Inception

Chapter 19: Tis But a Flesh Wound

Lena half wished her brother would sleep all week so her face would have time to heal.

Of course that wouldn't happen. He met her outside the cafeteria wearing a black shirt with the picture of a limbless European knight and the words "Tis But a Flesh Wound."

She narrowed her eyes on it.

"Is that supposed to be funny?"

Leno mirrored her expression. "Is your face supposed to be funny?"

"Ha ha, your face." She went to move past him, angling her head away.

Of course that wasn't enough. "Lena, take the day off."

"You take the day off."

"I am."

"Good." Marvelous. The cafeteria was serving some Chinese stir fry for dinner. Hopefully it had mushrooms.

"Oy, stop ignoring me."

"Little brothers who give their sisters a conniption get ignored."

"Seriously? Lena, it was a numbered kaiju. I didn't purposely throw myself into harms way."

She didn't care. She really didn't. She had to be angry at something now that Leno was there, still wearing bandages mind you, and 'Kaiju number 9' wasn't around to get it. Also, since she'd been studying up and down with Cromwell and Yoji since seven that morning over any and everything they could get on kaiju number 9, she didn't want to so much as hear mention of that blasted freak of nature.

Unfortunately, her angry strides were easily eaten up by her brother, because the bastard had to grow taller than her.

"Look, I don't want to fight, I just know how you are after things like this and I'm worried. At least let me see your face. Just for a minute."

When she just focused in getting her tray and stepping into line, she heard Leno sigh.

"I'll give you my dessert."

She sniffed. "Fine. Let me get my food first."

She pushed it farther by making him follow her even after she'd gotten her food. She'd just sat down when he was on her, fingers on her chin to move her head around like his own personal model.

"Damn it, Lena."

"I didn't try to claw my face, dipstick."

"I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about the raccoon eyes. How much have you slept since the attack?"

In Lena's defense, she honestly didn't know. "Uhhh..."

"Forget it." He let go of her face. "You're taking the sleep meds tonight—"

"—Excuse me—"

"—and I'll stalk you to your room if I have to."

"I'm twenty-four years old!"

"Age has nothing on maturity," said an all too familiar slinky voice. Vice Captain Hoshina had magically appeared at their corner table, all smiles and squinty eyes. "Kid, what are you trying to force her to do so I can be on your side?"

Leno's default flat expression went even flatter. "Sir, this is private."

Hoshina opened his mouth in mock horror. "Incest?"

Leno choked.

Lena sighed.

"Sir, that is highly inappropriate. I could report you for that."

"Yeah, but you're lazy, so you won't." He slid into a seat opposite of her. "And Okinogi isn't here, so there goes my ability to care."

Leno's eyes flip-flopped between his Vice Captain and Lena before gingerly sliding in next to his sister. He carefully slid over his little bowl of peach cobbler to Lena, who snatched it up without having to look.

"I was hoping to catch you on your own for this, but since you've been more of a lab hermit than usual, I suppose this will do." Hoshina's smirk fell. "I'm sorry for how I spoke to you in the hospital. It was insensitive to ask what was wrong with you."

Leno stiffened. "Elaborate."