OOM: William Evans Visits Miami

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael's on his way to the door, his polo shirt and jeans dusty from training with Duncan and a lasso out by the stables most of the morning and a pair of new work gloves hanging out of his pocket already showing signs of wear. He's got a lot on his mind, not the least of which is a small list of items he's on his way to retrieve before heading out to Ellen's world again to fight robots - because that's something that happens now that Milliways has become a considerable part of his life. Spy, cowboy, futuristic robot slayer... why the hell not. Sure beats posing as another millionaire playboy looking to score hot guns.

But then there's also the question of if he should go ahead and start working on the matter of finding this spy that's responsible for his burn notice before the guy finds him... assuming they don't already have a target on his back when he goes through the door.

It's those thoughts that make it so he doesn't even see William when he brushes past him; "Excuse me..." he mutters in a soft, distracted tone - not stopping his steady steps.

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[luvs_yogurt]

He screams loudly, animalistic as he feels the bat bending the metal before throwing it and forcing his way through the door.

"I need to be focused for that and I just can't focus right now," he growls again, looking for some form of release before slamming his fist against the hard surface of his work bench - letting the pain bring him back down to earth.

He takes a deep breath, and then slams his fist against it again - hard enough to feel the spike up to his shoulder as he bruises his knuckles.

"I... I need to get you back to the bar," he pulls away, his voice taking on a somewhat more normal but very agitated tilt. "And then I have to find the monster that did this and make him pay."

There were kids there, kids and civilians being put in the back of an ambulance. A damn grocery store... somewhere he'd never even been inside. People that had nothing to do with him or why he's being punished.

[not_his_pa]

"If you ain't focused enough for her fight, you ain't for yours. And wreckin' your hand ain't goin' to help anyone,"

It was awful and William's trying not to think too much about it, he will later. Now he needs to figure out what to do for Michael.

[luvs_yogurt]

"I'm sorry," he forces out, closing his eyes as he tries to breathe and relax - but simply can't. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I... I... honestly thought I had time before he tried to contact me and, you know... he might be a normal person and use the telephone and not a fucking bomb."

He shouts again, picking up a hammer and flinging it hard against the concrete floor - chipping the floor as the hammer skittered under the bed.

"And now he's going to make me wait. Maybe a week - maybe a month. He's trying to show me that he's in control, he's holding the information I need and there's not a damn thing I can do about it but wait."

[not_his_pa]

"You didn't drag me into anythin'. I came along and he sounds like Charlie Prince, men like that ain't ever normal. They're just bastards. Then if you're goin' to be waitin', go to Ellen's world and do somethin' there cause destroyin' your place ain't doin' much. Hell, fight me if you want somethin' to hit,"

He knows how this goes, Charlie Prince didn't shoot his father until Wade was on the train.

[luvs_yogurt]

When he turns back to face William, his jaw is set - the frustration still wearing him thin even as the shine of wetness catches his eyes.

William would, of course. It's the same thing he'd say himself.

"Wouldn't be a fair fight," he replies easily enough, knowing the guy understands that what he really ought to be saying is he'd never hit friend in anger - especially when the anger isn't even close to being his fault.

He might not know who Charlie is, but he knows a bastard and this guy - qualifies on multiple charges.

"It just means waiting even longer. I can spend months... away... and when I come back it'll be the same problems here as when I left."

[not_his_pa]

"That ain't goin' to change, but least you can catch your breath sometimes,"

It's what William does in Milliways, he can stop worrying for a few moments before going back into it.

[luvs_yogurt]

He knows even if he does go back, he won't be catching his breath... He'll be throwing himself at other people's problems and doing the only thing he knows how to do - fixing things. Even there, relaxation just means more time to think about his situation.

"I don't think that'd be a good idea, William. I need to find this guy and give him a little bit of a wakeup call."

[not_his_pa]

"And possibly get yourself hurt cause you're angry. At least take the time to find out who he is and the best way to get him."

[luvs_yogurt]

He's got the money now, the contacts... but he needs time. He needs to focus.

And damn it, the kid's got a point that even in his most stubborn frame of mind Michael can't just ignore. Maybe he could use a few weeks for another perspective check. He sure as hell felt better after the fire - nearly dying had that effect.

People always needed help. Ellen needs his help, and there might come a time William or someone else could even need him. He can't help them if he's dead because he pushed too hard, too soon.

He swallows back the lump in his throat and nods slowly; "I've got some things packed... if I go back, I'm gonna stay for a while. Maybe a really long while."

[not_his_pa]

"You need to do what you need to. I've stayed in Milliways longer than I meant to. When it was all fallin' apart, I ended up in another world for about a month and then waited for my Pa to come back from where he'd gone. Time gets strange there but you do what you need to do,"

He didn't think his father would come back and was just starting to realize that Katya might never come back when she did. Milliways changes everything.

[luvs_yogurt]

Swallowing hard, Michael runs an errant hand through his hair - feeling the scarred over spot where Paco had bashed him in the head and then he took a flaming shelf a few days later. What does he need to do? The question looms over him and makes it hard to even think.

And what if it's running? He's run there before, run headlong into a bottle of scotch... into Emma.

Pacing, he makes his way to the kitchen and snatches an unopened package of Oreos off the top of the fridge - tossing them to William.

"I gotta think about this."

[not_his_pa]

"Alright, though your car's still runnin', probably should turn it off before you do too much,"

He knows cars aren't like horses but it seems stupid to have it like that and catches the cookies.

[luvs_yogurt]

"No... no... it's fine..." he mutters, blinking several times. His idea of thinking flies a whole lot faster than most, and he knows by the time he realizes he's out of yogurt that it's for the best.

"I've uh... I need to get my bag and there's some phones on my workbench I might need..."

He's gotten used to not packing. On assignment you just get sent where you're going maybe with another suit and what's on you. Everything else would just happen.

"I'll come back in a couple days... bring Emma, do the job for Barry and move my Mom..."

[not_his_pa]

"And I need to change. We don't have to go right now,"

William's worried about Michael and how he doesn't seem to be really paying attention.

[luvs_yogurt]

"No, I need to go. We need to go in case they've got someone on us." He looks back up at William with an intent stare; "These are very dangerous people and they wouldn't hesitate to kill you."

They're words he doesn't want to say, he doesn't like the thought of laying out what they both already know - but it's hitting him hard and fast.

"I need to get you out of here."

[not_his_pa]

"Are you comin' with me?"

He doesn't want to leave Michael here like this. If there's a fight coming here he'll stay but he's not leaving Michael alone to face this without knowing if he'll even come through the door again.

[luvs_yogurt]

Slowly, he nods. "Yeah, I'll go."

It's not about what he wants, it's about what's best for everyone. And what's best is for him to get his head back in the game by whatever means necessary.

He lowers his eyes and then heads toward the stairs to get his suitcase. "Do what you need to do, I'll get my stuff."

[not_his_pa]

William watches him go up before putting the gun on the counter and quickly changing into his clothing.

The way his father looked on the way into Bisbee after coming across Wade keeps running through his head, he doesn't want to lose Michael.

He also doesn't see many ways to hold onto Michael who works to not have connections and seems to accept that he might die any day.

[luvs_yogurt]

The problem with being a spy is your life is caring about something or someone means that someone else has leverage against you. If you have nothing to lose, they have nothing to take away. The problem with Michael is that no matter how much he doesn't want to care - he does. And the longer he associates with good people - people that need him - the harder he fights.

Death happens, the best he can do is control when that happens and who goes down with him.

He's silent as they get in the car, save for the uneasy drum of fingers on the steering wheel all the way to the Carlito. The same space he'd parked in before is still open despite the lunch rush already starting to trickle in to the open establishment.

"Look, William... I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

[not_his_pa]

"Don't be. I'm just glad I could do somethin' to help out,"

He wasn't a burden during the fight and that felt good.

[luvs_yogurt]

He swallows again, tightening his fingers on the wheel. "I don't mean the fight."

Nobody should have to see him like that, nobody should ever need to know that when the right buttons are pushed there's a whole lot of rage under the surface. He might clean up nice but when it comes down to it, part of him will always be the kid that stood between his family and his father no matter what happened to himself.

Before he has to answer any questions that might come, he's out of the car and popping the lock on the employee door.

"We've got a few minutes before we're likely to get caught. Should get through quickly."

[not_his_pa]

"Alright,"

He gets out and puts his hands in his pockets not sure what else to say. When Michael got angry it was familiar, the setting's different but being with Michael feels comfortable.

[luvs_yogurt]

Suitcase in one hand and the bag of cash in the other, he pats William on the shoulder. "Can I ask you to do me a favor?"

He doesn't have to wait for the answer, he knows better.

"If I get too comfortable here, don't let me forget I can't fix everyone's problems."

[not_his_pa]

"I'll try,"

Maybe Michael can even remember to remind him that he doesn't need to worry or work too much. They'll figure it out.

[luvs_yogurt]

It's enough to elicit a slight smile; "And tell me if you need anything, okay?"

He slides his shades down his nose, looking him dead in the eyes.

"Anything. I will do what I have to do to make it happen." His fingers squeeze on his shoulder gentle, but still firm. "When I say I'll do something - I do it." No matter the circumstances.