Chapter Text
“It's a little tight,” Gaius says, fidgeting with the headpiece fitted around the back of his head.
“I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t fall off!” Nowi pouts. “If you don’t like it, why don’t you try building all of our tech and monitoring all of the channels and doing all of the hacking and writing all of the scripts for movies that we won’t even finish and—”
“Okay, okay!” Gaius holds up his hands in surrender.
“It’s, uh, a little fuzzy,” Olivia notes, squinting at the computer screen they rest of the team is huddled around.
“It’s because we’re far away,” Nowi explains. “I’d normally like a clearer picture, but I’d rather be safe with our signal just in case we get any surprises from any other ones like when we were dealing with the Roddicks.”
“It’s not as likely in this case, but still, good call,” Robin says, fighting back a smile as Nowi beams from the praise. “The point is, Gaius, we’re able to see what you see. So behave yourself.”
“I’ll try,” Gaius chuckles, already scaling the wall.
It takes him a couple minutes to work his way up, even with his rope and other climbing equipment. At last, he alights at the top, surveying the flat roof. He walks to the door, careful not to make a sound.
“Th-this doesn’t look like a-an orphanage,” Olivia shudders.
“So far, I’d say abandoned army warehouse,” Gaius adds, working at the lock. “A pretty big one too.”
“Look, this is the place,” Nowi says, sounding hurt at the insinuation that she could be wrong. “Candace’s call to Morristan ended up here, and her car is still heading in this direction.”
“It… can’t be where they’re keeping the kids though,” Olivia says quietly.
“It can,” Lon’qu answers.
Robin pauses to look back at Lon’qu, who is now leaning against the wall, not even looking at the screen. He looks over at Robin for a moment before turning his attention back to the far wall.
“I’m in,” Gaius says triumphantly, closing the door behind him, cringing at the creaking from the old hinges.
“I’d say your guess about abandoned warehouse was right, Gaius,” Robin notes as Gaius looks around.
Gaius stands on an upper level of a massively high room, a series of catwalks stretching out to other islands of concrete with huge openings to look down into the space below. He pauses on each set of stairs or ladder as he looks around, taking stock of his surroundings. With great care, he sneaks over to the nearest opening to peer down at the men down below gathered around several large crates.
“What does an orphanage need armed guards for?” Gaius says, all previous good humor gone.
Robin can feel Lon’qu standing behind her now to get a better look at the screen. Down below Gaius, there is no denying that the men are making rounds of the area, Morristan pointing as he gives orders from his spot beside the crates.
“It—it’s all a f-front then?” Olivia whispers in a tiny voice.
Candace enters, crossing over to join Morristan, both of them exchanging greeting kisses on the cheeks before they have a quick discussion. Gaius leans forward, but isn’t able to catch anything of meaning past the sound of their voices.
“We need to make sure Hayato is here,” Robin says suddenly.
Gaius flinches at the sound of footsteps coming from the closest stairs. With a start, he grips onto the railing and pulls himself over onto the other side, hanging out in the open over a dangerous drop.
“Oh my gods!” Olivia shrieks.
Gaius cringes at her sudden shout, but otherwise, he remains unmoving as he turns to look down below. The footsteps pause up above as the man stops to glance around; down below, Candace, Morristan, and the other men continue on, unware of Gaius hanging a hundred feet above them. Only once the footsteps from up above have retreated to another set of stairs does Gaius pull himself back up.
“Hope I didn’t scare you there, Twinkletoes.”
“I-i-it’s f-fine.”
Gaius goes as quickly as he can to the nearest set of stairs without making too much noise, taking care to avoid the guards making their rounds. He passes through another large room similar to the one he came into but with an extra level. He is on that middle level when he hears a tiny cough echoing from a nearby hallway down a flight of stairs. They all watch with bated breath as Gaius carefully approaches, takes the steps, walks down the hall, takes the corner, then pauses in front of the door a few steps away, listening. This is cut short at the sound of more footsteps and voices from the way he came. With nowhere else to hide, Gaius immediately opens the door and ducks inside, closing it behind him.
He stops in his tracks.
“Oh, gods,” Gaius breathes.
The room is small, two rows of bunk beds leaving just enough space for a small, unadorned table squeezed into the middle. From all around the room, Gaius is assailed with large eyes staring out from small, sunken faces, unmoving and silent as they lay or sit on beds or even the floor, most beds shared between two children. Gaius walks slowly inside, too horrified for words as he simply stares back at the silent figures, all of them wearing ill fitted, dirty clothes. The only sound now is Olivia letting out a shaky breath, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Robin dully knows she must think of a plan at once and spot Hayato from the crowd, but shocked numbness instead takes over her mind.
Gaius immediately returns to his senses at the footsteps outside the door paired with Candace and Morristan’s voices speaking an unfamiliar language. He drops and rolls under one of the beds. The child sitting above him immediately shifts the thin blanket down and flings his feet down to the floor in what is clearly an attempt to help Gaius hide as the door is flung open.
Candace immediately marches in, barking a couple words to the children at large before she stops and turns to the door to say something to Morristan still outside in the hall. Gaius, his view shortened by the blanket and skinny legs, shifts to the side, vying for a better look. He immediately backs away out of reflex as Candace lets out a harsh “you!” and storms forward to the bed Gaius hides under. The skinny legs scurry away as Candace grabs the boy’s arm and tugs him along.
“I’ve got a job for you,” she says, none of the warmth or kindness she showed to Lon’qu or Robin earlier evident in her tone. Instead, she offers a backpack to him, shoving it into his arms. “You need to get changed; you look disgusting.”
Candace ushers the boy out roughly. Morristan remains behind only a couple seconds longer to say a few gruff words to the kids before he exits after Candace. Gaius shudders before he crawls back out from under the bed.
“Robin…” Gaius says shakily. She can hear the unspoken question: ‘what now?’
“We have to leave them for now,” Robin says, a bad taste in her mouth. Behind her, Lon’qu’s jaw is clenched so tight that his teeth grind against each other.
“…Okay,” Gaius says, letting out a long breath, sounding no less pleased than Lon’qu. He gives the room another long look before he makes for the door and doesn’t look back. “You better promise me we’re going to do something about this.”
“We will,” Robin says, looking back at Lon’qu. “There’s just too many pieces moving right now. But this is not the end yet.”
“Good,” Lon’qu says, still tense despite his best efforts to regain his composure.
“Hey, guys,” Gaius whispers, drawing everyone’s attention back to the screen. “We’ve got new players.”
Gaius is back above the large room with the crates from before, Morristan and a couple of his men down below talking to a new group who looks no friendlier than the others. Morristan opens one of the crates to allow their guests a look. Far off as Gaius is, the contents are clear enough to see what they are—rifles.
“These are nice,” the newcomer says appraisingly, getting a good long look before Morristan closes the lid. “Military grade?”
“Did you expect anything less?” Morristan returns with a grin. “The kids did good on this last run.”
“Kids?” Nowi repeats. “He can’t mean…?”
“He does,” Lon’qu answers before she can finish her question, his eyes alight with anger.
“Very good,” the buyer says.
“At first, I doubted moving them up to weapons. Drugs are easier for kids to sneak through since they’re smaller. But even kids can make things happen with the proper motivation.”
“We’ll be back tomorrow at sunset with our payment.”
“Perfect.”
Morristan and his buyer shake hands, then follow each other out. With the floor temporarily empty, Gaius silently works his way down the stairs to get a closer look. The first crate he looks in is the one Morristan uncovered. Sure enough, a row of packed assault rifles peer back up at them. Gaius mutters a curse as he looks hopelessly around at the other crates stacked in a row—a dozen in all. A couple bags rest against a crate, but Gaius doesn’t bother opening it up, instead nudging it with his foot. Robin suspects either the aforementioned drugs or some flavor of dirty money.
“Yeah, it’s about as bad as it looks,” Gaius mutters angrily.
“Okay,” Robin says. “Gaius, get out of there and meet us back at the hotel.”
“Those kids need to get out now,” Lon’qu says. Robin turns slowly at the hint of a threat in his voice.
“And we will get them out. But we can’t tonight. Not with Gaius all on his own. Not to mention there’s no way Morristan wouldn’t notice, and it could be enough to spook Candace and keep her from bringing Hayato with her to the set. There’s still enough time to figure this out and come back for them later.”
“Those kids might not have time,” Lon’qu argues, his anger giving him the courage to hold a gaze stronger than any he’s ever sent to Robin. “Every second they spend there is a second they’re in danger.”
“I know that, Lon’qu,” Robin replies, taking care to remain calm. “But running around halfcocked won’t help them either. We’ll come up with a plan then come back.”
“If we snatch Hayato like you plan, these kids might not be here when we come back.”
“Lon’qu, I need you to trust me.”
Lon’qu scoffs, finally relinquishing his death glare to look up at the ceiling as if his long lost patience might be hiding up there somewhere.
“We’re not going to abandon them,” Robin tires again. “We’re just going to take this one step at a time. Just stay with me for now, please.”
Lon’qu doesn’t reply for a while, still staring at the ceiling. Gaius is safely back to the roof and securing his rope to propel back down the wall when Lon’qu looks back at Robin. Though he seems to have recovered himself enough to know longer be prone to exploding, Robin knows the fury is still there, pushed back below the surface.
“Fine,” Lon’qu says, and walks out without another word.
Robin sighs heavily, leaning against the wall as Olivia and Nowi look on with worried expressions.
“I’m not drunk enough for this,” Robin mutters. She peeks through her curtain of white hair at Olivia, who only looks more concerned. Robin sighs again, frustrated. “Pass me my water bottle.”
Robin scans the face of the boy in front of her, ignoring Candace’s expectant grin entirely. His hair is a messy russet brown, large gray eyes lined with exhaustion, face pink from one last minute scrub in an attempt to wash away the layers of dirt and sweat. Though he’s scrawny—made only more obvious by the shirt a few sizes too large—he doesn’t look starved. Robin’s gaze catches on Candace’s hand, clutched almost too tight on the boy’s shoulder, as if she expects him to bolt. Though he looks resigned, Robin sees a spark deep in his eyes to suggest he’s biding his time for a chance to do so.
“What do you think?” Candace asks, no longer able to hold her tongue.
Robin snaps to attention, grinning.
“Perfect! He’s perfect! Navarre, bring this boy to makeup, if you would?”
Lon’qu and Robin share a quick look. Lon’qu nods, raising his arm to direct the boy onwards. Though Candace at lasts releases her hold on his shoulder, she already makes to follow them.
“You’ll be with the other women, Miss Dragé,” Robin says pointedly. “Be on the set in ten.”
“Alright,” Candace relents, but she still watches Lon’qu walk Hayato away.
Hayato, for his part, says nothing, looking up with big eyes as Lon’qu clears his throat.
“You’re going to be just fine,” Lon’qu says, stiff.
Hayato says nothing, though he does give Lon’qu a half smile. Lon’qu stands off to the side, keeping an eye on Hayato as makeup gets to work. As promised, Candace and Hayato are ready as soon as can be done, then guided into position on set amidst the fake trees.
“Okay, your motivation!” Robin barks out at them from her seat. “You are being chased by an unknown assailant, and you want to get the boy to safety. Your beats are straightforward, and I assume you’ve already read what you need to do?”
“Yes,” Candace calls over.
“Good. Ready, and… action!”
Candace bunches up her skirts and runs, one hand gripping Hayato’s arm, her going for theatrical gasping, and Hayato resigned to being along for the ride, albeit grudgingly. She throws herself upon the door of the set’s shed, wrenching it open almost comically before ushering Hayato inside. She immediately zeroes in on the trapdoor below them, points, then opens it, helping Hayato step down.
“Stay there until I call for you!” Candace commands tearfully. “Don’t make even a sound!”
Hayato nods, then steps down the rest of the way. The door shuts soundly behind him. Hayato gasps in surprise at the other person under the set as Candace paces furiously above them, closing the shed door and securing a rake through the handle in an attempt to bar the door. Olivia holds a finger to her lips for silence before beckoning Hayato to follow her.
“We’re going to get you out of here,” she explains, though her Hoshidan is clumsy. The message is nonetheless received as Hayato nods.
A long, eerie howl echoes throughout the set.
“No…” Candace gasps, chest heaving. “It can’t be true. They can’t be… real…!”
Then, loud snuffling right by the door. Candace clutches at her chest, trying to hold her breath. For a long moment the snuffling and movement from outside the shed remains, then ends suddenly, leaving naught but silence in its wake. With curiosity and dread in equal measure, Candace inches closer to the door. The camera closes in on her face. She leans forward, trying to peer through one of the gaps in the wood.
With a flurry of movement, the door is flung aside, throwing Candace back. Though the creature is obscured and not fully seen by camera, the blood shooting from the raking claw marks across Candace’s chest is so present to the point of being comical. She shrieks, dropping over the trap door. She convulses once, twice, then is still.
After a few seconds, Candace sits up suddenly.
“I don’t like that one. Let’s do it again?”
She pauses, doing a double take at the director’s chair. The empty chair stares back at her.
“What…?”
She stands up, stepping off of the trap door to open it up. The space underneath is as empty as the chair.
“Get me my phone!” Candace screeches. “Where is my phone?”
In the prop truck, Gaius snickers, tossing Candace’s phone up and down a couple times before letting it sail out the open window.
“Oops.”
“Nice job, team,” Robin says, smiling at Hayato, the boy sitting in the back beside Olivia with an extra coat thrown around his shoulders. “Olivia, could you tell him that he’s going to be okay, and that we’re taking him back to Libra?”
Hayato perks up simply at the mention of Libra’s name, looking excitedly to Olivia as she translates. Hayato begins to say something back, but is interrupted by a rough turn that nearly knocks them all out of their seats.
“Everything okay up there, Lon’qu?” Robin asks, walking forward then staring blankly at Nowi in the driver’s seat.
“He already left,” Nowi says innocently.
“And you never thought to mention that before we left in a hurry?”
“I figured he was just going to meet us ahead at the hotel. He was pretty eager to get away from Candace.”
“Nowi—”
“Oh, it should be fine. His com is still on!”
Robin looks down slowly, Nowi’s gaze following, at Lon’qu’s com sitting innocently in the cup holder.
“Oh, poo,” says Nowi.