the difference in the two of us

[justrevenge]

Who: Ken Amada/justrevenge and Shinjiro Aragaki/prodigal-axe
Where: Horton, 2nd floor hallway
When: Saturday night, midnight.
Rating: ... PG?
Summary: Ken discovers another resident of Discedo.
the log:

Comments

[justrevenge]

He was starting to wonder if-whoever-was even going to show up. That sick, empty anxiousness-he was tired of it. Thoughts kept creeping into his head whenever he was standing alone like this. Probably just tiredness. His body struggling to adjust. Stress. It was actually pretty easy to figure out.

That didn't help bu-the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs distracted him, and he was immediately alert, standing upright and taking a step or two towards the stairs. It might be someone passing by, but when the steps got closer... something about it filled him with what he reminded himself was a completely childish fear. They were just footsteps, really. And that-

Then he rounded the corner.

There was no moment of it can't be: it couldn't be, that was obvious already, but it was. He knew this person. He'd recognize him no matter what. Even though-

He took a step backwards automatically, surprised-that was putting it lightly, his heart was going a million beats a second, he-this was-this... There was no accusation of what Shinjiro was supposed to be; he was shocked entirely out of any speech at all.

[prodigal_axe]

He didn't have much of a chance to get his bearings. The moment he stepped out of the shadow, he was pinned by a shocked and familiar stare. Much as he'd imagined... or remembered. His throat went dry on him. He took one step forward, but then Ken took one backward.

So he stayed where he was, silent, struggling to keep his own expression unreadable.

If he blinked... this place could be a few years ago, in an alleyway. A night as dark as this one.

But it was a few years ago for him. Not a few days. A wider gulf separated them than Ken would even realize. Of course, that time had left its marks on Shinjiro...but considering the shock of the moment, he doubted Ken would notice them right away.

He didn't want this moment to drag on. It was tense, anxious as hell, but he stood there patiently. He'd leave it to Ken to break it.

[justrevenge]

In the end, it comes down to what is less awful: looking, or looking away. He doesn't know how long he stares, but eventually he can't anymore, because this is impossible, this can't be happening, it's been a week, a week, and he saw the crime scene tape at the alley and the blood and heard-

This-

He breaks his gaze away and steps back and then sideways, shuffling over and to the side and against the wall, just to have something at his back. "This isn't real..."

[prodigal_axe]

Shinjiro slowly drew a breath in when Ken looked away. He'd been holding it without knowing. He felt a terrible sense of relief to be out of that haloed stare. He shook his head--it wasn't the kid's fault, not after what had just happened to him. This kind of reaction made sense.

He took a couple steps back himself, and ended up leaning on the opposite wall, but a little to the side of Ken. "Depends what you mean by 'real.' You probably won't remember this when you go back. So... to you, maybe it's not."

[justrevenge]

He couldn't answer that, couldn't do anything, just look away, eyes racing. Heart racing. And then he spoke, and it became worse, not better. Shouldn't it be better? Because it meant... somehow... he was alive? He hadn't... made that mistake, he hadn't...

But the thought didn't make him feel better. "Why didn't anyone tell me? Why are you -" Why was he asking? He didn't know what to do. What to say. Why hadn't anyone told him?

[prodigal_axe]

"Some things you just have to see for yourself."

He sounded distant, almost as if thinking that instead of directing it at Ken. Honestly... seeing the impossible didn't make it any less shocking. But at least it was harder to deny, if not easier to accept.

"Obviously, I don't need to tell you my name... since you know why I came here now, I could leave."

Giving them both a way out of this awkward moment. Once again, he left that up to Ken. What the kid wanted to know, or not. He'd answer questions or go back the way he came. Whatever.

[justrevenge]

He remained silent for a long moment, then a minute, then longer, not planning to say anything, do anything, think anything-at least not until he was gone. But the question bursts out anyway, with an almost angry stomp forward. "Why were you helping me?"

[prodigal_axe]

Of all the things to ask...

Shinji remained right where he was, despite the angry stomp. He flicked a calm glance in the kid's direction. "Tch..." He started to say something, but his throat closed up on him. Pieces of That Night went through his mind. What he'd done... split second shit, but irrevocable. The pause went on a few moments longer than he even realized.

"...Forget it. I'll leave you alone here, if that's what you want."

He sounded just a little unsteadier than before.

[justrevenge]

"You can't!" It was easier to be angry. No matter how much he didn't want to ever be angry again. It was easier. "You have to tell me! Why-"

[prodigal_axe]

Couldn't what? Forget it, or leave him alone? The question stuck in his throat and was doomed to stay there. Shinjiro took his time in responding. The kid's anger wasn't helping his mental state any, but he could understand it. After what happened... and then this place...

"I wanted to. Alright? ... Why shouldn't I?"

Maybe if Ken put some thoughts behind his anger, he'd lose it. Or at least redirect it into something that made more sense. That's the one thing he couldn't quite get...of all the things to be pissed off about, some anonymous help?

[justrevenge]

"..."

The wind flew out of him. He hadn't really meant to yell, demand-hadn't meant or wanted anything, but to run away. And he did know better, did know that answering a few basic questions wasn't a huge deal. But that-there was more he wanted to know, wasn't there? More things he'd done. "Last week..."

Did it no longer count? Did it somehow not happen? He hadn't died, he'd just come here? That wasn't possible. But-here they were-

[prodigal_axe]

"That's..."

Last week. Years ago. Yesterday. What did time even mean when it came to something like that? He could picture it in vivid detail--feel it when he closed his eyes. Just like the night years before that. It was burned in....

He averted his gaze from Ken's. His ploy had worked, apparently. The kid didn't seem angry anymore. Something worse, maybe?

"...that's why you shouldn't be asking that question."

[justrevenge]

He was staring at the ground, glaring, really, because he didn't know where else to look. There were a million things he wanted to know, and didn't want to know, and abstractly he realized this was the longest he'd ever actually talked to-he swallowed.

He didn't know what to say, or do, in this moment at least a kid.

[prodigal_axe]

He let the silence stretch out again. Just a few more moments, while each of them stood there, nursing their uncomfortable thoughts. Then it got to the point where he couldn't take it anymore.

"Look... I did what I came here for. I'm going back... if you've got anything else to say, ask me some other time."

His temper was riding the edge of those words. He kept his face impassive as he leaned off the wall and turned his back, aiming toward the stairwell. He felt like going back and sleeping at the bar tonight. It'd give him time to sort this out. He took a step forward, then frowned. Might as well...

"If you need to find me somewhere, I'm usually at the Northern Lights bar."

[justrevenge]

He nods shakily, unable-and unwilling-to further reply.