We Are Bulletproof

*already tried that and failed sooo*

Touché.
Are you still here?
In the hospital? Or are your spying eyes not your own?

Darkness enveloped Susumu as he entered the hospital room. His brows raised, surprised at the darkness. Did Alva just sit beside Rae's side in the darkness without thought to turning on a light? There were blinding overhead lights but there were also wall-mounted lamps beside the bed that he could have used. Susumu shook his head slightly, as if in gentle admonishment.

The relief in Alva was palpable as he immediately wheeled himself over and wrapped his arms around him. Susumu could hear it in his voice. He could feel it in the slight tremble of Alva's arms around him. No doubt, Alva was tired, exhausted from his ordeal with his... old friend. Susumu smiled to himself, sure that nobody could see the self-satisfaction on his face... up until his gaze lit on the figure lying asleep in the bed. Light from the hallway illuminated him and he cut a pathetic figure there, lying on his back, his head turned toward where Alva had likely been lying his head beside him. His face had seen better days; it was covered in bruises and a thick bandage where he must have been cut or scratched across the cheek and nose.

Poor, poor thing. Susumu's eyes narrowed at the sight of him, heart growing cold. Yes, poor, poor thing. Susumu knew what he had done. Fighting with others of his kind... Really? What a... show.

Susumu lifted his hand and brushed it over the back of Alva's neck and up into the fine hairs at the back of his neck. His expression became tender as it left Rae and dropped to Alva. After a long moment, he lowered himself on one knee so that they were face to face. His hand slid up to gently caress Alva's cheek, to guide some hair away from his tired eyes.

"Of course I'm here. You didn't think I'd leave you to deal with this all alone... did you?" He smiled at Alva. His other hand touched Alva's knee. "When have you last eaten? You need to remember to take care of yourself."

You're watching us?
That's cute.

I agree, however, that I would like to separate them.
I'm just wondering what role you plan on playing.

I can easily just rip out his memories of Alva.

Now how exactly do you think you can help me with that?

Really? And what is it you think I want?

Have I?
We'll have to try it together next time we go out.


By the way, I'm at the hospital now.
I should be on your floor soon.

There were never any guarantees in Susumu's line of work. There were simply targets and deadlines and the hunt brought with it a thrill that kept him going, that made him ideal for the job. There were hunters, after all. Why not those who hunted the hunters? That was what Susumu had become and in doing so, he had learned to be able to turn off certain aspects of his emotions when it best suited him.

Alva was a curious sort of person to Susumu. Of course, he felt terribly guilty for cursing him, even if it had been on accident. Something told him, though, that Alva might have stood in his way if he knew what he was up to--on purpose. Alva had a habit of putting himself on the line for all those he loved and although the circle at first seemed small, it stretched farther than Susumu first expected.

Protection or not, Susumu's magic only seemed to cause a rift between them. Yet, Susumu could not bring himself to regret what he had done. The intentions of his magic were apparent and for a time, they did help Alva. Then the memories came surging back to the others and it broke the curse. Suddenly, all those that poisoned Alva's life were back and they were poisoning him all over again. Watching Alva suffer in silence with a smile on his face wracked Susumu with a slow burning anger--he wasn't altogether fond of those in Alva's life, no matter how much Alva loved them. Did he not see how they took and they took and they took from him? They were leaving such a beautiful soul in ruins.

Most of all--the worst offender--Reagan Ryang.

Susumu frowned when he received the message but he held his tongue--or rather, his fingers. He held back the words he wished to say in order to spare Alva his real thoughts. This was nothing new; Susumu's real personality only shown through as a tip of an iceberg. Beneath that was something far more complicated and nothing that Alva had even touched upon thus far in knowing him.

When Susumu arrived at the hospital, he walked with purpose and his gaze was sharp as he studied each and every person he met or passed on the way to Reagan's room. Was he still here? Oh, he knew that Alva was. But Josh. Was he still lurking around the hospital, lying in wait for Alva? His eyes narrowed as he reached the hallway that led to the room he was looking for. His steps were deliberate as he approached, watching, waiting.

You'll have to demonstrate this.
I've never tried it.

Those are some strange pairs.

Yes, together.
I'm still getting used to that, I apologize.

And if he can't, I'll find a way myself.

I'll do what I have to
to make sure what you're thinking will never come to pass.

Honestly, this was urgent from the start. I wish he would have agreed to see you sooner.

Alva. I promise you, I'll keep you safe.
You will not hurt anyone.
I won't let you.

I promise.

And the meeting is tomorrow. I told him it was urgent.

I'll help you by getting you out of the reach of that mark's power.
You're not going to hurt anyone.

Unfortunately... yes.
The closer we get to October 31, the worse things will get.