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[contract_star]

[Hei appears mid-stride. He's got a black eye and just generally looks worn out. He's also wearing his game face--blank, alert, watchful. For those who know it, this is his Contractor face.]

My business is my business. It doesn't concern...

[He frowns and looks around, freezing momentarily.] What...I didn't mean to come here.

[After a moment he

Comments

[starlightbreak]

Li-san, did you come here by mistake, too? [ Nanoha's here, in her school uniform, with her school bag. ]

[contract_star]

[Oh dear. It's the very tiny little girl who had to rescue him from the big cat the other day. Hei stares at her a moment before he responds.]

...Yeah. I don't think that's ever happened before.

[starlightbreak]

Ne, if it's a Lost Logia... Things might get dangerous soon. [ She tips her head. ] Li-san, what happened to your eye?

[contract_star]

I don't know. I think...it's almost like the Machine itself is glitching.

Hm? [Touches his eye.] O-oh...I just made someone upset is all.

[starlightbreak]

Machine? [ Clueless Nanoha is clueless. ] Ne, there's a machine here?

[ Little frown. ] Did Li-san punch back?

[contract_star]

Apparently. No one really knows just what it is, but it's connected to this place and to the realities.

Well...no. I didn't really see the need to.

[Long pause.] Ah...Nanoha...about yesterday. I, um... [Rubs the back of his head and looks away.] That doesn't usually happen to me. But...thanks.

[starlightbreak]

It sounds like it could be a Lost Logia... I'll have to tell Chrono-kun and Fate-chan.

Li-san should defend himself from bullies, though. [ Nanoha puffs her cheeks. ] It's better when people will talk, but when they hit, they need to be shown they can't just do that and get away with it.

[ Then she smiles. ] Un! I couldn't let Li-san get hurt.

[contract_star]

Maybe...who knows.

Well he's--he's not really a bully. He was just scared, mostly.

Y-yeah. [Smiles a little.]

[starlightbreak]

If I find out anything, I'll tell you, okay?

Being scared doesn't mean you should hit people.

Is Li-san all right? You looked really scared, and I don't think it was because of Ragnar.

[contract_star]

And I'll do the same.

I guess...I guess it doesn't.

[The smile disappears.] That's...it's...it's just that something happened to me a little while ago, and since then...well...every once in awhile, I see things.

[starlightbreak]

What things? [ Nanoha's really concerned now. Seeing things usually isn't good. ]

[contract_star]

...Bad things.

It...seems like certain things trigger them.

[starlightbreak]

So... when something scary happens, you see even scarier things?

[contract_star]

Not scary, really. It's just...certain things. Things that remind me. I think.

[starlightbreak]

[ Nanoha's giving him a little frown, wishing she could do something to help him. ] Ne, that sounds dangerous, Li-san. What happens if you start to see things when no one is around to help you?

[contract_star]

Then I just deal with it.