In a way, seeing Katurian in this state boost Howard's morale a little. He wears those self-same marks of skittishness all over his expressions, all over the haunted look in his eyes, the tension in his knuckles, the deer-like awareness of his surroundings, but it helps to think he's not alone. That, in fact, he might not even be the worst off.

Howard laughs too, that same sort of laugh as Katurian, that sound less like humor and more like a voice being cracked in half. "Same thing as you. Hiding from the crowds."

He comes out from behind the metal wall of the stall. "You're right, though. This is an opportunity. This is a step up."

It's hard to tell if he's being sarcastic. It's even hard for him to tell.