Sacha's made it (somewhat) clear about how he's felt. Gilder's still annoyed about Sacha taking such a risky job. The escape they had to make afterward didn't put him in a good mood either.
Bandages laid strewn about in the corner. Blood splotches had embued them with a deep crimson. Gilder was scrubbing furiously trying to get his hands clean. Pouring what little alcohol he had across his digits. A vain attempt to get clean. He had used most of it on Sacha to make sure his wounds were disinfected.
Luck seem to favor the bold. Sacha's cuts weren't nearly as deep as they could have been. Sacha's headstrong nature nearly got the best of him. If only he could be more headstrong about other things.
Sacha was laid on a ramshackle bed on the other side of the room. He had been asleep for awhile. Fresh badages wrapped around his lithe abdomen. Gilder watched him quietly. As much as Sacha could piss him off, Gilder was just as equally protective of him. Sacha stirred from his rest.
"Where we are?", he inquired.
"Not dead", Gilder replied bluntly. "No thanks to your recklessness."
Gilder was still agited. Turns out even the burly swordsman could have mood.
"What that mean?'
"Dammit, Sach. I told you it was too dangerous. Didn't I?"
Gilder was about to let him have it.
"Thank God I showed up when I did. Rapelling off a roof and through a plate glass window may be easy for you, but it was a helluva endeavor for me. Nevermind that I got lucky and just happened to end up in the hellway you were trudging down.
Gilder flashed through the whole thing in his mind. Sacha grasping at his midriff. Desperatley trying to stop the bleeding. Gilder picking him up in his arms.
"It's a cinch that gaurd didn't chase us."
Gilder was still rather perplexed about that exchange. The blonde guardsman had stopped at the far end of the hall. He and Gilder exchanged glances. Gilder, with Sacha in his arms, had had an almost hopeless look on his face. One that said, 'Please, let us go.' The guard seemed to nod at Gilder almost in reassurance that he wasn't going after them. Gilder didn't think twice about and escaped as fast as his large frame would allow.
"Dumb luck is why you're alive and I'm not behind bars."
"So, where are we?", Sacha again asked.
"About 3 hours ride north of Ivore. Thankfully we travel light. It wasn't easy getting you up on a horse while you were passed out, bleeding all over the place. I managed to find this place which thankfully didn't ask too many questions. Money has a way of keeping people quiet."
Gilder took a swig from his flask. Trying to calm himself. The last day and a half had been a whirlwind. Having to say goodbye to Linneus. He and Sacha discussing how the felt about each other. Escaping royal guards. It was a miracle he hadn't knocked over a pub yet. Alcohol was how he dealt with the lifestyle he chose. It was what he was good at and, honestly, the targets usually had it coming.
Gilder motioned to the chair next to the bed. "I managed to keep your coat clean. Somehow."
Sacha glanced over to the chair. He was astonished at how intact it was given all that had transpired. Gilder may rough with his own possesions, but was always on point about other people's things.
"Where is M-?"
"Look in the pocket," Gilder interjected.
Sure enough Mouse was sound asleep curled up in the pocket of the floofy coat. A look of relief has washed over Sacha's face. For once he didn't seem to be having mood. Sacha's mind was a block of granite right now. So many things in there, but none of the thoughts flowing. He began to contemplate their next move.
"So, now what?", Sacha inquired.
"'Now What?' That's your response? Dammit, Sacha. We could have been killed back there! How about we...no, you...don't do anything stupid like that again?"
"Big man gone soft! Don't blame me for you not focusing on work!"
"I can focus just fine. What's that supposed to mean?"
Sacha peered at him, "You know what I mean."
Gilder stopped for a moment. Analyzing what Sacha was getting at. He knew how Sacha felt. He just wish Sacha would open up more and say what he meant. It was hard enough not seeing Linny anymore. He enjoyed the time with him. Gilder was the type to show his affection physically. It was a little more than just a good lay.
"I'm not the one who can't say what he means! And it ain't a damn language barrier either. Yeah, I liked being with Linneus. I will not apologize for that. But I liked being with you, too. And yes, I enjoyed the casual nature of it, too. How the hell was I supposed to know you wanted something more. You're the one who always puts up the angry front."
"Emotions not thing where I come from. Emotions get in way."
"Yeah, well being a moody little fuck ain't helping."
There was a sudden stop to the bickering. The two hitmen stared at each other. Neither backing down. They weren't the type to shy away from a fight. And some things were worth fighting for.
Gilder sighed, "Listen, Sach...Just go to bed okay? We'll sort things out in the morning. Neither of us will in our right minds until we get some rest."
"Hmmph!", Sacha retorted as he turned around pulled the covers over his body.
"I'm glad we at least agree on that," Gilder replied.
Gilder shuffled over to the tattered mattress onthe other side of the room. He just wanted to block out everything for a few hours and get some sleep. He closed his eyes and drifted away into nothing. He had an innate skill being able to just pause from life and step away for a few hours. It's how he got to sleep at night. It's how he got through living.
Hours passed. Gilder was surprisingly refreshed when he awoke. He'd need the energy. Sacha was not in his bed.
"Sach?", he called out. "Sacha?"
No response. Sacha had bailed.
"Running again", Gilder thought to himself. He had to find Sacha. He wasn't going to lose him. Not when they were about to make progress in their relationship. As business oriented as it was, it was still a relationship. They had been through too much for Gilder just to walk away. Tracking targets is what he did for a living. He was going to find his man. And he knew just where to look.