Log Title: Daisuki Desu
Characters: Meggan , Kamakura , Edwin , Tomas/Tommy
Location: Medical Center - Command Level - Pit III
Date: June 24, 2023
TP: Kintsukuroi TP
Summary: Edwin and Tommy talk and come to an agreement on when and if Tommy travels back to Japan.
Medical Center - The Pit
The base infirmary is a spacious room, with high ceilings, blue tile floors, and plenty of room in which to walk around. The place is brightly lit by row upon row of fluorescent lighting. There are about six beds ready for use, with fourteen more that can be readied if necessary. Each bedside is surrounded by state-of-the-art medical equipment, in addition to the more standard medbay fare like trays of supplies and such.
Beyond the recovery ward are a pair of double doors leading into the surgical ward itself, which includes six separate operating tables and the best surgical equipment the US government can provide. A smaller room to the side is set up as a biocontainment ward, including an armored window through which doctors can monitor the patients inside.
While not a place to set someone's mind and soul at ease...it's a place to spend time healing...to watch the large, industrial-grade 12-hour clock on the wall, and consider the virtues of being more careful.
Dr. Steen enters the infirmary, heads over to Tomas' bedside, and begins drawing the privacy curtain around his bed. "Good afternoon, Tomas..."
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Very High difficulty.
GAME: Tomas FAILS an ENDURANCE roll of Very High difficulty.
Tomas is asleep, deeply, restlessly. And the curtain moving doesn't wake him, nor Dr. Steen coming in to check on him. Mumbling in his sleep, he shifts, fever apparently breaking by the beads of sweat on his brow.
Edwin gazes down at Tomas with affection and compassion. After drawing the curtain, he gently moves him so he can remove the hospital gown, He bites his lip for a. long moment, then turns his gaze to his supply cart and he begins unpackaging sterile sponges and antibacterial wipes, as well as a bottle of dry shampoo.
Tomas doesn't stir much save for a shiver now and then. He's deep in a dream, or a memory. Were he awake, well depends on where his mind was. A twitch of fingers now and then, a frown, a mumbled word now and again, sleeping through at least the first part of the wash.
Edwin places a towel over Tomas' groin for some modesty, then begins the process of giving Tomas his dignity back by cleaning him up from head to toe. He takes his time washing the patient, giving great care to wash every extremity like the most doting of parents caring for a sick child.
Little scars here and there like most young men, sword callouses on his hands, but overall Tomas is in fine condition save for what's going on in his head and the matter of the chest cold. There is one larger scar on his front right shoulder that lines up with one on his back, sword thrust. And the little one on his face. A deep breath, another twitch, another mumble of words and his skin goosepimples, reacting to the gentle washing and temperature changes. "Akiko, io!"
"Ssshhh, it's okay, I'm just cleaning you up and help you feel better," Edwin says into his ear softly. By the time he's finished the bath, he had used an entire package of wipes. "Okay, next I'm giving you a shave," he says, getting some shaving cream and spraying some on Tomas' several-day whisker growth.
GAME: Tomas PASSES an ENDURANCE roll of Very High difficulty.
Tomas's hands twitch again and his eyes open as the shaving cream is spread. There's a a blink and a puzzled, "Ed-win? Dr.." trailing off, putting together things swifter today. There's the start of a smile, sleepy but alert. "Ohayo."
"Hi," Edwin says with a fond, soft-eyed smile. He carefully shaves Tomas' face. "I cleaned you up," he says. "So if you feel lighter it's true, I cleaned a few days of sweat off of you."
Tomas blinks and almost smiles but catches himself, not wanting to make the shaving more difficult. Still, there's a twitch of lips in an upwards turn. "Hai. Arigato goizamasu, Dr. Edwin." murmured.
Edwin nods, and uses one of the wipes to cleanly remove what's left of the shaving cream. After doing this, he sprays some of the dry shampoo into his hands, and massaging it into Tomas' scalp. "You look like you're feeling better," he notes.
Tomas watches Edwin, eyes half opened, faint smile in place as he's shaved and generally taken care of. He asks, "You do have ward nurses, yes? Or do you wash all of the patients?" soft question, hesitancy there, testing with words, gentle inquisitive snark. Then there's a moment of silence, a tensing at the hands on his head. And an exhale of air he wasn't aware he was holding, eyes closing. "MMmhmmmm."
Edwin continues running his fingers through Tomas' hair until every bit of the dry shampoo has been absorbed, and then he grabs a small plastic comb from off his supply cart, running it through Tomas' hair. "I wanted to do this for you," he admits.
In the moment there's an internal agreement that this... could be worse. Could be better, but.. Tomas keeps his eyes closed. "Thank you, Edwin. May I.. call you that?"
"Of course you may," Edwin says, grabbing an appropriate sized freshly laundered hospital gown off the medical cart and assisting Tomas in shouldering it on. "You don't need to call me Dr. Steen."
Tomas sits up to help get himself covered back up. There's a faint red to his face. "Torn between Edwin, Dr. Steen.. and Dr. Edwin. The familiarity is both welcomed and strange." he concedes. "I've noticed that I am not.. restrained."
"Why would you be restrained?" Edwin asks."I trust that you aren't going anywhere. And even if I didn't, what use would it be to restrain you? You'd get out of them ridiculously quick."
Tomas's smile crooks slightly, "There is that. And.. no. I am not going.. I don't plan on going anywhere. Not until I am well and medically released. I do respect doctors and their time, always have, to the best I was able." Smile fading, "Everything is clouded, Edwin. I am confused. I.. do not deal well with confused but I find myself.. not as ill at ease here, now."
Now that Edwin knows the results of the DNA tests, he has even more sympathy for Tomas than before. It's no wonder he's perpetually confused. It's a wonder he hasn't gone completely off the deep end yet. "It will get easier over time, as your brain maps new neural pathways," he says.
GAME: Tomas FAILS a LEADERSHIP roll of Extreme difficulty.
Tomas's brow knits, frustration crossing his face as thoughts jumble a moment then clear. He's a little testy if the words spoken are an indicator. "I failed. He failed. We failed, Lifeline." He looks at his hands, "These are my hands and they're not. I remember things from my youth and they're.. ghost images. The young one is.. is me but.. I don't remember being that full of -hope- and... it does not sit well.
"There are reasons for those doubtful memories not making sense," Edwin admits, "The reasons are...complicated. Some of them are going to be found in science."
"You know who I .. who I think I am, don't you?" Tomas asks, closing his eyes, frowning now. "You know what I suspect..."
Edwin meets Tomas' gaze, and his conflicted, concerned, anxious expression tells Tomas everything he needs to know. "I do know, Tomas," he says. "And I believe you deserve to know the truth. I was going to wait until you were better."
"Oh.. the young one's even more confused. I do agree with him, we do need to go to Japan. Different reasons though." Tommy's mildly crooked smile crosses his face now. Still fits his youthful features, less bitter somehow. "Better not say the words. Not sure I'm.. ready to hear them." He opens his eyes, confused and thoughtful. "Tommy." he offers, "This is a mess."
"When you feel you're ready, I'll tell you," Edwin says. "Not a moment before than. But I want you to know...it changes nothing how I feel about you, alright?"
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Average difficulty.
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Very High difficulty.
GAME: Tomas PASSES a COURAGE roll of Extreme difficulty.
Tommy opens his eyes after closing them a moment, listening. To the words, the sounds of the medical ward, Edwin's voice. Settling, sifting through memories, something easing in his expression as something else is created in its place. "Be sure of that... Ed-win." he murmurs, watching with dark eyes, "I.. am not who you thought I was. And I was.. and am.. willing to die.. to protect my family." Smile half twitching, "And you."
Edwin does nothing but stare right back at Tomas for a long moment, with the sort of thousand-yard stare typically reserved for traumatized soldiers who's looked down to the bottom of the abyss and found it looking back at him.
Tomas stares back, some of that hope from the 'younger' in his expression. That starts to fade as Edwin stares back. Brows begin to come together and he turns his head, closing his eyes with a sigh.
As Tomas closes his eyes, he'll feel a light touch on the top of his hand, Edwin placing his hand on his tenderly. "How could I back out now? As far deep as I'm in already, there's no other option."
Kamakura comes in to check on Tomas. He sees the curtain up and decides..yep. Good time to head back out.
"But.. Edwin.. Steen.. Lifeline. I'm.. Tommy." The young man murmurs but does not move his hand save to turn it to curl his fingers around Edwin's. He looks back, "Tomas is my youth. You can.. should.. I am not a .. not known as a nice man." Gently pushing with words even as he holds the hand on his, rubbing his thumb along the fingers he's holding. "Are you sure?"
Edwin glances over at Tomas, comforted and less anxious as the ninja clutches his hand. "Yes," he answers, his expression slowly warming like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. "I know all of this, and I'm still sure."
Tommy watches the expression shift, brows raising. Lips twitch, and a hesitant smile starts on his own face. Wary and nervous, hope still there. "I'm arrogant." he warns softly. "I'm.. can be a deliberate asshole." Watching Edwin's face, "I've been accused of having the emotional range of a teaspoon, and stubbornly act as such to own the title as instigator."
"Yes, and I give soldiers nutritional lectures if I don't like their choice of dinner," Edwin smiles. "I love your little list. It's like... 'Here's all the things that are kind of fucked up about me, this should be your laundry list of reasons to avoid me completely.' You definitely go out of your way to push people away, at times."
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Very High difficulty.
GAME: Tomas FAILS a COURAGE roll of Extreme difficulty.
"I go out of my way to keep people at a distance for their safety and my own. Usually my own. It... has been." Tommy takes a deep breath. "But you know about me. At least the bad parts." He starts to shift Edwin's hand, then catches himself and simply runs his thumb across those fingers again instead. "Daisuki desu."
It's very probable that Tomas can hear the frantic beating of Edwin's heart right now, even as he outwardly remains very quite and calm. "I know a thing or two about taking risks," Edwin murmurs softly as he peers at their entwined hands. "It's a risk I've already assumed. I mean...I've already done it, you don't need to do any convincing or warning. The risk has already been assumed."
"It is only polite to insure the other party knows the ills along with any good they perceive." Tommy says, tone gentled. Thumb tracing Edwin's fingers again. "I.. may fall back on formalities of my youth, here Ed-win."
"I understand why," Edwin says, his dark eyes filled to the brim with a cluster of emotions. "In the meantime...you are my patient, and my only wish is for your health to be restored. And I'll work tirelessly to that end. Until the day we can finally...be free to express in the way we can't right now."
Tommy's lips twitch and he gives into a thought he had, bringing Edwin's hand up to kiss his fingers. "Why doctor.. flirting with a patient. Whatever shall I do?" tone a soft tease, letting amusement lend the words lightness.
Edwin smiles warmly at Tommy's playfulness. "I don't know, you look like a clever boy, you'll figure something out," he chuckles, With his free hand, he cups Tomas' chin as if he's about to lean in and kiss him, but instead just sits there and meets his gaze, feeling the warmth of the fire between them that moment.
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
GAME: Tomas FAILS a LEADERSHIP roll of Immense difficulty.
GAME: Tomas PASSES a COURAGE roll of Immense difficulty.
Tommy arches a brow, wryly crooked smile in place, amused, and for a moment light-hearted and hopeful. The other brow raises at the cupping of his chin, and his pulse can be felt speeding up. Eyes widen, meeting the gaze with his own, focusing on Edwin as where and everything else fades to a dull haze, to be delt with later. The smile warms, widening, and he reaches up to return the chin cup. "Oh. I know I will." He leans to close that gap, "I am, after all, a clever man." And does kiss, briefly, a brush, eyes open, but does kiss.
Edwin closes his eyes for that very brief whisper of a kiss, leaning in close and lingering a little bit for that next moment as if a slice of paradise were placed before him and then pulled away rudely. "Oh..." He opens his eyes, smiling shyly. "Tomas..."
"Please forgive my forwardness, Ed-win. I can be.. impetuous on rare occasions. I will remain proper with you. I.. yes well." Tommy takes a deep breath, and lets Edwin's chin go, leaning back, eyes bright.
Edwin has a flushed color to his face now. "That was... a very nice surprise," he admits, the blood burning in his veins so hard he feels like he could combust. "I wish we could do that some more. But...it...can't. Not here," he exclaims reluctantly. "Time to put the masks on," he says, and very gradually pulls his hand back and stands up, retracting the curtain back until the entire Infirmary comes back into view.
Tommy settles back on his hospital bed, watching Edwin, eyes bright, smiling warmly. His cheeks and ears are red, breath a little wheezy from the flush of excitement warring with his chest cold. "No. nono, not here. That is. improper, Dr. Edwin. Again, my apologies for the impropriety." He half closes his eyes, looking pleased despite the words of apologies. The expression shifts slightly, a deep breath as the hand is pulled back, and the curtain twitched open. Flushed can be attributed to being unwell still, the slowly returning mask simply who he is.
"You've made remarkable improvement over the past 12 hours," Dr. Steen says with a smile, blushing despite his normal tone. "I'm going to taper you off the strongest tier of medication, the fever is beginning to resolve and your readings have been approaching normal."
"Well.. and.. this is a guess, I'm.. a good deal younger than I was from the last I remember." Tommy's tone slides softly wry again. "Thank you. I find myself.. surprised that I.. remember feeling safe here, in the past. A memory to hold onto."
"I'll put in an order for the kitchen to get you some dinner," Dr. Steen promises. "They'll have it up here in about 30 minutes." He smiles at Tomas. "I'll be back by later. You need anything?"
"Please.. something... light? With vegetables. Soup" I.. don't think I've eaten much since I arrived here and before. I was.. quite nauseated." Tommy admits to not feeling quite up to eating, "Myself and my younger self both prefer what most americans refer to as spa cuisine. Fish, rice, vegetables."
"The mess chefs are really, surprisingly good with what they have to work with," Edwin says with a smile. "Maybe it's not to private chef standards, but I can tell you that it's a head and shoulders better than a regular army chow line." He jots down a note into a little paper tablet, and puts it in his front pocket for safekeeping. "Of course, I don't need to say this, but...eat very slowly, take your time, since it's the first food you've had in a while."
Tommy nods, "I.. vaguely remember. It's been.. a long time, Dr. Edwin. And things are.. a little hazy yet. But better?" A smile, eyes half closing as a wave of tired sweeps over him. "Perhaps a little nap.. before a light meal."
"Okay, that sounds like a good plan. Here, I'll dim the lights." Dr. Steen adjusts the lights down. "Oh, by the way... did you get your phone back from the emergency team? I forgot to ask but I just thought about it. If you didn't, I know where they would have secured it, we have an area where such things are kept for safekeeping."
Tommy closes his eyes now, "Dr. Edwin, the only thing I have here right now is my dignity and that's subject to change with the shift of a breeze if I try and walk to the head."
"I want you to know that I did not have any input in designing these damn hospital gowns," Edwin laughs. "That's not on me. Okay...let me go put your order in."
Tommy dozes off, sleeping lightly verses the fever-deep sleep he has been having.
Lifeline smiles, looking at the dozing figure of Tomas fondly before slipping away to the mess hall.
(Radio) Lifeline sends you a radio transmission, '*texts* You make me very happy, xoxoxoo'
Tomas is still on that hospital bed, still hooked up to an IV. Still tucked under a fleece blanket and still wearing a hospital gown. And lightly sleeping, not looking as feverish, a faint smile on his face.
Edwin quietly walks in, heel to toe, so as not to awaken the sleeping beauty. He feels his heart melt just a bit when he gazes at Tomas' sleeping form. "Tomas, I've got dinner for you," he says in a very gentle tone so as not to startle him awake.
Tomas blinks awake, he really was just lightly dozing, trying to relax enough to let thoughts do their dance. "Ahh.. Dr. Ed-win." faint smile as he starts to sit up, adjusting the fleece blanket across his lap. "I am.. I think I am peckish."
"Are you, now?" Edwin asks with a smile, bringing the covered dish over like a server in a restaurant. "Are you hungry?"
Tomas's smile brightens. "Perhaps a little yes." He gives a shake of his head, bemused if groggy. "Hello Dr. Edwin, you also deliver dinner?"
Edwin grins in delight, and he almost looks like a different guy looking that happy. "Maybe..." He peeks under the covered dish, then says, "You gonna tip me?"
"Ed-win, you keep smiling like that and someone is going to ask what trouble you are plotting." Tommy notes softly, managing somewhat of a poker face himself, save for tone and a twitch of a brow upwards. "Perhaps. If I get my wallet back from the red headed oni woman. It was in my.. what I was wearing."
"I can get that back for you! She probably put it in the patient belongings locker," Edwin says, hoping that's indeed the case. He carefully places the tray and covered dish down beside Tommy, then pulls off the dish cover to reveal the requested dish with fish, rice, and vegetables - is it truly 100% just like homemade? No, sadly not, but it deserves a B for effort. The chef used all fresh ingredients, but had to make do in a military kitchen.
Tommy shrugs, "If I know Shana, it's not in the patient locker at all, Edwin. Security risk." He doesn't seem upset about the idea at all. Then he looks a the fish, rice and vegetables before looking at Edwin and just smiling, surprised, pleasantly. "Thank you." A pause, "Very much."
"You're very welcome," Edwin says warmly. "Well let me at least check. It will only take a moment." He goes back toward his desk, and there's a small safe beneath it with a digital unlocking mechanism. Edwin taps the combination in, and the vault swings open. He peers inside the patient locker, but it appears to be empty. "Well, shit. I'm sorry, you're right," he grumps.
Tomas sighs, half closing his eyes, "At least I wasn't.. fully armed. Just lightly. He was. I was.. That.." a shake of his head. "A mess."
"I'll talk to her, and see if I can get everything back for you, okay?" Edwin steps back over to the bed where Tomas is, and he brings a chair over so he can sit down. "She'll probably be persistent...sometimes we, uh...butt heads and argue, but it's kind of rare."
Tommy starts to say something, then decides not to. He instead looks at the dinner and smiles, hungry but knowing not to inhale. So tiny bites it is. "Operational security, Ed-win. I'm surprised I'm not in a cell."
"The Brig wouldn't be able to hold you," Edwin notes, adding, "Just like Kamakura made short work of them. And /that's/ on the designers of this place. Earlier PITs had better holding facilities, I feel." He looks at Tommy, "I'm sorry, were you going to say something?"
"She and I.. butt heads as well." Tommy murmurs. "Ahh.. Yes that." He frowns, puzzling through thoughts. "I.. know where I am. I know.. that this is not -good-. But. I do not feel.. threatened"As if this is.. a good thing perhaps."
"I know, she has a problem with you that goes back a long time," Edwin notes with a nod. "If I were to describe my own relationship with her, it's of course not antagonistic...do you know the phrase, 'work wife'"That's kind of what she is at times. Heaven knows we disagree like we're a married couple. Tsh." He seems pleased that Tommy is feeling at ease in this space. "I'm glad this place puts you at ease. I try to make it conducive to healing."
"Our history is sordid and full of issues." Tommy concedes with a wan smile, troubled a moment. He hmms, listening before there's a snort. "I'm aware of the phrase. Not a working relationship I've had in my past.. Well..." he trails off, thinking. "Perhaps not. It may.. be the situation, Dr. Edwin, and not the place proper. I am.. still having disorientation. And a pull to go to Japan. It feels important. But." Wry smile, troubled, "I've felt pulls to report to places before.. and then lost weeks of time, years of.. finding myself again."
Tommy is in his hospital bed, under that fleece blanket. In a new hospital down and freshly shaved. He's nibble-eating some rice fish and steamed vegetables while talking to Edwin. He looks better. Still a little wan but no longer feverish.
With a pair of heart shaped sunglasses and a shirt that reads, 'If being gay was a choice, I'd be gayer!' Meggan walks into the medical area. She has on a purple skirt and rainbow Converse sneakers on. She looks for something at her desk and tries to not get into too much trouble.
Dr. Steen is seated near Tommy's bedside, having a conversation with him while the ninja has some dinner. "Are you going back there when you get released?" he asks. "It seems kind of soon." As Meggan walks in, he waves to her. "Evening, kiddo," he says -- and he sounds *cheerful*. Not fake-cheerful. Not put-on cheerful. GENUINE cheerful.
"If I am released, yes. I have to make sure my family there is safe, Edwin." Tommy notes, looking up as someone comes in. There's a gamut of expressions that cross his face, relief, sadness, pride and he offers, "Hello little kitsune. I see your shine."
With Steen cheerful, Meggan decides that it's best to not ask what or who happened. She doesn't want to disturb the peace or even know how active Ed is. She's happy he's happy. She adjusts her hair before she starts talking, "How are yo----" She beams at Tommy, "Oh hey you! Welcome back from Order #66. Can I get you anything?"
Edwin peers at Tomas, looking unsure about his plans to run back off to his home country. "That's...okay," he relents, deciding he's going to discuss this with him at a later time. "You still working on dinner?"
Tommy peers back at Edwin, raising a brow. He looks at his dinner, half eaten at best. "I.. no. I think. Anything else would be unwise." Looking back up, offering Meggan a slightly crooked smile. "For.. the moment. I need nothing Meggan. It is.. good to.. Ah.. well this is weird. Be here?" Smile crooking, "This is weird." he repeats.
Smiling, Meggan does not offer too much conversation. She makes a face at Edwin, "Could of gotten him Taco Bell!" She winks and then sits at her desk.
"Why? I like him, I wouldn't do that to him," Edwin says to Megan, laughing. He re-covers the dish, and one of the nurses takes it to walk back to the mess with it. "That's like wishing dysentery on someone."
Pouting, Meggan whispers, "i like Taco Bell." She sighs and begins to go through her phone apps to see if she can order a Chalupa.
Tommy ahhs, more of an intake of breath ahh than an ahh-haa ahh. "Taco bell and I.. that's a.. been up 48 hours sort of meal." He trails off, shaking his head, "You have no poker face."
"I said what I said," Edwin says simply. "Maybe it's from working in emergency medicine, but that place is what EMS calls 'bad juju' because of the sheer number of calls we got from people who ate there. Every time I used to see a Taco Bell call from dispatch, I know exactly what I'm dealing with."
"You need to get laid, Edwin." says Meggan with a smile. "Taco Bell is like the zesty fun for the taste buds. Besides, just think of it. Bree never would eat Taco Bell, right"So..."
GAME: Tomas FAILS a LEADERSHIP roll of Immense difficulty.
Tommy shakes his head, "After 48 hours awake, it's hot its filling, it knocks me out." He starts to say something, stops. Starts again. Stops, looks at Meggan, before there's a soft snicker. His ears turn red though.
Edwin begins giggling, too. Not just his usual chuckle, but all-out giggling like a 17 year old boy. "Whoah. Meggan. That was pretty harsh."
Concealer smiles and laughs with the both of them. "Taco Bell is good. I'm just saying, Edwin. I mean, there are worst things people could put in their mouth."
"I'm too old for this shit." Says the 25 year old looking Tommy as he rubs the bridge of his nose. Ears red. "You have no poker face."
Edwin nods. "Yes, I've...been to the Waffle House, so I know that's the truth," he admits.
Smiling, Meggan says, "Taco Bell is better than Waffle House. Just saying the truth." She is sitting on her desk and smiling still.
Tommy settles back, pulling the fleece blanket back over hip and sighs, a faint smile teasing across his face. "Waffle house has it's good things. Poached egg, wheat toast, sliced tomatoes."
Edwin shakes his head. "She's always got to yank my chain. It's part of her routine now, see."
Tommy hehs, weariness creeping up on him like a hammer, eyes half shut already. "She's.. She was a bright light to me, Edwin. Is a bright light. One of those that carry their own light through the dark.. But are not able to see that themselves." His voice goes quiet. "They all thought I was going to kill her. After Shana broke her cover. I didn't -know-. I thought she a friend.. ish." quieting, "I was pissed. and.. weirdly proud of her all the same. I.. snapped. I don't remember much between when we all found Bludd and.. when I found her at that hamburger joint. Everyone thought I was going to kill her."
This particular story is one Edwin hasn't heard yet, it's new to him. So he lends a listening ear to Tomas, allowing him to deal with that memory in the moment and hopefully purge it of its power to haunt him. "I never thought you were going to kill her, but she definitely surprised me by inviting you to our training, that's for sure. I think she has a certain quality that you can identify with...sort of a wild card."
"Sebastian kept calling, saying I had no heart, accusing me before anything had even happened." Tommy, stares off a moment, frowning, troubled. "She thought I was going to end her. Asked me to even." Closing his eyes, "So.. we talked. I gave her something.. in my fucked up way of trying to say things with gestures verses words. A pin. Such a simple thing to show acceptance of who she is. And I took her home. I took her back to the dojo, tucked her into one of the bunks and asked Sean to keep an eye on her. Then.. yeah."
"And you forged that human connection with her. Maybe learned a thing or two about the kind of person you are beneath the surface, versus how others perceive you," Edwin notes.
Tommy sighs, eyes closing again. "I know what kind of person I am, Edwin. I've taken students on before. Before.. this last.. Before." he trails off, "Even Shana thought I'd done something to her. Took Sean coming out to tell her Meggan was okay before she left. That and her pound of flesh."
Edwin leans closer to Tommy, obviously wanting to tell him something in a softer tone. "When it's time for you to go...let me come with you," he urges.
Tommy hmms, blinking out of thoughts, "Come with me? To Japan? Edwin you have responsibilities here."
"I do, but I am allowed to put someone else in charge while I travel," Edwin says quietly. "And as long as it isn't a long trip like 6 months or something like that, it should be fine."
"I do not know how long it would be." Tommy notes, rubbing at the bridge of his nose again, voice sliding tired once more. "I.. need to make sure what family I have left is.. not.. in the snares of the serpent. Like I was. Like Sean. Like I may still be."
"If you are still under their influence, then...why chance going alone?" Edwin persists. "There's safety in going with someone."
"Because alone I only risk myself, not others." Tommy notes, "Tomas.. my young self.. will want to go -home-, shamed, uncomfortable that we broke and asked Shana... to help protect the family. I, too, am discomforted that she did not do as asked. I... These.. are things to speak of.. when I am not tired and... fighting memories."
Edwin nods, and for now, he relents, because what happened today is still so incredibly new and shocking, and he's still trying to believe it's for real. "Okay, fair enough," he says. "No more talking about it - for the time being." He adds that as a caveat to show this matter isn't over as far as he's concerned. Tommy is dear to Edwin, and now he wants to protect him.
Tommy blinks, a little slow on the uptake for a moment before he reaches his hand out, "Edwin-san. Later. We can speak. I.. am in no condition, physically or.. mentally to go. No matter how much I press. This is. not.. normal. Even for me." There's a snort, "I'm.. I don't know what happened. Am I who I think I am or who the young me is. Is it me or.. I remember Tommy's -life- everything comes in patches. And Tomas' life. Which is real. Or are they both?"
"I want to help you get those answers," Edwin says. "But yes...at a later time." He places his hand on Tomas' hand, giving it a squeeze. "Try not to dwell too much on it right now. Rest and get stronger, okay? Daisuke desu," he whispers.
Tommy returns the hand squeeze. "I will do my best to follow my doctors orders." Mirth dancing in his eyes, "Daisuki desu, Edwin-san."
Edwin smiles, mock-fans himself, then winks and heads off to his quarters, looking extremely happy.