✧ 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

[takesitall]

...I can hear you, you know.

[Honestly, he's used to it but still.]

I have a headache, but I'm not deaf.

[quicksilverwings]

I mean, it was kind of directed to you. I'm just... at a loss, you know? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off like I didn't think you could hear me.

[takesitall]

Wouldn't be the first time.

[He sighs.]

If I bother you that much, just tell my owner. He'll get me out of your sight. I just can't leave without permission.

[quicksilverwings]

You do not bother me, this is just... an unexpected hitch in plans.

[It's one more thing they'll need to account for when the bastard goes down--and unfortunately, it's a lot more complicated than most of the checklist. He'll have to consult Denzel on a few things...]

... Excuse me for a moment.

[He'll take several steps away, then lower his voice and turn his back so that Kakavasha will have some plausible deniability as he speaks over the communicators to Denzel--]

I'm sure you've already guessed as much, but I'm changing the plan. I don't just want the fucker to go down, I want him to suffer.

[takesitall]

[Whatever.

Denzel, meanwhile:]

No shit. Already on it

[quicksilverwings]

Good. And I assume you're already pulling together preparations for what to do with the person we didn't expect?

[takesitall]

Yep. One of my bears will be by with a cloaker, when the fucker's out of commission.

[quicksilverwings]

I know I keep saying this every time things go to shit, but you're the best.

[Oh, they are definitely going to need to lay low for a while after they're done with this job.

When the mark returns, Wing's talk with him resumes. Wing keeps it out of his expression and voice when directly speaking to the mark, but Denzel and Kakavasha will be able to detect Wing's clear contempt for the bastard.

It's a few days later when the mark's out of commission, and when Wing's sure they won't be immediately caught, he slips over to Kakavasha, pulling out one of his hairpins and immediately setting out to pick the locks on the cuffs. Just need to wait...]

[takesitall]

[Kakavasha tries to pull away.]

What are you doing, trying to get me killed?!

[quicksilverwings]

There's a cloaker on the way so we can get out of here and there's a new identity prepped for you already.

I already need to lay low after this, so you can stay with me in the meantime. Once the cloaker's here, I've got a change of clothes for you and then we need to go.

[Should be arriving in 3... 2... 1...]

[takesitall]

[What can only be described as an ambulatory teddy bear slips into the room. There's a device attached to its back.

Kakavasha just stares.]

What.

[quicksilverwings]

Right on cue.

[And Wing, used to this already, nonchalantly picks up the bear to examine the device--Okay, they're good. He sets the bear down and pulls the clothes out of his bag--honestly, bless Nagisa's habit of buying slightly larger clothes in hopes he'll grow into them.]

One, don't ask; two, let me finish picking the lock on the cuffs so you can actually change clothes.

[takesitall]

What is happening?

[He's tempted to pull away, but...]

[quicksilverwings]

Everything just went to hell in a handbasket for your now former owner, buuuuut that probably won't matter since he'll likely end up dead in a matter of days.

[As he carefully works at getting those cuffs off.]

I'm almost done with these. What's your name?

[takesitall]

[Does he trust this guy?

More than the asshole.]

Kakavasha. Yes, I'm Avgin.

[quicksilverwings]

Kakavasha... That's a nice name.

[And off come the cuffs, which Wing discards. He'll fiddle with the clothes he brought for a moment so Kakavasha can have that moment.

He'll offer the clothes shortly after.]

[takesitall]

[...alright. He takes them and starts to strip. He had the shyness beat out of him.]

And you are?

[quicksilverwings]

[Wing at least turns his back while Kakavasha strips.]

My teammates and clients call me Wing. You probably guessed as much given all of... this the past few days, but I'm a con artist. [A pause.] Well, one part con artist, one part vigilante, of sorts.

[takesitall]

And what did you con my owner out of? A slave?

[quicksilverwings]

[All too cheerfully:] Oh, we ruined him financially. And trashed his reputation. Let the public see the evidence of all his wrongdoing. He'll probably end up dead within the week, but I specifically requested to not be given detail there, for the sake of plausible deniability.

[His expression and tone turn a little softer.] Most of the money's going to the people he hurt, or their families. The ones we can find, anyway. [There's a pause.] The reason I got so pissed off when we first met... well. I was furious that he was keeping a slave, furious that I'd been blindsided with that... but I was already trying to rearrange the plan to make sure you wouldn't be hurt in the aftermath or end up in a situation that was just as bad or worse.

[takesitall]

...why? You don't even know me.

[quicksilverwings]

[A shrug.]

Nor do I know most of the people I set out to help. Does it really matter? [He turns his head to glance at Kakavasha.]

... After all of this, it would've felt--would've been wrong to simply abandon you to whatever fate would have awaited you otherwise.

[takesitall]

[Kakavasha doesn't look at Wing as he changes.]

Probably death. The IPC tends to just dispose of slaves, once they can't deny that their people have them.

[quicksilverwings]

[Looking away again while Kakavasha finishes changing! The mention of the IPC simply earns a growl.]

Jackasses.

[He'd love to dismantle them someday, but his team doesn't have the resources for that. Or really, enough manpower, if he's being honest. It's why they have to settle for singling out the worst individuals once in a blue moon.

Once Kakavasha's done changing, Wing fully turns back around, looking him over. The shirt's collar is too low to hide the mark on Kakavasha's neck, huh... Well, he's wearing a jacket with a high, stiff collar. After a moment or two, he shrugs off that jacket, then drapes it over Kakavasha's shoulders.]

There.

[takesitall]

[This is the nicest thing he's ever felt, he's pretty sure. Holy shit.]

There's a few things the bastard took from me that I know he still has. Can we get them?