The stabilizer did the trick, though Kyle did his damn best to pretend it hadn't. Even if his cut had closed and the skin was healing with dizzying speed, he lay flat in his cell, moving heavily and groaning from time to time.

As expected, the goons gave him a wide berth, still debating whether whatever he had could be contagious. Just to mess with them, he broke into a few coughing fits that sent them running towards the door. After all, he was with one foot in the grave. What was the point to keep guarding him?

The only problem was that he could no longer sleep during the day, so just lying there was boring as fuck. While alone, he paced, then did some push-ups, then shook the gate to see how sturdy it was. Then, he lay down some more.

A few grumbling guards made their entrance at what seemed to be midday. Kyle closed his eyes and kept still, his hands folded under his head.

"Does he look sick?"

"He looks relaxed."

Right. He shut his eyes tightly and winced. Then flinched and let out a groan.

"Yeah, he's still dying."

"I heard the boss poisoned him."

Kyle did his best not to huff with laughter.

"I don't think he even got to see him."

"What are you talking about? They came out of the jungle together."

"Wait, which boss are you talking 'bout?"

"Which're you?"

Kyle tensed, the frown on his face real this time. He even chanced opening one eye a fraction. The two morons were facing his cage, but staring at each other, their eyes wide as saucers, fear obvious on both their faces. Then, the one on the right aimed his rifle at his companion.

"Who's your boss?"

The other guy raised his eyes and shook his head. "Von Crooken, man. Just... It's hard to shake the habit, ya know?"

He was lying, but Kyle couldn't tell what he was lying about which was troublesome.

The other guy eyed him wearily, but lowered his weapon a fraction. Still threatening, but a bit less so. "Nothing personal, but since he's been back, it all went to shit. Who would've thought he wouldn't stay dead?"

"Yeah," Terrible Liar agreed, terribly lying again. "He had to come back and make things all complicated for the boss."

"The thing is," Von Crooken's goon said, "there are still some people on his side. And they're slimy bastards, liars and pussies. Though..." His eyes darted towards Kyle for a few moments. "He really did get him good."

"I heard he also got the jewel," the other man whispered. "Showed it to the boss and everything. I mean... He's still a bit scary."

It was so weird, listening to these two drones discussing the conflict between their bosses. What Kyle hated was that he couldn't tell if the lying one was just an idiot or on their side. The thought made him wince. Since when did he consider himself on the same side as Snitch Gravel? But the truth was, he did. Snitch Gravel deserved a lot of bad things for what he'd done, but not from someone like Von Crooken who was worse.

"I know, right?" The traitor goon finally lowered his weapon and relaxed, buying the lies. "It's like he can read minds, like he knows everything and is just letting it happen so that he can figure out who's involved and punish us all."

The other man shuddered. "Fuck, hope not. I don't want to be on the receiving end of Rud's punches."

They started gossiping about other goons afterwards, trying to identify those who would still be on Snitch Gravel's side. To Kyle's dismay, there weren't many. Apparently Von Crooken gave them what they expected and wanted. Contraband, money and drugs. They knew what they were getting with him, unlike Snitch Gravel who had always been a mystery.

The moment their shift ended, the next round of goons were much quieter and Kyle felt like screaming. He really needed to move, do anything to burn some of the excess energy inside him. It was weird to feel this way again, certain in his movements and not exhausted. But with it came the frustration that he wasn't doing anything to end this and get back to his family. Maybe he should escape and start searching the jungle for the others. But that would feel like abandoning ship and he'd made a promise.

He'd meant it when he said he'd stick around to help Snitch Gravel. After everything that had happened, he couldn't just bail. And he wanted the truth which meant keeping Bob alive.

The thought swarmed around his mind as he drifted off into that weird space between sleep and consciousness. He was actually convinced that he hadn't fallen asleep until a touch on his shoulder made him jerk awake.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Snitch Gravel whispered.

Kyle sat up and scooted backwards until his back hit the wall. He blinked, trying to adjust to the sliver of light coming from the door to the hallway which now stood open. Snitch Gravel crouched in the middle of the cage, a plate once again in his hand. He wore a black ensemble of jeans and t-shirt, so it was obviously fairly late into the night.

"Wha--?" He rubbed his eyes, trying to snap himself back into proper consciousness.

"Are you feeling disoriented?" Snitch Gravel sounded suspicious.

"No, I'm fine. I was just sleeping weirdly."

"Understandable. You're still exhausted."

"I'm actually bored, but fuck that. Von Crooken is trying to overthrow you."

The affirmation had Snitch Gravel freezing like a statue. There was no cursing, no flinch of surprise.

Kyle narrowed his eyes. "You know that, because that's your little problem. But do you know how many of your men are on your side? Because from what I've heard, he's got the upper hand."

"Yes, I am aware of that." His voice was strangely blank which made it clear that he didn't have a plan.

Kyle's mind started whirling, trying to come up with a solution. "Look, you could hand me over to him. You'll think of a reason, I bet he'd love it anyway. I could get something out of him, make him boast like the idiot he is. Then we could figure out--"

Snitch Gravel let out a weird sound which resembled a strangled sob. Kyle stopped, his attention drawn from plans to find out what Von Crooken was up to.

"Are you okay?"

"I should let you out of here," Snitch Gravel said after a few moments. His words came out thick. "It's getting too dangerous. I'll give you the jewel and I'm sure you'll find your brothers."

"Wait, what are you doing?"

"You can't get caught in the middle of this. It will get so ugly."

"You're throwing me out?"

Snitch Gravel let out a hallow laugh. "I'm letting you go. Giving you everything you wanted."

"Fuck the jewel. I said I'd help you with this. We're in it together."

"No." Snitch Gravel's voice shook. "You don't have to be in it. I can't let you, not when..." He didn't finish, just let the words trail off.

Kyle got the message though. "You're trying to protect me."

"I'm trying to protect you all. I planned to... Well, it doesn't matter anymore. It's too dangerous for the others to get here. I can't call off the search for obvious reasons, but if you get to them first, you can--"

"Stop it!" Kyle pushed himself off the wall and closer to Snitch Gravel. A myriad of feelings struck him, the most prominent being confusion and anger. "I said I wouldn't bail on you, that I'd help you."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but--"

"No! You don't have to do this alone. Not anymore."

"Shut up," Snitch Gravel said, the words coming out distorted, as if it took great effort to push them out. "Do you have any idea what happens to people who stand beside me? To people I care about?"

Kyle blinked, the slight change in topic throwing him off. "Wha--?"

"Everyone I've ever loved has either died or been hurt or disappeared or changed. I'm not going to let any of that happen to you. Not to you. To any of you, actually."

He had no idea what to say to that, how to respond, because it felt right and wrong at the same time. The words painted a picture which cleared the mess in his head, the weird feelings inside him. But to be sure, he had a few more questions to ask.

"You have a story for us."

Snitch Gravel scoffed. "Yes, I do. But not at the price of your safety. I think you gathered by now that I'm neck-deep in this shit. It's definitely worse than I expected, and I don't have a plan. That's why you can't be here. Not until I sort this out. Not until it's safe."

"What if I leave and they get you? What if you don't manage to make it work this time?"

"That's on me. I've made my bed many years ago and now I have to sleep in it. I did this."

"The people you love..."

The words seemed to break Snitch Gravel. He dropped the plate and fell from his crouch on his butt, burying his face in his hands. Kyle threw a quick glance towards the door and then outside the bars, but they seemed to be alone. Just to make sure it stayed that way, he scurried over and closed the door, leaving the two of them in darkness. Small sobs were escaping Snitch Gravel and no one needed to witness that.

Once the door was safely shut, he moved back towards him, close enough to reach out and touch him if needed. For the moment, Kyle respected his personal space as he tried to figure out what to do next. He'd never expected anything like this to be even remotely possible, yet after all the time spent with Snitch Gravel, it seemed only natural that he'd finally crack.

"You'll be alright," he said, his voice low.

"No. I've been pushing myself for thirty years, doing and saying anything necessary to keep my cool and control everything. I can't anymore. I just can't." His voice was thick with tears and Kyle was grateful for the darkness.

"You just need to unload after all that."

"Yeah fucking right." He let out a laugh, but even that sounded desperate. "I've needed to unload before. This is different. This is... You broke me."

"I... what?"

"You, with your compassion and your promises and your light."

"I meant what I said. I will help you. I'll get the others to listen."

"Don't you get it. I know that!" Snitch Gravel's tone became more desperate with each word. "I know you're not trying to screw me over, that you're not just about the story either, that you want me to--" He chocked.

Kyle put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed. He wanted to tell him it would be alright again, but it wasn't what he needed to hear. He didn't really need to hear anything, just come to terms with whatever had happened that had flipped his world upside down.

"Don't you see?" Snitch Gravel finally whispered. "I fucked up. I fucked up so badly from the start, forcing myself to hate you, to hunt you when all of this wasn't your fault. It wasn't even mine, but I could never forgive myself. And because I couldn't, I had to hate them, too. But this was not about you."

Kyle only squeezed harder, waiting for the resolution, his heartbeat speeding up with every word.

"Now maybe it's too late. I should have reached out years ago. Differently. Not wait. Not stall until I became utterly useless to you."

"That's not the case," Kyle said, keeping his voice soothing.

"Stop that!" Snitch Gravel pushed his hand away. "Stop being understanding and nice and noble. I don't deserve it!"

"You have a very low opinion of yourself and what you deserve."

"Are you shitting me? You don't even know half of the things I've done!"

Yeah, he made a good point, but somehow it didn't matter anymore. Not fully at least. "I was hoping I was having this conversation with Bob, not Snitch Gravel."

He let out another desperate laugh. "Bob doesn't exist."

"Neither does Snitch Gravel."

His words brought about an avalanche of sobs and Kyle wished he could take them back. This whole situation made him feel uncomfortable and heartbroken at the same time, because on some level, he could relate. He knew the pressure, being caught in something that seemed so easy in the beginning. Finally cracking under all the pressure. He'd been lucky. He'd had Kay and his family and friends, and they'd always been in this mess together. Snitch Gravel had no one. At least until now.

It was maybe insane, but he was well too aware that Snitch Gravel had saved him. That all throughout this craziness, he'd only snapped once, when he'd beaten Sam into a coma. That thought still made Kyle want to strangle him, but the man he was then, not who he was now, desperate and alone. So he scooted a bit forward and clasped his shoulder again.

Snitch Gravel didn't flinch away from the contact. On the contrary, he leaned towards Kyle until his forehead rested against his shoulder. It somehow made Kyle hurt even more, as if the physical contact was a catalyst for the pain. He moved his hand from Snitch Gravel's shoulder to his back.

"We can do this," he whispered. "Somehow, we're going to make everything right. Together. Because we need you. Your knowledge and your power."

"You don't need me," Snitch Gravel mumbled into his shoulder. "I need you to save me."

"We will. We save everybody."

His words made Snitch Gravel hug him tightly. It felt so wrong, and yet so natural.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "For everything. For the fear, the misery, not realizing that we could have worked together from the beginning, that you were worthy and I could tell you the truth."

Kyle couldn't even imagine what that would have been like. Not in a time when they still thought their father and the Agency were the good guys. Would they have believed him with men like Von Crooken by his side? Would his henchmen had turned against him since then?

"You'll tell us the truth now." It was all he could say.

"Yes, I will." Snitch Gravel pulled away, keeping his hands on Kyle's shoulders. "I meant it. Even if I was wasted out of my mind the first time I said it, I meant it, and I'm saying it again. Sober."

"Um, what are you talking about?"

"I really do wish you were my son."

The words made Kyle flinch, the raw emotion behind them overwhelming. It also opened up gates he'd closed a long time ago when he'd accepted that he wasn't meant to have a father.

"It hurt not having one," he said.

"Which is why I wish I could've filled that spot for you. For..." He faltered and looked away.

The thought was strangely painful. "You did look after me more than Freider ever has. I bet you know more things about me than he ever did."

"I'm only going to say this once because it's embarrassing as fuck, but I want you to know it." He took in a big breath. "I said I might start to like you. Truth is I have all along, even if I denied it to my self. But I won't deny this anymore. I love you. And that's that."

The words struck Kyle dumb. There were a million jokes and quips he could've thrown out there, but he didn't. Because this declaration paired with their entire conversation gave the words and entirely different meaning. Snitch Gravel wished they were family and it was the kind of love Kyle had for his brothers that was driving their enemy now.

Enemy... He was not their enemy anymore. Just a potential very useful ally and... Kyle couldn't tell what else, but it felt like a vice in his chest.

"Let's get out of here." Snitch Gravel pulled away from him and stood. "After all of that, I need a drink."

🧭

Kyle's mind was overloaded with information, so he stayed silent on his way to Snitch Gravel's office. Once there, he sat down on the chair in front of his desk and watched him take out a bottle, fill his first glass and drink it. After he filled his second, he lay it down and sat, massaging his forehead. His face looked gaunt and there were tearstains on his cheeks.

"That was strangely liberating," he said after a while, his hand still over his eyes.

"When's the last time you even said something like that?"

"To someone's face? Thirty years."

"Wow." Kyle had no idea what else to say.

"I know. An awful long time to be alone."

"You're not anymore."

"And that's also liberating. The thing is, it's a little hard to accept."

"Not like you have a choice. I don't tend to give up on people. I'm selfish like that."

"Ah, yes, your selfishness theory. I tend to agree with Kay, though. You don't look selfish from any angle."

The memory made Kyle smile, as did the fact that Snitch Gravel actually remembered the story. But that shouldn't be surprising. He'd always been good at trivia.

They sat in silence for a while, Snitch Gravel still massaging his forehead, Kyle having no idea what to say. Even if it had happened mere minutes ago, the breakdown felt surreal. There was no way Snitch Gravel had told him that he loved him, that he wished he were his father. But it had happened and now he didn't know what to do with it.

Snitch Gravel on the other hand, even with his hand still covering his face, looked a lot more at peace with himself, as if he'd passed some of his weight to Kyle.

"What you said..." He couldn't help it. Part of him never wanted to mention it again, much like the hand holding in the tunnels, but he couldn't let it go. "Why me?"

"I don't know." Snitch Gravel lowered his hand and turned to face him, a pensive expression settling over him. "On some level, it's all of you. I mean, everything I've put you through, the way you've handled it... It just made me feel... proud, I guess. Most of the time. And I see bits and pieces of myself in every one of you."

Kyle hated it, but he could actually see that. Sam's brand of historical genius, Jerry's inclination towards chemistry and medicine, Tom's burning desire for chaos and Jimmy's ability to be level-headed. As for him... Well, he guessed there was the sarcasm and the tendency for drama.

"But you..." Snitch Gravel shook his head. "You're... possible, I guess."

"Possible?"

"And Jimmy."

"Jimmy?" Out of everyone, Snitch Gravel must've interacted with Jimmy the least. At least that's how it had always seemed to Kyle.

"I..." He bit his lip, but then shook his head. "No. I can't tell you before I tell him. It wouldn't be fair. It's part of the story for all of you."

Kyle could get that. What he couldn't get was the first part. "What do you mean I'm possible?"

Snitch Gravel hesitated again, and Kyle suspected he wanted to lie, but knew he couldn't.

"Honestly," he finally said, "after all this, I got to know you best. And I want to believe that you would've turned out like this if I'd raised you myself. You made me want a family."

The last affirmation made Kyle flinch. "You once told me you did want a family."

"But you reminded me I still have one."

That was a bit shocking. "You do?"

"Yeah. One I've abandoned long ago. But maybe it's not too late. Maybe there is still room for redemption."

"So that's it? You're telling us the story and going back to your family?"

"Pretty much." He leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head.

That sounded so anticlimactic. "What about the Agency?"

"Oh, I haven't forgotten about them. Unless I get overthrown, and then we're all screwed, you're getting all the help I can provide with bringing them down. But it's not going to be easy. They're like rats. I think you'll have to hunt them down one by one and end them."

That didn't sound desirable in the slightest. "Do you know who's behind it?"

Snitch Gravel frowned at this and picked up his glass. "Not exactly. I'm sure the old farts leading it when I was there are dead by now. So someone else must've either intervened or been promoted. My money's on Keeves."

"Keeves?" Kyle had always imagined it would be some form of secret council, not someone they actually knew. Someone he'd punched in the face.

"I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I haven't managed to get information about anyone above him. I'm thinking they might be using the same method Nicholas did. Pretend there's someone big and scary behind you, someone you can blame, when there's actually no one."

"How do you know all this? I'm thinking they must have--" He halted because he realized he was being an idiot. Snitch Gravel never hid that he had someone on the inside. "Who's your mole?"

"Ah, that." He frowned in thought for a moment. "We're definitely cool, right?"

"Um, what?"

"I mean I might be getting the feels and misread you. And this guy's been helping me out a lot and I don't want to screw him over in case you decide it would be nice to shoot him in the head."

The idea was so ridiculous, Kyle actually laughed. "Wow, feels really do make you dumb. Of course we'd want him on our side. Just like we want you."

Snitch Gravel grinned and it was so easy going, it was hard to imagine he'd lost it less than a half hour ago. "Yeah, true. There's no going back now. All or nothing. It's Steve Turner."

"What?" Kyle could've believed everyone except playful, childish Steve. He'd always been friendly, from the first time they met to the time they let him in on their plans for rebellion.

"He's not the kind of mole you think, however," Snitch Gravel said. "He was the selective information type. Dirt on the Counters? Always. Dirt on you? Not so much. Not that I asked. I respected his choices."

Kyle opened his mouth and closed it again because he had no idea what to say. No wonder Snitch Gravel was always one step ahead of the Agency. Steve was right there in the research department and they'd never bothered keeping it down in front of him. They'd always trusted him.

"I just..."

"It's shocking, isn't it? How it's all slowly coming out. Their plans. My plans. My feelings." The word was filled with a type of innocent wonder that reminded Kyle of his kids. It hurt.

You'll go back to them. All you have to do is finish things here.

"It is a bit disconcerting, yes."

"I don't blame you. I'd be shocked, too, if you professed your feelings for me."

Kyle knew Snitch Gravel meant it as a joke, but there was still a bit of longing behind it. This in turn pushed the need for him to figure out how he felt. Sure, there was no hatred there, not after everything that happened. There was companionship and the elements which could define a budding friendship. But from that to family... There was no love lost between them, not from his side. And for some reason, he felt guilty about it.

"You really don't have to say anything."

"I couldn't even if I tried," Kyle mumbled.

He was also spared by a knock on the door. A loud, hard one, followed by two shorter ones. His heart jumped into his throat and all his muscles tensed, ready for a fight.

"Come in," Snitch Gravel said unexpectedly.

"What are you doing?" He didn't get to say more because the door opened and a tall, broad black man entered the room.

Kyle had seen him before, knew him as one of Snitch Gravel's better guards. He froze upon seeing the scene, his suspicious eyes on Kyle.

"Um, sir..."

"It's alright, Rudolpheus. You can talk."

The man hesitated, still glaring at Kyle. Kyle glared back, not impressed. Apparently fitting in was going to be a bit of a problem in case they ended up joining the murderous goon gang.

"We caught two of them," the man said, his gaze moving to Snitch Gravel.

It took Kyle a few moments to compute the information and it was all Snitch Gravel needed to round his desk, stop next to the chair and put his hand on his shoulder to stop him from standing.

"Just two?" he asked, his voice calculated. "Who?"

"A man who hasn't been with them before and..." Rudolpheus glanced at Kyle for a moment. "His wife."

Kay. "How is she?"

Snitch Gravel's hand fell heavier on his shoulder. "Were Von Crooken's men with you?"

"Yes, a bunch of them. They got most of the beating." He hesitated for a few seconds. "And she's fine."

Kyle's chest filled with pride and longing and it became steadily harder to just stay seated when he knew Kay was in the same building as him.

"Fuck," Snitch Gravel mumbled. "Take them to the cells. Put the man as far away as possible. Leave Kay in his cage." He nodded towards Kyle. "I want you to leave them unguarded with the lights turned off."

Rudolpheus frowned, but in a pensive manner. "They will notice he's gone."

"You can tell them he's with me, that I'm interrogating him. That I'll take the others for interrogation once I'm done. Be as gory as you choose."

The man didn't question the order, just bumped his chest with his fist and let himself out. The moment the door closed, Snitch Gravel released Kyle's shoulder and pulled back. He stood immediately, the energy running through him only growing in intensity.

"I know you want to see her, but give it a few minutes."

Easier said than done. He started pacing, going faster and faster. Suddenly, a thought came to him and he stopped. "You will let me see her."

Snitch Gravel let out a laugh. "I don't think I'd be able to stop you even if I wanted to. But yes, you can see her. And maybe you can illuminate me who that other man is."

Kyle had a hunch already, but he didn't want to get into that. He just wanted to finally let her know that he was alive and well, and that their happily ever after was still possible.

"Bring her here," Snitch Gravel said. It wasn't an order. It sounded like a plea. "After you're done saying hi."

"Okay."

He started pacing again, waiting. He knew Snitch Gravel was right, that it would be insane to go in there without the proper set up. And yet, waiting was the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life.

A few more minutes. Just a few more minutes.

Then, he'd be alive again.

🧭🧭🧭

It's all coming together! And wow, what a strange chapter this has been. But the alliances are formed and we're getting so ready to head into the fray.

I'm out of inspo for these notes but I do hope you left your thoughts inline.

So let's all have a very happy and productive new year and I'll see you on the other side!