1.2.4 In the air and regretting every second. (Patreon)

So, managed to work almost a full Saturday, though I was interrupted by phonecalls and making dinner. Not hyperfocus, just normal writing. Still, managed 9250 words in one sitting. Looks like 10 000 a day is easily doable. Nice to see my brain is recovering.

(Guilty escape with Herald, being carried as a blanket burrito. Not fully coded, but some variables. Friendly hench relations and good leadership, no minor variables added yet.)

...

On the scale of undignified escapes, surely this must rank in the top three. The clouds are heavy overhead, the nighttime lights of Los Diablos turning them a sickly yellowish orange. You can almost smell the coming rain, which, if it arrives in time to catch you would surely make this top one. Herald's arms are holding you tightly, but not painfully so. It's not like when flying with Sentinel, there you both had to cling on for life. Would probably be safer to be harnessed in, which is one reason you didn't go flying often back in the day. Funny how things change. 

Not by choice though. Never by choice.

If you had one, you would certainly not pick to be soaring low across the Los Diablos skies wrapped up like a takeaway burrito, filled with enough painkillers to make it almost funny. Almost. You feel lightheaded, but has decided not to look down. You need to trust Herald with this, getting you to the right address, unseen. All you can do is try to focus on finding everyone who's intent on looking up and making them not do so. Not that there are many about at this hour, and the ones that are tend to be more interested in looking down, to make sure their feet don't trip them up. Drunks. Tired shift workers. Ambitious office moles working late. Not many choppers out, and they are even easier. Nothing to see here.

*fake_choice

  #We make a good team, me and Daniel.

  *if (shint) #The Skies feel safe tonight. Unlike last time.

  #It feels good to have something to focus on.

  #You hate that you make a good team.

    You make a good team, you and Herald. No you and Daniel. No matter how much you hate it, that part at least is true. You've given him such a hard time during training, and you're not sure to be flattered or annoyed that he's actually listened. Learned. Or maybe he told the truth all along. Training is different for him than real danger. There's nothing of the distracted hesitation you're used to around you. He's focused on his surroundings and what he's doing, not on you.

    Funny that it would take a broken heart to get him there.

Getting closer to your destination, Daniel slows down, dropping low, skimming the rooftops. There's no rush in your stomach as he does so, no sense of motion or acceleration that would usually be there in a flier's dive. You're still not sure how his powers work, but there's more to it than flight. You don't feel gravity pulling on you. There's nothing keeping your broken legs straight other than a thin layer of blankets over the casts, and yet they feel more comfortable now than in the hospital. You feel more like you're floating than flying, he's holding you tight but he's not carrying you.

Gravity? It would be the simplest explanation. You've never heard of a boost with the ability to affect that before, but it would explain why the scientists never figured it out. Looking in the wrong place. Refusing to see what was right in front of them. Just like you. And him. You can feel his thoughts avoiding that particular hurdle. That you're a villain. That you're [b]the[/b] villain. The one that hurt him. Broke his heart.

"Nobody's watching," you whisper to steer his thoughts away from the place neither of you want to go. "Take us down."

"Roger." Daniel sinks down into an alley, stopping right before his feet touch the ground. Hovering effortlessly with you in his arms. "Now what?"

"They should be here soon to pick me up." You can't sense any thoughts, which is not surprising. The alley is next to a major road, out of sight but too loud for a comfortable night's sleep, even for the homeless. The buildings here are all warehouses, turning their backs on the road. "You can put me down now and get on with your life."

"What?" Daniel's grip tenses slightly. "I'm not going to leave you here. The ground is filthy, and you can't move. What are you going to do if they don't show up? Or if someone else does first?"

"If you're think I'm going to let you see who I am working with, you're crazy." You hadn't planned this far, and hate it that he has a point. Even your arms are wrapped inside your burrito, the tattoos too obvious to show to the world.

"If you think I'm leaving you at the mercy of the alley rats, you are."

"There are no rats here, don't be so dramatic," you sigh. This is a clean alley, considering. No garbage or broken glass. Just the general detritus of a place seldom visited. "And you know I'm crazy. Even your rose-colored glasses must be broken by now."

*fake_choice

  #I've ruined it all, haven't I? Ruined us.

    "Don't call yourself that. Please." Daniel sighs, but he still doesn't look at you.

    "Why not?" You join him staring at the wall. Nothing of interest there, but at least it won't judge you. "It's the easier alternative."

    "For you? Or for me?" 

    "Does it matter?" You wish you could push away, you need to pace but lack the legs and freedom to do so. "We both know this was stupid. Isn't it better to chalk it up to insanity than bad decisions?"

    "I don't think this was stupid." Quiet words. Almost whispered. You can still feel them in his chest. "And I don't think you were crazy when you fought me—" hurt me, his mind provides "—just desperate."

    "I was angry," you admit, because why not. "Angry at you."

    "At me?" The surprise makes him look down at you, and stupidly enough you meet his gaze. "Why?"

    "Because you looked like you had it all." You swallow, steadying your voice. "Powerful. Famous. handsome. Popular. Not having to hide. I saw you at the covers standing there smiling next to Ortega and..." 

    "And you couldn't." He finishes your sentence for you. "Did you feel like I had taken your place?"

    "Yes." Petty but true.

    "Do you want to know a secret?" He's not looking away, and his grim face has softened to a smile. "So did I."

    *set angryheraldadmit true

  #Maybe he will see the truth now. Finally.

  #And yet he helps me, and I hate it. Every second of it.

    "Crazy?" Daniel lets out a breath that's more a huff than a sigh. You can feel the irritation balloon, butterflies rising from the field. "You're not—"

    "Then you must admit I have a point," you snap, interrupting him before he can say something unforgivably soft. "You can't have it both ways."

    "So I can't disagree with you without thinking you're crazy?" Daniel shakes his head, and not for the first time you're grateful that he seems to have decided not to look at you. The alley wall is more interesting than your face. Less dangerous. But his thoughts reveal more than his face ever would.

    "You're angry," you say with an unseen sneer. "You're furious. Don't think I can't feel it. Why not allow yourself to let it out for once in your life?" 

    "Don't." You can feel Daniel's breathing. Quicker than normal. "I know what you're doing. This isn't the time to pick a fight."

    "What? Because I can't fight back? That didn't stop me when I kicked your ass." Nasty words. Sharp. The look on your face would be a weapon, but he's not looking.

    "I wasn't helpless," he says quietly. "I just messed up."

    "I'm not helpless just because my legs are broken," you growl. "I'm a telepath."

    "I know." It's as if your words settled something in Daniel's mind. All of a sudden it's calm once more, and he lands heavily on his feet. "And once we had left the hospital you could have taken control of me. Made me fly wherever you wanted instead of asking. Made me leave you, instead of trying to tell me to."

    "Don't analyze me." 

    "I'm not. I'm just saying that maybe you want me to be here. That you don't want to be dumped on the side of the street like garbage. Or—" he looks down at you, at your face for the first time. "—you don't want to hurt me. Not like that. Not now."

"Sap," you start, but the sentence remains unfinished. In the distance, you've picked up an approaching mind. Familiar.

*if boss

  *goto bossburrito

*elseif rosie

  *goto rosieburrito

*else

  *goto boburrito

*label boburrito

Boris. There's no way you could mistake it for anybody else, at least not when he's driving. The thoughts slide liquid over the surroundings, half on the road, half on the maps supplementing his navigation. 

*if boss_secret

  A sting of relief hits you right in the chest, followed by worry. You haven't shown your face to Bo before, there is no way to keep that secret now. Or of what you are. But that's is a problem for the future, what matters now is that you will be out of here. 

*else

  A sting of relief hits you right in the chest. You'll be out of here soon.

Finally.

"You can put me down now," you say, bracing yourself for the pain. "My ride is coming."

"I'm not putting you down." An immovable object if there ever was one.

"Well you can't remain here. You're a hero." Why can't Daniel understand the point? It's not that complicated.

"I broke you out," he points out. "And I promise I won't arrest whoever it is."

"But you'll see their face. What makes you think they won't put a bullet in your head?" Bo is generally peaceful, but there's an edge there you've been aware of since your first meeting. You doubt he'd hesitate to shoot someone.

"Because I'm holding you. And I promise I won't arrest them."

"You're hopeless," you say with a groan. That he hasn't been killed yet is a miracle. "At least try not to float, maybe he won't recognize you."

"Alright." Daniel makes himself as solidly attacked to the ground as he can, and you feel gravity tug on you once more. It doesn't feel nice.

*fake_choice

  #I'll trust Bo to keep his cool.

  #I'll make sure Bo is calm when he arrives.

    Boris' mind comes closer as he turns off the main road, circling down towards your alley. You can sense a moment of alarm as he spots two figures instead of one, but you quickly smooth it down. You don't need a scene, not now.

    The car pulls to a stop, engine still running. Instead of getting out, Bo lowers the side window, leaning out.

"Here for the pickup?" he says, vague enough that it can mean anything.

"The pickup's me," you admit, trying to match the cadence of your vocal distorters.

*if boss_secret

  "$!{villain_name}. Slightly indisposed."

  "$!{villain_name}?" Bo's voice is filled with disbelief.

  "Don't tell me you thought I could never take the armor off," you say, gently pushing the disbelief to the side. You can't afford to have no not believe you, and you can't start listing things to convince him with Herald here.

  "I mean, I was wondering—" a nervous laugh "—but what the hell has happened to you, boss?"

*else

  "And I guess you can see why."

  "I mean I do have eyes," Bo's eyes have gone wide. "What the hell happened to you, boss?"

"Car crash." You wish it sounded more glamorous. "The meeting didn't go as planned. You gonna help me in or what?"

"Of course." He gets out, laughing nervously. "If you'd told me I would have got a van. I guess you can sit sideways in the backseat but I doubt it will be comfy."

"Comfier than jail." You watch Boris, grateful that Herald has kept his mouth shut. But he's listening. There's no mistaking that alert tension.

"Sure is. So why don't you get your friend to—" Bo looks up at Herald for the first time, freezing in his tracks. Recognition. $!{swear}!

"I can expl—" you start, but is interrupted by Bo cracking up in the biggest grin.

"Mr. Sullivan!" The warmth in the name is not fake, and what's worse is that Herald returns the smile.

"Oh, Mr. Pavlenko, I didn't know you were..." a criminal? You're not sure how herald had planned to finish that sentence.

"Yeah, well..." Boris looks embarrassed. "I mean..."

"I'm not going to arrest anyone," Herald quickly assures. "I promise. I'm just here helping a—" the shortest hesitation "—friend."

"You two know each other?" You're surrounded by a barrage of feelings on both sides, neither of them settling into something comfortable. You're hurting too badly to figure it out on your own.

*if herald_dinner

  "Yes," Herald admits, voice softening into Daniel. "We had dinner at his cousin's restaurant, remember?"

  "As if I could forget," you mutter. "And that explains nothing."

  "Mr. Sullivan broke up a hostage situation," Bo clarifies. "Made sure nobody got hurt, or the place got shot up."

*else

  "Yes," Herald admits, voice softening into Daniel. "I did his cousin a favor. He owns a restaurant that someone wanted to rob, and I talked the culprit down before the LDPD could get there and make things worse."

  "As they would have," Bo interjects. "Those bastards don't mind bystanders one bit."

"And now I get the feeling that maybe there was more to that than a simple robbery gone wrong." Daniel sounds more bemused than annoyed.

"Yeah, well..." Bo scratches his neck and looks away. "Maybe the fella was looking for me. Was laying low at the time, and I guess he figured that I'd have a soft spot for my cousin. Tried to take hostages to flush me out."

"He said he just wanted money!"

"Well, no offense but when a Ranger asks you why you're sticking a shotgun in someone's back they ain't liable to say revenge." Bo shrugs. "And since things had escalated, nobody wanted more people involved so my cousin played along."

"I can't believe this." Daniel sounds almost insulted. "I let him go with a warning."

"I know." Bo shrugs. "Which was a bit awkward. But it got the point across."

"What point?" A helpless question.

"That they'd better stay away from my family 'cause they are protected. And it's worked. No trouble since." Bo's smile is wide and sincere. "Look, maybe we didn't exactly tell the whole truth, but you still was less of an ass to a criminal than you could have been. That counts for a lot. People talk."

"I can't believe this." If Daniel hadn't needed both hands to hold you, you think he'd be hiding in them. "And you work for ${villain_name}?"

"Pay's well. They ain't a bad boss. As I suspect you might agree with since you're the one carrying them."

"That's not the point." Daniel sighs. 

*fake_choice

  #"You're right, the point is I need to get out of here."

    "You're right, the point is I need to get out of here." You can't keep the pain from cracking your voice. "Even not accounting for the pain, I'm wrapped in sheets and not wearing pants."

    "Oh," Daniel's face heats up to the point you can almost feel it. "Of course. Are you sure you don't need help?"

    "That's up to the boss," Bo says with a neutral shrug.

    "We can manage." You look at the car. "Maybe help me in it though?"

  #"What is the point then?" I can't help but be curious.

    "What's the point then?" You can't help but be curious, the fact that Daniel knows Bo is a risk, but perhaps also an opportunity.

    "I don't even know anymore." Daniel looks to the skies for answer, but then he looks back at you. "I don't know anything anymore. But I think we'd better get out of here before something happens."

    "I agree." It's not the best place to have a conversation, let alone the argument you can feel brewing under the surface. "Can you help load me up?"

  #I'm curious, I'll scan Bo's mind as they talk.

    "Look," Bo says, as you stay quiet and doesn't interfere. "You did a good deed, and that's what matters, right? I'm grateful you did. My cousin practically has a shrine to you. It was his daughter he'd taken hostage."

    "I would have done that for anybody." Daniel almost sounds embarrassed.

    "Yeah, but you did it for us. That matters." Bo's voice is light, but underneath, his mind is hard. He's truly grateful for what Daniel did, not anything he would have expected from a hero. But the man that held up the restaurant and Daniel released later? 

    That man is dead. A better warning than anything.

    "Not to interrupt, but I think we'd better go." You don't want Daniel to find that out, it might complicate things.

    "Yes," Daniel straightens up, looking awkwardly at Bo. "Are you going to be able to handle this?"

    "Yes," you say before Bo has a chance to answer. "But maybe you can help be get in the car?"    

*goto 12basefuse

*label rosieburrito

Rosie. Neon-bright flashes of annoyance, struggling with finding the right exit. Finally. No wonder she's late if she's had to stop and look at the map this often. But she's here. Finally.

*if boss_secret

  A sting of relief hits you right in the chest, followed by worry. You haven't shown your face to Rosie, there is no way to keep that secret now. Or of what you are. But that's is a problem for the future, what matters now is that you will be out of here. 

*else

  A sting of relief hits you right in the chest. You'll be out of here soon.

Finally.

"You can put me down now," you say, bracing yourself for the pain. "My ride is coming."

"I'm not putting you down." An immovable object if there ever was one.

"Well you can't remain here. You're a hero." Why can't Daniel understand the point? It's not that complicated.

"I broke you out," he points out. "And I promise I won't arrest whoever it is."

"But you'll see their face. What makes you think they won't put a bullet in your head?" Rosie's got a temper, you doubt she'd think twice about knocking him out.

"Because I'm holding you. And I promise I won't arrest them."

"You're hopeless," you say with a groan. That he hasn't been killed yet is a miracle. "At least try not to float, maybe she won't recognize you."

"Alright." Daniel makes himself as solidly attacked to the ground as he can, and you feel gravity tug on you once more. It doesn't feel nice.

*fake_choice

  #I'll trust Rosie to keep her cool.

  #I'll make sure Rosie is calm when she arrives.

    Rosie's mind comes closer as she finally finds the right turn and creeps closer to your alley. You can sense a moment of alarm as she spots two figures instead of one, but you quickly smooth it down. You don't need a scene, not now.

    The car pulls to a stop, and Rosie steps out, light on her feet and ready for trouble.

"I'm here to pick some stuff up?" she says, trying to pick the two of you out in the shadows.

"The stuff's me," you admit, trying to match the cadence of your vocal distorters as Herald steps forward with you in his arms.

*if boss_secret

  "$!{villain_name}. Slightly indisposed."

  "$!{villain_name}?" Rosie tilts her head, hands on her hips. Apparently neither you nor Herald looks too intimidating right now. "Seriously?"

  "Don't tell me you thought I could never take the armor off," you say, gently pushing the disbelief to the side. You can't afford to have her not believe you, and you can't start listing things to convince him with Herald here.

  "I mean, sure," she takes a step forward, filled with concern. "Just didn't expect you packed up like a takeout order. What happened?"

*else

  "And I guess you can see why."

  "Yeah, I doubt you're packed up like a takeout order without reason." Rosie looks worried. "What happened?"

"Car crash." You wish it sounded more glamorous. "The meeting didn't go as planned. You gonna help me get in the car or what?"

"Sure, but it's gonna be cramped." She looks between you and the car. "Could have got a van if you specified. Guess maybe the backseat if you keep your legs up? Not going to be comfortable, though."

"More comfortable than jail." You watch Rosie, grateful that Herald has kept his mouth shut. But he's listening. There's no mistaking that alert tension.

"I mean that's true, but there's no need to—" Rosie looks up at Herald for the first time, eyes narrowing. Recognition. $!{swear}!

"It's not what it looks like." Daniel keeps very still, like a cat not wanting to provoke a response. "I'm here to help."

"Sure you are, hotshot." She's squaring off with him, no fear, just a desire to protect that surprise you both with it's intensity. "Drop them."

"Don't," you quickly say. "My legs are broken, that would hurt."

"Oh yeah, forgot about that." She looks embarrassed. "You sure you're alright, boss?"

*fake_choice

  #"I will be once we're out of here." I will it to be true.

    "I will be once we're out of here." You can't doubt that now, not in front of Rosie, and certainly not in front of Daniel. You have been weak enough to last a lifetime. At least your expected span.

    "If you say so, boss." Rosie gives Daniel a long, suspicious look. "If he's got anthing to do with—"

    "He doesn't."

    "I'm not going to hurt ${chim}." Daniel speaks softly, as if he was afraid she'd jump him if she thought he was a threat. "I'm the one that got him out of there." 

  #"I'm not, but he's not to blame. He helped me get out."

    "I'm not. But he's not to blame." It hurts to say, but it's the truth. You're not sure why, but it's not like you could say no. 

    "If you say so, boss." Rosie gives Daniel a long, suspicious look. "I don't trust him."

    "I'm not going to hurt ${chim}." Daniel speaks softly, as if he was afraid she'd jump him if she thought he was a threat.

    "I mean it." You don't have the patience for this, right now they're on the same side, like it or not. "He was the one that helped me get out."

  #"Do I look okay? I'm a mess and so is everything else." 

    "Do I look okay?" You can't help the crack in your voice. "I'm a mess, and so is everything else."

    "Don't know what to say to that, boss." Rosie shrugs. "But you're not under arrest, and some hotshot Ranger is giving you the bridal carry. Can't be all bad."

    "I'm not—" Daniel protests and you can feel the flush from here. "Anyway, ${chis} legs are broken, this is the best way."

    "It's not because I like being a burrito," you assure, feeling a bit better by his embarrassment. "It was his suggestion."

    "I needed to get you out of there fast, I didn't have much choice." A nervous laugh.

"Oh, really?" Rosie gives Daniel a new look of appreciation. "So hotshot here was the one that got you out of jail, boss? Impressive. Or stupid."

"Not jail. It was just the hospital," Daniel pleads. "And I'm not the criminal here."

"You are now." Maybe it's digging in the knife, but you can't help it. "I was under arrest. Doubt the Marshal would like this."

"Yep," Rosie readily agrees. "Does that mean he's one of us now?"

"No—" an exasperated laugh. "I'm not. And the Marshal doesn't need to know."

"I'm not arguing that. Nobody needs to know." You give Daniel a stern glance. "Especially not you-know-who."

"I'm not going to tell ${him}, if you're worried about that. I don't see that going well." You can sense how tense Daniel has become. Maybe he's starting to realize that there are consequences to his actions.

"I've better get out of here fast," you say, suddenly paranoid that Ortega might have found out somehow. Might have stalked you. You wouldn't know, would you?

"Let's get you in the car." Rosie moves up to Daniel, who glides back slightly. 

"Let me," he suggests. "I have an easier time moving ${chim}."

"Boss?" Rosie gives you a questioning look.

"He's right," you admit. This is going to hurt as it is, no need to make it worse. "Just be careful, alright?" You look up, and meets his eyes briefly before he looks away.

*goto 12basefuse

*label bossburrito

Pelayo. You can pick up his mind easily, though it's focused on the road. Good, he didn't bring Nehal, you were afraid he would. Is that Ward as well? Bringing a backup. Just in case there's trouble. Good thinking.

*if boss_secret

  A sting of relief hits you right in the chest, followed by worry. You haven't shown your face to them before, there is no way to keep that secret now. Or of what you are. But that's is a problem for the future, what matters now is that you will be out of here. 

*else

  A sting of relief hits you right in the chest. You'll be out of here soon.

Finally.

"You can put me down now," you say, bracing yourself for the pain. "My ride is coming."

"I'm not putting you down." An immovable object if there ever was one.

"Well you can't remain here. You're a hero." Why can't Daniel understand the point? It's not that complicated.

"I broke you out," he points out. "And I promise I won't arrest whoever it is."

"But you'll see their faces. What makes you think they won't put a bullet in your head?" Pelayo wouldn't hesitate, and Ward might insist. 

"Because I'm holding you. And I promise I won't arrest them."

"You're hopeless," you say with a groan. That he hasn't been killed yet is a miracle. "At least try not to float, maybe he won't recognize you."

"Alright." Daniel makes himself as solidly attacked to the ground as he can, and you feel gravity tug on you once more. It doesn't feel nice.

*fake_choice

  #I'll trust Pelayo to handle this.

  #I'll make sure they are calm when they arrive.

    Pelayo's mind comes closer as he turns off the main road, circling down towards the alley. Ward is reading the map, which means he can be focused on where he's going. A faint worry about an ambush, and you sense a moment of alarm as he spots two figures instead of one. You quickly smooth it down, making sure that Ward sinks deeper into the seat. Nothing dangerous. You don't need a scene, not now.

    The car pulls to a stop, and Ward gets out, keeping the car between you as cover. Just in case. Pelayo opens the door, one foot on the ground, but he leaves the car running. Just in case.

"Alright, we're here. Got something to pick up," he continues, vague enough that it can mean anything.

"The pickup's me," you admit, trying to match the cadence of your vocal distorters.

*if boss_secret

  "$!{villain_name}. Slightly indisposed."

  "$!{villain_name}?" Pelayo gets out of the car entirely, while Ward whistles quietly behind him.

  "Don't tell me you thought I could never take the armor off," you say, gently pushing their disbelief to the side. You can't afford to have no not believe you, and you can't start listing things to convince him with Herald here.

  "No," Pelayo admits. "But we were taking bet what you'd look like."

  "And nobody bet burrito." Ward can't stop the chuckle. "Sorry boss, no disrespect intended but what the hell happened?"

*else

  "And I guess you can see why."

  "Hard to miss," Ward chuckles. "Sorry boss, no disrespect intended but what the hell happened?"

"Car crash." You wish it sounded more glamorous. "The meeting didn't go as planned. You gonna help me get in the car or what?"

"I think I'd better handle that." Pelayo takes a step forward, while Ward shrugs apologetically. The oversized metal claw isn't exactly gentle.

"You think we can fit ${chim} in the car?" Ward pats the top of it. "Told you we should have gotten the van."

"We can put ${chim} in the backseat. Keep the legs on the seat. You'll be riding sideways, I'm afraid. Won't be comfortable."

"Comfier than jail." You sigh deeply, grateful that Herald has kept his mouth shut. But he's listening. There's no mistaking that alert tension.

"It is. Come on, let's get your friend to—" Pelayo looks up at Herald for the first time, freezing in his tracks. Recognition. $!{swear}!

"Problems?" Ward reacts instantly, reaching for a gun.

*fake_choice

  #"Stand down!" I snap, I am charge here.

    "Stand down," you snap, and Ward immediately lets go of the weapon. 

    "I'm sorry, boss. Just thought that—"

    "You're not paid to think." Harsh words, but Daniel is squeezing you hard, and you don't doubt he'd flee if threatened. Taking you with him.

    "Still," Pelayo hadn't moved, but you can sense his misgivings. "We are paid to protect you. And that's a Ranger."

    "A Ranger that has brought me here. That should tell you everything you need."

    "I don't know," Pelayo says with narrow eyes. "It could mean a lot of things."

    "I'm not here to fight," Daniel says, finally unable to keep quiet. "And I'm certainly not here to arrest anybody. I'm the one that got ${chim} out of there."

  #"Cool it, everything's fine." I lean gently on their minds.

    "Cool it," you say, pushing down Ward's nervous tick. "Everything is fine." You will them to believe it.

    "If you say so, boss." Pelayo gives Daniel a long, suspicious look. "If he's got anthing to do with—"

    "He doesn't."

    "I'm not going to hurt ${chim}." Daniel speaks softly, as if he was afraid of things escalating if he brought attention to himself. "I'm the one that got him out of there." 

  #"Herald's with me," I say, "you're safe."

    "Herald's with me," you say, doing your best to sound convincing. "You're safe."

    "If you say so, boss." Ward gives Daniel a long, suspicious look. "I don't trust him."

    "I'm not going to hurt ${chim}." Daniel speaks softly, as if he was afraid things would escalate if he said the wrong word.

    "Heroes have strange definitions of hurt." Pelayo is frozen to the ground, unmoving. "I don't like this, boss."

    "Suck it up." You don't have the patience for this, right now they're on the same side, like it or not. "He's not going to do stop us. Not when he was the one that helped me get out."

"Right." Pelayo sounds like he doesn't believe it, but Ward chuckles.

"What? Did a Ranger break you out of jail? Not sure if that's impresive or profoundly stupid."

"It wasn't jail. Just a hospital," Daniel pleads. "And I'm not a criminal. I just wanted to help."

"You're a criminal now." Maybe it's digging in the knife, but you can't help it. "I was under arrest. Doubt the Marshal would like this."

"Yep," Ward readily agrees. "Does that mean he's one of us now? Hope not, Nehal'd be all over him."

"Wait—" an exasperated laugh. "I'm not one of you. This was a one-time thing. And the Marshal doesn't need to know."

"I'm not arguing that. Nobody needs to know." You give Daniel a stern glance. "Especially not you-know-who."

"I'm not going to tell ${him}, if you're worried about that. I don't see that going well." You can sense how tense Daniel has become. Maybe he's starting to realize that there are consequences to his actions.

"I've better get out of here fast," you say, suddenly paranoid that Ortega might have found out somehow. Might have stalked you. You wouldn't know, would you?

"Let's load you up then." Pelayo looks at you for guidance. "How do you want to do this?"

"Let me help," Daniel suggests. "I have an easier time moving ${chim}."

"Boss?" Pelayo waits for your approval.

"He's right," you admit. This is going to hurt as it is, no need to make it worse. "Just be careful, alright?" You look up, and meets his eyes briefly before he looks away.

*goto 12basefuse

*label 12basefuse

"Of course." Daniel lowers his voice as he gently floats you into the car. Like 

*if boss

  Pelayo

*elseif bo

  Bo 

*else

  Rosie

said, it's cramped, and you have to lean against the side door to have room for your legs. The engine is still running, and the vibration makes you grit your teeth. "I could—"

"No," you whisper back. "You can't. And neither are you going to follow me. I won't show you my hideout, and I would know if you tried to tail."

"I promise I won't tell anybody." 

"That's not the problem." You can do this. Look him in the eyes and imagine it's through the eyeslits of a helmet. "You are. You're a hero. I don't know what kind of momentary insanity that made you help me get out of there, but I can't count on that to last."

"I believed you," he says quietly. "When you said they might be coming for you. And what they would do to you. That's why I got you out. I don't think you faked that fear."

*fake_choice

  #"I didn't, but I lied about everything else," I mutter.

    "I didn't," you mutter. "But I lied to you about everything else."

    "That doesn't mean I am going to let you die." Daniel says, still leaning into the car. "But I haven't forgiven what you did."

    "Didn't think you would." He's a hero. You're not. You hurt him. Lied to him. You're lucky he's as soft-hearted as he is. "But thank you for getting me out."

    "Stay safe." He pulls back and closes the door behind him, making sure it doesn't slam your feet. 

    "Forget me." You're not sure he hears the words through the closed doors. In fact, you're not even sure you said them. Maybe it's better that way.

  #"What does it matter to you? I used you," I snap.

    "What does it matter to you?" Your voice is sharp, because you don't get it. Can't trust what you do get. "I used you."

    "You did." Daniel busies himself making sure your legs are as secure as they can on the backseat. "And maybe I used you." The admission is soft and surprising. "I'm not as selfless as everyone seems to think."

    "It doesn't matter though, does it? Not in the end?" You're still here, eyes open, on opposite sides of a battlefield. Perhaps there's a truce now, but it can't last.

    "It doesn't." He pulls back and closes the door behind him, making sure it doesn't slam your feet. "I'm not sure I can forgive what you did." You wouldn't have caught the last words through the closed doors if they hadn't been whispered as loudly in his mind.

    "You shouldn't," you whisper back, equally unheard. 

  #"I didn't ask you to save me either," I say angrily.

    "I didn't ask you to save me either." Pain is easier to deal with when you're angry. "This is on your head."

    "Don't you think I know that?" Daniel is still leaning into the car, voice low for privacy. "Don't you think I'm as furious at myself as I'm at you?"

    "But you never show it, ${hnick}." Your smile is sharp, helplessness has never become you. "You just keep smiling through it."

    "I'm not smiling now." And that is the truth. "And neither am I going to fight you."

    "Why not?" you taunt. "Maybe you'd have a shot at winning."

    "You'll have to find someone else to hurt you." A sigh, but a determined one. "I'm done." And then he pulls back and closes the door behind him, hard enough to make you jump. Too close to your feet.

There is a moment of silence as Daniel walks away, then he takes to the air and is gone. 

*if boss

  Pelayo gets back behind the wheel while Ward is looking at the skies. Making sure Herald is gone. 

  "Get back in here," Pelayo says, patience cracking.

  "Alright, alright. Just wanted to make sure." Ward sinks down heavily in the seat, claw cradled awkwardly. "You think he's gonna follow us?"

  "No." You're sure of that. Daniel wanted nothing more to do with you. "Go. Take the long rout to make sure nobody else is."

  "Roger." Pelayo guides the car back on the main road, while Ward picks up a scanner. Better to be sure than trailed.

  You let out a tired breath, trying to keep yourself from moving too much. It won't be a comfortable ride, but at least it'll be a safe one. You hope the painkillers will last.  

*elseif bo

  Bo looks up, then gets in the car. For a moment it looks like he's going to say something, but a look at you in the backseat makes him think twice. Instead he guides the car back on the road, falling in to a familiar pattern of diversion. Making sure you nobody is following. You do the same, grateful that Herald's mind is nowhere to be felt.

*else

  Rosie mutters to herself as she gets back behind the wheel. You're not sure what, but you think half of it is curses about the mess that her life has become. Dealing with Rangers was not on her menu. But despite her quiet complaints she guides the car back on the road, following your directions. You need to take a reroute, to make sure nobody is following. At least Herald's mind is nowhere to be felt, but you can't trust that there aren't others there.

It's a long drive back to your base.