Afterparty [closed]

[bloodyashes]

Characters: Team Nolo
Setting: Around the dorms - backdated to the day after infiltration
Format: Whatever have you - other members of Team Dead, feel free to set up your own prompts in the comments.
Summary: Wake up after falling down an elevator/getting Jason-shanked/etc, go around and make sure your buddies are okay.
Warnings: what do you think three quarters of them are waking up from dead

[He comes to in bed and it's not so bad - an ache in his neck that's probably just as much psychological as anything. It's when he goes to reach up to rub it and he can't, and he tries again and he can't, and again...

He can't move. He can't move and the pain is coming again or worse they'll take his body from him again no no no

By five minutes he's starting to hyperventilate, his body reacting to the panic and still out of his control. By ten minutes, there's tears starting to build up, the kind born of complete helplessness and fear.

And there's still twenty minutes left.]

Comments

[invisible_friendship]

[Jonouchi was practically in disbelief with what he was hearing. Many times, he's been told about the world where Ion and the others were from and many times he was often fascinated by it. But it wasn't until Ion spoke that Jonouchi felt like he was missing the big picture of the world almost half his team was from.

He was more intent on not letting the other go, not any time soon. He gritted his teeth momentarily before speaking.]

You're good for a lot of things. All the memories I have with you, all of your time spent here. That means something to your friends here. You don't have to carry the weight by yourself anymore. We're here for you. I'm here for you.

Don't you understand? I can't replace you if I lose you.

[Ohh Yuugi!! How was he going to save the friend that changed his life. That empty void with out Yuugi could never be filled. It was physically painful for him to admit that. Jounouchi started to crack, Ion's back would dampen with tears.]

[fragileprophet]

[Can't be replaced.

The words bounce around and echo in his brain and they hurt because it's something he's always wanted to hear and feel but he isn't sure he deserves them. His thoughts spill out like water from a cracked vase and he can't stop them just like he can't stop his tears from falling anymore.]

I don't understand.[This isn't something he want's Jonouchi to know or to hear but he needs to say it. He can't help himself.] I can't because I have so many replacements.

[And he was one, in the end. Just a replacement. No matter how unique he tried to wish himself. He didn't even have his own name. He had never even had a life outside of Daath until he met Luke. And why should this place be any different? They had already replaced his replicated body with something even more inhuman.

That's when Ion realizes that he wasn't the only one crying. Everything slows down as he beings to truly processes the situation he's in.]

Jonouchi...I'm sorry. [He hugs his friend back, finally, guilt filling him up and cutting his self-pity and his disgust short.] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...to hurt you.

[invisible_friendship]

[Jonouchi continued to not believe Ion could simply be replaced if he were to perish. It really wasn't something he wanted to hear and no level of explaining would convince him to believe otherwise. He pulled away from Ion, not to give them distance, but because Ion needs to see his face for what's about to come. The blonde rubbed away his tears with the skin of his forearm before setting his hands on Ion's shoulders.]

Ion, no one can replace you. Replacements can't replace you. All of those memories we have together. They're special to us. All of the memories with your friends are special to you. No replacement can ever relive the feelings and memories you're having right now. Do you hear me, Ion? No one! Not even them!

[Jonouchi removed his hands and turned to the side.]

No other Ion will share the feelings we've had together, and don't think for a second one ever could!

You're not replaceable

[He made eye contact.]

If you say you are I swear I'm going to punch you.

[fragileprophet]

[Ion's expression can only be described as torn--split in half between what he's been taught to believe since his inception and what he wants to believe right now. Those earnest, heartwarming words should make him so happy, and Ion only wishes he was really in a place to be able to communicate to Jonouchi how much they truly mean to him.

The best thing he can do now, although he can't find the strength to agree, or truly accept them, is to bring back his smile. This time, it's not so broken. Ion looks at the empty spaces on his shoulders where his friend's hands were just moments ago and then wipes the tears from his face. He takes in a slow breath, then lets it out shakily.]

...Thank you.

[Regardless of how Ion felt about himself, he had to admit that he was nothing short of blessed to have made such wonderful, kind friends.]

[invisible_friendship]

I wasn't the only one to die right?

[He knows that Asch guy did too, and it was such a risky gamble. There had to been more causalities, as much as he wanted to deny it.]

What happened?

[fragileprophet]

[Ion shakes his head. Once again, he seems to deflate thinking about it...but this time it's not out of self-pity.]

Neither you nor Asch were able to make it out of the elevator shaft. [His face twists uncomfortably.] Several of us almost suffered similar fates.

[He can still remember the cord cutting into him, cutting off his breathing. He can still remember everyone's screams as bodies fell and crashed into them. Jonouchi's body.] We were lucky that way.

[Ion pauses before he continues.] We made it into one of the doors along the side of the shaft. After a few moments we were able to regroup but...[His voice falters, hardens.]...that's when we ran into Jason.

[invisible_friendship]

And what happened after that?

[He was pissed he ended there, and he was even more upset he couldn't be there with Ion.]

[fragileprophet]

There were three hallways. [Ion sighs.] Sheba and Dark Pit and Xion all worked to cause a diversion...and then we ran. I went with Luke down one of the hallways.

[He manages to smile, though it's a sad smile. One that barely masks the self-loathing in his eyes.]

I'm not very good at running, so I was caught and killed fairly quickly.

[invisible_friendship]

Damn it! [That was frustrating to here. After all of that and this is what it comes to! Ion even died. This was not what he wanted here, but he needed to know.]

There has to be another way.

[fragileprophet]

I don't know what happened to the others. [He was worried, and wanted to make sure that there were okay now, as soon as he could. But more than that, he was feeling guilty and ashamed. He agreed with Jonouchi, that there had to have been some other way to better approach this. However...]

I'm weak. [He says it quietly, as if on accident, but firmly. It's not a statement that he intends to have argued.] I wanted to help, but in the end...I didn't. I couldn't even run.

[It was pathetic. And it only served to remind him that, even if what Jonouchi said was true and he wasn't something that could be replaced, that didn't make him any less of a burden.] And despite that, I still want to help. But maybe...I shouldn't. I want less to drag down those that are capable of making a difference.

[invisible_friendship]

[Oh goddamn it, he didn't realize how much Ion had actually been hurting inside until now. Usually he wasn't so persistent to pry from people if they didn't want to talk about, but things were different now. They had more to worry about and a lot more to lose. Maybe he should pry from Ion.]

Ion, don't be stupid! [And Jonouchi was quite stern about it.] So maybe you aren't athletic and you can't help in a way others can. It sure as hell doesn't make you a burden!

[The blonde folded his arms over his chest, reading serious vibes.] Just like you're your own person. You can help in ways other people can't. Not once have I ever considered you a burden. Your help is wanted.