Day 43: Chapel, Second Shift

[screwthegods]

Once the shift had changed, Homura headed downstairs for a brief time to check on the assorted information posted on the bulletin. Some of it was relevant to his interests--much moreso than he might have initially thought as he added replies. By the time his written conversation with Okita had finished, the demi-god's mood had changed

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[falseblack]

There was the usual parting of a rather unusual encounter, and Nigredo continued in pain-filled reverie. A fact possible as the chapel was nearly clear of its occupants. His nurse, too, had taken her leave, the task of sitting still and packing his eyes left completely in his care. It was only then that the child remembered his fatigue and with some misgivings, pulled the ice pack to his lap. His eyes remained closed.

He should sleep. Somehow. The toll from speaking with Sakura alone wore him out, sapped his strength. Or perhaps it was the filtered sunlight. He could not see, but the warmth centered on the crown of his head spoke volumes. And warmth made this U.R.T.V. unbearably listless.

Nigredo ran a finger along the smooth grain beside him, as though to test the bench's feel. Hard wood wasn't preferred, but he had managed in worse settings. Like tile. That ceramic staircase. This shouldn't be difficult. Matters such as family and the living could wait for another time. Not now.

A leg pulled up closer to his torso, its knee against his cheek, and the child dozed off effortlessly.

[Free. No limits.]

[att_901]

He almost never had time to go to church, or anything that resembled one. Churches were peaceful areas, a place to to pray, to commune with others, to seek refuge at times of calamity. It wasn't a place for a soldier at all.

But today he wasn't a soldier, he was a patient. And the chapel was a comforting place after what they'd gone through last night. He didn't exactly remember what happened after the zombies attacked, all he remembered was that there was a lot of screaming, crying and running.

Randal tried to be as quiet as he could inside the chapel. There wasn't many people in it at that time so it was easy to look for an empty bench. He sat in the middle of one, knowing how dangerous it is for someone his size to sit at the end of any seat, vehicle or raised plank. He didn't know what to do next. He didn't know how to recite any prayer, at least the type they teach you. Surely God wouldn't mind if he just sat there to rest, right?

But the boy sleeping in the seat behind him might. His body cast a huge shadow over the boy, which was unfair because today the sun was warm and it would probably make him sleep better on a supposedly cold winter's day. He stood up to find another seat...

... and banged his knee on the bench on front of him.

[falseblack]

The shadow caused a flutter in the recesses of his mind, but Nigredo remained fast asleep. The noise, on the other hand, caused the flutter to shift and crack. It had been too close, too loud; rest was no longer possible. He visibly jolted, before pulling away from his knee in alarm. Slowly, carefully, the boy opened his eyes to what he thought to be the source of the disturbance.

In his view stood a human: a rather large, hulking male. Nigredo blinked hard, before drooping his eyelids out of necessity. His migraine hadn't completely reduced.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

[att_901]

"I- I'm fine." His reached for the back of his head and bowed slightly. "Sorry if I disturbed your sleep."

He left his seat and went for the one behind the boy. No, it was still too close. He left that seat and went for the one behind it. This will probably do, right? He smiled awkwardly.