xp_logs | Angelo and Shinobi

Back in the woods, Shinobi hunts Angelo down to discuss what he thinks he figured out yesterday.

Who knew hiding in the basement for a day could be so helpful? Of course, the early Christmas present from Nathan had helped, too. In any event, Shinobi felt like he had his bearings back after the chaos of the last two days, and decided to seek Angelo out again. Not in his room, again.. so he wastes little time in making his way back towards the woods, towards the clearing from the day before, hands once again shoved into his pockets. The wind shifts, and he catches the faint smell of cigarette smoke, sighing to himself as he continues on his set course.

Angelo is, indeed, there again, sitting alone on the tree stump that he seems to have adopted. He glances up as he hears Shinobi enter the clearing, and nods a greeting, drawing on his current cigarette.

"Cheers," Shinobi offers, not stopping until he's once again standing nearby the tree stump and the boy sitting on it. This time, however, he doesn't sit down. "Sorry I didn't come find you yesterday. Got a spot distracted."

Angelo nods. "Yeah, so I saw on the journals. 's okay."

Shinobi nods slightly, pursing his lips in thought for a moment before gesturing down at Angelo's arm. "We going to do the whole song and dance routine, here, or do we want to save ourselves some time and cut to the chase?"

Angelo blinks, and decides to try and bluff it out, though he knows it's not likely to work. "Don't know what you're talkin' about, man. I told you the other day, it was cold."

"Bullshit," Shinobi states bluntly, folding his arms across his chest. He seems perfectly content to wait it out.

Angelo's eyes flash with anger, just for a moment, then he sighs. "It's nothin'. I was just havin' a bad day." He stops before admitting what he's actually done.

Shinobi simply arches an eyebrow, peering down at Angelo expectantly. He's at least charitable enough to refrain from tapping a foot, however, though he does shift his weight from one foot to the other slightly.

Angelo sighs again, realising Shinobi isn't going to drop the subject until he knows the whole truth. Reluctantly, he raises his left arm and pushes the sleeve out of the way.

It's probably fortunate that his eyebrow was already arched, or Shinobi wouldn't have been able to hide his surprise. He eyes the small collection of cigarette burns on the boy's arm - some appearing rather fresh, he notes absently - and purses his lips in thought. Finally, he holds out a hand, his voice hovering in an odd place between stern and amused. "C'mere."

Angelo doesn't move, looking up at him suspiciously. "Where?"

"I'm going to throw you over my shoulder and take you to get those looked at," Shinobi replies, hand remaining outstretched. "Give me your wrist so I can have some leverage."

Angelo shakes his head, eyes down, lowering his arm and letting his sleeve fall back to his wrist. "I'll deal with them. Always managed before."

"Don't make me cry 'bullshit' again, Angelo," Shinobi warns gently, flexing his fingers to try and draw the boy's attention to them again. "Come on."

Angelo looks, for a moment, as if he's about to bolt deeper into the woods, then sighs and stands up quietly.

Shinobi nods his approval, reaching for Angelo's hand with a slight grin. "Do I actually need to carry you, or do you think we can pretend to be civilized people and walk down together?"

Angelo pulls a face at him, grinding his cigarette out on a nearby rock. "You are not carryin' me."

"I've carried Shiro," Shinobi observes, grinning impishly and waiting patiently for Angelo to be ready to talk. "But okay, then. Your own two feet it is."

"Yes, but Shiro'd been really hurt", Angelo retorts. "I can walk."

"Fair enough." With a slight bow of his head, Shinobi waved towards the house with his free hand. "Shall we?"

Angelo holds back slightly. "Don't tell anyone 'cept the doctors", he blurts out suddenly. "Marie, if you have to. No one else."

Shinobi doesn't seem too surprised by the request, smiling and giving Angelo's hand a squeeze. "My lips are sealed, Ange, I promise. Talk to Samson 'bout it?"

Angelo nods reluctantly. "I'll try."

"Him or Marie," Shinobi amends after a moment's thought. "So long as you aren't bottling everything up and hurting yourself. I do worry, you know."

Angelo nods. "I know. Marie, you can tell, if you want. In case I... don't."

"I'll give you a chance to first," Shinobi smiles. "But if she doesn't say something to me about it by, let's say.. Monday, I'll tell her for you. Fair?"

Another nod. "Fair." He hesitates, then adds, "Thanks."

Shinobi grins, reaching over to clap Angelo on the shoulder. "No problem. Now c'mon. Bartlet'll have my head if we go in with frostbite on top of those things."

Angelo chuckles, and starts to walk again. "Okay, okay, I'm comin'."