[How many times can we fall?]

[toremainbehind]

[It's been a week since they've managed to escape.

Neither of them knew who tipped someone off about their location, who helped them escape while everything became hacked and otherwise useless in keeping them contained. It had been their downfall to let Izumo stay in the frontline, his skills almost legendary now with how effective of an assassin he has become over time. Their downfall led to their deaths, and Izumo has ran away with Eric while the remnants of that group tried to go after them.

They didn't know where to go - who to turn to.

For them, this open world was a mystery, even if Izumo has more experience than Eric when it came to the outside world. There's no one they could trust, and little to no money to their name since their captors often took the money Izumo's earned for his kills. But Izumo is adaptable, taking odd jobs here and there in order to earn enough money to save up and find a place to stay.

It's only been a couple of days ago when Izumo first ran into the leader of HOMRA, the Red King and him having traded blows before it came to a tie. They went their separate ways shortly after when an informant came running towards them, Izumo having escaped before he could be questioned.

Now, he had taken Eric to a refuge in a motel. It's small and not one of the best, but it's the best Izumo could afford on such short notice when it became obvious to him when Eric has to rest again.

His right shoulder blade itched from the burns he received from Mikoto, but he ignores it in favor of in-between watching Eric sleep and looking out the window from his perch on the windowsill.]

Comments

[toremainbehind]

[Totsuka simply gives Eric a small smile, a clear indication he simply didn't want to worry him.

However, Izumo simply sighs, placing a hand on top of Eric's head in hopes of calming him.] If what Totsuka said is true, then the doctor said I'm nearly a hundred percent better. My lung's healing fine, and so are my ribs. Other than that, I'll just need to take it easy.

[He pauses, giving the other informant an almost wary look.] And then physical therapy since I've been in a coma for almost two weeks.

[redstray]

[ He looked away at the smile, he was going to worry anyways regardless, he didn't want to be treated like a child.]

...Just come home.

[toremainbehind]

[Here, it's Fujishima who steps up, saying Izumo needs to rest at the hospital for a few more days so the doctors can check on his condition.

Izumo, evidently, doesn't look the least bit happy, but he nods all the same. He shifts a bit on the bed, a look of discomfort flickering briefly on his face as he felt the phantoms of his injuries.]

[redstray]

I can't stay with you at night...

[ He doesn't like it, not sleeping knowing he's nearby. But he lowers his head in understanding. He saw the look of pain and his stomach twisted in guilt and worry. ]

So get better fast.

[toremainbehind]

You'll get to come and visit me tomorrow.

[He decides to simply lean back against his reclined bed (thanks to Totsuka) and breathes out an inaudible sigh of relief.]

I'll be fine, Eric. I've dealt worse than this.

[redstray]

I know but...

[ He opens his mouth to say more before he closes it again, clenching his fists a bit before shoving them into his pockets, standing up and walking out of the room. A moment after a surprised Fujishima chuckles out an apology and an excuse me before walking out and trailing after him. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo doesn't stop Fujishima from following after Eric, already having a vague idea why his brother left so abruptly.

It's Totsuka who tells him how Eric's been faring since he's been missing, being told how Eric has blamed himself for his disappearance, and it makes Izumo sigh out.

But he simply asks the other informant to keep caring for his brother until he's released, being answered with a nod and a smile from Totsuka as the other tells him to get better soon before he walks out after Fujishima and Eric.

Izumo lies there on the bed, his eyes slipping close as he finally succumbs to the exhaustion he's been fighting ever since he woke up, knowing his body still needed its rest and he needed to be able to recover properly if he had any hopes of leaving the hospital soon.]

[redstray]

[ It takes a while before Fujishima calms Eric down but he refused to tell the others what was bothering him. As Totsuka came around they decided to head back to the bar to let everyone else know that Izumo was alive and well and awake.

As everyone cheered at the bar, Eric went into his room again, using the bed at least, he curled up and tried to fall asleep, waiting for tomorrow to he could see his brother again.

He was back, along with Totsuka, to the hospital. Eric was sitting on one of the chairs near the bed and Totsuka wandering around the room before deciding he need to get something to drink, leaving the two brothers alone. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo watches Totsuka leave, absentmindedly rubbing his side.

He glances over at Eric, taking in his silent demeanor and held back a sigh. Instead, he allows a small smile to appear on his face.]

What's on your mind?

[redstray]

[ He looks at the rubbing and that smile before looking away. ]

You're hurt you should be resting, not talking.

[toremainbehind]

I am resting. Doesn't mean I can't talk.

[He saw Eric noticing his rubbing, so he stops.]

...Are you thinking about our last conversation?

[redstray]

Talking requires energy.

[ He frowns slightly before looking away. ]

Why would you say that?

[toremainbehind]

Not as much energy as moving around.

[Izumo hums a bit, his smile slowly fading once he notices the look on Eric's face.]

Because I know you well enough that you're troubled, and the last talk we had didn't exactly end on good terms.

[redstray]

[ He stays quiet for awhile, chewing on his thoughts. ]

I'm always troubled...I'm always an idiot and I'm always a burden to you. All you do is smile, and say not to worry about you, or you just talk like this. You just don't care at all!

[toremainbehind]

[And there's the problem.

Izumo listens to his brother, listening to him speak and then he chuckles softly.]

I don't care? Is that how you depict my actions as? If that's the case, then I'm a bit disappointed that you don't know me at all, Eric.

[redstray]

[ The chuckle irritates him further. ]

Then show it sometimes! And stop trying to read into everything that I do. Because you might think you're right, but I'm thinking you don't know me at all!

I. I am so sorry for this.

[toremainbehind]

Which means we should try to open up to each other more, yeah?

[But his smile is sad, though, and he's staring at the wall across from his bed.

He idly plays with his fingers, a means to distract himself from his thoughts.]

The day I was attacked, all I could think about was you and what you said, and it made me wonder if maybe you were right in the end if I should just disappear.

['Would he be happy if I was gone?' 'Would everything be better for him if I died'?

Endless thoughts that consumed him, but not once did he ever dared to voice it out loud. Izumo couldn't allow it to take hold of him, not that it meant he was closing to have a few break downs when it finally became too much.]

Omg don't be at all

[redstray]

[ He freezes trying to comprehend just what he heard from his normally, smiling big brother. ]

You always leave for so long on those stupid missions. I never meant forever when I said that. I just don't want you to go on those for so long.

Ask Fujishima or Totsuka-san I barely was able to live when you went missing! So don't think up some stupid excuse like that to die on me when I tried to do the same before!

ha...It just had to come out somehow 8D;

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo glances over at him, his smile faded now.]

Even if I'm gone long, you should always know that I'll always come back.

[A humorless chuckle.]

Then next time, try not to use the word 'disappear'. It's almost the same as saying good-bye.

Sooner the better XD

[redstray]

You should know that you sometimes didn't come back. That I was left alone in that room being fed lie after lie of you being dead or not wanting me. Long enough for me to believe any of them to be true. Long enough to tighten the collar on my neck...

[ He needed to know. He was better now but not knowing when or where Izumo was was still so hard on him ]

So sorry my vocabulary doesn't fit your standards.

True enough! At least they'll get fluff afterwards

[toremainbehind]

No matter how long, I always will. I've promised you that, haven't I?

[He tilts his head a bit, but he averts his eyes again.]

I'm sorry.

alll the fluff

[redstray]

For what?

\o/

[toremainbehind]

For not exactly being the best brother lately.

/o/

[redstray]

How have you been doing that?

[toremainbehind]

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that arguing with you, going missing and being in a coma are all good shots of being a brother. [He smiles.]

Especially since it caused you to worry.