Chapter Text
The Thin Man knew that his time was just about up. He saw as the frightened child scrambled and ran through the long corridor of the joined train cars. He pulled a lever to decouple the last of them, and though the man reached out, the boy he sought was already out of his grasp.
The knowledge of his failure was a dull thudding in his heart. His time… his time…… It was almost as if he could already feel his body disappearing into the static. Yet, he did as he was intended to do and teleported to stand on the rainy street. The place of his and many before his demise.
Yet…. The boy was not present.
The Thin Man looked to the grate in which he himself had emerged through as a child, but nothing came of it. Curious.. he stepped closer. Something did not feel right, had the boy given up? Moved on from his friend once the pain of his injuries caught up to him? Still nothing. Did he choose to take an alternate route? That.. didn't make sense.
In another flicker, the man teleported down within the cavernous tunnel where he knew the train came to a stop. He walked along the side of the tracks before stopping in his own…… How… pathetic..
The boy was laid nearly flat on his back on the dirty ground. His bag had flown off his head in the commotion. Yet only small noises came from him, hardly sounding good or determined as he usually was. The man continued his steady approach. Little Mono barely moved from his spot. Even as he reached out for the child, just a hiss came in response. Mono’s arms flailed and reached out to claw and scratch at the man’s fingers as they wrapped around his tiny frame. The man didn't bother paying much attention to the actions. Instead he observed the child’s face.
It was to be expected, his features were contorted into a half terrified half outraged look. Scuffs, bruises, and scars framed it.. and his eyes were the same kind of unusual that the man’s own were. The boy didn't kick. He didn't squirm. He only clawed and bit at the man’s hand. He turned the child over to poke and prod. Why was this one not working as he should?
Another pained hiss came as he poked directly on the child’s spine… was.. that a break? He pressed firmer, trying to make sure. Mono only involuntarily shrieked in pain and continued his fruitless efforts to escape. Hmm.. that was not ideal—
The Thin Man stood to his full height and adjusted his hold on the child. It didn't seem like it could kill him in this state as evidenced by the lack of even attempting to use the transmission embedded into his form. Silently he debated his options….. before teleporting away from the scene with the boy.