Jean scans the area, desperate for a plan as his eyes catch on a coat rack holding three white coats, similar to lab coats. How did he not notice them before? He turns back to you, the idea clearly evident in his eyes as he sidesteps towards them, grabbing two and handing one to you.
"I would tell you to try to not look suspicious, but that wouldn't help." He uttered as he throws on the lab coat, the white contrasting with his black hair. He grins and sticks his hands in the pockets of the coat as he shrugs his shoulders.
"Whoever's watching the cameras wouldn't be paying much attention to us anyway. If we run, they might give us a second glance, so we'll just speed walk."
AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"You telling me not to think about acting suspicious is just as counterproductive, Jean," I sigh, rolling my eyes as I shrug on the jacket. We rush out of the warehouse into the daylight again, Anubis's voice slowly cutting through now.
"Christ, Anubis, calm down, we're out." Jean hisses under his breath, shrugging at you as he nods toward the parking lot of the building across the street.
"Jenny and I are on our way now. Where's Kaiholo?"
There's a moment of silence before Anubis responds, "I thought he was with you?"
Jean sighs, beginning to rush out of the parking lot of the warehouse as frustration builds in his breath.
"Just kidding, he told me he had some things to take care of. He's fine." Anubis retorts, but Jean doesn't respond, probably tired of what he believes to be Anubis's inability to take the matter seriously.
A rush of panic spirals through my body until Anubis reassures us he had made a god-awful joke. I reach up and turn the earpiece off, feeling like the outside world is my safety. Plus Jean has his on still. Nudging Jean, I say, "Relax. I know he sucks but I feel like you have never actually relaxed since I met you."
Jean shrugged, crossing the road and reaching the van.
"I'm fine, I just need a smoke."
As much as Jean wanted to linger around and smoke outside rather than in the car, he knew the three of you had to exit the premises before the police reached the back of the building and closed off the street. Anubis was already pulling out of the parking lot by the time you and Jean got in, and as he drove down the street, a few police cars zoomed by with their sirens on.
Jean sighed heavily.
"Don't suppose Robocop will be paying us for our help, will he?"
"Jean!" Anubis snapped.
"I just need a smoke," I mock under my breath. We hurry into the car. Nearby, the police sirens blare, sending nerves through me. And the lights blind my eyes - why do they have to be so bright? What about people with epilepsy?
"Don't suppose Robocop will be paying us for our help, will he?" Jean mutters.
"Jean!"
I roll my eyes, giggling slightly. "He'll be fine. He's got about a billion cyborgs to help him. Cyborgs that I'm sure are equipped with a fuck ton of skills and weapons."
Jean rolled his eyes as Anubis turned onto a street, taking a quick turn into the parking lot of a run-down, but homely gas station. Anubis put the car and park and unbuckled, exiting the car and shuffling inside the station.
Jean steps out of the car himself, but only steps a few feet away before pulling out a cigarette and lights it.
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Kaiholo peaking around the corner of the building, but returns behind the wall as Anubis walks past.
I look out at Jean, knowing hell I didn't want to be around him as he smokes. "Hey, I'm gonna go to the bathroom," I say as I head to the gas station. Sending a glance behind me to make sure he wasn't watching, I slip around the corner to see Kai staring straight ahead.
"Hey, Kai!" I exclaim. "Are you following us, lmao?"
"Wh-following you?" Kaiholo shakes his head quickly, lifting a defensive hand. "No, I don't…I was just checking up on you, making sure you're safe. Tyler helped me locate you and bring me to you. Although something's…new about him."
Kaiholo paused, exhaling with a hint of exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, I was worried about you."
I rub the back of my neck. "I know you were. I'm okay," I reassure Kai, holding back a joke. "Now what are you talking about with Tyler? And you got to hurry, I only take like three minutes to pee."
"It's nothing, he's just reminiscent…" Kaiholo trailed off, shaking off the thoughts as he straightens up. "Anyway, I have to tell you something."
As Kaiholo starts his next sentence, Jean and Anubis's voices ring out from around the corner, discussing loudly about something stupid probably, but at some point you hear Anubis ask where you are, to which Jean casually responds, "She's in the bathroom."
I frown at the information over Tyler. I wonder what he could possibly be reminiscent of. Jean and Anubis begin talking outside, causing a slight panic within my system. I whip my head in their direction, then turn back to Kai. "Hurry. I'll tell them I was shitting or looking at memes or something."
Kaiholo hesitates, fidgeting with his fingers yet again. He inhaled and prepared himself to speak.
"I have to go. There's some things I need to do back in the other universe, and…" He pauses, shifting his weight on his feet. "I don't think I'll be back for awhile."
Before he let you react, he continued.
"You could come with me, though. There's so much more I'd like to show you."
He tilts his head downward as he exhales. "Maybe, recreate those memories we lost?"
Time was ticking, and you could hear Jean and Anubis trying to find things to discuss to pass the time. Kaiholo hadn't stopped fidgeting since he started talking to you, and another swirl of police cars whizzed past the gas station to the building Roger was at.
An unidentifiable feeling surged in me, somewhat a mix of anxiety and adrenaline. I thought about the only memories I had made throughout this time. I wanted to think about this, think it through, but really I believe I've already made a decision.
"You mean memories I lost?" I giggled half-heartedly. "I, um, I don't think I'm done here, though. I don't want to leave with all these loose ends. You'll come back, right?"
Kaiholo tilts his head down, nodding softly.
"Yes, I suppose I will come back. I just don't know when, and if it'll be a good time."
Kaiholo raised a welcoming hand.
"Goodbye, Jen. Another time, then?"
You could hear Jean voicing his concerns about the time you've been gone, and Kaiholo started taking a few steps back with the ghost of a smile.
I gently touch his palm. "You better fucking come back. See you!"
Walking just fast enough to avoid running out of breath, I return to Jean and Anubis when they aren't looking. "Sorry," I grinned sheepishly, "I got distracted by the snacks." They exchanged glances and shrug, leaving the matter alone.
"You get me anything?" Anubis joked as Jean popped open a bottle of cheap whiskey, turning it upside down as it poured down his throat. Anubis paused, furrowing a brow at Jean.
"You were supposed to drive the other half of the way home." Anubis utters.
"I was getting a migraine, I wouldn't have been any better sober."
Anubis scoffs and crosses his arms.
"You were fine, you could have lasted another thirty minu-"
"Anubis." Jean's glare could pierce through steel. "Just drop it."
I watch the two snap at each other. Sighing quietly, I suggest, "I can drive. I remember how to." Without giving Jean a choice, I proceed to get into the driver's seat and slide the key in the ignition. The two stare at me for a moment, as if I had betrayed them. "Okay, yeah, I don't have my license on me, but we won't get pulled over. Get in."
Jean took the backseat to lay down and Anubis got shotgun. I pulled my seatbelt on and adjusted my mirrors. this is just a test to see if i know how to drive hhahhahaha
Though you had arrived at Jean's house, your mind was still transfixed on a moment during the drive. You had hit a stoplight, just barely missing it, so you had to sit there for a while. Anubis was distracted by whatever was on his phone, and you weren't sure if Jean was asleep, and frankly you were afraid to turn around and check.
But, for some reason, you felt eyes on you. You looked around the outside, even glanced through the windows of a few other cars nearby. Right before you gave up, you locked eyes with him. Where had you seen him before? He looked painfully familiar, as if you two didn't meet on good terms.
He stared at you with the same curious glare, as if he was trying to remember where he had seen you too. Unfortunately, he remembered too soon and he started to approach you. Luckily, the lights turned green, and you accelerated a bit too aggressively as you drove off.
Anubis sludged down the hall into his room, but Jean found a spot at the bar and poured a cup of whiskey. He eyed you and pulled out a second cup, pouring one for you and gently sliding it down the surface towards you.
I frowned, not exactly wanting any alcohol, but after the eye contact with the familiar stranger, a couple of sips of whiskey didn't seem so terrible. Now would've been a good use of my memories. I tried to think about what would make sense. Have I lived here before? Is he maybe following me?
Unless I met him recently.
Taking a seat at the bar, I gladly accept the cup. "How's your head?"
Jean let out a gentle chuckle as he took a sip.
"I didn't actually have a headache, I just needed an excuse to drink."
He studies you as you sit down and take the drink. You could tell he had a lot on his mind, but he, for some reason, was quiet. As if he didn't want to force conversation. He leans forward, resting his arms on the table as he sighs.
"Did you really need an excuse though lmao cmon jean
"Hey, can I say something really weird?" I ask out of nowhere. After this next comment, I am sure to be kicked out of this house, but my seemingly impulsive personality has kicked in. "Like hella whack?"
"You, have really nice hands," I say, unable to hold back a smile. I start to take my first sip but I put the cup back down in fear I'll start laughing and choke. In waiting for a reaction, I wonder why he got me a drink in the first place, instead of leaving me to my own business. Maybe he's just being polite.