For almost an hour a bulging backpacking wearing duo had been pacing through suburban streets. Walking in unison, their footsteps sounded as if they were only coming from a single entity as they clomped against the concrete. Being almost completely covered by their long, eye matching jackets, few defining features were visible on them. Both men seemed to be relatively tan, but one towered over the other by a whopping half foot, reaching a grand total of 5' 10. His orange iris surrounded pupils causally scanned his surroundings as he looked about. Directly above them he wore a black sweatband, but above that there was nothing. No hair anyway. The shorter one however, seemed to be wearing a black ball cap underneath his hood, but over the white bandana that draped down his neck and over where his sideburns would be. Together, none of his hair could be seen above his eyebrows or off to the side of them. His bright yellow eyes seemed to be igniting in the afternoon heat as they glared up at his companion.

"In case you were curious, I freaking hate you."

"Love you too bud."

"It's a hundred degrees and we're both in thick, hooded cloaks, wearing giant backpacks."

"Just be thankful it's Fahrenheit."

"Feels like Celsius."

"You'd probably be on fire if that's what it was," The larger man chuckled, "And besides, you don't hear me complaining!"

"I don't see you with fe-"

"That's the point of the jacket and hat," The orange coated man rapidly cut in, his eyes quickly darting to the nearest people in search of suspicion, which hadn't increased at all. Granted, it was pretty high for the most part, but so long as it remained stable there didn't seem to be any need for concern. "You can lose them once we find a place to hide," He whispered, "Until then, just try not to think about it."

"Sweat's leaking into my eye," His companion stated, more than a little annoyed, "I can't 'not think about it'. I swear, I'm full blown streaking once we find an apartment."

"Not around me you're not."

"You're more than welcome to stay in the lobby."

His friend's eyes rolled. "I'm paying for the room, ya know."

"With my money."

"Money you stole."

The bandana-ed man cocked an eyebrow. "Explain how that's a valid point."

"Beside the point."

"It's my point exactly."

Orange eyes rolled again as the pair continued their search for a place to crash.



"Yes ma'am, I said said their eyes were yellow and orange," A young man, quickly loosing his patience nodded to an elderly woman, "They're a threat to public safety and it's my job to bring them down."

"Your job?" The old lady inquired, leaning against her crutches, "And what did you say your name was again, Sweety?"

A sigh preceded the answers. "Kevin Tyler, and Oasis hired me to track the duo down before they go into hiding."

"Oasis?"

The young man slowly brought a hand up to his face before gradually sliding it down to his chin and through his short brown stubble when he came to it. "Oasis. A corporation researching revitalization and rejuvenation, promoting the longevity of our lives as well as the human race as a whole."

"That was a shitload of big words, Sweety. What does Oasis want with the boys though?"

Having to do about four double-takes to establish that the woman had actually said what he thought, Kevin was silent for about ten seconds. "Uhhh..." Finding it hard to speak after that, he had to shake his head to collect himself, "They stole from them and escaped with vital research. Do you know where they are or not?"

"A couple oddly eyed men went to the Roomy Rooms Apartment around a half hour ago." The woman replied with a kind smile, "It's about a mile North of here, the big building on the corner."

"Finally," Kevin murmured under his breath before nodding to the woman, "Thank you for your help."

"You're welcome Sweety."




Only the turning of the pages of a book broke the silence that filled the space between the faded green walls that made up the Roomy Rooms lobby. Leaning her back against the swivel chair behind the front desk, the receptionist reached out her hand to turn the next page when the sound of footsteps suddenly pierced through her ears. Quickly slamming the book shut, she hid it under the desk before straightening her posture and looking to the source of the new sound, only to see a familiar orange cloaked man, still wearing his backpack.

"Hello Mr. Armstrong!" She happily greeted with a friendly wave, "What can I do for you? Is there any problem with your room."

"Yeah," The man nodded, "There's a naked guy walking around it."

"WHAT!?" The receptionist suddenly exclaimed, jolting to her feet, "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I'll get security right on it!" Snatching up the phone, he looked back at Armstrong as another question hit her. "...Where's Mr. Crow?"

"Walking around the apartment."

It took a pair of seconds for the receptionist to put it together. "...Ah..." She finally voiced, setting the phone down. "So...you're here to...?"

"Wait it out," Armstrong informed her, taking a seat on the jade couch. "And don't worry about this whole 'Mr.' stuff. I'm Jax, and my friend is Dante."

"Well hopefully Dante decides to put some clothes on soon then," She smiled, gradually leaning back against her chair again.

"Hopefully," Jax smiled back before laying down on his side and shutting his eyes. "You don't mind if I sleep here, do you?"

"So long as no one complains, I don't see any problem with it," The woman assured him, drawing her eyes away from him as another man strolled inside. "Hello, and welcome to the Roomy Rooms Apartment complex! Are you looking to buy a room?"

"No thank you ma'am," The newcomer replied, shaking his head, "But I am looking for something. Someone, or rather, someones." One of Jax's eyes cracked hearing the news, drawing over to the bearded man.

"I'm sorry?" The woman inquired, "Are you looking for a friend?"

"I wouldn't say that," The man responded, "They're fugitives of sorts and it's my job to track them down and put a stop to them." Jax's eyes clamped shut as he rolled over uncomfortably. "I have reason to believe that they're staying here."

A look of fear slowly began to overcome the woman's features. Her brown eyes began widening and she became fidgety. "You think criminals came here!?" She dreadingly whispered, "Who are they?"

"Names aren't important," The man assured her, "But th-"

"I'd really rather know their names," The woman meekly interrupted, grabbing her elbow, "It'd calm me down a little to know what they were... Maybe they checked in under them."

"Look, ma 'am," The man pressed, "I'm sorry, but I can't give you their names."

"Why not?" Worst case scenarios began popping into the receptionist's head as her questions continued to go unanswered. The man's hesitation didn't help her much.

"...The most I can give you is mine," He sighed, scratching the back of his neck, "I'm Kevin Tyler. Please, the men I'm looking for are likely to be completely covered, but if they didn't bother with anything, it'd be their eyes. One's are orange," The woman seemed to stiffen, "...And the other's are yellow. Can you tell me where to find them?"

Her mind began racing like a getaway driver running from the cops as she tried wrapping her head around what was said. While it was true that Jax and Dante were bickering at each other when they paid for their room and they did dress suspiciously for the summer heat, but despite all of that, they just didn’t seem like bad people, let alone criminals to her...if they actually even were. In addition to that, Kevin’s vagueness was also unsettling...it was like there was a huge portion of the story he was leaving out. At the same time though, that didn’t make anything he did say untrue... Unconsciously, her eyes darted over to Jax for a split second, who looked to be breathing heavily as sweat began forming on his brow, before they jerked back to Kevin just as quickly. “They...” The woman had to pause due to how dry her lips had gotten, but after dampening them, was able to continue, only to find her heart-rate speed up significantly, “They checked into a room a little over a half hour ago,” She finally forced, her gaze falling as she lost the ability to look Kevin in the eyes, “Number 308.”

“Thank you for your cooperation ma'am,” He nodded appreciatively, “Can you please point me to the elevator?”

After a feeble nod, the woman indicated down a long hall to the left, “It’s at the very end,” She murmured, “Right next to the stairs.”

Following an appreciative smile and polite wave, the man leisurely began following the path, but after he vanished from sight, Jax slowly sat up on the couch, taking in a deep sigh of relief. “Thanks...” He breathed sincerely, gradually standing up, “I’ll repay your kindness some day.”

“...Just...” The receptionist sighed, fiddling with a pen behind the counter, “...Don’t make me regret this...”

“You won’t,” Jax confidently yet quietly assured her, making his way to the stairs, “I promise.”

Seeing as he wasn’t expecting to see Kevin again, he maintained a fairly casually pace as he ascended up to the fourth floor, concluding that all he had to do now was get Dante and go. They were on the brink of being found, so they had no choice but to run again. Following a pair of right turns, he arrived at room 417, bringing his fist up to knock on the door.

“So that’s where the Oasis runaways are staying?” Jax clamped his eyes shut and released a heavy sigh as Kevin’s voice penetrated his ears. “You should really consider watching your tail when you’re on the run, especially when you’re running home. Especially when the person who gives you the chance to do it is an awful liar.”

Slowly, Jax lowered his fist and turned to face the man tracking him down. “So...” He asked, crossing his arms and craning his neck, looking the man dead in the eyes, “What happens now?”

“Two options,” Tyler calmly replied, “One, I can bring you back to Oasis, or two...” At a snail’s pace, his hand slid down his side before landing on his hip, but instead of pulling out a weapon, his eyes popped, suddenly padding down the entire area around the side of his belt before frantically checking the other side, much to Jax’s amusement. After about ten seconds of desperately searching, he finally gave up with a long sigh, “...I knew I forgot something.”

“Or two,” The orange eyed man continued for him with a grin, “You can leave now with your health.”

“Two’s actually I eliminate the problem.” Kevin stated, closing the distance between them, “I don’t need a weapon to fight.”

“But you’ll need one to win.”

With the flash of a grin, Kevin suddenly dashed forward, blasting his open palm into Jax’s solar plexus, who gasped, taking a half step back before he felt a foot smash against his knee. It’s brutal launch backwards executed his balance, but as he fell forward violently, a swift knee met his face halfway, the sickening crack of his nose’s cartilage breaking, echoed by his yelp of agony, resounded in the hall as he was lifted off his feet, colliding with the ground a foot and a half back.

“Okay...” Jax groaned, pushing himself back to his feet and cupping his gushing nose, blood leaking between his fingers, “You’re better than I thought...”

“And you’re matching my expectations.” Kevin stated, storming to his foe, fists clenched, “You might as well just abandon your charade to blend in, I’ve been fully briefed.”

A low growl emitted between Jax’s lips as he quickly slipped his backpack off, but instead of banging on the ground, it seemed to be empty when it hit the floor, despite being full on his back. “I’m not playing games with you anymore.” Slowly, a second pair of arms came from their hiding place and crossed over his chest. “Last chance to run.”

Kevin ran. But forward. Swinging his left arms as Kevin charged, Jax aimed to closeline him, but a well timed duck and spin to the right caused his forearms to merely whirr over his head. Faster than the four armed man could react, his opponent quickly stepped behind him, bashing his elbow into his spine with all his might. Pain jolting through him, Jax agonizingly staggered forward, bending over at a slight angle, all of his arms reaching to the injury. Between the distance the stagger created and the semi-duck, Kevin grinned seeing an opportunity open up.

Sprinting forward, he raced to Jax, and planting his palms on his back, leapfrogged over him, landing just in front of him, spinning as soon as his feet touched the ground. There was only a split second to stop the blow from coming, but as much as he tried to bring his arms up to block, Jax’s reflexes just weren’t that quick. The very moment Kevin’s 360 was half over, his right foot flung head level, bashing against the side of Jax’s skull so hard that darkness flashed in his vision as he flew to the side, crashing into the nearby wall. “I don’t play games either,” Kevin grinned, “But it’s funner when you run.”

Being far too dazed to have any sort of retort, Jax just tried to stand up again, his hands pressing against various spots on the wall while his body rocked to and fro. This was going terribly for him...and all of the odds were stacked in his favor. He would’ve been humiliated had the blood dribbling down his chin not been distracting him. Despite the blurs occasionally shaking his vision, his rolling gaze was locked on his adversary as he marched onward. Suddenly, Kevin’s body shifted to the side after a step, and anticipating what was coming, Jax jerked to the side just as his enemy launched his foot, crashing against the part of the wall that had supported his head a fraction of a second ago.

“Dante!” He boomed, trying to assume a fighting stance, “Get out here!”

“I’m naked!” A voice called a few rooms down, “Give me a minute!”

“You’ve got a dozen seconds!”

“Maybe less,” Kevin smirked as Jax shot him a look of death. Trying to launch a rapid flurry of punches, Kevin easily blocked them with his forearms by intercepting the four armed man’s swings at his wrists. Only four shots were thrown at him before he booted his target in the waist, slamming him against the wall. The force of the impact caused Jax’s entire body to seemingly flatten, each of his limbs and head violently striking it in unison right after his back caused the initial bang.

Sliding to the floor, a shallow groan escaped the airless lungs of Jax before he desperately tried to fill them. Even though his eyes were shut as he tried to catch his breath, he could still tell Kevin was advancing on him by the sound his shoes made against the hardwood flooring. Needing to see what was coming, one of them cracked open in time to see one of his adversary's feet draw over to him and press against his neck, pinning him in place. “Hopefully Foxtrot 2 isn’t as pathetic as you are,” He grinned, slowly beginning to apply pressure, “I was looking forward to a real fight for once.”

“Who said ours is over?” Jax feebly demanded, all four arms suddenly converging on his foe’s ankle and clamping on it like they were welded on. Without warning, Jax jerked it off to the side, causing Kevin to stumble after it, but a yank back the opposite direction caused his balance to completely shatter and crash on the ground. Still clutching the leg with his lefts, both his right hands suddenly snatched Kevin’s other leg when it landed in his reached. With all his strength, he ripped them up then down immediately, like he was violently fanning off a blanket. The crunch his foe’s body created was almost sickening, but all Jax’s hopes of the battle being over ended when Kevin jolted his his knees up and torso to his chest, with both a cocked arm and a grin.

When his fist