pirate keys

[woodfortono]

[so, knocking on the door to the pirates' cabin, then]

Comments

[noteasybeinggreen]

[opening the door]

[shocked stare at you]

[...okay, you look relatively whole]

[I'm gonna drag you into a hugely relieved/apologetic hug because I'm sure you got hurt and I don't know how bad it was]

[woodfortono]

[just... lets you, keeping quiet as you hug him, his body still against yours. but he doesn't push you away]

...I need to talk to you. [quietly, once you let him go]

[noteasybeinggreen]

[hauling you inside gently, babbling]

Are you all right? I'm so sorry. Basco shot me and I didn't stop him, I don't think I even slowed him down. How are the others?

[woodfortono]

We're recovering. [sounding exhausted] Takeru got run through and nearly died, but he was healed in time. Basco broke both my hands. [shrugs a little] Everybody's still around, and it's not your fault if you tried.

But I need to talk to you.

[noteasybeinggreen]

[ushering you over to a seat, finding you water]

Ahh, that's awful. That's awful.

What about?

[woodfortono]

...when Joe killed me. [looks up at you, his eyes intent] Did I tell you he used all the Shinkenger keys?

[noteasybeinggreen]

[water on the table in front of you]

[strength goes out of my legs suddenly and I sit beside you]

When he what?

[woodfortono]

I mean--way back. When he killed you, too, it was the Camp thing, not him on purpose. But he used the Shinkenger keys deliberately. I know it wasn't really him, but still. He went through all of them, all of my teammates, and finally killed me with Takeru's key. It was my worst nightmare, for a while, to have to fight any of them. ...and then I had to, because Basco got the keys and made me.

[noteasybeinggreen]

Oh. Oh. I thought for a moment he'd done it again-

[shaking my head, listening]

Chiaki.

[woodfortono]

[shakes his head]

I can't... let this happen again. Don, I need the keys.

[noteasybeinggreen]

[looking at you for a long moment]

Marvelous will kill me.

[said as I get up and move over to the chest]

[woodfortono]

I don't--I'm not trying to get you in trouble. And if you guys really need them for something, we can give them back to you, but shit like this happens when they're just lying around. I can't--

[his voice cracks a little and he rubs his face]

I don't want to have to kill my friends again.

[noteasybeinggreen]

You'll give them back if we need them? That's all I wanted to hear, really.

[crouching in front of you, holding them all out, with a pained smile]

Chiaki. I want you to have them. I don't want you to go through that again. I would've given them to you even if you hadn't said you'd give them back.

[woodfortono]

[he takes them and pushes them into a pocket before he tugs you up and wraps his arms around you hard, taking a shaky breath]

Thanks. ...did Basco get you too? Are you okay?

[noteasybeinggreen]

[I hate that you sound like this]

[hugging back gently]

Oh, uh, yeah. Shot me. I should've tried to get him again but he said he'd go for a head shot next, and I... didn't. I'm sorry.

But I'm all right. I got healed.

[woodfortono]

Don--I'm not mad that you didn't get killed. You don't have to apologize, god. M'glad you're okay.

[noteasybeinggreen]

[shuddery breath, I've been worried as anything about you but not quite up to walking distances yet]

I wouldn't mind if you were. After everything that happened to you all... because we didn't keep a hold of the keys...

But thanks, Chiaki. Really.

[woodfortono]

Basco might have just come after us anyway. Just--it makes it worse.

Was anybody else here hurt?

[noteasybeinggreen]

[nodding uncomfortably]

...Gai. Marvelous.

I don't know what happened to Joe, exactly.

[woodfortono]

I don't care what happened to Joe. [his voice sharp before he clenches his jaw and lets out a breath, looking away]

Last I heard, Joe was perfectly fine. ...I'm sorry other people got hurt.

[noteasybeinggreen]

[eyebrows flying up]

...what happened?

[woodfortono]

Basco called him in the middle of our fight, while he was beating the crap out of Takeru, to ask Joe for permission to attack me too. [shrugs] As far as I can tell, he gave it. And he knew we were being attacked, and Takeru nearly died, and he didn't bother to come help.

So, my bet is that he's fine. [his voice shaking with anger] It's not like he risked his neck.

[noteasybeinggreen]

...

[staring at you in horror]

[woodfortono]

I don't... really want to talk about it. [just sounding tired now] I should get back. Takeru still can't move all that much.

[noteasybeinggreen]

O-Of course.

[gulp] That doesn't sound like Joe. I'll talk to him. I'll get to the bottom of it.

[whisking into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a covered basket full of food] It's not much, but please take this.

[woodfortono]

...thanks. [takes it, then looks up at you]

It's not your fault. Okay?

[noteasybeinggreen]

[looking away, swallowing]

...yeah.

[and I know that, mostly, but it was still our team that got your team beaten up]

[woodfortono]

Blame Basco if you're going to blame anybody. I mean it.

[his hands tightening a little on the basket]

...thanks for the food. [and the keys]

[noteasybeinggreen]

[little sad sigh] Okay. I will.

[turning, squeezing your shoulder gently]

Tell me. Call me. Whatever. Any time you need anything. Do you know how to call my Mobirates from your Shodouphone? I have the code here somewhere.

[woodfortono]

I know how to call. And I will.

[noteasybeinggreen]

Good. Greens have to stick together.

[little nod, waving goodbye to you, planning how I'll find everyone and confess]