wanted a serious title but i'm wondering which of them is shrek and which is donkey (we know)

[brokeassgoing]

Continued from all this beauty

[He's had a pretty hard time stumbling around after his injury...but that doesn't really stop him. Whiny as he is, Badou had too much to do. Sure, he'd stayed mostly at home these past few days, but he's been very busy. No laying around, no unconsciousness for too long.

He's been developing the film he'd taken during the last job, carefully cultivated in the darkness of his nasty little bathroom, the chemicals would sting his nose if he wasn't used to this already.

So it's no surprise he's been so focused he's forgotten to do some stuff around the place, lately. And will probably not notice a new visitor in the form of his little old man buddy, either.]

Comments

[private_npcs]

[ Allison shrugs as she's not sure what his definition of 'not exciting' is. The guy is friends with someone who is mentally older than his physical body. So he'd have to have experienced some crazy stuff to take Five in stride. ]

I guess. Though you must have seen some crazy stuff to end up befriending an old man trapped in a teenage body. That's not exactly a normal occurrence.

[brokeassgoing]

No...not at all normal. But that's kinda my life too. So I guess I'm used to it. Same with you guys, huh?

[his kind of normal is nowhere near as crazy as the Hargreeves, though. genetic engineering and all that aside. underground unknown, government unknown.]

[private_npcs]

[ Luther smiles as he glances over to Allison. There's definitely some unspoken words between them on the subject of Badou, before Allison averts her gaze back to the road.]

Basically. Our lives have been the furthest thing from normal. We're here.

[ Luther announces as they pull in behind Diego's car as they parked just hidden from the sight of the warehouse. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[yeah he can definitely see there's a Look between them...but he ignores it.

there are more important things, once again. his stomach does a summersault at the sight of this location. as sketchy and unassuming as he'd thought. perfect for shady business like this away from the woman's 'work'.]

What a party spot.

[private_npcs]

No kidding.

[ Allison mutters in agreement as she gets out of the car. Luther follows suit and they are immediately greeted by Klaus, Diego, Vanya and ghostly image of Ben. ]

Now that the gang's all here, it looks like it time for Ben and I to do our part.

Just be careful, you two.

We will, sis. You can count on us...well you can count on me.

[ Klaus frowns at Ben and gives him a 'hey' but Diego cuts him off. ]

We'll be waiting for your signal.

Right, you guys be ready.

[ Klaus nods, gesturing for Ben to follow him. Ben seemingly vanishes as the pair walk away. ]

Once they give us the sign for the number of guys present. Badou and I will take the front and you and Allison can take the back. While Vanya creates the distraction.

[brokeassgoing]

[that's all sure....weird. the ghost thing. he doesn't want to touch that with a 10 foot pole...again, one more Hargreeves thing.

Badou settles in to listening to Luther's orders. this plan is as good as any, and he's got plenty of ammo. speaking of, he gives one of his guns a cursory glance.]

Sounds good.

[private_npcs]

[ Diego looks on as Klaus moves toward the warehouse, while only partly listening to Luther's orders. Vanya gives his arm a squeeze, he merely looks at her and gives her a nod. ]

Right, we should take our positions then.

[ Diego suggests since he doesn't trust himself not to start a fight with how on edge he is feeling. Allison glances over to Luther gives him a nod before heading toward the back of the warehouse with Diego. ]

Be careful, you two.

[ Vanya tells them in a low voice, then she turns her attention back to the warehouse to await the sign from Klaus and Ben. Luther gestures for Badou to follow him toward the front area of the warehouse.]

We should take our positions too.

[brokeassgoing]

[a sharp nod at Luther, he trots after him, his gaze flickering around them to take in every exit, every possible area where new enemies could jump out to ambush them.

it's quiet, so far. quiet, until there's a chill in the air. is that ben? is klaus going to follow? Badou rubs his arm with his free hand, gun clutched tight in his palm.]

[private_npcs]

[ Luther glances up noting the clouds gathering in the sky. He knows exactly what is causing it. And while he's still on edge waiting for Klaus' signal, there's a small comfort in knowing for once everyone is united and they got a plan. ]

Vanya's preparing for when the signal comes. Her powers can affect the weather when she's building them up.

[ He whispers, giving Badou the short explanation, while he keeps his eyes peeled on what is going on around them. ]

[brokeassgoing]

She can affect the weather too? I thought things just exploded...

[from what the others made it sound like. that's...chilling. badum tss.]

[private_npcs]

Honestly we don't know the full extent of Vanya's powers. Our father suppressed them with medication and had Allison rumor her when we were just four years old. But as far as we know, she can channel sound, amplify it and direct it as she needs. Which means affecting the weather and causing explosions among other things.

[ Luther explains as best he can. He's still worried over Vanya's powers, but he has to trust that the training she's been doing has helped. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he what]

He what??? What a scumbag... [a glance] All offence. Jeez..well, long as she's using it for stuff like this. The important stuff.

[private_npcs]

Yeah, he wasn't exactly father of the year.

[ Luther sighs as the subject of his father is still a sore one even for him. But he can't think about Reginald right now, not while Five is in danger. ]

[brokeassgoing]

Mmm...you guys turned out alright. Probably.

[introducing Luther to the Manly Feelings hour. during all this.]

[private_npcs]

Thanks, I think.

[ Luther manages to look a bit amused by that, but he quickly turns his attention back to the warehouse. Suddenly a ghost materializes in front of them. ]

There's only two guards and they are split between the two entry points. The Handler is holding your brother toward the middle of the warehouse. So you should move quickly when you enter or else she may kill him before you reach him.

Vanya.

[ Luther quietly calls out, though he knows that Klaus was meant to send messengers to all their positions. However even as he calls out, the skies darken more dramatically, only lighting up with flashes of lightening and crashes of thunder. The ground rumbles with tremors beneath them as the warehouse starts to shake as if hit with an earthquake. Luther gestures for Badou to follow as that's their cue to storm the front.]

[brokeassgoing]

[welp, spooky. spookier still is the way the ground moves beneath them, trembles and if he didn't know any better writhes beneath their feet, fueling their trajectory even more.

but he follows, oh he follows, because the bullets start to fly the second Luther kicks the door in, quite literally, he's pretty sure it hits a guy, and Badou does not stop firing until he sees the whites of no one's eyes]

[private_npcs]

[ Luther manages to grab Badou's hand with the gun once he sees the one guy go down. ]

Woah man, you got him. We don't need any stray bullets hitting Five, Diego or Allison, okay? Save the rest in case we see the Handler.

[ He tells him as looks around and then heads for the path that looks like it will lead them toward the center of the warehouse. The Building is still shaking enough that dust and light debris starts raining down on them. Though Luther makes sure that Badou is still near enough that he can cover him in case the building really does go down.

Thankfully within minutes they make it toward the center of the warehouse. Luther stops in his tracks at seeing Five suspended in the air, dangling from a heavy duty chains, completely unconscious. Though with the amount of blood covering his face and chest, it is hard to know if he is just passed out. ]

Five!

[ He calls out, quickly moving toward him as Diego and Allison come into the area from the other opposite side. Allison immediately covers her mouth to hold in her gasp. ]

Is he...?

[ Diego asks as Luther reaches out to grab the chain holding Five with one hand, while his other hand moves to check for a pulse at Five's neck. ]

He's still alive.

[ He replies with a relieved sigh as he goes to tug on the chain to break it. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he does stop, not looking happy about it despite knowing Luther is right. taking orders, considering others' health....is a tough thing for a guy who's partner is practically an unkillable zombie.

finding Five is just....a relief and a screeching halt of any joy at once. is he even alive?? even once Luther checks his pulse and confirms he's still breathing, he looks awful. worse than a corpse.]

That bitch.... [he hisses with renewed ire. and if Vanya sees him any time soon, from what Badou knows he wouldn't blame her for leveling the entire place]

[private_npcs]

[ Allison can't really stop her tears from falling as she hurries over to Luther, the very moment he pulls Five down and cradles his limp body to his chest. She immediately pulls handkerchief from her pocket and gently wipes at Five's face. ]

Five, can you hear me?

[ She asks barely suppressing a sob. Diego looks as angry as Badou as he watches this unfold. Then his eyes fall toward the chair a short distance from where Five's eyeline was and sees Dolores. ]

That bitch sounds about right. Look who else is here.

[ Diego says as he points out Dolores to the others. Luther glances up with a frown as he adjusts Five's body in his arms to carry him with the least amount of jostling as possible as they don't know how bad his internal injuries may be. ]

One of you get her. He'll be beside himself, if she's not there when he wakes up.

[ Thankfully the building stops shaking which he hopes that means that either Klaus or Ben have told Vanya she can stop and no one else got the drop on her, while she was outside on her own. Klaus had promised he'd ask a ghost to keep watch on her just in case. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[all the the sibs are in varying degrees of Fed Up with all this, not to mention worried about their brother. that much is clear, even a blind man could see it.

so Badou grabs Dolores, slinging one of her stiff arms over his shoulders and trying to look casual. with a store mannequin in his arms.]

We gotta get outta here. Now. I don't wanna stick around to see if she'll find a new game.

[because that's all this was to her...a game. the sick, sick woman. none of these guys deserve to go through any of this...time to leave and lick their wounds clean.

Badou takes one cursory look at Five's face, but can't bring himself to approach. It's hard to see him like that.]

[private_npcs]

[ Luther nods in agreement as he keeps Five tucked against his chest. He and Allison share a look and she moves back a step, turning to head out to get to Vanya first. She's not sure if Klaus or Ben have said anything but Vanya is not going to take this well at all. ]

I'll go to Vanya.

[ Diego glances over to Badou with Dolores and frowns a bit. ]

Make sure you take care of her. You know he'll be pissed if anything else happens to her.

[ He says before following after Allison, then Luther begins to walk toward the front entrance, he knows it is the clear path, since he and Badou cleared it. ]

Stay close, Badou. If he wakes up on the way out. I don't want him to panic for Dolore's safety.

[brokeassgoing]

[not just pissed, he knows. not just panicked either. he'll completely freak. maybe even violently if he wakes and doesn't recognize his siblings, is so disoriented from the torture that--

no, he can't think that. he curls Dolores a little tighter and follows closely at Luther's heels. While he doesn't hear anything, or see anything....anything could happen, too.]

[oldmanfive]

[ As Luther carries Five outside of the warehouse, Five starts to stir in his arms. The slight jostling enough to earn a groan out of him. One of his eyes is very swollen and refuses to open, but he manages to get one cracked open. His body jerks as feels himself held near someone's broad chest. ]

I got you, Five. It's okay.

[ Luther speaks, keeping a firm grip on his tiny brother's battered body. He tries to speak but his throat is both dry and raw from the workout he has been put through. So he settles for one hand moving to grip Luther's shirt, trying desperately to tug at it with little strength he has left. Luther looks down at his brother's face. ]

We got Dolores too. She's safe.

[ Five's breath shudders with relief as he falls unconscious again, his grip on Luther's shirt going slack. Luther frowns, but he can feel that Five is still breathing as he makes it back toward the cars with Badou close behind him. The moment the cars are in sight, Vanya and Allison run over to them. Vanya definitely looks as though she's caught between her anger and grief. She looks toward the warehouse, her eyes turning white as the ground starts shaking again. ]

Vanya don't! I know your angry but we don't have time for this. We need to get him home, so Mom can take care of his injuries.

[ Vanya inhales sharply as she nods her agreement, the color returning to her eyes. Luther begins heading toward the car he drove in as Allison and Vanya follow him. ]

Hey Badou, ride shotgun with Dolores. Allison and Vanya can sit in the back with Five.

[ Luther tells him as Allison gets into the backseat first and then Luther gently as possible places Five into the backseat, resting his head into her lap as Vanya climbs in after, moving to place Five's legs across her lap. Luther immediately slides into the driver's seat as Diego, Klaus and Ben pull out first to get to the Academy to make sure that Grace has everything prepared for Five's imminent arrival. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[for a moment Badou thinks Vanya really will bring the entire place down around their ears...and he still wouldn't blame her too much. he feels a lot like rubble presently.

when they get back to the car Badou doesn't waste time getting into the passenger seat with Dolores, once again not wanting to look back at the distressed, yet slack look on Five's face, the distressed and furious looks on his sisters' faces.

it's time to get out of here, to start the healing process...for Badou to make himself scarce while hovering, somehow. at least until he knows Five'll make it.]

[oldmanfive]

[ Allison gently cradles his head in her lap as she occasionally dabs at the blood on his face with the handkerchief she pulled out earlier. Despite her gentleness, he does seem to flinch at her touch. She shares a worried look with Vanya. As banged up as they have seen Five get, this is the absolute worse he has ever looked.

Vanya frowned as she noticed the bloody uppercase H shape carved into his chest among all the bruises covering his torso. His poor skin looking absolutely battered as it looked like more bruises were blossoming underneath the slightly older ones. If she ever saw the woman responsible for this, she was definitely going to kill her, no hesitation or second thoughts. ]

What's this?

[ Allison asks, taking note of the metal collar clinging to Five's neck. The skin underneath it was also raw and looked scorched and bruised. Gently her fingers skirted over the metal until she found the mechanism to unlock from his neck. Five let out a groan as she slowly removed it and looked it over with an expression caught between horrified and anger.]

Is that a shock collar?

[ Vanya asks with an equally horrified expression on her face. ]

Toss it in case it has a tracker or bug on it.

[ Luther tells Allison as he glances into the rearview mirror, his grip on the wheel tightening as he accelerates the car in that much more of a hurry to get Five back to Grace. ]