Sometimes getting shot is a good idea

[texas]

Zarek laid in the infirmary bed reading a book on the mechanics of the hover board. He had read this plenty of times, but one of the nurses had given it too him to keep him busy. Sighing he closed the book. This is what he got for being careless and getting shot. When he heard the door to the infirmary start to open he quickly closed his eyes and began to act like he was sleeping. If it was someone to see him he wanted to hear what he or she would say to him while he was asleep and they believed he could not hear him.

[Rook]

Rook sighed as he entered the room, his thick gray fur blasted by the cold air, bristling briefly before settling again on the nape of his neck, he knew he should've entered with a bit more spring in his step, for Zarek at least, but hell, who would he be fooling? Everyone knew the Elders had given him the tongue lashing for his incompetence, Rook's pride was wounded, and he was pissed. But he'd find that damn letter, first though...

Definitely first.

A deep, unwanted twinge of guilt almost made him physically flinch as he stood in the door, feeling that as soon as he entered the room it'd come in waves and seizures. This wasn't far from the truth.
The eyes of several of the nurses followed him as he came up beside the sleeping tiger, wordlessly, pulling up a chair and eying him almost warily.

"Damn it". he muttered his hand rubbing his forehead briefly and running through his hair.

He took a deep breathe, his hands wringing nervously.

"Fuck..."

[texas]

Zarek was tempted to open his eyes and ask Rook what kind of start was that for a speech? Of course the wolverine might not even poor his soul out to him. All he did was get shot and that wasn't that bad. The bad thing was that the bullet had shattered one of his ribs sending the shards into his lung. On the other hand, the rib had deflected the bullet enough to make sure that it hadn't killed him. The tiger decided to wait a little longer to see it the other Angel would say anything else.

[Rook]

Rook hung his head low, resting it on the chair and saying, his voice strangled with "regret"

"I'm sorry, damn it I'm so sorry..I thought you were going to die...I erased all those files....damn it..."

[texas]

"You erased them!" Zarek shot up and winced in pain as his side protested the quick movement. "You couldn't wait until I was declared dead? As soon as I get out of here I am going to kill you." the tiger was about to roll out of bed when it hit him that Rook didn't mention anything about the video that was on it.

"You didn't even go into my lab did you?" The tiger's eyes narrowed. This was most likely a plan for Rook to see if his friend really was sleeping and Zarek had fallen right into it.

[Rook]

"Not once, and you sir, are a giant prick", he said getting up and gently pushing the tiger back onto his pillow his gray eyes flashing. "In case your still wondering, yes I was a little concerned for your well being, but now I'm leaning towards telling the nurses you'd like to be permanently desensitized from the waist down".

Rook had honestly at first thought Zarek was going to die, and he'd hardly had any sleep the night before, maybe that showed, but damn it if he was going to give the tiger the satisfaction of hearing him say...well anything that had ran through his mind yesterday, or what semblance he'd had of a mind.

[texas]

Seeing the worry in his eyes and the concern that he tried to cover up on his face made Zarek do something very brave and very stupid. Taking the wolverine's wrist is his hand he pulled it bring the Angel down to his level. Leaning his head up a little he locked his lips with his friend's.

Being close to death had given the tiger the realization that he needed to take a few chances. He didn't want to end up regretting never trying something when it was so close to him. Why not start now with the man he had grown to care for in more than just a friendly way.

[Rook]

As Rook was pulled into the kiss, heat creeped from his mouth all the way down past his chest, and his fur bristled, he felt the unfamiliar roughness of a man's lips agaisnt his own, and panicked drawing back, and almost immediately wishing he hadn't as the warmth left him and he stood, looking down at Zarek, completely speechless his eyes blinking open and staring down at the tiger in shock.


"..."

A few of the nurses down past the hall saw movement in the corner of their eyes and began speaking to eachother in worried voices as several tried to figure out what was going on, but were too late.
Only one unfortunate mouse had witnessed the event, and simalatenously dropped three empty plates, waking Rook from his stricken state.

He looked back at Zarek, a confusion and fear obvious on his features as he exited as quickly as he could, the mouse that had seen them staring at him, eyes wide as he left.

[texas]

At first Rook seemed a little surprised, and not sure, but then the nurse had dropped the plates and brought the Angel to reality very quickly. As he almost fled from the room Zarek wanted to smack himself for doing that.

"Crap!" Rolling out of bed he grabbed his pants and slid them on happy that his doctor has felt it necessary to put him on pain killers. Right then he couldn't feel much pain. A few of the nurses told him to get back into bed, but he shoved past them and moved into the hall at a limping run.

"Rook! Rook! Regulus Rook, I command you to stop and talk to me!" He yelled at the other man trying to chase him down even though he was loosing more distance as the Angel kept walking.

[Rook]

"No"! Rook snapped childishly his voice hoarse, stopping for just a moment as the tiger gained on him "Go back to your ward, Zarek"!
The fear on his face was obvious, a deep blush had summoned itself from some long-dormant part of his body, and he diddn't want Zarek to see it. He diddn't want Zarek to see him at all, he wanted to go lock himself in his bunker and hide.

He kept walking fast, and Zarek kept getting further away and running after him, probably hurting himself just for the vain belief that anything he could say could explain....this.

Rook winced as he remembered all the damage he had unwittingly inflicted upon the tiger, now he was over exerting himself beyond reason, and for what.

Damn! Damn! Fuck!

Rook gritted his teeth and walked back to the tiger, he diddn't look at him directly in the face at any rate, perhaps the blush would seem less obvious at least.

"What? What is it Zarek"?

[texas]

"You know damn well what. You just walk out on me! And for what? Because you are embarrassed by what I did! Well you know what?" Zarek shoved Rook in the chest. "I think that you are a jack ass. I may not be a woman, but I sure do have some feelings and I deserve more than you running out on me. I just wanna.... I wanna... UGH! You're just a waste of my time anyway!"

Spinning around Zarek stalked off back to where he had came from his shoulder blades rolling in anger and frustration. This was not how it was suppose to have ended up. As much as he was angry and Rook at walking out without so much as a word, he was angry that he had most likely screwed up their friendship. So much for that.

[Rook]

Rook was speechless, reckless anger exploding in his chest as the tiger shoved him, he would have shoved him back, injury or not but he diddn't have the time. A growl lingered in the depths of his throat, how could Zarek do this to him? Just do something like that, with hardly any explaination, turn...well everything upside down and then get angry at him?

What the hell was even going on?

He closed his eyes briefly He kissed me. My best friend kissed me.

The thought sent chills down his spine, unwanted emotions, unwanted reactions.

Unwanted.

As Zarek stormed away Rook snorted turning heel and leaving it at that.
For now.