-Gassy-

It's been over a week. It's been weeks and I haven't heard a single thing from Ze and I'm beginning to grow worried. I guess I sort of automatically assumed he'd be back within a week but the moment that point passed I've begun to grow more and more worried for that troublemaker. Of course, there hasn't been much talk about another dead Ze and the Hidden would be sure to tell me he's dead again when it happens. But if he really is still over there out of his own will, why the hell is he staying with them for so long? Does he really have that much shit to talk about with that Leonardo guy? Recalling Ze continually referring to him as "Leo" just irritates me every time I think about it and I feel myself grow irritated for no good reason with my grip on my pen unnecessarily strong and my handwriting becoming darker with the more ink. Deciding this is not helping much at all I force myself to set down my pen and lean on my palm, taking a deep breath. This is really irritating, I don't want to be this jealous guy but it feels like it's definitely too late for that.

"Gassy?" I glance up, not even having noticed that the door to my office had even opened as the shorter man walks in silently. "I have the new reports on the 'Ze Hunt,' you're in charge of that section, right?" I nod, confirming and accepting the files as he hands them to me. We have reached a negotiation between all of the conferences and yelling. We are authorized to search for Ze for one more required interrogation with specific questions he absolutely has to answer. All things he probably couldn't explain, or maybe he could after he comes back from the Hidden but the last time I saw him probably not. Other questions involved the scandals from years ago though, and I hope he doesn't answer those or else I'll be rotting my ass in jail. What the hell, they got Nanners' innocence back but I feel like mine is on a fragile thread.

"You got... nothing," I note as I look through the files of attempted efforts with no results. He really was careful, considering he was visible too when he left this is pretty impressive. Mark looks down seeming irritated by his lack of results but I'm actually relieved they're not finding shit.

"He knows exactly how to search for someone so he knows exactly how to hide. It's a bit frustrating," Mark complains and I just laugh at his frustration, a bit reminded from the time Ze had to look for Nanners and provide results. He was so set on finding him... which now that I think about it is a bit strange considering he had been caring for Nanners during that time.... I guess he just hated that he couldn't find any shit on Nanners, which makes sense for Nanners, that lucky bastard.

"I'm sure you'll find something. It's been a while since we spoke actually, how's it going? You look... tired," I note and Mark immediately tenses up, suddenly becoming this nervous kid now that I'm asking about him. I do admit I find many similarities in Mark and Ze, they're just both researchers and cute when it comes down to it. Sometimes I purposely make Mark like this because I think about Ze and it makes me feel a bit less lonely, but a bit more anxious for him to come back. He's probably with Leonardo right at this moment and I'm here alone doing my damn work.

"Y-Yeah, I guess I am. Diction has been giving us a ton of work... but... what about you? You haven't seemed depressed or anything... did you finally get over Ze now that he's escaped?" I tense up at the question and feel a bit awkward. Nope, I have most definitely not gotten over Ze considering I'm still together with him. Looking at Mark I feel a bit bad for having to lie to him but it has to be done, no one can know that Ze will be planning on returning to my apartment. Maybe when he comes back I'll convince him to come back to the base and get interrogated quickly and maybe even work here again... okay maybe not the last part considering how hard he tried to get out of here. But if he just goes through the interrogation we can all stop focusing on that.

"Something like that. What about you? You're still young, don't let the work hold you back. Any ladies you're into back home?" I ask curiously, honestly curious about him, a seemingly normal guy. Considering Nanners and Chilled are one of the only other couples I know about, and I'm constantly around Elaine who has made her feelings for Alive clear to me, I feel like I'm surrounded by gay couples. Not that it's bad, I am one, but I just don't know many actual straight people which is a bit surprising. Mark widens his eyes and becomes instantly embarrassed by the question, turning away and seems to hold onto his hands tightly under the desk only fueling my curiosity. "Oh there is. Seems I hit it right on the mark," I comment and he just continues to avert his eyes. I shouldn't pressure him or anything, I feel like a curious grandma butting into his business like this. "Fine, fine, don't tell me anything. I'll file these and inform the others," I say and he immediately takes his opportunity to escape, rushing out of my office leaving me alone again. Staring at the closed door suddenly Ze comes into my mind again and I look down at the desk.

Both Mark and Diction haven't said shit to me about their little private conversation. I understand Mark but I seriously thought that Diction tells me everything, no matter how much he thinks it'd hurt me but instead he just stayed silent. He failed to tell me that while my boyfriend is out there doing who knows what he could die any moment out there and he may not even be aware of it. It's really... unsettling. It's because of the lack of details that have been told to me that I'm panicking a bit wondering just how much time he possibly has. Suddenly I feel like taking back everything nice I just thought about Mark a moment ago in pure annoyance. I feel like... I've only listened to half of the story, a story I have the right to know. They're not even showing any signs of telling me, and neither of them seem to be guilty or anything about keeping this from me. Maybe I'm overreacting and I should just ask Mark about his recent research on Ze. If he tells me, I really was overreacting and they just forgot. If he doesn't tell me, then they're really just being assholes and keeping this from me. I find myself distracted constantly thinking about asking him about it but shake my head, trying to focus on what's in front of me. A soft knock distracts me from my distractions and I glance up to the door.

"Gassy? You still working?" I glance up to the door where I find Ohm looking around the door. I feel a bit unsettled, with this guy high on my suspect list of all of the possible traitors. If I really wanted to I could ask him what he was doing in the lab now and get all of the difficult times out of the way. But... the way he always seems on high alert and even when he jokes around he seems a bit tense, it makes him seem... too traitory. Like he's too shitty a spy to actually be one. Who the hell knows, for all we know Nanners could be the soy again just for the hell of it. No, I doubt it with Chilled now holding the leach around him, and Chilled definitely wouldn't betray Ze with his values. I shouldn't even think of Diction, plus, Ze said one of the sergeants in training like this guy in front of me right now. Then again there's also the others with him, like Minx. I doubt she'd be anything though, I've known her throughout her entire career here and she's never once seemed out of it. Plus, she was close with Ze, even when he came back. But then again so is Ohm, and Ze didn't really seem to mind being around them. This shit is just confusing me.

"Yeah, I'm still here. What's up?" I ask, ignoring that annoying pain aching in my head. Ohm looks at me seeming a bit upset before glancing around the room as if there's someone hiding in the corner. Finally he leans in the desk and looks to me with some sort of curious glint.

"I was - uh - wondering... is... do you know where Ze is?" I narrow my eyes and open my mouth immediately, unable to deny what he just asked right there is really fucking guilty but he quickly shakes his head and sets his hands on the desk. "No, no, no. I'm asking because I need to find him. He... he asked me for a favor before he disappeared. I don't feel right being left hanging like this, and he seemed to need I've for something important..." Ohm says, looking to the side seeming nervous about what I'll say next. Sighing I lay my head on the palm of my hand and stare at Ohm for a good amount of time, trying to file through all of what he just said through my head.

"And what favor is this? You know I'm calling bullshit if you say you can't tell me," I say and he immediately tenses up, confirming my suspicions he'll just say something half-assed like that. "Ohm, if you can't even tell me how am I supposed to help you? We're already doing our best trying to find him, just be patient and you can do whatever you want for him then."

"It seemed like it was urgent though... If... say you see him again, just ask him. Maybe he'll tell you and you would believe me," Ohm murmurs, seeming upset at the little lecture he received. Staring at the man I glance away and towards the computer screen. If I could see him again I'd ask him that on top of many other questions then maybe continue where we left off. Ze... really irritates me sometimes, like his timing with telling me sweet things like that and initiating for once and just abandoning me the next day like a little asshole. I hope... he's okay.

"If that happens I will... Ohm, if you're hiding something just tell me," I say, seeming to shock him and he tenses up immediately only making him that more suspicious. So the fucker really is hiding something from us, I can only hope that it isn't really that bad and he's just overreacting like always. "Just tell me at least. I won't tell Diction if you don't want me to, or anyone really. I just don't want to be suspecting you anymore, I miss being able to look at you without seeing all of the suspicious things you do." Ohm hesitates and holds his hands together on his lap, seeming to actually consider saying whatever he's hiding which is... relieving and frustrating. Relieving because it means he's considering it and therefore means it isn't punishable by hunting him down and letting him rot in jail, but frustrating because that means our only lead was gone. Suddenly he opens his mouth but the door behind him opens suddenly and Minx appears on the other side, seeming to be tired.

"Hey do you know where Ohm is?" She says seeming tired as she rubs her eyes. Ohm turns around and immediately her tired posture changes and she smacks Ohm on the head. "What the fuck? We were supposed to be watching movies and you fucking disappeared on me. Come on, I have more to talk about with you," Minx orders, basically dragging Ohm out of my room as I just watch silently. They're actually really close, Minx and Ohm. They've been good friends since the day Ohm got here, it makes me curious, what do they even talk about when they're alone? What if I got this all wrong and there really is two traitors? I'm just panicking again, Ohm probably isn't a traitor judging by his reactions. Looking down at my work I sigh again and let the papers float to the table as I follow it with my arms laid on the table and use them as a pillow. I'm tired of all of this worrying and thinking about Ze. That fucker... should hurry his ass back before I get even lonelier.

-Ze-

"Steven, focus will you?! ...Gah, never mind. Take a break," the man shouts at me, throwing the knife to the ground leaving me just panting and staring at my own knife before allowing it to drop onto the ground. I was never good at being a Hidden, I don't think I ever will be considering I'm not even a full Hidden yet. My own skills were never above average and I always make little fuck ups at the worst times. It makes sense why I stopped being a soldier and started being a scientist. Taking a deep breath I step away from the training ground and find Leo in the distance on the other side of a window. He's talking to someone, someone I don't recognize but it feels comforting to know that he's here. He came with me to Italy, not sure why but I'm glad I didn't have to come back all alone. Plus, it I have anymore questions I can just ask him. Like how the hell I'm supposed to know where to find Smarty. I don't know where the hell he is beyond knowing he's somewhere here. As soon as I got here they've been forcing me to train and do nothing but train because they all know how useless I'd be if I get attacked. Eventually the man Leo was talking to walks off leaving Leo seeming a bit troubled, scratching the back of his neck. I wonder what they talked about.

"Steven, you were friends with Chilled, weren't you?" I look over towards the voice, a girl I've never seen before sitting on the edge of the fountain. I nearly agree immediately just out of habit then I realize I'm surrounded by Hidden, Hidden who may decide to get rid of me at any second.

"Friend? We were assigned partners until he betrayed us," I explain plainly but the girl just laughs. Staring at the strange girl a bit confused I can't help but wonder how the hell she knew it. Only Hidden in America should know we were partners. Which means this girl has to be from America.

"You act like you don't know what friends are. You really are brainwashed, interesting," the girl bursts out laughing thankfully revealing she doesn't know as much as I thought. She stares at me for a long time without saying anything more making me feel a bit uncomfortable but finally turns away when the trainer comes back into the room seeming still agitated from my recent failures. The girl doesn't leave, she just continues watching me be completely shit on no matter what action I do or how well I do it. Every once in a while she'd giggle or make some sort of comment I'm not listening to. It's only when the training ends and I'm free to return to researching that she follows me and approaches me directly. "What you gonna do now? Have work to do?"

"Yes," I answer simply, keeping the blank mindset I've been pretending to have around all of these guys but feel a bit hesitant to speak at all. For all I know she's trying to spy on me and see if America really didn't affect me after all. Her eyes try their best to follow me, confirming my suspicions she was most definitely not an elder or anybody incredibly important who can't even see other Hidden.

"Can I come? I'm bored," the girl says and I just shrug, not minding either way before I suddenly realize she's keeping an eye on me. I was right, this girl has to be some random Hidden they chose to keep a close eye on me. And if I refuse her without a legitimate purpose they'll immediately discover that I was lying and pretending this whole time to not have any common sense or actual awareness. Although I told her she could come I feel awkward with her just following me without saying a single word but just observing. She must... she must have been ordered to observe me, I feel certain of this. As I walk down the hallway I notice Leo in the distance seeming distracted just as he seemed before. Lately Leo has been being lectured a lot more than the past for some reason, with nothing seeming to go his way now unlike the past where everything seemed to go his way. Me being back is something that has gone against his plans, making me feel a bit guilty but I need to know about what the hell I am or it'll just be eating at me forever. Hell, I don't even know if I'm stable in my condition, having to rely on the cure to survive. Leo notices me staring and immediately wipes off that troubled look off his face and smiles.

"Steven, did you finish the training? How'd you do today?" Seeing my expression and taking it as an answer he rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. "Seriously, haven't you realized you will eventually be murdered by the humans if you continue like this? Useless," he mutters nearly breaking my heart for a moment before realizing there is a girl right behind me. He's acting like his old self because of her, always insulting and brutal like this with that scary smile of his that does still intimidate me. With this girl around, however, we'll get nothing done and get no conversation. I wonder just how long she'll be planning to follow me around. "Should I train you? I'm sure enough negative reinforcement will work just fine," he says with that same creepy smile and I tense up a bit and shake my head.

"I'm making progress just fine. I'd prefer to train with the same instructor," I say calmly and he raises and eyebrow and suddenly lays his hands on my shoulders.

"Aw you don't want to train with me, pet? It'll be so fun. You don't even know your instructors name, do you?" I freeze up and he laughs immediately, letting go of me and waving me off. "Go off, study your things. I have more work to do," Leo orders me and although I feel hesitant to leave without talking normally at all I take note of the girl who is just silently listening without any input on the conversation. Even Leo is acting as if she doesn't exist, she really is acting like a spy on me, but not a very good one. When will I get her off my back? If I ask her to get off my back it'll make me seem suspicious. I'll have to act like nothing is wrong with this. Continuing to the small room full with computers I take my place at the main computer as the girl just walks around curiously seeming tense, attempting not to touch a single computer. Typing furiously at the computer I find where I left off of just typing out my thoughts and plans of different Hidden cures. Of course there isn't one type, just like there isn't one type of visibility solution as seen by Ohm's solution.

Which reminds me, I need to find a way to speak with him about getting the solution to me. But I have no way of actually getting him directly to me, unless I ask someone there to get it for me. Suddenly I glance at the computer in front of me with full capabilities of email. I could, and no Hidden should really know about it since they can't actually use the computers... but I should be careful either way. It'd be good to email someone right now though to make sure Ohm just doesn't give up on that completely. I'll have to email Gassy to get Ohm to give him the solutions and bring it to his house, the place I'm planning to return to. Maybe when I don't have this girl watching my every move I'll get to shoot the email. But before I know it it's been three days and whenever she gets the chance she's constantly hanging around me and watching my every move. Just how long are they planning on having her look after me and watch me. Beyond me, I feel like they've assigned her to watch Leo as well with the lack of time I have with him to myself. He is... suspicious to the Hidden. He isn't on their side after all... but he's also not with the humans. I... admire Leo, the ability to be neutral but have true intentions. I guess that is a bit of the side I've adopted, no longer with IRIS nor the Hidden... morally, not physically because technically I'm still a part of them.

"Hey Steven." Surprised by the sudden voice I glance up and watch the door to the small room open and Leo walks in seeming troubled and completely disheveled. At the strange sit the girl from the right of me perks up seeming a lot more interested now that she might find some dirt. What the hell is he doing acting so suspicious? He must have had a strange conversation or been lectured again, but I probably won't find out as long as we're both being watched. Without even looking at the girl as he's been doing all of this time he steps up to me and points towards the computer in front of me. "I need you to contact someone with that. You set up internet in here the other day, right?" I nod slowly, feeling very hesitant with this guy standing in front of me seeming to be disturbed by something. I want to ask, I want to ask so badly what's bothering him but that would show the smallest inkling of emotion that can really fuck me if this girl finds out.

"How do you want me to message whoever?"

"...I need you to email Tom," Leo says shocking me a bit and my fingers on the keyboard freeze. Are we... thinking about the same Tom? "I need you relay him a message," Leo says slowly, looking around the room and pacing a bit leaving me just staring at him and waiting for whatever message he wants to come out. I open up the email system and start the blank message, very aware of the girl whose name I haven't bothered to remember. I'm decently sure she's told it to me but I just never paid attention to her, partially because of the role play that I'm just a brainwashed pet but also because I just haven't cared enough to. "I need you to tell him... that him and Diction need to set up a trip to Italy," Leo finishes and My fingers slowly type one letter at a time very hesitantly. There is a moment of silence in the room before the girl suddenly gets up with wide eyes and seems very alert.

"Wait, you're working with the-!" The girl never gets to finish the sentence before Leo pulls out his knife and slashes deeply into her neck, holding his arms over her mouth silencing her hopeless scream. I watch, frozen by the sudden act of murder before Leo guides her to the floor slowly and her body begins to sizzle away in the same way all Hidden die. Leo glances over at me suddenly and I immediately tense up in front of the guy who has murdered a girl in front of me.

"I'm afraid you've run out of time here. You need to leave."