09-13-2022, 09:56 AM
Sage stalked everyone he met. He wondered how much his hacker friend knew about him. Wondered if he'd been hacked so thoroughly that Sage could pull off being Cruz Vega for a day. But Sage was always hungry, even when he was sick cause of that dead computer in his head he was still always eating. And of course he wanted food. And Christian would happily feed him. Cruz was glad his mom was finally happy.
But even the thought of food didn't make Cruz worry any less about Nox's friends arriving at his doorstep. The Atharim? His bar tender boyfriend? He knew that Raffe was a good man, Nox wouldn't fraternize with anything but. Sometimes Cruz thought he was nothing but a goodie-two-shoes until he remembered Nox was prone to doing stupid shit for stupid reasons. And since losing half his arm he hadn't gotten any better -- maybe even gotten worse. One reason he avoided is friend and mentor more than usual. Well that and the fact that he was the reason his family was broken. It wasn't a bad thing, but it was still broken. And things had changed between all of them. Maybe the three of them needed to make a date -- him, Sage and Nox, to do something fun together -- like the concert.
Except that had turned dark and ended badly for Nox. Or good. Cruz sighed it was all a matter of perspective. At least they weren't dead.
Cruz would have hailed a cab, but Sage didn't he jumped on the train and Cruz had no choice but to follow. Some things Cruz would never get used to about how normal people lived. Sage didn't own a car, hell he didn't own anything in the CCD except the things he could tote around in a bag. Maybe living with Aiden would change that, it hadn't changed at all for him or Nox when staying with him. They never made themselves at home. It was rather insulting come to think of it.
But Cruz pushed those thoughts away their stop came and they walked through the streets he'd become familiar with in Moscow. He'd run many times through their avenues and he missed it to a small degree. And when the family estate drew into view, it still amazed him that there were ten feet high walls jutting from the earth. Fortifications Nox had called them. Christian had painted them an off white, as the house as well. It looked so much nicer and like they were meant to be there. Cruz knew the traps were s till set, he come by once a week to tend them. The Atharim knew Nox had lived her once, they might still come after his family.
The Stay off the grass signs were new. Cruz chuckled "Make sure you stay off the grass."
Sage giggled like a childish boy. "Will I blow up?"
"Not out front, but I think the back courses have some wild effects. You should warn Raffe. Hate to blow up Nox's boyfriend." It still felt weird saying that. Nox had been a player since the moment he met him, and now not only was he into guys, but he was with one guy. A total one eighty and it didn't seem to surprise Sage at all. But they had a history that went back to their childhood -- maybe that was why. Cruz wouldn't ask.
They approached the door via the side walk and Sage knocked. Cruz would have just knocked and walked inside, using his key if he had to but still just walked in. It was his house after all.
Cruz was surprised when his mother answered in a blue gigham dress covered with a white apron covered in green paint. She laughed "Christian, darling, we have guests." She wrapped Sage in a hug careful not to let any of the wet paint touch his clothes. "I'm just doing some redecorating. Who knew painting could be so much fun." Ana lead them down a hall to the study. "We are finally making this horrid room presentable." Half the walls were painted a light green, and it looked good against the dark woods that still remained.
Christian came in with a platter of sandwhiches. "We were just fixing to take a break. Would you like a sandwich?"
Sage took two from the top before the sentence had completley left Christian's mouth. Sage mumbled his thanks and Cruz shook his head. "Can we use the tunnel entrance? We are going to see if we can get any information on Nox."
Sage interrupted. "We have to wait for Raffe first." Sage sat down in the middle of the room and drifted into nothingness with a sandwich halfway to his lips while he sent a message most likely -- or something else caught his attention. Maybe Nox had pinged? Probably not. Besides Cruz wanted to ask some of the underworld citizens if they knew about the coin that sat in his pocket. He resisted the urge to fondle it. No point it worrying his mother.
But even the thought of food didn't make Cruz worry any less about Nox's friends arriving at his doorstep. The Atharim? His bar tender boyfriend? He knew that Raffe was a good man, Nox wouldn't fraternize with anything but. Sometimes Cruz thought he was nothing but a goodie-two-shoes until he remembered Nox was prone to doing stupid shit for stupid reasons. And since losing half his arm he hadn't gotten any better -- maybe even gotten worse. One reason he avoided is friend and mentor more than usual. Well that and the fact that he was the reason his family was broken. It wasn't a bad thing, but it was still broken. And things had changed between all of them. Maybe the three of them needed to make a date -- him, Sage and Nox, to do something fun together -- like the concert.
Except that had turned dark and ended badly for Nox. Or good. Cruz sighed it was all a matter of perspective. At least they weren't dead.
Cruz would have hailed a cab, but Sage didn't he jumped on the train and Cruz had no choice but to follow. Some things Cruz would never get used to about how normal people lived. Sage didn't own a car, hell he didn't own anything in the CCD except the things he could tote around in a bag. Maybe living with Aiden would change that, it hadn't changed at all for him or Nox when staying with him. They never made themselves at home. It was rather insulting come to think of it.
But Cruz pushed those thoughts away their stop came and they walked through the streets he'd become familiar with in Moscow. He'd run many times through their avenues and he missed it to a small degree. And when the family estate drew into view, it still amazed him that there were ten feet high walls jutting from the earth. Fortifications Nox had called them. Christian had painted them an off white, as the house as well. It looked so much nicer and like they were meant to be there. Cruz knew the traps were s till set, he come by once a week to tend them. The Atharim knew Nox had lived her once, they might still come after his family.
The Stay off the grass signs were new. Cruz chuckled "Make sure you stay off the grass."
Sage giggled like a childish boy. "Will I blow up?"
"Not out front, but I think the back courses have some wild effects. You should warn Raffe. Hate to blow up Nox's boyfriend." It still felt weird saying that. Nox had been a player since the moment he met him, and now not only was he into guys, but he was with one guy. A total one eighty and it didn't seem to surprise Sage at all. But they had a history that went back to their childhood -- maybe that was why. Cruz wouldn't ask.
They approached the door via the side walk and Sage knocked. Cruz would have just knocked and walked inside, using his key if he had to but still just walked in. It was his house after all.
Cruz was surprised when his mother answered in a blue gigham dress covered with a white apron covered in green paint. She laughed "Christian, darling, we have guests." She wrapped Sage in a hug careful not to let any of the wet paint touch his clothes. "I'm just doing some redecorating. Who knew painting could be so much fun." Ana lead them down a hall to the study. "We are finally making this horrid room presentable." Half the walls were painted a light green, and it looked good against the dark woods that still remained.
Christian came in with a platter of sandwhiches. "We were just fixing to take a break. Would you like a sandwich?"
Sage took two from the top before the sentence had completley left Christian's mouth. Sage mumbled his thanks and Cruz shook his head. "Can we use the tunnel entrance? We are going to see if we can get any information on Nox."
Sage interrupted. "We have to wait for Raffe first." Sage sat down in the middle of the room and drifted into nothingness with a sandwich halfway to his lips while he sent a message most likely -- or something else caught his attention. Maybe Nox had pinged? Probably not. Besides Cruz wanted to ask some of the underworld citizens if they knew about the coin that sat in his pocket. He resisted the urge to fondle it. No point it worrying his mother.