Luna

Ch. 21

I'll be the first to admit that I was stupid to think his impending potential death would cause him to sit in silence. But no.

He's been talking.

The entire time.

I've come to realize the uncontrollable talking is a habit of his that dials up when he'd nervous. But unlike most people who dive into a silent cocoon of anxiety, Travis talks. A lot. He talks about any and everything.

"How much do you think this car cost?"

"I can't wait for snow. I enjoy winter."

"Should I cut my hair? I should probably cut my hair."

"Crap, I don't think I did my homework."

It's been a never-ending one-sided conversation. Every once in a while, I'd chime in and answer a question or two. Ein, on the other hand, has been totally silence in the backseat. He's been either glancing out the window at the passing scenery, or looking to Travis with a peculiar gaze.

"Where'd you find this guy?" Ein asked me at one point, which caused Travis to take a lovely trip down memory lane to the time we first met. He's currently recounting all the moments we shared since our first meeting; from me forcing him to take me to retrieve my motorcycle, to us hiding in a dumpster, to me training him in that abandoned party space. He was all too eager to share our adventures. So much so, that I almost wanted to laugh...almost.

"Then it turns out, the leader of a deadly assassin group is actually my father who I thought was dead for the past five years. Which is crazy to say, because he's not at all like I remember him in my memories. My dad was the warmest, kindest, hardworking man I'd ever known. I looked up to him. I wanted to be like him..." Travis trails off, no doubt getting caught up in his memories.

But his first statement doesn't go unnoticed by Ein. He leans forward from the backseat, a look of bewilderment on his face.

"Wait, did you just say Mr. Grawl is your father?" Ein asks skeptically. Travis glances out the window and shakes his head.

"Not anymore. I don't know who Tony Grawl is," Travis replies. Only I know what he means. He's hinting to his father changing his name. Again, I'm left to wonder what his real name actually is.

"So, let me get this straight; both of your fathers are sworn enemies, and you just so happen to cross paths?" Ein states, trying to understand the confusion that is Travis and I. We nod our heads at his question. Ein falls back into his seat and shakes his head. "Small world," he mumbles and glances out the window again.

A moment passes in silence...which is the first silence since we began our journey. The three of us find solace in the silence. I stop at a stoplight and begin thinking of a new plan. My old plan consisted of only one person: me. But now that I have two tag-a-longs, I need a new plan of attack.

"So, listen. We need to talk about how this is going to go. Obviously, we can't walk through the front door," I begin the conversation.

"Drop me off a block away," Ein states without elaborating. When it's obvious he isn't going to explain, Travis takes the initiative to ask.

"Why?"

"Because all three of us shouldn't enter at the same location. I can find a different way in," he adds on as if it was obvious. I take a moment to think it over. I guess it does make sense. I then proceed to tell him about an entrance towards the west wing of the institute. It's usually used to bring in large packages and storage containers. If he can wait for a shipment to arrive, then he can weasel his way in on one of the trucks. Thankfully, there's always shipments coming into that place. My father always wants the most current, and updated machinery and gagets.