:: 036 Shadow Clones :: Video

[thelonegenin]

[When the PCD turns on, the first thing in sight is Naruto - It's clear he's distressed, wide, expressive eyes stare, and his mouth works for a moment, fingers mashing on buttons on the device itself.]

It-- There's no... No. Don't say-- user offline.[Being knocked out by Hitsugaya before his attempt to rally troops against Madara left him with a

Comments

[offline]

[kyasdaughter]

[Coordinates. Katara won't bother answering on video -- she'll just show up about half an hour later with a basket of snacks.

She doesn't knock, instead just slipping inside.]

Naruto?

[offline]

[thelonegenin]

[By the time she gets there, he's flush against the wall, one fist pressed up against the damaged brick whilst the other provides a resting place for his forehead.

The sudden call of his name is enough to make him jump, looking over at her and frowning instantly.]

What?

[offline]

[kyasdaughter]

I brought food.

[Her voice is soft, almost coaxing.]

Have you eaten today?

[offline]

[thelonegenin]

[It's a really simple word, but instantly he frowns - in thought rather than because he's pissed off, leaning back off the wall, only enough to look at her better.]

-- I'm not hungry.

[Video]

[angle_on_it]

[Sokka debates visiting the coordinates, but instead leaves a message for when Naruto decides to pick up his PCD again. It's not a stretch to guess what's happened, so he'll give his friend some time to cope before demanding a reply.] Hey, if you want to meet up and talk or whatever, let me know.

[Video]

[thelonegenin]

[It is much later when he picks up the message, it's clear he's still upset-- but he still switches the PCD on to talk to Sokka, not really looking at the screen.]

Hi.

[Video]

[angle_on_it]

Hey. You okay, man? [A wince. Of course he's not okay. Stupid question, Sokka, but you can't take it back now.] You wanna come over?

[Video]

[thelonegenin]

[He's still not looking.]

I guess--

[hyuugahime]

N-Naruto-kun!

[She's already on her way, running as fast as she can.]

[Offline]

[thelonegenin]

[He doesn't bother going to look at his PCD, he won't for some time-- Luckily for you, the door's unlocked.]

[Offline]

[hyuugahime]

[And she'll rush in, and without thinking, because if she stops to think she might just stop and she cannot afford to stop, she'll find him and hug him as hard as she can.]

[Offline]

[thelonegenin]

[Naruto really wasn't expecting to see anyone-- but his shoulders were beginning to shake with the effort of keeping a lid on his emotions.

It's funny, how being hugged can help-- it's a surprise to see her, but there are arms around him, and he can't help but reach up to touch one of them.]

... 'nata?

[voice]

[coraltaijiya]

[While any other time she would come to the house, right now, one of the people she cares about most is dead and she will be damned if she is leaving the clinic for anything but the most dire emergency.]

...I'm sorry, Naruto.

[And she means it--even if she sounds completely exhausted, because she is.]

[voice]

[thelonegenin]

[It's a lot later when he's a little more calm that he looks at the PCD, taking a deep breath and nodding. He only glances at the screen before looking away.]

She--

[Would be dead.]

[voice]

[coraltaijiya]

[And she's still at the clinic.]

...you don't have to talk about if you don't want to. But if you do... I'm listening.

[voice]

[thelonegenin]

I wanna go home.

[buntails]

Naruto! Stop! You'll hurt yourself! [She hears you. But this won't help. She knows.]

[thelonegenin]

[There's a voice from behind him-- but he doesn't really hear it, yelling again before smacking his head against the wall.]

I don't care.

[buntails]

Look, I'll come over. We'll help each other get through it.

[thelonegenin]

Don't bother.