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Because the only reason we got him out of that hole the first time was because I had Minato on my side. Wouldn't have been able to do it without him -- not the first time, and definitely not every step after. He's still getting better, y'know. It takes a while, and it takes more than me.

[He's quiet for a second, because saying it out loud makes it real, but he does it anyway.]

Minato's gone. Maybe it'll be a month, or maybe he'll never come back at all; you never know with this place. But I'm more interested in making sure I got my bases covered than waiting around. It's kinda hard to describe how important Minato is to Ken, but... well, you must have heard him talk about him.

[Like when Minato smiles, everything's suddenly better -- and now that power's gone. He takes a deep breath.]

But - and no offense - I'm pretty sure you're second in line when it comes to people who're important to Ken. Which means that if this goes bad, losing three of his team in a couple weeks, I'm gonna need your help.

[And that's need, not want; if it was just want, he wouldn't be calling. But he knows the way taking care of Ken goes, and that means he knows that it's not the sort of task he can tackle without having someone else around to bounce ideas off of, or someone to ask how they think he's doing. Ken's a team effort, he really is.]

[His heart tenses up at that statement. Minato's gone. Two words suddenly made Jaime's panic seize Kaneda's own heart, that icy grip slowly creeping over it and holding it prisoner, eyes fixated on the streetlamp opposite the blacktop. He didn't believe it at first. Minato was such a presence...something he didn't really understand all that much but accepted. He was as constant as he felt he himself was.]

It's like the kid's face lit up just talking about him.

[Something he could be jealous of, really. In a way, no one could really brighten up Ken's face like that, and to hear that little ray of light was suddenly gone...well, it becomes a lot harder to light up that kid's world.

But what was the worst part of it....]

Don't worry, I've always known.

[It's a fond tone, really. He knew that Ken put Minato first--it was that way for all of SEES. Ken had said his loyalties, and Kaneda had accepted them anyway. After all, he was the same way with the Capsules. And three...three SEES had disappeared in the past few weeks, hadn't they. Ken had told him about two--Akihiko was quite the blow, certainly, and Shinji was at least noticable on Ken's face.

I'm gonna need your help.

Understatement of the century, Jaime.

It's a long silence before he speaks up again, running a hand over his face and breathing in.]

Heh, no need to beg me, alright? I had your back the minute you started.

I kinda figured you would.

[Not just anybody earns Ken's love, and once Ken starts to care about you, he can't imagine anyone not caring back. There's something to be said for someone who gives out affection freely, sure, but he can't deny that it's more special when it comes from someone as deliberate, as hard to get to know as Ken. Even if he tends to make some bad, bad decisions, he's pretty sure this one wasn't one of them.

It's his turn to take a deep breath too, because while he knew he had to check in with Kaneda about this, he hadn't really gotten the rest of the game plan worked out.

So that's exactly what he'll tell him.]

I don't have much of a plan, but I'm pretty sure I never did. Just do me a favour, and let me know if he starts getting all serious and sad, or if he gets too quiet, okay? And try and keep him busy. Last thing he needs is a bunch of time alone to start thinking about it.

[And 'imaginary friend' or not, Ken spoke about Jaime like he was the world. Respect comes with that immediately in Kaneda's view of the world, and there's no way he'd simply shrug off any request like that.

Ken needed all the help he could get right now.]

Don't worry about it. I'll keep in touch...

...

You know, you could always stop by sometimes. Bet Ken would love it.

[And 'worried mom pacing the floor in Heropa' doesn't exactly suit you.]

[There's a reason why he never stops by Nonah 005. It's too loud for him, too crowded, and Jaime gets shy around people he doesn't know. People don't tend to know that about him, mostly because his idea of shyness is to be quiet and generally pleasant to others, but it's just not something he's comfortable with. That first weekend at the Titans Tower... yeesh. He's still trying to work himself out of the habit of raising his hand when he wants to talk.

But hey, he can wander into the bullpen that's Nonah 005 for Ken.]

Trust me, I plan on it. You're gonna get tired of seeing my face around there.

[That gets him thinking.]

Eh, could be worse. I mean...at least I invited you, right?

Well... to be fair, I would've come whether you invited me or not.

[Etiquette means nothing in the face of the peewee...!]

But if there's any time I shouldn't be coming 'round, you can just let me know.

I'll keep that in mind, can't say I know any off the top of my head.

[Maybe he'll even surprise you with food in the fridge.]

Should I let him be surprised when you show up?

[You are going to be too good for this widow, Kaneda...!]

Yeah. At least for the first few times; he's gonna start to expect me after a while. Thanks for helping me keep an eye out for him. Not just now, either. Kid needs all the help he can get.

[So much that after someone who was one of Jaime's best friends disappeared, his first thought wasn't for Minato's demise, nor his own grief: it was, oh shit, what about Ken. You learn how to prioritize, given time.]

He likes the place he calls home now. If I can help keep it that way, I will.

[Look he has a habit of taking things in that have no one else to turn to!]

Heyyy, no need to thank me. I wanted to.

[There's a bit of a nostalgic smile behind the feed, as he trails his finger along the lamppost he's settled himself against.]

We'll keep him on his feet.

Even if we hafta hold him there.

[He kind of wants to thank Kaneda again, but manages to restrain himself. He is thankful, though, and thankful that he knows enough about Ken's life that at least he knew immediately who he wanted to -- no, who he needed to call. There are others who love Ken just as much, maybe, but there are few that have his confidence in this way.]

Anyway... I got the rest of this to deal with. [Kaneda's been here long enough to know the drill. You text the people who need to know, tidy up, think about leaving a note in the case of their return, hope a little harder and, for Jaime, pray a little too.

It's worth a shot.]

I'll keep in touch.

Yeah.

[It's new to him. When Inuyasha left, Sabriel had contacted him to check on him and that'd been it. The protocol for something like this was pretty new to him.

But it's something he's starting to witness now.]

Hey, don't forget to take care of yourself, yeah? Ken worries too, you know.

[Not like HE does. Nope. Not him.]

He shouldn't.

[Which is a blatant lie, all things considered, but hey, Kaneda doesn't have to know about that big, awful Scarab blow-up. Maybe Ken walked in on him trying to gouge his spine out (a miscalculation on his part to be sure), but he feels like he's done an okay facsimile of normalcy since then.]

He doesn't worry too much, does he? I can take care of myself.

[You know Jaime, that might be a contributing factor to why Ken's so fucked up JUST SAYIN JUST SAYIN.]

Yeah? How's that work out with you when he says it?

[....................]

Ken's twelve.

[IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN A CHILD SAYS IT]

Yeah, we THINK he's 12.

[IT'S KEN YOU TWO BOTH KNOW HE'S 40.]

He's twelve where it matters!

[HORRIBLE STUNTED EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT]

[LOOK. ....YOU MAY HAVE A POINT.]

So he -technically- can't buy beer! Or drive!

...

Technically.

He'll still worry about his imaginary friend!

Why are you still calling me his imaginary friend? You've met me!

[DUCKING THE POINT FOR 300, ALEX]

TECHNICALLY!

[Is he just being a shit now? Yes. Yes he is.]

Okay, now you're just not making sense on purpose.

Listen, it's Ken, you know as well as I do he's gonna worry about you.

You've been here longer than I have. You've got that history. Of course he's gonna worry.

Yeah, he's a natural at that.

[Jaime knows a thing or two about worrying.]

Don't worry. I'll make sure he won't hafta worry too much.

Good, I'll make sure you don't worry too much, either!

....

We're in over our heads.

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