castleinthemist | 02

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02 - open

Toph knew she found the courtyard through various senses. She could smell the fresh air, hear the birds, and feel the warm sunlight and cool breeze. The hard stone from the castle faded into softer walkway stone as she moved out into the yard. When her feet touched the grass, she smiled to herself. No longer was the resonance of vibration from the earth surging out and back at her with all its strength. Instead, it met resistance and the grass muffled her senses as it tickled her feet, creating a sort of static for her until it gave way under her soles to let foot meet soil and allow the reverberations communicate to her nearly half a second later than solid ground.

It was a strange sensation, but she welcomed it. It calmed her, and she continued to smile while she moved to what she thought was a nice spot.

She breathed calmly and evenly as she took her stance. One move, another, and then a third, and a perfectly shaped chaise rose up from the ground. She felt proud of herself as she moved to it and lay down, body lying comfortably against the contour of the grass-covered reclining seat.

Once decidedly comfortable, Toph pulled a flask from her belt and took a drink from it. Nice, cool water. She'd stolen the idea from another castle inhabitant and had made one out of a chunk of metal ripped from her bed frame. He used his for naughty juice; she used hers for water.

Toph felt a little guilty. Most of the castle was trying to figure out how to get out of there. She, though, wasn't putting so much effort into it. Sure, she wanted to leave, but what could she do? She'd promised a new friend that she wouldn't go far without eyes to help her spot the monsters she couldn't detect. While she wanted to do her part of the exploring and searching for a way home, she didn't want to be useless in a fight against a flying shadow with claws.

There were very few times that Toph would admit her blindness to be a hindrance. A skirmish against the monsters that moved without contact or sound was one of those very few times.

"I'll just wait for a friend," she told no one before closing her eyes and laying her head back against her arm.

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Duo was half tempted to pick Toph up and carry her just to make sure she got there alright, but he already knew given her temperament she wasn't going to be okay with that. He was slightly less beat up than the other two but that didn't mean he was in a good state either.

This sucked. A lot.

"Doubt we'd be that lucky... maybe some one's got somethin' we can use, though... not the first time I've had to make due without an actual med kit..."

At that point, the earthbender likely wouldn't have fought against being carried. The only thing keeping her awake was the need to keep herself upright. Any relaxation probably would have been enough to send her to sleep.

Toph followed them in to the fountain, then lifted an eyebrow at the sound of water.

"Too bad Katara isn't here," she muttered, walking past the boys until she felt the water touch her toes. She knelt down before tearing at her already torn shirt and dipping a large section in the water, using it to wipe at the marks in her shoulders. She couldn't tell if they were longer than deeper or the other way around.

But it stung, at least until the cold water soothed the ache.

Duo followed Toph's lead after kicking off his shoes and rolling up the bottom of his pants to his knees so he could wade in a little. Well, they weren't as deep as he thought they were, but they hurt. Just the one could probably use stitches. Stung like a bastard too. He waded in and let the water sting at his wounds and flow over them. He winced until all he could feel was the water.

After a minute, he pulled back and tore off from the bottom of the pants that were torn anyway, he started tying them around his wounds, trying to close them up at least a little bit.

"I know that, bro. But when have you ever had a wound that looked like you got mauled by a goddamn dog?"

He was probably the only one NOT scratched, and he felt horrible for that. If he had just been a little bit better...

No. He couldn't think like that. If he started, it was a slippery slope in to a mentality he did not want to embrace at all.

His shoulders ached, arms more so, and his back probably the most. Aches would fade faster than scratches and cuts, though, and right then his friends needed whatever help he could possibly offer. He didn't offer an answer to his double's question. Just a shrug.

"Here..." he said to Toph, taking the wet cloth she'd torn away to dab carefully at her wounds, getting the areas she couldn't easily reach.

She didn't so much as hand the cloth over as she did just not fight about it when he took it. She was exhausted, and reaching too far and molding her torso into a shape that would allow access to her wounds was uncomfortable. If he wanted to help, she'd let him.

It hurt less when he did it. Maybe it didn't even hurt at all. She wasn't sure why. Sokka had explained it once, something about even the most simple and basic of touches and contact being comforting, or something. She hadn't paid that much attention.

Either way, the pilot's help was greatly appreciated... and after she'd been mean to him. She bit her lip while he worked. After a short time of that, she sighed.

"Sorry, Duo," she muttered.

Duo sat on the little stone bench around the water looking at the two. He watched as his double took care of the girl then frowned, looking down as he finished mending his wounds. He was still shaking himself, a sick feeling in his stomach from the pain and the blood. He leaned back on his arms, sighing. It was times like this he felt alone, even when he was with somebody.

It's just that he realized at the end of the day that there was nobody who was going to comfort him. No mother, no sibling or father, not even a girlfriend or something!

The closest he had to that was his double and... Right. Hmmng. So he sat there quietly, unable to help and feeling pretty damn awful about it.

"Sorry... ?" Duo echoed, looking down at her curiously. "Oh. About earlier? It's cool, really..."

He wasn't trying to brush off her apology, but he figured now after everything had happened it was kind of a moot point. They had barely survived the attack. There were other things to worry about.

He dipped the cloth back in the water and continued cleaning her back, glancing over his shoulder at his double. He could try to do something for him next, but what he didn't know. He just hated how they were all feeling now.

As moot as it may be, she still felt bad over it.

After a few seconds of silence, she turned an ear towards the older, trying to pinpoint him. She couldn't see him that well through the sand of the fountain, but she could hear the occasional breath he took.

"You okay over there, Space Brain?" she asked quietly, wincing at the echo.

"Or do I- OW! Do I need to come over there and make you cheer up?"

Duo snorted a laugh at the nickname, rubbing a hand down his arm. He was sore all over. His back, his sides, his legs. He shook his head and waved, despite knowing Toph couldn't see him.

"H-hey. Don't you worry about me kiddo. I'll be just fine after a while." Throw that mask right back up. As much as he wanted to let down his defenses he wasn't about to, not easily.

"Concentrate on getting better."

Duo glanced over his shoulder, staring at his double with an unreadable expression. He knew what he was doing. He knew because it was the exact same thing his double did all the time. But calling him on it would have just been met with animosity. He wasn't going to.

"... we'll all feel better after some sleep."

"Sleep does sound amazing," she agreed, taking the rag away and offering a muttered thanks before taking the time to wash her face with it and continue wiping down her exposed arms and legs. While that destroyed her beloved healthy coating of earth, it also depleted the smell of sweat and blood and musty old castle.

"Maybe we'll try to find the tracks later. With more people. And better preparations," she suggested.

"We'll have to. Yeah. Sounds like a good plan." He said, still a bit dismissive as he pushed himself to his feet, wobbling forward once he got there. His eyes landed on his double and his expression faulted for just a moment, frowning. What's the look for? What? He shook his head and turned towards the corridor back to the living space.

"Strength in numbers." And wobbling again he knelt against the seat he'd been sitting at.

He didn't say anything to his double. There was no point. Berating him for something he did himself would just be dumb and hypocritical.

"Yeah. Strength in numbers," was all he said as an echo, sounding numb and exhausted. He really did just want to sleep for eternity.

Toph followed the older's voice until she'd made it from the sand to the hard ground. The echo made her smirk, or would have if she had the energy to do so.

"You two are too alike for your own good..."

She turned her head towards the older, studying his breathing and his heart rate and the way he wobbled.

"Are you okay over there, Space Brain? Can you walk?"

Even if he could, how far could he go? She wasn't too sure that between her and the younger, they'd be able to get him back to bed. She wasn't sure SHE could get all the way there, either. How far were they? She hated not being able to "see".

Should they go get help? But that would mean at least one of them was alone, and as weakened as they were at the time, that meant extra vulnerability. She didn't suspect any of them were up for that.

Or they could set up camp. The fountain was relatively safe, wasn't it? But the older Duo really seemed like he could use a good, comfy bed. While Toph was perfectly fine with the hard ground, she knew not everyone was as tough as she was and needed their fancy mattresses.

There was nothing more to say. He didn't have the energy to protest or make a snappy retort so he just. Offered an affriming "hmmMM" and started walking. Could he make it? Yes. He was okay right up until he tripped over the strap of the medical kit he'd asked for.

"Well... looks like someone was listening after all..."

At first Duo was just too damn out of it to realize what the other was talking about. But a glance down actually earned a half smile, still tired but at least slightly more hopeful than he'd been a moment again.

"Well. I'll be damned. Guess the fountain likes us."

"What is it?" Toph had heard and "seen" the man fall, but she didn't even notice what he'd tripped over in his attempts to walk.

From the sound of it, it was something good, though.

Now that he was on his knees anyway, he flipped over onto his ass and reached over to grab the pack and open it up. Had everything he'd expect. Gauzy wrap, peroxide and other types of things.

"A med kit. Like I asked for before." To answer her question.

Absently he realized just how tired he was. He fell! Tripped! Duo Maxwell doesn't fall right over. He chuckled absently and grimaced.

"Heeh. I don't think I can stand up again." He said with a mirthless laugh. Oh goddamn.

Edited 2012-03-05 06:07 (UTC)

"... seriously?"

He didn't need to ask the question twice, or even really wait for an answer. If he said he couldn't get up then he was probably in worse shape than he realized. Duo let out a sigh and bent down to grab his arm, hauling his double to his feet with a grunt.

"Sleepin' out here might be a bad idea, man... we should try to get to our rooms."

Toph located and grabbed the med kit. She stumbled a bit- the weight was unexpected. She righted herself and moved to follow behind the men.

"Probably a good idea."

The safety and security of the rooms sounded better than the actual sleeping part, in her opinion.

The med kit interested her. What was in it that had them so excited? Why did it rattle, and why did it weigh so much for being so small?

Once he was actually on his feet? Once the soreness in his lower back and legs were a non issue? He could at least walk. Pretty sure it'll go away in a day or so, and getting enough sleep wasn't much of a problem for him.

"Yeah. Seriously." He grunted a bit once he was back up, rubbing his backside with a wince. Begrudgingly, he continued on whilst limping on the worst of his two ankles. It wasn't so bad he couldn't recover from, and his room wasn't too far.

Duo kept close to his double to make sure he didn't fall again, but his attention was split between him and Toph. That med kit was heavy, but she seemed able to carry it pretty well even in her condition.

He lacked anything more to say, though, and lapsed in to an unusual silence with that numb, tired feeling settling over him once more. Goddamn he just wanted the fucking day to end already.

Heavy indeed. There was a strap, and she considered making use of it, but the thought of anything touching the raw, open wounds made her shiver visibly. Instead, she merely held it in her arms aching though they were. This would be SO much easier if she wasn't already exhausted and near dropping. She'd make it, though. She wasn't Toph Tough for nothing, right? She just needed something to distract her from... the less than delightful problems of the day.

"Hey, Loud Mouth, you okay over there?"

Well, she couldn't just call him by his name, could she? Then everyone would be confused!

Duo snorted at the nickname under his breath. It gave him a bit of renewed vigor at least for getting back. He stepped a bit too hard on his left leg. The bad one. Aah. He took another step and made lightly.

"Eeeh. This way." Christ there had better be pain killers in there. Aspirin? Maybe even something to clock him out for a few hours while he slowly dies of gangrene. Once there, he opened the door to his room and stepped inside.

"You guys can stay in here if you want... nobody's been in these beds for weeks."

"Eh?"

He wasn't sure why he responded to that. Maybe because he'd heard her calling the other "Space Brain" earlier and figured that by process of elimination "Loud Mouth" had to be him.

Or maybe he was just delirious enough to answer to anything right then.

"Oh... uh... yeah, I'm just..."

Tired as hell. Fucking exhausted. Too damn numb to feel anything.

"... tired."

He followed his double to the room, looking at the untouched beds and the relatively clean areas around them, contrasting the things sitting near Duo's bed. How long had he been without roommates? And where had they gone? Questions for a time when he wasn't so dead on his feet.

"Thanks, man..." he said, turning so he could take the first aid kit from Toph, finally getting a good look at her wounds now that they were clean.

"... Jesus, Toph..." he muttered, setting the kit down and gently pulling her closer by her upper arm, looking them over. The bleeding hadn't stopped so much as it had slowed, revealing just how deep some of the gashes were.

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