It is funny, almost, that Cillian Quinn summons him to the docks. So close to something they once both held terrifying memories of, and yet not close enough. It is a thought that strikes him as he approaches the shore, watching the way that the waves crash against the rocks — vicious, unrelenting.

[break][break] When he approaches the other, he's wearing a long, black jacket that seems and has his hands stuffed into its pockets. His Shuppet is nowhere to be seen - for now, anyway.

[break][break] His eyes flicker with surprise at the other's words. "You have?" he says. He supposes he shouldn't be surprised - Cillian Quinn was nothing if not thorough.

[break][break]

+ ooc notes

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His gaze follows the curl of spoke that exhales from his superior's mouth like a dragon's spine, filling the cold January air before dissipating along with it. Personally, Jayden had never been a fan of smoking, yet he was not unfamiliar to it either. His nose does not wrinkle, his brows do not crease as the smoke infiltrates his lungs. His face, just as always, remains perfectly impassive.

[break][break] Jayden glances around at the surrounding area as Gavin gestures it to him, explaining that they are in a space that is safe to talk. It is a relief, and the thought frees something inside of his chest, even if he's not sure what. Being in Rocket's ranks has done more for his injuries than a balm ever could, and yet he is unable to explain why.

[break][break] It is a relief that even with his absence, Rocket has not changed all that much.

[break][break] His shoes clack against the boardwalk as he follows Gavin down the path, listening carefully as the other gives him the mission details. "Do you know his name?" he asks. He wonders if it is the man who shoved him against the wall at barely past midnight, knife to his throat, to ask where his father's money was. He wonders if it the man who cornered him in broad daylight to remind him of his worth.

[break][break] In all likelihood, it is probably neither of these people. Only sewer rats are sent to do the dirty work.
[break][break]

+ ooc notes

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Yes.

[break][break] The resolute nature in which Cillian Quinn responds sends a chill down his spine. Not because it is particularly fearsome for the other to speak in that tone, but because the tone in which he speaks - responsive, yet offering little, like dangling a fruit in front of his eyes but refusing to give it to him.... that reminded him of his mother.

[break][break] Very few things reminded of Cäcilia Cross these days.

[break][break] Yet, Jayden's response in return was quick. "Yes," he says, blinking owlishly towards the other. His face was impassive but his voice was clear, breaking no room for hesitation or doubt. "The better we know our client, the cleaner the job." It was a voice that had been said to him time and time again, so much that he could nearly hear his mother's voice in his ear, her voice gentle as it patted his locks of hair.

[break][break] A lamp creaks above them.

[break][break] "Don't you agree?"

+ ooc notes

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Had Jayden been able to read the other's thoughts, it would have been a comfort. After all, it had been a while since there had been anyone in his life that had been invested in him enough to shield him from anything.

[break][break] As it was, however, he simply tilts his head to the side as the name Daichi Kurata is spoken into thin air. It is not a name that Jayden recognizes at first, but then the memories come to him. He remembers walking into his father's office one day, watching a burly man take seat in front of him. He remembers the large warm hand that pat his head, at that moment, as said man chided his father. "Dmitri-san," the other had rumbled. "Your son looks just like you."

[break][break] Dmitri Volkov's smile had been thin. "Thank you. Now, the agreement, Kurata-san?"

[break][break] "He was one of my father's close contacts, but not his favorite," Jayden reports, following up the latter with a bit of a grimace. "He had loads of money to pull into the company, but his loans always came with a price." Daichi Kurata was one of the debtors that had been willing to take something other than money for a payment, not that Jayden had ever been willing to provide it.

[break][break] But despite everything, Daichi Kurata had not been one of those to lay a physical hand on Jayden. At least, not in a violent way. In fact, when his father had been around, he had always arrived at the company office with chocolates for him and Alexandre. It was a fond memory - of which Jayden had few.

[break][break] Jayden nods at the "K" symbol that Cillian Quinn shows him, and in a few minutes, a tall building looms into view. The boy is grateful for the blond's words, but his eyes sharpen with familiarity and understanding with the command that is attached to them.

[break][break] "Make sure no one sneaks up on us."

[break][break] It was words that Father had said to him time and time again, when he would take him along on missions. Gavin did not need to say much for Jayden to understand the illicit meaning behind those words. Accomplish your task by whatever means necessary.

[break][break] Wordlessly, he takes location just beside the door to which he presumes that Gavin will enter, back to the wall. His hands are still in his pockets, yet there is a certain firmness to his stance that would suggest something has changed.

[break][break] He is on high alert.

+ ooc notes

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"If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, clear out. Don't come after me."

[break][break] The words echo in the air between them, and Jayden inclines his head slightly. There were many differences between Cillian Quinn and Dmitri Volkov, but perhaps this was one that was most apparent of all. It wasn't that Dmitri would have wanted his son in harm's way, and it wasn't that Dmitri would not have once upon a time given him similar instructions, in a voice that was clear, that broke no room for argument. However, in Gavin's gaze, Jayden could read the hidden meaning — the separation between the two of them.

[break][break] For Dmitri, it was different. Family meant something different when you were a Volkov.

[break][break] Whatever messes Dmitri made were Jayden's, and vice versa. Honestly, in a twisted sort of way, he made messes so Jayden could be expected to clean them up.

[break][break] The Team Rocket grunt holds the other's gaze steady, as he pulls on his gloves and makes to enter the building. As a sign of his subordination, Jayden is the first to look away. He does not say whether he plans to obey Gavin's commands, but then again, it isn't like he has many any signs up to this point that he ever planned on being insubordinate against him.

[break][break] Gavin leaves, and there is nothing else for Jayden except for the quiet whistle of the air, the splash of waves against wooden pillars, and the silence that he is grown so used to. His thoughts travel - until they don't.

[break][break] "Oh? Look who we have here? Isn't this the little Volkov?" The man's voice is all teeth, even though he hasn't yet bothered to show his daggers. Jayden looks up to see two men approach him, one burly and one not. He recognizes them instantly as Kurata's henchman.

[break][break] The shorter, thinner one approaches him, looking like he's got something sweet between his teeth. He looks delighted. Word on the street was that they were looking for Dmitri Volkov, that they were looking to call on the man for his so-called debts. Men all over the street had searched high and low for the man, with no discernible trace. And here his youngest son was, showing up on their doorstep?

[break][break] It was not even the older one either. The could not have been luckier.

[break][break] Or maybe not.

[break][break] One of them reach for him - the thinner one - in an attempt to grab his jaw. Jayden doesn't let them. He ducks his head, ripping the belt of his jacket loose in a single maneuver and then wrapping it around the other's mouth. He pulls tight, the fabric taught and kicks against the backs of the other's knees. The man buckles before him, with a silent thump, just as the burlier man stumbles for him in turn. Jayden is too quick for him - too. He dips and ducks expertly, a dagger flashing out from inside his jacket, and plunges it into the other man's chest. He lets momentum do the work, pushing forward and placing his palm over the other's mouth as they both crash into the ground, blood gurgling over his fingertips. Glancing over at the other man, who is attempting to crawl away again, Jayden pulls the dagger out of the second man's chest and plunges it into the neck of the former, waiting until he seizes briefly and death claims him.

[break][break] All it takes is a matter of minutes.

[break][break] By the time Cillian Quinn returns, he would have found his former pupil leaning over on the gravel and wrapping make-shift fabric around the two fallen men's wrists and legs. As if they could still do anything about it now that they were dead.

+ ooc notes

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With the exception of a dash of blood on his forehead, the whole situation dissolves with little mess. Or at least, so Jayden thinks, until Cillian Quinn suddenly appears, barking orders.

[break][break] "Jayden! What happened?"

[break][break] Confusion flashes in the Team Rocket grunt's gaze for a mere moment, brows pinching together. Jayden may not be the best at emotions, but he knows upset on someone's face when he sees it. At the very least, Gavin does not seem happy. But why?

[break][break] Blinking owlishly, he says, "You said not to let anyone sneak up on us."

[break][break] His knee is still digging into the spine of a dead man.

+ ooc notes

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It is not the first time that Jayden has not understood someone's emotions. He is not the best at them, though whether that is a matter of his upbringing or simply his personality remains to be unseen. Even still, his brows pinch together with confusion at the other's clear agitation — mind trying to come up with a reason for it.

[break][break] Perhaps, had Jayden not done it quickly enough? Had there been a different way he was supposed to dispose of these men?

[break][break] Either way, the dark-haired boy isn't given time to contemplate. Cillian Quinn is quick on the punch, and easily hauls one man over his shoulder. Jayden obeys, grabbing the legs as he's told to. With one thrown inside, the other is quickly attended to as well. Though the Team Rocket grunt doesn't look it, he has no problems carrying his own weight and then some.

[break][break] "I... I'm sorry," he says, looking down at the floor as the blond kneels beside the body. "That's - " He swallows. "That's not what I thought you meant."

[break][break] 'That's not what Dmitri would have meant,' goes unsaid.

+ jayden uses :pleading_eyes:

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