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This definitely wasn't the first time he'd done it, but it was the first time Arthur caught him doing it.
It had been a long day. Their mission would've been a complete failure had Talon and his Kullervo not been there. Viktor had sent multiple squads after them while they were out evacuating a city sector. Arthur knew the citizens were being used as bait, but it wouldn't have been worth the casualties if they'd ignored their need for help.
Viktor pulled no stops in sending everything he had at them. Stormfall, ground troops, even a tank or two. It was meant to be an eradication once and for all. He couldn't, however, predict the wild card The Hex had gained only recently. Talon was fast, and exactly the edge they needed to tip the scales in their favor.
The team was successful but exhausted when they returned to the mall. Dinner was brief and everyone had gone to their designated bunkers for the night. Despite it all, Arthur was finding it hard to sleep, so he wandered out from the Security office to clear his head.
He caught Talon watching Amir sleep. He sat there for a few minutes practically frozen in time before turning around to search for Aoi in her little bunk.
He'd repeat the process. Watch and wait. Arthur couldn't even see him breathing.
Talon had it down to a science. Like clockwork. Three minutes, then he'd leave. Arthur snuck himself back to Security before the drifter made his way to Quincy.
Arthur didn't even hear his approach, but he could feel his reflective eyes on him in the dark.
Talon shifted closer, noting the change in Arthur's breathing pattern. Arthur kept himself still, allowing the drifter to look him over.
Three minutes. He laid still for three minutes.
Then Talon left. Arthur opened his eyes. Next would've been Lettie, but he hadn't heard his footsteps on the stairs. When Arthur had made his way up to see if he was watching the medic, Talon was nowhere to be seen.
Something brushed past Arthur as he was going back downstairs. It made his heart race, his forehead sweat, but it didn't linger for long. Like a passing memory.
Arthur found Talon staring at Amir again. That same, unyielding pose as before.
Three minutes, Arthur timed him this time, and Talon turned around.
Three minutes. Aoi was okay. He moved to Quincy.
Three minutes. Eleanor.
Three minutes.
Arthur wasn't there.
Arthur was following him.
“Marty, what are you doing?”
Talon glared over his shoulder, eyes like indigo pinpricks in the shadows. He shuffled back against the wall, panic sweeping over his features like a deer in headlights.
“Marty–Talon–I’m not mad.” Arthur slowed his approach, realizing his demeanor was more rigid than his intent, “I'm just curious. Are you checking on us?”
Talon answered by covering his face. Arthur had stopped walking towards him at some point, but Talon was gone in a blink.
The drifter left nothing behind. He'd been a phantom. A mere play by Arthur's weary imagination.
“Shit.”