The gun fired, Billy clenched. Tension ran through his gut and out into time itself. It was unpolished, and spoke nothing of the careful, conscious way he had been arresting time lately. This was just some instinctual, barely realized lunge at the clock's throat, the kind he often hadn't even noticed he was doing weeks ago. Even now it took a second for Billy to realize he was still moving as nothing else did, pulling the would-be Captain with him. In the next moment, he caught on, and he was the one with a firm grip on the other man, dragging him out of the bullet's path, just barely out of the trajectory.
The woman was on the ground ahead of them, and she grew more distinct as they got closer. Dark hair, longish, and dressed in the same uniform as Billy. There was time to look. Not much, but a little. He was in an unnatural second, busy with movement, but only his movement. It gave him a feeling of being in control, or even powerful, which was ridiculous. It was ridiculous last week, and it was even worse right now. As soon as it ended (he could feel his grip slipping, and the splintered seconds healing) the man with the gun would still be waiting and readying a second round of shots.
They would have to take the offensive, or get under cover and engage in what would probably be a very short one-sided gunfight. Neither prospect chilled Billy anymore. They were simply the things he had to deal with now, and it didn't matter how good or bad he was at it. It wouldn't even be as if it were the first time he'd be doing this without Dane. Billy was glad, suddenly, that his frozen moment was over.
Time lurched, stretched its arms, and caught up with them.
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The gun fired, Billy clenched. Tension ran through his gut and out into time itself. It was unpolished, and spoke nothing of the careful, conscious way he had been arresting time lately. This was just some instinctual, barely realized lunge at the clock's throat, the kind he often hadn't even noticed he was doing weeks ago. Even now it took a second for Billy to realize he was still moving as nothing else did, pulling the would-be Captain with him. In the next moment, he caught on, and he was the one with a firm grip on the other man, dragging him out of the bullet's path, just barely out of the trajectory.
The woman was on the ground ahead of them, and she grew more distinct as they got closer. Dark hair, longish, and dressed in the same uniform as Billy. There was time to look. Not much, but a little. He was in an unnatural second, busy with movement, but only his movement. It gave him a feeling of being in control, or even powerful, which was ridiculous. It was ridiculous last week, and it was even worse right now. As soon as it ended (he could feel his grip slipping, and the splintered seconds healing) the man with the gun would still be waiting and readying a second round of shots.
They would have to take the offensive, or get under cover and engage in what would probably be a very short one-sided gunfight. Neither prospect chilled Billy anymore. They were simply the things he had to deal with now, and it didn't matter how good or bad he was at it. It wouldn't even be as if it were the first time he'd be doing this without Dane. Billy was glad, suddenly, that his frozen moment was over.
Time lurched, stretched its arms, and caught up with them.