The Reincarnated

Chapter 27: Trust in Custody

If for three long weeks all you've ever known of someone is that they are in serious physical injury and that even though he is recovering, he is still in strict custody, you would obviously expect him to lie in bed on his quarter with different apparatuses all over him throughout the entire visit.

Superficially, Gale wasn't really the most predictable guy.

Clad in his normal black clothes and of course his annoying mask of a face, Gale was standing near the windowpane like any healthy bloke could easily do. And that got me thinking...Was I imagining his medical condition all this time?

"Shouldn't you still be resting in bed?" He turned to the sound of my voice.

"I've been stuck in bed rest for the past weeks as long as I can remember," Gale countered, his voice a little hoarser than before - and not in the least bit sickly wan. "It's getting me a little rusty."

With enough scrutiny, the man standing in front of me was as healthy as I remembered him. His burns were gone except for a few amount of minor bandages on his neck and another one on his right hand (which I guessed was from his IV injection). Taking no heed of those details, you've got a brawny striking guy on a Halloween outfit (hence, the black attire and the shady black mask).

"Rusty is not actually how I'd describe you." I took a seat on the leather couch, having my survey on the room. White painted walls. Untouched lunch food tray on a mahogany table. Average-sized bed. Clear mirror and a fair amount of vintage decorations. Totally Leopold's taste.

Even with the mask, I can tell Gale was looking at me. I don't usually feel awkward with him, but three weeks of his absence had somehow made its strange effect on me. I badly wanted to tell him a lot of things and ask him a great deal of questions but my tongue was tied. It was waiting for him to give the first shot.

"Are you still mad?" He held my gaze and spoke in an even manner.

What?

"M-Mad about what?" the question took me off guard.

"I figured you were angry since you've been awfully quiet," he explained, not answering my question at all.

"Why in the world would I be angry at you?" I raised my voice. Maybe I wasn't angry before, but I certainly am close to that idea.

"Forget it," Gale dismissed, shaking his head.

It took a moment for me to recover from the senseless dialogue before deciding to let it slip for a moment. "Are you feeling better now?" I smiled a little, knowing he was okay and that I don't have anything to worry about. I felt more than a little pleased.

"It would take more than those burns to dispatch me Chesh," I could bet that he was smiling under that shady mask. "It's still a wonder why they wouldn't let me out. I'm fully capable of doing anything."

So much for all that anxiety. I can't believe this guy almost gave me a heart attack.

I almost cursed under my breath.

"Say that again," the jerk teased. Did I really say that out loud?

Hopefully not that loud.

I let out a sardonic smile as I studied his face - or at least his mask, as if I was imagining a devilish smiling emoticon replacing his front features instead of his mask.

Give me back my concern, you bastard - was what I was close to expressing.

"I said 'tell me about the attack'," I compromised, coughing a little.