"Hm, now that you mention, I found this in his mind," Elek scribbled a note and handed it to Amante. "Should be address of the facility. They did quite the ride, all the way from Knoxville." He thought a bit before answering the other question.

"Alice seems nice... Although a little set back about her surroundings. I don't think she speaks to anyone directly. When she does, I would like to talk with her, though. If honestly, it still feels like you're the one who could find out something about her." Elek frowned a little, as if feeling bad he had said that. But it did seem like that and he tried to be polite about it, though, and appear that he didn't feel strange about Alice and her powers.

He noticed Amante hadn't replied to his question about Leila, that seemed a little strange. Was he really so worried about Alice? Or maybe Ryan? "If you're stuck with Leila's situation or not interested in continuing that mission, I can always ask Aiolia or someone else to do some snooping around, you know. It doesn't seem like you're all the way with it right now. Or that it will bear much fruits as a whole." The man didn't like to say that, but from realistic viewpoint, it was possible she had already found their locations and contacted employer without Amante ever noticing. It was too bad his powers didn't work in such large ranges, without becoming forceful.

"You don't have to meet Eve for now, I suppose. Only if I suspect she could be somehow involved in all the other happenings," Elek finished, with soft sight. It wouldn't surprise him.

Great, it sounded like Elek was not only catching on to Amante's connection with Alice but also voicing he may no longer be well equipped for the mission concerning Leila. "No, I can handle it." He was going to have to try harder to work on both and just do as Elek told him. He would plant the device, somehow, and then focus on Alice for a bit, maybe talk to her.

"I'll get this on her so we can keep a closer eye on her... I'll try talking to Alice. Maybe she'll reach out." He didn't want to have her assigned as a mission but doing it on his own for his own reasoning may have been too... obvious.

"Is there anything else?" He had work to do and he wanted to get it done.

"No, that is all, Amante," Elek said, tiredness edging his voice. He felt that his friend felt as if doubted and distrusted, and realized it could seem so, but he truly hadn't meant it so. He wanted what was best for Amante, and he seemed so troubled now... If Alice's case was so important to him, it would be only natural to free him from Leila. She just had to be quite the headache.

When Amante left, he turned to the papers. It took a little more effort to read them now, and he felt absurdly depending on his friends, especially Aiolia again. But there was no way Elek would disturb her now, when she was training.

Meanwhile, Ryan had gotten up, finished the mourning check up and well being routine and was on his way to Alice. Nurse had brought him few books and although it was not easy to hold it with one hand, he still read for her daily now. Then, he liked to discuss the book with her, feeling very sure that the girl was following his words, and judging by her expressions, Ryan could also tell what she was feeling about the story.

With a nod, he got up and walked out of the room with the little box. Not ready to return to the outpost just yet, he headed for the hospital and went inside. Making a bee line to Alice's room, he stopped outside the window and watched Ryan read to her, his features slowly becoming less and less pleased.

Meawhile, Alice listened to the stories. They all seemed very simple to her but she still liked them. What was more important was that Ryan was the one who sat there and read them to her. Having his confidence and determination, watching him work with both of his arms to hold the book and even turn pages. She was proud of him and it showed, though it seemed more like she was enjoying the stories.

Amante knocked on the door as he entered and cleared his throat, almost glaring the face off of Ryan with his mind. He reined the temptation back and gave the girl as greeting smile. "How has your stay been?"

She noticed the hostility from the man but did not seem totally phased by it. She simply stared at him as if waiting for him to do or say something else.

Ryan had noticed Amante, he had felt someone intensively watching and had discreetly looked at the window. The man seemed familiar, but Ryan couldn't recognize him. Maybe someone from the court... That would explain the way he stared with displeasure...

However, when he came in, Ryan recognized the man. "Ah, you're the one from the cell..." he said and then frowned. He was so hostile, it nearly formed a physical substance in air, thickening between them. He knew that he had called the doctor for him, albeit late, and when Ryan had asked around, they had said "Amante" sat at Alice's bed a lot. This had to be "Amante", the jealous one.

"Thanks for the doc," Ryan said dryly, expression growing cold. What was his relationships with Alice? She seemed to react him very little. Not that he could say she reacted to him awfully lot, too... But still more! Determined to ignore Amante, he looked at Alice and smiled at her, wondering if she had ever said something to him, even telepathically. Maybe they were conversing right now? The thought of that stung.

Ryan wanted to reply for her, but since maybe they were talking, he didn't want to seem as a fool... Amante had seen him at his worst, and he hadn't given much about it. To appear even more foolish and lame in front of him, would hurt his pride far too much. Ryan stared at the book, trying to will Amante away, his jaw tense.

Cell? Alice looked to Ryan, concerned, and then looked back at Amante. He made a slightly different expression to confirm Ryan's questions and looked to Alice. the two stared at each other, Amante eventually turning his gaze away from the burning curiosity of innocent blue eyes.

Clearing his throat, he responded, "No problem." It was hard to say, like grinding rocks out of ones system... especially when you wanted to keep those damn rocks. Amante cleared his throat again and asked openly, though he meant it for Alice, "How are you feeling?"

It didn't work unfortunately and Amante asked another question. So, they were not having a mental conversation or he would have asked in his mind. After a moment more, Ryan rose his eyes from the book and stared intensively at the other man. His eyes were now truly icy, not only in color.

"Alice has recovered quite well, thank you. And she is getting better every day." "But not thanks to you, jerk." Ryan didn't even bother with answering about him self, because it was obvious the question was directed only at the girl. Later, he would wonder why did he get so angry and defensive, but right now, Ryan just wanted him out of here, and far, faaar away, so he could never interrupt their moments like this.

The tension between the two males became palpable as Ryan lashed out and Amante leered over at him to match his icy glare. Alice could feel it, the jealous hatred each of them felt for each other. She was not completely sure why they both felt this way and resorted to laying a hand over Ryan's.

He couldn't get this worked up because he'd just had his surgery and was getting better. She looked over to Amante, to the door and then to him again. The pain of rejection washed over him and he started to step back toward the door. "I'll... come by later." Swallowing, he hurried out of the room and shut the door. She could feel him waiting outside of it for a few moments and then watched him walk past the window.

Alice turned her attention to Ryan, frowning but still looking concerned, and she gave his hand a little squeeze as if to comfort him.

Ryan felt nearly startled when her hand touched his, and he broke his stare at Amante, to see how Alice motioned the man to leave. What was just as surprising was that he did leave. So, there had to be something between them, something that made Amante look so rejected and hurt by this little thing. And, yet, Alice had chosen him, not Amante whom she might know for so longer, who could be her ex-boyfriend, who...

Ryan looked at Alice, and seeing her frown, hung head down. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. She was displeased with his little display, apparently, and it was understandable. Alice had seen only nice side of him, but there was so much he had done and experienced that made him so different from the heroic types. Anger, jealousy even, unexplained dislike, not controlling his emotions... All of that was what he took from streets, not gentleman like at all.

"I am not a good guy, you know," he told her, in serious manner and then sighed softly. "But thank you." He squeezed her hand in return, and then, with still heavy heart, returned to the story reading, trying to pretend nothing had happened, and he hadn't been just reminded that despite wish to protect Alice's peace, he was just a street rat in his actions after all.

Aiolia had offered to take Amante back in The Cat, so he didn't have to walk all the way back. She was on her way to Surface and it was no problem to take him along. The girl looked tired and weary, she tried to hide the fact she was sometime limping when exhausted. Aiolia wasn't exactly the chat all the time, but now she was even more quiet. Few times it seemed she wanted to say or ask something, but she never said it.

Aiolia wished him good luck and good day, when Amante got out, and then disappeared into the sewer shadows. It was hard to tell if Leila's shadows had already come home before, or tagged along with the car. Their mistress however, was nowhere around, not even in her tent, despite the fact it was night, or maybe early morning.

Leila had found a nice, clean niche, some distance from the outpost, above the regular sewer floor level in which she now sat and observed her surroundings. It felt safer, more distanced from people than her tent, and if not for the mission, Leila would surely move it to here. The Shadow mission had went well and she had nearly finished the map path to Base. But with it, she was also growing more restless, wanting this all over quicker, and it showed in attitude. Now no one at the outpost really dared to bother her, because her glare sent chills down their spines.

She wanted to stop him and tell him he was wrong for thinking so little of himself. At least she didn't feel that way about him. Her hand held onto his until he had to turn a page and she relaxed against the pillows. She'd drifted in and out of sleep a few times, her body exhausted from the stress of the two men mentally slaying each other.

Alice woke up again as he finished the book, trying to be discreet about having fallen asleep. She started to turn onto her side so she was facing him and she gave him a tired smile. Ok, so she couldn't hide it all completely.

Amante accepted the offer and rode along inside the Cat. Neither of them said much of anything to each other as both parties radiating their own issues. Finally, when the Cat stopped, he hopped out and suggested Aiolia be careful before walking into the outpost.

Leila wasn't anywhere around and her shadows must have been preoccupied- something good managed to come out of her little servants following him. He went into her tent and planted the device, then left it without a word and while trying to not look suspicious.

Running a hand through his hair, he'd picked up her scent just to know where she was, and went to his own tent to relax.

Ryan noticed that Alice fell asleep few times, and at those times, he read in quiet voice or stayed silent for a while, thinking about what had happened ever since he had been contacted by that woman... Things sure had changed, and while the man was inclined to think that for the best, sometimes the feeling of dread grew rather strong. Ryan was unsure of his position in this new "life" and place, but insecurity and instability was the beginning of downfall on the streets.

When Alice turned on her side, to face him, Ryan smiled at her. "Are you still tired? Maybe I should go and let you rest. I think they will be soon coming for our checkups anyways," he finished thoughtfully and closed the book.

Later that morning, despite her (not wholehearted) efforts, it was visible that Leila was fuming. Everyone got out of her way, when equipped with her backpack and crossbow, the girl headed out for her patrol. A bit more and omnious aura would be visible around her.

The reason was quite simple: Amante had been in her tent. Her shadows had failed their simple task and let him in. And leave something there. At least they had warned her about the lingering presence of his, but still, the item had not been found. It agrivated her and in a way, made her feel insecure. If she couldn't trust her shadows to keep her and her belongings protected, then how could she feel safe even in the slightest? Needless to say, there had been long mental disputes with the beings.

She reached out to him as he started to speak about leaving her alone. She didn't want him to go, leaving her alone even if it wouldn't be for long. Alice had a hard time keeping her eyes open, her hand drifting toward the edge of the bed as she reached for him.

He could see something, though it was brief and easily missable, but it was there and subtle. If there was a diagram for comfort, it was there before him. A bed with soft pillows and a gentle companion. The sensation of tiredness radiated from her and became more and more evident in her body language until she all but passed out in her bed.

Her breathing was low and unnoticeable save for the gentle rising and falling of her chest. She'd fallen asleep in the same sort of awkward position she had changed to in order to face him with her hand stretched out to touch his and bring him some kind of comfort.

Snoring in a high up spot in the sewer pipe system, sunlight streaked over his features as he slept. He'd fallen asleep during the night nearby a drainage hole in the side of a street. There was a bottle in his hand though it was nearly empty. Amante grunted, his leg drifting off from the pipes and hanging. He was considerably high up, a good forty feet most likely. Either he went outside and came back in via a manhole or he found a way to climb up there, though without claws it was unlikely.

Just outside, through the drainage slot in the side of the road, was an old blues house. They played, though rarely, and he'd fallen asleep while listening to their music. Live music was rare in these times, a delicacy to some. He enjoyed it when he could.

Ryan took her hand as it reached for her, brushed thumb over it and smiled at her. That moment, he saw the brief vision, image, so faint he could only wonder if it was his imagination or something Alice had wanted him to see. He would later decide for the latter. The scene filled him with a strange warmth. But he couldn't linger on it for long, when the girl fell asleep.

He held her hand for a little longer, and then, let go and slowly, stood up. Carefully, Ryan put the girl on her back and pulled blanket higher up, although his left hand fingers were still weak and clumsy. He leaned, gripping on bed post awkwardly and kissed her on forehead softly, complying to sudden wish. She was so sweet and young, such gentle, easy dream... Yet so hard to accomplish in this torn world, where everyone was a vulture. But they could fight for it, yes, they could...

Ryan sat back down in his chair, looking at Alice, until sleep claimed him as well, and after a little while, nurse came to check on them. Seeing them asleep, she took the man back to his room and postponed the procedures a little so the two could rest.

Around the outpost, various rumors were going. Some spoke about a strange creature crawling trough the sewer tunnels, on the walls and even ceiling. No one had been killed yet, but everyone was scared of it. Some other rumors spoke of Amante and the strange "magnet" that drew him to Base. Leila didn't listen very carefully to either, but took note. That's why she had taken extra weapons to the patrol today.

Still angry, although calming down the deeper in the sewers she went, Leila was vary of her surroundings. But there was nothing suspicious, no sounds, sights or smells to catch her attention. Until something, strangely alike snoring, reached her ears, coming up from above. The girl threw her back and narrowed her eyes, staring at where the noise came. Light shining up there was faint, for it was a gloomy day, but it was enough to assure that there was someone up there. What's more, she could bet it was Amante.

"That man..." she thought. To be up there, he had to be dead or passed out, in one way or another. How he had gotten up there, she had only vague idea, though. Various ideas came to the girl's mind, such as slaughtering him then and there, and many ways how to do it, without becoming a suspect, but something, just a thin thread of restraint held her back and made her chose a different path.

Leila's fist clenched by her side and shadowy wings spread from her back. With few movements, Leila was hovering next to the man. Her face was stiff, eyes narrowed, and more like a mask than face of a human capable of emotions.

"Wake up, you snooping bastard," she hissed, and kicked him solidly in side, sending Amante off the pipe. Leila did not want him to fall, though, and even if he did not manage to catch on the pipe, shadow tentacles would tie the man to it. "Listen up! I offer you a simple deal: you promise me to get the fuck out of my way and stay there, to not involve your self with me and my business anymore in any way, and never snoop trough my stuff again, and I help you up, scum." She paused, and then her boot came dangerously close to his hand - yet slightly out of his reach. "Or, if you don't, you fall, and if you're not dead instantly, I finish you off. Really, that would even be nice of me, even, to relieve you of pain." Her voice dripped with malice. "No one will suspect me, and even if they do... I don't give a damn."

His eyes snapped open when she kicked him, a hand instinctively grabbing at a pipe as his body flew over the edge and hung. Amante cursed as the bottle dropped down and shattered on the sewer floors, frowning up at a dark looking Leila. growling, he swiped at her but missed, tear at her shoe a bit.

"I didn't go through your things." Frowning still, he continued, "As a traitor, you're overreacting." He pointed at her with his free hand, "you're the one who should be hanging fro mthe pipe, asking for mercy." His eyes bulged as he hiccuped, his hand moving over his mouth as he groaned. Don't vomit, you'll ruin your speech. He cleared his throat and looked up at her.

"Besides, they'll know you did it," He hiccuped again, "And no one would miss me. So go ahead- show us what a great fucking assassin you are." Amante was not one for cursing, especially at another person. something was wrong. He always saw the good in others but... not now. He knew Leila was evil, though whether she wanted to be evil was another story.

Leila's expression didn't change, it was possible that his words simply didn't reach her. It wasn't entirely true, though. The word traitor rang in her head a few times, but she braced her self against it. Job's a job, she was no Judas - it wasn't for money. Right or wrong, no one would judge her and find the truth.

"To be a traitor, you have to care for that thing first," she said. Leila had never thought about Rebellion or its cause much, she avoided doing so. There was a base of idea that could touch her, but it was not in her plans.
"And it was never about being a 'great assassin'." Her voice was just as emotionless as before, despite she let a well hidden thought leak. Her boot stepped on his hand with a crunch and shadowy tentacles dragged him down full force. Mentally, the girl winced, but in reality, her eyes followed Amante's fall.

She was not happy with the outcome, Leila had been quite sure he would choose the sensibly way. But apparently, Amante was stuck in self wallowing phase and took it as a sort of 'release'. In a way, Leila could understand it.

With quiet thud, Leila landed near Amante and walked over to the man. She swiftly looked his body over, taking note how he was still conscious. The shadows held his wrists down, but not too tightly.
"This is such a waste, really," the girl tsked softly, kneeling and taking needle out of her backpack, then finding the liquid barrel somewhere hidden in her clothing, maybe behind belt. "I thought you would have more sense than this. But what could I expect. You are just a man," she said, putting the syringe together. Apparently, it was a 'label' of some kind, maybe even curse word, in her opinion.

"Still, this will be over for you soon. Can't let you wallow in pain for hours." Leila turned his palm upside down - it was bruised on knuckles, but she could still inject the poison in the vein without problem. Leila was used to talking with victims, in fact, many men had taken her deepest secrets to the other side with them.

Amante scoffed at her, "Right. Your mission was to make us believe you wanted to be a part of us- a part of a team. The illusion makes you a traitor because anyone could have believed what you told us was the truth." Amante huffed, "you're just a liar." His chest started to burn and shadows pulled at him. He kicked at them and let go of the pipe when she crushed his hand under her foot.

He managed to flip on his way down, landing on his feet. But it wasn't enough. He yelped out in pain and collapsed onto his side. A piece of bone stuck out from his ankle and foreleg, the other likely just as bad off. He leaned onto his elbows and watched her come down infront of him, taking hi hand after he lay on his side and readying the injection. "So is this what you wanted? A life, alone, without anyone to care about you?" He huffed in a way that could lead her to believe he understood her, because he did.

"what is your mission, anyway? Kill Elek? Aiolia? Rat out the location?" He flexed his arm so she could get a vein, one blue wavy line popping up almost instantly. "Or are you just doing this for fun? Fucking with peoples lives like it's some kind of fucked up game?" He wanted to hear her tell him he was wrong and that none of it was her mission, or that she at least had a change of heart. but then he thought none of that mattered.

"The graveyard you went to... who did you visit?" He looked at her, stared at her face and into her eyes as the poison barraded his system and worked to shut down his body, but he was able to fight it just a little bit.