#codemartyr

     ❛ HEY, looks like sleeping beauty’s awake. ❜ Yakumo couldn’t help but greet his friend with a teasing joke as the other had just awoken within his little sanctuary. ❛ Never thought I’d see you nodding off when you’re usually so absorbed in your books but either way, I figured that I should wake you up before you fell off your chair ... though, I’m sure it would’ve been a sight for everyone see. ❜ With a light laugh, he soon approached to lean against the desk so that he could get himself comfortable for conversation. 

“Louis...?”

Her voice called out while she knocked three times on Louis’ door and all Isabella received was silence. Ever since she and the others discovered the first Successor back at the Cathedral of the Sacred Blood, Louis had distanced himself from everyone. The identity of that Successor was none other than his own sister, Karen. The young Revenant’s heart ached for him, wanting to do everything in her power to comfort him, to let him know that he wasn’t alone.

However, Yakumo had insisted that she give him space, and so she did. For three days, Louis had kept everyone at arm’s length. For three days, he had hardly spoken to anyone. Today, he was in his room and all Isabella did was yearn for him. She wanted to approach him, reach out and tell him that he wasn’t alone. Today, Isabella gathered the courage to walk over to his room and knock on his door.

“Louis... I know you’re in there.” She looked down at the opening of his door to see the shadow of his feet shuffling on the wooden floor. “You don’t have to say anything. All I ask is that you listen to what I have to say... Okay?” Her voice was soft and gentle, yet loud enough for the man to hear clearly.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re feeling right now. Seeing your sister in such a state... Knowing what happened to her... I’m so sorry, Louis.” She started, her hands pressed against the door while lowering her head to notice that his shuffling had ceased. His shadow was in front of the door, indicating that he was listening. “I’m not very good with words... I know that whatever I say will probably make little difference. But I... I want you to know that you’re not alone, Louis. You don’t have to carry this burden and guilt all by yourself. You can rely on us a little more, you know? You mean so much to us.  Yakumo, Coco, Murasame, Io, and myself... We all care about you.”

He just wanted his friend to stay safe.

“I know you can take care of yourself, Louis. I just don’t like the idea of you goin’ out there on your own. Unless there’s a reason you have to?” He didn’t want to seem like he was being too protective, but it was just... natural instinct at this point.

☽☾▐░▒ The raven haired Revenant appeared exhausted, wary. It was no surprise that Louis would end up in such state after several restless explorations around the mistsealed city to seek a quench for the bloodthirst which is driving all Revenants into a Frenzy, then turning into mindless monsters. Knowing that it is a good time to use the herbs she found during one of the ventures outside of the home base, Mia brewed up tea for Louis, hoping he can find some VIGOR through her brew.

      at times, he wonders -- just how often has he seen louis either sitting at his desk, completely engrossed by one of his many, MANY,  books, or standing in front of the map board? either way, it almost seems like he’s always doing something, be it reading to ease his troubles or planning their next step. while he’s sure louis has his own way of relaxing  ( reading, he assumes, though zyre personally can’t share the same feelings towards the activity ),  a nagging feeling of worry tends to worm its way into his head  &  pick at him.

      still, he’s not going to tell him to stop.        ... but he’s not going to exactly ask if anythings bothering him, either.

      walking over to the desk surrounded by a small mountain of books, zyre doesn’t wait to be noticed, lightly tapping louis on the head with an old, but sill mostly intact  &  usable book. 

                    “You should take better care of yourself, you know.”  There’s a subtle quirk to the Commander’s lips as she tosses a bottle of water his way, her finger coming up to gently tap her nose in a gesture of amusement.  “You’ll start getting wrinkles around your face if you never sleep or take time off.”  RICH, coming from the woman with an entire GALAXY resting on her shoulders. She sees the irony, but her concern is genuine.  “Feel like taking a stroll ‘round the Citadel, Mister Amamiya? Or are you gonna pass out on me before we make it to the Presidium?”

                                                                   ______

“I can’t help it, Louis. I... I feel bad for them...”

The youngest of the team had been under-performing lately. While the Revenants were all immortal, it was becoming quickly apparent that Sayu’s combative skills were starting to drop as she was defeated by the Lost more often than before; to the point it was starting to become a danger for her to leave Home Base.

And at last, she was finally starting to speak up.

“I just... it was easy at first, but its getting to me now. They- they were people too. They were like us... I know I shouldn’t think of it like that, but- it just started hitting me the other day. Its not just fighting monsters, its fight monsters that were people. Were revenants. I guess it... I dunno, it just started hitting me out of nowhere. I’m really sorry. I... I’ll get it together and I’ll head back to the field soon, I promise,” Sayu said.

She was always so tiny and weak before the Great Collapse, and now she had the power to protect the people she loved and cared; but in the end, immortal or no, human emotions never died. And to a girl who had only been 14 before taking the BOR parasite into her, she never had the luxury of growing up or maturing before taking on this responsibility and power.