route_1065 | And when he held his wounded friend in his arms and death was all around

Who:

wingless_falcon
Where: The Pokemon Center --> Southeast of Goldenrod City
When: Sunday evening.
Summary: Ken wakes up from his canon-update coma. SHIT GOES DOWN.
Rating: R for Mature Concepts and triggers. TRIGGERS. LIKE MURDER AND DEATH AND SUICIDE. STAY OUT IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT.
Log:
Ken was stirring. Only barely, but he was stirring.

His dreams were uncomfortable and dark, and of the place he had once called home. Everything felt cold on his skin, as he felt himself dropping off in the alley behind Port Island Station. The temperatures were mild, even warm, but Ken felt as if he were surrounded in ice, freezing to death with the regret and knowledge of what he had caused--even with the ability to change things. He tried so hard to stop his fingers from shaking in the deserted alley that had been bloodstained only the night before.

Suppressants.

Shinjiro had been taking suppressants. He was going to die anyway. That did not make Ken feel much better--if anything it made him feel worse. If it weren't for him, if it weren't for his mother, for his revenge, Shinjiro would not have had to die.

Conflicted feelings on Shinjiro's actions or not, Ken was certain he no longer desired Shinjiro's death. Not while the man had stood before him and thanklessly taken the shot that would have killed Ken. Not while he had seen Shinjiro's guilt tear at him so badly he felt he needed to die to fix things--at his own hands when Ken could not commit the deed.

Ken's hand twitched in the Pokemon Center as if he were trying to grab something.

He stared at the evoker in his hands. How silly SEES had been not to take it away from him. How silly they had been to give it to him in the first place. Giving an eleven year old boy power beyond most people's wildest dreams? The power to kill in one shot, the power to heal someone on the verge of death... Could that really be trusted with Ken?

He knew if they found him, the would not let him keep it.

There is no reason for him to feel regret. That is the nature of revenge.

Ken wasn't sure, now, that Nemesis would even come to his call. The goddess of Divine Retribution--would she have abandoned him when he showed mercy, when he didn't think that a life for a life was necessary? The thought scared him. Ken was alone, left behind, and maybe powerless.

He lifted the evoker to his forehead. He had to see, he had to know--would she come for him? His breath shaking, his finger rested on the trigger. Three... two... on--

The evoker clattered to the ground beside him. He couldn't do it--not... not now.

The minutes ticked away, his eyes becoming heavy, tears clinging stubbornly to his lashes, though he swore to himself that he was not crying. Darkness began to close in around the edges of his eyes. He was so very tired... but he was so sure that this was not a good place to fall asleep, his former home or not.

He thought, for only moments before darkness closed in, of the tiny home that had stood here, two years ago, and the woman who had inhabited it with him--

Do not fear, this life is but a stepping stone...

Ken's eyes flickered open. It was very bright for the back alley, he thought. Or perhaps this wasn't the back alley, and he had died there. And now he was in whatever came next.

... No, he wasn't. He couldn't be. He finally tore his eyes away from the ceiling and looked to his side.

Miles-san... The expression he regarded his friend with was something between shock and horror.

Johto... he was back in Johto.

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"You don't look fine." Merlin lifted Ken from the floor and pulled back the covers on the bed adjacent to his before slipping Ken under them. That done, he turned and surveyed Miles critically. "Three choices: sleep, hot bath, or hot drink"

"I've done all I can for Ken right now, and it would silly for you to catch a chill if he doesn't," he said, making his voice as firm as possible.

".....Do you have any aspirin? I don't think I'll be able to sleep with this headache.."

A bath was out of the question. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to sleep, either. The thought of taking his eyes off of Ken, even for a second, frightened him to the point that he started shaking even more. He struggled to get to his feet, taking a step forward.. and the action sent the room spinning wildly - he stumbled, screwing his eyes shut against the headache.

"My fever never really went down.."

Edited 2011-01-09 09:30 (UTC)

Silently, Merlin caught the boy and directed him to sit on his bed. "I'll spare you the lecture about health, since you're already in such poor condition," he commented, wrapping the boy in the blankets.

Then, he frowned, turning the request over mentally. "I'm not sure what aspirin is," he admitted finally. "Is it another herb you can use to dull the headaches?"

"...Promise I'll get better." Miles drew his feet up on the bed, kicking his shoes to the floor and pulling his wet socks off, tucking them into the warm cocoon of the blankets.

He paused, looking thoughtful at Merlin's question. He could explain this... he remembered this from the books he'd read...

"It's... yes. It's medicine that's made from something similar to willow bark.."

"No aspirin, I'm afraid. At least, I don't believe I have any," Merlin said as he rummaged in his satchel, pulling out a few containers. "But I do have willow bark. That should help with the fever and headache."

Taking the crushed bark and mixing it with warm water, he handed the cup to Miles, smiling apologetically. "It'll be bitter, but it isn't so bad if you down it quickly."

Edited 2011-01-09 20:37 (UTC)

"Thank you." Miles, in return, gave Merlin a feeble smile as he reached out to take the cup. He a first flinched at the temperature, his hands still sensitive to heat from their frostbite, and he tried again after wrapping his hands in the blankets.

The first sip he took rewarded Merlin with a grimace - it was rather bitter. But he gulped it down, grateful for the warmth the drink gave him.

After waiting for Miles to finish, Merlin held out his hand for the empty cup. "It looks like the two of you will be staying here tonight," he commented. "You're completely knackered and Ken's in no condition to be moving around."

Popping his neck with a wince, he said, sheepishly, "and so am I, come to think of it. I didn't expect visitors on the day I arrived."

He looked over at Ken's sleeping figure, smile slipping from his face. "It would probably be best for all three of us to turn in early. We can discuss things in the morning."

Edited 2011-01-09 21:37 (UTC)

".....I'm sorry. You were the only person I could think of."

Miles looked towards Ken, frowning as he did so. He was tired as death, but the thought of taking his eyes off of Ken was still frightening. What if he woke up, and Miles wasn't there to stop him this time...?

"Don't apologise, Miles," he said quietly. "I'm glad you thought to seek me out."

Once he had placed the cup back on the table, he walked over to Miles and wrapped the blanket more securely around him. "Sleep, Miles," he told the other firmly. "I'll stay up and watch Ken, if that's what has you so worried."

He left out the minor detail of not being able to sleep well for the past few days as he reassured the boy.

"You look like you're about to collapse, yourself." He reached out and fumbled to grasp Merlin's sleeve, tugging on it. "I know what it's like after someone you were close to disappears. You.. probably haven't slept, either."

He gestured toward his bag, where Pess' Pokéball rested of.

"She's been watching Ken with me all week.. She-- I think she'll stay up for us, Merlin. You should sleep as well."

Merlin laughed, though it comes out sounding a bit hollow. "All right, you caught me. I...haven't really slept since Arthur disappeared."

He eyed Pess' pokeball for a moment, considering it. Then, he shook his head slowly. "I think your Pess might be exhausted as well. She stayed up with you, and then brought the two of you here. It might be better if one of mine keeps watch for tonight. Let Pess rest."

After a moment's consideration, he chose Balinor's pokeball, releasing the dratini, who immediately coiled upon himself to better fit into the room. Walking over, Merlin whispered to him, falling easily into the dragon tongue. "A friend has been injured, Balinor. Would you mind letting me know if he wakes before I do?"

The dratini gave a simple nod, twining around Merlin's torso. Merlin then looked over at Miles. "Take the bed for tonight, Miles. Balinor and I will stay on the couch."

Miles, by then, was too exhausted to think of more arguments. Somewhere in his mind, he realized that arguing would only cause Merlin more trouble anyway -- he nodded, glancing once more at Ken. His eyes then turned to the large bed he was seated on, and the blankets around his body. It was warm.

"Thanks, Merlin," he muttered before unceremoniously flopping over, burying his face in the pillow.

And when he held his wounded friend in his arms and death was all around

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