Extemporé

)_); Sorry this took me soooo long. I had another guest author finish the chapter for me and they took a bit of a while. ^^ But that's okay. =3 I get to write more now and that's what makes me happy. XD Bit of a shorter chapter, but it's mostly just a little filler before more drama. x3 and I know we all love drama. Sooooo yesss... without further ado, I give you chapter 11.

...And of course, reviews are always loved.

EDIT: Re-uploaded, cos the internet sucks! 0:<

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ch. 11 -- Whatever you say...

An unusually uncharacteristic sigh was what awoke Henn from his light sleep the next morning. Though concerned by the sigh, he was also greatly relieved... He had survived another night. He opened his eyes slowly, and after squinting through his foggy vision, he groped at his nightstand for his glasses. He found them and slid them into place and spotted Quinn, sitting at the end edge of the bed. Henn frowned and crawled out from under the covers -- damn it was cold -- and slowly crawled over the bed to see what was wrong.

“Hey…” he murmured softly, coming right up beside Quinn and kneeling on the bed. “Is.. Something wrong…?” Another sigh and a shake of the head was the reply that he got; and until Quinn leaned over and all but clung around him did he speak.

“Nothing…” The word was heavy. “I just forgot to take my meds last night… and… I’m not… feeling all too well,” he explained. Henn frowned again and shifted, crawling into his lap. It’d been… what, five days now since he hadn’t had his drugs? Ouch. Quinn squeezed him tightly.

“Allergies ganging up on you?” Henn asked quietly. No immediate reply.

“Something… like that, yeah…” Henn still had the sneaking suspicion that something wasn’t right, but he didn’t want to question him further. When Quinn’s grip loosened, he pulled back and just watched him. Something was definitely off… and it wasn’t allergies. But he nodded slowly, feigning belief.

“Alright… I hope you feel better,” he murmured. Quinn gave a grim half-smile and nodded. Henn tsked, sitting up more on his lap and wrapping his arms around his head and hugging it close. He heard Quinn start to cry softly as he clung back. Henn frowned and let a paw rub over his back, shh-ing him gently. He kissed the top of his head and let him go after a while, sliding off his lap and the bed, letting his paw stroke his cheek as he stood.

“Are you hungry…?” he asked quietly. Quinn shrugged, and Henn frowned again, moving closer and taking his hands into paws. He tugged him off the bed.

“You’re… as bad as I am…” he breathed on a humorless laugh. This didn’t seem to help the mood any, so he sighed and let his hands go. “I’ll… be in the kitchen… if you need me.” With that, he sighed again and left the room. What had he done this time? He’d rather have the nightly abuse if it meant that at least, during the day, he wouldn’t have to put up with torture like this. He got into the kitchen finally, and realized that he really didn’t feel like cooking. The stove just hadn’t been his friend lately. Nothing had, really… He pulled out a chair from the table and sat on it, slumping and letting his chin rest atop the cold table’s surface. Well, okay. He wasn’t going to cook. What was he going to do? Sit there and feel sorry for himself all day? It’s not like he didn’t know how. He let a paw fall off the side of the table, trying to reach his bag. What he’d find in there, he didn’t know. But hopefully it’d keep him busy. He pulled it up onto the table and let it sit open in front of him, his chin still resting. He stared into his bag, his vision greeted with nothing. It was practically bottomless, remember? He sighed and reached his paw in, feeling around for things. At least he didn’t have to remember to be wary of his fork. Damn he missed that thing. But it was gone and nothing was going to bring it back. His paw struck a notebook of some kind and he pulled it out, amazed to find out it was a sketchbook. He rooted around a bit more for a pencil and found a sleek mechanical one. He pulled it out as well and shook it, happy hear lead clicking around inside. He opened to a blank page in the book and let it sit in front of him, no longer leaning on the table. He stared at it for a long time, the pencil poised in his paw above the paper. His ear twitched. Now what? He hesitated a moment, and brought the tip of the pencil to the paper. He hadn’t drawn in… he couldn’t remember. He started to draw aimless lines on the paper, meaningless strokes that meant nothing. When was the last time he drew? Was this even his sketchbook? From what he did remember of his life, it had never included being artistic. Maybe it was just for notes? Didn’t have lined paper and used this instead? Maybe someone had put it into his bag by mistake? If so… where would he look to return it? He didn’t know how long he had had the sketchbook… maybe years. He was torn from his thoughts when the lead snapped. He looked down at the paper and was immediately startled. He had been drawing without even realizing it -- hard, too -- …and he had drawn… what was this? It looked something like a dungeon… but there were all sorts-of test tubes and experimentation instruments… It frightened him, a little. He didn’t know why he had drawn this.

“What’s that, Henn..?” came a quiet voice from the kitchen entrance. Henn jumped slightly and spun around, snapping the sketchbook shut.

“N-nothing…” he breathed, shaking his head. Quinn didn’t need to see this scary picture. “Just… just a sketchbook I found in my bag..” he murmured, sliding it hastily back into it’s home.

“Oh… alright.,” he heard Quinn sigh softly. “So.. Are you going to cook anything?” he asked. Henn shrugged.

“Didn’t really feel like it… the second I got in here…” He turned in his chair to face him. “Do you.. Want me to make something…?” Quinn shrugged again.

“I was just wondering.” Henn didn’t like this. Quinn was… acting too much like him. He didn’t need this. He needed the normal Quinn back, the one that was always trying to make him happy, and smiling, and being.. Not like this! He slid the chair away from the table and stood with a heavy sigh. Time to be brave.

“I think…” Henn started quietly. “I’m going to… go for a walk,” he announced. Quinn’s look shone first of disbelief, then concern. He shook his head.

“That’s… a bit dangerous,” he murmured, folding his arms and staring at the floor. “I’d.. be too worried about you…” Henn bit his lower lip. It was still a bit sore from where he had made it bleed. But only a little. His ears lifted a bit.

“Please? Just.. Just around the block. I could really… use the fresh air…” He gestured weakly. “You could, too… “ He paused. “Want to come..?” he asked. He knew that if he offered to let Quinn come, he’d be more apt to let them go. The leash wasn’t tight, but it also wasn’t endless. Quinn shifted a little.

“Yeah…” he finally answered after a bit. “Gimme a minute.” He turned and left the kitchen, wandering off down the hall and into what Henn guessed was the bathroom. A few short minutes later he returned, looking a bit more refreshed than before. But still rather upset. Henn stepped closer and took one of his arms, hugging around it. He looked up at him, managing the best pleading look he could.

“Try to look… a little happier, please? For me…?” He really couldn’t take him looking so dejected. It was awful. At his request Quinn looked, to Henn’s dismay, even worse for a moment, but then sighed heavily and did manage to look a little better. Henn snuggled his arm a little. “Thank you… I appreciate it.” Quinn gently patted his head and ruffled his hair for a moment.

“Anything for you.”

It was a bit chilly outside, Henn noticed. He wished he had brought a sweatshirt or something. Quinn, as usual, in his infinite perfection, had predicted the weather and had worn his trademark coat. Henn loved that coat. Something about it just… he couldn’t explain it. He felt Quinn’s hand brush his paw as they walked, and he grabbed it; locking their digits and holding tightly.

“So, Henn…” Quinn began quietly. Henn’s ears perked and he looked up and over at him.

“Hmn?” he murmured gently. It wasn’t as bright outside as it had been the day before, but he still had to squint a little bit.

“What… can you remember about your past?” Quinn asked. Henn gave a strange look. What a random question.

“Ah…” he began, really trying to think. What DID he remember? He sighed. “Not a whole lot,” he admitted sheepishly.

“What do you remember from TSC?” Quinn came again with another question.

“Err…” Henn’s ears lowered. What was with these questions…?

“From your home?”

“I --”

“From your childhood?”

“Why --”

“From the dark?” Henn’s walking stopped abruptly. Wh.. What…? He froze. People.. There were so many people around him suddenly. Everywhere. Jeering faces, staring, watching, stalking. Henn started to whimper. Why were they getting so close to him? When had they wandered into the crowd of the World’s Fair? He felt his breathing quicken, as well as his heart rate. So close… they were all around him. Choking. He couldn’t breath. They were closing in…

“Please…” he gasped. Home, take me home… please let’s go home… He felt himself fall to his knees. He started to whimper again. He had pulled Quinn down with him when he fell, but he wasn’t aware of anything at the moment. The people… the laughing, staring, cruel people… they were the object of his attention at the moment. He started to cry, shaking and clinging helplessly to Quinn’s arm. So many people… so close… Henn shut his eyes, trying to shut them out as he sobbed. He felt arms around him picking him up, taking him away… No, no…

“No..” he whined, opening his eyes. He was in a small alleyway in Quinn’s arms. He had taken him off the street, away from the people.

“It’s okay Henn… shh, it’s okay…” Quinn whispered, petting his hair and kissing his cheek, wiping away his tears.

“Wh-where… did they all come from..” Henn whimpered.

“Who, Henn?” Quinn asked, his voice soft; confused.

“All… all of the people…” How could he not have seen them?

“There… weren’t any… we were walking… and then you just started having one of your anxiety attacks… There wasn’t anyone else around…”

“Wh…what…” Henn mouthed. No people…? He frowned, finally calming down a little. So his attacks were causing hallucinations, now… must have been all the stress he was under. Quinn shook his head.

“It was just you and me, Henn…” He pet through his hair again. “Just you and me…” Henn nodded minutely, letting his head rest against him again. They were outside, right? They didn’t need to walk anymore.. Henn sighed softly.

“I’m sorry…” he whispered. Quinn shook his head again and kissed his forehead.

“Never be sorry, Henn. It’s not your fault.” With that, Henn sighed again and struggled slightly, moving to leave his arms and stand on his own. He was shaky on his feet, but he didn’t fall over. He turned and offered a paw to help Quinn up, but let out a small, strangled noise of surprise when Quinn tugged him back down to him, letting Henn set between his legs. Henn was startled, but didn’t say anything. He just let Quinn hug onto him tightly.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asked Henn softly. Henn’s ears fell a little. Of course he was going to be okay… He’d lived this long, hadn’t he? He nodded.

“As… as long as you’re here…” He whisper-sighed.

-Muy especial guest author Hota-chan-

Their walk didn't last too much longer. After the incident on the sidewalk that ended in the alleyway, Quinn's attitude had only gotten worse - his pace had slowed, his feet were shuffling against the concrete and his eyes were constantly fixed on the toes of his boots.

"Can... we go home?" he asked quietly, his voice barely audible over the sound of the wind. Henne flattened his ears and looked over, frowning subtly.
"Home?" he repeated, stopping as Quinn halted his walking. Quinn nodded.

"Home. I don't feel very well... I just want to go lay down." he explained, chest heaving in a quiet sigh. "Please?" he asked, shifting his eyes from the ground to meet Henne's. They looked so desperate...

Henne nodded his head, already moving to turn them both around and head back for home. "We... can go... come on..." he said, taking him by the hand and leading him off. Quinn nodded again with another soft sigh, fixing his eyes back on his shoes.

They were back in the semi-comfort of their apartment again a few minutes later, and Quinn made a direct path for the bedroom, dropping his jacket carelessly onto the floor. Henne watched with a concerned expression. He loved that jacket... why would he treat it with such disregard? He followed, seeing Quinn already sprawled out on the bed, curled into the fetal position.

"Hey...?" he asked, slowly climbing up onto the bed with him and settling down, moving him around to settle his head in his lap. Quinn complied without a word. Henne was unsettled. What was wrong with him?

With the room dead, eerily silent around them, he began gently petting over Quinn's hair as he kept his face buried against his lap. There they stayed for several minutes until a soft, choking sob from Quinn broke the silence. Henne's ears flicked, and he looked down.

Quinn was crying in earnest soon enough, his sobs soft and muffled against Henne's pants but still frequent enough to convey his anguish, his hands clutching at the sides of his shirt. Henne reached down and wrapped his arms under his shoulders, pulling him up to lean against his chest, resting his head in the middle of his ribcage. He sobbed and whimpered audibly as Henne stroked comfortingly through his hair, slowly tilting his head back to look up at him, raising one of his hands to lay it delicately against his friend's soft-furred cheek.

"I..." he croaked, mouth opening as if about to say something, before he silenced himself and laid his head back down against his shirt. Henne slid his paw lower, brushing his palm over the sensitive spot on the back of his head to calm him further. And calm him it did. His crying slowed and finally stopped, and he was unconscious a couple minutes later, relaxed into sleep.

Henne sighed, looking down at his sleeping friend with a look of curiosity and concern. Why was he acting so strangely? It was uncharacteristic for him to be in a bad mood just because... sighing again, he leaned back against the headboard and got comfortable, closing his eyes and continuing his affections, trying to sneak in a few hours of sleep while he had the chance. Maybe things would be better when he woke up...he hoped.