OOM: Outside, Early morning

[ikissdhimbck]

They had discussed it. Kate had said she wasn't going to leave the bar until she knew that Bill, Boo, and Kate Warner were safe with Demeter. So when Doc got word that they were leaving, early in the pre-dawn hours when most folks would be sleeping, they agreed to get their belongings in order and see them off.

Satisfied that things were well in hand, she answered with a nod when Doc squeezed her hand, silently asking if she was ready to go.

She paused to drop off a few notes and things with Miss Bar, and once settled, she shouldered her duffel -- stopping to hush the kittens nestled carefully within -- and followed Doc out through the backdoor.

She watched his long strides in the gray light, his black duster occasionally billowing and allowing glances at the gleaming sixshooter at his hip. He reached out for her hand, and she gave it to him -- a bond that felt impossible to sever as they made their way towards a new life.

Together.

.

Comments

[latino_menace]

The swell of satisfaction only gets bigger as he walks. To finally be rid of her after this last month or two - it doesn't get any better than that. And to be handed such a perfect scenario; no witnesses, no incriminating body to deal with...perfect.

He heads to the forest. An hour or two to keep himself away from the sight of other people who might have heard the gunshots should do the trick.

[cutting_edgex23]

Meanwhile, inside the bar proper --

X does not sleep much, maybe an hour or two every night. It makes working two jobs in Milliways easier, in addition to being an X-man and having an apartment to take care of.

That lack of a need for sleep is what has herdownstairs so early, making her careful way through breakfast. It is impossible not to notice Bill running in, and X drops her spoon back into her oatmeal and is on her feet and moving without thought.

"There is a problem? Outside."

Is it another dead body?

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He's out of breath and nods rapidly, gesturing towards the door he just came in from.

"Yeah, I need security -- there's been a shooting outside an' I -- I think my friends were involved."

[cutting_edgex23]

X is not one for wasting time, which means she starts heading for the door almost as soon as Bill says 'yeah'.

There will be time for more questions as soon as they are both sure that no one is dead.

If nobody really is dead.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He follows after her. Still holding Boo's stuffed animal in one hand, he reaches out to touch X's shoulder with the other.

"Hold on, he's armed. Ramon Salazar, he's crazy as hell an' I know he'll shoot without blinkin'."

He's looking over X to see if she has any weapon.

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not stop, just turns her head to look over her shoulder. Her eyes are narrowed.

"I am hard to kill. It will be okay."

And even if she has no visible weapon -- at least she moves like someone who could kill a man with her bare hands?

"Where?"

She could backtrack scent trails, but given that time is an important factor, it is more efficient to ask. Especially since Bill is coherent.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

With the look she gives him and the way she's carrying herself he's not going to argue. Bill's been coming to Milliways long enough to know that there are a lot of people here who have extraordinary talents and powers.

He's not sure what she means by 'hard to kill', but he'll trust her. Time is too important to spend on doubt.

"The stables."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Stay behind me," is all that X says in reply, adjusting her course toward the stables and the --

Silence, except for the sounds of horses in the early morning.






She does not think this is a good sign.

Now the question is -- where did everyone go?

[wheelsy_sheriff]

His instinct is to put himself in front of her, knowing they're walking into danger, and it's hard to hang back, but he does.

Until they reach the stables and find silence. He continues to follow her, but when nothing happens he moves away from her, looking around.

"Doc? Kate?"

It's a relief not to find any bodies on first glance, but now he's wondering what happened. He looks towards the door, then to X.

"I'm pretty sure Ramon was leavin' when I saw him. Maybe Doc an' Kate cut out another way."

[cutting_edgex23]

X's nostrils flare again as she catches the scent of blood.

It is not difficult to find the splash of blood from Doc -- though X does not know him.

And as for Kate, the scent of her blood is on the air, too, if not as strongly.

Both scents cut off abruptly on the other side of the slider to the paddock, and X frowns.

"They went through here. Kate and someone else. But it was not Ramon."

She pauses, backtracking her own passage through the stables and scenting the air again.

"I will find him."

It should not be too difficult.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Must've been Doc. How do you know?" It's not disbelief, he's just gathering info, trying to figure this out.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Scent," X says.

"It is difficult to misinterpret."

Her nostrils flare again and she looks toward the woods, body going still.

Poised.

So that is where he went.

"I will be back. Soon. Stay here."

And then she takes off, following the scent of a man and his gun.

Following Ramon.

X-23 is very good at what she does.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He's studying the blood, wondering whose it is and what kind of wound it's from. If they're not here then they got away, to one of their worlds, so maybe the hit wasn't bad.

Or maybe one of 'em is dyin' on the otherside of the door.

He's distracted with his own thoughts and X's words don't register until she's already out the door. Turning, he takes a few steps after her.

"Hey!"

He can't stay here. He needs to get back to Kate and Boo and make sure they got to Demeter's world, especially with Ramon still on the loose.

He hates to leave, he wants to help, but he can't risk Kate and Boo. With a silent apology and promise to check in as soon as he can, Bill heads back to the bar.

[latino_menace]

Ramon hadn't got too far into the woods before he heard the sound of a door opening. He looks back through the trees and isn't sure, but thinks there's a bit of light showing...and then it's gone. Or maybe wasn't there at all.

A few more steps and for a moment, he thinks he heard voices carrying through the still night air...but again, isn't sure. Maybe it's just paranoia.

Still, he steps up his pace and heads for the deep parts of the forest, off the trails. The further away the better and if he's out of the range of hearing gunshots, he can claim cluelessness to the entire situation.

It's not quite a run. But is a noticeably faster walk than before.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's own pace is rapid, particularly over the initial part of Ramon's jaunt into the woods. But once he leaves the trail --

Well, then X leaves the trail, too. And when she's within hearing distance of her quarry -- then she slips sideways, moves catty-corner to him --

Attempting to approach from a direction he is unlikely to expect.

[latino_menace]

Something's up.

Or maybe it's just because he thought he heard a noise? Either way, his senses are jangling and it's like that feeling of knowing you're being watched, only there's nothing in sight.

He can't see a goddamn thing. And he hates being unsure of himself. So he stops dead and listens for a moment and then edges quietly to the nearest tree, keeping it to his back while he waits and listens to see whether this is all just his imagination or not.

[cutting_edgex23]

The forest is silent.






Nothing is moving.






Nothing at --

"Ramon."

The voice -- flat and affectless -- comes from his left, several yards away.

[latino_menace]

'Jesus Christ!'

He jumps and swivels at the same time somehow, managing to crack his elbow painfully on the tree as he does.

'What the fuck do you think you're doing?!'

X.

I would have to be fucking X. He'd know that voice anywhere.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Following you."

Sometimes it really is that simple.

"You were in the stables. Today. There was shooting."

And blood. But they'll get to that.

Probably.

[latino_menace]

A dozen thoughts race through his mind in a split second, as he rubs his arm and tries to mentally calm himself after the shock of her sudden arival. How the fuck did she figure that out so fast? is a predominant question that springs to the fore.

'You want me, X, you only have to ask,' he snarks back, this being the first line of any good defence.

'I'm not that fussy.'

Shooting, what? He ignores the statement since it so clearly had nothing to do with him.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I am," she says.

"You shot Kate. And Doc. Again."

Beat.

"I know."

She tilts her head very slightly, studying him.

Is he going to make her fight him again? Or run?

Or --

[latino_menace]

His eyes narrow and the snark falls away.

'I didn't shoot anyone. Go fuck yourself, X. I'm just out for a walk.'

[cutting_edgex23]

"That is a lie. You came directly from the stables."

Beat.

"And you have blowback residue. On your hands."

She can smell it.

[latino_menace]

'...anyone tell you yet today that you're a freak?'

He's sure it must happen at least five times daily. And he watches her, outwardly calm, as he lights a cigarette and blows some smoke at her.

'Prove it.'

[cutting_edgex23]

Ramon has no idea.

"You will make me take you in?"

She only sounds a little bit curious about that.