#gearsofintelligence

[loudgothbf]

He never counted on being late, but after a sluggish morning and time spent cooking breakfast he'd had to dash down the hall of the dorms to try and meet the elevator. He had a busy schedule today, help out with classes in Hope's Peak's secondary department before attending a few in person lectures for his spot in the after-program. He skid around the corner, sneakers squeaking against the tile floor as he pushed into the elevator right before it closed, sighing softly in relief when he'd managed to make it in time--not seeing his partner for the ride.--@gearsofintelligence

Hibiki had barely dragged himself out of bed this morning, much less to class, much less to this class. God, he'd been dreading it all day. He was starving and dizzy, and now he stood in the elevator trying to distract himself with some studying so he didn't have to think about how close the walls were to him. At first he barely notices that the doors are closing, he's much too focused with keeping himself standing. But after a moment he feels an odd discomfort, so he looks up.

And immediately he wants to sink to the ground. Even if he knew it was going to happen eventually, in literally a few minutes, he'd been holding his breath for it to be in those few minutes, and not now. Not right now.

He feels the elevator jolt to life for a moment, but only for a moment. As he opens his mouth, he feels it scrape to a halt. It jolts, making him stumble, the lights flickering, the floor shuddering, the momentum slamming him into the wall. Hiro. It's Hiro. And now... now he's... The door's not opening. The door's not opening and it's not moving and it's stuck and it's small and it's stuck and it's Hiro and--

"No."

@gearsofintelligence

[loudgothbf]

A knock resounds at the door, once, twice, three times. Hiroki Fukuyama stands on the other end, worry on his face and laden on his brow "Hibiki--?" He calls, chewing his lip "Hibiki are you there--?" He was worried having heard something bad had happened to secret and knew that Hibiki wouldn't be coping well at all.--@gearsofintelligence

There's a long, lingering silence from the other side of Hibiki's door. Then, after a moment, a distinct shuffling noise can be heard, followed by the click of the lock. The handle doesn't budge, the door doesn't open but it is now unlocked, and the only person who would have done that is Hibiki, who waits patiently on the other side of the door, squirming with excitement. Exactly the kind of person I needed.

@gearsofintelligence

[loudgothbf]

Out in the hall a certain brunette trots up to Hibiki after class, fidgeting with the glasses on his face "Hibiki--" He knew he didn't want to talk to him at all but he knew Hibiki had been talking to people about the two of them and what he'd heard him saying wasn't exactly very nice. "Can--can we talk...?"

@loudgothbf

Hibiki startles, whirling around with wide, terrified eyes, reflexively taking a defensive step back. Immediately, his face hardens, anger and disgust twisting his expression. He folds his arms, squeezing his nails absentmindedly into his skin. "No. Why would you think we could? Think I've made it pretty clear that I don't want to talk to you."

@gearsofintelligence