damned_institute | Day 41: Sun Room

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Day 41: Sun Room

Haseo's steps were heavy with the weight of righteous anger as he was escorted into the Sun Room, his posture so sullen and reluctant you could almost hear the nostalgic cry of an electric guitar. He was seething, and though perhaps it was a bit harder to be intimidating while wearing the uniform of an insane asylum and flanked by a bored-looking orderly, it was not for lack of trying.

Unfortunately, his nurse seemed unaffected by the act, and even with the cloud of failing to keep "Kai" away from "Peyton" hanging over her, remained determinedly cheerful. She merely said something about receiving a lecture later on, ignored his retorts, and assured him that it would be alright even though his internet stalker was in the same building. For the most part, Haseo tuned her babbling out after that, dismissing it as hopeless.

"...and usually this would be the time children would be taking showers, but you don't have to worry about that right now. Now then, le--"

"Wait. What?"

"Oh, all the children seventeen or under are separated right now while the adults go to the courtyard..."

"Hey, I'm not a kid you old--!"

"Oh of course you aren't dear, but you're not eighteen yet either, now are you?"

Haseo resisted the urge to do something rash, literally biting his tongue to keep quiet. But upon having the bulletin board pointed out to him, he shrugged off his anger for the most part and headed that way, fully intending to get more answers than he'd had time to receive during breakfast.

Well... at least Endrance is in another shower group, he thought, Thank god.

[Closed to Tsukasa, for now!]

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Artemis nodded silently, glad that he didn't have to endure being ignored by Haku or worse, speaking first. He lowered himself down onto the floor a little awkwardly, and was quiet again for a few moments.

"As you can see, I'm fine," he said gently, staring at the rug between his feet.

Haku bowed his head. "True. Physically, you are well."

He didn't want to have this conversation, not right now. Things were still too jumbled in his head for this, but Artemis needed to talk this out.

"Emotionally, and mentally, you are... hurt."

Artemis internally winced. "It's true. I'm still hurt. But not as much from the hallucination as from... everything else. Though the hallucination is still hurting me mentally."

Emotionally, Artemis still felt more or less the same: he'd lost someone important and had to keep on living without them.

"But it will dissipate in time," he promised, reaching to put his hand over Haku's in a comforting gesture.

Haku's strict control over his body had left his skin cooler than normal, but he took Artemis's hand in his.

"It should not have happened in the first place."

Artemis frowned slightly at how cold Haku felt, but didn't comment on it. He felt like he was holding Death's hand right now, so best not to make any sudden or angering movements.

"I'm sorry... I felt I needed his notes, I can't offer any other reason or apology."

"You don't need to offer any reason or apology. What's done is done." Haku kept his gaze down towards the ground. "My only response is I should not have been so selfish last night. For that, I apologize."

Artemis shook his head. "No, we've been through this, you weren't being selfish. Having plans of your own is not being selfish, it's being your own person. That's what you're working towards, isn't it?"

Haku sighed softly and nodded. "You're right. That does not change my feelings on the matter. I am sorry I ... over-reacted earlier."

He might still do something rash when he saw badou, but he hoped he could control himself at least that much.

Artemis squeezed his hand, eyebrows knit together. "I understand... that you're upset--and why you're upset. And," the boy bit his lip a little. "It's flattering."

Haku frowned in confusion and looked up. "Flattering?" He had a feeling he'd somehow lost his footing in this conversation and had no way of understanding what was happening.

"You're... worried about me, even though I don't have any physical injuries. I only wish that you wouldn't blame yourself," he said, taking Haku's hand in both of his.

Haku looked down at their joined hands,still confused. He didn't understand why this was both a good thing and a bad thing. He did know that there was something wrong, and that he had to fix it, but he didn't know how.

"I'm ... Sorry. I can't help it." He just knew that if he'd gone along with Artemis, he wouldn't have been hurt at all.

Artemis nodded, smiling faintly at Haku. Somehow, it was easier to discuss this when Haku was there, and not when they were communicating over small pieces of paper.

"I understand that you can't, just... remember that some things you just... can't help," he paused, looking down at the floor again. "Like with Renji and myself..."

(Wow, wrong icon above. ^^;;; )

Haku tried not to flinch slightly and he sighed softly.

"I will... try," he began. "I trust you, but I do not like seeing those I care for ...harmed in any way."

(SCARY. ;A;)

The boy nodded again, looking sadly at Haku. This was a difficult subject for them both. Perhaps it would just be better if Artemis let Haku watch over him every single night and believe he could stop anything thrown their way. Anything to help him...

"When I left last night, I knew that if I came back with a single scratch on me, you would be upset," Artemis began. "So I was very, very careful--because I didn't want to upset you. I seem to have done a poor job of it."

Haku sighed and looked up to smile slightly. "Alright," he said softly. "I over-reacted and for that, I'm sorry. I am upset, but it's because I care. I will have to accept the fact that I cannot ..." He hesitated, before taking a breath and continuing on.

"I cannot stitch myself to your hip at all times and follow you around. I will try not to ... lose my temper so easily."

"I hope you know that if I ever had a problem during the day, you would know," Artemis said. It was true, after all. Nurses were all well and good, but Artemis had never trusted their timing ever since Jack had punched him in the library and the nurses arrived after the incident. Artemis had a feeling that if he so much as drew a sharp breath, Haku would instantly be behind him.

"As for the night... if you wanted to go with me, I would be happy to have your company and protection--especially since I'm planning on more dangerous ventures in the future. I can't spend all of my time playing the puppeteer, I have to be actively in the field and thinking it through."

Haku shook his head, rolling his eyes in mock exapseration.

"You are set on having me go gray before I even reach twenty, aren't you?"

Zabuza-san was the same way... and he was careful not to let how much that thought hurt show.

"Silver may suit you," Artemis said with a grin, briefly fingering the end of Haku's hair. It was a somewhat pathetic attempt to lighten the mood, but the lighter Haku's mood, the less likely Badou and Haku would grow to hate one another.

"Would you prefer it if I stayed in my room, indefinitely under your watch?"

"Yes." He was utterly serious in this, but he knew better.

"However, that wouldn't be very useful or feasable, so I suppose if I must let you out at night, then I will simply have to go with you. Make certain that Badou-san doesn't rub off too much on you."

Artemis chuckled a little. "Yes, I think I'm in favor of this," he agreed, though he didn't specify which part. Though the thought of Badou 'rubbing off on him' was both laughable... and not quite far from the truth.

He looked down at his hand again--there was the gash. Artemis sighed, wondering if thinking about Badou was stimulating the drug, or if it was thinking about the night in general.

"I should go find him though," Artemis said, squeezing Haku's hand lightly. "He's concerned as well, and I'd rather not worry anyone if at all possible."

Haku smiled and bowed his head again. "I believe it's too late to not worry anyone Artemis," he said. "Your messages are up on the board after all and anyone that reads them and knows you is bound to be worried."

He wasn't sure if he would be welcome to go with Artemis, or if he was even able to rationally be around Badou at the moment, so he simply waited to see if his friend would leave him to his spot on the floor, or take him along. He did still have a hold on his hand...

Artemis didn't think that bringing Haku along would allow Badou to fully investigate how affected Artemis was by the hallucination. Things might be omitted for the sake of keeping secrets or simply not wishing to discuss sensitive issues in front of practical strangers. He let go of Haku's hand, but briefly looked around to see if anyone was watching.

"I doubt much anyone cares, if I'm still in one piece," Artemis said with a small laugh. Once he'd ascertained that no one was watching the two, Artemis leaned over and gave Haku a small kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you tonight--I'll tell you what happened then, in detail."

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Day 41: Sun Room

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