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He was given the task, trusted with it, to wait and give the word when time ran out. He wanted desperately for them to return before that was necessary. With each passing minute, time slowed even further. He frequently checked his phone for a text and the time. He tapped at his new laptop, drew in his sketchbook as he worked on his new training courses. But the longer he waited, the less he typed, the less he drew. The less he could concentrate on anything but the worry.

He didn't want to lose more friends. Please, no more. Too many kept dying.

Clerise,

Sam,

Rin,

Nevada.

Now, Taym and Kostya were running after America. He'd learned not to believe in 'everything will be fine'. That was a silly fairy tale of a thought, now. He knew better.

His stomach hurt. His hands shook. He hadn't touched his lunch, set aside and going cold and stale.

He was pulled from his thoughts, blinking slowly as he phased back into reality. Cami's soft and comforting presence was a welcome change from all he'd been imagining. His mouth twitched, a slight grimace in response to her question.

"It's nothin'." He lied, badly. He'd been sworn to remain silent. He'd keep that promise. "I don't feel good. That's all."

It was more serious. Or at least, that's how it felt. Kostya wouldn't have taken the precaution of warning Otto had it been anything less. But while Otto trusted Cami, telling her anything would betray Kostya and Taym's trust in him. Otto took his oaths and promises gravely serious.

"Nothing serious." He murmured. His laptop was lightly shoved further away on the table. "Just working too much lately." It wasn't a lie, per say. He did work a lot. However, he enjoyed working on his project. It filled him with purpose, even if it tuckered him out.

He leaned into Cami's shoulder, and took comfort that she was there and breathing. Safe, warm and real. He wished Maebe were there too. Though in all honesty, Maebe would more likely just tire him out with her sass and energy.

"Just tired."

A hand running through his hair almost always calmed Otto down. Usually it was enough to put him to sleep. But today it only helped quell half his nerves. She mentioned Taym, and he felt an alarm in his chest. The ones who were gone may not have been best friends, but they were cherished none the less.

"No, it's fine." He murmured, disinterested about hiding inside a cavern of blankets. Cami's company only kept his nerves in check. They did nothing to stop him from worrying. Did nothing to keep him from forgetting to check his phone every few minutes.

"How about a movie?"

Otto liked Twister. He loved disaster films. They weren't scary in the ghoulish sense. Just exhilarating in a way only nature could achieve. Yet he felt badly. He put in the movie and sat back down, and every moment that passed, he kept worrying. Here he was, safe yet not even working. How could he let himself get distracted and enjoy anything when something terrible could be happening to so many he cared about? America and Kostya both took very good care of Otto in times of need. What had he ever done for them?

All he did now as wait, as he was told to. Wait until time ran out. When it would be too late.

His stomach did flips and turns. One of his favourite movies ticked on by, and Otto felt worse and worse. Otto never got nervous or twitchy watching this movie, but today he sat on the curled into the corner of the couch, biting his nails down till the skin turned red. His eyes weren't really looking at the TV at all. Maybe he'd out it on to distract Cami from worrying about him more than actually distracting himself.

He wasn't tempted to tell her anything. Not at all. Telling her wouldn't have helped him anyway. It wouldn't help anyone. It was the waiting that killed him. The longer he waited, the closer the deadline came. If six hours came and went with no word, his worst fears would be made real.

He stopped chewing on what was left of his nails as Cami ushered him not to. He only wished he could fake how he felt, or have some way of making Cami worry less. He had to tell her something. Give her something to do or say. Hunters generally didn't get sick without some terrible cause, so he couldn't pretend to be ill. Besides, then she'd drag him to an infirmary. Not smart.

So, could she help? Otto didn't believe anything would calm or distract him until he heard back from Kostya. What could possibly make him feel better from now till then?

"Nothing.." He lamented. Nothing to be done. If only he'd kept his head together, he wouldn't have worried her. "All this.. survival training stuff I work on.. um. I just keep thinking about s**t that's gone wrong." He'd tell her why he was bothered. Sort of. He'd tell her part of his worries, but not the one that mattered most critically.

"You already know I known a lot of people who've died since I been here. Every now and then I think a little too much about it. No matter how much I prepare new hunters, it won't really matter. Some s**t just... happens. No matter how prepared or careful they are."

It was a sucky life. At 16 he'd joined, not taking an ounce of what his recruiter said seriously. It was simply a way out. Knowing any better wouldn't have saved him anyway, even with hindsight. It was one crap life for another.

He sank into her grasp. He always felt loss, and was subjected to pain every year at Deus. Yet through some mercy, he always had a net. A safe place to fall back. He was never really alone. He'd never fall apart so long as he had someone there to catch him.

And Cami, as well as Maebe, were his safety net.

"Okay.." He uttered softly, his arms wrapping around her middle. "Try to distract me or something... All else fails, I'll just take a walk."

Otto watched the crude gesture, his expression caught between amused and judgemental.

"You and Maebe are both horn-dogs." He remarked bluntly. "You solve everything with sex."