Chapter Text
“Hello?”
Mumbo swallowed at the woman on the other end of the call. She already sounded suspicious and he hadn’t even said anything!
“Greetings… uh, Pearl.” Mumbo recited. “We have your friend Grian here-“ He glanced at the civilian as he took another risky manoeuvre through two vehicles on the freeway. “Or well… he has us I suppose…”
His implants were taking in so much information at once it was hard for him to concentrate on the task he was assigned.
The woman scoffed. “Grian you there?” She asked.
“Busy.” He reported as more bullets came flying at the vehicle.
“What’s the situation?” She replied robotically.
This was familiar. This Mumbo could do.
“We’re currently being chased by three vehicles, so far five threats of surrender have been ordered and Grian is driving over,” His eyes snapped to the speedometer, “125 km/h. I fear his car won’t be able to handle the strain for much longer.”
“How many civilians are in the vehicle?” Pearl asked.
“One.” Mumbo reported.
“Grian!” Scar pointed his gun out the window. “I’m three bullets down! I’m not making any damage!”
His shots echoed loudly against Mumbo’s ears.
“One?” Pearl asked confused. “But I hear someone else in the background.”
“Oh Scar’s not a civilian.” Mumbo clutched the computer with all their data on it tighter as the car swerved and he hit into the door.
“Ok… How many people are in the car?” Pearl reworded her question.
“Three. Scar and I are…” What should he define himself as? They were villains three seconds ago and that had failed exceptionally. They were hero’s a few hours prior but now Grian had them… hostage? It was making his head spin.
“Ok, Grian has you and Scar in a high speed chase under gun fire.”
“Correct.” Mumbo nodded.
“I’m down another four bullets.” Scar shouted.
Mumbo winced at the waver in his voice. The bullet being dismantled in his shoulder was really tearing apart his internal system as he moved. Mumbo couldn’t make them work any faster. Scar was in pain and actively making it worse as he reported to Grian and worked out a plan.
“Hey. Hey, are you still there?” Pearl asked.
Mumbo nodded before remembering himself.
“Yes.” He replied dazedly catching information from his implants that his own body wasn’t doing too well.
He frowned and assessed the information.
Oh…. when had he stopped breathing?
Mumbo inhaled and felt a rush of oxygen enter his system.
“It’s ok. Er, what was your name again?” Pearl asked.
“Mumbo.” He replied getting antsy that more and more people were learning about the name he’d given himself. That was three whole people including Scar…
“Mumbo. I want you to breath and stay focused. I know this is scary-“
“I’m fine.” Mumbo interrupted. “I’ve been through tougher situations, of course those were all drills, but I can pass this!”
There was a disbelieving sound from Pearl’s end. “Keep me updated on what’s happening.” She ordered.
“Scar’s on his last three bullets, we’ve made no progress in losing the cars pursuing us and-“ He winced. “About ten more threats for our surrender have come through.”
“Ignore those. Focus on me.” Pearl said. “Where are you on the freeway and how far away are you from a major city?”
“We are three hours from Hermitopolis. That’s where we were heading before-“ Mumbo hissed as a bullet came flying past him. It grazed his neck and his hand flew up to the injury as the bullet imbedded itself in Grian’s chair.
Warning signals rang through his head as his eyes widened.
If that bullet hadn’t hit him it wouldn’t have slowed down enough to stop in the chair. The civilian was in danger. The civilian needed his help-
Mumbo turned to glare at the cars pursuing them. He positioned himself in front of Grian’s chair and squared his shoulders. He’d take anything over Grian getting injured…
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Pearl shouted through the phone. “Doc says he’s nearly there. You’ll have air support in 5 minutes-“
A bullet shattered the last of the back window hitting directly into Mumbo’s chest.
Scar’s head whipped around as his implants detected his pain but Mumbo waved his concern off. Grian didn’t know Mumbo was hit. The civilian didn’t need to know. He was driving, he was shouting orders and keeping their situation under control.
Scar narrowed his eyes and aimed his gun past the broken window.
Two shots rang out and Mumbo watched as they landed on a driver. The car swerved and Mumbo let out a wet gasp as his nanites began working on the bullet in his chest.
God, an organ was definitely hit before it struck the back of his ribcage.
Mumbo drew his eyes to Scar and watched his friend’s concerned expression.
“Don’t worry…” Mumbo smiled. “Pearl reported that a doctor was coming.”
“Wrong kind of doctor.” Grian scoffed. “There better not be any injuries in my backseat.”
Mumbo felt his lip wobble before he exhaled and drew his hand to the injury. This was fine… his nanites could fix this.
“Mumbo-“ Scar started.
“Goatfather finally!” Grian shouted.
Mumbo smiled in relief as a helicopter flew above them.
“This is my one and only warning to stand down.” A threatening voice sounded from the chopper. “Stop the chase and return home. This vehicle is under Hermitopolis’s jurisdiction.”
Mumbo watched as guns extended out of the helicopter.
“3…2…1…”
Whoever was in the helicopter wasn’t messing around as their pursuers didn’t back off. A shot was fired and Mumbo watched the ‘bullet’ land on the bonnet of a car.
The driver and armed guard inside both looked at the device in confusion until it activated and their engine died.
Mumbo chuckled in shock immediately regretting his mistake as his inside’s sparked in pain.
The second car that was still tailing them dodged their bullet and the guard in the passenger seat stuck his head out with a megaphone.
“There are two dangerous heros in that vehicle holding a civilian hostage! They are our responsibility and they need to be detained!”
Scar held his gun up but Mumbo pushed it back down. He met his teammates eye and shook his head minutely.
Taking the shot would prove the guards point and possibly result at the chopper’s guns being aimed at them.
“Regardless of your reasoning my sources say this problem is mine to deal with. Back off and we can negotiate after I’ve assessed the criminals.”
Criminals. Mumbo forgot there was a future where they might be free from the Foundation but still in a cell in Hermitopolis.
As he melted into the seat Mumbo came to peace with that reality. At least if he was in a cell he would be near Scar…
The guard on the megaphone looked irritated as he turned his glare to Mumbo and Scar.
“Assets Hawkeye and Redstoner, please return to your handlers immediately. Assets Hawkeye and Redstoner, please return to your handlers immediately.”
The repeating messages in Mumbo’s comms were driving him mad. He couldn’t do that and his eyes were beginning to flutter as his fingers went numb on the computer he was holding.
“Mumbo-“ Scar grabbed his shoulder and clutched him tight.
Another ‘bullet’ shot from the helicopter and this one was different as it turned into a net of electricity and landed on the car.
The vehicle fried and stopped on the road, Grian still speeding away as the threats were disarmed.
Mumbo let himself slip between the seats as soon as he didn’t need to guard the civilian’s back. His chest protested at being squished but he didn’t have the strength to pull himself onto the seat.
Scar frowned and sent his own orders to Mumbo’s nanites.
Mumbo felt his lungs inhale properly once they focused on healing instead of rectifying the bullet.
His organs were tended to and though he was still bleeding from the entry point he wasn’t bleeding internally which was progress.
Grian released a laugh of stress racking his hand through his hair as the phone Mumbo had forgotten on the floor told them Pearl was minutes away.
“You can slow down now Grian. Goatfather has your pursuers sorted out and I’ll handle you from here.” She said.
Scar looked ready to climb into the backseat but Mumbo shook his head and tilted it to Grian.
-Check on the civilian first- He communicated silently.
Scar sighed and waited for Grian to park before fretting over him.
“Were you hit anywhere? Do you feel like fainting? I can read your vitals are high. If you need anything-“
“I’m good.” Grian chuckled waving his hands away from him. “It was just a good old chase. It’s not like this was my first…”
Scar frowned. “Huh?” He replied eloquently.
“I hang around heros.” Grian smiled at him. “Speaking of-“
Grian turned to retrieve his phone but paused when he spotted Mumbo wedged between the seats on the floor.
“Mumbo?” His eyes drew to the blood. “Mumbo you’re bleeding?!”
“I’m fine-“
Grian was out of the vehicle and opening the door before he could finish his sentence.
Scar did the same on the other side and it was his teammate Mumbo looked to and smiled at as the civilian they’d roped into this mess freaked out.
“It’s alright…” Mumbo assured Grian. “I heal fast. This isn’t as bad as it looks.”
Mumbo had said that a thousand times to different civilians he saved but instead of calming at his assurances Grian leaned forward to try and get him out the car.
“Let’s get you lying on the backseat. Where were you hit? Pearl has basic medical skills. I’m sure she can help-“
Mumbo shifted and winced before he even properly moved. Grian grabbed his arm glancing at the laptop Mumbo had been holding onto for dear life.
“Can you let go of that while we-“
“No.” Mumbo shot his eyes to Grian.
Something shifted on the man’s face before Scar chuckled and easily got between them.
“Well we have everything under control from here!” He hip bumped Grian away and easily wrapped his hands around Mumbo.
Mumbo moved with Scar’s familiar strength landing on the backseat and exhaling as he was finally free from his small prison.
Scar met his eye and Mumbo knew immediately his friend could see past his lies. His nanites were fighting to keep him alive let alone conscious which Mumbo very much should not have been doing.
Mumbo adjusted his grip on the laptop he was holding and pushed it into Scar’s arms.
“Download that as soon as possible.” He instructed.
“But you know what happens when we-“ Scar started.
Mumbo interrupted him with a nod. “That’s more important.”
“I beg to differ…”
“Grian!”
Both Mumbo and Scar whipped their heads to the newcomers voice.
Pearl ran towards them and enveloped Grian in a hug. “Oh I’m so glad you’re alright! What happened? What needs fixing?” She glanced at his car and winced. “Ooh… most definitely that-“
Mumbo looked over the shattered windows and smirked at none of them in tact. Scar’s signature was an easy one to notice except this time it was less his fault and more…
“Pearl! Mumbo’s injured and needs medical attention immediately!” Grian cut in.
Right, right… fighting for his life here.
Mumbo shifted and groaned hating how bullets shot out of a high speed car did more damage.
Not to say Scar had it easy… Mumbo could tell his friend was still struggling. As soon as the adrenaline wore off he would-
Mumbo’s head dropped suddenly and he blinked rapidly at his sudden unconsciousness.
Oh no… His nanites were shutting him off now.
Mumbo blearily looked to Scar and frowned conveying that the information from the laptop was top priority.
Scar watched on helplessly as Pearl lifted Mumbo’s shirt up. She gasped at what she saw. Whether it was the old wounds or the new ones was hard to say but Mumbo let his head fall and gave in to the darkness so his implants could keep him alive.