middleofsomewhere | Enemy Unknown: Conclusion

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Enemy Unknown: Conclusion

The third night is as long and creepy as the others...

It might be that they found the engine room, solved the puzzles and found themselves in the hangar bay with no way out. It might be that they were still in the station hiding from the invisible monsters. Or it might be that they had been plucked from the mission and were waiting in their holding room.

Either way morning dawns on the fourth day...

ENEMY: UNKNOWN

DAY FOUR

the trapped. THOSE WHO SOLVED THE ENGINE ROOM SPENT THE NIGHT IN A LARGE HANGAR THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY DOORS. Their SCA's are working, so they can still communicate with those in the station, perhaps talk them through the engine room puzzles or tell them to stay clear. As morning comes all the lights in the hangar come on. Brighter than any lights so far in the station, harsh white light after the eerie red of the rest of the mission.

Everyone still in the station wakes where they fell asleep - if they slept at all. It's not long after most people are up and about that they will hear a high-pitched beep from their SCA, and then a blue light will envelop them and those around them. It might be they spot their friends vanishing before they too disappear.

They arrive in the hangar, reunited with those who spent the night there. All their gear is with them at least, but that doesn't solve the problem of being in a hangar with no obvious way out. Nor are any of those who vanished during the last three days here, their SCA's still go unanswered.

the vanished. FOR THOSE IN THE HOLDING ROOM, THEIR NIGHT HAS PROCEEDED MUCH LIKE THE NIGHTS BEFORE. One of the screens showed the hangar, and those that had succeeded in completing the engine room task. The lights had dimmed for sleeping and turned on again bright in the morning. For those watching the screens they will see those in the station vanish in blue light and turn up in the hangar.

Around half an hour later a voice sounds in the room. "Please gather your belongings and prepare for release."

It's another ten minutes, allowing them to make sure they have all their things before their SCA's beep. They are then surrounded by a blue light, taking them from the room they had spent the last few days in.

REUNITED

reunion. AN HOUR PASSES AFTER FIRST ARRIVALS PASS IN THE HANGAR. Suddenly, there is another flash of blue light, and the missing eighteen Voidtreckers appear with the rest of their crew. They will find they had all their gear as well, including their missing weapons.

They are left to their own devices for a small while, a time for reuniting with friends, but not long enough to exchange stories before a voice rings out in the hangar:

"THANK YOU CREW OF THE VOIDTRECKER EXPRESS FOR YOUR COMPLIANCE. YOU MAY RETURN TO YOUR CRAFT."
There is a loud mass of beeping as everyone's SCA's flashes at the same time, holographic messages popping up too fast to be able to read them in their entirety.

Voidtreckers come in.

All Voidtreckers return to the Voidtrecker Express
Voidtreckers evacuate now

Voidtreckers do you read?

Layers of holographic messages pile on top of each other but a moment later everyone's SCA's glow gold and everyone vanishes from the hangar...

LUGGAGE CARRIAGE

return. EVERYONE ARRIVES INSIDE THE LUGGAGE CARRIAGE, PACKED LIKE SARDINES BETWEEN SUITCASES AND TRUNKS. There is no announcement, no warning of returning to the void; just a lurch that is likely to throw anyone on the train unaware of what has just happened off their feet, no matter the carriage they're in.

They return to the void at what feels like breakneck speed. Colours fly past the windows, and it is a good few hours before they seem to slow to their normal travel speed.

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There's a brief moment of bliss. A moment where Inigo is reminded of just how nice it is to be in Roland's arms, how hugging him definitely feels different from hugging just anyone - something about the arms wrapping around him more warm and dependable, the kind of hug that comes the closest to thinking of the way his mother used to hug him so long ago. And the words that come along with the hug only confirm that feeling. Even though Inigo feels like he should be the one who has to apologize to Roland for making him worry, instead Roland is the one apologizing first, as if there really could have been anything he could do when he didn't even know where they had gone in the first place.

But before any 'no, I'm sorry's can be exchanged, there's the sudden beeping of the watches. Not just their own SCAs, but everyone's, to the point where the beeping threatens to deafen them. And then there's the holographic words.

"W-What?"

He doesn't let go, but does sound rather startled. Considering everything that had been going on, Inigo forgot that they could just be pulled back to the train at any moment, which means that he's only clinging even tighter to the man in his confusion, even as everything around them is starting to glow.

"What's happening..?!"

Inigo’s question is answered almost immediately. The passengers of the Voidtrecker are thrown into a disappearing act, whereas after real missions, they willingly step back unto the train. One minute, they’re trying to make sense of the chaos; in the next, Roland falls straight into a wall inside the luggage car, his shoulder abruptly taking the blunt of force from the whiplash of their disappearing act. Then again, this was his intention. Where else was the train going to take them after they’d been caught unawares? And in no way was the evacuation plan going to accommodate all of them comfortably.

At least Inigo was okay. Or, he assumes. Though Inigo is still in his arms, almost on top of Roland with some measure of wincing, it did not change the indisputable fact of having everyone there too. Limbs, accidental kicking, someone’s foot against his cheek; Roland would rub at his forehead if he could. Alas. The train jolts after only the passing of a beat, ultimately crushing him against weight that he had not accounted for when he wished to be the cushion to protect Inigo’s fall.

The train’s speed isn’t quite up to cruising yet, but Roland tries his damndest to speak anyway.

“Are you-gah- are you alright? Looks like the train’s running for its life.”

At least he can get a dry quip out, despite the Roland panini press served up on a hot plate that is a president down for the count.

In some situations Inigo wouldn't mind most aspects of this situation. Lying somewhere with Roland holding him? That sounds like a perfectly fine scenario to him. The two of them nap together often enough, anyway, and Inigo is pretty used to falling asleep with the other's arms around him at this point.

But there's a few things that make this situation harder to deal with. The fact that he can't just feel Roland against him, for one. There's people squished up against him uncomfortably from all sides, and it's that sensation that immediately makes Inigo realise what happened, even before he looks around.

The train has really got to do something about these awful mass evacuations.

Inigo lets out a groan, but is otherwise quick to nod, not wanting to worry Roland.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine.. Just a bit cramped."

Though he realises that Roland has got to be even more uncomfortable, being the one squished under him. Inigo quickly moves once he feels some other people rolling off his legs and sides, using the leverage he has on the other with the arms still around him to at least help pull Roland into a sitting position, even though the train is still speeding away.

".. guess it found out about what happened, huh..?" Since Inigo can only think of one reason as to what made the train run away this quickly.

His legs attempt to assist him into a better position as Inigo maneuvers out of harm’s way, more people coming to their senses that give both slightly more room to breathe. Proximity aside, he gives Inigo another cursory glance before he nods in agreement, a hand going through his hair to fix loose strands.

“That’s one way to put it-“ He starts off, standing first as carefully as possible while offering his other hand to Inigo to help him up to his feet. “-though I’m more concerned about how close the train keeps cutting it.” Too close for comfort really, enough to draw audible concern.

But it only takes one quick survey of the train’s jam-packed car for Roland to change tune temporarily, nudging towards the exit and moving in light steps, tugging whatever hand he’s still holding with him. “Let’s get you out of here first. What do you need, pup?” Food? Water? A bath? Roland’s previous concern returns, clear in his intentions that at Inigo’s word, he’ll take them somewhere where the boy was more comfortable talking about his experience.

There's that initial moment where Inigo takes the hand offered to him, getting back up to his feet. But just when he's standing again and being tugged along, moving his feet to try and squeeze their way through to the carriage's exit as well, there's suddenly that question being posed to him.

It freezes him - not his feet, which are still moving along - but his thoughts, his expression. Not in a negative way, or even a surprised way.. No, instead he looks weirdly excited. Like a kid who's just been told to pick any Christmas present they want, and they're frozen with sheer choice abundance paralysis. If he were a dog, he'd have a crazily wagging tail right now.

(But come on, how is he supposed to react in any other way when Roland is asking him what he wants to do! And implying he'll help with it!! Dad!! Love dad!!)

"I just.. uh, I'd like to talk-- with you, I mean. Or just have your company?"

It's quite possibly the simplest request he could have made, but he can't help it. Sure, he needs all of those other things too, but after spending three days in a holding cell - and one of those nights without one of his friends nearby - this is really what his heart longs for the most.

"We can go to my and Tidus's room for some privacy."

“Heh. Alright. Lead the way.”

He lets go only if Inigo will, to walk along the narrowing hallways of the train into the new section of sleeper cabins that can be shared. Otherwise, he keeps close, hand in his, observing what he can of the passenger they pass and what they’re doing.

Though, now that he remembers it-

“…Hey, this’ll be my first time in your new room with Tidus,” Roland’s lips turn to smile. “Thanks for the invite!” It’s a mimicked sort of excitement too, although more subdued in a way only Roland can express. As if they didn’t just come from a pretty harrowing experience, trapped in a space station that definitely wasn’t real.

Inigo will lead the way, but there's absolutely no letting go. Inigo is holding onto that hand no matter what right now. Into the grave, if he must. Apparently even just being separated from Roland for three days felt like it was too long, especially since he couldn't even communicate with the other the way he can on missions if they're ever just a little bit apart from each other.

But this is making up for a lot. The physical contact. Knowing that Roland is willing to devote some of his time to him right now - even though there must be a thousand and one things he most likely will want to write down about everything that just happened.

It's a thought that fills Inigo's chest up with warmth, and he ducks his head a little while walking once he hears those words coming from the other.

"Just don't let Tidus know I invited you over. He'll forever rant at me about letting an old man into our room."

“Aw. But that’s the fun part. Don’t you wanna see the look on his face?” He chuckles warmly, a jest which comes natural. “Just kidding. I was never here…”

Here, being a much more spacious sleeping cabin, the first obvious thing to notice as soon as Roland gets that view. He’s seen glimpses of the new rooms, of course, the rental cars tempting him from time to time, but stepping foot inside one that’s occupied is new and endearing.

While he looks around, briefly entertaining the idea of getting a roomie himself just so they get this versus sharing among three others, his inner self wins out in the end as Rannygazoo pops out from thin air, out and about for some much needed luxury exploration.

Hig!

Hig, indeed.

“Nice place, son. Should I take off my shoes? Heh.”

Edited 2021-11-01 14:55 (UTC)

"Rannygazoo!"

Sorry, did I say Inigo was excited that Roland was going to devote time to him?

Clearly I meant that Inigo was waiting for the true star of the show here, because he looks so darn excited when the higgledy pops up. It's just been a little while since he's seen Ranny too, okay, and he's such a good higglepal! Inigo won't forget the higgledy having come to help him out when he was getting lost during that other weird mission they had, with the world shifting around them..

So he's definitely picking up that higglebuddy to give him a hug. It almost seems as if his attention has fully shifted away from Roland, but it's then that he finally glances back over at the man, a smile appearing on his face.

"Aw, come on, father. It's nothing that special! It's still way too small, don't you think?" Especially since there's quite some stuff indicating that it's definitely Tidus and Inigo's room. There's not much space aside from the big bed, but the cubbies above it are filled with magazines about sports and dancing, handheld videogame devices, a painting of Tidus and Yuna, a huge wyvern plush, and even a photoframe that holds the exact photo the three of them took quite a while ago now - with flowers in Roland's hair. "But I just find it much more comfortable sharing one bigger bed with someone than having a tiny bed all to myself."

One might consider that higgledies provided too much cuteness to function at any given time, but how dull would life be if not for such colorful critters? Roland surmises thus upon Inigo’s immediate reaction, hugging Rannygazoo while he continues to look around a homey, shared cabin.

From the paintings to the pictures - with one in particular drawing a playful chide from Roland along the lines of ’hey, I told him to give me a copy of that!’ - there was indeed, very little doubt that this was a Tidus and Inigo abode. He uncrosses his arms and chuckles, watching Rannygazoo settle warmly against his son’s chest; content in his idleness.

“Well let’s just say compared to sharing a cabin with four other people, this is the height of luxury. Heh.” Though the reason Inigo states isn’t one lost on Roland at all. Cuddles have always been his ideal source of relaxation, and the boy certainly experienced nightmares often enough to warrant the constant presence of somebody loved and trusted.

He maneuvers around corners and removes his overcoat, hanging it by the edge of the bed and leaning himself against the wall opposite Inigo. “You sure you don’t need anything to unwind, pup? I’m sure you’ve had a day and a half. I might have some snacks leftover from the mission…Though you probably won’t appreciate it.”

(Yes, they both know it’s a pack of MRE’s to rehydrate for emergencies. Sue him and his practicality!)

Roland does have a point. Inigo prefers this so much over the regular cabins as well - even though it shouldn't have to be that way. It's so strange to think about, the fact that such a tiny room still feels like an improvement, just because the alternative is even worse.

(But, biased as he is, Inigo 100% thinks the bed is the best upgrade about the rooms. It's ideal. It means he gets to sleep in the same bed as another person every night. It's Inigo's dream life.)

But what the man truly wins Inigo's attention back with is the question. Inigo is still very much hugging the higgledy in his arms - sorry, Rannygazoo, seems like the only area you're exploring is the world inside of Inigo's arms! - but he at least glances up and over at Roland while the other talks.

"Having you here unwinds me."

.. though the MRE's definitely do not, indeed. Please, we do no need to repeat this trauma.

It's then that Inigo's grin turns a tad more sheepish.

"Though I don't suppose we could cuddle on the bed, huh..? I bet Tidus would refuse to share a room with me anymore if he walked in here, only to see that." But it would be the best thing to unwind right now for Inigo... Look at this dilemma.

"It's a pickle indeed."

Wording aside, Roland sounds as he looks- completely calm and slightly amused at the predicament. Both of them truly know that Tidus would never kick Inigo out just because he found them doing something gross like hugging, and so help Roland it wouldn't even be the first time Tidus walked in and found Inigo fast asleep in Roland's arms, only for the older guy to shush him quietly as he made his way to the rest of the cabin.

Still, it's fun to imagine the scenarios. On to business though; if Inigo finds comfort with him, then that's what Roland's going to provide come hell or high water. Or potentially annoyed roommate, none the wiser.

He approaches Inigo and Rannygazoo with a playful glint in his eye, his finger under his chin as if strategizing. "Well, the way I see it, we can go about it in a couple of ways. We could go to my cabin, but it'll be a lot less spacious. Plus the hassle of switching beds before the train pulls you back here. Then again, if this bed is shared...I'm sure you have your side, and he has his, right?"

Roland smiles. "If we just cuddle on your side of the bed, then I don't think it'll be a problem. Now if we happen to sprawl a little bit over to his side, I guess we could just keep it our little secret. Heh."

And for emphasis, Roland actually puts the selfsame finger under his chin over his lips, a secret shared in quiet confidence.

Edited 2021-11-11 04:14 (UTC)

Devilish, Roland.

Though apparently it's the kind of devilish idea Inigo can go along with. Because he isn't turning down this idea. No, instead there seems to be some sort of near excitement in his eyes as he glances over at the other man.

And it's only confirmed when Inigo speaks up with, of all things: ".. It would be nice to cuddle in a bed with a bit more space for once." Granted, it's not like they haven't managed to squeeze into a single person bunk before with the two of them, but experience has proven to Inigo that nothing can beat these bigger beds when it comes to cuddling.

And he also ought to not ruin this old man's back even further by making him do single-bunk-cuddle acrobatics.

Inigo finally releases his hold on the higgledy, letting the little thing properly explore the room, and moves to start taking off his boots.

"Are you really really sure you have the time to spare right now?"

After all, if it's going to be a cuddle session, they need to spend some proper time on it! And Inigo would 100% understand if Roland had other important things to do, right after getting back from such a fake mission with huge significance.

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Enemy Unknown: Conclusion

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