[Open log!]

[couragemantra]

Characters: couragemantra and YOU!
Location: The clinic.
Rating: PG-13 to be safe?
Time: From all day October 22nd to October 24th, noon.
Description: Kurt's going to be in the hospital for about two and a half days, and I imagine plenty of people want to visit him. Here is where you do that.

Comments

[couragemantra]

By this time, Kurt is starting to get bored. And also, annoyed. Other than his throat, he's fine. His concussion was really minor, his bruises aren't anything homophobic bullying in Lima hadn't prepared him for, and he's getting really sick of soft hospital food and just laying here. They say maybe he can leave tomorrow, and he can't wait, despite the danger outside. Vriska... is still out there. But, he figures, as long as he doesn't travel alone again... hopefully it'll be all right.

Used to visitors by now, Kurt looks up from the only entertainment he has right now (the DEMISE posts on the network), and spares a small smile for Shizuo. He's surprised to see him, but also not. Even people he'd considered less close to him than Shizuo had been coming to visit. It was actually really touching, as well as a welcome change from the norm of just sitting around and sleeping.

He raises a hand and waves his fingers, a little shy and a little embarrassed - his hair isn't even done and he's wearing those terrible hospital clothes. He probably looks terrible.

[couragemantra]

Kurt rolls his eyes. Of course he looks better than before. He's no longer coughing up blood and can actually breathe and even eat soft foods. He feels so accomplished.

Sighing, he types out a response for Shizuo:

Restless. Fairly crappy, overall, but mostly restless. They say I can probably leave tomorrow, as long as I come back for daily check-ins.

[couragemantra]

Getting some small semblance of his normal (or, new-normal, normal was something else entirely) life back would definitely do him some good. Kurt nodded at that.

He bites his lip, though, when Shizuo lets some of his anger show. It's a good thing that he doesn't know who was behind this - Kurt knows Shizuo is strong, but who knows what might happen to him if he tried picking a fight with that bitch, Vriska.

After a moment's hesitation, he starts typing a new reply:

It's okay. I'd be mad too, if it were you sitting here. I don't know who it was who did this, though.

The lie is unsettling and makes him feel cheap and dishonest every time he tells it, but it's for the best. His own and Kanaya's and all of Kanaya's human friends' safety relies on Vriska not getting any more angry than she already is. A man-hunt for her probably wouldn't end well for those looking to catch her.

[couragemantra]

Kurt looks down at his communicator guiltily. There was that, yes. Maybe it wasn't entirely rational not to tell the truth, but the fact was that he was scared. Of all those people apparently willing to reel Vriska in, some might get hurt in the process. He couldn't deal with that kind of guilt. He already felt enough guilt on his own behalf.

He also didn't want to risk Vriska finding out he'd told on her, and what she'd do to him in that case. Even if she went to prison for years, she'd never forget it was Kurt who had put her there. And when she got out... assuming BREW kept them both around that long...

He shudders, and wraps his arms around his chest. The communicator falls onto the bed, and he continues looking down. He'd been fine before, when Shizuo first mentioned it, but there was only so much being reminded of and over-thinking this situation that he could take before he shut down.

[couragemantra]

If only Shizuo knew he'd been practically goading Vriska with mocking politeness the day before she'd gone after him. If only he knew Kanaya had specifically warned him before he'd done just that. How was that not his fault.

He'd laugh at himself, if he could. As it is, all he can manage is a few short puffs that might be considered laughter out of his nose, followed by a shake of his head.

He knows this is a strange reaction to have, though. He's not stupid. He'll need to lie again to cover up for it. He grabs the communicator and types up:

I know. Sort of ridiculous, thinking that, now that I think about it. Thanks.

He offers Shizuo a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes when he shows him the reply.

[couragemantra]

Kurt bites his lip. That, he can agree with. That Vriska is an insane murderous bitch with an overly possessive side the size of Antarctica, he can agree with. All he'd done was make a friend, and what she had done in response... well. There wasn't really a comparison.

He types up a short response, slowly this time, because his breath is coming a little harder. It's unfair, keeps repeating through his head. That's probably better than It's all my fault, at least. He hesitantly shows the reply to Shizuo:

You're right. It's not fair.

[couragemantra]

He nods a little, and wipes his eyes. Just in case.

I will. Thanks for stopping by. It means a lot.

The reply is offered with a sad smile.

[couragemantra]

He's not quite sure. Souji probably would help. Dave might, if Kurt's been reading him right, lately. It depends. He can take care of himself, though, he knows that.

I've got some people, I think. I doubt I'll need help with much. I'm fine, except for my throat.