[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]

[The one in Izumo's hallway notices Eric, a grin rising on his face. He starts to make his way towards Eric, his gun held tightly in his hand.

But before he can manage to shoot at Eric, Izumo tackles him down onto the floor, moving quick to knock him unconscious before he runs over to Eric.]

Go!

[redstray]

[ He can't move. He sees the grin and he's paralyzed. All he can do is watch the gun being raised and Izumo coming out of nowhere and tackling him.

Izumo's shout makes him jump and back into reality. He spins around and runs out away from the direction he saw the others going in. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Shortly after Eric runs, he's quick to follow.

Unfortunately, they drew attention to themselves since they heard Izumo's shout, turning around and running after them.

Izumo avoids being shot at, taking out his gun from where it's hooked on his back and tucked into his pants, and fires back at them.] Eric, just keep running!

[redstray]

[ He yelps at the shots and more screaming but with one last look at his brother, he listens to him, running as fast as he could.

Finally, he bursts out of the mall and turns around, eyes scanning the doors for any sign of Izumo. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo uses the chaos from the crowd, having gone hysterical with panic at the shots, going to have to blend in with the mass while the pursuers struggle to get out of it.

He soon bursts out of the mall, running towards Eric.]

[redstray]

[ At the sight of Izumo he grabs hold of him as soon as he can get within reach. Tight enough to bot oet go but ready to run when the other asked. ]

I'm sorry. Sorry, I didn't see....I thought they wouldn't find...I'm sorry.

[toremainbehind]

[He places a hand on top of Eric's head.] It's okay, don't apologize.

But we can't linger any longer. Let's move before they manage to escape the crowd and the police gets here.

[redstray]

[ He nods calming down slightly]

Okay...okay. Lead the way

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo places a hand on top of his head before nodding.

He soon leads Eric away from the building, keeping him close.]

[redstray]

[ He nods as well, and follows ]

We're...going to your friends place?

[toremainbehind]

Yeah. He's allowing us to stay over until we can manage to get those guys out of our hair.

[Be safe, don't be caught.

It's pretty much what his friend keeps telling him when he offered him the apartment.]

[redstray]

[ He tilts his head, never hearing of this friend before. ]

How did you meet?

[toremainbehind]

I suppose it's a bit of long stretch to call him a 'friend'.

But we met after we had the same target and I came back with that broken arm and cut stomach. [Because this fiend is none other than Shiotsu Gen, who took pity on Izumo by not killing him when he had the chance.]

[redstray]

[ He frowns, not liking that. He remember when Izumo came back from that mission and it was bad. They kept telling him they were going to kill his brother, that he was broken and wouldn't be fixed. ]

Why is he helping us then? What does he want from us?

[toremainbehind]

[Its not one of Izumo's fondest memories, remembering he had to rest only for a couple of days before being put back to work. If he didn't, then Eric would get hurt.]

In return for helping us, he wants my help.

[redstray]

[ He stops. ]

No.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo stops, turning to look at him.]

You don't think the conditions are fair?

[redstray]

We ran away so things could be different! You don't have to keep doing this.

[ He didn't want his brother to kill anymore, didn't want to see him suffer anymore. There had o be another way. ]

We can run somewhere else, find someplace else to go.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo thinks for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose.

He knows another place, but he highly doubts Eric would approve of it.]

Where else can we run to? [Because if Eric is going to argue, Izumo needs him to make his case, persuade him. Izumo knows they can't live in this life forever, but right now, that's all they can really afford.] They'll continue to pursue us unless we leave the city.

[redstray]

S-somewhere...I don't...don't know somewhere else, where we can just, not have to worry...

[ He shuffles a bit, pulling on his hair and looking anywhere else but Izumo. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Breathing out, he comes closer in order to put a hand on Eric's head.]

Alright, we won't go to that place, but we do need to find some place we can temporarily call a home.

[Again, that idea comes up again, but to meddle with that redhead and odd informant...]

[redstray]

[ He takes the pat and grabs his jacket. ]

Wherever you are is home. That room was home, as long as...you're here.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo smiles slightly, leaning forward in order to press their foreheads together.]

As long as we're together, we're home.

[redstray]

[ He closes his eyes and leans a bit for their foreheads to go better together. ]

Home.

[toremainbehind]

[He keeps that position for a beat longer before he pulls away.]

C'mon. We still gotta find a place to stay for now.