toremainbehind | [How many times can we fall?]

Entry tags:

assassin au

[How many times can we fall?]

[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.]

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[Izumo doesn't answer right away because he doesn't want to believe it.

He doesn't want to go through that again.

But despite it, despite everything that's happened, this has to happen.] ...No, we're not done. We'll have to be separated again.

[Fujishima quickly says that this time, they won't be separated far apart from each other, but they can't stay in the same place together either.]

W-why? You're going home, we're going home together.

[ He thought that the two months it was over. He had obeyed he had been a good dog, now he was being punished again. ]

Why does this have to happen again? Did I do something wrong?

[Fujishima and Totsuka are quick to reassure him, and Izumo places a hand on top of his head.]

You didn't do anything wrong, Eric. But both of us aren't healed.

[ He feels the hand and hears the reassurance from the other. When they talked like this it was hard for him to grasp things. His mind was still young in certain areas. ]

I still don't understand...I thought we were healed, but...if it means something important, I can do it again.

It'll be easier to bear this time, I promise.

[He's still unsure, but for now, he'll agree with them. If this separation continues to hurt them, he'll fight back.

And judging from the weight of mikoto's presence next to him, he knows his friend is aware of the consequences.]

Hope you're right...

[ It was bad for a while but it had gotten easier as it went along. One more time...hopefully it will be the last and they're all healed up. ]

How will it even work, then? This time...

[Izumo grows quiet, his head tilted to the side.

It's all Totsuka needs before he explains it to them about how this new dynamic will work.]

[ Izumo at the bar with Mikoto and Totsuka. Eric at Fujishima's apartment. Visits only after 5pm on weekdays, half days on saturdays, none on sundays.

Eric grips his sweater as he hears that. He does't like that. Not only being away from his brother like that but being a burden on someone that was his only friend. How long, just how long. They were healed, they were better, right? ]

[He doesn't like it either.

In fact, he might start to think they're conspiring against them, but he squishes down the feeling.

Staying at the bar— it might do him some good.

Mikoto would at least be able to physically restrain him should he lose it again.

He pats Eric's head in a comforting gesture.]

[ He looks over at Izumo and squeezes his hand in thanks.

He'll be good. A good dog. He'll be good enough to see his brother whenever he wants. Just like before, good brings rewards and his brother back. ]

I'll...I'll do it.

[There are relieved smiles, and Izumo sighs softly.

He still smiles.] We'll get better, Eric.

[ He returns the smile even though Izumo can't see it. He wonders how many days, months, years it would take to make them heal from the years of abuse and torture.

It sounded like too long. ]

Yeah...we will.

[He wraps an arm around his shoulder and tugs him close into a hug.]

[ He returns the hug for a short amount of time before he pulls away a bit sheepish. ]

Izumo...I'm fine. It's okay

Just making sure.

[And he is. He knows they'll have to find their own independence.

Eric can learn to rely on Fujishima and Izumo can learn two depend on the other two.]

I know. Thanks. Is it okay...to at least wait awhile before it happens? To...because of Izumo's eyes, at least...let me stay for bit there and help out until, you all get settled. Would that, that be okay?

[ He was not asking for a long time but a week or two. To help out his brother with his blindness. ]

[Theres a pause before they finally agree.

It makes Izumo relax.]

[ He smiles.]

Thanks

[It's not long before they're back home again, eventually settling down to a new routine to help Izumo properly adjust to his blindness.

He's been behaved so far, not once having a breakdown like he did before, though there has been a few times when he's gotten close. He's gotten used to the layout of the bar again, having his memory help him for the most part.

Izumo has also checked on Miyabi, relieved she's alright and promising he'll see her again soon.

It's soon the time for when he has to go in for a check-up with Totsuka being the driver.]

[ Eric tries his best to help Izumo with anything that he may need help with. He's proud his brother is more relaxed and stable, and being able to snap him out of the smaller bouts, that ended as quickly as they started.

When he wasn't helping hia brother, he was moving a few things from his room to the spare room in Fujishima's apartment, getting used to the building and temporary home slowly but surely.

Time is up and for when Izumo's checkup is done, so is Eric's time staying at the bar, ]

Do you, want me to go with you?

[He blinks over at his brother — his vision is somewhat back, although everyone was still blurry — and manages a smile.]

Your company is always welcomed.

[He wants to be able to spend as much time with Eric as he can before they have to separate.]

Okay, I'll be ready in a minute.

[ He goes over to grab a few snacks and whatever else he needed for the day trip. Maybe pick up a couple for mas...his brother as well. The hospital didn't have the best food.

Brother not master. You help him like master now. Brother to humans, master to dogs. He was a dog, right?

He shakes his head lightly to clear it as he double checked what he was bringing.

His brother and the others said he wasn't a dog but... these thoughts have been going through every so often, that they were becoming frequent. It wasn't anything he couldn't deal with and he had to show he was healing. And he was, like a good dog should.

He smiled lightly, finished with his preparation. ]

All set. Brought some snacks for you too.

[It hasn't escaped his attention at all how Eric's been acting.

With what Totsuka and Fujishima has been telling him (along with Chitose after Izumo secretly asked him to help keep an eye out for his brother), Eric's been having the developed mindset of...a dog.

He couldn't help but blame himself for it, even though Totsuka has often reassured him that it was an unanimous decision between all of them.

Izumo blinks when he hears Eric come back and he tries hard to focus on the food his brother has in his arms.]

What kind of snacks?

[ He tries his best to hide his thoughts and mannerisms that would rise suspiscion from everyone. But things crept up and he didn't even realize some of his habits were reverting back to what they used to be. Back when it was forced on him.

He brings them up closer for Izumo to see. ]

Rice balls mostly. With a few sandwiches. Just in case.

[Habits Izumo recognizes even with being blind.

Once it's brought closer, he stares at them intently before he could finally make it out.]

Good choices. Hospital food has never been my favorite.

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redstray - 2016-01-06 04:57 (UTC) - Expand