damned_institute | Day 44: Sun Room, Second Shift

[from here]

He really had beat the rush. Suzaku found a chair as close to the corner and as far from the bulletin as he could, and turned it to face the wall before curling up in it. His nurse frowned at him again, but she was still being cooperative, and frankly he didn't care what she had to say in the slightest. He didn't care even if he got sedated. All he cared about was finally having a few moments to himself, to sort out what Euphie's love meant and what the hell Lelouch's problem was.

It felt like he had all the pieces of a puzzle and was just too stupid to figure out how they fit together. What Lelouch had said about Shirley at breakfast and the tone he'd taken with Euphie on the board, Lelouch asking how Suzaku was, Lelouch dying. . . "All we can do is move forward and look out for the ones we care about." Euphie struggling to get out her last words, pain overtaking Suzaku's consciousness while he fought pathetically to carry out Lelouch's order. . . The last couple days, when he'd felt like he was finally figuring this out, seemed so far away now.

There were a couple things that were certain, at least: he hated what Lelouch had done, he always would. But he -- he didn't hate Lelouch, and he hadn't for a while now, and that wasn't going to change. And he didn't have much time, because everyone but Suzaku was terrifyingly mortal. And Lelouch was an idiot, but he still wasn't sure about the how and why of that one yet.

[for the Saucinator]

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Again, Shikamaru tensed at the words. He didn't need to be lectured by some guy he met two days ago, even if the lecture was similar to the conversation he'd had with Sai the night before. "I can take care of myself," he said firmly, almost too firmly. "I just didn't feel like wasting energy on a bothersome conversation."

He folded his arms and leaned back as far as the sofa would allow. "I didn't come back to talk about myself, though. I need to talk to you about that night with the sand guy."

Sokka started at the firmness, but instead of getting mad over it, he lifted his hands, "All right, fine, do what you want. Geesh, you're just like Zuko..." he said, trailing off at the end into a mumble. Zuko'd probably kill him for making the reference, but he wasn't here, and... hopefully Shika wouldn't tell him if he did come?

The night with the sand guy Sokka had tried to put from memory, despite how often he'd brought up the fact that things here liked bleeding sand. But with how touchy Shika was right now, he figured he'd better just go along with it for now. Maybe that'd make the guy feel better, or something.

"What about it?" he asked worriedly. Man, they hadn't heard him hit the wall, had they?

The name was mostly lost on Shikamaru, though he recalled hearing it in their first conversation. It didn't sound like a kind comparison, but in that moment, Shikamaru didn't care what others thought of him. He had a job to do, he was doing it, that was all that mattered. The tightness in his stomach and chest would dissipate eventually.

"My team needs that weapon back," he said without much inflection. It was a comment, not an order, and despite his exhaustion he was careful to keep it that way.

Weapon? Oh, right, the sword! He'd taken that out last night and...

"Right, sure. I'll just... have to see if it's still there though," he said with a bit of a pout, "Since I ended up well... fading... last night, I'm not entirely sure if it's still where I put it."

He'd had it in hand, he was sure, but when you fade away, don't things like... fall through you? He'd been too shocked to check, either then or when he awoke this morning. But that probably wasn't what Shika wanted to head.

Thumbing a finger behind him, Sokka made a suggestion. "Want me to see if they'll let me go to my room? I can check then, if you want."

Shikamaru repressed a sigh. "No. If you do, the nurses might see where you put it and take it away. Just check at the beginning of night."

Fading away didn't sound like a bad way to go, but Shikamaru pretended he didn't hear the method of death (disappearance?). It was none of his business, and regardless of how much Sokka liked talking about that kind of junk, he adamantly did not.

"What's your room number again?"

He wouldn't have time to stop by himself, what with visiting Sai and then Sakura and regrouping for whatever they planned, but there was a chance that another Leaf-nin might.

"Yeah, I guess that's true..." Sokka wouldn't have like... let the nurses see anything, but he guessed it was better not to take the risk. There was no telling who could be watching. "Oh, I'm in 77. You coming by tonight?" Or would Shika be camping out in his room again?

"I'm not sure," Shikamaru said. He stood up and when the intercom gave a crackle he flinched involuntarily, but the movement wasn't very visible. "I have a couple of errands to run for my teammates, so I might have to send someone else." The confidence in his tone didn't belong to him, but if he kept at it long enough, there was a chance it might become genuine.

"If I do, they'll identify themselves as a Leaf-nin if asked, so don't worry about that."

The orderlies were moving them along now, and Shikamaru allowed himself to be herded into the cafeteria. Task one down. Now for task two.

"Huh?" Wait, what, so I have to wait in my room?" And for someone who might or might not show up that Sokka possibly didn't even know? What?

His attention went up at teh intercom as well and before he knew it, Shika was being taken away. Sokka didn't have the time to get more information, since the nurses would probably scold him, so he chose to call something else after the boy.

"Hey, try cheer up!" he called with a wave, "You'll make people worry!" Shika was gone before Sokka's own nurse got to him and helped him off to lunch. Now that he thought about it, Sokka hadn't eaten yet! He was starving!

Day 44: Sun Room, Second Shift

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