// 026. [video]

[girl_unlocking]

[A thunk. A jolt as the Forge strikes the ground and finds itself face up. Dropped in movement, the sounds of breath and the edge of a red sneaker in an uneven beam of light against brick and pavement. On closer inspection, the shoe's only half red - stopped in a skidded trail of the same red (darker, thicker, god it's almost black but for the

Comments

[video / braces for impact]

[samianscar]

Oh god…

I'm on my way, Bit.

[video / cries]

[girl_unlocking]

No.

Don't.

[What is he even doing, weren't you gone? Wasn't he---

---yeah. Oh. That was...

...but it's Riza, and she was Spike's friend too, right?]

Okay. But I'm not waiting for you.

[video ]

[samianscar]

[freezes a moment, stunned by her tone. "Don't"?

Finds his voice at last.]

Good. Don't wait.

[But he's still on his way.]

[video ]

[girl_unlocking]

[You don't get a reply, Spike. Not on the Forge, anyway. She'll talk to you if you show up, but she won't be turning to you for comfort. Not now.]

[video]

[popparazzi]

Dawn... what?

[Long silence as it finally registers who that is. And then he swears loudly.]

Where are you?

[Because he's going to have to find Roy and let him know if he doesn't already and he knows that Roy is not going to happy. Far from it.]

[video]

[girl_unlocking]

[So, so flat.]

In an alley.

A ...couple blocks away from the Headquarters. There's an abandoned store with colored glass in the windows. Do you know it? It's just behind---

It's where they leave garbage.

[The edge in her voice sharpens, and the dam breaks. It's okay, she can climb while she cries. It's multitasking.]

[video]

[popparazzi]

I do.

Don't go anywhere. I'll be right there.

[video]

[girl_unlocking]

I'll be...

...I can't leave her.

» audio «

[manscruff]

[ -- one set of murders to the next, is it. ]

Piccina, where are you?

» video «

[girl_unlocking]

Near the Headquarters.

[Breath.]

By the place with the colored glass in the---

[Less steady breath.]

---there's an alley.

» video «

[manscruff]

Two minutes.

[ as in, give me them. ]

» video «

[girl_unlocking]

[Faraway now.]

Sure.

[voice]

[re_formed]

[He felt sick. It was more than the leaden feeling of loss (another one, how many-), more than the slight paranoia that crept in at the thought that Riza could be struck down so thoroughly. The slices, the blood- it was cruel. Unprofessional. Wrong.]

Where? [His voice is low and flat, but a little hoarse.]

[video]

[girl_unlocking]

By the Headquarters. There's a building. The windows used to be stained glass.

F-follow the crowd, I guess.

[voice]

[re_formed]

Coming.

[Voice forever]

[ignite_the_sky]

[He should have known something was up when she didn't return when she'd said she would, but he'd told her to take her time, so he hadn't thought anything of it.

No.

He should have told her to be careful -to exercise caution because of the recent occurrence in Dismas- but it's Riza and he trusts her.

A choked gasp, a shaky breath to match shaking hands.

Please no... Not again. I can't do this again.

It's not real. It can't be real. She'd just spoken to him last night! She was fine! This isn't fucking real! It had to be a mistake. Somebody else who bore a resemblance. Not her. ANYBODY but her!

From somewhere else in the room, there's a quiet whimper from two worried dogs. Something's up, and they know it.

There's a moment's hesitation before he speaks. A moment taken to bury his emotional trainwreck beneath a calm facade built by years of military discipline, even if that facade only extends to his voice.]

Where are you?

[Video forever]

[girl_unlocking]

[What she wants to say is in hell]

In...between the A-all...Purpose...district and...

[It's what she wondered when she came here, bleeding, scared. Before Riza and the others came. Others who are all gone (all gone and now she is too) and now her head is full of butterflies (that's one more for the terrarium, Dawnie, because they're all dead now) red wings beating against her insides, reminding her of Riza's eye and now she's looking again. Light on the fringe of lashes skewed, skin laid open and wet, shining brown burst beneath.]

...there's a building with colored glass.

Please come.

[Voice forever]

[ignite_the_sky]

[She doesn't have to tell him to come. In fact, he's already on his feet and halfway out the door by the time she gets to that point. The dogs can have the run of the place. If they make a mess... he'll just deal with it later. It doesn't matter.]

What about you?

[Down the stairs, out the door to the street. Keep talking, stay focused and don't get emotional. To get emotional means to make mistakes. Treat it the same as Hughes' death. Lock it away. Don't break... not yet. There will be time enough for that later.]

Are you alright? Not hurt or anything?

[Video]

[girl_unlocking]

I'm not...

[Well? Fine? Awake? No, she's awake. She knows that much. Hates it.]

...

[Words. Huh.]

...no, I'm. Okay.