Geoff couldn't deny how pleased he was with Gavin's return. He'd been skeptical on if Gavin would even come back to the safe-house that night, and he'd managed to get everyone to head home anyways. Ray and Michael had protested, demanding that they all wait for Gavin to get back, but Jack had reasoned that it had already been all day and part of the night. If he were coming back, then he would already be back.
It was messy for Geoff, because he wanted to go home to Griffon, he wanted to tell her that everything was alright and that he wasn't panicking. Because for a good while Gavin had housed with Geoff and Griffon, just until he was fully on his feet and in the right state of mind, and Griffon had become an adoptive sort of mother. She hated hearing that Gavin got upset and stormed off, that and Geoff wasn't in the mood for any kinds of reprimanding from her.
The time read as 1:38am when Gavin ambled back into the house, eyes bleary and exhaustion written all over his features. Of course Geoff had been grateful to see him, he'd been envisioning the worse of all possibilities, but he was even more thankful when Gavin lied a pile of papers onto the table, collapsing onto the couch beside them with a large exhalation of breath. "You fucking idiot." Geoff murmured fondly as his eyes took in the plans laid before him. "You god-damn lunatic."
"Belt up you plunker, stop wanking about and sod off." Gavin retorted, voice barely audible from his position buried against the cushions. The safe house held two spare beds in separate rooms, so he never understood why someone would feel better faceplanting into something that people put their asses on all day. He settled the papers back to the table, so far it was only a set deadline and information on the bank he'd obviously allowed himself into. Pushing his fingers through the lads hair, he shakes his head before standing and letting himself out. Gavin didn't need any further watching over, he really was a grown man and Geoff knew he'd have to accept that at some point.
It had been a good few years ago when the doctors had told Griffon she'd never be able to have children, that she was barren and her uterus was basically an inhospitable environment. They'd continuously tried and tried, but Griffon couldn't bear a family of her own, she'd forever be like this. Geoff had to sit and watch her tear herself apart, she was on the brink of being lost forever when Geoff decided to dabble in the darker portion of life, when he'd first found Gavin. Though it was an unlikely decision, Geoff still brought the boy home, he'd been younger than the rest of them, and Griffon took to him near instantly, she'd found a soul to look after. It was needless to say that Geoff took the same responsibility over him as well.
Climbing into his car, he glances around the garage, the only vehicle that would remain there during the night was Gavin's motorcycle and the AH Albany Roosevelt. Geoff had protested them all buying a car together, he said that it was fucking weird and they should all be able to afford a ride of their own. But Michael had stressed the importance of them having a unified symbol that proved they all functioned together, and then he kinda stole their money to aid in paying for it anyway. Geoff was again, pleasantly surprised with the entire gesture, but he remained thankful nevertheless. He hadn't seen anyone bicker in the car or whenever they had issues with each other they'd go work on the car together, it had become like a member of the team. Geoff sighed as he sat himself into his own car, nothing fancy, and drove off into the night. Morning would come and that would leave them with more problems to handle.
Ryan didn't know which was worse, Thane relaxed or Thane angry, so he decided that they were both relatively the same. He'd been contemplating exactly how to tell Thane that the Fakes were about to strike close to home, but there wasn't really a way that screamed perfect to him. Seeing Gavin in the bank had shocked him, and he'd been grateful that Gavin had been so clearly invested with the computer screen to be able to realize that Ryan had entered the vicinity. He was also grateful that he had made himself known in the area, hoping that perhaps by seeing a familiar face Gavin would step back.
But Gavin had remained in the bank until it closed, which was rather remarkable in Ryan's eyes. Because he'd sent another teller up there, the one that hired people, and Gavin somehow managed to convince the man that he had hired him! Ryan had always known he was good at manipulating people, he could convince people that the sky was falling outside even if they were standing in perfect weather, but Gavin could convince people that the oxygen was toxic to their immune system and then get those people to start convincing people around them the same. By the end of the day Ryan was struggling to cling to the idea that Gavin hadn't been hired even though he knew inside that he hadn't. Gavin was better than Ryan had anticipated, and it only meant that he had to be even more careful around him.
He paced before the door a moment longer, his eyes stilled and trained on it like it were the only border between him and punishments he knew he'd dislike. He knew that Thane was displeased with the way Ryan had chosen to handle the Fakes, and he knew that Thane was also unhappy with the fact that Ryan was with-holding this. He knew the latter mainly because he had all day to tell Thane and get him to kick Gavin out- but he was so damn transfixed on the way Gavin spoke. He could weave words around a person in such a perfect stitch that they'd never want to stop listening to him, even if they knew it would kill him. Ryan had known full well that standing there watching Gavin was getting him nowhere, he'd gotten all the information he'd really needed, the only thing he knew now was that when Gavin said he could be anyone someone wants them to be, he literally meant it.
Ryan was certain that Gavin could convince people he wasn't even British while using a British accent. He could tell people he were a God, and really was he far from that at this point?! His acting was so impossibly incredible that Ryan had feared for his own safety for a moment, he wasn't too good with reading people when the person he was supposed to read was so superficial that they had no beginnings to who they were. Ryan doubted that Gavin even knew himself anymore. Being swept away in multiple identities was easy to do when it was an everyday occurrence.
Garnering enough bravery, he bangs loudly on the door, not bothering for any acknowledgment before he allowed himself in. His actions and thoughts spoke differently, he'd always hold himself up as superior and uncaring, even if he were worried in his mind. And he was. He was already stifled in his creativity, Thane's next move could be to pull him from the lines entirely. "The Fake AH Crew is planning a heist against this bank, their hacker, Golden Boy himself was here all night long till close pretending to be a teller. I sent every manager down there, he convinced them all it was an err on their behalf, and they believed him and allowed him to stay through the day. They gave him all our pass-codes and told most of our secrets."
Thane remained silent, his feet propped up against the desk as his eyes narrowed to Ryan with a dark sort of detachment. Dropping his feet down, he folds his hands atop the desk, lips curled downward in obvious distaste. "And what did you do about this?"
"I watched." It wasn't what he said, he knew that Thane wasn't upset about the real part of it, but more the trivial petty side of it, the way he said it. It was about the disrespect in his tone, the way he held no care in upsetting the man whom owned him, and quite frankly he didn't. He'd worked alongside (or really underneath) Thane for awhile now, bordering on two years, and it wasn't fair anymore. Thane had taken his crew from him, had made himself the leader of what Ryan had built up, and then persisted to demoralize and degrade Ryan, constantly castigating him for being the strongest- just to prove dominance. And Ryan was tired of it, he trusted Thane to make the right decisions and always have his back, but he was tired of being treated like a dog, the loyal pet that would lay down his life for his leader.
It was supposed to be an equal partnership, and Ryan would take the blame for all of Thane's initial arrogance because Ryan had been more than willing to allow Thane to have whatever it was he so desired, but after so long the charade got old. His aforementioned fears of Thane taking his creativity died then, if he wanted to kill someone with a knife instead of a gun then there was nothing holding him back from that, just as if he decided to torture them awhile longer than what was absolutely necessary, he didn't need the permission of someone who had to take over another persons crew to feel accomplished. "I'm tired of you Vagabond, get the fuck out of my office and don't come back until you have something of use to me. You're like a fucking toddler, get out."
Ryan was shocked with his words, the expression evident on his face. He had never been excused like that, Thane wasn't ever one to dismiss a punishment when it was rightfully deserved. And woefully so Ryan found himself needing that punishment, basically wanting to be slammed back into compliance. But that was childish, children needed to be told when they were bad and then rectified, Ryan was a grown man and didn't need his wrist slapped whenever he purposely misbehaved. It was why he was so shocked that he didn't move, why he didn't just take the offer and leave, because some sick part of him needed to be dominated by Thane. "Oh look, he's still here. How about when you stop pretending to be rid of me I'll take you back under my wing, until then I give you all the freedom you so desire."
"Thane stop, I was being stupid, I don't want to not follow your orders. You're my leader, I serve you and only you, forgive me sir." He lowered his head submissively, fists clenched at his sides. He knew that was the Vagabond side of him fighting back, because that was full of hatred and malice and determination to only be owned by himself. But Ryan needed something firm and stable to lean on, he needed someone to ground him back to reality, because he wasn't mentally capable of keeping himself in check. He couldn't lead, he could only ever follow.
The chuckle Thane let loose was feral, it was the type of noise a killer might make to his dying victim as they pleaded for help, or the kind an animal of sorts would mimic while watching another submit to their strengths. Vagabond hated it. But Ryan loved it. "Apology accepted, just don't let it happen again, my pet. Now really, go, I have work to finish. See to it that nobody else hears about the Fakes and their attack, I want them to come, and I don't want you anywhere near to intervene or impede their success. They will leave with my money, and then I will kill them. Understood?"
Ryan only nodded.
The team met in the Heist Room, listening intently as Gavin- for what felt like the billionth time- explained what would occur on the heist and who would do what and where during when. It really wasn't as complicated as they were making it, though Ray being in a sober state of mind might really help them more. Yet again he had decided that getting high would be brilliant for him, and Gavin was absolutely livid at that. Geoff had drank before showing as well, but he was rational through his alcohol. All Gavin knew was that he didn't kill himself over heists for his team-mates to fuck around and not even listen until they were ready. For once they had a time limit to complete their heist, they had only tomorrow- Wednesday- to pull it off because Ryan would go back and blab to Mr. Darcy when he meets him for tea on Thursday. Which really sounded lovely and the most of Gavin was wondering if he'd be able to intrude on that. The rest of him was busy worrying that once this heist was pulled off, Ryan might put all the little pieces together.
Gavin couldn't really handle the stress that came with a mission let alone having to figure out a plan for when Geoff's predictions come to life. He didn't want to ruthlessly off Ryan just because he was conveniently in the wrong place at the most perfect time, he found that yes they teased each other but there was also something almost friendly in it. Ray cleared his throat, rapping his fist against the table impatiently. "Gavin? The fucks got you so distracted?"
Jumping slightly, he pulls back from his reverie, noting that he'd been gnawing painfully at his nails again. He hated that habit, because it came with anxiety, and whenever he was anxious he'd chew his nails past the point of painful. He'd once chewed his nail till it bled just because he couldn't find all the loopholes in a particularly dangerous heist they were put on. "Er, uh, nothing. Anyways, if you'd all be so kind as to finally shut the fuck up, maybe I can proceed with telling you all where you'll have to meet up in order to get this plan done perfectly."
Geoff chuckled under his breath, hand raising gently to cover his unmistakable smile. "Jeez, someone didn't sleep last night, Gav I hate when you do that." Gavin turned towards Michael, indignance prepared, but the fondness in his gaze startled him back to reality. Sure, he was on edge, he just wanted this to go off without a hitch, but it was more difficult than he had first imagined it would be. "I know, I just, I didn't want any possible failures."
"Well knowing you, it'll be perfect, get some rest, we can do this Friday-"
"No!" Gavin interjected wildly, eyes widening fractionally as the room around them fell silent. It wasn't like dates were ever important to Gavin, nor was it to the others, pay day could be literally any day they so pleased, so for Gavin to protest to openly was new. "Tomorrow, we have to do it tomorrow. They're, uh, shipping out a lot of the cash Friday, so the sooner the better." The lie was swifter than he had imagined it would have been, he had always known that he was a good actor because he could convince someone in a crowded room that they were invisible. It was a gift and a curse, because now when he knew he would be hurting his friends by lying, he couldn't be busted in the lie unless they had prior knowledge. As it was, Geoff merely nodded in understanding. "Good thinking Gavin, that's why we keep you around."
"Yeah." He laughed idly, locking his hands behind his back. "Yeah..."
The day was spent with preparation, they'd all busied themselves with learning the schedule of shift changes, the way the security system functioned, which guns would probably lock and which wouldn't, and what explosives would be best to use. It was good enough for Michael, he was pleased with the fact that he could distract himself from everything around him. He didn't like the fact that Gavin was still bent on seeing that Ryan guy. It was an annoyance, but being Gavin's closest friend meant he couldn't just tell on him. Plus that would be childish.
Slamming the gun back together, he drops it down. It had taken him nearly thirty minutes now just to clean one gun, let alone the entire storage room they held. He was only cleaning the guns they'd take, it took too long for him to take them all apart and slam them back together. As well as Ray had been absolutely no help at all. He'd distracted himself with cleaning the scope on his own neon pink sniper rifle. Michael knew he was only doing that because he was still high and couldn't really function properly. Usually a chore like this was done twice as fast because they would simply be able to all work together. Geoff was off studying the board again, embedding the plan and map into the depths of his mind, and Jack was readying the rides. The only one not really doing anything- aside from Ray- was Gavin. Michael had wondered if he ought to go and look for him, but he'd quickly dismissed the idea, instead moving to clean the guns.
Tossing the last gun into the pile, he collapses against the cold steel table, heaving in a breath of despair. "Dammit Ray your rifle is clean!"
Ray jumped at the tone and pitch of his voice, easily skittish by loud things when high, before settling back into his chair with an easy smile. "Nah dude, look, it's only glowing, it's supposed to be shining." He released a breathy chuckle, breathless as if he'd just run a race. "You can't rush perfection, I mean look how you turned out."
Michael growled low in his throat, raising up a gun in the preparation to throw it at his companion when Gavin's voice suddenly blared through the com in his ear. "Michael I need your assistance, stop bickering with Ray and put the gun down."
Rolling his eyes, he sets the gun down, ignoring the snickers from Ray he got as he stalked out. Everyone in the team knew how it was between Gavin and Michael, because it wasn't that there wasn't a sort of deeper bond between them, it was the strict fact that Gavin had heavily relied on them staying as professional as possible. That and he had constantly reminded the team that he wasn't who he seemed to be. But Michael liked to pride himself over the fact that he knew Gavin, above everyone else he knew Gavin. Or, he liked to tell himself that. Sometimes he would boast about it only because he knew that Geoff disliked it so much, though lately Michael had been questioning what he actually did know about Gavin. The blonde was a wonder to the world, he was someone that people saw from a distance and instantly knew that they wanted to approach him, Michael had taken brief moments to just watch him as he worked or simply stood out in the sun like a brilliant golden ray. He was an attractive male, but his attraction was only an exterior type of beauty.
Michael had watched before as Gavin rehearsed over and over to play his next role, whoever he was needed to be he would perform it. He was like a dress up doll, perhaps like a male barbie, he could be anything anyone wanted of him and he would do it with only perfection. Michael had told himself on many occasions that he knew the young lad, that he knew him entirely, but as the days drew by he began noticing things he never had.
Anyone with eyes could tell you that Gavin was a sexual person, he used his sexual prowess to get what he wanted out of people, he knew exactly how to hold himself and exactly how to manipulate a person into falling down with him or simply spilling their guts in hopes of getting somewhere. Gavin had been the breaker of many hearts, he'd ruthlessly done so as well, and had even taken some sick sort of pride in the fact that he was able to do that. Michael couldn't deny the man his skills, but whereas Michael could detonate a bomb and leave people dazzled by his handmade explosives- Gavin could infiltrate an army or even convince people he was a government official or that he actually belonged in that business.
He was powerful in his own ways, and Michael had seen when he doubted that power. Michael wasn't too big of a fan of drunk Gavin, that was just a lot of stress and anguish. Still he never denied the man when he asked if he wanted to bar crawl, he had been witness to multiple occasions where Gavin would bitch and moan about his lifestyle, but he never went into depth about it. He would one second be talking about how much he resented himself to seconds later flip a switch of some sorts and become happy-go-lucky Gavin that everyone knew. That was the first time Michael questioned how well he knew Gavin.
The whole crew knew that Gavin had taken extensive classes in acting, he'd worked his ass of to be able to hide himself away in a too perfect false smile, and it was well worth it's pay. When Gavin didn't want to be read, he didn't need a mask or sunglasses to hide whatever he was feeling, he would simply not show it. There was a time when Michael had asked Gavin about his past, how he'd grown and where he hailed from, and Gavin had only stared at him for at least five minutes before he gave him some half assed tale that Michael knew wasn't true- because Geoff had told him, but then he'd seen the way that Gavin had collapsed in his room against the floor, begging himself aloud to remember.
He saw the way Gavin tore himself apart to keep himself as hidden as possible. Pausing, he sighs as he pushes his fingers through his curly auburn locks. The last thing Gavin needed was him prodding incessantly. Raising a fist, he lightly knocks against the partially open door. "Gavs?"
Gavin's voice beckoned him in, short and choppy, unlike the bright one he'd shared over the intercom. That was more of a reason on why Michael liked to think that he and Gavin were closer than the others, because even if all his guards didn't come down before Michael, a good majority of them did. "Yeah, come in."
Entering the room cautiously, he carefully steps over all the wires wound along the floor. Gavin's room was always a maze of technology. Computers, phones, fax machines, copy machines, televisions- there was at least one of every kind of technological anything found in his room. As it was, Gavin was curled in the middle of all the wires, a bomb in his hand and a screwdriver at his side. Michael couldn't stop the fond smile that took up his features, a swell of pride at the sight. Gavin's head was bent, dusty blonde hair falling forward before his gaze, it was odd not being spiked up. A heavy black sweater hanging off his slight form, and casual and ripped jeans worn around his hips. "Are you in need of my assistance to finish that? You know that I can make my own, right?"
Gavin looked up at him, Michael sucking in a sharp breath at the sight, his green eyes were wide and full of such an adoring emotion mixed with clear annoyance. When was it that Michael started caring so much? Crouching down before him, he takes the bomb within his own capable hands, turning it over and over as he examined it thoroughly. "Here, this wire, you crossed it over the wrong way again, tweezers?"
He didn't lift his head, chucking off his jacket as he leant himself over the bomb, taking the tweezers offered to him. He could feel Gavin's own gaze on him, obviously analyzing, and suddenly without his jacket he felt almost too bare. It wasn't like he hadn't shown himself to Gavin before, they'd spent the most amount of time together. His hair fell before his eyes, reminding him how he'd have to cut it again, but other than his curly auburn locks- he was dull. Nothing Gavin ought to glance at for longer than half a second. Freckles, brown eyes, pale skin, and a lightly muscled body- he wasn't a stud or anything like that, and sometimes it grated his nerves when Gavin stared- as if he were almost hoping for... more.
Crossing the wire properly, he reaches for the welding gun, burning the metal perfectly over itself again. "There, don't you pay attention in my classes any?" He teased, eyes lighting up as he glanced towards the younger lad. Gavin chuckled a little, darting his gaze away as he took the bomb from Michael's hand, careful and cautious as if he believed it would blow from the slightest of touches. "Course I do, but when you have such a distracting teacher..."
His voice broke off, gaze returning to Michael's again. That was something Michael could do without, sure he didn't mind friendly teasing between him and Ray- and he knew that was because he didn't want it to go anywhere, but with Gavin it was different. He wanted something, but Gavin didn't, and sometimes he questioned if Gavin were just using him.
Ray was in position before anyone could say anything about him being off, Gavin leading the entourage. Geoff had opted for a blow in, simply burst in and take everything, but Gavin had expressed how much safer it would be for them all to walk in like they were here on important business meetings. He'd told them he was already 'employed' in the bank, so he could slip everyone else in easily. The plan was simple enough, the three of them (Gavin, Michael and Geoff) would slip into the bank and find their way to the back. Gavin would handle electronically wiring the money out of the bank, as well as cutting off the power, while Geoff and Michael would be stuffing cash into sacks. Jack would wait on the roof with a grenade launcher and a rocket launcher, because the second the power goes out the cops will start flowing in like fish upstream during mating season.
Ray's job was probably the most difficult, but he was the most elusive of the crew. All he'd have to do is snipe the security guards through the window and the cops on the ground floor, then when the helicopter on the roof with Jack takes off- he'd make his escape. He had at first protested, demanding they swing around to pick him up, but that was entirely unlikely and improbable, so he was gifted with a motorcycle a little ways away and a change in clothes that he wouldn't even bother using. His purple hoodie would be fine. Actually, he was dressed as casually as physically possible; purple hoodie, baggy khakis, slip on checkered sneakers and a black beanie to cover his fluffy mess of hair. He didn't see any real need to get dressed up, though he had contemplated throwing his contacts in and wearing the goofy masquerade mask he'd bought for fancier occasions.
But the thought and constant reminder that not only did people already know his face (kinda), but wouldn't even see his mask disheartened him enough to not bother with it. He swung his sniper around, pulling the sash off from around his torso, gazing through the scope as he prepared everything. His eyes squinted as he fell into focus, when Ray wanted to be he could be the best damn shot the world had ever seen. He could easily shoot a target covered in trees and leaves at least the distance of a football field and then some- still hitting a bullseye.
He could hear everything. Every breath downstairs, every drop of a pen, not literally, but his mind graciously provided for him all the sounds he was missing out on. He could feel the wind, could tell by instant which direction he'd need to aim to counter that. Everything was in place, he could tell, he could just tell. It was why Brownman was so sought after, because he could envision everything to such a perfect and precise extent that he could probably shoot a moving target blindfolded. He'd heard of rumors of men able to graze a body like that- being able to stop them so profoundly, and he was twistedly pleased to find that the lump of people who could do something like that was him at the top, then the Vagabond, Geoff, and Mr. Darcy.
Snapping back into focus, he switches the com in his left ear to on, gaining proper audio with his surveillance. Jack had successfully landed the chopper, getting the guards up there to allow him before he knocked them out. "Beard is a go." Ray commented idly, voice low and raspy almost over the intercom. "We're in."
He shifted his gaze to the front door, watching through the scope as Gavin led the two into the building. He could hear the conversations, Geoff muttering how he was as sweaty as dicks in an orgy, and Michael commented on how that wasn't the way professionals behaved. Then there was an extra voice, a females voice, tight and clipped. "What is this, Mr. Free?!" She snarled, and Ray could see the way she crossed her arms purposefully underneath her ample bust. "Clearly there's sexual tension here, eww Golden Boy, look at her sags."
Gavin didn't even react to Ray's words, and he felt himself deflate slightly. He knew he wasn't getting ignored, but they muttered amongst each other, at the moment the only other one who could understand how irritatingly lonely it got at a birds eye view away, was Jack- silent, stony, Jack. "Relax love, there was a memo sent out, these are the representatives from the firm in Europe. Mr. Auguste and his assistant John, from France? You really didn't check your e-mail this morning? You're supposed to be on top of this, now they have an edge on us."
The woman blanched, turning and frantically returning to her desk. There was just such a lilt in the way Gavin spoke, in the condescending click of his tongue, it made even Ray forget that they were in mid-heist. Watching avidly, Gavin moves the group away and into a hallway. Ray could have always swept into his infrared scanner, but there was no point to it, he didn't need to see where the group carried themselves, he just had to keep guard on the outside of the building.
He swung the scope around, taking in the surroundings, the bustle of people outdoors compared to the serenity of the inside of the bank. He tuned out Gavin's voice directing the others, they'd finally made it to their stop. That was when Ray noticed something impossibly familiar. His scope swiveled back around, eyes widening as an audible 'shit' fell from his lips. In the same building, on the second floor, in a conference room with another man- was Gavin's fucking lover.
"Ray? What's going on out there?! Are the police already here?!" Ray jumped at the sound of Geoff's voice, too entranced with the fact that Ryan was sitting inside the building to be able to focus on much else. What would Gavin say if they met face to face? What would Ryan think when Gavin stopped showing up for work?! He knew where they lived! Ray had been certain that Gavin had taken care of that so such things wouldn't be a problem. "Uh, no, an ant crawled down my spine and I flipped my shit, you know how it is to focus too- cops, Jack you ready for this?"
He only got a grunt in response, and then the explosions started. The screaming was probably the worst part of it all, the sounds of terror being wrenched free from the throats of the innocent. He was never one to revel in the sound of bloodshed and mass horror, he preferred making people laugh through short sarcastic jokes perfectly timed out to be clever. His own rifle, aimed to kill, only struck down the officers. He knew that he was a bad guy, and somehow accepting that made him feel a little better about tearing apart families and friends. These cops were only doing their jobs: keeping the public safe from assholes like him.
He'd dropped twelve cops by the time his gun jammed. He began tugging on the barrel, struggling to get it to open for him. The enemy had ample amount of time to locate the man in a purple sweater wielding a bright pink sniper- and when they found him they didn't hesitate to open fire against him. A shout tore free from his throat as a bullet launched itself into his shoulder, he fell back against the roof, his hand clamping down on it instantly. "FUCK!"
He could barely hear the shouts from his crew, worry and fear lacing their tones, everyone was waiting for Ray to say something, but for a moment the world had exploded around him in vivid colors of pain and agony. There was something about getting shot under the shoulder bone, straight through the flesh, and when he moved he could still feel the bullet lodged underneath his skin. His fingers itched to tear at it until he could get it out, but he couldn't risk sitting there indulging in self mutilation. "RAY SAY SOMETHING GOD DAMMIT."
It was that voice that startled him most: Jack. He'd always wondered if Jack really worried himself with them, he never seemed to eager to jump into conversation with them- but the roar of his voice above the others, raw and afraid, shocked Ray into awareness. "I'm okay, fuck, I feel like I was pounded raw."
"They have powerful guns, it knocked him back, Michael was grazed and nearly fell off the roof from a hit, we need to leave, Ray are you set to run?"
"Unless I need my shoulder to work my legs, then I'm fucked, otherwise I'm fine." He could hear Gavin's dry tone before he'd even spoke again. "Smart ass."
Ray stood and turned, pausing when his eyes landed on the familiarity of Ryan again. This time the man was standing at the window, watching the horror ensue, he wasn't panicked or fearful- nor was the other man in the room. Ray kept staring, trying to make out what was going on, then he used his scope to zoom in further. There wasn't a hint of fear on the mans face, only boredom and disappointment. Ray breathed out shakily, only to revoke that breath when Ryan's own hetero-chromatic gaze locked in with Ray's- a sickly sort of smirk darkening his alluringly attractive features, before he tilted his head in acknowledgment and left. Ray didn't know what to say, or really what to do, so he simply stood there, frozen and open for more shots. But none came. And he knew he wouldn't be sharing his revelations then: Ryan wasn't who he had originally seemed to be.