Day 34: Lunch

[thatdamnedninja.livejournal.com]

Yuffie bounced all the way through collecting her lunch, all the way to a good seat- one with a nice view of the whole cafeteria, which was something she'd been missing out on during the past day or so that she'd been stuck in the Institute- and hell, she even bounced into her seat.

A good mood? No, really?

Despite the occasional blip, talking to Sagara had been awesome. He was a fun guy; he wasn't a prude, didn't have a stick shoved so far up his ass it was poking out his eyeballs, and he'd actually had a conversation with her. One that hadn't revolved around doom, gloom or how much life sucked. If she could find other people like that and keep in touch with Sagara, maybe there was a little hope for this place.

After a quick gulp of pink lemonade, Yuffie settled to munching through her food and keeping an eye on the door.

[Waiting for Dean, I think? :x]

Comments

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

With a quick, nervous glance from side to side to see if any nurses or orderlies were too close, Armand leaned across the table--that part was awkward--and attempted to plant a very quick kiss on Morrison's lips. The man was already blushing far too much.

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

TK's response to surprise wasn't often to freeze up, but this time was an exception. He stopped dead, mouth just slightly open, and very, very confused. There had to be a reason for this, somehow, somewhere, but he couldn't figure out what that was.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

He didn't linger. Armand wasn't attracted to Morrison himself, but he thought it would be very easy to tell if the man loathed being kissed by another man. He didn't as far as Armand could tell. No cringing, no slapping or groans of disgust. Armand settled back, somewhat relieved that the act had gone unnoticed, at least so far.

He was red-cheeked as well, and ducked his chin to let his hair fall over his face. "Ummm... my apologies. I only wanted to see if you hated it." As far as he could tell, Morrison had reacted like any inexperienced person to a surprise kiss. "Perhaps you do not hate intimacy with men," he murmured, still hiding his face. "I should find a young lady to kiss you now."

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Uh..." That was about all he could manage, at the moment. The blush seemed to have gotten to his brain by now.

The last thing Armand said made him snap out of it a bit. "Oh, no you don't have to do that..." Then he realized something. "...That was the first time I've ever been kissed by anyone."

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"You don't think you like women?" Armand asked, head to one side. His own flush was fading now. "I'm sorry it was your first. I wish I'd been able to make it more enjoyable."

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

"It's just that getting kissed randomly again would probably make me blush so hard I'd spontaneously combust..." TK ran a hand through his hair, embarassed. "And it's alright. I was just startled, that's all."

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"Well, a fellow like you, surprising you is the only way to get close," Armand teased. "It can be embarrassing, especially if you don't know what to expect or how you'll react. I remember my first kiss." He blushed again at the memory. "I was just about your actual age. When I got home, Margot had heard about it and made me wash my mouth out with soap."

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

"So normal civilians start doing this sort of thing when they're still about twelve years old?" He couldn't imagine the clone equivalent ever doing that at that time.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"Oh yes, some earlier, some later. The girl in question was a bit older than I." He peered at his friend. "Even though physically, you're all grown up, I think you're even younger that way. It's sad. By the time you catch up mentally, you may be much older." He puzzled that over a few minutes.

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

TK did a half-shrug, remembering to not disturb his left shoulder this time. "War caught all of us up on most things. Social skills were deffinitely not among them." No, deffinitely not social skills.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"I feel for you. You have a chance to have normal life with this--as normal as Dr. Landel will allow. I want to help you as much as possible." He leaned on the table, resting his chin in his hand. "You're quite special, I think. Honesty and sincerity are rare traits."

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. I doubt I'd ever even think to do anything about these things by myself." He would just go about doing things the way he always had, as well as he was able to here. He still did for the most part, but this... This was so much different.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

Another smile. "And as a friend you are not so bad as you think. You cheer me up, and when I'm not worried you'll get killed, being around makes me happy. Not many people do that around here."

Bridget. Anthy. That was about it. He knew other people, but many of them made him various degrees of uncomfortable.

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

TK nodded, unsure of what else to say. He never knew what was the right thing to say in situations like this, and he was used to knowing the right way to do everything.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"You don't even know how good a friend you are, do you?" Armand asked. He thought back over the last few days. "Remember when I was... upset the other night? That is what a friend would do. And I thank you for it."

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

"You needed help. I just did what I could." He didn't really think it was much of a big deal. He'd probably do that for anyone he considered a friend at all.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"And that is why you're a good friend. Not everyone would do that, don't you see? Some people are cruel or selfish. You are not." Armand wished he could make his point more clearly. Sometimes words failed him entirely.

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Oh." He scraped some of the remaining food off his plate, trying to at least partially distract himself so he could act a little less like a vaguely embarassed idiot.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"Do you understand now?" Armand seemed pleased with himself.

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I suppose." He was just very confused by getting much attention or compliments at all. It hadn't made much sense to him when Commander Akobi had done the same, and it still didn't now.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

"Morrison," Armand said urgently, "I know you think it's your duty, but you saved my life last night, and you've done all a good friend would do when I was in distress before. Do not sell yourself short."