damned_institute | NIGHTSHIFT 37: M41-50 HALLWAY

A click and the dry crackle of static was all it took to get Depth Charge on his feet. I’m coming for you, X. Checking his equipment and maps one last time he switched the flashlight on and opened the door.

The hallway was darker than it had been when he last entered it, and Depth Charge found himself hovering uncertainly by the door until his optics became accustomed to the shadows- a fact that immediately riled him up more than it should have done, since his usual optics sensors would have adjusted themselves instantaneously. As it was, it served as yet another reminder of how fragile this body was. Almost completely reliant on the light of his flashlight, he’d have to be vigilant if he wanted to keep himself in one piece.

Barely a klik later and he was off again, sizing up his options; according to his map, on his left was a dead end and on his right a door. Not the most difficult decision he’d ever faced. He turned right and paced purposely towards the end of the corridor and the next hallway, keeping one suspicious eye fixed on the doors he passed by.

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The monk took the cigarette box and matches, as Goku sat next to him, but didn't light one up just yet.

Sanzo didn't notice that little uncertain shrug, too intent on the sutra. With his other hand, he unrolled the scripture, smoothing a hand gently over its surface. A finger traced the sacred text as he read it.

The sutra was like an extension of him at this point, in a way. He'd lived with it so long that he would know it anywhere. He knew what written on here by heart. He knew each little stroke, each little perfection and imperfection on it.

So far everything looked like it was where it should be. The only thing off was that it seemed muted. Usually he could feel a warmth off it, but it was barely giving off anything. Could it be the dampening affect here?

Goku was staring at him, but for now, Sanzo ignored it. He was used to it by now, and the fact that Goku really did have zero sense of personal space. It wasn't like it was a habit he'd ever been able to snap the chimp out of, so Sanzo'd just ended up adapting to it.

Goku shifted next to him, and then the monk felt a hand touching his hair.

Sanzo didn't lift his eyes from the scripture, although his hand did still on it.

He didn't look up just yet. "What do you think you're doing?"

Sanzo rolled the sutra up in one smooth motion. It passed his inspection, and he was satisfied with it. The bundled scripture vanished into his robes.

He turned to look at Goku, the movement drawing his hair from his fingers. The chimp was acting weirder than usual, but in light of everything that happened, it made sense.

Normally Sanzo put a stop to Goku's seeming inability to not touch everything, immediately, but for once, he let it go.

"It's fine," Sanzo said. He tapped open the cigarette box, and drew a stick out. "How did you find it?"

The kid looked like he was trying his damndest to find a way out of answering it, and that made Sanzo want to latch on even more. It wasn't like Goku to think he could avoid something Sanzo was asking of him. He'd bitch and moan about it sometimes, but he'd do it.

Suddenly Sanzo's hair was forgotten. The sheet was much more interesting. Goku mumbled something, but Sanzo didn't quite hear it.

He wasn't having any of it. Sanzo grabbed his chin and firmly turned his face towards him, making him meet his gaze.

"You aren't making any sense, idiot. Tell me exactly what happened after he ran me through."

Sanzo stared into the golden eyes, his own narrowed, as Goku spoke. No matter how reluctant he was about telling him, Sanzo was certain he was telling the truth.

From the sounds of it, they'd all somehow appeared outside of the coliseum. If Goku had been able to carry him back, then that meant his wounds had been healed the moment Sanzo had collapsed. Landel had made sure that he'd screwed with the monkey's head one last time.

He abruptly released Goku.

In silence, Sanzo finished removing the cigarette, and put it to his lips. With his free hands, he struck up a match, and lit the cigarette. Shaking the match out, he let it drop to the floor, where he ground it out with a sandle.

He took in a few drags, but it wasn't as soothing as it usually was. He had to live with the fact that what happened to him wasn't natural, that he didn't know exactly what occured in that period between blacking out and the morgue last night. Goku had seen everything.

Sanzo let out a small breath."...You did fine."

Sanzo took another drag, as Goku spoke. He didn't understand what he meant by a key being in them. It could be bullshit, but he'd learned by now that the Head Doctor didn't resort to that. He didn't have to.

He'd have to find out more about it, but it probably wasn't going to be from Goku. The kid would've been too focused on him on the arena floor to pay too much attention.

"It could be another trap." Except it was hard to tell what was the truth and what was a lie with the Head Doctor. The South Hall had been a trap, yet he'd kept his promise about letting the others go.

Sanzo looked at Goku. "I don't want you going down there. Is that clear?"

Sanzo scowled at Goku from behind the cigarette. When the hell did the chimp get the balls to try and bargain with him?

He wasn't having it. It was Goku tagging along that had gotten them into this. It wasn't the kid's fault that he'd ended up in the arena or been targetted , but - as much as he hated to admit it- the monkey was a chink in his defenses. Sanzo wasn't about to allow the Institute another chance to use him against him like that.

"No. You aren't in any position to be setting conditions for me. You're the dumb ape here, not me."

Sanzo removed the cigarette angrily. Goku was already testing his patience. There was reason the monk didn't want him going down there, and the kid was too dense to see it. Goku had been at risk, and he'd put Sanzo into a corner because he'd made the same pigheaded decision to come along.

He wouldn't allow it to happen again.

"No, you fucking aren't!" he snapped."I survived before I met you. I can manage by myself."

Sanzo stuck the cigarette back between his lips, taking a drag.

"You'll only get in my way." he added.

Not entirely true; Goku was inhumanly strong, and despite the immaturity, even Sanzo could see he was a natural fighter.

NIGHTSHIFT 37: M41-50 HALLWAY

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