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[to say Martin was shocked to see Rex carrying not just Cass, but Haru into the house after their venture out is...an understatement. truly, it was hard to really focus on any one thing at a time, be it an order or acting on one, and so he seemed as one of those wind-up toy soldiers, always needing a reset to get back into motion before his buzzing thoughts wound him down again.

at least now, after getting the girls settled, there was time to try and understand this. some kind of fight out there...Rex'd go into better detail if asked, but Martin can't really imagine it. the things he knows of fighting is nothing like what really happened, and what he knows leaves him feeling very dreadful about it indeed, despite assurances.

after being sent out to fetch food, Martin spends a lot of time moving between the rooms they're in -- an echo of the anxious ritual he sometimes has in the dead of night where he lingers just beyond door frames to listen for the sounds of breathing. how can he not worry? especially for Haru, whose face has a cluster of scrapes and a bruise here or there.

he'd struggled to remember what food she likes versus what he was advised to get, so, waiting for her on the nightstand is some bread and cheese and some snack she'd had when last she'd visited the house. he remembered what she picked then. there's flowers there, too -- exactly the same pair he'd picked the first time, remembering how well she'd liked them before; those are in a beer glass beside them.

there's also a tiny little ghost -- some kind of home goods nick-knack put out early at the store for Halloween. but Martin remembers she likes scary things, and while this is far more precious and cute than scary...he doesn't really know much better.

this'd be the...fourth? fifth? time he's come back in to check, this time having to saunter in closer to hear and be double-triple sure she was still just sleeping. he doesn't know how she sleeps, but he's impressing this to memory.

this time, lingering closer, he's more fixated on the scrapes on her face. there ought to still be extra ointment left from Circe's batches for that. part of him feels very urgently compelled to do something about that, but another part of him is terrified to even try. he might hurt her, just trying.

the sight of marks like those on her hurts.

without thinking against it, Martin's fingers move to carefully sweep some of her hair off her temple as he searches her face for more harm. before he can almost touch her ear, he realizes what he's doing and stops dead, his paralyzed by a hot rush that makes him near dizzy standing still.

he quickly retracts his hand to himself, wobbling a bit before sitting down on the carpet.

shouldn't do that. not sure why, but it--shouldn't do that.]

[ Haru is having trouble remembering how exactly she got off the Deathstar in relatively one piece. Even in her dreams it all comes in fragments, small pieces that don't align correctly just yet. In all that chaos, adrenaline high and the tension in the air so thick it was suffocating, it's hard to remember the little details. She recalls some sort of evacuation call and droids pouring from every corner of the hall, charging after imPorts and Haru narrowly dodging being shot at.

She had been lucky, hadn't she?

... then there had been Rex. Yes, now she's beginning to see his face more clearly. It had been hard for her to keep her eyes open, the overuse of her Persona wiping her almost entirely. But Rex had shown up in the nick of time and she sort of remembers jostling about in a spacecraft of sorts... and Cassandra?

A dull ache in the back of her head stirs her awake, a soft groan following to indicate Haru's finally coming out of her deep slumber.

She blinks a few times, eyes stinging and watery as they adjust to the dim light of the room. Evidently, this is not her room: she instantly recognizes the lack of French-inspired decor and the little cat bed that sits in front of her bed where Marcel would normally be resting in.

... wait, where is she?

She begins to sit up, but her body is sore and the sudden movement doesn't help. Haru flinches, pawing around trying to find her communicator instinctively. ]

Where is it...

[Martin's heart leaps into his throat with surprise at the sounds and then sight of Haru stirring. he holds his breath, eyes big, watching her as if she were some stalking animal come to life. his eyes wince watching her wince, as seeing her struggle starts to stir him out of his stupor.]

Where's-- [even in a whisper, his voice cracks, forcing him to stop and gulp.] Hha, Haru? Wait, where's what? I, I can--

[ She doesn't spot Martin on the carpeted floor until his voice pipes up from somewhere down there, though having not expected company, Haru jumps again, her movements wobbly and weak that she has to cling to the sheets as to not tumble over the side. ]

M-Martin?!

[ Her voice is panicked, coloured in utter disbelief, as if she can't be certain she is safe. Is she imagining Martin in the room or is he really there? ]

What is going on?

I'm sorry!

[he flinches, pained by her intense surprise.]

I'm, I'm sorry. It-it's safe! I promise. It's...it's the house. My--Maurtia Falls. Four. [he gulps, starting to hunch a little where he's sat, no longer coiled and ready to crab walk backward out of the room in shame.]

Rex brought you here...you and Cass. [...] You're hurt...

[ And with that, seeing Martin's face, her panic begins to melt away and Haru starts to calm herself, taking deep breaths and focus her thoughts. She adjusts her position on the bed, sitting upright more neatly now, though it takes a bit of effort to straighten her legs given how sore and exhausted she is. ]

Maurtia Falls...? Oh.

[ As she casts a look around the room, it does ping as somewhat familiar to her. ]

Rex did that? I'm sorry, I don't remember too much right now... [ Haru's hand rises to her temple, rubbing in circular motions. ] My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you.

[he finds he's held his breath again without realizing, having to let it out in a puff before he moves to sit up on his knees. that's as far as he'll let himself go, because as much worry is pulling him back toward her, there's just as much apprehension pushing him back and keeping him at bay.

she's hurt and confused and uneasy, all manner of things he wishes she weren't.]

Don't-- [don't apologize! but also...don't strain. don't be scared. how does he help? there has to be more.

he makes a faint, pained sound through his nose before he climbs to his feet and moves over, picking up the glass of water left on the nightstand. he holds it out for her.]

It's safe here. So. You can rest. No one will bother you.

Thank you. Is Rex here? I must thank him too for saving me.

[ Martin manages to assuage most of Haru's worries, but there's one major concern at the forefront of her mind that leaves an uneasiness etched into her soft features. She doesn't sit back just yet because of it, still reaching about for wherever her communicator is. ]

I need to try and contact one of my friends. She was up there with me, but I hadn't found her by the time I ran into Rex.

I-I...umh...

[he closes his mouth, giving up on the thought trying to escape as words. he sets the water back down and instead pushes her device within reach. something heavy sinks in his chest.]

I can...go get him. If you like.

Well...

[ Perhaps he's busy? Haru stops milling about, finally taking a moment to look at Martin, wondering how long he's been in the room with her. It's awfully quiet in the house it seems, just listening in briefly to the walls around them and not hearing any other footsteps on the other side or outside in the hall. ]

... it's alright, I'll speak to him when he's free. [ She sighs tiredly. ] ... how long have I been asleep?

Edited 2019-07-31 02:36 (UTC)

Rex...brought you back the day before. [more or less. if she wants accurate, by-the-minute numbers, she'd have to go find the soldier himself to confirm, because Martin's got no acquaintance with clocks.

he hesitates.]

He said you just...needed to sleep it off. [whatever 'it' is. he's not gotten details yet.] But if you hurt, I can find something to help.

[ It's all starting to make some sense to her; Rex could only bring her to his house in Maurtia Falls because he doesn't know where she lives. She can only hope Futaba made it back home in one piece and Akira and Goro aren't worried over Haru not returning home from the Deathstar.

She rubs at her eyes then. ]

I am fine, thank you. [ The way Martin looks at her... it guilts her. ] You must have been so surprised when Rex came back with both Cassandra and I... were you worried? I'm really sorry if you've been concerned.

[his face colors, and he ducks his head to hide some of it.]

I, I didn't understand it. You and Cass. Looking like that... [limp.

he swallows.

worried? yes. but more than that, afraid. losing more people? so soon? he can't say he could stand it well.

he wavers in place before starting to pick at his elbow, back to old, anxious habits.]

I never thought to...see that. Is all.

[see her banged up like that. Andy? yes, always. Cass? it happened. Rex? he's a soldier, bred for it, like him.

Haru, though?]

[ She doesn't like that at all.

Haru might not be afraid of getting into a little scuffle (or full-blown battle where her life is presumably on the line), Martin doesn't exactly know that side of her. He might have seen her Phantom Thief getup in his dream, but he must have presumed it was just that: a costume.

Should she tell him? She ruminates quietly over it, idly playing with her fingers. ]

It's not as bad as it looks, I promise.

[he nods vaguely. she's not a liar, and...it is good that she's awake, talking. safe, here.

but he feels rotten in his guts nonetheless.

while dragging a hand through his bangs:] Um, I can...bring different food. If you want. I just--just picked what I remembered... [said hand gestures at the nightstand before falling to his side.]

That's alright, I think. I don't feel hungry right now.

[ She can't stop thinking about Futaba, which in turn leads her stomach to churn anxiously and stir some nausea up that makes it difficult to want food. ]

Have you been here this whole time?

[he shakes his head.]

I, I went out. To get the food, and... [flowers. but somehow the word doesn't even make it to his tongue.

the hand moves back to his elbow.]

Sorry.

I, I can go--go downstairs.

Eh? Wait! Oh...

[ Haru shifts suddenly in the bed, her voice cracking slightly as she's forced to imagine sitting in a room that isn't her own, alone and body aching all over, without a familiar and comforting presence.

She's embarrassed by how nervous that seems to make her, so she quiets down quickly. ]

Um, if you don't mind... please stay.

[the anxious notes in her voice gives him pause and a new weight in his heart. there's an echo of Regina in her voice that he doesn't like.

after a waver, he nods.]

I'll stay, then. I can sit down...here. [he already moves to sit back on the floor.]

[ Her body feels weighted with exhaustion, the temptation to lay down on the bed strong, but Haru does her best to resist. She's been asleep far too long, she thinks. ]

You don't have to sit on the floor.

[ It's his house, after all. Haru should probably be the one getting out of the bed... ]

Are Rex and Cassandra okay? Cassandra was already out when I saw her on the ship.

[the implication there is that he ought to sit beside her, but without it being made clear, Martin can't make himself move there. so instead, he remains standing.]

...She's resting, too. She's safe. Rex said so.

[there won't be a repeat of May, though part of Martin feared it, seeing Cass like that.

still, the waver in his voice is not one fearing dreadful ends. it's weighted with a resignation reminiscent to the tone his sister had back in that dream -- one that knows a grim end is inevitable.]

[ She pats the soft mattress top, indicating he should come sit next to her and gives him a small smile, though it quickly fades as she observes his expression and mannerisms. She begins to jump to her own conclusions, mistaking the awkwardness for tension between them and bites down on her lip nervously.

Looking away, she quietly asks: ]

... are you upset with us, Martin?

Huh?

[he lifts his head, some of that weight in his voice lifted out of sheer confusion.]

...Why? I... [he grimaces.] I don't even know...what happened, or why, so how could I?

[any resentment in him? he turns it back on himself. it's his own fault for not knowing things, for not being part of things, for not protecting anyone.]

No one told you?

[ Haru is somewhat baffled by this revelation. ]

We went to that ship in the sky... the one that took the moon's place.

Yeah, but-- [his expression scrunches.] Why? I don't... [he exhales through his nose -- a slight tell of frustration he's got a lid on.] I don't know why anyone went. What it's for. I don't know anything, except that people came back hurt.

after le death star

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