"It's not about beating it, I can outrun it." Red replied, starting to get out of Q's arms.

"Red!" Quarrel gasped as the other broke free of his hold. "Please-!"

"Just let him do it!" Aireio cried as she rushed into one of the rooms and scooped up a crying child. "Worry about getting them out, Q- Red can take care of himself."

Frowning, Quarrel gave a small nod, before he looked into Red's eyes. "You better live."

"Are you kidding?" Red smirked- leaning against the wall. "Get going!"

He took a breath and tried not to think about his thigh as he suddenly burst toward the creature with all his speed, starting to run in a circle in front of it to get its attention.

It stopped rushing at the running children and began to swat at Red, growling angrily.

"Go!" Quarrel cried at the fleeing children. "Take a right!"

He cast one last glance back, before taking off.

Red rushed past the creature, running down the opposite side of the hall from Q and the others.

It turned around, heading after him - taking the bait.

Red was pleased that it worked, but he knew he couldn't keep this up. He had to get out and shake it off fast.

The thing was fast and followed after him, managing to keep up. It was no wonder Quarrel was terrified of it - Red was as fast as any Silver, if not faster, and the thing was having no trouble staying on his heels.

It came to a point where he was stuck at a dead end and he turned to see it rearing back to attack, when it suddenly let out a shriek and turned around.

Quarrel stumbled back a few steps and took a defensive stance. Had he followed them!?

"Run!" Red waved him off. "It's gonna kill you!"

Looking around, Quarrel quickly powered the area they were in back up - bringing up the cameras.

"Such entertainment," Gale commented from his office as the lights and screens came back on.

Quarrel ducked as the thing swung, reaching out and forcing some of the mechanical guards to come pouring from the wall panels. They fired lasers at the creature, but it only seemed to piss it off.

"What is he doing?" Gale's assistant frowned.

Red blinked as all the power came back on around them.

Realizing it wasn't going to work, Quarrel settled for just hurling the machines at the creature and making them explode in its face.

"Red!" He called while it was distracted.

Red rushed past the creature and scooped up Q with a grunt. He was heavier than he looked.

"I got the children out," Quarrel whispered. "Aireio is taking them toward my home."

"And we gotta shake this thing off us!" Red breathed.

"On the count of three, run," Quarrel told him, getting ready. "One, two..."

He flung the rest of the robo-guards at the creature at once and forced them all to explode. "Three!"

Red didn't need to be told twice.

--

Domino was moving slowly through the jungle with Kayen riding on his back.

"I'm hungry," Kayen admitted, tiredly. He had his eyes closed and was enjoying the feel of the back of Domino's shoulders pressed against his cheek.

The steady beat of the blonde boy's heart was so gentle and soothing.

"I'll have to get us some food." Domino replied. "What would you like to eat?"

"Anything," Kayen sighed, his stomach echoing his cry of hunger.

"...How about tacos?" Domino asked.

Kayen smiled a little. "Where are we going to get tacos?"

"In town." Domino replied blankly.

Kayen's smile fell and he closed his eyes. "...Yeah."

Domino stopped.

"...I like tacos." He said. "I liked them because it was something we both liked to eat."

"That's true," Kayen whispered, squeezing Domino's shoulders tightly. "What if... what if that Silver is still there?"

"Which one?" Domino asked.

"Any of them," Kayen whimpered. "Or Adam... or Neko..."

Domino looked over his shoulder.

"...Are you going to cry Kayen?" Domino asked.

"No!" Kayen snapped, hiding his face. "I'm not a big baby!"

"I didn't ask that, I asked if you were going to cry." Domino said.

"Only big babies cry," Kayen mumbled, weakly. "I'm not one..."

He sniffled, trying to hold back a sob.

"No...you cry not because you're a baby...you cry because you have a heart still." Domino said calmly. "Can I hold you?"

"Please?" Kayen cried out, his voice breaking as tears welled up in his colorless eyes.

Domino's sleeves brought Kayen around so he could hold him against his chest.

"...You can always cry Kayen." Domino said quietly. "So long as I can hold you."

The albino boy broke down against his chest, sobbing openly. If they had been back at the facility, he might have felt like a child - but out here, safe in Domino's arms, he just felt warm and protected.

Domino laid his face in Kayen's soft hair and breathed in deeply- closing his eyes. He sank down onto his knees with Kayen on his lap and held him tightly- protectively.

The younger boy cried for a little while before his sobs died down and he just sat, feeling warm and safe.

After a long silence he pulled away and looked up at the blonde, wiping at his eyes. "Thanks."

Domino looked back at Kayen with his ice-blue eyes.

"...I want to do more than hold you...but I can't." He said.

Shifting for a moment, Kayen closed his eyes and slowly leaned in, pressing his lips against Domino's - testing the feeling.