"Hey, I want to stop by the fishing village." Kyle said as Crane turned to back to him after talking to and giving the satchel and camera to the journalist at the ferry harbor.
"Sure, how come?" Crane replied, Kyle taking the lead for the detour before they would head back to the tower to drop off the lavender.
"When we left I caught a glimpse of the woman's face that gave me the stuff for my stomach. She looked like she had forgotten something and I want to see if she needs anything so I can get even."
"You really honed reading expressions off people's faces."
"It's useful."
'Damn, I'll have to watch my every move if I want to win him over in a week or he'll be ahead of me every damn time.' The run to the village remained quiet for the remainder, any zombie reaching for Crane dispatched swiftly, Crane noticing that Kyle protected him the movements so fluid they looked completely instinctual though the edge the boy carried from being ignored made an attack much easier. The duo hopped in, Kyle walking to the woman immediately giving a bright smile upon seeing them approach.
"Hey, how are you feeling? Kyle, was it right?"
"I'm fine; do you need anything gathered or something?"
"I do, I actually remembered just when you left."
"I know. What do you need?"
"Dulse, it's a red algae plant that grows in the Lake of the Drowned."
"I'll get it."
"Here, that should help with keeping it fresh and I'm sure you wouldn't want slimy algae smeared in your backpack." Sophia smiled giving Kyle some plastic bags. "Thank you, are you eating well?"
"Yeah, the pain in the ass is making sure of it." Kyle replied glancing to Crane with a little smile seeing the man feel offended.
"Here it's not much but it'll help." The woman darted into the house and pressed a small piece of bread into the boy's hands before he could leave, Kyle averting his gaze trying to hand it back.
"I don't want to owe you, take it back."
"Gathering the dulse is payment enough for the stomach remedy and bread. Please, take it Kyle."
"Fine…" The boy grumbled, taking a bite and turning away stopping himself from glancing back. He couldn't let it happen. He couldn't make friends again. Her gentle smile she gave him reminded him of the smile of his mother. It hurt so much but he wouldn't cry in front of Crane or anyone for that matter, at least by now it had become easy to drown with stubborn will refusing to crack. Their feet came to a stop on their way out as their heads turned to the commotion of people banging against a door and yelling. Crane took the lead inquiring what was going on while Kyle watched standing behind him. The two Kyle's glanced at each other. "If you want to." Crane did the talking asking around for Harun turning out not be the most popular guy, the duo finding Yasmina with a boy on a couch in one of the houses.
"Yasmina? I want to help your mom. Can you talk to me? Your mom is in danger. I need to find her."
"She's gone. She was bitten. Harun says you can't be here once you've been bitten."
"I'm going to get her to a place that has medicine. They won't make her leave. Now, can you tell what happened to you and your brother?"
"Me and Jamil went under the fence to find our mom. It took a while, but we found her at the houses behind the tunnel. Only there was a biter there. He bit me, and my mom hit him on the head."
"You were bitten?"
"Only a little. I tried to get away."
"What did your mom do?"
"She put us in a house, and then she went to look for medicine. When she came back, she told Jamil to wait there, and then she took me to the man."
"Did he give you medicine?"
"Yes… He said we would both need more, but that me and my mom could stay his basement as his puppets. I don't know what he meant, but my mom got scared and hit him, and told me to run… So, I did."
"It's alright, Yasmina. I'll find her. Where does the man live?"
"I'm not sure. It's a house with hammers… and axes."
"Where is your brother?"
"Jamil is hiding in the house with the red flowers."
"You're a brave girl, Yasmina, but I need you to stay here a little longer ok? And keep away from Harun until I get back. Can you do that?"
"You're really going to find my brother and mom?"
"You bet I will."
"Thank you, mister." Crane turned around to leave, Kyle's gaze on the floor with the green eyes glinting in ager raising his gaze to Crane.
"Come on, I know the places." Crane had seen Kyle pissed at him but that that was a whole new level of anger. The kid wanted blood and before the undercover could decide to ask Kyle to stay at the village, the blonde had already taken the lead forcing Crane to leg it to keep up barely managing to garb his wrist just at the fence. "What are you doing!?"
"I want to hurry too but we're going to talk to Harun first. Please Kyle, just listen this one time it'll be quick. I'm angry too, I get it." The blonde gave a snarl yanking his wrist out but complied allowing Crane to take the lead asking around where to find Harun. An answer was quickly found and Kyle waited on the shore watching from a distance. Crane was back quickly and the two took off with Kyle taking the lead.
"I'm telling you that kid has to be her son!" Blake insisted.
"He looks nothing like a local though, that kid ain't from Harran man." A tower resident countered.
"Well the he has to at least know her… Hey Brecken, Crane told you anything about the kid he found?"
"No, why?"
"We're just wondering if he knows the witch, saw him get ignored by a zombie when they took off for that lavender job."
The cries of the boy could be heard outside the building already, Kyle quickly dispatching the zombies found inside before Crane could get a hit in starting to look around while Crane shoved the closets in front of the open doorways. Kyle rummaged through the house for stuff while Crane talked to Jamil in a closet upstairs. "Hey Kyle, come here." Crane motioned for the thirteen year old to come over going through a basket. "Listen, I want you to stay here with Jamil and protect him, I'll be back with his mom."
"Forget it. He's safe, I'm coming along." Crane didn't want to put up with his attitude right now and really not waste any time. "I know the tool shop; pretty sure I've been longer here than you." He had a point and Crane hated it. The man gave up and Kyle took the lead. But why did Kyle insist so much? Crane thought he'd be happy to be told to practically be alone especially away from him. He still couldn't get that glint he saw in his eyes out of his head back by Yasmina. The tool shop wasn't far quickly coming into sight, their boots landing on the nearest rooftop. Crane hooped down into the fenced in area and knocked on the door shouting out for Salim. Salim replied from the window, telling them to go away warning he was armed.
"You need to let Aida go!"
"You mean that stupid woman? She's dead! She was infected so I had to kill her."
Kyle suddenly spoke up, eyes fear inducing. "Did you tell a little girl to be your puppet in your basement?" The voice was so calm and collected, it only terrified more than any angry outburst ever could.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"We're not leaving without her!"
"Oh yea-" His words were cut off, the man whipping around to his door just as the alarm went off to see his door fly off in horror slamming against the wall kicked by Kyle wearing a bloodthirsty glare.
"You pest." Kyle charged forward, the bang of the door resonating off the walls but the blonde fell to his knees and hands as the alarm rung out with a snarl. 'Damn it, that's loud! It hurts!'
"Kyle!" 'Damn it!' Crane kicked away the first zombie, eyes narrowing at a holder from Salim growing cocky approaching his door less frame with Kyle on all fours crippled from the noise, slowly forcing his head up to snarl at the man now in front of him with an ax smirking down at him. Salim's boot slammed into him, Kyle tumbling back trying to get up with a growl back on all fours with shaking limbs just in front of the doorway slowly lifting his head to see the man smirk above him again, Crane blocked by two more zombies charging at him. Crane snarled himself, arm raised in defense as the blade he carried didn't come up fast enough kicking the infected away trying to take a bite out of him, eyes narrowing with anger and horror as the ax rushed down at Kyle's head looking up.
'I can't… mom… dad… Cra… I won't fucking die, I don't lose!' With a yell, Kyle pushed himself forward, left hand with the claws rushing over the lower leg of the men screaming out in pain with a glare and snarl kicking out catching Kyle in the jaw but the right hand already grabbed his pant leg and yanked on it sending the man falling down on his ass backwards watching Kyle snarl at him and crawl forward with his body shivering and blood dripping from his lips. Salim staggered up and slammed down the ax at a reaching Kyle still grazing his shoulder barely coiling back into a zombie quickly turning to the boy. Salim scrambled back, a zombie's head turning to the easily barged in house and the man quickly hauled the unhinged door into the opening, shoving a drawer in front of it to secure it with a pant scouring for a chain to make it even sturdier as the thud from a zombie trying to get in resonated. Finally having an opening, Crane rushed to Kyle to drag him to the shed next to the house and help him up the roof, the infected having taken notice of the blonde dispatched by the boy with a leg sweep and finished off by Crane. The duo barely made it onto the roof, Kyle slowly pulling out the rifle on his back pushing through as his head was swimming from the kick. Crane switched to his own rifle carried besides the blade shooting zombie after zombie. With the mass taken care of and only a few at a time coming, the two got off the shed, Kyle having ungracefully tumbled down before the older one could stop him crawling back to Salim's door with Crane by his side leaning against the man giving him a helping hand and keeping him from falling as they shot at the zombies. Inside, Salim growled in frustration, his leg wrapped in a bandage, hand closing around the cleaver as the two Kyle's kept fighting neither going down despite the boy even being massively hindered by the alarm managing to live with Crane by his side. Annoyed and frustrated wanting them to be gone, the sinister man shut off the alarm and shoved away the drawer yanking away the door already flopping on its own barreling out, eyes landing on Crane with Kyle leaning against him pushing himself off regaining strength although his ears were still very much ringing with the brutal murderous kicks to his slim frame still felt as Crane cut the last zombie rushing at them.
"When I'm done with you two, I'll hunt down her children and feed them to the volatiles!" Kyle's eyes narrowed in rage stumbling as the older man placed himself between Salim with a cleaver and the kid. Crane rushed forward as did Salim taking a step forward swinging out with the cleaver missing the other man whom dodged and did a slash of his own catching him across the chest. Salim had stumbled back managing to just evade a crippling blow but that didn't help as Kyle darted out from behind Crane with a glare sweeping his leg and slamming his head into the concrete floor without mercy crushing it. His eyes lingered on the corpse falling to his knees, panting still hazed from the alarm and Crane pulled him up gently tugging him into the house to look for Aida handing the boy the little bit of food found in the fridge encouraging him to eat. Kyle didn't try to hide his weakness continuously trying to make the ringing go away faster stumbling after Crane searching the house and finding a door in the floor under a closet.
"Hey, starting to feel better with the alarm off?" Crane glanced at the boy hopping down after him, a little shaky on the landing.
"Don't talk." The blonde grumpily replied, hand reaching a little for his sore side but stopping himself, nibbling on the food with his hurt jaw and face. 'At least nothing is broken or dislocated.' Crane turned back to the door using the keys, the grumpy response feeling normal having already unconsciously expected to be told to shut up. The sight they were met with was awful, Crane rushing over to Aida assuring her that she'd be okay now throwing a glance here and there to Kyle as they talked, the worried mother immediately inquiring about her children. The woman's eyes shifted from Crane after talking to him to Kyle pinching his nose.
"Will your son be alright?"
"Oh, he's, he's not my son. I found him in the street; he's just tagging along today instead of staying at the Tower."
"Why do people keep thinking you're my dad!?" Kyle growled stomping off prompting Crane to follow bidding the woman farewell as they went their separate ways. 'Finally, the stupid ringing is gone… That's twice now that Crane got to see me like that…'
"Hey, do you want to take a rest or go collect that algae Sophia asked for? And how does the whole cut being noticed thing work?" Crane wondered if he has asked too much, both out in the sunshine again as Kyle looked quite annoyed but sighed dropping his shoulders a little, green eyes glancing up to the man without resentment or anger this time.
"It's just a little cut so by tomorrow, it'll be back to being ignored and even later today if I cover it up. I guess we could get the algae out of the way then I'll be even with her." Just a few minutes in on their way, the radio came to life the first call from the tower alerting that the gas was out all over the place and the second one from Jaffar concerning what Kurt could cook up with that found dynamite. "Let's get the gas turned on again first, that's more important than the algae and since the wheel station is close by to that Jeff guy we'll stop by there too."
"Saying 'we' a lot lately, I like it." Crane smiled receiving the so well known glare but not the nastiest one, the man taking off with the boy. Despite figuring it was only normal that Kyle had cuts and scrapes here and there before having experience with being not ignored too, it did show a little that it wasn't the norm for him more than Crane had expected though the blonde managed to keep up pretty well. Did the kid have another trick up his sleeve he didn't use right now? The track didn't take long, the preteen boy having recovered fairly fast with the alarm off, the wheel station coming into sight. Once inside, Crane talked to Jaffar telling him to go over to Kurt for the details but the duo stopped in their tracks noticing the extremely nervous man by the name of Zaid. Crane approached with Kyle right behind him with his head ever so slightly tiled a little in curiosity. "You want to try calming down long enough to tell me what's wrong?"
"Yeah, sure. Let's try that! Calming down will work! Calming down will solve everything!"
"No, walking away from you will solve everything."
"Okay, okay! Hang on! I'm chill. I'm chill, bro! So, I make these flares for Rais. Right?"
"Flares. Like signal flares?"
"No! No! U.V. Flares! Like, flares that the night things can't stand, because they put out this U-V, which stand for Ultra Violet, which is like… kind of a science thing."
"Got it. UV flares. Continue."
"There is no continue! My zinc is contaminated with fluorine. It's useless! Also, I'm out of turpentine, which isn't that hard to find, except… everything's hard to find right now."
"So, when Rais' people come for their merchandise…"
"Oh is he using people now? I thought he only used hired psychopathic gorillas."
"What do you need to make these things?"
"Just zinc and turpentine, bro I got the rest. Worst part is, everything I need is in the train yard warehouses, but a guy like me isn't going to last 10 seconds out there."
"I'm surprised a guy like you has lasted that long in here."
"Oh, that's very funny… ha, ha… Very funny, funny man…"
"Maybe I'll get your supplies, but if I do, whatever you can make out of them, I take half."
"Half?! No way! You're freakin' nuts, bro!"
"You can give me half of something, or you can keep 100% of nothing."
"Half it is! That seems fair." Leaving Zaid, the two moved over to Kurt, Kyle noticing while Crane was talking the foot to the face would leave a shiner on his face much to the boy's dismay.
"Maybe Sophia at the fishing village will have something for that." Crane remarked turning around to the boy immediately narrowing his eyes.
"Forget it the algae will make me even with her! This can heal on its own just fine!"
"Alright, how about seeing Lena sin-"
"No" Crane sighed in annoyance, there was no getting through to this kid was there? "Come on, we have stuff to get and need to get the gas going anyway."
The men left, everyone informed to keep an eye out for a kid asking about Rais or standing out from the rest. Rais was very curious about the mysterious kid having made such a bold claim followed by gunshots before it had gone silent. The man mused to himself, a kid being the only thing to go on. The kid hadn't given their voice away on the radio nor was it improbable for someone to find a child fending on the streets and while arguably not an easy feat to pull off it wasn't impossible especially without knowing how long the child had been out there. Not to mention they didn't know if the one they were looking for did actually fend on the street or had come from a safe zone, after all Rais had a reputation and it wasn't hard to find the man when one wanted to. And with the gunshots and mentioned smile, there was a very real possibility that somebody had used a kid as bait to have an easier time with the attack. As much as they were at odds with the tower, Brecken would never let a runner use a kid as bait only widening the canyon of questions. "Karim, what do we know about the kid the runner ran into again?"
"Had a stash on him and shot a gun in an apartment claiming that only our runner would die."
"So one kid has one of my runners killed and another shows up claiming to want to join me… " Rais smiled, excited at what would come out of this whole mystery but what he really wanted to see was the face that had the balls to make a claim of joining and be followed by gunshots.
Kyle glanced to Crane, the two prompted to identify themselves and threatened as the ground swarmed with infected. "Just run for a way in, I'll keep them off your back." The boy took out the machete, Crane hopping down the van agreeing to the idea finding a way in on a shed roof further to the left of the clearly painted warning on the wall, the man pulling up Kyle. With a few leaps they came face to face with Jeff inside his house. The boy watched the two adults converse, lips pressed shut as he glanced away with a chuckle as Jeff said someone expendable had to be sent and saw Crane already opening his mouth to take on the job. The men's eyes strayed to the boy giving Crane a look, in turn giving a look back leaving Jeff confused as Kyle snickered again. Crane turned back to Jeff prompting Jeff to continue.
"Kid, you're seeing a great man here and if he doesn't get killed you two even get to see my Apocalypse Wall that's something special and nothing to snicker about!"
"I'm excited." Kyle smiled, the fact that he didn't mean it flying right past Jeff but very obvious to Crane. The two headed off with Crane taking the lead as usual choosing to go the valve under the underpass first. Moving about sure went faster with Kyle having his back despite the boy's snarky attitude. The wheel turned with a little bit of difficulty. "Hey, let's make it a race, I'll take the one at the tunnel and meet you at the other one."
"You're assuming you'll win."
"I plan to." Kyle smirked.
"Alright, alright, we'll make it a race. But seriously Kyle, we need to agree on a second place just in case."
"Alright how about that primary whatever one? We start here and whoever gets back here first wins. And to make it more interesting, we'll each wager twenty bucks. Deal?"
"Deal. Hey that cut still being a problem? And after this, we're getting more food into you."
"It's fine, I'll be alright. You should worry about yourself, they still see you as a snack. Ready… set… go!" The two parted way, each in their own direction slowly getting out of each other's sight as they weren't far apart. Crane after a short track came face to face with a goon spotting from a wall quietly taking out the rifle as a quick glance showed a sparse amount of infected and it wasn't exactly great to be hit by a goon as a rebar piece with cement chunk could very much crush bones in one bad hit. Over at the tunnel, Kyle weaved through the infected crowds darting in, not noticing the runner from Rais skidding to a spot spotting the boy rush in. Hands moved to a radio.
"Hey Karim, I just saw some blonde kid with metal claws running into the tunnel with the gas line. Rais wanted to know every kid that stands out, right? You ever heard about a blonde kid wearing metal claws in the streets?"
"Never, haven't seen a blonde kid without them here either."
"The tunnel is pretty crowded, looks full of zombies."
"I'll direct a group to your spot, finish your run."
Kyle huffed with his hands on the wheel trying to turn it. 'I should've thought of that when I saw Crane do it…" The blonde cautiously pulled himself closer to the pipe eyes bloodshot shot red where the white is glancing behind him as a zombie shuffled closer as it wandered aimlessly. While they didn't acknowledge him drawing their attack, they did still acknowledge his presence but avoided him in a rather sloppy fashion. Bumping into him would still cause a short outburst he'd rather not deal with simply because he didn't want zombie guts on him. The goon dropped and Crane quickly dashed around the barb wired fence hugging a pole to get up the broken bridge leaning down with sigh into the trash pile. It sucked every time. Kyle took a quick peek outside assuring himself that nobody none other zombies were there or approached, hands going back on the wheel as it creaked into motion finally budging as the boy used a little bit of one of his specialties hoping turning the wheel didn't equate to more than kicking two cars and fortunately it didn't. The blonde smiled and took off rushing out of the tunnel again heading to what he figured could be the primary gate although not entirely sure guessing it would be the place with lot of yellow and blue pipes. His eyes soon landed on Crane slightly ahead glancing behind him to see the kid smirking at him drawing closer right at his heels.
The thugs came to the tunnel with the kid nowhere to be found having already left and not left a single trace. There wasn't a single zombie corpse either showing zero signs of combat. It was like there had never been anyone there.
'No way, it's going to be a tie again.' With a slightly bigger smile, Kyle sped up gaining one stride ahead of Crane as they barreled in. "You owe me twenty bucks, Crane!" Kyle panted, Crane catching his own breath as their eyes dropped to the rather zombie full area. As Kyle had said, the race had shown that just covering the tiny shoulder nip already pretty much caused the zombies to ignore him although it wasn't that easy to tell as they stood so close together but Kyle didn't seem worried anyway. The duo hopped onto the silver mesh platform using the pipes and the not great ability of the zombies to their advantage in taking them, Crane taking care of the goon on the hole with a couple of rifle shots.
"So any other superpowers you got with that bite?" Crane asked, beginning or at least attempting to start a casual conversation.
"Like I would tell you." Kyle scoffed. 'Punching away that row with the front one would be so much fun right now…' while the blonde was aware, his strength had been witnessed already, Crane didn't know to what extent it came. All he had seen that the kid had blocked a car and had a hard time with it. "Why are you in Harran anyway?"
"Business." It wasn't a lie, just not specific. "You got siblings?"
"Nope."
"Me too."
"Ah, whatever." Crane glanced to the boy drawing back his fist, cooing and goading the zombies halfway done closer to him with a small self inflicted cut on the finger, the pipes causing an almost perfect single file line.
"Hey, what-" The question was answered with the punch sending the first zombie flying back and knock down the others like bowling pins. The man sighed wondering how Kyle had done in the streets for entertainment now but happy to see him ease up around him. With the crowd down, the first door tried proved fruitless Crane suggesting to try the other door first as Kyle offered to kick it in and start lock picking only to be spit on by a spitter burning his skin. Kyle took off through the open gates to deal with the zombies, Crane glancing out of his eyes odd staggers in their movement charging at Kyle due to his fresh small cut but stumbling over and over again indecisive in their step and the spitter's aim was off too. With the kid moving so much, Crane couldn't even glimpse exactly what he was doing focusing back on the lock picking as whatever the blonde did he was certainly handling the five zombies just fine. The boxes rummaged through and loot stuffed in his backpack, he found Kyle behind him again following the man coming to a stop by the silver platform again. "I could squeeze through those bars."
"We don't know what we'll find down there, come on I have an idea." Crane led to a pipe in a ditch nearby. "You up for a little swim? You can wait here too then I could avoid my stuff getting wet."
"I'll hold on to anything that can't get wet and be by the bars. If anything pops up, you just call out and I'll slip though the bars." Crane dove in, Kyle walking back to the mesh platform. The man showed within a minute glancing up to Kyle dangling his legs watching the tower resident turn the pipe after finding string in a yellow box soaked the moment it got opened. "Crane, are trying to kill us!? Is fire supposed to be part of it!?" As if Kyle's outburst wasn't enough, the boy facing down zombies again, Jeff also wasn't happy on the radio as the man rushed back to the boy after being slow on the uptake and baffled figuring he had done everything right. Maybe that christmas grandma allegory really hit home the point. Kyle just like Crane headed for the hut roof slicing two zombies with the machete and hindering one with the metal claws, the duo back to back dealing with the zombies climbing onto the roof, eyes shifting to the goon afterwards. "I'll deal with the goon, can you shut off some blue pipes?" Kyle nodded to the man's request leaping down while Crane dealt with the goon from the roof before jumping down and joining in, Jeff on the radio confirming their success and Kyle chuckled to himself at the navy comment and Crane's enthusiasm. "You know, helping people feels good, I don't know what you're snickering about."
"Aye, aye captain."
Jeff greeted them at the boarded up window again, the two quickly maneuvering past the ever present crowd around the man's house. "Well done, Soldier. I'll open the main pressure gate. Then prepare your eyes for a feast of controlled pyro-combustion."
"I think we should watch this from a distance."
"If you insist. You've got 10 seconds. Five… four… three… two…one… IGNITION! Behold, the satanic inferno of the apocalypse wall!"
Their eyes widened the two on a bus, Kyle mumbling "Good instinct, Crane…" and Alfie's voice shouted through the radio.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"I found Jeff and the gas is back on."
"That's a relief. Told you, he's irreplaceable."
"Yeah well, I'm afraid you're going to have to find a replacement." The pair head to the overpass next as it was closer than the train yard, eyes searching the bridge road. "Hey, don't tip another car on you alright?" Crane jokingly asked, Kyle glancing away.
"I didn't see it go that way in my head…"
"It's crowded on there do you want to stay back with those cuts of yours?" Kyle was very capable but also still a thirteen year old child, Crane worrying that if he ended up surrounded by zombies craving his flesh even the blonde could get in hot water.
"Try to keep up, Crane." Kyle smirked rushing ahead knowing it grated on the man's nerves when he took off like that quickly running after the kid. A goon and spitter caused the most problems though the spitter didn't get in more than one try as Kyle kicked a car at the infected nailing it while Crane took a rifle to the goon keeping out of reach as it slowly dragged itself to them with the blonde keeping any zombie from the older Kyle's back. Crane took it the task of carrying the car battery after they found and dug it out of the truck, a tiring feat on its own. "I know the plan was to go the train yard before going back but maybe we should drop that off right away, it doesn't exactly leave your hands free. I'll go to the fence with you and go on ahead to the train yard." Kyle suggested. They didn't really have much time left for anything else either and the few things Zaid needed, the blonde could probably carry on his own in his backpack but Crane didn't like it despite knowing he would probably be fine.
"How long will those cuts still be a bother?"
"They aren't anymore."
"Let's get to the fence, I'll think about it but you better not run off if I say no then you'll just have to wait a few minutes." For carrying car battery out of a truck with them, the track went fairly well, the duo utilizing flares Crane had on him. "Here, eat something while I talk Kyle." 'Almost forgot about it.' "I've got your battery Kurt."
"So we've got a casing. Next, I'll need some metal scrap from the junkyard to use for shrapnel. After that, I need some sugar and some cables. Try the shops and warehouses. Bring em' back, and you'll get a bomb that'll blast around a hundred infected at once."
"Sold."
"How much sugar?" their heads turned to Kyle fishing around in his backpack taking out the packages. "I've got some I was going to trade them but you can have them instead." Kurt took them, the sugar covered.
"Are these cables alright?" Crane asked he had collected so far, Kurt taking them with a nod and a "They'll do."
"We'll find plenty of scraps by the train yard, let's get going so we're back before its dark. How does your trading go anyway of if you're so unknown?"
"I just don't show my face…"
"Do you take and leave stuff when others sleep?" Crane sighed with a raised eyebrow, shortly stopping by the room they had slept to drop off the stuff from the boxes back by the pipes as no one stole here from anyone's personal belongings or at least it'd be fine until they would be back at the tower which Crane wanted to be soon considering Kyle had managed to not exactly stay at the tower so far this week but the man was happy that at least the blonde didn't run off on him tagging along instead.
"I keep it fair…" Crane didn't push his luck to get another conversation going gain so quick, the track to the train yard rather silent with no hiccups along the way though that didn't seem to be the case upon arrival, the red billowing smoke of an airdrop wafting out of the roof and entry point they headed for. The duo stepped back faced with Rais' men, Kyle's claws raking over an abdomen only one of them rushing out with promises to end them bearing a gun and what happened next leaving them rather confused. Instead of trying to murder the boy on sight like Crane, the slashed thug with a swear and snarl grabbed his wrist yanking him closer and kicking him back right into another's arms quickly putting the blonde in a choke hold cutting off his air supply without mercy making the young kid gasp for every breath while the others almost seemed to try to make sure to cut off Crane while attacking him. The thug down by the airdrop on the cart stopped in his action of opening it, hand instead going to a radio watching his fellow thugs struggle with the kid, the gunshots from Crane ringing out mixing with his shout for Kyle and the brazen shouts from Rais' men.
"Airdrop at the train yard, found a blonde kid with-" The call got cut short, the handgun going off catching the man in his hand causing the radio to fall down and skid to a zombie's feet, the thug's eyes shortly glancing the unusual green eyes meeting his as his comrade screamed out receiving the claws into the gut as Kyle still struggled. The grip loosened, Kyle yanking free and his hand closed around a railing piece with a snarl as the other thug dashed for the radio, eyes widening in horror witnessing his buddy get impaled by the ripped out railing piece and hauled over the catwalk to fall to his demise already at death's door with the metal still stuck in his abdomen. Kyle gasped for air collapsing on the catwalk, noticing Crane rush in with a few bruises and a nick on the arm but nothing serious, the rifle the man carried ending the thug grabbing the radio just having beheaded the infected below.
"Hey Kyle, you okay?"
"I'm fine…" Kyle wheezed dragging himself up on the railing. "Just need a second… to breathe…"
"I'll look for the zinc and turpentine first; you catch your breath up here."
"We should hurry; I think that guy you just shot called for reinforcements." The boy coughed.
"You just take it easy and wait here."
"Here" The blonde held out the backpack to Crane for additional carry space having taken the rifle and machete off adjusting his seating so he could snipe off infected coming too close to the man with his own rifle, Crane lighting the way with a flashlight wielding a blade.
"Do you think you can carry some stuff back to the wheel station?" Crane had tried to keep Kyle's backpack light but it still ended up quite the load, the two tubs of zinc powder bulging out Crane's own hefty bag glad to have carried along a big one. "Found enough metal scraps too. We'll split the other stuff later I just shoved it in where I could."
"Hand me the turpentine container, the lighter drop half and my backpack."
"And you're sure?"
"Yeah, now stop worrying already." Kyle sighed with the slightest hint of annoyance creeping back in slinging on his backpack with the rifle and machete back in their places behind the backpack, right hand closing around the turpentine container. With the sun threatening to set, the two rushed off with the bulging bag not fun to carry for Crane the man catching a glimpse of the impaled thug on their way out.
"You got 'em?! You got 'em? Let me see! Oh yes! Oh yes! This is awesome! Zaid gets to live! This looks like a beginning of a beautiful…"
"…We're not friends."
"No. Of course. My mistake. Associates."
"Not even that. Just tell me how you make them and I'll be on my way."
"Right. Okie Dokie. Got it. Say no more. We have an understanding. This deal is done."
"Shut up, Zaid."
"Yes, sir."
"This should take care of the shrapnel… Hey, there is some in your backpack Kyle." The boy stopped inspecting his jaw still visibly bruised unzipping his backpack. "You know…"
"No" The blonde silently handed the scraps, Kurt watching the exchange slightly amused each Kyle clearly disagreeing about something for a while.
"Your son?"
"He's not my dad! Why does everyone keep thinking that…"
"He's just tagging along with me, used to be alone in the street."
"And will be again."
"Alright, we've got everything. Give me some time. I'll let you know when I'm done." Crane and Kyle headed up the hut passing Irwin on the way to bed down.
"Hey, do you have another scene or something to do?" Kyle asked. "But only with payment."
"Yeah, can you kill sixty?"
"With my help he will." Crane stuck his head out glad for his load to be light again. "We'll do it in the morning."
"Did you get it to work?" One of Rais' men asked, two runners sent to check out what happened at the drop.
"Yeah and we're filming!" The stench of death hung in the air, the aftermath not a pretty sight with every thug eaten on while the one with the railing had the least meat on him as they headed inside taking closer look and lighting up the area with a flashlight. "Think one those big ones got him?"
"Hey look, claw marks I think…"
"Well, drop is gone as expected… There must have been another person. I mean come on; one kid can't do this all on their own…"
"Let's get the footage to the boss, nothing else to do here."
"If you wouldn't insist on being involved I could've had full pay…" Kyle grumbled, a quick glance to Crane checking if he had managed to ruffle his feathers eating a little something. "So, what's up today beside checking with Kurt and getting the algae?"
"We'll talk to Tolga and Fatim." To two checked with Kurt first leaving again with the prototype. The two brothers were just steps away, the white van addition quite noticeable. Crane glanced to Kyle between being insulted, an eye narrowing as Kyle obviously tried not to laugh taking in his reaction glancing away with a cheeky smile. "Glad to see you're enjoying yourself this morning." The man sarcastically commented thus drawing Tolga's and Fatim's attention to the boy behind him as well.
"You don't plan to take a child along, do you?" Fatim asked, not that toga was going to leave room to reply anyway.
"Listen. Children. Slow. Task. Down."
"Hey, you two stay out of our fights." Crane replied.
"Hey maybe-"
"You're not going to get out of your week. You're at the tower or with me, choose now."
"Fine, you." Kyle growled, the two leaving the safe zone. "Hey by the way, I can place that bomb at day."
"You're all recovered from yesterday?"
"Yeah… so do you want me to?" Kyle smiled but it wasn't one that hid a plot or sarcastic one and Crane felt like despite the many quarrels he was getting somewhere with the whole ordeal however the man didn't like the direction it steered. Because at this rate, he might not actually get Kyle to stay at the tower but have the kid follow him around instead.
"Well, you have the high ground with your perk. Hooks, algae or bomb first?"
"We'll let those conceited brothers sit, let's try out that bomb."
"Oh so now you're not a fan of them either?" Crane remarked with a smirk.
Rais watched it again pausing at the impaled thug. Something about it felt off. For a kid to have taken out the whole group alone, they must be superhuman or some fighting prodigy hardened mercilessly by the streets. It had been twice now that his men had confirmed a kid showing up only to be cut off and killed. However this time there was little bit more.
"Tahir, have you ever seen a blonde kid in Harran since that day?"
"Never, boss. That should make the kid easy to find." The cruel man smiled.
"It should but we can't count on that."
"Alright, so you know exactly what to do now?"
"You start sounding like them." Kyle remarked with a flat expression.
"Hey if you end blown up in that tunnel because I let you, I'll never be able to sleep again." Crane sighed, having ruffled the blond hair before he realized he'd done it, Kyle quick to slap his arm away grumbling for the man not to mess it up. Holding the bomb and matchbox, the kid hopped down from the rocks weaving through the infected as Crane watched him disappear. After a minute, Kyle rushed out again vaulting behind a car, the two males watching with baited breath only to get nothing as no boom came from the tunnel and Crane gave Kurt a call. "I'm going to fix it, you wait here."
"I can do it, just tell me what Kurt told you."
"You know, I could think you worry about me with how much you insist."
"In your dreams! I just like vengeance." Kyle scoffed, hopping over the car demanding instructions with a glare while trying to hide his face a little. Because no matter how much he denied it, he had lied never seeking vengeance on the infected because Crane was right. The man gave in to the boy giving the directions he had been given by Kurt watching Kyle run back in rushing back out jumping behind the car as the tunnel blew. Their heads lifted above the car again, Crane talking into the radio.
"It blew up the nest AND the barricade. The tunnel is now passable."
"Hey I told you, my friend. If I build it, it's going to explode. Come see me, and I'll give you the blueprint."
"Something the matter?" Crane glanced to Kyle being rather sneaky a little bit on the comical side around the train yard warehouse, a slight breeze brushing past their faces on the roof.
"I usually don't go to places where I've been in trouble twice at least not the next day already. It's just a habit."
"There is no shame if you're scared after nearly being choked out. You know you can talk to me, right?"
"I'm not scared, it's not even anything new because I tried to hang myself-" Kyle snapped quickly stopping himself averting his gaze from Crane.
"Is… that why the Shakkur the guy with the gas mask calls you his friend?"
"He found me I don't want to talk about it. I'm going to get the algae I promised Sophia, you can deal with the hooks. I'll be back at the wheel station way before nightfall." The kid didn't let Crane get a word in rushing off with that speed that almost seemed slightly inhuman and the man sighed faltering on what to do. After a confession like that he didn't exactly want Kyle alone but he was also literally right by the hooks. The secret agent decided to grab the hooks first, drop them off and rush after Kyle as fast as he could. If he was lucky, Kyle would take multiple dives for the underwater plant giving time for Crane to catch up or arrive at the fishing village when he did. He didn't waste any time immediately searching for the hooks and bagging them avoiding the goon before taking off back to the wheel station faster than he ever had before drawing curious glances from everyone. Even Kurt's blueprint was taken and tucked away so fast it looked like it'd be ignored in the first moment, the hooks in the bag dumped at the twins' feet without a word and pay left in the wind rushing out again amidst the infected with blade and rifle, only a small satchel bag around a shoulder holding some first aid and ammo in it.