nexuses | 13 | the boy who ran

[ Both of them have an agenda they want to keep quiet. 13 respects that, and so plays along with their game of giving vague answers. As long as he's not throwing out specific details, 4 shouldn't have a problem with this. ]

That's what the boss said. I was about to go in when you emerged.

[ He gives the entrance behind them a cursory glance over his shoulder. ]

If I were to go now, security would find me.

[ Well that answer is a lot less vague than Aiden was expecting. However, it really gets his curiosity going — there's a few things 13 could want with those military bases that he can think of, but he can't be sure of what, so he feels he should be cautious about revealing his own intentions. Even if there's the distant possibility they could work together here. ]

And I guess the rest of that information is 'classified', right?

[ Just making sure. He thinks asking specifically what he wants is just going to turn up nothing. ]

[ 13 nods. It's not just a matter of shielding 4. Involving the boy might drag him into political affairs that have nothing to do with him. That's on the assumption that boy already doesn't have an affiliation. ]

I can't tell you even if I wanted to.

[ Classified. That's a word with which he's all too intimate. ]

[ Humm. That's just what he thought. Well, this might be difficult then. ]

Thought so. [ A pause. ] Well, I can't tell you much either, so ...

[ A small sigh. How is he expecting to gauge if their interests coincide? Aiden's kind of wondering how he's going to do the same, but ... ]

[ They've hit the "it's classified" rut. At this point, there's little gain in asking roundabout questions.

Breathing out, 13 swirls the glass in preparation for another sip. ]

Let me rephrase what I said before. Are you going back to the bases?

[ Well, that's an easier question to answer, he thinks. He can ... do that. It's not compromising any of the information he needs kept secret.

A slow, hesitant nod. ] I — I think so.

[ As scared as he is about it, he's got nothing else he can do ... But his stomach is still full of knots. ]

[ There. That's the answer he wanted.

13 takes a sip during the boy's response. He sets down the glass, eyes closed in thought, and nods. ]

I'll take you inside. But I can't guarantee I'll be there to take you out.

[ They'll most likely split once they get in, because 13 can't take the boy with him. Better to go in together than let the boy go ahead and come in later to alert soldiers. It isn't that he doubts the boy's abilities; he's already been delayed once, and a smooth operation is ideal. ]

[ Mmnn. He's glad he can be helped in. But he guesses he's banking on Elise being there to help him back out. If she's not there, then ... well, he can consider himself dead. This is why he shouldn't be left to make decisions on his own. They're hard.

But he'll nod. ] O-Okay. [ And a short pause. ] But, you should know first, uh — if they see you with me, they'll — just don't get caught.

[ He feels obligated to give a warning, at the very least. If he's really going to help him, he can at least let him know it's dangerous to. ]

[ At that, 13 gives a small smile. "Don't get caught" has always been rather funny to him, even when the command has a valid backing. ]

They won't catch me.

[ He downs the rest of the drink, then reaches for the kit in the middle of the table as he stands. Before he goes back to the bartender, he leaves the boy a simple instruction. ]

I'm returning these. Think about when you want to go back.

[ A-Aah, that response is a little ... weird, but if that's how he feels about his warning, there's nothing he can do about it. He hopes he's serious about not getting caught.

But his simple instructions are a little difficult. Think about when he wants to go back, huh. Well, for Elise's sake, it should be as soon as possible. But the soldiers are probably (definitely) still majorly active around the area. So it'd be way too dangerous right now. But. Gah. ]

Got it.

[ Is his only response. He should probably ask for 13's opinion when he comes back, humm. ]

[ Engaging the bartender in another conversation as he hands over the kit and empty glass, 13 takes a while to return. News in the town seems to travel fast, especially in this bar, and the bartender's talkative enough. Eventually, 13 nods, says his thanks, and goes back to slip into his seat across the boy. ]

There's already gossip about military activity in this part of town.

[ He rests an arm on the table, watching the boy. That's a good and bad thing, because it means the military's cursory search of town is almost over. ]

[ Well, there's a little bit of a sigh at that. They must really be going for him — not that he's surprised, or anything.

Sitting up then so he's not so hunched over anymore. ]

Should we stay put in here? [ A pause. ] Or risk trying to get out of the area?

[ He's not really good at this decision thing, since it's usually Elise pulling him around, so ... ]

[ 13 leans back, straightening. According to the bartender, the military has yet to reach this particular establishment. They have time. ]

We'll stay for a little longer. [ That being said, ] Did you decide?

Alright.

[ Humm. And about that last part. ]

I, ah — I'm kind of stuck on that. This — it's kind of time sensitive, but ... I don't know how safe it is to go back right now ...

[ They're probably majorly on guard right now. ]

[ True. The military will no doubt be on higher guard than before. But it's a stroke of good luck that they bothered to come down in pursuit of the boy. ]

They split their forces to patrol the town. Security will be stricter at the bases, but they'll have more holes.

[ Aah. He hadn't realized that since they're in town, a lot of them will be missing from the bases. Even if they're on guard, they have less numbers, huh. ]

So, you think this'll be the best time to go, then?

[ ... Definitely a good thing he asked his opinion. ]

That depends on you. Are you ready to run?

[ If the boy can run, he can think and move accordingly on his feet. They've been away for a while, between the transit and their time spent in the bar. 13 won't just assume that was enough to recharge, because everyone's different. ]

[ Humm. He thinks about that for a moment, before deciding he's as good as he'll get. He doesn't feel like he has the ability to sit around for too long right now anyway. It's really only his wounds that might slow him down, and those will take too long to fully heal anyway. So ...

A nod. ]

Yeah, I can run.

[ Good enough. The boy's thoughtful response indicates full awareness of the upcoming task, and that means they're ready to be on the move again.

13 nods back and gestures to the boy. ]

We'll go in three. If you need to do anything, do it now.

[ Mmnn, there's not really anything he feels he should do, and his mind is pretty set on what they're about to do, so. ]

I'm ready whenever you are.

[ Ready to follow his lead (and hope things go relatively smoothly). ]

[ 13 is ready, but those precious three minutes can help them. He wants to give the boy more time to rest, and it allows the light drink he had to fully settle before he clamps a hand down on the top of the booth seat and rises. ]

Let's go.

[ He reckons "act natural" is a given. A handful of military soldiers pass the entrance of the bar in a paced dash. 13 gives them a brief glance on his way to the motorcycle. No one's going to look at them a second time, either, if they don't freak out. ]

[ Ah, then he'll get up and follow him once he's prompted to. He understands just fine that he should be acting natural, but when he notices the soldiers pass by, it's hard to keep his breath from hitching and his hands from shaking a little. So he'll put them in his pockets (please, calm down, hands). Seeing them like that, he realizes again what's at stake for him.

He'll be as quiet as possible, though, behind 13 as he leads him to the motorcycle. (Even if he doesn't feel quiet — knowing the soldiers are close-by makes it hard to remain as calm as he wants to. His heart feels like it might beat out of his chest.) ]

[ Before their ride, 13 motions Aiden to the motorcycle. ]

Here.

[ You first. 13 will get on afterward and start up the same way he had in the base.

Between their fairly casual display and the small clusters of people walking by, they've blended in well enough thus far. If Aiden doesn't somehow trip over himself, they should be fine. The soldiers aren't even looking their way. ]

[ Wow, he won't trip over himself right now!! He's just nervous, okay. But he's trying not to be outwardly nervous.

So he'll get on the motorcycle when he's motioned to, quietly. And when 13 gets on afterward, he'll spend a moment wondering whether he should hold onto him again, before ... deciding he will faintly hold onto the sides of his shirt, okay. Just for the beginning, okay! So he can get used to the speed again. Okay. ]

[ From the way his shirt pulls around his sides, 13 can guess at the boy's plan. Although the brief chuckle that follows is soundless, the exhalation of breath is clearly audible while he overlays a hand on the panel in front of him.

This boy doesn't trust anything. Not even the back seat.

The motorcycle hums to life, and they take off at a similar acceleration to before. This time, 13 takes a different route to the base, in one part to avoid the marching soldiers and in another to approach from another direction. ]

and proud of it while i sleep forever

sleeping so long i spend work all alone ;~;

my greatest shame of 2015 ;O;

yes ;~; it's okay i forgive you

on the bright side you got to eat all of hope's waffles

yes and that means i have all of hope's love in my tummy and you have none PUFFS

. . . ;~; weh

gotta be faster ;w;

gotta stop dreaming the real life

stop dreamin' and start livin', jaejae

i try and fail every time because sleep is addicting

it is very addicting ;-; my roommate finds it funny how i wake up a lot but always go back to sleep

this is me . . . your roommate would find me funny, too

let's show her how funny we are together come sleep over

but where will i sleep on your patterned bed

next to me duuuuh. it's kinda slim but jac slept over just fine before

i hereby dub yours "the snuggle bed"

good then you must snuggle wit me in it PUFFS

we will snuggle in yours and roll around in mine

excellent. the two best activities to do in a bed. we've got our bases covered.

you mean . . . we've got our beds covered. ba dum tsh

pffff wow jaejae ... paps your silly joke face

HAHA . . . HA . . . ha . . . haha . . .

... wow what's with the scary laughing jaejae

it's me laughing and shaking my head at my bad joke