<Axel_Wildfire>    Tuesday Night, some... unexplained dive down towards the warehouse district.
<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko has installed herself at the corner of the bar and is trying and failing to get herself horrendously drunk on vodka, having sat down all of ten minutes ago and already being a third of a way through a bottle.

<AdventFalls>    Becca was sitting a seat away, staring at the bar.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Tch. Fucking slutbat." Kenoko mutters under her breath; it's more to herself, but Becca can hear it just fine. "Must've been a small memory for her or something, she should fucking know better..."
<Axel_Wildfire>    It might just be the fact that she stormed in like she owned the place or maybe just the foultempered aura she's giving off, but all of the toughguys are giving her and Becca at least three metres of space at all times.

<AdventFalls>    For her part, Becca was wringing her gloved hands nervously- too scared to say anything. For now, fear was keeping her temper in check.

<Axel_Wildfire>    She glances sideways at Becca. "What's with you?"

<AdventFalls>    "I've never seen you that angry...."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Hmph. You also haven't seen a comrade turn into a monster before, I'm guessing."

<AdventFalls>    She paused for a moment. "...Saw one go Orph back in Rio. But that was only because his belt actually stopped working."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Yeah, that's not the same as having your friends and lovers vamp out and start taking chunks out of you." Kenoko's words come out particularly vicious and she follows the sentence with a deep gulp of the foul liquid.

<AdventFalls>    Becca flinched at the tone of Kenoko's words. "S-Sorry...."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Tch." the bottle hits countertop with a *clunk*. "Why are *you* sorry?"

<AdventFalls>    Another flinch. "I-I don't know....."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Then don't apologise unless you mean it, jeez."

<AdventFalls>    She went back to handwringing.

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko stops her almost-violent drinking, arching an eyebrow at Rebecca. "What?"

<AdventFalls>    "Y-You shouldn't do this."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Do what?"

<AdventFalls>    "Keep fixating on what happened."

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko barks a laugh and then her voice drops to freezing levels. "You remember what I told you the other night."

<AdventFalls>    "...Yeah...."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "You didn't hear the best part. See, after I was done dealing with our fucktarded Kuuga, Tomoe's inner monster decided to present and it broke free." she toys with her bottle. "So I, with every bone in my right arm broken up to the shoulder - defending myself against our Kuuga, you understand - chase her, with her as Accel's bike form, across town. And then I had to fight her. Well, 'we' had to fight her. 'I' couldn't hold her with just one arm and got put out of the fight in a single strike because I was running with one of my goddamn arms broken... and then I had to watch as Ham - Yukari and Haruka and that dumb bitch from the Museum got awarded what amounted to fucking medals for *hacking off my love's arm*."

<AdventFalls>    Becca winced again.

<Axel_Wildfire>    By this stage the words are pure, cold venom. "And yet still you wonder why."

<AdventFalls>    "I-It can't be healthy," she whimpered.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "My health isn't something I have to worry about." Kenoko returns cynically. "Remember, mostly mechanical."

<AdventFalls>    "I meant your mental health."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Hmph, like anyone cares about that. You know for sure all Haruka cares about is that I can fight."

<AdventFalls>    "....Don't I count?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "..." she sobers. "Sorry."

<AdventFalls>    Back to handwringing, now biting her tongue as well.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... stop that."

<AdventFalls>    The handwringing finally stopped.

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko slouches against the bar moodily. "I'm not used to people caring for me unless they want me to fight. Chiyoko, Tomoe, Haruka..."

<AdventFalls>    "You.... you should stop thinking about it so much."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Even if you say that, it's not an easy thing to do."

<AdventFalls>    "But it's something worth working for."

<Axel_Wildfire>    She swears moodily under her breath; the word isn't Japanese or English. "- everyone I fought with in the past... either they betrayed me or I betrayed them. Mostly the latter."

<AdventFalls>    "Why?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Why? Why do you think I don't transform?"

<AdventFalls>    "I actually don't know."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Why? Because when I do, *I try to kill everyone*." the belt is actually still hanging from Kenoko's waist, brought out as though begging to be used as a channel for her anger, and she smacks her fist against it with a *clang*.

<AdventFalls>    "Why do you try to kill everyone? I don't think you have Shin...."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Because, you see, my Showaborg conversion was done at the behest of Tsukiyama *fucking* Tomoe."

<AdventFalls>    "...." Rebecca blinked. "THat's not something you get unless.... something was already wrong....."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Yeah, sure, nerve degradation. Turns out I was fighting so hard that I was worsening my already-weakened body and so it started degrading." Kenoko laughs mirthlessly. "So I guess THI figured that while they were about it they may as well turn me into their indoctrinated shock trooper. Did I mention it worked, and Haruka - who I'd spoken to *once* - was the only one who gave enough of a damn about me to try and snap me out of it instead of just killing me?" Her voice drops back to 'arctic'. "I had my throat cut and all my friends abandoned me."

<AdventFalls>    Becca stared at the bar. "..." Then she hugged the woman.

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko had been in the middle of another vicious swig, but she stops as she's hugged, quieting down. "... stop it. I must be freezing."

<AdventFalls>    "...Are not."

<Axel_Wildfire>    She snorts. "I'm mostly made of metal and I don't generate any real amount of heat."

<AdventFalls>    "Don't care."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... so why are you suddenly glued to me?"

<AdventFalls>    "Because I don't wanna abandon you."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... idiot." Kenoko returns the hug onehanded, sighing.

<AdventFalls>    Becca merely continued t he hug.

<Axel_Wildfire>    There's some minor jeering and ill-mannered comments from the rest of the bar, and Kenoko tips her head back. "Say, Becca, ever been in a barfight?"

<AdventFalls>    "...No...."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Well -" she tips her head back and chugs down the rest of the bottle, slamming it back down hard enough the the glass fractures. "- I'd say you're about to be."

<AdventFalls>    "Why?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Well, it *seems*," her voice is raising, "that these wannabe hard men are starting to get irritated by the girls in their bar."

<AdventFalls>    "But we're not doing anything."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Ahh but we're hugging, you see." The raised, condescending tone of her voice is drawing more mutters, these ones somewhat darker.

<AdventFalls>    "What's wrong with a hug?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Well see here's the thing, a lot of people just aren't fans of same-sex relationships." Kenoko draws herself up, stretching slowly; she goes *clunk* in places she shouldn't.

<AdventFalls>    Becca blinked. "I thought this was considered okay for about a century now."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Pfffahahahaha~" it's just not Kenoko that starts laughing; the entire bar breaks up, and Kenoko ends up leaning over the bar, clinging to it for support.

<AdventFalls>    "....Then fuck 'em."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Ahhh dear." she stands upright, slowly cracking her knuckles. "I believe that's the idea."

<AdventFalls>    Becca finally let go, and cricked her neck.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "So then..." Kenoko grins and turns her back to the bar. "Who's first!?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    ---

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... sorry to make you bail us out, Haruka." Kenoko does not look sorry *at all*.

<AdventFalls>    Becca's hand was bandaged slightly, but otherwise.... "They triggered my temper, ma'am. I think you're aware of how badly that can go."

<Haruka_Emmerich>    "You better be, Ni'Chulainn. Do you know you just broke a clean string of six years without JUNKER personnel getting on the wrong side of the vanilla law?" Haruka's skin is tensed up, patches of stained glass making themselves known wherever possible. "And getting Hill in on your shenanigans, while you're at it!"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Yes ma'am." still not a hint of 'sorry' on her face, in spite of the multitude of cuts and bruises.

<AdventFalls>    "Ma'am, I got in there more or less the moment 'dyke' started getting thrown around."
<AdventFalls>    "When I get pissed off... well, you saw what happened to that guy's jaw. That was me."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "That was a good punch." Kenoko pats Rebecca's back cheerfully.

<Haruka_Emmerich>    "...and what have we learned today, ladies?"

<AdventFalls>    "That guys covered in tatoos are homophobic?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "That you shouldn't punch people in the jaw, jawbones being more likely to break fingers than the other way around." she points to Rebecca's bandaged hand.

<Haruka_Emmerich>    "Actually, yes, both of you." A faint grin as Haruka's breakout of glass relaxes. "If you're gonna sod off AWOL and drown your sorrows, don't do it in some macho joint. There's all kinds of female-friendly bars around here, and the Mist and 365 besides. Of course, I can't exactly leave you two unpunished on my watch."

<Axel_Wildfire>    Almost imperceptibly, Kenoko lets out a breath of relief.

<AdventFalls>    "..." Rebecca looked a bit confused.

<Haruka_Emmerich>    "As both of you know, this entire incident was precipitated by a certain automobile whose operation and operaTOR you have issues with. Issues that must be dealt with promptly before we can be assuaged of our fears regarding Baraen Akebara."
<Haruka_Emmerich>    "There will be a hearing for all four of you taking place as soon as Ake gets out of sickbay. Obviously, due to your disobedience of my orders earlier, I am making your continued employment with JUNKER contingent on attendance. Kenoko, since you're a total bitch and it works out both ways for you, I'm making your punishment for non-attendance a one-way trip to THI Osaka instead."

<AdventFalls>    "...Yes ma'am."

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko is silent; all traces of good humour are gone and her jaw sets. Rebecca, beside her, can feel her entire body grow cold.

<Haruka_Emmerich>    "...I believe we've reached an understanding, then." The white-haired woman exhales. "Go home and sleep off your stupid. Tomorrow's a whole new day and I want you making the most of it."

<Axel_Wildfire>    Again, Kenoko is completely silent, actually motionless.

<AdventFalls>    Becca nodded.

<Haruka_Emmerich>    "OK, you two..." She waved for the pair to exit the police station with her. "I hear it's a chilly night. Be best if you found someplace warm to settle in quick."

<AdventFalls>    The woman shivered. "Yes ma'am."

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko seems to click back to reality and just nods, doing as told, but noticeably almost seeming to keep Becca between herself and Haruka.

<Haruka_Emmerich>    A press of a keychain, and Haruka's Beemer chirps its unlocked-ness. "If the two of you need a ride home, I can handle it. Don't worry, my car doesn't bite."

<AdventFalls>    Becca visibly shuddered for a moment, her gloved hands clearly visible.

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko flinches. "Pass." she says firmly, her voice rising in a slight shrill.

<Haruka_Emmerich>    "Suit yourselves...and consider yourselves boned if I hear of anything else going on between now and your next patrol." Haruka gets in, cranks the ignition, and heads off for parts unknown.

<Axel_Wildfire>    With her gone, Kenoko's knees give way and she collapses, hugging herself tightly and shivering like she's going to shake herself apart.

<AdventFalls>    Becca kneeled down and hugged Kenoko. "...You're not going anywhere."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "R-Right." the shaking doesn't stop.

<AdventFalls>    "C'mon," Becca squeezed. "We can't stay here."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... right. Yeah, I know." Kenoko grits her teeth and tries to stand, barely getting halfway through her motion before the shakes get the better of her again. "Damnit!"

<AdventFalls>    Becca slowly tried to get Kenoko on her feet. "C'mon. It's not that far of a walk. I promise."

<Axel_Wildfire>    She clings to Becca like she think she'll sink without her, and manages to stand; her shivers are so pronounced that her teeth chatter.

<AdventFalls>    After ten or so minutes, the two arrived in the elevator in Becca's apartment complex. "I want you to take a nice, hot shower, and then you'll take my bed."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "K-Kay." Kenoko has been almost uncomfortably close to Becca the entire trip, her terrified shivering sufficient to make the other shake in sympathetic vibration.

<AdventFalls>    Becca was blushing as she led the two to the apartment.... then to the bathroom. "I'm gonna turn around, and you're gonna undress and shower, okay?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Right." She doesn't let Becca go. "... damnit."

<AdventFalls>    "What?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "I can't."

<AdventFalls>    "You can't what?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko grits her teeth. "Let go." her fingers have seized in Becca's shirt.

<AdventFalls>    "...Then we're both going into the shower. Are you okay with that?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    She nods, trying and failing to steady her breathing from scared gasps for air into an actual rhythm. "Y-yeah. Sorry."

<AdventFalls>    "It's okay, it's just.... we'll worry about drying off when we get out." The shower went on, became fairly hot, and they both stepped in.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Right." The warmth seems to help; in a few minutes Kenoko is able to let Becca go - but she promptly wraps the woman in an almost literally crushing hug. "D-don't let her..."

<AdventFalls>    "Don't let her what?"
<AdventFalls>    Becca didn't let her face show how crushing the hug was.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Send me there..." the words are whispered into Becca's ear and she can tell that Kenoko is so terrified that she's crying.

<AdventFalls>    "Never," Becca nodded. "You feeling any better?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    Kenoko relaxes a little, but it's not by much. "I... it helps..."

<AdventFalls>    "Okay. In a couple of minutes, we're gonna get out of the shower. I'll dry off outside the bathroom, you dry inside, and I'll take our clothes to the dryer while you go into my bed. Okay?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    The grip tightens again. "Can we just..."

<AdventFalls>    "Just what?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Just stay." she mumbles, burying her face in Becca's shoulder like she's trying to hide from something.

<AdventFalls>    "...You realize I'll see you naked before I earned the right...."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Don't care." Another quiet, meek mumble. "Just don't go away."

<AdventFalls>    The shower cut off, and the two stepped out. "...I'm gonna need you to strip."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... alright." Kenoko does so without complaint; her shivers have been dulled at least, but they're still there occasionally.

<AdventFalls>    Rebecca stared at the ceiling as she did the same and offered Kenoko a towel, taking the other for herself.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... you can look if you want." she mutters, drying herself off with motions that seem robotic, forced.

<AdventFalls>    "I.... I want to, but... I didn't earn the right." Becca began drying off herself.

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... guess so." Kenoko finishes and looks at a loose end, her gaze somewhere in the middle distance.

<AdventFalls>    Becca finally dried off and hung the towels up. "We'll have to share the bed," she nodded. "Can you at least try to sleep?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "I can..." she rubs at a cut on her cheek, looking vaguely blank.

<AdventFalls>    As Becca led Kenoko there, she had to ask. "Please tell me you're going to be okay." She looked at Kenoko's face. "You look shellshocked."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "I just... I don't know." Kenoko murmurs. "I don't know."

<AdventFalls>    They were at the bed, Rebecca gesturing to the covers. "What do you mean?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... I don't know." she repeats numbly, almost automatically climbing into the bed and curling up.

<AdventFalls>    Rebecca climbed in next, making sure all of the blankets were on before holding Kenoko close. "I'm not letting you go."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Good." Kenoko snuggles into Rebecca as much as she can and is quickly asleep, almost freakishly so, but it's not a peaceful one - she shifts, almost writhes in her sleep, letting out wracking sobs or terrified little squeaks every few minutes.

<AdventFalls>    For Rebecca's part, she kissed Kenoko on the cheek and began falling asleep, holding Kenoko to her as closely as she could.

<AdventFalls>    ----------

<AdventFalls>    When Becca woke up, she could see Kenoko still having nightmares.
<AdventFalls>    [What do I do?]
<AdventFalls>    After a few moments, she tried kissing the woman.

<Axel_Wildfire>    This is sufficient to quieten her down for a moment - at least she holds *still* now. Her hair is matted and she's in a cold sweat; Kenoko actually seems *worse* than when she was 'sick'.

<AdventFalls>    Becca began to kiss her again. "Kenoko? Please, tell me you're okay...."

<Axel_Wildfire>    Another sob, softer this time, as she stirrs and starts to wake - then clings to Becca tightly. "Y-you didn't go."

<AdventFalls>    "I promised I wouldn't."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Promising isn't the same as doing." Kenoko mutters, sobbing softly into the other woman.

<AdventFalls>    Becca held Kenoko close. "I'm here. And I'll stay as long as you need."

<Axel_Wildfire>    The sobbing quietens and then dies off completely. "... can't be too long. If she's really Yuriko's kid she'll heal quickly."

<AdventFalls>    "We'll suck it up," Becca shivered. "Because you're not leaving me."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Trying." Kenoko mutters back.

<AdventFalls>    "Just stay in the bed with me, and I'll hold you as long as I can."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "... and what happens when we turn up late?" she starts shivering again.

<AdventFalls>    "Already checked the schedule. Squad's on leave today- PT, training, that kind of thing."
<AdventFalls>    "You don't have to go anywhere today."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "*Hello*. Remember what Haruka said?"

<AdventFalls>    "It'll take her at least a day, Kenoko. And if I get flak for it.... then to hell with it. I'll take the heat."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "You think that'll help? That's a first offence for you." the shivering is increasing.

<AdventFalls>    "They always talk about being there for the team. You're part of my team, Kenoko. That means I'm not leaving you behind."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Or maybe Haruka's decided to cut her losses." Kenoko mutters grimly.

<AdventFalls>    Rebecca kissed Kenoko. "They're not gonna cut you. Not while I'm around."

<Axel_Wildfire>    "Yeah, but..." she stops and shuts her eyes, squirming slightly. "... sorry, just... I heard that before I.. was..." Kenoko's shivers intensify a hundredfold.

<AdventFalls>    "I stayed here last night, I haven't sneaked a peek, and I really, really like you. What does that tell you?"

<Axel_Wildfire>    "I know. I should trust you more." She takes a deep breath and seems to get herself under control. "I just... can't take any chances. I just.. I guess Haruka found her threat to keep me in line." Kenoko shudders again. "And it works."