damned_institute | DAY 43: CAFETERIA, MORNING

Where was Blitzwing?

Lugnut ignored the nurse's fussing over his foot, even as it howled objections to his ill treatment of it the night before, pounding through the town in search of his wingmate, reportedly helpless and injured by an attack the night before-- and not finding him, not seeing even a glimpse of his crazy triple-changing ally.

Snarling at the nurse, but restraining himself from shows of violence-- Blitzwing would mock him if he showed up drugged already, and he would be useless to Megatron like that--he made his way impatiently to the cafeteria, stopping for just long enough to post an urgent notice on the board.

Where was he?

Looming in the middle of the cafeteria, he took the tray the nurse handed him (filled with disgusting human fuel, didn't she know he didn't have time to eat, not when his wingmate was missing?) and ignored it, watching for Blitzwing, where was he?

He refused to think about what might have happened to a wheelchair-bound, drugged, incapacitated warrior, with the swarms of monsters flooding around him, clawing and biting...

[for Scourge]

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Artemis jerked out of bed at the strange, almost automated-sounding announcement. That wasn't the usual system... Where was the doctor? Who or what was Iris? And he'd been right... 'federal training'. What exactly that meant at this point, though, he wasn't sure.

Haku.

The boy rolled out of bed immediately, spotting Haku on the other side of the room. He'd lived through the night. Thank God, he'd lived through the night. Artemis walked quietly over to his friend and knelt on the floor, taking his hand gently. They were both safe now, everything would be fine--for now. Softly and into the mattress, Artemis let out the tears he'd been holding back in the basement.

Haku had lived through the night, but he looked to be in bad shape. Thick bandages wrapped around his throat and shoulders; an iv line in his arm; and a few bruises stood out against pale, pale skin.

When Artemis took his hand though, fingers flexed and he squeezed gently, opening his eyes, and a corner of his mouth twitched up.

"Morning." His voice was soft and a bit raspy.

"Ah..." Artemis looked up when he thought he heard Haku speak. Quickly, he wiped his eyes and perched himself where Haku could see him.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to disturb your rest. You need it, obviously..."

Closing his eyes and smiling wider, Haku made a soft negative sound. "No. Much rather see you." He opened his eyes again. "You alright?"

"I'm fine," Artemis assured Haku. "No injuries, I don't believe you passed out before the night ended, but nothing of incident happened."

The boy shook his head and squeezed Haku's hand a little tighter. "You should be more concerned with yourself. You're a mess because of me."

"I am?" He opened his eyes and looked up at Artemis. "I could have sworn you weren't the one chewing on me."

Artemis had to laugh quietly at that one. "Well, unbeknownst to you, I was gnawing on your arm--but just a little."

Maybe this wasn't the place or time to make jokes. But really, in this place, when danger and injury were commonplace, when was the best time to smile or make a joke?

"No..." he smiled sadly at Haku. "You're injured because you protected me--and I'm grateful for it. Much more than I can express in words."

"Ah." Haku closed his eyes again and sighed softly. "You know I would do it again. I would much rather see you safe and well than I."

"What about me?" Artemis countered with a weak chuckle. "I have to see you like this and know that this bite could have been for me," he said, gesturing to one on Haku's leg-- "Or this one," --his shoulder.

"But that's... not what happened," he said, brushing his thumb over the back of Haku's hand. "You're alive, that's all that matters to me."

"So it all worked out." He opened his eyes again. "Win-win. I'm alive and you're unharmed."

He smiled and though the pain medications he was on dulled it a bit, the expression was warm. "And this won't keep me down for long."

Artemis laughed a little, forcing himself to smile. "Nothing ever seems to keep you down for long--I'm not worried."

Which was a complete and utter lie, but Artemis couldn't be worried. He had to trust Haku's assertion that he would be alright. After all, Haku knew his own capabilities the best.

Still... a little worrying couldn't hurt.

"Do you want me to stay with you today?" he asked, meanwhile thinking of all the people he had to look for to make sure they were still alive.

Again, a negative sound. "I'll be fine, and besides," he mock sighed, the sound soft and a bit breathy. "I don't think I'll be allowed to be up and around as much today." He smiled. "But keep me informed."

It stung to not be able to just get up and stick with Artemis all day and keep watch over him. If Artemis wanted to leave tonight... Best not to worry about that just yet.

Artemis nodded, thinking back to Schuldig's note about Badou wanting to speak with him. Even after a near-brush with a zombie-inspired apocalypse, a genius' work was never done. Damn his brilliance.

"I'll come back as often as the nurses will let me," he said, gently brushing his lips over Haku's fingers. "But rest. You deserve it after how hard you worked last night."

At that moment, the door opened and Artemis' nurse strode into the room. She didn't look happy when she saw Artemis sitting on Haku's bed. "Now Sean. Don't torture poor Chris, he needs his rest!"

Artemis sighed. He didn't even want to hear what the excuse for a full-on zombie attack was. He only looked back at Haku apologetically and patted his hand. "I'll be back later.

DAY 43: CAFETERIA, MORNING

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