Day 28; Bus 3
There was, Naomi decided, some sort of cosmic irony in all of this. Not that she was trapped in a deranged and possibly other-worldly asylum with a man she'd idolized for years and a boy who was being investigated for - among other things - the murder of her fiance. No, at this point, those were perfectly normal occurrences. Rather it was the
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Blood scent had a way of lingering, and normally that was pleasant. Not so now. He couldn’t stand his own scent everywhere, absolutely everywhere.
He took the proffered clothes without verbal complaint, although it was hard to mistake his expression for anything but utmost loathing. It was near thing that his upper lip hadn’t curled and revealed his fangs at the nearest victim. Cheap things were one thing… but he looked like a grungy teenaged boy. Teenaged vampire he was, but he was also one of the elite, and ridiculous Western band t-shirts (AC/DC, of an 80s variety) and blue jeans and sneakers were the height of poor fashion. It was despicable. So far removed from his usual image. But that was nothing new in Landel’s, now was it? There wasn’t even complete solace in knowing who, exactly, he was - the world had been shifted so much - but he was, at the very least, still a noble. Clothes weren’t what made him ethereal or gorgeous, that was all vampire lineage.
The buses, though. That was just insolent. Who in the world used public transportation as unsightly as this?
Nevertheless, Aidou followed the white-haired, deformed runt onto the third bus. The sun definitely irritated his eyes, and he wrinkled his nose before finally smoothing out his features as he approached Allen. He could keep it together. He wouldn’t be staying long - Akatsuki would soon follow, he didn’t want his cousin overhearing such talk.
“Well, you certainly look pleased.” Folding his arms across the top of the seat, Aidou stayed standing. “But you were touched by that woman two nights ago, were you not? What can you tell me about her?”
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His face fell from a bright smile to a flat line, fraught with suspicion. "I don't want to talk about it," Allen said firmly.
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The vampire leaned forward a little, expression neutral. The tips of his fingers tapped his right bicep rhythmically. "By your reaction, the same symptoms too, I would guess. The only reason I ask," and like he had any other reason for approaching a grinning fool in this hellhole, "is that I had my own encounter with her. So?"
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"Then you know as much as I," Allen said flatly, his expression a terribly forced smile.
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"Listen," he said finally, in a way that adequately portrayed his deeply rooted frustration. "This isn't a male bonding experience. You don't know me, and I don't know you, so I'm not going to ask after personal details, and you're not either. I just want to know if our experiences have any similarities for knowledge's sake, you understand?"
He had to hold back the urge to snap - too much hand-holding was one thing, but on the other end of the spectrum, there were the people who dug their heels in when asked to cooperate to some small extent. They had to act like it was their god given right to withhold information as though it would benefit anyone. And right now, Aidou just wanted to put an end to that witch, and put an end to her effects on him.
"Why don't you just nod your head for everything I get right: the area of the body she touches is marked with a tattoo of snakes and holly, it is physically painful, and appears only at night. There are also remnants of her own memories - sadness, anger, etc. Also an aggravation in one's own personal experiences. How am I doing so far?"
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Obnoxiously accurate, Allen wanted to reply. "Yes," came as calmly as he could manage in its place.
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Oh, Aidou knew that look. But the fact that he was receiving it right at that moment... why, it was almost enough to really let the 'obnoxious brat' out of the bag. The fact of the matter was, Aidou was better, and he'd been trying not to lose his temper. Weren't annoyingly happy kids like this supposed to channel their inner philanthropists and empathize with someone who was probably still under the effects of a phantom's despicable touch? Apparently not.
Aidou definitely wasn't excusing Allen for anything if that was the case. Resistant little troll.
Don't look at me like that. I hate people like you.
"Then one final thing. Is it still in effect?" 'It' was a broad term, but he expected the kid to understand nonetheless.
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He crossed his arms, partly from the cold chill that just thinking of that woman gave him, and partly to show his defiance, "that's none of your business."
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"Do you always act like this, or is it only when someone asks you a reasonable question?" There, he pulled out of his relaxed slouch and straightened over Allen's seated figure. It was never a good idea to be so incautious around a stranger like that, especially with those wounds and Aidou in the superior position to attack. If he had been aiming for violence, things could've ended badly for the kid. At least guys like Sasuke knew that.
"It is my business, because if I hadn't made myself perfectly clear by now, I'll say it again: the same thing happened to me. So when I ask after information that could potentially aid in ending the effects and prevent it from happening again, perhaps you should use a little forethought and be a little more compliant. Otherwise, I'd hope you realize you're only impeding any progress made against that woman, or any other creature." Aidou resisted, with a lot of effort, to reach over and massage his shoulder, tainted with Reika's tattoo.
"But if you think the reasons behind your defensive behaviour take more precedence than any of my reasons, then so be it. Don't tell me anything. I'll do it all myself."
Like always. Stupid kid.
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"Listen you little nit!" Allen replied in a hiss. "Perhaps if you had more manners than a common mongrel, people might be more inclined to answer you! Simply because we shared the same experience, that does not mean you have the right to demand answers of me!" He'd taken about all he could of this other boy. "Yes? No? Maybe I don't even know alright? Maybe I don't even want to think about it because it was horrid!" Though he was starting to think that the ghost woman had every reason for grabbing this other one. If he'd been as obnoxious to her as he was being now, he'd have given her every right to do it.
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"Youth does not excuse you," Aidou hissed back, deeper than Allen, and more fierce. Older than his age, colder than ice, and more disgusted then he'd been in a long while. "Who do you think you are that you may withhold such information? Yes, it was horrid, and so what? You're only of many who has experienced the same thing - what gives you the right to put your emotions first and wallow like a pig in self-deprecation under these circumstances!? Your pain is not important. Your misery is not important. What is important is accepting the fact that you are only one person. Don't you dare think you are above the situation, don't you dare think you have the right to mock me, and don't you dare think you get to decide who is worthy of your attention."
How dare a child be so wrapped up in his own grief and think it was okay to remain like that? It wasn't! It just wasn't! Aidou tried, he tried to move past it every single time the tattoo throbbed, but here was this arrogant piece of filth who put his delicate little feelings on a pedestal.
If there was one thing he could critique about Kaname-sama, it was that. And Aidou despised seeing it reflected here. He could feel his heart pounding furiously.
When he finally released Allen, he didn't push. He just stepped back. Disgusting. Totally disgusting. "I'll do it myself," he repeated. "I would never accept help from such a coward."
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"If anyone seems to think themselves high and mighty, it's you, not me," Allen said, his voice a little less sharp, a bit more cowed. "I've already passed on that information to others who will use it properly. Dare... dare... as long as I take the consequences for my actions, I can do whatever I dare. And... and if that makes me a coward, then so be it. Rather that than whatever self-important piece of trash you think you are."
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He smothered a yawn as he moved into the third bus, having to duck a bit to fit his lanky frame in the slightly cramped environment. When he caught sight of Hanabusa, he hid a wince. It was too early (too late?) to deal with an ill tempered cousin. But apparently he was going to have to step in before the nurse's did.
"You can't judge what someone's like so quickly," he said as he stood behind Aidou, looking down at Allen with a mild expression. There was a warning in his eyes though, a message to not prod past patience already stretched thin.
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"Allen Walker, you are more than a coward. You are ignorant and shameful, and above all, you are dishonorable. I'm afraid I prefer my integrity to your debased ethics. But do enjoy your childish logic while it lasts."
Tilting his head, never once looking back at his cousin, Aidou signaled their exit. His eyes were dancing with dark, caustic reproach, trained on Allen's face as they were.
"Let's go, Akatsuki. There's no time to waste on his kind."
And wasn't that the truth. Utterly disgraceful.
[moving here]
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He could only watch with a cold anger as the boy walked away with his friend. He was too affected by his own rage to notice the other boy's apologetic look, offered no doubt, as some kind of consolation for his friend's terrible manners. Allen sat after a moment, his fist sinking deeply into the seat in front of him as he struck it. There was a considerable dent, but Allen had a hard time making himself care.
As if that wasn't enough, the icing on the cake was watching Rinali walk past him without so much as acknowledging his presence. That hurt more than anything the other boy could have said. His head sank down and he leaned forward, resting it on the seat in front of him. Maybe he really was as pathetic as that boy had said. Maybe...
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The nurse let go of her hand once they were to the front and directed Rhode to sit quickly so she wouldn't be hurt in case there was an accident. She nodded happily, then looked up at the white hair of what was most definitely her Allen. He seemed... detached? She cocked her head at how he had his own leaning forward into the seat. So cute, something must have happened the last Night that made him like this.
Maybe he'd gotten touched by the ghost woman again! If he had...
Then he was so vulnerable right now.
She quickly slid up into the seat and latched onto his arm before he knew she was there. Her head bent down to his ear, and she quietly whispered, "Hello, Allen Walker~" as slowly and quietly as she possibly could. The delight in her tone was unmistakable.
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