Sanitarium - Asylum Finale {Completed}

7. Party Poison Can't Lose

"Some say now suffer all the children and walk away a savior, or a madman and polluted from gutter institutions. Don't you breathe for me. Undeserving of your sympathy. 'Cause there ain't no way that I'm sorry for what I did. And, through it all, how could you cry for me? 'Cause I don't feel bad about it. So, shut your eyes, kiss me goodbye, and sleep. Just sleep. The hardest part is letting go of your dreams." --- Sleep

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Party Poison Can't Lose

Party's P.O.V.

As Kobra and I walk back into the building, leaving Korse's charred body behind, I grip his shoulder. He jumps, just slightly, but doesn't look at me, like he knows exactly what this is about. And I'd be lying if I said I'm not absolutely pissed at him.

I push him through the doorway and shove him around the corner into an unoccupied room. I can't stop myself from "accidentally" knocking him into a table. He merely bumps it with his hip. No harm done. Regrettably.

I lean against the wall, folding my arms across my chest. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I ask him.

Kobra sits on the edge of the table I pushed him into and leans his elbows on his knees. "I don't believe I did anything wrong."

"You told Korse you like Paranoia. What, are you going around telling everyone else, too?"

He rolls his eyes. "Oh please. You really think I'd do that?"

"You just did!" I snap. "You told Korse, of all people."

"Korse already knew, and he was going to die anyway," Kobra reasons. "Jet and Ghoul know because they're observant and they're our best friends. Paranoia knows because I told her." Blood rushes to my face and I glare at him. "No one else knows. Party, you know how I am. No emotions. Who else could possibly catch on?"

I clench my hands into fists and try not to strangle him. "Anyone with enough sense could see that you love her, Kobra." I spit out the word "love", the taste of it bitter on my tongue. "Because you have emotions, but only when she's around and you think no one is paying attention. It's obvious by the way you look after her more than anyone else. You only speak in elaborate sentences with her, or when it's about her. Like you're doing right now."

Is it just me, or do his cheeks turn a little pink? "I never expected you to get this jealous over something that'll never happen," my brother says coldly. "Paranoia is in love with you. And that's the end of it." I roll my eyes and shake my head. "What would you suggest I do, Party?"

"Stop it."

"Stop what?" He already knows the answer. I can tell by the frustrated expression on his face.

I kick the wall with my heel. "Stop loving her."

Kobra lifts his hazel eyes to mine. There's something buried in that gaze that he doesn't want me to see, but anytime Paranoia is mentioned his walls can't help but crack a little. I see it now. "I can't," he says quietly, not looking away. And he actually looks sorry, though he doesn't say it out loud. But I believe him.

We stare at each other for a bit, neither one knowing what to say to ease the awkward tension in the room. Finally, I clear my throat. "We should go see her," I say, directing my attention to the floor.

Kobra nods and walks past me, leading the way up to the hospital. The elevators are still out, so we'll have to take the stairs. I make a mental note to turn the elevators back on and say nothing as I follow my brother up to visit the girl we're both desperately in love with.

Jet is looking strained as we find him hovering over Vengeance's bed. The white-haired man is passed out with his head lolled onto his shoulder. He's been put into a hospital gown, his bloody clothes in a plastic bag on the chair beside him. Ghoul is nowhere to be seen. "How're you doing?" I ask Jet quietly, trying not to disturb Vengeance.