#* ic .

things  changed  when  tsukasa  came  along .  their  travel  radius  widened ,  and  they  were  seeing  signs  of  life .  funny  . . .  if  senku  had  gone  just  a  little  further ,  he  might  have  found  this  person  sooner .

now ,  after  tracking  her  for  days ,  it  seemed  she  found  them .  her  attack  is  halted  by  tsukasa’s  quick  reflexes ,  but  that  isn’t  what  surprises  him .  ❛   that’s  . . .   ❜  

❛   ---  yamagishi  yukako  !   ❜

          What the hell is he doing out there ? Taliesin isn’t sure how long he’s been out there, if he’s been circling or parked out there for a few hours, but as patient as she is, it’s started to get on her nerves. Her irritation grows, steadily the longer she watches the monitor, the car sitting just outside the gate.The irritation stretches until finally, she snaps. Weaving her way though labyrinth of hallways, boots tapping with rhythmic purpose down the steps of the continental hotel, sunset casting a wide shadow from the building looming above them.

he’s  been  bleeding   out  for  several  minutes ,  now .  he’s  sure  death  is  imminent .  sure  it’s  close .  he’s  not  angry  or  upset  . . .  he’s  not  clinging  to  life .  he’s  just  waiting  ,  wishing  it  would  happen  faster .  bleeding  out  isn’t  how  he’d  want  to  go ;  he  always  hoped  that  if  it  happened ,  it  would  be  with  the  swift  slice  of  a  blade  across  his  neck .  this   . . .  was  hardly  his  wish ,  but  didn’t  seem  unfitting .  and  then ,  like  nimble  spirit  in  the  woods ,  all  but  taunting  what  he  believes  to  be  his  final  moments  . . .  that  woman .  he’d  seen  her  kill  a  demon  before .  he  could  never  forget  her  ---  she’d  done  it  without  spilling  much  of  its  blood ,  or  removing  anything .

❛  ---  just  leave  me  alone ,  ❜   he  grimaces .   ❛  i  don’t  ---  nngh  ---  need  the  company .  i’m  fine  with  it ,  this  way .  ❜

                        jonathan’s gaze lingered on quincey’s reflection on the carriage’s window . he had not spent nearly as much time with this man as some of his traveling companions had but , already , he was ready to surrender his life in his name . QUINCEY LOOKED TIRED . but his fatigue was well earned . during the chaos of the last few weeks , never had the man complained about the long days of travel or asked for a break . he would always be the first to step up to the challenge , always show himself available to battle the worst of adversaries with all of his fingers , teeth and bullets . now , as they sat there , watching the beautiful transylvanian horizon burst into shades of purple and pink , all of the restless nights had caught up with them . the setting sun was a bright shade of red but , this time , it was not due to the blood of the innocent . for the first time in a very long time , THE NIGHT CARRIED NO TERRORS FOR THE LIKES OF THEM . and that was , in part , due to quincey’s unmeasurable bravery .  

                         ❝        yes .     ❞     jonathan harker replied with a small smile , watching as clouds brushed past the other man’s hair along with rows of mountains and forests . he thought he would leave it at that , but there was so much more he wished to tell him . jonathan wanted to make it known to quincey that he was forever in debt to him , not out of obligation , but out of pure uncorrupted love , for during that trip they had become similar to BROTHERS . he wanted him to know how he was always welcome in his home and that he wished to see him again , far into the future , until they were both greying and living off nothing but old memories . there was much the man wished to share but , alas , jonathan harker had never been good at EXPRESSING HIS FEELINGS TO THEIR FULLEST CAPACITY . years and years of bottling things up for the sake of  “ decency  ”  had made him a serious quiet man . but still , he thought he ought to offer quincey at least an ounce of truth , for he had also lingered close to death numerous times and learned the importance of NOT LEAVING WORDS UNSPOKEN .

                               harleen chuckled . it was a soft little sound but it allowed a flash of teeth to break through her reddened lips . this was the guy everyone was freaking out about back at arkham ? this was the guy her patients believed to be the demon haunting the streets of america ? the devil that aided all those criminals pleading for insanity clauses sound more credible ? BUT HE LOOKED SO SOFT . the type of guy harleen could shatter with her heel if she applied just enough pressure . the blonde tilted her head while examining dr. banner from head to toe , unapologetically assessing every inch of him .     ❝      aw , bruce .    ❞     dr. kopski said , sticking her lower lip out  ,  patronizing the man ,  just like she had been so many times before . not even allowing him the FORMALITY of being called dr. banner .  ❝      is that as deep as anyone’s gone with you ?   ❞