justonetruth | (no subject)

[ She doesn't go far. He can even keep his arm around her, if he wants; she just wanted enough distance to get a good look at him.

At his quiet, blunt announcement, Aoko's breath leaves her in a sharp hiss. ] Kaito, I… … I'm sorry—not for saving you, for… [ For dying in your arms. For not being there to hold you back. Sorry that it came to this; that you got hurt.

It shouldn't never have ended that way. ]

[there's something of a small, weak laugh]

Don't make it your fault. Don't. Just don't...

I-It doesn't have to be my fault... for m-me to be sorry...

[there really isn't making this any better either way he handles this, so will just stick with the holding close and tucking face out of view into her shoulder or something. Anything to really show how much it should be him to apologize even when then words just get harder and harder to approach, let alone say]

…

[ She leans back into the hug, slipping an arm snugly around him. ] I-It's going to be okay. [ Quiet, but with conviction. Even now… even after what happened, that spark of optimism hasn't been snuffed out. She'll make everything okay, for him, for herself—for them both—if she has to. She shifts her free hand so that she can run her fingers through his hair in a familiar, soothing gesture. ]

... stuck here?

[because the idea that they're both--

After all, what else is supposed to happen once that happens? It wouldn't be as terrible an idea as other options, since they're both there. She's there, crying and covered in blood but warm and breathing. And he's--

. . .]

It'd... work out. Somehow.

[except his attempt at following her silver lining of optimism just falls flat, crooked, sideways, and lop-sided...]

We'll make it work. [ She says that like it's a promise. As lost as she feels right now, and as much as everything hurts, he's here and that's… … it's not good, if it means he's… but it's something. It's a place to start. Aoko sniffles, nuzzling against his shoulder lightly. ]

[It is, quite possibly, a terrible time to interrupt, but while the Sabra kids are busy clinging to each other in comfort, the Neath kids round the corner at a fast-paced jog-- and then halt in their tracks completely.

Kaito, for his part, surveys the scene with a sharp expression, quickly taking note of everything that is out of place and wrong. The blood on the younger Aoko was disheartening enough. The blood spattered across the younger Kaito's back just seems to make things worse, and he definitely feels something uncomfortable twist in the pit of his stomach]

. . .

[He doesn't say anything, and his expression remains neutral as his hands slip into his pockets-- though his gaze does dart over to his own Nakamori briefly, searching past the blood and goo for any signs of an injury that might be too serious to treat. The Sabra kids' situation has made him all the more aware of the potential effects of her injuries.]

[she's covered in a worrying number of spider bites, but they all seem to be superficial... or taking effect below the surface. Miss Nakamori keeps blinking hard, as if having difficulty seeing, but that doesn't stop her from hurrying over to their alternates while feeling for another bottle of tincture]

What in Below happened?

[one of them was bad enough, but both of them...]

[despite appearing as though he doesn't have the energy for it, emotional and physical reserves drained, he immediately tenses at the sound of people approaching, mind jumping straight to the possible threats--specifically trying to remember where he is, if he's run into anyone. His heart begins to jump into his throat and then his body is reacting before his mind can process it, twisting his torso so that he's still between Aoko and whoever's approaching.

It's really only when he processes the face similar to the girl now behind him that he realizes he's aimed the gun right at her--slightly off target but enough to graze before hiting the Kaito behind her should he choose to shoot.

He freezes instead and the once firm and steady posture becoming more fragile and full of tremors]

[ Aoko's too preoccupied with worry and KAITO to notice the intrusion… At least, she was, until the one she's cuddling for all she's worth begins to move began to move. She squeaks, startled. ]

Kaito, what—Kaito! [ Deep breath; forces her voice even, calm, quiet. She knows full well that this is Jinx, not Kaito, but she hopes that maybe kicking Kaito back into gear at least a little will save them from a messy situation. ] They're not here to hurt us. They want to help, so… lower the gun… Please?

[It's an understandable move, considering their situation, but the moment the younger Kaito shifts to raise his weapon, Kuroba moves as well. He steps forward quickly, placing his hand firmly on Nakamori's shoulder and pushing her aside (almost a bit roughly) so she isn't within Kaito's line of fire at all, so the gun is only trained at him should his startled counterpart decide to pull the trigger.

He doesn't let go of her shoulder (he does expect her to jerk away), nor does he flinch as he stares down the barrel of the firearm. Aoko's pleading goes mostly unheard by him, particularly since most of his attention is focused on the weapon: calculating the likelihood of being shot at, the best direction to dart in an attempt to dodge, the possibility of being hit, injured, or something else--]

I don't think you want to do that. [He says it evenly, and then nods at his younger counterpart's Aoko] She has something for you. You should take it-- it will help with the blood loss.

[jerk away she does, with an irritated look — even injured, she'd had her club up in a defensive posture the moment the gun was trained on her, ready to dodge or strike if necessary. She doesn't yet lower it, keeping one eye on Kuroba and one on his counterpart.

She's had far more experience with being shot at than her companion, and plans on letting him know that in no uncertain words in the near future, but she recognizes that now is not the time. Instead, Nakamori slowly crouches, wobbling only a bit, and just as slowly retrieves her last bottle of tincture.

She's dealt with old soldiers before, and their many moods. She's a step away from being one herself. She knows how this goes.

Keeping her snarling club in hand, Nakamori pulls the cap and takes a short swig of the tincture before corking it again. The message is clear: Not poison. Then she gently rolls the bottle along the carpet with just enough force for it to reach the other pair]

As Mr. Kuroba said. No one's here to hurt you.

[unless one of the Mansion's more unsavoury characters makes an appearance, but if that happens she'll deal with them]

[he appears to waver more whenever his Aoko calls for him more than any other time. Eventually, the gun is shaking unsteadily in his grasp and he is forced to lower it before it were to accidentally go off.]

[ Let's out a tiny breath of relief. She's still tense, but if the gun is lowered… That's a good thing. A very, very good thing. She reaches for it, slowly and carefully, making sure he knows what she's doing. ] Let me hold onto that for now. Please.

[He doesn't relax, not even when the gun is lowered. He's aware that the other Kaito probably doesn't want to hurt them, but he recognizes the tenseness, the fear, the uncertainty. And although his Nakamori is very capable, she's already injured...

Still watching the pair in front of him, he shifts just a bit closer to his own Aoko, saying nothing as the younger one reaches for Kaito's weapon]

[Miss Nakamori doesn't relax either, but neither does she move. When she speaks, it's softly]

There should be enough tincture in there to regain some of your strength, as long as you drink it slowly. Miss Aoko has already had a share.

[there doesn't seem to be much reaction at all, but his hand does fall loose as he allows Aoko to take the gun from him.

then, he's refocusing, eyes tracking from the Kaito to the Aoko, recognition of who they are and what they're really offering processing a bit more. but then, it's like he doesn't quite know what to say, so he simply looks at the tincture being offered]

[ Gun, get. Takes a moment to make sure that the safety is on before she addresses Kaito again. ] Go ahead and take it. Kuroba-san gave me another bottle, too… If you still don't feel well, you can have both of them.

[There's more relaxing once the gun is taken, though it isn't complete]

Food and water tend to go well with Tincture. [He adds] As does rest.

[... and at that last part, he shoots his own Aoko a very pointed look]

[gives him a pointed look back as she stands]

There will be plenty of time for me to rest later.

[thankfully her long dress hides the way her legs are trembling slightly with the effort of keeping her upright]

[man, just looks over his shoulder at his Aoko, kind of. half-stalled and half-This Reminds Me Of A Certain Someone before looking back to the other couple, his voice still quiet but a little more steady than previously, tone even and somewhat flat]

... if there's plenty of time... then I'll be fine. Thanks anyway.

[ Where his voice is quiet and flat, hers is quiet and very, very stubborn. ] No way, Kaito. You're getting some rest—and you, Aoko-san! You both need it. I need it.

Poor Kaito-san probably needs it, too, having to watch all of us. [ Speaking of the elder Kaito, Aoko peers around her own, younger version, to look at him. ] Where can we go..? This hallway is a little…

[... SURROUNDED BY STUBBORN PEOPLE. It is a good thing he is also stubborn]

As the only one here who isn't injured or on the verge of collapsing-- [Yeah, Nakamori, he knows you're a lot worse off than you're acting] -- I would think I'm the only one here who doesn't need immediate rest.

[Placing his hand on his Aoko's shoulders, he propels her forward gently. His voice, however, is very stern]

I can find a room for you all. One with the appropriate number of beds and food, and it'd be far better if none of you turned that offer down.

[looks as if she's about to argue, but thinks twice of it — Kaito is clearly going to use her refusal as an excuse to keep from resting himself, and that's the last thing they need. She presses her lips together into a line of frustration and reluctantly allows Kuroba to nudge her forward]

This place also provides rather extravagant plumbing.

[and that, she won't argue against in the slightest. A wash and a change into something less spider-stained would be greatly appreciated, and she's sure the same could be said for their alternates' blood-slicked clothing]