A plead for mercy

Bajie stopped mid-step, turning his head slightly to glance at her with a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He adjusted his stance, one hand resting on his hip, the other gesturing lazily toward her.

Well, aren’t you just a bundle of determination? Fading away, dodging the big bads, and vowing to make good on a debt before I’ve even asked for anything. Almost makes me wanna write you a glowing recommendation—except, you know, for the whole ‘Crows hunting you down’ thing.

He turned back, resuming his steady pace, boots crunching with each step. Alright, kid, listen up. If you’re serious about slipping past their radar, you’re gonna need more than just a plan to ‘fade away.’ The Crows have long memories and longer arms. You’ll need to be a ghost—new name, new face, new everything. Burn every bridge and salt the earth behind you.

Bajie shot her a quick look over his shoulder, his expression softer for a moment. Not saying it’ll be easy, especially with a baby on the way, but hey—if anyone’s crazy enough to pull it off, it’s someone who’s already outfoxed their own crew once.

He rubbed his chin, his mind clearly working through the logistics. Best way outta Antiva? Stick to the small routes—smugglers’ paths, old caravan trails, anything that keeps you off the Crow network. Forget main cities; hell, avoid villages if you can. Too many eyes. Head south, maybe. The further you get from the Crow’s roost, the harder it’ll be for them to keep their claws in you.

He glanced back again, this time with a sly grin. And while we’re on the subject, don’t go making promises you can’t keep, sweetheart. Saying you’ll make this worth my while is cute, but I’ve been burned by pretty words before. Show me you’ve got the grit to back it up, and maybe we’ll call it even one day. Until then, you’re on probation.

Bajie stopped abruptly, turning to face her fully. His expression was unusually serious, his tone low. But let me give you a piece of advice—one freebie, no strings attached. Don’t let desperation cloud your judgment. You’ve got something worth fighting for now, and that means making smart moves, not reckless ones. Play the long game, Maika. That’s how you win.

He held her gaze for a beat longer before turning again, his usual irreverent demeanor slipping back into place. Now, keep up, would ya? I’m not about to babysit you all the way to the border. But hey, if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll even make it out alive. Won’t that be a story for the little one someday?

@Maika Arainai