[ His journey from the lounge to his room is a deeply fraught one. Isaac’s hunched over, ducking his head and staring intensely at the floor as he all but sprints upstairs. What would people say if they saw him like this?
But it’s that very thought that stops him at his door. What are Nia and Ash going to think? This is a disaster. Everyone... everyone’s going to be so angry...!
Swallowing, Isaac backpedals away from his door, desperately casting about the hallway in search of some answer. Something. Anything.
Which is when he spots a door bearing a plaque with a familiar name.
Isaac makes a beeline straight to it, but ... doesn’t immediately knock. Instead he hovers there, shifting from foot to foot, just ..... lingering .... awkwardly .... in the doorway ....
whisper-hissed: ]
Akira??
[ yeah he can definitely hear that through the door Isaac ]
[. . . YEAH HE DEFINITELY CANNOT HEAR THAT THROUGH THE DOOR]
[but luckily for Isaac, some late-night restlessness (perhaps being cooped up in a giant building for two days is finally starting to get to him) has Akira needing to wander, so. despite not hearing the whisper? the door to his and Chuuya's room opens mere seconds later, with Akira standing at the entrance, stripped of the fanciest parts of his suit (he's now only wearing the pants, the shoes, and the blue undershirt with sleeves rolled up) and looking-- well. needless to say, he starts once when he sees Isaac, because he hadn't expected anyone to be waiting for him outside]
[behind him, further into the room, Isaac can see that the single bed has been stripped bare and there there's a sort of pillow fort set up with the chaise and the dresser]
[ Isaac startles back, the motion forcing him to straighten up and lift his head, and ... oh boy.
The most noticeable thing is the blood, still wet, smeared across his throat. There’s not a lot of it, to be fair, and whatever caused it doesn’t seem serious; if he’s even still bleeding at all, it’s very sluggish, very little. But the bright red is stark against his skin.
There’s an abrasion on his head, just beside his temple, red and angry and already purpling. With one hand he clutches his shoulder, and the skin of that hand is a livid red across the knuckles. They, too, are already purpling into bruises. Both his hands have got the same weals.
Basically it’s pretty clear someone decided to kick the crap out of him and succeeded in doing so!
Isaac himself is at a loss for words, his mouth working silently until he manages: ]
[Akira opens his mouth to respond, but that's when the bright red spattered across Isaac's features captures his attention. whatever words he had dangling on the tip of his tongue immediately die in the back of his throat, and he can feel the color draining from his features as he takes in those injuries]
Wha--
[what??? THEY'VE BEEN HERE TWO DAYS, ISAAC, WHAT???]
-- what the hell?! Are you okay! What happened?!
[and as soon as he asks that, he crouches down, reaching out to take Isaac's upper arm in one hand, careful not to hit any of those injuries. jesus christ there's blood, Akira doesn't know first aid, he only knows how to heal injuries with a well-placed Diarahan, what is he supposed to do--]
[Akira can't talk about fights-- the bruise he has from Akechi's punch still decorates his jaw, after all-- but this looks less like an even-keeled fight and more like someone beat up a thirteen-year-old because????]
[Akira clenches his jaw, before exhaling sharply through his teeth. he wants a name so he can be like WHY DID YOU BEAT UP THIS KID!! but. . . if Isaac isn't giving him one, then there's nothing he can do about it]
[besides, the more important thing is to make sure that Isaac gets treated for these injuries]
He shouldn't have hurt you. Not like this.
[another breath]
I'm not-- I'm not a doctor. I can't treat these injuries.
[but if he remembers. . . the profiles, unveiled earlier that day, there was something with "medical professional" next to their name. . .]
I tried to tell him I didn't want a fight. He refused to believe me. Dude was pretty much certified, you know? He broke a leg off a table as like... I don't know, a makeshift bludgeoning-slash-stabbing object? Who does that??
[ A sigh. Isaac rolls his head on his shoulders, a slight hiss escaping him as the motion shifts his injured shoulder. He'll breathe out slow. ]
I just need basic first aid. This really isn't serious. I've had way worse fights than this. Course, Isabel isn't here, so...
[ ... something about that name seems to trip him up, his gaze briefly darting away, but he shakes his head as if to clear it. ]
[don't play tough guy now Isaac!! but Akira doesn't argue. he stands again, closing the door behind him, and rests one hand against Isaac's back as he begins his trek down the hallway to Luna's room]
. . .
You're really not going to tell me who it was?
[because breaking a leg off a table to BEAT UP A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD is. so much?? it's so much????]
... no, it's ... he was a jerk, and a bully, but there's no question that I started it. He just ... finished it. If I didn't want a fight I shouldn't have done what I did.
I didn't think he'd attack me, but in retrospect I'm not surprised he did.
[Akira is making mental notes as Isaac describes the person he fought. someone who is outwardly a jerk and a bully. . . someone who doesn't mind beating up a kid. . .]
[. . .]
[. . . hadn't Isaac said that he could've hurt the guy had he wanted to? like he was holding himself back from doing so? Akira does want to ask about that, but-- maybe not now. maybe not until after Luna has tended to Isaac's injuries]
I guess that means that not everyone who was kidnapped here is as willing to work with others as they should be.
[the uncertainly expressed sentiment that follows takes Akira a bit off guard, but afterwards he lets out a huffed noise. slightly amused, but not mocking. perhaps it sounds a little touched?]
I do.
[resist urge to hair ruffle. . . mostly because of that head injury but YOU KNOW]
If I ever need backup, I'll be sure to call right away.
[ his eyebrows lift and his smile vanishes, but he doesn't seem upset. more thoughtful.
after a moment he huffs a quiet sigh through his nose. ]
I had a bottle, and then this glass. I could have got him pretty good, like twice, and I just ... didn't. [ far more softly ] I'm not even sure why. I just didn't...
[ .... he seems to know where that's going, actually, but lapses into silence instead ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
WEEK ZERO: SATURDAY NIGHT
But it’s that very thought that stops him at his door. What are Nia and Ash going to think? This is a disaster. Everyone... everyone’s going to be so angry...!
Swallowing, Isaac backpedals away from his door, desperately casting about the hallway in search of some answer. Something. Anything.
Which is when he spots a door bearing a plaque with a familiar name.
Isaac makes a beeline straight to it, but ... doesn’t immediately knock. Instead he hovers there, shifting from foot to foot, just ..... lingering .... awkwardly .... in the doorway ....
whisper-hissed: ]
Akira??
[ yeah he can definitely hear that through the door Isaac ]
PLACEHOLDERRRR
[but luckily for Isaac, some late-night restlessness (perhaps being cooped up in a giant building for two days is finally starting to get to him) has Akira needing to wander, so. despite not hearing the whisper? the door to his and Chuuya's room opens mere seconds later, with Akira standing at the entrance, stripped of the fanciest parts of his suit (he's now only wearing the pants, the shoes, and the blue undershirt with sleeves rolled up) and looking-- well. needless to say, he starts once when he sees Isaac, because he hadn't expected anyone to be waiting for him outside]
[behind him, further into the room, Isaac can see that the single bed has been stripped bare and there there's a sort of pillow fort set up with the chaise and the dresser]
-- Isaac?
[what the fuck, dude]
here we gooooOOOOOO
[ Isaac startles back, the motion forcing him to straighten up and lift his head, and ... oh boy.
The most noticeable thing is the blood, still wet, smeared across his throat. There’s not a lot of it, to be fair, and whatever caused it doesn’t seem serious; if he’s even still bleeding at all, it’s very sluggish, very little. But the bright red is stark against his skin.
There’s an abrasion on his head, just beside his temple, red and angry and already purpling. With one hand he clutches his shoulder, and the skin of that hand is a livid red across the knuckles. They, too, are already purpling into bruises. Both his hands have got the same weals.
Basically it’s pretty clear someone decided to kick the crap out of him and succeeded in doing so!
Isaac himself is at a loss for words, his mouth working silently until he manages: ]
... I didn’t know where else to go.
no subject
[WELL]
[THAT SURE IS A THING]
[Akira opens his mouth to respond, but that's when the bright red spattered across Isaac's features captures his attention. whatever words he had dangling on the tip of his tongue immediately die in the back of his throat, and he can feel the color draining from his features as he takes in those injuries]
Wha--
[what??? THEY'VE BEEN HERE TWO DAYS, ISAAC, WHAT???]
-- what the hell?! Are you okay! What happened?!
[and as soon as he asks that, he crouches down, reaching out to take Isaac's upper arm in one hand, careful not to hit any of those injuries. jesus christ there's blood, Akira doesn't know first aid, he only knows how to heal injuries with a well-placed Diarahan, what is he supposed to do--]
no subject
I-It's okay!
[ IS IT ]
I'm fine! It's not bad. I...
[ ... he glances away, his expression briefly tightening into something angry, but... there's a certain resignation to it. ]
... I got into a fight. That's all.
no subject
[Akira can't talk about fights-- the bruise he has from Akechi's punch still decorates his jaw, after all-- but this looks less like an even-keeled fight and more like someone beat up a thirteen-year-old because????]
And why? Shit, we've only been here two days--
no subject
Isaac narrows his eyes, quiet for a moment. ]
... kept saying all this stuff about how I was an idiot, and naive. I guess I kind of just ... couldn't deal with it.
[ ... ]
But I didn't hurt him. I coulda. And ... I didn't.
[ very quietly ]
no subject
[besides, the more important thing is to make sure that Isaac gets treated for these injuries]
He shouldn't have hurt you. Not like this.
[another breath]
I'm not-- I'm not a doctor. I can't treat these injuries.
[but if he remembers. . . the profiles, unveiled earlier that day, there was something with "medical professional" next to their name. . .]
But I think I can find someone who can help.
no subject
I tried to tell him I didn't want a fight. He refused to believe me. Dude was pretty much certified, you know? He broke a leg off a table as like... I don't know, a makeshift bludgeoning-slash-stabbing object? Who does that??
[ A sigh. Isaac rolls his head on his shoulders, a slight hiss escaping him as the motion shifts his injured shoulder. He'll breathe out slow. ]
I just need basic first aid. This really isn't serious. I've had way worse fights than this. Course, Isabel isn't here, so...
[ ... something about that name seems to trip him up, his gaze briefly darting away, but he shakes his head as if to clear it. ]
Sure.
no subject
. . .
You're really not going to tell me who it was?
[because breaking a leg off a table to BEAT UP A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD is. so much?? it's so much????]
no subject
How ... strange. To feel like someone cares about his well being.
The question makes him sigh. He lifts a hand to touch his throat, quiet for a moment. ]
... no. ... sorry. I don't ... think he's gonna come after me or anything.
no subject
[a small sigh]
. . . but it's good that he won't.
If you ever think he will, tell me. All right?
[Akira can hold his own in a fight and he won't let anyone beat up on a kid!!]
no subject
[ glances up at Akira with a faint smile. ]
If there is a next time, I'm not going in without backup. ... thanks, Akira. For having my back.
no subject
That's what I'm here for. But I hope there isn't a next time.
[seriously]
It kind of sounds like this asshole was trying to goad you into a fight, anyway.
no subject
I didn't think he'd attack me, but in retrospect I'm not surprised he did.
no subject
[. . .]
[. . . hadn't Isaac said that he could've hurt the guy had he wanted to? like he was holding himself back from doing so? Akira does want to ask about that, but-- maybe not now. maybe not until after Luna has tended to Isaac's injuries]
I guess that means that not everyone who was kidnapped here is as willing to work with others as they should be.
no subject
Isaac will pause, then huff a dry laugh. ]
I'm pretty sure that guy is allergic to the idea of positive human interaction.
[ There's a pause, and.
And. ]
You ... know that it's mutual, right? That ... I've got your back, too. Right?
no subject
[the uncertainly expressed sentiment that follows takes Akira a bit off guard, but afterwards he lets out a huffed noise. slightly amused, but not mocking. perhaps it sounds a little touched?]
I do.
[resist urge to hair ruffle. . . mostly because of that head injury but YOU KNOW]
If I ever need backup, I'll be sure to call right away.
no subject
That gets Isaac to smile, sincere and warm. ]
Good. I can fight .... despite appearances to the contrary. [ somewhat dryly. ]
no subject
[his gaze flickers towards Isaac from the corners of his vision]
When you said you could've hurt him, but you didn't.
. . . which I'm glad for, but I wish he hadn't hurt you, either.
no subject
after a moment he huffs a quiet sigh through his nose. ]
I had a bottle, and then this glass. I could have got him pretty good, like twice, and I just ... didn't. [ far more softly ] I'm not even sure why. I just didn't...
[ .... he seems to know where that's going, actually, but lapses into silence instead ]
no subject
[thank fuck Isaac didn't accidentally kill a guy]
. . . like I said, it's better that you didn't.
[like. so much better]
Just. . . try not to pick anymore fights. Okay?
no subject
I--I didn't want to hurt him!
[ ah, well. Isaac shuts up in a hurry and kind of draws into himself a little. He's still not sure what to think about the whole thing.
Either way he'll nod. ]
I won't.
no subject
[he believes that, too. Isaac doesn't seem like the type of guy to purposefully hurt someone!!]
[at any rate, they've made it to Luna and Horikawa's room now, so. Akira lifts a hand to knock. but before he does, he pauses]
Ready?
no subject
He'll glance at Akira, searching, and--
a smile will flit across his face. He'll nod. ]
Let's go.
(no subject)