[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

[redstray]

[ The next time he wakes up, he's more focused, the world wasn't turning as badly and his body didn't feel as heavy.

Eric felt this strange ache all over his body, especially on his lower back. Nothing pieced together as his memories jumbled as he tried to explain why he was feeling this weird.

Still, he tried to reach out, instincts always looking to find his brother. His vision still trying to be fixed to 100% ]

Izu...Izumo?

[toremainbehind]

[The next time he's awake, Izumo is still beside him, though this time, Fujishima is with him as well.

After the two got over their differences (somewhat), they both agreed to never mention what happened to Eric about their confrontation.

It might just hurt Eric more.

But he reaches out and takes Eric's hand, squeezing it lightly.] I'm here, Eric.

[redstray]

[ He squeezes his hand right back, noticing Fujishima and tilted his head. There was a bandage on his head. Why?

He shakes his head trying to clear it from the fog that still clung to his memories.]

Hospital...you weren't...in your room in the hospital. You weren't there...you should still be there...

[toremainbehind]

[Fujishima waves at him from his spot by the door.

Izumo hums softly, watching Eric carefully to see if there's any signs he should be aware of.]

I'm fine. My injuries are healed up.

You, on the other hand, need to be careful. You're more hurt than I am.

[redstray]

What are you...

[ They walked out of the hospital, those guys, that van. The fire and the pain. The pain...he began to shake, remembering more about what had happened. His grip on his brother's hand grew as tightly as he could manage.

He felt pain on his back...a present...his body was aching from the aftermath. So many cuts and bruises, he couldn't move without feeling something. ]

What did they do?

[toremainbehind]

They burned you.

[There's venom in his voice as he recalls seeing the injuries, seeing his brother's burned flesh and taking care not to agitate the burns any further.]

And then they proceeded to drug you.

[He notices Fujishima shifting almost uncomfortably as his tone got deeper. Izumo's not one to let his emotions slip, always one to be careful. But seeing what they did to his brother, it made Izumo finally snap.

He could still feel their blood on his hands, hear their screams as he burned them all alive.]

[redstray]

[ Burned? Drugged? He remembered as he heard those words, though not a lot was visual, mostly feelings of fear and pain. Things being craved into his flesh. That was probably helped by whatever they had drugged him with.

He hears the tone in his brother's voice and worry over him came through. He didn't have to wonder how he was at the bar when he had been kidnapped, Izumo's look was more then enough. Guilt clenched his stomach. ]

Are you okay, Izumo?

[toremainbehind]

I'm fine. [He breathes out, hoping it'll help dispel the tension building in his shoulders.

Turning his head, he gives Fujishima a look that has the other nodding and slipping out of the room.

Izumo turns back to Eric, a faint smile on his face.]

I'm just relieved you're finally awake.

[redstray]

I'm sorry...

[ For getting caught, for having Izumo use his instincts to kill again, for worrying him, for everything. ]

How long...was I out? Everything is pretty fuzzy...

[ He had a hard time with recent memories right now. How long ago was that day when Izumo left the hosptial? It only felt a few hours ago but it could've been a few months and he wouldn't have any idea. ]

[toremainbehind]

A couple of days, but they gave you a strong dosage of the drug, so you'll still be feeling out of it.

[He places a hand on Eric's head.]

We've been trying to figure out what kind of drug they gave you, but there's been nothing yet.

Right now, though, you must be feeling dehydrated. Think you can stomach some water?

[redstray]

Mmm...dammit.

[ He didn't like feeling like this. It was like he was wearing this slow suit that it took seconds for his body to respond to something.

At the mention of water he licked his lips, realizing just how thristy he was. He nodded his head. ]

Water sounds wonderful.

[toremainbehind]

[A soft chuckle escapes from him, but he turns to where the water pitcher and a glass of water is sitting on the bedside table.

He pours Eric a glass of water first before helping Eric sit up straight.]

Don't drink too fast, okay?

[redstray]

[ At the help of sitting up, a sharp pain spread throughout his lower back and he bit back a hiss. Though his face showed just a faint amount of pain, he didn't want Izumo to worry anymor ethen he already was.

He reaches for the glass, a small smile on his face. ]

O-okay...

[toremainbehind]

[Seeing the pain on Eric's face, Izumo hums softly, placing a hand on top of his head.]

I'll need to look at your burns, and apply more burn cream to them. They've been healing nice enough.

[redstray]

[ He sips the glass, well, chugs half of it before sipping the rest, his throat feeling so good from the relief. At the mention of the burn he tries his best to ignore the tingling. The burn cream will help take that off. ]

A-ah...okay. Now?

[toremainbehind]

If you think you're up for it.

[redstray]

May as well...

[ He shuffles a bit to try and get his sweater off but half way through zipping down he flinched. It was too much moving. He managed at least shrugging his shoulders a bit out. ]

...With some help...maybe

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo immediately calls for Fujishima, who comes in with some bandages and burn creams.

Turning away, he helps Eric take off his shirt, his eyes narrowing at the burn marks.

Despite having seen them many times over the course of the last couple of days, Izumo still didn't like the reminder of how those people had abused his little brother in such a painful way.

He's glad he returned the favor.]

[redstray]

[ He shivered a bit, having lost his heat from his shirt as it was taken off. Theu burned him where he couldn't see, but he felt it. It was weird. He looked at Fujishima as he handed his brother a cream. ]

Is it...bad?

[ Fujishima looked away at the question, biting his lower lip. Eric frowned a bit, looking back to his brother. ]

Izumo?

[toremainbehind]

[For a moment, Izumo says nothing as he applies the cream onto the burns.

After he applied the first layer, he finally decides to speak.]

You've suffered from second-degree burns mostly, but... [Izumo trails off, his fingers pausing briefly as his eyes focus on a certain spot on his brother's back.]

There are a couple of third-degree burns on your lower back.

[redstray]

[ The cream feels cool on his cooled skin and the burning and pain faded.

He tilts his head, thinking. He didn't really know much about burns besids that they hurt.]

That's bad...right?

[toremainbehind]

For the second-degree burns, you have some blisters that have become swollen, but we've been keeping it down by applying the burn cream onto it.

[A pause of hesitation, and not even Fujishima is inclined to tell Eric the extent of the third-degree burns.

Izumo brushes his fingers against those burns, watching.]

Third-degree burns are more difficult, it might even require some skin grafting to replace the damaged skin. Your nerves also won't be able to detect touch - or even pain.

[redstray]

[ He frowned when he didn't feel Izumo's hand anymore, but it didn't feel like he got more cream. ]

Guess that is bad. At least it's just on my back.

[toremainbehind]

It'll be easier to hide.

[Finishing applying the cream, he pulls back and hands it back to Fujishima, accepting the towelette he's given.

He wipes his hands from the cream before going to help Eric put his shirt back on.]

[redstray]

Not that it really matters...

[He doesn't care that he has burns visible or not. Shuffling back into the shirt, some words slid into his head foggy but clear at the same time. ]

...They said it was a present for my title...because Homra liked using fire...