Work Text:
Villedor's a rough place. People with survival as their first priority can't allow themselves to be careless. But people are people, so even in this god forsaken city, hidden away from everyone's eyes, caring and emotional exchanges still exist.
People have always been like that, finding a way to love despite everything. Hakon isn't a good man. Or one that deserves forgiveness, understanding, being cared for like that. But a part of him craves just that, to be seen as a flawed man but a man who's able to be better. If someone just had that trust in him, he surely could... No, that's nonsense. Unless... Unless he gave it a try. If the opportunity ever comes by, maybe.
"Hey, Hakon? I've got a situation here." Aiden's voice suddenly came from the radio.
"What is it?" Hakon answered too quickly for his own liking.
"I might have gotten into a dark zone without enough UVs on me. And—" the radio crackled, cutting him off, but the worry in his voice didn't get lost to Hakon. "—I don't like that." Aiden breathed out, probably explaining what's going on with him.
"Where are you now?" He's already standing, adjusting his bag and mentally mapping routes.
"The high building over by the bridge, higher floors. I'm trying to get to the roof."
"Good. Wait for me up there and don't slow yourself down by fighting."
And there he was, jumping between houses and quickly building his plan of action. He's got a few UV sticks on him, probably an inhaler or two at the bottom of his bag and if he knows anything about Aiden – if some of those deadly looking mushrooms are there, he'll eat them. Because the pilgrim seems to have an awful sense of self-preservation, only further proven by all of this happening.
As Hakon approached the building, worn down and overgrown like anything else in the ruins there, his radio went off again.
"Fuck, it's a few floors left and I can't—" that damn thing barely worked even on such a distance, Hakon had to get it fixed later.
"I don't have much time."
"I'll be there in a minute." He tried to reassure Aiden, making his voice sound as confident as possible.
In fact, Hakon wasn't exactly worried about getting past the infected, but his instinct was sending all signals possible – he's on thin ice here. One floor, another, successfully sneaking past the biters or stepping over the dead bodies, the kid's made some good work here. If only he had anything with him to gain extra time before getting into a safe zone, it would've been a successful loot run. Frankly, Hakon admired a lot about the pilgrim. His demeanor charming in his own way, but more importantly the sense of justice and his unbreakable will to help were... So foreign and familiar for Hakon. He himself never had the same courage but he did know what it was like to try his best. Hakon's best just wasn't enough.
"Where are you?" A jittery voice from the radio in response. Instead of an answer, he only heard interference noises from the device. Only to catch a cut off "I'm scared" somewhere between those.
Well, Aiden is human, and in such a situation no one could judge him. Hakon especially didn't have the right to, even if he wanted. Though, the only thing he actually could think about at that moment was a way to get up faster. The kid needs his help, and he might not be the perfect person for that, but he's let down others enough. He's let down Aiden enough and he still asked for his help. Damn it.
Crash. Loud rumble and the screams of the now-alerted "residents" of this place. And a weird, different sound. A growl unlike any of the noises the volatiles usually make. Just above the floor where Hakon stood, the infected were getting quiet uncomfortably quick. Thuds of bodies hitting the floor and walls, sounds of torn limbs and snapped necks. Yup, there it is. Aiden is probably making a bloodbath of this place.
He didn't make it on time. God fucking damn it, can he ever do anything right? There was no time for self deprecation, Hakon needed a plan and he needed it now. Going away? No, fuck, Aiden counted on him and the infection backs off when he's in the UV light. But is there any guarantee that Hakon doesn't get killed the moment Aiden sees him? Not really, so quick thinking had to do.
Elevator shaft it is then. And quiet movements. Before he encounters Aiden, Aiden should encounter the UV. Hopefully before Hakon encounters death. What a dumb plan. Well, that almost worked out. Hakon was up there and got the light ready, when he heard a low grunt behind the corner. That didn't sound like the kid took a hit from anyone here, considering that even without the enhanced senses he was incredibly agile, but his this was... Weird.
In a raspy, broken voice he muttered, "...leave." That barely sounded like Aiden. It was low, and combined with the guttural growling barely seemed human at all. Technically, it wasn't?
"How did you know I was there?"
"Heard you. Go away."
"Hey, I've gone all this way to get you. C'mon, you can't wait until morning. Some life saving UVs and getting the hell out of here will make it safe. Aiden, don't be stupid."
Though, to be honest, Hakon was the one ignoring the warning.
"Please? I want to help you."
He did his best to sound persuasive, leaning in to be almost over the corner. Aiden finally stepped away from the wall he was holding on to, and from behind that corner, Hakon heard his steps. Suddenly in the dark, two bright illuminated eyes stared at him. The man was visibly tense, as if he was standing on an edge. He quickly dropped his gaze down to the floor.
"Go." Aiden managed to get out, probably using all of his will and self control to fight back the urge to keep to his previous occupation. That being killing, of course.
But a cracking sound in the nearby hallway took away Aiden's attention. One second he stood there and another he's already tearing at some unfortunate volatile that heard something up there.
Pretty much everything in Hakon wanted to listen to Aiden, to leave before he suffers the same fate as – oh, there's a head rolling in the corridor – that, but leaving him wasn't something he could force himself to do now.
"Go up." He heard distant, barely recognizable words. Hakon hesitantly turned, finding a quick way up. There, with no infected, dead or alive, he put up the lights and waited for Aiden to follow. Which, he did. Slowly getting to the roof and powerlessly falling into the purple lit circle. He hissed in pain at first, but quickly passed out.
"Damn it." Hakon mumbled, before getting closer to help him out.
***
"Feeling better?" Hakon's words were joking, but his expression evidently worried.
"Yeah... I think so." Aiden rubbed his eyes, getting up. He was out for just an hour, slowly coming back to himself. "I told you to go away." His voice annoyed, brows furrowed.
"You called me to help you though. And I couldn't leave you alone there."
"You should have." Aiden groaned, covering his eyes. "I would've been fine. Don't you get how fucking close you were to just... Being killed?"
"Eh, I always am. So many people want me dead, quite a number actively try too. But I'm still kicking."
"Yeah, yeah, funny. I'm serious."
"Me too."
"Ugh, whatever..." He accepted Hakon's water with a grateful nod.
"Anyway, you did a good job at... Seeing the difference between the biters and me."
"I don't know how I did it. Before..." He stopped, swallowing nervously. Too many unwanted memories. "...I couldn't do it. Anyone in the way would be dead, fast."
"Maybe because I wasn't in your way, kind of?"
"No, no, it's... I don't know." Aiden looked defeated, tired. "It was hard but... Still, I was able to and I'm not sure why."
"Then the «why» doesn't matter that much now?"
"I... Maybe. I would prefer knowing, though. So I could... If anything, not... You know, kill any more of the people I care about?"
"Oh, and how long have I been in that category?" Hakon couldn't help himself but tease the pilgrim a little. His grin contrasting with the confused look he got as an answer.
"Damn, like a long time now?" That wasn't a very sure statement but it's not like they reflected much on... Whatever happened. And it did happen some time ago, Hakon hoping things would sort themselves out unsaid, and Aiden not being used to navigating relationships with people like that.
"Well it's good to know that. I don't suppose I am forgiven or whatever, but it's nice."
"Wait, what do you mean?" Aiden's look changed to even more puzzled than before.
"Uh, all the... Shit that happened, you know? I mean you beat my ass but I landed a few blows here and there too." A joking manner wasn't going to save it. Ugh, not the talk about feelings and past, no.
"Well, I..." He paused, for an uncomfortably long time. "Don't think I had anything against you. No, I mean in the moment itself, sure, and I held a grudge for a while but... I don't know, it changed when... When you came along to X13 and..." Aiden trailed off, vaguely gesticulating with his hands.
"Huh." Hakon sounded far too surprised and pleased for his own liking. "That clears things up a bit."
"What, did you think I was trying to get back into your trust for an ulterior motive?" Aiden scoffed.
"I didn't, but the fact that you've had that question just ready like that makes me wonder." With a laugh, he wrapped his hand around Aiden's shoulders.
"By the way, I'm sorry that... You saw me like that." The kid sounded disturbed by what happened. Well, he didn't have the chance to properly clean up from the blood on his... Everything, it wasn't surprising.
"No, I..." Hakon swallowed, "I think I should apologize. For not being there in time."
Aiden didn't answer. He closed his eyes shut, shaking his head and trying to breath slow and steady. Damn, he was close to another breakdown, this time not the murderous kind. The fear settled in, the realization of just how much of a close call that was.
"Hey... Hey, Aiden. It's alright now. You're alright." Hakon did his best to sound genuinely calming. "Nobody's hurt. Well, aside from the infected down there. We can get somewhere safe in a minute. You can get up?"
"Sure." Aiden's voice was shaky, his movements not any more stable.
"There." Hakon fished out two inhalers from his bag and put them into Aiden's trembling hands. "Just in case." He added with a smile. Didn't get even a chuckle but he had to at least try to keep the mood a little brighter.
Fish Eye isn't exactly a quiet place, ever, but at least it's safe. And Aiden had to do something about all the infected blood on him. To his surprise, Hakon had to persuade Aiden to go there, and not the other way around. The ex night runner wasn't wanted dead there anymore (at least, not by all), but it's not like he'd get a warm welcome.
But even the company of people who obviously held the pilgrim in high respect, scared Aiden. Or, to be more exact, he was scared for them. As expected, they got a few looks there. Mostly glares towards Hakon and some worried faces upon seeing Aiden. But it's Villedor, so nobody gets into anyone's business, unless you're a certain very ambitious kid who gets into any opportunity to help others and almost get himself killed in the process.
When Aiden, now noticeably cleaner and calmer, sat on the edge of his makeshift bed, Hakon saw that he actually did get a few scratches on him here and there. His "nobody is hurt" wasn't that true now.
"Mind if I..?" He sat down near Aiden, and turned his face towards himself.
"Uh, it's fine. I can handle myself." Aiden looked away, shifting uncomfortably from the proximity.
"Your healing methods are questionable."
"But they work." After a short pause, he added, "There's a med kit over there. The normal one."
Hakon's face probably showed his scepticism. Nothing too bad, aside from a busted lip, some small cuts over his face and a nasty wound on his arm, which neither of them noticed until now.
"Although I'm used to saying that in a different context, take your shirt off." With a disappointed sigh and a barely noticeable smile, Aiden complied.
"Not the usually awaited sight, I suppose."
"A pleasant one for sore eyes." Hakon answered with a laugh. How serious was he? Well, in all honesty, Aiden truly is damn good looking. "Anyway, let me see that arm."
"Aye, doc."
Instead of a reaction to that, Hakon grabbed the disinfectant and made sure to do an honest work with it. Which got Aiden hissing from the sudden burning.
"God damn it, are their claws serrated?" Which, they probably were, jagged as hell and also dirty.
"They might be." Aiden wanted to shrug, but he got met with a slap on his forearm.
"Stay still." There was not much to do, aside from cleaning the wound and the usual patch up, so Aiden didn't need to be idle for long.
"Thanks." He said, when all was done.
"The least I can do."
"Weren't you... Aren't you scared?" Aiden asked with uncertainty in his voice.
"Not really."
Truth is, Hakon was. For Aiden, of Aiden, and generally he is a coward. But he can't let the kid know, although he probably does already. Point is, despite his cowardice Hakon still tries, sometimes. That answer seemed to be equally shocking and relieving for Aiden. He desperately needed to know that he's not some fearful monster. Well, at least for the most part. And everyone has their moments, so it's nothing too bad. Probably.
"Hakon," Aiden paused, noticing how his tone shifted, "why?"
"Kiddo, we all need to be able to rely on someone. I'm not a good person for that role, but I know damn well others aren't much better at it either."
"Can you...? Rely on someone?"
"Don't know, didn't have the chance to see it in action yet. You got my back?"
"Yeah, uhm, sure." He sounded so earnest, albeit a bit startled, that it melted Hakon's heart. Aiden is too good for this cruel world sometimes.
"Then I'm set." Hakon concluded with a smile, and a reassuring hand on Aiden's shoulder. On the side that didn't get hurt.
They got maybe a little too touchy lately. When everyone's hyper vigilant and especially when you aren't exactly close with anyone, simple touches without any ulterior intent are rare. Aiden was always on the run, he never got the chance to experience closeness, in any form, after being separated from Mia. And Hakon's life changed drastically at some point (a very specific one at that, everything went to shit in his world for a second time), and while people were a part of his life, there was nothing genuine or trusting there.
Which, maybe was for the better, for them and for him. Anyone Hakon cared for got hurt one way or another, almost always because of him. Friends and lovers alike. And right there, leaning onto his shoulder, was Aiden. So honest and forgiving, that Hakon felt bad that he got too close to him. He couldn't let the usual deal of things to repeat, again.
"Do you... Still want to go see the ocean?" The sudden sound of Aiden's voice took Hakon out of his thoughts.
"Of course I do. I don't forget promises like that." In fact, he usually did. When your whole life is a web of lies, words lose meaning at some point. "Why ask so suddenly?"
"Well, I..." He sighed, "am not sure for how long can I stay."
"I thought you liked it here."
"I do! But I can't be around that many people, when... When it's like that. And I've been thinking about it for a while, actually. After I found Mia, and... Everything, why stay? I mean I want to help but now the city's fine on its own for the most part. But now... Wouldn't you want to stay? When there's no Waltz and even the Night Runners have sort of forgiven you?"
"Forgiven?" Hakon couldn't help himself, it really was laughable, "Aiden, they might not try to actively get rid of me now, but I'm not sure there's anything for me to actually deserve forgiveness. But that doesn't matter, there's nothing in the city for me anymore. I can't be doing the old gig now."
"Oh... Right."
"Are we still going together, though?"
"Hakon, I want to keep the promise, but it would be dangerous for you."
"I doubt anywhere is safe for me. So if you'll have me along, pilgrim, I'd go with you."
"You're insufferable."
"Thank you."