The Wheelchair is Go!

[lost_of_four]

*Toji stares at himself in the mirror in the room he and Shinji were in. He sees himself, but in a hand drawn wheelchair. His arm has been repaired completely, his leg is still gone. He is wearing shorts, but the one over his missing leg, which isn't even a stump really as it was broken off rather close to his hip. At least he still has enough

Comments

[a_young_legend]

-Shinji is hesitant to approach. Still not feeling fantastic himself, he at least makes an effort to smile at Toji and wave him down... err, figuratively speaking.-

Hey. How you doing?

[lost_of_four]

Like I got fucked up by an angel and spent two weeks in the hospital.

*Toji's voice is clearly bitter. But its not really directed at Shinji.*

[a_young_legend]

-Shinji rolls with it and just shrugs, his smile faltering just a little. He's clearly trying to lighten the mood.-

You don't say? I've been feeling that way myself lately. And my roommate was a class act, lemme tell ya.

1/2

[lost_of_four]

Right... Shinji you really suck at this.

2/2

[lost_of_four]

You wanna get some food? I'm starving.

*He leans over in his wheelchair towards him. After his mishap with Cagalli he doesn't want to accidentally hurt anyone.*

Re: 2/2

[a_young_legend]

-Shinji's smile flips to a scowl and he grumbles something bitter to himself.-

Lousy... yeah, sure, why not?

-He looks somewhat hesitantly at the wheelchair, but decides not to make an issue of it and starts on the way to the mess hall. His thoughts can't help but stray, though, to Toji's predicament.-

I... I have to remember. He's not like this because of me. It was the dummy plug. It was father who did this. It was...

-Shinji clenches a fist at his side.-

It was Unit 01...

[lost_of_four]

*Toji manages to keep up with Shinji for the most part. Though every so often he still has to adjust his heading so its straight and he isn't the best with turns yet. Shinji probably has to slow down every so often to let him catch up.*

*Then they run into Toji's first real test... an obstacle so evil that its designer didn't even name it after himself, so far as Toji knew anyway: the menacing thing called... a door. It seems so simple, just a plank of wood with a small metal cylinder attached to it. A few weeks ago it would be nothing. Now... it was like an impenetrable fortress.*

...Ah fuck.

*He glares at Shinji, it would be so easy to let him open it. But no, Toji would have none of that.*

Don't you even think about opening it.

[a_young_legend]

-Shinji manages to keep his emotions under control up until that point. When they reach the door, however, Shinji's brow knits together and he bites his lip, unsure of how to proceed. At the very least, he knows Toji deserves his dignity. Stepping back to give him a wide enough berth, he nods.-

You got it, bro.

[lost_of_four]

*It is about ten minutes of fiddling with the door and a lot of swearing before Toji finally managed to get it open. It was awkward and totally not worth it. In the end he had pulled the door with one arm while using the other to move one of the wheels back this got the door open enough for him to shove his one good leg in. After finally getting his leg in the door crack he held his wheelchair in place using his hands. He might have used the break if he had thought to, but by that point his frustration had got the better of him and he just wanted the damn thing open. If it was one of those doors that just opened that would be one thing, but no this one had to close on its own. So pulling the door open with his leg he started wheeling his chair forward while awkwardly moving his leg in order to keep it open. The door slammed into the side of his wheelchair and almost crushed his hands but he managed to get through it. It would have felt like a victory, if it weren't for Shinji effortlessly using it moments later.*

[a_young_legend]

-Watching this all unfold was a true test of Shinji's conscience. In several instances, his arm or leg involuntarily twitched, urging him forward to assist. But Shinji refuses his instincts and simply observes, doing his best to maintain an impassive expression throughout the entire thing. Once Toji is through the door, Shinji breathes a silent sigh of relief and is almost desperate to change the subject immediately.-

C'mon, we should hurry if we want that food hot. You know how it gets after people like Simon raid the place. I hope they made hot dogs today.

-Ultimately, Toji is right. Shinji does suck at this.-

[lost_of_four]

Right I'll go as fast as my fucking WHEELs can carry me!

*He glares at Shinji. He isn't really mad at him though, its more that he is angry in general and Shinji is making himself a hell of a convenient target.*

[a_young_legend]

-Shinji meets the glare with a surprisingly even gaze. Even Shinji can recognize that yelling at Toji here is only going to make the situation worse.-

I thought you didn't want sympathy, Toji. It's not like I'm the most athletic person in the world. Are you really going to let yourself fall behind someone as flimsy as me? You had more pride than that, last time I checked.

[lost_of_four]

Fuck you...

*He says at first. Then he reconsiders.*

Of course not you fuckhead. Now lets get that fucking food.

[a_young_legend]

-Shinji throws up his hands in resignation, and just sighs.-

Alright, alright. I swear, the more I try, the more I fail... irony bites me in the ass all the god damn time.

[lost_of_four]

*This time whenever Shinji starts to slow down Toji speeds up. Whenever he botches a turn, he just pushes through it and if Shinji stops he motions him on, with a shove if he's close enough. This is a matter of pride. He won't let this fucking chair beat him!*

[a_young_legend]

Oof! Hey, you don't have to shove me, I'm movin'! Man, are you on a warpath, or what? This is lunch we're talking about here, not a battle to the death. Besides...

-Shinji smirks and quickens his pace to egg him on.-

Still too slow.