the end justifies the means.

"Big decision. Let me know if I can help any." Sage left it at that, not wanting to press the other for more conversation than he was willing to give. She drew her attention instead to the Lab she could pick out just ahead and only looked away when Scott stopped.

"No. But.. Thank you." It was a kind offer, but he had no reason to be there, other than nostalgia that had outlasted its welcome. His place was no longer in the Lab, and it wouldn't do good to pretend otherwise. "You head home," Scott said, nodding once; hoping she wouldn't take it to heart that he'd said no. On one hand, Sage seemed like the type of person who might do just so, but on the other, she was a Soldier, so whatever softness she had was surely accompanied by some measure of steel. 

"You mean to say that the great, unbowed, unbent Scott can’t do MY secret handshake?"

"This isn’t our handshake, Scott. You’re not doing it right."

"You’re right." Sage’s impact on the Toy Soldiers was probably minimal at best and she knew Judas was, as most of the kids in the desert, more than capable of taking care of himself. "But he doesn’t have to any more." Sage left it at that and watched enviously as he drove the truck from the road. She’d wanted to learn how to drive since her first time as a passenger but the opportunity had never presented itself to her. Scott’s answer to her question brought a smile to her lips. He did the same sort of things that she did, though she was willing to bet he was much more efficient at it.  She thought back on her own week and winced. She’d definitely have to go back out when she made it back to the Soldiers.

"No," Scott said, eyes staring straight ahead as the car passed by the first tree, the woods scattered but getting more and more dense the further they drove into the forest. "Haven't decided." It was the truth, but it was also the only part of it he was willing to share, Sage's question having already weighed heavily on him the last few months.

"No food?"

"Trade is going well. Reason why I was out in the desert so long. I’ll probably go out again tomorrow. Hopefully." She would make up for time lost if Judas would have it. She continued to talk about the Soldiers, relaxed now that William and all the not-Soldiers weren’t within ear shot. "Judas fixed it but one of ours got held up by the Crybabies and, with the exception of one,” Sage’s gaze fell from the man’s, turning focus upon the radio instead, “the rest that disappear do so without word like they don’t exist in the first place. So, I guess not much has changed.” She felt the heat of anger return to her as she thought of Chaos and her fight with Lucas. She hoped he hadn’t gone out and done something stupid in her absence and anxiety grew with each hour that crept passed the time she said she’d be back. Still, the drama between the two was only a bullet point in a growing list. Her trust for Scott was built upon mutual backgrounds, the idea that the man understood keeping her from being on guard. That and the fact that he was bringing her home gave way to fondness. He was a former Soldier and, if she was good at reading people at all, he still held his old gang close to heart.  

He listened in silence as she told him about the recent happenings at the Lab - and he wondered who the one was, but knew better than to ask; not wanting to pry more than he already had. Scott valued privacy, and he hated hypocrisy, so to ask more seemed like a slight to the man. He didn't stay his tongue when she mentioned worrying about Lovett, however, Scott recognizing the loyalty she carried. "He's handled himself since before you got here, y'know," the Killjoy pointed out, sounding somehow-- nicer than he usually did. A little more patient, perhaps; more inclined to being mindful rather than blunt.

     “How do you know? You ask it?” Tiana’s mouth went from pout to broad smile as the cigarette made its way to her hand. She took a greedy drag, blowing the smoke to the side and courteously out of his face a few seconds later. She looked up at the older Killjoy as she passed the cigarette back, his face devoid of a smile. She tried to imagine the person who took it but fell short. 

"Y'cant ask a tapeworm anything, Ti," Scott said, something like a laugh huffed out after. He watched her inhale like a dying man ready for his last puff, and he didn't even get a drag himself; in between Ti smoking and then requesting she join him the next time he went out.

See Me Bare My Teeth For You || Sage & Scott [PAST]

"Good with people," Scott said, gaze unwavering as he stared down the dunes and barely-existent paths he drove them over. "Despite the crew he ran with." It was no secret that the Toy Soldiers had always had a bad reputation - infamy rather than fame, and with good reason, though Scott had always seen the Soldiers' reasons as good reasons too. 

"Maybe I’ve always had tapeworm. Maybe it just likes me so it lets me live but now it’s tired of me and my time is up and…"

"That's.. 'S not how tapeworms work," Scott responded, shaking his head as he handed her the cigarette, something gruff in him unwilling to attempt to reason with the younger Killjoy.

"Can I have one? I don’t have anything to trade but William says I have a tapeworm and I’m dying."

"Last time I checked, you just ate like every meal's your last one. Doubt you've got tapeworm."

"What’s this?"

"Pack of smokes. So yeah."

"Said I'd trade you if what you had was of use," Scott shot back, stopping in his tracks briefly to glance back at William. "I've got no use for an alarm system; got no devices that need one. 'n besides, you can't expect the rest of us to give up our tobacco for longterm production. Might as well find a different solution now." There was no shrug or a smile. Just the usual: a mildly apathetic look on Scott's face before he turned back around again, broad shoulders intent on disappearing around a corner.

Sage felt the grip of anxiety in her chest loosen when Scott let go of her and she stepped out of his space. She looked at William calculatingly but true to her word she made no move towards him. The last thing she needed was Scott’s distrust. She put her knife away without looking at either of them, crossing over to pick up her heavy backpack again despite the protests of her body.

William was anxious at the release of the lioness, but stood his ground all the while until she left. He was glad to have Scott take care of the reckless girl, but didn’t like being the one feeling guilty at the end.

"Next time, ask," Scott began, turning to William as soon as he'd heard Sage's footsteps fade away. "She's a guest. We vouched for her. Stay out of her hair." His tone wasn't brusque - it was closer to his normal, neutral timbre instead - but there was a hint of tired disappointment there still; Scott giving the man one last look before he headed for the door, boots quiet against the tiled floor.

William felt anger at the question, but kept most of it back with a purse of his lips, only giving it away by an annoyed shift of his head. Staring at the suddenly speaking Toy soldier, he answered sharply;

Not even a nod, and Scott let Sage go, watching her every move in case she'd had a sudden change of heart - he wasn't about to let her harm William or his miniature machine, no matter how certain Scott was that it was the other Killjoy's own fault for provoking her. He saw no use in berating William for not answering his question, either; at least not for as long as their guest was in the same room. He could save him the embarrassment. "I'll drive you back later if you're still here," Scott said, eyes still focused on Sage - he was waiting for her to leave the room before he could acknowledge William.