Hit 'em Right Between the Eyes (Odion)

A glare was cast around the room as frustration started to well up in Lani. Well that explained a lot, the person coming through wasn’t anyone he knew a man from security. That was how he had gotten past; he was part of the people keeping people out. Lani’s eyes narrowed as he tried to see through the blackness. Some sort of night vision would come in handy right about now. He shrunk into his little alcove using the advantage of the shadows and blend in. It was like he wasn’t even there, at least for the guard that came in shortly after followed by another person. Someone younger, but why? The man had only a flashlight. He flattened himself against the wall as the beam passed nearby. He looked up and around quickly for an escape route, but luckily the guard was either new or simply inept because the light wasn’t flickered on. Lani’s breath caught in his throat as the man moved around the room searching around for anything amiss. Good thing Lani hadn’t actually taken anything yet. He turned a little as he caught snatches of the conversation. The man had seen something, well that wasn’t good. Careless Hunter, he scolded himself, you’re still not paying attention to your surroundings, still letting people see you and follow you.

Not exactly, his mind countered, they saw a shadow, a ghost, now the man isn’t even sure he saw something. He watched as the guard left the other alone for a moment. Who was that? His heart was hammering so loudly he was surprised he wasn’t already caught. What if this was a trick? One cop framing the other and leaving thinking Lani would be foolish enough not to realize that there was another person left in the room. It was the oldest trick in the book, any thief who fell for it deserved to go to jail. ‘I suggest leaving,’ Lani bit his tongue and covered his mouth to prevent himself from uttering a noise in surprise. His eyes were wide and if someone could see him now they would claim they were going to pop out of his head. He whirled his eyes boring on the one who spoke. He knew that voice. Not very well but he had a name. Martin. Of all of the people to run into… A swear threatened to tear itself out of his throat and he swallowed it down with great effort. He slid back out of flashlight range as the cop came back. Of course the cameras hadn’t caught a thing; Lani smiled more than a little pleased with himself.

A breath released from his lips as they left and the door had been locked. He frowned and looked around seeing nothing but the shadows of display cases deemed it safe. He moved quickly. He had planned on disarming the alarm by hand and doing it carefully but now time was not on his side. It would take too long for him to do it by hand so his power put pressure on the alarm and just like the window tricked it into thinking nothing was amiss. Why was Martin here? Why the hell did he call him out? Thoughts whirred in a million different directions as he tried to figure out why this guy hadn’t told the guard about him if he knew Lani was hiding somewhere. He beep caused him to freeze and he forcefully slowed his thoughts. His power was so closely tied with his emotions that this worry and this fear was starting to cause it to react instead of do as he commanded. Martin would have to wait until later for analysis.

He wanted to follow Martin’s advice and leave but if he didn’t get this job done now he wouldn’t have another chance. With excessive care he pulled his lock picks out of his pockets and set to work. If felt good to do things by hand, especially with his power occupying the alarm. Sure he could use his power to unlock the case as well but where would the fun be in that. A smile flashed under his mask as there was that familiar feel and sound of an opening lock. Yeah, they still hadn’t invented a Lani-proof lock. He carefully lifted the glass and quickly took the jewels and slid them into his bag. He secured them and with a little smile closed the glass and locked up again releasing the alarm. Perfectly done, it looked as if the jewelry had just vanished. The gems were safe and secured in his bag and he wiggled around a little bit fitting it over his shoulders under his larger shirt.

Making his way back to the windows he carefully repositioned all the cameras to their original positions, one of which showed the now empty display case. Voices caught his attention outside the door. Apparently the cop wasn’t completely convinced no one had been in the museum. Words started to come through and Lani’s interest was piqued a little. “I swear I had it,” the man said forlornly. His eyes narrowed and his quickened his pace. He against pressed at the window and holding onto the top kicked his feet out. He landed smoothly in a crouch as soundless as a cat on the fire escape. He slid the window closed behind himself and a sudden chill passed through him. He froze, apparently his hope that Martin would let him be wasn’t too be. He carefully scanned the area around them. His legs braced for motion as soon as he had things figured out. How had Martin even found him? He tried to go back through what he knew about him. Martin hadn't actually been a first name he had realized, he didn't have quite as thick a file as Lani but it gave him the basics. Most importantly that his power was time control. That had explained a lot. He had been unhappy at the lack of information but just as he had turned to his own and started contemplating filtering it a little he figured as long as nothing was incriminating it wouldn't really matter.

Men like Lani were very much like prey animals that fancied themselves predators. They hunted and preyed on the unsuspecting. But the real predators were the police, and sometimes even other thieves. The flight response in Lani was higher than that of most people, he knew when to call his losses and flee. As his panic that someone had seen him built within him he knew his only option was flight. But then he knew this person, what if he could be an ally? His thief’s instincts took over and the thought of allies was tossed out the window. With a sudden whirl he mimed a blow at his fellow student, just enough to make someone flinch away. Then Lani bolted like a frightened animal. He dove over the edge of the fire escape trusting his hands fully to find the rails of the one nearby. He swung himself around and as soon as his feet landed on the metal he was off sprinting down the stairs dangerously close to falling several times. He wasn’t thinking about stopping to chat he was thinking of how dangerous this could be and how he just wanted to get away. Someone at school knew it was him, they knew his ways. He could tell everyone! Escape! Must escape!

Lani’s eyes were wide catching sight of all of the light in the darkness. He moved like a shadow and if someone, well someone who wasn’t currently perusing him, were to look up they would think he was trick of the light. He glanced back at Martin and his eyes narrowed to hide the fear and panic in him. Martin was good, better than Lani would have ever guessed. A small smile crept over Lani’s hidden face. Well he had to give him credit for something; Lani hadn’t been challenged like this in a long time. There was a part of him that enjoyed it under the panic. He might give it a little more thought but his mind was occupied by escape. He moved upward leaping from the stair to the roof. He kicked his legs up and rolled coming up and running again. He frowned this was hard, to keep from being perused and also to keep himself hidden from those on the street below.

It wasn’t luck that Lani ran away from the building in the direction he had chosen. He researched the areas before he went in so he could have several different escape route ready. This way he could stay high and move fast for the longest distance. The roofs were close together and he leapt easily from one to another. Every time he did so he glanced behind him, partially to see if Matrin was following and partially making sure if Martin fell that Lani could stop and catch him. Lani just couldn’t let a man hang like that, no matter how much he wanted to get away. He gritted his teeth when leap after leap Martin kept up. Lani hadn’t mapped it out this far. He looked up and with a startled gasp realized there was nothing for him to land on if he kept on his flying speed. He skidded to a stop and turned. Then one moment Martin was across the rooftop and the next he was nearly a yard away.

He took a step back startled. He looked around quickly and made a split second decision to assume that Martin was not his enemy. Sure he could be someone hired by the police or even working for Hammel. Either way, Martin knew it was him and even if he hadn’t been trapped like this, this night would not be forgotten and would rear its ugly head again. Well it was done. Finished. He panted his shoulders shaking and the cloth over his mouth and nose making it difficult to catch his breath. He pulled his collar down and folded it down taking gasps of clean cool air as he did so. With his hat still on he glared at Martin, his face was grim and there was nothing friendly about it. Lani ignored the first comment besides a little confusion. How was it that Martin could have expected Lani do to anything but run? Thieves weren’t people prone to stay around and chat at a crime scene.

“What do you want?” Lani asked flatly instead of honoring the comment. He wasn’t a coward, he was a wise thief, and wise thieves ran. The only reason Lani wasn’t fighting like a cornered fox was that he didn’t think Martin would turn him in. Maybe blackmail, but at the moment, there was no use in trying to run. If Martin wanted to blackmail him, he knew where to find him. There would have been no reason to pursue. His mind was flying in a million different directions. All of them taking the worst case scenarios and planning them out, how they would play out and how he would get out of it. If Martin did want to blackmail him Lani could bring him down with him. Or rather, anyone who was holding something over Lani, Lani could always just tell his boss. But he didn’t want to do that because generally the solution was a rather permanent one.

Lani cocked his head at Martin suddenly interested. The skeptic in him was very much doubtful that Martin did anything like what Lani did. He crossed his arms and shifted so his bag was more securely on his back, if Martin was going to be a rival thief Lani wasn’t going to take any chances. But he still wasn’t sure what his power was, who knew what he could do. He couldn’t help rolling his eyes, “Covering for me?” Lani echoed in a hushed voice, “Why the hell were you following me anyways?” He huffed a little upset that Martin would think he needed saving. “I had it all under control. I always have it under control.” He said it more to himself trying to convince himself that he hadn’t lost his touch. He squinted at Martin wondering if he had given this any thought. Lani gave him a little smile. “Oh ok, so I, the one who would get arrested if caught, should have stopped to chat. Thank you oh so much for following me. Maybe have some tea? What are you thinking?” Lani pitched his voice mockingly taking out all of his pent up anger and frustration out on poor Martin.

Lani wasn’t done yet, “And you wouldn’t have been charge with anything, they wouldn’t have even kept you overnight. What do you think would have happened if we had stopped, huh? I would have been put away for years. Not only that! I’ve been caught red-handed and now you’re an accomplice! So don’t blame me for this.” He didn’t normally loose his cool like this but Martin was stepping on his toes and he wasn’t about to let himself get in trouble for this. If Martin wanted a cut he was going to be sadly mistaken. He bit his tongue and clenched his fists trying his hardest to resist the urge to strangle Martin. This was not a time to honor manners! “Manners!” He growled and shook his head glaring at Martin. He did have a point, he could have turned him in but didn’t. But why? “I didn’t ask for your help… But for the record, I suppose I am grateful you didn’t turn me in. I swear…” Whatever he was about to say got cut off as his heart flew into his throat. There it was, the tell tale pitch of sirens. They knew, shit, they knew! His eyes went wide and he looked at Martin. His mind was in utter panic and his power was starting grab at everything. Well whether they liked it or not, they were in this together now, the police would take Martin as an accomplice if they caught them.

Lani grit his teeth, he was fast but Martin was just as fast. One thing though, he could always hear him behind him. Lani landed like a cat, but in Boston people were more adept at listening to thieves that in Pilot Ridge. Perhaps Martin didn’t have to be quiet. There was no time to dwell on that. He had to admit that underneath the panic and fear that was fueling his flight he was curious about why Martin was here and why he was chasing after him. He could have easily warned him in the building and went about his business and confronted Lani at school. Though Lani was rather good at hiding. He knew Hammel very well and if he didn’t want to be found it often took security quite a while to track him down. Give him the benefit of travel and the span of the United States and Lani could be gone forever. At least for those on the top. Those in the underground would always know. Lani wasn’t even sure but word spread like a wildfire in a drought through the underground. It was pretty clear as Martin gained on him that finding somewhere to hide was not going to happen and so he kept going.

Lani glared at Martin, did he know the lay of the land better than he did? Probably. Lani had been here just under a year; you’d think he would know the lay better. But he didn’t know how long Martin had been here, chances were like most other people at Hammel his powers hadn’t manifested so late and he had come here earilier. Of course Lani knew nothing of Martin’s life before Hammel. He needed to make better maps and memorize them. His boss’s representative was actually currently working on that, Lani would have to borrow his charts. Secret places were the lifeblood of large criminal organizations, even Lani’s boss wasn’t too large but he had a far reaching hand and it was good to make sure there was someone to keep an eye on things everywhere. And on every wayward thief apparently.

He glared and couldn’t say he wasn’t relieved when Martin took a few steps back. He didn’t want to have to hurt Martin but if this came to a fight Lani knew his best bet was to run, and this time he wasn’t going to leave any chance for pursuit. Could Martin balance on fences as well as Lani or scale walls? He hoped he didn’t have to figure that out. It was a relief that Martin was just as tired as he was; it would have been rather depressing if Lani was more out of breath. Though irrational it told Lani that if he hadn’t hit this dead end he could have kept going. Lani crossed his arms unsatisfied by the answer. “Well… good.” He narrowed his eyes and nodded. He cocked his head and wondered if Martin was hiding something. Redirecting a question usually meant they were hiding something, at least when Lani did. “That doesn’t answer my question,” he said firmly not letting Martin get away with his diversion. At least Lani could relax a little, he didn’t know what he would have done if Martin wanted a piece of his loot. He would probably figure out some way to make a run for it again. And then fight if that didn’t work. That wouldn’t be pretty, Lani didn’t fight fair.

Not following him? Well Lani certainly felt sheepish, he relaxed his rigid posture a little and it was his turn to run his hand through his hair. Well that wasn’t good. He opened his mouth to protest but shut it again at the mention of the guard. “You…” He began with a snarl and cut himself off before he insulted Martin for something that was actually a fact. That didn’t mean he had to like it. Must not strangle. “Look, I’ve made it out of worse scrapes before.” Lani didn’t feel like going into more detail, mostly because the last time he had almost been caught he had sent cars flying through the air. Yeah, that was not something he wanted to have a redo of anytime soon. But he was a little insulted, he had things under control. “They would have had no proof that anything had ever happened. Shadows don’t get convictions.” He gave Martin a curious look and was about to start on a tirade again but his next sentence completely threw Lani for a loop. He couldn’t be serious! He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes. “I’m going to need a drink if we keep this up.” He had to hand it to Martin, he was good at picking out just what to say to throw off Lani’s focus. Lani ground his teeth reminding himself that he was not the kind of person to resort to violence, but oh was Martin pushing it.

Lani wasn’t sure he liked that grin and soon enough he realized that he didn’t. It was the grin that said, ‘I’m just humoring you by listening’. Lani hated it when people did that to him. He huffed upset that his little rant was met with such an unsympathetic ear. He paused and looked at Martin again as if trying to understand where the man was coming from. “Well, yeah,” he said after a few moments, “What would you think? I don’t know anything about you! You don’t get good in the business by thinking everyone around you is a friend. I’m sure you know that.” He challenged his ferocity coming back. Lani picked up the ring between his fingers and examined it. “You took this right off his finger?” Lani asked thoroughly impressed and now more than a little distracted. He looked up at Martin his eyes locking with the others. “Flexibility opens the door for mistakes and mistakes get you caught,” he said handing the ring back. “Do you ever plan things or are you just spontaneous? Spontaneity is dangerous.” Lani was reciting now, thing that had been drilled in. Yeah, if things went wrong Lani could deviate, but to leave something to chance was just too much risk. Maybe that was his flaw, he planned to much and wasn’t prepared for things to go wrong. At least not as much as he should be. Lani bared his teeth and took a step back until his knees hit the little rail. “Back off,” he warned.

Green eyes narrowed flashing dangerously and a little trickle of fear passed through him. He clenched his fists and whirled on Martin. “If you get in my way, I swear I will end you.” His voice was low and menacing, but it was all a bluff. Sure Lani could do anything to make Martin’s life a living hell but he would never hurt someone. Not intentionally. But Martin was talking about compromising everything Lani had, his sister, his family, his future. He scowled at the hero comment, he was too unsettled to find any humor in the comment. Lani shifted a little to watch Martin stick his neck out over the edge. “Careful planning,” Lani answered simply. At Martin’s explanation Lani decided to take a look. To his relief Martin was right and they were much more focused on the people than the museum itself. He glanced at Martin not convinced he wasn’t going to turn him in, but at this point he just needed to rid himself of the evidence and he would be in the clear.

If only things were that simple. No Lani had to get these jewels back tonight. He needed to get his money and then he could head back to school. Martin had a point, they were running out of time. If only he had more time! He shook his head, his night wasn’t over. “Not yet,” Lani answered unconsciously including Martin in his thought process. There was a certain amount of glee in Martin’s voice and he wondered if he had actually been a part of anything big before. Lani glanced at Martin and grinned back conspiratorially, “I think you know better than that.” He shook his head. “You go back to school; I have to make a stop first.” He pulled up his collar and walked the perimeter of the roof before finding a water spout that he could climb down.