thebastion | [day 187] she calls out to the man on the street, "sir, can you help me?" (closed)

Who: Hilda, Yukio, Rin (N, AZ, Anna, and Colin later)
Open: Closed
When: Day 187
Where: The Hospital
What: Goddammit, Hilda.
Format: action brackets!
Warnings: A very injured teenager and probably a lot of yelling at her when she's awake.

[ After all of the drama of the previous night, Hilda had learned of what had happened that day before she and N talked, and found out that his castle had appeared on the Skyway. Not just another part of Unova, but a part of Unova that held a lot of memories for N. Memories that ... she knew damn well weren't all good.

She still hurt from their conversation, but she understood now why he was acting the way he was. She still had no idea what to do to fix it, so she focused instead on something she knew she could do: She wanted to see the castle for herself. She had to. It was a something she didn't feel she'd have closure on unless she saw it.

She didn't tell anyone where she was going. She slipped out with Emboar early in the morning after feeding the Pokemon, headed to the Skyway so that the two of them could make their way to the Castle themselves.

Getting there wasn't the problem. It took a while of searching, but they did eventually arrive at the Castle just fine. Hilda had stopped, gazing wide-eyed upon the crumbled remains of a once proud-standing castle. She could hardly will herself to move any more than that ...

... And that was her mistake. Something had begun to move into the castle, and it wasn't happy with the trespassers.

Hilda didn't know what had happened. All she knew in that next moment was pain. Emboar cried out for his trainer as she fell, now bleeding from her head and scraped up and bleeding more on one side from falling and sliding from that attack. The blow to her head made it so she was barely conscious as it was. Emboar cried out for his trainer, and tried to charge at their assailant, only to be knocked back. Hilda was lifted, with the intent of being finished off, when Emboar got up and blew a flamethrower in their attacker's direction. Now caught on fire, it let go of Hilda (who didn't escape that without some burns herself), who fell to the ground. Emboar scrambled to lift Hilda into his arms, taking the opportunity to run for it while it was distracted with fire.

He ran, as fast as he could, worried for his trainer's life ... ]

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[ The amount of emotion in his voice was what shut her up.

Hilda remained quiet for a really long time, letting the words sink in. She was fine with not going onto the Skyway for a while. She had already seen what she wanted to see. The fact that he had been so worried about her ...

She didn't have to see him to know he was trying not to cry. Her hand tried to squeeze his as much as she could, trying to comfort him. ]

M'okay, Dad ...

[ It had seemed so natural that she didn't even realize she'd called him 'dad' at first. It took a few moments for that to sink in ... and when she realized it, she froze.

... What would he think of that?

What had even possessed her to call him that? ]

[AZ froze as well, so still that he could hear the blood pounding in his ears. Did she... just say what he thought she said?]

... Huh?

[He shook a little, before bowing his head.]

I... nn. I do... think of you as someone... close... but I would never want to take away that kind of role. I'm sure your parents are very special to you.

[ She relaxed as she heard his response. ]

My Mom ... was. I never knew my Dad.

[ Hilda fell quiet again for a while. ]

M'sorry ... for everything. For that, too, if it makes you uncomfortable ...

[Carefully, AZ sat up a bit more, wrapping an arm around Hilda to pull her into a loose hug.]

Then... then I'll do my best. If you want to think of me as... as your father, at least for now, I promise I'll do the best I can to help you and protect you. To help you learn and grow, and to help you become the best person you can be.

[He lowers her back down, and wipes his face. His expression hardens - not cruelly, but in a stately and serious fashion.]

I... I swear it, on everything I am and was. On my honor, as much as it remains, and on the kingdom and people of Kalos. From this day until the rest of my days, or until we both agree to part.

[He lets his shoulders drop, and he relaxes into a small smile.]

[ She comes out of the hug smiling, herself. She still can't sit up on her own, but it's a relief to know he was okay with that ... it was nice to know she had someone she could see as a father figure. Even at the end of the world, she had something really nice. She had a family.

Of course, the idea of family reminded her that she and N weren't doing well right now, either. Her smile quickly faded. ]

... Does N know?

He does. Emboar came and told him you were here. I'm not sure where he is right now. I...

[Uh.]

I kind of dozed off waiting for you to wake up.

Oh. I guess Anna knows, too ...

[ She legitimately felt bad for worrying her family ... ]

I'm sorry for worrying all of you ...

[ Was N even worried? Did he care about her at all anymore? ]

It's fine. We... we're worried, we just... want you to be safe.

I'm not totally sure what happened during your argument, but... it's okay for you to argue. It's natural, and I'm surprised you two haven't argued more here, where it's stressful. But as long as you still love and care about each other, you'll be fine.

He needs time. It's... hard to make someone understand. The best thing you can do is be there for him.

We rarely ever argue ... it's just not something we do very often. I've ... been with him through so many things ... I know more than anyone what he's been through. I understand why he's feeling so bad right now ...

[ Tears were welling up in her eyes. ]

I just ... I love him so much. I want him to be okay, but I don't know what I can do to help ...

[ Those tears were falling down her cheeks now. ]

[AZ picks his hat up from the floor and offers it to her. He can wash it later.]

Just... be there for him. And be patient. I don't... have an easy answer, or a certain one. I'm sorry.

[ She's grateful for it, though she doesn't wipe her tears away right away. She's not done crying. ]

I ... I'll do my best.

[ She's a strong girl, and even if there's so much she thinks she's not, she knows that much about herself at least. Whatever happens, she'll deal with it, even if it hurts. ]

Don't be afraid to ask for help next time, all right? For whatever you need.

[He gently turns her so she can cry into his shoulder, if she wants.]

Mkay ...

[ She takes that offer, leaning against him and shutting her eyes tightly, tears continuing to roll down her cheeks. ]

[He strokes her back gently, not sure what to say. All he can do is be here for her. ... And take a bath in the onsen later for his joints. The room's not really sized for him, but he's more worried about Hilda.]

[ Not a lot of rooms are sized for AZ, let's be real. Hilda is really appreciative of the comfort he's giving her, though, and continues to cry against him until she can't anymore. ]

[He rocks her a bit, trying to calm her, and when he hears her finally stop crying he pulls back slightly she can look at her again.]

You should rest a little. There are other people who want to see you, too.

[ She nods a little against him, tiredly. All of the pain she was in was just making her more exhausted, and bawling her eyes out just now didn't help things, either. ]

Mkay. I'll rest. Thanks for being here ...

You're welcome. If you ever need anything else, just ask. Please.

[He leans in and gently touches her forehead with his own, smiling a little.]

[ His smile makes her smile a little, even through her pain and exhaustion. She nods a little against him. ]

I will. I promise, I will.

[ She refuses to worry you all any more than she already has. ]

Good.

[He draws back a bit and tucks the covers around her.]

Is there anything that you need before I go?

A lot of rest. It's not like I have much else I can do right now, so I guess I'll be getting a lot of that.

[ That is the most terrible attempt at a joke ever, Hilda-- oh wait, it's not really a joke. Okay. ]

[Aw. He nods, and stands as best he can. He's gonna need to crouch to get through the door again.]

At least try. ... But I'll leave you for now. There are other people who want to see you.

Okay. I'll try. Thanks again, for everything ...

[ She does manage a small smile at AZ as he starts to leave. ]

I'll see you later.

[day 187] she calls out to the man on the street, "sir, can you help me?" (closed)

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