snowblindrpg | [log] very old friends [closed]

Entry tags:

[log] very old friends [closed]

Characters: Tadashi and Al
Location: Building 58
Date: Day 351, evening
Summary: Al and Tadashi reunite
Warnings: None

[Al has been in this building for a day and a half waiting for Tadashi, they hadn't agreed on an exact time, just that Tadashi would make his way up here as soon as he could. He's beginning to get worried, what if Tadashi met an anomaly between the hospital and here? Or someone like the Joker? It's been such a long time for him, perhaps he doesn't remember the dangers too well.

Just about when he's convinced himself to set off in the morning and go searching for his friend, the door opens and all of his worries disappear completely.]

Tadahi, you're really here!

[Prepare for a hug in 3...2...1...]

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[Tadashi is getting worried, too. He makes a wrong turn at some point, and it takes him over an hour to realize his mistake and correct his course. It's getting too close to dark for comfort when he finally finds the building and heaves a huge sigh of relief. He won't be trapped outside today.

He opens the door, and then he can't help the grin as he spots his friend.]

Hey, Al.

[Oof, and there's the hug.

Tadashi laughs.]

Yeah, really here. Did I keep you waiting too long?

[Then, earnestly as soon as he's free of the hug:]

It's really good to see you.

[This is one of those times that he really wishes that he could feel the people in his arms; it seems so unfair that this town has altered him to feel cold and pain and hunger, but not the better things in life.]

Way too long.

[And he doesn't just mean the last few days since he got back. Al leaves a hand on Tadashi's shoulder as if needing to confirm he's solid.]

I thought-- I thought I wasn't going to see you again.

[Something akin to guilt tightens around his gut and Tadashi briefly glances away. When he looks back up at Al's armored face, there's uncertainty lurking behind his own eyes. By this point, he's seen the messages left for him over the months since what happened... happened. Knowing what he knows now, the fact that he came back at all seems like some sort of miracle.]

Guess I'm living proof that they're not giving up on any of us, huh?

[Maybe he can talk to the doctors in town -- find out what about him changed or if there's something inherently different about him that might have allowed him to come back after so much time.

Or if it really was just... dumb luck.]

[He knows that's supposed to be comforting, but with how conflicted Al is about revivals in general, he can't take it as it's meant.]

I wish I understood why.

[Why would they keep trying to revive someone who's been gone for months? Would they still try for years? Decades?]

Do you think they're still trying to revive the past residents too?

[That gives Tadashi pause.

If they are still trying to revive the residents... what must that be like for them? Who knows how the process really works. Or if half-successful revivals lead to momentary consciousness.

His lips form a thin line.]

I dunno. But I'm going to find out.

[For Hiro.

Tadashi takes a breath. Forces a smile back into place.]

Let's not worry about what we can't help right now, okay? One step at a time.

[He was thinking about the people before Hiro, before him, before all of them. Are they even still trying to revive people like the Prophet? How long ago did the nanomachines actually get made?]

Yeah, yeah you're right.

[He reaches over to ruffle Tadashi's hair as if he's the younger one.]

I should be focusing on you at the moment, huh? Making sure you're eating enough.

[Tadashi laughs for a moment, ducking away from the hand. Without Wasabi around, it hasn't been often that Tadashi has felt like he could stand to grow a few more inches.]

If it makes you feel better, I have almost a week of food. There's cat food if I feel like I need a snack, too.

[A joke, he promises! Tadashi intends to save the entire bag for Mochi as soon as he can find the fat cat. He's still not sure where he is, but he does know who has him. The boy on the network who spoke briefly, then clammed up when Mochi recognized Tadashi's voice.]

I take it you're eating plenty? No more crazy diet rationing, right?

No, I'm eating fine, though I don't think I'll ever quite get used to it.

[Needing to eat is so strange in this body. He can't taste it, it doesn't seem to go anywhere, but he has to do it or he'll somehow starve.]

I still can't believe you're really here, it's been so long. Are you-- you heard what happened to Hiro?

[Tadashi's pause says it all.]

Yeah. I... Yeah, I heard.

[He's not going to mention that he tried to bargain with the Admin to trade lives. Knowing Al, he's already certain it wouldn't go over well. Knowing himself, Tadashi realizes how stupid it was. Still, he knows if there's a way to help Hiro, he'll take it. That's just how the universe works.]

I keep wishing I could have been here. Maybe if I had...

No, stop it.

[It's firm and immediate, his eyes glowing a bit brighter.]

You can't do that to yourself, you can't blame yourself for not being here. Hiro was really brave and he made some good choices, he helped out his friends, blaming yourself for how that ended up is like taking away those choices.

[The tightness in his chest chokes off any words at first. How can he argue with that? At the same times, how can he not?]

He was just a kid.

[The words are out before he can stop them, tumbling one over the other.]

I know there was nothing I could have done differently. But no matter what angle I look at, he shouldn't have been in that position.

[No one should.]

But he was, and I don't think he was as much of a kid as you think he was.

[He was the same age as Al, perhaps even a little older by that point.]

He knew what he was doing, and he was brave doing it.

[Tadashi is quiet for several long moments. Whether it's holding back words he knows he shouldn't say, or trying to use Al's words to ground himself, his expression doesn't give much away. Whatever it is he's thinking, he's clearing struggling.

When Tadashi finally speaks again, his words come out slowly, carefully selected.]

Hiro's been a hero since he was a little kid. I thought I could make sure he never had to be again.

[Tired eyes look up at Al before the older boy sighs, dragging a hand down his face.]

I don't even know what I'm saying. Sorry, Al. I feel like I've kinda ruined the mood.

There wasn't a mood you needed to keep.

[His voice is soft as he reaches out to put a hand on Tadashi's shoulder.]

We're friends, I want you to be able to lean on me and say stuff like this. It's okay to hurt or be angry, it just shows how much you care.

And how much I don't know what I'm doing anymore.

[But he breathes out a sigh, allowing some of the tension to go out of him with the air.]

I'm glad you're around. I just still can't wrap my head around how long I was gone. So much changed.

[And, worse than that, so much didn't.]

Yeah.

[His voice is soft and he shifts a bit closer to try and wind an arm around Tadashi.]

There's barely anyone here that we knew together any more, but-- I'm still here. I promised I'd be here until I got everyone out, and I still mean that.

[That’s all it takes — Tadashi has to laugh as he wipes at his stinging eyes. When we the last time he became this overwhelmed?]

What did any of us do to deserve you, Al?

[Another steadying breath and Tadashi is able to pat the other boy’s metal arm reassuringly.]

If it means anything, I plan to be right there with you. No more checking out for a year.

[Which means no more dying. Just thinking it adjusts Tadashi’s resolve and shoves some of the hopelessness further away. It’s way too risky. He can’t help Hiro — or anyone else — if he risks his life right now.]

It means a lot.

[He knows that his words aren't always a comfort, some people here see his determination as grating or even foolish, but it feels good to sometimes make a positive difference.]

I know that I'm glad to have you fighting by my side again, so-- keep your chin up, okay? We can do this.

If anyone can do it, it's gonna be us.

[Internally, he still might not feel confident about anything, but saying the words aloud makes the possibility more real.]

Now, let's get something to eat. I'm starving.

[And more than ready to do something that will take his mind off of everything and seem more normal. Lunch with a friend sounds like just what he needs.]

[Even if the confidence is far from complete, at least that small boost might be enough to keep them moving until they find they next reason for hope. Just one step at a time and they'll eventually walk their way right out of here.

He fishes in his bag and pulls out some tins of food, pushing them across to Tadashi.]

Dig in, from the finest school cafeteria in the area.

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[log] very old friends [closed]

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Sorry for the delay!

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we can probably fade out here?