009 [Voice]

[fabrecation]

[Filtered from Abyss Crew; 10% Unhackable]

How do you get better faster if you're sick?

[It's worth noting that since Luke's voice is slightly hoarse and a little deeper from whatever he's infected with, he sounds just like Asch. Maybe slightly more raspy, but otherwise he's pretty spot on and doesn't even know it.]

Comments

[fabrecation]

[Luke isn't just warm; he's practically burning up with a high fever. Although the touches reassure him that Xion's still there, he does little to acknowledge it, as all he can think of is stopping himself from coughing up a lung or two.]

[fourteen]

[ ... ah.

Luke may (or may not, considering) notice that her touch is abruptly gone, then -- but only for a moment. she returns with the washcloth in hand, pushing his hair away from his forehead so she can lay the cloth over his skin. she keeps it pressed there with a hand, considering he's laying on his side, and waits for the fit to subside. somewhat absently, but also somewhat out of concern, her free hand strokes his hair once or twice. ]

[fabrecation]

[And that... makes him feel so much better. He doesn't quite feel so hot now, although that doesn't really help his coughing.

Soon enough, though, they subside, and Luke just spends a moment trying to get his breath back. It's only after that that he notices Xion's the one holding the cloth to his forehead, and- she must've been there the whole time, just...

He glances away to the pillow beneath his cheek.]

... I'm pretty pathetic right now, huh?

[fourteen]

... you're sick. [ said gently, and with kindness. ] How is that pathetic?

[ she turns the cloth over, so that the cooler side is to his skin. she brushes his hair back once more, then drops that hand to the bed. ]

Besides, I'm sure you'd help it if you could.

[fabrecation]

[... No Xion keep doing that - okay no]

Yeah...

[How can he help it? He'd asked everyone that, right? Rest, soup... tea...

One in particular makes him stare ahead again. That guy... He has his suspicions, but he can't be sure. He knows someone who can, though.]

Xion... Could you get my journal? It should be by the water bowl...

[fourteen]

[ it's the look on his face, more than anything, that sends her to her feet. she hands him the cloth so he can continue holding it to his head, then goes and fetches the journal. with a mounting feeling of foreboding, she hands it to him, retaking her seat.

for now, she says nothing, wondering just why he wanted it. ]

[fabrecation]

[With one hand he keeps the wet cloth against his forehead, and with the other he takes the journal and flips it to the entry, going through until he gets to a certain thread. He hesitates at first - if it's not him, then isn't Luke just going to worry her for no reason? - before he holds the journal out to her.]

Is this who I think it is?

[fourteen]

[ she barely has to look at it to know.

the journal is dropped.

Xion shoots to her feet so quickly and with such force that her chair slams into the floor with a great crash. fury and alarm are written large across her expression, and it's reflexive -- she can't help it, not at all, even if she wanted to -- to look over her shoulder, at the door, around the room, like he might appear. the sound of his laughter fills her ears. the images creep up on her, crowding her mind -- the leaking darkness, the broken things, the scorch marks, the almost-nearly-death.

she looks back at Luke, coming back to the present, and her eyes, now dark, are full of bitter hatred and fear. ]

Vanitas.

[fabrecation]

[That reaction - that look on her face - doesn't surprise him, but it does make him frown more. She shouldn't have to react like that, but... there isn't much he can do about it, especially not right now.

All he can do is narrow his eyes and look past Xion to the wall by the door.]

That's what I thought.

[The voice had sounded familiar, and then to hear him talk like that, to talk so sickly about slow ways to die, to "get better"... It's the reason why his sword is right near the nightstand.]

[fourteen]

[ Xion looks at him for a moment more, then back over her shoulder, at the door. Now her mind is on something else.

Vanitas can't know who -- or what -- Luke is to her, if only because she only just figured it out for herself. But if he ever did learn...

Would he bother? Would he consider this worth his time?

There is the thought, now, of what happens if her presence, her closeness to him, could put Luke in danger, and no matter how far-fetched it may turn out to be, there will be no banishing it. She does not recover her chair, nor come any closer. ]

... if he talks to you again ... tell me.

[fabrecation]

... Okay.

[His gaze drifts from the wall to her, because Xion's actions worry him a lot... And with a little wince, he props himself up on his elbow again to get a more level look at her.]

Hey... If you're thinking anything like you putting me in danger by talking to me, don't.

[fourteen]

[ that produces a guilty start, and she looks at him again, finally moving back towards the bed. ]

... how did you...?

[ she rights the chair, and plops back down into it with a sigh, propping her chin on her hands. ]

[fabrecation]

[Luke scoots a little closer to the edge of the bed, and he gives a small, helpless smile before he... hesitates, then reaches out to brush her bangs to the side.]

Because I'd probably think the same thing if it was the other way around.

[fourteen]

[ ... she turns so, so red. there is no hiding this blush, it is the blushiest of blushes, so obvious there is no misinterpreting it. (possibly. but you never know, with derplicas.)

overwhelmed with a feeling she can't name, she takes that hand of his and presses it to her cheek, laughing quietly and a little helplessly. still red! ]

Okay, okay. I won't.

[fabrecation]

[OH NO SHE'S TURNING RED XION ARE YOU GETTING SICK TOO

Except no, not even Luke is that dumb. And that makes him blush, though it's expertly covered by the fever, and nearly pull his hand away, but then she keeps it there against her cheek. f-ffff, now he's echoing her quiet laugh. What else can he do?]

I'd probably just ask around and find out where you're hiding, anyway...

[fourteen]

[ not faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaair, this would be so much easier on her if she could TELL he was blushing. :| but WHATEVER MAN she'll roll with this, lowering his hand only to intertwine her fingers with his. ]

But what if I hid really, really well? You'd never find me. [ TEASING, because it is easier to handle the Feelings avalanche when she's teasing. ]

[fabrecation]

[If she's rolling then he'll roll along, too, by bringing his fingers down to return the hold, even if there's keysmashing going on in his brain along with the fever. Xion, if he can track Asch across the world and meet him in several spots for the sake of competition, he'd surely be able to find you.]

I'll think of something! Eyes in the back of my head, remember?

[fourteen]

[ well, at least her blush is slowly fading... don't oh-so-gently brush her hair back like that again and we should be good.

her smile quirks at one corner, and she gives his hand a light squeeze. ]

The magical retreating eyes that only seem to be there when you want them to be? Yeah, I'm sure those will help.

[fabrecation]

[He just wanted to get a good look at her eyes. Really. Really really.]

What, you doubt me and my magical eyes?

[fourteen]

[ sure. of course he did. totally innocent motives there, fon Fabre.

... also, she is gonna brb and snerk. ]

Maybe just a little.

[fabrecation]

[HE SAW THAT SNERK.]

A little sure can go a long way...

[fourteen]

[ hehe. ruffles his hair with her free hand. ]

Someday we're gonna have to play hide and seek just so I can see if these eyes of yours any good.

[fabrecation]

[Oh, Xion, you should know firsthand how much Luke CHEATS at that game.

So, he just GRINS.]

You're on!

[fourteen]

[ ... waaaait a minute. sudden pout. ]

I'm not letting you hide! You cheat! [ SHE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN. ]

[fabrecation]

[WHATEVER.]

Fine. I'll let you hide! [HE CHEATS THE OTHER WAY AROUND TOO, MISSY.]