"Quit touching it, kid."

Jude had his hand swatted away from his hair for at least the third time that morning. In an attempt to keep them under the radar, Alvin had taken the time to style Jude's hair and offer him a change of clothes. Where the man had procured the clothing Jude hadn't the chance to ask, but he did have to wonder why Elympions had such an obsession with layers; two shirts and a vest, one pair of pants with what could only be described as chaps. The top fit okay, but he needed a belt to keep the pants from falling down his slim waist.

He felt mildly uncomfortable in such strange attire, and all but naked without his lab coat. But Alvin had insisted that the change in wardrobe was critical to their escape plans. When he wasn't in his school uniform he generally wore clothing brought from home, not being able to afford the pricey fashions of Elympios on top of his living expenses. Synthetic fabrics felt very different from the cotton and wool he was so used to sporting, but in spite of the many layers the outfit seemed to be easier to move in, a little airier. And at the very least he wasn't a walking billboard saying "I'm from Rieze Maxia".

He scratched at his head again, the gel making his scalp itch. Jude desperately wanted a comb to get his hair to behave, but he had been urged to leave it. The "I just woke up like this" style was apparently very hip in Elympios, and yet Jude was left to wonder why Alvin took the time to do his hair neatly every morning. Must have been part of his "fashion sense".

"Jude. I'll have to put more gel in if you keep messing with it." Alvin warned, gently grabbing his wrist, tugging it down to rest on Jude's thigh. The space they were allotted in the back of the merchant's cart was barely enough for the two of them, Jude having to sit almost awkwardly close, sidled against Alvin shoulder to shoulder. It was uncomfortable not for the cramped space, but for the close proximity to the other man. Before he would not have minded Alvin being so near, in fact he would have craved it. But things had changed in the last twelve hours (had it really only been that? Jude was still reeling from it) and now Jude only felt nervous and trapped.

Jude huffed to cover his nerves, pulling his wrist away. "It itches… When we get to Lakutam, I'd like to take a shower."

Alvin chuckled from his nose, bringing an elbow up to rest on Jude's shoulder, leaning close. "You know, that's a good look on you. Very sexy." He teased, which only earned him a swat on the arm from Jude. He couldn't wait to get to Marksburg, more specifically out of that cart.

Can I really do this? Jude asked himself, gazing between the canvas draping of the cart and out to the dirt road behind him. He had only just made his decision, yet he was already questioning his resolve. Will the King even listen? Would giving him this information really solve the problem? He sighed, resting his head against the side of the wooden cart. What if he doesn't take me seriously? He doesn't have any reason to believe me over any of the diplomats he has contact with… What will I do if he just throws out our case?

Jude pulled the disc from the pocket and stared at it as he tried to piece together his tumultuous thoughts. Maybe it'd be better just to go to Leronde and see my dad. Maybe he could help us? Jude quickly shook his head, dispelling the idea. No, he's probably livid after hearing what happened on the news. I can't face that right now.

The disc was tucked away into the buttoned pocket of his vest and safe from view. Everything rode on his ability to deliver this information to the king and plead his case. Jude just hoped it would all work out as planned.

"Do you think Ludger is okay?" Jude asked, wishing to pass the time with something other than the topic of his appearance. They had left the man behind in Drellin with little more than a 'good luck' before parting. Now he was facing what could potentially be an army of Spirius agents for their sake, asking nothing in return. Jude made a mental note to buy the man dinner when they saw each other next.

If they saw each other.

"Yeah, Ludger will be fine. He's a spindly guy, but he's got powerful friends." Alvin shrugged, a motion felt all too well with their close proximity. "Not to mention that brother of his will probably drop Spirius like a bad habit once he gets wind of what's happening. He's loyal to his job, but even more loyal to his family."

"Does Ludger really have such influential people at his side?" Jude asked, honestly surprised. He didn't seem like someone who would have such a commanding presence that he would attract the purportedly powerful allies Alvin talked about.

Alvin cast a smirk his way. "You'll find out soon enough that you don't mess with Ludger Will Kresnik."

Jude wasn't sure what Alvin meant, but he wasn't sure he wanted to find out either.

They arrived at Marksburg by midday. The square was already bustling with pedestrians attending the market, providing plenty of cover for them to move through. Alvin ordered Jude to stick close, keeping a firm hand on his wrist as they weaved in and out of alleyways and side streets. They'd stop at each corner while Alvin took the time to check for anyone that may be a Spirius agent. Jude remembered him doing this once before, back when they were fleeing from the attack at Telegraph Square. He was playing the part of the proper bodyguard, and while that made Jude smile it also looked suspicious as hell.

Alvin waited for the crowd to debark from the incoming vessel before pulling Jude from the alley and towards the ticketer. Nailed to the post at the dock was a crudely drawn rendition of an aggressive man with black hair and gold eyes. Jude would have laughed if it wasn't a wanted poster, and if the rendition wasn't supposed to be him. All of a sudden he was thankful for Alvin taking the time to alter his appearance so drastically.

The ticketer was presented with fake papers, ones that were either very convincing or the man at the counter was too lazy to pick up on their illegitimacy. They were given passes for the ship leaving for Lakutam and made their way towards the boarding area. Alvin guided them to the loading end of the dock, pulling Jude behind a stack of crates to wait while the other passengers finished boarding. The less time they spent on the ship in plain sight while docked, the better.

Jude sunk to the ground, leaning back against the crates and breathing slow, even breaths. Just a little longer and they'd be out of Elympios and in the safety of Rieze Maxia, his homeland. There was comfort in that, but at the same time the butterflies continued to clog his chest.

Alvin crouched next to him, resting a hand against his shoulder. "You doing all right, kid?"

Jude nodded, wanting to brush the hand away, his touch making the butterflies rebel even more. Instead he went for a topic change. "Where did you get those travel papers?"

Alvin settled next to him, arms resting on his knees. "I've got connections. It's common in my line of work to need passes like that."

"And you had them with you because…?"

"…Why do you think?"

Jude frowned; he already knew Alvin's answer. In case you needed to cut and run.

"Does it bother you?" The mercenary asked, leaning forward as if trying to catch Jude's gaze.

It only earned him another shake of the head, Jude refusing to continue that topic of conversation. Once his job was over Alvin had planned to leave Rieze Maxia and go onto whatever new mission Exodus had in store for him. Clearly having Jude alive put a wrench in those plans, but that did lead Jude to wonder why he had two passes.

Maybe Jude had been part of the plan all along. He wished that was the case.

The bell sounded on the deck of the ship, last call for boarding. Alvin stood, dusting off his pants before offering a hand to Jude. It was denied, the boy instead getting to his feet unaided. "Let's go." He brushed past Alvin, heading for the loading ramp.

His small display of defiance was short-lived. No sooner had Jude rounded the crate did he run headlong into someone. He staggered back, rubbing at his nose and mumbling a quick apology. Then he looked up, coming face to face with a guard a helmet shy of full armor, and from Helioborg no less.

Oh, of course the patrol shift would have changed by then. And why wouldn't the guards come to Marksburg to spend the day after their shift?

"Hey, aren't you-"

The guard had Jude's fist in his face before he could finish the question, downing him in one blow. From the other end of the dock shouts could be heard, more off-duty guards coming to aid their comrade.

Shit… I messed up.

Shots were fired their way and Alvin grabbed Jude by the upper arm, tugging him behind the crates again. "Really, kid? You had to punch him?"

"I panicked!" He protested as the guards encroached on them. Alvin cursed, firing a shot blindly around the corner in hopes of warding them off. The ship began to pull away, the crew undoubtedly wanting to get as far from the firefight as possible.

Without warning, Alvin wrapped his arm around Jude's waist and hoisted him effortlessly from the ground, breaking out in a run towards the boat. Jude yelped in protest, squeezing his eyes shut as they rapidly approached the end of the dock, bullets flying around them. Jude had never been more grateful for the budget cuts to the Helioborg marksman program.

Alvin hit the end of the dock and leaped, catching more air than Jude thought possible without the aid of some sort of wind arte. They landed unceremoniously upon the upper deck of the ship, Alvin tumbling onto the planks with Jude skidding to a halt just a few feet away. The passengers gasped, backing away from the new additions to their group.

An official looking man approached Alvin, keeping his distance while he yelled at the two who somehow managed to jump onto his ship. "What in Undine's name was that all about?" He spat, fists balled in an attempt to look menacing.

Alvin merely stood, shaking off the impact of their landing and with a cocky grin. "Oh, that? One of that guy's exes." He pointed to Jude, who squeaked at the accusation. "Not a friendly guy; gets violent whenever he sees him with another man." Alvin leaned closer, a hand shielding his face as if divulging a secret. "Never date Elympion guards. They're possessive."

The sailor took a step back, ears turning red. He quickly glanced to Jude before shaking his head, demanding their papers. He looked them over before shoving them against Alvin's chest. "Keep it at a minimum, boys. There are children aboard."

"Aye, sir." Alvin gave him a wink, which only served to make the sailor redder before he left to attend his duties. The crowd dispersed, the passengers filing below deck to get out of the midday sun, the crew going back to their work.

Jude finally rose to his feet, his face just as red if not more than the unfortunate sailor. Alvin turned to face him, grinning triumphantly. "Well, that was easy."

The comment earned him a punch in the gut, causing Alvin to double over. Jude was all but glaring at him, blushing from ear to ear. "Really, that's the excuse you give him?"

Alvin coughed, rubbing his stomach ruefully. "H-hey, it worked, didn't it? Not like I could tell him the truth."

There were so many things Jude wanted to say on that matter, but in the end he merely sputtered aimlessly, fighting for composure. Really, why did he have to make it about that of all things?

It was as if Alvin sensed his struggling, and decided to try and change the subject. "Jeez, you really can punch, can't you? Maybe you didn't need a bodyguard after all."

There was a pause in his sputtering, but his face remained beet red. He played with a strand of hair, hugging his free arm around his middle. "Maybe I should work on that more. I haven't had as much time to train since coming to Elympios…"

A hand was clapped on his shoulder, pulling Jude's attention back to Alvin. "Yeah, when this is all over you should work on it. You've got the skill; just have to get back into practice."

Jude nodded, feeling a little more at ease. He pulled away from Alvin and came to stand at the railing, watching as the land disappeared more with each passing minute.

Goodbye, Elympios. I'll keep my promise to you, I swear.

Jude had never been to Xian Du before. He had met people from Xian Du; their medicine sellers often came through Fennmont to sell their wares to the hospital, but he had never actually visited himself. He knew that many tribes had congregated there at one point, and that the current king of Rieze Maxia had claimed his fame in the Coliseum, but the bare bones information did little to prepare him for the next leg of their trip.

It was well into the night when they made it to land, and while being out of Elympios meant they were out of immediate danger; Alvin insisted they keep moving until they reached their destination. Spirius may give up the chase past the border, but Exodus was everywhere. They needed solid walls and crowds to hide behind until they could reach the capital city.

The distance between Lakutam and Xian Du had to be covered on foot. It wouldn't be a terrible walk if it was flat like the commute he had to make from Trigleph to Helioborg before the ferry was put in. But this trek was almost entirely uphill, and while Jude considered himself in fairly good physical shape, his energy was quickly waning.

He wouldn't let that on, no, he didn't dare. If what Alvin said was true then they weren't safe, not until they made it to Xian Du.

It was this thought that kept him moving, the gravel and dried grass crunching beneath his feet, echoing off the rocky outcroppings. As they neared the crest of the hill Jude could see the lights of the coliseum in the distance, hear the roar of the crowd from late night battles of which the city was so famous.

"C'mon." Alvin urged, wrapping an arm around Jude's shoulder to encourage him to keep the pace. "We just have to meet with our contact and then we can rest."

So he knows… Not like it wasn't obvious, but Jude had hoped his exhaustion would be better hidden in the darkness. As usual, Alvin's intuition was spot on. That, or Jude was completely oblivious.

The streets of Xian Du were crowded with pedestrians. The bazaar remained open in spite of the late hour, merchants peddling curious wares to locals and tourists alike. There were even beasts in cages being displayed, some tame, some not. It was truly a bizarre town to be in, and a perfect place to hide in the shadows.

They ended up at a bar near the center of the city. Alvin pulled Jude inside, squeezing through a crowd of rowdy patrons clacking their mugs together and congratulating each other. A victory party?

"Alvin!"

At the bar was yet another one of Alvin's contacts, but this time a familiar one. Jude was tugged towards the counter where Yurgen greeted them with a brief bow and a warm smile. "I was curious when you'd arrive. Got yourself in a bind again, I see."

"Well, you know how it goes. Piss someone off, leave the country for a while."

That's an understatement… Jude groused internally, absently rubbing at his eyes. It was easy to stay up for a day or two straight if he was sitting down and reading, less so when traveling across the globe to escape a terrorist organization.

It would seem that Yurgen picked up on his foul mood and offered a hand. "It's good to see you again, Jude. Are you doing all right?"

Jude stared at the hand a moment before shaking it, smiling tiredly up at Yurgen. "It's good to see you, too, Yurgen." He chuckled, tucking a hand behind his head. This was the second time he had met Yurgen, and both times had been at a bar. Jude wondered if that impacted the man's perception of him. "I've been better, honestly, but…" He paused, looking to Alvin for guidance. How much did Yurgen know about what happened?

Alvin braced his hands against Jude's shoulders from behind, leaning over him with a cheesy grin. "Jude here has an audience with the king. Got some important business to discuss." His eyes met Jude's and he winked. "Isn't that right?"

The boy nodded dumbly. Alvin really did have everything planned.

"With the king? That's quite impressive!" Yurgen's praise only seemed to fluster Jude. He could offer no retort other than a silent nod, all wit having escaped him with the lack of sleep.

Thankfully, Alvin was willing to do the talking. "Yep, Judy here is important, so make sure we get there safely all right, Yurgen?"

Now it was Jude's turn to speak up. He knew there was a reason Alvin had wanted to meet with Yurgen, but up until now he wasn't sure what that reason was. "You're taking us to Kanbalar?" He asked, catching Yurgen's attention.

The tan man blinked in surprise, then smiled gently. It made Jude feel safer just seeing it. "Not quite. My tribe is one of the few that can train and command flying beasts called wyverns. This time of year, it's the only way to make it through the mountains surrounding Kanbalar without braving the caverns."

Alvin nodded, his hair tickling Jude's ear. "Yurgen got permission to lend us one, and that's why we walked all the way to Xian Du."

It made sense, and once again Jude was blown away by Alvin's ability to have every step planned. That, and how he managed to know all these people that could help them. Connections didn't even begin to describe it. Alvin seemed to have an entire network of people that he could rely on in tough times.

Absently, Jude wondered if he was one of those people.

"Well, it was more that your letter reached them before me, but I was willing to comply if it was to help a friend." The older man gave a nod, glancing worriedly at Jude. "You guys walked all the way here, right?" Yurgen turned to address Alvin directly, face serious. "I'll have the others prep the wyverns, but you'll have to wait until morning to fly out."

Once again his gaze fell to Jude, the worry clear in his eyes. It reminded him of all those times Alvin would watch him, wanting to say how awful he looked, how tired he must have been, but refraining in favor of silently fretting for the boy's well-being. "Do you two have a place to stay for the night?"

Again, Alvin answered for them. "We're going to Mom's place."

Mom?

"Oh, I see. Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me."

Alvin's mom?

"Right, we'll catch you in the morning, Yurgen. And thanks again."

Jude was led from the bar and into the streets again, trying to absorb the information he was given and finding it difficult with his sleep-deprived mind. Alvin's mother lived in Xian Du. He hadn't mentioned her in all the time they had spent together. Hell, Alvin hardly spoke of his family at all, save for Balan, and even then he avoided talking about their shared childhood. Jude knew he had someone in Exodus related to him, but nothing of his mother.

The two walked through the dimly lit streets towards the residential district, taking a lift to a small home tucked away off the main drag. Alvin rifled through his pockets and procured a small key, shoving it into the old locks and pushing the door open. He didn't bother to knock, didn't announce his presence to the darkened room. Instead he walked to one end of the small home, striking a match and lighting a candle.

No mana lamps? Jude thought it strange for the home to be missing such a common fixture. But then again, if it was Alvin's mother, she would have been Elympion and lacked the ability to use one. He surveyed the room, seeking out the woman in the darkness, only to be met with a well-furnished but otherwise empty room.

"This is… Your mother's home?" Jude asked tentatively, noting the tension in Alvin's shoulders, how he didn't turn his way when he spoke.

"Yeah, she lived here for about ten years, actually. Yurgen's fiancé, Isla… She was taking care of her."

Taking care of her… "Is she sick?"

Alvin nodded, walking across the room to take a seat at the desk where several letters were scattered. Jude followed, peering over the man's shoulders, noting the writing on each. Neat script, undoubtedly Alvin's, but the name signed was different.

"My father died in a ship accident when I was a kid. Only a few of us survived. Mom… was never the same after that." It was the most Alvin had talked about himself since Jude had known him. Alvin was always about the present, never wanting to bring up where he was even months before he and Jude met. It was painful to admit, but he knew little about the man. He didn't know about his parents, his childhood, how he grew up and what he had been doing up until their fated meeting that day in Helioborg.

One of the letters was held up, Jude taking it in hand. "My mom had dementia. The doctors in Elympios said there was no helping her, that it was only a matter of time. I brought her here so she could live peacefully, and away from anyone who would want to harm her."

Jude started to ask who wanted to harm Alvin's mother when something on the letter caught his eye.

"Everyone is doing just fine. Alfred found a stray cat that he decided to take care of. He even gave it a name; Jude. He's really become attached to the little one. He knows he can't keep it at school, but he's determined to watch over it until it's grown."

A cat named Jude, a letter to Alvin's mother written as another…

"Near the end, she didn't remember who I was." Alvin gently tugged he letter back, adding it to the small pile on the desk. "She thought I was my father; that her 'little Alfred' was still at boarding school eagerly awaiting his summer break so he could visit."

Near the end… Suddenly it dawned on Jude.

"…When did she pass?" He asked quietly, placing a comforting hand upon Alvin's stiff shoulder.

"…The day your apartment got broken into, Isla called to tell me the news."

So recent? Why didn't he say anything? But then Jude remembered what had been going on the days following the break-in; the impromptu move from his apartment to Alvin's, Jude's destructive spiral into his research, their brief fight… Jude had been so far gone in his own depression that he was utterly oblivious to Alvin's own struggle. If he had been in his right mind, would he have noticed? If Alvin thought Jude more trustworthy, would he have confided in him about his mother's condition, her untimely passing?

Jude felt at a loss for words. All this time, he had been so hung up on his own problems that he had completely ignored Alvin's declining emotions. He felt a familiar guilt borne from his childish selfishness that left him blind to the feelings of others.

"Alvin…" Jude gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I'm so sorry…"

The hand was gently brushed away, Alvin slowly rising to his feet. "Don't be." He muttered, coming to stand before the vacant bed, photos of himself, his family, pinned upon the wall near the headboard. "After the accident, my mother and I were cut off from the family's funding. Apparently our stake in it had been removed; she wasn't part of the Svent line, and I was too young to have any hold on it." Alvin took a seat upon the old straw mattress, head hung low, defeated. "The leaders of Exodus approached me for work. They'd give me odd jobs; working in the house of other lords to gather information, sneaking into secret military compounds to steal Rashugal's secrets… I got older, the jobs got more dangerous, until I was working as a full-fledged mercenary traveling the world."

Alvin paused, scrubbing at his face with what could only be frustration. "But Mom only got sicker, and they knew that, and I always thought that there was no way to break the cycle I've been stuck in since I was six goddamn years old."

"Alvin…" In spite of the distance Alvin seemed to try to put between them, Jude took a seat beside him on the bed. "I'm sorry. If I had known, I…"

A hand was held up to silence Jude, Alvin finally looking his way. "I said don't. My mom…" He sighed, eyes returning to the floor. "She was suffering, had been suffering for a long time. I did a lot of shitty things to support her, thinking that it was good enough just to funnel gald into her account when I should have just stayed at her side." Alvin buried his face in his hand, shoulders shaking, breath coming in short, quiet gasps. He was trying so hard not to break down, but they both saw it coming and neither knew if it could be stopped.

"But I can't even claim such an altruistic purpose for my actions. I wanted to live as a mercenary, using my skills to earn money without any regard for others. I wanted to live without any ties, to be free to do whatever I wanted with no consequences. And for what? So my mother would die alone while her useless son lined his pockets with gald?" He shuddered, raking his hands through his hair before ducking his head again. "What the hell am I supposed to do now?" He asked, voice quiet, broken. Shame, that must have been what Alvin felt over his mother's death. Shame and guilt brought on by a life he perceived as the easiest way out, only to wind up hurting those he loved.

Slim arms were wrapped around the man's shoulders, Jude pulling him into a tight embrace. Alvin remained stiff at first, but after a moment he relaxed into the hug, resting his head against the smaller boy's shoulders. Jude knew he couldn't do anything to bring Alvin's mother back, or even to fix all the things that had gone wrong in his life. But this, holding him close, comforting him like Alvin had done for him so many times before… This he could do.

Alvin took another calculated breath, as if doing everything he could to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. "I want out, Jude." He admitted, hand reaching up to grip the back of Jude's shirt. "He always told me that if I followed orders, she'd be safe, I'd be safe. I could continue to live freely but…" He shook his head, hand fisting in the fabric on Jude's back. "What's the point if I can't even keep one person I care about safe? What good is it when the people I care about are used against me for his gain?" The question ended with a soft patter of warmth on Jude's shoulders, the beginnings of tears Alvin was unable to hold back anymore.

One had to wonder, was it his mother Alvin spoke of, or Jude himself? Had the man felt guilty for lying to him all this time for the sake of Exodus's will? Perhaps this was the reason Jude had been seeking; why he was spared, why Alvin was going through all this trouble to distance himself from Exodus. He wanted to run, and Jude was along for the ride.

Somehow that made it so much easier to trust him again.

"It's all right, Alvin." Jude murmured into his hair, hands rubbing slow circles into Alvin's back. "What matters now is that you're trying to get out, right? You're trying to keep moving, even though your drive is gone…"

Alvin didn't respond, just sat there silently while he attempted to recompose himself. They stayed like that for a time, Jude holding the older man much like Alvin had for him when he felt like the world was caving in on him. Alvin had been there for him even when his own world was crashing down, as if he could hold up the collapse with his broad shoulders, shelter Jude from the wreckage borne from his selfish desires.

Now it was Jude's turn to shelter him.

After several long moments of haggard breathing and soft whispers of encouragement, Alvin finally pulled away, face flushed and eyes puffy. He coughed to clear his throat, clearly embarrassed by his moment of weakness. "Sorry. I really didn't want you to see me like that." He muttered, scrubbing at his face with a groan. "Man, being around you has made me one hell of a softie. What will the cool kids think of me now?"

Jude chuckled, reaching over to smooth Alvin's hair from his face. "Even the cool kids get upset sometimes, right? And I don't think any less of you for it."

In the flickering candlelight, he saw Alvin smile, and things between them felt just a little bit lighter.

With a soft sigh, Jude leaned heavily against his shoulder, allowing himself to finally relax. "We… Should really sleep. I think those hours we agreed upon were up a while ago."

Alvin snorted at that, reaching up to ruffle Jude's hair. "You're right. We have to catch an early flight, don't we?"

Jude hummed a response, already falling asleep. Just being next to Alvin was comfortable enough.

Alvin toed off his shoes and took a spot on the straw mattress near the wall, patting the space next to him. "It's small but it's better than camping."

It was a little strange sleeping in the bed that Alvin's late mother had laid in, but at that point he didn't care, so exhausted was he. That night they shared the only bed in the house, packed tightly together for lack of space. But even with Alvin's back pressed uncomfortably against his, it's the best sleep Jude's had in recent memory. He liked to think Alvin slept well, too.