Christmas Time in Hunger City

[apocalypsejack]

Jack had immunized quite a number of people in the past few weeks for safety's sake. The virus in their water worked fast on those without immunity. It was one of the things the founding members of the Diamond Dogs all had in common, a natural immunity to the virus. However, as more sought asylum they had to develop a vaccine. That was neither here nor there at this point.

Jack was waiting not far from his doorway for those who wanted to come. He knew the twins at the very least would arrive soon. Minoru had insisted on gifts for the kids. He had managed to scrape up some gifts for the twins as well. He wasn't sure if Balthazar would be there when he got to his high rise space. The angel was welcome when they got there but he thought maybe he would prefer something more private now that they were living more and more like a family.

Comments

[itmeanstruth]

"...s..shoot one... Right..." Isamu pursed his lips and let out a quick sigh. This was every bit as dangerous as he feared it was going to be, if not more so.

"What are you always telling me about focusing?" Minoru snapped him out of those thoughts. "Concentrate on that map in your head. Jack said the your horse is good at following, right? I'll lead, you just have to tell me where to go. Okay? You can do this."

"We can do this..."

That was all the pep talk they were going to get, though, before they both heard a gunshot going off.

"Come on, let's go!"

[apocalypsejack]

It wasn't just a single rifle shot but there was something semi-automatic after. If the twins could avoid any other drones they'd probably be fine provided they don't get lost somewhere because of ruins or differences between their own world and this one.

Jack on the other hand found that it was good the boys had been sent away because he rode right into the people from the Ministry around one of the corners and needed to bolt in the other direction. This was going to be worse than he thought.

[itmeanstruth]

Neither of the boys were prepared for the shots being fired, not really. The horses, thankfully, weren’t nearly as spooked, and leading them in the direction Jack had pointed wasn’t difficult.

Minoru’s heart was pounding in his chest as he glanced back. He couldn’t see Jack anymore, just Isamu, leaning forward and clinging on for dear life.

“Keep straight?!”

“Yes!” Isamu choked out. “Broadway! Looking for Broadway... slight turn there!”

Minoru looked up in the sky as two more drones whizzed past them.

“Oh no... no no no no...”
“More?!”
“Yes, more! Don’t look up, just count the streets!”

“Three blocks... two... turn there!” Isamu managed to point, before nearly sliding off the moving horse. He yipped out loud.

“Isamu!!”
“I’m fine!!”
“Just hang on!!”
“This is crazy! You do realize we have to go BACK the other way when we’re done, right?!”
“Mental map now! Say I’m crazy later!!”

[apocalypsejack]

There are more drones that turn when to follow the two on horseback. The distinct beat of helicopter rotors is coming from somewhere nearby too though the tall buildings make it hard to see where.

However, turning down Broadway brings out more gunfire but this is from up in the buildings. One of the Drones drops out of the sky not far from the boys. They're getting close enough to Jack's territory that there's some protection.

They don't get too far down Broadway before the sound of pounding hooves joins the sound of choppers and the whir of drones.

"Run!" Jack busts out of one of the alleys, horse shiny with sweat and two helicopters not far behind. The second one, that hasn't caught up yet, clearly has someone leaning out the side with a gun.

[itmeanstruth]

At the sound of more gunfire, the cures start coming in both English and Japanese. The twins almost crash into each other, but Minoru managed to get his horse to turn at the last second.

“I think... they’re on our side! Jack’s side!”

“I don’t care, I just want to get INSIDE!” Isamu shrieked back. His nerves were understandably frayed. To be honest, Minoru was just as terrified, but years of working in a hospital had trained him to keep going through emergency situations.

And speaking of Jack...

Relief mixed with terror as the twins realized just what was behind them.

“Go! Now! Isamu! Faster! Come on!!” Minoru shouted.

“Chambers... five blocks... four...” he squealed, knuckles white from gripping the reins.
“Just hang on! Almost there!!”

More gunshots went off, and both boys screamed. Neither of them were sure what direction they came from or who was the intended target. When they immediately shouted each other’s names, they knew they were both still good.

“Two.. Two more blocks!”

[apocalypsejack]

Jack is coming up hard behind them. The running of his horse causing the other two to break into a faster run. The choppers are coming up too fast.

Jack reins up and reels his horse around the backside of one of the cars in the middle of the street. He puts it between the horse and the choppers. Leveling the rifle, bullets flying around him, he starts shooting right at the lead helicopter's front glass. It's enough to slow them up for a moment.

Turning he horse he starts after the twins again. He catches up fast, as a better rider and a larger horse. "Whatever you hear, don't look back. Keep going."

Jack knew if any of the kids he raised up were on top of the buildings down by Chase and heard the gunshots, there might be rocket launchers involved.

[itmeanstruth]

The sound of the choppers, the horses and their own hearts pounding was completely overwhelming. When they picked up speed, Isamu lost count. He clamped his eyes shut and practically choked his horse, desperately clinging just to stay on.

At first, Minoru didn’t even notice. Jack was coming up behind them, and the Financial District was dead ahead.

But those orders... don’t look back...

Even Minoru screamed in utter terror when more gunshots beget even louder rocket launchers. He couldn’t help himself. He turned toward his brother, and saw Jack in the periphery - fighting to keep them alive. It was brutal. It was horrifying. This whole world was heart-wrenchingly horrifying...

“You have a job to do, Fan Man.” He spat at himself, taking a deep breath as the horses continued to sprint underneath the battle.

“Isamu! Directions! Now!”

“I can’t!” He spat between heaving breaths. Rarely did Isamu speak in contractions. He was panicking, and understandably so.

“Yes, you can!”
“Can’t!”
“Breathe! In! Out! You gotta open your eyes! I don’t know where to go!!”

“...”

“Bro!!”

The answer was a squeak compared to his usual voice, but it was an answer. “...park... stay right... Liberty... is five streets... past park... then left...”

“We’re almost there!”

[apocalypsejack]

Jack is riding at a full gallop, no hands on the reins and gun in his hands. He's waiting and watching in case they try to box them in.

The rocket launcher is a welcome sound and he uses his knees to bring his horse closer, the proximity edging the other two on to the sidewalk and up against the building. The debris falling out of the sky just behind them may be part of the building or a chopper. However, Jack is taking his own advice and keeping his eye forward and not looking back.

"Go through the Park by the City Hall." Jack barks at them because the overgrown trees there would offer some cover to break up their silhouette. "On the other side, take Beekman down to William and go right. Chase is on the right. Just past the Federal Reserve."

As they get to the park Jack peels off again going a different direction and coming around to lay more fire on the chopper. If it lands everything will be worse and Jack knows it. Firing at it should keep them off the ground.

[itmeanstruth]

“You got that, right?” Minoru shouted at his brother as he led them into the cover of the trees.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god...” the elder twin gasped for breath.

“Breathe!! Beekman! Where is that?!”
“Th..there! Just... bridge! Go toward the bridge...”

The trees did provide some cover, even muffling the sounds of battle just a little bit.

“And William? Come on, bro!”

“Few blocks... before Brooklyn Bridge...” the words kept catching in his throat. “Hospital... right at the hospital... if there is one...”

There were certainly ruins of what might have once been a hospital. That, and the only large bridge still standing, were enough that Minoru could roughly figure out where he was.

Isamu nearly fell off the horse again on the next turn. Had they not been side by side, and Minoru given him a quick shove back in the other direction, he might have actually fallen.

“We’re almost there!”

“...can’t do this...” he gasped.

“Yes, you can! Count the blocks!”
“Minoru!”
“Count the blocks!”

“Five...” he stuttered, forcing himself to open tear-filled eyes. “Four now...”

“You’re doing great! Keep counting!”

“Three...” The blocks felt like they stretched on forever. The sounds of gunfire continued. Jack was still back there somewhere, firing up at a chopper. “T..two... Fed... federal reserve... there...”

“I see it!!”

[apocalypsejack]

Donya is waiting for them out in the Chase courtyard, which is also overgrown with trees, with Diamond who had made it back long before they did. The glass door propped open for the horses to come right into the building.

"Where's Jack?" They call to the twins as the horses come running in.

It will be a few minutes before Jack comes from a different direction. His horse coming to a stop, pawing and skittish from whatever he had run into... a fire fight on the ground though he didn't say anything about it. Sabre came inside and Donya closed and locked the door behind. Jack had long ago worked on replacing all the glass with bulletproof varieties. Though once back in the recess by the elevator few would likely see them.

Jack just slumps forward patting his horse's neck. He had hoped this wouldn't happen but the alternative was bringing them through in the dark which had its own problems.

[itmeanstruth]

“Covering us!” Minoru shouted. “How do you stop these things?!”

Either with help, or through dumb luck, he stopped and then dismounted with a leap. He dropped the oversized satchel at Donya’s feet in favor of helping his brother, who was still clutching the horse for dear life. He was pale as a sheet, gasping for breath and shaking like a phone on vibrate.

“Bro! Bro, we made it. Come on!”

“That... over? ...Safe?” The normally verbose twin couldn’t even get more than a word out at a time. And he certainly couldn’t seem to will his body to actually dismount. What Jack said about him being sore tomorrow didn’t even compare to how he felt right now.

“Almost. We just need to get inside.” He took the backpack off Isamu’s back and handed that to Donya as well. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. I promise.”

“Oh god...”

“You saved my butt out there, memorizing a map of Manhattan.” Minoru insisted. “Couldn’t have made it without you counting.”

When he finally coaxed Isamu down from the horse, they sunk down to the ground, and Minoru just held him. He’d had some practice at this with Ziggy, but it probably didn’t help that his own heart was pounding just as quickly.

“Easy does it. Breathe... in, out... in and out...” he kept repeating - just as much for himself as he did for Isamu.

It wasn’t long before Jack came riding in. Isamu jerked, and Minoru held him tighter.

“It’s just Jack. He’s all right. They’re shutting the doors. We’re safe, bro... it’s okay... we’re safe.”

By the time Jack actually dismounted and the horses were all round up, the panic was beginning to subside. His voice was weak, hoarse from screaming, but he sounded a lot more like himself when he muttered, “...Minoru, while I have no intention of breaking my promise to better support you in your endeavors... can you please, please... choose at least a few less dangerous endeavors?”

[apocalypsejack]

Donya does their best to help and when they eventually sit brings over a blanket to wrap them. They have seen shock before and this looks very much like they may be in shock to the teen.

Donya sets about removing the saddles and wiping down the horses before tying them up in the makeshift stalls. Jack still hasn't dismounted though Sabre walks toward them. The horse nudging at the twins with its big nose before walking back toward the other horses.

That's when Jack pitches off the back of the horse and Donya barely has time to grab him so he doesn't hit the ground. Donya knows exactly what has happened a mix of coming down from adrenaline and endorphins. Though, if the twins are paying attention they will see blood on Donya's hand where they are attending to Jack's shoulder. The teen knows he'll wake soon enough.

[itmeanstruth]

Isamu in a panic attack was about as clingy as a grieving Ziggy. But Minoru didn’t mind the one, and he certainly didn’t mind the other. He just kept rubbing Isamu’s back and reminding him to breathe.

“This might have been sliiiiightly more dangerous than I thought...” he admitted softly.

“That still qualifies as an understatement, Minoru. Please do not tell me you are still intending to go back outside and scale the building...”

“No... no. I’m good.” He whispered soothingly. “I’m good.”

Isamu had his head buried in Minoru’s coat, so he didn’t watch Jack practically falling off the horse. Minoru, meanwhile, could only watch. He did notice the blood, but didn’t say anything out loud. He was trying to calm Isamu down, not rile him right back up with what was probably a bullet wound. Never mind an unconscious Jack in Donya’s arms.

All of that had been way too close for comfort.

[apocalypsejack]

Donya gets Jack's arm patched up and he's already starting to wake up. The wound isn't bad, a graze on the shoulder, but obviously enough to cause him to black out with all the other stressors. Donya helps him sit up and then heads back over to the twins.

"How are you doing?" They're wiping their hands and smiling. "You two did good for a first gauntlet. It happens sometimes when they notice Jack's on the ground and moving."

[itmeanstruth]

“Thanks. You must be Donya, right?”

Minoru was a lot calmer now, with the danger having passed. Isamu, on the other hand was still a little shaken.

“It happens sometimes...” he muttered. “That is the kind of response I would expect to hear about the beginnings of an unexpected rain shower or the tripping over a rug because you were reading rather than assessing your immediate surroundings... not.... not what we just encountered...”

“Aren’t you glad we picked horses instead of taking the scenic hike on foot.”

Isamu glared at Minoru, but he couldn’t deny it. The horses were the right choice.

“Is Jack all right?” He asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder.

Isamu whipped his head around anxiously. “Please do not calmly say that happens sometimes too.”

[diamondpups]

"Yeah." They nod. Though they sigh at Isamu.

"Your friend is the most wanted man on a continent... probably is anyway. They're always coming over here bothering us."

Donya glances over at Jack who is sitting up on his own. "I think so. A bullet nipped his shoulder. Pain blacks people out sometimes when they come down from adrenaline."

Donya hadn't studied medicine but you can learn easily in these surroundings what is happening. They're sympathetic to new people but shrug.

"Jack does a lot to take care of us. He puts his life on the line most nights. I've seen him stumble in a lot worse."

[itmeanstruth]

Well, to their credit, Donya didn’t say those exact words, but they sure answered calmly enough. Their tone alone spoke to the harsh reality of what was normal for a Diamond Dog. And for Jack, which was far more than he’d let on.

But before Isamu could argue, Minoru elbowed him.

“Come on, no time to bah humbug. We’ve got two packs full of food and gifts sitting over there. It’s a big holiday where we come from, and we came to share that with you and the rest of the kids!”

He stood, dragging his brother to his feet as well. Isamu clutched the blanket around his shoulders, still shivering a little.

“I’m Minoru, by the way. And this is Isamu.”
“...greetings and salutations.”

[apocalypsejack]

"Holidays were banned here, burned out of the books and written out of the history. Except the ones that celebrate the Ministry. Only a few of the old people remember any of them." Donya tells them. "You and Balthazar will get to teach the kids what it's supposed to be."

Donya is trying to refocus them before standing up and laughing while they go to help Jack get up. "We even saved up enough in the batteries to use the elevator up to 40. You won't have to march all the stairs."

Jack is mostly awake though a little woozy. It was mostly just the shock and over-stimulation. The wound really isn't that bad.

[angelic_asshole]

Balthazar made his way into Hunger City as he always did; the way he preferred using his angel wings instead of PINpoint. He rarely used his wings enough in the Nexus and didn't do much flying, so right now he was taking his time, flying high up witnessing the grim view below from high above. The deprivation still getting to his heart as he slowly sensed where Jack was in the Chase building.

Landing at the first floor he sheathed his wings inside of his body, which was like extinguishing a bright flame, as he walked inside. It was then he noticed the twins, Isamu and Minoru, as well as Donya.

Then, there was Jack.

"Oh shit--"

Was he injured? Balthazar instantly walked to his lover's side, assessing what was going on. Had there been a fight? Were they shot at? So many thoughts flashing through the angel's mind. His eyes shifting towards the twins then focusing on Donya.

"What happened?"

[itmeanstruth]

Before Isamu could express his gratitude for that elevator ride - his legs honestly felt like jelly at the moment and the prospect of 40 flights of stairs was not an inviting one - the angel came through the door. As high-strung as he was right now, he literally jumped.

Minoru, though, recognized the angel instantly.

“I told you we were going to bring presents for the kids, remember?” He smiled, pointing to the two large backpacks in the corner. The smile faded a little when he admitted, “...It might have been a little harder to get here from the portal than we thought.”

“A little?” Isamu choked out. “A little became grossly inaccurate when one drone became four, and at that point, not a single shot had even been fired yet!”

Minoru explained what he could, at least in terms of there being choppers, gunfire, rocket launchers and Jack covering them while their horses ran as fast as they could. It felt like an eternity while they were running the gauntlet, but now, it felt like it all happened so fast that he couldn’t keep track of what happened and when.

[apocalypsejack]

Jack is glad to see the angel and walks over to him. He's a little dirty but the only wound seems to be a small wound on the shoulder. He gives Balthazar a hug and laughs,s till a little high on endorphins.

"The Ministry tried to start something. We took care of it." Jack reassures him before letting go.

"More exciting than free running?" Jack asks Minoru with mischief in his voice. He was used to this.

[angelic_asshole]

The angel was fussing as always over his reckless hooligan and his friends the twins. Was Donya alright? Checking them over with his concerned blue eyes, Balthazar turned back to Jack, he glanced over to the shoulder wound and sighed, exasperated.

"Did you get the bastards that did this to you? I mean, if they are still out there taking pop shots at you then I'll sort them out right now."

His expression was that of worry and anger. Someone had taken a shot at Jack. The man he loved. Angel fury threatened to overwhelm the situation at hand. Yet, he almost forgot the twins and Donya were still standing there.

"Are you alright, boys? Donya? I just worry. Sorry, bad habit of mine."

Goodness, they could have been killed and he wasn't there. At least Jack and the others were safe. Now, to get them all up to the top of the Chase safely, since like always, the elevators didn't work.

[itmeanstruth]

“I think I like freerunning better without bullets.”

Another understatement of the century. While Minoru had been yelled at by law enforcement many times, and even arrested before, nobody had ever pulled a gun on him for it. Trespassing usually just netted him a few hundred dollars in fines and a mental note of what buildings to avoid. This went well beyond that.

“We are unharmed... Physically.” Isamu specified, at least for himself. He was already sure he was going to have nightmares about this for months. “Mentally and emotionally... wholly and completely shaken.”

Minoru didn’t argue, but he did squeeze his brother one more time. This had been quite the harrowing experience, and one he was eager to replace with something far more cheerful.

[apocalypsejack]

Jack sighs at all the fuss. "There are always people shooting at me."

He's exasperated by all the worry. This was how his life had been for years. Donya confirms they're alright and go to finish taking care of the horses before they will come up with the others.

Jack goes over to the twins and frowns. "I never know when they're going to show up. I didn't mean for us to get chased like that."

They're always showing up at inopportune times to be sure. Damned Ministry. Jack takes a moment to check on Diamond who had been trained to run home if there was gun fire. She too had made it through safely without any problems or injuries.

[angelic_asshole]

Jack sighing at all the fuss still wasn't enough to stop Balthazar from worrying about his eye-patched partner. The world was cruel and full of bastards out to get them. It was just the deep set need to protect partly coming from his celestial nature of being an angel. Those who protected. Still, Jack seemed fine for the moment as he walked out to finish taking care of the horses.

"Such fine creatures you have there, Jack. Have they got names? I don't think I've asked this before."

Balthazar walked up to the horses, gently stroking the nearest one's muzzle gently. They looked strong and more than capable of supporting the Diamond Dogs through Hunger City. Turning back to the twins and Donya, the angel offered them comforting smiles.

"Do you need me to fly any of you or all of you up to the top? Because I'm more than willing to do that."

Since Jack might still be weak no matter how "fine" he says he is.