Night 68: M1-M10 Hallway

[armoredsoul]

[In M1]

The second intercom message had startled Alphonse, and the chilling change to the doctor's voice threw him off more (though if he were honest he had expected something of the sort). He didn't waste much time, grabbing the 'magic torch' Link had told him about and searching around the rest of his side of the room.

A keyring in the desk and what he could only assume were batteries for the flashlight were the only really useful things he found. Still, it was better than nothing, and after he switched the slippers for shoes he slipped out of his room. Setting down the hallway at a trot, he turned down toward the entrance to the block.

[to here]

Comments

[awokentospring]

[moving down from here]

Lee burst out the door of his room and broke into a full sprint down the hallway. Lee had also failed to make plans for the night, so he was free to discover whatever he happened to run into. Even with his arm in a sling, he could run without any impediment to his speed, especially since now he had his spandex suit and vest to wear rather than the loose cloth of the institute issued clothing.

Thrilling at the rush of a good run, Lee happened to close his eyes as he shot down the hallway, not realizing he wasn't alone in the small space. As a result, he slammed directly into the smaller body of the troll at full tilt, and Lee toppled to the ground with a startled grunt. A flash of pain shot through his injured arm and he hissed, but his immediate worry was for the person he had hit. Shaking himself off, Lee flailed and attempted to check on the other boy.

"I... I am so sorry! Have I hurt you?"

[thisisyourgod]

To be fair, Karkat was walking without a flashlight. Thus it was possible that Lee might have run into him even with his eyes open. It's for this reason only that the first words out of the troll's mouth aren't to tell the boy to watch where he's going.

The first thing out of his mouth wasn't any word at all, really, just an undignified squawk as he was knocked face first into the ground.

He was scrambling up to glare at the guilty party soon enough, though thankfully for both of them he didn't look all that inured at all. "What do you think, idiot? Do I look like just a bump in the tile to you? I could've had a couple teeth knocked out or something!" That didn't mean he wasn't going to complain about it all the same, of course.

[awokentospring]

Lee was surprised to find he hadn't injured his arm further from the collision but he had surely thought he had hurt the other boy. That didn't seem to be the case, since he wasn't crying out and didn't even seem bruised. How curious! Or else very lucky!

He certainly was angry, though. Lee pursed his lips into his familiar pout, very much contrite. And also a little sad to hear someone call him an idiot upon their first meeting. "I am sincerely sorry, sir! I should have been more careful! If there is any way I can make it up to you, then please, tell me and I shall endeavor to do whatever is in my power to help you!"

Given that Lee's dominant arm was still in a sling, he probably didn't look all that helpful. However, his chakra had replenished during the day so he still had something to offer. A shinobi was not easily beaten by circumstance.

[thisisyourgod]

Wow, he sure did run into the weirdos here, didn't he? That, or there was something a little strange about all of them, which was more than likely the case. Either way, Karkat sat and blinked deadpan at the other teen for a few moments before responding again.

"Holy shit. At least make it a little easier to be angry at you." What was he supposed to ask for, another apology? If he said not to apologize, the human would probably just apologize for apologizing. He'd seen this before. It was irritating as all hell. The apology even included a 'sir'. What was he even supposed to say to that?

The fact that the other patient was already wounded didn't help matters any. It would be like kicking someone who was already down. (Not that he hadn't done this in the past, but this just seemed like a fairly bad time for it.)

So he sighed, getting back up to his feet and making a show of brushing himself off. For now, his ire would just have to take the shape of not helping Lee to his feet as well. Take that, kid with weird eyes.

[awokentospring]

Lee paused, a little concerned. "You... want to be angry with me?" That certainly seemed backwards. But maybe if that's what he really wanted... And then Lee realized he wasn't serious. He cringed, feeling foolish. Someday he would learn to see around people's words and into their intent.

As it was, Lee was sincere in wanting to help. He got to his feet but kept his eyes on the younger boy, a little worried he might be even a little bruised though there was still no indication that he had been hurt.

"... I do wish to help, if it would make it up to you," Lee continued, honesty burning in his eyes. "If you are in need of a body guard, or even just need something in particular retrieved, I can certainly help with that!"

[thisisyourgod]

Good gobs of grubsauce was this kid something special. And by special he meant the sort that would generally surround the word in airquotes had he been describing him to someone else. That, or he was taking Karkat for a fool. He wouldn't put that past a lot of the patients here either. There was something genuinely and disturbingly earnest about the teen, however, which made believing him seem like the most appropriate choice.

Still. "A bodyguard? You?" That got Lee a raised brow and a meaningful glance at his wounded arm. One didn't normally offer oneself as a protector when already wounded. Not only would it just be putting them in more danger, but it also didn't speak very highly of their ability to actually perform the task. Not that he didn't seem to be in great physical shape otherwise, but that didn't necessarily mean he was automatically good bodyguard material.

Not that Karkat even needed a bodyguard, either. He was perfectly capable of taking care of himself!

[awokentospring]

"Of course!" Lee stood at attention, his chest expanding as he breathed in and offered an awkward, left-handed salute. "I am a shinobi; a mighty ninja of Konoha! I have been on many escort missions for my village. You will have nothing to fear!"

Lee understood he wasn't at the top of his game, and his chakra was hardly at an acceptable level, but he was hardly helpless. Even with his dominant arm in a sling, he was still a worth-while opponent. Facilier's roommate had gotten to know that first hand.

[thisisyourgod]

Ninja. Karkat did know what a ninja was. (Never mind how. Alternia was strange that way, even though it was supposed to have come first.) This guy hardly fit his mental image of a ninja, though. Then again, he wouldn't really have a dark mask or hood in this place, would he? They were all stuck in those silly smiley-face outfits. He'd never seen what a ninja looked like when they weren't dressed, well, as a ninja.

The uncertain expression he was giving Lee didn't change. "What makes you think I need someone watching my back, anyway? Are you saying I look like I can't defend myself?" It was being petty, he knew, but he felt like he should at least protest a little rather than immediately accepting the offer.

[awokentospring]

"Certainly not!" Lee grinned, knowing well one could never judge by an initial impression. If people did that, well, he would have a lot fewer friends back home. But underneath his sweet demeanor was hard-packed muscle and a thorough knowledge of how to kill using a variety of martial arts and weaponry. He just didn't like to flaunt that part about himself.

"I would never imagine another is not capable of protecting them self, but this place is not like our homes. We are robbed of a great deal of our power here." He crossed his good arm over his chest and gave a sharp nod. "Even my chakra has been quite depleted. But, I am not hopeless! It helps to have a group, however."

He smiled again, but his eyes took on a nostalgic glaze. "Even back home, we were expected to travel in teams. It was good bonding experience!"