By 9 a.m. both of the agents were awoken by a text message. Some unusual movement was spotted inside the building. Although exhausted, they were too fast to get ready and they almost ran their way back to their places.
Turn out it was only shadows passing by quickly, but it was a first. Shuichi joined the SWAT team on the roof, ready to attack. While Jodie headed to the center area. She found the same people from yesterday with more agents present. They still failed to establish contact. It seemed like it was going nowhere with them unable to go inside fearing for the hostages, nor having contact with the equalizers to negotiate. She sighed at that realization, and wondered if Shuichi had it better.
He did not! He was asking to be repositioned with the SWAT team down, where at least Jodie would make the day shorter for him. But he was denied, because "his sniper skills were needed up, more than anything else for now."
A few hours have passed when Shuichi decided to take a break. He supported himself on the roof fence. With the view from up there, it was a nice spot to enjoy his cigarette. It felt euphoric for him to take his first drag after a moment of withdrawal. He merely let the air out, when the sound of many yelling voices started approaching.
Shuichi frowned as it kept on getting louder. He went to the wall across from where he had a view of the main street and the Treasury Bureau. He turned left to the voice source, only to find a huge number of people approaching. They were yelling, raising signs, wearing masks, all in support of the Equalizers group. They walked past the barricades at the end of the street and slowly approached the bureau. This was not good. It was turning into pure chaos now!
The SWAT team covering the area on the ground turned their attention to the approaching people. They threatened them to halt and turn around. Words weren't enough with the persistent crowd. Eventually, it took some wrestling and resistance to make them get back and away from the central perimeter. Both PD and FBI had to sacrifice some agents to have some more people guarding the barriers and enforcing the law at the end of the streets.
It was around 11 p.m. that Jodie called Shuichi, telling him she was heading back to the hotel. Shuichi told the guys with him he was leaving for a moment, he ran the stairs down, then rode the elevator to get to Jodie who stood by the sidewalk across from his building entrance.
"It took you seven minutes precisely," she said, looking at her wristwatch. "That's the time you waste just coming down for this."
"It's not wasted."
"It's one block."
"It's dangerous."
"It's guarded."
"No, it's not."
Jodie gave up. He's impossible.
They had a few more things to disagree about on the way, until they reached their room.
"Home sweet home," Jodie muttered with relief, but Shuichi merely stood at the door. She turned when she felt the lack of his presence and found him standing in place. Her eyes widened. "...Are you heading back?!"
Shuichi nodded.
"You haven't had much to sleep, I mean, I slept more than you and I feel bushed…"
"I'm fine. It's nighttime, windows are clearer now, the boys probably need me."
Jodie stared at him a little before she nodded. Soon as she did Shuichi turned around to leave.
"Although…" That stopped him. "You said the path is dangerous, you brought me here because 'safety in numbers' and all, now who's escorting you back?"
Shuichi turned his head to say something with a hint of a smile when she added.
"Or are you implying that you can handle the path and I cannot?"
Shuichi shut his lips, turning them into a full smile. "That a trick question?"
"Whatever you want to call it."
"Then I plead the fifth." He chose. He wouldn't admit that he was scared -being the protective man he is, maybe a little too scared- for her. "Night."
"Night. " Unconsciously, Jodie smiled weakly. She couldn't help it when he'd been brooding for a full month since Akemi's death. His smile has turned into a rare beautiful scenery since, and she couldn't stop herself from feeling something when it occurred.
I know this doesn't advance the story much sorry, I said it was written so fast sooo. I don't even remember what I wrote for the next chapters but the next will have more in it that this, all of it for that stupid tiny cute scene which is not even here yet.