[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]

[ 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.

[toremainbehind]

Anything's better. [But Izumo gently nudges him to lie down.]

For now, let's not think about it, and get some more rest. We'll leave at dawn.

[redstray]

[ He follows the nudge, holding onto his sleeve and not letting go as he lied down. He was still a bit shaky, a bit shivering from everything but he nodded. He had to be ready for the morning and go farther. Away from all the horrible people. ]

Goodnight, Izumo...

[toremainbehind]

[He lies down beside Eric, keeping him close and he hums a bit.]

Good night, Eric. [And if Eric starts to show signs of restlessness, Izumo'll sing that lullaby he always sings to his younger brother.

Right now, they need to rest and gather enough energy before moving again. Hopefully, Izumo can swipe some food for Eric to eat.]

[redstray]

[ He is a bit restless, when was the last time he was on a bed with pillows and blankets. But Izumo's singing calms him down, quietly humming along until he falls asleep, exhausted.

As dawn approaches, Eric is still sleeping, still clinging to Izumo as if his life depended on it, but he was peaceful and quiet. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo wakes up earlier, as he always does, but he doesn't leave the bed yet.

Eric's still clinging onto him, and though Izumo could feel himself slowly start to grow antsy, he stays still to let his brother sleep a bit more before he has to wake him up.

His eyes shift over to the window, seeing the small ember of the sun peeking out from over the horizon as small tendrils of light pokes out from underneath the curtains.]

[redstray]

[ Eric wakes up not long after with a small start. He sees Izumo with him and hides his face in his chest for a little while, just reminding himself that Izumo was there and they were both okay. ]

Morning...

[ His voice cracks a bit, tiredness still in him. He was sore from yesterday but he had to forget that, they were going to do a lot more today, and showing any of that meant resting. ]

Did I sleep too much?

[toremainbehind]

[When Eric wakes up, he smiles at him in greeting.

He gently pats his back.] Good morning.

[At the question, he shakes his head.] No, you didn't. You woke up right on time, actually.

[redstray]

[ He gives a small smile in return, slowly sitting up on the bed. But even still he didn't let go of a sleeve. ]

We leave soon?

[toremainbehind]

[Once he sits up, so does Izumo. He makes no move to dislodge Eric's hand from gripping onto his sleeve, rubbing the back of his neck.]

Yeah. Once we're all freshened up, we'll head out.

[redstray]

[ He nodded, finally letting go of his brother to get ready. He was quick because he didn't have any habits of cleanliness, so a few splashes on his face and hair and he was waiting on the windowsill for his brother.

A store near the window had an ad playing on them and it was moving. Eric had never seen anything like it before and stare. ]

[toremainbehind]

[It takes Izumo a few more minutes to get ready, but he's finished soon enough.

For a few minutes, he stands behind Eric, taking in the look masking his brother's face. It's one that made his stomach twist, anger burning in his gut as he recalls how that group kept them deprived from the world - deprived Eric from learning how much the world has changed.

But he soon clears his throat to get his attention.]

[redstray]

[ He jumps at the noise and stands quickly, a blush on his face. He got so distracted by the world. In so little time it changed so fast...he couldn't look at it now they were in a hurry. ]

S...sorry

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo chuckles.]

Come on, let's head out. [Maybe when they need to rest again, Izumo will take him somewhere he would be able to see the world better. It's been so rushed lately, they didn't even have time to relax properly.

Always on the move, always needing to run.

Izumo needs to change that if he wants Eric to be able to live without fear for their lives.]

[redstray]

Right.

[ Eric follows closely to Izumo, he had no idea where they were going. But Izumo knew the city better then he did, and was able to make decisions so he followed. He knew his brother would help them get out of this. His faith never wavered for him as much as he worried.

But Izumo promised everyday he would come back alive and so far he has kept it. So he believes him. It was that simple. ]