Marceo ended up spending most of the day doing mundane things, shopping, walking around, window shopping, more walking, until finally he headed in a specific direction. Rio realized he was heading for the seaside. What in the world?
(OoHohoooo)
Megan and Steve dispersed to their working stations in the Institute, and went on with their day.
Meanwhile, Tobias was having an average day at school. Marcus and his posse had leaved him alone since that incident, and he was happy he was finally at peace. Yet, he didn't enjoy how he was totally alone and by himself all day for weeks and weeks now. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do….
When Rio got to the seaside after following Marceo all the way there by bus, the first thing he noticed is that it was a different beach. second was that it was deserted. third, Marceo was headed for a rocky spot in the shore. Following him further he saw that Marceo had some kind of sheild up around a seaside lab. (Cause why not?)
When it was finally time to go outside after lunch, Tobias went out with another ball, and began kicking it around on his foot. I remember doing this… He thought.
Sooner or later, some kid he never knew came up and watched him from a distance, amazed at what he could do.
But he was never confronted by him, and he kept doing his thing of vollying the ball with his own body. I wonder why he's watching… Or what he wants….
Rio concealed himself in the rocks, watching as Marceo went straight to a crank with a pulley attached. The pulley held a rope that fed into the water. Marceo started up a mechanism that began to pull the rope out of the water. The rope, was attached to a net. The net, held a young boy, the boy had similar markings on his arms and torso that Rio did, but his most prominent feature was the long, scaled, tail.
NO!
(Honestly I'm getting kinda bored…..)
Tobias was playing along by himself, keeping the ball into the air until it was time to go back inside. I don't know why that kid was watching me….
His day went on as a bit normal, and before he knew it, it was time to go home.
(Sorry… I'm trying to drag in some more issues!!)
Rio felt a lump of fear when he realized the young man wasn't moving. It can't be him! I have to be dreaming it can't be him!! he tried to talk himself out of what he was seeing, but he knew it was true.
Suddenly something moved in the net, someone else was hidden beneath the other's fins. Rio almost chocked when he saw the dark haired man yelling at Marceo.
"Let us go you freak! You have no right!" yelled the dark haired man.
Marceo sighed ad brought the net closer, taking blood from the unconscious boy's arm. "I won't let you go til I figure out what you are!" he said exasperatedly, turning to let the net drop back underwater and heading back along the rocks, headed straight for Rio.
Luckily Rio wasn't seen, and as soon as Marceo was gone, Rio headed straight for the dock on that lab. Crouching down by the water he dived in without hesitation. Swimming downwards he followed the rope down several hundred feet. Why me, Why them!?
(Well I can't really just sit over here…. I dunno…)
Tobias was picked up as usual after school and was brought to Steve's appartment. "I have to go back to work and do some planning of a project with my co-worker," He was told. "I'll be back, but you might have to cook dinner yourself, or I might bring something home for you, alright?"
He nodded, and Steve pat his back. "I'll be back in a little bit, alright? I'll see you later!"
Rio finally had the net in sight, Please let it be someone else! he came within sight of the captured pair, and his heart dropped. "Rashi!" he called out his voice clear despite being under water.
The dark haired man in the net looked up, pulling himself to the top, "Rio??"
Rio came alongside, "yeah it's me.."
"How the heck did you get here?!" he demanded, "And where have you been?!"
"I ended up on this world about a week ago…" said Rio, " Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," said Rashi, he glanced down at the other beneath him, "But Alzura isn't."
"What happened?"
"He was injected with something, I think it may have been Coras" said Rashi sadly.
"No"
"We're lucky that man's been keeping us underwater," said Rashi, "Otherwise we'd be dead long ago."
"How long?"
"Several days now I think" said Rashi, "Listen get out of here and come back for us with help, I can smell the wolf scent on you anyway"
Rio nodded, kicking off from the net and trying not to look back as he headed for the surface.
(Maybe bring Tobias back to Megan's house with his dad?)
(I guess.)
Since Steve didn't really want for him to be in his apartment alone, he dropped him off at Megan's house before going back to the Institute to work on Tobias' pet.
(Not really sure, but I couldn't have them come back without an awkward timeskip.)
Rio pulled himself out of the water, drying his clothes out by pulling the water out of them with his magic. Sighing he quickly began to warp back to town, and back to Megan's. It was getting dark as he finally made it back, exhausted. Dropping into Megan's backyard he didn't even look up to see Skye training with his Blades.
Skye noticed however, "What's wrong Rio?" he asked, "First me, now you?"
Rio didn't answer, instead heading inside.
Tobias was watching TV in the living room, kinda sorta minding his own business. He wasn't sure what to think, with all this stuff going on around in town. I just want to hide…. And never be found… He knew what kind of dangers it'd bring, but he flinched when he heard the back door open.
Rio stumbled into the living room, not really wanting to try and face the world right now. He was so lost in thought he didn't even see Tobias in the living room.
Skye followed Rio in, concern on his face, Noticing Tobias he waved hello, "Hey kiddo, didn't know you were here"
"Yeah…." Tobias brought his feet onto the edge of the couch and hugged his legs to his chest. "I'm back…. I guess…." He frowned, resting his chin on his knees. I shouldn't be here, getting in their way of going home…
"Don't tell me you're down in the dumps too!" said Skye. "Sheesh, first me, now Rio, and now you!"
Rio glared at him, "You had good reason," he said flatly, "And we all know how upset you get when your kid brothers are in danger"
Tobias just kept quiet. I have no say in this. I don't even understand why they still bother to talk to me…. When they should be despising me like every other absurd kid out there….
"Listen kid, I don't know what you're thinking right now, but if you think for the slightest instant you aren't important that isn't true" Said Skye firmly, "And you wanna know what generally solves a lot of our problems back home? Kids. Kids like you, they're the ones that ask, 'Why can't we do it this way?' or 'how come we can't just do this to stop him?'. Kids like you are the ones who give us the ideas, and laughter to keep going."
Tobias just didn't want to have a conversation about it. "All I do is get in the way, and you can't make me think otherwise." He turned his head away. I just don't know what else to say…
"You aren't in the way" said Rio, "You're a good friend, and in a few more years, at least if you were in our world, you'd be fighting alongside us, or even for us."
"Well at least you're not to down to speak." laughed Skye, "Shut it!" Rio glared at him. "Marceo has my brothers! And Alzura's hurt!"
Tobias perked up, but slowly shrank. What am I supposed to do about that?… And then he's gonna disappear, and everyone will disappear….. Just like Firiko….
"wait." skye turned to face Rio, "Marceo has your brothers, Alzura, and…" he trailed off,
"Yes he has Rashi too." said Rio with a sigh,
"I take it he got mad at you for vanishing?" asked Skye,
"No he's more worried about Alzura.." said Rio glumly.
"Tobias are you ok?" he said, noting that he was still trying to shrink away.
"Just–" He stuttered, getting up from the couch without making eye contact. "Just leave me alone…" Tobias went downstairs into the basement and lied down on the couch down there. He knew pouting wasn't going to make things better, but he had a feeling he couldn't do anything to help Rio's siblings – whomever they were. I have no room in this issue. He thought to himself sternly. So the only thing I can do is to stay out of it.
"Poor kid," said Rio, "I don't know why he's beating himself up over us"
Tobias pulled a blanket over his shoulder and shuffled around a little. I just need to cool off…. He scratched his head. I can't deal with all this running around and all these problems. They aren't mine, and I have no business in them….
Rio sighed, flopping back in the chair, "Well I guess our issues may never end."
"Possible" said SKye, "And if that's the case then we can't just stick around here.. I mean, look at what it's doing to Tobias"
Some time passed, and Megan had returned from doing what needed to be done. "Sorry I'm home late… Did you guys figure anything out yet?… That you could find?"
Tobias heard the door open upstairs, but he didn't move. I need to take a break…
"Not much" said Rio, "Just that fact that he's more of a jerk than we thought." said Rio,
"You mean he's gotten ahold of more of your people???" She set her bag down on the counter. Where do they all come from!? This is clearly getting out of hand, and it needs to stop….
"Yeah," said Rio frustratedly, "He's got my twin and kid brother"
