in a tired, tired world.

[payingthepiper]

Who: Maya and Allen Walker.
When: Backdated to before Allen became young.
Where: Random street number eighty-six.
Summary: It's hard to run from good people when they're really, really persistent.
Warnings: Mentions of violence and trauma of small children.

Comments

[acemedium]

[Maya herself was just heading home (well, the only place she stayed, now. Phoenix's apartment was too empty) from the office. Edgeworth was finishing up something, so she didn't bother asking him to walk her home. She was back to the point where she felt fine walking around on her own, anyway (nobody had tried to kill her in the last while, so.)]

[She hummed the Steel Samurai theme to herself under her breath as she walked, a little slower than usual so she could take in the sights and notice anything interesting. She was hoping to have at least one interesting or funny tidbit to tell Godot and Jake when she got home, after all]

[But she wasn't quite expecting to see someone she recognized on this route, let alone Allen]

[payingthepiper]

[he had his Exorcist jacket on, though it still looked beyond scruffy; Tyki didn't exactly have a lot of safety pins, and so his left sleeve was left to hang empty, but, well. that was a small detail he wasn't really thinking on.]

[he wasn't thinking enough that he didn't notice Maya, either. he just kept on walking, eyes roving almost blind over stores' signs. the laundromat... where was that, again?]

[acemedium]

Allen?

[She takes in his appearance--- had something happened to his nose? Something about his arm, too...]

[But mostly, he looked unkempt and blank, almost, wandering blindly past stores without taking much in. That drew up her concern, so before she knew what was she doing she was moving forward and frowning in concern]

W-What happened?!

[payingthepiper]

[his head jerks up immediately, but he only seems to register it's her when she's just a few paces away. he blinks (blankly) in her direction, then smiles (fake), half-turns toward her (empty arm unconsciously being on the side that's hidden).]

Ah? [he seems genuinely confused by her shock-- at least, he's blinking once or twice more. then,] -- Oh. I, ah... I got caught in the Darkness. It's fine; I saw a doctor already.

[acemedium]

[Something's wrong.]

[Something's really, really, really wrong]

[She pauses, briefly. The fact that he's lying so badly is extremely worrying. The blank look, the openly fake smile, the lack of understanding--]

[No, there isn't anything that isn't extremely worrying. She walks right up to him, looking him up and down]

...Allen...

[payingthepiper]

[he blinks again, and he finally seems to focus in to realize that she's there-- right in front of him, looking worried, looking...]

[he unconsciously straightened up, right hand pulling at his jacket's collar self-consciously. his eyebrows are drawing together in equal concern.]

What is it?

[acemedium]

You--

[There's another long pause as she tries to make sense of what's happening.]

[(Something's wrong)]

[Suddenly, (too suddenly), she's looking calmer. It takes a lot of effort, and it's really abrupt, but--]

... Hey. You don't look so good. What happened?

[payingthepiper]

... I got caught in the Darkness. Are you alright, Maya?

[he was sluggish in thought, but that abrupt calming still tipped him off. she always seemed to worry over others, always had a lot happening to her - it wouldn't be right to burden her with more.]

[acemedium]

[She doesn't believe it. But she's thinking.]

You saw a doctor already, right?

[And then, to his question, a nod] Yeah, I just... If you're not busy, there's--

... Ah, you're busy, right? You're headed somewhere...

[payingthepiper]

I... I had a place that I need to visit, but it isn't a priority.

[he's still slightly cautious - that's in his body language, though, not his voice - but he bends enough out of his suspicions to look questioning.]

Something is wrong? Or, you needed something?

[acemedium]

Y... Yeah. Not for me, but... [This isn't technically a lie. Phoenix's apartment needs to be taken care of, the things need to be solid, the animals need to go somewhere, but she hates going into that empty apartment alone]

[But. She's making quick, awkward decisions, trying to take charge of the situation. He won't tell her what's wrong without a fight, she suspects. And in his state-- in the state she's afraid he's in, fighting with him might take too much out of him. So.]

Can you?

[payingthepiper]

What's it about? [he will-- the way he turns fully toward her, face already caving, says so; and yet there's some part of him, maybe old and maybe new, that has him on edge. as if she was going to lead him into a trap, and not because she was concerned.]

[it was ridiculous, and the only reason he didn't immediately duck his head and shake the thought out was because it was entirely subconscious.]

[acemedium]

[She pauses. There's something about his body language- she's feeling something from him-]

[She isn't sure what. Reluctance? No...]

[Regardless... There was no other option. She refused to leave him out here alone, like this.]

It's about Nick. .. I-It's nothing big, don't worry.

[payingthepiper]

Nick? [blankness, it's creeping in behind the concern, but at least that means the suspicion is disappearing. he seems to be getting more attentive, anyway.] Is that a friend of yours?

[acemedium]

Um, you know. Phoenix.

[Her expression isn't changing, but this is just making her a little more anxious to get him in the apartment. She's already trying to think of what she can do.]

Um, can you...?

[payingthepiper]

... Of course.

[Maya wouldn't hurt him. she seemed like she was flustered already, for some reason - this had to be important.]

Lead the way. I... I don't know if I can be much help right now, though. [he had to swallow before saying that, and it burned like molten fire, but it was the truth, and she deserved to know it before she led him anywhere. (he was so useless so useless what was the point of an exorcist without a weapon --]