damned_institute | Day 38: Patients' Library

The intercom rang out, disrupting what had turned out to be a rather pointless breakfast conversation, at least in Brainiac 5's eyes. He couldn't wait to put more distance between himself and Scar's blather of how logic, of all things, might not work the same way in this dimension. It was almost enough to make him believe that the man may very well have been a lion originally after all, as he'd never heard anything so very... ignorant and uneducated.

He quickly finished up the fruit he'd been nibbling on - he was no longer as hungry as he had been - and looked around automatically to see where Clark was. Unfortunately with the press of people around, some being led off to the library and others to the mentioned 'therapy sessions' - if that was what they really were - he had lost sight of the Kryptonian. Still there wasn't many places he could go, so Brainiac 5 would be able to catch up with him eventually to check on his condition and try and learn more about what had happened last night. That the Chapel had healed him - admittedly by passing his injuries to another - was interesting, but far more important in his eyes was what had happened to Clark and his powers. They hadn't been working correctly and that worried the Coluan boy more than he would normally have admitted. Without Clark's abilities... he wasn't sure what they would have to rely on in order to escape.

Another problem he would have to deal with was Grell... or, if he was to believe the notes on the bulletin board, the person pretending to be Grell. But that was going to require more careful planning before he made a move. Come to think of it, he had agreed to meet another in the library today on that same post that had sparked this whole mess. At least then he would have something of interest to look forward to, as he doubted any of the 21st century books were likely to be worthwhile to someone of his advanced intellect.

Following the nurses led him to what must have been the library; a reasonably large room filled with a range of archaic books on tall shelves, a few tables and chairs interspersed around the room. The Coluan boy couldn't refrain from wrinkling his nose in distaste as he entered the room, not liking the cumbersome books and the dust that he knew would have gathered on them; he much preferred the clean arrangement of his C.O.M.P.U.T.O. systems back in the Legion headquarters. It was much more practical then shelves and shelves of books on fictional worlds and dated information.

Trying to avoid as much of the room as possible, Brainiac 5 settled himself down on a chair to wait, keeping an eye out for a tall, dark-haired man with a red... something on his forehead.

[for Homura]

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Such terribly good logic that was. Matt raised a finger and opened his mouth as though to give an answer, but nothing came out. How was that a problem? Wasn't that how relationships worked?

Except he was being thoroughly manipulated, he reminded himself. She looked innocent enough, but she was toying with him. She had to be. And he was falling for her act at every turn. But if he said that again, she'd cry some more - and no one liked the guy that made the cute girl cry. Hell, he didn't like that guy.

He tried to take another calming breath. "It's... not. I guess." He'd just have to figure out how to take things slower so he could get a better gauge on what she was really up to.

Though he seemed to be agreeing with her, his initial hesitation and lack of enthusiasm hinted that he didn't. Not entirely, at least. Still, he'd at least stopped accusing her outright of trying to manipulate him, so perhaps there'd been at least some progress.

Ayumu turned the rest of the way back to face Robin again, but made no move to get closer or reach out to him. Her posture said she was still uncertain, with her head slightly lowered so that she was regarding him through her lashes. "That's good, then, right?" she asked, sounding almost shy.

Even as she dealt with her current issue, though, she was halfway listening to what she could pick up of Mello's conversation nearby, and becoming somewhat curious about who this "Ryuga" person was. If someone was going to try to kill him, he was probably interesting indeed. How many people did Mello know, and why? She'd seen him trying to spread his influence on the bulletin board already; how far did it already go?

Matt sighed, rubbing at his face with one hand. Mello would be listening. He'd probably get an ear full of it later. "That's... good, I guess. Yeah."

He'd go along for now. If it turned out she was sincere, he was a lucky guy. He'd just have to remain on his guard, so he'd be prepared in the event that she was actually leading him along.

...That was the plan, anyway. That hurt puppy look of hers was making things a whole lot more difficult. "I'm sorry, okay?"

Ayumu breathed out in what was almost a sigh. "Sometimes I don't understand you, Robin-han," she admitted, quietly, sounding a little uncertain.

Now that he was no longer acting quite so suspicious she relaxed a little, her expression no longer quite so upset despite her confusion. She brought the journal she'd had tucked under one arm up in front of herself, though, folding her arms across it as though it could act as a shield against any more accusations.

"Sometimes you act like you want to be around me but when I get close it seems to upset you." She tilted her head to one side slightly, giving him a mildly puzzled look. "Is...is there something wrong?"

At that, Matt could help but give a semi-nervous chuckle and rub at the back of his neck again, absolutely embarrassed by the whole affair. How did one easily explain lack of experience with women without making themselves look even more laughable?

"For a woman to show interest in me this quickly, it generally means they're after something," he finally stated. It wasn't as though Matt had much to offer, either. "If you're the exception to the rule, then, well, that'll be something."

"...oh." Ayumu hesitated for a moment, one hand shifting a little as though she wanted to reach out, before she closed it tightly about the edge of the journal once more. She was keeping that small distance between them this time, though it could have been because of the other patients who might potentially be watching or because she was still uncertain of the reception he might give her.

She glanced down briefly, then back up again, with a small frown. "Robin-han, it's...well, this isn't a pleasant situation for anyone," she offered, somewhat hesitantly. "It's strange and it's dangerous and, well, it's frightening. When I was lost and scared you were there, and you were handsome and kind and helpful."

Ayumu shifted her grip on the journal again, holding it a little more tightly against herself as she lowered her gaze shyly. "I don't know what I'd be after, apart from you."

Matt's head was bent down now from the process of rubbing at his next, face bright red. Ignoring the 'kind and helpful' part, because he was aware of how untrue that could be, ...he was handsome, was he? It really must have something to do with the difference in time periods. He knew that dangerous situations could bring about quick attachment, but that didn't make it any easier to take at face value.

What would she be after, if she wasn't simply interested in him for the reasons she gave? It could be any number of things. She was definitely new. It could just be that she wanted someone to protect her. Not everyone here was a fighter. If that was the case, though, there were far better people to go to - Kenshin, for example.

"That's, ah, very flattering." Matt smiled weakly. "I'm sorry, okay?" For now. He closed the small distance between them and attempted to give her a comforting hug.

Even with her head lowered a little Ayumu could see the blush on Robin's face. Even if he didn't entirely believe her, then, even if he still had suspicions remaining, it seemed that for now what she was saying was striking the appropriate nerves.

She did wonder just what he was thinking about, though, or what he thought it was that she was trying to get. It wasn't as though the patients had possessions worth stealing; even the items in the room upstairs didn't actually belong to them from what she could see. Did he realize that she was interested in what Mello was up to? Or was he up to something himself? No, she doubted that, on second thought.

When he stepped forward she made no motion to protest or move away. Though she kept the book in front of herself so that her arms crossed across her chest still provided a barrier of sorts between them, she relaxed at the hug, her eyes closing briefly as though she were trying to squeeze back tears. "I'm sorry, too," she replied softly. "I didn't mean to upset you at all. It's just...so different here."

Day 38: Patients' Library

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