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[ He is not reading the situation at all, agitated by the fact that he almost had his phone stolen, that he's lost, and that every part of him feelings like its working incorrectly. Generally not an aggressive person, JJ is ready to fight the guys shouting over at them, completely unaware that they armed and he's even more useless than usual.

At least, he would've been ready to fight if not for the fact that Cain was taking up all of his attention. ]

Hey! [ His protest is more bark than bite, letting Cain lead him away without any real struggle. ] Where are you taking me? I'm sick... I've been sick.

[ The noise from behind them getting louder, the men definitely on their trail, but still hesitant as they attempt to scope out who exactly it is that stumbled across them, and how urgent their pursuit needs to be.

JJ, completely oblivious to this, just presses his forehead to Cain's shoulder, his head pounding as he grumbles. ]

Ugh.

[ Well. This is not really what Cain was expecting, and he blinks at JJ's hair, all he can see of the man, before gingerly patting his head in his best there there. No wonder JJ's stumbled right into his stakeout, if he's got whatever the illness is that's going around.

That's worse than if JJ had just been incautious, or even drunk. He can't count on JJ to run away even if Cain uses himself as a distraction, and he's now even more of a liability in a fight. ]

Let's get you somewhere to lie down, then. It's Cain, remember? [ He smiles wryly; hopefully knowing who he is will make JJ more tractable rather than less. ] Though we might have to run away, there's some very angry men after us.

[ Angry men who've circled them in the time he's taken to talk to JJ. ]

[ Running does not feel like it's something that JJ is currently capable of, but that's fine, he'll make it work if the alternative is dying. It had been a peaceful two months in Olympia without, and he'd almost forgotten what it was like to fear for his life. Granted, he's not entirely sure that he's capable of being afraid for his life right now, when everything feels so surreal and hazy. ]

Sure, I can run.

[ So he does. Like right then and there.

Mostly because he feels like if they're running anywhere, he's going to need a bit of a handicap in the form of a head start given his impaired state, and also he wants to prove that he can.

It's not a graceful run in the least, and JJ looks as though he's in danger of pitching forward with every step, but happens suddenly enough that men don't react immediately, shouting and looking back between Cain and JJ as they try to decipher what exactly is going on. ]

[ It's definitely not the ideal run, but Cain will take what he can get. There's no point in trying for anything but escape; a fight isn't ideal, and his chance at getting information has gone up in smoke. Or, well, a sneeze. They're lucky that the men seem too confused to really try to trap them.

Of course, that luck doesn't hold.

One of the men lunges quickly enough to grab JJ's arm — not get a hold, but with the way JJ's already off-balance, Cain winces as he sees the two forces interact.

There's no helping it. JJ hadn't volunteered for this, hadn't even realized what he was walking into. And he's sick. Who knows what the men will do to him when they realize that. They'll consider him Cain's accomplice for sure, no matter what.

Cain leaps forward, shoving the man away from JJ. He turns, putting himself firmly between JJ and their pursuers. ]

Ha ha, you'd better get going. I'll catch up.

[ "Getting going" sounds like a great plan. JJ is incredibly aware of how unequipped he is to deal with this kind of situation. He's just a guy, an average guy that doesn't get into fights with normal people much less thugs. It's best to leave this kind of encounter to the authorities, because he'd probably just get in the way anyway.

Except—except does Cain count as "the authorities"? He'd seemed like another civilian when JJ had met him on the beach, not that he knows what exactly the other man is doing out here, in this shady place so late at night. But then, JJ's here too.

He's sick, heavy headed and congested, but maybe he needs to stop chasing after the normality of his old life. Maybe he needs to step up to the new plate he's been handed. Besides, it's kind of outrageous that he'd just leave a friend behind.

He hasn't gotten very far when he decides to turn back, and he has no plan, can hardly keep up with what's going on, but he grabs a planter that he stumbles across all the same and swings it at one of the shady looking men, who thankfully seem to be armed with knives rather than guns. ]

Hey!

[ Though if you're in the mood to run, Cain, JJ wouldn't be opposed. ]

[ Cain's not doing too badly by the time JJ stumbles his way back. He's got his sword drawn and two of the men on the ground already (unconscious but still breathing), but there's a nasty looking slash along his upper arm where one of the others managed to score a hit. Things aren't going very well for Cain; as skilled a swordsman as he may be, there's only so many men he can fight at once before sheer numbers overwhelm him.

And he clearly isn't expecting any cavalry to be coming — JJ's yell and the crash of the planter as it meets a very solid head is as much a surprise to him as it is to the men he's fighting. ]

—JJ?! [ That's definitely JJ. Who's... come back to rescue him, it looks like. After a moment of stunned surprise, Cain shakes off his shock and neatly disarms one of the men still standing and gaping. ] Good timing!

[ He trips another of the men and decides the since JJ obviously isn't going to use his thoughtful sacrifice to get to safety, discretion is the better part of valor.

This time, his swing slices through a rope holding up a large banner. An entire awning comes down, tangling the men in the canvas, and Cain grabs JJ by the arm and takes off at as much of a flat out sprint as he can get JJ to manage.

He only lets JJ slow down when they're several streets away, and then he pulls JJ into the shadow of a building, uses his body to press JJ against the wall, and covers JJ's mouth with his hand, all very bossily. A minute passes, and then the men go pelting past them, completely missing their hiding place, cursing under their breath as they run.

Only then, when the night's gone still and quiet again, does Cain release his hold. ]

[ It's a large blur to JJ, owing not only to his inexperience, the adrenaline pumping through his veins, but the sickness clogging down his senses. His heart drops when the planter connects, but he doesn't really have time to thing about it when Cain is pulling him away. It's just that he's never hurt someone before, physically at least. Had he hit that person in the head? What if there was permanent damage?

He keeps thinking about it, head muddled with concerns that when Cain's pressing him against that wall that he forgets if it's friend or foe that's got their hand over his mouth.

His eyes close, chest rising and falling with his rapid breaths, coughs catching in his throat and making his eyes water. He turns his head away the second Cain moves his head so that he can cough, gasping for breath, but not letting the other man get away, fingers shaking slight as they grip onto the fabric of Cain's shirt.

It goes quiet around them, not that JJ can hear much over his internal confusion and the rush of his heartbeat in his ears. They're lucky that his coughing and hacking don't draw attention back to them, but a few minutes of silence pass and the men don't return.

Once it feels safe, he lets his forehead drop onto Cain's shoulder, breathing deeply. ]

That was scary. [ But worth it! ] Are you okay? What were you doing?

I'm fine. [ Whether JJ is is the real question, or at least so his tone says. ] I was supposed to be the distraction.

[ He's a little put out, really. There he was, being all helpful and acting as bait, and JJ came back and ruined it. Though he's not so put out that he's not widening his stance, bracing himself to take JJ's weight. He even brushes a hand over the back of JJ's neck, feeling how hot his skin is, pressing his fingers to JJ's temples to test the clammy skin there. ]

Not that I'm ungrateful for the help, but you don't seem to be in any shape for fighting.

[ Or standing, really. Cain wraps an arm around JJ's shoulders, willing to let him stay there and lean against him for however long he needs. ]

[ "I'm fine," Cain says, blatantly taking advantage of the fact that JJ hasn't noticed that he's been sliced up. It is difficult for JJ to notice anyway, when it's so pitch black around them, moonlight barely making into the alleyway. If it had been JJ in Cain's position, he'd never both to make light of the fact that he's bleeding, so it's difficult for him to fathom that it would be something that Cain might not mention.

He's certainly not going to put up any sort of front, and once he realizes that Cain can bear his weight, he sags against him, adrenaline giving way to exhaustion. ]

That's true. But it's not JJ Style to leave a friend behind.

[ He smiles, turning his head slightly so that he can smile up at Cain, teasing. The relief of their escape has granted him some mental energy at least, though he shows no indication of moving away. It might be awkward to be in this position when they don't know each other that well, but JJ's comfortable where he is. ]

I'm grateful that you'd sacrifice yourself for me, of course. But what were you doing with those shady guys, anyway?

[ He's not dead, and he can stay on his feet, he's totally fine! Sure, it may be a somewhat broad definition of the word, but what JJ knows won't hurt him. The last thing JJ needs is having to worry about him on top of everything else, after all.

Though the trickle of blood slowly wetting Cain's sleeve might give him away. Hopefully JJ's a bit too woozy and occupied with leaning against him to notice. ]

JJ Style, huh? Well, I'm grateful. It's not a bad sort of style at all. [ There's a bit of laughter in his voice. JJ still seems out of it, but to make such a claim, that it's not his style to leave a friend behind... JJ's a pretty cool guy. ] As for what I was doing, I was trying to track them back to their hideout. [ His voice is wry; obviously the attempt isn't succeeding tonight. ] They were part of the group responsible for that attack in the market, so I'm glad for the save.

[ Never mind that he might not have needed the save in the first place if not for JJ's interruption, or that he might have been able to make a quick escape himself if not for having to worry over JJ during the fight. Such thoughts don't even occur to Cain. He can't regret that his pursuit was interrupted when he'd rather be here to make sure JJ doesn't keel right over. ]

[ JJ's head jerks up at that tidbit of revelation—a move that isn't his greatest idea, his head throbbing at the motion, and body taking a second to reorient before he can fix Cain with a surprised stare. ]

You too? [ Cain had said it so normally, but it's really not normal for regular civilians to get up and pursue criminals. ] Are you part of the police? Why is everyone... everyone's just going after actual terrorists. Is that normal?

[ It boggles JJ's mind, when all the conflict that he'd known before this was limited to sports competitions. Thankfully he'd never been a victim or known anyone who was victim to a crime aside from some petty thefts, but he couldn't fathom regular people undertaking their own investigations to pursue the perpetrators. That in itself would probably lead to committing a crime.

He furrows his brows, fingers brushing down the side of Cain's arm as his hand falls from his shoulder, and he jerks again at the sensation of something wet a foreign against his skin. ]

Wait, wait. [ It's taking a second for his muddled brain to catch up. ] Are you... bleeding? Is that your blood?

[ Then, in a moment of clarity: ]

Do you need a hospital?

[ Ah, just what he'd wanted to avoid having JJ notice... But he can't yank his arm away like he wants to. For one, that'd be too suspicious. For another, he's worried that JJ might fall right over if he makes a sudden movement like that. Cain's left to wince, hoping the expression is hidden by the dim lighting even though they're nearly nose-to-nose, staring into each other's eyes. ]

Of course not, I'm fine. Most of it's not mine.

[ That's reassuring, right? Most of it, it's just a scratch, he lets his casual tone imply, hoping that JJ, in his fevered state, will buy it. JJ seems pretty scattered, after all. Easily muddled. Maybe a distraction will get him out of being worried over?

It's worth a try.

Brightly, Cain presents a not-at-all suspiciously swift change of topic. ]

Anyway, I'm a soldier back home. [ Home, Idelva. He still can't think of El Nysa as home. He still has hope that his home can somehow be rescued and restored. ] A general, actually. I'm used to this kind of dangerous thing. So I guess it is pretty normal for me.

[ Yes, someone made him general of a not particularly small army. What he doesn't care to mention is that he'd consider throwing himself into danger as normal even without being in the military. Risking himself for others is something he does without a second thought, with or without the rank to back up his penchant for doing whatever he wants. ]

What? [ What? ] You were a general? But aren't you my age?

[ Then again, he reflects, delving into an internal monologue, people used to be considered adults at a much younger age, even back on Earth—even in the present day in some places. It could very well be part of the culture to hit puberty and be thrust into the world as an adult as young as twelve or thirteen. That could be likely for Cain, given that he'd described himself as a "soldier" rather than stating he was in some specific country's military. Not to mention the fact that he's used to fighting with knives instead of rifles.

Needless to say, JJ is distracted, lost in thought before his attention wanders back to Cain. ]

Did you join the army right after puberty? [ Which isn't as relevant as: ] And even if you're used to it, I don't think you can become immune to blood loss.

[ Cain's diversion hadn't worked as well as he might've hoped, and suddenly it feels like JJ can't stop smelling the blood, aware of its presence between the two of them. His hand wanders back to Cain's arm, hovering before settling lower, by his elbow. ]

Maybe you just can't feel how much it hurts. It could still be dangerous.

It's fine, I promise. It doesn't hurt at all, I've had much worse!

[ He's laughing as he says it, entirely feigned. Just another smokescreen to keep JJ from worrying over him, even if what he's saying almost isn't a lie — he has had worse, and just like now, had tried to hide the extent of his injuries.

Really, why isn't this topic change strategy working! ]

And no, not right after puberty.

[ His voice is teasing, no offense taken. He is around JJ's age, and he knows he's young for his position. Having to flee from your kingdom when it's destroyed from the inside out, lost to corruption, does that. He's also quite happily trying to avoid that very relevant point about blood loss. It's another bid at distraction, but still playful as he balances JJ with one arm and pokes JJ's cheek. ]

[ That sounds fake. JJ's never been stabbed, but he's had paper cuts, and once accidentally sliced his finger while cooking, so he can imagine that having a huge gash that is actively bleeding is probably not the best accessory to be wearing.

Not that he knows the first thing about dealing with wounds like this. Does Cain need stitches? A tourniquet? ]

Are you dizzy? Cold?

[ He also has no idea what happens when you're experiencing blood loss, this is the absolute worst. Never mind his own feverish state and rapidly depleting energy—his eyelids are starting to droop from fatigue, and he dips forward to rest his forehead on Cain's shoulder again.

In lieu of any actual medical attention, he wraps his arms around Cain in a hug. ]

It's going to be okay.

I... yes. [ Laughter in his voice, and Cain, despite the pain in his arm, lifts his hand to pat JJ's head. ] It's going to be okay, that's right.

[ He's bleeding, but sluggishly, not enough that he has to worry about blood loss soon, after all. And it's funny, adorable really, that JJ who can barely stand on his own, who's leaning on him for balance, is telling him that it's going to be okay. If anyone should be worrying, it's Cain. JJ only seems to be getting worse, if the way he's hugging Cain is any indication. ]

I'm not cold at all now, actually. Thanks, you're very warm. [ Wry, teasing, and he shifts, trying to get JJ to put an arm around his shoulders instead of a hug. ] But we should still probably get you home.

I was on my way to the clinic. [ JJ mumbles into the fabric of Cain's shoulder.

It's true. The symptoms of the illness were becoming a bit too much for him to bear, the coughing and nausea getting in the way of his ability to sleep, giving him the motivation to charge out of his apartment in the middle of the night out of pure frustration.

But the truth works in his favour in more ways than one, a sly smile spreading across his face as he tilts his head slightly to direct it at Cain. ]

So I guess you'll have to get your arm checked out anyway.

[ It all worked out in the end, didn't it? ]

[ A brief moment of silence before Cain lets out a startled huff of laughter, his breath close enough to ruffle JJs' hair, warm against the shell of JJ's ear. ]

Well, since that's where you were going anyway... [ His voice is dry, but a little admiring. He's giving in, not even going to try to argue. Cain knows when he's been beaten, and JJ's outmaneuvered him quite neatly here. ] You're a sneak, you know that?

[ A sneaky sneak who's using his own illness against Cain, and there's nothing Cain can do to that. He certainly isn't about to let JJ wander through the streets alone, after all. ]

[ JJ had been doing nothing but being honest, but he's happy to soak up the praise, quite liking the way that he comes across as this mastermind.

Which is why his eyes are positively sparkling when he straightens up again, though it comfortable to lean against Cain, warm and sturdy against JJ's loose limbed form. ]

I'm more than a pretty face.

[ His grin stretches wider at that, and he gives Cain a playful wink before pulling away, his energy—coming and going—having returned for the moment. Or at least, he has enough that he can walk to clinic without needing Cain to carry him. ]

But come on tough guy. [ His arm winds around Cain's shoulder, and he gives him a friendly pat. ] Let's get you checked out.

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