(don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me.)

[ioudas]

WHO: the husband (engineers) & the other man (ioudas)
WHERE: somewhere between the MAC and Cross' new place.
WHEN: November 2nd, morning.
WARNINGS: Language.
SUMMARY: never insert yourself in a love triangle.
FORMAT: action to start!



(Once upon a time, Cross loved Halloween. He loved the hunt of the surge of Akuma during this day, the fact that on this day they came out in droves and that he'd kill them all and ease some sort of itch. Here, he didn't have that option of disappearing into the night and showing up years later, here he had some semblance of a life that revolved around being grounded.

Unfortunately, you can't take the nomad out of the priest, but you can take the priest out of the nomad. He'd already fucked up a lot of things with Madison, Lilian and now Danger was getting thrown in the mix. For once he had to worry about personal matters, rather than matters of placing pawns in an ever growing game for humanity. He was putting things out on the curb for the movers to place in their van before heading to the upper side of town.

On the curb, there was a box with freebees such as an old phonograph, some things that Cross had taken apart and put back together, some romance novels that Cross had been reading (including 50 Shades of Grey) and just a variety of things that a beloved eccentric would have in his apartment.)

Comments

god i'm so angry at you daring to have your house infested...

[ex_engineers208]

[ of course madison is still scowling, because this is still awful and again, he's pretending that he has the moral high ground―

but he's still laying on the pavement without any effort at all to lift himself, looking increasingly dazed. his hand splays loosely over his face, as if either in pain or in shame. it's now more clear to him, through that stressful hate, that he's not sure how this is supposed to end. ]

Why'd you... [ an irritated grunt. ] Why would I be okay with that?

punch them for me.

[ioudas]

I don't know, how did we even get to this spot?

(Cross helps him up, pulling him up despite the fact this shoulder is feels like it's going to fall off. Firstly, he realizes that he needs to start training again and become even stronger, and second, he needs to fix this between Madison and Lil. Already making the decision to make it so that she never sees him, and trying not to do this again.)

Tim'll grab your stuff. Lets get that head looked at.

already done...

[ex_engineers208]

No, I don't think. No.

[ giving an ineffectual swat at cross' hand, he still braces against his shoulder and allows himself to be lifted up. but he still hangs on without shifting his weight to his own legs, maybe a little out of spite.

letting cross carry that burden, rather. blearily: ]

Tim?

Re: already done...

[ioudas]

(Cross slings Madison across his own shoulders, bearing the majority of the weight as they go up the stairs. Behind them, Timcampy swells up to bite the top of Madison's bags and follows Cross up to his room in the MAC.

Slinging him against one of Cross's favorite chairs-) Don't get blood on that couch.

Tim- the fatty bringing in your groceries. (Timcampy drops the stuff on the table, settling himself like a large cat and climbing into the bag to get his delicious treats.)

[ex_engineers208]

[ a cursory but very brief glance at timcampy―and then he's turning back in the seat and shaking his head, spraying a few droplets haphazardly around the premises. there's a little bit of satisfaction rising up in his chest at the gesture. ]

They got cameras up in there, y'know. I can hear them.

[ his head rolls to the side, aloof. ]

B-but. Whatever.

[ioudas]

(cross calls from his kitchen, whipping together some sort of easy wound healing compound that he often makes for himself when out in the field. coming back with a glass of wine, ice and the compound, he forcibly yanks Madison's head down.)

If they do, they're going to be really surprised at how much stuff happens in this apartment.

(a beat:)

You want to explain why you threw a bottle at my head or am I going to have to send you a bill for my visit to the salon?

(it's not accusatory, but he just wants Madison to get talking to make this less awkward.)

[ex_engineers208]

[ there's a noise of protest as his head is pulled; not actual protest, madison manages to just grit his teeth to bear it. he doesn't have to be thankful for the effort, he doesn't have to feel grateful at all. so, he isn't.

the angry breathing through his nose makes that clear. ]

I think y'managed t'get me t'hate you. Y'know, so―congrats.

[ in self-reassurance: ]

At least I can concentrate enough t'find y'abhorrent human scum, o-or whatever. Thought I was too fried for that.

[ioudas]

(it gives cross pause, before hiding it as a chance to add the salve. it was probably a good thing that he can't see cross's face. he just mentally shrugs, he forgot what it was like to be liked as a friend that he knows more how to be hated than to be an actual friend.)

Well, I'm glad to have done you some service.

(the gash isn't that deep, the salve will work just fine. cross has bandages on hand as he covers the entire injury and starts to bandage it up.)

[ex_engineers208]

[ it's a good thing that madison's head is bent at that awkward angle, because that utterly hurt frown passing through his face would be otherwise unmistakable. why did this have to happen? why is this still happening? ]

D'you even feel anythin'? Any shame, at all?

[ioudas]

No.

(it's just as simple as that. exorcists live for ten years at most if they're lucky; cross is cocky because he's alive after being one of them.)

[ex_engineers208]

[ suddenly, with a push of his head against the bandaging hands, their faces are yet again at level.

he then spits at his face. ]

[ioudas]

(cross just shoves the salve in madison's hand before wiping the spit off his face and calmly goes to wash his hands. despite how calculated he seems, he's absolutely ready to crack madison's head open again. timcampy looks upset, but he drops cross's communicator in his hands before cross dials danger's number.)

Danger's coming to pick you up, stay here until she gets here or you might pass out.

(see, he doesn't think that the man that is absolutely livid with him might tear up his entire apartment should he leave it there. a lot of his stuff are just books, but there are two manequins in the back with his General's uniform, the rosary and the coats and everything that the late-Anita gave him along with a suit with all of his medals. books upon books that he treasures.

no, it's totally a good idea.)

I'm going to finish moving and not cracking your skull open after I taped it back together.

[ex_engineers208]

[ danger's name evokes a swell of anxiety in his chest, and madison is suddenly somehow more and more upset. ]

It ain't f-fair. Y'draggin' her into this, I. Didn't want her t'know.

[ no, he doesn't get up―probably can't get up, he feels awfully lightheaded right now and woozy which isn't helping when it's combined with that rage and jesus, if cross managed to give him a concussion, he'll.

a window silently shatters (it's perfectly crystalline in the way he disassembles it, but it's too fast to see and nobody would get it at all wouldn't they no they wouldn't), then another one. psychically feeling around his apartment, he breaks glass―stuff in the cabinets, whatever's not moved, of course―at the slow and steady rate of plucking a daisy and wishing for love. ]

Y'just get off on unhappiness.

[ioudas]

Who else am I going to call, Lil? I'm staying away from her, remember? (he says off handedly, dialing her absentmindedly, not really caring that his window just blew up.)

Just blame me, that's what everyone does anyway. (for once, that unhappiness sneaks through the entire time he was trying to be absolutely calm:) Danger, it's Cross. I was moving stuff and I smacked Madison upside the head so hard that he got a concussion. I'm leaving Tim here to let you in, come and take him home.

(he snaps the communicator off as if to say, it's that easy to do it.)

Yep, I just love making you miserable. I totally planned to get apricot jam in my hair and to give you a concussion.

[ex_engineers208]

[ the little eyeroll he starts to give goes once, and then twice, and he has to blink to stop it. it's incredibly dizzying. ]

If y'ever, ever call Lil. I'm gonna shove nails into your eyes so hard your brain'll catch tetanus.

[ meanwhile, a wineglass turns to dust. ]

A-and I know y'do, s-so... don't make fun a' me.

[ioudas]

Oh, calm down, she's not even in my phone anymore. Also, please stop destroying my things.

(he seems so absolutely deflated about everything. his hands just flop to the side:)

No, I don't. You were m- (he stops, realizing that he's going to say too much and reveal too much about himself. no one needs to know what sort of vengeful person he is.)

I don't. I'm just a terrible person, it seems.

[ex_engineers208]

Please stop destroyin' my life.

[ which is code for "no", and that he's starting on the light bulbs.

goddamn concussion. ]

It don't seem like you're a terrible person 'cuz y'really are. I can't believe I didn't see it.

[ioudas]

Have they left you?

(it's a sincere question, but the terrible person comment really does strike home. he shakes his head, laughing coldly to hide his real feelings.)

Told you, but you didn't believe me.

[ex_engineers208]

It's not about leavin'. It's never about leavin', it's...

[ if he could articulate it, he'd probably say that it's about giving up, or something. but he just trails off.

and slumps, further in the chair. ]

I don't want t'care about this anymore, but I don't got a choice.

[ioudas]

They care about you, Madison. Your life is, as it will be, regardless of my involvement. I did what you wanted, right? I stayed away from her and from you.

(his hand lingers on the door handle:)

I told you that I wouldn't call her, or you, and frankly I just want to be left alone. (he shrugs:) Matters of the heart are the most dangerous things.

[ex_engineers208]

Alright, alright. Whatever.

[ maybe if he was in a better condition, that would mean something to him. it would probably ache more.

a haphazard wave. ]

Get out a' your apartment.

[ioudas]

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Don't shatter Timcampy, he's the only good thing that's ever come outta me.

(shit, lenalee right. he rushes over the counter to write her a note that he's going to be out for a night and that food's in the fridge.)

Also, should Lenalee come back, tell her I'm at the new place.

(which was sadly true as cross just pulled open the door and slammed it behind him, leaving madison in his apartment until danger came and retrieved him.)