damned_institute | Day 27: Lunch

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Day 27: Lunch

Renji wasn't so certain what this grilled cheese thing was all about, but he liked the sound of some soup. Even if it was strange western soup, well... there wasn't anything bad people could do to soup, in his experience. His good mood was starting to fray at the edges, a little, from the strain of dealing with the Ichimaru issue, and even more from what had been on the bulletin board earlier.

He'd never had difficulty simply writing something before. But...

He shook his head as he entered the line. He didn't want to think about it. He wanted to hold on to the tenuous equilibrium he'd managed to find.

Renji got himself a large bowl of soup, water, and even one of those sandwiches, just to try it. Old habit, recently awakened, had him over to one side of the cafeteria, where the fewest people possible would have the chance to pass behind him. He sat there with his back toward the wall and started eating.

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Well, at least something had gone right last night. A thought that had plagued Riddick from that particular time-span returned... but it wasn't something he wanted to discuss in front of Sparda.

Eat. He picked up a sandwich, took a bite, and forced it down. The grease probably wouldn't do much to settle his stomach, but he knew he'd regret it later if he skipped this meal.

Haku smiled and bowed his head, ignoring his own food for the moment. "I am glad to hear that," he said. "And I'm sorry I wasn't of any real help to anyone."

He hadn't been of much help since his defeat at the hands of Naruto now that he thought about it. The thought didn't make him feel much better.

Sparda shook his head at Haku's apology. "There is no need to apologize for being hurt," No one could really fault Haku for not having done anything. No one with any amount of reason anyway.

"I found something last night called a First Aid Spray while examining the body of that thing..." The name of it was helpful, but Sparda wasn't sure what type of injuries it would treat. "Do you happen to know what sort of injury it's intended to treat?"

Riddick cut in, forgetting the progress he'd made on his sandwich for the moment. He was rather disconcerted at what Haku had just said, but hoped it didn't show too much as he addressed the boy.

"If it weren't for you... either or both of us could be dead."

He distinctly remembered the nightmarish hell he'd been going through until Haku's frigid touch had brought him back to reality. And at that point, the battle certainly hadn't been going well. If anything... Riddick himself was the one at fault for getting Haku mangled. But that was just one of the things bugging him right now.

Haku smiled and bowed his head, his eyes closed. "Thank you for saying so," he said, voice soft. "I wish I could have done more though. Not being like I was before is.... difficult."

He knew he would be scolded for his failures by Zabuza-san once they were together, so there was no reason to berate himself at the moment. He took a small sip of juice and then laughed softly.

"But that just sounds like I'm making excuses when there really are none."

"It is difficult to be weakened. But there is no one to blame but the institute here. You cannot be faulted for circumstances beyond your control," But it was difficult to deal with being unable to do something.

Sparda wished for his powers back so he could leave this place and return to his family.

Riddick really wanted to talk to Haku alone. And well, it wasn't like Sparda didn't know Riddick's stance on being polite. Nor had their last conversation gone so well. He contented himself for the moment with glaring darkly at the supposed demon. One didn't have to see his eyes to figure out what he was thinking. Fuck. Off.

Haku nodded once more. "To answer your question," he began slowly. He'd thought about it for a while. "Where I come from, any medical aid that you can spray tends to be used for open wounds as an antiseptic agent." He shrugged the shoulder not strapped to his side. "Who knows about here though."

Even Haku couldn't miss the hostile look Riddick gave to the white-haired man. It suprised him, but no more than it would have if, say, Zabuza-san were the one to give it.

Sparda was irritated by Riddick's behavior, and pressed his lips together. There was only a subtle expression of annoyance on his face, but even that was unusual for the normally calm demon.

"Ah. I am afraid I am not very familiar with human medical supplies, never having needed them myself," Sparda wondered if he would recover as quickly here as he would normally, though he doubted he would still have his demonic recovery rate.

"Well, as delightful as the company here is, I am sorry to say that I have an appointment elsewhere," While he remained as polite as ever, he did toss a slightly irritated glance towards Riddick as he stood up, giving a slight bow to both of them. "Enjoy your lunch."

Sparda spotted Zabuza entering the cafeteria and headed off to join him instead.

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Finally. Riddick happened to see who Sparda was headed for... and thought it was odd the guy didn't come to their table. Yeah, the Furyan had just managed to get rid of unwanted company... but after last night's events, he had a bit more respect for the one person who'd actually tried to help Haku in the cafeteria.

Riddick returned his attention to the boy in question. A clearer mind was helping him think now. He just wasn't used to... apologizing.

"I think I messed you up worse last night. Wasn't a hell of a lot of time to think though. Had to move you fast." He'd been able to feel through his back that things weren't at all right with the kid as he'd carried him through the darkness. But Riddick himself had been a mess at the time, and the battle still raging.

Haku smiled and shook his head. "I'm fine, you're healing," he said. "Don't think further on it. As I said, I am to blame for my own injuries."

Haku hadn't missed Zabuza-san's entrance and a flash of pain that had nothing to do with his ribs lanced across his chest. He worked hard to pretend like he wasn't looking, though they both knew he was. He looked down at his untouched bowl of soup and, deciding that it was better to eat at least a bit than be unable to explain to his Master yet again why he wasn't eating, Haku took a spoonful and began to eat slowly.

Riddick didn't think it was fair the kid was beating himself up so bad... but the killer wasn't exactly the right person to tackle this sort of thing. And yes, there was food to eat. If nothing else, he could be here for Haku, though he wasn't sure what good that did. One of the thoughts he'd been sorting through surfaced properly, and after a moment he voiced it.

"That guy," he nodded towards the man Sparda had joined, the man who appeared to be staring coldly at him now. "...there some reason he's not here?" Seemed like the two of them were close, at least the way the guy'd been freaking out last night. Riddick found it hard to believe the other man was avoiding the table out of sheer politeness.

Haku smiled again, but didn't have to look up to see which 'guy' Riddick was referring to.

"Zabuza-san and I are not permitted to interact with one another during the daylight hours." He glanced up from his bowl at the staff hovering around the room and chuckled softly. "If we get too close, we are separated." Well, Zabuza-san was removed anyway.

Riddick made a note of the name. Luckily he knew the context, or calling the other man 'Zabuza-san' had the potential to cause embarrassment. He smirked at the thought. But the other stuff Haku had just said sobered him.

There was probably a good reason, from the view of those in charge, to keep the two apart. Riddick didn't feel like prying, unlike some. He dismissed those not at the table from his thoughts and finished his sandwich. The food did seem to be helping clear the rest of the fog, but he had a feeling it was more whatever Haku had done.

"Speaking of names," he ventured darkly, "You wouldn't happen to know the one belonging to that ponytail fuck who ditched us last night?" Riddick didn't need a name, he knew where the guy's room was.

Haku thought back and frowned, shaking his head. "I'm afraid I never heard his name," he said, sounding apologetic. He smiled slightly. "I didn't even realize he'd left. I'm sorry."

"Don't sweat it." The final events of last night played back through his mind, along with the memory of the eerie darkness that had taken hold of his mind when he'd snapped and charged the still-nameless man who'd basically told Riddick to go fuck himself. The Furyan knew Haku probably had no idea what had gone on. And he wasn't sure volunteering the information would make the boy feel any better. He appeared to have enough to deal with already. Then again, the flashlight-wielding asshole wasn't someone who could be trusted. Heh, like I can talk. His own standing with the world had become convoluted of late. There was a lot of confusion in his mind completely unrelated to this new stint in Landel's. Stuff he didn't want to deal with. Wasn't sure how to deal with.

Fuck it, he'd start the thought, and if Haku wasn't interested... "I caught up to him later. The end result is that I owe him a debt of pain."

Haku frowned with worry. Riddick appeared distressed (well, as much as someone like he could be) and having him at less than his best would be a hinderance to everyone else.

"Did he try to attack you?" It was the only thing Haku could think of that would throw the larger man off balance like this, but, then again... he didn't really know him.

Riddick shook his head, actually grinning at that, though he hadn't missed the note of concern in Haku's voice.

"No, I attacked him." Technically the doom and gloom shit had been partly to blame, but the killer brushed the thought aside and finished with, "...after he refused to help you."

Haku blinked, confused now.

"Why would he? He doesn't know me." He smiled slightly. "Nor did he seem to be a medic, so..." He shrugged one shoulder again. "He had no reason to help me."

Neither did Riddick, but he wasn't going to say that aloud.

Riddick looked at the boy in silence for a moment. He did have a point, but... "Because I told him to." He realized after saying it that the words sounded almost childish now; the concept hadn't last night. "I guess he didn't know who he was fucking with." Riddick may have been injured and fairly out of it at the time, but anybody stupid enough to blow him off was asking to meet with the wrong end of his blade. It certainly hadn't been the first time, and no doubt wasn't the last.

And he didn't really want to tackle the thought of why he himself had been so ready to help the kid, or try telling others to copy him. That was one of the things he didn't understand about himself. This conversation was becoming... difficult. He half-heartedly stirred a spoon in the soup that was getting cold. If he'd had any appetite at all, it was gone now.

Haku considered that for a moment, taking another spoonful of the tepid soup.

"May I ask what you did before you were brought here?" Haku was curious and, if this man was half as dangerous as he seemed, it would be good to know now.

Riddick welcomed the change in topic. "I was the most notorious outlaw in the galaxy." It wasn't bragging, it was the truth. "Amazing what killing a few people will do to your reputation." 'A few' was undercutting the concept but it would do. And this place was apparently wearing off on him... using past tense about his status in the only life he knew should have felt more strange. "Spent a lot time on the run or in prison. Hasn't been a place that can hold me yet."

It irked him that he hadn't tried escaping this shithole last night. That whole deviation with Richter and company had proven a complete waste of time. Although... if he hadn't gone with the others... there was no guessing at the outcome of their fight with that thing. But that wasn't the subject of discussion any more, and he waited on Haku's response, forcing some soup down even though it was cold. It still tasted infinitely better than slam food.

Haku smiled, the expression as warm and bright as he could manage. "That certainly sounds familiar," he said with a soft chuckle. "I hope that holds true for this place as well."

And he did really wish for Riddick to escape. Even if Haku didn't want to just yet, others could and should. He wanted to help them escape.

Riddick gave up on the soup. He'd had enough, and there would be another meal before night hit. Besides, Haku's words (and smile) had caught him off guard.

"You done some time?"

He wasn't sure how to respond to the second statement. He didn't want to worry the kid with his plans for the upcoming night, so he let his question lead the conversation elsewhere. He knew full well the warnings all over the bulletin board about not wandering around alone at night. Plus, he wasn't in top condition... at all. And he seriously doubted Haku was going anywhere tonight...

Some part of Riddick's mind was telling him this is dangerous. The last person he'd cared about... had died in his arms just over a day ago. Or well, that was the time-frame in his mind; who knew what had happened between his last memories of his home universe and waking up in this one.

Haku bowed his head slightly. "I have not," he admitted. "Only because they didn't catch me." And then his death had negated the bounty anyway so...

"But I know what it's like to be hunted," he went on, still. "And what it's like to hunt."

Day 27: Lunch

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