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“LET GO!”
Fulbright was holding a struggling Blackquill from behind, trying desperately to contain him as he fought, unaware of his surroundings or the events of the previous day. He had woken from a nightmare, and tried to run.
“LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"
Fulbright swallowed, focusing on keeping Blackquill where he was. The storm raging outside the hotel meant that Blackquill’s usual night time response of running into the night, already an iffy decision back in LA, was potentially deadly here.
This did not, in fact, make it easier to have to fight with him, to trap him, to keep him safe- And it wasn’t working! If anything, the situation was rapidly becoming worse, and Fulbright was sure this was the wrong tack….
He sucked in a huge breath as Blackquills nails dug into his arms, a desperate attempt at freedom-and then cried out in pain as Blackquills head collided with his nose. Blood started to stream down Fulbright’s face as he shoved Blackquill forward onto one of the beds, backing up so as to be between the panicked man and the door. To his horror, Blackquill made for the window, despite the snow storm raging outside, and the fact that they were at least four stories up. Thankfully, the window did not open, nor did it yield to the man slamming it with his fist. He spent the next few minutes struggling with it, slamming it two, three more times…before slowly sinking to the floor, accepting that he couldn’t change this. The room fell silent and still, and Fulbright desperately hoped that Blackquill did not charge him. He was fairly sure that, with Blackquill as disoriented as he was, that fight would be winnable, but…well..he really didn’t want to have to do that.
Fulbright was just wiping the blood off his face when Simon spoke.
“Where’s Taka?”
“She’s back in LA, Sir.”
“Cykes-dono?”
“Also in LA. You could call her, if you like.” it was late, and Fulbright hoped she wouldn’t mind, but…what else could he say? No, you don’t get to? Silence reigned once more, and then..
“But we aren't in LA.”
“No, Sir, We aren't. Do you remember? We were sent to consult..?” Blackquill was sent to consult on a case, Fulbright was invited along as a friend and a buffer. Despite being a free man for almost a year now, Blackquill didn’t do very well in new, normal situations, with people he didn’t know. And since the alternative was being left alone in the apartment, Fulbright didn’t really mind all that much. “We’re going to meet with the prosecution tomorrow.”
“How long will I be here?”
“Four days. One to meet with the Prosecution, then three for court dates.” Blackquill had gotten off the floor and was now sitting on a bed, taking in the room as though it was his first time seeing it. Fulbright watched him carefully, seeing how gingerly he treated everything. It was a little hard to see him in the dark hotel room, making it a relief when he sat up, rather than curling up on the floor. As he watched, Blackquill’s eyes landed on his own cell phone, a little flip phone set to charge on the bedside table. He turned to glance up at Fulbright again, then at the phone. Fulbright couldn’t help but sigh.
“Yes, you can use it. It’s yours.” he tried not to sound annoyed, but he was tired, and he could tell Blackquill didn’t recognize him, again, and this was such a small thing, such a normal, everyday thing-it was Blackquill’s phone for heaven’s sake, he didn’t need Fulbright’s permission-his train of thought was interrupted when his own phone started to buzz. The first number Blackquill had thought to call. He let out another low sigh, and stepped out of the room, propping it so he wouldn’t be locked out, and took the call.
“Hello?”
“Fulbright?”
He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of relief at being recognized, if only over the phone. They could get through this. It was alright. “Yes sir, it's me. Are you alright?”
“I….am well.”
“I’m glad to hear that sir. Can you tell me where you are?”
A pause, and Fulbright could picture the man looking all around before answering, “A hotel room.”
“That’s right sir, a hotel room. Can you tell me anything about it?”
“There’s two beds, a window, a television, and a bathroom.”
“Alright. Can you look out the window, and tell me what you see?”
Another pause, and then..”It’s snowing. The glass is cold.”
“Is there a lot of snow?” Fulbright wondered how thick the glass was, for it to hold up against Blackquill but still be cold. Would how thick it was even matter for that? He wasn’t sure.
“Yes. It's storming. Not like LA.”
“No, we don’t get very many snowstorms in LA, do we? Now and then, but not very often…”
“No, rather rarely.”
“Do you know what city you’re in then? If you aren’t In LA?”
There was a long pause, and Fulbright almost cut in himself, when Blackquill finally answered. “We went north. It took a long time to drive up here.”
“That’s right. We’re in Minnesota, in the twin cities. Tomorrow we get to head down to the prosecutor's office, and meet some new people.”
There was another pause, and Fulbright waited patiently for Blackquill to gather his thoughts. Then.. “I can’t go outside, can I.”
Fulbright sighed. “No, Sir, it's not safe. Not when it's storming like this.” he paused, thinking. There had to be a way to make this easier……
“There’s a guard outside.”
Fulbright stopped. He already knew blackquill hadn’t recognized him in the moment, but it wasn’t reassuring to realize that he still thought someone else was there. “...Is he listening?”
“No. He’s outside. Where are you?”
“I’m also in the hotel. Would it….would it help If I asked for a different room?”
“.........No, I don’t think so.”
“No?”
“I’d still have to stay in it.”
That was true. Guilt had started to eat at him, he wasn’t sure if he had done the right thing at all. He couldn’t let Blackquill run outside, but physically holding him had only made it worse….What if they went down to the lobby? That was a change-But there would be other people there, and what if Blackquill panicked then? Made for the door? Either it would open and he’d be out in the snow, or someone would try to stop him and….no. Not the lobby. But then where…?
“....I've got an idea Sir! Is your luggage handy?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Do you have anything you could swim in inside it?”
He could picture the slow blink as Blackquill considered what he said. “..I should…why…….?”
“Could you go check?”
There was a shuffling as Blackquill got up, got out his suitcase, and started to go through it. Fulbright knew Blackquill wouldn’t have thought to pack it himself, but he also knew Miss Cykes had certainly thought of it, he’d watched as she stuffed it into her ‘Brunkle-Simon’s’ suitcase, to the amusement of said ‘Brunkle’, who objected loudly, but did not actually care.
“Found it.”
“Oh excellent! Now, how would you feel about going down to the pool? The staff told me it’s always unlocked, so it should be open now!” even now, at two-almost three-in the morning, assuming you didn’t mind having no lifeguard. Fulbright did think to wonder when they cleaned the thing, but that wasn’t important now.
“I……” Fulbright could practically hear his brow furrowing. “I don’t think the guard would allow me to, Fool-Bright.”
Fulbright couldn’t help but smile at the nickname, a sure sign that he was, at least starting to, feel more like himself. “I’ll handle the guard sir. You just head into the bathroom to change, and I’ll meet you when you come out, alright? Oh, and, would you mind staying on the line? Just so I know when you’re in there?”
“I can do that,” there was a pause, walking, and Fulbright could hear the bathroom door inside, “I’m in there now, I’ll change.”
“Alright Sir, I’ll see you in a minute.” Fulbright kept the phone on, and slipped back into the hotel room himself, and hurriedly tried to clean himself up a little. His nose had stopped bleeding, but still looked bruised. He poked it gingerly, wincing a little. Well, nothing for it. He turned on a light, and cleaned off, before changing into his own swim trunks. There was a brief pause when Simon asked if that was him out there, but a quick reassurance was all he needed. Fulbright kept his T-shirt on, but slipped some slippers on, unwilling to wander the hotel bare-foot. He was already set when Blackquill emerged, swim trunks and a striped tank top, with a towel slung over his shoulder. Thankfully, recognition sparked at once, and he visibly relaxed. “There you are, Fool-Bright.”
Fulbright smiled, and hung up his phone, sliding it into a pocket and grabbing a roomkey. “Here I am! Ready to go?” at Simons confirming nod, they headed down, Simon walking close beside Fulbright as they went. Neither of them spoke, and once reaching the pool, Fulbright slid his shirt off, emptied his pockets, and slid gratefully into the hot tub. Simon joined him a minute later, though he neglected to remove his tank top. He sat in silence for a while, as Fulbright relaxed, letting the water sooth everything.
“.......There wasn’t a guard, was there.”
“Hm?” Fulbright looked up, having leaned his head back. Simon was across from him, looking down at his wrists.
“It was you in the hotel room, and I was too damned confused to see it.”
Fulbright managed a smile. “It’s alright Sir. I’ve failed to recognize you too, you know.” frankly, between the two of them, it was a wonder either of them ever got a full night's sleep, but then, maybe that's why they got along? Mutual understanding was a powerful thing, you know.
“I attacked you.”
“Again, I've done the same. You remember that night I tried to-Well, anyway. We’re both alright now. It’s okay.” Fulbright didn’t want to finish that thought, the memory of trying to tear off Simon's mask, only to realize it was his face was…unsettling. Silence reigned for a time, and Fulbright watched as Simon ran a thumb over his right wrist, over and over…..eventually, he slid a little closer. Fulbright gestured that he could sit beside him, if he liked. Simon did so, leaning a little on Fulbright’s arm. Fulbright responded by carefully, slowly, wrapping it around Simon’s shoulder. They sat like that for a while, before Bobby realized Simon was starting to fall asleep, and frankly, he was drifting off too……
They would be alright. Still, better head back to the hotel room, safe and sound.