"I'd-" Johnny starts before snapping his mouth shut with an aggravated grunt. His hand hurts like hell and Rashad's animal friend seems just as eager to cut this off as Nova. Rashad's apparent crisis probably merits a follow-up, but is Johnny the person to do that, right now when he's already vulnerable? Fuck that. Maybe sometime he'll bring Gabe in on this development.

"Whatever," he mutters, pulling away. Judging by the noises Rashad's in a heap, so now's the perfect time to start inching down the stairs. He lets Nova down again so he can use his good hand to grip the rail, leaving Rashad behind as quickly as possible.