| [Sep. 2nd, 2009|10:06 pm] |
As dirty as it gets. The words should have sounded corny. The kind of line a back-country lawman would have drawled out in a low budget movie while monochrome smoke wreathed around his head, heavy boots propped up on the desk. They should have been said to a tearful blonde woman, and ended with sweetheart. But in Genma's mouth they just came out flat, tangled with bitterness. Chased by an apology.
Raidou reflected briefly on the new shape of the universe, and then whacked his friend upside the head.
"If I catch another damn sorry coming out of your mouth," he said conversationally, "I'm going to strangle you with your oxygen line. You got it right earlier, you idiot, remember? We did it right. And we sure as hell includes you, so quit talking shit about my best friend. That's my job."
Genma ducked, startled, and freed his hand from Raidou's hold to rub his head. Then he reached back to grab Raidou's arm. A slow smile curved his mouth at the corners. "Yeah, alright," he said.
"Damn straight," Raidou muttered.
"Gaily forward," Genma agreed, smile broadening into a grin. Raidou gave him a I could hit you again look, and Genma returned it with a glance that said everything was right with the world.
CTI protocol. Captured-Tortured-Interrogated. It made sense, in an evil kind of way, like most of ANBU's acronyms did. They'd have a note on their folders, meds in their blood, and watchful eyes making sure they didn't misstep. Confirming that their stories matched on every point. Little bastards like Hyuuga Hiro hanging around on the fringes, shuffling paperwork. It was the job.
Raidou thought about this, thought about himself and Genma and everything that had happened to them, about the wind tugging at his bandages and the sunlight glinting on the metal cage surrounding Genma's hand, and reached a conclusion.
"Arse to the lot of 'em," he said firmly, and rested his chin on the top of Genma's head. "So what's the first thing you want to do when we get out of here, dinosaur movie or a bar?" |
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