“Salai?” he called as he got near and he heard an awkward squawk that was defiantly Salai followed by someone laughing. His brows furrowed as he entered the kitchen to see Salai with his head down on the counter, face buried in his hands and Des standing next to him laughing at him. “Uhm, what’s going on in here?” he asked and Salai peered up at him from his hands his face practically the same shade as his hair. “Salai?” he rose his brows but the red head just shook his head. Well this was strange. “Is everything all right?”
“Just fine,” Des said. “Did you want something?”
“Ah, yes,” Leo said slowly still not knowing what to make of this. He had noticed the two young men seemed to get along well but sometimes stuff like this happened where Leo would some upon Salai totally unable to function. Leo had a very acute and probably correct guess that it had everything to do with the youngest Rifter too, he just didn’t know why. “Malik is visiting.”
“He is?” Des asked excitedly.
“Yes, but please Des,” Leo held up a hand, “I want to speak with him alone,” Des pouted but nodded. “Also he looks tired,” and finally Salai looked up, having seeming regained control of all of his functions. “Coffee perhaps?” he asked the red head. Salai nodded.
‘And you go away,’ he waved at Des who just grinned. Leo still didn’t know when or how Des had learned sign language since Leo had never taught him and there was no way Salai could have taught him properly in which he’d understand some of the thing’s he’d seen Salai tell Des (often long complicated things) but still Des knew. He just chalked it up as another mystery of the Rifters and especially their so called prophets, that’s all he could explain it with at any rate. Des did leave and Salai turned to Leo still looking a bit flustered but under control, ‘I’ll make coffee,’ and then he turned away totally ignoring him.
Shaking his head he returned to Malik who was leaning back on one of the couches, “So,” Leo said sitting, “You haven’t slept since when?”
Malik smirked ruefully, “Three days… I think,” he made a face, “I think. I lost track,” he admitted, “So much to do,” he sighed and sank into the couch.
“Will everything work out?” Leo asked unable to help but be a bit anxious.
“I hope,” Malik said, “I will admit that a lot could go wrong. Getting out of the capital is no problem since they look like freeman, but the border,” he shook his head, “I’ve never tried to get someone across the border.”
“You said it could be done though,” Leo said.
“Yeah,” Malik bobbed his head wearily, “Night is worried about the border patrol though.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Two trained warrior class Rifters, that’s why,” he said without even seeming sorry. “Altair was right when he said it is not us who should be afraid, but the patrol. If anything happens I know they can handle it.”
“You seem oftly sure.”
“You’ve seen them fight,” Malik stated, “So have I. I trust them to do what needs to be done should the situation arises even if that includes killing.”
“You seem very at ease with them killing our countrymen Malik,” Leo frowned.
“Our countrymen have killed plenty of them, I see nothing wrong with being allowed to defend one’s self. Besides, we both know why they’re here, our countrymen killed their entire family and kidnapped them and made them slaves for five years.”
“When you put it like that…” Leo had to admit he found it hard to argue despite his dislike of violence. Before he said more Salai came in with a mug.
“Ah, thank you Salai,” Malik said when the red head handed it over, “It’s black right?”
“And very strong,” Leo translated for for Salai’s signs since Malik didn’t understand signing any more than he did the Rifter’s language. Salai left after Leo assured him he didn’t want any. “So why are you here Malik?” he asked.
“Well,” he took an awkward sip, “I wanted to say goodbye.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know what will happen and I won’t be able to tomorrow because of anonymity.”
“You’re not actually thinking you could die? Please don’t tell me you’re really thinking that!”
“It is always a possibility in my line of work,” Malik said, “Or I could get captured.”
Re: Clipped (16d/?)
“Just fine,” Des said. “Did you want something?”
“Ah, yes,” Leo said slowly still not knowing what to make of this. He had noticed the two young men seemed to get along well but sometimes stuff like this happened where Leo would some upon Salai totally unable to function. Leo had a very acute and probably correct guess that it had everything to do with the youngest Rifter too, he just didn’t know why. “Malik is visiting.”
“He is?” Des asked excitedly.
“Yes, but please Des,” Leo held up a hand, “I want to speak with him alone,” Des pouted but nodded. “Also he looks tired,” and finally Salai looked up, having seeming regained control of all of his functions. “Coffee perhaps?” he asked the red head. Salai nodded.
‘And you go away,’ he waved at Des who just grinned. Leo still didn’t know when or how Des had learned sign language since Leo had never taught him and there was no way Salai could have taught him properly in which he’d understand some of the thing’s he’d seen Salai tell Des (often long complicated things) but still Des knew. He just chalked it up as another mystery of the Rifters and especially their so called prophets, that’s all he could explain it with at any rate. Des did leave and Salai turned to Leo still looking a bit flustered but under control, ‘I’ll make coffee,’ and then he turned away totally ignoring him.
Shaking his head he returned to Malik who was leaning back on one of the couches, “So,” Leo said sitting, “You haven’t slept since when?”
Malik smirked ruefully, “Three days… I think,” he made a face, “I think. I lost track,” he admitted, “So much to do,” he sighed and sank into the couch.
“Will everything work out?” Leo asked unable to help but be a bit anxious.
“I hope,” Malik said, “I will admit that a lot could go wrong. Getting out of the capital is no problem since they look like freeman, but the border,” he shook his head, “I’ve never tried to get someone across the border.”
“You said it could be done though,” Leo said.
“Yeah,” Malik bobbed his head wearily, “Night is worried about the border patrol though.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Two trained warrior class Rifters, that’s why,” he said without even seeming sorry. “Altair was right when he said it is not us who should be afraid, but the patrol. If anything happens I know they can handle it.”
“You seem oftly sure.”
“You’ve seen them fight,” Malik stated, “So have I. I trust them to do what needs to be done should the situation arises even if that includes killing.”
“You seem very at ease with them killing our countrymen Malik,” Leo frowned.
“Our countrymen have killed plenty of them, I see nothing wrong with being allowed to defend one’s self. Besides, we both know why they’re here, our countrymen killed their entire family and kidnapped them and made them slaves for five years.”
“When you put it like that…” Leo had to admit he found it hard to argue despite his dislike of violence. Before he said more Salai came in with a mug.
“Ah, thank you Salai,” Malik said when the red head handed it over, “It’s black right?”
“And very strong,” Leo translated for for Salai’s signs since Malik didn’t understand signing any more than he did the Rifter’s language. Salai left after Leo assured him he didn’t want any. “So why are you here Malik?” he asked.
“Well,” he took an awkward sip, “I wanted to say goodbye.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know what will happen and I won’t be able to tomorrow because of anonymity.”
“You’re not actually thinking you could die? Please don’t tell me you’re really thinking that!”
“It is always a possibility in my line of work,” Malik said, “Or I could get captured.”