isamazed

Title: Temptations
Author: isamazed
Word count: approx. 550
Characters: Ryan, Cutter, Stephen
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. I only write for fun…
A/N: Written for louisedennis's Valentine's Day Gift Box 2022 on primeval_denial. The prompt I used was 'fire'.
A big Thank You goes to goldarrow for the speedy beta!

„No.“

Ryan stepped between Cutter and the anomaly. He drew himself up to his full height, widened his stance, crossed his arms in front of his chest and narrowed his eyes, everything in his appearance telegraphing that he would not let anyone get past him.

„What do you mean 'no'? I am going through now. Let's go, Stephen.“ Cutter clearly didn't give a damn.

For the fraction of a second Ryan debated just letting him go. He was sick of playing babysitter to this overgrown toddler constantly throwing a tantrum because he couldn't play with his toys whenever he wanted. That man just didn't give a damn about the dangers that came along with the fucking anomalies.

Bloody idiot.

Stephen, who still stood back, looked hesitantly from the Scotsman to Ryan and back again. At least he got the message that Ryan was not fucking about with this.

„Stephen,“ Cutter commanded but the tracker only shrugged his shoulders.

„Sorry, Nick. Maybe we should sit this one out.“

„I am not letting you go through, professor. We don't know what's behind it. You might fall right off a cliff or step into a lava field. We can't risk that just to satisfy your curiosity,“ Ryan established.

That pissed Cutter off completely.

Ryan debated knocking him out with a hard punch. His hands twitched as they inadvertently tried to form a fist. The tactic had worked well enough the first time around.

It took all of Ryan's self-control not to give in to the urge.

Considering how stubborn and thick-headed the man was, Ryan might end up breaking his hand.

Ryan stared Cutter right in the eye and didn't move an inch.

Cutter looked like steam would come out of his ears any minute now. He narrowed his eyes as he made a decision. Like a bull, he gathered momentum and started directly at Ryan, ramming his shoulder as he refused to step around the soldier and stomped towards the anomaly.

„What the –,“ Ryan muttered, turned on his heels and yanked the stubborn idiot back by his collar.

Cutter let out an enraged grunt but before he could start a full rant, the anomaly pulsed and Ryan threw himself over Cutter and them both as far away from the anomaly as possible.

And not a second too soon, because a ball of fire exploded from the anomaly and shrapnel rained onto the floor around them. Ryan grunted as something sharp embedded itself in his calf and back.

As quickly as it had appeared, the fireball was gone. Ryan smelt the tell-tale scent of singed hair and resigned himself that another buzzcut would be in his future.

He picked himself up from the floor and grunted when his injured leg buckled under his weight. He quickly glanced at Cutter who was seemingly perfectly fine and turned around to check on the rest of the team.

„Is everyone okay? Stand back, everyone. We don't know if this was a one off.“

His team nodded and ushered the scientists further back. Some seemed to have lost an eyebrow or obtained a minor cut, but overall, they had been lucky.

Ryan turned back around to Cutter.

„You still want to go through, professor?“

Cutter just glared.