"Hold still, please." Felix removed the first layer of wraps covering Leopold's shoulder. They'd already finished cleaning and rewrapping his hand. Much of the swelling had gone down, and the pain diminished to a more tolerable level. His shoulder, however, made him nervous. Felix tried their best not to show it, but he could see that they were worried. They moved carefully, pinching the edges of the wraps, gently lifting them away from his body. A tugging sensation caused Leopold to halt them.

"I think it's scabbed over, there." He muttered, reaching over his shoulder and taking hold of the fabric. Their fingers brushed together as he guided them slowly; his face flushed, and he smiled to himself. However, a grimace soon formed, as a sudden sharpness ripped through his shoulder. He gasped, then held his breath, feeling the unmistakable trickle of blood.

"Damn it, you were right," Felix huffed, pressing a rag to the open wound. "I'm going to have to sterilize it again."

"Ugh, of course," Leopold sighed. Felix popped the cork of the bottle of thyme oil, then handed it to him.

"Would you put some on a clean rag? I need to keep pressure on this until the bleeding stops."

"Ja, na sicher." He endured the remainder of the process without additional complaint. Only one scab had been lost, and there were no signs of infection. There was significant bruising, but as far as they could tell, no bones had been broken. Felix expressed great relief at this, which helped assuage his Fears. They would still need to keep a close eye on it, but for the Time being, all was well. Then, the Shapeshifter presented the outfit they'd prepared for him.

"Well, what do you think?" They beamed at him with wide, mirthful eyes. They held up a sleek, black tailcoat over a white shirt with a stiff collar, a cream-colored waistcoat, and a black bow tie. Black dress pants and shoes lay waiting on a chair by the door.

"I think you're trying to assemble an orchestra!" Leopold blurted out, laughing. Felix's goofy grin stretched to the corners of their eyes; they broke into a fit of giggles that lifted the butterflies in his stomach, and sent a rush through his heart.

"I think you're going to look positively dashing in this!" They helped him to his feet; he wobbled, holding onto their arms for support. His legs and back ached, and a dull, thrumming beat began to hammer at the back of his skull. His vision swam, dozens of little white lights cascading over his eyes. "I also think you need some water." Felix's voice brought him a little bit closer to Earth. He mechanically accepted a glass of water, and drank it all in one go. Felix refilled the glass, silently demanding that he drink more. He obliged without a word, his sense of balance slowly returning.

"Danke, Liebling," he breathed, a cool relief spreading through him as he put down the empty glass. They merely smiled and nodded, then began dressing him. It wasn't long before they had him done up enough to make him wonder if they were going to give him a violin, and tell him to start playing Mozart. "I'm not saying I dislike it, but are you sure we should be dressing so finely? Won't that draw attention to us?"

"On some level, yes," Felix conceded. "However, we're going to be blending in with other wealthy Europeans that like to vacation in the American countryside this Time of year. We just have to make people think we're taking a quiet vacation, and if anyone questions us, we'll have a predetermined narrative to follow."

"Very well." Suddenly, Leopold's stomach growled. He chuckled in spite of himself, wishing he'd attempted to eat more when he had the chance. "Shall we discuss that on the train?"

"My thoughts exactly." They took his arm, leading him out of Lilly's house. "And we'll order food as soon as we're aboard."

The pair skirted the edges of the ranch, taking care to avoid being seen leaving the former home of the missing ranch maid. They took the long way around to get to the train station, successfully avoiding the ranch hands making their way home from the barn. Upon nearing the platform, Leopold scanned the area, noting only seven potential passengers, none of whom looked in their direction. Satisfied, he nodded to Felix, who offered only a small smile in reply. They casually approached the station master's window; Felix paid for their tickets, and Leopold hung back, keeping his face mostly hidden. He watched the roads going to and from the station - only a few passersby, and none who cared to pay them any Mind.

The train arrived shortly after Felix handed him his ticket. He hadn't the Time to pocket it before being tugged along to board. The Shifter took him to the third car from the engine; once inside, they presented a porter with their tickets. He looked back and forth between them, and the paper stubs, before politely directing them into a private compartment. Leopold would have stumbled inside, if not for Felix's support. They helped him sit; his back and hips relaxed on the soft cushion, popping as his muscles loosened up. He gave a heavy sigh of relief, watching them settle in across from him after shutting the door.

"I've never ridden in a compartment before," Leopold muttered, mostly to himself. He examined the upholstery on the seat cushions, taking mental note of the detailed textiles. A brief glimpse of his mother's face then passed through his Mind, giving his heart a violent start. He screwed his eyes shut and shook his head, attempting to chase off the vision. When he opened his eyes again, he met Felix's gaze. They were looking at him as though waiting for him to continue speaking.

He cleared his throat, searching for something to say. "Err…I-I've only ever really been in them on, eheh, robberies, long ago, and…" The train began to move as his voice trailed off. The longer he looked at the Shapeshifter, the more on-edge he felt. Once or twice, their face seemed to distort, revealing the burning red eyes, and twisted grin of the Black Pharaoh. He dropped his gaze to the floor as his vision began to shake, and his Mind flared with all the warnings telling him to flee.

"Are you alright, Darling?" Felix's hand found his; he flinched, but instead of pulling away, he laced his fingers with theirs. "What's bothering you?" Their voice, soft and sweet, soothed his nerves. He took a chance and looked up, meeting their eyes once more. Immediately, his Heart sank; worry clouded their face, as though they already knew of his nightmare, and his Mind's struggle to cope with it. Regardless, he couldn't find it in himself to tell them the Truth. He couldn't stand the thought of hurting them.

"W-well, I'm…" He took a deep breath, steeling himself, then lowered his voice. "I'm afraid, Felix. There are so many people looking for Dutch's gang members. They could be anywhere, even on board this train, right now. I don't think I'd last very long, should you and I have to part." He sighed, his shoulders dropping. "It's a nasty world, and it's going to catch up with me."

"Maybe so, but you're a survivor." Felix offered him a warm smile. "You're intelligent, resourceful, and can handle yourself in tough situations."

Leopold's face flushed, his heart leaping. "The Pinkertons are different, though. They're not simple bounty hunters."

"Correct. However, I can throw them off your trail, should the need arise."

"Danke, meine Liebling," he spoke softly, brushing their jaw with his fingertips. "But I don't want you getting shot on my behalf."

"Oh, don't worry about that, honey." They tilted their head, leaning their face into his palm. For a split second, their grin became off putting, if not disturbing. The air around them almost seemed to quiver and distort. Once more, he felt the inexplicable urge to run. He planted his feet, waiting for the notion to pass. "Bullets only make me angry." Their voice scattered slightly, nearly splitting into three tones, and their pupils narrowed to slits for the briefest of moments.

"Heh…l-like a grizzly bear." A bead of sweat dripped from Leopold's temple. He watched the storm that was Felix calm instantaneously, and welcomed the relief that followed. Their grin relaxed, and their aura returned to its usual, calming state. The Shapeshifter continued to surprise, intimidate, and draw him in, all at once. He thought of the moments 'Sarah' had been so intense, and how much he'd ultimately enjoyed it. You're dangerous…but I'm safe with you. He considered the Black Pharaoh again, deciding to keep it to himself unless they asked about it. For all he knew, it could have been simple, irrational Fear, brought up by meeting a non-human entity.

"Exactly!" They gave his hand a gentle squeeze, then turned their head, kissing his palm. "See? Nothing to worry about."

"Even if you don't get hurt," he began, then paused, needing a moment to choose his next words. He didn't understand how they could be so confident. "I don't know if the Pinkertons would be completely fooled."

"Just have Faith, Darling." To this, Leopold scoffed without thinking about it. Felix gave him an inquisitive look, to which he flushed and cleared his throat.

"Es tut mir Leid, meine Süße." He apologized quickly. "My experience with people telling me to 'have Faith' has been rather unsavory." Felix nodded, leaning forward slightly, prompting him to continue. "Dutch has been unwell, and I'm starting to wonder if the change is really all that recent. I've known him for so long, yet I couldn't tell you when he actually began to lose himself. Maybe it was Annabelle…"

"A Lover?"

"Ja. I'm fairly certain she was the only woman he'd ever truly Loved. They were going to get married, but…" He leaned in closer, his eyes on the door as he picked out the sound of someone passing their compartment. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Colm O'Driscoll killed her."

"Then, I'd say that's a fair assessment."

"I'd believe it. But now, I really have to wonder," he sighed, a weight settling in his Heart. "When did morale begin failing among all of us? When did we begin to turn away from the ideals that Dutch held onto so tightly, that brought us together in the first place?"

"I have a question." Felix chimed in; Leopold paused, giving them room to speak, watching them closely. "Do you really believe it was Dutch's philosophies that brought the gang together? Or, could it be that you were all brought together by common needs, and found that you could believe in his ideologies?" They held up their hand, eyes flitting to the ceiling as they searched for their next words. When they'd found them, their eyes met his again, their intensity sending a jolt down his spine. "Or, alternatively, is it possible that no one ever believed in Dutch's views enough to adhere to the gang's Code of Honor, therefore making their loyalty less than complete by default?"

Leopold had been rendered speechless. He turned each of the Shifter's questions over in his Mind, one by one, digesting their meanings and implications, finding that he could answer none of them. "I…I honestly don't know…" Somehow, in all his years of running with Dutch, he'd never considered any of these things. He recalled how quickly and completely he'd shut down Dutch's rambling as "philosophical nonsense," and how whenever the charismatic leader began one of his poetic speeches, he'd usually turned a deaf ear. Perhaps there had been some merit in what Dutch was supposedly trying to teach people, but for years, Leopold refused to acknowledge it. He'd followed the gang's Code as loosely as Dutch reluctantly allowed, and did his best to provide in the ways that he could. Giving up on trying to find an answer for Felix, he turned to look out the window, mired in his thoughts.

"I'm sorry if I've upset you," they murmured, catching his attention. He glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, his heart jumping slightly. They were also looking out the window; their face glowed a warm, golden orange, the radiant disk of the sun reflecting in their eye. Their glasses glinted and shimmered, casting dreamy chips of light against their cheek. "I don't mean to."

"You haven't." He turned his head slightly to get a better look at them; they mirrored him at that moment, making eye contact. Their lips curved into a serene grin, and Leopold's heart leapt into his throat, his cheeks burning. "J-ja?"

"Oh, nothing." They chuckled quietly, turning to look back out the window. They appeared thoughtful for a moment, then focused their gaze on him once more. "I just enjoy seeing you in this light."

"Aha, w-well, the-the feeling is mutual…" Glancing back and forth between their eyes, and their parted lips, he leaned forward. Felix smiled wider, ready to meet him for a kiss. A sudden knock on the door startled the two. They pulled away quickly; Leopold settled into the corner of his seat with his head down, and Felix opened the door.

"Good evening, gentlemen." The porter who'd shown them in had returned. He left a pitcher of water, and two glasses on a small stand near the door. "Would either of you be interested in ordering dinner?"

"Ja, I will have the roasted chicken with root vegetables, and fried potatoes, please. Oh, and a glass of sauvignon blanc." Felix jumped on this, seeming to have been planning their order ahead of Time. Then, before Leopold had a chance to ask for the menu, they looked at him and spoke again. "Er fragt, was wir zum Abendessen möchten." They gave him a tiny, up-to-no-good smile, and he took the hint. Looking between them and the porter, he nodded and leaned forward, waiting. The porter listed off everything on the menu, and Felix translated. Leopold thought about it for a moment, and settled on what sounded the best.

"Ich hätte gerne Lamm, Kartoffeln, Käse und ein Glas Cabernet Sauvignon, bitte."

"My uncle would like the lamb, potatoes, and cheese, paired with the cabernet sauvignon."

"All excellent choices, gentlemen. Your food will be ready within the hour." He left them with that, shutting the door. Felix leaned over and locked it, waiting for the sound of his footsteps to fade away before speaking.

"Sorry I just cut in like that," they began with an apologetic smile. "I'm glad you picked up on what I was doing, but we should have discussed it beforehand. I'll do better to inform you next time."

"Does that mean, so long as you're 'Felix,' you want me to pretend I don't speak English?"

"Exactly!" To this, Leopold burst into a sudden, genuine belly-laugh. Memories of his early years with Dutch and Hosea came flooding back to him. He and Hosea would put on a show: the exhausted, but kind American trying desperately to help the hopelessly lost immigrant that can't communicate. Meanwhile, Dutch would work his magic, and rob people blind while they were distracted. They'd always found a way to have fun with it, even if occasionally it meant getting run out of town for being nuisances. He clapped a hand over his mouth, the corners of his eyes crinkling as tears dotted them.

Felix flushed a light blue, their smile turning shy. They averted their gaze, holding themself as they vibrated in place. "What, eheh, what is so funny?"

"I-I'm sorry! Haha!" He held his stomach, attempting to breathe steadily. His laughter ceased, but his smile remained. Felix practically glowed, watching him, waiting for him to continue. "Sorry! Heh…it's been so long since I've done that, I've almost forgotten how fun it can be!" He let out a long, amused sigh, finally calming himself. "I used to play dumb a lot when I was younger. It made for some entertaining robberies, and I enjoyed making an act of it with my old friend, Hosea." His heart squeezed itself hard; he fought back tears, but just barely.

"I'll have to remember that." Felix sat back in their seat, stretching their arms and legs so that their joints popped. They exhaled a shaky sigh, a relaxed grin taking the place of a pained grimace. Propping their head up on one hand, they watched him, making eye contact. He shifted slightly, a dim heat touching his cheeks. "After all, I'd like for us to enjoy all the Time we have together. Wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would." He sat back, trying to get more comfortable. Looking the Shapeshifter up and down, he sighed internally, wishing that he'd been healthier throughout his life. He almost wished he could turn back the clock, and try doing something different, just to see if it would have made a difference. But then, he considered Felix, who liked him just as he was, and he was grateful for them. "So…we have a long ride ahead of us, no?"

"Indeed, I think we'll get to Rhodes right around sunrise."

"Why did you want to travel by night? We could have just waited until tomorrow morning."

"I know, Darling, but…" Felix reached into their jacket, fishing out what looked like a cigarette, and a matchbook. "After a certain hour, only the driver, and a few guards are awake. So…" They struck the match, giving him a wink and a flirtatious smirk as they inhaled. They blew the smoke up into the corner of the compartment; Leopold recognized the scent instantly, and was taken back, once more, to the Grand Korrigan. He crossed his legs, his core tightening for a moment. "We'll have plenty of privacy." They nearly offered him the joint, then thought better of it. "If you'd like to smoke with me, I have a few more of these. You should eat first, though. I know you haven't had much since I found you in Annesburg."

"Is that…what was it called? Marijuana?" He blushed, shifting awkwardly.

"You remember!"

"How could I forget? I've only relived the memory of that day a thousand times." He turned away, his face burning hotter. "I-I, eheh…err…" He sputtered, his voice drifting off. "Y-you…" Clearing his throat, he made eye contact with them. Their cheeks were bright blue, and their irises flashed pink. They smiled bashfully, and Leopold found them absolutely radiant in the sunset. His heart throbbing, he returned their grin. "I've thought of you nearly every day since then."

"Likewise, my dear." Putting out their joint, they reached over to him. "Come here?"

Without a second thought, he took their hand. Felix pulled him across the compartment, meeting him in the middle for a tender kiss. Their lips touched gently at first, then feverishly as they melted into one another. The Shapeshifter's fingers threaded his hair; he caressed their face, sighing softly, leaning further into them. Before he knew it, he'd been pulled on top of them, knees in the seat on either side of their hips. They wrapped their arms around his waist, heaving a dreamy sigh, and held him as close as they could. He pressed his forehead to theirs; eyes closed, they nuzzled one another. His heart drummed fast - theirs was downright erratic, as though they possessed more than one.

"May I ask you something?" Felix whispered, brushing their lips across his, sending a shiver down his spine.

"O-of course." He gasped, holding them a little tighter.

"Have you ever dreamt of me?"