fandomtownies | Abandoned Warehouse District, Saturday Evening

Entry tags:

Abandoned Warehouse District, Saturday Evening

Spark held his breath as he crouched down by the access panel to one of the seemingly abandoned warehouses in the dirtier, presumably even rainier part of town. Of course it was raining. It always seemed to be these days, and that suited Spark just fine. After all, if people weren't inclined to be out in this weather in a neighbourhood like this one, that bought him a little bit more time to do his job uninterrupted. His datapad was patched in to the panel, and he was just a few more seconds away from bypassing the security systems so that he could get inside. He'd paid dearly to get the passcodes forged, getting the credits he needed for the exchange by selling off a few memories on the black market. Nothing important, really. A few sexual experiences. A pleasant date with his first boyfriend. The rush of his first successful heist, minus any of the incriminating details. He'd made backups of all of those memories before he'd sold them off, of course. He was desperate, not stupid.

His screen flashed bright red in warning as one of his codes failed to pass a security checkpoint manned by one of the company's more intelligent AIs, and he hissed between his teeth, pulling himself sharply to his feet and yanking his datapad's uplink jack free before she could turn his work back against him and hack in. Okay, the subtle way in wasn't going to do him any good.

He pulled out his gun and shot the access panel twice, kicking up a white-hot flurry of his namesake, then kicked the door in and slipped inside.

He'd come too far to lose ground now, anyway. He wasn't going to give up yet.

[OOC: Because sometimes you just gotta break into a warehouse. Open!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Why rain? Why did it have to rain?

Luckily he had brought a coat that could keep him dry in this kind of weather. Long, black, and with a large hood that also hid his face when necessary. Still, the hybrid skin still hurt a little, like a burn injury. That was the only disadvantage with it though, and it offered enough protection for him to feel safe even in a place like this.

Now he just had to find Spark. There was a conversation to be had, and one that he wasn't really looking forward to, but there wasn't really any reason to postpone it. When Leto hadn't found him at home, he figured the best place to go looking was the warehouse district.

He heard a gun firing. It could be anyone of course, but Leto headed in the direction of the sound. Then an open door. Again, it could be anyone, but why not make certain. He entered the warehouse quietly.

Spark knew better than to pull out his datapad, now that the AI was aware that he was here. He had to work quickly, get in and out, and it wasn't terribly likely that he was going to get a second chance at this. It was now or never.

And Spark didn't like accepting 'never' as an option.

He ducked down, trying to keep out of sight of any cameras or guards, and moved swiftly down the hallway, following the floor plan that he'd been provided with, but keeping a sharp eye out for discrepancies. After all, he'd already hit one snag, he wasn't about to be caught ag-

A strong, cold hand grabbed him roughly by the arm, and he sucked in a startled breath. A second hand took his other arm before he could turn his gun toward his attacker and held it firmly, wrenching it upward until his face screwed up in pain.

Okay. The floor plan was accurate, but apparently there were more cybernetic guards on duty tonight than he'd been led to believe. That was going to be a problem.

The hybrid skin had transformed his body in several ways, one of which was giving hime acute hearing. Leto had no problem following whoever it was, and half out of curiosity. As he entered the room, the expression on his face changed and he pushed the hood from his face.

"Let him go." Using the Voice implant against cybernetic guards didn't really do much, but at least it might make them hesitate.

Two mechanized heads (and one organic one, belonging to a wide-eyed Spark) turned to face Leto at once, and while two pairs of ocular receptors flashed red upon spotting the other intruder, Spark's face seemed to light up in relief.

"Oh, you are a sight for sore eyes."

So, some things were kind of weird right now. So they needed to talk. Spark would be happy to take care of those things when this android wasn't trying to yank his arm from its socket.

Yes, they should get rid of the androids. Leto took a step forward and then suddenly he was standing next to the one that was grasping Spark's arm. Or had been grasping. Leto tossed it's head on the floor, wires still sparkling. Shooting it would have been cleaner but this was so much more satisfying.

He looked at Spark, half smiling, trying to figure out if he should take care of the next one too or if Spark wanted to have that pleasure. He was ok either way.

Spark grinned, blew Leto a quick kiss while the second android processed what had just happened to the first, and then swung his now-free arm around, pressing the barrel of his gun up under the android's chin.

Bang.

And then both androids were on the floor, mechanical parts twitching and grinding as their systems shorted out.

He gave one of them a kick to the side for good measure, which mostly just succeeded in stubbing his toe.

"I totally had control of the situation, you know," he said, after a hissed curse word and a couple of seconds of hopping on his other foot. Damn 'droids. "I would've gotten out eventually."

...

"I mean, maybe only with one arm. But eventually."

Leto didn't bother to point out that it was an obvious lie. He took a step closer.

"You look beautiful blowing the heads of androids."

Sadly, that compliment wasn't even ironic, and the look Leto gave Spark communicated that clearly.

Yes, things were a little awkward and they needed to talk, but they would get to that.

"Only then, hm?" Spark smiled faintly, holstering his gun again before closing the gap between himself and Leto and then leaning up for a kiss. "Well, then I'm lucky you saved me one so that I could get your attention, aren't I?"

Spark. Spark. Here really was not the place for this.

Spark got that kiss, and Leto slipped a hand into his hair. When he pulled back he grinned.

"I never said I meant that exclusively in this situation. Have you forgotten that I've told you that before? In other situations? In fact, haven't you noticed that you do often get my attention?"

Which might be considered odd by some people. Why would the CEO of Atreides Corporation choose to spend time with a thief? Should he even care about answering Leto would say there were plenty of reasons, but none of them anyone else's business.

And Spark was totally fine with that part remaining a mystery. He grinned and wrapped his arms around Leto briefly, a silent thank-you for the rescue, and then eased back again. They weren't exactly out of hot water, after all.

"I'd have to worry if I ever stopped getting your attention," he teased, even as he fell into a crouch and consulted his datapad for the floorplan again. "It's hard work being this perfect, you know."

No, they weren't.

"It must take a lot of effort."

They should talk. Here wasn't the best place.

"We need to talk."

Well. That got Spark looking up from his map again, this time with a small frown on his face.

"We do," he allowed. "Here isn't exactly the best place for that, though."

Somewhere in the distance, the metallic footfalls of more security were ringing through the halls. Dammit.

Leto could get them past the security if necessary, but it might not be good to draw that much attention.

"Let's go. Is there a better way than the own we entered from?"

Spark sighed heavily and pocketed his datapad. He was loathe to leave now that he'd gotten this far, but what he was after was probably already well under lock and key, if the increased security was anything to go by. He frowned, and then slammed a frustrated fist into the wall with about as much effectiveness as that kick that he'd given the android's spasming body earlier.

Ow.

"There's an emergency door one hallway down," he sighed. "If we move quickly, we might be able to get there before they block it off. Otherwise, we'll have to backtrack."

"After you." If the guards caught up with them it would make it easier for him to get rid of them that way. Whatever Spark had been here for Leto could have given him, but as always he suspected there was a sense of pride involved.

Pride, stubbornness, and the faintest degree of actually being reasonable. Leto stepping in to save him when he was in over his head was one thing. Leto actually actively helping him steal something from a rival corporation was less likely to end well. Maybe not immediately, but certainly in the long run.

Spark heaved himself back to his feet, nodded once, and then started to run. He didn't have the speed that Leto had, or even the androids that were closing in on them quickly. But for a normal human, not augmented in any way, he was still fit. Running was just one more thing that Spark did well.

Stealing from rival corporations was so much fun, as long as you got away with it. Not as fun as manipulating their public image, but still.

Leto followed Spark, keeping the same pace as he did. The footsteps were approaching fast, and as they entered the hallway Leto slammed the door shut behind them.

"Run," he called to Spark. "I'll take care of them."

Spark didn't so much as pause to nod. He knew perfectly well by now that Leto was more than capable of handling a few mindless attack drones. It was Spark who was the liability in a situation like this one, and it was his fault that they were in it in the first place.

He spun on his heel and ran. The next door was still a good distance off, and the running was jostling his shoulder, where the android had aggravated an old injury. He ignored both until he was at the final door, pulling his gun and firing on the one lone android guard as they waited for their reinforcements. The door was locked, of course, but another couple of shots at the panel and a good pull had it swinging open, and then he was outside, back into the rain.

Meanwhile, Leto pushed the closed door from his hinges and let it fall on to the floor in front of the androids behind. It was unpredictable enough for them to have to readjust, and before they could fire Leto had them collapse on to the floor. He turned around and followed Spark.

Back into the rain. He pulled the hood up again, wrinkling his nose.

"Why is it always raining?"

"Because we live on the coast," Spark supplied, ever so helpfully, boots slapping down with little splashing sounds as he walked - quickly, but not conspicuously - away from the warehouse. "I mean, it's either that or climate change, but I like my answer better. I'm guessing you want in out of this, hm?"

Call it intuition, really.

Leto snorted. "I have a hotel room. Unless you prefer a bar." He'd let Spark decide how private this conversation had to be. Either way, Leto wanted out of the rain as soon as possible.

A bar was probably a little too public tonight, either for the conversation that was about to happen, or for a guy who had not five minutes ago just broken into a powerful corporation's warehouse on bad intel looking for something that they very much would rather he not make off with.

He sighed, bunching his shoulders and huddling into his coat to hide from the rain a bit more, himself.

"Your hotel room is fine, then. At least it'll be quiet, there."

"This way, then." Leto steered them towards the hotel. It was his preferred choice too, both for privacy and comfort. He had no patience for noisy places tonight.

He walked fast, keeping a few steps ahead of Spark. The coat couldn't keep out the ran completely and it made him shiver from the pain. He wanted to be indoors as soon as possible, or he knew it would get worse.

Yeah, Spark was basically used to a fast walk for Leto amounting to a slow jog for himself. Hell, by this point, it was probably a contributing factor to his being such a good runner these days.

He followed in silence, keeping his head down, not acknowledging any people they might pass by. Being recognized tonight after his failed attempt at a robbery would be unfortunate. Even if it would distract from the serious conversation that was yet to come.

The hotel sign glowed through the rain, casting light on the wet pavement in front of the entrance. Leto held the door up for Spark, then crossed the lobby, walking towards the elevators. He pressed the button, then glanced sideways at Spark.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject