Down the Rabbit Hole

[Chase Benjamin]

Until he stopped breathing. Chase was fairly certain that would be a good, long, time. Even if he had his doubts; there was only so much a person could take, when they weren't used to this kind of life. He'd been busy with bullets, knives, and all kinds of other warfare since his early twenties. That included espionage, once he'd gotten his higher clearance. Even if that hadn't lasted as long as he'd expected.

"Air it out, I'll fill it right back up," he taunted, lowly, but only because of the kiss to the corner of his mouth that he would've loved to take more of just then. Granted, it was probably true-- just not right away. Still, a light smirk was flashed and he watched as Archer got up and headed for the balcony. Chase tossed the phone onto the nearby table with a clatter before it finally settled, and he slouched down just a bit further until he was leaning in the corner of the couch. It seemed to be his favorite spot, after all, and it didn't matter what couch it was. It was just how he sat, when he wasn't doing anything but living. Being normal.

"Air freshener, though. That shit chokes anyone with lungs, Arch. Light some fuckin' candles or somethin' instead." It was a joke.. but, it was partially true; that Lysol crap had always set his lungs on fire. Like slow suffocation from pepper spray or mace (which he'd dealt with on numerous occasions, back in the day.)

The laughter was what dragged his gaze over to his blonde, though, and he would've just smirked had he not heard the zip of a bullet.. and then, heard his name.. right before Archer went down. Then came the second shot, and instinctively, he stood. It didn't matter a bit that a couple of bullets had just sped through the opened balcony. He moved quick and leaned to kick the doors closed with just enough force to have them locking into place before he reached down and hoisted Archer up by his other arm, and clear out of the way. There was nothing but wall behind them for the moment, at least.

"Looks like it," he muttered. Amber eyes moved swiftly though, and instead of moving right out of the room, he took them across the room and down against the side of the couch. "Lemme see that. ..Whoever it was'll be gone in a few minutes, so we gotta stay put."

How'd he know that, though? It wasn't as if he could see through walls.. nor had he even tried to look out and spot whomever had fired those shots. He just knew because it was how they worked; how he'd worked.

Meanwhile though, Chase grabbed Archer's elbow and pulled his arm across and rested it down on his own knee to keep it straight before reaching around to the front of the couch to grab up his belt that had been left behind after a certain.. other.. event. He looped it easily enough, and worked it up Archer's arm just below his shoulder, and tightened it as tight as he could-- which was nearly unbelievably tight, but it'd get the job done until they could bounce out.

"..Less you want me to fix that, that'll hafta do." And don't let the calm fool you, folks. Chase was pissed.

[Archer Keating]

The talk of airing out the room and air fresheners was punted right out of his brain when he felt that searing kiss of a bullet tear across his bicep. Archer stayed on the ground with one hand over his head, the other hand over his wound. The doors got kicked closed and yet still Archer remained on the floor, trying to make sense of bullets coming out of nowhere. Archer didn't even try to move until he felt Chase helping to move Archer out of the way. His attempt at a joke fell flat but at least Chase agreed with him on the checking out. It was time to move on until they could get that loft of theirs all set up and safe.

He eased onto the couch next to Chase, a suspicious look thrown with some accusation in his eyes at the balcony doors. "Next place is smoker friendly." He didn't want Chase outside smoking and end up with a bullet or two through him. He didn't ask why Chase knew they should just sit tight. He fell into a sort of shocked point-and-click mode while Chase took his arm and looked at it. The muscle was torn a little but it wasn't too bad. He was bleeding pretty good though. The tourniquet being tightened caused a hiss and Archer to make a face. He looked at the makeshift fix and then nodded. "You can fix it later. I want out of here." He fought a wave of dizziness and swallowed the nausea.

Don't let Archer's apparent calm fool you either. He was a rabbit about ready to grab Chase and sprint. The term 'anywhere but here' was looking really good.

[Chase Benjamin]

"Tell ya' what, man. All places are smoker friendly. They just don't know it." It was supposed to be a joke, despite the irritation that clouded it. Twice in one day was more than enough for him. Maybe that was why the agent had decided to go right ahead and jump ship-- just maybe that agent knew what was about to begin.

Once Archer had surveyed the makeshift fix, he sighed inaudibly and glanced over at the balcony for a brief second before turning his attention towards the door. "If we go now, I'll have Malone get our shit 'n bring it wherever th'fuck we go." That way, less chance of being caught off guard with their hands full or something otherwise as ridiculous, even if he would've just used whatever he was holding at that time as a weapon. "Once we're outta here, I'll give 'im a call." Which.. would be the very first time he'd done so, since getting off the bus. It'd all been text cues from that point; no actual contact, of course, but this called for it.. didn't it? Until he received that envelope and knew the ins and outs he needed to.

He sat just like that, though, one hand still gripped onto Archer's wrist as if to keep him from rabbiting off out of there, and amber eyes were focused down at his watch. After five minutes had passed, he thumbed through the screens and dialed the taxi company. Think he was taking the bugged car anywhere? Hell no. He gave the information, but didn't designate a destination just yet. After he was off the phone, he powered it off-- to hell with the GPS applications he'd pulled up only moments ago.

"Ten minutes, we're leaving. Front door. If y'want, grab whatever y'think you need right now." And as for Chase? He snuck a hand beneath the couch and reclaimed the Taurus he'd had hidden there since they'd decided to call it their crash pad.

Always on the move. Sadly, he was entirely too used to it.

He leaned forward just enough to push the pistol down into the waistband of his jeans, then re-situated his shirt to cover it. Even did up the bottom two buttons to keep it in place. The phone was shoved into his pocket.

[Archer Keating]

The attempt at leviety did bring a quick smile to Archer's face. At the moment, he didn't find any fault in that theory either. Better to be inside and out of the way than outside obeying the law and wide open for attack. He wanted to ask who Malone was but Archer chose to keep his mouth shut. He nodded since he really didn't have much with him; just the stuff they'd picked up at the market. His own cell was shoved into his jeans pocket. He would have to call Boss and cancel the tow but at the moment his mind was jumping on ahead. What he thought he needed? That was nothing really.

"I'll hit the ATM in the lobby on our way out, withdraw the maximum." That would get them some cash and yet not compromise where they were going. They were already compromised here, right? "I'll get some clothes." He glanced at Chase and gave him a grin before heading for the bedroom. He pulled out a duffel and started shoving what clothes they had into it. He managed to even shove the computer box into the duffel too. He pulled off his shirt and left it on the floor. He used another shirt to wrap around his arm and then tugged on a clean t-shirt.

Self preservation was kicking in. He came out with the duffel bag and looked for Chase. "Is it safe to take a cab from here? Should we take the subway or something?" He put the bag by the front door and went to the coffee that he'd left on the counter. The top popped off, he gulped down half the luke-warm coffee before setting it back on the counter. Notice he was not suggesting they split up. He was NOT stupid.

[Chase Benjamin]

Such was the same with him; he didn't really need anything, which was why he mainly stayed put. Save for moving around to take up the coffee he'd just had to have, and patting down his pockets to make sure his cigarettes and lighter were in their rightful place. Next, he stomped into his boots and laced them up nice and tight for extra ankle support-- yes, he was being cautious.

When Archer came back out with the duffle bag, Chase immediately tossed that black hoodie he'd been given by Maura to him, and then snatched the off-white one up off the rack that was still only partially unpacked. "Put that on." It was the only instruction he gave before tugging his own on, and only bunching the hood up at the back of his neck; believe it or not, he wasn't quite sure what that tattoo was coded with (other than his name in binary; that was a given).

"Yeah. Taxi to th'subway. Subway to wherever th'last stop takes us." He paused briefly, but only to reach up and shove his hair back. It was getting too long, really, and it was going to be trimmed one way or another. Not shaved, but trimmed.

"Hittin' th'ATM shouldn't hurt nothin', since they already know we're here. Once we're not though.. jus' straight out cash maintenance. Nothin' electroni-- wait.." A light bulb turned on, and soon he'd moved over to the drawer beneath the flat-screen TV to pull out those five cards wrapped in the paper. "..Nevermind." He'd forgotten to even tell Archer about those.. he'd find out though. Soon.

Before there was any room for protest, Chase reached over and swiped the duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder easily enough before gesturing towards the door. "Stairs. Avoid cameras. If y'need to, follow me."

[Archer Keating]

He caught the hoodie and tugged it on while Chase did the same with a different one. It did have the benefit of hiding the arm wound and, of course, if it did start bleeding again it wouldn't show because it was a black hoodie. Archer grinned a little since his idea had been a good one. He and Chase were thinking along the same lines, Archer had just figured on walking to the nearest subway station. He was happy to drive to one too. His head was a little dizzy so lots of walking might not be the best idea. He wasn't sure what Chase was up to when he broke off to go getting something out of the drawer under the TV. Again, Chase didn't ask.

He smirked as Chase shouldered the duffel bag. "Like I'm going to object to stairs." He left everything else behind although he did pocket the room key for later. He pulled the door of the room open and waited for Chase to take the lead.

[Archer Keating]

This adventure continued in the chat rooms. Please see the following log:

06/19/2013 .. The City At Large .. Meeting White Rabbit, Patching Up Archer
06/20/2013 .. The City At Large .. Finish the Meeting White Rabbit / Switch Scene to Rabbit Meeting Kalen

[Archer Keating]

This adventure continued in the chat rooms. Please see the following log:

06/20/2013 .. The City At Large .. Finish the Meeting White Rabbit / Switch Scene to Rabbit Meeting Kalen