[ On a normal day, with an unbroken body and an unclouded mind, Endo's invasive nap would be a pretense. He would lean into Accelerator, as he's currently doing, but his sleep would be feigned. Instead of truly resting, he'd pay close attention — listening, and eventually watching, the charging process, making mental note of how it all works, determining how vulnerable Accelerator is, and even going so far as to examine the charging components. His assumption is that Accelerator will be weaker while the choker is charging, so it would be the perfect opportunity.
But the truth is that he's genuinely tired, his mind exhausted by the highs and lows he experienced while fighting Accelerator and observing those wings. All the interest and excitement in the world couldn't keep him tethered to waking any longer, and that's probably for the best. If he gives up consciousness for a little, then he should be in better shape — more alert and more capable of moving himself around. And since he doesn't have to worry about Accelerator, given that the guy's committed to taking him to the hospital, it's as good a time as any.
So, though he feels Accelerator tensing and glancing at him, Endo pays it no mind, and fades —
— and then he's ripped back into awareness by the phone's loud beeping. Everything still hurts, but that doesn't keep Endo from easing away from Accelerator to take a look at the situation, regardless of how quickly Accelerator does or does not respond to the sound. He can't say he feels better, exactly, but his mental fog has somewhat lifted, so his thoughts are clearer. And with that impairment more or less subsided, he's able to take in Accelerator's appearance and —
laugh, naturally, albeit it in the form of a quieter chuckle. ]
Whoa —
[ He notes the charger and the light, indicating that it's actively working. He'd reach for it first and analyze it right now, if he didn't expect Accelerator to snap back to some semblance of awareness at any moment. That doesn't stop Endo from waving his hand — the one attached to his good arm — in front of his face a couple of times, testing his reaction time. ]
You look out of it.
[ More than that, it appears as if his brain can't function while his choker is being charged — a vital piece of information for the future. ]
Accelerator doesn't immediately move to turn the alarm off. In fact, when it goes off he barely reacts at all. He slumps a little when Endo pulls away. Thankfully he made sure to sit with his back against the wall, because if he had to rely on his own strength to remain sitting up he'd be falling over.
His eyes catch the movement of Endo's hand directly in front of him, but it's like his brain is missing a gear. There's the surface level observation of 'that's a hand' and he blinks reflexively because there's motion directly in his line of sight, and that's about it. He can't put together why the hand is there waving, and he certainly can't understand what Endo is saying. His mind can't process the entire sentence properly and the words and meanings get all jumbled up. It comes out like:
Hey, take Your eYES off oF me.
He can't even parse that the remark is being directed at himself. There's no response as, essentially, Accelerator ignores it and looks down at the charger in his hand. The phone is still beeping and he doesn't do anything about it; instead, he uses his free hand to try and grab the battery between his thumb and his index finger. He's done this enough times to have memorized the movements of putting the battery into the charger, and taking it out and putting it back into the choker, so despite the brain injury hampering his cognition he's aware of what he needs to do to get back to his baseline. Unfortunately, his hand is trembling badly enough that he flat-out misses it the first two times.
Third time's the charm though, and he manages to get his fingers on the battery.]
[ This is fascinating. Accelerator is the gift that keeps on giving.
Endo is wholly absorbed in Accelerator's lack of response — the way his brain not only lags, but seems to have lost most functionality. He's totally reliant on that choker, which is dangerous as it is interesting. Endo's excited by the possibilities, undeterred by the prospect of prolonging his own pain. He could shove Accelerator over and steal his choker, which Accelerator probably couldn't do anything about. And what else? Could he release those wings like this? Could Endo harass him into revealing more? Or could he just — pluck that little battery right out of his hand and give it a nice look?
That's what he chooses to do. With a careful swipe, he takes the battery into his own hand and rolls it between his fingers, squeezes it between his thumb and pointer, and holds it up to the light. He takes his time in looking at it, but a visual examination doesn't reveal much.
He wants to do more with it, but now that his mind is clearer, he recognizes that staying in the warehouse won't do him any good. He needs to get to the hospital, and Accelerator is his best bet. His only bet, really.
So he places the battery flat on his palm, which he then holds out to him to see if he can nab it from a different position: higher, further out, but still readily available. Although this is a concession, it will still give Endo a little insight into his state. Namely, whether or not Accelerator can adjust his basic behaviors when he's like this, and if he's capable of making and retaining memories that will last once he's fully conscious. ]
Here ya go.
[ He says it in a low voice, kindly, like he picked it up off the floor instead of taking it directly from Accelerator's hand. ]
[The battery is loosely between his fingers for all of a few seconds before it's abruptly whisked away. Accelerator is left staring down at the charger, trying and failing and trying to process what just happened. Endo's hand, much like everything else, was a fractured mess and he's only just barely comprehending that those shapes formed a hand.
He can tell the battery is gone, at least. He can't see it anymore, and he can't feel it, so it's gone. The awareness that he needs it doesn't fade with it missing from his line of sight, since the necessity of it is practically burned into his brain. But getting from Point A (the battery is in the charger) to Point B (the battery back in his choker) is suddenly a lot more difficult.
The battery itself, outside of its small size and cube shape, is completely innocuous. Just a perfectly normal battery.
He looks up at Endo's voice finally grabs his attention. Not that he knows what he's saying, the worst are still all jumbled up, but with the battery gone any new sensory input is more likely to hold his focus. Looking over, everything is still unfocused, but after several moments of staring he recognizes the battery sitting there, on Endo's palm. It doesn't occur to him what might be going on, the connections aren't forming that will allow him to feel annoyed or suspicious. He just sees it and starts reaching again. Again it takes a few tries for him to get his fingers on the battery, his hand whacking against Endo's, but he manages it. And he lifts the battery —
[ With a click of his tongue, Endo picks the battery back up, this time enclosing it in his palm. ]
You're hopeless like this, aren't you?
[ By now he's confirmed that Accelerator processes little while in this state. Rather than producing high-level thoughts, he seems to be working off of a singular rote desire, like a zombie. He's oriented to the battery because he knows it's important, but that's as far as his motivation seems to go. The rest of him might as well not be there at all — a step or two short from being truly mindless. Endo hypothesizes that he won't be able to store memories like this — it doesn't appear as though he has the brain function — but he still won't try anything crazy, just in case. There's pushing and then there's becoming a threat all over again, the latter of which Endo wouldn't be opposed to in the future, but not here and now. He has other plans. ]
Lemme help.
[ He holds the battery right in front of Accelerator's face, just in case there's some innate trigger that'll activate once he touches his choker. After holding it there for a moment, his next step is pretending to feel around the choker for battery slot. Really, he's searching for whatever else he can find as runs his fingers along it, trying to determine if there's an easy latch for complete removal, if it's attached to Accelerator's skin, or if there are switches or buttons in hidden places, as with his crutch.
Regardless of what he finds, though, he chooses to file the information away for another time. When he's done, he simply pushes the battery back into its proper place and shuts it inside. ]
There.
[ He says it with a note of false triumph, but while he utters the word, he pulls away as quickly as he can without jostling his broken bones — just in case Accelerator comes back to consciousness with a desire to smack anyone who happens to be close. ]
[That he dropped the battery is something Accelerator's brain manages to process, mostly because he has it in his hand one second and the next it's gone, though there's no sign of distress when he does it. Just like there's no sign of relief when Endo holds it back up in front of him. He starts to reach for it, but stops when he feels Endo exploring around his choker.
The calculation assistance device is surprisingly simple. There's the slot for the battery, the light (currently off), and the switch that's used to change modes (also currently in the 'off' position). It could easily be mistaken for something simple like a music player. Even the choker keeping it around Accelerator's neck is simple, no different than a normal fashion accessory: it has a clasp, and that's about it. This version, being wireless, can easily removed by undoing the clasp.
More notable are the round, black electrodes stuck to Accelerator's scalp behind each ear. Those things definitely aren't removable.
Fight of flight reflexes, at least what's left of them, kick in and he tenses up. There isn't much he can do beyond that, though.
Then there's a familiar click as Endo presses the battery back into place, and an equally familiar weight is added to the choker. Picking up on that Accelerator's fingers fumble upwards, feeling around until he finds the switch. Then he changes modes from 'off' to 'normal,' bringing his cognitive function back up to that of a non-esper human. The world floods back into coherency.
Accelerator blinks, his gaze coming into focus, giving himself several long moments to process what little surface-level observations he remembers, trying to connect bits of information to form a comprehensible picture of everything from the time he shut the choker off. There isn't much, and even less that makes sense to him, but... he knows Endo had the battery. And he remembers dropping it.....
... Oh.
He spares a tiny glance over at Endo, before awkwardly looking away.]
[ Endo smiles brightly, entirely bolstered by this confirmation that Accelerator doesn't remember anything about what happened with his battery. Which is, of course, information he plans to use in the future, especially now that he's also confirmed the choker to be removable. The next time he's around for Accelerator's little charging nap — which he will eventually be, as he'll make sure of it — Endo will really get to play around with the device.
But he's a patient guy; he'll wait until the right opportunity. ]
What was I gonna do, leave you like that?
[ He asks this because the answer is obvious: Endo is the kind of guy who would leave him, if there was some benefit to be gained from it. Only caution spared Accelerator from an even longer stint in shutdown mode in the first place. ]
That collar's all you got keeping you going, eh?
[ What a boon, and yet what a glaring vulnerability. Accelerator is so many contradictions rolled into one: a pathetic human entirely reliant on technology to function and a beautiful deity with a mind of its own and an endless appetite for destruction. There's a story there, and while normally Endo wouldn't be interested in the finer details of Accelerator himself, he now wants to know everything even remotely relevant. He's probably going to be in the hospital for a while, given the extent of his injuries. He might as well get himself something to chew on while he's stuck there. ]
[Accelerator spares a tiny glance in Endo's direction and, uh, wrong move. Why the hell does he look so cheerful? He's acting almost like they're friends or something. That's such a bizarre thing to come back to after his brain has essentially been shut off.
But then, this whole day has been bizarre, and he chalks that up to Endo's behaviour. Going from you're nothing to you're a god and now you're interesting. And nowhere in there, not once, can he remember Endo being afraid of him. That only adds to the strangeness of it all, because fear is the normal reaction to him. It's certainly the normal reaction to his black wings. Accelerator isn't sure what to make of all that... but maybe it's the same for Endo. Maybe he isn't sure what to make of any of this, and so he's cycling through a bunch of emotions to try and figure things out.
Ugh, he doesn't know. He turns his gaze back downwards, turning the alarm on his phone off before putting it back in his pocket. After he's unplugged the charger it goes away as well.]
It's a medical device. I've got a traumatic brain injury.
[There's no point in hiding it. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together would be able to understand that his brain activity is seriously compromised when the choker is shut off. Basic deduction leads to the conclusion that the choker is needed for his brain activity, making it medical equipment similar to his crutch.
He shifts closer, so he can ease Endo's good arm over his shoulders again. And this time he moves his other hand straight down to Endo's hip, instead of messing with his broken ribs. Endo helped him out and he's grateful for that, so he's willing to lighten up a little.]
Come on. The hospital isn't that far. [Next stop: painkillers and xrays!]
[ Medical device only offers a partial explanation. It accounts for Accelerator's lack of significant brain activity while the choker was on charge, but it doesn't explain anything about the abilities it provides, nor its role in his transformation to a winged god. And even as a medical device, it isn't exactly normal — Endo's never studied medicine, but he's pretty sure that if there were a device that "fixes" severe brain damage on the market, it'd be much more common knowledge.
The answer therefore only offers the bare minimum of what he wants to know — and raises more questions in the process. He's eager to press for more, but he's still tempering himself, refusing to overplay his hand. He holds his tongue for the moment, long enough for Accelerator to help him up again. As with last time, the motion of rising and moving is pretty damn painful, but with Accelerator taking care to avoid his ribs, it's not nearly as bad as it could be. It only takes a few forward steps before Endo manages to even out his breathing and feel confident that he won't pass out.
He doesn't speak until the building is behind them, their pace manageable and his pain not as blinding. When he does, the question he finally asks is the sympathetic option, as if he isn't at the edge of his seat to dig into the medical device. ]
What happened?
[ Then, for clarification: ]
What caused your injury, I mean.
[ The answer to that is likely less important than the rest, but it demonstrates an interest in Accelerator the person — a sense of sympathy, instead of a bombardment of intrusive prodding. ]
[Once again, getting back onto his feet is the worst part of this. Now that his choker is somewhat charged it's tempting to make use of it, but the fact that isn't fully charged has him cautious. He really doesn't want to run out of battery all over again, so he's going to suck it up. He can manage, he did it once before.
(It's still a pain though. He's such a weakling without his ability.)
At least once they're outside it's a straightforward route to the emergency clinic. Just one step at a time, with Accelerator looking down often to make sure he isn't about to trip over his crutch.]
I got shot in the head.
[His answer is blunt, and he has no intention of tiptoeing around the gory details. There are parts he plans to leave out, like how he got shot in the first place, full context of the entire situation, Last Order, but otherwise he doesn't hold back. There's no point. As far as he's concerned, it was his own fault, so why should he?
He gives Endo a small glance. He isn't expecting anything kind out of Endo, and he doesn't want pity over what happened. What happened happened, and it's reasonable for someone to be curious about why someone so young needs a crutch and something to assist with brain function.]
I pissed off this scientist, and he had a gun. I managed to prevent the bullet from hitting my brain, but it still shattered my skull and caused a brain bleed.
[Accelerator can still remember staring down the gun, the pain and resignation he felt after his skull cracked but before he passed out. He doesn't regret throwing his own life away to save Last Order's, she was worth it. In fact he cracks a tiny, rueful smile that he's still alive.]
[ As they move along and Endo adjusts to the feeling of being upright, he's able to support more of his own weight, rather than leaving it entirely to Accelerator. In fact, once he's more or less steady, he likely could walk by himself most of the way; he really just needed to get over that painful rise to his feet. His nap was far from a cure-all, but it at least let some of the shock wear off, and it allowed his adrenaline to replenish a little. His injuries are more manageable now, even if they're still pretty bad.
But there's something to be said for allowing Accelerator to continue to help him along. It works on multiple levels, in his mind: prolonging conversation, giving Endo the opportunity to analyze him up close and personal, keeping Accelerator's attention on him. And though Endo doesn't need to milk his very real injuries, there is something to be said for using dependency to build bonds. Accelerator may hate him after all that manipulation business, but it should be somewhat difficult to keep that hate in the forefront of his mind when the source of it is still in need.
Besides, physical contact is a good way to bolster all this sharing. ]
Whoa, that's pretty hardcore.
[ Nothing in his tone indicates that the compliment is false. Unlike earlier, his voice is absent of his taunting arrogance. Because hey — not many people get shot in the head and live to tell the tale. Endo isn't impressed, per se, because Accelerator did get shot in the first place, and by his own admission, only survived by luck (and souped up technology), but credit where credit is due. Plus, he's trying to buy a little more goodwill.
Look how far they've come since their fight! Accelerator is being conversational and everything. Endo just needs to keep that going, so he can plant a few more seeds before Accelerator dumps him at the hospital. ]
What'd you do to piss him off that bad?
[ Honestly, Endo has his guesses, since Accelerator isn't a likeable guy and lacks the charisma to cover for that. He's kind of hopeless in terms of social skills, and from Endo's perspective, a little too easy to upset. It's not difficult to imagine him pissing off anyone.
Once again, it isn't exactly the question he wants to ask — there's a lot more to dig into when it comes to those details — but he's still building toward something. ]
[Accelerator is fairly sure he's going to be completely exhausted tomorrow. This is still worthwhile, but maybe he'll skip tomorrow and just stay in bed all day. That would be nice.
Right now he just needs to take this one step at a time, what few memories he has of that night coming back to him. Things get fuzzy around the time when he was shot, but most of it is still fairly clear, especially his last few thoughts before the bullet hit him. Accelerator is fully expecting to get teased over his explanation; maybe something about how he shouldn't be pissing off people with guns (valid), or some brazen remark about how his ability apparently must not work on bullets. Something along those lines, something to put him down a little, since the opportunity is right there and Endo has shown he isn't above tearing into him. It wouldn't even be unwarranted, in his opinion. He screwed up, he's the one who caused the entire situation in the first place.
But no, Accelerator can't detect even a hint of sarcasm, and his smile fades as he glances over warily. Sincerity? He's being sincere? Their close physical proximity makes him acutely aware he's staring after only a few moments, so he goes back to looking down at the sidewalk. That's a lot easier, and gives him another few seconds to decide whether or not he wants to answer.
It can't hurt. Sans some details, of course, and chances are explaining will result in some teasing, but whatever. It'd give him the chance to make it clear that it was his screw-up. He deserves at least a little ridicule for fucking everything up so badly.]
.... He was going to hurt some brats to pay off a fucking gambling debt. I stopped him, but I almost didn't bother. If I'd just helped out from the start things would've turned out a lot better.
[He huffs. That's more than enough information, he doesn't need to get into details about the clones or Last Order. That they were artificially created doesn't matter, nor does the method in which Amai Ao was going to hurt them. Just that he was going to, and he was stopped.]
[ Manipulation is second-nature to Endo. He's been getting people to do what he wants since he was a kid, and he's pulled off far greater feats since entering his teenage years. It comes so naturally to him, sometimes he doesn't fully realize he's doing it; the line between being himself and guiding conversations and relationships in his preferred direction is thin. Not that this bothers him. As long as he's able to keep his gangs running, cash coming, and Takiishi's happiness lasting, that's all he needs out of life. The rest is negligible.
Until, that is, he encounters the incredibly rare situation of wanting something for himself. Then his approach matters deeply, albeit in an entirely different way. He'd go to the ends of the earth for Takiishi; he'd scam politicians and companies alike. He'd manipulate the emperor himself, if it would make Takiishi smile. But fostering a personal connection, no matter how fake or temporary it may be, requires a degree of give on his part. Such a relationship needs to play out on a much smaller scale, so he has to be extra sharp, capable of multiple shades of nuance, and even willing to meet the person part of the way to his chosen destination. He has to offer pieces of himself, albeit in a carefully controlled manner, in order slowly claim what he's decided will be his.
Deciding that he wants to be a subtle thorn in Accelerator's side for the foreseeable future means that he can't just break him down all over again, let alone with the intensity he did previously. This time, he has to go slower, be more methodical, and take more risks.
That's why, as Accelerator stares at him, undoubtedly looking for hidden meaning in his words, Endo doesn't smirk — or make any move, really. He's patient, and he keeps his expression smooth. And when Accelerator shares more, he doesn't make a sound until he's done talking.
When Endo speaks in turn, he shapes his reply to be somewhat supportive, but not excessively so, as Endo can't suddenly morph his personality into that of a cheerleader for the good and the needy without it being blatantly obvious that he's working a specific angle. ]
Sounds like you haven't changed much at all. [ He offers a small, teasing smile. ] You got a thing for sticking yourself right in the middle of other people's business.
[ His tone, however, is kinder than it's been throughout their entire time together, despite the fact that it's also clearly teasing. It's meant to be good-natured, even nostalgic, as though everything that happened between them took place a while ago, rather than that same day. ]
That was the turning point, huh? Funny how that works sometimes.
[ Even Endo has one of those in his history, although he arguably went in the opposite direction, a fact that would be more apparent if anyone could read his mind. Despite his words, Endo thinks that Accelerator must've been a hell of a lot more interesting before he decided to turn kind and "heroic." Now he's just sitting on all that potential.
[The lack of overt putdowns has Accelerator baffled. There's loads in his story that leaves him open for criticism, rightly so, but all he gets is some light teasing he'd expect from someone who knows and likes him. Hell, even then, this is a lot kinder than the sass he gets from Last Order on a daily basis. What the hell is he supposed to do with this? Take Endo being friendly at face value? Is he just the kind of person who can flip on a dime? Maybe seeing something as otherworldly as the wings dragged something out of him that isn't normally there, and he's actually just a perfectly normal asshole??
Accelerator can read people when he needs to, but that's always been more of an application of psychological theories he learned in school than any kind of innate understand of other people. He doesn't see how that could help here, so he's left confused.]
Yeah, I guess so.
[Endo is wrong in assuming his tendency to insert himself into other people's business. For a long time he thought he had been normal (looking back now, having no friends and getting bullied by classmates wasn't normal), then he spent years deliberately isolating himself away from people. It's only recently that he's been doing this, because of the Sisters and Last Order. Because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of that Level 0. Because he's the strongest and therefore in the best position to help people.
On the other hand, he's right about how he hasn't changed much. Despite all that, at his core, he's still that same monster that killed half of the clones. That thought sticks in his mind, faded into the background as a realization hits him.
This almost feels like a normal conversation they're having. Something that's somewhat personal, so something he would talk about to someone with whom he he has a certain level of familiarity. Not a friend, the idea of him having friends is not a prospect he can bring himself to consider, but maybe an acquaintance or something. One of the people he'd been allied with in the past. It's almost normal and that's more than a little bewildering to him, particularly because it... doesn't feel that bad. Uncomfortable, yes, but not enough to make him retreat and clam up. A thoughtful kind of silence overtakes him for a few moments as he considers this.
Having a normal conversation isn't a bad thing. And a normal conversation shouldn't be completely one-sided, which is why he glances over at Endo again. When he speaks up again, it's a little reluctant, like he's still feeling out how to navigate this entire social situation.]
... You ever have one of those? A turning point?
[It's partly curiosity that drives him to ask that question, partly a desire to keep on conversing normally. He doesn't know anything about Endo outside of him being a weird (sometimes unsettling) asshole, while the guy knows a lot more about him. He's realizing he'd like to change that. Endo is a strange person, and he doesn't really understand what the hell is going through his head. Maybe it's just out of an abundance of cautious that he's asking? Know thy enemy or some shit. Accelerator isn't totally sure but it's a curiosity he's deciding to pursue for the moment.]
[ Stretches of silence are entirely comfortable for Endo. He's used to that kind of thing. Takiishi often goes incredibly long lengths of time without saying any at all, or by responding to certain questions with only a brief word or two. Endo loves to fill empty spaces with chatter, but it's not inherently necessary. And contrary to what people who know him may think, he actually enjoys the occasional insertion of quiet reflection, especially after making a move of his own, however small of one it may have been. It usually means whatever seeds he's attempting to plant have taken root — that a perspective is shifting, or becoming more accommodating, or simply coming to accept him.
This proves to be true with Accelerator, because his silence is followed up by a gesture of reciprocity: a question of his own. A personal one, no less, which is very getting-to-know-you in its attempt. He kind of wants to laugh in return, but he keeps himself contained, instead simply nodding before replying. ]
A long time ago.
[ Endo doesn't go around sharing his backstory, but that isn't due to any great desire to keep secrets. He actually enjoys talking about himself, especially in reference to Takiishi, and could go on and on if given the opportunity. Generally speaking, nothing that he'd reveal would hurt him. If anything, it might confuse people. But Endo also likes being surrounded by mystery. It helps fuels all the rumors concerning him and keeps him both large and fearsome in people's minds — which is very useful in his line of work. Plenty of people respect him specifically because of those rumors.
But, in this case, he needs to be both serious and careful, probably for the first time ever. Because Accelerator is stronger than him with that false power at his disposal, and truly stronger with those wings. He doesn't want to create any leads that could be followed back to Takiishi, though Endo still thinks Takiishi would have some fun fighting him. It would be too much of a risk, and Endo's real responsibility is taking care of Takiishi and preserving his happiness. So this proud topic has to be a delicate one.
He still offers truths, as that's the best way to prove a degree of sincerity, but carefully chosen and shaped so as not to give away too much. ]
I was kinda lost as a kid. I dunno where I would have ended up, but it probably wouldn't've been great.
[ At the time, Endo was content with the emptiness of his life because he didn't know any better. But he was young, his world was small, and he was insulated by people who were impressed or unnerved by his talents. A decade would have been a long time to go without feeling much of anything. It's hard to imagine now that he's so removed from all of it. ]
But I met someone, and he changed everything for me.
[ Endo's life has been dedicated to him ever since. He smiles as he says as much, but unlike every smile that's graced his face thus far, it appears a little wistful. Then, immediately brightening, he cheerfully adds: ]
Now I'm here!
[ Being carted off to the hospital by someone other than the said person.
But what he really means is his chosen lifestyle, his "career," the level of respect he's obtained, and his ability to fill all the empty places within himself with the drive to keep Takiishi happy and bits of entertainment in between.
[Accelerator honestly isn't expecting anything out of his question, not even a vague answer. He never holds much in the way of expectations when it comes to socializing with other people in general, and this goes doubly so for someone he both barely knows and has seriously injured. So Endo's answer is more than what he thought he'd get, far more, and it's giving him a lot to consider.
They're coming from a similar place. That's a frightening thought. Does that mean they've got other similarities? Are they similar people? Having someone else in the world who is anything like him, a monster like him, seems like a complete nightmare.
He's quietly thoughtful, trying to process this information.]
Hmm.
[He can understand what it's like to have found someone that important. Last Order changed him, she's the entire reason he was shot. That Level 0, too; he was the one who made him realize the clones are more than just puppets. He was the one he tried to emulate for so long, the person he put on a pedestal has a real hero, the ally he knows he can trust unconditionally even when they're on opposing sides. It wasn't just one incident with Kamijou Touma but many of them, small and large, building up over time until Accelerator became the person he is now. If it wasn't for him he'd be an entirely different person, a far worse person. He's sure of that.
Actually, he has to wonder what that third string would do if he was here right now. Probably punch out a lot of those gang members, make them reconsider their terrible life choices. He'd for sure punch out Endo and — okay, that is something he'd enjoy seeing. He's been on the receiving end of that fist more than enough times to know exactly how it would go: there would be a fight, of course, and somehow Kamijou would get to the root of the issue, and before punching him out he'd say something awe-inspiring —
... Well, anyways. Accelerator blinks, it taking him a few moments to re-focus his attention. That Level 0 isn't here, so those are just stray thoughts that don't matter. The point is, he understands where Endo is coming from, a strange turn of events given out little he relates to other people, particularly people around his age. He can't even imagine the kind of person that would have been enough to change someone like Endo, nor what Endo could have been like before meeting him. Normal? Worse? Better? That wistful expression, no matter how brief it is, doesn't go unnoticed, and it raises more questions in Accelerator's mind. He has to sort through them, filter out the ones that are way too brazen, and comes up with something fairly low-key.]
Was that the person you tried to call?
[His tone isn't judgmental. Sure, it would've been easier if whoever that was had answered the damn phone, but there are tons of legitimate reasons for someone to not pick up. It is what it is. He's just curious.]
[ There are legitimate reasons for not answering a phone, and then there are Takiishi reasons — which are entirely legitimate in Endo's eyes, no matter the circumstances. Truthfully, were it not for the circumstances, Endo wouldn't have called him at all. He doesn't want to bother or inconvenience Takiishi in any way; his job is to support him, provide for him, and make him happy, not put him a position he very likely won't like — and won't have patience for. If Endo hadn't been so addled from shock and the pain of his injuries, he probably would have refrained from calling him at all.
Does it bother him that Takiishi is unreliable? Self-centered? Not at all worried about where he is right now? No, Endo would say. He's made peace with the fact that Takiishi could take or leave him. He's content. Takiishi doesn't need to care; he does the caring for him.
(And if it stings a little, that's easily ignored, shoved down, unacknowledged — a non-issue.)
He's thinking about Takiishi while Accelerator is busy thinking about — whatever it is he's currently mulling over. Endo's therefore unconcerned by how much time passes, wondering how long he's going to be kept in the hospital and thinking about all the ways in which his stint will inconvenience Takiishi. He decides that Accelerator's going to have to buy him a phone before he leaves, that way he can at least warn Takiishi that he won't be able to provide meals until he's released.
Despite making these tentative plans, he hears Accelerator's questions and answers it without hesistation, a soft: ]
Yeah.
[ This is where he'd normally go into depth about Takiishi — rambling on about him and his fighting abilities and how he's kind of a mess but absolutely beautiful when he fights. The monologue is on the tip of his tongue, but too many details might lead to problems. Endo has more work to do in securing Accelerator as his, and until then, he doesn't want to reveal too much.
But he will share a little, if only to get to indulge in talking about him. ]
He's not really a phone guy. Half the time, his cell's stuffed in a drawer or closet, dead. And when it isn't dead, it's usually on the charger, not in his pocket.
[ His tone isn't saccharine, but there's a fond quality to it that Endo doesn't bother to disguise. ]
It still had battery when I called, so he might see my message at some point.
[ As for when that could happen — maybe tomorrow morning. Maybe not. It's hard to say. ]
[Oof, that isn't great to hear. Endo's answer at least confirms to Accelerator that helping this jerk out instead of just ditching him was the right thing to do, but for some stupid reason that relief is short-lived. It's instead turning into pity, as much as he doesn't want it to.
Accelerator manages to keep a straight face, but inwardly he can feel the urge to judge this person rising. Whoever the hell this is doesn't sound particularly responsible or reliable. That's a stark contrast from that Level 0. Despite everything he's done, Accelerator knows he can depend on Kamijou Touma. If he ever felt the need to contact that dumbass for help he doesn't doubt that he would show up eventually. Being who he is, there's a chance he'd be late (probably off saving someone else, because he's that kind of person), but he knows he'd still show up.
Whoever this person is, they aren't Kamijou Touma.
Worse than that is the lack of certainty that he'll show up for Endo for any of this. Being alone and stuck in a hospital is shitty, he knows that from personal experience. The last time he was in one he at least had Last Order and some of the clones for company, and that had been infinitely better than being on his own. If Last Order was here he knows what she'd do, and he's pretty sure he knows what that Level 0 would do, too.
He's kind of hating both of them right now, even though this is all hypothetical and all in his head.]
Clinic's over there. [He jerks his head in the direction of the building, a glowing sign above the entrance indicating that they've arrived. His next words come far more reluctantly, like he doesn't want to ask but can't keep quiet.] ... Have you got anyone else you can call?
[ Though he would never telegraph it to Accelerator, the sight of the hospital is a huge relief. If he were alone, tension would drain from him and Endo would stop acting like these injuries are no big deal — albeit intentionally, rather than the slip he experienced earlier. This entire walk has been exhausting, and while the nap helped him clear his head a little, he's far from in decent shape. Staying at a hospital isn't something that Endo wants to do by any means, but the thought of stabilizing his injuries and lying on a bed is too overwhelmingly alluring to pass up.
He keeps walking as though none of that is going through his head, even responding to Accelerator without a hitch, but he swallows before speaking, his throat feeling dry. Endo's never been this injured before, and though vulnerability hasn't been a huge factor in anything he's done so far, he feels it now as he anticipates everything that's going to happen once he walks through those doors.
Takiishi isn't exactly a source of overflowing comfort and support, but Endo does kind of wish he were here now that all this is on his mind. If nothing else, he could turn his unnerving stare on the nurses and doctors to keep them from pestering Endo too much. ]
Yeah, but I'm not gonna.
[ Technically speaking, Endo has a lot of contacts. When he's not being a freak or messing with people for some reason or another, he's actually pretty charismatic, and that means "friends" are easy for him to make. But calling any of them over to sit by his bedside? No thanks. He'd rather be alone. ]
I do need a phone, though.
[ He flashes a brief smile in Accelerator's direction. Only one of them is capable of going shopping, and guess who it is? ]
[Accelerator's expression is less than impressed at the response he gets, even one of his eyebrows is twitching. Seriously? Not going to? Not even his parents or whatever? He isn't sure if he should feel sympathy or be annoyed at the level of irresponsibility currently on display. It takes a certain kind of person to be more concerned about their phone than informing important people that they're injured and at the hospital.]
Tche.
[Accelerator scowls back, picking up what Endo means. He doesn't argue, though; it is his fault the phone broke, and with his absurd bank account paying to replace it isn't actually a big deal. He makes a mental note to get Endo's broken phone, and heads for the entrance.
Thank God the doors are automatic, because he couldn't manage a normal one right now. Inside, the ER is what one would expect from a normal hospital: a lot of white, signs everywhere, and the strong smell of disinfectant. Accelerator glances around once, then turns and heads over to a waiting area with chairs. There are a few people already waiting for some reason or another, and they get some strange looks that he pointedly ignores. It's whatever, he's certain half the reason people can't mind their own business is because regular people aren't used to being in a hospital, so the oppressive atmosphere stresses them out. (The other half is probably because it looks like a skinny disabled teen picked a fight and won against a teen who by all accounts should've kicked the shit out of him and may or may not be yakuza.)
Stopping at the nearest chair, he unceremoniously dumps Endo into it.]
Wait here.
[What, like he's going to wander off somewhere in this state??
Accelerator doesn't even wait for an answer before abruptly turning and heading over to the front desk. He's only there for a minute or two, talking to the front desk clerk, before coming back over with a pen, clipboard and some paperwork in hand. Sinking down into the chair next to Endo, he retracts his crutch so he can use his right hand. When he speaks up he keeps his eyes on the paperwork. There's a lot of information that needs to be filled out.]
I told them you got sideswiped by a car. [Because 'mangled by by the literal manifestation of negative self-actualization' would only get him more weird looks.] So they're going to get you in ahead of some other people. Give me your wallet.
[ As soon as they're inside, Endo determines that he hates it here. It's rare for him to feel strongly about places; he tends to be pretty neutral about them, just as he is when it comes to people. The audience of a waiting room doesn't get to him, as regardless of his view of people, he's in his element when he's around them. Case in point: in response to those strange looks, Endo smiles, charmingly apologetic. Sure, a kind face can't make up for tattoos and the roughed up look of a delinquent — which is why Endo tends to cover his tattoos when dealing with serious matters — but it helps make everyone stop staring.
The reason he hates it here is not because it's a hospital. He's never really spent much time in one, or even in doctor's offices, so he has no real association with them, positive or negative. Rather, it's because the sterile environment and fluorescent lighting remind him of a testing center from way, way back in his memories. It's an innate feeling born out of childhood nonsense that doesn't matter anymore, so as Accelerator dumps him into a chair and Endo attempts to sit in a way that makes him look a little less pathetic, he silently talks himself out of feeling anything about the clinic at all.
When Accelerator joins him again, Endo raises his eyebrows at the lie, amused because getting hit by a car is pretty damn lame compared to what actually happened. But credit where credit is due: it's a good lie. If nothing else, it'll keep the staff from asking too many questions, especially if they think it was a hit and run. ]
I'll give you my wallet when you get the phone.
[ Minus his ID, because there's no way in hell that he's (1) putting his real info on that paperwork, and (2) giving Accelerator anything that'll lead back to Takiishi.
He leans to look Accelerator's shoulder, winces a little, and wishes the hospital would've started pain medication before all of this. Though, to be fair, he won't take anything until he's in a room, free of having to make decisions. Until that point, he needs to stay sharp. ]
Just make stuff up. Put my name down as —
[ A brief pause while he makes a decision to mess with a certain someone — the only person that he actually hates. ]
Umemiya Hajime. Birthday February 1st.
[ If Accelerator doesn't question or protest this false information, then Endo will answer everything as though he's Umemiya. Too bad his phone is broken. He'd take a picture so he could send it to him later.
Then again, Umemiya would probably just overlook that and act all concerned instead. ]
[Accelerator clicks his tongue, though since he isn't the one who would get in trouble for providing fake information he doesn't take his disapproval any further than that. Whatever, it'll be Endo's problem. He starts filling in the forms as instructed, putting down 'Umemiya Hajime' and 'February 1.'
(Though really, he already gave a lie about what happened. What's a few more on top of that one?)
He glances up briefly from his scribbling to see some nurses past the desk getting a bed and wheelchair together. At least they're being prompt. Turning his gaze back down to the papers, he taps the section asking for a medical history with his pen.]
Any reason you don't want to give them your real information?
[His tone is very dry as he asks that. The idea of a kid faking personal information and handing it over to medical personnel would never happen back home. Researchers or administrators? Sure, if they were doing some unethical experimentation and wanted their research to continue. But a kid wouldn't have that much power and expect to get away with it.]
Who wants to leave a paper trail in this day and age?
[ He asks this nonchalantly. A shrug would accompany the question, but since that's a risky movement without the aid of pain medication, he doesn't give in to the temptation — this time. ]
Do you?
[ Doesn't sound like a good idea for a guy powered by a mysterious choker and capable of turning into a deity. It isn't a good idea for Endo, either; he runs a lot of gangs, his name is kind of well-known, and again: he won't do anything to put Takiishi in danger. Umemiya's identity it is, for the foreseeable future.
Anyway: ]
No medical history.
[ He's been punched in the face a lot by Takiishi over the years, but that's about it as far as any injuries go, and Endo's pretty healthy. But even if that weren't the case, he'd probably still go with none, since he doesn't want any of this leading back to him.
He glances at the nurses while they finish up with the bed-and-wheelchair combo. ]
Here. [ It takes a moment, but he manages to dig his wallet out of his pocket and remove his ID. He's a little out of breath after that, but he manages: ] In case they make me go back alone.
[ When the time comes for Accelerator to look into the wallet, he'll find it full of credit cards in women's names. And yes, Endo intends for him to use one of those to pay for his new phone. ]
[He's had an enormous paper trail since he was a small child, so the thought of not having one is bizarre (also bizarre is not having any medical history). Accelerator can only give a vague shrug as he finishes up the paperwork while a nurse comes around with a wheelchair for Endo. The two of them may have walked in here but a bunch of medical professionals are going to be slightly more careful about exacerbating any potentially serious injuries. The paperwork gets handed over, and Accelerator gets to his feet, re-extending his crutch.]
Have fun.
[Shoving Endo's wallet into his hoodie, he turns to head out. He isn't planning on sticking around, fairly sure that if he does all he'll be doing is hanging around for hours and hours in the waiting room while doctors take x-rays and MRIs and whatever else. There's no point, he'd only be running his battery down.
So he leaves, goes and finds an internet cafe to fully charge his choker, take a nap, and clean up his nose. He got off a lot easier than Endo, but his face is still sore. Then, once he's gotten himself sorted out, he sits back and tries to decide what to do.
He could just leave. Despite having Endo's wallet, there isn't anything forcing him to go back to the hospital. At most he could drop it off at the front desk, then ditch the guy. He's gotten him to the hospital where doctors will take care of his injuries, so he doesn't owe him anything else.
Aside from a new phone.
And being in the hospital alone would be really shitty. That one he knows from personal experience.
... Plus, ignoring that whole nonsense with his wings, they were kind of getting along....
Those thoughts make Accelerator want to smash something, but he chooses the more mature option of stomping off to the nearest shopping district. He isn't actually sure what kind of phone Endo uses, and as he walks he considers his options. In the end, he decides to go for an iphone, so after finding the closest Apple store and purchases the newest, top-of-the-line model. Doing that reminds him of the wallet, so after he finishes he pulls it out and, out of curiosity, rifles through it.
And finds a bunch of womens' credit cards. The fuck? Are these supposed to be a joke?? But they look real, so Accelerator is at a complete loss as to why Endo has them. Is the guy a pickpocket or something? Who the hell still pickpockets in this day and age?
Sighing heavily, he pockets the thing then starts to make his way back to the hospital. On the way he stops at a convenience store to get himself a can of coffee. He needs to feed his addiction before diving back into the fucking mess that is Endo Yamato.
When he arrives back at the hospital he heads into the normal entrance, asking for the room number for one Umemiya Hajime, and surprised to find no one has caught on to that being a fake name. When he's given the number and directions up to the appropriate ward he thanks the clerk and wanders on up, taking a few moments outside the room to steel himself for ugh, more socialization, before poking his head in.]
[ They give him pain medication first, and that changes everything.
Endo wouldn't call the experience fun, but compared to his two unmedicated journeys, one of which consisted in part of a hand at his ribs, he's having a fine time. All the tests, x-rays, MRIs are annoying at best, but pretty tolerable with the aid of meds. He's actually in a pretty good mood when everything is done and the nurses finally deposit him on a bed for the foreseeable future. And since they also stabilized his arm with a splint-and-sling combo, Endo's only real complaint is his ribs. But that's exactly what another dose of medication is for.
Once he's actually settled in bed, without his pain being a huge deciding factor in everything he does, he pretty much immediately falls asleep. It turns out that getting beaten around by a god and suffering from untended injuries for a little bit too long is exhausting. His sleep is deep, dreamless, and only interrupted when Accelerator returns.
At the sound of his greeting, Endo awakens with an expression of pure confusion, as though he expected to wake up back at home, or at the very least alone. Then, with subdued surprise: ]
You came back.
[ Originally, Endo was sure he would, what with his whole hero complex, the guilt factor, and the fact that Endo was clearly growing on him a little. But with heavy pain meds and the confusion of sleep mixed in, Endo remembered that he's a pretty bad judge of character, generally speaking, and he's also kind of not great at holding on to the things he wants. It's not that he lost confidence in himself so much as he forgot he'd already made plans and contingencies, that seeds were planted, that he had pretty much taken care of everything before conking out. In the immediacy of waking up, he felt as though he had a lot more to do than he already had.
But since that's clearly not an issue, he decides to enjoy his past self's work and relax into a much more typical, if somewhat sloppy, smile.
And immediately put Accelerator to work. ]
Hey, can you grab me that water?
[ He points at a hospital-issued jug of water that's sitting on a small table out of Endo's reach, thanks to the many machines to which he's currently connected. The jug is nice and full, and Endo has yet to take a sip. He's on nothing by mouth orders, which means he isn't supposed to be eating or drinking anything, as he may need surgery. But Endo hasn't had water in what feels like days, and he doubts he's going to need anything more than a cast and some meds to go. His real plan is to discharge himself as soon as he can.
But explaining this to Accelerator may lead him to refuse the water, and right now, hydration is all Endo wants. The phone, the wallet, basking in the fact that Accelerator looks as though he might be settling in for the long haul — all that can wait until he's had a sip. Or ten. ]
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But the truth is that he's genuinely tired, his mind exhausted by the highs and lows he experienced while fighting Accelerator and observing those wings. All the interest and excitement in the world couldn't keep him tethered to waking any longer, and that's probably for the best. If he gives up consciousness for a little, then he should be in better shape — more alert and more capable of moving himself around. And since he doesn't have to worry about Accelerator, given that the guy's committed to taking him to the hospital, it's as good a time as any.
So, though he feels Accelerator tensing and glancing at him, Endo pays it no mind, and fades —
— and then he's ripped back into awareness by the phone's loud beeping. Everything still hurts, but that doesn't keep Endo from easing away from Accelerator to take a look at the situation, regardless of how quickly Accelerator does or does not respond to the sound. He can't say he feels better, exactly, but his mental fog has somewhat lifted, so his thoughts are clearer. And with that impairment more or less subsided, he's able to take in Accelerator's appearance and —
laugh, naturally, albeit it in the form of a quieter chuckle. ]
Whoa —
[ He notes the charger and the light, indicating that it's actively working. He'd reach for it first and analyze it right now, if he didn't expect Accelerator to snap back to some semblance of awareness at any moment. That doesn't stop Endo from waving his hand — the one attached to his good arm — in front of his face a couple of times, testing his reaction time. ]
You look out of it.
[ More than that, it appears as if his brain can't function while his choker is being charged — a vital piece of information for the future. ]
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Accelerator doesn't immediately move to turn the alarm off. In fact, when it goes off he barely reacts at all. He slumps a little when Endo pulls away. Thankfully he made sure to sit with his back against the wall, because if he had to rely on his own strength to remain sitting up he'd be falling over.
His eyes catch the movement of Endo's hand directly in front of him, but it's like his brain is missing a gear. There's the surface level observation of 'that's a hand' and he blinks reflexively because there's motion directly in his line of sight, and that's about it. He can't put together why the hand is there waving, and he certainly can't understand what Endo is saying. His mind can't process the entire sentence properly and the words and meanings get all jumbled up. It comes out like:
Hey, take Your eYES off oF me.
He can't even parse that the remark is being directed at himself. There's no response as, essentially, Accelerator ignores it and looks down at the charger in his hand. The phone is still beeping and he doesn't do anything about it; instead, he uses his free hand to try and grab the battery between his thumb and his index finger. He's done this enough times to have memorized the movements of putting the battery into the charger, and taking it out and putting it back into the choker, so despite the brain injury hampering his cognition he's aware of what he needs to do to get back to his baseline. Unfortunately, his hand is trembling badly enough that he flat-out misses it the first two times.
Third time's the charm though, and he manages to get his fingers on the battery.]
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Endo is wholly absorbed in Accelerator's lack of response — the way his brain not only lags, but seems to have lost most functionality. He's totally reliant on that choker, which is dangerous as it is interesting. Endo's excited by the possibilities, undeterred by the prospect of prolonging his own pain. He could shove Accelerator over and steal his choker, which Accelerator probably couldn't do anything about. And what else? Could he release those wings like this? Could Endo harass him into revealing more? Or could he just — pluck that little battery right out of his hand and give it a nice look?
That's what he chooses to do. With a careful swipe, he takes the battery into his own hand and rolls it between his fingers, squeezes it between his thumb and pointer, and holds it up to the light. He takes his time in looking at it, but a visual examination doesn't reveal much.
He wants to do more with it, but now that his mind is clearer, he recognizes that staying in the warehouse won't do him any good. He needs to get to the hospital, and Accelerator is his best bet. His only bet, really.
So he places the battery flat on his palm, which he then holds out to him to see if he can nab it from a different position: higher, further out, but still readily available. Although this is a concession, it will still give Endo a little insight into his state. Namely, whether or not Accelerator can adjust his basic behaviors when he's like this, and if he's capable of making and retaining memories that will last once he's fully conscious. ]
Here ya go.
[ He says it in a low voice, kindly, like he picked it up off the floor instead of taking it directly from Accelerator's hand. ]
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He can tell the battery is gone, at least. He can't see it anymore, and he can't feel it, so it's gone. The awareness that he needs it doesn't fade with it missing from his line of sight, since the necessity of it is practically burned into his brain. But getting from Point A (the battery is in the charger) to Point B (the battery back in his choker) is suddenly a lot more difficult.
The battery itself, outside of its small size and cube shape, is completely innocuous. Just a perfectly normal battery.
He looks up at Endo's voice finally grabs his attention. Not that he knows what he's saying, the worst are still all jumbled up, but with the battery gone any new sensory input is more likely to hold his focus. Looking over, everything is still unfocused, but after several moments of staring he recognizes the battery sitting there, on Endo's palm. It doesn't occur to him what might be going on, the connections aren't forming that will allow him to feel annoyed or suspicious. He just sees it and starts reaching again. Again it takes a few tries for him to get his fingers on the battery, his hand whacking against Endo's, but he manages it. And he lifts the battery —
Aaaand he drops it. Good job.]
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You're hopeless like this, aren't you?
[ By now he's confirmed that Accelerator processes little while in this state. Rather than producing high-level thoughts, he seems to be working off of a singular rote desire, like a zombie. He's oriented to the battery because he knows it's important, but that's as far as his motivation seems to go. The rest of him might as well not be there at all — a step or two short from being truly mindless. Endo hypothesizes that he won't be able to store memories like this — it doesn't appear as though he has the brain function — but he still won't try anything crazy, just in case. There's pushing and then there's becoming a threat all over again, the latter of which Endo wouldn't be opposed to in the future, but not here and now. He has other plans. ]
Lemme help.
[ He holds the battery right in front of Accelerator's face, just in case there's some innate trigger that'll activate once he touches his choker. After holding it there for a moment, his next step is pretending to feel around the choker for battery slot. Really, he's searching for whatever else he can find as runs his fingers along it, trying to determine if there's an easy latch for complete removal, if it's attached to Accelerator's skin, or if there are switches or buttons in hidden places, as with his crutch.
Regardless of what he finds, though, he chooses to file the information away for another time. When he's done, he simply pushes the battery back into its proper place and shuts it inside. ]
There.
[ He says it with a note of false triumph, but while he utters the word, he pulls away as quickly as he can without jostling his broken bones — just in case Accelerator comes back to consciousness with a desire to smack anyone who happens to be close. ]
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The calculation assistance device is surprisingly simple. There's the slot for the battery, the light (currently off), and the switch that's used to change modes (also currently in the 'off' position). It could easily be mistaken for something simple like a music player. Even the choker keeping it around Accelerator's neck is simple, no different than a normal fashion accessory: it has a clasp, and that's about it. This version, being wireless, can easily removed by undoing the clasp.
More notable are the round, black electrodes stuck to Accelerator's scalp behind each ear. Those things definitely aren't removable.
Fight of flight reflexes, at least what's left of them, kick in and he tenses up. There isn't much he can do beyond that, though.
Then there's a familiar click as Endo presses the battery back into place, and an equally familiar weight is added to the choker. Picking up on that Accelerator's fingers fumble upwards, feeling around until he finds the switch. Then he changes modes from 'off' to 'normal,' bringing his cognitive function back up to that of a non-esper human. The world floods back into coherency.
Accelerator blinks, his gaze coming into focus, giving himself several long moments to process what little surface-level observations he remembers, trying to connect bits of information to form a comprehensible picture of everything from the time he shut the choker off. There isn't much, and even less that makes sense to him, but... he knows Endo had the battery. And he remembers dropping it.....
... Oh.
He spares a tiny glance over at Endo, before awkwardly looking away.]
......... Thanks.
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But he's a patient guy; he'll wait until the right opportunity. ]
What was I gonna do, leave you like that?
[ He asks this because the answer is obvious: Endo is the kind of guy who would leave him, if there was some benefit to be gained from it. Only caution spared Accelerator from an even longer stint in shutdown mode in the first place. ]
That collar's all you got keeping you going, eh?
[ What a boon, and yet what a glaring vulnerability. Accelerator is so many contradictions rolled into one: a pathetic human entirely reliant on technology to function and a beautiful deity with a mind of its own and an endless appetite for destruction. There's a story there, and while normally Endo wouldn't be interested in the finer details of Accelerator himself, he now wants to know everything even remotely relevant. He's probably going to be in the hospital for a while, given the extent of his injuries. He might as well get himself something to chew on while he's stuck there. ]
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But then, this whole day has been bizarre, and he chalks that up to Endo's behaviour. Going from you're nothing to you're a god and now you're interesting. And nowhere in there, not once, can he remember Endo being afraid of him. That only adds to the strangeness of it all, because fear is the normal reaction to him. It's certainly the normal reaction to his black wings. Accelerator isn't sure what to make of all that... but maybe it's the same for Endo. Maybe he isn't sure what to make of any of this, and so he's cycling through a bunch of emotions to try and figure things out.
Ugh, he doesn't know. He turns his gaze back downwards, turning the alarm on his phone off before putting it back in his pocket. After he's unplugged the charger it goes away as well.]
It's a medical device. I've got a traumatic brain injury.
[There's no point in hiding it. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together would be able to understand that his brain activity is seriously compromised when the choker is shut off. Basic deduction leads to the conclusion that the choker is needed for his brain activity, making it medical equipment similar to his crutch.
He shifts closer, so he can ease Endo's good arm over his shoulders again. And this time he moves his other hand straight down to Endo's hip, instead of messing with his broken ribs. Endo helped him out and he's grateful for that, so he's willing to lighten up a little.]
Come on. The hospital isn't that far. [Next stop: painkillers and xrays!]
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The answer therefore only offers the bare minimum of what he wants to know — and raises more questions in the process. He's eager to press for more, but he's still tempering himself, refusing to overplay his hand. He holds his tongue for the moment, long enough for Accelerator to help him up again. As with last time, the motion of rising and moving is pretty damn painful, but with Accelerator taking care to avoid his ribs, it's not nearly as bad as it could be. It only takes a few forward steps before Endo manages to even out his breathing and feel confident that he won't pass out.
He doesn't speak until the building is behind them, their pace manageable and his pain not as blinding. When he does, the question he finally asks is the sympathetic option, as if he isn't at the edge of his seat to dig into the medical device. ]
What happened?
[ Then, for clarification: ]
What caused your injury, I mean.
[ The answer to that is likely less important than the rest, but it demonstrates an interest in Accelerator the person — a sense of sympathy, instead of a bombardment of intrusive prodding. ]
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(It's still a pain though. He's such a weakling without his ability.)
At least once they're outside it's a straightforward route to the emergency clinic. Just one step at a time, with Accelerator looking down often to make sure he isn't about to trip over his crutch.]
I got shot in the head.
[His answer is blunt, and he has no intention of tiptoeing around the gory details. There are parts he plans to leave out, like how he got shot in the first place, full context of the entire situation, Last Order, but otherwise he doesn't hold back. There's no point. As far as he's concerned, it was his own fault, so why should he?
He gives Endo a small glance. He isn't expecting anything kind out of Endo, and he doesn't want pity over what happened. What happened happened, and it's reasonable for someone to be curious about why someone so young needs a crutch and something to assist with brain function.]
I pissed off this scientist, and he had a gun. I managed to prevent the bullet from hitting my brain, but it still shattered my skull and caused a brain bleed.
[Accelerator can still remember staring down the gun, the pain and resignation he felt after his skull cracked but before he passed out. He doesn't regret throwing his own life away to save Last Order's, she was worth it. In fact he cracks a tiny, rueful smile that he's still alive.]
It's pure luck that I didn't die.
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But there's something to be said for allowing Accelerator to continue to help him along. It works on multiple levels, in his mind: prolonging conversation, giving Endo the opportunity to analyze him up close and personal, keeping Accelerator's attention on him. And though Endo doesn't need to milk his very real injuries, there is something to be said for using dependency to build bonds. Accelerator may hate him after all that manipulation business, but it should be somewhat difficult to keep that hate in the forefront of his mind when the source of it is still in need.
Besides, physical contact is a good way to bolster all this sharing. ]
Whoa, that's pretty hardcore.
[ Nothing in his tone indicates that the compliment is false. Unlike earlier, his voice is absent of his taunting arrogance. Because hey — not many people get shot in the head and live to tell the tale. Endo isn't impressed, per se, because Accelerator did get shot in the first place, and by his own admission, only survived by luck (and souped up technology), but credit where credit is due. Plus, he's trying to buy a little more goodwill.
Look how far they've come since their fight! Accelerator is being conversational and everything. Endo just needs to keep that going, so he can plant a few more seeds before Accelerator dumps him at the hospital. ]
What'd you do to piss him off that bad?
[ Honestly, Endo has his guesses, since Accelerator isn't a likeable guy and lacks the charisma to cover for that. He's kind of hopeless in terms of social skills, and from Endo's perspective, a little too easy to upset. It's not difficult to imagine him pissing off anyone.
Once again, it isn't exactly the question he wants to ask — there's a lot more to dig into when it comes to those details — but he's still building toward something. ]
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Right now he just needs to take this one step at a time, what few memories he has of that night coming back to him. Things get fuzzy around the time when he was shot, but most of it is still fairly clear, especially his last few thoughts before the bullet hit him. Accelerator is fully expecting to get teased over his explanation; maybe something about how he shouldn't be pissing off people with guns (valid), or some brazen remark about how his ability apparently must not work on bullets. Something along those lines, something to put him down a little, since the opportunity is right there and Endo has shown he isn't above tearing into him. It wouldn't even be unwarranted, in his opinion. He screwed up, he's the one who caused the entire situation in the first place.
But no, Accelerator can't detect even a hint of sarcasm, and his smile fades as he glances over warily. Sincerity? He's being sincere? Their close physical proximity makes him acutely aware he's staring after only a few moments, so he goes back to looking down at the sidewalk. That's a lot easier, and gives him another few seconds to decide whether or not he wants to answer.
It can't hurt. Sans some details, of course, and chances are explaining will result in some teasing, but whatever. It'd give him the chance to make it clear that it was his screw-up. He deserves at least a little ridicule for fucking everything up so badly.]
.... He was going to hurt some brats to pay off a fucking gambling debt. I stopped him, but I almost didn't bother. If I'd just helped out from the start things would've turned out a lot better.
[He huffs. That's more than enough information, he doesn't need to get into details about the clones or Last Order. That they were artificially created doesn't matter, nor does the method in which Amai Ao was going to hurt them. Just that he was going to, and he was stopped.]
First kind thing I did in my life.
[It only took him fifteen years.]
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Until, that is, he encounters the incredibly rare situation of wanting something for himself. Then his approach matters deeply, albeit in an entirely different way. He'd go to the ends of the earth for Takiishi; he'd scam politicians and companies alike. He'd manipulate the emperor himself, if it would make Takiishi smile. But fostering a personal connection, no matter how fake or temporary it may be, requires a degree of give on his part. Such a relationship needs to play out on a much smaller scale, so he has to be extra sharp, capable of multiple shades of nuance, and even willing to meet the person part of the way to his chosen destination. He has to offer pieces of himself, albeit in a carefully controlled manner, in order slowly claim what he's decided will be his.
Deciding that he wants to be a subtle thorn in Accelerator's side for the foreseeable future means that he can't just break him down all over again, let alone with the intensity he did previously. This time, he has to go slower, be more methodical, and take more risks.
That's why, as Accelerator stares at him, undoubtedly looking for hidden meaning in his words, Endo doesn't smirk — or make any move, really. He's patient, and he keeps his expression smooth. And when Accelerator shares more, he doesn't make a sound until he's done talking.
When Endo speaks in turn, he shapes his reply to be somewhat supportive, but not excessively so, as Endo can't suddenly morph his personality into that of a cheerleader for the good and the needy without it being blatantly obvious that he's working a specific angle. ]
Sounds like you haven't changed much at all. [ He offers a small, teasing smile. ] You got a thing for sticking yourself right in the middle of other people's business.
[ His tone, however, is kinder than it's been throughout their entire time together, despite the fact that it's also clearly teasing. It's meant to be good-natured, even nostalgic, as though everything that happened between them took place a while ago, rather than that same day. ]
That was the turning point, huh? Funny how that works sometimes.
[ Even Endo has one of those in his history, although he arguably went in the opposite direction, a fact that would be more apparent if anyone could read his mind. Despite his words, Endo thinks that Accelerator must've been a hell of a lot more interesting before he decided to turn kind and "heroic." Now he's just sitting on all that potential.
Which is exactly why he needs Endo in his life. ]
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Accelerator can read people when he needs to, but that's always been more of an application of psychological theories he learned in school than any kind of innate understand of other people. He doesn't see how that could help here, so he's left confused.]
Yeah, I guess so.
[Endo is wrong in assuming his tendency to insert himself into other people's business. For a long time he thought he had been normal (looking back now, having no friends and getting bullied by classmates wasn't normal), then he spent years deliberately isolating himself away from people. It's only recently that he's been doing this, because of the Sisters and Last Order. Because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of that Level 0. Because he's the strongest and therefore in the best position to help people.
On the other hand, he's right about how he hasn't changed much. Despite all that, at his core, he's still that same monster that killed half of the clones. That thought sticks in his mind, faded into the background as a realization hits him.
This almost feels like a normal conversation they're having. Something that's somewhat personal, so something he would talk about to someone with whom he he has a certain level of familiarity. Not a friend, the idea of him having friends is not a prospect he can bring himself to consider, but maybe an acquaintance or something. One of the people he'd been allied with in the past. It's almost normal and that's more than a little bewildering to him, particularly because it... doesn't feel that bad. Uncomfortable, yes, but not enough to make him retreat and clam up. A thoughtful kind of silence overtakes him for a few moments as he considers this.
Having a normal conversation isn't a bad thing. And a normal conversation shouldn't be completely one-sided, which is why he glances over at Endo again. When he speaks up again, it's a little reluctant, like he's still feeling out how to navigate this entire social situation.]
... You ever have one of those? A turning point?
[It's partly curiosity that drives him to ask that question, partly a desire to keep on conversing normally. He doesn't know anything about Endo outside of him being a weird (sometimes unsettling) asshole, while the guy knows a lot more about him. He's realizing he'd like to change that. Endo is a strange person, and he doesn't really understand what the hell is going through his head. Maybe it's just out of an abundance of cautious that he's asking? Know thy enemy or some shit. Accelerator isn't totally sure but it's a curiosity he's deciding to pursue for the moment.]
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This proves to be true with Accelerator, because his silence is followed up by a gesture of reciprocity: a question of his own. A personal one, no less, which is very getting-to-know-you in its attempt. He kind of wants to laugh in return, but he keeps himself contained, instead simply nodding before replying. ]
A long time ago.
[ Endo doesn't go around sharing his backstory, but that isn't due to any great desire to keep secrets. He actually enjoys talking about himself, especially in reference to Takiishi, and could go on and on if given the opportunity. Generally speaking, nothing that he'd reveal would hurt him. If anything, it might confuse people. But Endo also likes being surrounded by mystery. It helps fuels all the rumors concerning him and keeps him both large and fearsome in people's minds — which is very useful in his line of work. Plenty of people respect him specifically because of those rumors.
But, in this case, he needs to be both serious and careful, probably for the first time ever. Because Accelerator is stronger than him with that false power at his disposal, and truly stronger with those wings. He doesn't want to create any leads that could be followed back to Takiishi, though Endo still thinks Takiishi would have some fun fighting him. It would be too much of a risk, and Endo's real responsibility is taking care of Takiishi and preserving his happiness. So this proud topic has to be a delicate one.
He still offers truths, as that's the best way to prove a degree of sincerity, but carefully chosen and shaped so as not to give away too much. ]
I was kinda lost as a kid. I dunno where I would have ended up, but it probably wouldn't've been great.
[ At the time, Endo was content with the emptiness of his life because he didn't know any better. But he was young, his world was small, and he was insulated by people who were impressed or unnerved by his talents. A decade would have been a long time to go without feeling much of anything. It's hard to imagine now that he's so removed from all of it. ]
But I met someone, and he changed everything for me.
[ Endo's life has been dedicated to him ever since. He smiles as he says as much, but unlike every smile that's graced his face thus far, it appears a little wistful. Then, immediately brightening, he cheerfully adds: ]
Now I'm here!
[ Being carted off to the hospital by someone other than the said person.
But what he really means is his chosen lifestyle, his "career," the level of respect he's obtained, and his ability to fill all the empty places within himself with the drive to keep Takiishi happy and bits of entertainment in between.
He's content. ]
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They're coming from a similar place. That's a frightening thought. Does that mean they've got other similarities? Are they similar people? Having someone else in the world who is anything like him, a monster like him, seems like a complete nightmare.
He's quietly thoughtful, trying to process this information.]
Hmm.
[He can understand what it's like to have found someone that important. Last Order changed him, she's the entire reason he was shot. That Level 0, too; he was the one who made him realize the clones are more than just puppets. He was the one he tried to emulate for so long, the person he put on a pedestal has a real hero, the ally he knows he can trust unconditionally even when they're on opposing sides. It wasn't just one incident with Kamijou Touma but many of them, small and large, building up over time until Accelerator became the person he is now. If it wasn't for him he'd be an entirely different person, a far worse person. He's sure of that.
Actually, he has to wonder what that third string would do if he was here right now. Probably punch out a lot of those gang members, make them reconsider their terrible life choices. He'd for sure punch out Endo and — okay, that is something he'd enjoy seeing. He's been on the receiving end of that fist more than enough times to know exactly how it would go: there would be a fight, of course, and somehow Kamijou would get to the root of the issue, and before punching him out he'd say something awe-inspiring —
... Well, anyways. Accelerator blinks, it taking him a few moments to re-focus his attention. That Level 0 isn't here, so those are just stray thoughts that don't matter. The point is, he understands where Endo is coming from, a strange turn of events given out little he relates to other people, particularly people around his age. He can't even imagine the kind of person that would have been enough to change someone like Endo, nor what Endo could have been like before meeting him. Normal? Worse? Better? That wistful expression, no matter how brief it is, doesn't go unnoticed, and it raises more questions in Accelerator's mind. He has to sort through them, filter out the ones that are way too brazen, and comes up with something fairly low-key.]
Was that the person you tried to call?
[His tone isn't judgmental. Sure, it would've been easier if whoever that was had answered the damn phone, but there are tons of legitimate reasons for someone to not pick up. It is what it is. He's just curious.]
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Does it bother him that Takiishi is unreliable? Self-centered? Not at all worried about where he is right now? No, Endo would say. He's made peace with the fact that Takiishi could take or leave him. He's content. Takiishi doesn't need to care; he does the caring for him.
(And if it stings a little, that's easily ignored, shoved down, unacknowledged — a non-issue.)
He's thinking about Takiishi while Accelerator is busy thinking about — whatever it is he's currently mulling over. Endo's therefore unconcerned by how much time passes, wondering how long he's going to be kept in the hospital and thinking about all the ways in which his stint will inconvenience Takiishi. He decides that Accelerator's going to have to buy him a phone before he leaves, that way he can at least warn Takiishi that he won't be able to provide meals until he's released.
Despite making these tentative plans, he hears Accelerator's questions and answers it without hesistation, a soft: ]
Yeah.
[ This is where he'd normally go into depth about Takiishi — rambling on about him and his fighting abilities and how he's kind of a mess but absolutely beautiful when he fights. The monologue is on the tip of his tongue, but too many details might lead to problems. Endo has more work to do in securing Accelerator as his, and until then, he doesn't want to reveal too much.
But he will share a little, if only to get to indulge in talking about him. ]
He's not really a phone guy. Half the time, his cell's stuffed in a drawer or closet, dead. And when it isn't dead, it's usually on the charger, not in his pocket.
[ His tone isn't saccharine, but there's a fond quality to it that Endo doesn't bother to disguise. ]
It still had battery when I called, so he might see my message at some point.
[ As for when that could happen — maybe tomorrow morning. Maybe not. It's hard to say. ]
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Accelerator manages to keep a straight face, but inwardly he can feel the urge to judge this person rising. Whoever the hell this is doesn't sound particularly responsible or reliable. That's a stark contrast from that Level 0. Despite everything he's done, Accelerator knows he can depend on Kamijou Touma. If he ever felt the need to contact that dumbass for help he doesn't doubt that he would show up eventually. Being who he is, there's a chance he'd be late (probably off saving someone else, because he's that kind of person), but he knows he'd still show up.
Whoever this person is, they aren't Kamijou Touma.
Worse than that is the lack of certainty that he'll show up for Endo for any of this. Being alone and stuck in a hospital is shitty, he knows that from personal experience. The last time he was in one he at least had Last Order and some of the clones for company, and that had been infinitely better than being on his own. If Last Order was here he knows what she'd do, and he's pretty sure he knows what that Level 0 would do, too.
He's kind of hating both of them right now, even though this is all hypothetical and all in his head.]
Clinic's over there. [He jerks his head in the direction of the building, a glowing sign above the entrance indicating that they've arrived. His next words come far more reluctantly, like he doesn't want to ask but can't keep quiet.] ... Have you got anyone else you can call?
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He keeps walking as though none of that is going through his head, even responding to Accelerator without a hitch, but he swallows before speaking, his throat feeling dry. Endo's never been this injured before, and though vulnerability hasn't been a huge factor in anything he's done so far, he feels it now as he anticipates everything that's going to happen once he walks through those doors.
Takiishi isn't exactly a source of overflowing comfort and support, but Endo does kind of wish he were here now that all this is on his mind. If nothing else, he could turn his unnerving stare on the nurses and doctors to keep them from pestering Endo too much. ]
Yeah, but I'm not gonna.
[ Technically speaking, Endo has a lot of contacts. When he's not being a freak or messing with people for some reason or another, he's actually pretty charismatic, and that means "friends" are easy for him to make. But calling any of them over to sit by his bedside? No thanks. He'd rather be alone. ]
I do need a phone, though.
[ He flashes a brief smile in Accelerator's direction. Only one of them is capable of going shopping, and guess who it is? ]
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Tche.
[Accelerator scowls back, picking up what Endo means. He doesn't argue, though; it is his fault the phone broke, and with his absurd bank account paying to replace it isn't actually a big deal. He makes a mental note to get Endo's broken phone, and heads for the entrance.
Thank God the doors are automatic, because he couldn't manage a normal one right now. Inside, the ER is what one would expect from a normal hospital: a lot of white, signs everywhere, and the strong smell of disinfectant. Accelerator glances around once, then turns and heads over to a waiting area with chairs. There are a few people already waiting for some reason or another, and they get some strange looks that he pointedly ignores. It's whatever, he's certain half the reason people can't mind their own business is because regular people aren't used to being in a hospital, so the oppressive atmosphere stresses them out. (The other half is probably because it looks like a skinny disabled teen picked a fight and won against a teen who by all accounts should've kicked the shit out of him and may or may not be yakuza.)
Stopping at the nearest chair, he unceremoniously dumps Endo into it.]
Wait here.
[What, like he's going to wander off somewhere in this state??
Accelerator doesn't even wait for an answer before abruptly turning and heading over to the front desk. He's only there for a minute or two, talking to the front desk clerk, before coming back over with a pen, clipboard and some paperwork in hand. Sinking down into the chair next to Endo, he retracts his crutch so he can use his right hand. When he speaks up he keeps his eyes on the paperwork. There's a lot of information that needs to be filled out.]
I told them you got sideswiped by a car. [Because 'mangled by by the literal manifestation of negative self-actualization' would only get him more weird looks.] So they're going to get you in ahead of some other people. Give me your wallet.
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The reason he hates it here is not because it's a hospital. He's never really spent much time in one, or even in doctor's offices, so he has no real association with them, positive or negative. Rather, it's because the sterile environment and fluorescent lighting remind him of a testing center from way, way back in his memories. It's an innate feeling born out of childhood nonsense that doesn't matter anymore, so as Accelerator dumps him into a chair and Endo attempts to sit in a way that makes him look a little less pathetic, he silently talks himself out of feeling anything about the clinic at all.
When Accelerator joins him again, Endo raises his eyebrows at the lie, amused because getting hit by a car is pretty damn lame compared to what actually happened. But credit where credit is due: it's a good lie. If nothing else, it'll keep the staff from asking too many questions, especially if they think it was a hit and run. ]
I'll give you my wallet when you get the phone.
[ Minus his ID, because there's no way in hell that he's (1) putting his real info on that paperwork, and (2) giving Accelerator anything that'll lead back to Takiishi.
He leans to look Accelerator's shoulder, winces a little, and wishes the hospital would've started pain medication before all of this. Though, to be fair, he won't take anything until he's in a room, free of having to make decisions. Until that point, he needs to stay sharp. ]
Just make stuff up. Put my name down as —
[ A brief pause while he makes a decision to mess with a certain someone — the only person that he actually hates. ]
Umemiya Hajime. Birthday February 1st.
[ If Accelerator doesn't question or protest this false information, then Endo will answer everything as though he's Umemiya. Too bad his phone is broken. He'd take a picture so he could send it to him later.
Then again, Umemiya would probably just overlook that and act all concerned instead. ]
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(Though really, he already gave a lie about what happened. What's a few more on top of that one?)
He glances up briefly from his scribbling to see some nurses past the desk getting a bed and wheelchair together. At least they're being prompt. Turning his gaze back down to the papers, he taps the section asking for a medical history with his pen.]
Any reason you don't want to give them your real information?
[His tone is very dry as he asks that. The idea of a kid faking personal information and handing it over to medical personnel would never happen back home. Researchers or administrators? Sure, if they were doing some unethical experimentation and wanted their research to continue. But a kid wouldn't have that much power and expect to get away with it.]
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[ He asks this nonchalantly. A shrug would accompany the question, but since that's a risky movement without the aid of pain medication, he doesn't give in to the temptation — this time. ]
Do you?
[ Doesn't sound like a good idea for a guy powered by a mysterious choker and capable of turning into a deity. It isn't a good idea for Endo, either; he runs a lot of gangs, his name is kind of well-known, and again: he won't do anything to put Takiishi in danger. Umemiya's identity it is, for the foreseeable future.
Anyway: ]
No medical history.
[ He's been punched in the face a lot by Takiishi over the years, but that's about it as far as any injuries go, and Endo's pretty healthy. But even if that weren't the case, he'd probably still go with none, since he doesn't want any of this leading back to him.
He glances at the nurses while they finish up with the bed-and-wheelchair combo. ]
Here. [ It takes a moment, but he manages to dig his wallet out of his pocket and remove his ID. He's a little out of breath after that, but he manages: ] In case they make me go back alone.
[ When the time comes for Accelerator to look into the wallet, he'll find it full of credit cards in women's names. And yes, Endo intends for him to use one of those to pay for his new phone. ]
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[He's had an enormous paper trail since he was a small child, so the thought of not having one is bizarre (also bizarre is not having any medical history). Accelerator can only give a vague shrug as he finishes up the paperwork while a nurse comes around with a wheelchair for Endo. The two of them may have walked in here but a bunch of medical professionals are going to be slightly more careful about exacerbating any potentially serious injuries. The paperwork gets handed over, and Accelerator gets to his feet, re-extending his crutch.]
Have fun.
[Shoving Endo's wallet into his hoodie, he turns to head out. He isn't planning on sticking around, fairly sure that if he does all he'll be doing is hanging around for hours and hours in the waiting room while doctors take x-rays and MRIs and whatever else. There's no point, he'd only be running his battery down.
So he leaves, goes and finds an internet cafe to fully charge his choker, take a nap, and clean up his nose. He got off a lot easier than Endo, but his face is still sore. Then, once he's gotten himself sorted out, he sits back and tries to decide what to do.
He could just leave. Despite having Endo's wallet, there isn't anything forcing him to go back to the hospital. At most he could drop it off at the front desk, then ditch the guy. He's gotten him to the hospital where doctors will take care of his injuries, so he doesn't owe him anything else.
Aside from a new phone.
And being in the hospital alone would be really shitty. That one he knows from personal experience.
... Plus, ignoring that whole nonsense with his wings, they were kind of getting along....
Those thoughts make Accelerator want to smash something, but he chooses the more mature option of stomping off to the nearest shopping district. He isn't actually sure what kind of phone Endo uses, and as he walks he considers his options. In the end, he decides to go for an iphone, so after finding the closest Apple store and purchases the newest, top-of-the-line model. Doing that reminds him of the wallet, so after he finishes he pulls it out and, out of curiosity, rifles through it.
And finds a bunch of womens' credit cards. The fuck? Are these supposed to be a joke?? But they look real, so Accelerator is at a complete loss as to why Endo has them. Is the guy a pickpocket or something? Who the hell still pickpockets in this day and age?
Sighing heavily, he pockets the thing then starts to make his way back to the hospital. On the way he stops at a convenience store to get himself a can of coffee. He needs to feed his addiction before diving back into the fucking mess that is Endo Yamato.
When he arrives back at the hospital he heads into the normal entrance, asking for the room number for one Umemiya Hajime, and surprised to find no one has caught on to that being a fake name. When he's given the number and directions up to the appropriate ward he thanks the clerk and wanders on up, taking a few moments outside the room to steel himself for ugh, more socialization, before poking his head in.]
Yo.
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Endo wouldn't call the experience fun, but compared to his two unmedicated journeys, one of which consisted in part of a hand at his ribs, he's having a fine time. All the tests, x-rays, MRIs are annoying at best, but pretty tolerable with the aid of meds. He's actually in a pretty good mood when everything is done and the nurses finally deposit him on a bed for the foreseeable future. And since they also stabilized his arm with a splint-and-sling combo, Endo's only real complaint is his ribs. But that's exactly what another dose of medication is for.
Once he's actually settled in bed, without his pain being a huge deciding factor in everything he does, he pretty much immediately falls asleep. It turns out that getting beaten around by a god and suffering from untended injuries for a little bit too long is exhausting. His sleep is deep, dreamless, and only interrupted when Accelerator returns.
At the sound of his greeting, Endo awakens with an expression of pure confusion, as though he expected to wake up back at home, or at the very least alone. Then, with subdued surprise: ]
You came back.
[ Originally, Endo was sure he would, what with his whole hero complex, the guilt factor, and the fact that Endo was clearly growing on him a little. But with heavy pain meds and the confusion of sleep mixed in, Endo remembered that he's a pretty bad judge of character, generally speaking, and he's also kind of not great at holding on to the things he wants. It's not that he lost confidence in himself so much as he forgot he'd already made plans and contingencies, that seeds were planted, that he had pretty much taken care of everything before conking out. In the immediacy of waking up, he felt as though he had a lot more to do than he already had.
But since that's clearly not an issue, he decides to enjoy his past self's work and relax into a much more typical, if somewhat sloppy, smile.
And immediately put Accelerator to work. ]
Hey, can you grab me that water?
[ He points at a hospital-issued jug of water that's sitting on a small table out of Endo's reach, thanks to the many machines to which he's currently connected. The jug is nice and full, and Endo has yet to take a sip. He's on nothing by mouth orders, which means he isn't supposed to be eating or drinking anything, as he may need surgery. But Endo hasn't had water in what feels like days, and he doubts he's going to need anything more than a cast and some meds to go. His real plan is to discharge himself as soon as he can.
But explaining this to Accelerator may lead him to refuse the water, and right now, hydration is all Endo wants. The phone, the wallet, basking in the fact that Accelerator looks as though he might be settling in for the long haul — all that can wait until he's had a sip. Or ten. ]
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accelerator is so cute lol
they're both doofuses omg
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