Chapter Text
Espen sat on the floor of the stage breathing heavily. It was cold. He began to shuffle his way to the door again, limping slightly. “Geluiddemperrr” he called out weakly. “Come onnnnn… You’ve had your fun… let me out… please…?” god he sounded pathetic. He coughed. “...I think I might die here if you don’t…?” Espen banged on the door with his fist once again, before letting his arm fall to his side and sliding down the side of the door. He felt a hot droplet of water form in the corner of his eye. It rolled down his cheek and hit the large wound on his cheek, stinging it. Espen sat cross-legged and put his hands over his head. He had so many thoughts. Too many thoughts. He just wanted to-
CRASH
"SH!T" A distant, unfamiliar voice cried out.
BANG
Espen stood hurriedly, diving into his bag instinctively only to once more find nothing there. "WHO'S THERE?" He yelled. Everything went silent. Espen walked cautiously to the source of the noise, which led him behind the curtains of the stage. In front of the heavy grey curtains was a metal trash can that had fallen over, spilling garbage everywhere in the general area. He pulled aside the curtain, not sure what he'd see on the other side.
"Hiiiii~." A tall raccoon-person dressed in casual attire said as Espen lifted the curtain. "GAH!" Espen bopped the raccoon on the head as a quick attack. "Owww.. That hurt.." Espen gasped softly. "You're- You're a person! Oh, Lord, you're a real, living person!" Espen grabbed the hands of the other person and shook them harshly.
"Who are you?" The person asked in pure confusion.
"Espen D. Akuji, sir!"
The person raised an eyebrow.
"Zed Z. Zoom. Say, aren't you the ex-head? They all think you're dead! What are you doing here dude?!"
Espen laughed awkwardly. "Well.. Zed.. Surprise! Not dead. And I suppose I was the head general of…” Espen shuddered. “ This .. a few years back."
Zed looked up at Espen. "Hey didn't you kill my mom?"
"Pardon?"
"Quincey Zoom?"
"Sh!t."
The entire room got quiet. "But hey- old times now, no hard feelings." Zed said casually. Zed pat the ground beside him, gesturing for Espen to sit with him. Espen shifted to sit next to Zed.
Espen noticed something about Zed. "Wait- you're not a member are you? You're not in uniform." Zed nodded. "Mhm. Good observation. Only took you like- five minutes.. " Espen looked at Zed. "And you're not even.. Worried about me potentially being a member myself? If anyone found you living on land territory without being a member-"
Zed cut him off. "I know. But look at you, you're bleeding in three different places, your clothes are all torn up, and god- your neck-" Espen pulled his hand up to cover his heavily scarred neck. "Even if you were a member- which I know you’re not- you’d probably be dying shortly anyway.” Espen bit his lip. Zed was right.
“Now, if you’ll allow me to..” Zed pointed at the several still open wounds on Espen’s right arm. “Do you mind if I tend to those? They look nasty.” Espen looked at Zed, half confused and half suspicious. “You may bandage them, but nothing more.” Even he had to admit he needed some kind of care. “Right. Follow me.” Zed said, standing slowly and turning to walk further backstage. Despite his suspicions, Espen followed.
Zed led Espen to an alleyway backstage, where Zed took out a bandage roll and began to place the bandages over any of Espen’s wounds that were still open. Espen stared at the floor silent the entire time.
“There.” Zed said once finished, placing the bandage roll at his feet. Espen ran his hand over the bandages. They were rather well done, for some random basement kid. Zed slid against the wall behind him, sitting down leaning on it. He pat the ground for Espen to follow him. After some hesitation, Espen sat next to Zed.
“So, how’d you end up here anyway? Again, they all think you’re dead.” Zed asked.
Espen wasn’t sure how to respond to that question. The two sat in silence for a while as he planned his words carefully. “Geluiddemper and her honour guards put me in the stage- I'm not sure why. Probably to keep me contained until they can execute whatever twisted fate they want me to go through.” Zed looked down at the floor. “Man, they really hate your guts huh?” Espen shifted uncomfortably. “...I guess.” Zed smiled calmly. “Hey, welcome to the club. I’m sure i’m on their hitlist too.” Espen smiled a little too. “What, is that meant to be comforting?” he said jokingly. “We will fall together,” Zed said, bowing dramatically.
The two talked for several more minutes, mostly just Zed speaking and Espen listening. They talked on and on, until eventually Zed turned to look at Espen and noticed he had fallen asleep. Zed took off his jacket and rested it around Espen as a makeshift blanket. “Sleep well buddy. Heaven knows you need it.”
2:55 AM
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“Where’d he go?” Cardinal asked, shining his flashlight over the stage area in search of the missing ram person. He looked over to the Sparrow, the guard he was tasked to work with. Sparrow looked back and shrugged silently. As Sparrow turned away, Cardinal swept up the curtain behind the stage and saw the unconscious ram sitting beside local stage raccoon Zed Zoom. Cardinal stared at the pair for a minute before putting the curtain back down and calling to Sparrow. “There’s nobody behind the curtains either. Maybe he got through the fire exit in the seating area.” Sparrow nodded, and began walking to check there. While Sparrow was distracted, Cardinal pulled up the curtain again. Zed and the ram had already left.
“Probably for the best.”
Cardinal murmured quietly to himself. “You coming?” Sparrow asked. “Mhm. Just- double checking they aren't there.” Cardinal pushed down the curtain and walked away.