In Search Of The Neon City

9 - Lo

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play innocent Lo, I'm old in this game. I saw right through your sweet little questions a long time ago." Twelve replied amused.

I frowned and looked into his flickering eyes on the screen, one was clearly synthetic "so why did you keep talking to me?"

"It's pretty obvious that you work for someone."

"And?"

"And I wanted to make sure of things." He said with a shrug.

I raised an eyebrow "Things?"

He leaned back so that most of his body disappeared in the dark "some people are evil and others are forced to do evil things to survive" he said and crossed his big arms over his chest.

My heart pounded inside, did he just openly say he was worried about me? "So you think I'm cool?"

"I know you are Lo, otherwise I would have shut you down a long time ago."

"Just like that?"

He gave me a crooked smile "just like that."

I bit my lower lip and looked down, hell what a mess. So what now? What was my next step?

I guessed that Twelve was honest with me, so maybe it was time I was honest back? If he really was such an awesome hacker as he claimed, he would have already found out everything about me that he needed, he would know where I was and who else I was connected to, without me noticing.

I glanced up at him for a few seconds before my eyes fell on my hands again "Our leader ..." I began a little hesitantly "he thinks you can open a door for us into Vegas."

"I can," he replied calmly, "but I refuse."

I nodded a few times and looked up at him under the fringe "have you ever been there?"

"I was born there."

I felt my chin fall down and I gaped wide-eyed to his great delight.

"I promise you it's nicer out here."

"H-how? How the hell can that be?!" I exclaimed and felt all oxygen leave my brain at the same time as a panic attack began to creep in.
If Vegas was not the paradise we dreamed of, what the hell was there to live for?

"Listen Lo" he said softly "do you have a family?"
I nodded a little while trying to calm myself with a few deep breaths. "Then you have everything you need, ignore big dreams and fantasies, be happy with what you have."

Those words hit me right in the heart and I could not help but raise my voice "so I should be happy to drink oil tasting water and be afraid of being someones fucking dinner every time I go outside the camp? You are too fucking naive and stupid!"

"Lo ... it wasn't wha- .."

The door flew open and Hannes stormed in with his breath in his throat "What the hell is going on in here?" He looked wild eyed around the room "what are you screaming about? Hell, I thought some uninvited fuckhead had snuck inside!"

I turned quickly and met Hanne's staring eyes just in time for Twelve to break the link. I don't think he saw anything, but there was no point in making excuses, Hannes would see through me if I lied.

"Was that him?"

I took off my beanie and threw it on the bed without answering, I needed to decide what to say.

"Lo ?!"

I nodded briefly and met his eyes "He's a nice guy Ness, we've talked quite a lot."

"So he can help us?" he asked with expectant eyes, but my negatively shaking head made his expression change completely.

"I do not know" I began cautiously "you kind of interrupted us just as he was going to answer" I lied. I could not tell the truth, I did not want to break his heart. Not yet, not before I had more facts behind me.

"But what do you think then?"

"I need more time" I mumbled and got up from the chair.

"Sorry I rushed in here Lu, I just thought- .."

"..- it's fine Ness" I replied and patted him on the shoulder "but it will probably take a while before he connects to me again."

Hannes threw himself down on the bed with a sigh, with his hands comfortably behind his head "what if we really get into Vegas Lo, imagine being able to walk around on clean streets, breathe dust-free air and smell the scent of real food!" he turned his head and smiled at me "I know you'll fix it Lo, if anyone can do it it's you."

I sighed heavily and sank down on the edge of the bed "but at what price Ness? What if Twelve doesn't want to help us, what happens then? What if Carl forces him, demands that I connect to his brain, is it worth it? To force someone to suffer for us to have it better?"

"Why do you even care about a stranger?"

I pulled my fingers through my hair and shrugged "If I don't I'm just as awful as the Harrows or the other top clans?"

"Not if you do it to save our lives."

I sighed and shook my head "maybe that's what they tell themselves at night to justify them eating human flesh?"

"You're fucking impossible" he laughed and sat up, his hand found the back of my neck and soon he leaned his forehead against mine "you have a heart of gold little brother" he smiled "but please talk to Carl, then you can decide what you want to do. "

"What if I don't like his plan?"

"Then we make our own" he sank into the bed again "it's you and I Lo, it always has been. You know I'm behind you whatever you do."

"Even if I do not want to go to Vegas?"

He grunted and put his arm over his eyes but stated wearily "even if you do not want to go to Vegas ..."

A/N - And here's Twelve. What's your thoughts on him? You think his a good guy?