This was insane. Even on the best of days Russell knew he was no match for most of these people but his mind just wouldn't stop. He didn't know this Madara character but this was not good; not good at all. Even so, his experiments would go on, whatever happened so he really should go see what had happened in the biodome at reset. It was risky but there was no helping it.
Stiffening his resolve, and insisting to himself that he was not afraid, Russell made his way out of the suite, doing his best to keep quiet. The last thing he needed was to wake the others up. He opened the door as quickly as he dared, immediately turning to close the door gently behind him. He only made it halfway, pausing with a start. Blue eyes narrowed, tension coiling through his body and his grip tightening on the door knob as he caught sight of the red-head who had just rounded the corner.
As tense as he was, Kurama nearly jumped out of his skin when the door to Suite 25 opened. He slipped into a defensive position out of instinct, before he could even see who the person was. His mind was already jumping ahead to what he would do and where he would go if this person was in any way threatening. Perhaps if he acted quickly, he could take the initiative and disable the person before they had the chance to--
The flash of blond hair brought recognition to Kurama's expression, halting his train of thought.
"Russell?" he breathed quietly, lowering his guard but not dropping it completely. There was relief, but not enough for Kurama to feel completely at ease. Despite having been more than a little friendly with the boy, the red-head still didn't know where he stood. He didn't seem the type to buy into these hellish games that people were playing, but you never could tell...
Russell glanced down at the door knob, forcibly loosening his grip. He didn't close the door, not yet, not with the martial arts he'd seen the red head pull off earlier. Kurama seemed nice enough but far too secretive and that made him just as dangerous as the rest of them. He took a deep breath, wondering himself just how to answer the question.
What was he doing out here, really? Wandering the halls while psychopaths with mysterious powers are rampaging through the building and he was completely defenseless? The thought alone made him wince a little. And he'd called the party-goers reckless.
"I was merely going to take a quick look around the biodome... see if the damage had been rectified." He didn't mean to sound so defensive but there was no taking it back now.
Russell's response was more than enough to make Kurama question the blond's sanity. Who in their right mind would put a couple of chamomile plants ahead of their own life? Or maybe he just hadn't seen the feeds yet...
His first reaction was to tell the other boy that he shouldn't be out here. He should just stay in his room for the duration of the week, provided he had the means to feed himself. Then again, what would that do if they went from room to room searching for victims to terrorize? Kurama cringed inwardly. The image that created wasn't a pleasant one.
"It probably has, but I expect there will be more damage shortly. Now isn't the time to worry about that." He turns away slightly, angled towards the longer part of the hallway. He motions with his hand for Russell to follow.
"I need to check on a friend, but I would rather not just leave you here, if it's all the same to you. Would you mind?"
Russell scowled. It was one thing knowing that anyone here could beat him to a bloody pulp with little effort. It was quite another to have others know that. He swallowed down the sarcastic retort that tried to force its way past his lips and turned his attention to the door.
Pulling the door closed behind him, taking extra effort to ensure it shut quietly, he finally stepped away. He wasn't going to just sit in his room and cower, damn it all. Running away back to the safety of his room when he'd just left certainly wasn't an option. Not with the red-head out here, sneaking around, and implying that he was some sort of stray to be left sitting on the roadside.
He raised his arm, gesturing for Kurama to lead the way.
To his credit, Kurama managed the semblance of a smile as he turned to head down the hallway. He had meant no ill will in his offer for Russell to stick close, but apparently the boy took some offense to even the suggestion. He couldn't help but wonder if it was continued mistrust or if there was some nerve he was unknowingly trampling on. Either way, it was making his task of winning Russell over all the more difficult.
The brief trek to Suite 22 was without incident, much to Kurama's relief. The door to the suite was unlocked, so Kurama very carefully let himself in. Everything looked to be in order; nothing was demolished yet, which was as good a sign as any. Except...
Kurama hesitated just a few steps inside the suite, his eyes drawn to the splash of red against the pristine whiteness. There was blood, dribbled across a small portion of the carpet outside room D. It was hard to tell if it was supposed to be leading away, or if was leading towardsFear snaked it's way through Kurama's chest, constricting in a way that gave him
( ... )
He trailed after the red-head, still not thrilled at the idea that the man thought he couldn't be left alone but, oddly enough, he had a feeling he didn't want to be left alone. At least, not this week. It didn't occur to him that this friend Kurama was going to see was probably the jerk that had started the damn party earlier until they were already inside the suite
( ... )
Kurama had all but forgotten about Russell's presence until the boy spoke up, even though he made no motion that he had heard anything. Only through sheer willpower was he maintaining his composure, his cool demeanor that never failed to act as a shield. He had seen horrors much worse than this--committed horrors much worse. But...
But this was Kuronue. Kuronue, who only hours ago had been drinking merrily at the party out in the biodome. Kurama had seen his friend, watched him, even defended his merrymaking. He couldn't understand where this had come from... Kuronue never mentioned any enemies
( ... )
Russell blinked his eyes open, staring after the red head as he moved into the room. It was so wrong, as if Kurama stepping into that scene somehow made it more real, more awful. He couldn’t force his eyes away, though, even as he cringed with each squelching step the other took. What did Kurama expect to find in there? Part of him wanted to rush in there and drag the red head out, just close the door and pretend it never happened but he couldn’t bring himself to set foot in that blood spattered room
( ... )
Russell's words brought Kurama to a halt, his hand resting on the knob of the bathroom door. Red smeared against the metal fixture. His hands were tainting everything he touched.
The words spoken aloud struck a little closer to home than Kurama would have liked. Kuronue was his friend--a dear one, at that. It wasn't that he didn't care. He knew the pain was there, but he refused to feel it. If he allowed himself to succumb to it now, it would tear him apart. This was the second time he'd lost something so precious before he had a chance to realize what he had. How many times had he wanted a second chance? More than half a thousand years of regret, and yet nothing had changed. He still couldn't save Kuronue
( ... )
Russell clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to shout at the red head, get some kind of reaction out of him, as if that would make his own excusable somehow. The clipped tension in the words made him bite his tongue, the effort showing clearly on his face. He drop onto one of the couches and hunching forward, hands in his hair, elbows on his knees. If he ignored the red head and took a minute to just breathe maybe he could get a hold of himself. It was bad enough that they had no control over the situation for the week, he had to calm down and think rationally but his mind remained stubbornly blank, filled with nothing but the image of scarlet walls.
A quite sound of frustration, something between a growl and a whine, escaped him and he bit his lip.
“What the hell are we going to do?” At least he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt right now.
For once, Kurama was almost glad his powers were restrained. At least like this, he was certain that if a harsh word from Russell did manage to snap through his restraints, he wouldn't be able to beat the boy to death with just his fists before he got a hold of himself
( ... )
He hadn’t really expected a response from the red head. That he could think so calmly, so rationally in the face of not just Kuronue’s death but the chaos going on around them was nothing short of astounding. Russell always seemed to let his temper get away with him, often ending up putting his foot in his mouth. Just like what he’d said to Kurama a few moments ago but the man seemed content to let it go.
“Hide?” He sighed quietly, isn’t that just what he’d said he didn’t want to do? But, really, he didn’t have much of a choice. None of them did. He stood, nodding slowly but refusing to meet Kurama’s eyes. He should apologize for what he’d said, say something to try to comfort the red head but it was not something he did often or well. What could he possibly say after that? Kurama should’ve punched him but now was instead offering to help him. “You’re right. The further we are from the biodome the better, really.”
Russell didn't seem pleased with the plan to hide, but Kurama had no intention of doing anything else. Without his demon abilities, he could only rely on his martial arts, and that certainly wouldn't be enough to defend himself or Russell from anyone with a black collar
( ... )
Russell dropped his gaze, letting has bangs hide his face as he fought to get his expression under control. Kurama had nothing to apologize for. He was the one who’d been a jerk first.
“Forget it. I…” He took a deep breath and finally met the red head’s gaze, offering as apologetic a look as he could muster. “I started it.” He looked away quickly, guilt making him unwilling to keep eye contact. Apologies were just something his pride didn’t often permit.
“Let’s just…” He glanced to the side, to that little red smear that bled out from under the door and shuddered slightly. “… get out of here.”
Kurama didn't follow Russell's gaze. He knew well enough where the blond was looking, and he didn't care to be reminded of that again. The memory more than fresh enough for that
( ... )
Stiffening his resolve, and insisting to himself that he was not afraid, Russell made his way out of the suite, doing his best to keep quiet. The last thing he needed was to wake the others up. He opened the door as quickly as he dared, immediately turning to close the door gently behind him. He only made it halfway, pausing with a start. Blue eyes narrowed, tension coiling through his body and his grip tightening on the door knob as he caught sight of the red-head who had just rounded the corner.
Reply
The flash of blond hair brought recognition to Kurama's expression, halting his train of thought.
"Russell?" he breathed quietly, lowering his guard but not dropping it completely. There was relief, but not enough for Kurama to feel completely at ease. Despite having been more than a little friendly with the boy, the red-head still didn't know where he stood. He didn't seem the type to buy into these hellish games that people were playing, but you never could tell...
"What are you doing out here?"
Reply
What was he doing out here, really? Wandering the halls while psychopaths with mysterious powers are rampaging through the building and he was completely defenseless? The thought alone made him wince a little. And he'd called the party-goers reckless.
"I was merely going to take a quick look around the biodome... see if the damage had been rectified." He didn't mean to sound so defensive but there was no taking it back now.
Reply
His first reaction was to tell the other boy that he shouldn't be out here. He should just stay in his room for the duration of the week, provided he had the means to feed himself. Then again, what would that do if they went from room to room searching for victims to terrorize? Kurama cringed inwardly. The image that created wasn't a pleasant one.
"It probably has, but I expect there will be more damage shortly. Now isn't the time to worry about that." He turns away slightly, angled towards the longer part of the hallway. He motions with his hand for Russell to follow.
"I need to check on a friend, but I would rather not just leave you here, if it's all the same to you. Would you mind?"
Reply
Pulling the door closed behind him, taking extra effort to ensure it shut quietly, he finally stepped away. He wasn't going to just sit in his room and cower, damn it all. Running away back to the safety of his room when he'd just left certainly wasn't an option. Not with the red-head out here, sneaking around, and implying that he was some sort of stray to be left sitting on the roadside.
He raised his arm, gesturing for Kurama to lead the way.
"After you."
Reply
The brief trek to Suite 22 was without incident, much to Kurama's relief. The door to the suite was unlocked, so Kurama very carefully let himself in. Everything looked to be in order; nothing was demolished yet, which was as good a sign as any. Except...
Kurama hesitated just a few steps inside the suite, his eyes drawn to the splash of red against the pristine whiteness. There was blood, dribbled across a small portion of the carpet outside room D. It was hard to tell if it was supposed to be leading away, or if was leading towardsFear snaked it's way through Kurama's chest, constricting in a way that gave him ( ... )
Reply
Reply
But this was Kuronue. Kuronue, who only hours ago had been drinking merrily at the party out in the biodome. Kurama had seen his friend, watched him, even defended his merrymaking. He couldn't understand where this had come from... Kuronue never mentioned any enemies ( ... )
Reply
Reply
The words spoken aloud struck a little closer to home than Kurama would have liked. Kuronue was his friend--a dear one, at that. It wasn't that he didn't care. He knew the pain was there, but he refused to feel it. If he allowed himself to succumb to it now, it would tear him apart. This was the second time he'd lost something so precious before he had a chance to realize what he had. How many times had he wanted a second chance? More than half a thousand years of regret, and yet nothing had changed. He still couldn't save Kuronue ( ... )
Reply
A quite sound of frustration, something between a growl and a whine, escaped him and he bit his lip.
“What the hell are we going to do?” At least he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt right now.
Reply
Reply
“Hide?” He sighed quietly, isn’t that just what he’d said he didn’t want to do? But, really, he didn’t have much of a choice. None of them did. He stood, nodding slowly but refusing to meet Kurama’s eyes. He should apologize for what he’d said, say something to try to comfort the red head but it was not something he did often or well. What could he possibly say after that? Kurama should’ve punched him but now was instead offering to help him. “You’re right. The further we are from the biodome the better, really.”
Reply
Reply
“Forget it. I…” He took a deep breath and finally met the red head’s gaze, offering as apologetic a look as he could muster. “I started it.” He looked away quickly, guilt making him unwilling to keep eye contact. Apologies were just something his pride didn’t often permit.
“Let’s just…” He glanced to the side, to that little red smear that bled out from under the door and shuddered slightly. “… get out of here.”
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment