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 Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:49 pm
Zack made it to the hospital in record time, courtesy one empty alleyway by the café and familiarity with a parking lot near to the hospital. Teleportation was pretty damned useful, but he’d still had to run to the hospital to ensure no one saw him.
He powered down while he ran, and when he got to the hospital and managed to pry a room number out of the receptionist, he took the stairs two at a time.
He hated the smell of a hospital but he sucked it up. Not really for Malcolm. Sort of for Malcolm, but not really. He and his brother had only ever been on okay terms. Zack had been a little too cruel to him and high school and they didn’t really have anything in common. Malcolm held a grudge, Zack was unforgiving. They tolerated each other, barely, during holidays, for their parents.
But Malcolm was still his little brother, and the idea that anyone would have laid a hand on him infuriated Zack. When he moved into the room he expected his mother and father to be there, and hopefully Cambria and Evan—who, he had pieced together was alive and well based on Cambria’s voicemails.
When he stepped into Malcolm’s room he saw his mother’s purse in a chair, and his father’s coat. They were nearby, but not here.
His eyes found Cambria next—and then settled on Malcolm.
Pale, sleeping Malcolm, hooked up to machines and wires. Dressed in bandages and tucked under two extra blankets.
Zack’s lip curled as he stepped in; he moved to Cambria. “Hey,” he greeted. “I’m sorry, I just got your messages. I had some things going on, phone was dead. Where is he?” he asked. “Evan,” he clarified, and almost struggled to say the name. His eyes were on Malcolm, brows knit and confused. “—And Mal, is he okay? He looks like s**t, what did you say happened?”
Zack probably wasn’t one to talk about looking like s**t; he was pale, himself, and strangely gaunt. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he’d had a bad fight with the flu—and lost. Truthfully, he still ached; his head was pounding, slightly less so today than yesterday, and while he’d slept at his desk he still wasn’t feeling refreshed.
The constant ache in his chest hadn’t receded, but consumed with adrenaline he’d managed to banish those distractions. For now.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:50 pm
Truthfully, Cambria hadn’t expected Zack to show up. Why would she expect that when he had been missing for days. She had no reason to think that just because she called and said his brother was in the hospital that he would come because...because of that. Surely Evan meant more to him than Malcolm did…
Not that she was saying that Malcolm didn’t deserve a visitor, that wasn’t the issue...the issue was that why would Zack show up to see a brother that he really didn’t give two stones about...when he had been neglecting the boy that he did love...even if he claimed not to.
Most of the time.
So when he walked into the room looking as though he’d fit in with the cast of ‘The Walking Dead’, she wasn’t quite sure what to think, or what to even do.
“He looks like s**t. So do you, you...where have you been?”
She stood up and crossed the small distance between the two, not really sure if she wanted to hug him...or smack him as hard as she could.
When her arms curled around him, she knew what the answer was, and her voice was thick when she next spoke. “I’ve been so worried about you...God, Zack...Evan came home and you disappeared right after, then Malcolm gets the s**t beat out of him...I’m strong, I know it, but I’m starting to wonder if I’m really that strong. I can’t handle this all by myself.”
She could. She knew she could. Knew she had to but…
Still. She didn’t really like it.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:51 pm
“I’m sorry,” Zack said, in a tone that was gruff—which probably meant it was true. Zack had three apologies. The ones he was lying about. The ones he gave when he was buttering someone up. And the real ones, heavy with emotion he didn’t want to admit was there.
This one was real.
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tightly. “Some things happened, it’s not a big deal. Thought I had a lead on Evan, sort of spiraled when it wasn’t what I thought.”
It wasn’t a total lie but he’d hoped it would have been enough to placate her. “My phone died, I just charged it this morning. I would have come sooner, but I didn’t know. I haven’t been to see Evan yet—is he okay? He’s—He’s really back? Really okay?” he asked; he kept his hands on her shoulders, like he was afraid to let her go, but he needed to see her face.
He needed the truth.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:51 pm
Cambria relaxed in his arms and gave a heavy sigh. She couldn’t be mad at him for long, that much was for sure...and he sounded so worried...but it had been days...she was still miffed...but perhaps a little less so.
“Of course he’s not okay. He’s upset and freaked out...I...I mean I don’t know what happened to him, but...but he’s really messed up, Zack. He could have really used your strength. Now I’m pretty sure he thinks I’ve been lying to him when I say that you were so worried…”
She sighed and reached up, touching his face with her fingertips. “Seriously though...you look like hell...do you wanna go down to the cafeteria and grab something to eat…? Have you even eaten since the last time I saw you, Zack?”
Maybe she couldn’t save everyone...maybe she knew that...but she was damn sure going to try...and Zack really looked like he needed some saving right about now. “I think it would be good to let Mal rest a bit too, I can tell you what I know about him while you stuff your face with crappy hospital food.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:52 pm
Zack seemed reluctant to answer; he had nibbled some in the past few days, but the idea of food sounded so good. Crappy hospital food or not.
“It’s overpriced,” he warned. “Should just hit up the vending machines. I snacked some, but I haven’t had a warm meal. I should have stopped, I should have brought something. I’m sorry. I just wasn’t thinking clearly. I got your messages and I just wanted to see you. And Evan, but—to be honest, and I don’t know why—I thought Evan’d be here. I’ll go visit him later—is he home alone?”
It was the logical assumption; he didn’t wait for an answer.
He cast one quick glance at Malcolm and nodded; it looked like he was out cold but he didn’t want to risk waking him up. He’d seen his brother with scrapes and bruises but Malcolm’s face was so swollen and wrapped with bandages he almost didn’t even recognize him. It made his stomach flop and he turned away. Cambria was much easier to look at.
“I’ll stay here for a while and then head over there. But—you’re right. I won’t make it if I don’t have some food. Let’s make it a date, my treat. It’s not the most romantic, but I want to catch up, I want to find out what I’ve missed. And you—I want to hear about you, are you holding up okay?”
He caught her hand and squeezed it tightly as he lead her out of the room. They could give Malcolm some space, but he wasn’t going to let her go.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:53 pm
“Who cares if it’s overpriced. You need it.”
Cambria’s hand curled around his and she returned the squeeze, sighing and leading him to the cafeteria and ordering some food with him. All she really wanted was a hot chocolate, and when she got that, she sat at one of the small tables in the corner of the room. “Yeah, Evan’s home alone. I wanted him to come with me but he didn’t want to leave the house, so...I left him there.”
Not that she blamed him for not wanting to leave the house. Honestly, if she had been turned into a youma, she wouldn’t have wanted to leave the house either.
“So, what do you want to hear about first...Evan, or Malcolm. Because I’ll tell you what I know of both. So...pick one.”
She had a hunch that he’d pick Evan first, and honestly she wasn’t quite sure what she was going to say...maybe that Evan just hadn’t wanted to talk about it...it was the truth. Evan hadn’t talked about it with her...she just knew what was going on because...well. She had been involved…
So...that was a good enough answer...or so she hoped it was good enough for Zack.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:53 pm
Zack didn’t have to think for long; he answered, “Evan,” without really thinking. He knew Cambria was aware of his relationship with Evan as much as she was aware of his relationship with Malcolm—only, one was willing and one was blood.
It wasn’t that he hated Malcolm, or that he would have wished this on him, they just didn’t see eye to eye on…anything.
“It’s probably safer for him to stay inside. He can keep the doors locked, and we’ve got plenty of food.”
For appearance’s sake, he asked, “What happened?” But considering he knew—and he knew that whatever Cambria said was going to be a lie, he asked about the more important things. “How does he look? –Is he eating, sleeping? Is he healthy?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:54 pm
Bingo. Cambria nodded and sighed. “He hasn’t told me. I’ve tried asking but you know how Evan gets. He just shuts down...I’m making sure he’s eating. He’s eating a lot...and he sleeps so long as I’m there...he sleeps when I’m not there too, but I think he sleeps better when I am there.”
She took a sip of her drink and sighed. “I don’t know Zack. I’m really worried about him, but I mean...he’s home. He’s in one piece...He doesn’t talk much, but he’s cuddly when he wants to be...he’s worried sick about you, but I mean, we both were so there’s no surprise there.”
Shaking her head, Cambria watched him. “Now, about your brother...he ended up getting mugged, but thank god they didn’t take his phone for some reason and he was able to call me...honestly, Zack, I didn’t think he was going to make it for a while there...there was just...so much...so much blood...”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:54 pm
The hospital meal Zack had picked out hadn’t been great, but the macaroni and cheese had made him think of Evan—and it was warm, and fresh. Ish. He nodded when she gave a report on Evan; it was good to hear that some things still sounded the same. He was eating and sleeping and not getting himself hurt.
“I’m sorry for worrying you two. I’ll be around more often, I promise. I’ll go see him, I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
It was easier to talk to Evan than Malcolm, anyway.
Usually.
He wasn’t sure how he was going to react, or if he could even face Evan, now. But if Evan wanted to see him, it probably meant that he didn’t know that Zack was responsible for his condition.
He shook his head and sighed, shoveling another bite of food into his mouth as he processed the information on Malcolm. When she mentioned the blood, he reached over to take her hand reassuringly. “Who would want to mug him, though? He doesn’t look like he’s made of money. The kid’s vanilla, he doesn’t ever go anywhere dangerous enough to warrant mugging. Has he spoken to the police yet?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:55 pm
Cambria snorted. “Damn right you better be around more. Do you...can you even comprehend how scared you made me? I mean, one of my best friends finally came home...and my boyfriend, the love of my life disappears! Like, seriously Zack...not cool.”
She squeezed his hand, the panic and worry evident in her face. “As for mugging your brother. I don’t even know...He was over on 18th street by a warehouse, and honestly I don’t know if it was something with a gang maybe...like maybe some initiation...you know, killing someone to get in the gang...that’s what you always see on those crime shows…”
Drawing in a breath she shrugged. So she knew it wasn’t a gang related thing...but what if it had been some lieutenant trying to show how bad he was...or something along those lines...it was close enough.
“All I know is that’s where he was, and maybe they dragged him there...I...I really don’t know…”
Cambria shook her head. “He hasn’t talked to the police yet. He hasn’t been conscious long enough to do so. I gave my report though. They’re worried. Everyone is. I...I didn’t want to worry your parents...but I heard the doctors talking and they’re really hoping they can get him better without lasting damage...and I don’t know what that even means, but it sounds scary as hell…”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:55 pm
Zack was in the middle of preparing another apology—one of his slick apologies—when she started talking more about Malcolm.
He squinted at her as she spoke and removed his hand from hers, perhaps so she wouldn’t realize it had suddenly started shaking. He blamed it on a lack of energy so picked up the fork and shoveled another bite into his mouth. “That sounds pretty serious. Lasting damage? Not like—I mean, his brain, that’s okay? I listened to mom’s voicemail on the way over, she said his arm is jacked up and he had some ribs messed up? I saw his face, so I know that’s messed up.”
He was trying not to think about the rest of what she said. He couldn’t help but be a bit gruff when talking about his brother; he wasn’t making light of his injuries but—lasting damage, really? It couldn’t be that bad.
It was wishful thinking at this point.
18th street wasn’t a common street; he didn’t know the layout of the area terribly well, but he knew where they kept their rows of warehouses in the industrial district.
“Doesn’t make any sense for him to be out there,” he insisted again. “—When was this?”
He held his breath and tried to play it off easy.
Not last night. Don’t say last night.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:56 pm
“Last night. Around...well, I got the call around ten or so, and rushed over...Yeah, he has some broken ribs, and his nose and left arm is broken too. The doctors think there might be a small fracture on his skull, but they’re not really sure. They’re waiting for tomorrow when the specialist comes in. Can you even imagine doctors not being able to read an x-ray. It’s scary, isn’t it?”
With a sigh, she drained the rest of her cup. “He lost a heck of a lot of blood, and of course they were out of what he needed, but I have O-, so I ended up donating to him...isn’t that kind of strange though, my blood is now in your brothers veins. Kind of creepy if you think about it.”
Cambria blinked, frowning slightly. “Hey...you okay?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:56 pm
Zack swallowed. “…Yeah,” he said after a few seconds. “Yeah, I’m fine, it’s just. Little messed up, you know. I don’t know, I thought I was going to be fine coming in and all. But when you say it like that, I just—I…”
She couldn’t know. She wouldn’t understand.
Last night had been a dream, maybe? He needed to go look up 18th street on a map.
He hadn’t beaten up a civilian, had he? –No, that was impossible. He was fighting a Senshi.
A weak, pushover, five-foot-four, pale blonde with a braid, purple eyed Senshi.
Who he’d probably given broken ribs, smashed his nose up, and definitely broke his arm.
The blood had drained entirely from Zack’s face and the food in his stomach felt like it wasn’t going to stay there for very long. His thoughts were racing, trying to justify what she was saying. Trying to find holes in what she was saying. Trying to make the pieces that were connecting not connect.
He shook his head. “That’s ******** up,” he said to the thoughts in his head, but realized shortly after that he’d said it out loud. He scrambled to clarify, “I mean, it’s all just ******** up. That’s still my brother. No one—no one’s allowed to do that to him.”
The words caught in his throat just as the air caught in his lungs. “Except, me.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:57 pm
Cambria nodded, frowning slightly. She could see something was wrong...she just had no idea what that something might be. “Did you do something like this to him?” The words were out of her mouth before she really thought them through, and her face went red with shame and embarrassment. “I mean, he’s your brother, so I get you picked on him...he used to tell me that sometimes he didn’t really get along with you that well…”
Most of the time really.
“I’m sure the police will find whoever it was that hurt him, Zack, don’t worry about anything. They’re good at their jobs, right? We have to trust in the police and all that jazz.”
She had looked away, focusing on her drink. Man this conversation suddenly got awkward...how was she supposed to even say these things when she didn’t believe them at all…
But, she would take care of it herself. Like she took care of Evan herself.
Sometimes...she had to do everything. And that was okay.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:58 pm
Zack’s eyes snapped up and she shifted positions uncomfortable. He found himself shaking his head, more out of habit than conviction. He didn’t want to take responsibility for this—hell, he didn’t even know if he did this.
He didn’t want to think that he did, at least. He couldn’t tell her. Not until he was certain.
“I hate the police,” he muttered. “They’re useless, you know that.”
His food was only half eaten when he pushed it away from himself.
“Cam,” he said, sounding apologetic. “I have to get out of here. I don’t know, seeing him messed up like that really freaked me out. I need to go home and get changed. I want to go see Evan. Can you keep an eye on Mal for a little bit? I’ll be back soon, I just. It’s Evan,” he said, sounding desperate. It wasn’t entirely a lie—he wanted to see Evan, it just wasn’t the first stop he was planning.
And it was true—seeing Malcolm like that did really mess him up. The walls felt like they were closing in and it suddenly felt like everyone was staring at him, like they knew what he’d done, even as he was struggling to find reasons to prove that he didn’t.
“I just want to see him, just real quick. I’ll be back, I can grab you some things from the house if you text me. I’ll keep my phone on this time, and I will be back, soon. I just. I need some air, Cam. I’m sorry.”
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