[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 listens to him and a feeling of dread builds in the pit of his stomach as he slowly realizes what Eric's trying to tell him.

No. Not his brother.

It can't be—]

Eric...did they make you kill?

[redstray]

They took me out and they did small things to obey. Jumping...barking...but then they draggd out this guy...and gave me a knife...and said if I did it...I could see you right away...

I just wanted to see you...even a day earlier I just...couldn't...be alone anymore.

[ He curls up trembling. He had only been 13 he didn't know what else to do.]

Please...don't hate me they said you would leave and hate me...you didn't want a murderer for a brother.

[toremainbehind]

[For a moment, Izumo says nothing, digesting what Eric has said to him.

But then he sees Eric curling up and he walks over to place his hands on his shoulders.]

Well, do you hate me? [He smiles.] I'm a murderer, Eric. I've killed people, too, but do you hate me for that?

[redstray]

[ He shakes his head, grabbing a hold of Izumo's arms, gripping them. Trying to ground himself. ]

I know...I know...but they said...they said you would and I...they kept laughing. I got so scared...so scared. And so many people there so many...

[toremainbehind]

It's okay, Eric. They're not here, they could no longer hurt you — I won't let them hurt you.

[He tugs Eric close, hugging him.]

They're all liars. I would never hate you for doing that.

[redstray]

[ Hearing that, hearing those words made him hug tightly and choke out a sob. Izumo didn't hate him, he believed for so long that he would. It felt like a hug weight was lifted from him. He killed for his brother just like he did.

He started to cry. He had held it for years and those words broke the dam he didn't even know he was building]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo keeps Eric in the hug, tightening his arms around him in return.

Seeing the effect of what they told his brother, it made him wish he had killed them sooner. He ignores how wet his shirt is getting, merely holding him closer.]

[redstray]

[ It takes a long while but he negins to calm down, his crying lessening and his shaking subsiding.

His mind will still tell him this
Still say that his brother will hate them for killing people. But hearing that from his brother himself...it will fade. ]

I'm such an idiot...

[toremainbehind]

You're not an idiot. An idiot for not telling me sooner? That's for debate.

[He presses his forehead against Eric's.]

I will always love you, Eric. Never will come a day where I'll hate you. Remember that.

[redstray]

[ He presses his own forehead against the others, smiling depiste the tears. ]

Thank you. I love you too

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo gives him a quick hair ruffle.]

Don't ever forget that, okay? Otherwise, I'll need to knock some sense in you. [He says it jokingly as evidence by the teasing smile on his face.]

[redstray]

[ He pouts at the ruffle, rolling his eyes. ]

It'll be easier to remember here...the good has been more then the bad.

[toremainbehind]

[He laughs as he pulls back.]

It has. Let's make sure it stays that way.

[redstray]

This place is our home, maybe even the people inside are too.

[toremainbehind]

That's right, even if most of them are a rowdy bunch who doesn't know the meaning of being quiet.

[redstray]

...I like the noise...it's warm

[toremainbehind]

It's good to know you like it.

[His attention shifts away when he hears voices entering the bar, only concluding it's the rest of the guys.

He looks back at Eric.] Sounds like them. You should go and hang out with them. ["And apologize for running off." But he doesn't say it aloud.]

[redstray]

[ He turns to the sound of the new noises. When Izumo suggests he looks back at his brother. ]

Do you think they'll be mad?

[ He not only ran off and snapped at them. But he also came back unconcious. He knows he'll probably be okay, but it was still a bit of a scare and he needed reasurrance. ]

[toremainbehind]

Maybe a little, but they were concerned for you when I brought you back yesterday.

[Placing his hands on Eric's shoulders, he steers him to the bar.] Be sure to apologize properly to them.

[redstray]

Ah...but

[ He couldn't say more before he was out the door.

They all greeted him cheerfully, Fujishima amd Totsuka both coming closer for a concerned question and examination.

He mumbled out that he was fine and sorry for worrying them. Another mumbled mess of apologies to Fujishima for snappy comments that he made. There was a round of some laughs and all was forgiven. He stiffened a bit when he was given a hug because of the redness of his eyes.

They decided to hang at the bar, Eric floating on the edge from the noise. He occasionally added to the conversation but mostly quiet sitting with Fujishima. But he kept looking up waiting for his brother.]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo listens to the idle chatter as he continues the clean up, only looking over when Totsuka made his presence know. He says nothing as he works, keeping an ear out for them in case Eric has another break down.

When he hears none, he lets out a little smile, earning a knowing smile from Totsuka.

It takes a while before Izumo finally comes out with a tray of drinks, the boys greeting him happily before Kamamoto helps Izumo pass the drinks out to everyone. He takes his usual spot behind the bar counter, putting out his cigarette on the ash tray on the counter as he listens to them all talk.]

[redstray]

[ Eric nods his head in thanks to Kamamoto for the drink, sipping it a bit at a time as he listened to everyone talking. He also looks over, making sure his brother was there behind the counter.

He was glad he was able to calm down before everyone came over even if there was still some lingering, being a bit jumpy and avoiding almost all eye contact. Fujishima kept looking at him before looking at Izumo, noticing the change and being worried. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When Izumo notices Fujishima looking at him, he looks over at Eric noticing him being jumpy and nearly avoiding eye contact.

He smiles slightly, shaking his head.]

Eric, mind coming over here for a bit? [Hopefully if he draws Eric away from the crowd a little bit, he'll calm down further.]

[redstray]

[ He perks up his head and looks at his brother, before sliding off of the chair and wandering over behind the counter beside him. He tilted his head, not really knowing what happened to make him being called here. ]

You need something?

[toremainbehind]

I need some help bringing in boxes from the back. Mind helping?

[Never mind Izumo's perfectly capable of doing it himself or ask one of the other guys to help him. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches a glimpse of Fujishima looking on worriedly.]