streetwalkers | YAN-PARA au master post

[It's luck and the fact that Cu's trade is nearly as shady that helps him find that first slick of blood on the ground. Truth be told, he didn't know what the trail would lead him to, it could have been anyone's blood, but for once luck is on his side.

He runs all the way there, panic giving way to something like disgusted hope when he sees the first body. Yeah, he's heard about how bad some of the killings had been, right down to the gory details. He knows what it could look like, and Cu doesn't have the time to regret being encouraged by the sight.

Diarmuid fought back. And maybe he didn't go to die. Maybe he decided to fix it.

Maybe--

When he finally makes it to the back of that warehouse and sees Diarmuid lying there, he's too caught up in his tunnel vision to be disgusted by anything he sees. The only thing in his mind is that oh god he's breathing, oh god save him save him save him--

Cu doesn't know where to start with the hasty first aid, so he presses his hand to the biggest wound in his range of vision and shouts]

Diarmuid! Hey!

[For a moment, there's no response. But the sharp pressure on that bullet hole in his side is enough to jerk some consciousness back into him.

He wasn't expecting to wake up. He'd already willed himself to sleep. At first his brain decides that the jolt is his body refusing to let him go without further suffering. It hurts. Ithurtsithurts everything hurts and he's scared and he just wanted to black it out. He can't focus enough to recognise that someone else is there.

So when he takes a startled, gasping breath, the first thing he does with it is sob an agonized "no, don't--" and start to cry.]

Sorry, I gotta get some of it to stop.

[Cu's reply is relieved, scared, and apologetic all at once. That's a lot of blood. Those are a lot of wounds. He didn't have the foresight to grab any first aid before he took off, but... but he's helping somehow, right? Diarmuid's been through this shit, right?]

Just bear with it for a bit more...

[He's been through a lot of shit. Pain beyond this? Yes. But it's not the raw pain that's getting him so much as the knowledge that these are life-threatening injuries. It's that he's terrified of having to watch the world slip away, and sure that it's going to. That just makes everything worse, and learning to tolerate doesn't mean he doesn't feel it as keenly as anyone else.

His left arm works well enough to allow him to grip Cu's wrist, but he doesn't have the strength to stop him from moving that hand if he will. Still, his nails dig in and the sound his makes when he squirms is a low, tortured thing.]

Stop-- Let me--

[But suddenly, the smell of Cu's tobacco cuts the blur, and he finally opens his eyes enough to focus.]

...Cu?

Hey. You got one hell of a head start, huh...?

[Man, there's a lot of blood. Like a whole lot. And as that feeling of hope subsides, Cu realizes he's scared.]

Sorry it didn't do you more good - I was real focused, finding you.

You really looked for me...?

[He looks surprised at that, not sure hot to process it. He's been so wrapped up all his old issues today that somehow it seemed odd that Cu would try hard and show up. But he'd hoped he would, hadn't he? Because he knows now how much of Diarmuid's pain comes from loneliness.

That makes him really happy. But he's also pretty sure it won't save him at this point.]

But... You're too late.

Hey, don't give me that! You're still breathing, aren't ya?

[panic? Mild panic. Oh god. What do?]

Can you get up?

[A pause]

...er, probably not, so...

Mm. I think I'm going numb...

[It's certainly not something a little first aid with no equipment will fix. He needs serious medical attention or he'll really die. But that's okay. This is what he wanted.

Even though he can't keep the fear out of his voice or expression.]

Did you know, I... I'm not hallucinating anything. Isn't that kind of scary?

Isn't that the opposite of crazy....?

[TRYING.... PRETTY DAMN HARD NOT TO LOOK TOO WORRIED. HERE LET'S TRY TO PICK YOU UP DIARMUID WE'LL JUST FIND A PLACE TO GET YOU TAKEN CARE OF IT'LL BE OKAY, YEAH TOTALLY...]

It's because-- [Being picked up hurts. Bad. He doesn't resist, but he has to take a moment to hyperventilate.]

Because... Everything's fading. It's over, so there's nothing left to be afraid of.

Don't say "it's over"! I got you, we're going to get help, so it's cool, right?

[Still, he steps lightly and tries not to jostle Diarmuid too much]

It's okay.

[He's starting to get drowsy, so he gets his better arm around Cu's neck, just so he can hold on and press his face into him. Everything's wet with blood -- somehow it's funny that Cu's still trying.]

You'll be okay...

I'm worried about you, dude, not me...

[Ah, but that contact is nice... a little calming, maybe, but they're pretty far off from help, and Cu is trying to weigh the pros and cons of busting in on Kirei and forcing him to do something (like that would ever work) and fuck fuck fuck--]

That's foolish of you. I'm already dying.

That's not foolish, that's exactly why I'm worried.

[deep breaths Cu. Just keep composed and this'll work out, right?]

...we didn't have enough time.

Time for what?

[he is sounding very sleepy at this point]

Being together.

[Ugh, it sounds stupid, but it's true, isn't it? As far as Cu's concerned, they still haven't made up for all that lost time.]

...I would have liked more. But there's not.

...we'll see about that.

[...yeah, there's really not much of a choice, is there? He can't think of any other place that's closer. He would rather not, of course, but when time and options are limited, he doesn't have much of a choice.

Diarmuid might know the church courtyard Cu heads towards. It's Kirei's.]

[He does not like that option. He tenses in Cu's arms at the sight, pressing against him as if retreating before they're even there.]

...Don't.

...hey, I don't want to either. But it's the closest place that won't arrest me.

You don't have to go anywhere. It's fine. You can just let me go.

[Panic? Yes. He is even squirming to get out of Cu's arms all of a sudden, even though that reopens wounds and jars broken bones and general is a bad bad idea.]

You can hold still! I'll knife 'im if he tries anything.

[nnnnope shaking his head and struggling harder]

No! You don't get it! It's fine, I wanted to die!

[UGH TRYING TO HANG ON BUT REALLY HE'S SCRAWNIER, THIS IS A LOSING BATTLE]

Why the hell would you want that?!

[...what about Cu?]

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