Nightshift 46: M11-M20 Hallway
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
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This time he wasn't as pleased by it as he had been the last; this time it reminded him of the night before, even if outside of the coliseum grounds his powers didn't return as well. Now he was simply earthbound with his wings, likely unable to fly at all even if he tried, and burdened more with the memories and guilt. He shuddered lightly, finally pushing up to a sitting position as he flexed his wings somewhat awkwardly, then resettled them a little more comfortably.
He should be moving, now that night had fallen. Sakura would be worried, he was certain, and he was worried about her after the night before. But somehow...he just couldn't muster the energy to move. Touya would probably come by to pick Yukito up, as he had several times recently, he told himself. But it rang hollow as an excuse even still.
Instead of getting up, he simply leaned back, seated sideways on the bed with his back against the wall, wings shifting to curve forward around himself. Just for a minute, he insisted inwardly. He'd just wait for a minute, to see if Touya would stop by. If not, then he would leave, go find the others, and see what they wanted to do now. He certainly wasn't going to suggest anything but keeping them safe.
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Before he realized what he was doing, Touya was knocking on their door. "It's me," he called.
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He needed to talk to Touya. He knew that all too well; after he'd failed in his duty the night before, it was even more important that he fulfill it now. But still, again, he didn't want to. It was just so difficult to work up the energy to do anything, even to lift his head and speak. Instead he just rested his forehead against his knees, wings curved about himself to hide him in a wall of white feathers.
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Yuki and Yue weren't all that difficult to miss. The way he'd closed himself off was reminiscent of when Yuki changed the first time he'd met Yue, but there was obviously a lack of glowing light or any sign that Yue was transforming (which Touya figured Yue couldn't do here). Which meant he was hiding.
He moved over to the ball of wings and stood there. "I let myself in."
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He finally shifted, sitting up straighter as his wings slowly parted and pulled back, frowning up at Touya with no sign of his inner turmoil but for some trace of lingering tiredness. "I suppose we should go to Sakura," he observed, though he didn't move to stand up just yet. "If we delay too long, she'll worry."
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And the way Yue was looking at him only confirmed this: Yue's normally unflinching gaze seemed tired or at least elusive. They were all mentally exhausted, even if their wounds had healed for the most part.
"She knows how important it is to you that she stay in her room. She'll be safe."
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It was a relief, even if he'd never admit as much to Touya. Having to pretend in front of him was bad enough, but in front of Sakura, as well, especially when the girl had to be upset herself - it would only be more difficult. He only blinked once, though, glancing away again toward where his roommate was an unmoving lump under his own covers. "I hope so." If she did leave her room, without the help of the Cards...well, she wasn't stupid. She'd be careful. He hoped.
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"C'mon," Touya said softly, reaching for Yue's hand. "My roommate's probably gone by now. Let's go back to my room."
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Yukito would have been more than pleased to spend some time alone with Touya, which was part of the reason Yue was reacting with immediate rejection to the idea. He certainly wasn't interested. At all.
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"She's fine," Touya said, standing up and moving out the door and into the hallway. "She asked me if Fai went home after he was killed. Let her be optimistic--if we both charged in there after I told her we were all taking a break, she'd worry even more, right? Or feel like it was her fault somehow."
He looked down the hallway then back to Yue. "Even if you won't admit it, you need more attention than either me or Sakura. We weren't the ones in that arena. I may have resigned myself to letting you handle everything else, but at least let me help with something that isn't going to get me killed or injured.
"Or," Touya backed up a step out of the doorway. "I'll go back to my room by myself and you can sit here with a sleeping Ken, and replay what happened over and over again. Yuki would, at least, so I have a feeling you would too."
He crossed his arms and looked coolly at Yue. "So. What's it going to be?" This was a massive gamble he was taking, and frankly if Yue decided to stay and mope, Touya wouldn't be happy with that at all. But he couldn't drag Yue out of the room and back to his own. Not only would that creative a big scene, but Touya hadn't forgotten how much stronger Yue was. He didn't know what sorts of things Yue could or would do to separate himself from Touya.
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Let him? Yue immediately rejected the idea without thought; letting someone help him meant letting himself care. He couldn't do that again; it wasn't even an option. And yet Yukito persisted, not in words, but in a surge of silent affection. He cared about Yue, it said, no matter what the guardian might think.
Finally Yue flicked his wings once and settled them against his back, careful to hold them close to prevent any problems getting through the door like he'd experienced the night previous. "Very well. We'll go." With the assent he stepped forward, moving toward the door himself.
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"If anything," Touya offered, walking down the hallway next to Yue. "It will give Ken a chance to sleep without us talking in his ear while he's trying to rest?" Perhaps a different approach would loosen Yue a bit--if only a bit. He seemed stiffer than usual...
Couldn't be. Touya must've been reading too much into it. After all, Yue was already upset, why not stiff as well?
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And then even that ended up moving around back to the night before. The realization made Yue's frown deepen; his wings twitched slightly before he moved on, walking just a little bit faster now.
[to here]
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