02 - [open]

[stoicperfection]

Heero was hunched over a table, a dissembled pistol lay in pieces on top of the table in the common area. There wasn't much light to work by, given the time of day he was working, but he knew the mechanics of a gun like the back of his hand. Fixing the jam would be no problem and it needed a good cleaning anyway.

It had been days since the last time Heero had slept. With the nightmares and things everyone were experiencing, he wasn't going to take a chance and be forced to go through the same. Nightmares drawn up from memories were the last thing he wanted to experience, especially since he was now sharing a room with two other people. For the time being he flat out refused to sleep, using every bit of his training to stay awake and finding things to do. Exploring, tinkering with a pistol, training, and other things. However, it was getting to the point that pretty soon he was going to have to nod off for a bit. He couldn't keep going at this rate.

Occasionally he stopped, lifting his head and looking around the common room for other people. After being attacked and having Duo nearly try to kill him, he was on a heightened guard. No one was awake, but that didn't mean the shadows wouldn't come back for him. Hell, maybe his attacker would like to go for a second try with him. 


((ooc: It's the middle of the night and Heero is busy maintaining a weapon. Feel free to sit with and bother him.))

Comments

[stoicperfection]

He considered Harth's comment for a moment, knowing full well that it was a runabout way of asking for help. It would be a great way of observing this stranger and getting know his quirks, also to know just why he had this uneasy feeling whenever he was around.

"Where are you trying to get?" He's accepted your invitation, but he's going to be quite cautious.

[herotherhalf]

"Trying to get a feel for this place. I haven't done any exploring." He paused a bit, frowning sheepishly.

"I'm also not very strong." Oh, he was very strong, but he didn't want Heero to know that. That could also cover why he was going at night, so nobody had to see him embarrass himself.

[stoicperfection]

So, Harth apparently was a weak man who could notice himself being tailed. The more they interacted, the more he suspected something was up with Harth. His moods shifted too much.

Heero looked at him skeptically before he ascended the stairs to join him. "You'd better be careful then."

[herotherhalf]

Being observant and being strong didn't go hand and hand. He kept a close eye on Heero. Perhaps he needed to be more consistent. No, he did. He was still wrapping his mind around all these people, sorting all of this information.

In the corner there was a stick and a torch. He went over to pick it up, feigning a bit of effort on his part. It would have been heavy for someone his size. He held it up to the flame and lit it aflame so they had light,but it still seemed very heavy for him.

[stoicperfection]

Obviously not, but Harth was obviously too good at being observant and his whole speech seemed like an act. Heero frowned when he watched the boy struggle to lift up the torch. Something about it seemed about right, yet wrong at the same time.

"I'll hold that." He took the torch from Harth.

[herotherhalf]

Harth let him, looking down sheepishly. Jesu, what a wuss he was, right?

"What if we run into shadows?"

[stoicperfection]

"We'll run for it." Because even he couldn't handle a whole hoard of shadows on his own. He wasn't trusting Harth either.

[herotherhalf]

"Hm." He started up the stairs to the top of the roof, cautiously and jumping at some of the night animal sounds. A hoot of an owl caught his attention.

"I suppose I should have still taken another one of those sticks." Harth said, looking down as his glasses reflected the light.

"I don't want to be useless."

[stoicperfection]

"We'll be fine." If it really came down to it he could hold off the shadows enough for Harth to get away. But he doubted it would come to that

"Just stay close."

[herotherhalf]

"O-okay." Harth did stay close, not a yard behind Heero as they walked up the steps to the roof top. He took note of the clear star filled sky while he was up there, moving along behind Heero.

It was foolish to come up here at night, not for Harth, but for Heero. Now he was wondering what Heero would think, if he'd really consider going further or not. It was treacherous after all.

[stoicperfection]

He wasn't as weak as Harth seemed to be thinking. Yes he wasn't a vampire and didn't have any of their abilities, but for what he did have it made him an incredible human. Sure he couldn't fight of Harth, which was a problem, but he could hold his own elsewhere.

Having said abilities and his mindset totally made him for go exploring further.

Heero glanced at the sky for a moment before he looked to Harth, checking to make sure that the boy was staying close to him. Not too close of course.

[herotherhalf]

Not too close, no. Harth strayed behind Heero just a few more feet now, walking after him. Once they were close to the Trolley tracks, he heard something, a whoosh of swirling black energy came from the corner by the metal fence on the side of the roof. There.

Two large ox like monsters flew out of the portal, three more small spider like things came skittering at them.

[stoicperfection]

Hearing the crackling energy, Heero turned in time to see those things coming out of the portals. Great. Just what they needed right now.

"Start heading for the stairs." He brandished the torch he was holding and reached back for the pistol.

[herotherhalf]

It was dark enough that even if he did run for anywhere, he'd be shrouded by darkness. Easy to hide. He'd just see where Heero ended up in this fight. So he started moving as ordered.

"Right!" He stammered, heading back from wence they came easily ten yards behind them.

[stoicperfection]

As Harth ran, he glanced back to make sure he got far enough away before he started moving back himself. The last time he fought shadows, he ended up outside the sarcophagi. That wasn't going to happen again.

At least not without a good fight.

As the shadows moved closer, he drew his gun and fired a few shots into them to see how effective they were. If they failed, the best he could do was use the torch and retreat.

[herotherhalf]

Maybe. Harth took refuge behind the lookout tower that stood as a centerpiece of this roof, looking over Heero who was now lit only by the torch he had. Harth smiled a bit, chanting a spell under his breath. Just as a shadow neared Heero after taking a few bullets, he said the final word, sucking the air away from the fire which put it out, leaving him blind to the dark.

Why would he need a torch if he could see just fine? Now it all depends on Heero's performance.

[stoicperfection]

Of all the things to go wrong. The torch blew out, leaving him in complete darkness with shadows coming at him. Bullets didn't seem to do much damage either. So much for that.

Taking a step back, Heero peered into the darkness and waited for his eyes to adjust. There still wasn't much he could see and those shadows blended in well. The only thing he could do was get downstairs and still back into the light.

So he turned and ran for the stairs.

[herotherhalf]

One step wasn't going to do it. There were two large shadows coming at Heero to grab for him. Worse yet? Harth positioning himself so that Heero runs right into him.

[stoicperfection]

That was exactly what happened to. Heero ran from the shadows in the direction he thought the stairs were and ran right directly into Harth.

[herotherhalf]

And toppled right on over him only to become a tangle of arms and legs as Harth ended up on top, pressing his hand into Heero's face as he tried to sit up.

"I can't see anything!" He exclaims. Oh, how clumsy of him! Hear the fear in his voice, he's not all too sure what's happening!

[stoicperfection]

Falling forward hard, Heero landed hard on the ground, somehow managing to end up under Harth. Growling in frustration and a hand to the face, he reached up to push the scared boy off of him.

"Calm down and get off!"

[herotherhalf]

He shook, his skin cold as he struggled to get up and falling all over himself. Finally, when a large one was right over them both about to grab him? He got off and scrambled out of the way.

The shadow over them threw his clawed arms down on Heero, trying to smother him.

[stoicperfection]

As soon as Harth was off him, he was left to fight off the shadow trying to smother him. He groped blindly for the unlit torch beside him, managing to grab it and swung at the shadow.

[herotherhalf]

Harth moved off, moving to avoid the second one and watching Heero as he fought against the shadow. He'd let him handle it, or not. Preferably not.

The shadow grabbed at Heero in an effort to pick him up and drew him into the air.

[stoicperfection]

When the shadow had him in the air, Heero fought harder with the torch. Did anything work against these things? Unfortunately he hadn't gotten a metal weapon yet, so he was just stuck with a torch and a seemingly useless gun.

Said usless gun was whipped out again and fired point blank into the shadow creature.