[ Sherlock waits one second and then noisily bolts away from the shipyard until he turns a corner to make his way back, quietly. He probably takes a little longer than he likes. (He's not a sickly Victorian child young man, but damn has he been heading that way with his current lifestyle.)
There is absolutely no chance that Sherlock will use the entrance for boats as that requires water, so the window is the only option for him. He slips through the gap. He hides in the shadow until he spots Heizou. Then he moves to meet up with him and whisper. ]
They chased me running away from the shipyard, but I don't know how long they'll keep searching.
[ They have two people to contend with right now, but if they take too long, that number will double. Another reason for haste may present itself sooner than later. One of the men still at the table and likely the leader checks his watch. "Getting to be the end of another day, sweetie. Looks like Daddy doesn't care about you." He walks close to the tied up girl. "Maybe we should send him something of you to remind him what the stakes are." ]
[He's managed to creep up closer to where the remaining people are, close enough to make out any exposed facial features and well within earshot of what they're saying. Heizou barely even needs to turn to face Sherlock when he moves up beside him, but he does acknowledge him with a sharp nod.]
We'll have to move fast, then.
[It's almost unfortunate, given what a good distraction this is proving to be for Heizou.
There's something about the threat that the abductor makes toward his hostage that makes Heizou flinch. Like it hits a sore spot, making his fists clench tight at his sides and his eyes narrow. Daddy doesn't care about you. The words echo and morph in his head until they're talking about something else entirely--
No one cares about you.
Sherlock can probably see the way Heizou's stance shifts. The way he seems to go taut like a fully drawn bow. Ready to leap out from behind their hiding place to lash out. He may need to be stopped.]
[[ ooc: Should I roll some dice to decide if the outside 2 arrive or if the boss harms the girl? Or, hell, Sherlock? ]]
[ "Easy, Boss. He still has half an hour," the last kidnapper says as she tosses a knife into the table's surface and causes the tied up girl to flinch. "We can give him that much before we start cutting body parts."
"Aw, look at you going soft." The boss goes to sit back down. "You getting too comfortable there?"
"Pshaw, I just want to rub it in the bastard's face, so he goes white with each tick of a clock." The two laugh and start to peek at the missing pair's cards since they are taking so long. (They even comment on their continued absence.)
Sherlock glances toward Heizou and then completely diverts his attention to him. Heizou is ready to strike. ]
Heizou, we may be alike, but I can't read minds.
[ Sherlock reaches out and places a light hand on Heizou's shoulder. It's just as much for comfort as it is a reminder to not jump out immediately. If Heizou does, he wants to be able to back him up. Give him something to go on. ]
[The sound of the blade slicing through the air only to land into the tabletop does little to hold Heizou back. In fact his eyes quickly focus on that blade, rapidly trying to figure out how to get it out of the kidnappers' reach before it can hurt someone. He could probably kick it hard enough to dislodge it, send it flying into the water-- but either one of them could have more weapons concealed someone on their person. In which case maybe it'd be smarter to let them draw those weapons so they can be disarmed properly. Or he could just move in quickly before either of them can react, discombobulate them first with a strike to the head, take the opportunity to grab the girl and just run--
He's only pulled out of his thoughts when Sherlock puts a hand on his shoulder, blinking in surprise. He'd momentarily forgotten the other man was there. Heizou shakes himself quickly; they need a plan.]
Sorry. Sorry, I... [One last shake of his head, then he turns to look at the scene once again.] If we cause too much of a ruckus here, we may end up drawing the other two back. Do you think you're fast enough to knock one of them out with one blow?
[Sherlock can probably see the restless energy practically buzzing in Heizou's veins. He wants to move. He wants- He wants to hit something for once.]
[ Sherlock has used the butt of the gun to knock people out before. However, that was usually after having disarmed them of any armor or using the surroundings to his advantage. His attempts without that ended with him being the one overpowered.
They hear the laughter of the two outside kidnappers coming closer, having abandoned their search for whoever shot out the streetlights. Heizou and Sherlock are running out of time if they want only two kidnappers to deal with before reinforcement arrive. The girl remains unharmed, but her eyes go wide when she sees the hint of rescue. The boss doesn't see Heizou and Sherlock as he was busy with cheating at cards, but he saw the girl react to something.
"Hey! Who's there?" Both the boss and the other kidnapper get up out of their chairs and draw their weapons.
Sherlock grits his teeth. ]
We'll find out.
[ As soon as Heizou darts out of their hiding spot, Sherlock will too. There's nothing for him to shoot that could work for a distraction. All he can do is try pistol whipping one of the kidnappers at the table (choose one, Sherlock will go for the other). He swings... only for his attempted bash to get knocked aside and himself kicked.
The answer to Heizou's question is no. Sherlock cannot. ]
[Hearing the approaching laughter from outside was bad enough. Realizing that the girl has accidentally given them away to her remaining kidnappers... definitely does not help. Heizou curses softly under his breath in Inazuman, eyes narrowing as he picks the nearest kidnapper to focus on.]
So we will.
[Heizou darts to the side quickly, anemo energy swirling around his fists as he closes in and throws a sharp punch for the other man's gut. Being short does have its advantages, and being able to aim blows at a person's weakpoints is one of them. But either Heizou's too worn down to hit as hard as usual, or the kidnapper is just tough; he barely staggers back a step or two from the blow.
Which gives Heizou just enough time to see that no, Sherlock is definitely not much of a fighter. This is going to be harder than he'd hoped.]
[[ ooc: Boss (v Heizou): 4. Boss (v Sherry): 20. Outside: 9. Hostage: 7. Heizou: 14. Sherry: 13. Better... if not for the one Sherry's fighting getting a nat 20. Dice please! ]]
[ Within the scuffle, the hostage is knocked over while still tied to her chair. She's half under the table, which will keep her safer, but it's hardly ideal.
Sherlock manages to roll to a standing position after getting kicked and knows he'll be sporting a painful bruise after all this is over. He hears the approach of the two from outside, sees Heizou fighting, and looks to the entrance. Sherlock aims and fires his pistol.
"You missed," she sneers the woman before him. ]
Did I?
[ From this angle he saw something he couldn't from the hiding spot. A heavy hook clatters to the ground, taking a stack of wooden planks with it. They fall across the main entrance of the shipyard. The outside kidnappers have already heard the commotion, but their path inward has been blocked. "Find another way in!" one yells.
The detectives now have a little more time.
"It's a shame I might have to ruin that pretty face of yours. You'd probably fetch some kind of price." The woman may have brought a knife to a gun fight, but she has no qualms about killing while Sherlock does. He dashes and rolls around while she swipes at him either with the knife or her martial arts. He tries to find a new target. He's too slow. The pistol is kicked out of his hand, and he staggers. Sherlock may be fighting a losing battle against this kidnapper, but at least he's keeping her busy while Heizou fights his opponent. ]
[[poor boss basically failed against heizou at least BETTER THAN BOTH OF THEM SUFFERING...]]
[Heizou can't worry too much about how Sherlock is doing when he has his own opponent to deal with. It takes him longer than he'd like to shake himself back into focus while they trade blows, but soon enough he can feel his temper start to flare up. He feels impatient, and it's frustrating that things came to this in the end, and he's still angry --
The kidnapper swings his gun around to try to get Heizou in the face and misses by a hair. The edge of the weapon nearly grazes Heizou's nose as he dodges out of the way, and something about it just makes his anger spark. His eyes narrow dangerously and he doesn't think, doesn't hesitate. Just grabs the barrel of that gun, pulls it to the side with all of his weight, and uses the momentum to swing a leg around and kick the guy in the side of his head. The anemo energy that went along with it seems to burst like a whirlwind, increasing the force that sends him down to the floor.
Heizou's still holding onto the gun as he lands on his feet. And he doesn't spare another second to check if that's knocked him out, instead turning to check on Sherlock. It doesn't seem to be going great, so...]
John!! [Going with those fake names they'd made for themselves as a precaution.] Catch!
[He isn't really familiar with firearms like the ones the kidnappers have, so if he finds an opening he's going to toss this one toward Sherlock. It's bigger and longer, more like a shotgun, so maybe it'll be more helpful?]
[[ ooc: Boss (v Heizou): 11. Boss (v Sherry): 13. Outside: 1. Hostage: 14. Heizou: 7. Sherry: 10. A bit more equal! Also I made this icon just for the thread. ]]
[ Heizou's opponent is sent sprawling, and it's only because of the man's incredibly hard head that prevents him from passing right out. For the moment, he is down. (But maybe it's too soon to call him completely out of the fight.) The hostage is struggling within her bonds, which have somehow started to loosen after the chair tipped over. Out of everyone, she seems to fairing the best.
The outside kidnappers have spotted the window, but they are far bigger than the shorter Heizou or twig Sherlock. The window sticks after a certain point, partially rusted from the salty sea air outside. They rattle the frame violently to no avail. A volley of curses follow. They start to argue about whether or not they should brave the entrance by sea. Neither are very keen on the idea when it seems like the gig is up, so they are no longer a threat.
At Heizou's cry of "John!" Sherlock whips his head towards him to see a firearm flying in the air towards him. He doesn't have enough time to worry about how dangerous that is, but he does catch it to point at his opponent. ]
Don't move.
[ "You're too softhearted to kill me, and..." The kidnapper tosses a knife at Sherlock, forcing him to dodge. To his surprise, he has to do so twice because the knife returns to the kidnapper's hand. He looks up to see her smirking. "I can also fight at range." ]
[It's a relief to see Sherlock catch the firearm; at least enough that Heizou decides it might be safe to go check on the hostage. Get her bindings undone, get ready to flee at the first available opportunity. So he turns and starts to hurry over in that direction--
Only to have his ankle caught by the opponent he'd knocked down just a moment ago. It's enough to send Heizou tumbling to the floor with a yelp, and he scrambles to roll over and kick himself free. The kidnapper isn't up at least, but he's holding fast to Heizou's leg no matter how hard he tries to kick him off. At this angle it's harder for him to summon enough anemo energy to put any real force into it, much to Heizou's dismay.]
Get off!!
[The guy straight up starts laughing, even as Heizou kicks him square in the face with his free leg. Unnerved and annoyed, Heizou grits his teeth opts to see if he can try to pull himself away, while also trying to feel around for something he can use to hit this guy with.]
[[ ooc: Boss (v Heizou): 19. Boss (v Sherry): 5 (?!). Hostage: 18. Heizou: 20. Sherry: 14(!!). ]]
[ The hostage is not letting these distractions go to waste. She was scared before, but the teenager has found surprising resilience now that she's not alone. She manages to get one hand free. All her focus is on freeing her other hand.
Sherlock begins to see a pattern to the kidnapper's knife throws and recalls, so when the knife embeds itself into a wooden plank, Sherlock is on top of it. He pulls the knife out and then chucks it into the water. The kidnapper tries to pull it back... only for it to thunk against the foundation. It worked! It could only travel in a straight line! ]
Ren!
[ He aims and fires at the ground next to the where the man grabs Heizou's ankle, hoping to startle the man enough to let Heizou go. With no time (or bullets) to reload the firearm, Sherlock brandishes it to block another kick. ]
[There's nothing really suitable within reach of Heizou as he continues to struggle, kicking out both legs in frustration. It's at least kept the guy from grabbing at his other leg and really preventing him from getting up. Sherlock's gunshot couldn't have come at a better time, too. The bullet misses the man's ankle by mere inches, and it's enough of a shock that he releases Heizou's ankle by reflex.
It gives Heizou to perfect opportunity to rear his leg back and really get in a solid kick right to the guy's face. Still not quite enough to knock him out, but with his wooden geta sandals he's probably knocked out a few teeth, maybe fractured a nose. He's not about to stop and check.
It's a good opportunity for Heizou to quickly pull himself back up to his feet, looking over to see how Sherlock is faring. They need a chance to get the hostage out of here...]
[[ ooc: Boss (v Heizou): 5. Boss (v Sherry): 2. Hostage: 11. Heizou: 12. Sherry: 18. I think we can call the fight over. ]]
[ The boss's nose breaks along with some of his teeth, and he howls in pain. One distraction deserves another as the boss's howl makes the kidnapper fighting with Sherlock gaze in their direction. Even someone as unlucky as Sherlock can get a lucky hit in with that. After blocking the kick with the firearm, he swings it. The firearm collides against the kidnapper's leg. All her momentum stops, and she falls to the floor, cursing. Something broke. The kidnappers may still be conscious, but they are in no condition to give chase.
Sherlock runs for his pistol while the hostage looks at the mess they've left behind. "A little help here?" she asks. She may be a little roughed up, but she's managed to free her hands and is now struggling with the knotted bindings on her legs. "I want to go home." ]
Ren, I'll get her free. Find us an exit.
[ The front doors open outward, so the debris in the way doesn't block the door for them. A good Anemo burst will throw the doors wide open. Anyone on the other side, such as the two outside kidnappers who couldn't find there way in, will be blown back as well. However, there is a chance the downed kidnappers will escape by the time they send people to arrest them. There's also the window they came in if they want to reduce the chance the two downed kidnappers will escape, but they risk drawing the attention of the two outside kidnappers instead. The water exit... well, Heizou and the hostage can go that way. Sherlock will then take his chance with the window. ]
[Heizou's attention snaps back over to the man he's downed as he starts to wail and howl in pain. He's still buzzing a bit with adrenaline, and somehow the pained sounds are irritating. He can't help but feel like the kidnappers are getting off easy with just this. Like a quick beatdown isn't enough, and Heizou's hands are still itching for action--
No one cares about you.
That's what they'd said. It sets off a ringing in Heizou's ears that makes him give in to some basic urge. It has him ignoring Sherlock's words, instead moving to kick the boss onto his back where he can pin him down. And despite what he's always said about not liking to resort to the use of his fists to resolve things... He just starts punching.
It's mindless. Angry. And he won't stop unless someone forces him to.]
[ Just as Sherlock frees the hostage full does he hear the kick and the sounds of fists hitting flesh. He spins around, heart in his throat, fearing for Heizou's well being. He doesn't expect to see his fellow detective landing punch after punch into the already bleeding and downed boss kidnapper. The other kidnapper starts cursing, pulling herself on the ground to reach them. ]
Ren! Stop!
[ And if Heizou doesn't respond to that, Sherlock will use his real name as he dashes forward and tries to grab one of Heizou's arms. ]
[He's deep in his own head. All he can hear is no one cares about you and he keeps swinging punch after punch as if he's trying to beat out the hollow aching in his chest. It'll consume him whole, eat him alive if he can't get rid of it somehow -- and Heizou just doesn't see an injured man beneath him barely able to defend himself. At some point the guy struggles in a way that lands a blow to Heizou's face, which only serves to anger him more. He grits his teeth and rears back, charging his fist with a swirl of anemo energy, and--
Then Sherlock grabs him. Adrenaline is still surging through him and Heizou tries to break free of the grasp, but somehow the other man's voice finally cuts into his senses in a way that makes him stop. He blinks and the sea of red is gone, just leaving Heizou breathing hard and staring at his own fists covered in blood.]
I-I... What...
[He gives Sherlock a stunned, sort of broken look. It's a little at war with the blind rage that's still flushing out of him. But it leaves him at a loss for words for once. What could he possibly even say to excuse what just happened? He'd lost himself, after all.]
[ The hostage steps closer to the wall, arms held close to her chest. Suddenly, she's not so sure about her rescuers. Sherlock isn't sure either because he had never pictured Heizou lashing out like this ever. He holds onto Heizou's arm a moment longer than necessary. ]
Leave them. We... we need to get her out of here.
[ Sherlock doesn't know what to do with Heizou looking at him like that. Is Sherlock imagining Heizou being violent? Has he always been like this, but Sherlock remembered differently? Does Heizou share the madness and detachments from reality? Perhaps what frightens Sherlock the most are not the possibilities but the fact that he cannot be sure which is the truth.
How did this case go so wrong?
He tugs Heizou to his feet and then towards the window. The boss kidnapper remain on the ground, cursing or groaning in pain. The other kidnapper watches them warily. ]
[To be fair, Heizou's usually much more in control of himself. But then again he isn't usually running on maybe half an hour of sleep over the last several days. He sees the way the hostage is looking at him and it makes him withdraw a little in shame, averting his eyes and focusing instead on the window. He simply nods when Sherlock finally addresses him, and he promptly climbs up and out through their exit.
He waits on the other side for the both of them, just searching for something he can use to wipe the blood from his hands. But whenever they do finally join him, he obediently keeps a safe distance so as not to further scare the girl. He's much calmer now, of course. But he's instead solemn and quiet, still not meeting either of their gazes.]
...You should get her home, Sherlock. [He fiddles with the dirty rag he'd found, now covered in a mix of his and the kidnapper's blood.] I'll call the authorities and stay here to make sure the culprits don't get away.
[ Only running on a half hour of sleep over the last several days? Sherlock is far too familiar with how that feels.
Sherlock helps the girl through the window, trying not to wince from his own injuries as he does so. Awkward silence follows. He's hesitant to leave Heizou alone for a number of reasons, but he--they also have a responsibility to the girl as well. She can't stay here, and she can't go back alone. ]
C'mon with me, miss. We were hired by your father to find you. It's late, but the market should have people still.
[ Perhaps that would put her more at ease should she not trust Sherlock. (Although, she saw how beaten he had gotten. He is not much of a threat.) ]
Find me once you are done.
[ He tries to phrase it as a command, but it ends up as a question. ]
[The girl definitely seems to be much more at ease with Sherlock than with Heizou, and after what she saw he really can't blame her. So he just nods in response to what the other detective says, already pulling out his shellphone so that he can contact someone about taking these guys in. He doesn't even watch them go, assured enough just by the fact that Sherlock is more put together than he is at the moment.
It takes some time. Heizou stays outside of the building so that he can't do any further harm to the kidnappers (and his presence seems to keep them from trying any stupid attempts to escape), and when authorities arrive he puts on his commission face and directs them to where they're still incapacitated. Once all is said and done, Heizou quietly slips away to go find his friend.
And whenever he does, Sherlock will notice his even more sullen mood, amplified by what is definitely the beginnings of a black eye from the scuffle. Heizou doesn't seem to care.]
[ Sherlock stands with his arms crossed, gazing out into the dark as Heizou arrives. He's in pain as well, but unless he goes to a healer or get one of the healing sprays, there's nothing he can do about it now. ]
She's home with her father being checked out by a doctor. She'll be fine.
[ Their client also offered to finalize their fee, but Sherlock waved it away until everyone is more rested and calmer. (If they decide to take it at all after how things went.)
He looks up at Heizou, and takes a deep breath. ]
... Heizou, what I saw earlier, did that really happen? Or did I see things agains?
[He does let out a small, relieved sigh to at least hear the girl is all right. His frayed temper didn't completely ruin things after all.
Though that question actually has Heizou looking right up at Sherlock in surprise, head tilting ever so slightly. "Again"? That's... interesting. It does help certain pieces of this puzzle make more sense.]
...No, that really happened. [Shame takes over his expression again, even as he reaches up to wipe a hand down his face.] I'm sorry. Things have been... difficult lately.
[ There is a lot to unpack with Sherlock's question, and he's fidgeting with his hands along with making the occasional glance to the side. He does that often when he's nervous and uncertain. ]
I've noticed, but you don't have to tell me. Not unless you think I can assist, and I've made a right mess of things already.
[ He pushes himself away from the wall, wincing, and walks a few steps. ]
If you're not too tired, let's find a quiet place to sit down for a while.
[ Where would that be? A cafe, pub, park... Hell, Sherlock will even allow his own apartment, and he doesn't entertain people there at all. ]
[He'll have to save any questions he has about that for later. This is hardly the place to get into it, and Sherlock seems anxious enough as it is.]
...I wish I could tell you. But I'm afraid the issue's a bit out of both of our leagues.
[Still, he follows Sherlock obediently with a nod. He'll go anywhere the detective chooses; he's not exactly in a state to make that call at the moment.]
We should also get you patched up. Are you cut anywhere?
[ Sherlock gives a small hum. They should probably do something about their injuries. ]
I don't think I've been cut.... I have some of the healing sprays back in my apartment and makeup to cover some of the bruising on our faces. I don't have much in the way of provisions, but I can make us some coffee.
[ And... if they go there, Sherlock will have no choice but to face whatever truth there is. ]
Edited (Sherry, please answer his question first) Date: 21 Aug 2024 21:40 (UTC)
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book2thehead
no subject
Date: 5 Aug 2024 03:17 (UTC)childyoung man, but damn has he been heading that way with his current lifestyle.)There is absolutely no chance that Sherlock will use the entrance for boats as that requires water, so the window is the only option for him. He slips through the gap. He hides in the shadow until he spots Heizou. Then he moves to meet up with him and whisper. ]
They chased me running away from the shipyard, but I don't know how long they'll keep searching.
[ They have two people to contend with right now, but if they take too long, that number will double. Another reason for haste may present itself sooner than later. One of the men still at the table and likely the leader checks his watch. "Getting to be the end of another day, sweetie. Looks like Daddy doesn't care about you." He walks close to the tied up girl. "Maybe we should send him something of you to remind him what the stakes are." ]
no subject
Date: 6 Aug 2024 18:28 (UTC)We'll have to move fast, then.
[It's almost unfortunate, given what a good distraction this is proving to be for Heizou.
There's something about the threat that the abductor makes toward his hostage that makes Heizou flinch. Like it hits a sore spot, making his fists clench tight at his sides and his eyes narrow. Daddy doesn't care about you. The words echo and morph in his head until they're talking about something else entirely--
No one cares about you.
Sherlock can probably see the way Heizou's stance shifts. The way he seems to go taut like a fully drawn bow. Ready to leap out from behind their hiding place to lash out. He may need to be stopped.]
no subject
Date: 7 Aug 2024 06:18 (UTC)Or, hell, Sherlock?]][ "Easy, Boss. He still has half an hour," the last kidnapper says as she tosses a knife into the table's surface and causes the tied up girl to flinch. "We can give him that much before we start cutting body parts."
"Aw, look at you going soft." The boss goes to sit back down. "You getting too comfortable there?"
"Pshaw, I just want to rub it in the bastard's face, so he goes white with each tick of a clock." The two laugh and start to peek at the missing pair's cards since they are taking so long. (They even comment on their continued absence.)
Sherlock glances toward Heizou and then completely diverts his attention to him. Heizou is ready to strike. ]
Heizou, we may be alike, but I can't read minds.
[ Sherlock reaches out and places a light hand on Heizou's shoulder. It's just as much for comfort as it is a reminder to not jump out immediately. If Heizou does, he wants to be able to back him up. Give him something to go on. ]
no subject
Date: 8 Aug 2024 01:50 (UTC)[The sound of the blade slicing through the air only to land into the tabletop does little to hold Heizou back. In fact his eyes quickly focus on that blade, rapidly trying to figure out how to get it out of the kidnappers' reach before it can hurt someone. He could probably kick it hard enough to dislodge it, send it flying into the water-- but either one of them could have more weapons concealed someone on their person. In which case maybe it'd be smarter to let them draw those weapons so they can be disarmed properly. Or he could just move in quickly before either of them can react, discombobulate them first with a strike to the head, take the opportunity to grab the girl and just run--
He's only pulled out of his thoughts when Sherlock puts a hand on his shoulder, blinking in surprise. He'd momentarily forgotten the other man was there. Heizou shakes himself quickly; they need a plan.]
Sorry. Sorry, I... [One last shake of his head, then he turns to look at the scene once again.] If we cause too much of a ruckus here, we may end up drawing the other two back. Do you think you're fast enough to knock one of them out with one blow?
[Sherlock can probably see the restless energy practically buzzing in Heizou's veins. He wants to move. He wants- He wants to hit something for once.]
the expression on that icon ;~;
Date: 8 Aug 2024 05:16 (UTC)[ Sherlock has used the butt of the gun to knock people out before. However, that was usually after having disarmed them of any armor or using the surroundings to his advantage. His attempts without that ended with him being the one overpowered.
They hear the laughter of the two outside kidnappers coming closer, having abandoned their search for whoever shot out the streetlights. Heizou and Sherlock are running out of time if they want only two kidnappers to deal with before reinforcement arrive. The girl remains unharmed, but her eyes go wide when she sees the hint of rescue. The boss doesn't see Heizou and Sherlock as he was busy with cheating at cards, but he saw the girl react to something.
"Hey! Who's there?" Both the boss and the other kidnapper get up out of their chairs and draw their weapons.
Sherlock grits his teeth. ]
We'll find out.
[ As soon as Heizou darts out of their hiding spot, Sherlock will too. There's nothing for him to shoot that could work for a distraction. All he can do is try pistol whipping one of the kidnappers at the table (choose one, Sherlock will go for the other). He swings... only for his attempted bash to get knocked aside and himself kicked.
The answer to Heizou's question is no. Sherlock cannot. ]
my sad boy ;3;
Date: 8 Aug 2024 22:41 (UTC)[Hearing the approaching laughter from outside was bad enough. Realizing that the girl has accidentally given them away to her remaining kidnappers... definitely does not help. Heizou curses softly under his breath in Inazuman, eyes narrowing as he picks the nearest kidnapper to focus on.]
So we will.
[Heizou darts to the side quickly, anemo energy swirling around his fists as he closes in and throws a sharp punch for the other man's gut. Being short does have its advantages, and being able to aim blows at a person's weakpoints is one of them. But either Heizou's too worn down to hit as hard as usual, or the kidnapper is just tough; he barely staggers back a step or two from the blow.
Which gives Heizou just enough time to see that no, Sherlock is definitely not much of a fighter. This is going to be harder than he'd hoped.]
He's so sad!!
Date: 9 Aug 2024 09:34 (UTC)[ Within the scuffle, the hostage is knocked over while still tied to her chair. She's half under the table, which will keep her safer, but it's hardly ideal.
Sherlock manages to roll to a standing position after getting kicked and knows he'll be sporting a painful bruise after all this is over. He hears the approach of the two from outside, sees Heizou fighting, and looks to the entrance. Sherlock aims and fires his pistol.
"You missed," she sneers the woman before him. ]
Did I?
[ From this angle he saw something he couldn't from the hiding spot. A heavy hook clatters to the ground, taking a stack of wooden planks with it. They fall across the main entrance of the shipyard. The outside kidnappers have already heard the commotion, but their path inward has been blocked. "Find another way in!" one yells.
The detectives now have a little more time.
"It's a shame I might have to ruin that pretty face of yours. You'd probably fetch some kind of price." The woman may have brought a knife to a gun fight, but she has no qualms about killing while Sherlock does. He dashes and rolls around while she swipes at him either with the knife or her martial arts. He tries to find a new target. He's too slow. The pistol is kicked out of his hand, and he staggers. Sherlock may be fighting a losing battle against this kidnapper, but at least he's keeping her busy while Heizou fights his opponent. ]
*i have sadder ones tho teehee*
Date: 11 Aug 2024 03:31 (UTC)[Heizou can't worry too much about how Sherlock is doing when he has his own opponent to deal with. It takes him longer than he'd like to shake himself back into focus while they trade blows, but soon enough he can feel his temper start to flare up. He feels impatient, and it's frustrating that things came to this in the end, and he's still angry --
The kidnapper swings his gun around to try to get Heizou in the face and misses by a hair. The edge of the weapon nearly grazes Heizou's nose as he dodges out of the way, and something about it just makes his anger spark. His eyes narrow dangerously and he doesn't think, doesn't hesitate. Just grabs the barrel of that gun, pulls it to the side with all of his weight, and uses the momentum to swing a leg around and kick the guy in the side of his head. The anemo energy that went along with it seems to burst like a whirlwind, increasing the force that sends him down to the floor.
Heizou's still holding onto the gun as he lands on his feet. And he doesn't spare another second to check if that's knocked him out, instead turning to check on Sherlock. It doesn't seem to be going great, so...]
John!! [Going with those fake names they'd made for themselves as a precaution.] Catch!
[He isn't really familiar with firearms like the ones the kidnappers have, so if he finds an opening he's going to toss this one toward Sherlock. It's bigger and longer, more like a shotgun, so maybe it'll be more helpful?]
Ready and waiting for the post case heart-to-heart?
Date: 12 Aug 2024 08:56 (UTC)Also I made this icon just for the thread.]][ Heizou's opponent is sent sprawling, and it's only because of the man's incredibly hard head that prevents him from passing right out. For the moment, he is down. (But maybe it's too soon to call him completely out of the fight.) The hostage is struggling within her bonds, which have somehow started to loosen after the chair tipped over. Out of everyone, she seems to fairing the best.
The outside kidnappers have spotted the window, but they are far bigger than the shorter Heizou or twig Sherlock. The window sticks after a certain point, partially rusted from the salty sea air outside. They rattle the frame violently to no avail. A volley of curses follow. They start to argue about whether or not they should brave the entrance by sea. Neither are very keen on the idea when it seems like the gig is up, so they are no longer a threat.
At Heizou's cry of "John!" Sherlock whips his head towards him to see a firearm flying in the air towards him. He doesn't have enough time to worry about how dangerous that is, but he does catch it to point at his opponent. ]
Don't move.
[ "You're too softhearted to kill me, and..." The kidnapper tosses a knife at Sherlock, forcing him to dodge. To his surprise, he has to do so twice because the knife returns to the kidnapper's hand. He looks up to see her smirking. "I can also fight at range." ]
yeeessssss~
Date: 12 Aug 2024 18:29 (UTC)Only to have his ankle caught by the opponent he'd knocked down just a moment ago. It's enough to send Heizou tumbling to the floor with a yelp, and he scrambles to roll over and kick himself free. The kidnapper isn't up at least, but he's holding fast to Heizou's leg no matter how hard he tries to kick him off. At this angle it's harder for him to summon enough anemo energy to put any real force into it, much to Heizou's dismay.]
Get off!!
[The guy straight up starts laughing, even as Heizou kicks him square in the face with his free leg. Unnerved and annoyed, Heizou grits his teeth opts to see if he can try to pull himself away, while also trying to feel around for something he can use to hit this guy with.]
When the truth comes out
Date: 12 Aug 2024 20:49 (UTC)[ The hostage is not letting these distractions go to waste. She was scared before, but the teenager has found surprising resilience now that she's not alone. She manages to get one hand free. All her focus is on freeing her other hand.
Sherlock begins to see a pattern to the kidnapper's knife throws and recalls, so when the knife embeds itself into a wooden plank, Sherlock is on top of it. He pulls the knife out and then chucks it into the water. The kidnapper tries to pull it back... only for it to thunk against the foundation. It worked! It could only travel in a straight line! ]
Ren!
[ He aims and fires at the ground next to the where the man grabs Heizou's ankle, hoping to startle the man enough to let Heizou go. With no time (or bullets) to reload the firearm, Sherlock brandishes it to block another kick. ]
hehehe mine is an evil laugh~
Date: 17 Aug 2024 06:07 (UTC)It gives Heizou to perfect opportunity to rear his leg back and really get in a solid kick right to the guy's face. Still not quite enough to knock him out, but with his wooden geta sandals he's probably knocked out a few teeth, maybe fractured a nose. He's not about to stop and check.
It's a good opportunity for Heizou to quickly pull himself back up to his feet, looking over to see how Sherlock is faring. They need a chance to get the hostage out of here...]
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Date: 18 Aug 2024 08:05 (UTC)[ The boss's nose breaks along with some of his teeth, and he howls in pain. One distraction deserves another as the boss's howl makes the kidnapper fighting with Sherlock gaze in their direction. Even someone as unlucky as Sherlock can get a lucky hit in with that. After blocking the kick with the firearm, he swings it. The firearm collides against the kidnapper's leg. All her momentum stops, and she falls to the floor, cursing. Something broke. The kidnappers may still be conscious, but they are in no condition to give chase.
Sherlock runs for his pistol while the hostage looks at the mess they've left behind. "A little help here?" she asks. She may be a little roughed up, but she's managed to free her hands and is now struggling with the knotted bindings on her legs. "I want to go home." ]
Ren, I'll get her free. Find us an exit.
[ The front doors open outward, so the debris in the way doesn't block the door for them. A good Anemo burst will throw the doors wide open. Anyone on the other side, such as the two outside kidnappers who couldn't find there way in, will be blown back as well. However, there is a chance the downed kidnappers will escape by the time they send people to arrest them. There's also the window they came in if they want to reduce the chance the two downed kidnappers will escape, but they risk drawing the attention of the two outside kidnappers instead. The water exit... well, Heizou and the hostage can go that way. Sherlock will then take his chance with the window. ]
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Date: 18 Aug 2024 19:06 (UTC)No one cares about you.
That's what they'd said. It sets off a ringing in Heizou's ears that makes him give in to some basic urge. It has him ignoring Sherlock's words, instead moving to kick the boss onto his back where he can pin him down. And despite what he's always said about not liking to resort to the use of his fists to resolve things... He just starts punching.
It's mindless. Angry. And he won't stop unless someone forces him to.]
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Date: 20 Aug 2024 03:16 (UTC)Ren! Stop!
[ And if Heizou doesn't respond to that, Sherlock will use his real name as he dashes forward and tries to grab one of Heizou's arms. ]
What are you doing?!
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Date: 20 Aug 2024 19:19 (UTC)Then Sherlock grabs him. Adrenaline is still surging through him and Heizou tries to break free of the grasp, but somehow the other man's voice finally cuts into his senses in a way that makes him stop. He blinks and the sea of red is gone, just leaving Heizou breathing hard and staring at his own fists covered in blood.]
I-I... What...
[He gives Sherlock a stunned, sort of broken look. It's a little at war with the blind rage that's still flushing out of him. But it leaves him at a loss for words for once. What could he possibly even say to excuse what just happened? He'd lost himself, after all.]
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Date: 20 Aug 2024 22:40 (UTC)Leave them. We... we need to get her out of here.
[ Sherlock doesn't know what to do with Heizou looking at him like that. Is Sherlock imagining Heizou being violent? Has he always been like this, but Sherlock remembered differently? Does Heizou share the madness and detachments from reality? Perhaps what frightens Sherlock the most are not the possibilities but the fact that he cannot be sure which is the truth.
How did this case go so wrong?
He tugs Heizou to his feet and then towards the window. The boss kidnapper remain on the ground, cursing or groaning in pain. The other kidnapper watches them warily. ]
Are you able to climb?
[ "I think so," the girl said.
Sherlock then turns back to Heizou. ]
You first. We'll follow.
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Date: 21 Aug 2024 01:57 (UTC)He waits on the other side for the both of them, just searching for something he can use to wipe the blood from his hands. But whenever they do finally join him, he obediently keeps a safe distance so as not to further scare the girl. He's much calmer now, of course. But he's instead solemn and quiet, still not meeting either of their gazes.]
...You should get her home, Sherlock. [He fiddles with the dirty rag he'd found, now covered in a mix of his and the kidnapper's blood.] I'll call the authorities and stay here to make sure the culprits don't get away.
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Date: 21 Aug 2024 02:43 (UTC)Sherlock helps the girl through the window, trying not to wince from his own injuries as he does so. Awkward silence follows. He's hesitant to leave Heizou alone for a number of reasons, but he--they also have a responsibility to the girl as well. She can't stay here, and she can't go back alone. ]
C'mon with me, miss. We were hired by your father to find you. It's late, but the market should have people still.
[ Perhaps that would put her more at ease should she not trust Sherlock. (Although, she saw how beaten he had gotten. He is not much of a threat.) ]
Find me once you are done.
[ He tries to phrase it as a command, but it ends up as a question. ]
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Date: 21 Aug 2024 04:26 (UTC)It takes some time. Heizou stays outside of the building so that he can't do any further harm to the kidnappers (and his presence seems to keep them from trying any stupid attempts to escape), and when authorities arrive he puts on his commission face and directs them to where they're still incapacitated. Once all is said and done, Heizou quietly slips away to go find his friend.
And whenever he does, Sherlock will notice his even more sullen mood, amplified by what is definitely the beginnings of a black eye from the scuffle. Heizou doesn't seem to care.]
Did you get her home all right?
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Date: 21 Aug 2024 05:48 (UTC)She's home with her father being checked out by a doctor. She'll be fine.
[ Their client also offered to finalize their fee, but Sherlock waved it away until everyone is more rested and calmer. (If they decide to take it at all after how things went.)
He looks up at Heizou, and takes a deep breath. ]
... Heizou, what I saw earlier, did that really happen? Or did I see things agains?
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Date: 21 Aug 2024 06:01 (UTC)Though that question actually has Heizou looking right up at Sherlock in surprise, head tilting ever so slightly. "Again"? That's... interesting. It does help certain pieces of this puzzle make more sense.]
...No, that really happened. [Shame takes over his expression again, even as he reaches up to wipe a hand down his face.] I'm sorry. Things have been... difficult lately.
Glares at the typo, I swear you weren't there earlier
Date: 21 Aug 2024 08:01 (UTC)I've noticed, but you don't have to tell me. Not unless you think I can assist, and I've made a right mess of things already.
[ He pushes himself away from the wall, wincing, and walks a few steps. ]
If you're not too tired, let's find a quiet place to sit down for a while.
[ Where would that be? A cafe, pub, park... Hell, Sherlock will even allow his own apartment, and he doesn't entertain people there at all. ]
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Date: 21 Aug 2024 19:07 (UTC)...I wish I could tell you. But I'm afraid the issue's a bit out of both of our leagues.
[Still, he follows Sherlock obediently with a nod. He'll go anywhere the detective chooses; he's not exactly in a state to make that call at the moment.]
We should also get you patched up. Are you cut anywhere?
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Date: 21 Aug 2024 21:40 (UTC)I don't think I've been cut.... I have some of the healing sprays back in my apartment and makeup to cover some of the bruising on our faces. I don't have much in the way of provisions, but I can make us some coffee.
[ And... if they go there, Sherlock will have no choice but to face whatever truth there is. ]
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