Chapter Text
"Boot, hurry up with the war bags!"
Lucy stumbled toward the open garage, chest aching with strain. this wasn't the first time this happened. It started with casual chest pain when she ran, then when Tim yelled at her and now it wasn't just her chest, the pain would spread to her shoulder then jaw as it stole her breath.
"Boot, hop on the good foot our citizens should have to wait on your laziness!"
She grunted as she took another step, pain flaring in her chest as her chest tightened at his words.
***
The pain didn't get better as the week went on, in fact it became clear that something was wrong.
Lucy had just finished chasing a suspect, she was panting and sweating profusely as her lungs ached when Tim's voice tightened a ring around her heart.
"Boot, you sound like an old locomotive, I expect my rookies to be in peak physical health!" Tim bellowed, walking up behind her as she wiped sweat from her brow.
"Sorry sir, I just-" She started before she gasped again and Tim butted in.
"I just explained my expectations, I did NOT give you an invitation to share your opinion!" Tim announced, grabbing the suspect from the ground.
She had been doing her best, but every step she took looked like a mistake to Tim, would he ever treat her like a human, would he even care if something happened to her?
***
She got her answer on a Monday, a heatwave had settled over the city and to top it off, Grey had gotten her and Tim sent on foot patrol. He said it was to give her cardio, but she had been doing cardio on her own and nothing was working, she had actually been feeling worse.
"Boot, your punishment for embarrassing me in roll call today is running, GO!" Tim cried gesturing wildly with his hands.
Her blood froze, run? In this heat? She was already winded and they were only three blocks from the station, what if something happened?
"Sir, I think-" She started before Tim cut her off.
"Boot I don't give a rats ass what you think, now get moving!" Tim bellowed, stamping his foot against the pavement.
She got a slow start, her lungs were already on fire as it was. Another ring bound to her heart, squeezing it so hard she felt bile bubbling in her throat. She swallowed hard to force it down as heat scorched her lungs. She felt the rings tighten as Tim's voice sounded. Her vision greyed at the edges as her breath was stolen.
"Chen!?"
Her knees buckled, hitting the tarmac with a low thud. Her vision swam away as she saw an angry Tim above her, she felt the hard sole of his shoe on her burning back as her breathing grew more labored.
"Chen you're not fooling anyone, god you're such an embarrassment to the badge."
She felt her consciousness fade out as his voice grew more agitated.
Her vision swam away as the rings around her heart tightened, a tunnel of light appearing before her. "I don't go where I'm not wanted" She thought as her hand reached for the light and she began to proceed, the dull thump in her chest ceasing its chorus.