Whoops
In retrospect, he should’ve realized this plan would backfire.
And catch literal fire.
And get him fired.
And cause him to be fired at.
Charging away from the growing wall of flame behind him, cringing as the sounds of gunshots pursued him, Levi Martin burst out of the building and nearly tripped on the front porch steps. Only the weight of his backpack pulling him back prevented him from falling on his face.
Trying to sell used, battered toasters as “archaic hand warmers” had seemed like a smart idea at the time, but even the oblivious upper class had seen through his guise.
Granted, a toaster exploding and sending half the foyer into flames did tend to reveal his peddling for lies. And even before then, someone sticking their hands into the toaster hadn’t gone well. Figures.
Ergo, the anger.
Ergo, the security pursuing him.
Ergo, fleeing for his life.
But safety was near. Safety was feasible. All he had to do was escape the district of the upper class, duck into one of the ramshackle excuses-for-buildings near home, and lose his angry pursuers.
Before him was the gate.
Almost there… almost there…
He clambered up the side, vaulted himself over, crashed to the ground, and threw himself into the nearest shelter he could find.
Wyrran was picking at the various odds and ends on the shelves of a small store, muttering to himself in an annoyed manner. Until Levi basically flew inside, stopping inches from the Alarian, and startled him into dropping nearly everything he’d been holding.
“Someone’s in a rush.” He stated testily, moving to pick up the things he’d planned to buy and shooting Levi a bit of an unimpressed glare. “What, did your favorite scrap metal go on sale?”
“That,” said Levi, glancing around, pretending he was shopping instead of apprehensively watching his back, “is EXACTLY why I am here!”
His first sentence tumbled out nervously despite himself. He tried again, sounding more confident. He slapped the Alarian on the back as though they were old time pals. “How DID you read my mind? Amazing! Truly you have a gift! Now, I don’t mean to bother you none, my dear stranger. But could you tell me… where IS that scrap metal, by and by? I feel tumbled around.”
Dizzy from running around so many street corners, he proved his point by almost collapsing into a shelf.
Wyrran gave Levi a very flat look, and a single pointed ear twitched. “Alrighty. Guess you can’t read sarcasm.” He stated curtly. “If you’re looking scrap metal, I have no idea where it is. You go ahead and go find that yourself.” He brushed some of the dirt and dust off of his somewhat clean clothes, and straightened them a bit.
He then went back to picking up the mess he had again dropped when Levi had hit his back. “Also, touch me again and I’ll throw you through the window.” He stated in the same unimpressed tone. He didn’t seem to care that much about the obvious weird act.
“Read sarcasm? Actually, I can’t read nothing,” Levi joshed. Despite the obviously unwelcoming tone of his conversant, Levi remained right by the other’s side. If any of the security guards were still trying to pursue him, he’d look like less of a suspect hanging with someone else.
As Wyrran was picking up the mess, Levi opened his backpack and began indiscriminately shoveling items into his bag. It didn’t matter what he put in there. He knew he’d be able to sell it.
“So,” he said, trying to lean against the shelf inconspicuously, and trying cover up the noise of his activities with small talk, “you come here often?”
Wyrran sighed, seeming to realize this guy wouldn’t leave him alone, and resigned himself to a chat. He simply dropped everything he’d picked up on the floor again and crossed his arms, a bored expression on his face.
“I come here as little as possible to avoid interaction with your people, because I prefer the sweetness of solitude. And you?” He stated, almost politely, but not quite. He leaned against the shelf behind him.
“Solitude? Oh I LOVE solitude!” Levi said in the most social, bubbly, enthusiastic voice possible. “That’s why I come here too! What a coincidence!”
Out of the corner of the eye, he noticed an intimidating figure walk through the door: security from the house he had fled. Of course. Of course he wasn’t safe yet.
Sidling up even closer to Wyrran, Levi emphasized, “Wow! Look at the two of us. Look. At. Freaking. Us. Solitude bros together. All the solitude! We can become friends! And relate to each other! Over…… over the solitude.”
He realized how dumb he sounded, but was desperate to keep the conversation going. He fought to keep his face turned away from his pursuant. He hoped he looked like a regular customer. He thought he could hear the guard talking to the shop owner.
Wyrran not-so-subtly slid a bit away from Levi. “What is your problem, exactly? And why am I the one that has to deal with it? Can you find literally anyone else to annoy?” He stated, looking slightly over and suddenly noting the guard.
His expression changed slightly, and it seemed he’d put two and two together very quickly. After a moment he muttered something in his own language, clearly quite done with the situation, and sighed. “Yes, yes. Solitude friends. Because solitude absolutely means multiple people and not one person.”
Levi glanced back despite himself. He noticed that the guard, still talking to the store owner, was now pointing in Levi’s direction. He cringed. He must have been recognized. But… recognized from the back of his head? That was surprising…
He glanced down at his coat, heavily blackened from the explosion he had escaped, and thought, with sudden belated clarity, Oh right. I’m… singed…
“Yeah. Solitude. Multiple people. Partners in… crime.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
An idea.
He suddenly bolted for the door, screaming at the top of his lungs in Wyrran’s direction, “They’re after us! Run! Run while you still can! Don’t let them catch you!”
Perfect.
Set-up.
Now the guard had two suspects she had to apprehend, and hopefully, she or some of her team would go after the Alarian instead of Levi.
The chase was on - again!
Wyrran gave a startled noise as Levi darted out, yelling… yelling things that would get him in trouble. He let out a short string of Alarian curses and glanced back at the guard. Before he could shout anything to deny his affiliation, she was basically on top of him.
With the most annoyed look on his face, he lit up and teleported outside the shop, and then turned and sprinted after Levi. Not because he wanted to be around the kid. But because he wanted to kick his rear for that little stunt.
“Hey partner!” Levi shouted as he darted through the streets. He ducked down a narrow street and watched as the Alarian followed him. Suddenly, he was communicating as though they were actual partners in crime. “Any idea how to get out of this mess?!!”
As Rax walked down the street to a little kiosk hawking cheap fried foods, they couldn’t help but notice the extra guard presence on the streets. Particularly the street they’re currently on. Their nerves are wereon edge, but they kept their calm
Up the way, beyond the gate to the upper class district, a plume of smoke rose from the explosion everyone in the nearby area could have heard. The rest of the thieves are gonna throw a fit over this, with the rich folk on high alert now.
Not that it mattered to Rax. They just wanted that thing called a churro.
Unfortunately, the churro adventure was cut short because some absolute dumbass barreled into them full fucking tilt, clearly too occupied with shouting to pay attention to what’s in front of them. With a hiss of frustration, Rax shook themself clean of dust and stood back up.
“Do you mind!?” They said in a scratchy-sounding voice. “I’m walking here!”