No rest for the wicked - OTA

[captaine_sykes]

Ethan has been in and out of conciousness for the last hour or so, mind and body drifting as his system slowly but surely clears of the drugs that were pumping through him for so long whilst being held hostage. He has caught snippets of conversation between Doctors and nurses; mentions of Dopaminergics, enzyme inhibitors, Methylphenidate,

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[mongrelverine]

Daken had heard the Captain had been rescued. It was a bit of a disappointment that he hadn't had to spend longer in the company of the lovely insurgents, but Daken figured karma had still given him what he'd justly deserved. The feral had still been a little sore over being held captive.

Making his way to the medical building, Daken was informed by one of the nurses that Ethan was still too drugged up for visitors. After a few minutes, the woman's stiff demeanor had changed to one more relaxed and she even flirtatiously giggled at some witty remark Daken had made. He still hadn't lost his touch.

Ethan was still dozy when Daken walked in. "They certainly worked you over good. Tell me, Captain, did they take you through the back door or did the rescue party get there before you had to suffer that indignity?" He was perched on the back of a chair with perfect balance, one leg dangling with the toes barely touching the floor. The graceful pose was at contrast with the feral mutant's always extreme look with the mohawk and tattoos. It lent him the bizarre appearance of a punk-rock angel.

[captaine_sykes]

Blinking blearily at where the voice came from it took Ethan a few moments to piece together where he was and who was talking. It finally clicked into place but rather than being concerned that he was in a vulnerable position Ethan just eased himself upright and re-arranged the bedding till he could sit comfortably.

He was pondering whether to simply yell at Daken and tell him to get out but obviously that was the response he was hoping for. Instead Ethan just took in the way Daken posed, so at ease with his body and ego that it was amazing he could even fit through the doorway. "Thank you for your concern regarding my welfare Daken, you'll be pleased to hear that they didn't do anything of the sort."

Well Ethan at least didn't think and or remember them trying, the Doctors had already done those check up whilst he'd been unconscious and only handed him the chart with a muttered "All fine." Ethan can just about remember some of the torture methods they'd used, even the drug induced haze hadn't been able to block out all of the pain. "What is it that you wanted Daken or did you just come to see me like a visitor to a zoo?"

[mongrelverine]

The leg on the floor came up to rest beside the other, hands clasped behind Daken's neck. His confidence in never even thinking of losing his balance was apparent. "Can't a member of the team be concerned for the welfare of his commander?" Ethan would never receive a straight answer. That would be too easy. Had he been more properly awake, the Captain might have been able to try and read some of the tone behind the sarcasm. The truth was Daken simply wanted to see Ethan in a position of weakness, just as Daken had been in when they first met. It was another facet in Daken's ever-present obsession with having power and keeping it.

With a precise and neat flip, he jumped off the chair, landing lightly next to the bed. His nose picked up the female scents lingering around the room, contrasting sharply with the usual clean and antiseptic scents of the med bay. "Smells like you've have quite a few visitors. All women." Daken smirked. "Used the wounded puppy tactic to your advantage yet?"

[captaine_sykes]

"Daken, the day you genuinely show concern for me or the welfare of someone else on this team I will willingly kiss you." Perhaps Ethan should have been a little more mindful of what he said to Daken, but as it was the drugs and his drowsiness serve only to hinder his ability to think things through carefully. Later he will reflect on this moment and realise exactly what Daken was up to and curse himself for being so easily fooled.

Ethan doesn't shift back like others might but he does frown a little, curious as to what Daken was trying to get at... oh right. Typical. With a heavy and over the top roll of his eyes. "Yes I have had visitors. Yes they have been all female. No I have not encouraged their attention by playing up on my injuries thank you Daken. Unlike you and the likes of some of the other members of the team I do not need to make a show and dance of flirting with women to assert my authority."

[mongrelverine]

Daken surprised himself by actually chuckling at the drowsy comment made by Ethan. His sense of humor wasn't visibly shown, something he picked up from living Japan as a child. But then he hadn't known the Captain could be funny either. He nudged Ethan's feet over and then sat down in the space created on the end of the bed. "Kid, you'll be old and grey before that happens."

The process of starting out farther away and drawing closer to Ethan had been a deliberate one. Seeing that he had a rise out of Ethan pleased him, for that had been the reason behind making the comment in the first place. "Of course you wouldn't. You're too noble. Someone like you gets raised up to respect women and with all your morals intact."

[captaine_sykes]

It's so easy to forget how old Daken is, despite his appearance the the comment catches Ethan off guard for a moment before he manages a tight smile. He doesn't even think twice about moving his feet to give Daken some more room. No-one else has really dared to be so cheeky, sure Mac and Angel have perched on the bed but Jen Barq, Emma Frost and Haylie Collins have all remained in the seat.

Settling back on the bed Ethan is oblivious to what Daken is doing, stumbling into this trap like a rookie would. "Thank you, my Momma did raise me right. Anyway women aren't just objects to be admired and fawned over, nor are they they to be treated the way Victor seems to view them. As nothing more than meat."

[mongrelverine]

Daken likes the fact Ethan isn't giving in too easily even when still groggy and beaten half to Hell. There's no one in camp he considers to be even anywhere near his equal, but Ethan is definitely distinguished from the rest of the herd. The strongest ones always are. But being in Daken's sights is a dangerous position to be in for anyone.

One of the odd things about Daken was the way he would sit perfectly still when listening to someone. There was no fidgeting or even a twitch of the fingers. Nothing but those grey eyes steadily watching the other person without moving a muscle. "What shame all those morals conundrums of yours get in the way of a perfectly good brain."

[captaine_sykes]

The longer Daken toys around with his purpose the more awake and alert Ethan is becoming. He's nowhere near his usual cautious self, because really with Daken in the room alarm bells should be ringing in any sane persons head. But then again deep down Ethan knows that even in this state he'd at least be able to trust his natural mutant instincts to kick in and protect his body. Even if he can't fight back, he'll just be durable and resilient to those stabby claws.

Arching an eyebrow Ethan reaches for the cup of water, draining the contents before topping it back up. "Moral conundrums? Really now? What is it that you are trying to imply here Daken? Because I am neither in the mood or the right frame of mind to play you at guessing games."

There's a tired sigh from the Captain too, he thinks that maybe Daken is just here to be annoying, which wouldn't surprise him in the slightest actually. Or rub in the fact that he got taken hostage and no-one else did. The stillness however doesn't make Ethan uneasy, it's just another little snippet of observation to keep for another day.

[mongrelverine]

One hand moved slowly and came to rest on Ethan's sheet-covered feet as he continued his predatory stare in his so-called commander's direction. His tone was completely neutral. "Nothing at all. You're the one who's hearing what he wants to out of my words."

The hand on the feet gave a sharp tap, indicating that Ethan should pay attention at this point. "But if I was implying anything, it'd be that you've given me a lot more than I've given you, Ethan." It was the first time in the conversation he'd used the other man's first name. To Daken, names were important. They symbolized things about a person. To him, the Captain was like a bull, strong and powerful, but easily led by the nose if there was only the right person there to tug on it.

"I'm more than just a weapon that can be pointed at an enemy to attack. Remember that." Daken stood back up off the bed, looking down at Ethan. He'd come and given the commander enough to think about for the moment. "You'd better get some rest. It's like Lord of the Flies out there."

[captaine_sykes]

If you ever wanted to feel what it was like to be in the line of sight of a real predator but didn't want to venture out in to the jungles of the Amazon or the plains of the serengeti then all you had to do was be on the receiving end of Daken's gaze. He was still like a leopard ready to pounce and that cold gaze didn't shift at all.

Ethan doesn't allow himself to show fear, drilled into him through his military training but that doesn't stop his heart rate from picking up and the monitor beeping in response. The use of his name, the touch, the words; all of it is part of a puzzle that Ethan needs to start piecing together if he wants to even have a remote chance of understanding Daken.

He already had an inclination that Daken had the potential to be more than a weapon but Ethan hadn't had chance yet to persue this. Yet here was the feral offering a chance for Ethan to start asking question perhaps. Moving quickly forward, despite the drugs and the potential threat from the feral, Ethan graps Daken's wrist nearest to the bed and firmly holds it. "Why are you...? Why me? Why not Emma?"

[mongrelverine]

Th heart monitor's increased beeping doesn't escape Daken. He's made sure to leave an impression on the commander. Ferals are known for being strong and occasionally cunning in an instinctive sort of way, but no one expects them to have any sort of real intelligence. Daken doesn't mind that. It makes it all the better when people underestimate him and then get a nice surprise, like right now, when he finally decides to reveal just how smart the mind inside really is.

His eyes shift downward for the first time when Ethan struggles forward to grab his wrist. It says something about the determination of the man, struggling forward even when drugged up. Daken doesn't pull away. He'll reward that determination with an answer and for once, it's the truth. "Because I like you better than Emma. Soldiers understand wild animals better than princesses do." Emma may have been the one with all the outside connections, but for Daken, the military ones were more valuable to him right now.

[captaine_sykes]

The drugs are taking their toll, Ethan's grip slipping as he struggles to keep his balance, body swaying slightly. He grabs the bars of the bed, releasing Daken from his hold but not from that sharp blue gaze of his (though really it's more blurred, wide eyed, confused and dilated right now than stern.)

Feeling his body starting to demand that he rests Ethan allows himself to slump back against the bed. Daken's answered this question but only served to create more for the Captain. "When I'm released from here we'll talk. My office or off camp. Somewhere away from prying eyes and ears where we can be more... open."

As much as Daken broke into the camp and tried to murder one of the team mates, Ethan has a lot of time for the feral. He had a feeling that there was more to Daken than just being an attack dog (like Victor) but the finer details have always evaded Ethan, until now, when they seem to be being offered on a silver platter. Problem is Ethan can't really hold onto any thought for too long, if the yawn that catches him by surprise is anything to go by, his mind already wandering into the realms of sleep.

[mongrelverine]

He's led the bull right where he wants him to be as surely as if Ethan had a ring on his nose. Daken nods. "I'll be ready." Things were falling just into place as he wanted them to.

Daken waits until Ethan is fast asleep. His two foreclaws come out as he watches him for a moment, a guardian devil watching over its charge. If the feral didn't need him well and whole to suit his own purposes, he'd feel very tempted to leave the commander with a few more marks as payback for his time in the brig. Daken knows how to hold a grudge for a long time.

But he doesn't. The claws instead run over his skin with the gentlest touch in a near-affectionate gesture. He kneels next to Ethan, their face inches apart. "Sleep well, Captain," he whispers in his ear. Then he's gone, as quick and silent as when he entered the room.