Flying Solo

[Connor Kent]

Nox wanted to go and Connor could understand why. The PI got up to let Nox go. But before he got up to leave, Nox gave him Aria's contact information. Connor took it without looking at it. Instead he looked at Ayden for a moment. Strangely, a memory came to him. A ring of keys she'd given to him. It had been an act of pure trust. He smiled at her and slid it to her. He would do what she was comfortable with. She had first claim on his loyalties and concerns.

Still, he looked at the kid. The PI wouldn't understand, so he said "I know what it's like to feel trapped, kid."
He laughed at the memory. Can't go, can leave. "Here,"
he said pulling out a pen and writing on a napkin. "If you need help getting away."


It seemed stupid. It wasn't like he knew anything about that. Well, that was not strictly true. He knew the dark-web well enough. The real mastermind was sitting next to him, though. Not that she seemed eager to help him. Still, he just felt like he owed it to the kid.

As he stood he had that slender youthful gangly look that Hayden had. Before a grown man's thickness of face and chest really hit you. Or maybe he was imagining it. Still, he felt good about giving him the information.

To the PI he nodded. "Thanks for the drink."
It was all he cared to say, really. A strange night.