universal_charm | 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'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. ]}

Reboot Complete

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