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Post by Keith Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 19:25:57 GMT -5
It felt like an eternity to Keith. Again.
A phone call from a frantic Satoru had woken him up, and only a few words were needed to get him up and out the door faster than he had in a long time. Gabe getting sent to hospital had happened more often than he would have liked lately, but this time it was so much worse and Keith was almost surprised he hadn't wrecked on his motorcycle to get there.
The wait had felt like it had taken forever itself, but eventually the doctor came back with the best news possible: Gabe was alive. He made it he pulled through his son was going to be okay oh thank you god thank you! The tatted man would have no problem admitting to the tears of relief he had shed at hearing the news.
Now the two men were impatiently waiting for what felt like eternity AGAIN for the blond to wake up. The bandages around his son's neck were unsettling to look at, so he kept his attention on Gabe's face as he held one of his hands. He knew he was fine now, but Keith wouldn't be able to relax completely until his son actually woke.
The taller of the ex-Toras looked at his husband after a while. "How're you doing now?" He kept his voice quiet but concerned, he just wanted to make sure Satoru was okay after everything that had gone on.
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Post by Satoru Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 20:14:10 GMT -5
Satoru was holding Gabe's other hand tight, and he hadn't let go since they were allowed to see Gabe after the doctors were done. He was more tired than he'd been in a long long time, too long awake and too much going on. Gabe had a habit of making him lose sleep. But it was his fault Gabe was even mixed up in this mess. If he'd kept Gabe away from all of it, if he'd kept Gabe away from guns and everything to do with New Tokyo...
He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as Keith spoke. "Yeah, I'm fine." Lies, he didn't even look at Keith and he knew the younger Tora knew what that meant. But what was he supposed to say? He'd never felt so helpless in his life, he'd never been unable to actually protect people when it mattered. Now he wasn't even able to keep up to try. Besides, Gabe was the one hospitalized, he didn't need to spend energy feeling sorry for himself when Gabe was the one that had taken the hits...
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Post by Keith Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 20:43:10 GMT -5
Keith nearly looked angry at the response. "No you fucking don't." He still kept quiet but his tone showed his frustration with Toru well enough. "Don't you dare start beating yourself up over this. He knew the risks, he was going to end up helping one way or another and you know that. We're getting old Toru, even if you could use your legs there couldn't have been much more you could have done. It's part of life and has nothing to do with you personally and the sooner you accept that the better." He hated that Toru kept doing this to himself. Being upset was one thing, but blaming yourself all the time wasn't the answer and he needed him to see that.
The tattooist sighed and looked down to check on Gabe again. "You two are just alike, you've both gotta be the one to take action and if you can't you start falling apart." It was why Gabe had taken it so hard when Satoru ended up in the wheelchair, he had seen it as his fault because he couldn't do anything to prevent it. His eyes moved back to the gunslinger with a pleading look. "Whatever twisted way you've convinced yourself this was your fault... Just stop, please. Just stop."
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Post by Satoru Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 21:15:37 GMT -5
He knew Keith was right, he knew it but if he wasn't to blame then there was no way to get this out of his system. He had to hate someone for this fucking mess, better himself than anyone else. But Keith did have a point, he had a lot of those, and Satoru did his best to at least shove the blame out of his mind for a while. He could deal with it better once Gabe was awake and he was absolutely certain that the kid was alive and well.
And he couldn't help but give a small laugh at the comparison... He'd much rather Gabe wound up like Keith than him, but, well, he couldn't really deny that one. For all Gabe had hated him, they had wound up surprisingly alike.
He took a breath and tried to clear his head. "Alright..." He said.
It would have to be good enough for now.
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Post by Keith Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 21:42:45 GMT -5
Keith gave Toru a grateful smile before looking back to Gabe, it was the best response he would get from him for now and he was fine with that. For now, he just wanted to see Gabe up and alright.
It wasn't long after that when the blond started to move. Blue eyes slowly began to open and it took a moment to focus. Everything was bright at first, was this supposed to be heaven or something? He could have sworn he was dying just a moment ago. His eyes started adjusting to the light and he was starting to recognize shapes and figures... Hospital, he was in the hospital.... Wait, did he actually survive that?! No way!!
Keith's eyes lit up as his son started to come to. "Gabe?" It took everything he had not to raise his voice from excitement.
Gabe looked at his parents as best as he could as he tried sitting up and grinned a little. "Shit, I gotta be in hell if you two are here." His throat was dry, but he felt he got the line out well enough. He had expected some smartass comment thrown back at him, instead he was nearly tackled by his father in a tight hug.
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Post by Satoru Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 22:04:31 GMT -5
Satoru wasn't sure how he managed to pull and launch himself into the family hug, but he managed it. Arms wrapped around Gabe as a heady shot of relief flooded Satoru's brain and bloodstream. Gabe was awake he was alive he was alright. The whole room smelled like cleaning supplies, the lighting would give anyone a headache, and it had been a hellish night of panic and action but Satoru couldn't have been more grateful than he was right at that moment.
Because Gabe was snarking already and that meant he was absolutely fine.
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Post by Keith Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 22:32:00 GMT -5
If Gabe didn't see his dad's hug coming, then he CERTAINLY didn't expect Satoru's either and he made an undignified noise at both. There was an uncomfortable pressure on his neck coming from one of the two but he tried ignoring it for a little longer. After everything that had just happened the group hug was welcomed. His arms were in an awkward position so he couldn't do much hugging himself, but he could still enjoy it.
Keith's smile stretched ear to ear, there was so much relief and joy bubbling up and he wouldn't even try hiding it. "You can't scare us like that anymore, alright?"
The blond of the three laughed a little. "Yeah, sorry about that..." And as much as he appreciated the hug, it really was starting to hurt. "Uh, Dad? Toru? I love ya and all, but my neck..."
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Post by Satoru Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 22:44:29 GMT -5
Apparently he'd missed his target, and instead of letting go Satoru just relaxed his grip a bit to shift it down to the safe haven of Gabe's chest. No proper injuries there, so the kid couldn't complain.
It took a moment for the fact that Gabe had just said 'I love you' in any capacity to him for the first time in- well, Satoru didn't even know how long. Years, certainly. He wouldn't bring it up, he'd hate to have Gabe take it back (though for once he didn't really think that Gabe would), and decided to just quietly keep it in mind.
He drew back after a moment and frowned. "I was serious about you being forbidden from fighting assassins ever again."
And no, his eyes weren't wet at all, that would be stupid. Gabe had been declared 'living' hours ago.
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Post by Gabe Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 23:05:03 GMT -5
Gabe hadn't realized what he said at first, and when he did it didn't bother him at all. Whatever, as long as no one made a big deal over it. Keith had had the same idea as Satoru and just shifted to a slightly different part of Gabe to hug, and the youngest Alabaster took the opportunity to move his arms. He still wasn't really hugging them, but a hand on the back or shoulder was better than nothing.
He rolled his eyes at his stepdad once both his parents pulled back from the hug. "Next one I come across I'll be sure to let them know." He replied, trying to recall the conversation they had before he passed out, or died, or whatever. His eyes widened slightly in concern as a thought came to mind. "And everyone IS safe and okay, right? You weren't just saying that because I..." The Kuma left it at that, he just wanted to be sure the others were okay.
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Post by Satoru Alabaster on Jun 30, 2015 23:20:56 GMT -5
Satoru had to stomp down another wave of near-panic. If he could go the rest of his life without remembering what Gabe looked like while he had been bleeding out on the concrete, he'd be a much happier man for it... "Everyone's fine. Ren got the shock collar off of Karina and she'll be alright quicker than anyone else, and no one else got within striking distance." Though he did know Ren had kept some bombs on hand just in case. He figured he should update Gabe, and Keith, on what he'd pieced together.
"The Ghost you fought was Kiyo's son, and since neither one of them stuck around after the paramedics arrived, I'd say they're sorting things out now..." And there was likely a lot to sort through. Almost twenty-four years if he had his math right (and he always had his math right). "You kept him busy long enough for Ren to let the girls free and break the collar, and you're not even dead."
He managed a smile. "Scared the fucking shit out of me, but I'm proud of you."
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Post by Gabe Alabaster on Jul 1, 2015 1:58:50 GMT -5
Gabe relaxed almost immediately, everyone really was safe that was good, that was very good. A smile spread across his face at that last comment, a real smile, not a sarcastic one. He guessed he didn't imagine Satoru saying those same words in the warehouse after all. That was... well, better than awesome, but he was going to stick with that word for now anyway. He'd actually made a difference in there, and Toru said he was proud of him(TWICE). He felt like a little kid again for a moment, back when he use to think his stepdad was a freaking superhero and looked up to him like crazy.
Not that he was ever speaking about that to anyone. Ever. He was serious.
Keith laughed a little at Gabe's reaction, it was cute. It also served as even more proof that the two were getting along much better these days, that was great, it really was. He blinked as something else Toru said stuck out and he looked back at his husband. "Kiyo has a kid?"
The blond came back to reality at the question. The Ghost was Kiyo's son... The Ghost was his aunt's son... "You mean my cousin tried to kill me!?" Granted Gabe HAD shot the guy right before but it was only in the SHOULDER.
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Post by Satoru Alabaster on Jul 1, 2015 16:31:46 GMT -5
Yeah, he was glad they were having this conversation now rather than later. He might just need the time to explain. And at least both of those questions were in the same vein. "Yes, she has a kid, and yeah, he did." He wasn't sure exactly how to phrase it that 'he probably wouldn't have if you hadn't shot him' without destroying the fact that Gabe had done the right thing.
He'd just ignore the shooting bit. "At least he stopped when Kiyo showed up." He said with a shrug. "I don't know all the details, just that the guy went probably over twenty years without any influence other than Jun. I'm honestly surprised he stopped at all."
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Post by Gabe Alabaster on Jul 1, 2015 16:49:37 GMT -5
Gabe couldn't help his frown. Sure it was good that he stopped and all, but it didn't change the fact that he'd threatened Merry and Tori's lives, attempted to kidnap Karina, AND was the whole reason Gabe was sitting in the hospital to begin with. He trusted his aunt, without a doubt, but could you really blame him for being worried?
Keith was pretty hesitant himself. "So what's gonna end up happening, you think?" It was the only appropriate question he could think to ask.
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Post by Satoru Alabaster on Jul 1, 2015 16:59:27 GMT -5
Satoru didn't really have an answer for that... "I don't know, that's not really my call..." It was something the Kids would have a lot more say in, they would be the ones dealing with the fallout, after all. Tactically, though, there were a few things he knew.
"Whatever happens, though, we can't kill him, and sending him back empty handed isn't a great idea either." His brow was furrowed in thought, turning over ideas. "If we kill him, he doesn't report back to Jun and she'll know something's up. Might send more Ghosts or worse, declare New Tokyo to be at war with Hatsu Itonami, she has the power for it." He tapped an aimless rhythm on one of the guardrails of the bed. "And if we send him back empty handed, it's basically the same problem except she's less likely to attack the city as a whole."
That was the thing about Jun, she couldn't be ignored. Satoru hated her for it.
"She doesn't like losing her things, and she won't give up when she wants something, which fucks us all over quite a bit..." He shook his head. "This is a conversation to have with everyone, anyway: figuring out what to do now." He wasn't going to suggest ideas without the people who'd be involved with them around to voice their opinions.
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Post by Gabe Alabaster on Jul 1, 2015 17:18:07 GMT -5
It was quiet for a while, and Gabe tried to think. Even with all the information he had heard about New Tokyo, he still didn't have a good enough understanding of it to come up with any decent ideas of his own. Though as much as he hated to admit it, he did know whatever plan that would be used wouldn't be involving him, not directly at least. Physically he was okay now, but with how serious his situation had been and how paranoid Satoru ALONE could be, there was no chance in hell of that happening.
That... was frustrating. He understood it, but it was still frustrating.
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