Nightshift 40: East Wing, Hall A (First Floor)

[youlackmascara]

[from here]Itachi walked down the hall at his usual pace, it not occurring to him to hurry, even though Sasuke might be following him. He kept his eyes front, scanning for any potential enemies, but his ears were finely attuned to the potential of footsteps behind him

Comments

[human_sponge]

So the two had met here. That crushed Peter's theory that Nate was another gargoyle, although it made him curious about a few more things. "So you needed help with something? What was it?" He was honestly unsure why Brooklyn hadn't asked him for help, but maybe Peter had been busy with at the time. He had definitely been distracted while Nathan was around, and then there had been the Special Counseling night, not to mention his different run-ins with Sylar after that...

"I, uhh, I'm sorry I wasn't there to help too," he said before the young man could answer. After all, Brooklyn was here now, helping him. The least Peter could do was return the favor sometime.

For now, though, he needed to get this door open. He was glad that Brooklyn wasn't putting up a fight about it, and so Peter first set his flashlight down on the floor so that he could take his shovel in both hands. He turned it horizontal and then pointed it toward the door. Once he was ready, he jerked forward and jammed the shovel against the door, approximately where the lock should be.

If he did that a few more times, it would hopefully do the trick.

[manhattan_red]

Peter's response had Brooklyn chuckling a bit and shaking his head. Clearly, the man had misunderstood his statement. "When I said I was looking for someone to help out, I meant that I was looking for someone to help. Period. I was standing around waiting for someone to come along who looked like they were lost, or in need of a companion to explore with. If I'd known the layout of the place better I might have gone looking for someone already in trouble."

He shrugged, leaning against the wall as Peter worked. "Gargoyles have a very protective nature. My clan leader could go on and on about it, but really it's just what we do." Save for those one or two that had lost their way, but Demona had her mind warped by multiple betrayals on both sides and had a thousand years to deepen her insanity. Thailog had just been created wrong from the start.

[human_sponge]

The first try didn't do the job all the way, but it was a good start. As the head of the shovel clanged against the door, Peter felt shocks of pain reverberate up his arms. It was enough to make him grit his teeth, but that was all. It wasn't like he hadn't been braced for it.

As he readjusted for another try, he listened to Brooklyn's clarification with some surprise. People didn't normally go out of their way looking for someone to help, so he wasn't even sure what to think at first. He knew he could be self-sacrificial at times, but he also put a lot of energy into the people he already cared about rather than going out and looking for anyone he might be able to help.

"Well, that's really admirable," he said, and he sent his friend a fond look, though he was also obviously impressed. "I... hope he doesn't need your help now, then," he said with a frown. Theoretically, Nate would have let Brooklyn know if that was the case, but what if he hadn't been able to?

Still, there wasn't much they could do about it now. Taking another deep breath, Peter stepped forward and shoved his shovel against the lock a second time. This time it did break, forcing the door partway open in the process.

"There we go." Peter quickly bent down to collect his flashlight and then rushed into the room, not wanting to waste any more time.

[To here.]

[human_sponge]

[Back from here.]

As Peter exited out into the hallway, he was greeted by the voices of two patients who were probably also looking to break into one of the rooms. He didn't recognize either of them, but they did seem to make an unlikely pair.

Then again, he and Brooklyn probably did too.

"So... if we go left from here, that'll take us to the greenhouse, I think..." It had been a while since he'd gone that way, seeing how he'd opted out this past dayshift, but he didn't think he was wrong.

"Otherwise we can go right and maybe find a staircase or something," he said with a shrug. It was a lot harder to pick where to go when you didn't know what you were looking for.

[manhattan_red]

Brooklyn wrinkled his nose at the smell of cigarette smoke in the hallway. It would have been more irritating if his senses were up to their usual gargoyle standard, but he didn't want to think too hard about any favors this human body might be doing for him.

He kept his focus on the problem at hand. "I don't know if the greenhouse would be the safest of places to visit at night. At least if we head upstairs I'd know some of the area." Going out into that at night in this place was just asking for sequences straight out of a horror movie. He didn't even want to know what this place did to the plants after dark. The teasing he and June-pay had done during their time in the greenhouse came back to him, and for just a moment it didn't seem nearly as funny.

[human_sponge]

"Sounds good to me," Peter replied, especially since he hadn't been that eager on checking out the greenhouse anyway. Upstairs sounded a lot more promising, and he just hoped that Brooklyn didn't mind that he might be seeing some of the same places that he'd been to already. If anything, they could just make sure to check out spots he hadn't yet seen for himself.

They shouldn't waste any more time, though, and so Peter took it upon himself to lead them back toward the main hall. The good thing was that a lot of the areas that were more traveled toward the beginning of the night should be emptier now, which would hopefully make it easier for them to get places quickly.

[Back to here.]