Nightshift 30: M11-M20 Hallway

[bond-off-lame.livejournal.com]

[Specifically M12]

"… Wait, really?" Axel asked, mainly to himself, as he listened to the intercom and the head doctor’s sudden confession. It hadn’t been long since he was escorted back to his room after his dinner, feeling rather content after spending a shift to himself. It was fun and all to chill with a couple of people beforehand, but a guy needed a break every once in a while.

His plans were relatively simple at the time. He was going to run off to Kairi’s room, swing her body over his shoulders and haul her back over to his own. He’d forgotten to write a note down for Roy in the bulletin saying he couldn’t make it, but he was sure the colonel could make the right assumptions.

He had been in the middle of rummaging under his mattress for his chakram when the intercom came to life again, and with that he couldn’t help but stop and look up at the ceiling with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. At this point it almost felt like a tradition for the man behind the radio to pop up every evening, so a change this big earned a bit of attention. Axel’s gaze remained on the ceiling for at least half a minute before he glanced over at his roommate on the other side.

"You know, I almost don’t believe it." But this was technically a battlefield, and one side had to give in one way or another. He had to remind himself that tradition didn’t exactly last forever.

Comments

[right-handed.livejournal.com]

"I agree," Scar nodded as he walked out into the hallway, flicking the beam of his flashlight both ways. He paused and then turned back to Lust, answering her first question.

""We're fine... for the most part." The Ishbalan sighed, glancing away in thought. "River seemed pretty affected by the whole thing - pretty affected in the first place to have gotten involved, and... the nurses drugged her and me pretty badly."

[a_sin_for_him]

"But you're both alright?" Lust stepped close, reaching up to brush her fingers lightly through Scar's bangs, an expression bordering on concern twisting her features.

"After the drugs wore off?"

[right-handed.livejournal.com]

Scar frowned as Lust drew near and visibly tensed when she touched him. It wasn't so much that he was uncomfortable with the closeness as he was so used to pushing people away. He'd changed now and though he'd accepted that change and was willing to go along with it with the hopes that God had given him another chance, he wasn't finding it an easy adjustment.

"I'm fine," he grumbled, glancing away from Lust's concerned expression. He felt guilty for making her feel concerned and so wanted to assuage any fears she might have had, though now that he'd gotten up and moving, he felt a little woozy. He pulled away from her and put a hand to his forehead.

"Afterwards, they just had orderlies escort us everywhere and the drugs have been having a couple of after-effects. That's all."

[a_sin_for_him]

"Honestly Scar," Lust chastised as he tensed beneath her touch. "I'm not going to bite you." But she dropped her hand and made no move to follow when he pulled away, giving him his space.

"You don't look fine." She was at his side again, not touching him, but ready in case the idiot did something foolish like pass out. "You couldn't simply keep your tempers in check, could you?"

There was a great deal more she could say, but she held her tongue. But truly, it had been a foolish move to attempt anything during the daylight hours. Men! They had to play the hero, didn't they? And look where it had gotten them.

[right-handed.livejournal.com]

Scar pulled his hand away from his face, staring at the opposite wall.

"What? Should I have left River alone with those orderlies?" He grumbled under his breath, his frustration directed more towards the Institute itself than towards the woman at his side. However, Lust's previous comment did stir something else on his mind, something that had been forgotten amidst all his worrying about River and Dias.

"Speaking of biting..." he said, turning towards Lust with narrowed eyes. "Your old homunculus friend tried to attack me in the showers. Did you know he was here?"

[a_sin_for_him]

"River was included in that 'you'," Lust pointed out, with an arched eyebrow. And then she glanced away, a touch guilty, realizing she hadn't warned either of them about one another.

"Yes," she said, nodding. "I'm sorry. He...doesn't like you very much. You can't blame him, Scar. He has a child's mind and he's very protective of me. I'll speak with him and remind him once more who's friend and who's foe."

[right-handed.livejournal.com]

Scar wasn't sure if he bought that Lust's condemnation was blanketed towards the whole family, but he let it go for now. Her defense of Gluttony was far more disturbing, in any case.

"I hope he can remember that." Scar growled, glaring at her. "He may have a child's mind, but he has a bear's strength. And appetite."

He looked away towards the open end of the hallway and began to walk towards the exit.

"At any rate, we should try to get somewhere before we're whisked back to our rooms. You have any ideas beyond the main hallways?"

[a_sin_for_him]

"He's only trying to keep me safe, Scar," Lust reminded, gently. "But you needn't worry. I've already turned him against Envy, to accept you as someone not to bother is a small thing."

She followed after him with a small shrug. "I've exhausted what the second floor has to offer easily," she told him, recalling her plundering exploits at the colonel's request. "What did you wish to accomplish?"