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The rain pounds harder and harder on the rooftop, and not for the first time they wish that they were inside. But this reconnaissance is necessary- their plan is so, so close to the start, and they can’t afford to fuck it up before it even begins. So. That’s why it’s necessary to watch the new Ranger HQ for research purposes.
God knows that Steel would get paranoid to look up for once if he heard the slightest scuff of shoes on the nearby rooftops.
So far, it’s been a bunch of nothing this evening. The casual, civilian employees clocking out and leaving as the evening goes on, some squealing and running towards the nearest shelter as the cold hard rain pounds down on them.
Lucky fools. Servi hasn’t gotten that option yet.
The real targets of this evening haven’t left yet. Steel, Argent, Herald, and… well. None of them have left yet. Not exactly an unusual concept- they remember all too well how long Steel’s lectures could go on for. Or maybe it’s just a movie night. That works too.
Servi could almost doze off out of sheer boredom before a sudden flash of color in the dreary unchanging landscape catches their eye. Dark blue, jagged shape… no. Please no.
Out of some unknown instinct, they lean closer to the edge, putting themselves at more risk of being seen. But they can’t help it. It’s a need, a desire as unconscious as breathing- they need to see him.
They can’t make out the details from this far away, nor can they bring themselves to reach for their binoculars but… Ricardo looks much the same from this far. All four limbs, a full head of dark curly hair, and his garish suit. Despite themselves, their heart starts pounding. Home, home, home, it sings. And damn them if they don’t have to fight the urge to call out to him.
They know why they can’t- why they stay away from the Rangers, from him, from everything and everyone they ever loved. But for a second, it’s almost worth risking everything just to hear his voice again.
A pebble clatters and falls as they lean closer over the edge, and his head makes a sharp turn as his gaze scans over the building they’re clinging to. They only barely manage to fling themselves out of sight in time. Damn him. Damn themselves. That was close. Too close.
That’s enough reconnaissance for an evening, they think. Damn the plan for tonight. The pack of cigarettes in their pocket is calling their name. They slowly, methodically peel themselves away from the edge of the rooftop, never once noticing how Ricardo’s eyes never stray from the rooftop, eyes hardening in suspicion.