[h2]Three's a crowd[/h2]
[sub]In collaboration with [@The Savant][/sub][hr][hr]

There was so much going on and too many people talking that Pilka was shutting down — sirens, shouting, his handcuffs being way too tight, and him being dragged along in the streets like something to mock. It was hard to feel any pride in the moment and there were slight twinges of embarrassment while he watched people stare at him. Those feelings would dissipate once he was away from everyone’s eyes yet he was wrong. Once he was in the holding block that the safety officers put him in, he sat there in the cuffs they put him in. These cuffs were around his ankles and his wrists while being attached with a chain so he couldn’t run or do anything “funny” as one of the officers put it. Everything except his clothes were stripped from him and they took his leather jacket. His overly worn shirt that was once an off-white was a more tan-ish color because of all the muck and grim along with the inconsistent washing. His dark gray jean-like utility pants had plenty of patches in them too and were baggy. They were held up with a belt. 

Pilka let his hands fold together and he stared at the floor for a while until he heard the door down the hall open up and people walk towards him. This was when a familiar face appeared, he didn’t have his shades, and he was stripped from all of his stuff as well. They pushed him into the holding cell to share and he didn’t have the same bindings as Pilka did — he only had cuffs around his wrists and ones that gave him a bit more leeway to move. “[color=b87333]You look fucking horrible,[/color]” he joked while stepping into the cell. 

The guards slamming the cell door shut behind him and he looked a bit irritated, “[color=white]Have fun you two![/color]” the one guard smacked the bars with their baton. They were acting like this was a game and one they were being careless about. Roach watched as the guards walked down the hall and waited for the door to close before looking back at Pilka. 

“[color=b87333]I’m not going to bite unless you do,[/color]” he spoke while walking over to an unoccupied bench and sitting down. “[color=b87333]Wish they let me keep my cigarettes and lighter but I guess those could be used as weapons.[/color]” Roach was speaking like he didn’t just chase Pilka in the street and tried gunning him down. 

Pilka stared at him with an emotionless expression before looking back at the floor with a sigh, “[color=c8a2c8]I’m not going to do anything to you.[/color]” 

Roach seemed to lean back and relax against the cell bars when Pilka finally spoke up, “[color=b87333]Why were you after that girl anyways? She said you didn’t hurt her but I heard otherwise.[/color]” 

“[color=c8a2c8]She was telling the truth… to a point,[/color]” he shrugged before looking off to the side and seeing the painfully off white concrete walls that were beyond the bars. “[color=c8a2c8]It doesn’t matter anymore.[/color]” 

“[color=b87333]It matters to me.[/color]”


The transfer to holding had been mostly uneventful. Kara didn't recognize any of the safety officers handling her, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. They asked her the basic questions they presumably asked everyone else during the intake; name, address, etc., but no one had yet brought up the previous incident or the fact that she was a Council employee. Even the thought of being in that interrogation room again made her stomach turn as unfortunately it wasn't a matter of "if", but rather, "when".

Eventually, Kara was taken to her holding cell. It was in a bay that housed a number of cells on either side. She passed a few empty ones then they stopped at the second to last from the end. 

[i]"Inside."[/i] 

One of the officers held the cell door open for her and she walked in, hands still secured. The door was then locked and he heard their retreating footsteps. She was finally able to breathe a little easier, at least for the moment.

around right away as she was listening to the voices from the last cell. Two male voices, as a matter of fact.

Both Pilka and Roach fell silent when they heard the doors open and they both looked at each other with a wonder if the officers were coming for one of them. After the long and grueling initial interrogations they both went through… they knew they were not getting out anytime soon. However, Roach was surprised when the cell beside them opened up, someone entered, and the officers left. Once the officers were gone, Roach spoke up, “[color=b87333]Is that your doll face? The one that was running around with this poor son of a bitch?[/color]” he found humor in his own words as he leaned against the wall and bars. “[color=b87333]Why are they keeping you here?[/color]” He was slightly curious but he was surprised he was in here. They interrogated him and didn’t let him go which was an oddity in itself. 

Pilka watched him with a silence before almost grumpily responded, “[color=C8A2C8]She’s probably in here because of me…[/color]” his voice sounded pained with guilt. It was a hard truth to swallow but it was the reality of it. 

[color=49FDFE]"Pilka?"[/color] her voice was a whisper, practically inaudible. But he wasn't alone. Kara recognized the second voice as the man responsible for their arrest. The fact that Roach was in the same cell as her friend was a vile tactic. The same man who was hunting Pilka down not too along. As such, Kara ignored him. She stepped over to the corner and leaned her head against the bars. [color=49FDFE]"Hey, how are you holding up?"[/color] 

Kara refrained from asking whether he was okay. Of course he wasn't okay, and who would be? What he'd said to her back in the alley had stuck in her mind, and she worried not only about her future, but his as well. But even more concerning was the fact that he probably hadn't received medical attention yet. And why would they waste time and resources if Pilka was considered subhuman to them? Kara imagined the horrors he could potentially face, and she had to shake the thought away. 

There was a silence between the two cells for a few minutes before Pilka sighed, “[color=c8a2c8]I could be worse,[/color]” he plainly stated while letting his fingers play with each other. Looking down at his primarily tattooed skin and thinking. “[color=c8a2c8]How are you holding up?[/color]” he asked and he didn’t mean to sound so emotionless but he was in pain and trying to behave. There wasn’t much he could do or anything to really cheer him up. 

As generic of a response as one would expect. Of course, Kara wouldn't hold it against him, especially since they weren't alone. [color=49FDFE]"I'm in one piece. Got a minor cut during the arrest but that's nothing compared to the injury you've sustained..."[/color] She felt for him, she really did. Sitting in the same cell as his assailant and knowing what awaited him. That would do her in for sure.

“[color=b87333]You know, you could try smiling,[/color]” Roach chuckled while looking Pilka dead in the eyes. 

Pilka glared at him, “[color=c8a2c8]And you could learn how to stop talking.[/color]” Their words didn’t sound aggressive nor did they sound like they were talking to people they hated or despised. Neither of them probably hated each other directly but they were not put into a good situation. 

[color=49FDFE]"I believe this is a conversation between Pilka and I, so how about you take his advice and shut your damn mouth."[/color] Kara was worked up. After all that had occurred and now Roach spewing garbage, she'd had it with him. But what made it worse was the fact that she was stuck on the other side of the wall and wasn't able to get one good punch on him to vent her frustrations.

Roach rolled his eyes at the woman’s response, “[color=b87333]You two are rays of sunshine,[/color]” he huffed out while roaming around in the clothes that he did have. Finding a small flask before opening it up and taking a sip. Staring at Pilka with some form of twisted humor since they didn’t check everyone too thoroughly — at least he didn’t have weapons on him. 

“[color=c8a2c8]I’m sorry, Kara,[/color]” Pilka didn’t know what else to say except to apologize. He shouldn’t have come into the city but he was delivering the cave fruits to her and he was going to Khia to get into the Gray market to find something that could help his wounds heal. Now he had another one because of Roach. He honestly should be more upset but he couldn’t find it in himself because he understood at the same time. 

[color=49FDFE]"No, stop. It's not your fault... You were only minding your own business and not actively hunting someone down to eliminate them."[/color] Kara was taking a jab at Roach, her seething resentment obvious. After a brief pause, a sigh escaped her lips. She hated not being able to do anything, that feeling of helplessness that hung over one's head and lingered. Kara backed away to take a seat on the bench, feeling the cold metal through the thin layer of fabric. She looked down at her hands restrained by another piece of metal, thinking for a moment about her father and what he would say to her during this predicament. He'd show concern, of course, but he'd also scold her and her careless actions.

Roach scoffed, “[color=b87333]Get off your fucking high horse, some of us have jobs,[/color]” he took another swig while getting up and moving towards Pilka. “[color=b87333]Take off your shirt.[/color]” The man demanded while standing in front of the other. His face hardened not out of anger but out of age and life experiences. Pilka looked up at him and stayed quiet. 

“[color=c8a2c8]I shouldn’t have been in the city anyways. It’s not like I am allowed, isn’t that right?[/color]” He asked Roach. 

The older man’s eyes sharpened at him, “[color=b87333]For good reason to… now take off your shirt,[/color]” he almost demanded it this time. 

“[color=c8a2c8]My cuffs are a little tighter than yours. I can’t without hurting myself,[/color]” Pilka responded with a bit of annoyance at the man’s pressure. 

A disappointed sound came from Roach as he got Pilka’s shirt off the best he could so he could look at the man’s shoulder. “[color=b87333]You are colorful,[/color]” It was said almost teasingly before he poured the alcohol on the man’s tattooed shoulder. Pilka groaned while clenching his jaw.  

“[color=c8a2c8]The people of the caverns decorate their most trusted and honored,[/color]” Pilka spoke out softly and made it sound very unimportant for the most part even if he was proud of all the color on his body. The wild designs of the people of Sevet ul Krav. 

“[color=b87333]You must be such a hero,[/color]” Roach said this almost tauntingly. “[color=b87333]If you didn’t hurt her. What happened because I heard a totally different story,[/color]” Roach asked while grabbing his wounded shoulder, not right where the wounds were, and it caused Pilka to snarl and bare his teeth. 

Roach chuckled, “[color=b87333]A little feral are you?[/color]” 

“[color=c8a2c8]It hurts,[/color]” Pilka growled out these words. “[color=c8a2c8]I didn’t hurt her. Well, I did. She followed me out of the city because safety officers saw her with me, she panicked, and I probably did too. She asked me to punch her to make her story believable so I did. That’s all that happened,[/color]” Pilka sounded annoyed before his actions tried clenching Roach’s hand in between his head and shoulder. “[color=c8a2c8]Let go![/color]” Pilka was getting loud. 

“[color=b87333]Just a second. You have a piece of the arrow head in your shoulder. I’m taking it out,[/color]” that was when a gaspy airy sound. “[color=b87333]Now stop your whining,[/color]” Roach showed him the piece of metal he fetched from his shoulder before pouring some more alcohol on the wound and backing up. “[color=b87333]You could say thank you, you know?[/color]” 

Pilka glared at him, “[color=c8a2c8]Thank you,[/color]” then his eyes looked away from the man. It sounded like Roach sat back down. 

Kara just sat there and listened. She listened as her friend attempted to keep his composure despite the pain. She listened as she subconsciously clenched a fist resting within the opposite hand as if she were the one in pain. 

In all honesty, Kara was surprised at the irony of Roach taking the time to patch up Pilka. But she was also concerned. Now that Roach knew she had lied and misled the Council, she feared he would pass along that information to them, possibly to reduce whatever punishment awaited him, if any. Kara wasn't exactly sure why he was locked up too, though they could probably fine him with a public disturbance charge and not attempted murder. After all, Pilka wasn't human in their eyes. But that was also odd, unless the Council hadn't been the ones to send him after Pilka. And if not them, then whom?

[color=49FDFE]"Roach, who do you work for? Who sent you to kill him?"[/color]

The man couldn’t help but chuckle at the question, “[color=b87333]Didn’t you hear me back in the city square?[/color]” This was rhetorical so he continued on. “[color=b87333]I told this sorry ass for sore eyes that I don’t give my client information away and I am surely not giving it to you either, [i]sweetheart~[/i][/color]” He emphasized the little pet  name so much that it would make most young women sick upon hearing how it was vocalized. It wasn’t a compliment or positive. He was using it to cause internal conflict. 

She shook her head in disgust, the annoyed expression another tell that she had not appreciated his comment to say the least. But she ignored that too, because in that moment Kara wasn't able to march up to him and tell him exactly what was in her mind.

Pilka sat there in silence and his eyes were watching Roach. He didn’t want to say or do the wrong things and ended up  having to fight at a major disadvantage with the man he was sharing a cell with. “[color=b87333]Why are they keeping you here?[/color]” he asked back. “[color=b87333]If you get to ask questions. I get to ask questions.[/color]” 

[color=49FDFE]"You don't get to ask anything, especially since you already know why I'm here..."[/color] Kara stood up again, feeling the need to suddenly walk off the bit of rage threatening to surface, even if she was walking in circles within the small cell. [color=49FDFE]"Imagine seeing a friend being hunted by a prick without remorse, you're telling me you wouldn't try to help? I bet you go after just about anyone they tell you, huh? The elderly, women, children... And no doubt you just have to use that little gun of yours otherwise you'd be shit out of luck. Face, it, you're nothing but someone's sorry lapdog and you know it."[/color]

Roach rolled his shoulders back when he heard Kara accusing him of all the different things and he stood up while twisting the cap to the flask closed. “[color=b87333]How about you…[/color]” he inhaled sharply and skarily, “[color=b87333]Shut the fuck up unless you know what you are talking about.[/color]” There was amusement in his tone because he knew Kara didn’t know what she was talking about — acting like he’s a murder. 

“[color=b87333]How about you look to your boyfriend for those answers? If you could see him now, you might change your mind,[/color]” Roach looked over to Pilka who was keeping his eyes on him. “[color=b87333]You should tell her about what those pretty tattoos all over your hands, arms, and body mean,[/color]” he egged Pilka on while letting his tongue slide against his upper teeth on the side of his mouth. 

“[color=b87333]Also, I could have killed him without the gun but I don’t care to kill people quickly. Also…[/color]” Roach chuckled. “[color=b87333]If you told the truth, your sugar daddy here wouldn’t be in this mess. I was hired because you made it sound like he assaulted you, severely, and when there are dangerous people like him. I take them out. It’s better for society but you lied. Meaning you were the one that put him in this mess. Not me. Not the person that hired me. [i]You did.[/i][/color]” 

This was when Roach put the flask back into his pocket, “[color=b87333]How about you share some stories with that little girl in the other cell, tell her how much of a hero you are. What does this one mean?[/color]” Roach asked while walking closer to him. 

“[color=c8a2c8]Do not touch me,[/color]” Pilka sounded out and watched as Roach rolled his eyes. “[color=c8a2c8]And you may be right. I might be a lot like you but we are both in a cell waiting to figure out what they plan to do with us. There is no point arguing and attacking each other like wild dogs,[/color]” Pilka leaned back on the cold stone. “[color=c8a2c8]There is no reason for any of us to be jumping at each other’s throats,[/color]” his words were balanced in sound and tinges of tiredness were in them. 

“[color=b87333]How did you get that nasty burn and slash on your left shoulder?[/color]” Roach continued to press while Pilka stared up at him. The man completely ignored everything he said and it irritated Pilka a little but he wasn’t going to comment on it. 

When Kara was confronted with the truth that deep down she knew was the reason for this entire mess, she lost it. [color=49FDFE]"Fuck you, asshole!"[/color] Kara spat back, winding up then delivering a kick to the bench with the heel of her foot, the noise echoing loudly but not loud enough to be heard by the officers outside. Her face felt extremely hot and beads of sweat began to form. She was breathing as if she had ran a marathon, her chest heaving up and down while her gaze remained fixated on the plain, white wall immediately ahead of her. Kara's mind was racing with what felt like a million thoughts simultaneously. She was angry and she wanted to cry, but even more so, she was defeated.

Kara didn't like admitting defeat in an argument, but this time, that's exactly what had occurred. After what felt like an eternity, her breathing began to slow enough to clear her thoughts. That's when she sat down again, not caring about what else Roach had to say. Not caring about Pilka's tattoos or what they meant. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye, but she didn't start crying. Instead, Kara brought her legs up so she could rest her face on her knees as her restrained hands rested on her feet.

[color=49FDFE]"I'm sorry, Pilka. I really am."[/color]