Re: Continued from above
Star had followed his team leader when Havok made a dash for the entry point. He sped up when he saw Ric running inside as well, his heart exploding into an overdriven tempo when he his shout. Shatterstar was fast and agile enough thanks to his mutation that he almost caught up with Havok before all hell broke loose. Almost. A snarling, animal sound escaped his throat when he saw his lover get hurt by Havok's blast.
"JULIO!" he yelled hoarsely, his left eye pulsing as fiercely as the scowl on his face. He reached Rictor but, for a moment, he wasn't sure if he should touch him. It was a split second hesitation, and then he grabbed the smaller man in his arms as carefully as he could. They were in enemy territory, so there was no question of bringing a healer to him. Whether it was wise or not, Rictor would have to be moved, extracted, and taken back to base as fast as they could. He had to keep it together, keep his head in the game, as it were, so he did his very best to ignore the extensive burns and the sickening smell of burnt hair and skin.
"It's okay," Star muttered at Ric, and he could only hope the other man could hear him. "I got you. You're okay. You're going to be okay, friend Rictor," he went on soothingly as he moved out towards the exit point. Even as he did so, his eyes were alert to any movement to the best of his ability.