wanted a serious title but i'm wondering which of them is shrek and which is donkey (we know)

[brokeassgoing]

Continued from all this beauty

[He's had a pretty hard time stumbling around after his injury...but that doesn't really stop him. Whiny as he is, Badou had too much to do. Sure, he'd stayed mostly at home these past few days, but he's been very busy. No laying around, no unconsciousness for too long.

He's been developing the film he'd taken during the last job, carefully cultivated in the darkness of his nasty little bathroom, the chemicals would sting his nose if he wasn't used to this already.

So it's no surprise he's been so focused he's forgotten to do some stuff around the place, lately. And will probably not notice a new visitor in the form of his little old man buddy, either.]

Comments

A day after his rescue

[oldmanfive]

[ He's been in and out of consciousness since his family and Badou managed to find him and bring him home. Things were a little touch and go as Grace treated his wounds, thankfully he didn't need any major surgery but he was still very battered. Thus she managed to get him stabilized and cleaned up. The IV with the pain medication and antibiotics in it had put him out, so that he could actually rest.

A day later and he groggily fades back in to consciousness as he realizes that he is lying in his bed back in the Academy. His memory hazy enough that he doesn't quite remember how he got there. His face is still quite swollen from the beatings he took, thus when he goes to open his eyes only one of them can open, he flinches as he feels some pain but it is more manageable than before.

He takes note of Grace standing over him, checking on the IV drip as glances down at him and notices he's awake. ]

Oh good, you're awake. [ She says kindly, gently brushing his fringe out of his face. She picks up the glass of water on the nightstand and offers him the straw to take a sip as she can easily predict that his throat is still dry. ]

How do you feel?

Exhausted and sore. How did I get here?

Your siblings and Badou found you and brought you home.

[ He frowns but instantly flinches as that is too much of a work out for his swollen face to take. His memories are in bits and pieces right now, but when he turns his head to the opposite side of Grace, he sees Dolores other nightstand looking over him. A feeling of relief washes over him at the sight that he can feel tear stinging at the corner of his eyes, but he manages to hold the tears in. ]

I'll let everyone know you're awake. They have all been keeping vigil since they brought you back last night. I only managed to shoo them out, so they could go eat and get cleaned up themselves.

[ Gently she sits down on the edge of the bed and gives him a motherly expression. ]

You had us all worried for you, dear. [ She reaches out and takes him hand. ] I know you think you have to take care of the others, but you don't have to do things alone anymore. We're all together again. We can take care of things as a family. [ Grace tells him as she squeezes his hand, her words nearly bring him to full tears, but he stubbornly holds them back.]

I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to make you worry.

[ He speaks a bit choked up, but he squeezes her hand back. She smiles reaching out to brush his hair out of his face again.]

I forgive you, now maybe apologize to your brothers and sisters too, hmm? And your friend, poor guy was a bit rough for wear and he pushed through to help look for you.

[ Five weakly nods as she smiles at him. She gets up and heads toward the door to let the others know, Five's awake. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[Badou's convinced this vigil is worse than a wake. Five's alive, he's going to be okay physically-- but they don't know how he'll feel psychologically...and that's no surprise given what they know, the story the former assassin's injuries tell.

He's certain he'll pay the price for pushing through his own injuries for all this, too. But sitting around and waiting has at least helped him keep that together. Hasn't jostled the wound much. It's the waiting that gets you...again, that waiting.

But Grace comes to inform them of the good news, and Five's siblings flitter around to try and see him first. Badou hangs back. He can wait a little longer.

And to be honest he's not sure if he wants to see him yet.]

[oldmanfive]

[ Things are way more emotional with his siblings then he cares for them to be, especially his sisters who don't hold in their emotions at the sight of him awake and more alert. It feels like ages as he endures the hugs and sobbing from his sisters, while Diego and Luther give him their own lectures. Thankfully Klaus is much more subdued, though Ben does have a micro lecture for him, he keeps it briefly short.

It takes some time, but after a while it is just him and Dolores again. She actually apologizes to him for being unable to help him against the Handler and her cronies. However he weakly dismisses her apology, because it was his fault she was drug there at all.

As out of it as he is, it is not lost on him that Badou hasn't peeked his head in yet. He has to wonder if the dumbass is blaming himself for this, but it is not like he has the strength find him and set him straight. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he can hear it. Five's sisters crying, the murmuring of his brothers, those loving lectures. Once again he feels like a sore thumb-- out of place, out of time. Grace flitters in and out too, fluffing pillows and changing meds out. Making Five comfortable as can be....hydrating him too, now that he's lucid and awake.

Five will be okay. He's got his siblings and his wife. Maybe when he falls asleep again, he'll go and sit with him. For now, because he does just want to see his face, knowing he's been awake, he does sort of stick his head in, just beyond the doorway.

Just the bit of his red hair sticking out.]

[oldmanfive]

I'm not blind, Badou. You going to keep hovering out there or are you going to come in?

[ He's definitely awake enough to see that familiar red hair poking out in the doorway. He was beginning to wonder when he would show up considering everyone kept mentioning Badou to him. From Mom, to Klaus, to Luther and Vanya.

It's not lost on him that they all seem to be hinting at him that Badou's somehow become a honorary Hargreeves whether he and Badou like it or not. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[oh-- there's a visible flinch-- that red hair bobbing as his head bobs. well. he knows he's there, he sure hasn't lost his skills in all this.

so he peeeks around the corner. you can see his face now. he lifts a hand in a wave.]

Yo! Sup?

[you know, keep it casual]

[oldmanfive]

[ If he had the strength to roll his eyes, he'd be doing it now. Lightly he shakes his head, weakly gesturing to his surrounding. ]

Oh you know. Just lying around.

[ Despite the soreness of his throat, the sarcasm hasn't faded. He drapes one arm over his midsection as he looks toward Badou.]

Sorry about that sucker punch. Mom told me, she had to patch you up again.

[ Yeah let's discuss that topic over the other that is looming. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he'll live if he's still acting like a sarcastic little brat.

he inches into the room totally not like a skittish cat, and then stops, brow furrowing. that's what he wants to talk about? that?? he's a bit overwhelmed here. there's rage, there's sorrow, a spike of fear to hear an actual apology.]

Are you kidding me? You little asshole--

[oh there's the rage]

[oldmanfive]

[ Even though he can barely open his eyes, he can see the wary way that Badou comes into the room and he instantly hates it. There's vulnerability there and he doesn't want to acknowledge that, especially if it means addressing truths about their friendship.]

What? Everyone was practically nagging me about it. Maybe I should be mad at you for snitching me out.

[ He casually puts that out there to deflect the fact that Badou is mad at him. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[Badou's nostrils flare, he stomps closer and closer until he's towering over the foot of the bed, fists clenched at his sides]

That doesn't matter!! You just freaking left-- you took off on your own and no one knew if you were dead-- I had no idea where you'd gone after you went to that idiot's apartment. You always do this shit, just take off and do this on your own.

[oldmanfive]

How is what I did any different from what you are planning on doing?! Do you fucking think I want to see you go off on your own to face the people who took your eye and killed your brother!

[ Five snaps back with all the pent up anger inside him. He's still exhausted and his throat is so sore and raw, but he's not about to let Badou run him down as if he was not planning on doing the same thing.]

You're a fucking hypocrite! Why is okay for you to go off on a suicide mission but it is not alright for me to try and protect you!

[brokeassgoing]

That--

[that's different. that's completely different, that's utterly different, that's]

That's because you have something to come back to! You have all this, you have all of them to come back to, and you're gonna throw that away? You're gonna throw that back in their faces? I may be a moron but at least I can recognize the facts.

[because there's nothing left. his streak of revenge, his thirst for knowledge, it ends when he finds his brother. for better or worse. and after that......he can't imagine an After. his life these past 7 years have been living for the moment. Five's life has been living until the moment he was back with his family again, and they were safe. He's over that moment.

Badou doesn't know what's After for himself.]

[oldmanfive]

You fucking asshole. All this time and you think you have nothing?

[ Thanks. Good to know their friendship means shit all to him. Five looks away because his emotions are so raw right now he's saying more than he wants too. It's one thing to be attached to his family but is it weird to be attached to someone who is just a friend?

Oh sweetheart, he's in that position you were in before you found your way back to your family. Dolores says with a sad sigh. ]

What?! [ He sputters at Dolores, before he flinches due to the pain.] No, he isn't! He's just being a hypocritical dumbass! [ He snaps at Dolores.

You two are more alike than either of you like to admit. ]

We're not alike!

[brokeassgoing]

What what? Who the hell--

[what is this. they were arguing and now Five is??? is he hallucinating? this is even more frustrating, if not concerning]

Hell no we're nothing alike. For one, I've got like 2 feet on you. And at least I'm logical.

[oldmanfive]

Since fucking when? There's nothing logical about you! You're a fucking dipshit! I'm not sorry that I left your ass behind. The Handler would have outright killed you! Because of me, you get to live another day to be a selfish asshole who plans on throwing his life away.

[ You're welcome! He looks away from Badou, but refuses to look at Dolores in case she starts in on nonsense again. His chest feels tight and aches as he finds it a bit harder to breath, but refuses to say anything about it. ]

[brokeassgoing]

Oh wow thank you great malevolent savior! Because of you I had to get new bandages, your sister almost blew us up and the rest of us were worried sick thinking we'd find your corpse!! I am so so grateful, words can't express how much I love this experience!

[Five might be ready to have a panic attack, Badou's about ready to bust a gasket here, his face as red as his hair and his teeth clenched so hard his head aches]

No one asked you to do that-- no one wanted you to. If all of us worked on this together we could have shaved that stupid bitch middle aged man bald!

[oldmanfive]

Why did you stick around then? Why do you even care! You got nothing to come back to, remember?

[ Because their friendship really means nothing in the long run. He's just kidding himself that their friendship means anything at all. If he wasn't so sore and exhausted, he would be kicking Badou's ass himself. Why does Badou pretend to care, if he plans on going off to get himself killed on his quest for vengeance? Why is it so hard for him to see that Five only wants to help him? Five can't understand and he refuses to voice that pain and confusion because it means admitting that maybe Badou's friendship means more to him than he thought possible...but Badou's words have some bite to them.]

If you hadn't fucked up on that tailing mission in the first place, maybe I could have sniffed out the trap before it was too late!

[ Five! Dolores practically shouts at him for taking such a low blow, but he's not exactly thinking rationally right now as his chest just keeps on getting tighter. Of course, he's hurting physically, but he's also hurting emotionally and he can't stop himself from lashing out. Maybe Badou cares or maybe he's just been Five's friend out of guilt or feeling sorry for him...

Five, you're not being fair. Dolores insists, as Five feels like he's about to choke on his own breath. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[Five's comment yanks the breath right out of Badou more than any of his anger could. He audibly gasps, takes one staggering step back.

If-- if Five's going to blame him, then fine. Fine. So he'd screwed up. So he can't do any of this right when it really counts...it's one thing to get himself caught when it's thugs and drugs, but when it's someone's life on the line...

When it's someone's life on the line, when it's his friend's life on the line...he fumbled. He dropped the ball. Badou just stands there, his throat tight, his face hot.]

[oldmanfive]

[ Seeing Badou's reaction almost makes him want to apologize but the moment he opens his mouth to speak again, it falls shut. He can feel his heart racing in his chest. Though the sudden silence is brief as Grace walks into the room and shuts the door behind her. For a robot, that usually keeps a neutral or happy expression, she looks decidedly displeased.]

You sit down.

[ She orders Badou pointing to the chair near Five's bedside as she walks over to Five and checks his IV. ]

You shouldn't be yelling, dear. You're raising your blood pressure. Neither of you should be arguing for that matter. Why are you two being so silly about this?

[ She distinctly looks disappointed as she looks between the pair. She glances over to Five and then Badou. ]

Do you or do you not value your friendship?

[ It's a blunt question, she's not mixing words here and she's obviously addressing both of them. Five inhales sharply at being faced with addressing his feelings. ]

...yes.

[ It's the only word he can get out while he feels like the world is closing in all around him. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[it's absolutely the Mom Voice that gets him shrinking into a chair and not the fact that she's a robot. Badou feels properly chastised in a way he's never felt, or at least it's been a long time and not in a professional setting.

it's a weird feeling. distracting only slightly from the guilt teeming in his head, the rage bubbling beneath the surface that could spark at any moment. the despair.

does he value their friendship? is this friendship? well, he wouldn't just wait around for anyone to come to after being tortured. or try to show his favorite movies. he still has to make Five watch the Predator movies...

so softly, quietly he says:]

Yeah.

[oldmanfive]

[ Grace looks between the pair again expectantly. Five instinctively averts his gaze as he's not quite sure that he believes Badou.]

Then what exactly is the problem? Why are you two arguing?

[ Five remains silent his chest heaving as he considers Grace's question. He's not good with addressing his feelings, he just sat through several rounds of his siblings being emotional at him. But they don't really know what it feels like to be utterly alone because they went their separate ways by their own design. But Badou knows. He's been alone since his brother's death. He's never tried to replace Badou's brother, that wasn't even a thought.]

You were already hurt, Badou. There was no way that I was going to let you come with me. It was my fuck up that you got hurt in the first place. The fact that it turned out to be a trap was even more my fuck up. I'm sorry I got you involved in the first place. But the Handler is my burden. I made the deal with the devil and I don't want you or the others trying to clean up my mess.

[ Grace's expression immediately saddens at that admission, though he refuses to meet her or Badou's gaze. ]

Oh Five. Always so strong for everyone else, but you have let us be strong for you too.

[ She glances over to Badou again.]

If I leave you two alone, can I trust that you'll act like the adults you are suppose to be?

[brokeassgoing]

[the apology does nothing to stave off the rage, if the clenched jaw is anything to go by. but he glances at Grace, nods.]

We'll be fine.

[because the second she leaves, reassured or at least assured she'll come in here to nip it in the bud, Badou leans in and snarls-]

I don't give a crap, jobs go wrong all the time, that doesn't matter to me. You getting into your thick tiny little head that you had to do this by yourself is the dumbest thing I've ever heard! And I'm pretty sure one of your brothers thinks the Earth is flat. Deals with the devil bitch have nothing to do with you going off on your own-- like you gotta be the martyr. You got a martyr complex? Hmmm? Do ya?

[oldmanfive]

[ Five glares at Badou because who is being thick here? He replies in a low voice, because he doesn't want to see Grace come back in with that look of disappointment again.]

What don't you get? I handle my business alone. I underestimated the job and you got your ass hurt and nearly killed. Why is it so hard for you to understand that I work better when I'm alone. This wasn't some fucking team mission bullshit. If I had worked this case alone in the first place, I would have caught on the trap, but I made a stupid mistake in involving you.

[ He really thought it would easy enough that Badou could get a pay day and that shit just blew right up in his face. ]

And I only did that because you constantly complain that you never get paid for the work that you do with your partner! There's nothing martyr about this shit. I tried to clean up a fucking mess and fell into a trap. There's nothing I can do about it now. So what the fuck do you want from me, Badou? Why are you so goddamn triggered that you can't fucking let it go?

[ Even his siblings weren't on his ass this much or least not right off the bat. He knows he's going to get plenty of more lectures once he's actually healed. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[it's you, Five, you're the one being thick, it's you. always. he slaps a hand against the bed, the emphasis it brings isn't what it'd be if this were a table or anything, but still. there's fire in his eye.]

You don't work better on your own, you've gotten your own ass shot up by yourself-- and then there's no one to back you up! I want you to allow yourself to have back up, Five! That's what I freaking want!

[it isn't even about the money. it was never about the money at all-- sure, he'd love to get paid more, this was nearly professional and all.]

You're a martyr because you think you need to solve everything on your own. Even if it's your own shit, it doesn't matter!

[oldmanfive]

I'm nearly sixty fucking years old, Badou. [ He snaps, before letting out a frustrated sigh. ] All of you are still so young. You all got your whole lives ahead of you. [ He pauses as he reaches over to grip Badou's shirt. ]

Well you would if you weren't so determined to go get yourself killed on a revenge quest. [ Though he doesn't have enough strength to keep his grasp, so he lets his arm drop back down as he looks up at the ceiling. ] This is just borrowed time, I'm living on. Sooner or later, my past is going to catch up with me. And there is nothing you or my siblings can do about that.