Shinobi and Alex

[x-shinobi.livejournal.com]

Late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, Alex is having trouble sleeping, and goes to the rec room to watch TV without risking waking up his suitemates. Shinobi's there already, watching a movie. They talk about American censors butchering perfectly good cinema, the evils of Teddy Ruxpin, and eventually touch upon the fight with Lorna.



Tired and bleary eyed, Alex somehow made his way into the rec room. It was the middle of the night and surprise surprise, Alex couldn't sleep. If he slept, he'd have nightmares and the nightmares would not only scare the shit out of him like they always did but now they would also remind him how he was painfully single. Alex hadn't wanted to disturb anyone by watching TV in the suite, so he'd made his way here instead, What he hadn't expected was company.

But, there it was, all the same. "Hi," Shinobi offered from his spot on the couch, lifting a hand to wave lazily, the other holding the remote for the TV. He was in the rec room for much the same reason.. well, except for the nightmares. Those, he was quite happy to be without. "Can't sleep?"

Yawning, Alex shook his head and plopped down on a nearby couch. "Yeah...can't seem to get to sleep..." Or let myself really... He nodded to the TV. "Anything on?"

"Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," Shinobi nodded, waving vaguely at the commercial currently on the screen. "It's Comedy Central, so it's been terribly butchered.. but it's the only thing on. That I can find, anyway." He offered the remote, with a questioning tilt of his head.

Alex made a face when Shinobi mentioned what was on. "I don't undertsand how they can butcher a perfectly good movie..." He waved off the remote. "If that's the best thing you could find, then I really don't want to see what else is on..."

"American censors are mad," Shinobi replied with a helpless shrug, setting the remote down on a free cushion. "A little language never killed anybody, honestly."

"No kidding, it's not like it isn't already obviuos that the entire culture is obcessed with swear words and sex..." he winced at that word but continued as if nothing was wrong. "Why not just put it on TV without the censors?"

"Should let you see British TV sometime," Shinobi mused, slowly shaking his head. "I'm not entirely sure what the censors are thinking, truly.. though a trend did seem to start of letting television and electronic toys raise the children back in the 80s. Bloody Teddy Ruxpin."

Alex made a face. "I remember that thing. They had one at the orphange before I was adopted. Scared the living shit out of me. I think I was more glad to get away from that thing then I was to be adopted."

Shinobi made a face. "Can't blame you. Those things are disturbing." He glanced at the TV, but amazingly, Eliza Dushku in a leather catsuit was apparently not enough to keep his attention, and it returned to Alex soon enough. "One thing my father did right, I suppose. Never gave me a Teddy Ruxpin."

"And be glad too." Alex had glanced at the TV the same time as Shinobi and the beautiful woman made him think of Lorna and his face fell for a moment before he caught himself and looked away. "So, any reason your up surfing for bad television?"

"Head won't shut up and let me sleep," Shinobi replied with a wry smile, lightly tapping himself on the temple. He'd caught the glance and change in expression, but didn't want to press it. ..well. Maybe not much. "You? Or is it just good old fashioned insomnia?"

Alex rolled his eyes, There really was no point in hiding it, the whole mansion must know by now...about parts of it anyway. "I wish...I can't stop thinking about the fight. Doesn't make for much sleep"

"Fights rarely do," Shinobi agreed, a vague shadow of confusion crossing his face before he shook it off. If it was something really important, he'd know about it, surely, even as busy as he'd been. "Anything I can do?"

"I doubt it." Alex shrugged. "I don't think there's much anyone can do..." Then he remembered that Shinobi had been there when he'd been rescued from Her. Could Alex possibly...he shook his head. Look at the reaction he'd gotten from Lorna. "Lorna and I just need some space from each other...at least i hope that will be enough."

Ah. A spat. "Depends on what happened, probably," Shinobi said after a moment, propping his chin up in a hand as he regarded Alex. "You two've always struck me as being too crazy about each other to not be able to work things out, though."

"What happened is the problem...it's happened to many times..." He bit his lip lower lip and fiddled with a small hole in the couch cushion.

Shinobi frowned slightly, brow knitting together in concern. "...have you spoken to Samson, Alex?" he asked after a moment, tilting his head slightly. "Or Scott?"

Alex looked up suddenly at the very thought of telling his brother what had happened. "I...No I haven't. I...I was afraid to tell Lorna and looked what happened when I did! I can't...I can't tell Scott." He blushed uncontrollably, imagining the horrible reaction he was sure he would get from Scott, and Alex just couldn't bear it, even in his imagination.

Shinobi nodded slowly, eyeing the blond for a moment before he shrugged a shoulder. "I'm a hard bloke to freak out, if you need anything," he offered, with as reassuring a smile as he could manage through his growing concern. "And if you need me to keep mum about it, I can. I promise."

Alex bit the inside of his lip, looking at Shinobi. His father was the Black King...She was the Black Queen. If anybody could possibly understand...maybe it was Shinobi. "I...don't be surprised if i take you up on that...but not right now. One fight on the subject is enough for me right now." He bit his lip again before adding. "Though I'll admit to you right now...it's about Her, so feel free to back out now if ya want."

For a moment, he looked puzzled - but then Shinobi remembered who he was talking to, and recognition dawned. "Whenever you want an ear," he said seriously, shaking his head. "I don't care if I'm asleep, you come bludgeon me with a pillow 'til I'm awake. Seriously."

For some reason, that reaction put Alex oddly at ease. He nodded. "Thanks...I will, just, yeah, fight with Lorna still too fresh, so the subject is a bit more sensitve then usual." He sighed and laid back against the back of the couch. "Not that it isn't sensitive usually..." He added sarcastically. Then Alex smiled at Shinobi. "Thanks though...thanks alot."

"Anytime," Shinobi nodded, smiling tiredly as he followed Alex's lead and slouched back against the cushions. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be around. If you haven't taken it to Samson, though, consider it? He hasn't balked at anything I've thrown at him - I've tried to shock him, and the bastard's just too damn calm."

"Samson personally scares me. If you don't mind...I'd rather talk to you, someone I know. Your right, he is too damn calm and I think that's what freaks me out." Of course the thought did make Alex smile. "Of course, I guess you would have to be to deal with the people who live in this place."

"Fair enough," Shinobi nodded, flashing a tired grin. "I know what you mean. Whenever you need it, then, door's always open."

"Thanks" Alex managed to say through a yawn. "I think i might be tired enough now to fall asleep without dreaming tonight. I'm off to bed." He nodded to the TV before standing up. "Good luck finding something worth your while."

Shinobi chuckled, nodding and lifting a hand to wave. "I'll probably be unconscious on the couch before the commercial's over, but thanks. Good luck getting some quiet sleep, Alex. If you have trouble, I could always give a lecture on Shakespeare.. guaranteed to have you out like a light in ten minutes or less."

Alex laughed a bit, a motion that felt really good for some reason. "Thanks but I think I'll manage, Shiro might worry if he wakes up to find me gone, considering me a my track record. G'night." He waves before stuffing his hands in the pockets of his sweat shirt, feeling oddly revealed.