Before we begin this chapter I do want to point out there are "nontraditional" mentions of self harm in this chapter. I think even those who don't enjoy reading about self harm will be mildly okay with the way it is presented here. But, that is just hopeful conjecture on my part, and I still want everyone to proceed reading this chapter with caution. (Just in case.)
The basement had obviously been kitted out for the purpose of athletic training. There were gymnastic mats on the floor and walls. Also there was an area off in a far corner that held a couple of pieces of exercise equipment: a treadmill, an elliptical, and a stationary bike to name a few. Just a few feet from that held a score of weights: dumbbells, a flat bench with a barbell, a chin up rack, and a squat rack. To say that the Davis twins were surprised would have been an understatement.
Whoa! I didn't expect this gear! They are only a few pieces shy of being their own gym! Gene exclaimed mentally to his brother.
Not quite. They would need multiple of each. But, I definitely agree with the sentiment. I, too, didn't expect this kind of set up. Noll of course was easily able to logically deduce that his brother had been half joking from the amount of hyperbole he used in his enthusiasm. He simply chose to respond with a sensible rationale. Perhaps he should have joked along with his twin. Truthfully though changing Noll's scientific mind would be like trying to remove a tiger's stripes. It just wasn't going to happen, and if it ever did it would not be a simple transition.
The twins split off and separated to two different locations in the room each in turn waiting for the female they would be working with. Noll was almost certain that he would get a lot more work done than his brother. Mostly, because unlike Gene, Noll would be working with a female that he wasn't romantically entangled with. Gene was more likely to spend more time fantasizing about snogging with Atsuko, and if not fantasizing then actually snogging.
OoO
Noll didn't waste time hedging into the session. No, he began the session by being direct. Akane may barely know him but she would soon grow use to his directness after they worked together for a few days. "Now, I know that the end goal is for you to assist me with my ability to control my telekinesis." He lifted a hand out as if to calm a feral creature before continuing on. "Trust me we will work up to that. First, I think we need to work on establishing your threshold on how much you can heal before overexerting yourself."
Akane was almost scared to ask. But if she didn't get the courage to even voice her uncertainty then there wasn't much point in the training to begin with. After all, getting past a level of unsureness and doubt in it its own measure also has a modicum of training factor woven within it. "How exactly are we going to do that?"
Dr. Davis pulled a box out of his pocket. It was obviously brand new as it was still wrapped in cellophane. Akane pulled closer so she could read the box and determine what was in it. Her face slightly scrunched up in repulsion when she deciphered what the label said. Lancets. A box of lancets. Not the funnest thing in the world. It wasn't an easy task with her self healing ability but she used to weaken herself enough that she was able to donate plasma occasionally. She wanted to have a little bit of pocket change at times. Each trip to the donation center a nurse had to prick her finger to run some medical tests. The purpose for the money from donating plasma? She may not need to eat much but she still enjoyed food, and while the soup kitchens fed well enough. They generally had the same meal over and over again (certain meals are just more cost efficient than others). Akane appreciated any food she was given but sometimes she just wanted a bit of a variety.
Noll registered Akane's hesitant recognition. So, she knew what these were and their purpose. But, she wasn't a fan. He gritted his back teeth. Truth be told he wasn't either but he was hoping he wouldn't have to suffer from the pinpricks long. Granted, he also didn't plan on pricking a single finger. He opened the box and pulled out four of the lancets. Then he pulled a plastic sandwich bag from his pocket. He wasn't about to discard the used lancets in such a public place, even if this room itself was more private than the office and the orphanage.
"You pulled out four?! You can't mean." Akane gasped. She needed to calm herself. It wasn't like he pulled out a dagger and planned on cutting himself with it. Although, she supposed that was highly a possible idea in the future if he was willing to injure all four of his fingers on one hand.
"They will only prick the tip of my fingers. There are worse injuries I could self inflict. I thought this would be a decent starting point."
Does that mean that he did plan on upgrading to a dagger later? She was almost scared to ask. He did have a point though. While the lancets hurt like crazy they were only a small injury, and she should be able to heal him relatively fast.
To calm herself Akane began telling him about donating plasma. "I hated those lancets everytime they pulled them out I would flinch away."
Noll nodded. "But, you were able to donate? With your psychometabolism I would have projected that wouldn't be possible."
Akane grimaced. "Honestly, while I didn't completely understand my abilities. I did still register how I never sustained an injury for long. So, similar to what we are about to do now, I drained my battery by injuring and healing myself." She tried to push the image of using the knife to slice her skin from her mind and instead focus on the end result and reason for the conversation. "I knew it was time to stop when my vision became a little fuzzy, and the most recent self inflicted wound had closed but a mark still remained."
"I am sure you didn't record the time it took you to wipe yourself out. But could you make an educated estimate?" Noll wouldn't let it show but he was sincerely hoping they didn't have to do this kind of testing for long. If he had some projected time based on previous moments it would be easier. There was also the possibility that healing another person would take longer however, and because of that factor alone he still was pressing on to continue the testing. But any back data would be helpful regardless.
"Living on the streets time flows differently. Where for you it might flow from one hour to the next, for someone living on the street it flows from how long can I stay in one spot before I am asked to move along, or how long can I go hungry before I need to find my next meal. So, no I don't have an estimate. I wish I did. I know it would be helpful scientifically." She shrugged her shoulders in defeat. "But I don't."
Noll couldn't sympathize with her situation. He had never had a conversation with someone that had been homeless before. His mother would donate some of her free time to a soup kitchen once a month. But that was probably the closest relation to him regarding those that were homeless. He had almost drifted into a memory of his mother's discussions about the food kitchen when Akane made another statement. He would guess that she probably never meant to say it aloud. Her voice was so hesitant and soft. "I feel guilty for having it easier than others."
There wasn't much Noll felt guilty for. Most of the times he felt guilty dealt with Mai. Any of the numerous times she was put in harm's way because of him, and especially his reaction to the way she announced her feelings. But discussing that was private and wouldn't keep them on task. Instead he chose to discuss something that was relatively close to their current situation. "I feel guilty for having my family worry about me every time I use my ability, and they have to wait in a hospital in hopes that I will wake up." He sighed. "But, that's why we are here now, and even if neither one of us want to do this. It's necessary. So, it's time to stop procrastinating and start testing." He jotted down the time and tried not to wince as he pricked his index finger.
OoO
Atsuko wanted to laugh. She really did. I mean Gene's plan seemed simple enough, in theory. But trying to execute it was proving fruitless. He just kept getting distracted.
One minute Gene would be focusing on a mental wall. He would build it up brick by brick, sealing the cracks with mortar. But then he would look over Atsuko to see if it was working and it was as if a wrecking ball swept through and demolished what he was building. The demolition crew in charge were his feelings for her. It was a big massive emotional conglomeration of adoration, attraction, joy, and a few other things he wasn't sure he could even put a name to.
"I don't know if this is going to work. I can sense you concentrating one minute. Then, the next I feel a surge of your feelings crash over me like a tidal wave. I'm sure you have experienced a rush of power just overwhelm you at once. It is a bit like that." Atsuko adored knowing what he was feeling. But because he had been building up a wall the sensations were coming at her much like a flash flood that broke through a dam. It was hard to get her mental footing and the rush was almost leaving her weak.
"I'm sorry. I don't want to overwhelm you. Perhaps, it was selfish to try to train with you." Gene worried. Did he only choose her as his partner in this endeavor because of their relationship and his feelings?
Atsuko could feel the conflict rushing through him. She took a moment to decipher and attempt to come up with a plan. "Why do you think this might not be working?"
There were somethings Gene didn't like to admit. He could easily have told her that every time he looked at her he lost focus. But would that truly be the answer she was looking for. He worried it was the other answer that he was hesitant to give. The one he was hesitant to admit to. "I worry that being hit by a car, and stuck in a coma for such a long period of time might have messed up the way my brain works."
It took a big person to admit a fear like that. "I think part of that answer might be right. But, not in the way you are thinking. I think when your mind dwells on… I don't know what to call it because 'accident' seems like the wrong word. So, I am going to use the word incident instead. I think when your mind dwells on the incident you somewhat psych yourself out. I think your random blindness is also psychological."
Gene took a moment to digest that information. No one wants to hear that they have some psychological defect but it definitely made some sense.
Atsuko gave him a moment to consider her thoughts. While he was stewing she played over their short session that they had thus far. She realized rapidly that every time he lost focus he had looked her direction. "A blindfold!"
Gene almost blurted 'Sounds kinky!' But he knew it wouldn't have been a comment she would have appreciated so he listened while she explained quickly that they should be trying this session with him blindfolded so there were no visual distractions.
OoO
After five hours of repeatedly healing Dr. Davis Akane was wiped. Her stomach rumbled loudly in complaint. She was in dire need of food and a nap. But first she had to listen to Dr. Davis' plans for the next session.
"I know this session was difficult to deal with. The next session won't be easier. I need a measurement on if the injury is more severe if you tire faster. My hypothesis is that it will. But I have to run the data to be certain."
It was that moment that Akane realized something that made her stomach churn unpleasantly. "Are you… Am I just a lab rat to study to you?"
Noll frowned. In some ways her concern was accurate but it wasn't all without reason. "I apologize, Miss Kimura. I became absorbed in my role as a scientist. It's a character flaw that even my own twin incessantly teases me about. In truth, yes we do have to scientifically study all this. But it all has a purpose, and I am in no way getting joy out of putting you through all this. I can't deny it is all interesting to me." He paused for a moment to let her absorb. He hoped he was getting his point across and not making her feel worse. "This is also information I think you should learn about yourself. You should know your limits so you don't exceed them and burn yourself out."
Akane couldn't fault his logic. She didn't like feeling like a specimen in a petri dish. But she was thankful he was at least trying to be calm and friendly with her. She nodded in understanding before he escorted her back upstairs and insisted that he buy lunch.
I meant to have this chapter out last week (at least by Friday). But instead I got to put it out on Valentine's Day (and my birthday)! Yay! So Happy V-day everybody! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
