[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]

[There's a brief pause before Miyabi starts to ramble out incoherently.

She spoke too fast, a jumbled mess, before she finally calms down and tells Eric what happened.

Izumo was attacked.

Izumo became blind.]

[redstray]

[ As Eric listened it was his turn to into a mess. Fujishima took the phone as he saw Eric get more and more upset. Through that they found what happened and where they were. It didn't take long for Eric, Totsuka, Fujishima and Mikoto headed over to the hospital at the city.

Few hours they were there. An almost familiar scene as Eric ran over to his brother bedside. ]

I-Izumo? I'm...I'm here. C-can you see me?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo's become increasingly aware of the new presences in his hospital room, fingers curling tightly around his blanket.

He recognizes their voices before he becomes focused on Eric's voice. Lifting his head, there were bandages around his eyes, fresh ones after he reluctantly allowed a nurse to change it.]

Eric?

[redstray]

[ Eric's heart dropped and he bit his lip trying not to cry at the sight. He nods. ]

Y-yeah. I'm here. A girl called and uhm...she told me about what happened. Totsuka, Fujishima and Mikoto are here too. How are you feeling?

[toremainbehind]

A girl?

[He pauses, frowning slightly before he remembers.] Must've been Miyabi.

The others are here, too? [He hears Totsuka greet him, followed by Fujishima. Izumo didn't even need to hear Mikoto to recognize him; the man's aura was enough of a giveaway.]

...Sorry for the trouble.

[redstray]

I guess.

[ He grabs hold of Izumos free hand, squeezing it slightly. ]

No it's fine. I wish we came sooner. Mikoto's got some connections here...he says that he'll find whoever did this.

[toremainbehind]

[He squeezes back, trying his best to reassure his brother.

At the news, however, he smirks lightly.]

Won't take too long to figure out who did this, then.

[redstray]

Yeah...

[ Izumo can't see, he can't see. Eric stared at the bandages]

I...is...are your eyes...will they be okay?

[toremainbehind]

[For a moment, Izumo says nothing.

Then he finally shakes his head.] Doctor's said its temporary, but they're still not sure how bad the damage is. [His fingers twitches when he senses someone coming over, his body tensing up.]

[redstray]

[ It's Mikoto. He goes over and places a hand on Izumo's head.

Eric smiles a bit in relief. His hand shaking slightly. ]

It's temporary...temporary that's good. That's...really good. I'll help. We...we all will to help...with the bar...and and anything you need.

[toremainbehind]

[At the touch, Izumo tilts his head into it. It's comforting in a way, even though he knows Mikoto is never the type of person to show such affection.

He taps on Eric's hand.]

Are you sure? [Izumo hates feeling like a burden, but Totsuka immediately claims that they'll do anything to help him until he regains his sight.]

[redstray]

[ He jumps a bit at the tap but nods. He'll be good, he'll help his brother. ]

Totsuka's been teaching me how to cook. And Chitose how to take orders and math with change. I've been getting real good at it.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo smiles, happy to hear that.]

That's good to hear. [There's a timid knock on the door and a nurse comes in, shyly requesting for everyone to make room so she can check on Izumo's eyes.]

[redstray]

[ He smiled as Izumo did. Maybe his brother felt proud for doing something.

The nurse comes in and all of them move away. As she undos the bandages Eric looks over to see how bad...

He squeaks and shuts his eyes, he can't look. He feels a hand on his back and shakes it off. Izumo was hurt and he couldn't do do anything. These months had been a bad idea ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo hears the squeak, knowing its from his brother. He tries to give him a reassuring smile, but it doesn't work when the bandages are off.

His hands tightly clenches the sheets at seeing darkness.

It's Mikoto who notices, and it's him who suggests to Fujishima to take Eric out, suggesting they get Izumo something to drink.]

[redstray]

[ He tries to look. Seeing the glazed eyes that weren't seeing, still trying to help him. He felt Fujishima lead him away and he let him. Get his brother a drink...thay would be good.

He had to show Izumo he's improved and not scared anymore. But his eyes...they weren't his brother's right now. That was the scariest thing he's ever seen. But he had to be strong.

Fujishima rubbed his back as he saw the other shaking, telling him some comfort. Let's get the drink first. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When the two leave the room, Totsuka is the one who engages the nurse in conversation, listening to what needed to be done to help Izumo and to make sure he comes back to the hospital every week in order to check on his condition.

Izumo is aware of Mikoto standing beside him, his presence one of comfort, but it did nothing to ease the worry in his chest.

He didn't need his eyes to see that Mikoto was looking at him, his usual frown on his face. He does jerk a bit when he feels a hand on his face, a thumb under his eyes as one of them went to take a better look.

Unseeing, glazed — not a look to ever be associated with Izumo, who's always on his guard, and the knowledge of it burns at him that he had been careless.]

[redstray]

[ They come back with drinks for everyone, handing them out. Eric places Izumo's in his hand as the new babdages are on for now. ]

Here you go. Take an easy with it, okay?

[toremainbehind]

[He takes the drink, trying his best to decipher what it could be. Water? Soda?]

Okay.

[redstray]

It's some green tea, hope you like it.

[ He goes back to sitting down, curling up like he used to do. He was reaĺly worried over all of this. How ciuld they find Izumo and follow him just to blind him? Were they going to get him too? He wanted this world behind them, not always coming back with knives and torture.]

[toremainbehind]

I'll trust your judgment.

[He senses Eric's worry, wanting to reach over and hold his hand. He won't let them get near his brother — blind or not.]

[redstray]

[ There was some silence as people had their drinks. Eric stared at his for awhile, still not sure what to make of all this before a thought popped into his head]

Miyabi...right? Where is she? Has she been visiting?

[toremainbehind]

She's been helping me out ever since she found me.

[Pause.]

Hopefully, she won't get caught up in this, though.

[redstray]

[ He looks over at Mikoto, who nods at a silent qiestion. ]

We can protect her too, in case of anything. So...don't worry about it. We'll take good care of you two.

[toremainbehind]

Mm, glad to know we'll be in good hands.

[If there's something off in his tone, he doesn't appear to notice it.]