Chapter 2: Same Old, Same Old

Warning: These events take place in an alternative universe! As such the characters will be out of character as their situation had differed. And there would be SPOILERS! It is also unbeta-ed. You have been warned. Continue reading at your own risk or leave and continue to hold your peace.

The next time I saw that boy was after my training. After what happened the first time my father had yelled at me and apologized to him.

He had just waved with it off no problem but we never once made we contact. There was a tension in the air as well but that was in the past. He has another nurse tending him now.

Truth to be told, it was good. I didn't have to deal with him anymore. But I couldn't get his words or his pained expression out of my head. That was why I took close combat classes with another patient who was rapidly recovering from her inability to walk. Apparently the teacher was also her mother. After all I can take my mind of things and learn to fight back so why not?

"Hey Jude?" The girl, Leia, asked.

"Yes, Leia?"

"Are you alright?"

"As good as I'll ever be," I smiled but I knew it was lie. At least the girl seemed to buy it.

After I went to bandage myself up, I started wandering. Classes had finished early and it wasn't time for my shifts yet so I decided to go for a walk. I greeted a few patients and nurses on my way before I realized just where my feet was taking me.

Room 261. The room that house the boy with sliver hair.

I had no idea what prompted me to open the door but I did and without warning either. That earned a surprised look from the boy inside.

"Hey," I started lamely. After all I wasn't sure what to say. I noticed that there was now a flower at the other end of his bed.

"Hey," he replied, eyeing the bandages on my arms and legs as well as face, "What happened?"

I shrugged, stepping in and sliding the door behind me. "Just a little fighting."

He gave me a worried and panicked look. I wonder why? Perhaps just false sympathy again?

"Are you alright?"

Seriously? The same question that Leia asked me. I decided to respond in kind.

"As good as I'll ever be," I smiled. Unlike Leia, however, he stared at he with suspicion.

"Your hiding something," he stated. It wasn't even a question.

"How do you know?" I shot back, aggravated. That's why I wanted to avoid him. He had a perspective side but he was too naive. I, on the other hand, want to stay away from anyone who had the ability. I guess I just didn't want to know.

"My brother does that all the time he doesn't want me to know something," he admitted softly as he stared distantly at the flower at the end of his bed.

At his words something tighten in my chest and churn at my stomach. "Well maybe it's because your brother doesn't trust you with his secrets," I shot back.

He flinched and looked down. "I know," he whispered.

I scowled but in actuality I was surprised at the lack of reaction. Usually people would fight back at the things they don't want to hear. Those fights were seen too often when I saw my father breaking the truth to grieving families members. They always wanted to hear what they wanted to hear and deny the truth. I gritted his teeth together as my initial surprise died away.

Family. It's that word again. How I hated that word. But hate was too strong of a word so maybe a mild dislike was more appropriate to call this feeling.

"Are you hurt?" The other boy finally asked in a soft voice.

"No," I replied, shifting some bandages. Seriously why did I come here in the first place? Oh right, because of my misplaced interest in this guy.

He gave me a funny look. "I don't mean your wounds," he started. This time it was me who gave him the funny look. His small grin made me huff.

"I mean your heart," he finished.

I blinked in confusion. "My heart?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. What is he getting at? "It's still alive and pumping."

"I meant your emotions," he smiled at me shyly, "Like they hurt, right?"

"They don't!" I snapped, "What do you know about me anyways?!"

I'll give him credit that he didn't flinch back but at his surprised look I knew he was a least a little scared of me. I can sense it. But as soon as it came the surprise died away and it was replaced with a sympathetic knowing look.

"I'm sorry," he said with such sincerity it was almost disgusting. I felt it struck something in my chest.

"Stop looking at me like that!" I shouted, a type of desperation slipped into my voice. I started hating it.

"I'm very sorry," he repeated. I couldn't look him in the eyes anymore. If I did I knew I would crumble. I needed this to stop but the words weren't coming. I can feel my defences cracking. How?

I grit my teeth and looked up to glare at him or even punch him to stop talking but something stopped me. That look in his eyes. They were accepting and kind as if they were just gently nudging me to break down.

"It will be alright," he continued. That was it. I hate him so much.

There was burning in my eyes and my vision became distorted. The boy on the bed look alarmed. I hated it, how weak I really was. How I can't even act if I'm fine. I hated everything.

"What?" I snapped with less vigour then I had intended to, "You haven't seen anyone cry before?"

Why is it that this guy, this person on a hospital bed, weak and helpless like me can see right through me when others in smilie situations can't? Was if because he's like me he can see through me? Or was it just that he's too perspective? I have no idea. I wanted to stop thinking.

"I... I used to cry a lot," he offered.

"Well, that's good for you," I bit. Tears were still streaming down my face so I turned and started wiping the tears off my face. I didn't want him to see my weakness. Why I didn't just leave the room was beyond me. But there would be more people out there, right? At least he won't pity me or look at me like some kind of lost child.

"If it makes you feel any better, I used to cry a lot when my mother died," he started and I looked back at him in surprise before I tried to glare at him.

Somehow he looked unsure but when his gaze met mine he gave me a smile and I can feel the sadness behind it. So he can't act either. But then again why would he act? Nevertheless I didn't stop glaring before I turned back around, trying to clean my face.

"I was about five when she passed onto heaven and it was all my fault. I mean she got sick ever since she brought me to this world and never got better. Brother says that she's in a better place now and it wasn't my fault that she died. But... I'm still not sure," he paused.

"I didn't ask for your life story!" I took the chance to snap when I could. But that didn't mean I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. We were more similar than I had thought.

"My father... He thinks of me and brother are nothing but tools. My brother being the tool and I'm just a sure hostage for my brother to keep doing what he's doing for my father," he said in resentment and sadness.

"Only if I was stronger. Only if I can fight." He gripped the bed sheets as tightly as possible with an helpless face. His voice may be soft but his tone carried emotions of desperation and helplessness. Then he seemed to snap out of the haze and offered me a small smile. It wasn't genuine, I noticed. So someone like him has to fake at times too huh? That sparked a minuscule flame of respect. He wasn't a spoiled brat, that much was true.

"Sorry that you had to hear that," His smiled was strained, "Let's change subjects."

"I'm actually amazed," I started getting a confused look from him, "We're more similar that I had originally thought. If I was you I would have already fallen into the darkness." And it was true.

"The only reason I didn't was because people wanted to understand me. That's why I want to understand the people around me," he smiled. It was a very beautiful smile despite his sadness.

"Silence followed and my tears were dry now. I adverted my gaze, turning my head to look out the window. Now that I looked at it again the bustling metropolis didn't seem so bad anymore, even if there were Devils in human skin.

"I too hate my father," I finally offered. I didn't need to look at him to know he was surprised. I gave him a quick glance to confirm my suspicions. Through what confused me was what he was surprised at.

There was prolonged silence that none of us tried to fill by throwing around meaningless chatter. After a while I decided to leave.

"Well, I'll be leaving now," I announced before nodding politely as I would do with any other patient.

"Okay," he nodded back.

As I exited the door I made an unspoken promise to visit him again when I have the time.

A/N: Haha, sorry guys I was busy yesterday but I was able to get this chapter up today! Yay! Hoped you guys liked it. XD