cancry | New Wounds, Old Wounds [Locked]

New Wounds, Old Wounds [Locked]

[Lion had been looking for Ruin after the show with no luck- it was worthwhile thanks to Chiron's advice, but the actual goal was fruitless. Ruin was nowhere to be found.

The next most obvious place to look was back in Limbo- and Lion intended to return anyway. Sleeping in that woman's home seemed a bit too morbid for his tastes. He doesn't find him in the Executor house, but he finally finds sign of the man in the park. A bit of torn up earth that suggested a lance. Hoofprints. He follows the mud to the fountain... and the passage to the Limbo Underside.

... that was concerning. But perhaps he wanted to train before their upcoming mission? He arrived after the last one, after all. So Lion makes his way down, his armor appearing like a second skin as he does so, on guard against the beasts that still lingered within.]

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[he notices, and the last of that blood haze melts away and he sighs softly. His expression tired and, unlike his usual polite friendliness, is bare and honest.]

No it wouldn't. Here... this will hurt but I will try to be quick.

[Especially down most of the use of an arm. But he's strong enough to haul Ruin over his shoulder one handed regardless, if pretty awkwardly.]

[Ruin doesn't quite track what Lion's aiming for here until it's too late. It's undignified, the yelp he lets out when he's finally hefted up, and if he didn't already have pneuma flooding his mouth from the hole in his lip he certainly does now, coughing it up as Lion's shoulder presses into his broken ribs.]

Fuck! [He manages a curse eventually, when he can stop wheezing, and he does make an effort to hook an arm around Lion's waist to stabilize himself as the other man walks.

He has the vague feeling this isn't the worst injuries he's had. Small favors when he really would much rather Lion had left him there than face anyone else like this. But... he also didn't have it in him to make arguments about it, either.]

Sorry... we will find Medic or Chiron and handle it as fast as possible.

[Going up the stairs is gonna be rough]

...so tell me, do you often kiss people that have broken your bones? There must be less painful ways to find lovers, Ruin.

[...is he joking right now?]

Chi- [another grunt of pain.] Chiron... That girl is creepy.

[He's not in much of a position to be making demands though, is he? Lion's playful question hits a little too close to home but if he acknowledges it he's not sure he's going to be able to keep himself together.]

What can I say? I like it rough.

I see...

[He's silent for a while as they climb the stairs, knowing if he asks Ruin to speak while being jolted around he might just earn being vomited on instead.

It's as they walk through Limbo, towards the house (and thankfully the Spectors mostly just look confused and give them no troubles) that he speaks again]

Ruin... you are not the man in your memories. Not if you don't wish to be.

[He knows it's easier said than done- it's something HE'S fighting with too- but... surely Ruin hasn't done anything in THIS life to deserve such suffering?]

What memories?

[But even to him it sounds harsh and bitter. Maybe he can blame it on the pain as he spits another mouthful of pneuma onto the ground behind them.

He doesn't have anything to justify his actions, nothing to go off of... but so much of what he does, the way he sabotages himself, is ingrained and habitual he doesn't even recognize it sometimes.]

Shh, calm. I'm not trying to insult you.

But if you don't remember anything, then you have even less reason to want punishment. And don't try and deny it, I'm not a smart man, but I'm not completely blind. Only half.

[He huffs]

The names we wake up with mean something to each of us, after all.

You could have gotten hurt. Killed, even. Because I came up with some stupid plan on the fly and almost fucked everything up.

[He starts to shake his head then moans pitifully when it makes the world spin.]

I've plenty of reason to deserve this, even without remembering... I don't know if I want to remember.

A punch to the nose at worst. I was not harmed, and as I said, the plan in theory wasn't bad. Just not thought out as much as it should have been. It was only my own circumstances that made it... personal.

[He scowls at the ground]

And... I understand. With rare exception, every memory I have been returned has made me... dislike that person.

For what it's worth... I am sorry.

[Quiet, guilty. He doesn't really think an apology from him means a whole lot. Especially not now.]

[He stops walking for a moment, then smiles]

Thank you. That was all I wanted.

...and I am sorry for breaking your arm.

[Even though he asked for it]

I'm sure it's not the first time.

[That his arm has been broken. That he asked for such mistreatment. That it was someone he was meant to trust that did it.

None of which are terribly comforting thoughts. Even he's not sure which he means.]

Hm.

[It's a concerning sound, but he doesn't press- mostly because they have reached the house. Stepping in he calls out:]

Chiron? Medic? We need a healer, please!

[There is a small clatter from one of the other rooms, doesn't sound like anything is broken, but simply of something dropped and discarded in a hurry. And in hurries Chiron.

He stops in the doorway and, for a moment, assesses the lads with concern.

It flattens out into simply being unimpressed, hands sliding to his hips.]

And all this time, I could have gotten the popcorn ready. [The words are flippant, and the tone has an air of the same, but his face simply remains unimpressed as he motions to a couch in the living room.] I've found several quite unique flavors I've been itching to try out. Alas, they'll have to wait for some other main event. Oh- he's still breathing, color me quite shocked.

Set him down gently. [He's willing to help with that much, thankfully.]

[Ruin can't even see Chiron but the moment he speaks he's absolutely sure he doesn't want to see the expression that matches that tone.]

Is it too late to change my mind?

[He very nearly laughs at that but ends up just coughing up more pneuma. Still, he musters up the strength to offer Chiron a sheepish kind of smile, still trying to be flippant, still too shaken by Lion's words to manage it completely.]

Yes Sir.

[Lion looks fittingly sheepish, putting Ruin down carefully]

And now isn't the time for jokes, Ruin. We... got a bit carried away while sparing.

[Careful, careful, let's not jostle him more than he's already been.] I would be upset if it wasn't for the fact that you deliberately couldn't promise me violence would not occur after an attempt at talking.

[RIGHT, LION?] I presume there was an attempt at talking first.

[Thankfully, he kneels by Ruin's side and looks him over, mostly concerned with the injuries. In theory, he doesn't need to specifically know where the injuries are or the extent of them, but he feels like it helps. Somewhere to focus his energies, perhaps.

The pneuma concerns him most, frankly, and he reaches out a hand--to lay on Ruin's forehead, gently pushing back wild red locks a few times. The other hand rests very gently on Ruin's chest. Both hands begin to very gently glow around the palms. He inhales.]

Sparring, was it? [Is that really what you want to call it?]

[Shit, Lion, don't legitimately make him laugh when he has broken ribs... And possibly a puncture or two.]

Sparring, hah-

[More coughing but that is not surprising. What might be is the way he can't quite stop himself from leaning into the hand on his forehead, like a battered alley cat that still just wants pets despite the fact that it should fear people.

For as much scolding as he does though, Chiron's hands are gentle and Ruin cautiously banishes his armor so the older man has more of an idea what he's working with. Without the help of the steel plates to keep everything neat and still he does end up gasping out a pained little yelp as he sinks into the couch more.

It's a shame the adrenaline has worn off, really. ]

...an attempt was made, yes.

[When Ruin gasps he moves to his side, looking a bit frantic but unable to help in any way- just hovering awkwardly]

Shh, I know it hurts. [His brows knit together, looking like he's exerting some actual effort. Like many Executor abilities, it needs that effort. Maybe with even more practice-]

I can see to you later, if you need. I'm doing us all a favor and assuming you do. Medic, I am sure, would be thrilled, if you don't want to wait.

This may take some time.

I pushed. Don't give him a hard time about it.

[It's really not Lion's fault. Ruin went out of his way to push every button the man has. It's not fair that he'd get in trouble for this.

As much as he hurts Ruin is nothing if not stubborn and... well it seems strangely natural to ignore his body screaming at him. So if Lion does move to follow Chiron's advice, to go seek out Medic, Ruin's going to snag his sleeve before he can get too far. Nothing insistent, nothing to deter him if his shoulder is as damaged as he thinks it's liable to be. Just a subtle request that, if he's up to it, he stay.]

[he had started to move to do just that, less because of his injury, but to give them both space. And so Chiron could... perhaps see if Ruin was lying out of fear of Lion. He wouldn't blame him for being suspicious.

But when Ruin grabs him he hesitates... then sits near by, looking miserable]

I suspect my arm was dislocated at some point, but it is back in its proper place. I will be fine.

Then I'll get to you. [He takes a deep, steadying inhale. Exhale.]

I believe these wounds to be more...extensive than what I normally have dealt with. But I am going to do my best.

[Another steady inhale. Exhale. Patience and effort.]

Have you cleared the air to your satisfaction? [Both of you.]

Sorry...

[Immediate and guilty. Once again being thoughtless and selfish, only thinking of what would make him feel better, not the people that would have to clean up the mess.]

Don't worry too much about it. [Surely just patching up any internal bleeding is sufficient.

If it were anything less than that he'd probably have argued burdening a healer anyway. They had better things to do than deal with his stupidity.]

You've apologized for more than enough.

[Lion says softly before turning to Chiron]

As for apologies, we both did- I... can not say for him, but I feel satisfied.

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