Baroona (
broroona) wrote in
compyuutah2013-09-24 11:39 pm
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mikoto can you fucking stop
[All Baroona had wanted was a fight. He hadn't planned to get this involved. It was supposed to be a simple mission. Go in a team, go down into an old bunker, fight some monsters, get some treasure. That was it. Simple, clean, straightforward.
And then Mikoto came along. Things escalated. Now he was trapped on the deepest floor of the complex, trying to catch one of the Major's officers before they dropped poison into the City's water system. There were others with them-Geddoe, some others–but Mikoto was in the lead. She always was.
Baroona tries to keep up but exhaustion slows his steps. A reminder of his lack of power, maybe. He tries not to pay it too much mind. Focuses on breathing instead of panting. Keeping his eyes open. Stopping the gash he got on his arm from bleeding too much. Still, he lags behind Mikoto, stepping over bodies she's shocked.]
We need to slow down.
[And not just for his sake–they're getting separated from the rest.]
Mikoto! [Are you even listening to him?]
And then Mikoto came along. Things escalated. Now he was trapped on the deepest floor of the complex, trying to catch one of the Major's officers before they dropped poison into the City's water system. There were others with them-Geddoe, some others–but Mikoto was in the lead. She always was.
Baroona tries to keep up but exhaustion slows his steps. A reminder of his lack of power, maybe. He tries not to pay it too much mind. Focuses on breathing instead of panting. Keeping his eyes open. Stopping the gash he got on his arm from bleeding too much. Still, he lags behind Mikoto, stepping over bodies she's shocked.]
We need to slow down.
[And not just for his sake–they're getting separated from the rest.]
Mikoto! [Are you even listening to him?]
perf subject line tbh
['Always in the lead' was right. Mikoto grunts, clutching onto her lacerated shoulder; as per usual, the Major decided to invite a few of his closest friends to 'entertain mein guests,' as he'd (annoyingly and creepily) put it---his definition of 'friends' being his insane, gross vampire henchmen. They were easy enough to put down, but in droves?
Needless to say, she's seen better days, as well. She's cut up in a number of places, but that doesn't deter her from their (her) objective---stop these jerks from poisoning the water.
She'd had enough of innocents being dragged into the schemes of these...these nutjobs. She continues clumsily running onward, hissing in pain from her injuries.] ...we can't let that freak and his creepy lackeys get away with this! Don't worry---
[They reach a corner, and Mikoto catches sight of the officer, gathering iron sand to call upon her whip-sword, which she swings at him. She manages to cut his arm, but he swiftly opens fire, which she narrowly halts with a wave of lightning. He resumes running thereafter, but that growl he suddenly lets out doesn't sound human in the slightest..
Mikoto takes off again.]
That should slow him down---come on!
i thought it was very poetic
Mikoto–! [Only to see she's taken care of it. Barely. But still.
He almost manages to catch up with her by the time she starts off again. With a sigh, he moves again, feet feelings like lead but moving anyway. A quick glance back confirms that they've lost the others by now. Not a good sign.
There's no way the officer they're chasing is human, not after that growl. No saying what he can do, how he's been augmented or modified to the Major's needs. Rushing in alone like this is too dangerous.] Mikoto, we need to regroup!
[No dice and no choice but to speed up after her. With any luck, he can catch her before they round the next corner.]
the f-bomb is especially touching
She swallows. No, I can't back down now! Not when we've gotten this far, and not with the City in danger...
Gripping the handle of her sword, she gets to speeding up, feeling soreness in her legs from moving around so much as it was. But she ignores it by gritting her teeth, keeping a wary eye out until she finds herself in the middle of a cistern.
A howl echoes eerily from above, and in a flash, a large black blur comes hurdling toward her. Her eyes widen in alarm.
If he's close enough by, Baroona will hear Mikoto cry out in pain, followed by a loud roar.]
no subject
Could she handle it?
The speed with which Baroona is running sends him sliding into the wall as he takes a corner. He takes it in stride, pushing off it for more momentum. A cold shock of panic is freezing his blood.
Idiot. She was an idiot.
He can't be far away now. She was ahead of him, but not by this much. Maybe he missed her? Overshot? No. Unlikely. He would have seen her no matter what. She has to be ahead, just a bit further.
Don't you dare leave him, Mikoto. She can't. Not after how much she made him open up. She can't betray him like that. Not for something this stupid.
He runs faster.]
no subject
She should run for it. A tiny voice in the back of her head keeps telling her this. As per usual, however, her pride and her eagerness to fight---to win---take first priority. Letting out an angry yell, she starts unleashing flurries of lightning, their bursts of light illuminating the dank cistern and the hallways leading to it. The wolf is struck several times, howling and crying out.
Mikoto wonders if this was what it was like for Baroona during his gladiator days----breaking yourself just to win. Just to survive, because escape wasn't an option.
She's panting. The other reason why she wasn't going to turn tail---against her better judgment---was because, at one point in his life (as a gladiator, as a slave), he couldn't run away, either.
She wanted to understand what he'd gone through.
Keep going, keep going, stay cool, you can do this---
The wolf's on its last legs due to her wild iron-and-lightning assault, but it goes for one last hurrah. Wobbling and stumbling about, it swipes clumsily at the next wave of stakes that she sends soaring toward it.
Iron tears through her torso, arms, and shoulder. There's no cry this time---in fact, it's like everything's in mute. She coughs, and blood spills onto her hand.
Odd.
She can't think. She can't speak. There's just...a weird haze slowly seeping into her head, her vision, her body.
Mikoto falls forward.]
no subject
Instinct moves Baroona's body down the hallway like a rocket. No glance is spared to Mikoto's falling body. No movement wasted on regret, second thoughts or sorrow. Everything is exact, muscles coiled with power waiting to be released. One, two steps and he jumps over Mikoto's corpse, pivoting his body, releasing power stored up with a destructive kick to the murderer's head. It's sudden and the surprise is clear, the anger that follows even more so. The werewolf's hand snaps out and wraps around Baroona's waist, holding it tight and crushing. A rib cracks, one breaks, but Baroona isn't there to feel it. He's removed, watching from above maybe, as his body stabs down into the wrist. The pain releases him and he moves in for a follow-up, firing a knife at the achilles' tendon and snapping it back. The murderer stumbles back and moves to all fours. Launches itself at him while Baroona slides underneath, dragging his knives through the wolves' stomach. Blood like lava spills on his face, his chest, his legs. It soaks through his shirt and drips down his hands but it's not enough. The werewolf howls and doubles back, eyes wild with fire.
But Baroona's are soulless and cold, primal in their vacancy. He meets the charge and for a moment, it's as if two animals are running towards each other before colliding in a mess of blood and choked cries.
His mind goes blank then. The next thing he remembers is the fourth stab down into the killer's throat and the pain of his opponent's claws piercing his back in one final attempt of retaliation before falling limply to the ground. Air rushes into his lungs and with a few gasping breaths he remembers how to breathe, how to pant, how to step over the mangled corpse beneath him. His legs feel weak, his body numb, but the scraping of his knives on the floor behind him reminds him where he is.
Footsteps pound down the corridor and stop. Geddoe's voice interrupts a shocked silence but he can't hear it. It's too muffled, like listening through water, and Mikoto's body won't stay in his hands. He's too weak, exhausted from everything that's happened. He tries again, fails again. A hand presses into his shoulder. Geddoe. Their eyes meet. An understanding is reached.]
There was nothing I could do.
[Her body is in Geddoe's arms, held carefully and precious.
"I know. Get some rest. We'll handle everything else."
Eventually, he does.]
no subject
The other part of her reasoning was guilt. He had been calling to her, telling her to turn back; but no, she let her pride get to her head. She'd let her emotions get to her head. And all for what?
Her own death. She still shuddered thinking about it. The last thing she remembered was red, white, and Baroona out of the corner of her eye. And then black.
She assumed that was when her body gave out. She looks down at her hand as she walks aimlessly through the park. Closes it. Opens it again.
.....What did he do, I wonder?
Mikoto sighs. This is the first time she's stepped out of the MAC for purposes other than going to school in two weeks. She tried avoiding people, but Bart and Lyra were the first to go looking for her. Then Keiko called up to check on her. Then Lavi, then Johnny...
She didn't tell any of them what had happened, just that she'd been sick. Bart, of course, knowing her the best out of everyone else, tried pressing her, but she brushed it off.
In hindsight, though, running into the gang wasn't so bad. Mikoto didn't have to be honest around them.
But Baroona...
...Mikoto shakes her head and huffs.
She didn't have the heart to face him just yet.]
no subject
He was.
He was sent home with a back full of stitches, an arm full of bandages and an order to rest, Doctor's Orders, bucko, those ribs weren't going to fix themselves. It was a godsend, really. It allowed for respite and time to reflect. Gave him reason to be secluded without prying questions why. Few people visited him. There was no reason to and he liked that. Enjoyed the fact that no one questioned his disappearance or noticed.
The only one who did was Geddoe. They sat in awkward silence two weeks and four days after Mikoto had died. He had insisted he was fine with a breathy laugh and a tapped cigarette while Geddoe pierced him with a knowledgable gaze.
"Don't let this affect you."
What little was left of the conversation was blurred. The rest of the week joined it and Baroona was too busy to remember it. It was hard work, convincing yourself that the broken ribs were the only wounds left to heal.]
no subject
How did he react?
Was he sad? Was he angry? Mikoto has so many questions about what had happened after she died. It still didn't quite feel real. In fact, it seemed like a bad dream. Perhaps it was because it had happened so quickly, without giving her time to think about her short life thus far and the people who populated it (especially Kuroko, Bart, and especially Baroona himself); perhaps it was because she...well...she came back.
So, it couldn't be so bad, right?
Yet Mikoto couldn't get rid of this heavy feeling all around her. He had fought in wars. Probably lost a lot of friends. Probably saw them die before his very eyes.
As he did her.
But she was back.
That still didn't change the fact that she died as a result of her own arrogance. That...she made him sad or mad or whatever because of her arrogance. Because she put herself and her own feelings first, giving little thought to his. Even though she also did it to understand him...but did he want her to go to such lengths to do so? No, of course not. He wouldn't wish that on her. He wouldn't wish that on anyone.
And it made her feel even worse. Mikoto listlessly stares at her comm. Should she let him know she's back? That she's okay now? If only to maybe put him at ease?
She just as quickly pockets it. Huddles into herself a little.
I should let him be. If he wanted to talk---surely---he'd go look for her. And if not, then...
...Oh, well.
(Though a part of her already feels sad at the thought of him not wanting to speak to her)]
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GRUMBLES
The announcement ends up coming from Keiko. It shakes Baroona more than he's willing to admit. Having the lived in the City, resurrection isn't hard to believe. Yusuke did it just fine, apparently. But Yusuke did it when he was gone and every other case has been too far removed for him to care or believe that it's true.
Mikoto's rebirth shakes that. No. Completely abolishes it and brings into question so many more questions he never wanted to consider. (Could the City bring back more than the people inside of it? What if it brought back Michael? Carnival? Worse yet–Marino? Why just her? Why not anyone else? Would bringing both Mikoto and Robin back be too much?) It disturbed him. So he hid.
For a couple of days, at least. Keiko certainly made it difficult, popping in at least once every day with threats of inviting Mikoto over if he didn't go out. Two broken ribs weren't enough to hold her back anymore. Finally, Baroona ceded and the day after Keiko came in to announce that she'd invited her over, hoping that "with anything, it'll make you finally leave your room".]
DON'T YOU SASS ME
It was alarming how well everyone knew her by now, despite her attempts at playing it cool and sidestepping the subject of 'your one tall friend,' as Bart referred to Baroona---when asked about him, or why she didn't seem to be hanging out with him as much, she made up things ("oh, he's still recovering"; "been too busy with studying"; "I'm gonna see him soon"). But Keiko saw right through the masquerade, and Mikoto immediately sighed loudly upon receiving the above text from her--and knew she'd done it deliberately. It didn't help that Mikoto actually called Blue and asked him for advice---and he told her the exact same thing: "you must talk to him. you're both hurting inside. you'll only hurt each other more if you continue avoiding one another. you are friends. you need to be there for each other."
So she had absolutely no way of coming up with any sort of excuse now.
Mikoto practically had to force herself to head over to the Mu Mu Haus. Anxiety mounted upon her like a pile of limestone slabs, slowly forming a pyramid of questions all around her mind: is he gonna be happy? Is he just gonna be weirded out? Be all awkward? Make fun of me? Get mad?
It's the not knowing what to expect that causes a cold feeling to enter her stomach and has her hesitating once she finds herself at the front door.
Mikoto takes a deep, shaky breath. She already wants to turn back, run away, shoot Keiko a texted excuse.
But then...what would Baroona think if she did that?
Mikoto's hand curls into a fist.
No, she had to make it up to him. He always stuck his neck out for her, always had her back, and yet she left him alone and---she couldn't do that to him a second time.
So she rings the doorbell, and braces herself.]
SASS SASS SASS
But there's a difference between arriving at the door an opening it and for a couple long moments it stands like an obstacle to him. An unsurmountable wall that towers above him, if only for a moment.
He pulls it open, shoulders slumping as he sees her, fine and well.
It's hard to do anything but stare.]
SQUINTS
The hard part is figuring out what to say---"what, you miss me?" No, that was too smartassed. "I'm okay, you know." Even worse, though not as smarmy. It would make him look like a jackass for worrying (and he'd freely admitted to worrying about her, too). "I'm sorry"...?
Mikoto looks off to the side and tucks a bit of hair behind her ear. He looks so...beat. Haunted. Kind of...sad.
(She'd come to notice that about him. How sad he looked sometimes.)
She can't even look at him any longer.
And was an apology even enough?
She exhales, closes her eyes, trying to act like her usually snippy self.]
Yeah, I know.
[A beat, and she crosses her arms.]
It's creepy.
[That is quite honestly the best she can come up with.]
WHISTLES INNOCENTLY
Do-[Weak. Small. Choked. It both surprises and scares him a half-step back. He looks down.] Don't trivialize it.
[There's something hot and wet sliding down his cheeks but he doesn't want to believe they're tears and he doesn't want her to see them if they are. He turns sharply, walking inside with the door ajar.]
YOUNG LADY, GO TO YOUR CORNER
He's pissed.
Mikoto's expression falls. She leans back against the railing, looking down at the ground. For some reason, she can't blame him. She'd acted like a jerk. She'd made him worry and grieve unnecessarily. He'd already lost so many good people in his life.
.....But what hurts the most is that all of this could've been avoided. If only she'd listened. If only she'd stopped. If only she'd ran away.
If only, if only.
Mikoto grits her teeth.
But running away wasn't in her nature. It never would be. So she turns on her heel, and stalks into the house, expression half-weary and half-somber.]
Baroona.
[In contrast to his breaking voice, hers sounds hoarse, but stony.
Don't trivialize it. Oh, that wasn't in her game plan. She knows that thick, shaky tone anywhere. Because that had been her, in the aftermath of encountering Terra in her Esper form.
She couldn't just leave him like this.]
You're crying.
I DIDN'T DO NOTHING
[For confirmation, he touches his cheek, freezing when he feels the wetness.]
I'm not.
[It's hollower upon repetition. Upon knowing the facts. But he doesn't want to face them. Hurriedly, he pulls at his shirt, drying the tips of his fingers. Water streams down his cheeks and drip off his chin but he can ignore them. See past them. He's not this weak.
He's not.
He keeps his back turned to her. It's safer that way. If he turns around he has to face her. See her and Robin and Marino because you can't cheat death and not bring other along. You can't come back without dragging questions behind you. (Why Mikoto? Why not Marino? Why not Robin? Why not Michael?) And she couldn't come back without reminding him of what happened after. Of how he slipped away again, faded out. It was scary, too scary and he didn't want to turn to face that. He's not that weak.]
I warned you.
SIGHS......
But Baroona? Baroona, who always remained calm and stoic no matter what the circumstances? Always hid his feelings behind that front? Buried all of his grief and sadness deep within? Had already suffered so much?
What could she do? She couldn't relate. She didn't know what it was like. Even that brief moment of understanding that she'd had while fighting the werewolf---seeing her life flash before her eyes, getting lost in the desperation and fury---wasn't enough. She couldn't just tell him, it's okay to be sad. to cry.
Because for someone like him, feelings had to be cast aside. You lost your life otherwise.
But she does understand this: casting aside his emotions was a big part of how he'd lasted as long as he did.] You are. Look...you...you don't have to try and hide it.
[Mikoto sighs shakily, running a hand through her hair, a thick feeling entering her chest. She swallows.] Not in front of me. I know you were telling me not to go, okay?!
[She hisses, squinting her eyes shut, feeling tears blur and tug at her vision.] I just---
[She can't even say it. She's the weak one here, not him. She tried to project an image of strength and independence---and failed miserably at it.] ---It was stupid, alright?! I shouldn't have done it! Because now I've made you upset and... [Mikoto sobs, hurriedly rubbing at her eyes.] ...I probably made you hurt yourself...
[For a moment, her voice is drowned out by sobbing and harsh breathing.] ...Dammit, Baroona! I'm sorry! I...I'm really...really...sorry...
i'm in pain don't sigh at me
You idiot.
[She's not the one who should be apologizing and that realization cuts through him harsher than any claw or blade. It pushes against his chest from the inside out and makes him hold her tight, wrapped around her for his own sake. His sobbing is increasing and he tries to laugh to cover it up but his tears are still dropping onto the back of her neck and he can't stop it. He wants to but he's too scared to let go.]
You weren't meant to go like that.
look man i'm dying here i have every right
She truly was. For doing what she did, for doing this to him, even though that hadn't been her intention at all. She stiffens slightly as she feels his hand press against her head, his arm wrap around her, pull her close to him. She wants to pull away and yell at him and say that she doesn't deserve this kind of gesture, you bigger idiot...you say I'm too nice, but look at what you're doing right now.
But she doesn't have the will to hide anymore. At least, not this second. Her emotions are flying through the roof and it's taking every ounce of her willpower to not cry harder.
Mikoto feels Baroona's tears hit the back of her neck and she hisses again, twisting her hands into his shirt, burying her face into his shoulder, where her own tears soak the fabric. She wants to ask, so how was I meant to go? but decides against it.
She doesn't want to cause him more pain.]
I know. And it won't happen again. [Her voice is soft as she turns her head to the side to speak, tears still running down her face. He was a good person, a damn good person, and the only other person she'd really trust besides Kuroko.
She didn't want him to leave her as much as he didn't want her to leave him as so many others had.] I won't leave you again, Baroona. I promise.
[She sniffles, and her arms slowly wrap loosely around him.] But promise me you won't leave me, either. [It's odd; silly, even, how she only ever seems to be honest around him when push came to shove. But it's a small admittance---and her voice goes quieter as she adds:] I'd be sad, too.
no only crying privileges now
[The life of a mercenary is one without guarantees. It's a life lived daily and that's how Baroona likes it. That's what he's meant to do. The thrill of living on the edge, between life and death, the risks peppered about the peace–that's what he enjoys. That's how he was raised and he's fine with it. Has been fine with it for a long time.
But that still doesn't mean he doesn't know there's a better life out there. It's what he wants Clara to have–the shot he never got. The opportunities he could never and would never latch hold of. The world as her metaphoric oyster.
Mikoto wasn't any different. She reminded him every time they spoke, albeit in small ways. Hell, she's reminding him now, asking for the impossible. A guaruntee that he won't succumb to death when it visits daily–he's just waiting for his turn to be taken.]
I promise.
[Always something of a liar. But when lies can create a shield around that small voice and keep out the fear that shrinks her against him, is it really such a bad thing?
Baroona knows the answer even as he pulls away, still doing his best to hide his face. The tears are still coming (they won't stop) and he walks limply because of it. Shame bearing down on his shoulders. He turns away again, walking to the doorframe of the kitchen and slumping against it.]
I need to change my bandages. You should go.
except i'm not crying, it's just raining on my face
She feels strangely hollow and empty. Light. Tired. She wants to insist that she can help him, but she knows better. He needs time alone still---needs his space---and she respects that.
His wounds were more painful than her own. They always would be. They would always take longer to heal.
And that was also very difficult to think about, let alone acknowledge.]
Yeah.
[And a part of her knows he can't ever part with what he is. A mercenary, a soldier, a warrior, a killer. It's all he's ever known. It's all he's ever lived for. It's the center of his being.
That's why she knows he's not afraid of his own death, and why his promise probably won't be kept. But so long as he didn't die for her, and as long as he died happy (even though she doesn't want him to die)---then...she could be at ease. But hopefully, that wouldn't happen for a while.
Mikoto heads for the door, pulling the hood of her hoodie up.]
I'll see you later, Baroona. Call me if you need me.