It wasn't the first night Allen had spent in the hospital, but familiarity didn't make the phenomenon any more interesting. It was still a small, cold, sterile room, and his head was still filled with all the things he'd rather be doing. The others had all checked in with him while he was seeing the doctor, and he'd texted them to reassure them, but that wasn't the same as being at the hotel with them. Probably everyone who could fit was in Fou and Lenalee's room watching whatever looked funniest and eating things that were undoubtedly better than hospital food. Maybe if Allen was there, he could find someone who had seen Cross. At the very least, he wouldn't be so horribly bored.
He wanted to sleep through it, but he didn't think he could just yet, so he entertained himself by playing Minecraft on his phone. He thought he'd make a cake, but every chicken he could find was in the water and wouldn't get out, so when his phone vibrated, he was happy to shut off the game.
Allen?
Suddenly he wanted to go back to his chickens, but there was no good way to say what needed to be said, and he wasn't pleased at having to say it at all. Road, I'm really sorry. I can't talk to you anymore.
Why not?
Because it upsets your uncle.
About that. Tyki did two very wrong things. He broke into my phone and he threatened you. I'm not going to reward him for that, and I wish you wouldn't, either.
It's not about rewarding him.
What else does it do? You'd be giving him what he wanted. That's rewarding him. For very, very bad behavior.
Allen stared at his phone, but she was right. Diabolically right. I don't want to cause problems with your family.
You didn't. Tyki caused problems for himself. Don't worry. I wasn't too hard on him. I just don't think he's going to learn if people give him what he wants when he does things like that.
Suddenly Allen's situation didn't seem so bad after all. He was stuck in the hospital. Tyki was stuck in a hotel with Road.
Anyway, he's sorry. He only meant to scare you, as if that makes it okay!
I'm okay. No harm done.
Are you sure? He said it literally looked like a heart attack, and I know you have either a pacemaker or a defibrillator.
How could you possibly know that?
lol silly! I've hugged you twice, and I hug someone a lot who has a pacemaker.
So she had felt something after all, and just hadn't said anything. He'd been wondering about that. Who?
The Earl Campbell. He's old, but you don't have to be old to have heart problems. What's wrong with yours?
It's called Long QT Syndrome. The lower chambers of my heart take a little longer than they should to beat.
Ventricles. I know what they're called.
Sorry. He hadn't meant to be condescending.
It's okay. I should apologize for being snarky at you when you've had such a bad day. I'm very sorry. So defibrillator then?
How did you know?
That's not what pacemakers are for. Does it hurt when it shocks you?
It's more of an impact than an actual pain. It knocks the wind out of me, though, so I always fall.
Tyki said you fell. Are you okay?
Yes.
Where are you now?
Allen stared at his phone for a moment, wondering if he could get away with lying to her.
Oh. Hospital. I should make him apologize
no no no no no no
but I won't. Tyki behaved very badly today, but he's fragile. I have to be careful not to overdo it. I don't want to break him.
Allen made a face at his phone, but she was seriously talking about breaking a man ten years older than she was, and she could probably do it. It would only make things worse.
I know. He still should, though. You didn't do anything wrong, Allen. The one in the wrong was Tyki.
He only wanted to look after you. Allen was aware of how increasingly stupid that sounded. Road could more than look after herself.
Snooping in someone's phone takes permission, or special circumstances and privileges. He had none of those, and even if he did, and I had done something wrong, trying to threaten you wasn't the right thing to do. If he wants to look after me, there are better ways.
It's okay, really. Allen didn't think he had any hope of persuading her that he understood Tyki's point of view, so he didn't try.
Are you flying home on time, or do they need to keep you there?
I'm only here as a precaution. I'm leaving in the morning. He hoped that would spare Tyki some pain.
Good. How is Lenalee Lee?
How did you know?
I was watching. Is it broken?
Yes.
That's going to be so hard for her. They did really well, though. Did you see them?
No. I was looking for Cross. Did you see him anywhere?
No.
Figures. No one did. He's a prat.
He did a good job teaching you, though.
Allen smiled. I still lost.
Not by as much. You're getting closer.
He laughed quietly to himself. It sounds like you almost want me to win.
I want you to be interesting. It's no fun when I know I'll always win.
He understood that. He'd been in that situation himself a few times. I'll do better in Paris. I promise.
I can't wait! Good night, Allen.
Good night.
Allen stared at his phone, more pleased than he thought he should be, but he was glad he would still be able to talk to her. She was a wee bit mad, but she wasn't stupid, and that reminded him of something. Earlier that day, she'd mentioned that her mother was in the same orphanage as Kanda, although not at the same time. He would have to take Road's word about the conditions in the place, but who was her mother? He opened his browser to check.
Her father was Sherrill Campbell, and he did something obscurely political. He was married to Tricia Campbell, an elegant, delicate English rose if her pictures were anything to go on, and there were plenty of them, mostly taken at events that required expensive gowns.
Hmm. The orphanage was in China, not England, and Road was noticeably darker than her father, highly improbable if her biological mother was a pale blonde. Tricia Campbell was probably a stepmother then, and Road was born to a first wife, or out of wedlock, or maybe adopted.
There had to be something on the web. There always was. Allen played around with the controls for his bed, then settled in for a bit of googling.