Nightshift 46: M11-M20 Hallway

[notthistrain]

Once again the doors had opened. Cloud believed most of what Yuffie had told him, but it was still unreal the way this place operated. They were clearly being tested, mocked, or both with the nightly routine, yet they didn't have many other options but to take the chances they were given

Comments

[M12]

[oftemptation]

Endrance had begged off the afternoon shift, claiming he wasn't feeling well. That much was true, in a way: the greasy pizza stuff they'd been serving at lunch had gotten to his stomach. More than that, though, he had begun to realize he was feeling a little overwhelmed. He'd managed so far without letting his reclusive tendencies get to him, but he had a limit, and he realized that he had passed it.

He'd slept straight through dinner, and that, to him, was a bit of a blessing. He hadn't really wanted to talk with Klavier after the night before - brainwashing or not, he wasn't good with handling awkward situations, and that definitely counted as an awkward situation.

Now, he was getting into his PC's outfit, picking up the sword he still had, and...oddly enough, waiting. He wasn't sure for what, but waiting.

Re: [M12]

[rocksthecourt]

Dinner had been a disturbingly quiet affair. His roommate had been evidently exhausted and spent the entire time asleep. There was no particular physical damage worth noting, but he recalled Endrance lying down in bed upon entering several times before. The behavior was nothing to be concerned about in that case. But with Klavier avoiding the food and left with no one and nothing to distract him, the time had seemed to stretch indefinitely. The resounding silence was painful, so much so that he was an anxious ball of nerves by the time the doors had unlocked. Why, oh, why could he not be allowed to bring a CD player into the room

[awkwardly right outside M12]

[feartehreaper]

[ From here. ]

Considering Endrance usually seemed to arrive at M4 before Haseo was even ready to go, the Rogue was a bit surprised he managed to make it most of the way without running into the other guy somewhere in-between. A little concerned, actually... for one, he couldn't think of any reason that would have caused Endrance to lose interest in making it there so quickly. Haseo didn't think himself that bad of a kisser.

Which is probably what his Issue of the Night really came down to, of course. During the day, while they were all watched so carefully and conversations tended to be short and tense, it hadn't been difficult at all to casually agree to meeting like they did every night. Except now, it was little harder to dismiss the... sudden onset of closeness and everything it probably meant.

Haseo slowed once he neared the door, anxious despite himself. He was pretty sure M12 was the correct room number, even though it had been several days since he'd last heard it. He turned his short-sword over in hand and paused by the

[and also outside M12.]

[oftemptation]

It was just at that moment that Endrance realized what it was that he was waiting for. But...it wasn't going to happen easily, if at all. He was the one that usually went out and found Haseo, after all, and the other way around? That wouldn't happen, would it? No. Not with Haseo's pride, and...

He shook his head, trying to clear those unsure thoughts. It didn't really help; instead he found himself thinking about what happened the night before. Was that...no. It wasn't a dream, he knew that much. It wasn't a dream, and he found himself touching his lips lightly, trying to remember how that felt. The fact remained, though, that he needed to stop daydreaming and head over to Haseo's room. The Blade Brandier shook his head once more, this time successfully clearing it.

Just then, he heard a noise outside, and he decided that it was his cue to hurry on over, not just head over. When he opened the door and saw the source of that noise, though, Endrance flushed, almost dropping his own sword in surprise. "Haseo..."

So that means...what

[M12's doorway?]

[feartehreaper]

"Endrance," Haseo said by way of greeting, relieved when the door opened without further fretting on his part. Though... what in the world was up with that surprised look? The Adept Rogue shifted to reflect a perplexed challenge, spine straightening as he silently stared back- what?

Which of course lead him to noticing more consciously that Endrance was wearing his PC's outfit again, which seemed no less strange than it had the previous night. Why would the staff bother to allow that, when they made such a deal of denying the night-time change? Then again, Haseo was keeping a sword and a knife in his closet during the day, so... whatever.

He finally relaxed slightly when he was prompted to enter, but a split second later he suddenly hesitated. He's going to lure me inside and kiss me again! he thought with unusually striking clarity... and enough melodrama to make him wonder what exactly had gone and misfired in his brain- it wasn't like he was a little girl or something, after all. Come on, 'Haseo.' You need to figure this out!

[Now inside M12.]

[oftemptation]

"Right...of course," Endrance answered, turning and entering the room. He proceeded to take a seat on his bed, fidgeting with the hem of the white part of his outfit. "I was just about to leave to go and find you. I didn't mean to worry you." He turned away, trying to hide the awkward flush on his face. While it was a little flattering, it was more awkward than anything else, and only added to how awkward the whole thing was

[M12.]

[feartehreaper]

Haseo's eyes followed Endrance as he closed the door behind him and leaned there quietly. He was both relieved and dismayed that Endrance was jumping right to the issue, though really it probably shouldn't have surprised him- he guessed that neither of them were really ones to dance around with small talk anyway.

The full admission, however, did manage to catch him off-guard. "Enough..." he said after a moment, frowning and studying the blade Leon had made him- whose twin was currently in the possession of the young man pouring his heart out yet again in front of him. It seemed easy to forget that, despite everything packed into just the last few days, the premature end to Endrance's memories from back home practically made him a different person. Not much, but enough.

It hurt. Haseo felt like he'd been hit in the chest and didn't know how to respond, despite his request implying he had something to say. Everything that came to mind seemed wrong... he couldn't really disagree with what Endrance was saying, after all

Re: [M12.]

[oftemptation]

Endrance did stop, and then waited, still unable to look Haseo in the eye. Inwardly, he sensed that what he had said had been painful. It had hurt to say it, but...hurting Haseo was unforgivable in his own eyes. He folded his arms over his chest, hugging himself a bit. It was tempting to take it back, but...he couldn't. It was the truth, painful as it was.

"I...I have? And...when I think of myself, I think...I think I'm weak. I..." He trailed off again, losing himself in thought. I want to improve myself. But I don't think I can do it for myself. I need someone there...someone to strive for. I know that makes me weak, but...

"You're stronger than I am, Haseo...and while you say you're not perfect, it's not so in my eyes. I wish I had your strength. And I don't think you did take advantage of me. I...I was the one that ranted on nonsensically. I was the one that..."

Re: [M12.]

[feartehreaper]

Haseo stared, brow furrowed and frustrated, though he wasn't sure himself if he was angry or embarrassed or afraid or what. But his hands felt weird where they met the surfaces of the things he'd brought with him, and looking down at them he could tell that if they kept arguing whose fault it was, they'd be there until that arbitrary end to the night came along. Once more they would have wasted what little time they had without such strict supervision.

"Damn it Endrance, you're not weak." Stepping forward, he grabbed a chair away from the desk and dragged it a few feet closer to where the Blade Brandier was sitting. He desperately tried to initiate some sort of eye contact as he sank into it sideways, one arm hanging over and onto its back.

"If you think about it, nobody here knows who we really are... nobody knows Kaoru. Or... Ryou." He thought back to his conversation with Alkaid at lunch. Chika, who liked instant ramen and competition and who knew what else. It was weird to think that he knew so little about the people he would

Re: [M12.]

[oftemptation]

It was then that Endrance tilted his head to the side again, finally meeting Haseo's eyes. Something still felt strange, but...better than it had been a moment ago, somehow. He still wasn't sure if what he was feeling was all self-loathing or whether there was some kind of frustration or anger or anything else mixed in, but whatever it was, the tight feeling in his chest was beginning to ease. It was a little easier to breathe, to move, to...

He reached out instinctively, trying to find Haseo's hand, then drew back into himself, suddenly unsure if that touch would spark anything. It wasn't that he wouldn't want it, but that was sending a strange mixed message.

"That much...is true. I've only rarely told anyone that name...no one does know Kaoru. Or Ryou..." Kaoru, who hardly ever leaves his bedroom, who grew too dependent on illusion and falsehood. Has this place changed me, then? Has it made me stronger, despite how hellish it is? I...

"I do want to change that. So...thank you."

Re: [M12.]

[feartehreaper]

Haseo nodded vaguely and finally looked away, the line of his thoughts making his face seem a little hotter than he would have liked. In exasperation, it came to his attention that it was kind of annoying how every single room here had to look alike. It would have been easy enough to imagine this was his own, if Endrance had had the same habit of trashing his side during dinner as him

Re: [M12.]

[oftemptation]

[keywoooooords.]

Endrance nodded once, noticing how flushed Haseo's face was. He was sure his own was close to the same color, with how hard he had been blushing. It was still...a little weird, with the mood so strained, but...things were a little bit better.

"All right...yes, we probably shouldn't keep him waiting too long..." The Blade Brandier paused, then, feeling the warmth of the Rogue's hand on his shoulder, and that made him blink in surprise, and...relief, at the same time.

He reached out shyly, asking even as he brushed a stray piece of hair from Haseo's eyes: "May I...? If...if it's all right...and. Yes. Of course..."

Re: [M12.]

[feartehreaper]

"If you... what?" Haseo asked, vaguely flustered. He suddenly found himself with a sense of hazy déjà vu, and for a moment he hesitated with an odd expression approaching sadness on his face. He couldn't help but think that he'd somehow gotten himself destined for walking into situations of increasing complication.

In the end, he still didn't quite know what to make of affection expressed quite like that, even if Endrance was well-meaning, and especially with his feelings on the matter confusing him far more than he found pleasant. At least he somehow managed to avoid further embarrassment even as his mind fled elsewhere. As unideal as it sounded even to him, he still couldn't argue himself out of making the best of what he had.

"I... don't mind. I guess," he admitted, at last realizing that what Endrance was doing was probably all he'd meant. That, however, did embarrass him, and he straightened as he cleared his throat, trying desperately to collect the pieces of his regular demeanor back together. "Right... come on, then."

Re: [M12.]

[oftemptation]

"R-right." There was something a little sad in Endrance's expression for a moment, but he put that out of his mind as he straightened and walked towards his closet. A moment later, he returned, putting the short sword on the bed and showing Haseo the pipe in his free hand.

"Take that...you're used to fighting with two of them. I'll make do for the time being."

Re: [M12.]

[feartehreaper]

Haseo took a few seconds to continue internally steadying himself, and by the time Endrance spoke to him again he'd mostly regained his nerve, standing as casually as he could with his weight shifted to one side. His eyes drifted from the metal pipe to the sword, expression flattening with the rush of indignation.

"I'm not used to fighting with anything!" he protested, making an awkward gesture with the newer sword he'd brought with him. "Well, not like this anyway. Besides, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to carry all this crap when I've only got two arms. Unless you want me to stab myself." He paused, taking a breath- that wasn't exactly fair. It seemed that dinner he hadn't eaten was haunting him in the form of irritability. Or something... the usual, deceptively-vague option of "everything all at once" was viable too