Capture and a Release
Chapter 3
Clean
Smith looked down at Neo, he seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Had Neo even realised how softly he had spoken? Just barely audible rasping.
Why wouldn't Neo open his eyes. Why had he blacked out?
The major injuries he could safely heal, he had.
He checked again just in case. Every major injury was gone.
Except for his ribs. Only a few small ones, small cuts and bruises.
It couldn't be because of that. Was there something else?
A mental wound? Some small thing he had missed.
A sound jolted him out of his thoughts.
Smith turned and glared at his copy at the sound of the door thudding closed.
It might have been himself, but how stupid was it. It couldn't even be quiet closing a door.
Next his copy would fall down the stairs. It wouldn't surprise him.
Blind, that was how stupid it seemed to be.
Blind, could that be it? Why Neo wouldn't open his eyes?
Neo
I woke up again. Opening my eyes, Smith was right beside the bed.
I could hear him breathing. It was so odd , knowing that he did breath.
"Neo, am I going to have to catch you again?", I glared at the sound of Smith's voice.
Resisting the strange urge to blush.
"No, Smith you won't. " I moved a hand to run it over the bandages.
It surprised me that I wasn't in pain anymore.
But I felt dirty, I hadn't touched water in a long time. Especially , my hair the blood in it.
I pushed myself up with one hand.
"The water still works, if you wonder about getting clean. Might I ask? Did they blind you?.
In this past minute you have only blinked three times."
I sighed, I should have known he would ask. That he at least he would notice.
Though I wondered why he was being nice.
I didn't really want to answer.
"Alright. Yes, Yes they did. Though I suppose you'll have to guide me, where's the bathroom?. I don't know how long its been, except too long not being clean."
Smith didn't say anything about my abrupt subject change.
Then he says "Its' been two years since you went missing. It has not been that long since you were fully clean.
I will 'show' you were it is. Can you memorize the echos' from one time?."
I didn't awnser, just tried getting up. Nearly falling over doing so. Damn it.
Fine make me wrong, weakness. Of course, he Had to catch me.
Next I'll be falling down the stairs. I winced even though he barely touched my ribs.
Smiths' hands on my sides, my own on his chest.
That messed up the echos'. He took my hand suddenly, I jumped at the contact.
Slamming my forehead into his.
"Ow, would you stop scaring me?. I don't need to be worse."
He laughed at me, as he pulled me out of the room. Ass.
I counted the echos' out of the room. Four.
From the room down the hall to the bathroom. Eight.
"We will have to take the bandages off."
I couldn't help the sarcasm, it felt good. "Nice job. Because it wasn't obvious before."
I didn't notice the next few minutes.
Just that he was gone a 'second' later, after telling me where everything was.
I closed the door, making supplies for myself. Putting them on the counter.
15 minutes later
I finally felt clean. Running a hand through my hair, I almost thought about cutting it.
But everything else had changed so much, I couldn't. I pulled it into a pony tail instead.
It felt good to wear clean clothes.
Actual jeans, not bothering with a shirt because of the bruises and cuts.
I opened the door and walked a few steps. Stopping just before I ran into Smith.
What was he doing standing right there?
How long had he been there?
