Jun 15 01:58:46 106 PA - Leonard in the Hospital
From Chronicles
Jun 15 01:58:46 106 PA - Leonard in the Hospital
Knight's Hospital - Laboratory
Mid-afternoon and the hospital is busy. The doctors on call are flat out busy and Maya has been drafted in to get some patients through the doors, preferably heading outwards. "Just take the two painkillers and come by in the morning if it still hurts. And stop trying to fight the floor." She offers the advice to a teenager who appears to have lost a fight with the earth, before she hands that chart over to a nurse with a smile.
As if the occassionally-controlled chaos of the waiting room were not enough, a bit of the unnerving arrives in the form of a blue-white point of light suddenly coalescing in the air several feet above the white tiles of the floor. It rapidly expands from point, to ball, to an oval a meter wide and twice as tall, angry tendrils of energy licking at its circumference. A dark, shadowy silhouette dims the luminescence at the center momentarily, then emerges with a culminating bright flash that expends the entirety of the oddity. When all returns to normal, Leonard is now present. It looks mostly like him, at least, as his normal attire is gone, replaced by athletic apparel. Some muscle-building exercise perhaps, to get himself 'swole.' In many ways, he's succeeded, since his cheeks, eyes, and knees are, indeed, rather swollen. One step is managed towards the desk before legs buckle and he drops to the floor like a slender sack of potatoes.
A brief moment of panic as the staff believe they are under attack and then they react to Leonard's condition, Maya and her nurse arriving first at his side. "I want a gurney, and a room." Maya's voice is different here, her words pronounced sharply and the nurse reacting swiftly to the commands. In the meantime, she lifts a hand to Leonard's eyelids, shining a torch into them individually and watching the reactions with narrowed hazel eyes. "Can you hear me, Leonard? Do you know where you are? Can you tell me my name?" The questions are spoken clearly and loudly.
Leonard appears conscious enough to groan, which is a start. Through lids narrowed by swelling, his eyes do attempt to track towards the light and familiar sound, but slide past, then overcorrect in attempt to return. Dilation equality is likely debatable, too. There may be some recognition as he smiles in Maya's general direction before answering her question. "Strawberries."
Maya's forehead knits at the comment and she shakes her head, rising to her feet as she helps the staff move him onto the gurney. "I want a CT head, some fluids up and neuro obs done every ten minutes." The commands are issued as Leonard is moved to a quiet side room where he is slid onto a white bed. There she returns to his side, speaking clearly once more. "Strawberries? What is my name, Leonard?" Again, the torch is shone in his eyes, the doctor watching the dilation time with a serious expression.
This time, Leonard seems slightly more aware. He reflexively attempts to avert his eyes from the light with blinks and turning his head. "Bright... Maya?" Now his attention returns in her direction, with notably more focus and control, although still with some wandering. "Hi."
Maya's forehead smooths as she smiles back at him. "Good. And what is your name? Do you know where you are?" As she asks the questions, she clips the torch back into her coat's pocket and begins to examine him. Her movements are competent, practiced as she runs her hands over his body, checking for other injuries, her attention split between the two tasks. "Can you tell me what happened?"
Leonard manages a smile of the stupid variety. "I'm an ass, and I disagreed with someone that ate me." His wit is still mostly intact, if nothing else, but her prodding of his sides draws grunts, grimaces and some wearied guardedness. The knees are worse, and are quickly beginning to resemble lollipops with double the sticks. "Still... mad at me?"
"Be specific. Who did you fight with?" Her frown returns at the grunt of pain as she passes over his kidneys and she glances at the knees. "X-ray for both knees, and CT for those kidneys please." She gives the order over her shoulder with a quick flicker of a smile. "When did this happen?" Maya takes a bowl of water and some small sterile clothes, her gloved hands gentle as she begins to clean his face. His last question goes unanswered.
"Earlier," is Leonard's less-than-specific response, which only becomes less so, "and don't worry about it." A swelled smirk forms as she works to wash away the side-effects of his split lip and bloodied nose. "You're making a habit of cleaning me up," the smirk twitches towards grimace with a wince at something, "afterwards."
"It is my job." The reply is cool, professional reserve rather than the warmth of friendship. The split lip gets a considering look but it is left to heal naturally, as is the bloodied nose. As she disposes of the water and the clothes, the equipment she requested arrives and she steps back to allow them to scan him. For several long minutes, he is turned and positioned in the machines before they depart, handing some papers and films to Maya.
Add in one more wound and another wince. Leonard definitely liked the cleaning better, and that is only partially due to the blatant discomfort caused from his being moved about. Nothing immediately life-threatening is revealed in the results, with no internal hemorrhaging or rupture. The damage to his knees appears to only involve tendons and ligaments, and no bones are broken. His left kneecap is a bit out of place, but is nothing some manipulation wouldn't correct.
Maya reads the chart in silence for some time, her expression intent and serious, giving no false comfort. Finally she moves to the side of his bed, putting the charts down. "It looks like you haven't done too much to yourself but you won't be able to walk or pass urine without discomfort for a time. I need to move your kneecap a little to get it back in line, and I can give you some pain relief before I do that. Are you happy for me to do that now?" The question is formal.
Leonard considers her assessment with a mixed expression and sighs heavily. He seems to sink slightly further into the bed, now resigned as well as exhausted. "I feel better, already. Please." A hand makes a half-gesture to his knees before flopping back down to his side.
Maya silently draws up some clear fluid from a vial, her gloved hands moving easily. "This is a painkiller and some sedative. I want you to stay overnight until you stop passing blood in your urine." She turns, taking his hand, her fingers seeking a vein with practiced ease. Then, the needle slips in, and the drugs go into his system. "Now, give that a moment to work." She murmurs softly.
"Easier than pills..." The off-hand observation is too tired to be wit, and could merely be the result of endorphins, the pain that brought them, and/or head trauma too mild for conclusive results from the CT. "...and that sounds like fun." Following doctors orders, he lies in wait. Not that he's going anywhere fast, regardless.
"Easier and swifter." She replies quietly, her hands moving over his knee gently at first, her awareness of his pain levels showing in the brief glances at him. Then she presses and there is a loud click. "There." She glances at a nurse, who is standing by to bandage it into place. "Overnight rest, painkillers and we'll see how we go." She comments to the man, as she scribbles instructions on the chart. Leonard has the pleasure of being woken hourly for the next day for neuro-observations and having a lovely catheter inserted...
Painkillers and endorphins aside, Leonard yelps at the sudden shift. Just when he was getting somewhat accustomed to the constant throbbing of all the other agonies, the new one is added. At least it's a manly yelp? If he's lucky, the exhaustion and painkillers will allow his consciousness to avoid the catheter's arrival. Then again, Leonard is rarely lucky.
The nurse does that bit, thankfully for Leonard's ego, as Maya scribbles orders and prescriptions on his chart. The urine that comes through that tube though, Maya pays attention to that, narrowing her eyes at the pink tint to it. "We'll see how you go. Do you want me to contact Vixen for you?" She hands the chart to the nurse with a warm smile and a quiet word of thanks before turning towards Leonard.
Leonard's eyes find sudden clarity through the fog of all things pharmaceutical and endocrine. His head snaps quickly towards Maya and a hand reaches for her, despite the lack of wisdom in sudden movements and confining IV lines. "Yes! Please... Here where I can see her." The sudden demand slides to an emphatic plea, and then the last spurt of adrenaline fades along with the rest of him as he slumps.
Maya gives him a steady examination before nodding slowly. "I'll call her now. You need to sleep." The instruction is as much to the nurse as to the man in the bed. "Sleep now, Leonard." She turns away then, leaving the room, leaving Leonard to the nurse's mercy.
Later in the day, Maya is settled, writing up notes from other patients and Leonard has been thoroughly sedated to let the man rest. The door to his room is closed, the monitors out at the nursing station telling them all they need to know. Maya is in her lab, the door closed, her pile of paperwork on the desk in front of her.
Vixen comes to the Knights Hospital straight off. Her gun and such tossed at the guards and the young woman blazing a trail right past them. Any that wants to trail her will have to hustle to keep up as she bursts into the Lab. Suddenly, but not overly forceful. "Where is he?" A simmering anger and anxiousness in her voice as she takes a few steps in, attention fixing on Maya.
Maya glances up, startled, her pen stilling at the sudden entrance. "In a side room. Sleeping." She replies quickly, before she fills in the blanks. "He turned up in some weird rift, battered like someone beat him. His knees and kidneys are worse but his face is bruised and damaged. We need to keep him in overnight to keep an eye and to keep him out of pain."
"Damn her.." Vixen's growled response before the woman turns and stalks out. She'll be a bit stiff at the nurses station, though makes an effort to not snap at the nurses. They're not the ones she's upset with. Looking to get Leo's room number so she can go see him.
Maya hesitates before she follows, aiming to intercept Vixen to take her towards the room. "She?" Maya questions softly, pausing in front of the closed door, her face serious as her gaze studies Vixen's face. "Who and what? I take it you know how this happened?"
Vixen pulls up short when Maya maneuvers to block. "Emayn," the young woman states simply. "This is part of a little deal they made, though I didn't think she'd hurt him this much. I guess I should have known better. But now I do." Her expression hard.
"I see. What deal?" Maya frowns, remaining firmly in place in front of the door. "Actually, never mind, it isn't my business." She steps aside, glancing into the room as she opens the door. "He is resting, Vixen, and he will be in pain if he wakes." The warning is soft.
"I guess he didn't tell you anything, huh?" Vixen frowning a little as she considers Maya, paused a moment. "Lets just say, he broke off 'playing' with her for me. And this was the result. Apparently, she.. takes his magic or something.. and this is part of it. Why he does shit like this for her I don't know." She breathes out lowly and moves forward, opening the door quietly to move in. Quiet as she approaches the side of the bed.
Leonard is, as stated, thoroughly unconscious upon his bed in the room. The bandaging is all primarily below the sheets, but whether this improves or worsens inital impressions is debatable. His upper lip is split and swollen, and both eyes helped to close by engorged eyelids. Racoon eyes and oversized sunglasses lie in his foreseeable future. Other than that, he looks just fine.
"He and I are not precisely on friendly terms, Vixen." The comment is crisp, and she moves on. "I'll be in my office if you want me." She turns away, leaving the pair alone together, pausing to comment at the nursing station before she returns to her lab.
Vixen looks back to Maya before she goes, showing a quiet thanks in her expression before worry eclipses things and she moves up to Leo's side. "Oh, Leo.." A soft frown lingering on her lips as she lifts a hand to gently stroke his forehead. "I don't get you sometimes." Not a bad thing per se, given her expression and tone. An uncertain thing as she lingers quietly for a few moments.
If there is any awareness there, the closest thing to an initial response Vixen earns is a stuttered fluctuation to Leonard's soft snore and a slight turn of his head. Sedatives and painkillers may be a mixed blessing in this case, as he isn't exactly conversational. The combination makes for a very polite audience, however.
Vixen strokes down to his hair softly before leaning over to give his lips a light brush with her own. Though she frowns when she straightens up and considers, moving back a bit to find the chair in the room and bring it over to sit beside his bed. She slips off her coat and drops into it, expression a bit tense as she does the vigil thing for a little while, left to her thoughts with a hand lightly holding Leo's own.
After a half-hour of vigilance, rounds bring a nurse from the station into the room. "I need to borrow him for a few minutes," is the polite and friendly announcement of interruption. Catheter production and other sundries are checked before eyelids are firmly pried open and penlight ignited. Not the best way to wake up, and Leonard does so with a pained groan that does not halt the ensuing interrogation of basic personal data. "Leonard... It's Leonard. Leonard tired. Can I go back to..." An otherwise inconsequential cough provokes a whine and his arms wrap about his stomach.
Vixen rouses from a little personal daze when the nurse comes in, straightening up a little. She nods mutely to letting the nurse do what she wants. Looking on with a mix of mild curiosity and trepidation. Though when Leo wakes up she stands at once and moves over a little to where he can see her. "Leo.." Her words pause. Glad he's ok? He isn't really. So in lieu of some stupid platitude she reaches out to take his hand lightly, giving him a slight, worried smile.
Leonard's head lolls to the side in what could be the equivalent of a sudden swivel in his current condition. Eyes remain mostly open to seek the source of the familiar voice and felt hand. "Vix?" A few bleary blinks attempt to clear his vision so he can be more certain, and a distorted smile is fashioned. "You made it." The nurse also appears satisfied and moves to exit with only a mild admonition. "Don't keep him up too long."
Vixen nods distractedly at her as she moves up closer to Leo's side. "Of course I made it.. I was waiting for you to get home. I was worried." The truth of that obvious in her expression as she leans forward to give him another soft brushing kiss, now that he can feel it consciously. All sorts of things she might want to belt out come to mind in a great jumble, but she bites back the words, silent for a moment before she wonders, "She didn't hurt you too bad? I mean.. really?"
"One lucky punch." Leonard's funny bone and wit organ are both proven intact, as is his hand. She receives a meager squeeze. "I was worried about you. Be careful. Stay here."
"Worried about me?" Vixen shakes her head a little. "This is more than one lucky punch, Leo.. you're laid up. I was thinking she might give you a bloody nose and some bruises, but this.. " She hesitates a moment, then states, "I don't know why you let her do this to you. Didn't even have the decency to get you to help herself by what I hear." Letting her dislike ooze forth.
Leonard's vague mirth fades as his countenance slackens and eyelids droop in an extended blink. "Didn't let her, but it wasn't enough. She said you were next. Don't know..." His words trailing off into a murmur and his grip slackens before returning with a startle. "...game anymore. I had to find you." Another squeeze of her hand follows.
Vixen frowns deeply and flicks her eyes towards the door. Her gun is out there. "That bitch comes after me, I'll shoot her down," the young woman states, giving Leo's hand a soft squeeze. "She wants to act like an animal, she can get put down like one." She lifts her free hand to softly stroke his forehead. "Rest, Leo.. I'll be safe I promise you. And for now I ain't going nowhere. You just get some rest and I'll stay real close."
This reassurance provokes one more squeeze and a murmur from Leonard. Little else is managed as he ebbs away once more, fingers turning limp but not quite releasing. He is content enough, for now, which only helps him drift back off.
Maya's lab is lit up, the late evening now and she is settled at her desk with the pile of paperwork she is plodding through. Now and again she signs something and tosses it onto the done pile, but at this moment, she leans back into the chair, lifting her hands to rub her eyes. The movement is tired, her expression weary. The music in the lab is soft rock, her white coat slung over the back of her chair.
Her hair is down, still moist from the shower, beads of water running down those pale cheeks to tickle her chin and disappear into ... No, that part only happens in Sebastien's fertile imagination. Two swift knocks and the door swings open, admitting a francophone clad in scrubs holding ... Well, shielding his face behind a red, foil-wrapped, heart-shaped box. "Chocolate!" he cries, taking a step forward and peeking about the edge. "Chocolate trouffles! Don't throw anything or the chocolate gets it first!" He peeks again, a grin on his broken face.
Maya looks up, her face set in serious lines as she rests her elbows on the pile of papers, leaning her chin in her hands. "What do you want, Sebastien?" Her voice is weary and she glances down at her papers, moving to sign one and snap the file closed. "I've got things to do. Don't you have someone to go and mock?" The sharpness in her voice is purely personal, before she ducks her head, returning to work.
"No, I work tonight," Sebastien speaks, and he wiggles a scrubs-clad arm. "I just came to offer this," he speaks, turning the box about in his hands to drop on the counter beside Maya, "and to say I am sorry. I did not mean to hurt you, mademoiselle. I just ... I still hope for the day when I will see you smile again." He flashes her a quick smile of his own, eyes soft, and he quirks an eyebrow. "Anyhow," he speaks in a louder voice, taking one step back before half-turning for the door, "I will let you work."
The apology worked where the joking and the chocolates didn't, and she rises from the seat with a half smile. "Seb!" The name is to call him back, and her mouth curves into a reluctant half smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a drama queen over it, it was just the timing I think." She waves a hand, a faint blush rising in her cheeks, "Being all half naked and offering you sex, and all."
Sebastien turns from the doorknob, peering over his shoulder with a rueful grin. "Half of me wishes I had waited some ... hours, days?" He laughs at that, grinning wide. "And I bet you can guess which half! I just, well. I could not wait that time. You understand." He winks, and turns back from the door, walking slowly into the lab. "But ah, I have been waiting for you to show at the club or some other such place, and never do I see you and your purple concoction. Never do I see those tails of your bouncing. What is wrong, mademoiselle?"
Maya leans against her desk, folding her arms around her waist, a long moment of thought before she answers. "There was a man. He came into the clinic to be part of my d-bee study, and he wanted a letter to prove that he had done some service...because he killed someone." Her face is troubled and she looks up with a frown, "He was disturbing. I have Leonard on my case load as well, and the Director...well, you know. I don't much feel like dancing." She shrugs, shaking her head, the bunches moving. "But I'll get over it."
"That shows remorse," Sebastien says softly. "Although I think it would be a simple task to contain this man here at the hospital until the police could arrive. He confessed?" The young knight blinks, and narrows his eyes to peer out the lab windows. "Is it that he is here now?" Sebastien takes two long steps closer to Maya, coming up behind her to cautiously watch the room with a faint frown on his face.
"Which he?" Maya's reply is weary and she shakes her head. "Leonard is laid up, Emayn beat him. I have him in one of the side rooms." She switches between the two, "The man, Ahriman, he was being charged, and tells me that he got off. The man wished to die, he said." She turns to face Sebastien, lifting a hand to rub her forehead lightly with her fingertips. "Or did you mean the Director? I haven't flipped and locked him in my lab."
"I mean this Ahriman character," Sebastien points out. "I know half the gang members in here have killed someone in the past, but they do not come to you! We keep them in pairs, out there," he waves, and frowns, falling silent as he peers here, and there, and steps closer to the small scientist. "I would not put it past you the collection of various men ... and perhaps women, in here," he notes, slipping hands to Maya's shoulders and gently pulling her her back from her desk to peer underneath before nodding once, meeting Maya's eyes a moment later. "Just checking, mademoiselle!"
Maya takes a step back, her expression puzzled until he makes that last comment, her mouth curving into a grin. "He was in here for the D-Bee survey I'm doing." The explanation is simple and she swats him against his shoulder as she moves past him to her desk. "The director is...well, you know. I think I'm invisible. I should give up, I think." Those words are spoken softly, her low tone giving the lie to the grin.
"Well," Sebastien decides, and waves at the next room over. "You do have Leonard, helpless and willing in the next room. I'm sure he could, ah, 'fill in' for ... no?" He laughs, taking another step back and raising his hands in a defensive gesture. The young knight bounces faintly on the balls of his feet, and lances sideways at the door. "And you are not invisible, Maya. I may some day wish that you were," his eyes sink along her form and rise again appreciatively, and he gives a low chuckle, "but you have not accomplished this yet."
Vixen comes barging back into the Lab a few moments after that glance, the closed door opened firmly without a second thought, not too long after Maya left her with Leo. "Got a problem, girl.." She starts off. Her expression troubled and a little sad. And a little angry. Though she pauses when she notices the new person here. Frowning faintly, but not retreating as she pauses a moment, eyes flicking between the two.
Maya grabs a ball of paper and throws it at Sebastien's head, giving a laugh and a shake of her head. "You know Leonard is ..." The door opening startles her and she jumps. "What is wrong, Vixen?" The flush in her cheeks from Sebastien's appreciative look fades slightly, and she settles herself on the edge of her desk, waiting for Vixen to explain.
"The moon!" Sebastien cries, smiling at Vixen even as that ball of paper bounces off his head, "Radiant child of night, perhaps I may help you?" He turns and leans against a nearby table, hands braced at his sides against the edge with legs forward, flickering a bemused glance back at Maya. Thick as thieves, they were!
Vixen frowns faintly when Leo is mentioned, but lets it and Seb's ways slip by as she gets to the point. "Leo said Emayn said she was coming after me next," she states. "I ain't about to do anything but play it safe with that one. So I don't want her let in this place if she comes looking for Leo. And I'm wanting to go home and get my armor and come back and have my gun while I sit with him. I wanna be with him, but I don't wanna get caught without a way to shoot her down if she even tries anything." The young woman deadly serious.
Maya returns Sebastien's glance, before listening to Vixen in silence. "I can't let you bring a gun into the hospital, Vixen." She states quietly, folding her hands in her lap, her teeth catching at her lower lip. "I can put guards on him, and make sure she doesn't have access." She replies slowly, her voice revealing the thought in those words. "Otherwise I have to refer this to the Director."
Sebastien blinks at that, and turns his head towards Maya. "Really?" he asks softly. One hand extends forward, and a shaft of violet-tinged white light springs from his curled fingertips to flicker in the air, leaving a glowing afterimage well after it's disappeared. "I can carve through armor, and I am not forbidden to be here," Sebastien notes softly. "How many of these d-bees you bring into the hospital can punch through steel? One in ten? One in five? Keeping the guns out does not even the playing field, Maya."
Vixen frowns despite the compromise, but doesn't argue it despite obvious displeasure. Seb's going to bat for her does surprise, though only a bit more than the sudden appearance of the psi-sword. It earns him a careful look before she speaks simply and to the point. "She's got mind powers. Make sure they know it.. don't know what she can do, but Leo thinks she can effect minds.. not sure just how though. And she takes magic power. Dunno if you got mages here, but they should know it." She shrugs a little. "Maybe I'm overreacting, but you don't live long at times without taking threats serious until they're proved to be not."
Sebastien going to bat for Vixen surprises Maya too, a glance across at him revealing it. "Because of the gangs. Because we have to stick to the agreement there." She replies slowly, rubbing her temple with her fingers. She moves around the desk, lifting the phone and dialing a number. "Hello, this is Dr Pearson. I want security on side room one, to protect him from the person who assaulted him. I need them to be aware that the person is a powerful psionic user." A pause, and then she nods, "Yes, thank you." A glance up at Vixen. "Vixen and the staff are the only ones permitted in his room." She hangs up and looks at them both in silence.
Long distance to Vixen: Leonard has helped set up some more Vix/Ema RP, right? Even if it might be along the lines of 'Hi' *pew pew pew*
"Emayn," Sebastien repeats the name, shaking his head. He watches Maya closely, and his chin turns sideways to show her the unbroken side of his face. "Where I come from," he speaks quite softly, barely over a whisper, "humans would be the bottom of the food chain if not for our armor, our weapons, our will to survive, our ability to band together. An psychic run amok is much like a mage dealing with powers beyond his control; dangerous, to himself and others. You cannot disarm a child capable of putting holes in steel with his mind like you could take away a laser pistol. Some come to think of themselves as superhuman predators. They are little better than demons. I think I have never met this woman. Where is it she can be found?" His eyes find Vixen as he asks that, suspecting she'll know the answer. "I can straighten this one out. I will, however, need to speak with Monsieur Leonard before I commit to this."
Vixen does give Maya a grateful look despite the limitation in place. Though Sebastien's words prompt a glance from her and a subtle frown. "She lives at the Golden Carafe. I don't care what you do with her as long as she don't bother me and Leo no more. He's like this now because he agreed to let her beat him up for his magic instead of how she did it before with him. For me, cause we're together now. For real and for good. Dunno why he lets her do this shit to him, but its obvious she don't realize how he tries to be a friend to her. But no more.. I ain't letting her hurt him no more." She looks to Maya, then back to Sebastien. "I ain't saying it just to say. She lifts a brow at me and I'm going to shoot her down. Cause you can't tell when one of them is going to attack you, like you know when someone pulls a gun." Her eyes lingering on Seb as he asserts that much.
Maya watches Sebastien for a long moment before she slumps back in her chair. "Just be careful, Sebastien, oui?" The trace of worry in her voice is subtle but there. Then Vixen's words seem to penetrate and she turns her head slowly, "He agreed to this?" She frowns, narrowing her eyes, "This is crazy." Another brief rub of her temples, and she shakes her head again. "I think I need to talk to the Director about all of this."
"I will bring friends," Sebastien assures Maya, and nods at Vixen. "So finding her outside is the best plan. I would not wish to beard the lioness in her own den, surrounded by magic-using tenants!" He flashes a grin, and walks towards the scientist to offer her a quick hug. "Is it that you can arrange for me to see this Leonard, Maya?" Sebastien asks. "I would not want to go in half-cocked with just a second hand story."
"He might still be awake," Vixen offers to Seb. "But he's still out of it.. probably drugged to the gills." Her tone a bit more relaxed towards him. "We could go see, but it might be better to wait until he's not out of it." She then turns to go to Maya. Again, being the hug instigator. "I'm sorry for this," she offers along with the squeeze. "I just seem to bring all the trouble to you," she adds, a slight grin coming about.
Maya gives Sebastien a worried look as she returns the hug, her face softening. "Give me a moment, I'll arrange it." She reaches for the phone again, speaking softly into the receiver before she replaces it. "They are expecting you, Seb. I've asked them to reduce the medication to allow him to respond." She returns the hug, giving Vixen a small smile, "Be careful. Please." She tells them both.
"Merci mon soleil," Sebastien replies with a smile, and he glances over his shoulder to Vixen as she repeats the hug. Sometimes he wonders if Maya isn't a hug-powered vampire, much as Katsumi was of PPE. Some day he might work up the nerve to ask. He turns to the door, waiting just long enough to be polite, and bids, "Show me to this man."
Vixen turns to go with Seb then, her expression set and firm in determination. She'll lead him right back to the room without delay, where Leo is laid out in the bed. And once they are there, she will go right to his side, taking his hand. Her coat is laid out over the back of a chair drawn up beside his bed. He's covered over, with two black eyes and a split lip. With one hand linked to his, she leans over him a little and her hand lifts, lightly stroking his forehead. Worry comes to the fore most for her then as he murmurs, "Leo?"
Leonard's eyes open at the touch and voice, and rather promptly. He's not exactly wide-eyed, but swelling does limit his expression somewhat. The grin as he turns his head towards, deformed as it may be, is still apparent. "Morning. I miss anything?"
"No brain cells you are likely to need?" Sebastien asks softly from his perch across the hospital room. His thick arms cross his broad chest, scarred face frowning faintly as he inspects the young mage's mangled face. "I represent an interest here in Kingsdale. I came when I heard what happened, but I need to know the details and I need to hear them from a first-hand source. This would be you." He glances at the door, nodding as a shadow passes by, and stares back down at Leonard. "Start with the beginning."
"You ain't been sleeping that long, stupid," Vixen murmurs, a soft fondness in her voice at that gentle jab. And after Seb speaks, she clarifies. "He wants to know about Ema." She'll shift to sit on the edge of the bed next to Leo, her hands wrapping around his as she lingers near to him.
Leonard was unaware of Sebastien's presence until now, and the initial surprise turns into a frown. This deepens to a grimace as he slowly sits himself more upright with a grunt or three. Consciousness good, pain... not so much. "It's a ...personal matter." He pauses to glance to Vixen, then looks back to the man. "Would you open the window for me?" Vix might be more inclined to acquiesce, but her hands are already occupied.
"Maybe it is," Sebastien speaks simply, "And maybe it is not." He unfolds those arms, stepping across the room to unlatch that window and slide it open. "The hospital would frown on your bird," he speaks over his shoulder, his scrubs forming a brief blue-green wall that eclipses the light before he steps back to let in the semi-fresh air of the dregs. "If psychic powers were used then it is my business. If Vixen has been directly threatened, then Maya is likely collateral damage. That is also my business." The young knight returns to his place against the wall, folding his arms before him to stare down a moment more. "Swear to me your oath that your assailant neither used psychic powers to assault you nor that she plans further retribution against the girls, and I will leave you to your pain."
"Leo, she threatened me. You said it yourself. It ain't just some little thing no more. She put you in the fucking hospital. This ain't not game no more." Vixen's tone given a bit of firmness, not reaching the level of harshness. "And maybe she might come back after you too. The girl is outta control, thinking she's like some kind of animal that don't gotta respect no one and nothing."
Frowns or not, Sebastien's presumption proves true, and everyone's favorite feathered friend makes his entrance. Edgar alights upon Leonard's shoulder. Replies are witheld for the span of a minute or more, until Leonard exhales a long, decidedly pleasant sigh and his posture straightens. "Yes, she threatened Vixen, but I don't know whether it was genuine, or just to taunt me. We were in the middle of a boxing match, in which I was apparently failing to meet expectations. She used nothing against me save fists and feet that I'm aware of." That explained, he looks to Vixen with frown. "Maybe she is, but I've done a little of that myself, haven't I?"
"That is what I needed to know," Sebastien speaks simply, and offers a small shrug at Vixen as his frown eases. The young man presses off the wall then, offering simply "Keep him on a leash?" His eyebrows raise, and he turns back to stare at Leo another moment longer before his expression eases once again. Reaching for the door knob, Sebastien makes to leave.
"Leo, you don't mess up someone's knee when you're boxing," Vixen asserts to him firmly. "And you said yourself, she used her powers against you before." She then looks towards Seb and asks him, "What are you going to do?" His shrug not prompting confidence from her.
"If something needs done," Leonard notes, for the benefit of the room, "I'll handle it. It is, afterall, my mess to tidy up after. I don't believe there is any threat intended to anyone else. As I said, it's a personal matter." The last is primarily for Sebastien before he looks pointedly to Vixen and asserting in return. "Maybe she just needs to cool down, but she's not going to make good on her threats, if not."
"Nothing," Sebastien replies firmly. "He does not sound unhappy. Monsieur Leonard is defending her still! I have no way of drawing proof that his mind has been tampered with, save that generally only a retarded lemming would suffer such a beating and be glad of it. I will not run about trying to stop consensual training exercises, if this is what you would have me do." Sebastien shakes his head, giving Leo a sly grin, and wonders, "Just where is it that this all happened? At a club, or in the come of someone?"
Vixen is displeased by the two men and she doesn't try to hide it. "Fine." Her response to Seb before she looks to Leo and asks, "And if she puts you in the hospital again? Are you still going to just think maybe she needs to cool down? What did she do to mess up your knee? Were you even still standing at that point? I'm not going to relax on this, Leo. I think she's dangerous and I ain't going to pretend otherwise and let her get the drop on me. And I ain't letting her in to see you here. I already made arrangements with Maya."
Leonard shakes his head and exhales a not-so pleased sigh, this time. "I doubt there will be a next time, and if there is, there won't be any trips to the hospital, Vix. We went at it in the ring at the gym, and I lost. That doesn't mean I need to send some sort vengeance squad after her."
"It's not about you or her," Sebastien notes softly, at the door. "When she uses her power against you without repercussions, it invites escalation. It frightens the citizens. It turns mundanes against those with powers. One predator can sour a city so that no number of hard-working psychics can turn around opinion. If you suspect her of tampering with you, tell me. I work here, and am easy to find. I will convince her to rein in it. But as for your boxing? You may get your head beat in as often as you like. That is your right." He flashes the man a brief smile, and turns his eyes up to Vixen with a faintly apologetic look as he tugs the door open. "Au revour, mosieurs!"
Vixen seems to notice Leo's upset as she visibly takes a mental step back. "I'm sorry Leo, but I just.. I was worried about you. You didn't come back and then Maya called.." She squeezes his hand between her own. "Did she tell you there would be no more? I wanna know exactly what happened. Might be personal for you, but its personal for me too. Don't want me to freak out? You gotta tell me everything that happened so I know and I don't got holes to fill cause you k now how I fill 'em." She's apparently done with Sebastien now, fixed on Leo.
The departing Sebastien receives a distracted, yet fully mobile wave from Leonard. "You don't need to apologize, Vix. She never claimed it to be the last, but she didn't try to arrange another. Not while I was conscious, at least." He pauses a moment to reflect and recollect before continuing. "We met at the gym, as scheduled, and there wasn't even as much bold claims as I'd expected. She wasn't excited, angry, or much anything else. An off-hand comment I made of the uneven match prompted her to suggest something outside of the city, instead, without rules. That got her excited, and then angry when I declined. Maybe I just pissed her off a bit much beforehand."
Sebastien slips out into the day, probably not seeking vengeance! Probably. You never know with him.
"Good, cause I don't want you to do that again with her," Vixen replies. "You can't let yourself get hurt this much all the time. I don't want you to hurt yourself just to be nice to her. a black eye, a few bruises.. that I could overlook, but this is too much. You don't deserve this and if she was any kind of friend to you, she wouldn't have done this." One of her hands leaves his, lifting to touch his cheek gingerly. "Why'd you agree to this anyway? I don't understand it."
"It seemed like a good idea at the time?" His cheek distorts a little further with a half-grin. "I attempted to meet her on what seemed to be her level. Obviously, that wasn't the best idea. Besides," the grin becomes complete, "I'd rather have her vicious at me than you. Maybe she'll resort to conversation, now. If not..." His words trail off in a shrug and sigh.
"If not, I'm going to shoot her down, Leo," Vixen states. "I.. I love you, Leo. I ain't letting no one get in the way of us no more. I know you like her, but to me she ain't worth risking you. Her level ain't where I see you.. not to tell you what to do, but cause I think you're better than what she is. Maybe you upset some people, but you're trying."
Leonard nods his understanding of the escalation. "I know, Vix, I..." Past forewarning or not, her statement is more than enough to thoroughly annihilate whatever he was about to say. After the pause in surprise, her hand is squeezed. "I love you, too, babe." Still, he doesn't immediately finish or reconstitute his reply, leaving that to stand alone for a moment. "She tried pulling me her way, so I thought I could pull her ours. Her offer to go all out was tempting, but I was concerned it would end permanently." Now he smirks. "Oddly enough, it was her I was worried about."
Vixen frowns a little at that. "I'm glad you didn't, cause maybe you wouldn't have come back. We still don't know what she can really do.. and psychics.. they can be tricky. Guns, they're simple. Mind powers.. they ain't. That's why I ain't too interested in giving her the benefit of the doubt." She leans forward to kiss him softly, her arm curling gently about his neck as she does so.
Leonard gives no immediate reply, at least not verbally. The embrace is far more desired, and readily returned with both arms. After savoring that, he finally withdraws enough to nod. "I'm not sure whether avoiding her or seeking her out is the better choice. If she does decide to be ...vindictive, I doubt we'll have any warning. She's already been in the apartment more than once, uninvited, and without a key."
Vixen tenses when Leo mentions that. "How? Cause I sure as hell don't want her sneaking in there." The young woman frowns deeply, eyes given to a subtle narrow. "Maybe I ought to buy another camera.. set us up a little surveillance to keep an eye on our place. Maybe Edgar can keep an eye out. He's gotta protect you, right?"
"It's in his best interests, yes," Leonard nods to her question, "and he can stand watch easily enough. I'm not certain how she entered, but I wanted you to know about it." Now his head shakes. "She told me not long ago that she'd never inflict any permanent harm on me. I wonder if that really holds true, anymore."
"That don't really ease me, cause it ain't like you just got a few bruises," Vixen murmurs. "I dunno what her damn problem is, but she ain't being no friend to you. Taking out whatever her issues are on you like that.. or whatever you'd call it. Don't matter what you call it cause it wasn't right." She leans her forehead against his lightly, that free hand lifting to stroke his cheek lightly again.
Leonard shakes his head slightly, rolling the joined foreheads some. "I'm not allowing it to happen again. I thought we could still be friends, somehow, but she's taken things a bit far. If she wants a full-on fight, she'll get it should she start one."
Vixen lets her eyes close slightly as she murmurs, "I'm with you, Leo. I won't let you go again.. and I'll pull you back close if you start to stray. If you start to go bad. I want you to be my strong, good Leo. And I'll be what you need, what you want." Her eyes open and she wonders, "What do you want, Leo?"
"There was never a time you weren't wanted and needed, Vix." Leonard asserts in a contrary mix of firm and soft, with the latter growing more prominent, along with a smile. "Right now, I have what I want. I'll worry about the rest later."
Vixen smiles, a soft pleasure in his words, written in her expression. "You should get some rest, Leo." She lifts her head slowly. "I want you to get better. And I want you to be careful. I will be.. I'm going to wear my armor around for a while. Give it some time before I relax. I'm gunna go get it once you're relaxed and I'll be back to be with you. Bring some food. Are you hungry?"
Leonard looses a soft laugh, and the movement doesn't appear to bother him in the slightest. "I'm starving. All that exercise worked up quite the appetite." The mirth sobers afterwards, but doesn't entirely fade. "I know you'll be careful, but I'll tell you to, anyhow. Since I won't be going anywhere for a while, there's little I can do besides try to relax." A grin rekindles as he adds, "I suppose I should try not to get too used to you catering to me, though."
"Not all the time, but that's part of being close like this.. you wanna do things for someone else.. just cause." Vixen smiles softly and leans in once more to share a soft kiss before she slips off the side of the bed. Her coat obtained, she slipping it on as she adds, "I'll get us some good stuff. Nothing cheap, cause I want you to get better quick."
"I know." Leonard chuckles while watching her rise. "I was more worried that I wouldn't survive if I let myself get beaten again, just so you'd fetch the food." After a moment's pause, he adds, "It's better to have you here than out, anyhow."
"I won't be long," Vixen promises softly, her hand reaching out to touch his once more before she draws back and turns. Her hands lifting to craw the coat close about her as she hurries on her way out. She's not taking her time, she's going to get this done quick and return later with take out from the Silver Diner for the both of them.
Leonard is still conscious upon her return, and has even managed to raise the head of the bed to make it more comfortable to sit. If he's going to occupy it, he might as well make use of it. It might merely be the reduced dosage of whatever drugs were or are administered, but he also seems a little more energetic than before. Her return is welcomed with a pleased wave and a hearty appetite.
