After his run-in with Sabin, Newt calls Gaius to help him out of a tight spot...
Newton Filinas
When Newt awoke, he thought at first the whole experience had been one horrible, agonizing dream. That is untill he realized that he was still in pain. His stomach hurt terribly, or rather, his lower abdomine felt horrible. Everytime he moved, it was like a kick in the... His eyes flew open and he made the mistake of trying to sit up. Letters were strewn about over him on his muddy bed and across the damp floor. He gave a panicked whine, and somehow after several tries managed to pull himself up into a stiff stance. He didn't move. He held his breath. Easy. Easy, now. It took a few awkward, limping steps but he was across the room. He needed help. He didn't know what to do about... this! He was going to have a panic attack, he could feel it building up in his chest like water rushing against a brittle dam. Who? Gaius wouldn't make fun of him. Gaius wouldn't tell anyone.
That's who he'd call. with a trembling webbed hand he jabbed at the buttons to ring him over the intercom.
That's who he'd call. with a trembling webbed hand he jabbed at the buttons to ring him over the intercom.
Gaius Harper
The intercom buzzing found Gaius curled up on his side in bed – the only sleeping position he’d really been able to stay in comfortably for months. His head jerked up at the insistent sound, and as it continued, he tried to get up, then kicked the warm, furry mass of his dog off his legs, and made it over to the intercom where he pushed the receiving button.
“Yeah…?” he asked in a groggy voice.
“Yeah…?” he asked in a groggy voice.
Newton Filinas
"Guh.... Guh....!" Crackled a choked attempted at words.
Gaius Harper
Gaius frowned, still waking up. "Who is this?" Wait, who else stuttered like that? "...Newt? That you?"
Newton Filinas
"Haah....!!!" It was evident something had gotten the frog worked up to the point of not being able to speak at all. He sputtered and puttered useless syllables, but nothing coherent was formed.
Gaius Harper
"Hang on there, I can't understand- You're not making any sense! Are you alright?" The horse-man listened intently, but there was no way to make any sense of the noise coming over the system. "Do you need me over there or something?"
Newton Filinas
The sputtering turned into a miserable sounding sob, and the line suddenly went dead.
Newt leaned against the intercom, panting heavily. RIght! Right! Nothing... nothing to be embarassed about! There was nothing... Gaius wouldn't judge! Gaius wouldn't say anything! He'd... he'd... oh, Hell. Swallowing again, he quickly redialed and waited for the horse man to answer again.
Newt leaned against the intercom, panting heavily. RIght! Right! Nothing... nothing to be embarassed about! There was nothing... Gaius wouldn't judge! Gaius wouldn't say anything! He'd... he'd... oh, Hell. Swallowing again, he quickly redialed and waited for the horse man to answer again.
Gaius Harper
Gaius jerked back as the line went to flatline, quite worried by now. Something was up with the frog-man, that much was clear. Hell, it might even have been a change, the way he was panicking. The big guy was in the midst of pulling on some shorts over his boxers, one foot out the door, when the intercom beeped again. Leaving the door as it was, Gaius went back to the intercom, pressing it with his hard fingertip. "Newt?"
Newton Filinas
"I... I... I... I n-n-nuh-nuh..." there was the sound of something tapping against the innercom, unaware that it made a noise against the microphone, "Need some help...." He managed in a whimper.
Gaius Harper
"Just hang on there, I'll be right over." Gaius let his side of the connection hang up and was hurrying out the door, Vixen at his heels. Thankfully, the janitor's place was pretty easy to remember. Clambering up the stairs noisily, he paused at the door. Probably best to give the frightened guy some forewarning.
"Heeey, it's just me," he called as he cracked the door open. The pungent, swampy smell almost overwhelmed his sensitive nose. Clapping a hand over his nostrils, Gaius opened the door farther so he could peer in. “You in here?”
"Heeey, it's just me," he called as he cracked the door open. The pungent, swampy smell almost overwhelmed his sensitive nose. Clapping a hand over his nostrils, Gaius opened the door farther so he could peer in. “You in here?”
Newton Filinas
Newt was still standing by the intercom, looking just as he ever had, save for the fact he was standing upright, straight as a board witha horrified expression on his face.
Gaius Harper
At first, Gaius took the upright position to be surprise, possibly fear, and held up his free three-fingered hand. "It's okay, just me! Sorry to surprise you..."
But that wasn't usually Newt's reaction when he was scared. Normally he would've hid away, not stand straight. Frowning, Gaius closed the door on Vixen, who'd been sniffing curiously at the messy carpeting, shutting her outside, much to her dismay. Tilting his head, he asked, "...You, er... What's wrong?"
But that wasn't usually Newt's reaction when he was scared. Normally he would've hid away, not stand straight. Frowning, Gaius closed the door on Vixen, who'd been sniffing curiously at the messy carpeting, shutting her outside, much to her dismay. Tilting his head, he asked, "...You, er... What's wrong?"
Newton Filinas
Newt opened his mouth, trembled and shut it again, his eyes darting to the scattered letters still strewn about his bed where he had left them and back to Gaius again, his hands wrapped around behind him, "I...."
Gaius Harper
The horse-man raised his dark eyebrows at the envelopes and papers scattered over, but clearly confused as to what their meaning was. "You...?"
Newton Filinas
"S-s-s-s-s-ss-suh..." He quivered, eyes wobbling and watering. "S-sabin-!" He managed to choke befor the sobs crept up from being trapped in his chest.
Gaius Harper
Gaius' eyes instantly darkened at the mention of the name. Despite what he'd dealt with in that recent intercom exchange, there was too much history there to provide any good meaning behind the mentioning of the scientist's name, especially when it lead to a break down of quivering sobs.
"Sabin what?" Gaius asked firmly, taking a couple steps further into the room.
"Sabin what?" Gaius asked firmly, taking a couple steps further into the room.
Newton Filinas
"I... he... he... Th-thom s-said... he s-said... b-but... b-but I...!" He babbled, flailing his hands frantically, but still didn't move.
Gaius Harper
"Newt, you're not making any sense!" Gaius strode across the rest of the floor, feet squelching in the accumulated bog. He paused though as he got close, giving a bit of a surprised look over the frog's form. He had never realized how tall Newt was!
"Listen, is there any way you can just show me what's wrong? I'll see if I can fix it..."
"Listen, is there any way you can just show me what's wrong? I'll see if I can fix it..."
Newton Filinas
That just upset the frog further. He gave a useless sob that wavered as he tried to speak at the same time. The overall effect was a sort of wobbling, gibbering wail.
Gaius Harper
"Woah, woah!" Gaius caught the frog by the shoulder, wondering what he'd said that had led to such panic. "I'm sorry! Just, you're going to have to spell it out to me, otherwise I can't do anything! I'm no good at guessing games!"
Newton Filinas
He tapped his hand frantically against his chest, sucking for air to try to speak clearer. Tap tap tap, "I.. I.. h-he... m-m-m-my... my... I... I sh-sh-shouldn't..." TAP TAP TAP, " ...I... I said something.... stupid."
Gaius Harper
The hairless ears turned forward as he glanced down at the odd tapping, but his attention was quickly returned to the frog's words. "Who... were you talking to? Sabin? Or this Thom guy? What do you mean 'said something stupid'?"
Newton Filinas
Newt's mouth opened and closed a few times before he managed to speak. If he had human skin, he would have been scarlet. "He... he..." Tap tap tap! " He th-threatened me! He... he had me... d-down on th-this t-tuh-tuh-table and... and... I th-think he w-wa-was going to eat me!"
Gaius Harper
"Eat you?" If Gaius had known this Thom person, he might have begun suspecting the wrong person, but as it was, Sabin sounded far more like the one to pull something like this. "Sheesh... Eating? That's a new one... But you're okay, right?"
Newton Filinas
Newt shook his head violently, his throat inflating in his embarassment.
Gaius Harper
There was the throat-puffing, at least that was more like Newt, unlike this rigid posture... Gaius frowned in confusion, a hand still holding Newt's shoulder. "What's wrong, then?"
Newton Filinas
"I... I... he... he had... th-these... th-these l-letters... of mine..." He gulped, eyes watering at the thought of it as he tried to stay very still.
Gaius Harper
"Letters? You mean these scattered all over...?" Gaius let go of his nose to wave back at the envelopes lying about the floor, then quickly clamped his nostrils again, his own eyes watering with the strong smell.
Newton Filinas
"I... I... I... I t-told him... I... I tol-tol-told him to... to..."
Gaius Harper
Gaius waited for the frog to struggle out the rest of the thought, raising his eyebrows encouragingly and nodding.
Newton Filinas
"I... I t-told him to... to... to..." His eyes trembled over Gaius's strangley proportioned form, "I told him to..." tap tap tap, " Sh-shove it... y-you know..." He gulped.
Gaius Harper
"To shove it?" Gaius blinked, then slowly finished the line for Newt. "...'Where the sun don't shine.'"
Newton Filinas
Newt nodded frantically, his throat quivering as fresh tears spilled down his cheaks.
Gaius Harper
"Wait, you don't mean he really...?" Gaius looked at Newt, hoping that he wasn't implying what he thought he was...
Newton Filinas
And still, the frog hadn't moved, looking possitively miserable. "P-p-p-puh-please d-don't t-tell anyone!"
Gaius Harper
The horse-man grimaced, rubbing a hand over his face. "Oh man..."
Taking a deep breath, he looked back at his companion. "How... bad is it?"
Taking a deep breath, he looked back at his companion. "How... bad is it?"
Newton Filinas
"I... I... I d-don't know, b-but... b-but it h-hurts to... to m-move too much!" He squeeked, tears bubbling out again in relief as he came clean about his situation. "I w-wa-wa-was stupid! Stupid stupid stupid I sh-sh-shouldn't have sp-spoken b-back! I sh-should have j-just... l-left w-we-well enough alone!!"
Gaius Harper
"Hey, hey, don't think about it that way... He would've done something nasty to you whether you'd said anything or not, and at least this way you know at least you did something to get it. Now, do you think you can manage sitting or something...?"
Newton Filinas
He shook his head, swallowing a ribbit, "I... I... I... c-c-can't r-really... "
Gaius Harper
Gaius frowned, scratching his chin. "Well, uh..." He patted Newt's shoulder. "Just hang on for a couple minutes, I need to go grab some stuff to help."
He let go of Newt and went for the door. "Gonna need apple juice... or if they have prune juice..."
He let go of Newt and went for the door. "Gonna need apple juice... or if they have prune juice..."
Newton Filinas
"Wh-wh-wh-what?? Wh-what f-for??" Visions of turkeybasters ran through his head and he started to panic again.
Gaius Harper
"To 'clear the pipes' of course! Just hang in there and try to relax, okay? Maybe see if you can get into the bathroom or something." Without waiting for a response from the frog, Gaius was out the door, leaving it open for now.
Good thing Gaius was on pretty good terms with Delia still, at least. The cafeteria lady was a bit skeptical about the supplies he asked for, but she had the horse-man loaded up soon enough with jars of prunes, apple juice, and other squishy foods, along with a couple bottles of laxatives. If this couldn't help Newt, nothing could!
Trudging back up the stairs, Vixen running ahead of him as a furry herald, Gaius returned to Newt's duplex with the load. "Newt? You holding up okay, buddy?"
Good thing Gaius was on pretty good terms with Delia still, at least. The cafeteria lady was a bit skeptical about the supplies he asked for, but she had the horse-man loaded up soon enough with jars of prunes, apple juice, and other squishy foods, along with a couple bottles of laxatives. If this couldn't help Newt, nothing could!
Trudging back up the stairs, Vixen running ahead of him as a furry herald, Gaius returned to Newt's duplex with the load. "Newt? You holding up okay, buddy?"
Newton Filinas
"I.. I... I h-have a st-st-stack of le-le-letters up m-my b-bum!" Newt wailed, "H-how okay c-can I b-be??"
Gaius Harper
"Well, I have some things that should be able to help..." Gaius tossed one of the laxative bottles at Newt. "Drink up!"
Newton Filinas
"Are... are... are y-you sure this w-will work?" Newt had wondered about.... pulling them out, and had experimenting slightly while Gaius had been gone, but it hadn't worked very well. His finger had hit a rolled paper blockade and he had investigated no further. He glanced at hte laxitive bottle, looking exceptionally pale and green, even for a frog.
Gaius Harper
"I'm no doctor... And believe me, I really, really don't want to have to see anything back there. With any luck, this stuff will unblock it and everything will come out all natural-like. May leave you feeling kinda off afterwards, but better than having the equivalent of a stick up there, right?" Gaius chuckled lightly, setting the stuff down on a space he'd cleared amongst Newt's invention pieces.
Newton Filinas
"Are... are... are y-you sure? I... it... it's p-p-pretty... it's... th-there's a l-l-lot..." He unscrewed the top of the bottle anyway, clenching his eyes shut befor emptying it into his wide mouth.
Gaius Harper
"Well, we'll, uh... worry about that when it comes to it." Gaius winced and focussed on trying to uncap the prunes. Wet, slimey things they were, what old people always ate... he couldn't understand why. Trying not to grimace, he handed the jar to Newt as well, offering to take the bottle once it was empty. "I'm not sure how much is a single dose, but to get that stuff out, I figured the more the better."
Newton Filinas
"W-well... it... it wuh-wuh-wuh-works with d-drains I sup-sup-suppose..." He weazed, grimacing at the prunes. He was never a fan of prunes or any sort of dried fruit, and even after his changes that preference hadn't changed. He wanted to... clear things out, though, that was for sure. His tongue was still sore, but still it shot out to snatch a prune from the container for him to swallow, followed by another.
Gaius Harper
Gaius blinked, staring. He'd never actually seen Newt eat. It'd make sense that it'd be like a frog, but... wow. It was very different when the frog was his size. The horse pursed his lips, trying to let out a low whistle, but came out more like a nicker. "Wow, er... quite a tongue there? Er, got another bottle of laxatives once you finish those off. Hopefully the stuff will kick in soon."
Newton Filinas
"B-b-be-be-better... bring it over..." Newt frowned. "I d-dont' f-feel anything y-yet..."
Gaius Harper
He handed the second bottle over as well, glancing towards the bathroom. Hopefully, hopefully this would take care of things, because with the alternative... He really didn't want to work with a frog-man after so many pipe-cleaners.
Newton Filinas
"It's... som-som-sometimes f-fun... s-som-sometimes em-em-embarassing..." Newt babbled in regards to his tongue as he swallowed the last of their concoction and wiped his mouth on a skinny green arm.
Gaius Harper
"Yeah... I can understand that. I mean, as much as I hate it all, the wings are... I dunno, interesting? Kinda a pain a lot of the time, and heavy now, but still, able to spread and flap them..." Gaius glanced back at his extra appendages, letting them ruffle a bit in show and smirked. "I could do without the bizarre-o neck and tail and stuff." Turning his attention back to Newt, he asked, "So... is the stuff working yet? Feel anything?"
Newton Filinas
"Ah.. n-no... no, n-n-not re-re-really..." He swallowed again, a hand going to rub his round stomach. He realized he was still wearing the same soiled swimtrunks from the previous day and looked even more embarassed. He didn't have much by way of clothes,a nd was too afraid to talk to the labs, especially now.
Gaius Harper
"Er, well...Hm. I guess we just wait for a while? What does this stuff say anyways..." he muttered to himself as he rolled one of the bottles over in his hands. His eyebrows bounced up. Ah, so that was a dosage. "Huh, maybe should have gone with just one bottle..."
Newton Filinas
"Wh-whoo-" He stopped suddenly as a loud gurgling could be heard. "Ah..."
Gaius Harper
"Quick," Gaius leapt forward and began pushing Newt, "quick, to the bathroom!"
Newton Filinas
"Oooh..." Newt's face paled further as he wobbled, groping for the wall with another hand still on his stomach, "Th-this... th-this was a ter-ter-terrible idea!" Left foot, right foot...
Gaius Harper
"Nah, nah, just a little pain before it's over!" Gaius was fully sure his plan should work, the logic all seemed sound in his head. Laxatives were to 'loosen' the piping, right? A little extra pressure to get the cork out! Shoving the frog inside the slippery once-bathroom, and casting a quick glance at the mud-bath, Gaius patted Newt. "Just give it a go, I'll be right out here!"
Newton Filinas
Newt gave a whine, nodding befor closing the door sharply to leave himself in private. All was quiet on the other side of the door for a good long while befor there was a sharp, pained howl.
Gaius Harper
The horse-man cringed, ears flattening back, but that could only partly block out the noise. Fearful of what was happening, he gave the door a light tap with his fingers. "Hey, Newt buddy? You alive?"
Newton Filinas
"G-gaius! G-gaius!!" He moaned, "It's n-n-nn-not w-working!!"
Gaius Harper
"What?" He snapped, surprised. "What do you mean it's not working?"
Newton Filinas
"I've... I've... r-re-re-really g-got to.. .to... er... g-go, b-but.. b-but it's n-not... n-nothings'... it' h-hurts!"
Gaius Harper
"You sure you can't push it out?"
Newton Filinas
Newt wimpered and panted on the other side of the door, and by the sound of it he was not having a very good time with the whole ordeal. After what felt like forever, the sound of his sobbing could be heard.
Gaius Harper
Gaius groaned, rubbing the side of his face. "Hang it all... Er, hang on Newt, I'll... see about getting other measures, okay? I'll be back as fast as I can!"
Newton Filinas
"I'm... I'm s-sorry... I'm so-so-so-sorry...!"
Gaius Harper
"Just stay calm!" Gaius called, running out the door once again. Oh geeze, was he really going to do this? Pushing the thoughts out of his mind, Gaius ran to the village center on automatic, distancing himself as much as possible as he asked in the infirmary and kitchen for... tongs. Pliers would be a bit too wide... he didn't want to quite put his personal tools to such use. He grabbed a couple towels while he was at it. If only he could still wear rubber gloves...
Hurrying back to the duplex, he knocked on the bathroom door again. "Hey Newt, I have some stuff to help..."
Hurrying back to the duplex, he knocked on the bathroom door again. "Hey Newt, I have some stuff to help..."
Newton Filinas
"I... I... I w-wa-wa-want... I want to d-die..." Came Newt's tired, tear-broken voice. He sat, wallowing in pain and embarassment. He had felt movement, but it had been very subtle. He didn't know. He didn't know anything anymore. He didn't care. He wanted to die. Maybe he'd build up and explode. It felt like that. He gripped the wall for support. He didn't want Gaius to come in. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. His father would know. He'd probably think Newt had...comitted suicide after being fired or something. It was for the best. He was dead. He didn't know who he was, but he wasn't here, this wasn't now, this wasn't going on.
Gaius Harper
Gaius took a deep breath before turning the handle. "Alright, I'm coming in..."
Newton Filinas
"N-n-no..! N-no y-you... you... you..." He panted, body instinctively acting upon impulse but to no avail.
Gaius Harper
"It's okay, we're both guys, right?" Gaius said to reassure himself as much as the frog. He still couldn't help the wrinkle in his cheek as he held back a grimace at the sight of the poor, crying frog. "I, er... we're going to have to try to pull it out, if it's not going..."
Newton Filinas
"P-p-pull?" Newt huddled on his seat, arms down to thankfully shield Gaius from an even more embarrassing view of the frog. "Wh-what l-like... ?"
Gaius Harper
"Well..." Gaius voice squeaked as his nerves came out and he gave a light cough into his hand. "Ahem, er... You're going to have to turn around." As Gaius spoke, he held up the tongs he'd kept behind his back. Metal ones, like used on the meats, and not too friendly looking.
Newton Filinas
Newt's eyes went wide and his mouth fell open in horror, "Wh-what, w-with th-those?? N-n-no!"
Gaius Harper
"I don't wanna do this either!" Gaius said with an agitated whinny. Augh, what a situation! Even his own nerves were riled. "L-Listen, if we can't get that stuff out, then... you're going to explode or something! Just close your eyes and turn around, okay?"
Newton Filinas
"I d-don't know if th-this is a g-g-good idea! I... I... I.. sh-should... I sh-should have...ah...!" Newt blathered, glancing around frantically befor there was another sickening gurgle from the pit of his abdomine and a shot of pain up his back, "Aaaah....!"
Gaius Harper
Gaius turned his head away, wincing as the guy yelped. The front door was open. How easy it would be to just walk out right now and leave Newt there. No. Nope nop nope. He couldn't do that, not to this guy. Really, adding to the pain Sabin had dealt him and abandoning him? He'd be worse than the scientist!
"Just close your eyes and turn around. We'll get this cleared up as fast as possible, okay?"
"Just close your eyes and turn around. We'll get this cleared up as fast as possible, okay?"
Newton Filinas
"I... I'm... I'm go-go-go-going to be s-sick!" He groaned, but ultimately did as he was told. Nearly a half hour of effort and beyond the green there was a sharp white corner poking out into the damp air.
Gaius Harper
Gaius paused to wipe his sweaty face. Fresh air, how he wanted that. Just a break, a chance to breathe. The smells were suffocating him. He felt sick. And this... he shuddered. Never, never had he ever wanted to see anything like it. Hell, he was the guy who'd fainted in 8th grade during the sex-ed video when the woman was giving birth.
"W-We're almost there, pal. Just a bit more!"
Gripping the piece with the end of the tongs, he gave a pull at the paper, careful to keep it from ripping. Vixen, behind him, held a towel in her mouth, like an attentive nurse.
"W-We're almost there, pal. Just a bit more!"
Gripping the piece with the end of the tongs, he gave a pull at the paper, careful to keep it from ripping. Vixen, behind him, held a towel in her mouth, like an attentive nurse.
Newton Filinas
Newt was certainly not happy about the situation, but did his very best to struggle and scream as little as possible. It seemed there were more than one letter inside. Tightly packed, they came out like hard paper tissues, one after another, and took several tugs a peace punctuated by a cry of pain. Newt clutched his gurgling stomach, tears rolling down his face. He wanted this to end. He wanted to b lack out and never wake up again.
Gaius Harper
Gaius grit his teeth, ears flattened back as far as they'd go. He hadn't grown used to the cries, quite the opposite, as the process went on. They grated on his senses, like the wail of a baby. But the letters were coming! The first ones were easy, but more kept coming. Eventually, he had to place a hoof-foot on Newt's rear to get proper leverage. Oh lord. let it end soon!
Newton Filinas
Nine... ten... eleven of them and Newt had slimped down, his ankles twisted and his muscles convulsing, "Aaah... are... how... is it...?" He squeeked, eyes watering to try to fight the nearly overwealming power of the prunes. "KrrKIT!"
Gaius Harper
"I, er..." Gaius paused to take a quick count. "Geeze, there's over ten of them!" But still more, he thought with a twist of his stomach.
The silent work, pierced with the frog's whimpers and pleading, continued... he didn't know how long. Eighteen... Twenty... Twenty three.
The silent work, pierced with the frog's whimpers and pleading, continued... he didn't know how long. Eighteen... Twenty... Twenty three.
Newton Filinas
"I.... I... I c-can't... I c-can't hold on... I c-can't.. it hurts!" He panted, "Out... out... out!! OUT!" He couldn't take it any more, his muscles convulsing, begging to release. It still hurt inside. it felt like it had been an eternity already, but he couldn't sit still any longer!
Gaius Harper
"I'm working on it!" Gaius shouted, pulling out another letter which he tossed aside deftly. How much more?! Another several minutes and he reached another. It seemed, somehow, he was getting to the end of them. "Almost there Newt, almost there!"
At last, the metal tongs emerged, holding in their grasp a crumpled, pink paper, official writing and all.
At last, the metal tongs emerged, holding in their grasp a crumpled, pink paper, official writing and all.
Newton Filinas
"I re-re-really c-can't! I re-re-really c-can't hold it any lon-lon-longer!" He sobbed frantically, "P-p-please!!"
Gaius Harper
"I-I-I think that's all!" Gaius yelped, quickly backing out of the bathroom. He slammed the door shut, leaving the frog to himself. "The rest is all yours!"
Not waiting for what sounds would come after, Gaius stumbled across the room and out onto the landing, where he collapsed against the railing, panting and wheezing. Glorious fresh air! And sun! And sky!
Not waiting for what sounds would come after, Gaius stumbled across the room and out onto the landing, where he collapsed against the railing, panting and wheezing. Glorious fresh air! And sun! And sky!
Newton Filinas
Newt stayed locked away for a very long time. The day ticked on, the sun working it's way down and the sky had gone pink befor the bathroom door finally cracked open again. He had pulled a couple muddy towels around himself, limping as he hobbled out.
Gaius Harper
Gaius was still outside, sitting now on the landing. The towel Vixen had brought him had been used to wipe off grim from Newt's room and now he and the dog sat leaning against each other. He looked up as he heard the frog emerge, and leaned back to peer inside. "How you doing, buddy?"
Newton Filinas
"D-d-d-don't... f-feel very g-good..." He mumbled, groping his way towards the bed.
Gaius Harper
"I don't imagine you will for a while... Is there, er, anything else I can... get for you?" He chose his words carefully, for once. If there was anything Newt needed him to 'do' for him... Gaius wasn't sure he was up for the task after all that.
Newton Filinas
Newt didn't answer at first, gathering up the letters scattered about that hadn't been shoved into his rectum. "I'm... I'm s-sorry about... I d-didnt... know who else to c-c-call..."
Gaius Harper
"It's... okay. I don't know anyone else who'd do that either... Don't know if I'd have done it either if you'd told me that's how I'd be spending my day!" he added with a weak chuckle. Returning his eyes to the coloring sky outside, he gave a little sigh and ran a hand through his hair - or attempted to. Was not an easy task with limited fingers.
"Glad you're alright."
"Glad you're alright."
Newton Filinas
"I'm s-sor-sor-sor-sorry... I... I.. I d-d-didn't.. I d-didn't m-mean... I w-was j-just... I had b-been..." He could sit now but it was still uncomfortable and so he very carefully lay on his back, clutching the bundle of clean letters tightly. He never read any of them. He'd never read a single one. Would Sabin really send the pinkslip? He wouldn't put it past him. He probably would. It was on it's way now. He hadn't heard from him in six years and this is what he'll learn. He never did anything with his life. He never would.
Gaius Harper
"Hey Newt?" Gaius called from the doorway, now standing and looking in. "I'm gonna go for now, okay? I need a shower. And listen... it's okay, really. I'm just glad I was able to help somehow. If you need anything else, just give a call okay? I'll keep an ear out for it."
Newton Filinas
Newt nodded slowly, still staring at the letters clenched in his webbed hands. "Th-th-thank you, G-gaius... I... I... Ire-re-re-really owe it to you..."
Gaius Harper
"Hey, think nothing of it," Gaius said, flashing the frog a tired smile. "And don't worry, I'll show that Sabin a thing or two next time I see him!" The horse-man closed the door, leaving the frog-man alone once more as he trotted home. Ugh, he felt filthy! This would need a long, scalding shower to rectify.
