third. text. (misfire)

[torrefied]

I should have known that the so-called "city guard" would be all talk and no action.

Comments

[unitas]

[ He does not care if they come after him, but does that mean he cares if they come after her? She finds she can't bring herself to ask. ]

Fine. [ She says it as if she's conceding, but it appears to come with a stipulation. ] You better not get caught, then.

[torrefied]

[Strangely enough, he does care, and he doesn't want them going after her. It's why he said not to give them an opening. He understands brutally well what it's like to make a miscalculation and have to live with the consequences that come after as a result. And in all honesty, if circumstances were different - if Near weren't here - Mello may have rallied to her side instead of opposing her efforts. He doesn't appreciate this extended incarceration either, and there are highly important things he's been prevented from doing by being kept here.]

If it's been this long and none of them have made a move yet, I don't think it's likely they will. I'll just lay low for a while longer to be sure.

[unitas]

I hope you're right. [ Because if he's not... ]

[torrefied]

[He knows how disastrously bad it could turn out for him if he's wrong. But he's fairly confident in his calculations.

It's strange, hearing that kind of hopefulness directed at him. Mello's not used to having anyone express concern about what happens to him; he's been actually on his own since he was fifteen, and functionally so for much longer. The House was only concerned with results, not the individuals who reached for them, beyond a certain basic standard of care. It's strange, because he's not used to it, but it's not unpleasant.]

... Thanks, Sharon.

[unitas]

...Don't mention it. [ No, really, don't. It's funny how awkward something so simple as gratitude makes her. ]

[torrefied]

[Yeah, he can understand that.]

All right. My lips are sealed.

[unitas]

[ Hah, cute.

She hangs up. ]