"That was better." Mismatched eyes looked up to see the Director sitting comfortably in the skybox. "But you can do so much better," he said as he watched the destroyed droids get wheeled out of the arena. "It has to be perfect." He then rose to his feet as he looked at his cell. "You're to be perfect," he added as an afterthought. "However, for you to be perfect, you're definitely going to need a change of scenery." Putting the device away, he turned to take his leave. "For now, go clean up. Afterwards, you'll be on standby until I have you summoned. With that being said, no wandering off without alerting Tyson or without gaining my permission to leave the facilities."
Bowing slightly at the waist, Evren waited for the sound of the closing door to drop down to one knee. Cradling his wounded side, he held it tighter as he felt the blood starting to seep through the side of his uniform. Standing upright, the man stumbled as his leg buckled beneath him. Looking down, he saw the torn material before watching the steady stream of blood flowing from the small hole in his shin. Reaching down to remove the shell there, he hesitated when he felt more of the red liquid seep out from his side and arm as he leaned forward. As the sudden feeling of lightheadedness began to set in, Evren headed towards the side door, passing the cleanup crew tasked with clearing the room.
Once in the hall, the officer looked out the floor to ceiling high wall to see that the sun was starting to descend. As it began to set on him that he must have spent the entire day there, Evren's body finally began to register the exhaustion it had been put through. Leaning forward a bit, the man looked down at his unresponsive legs before trying to move them once more. Managing a step, the next one didn't happen for a few more minutes. By then, he had managed to leave a small puddle of blood in his spot before managing to get down the hall, leaving red footprints in his wake.
Stumbling into his doorframe once the door slid open, he looked around the darkening room before dropping down to one knee. Hearing footsteps coming down the hall, he looked over his shoulder just as the door closed. Bringing a hand up, he made a curt, waving gesture before dropping the limb back to his side. As the lights came on, he pulled himself onto his feet with a bit of difficulty. Mismatched eyes then drifted towards the windows to see a squad car zip by followed by another. Slowly making his way over to the large glass, he watched as another car went by before waving his hand dismissively. Watching as the curtains closed, the officer tottered before exhaustion and blood loss got the best of him. Coming around sometime after, Evren cracked his eyes open. Allowing them time to readjust to the darkness, he blinked slowly before closing his eyes again. Feeling something tickle his forehead, he slowly furrowed his brow before opening his eyes after several minutes. Again, it was dark but things seemed a bit clearer than they had been before. Staring up at the ceiling, Evren flicked his wrist prior to furrowing his brow when the lights didn't come on. Bringing himself into an upright position, he threaded his fingers through his hair before feeling a throbbing pain in the side of his head. Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment, he opened them to see the blurred outline of a hand, and in it was an aspirin.
Taking said item, he took the glass of water that followed before downing both. Setting down the glass soon after, Evren tottered before exhaling slowly. Lowering his head, he then reached to his left, closing his hand tightly around something warm.
"If you were aiming for my throat, you have to be much quicker than that." Looking in the direction of the voice, oddly-colored eyes made out the darker red ones gazing back. "How are you feeling?"
"Why are you in my room? We've been through this countless times already," Evren groused as he released the man's wrist.
"Yeah, that was when you were a leader. Now, you're my subordinate and as your leader, I thought I'd be nice enough to help you at least clean yourself up," Tyson replied in a level manner. "Seeing how you're now awake, go take a fucking shower, Princess." He then got to his feet to turn on the lights. "You smell like sweat."
-†-
Furrowing his brow, Malecai sat by the window. Seeing how it was already beginning to grow dark once more, he sighed as he set aside the book he was holding in order to focus on the unconscious teen laying in his bed. Rising from his seat, the man ran a hand through his greying hair before walking over to his charge. Sitting down at the edge of the bed, Mal sighed heavily as he studied slacken features.
Cal had been out ever since the incident in the living room. It would be easy to take the teen to the hospital but there were no actual health documents pertaining to his identity. There were none. Even more, the last time they had gone, many years ago, the raven had freaked out on him as well as the doctors prior to taking off out of the office and nearly out the front door of the hospital.
The boy had been caught and once his new guardian got a hold of him, Mal couldn't help but promise not to take him there again. The scared look in his eyes at the time was enough to make Malecai promise he wouldn't, not unless he was about to die. Even then though, Mal had a dreading feeling that the teen would probably choose death before step foot in another hospital.
"Fell…"
"Where did you fall from?"
It had to have been quite the fall to put Calix in the state he was now. The only thing was that the older man couldn't quite locate any possible broken bones. There were bruises, a few scrapes as well but there were no signs of fractures, punctured organs or signs of bleeding. Calix was just out and good chances were that when he came around, he wasn't going to talk about it nor would he want to go to a hospital.
Cal was just stubborn that way.
He had always been that way with him.
Running a hand through his hair again, Malecai looked towards the raven's jacket to see it stationed in the same place he had left it. Picking up the article of clothing, he thumbed the material, already knowing he didn't purchase it for his adoptive son. Feeling the teen's communicator inside the pocket, he pulled it out before looking over at the other. Looking back at the device, he sighed heavily before rifling through the contacts.
There weren't many. Then again, it wasn't like Calix was a socialite. He was known, yes, but he kept to himself. He wasn't an angel but, he wasn't a troublemaker either. He was just an odd kid really but he kept most things between him, his friends and occasionally Mal.
As long as he was ok, that was all that mattered.
"What happened to you?" he muttered before selecting a number.
-†-
"Hold up a sec."
"Easy for you to say when you're not the one carrying all this stuff, lady!"
Rolling her eyes, Will fished through her pockets to locate the source of the buzzing. When she couldn't find it on her person, she looked around to see SHU balancing itself upon a sphere larger than itself.
"SHU, dear, do be careful," she said as she headed over to collecting the device. Watching as the bot bobbed its head, she tapped it lightly before looking at the name scrolling across the smooth surface. "Calix?"
"Try again."
"Oh, hello, Mr. Lefay," she said once the visual connection was established, "is…there a specific reason for you to be contacting me via CL's number?"
"I need to ask you something, Will."
"Um, sure, ok. What is it about?"
"Calix."
"CL?" The man's eyes drifted momentarily. "Is he ok?"
Hearing footsteps, Will glanced towards the redhead to see him coming over. "What's up with Cal?"
Once both were focused on him, Mal just let out a heavy sigh. "I found him on the couch when I got home. The door was left wide open and I found him slumped over the couch. When I talked to him earlier, something didn't seem right. When I questioned him on it, in the end he just said he fell. I don't know how he high he had fallen from but I can't find anything broken. He wasn't bleeding, which is a relief, but-"
"Take him to the hospital," Will said.
"He's not going to like that idea."
"Did he say he didn't want to go?" Renyx asked.
"Well, no-"
"Then take him!"
"He's been out since I've been here. He told me that he fell but wouldn't tell where he fell from and how high he had fallen from," Malecai said as he looked over at the raven. "I don't want another freak out incident like before."
"What freak out incident?" Renyx questioned before looking to his left to see SHU getting situated. "He's got something against doctors and hospitals or somethin'?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"When he was smaller he-well, it's not my place. I…I just don't know what to do with him," Malecai said. "I-I-"
"Take him to the hospital," Will said.
"But-"
"Mr. Lefay, you're going to have to take him to the hospital. I gave him an aspirin early and it must have been enough to get him home but he didn't take a second and the effects of my aspirin only work for a limited time."
"Your…aspirin?"
"I can explain later but for now, you need to get him to the hospital," Will stated as she picked up her bag. "Just send us your location and we'll meet you there." Receiving a small nod, Will hung up before looking over at her companion. "Let's get going."
"And what about our equipment?" he asked as he chased after the departing female. "Will!"
"Don't worry about it. I already have it covered, Anthony. CL is main priority at the moment."
"Right." Pulling out his own communicator, he scrolled through his contacts before sending out a message. "Hey, we'll have a ride waiting in Tralli." He then looked back at the subtle sounds of things moving. Glancing over his shoulder, he caught sight of what looked like bots moving several things around. Guessing that was his friend's handy work, he rounded a corner to see her slipping a remote into her pocket. "Will-"
"Pick up your feet, Anthony."
Watching as the woman slid across the hood of an old car, Renyx rounded the thing before watching his friend run down a dark alley way. Picking up his pace before he lost her completely, his attempts ended in vain before losing the woman.
They just left the outer city limits of new Polaris for goodness sake.
"Will!"
Sucking his teeth, he slid his sunglasses onto his face before tapping the side. Scanning the area, tawny eyes detected the heat trail left behind. Moving again, he got to the end before looking around once more. And spotting a heat signature greater than his female friend, he removed his glasses the moment he rounded the next corner though it wasn't Will he found or ran into for that matter.
"Dammit…" he groused as he took a measured step back.
"My, my." Raising his gaze a bit, ochre-colored eyes met the dark garnet pair that almost seemed to burn in the low lights that lit the out perimeters of the city. "Care to tell me what you're doing way out here, sir?" Tyson asked as he slid a hand into his pocket. "Then again, why don't you just start by showing me you ID?" Renyx grimaced before scowling as the officer's mouth tilted upwards in the slightest of smiles. "I'm sure you have it on you. You do know it's after curfew, yes?"
If only he could say what he wanted to say.
"I didn't know it was after curfew," came the reply. "If you let me by, this won't happen again."
"You see, the problem with that is that I can't do that."
"Is that you can't or you won't?" Renyx asked angrily.
"Well, both I suppose," Tyson replied. "You see, I do enjoy my job very much but seeing how I'm a nice guy, if you can give me a reason as to why you're out so late, I'll gladly let you by. So, shall we here your reasoning?"
"We?"
Red eyes darted over to the left. "Do stop dawdling. You said you were fine."
Pushing himself off the wall, Evren walked over to stand just a few paces behind his leader. Mismatched eyes then lifted to pay regards to the redhead that was now glaring at him.
"You."
Ty looked between the pair. "You know each other?"
"Know each other?" Renyx spat as he stepped past the officer. "This psycho is the reason I'm out here now." Evren said nothing. "My friend is in the hospital because of you, you asshole!"
"Your friend's lack of self-preservation isn't of my concern."
"This is all your fault!" the redhead growled as he grabbed a fistful of the officer's shirt. Glancing at the faint bruising on the man's eye, Renyx felt his upper lip twitch before he pulled his other arm back, fist ready to go. "He kept going on and on about you. He said that you were his fri-"
"I'll tell you the same thing I told that brat, I don't know him. He needs to leave me alone and just stay out of my way."
Clenching his hand tighter, Renyx shot his hand forward. "You bas-"
"No."
Looking over his shoulder to see his missing friend holding onto his arm, he clenched his jaw before lowering his hand.
"Well, hello there," Tyson said sidestepping his lower ranking officer in favor of getting closer to the woman, "and who might you-" He took a step back to see the IDs being held up in his face. "-be…? Willow Faith, huh?" A charismatic smile then crossed the man's face. "How lovely. How about you and I-"
"Gotta pass," she said as she flashed the redhead's. "Please excuse my friend here. He's just upset at the moment." She then pushed Renyx passed Evren. "Now, please excuse us both. We have to be going."
"Now, now."
Pulling her back over, Tyson eyed her up and down before catching the ire of her friend. Glancing over at the officer, Ty saw that Evren was looking elsewhere, rubbing his arm gingerly when he believed he wasn't being watched. Then again, it wasn't like they weren't always being watched anyway. When Evren looked over at the leader, he averted his eyes before shifting somewhat uncomfortably, tell-tale signs that something was getting to him. And with that, he released the girl before sliding his hand back into his pocket.
"You're free to go," the raven said. "Evren."
Said person popped to attention. "Sir."
"Let's go. We…have business elsewhere."
"Of course," he replied with a slight bow. Listening to the receding sound of hurried footsteps, he stood upright. "Sir, may I say something?"
"Well, you're doing that now," he replied as he began to walk away, "but walk and talk."
"May I start by asking your purpose for trying to stop that woman?"
"Are you jealous?" Tyson responded.
"I wouldn't stoop that low as in to be jealous of such things. Next, despite you checking those IDs, I do hope that you were aware that they were fakes." Continuing to walk as the other looked his way, Evren sighed. "Though those cards meet the typical standards of the permits, the coloring was off on the certification strip located on the right side."
"The coloring matched fine."
"It was 25% darker than it should have been."
"And you knew this?"
"I though you would've caught it," Evren stated plainly. "As a leader, I would've expected you to at least know how to check an ID. I mean, really? Did you do any studying before taking over? It really wasn't that hard, you know." Feeling a hand grab his shoulder, the white-haired officer went to turn before being pushed down a side alley. "What-?"
Feeling his back connect with the brick, the man winced, biting the inside of his cheek before lowering his head. Having his chin tilted upwards, the officer clenched his jaw as a slight smile pulled at the corner of the man's mouth. It then sobered much too quickly.
"You know, I could've easily left you back at headquarters. You could've stayed in your room sulking as you licked your wounds clean. Keep in mind, I mean the same wounds that I seared shut for you since you're healing sucks like hell apparently."
"I didn't ask for your help," Evren countered. "I would've-"
"Still been on the floor of your room bleeding out or in the lab under surveillance. By all means, pick your poison, Evren." Said person bit his lip. "Just as I thought. Now, if you could be so kind as to be useful and just correct any errors, we wouldn't be having any problems. On the other hand, maybe you're distracted by what the redhead said." The raven then leaned forward. "Don't tell me that you're worried, Princess. How becoming for one such as your-"
"Shut up," Evren groused. "and stop calingl me that idiotic pet name of yours. I hated it when I outranked you and I hate it even more now. Another thing, if you knew how to do your own damn job, you wouldn't need me to accompany you. Also, would it matter if I was worried or not? If I was, which I'm not, do you think I'd tell you? I rather see you squirm in your seat since you will never be able to figure me out."
Tightening his hand on the man's shoulder, Tyson watched as the mismatched eyes stayed locked, determined, before faltering when a slight wince shown through. Releasing him seconds later, Ty took a step back before waving his hand dismissively.
"Since you have a mouth on you, do me a favor and put it to use." To that the younger male narrowed his eyes. "Radio in to each nearby hospital and give them the description of out two lawbreakers. I want their whereabouts. Do I make myself clear?"
Straightening, Evren gave a stiff nod. "Quite," he said before walking away.
-†-
"Hurry up, Renyx. You're still dragging your feet."
"Would you knock it off? I'm right behind you. Besides, you wouldn't have made it here as fast we did without my ride! A bit of thanks-" Being shushed by a nurse, Renyx made a face. "A bit of thanks could be in order," he finished much quieter than before.
"Later," Will said dismissively. "We're here." Knocking on the door once, she pushed the door open to be greeted by Malecai rising from his seat. "How is he?"
"Has he woken up yet?" Renyx asked, closing the door behind him. "What did the doc say?"
Mal shook his head saying, "They gave him a cat scan and an x-ray but they can't find anything sort of injury. They said that there was a possibility that when he fell, he could've possibly hit his head though it's not a given since he doesn't appear to have any head trauma. They did find traces of morphine in his system, as if he had already been to a hospital, but that's impossible. This really is troublesome," he added with a sigh. "I just really, really want him to wake up." Massaging his temples, he frowned. "I wouldn't mind a minor freak out once he realizes he is in the hospital, that'd be normal after being out for some time but I just need him to wake up."
"He will," Will said, patting him lightly on the shoulder. "I mean, it's CL. I'm sure he's handled worse, right?"
To that, Mal merely furrowed his brow. "He's been through too much."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zK6ApUfbi
