Nightshift 24: Hallway outside entry room

[traitors-smile.livejournal.com]

The giggling and the stinging scent of pepper faded as Gin and Jack changed their route to the second set of stairs near the doctors offices.  It was Gin's first time leading, usually Jack took that job, letting him take up the reasonably safer rear guard.  He kept his flashlight trained on the path ahead of them, his knife in the other hand.  With any luck, they'd be able to move as quickly through the halls as they had their first night.

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[reunion.livejournal.com]

Whether it was just that Yazoo hid it better or that Kadaj really was more upset by their brother's arrival was difficult to say. He had noticeable twitched when Sephiroth spoke, and even though he'd like to think he'd been paying closer attention to his surroundings than he had... well, it was probably a good thing that the movement could be misconstrued as guilt rather than surprise.

Guilt was certainly a part of it too, but that was more about what was said about Mother than about Sephiroth's stupid hair. He deserved to get those bangs burned off, damn it.

Resisting the urge to make a face at him (maybe he could do it when his back was turned?), Kadaj ignored the hair questions and followed Yazoo back to the hall, saying with rare sincerity, "In that case, we apologize for interrupting your conversation with Mother. What did she have to say? Any messages for us? How is she?" The barrage of questions would likely continue until Kadaj had heard what he wanted. Poor Sephiroth.

[deathinvitation.livejournal.com]

Sephiroth was content to walk along with them, his mind still on their situation versus settling on any one real thing. He was content enough that he had surprised them or so he thought. In the end, it didn't matter.

"She is fine but weakened by this Head Doctor and this place. She is pleased that we have made progress and wishes us well for tonight. There was a question about some woman named 'Inara Serra'. I know it is the name of one of the 'patients' here, but nothing beyond that. I felt bad for disappointing her when she was so eager. Perhaps you two know more?"

It wasn't beyond Sephiroth to use what lever he had against parts of himself. They were, after all, part of himself. The woman hadn't fled from him this morning or been offensive. Therefore, she couldn't be human, could she? Given that these two had been here longer, perhaps they knew more than he did.

[reunion.livejournal.com]

"The Head Doctor will pay for doing that to her and to us, don't worry," Kadaj reassured him. Saying that out loud was sort of redundant, really, but hearing those sentiments expressed by what was the closest thing to Mother they'd probably ever get was enough to warrant it. Why did Sephiroth get to talk to her, anyway? Hadn't he said-- but now wasn't the time for that. Mother had asked a question.

Fighting back the jealousy that he thought he had gotten rid of by now (Sephiroth had said he was the favorite last night, but still--!), Kadaj thought about it for a moment before replying, "I'm sorry, but I haven't heard of this 'Inara' that Mother wanted to know about." He felt momentarily ashamed, but at least Sephiroth didn't know much about her either. Ha!

... Of course, there was always the possibility Yazoo knew something about her that both he and Sephiroth didn't, but as long as Kadaj wasn't more care.

[deathinvitation.livejournal.com]

"Good."

Sephiroth's face was thoughtful as he stopped, arms folding across himself. His gaze moved over the two parts of himself before he nodded, agreeing with something that existed most likely only in his own mind.

"I need to return to my room. Good luck tonight. Be careful. I have no desire to see either of you damaged."

He turned on his heel, heading back the way that he came. Who knew why he did the things he did or what he had waiting for him there. Either way, he didn't explain, merely walked away back to his room.

[barium-bullet.livejournal.com]

Shaking his head, Yazoo answered, “I don’t know anything about Inara either.”

Stopping his intense perusal of their surroundings, he turned to look at Sephiroth just in time to watch the other silver haired man start walking away. He cocked his eyebrow in confusion and turned to Kadaj with a, “What’s gotten into him?” look on his face.

He gave Sephiroth’s retreating back one last glance before sighing and shrugging slightly. “What should we do now?” he asked Kadaj curiously, tilting his head.

[reunion.livejournal.com]

So they were all on even footing. That was a relief. Kadaj had no idea just why Mother was interested in that woman in the first place, but if it was information about her that she wanted, he would be sure to hunt her down the next day to extract some. It would be impossible to do so at night, of course, but Mother would understand the delay, right?

When Sephiroth began to turn away, Kadaj was just as confused as Yazoo was. Why the sudden change? He matched the look his brother gave him with an equally baffled one, but eventually he shrugged. Maybe Mother wanted to speak with her son again? It was irritating that Sephiroth didn't just say that, but he probably had his reasons. It was either that or he just enjoyed playing with the remnants' minds like that.

After grimacing both at the eldest's back and the suggestion that they might get damaged, he glanced back to Yazoo and almost immediately switched over to a cheerful smile. "Look for something interesting, maybe? That's what you said you wanted to do, isn't it?" It sounded like the perfect plan to him, really. Why not?

[barium-bullet.livejournal.com]

Yazoo couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Kadaj’s sudden change in mood. Even after all the time spent with Kadaj, his brother’s mood swings still mystified him, no matter how big or small they were.

He continued to look at Kadaj that way for a second longer before chuckling quietly and reaching out to muss up the other’s hair. “All right then. What do you say we check out the doctors’ offices?”

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