[How many times can we fall?]

[toremainbehind]

[It's been a week since they've managed to escape.

Neither of them knew who tipped someone off about their location, who helped them escape while everything became hacked and otherwise useless in keeping them contained. It had been their downfall to let Izumo stay in the frontline, his skills almost legendary now with how effective of an assassin he has become over time. Their downfall led to their deaths, and Izumo has ran away with Eric while the remnants of that group tried to go after them.

They didn't know where to go - who to turn to.

For them, this open world was a mystery, even if Izumo has more experience than Eric when it came to the outside world. There's no one they could trust, and little to no money to their name since their captors often took the money Izumo's earned for his kills. But Izumo is adaptable, taking odd jobs here and there in order to earn enough money to save up and find a place to stay.

It's only been a couple of days ago when Izumo first ran into the leader of HOMRA, the Red King and him having traded blows before it came to a tie. They went their separate ways shortly after when an informant came running towards them, Izumo having escaped before he could be questioned.

Now, he had taken Eric to a refuge in a motel. It's small and not one of the best, but it's the best Izumo could afford on such short notice when it became obvious to him when Eric has to rest again.

His right shoulder blade itched from the burns he received from Mikoto, but he ignores it in favor of in-between watching Eric sleep and looking out the window from his perch on the windowsill.]

Comments

[redstray]

[ Eric almost forgot what cities and other people looked like. But he had no time to enjoy them as Izumo led them away from everything he had known for years. He couldn't focus on anything except his brother, there was too much else to watch.

Eric's stomach fell as they spent the night in a hotel, another night he needed to rest. He wanted to keep going, but his body was screaming at him, shaky and weak, to rest. He couldn't remember when he move so much in running. He cursed himself, not only for Izumo to spend money they didn't have, but for slowing them down. If Izumo was alone... The bed was comfy, the first he has had in a long time, he watched Izumo keep a look out for the both of them as he feel asleep.

He bolted up from the beda couple of hours later, blanket covering him slowly falling off. His head whipped around seeing lights, weird things. He didn't know where he was. ]

Ah, I-Izumo? Izumo!?

[toremainbehind]

[By the time Eric wakes up, Izumo has been smoking outside, making small talk with the staff in order to get information (and possibly some free supplies). He thanks them quietly, putting the cigarette out before he finally goes back inside.

When he sees Eric awake and screaming out his name, he hurries over to his brother.

Placing his hands on his shoulders, Izumo grips it tightly, hoping it would help him focus.]

Eric, calm down. I'm here, I'm here.

[redstray]

[ Seeing him, feeling him, made his outburst stop in its tracks. He grips the hands on his shoulders and squeezes them. He couldn't stop the shaking right now but the surroundings were coming back to him. ]

Where were you?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo moves a bit so that he's sitting next to him.]

I was outside, talking to the staff. Sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. [Because he knows the feeling. Waking up without knowing where his brother is - it's terrifying.]

[redstray]

[ He shook his head, leaning on him as best as he could. As long as he was here, everything would be okay. ]

...Being this weak and having you spend money...to tire this easily...even though we could get caught...I should be saying sorry

[ Just thinking of that made him shiver, terrified of the thought, he couldn't make it much more in that room. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He lets Eric lean against him, keeping an arm secure around his brother's shoulders.

He frowns slightly at the apology before sighing.]

You have nothing to apologize for. I'd rather you rest than push yourself to the point of exhaustion. [Even if it means spending money they don't have and having to rest periodically. Izumo doesn't care - he just wants Eric to be okay.]

[redstray]

[ He gathers up the blanket a bit and makes sure its on both of them a bit haphazardly. ]

What if...they catch up?

[ It's a voice that had kept whispering in his head that he finally whispered out. This was the longest he has seen his brother, has been with him. There were lights, and more people. But he kept thinking it, he was going back, they were going to find them. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo fixes the blankets so that it's on both of them properly, warm and snug around them.

For a moment, he's quiet as he looks out the window, the arm around Eric's shoulders tightening slightly in a protective hold.]

I won't let 'em touch you or even get near you. I'll make sure they don't catch up.

[redstray]

[ There's a small wince at the hold, a reflex to pressure being placed on him. But he relaxes because it was just his brother, and Izumo would never hurt him.

He nods, if Izumo says it, they won't catch up. He had to believe in something, so he believed in his brother. He tilts his head a bit to look up at him. ]

Your shoulder...how is it?

[toremainbehind]

[He pats Eric's shoulder as a gesture of comfort.

It's just me.

But then he just sighs, a sheepish smile appearing briefly on his face.] Ah, it's healing. It'll definitely leave a scar, though.

[redstray]

[ He closes his eyes in response to the pat. He knows, and he's okay. There's a frown though, because Izumo got hurt.]

...That guy...was strange, why did he fight like that?

[toremainbehind]

[It's not the first time he's been hurt, they both know that. In fact, Izumo's probably suffered a lot more under their captors than from the strange redhead.]

Mm, who knows. He's definitely got the fighting style of a street fighter and a personality to match. [Yet, it attracted Izumo, catching his attention.]

Could've done without being burnt, though.

[redstray]

[ Much more, but still they were out of it, he didn't want Izumo being hurt any more. He leans a bit more, shutting his eyes ]

Better than being shot...better than being killed.

[redstray]

No guarantees.

[ He will try, but the struggle will be strong. Small things first and work up to the bigger

But he sees that shake and worry settles in. ]

You okay?

[toremainbehind]

Sometimes trying is just enough.

[The same can be said for him.

Izumo isn't used to telling people what's on his mind — he's been conditioned that way; the same goes for Eric's mindset.]

Mm, I'm fine. Just a small dizzy spell.

Dw is messing with me man orz

[redstray]

You sure? Maybe we should go to bed then

[ Worry about the other, hide your own, that was how they were made. Making their minds not like that will take a long time. ]

It wants to prank you

[toremainbehind]

Right, that sounds good.

[All they've ever learned is to worry about the other, never for themselves. In the end, that's proving to be their downfall.]

Yeah seriously

[redstray]

Okay. Come on.

[ He leads him up to his room and gets ready for bed himself.

Eric always worried about his brother. For one, someine had to, but the others would whisper things to him. That his brother was going to die, or he was broken and they couldn't fix him so they would throw him away.

That's why he helped and did what he did. That's why he didn't hesitate killing others to make sure his brother would be alive for a while longer.

It just made sense. ]

Is it behaving for you now?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo follows his lead, at a loss as to what else he can do.

Their relationship, from an outsider's point of view, may be considered harmful — which it is.

It's also why neither of them can heal properly. The longer they are around each other, the more they'll fall into the habit of risking themselves for each other with no regard to their own lives at all.

They need to start seeing the world outside of their bubble, even if it does hurt them.]

Kinda. I blame the train wifi it ate another comment orz

[redstray]

[ Eric curls up into his brothers bed as he finished.

He knew what they were doing was unhealthy, he knew that. He also knew that slowly things will get better, when they act like normal brothers do, but still close, always close.

They will get there, Eric has faith in that. ]

Lol it happens

[toremainbehind]

[Settling on his bed, Izumo makes himself comfortable.

Eyes sliding close, he starts to hum their song.

It'll be the last time they'll get to hear it together.]

Yepyep

[redstray]

[ He smiles softly at the song, snuggling closely to his brother.

Quietly, he begins to sing along. Enjoying it for possibly the last time like this. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He continues to sing, wrapping his arms around Eric.]

[redstray]

[ He also continues, though it gets softer as he just wants to listen to his brother, slowly getting tired amd ready to sleep ]

[toremainbehind]

[The singing gradually turns into a hum while Izumo waits for Eric to fall asleep.]