IC: Right after that lovely event with ghost-mom...

[thekingsgambit]

[Someone is waking up in his bed, a dull throbbing still registering faintly at the back of his head. And something else... the coppery scent of blood.]

... nnngh.

Comments

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

[looks away from the scrutiny]

It's gone, yeah.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

You should not have gotten close enough for this. Are you injured anywhere else?

[Unconsciously, reaching out to touch the cuts.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Annnd getting slammed with a series of flashes in rapid succession. Mostly horrified or furious faces. Suzaku's. Ricochet's. Kamui's. Cornelia's... And an especially blurry face. His mother... ?]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[His other hand comes up to grip Suzaku's shoulder insistently. Thankfully, the hold is Lelouch's usual diminished strength, no traces of the earlier enhancements.]

Tell me what happened.

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

[Flinches in pain from the grip, and backs away, but more from annoyance; the emotion flashes across his face before becoming more thoughtful]

You really don't remember. That apple...it had control over you, and you wouldn't hear anything different. It's a little familiar, isn't it? Being controlled by something and not remembering.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[... You are an ass. Even if I deserved that. Also, clearly, I found another injury so letting go immediately.

Was that also from the bear? What Suzaku is saying...]

... What do you mean I would not hear anything different? And what does this have to do with the bear that attacked you?

[Has some ideas.]

The others, did it attack them as well?

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

[starts from the beginning]

No, it didn't. You were being manipulated by it. The apple, and then the bear. I think they were the same thing. You thought it was your mother.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[... What?]

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

I think there was...some kind of spirit in it.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[BRB I'm putting together the fact that I thought a bear was my mother and that I have a slew of half-memories of desperate friends. Oh and one knight with strange injuries and A LOT OF BLOOD ON ME.

Growing very quiet for a minute before intoning carefully but severely.]





Suzaku, whose blood is this?

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

[Studies him, unwilling to lie but remembering Cornelia's warning, wanting to grant her that control since she was the one who was injured. And he agrees...what would knowing that accomplish?]

...It wasn't your fault. What happened.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Gives him a tense look and then goes to check his nightstand drawer. If he thought any of them were after his mother...]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Annnd upon finding it empty, slams it shut again, staring at the wall and trying to get a handle on his building fear.]

Just tell me, Suzaku! Which of them was it? I know it was not you, unlike what happened to your shoulder, most likely your ribs as well from the way you are favoring that side. So who did I attack?

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

You did have the gun. You attacked Princess Cornelia. But she's fine. She was the one who took down the bear. Obviously, I tried and failed.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Unable to keep the traces of anxiety out of his tone.]

Fine?

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

Yes. She's injured, but she's taking care of it. If you want to know more, you should talk to her about it.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[This much blood...]

... She is at the hospital.

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I brought you here, she left on her own. I would think so, although I would also probably give her space for now.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Is that why you lied to me?

[Turns away from the nightstand and returns to Suzaku.]

You should have gone with her. That is going to scar.

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

She requested it. Although it's true that you were being manipulated.

[Reaches up to trace the marks absently]

I've had worse.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Hmm.]

As you said, poetic justice. Unfortunately, mine has a way of dragging others into it.

[Takes his wrist.]

Come here.

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

[complies this time, although grouching about it]

I'll get it taken care of.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Humor me, Suzaku.

[Tugging toward the room that serves as a makeshift bathroom in terms of having a sink and a supplies cabinet. Retrieving some peroxide and some ointment, along with some cotton balls.]

For once, your unrequited affections for those animals has its advantages.

[whenknightfalls.livejournal.com]

[Look, I am standing obediently and letting you treat it. Also probably flinching again because it stings like a bitch]

Guess I'm lucky.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Yes, and you giving me that look is certainly making it easy. Still, trying to be as careful as he can as he goes over the marks, keeping his attention on them so he doesn't have to meet Suzaku's eyes.]

I prefer the cat version.

[Pause.]

Did anything else happen?