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Stephan smirked, placing his chin in his hand after proping an elbow on his leg, "I wasn't planing to make fun of you for it, Akemi. I was just curious as to what it felt like to be scared of something like that? You know, to have a phobia? I've never been afraid of anything really, so I guess you could say that I'm jealous of you for it." he smiled, running a hand through his blonde hair and looking off to the side, "Even as a kid, I wasn't afraid of anything. Not the dark, not thunder or lightening, not being alone, not anything... so I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to be embarrassed of being afraid of something. You should be proud of it, it makes you all the more human if you have fears and flaws..." he mumbled, and his eyes were so distant that he could've been mistaken for talking to himself.

"I was asking if you'd ever liked me. I mean, yeah, I notice you looking at me from time to time, but you're just so shy that I always thought that you never really talked to me much because you didn't like me or because you hated me for something. It's kind of silly, but it makes me feel bad whenever I've done something to make someone who's around me all the time and so close, to hate me or dislike me." he said quietly, fiddling with a stray string of his frayed jeans. He looked like he was about the age of 10 with the way he sat, but his eyes looked like he was 30 from the sorrow and knowledge in them, but he continued to smile, just for Akemi.

At first, Stephan was startled when Akemi hugged him, the thunder didn't bother him much, so he didn't really notice it. He couldn't help but wrap his arms around Akemi firmly though, letting his lips gently press against the top of Akemi's head, "It's alright. Besides, having a fear means you're not perfect, and humans aren't perfect, so it's good to have a fear. Not having a fear would mean you've become something that isn't a human. People say they wish they aren't afraid of anything, but they're really greedy if they think like that, because not having a fear is like having a mental defect. And having a fear makes you stronger too." he murmured softly to Akemi, kissing the top of his head and pulling the little bird boy into his lap, hugging him a bit tighter, "And don't you ever feel like you need to do anything for me in return of my kindness. Just knowing that you don't hate me is plenty payment." he smiled.

After a few more roars of thunder and wind, the quite pitter patter of the rain against the roof filled the room. Stephan closed his eyes, feeling like he had to keep Akemi in his arms forever and protect him from outside forces.

The moment Stephan saw Elliot, he had a foul taste in his mouth and he bit back his words. He kept his face blank as he looked at the man, but when he touched Akemi, he had to hold back the urge to squirm uncomfortably and hold Akemi away from Elliot, since Akemi didn't show any signs of protest. He didn't really like Elliot, and he didn't care how much of a suck-up he was to Akemi, he still wouldn't believe that he was a nice person on the inside. He looked down at Akemi, his eyes softening at the young boy's face, merely four inches from his, Stephan could make out every little detail of Akemi's face. Every ripple of color in his irises, every eyelash, every clear pore of his cheeks, and his soft lips. Stephan had never noticed how... attractive Akemi's features were until now, when it was right in front of his face.

He looked up at the ceiling, the roof was made of thick steel for the most part, but there were a few large windows that let in sunlight during the day. He watched as the rain fell against the thick glass and then streamed off to the side from the wind and angle of it. He wished that he was outside in the rain, the feel of the rain hitting his skin and the wind blowing his hair to and fro seemed relaxing to him.

Stephan watched Elliot leave, then looked down at Akemi's sleeping face. He looked so unguarded and vulnerable as he slept, and Stephan studied his face for a little while before he stood up, careful not to move Akemi around much, and carried the young boy to his room, laying him down on the bed with care. He made sure that he was covered completely, then brushed some hair out of his face before Stephan sat down on the floor beside Akemi and leaned back against the bed. He sat there silently, his legs criss cross and his arms were folded over his chest and he looked around, glancing back at Akemi every now and then because he couldn't help it.

He noticed the sound of the rain had simmered down to a gentle little tap against the roof and it'd slowed down as well. Stephan pulled his hair out of it's usual half-up-half-down pony tail and ran his hands through his thick golden locks of hair. His eyes were beginning to feel a bit heavy as the after effect of his trip to the experiment room was beginning to finally take action. Before when Stephan collapsed, it was only due to his exhaustion from struggling and being given cheap shots while he was strapped to a table, but now, the actual test that was taken on him was coming. His sight was getting blurry and he was beginning to hallucinate, as he rubbed an eye with the heel of his hand.

Stephan was too far gone to notice Akemi's rolling about and Elliot entering the room, his mind was either moving incredibly fast or terribly slow, he couldn't tell at this point. He began to sweat terribly and he was having a difficult time breathing, his mind whirred around so much he became dizzy and would've fallen over if he weren't leaning against the bed. He clutched at his shirt just above where his heart beated at and rather fast rate. Stephan didn't know it, but this was exactly what was supposted to be happening, and he was being watched by several scientists whom were hiding out of sight in the shadows.

Wheezing and in pain, Stephan tried to stand, but his knees were weak and wobbly as he only landed on his side. He had to drag himself to the door and was just barely able to open the door, but luckily this process wasn't very loud and it didn't wake up Akemi. He was able to lean agains the wall and shut the door behind himself, but after that, an unbearable pain shot through his body, and he bit back a cry in agony, and he had a horrible metallic taste from his blood in his mouth. He stumbled towards the tables in the center, but didn't quite make it as the pain increased, making him fall to his knees, his hand still clutching at his chest above his heart as the other held his face up from the floor, a scream of misery ripped from his throat, most likely waking up anyone whom was sleeping in the facility and alarming those who were awake.

[[{{ OOC: No offence, but I REALLY HATE ELLIOT! >.< -bites handkerchief and tugs on it to keep from saying mean things- Grrrrrrrrr -growls at Elliot and glares- stare }}]]

Stephan grimanced, and tried to look up at Akemi, but he couldn't see anything, his sight was slowly blackening, "Ngh--It... It hurts... make it stop.." he pleaded, and gasped for air. One scinetist walked over to Akemi and Stephan, roughly shoving Akemi away from Stephan, "Do not touch him, child. It is his own fault he is in pain, do not try and stop his punishment. Besides, it is far too late to help him, if he's lucky, he'll last maybe another hour." the man said, adjusting the glasses on his face, "Stephan Vanhyusen has been order to be killed numberous times before, but he always managed to survive. It is unknown to even us, the people who made him this way, as w=to how his body can sum up enough energy to continue on after all the tests and such we've done, but he should not survive this time." he added, glaring down at Akemi, "And should you try and save him, you as well, shall be sentenced to die." he threatened, turning to Stephan.

A handful of the others had come out of their room, and their eyes locked on Stephan, a few called out his name, and others tried to get close, like Akemi did, but the scientist wouldn't allow it, "This specimen is a danger to all human kind, and he will not be given the right to live anymore." his voice boomed as Stephan let out another cry, writhing in pain in the center of the room. She glared up at the man, though he couldn't see him at all, "I'll be damned-- ngh... if I die... h-here and now... You sonofabitch!" he said, his voice raspy and sickly as he closed his eyes, breathing hard. The pain wasn't subsiding at all, and if anything, it was beginning to get worse, to the point of him almost crying out in agony every breath he took, but he didn't allow the scientist to get the pleasure of it.

He knew he had to survive, had to make it through this test, or as the scientist had put it, death scentence. For Akemi. He couldn't stand him being with Elliot, and he knew that Akemi would be devistated if Stephan were to die right after what he'd just told him. Eventually Stephan stopped moving at all, and his breath had slowed so much, that the scientist had assumed him dead and he began to walk off, a triumphant smile on his face. And the moment that the man had left the room, the others slowly made their ways over to Stephan, huddling around him, their faces were filled with worry and hope that Stephan hadn't died...

"Akemi... don't worry... I... I won't die..." he said weakly, just barely over a whisper, and s few of the group gasped quietly, their eye widening, Trevor had pushed through and knelt down next to Stephan, "Stephan... What, what do they do to you back there? What was he talking about?" he asked, but Stephan just shook his head, "Don't... don't worry about me... I-I'll be fine... I always am." "But what if you're not this time, huh? You always say, 'Don't worry about me.', or 'I'm a tough guy, they can't take me down so easily.', but look where its got you. Laying here, dying. You've always been the one to take care of us, always the one who's strongest, but... this time it's different. What are we supposed to do without you? You're the only thing that's kept a majority of us here and going." Trevor said, his eyes were beginning to water and he had to lower his head to hide the tear.

Stephan opened his eyes, looking towards Trevor, and a smirk was on his face, "C'mon Trev. Don't start crying in front of me.... I said I'll be fine... I've... I've had worse..." his voice slowly growing stronger and he closed his eyes again, his smirk fell and his expression was that of bliss as he'd fallen asleep. Trevor looked down at Stephan incredulously, blinking back the tears. He shook his head when Stephan fell asleep, a small smile breaking out on his face, "It's your fault for almost dying right in front of me." he muttered, standing up. He looked at Akemi, and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "He'll be fine, just stay by his side until he wakes up. That b*****d'll surely wake up, and I'm sure you'll wanna' be the first to tell 'im 'Good morning Shunsine!'." he whispered in his ear, then turned away, "C'mon, everybody back to bed." he said, and soon it was just Akemi and Stephan left, but before Trevor shut his door behind himself, he looked back at Stephan and Akemi, smiling and shaking his head as he went inside, "He is so dead when he wakes up." and then the room fell silent aside from Stephan's raspy and slow breathing.

For a while, Stephan didn't move, he layed perfectly still aside from his breathing, then he rolled to the side, an arm wrapping around Akemi and pulling him closer. In his sleep, Stephan muttered Akemi's name, hugging him closer as if he were a pillow or a stuffed animal.

[[{{ OOC: Timeskip to morning? }}]]