jikan_network | video

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video | un: sincity

(( Oh, look who isn't trapped in the positively medieval place that masquerades as a hospital anymore! He's obviously still laid up if the bandages under the open robe he's wearing are any indication. ))

No offense intended... Is there anyone here who practices 21^st century medicine? I'd like to be treated by someone who actually knows what a bullet wound is.

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"He could still show up." Which is as close as Vegas will say to 'don't give up hope.' It was just weird and uncomfortable seeing Kinn like this, with all his carefully crafted walls crumbling. Better here, in front of him, than in the seedier parts of town in front of someone who might take dangerous advantage of it.

Vegas meant it when he said he was done with their rivalry. Here, they were equals. There was nothing Kinn had that Vegas could want. Here they could actually build something together. It was actually kind of a nice thought.

Kinn would never have a breakdown outside the walls he considered safe. Never. "I don't know if I want him to. I'd be subjecting him to this special level of hell."

It was weird sitting there, his fingers threaded with Vegas, using it as a tether to sanity. And it was a little hysterical, relying on Vegas of all people, for sanity. This world was fucking backwards.

That's true. Vegas really isn't the sort of person anyone should rely on for stability. But in short, measured bursts, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing. At least Kinn isn't all alone.

Vegas squeezed his hand. Kinn's definitely a less selfish person he.

"You think he's not already in hell without you? Dumbass. Even I know he'd rather be with you than without you, no matter where."

"Do you think they even know?" That was probably the biggest worry he had. Did the others know they were missing? Did they even care? Of course, Father would be worried. And Kim, which meant he was next in line, whether he liked it or not. But the rest of his friends? Porsche? Would it be less stressful if they didn't know?

"This place is ten ways of fucked up," he sighed, finally giving up on trying to puzzle it all out. There was no use pondering the what-ifs. What mattered was the present and what they had to deal with in the now.

"I dunno," he answered. He didn't have the answers. This place was weird and fucked up and who knows if time even moved the same. He'd read stories about that experience of time slowing down and lives flashing before eyes in dangerous situations. Maybe he was actually dying and this was some fevered dream before the end. Maybe they'd been here days, weeks, months and only seconds passed at home. Who knows?

It had to be something. If Kinn's from some point in Vegas' future, wouldn't he have noticed that Vegas was gone all that time? He doesn't have the answers and he really doesn't have the energy to think too deeply about it.

"I dunno," he repeated, rubbing his thumb along Kinn's hand.

He couldn't delve into it too deeply. Kinn was already on the edge and while this was... comforting, in a sense, his mind was all too aware that it was still Vegas and Khun would be having kittens at this point.

"Are you a prune, yet?" As much as he would rather have Vegas soak for as long as he needed to, it was probably a good idea to start moving past the depression. Kinn's depression, that is. He doubted Vegas had much of that, currently.

It's weird for him too, rest assured. But he also needs Kinn to be sharp and focused. Vegas himself is in no position to take on leadership while he's injured. And he doesn't want any conflicts with Kinn over it, even if he could.

He lifts his free hand from the water to inspect his fingertips and nods silently. "Yeah, I think it's time to get out." There, offer Kinn something useful to do to help keep his mind off his woes for a couple of minutes.

That he can do! Releasing Vegas' hand, he gets up for the towel, extra pants, and a robe, setting those to the side and within easy reach as he offers an arm for leverage so Vegas can get up. As he waits, he looks out the window.

"Well, at least when you're better, I have something to do out here." The damage wasn't terrible, but it was enough that Kinn needed to make reparations.

Vegas takes the proffered arm to help keep his balance as he gets up. He's not sure if it's the actual injuries or the lack of using his abdominal muscles that makes is difficult to do with ease. Once he's up though, he's quick to wrap the towel around his waist so Kinn doesn't have to stand there with his back to him.

"Don't wait til I'm better," he advised. Vegas understood Kinn's outburst. He also understood his need to do something to keep his mind off things. When Pete left him, he'd oscillated wildly between being useless and cleaning the mess that was left behind. He needed to exact some control over his space if he couldn't have it over his emotions. Maybe Kinn was volatile like that, too.

"Pete'll look after me. You should fix this before anyone else tries to use it."

Kinn knew that, too. He ... he just wanted...

He wanted Porsche. End of story.

"I'll take care of it," he grumped, leading Kinn to a stool so that the wounds could be dressed if they needed. "Do you want to get patched up again or leave them to the air and have Pete do it?" Either way was fine by him. He didn't like doctoring people if he didn't have to.

Vegas pauses to give that question some thought. "Pretty sure Pete won't be happy with either of us if we leave 'em."

To which Kinn nods and proceeds to bring about the salves and bandages. "That's what I figured. Let's get you patched up and ready to hike back, then."

Vegas is silent for a long moment, then quietly mutters, "Thanks, Kinn."

That mean streak is in him, wanting to push it. He didn't hear properly, he didn't understand, blah blah blah. Kinn curbs as he opens the jar of salve, a small smile playing on his face. "Family sticks around for one another. That doesn't need to change."

Some bitter part of Vegas wants to ask where that sense of family loyalty was before... but he bites his tongue. They have to stick together here or they've got nothing. It's hard for him not to be unhappy about it, but he also has enough clarity to see how much of the rivalry was their fathers' doing (thanks, near-death experience!).

"Don't think this means I'm gonna be nice to you."

Maybe he should have pushed for a louder thanks.

"You already thanked me. Too fucking late."

They played their own parts in it. It wasn't going to be a miracle turn around that old habits magically fixed themselves.

"Shut up about it already," he groaned.

"Should have had a recorder on," he continues, helping roll bandages around Vegas's back to keep them in place. "Just so I could relish in the tone whenever I want."

"Fuck you, man." But there's no bite in his voice.

Edited 2022-10-25 02:33 (UTC)

"Aw, don't be like that to your cousin." Kinn is careful jostling Vegas' shoulder just a little bit as he croons. "You might hurt my feelings."

"If it were that easy, I'd've done it already." Vegas knows he's a mean guy. But Kinn's always been able to give as good as he gets. And, Vegas suspects, Kinn has fewer hidden insecurities than he does.

Kinn smirks, finishing up on the bandage job. "Glad I can keep you on your toes, still." Ready to go?

Vegas nods in thanks and pulls his robe on for the trek back to his room. He's uncharacteristically quiet, perhaps after witnessing Kinn's minor meltdown. He can't blame him. He'd be no better if Pete weren't here.

"Let's do some brainstorming about what you wanna accomplish here when I'm feeling a little better, yeah?"

Kinn hums in agreement, nodding. Brainstorming would be good. Porsche wasn't here so he could bounce ideas off him. He hoped that Vegas would be a good substitute. He thinks so, given the advances they had made so far. They didn't need to be as close as people felt brothers should be, but they could work together civilly.

"You get up to your old self, and we can talk."

"Mm," he nods. Then, after a pause, "I'm not sure how involved I wanna be, Kinn. But I'll be here if you need it."

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