted his regiment and would pay dearly.)

We reached the five buses and boarded all the injured on the medical bus before leaving hurriedly. As we drove away, I informed the command base of our status and Profundus’ abandonment.

Then, I sat down on one of the seats and rested my head against the window. My reflection was looking back at me coldly and I scowled. My face was covered in red splotches and mildly-serious burn marks, while my bangs were totally scorched off and the rest of my hair was charred and sleek with sweat, blood (my own and that of others’), and kicked-up dust. My five-month old green uniform was burnt and ripped in several places.

I knew she would cry if she saw me like this. I was so tired and finally fell into a restful slumber, dreaming of Raven.

***

But all the miles had separate
They disappeared now when I’m dreaming of your face

***

I recalled that day, the day I had left and we had sat on that bench in November. I looked away from her, finding the dirty snow at my feet unusually fascinating so I could cover up my discomfort.  That’s when I noticed something.  The specks of sunlight that managed to show through on this dreary day made the muddy snow sparkle just like the beautiful hazel eyes of a long-neglected friend.  Raven.

I decided something that day. And when Dilly attacked Raven I was ready to defend the one I loved.

***

I’m here without you baby but you’re still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time

I’m here without you baby but you’re still with me in my dreams
And tonight it’s only you and me

***

Screams of horror and yells of anger caused me to open my eyes wearily, sleep vanishing. ‘What’s going on?’ I wondered. We had been an hour’s drive from the base and I hadn’t been asleep too long. We had obviously stopped to rest for a while for all the buses weren’t moving. Several more shouts rang out and I jumped to my feet painfully. I winced and tried to take in the situation.

It was hot again. I was sweating profusely once more. The air outside the buses was simmering with heat. One of the buses was already engulfed in lava. Gods, the fire troll was making its way towards us!

The creature made of molten rock was coming from behind the buses. The others buses hurriedly drove away, we could do nothing to help our comrades. I stared out the back window of the bus we were in, searching for something that would aid us.

I turned back in front of us to see a bridge over a wide river. A roar alerted us to the fact that the fire troll was coming again. We started to maneuver the four remaining buses across the bridge as the trees behind us back on land began to wither in the blazing beast’s heat. We didn’t have an explosive to blow the bridge up behind us but there had to be a way. That’s when I stared out the side window at a rolling dam. The barrier was constructed across the river causing several waterfalls to cascade from it.

That was it!

I would have to open the dam wide enough so that it would destroy the bridge and put out the creature’s fiery body. It wasn’t as simple as it was thought out in my head.

I flung a quick explanation to the other soldiers on the bus and thrust the red latch on the back bus door upwards. Then I jumped out. We had crossed the bridge completely and I ran along the river, ignoring the shouts of my companions. I reached a large structure enclosing the dam’s generators and kicked the door open.

Inside were giant generators, a large concrete floor, and a complex control panel. ‘Too complex,’ I thought. ‘Oh well, ‘guess I’ll just have to do this the old fashioned way.’

So I sent several high kicks down on the buttons covered the dark keyboards. Sparks flew and I jumped backwards. The generators, which had been thrumming loudly before then, now were making strange hacking noises. Time to go.

I ran out of the door, watching from the forest with satisfaction, as the building erupted in flames. Too bad I was an idiot and hadn’t gone far enough away from the generators when they finally totally blew up. I watched as the dam broke and water came gushing out, flooding part of the land and demolishing the bridge.

I whopped in victory when the fire troll was overwhelmed in water, but my happiness was short-lived for in the next instant the generators had blown sending me flying at the hard trunk of a tree.

I was instantly knocked unconscious.

***

The miles just keep rolling as the people either way to say hello
I heard this life is overrated but I hope it gets better as we go

***

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I groaned and rolled over so that my head went face first into cool water. I jumped startledly and looked at my surroundings wildly. It took me several moments to realize what had occurred and I rubbed my head. Pain was coursing through my poor bruised cranium and water was swirling around my feet. Obviously the wrecking of the dam had widened the river somewhat. I glanced at my waterproof watch to discover it was almost one o’clock three days after the fire troll incident. The little digital screen with the date said it was March twenty-third; the fifty-ninth regiment went against the fire troll on the twentieth. Had I been knocked out for all that time?

A gurgle courtesy my stomach answered that question. I was so hungry! I peered around at the half-flooded forest and spotted a tree with a few young, red apples hanging from its great boughs. ‘My luck’s turned!’ I thought excitedly.

It was more like Lady Luck was just waiting for me to get me in a false sense of security again so she could spring another trap on me.

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It was two weeks before I saw a house. It was a small cottage outside a tiny town, but I didn’t care. I had collected ten apples, finished them in a week, and had found little other food since then. My clothes were even more torn than before and my skin was scraped on top of the burns. My hair was still scorched and dirty. I had taken a bath in the river before setting out for civilization but had found no source of water since then. I was so tired, hungry, and thirsty I didn’t care if I found out the town was abandoned, atleast I would have shelter.

***

I’m here without you baby but you’re still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time

I’m here without you baby but you’re still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

***

I knocked on the wooden door of the cabin, so exhausted my pounds were pitiful. Eventually someone answered. It was an old man with white, knotted hair and chipped teeth. He growled and snapped, “Whatcha want, young’un?”

“Just-Just someplace to sleep, food,” my eyelids were closing even though I was trying my best to stop them.

“Ain’t got no sleep or food to spare! Now off with ya!” retorted the man.

“But-”

SLAM!

The door was shut and no matter what crude name I called the geezer he wouldn’t let me inside. So I trudged on, so weary I fell asleep in a cornfield just outside of the town.

A young man, probably about my own age, stepped on my ribs hard, awaking me rather agonizingly. “Git off my land!” he snarled.

I moaned and tried to push his heavy boot off to no avail. “’Kinda hard to do that when you’re stepping on me!” I yelled, glaring at him.

He got off of me and watched me go, his sun-tanned face cold and the toothpick in his mouth jabbing towards me every once and awhile.

***

Everything I know, and anywhere I go
It gets hard but it won’t take away my love

***

The townspeople were as friendly as the senile old man and the youth with the stuck-up nose. They gave me cold glares and refused to serve me even when I pulled out some crinkled cash out of my pocket.

So I continued on my lonely trek dreaming of seeing her soon.

It would take one more week to make it to a city and a Wolf Force base within its wall of skyscrapers.

***

And when the last one falls, when it’s all said and done
It get hard but it won’t take away my love

***

I limped into Hound City in April. Many people stared at me and a few asked me if I needed help. “No, just point me towards the nearest Wolf Force base,” I pleaded. Which is what they would do and I would continue down the sidewalks in my tattered uniform, my skin still raw from the burns.

It took a few hours of slow walking but I made it to the base, a silver dome-shaped building. I nudged open the doors to see a grand marble lobby even larger than that of Facility Three where Miriam worked and the trainees lived.

I couldn’t believe it. She was there! Raven was sobbing on a bench with my grandfather, Grandpa Harold, and some other Wolf Force officials. I let out a shuddering breath, my vision was blurring and my legs felt like collapsing. Raven was actually there!

She looked up then. I doubt she heard me for she was crying so hard and no one else looked up. Maybe it was just a bond we seemed to have, I don’t really know. All I knew was that she was here, so was I, and I was so glad.

“Vir!” she screamed, springing up from her seat. It took the others several moments to realize what was going on and then they followed her. She ran to me and I smiled feebly.

“Hey, Raven. Miss me?” I muttered, right before I collapsed.

She caught me under my arms and held me tightly to her. “Everyday,” she whispered.

I smirked and then knew nothing more for some time. I knew I would awake with her by my side.

***

I’m here without you baby but you’re still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but you’re still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

***

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A/N: Hope you like this! I would so appreciate a review for this! Especially from you, Danielle! ^_-

A/N 2: As you know, this is a one-shot so this is the end of this story. In chapters 8-9 of “Raven of Passage” you can find out what happens to Vir and Raven next though. ’Too bad that as of 10/9/03 those chapters aren’t written yet. *laughs* Look out for them though ‘cause they’re coming soon! ^__-

A/N 3: Bye!

Cineris, my baby phoenix and muse: ^_^ Cheep!