[Ichigo knew this might happen - he's not dumb, he's seen Gabe getting more and more on edge as they stayed here - but he'd hoped that it would fade soon. After all, they were going to check out soon, weren't they?
Or was this brought on by the resort travelling again? He knew Gabe had issues with that last time, but he'd thought that he would have calmed down after the near punishment he got last time.]
If this is about the place moving again, the Staff already said we'll be touching down in a few days.
[Okay, maybe it is a little bit of that. Being stuck while the hotel 'moves' is definitely making him anxious. But today's talk is about something else.]
You've seen the evidence left behind by those things, haven't you?
[Ichigo scratches the back of his head, looking a little sheepish.]
I've seen them - the ghost dog and the spider. The spider was in a person - but they just watched me. I also checked out the kitchens - there was human meat in there, though the chef said it was being fed to the rats. Guess that's why they have special treatment, huh?
[He's very calm about this - mostly because both monsters didn't seem to be interested in him, just watching before going about their business. Surely, Gabe'll see that it's just that, right?]
[If Gabe hadn't run out of his medication like a week ago, then maybe he could listen to reason. But this Gabe is significantly more paranoid than he normally is, so he doesn't see that they're leaving them alone. He just sees a threat, one that needs to be taken care of.
One that he needs to protect Ichigo from.]
Yeah, those things. Look, kid, they snatch bodies. Even if they're not watching us right now, they could go after either of us before too long. And if one of us gets compromised, then it's over for both of us.
[By the way, at that moment Sol is going to start poking at Ichigo's mind to get his attention. HEY ICHIGO YOU THERE?]
[Hm - that's a damn bad time for Sol to butt in, and he looks away for a moment -easy enough to think that he's just pondering what Gabe's saying, even though he's really just giving Sol a gentle 'not now.']
They won't. They aren't even interested in us - I've been in enough battles to know what blood lust or killing instinct feels like, and I didn't feel anything like that directed my way when they see us. They only see normal humans as prey, I think.
[At least, he hopes so. But it's a pattern of behavior he's noticed, as he doesn't have such an immediate response to monsters like Gabe does.
I'm not talking about 'prey' here, I know we're not prey. I'm talking about 'hosts'. They won't eat us, but who's to say they won't use our bodies for something?
[It is a genuine worry of his, even if his current paranoia is making it worse. They have only taken human bodies so far, but both Gabe and Ichigo have pretty strong powers. Any ghost would want a body like that.
Also, Sol is not listening. 'Why not now? What's going on? Are you in danger???']
[He winces a little at Sol's voice, because trying to listen to two conversations at once is hard, and it's not like Sol's done this before.
'Not now, Sol. I'll explain later, okay?'
Anyway, after doing that, he focuses his attention back on Gabe.]
And I'm saying they wouldn't do that. Hotel rules, remember? 'No harming other Guests.' If we're Guests, then taking us over would be the same as harming us, right?
[Nope, he doesn't believe that for a second. He really wants to, but he knows Ichigo far too well. 'It's nothing' always means 'it's something I don't want to talk about.'
One of Gabe's hands is resting on his gun holster, but isn't taking his gun out quite yet.]
Kurosaki. Kid. Look. Normally, I'd trust you. But these things, they're.
[Fuck. How does he say 'I think you might be possessed' without saying that?]
Just- tell me they haven't gotten to you, alright?
[Sol now sounds a bit sad as they mentally say 'So...you don't need me...?'
And Kon is butting in to lecture Ichigo about being nice to Sol.]
[He sees that hand on the holster - and while he doesn't like it, his heart already hammering in his chest at the thought, stomach sinking - he tries to keep his composure, opening his mouth -
And immediately flinching again at the Sol and Kon combo. 'No, it's not like that - look, I mean it! I'll explain later, I'm in a situation here!'
And he knows that looks bad - but he also has faith. Faith in their bond, in that Gabe won't shoot him in this instance.]
They haven't. I promise, I - I'm sorry, I'm kind of - out of it today. No one's possessing me, I'm fine. I should probably get back to my room, anyway.
[But then, why...
...does it feel like the situation is beginning to spin out of his control..?]
[And the worst comes to pass - the situation he didn't want becomes reality in front of him, his heart pounding in his chest as he raises both of his hands in the universal gesture of 'don't shoot.'
He doesn't answer either Sol or Kon, too focused on what's happening - staring right into Gabe's eyes.]
....Reyes. It's me. I'm me. Please - put that down.
[He's basically begging with his own eyes, his expression - he's scared in this moment, because -
he's never had a gun pointed at him, and he never thought Gabe would be the one doing it. Not - the person who could be gruff and blunt and kind of an asshole at times, sure, but still someone he cared about, someone he thought he was close to -!
[He wants to believe it. Oh, how he wants to believe it. This is Ichigo, his idiot apprentice who sasses him every chance he gets and critiques his language skills. For all Gabe bothers him and gives him a hard time, he doesn't actually dislike him or anything. In fact, it's quite the opposite: he's grown attached to this strange boy, attached in a way he hasn't in years. Not since McCree.
And he just...he can't do it.
Gabe pulls his finger off the trigger, and he starts to lower the gun.]
[But then the wisps of shadows and smoke, they take charge. a tendril of it shoots out from his hand, curls around the handle, and squeezes the trigger.
And Gabe ends up shooting Ichigo in the chest at point-blank range.]
[For a moment, everything is fine - and the relief that flashes on his face is practically shining, seeing Gabe look so, so -
And then the world stops.
A few things hit him first. There's a deep pain, the sound of bones breaking in his body, familiar and awful - and as he breathes again, he exhales bloody sputnum instead of air. His eyes go wide, shock and pain on his face as he collapses, blood having flown from his body onto the nearby desk, the wall -
He hits the floor, and more than the blood he's losing, the blood he's currently nearly drowning in from his own lungs, the buckshot in his bones and sternum and everywhere, making it hurt hurt hurt hurt -
Gabe...shot him. Gabe...shot him, and didn't even let him explain. Gabe -]
Aaa...agh...
[Without thinking, he reaches out with a shaking, blood covered hand - and grabs onto Gabe's pant leg, looking up at -
his partner? his senior agent?
his....murderer.]
R....Re...ye....
[He coughs, bloody froth making it hard to think, to breathe - but he just keeps looking, and -
Tears flow down his cheeks, mixing with the blood, eyes full of nothing but shock, hurt, and despair.]
He doesn't even remember pulling the trigger- his finger wasn't even on it, or so he thought- but that's his gun going off in his hands and now Ichigo is falling.
Gabe has killed many, many people before. But this is the first time he's regretted it even before the gun went off.
Ichigo grabbing for his leg seems to snap him out of that stupor, though. He drops the gun entirely and goes down right next to Ichigo, kneeling closely enough that he can try to assess Ichigo's wounds. Buckshot to the chest, probably several broken bones and torn organs. This needs a lot of health packs to even give Ichigo a shot at living, and Gabe is out of those at the moment.]
It's fine.
[He's lying, partially for Ichigo's sake and partially for his own. He'll last longer if he doesn't panic, just try to reassure him.]
It's fine, we'll get you patched right up, and you'll be good as new. I can handle this, it's fine.
[It's not fine at all, and his tone probably betrays that. But he's still trying to apply pressure to Ichigo's chest, to maybe slow the bleeding a bit.]
[There's nothing but choked noised answering him as the blood fills up his lungs - unfortunately, his sternum did it's job and protected his heart, but not the lungs - and bloody froth is coming more and more out of his mouth, practically gurgling with each breath.
He doesn't stop holding on, but it's clear he's beginning to drown in his own blood - and his eyes keep boring into Gabe's, just continually asking why. why.
Why did this happen? Why didn't he listen?
Why did - he shoot?
Was Ichigo...the only one who actually cared? Was everything just - his way of keeping him at arm's length?
Was this...his fault, for not listening more to Gabe? For not falling in line with what he said?
Everything hurts, but he can't tell if it's his body, or his emotions that hurt more, as his eyes begin to slowly glaze over as he dies by slow, agonizing inches.
[He can't fix this, no. That settles into his mind and he just breathes, trying to take in enough air to keep that tightness in his throat from coming out. This is all his fault. Ichigo is going to drown in his own blood, and it's all his fault.
He can't fix this, but maybe he can make it quicker. Ichigo deserves that much, at least.
Resigned, Gabe pulls his hands away from Ichigo's dying body, and instead he goes for his shotgun. Then he stands up, to give himself enough distance to not accidentally hurt himself.
He holds up the gun once more, but this time when he looks down at Ichigo, it's with sadness in his eyes.]
Go home, mijo.
[It's not the apology he deserves, but. Well. Gabe's never been good at apologizing.
And with that, he pulls the trigger once more.
At least this way Ichigo doesn't have to suffer anymore.]
there's something important about it, and yet, he doesn't know what it means. If he had time, if he could speak, he'd say he could never go back home, not like this -
And then the gun goes off again, and the top part of Ichigo's skull goes with it, spreading brain, blood, and bits of skull across the room. Those still open eyes go from slowly fading to empty in a second, as the now empty corpse's head lifelessly thuds on the ground.
In the middle of the mess that was once his brain is a small, throbbing petoskey stone.
As for Ichigo - his soul, not the body he's left behind - he barely spares a second glance before rapidly shunpoing out of the room, leaving everything behind.
It's the last time he'll ever talk to another human being for six months.
And when Gabe talks to him again, there will be no kindness, no jokes or mirth.
[It's when Ichigo dies that he finally, finally lets it come out. A harsh breath, a gasp, and a bite on his lower lip. It's the closest he's come to actually crying in a long, long time, but boy does his chest hurt right now. Ichigo didn't deserve any of this, he fucked up so badly here.
He almost misses Ichigo leaving, honestly. He's never actually seen a spirit before, so he doesn't even realize that it's Ichigo he's seeing. But something in him changed today, and he catches a blur of orange and black out of the corner of his eye. Which makes he turn suddenly, and look to the door.]
Kid?
[But there's nothing there. Ichigo is too fast, and it leaves Gabe thinking he's imagining things. Ichigo is dead now, after all. He won't be seeing him again.]
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no subject
Or was this brought on by the resort travelling again? He knew Gabe had issues with that last time, but he'd thought that he would have calmed down after the near punishment he got last time.]
If this is about the place moving again, the Staff already said we'll be touching down in a few days.
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[Okay, maybe it is a little bit of that. Being stuck while the hotel 'moves' is definitely making him anxious. But today's talk is about something else.]
You've seen the evidence left behind by those things, haven't you?
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[Ichigo scratches the back of his head, looking a little sheepish.]
I've seen them - the ghost dog and the spider. The spider was in a person - but they just watched me. I also checked out the kitchens - there was human meat in there, though the chef said it was being fed to the rats. Guess that's why they have special treatment, huh?
[He's very calm about this - mostly because both monsters didn't seem to be interested in him, just watching before going about their business. Surely, Gabe'll see that it's just that, right?]
no subject
One that he needs to protect Ichigo from.]
Yeah, those things. Look, kid, they snatch bodies. Even if they're not watching us right now, they could go after either of us before too long. And if one of us gets compromised, then it's over for both of us.
[By the way, at that moment Sol is going to start poking at Ichigo's mind to get his attention. HEY ICHIGO YOU THERE?]
no subject
They won't. They aren't even interested in us - I've been in enough battles to know what blood lust or killing instinct feels like, and I didn't feel anything like that directed my way when they see us. They only see normal humans as prey, I think.
[At least, he hopes so. But it's a pattern of behavior he's noticed, as he doesn't have such an immediate response to monsters like Gabe does.
After all, he's part monster himself, in a way.]
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[It is a genuine worry of his, even if his current paranoia is making it worse. They have only taken human bodies so far, but both Gabe and Ichigo have pretty strong powers. Any ghost would want a body like that.
Also, Sol is not listening. 'Why not now? What's going on? Are you in danger???']
no subject
'Not now, Sol. I'll explain later, okay?'
Anyway, after doing that, he focuses his attention back on Gabe.]
And I'm saying they wouldn't do that. Hotel rules, remember? 'No harming other Guests.' If we're Guests, then taking us over would be the same as harming us, right?
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[But now he's frowning, and he's eyeing Ichigo more carefully. He has his suspicions, but...]
You alright, kid?
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[He nods at the second question, though.]
Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little distracted, is all.
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Distracted? By what?
[Sol picks that moment to start talking again too. 'Come on, let me help! I'm a good helper!']
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[But he squints a little, giving Sol a more firm 'I'm serious, not now!' answer.]
Just - thinking. You know how it is.
[...God, that sounds so fake. He scratches the back of his head again, looking away.]
A-Anyway, I think you're overthinking this. In a few days we'll get out, and then we can figure out what else to put on the SCP report.
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One of Gabe's hands is resting on his gun holster, but isn't taking his gun out quite yet.]
Kurosaki. Kid. Look. Normally, I'd trust you. But these things, they're.
[Fuck. How does he say 'I think you might be possessed' without saying that?]
Just- tell me they haven't gotten to you, alright?
[Sol now sounds a bit sad as they mentally say 'So...you don't need me...?'
And Kon is butting in to lecture Ichigo about being nice to Sol.]
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And immediately flinching again at the Sol and Kon combo. 'No, it's not like that - look, I mean it! I'll explain later, I'm in a situation here!'
And he knows that looks bad - but he also has faith. Faith in their bond, in that Gabe won't shoot him in this instance.]
They haven't. I promise, I - I'm sorry, I'm kind of - out of it today. No one's possessing me, I'm fine. I should probably get back to my room, anyway.
[But then, why...
...does it feel like the situation is beginning to spin out of his control..?]
no subject
Or maybe it's because there is a flash of black smoke as he draws one of his shotguns, pointing it directly at Ichigo's chest.]
They got to you, didn't they? Fuck, they got to you, and now they're controlling you!
[He doesn't even seem to notice that the hand holding the gun has gone all shadowy.
Also, Sol and Kon are both sounding very concerned now, and are asking Ichigo what's wrong.]
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He doesn't answer either Sol or Kon, too focused on what's happening - staring right into Gabe's eyes.]
....Reyes. It's me. I'm me. Please - put that down.
[He's basically begging with his own eyes, his expression - he's scared in this moment, because -
he's never had a gun pointed at him, and he never thought Gabe would be the one doing it. Not - the person who could be gruff and blunt and kind of an asshole at times, sure, but still someone he cared about, someone he thought he was close to -!
He swallows, hard.]
Please. I - don't do this.
1/2
And he just...he can't do it.
Gabe pulls his finger off the trigger, and he starts to lower the gun.]
no subject
And Gabe ends up shooting Ichigo in the chest at point-blank range.]
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And then the world stops.
A few things hit him first. There's a deep pain, the sound of bones breaking in his body, familiar and awful - and as he breathes again, he exhales bloody sputnum instead of air. His eyes go wide, shock and pain on his face as he collapses, blood having flown from his body onto the nearby desk, the wall -
He hits the floor, and more than the blood he's losing, the blood he's currently nearly drowning in from his own lungs, the buckshot in his bones and sternum and everywhere, making it hurt hurt hurt hurt -
Gabe...shot him. Gabe...shot him, and didn't even let him explain. Gabe -]
Aaa...agh...
[Without thinking, he reaches out with a shaking, blood covered hand - and grabs onto Gabe's pant leg, looking up at -
his partner? his senior agent?
his....murderer.]
R....Re...ye....
[He coughs, bloody froth making it hard to think, to breathe - but he just keeps looking, and -
Tears flow down his cheeks, mixing with the blood, eyes full of nothing but shock, hurt, and despair.]
....Wh...y....Ga...be....?
no subject
He doesn't even remember pulling the trigger- his finger wasn't even on it, or so he thought- but that's his gun going off in his hands and now Ichigo is falling.
Gabe has killed many, many people before. But this is the first time he's regretted it even before the gun went off.
Ichigo grabbing for his leg seems to snap him out of that stupor, though. He drops the gun entirely and goes down right next to Ichigo, kneeling closely enough that he can try to assess Ichigo's wounds. Buckshot to the chest, probably several broken bones and torn organs. This needs a lot of health packs to even give Ichigo a shot at living, and Gabe is out of those at the moment.]
It's fine.
[He's lying, partially for Ichigo's sake and partially for his own. He'll last longer if he doesn't panic, just try to reassure him.]
It's fine, we'll get you patched right up, and you'll be good as new. I can handle this, it's fine.
[It's not fine at all, and his tone probably betrays that. But he's still trying to apply pressure to Ichigo's chest, to maybe slow the bleeding a bit.]
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He doesn't stop holding on, but it's clear he's beginning to drown in his own blood - and his eyes keep boring into Gabe's, just continually asking why. why.
Why did this happen? Why didn't he listen?
Why did - he shoot?
Was Ichigo...the only one who actually cared? Was everything just - his way of keeping him at arm's length?
Was this...his fault, for not listening more to Gabe? For not falling in line with what he said?
Everything hurts, but he can't tell if it's his body, or his emotions that hurt more, as his eyes begin to slowly glaze over as he dies by slow, agonizing inches.
You can't fix this, Gabe.]
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He can't fix this, but maybe he can make it quicker. Ichigo deserves that much, at least.
Resigned, Gabe pulls his hands away from Ichigo's dying body, and instead he goes for his shotgun. Then he stands up, to give himself enough distance to not accidentally hurt himself.
He holds up the gun once more, but this time when he looks down at Ichigo, it's with sadness in his eyes.]
Go home, mijo.
[It's not the apology he deserves, but. Well. Gabe's never been good at apologizing.
And with that, he pulls the trigger once more.
At least this way Ichigo doesn't have to suffer anymore.]
no subject
there's something important about it, and yet, he doesn't know what it means. If he had time, if he could speak, he'd say he could never go back home, not like this -
And then the gun goes off again, and the top part of Ichigo's skull goes with it, spreading brain, blood, and bits of skull across the room. Those still open eyes go from slowly fading to empty in a second, as the now empty corpse's head lifelessly thuds on the ground.
In the middle of the mess that was once his brain is a small, throbbing petoskey stone.
As for Ichigo - his soul, not the body he's left behind - he barely spares a second glance before rapidly shunpoing out of the room, leaving everything behind.
It's the last time he'll ever talk to another human being for six months.
And when Gabe talks to him again, there will be no kindness, no jokes or mirth.
There will only be anger, and pain.]
no subject
He almost misses Ichigo leaving, honestly. He's never actually seen a spirit before, so he doesn't even realize that it's Ichigo he's seeing. But something in him changed today, and he catches a blur of orange and black out of the corner of his eye. Which makes he turn suddenly, and look to the door.]
Kid?
[But there's nothing there. Ichigo is too fast, and it leaves Gabe thinking he's imagining things. Ichigo is dead now, after all. He won't be seeing him again.]