✧ unexpected complication

[quicksilverwings]

[This was supposed to be an easy con. Well, easy-ish.

Taking down the entire IPC is a bit of a far-off pipe dream for Wing and his team (he's still marveling that he's ended up with a team, some days), but particular nasty individuals within or working with them is fair game. Just, you know, make sure picking them off is few and far between.

This was supposed to be a relatively routine takedown of a shithead of a mark. But there's been a wrench thrown into the works--one that the mark refuses to refer to by a name, and it leaves Wing seeing red. A slave.

This fucker has a slave.

Wing maintains his perfectly polite facade, the one meant to lure the target in, so that Wing can lure him into acting against his own best interests, too blinded by what he has to offer. Wing's all smiles, but for anyone really paying attention, he's seething.

Once the mark has left the room--he'll be out for a while, if a couple of Wing's teammates have anything to say about it--Wing makes his way over to get a better look at that slave.]

Comments

[quicksilverwings]

Alright. But let us know the second you feel too uncomfortable to continue and we'll cover a graceful exit for you.

[takesitall]

I will, don't worry. Now, what are we looking to get out of the guy? Confession? Goods? A hospital stay for him?

[quicksilverwings]

Money and a confession. What I was thinking was--

[This goes so much easier with someone to bounce the ideas off of.

Once the logistics talk has been finished, Wing adds:] Aella's going to want to take you shopping so you'll have clothes to fit the part, I imagine.

[takesitall]

...do I have to go alone?

[He's not terribly social outside of pretending or Wing.]

[quicksilverwings]

[... He reaches for Kakavasha's hand and squeezes gently.]

I can tag along, if you'd be more comfortable with that.

[takesitall]

[He smiles a little.]

I would be. Your friends are just...they're a lot.

[quicksilverwings]

Aella and Eike can be, for sure. And I'm surprised you didn't have complaints about Akabane... Though, I guess it helps that you only interacted with him extensively once.

[And there had been other things on both of their minds when that happened. Karma is so much all the time and he revels in it.

Idly, he runs his thumb over Kakavasha's knuckles.]

Aella means well, at least. And Eike will chill out when he gets used to you.

[Anyway.]

But yeah, don't worry. I'll be right there with you. [Another gentle squeeze.]

[takesitall]

[That's...soothing. He smiles a little.]

Akabane was busy and didn't bug me. The other two are just...a lot. You're not.

[quicksilverwings]

[He smiles softly.]

Well, I'm glad I'm not a lot. If Aella gets to be too much, we can give her the slip for a break.

[takesitall]

Thanks.

[The day of the con comes, and it's a resounding success. They pull it off nearly flawlessly (no one could account for the flooded bathroom), and meet up back at the rendezvous point as planned. Kakavasha hasn't changed from his honey trap outfit, but he has taken the hat off so it's not crushed as he flops on the sofa.]

[quicksilverwings]

[And Wing flops next to him, grinning.]

You were amazing, Kakavasha!

[takesitall]

Was I?

[He smiles, though he does not sit up.]

It wasn't that hard, he was way too interested in my chest to care about what he was agreeing to.

[quicksilverwings]

Still, I don't think that would've gone even half as smoothly without you.

[takesitall]

He's not kidding. That was the cleanest in and out we've ever had.

[Kakavasha jumps when Denzel, who had been outside of the whole thing, steps into the room and flops down on the floor.]

It's amazing what we can do when we're not trying to juggle ten different balls all at once.

[quicksilverwings]

[Wing nods in agreement.]

Definitely. We couldn't have done it without you, Kakavasha. With your plan and you helping distract the guy...

[takesitall]

I vote we make him a permanent member of the team.

What?

[quicksilverwings]

That's up to him, Denzel.

[He looks over as he takes one of Kakavasha's hands in his.]

Do you want to, Kakavasha? Join the team permanently.

[takesitall]

You think I'd be helpful?

[Soft, almost shy.]

[quicksilverwings]

[A gentle squeeze.]

Yeah, I think so.

[takesitall]

...doing what, though?

[quicksilverwings]

Handling the plans, mostly. Maybe some of the interacting with marks like I do, like you did earlier, if you want-- Just. Doing more of what you did this time. You're already really good at it.

[takesitall]

If you're sure...I think I'd like to join up.

[He could help Wing finally. Pay him back.]

[quicksilverwings]

[Wing smiles and nods, pulling him into a hug.]

Welcome to the team, Kakavasha.

[So that's that. Aella and Eike are just as happy to find out Kakavasha's joining the team permanently.

They pull a few more jobs as the months pass, each one wildly successful thanks to Kakavasha's help. It's amazing, even if Aella privately teases Wing a little about how Kakavasha remains practically glued to his side during team meetings.

It's after these few months that Karma texts Wing with something real interesting he found while nosing around in his parents' belongings while looking for something else: a handwritten book of Avgin recipes that his mother put together ages ago. He's kind enough to let Wing have it--his mom won't miss it, he doesn't need it, and hey, Kakavasha deserves a taste of home, right?

So Wing quietly prepared, then picked a day to ask Kakavasha to run errands with Nagisa for a while. When Kakavasha returns, Wing's nearly done. The apartment probably smells incredible.]

[takesitall]

[Kakavasha gets used to the work and really does thrive, able to react on the fly to sudden changes and get people where they need to be. They start really pulling off things they have no right to pull off. It's amazing.

Kakavasha comes home after those errands and stops right in the foyer.]

Wing?

[quicksilverwings]

[From the kitchen:]

In here, Kakavasha.