Making up. (Kris/Invite)

[Piper Wren]

Now that the chaos of the ball was now over…Piper was all to glad to be out of there and to have gotten as many people out as she could have done. She was no leader, but what else could she have done. Once she had made it back to her empty dorm, Piper wedged an old chair under the door handle and stripped off the crimson, worse for wear ballgown. The young woman caught sight of herself in the mirror, clad in just her undergarments. The ivory skin of her arms and shoulders were covered in small cuts from the glass that had exploded near her, crimson drips stained her pale skin. Piper’s hair was still in it’s bun although tendrils were coming loose, she pulled her hair free and let it hang around her shoulders again. Raking her hands through it to comb it out and wiping off the crimson stain on her lips. She looked like herself again as she pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans and black turtleneck, grateful for the cover. Piper had to go and see Kristopher, she was worried sick about him. Despite how she may have felt lately she was desperate to see her friend. Tell him how scared she had been.

She took once last glance at herself in the mirror, no…she wasn’t quite herself. At least not quite who she had been when she came here, for better or for worse she wasn’t sure yet. Not looking back at the ballgown in it’s crimson heap on the floor, Piper moved the chair and checked the hallway before dashing off to Kristopher’s dorm room. Knocking quietly on the door before opening it a short way.

“Hello? Kris? It’s me…”

[Kristopher Roberts]

The whole ball had turned into a nightmare, a lot of people had gotten hurt and a lot had died as well. In the count, the boogies hurt the most more then likely, but still, it was a bad night.

The knock echoed through the dorm room and for a moment, it seemed like no one was going to answer until finally someone cracked open the door. Gloria stood there, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail and slightly messy. She just stared at Piper for a full minute before speaking. "You shouldn't be so loud." It came out in a sigh as she shifted the things in her arms.

A bloody sheet, towel, rags and medical equipment was all stuffed into a stained plastic laundry basket. Now that was pointed out, it was also a kin point to notice she had some blood on her hands and face. Most of it was washed away but still there, even on her attire. A few busted bolts where on top of all the mess.

"But if you want to see the boys, you can but you best behave or I'll come back here and beat the shit out of you girl." Ah, Gloria how sweet she is! Then, she excused herself politely and started down the hall, leaving Piper to do as she pleased.

Kristopher though, would not be getting up to greet his old friend who he believed hated him. The blond would be laying in his and Augusta's bed. The boy's chest and arm was bandaged thickly with some blood seeping through. During the ball, Luther had gotten trigger happy and Kristopher did not get out of the ball unharmed.

Having been one in the ring and the one marked less likely to live as well as escaping and being at the wrong spot at the wrong time, Luther had pinged him and his twin. Kristopher had taken a bolt or two in the back. Those had been the worst wounds he received, everything else was cuts and scraps.

[Piper Wren]

"You shouldn't be so loud...But if you want to see the boys, you can but you best behave or I'll come back here and beat the shit out of you girl."

Piper shot a hard look at Gloria's retreating back, who did that bitch think she was? And about beating the shit of her? HA! She wouldn't be the first and no doubt she wouldn't be the last either. Piper wouldn't just sit there and take it either, she may have to take it from some boogies but if Gloria tried it Piper wouldn't have any qualms about lashing out if she had to. Glad to have her out of the way at least, Piper quietly walked into the room. Her breath caught in her throat at the state of Kristopher, the blood seeping through the white bandages and covered in cuts and scrapes worse than the ones hidden and still bleeding beneath her black covers. Piper nibbled her bottom lip anxiously as she pulled up close to the bed, picking up a spindly looking wooden chair that was sitting nearby and placing it gently close to the bed. She sat down, there was a moment of anxious silence between them before Piper hesitantly reached out and carefully covered Kristopher’s hand with her own, as if she were scared of hurting him.

‘Will he even want to speak to me?’

“Kris? I’m sorry…”

Again another moment of silence, Piper used her thumb to gently stroke the unharmed skin of Kristopher’s hand. Keeping her focus on that and not quite looking him in the eye, she had been so angry for the last few weeks…angry at him and at herself for the whole mess. Would he just want her to go away?

[Kristopher Roberts]

It was a good thing that Kris could not hear his friend Gloria or he would of told her to be nice to the guest. But of course, he couldn't hear her from his room, in fact he didn't hear much because he was sleeping lightly. Though, it didn't take much to wake the blond.

Once he felt the contact of skin upon his hand he opened his mismatched eyes and stared at Piper. It wasn't a look of hate or disgust, or was it loving. It was the look of pleasent surprise. He blinked a few times more so to focus on the woman in front of him. The blond did not pull his hand back but merely sighed.

"Sorry for what?" He asked, sounding tired and pained, his breathing made his back hurt even worse then it had moments ago when Gloria had to dig the bolts out of his body. That had taken a lot out of him and his throat was horse from screaming into a pillow. Those bolts where not made to be removed from human flesh.

He shifted slightly on the sheets but made no motion to set up or roll from his the position in which he currently laid at, on his side.

"If it's about my back...there's little to apologize for..." He chuckled softly then and closed his eyes, though did not go back to sleep. "So, don't worry."

[Piper Wren]

"Sorry for what? if it's about my back...there's little to apologize for...So, don't worry."

How could he be so nonchalant about that? Piper was only just managing not to cringe at the sight of his wounds, privately relieved to see no resentment in his mismatched gaze. She had been one of the luckier ones to get out with no severe injuries, a little trickle of blood from her own cuts that she hadn’t bothered to tend to made a slow, scarlet trail down the ivory skin of her free hand, a frightening contrast. Piper quickly wiped it on the dark denim of her jeans, she could deal with it later, not now. It was nothing life threatening, just raw and although she was thankful for the cover of her long sleeved turtleneck the cotton irritated the fresh cuts slightly, sticking to them. She didn’t let go of Kristopher’s hand.

“I don’t know…I could have done something? Ergh…and about everything the last few weeks. I didn’t mean…”

Quiet again, Piper ducked her head down. Grateful for the security that her heavy curtain of black hair offered her rather that having than being without it like she had been at the ball. She was just so glad to see Kristopher alive…if he had died at the ball like so many had done Piper didn’t know what she would have done. What Augusta would have done, it would have broken him.

“I never wanted to see you hurt.”

[Kristopher Roberts]

The blond looked at his dark haired friend, his gaze went from a confused daze to something more understanding. He didn't see the blood on her arm or he would of tried to sit up to take care of her. It was just how Kristopher was, he hated to see others in pain and bleeding...it was why he was doing everything he could to help others. It made him a good doctor.

“I don’t know…I could have done something? Ergh…and about everything the last few weeks. I didn’t mean…I never wanted to see you hurt.”

The blond let out a small sigh as he watched her from his spot on the bed. She was close enough that he reached with his free hand, though it pained him, and moved some hair behind her ear to better see her face. "To be honest, I didn't want to see myself hurt either. But, it's alright, Piper. I'm going to be fine. Everything is alright. I'm not upset with you for being that way. You had every right to be mad with me."

He chuckled lightly, "Hell, I would of been upset as well if someone pulled that on me...mmm, so does this mean you are going to forgive me now? I sure hope so, I've been rather lonely as of late." he said with a soft and hopeful smile.

[Piper Wren]

"To be honest, I didn't want to see myself hurt either. But, it's alright, Piper. I'm going to be fine. Everything is alright. I'm not upset with you for being that way. You had every right to be mad with me...Hell, I would of been upset as well if someone pulled that on me...mmm, so does this mean you are going to forgive me now? I sure hope so, I've been rather lonely as of late."

Piper tried to smile as Kristopher gently pushed her dark hair behind her ear, he looked hopeful that she would forgive him for the mess that had happened over the last few weeks. Piper had already made her decision, despite everything Kristopher was just trying to protect her since Tristan was no longer around to do it. Although she was slowly growing to stand up for herself, Piper knew she was no leader and no fighter but she would do whatever she could do. After tonight, seeing the people she cared for get hurt…she didn’t know if she could cope with that again and feel so powerless to help. She leaned down and without touching his back and focusing more on the shoulders, Piper gave him a tender sisterly hug and a kiss on the top of the head.

“Yeah…You may have made me angry but I’m can’t hold it against you, you were trying to help. It was just a shock. You’re like a brother to me or sister, depending on the day.”

That little wisecrack actually did make her smile, Piper was referring to the time she had put a load of clips in Kristopher’s blonde curls which made him look like a pretty girl. Some days he looked more like a girl than Piper did since she tended to cover up her curves and tiny waist in layers of clothing and long sleeves, it was a lot safer than looking overtly feminine as she had done earlier.

[Kristopher Roberts]

“Yeah…You may have made me angry but I’m can’t hold it against you, you were trying to help. It was just a shock. You’re like a brother to me or sister, depending on the day.”

Mismatched eyes rolled heavenwards but a small smile was on his pale lips still. "Good to know I can switch genders so easily." He teased. Kris was actually thrilled he was forgiven and he would of returned the hug if he could. But moving hurt far to much.

So, he just remained where he was, not moving any part of his body other then his hands, mouth and eyes. It was nice to see Piper again with not having any distaste on her face when she looked at him. Though, he didn't like her sad either but he would just have to live with it for right now.

"Well, maybe I should have you do my hair again, it needs a good combing and some feminine influence. I mean really, look at it. It's all tangled and a huge mess, it so doesn't scream boy-with-gay-intentions." He mused.

"But, on a serious note, I'll try to be more sensitive around you and try to not make you as uncomfortable as I had that one time. So this won't happen again." Again, meaning getting into another bloody fight. Kristopher hates getting into fights with anyone he cared about.

[Piper Wren]

"Good to know I can switch genders so easily…Well, maybe I should have you do my hair again, it needs a good combing and some feminine influence. I mean really, look at it. It's all tangled and a huge mess, it so doesn't scream boy-with-gay-intentions…”

Piper combed through Kristopher’s tangled blonde birds nest with her fingers, gently separating out the worst of the knots. No one really looked their best after tonight, things had gone so wrong so quickly. Piper was mostly unhurt which was more than most people could say although inside she wasn’t quite sure where she was at the moment. Well…of course was in Kristopher’s dorm room physically but in her head she felt unanchored. Strange, it was a difficult feeling to put words to but now was not the time or the place for it. Piper stayed quiet for a moment, still gently working through Kristopher’s hair in the semi darkness of the room. It was better being here than her own empty dorm…

“No, not exactly. More like dragged through a hedge backwards…”

”But, on a serious note, I'll try to be more sensitive around you and try to not make you as uncomfortable as I had that one time. So this won't happen again."

The young woman gently drew back to look her friend in the face, it had made her feel uncomfortable, scared even. Even now Piper hated being touched unless she was prepared for it. In that case she hadn’t been, she knew that Kristopher was sorry for it though…she would have to believe him if he said it wouldn’t happen again.

“I’ll have to take your word on that, I know you were only trying to help but…you know what that does to me. You of all people should know.”

‘He still doesn’t know, at least Elric stayed quiet even if he still can’t look at me the same way anymore.’

[Kristopher Roberts]

"Well, same difference really." Kristopher stated with a small shrug. He let Piper try to tame his unruly curls but it was unknown if she was making it worse or better. At least the blood had been washed out of his hair by Gloria and certain parts where still damp.

It was rather comforting, Kris always liked people playing with his hair. It put him at ease. Once again, he nodded at Pipers words, he understood he had taken it too far and got punished. He just hoped he could play his part without having to invade her bubble again, or at least warn her before hand. Something.

Looking back at her and away from his thoughts he spoke softly, "Well, you seem to be mostly unharmed. I'm glad for that." He gave her a smile then, so happy to have his friend back but also weary he might lose her again. Lifting his hand up a second time he took a hand from his locks and held it. "Haha, Im not certain you're fingers are doing justice to the curls." He teased.

"Do you know how the other fair? Once I can get up, I'll be sure to come help put things in order..." Another thought, "Is Augusta alright? And Elric? "

[Piper Wren]

"Well, same difference really…Well, you seem to be mostly unharmed. I'm glad for that. Haha, I’m not certain your fingers are doing justice to the curls.”
Piper agreed on the mostly unharmed part, thanks to the long sleeves of her sweater Kris wouldn’t able to see that some of the deeper scratches were still bleeding beneath the fabric, in places it was sticking to her arms and irritating her but Piper did her best to ignore it. Even if it seeped through it wouldn’t easily be seen thanks to the black fabric and poor light. Despite this she forced a small smile onto her face at Kristopher’s light hearted criticism of her attempt to untangle his unruly curls, she tensed slightly when he removed her hand from his hair and held onto it but relaxed after a moment or so. Squeezing Kristopher’s hand lightly and stroking the skin of the back of his hand with her thumb.

“And knots don’t do just to the curls either, smart aleck.”

"Do you know how the other fair? Once I can get up, I'll be sure to come help put things in order...Is Augusta alright? And Elric?"

The young woman sighed, she didn’t know how everyone was. The chaos in the ball had been too much to keep track of everyone, she didn’t know about Augusta for sure but he was a survivor…he always was. The subject of Elric was still a slightly tender one but Kristopher wasn’t to know about that. That little issue was between herself and Elric, she looked slightly awkward and glanced down again, the smile gone from her face.

“I don’t know about everyone, it was too much in there, I couldn’t keep track. I don’t know about Augusta but he’ll be ok, he always is. And Elric…he was shot in the leg. I’m going to see him soon to make sure he’s ok, you know…being taken care of.”

[Kristopher Roberts]

“And knots don’t do just to the curls either, smart aleck.”

"I can't argue there I suppose." He mused, shaking his head lightly to send his messed up curls flopping about. Oh well, he would just have to comb them out later when he was able too. For now, he would leave them be, no harm in that.

He noticed the small amount of tenison from Piper but he didn't bring it up, she soon releaxed anyways. Although, hearing the unknown information about Augusta weighted him down a little but he was certain he was alright.

Elric on the other hand...

"Sorry to hear that, at least he got out alive though and with just a minor wound to the leg. Poor guy, he will be limping for a while." At least he wasn't stuck in bed, unable to feel his lower half just yet. Stupid paralyzing poisons.

"Well, at least you will be able to help him for a bit. I'm sure he'll appericate that."

[Piper Wren]

"Sorry to hear that, at least he got out alive though and with just a minor wound to the leg. Poor guy, he will be limping for a while…Well, at least you will be able to help him for a bit. I'm sure he'll appreciate that."

Of course Elric got out alive but she wasn’t sure that he would want her help…but he was going to have to deal with it anyway until she was sure he was alright. He didn’t have to talk to her if he didn’t want to, Piper wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t even look at her. She would be pissed as well if Elric was involved with the rebels as she got shot in the leg because of the whole mess. Piper bit down on her bottom lip as she always tended to when she was anxious, another trickle of blood made it’s way down her sleeve and it was the hand that Kris was holding…at this moment she wasn’t really paying attention. It was almost like she didn’t feel it. It dripped onto Kristopher’s fingers but Piper didn’t really notice.

“Probably not but I just need to make sure he’s alright…”

Piper attempted to sound calm and collected, she almost managed it but for a small crack in her voice at the beginning of her sentence but she managed to bring herself to an even keel quickly enough. She didn’t really want to think about that for now, Piper would have to cross that bridge when it came to it, right now she had to focus on Kristopher. Piper wasn’t going to leave him until Augusta came back, while her friend was stuck in bed he needed someone with him. At least in her mind he did anyway…

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher opened his mouth to speak but the words never came out. Instead his attenion had been divided by the dampness he felt on his hand. Curious, his eye peered down at his hand and Pipers.

The blond wasn't surprised but he was taken back. Thank god blood never bothered him. Reaching behind him and feeling for something, he brought a gauze pad that was left behind by Gloria to use as extras for his own back.

"Piper." He said gently, resting the pad on her hand and cleaning off the blood, "You're bleeding...did you not take care of yourself before hand?" He asked, his voice soft but shocked.

Grunting, he put his elbows beneath him and pushed himself up into a sitting position. It was awkward and painful, but he managed alright, granted he had to put a hand down in front of him to keep himself stable.

"Gloria left some extra supplies here...that you can use." Ah yes, Kristopher, always thinking of helping others before he gets himself healed. How Roberts like.

[Piper Wren]

"Piper…You're bleeding...did you not take care of yourself before hand? Gloria left some extra supplies here...that you can use."

Piper looked down and realised that the blood from the glass cuts beneath her sleeves, she hadn’t even realised it had happened. She tried to wipe it away from her hand and off Kristopher’s. The last thing they needed was for him to be worrying unnecessarily, it wasn’t that serious. Cuts from glass away bled severely but she was going to be just fine. She didn’t need help, Piper hadn’t bothered to take care of herself because she had more important things on her mind. When Kristopher pulled himself into a sitting position she gasped, that must really hurt him! She put both hands gently on Kristopher’s shoulders.

“No really, I’m fine! Lay back down, it’s nothing.”

Kristopher’s injuries were far more severe than her own, the last thing they needed was for him to aggravate them further by moving around too much. Piper just wanted her friend to lay back down and get better, not hurt himself further! What would Augusta say if he saw Kristopher trying to move around like his?

Exactly.

Not a good thing.