Welcome to Gaia! ::

“Ah I see,” Kravos said in between bites as he leaned against the kitchen counter,” Well I know this probably won’t help your nerves any, but I think you’ve got this in the bag. Your argument is compelling, you’ve got evidence to back it up, and you are good at explaining stuff. Plus, from what Leo said, they are really close to going to war as is...She really thinks this could be the thing to break the camels back."

"Break the camel's back?" Rene asked, not having quite caught onto all the idioms and slang in this country yet.

"Yeah.. You know. Like that last straw? No? Alright well remind me to give you a session on idioms after we get back yeah?" He said with a chuckle just for Rene to nod in response. "Anyways, you ready to go boss?" He had a question for Alpha, one he really did not want to say in front of Rene..

---
Carpo looked up when Pan spoke, watching the speakers quietly as they waited for a response. It was silent for a moment, as if processing the request. Then the light beneath turned on and a Mother's voice sounded. "Of course, my child. As long as you bring Ymir with you, you may go wherever it is you wish," she said, voice robotic yet warm all at the same time. It was like the one he had heard when younger. The tone of her voice had reverted back once he had begun "behaving" himself again. "I'll send him right over."

Moments later, the wolf had appeared at the door, which slid open upon his arrival. Looking to Pan, he threw a coat at Carpo, who had not expected the other to throw it without looking at him, and, thus, had the garment fall on top of his head. "Surprised you asked Mother to have me come babysit you two, what with you being older and all," he said with a smirk as he noted Carpo suspiciously looking the coat over.

"Is she actually letting us out," Carpo asked, finally pulling it on after find no sort of trick to it. He hadn't really believed that she was letting them out, figuring she would say that they could walk outside, only to have Ymir take them to a simulation room. But, if that was the case, Ymir should've looked more bored..

"Yep. I think she figured it'd be a good way to test if there are any lasting effects from your heart condition. You know, that shitty a** circulation you had before and all? It'll help us figure out if you'll actually be a threat or not once you leave," he said, bluntly honest as ever.

At this Carpo rose with a frown, arms buried in the coat that was not quite the right size for him. "I'm not leaving."

"Could've fooled me. What with the hacking and all," Ymir said, as he began to lead them down the hall, hands in his pocket and a grin on his face. "Makes me wonder if you're hoping they'll kick you out for it."

"I'm not. It's just practice..."

"For what? Making an escape? I saw you messing with the electric locks."

"No. That was to figure out a way to lock you in your room so I don't have to listen to you talk anymore. Figured it'd be the only way to get you to leave us alone for once."

Ymirs smirk faded at this, mind going back to that one time he'd been locked in his room for a day. He'd thought that was a fluke... Narrowing his eyes, he looked back to the redhead, who had stolen his grin and put it upon his own face. "I hate you..."

"Ditto"

Well, this was sure to be a relaxing walk. At least, Carpo had relaxed some...

Kravos watched Rene wave goodbye before exiting the room and heading downstairs. Alpha was being a bit fidgety and nervous, which Kravos understood. The redhead was not super comfortable with the country they were currently in, much less the one they were about to head into( if only temporarily). He’d gotten decently comfortable sure, but he still didn’t know the culture or the people the way that Kravos did. And this was a big change, going from a place where he needed to constantly do things to one where he could more or less relax... He imagined it had to be hard for him... Though honestly he wasn’t entirely sure. Alpha would never admit such a thing to him. At least, not after his perceived betrayal.

Listening as he walked down the stairs, he chuckled. “Well, look at it this way. Once we get this finished, we can finally really settle in and you can grow your hair length to whatever you want. No one in day to day life will really care what your hair looks like. The only ones that do are the stuffy upper class and I doubt we will have much contact with them after this,” he said as they exited the building. There they found the car, which Kravos slid into before buckling in.

After Alpha got settled, the car would start, driving them to the destination without any questions. Kravos, too, was quiet, obviously feeling awkward now that the two of them were alone.
____

Ymir was pouting by the the time Pan came over, mulling over ways to get revenge on Carpo for his hacking trick. Carpo, meanwhile, seemed at ease, though it was hard to tell if it was actually because he enjoyed Ymir’s company or because he was excited about the opportunity to go back outside. Regardless, he smiled and happily took Pans hand as the albino explained further why he’d invited Ymir along. It sounded like it was meant to make Ymir feel better, but it didn’t appear to work.

“Well, the feeling isn’t mutual,” he muttered with arms crossed as he attempted to glare at Carpo through Pan. Carpo seemed unbothered by the comment and merely smirked. It was obvious the wolf was just being a brat about it, so he chose not to let it bother him.

Huffing, Ymir grumbled to himself a bit, slowly easing the longer Pan stood between the two of them. “ The weathers fine. No snow. It’s just cold. Mother wouldn’t have let us out if it was snowing, she’s too nervous that we’d use the cover of a blizzard to run off I think...”

As he spoke, he pushed the door open to the outside, revealing a frost covered forest with numerous evergreens around them. Once the door was closed behind him, he turned back to Pan and then looked at Carpo, a slight frown on his face as he considered speaking. He soon shook his head though and looked away. “Do you guys need privacy? Because I can plug my ears or something, but I’m not looking away, can’t risk it.”

Kravos was a bit startled when the silence was broken, not having expected the other to actively talk to him. Indeed, he'd been so deep in thought, that it took a moment for him to even process what Alpha had said, but when he did, he smiled. "Honestly? It's great.. I really love her, you know? She’s just so kind and smart and funny in her own way and just… perfect, you know,” he said, a goofy, dreamy sort of look settling on his face as he thought about his loved one,” I mean, I don’t get to see her as much as I’d like, but that’ll change once we finish this. I’m basically going to resume what I had been doing, but, you know, safer? “
Since they had gotten to this country, Alpha had learned quite a bit about what it was that Kravos had done, a bunch of which he had not exactly been privy to before. He now knew that on top of being the main recruiting agent for the rebel group, he had also begun working with Leona to send their people to her country. They were generally people who either Alpha or Kravos personally saw as not a good fit for the rebel group. Mostly it was people that had enough common sense to know they didn’t want to be in Sans Espoir, but not enough realize that returning back to normal society was not an option. They couldn’t join the group because there was too much fear what would happen if they decided to try to run back to the city. If they weren’t killed on the spot, they’d likely rat out their location in a heartbeat… He couldn’t stand to just leave them though. The cabin he’d found was a temporary haven for them, but it just wasn’t enough. And then he found Leo. She gave him a better place to send them. A place where they could have a “normal” life without risking the rebel group. She would take them and help them apply for asylum and he would help let her know which of her people were still behind bars after a pickup. To hear that he was planning on going back to doing that was probably surprising, considering the fact that he had nearly died not even a few months prior. The reason why quickly became clear though, as he continued.

“ I think.. I think I’m going to try find Carpo.. I mean, I’ll be surprised if he’s still alive after all this time, what with how much a pain in their side he always was, but after what he did for us… I feel like I should at least try, you know?” Kravos still felt like he owed an incredible debt to Carpo.


“I’m good,” Carpo said with a soft smile, hands noticeably still warm in Pan’s own. At Ymir’s words, he gave him a look, as if to tell him yes, only for Pan to say the contrary. Sighing, he nodded and continued to walk, holding Pan’s hand in his own. “Mhm.. I mean without Ymir, who would mutter to himself in the background while we talk,” he teased, only for Ymir to huff yet again.
After that, he trailed back for a bit, only to catch up when Pan stopped near an open field and spouted the idea of showing Carpo their tricks. Shrugging, he stepped forward a bit and surveyed the area, as if trying to decide whether or not this was a good place or not. It was.. fine. Not as obscured as he would’ve like it to be for the chase exercise, but it was good enough he supposed. He’d just have to be more creative to avoid Pan’s tackle… The wall exercise though, well he had not clue how he intended to do that. There wasn’t a wall in sight. Rather than bug him about it though, he just stretched a bit before sighing. “Alright, ready when you are. “

It was nice to hear how Kravos was doing. Them talking like they had any semblance of normalcy to their lives now made the goal in the end seem all the more reachable. But when Kravos finished his sentence, his eyes widened.

Alpha was all but shocked at the news Kravos confessed to. "What? But- " the loss of words was clear. "Well, I mean... I've almost lost all hope in finding him... do you really think he's still alive?" he asked his comrade. "Kravos... I don't know.. we worked so hard just to get settled... and you want to go back? I mean... I would be curious just how to do so but.. well, I won't deny that I've only hoped for now... but.. you really think its possible?" he asked, in a whisper.



__

Pan leaned on Carpo's shoulder for just a second to balance himself while he stretched. And then, If Carpo was looking, he'd see a grin on Pan that none of their old friends would have ever seen on him before. It was a smirk of cockiness, and it was only while Pan looked to Ymir. Whether anyone thought it as intimidating or sexy was anyone's guess.

"Alright, Ymir. I'll give you a ten second head start" Pan spoke, sure of himself. Though it sounded cool, and suave, it was also fairly noticeable that this was a new feature Pan was learning to get used to as well. Then, Pan started the count down.

"Ten..." he started, and instead of position to get ready, Pan's expression softened when he leaned in to kiss the top of Carpo's head.

"Nine..." this time he squeezed his lover's hand a little bit more and kissed his temple.

"Eight..." If Ymir hadn't left by now, then he was about to be embarrassed or sick from the display Pan was about to put on. His gentle fingers that weren't holding' Carpo's hand lifted and gently brushed Carpo's freckled covered cheek and down to sweetly hold his chin. Pan licked his lips and couldn't help but lean in and give Carpo's lips a painfully slow, but romantic kiss that lasted the remaining six seconds.
When he finally parted, Pan smiled to his lover and whispered low to him, "Will you watch me?", he asked sweetly and little sad, almost in a completely different disposition than what had just released Carpo's lips.

"One..." and he let go of Carpo and turned to sprint after Ymir.

Alpha took in everything Kravos was saying. Marriage? Alpha couldn't help but try to hold in a smile. Perhaps it was a surprised for Leona that now Alpha had to hold onto and not tell anyone. Maybe he was over speculating. The car slowed a bit as it hit traffic and the driver turned to the two of them and reassured that they'd get there on time. Alpha looked over and gave a small nod of acknowledgement, trying to stifle any nervousness from showing.

He returned to Kravos's gaze and whispered. "But... " he sighed, " Look.. it is likely that Carpo could still be left alive. After all that happened and Pan being a coveted weapon by our government, Carpo could be used as some kind of bait of leverage to use against--..." Alpha stopped, realizing with how his tone sounded and he grew quiet. Alpha was unsure if Kravos knew about all the information about Pan and he was the last one to see him. But it has been three months, and the plan Alpha had was going to benefit them all in end if he can convince these people that their government AND Pan were a serious threat. Still, it did sound like he blamed Kravos for Pan's capture.

"Sorry"

He apologized for the awkwardness. " I'm sorry about the way I acted when we got you back. I don't mean to reflect on back then." he frowned.

___

Pan was panting heavy as he pulled himself up and off of Ymir. He couldn't help but giggle at the sight before him. He wiped some sweat off his brow and bent down a bit to extend a hand out to the other man. "You almost got away that time. You've gotten faster from the first exercise, haha~. It's fun running out here with you~!" he smiled and offered to help Ymir up. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? " he asked worriedly and glancing Ymir over if there were any injuries.

Alpha chuckled. The two seemed to just be in an apology circle or something. Kravos had a point, Pan would've just gone regardless.

"Heh, you don't need to apologize. You had to keep Leona and her team safe, that I get. That day, I was already mad at Carpo and Pan for not listening to me."
He spoke, and then spilled words as if it were some kind of confession he needed to expel. Though he sounded calm, the words to come just seemed to flow out.

" I had asked Carpo and Rene to stay behind and work at the base while Pan and I would as part of Leona's crew to attempt to sneak you out. The plan wasn't finalized yet and were going to work it out more through out the day, but Carpo didn't want to stay behind... And I called him a liability. Ever since we lost the hide out and Pan changed, Carpo's heart problems were getting worse. He had just had another heart attack the night before, I... " he sighed.

"I thought I was trying to protect him... Turns out they acted against my own orders and went out on their own." Alpha also explained the guilt he felt when he saw how heart broken Carpo's face looked.

"If you do manage to find him and bring him back, he's someone I need to apologize to.... But.." he continued.

"I'm... scared.. scared for him and Pan. Especially Pan or TR, or whatever he is... He may not be the same person we knew before... I bet if you did find Carpo, you'd probably have to watch out for Pan now.. who knows what they did to the poor kid... " he frowned then, only to slowly shake off his nerves and grin a bit.
"Still, whatever you do" he held his fist out to offer a well timed 'fist-bump',

"I've got your back..."

____

Pan lost his smile for a moment when Ymir refused his help, only for it to be replaced with a rush of panic at the sound of a cry from the direction they left Carpo in. The two mutants rushed simultaneously, Pan's heart was stuck and pounding in his chest, terrified of what they might find. The two moved in unison to sprint through the brush, the meadow and back to where they last saw the red head.

"Carpo!" Pan shouted, and then intently listening for any form of reply, anything! Pan's new hearing could anything within 5-10 kilometers, but right now, in this forest of open air and panicked states, Pan could hear everything. The breeze that brushed the leaves and the grass that caused them to rustle a garble hush over them, woodpeckers banging in hollow logs, birds that chirped endlessly and rustling on the ground that could be Carpo or rats or other small things in the area. In addition to the noise, the pounding of his own heart certainly wasn't helping him either. During their training exercises, Pan was still practicing to pinpoint sounds in busy situations, but each time he practiced, he was calm and focused, nothing like how he was right now. Pan covered his ears with his palms and groaned,
"...oohh it's too loud out here.."

Then Ymir made his comment and Pan couldn't help but frown and whip his head to his friend with an expression of wondering if that comment really was necessary. Pan scanned the area and whimpered, " Can you smell anything? Do we know for sure it's his blood?" he saw some more droplets of blood and walked to follow them until he couldn't see any more. Pan was beginning to shake in fear for Carpo.

"Carpo!" he called again.