[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

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo chuckles softly, placing a hand on top of Eric's head.]

Do you remember the stories I've told you when we were younger?

[redstray]

[ He closes his eyes as the hand went on his head, snuggling a bit more into his brother and the blankets ]

Which ones?

[toremainbehind]

The ones with the prince and the dragon, and the two brothers who were separated but then reunited.

[He smiles softly.] Or how about the story where a peasant manage to find a flower that granted eternal happiness?

[redstray]

[ He smiles, remembering them all. ]

Yeah...the dragon one was my favorite.

[toremainbehind]

Do you want to hear it again?

[redstray]

Sure.

[ Hes so excited now]

[toremainbehind]

Alright.

[He pauses for a brief moment before he starts to tell the story.]

[redstray]

[ He listens to it fondly, remembering when they were little and Izumo would tell stories to help him fall asleep, even before they were taken.

His brother did so much for him, protected him, calmed him, told him everything was going to be okay, even if it wasn't, but Izumo made sure things would be okay in the end. Whether it was singing or telling him stories, he did everything he could, to help Eric cope with whatever was happening.

They were brothers, and they stuck together when nothing else could. He couldn't thank him enough even if he tried. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo knows he'll miss this; this little world he and Eric has created for themselves over the years.

However, their world grew bigger now, and they have others they can depend on, but none of it will ever replace the times they've shared.

As Izumo continues to tell the story, he's reminded of all the trials they went through, all the problems they've suffered.

But it's enough, for now, to help him face the future ahead of them.]

[redstray]

[ Eric begins to fall asleep as the story continues, not so much as listening to the words now, but listening to the sounds that Izumo was making.

They was warm, they were safe

Eric never heard the end, not that he hadn't heard it hundreds of times before, but he was sleeping soundly. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo smiles softly when he realizes Eric has fallen asleep, so he adjusts so that his brother is lying on the bed.

He shifts a bit so that he's soon lying next to Eric, the blanket thrown over both of them comfortably. He allows himself to fall asleep to Eric's breathing, feeling more comforted than anything.

Morning comes all too soon, and Izumo is (as always) the first to awake.

He has his luggage by the door, checking everything to make sure all is in clear and he goes to leave notes for Totsuka and Chitose to matters when it comes to the bar.]

[redstray]

[ Eric wakes up still half asleep. His hand reaches over to feel for his brother but finds that side of the bed warm, but empty.

A wave of panic has him sitting upright and struggling with the sheets to get them off of him. He's never gone down the stairs so fast before he nearly trips when he gets to the bottom.

He spots Izumo right away and a wave of relief floods over him. He gives him a small smile. ]

M-morning...

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo glances over at him, a smile on his face.]

Morning. You woke up earlier than I thought.

[redstray]

[ He fidgets a bit, walking over to the bar. ]

You...you weren't there, so...

[toremainbehind]

[He chuckles.]

I'm not going to leave without having you see me off first.

[redstray]

I know that.

[ But he wanted to spend just a bit more time with his brother. He looks at the bags by the door and his face falls. ]

You're really leaving...aren't you?

[toremainbehind]

[His gaze falls down to his bags before he looks back over at Eric.

He nods.] Yeah. I'm waiting a bit longer since Totsuka said he had something to give me first.

[redstray]

You saw each other yesterday...why not then?

[ If could never even begin to understand Totsuka's logic. NOt from lack of trying either. ]

[toremainbehind]

He said he wanted to give it to me today.

[He pauses, looking down at the bags before looking back at him.]

I made some food for you guys.

[redstray]

Such a strange person.

[ He perked up at the mention of food giving a small frown. ]

You didn't have to...you're busy.

[toremainbehind]

I'm hardly busy, so I thought I'd cook you guys up one last meal.

[redstray]

...Thanks.

[ He sits on a stool near some of the food and stares at it, a fork in his hand. ]

[toremainbehind]

What's wrong?

[redstray]

Let's see, this is the last of your cooking, you're leaving to the next city, and I'm going to be babysat by a bunch of noisy idiots. Rinse and repeat for two months at least.

[ He gives a shrug, putting the fork with some of the food into his mouth. ]

Everything's fine.

[toremainbehind]

[At the answer, he snickers.]

At the very least, you'll be watched over by noisy idiots who care for you. You'll be able to handle it for that long.