(no subject)

[kayip]

It might've been the longest car ride of Behrooz's life – though that might've been because his shoulder still throbbed and his handler told him it was dislocated, and there'd be a doctor who could fix it (with anesthetic) where they were going. Somehow, Behrooz didn't ask where they were going – he didn't think about it. He didn't really think about anything.

Not until his handler said his name again, and he looked down at his hands and sees that they're shaking.

"Maybe – you should try to sleep –" the man says uncertainly. Behrooz has never heard him sound uncertain.

"Where's –"

"She was taking down the others." Not your 'friends', not condescending, Behrooz leans his head against the window, looking at the floor, dimly noting the blood smears on his sneakers before he blinks a few times – and the shaking stops.


*


His shoulder still ached, and he could see immediately that they could tell – Red Leaf moved forward while the others hung back, and he could sense their nervousness. He wondered why, at first, but somehow when he meets Red Leaf's eyes, he notices something else – confusion. They didn't understand his feelings, they never felt the way he did right now.

It's almost comforting. He thinks clearly, though it's just words echoing in his mind - It's ok.

There's a beat. He closes his eyes, and after a moment, the nervousness from the wolves does dissipate. Somewhat. He can't really explain what happened to them – and he felt guilty about it, like he should be able to, but there's nothing... not even the image of the mushroom cloud rising over Valencia, the knowledge of what it meant for whatever was there, would make sense to them.

His eyes blink open, and Small Flame has come over, feeling more curious than anything else.

You're hurt.

Without casting a glance at his shoulder, It'll be fine, soon. I hope. And then, like an afterthought, Can't hunt like this.

The wolf returns with something that would be like smile, but Red Leaf interrupts. "That's the end of it, then."

Behrooz blinks, and when he opens his eyes, it's too late to answer.


*


It's sudden – the man's hand is on his arm, and he shakes it away, opening his eyes to the car – the flashing lights on the others, the window revealing that they aren't in the city anymore. The man withdraws his hand quickly, and says, "Sorry – I just had to wake you, we're there now."

Behrooz looks toward the windshield – and on the right side, he sees a fence, and buildings on the other side, and gives the man a blank look. The man, for once, can't seem to meet his eyes. "It's um – one of the preliminary – internment centers," the next part is added quickly, and Behrooz would wonder about the change that's apparently gotten into the man if he felt like wondering about much right now. "You'll – be safe, and in a good room and there's someone who can look at your shoulder."

The car stops. The man doesn't make an move to guide him as they get out, just walks slightly in front of him to lead him into the complex. Behrooz doesn't look back, not to anyone who's followed them, coming in with them – and the place looks empty, but it's not silent. The man seems to see the look on his face, and almost like a diversion, asks, "You knew about the tracker, didn't you?"

He doesn't think to point out that it could have gotten him killed, if he hadn't apparently played the dumb kid so well, but instead just answers, "Yeah. I heard it."

The man doesn't ask what that means, but he doesn't ask any more questions at all. Instead, he's silent as he leads Behrooz into a building, where it's quieter, and the halls are a pale shade of blue. A woman in white clothing meets him in a bare room, and he has to look away rather violently when she injects him shoulder. But the pain dissolves for the most part, and he keeps his eyes away when she performs the reduction, only looking back when she affixes it in a sling. Without speaking, she nods to his handler.

"Ok, come on, I'll take you to the room. Someone will be in to uh – talk to you."

Behrooz doesn't respond. He just follows the man to a door a few flights up, but as the man's about to leave him there -

"I wanted to ask - about Sareh -"

"The girl - right," he looks up, like he's trying to remember something. "She's better - in the hopsital, obviously. They haven't found - who did it." Behrooz just stares at him, like he's waiting for anything else, but the man waves him toward the door. "Go ahead - someone'll come and - tell you more."

And as there's not much else he can do, Behrooz turns to the door, listening to the man's retreating footsteps as he opens it. But the door doesn't lead to the room it was supposed to.