Nightshift 49: M91-M100 Hallway

[falseblack]

The return trip had proved inconsequential, no significance beyond increasing rainfall and silence between brothers. If he missed a crucial detail, Nigredo would not have known--the sharpness in his arm had occupied all thoughts, bringing wayward attention to the background. He spent the bus ride leaning his forehead against the window pane,

Comments

M99 (outside)

[not_rly_fai]

It was hard to explain how he felt when the intercom flicked to life and reminded him once more of tomorrow's visitors. Would Aaron be coming again? What would he say if the doctors said Robin needed more time before he was cured? Did they actually keep track of the patients who stayed in their rooms at night and those that went out? Did it make any difference at all?

Surely Aaron would be disappointed, believe that Robin wasn't trying hard enough and in a way, it was true. No matter how much he wanted to be that person Aaron needed, he wasn't Robin. Though even Kurogane had let that other side in, even if only for a day, somehow Yuuhi remained unchanged. And then there was the incident several nights back and waking up in that metal tomb afterward that still left him with a chill every time he recalled it. Yet another thing he wished he didn't remember in vivid detail.

Putting those things aside, Yuuhi hesitated outside his door, dressed once again in the clothing from Celes, despite how visible it made him. He wasn't even sure what he was looking for at night; the third floor? an escape? his missing friends? He'd found none of those, no matter how many times he'd looked before. What was left?

[Kuro?]

M99 (outside)

[contentincloset]

[from here]

The small connector hallway was skipped, and quickly too once Kurogane spotted the white fluff of a familiar coat. There wasn't any mistaking it for how many times he'd chased the magician around, even if their clothes had been taken by that witch, and now was no different.

Instead of berating the man for leaving his room already, the ninja simply stepped up, observed what he could of Fai's physical condition to make sure he would be up for the night, then turned to go. He couldn't have cared less anymore just what the hell the man was thinking in this place. So long as he understood that Kurogane wasn't letting him do what he wanted anymore.

"Coming or not?"

Re: M99 (outside)

[not_rly_fai]

Oddly enough, it was a simple decision to make. Yuuhi was no leader and if given someone to follow, someone he actually trusted, yes, he would do it. Despite all that'd gone on and what might've been said between them, it was easy to let himself fall into routine. No, maybe he wanted that too.

It wasn't an admission of guilt, he told himself, nor was he saying it was anything more than exactly what it was. Though he knew what his answer would be, ought to be, he found himself hesitating when Kurogane turned on his heel and started on back down the hallway. A few seconds passed before the click of Yuuhi's boots echoed behind the ninja's.

Where were they going? It could've been around the corner to be lectured again, or it could be that he just needed an extra hand to get over the outside walls of the institute. Who could be sure? And while he questioned himself with every step, whether or not it was the right decision, where it might lead him, what it was for, it didn't stop him from following.

Re: M99 (outside)

[contentincloset]

[gone here]