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 ] ...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.

[ Comment Log ]

[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?

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

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

[ Comment Log ]

[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.

[ Comment Log ]

[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?

[ Comment Log ]

[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.

[ Comment Log ]

[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...

[ Comment Log ]

[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.

[ Comment Log ]

[a-lone-flame.livejournal.com]

[ ... whoa, wait, I just- ]

...

Thank you, Zuko.

[ Comment Log ]

[forged_anew]

[Zuko just kind of shrugs, a little awkwardly. Oops, and then winces.]

It's no problem.