deercountry | (closed) march catchall

But you didn't make a mistake.

[ Granted, he knows the possibility of a mistake was there. It's always there, isn't it? Even when you're messing around with things much more mundane than supernatural powers, even if it wasn't here in Trench. Mistakes are always possible.

But rather than focusing on the possibility of them, Daniel would rather focus on the good that happened here, the thing that keeps him smiling at the boy. ]

.. does it still feel like a relief now? Are you alright after all of that?

[ Sure, Sunny looks alright. But he doesn't have to be physically injured to maybe not be alright after going through something that wild. Daniel wants to check, just to make sure. Not like there's much else he can do from his bed. ]

[That was true. Sunny hadn't made a mistake. Things hadn't gone exactly to plan once he was in there, but it had worked out. For the better, really. He now understood Mob more, that was for certain.]

It does. [He's silent for another moment.] Kind of alarming, too, since I can take people to other places besides the one I wanted to go to. [Granted, he hadn't been the one to draw them into Black Space. But it was in that stable form because of his powers.]

I'm okay. I'm worried about Mob and Robby.

[ Daniel smiles. There's something a little bit sad in it as he admits: ]

Me too.

[ He tries to hope it'll be okay though. If the kids all managed to pull through the entire Mob situation without his help, then it's now Daniel's duty to make sure they pull through the aftermath as well with his help. ]

Robby has been spending a lot of time with me here. I'm watching over him. [ Well, technically.. it's the other way around, since Robby is helping take care of him while he's stuck in bed.. But Daniel is keeping an eye on Robby's emotions as much as he can while he's still so hurt and tired, really. ] I know it's a lot to ask, but.. could you keep an eye on Shigeo, Sunny? Have you seen him since it all happened?

[ Probably, right? Daniel isn't sure if anything changed in the aftermath, but they do live in the same place, right...

.. not to mention that he does want to address Sunny's powers too, but it can wait for a moment, he figures. He thinks the other's kind worry about the other kids is worth addressing first. ]

Ah, that's good.

[It was a relief to hear that Daniel was looking out for Robby. He didn't know what had happened to him really since everything had happened. He was glad that he wasn't going to be alone, and he didn't think there was anyone better to watch over him than Daniel.]

It's not too much. I was going to, anyway. [He very much cared about Mob and there was no way he was going not look out for him after what had happened. Besides, as silly as it was he was kind of starting to feel like an older brother to him.]

I saw him after I woke up properly. [He pauses.] He's not doing that well.

...

[ He slowly exhales. ]

I can imagine.

[ That Mob isn't doing so well, that is. It makes something about the smile on Daniel's face drop a little, though he's careful to not seem entirely sad here.. The last thing he wants to do is give these kids only more worries. He'd like to maintain something hopeful in them, especially after all of this.

Even if he has to orchestrate that while he's stuck in bed with a healing broken back. ]

It's alright though. We just have to show him that we still care about him. I'll call him over so I can tell him that as well. [ In case Sunny needs more proof that Daniel doesn't blame Mob either - though it probably was obvious already from the man's attitude.

Daniel shifts a little, probably trying to get more comfortable, though it instead just makes the man wince with faint pain. ]

.. is it okay if I ask you something?

[Daniel's attitude towards things is helping Sunny, if only a little bit. It was comforting to still have an adult he thought he could rely on. After... what Mob had said about what happened with Makima.

He doesn't know how to feel about her, now, only that it makes him deeply uncomfortable.]

Right. [Easy agreement there.] I've told him, too, that I'll be there for him. [Watching out for him when he clearly needs it most.]

...Yes, that's fine. [The question, that is. He's curious about what it could be.]

It's about your powers.

[ There's a faint twitch to Daniel's lip as he says it, but he manages to smile a little bit. Sure, the idea of all these powers is still wild to him, even after over half a year in this place, but Daniel is trying to adjust.

And if there's anything this entire Mob incident proved, it's that Daniel needs to know more about his students' powers. Just in case. ]

I know we talked about them before [ in the context of Sunny wanting to control them better, in the context of meditation and all-- ] but I never asked exactly what they are. Would you mind explaining to me what they're like..?

[ He gets this sort of stuff can be a very personal question, hence why he's so careful about asking it. But Daniel likes to think - or maybe hope - that Sunny would trust him enough to talk about it, even if it might be hard. ]

[Thankfully Sunny doesn't seem to mind discussing them. At least not with Daniel.]

Oh, sure. The first thing I realized I could do was force people's emotions. I've never done that one intentionally, but I have on accident on a few occasions. [However, that part wasn't relevant to what had happened with Mob the other day.]

The other thing is- I can bring people into a mental world. It's called White Space. There's next to nothing in there, except for a few comfort items, maybe. [A picnic blanket for Sunny, a futon for Mob.]

When I do that, it makes me and the other person go unconscious. [Hence why it was able to stop Mob. He hesitates for a second or so, frowning lightly.]

But there's also someplace else. It's called Black Space. [From the way he says it, it's clear this place makes him... uncomfortable.]

Because of how... volatile Mob's emotional state was, White Space was destroyed and replaced with it.

It's the deepest part of anyone's mind, where everything that you try to repress or hide from yourself goes. [He pauses for a moment.] It isn't pleasant.

[ See, it's no surprise to Daniel to hear that Sunny has never used his emotion-forcing power on purpose. Daniel believes all of his students to be good, good kids, after all, and Sunny is no exception. So he can nod encouragingly at that part, smiling a little, until he listens to the rest of it.

Which is.. a lot. Much in the way many other descriptions of powers he's heard in this place tend to be a lot. It's the sort of thing that sounds like it comes straight from a movie, except it's real.

So Daniel knows to take it seriously. Even if he may need a quiet moment to process it after Sunny is done talking before the man slowly nods. ]

I.. see. It sounds like it must have been difficult for you to be there with him.

[ Mob was dangerous enough in the state he had been in back there, after all. And then to combine that with an unpleasant mental world - it doesn't sound like the greatest thing ever. No wonder Daniel gives the other a worried stare. ]

Mob... actually wasn't awake, when we got to Black Space. [Which wasn't to say that being in that place wasn't difficult. There were certain moments that truly did hurt him, even if he'd managed to overcome them.]

I don't think he's even aware of what happened in there.

[No, Mob hadn't said anything to him once they'd woken up, so he thinks that it's only Shigeo that was conscious at the time. He was the only one that had known what Sunny had went through.]

For the most part it wasn't... terrible. But there was some bleed over from my mind and- [He trails off.] It was hard but I think it was a good thing.

Well.. [ He exhales. ] It's definitely a good thing considering it brought him back.

[ And Daniel isn't so sure if anything else would have been able to do so. Robby tried calling out to him, and Daniel tried the same, but all they had gotten for their efforts was that they both almost died.

Maybe Sunny's power was the only thing that could've done it. ]

But.. you know, I wasn't talking about Shigeo this time. [ Daniel smiles a little - sympathetically - as he says it. No, his remark about it being difficult was more about-- ] I guess you could say I'm overly fussy, but.. I just wanted to make sure using those powers wasn't too big of a strain on you, Sunny. Don't get me wrong, you did great out there.

[ He wants to emphasize that!! So badly!! He's so proud, bud.. ]

But I don't want you to push yourself too hard either, you know..?

[ Says the guy who's stuck in bed-- but look, maybe the pot can call the kettle black when the pot is a sensei worried about his kids. ]

[Senseis were allowed to fuss about their kids. Sunny couldn't try to argue with that, no matter what kind of condition Daniel was in currently.]

No, it wasn't too big of a strain. [At least, he thinks it wasn't.] I was tired when I first woke up and fell back asleep again, but I don't think it took too much out of me.

[But he knows that it's not just the physical Daniel is talking about.] And Black Space- it isn't a fun place to be, but I've been through my own before, so this wasn't nearly as bad. [Certainly made things less personal, not having his own guilt and trauma being the focus. It did still manage to peek its way in, though.]

I'm okay. [His expression softens.] I promise I would tell you if I wasn't. [Sunny genuinely trusts Daniel.]

[ Considering how often Daniel pulls the whole 'saying he's okay even when he's actually not okay at all' thing, he could easily doubt Sunny's answer here. It can't have been easy, even if his way of helping Mob may not have been absolutely devastating to him either.

.. but.. on the other hand, with what Sunny says after it, and the boy's expression so rarely softening like that.. there's no way Daniel could bring himself to doubt those words. If anything, seeing Sunny like this just makes Daniel smile before he even realises he's doing just that. ]

Thank you. [ The genuine gratitude in his voice is so apparent. ] That really means a lot to me.

[ Because Daniel wants to know when the kids aren't feeling well. So he can help. So when they trust him enough to tell him when they're not okay, the way Sunny is promising now-- It's great. It feels like an honour. ]

I'm really glad you decided to join the dojo. Not just because of what you did in this situation, but.. just because you're such a good kid. You prove that every time we talk.

[Being called a good kid makes Sunny's chest tighten a little. He hadn't been called that in... a long time. Ever since Mari died it was always 'be a good boy', not that he was one.

And Daniel genuinely seemed to believe it, too.]

I'm glad I did, too. Being a part of the dojo has really helped me a lot.

[He hesitates for a second.] Could I hug you? I don't want to accidentally hurt you while you're injured. [Pulling him in an odd way or something like that.]

[ The man lets out a sound that's almost a laugh at that last question - though it seems to be fond and warm more than anything. It's just endearing, the fact Sunny would ask before actually doing it, or just the fact the kid would offer him a hug at all. ]

Of course.

[ It's hard for Daniel to move much, but he tries to at least force his body up a little bit to make it slightly easier for a hug to happen, spreading his arms. Not too wide, since that'd strain his back, but just enough so there's space for Sunny. ]

C'mere.

[There is a slight upturn to Sunny's lips at Daniel's response. A very rare smile from the boy as he leans in to hug him. He's careful not to squeeze too hard or jostle Daniel. He really didn't want to hurt him.

But this was nice. He'd always liked hugs, and physical affection in general. A lot of times it was easier to express what you meant through it than with words. And for a long while he'd been bereft of human touch- his own fault, but still.

Even longer since he'd gotten any sort of attention at all from a father figure. His own father left and wouldn't even acknowledge him as his son.

After a good few moments, Sunny pulls away, if only so the position didn't strain Daniel. If he was well he might have lingered a bit longer.]

[ Honestly, it does hurt a little, moving to hug anyone like this. At least the painkillers ensure that his back doesn't hurt as much anymore as it did right after the incident, right after he woke up from his unconscious state, but that's not saying much with how intense the pain had been back then. Any pain would be more bearable in comparison.

So even though he would have preferred to keep holding onto Sunny for a few moments, especially in the wake of this entire thing having made him realise he really should treasure his students while he can, Daniel decides to give in to his back's demands when Sunny lets go, moving to properly lie back down so he won't further strain himself and hurt himself worse. ]

You better watch out once I'm finally out of this bed. [ He says - his voice a little strained from the pain of his body having moved itself, but with a lighter air to it, a smile on his face that doesn't seem fake. Mostly because the fatigue shows in it all the same. ] I will hug all of you. Your sensei will become a hug menace.

[The strain in Daniel's voice is a bit concerning, but his demeanor otherwise is reassuring. Hopefully it didn't hurt him too much.

But then the rarest thing of all happens when Daniel says he's going to become a hug menace- Sunny laughs. Lightly, and not for very long, but it was undeniably a laugh. The first time he'd done so in Trench. The first time he'd done so in a very long time.]

I'm looking forward to it.

[ .. oh.

The laugh-- it's definitely a little surprising. Daniel doesn't have a full idea of just how long it's been since Sunny last laughed like that, but he does know that he's never seen the boy do it before. Not during conversations with him, nor during any he's overheard Sunny have with the other kids.. He doesn't even smile all that much, though he doesn't exactly seem moody either, so Daniel never fussed about that fact that much.

But it makes this moment feel special. Especially in the wake of everything that happened. Even though Sunny must have been affected by the entire incident.. he can laugh now it's over.

There's something about having been able to make the boy laugh that makes Daniel have to duck his head for a moment, filled with so much basically parental pride that it flusters him. It takes a moment before he's able to look back over at Sunny again, but he's definitely smiling. ]

.. me too, bud. [ It's said a little softer, because Daniel is still basking in the afterglow of this emotion. It completely numbs the pain for a moment, if not just because he's way too distracted to think about said pain. ] And.. you should show that smile more often, if you've ever got reasons for it. It's a good one.

[Even just being able to laugh showed how much Sunny trusted Daniel, and how much support he'd been able to get since coming to Trench. The place was far from perfect, but the people here were genuinely wonderful. He was very glad he'd been able to meet them.

Without people like Daniel he never would have come this far.]

My sister always said the same thing. [The fact he could say that and it didn't hurt so bad was something in and of itself.]

Well..

[ Daniel knows what sort of weight those words must have for Sunny, given what the other had told him before. He tries to not push too hard on the heavy side of it, instead just continuing to softly smile over at the boy. ]

It sounds like she was very smart then. [ Even though it's pretty evident to Daniel that seeing Sunny's smile feels like a delight, but sshh.. ] .. she really was right. I feel very glad to have seen it today.

[ Honestly, nearly dying at least doesn't feel as bad when he can afterwards bask in all this sweetness and care from the kids he's so fond of. ]

She was. [Mari was very smart. Always had been. But... maybe she was also right about this. His response is just vague enough that it could have been to one or both of those things.]

I hope it made you feel a little better. I'm sure you'll see it more. [Which was saying a lot. Sunny's smiles had to be earned, but he believed Daniel would coax more out of him.]

[ Well, at least Daniel's reply here is very obvious - even to himself. ]

It did.

[ What could make him feel better at a moment like this, really? It's not like his back is going to get better that quickly, and it still hurts, so.. he's got to find the little joys where he can. Like in his students' smiles. ]

I'm worried that I'm going to be stuck like this for a while longer. [ Alas, that much damage to your back doesn't heal that quickly, not even in a place like Trench.. ] But.. if you want or have time, you can always come visit me in the meantime until I'm well enough to start up classes again.

[ Because.. you know, Daniel would like to see Sunny more often between now and then. But he's just a little too selfless to ask for it too directly. ]

[Unfortunately it did seem like Daniel was going to be in traction for a while. Back injuries were pretty dang serious. And, in truth, Sunny was absolutely planning on coming to see Daniel anyway.]

I'll come visit. [Said with a nod.] I'll bring you some books when I do, since I'm sure you'll get bored.

(closed) march catchall

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