29 - [voice] Hospital time again

[forged_anew]

[There's a bit of silence, with just some quiet rustling for a few seconds, and then a soft sigh before Zuko speaks. He sounds somewhat resigned and really exhausted.]

I'm back. Sorry if I worried anyone. I'm fine.

[Another pause, and a muffled, strained cough. The next part is mumbled kind of quickly and sheepishly]

I... I'm... um, at the hospital. If anyone wanted to know.




Oh... Jackie, and Jackie's friends... Um, thanks.

Comments

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

Go ahead.

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ Kai comes in to his room, still having bandages tied around his neck, but they look fresh. He nods his head to Zuko in greeting, then closes the door when he gets in. ]

How are you feeling?

[ Comment Log ] ...we can pretend Haru's asleep or something. >.> They're sharing a room. lol

[forged_anew]

[a slight shrug, and ow, he shouldn't have done that because then he winces slightly]

I'm okay.

[ Comment Log ] Works for me!

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ Kai nods, walking over to grab a chair. When he finds one, he sits next to Zuko's bed side, placing the food down. ]

Listen. I want to apologize for the whole mess we had a couple of days ago.

[...]

I was in the wrong, and I shouldn't have said those things.

So...

[ God Kai, just say it. ]

[ Comment Log ] Works for me!

[forged_anew]

[Zuko just looks at him silently for a few moments before his eyes shift away, glancing sideways toward the wall. His voice is quiet and serious]

No. You were right.

I was just... upset. With myself. I didn't mean to do any of those things, but that doesn't change the fact I did them.

Everyone says it's not my fault but...

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ Kai glances at the floor himself, sighing a little bit. He listens to Zuko, nodding his head. ]

What you can do now is move on from them. The past is the past for a reason. Make amends, yeah, but use the experience to make things better, not worse.

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[forged_anew]

I know.

[He looks back again, voice firmer]

That's exactly what I intend to do.

[...]


Also, your apology is accepted.

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

Good. I wouldn't want you to get rusty on me.

[ Kai nods, holding down a smile. ]

Thanks. Now, I brought some food for you to keep your strength up.

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

[Zuko also nods slightly, looking a little relieved, then sifts his attention to the bag in Kai's hands.]

Thank you.

...what is it?

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[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

Mostly meat and vegetables. Eat up while it's still warm.

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[forged_anew]

[Tiiiiny smile goes here as he takes the food, looking through the bag appreciatively. Good food wasn't that easy to find around here. Kai must have really tried.]

I will. Thanks.

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ Hey, what do you know, Zuko. Kai smiles a little. ]

Don't mention it.

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[forged_anew]

[This patching up awkward rifts in friendship seems to be working well enough. Zuko's pretty relieved. He digs into the food hungrily, not having had a good warm meal in a while. A short while passes before he finally brings up... well, he'd looked back at the entries he'd missed, and he wasn't exactly stupid.]

How are you doing, Kai?

[yeah, he figured out someone important left :< ]

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ Kai looks back at Zuko, the smile lessening a little. ]

I'm doing well. My wounds are coming along.

[ Well, usually he would say nothing in regards to the wounds, but uh... bandages around the neck is usually a sign of something wrong, so. ]

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

[Yeah, Zuko noticed those too. And the fact Kai isn't about to say anything about his emotional well-being.]

Is that from... when everyone was going crazy?

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[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I got "battered up" via nail bat, so I came in here for stitches. I know the guy who did it, too.

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[forged_anew]

[Sorry, Kai, he's not gonna get that joke. In fact, Zuko doesn't even know what a 'nail bat' is and is... probably assuming it's an animal :| ]

I guess a lot of people were attacking their friends...

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[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ ... I will explain what a nail bat is. ]

He's not my friend. He's... well, I tolerate him, but I'm pretty much indifferent.

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

[...you probably should. He's definitely imagining a weird animal of some sort. Silly Zuko]

Oh. But still...

[sigh]

I need to get my chip out. It seems like that's what caused it and I'm sick of these damn scientists messing with us like this!

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ Since you're lost-- ]

--okay, so a nail bat is pretty much, you take a bat, hammer some nails in it, and you have a modernized medieval flail. That's the thing that went through my back.

[ And hurt like hell enough that I can't lay on it, and I'm too manly to ask for massages and general back support orz ]

You're not the only one who wants his chip out.

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

[assuming he knows a bat is a piece of wood Zuko winces, eyes widening slightly.]

...are you sure you shouldn't be staying here too, Kai?

[...]

Yeah, I know.

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ Kai rubs at his neck a little. ]

I'm fine. Besides, no one's there to watch over my apartment, so I have to look out for it.

[...]

It would be nice to not be burdened by it anymore.

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

[Blink. No one's there...? No one? He just looks at Kai for a few moments, a little sadly.]

Were your friends... sent home?

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

Mm. Boris was sent home a few weeks ago, and recently, Yuriy left.

[ Is that a sad? Yes, that's a sad. ]

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

[Zuko can totally see your sad, Kai. :| ]

That's... unfortunate.

[paaaause]

It must be a little weird... having the apartment to yourself. If you want to, you can always... stay over, you know.

Indefinitely, if you want.