universal_charm | Reboot Complete

Entry tags:

Reboot Complete

[ Taking your first conscious lungful of air after what seems forever is an entirely all to painful experience. Not surreal. Not relieving. Painful. His brain felt like it had been jolted by a car battery and his throat couldn’t decide if it wanted to close up or open so he could exhale and take in another breath.

Finally, that primal part of his brain, the part that worked to keep him alive when he wasn't paying attention, said stop being stupid and he took his second breath. Third. Fourth. Fifth. They kept coming, the pain easing at the same time that his vision went from blurry blobs to fuzzy shapes and finally to something resembling… trees?

Trees? He was in the woods?

He was dead and all he got was being shoved into some forest - albeit one for dead people? He was a hero! He seriously needed to go haunt somebody and let them know that dying sucked, there were no pearly gates, and he demanded an immediate refund.

That was when the rest of his body decided it needed to make its immediate aches and pains fully noted. Everything hurt, aching in a bone deep way that said he needed to both move and that he needed to sleep for another week. He couldn’t particularly decide which, so instead he chose to lay there, debating if the pain meant he was not, in fact, dead.

But… he had to be, didn’t he? The radiation he had absorbed when he kicked the reactor back into place should have killed him, and he had… Spock had been there, and he had…

He gulped, pushing the memory away, shifting to try and get his arm under him, his wings fluttering lightly as if -

Wait. Wings? WINGS?!

His head jerked around, for a moment making him see white stars and he stared in absolute horror at the canary yellow and black edged wings that peeked from behind his back, disturbingly bright on a dead man. Well, he thought he was dead… But he had only ever been to one place where he had sported wings, and angel wings were white (right?). So... was this... was this Luceti? Was he being punished by being sent to the hell version of Luceti, the place he thought he had somehow managed to escape (but never find again despite his efforts - and, in fairness, he had been a bit distracted). Or worse- this was real. He was alive, and he was back in Luceti.

And in a hospital gown. Awesome.

To weak to move himself much more, he collapsed back down, sweating for his effort and he wondered if he would stink of radiation now… did radiation have a scent? He guessed he’d find out. His eyes drifted, coming back from the pain induced haze they’d glazed through, dropping on the journal. Of course it was right beside him, like a faithful dog that didn’t know when it wasn’t wanted.

Well, this time he actually needed it. He reached out, bringing it closer, that effort alone making his head spin as he worked it open to speak - ]

Hey everyone. You miss me?

[ Of course, that's base on the idea there's anyone he knows still here to miss him. Did they remember him, a year and more later? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Steve cracks a small grin.] Go right ahead. There's no one around to judge you.

[As Kirk sits up he takes the time to get a closer look at Kirk, watching his movements for signs of immediate injury. Mostly he just looks sore.

He rocks back onto his feet and holds out a hand.]

It's only been a couple of days here. How long was it for you?

_{[ Kirk doesn't take the hand, looking up in shock at Steve. Only a few
days? How was that possible? It wasn't possible.}

He seemed to come back enough to himself that he took the hand and rose, only to stumble against Steve, like he hadn't walked in days and was unsure of how to use his own legs. ]

I... it's been a year for me. I've been away a year.

_{[ And in the past 24-48 hours, as he could remember, there had been a
lot of crap that went down. ]}

[Steve whistles softly and tries to help Kirk gain his balance. When it looks like a failed mission, he slings one of Kirk's arms across his shoulder to take some of the man's weight.]

A whole year. A lot can happen in that time. [And it looks like a lot did. Steve would ask, but he's not sure Kirk is up for talking about it just yet.]

Yeah. Like dying.

_{[ Oh whoops, had that slipped? Maybe. He leaned gratefully against
Steve and had no complaints on it. He was tired and more than happy to let
Steve half carry him through the woods, his back partially bared to the
elements. He was to tired to really care. ]}

Hopefully getting to a real bed doesn't take as long.

[His grip tightens almost without him noticing and Steve stops in his tracks. He glances over at Kirk.]

Kirk? [He stares Kirk's profile down, urging him to respond. Or make a joke about it. It was a joke right?...Right?]

_{[ Kirk looked up at him, his face drawn but not skeletal at least. He
certainly didn't look as healthy as he usually did. Really, he just looked
tired. ]}

I guess it didn't take. Or maybe it did. I'm still not sure on that.

_{[ Sorry, Steve. Truth sucks sometimes. ]}

[He sucks in a breath and exhales. Shaking his head, he repositions Kirk's weight a little before beginning to walk again.]

For your sake, let's hope it didn't.

Yeah, I'm hoping it didn't either. Don't know about you, but I had more planned for my life.

_{[ He shrugged and leaned further against Steve, grateful for his
support. ]}

I know what you mean.

[It's slow going as they make their way towards the clinic. They probably could have moved faster if Steve had lifted Kirk onto his back and carried him, but he wasn't sure Kirk was in any condition for that.

Eventually the clinic comes into view just ahead of them.]

Alright, Kirk. Almost there.

You take me to the nicest places, Steve.

_{[ He smiled through the thrumming pain in his joints and crawling over
his skin. He was grateful though. It meant a bed, some place safe to sleep
and possibly answers to what was happening to him. What had happened to
him. ]}

[He chuckles and tightens his grip on Kirk. He can feel the little bit of energy Kirk has draining away. It's his goal to make it inside the clinic before Kirk goes completely limp.]

It'll be even better once we get you inside. You could probably use some sleep. [Unless Kirk is concussed...then not so much.]

I dunno. I feel like I've been asleep for a month. Maybe that means I get to stay awake for a month. Is that how it works?

_{[ He hobbled with Steve, as grateful as anyone to get inside of the
clinic and be directed to a bed, wanting off his feet, wanting his body to
just do nothing. ]}

No. Try being asleep for seventy years. You still get tired eventually.

[They finally make it inside the building and Steve is waving one of the workers over to help him with Kirk.]

_{[ Kirk sees the worker, someone he doesn't know, and suddenly
something like anxiety kicks him in the chest and he sucks in breath. His
hand clings tighter to Steve where it's around his shoulders. ]}

You mind staying awhile? In case they have to move me or something.

_{[ Yeah, that was it. ]}

[Steve's brow furrow in concern, but he nods anyways. It's clear Kirk is bothered by something, but he doesn't have enough time to ask before the worker is upon them, asking questions. Steve squeezes Kirk's side in affirmation.]

Of course.

_{[ He nodded his thanks, doing his best to answer the questions as they
came, though he was unable to answer many. He had been out for so much of
it...}

Finally, the medic put him in a bed and gave him water and pain killers, leaving the captain for now. ]

You know, it feels weird, being back in a hospital bed. I feel like I've been there for awhile...

[Steve pulls a chair up to the side of the bed and sits down.]

With the condition you're in, I'd be surprised if you weren't laid up in bed before you were brought here.

I think I was. I feel so weak....

_{[ He bit his lip and raised his hand, flexing the fingers, like he
could tell so much from the simple gesture. ]}

I don't understand what's happened to me, Steve.

[He reaches over and lays his hand over Kirk's, stopping the motion.]

I think for now you should focus on getting some rest.

Yeah...

_{[ He sighed, looking down at their hands, able to feel it. Actually
feel it and he felt a wash of emotion, though he couldn't say why. He
blinked rapidly and shifted, letting out a shaky breath and closing his
eyes. ]}

I'll wake up, right?

[The question pierces Steve in the chest, he grips Kirk's hand harder.]

Yes. I promise.

_{[ He reached up, touching the hand, before he got himself comfortable
and drifted off, his body finally winning over his mind. ]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Reboot Complete

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;

action;

Re: action;