Sleep came peacefully for one, that one being Erik, Liesel on the other hand struggled hugely. She wanted to lay down, but laying down caused a tension to appear within her shoulder and side which was really quite uncomfortable. Sitting up was just equally as annoying; sitting straight backed against the head board, propped up with pillows, no matter the amount of pillows it still didn't stop her getting a stiff neck.

Erik got fed up, really, really quickly of her constant shifting, turning, sitting, laying, mumbling, sighing; the lot, he had had enough. In the end he sent her a rather withering look, she muttered something that sounded a lot like: "Stupid, Erik." And then went back to fidgeting. Naturally with being suddenly childishly insulted, Erik purposely turned onto his side, pulling the thin duvet with him. 

This caused Liesel to roll onto her back and she let out a rather short sharp sound of pain. Okay, so revenge wasn't meant to go like that. He did it just to annoy her, not to cause her pain. Turning back to her he was met with a hit to the chest and after that was done, Liesel sat up painfully. With a sigh, Erik sat up, Liesel was looking angrily to the wall opposite. He raised an eyebrow, that wall seemed to have offended her somehow. Reaching up, he placed an arm gently around her shoulders, careful and aware to the slight twitching pain which could come from too much pressure on one.

"It's okay for you." Liesel mumbled while leaning her head against his shoulder. After all, he didn't have constant pain stabbing at him like she did. The cut on his head seemed to not affect him, and the knock to the head and the side effects there had worn off. Erik was a little cut, slightly bruised, but he wasn't seemingly suffering like she was.

"Come on," Erik pulled her carefully, Liesel whined yet fell back against the bed. He managed to shift an arm under the pillows and elevate her slightly while she turned onto the one side she could lay on. He turned too and put his other arm across her waist. "Better?"

Liesel looked over her shoulder and nodded slowly. "Much."

"Good, because if you continued on. I would've seriously have moved into another room."

"Broken into another room you mean."

"Minor detail." Erik commented dryly. Liesel rolled her eyes yet looked to the wall opposite. Erik lifted his head up from the pillow and looked down at her. This was the most silent she had been so far. He thought it was too good to be true if she was asleep, and that was about right. She was just laying quietly looking straight ahead. "What is it?" He could tell when she had something on her mind, she just always had this look, something between worry and contemplating.

"I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"Getting home."

"You're still thinking about that?"

"Aren't you?" Liesel sent him a confused look, her hands clutching onto the pillows slightly as she sort of turned to look at him.

"I am able to think of more than one thing."

"You can multitask your thoughts? And here I thought men were meant to be awful at multitasking." Liesel said, laying back down she heard an irritated sigh from behind her, she grinned and buried her face in the pillow. "Sorry." Her voice came out muffled, yet the grin remained on her face, not that Erik could see it.

Erik removed his arm from her waist and took to combing his fingers through her hair. He tucked the auburn strands behind her ear, she had stilled, he thought she had finally gone to sleep. She hadn't, mainly because he could see an eye peeking out from her half buried position. "Don't you ever sleep?" He wanted to sleep. He really wanted to sleep. He was asleep only to get woken up by her fidgeting about like nobody's business. Erik didn't want to go back to sleep knowing she was going to lay here awake and troubled with who only knew what thoughts travelling through her mind.

"I struggle."

"Well, if you're struggling," he said while his arm returned around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest.

"I've been shot in the shoulder. You've probably got the tail end of a concussion. Nothing is going to happen, Erik." Liesel stated blandly, yet there was a smile on her face. How could he possibly think of taking a moment further, after all they've been through today?

He leaned his head against hers and shut his eyes. He nudged gently against her, and also practically buried his face in the soft wavy strands of hair. "I wasn't suggesting anything." He whispered basically in her ear, Liesel gave a shudder which caused him to smirk. "Counting sheep came to mind."

"Oh come on! You got annoyed at me for trying to get comfortable, I am most certain you'd get seriously annoyed at me if I laid here whispering numbers."

"You're meant to count in your head." Erik stated bluntly while shutting his eyes slowly.

"You're such a liar, regardless." Liesel responded eventually after a few moments of silence had passed. Erik let out a quiet laugh and nodded his head against hers. What was the point of lying? "It's okay...you go to sleep, Erik. Don't stay up with me." Liesel reached awkwardly behind herself, she couldn't lift her arm too much or else her shoulder would pull. After awkwardly patting around, she managed to eventually place her palm against his cheek. There was a quiet sigh from him from the contact, Liesel smiled and winced though when he pulled her hand away. 

Movement was really quite painful, she knew it'd be worse tomorrow. Linking his fingers with her smaller ones, he put his arm back around her waist, placing their hands against her stomach. From being bundled up basically against him, Erik could feel Liesel slowly relax, he smiled. She honestly never changed, he swore; she always liked being close, and whenever in the past she had trouble sleeping, all she'd need was him near and she would drift off. It seemed like it was the same even now. With a quiet sigh, Erik gave up being awake. Liesel was breathing steadily beside him, now fully at peace and relaxed in his arms, so he had no reason to be awake anymore either.

----

"You're mad, public transport is surely a no go? Erik! Are you even listening to me?"

"I'm listening, but I'm not really taking in what you're saying, Liesel. How else do you expect to get anywhere? What, you're going to walk? Get loads of taxis? Do you even have any money? Because I know I don't. Least with the metro we can get in easily, and get out." Erik explained while running down the steps to the underground train network. 

Liesel was by his side frowning deeply. She was still on guard, she did expect police to just jump on them as soon as they saw them; so far that hadn't happened, no one had even batted an eyelid at them, they were just two people trying to get somewhere else in the city. Or in this case: out of the city. She sighed and kept her arm close to herself, as she predicted the next morning was worse, she was irritable, and hurting, and people bumping into her was starting to really get to her. 

She let out a low angry noise, which Erik caught and looked at her oddly for. He noticed her predicament, reaching up he put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He put his hand gently across her shoulder, his fingers could faintly feel the stitches. Though most of them were peeking out of the sleeveless cream coloured floral shirt Liesel had stolen. They needed new clothes, which led to some rather shameful stealing. Seeing as how a centre was close by, they had made a detour and rather easily split up and found each other once they had changed. 

Erik had walked along the bright corridor, passing shops as he went and looked at Liesel as she stood waiting by the doors. He stopped and looked at her. She'd changed into a shirtless shirt, and navy denim shorts, she still wore her boots though, her slightly worse for wear jacket was hung over her crossed arms. Her hair was tied up, and she seemed to be blissfully unaware to the looks some passer-bys were sending her way. Some naturally stared at the criss cross scars, which were more than visible now. 

While some, mainly ignorant childish boys, looked her up and down with a glint in their eyes which caused Erik to narrow his. He made a point of walking over and standing close to her, he put an arm around her waist and she looked up suddenly shocked; pulled from her thoughts yet smiled at him. The childish boys went walking away disgruntled then. Erik watched them go with smug satisfaction, Liesel was completely ignorant to it all. She was too busy dwelling on where to go from here. From here, she honestly could admit, she did not see the metro coming.

Yet Erik led the way to the metro down the street, and now they were bustling about with commuters, tourists, locals in no particular rush and basically everyone and anyone. It was the anyone thing which caused Liesel discomfort, more discomfort than what her shoulder was causing. "Where do we go from here?" She asked, they stood on a platform with hundreds of others. Honestly she didn't know how many people could fit onto one stretch of concrete, it was amazing really; but then she also now knew how a sardine in a can felt, or a penguin.

"To the nearest airport."

"Erik..." Liesel whispered lowly, "Passports? Money? Tickets?" He smiled down at her in response, Liesel didn't like that. Okay, she liked his smile, as rare as a genuine one was, she easily enjoyed it; always made a change from him looking so stoic and emotionless. But this smile wasn't one of those, no, this smile was the sort a fox would give a bird before promptly pouncing and catching it in its jaws; Erik had a plan, evidently, and Liesel could tell it was probably one she wasn't going to like.

Regardless, when the train pulled up to the platform, Liesel was guided in by Erik. He was very determined to stop anyone from pushing against her, or into him which would push her in turn. He kept a gentle hold on her waist and directed her towards a seat. Liesel sat down and looked up as Erik stayed standing, his hand wrapped around the pole as his keen eyes flicked around, narrowing slightly as someone stopped and leaned up to get the overhead handle behind him, Erik slowly tore his eyes away and looked down at her.

Liesel was almost glad to see she wasn't the only one who was paranoid. Despite acting casual, Erik too was looking suspiciously over everyone, their fellow travellers were nonchalant and indifferent to them. They were just two more passengers on the train, nothing special about them really. What little they knew.

Liesel didn't know where the nearest airport was, she was totally reliant on Erik knowing where they were going. So far he seemed a lot more clued in than her. But then what was new there? Out of the two Erik was always the one with a firmer idea on what to do, Liesel was the one who listened more; and wasn't so hardheaded as Erik. Leaning back against the chair, she kept her hands in her lap and just tilted her head to look out the window. It wasn't like there was anything to see, black tunnels lit with bright strip lighting. A few posters littered the walls, but the details couldn't be seen as no sooner had they appeared, had they gone again.

With a sigh, she looked back up at Erik. He just shifted his weight, and looked downwards at her. It wasn't like they could talk, the noise of the train rattling through the tunnel was loud, deafening even. Not only that, they had to be careful, even if the passengers around them hadn't paid mind to them, it still didn't mean they weren't going to listen in, to gather information, or find something suspicious in what they would say and go elsewhere with it.

But, regardless of the uneventful trip, the airport was relatively easy to get to. Getting off the packed metro was entertaining, not. Liesel was bustled into and she let out a yelp when her shoulder was knocked, Erik had become temporarily separated because of the eagerness of the escaping passengers. Liesel turned and lost him suddenly in the sea of people as she gripped a hand to her shoulder, wincing, and looking down thankful not to see blood. The last thing she needed was busted stitches.

Liesel stepped aside, faltering on the platform wasn't good; all that was happening was her being pushed around. She was still trying to find Erik, how him managing to blend right in was beyond her. Liesel looked tense at the appearance of guards, armed guards at that. Liesel was under no illusion that the authorities were still on high alert. After all, they would've been uncertain whether Erik and Liesel were still in the city. But it was clear they weren't taking any chances. If they were caught, nothing good would come of it. Honestly, a cell wouldn't hold Erik, and she didn't want to think about being locked away. Either of which, they'd be kept here probably, or sent back to America, that's only if they were caught.

The only way was out, and regardless of still being parted, Liesel started to make her way in that direction. Holding onto her shoulder still, she almost jumped and ran when she spotted the man she was looking for. Erik turned and looked in her direction and walked towards her, meeting halfway he looked her over before nodding. She seemed okay, other than her shoulder clearly causing her problems. He placed a hand on her other shoulder and pulled her close, he wasn't intending to get parted ways again anytime soon.

Following the crowd, they soon reached the main terminal. Erik looked around at all the rushing people, everyone seemed so determined and adamant to get to wherever they were meant to be. No one really paid any mind to them, which was good, they were just another two trying to get somewhere else. Hearing a heavy sigh, he looked slowly down at Liesel. She stood looking highly puzzled, he hadn't explained what his plan was; it was partially done on purpose, yet partially not. "What?" He asked, Liesel rolled her eyes slowly up at him. "Something the matter?" This caused her eyes to slowly narrow. "I'm not a mind reader, Liesel. You're going to have to use words."

"Why are we here?"

"To get home, remember?"

"I'm not stupid. Nor is my memory that awful." Liesel snapped not appreciating being spoken to like that. His patronising tone did nothing but rub her up the wrong way. "How do you propose us getting onto a plane, hm? Without tickets, without money, and without passports. How do you suggest us getting home?"

Erik smiled, putting an arm around her shoulders he pulled her along gently. "Liesel, Liesel," he said quietly while shaking his head. "You sound almost worried there." Which she did, she did sound a little panicky. He wasn't certain which part of all of this was worrying her, probably everything. Erik did have to sort of remind himself that she hadn't done something like this for quite some time. Breaking into off the grid institutions was one thing, but that was all in one state, not far from home. She was across an ocean, with nothing but her own skills and senses, and him to rely on. Erik wasn't calling Liesel rusty, but maybe she was...just a little, not that he was going to tell her this, he rather liked not getting shouted at.

"Do you blame me? You've not said anything! And now we're here...and...why are you pointing? What are you pointing at?" Liesel faltered in her rant to look to the window. They had walked to the large floor to ceiling windows, floods of sunlight shone in lighting the place up with brilliant yellow warmth. There were a few planes on the tarmac, some were being boarded, others were stationary, the one Erik was pointing to was being loaded. But not with people. Liesel squinted her eyes and leaned forwards. She ended up resting her forehead against the cool pane of glass. "You're kidding? You're not kidding. Erik...how do you expect us to get down there?" Liesel moved from the glass and looked up at him.

He turned and looked down at her, he was suggesting sneaking on board one of many postal planes which were in use around the world. At the moment the one nearby was still being loaded up with all sorts of boxes, and crates of smaller parcels and who only knew what else. "Quietly. That's how we get down there."

"Doesn't answer my question..." Liesel said while rolling her eyes and shaking her head gently. His answer just sort of signalled to her that he may not know. Essentially he was quite possibly making this up as he went along. She didn't mind that, she minded getting lied to about it though. Lifting her head up she looked over her shoulder and her eyes widened slowly. Erik caught her sudden shift in character and went to look too, only to have her stop him by turning his face back to her. Frowning, she fidgeted from foot to foot in thought briefly before speaking. "Kiss me."

"Sorry?" Erik raised an eyebrow, he looked utterly confused by her words.

Liesel frowned even more. "Public displays of affection nerves people out. Kiss me and hope to whatever God you pray to that the policemen coming our way back off." Liesel said though her voice quietened down when he leaned down. "Running or even walking away quickly would seem suddenly suspicious." She said though her voice sounded rather distant as she tilted her head slightly.

Erik smirked, "If we encounter more, are you going to suggest the same tactic each time?" He asked while flicking his gaze from hers to her lips and back again. Her bright eyes had dimmed, this time not from anger; but from some other emotion, she smiled slowly and just looked at him.

"Hm, depends really."

"On?"

"Well...how convincing this appears from an outsiders perspective."

Erik rolled his eyes before closing the distance, or what little distance there was between them. Placing a hand gently to her cheek he tilted her head upwards slightly, this caused Liesel to tiptoe slightly seeing as how he had stood up straighter. The height difference between them was still in existence, she was still short, and he was still as tall as ever. Even though the excuse of this moment was a distraction, it still didn't stop it from meaning something. Erik kissed her slowly, meaningfully, while the hand which was against her cheek shifted up and into her hair, his other hand had been rather quickly claimed by one of hers. Liesel twisted her fingers with his and held onto him with her other hand.

Pulling away slowly, Erik looked over Liesel's shoulder and then back at her. "Gone?"

"Gone," Erik confirmed before looking around, yet again no one seemed to wholly care, as if it was completely the norm to see this sort of thing happen.

"Paris is the city of love, or some such rubbish, is it not? Come on, we need to get onto that plane..." Liesel said while managing to get free of his hold and turn and pull him away from the window, she still kept a hold of his hand though. If anything his hand tightened on hers as they trailed through the masses before finding the authorisation only zone. Liesel looked slowly up at Erik, he looked around and reached out. Putting a hand over the lock, he pushed. Hearing a faint clicking he let go of her hand to sneak through the door, Liesel gave it a moment or too before following him.

Looking to the stairwells, one went up the other went down, they looked at each other. Erik was standing pressed against the wall, he looked up and Liesel followed his gaze to see a camera. Lifting up an arm, she pointed a finger. She sent a small shock towards it and watched as the blinking red button on the front stopped. She snapped her eyes away from it as Erik passed her, he crept down the stairs hesitantly. Always looking, and always listening, seeing as how all was clear, he waved her down.

Liesel glanced up at the other stairs, from up there she could hear chatting, laughing and typing and all sort of radio chatter. She guessed that was a control room of some sort. She didn't dwell on it much as she ran down the stairs and jumped from the last two. Turning the corner and looking to the other set of stairs before them, they exchanged a look and went down slowly; Erik led the way, while Liesel trailed a hand against the wall. They didn't encounter anymore security cameras, they didn't even come across another person until they appeared in some sort of sorting room.

Darting to the other side of the open double doorway, Liesel leaned against the wall with her good shoulder and peered in. It was a hub of activity, people in high-vis jackets and clothes bustled about, looking to Erik, Liesel sent him a confused look. He lifted up a hand and clicked his fingers quietly. Liesel frowned and shook her head. He frowned and pointed from her to the room of people. She got the hint, and no she didn't exactly wish to knock all these people out. 

She put her fist to her palm and nodded at two people who were idly chatting and checking over something on a clipboard. Erik rolled his eyes, he got the hint, she was suggesting knocking two people out instead of everyone. She went on to pull at her clothes and then at theirs, Erik raised an eyebrow. With a sigh he pulled away from the wall and slipped into the room. The two people they were referring too were away from everyone else, they were immersed in whatever it was they were talking about, and also shielded slightly by a stack of boxes.

It didn't take much for him to knock them out, and he set them down as quietly as possible before nodding at Liesel. The less encounters of fighting she had the better, in second thoughts. He never liked the thought of her fighting, honestly. Pulling the two over to a nearby cupboard, they managed to steal the high-vis jackets and the clipboard before leaving the small space. He locked the door and looked to her, Liesel was swamped in the jacket, the bright orange of which caused her to wince. It was a gross colour, she wasn't even going to lie. Feeling a gentle tap on her good shoulder, she looked up. Erik held the clipboard to his side while nodding forwards. The large doorway which led out of here led straight to the tarmac. Even from where they stood they could spy the postal plane they intended to get on.

"Erik?" She whispered, he looked at her before moving out from behind the stack of boxes which shielded them from view. "How do we know this is going to America?"

He turned the clipboard over and looked at the information gathered. She had a good point, most postal services went to major cities. Which meant that it was a high chance that from Paris this would end up in Washington, which was where they needed to be. Liesel looked at the paper which Erik suddenly showed her, she nodded slowly and followed him calmly through the present workers. 

Everyone was busy doing their own thing that no one really cared that they walked out onto the stretch of dark tarmac and straight towards the plane. The inside had been gutted, and the ramp was still down. Looking about, Erik ushered Liesel on before following. Tugging her gently by the sleeve when she just stood looking over all the things gathered, he found a section which was stacked with boxes and crates. He managed to climb over and lean against the wall, gesturing a hand to her he helped her climb over and they both sat down quietly.

"This isn't how I imagined our ride home to look like." Liesel said in a whisper.

Erik nodded, he agreed to a point. He didn't care what the ride home looked like, as long as they got back. "Sorry there's no chance of on board services."

"Damn, and I really do love those little packet of peanuts they always force on me." Erik let out a quiet laugh, he went to reply only to still as he heard movement from the end of the plane. The stretch of light which was coming in from outside was slowly cut off as the ramp was lifted. He looked to the side as he faintly heard talking from the pilot and copilot. "Erik?"

"What is it?"

"How do we get off without being noticed?"

"We'll think of that when we get there." Erik said while leaning his head back against the wall.

Liesel let out a quiet sigh and rested her head against his shoulder. "Where to first?"

"Trask." Erik responded.

"Finding the Sentinels, top priority, got it." Liesel whispered lowly, though to be fair the roar of the engine was so load she doubted the pilots would hear her. Still, it was best to be safe.

----

Edited: 17/June/2019

Reedited: 26/August/2021