kingside: (an unforgivable thing)
Lelouch vi Britannia ([personal profile] kingside) wrote in [community profile] damned_institute2009-08-17 12:37 pm

Day 43: Waiting Room/Lobby 2, Third Shift

It would have been impossible not to see this coming, but after the night he'd had and seeing Euphy in the cafeteria-- hadn't the past twenty-four hours been enough? He couldn't do this anymore, not after seeing her walking around as if nothing had happened and knowing that Suzaku was going through a similar ordeal. His knight-- no, former knight now-- had been so transformed by her death, and having to behave now as if none of that had occurred had to be-- but it was out of Lelouch's hands now. Both of them were, and although he would have liked nothing more than to speak to her again or tell Suzaku why he couldn't tell him what had happened, he couldn't do that to either of them. It would be easier for them this way.

For him, however, the torment was just beginning. There was a wide variety of people the institute staff could have chosen from that would have a deep impact on him, but when the most obvious choice would have the worst-- he couldn't do this! He had spent almost all of his time here carefully shutting out thoughts of Nunnally after Suzaku had told him what would happen to her, but if he had to come face to face with her-- the walls were already beginning to crumble, and if it hadn't been for the fact that he knew his nurse would have grabbed and probably sedated him the instant he tried to bolt, he would have done so immediately.

As things were, he allowed himself to be led placidly through the Sun Room and the main hall, eyes downcast and shoulders beginning to quake ever so slightly with barely contained emotion. Nunnally-- he hadn't had a conversation with her-- a real conversation, not something rushed over the phone that hid more from her than he ever wanted and not something filled with lies and false reassurances, but a real conversation where he could ask how her day had been and lightly cradle her hand in his as she excitedly told him about the latest tidbit Sayoko had told her about Japanese culture or expressed worry about something in class she hadn't fully understood or sweetly smiled at him as she--

Lelouch shut his eyes tightly, barely hearing the nurse as she left him in the lobby to find a seat and somehow keep himself preoccupied while he waited and tried his hardest not to remember what the rest of his conversation with Suzaku had held that night. If he did...

Slowly, he began to walk over to one of the chairs, all but collapsing into it once he'd reached it and sagging forwards so that his elbows rested on his knees and only barely kept him seated upright. He didn't know how much more he could take, and if his visitor was Nunnally, then-- then what? He wasn't sure. And Nunnally-- what was he supposed to tell her? What could he even say? How could anyone expect him to talk to her now as if everything was normal when he had to-- when there was no way he could--

He stared down at the floor and waited, face blank. He would just have to get through this somehow, and after that-- he would deal with that later. He had to.

[identity profile] haplesstracker.livejournal.com 2009-08-20 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
"I know what a father is, you idiot." Scourge scowled at him, discretely breaking off another piece of chocolate. "My creator was a bit of a..." He waved his hand in the air for a moment. "An asshole. But he wasn't Galvatron."

Now there was something. Scourge watched notCyclonus' face carefully. If anything would stir his memories, it would be that name.

[identity profile] damned-visitors.livejournal.com 2009-08-20 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
Levi had an annoyed quirk to his lips, perhaps, but no deeply hidden recognition of the name flickering in his eyes or any such nonsense as he flopped back down in his chair with a tired sigh. "Joshua," he started, sighed again, pressed the heels of his hands to his closed eyes for a second (as if the warmth and pressure would reset the world when he opened them again, and he'd know what to say), then looked rather pleadingly towards the ceiling, sending out a vague prayer of "what the hell do I do with this man?" to any gods listening.

Divine inspiration didn't strike him, and no divine bolts struck Scourge, so after a moment he figured he was on his own for this one.

"Fine, you were created by an ass who wasn't your dad who isn't your 'Galvatron,' and nobody is anyone else," he agreed, blandly.

[identity profile] haplesstracker.livejournal.com 2009-08-20 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
That firmly clinched it in Scourge's mind that the man across from him was not Cyclonus. No force, no power in this or any universe, nothing save a full incineration of his metaprocessor would make Cyclonus forget their leader.

It made him feel better, oddly enough. Better to not see Cyclonus than see his mind destroyed by this disgusting place.

"Well, as long as I don't have to talk to him," Scourge agreed cheerfully. He popped another piece of chocolate in his mouth, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs.

[identity profile] damned-visitors.livejournal.com 2009-08-20 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't think any of them are likely to come visit you," he said, dryly, and leaned forward a bit himself, watching Joshua eat.

[identity profile] haplesstracker.livejournal.com 2009-08-20 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Good!" Because Scourge was quite sure they didn't exist, like the rest of notCyclonus' messed up world.

Scourge ate messily, leaving smears of melted chocolate on his fingers.