Closed(ish) | Guarding Mr. Daisy

[lotusmesenpai]

Who: Sion, Lavi, Kanda & anyone they meet at the Summit
Where: Springhill Compound, Peace Summit
When: W6D2 - D6
Summary: Guarding Sion during the summit should be an easy warrant. Unfortunately, nothing with Sion is ever actually E A S Y.
Restrictions/Warnings: Kanda's fine command of language, as usual.

Comments

[inksplashes]

[ Little recesses taken here and there, moments of reprieve stolen between conversations and guard rotations. Every day gets a little bit harder, a heavier sleep debt waiting for collection like a reaper of productivity.

He can go without sleep, he can weather a lack of food, he's done worse and in certainly less favorable conditions--but it's getting to him. Between the constant distraction of Yu's presence and the constant threat of Sion, he's started to run ragged.

Which is why Lavi can be found in the stairwell, back straight against the wall to alleviate the pressure on his ribs, eye pressed closed as he shuffles information around his head. When he hears the door open at the landing closest to him, he wants so badly to just ignore it. Pretend it isn't there, just another passing dignitary..

But a decade and a half of battle isn't forgiving, even for a man so in need of rest as him.

Straightening his back against the wall, he cracks an eye open in time to see her straighten a little too sharply, a twinge of pain on her face.

Immediate big brother frown. ]

'Ey.

[ He considers reaching out to hug her, but given his own state and that wince.. instead he just lets himself slide down to the floor carefully, breath held to prevent a cringe when he settles down. ]

You okay?

[fledges]

[Kate waves him off dismissively.]

Fine.

[So, so fine, considering the way she slowly sinks down to sit beside him. There's concern etched all over her face, and now that she's anticipating it, she does a decent job of hiding another wince.]

Are you okay? Did something happen?

[inksplashes]

I'm fine.

[ Reflexive, if a bit sarcastic in its mimicry of her tone. He can't exactly reach out to hug her so he settles for leaning his shoulder against hers, head hanging.

Man, what he would give to have those tiny robots in his blood to knit up wounds like they're nothing. Why did he get stuck with this stupid human body?

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he studies her for a moment--her breathing is mostly normal, calm enough, but there's a little catch in it, and the way she'd slid down.. was pretty much exactly the way he did. ]

Let's just say if I were a cat I'd be down to seven lives. What about you? And don't tell me "nothing".

[fledges]

[She makes a face, leaning into him gently.]

I'm just a little banged up, okay? I've had worse. The riots sucked.

[That's more than an adequate explanation, clearly!]

[inksplashes]

[ Yeah, no. Lavi stares at her again, considering pointing out that he was at the riots and knows very well they sucked, but--

Half of his injuries are from the same day they'd run into each other. When he was off playing the reckless hero.

Is that going to prevent him from bristling at her? Not a bit. He bumps her again, a little harder, stifling his own cringe with a yawn that's a little too genuine. ]

What happened? And why didn't you tell me? The riots were almost a week ago.

[ Pot graciously introduces itself to kettle, etc. ]

[fledges]

Sorry, Mr. Tall, Dork and Stoic. I've had worse. I'm fine.

[She nudges him back, although she's careful about it.]

You didn't tell me either, so save it.

[inksplashes]

[ He's reasonably sure she meant to say "dark" because his ego is a fragile thing and needs the validation, but he's entirely too trained to listen and observe not to notice that she definitely, absolutely, did not say "dark".

Lavi huffs, ignoring her rightful rebuke in favor of indignation over that insult. ]

Tall, dark, and dashing, you meant.

[ Not a question. Objective statement.

Scrubbing a palm down his face, he mutters under his breath about exceptionally stubborn women. ]

...I couldn't tell you. I wasn't in a position to speak, and then things got crazy as soon as I could move again.

Basically, catching buildings for people sucks.

[fledges]

[Kate smiles at his affronted response, ready to fire back with something else, but then he continues and that smile vanishes.]

Wait, what? You're exaggerating, right? What happened?

[inksplashes]

[ Lavi slumps a little further into the wall, leaning against her that much more for it. When's the last time he got more than twenty minutes of sleep?

When the summit is over... he's gonna go into an elective coma, he thinks. But not now, and certainly not here. Straightening himself up in an effort to ward of exhaustion, he frowns, trying to think of the best way--or if he even should--explain. ]

He was trying to help people get out of a burning building, but the building was gonna fall on him instead. I intervened.

[ A heavy, long-suffering sigh. ]

Twenty titanium stitches later, I can confirm there's a reason I'm not supposed to intervene. It hurts.

[fledges]

Wow, Lavi, that's pretty heroic.

[She smiles, reaching out to flick at his headband.]

It was brave of you to intervene, and I'm very impressed.

[inksplashes]

Frankly I'd rather have the health of a coward.

[ He's right back to leaning against her shoulder, sliding a little more down the wall. Lavi yawns, stretching mildly and cringing when he's rebuked by said stitches. The injuries themselves are mostly healed, but the threads have little give when you stretch like a cat. ]

Your turn.

I NEVER GOT THIS NOTIF i'm sorry!

[fledges]

[Ugh! Fine.]

Some Company jerk went crazy, tearing people's throats out. I guess I got in the way.

<3

[inksplashes]

[ His limbs stiffen, a line of tension winding through muscles and making his lean far less relaxed. Tearing out throats?

Lavi glances up at her, gaze narrowed in clear concern. ]

What do you mean "got in the way"?

[fledges]

As in I tried to stop him. He said he was part of some Cerberus Unit or something.

[Kate reaches for his hand when she realizes he's tensing up, trying to lace her fingers with his, her voice softening.]

I'm a big girl, Lavi. I'm okay.

[inksplashes]

[ He doesn't pull his hand away, but lets it lie lifelessly between her fingers, the slightest tremor to it.

Lavi turns his head down, voice a soft rasp: ]

How many damn times do I have to say it? It doesn't matter if you're a big girl, it's the ...

[ He stops himself, the agitation beginning to break through his usual calm and demanding silence before he says something he's surely going to regret. ]

[fledges]

[She frowns, leaning forward in an attempt to study his expression. Whether or not he holds her hand back, she squeezes his softly.]

It's what?

[inksplashes]

It's the point.

[ Said through grit teeth, Lavi schools his face into something closer to stoicism while so obviously under her scrutiny. How doesn't she get it? If she'd died..

The world would be a darker place for it. Lavi would would be lesser for it. ]

You're something worth protecting regardless if you need it. Worth avenging.

[fledges]

[She gets it, and while the stoic mask is a good trick, she can tell he's faking. She runs her thumb over his knuckles, her voice softening.]

I know what you mean. I understand why you worry, I just don't want you to make yourself sick over it.