savin' lives, baby

He was still talking? Vera’s head was turned towards Diego but her eyes were pressed closed tightly, trying hard to control the rest of her expression so as not to let him know just how hard it was to block out all the different stimuli. The car was on but it wasn’t going anywhere, the vibrations of the engine felt like it was echoing up her spine. At least the radio wasn’t on or she wasn’t sure she would be able to stand it. Most of what he was saying went right over her head as she tried to just maintain the control on her recently reawakened powers, but one thing cut through the haze and she nearly jerked in her seat. 

The whole car spun a little when she sat up suddenly, the glasses falling into her lap but right now the biting light couldn’t distract her. “No hospitals, Diego. I can’t. Please– you have to promise me!” She’d been able to avoid going to the doctor for the two years she’d been free and wasn’t about to risk them both over something she thought was her own problem. “They’ll find me. I know it.” 

Her hand is trembling slightly when she reaches out to touch his arm, afraid he’ll spurn the contact and add insult to injury. “I just want to go home. I..I’ll tell you everything just…let’s just go home? I’m fine. Just…’over exerted myself’.” 

GOD, she did not look good. Everything in Diego told him to run her to the hospital RIGHT NOW, but he had to trust Vera, had to trust that she'd been through things like this before. It was a WILDLY new way to think about her, but Diego had to remind himself... she wasn't helpless. She knew what was best. HE hated hospitals too when he was injured, for many reasons. But the comment SHE made set his blood cold. 

They'll find me. What the HELL was he dealing with here? Who were 'they'? Why had she never told Diego about them? Couldn't he have done a better job helping protect her from them? And... had 'they' ever come close to finding them before? God DAMN it, Diego needed answers. But he knew that continuing to demand them wouldn't make them come any faster right now.

The important thing was to get Vera to safety. He nodded, driving faster, not bothering to talk until they got there. What was there to say?

The silence stretched between them for a long minute, long enough for him to move away and the empty space he’d been taking up to suddenly feel so cold. Eudora’s arms wrapped around herself to try and bottle up the emotions that were starting to overwhelm her better judgement. But the what ifs filled up the distance between them and she found herself crossing over to sit down carefully but without hesitation. Her lips are thin to stop from trembling and even though she’s had a couple of strong drinks her buzz is considerably sullied by the serious topic at hand. 

She reaches out and grabs one of his hands, grateful that one of her legs is tucked under her instead of anxiously tapping on the floor. Any other time such nervous tendencies were easily tucked away, but right now she felt like a m e s s. 

“I –..” Eudora swallows hard, starts over. “That depends on what it is we’re trying to fix, babe. Because…I don’t think the problem is with just us,” 

He wanted to reach out to her as she approached, to wrap her in his embrace and hold her for a long long time. But Diego knew he'd ruined that- he'd only just touched her in such a VIOLENT way, he couldn't be sure she'd welcome the touch right now- and he wouldn't blame her for rejecting it.

Seconds felt like hours as he waited for her to cross to him, waited for what she would say. Just feeling Eudora's touch on his hand relaxed some of the tension inside of him, but there was still a lot left. Still... she'd reached out. That must have meant that Diego hadn't gone and TOTALLY fucked this up... yet. He was still painfully aware that he could have definitely taken things further before he'd caught himself.

His stomach sank as Eudora spoke, as he connected the dots, as things FINALLY started to come into perspective...

Her eyes weren’t completely free of judgement but Xochilt’s expression softened a little and she hesitantly allowed Diego to help her to her feet. Arms crossed over her chest, tugging on the beaded top and doing little to hide her modesty. Not that it was something that the young woman even took into consideration, it had been so easy for him to get her to release the weapon and the feeling of helplessness was only lessened slightly by how genuine he seemed to be about having no interest in participating in his people’s slave trade. Was that why he had deserted? Thick dark brows drew together as she tried to piece together what kind of person had saved her and whether or not she could even begin to trust him. 

“A lesson? Do I look like an aj q'ijab’? An elder? No. It’s not my job to teach you.” Curse it all, she was ready to just walk away and leave him lost in the jungle her people had thrived in for generations. Well, thrive was a strong word…and Xochilt momentarily took consideration of what her own ancestors would think of her cooperation with the outsider. 

They think she needed to do what she had to in order to survive with integrity and strength, and part of that was returning the debt she’d incurred when Diego had saved her from the other Spaniards. A heavy sigh of a hiss escapes the tan woman and she motions for him to begin following her again, taking a separate direction from the scouts that had nearly spotted them. As they walked she began to talk once more, this time more aware of the lingering danger. 

“There is no where closer. But do not worry, they had…split from their commanding officers. The camp should have no surprises.” She stumbled over some of the words, trying to remember their translation. “You are free to try and find somewhere better for yourself.” 

He frowned at her, irritated at Xochilt's apparent reluctance to educate him, but she did have a point. Still... "No, but listen... I'm a lot dumber than I look. Like... I'm not even sure where I am right now..." Or WHEN... "I uh, I think something happened to me..." Diego didn't know why he'd admitted it, or how he planned to finish that sentence. 

"Uh. I got taken too. One of the tribes... They found me when I was running and captured me... I really don't know where we are, but I started a long way from here, by the sea..." It was a big lie, and probably not worth it. Diego needed information yes, but he was digging himself into a pretty big hole. The easiest lies to keep were the ones with the fewest details, and he'd gone and given many details, some that didn't even make sense.

Following her carefully, hand still on his knife, Diego reluctantly accepted that Xochilt's plan was probably the best one. And he did NOT want to try to find somewhere better himself. Still, a few hours and they'd have supplies, food, water... it was a pretty good deal, and then Diego could try to get out of here.

insolentbratx‌:

“Hey, you can stay as long as you want.” Diego was relieved that Klaus had agreed, but he also knew that there was no chance of this being a long-term thing, as willing as he would have been to explore that option, help get Klaus back on his feet. One thing Diego knew about Klaus was that she was never going to stop the drugs, and it was almost understandable. The OTHER stuff though, that came along with it… Of COURSE Diego wanted to help his sibling get a handle on all that. He just had to wait for Klaus to be receptive, which would probably never happen. He had to face it.

He sighed internally– one thing at a time. Diego stood and reached a hand out, offering it to Klaus. They’d sat here long enough, and he definitely didn’t appreciate the stares they continued to receive. “Come on, I’ll drive you back.”

Of course, she knows she can stay as long as she wants. However, Klaus refuses to be a burden to Diego. Diego has his own stuff to deal with, the last thing he needs is a junkie he’s constantly gotta keep an eye on. He’s only agreeing because he’s tired of having nowhere to sleep that’s warm and comfortable.

Diego offers his hand and Klaus grabs ahold of it to pull himself up to his feet. The stares don’t bother him, he’s used to it by now. Everywhere he goes, there’s at least one person staring at him. “Yeah, okay.”

He nodded, satisfied at the agreement, holding onto Klaus's hand a little longer than necessary. Diego was just... ALWAYS losing him when it mattered the most, he wasn't convinced Klaus still wouldn't just try to run. Still, he started to lead his sibling to his car, reminding himself that whether or not Klaus stuck around wasn't ultimately up to Diego after all.

She raised an eyebrow, “What are you talking about, silly.” Grace knew he felt guilty, she didn’t want to make it worse. He had been right to switch her off before she wasn’t functioning properly, Pogo had fixed many of her problems but not all of them. There was still too much on her code that was wrong.

“How are you? Is everything okay? You look upset, sweetie.”

Diego wanted to tell her what had just happened, but was it worth worrying her if this was something she couldn't control? He argued with himself internally before deciding he'd talk to Pogo later. Of course Pogo would be able to fix this; there was no point worrying Mom right now.

Eye for an Eye

ft. @insolentbratx

Five frowns, carefully considering Diego’s question. Is there something going on with you?

He wasn’t sure where to start. The nightmares. The flashbacks. The fact that he hadn’t slept since he fell out of the hole in the sky. The persistent nagging thought that they were all going to die and he wouldn’t be able to stop it. He was a mess, jumbled up in his head until he wasn’t sure where to catch his next thought. He pockets the prosthetic eye, keeping his hand clenched around it firmly. It was grounding.

“Jesus, Diego. Quit worrying. I’m alright,” he lies smoothly, easily, leveling him with a smile that reads more smug than reassuring. “Besides, I can be quite persuasive.” He’s gotten Diego to come this far, hasn’t he? He goes to get out of the car, then hesitates. He feels like he’s done this before, but things were…different. He tries not to dwell on it.

For a while it looked like Five was going to say something- REALLY say something- which Diego had not expected at all when he'd asked the question, and he would NOT have been able to deal with- but soon the moment passed anyway.

Diego didn't fall for bullshit as easily as Five seemed to assume, but he let his brother's response go for now. There were more important things to do than have a family therapy session. He opened his own door, getting out of the car quickly.

"Whatever. You coming or what?" He started walking, having definitely picked up on Five's hesitation. "Just promise me you won't choke and leave me hanging in there. You have way more answers about this shit than I do."

He checked that his knives were all secure in their proper places, realizing that maybe it wasn't a great idea for their flimsy cover if he had them with him, but Diego shrugged off the thought. Better safe than sorry when it came to the apocalypse, he figured.