City’s quiet tonight. The kind of quiet that feels like the world’s holding its breath, making the gloomy shadows move in the corners of one's eyes. Even with Jake's iron focus on the road ahead, he feels his hair stand on end, hands tensing on the steering wheel. Some kind of trouble's waiting just around the corner, licking its damn chops.

(Shame. He'd hate for something else to go wrong tonight. Just got out of the damned armor...)

Then he sees them-- a wide-eyed figure, wandering alone, just as lost and out of place as he is, only without the relative safety of a cab. They see him, but don't wave, don't smile; as if unable to commit to the street or the curb. Maybe expecting him to bite. Not that Jake's surprised.

He was going home, get the body some damn rest for once before someone else fronts, none the wiser of his actions tonight, or of him at all.

That’s exactly what he should do. His role is over. He isn’t needed anymore. This random stranger isn’t…

G-ddamnit.

He pulls over and rolls down the window.

"You lost?" his voice is as gentle as he can make it, trying to avoid spooking them. Still, his natural gruffness and ever-present weariness probably comes out anyways. They look like a shadow could bowl them over. "You need a ride or not? Ain’t got all night."

Wordlessly, they get in, to his mild surprise, though raised eyebrows are hidden beneath the cabbie cap. Must be running from someone. Don't ask too many questions.

Jake tilts the mirror to look back at them; dark, heavy-lidded eyes flickering to the figure cowered in his backseat. G-d, probably looks like they're being kidnapped.

(He hopes the blood washed off his gloves. Hopes that damned bird doesn't--)

He clears his throat. "Got somewhere safe to go?"