Leon's question was heard, but Mark took several more shaking breaths before trying to answer. That last sprint had damaged his body too much; Lord Mark could ignore pain, Howl would eat it, but he couldn't ignore facts of biology. The Other was shy, he didn't like speaking, really didn't like working with others at all (and see what working with a group got us?) but he knew if he didn't answer Leon, it might inspire the man to walk over to check on him.
"O... okay." Mark's voice came out raspy, and he was still shaking. Blood loss, burns, damage to his lower body... he'd come through the Institute nearly unscathed until he'd been asked to run this gauntlet. The Other rolled their body over carefully, avoiding the mess, looking at Archer through squinted eyes with a slack jaw as he panted for breath. Something silver, something small, bladed...
Lord Mark was too weak, there was a small struggle, but he surfaced again and for a moment his face twisted in more natural pain. "Guh... give it to Hitsugaya." More struggle, showing in wincing movement and a shift in weight that didn't help the shaking or the pain. "Hitsugaya's... sent teams down... some idea, connection... if someone else got through..." Here, or another of the trails out of the round room. How strangely far away that staircase seemed from here. He'd never make it, so it was fortunate his life didn't depend on it. "Maybe patterns, maybe code, key, something..."
A massive shudder and the Other took over again, Mark's expression going limp despite the shivering state, Howl advancing again to assist in his own role. That was more than enough for now, his deepest alternate thought with some concern. Their body struggled against the edges of the wall, using that weight to force themselves up one last time. They had to get out, surely the others would know that without Lord Mark needing to explain it.
no subject
"O... okay." Mark's voice came out raspy, and he was still shaking. Blood loss, burns, damage to his lower body... he'd come through the Institute nearly unscathed until he'd been asked to run this gauntlet. The Other rolled their body over carefully, avoiding the mess, looking at Archer through squinted eyes with a slack jaw as he panted for breath. Something silver, something small, bladed...
Lord Mark was too weak, there was a small struggle, but he surfaced again and for a moment his face twisted in more natural pain. "Guh... give it to Hitsugaya." More struggle, showing in wincing movement and a shift in weight that didn't help the shaking or the pain. "Hitsugaya's... sent teams down... some idea, connection... if someone else got through..." Here, or another of the trails out of the round room. How strangely far away that staircase seemed from here. He'd never make it, so it was fortunate his life didn't depend on it. "Maybe patterns, maybe code, key, something..."
A massive shudder and the Other took over again, Mark's expression going limp despite the shivering state, Howl advancing again to assist in his own role. That was more than enough for now, his deepest alternate thought with some concern. Their body struggled against the edges of the wall, using that weight to force themselves up one last time. They had to get out, surely the others would know that without Lord Mark needing to explain it.