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 Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:46 pm
Allan waited until all the various Life Hunters - some well hidden "I told you so" and some more chastising Moon Hunters did their usual rounds until America was settled into her bed. It was really becoming her bed now due to her frequent visits to the infirmary. It didn't matter if she was actually injured or sick, from the Sun lead's point of view, Caelius had hurt one of his many kidlings, as most Sun Hunters were indeed like kids hitting things first and asking questions later, even though Allan himself was the biggest child of them all.
He beamed to an incoming Life Hunter who had gone to get a new IV drip, and opened his mouth, beginning a speech which started with "A strong healthy spirit-" and that was about as far as he got before said Life Hunter fled because even a bit of Allan was in most occurrences too much Allan.
The room was quiet again, save the coughing of someone anonymous on the other side of the partition. Allan placed the weapons tablet on the table.
Awkward silence. The clock ticked by on the wall. The Sun lead was frowning and it was obvious he was still thinking about the incident and the person he hadn't saved.
"Not everyone can be a hero," he began slowly, "But you can always try." He grinned, and it was a fondness. This was someone who truly just wanted to do the right thing. "Don't let mistakes get you down, America-chan," there was the nickname that everyone got, "there's lot of people who can hurt you. But your kokoro -" he tapped his chest - " has to remain strong. If you let people hurt you, they'll continue hurting you. If you hurt those who hurt you, you'll get lost."
He looked determined. "You're a Sun Hunter, America-chan. I really, truly do expect great things from all of you. Each and every one of you, you are important to me. Lead by example, and fight as a hero. Heroes don't lose, they only fall for a bit." The tablet was picked up and handed to her. "They only fall for a little bit, and then become something greater."
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:56 pm
Sitting up, looking small and shocked, America's eyes didn't leave the tablet on the table. Even as she listened to Allan's words and the way they echoed her own values and beliefs so clearly, she couldn't not stare at what Stryker had become. Nodding, quickly here, slowly there, and swallowing back tears time and again, the girl couldn't look away until the tablet was placed gently in her hands.
Finally she stared up and met Allan's eyes, tears finally falling from her own, and mouthed the question that had been circling her head the past few days, ever since she'd heard that her friend's arm had been broken as an example during a division meeting.
Why?
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:14 pm
Allan had turned to leave, it wasn't exactly covert as he was obvious wherever he went by rank and design, and then paused.
He turned back and moved forward and reached out and just held her and let her cry. It could have been Rep, it could have been Jerry, it could have been Lawr if he could save him or maybe it could have been her whom he couldn't save. They were all the same because they were so vulnerable and real and human. He had never been one to falter at the sight of weakness or shy away from vulnerability.
"It's okay," Allan for once didn't answer the question. He didn't have an answer. "Your weapon is going to be okay, just sleeping. You're going to be okay, I promise."
And he would always give a little more of him with each promise.
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:29 pm
Later, when everything wasn't just barely staying together, when she'd had time to sit and think and consider it all, America would be frustrated by the lack of answer. And where she loved Allan and could even understand and sympathize, there would always be that sliver of resentment that occurs when the one guiding you admits they are, perhaps, a little lost as well.
But right now the girl just nodded against his chest and continued to cry until she finally managed to croak out a painful, ragged word. "How?" It burned to say it aloud, her throat no longer able to heal from the earlier strain, and in its way, that felt appropriate.
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:54 pm
It almost felt like Allan was going to indeed do the you'll find a way somehow route. He didn't because he wasn't evasive, just honest and a little trapped. "It's easier with two, I promise. No matter what, your bond with your weapon is the most important. The two of you will heal each other, and then you'll grow a little more. Small steps at a time, deep breaths, let it all out and when you're ready, head to the cove and call your weapon again, shout it out loud, give it all your spirit! They will hear you, for sure. Don't give up. Don't ever give up. Each problem is a challenge and challenges are for heroes, pass or fail. But you can't ever give up. Remember your friends and nakama. Be there for those who need you."
He stood up again. "You're a good person America-chan, I know it. I can see it. This isn't going to stop you. Not even-" the words became slightly playful -"not even death can stop you. Not me, not you. Ever. When we don't know we remain fighting and you were very, very brave today."
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:16 am
When he stepped back, America nodded again, sniffing and scrubbing at her face with one hand, her other still carefully gripping the tablet. "Thanks," she rasped quietly, her voice cutting out from her as she tried to say more. She offered a smile instead and held up a hand, middle and index fingers forming a V.
This was not her greatest moment, but it what not the sum of her, either. Everything would move on from here, and America Jones did not intend to be left behind, forever a sad, beaten girl having to be saved, having to ask Why? like it made a damn bit of difference when done was done.
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:53 am
The talking was just courtesy now. Allan had already given her so much, and perhaps she would never realize, like so many Hunters before and after her, but as long as he was here he would continue to give. There was nothing greater than a life, and nothing more powerful than it even persisting after death as there were always those who would fight. One day someone would see those Hunters through too, the same way Allan had. He had hope. It kept him fighting. It kept them all fighting.
"Bad people get away with bad things because they can scare people. Don't let them get to you, don't let them scare you. Fight till the end, be brave inside." The Sun leaded nodded solemny. "As nakama. For them."
He probably thought he was pretty wise at this point and to be honest Allan had a terrible attention span and was just about to dramatically pose and ruin everything. He didn't, but he did manage to pull out a strawberry-chocolate questionably Japanese chocolate pop and hand it over. "Here, for the journey to find yourself. Save it for last, as a reward." The lollipop had a face on it, a goofy girl with pigtails and a hat.
"Hey, she kind of looks like you!"
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:44 pm
She accepted the candy with a try-hard smile and let Allan go without further questions or tears. Several hours later she was still staring at it, quietly waiting for a certain shift to end. Finally she pulled out her phone and texted. astrazilla Text to: Konstantinim in my infirmary room i need you to help me to the weapons cove
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:59 pm
lizbot Text to: A. JonesOn way now. He arrived with sleeves rolled up, arms still pink from kitchen duty and the dishwashing that had been his master for the past six hours. He took a seat at the end of her hospital bed, brows furrowing further and further the longer he looked at the tablet in her arms. "I see," Kostya said, gentle, and offered her his hand.
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:06 pm
America looked worse, before she'd been injured, but now she looked terminal. Her wounds had stopped healing, and there were more bruises lightly creeping in around the edges, dappling her joints and bone lines. Taking his hand, she gave him a grateful smile, and nodded as she sat up.
It was time to go and gain back the rest of herself.
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