Moments Between Sleep

"You can't protect me from everything, [NAME]. This world is fucked." "You're right. But I sure as hell am going to try." - @tiravi

The tavern was on a trade route that wasn’t the most popular but did branch off into the smaller villages. When night fell and the two travellers set themselves up, the local traders had also filed in. This started well enough. It wasn’t as if anyone would recognize them. Juan had serious doubts that any of them had even heard of the Threads or the Crows, much less seen one in person. It meant their meal was spent in relative ease. Of course, they both had their wits about them. 

The locals were getting drunk and rowdy. It was a level of noise they were both quite familiar with. Of course, when Juan heard the word ‘Rattus’ for the first time since they were young, they twitched. “Elek. Head upstairs.”

“Juan, no.”

“I’ll be right up. I just need some air.” Juan stood and headed out a side exit, making sure to catch the attention of the locals on their way. 

Juan didn’t have to wait long until four burly humans made it through the same exit. They just tilted their head to one side. “This all of you?”

“Quis est iste, Rattus?” one of the locals said.

“Oh! Sorry, pardon my accent. I only speak trade. The word you’re looking for is knife-ear.” 

“You think you’re a big man?” growled the biggest drunk.

“We can all see that I’m not, but I am curious. Let’s see what you got,” Juan taunted, waving them over.

“Actually, can I cut in?” 

As the one in the back turned around, they were laid out. One hard swing sent them crumpled to the ground.

“Elek! Fuck!” With a flourish, they conjured a ball of lightning in their hands, dropping it at the feet of the three remaining standing, backflipping away as it exploded.

“Do you have less loud magic?!”

“I really don’t! Now get the horses and we’ll get the hell out of here!”

They had put some distance between them and the tavern, heading further down the road. It looked like they were forced into another night of camping.

Juan spoke finally, “You shouldn’t have interfered. I had it under control.”

“With the loudest magic ever. Besides, I don’t mind. That kind of shit always gets me.”

“Oh? And you were going to do what? Protect me from a bunch of locals?”

“Everything.” 

“You can't protect me from everything, Elek. This world is fucked.” 

“You're right. But I sure as hell am going to try.”

“That’s shitty hostage behavior.”

“Give me a break, it’s my first time.”

"I'll be there at 9:20. Out front, in my car. Do not leave the building until then, understand?" - @larknnightingale

Juan had left Elek at the tavern while they went to get resupplied. Thankfully, they had already acquired most of their provisions when they heard questions start to float around the market. A human and elf trouble maker were wanted for questioning. 

They took a detour to stash their supplies in the cart they planned to borrow before returning to the tavern. They saw Elek sitting alone at the table looking distastefully at the ale in front of him. With a tense grip of the man’s arm, they lifted him to his feet. “Time to head upstairs.”

“Already? It’s so early,” Elek said, acting annoyed even as he had grown used to the Crow’s manhandling.

“Enough.” Juan led him upstairs and shut the door behind them. 

“What’s the problem?”

“Templars. Or guards. Either way, a bunch of uniforms are looking for us and that’s not convenient.”

“Why didn’t you just say so?”

“I’m going to go turn myself in. That’ll keep them distracted. Then I’ll slip out and get you.”

“That’s a stupid plan. And what do you mean ‘slip out’?”

“I break out of jail all the time. It’s fine.” They pointed down towards the public room. “I'll be there at 9:20. Out front, in my car. Do not leave the building until then, understand?”

“No. I actually didn’t understand any of those words.”

Juan groaned, pulling out a small watch from inside his jacket. “This. Can you read this?”

“No. In Minrathous, we have a crystal based—”

“Gods, shut up.” 

“And what’s a car?”

“Carro. It’s a type of carriage. I got one downstairs.”

“And why don’t we just leave now?”

Their fists tightened and forced themself to have a calming breath before they burst a blood vessel. 

“Running from the authorities just seems like a better plan than going to jail, but what do I know? I’m just a Thread.”

“When you’re right, you’re right,” Juan said with a scowl and brought him over to the window, opening it and looking out. “Doable.”

Elek looked down the window and grimaced at the three stories they would have to fall. “How is that doable?” he asked while Juan made short work packing up. 

Juan slung the pack over their back and moved to the other side of the room. “Like this!”

Elek turned only to see the elf charging at him and knocking him clear out of the window. He felt a ribbon of magic wrap around the two of them as Juan held on. He felt the magic pop and a soft impact of the ground beneath. It was still enough to knock the wind out of him as he coughed, “Asshole.”

“You didn’t want to use the door.” 

"Why are you here?" "You needed help. So I'm here to help you." - @so--whoonos

Juan was ready to put a boot through the door of the gambling den. Of course, after their first appearance, the local Threads gave them a wide berth, letting them in without argument. “Where is he?!” 

Elek immediately stepped into the main room, hands raised. “What are you doing here? You’re disturbing my place of business. Again.” 

They met him toe-to-toe, steely eyes glaring at him. “Office. Now.” 

Elek waved at his men passively to stand down, leading the irritable elf into his back office, making sure the door was shut behind him. “Why are you here?”

“You needed help. So I’m here to help you. I told you, you get one free.” 

“What are you talking about? I never asked for your help.”

“You said your boss got taken out. I know if it was me, I would have set the city on fire. Then again, some of us have a work ethic.” 

He let out an annoyed groan. “That was days ago.”

“I wasn’t in Treviso when you sent the letter. I came as soon as I could. Just tell me who you need dead.” 

“It was taken care of.”

“What do you mean ‘taken care of’?”

“The Threads were able to handle their business long before you showed up, Juan. Besides, I have a new boss now.”

“Huh. No shit. Already?”

Elek scrutinized them. “How did you get here this fast? There’s no boat that will get you between here and there in a matter of days.”

Juan rolled their head back and sighed. “I told my boss I needed a couple days to get drunk in a basement somewhere. Then I used that mirror I’m not supposed to use.”

“You hated using it.”

“I still hate using it,” they said. “It’s not like they suddenly got actual ground. Or sky. Or less spirits.”

“And you did all that because you thought I was in trouble?” A mischievous smirk played on Elek’s face.

“I said you had one free. I assumed you’d like to collect.”

“How long do I have you, Crow?” 

The grin spread to Juan’s face, “Until morning at least.”